Executive Committee Meeting March 8, 2021

A meeting of the Executive Committee was held on Monday, March  8, 2021.  The meeting began at 6:30 PM.  Those in attendance were: Sheila Young, President; Mikey Wiseman, 1st Vice-President; Cassandra Jessie, 2nd Vice-president; Mark Lear, Treasurer; Membership Secretary, Sally Benjamin; Recording Secretary, Mary Tyson; Jim Kracht, Immediate Past President; and Kati Lear and Jen Lane Guests.  

Acceptance of minutes from the February 4, meeting was tabled as they were not yet available.

Sheila asked if anything had been heard from South Sarasota County Council regarding their disbursement of funds after their chapter shut down.  Mark  advised that we had received a check in the amount of $2,303.00 which closes out their account.

Mikey reported that he had paid a surprise visit to Paul Edwards who has had some health challenges.  He said that they had a nice low key visit and that Paul seemed in good spirits. He hopes to be in Orlando at convention.

Mikey reported on the hotel, the Holiday Inn Westshore/Airport, situation in Tampa for our upcoming convention in 2022.  When he called to check on the status, they told him that they had undergone management changes and  could not find our contracts. Tampa CVB sent out another request for hotel and we received no acceptable options.   Mikey and Jen checked with Josh at the Sheraton in Maitland and he would be  happy to have us back.  They offered a contract similar to  the current contract.  They are looking at signing the four contracts with Sheraton, to cover two upcoming midyear meetings and two upcoming conventions.  They offered $94 for the next board meeting and convention. There would  be a $5 per night increase in each of the two following years.   The only consideration would be a slight date change for the Board meeting, not the convention. It was determined that Tampa was not offering any feasible options.   

Mikey and Jim were tasked with writing a letter to ensure that we have no remaining contractual obligations with the Tampa Holiday Inn Westshore.   This has been drafted and sent to Sheila for review.  The recommendation of the hotel coordinator is to stay with Sheraton.

Cassandra asked if any other locations such as Jacksonville had been considered?  Mikey advised that he had not, just the RFP to Tampa hotels.

Mary asked what the date change of the board meeting would involve.        Mikey said that It would be moving from the first week of November to the last week of October. Mary said that it would be a conflict with a one-day event scheduled for October 30, of this year. The weekends of September 23, through 25, and September 30, through October 2nd are  available if we wish to move the Board meeting  forward, and those are using a Thursday to Saturday pattern.  If we have the meeting on October 29 through 31, space on Sunday would be an issue, depending on CDC protocol at that time.

Mark, Sally, and Jim are fine with whatever decision is made and are fine with remaining in Maitland.  Sheila said that the Sunday morning activity could be canceled if the hotel does not have the appropriate space.

Regarding the Tampa hotel, Mikey has written a letter in response to the hotel email from Mr. Swain. Since no contracts were found by the hotel, it was requested that we receive a response acknowledging that we have no further obligation.    Jen advised that the letter to Mr. Swain not be sent until we have a signed contract with the Maitland Sheraton.  Mikey said that he felt more comfortable having a letter from the Tampa Holiday Inn, releasing us from any obligation prior to signing with the Maitland Sheraton.  

Mikey made a motion that due to unforeseen circumstances, that we accept the hotel coordinator’s recommendation that we move forward with the four contracts with the Sheraton and that we confirm an understanding with the Holiday Inn Westshore that we are under no contractual obligations to them.  Motion was seconded by Sally.    Motion passed.

ACB Convention Issues – Sheila will be the FCB delegate at national convention.  Mikey will be FCB alternate delegate.  Jim will represent FCB on the Nominating Committee.  $500 will be donated to Braille Forum, $500 to ACB Radio and $100 for door prizes. Donation for the July auction will be discussed at a later date.   Four $25 Amazon gift cards will be purchased with the $100 designated for door prizes.  

Sally reported that she had received her first hardcopy convention registration.  The online registration should be online shortly.  Motion to adjourn was made by Cassandra  and Seconded by Mary.   The meeting was adjourned at  7:10 PM.

Respectfully submitted by,

Mary Tyson,
FCB Recording Secretary