[nfbmi-talk] August 6, 2011 Minutes National Federation of the Blind of Michigan QuarterlyBoard Meeting

[Elizabeth]

Wow! Apparently I missed something in these minutes as they were being read 
during the business meeting. I am not quite sure how I volunteered for 
anything during the August board meeting considering the fact that I was not 
even at this meeting in the first place. I would greatly appreciate it if 
others would not speak for me when I am not present at any future meetings 
within this organization.

Thanks,
Elizabeth



--------------------------------------------------
From: <trising at sbcglobal.net>
Sent: Sunday, November 06, 2011 9:55 PM
To: "NFBofMichigan List" <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
Subject: [nfbmi-talk] August 6,2011 Minutes National Federation of the Blind 
of Michigan QuarterlyBoard Meeting

> National Federation of the Blind of Michigan Quarterly Board Meeting
> August 6, 2011 Minutes, 10:00 to 4:00 P.M.
> Clarion Hotel
> 3600 Every. Cork St.,
> Kalamazoo, MI, 49001
> Quorum
> Secretary's Report, Terri Wilcox. Dave Robinson made a motion to accept 
> the Secretary's Report. Mike Powell seconded the motion. The Secretary's 
> Report was approved.
> Treasurer's Report, Mary Wurtzel. Newsline 1,329.25. Balance 5,142.5. 
> Remainder of grant 3,351.7. Affiliate Balance 1,790 deposit 761. Terri 
> Wilcox made a motion to accept the Treasurer's Report. Dave Robinson 
> seconded the motion. The Treasurer's Report was approved..
> Introduction of participating Members.
> President's Report, Larry Posont. Geri Taeckens and Jo Ann Pilarski 
> resigned from the Commission Board. They asked two people to sit on the 
> Commission Board. The two individuals were not interested. There is an 
> attempt to make the agency political, rather than an agency that 
> emphasizes quality rehabilitation. This is particularly true of the 
> Commission Board. Appointments to the Commission Board will occur by 
> October 1. On July 19, the Board received the best representation by 
> someone from the Attorney general's office concerning the Sheila Stelmach 
> case. Larry Posont has asked the Governor to appoint someone from the 
> Attorney General's office to represent the Commission Board. This person 
> should not represent the agency in any facet, including representing staff 
> or vendors. Blind people may receive Commission information on the web and 
> may be making progress concerning ADA accessibility. Keep pressure on the 
> board members. Each of us needs to take our concerns to our state senators 
> and State Congressmen. For fifteen years, we have not had the views of the 
> National Federation of the Blind represented on the Commission Board. We 
> will be spoken against no matter what we do. The Attorney General's Office 
> says the Commission board has the power if they choose to exercise it. The 
> affiliate needs to raise money and to get more members. Dave Robinson 
> suggests filing lawsuits against the Commission.
> National Convention Reports. The Convention will be in Dallas for 2012. 
> The Convention will be in Florida from 2013-2018. Mary Ann Robinson was in 
> the Mock Trial. Paul Bunn was a Jernigan Scholarship recipient. We heard 
> the audible sound in the Toyota car. The subminimum wage was discussed 
> frequently. There was an excellent membership seminar. The hotel was good 
> with expensive food. The national office is us, not them. Donations came 
> from the affiliate and the Lansing chapter. Get State convention on the 
> website.
> National Convention Fund Raising Report and Discussion, Dave Robinson. 
> Coffee costs us 5.50. We sell it for $10. We also sell sweat shirts, 
> tee-shirts, tote bags, and backpacks. We spent $167 to have products 
> shipped to Florida and $138 for shipping products back to Jackson. $761 is 
> our profit. Chapters may help with costs of shipping. Larry Posont 
> appointed Dave Robinson and Sheila Latham to be on a committee for 
> Convention sales.
> The State Convention is November 4-6. The Training Center will still be at 
> the Clarion. Three requests have been received to be exhibitors from 3-7 
> on Friday. These include, Heart Sight Greeting Cards, The Library for the 
> Blind of Ann Arbor, and a Diabetes Action Exhibit. Many of us think Cannon 
> should not speak on the Agenda. Possible Agenda items include: Parent 
> Seminar, state Scholarships, Midwest Enterprises for the Blind, (which 
> pays above minimum wage) Adams Modeling, (which may work with us on hair 
> and fashion for women) Tyler Merren, (holding classes or question and 
> answer on fitness for the blind), Agrability, Leader Dog, a Senior Seminar 
> and archery. We need a new Head of Hospitality. We need to determine a 
> time to hold the Resolutions Committee Meeting. The restaurant is 
> available early Saturday morning if we decide to use it. We must determine 
> who is leading for child care. Work on preregistration for state 
