EDITOR'S NOTE:
The article below describes actions which the ACB Board of Directors took at their mid-year meeting and paraphrases the content of ACB Resolution 99-30 within the context of the discussion which took place at that meeting. The use of the word, "convicted," is erroneous. ACB Resolution 99-30 refers to "documented disreputable business practices." The account of discussions which occurred at the ACB Board of Directors meeting should not be construed to imply, in any way, that MaxiAids has ever been convicted of a crime. As far as we are aware, MaxiAids has never been convicted of illegal business practices.
Since that meeting, Maxi-Aids has asked the Board to review its current position. A small working group is looking into the matter and intends to report to the Board as soon as practicable. The working group wishes to thank Maxi- Aids, Howe Press and others who have assisted the working group with its inquiry.
April 19, 2002
President's Report, Christopher Gray: A new practice will be tried at this summer's convention in Houston in an effort to ensure that more members can be present at the final business meeting. That function will be held all day on Friday with the seminars usually scheduled for Friday afternoon postponed until Saturday morning.
Gray has made some effort at establishing a working relationship with the National Federation of the Blind, meeting with Marc Maurer and Joanne Wilson. The two organization presidents did not discuss their opposing views on sheltered workshop employment or ACB's concern about the appointment of Joanne Wilson as the director of the Department of Rehabilitation. When Gray met with Wilson and asked about the department's acceptance of the 13 principles Charlie Crawford identified some months ago as guidelines in rehabilitation services, she maintained that the department does not respond to directives from any outside organization or group. She will speak at the ACB convention in July. Subjects to discuss with her are the Ticket to Work and One-Stop programs which run the risk of supplanting the work of the Department of Rehabilitation.
In continuing efforts to increase fund-raising, an organization called Fundflow is assembling a tool kit to be used in approaching businesses. In that connection, Gray requested that each board member submit to him a one- or two-paragraph autobiography to be used as information in the kit.
A particularly interesting fundraising possibility centers around helping an organization called Smart Media to sell a type of radio that can access web sites. ACB would profit from a portion of the sales price and also from a share in the monthly fee charged by the operators of the service to those who access the very large number of stations that will be available to them. Because of the many questions involved in this kind of arrangement, the board, in executive session, voted to have the executive committee consider the matter thoroughly after securing information from a contract lawyer skilled in tax law for non- profit organizations and a second lawyer with expertise in electronic and dot-com law. No specific date was fixed for this report, but Gray cautioned that prompt action is necessary since other organizations are also manifesting interest in this plan.
A motion was also passed concerning employee bonuses and a second one assigning to the executive committee the task of drawing up criteria to govern the position of the executive director.
Preparing for the 2002 ACB Convention, Cynthia Towers: The team assembled to plan for the convention is working well together. Already the Adam's Mark Hotel is almost full, and the Hilton has many rooms reserved. Efforts are being made to simplify and make less expensive the transfer of persons between the airport and the hotel. A shuttle will also be available between the Adam's Mark and Hilton since walking would require crossing a four-lane highway and two parking lots; some affiliate and committee meetings will be held at the Hilton.
Plans are under way concerning tours, quick meals, more refrigerators for rent, brailling of up-to-date restaurant menus, and the like. Ed Bradley has tapes describing the hotel layout which state presidents took home to copy for their convention- bound members. An audio traffic signal is promised for an important intersection a block from the hotel, and there is a possibility that an off-duty police officer may be available, since all Houston police are required to work some hours for a non-profit function. Towers praised particularly the assistance of Texas President Ed Bradley, Carla Ruschival, Mike Hoenig, and Margie Donovan. She provoked hearty laughter when, in warning against placing names on the ACB master account without consulting her, she remarked that as a teacher, her motto has been, "When in doubt, I cancel you out."
Guide Dog Concerns, Debbie Grubb: After extensive discussion and consideration, it has been decided that the contract that had already been made with the Adam's Mark Hotel should govern maintaining and cleaning of the guide dog relief area. Outside companies contacted to attend to this matter from the Thursday prior to the convention to the Saturday closing date would charge, on average, $4,700. In view of increased costs, guide dog users will be asked to donate $15 for this year's services. The task force decided that arrangements of this kind must be made for each convention, rather than by an established procedure, since the conditions vary so greatly from place to place.
