THE FCB ANNUAL CONVENTION MEMBERSHIP MEETING
SUNDAY, MAY 20th, 2007
TALLAHASSEE, FL
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CALL TO ORDER AND FIRST BUSINSESS
TREASURER'S REPORT
PRESIDENT'S REPORT
COMMITTEE REPORTS
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
NEW BUSINESS
ANNOUNCEMENTS AND ADJOURNMENT
CALL TO ORDER AND FIRST BUSINESS
President Debbie Grubb called the membership meeting to order at 8:33 AM. First Vice President Robert Miller gave the invocation and
Second Vice President John Richards led us in the Pledge to the flag. Membership Secretary Linda Jacobson called the roll. A quorum
was established.
Secretary Sharon Youngs read the minutes for last year's Convention Meeting. Robert Jones made a motion to accept the minutes
as read. Robert Miller seconded the motion and it carried.
TREASURER'S REPORT
Treasurer Patti Land read her report. Robert Miller made a motion to accept the Treasurer's Report. Sheila Young seconded the motion
and it carried also.
PRESIDENT'S REPORT
President Debbie gave her report. She said that FCB is an issue-driven organization. The some of the issues we have been working on
include: a seamless system of transportation from one city to another within Florida, pedestrian safety, and voting with verifiable
ballots.
Since Craig Kiser is retiring, we are working with the selection committee to find his replacement. We are working with the Florida Voter
Coalition to insure that accessible voting is still available throughout the state. The monthly teleconference meeting with the Chapter
Presidents is going well although not all of the chapters are represented at the meeting. Many good ideas have been exchanged.
Debbie said that we must preservere on these issues if we want positive results. She told the members present that she wants to hear
about your issues. Please call her with your input.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
RESOLUTIONS COMMITTEE - Jesus Garcia
Next we heard from Jesus Garcia chairman of the Resolutions Committee. He had 7 resolutions for our consideration this time. Paul
Edwards read the first resolution.
Resolution: Conv - 01/07 concerned voting and verifiable ballots. Paul moved for adoption of this resolution. Robert Jones seconded
the motion and it carried.
Resolution: Conv - 02/07 was also read by Paul. This resolution concerned funding for the National Library Service. Paul again moved for
adoption of this resolution. Robert Jones again seconded the motion and it too carried.
Resolution: Conv - 03/07 concerned state rehabilitation services and the principles outlined in our white paper need to be adopted. Paul
moved for adoption of this resolution also. The motion was seconded by Dan O'Connor and carried.
Resolution: Conv - 04/07 was read and moved for approval by Paul. It concerned FCB's willingness to help in the selection of a new
Executive Director for DBS. This motion was seconded by Mycell Armington and carried.
Resolution: Conv - 05/07 was read and moved for approval by Jesus Garcia. This resolution commends DBS on being awarded the
prestigious Sterling Award. This motion was seconded by Arbree Hill and carried.
Resolution: Conv - 06/07 was also read and moved for approval by Jesus. This resolution urged DBS to fill the vacant positions on the
Rehab Council. This motion was seconded by Dan O'Connor and carried.
Resolution: Conv - 07/07 was the usual Thank you to the Chapter resolution. This was read and moved for approval by Jesus and
seconded by Rosanna Lippen. This motion also carried.
AWARDS COMMITTEE - Sally Benjamin
We next heard from the Awards Committee. Sally Benjamin, Chairperson of this Committee, proudly announced the recipients of this
year's awards. The Dolly Gamble Award was presented to Rita Princevalli. The Cooke Past Chapter Presidents Award was presented to
Debbie Downey. The R. Henry P. Johnson Award went to Barbara Grill. The W. A. Ouzts Award was presented to Jesus Garcia and our
newest award; the "Just Bill," Award was presented to Nancy Burgess-Hall.
As was noted earlier in the Pre-Convention Minutes, the Legislative Award was presented to Rep. Dennis Baxley. The Mobility Award
presented to a senior at the St. Augustine School was given to Joe Florence. And President Debbie had two special awards she wanted
to present to two people who had assisted her during her first year as President. These awards were presented to Barbara Coleman
and to Sally Benjamin.
