A.C.B.I Board meeting
January 25, 2014
Teleconference call
The meeting began at 10:05 a.m.
Members present were: Lynn Powers, Don Lane, Gerry Koors, Don Koors,
John Huffman, Edie Huffman, Jeff Busch, Barbara Salisbury, Pam Evans,
Mike Bowman, Brenda Eads, Sue L’Esperance, Deanna Austin, Tina
Lubarsky, Rich Vonderhaar, Vicki Saari and Rita Kersh.
The agenda was accepted as emailed.
Members were reminded that the phone should be muted or *6 used so
that screen readers, dogs, other phone calls and other peripheral noise be
eliminated until that person needs to speak.
Don Koors made a motion, John Huffman seconded, that the minutes be
accepted with corrections as follows: Nolan Webb is Nolan Crabbe on 2nd
page and last page, Dolly Sowder is on the Indiana Rehabilitation Board
not Easter Seals Cross Roads, also total of $ 44,745.35 correct, checking
account and other account balances correct, auction income was $806, not
$804.
The checking account balance as of 12/31/2013 was $ 2,957.49, savings
account was 3,907.66, Hillards account $37,811.20, for a total of
$44,676.35. Vicki Saari moved, Mike Bowman seconding, that the
financial report be accepted as emailed. Motion passed.
Jeff Busch moved, Gerry Koors seconding, that the Hofstetter report be
accepted emailed. Motion passed.
Edie Huffman moved, Jeff Busch seconding, that the Dobson report be
accepted as emailed. Motion passed.
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Don Koors mentioned that the income from the car donations was still
down. Advertising costs are high in Indianapolis, and we are competing for
donations with a number of high profile organizations, including Goodwill,
St. Vincent DePaul, Salvation Army and WFYI. We received $432.15 for
2013. We use half the amount raised in the previous year for the current
year’s budget, so that is a fixed and known amount. It is unlikely to be as
significant a source of income as it used to be.
It was suggested that we make sure flyers are placed in senior citizen
centers, assistive living centers, with Lions Clubs and senior housing in
town. Word of mouth is a great way to make the car project known.
Because of the tax code change, the car has to be sold, if valued over
$500, and only the amount it is sold for can be deducted from taxes, not
Blue Book value as was previously used.
Regarding the Ardis Dobson scholarship fund, the letter advertising the
fund will be sent to 5 schools which offer degrees that qualify as eligible.
There are rather stringent guidelines for receiving the scholarship of $500,
and it is intended for use by students when doing their field work, as other
scholarships do not generally cover this activity.
It was suggested that a line item for the website be added to the annual
budget, as the renewal will come due in 2014 and again in 2019. We have
the domain names for .org and .com. It was also suggested that the
previous year expenditures and current year budget be presented on the
same paper.
2013 convention funds came from several sources, including individuals,
Bosma, and ACBI chapters. The funds in the dedicated convention fund
were not used for the 2013 convention, so they will be available for 2014.
There is a carryover of $675 in the convention fund from 2013. It is not
recommended that the carryover be sent in one year. Nolan Crabbe did
not accept transportation and food reimbursement, which saved a
substantial amount of money. The convention funds came from 5 sources,
including $250 from an individual donation.
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Edie Huffman moved, Mike Bowman seconding, that the 2014 budget be
approved. Motion passed.
The Focus deadlines for 2014 are Feb. 15, May 15, Aug. 15 and Nov. 15.
Rita will send it to John, Edie, and Mike for first proofreading (with a copy to
Lynn), Don final and he will send it on to the printer. It was suggested that
Rita send the proofreaders a deadline (a week is suggested).
Don and Rita spoke about specifics of proofreading and printing. So that
everyone has the same information, please use “reply to all”. Rita will have
an exact copy of the final document for her files and in case of a problem.
We provide a hard copy to the printer (Bosma) which works better with Don
being in town.
The 2014 convention will be held Sept. 12-14 at Turkey Run State Park.
The contract has been submitted with a $250 deposit.
