American Council of the Blind
Conference Call Board Meeting
(Continuation of Mid-Year Board Meeting)
March 6, 2006
President Gray reconvened the meeting at 8:06pm Central Standard Time.
Roll call was taken by Secretary Donna Seliger. Those absent were Mr. Beatty, Mr. Edwards, Ms. Noriega and Mr. Pomerantz.
Mr. Charlson reviewed revenues and expenses that were not known at the last meeting. The budget has a negative figure of $72,070. He estimates a balance of $190,000 in board designated reserves.
Mr. Charlson stated he, Ms. Brunson and Mr. Gardner met and changed some of the figures on the revenue side of the budget from the original budget distributed during mid-year. The revenue side of the budget has increased by $25,000.
Motion 1: Mr. Charlson moved to amend the revenue side of the budget to include the additional $5,000 to the general contributions bringing it to $19,000 and $20,000 from vehicle donations bringing it to $75,000. On a voice vote, the motion carried.
The total adjusted revenue amount is now $1,122,200.
Mr. Charlson reviewed the expenditure side of the budget with the board.
Motion 2: Ms. Ruschival moved to amend the website management figure from $17,000 to $23,000. On a voice vote, the motion carried except one dissenting vote by Ms. Schmitt and one abstention by Mr. Godino.
Motion 3: Mr. Trott moved to change the ACB Radio Executive Director figure from $31,000 to $45,000. The motion carried on a voice vote.
Motion 4: Ms. Ruschival moved to change the figure for staff travel from $28,000 to $20,000. The motion carried with one dissenting vote.
President Gray reminded the Board that personnel, occupancy and AKA have been deferred to the meeting on March 16, 2006, and Ms. Brunson will inquire about whether the Board of Publications intends to send a CD version of the Braille Forum to replace the floppy disk issues.
Mr. Gardner will investigate the Promo and Printing item. In addition, he and President Gray will discuss changing “Board Travel”.
Mr. Charlson stated he had been asked to mention getting better support for deaf-blind services. He was approached with this request. The item will be placed on the next meeting’s agenda.
Motion 5: Dr. Bradley moved to recess the meeting and reconvene on March 16, 2006. The motion carried and the meeting recessed.
Board Designated Reserve $260,000 the 2006 actual
March 16, 2006: continuation of ACB Board of Directors meeting.
President Gray reconvened the meeting at 8:13pm Central Standard Time.
Roll call was taken by Secretary Donna Seliger. Ms. Soule and Mr. Trott were both absent. Ms. Kathey Wheeler, president of the Missouri affiliate, was a guest on the call.
The three items that were deferred from the previous meeting were salaries and wages, occupancy and AKA.
The Budget Committee, chaired by Mr. Charlson, reviewed the expense side of the budget for the Board.
Mr. Trott joined the call at 9:00pm.
In discussing the budget, the fact that the lease on the offices in Washington DC will come due on September 30, 2006, and options of space Ms. Brunson has been considering.
Ms. Brunson requested the Office Review Committee meet very soon to bring a proposal to the Board concerning the Washington DC office lease.
Motion 6: Mr. Godino moved to amend the Braille Forum line item for Compact Disc of $1,200 up to $4,900. On a voice vote, the motion carried.
Mr. Gardner reported on the line item of Promos and Printing. He stated the line item was in error.
The following figures are given minus the AKA Direct Mail project on both the expenditure side and the revenue side. Total revenue $1,151,200 Total expenses $1,102,843 Balance $ 48,357.
On the AKA Direct Mail issue, Mr. Charlson reviewed the 2006 board approved expenditures and revenues to date.
President Gray did some research with regard to the direct mail campaign. He spoke to others in the field concerning our campaign efforts with continuing to build the donor list with continued mailings.
Motion 7: Mr. Charlson moved that the Board authorize the Direct Mail Committee to develop a plan that would have a probable bottom line outcome of not costing more than that amount in the red as we attempt to develop a warm mailing list. On a roll call vote, the motion carried with eleven in favor, two opposed, one not answering roll call and one absent. Those voting in the affirmative were: Mr. Beatty, Dr. Bradley, Mr. Charlson, Mr. Edwards, Ms. Ewing, Mr. Godino, Mr. Pomerantz, Ms. Ruschival, Ms. Schmitt, Ms. Seliger and Mr. Trott. Those opposed were: Ms. Keith and Mr. Miller.
Mr. Edwards suggested that Mr. Trott, chair of the Resource Development Committee and Mr. Godino, ACB Treasurer Sit on the Direct Mail Committee. Both men agreed to the request.
Motion 8: Mr. Charlson moved to adopt the ACB 2006 budget as amended in aggregate. The motion carried on a voice vote.
Mr. Charlson reported he had been approached to request ACB’s involvement in a consortium for deaf-blind persons of all ages. The purpose of the consortium is to secure increased funding for deaf-blind people.
Motion 9: Dr. Bradley moved to support the consortium on deaf-blind individuals through legislation. On a voice vote, the motion carried with one dissenting vote.
The Board decided to meet again on March 30, 2006 at 6:00pm Pacific Daylight Time.
President Gray adjourned the meeting at 10:20pm Central Standard Time.
Respectfully Submitted,
Donna Seliger, Secretary