November 27
Call to Order, Roll Call, Review and Approval of Agenda, and Adoption of Minutes
The American Council of the Blind (ACB) Board of Directors met by conference call on Tuesday, November 27 and Monday, December 3, 2018, with the primary objective being to review and approve the 2019 ACB Budget and 2019 ACB conference and convention budget. President Kim Charlson called the 11/27 portion of 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, Dan Spoone, John McCann, Ray Campbell, David Trott, Mitch Pomerantz, Denise Colley, Dan Dillon, Katie Frederick, Jim Kracht, Doug Powell, Pat Sheehan and Jeff Thom. Board members Jeff Bishop and Sara Conrad were not present; board member Michael Talley joined after the roll call. Board of Publications representative Ron Brooks was present representing that body. Staff present: Eric Bridges, ACB Executive Director, and Nancy Marks-Becker, ACB Chief Financial Officer.
President Charlson reviewed the 11/27 portion of the agenda. Campbell moved and Frederick seconded adoption of the 11/27 agenda as presented; the motion carried.
Audit Management, Review of Performance Appraisal
ACB Chief Financial Officer Nancy Marks-Becker discussed the audit management letter which had been sent to the board in advance of the meeting. By consensus, the board acknowledged receipt of the management letter.
ACB President Kim Charlson indicated she had the budget committee, whose members have broad personnel management experience, review the performance appraisal for the executive director. This is required by BBB Wise Giving. By consensus, the board acknowledged receipt of this information.
The 2019 Budget: Revenue, Conference and Convention
ACB treasurer David Trott and ACB Chief Financial Officer Nancy Marks-Becker presented the revenue side of the 2019 ACB budget. There being no board-recommended changes, Campbell moved and Powell seconded approval of the revenue side of the 2019 ACB budget as presented. The motion carried. Total projected revenue is $1,170,181.
Nancy presented the revenue side of the 2019 ACB conference and convention budget. There being no board-recommended changes, Campbell moved and Trott seconded that the revenue side of the conference and convention budget be approved as presented, the motion carried. Total projected conference and convention revenue: $451,700.
Nancy presented the expense side of the conference and convention budget. There being no board-recommended changes, McCann moved and Powell seconded approval of the expense side of the Conference and Convention budget as presented, the motion carried. Total projected conference and convention expenses: $231,210
Recess
There being no further business, Campbell moved and Thom seconded that the board meeting be recessed until Monday, December 3 at 7 p.m. Central time. The motion carried, and the meeting recessed at 8:53 p.m. Central time.
December 3
Call to Order, Roll Call, Approval of Minutes
The board reconvened at 7:06 p.m. Central time on Monday, December 3, 2018. At the call of the roll, the following board members were present: Kim Charlson, Dan Spoone, John McCann, Ray Campbell, David Trott, Mitch Pomerantz, Denise Colley, Sara Conrad, Dan Dillon, Katie Frederick, Jim Kracht, Doug Powell, Pat Sheehan, Michael Talley and Jeff Thom. Board member Jeff Bishop was not present. Board of Publications representative Ron Brooks was present representing that body. Staff present: Eric Bridges, ACB Executive Director, and Nancy Marks-Becker, ACB Chief Financial Officer.
ACB Secretary Ray Campbell presented the October 5 and 6, 2018 ACB board meeting minutes. McCann moved and Pomerantz seconded that the minutes be adopted as distributed; the motion carried with one requested editorial correction in the area of the discussion of a strong organizational privacy policy.
2019 Budget: Expense Side
ACB treasurer David Trott and Chief Financial Officer Nancy Marks-Becker presented the expense side of the proposed ACB 2019 budget. There being no board-recommended changes, Campbell moved and McCann seconded approval of the expense side of the 2019 ACB budget as presented. The motion carried. Total projected expenses are $1,527,041. Pomerantz moved and Powell seconded adoption of the 2019 ACB budget in aggregate; the motion carried.
Mitch Pomerantz provided an overview of the North American-Caribbean region of the World Blind Union meeting held Friday, November 30 and hosted by ACB. Highlights included:
- Marrakesh Treaty: The diplomatic papers officially ratifying the treaty here in the United States have been prepared and will soon be signed by President Trump.
- UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: there likely won’t be any movement in the U.S. on this over the next few years.
- Quiet cars: Still need standards across the world.
- Trinidad and Tobago have applied to join as member nations of the WBU, Mitch anticipates they will be accepted shortly.
- The next WBU meeting will be the 2020 Quadrennial General Assembly in Madrid, Spain in June of 2020.
There being no further business, McCann moved and Spoone seconded that the meeting be adjourned. The motion carried, and the meeting adjourned at 8:56 p.m. Central time.
Ray Campbell
Secretary
Date submitted: December 3, 2018
Date approved: December 18, 2018