[NFB-Arkansas] October Meeting Minutes-For Your Review

[Donna Walker]

NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND-ARKANSAS
Meeting Minutes: Chapter at Large


DATE: Saturday, October 30, 2021 (during State Convention)

MEMBERS PRESENT: Tanya VanHouten, Irma Nelson, Donna Walker, Dick
Walker, Jimmy Sparks, Donavon Cavender, Kelly Robson, Ron Owens,
Tracey Owens, Susie Sexson

VISITORS:

The meeting began with the Federation Pledge and a call of the role.
The primary purpose of this particular meeting, each year, is to hold
our chapter elections.

NOMINATING COMMITTEE REPORT: Delivered by Ron Owens. (Committee
members were Ron Owens, Irma Nelson and Kelly Robson) Ron reported
that they submitted the following slate of officers:

President, Tanya VanHouten
Vice President, Donavon Cavender
Secretary,
Treasurer,
Board Member, Jimmy Sparks

MOTION: Made by Donna Walker and seconded by Dick Walker that we
accept the nominating committee report and elect Tanya VanHouten,
Donavon Cavender and Jimmy Sparks by acclamation. Motion passed.

Secretary: Ron Owens nominated Donna Walker for Secretary. Dick Walker
moved that nominations cease and Donna Walker be elected to continue
as Secretary, seconded by Jimmy Sparks. Motion passed and Donna Walker
was elected to continue as Secretary.

Treasurer: Dick Walker nominated Susie Sexson as Treasurer. Dick
Walker moved to cease nominations and that Susie Sexson be elected to
continue as treasurer, seconded by Ron Owens. Motion passed and Susie
was elected to continue as Treasurer.

Meeting was adjourned so that we could get some quick lunch before the
afternoon session began.

NEXT MEETING: Tuesday, November 16, 2021 at 7:30 p.m.
Conference Call and Zoom

Submitted By: Donna Walker, Chapter Secretary



On 12/21/21, Donna Walker <walkercutoff at gmail.com> wrote:
> Hope that everyone will be able to join us tomorrow, and don’t forget to
> bring your family traditions and special Christmas dessert or snack recipes
> to share with the group.
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> Begin forwarded message:
>
> From: Donna Walker <walkercutoff at gmail.com>
> Date: December 21, 2021 at 12:07:00 AM CST
> To: walkercutoff at gmail.com
> Subject: November Meeting Minutes-For Your Review
>
> NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND-ARKANSAS
> Meeting Minutes: Chapter at Large
>
>
> DATE: Tuesday, November 16, 2021
>
> MEMBERS PRESENT: Tanya VanHouten, Kelly Robson, Donavon Cavender, Dick
> Walker, Ron Owens, Tracey Owens, Jimmy Sparks, Donna Walker, Larry
> Wayland, Orville Toothman, Irma Nelson
>
> VISITORS: Brandon Patterson, Betty Johnson
>
> The meeting was called to order by Chapter President Tanya VanHouten
> at 7:30 p.m. The role was called and visitors introduced. This was
> followed by the Federation Pledge and the NFB One Minute Message.
>
> Minutes and Treasurer’s Reports: Tabled until next meeting. Donna and
> Susie both attempting to catch up. (August, September and October)
>
> OLD BUSINESS
> Fundraising: Reminder about the smoked meat snack sticks. Please
> remember to mention the fundraiser and share the link to order.
> Contact Tanya if you need any information about the products or how to
> order.
>
> NEW BUSINESS
> Dual-Option meeting: Tonight we are trying the option of accessing our
> meeting calls by both conference call number and on the Zoom platform,
> simultaneously. So far, seems to be working well. Hope this will
> increase membership and make them available to a wider audience.
>
> Fundraising Ideas: Tanya asked if anyone had any ideas or information
> about possible fundraisers for the New Year. Donna mentioned that she
> has contacted representatives for both Scentsy and Pampered Chef and
> both offer fundraising programs. Discussion: Of products offered and
> who we might want to speak at a future meeting about those options.
> Group agreed that Donna will ask the Scentsy consultant
> to call in to the January meeting.
>
> MOTION: Made by Jimmy and seconded by Larry to leave the chapter dues
> at $5 instead of raising them to $6, as we voted to do in March. (This
> because the state affiliate has voted to raise the state dues from $5
> to $10, instead of the $6 they discussed previously. Motion passed.
> (This means that dues will be $15.00 for 2022: $10 for state and $5
> for chapter.)
>
> Dues: Need to be mailed to Susie Sexson, chapter treasurer, no later
> than January 31. To make it easier, Tanya has printed off address
> labels with Susie’s mailing address and will be sending one to each of
> us in the mail. Great Idea Tanya-Saves people having to call for
> Susie’s address-no excuses to be late. ($15.)
>
> 2022 Goals and Priorities: There is a Push to set goals and priorities
> for chapters and affiliates for next year, to better focus our efforts
> and resources. Donavon has recently been to Leadership at National and
> this is one of the topics they covered. Tanya asked Donavon to head up
> this committee for the chapter-Donavon accepted if that is what the
> chapter prefers. MOTION: Made by Ron and seconded by Jimmy to appoint
> Donavon to act as our representative on the state level for this
> activity and to head up our chapter committee to come up with our list
> of goals and priorities for 2022. Motion passed.
>
> ANNOUNCEMENTS
> Washington Seminar: February 7-10. They are currently planning for it
> to be in-person and not virtual.
> National Convention: July 6-10 in New Orleans. They are currently
> planning for it to be in-person, and/or both in-person and everywhere
> and anywhere. Too early to tell yet.
>
> NEXT MEETING: Tuesday, December 21, 7:30 p.m.
>
> DISCUSSION: Donavon brought up the idea of the At-Large chapter
> hosting a future State Convention in Harrison. He was approached by
> someone from the Harrison Convention and Visitors Bureau after
> attending the Lions Club meeting. They offered to help out in any way
> possible if we consider holding future conventions there. There is
> interest in the chapter. Perhaps not in 2023, but maybe the next year
> as we have had a virtual convention and now possibly in-person for
> spring 2022 in NW Arkansas-might need to consider central part of the
> state for 2023. Thanks Donavon for checking this out for future
> consideration.
>
> DISCUSSION: Donna brought up need to have some sort of virtual
> get-together for the December meeting after the business has been
> concluded. (Christmas traditions and/or special Christmas recipes?)
> Seemed to be the most popular. Need to get your recipes to Tanya by a
> week before the meeting. Ron contributed to this wonderful idea and
> Dick mentioned how brilliant Ron is…Ron asked that the fact that Ron
> is brilliant be put in the Minutes so that Tracey will know. If this
> works, Larry would like the same thing mentioned in the next meeting
> for his wife, Chris.
>
> Meeting adjourned-See everyone on December 21.
>
> Submitted By: Donna Walker, Chapter Secretary
>