Minutes

Oklahoma Council of the Blind

January 23, 2010

President Doudna called the meeting to order at 10:30 a.m. at the Oklahoma Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, after which a quorum was established, with Jeri Cooper absent.

President Doudna welcomed everyone to the meeting, after which everyone observed a moment of silence to ask for guidance during the meeting and in remembrance of those who recently passed away.

The agenda was amended to include discussion of the OABS account following the Treasurer’s Report

Minutes of the previous meeting were filed as distributed.

Tommy Robertson noted OCB realized $2,500 from the 2009 OCB Convention and thanked the Tulsa Council of the Blind for contributing $1,500 toward annual American Council of the Blind dues for our membership.  President Doudna will send a “thank you” letter to the TCB.

The Treasurer’s Report was filed as presented.  Bob Moore asked why over $3,000 was sent to ACB and the answer was $5.00 for each of our approximately 600 members is paid annually to ACB for membership dues.

OABS.  Relative to the money allocated to the Oklahoma Alliance of Blind Students, it was noted it is difficult to motivate students to stay active after they graduate.  Everyone agreed it is crucial to provide activities and training to entice young adults to become active members.  OCB donated $100 to the Heartland Council of the Blind to help them involve young adults and question was raised as to what was done with the money.  The Board supported the idea of subsidizing students and young adults to attend the OCB Convention, providing activities of interest to this population.  Larry Coffey volunteered to chair the Youth Initiative Committee with the assistance of Jeanne Meyer, Linda Graber, and a representative from each chapter.

President Doudna plans to hold monthly Board meetings, with the next meeting in late February via teleconference.

Convention Committee Report. Jesse Martinez presented the 2010 Convention Committee Report.  The Convention will be in Tulsa at the Warren Place Doubletree.  Sleeping room rates are $82 for up to four people in the room and if OCB guarantees 40 rooms per night, the hotel will comp a suite.  If OCB spends $3,000 in food functions, all meeting rooms will be free.  Mr. Martinez hopes to have 30 vendors, with the first 20 tables rented free and $10.00 for each additional table.  There will be a meeting room for general sessions to seat 65, a room for breakfasts and lunch and a large room for vendors.  The vendor area will be used for the banquet.  Also, the hotel is providing one complimentary snack break on Friday and Saturday.  The dog guide relief area is across from the meeting rooms and we must do a better job of policing this area.  Joe Fallin moved, with second by Vicky Golightly, the adoption of the Convention report.  The motion carried.  President Doudna appointed everyone in the room to spread the word about OCB’s 2010 convention and conference in Tulsa on September 24-26, 2010.

Advocacy Training.  The DRS People with Disabilities Awareness day will be held on April 7 from 8:30-12:30 P.M.  A lengthy discussion ensued about having an advocacy training in late March to prepare for this event.  The Oklahoma Rehabilitation Council plans to host an advocacy training seminar on September 10 and invites consumer organizations to participate.  Issues such as whether to have a statewide training or training sessions in Oklahoma City or Tulsa, who would train, how long the training would be, etc. were discussed at length.  Vicky Golightly moved, with second by Julie Bailey, that OCB would do an information blitz on advocacy issues and how to approach legislators.  The motion carried.  There is already a wealth of information on the DRS and the Oklahoma Rehabilitation Council’s websites.  Vicky Golightly, Larry Coffey and Jean Jones will gather advocacy training information and distribute it to the OCB list and by e-mail and snail mail.  Melanie Petty suggested video conferencing might be used in the future.   A future advocacy seminar is planned on transportation issues.

Jean Jones reviewed proposed legislation, some of which included reduction of state government expenses, changing the way items are purchased by state government, insurance and retirement changes for state employees, terms of commissioners of state agencies,Representative Pitman’s bill on the education of blind or visually impaired children and another on scholarships allowing parents to send their children receiving special education services to private schools, two beverage container bills which would impact visually impaired vendors,, legislation about licensure of sheltered workshops, a transportation bill creating regional transportation districts, a bill banning cell phone use by bus drivers, several bills banning cell phone texting while driving, and changes in the priority allowing sheltered workshops to provide services through the StateUse Act.