> Convention.
> Bridge Walk and Youth Outreach Report, Melinda Latham. Melinda Latham took 
> three youth to National Convention. Some highlights for the youth were the 
> exhibit hall and the Blind Driver Challenge simulator. Melinda is in 
> contact with Dean Transportation. Ten people have committed to attend the 
> Bridge Walk, but the camp needs 27. The affiliate will be responsible for 
> paying for twenty seven people, regardless of if twenty seven people 
> attend. Mary Wurtzel made a motion to cancel the Bridge Walk for this 
> year, but give priority for next year to the Bridge Walk. If we cancel for 
> this year, put 50 percent of the remaining grant money aside for the 
> Bridge Walk for next year. Marcus seconded the Motion. The motion was 
> approved with sadness. Melinda Latham is resigning from Youth Outreach, 
> but is helping with Youth Outreach for State Convention.
> Newsline. Newsline is still connected in Michigan as of August 6. Georgia 
> Kitchen and Marcus Simmons are working with an anonymous foundation 
> concerning the funding of Newsline. The National Federation of the Blind 
> sent a bill to the Agency. Pat Cannon implied we already received the 
> money to pay for Newsline. The Agency is working on paying the first 
> invoice. If individual blind people get jobs out of Newsline, the 
> Commission for the Blind should pay for Newsline out of stimulus money. 
> The Commission is spreading resources too thin for transition programs. 
> Numbers for Camp Daggett are up, while other programs, such as Camp 
> Tuhsmeheta, have low numbers of students. The Commission does not seem to 
> be helping students attend Commission sponsored events. Campers at art 
> camp are sleeping in tents because sighted people are in the camp. This is 
> the second time this summer that campers were moved. There is an active 
> proposal to sell the south 100 acres of camp, which amounts to a third of 
> the property. There was discussion about whether the trust was on paper or 
> whether it was financial without written documentation. We must contact 
> the Attorney General 'special Investigative Unit concerning the trust. A 
> memorial from Fred Wurtzel's father was to the trust fund at the Michigan 
> School for the Blind. The Commission Board can fund Newsline.
> Camp Tuhsmeheta, Report 2011.
> Braille, Terri Wilcox. Eleven students attended Braille Camp. Braille Camp 
> went well with improvements in Braille reading speed for six students. The 
> other five were learning Braille and reading aloud for accuracy. At the 
> end of the week, all of these could read at least the Braille alphabet, 
> and knew many, if not all, of the single letter contractions.
> Culinary, Larry Posont. Twelve students attended Culinary Camp. They had a 
> great time. Students learned things. We would do some things differently 
> next year. The students chopped and learned to use the kitchen. The 
> students loved crock pots and George Foreman grills. Students have used 
> the equipment and made meals. They are learning that it is okay to be 
> blind.
> Science Fred Wurtzel and Christine Boone. The students went on two field 
> trips !two farms. They had great lessons about farming. One of these was 
> how the birds ate most of the blueberries before the students were able to 
> get to them. They learned how food is grown and gets to the table. They 
> went to a farmers market and had a scavenger hunt. In order for the 
> students to have experience with liquid nitrogen, Kate arranged a tour of 
> Grand Valley State University Chemistry Lab. The students got to do things 
> with liquid nitrogen like making ice cream. They also went to an arboretum 
> with lots of trees that are native to Michigan. The students measured 
> water coming in through Flannigan Lake. Kate Boone and Donna Posont did a 
> great job. Doug and Christine Boone worked with the students on travel in 
> the woods. A travel camp is suggested. Everyone had a native to Michigan 
> fish dinner consisting of perch, lake trout, rainbow trout, wall eye and 
> white fish.
> Report from Charlie Brown, Charitable Solicitation License, Larry Posont. 
> We have been unable to find Champion Diversified. They are the company we 
> filed with before. Other affiliates are raising funds by having 
> walk-a-thons, gambling nights, bike-a-thons, etc. In order to get a 
> Solicitation License, Marcus Simmons had to get a letter from City 
> Council, which then went to Lansing and then to the Attorney General's 
> Office. A discussion occurred about whether the affiliate needs a 
> charitable Solicitation License because we are not raising funds through 
> telemarketing. The Affiliate can most likely raise funds in Michigan. All 
> of our financial documents are in order.
> Michigan Braille Transcribing Fund Fiftieth Anniversary, Dave Robinson. 
> Michigan Braille Transcribing Fund gave us the grand prize for the 2009 
