American Council of the Blind
Agenda for Board Meeting
January 4, 2007
1. Call to order – Chris Gray
2. Roll Call – Donna Seliger
3. Approval of November 6, 2006 Minutes – Donna Seliger (If everyone received Them)
4. Year-end wrap up DC Office – Melanie Brunson
5. Year-end wrap up Minneapolis Office – Lane Waters
6. Bank resolution for investments
7. Rehabilitation Issues Task Force – Billie Jean Keith
8. ACBES update - Lane Waters
9. ACBES Election – Michael Garrett
10. Petition – Paul Edwards
11. ACB Announce
12. Adjourn
American Council of the Blind
Conference Call Board Meeting
January 4, 2007
President Chris Gray called the meeting to order at 8:10pm Central Standard Time.
Roll Call was taken by Secretary Donna Seliger. All Board Members were present except Ms. Soule. Also on the call were Ms. Brunson, Mr. Garrett.
Motion 1: Mr. Edwards moved to adopt the agenda as amended. The motion carried on a voice vote.
Motion 2: Mr. Pomerantz moved to adopt the minutes from the November 6, 2006 conference call. The motion carried on a voice vote.
Motion 3: Ms. Schmitt moved to recess the ACB board meeting and open the ACBES board meeting. The motion carried on a voice vote.
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Mr. Garrett, chair of American Council of the Blind Enterprises and Services opened the meeting. Mr. Waters shared additional financial information with the corporate members.
He stated a new manager has been placed in the Louisville, Kentucky store. Additionally, there were problems in the Amarillo, Texas store. The manager has been replaced, however, the store still isn’t doing well. He went on to state that overall the stores are holding their own.
Motion 1: Dr. Bradley moved to accept the report from Mr. Waters and Mr. Garrett. The motion carried on a voice vote.
The board discussed having a brochure that can be placed in the thrift stores explaining ACB and its relationship to the thrift stores.
Election of ACBES board members was held with Mr. Edwards nominating Mr. LeRoy Saunders for position one, who was elected by acclamation.
Mr. Miller was nominated for the second position by Ms. Ruschival. He was elected by acclamation.
Mr. Campbell nominated Ms. Schmitt for another term. She was elected by acclamation.
Motion 2: Mr. Edwards moved to adjourn the ACBES corporate meeting and return to the ACB Board meeting.
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The ACB Board of Directors meeting reconvened at 8:47pm.
Motion 4: Dr. Bradley moved to include Mr. Garrett in any further announcements pertaining to ACB Board meetings. The motion passed on a voice vote.
Ms. Brunson updated the Board on happenings in the ACB national office. The most important news pertained to the lawsuit ACB had filed against the Department of Treasury. Judge Roberts ruled in favor of ACB stating Treasury violated the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 by not making US currency accessible for blind and visually impaired Americans.
On the legislative front, not much was accomplished this past session.
Motion 5: Mr. Campbell moved to accept the report from the National Office in Washington, DC. The motion carried on a voice vote.
Next, Mr. Waters reported to the Board from the Minneapolis Office. He stated the 2006 convention paper work is nearly complete although the special interest affiliates have not been reimbursed for their expenses.
For the past eleven months, AKA expenses exceeded the revenues. For the organization as a whole, revenue exceeded budgeted amounts.
Motion 6: Mr. Campbell moved to accept the report from the Minneapolis Office. On a voice vote, the motion carried.
Mr. Waters then spoke about needing a resolution written from the Board so that he can deal with the financial institutions as currently they will not do business with him.
Motion 7: Mr. Edwards moved that the Board of Directors of the American Council of the Blind and the general membership of ACBES adopts the following resolution.
“Resolved that Lane Waters, comptroller of this corporation be hereby fully authorized and empowered to transfer, endorse, sell, assign, settle and deliver any and all annuities, shares of stock, bonds, debentures, notes, evidences indebtedness or other securities now or hereafter standing in the name of or owned by this corporation and necessary or proper to effectuate the authority hereby conferred under the direction of the president or executive director. The motion carried on a voice vote.
Ms. Keith talked about the white paper sent to the Board on December 26, 2006 for review on the rehabilitation issues in this country.
Motion 8: Dr. Bradley moved to approve the report written by the Rehabilitation Task Force. The motion carried on a voice vote.
Motion 9: Dr. Bradley moved that the American Council of the Blind use the White Paper in the education, training and public relations of ACB wherever this Board feels it would be useful and necessary and that the Rehab Task Force be an entity to develop such plans and strategies for dissemination both within and outside ACB. On a voice vote, the motion carried.
Motion 10: Mr. Edwards moved that this Board authorize the Rehabilitation Task Force to broaden its prevue with the view of trying to prepare such a paper to certainly have it ready for Board approval by April. The motion carried on a voice vote.
Motion 11: Mr. Edwards moved that the Board of Directors authorize the creation of a Rehab Council distribution list which would be a closed list whose membership would consist of the Board of Directors of ACB, members of the Rehabilitation Task Force, such other individuals as the President shall determine and all ACB members currently serving on Rehabilitation Councils and that in addition, the Board of Directors authorize the planning and holding of a conference call once every two months that would be hosted by the President or his designee in order to provide opportunity for discussing rehabilitation issues with members of Rehab Councils. On a voice vote, the motion carried.
Motion 12: Mr. Campbell moved to accept the report of the Rehab Task Force. The motion carried on a voice vote.
President Gray led a discussion about the accessible currency petition an ACB member, Michael Malver, crafted and put on a website for everyone to sign.
Motion 13: Mr. Edwards moved that the President put a note on the leadership list as well as on the acb-l list and such other places that you deem appropriate acknowledging the existence of the petition and urge people to sign. The motion carried on a voice vote.
Next, the board discussed a survey that has been made available from the American Foundation for the Blind concerning the currency issue. Mr. Edwards suggested ACB prepare its own survey with a more generic approach.
President Gray stated he would like to have a few people work on a survey from ACB. Those interested were Mr. Edwards, Ms. Brunson and Ms. Schmitt, who will chair the committee. They will meet Sunday, January 7, 2007 at 8:00pm Eastern time.
Ms. Brunson stated she hasn’t used ACB Announce for some time for several reasons. Mr. Edwards, Ms. Brunson, President Gray and Mr. Campbell will work together on the ACB Announce. President Gray asked Mr. Campbell to chair the committee. The committee will meet January 17, 2007.
President Gray adjourned the meeting at 10:58pm Central Standard Time.
Respectfully Submitted,
Donna Seliger, Secretary