Judy Hansen Transportation Fund.  President Doudna said he will appoint a Judy Hansen Transportation Fund Committee to determine how to raise funds and how funds will be disbursed.  The Treasurer will investigate where to place these funds.

President Doudna said he is in the process of investigating how OCB could best financially assist to aid blind or visually impaired people as a result of the recent crisis in Haiti.

Outreach and Membership Committee.  Tommy Robertson will chair the Outreach and Membership Committee, with the goal of encouraging inactive members to become active.  Plans are for members to call every member on the membership list to tell them about OCB and encourage participation.  Committee members could also visit blindness support groups across the state.  Vicky Golightly, Larry Coffey and Julie Bailey will work on this committee, along with other interested persons.  Melanie Petty recommended making a personal visit to members and she volunteered to drive committee members to visit people in the metropolitan Oklahoma City area.  President Doudna charged the committee to create a document with OCB membership talking points and he encouraged the Committee to contact college disability services units.  Also, the Board felt offering a place where young adults could see and be trained to use adaptive technology would attract new members.  The Technology Task Force members are Joe Margolese, Julie Bailey, Bob Moore and Vicky Golightly.

The meeting adjourned at 12:45 P.M. for lunch and reconvened at 1:30.

Angel Committee.  OCB plans to sell angels at the 2010 Convention.  Each angel costs about $2.00 and can be sold for $5.00.  Jeanne Meyer and Elaine Doudna will work on the Angel Committee and will report back at the next meeting as to whether they will buy everything needed to construct angels in a kit for $25 (makes 18 angels) or purchase the items to be assembled separately.

Fundraising Committee Chairman Jesse Martinez will look into a possible 50/50 drawing.

Cookbook.  Morris Press can do the cookbook in 14 point print.  There was a lengthy discussion on the length of the book, the format, who would collect recipes, who would type the recipes, alternate formats of the book, etc.  Committee members will meet and report back at the next meeting.  Committee members are Jesse Martinez, Julie Bailey, Julie Brantley, Jeanne Meyer and Linda Moore.

Newsletter.  The newsletter needs a name and President Doudna suggested a contest to name it.  Jeri Cooper will chair the Committee, with members Vicky Golightly, Jeanne Meyer and Elaine Doudna.

Transportation Task Force. The Task Force met with Beverly Graham, former with United We Ride, before the holidays to discuss how to best advocate for a better statewide transportation system.  Ms. Graham wants to help us learn about all transportation providers, develop effective transportation advocacy and connect people with all sources of transportation.  Bob Moore and Sandi Webster were added to this Task Force. 

Vicky Golightly will look at the OCB membership application to determine if it needs to be changed or added to.

Joe Fallin reported that the Lift Program in Tulsa is in danger due to proposed dramatic funding cuts.  A group in Tulsa is in the process of setting up a consumer-driven autonomous advocacy group.

Chapter representatives updated everyone on their activities.  The problem of chapters being somewhat disconnected with OCB was discussed.  Chapter Board of Directors will be invited to attend the February and March meeting in an effort to connect chapters with OCB and vice versa.  President Doudna said he would also be interested in a leadership seminar.

Open Discussion.  Guests were invited to ask questions and tell the group about their concerns.  Areas of interest concerned promoting the Oklahoma School for the Blind, support of blind veterans, home invasion and security issues, innovative activities to attract people to OCB, etc.

Jeanne Meyer read a press release about OSB student Andrew Williams, who is participating in the Global Explorer Program trip to the Grand Canyon.  The OCB logo will be on the promotional t-shirt as a supporter of this program.

The meeting adjourned at 3:20 P.M.

Respectfully Submitted,

Lynn (Vicky) Golightly, Secretary

Oklahoma Council of the Blind

January 23, 2010

Attendance List

Jay Doudna (Board Member)

Joe Fallin (Board Member)

Julie Bailey (Board Member)

David Bailey

Elaine Doudna

Julie Brantley

Vicky Golightly (Board Member)

Jeanne Meyer (Board Member)

Linda Graber

Joe Margolese

Bob Moore

Linda Moore

Jesse Martinez (Board Member)

Melanie Petty

Don Petty

Raymond Washburn

Larry Coffey (Board Member)

Tommy Robertson (Board Member)

Jean Jones

Lisa Olah