The Board of Directors of the American Council of the Bind (ACB) met on November 23 and December 2, 2020 to review and adopt the 2021 ACB Budget and ACB Conference and Convention Budget.
November 23, 2020
ACB President Dan Spoone called the November 23 portion of the meeting to order at approximately 8:15 p.m. Eastern time. At the call of the roll, board members present were: Dan Spoone, Mark Richert, Ray Campbell, Denise Colley, Kim Charlson, Jeff Bishop, Donna Brown, Dan Dillon, Katie Frederick, Jim Kracht, Doug Powell, Pat Sheehan, Michael Talley and Jeff Thom. Board members David Trott and Sara Conrad had excused absences. Board of Publications Representative Penny Reeder was present representing that body. Staff present: Eric Bridges, ACB Executive Director, Nancy Becker, ACB Chief Financial Officer and Tony Stephens, ACB Director of Development.
President Spoone presented the agenda. Brown moved and Campbell seconded that the agenda be approved as read, the motion carried.
Prior to the board reviewing the proposed 2021 budget, Executive Director Eric Bridges announced that Development Director Tony Stephens has been involved with the budget process. He indicated that the Development Director will play a significant role in this process going forward.
Chief Financial Officer Nancy Becker presented the revenue side of the proposed 2021 ACB Budget. Prior to this, she reviewed the balances in ACB’s Investment Accounts as of the end of October. She feels that considering the ups and downs of the economy, our investments have done well. Total projected revenue for 2021: $1,229,300. Campbell moved and Kracht seconded adoption of the revenue side of the 2021 ACB Budget, the motion carried.
Next, Nancy reviewed the revenue side of the 2021 Conference and Convention budget. Projected 2021 Conference and Convention Revenue is $381,300. Projected Conference and Convention expenses: $131,100. Projected net profit from the Conference and Convention is $250,200.
Powell moved and Campbell seconded adoption of the 2021 Conference and Convention budget. During discussion, a concern was raised about approving the budget with a possible liability of a penalty for cancelling the 2021 Phoenix hotel contract. A note will be added to the budget reflecting that the 2021 convention hotel contract does have a penalty clause and that we are actively negotiating with the hotel regarding it. With that amendment, the motion carried.
There being no further business, Campbell moved, and Frederick seconded that the board meeting recess until 8:00 p.m. Eastern time on December 2. The motion carried, and the meeting recessed at approximately 9:45 p.m. Eastern time.
December 2, 2020
President Spoone reconvened the meeting at approximately 8:05 p.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday, December 2. At the call of the roll, board members present were: Dan Spoone, Ray Campbell, Denise Colley, David Trott, Kim Charlson, Jeff Bishop, Donna Brown, Dan Dillon, Katie Frederick, Jim Kracht, Doug Powell, Pat Sheehan and Michael Talley. Jeff Thom joined the meeting shortly after roll call. Board member Sara Conrad had an excused absence. Board of Publications Representative Penny Reeder was present representing that body. Staff present: Eric Bridges, ACB Executive Director, Nancy Becker, ACB Chief Financial Officer and Tony Stephens, ACB Director of Development. One guest, ACB Convention Coordinator Janet Dickelman was present.
President Spoone requested the addition of three items to the agenda:
- Discussion of an email recently received from our attorneys concerning the 2021 Hyatt Regency Phoenix Conference and Convention contract,
- Discussion of a possible change in 2021 conference and convention dates, and
- Discussion of a recent ruling from the U.S. Department of Transportation concerning service animals and the airlines.
Kracht moved and Trott seconded the addition of these items to the agenda, the motion carried.
ACB Convention Coordinator Janet Dickelman discussed a letter we had received through ACBs attorneys from the Phoenix Hyatt Regency Hotel. While they had agreed to release ACB from liquidated damages based on our 2021 Conference and Convention cancelation, they were still asking for a deposit. The amount of this deposit is still under negotiation. Kracht moved and Brown seconded that the ACB Board of Directors authorize up to $50,000 to cover any deposit we may need to remit to the Hyatt, the motion carried.
Janet next discussed a possible change in the 2021 Conference and Convention dates. This is based upon the 2021 Summer Olympics Opening Ceremonies taking place on Friday, July 23, which is currently the first day of the conference and convention. Bishop moved and Frederick seconded changing the 2021 Conference and Convention dates to July 16-23, 2021, the motion carried.
The board discussed the ruling from the U.S. Department of Transportation which allows airlines to ban Emotional Support Animals from flights and brings their Service Animal regulations in line with the Department of Justice. This rule had come out on the day of the meeting, and there will be an ACB Announcement released soon.
At the request of ACB Treasurer David Trott, ACB Chief Financial Officer Nancy Becker reviewed the expense side of the 2021 ACB Budget. Total projected expenses are $1,954,700. Trott moved and Campbell seconded adoption of the expense side of the 2021 ACB Budget, motion caried. Campbell moved and Charlson seconded that the 2021 ACB Budget be approved in Aggregate, the motion carried.
There being no further business, Campbell moved, and Powell seconded that the meeting be adjourned. The motion carried, and the meeting was adjourned at approximately 9:45 p.m. Eastern time.
Ray Campbell,
Second Vice President and Acting Secretary
Date submitted: 2/13/2021
Date approved: 2/20/2021