[nfbmi-talk] Minutes, January 19, 2010 8:30 P.M.

trising trising at sbcglobal.net
Wed Jan 25 17:49:13 UTC 2012


Minutes, January 19, 2010 8:30 P.M.

Quorum Larry Posont, Nick Wilcox, Terri Wilcox, Dave Robinson, Mike Powell and Christine Boone.

Secretary's Report, Terri Wilcox. Mike Powell moved to adopt the Secretary's Report as emailed. Nick Wilcox seconded the Motion. The Secretary's Report was approved.

The Michigan Affiliate received $601 as our portion of the Imagination Fund money. 

Introduction of participating Members

President's Report, Larry Posont. The commissioners received the tentative Minutes from the December 8-9 Commission Board Meeting. Someone from Leader Dog has agreed to meet with Larry Posont. Leader Dog is a charitable nonprofit. 

Washington Seminar, J.J. Meddaugh. Four affiliate members are attending Washington Seminar. A long discussion occurred concerning our Motion of helping Affiliate members attend Washington Seminar with the Affiliate paying $500 each for a men's and ladies room. A motion was made several Board meetings ago that allocates $500 each for both a ladies and Men's room for Washington Seminar. This motion is retained and unchanged. The Three issues that we will educate our Senators and Representatives about are: 1. fair wages for people with disabilities 2. home apliance accessibility 3. Federal contracts for people with disabilities. 

Special Board Meeting Commission for the Blind January 31, Pat Cannon 

Performance Objectives 9:00 A.M. Cannon wwill be given Business Enterprise Program objectives out of the Federal Law. The agency seeks to want to limit the list of objectives to nine. The Commissioners will finalize objectives during the next Meeting. At the end of the Planning and Quality Meeting, Pat Cannon discussed his unsatisfactory evaluation from the Commission Board. Staff began lambasting the Commission Board. Cannon facilitated this resentment among the staff against the Commission Board. This discussion had nothing to do with anything on the meeting. Leamon Jones said the evaluation was not fair.  The Planning and Quality Meeting was not recorded. Nothing from the Planning and Quality Meetings have been achieved. The credibility of Commissioners should not be criticized by staff. The evaluation is not on the website. Staff should have accountability on objectives. 

2012 National Convention Registration

This year we are returning to Dallas and the beautiful Hilton Anatole Hotel for our annual convention. This year's gathering will be bigger and better than ever! Make reservations now by calling (214) 761-7500; you won't want to miss out on the excitement! For more information watch the Braille Monitor. 

Quarterly Board Meeting Update. The Quarterly Board Meeting is on February 11 at the Sparrow Professional Building in Lansing. Lunch is $7 per person plus the individual purchase of a pop from the vending machine. The Affiliate will cover any remaining balance of pizza. 

The web site is in the beginning stages. Updating the site is a seamless process. Kevin Reeves can post things on the site technically, but wants others to be able to do it as well. It is possible to change and edited at any time.

 me at kevinreeves.net

It is necessary to contract with someone to create the visual elements. Dave Robinson made a motion to establish a website committee. Nick Wilcox seconded the motion. Resolutions should be sent as a matter of course. 

New Business: At the Consumer Involvement Council Meeting, several important motions were approved. 

Newsline was discussed. National Federation of the Blind of Michigan parents need a representative on the Consumer Involvement Council.  Mary Ann Dunn is functioning as an independent parent representative. A motion was passed that requires information relevant to the state plan including financials, intakes, and closures be sent to the Consumer Involvement Council members in their preferred format. This information will also be posted to the website and list serve. Another motion was passed to require the director and MCB 

to follow the effective communications requirements of the ADA including 

timely delivery of information related to all activities of the commission board.  The motion was called and passed.  Another motion was made that the Consumer Involvement Council write a letter to the Attorney General who deals with the Open Meeting laws and ask if there's any kind of restriction on posting or publicizing draft meeting minutes.  The motion was called and passed.  

Based on concerns about transportation in Detroit, a motion was passed to have the ADA coordinator and department of transportation director invited to the next meeting. The issue needs to be addressed by the Commission Board. A motion was passed that requires the Consumer Involvement Council to recommend to the board that they explore a mystery shopper program like the one that was conducted by MRS in the past.  A motion was passed that requires the Consumer Involvement Council to recommend to the board that they demand from the director that we do not contract for services with any agency that offers subminimum wage and does not follow section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.  

. Individuals representing other organizations want to do the right thing. The Tentative Board Minutes from December 8-9 were released. Consumer presentations will either be scheduled for the March or June meetings. The time limits will be established and not changed. The Commission Board passed a motion to assure that Public Comment is entered into the Minutes verbatim. Individuals who make Public Comment should address the problem if their Public Comment is not represented accurately. Resolutions that were sent to the Commission Board should be on the next Agenda. Members of the National Federation of the Blind Board need to send written requests to have Resolutions on the Agenda for the Commission Board. Larry Povinelli has not responded to us concerning Resolution 2011-10. Dave Robinson suggests sending the Resolution to the National Office. Stimulus money was used to pay job coaches for Cvs workers. Job coaches were from New Horizons. 

Old Business: The Auto Show is planned for August 12. from 1:00 P.M. to 5:00 P.M. The state library is a possible location. Several other locations are being considered that will not charge us. Preregistration will be available. The Auto Show will be a social time that will bring people into the affiliate. 

The lawyer for New Horizons has not responded to our response to his letter.

Adjourn at 10-32.

 



More information about the NFBMI-Talk mailing list