Illinois Association of Blind Students
Board Minutes for December 8, 2008

Members and guests present included:
Carmen Dennis: Guest 
Casandra  Certeza:  Board member
Debbie Stein: Board Member
Michelle Wesley
Patti Chang: Guest
Kelly Doty: guest
Aly Slaughter: President

Ronza Othman: Treasurer
Araceli Avina: Secretary

Connie J. Davis: Guest
Brandy Winicki: Board Member, Not Present at meeting
First Item:
Aly Slaughter presented the commitee appointments.  
Commitee Appointments:
Fundraising Commitee:
Cochaired By Ronza Othman and Brandy Winicki

Public Relations:  Casandra Certeza and Araceli AVina
Programs and Planning: Ronza Othman and Michelle Wesley
Membership and Recruitment: Brandy Winicki and Casandra Certeza
OutReach and Advocacy:
Debbie Stein and Araceli Avina
Mentorship: Debbie Stein and Michelle Wesley

Aly asked if there were any questions, comments, or objections.   Debbie and Ronza both asked for clarification of the commitees and what each consisted of.  It was explained that each Iabs Committee works the same way as the NFBI committees and that these are just extensions of the NFBI, but specifically for IABS.  Patti Chang asked if these committee descriptions were posted on the IABS site.  Aly said that they would be posted.

Second Item:
Washington Seminar
Aly Proceeded to ask about Washington Seminar and if whether anyone had already sent in appplications.  Araceli did not send in an application.  Patti stated that the applications were due December 1.  The Nabs or National Association of Blind Students meeting has been moved from Saturday to Sunday morning as stated by Aly Slaughter.  
No Treasury Report 
No Secretary Report
Aly asked about new fundraising ideas.  Michelle asked if we would be trying scheduling Schwan's again.  
No Spring Student Seminar.
Debbie stated that there would be a Parent Seminar in place of that at which the students were encouraged to be present to help plan activities for the teens who might be present with their parents.    Casandra asked  if a date had ben set for Parent Seminar.  Debbie stated we want to try to schedule for March or April.  Araceli asked if applications had been sent out yet.  No applications sent out yet.  
Aly made a motion to have IABS coordinate the Kid Camp for the Parent Seminar that is scheduled for April of 2009.  The motion was seconded and carried.
Aly then made a motion to assist Kelly Doty with anything she needed for the Teen program.  The motion was seconded and carried.  

Old Business:
Patti asked about the website for IABS.  She commented that it neeeds to be updated.  
New business:

Connie does not have a membership list because members haven't paid their dues.  Connie made the suggestion of getting the new members sent to her so she could set them up with the Braille Examiner.  The list of new members will be sent to Connie Davies from Debbie Stein.  
It was stated that  J.J. is still our regional representative.  Ronza Othman stated that a request was made to have that changed but it was shot down.  Ronza asked about what role NFBI wanted IABS to have in the Youth Slam and how to help Kelly with that.  Patti suggested that IABS help with the recruitment by calling different people.  Kelly asked that if we knew of any teachers in our areas to talk to them and do some recruitment and outreach that way.  We were also encouraged to participate as mentors.  The application for mentors can be found at 
http://www.nfb.org.
Patti asked if Araceli knew any V.I. teachers in the Elgin area.  Araceli was asked to contact some teachers and sk if they have any blind students so that IABS can visit and make a presentation.  Kelly said that there was a nice dVD to take for the presentation.  Nelly is a contact for IABS in the Salt Creek area.  Michelle asked about what way to get free white cane.  Debbie said www.nfb.org was the site for the free white cane application.  The next IABS conference call meeting was set for Sunday January 4, 2009 at 8:00 Pm.  
Respectfully Submitteda
Araceli Avina