December 3 and 10, 2015 Meeting of the ACB Board of Directors

The American Council of the Blind (ACB) Board of Directors met by conference call on Thursday, December 3 and Thursday, December 10, 2015.  President Kim Charlson called the meeting to order at 6:35 p.m. central time on Thursday, December 3.  At the call of the roll, the following board members were present:  Kim Charlson, Jeff Thom, John McCann, Ray Campbell, Carla Ruschival, Mitch Pomerantz, Jeff Bishop, Berl Colley, Katie Frederick, Michael Garrett, George Holliday, Allan Peterson, Patrick Sheehan, Dan Spoone, and David Trott.  Board Member Sara Conrad did not answer the roll call but joined the meeting about 10 minutes after it began.  Board of Publications Representative Doug Powell was also present.  Staff present:  Eric Bridges, ACB Executive Director and Lane Waters, ACB Controller.
 
President Charlson reviewed the agenda.  Campbell moved and Bishop seconded adoption of the agenda as circulated, the motion carried.
 
ACB Secretary Ray Campbell presented the minutes of the ACB Board Meeting held October 30 and 31, 2015.  He indicated that all requested corrections had been incorporated.  One piece of modified language was read upon request.  Peterson moved and Bishop seconded adoption of the October 30 and 31, 2015 board minutes with corrections incorporated, the motion carried.
 
ACB Treasurer Carla Ruschival and ACB Controller Lane Waters took the board through a line by line item review of the revenue side of the proposed 2016 ACB Budget.  Campbell moved and Pomerantz seconded amending the Advisory Board gift line item from $0.00 to $2,000.00, the motion carried.
 
Campbell moved and Trott seconded adoption of the revenue side of the 2016 budget as amended, the motion carried.  Total projected support and revenue is $1,004,585.
 
Campbell moved and McCann seconded that the board recess until 12/10/2015, 6:30 p.m. central time.  The motion carried, and the meeting recessed at 8:00 p.m. central time.
 
President Charlson reconvened the meeting at 6:34 p.m. central time on Thursday, December 10.  At the call of the roll, the following board members were present:  Kim Charlson, Jeff Thom, John McCann, Ray Campbell, Carla Ruschival, Mitch Pomerantz, Jeff Bishop, Berl Colley, Sara Conrad, Katie Frederick, Michael Garrett, George Holliday, Patrick Sheehan, Dan Spoone, and David Trott.  Board Member Alan Peterson was absent.  Board of Publications Representative Doug Powell was also present.  Staff present:  Eric Bridges, ACB Executive Director and Lane Waters, ACB Controller.
 
President Charlson reviewed a proposal from the ACB Awards Committee to establish an ACB Volunteer Recognition Award.  Trott moved and Pomerantz seconded approval of this proposal, the motion carried.
 
ACB Executive Director Eric Bridges briefly provided a general update on advocacy issues.  Then, ACB Advisory Board Working Group Chair Dan Spoone discussed the proposed ACB Advisory Board Mission Statement and Objectives Document.  Dan agreed to work with any board member after this meeting who has editorial changes they wish to offer.  Campbell moved and Pomerantz seconded approval of the ACB Advisory Board Mission Statement and Objectives document, the motion carried.
 
ACB Treasurer Carla Ruschival and ACB Controller Lane Waters took the board through a line by line review of each expense item in the proposed 2016 ACB Budget.  By consensus, the board agreed to amend the Other Occupancy Expense for the Virginia office from $10,864 to $13,864, reflecting higher than anticipated moving expenses.
 
Campbell moved and Colley seconded adoption of the expense side of the 2016 ACB Budget as amended, the motion carried.  Total projected expenses are $1,214,316.
 
Pomerantz moved and McCann seconded adoption of the 2016 ACB Budget in Aggregate, the motion carried.
 
Pomerantz moved and McCann seconded that the meeting be adjourned.  The motion carried, and the meeting was adjourned at 8:45 p.m. central time.
 
Ray Campbell,
Secretary
 
Date submitted: 12/14/2015
Date approved: 2/27/2016