Membership, Pamela Shaw: There is so much interest in the activities of the committee that many persons have asked to be a part of it, so subcommittees are being established to work on specific problems or in limited geographical areas. Some of the concerns and tasks are: 1) committee responsibility for the first-timers meetings at the convention; 2) counsel to state affiliates that find it hard to work with special-interest affiliates on matters like fund-raising; 3) assistance after March 15 for affiliates that have been understood to be in danger of dissolution but which appear in some instances to be within acceptable parameters. To share ideas and information on these and similar issues, the membership committee has established a listserv. Affiliates are urged to have their membership chairs contact Terry Pacheco at the ACB office to participate in that list, but persons who are not computer users are also invited to be a part of the discussion through letters and telephone calls.
The affiliate formerly known as the Social Service Providers wishes to extend its membership and focus to Human Services Providers. The board passed a motion to issue a new charter with the change of name to ACB Human Service Professionals at the convention in July 2002.
ACB Financial Situation: Ardis Bazyn, ACB Treasurer, stated that final total figures for the year 2001 will be issued by Jim Olsen at the end of the month. Figures for most of the year are: total receipts, $1,527,588; expenditures, $1,261,895; and surplus, $265,694 distributed between the ACB reserves, money set aside for the resource development committee, and an amount carried forward. The board moved to utilize reserve funds while money is coming in to pay this year's expenses. Funding will cover having Jonathan Mosen on ACB Radio full time, completing the pedestrian safety project, perhaps increasing the term for an intern, and continuing the directions and programs pursued last year.
Those who wish further details on these matters and on how revenues will support the organization are welcome to contact the ACB treasurer. It is hoped that many ACB members will become monthly contributors to the organization through authorized withdrawals from their banks. Further information on that plan will be forthcoming.
Resource Development Committee, Sandy Sanderson: The book- signing ceremony for the ACB history, intended as a major fund- raising event, has had to be postponed because the book is not quite finished, and publication dates are still under discussion. Work is progressing on the price structure for the ATM machines which it is hoped affiliates will install in areas of high activity to earn funds both for ACB and the sponsoring affiliate. A report from the committee on projected costs of operation will be submitted by March 10.
New ACB Logo, Jerry Annunzio: Several samples of logos were distributed, a vote taken, and a new logo with certain recommended modifications was adopted.
Information Access Committee, Roger Petersen: Responding to a request from Tara Wiseman of Utah, efforts are under way to ensure an uninterrupted supply of music transcribed into braille. Copyright issues and a supply of trained transcribers are involved.
A technical assistance guide on alternative formats is near completion. It will help pin down responsibility for problems that job seekers face when they cannot access programs. Such individuals are urged to report their problems to the committee.
Board of Publications, Winifred Downing: Since last year's experiment in furnishing information on the ACB web site and ACB Radio about candidates for election at the national convention elicited interest and enthusiasm, the process will be repeated this year. The May issue of "The Braille Forum" will give details for candidates wishing to participate. They will be required to answer in 250 words each of the five questions that will be formulated by the appointed members of the BOP, since all the elected members are up for re-election this year.
Because the BOP is required to examine and update its editorial policy every two years, that task was initiated and completed, resulting mainly in minor changes to ensure clarity. One addition is the requirement that the editor of "The Braille Forum" be a member of any committee representing the public face of ACB and present at all meetings and conference calls.
The BOP recommended decisions that led to contracts for the production of all formats of the Forum. Though the price charged by Braille Institute has increased sharply, it was decided to retain that agency because of excellent work and prompt delivery.
Staff Reports: Charles Crawford, Penny Reeder, and Melanie Brunson reported on their office activities. Efforts continue to have the voice mail system work better, and Crawford promised an improvement in the Washington Connection. Penny said that subscriptions to "The Braille Forum" in all formats are down slightly from last year, but it is not possible to determine how much the decrease is caused by the fact that more and more people are reading it online.
Position on MaxiAids: Brian Charlson brought to the attention of the board extensively documented accusations concerning that organization's purchase from African entities of braille writers which were later sold for much more money in the United States when those machines had been subsidized by contributions under a grant from the Hilton-Perkins Foundation. The braillers had been intended to alleviate the education deficits experienced in under-developed countries. Since ACB Resolution 99-30 bars any organization convicted of unfair or disreputable practices from exhibiting at ACB conventions, advertising in its program, or disseminating information about its products in the convention newspaper or the telephone newsline, MaxiAids, even though it has already been sent its registration packet for exhibiting in 2002, will be denied that privilege. The details of how this information will be conveyed to MaxiAids will be considered by the executive committee.
Adjournment: The board meeting adjourned at 11 a.m. on February 18.