KNFB BOARD MEETING MINUTES
September 7, 2013.

The quarterly board meeting of the National Federation of the Blind of Kansas was called to order by President Donna Wood on Saturday, September 7, 2013 at
1:47 pm.
We met at Independence, Inc. in Lawrence.
Board members present were Assistant Treasurer Martha Kelly, treasurer Bob Fuller, First Vice President Tom Page, President Donna Wood, Secretary Sharon Luka, and board members Leonard Silkey Jr. and Rob Tabor.
Also present were general members Athena Johnson, Meg Silkey, Randy Phifer, and Serena Nickell.
Guests included drivers Charlie King and Dale  Pulkrabek. 
Board member Pila Mahoney and Second Vice President Susie Stanzel attended by teleconference.
Secretary's report was given by Sharon Luka.
It was moved by Tom that the minutes be approved as read with treasury numeric figure corrections.
The motion was seconded by Leonard. Motion passed.
Tom requested that chapter reports be submitted to him via by email for placement in the next newsletter.
Bob Fuller voiced the treasurer's report.
The final balance is $265794.71.
If any checks are cut between meetings, submit the amounts and corresponding numbers to Bob via email.
The 909 was reviewed.
Bob received expense reports from Tom.
Tom moved the treasurer's report be accepted as read. This was seconded by Leonard. Motion passed.

In finance items, Donna shared on the Shay Productions. We must alert communities of the show's upcoming venues.

In other business, Donna received a request for a loan from Chikako Mochizuki.
Chikako now has a doctorate in Asian history.
Thus, her visa status alters at KU and the United States.
She owes KU around $800 for her housing.
Chikako has a year to find a job.
She will owe around $1500 by the end of September.
Her proposal included a payment plan.
Tom thought we could request two or three percent interest.
This interest would be $3 for every hundred, at total of $1545.00.
Rob moved we accept Chikako's proposal with a three percent simple interest rate.
This was seconded by Tom.
Motion passed.
We then discussed the vehicle donation program.
Rob and Susie received stickers.
Donna handed out said stickers today to be posted at stores and other facilities.
On the auction, we must have our E bay donation sent into National.
Our best bet is Kansas beef.
Donna will ask Creekstone Farms or Sterling.
Tom moved we empower Donna to make final decision on the auction donation. This was seconded by Leonard. 
Donna will also ask Julie Hunter if a gift certificate can be auctioned for wine on E bay.

Our 2014 scholarship program was discussed.
We cannot continue giving at this rate without incoming funds. 
Tom moved we approve three $1000 scholarships for 2014. Bob seconded this. Motion carried.

Tom gave a report on our ensuing state convention.
We will convene at the Holiday Inn i35 location, formerly known as Holiday Inn Select, 549 South Rock Road.
Gary Wunder will serve as our National representative.
Sharon will email information on Seaport Air for Gary's possible transportation avenue.
On Saturday, we will have general sessions on Space Available, Sub minimum wage, and the TEACH bill.
Gary Wunder, Anil Lewis and Kevin Worley are working on the sub minimum wage endeavor.
Tom will call for convention volunteers.
On registration, we will charge ten dollars at the door, and five dollars in advance.
Bob will manage preregistration.
Go Wichita may have on site volunteers.
Banquet will be $25; ten for lunch, five registration, at a total of $40.
On vendors, we will install a ten dollar fee.

Next we discussed state convention stipends for students and new attendees.
Tom suggested these criteria be discussed at the local chapter level.
Stipends for first time attendees, students and scholarship winners come from state affiliate treasury.
Other stipends will be granted through chapter treasuries.
At-large members' financial need will be met from the state affiliate.
Tom moved that state convention stipends be made available to first time member attendees and students through the state treasury.
This was seconded by Leonard. Motion passed.
On a second motion, Tom moved that further state convention stipends be made available to members at the discretion of the chapters.
This was seconded by Leonard. Motion passed.
On a third motion, Tom moved that all state convention stipends be awarded through our normal mechanism (vetted by chapter presidents) and approved by President Wood.
This was seconded by Leonard. Motion passed.
Final approval of these will be made by Donna.
Rob gave an update on the ensuing Friday seminar, the ABCS of the NFB.
Basically, it's an everything you wanted to know about the NFB but were afraid to ask seminar.
Maryse Magnant wants to present on "thinking for change," personal development therapy.
Also on Friday afternoon, we will house a mentee,  mentor, and scholarship pizza party.
The gathering will include former scholarship winners.

Donna received a call, email and letter from Cathy Miller, the secretary of the new deaf-blind division.
They want a coordinator to help form a Kansas deaf-blind division.
The name of Tina Bruce was suggested for this liaison. Donna will check with her.

Donna reported on Collaborative
strategies seminar.
Buna is stranded in Nepal, her native land, on family matters. 
She cannot leave till around September 22.
The seminar was last set for September 20, 2013.
We will need to repay the Lawrence Holiday Inn for food and conference rooms.
Perhaps we could do an NFB Kansas officers' leadership retreat.
We could do creative planning
session for our ensuing future.
Rob moved we conduct a strategic planning session in lieu of the canceled collaborative strategies seminar, inviting board members, chapter officers, and presidential designees.
This was seconded by Sharon.
Motion passed as amended.

We then discussed Washington Seminar.
Susie moved we allocate $4800 for travel reimbursements for the Washington Seminar.
Rob seconded this. Motion carried.

Donna shared on legal updates.
Tina did not win her July 28, 2013 trial.
This was a large step backward for the state of Kansas.
The jury pool did not understand reasonable accommodation and the true skills of blind people.

We then aired committee reports.
Rob reported on legislation.
The new liaison was greatly trained in Baltimore.
We must try to secure state funding for Newsline.
We could ask the legislature to aid with the State Universal Service Fund.
This will demand changes in legislation.
Scott White will help us with the necessary language for the 2014 legislative session.
Tom gave more updates on Newsline.
We will be slowly shut down by Baltimore, but work will be done to have a bill on the floor this spring.
There was a Help committee meeting.
Sheltered workshop placement may be considered a legitimate closure for blind people.
Interestingly, Senator Pat Roberts voted no on this.

Scott White wondered if our board would match a private Newsline sponsor for one year.
Rob moved that if a donor can be found willing to contribute to Newsline, the NFB of Kansas will match the donation up to $15000.
This was seconded by Sharon. 
Motion passed.

As our last agenda item, Donna gave a scholarship committee report.
Winnings go to:
First: Dustin Turner, $2500.
He is attending Baker University, Baldwin, Kansas.
His double major is in business and computer science.
Second: Charles Wilks.
He is studying at K. State, Manhattan.
Charles is majoring in music education. He will receive $1500.
Third: Ana Avramenko.
Ana is studying at ESU with a major in interpreting.
She will also receive $1500.
Ana recently came to us from our Colorado Center for the Blind.

All business addressed, we picked a board meeting date.
We will convene by conference line Sunday, December 1, at two pm.
It was moved and seconded that we adjourn.
Motion passed.
We adjourned at 4:10 pm.


Respectfully Submitted:
Sharon Luka, Secretary