[Travelandtourism] Notes from the October 18 meeting and reminder for the Meeting on Tuesday, November 15th

[cheryl echevarria]

Please remember tomorrow evening is the monthly board meeting for Travel and Tourism.

Please be prompt.

I you need phone number let me know.

Times are 8pm Eastern, 7pm Central, 6pm Mountain, 5pm Pacific.

This is open to all, and hope more of our members come and listen in and those interested in joining please call in as well.

SECRETARY'S REPORT

NFB Travel and Tourism Division Board

October 18, 2011

President Cheryl Echevarria called the meeting of the Travel and Tourism 
Division board to order at 7:07 P.M. central time. Board and division 
members present on the call were as follows:

Cheryl Echevarria, president

Mary Donahue, secretary

Milton Taylor, treasurer

Shannon Dillon, division member

Pete Donahue, board member and webmaster

Jemal Powell, board member

Maurice Shackelford, first vice president

April Scheppe, Anahit LaBarre, and Nelson Echevarria were absent.

Participants introduced themselves.

There was no change in the treasurer's report. Mary Donahue is 
finalizing the September minutes.

Milton Taylor has submitted his biography for the Web site.

The slogan was discussed. It reads: "Leading the way to new horizons in 
mobility and accessible travel." The slogan was unanimously approved.

First Vice President Shackelford reported that 150 people registered for 
the Georgia convention held October 7-9. The stream went well, and Anil 
Lewis was national representative. The morning and afternoon sessions 
and the banquet were streamed over the Internet. First Vice President 
Shackelford had a chance to speak about the Travel and Tourism Division.

President Echevarria pointed out that Mike Robinson will get some of the 
New York convention recordings.

Don Gilmore will be sending President Echevarria the 2011 division 
meeting audio files.

Pete Donahue reported that there was no Web site yet because of three 
malfunctioning computers. As of tonight, though, everything is working, 
including Mary's new Dell Inspiron 570.

Jemal Powell could not report on the Travel and Tourism Division, but 
members are going to budget hearings for the Chicago Transit Authority, 
mainly related to audible signage at bus stops. Discussion followed 
about bringing children on paratransit rides.

President Echevarria reminded board members to send a paragraph on what 
travel and tourism means to division members.

Meet the Blind Month with Norwegian Gem in New York went well. Norwegian 
Gem is open to any suggestions from blind travelers.

President Echevarria e-mailed Mrs. Jernigan about the meeting time 
during the 2012 convention. Time for reserving meeting rooms for the 
convention can be negotiated with Mrs. Jernigan starting in November.

Discussion followed about a three-day cruise out of Florida as a 
fund-raiser for the division. Good rates for cruises are between January 
and June. Tentatively, President Echevarria will look at staterooms for 
at least two groups.

The next meeting will take place on Tuesday, November 15, 2011, at 7:00 
P.M. central time, 8:00 P.M. eastern time, and 6:00 P.M. mountain time.

Pete Donahue expressed concern about having the division meeting on the 
same day as registration. His other concern was recording/broadcasting 
meetings by plugging into the hotel sound system. Pete suggested working 
with Mrs. Jernigan about having two divisions meet in the same room when 
there is no sound system fee involved. Discussion was tabled until Mrs. 
Jernigan finalizes meeting rooms.

President Echevarria and Sherri Brun of Florida are working on the 
Kennedy Space Center issues in Orlando. Craig George is executive 
director of the KSC. President Echevarria assured Mr. George that she 
would be in Orlando on November 8, and Mr. George assured her that if he 
needed the Federation, he would not need any extra letters. It is 
important that the KSC work with us, especially before 2013 when there 
will be conventions in Orlando until 2018.

Mary Donahue and Maurice Shackelford moved and seconded adjournment. The 
meeting adjourned at 7:51 P.M. central time.

Respectfully submitted,

Mary Donahue, Interim Secretary




Leading the Way in Independent Travel!

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

For daily updates read our blog at
http://www.echevarriatravel.wordpress.com<http://www.echevarriatravel.wordpress.com/>