THE FCB ANNUAL CONVENTION MEMBERSHIP MEETING


SUNDAY, MAY 18th, 2008
JACKSONVILLE, FL


TABLE OF CONTENTS
CALL TO ORDER AND FIRST BUSINSESS
TREASURER'S REPORT
PRESIDENT'S REPORT
COMMITTEE REPORTS
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
NEW BUSINESS
ANNOUNCEMENTS AND ADJOURNMENT


CALL TO ORDER AND FIRST BUSINESS

President Debbie Grubb called the meeting to order at 8:34 AM. Sharon Youngs gave the invocation. John Richards led us in the salute to the Flag. Linda Jacobson called the roll and a quorum was established. The minutes of last year’s convention were read. Barbara Grill made a motion to approve the amended minutes. The motion was seconded by Arbee Hill and carried.


TREASURER'S REPORT

Treasurer Patti Land read her report and moved for approval of it. Paul Edwards seconded the motion but had some clarification questions answered. The motion carried.


PRESIDENT'S REPORT

Debbie gave her President's report. She said the perseverance and commitment are the watchwords for FCB now. The transportation issues we've been working on are moving forward but the progress is very slow. The pedestrian safety bill did pass for the most part. The part about the white cane law being part of the driver's license test was not included.

Debbie thanked Robert Miller for monitoring the technology accessibility issues. She reported that the Braille literacy bill failed to pass. Debbie noted that a new director for DBS has not yet been selected. FCB is eager to assist in the hiring process. Debbie reported about her meeting with the DBS Bureau chiefs. She said they were receptive to our issues. She also talked about Florida Voter's Coalition. She restated that all of FCB wants all of Florida to be a paradise for all blind people. She thanked her officers.


COMMITTEE REPORTS

NOMINATING COMMITTEE - Doug Hall
We moved to other business. Doug Hall reported as chairperson of the Nominating committee and conducted the election process. The Committee had put forth a slate for the upcoming 2 years. This slate included:
For President - Debbie Grubb
For 1st VP - Robert Miller
For 2nd VP - John Richards
For Secretary - Sharon Youngs
For Treasurer - Patti Land
And for Membership Secretary - Sally Benjamin

The only office for which there was a nomination from the floor was the office of Secretary. A roll call vote resulted in the slate being elected.

CONSTITUTION & BY-LAWS COMMITTEE - Jim Kracht
The next committee we heard from was the Constitution and By-Laws Committee. As chairperson of this committee, Jim Kracht reported that 3 chapters had minor changes that were approved by the committee.

RESOLUTIONS COMMITTEE - Jesus Garcia
Jesus Garcia, Chairperson of the Resolutions Committee, reported on 5 resolutions for our approval.

Resolutions 01 - Conv. 08 and 02 - Conv. 08 were the usual thank you resolutions for the chapter and the hotel and staff. Jesus moved for approval of both of these resolutions. Resolution 01 was seconded by Paul Edwards and carried. Resolution 02 was seconded by Jim Kracht and also carried.

Paul Edwards read and moved for approval of Resolution 03 - Conv. 08. It concerned stadium accessibility and was seconded by Barbara Grill. After some discussion and clarification, the motion carried.

Jesus read and moved for approval of Resolution 04 - Conv. 08. This resolution talked about the process of selecting a new director for DBS and urged that the hiring process move forward. Aubree Hill seconded the motion and it carried.

Paul read and moved for adoption of Resolution 05 - Conv. 08. It concerned the Access to Electronic information Technology Act. FCB urges the state to adopt and implement this bill. Sila Miller seconded the motion and it carried.

AWARDS COMMITTEE - John Richards
John Richards reported for the Awards Committee. This year, these awards were presented:

R. Henry P. Johnson to Robert A. Jones
Dolly Gamble to Gloria Simmons
The W. A. Outz to Robert Miller
The "Just Bill" Ferrell Award to Jim Kracht
The Cooke Award to Mike Taylor
The Legislative Award was not presented this year
The President's Special Award to Linda Jacobson
The Mobility Award to Thomas Ray and
The Outstanding High School Senior Award to Michelle Bienstock.

Also, 6 chapters awarded local achievement plaques this year.

EDUCATION & LEADERSHIP COMMITTEE - Barbara Grill
Barbara Grill announced the scholarship winners. They include:
Emily Anne Townsend
Michelle Bienstock
Denisse J. Guzman and
Jack Jordan

CONVENTION COMMITTEE - Sila Miller
Sila Miller, as chairperson of the Convention Committee, reported on this and next year's conventions. This year, we had 157 people register for the convention. Next year's Convention is scheduled for June 4th-7th, 2009, at the Plaza Ocean Club on Daytona Beach. She said that our Autumn Board Meeting is scheduled for December 5th-7th, 2008, at the Hilton in St Petersburg. Bill Freeman reported on the raffle ticket winners.
$100 to Stephanie Kelly
$200 to Doug Hall
$300 to Doug Hall (no this is not an error; both prizes went to Doug)
$400 to Duane Lewis
$500 to Maurice Ericson and
$1,000 to Kristen Harmon

Bill said that approximately 8,000 tickets were sold in all.

PUBLIC EDUCATION COMMITTEE - Carl McCoy
Carl McCoy chairperson of the Public Education Committee lauded everyone's effort on behalf of the committee.

ACCESS COMMITTEE - Doug Hall
Doug Hall chairperson of the Access Committee wanted to thank the people who served on the transportation program.


UNFINISHED BUSINESS

We moved on to Unfinished Business. William Benjamin reported that there would soon be a letter going out that concerns fundraising at the state and national level. Joyce Thornton reported that her Mary Kay display had made $500 and she donated it to FCB.


NEW BUSINESS

Under the topic of New Business, Paul Edwards made a motion to donate $1,000 to the Publications Committee of ACB. Spencer Morton seconded the motion and it carried. Spencer Morton said the online registration process should be revamped. The input on this was that this is already being worked on.

Jack Varnon urged FCB to keep working on getting the White Cane Law included on the driver's license test.


ANNOUNCEMENTS AND ADJOURNMENT

Jesus Garcia told us we should go to the polls and vote. Other announcements included welcoming back some old members who have been unable to be at convention lately but were here today.

Because there was no other business to come before the body, the meeting was adjourned at 11:02 AM.


Respectfully Submitted,
Sharon K. Youngs, Secretary


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