Chapter President David Anspach brought the meeting to order shortly after 1:08 pm, on Saturday, April 19, 2008, and immediately started by leading the pledge of allegiance, assisted by Chuck Huber.
President Anspach then asked for a roll call of members present at meeting.
The following chapter officers were present:
President David Anspach, Vice-president Mike Lamb, Secretary John Carson, treasurer Eric Davis, along with board members Tammy Anspach, Janice snow, and Scott Carlisle.
The following chapter members were present:
Melissa Johnson, Kim Ellsworth with daughter Kandice, Jim Ellsworth, Linda Saunders, Chuck Huber, Judy Wood, Debbie Hietala, Chuck Hietala, Richard Breedlove, Charlotte Bogadi, CJ Bradley, Grace Millhouse, Patti Ochi, and Virginia Carlisle.
Secretary’s Note: 7 board members and 14 chapter members were present to hold a quorum. Also 1 guest, Theresa Huffman, was in attendance.
President Anspach called for a discussion on whether there were any comments, changes or corrections to the meeting minutes for February 16, 2008’s meeting. No comments or corrections were made at this time. Scott Carlisle made a motion to accept the minutes as submitted, seconded by Eric Davis, motion carried.
President Anspach then called on Treasurer Eric Davis for the treasurer’s report. Beginning balance at the start of March for the general fund is $757.97; beginning balance on the memorial fund is $1,785.00. Eric then explained that the reason the memorial fund balance was still high, was because that the check to sponsor the scholarship had not been written in the amount of $750.00. The expenses from the general fund are as follows: $10.50 for donuts for yard sale. The yard sale netted $455.78. Deposits into the general fund were $260.00 for membership dues, 114.89 from the yard sale. Deposits into the memorial fund were $220.89 from the yard sale. Current balance in the general fund is $1,122.36, and current balance in the memorial fund is $2,005.89. Eric also reported that Janice snow and Richard Breedlove each signed a receipt for $60.00 for a total of $120.00 for the trip to Tallahassee. Eric then went on to discuss that the bank had the account set up in such a way that the chapter would have been charged if the balance had dropped below $500.00 and this has been rectified. He then went on to explain that he opened another separate account for the memorial fund to make it easier for the treasurer to balance the accounts. A full discussion by the chapter followed about the second account for the memorial fund. John Carson made the motion that the treasurer’s report be accepted as submitted, seconded by Scott Carlisle, motion carried.
President Anspach then called on Janice snow for the Sunshine/Expanding horizons Committee report. Janice reported that she has not had to send out any cards, everyone has been healthy, so no further report on the Sunshine committee. On the expanding Horizons Committee, Janice tried to get Janet Long to come and speak to the chapter, however, she is in Tallahassee and it is difficult for her to attend. Janice is also trying to get in touch with Mike the Karate instructor, and he was busy with other engagements. Janice is hoping to get in touch with Mike Gallagher and his wife who is a blind attorney to come and speak to the chapter. Eric Davis brought up the idea of someone he met who is a golf pro who had taught a blind gentlemen how to play golf that went on to be fairly successful, and he might be available to come and speak. David then brought the topic of transportation and some future planning that the chapter might be able to become involved with that the chapter commented on and discussed. David also mentioned that Mike McGahon is offering a self-defense class that will be free and will more than likely be in June, location is unknown at this time. During the discussion David created a Transportation Committee which he will chair. All other discussions were tabled at this time which was made in the form of a motion by Jim Ellsworth and seconded by Chuck Hietala, motion carried.
President Anspach then called on Mike Lamb for the Outreach Committee report, on which Mike had nothing to report at this meeting. Mike did state that he was going to try and schedule a meeting for all committee members. Mike also mentioned that the information for the Meet the blind picnic should be sent to the talking book library by July at the latest. Debbie Hietala also mentioned that she might have the possibility of getting all of the food donated this year.
President Anspach then called on John Carson and Eric Davis for the Fund Raising Committee report. John Carson thanked the chapter members who participated with the yard sale. John then talked about an idea of doing a casino Cruise for a fund raiser. 11 people so far are interested, so John will follow up to find information about this.
President Anspach then called on john Carson for the Web Committee report, which John had nothing to report at this time. He did however; bring up the issue of the missing meeting minutes for August 2007 and a discussion followed on how to handle this issue. John also mentioned that he will be getting with Patti once the site has been updated and bring some visual aspect into the site to bring in more visual browsers.
President Anspach then called on Debbie Hietala for the Guide dog Committee report. Debbie spoke about the new person taking over at Southeast guide Dogs, and his name is Titus Herman. Mike Lamb also mentions that the Seeing Eye also has a new CEO and his name is Jim Couch. Chuck and Debbie also talked about the event at Quaker steak and Lube for the Greyhounds.
President Anspach then called on Janice Snow for a report on the trip to Tallahassee. Janice reported that everything went very well. Janice talked with Rick Kriseman who is involved with trying to get the Pedestrian and white Cane Bill passed. Janice and Richard also spoke about talking with Bill Heller and how they discussed that the Pedestrian Bill is almost passed. Janice would also like to encourage anyone to go next year for the experience.
President Anspach then brought up the topic of the chapter purchasing a digital recorder and doing away with the tape recorder so that audio meeting minutes can be archived easier. A motion was made by Chuck Hietala that the chapter moves forward and purchase a digital recorder not to exceed $300.00, seconded by Debbie Hietala, motion carried.
President Anspach then opened a discussion on the upcoming state convention. David mention that during the Events Committee meeting, they were talking about how the attendance levels were very low this year, and that he tried to bring up the issue about economics and that they did not want to hear that. David then brought up the issue of how to handle the $300.00 that the chapter would get from the state. He stated that the affiliate was thinking about $300.00 for up to 6 people and for 7 or more people coming to convention $500.00 would be given to the chapter for their attendance. David also mentioned the number of registrations thus far, which is 20. David asked for anyone who wanted to go to convention that they contact him by the end of the week, so that a decision could be made on the way the money from the state would be used. A discussion then followed about the door prizes, again this year, it was mention that the chapter use $100.00 in different denominations for the prizes. Mike Lamb put this in the form of a motion, seconded by Scott Carlisle, motion carried.
Chuck Hietala talked about the Lions Club Blues jam. This is to be held at the Lions Beach house, 9300 W. Gulf Blvd Sunset Beach Treasure Island.
This is happening on Memorial Day, from 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm.
President Anspach then entertained a motion to adjourn at 3:05 pm.
Respectfully submitted
John Carson, secretary
Pinellas Chapter
NFB of Florida