[nfbmi-talk] Agenda May 6, 2010, 8-30 P.M.

Wed May 5 02:37:47 UTC 2010

Agenda May 6    , 2010, 8-30 P.M.    Please call 605-475-4333 code 902-855 
pound. Call to OrderQuorumIntroduction of participating members.Secretary's 
Report. Terri Wilcox. The Minutes were already sent out for the April 22 
meeting. These Minutes are at the bottom of this agenda. Treasurer's Report. 
Peter Zaremba.Appointment to the Commission Board. Congratulations John 
Scott!  Correspondence to Governor, Attorney General, state senator andCivil 
Service Commission.Update on Letter to Jo Ann Pilarski. Update on Freedom of 
Information Request issue including the Freedom of Information Request 
concerning the Federal Audit/Monitoring of the Commission. Preliminary 
Monitoring report from September of 2009. discussion.--Positions we gave the 
Commission Board during the March 19 meeting.  Discussion.--Future protest 
plans. . Meeting of blind vendors from last week's workshop update.New task 
force from vendors. This includes vendors, agency, consumer groups and 
Commission Board members.   Next Statewide Quarterly board meeting. May 22, 
2010 11 A.M. to 5 P.M.  The Kalamazoo Public Library is located at 315 South 
Rose Street. Discussion.--Dinner after board meeting proposed. update on 
College policy. Elizabeth Mohnke, Fred Wurtzel.National Convention 
Transportation?Volunteers in Independence Market at National Convention 
Needed. State caucus at National Convention?New Business:Update on the 
Closed meeting of the Michigan Commission for the Blind on May 3. 
Ramifications of a closed meeting, plus results of the meeting when it was 
opened. Fred Wurtzel, Joe Sontag, Terry Eagle, and Mark Eagle were the only 
ones who went. The things we have been saying about the Commission are 
starting to be proven right. Discussion from State President, Larry Posont 
to Dr. Maurer.  Vendor Fair volunteers are needed. Vendor Fair is May 12, 10 
A.M to 4 P.M at the Morris Lawrence Building on the Washtenaw Community 
College Campus.We are working on the Complaint on the signage of the Victor 
Building. Email address: president.nfb.mi at gmail.comThank you for being a 
part of the NFB of Michigan. Together, we are changing what it means to be 
blind in Michigan.  Board Meeting Minutes April 22, 2010, 8-30 P.M.

Call to Order Larry Posont, Mike Powell, Marcus Simmons, Terri Wilcox, Peter
Zaremba, Dave Robinson and John Scott.

Quorum yes

Introduction of participating members.

Secretary's Report. Terri Wilcox.

The Minutes were already sent out for the April 8 meeting. These Minutes are
at the bottom of this agenda. Marcus Simmons moved and Mike Powell seconded
that the Secretary's report be approved.

Treasurer's Report. Peter Zaremba. We have $2000 in the affiliate treasury.

Update on letter to the Governor. The governor's office responded verbally
but nothing came of it.

Update on letter to the Attorney General. The Attorney General's office
wants our evidence but we will not give it to them.

Update on letter to the Civil Service Commission. The Civil Service
Commission promised to send information to the proper authorities.

Update on Letter to Jo Ann Pilarski. She wants the NFBMI to trust her. The
Commission Board may have part of a meeting that is closed on the role of
the director and the Commission Board.

Update on Freedom of Information Request concerning the security guards at
the Commission Meeting. We received documents about the bullet proof draping
and the security guards that will be placed on the internet.

Update on the Freedom of Information Request concerning the Federal
Audit/Monitoring of the Commission. Preliminary Monitoring report from
September of 2009. They are fighting us with words. Many organizations have
the report. Commission for the Blind Board meeting minutes mention the
report.

It was suggested to send all Foia requests and appeals to

mikecox at michigan.gov

Discussion.--Tentative Minutes of the March 19 Commission Board Meeting.
Most of our documents were not put in the minutes. Interested persons were
referred to

www.nfbmi.org.The one document that they quoted almost verbatim was the
document concerning the injustices of the current Business Enterprise
Program. They did not include the part about retirement.

Appointments to the Commission Board. Fred Wurtzel applied for the
Commission Board.

Discussion.--Future protest plans were discussed.

Meeting of blind vendors on April 16 update. The vendors met as planned and
will put notes on the website. The operators Committee is having a meeting
tonight to develop a task force.

Camp Tuhsmeheta events for the summer of 2010. Larry Posont. Christine Boone
is running the Braille Camp. Fred Wurtzel is running the Science camp. Larry
Posont is running the culinary Camp. Campers at the Culinary Camp will bring
home a crock pot. Larry will have more to report at the next board meeting.

Next Statewide Quarterly board meeting, May 22, 2010 11 A.M. to 5 P.M. The
meeting will be in Kalamazoo at the Library.

Discussion.--Dinner after board meeting proposed. We might go somewhere like
Old Peninsula.

Update on College policy. Elizabeth Mohnke, Fred Wurtzel. Jerry Taeckens
wants ideas and suggestions on the college policy sent to her email address.
The deadline for emailing ideas for the college policy is a week or two
before June 19.

National Convention Transportation? We are negotiating a deal with Amtrak.
We must register twenty people by the May 22 Board Meeting in order to get
the discounted rates. We can have up to thirty people. If at least twenty
people have not paid by May 22, then we must cancel the group discount and
reservations no later than May 24. We must register 20 people 60 days ahead
and collect money 30 days in advance of departure. We get discounts for
people with disabilities plus 20 percent off. We leave at 7-11 on July 1 and
get to Dallas the next morning. Cabs cost approximately $12 to ride to and
from the

 train station and the hotel. We leave Dallas at 3-40 P.M. on July 9 and get
back at midnight on July 10. Dave Robinson will call the Lansing chapter.
John Scott will contact the Detroit chapter. Marcus Simmons will call the
Western Wayne County chapter. J.J. will consult with Kalamazoo.

Volunteers in Independence Market at National Convention

Are needed.

State caucus at National Convention? We will try to have it on the second at
9 P.M.

New Business:

Discussion.--Potential NFB of Michigan Involvement in an ADA complaint on
the signage of the Victor Building. The complaint would be against the state
agency. Meetings must be accessible. CIVIL service rules are trumped by
federal Ada civil rights laws. Dave Robinson made a motion that the Nfb
explores filing an ADA complaint. Mike Powell and Marcus Simmons seconded
the motion. The motion passed.

Check about the student division meeting.

Adjourn at 9-50.

Email address:

President.nfb.mi at gmail.com

Thank you for being a part of the NFB of Michigan. Together, we are changing
what it means to be blind in Michigan.