The planning committee will consist of: Pam Evans, John Huffman, Lynn
Powers and Brenda Eads. They will present ideas for the theme and ideas
for speakers and arranging for and ascertain speaker needs. Barbara and
Rita could supply a checklist of what has been done in the past. Chapter
and board members could be involved in any of the planning. Lynn said
the committee will meet before the next board meeting. Edie will serve on
the live auction committee. Donations will be welcomed from chapters and
individuals, either to solicit donations or put together baskets or individual
item donations.
Fund raising committee had no report. The national does has phone
conferences on fund raising periodically. Anyone could attend the
conferences and get ideas. Don mentioned the ACBI fundraising letter,
from which the chapter gets 40%, state 60%. It is ACBI’s largest
fundraiser, with 98 letters producing 32 responses. The largest individual
donation was $500, average donation was over $70. Send names for the
list to Don.
Lynn needs to be put on national email and other lists. Mike is currently
filtering emails and will help get her on the lists.
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ACB midyear president’s meeting is the end of Feb. Barbara will go in
Lynn’s place. Don will attend the legislative meeting and he will report at
the April meeting.
Barbara will go to ACB President’s midyear meeting in Lynn’s place. Don
will go to the Legislative seminar. Lynn mentioned that all are welcome to
attend. Rita asked for a report at the April meeting. Don said that the two
legislative issues are HB3749, a demonstration project for Medicare that
products needed for people with visual impairments be reimbursed (didn’t
get introduced until January) and the Anne Sullivan Macy bill, which may
not yet have been introduced. It is related to the reauthorization of the
Individual Education Act. These are the only 2 items which Eric Bridges
has introduced. Sue mentioned that the seminar is well worth attending,
with interesting speakers and introductions to legislative issues, and good
preparation for meeting our senators and representatives. Lynn reiterated
the value and fun of attending. It is intended to give every senator and
representative the same document about the same issues, with a reference
back to the national office; same message, consistent.
Sue will attend the national teleconference on membership.
Meetings will be April 26, July 26 and October 25. An audio described
performance of The Game’s Afoot at the Indiana Repertory Theater will be
held for us (ACBI Circle City Chapter) at 1 pm on April 26th, and all the
board members are invited to attend it after the face to face meeting. John
Huffman moved, Pam Evans seconded that the April 26 meeting will be
face to face, July and October meetings will be via teleconference. Motion
passed.
Lynn spoke about a possible 2015 joint state convention with Ohio (it came
up in 2013). Lynn wants to make sure that Indiana is strongly represented
in the planning. Ohio is thinking about having the convention in Dayton or
Cincinnati, to see if that would work for a joint convention. There is talk
about their inviting another state, also, but that may be off the table. Lynn
asked if someone else was interested in being involved, and Barbara said
she would be interested in serving as an alternate. Lynn mentioned that
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their higher convention cost included meals (with stipends available if
people need some help), their auction is very successful, (and details
would be worked out as to how the state’s contributions would be divided),
and they have multiple programs at the same time. They pay about the
same for hotel rooms ($89). Lynn will send a copy of a recent program to
the board. Their exhibits are held on Friday and Saturday.
Rita asked about an audit. Don mentioned that one has not been done for
several years (no response from potential committee members last year)
and that a committee does the audit. It will be an item on the April agenda.
Rita mentioned that she would like a listing of chapter officers for 2014 and
listing of Facebook and website, to be published in Focus and the website.
A website committee needs to be established. Such information should be
sent to Edie Huffman and Rita Kersh. Gerry Koors will call Sandy
Lingenfelter to check on her information.
Don Koors asked for the membership list and dues from SCAVI and the
Heartland Chapters as soon as possible but definitely by Feb. 15th because
he has to get the information to ACB by March 15th. If someone is not on
the list from SCAVI and Heartland, he would have to contact them
individually.
Don Koors moved, Gerry Koors seconding, that the meeting be adjourned,
at 11:43 am. Motion passed.
Respectfully submitted,
Edythe Huffman
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