The American Council of the Blind (ACB) Board of Directors met by conference call on Thursday, November 17, 2016. President Kim Charlson called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. central time. At the call of the roll, the following board members were present: Kim Charlson, Jeff Thom, John McCann, Ray Campbell, Mitch Pomerantz, Jeff Bishop, Denise Colley, Dan Dillon, Katie Frederick, George Holliday, Pat Sheehan, Dan Spoone, and David Trott. ACB Treasurer Carla Ruschival joined the meeting soon after roll call. Board Members Sara Conrad and Allan Peterson were not present with excused absences. Board of Publications Representative Ron Brooks was not present. Staff present: Eric Bridges, ACB Executive Director, and Nancy Becker, ACB Chief Accountant.
Before beginning our budget discussions, Eric gave the board a sense of what things are like in Washington, DC following the recent elections. He also informed the board that the ACB offices are in the midst of migrating to Office 365, which has gone smoothly for the most part.
McCann moved and Campbell seconded adoption of the agenda as circulated, the motion carried.
ACB Treasurer Carla Ruschival took the board through the Revenue side of the proposed 2017 ACB Budget. Campbell moved and Trott seconded adoption of the revenue side of the 2017 ACB Budget as presented, the motion carried. Total projected support and revenue is $1,093,870.
Carla next reviewed the proposed 2017 ACB Conference and Convention budget. McCann moved and Pomerantz seconded adoption of the conference and convention budget as presented, the motion carried.
Eric updated the board on continuing the strategic planning work started during the fall board meeting. Proposed dates are Monday and Tuesday, January 23 and 24, 2017 in Alexandria, Virginia. Campbell moved and McCann seconded that the meeting be recessed until Monday, November 21, 2016. The motion carried, and the meeting recessed at 8:40 p.m. central time.
The board reconvened at 7:02 p.m. Central Time on Monday, November 21, 2016. 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, Denise Colley, Dan Dillon, Katie Frederick, George Holliday, Allan Peterson, Pat Sheehan, Dan Spoone and David Trott. Board member Sara Conrad was not present with an excused absence. ACB Board of Publications Representative Ron Brooks was not present. Staff Present: Eric Bridges, ACB Executive Director, and Nancy Becker, ACB Chief Accountant.
ACB secretary Ray Campbell presented the minutes of the October 21 and 22, 2016 Board of Directors meeting. Peterson moved and Pomerantz seconded adoption of the minutes as circulated, the motion carried.
ACB Treasurer Carla Ruschival discussed the proposed guidelines for ACB affiliates and other organizations wanting to conduct fundraising events using ACB Radio. McCann moved and Colley seconded adoption of the guidelines as circulated, the motion carried. The guidelines are attached to these minutes.
ACB President Kim Charlson presented revised wording of the criteria for ACB’s awards. Peterson moved and Campbell seconded adoption of the revised criteria as circulated, the motion carried. The revised criteria are attached to these minutes.
ACB Treasurer Carla Ruschival presented the expense side of the proposed 2017 ACB Budget. The following motions were made to amend:
- Spoone moved and Campbell seconded increasing the amount for the ACBLink project from $1,000 to $1,100. The motion carried.
- Ruschival moved and Campbell seconded that we add an expense line item of $200 for the ACB Holiday Auction, the motion carried.
Campbell moved and McCann seconded adoption of the expense side of the 2017 ACB Budget as amended, the motion carried. Total projected expenses are: $1,259,703.
McCann moved and Colley seconded adoption of the 2017 ACB budget in aggregate, the motion carried.
ACB President Kim Charlson asked for agenda ideas for the ACB Mid-year President’s meeting. Several ideas were put forward.
Eric updated the board on the FCC and our efforts to get rules promulgated regarding audio description. ACB Director of Advocacy and Governmental Affairs Tony Stephens participated in several meetings on this subject, and a letter that ACB signed onto with other groups has been picked up by several news outlets.
Pomerantz moved and McCann seconded that the meeting be adjourned. The motion carried, and the meeting adjourned at 9:09 p.m. central time.
Ray Campbell,
Secretary
Date submitted: 11/21/2016.
Date approved: 2/25/2017
Atts. ACB Radio fundraising guidelines for affiliates and other organizations,
Revised ACB Award Criteria
Guidelines for Fundraisers on ACB Radio
Revised November 21, 2016
Purpose
The purpose of this document is to provide guidelines for the application and execution of ACB Affiliate Auctions and other fundraisers utilizing ACB Radio. These guidelines will focus on the Special Events Committee requirements under the Resource Development Committee. A separate document will be provided by the ACB Radio Management Team detailing technical requirements.
The ACB Board of Directors authorizes up to four Special Event affiliate auctions each calendar year. These auctions may take place during the months of January, February, March, April, August and September. The other months will be blacked out for the ACB Convention Auction and the ACB Holiday Auction. The auctions will be limited to one per month based on availability of the ACB Radio Live Event channel.
Fundraisers other than auctions may also be scheduled on ACB Radio Live Event, subject to availability. Such fundraisers may be conducted by ACB affiliates and/or partners, are limited to one per month, and are subject to all charges and rules as set forth below.
