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Florida Council of the Blind
Executive Committee Meeting Minutes 
January 6, 2026

The meeting was called to order by President Mikey Wiseman at 06:57 PM. 
Present were President Mikey Wiseman; 1st Vice President, Cassandra Jessie; 2nd Vice President, Shelley Sawyer; Recording Secretary, Elizabeth Bowden; Membership Secretary, Sally Benjamin; Treasurer, Mark Lear; and Immediate Past President, Sheila Young.  Administrative Assistant Kati Lear joined the meeting as a guest. 

Cassandra Jessie motioned to approve the minutes for December 2, 2025, and it was seconded by Sally Benjamin.  The motion passed unanimously.     

Updates: Mikey has referred two of the people who participated in the Seaworld trip to ACB.  More trip participants will be asked to interview as the situation progresses.  

ACB is looking for disabled people who have experienced natural disasters.  Panelists who are interested will speak to the Council of People With Disabilities.  

The committee discussed Courtney Roberts, a vendor at convention who has not sent items ordered by members during convention.  

Mikey let us know that FAASB has introduced a bill in the legislature without informing Tallahassee day participants.  

Robert Doyle will be leaving DBS as of January 7, 2026.  

Convention: The room block should be open shortly; Mikey has contacted the hotel.

DC Leadership is scheduled for March.  The imperatives are the same as last year.  Options for the program are as follows, virtual participation, or participation in the weekend prior to the event.  Participants may be encouraged to spend another day at the event if participants come to the event in person.  An advantage of virtual participation  is that Debbie Grubb can get assistance scheduling and setting up appointments and will be able to train an assistant.  Cassandra Jessie motioned that we participate in Legislative meetings via zoom and that we appoint an interested individual to help Debbie.  The motion was seconded by Shelley Sawyer and passed unanimously.  Cassandra Jessie motioned that FCB not send representatives to participate in pre-leadership activities.  Sheila Young proposed a friendly amendment that FCB should pay registration for those members in good standing who wish to participate in the event via zoom.  Sponsored individuals will be required to summarize their experiences to be published in The White Cane Bulletin.  The amendment was accepted by Cassandra.  The motion was seconded by Shelley Sawyer and was unopposed.

ACB convention will be on July 23 through 30.  Mikey asked if anyone on the executive committee is interested in going should contact him.  

Scholarship applications have been on the web page and will be publicized.  

ACB stipend application time is approaching.  Deadline for application submission is June 1, 2026.  An article will be placed in The White Cane Bulletin.  

Mark has received the bill from Dickenson McDonald for $1,850.00 for our 990 forms audit.   

ACB summer auction:  We will donate to the auction. 

Kati Lear stated that we need to purchase a computer for John Richards.  John has requested that this be done after our convention.  

Our AT&T ending bill has been paid.  

The convention committee will discuss ACB representatives at convention.  

Randolph Shepard Vendors:  Vendors have not contacted anyone in FCB regarding changes to be made to the Randolph Shepard act.  

Mikey suggested that the executive committee come to convention on Wednesday.   

Members discussed request from Cindy Hollis regarding sending a student to ACB national.  Cindy will be invited to our next meeting.  

Mikey asked that Mark follow up with James Warth regarding the Tampa chapter and funding we should obtain upon its dissolution.

Calm  name change was discussed.  Cynthia Hawkins will  be contacted to assist with wording changes necessary so they can use the new name they have chosen.     

Motion to adjourn the meeting was made by   Cassandra Jessie and seconded by Sheila Young.  The meeting was adjourned at 08:21 PM.  

Respectfully Submitted by, 
Elizabeth Bowden
Recording Secretary, Florida Council of the Blind