[Travelandtourism] Board Meeting Minutes from the August 24th meeting.

[Steven Johnson]

Cheryl et al,

I really like the way you reach out to your members and keep them included.
Nice work:)

Steve


-----Original Message-----
From: travelandtourism-bounces at nfbnet.org
[mailto:travelandtourism-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of cheryl echevarria
Sent: Monday, August 29, 2011 5:07 PM
To: travelandtourism
Subject: [Travelandtourism] Board Meeting Minutes from the August 24th
meeting.


SECRETARY'S REPORT
NFB Travel and Tourism Division Board
August 24, 2011

 President Cheryl Echevarria called the meeting of the Travel and Tourism 
Division board to order at 6:00 P.M. Central time. Everyone introduced 
himself or herself. Board members present besides President Echevarria was 
Maurice Shackelford, first vice president, April Scheppe, second vice 
president, Mary Donahue, secretary, and Milton Taylor, treasurer. The board 
member position who was present was Anahit LaBarre, who came on the phone 
about 15 minutes later. Board members Nelson Echevarria and Jemal Powell 
were absent. Pete Donahue, division webmaster, was also present.

 First, discussion followed about the constitution. It was recommended that 
something be written up regarding the appointment of officers and board 
members. It was unanimously approved that Second Vice President Scheppe and 
President Echevarria work on the constitution.

 President Echevarria suggested promotion of the Travel and Tourism Division

at upcoming state conventions this fall and spring. President Echevarria 
summarized about the division constitution and the promotion of the division

at upcoming state conventions for Anahit's benefit.

 Maurice Shackelford added that the Blind Merchants are branching out to 
include other businesses in addition to vendors, and that he would be 
speaking about his travel business at the 2011 BLAST Conference.

 The Travel and Tourism Division Web site was discussed next. The site once 
contained pages for the constitution and other content. Pete Donahue 
explained about his Virtual Private Server, and is looking for Web hosting. 
Services are free to state affiliates and national divisions. The domain 
name NFB-TRAVEL.org is the same as before. A database on the page could 
contain books about the hospitality and travel industry. There is also a 
content-management system for those who know nothing about Web languages. 
Various board members may be assigned access privileges to the site. 
Discussion followed about fund-raising and contributing to the division. 
Registration, fund-raising, and donating could be available through the Web 
site.

 Each board member will have his or her own e-mail address to conduct 
business. Forwards would go to that particular board member's account.

 Discussion followed about a division newsletter every quarter.

 Discussion then followed about direction of the division; and about what to

put on the web site. The division should be working with other divisions on 
advocacy. Each member voiced his or her ideas on advocacy issues and the web

site.

 Discussion followed about the state of the treasury. President Echevarria 
will be reporting the events that went on at the Kennedy Space Center on 
July 9 for _The _Braille _Monitor. April Scheppe suggested facts for the 
Transportation Safety Administration and an airlines education page. Pete 
Donahue brought up private air charters for group travel.

President Echevarria assigned each board member to put up an autobiography 
about him or herself and travel experiences.

There are very little funds in the division; there is about $750 in the 
treasury.

The next meeting was planned for the end of September. Pete Donahue 
predicted having the web site on by Christmas or before. President 
Echevarria added that members include pictures with their autobiographies. 
Pictures should be renamed with a description in the body of the message. 
Members should include ideas for slogans for the division. Slogan ideas will

be posted on the Travel and Tourism list.

Anahit LaBarre expressed her concern for division growth. Members do not 
have to be travel and hospitality professionals

The board decided to have the next meeting  will be October 5 at 7:00 P.M. 
central time.


Maurice Shackelford moved and Anahit LaBarre seconded adjournment. The 
meeting adjourned at 8:37 P.M. central time.

Respectfully submitted,

Mary Donahue, Interim Secretary








Leading the Way in Independent Travel!

Cheryl Echevarria
http://www.echevarriatravel.com
631-456-5394
reservations at echevarriatravel.com

Affiliated as an Independent Contractor with Superior Travel, located in 
Baldwin, NY. www.superiortravel.com

Affiliated as an Independent Contractor with Absolute Cruise & Travel, Inc. 


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