Application Process
ACB special-interest affiliates will receive the highest priority for scheduling Special Event auctions and fundraisers on ACB Radio. All applications must be received by the ACB Radio Management Team at least 90 days before the event, and must be accompanied by a $200 fee in order to be considered. This fee will hold the event's schedule date. The fee will be refunded if the application is not approved or if the event is cancelled by either ACB or the sponsoring organization more than 30 days in advance of the date of the event. The fee is nonrefundable if the event is cancelled within 30 days or less of the scheduled date. All cancellations must be in writing. (Please see ACB Radio Management Team for Application Form.)
Additional Charges
The ACB affiliate or other sponsoring organization will be responsible for working with the ACB Radio Management Team to provide all necessary engineering support for the event. ACB Radio resources can be hired by the ACB affiliate or organization at standard rates and are subject to availability. In addition, the ACB affiliate or organization will share the net proceeds of the special event with ACB, with 20% to ACB and 80% to the ACB affiliate or organization. This is a win-win relationship between ACB and affiliates or organizations, as both are contributing to the success of excellent fundraising opportunities.
Division of Responsibilities
ACB Responsibilities
ACB Radio will provide up to four hours streaming on Live Event to broadcast the event.
The ACB Radio Management Team will process all applications within 14 days of receipt and will provide the ACB affiliate or organization with its approved event date and time. If no dates are available, the affiliate or organization will be notified and the application fee will be returned.
ACB Radio engineering support will be provided based on availability at the agreed-upon hourly rate.
ACB will allow postings on both the ACB Leadership and ACB-L lists, subject to list guidelines and/or policies.
Affiliate or Organization Responsibilities
The affiliate or organization will create and distribute all advertising for the event.
The affiliate or organization will provide all auction items and be liable for the quality and description of the items.
The affiliate or organization will handle all auction disputes. The affiliate or organization will handle all financial transactions.
The affiliate or organization will provide all facilities, including phones, sound equipment, engineering feed and on air broadcast talent.
The affiliate or organization will handle all shipping and related shipping costs for auction items purchased.
The affiliate or organization will provide its own website for display and advertising of auction items and/or details of the event.
The Special Events Committee and the Resource Development Committee look forward to this exciting fundraising opportunity and encourage affiliates and organizations to participate.
ACB Award Criteria Revised 10-16 Wording
The ACB Awards Committee is recommending some wording changes in the criteria for each of ACB’s recognized awards. Please review the new and current language below, and make any suggestions for wording changes back to me via email in the next five days, so that I can incorporate any suggestions into final language that we can review and approve at the board meeting. I think we can accomplish most of this work via email prior to the board meeting.
Thanks
Kim Charlson
[email protected]
The Robert S. Bray Award
Current Language:
The Robert S. Bray Award is given to a person who has made a contribution for improving library technology or communication devices. It could also be given for expanding access for all blind people, or making opportunities within the mainstream media.
New Language:
The Robert S. Bray Award is given in honor of the first director of what is now the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped. This award may be given to an individual or an organization that has made a significant contribution to improving library services, information technology or communication access.
The Durward K. McDaniel Ambassador Award
Current Language:
The Durward K. McDaniel Ambassador Award is given in recognition of a blind person who may or may not be a member of a blindness organization but who has, through his or her personal characteristics and activities, unrelated to his/her employment, contributed most to the acceptance and understanding of blind people as capable, contributing members of the community.
New Language:
The Durward K. McDaniel Ambassador Award is given in honor of ACB’s founding father and first national representative. It is presented to an individual who exhibits a positive image of blindness in his/her community. This candidate does not have to be a member of or active in any organization of the blind or be engaged in work for the blind.
The George Card Award
Current Language:
The George Card Award is given to an individual who has dedicated his or her life to work with and for blind people, making a real difference and improving quality of life, for providing leadership and being a positive role model.
New Language:
The George Card Award is given in honor of George Card, who was the executive secretary of the Wisconsin Council of the Blind, a member of ACB’s board of directors, a delegate to the World Council for the Welfare of the Blind, and an associate editor of “The Braille Forum.” It is presented in recognition of outstanding service by a blind person who has contributed to the betterment of the blindness community. This recipient must possess leadership qualities and demonstrate strength as a positive role model.
The James R. Olsen Distinguished Service Award
Current Language:
The James R. Olsen Distinguished Service Award is periodically given to individuals who have made important contributions which have advanced opportunities for the blind community. This award can be given to an individual or an organization.
New Language:
The James R. Olsen Distinguished Service Award is given in honor of Jim Olsen, ACB’s longest serving staff member, who served as assistant treasurer, treasurer, and executive director of ACB Enterprises and Services. It may be given to an individual or organization that has made important contributions to advance opportunities for the blindness community.
No Language Change:
The Affiliate Outreach Award is based on a recommendation by an affiliate president, which recognizes a local chapter for a new outreach program. This program must have a measurable outcome.
No Language Change:
The Affiliate Growth Awards are based on the greatest increase in membership, as determined by the 2016-2017 membership reports.
Margarine G. Beaman Volunteer Recognition Award
No Language Change:
The American Council of the Blind has created the Margarine G. Beaman Volunteer Recognition Award to honor individuals who have given tirelessly of their efforts, resources, expertise or time toward improving the quality of life in the blindness community. The achievements, accomplishments or service, on which the nominations are based, must reflect ACB's vision and mission. This award may be given to a deserving individual or organization.