The Raffle Prize winners were announced next. They included: Ann Kimbrough from Tallahassee won the $100 prize. Our own Betty
Dietz from West Palm Beach won the $200 prize. Jean Pfund from Tallahassee won the $300 prize. Jason Martin from West Palm
Beach won the $400 prize. The $500 prize went to Pat O'Brien of Deltona and the Grand Prize, the $1,000 prize, was won by our own
Lorean Henry from Miami.
EDUCATION & LEADERSHIP COMMITTEE - Barbara Grill
Barbara Grill announced the scholarship recipients. They included Nickey Lewin as the part-time student. Barry Hyde was awarded the
Timothy Turpin Scholarship. The scholarship that was named in honor of the memory of Terry Blessing was given to Gathay McKinley.
And The Gayle Krause-Edwards Memorial scholarship went to Christine Difato.
INSIGHT COMMITTEE - Debbie Drylie
The next committee we heard from was the Project Insight Committee. Debbie Drylie, as the chairperson of this committee, reported on
the peer counselor training session that took place on Wednesday, May 16th, 2007. She said that 16 people had gone through this
training session and were ready to man the phones. She further reported that through the efforts of William Benjamin, FCB had been
awarded a grant through the "gifts and donations" fund. The money will go to continue to fund Project Insight. This grant is in the
amount of $4,205.00.
CONSTITUTION & BY-LAWS COMMITTEE - Jim Kracht
Jim Kracht, chairman of the Constitution and By-Laws Committee, reported on a proposed by-law change. The proposed change would
increase the per diem amount and the mileage reimbursement for board members. Jim moved for approval of this change. Sila Miller
seconded the motion and it carried.
CONVENTION COMMITTEE - Sila Miller
Sila Miller, chairperson of the Convention Committee, was the next to report. Sila said that there were 174 people attending this
Convention. Our next year's Convention is to be held in Jacksonville. Our Autumn Board Meeting will, once again, take place at the
Sheraton Safari Hotel in Orlando. The dates of this meeting are Friday, November 2nd, through Sunday, November 4th.
TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE - John Richards
The last committee we heard from was the Technology Committee, chaired by John Richards. John talked about the chat rooms. Many
groups are utilizing this resource to hold meetings.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
We moved on to unfinished business. Robert Jones talked about audible pedestrian signals and the Florida Department of
Transportation. William Benjamin suggested that this topic would better be addressed on a local basis.
NEW BUSINESS
New business was then discussed. Sila Miller moved to donate $2,000 to the Friends of the Library. The motion was seconded by
Lorean Darby-Henry and carried. Robert Miller moved to donate $3,000 to ACB. Donna Rogalski seconded the motion. Robert Jones
moves to amend the amount to $5,000. Paul Edwards seconded the amended motion and the amended motion then carried.
ANNOUNCEMENTS AND ADJOURNMENT
The next portion of the meeting consisted of announcements. Matt Roberts talked accessible cell phones. Matt has resources for these
phones. Jim Kracht donated $300 to the Gayle Krause Edwards Scholarship fund. Robert Jones mentioned areas of the Raffle Tickets
that needed to be changed. These changes will be made. Katherine Tutschel invited people to join the new affiliate, Guide Dog Users
of Florida.
Debbie Grubb talked about an auction that is to take place at the ACB Convention. This is a fundraiser for ACB and each state affiliate is
requested to donate a prize to be auctioned off. Robert Jones made a motion that for FCB to provide a prize for this endeavor. Barbara
Grill seconded the motion and it carried. Much discussion about the specific gift ensued. For the sake of expediency, Robert Miller made
a motion to table this discussion and allow the Executive to make the decision of the specific gift.
There was no other urgent business to come before the members and the meeting was adjourned at 11:07 AM.
Respectfully Submitted,
Sharon K. Youngs, Secretary
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