> National Convention. They teach prisoners Braille and help them start a 
> business when they are released. The Affiliate can recognize the Michigan 
> Braille Transcribing Fund at our State Convention and nominate them for a 
> Bolotin Award. They could be asked to speak on the agenda.  The Affiliate 
> will write a Resolution of commendation for the Michigan Braille 
> Transcribing Fund. The Affiliate will approach the Michigan Braille 
> Transcribing Fund for support for various affiliate functions.
> Commission for the Blind Board Meeting, September. There are four meetings 
> per year. Assume Lydia Schuck will be the Chair. Larry Posont's thirteen 
> agenda items should be addressed. Some of these include: \ADA 
> accessibility, clients being notified of counselor leave, marksmanship, 
> and staff training. The Board wants to take charge and serve blind 
> citizens in an excellent manner. The Governor made a statement by 
> appointing Larry Posont and Lydia Schuck to the Board. There will be no 
> more video recording of Commission for the Blind Board meetings.
> Appointments to the Commission for the Blind Board. The Governor will name 
> the Chair of the Board. Interested members should apply for the Commission 
> Board. Larry Posont said that he wants John Scott on the Board for a 
> second term. John Scott represents the severely underserved population of 
> Detroit. Members need to write letters to support John Scott. In order to 
> know the proper name and address to write on John Scott's behalf, contact 
> information needs to go on the list serves. Members need to attend the 
> meeting. Individuals who are on the Board must understand rehabilitation.
> Monitoring Report. Pat Cannon said they are waiting for documentation on 
> the corrective action report.
> Blast Conference Nashville Tennessee, September 2011. The Conference is at 
> the Nashville Marriott. A bus leaves from Michigan on September 20 and 
> returns on September 24. Reserve rooms immediately! Preregister online or 
> by mail. The deadline for early registration is August 15 and costs $150. 
> Late registration is $200. Steve Langtree is collecting money for the bus.
> New Business:
> Chapter Reports. Western Wayne County has books to sell with children's 
> names, birthdays, and cities where they live written in them. An email 
> should go on the list serve concerning the children's books. Western Wayne 
> County Chapter gave $700 for members to go to Convention. The Western 
> Wayne County Chapter is going back to Senate Coney Island on September 10. 
> Reggie Alvarado is moving to Florida. The Lansing chapter is having a 
> picnic at Hunter Park on August 20. The Kalamazoo Chapter had their last 
> meeting in May with twelve people attending. They had a fund raising bake 
> sale with Wall Mart. The next meeting is on Thursday, September 1. It is a 
> celebratory kick off for Christine Boone and Tyler Merren joining the work 
> force. It is necessary for Kalamazoo and the affiliate to conduct public 
> relations for the State Convention. Ann Arbor has a pool party on August 
> ten. Some time this fall, we will host the man from Toyota who will be a 
> guest at our chapter in order to drive the Toyota around our area in order 
> to let us hear the sound of the hybrid.
> Members at Large Chapter. Keep interest of new members by having meetings 
> via telephone at least once a month. We have members interested in 
> participating in this and even a member interested in leading it.
> Imagination Fund Grants. Writers are needed for Imagination Fund Grants. 
> Elizabeth Mohnke volunteered to write one for Michigan Association of 
> Blind Students. Fred Wurtzel volunteers to write grants for camps, 
> Braille, Culinary, and Science. A grant is wanted for Seniors. The 
> Kalamazoo Chapter is partnering with technology companies to display at 
> the Kalamazoo Library for a technology fair on October 1.
> Michigan Commission for the Blind History. It would be beneficial to 
> record Michigan Commission for the Blind history from The National 
> Federation of the Blind's perspective. If individuals record history via 
> Braille, email, or tape, Terri Wilcox will edit it and compile the 
> finished document.
> Melinda Latham made a motion to adjourn at 3:18. Mary Wurtzel seconded the 
> Motion. The meeting was adjourned.
>
>
>
> --
> I am using the free version of SPAMfighter.
> We are a community of 7 million users fighting spam.
> SPAMfighter has removed 1377 of my spam emails to date.
> Get the free SPAMfighter here: http://www.spamfighter.com/len
>
> The Professional version does not have this message
> _______________________________________________
> nfbmi-talk mailing list
> nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbmi-talk_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
> nfbmi-talk:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbmi-talk_nfbnet.org/lizmohnke%40hotmail.com
>