[Travelandtourism] January 23, 2012 Board Meeting Minutes

[Peter Donahue]

Good afternoon everyone,

    There is a correction I need to make to the minutes concerning recording 
the meeting. The minutes currently read as follows:

Pete Donahue offered to record the meeting depending on whether the sound 
system can be plugged in to the
hotel public-address system without costing the hotel any money.

It should read:

Pete Donahue offered to record the meeting depending on the size of the room 
and whether his sound system can be used as a P.A. system instead of our 
using the hotel sound system. If the meeting is held in a very large room 
his sound system would need to be plugged in to the
hotel public-address system witch could result in having to pay a charge to 
the hotel audio/visual service for this connection.

    With more and more affiliates wanting to record or broadcast their 
convention activities on the Internet something needs to be negotiated with 
the hotel A/V service to make this possible. Last year this problem resulted 
in a major convention activity hosted by our Affiliate Action Department not 
being recorded. It was our Affiliate Action Department that initially 
approached me about recording the Back-to-Basics Seminars in 2009. I was 
able to do the 2009 and 2010 seminars but was unable to do last years due to 
this issue. If one of our departments at our national headquarters wanted me 
to record their convention activities arrangements to cover any charges for 
connecting to the in-room sound system, or using the services of the 
audio/video department to help me connect to their p.a. system in order to 
record the event should have been covered by the national office. The 
Affiliate Action Department has all ready been put on notice that if they 
want me to record any of their activities held in very large rooms this A/V 
horsepuckey must be taken care of before we get to Dallas.

    If the Travel and Tourism Division meets in a small room such as those 
on the second floor of the Hilton Anatole Atrium this is not an issue. I can 
bring a pear of speakers to use to provide sound for the room like I did in 
Orlando last year. Some of the meeting rooms at the Shingle creek didn't 
have any sound systems in them. Boy was I glad to have brought a pear of 
speakers to provide amplification of the presentation audio so everyone 
could hear. It's large meeting rooms like the Wedgwood and the Safire and of 
course the Chantilly Ball Room at the Hilton Anatole where bleeding the 
in-room sound system is a definite must.

    Sorry to get too technical but I wanted list members to understand this 
situation. Hopefully we can put it on a path of resolution for future 
national conventions so it won't keep coming up every year. All the best.

Peter Donahue


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mary Donahue" <braille at satx.rr.com>
To: <travelandtourism at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sunday, January 29, 2012 3:46 PM
Subject: [Travelandtourism] January 23, 2012 Board Meeting Minutes


SECRETARY'S REPORT

NFB Travel and Tourism Division Board

January 23, 2012



President Cheryl Echevarria called the meeting of the Travel and Tourism
Division board to order at 7:06 P.M. central time. Board  members and guests
who were present were as follows:



Mary Donahue, secretary

Pete Donahue, board member and webmaster

Cheryl Echevarria, president

Maurice Shackelford, first vice president

Anahit LaBarre, board member

Jemal Powell, board member

Amy Baron, guest

Carol Siegel, guest



April Scheppe arrived late on the call, but was present. Nelson Echevarria,
and Milton Taylor were absent.



                Discussion followed about when to have the division meeting
on July 1, Registration and Resolution Day. Pete Donahue offered to record
the meeting depending on whether the sound system can be plugged in to the
hotel public-address system without costing the hotel any money. President
Echevarria asked Pete to contact Mrs. Jernigan about technical issues. The
majority of the group suggested having the meeting from 2:00 to 4:00 P.M. on
July 1. Registration could be at 1:30 P.M. Mary Donahue  offered to take
names before and after the meeting. Pete Donahue mentioned that he has a way
with Windows Media Server to stream the meeting. Hard-wiring to the hotel
data port is out of the question because of the high cost. Discussion
followed about costs and contracts.



                Discussion followed about tours. Medieval Times is about two
blocks from the Anatole Hilton. Pete Donahue suggested a tour to the
Mesquite Rodeo with dinner at the Trail Dust Steakhouse before the tour. The
tour could be a fund-raiser. President Echevarria will check prices on the
mentioned tours, as well as have tours limited to indoors. There is air
conditioning in the Mesquite Rodeo stadium.



                President Echevarria explained the absence of Treasurer
Milton Taylor. Milton Taylor had theater tickets tonight, but will be
present fore the next meeting.



                Discussion followed about constitution changes. Cheryl
Echevarria was elected as president at the 2011 in Orlando. Appointed
officers have to be present at the national convention. The division is for
all blind people interested in travel, and issues in the tourism industry.

April Scheppe suggested a separate list for travel agents. Any postings
about travel issues affects all clients, including blind ones. President
Echevarria posted travel agent advice to the Jobs and the Entrepreneurs
lists in case anyone was asking about becoming a travel agent.



                April Scheppe recommended changing the name of the division
to the National Association of Blind Travelers. Each officer expressed likes
and dislikes for the name change. President Echevarria suggested that the
name change should be a topic of discussion at the division meeting in July.
The list name could still be Travel and Tourism. The question is where we
want the membership to go in the division. Another topic is how, where, and
why do we want to take the division to another level. Anahit LaBarre will
write up questions to send and discuss with board members.



                April Scheppe read Sections 1, 2, and 3 of the constitution
changes about officers and board of directors. Sections 2 and 3, those
having to do with purpose and membership, will be further discussed during
the July division meeting in Dallas. Second Vice President Scheppe made a
recommendation  about the president and vice presidents being  blind and in
the travel industry. In the current division, such a recommendation is not
the case because the Travel and Tourism Division was started by people who
were not employed in the travel industry. Meanwhile, April will write the
changes and send them to the board members. The full constitution with its
changes will be discussed at the business meeting in July.



                Discussion opened for guests. Amy Baron suggested a tour of
South Fork Ranch where the TV series _Dallas was filmed. Carol Siegel
suggested a tour of the Cowboy Museum in Fort Worth. Discussion followed
about the Schoolbook Repository and a cowboy breakfast. Pete

Donahue will send an email to President Echevarria about various tours of
past years. The proceeds of tours would go to the division as a fund-raiser.
Tour information should be into President Echevarria by March. Mary Donahue
will send Texas President Kimberly Flores' contact information to President
Echevarria. Pete Donahue suggested putting together a menu of tours. Those
with the most interest will be included as tours.



                Pete Donahue moved, and Mary Donahue seconded adjournment.
The next meeting will take place either on a Monday or Wednesday at the end
of February, possibly on February 27.  President Echevarria thanked everyone
present for coming. The meeting adjourned at 8:26 P.M. central time.



Respectfully submitted,



Mary Donahue, Interim Secretary





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