Oklahoma Council of the Blind
Board Minutes
June 5, 2004
 
The Oklahoma Council of the Blind
quarterly board meeting was called to
order by Joe Fallin, 1st Vice President at 
10:33 at the Oklahoma Library for the
Blind in Oklahoma City. A quorum was
established with board members;
Joe Fallin, Paul Miller, Elaine Boykin,
 Julie Brantley, Vicky Golightly, Judy Hansen, and 
Jeanne Meyer present. Members in attendance were; 
Ray Jones, Jean Jones, Norman Dalke, 
Marie Simpson, David Shipero, Beth 
Pratt, Perry Boston, Don Hansen and 
Teresa Kruta. 
Joe explained that many of the Tulsa 
members were unable to attend due to a 
last minute cancellation of their van 
driver.
 
Minutes of the March meeting have 
been distributed on the Oklahoma list 
serve and copies in large print and 
braille were provided to those in 
attendance the minutes will be filed as 
distributed.
 
Treasurers report was distributed on the 
Oklahoma list serve and copies 
provided to the members in large print 
and Braille. Paul provided an 
explanation of the OCB current finances 
with an idea of what expenditures will be 
required in the next few months. He 
stated that he would update the report 
as needed and provide it to the OCB list 
serve. The treasurer's report will be 
filed as distributed.
 
Convention Committee: Due to Jeri 
Cooper’s absence Vicky Golightly 
provided an update on the OCB 
convention. She reminded everyone 
that the dates are September 17-19 in 
Tulsa. The convention will be held at 
the Adam's Mark hotel at 100 East 2nd 
Street. Our rates will be $65 a night 
plus tax and the room reservations need 
to be made by August 27th. The 
conference registration will be $75, 
before August 16 and $90 if received on 
August 16 and after, this will include four 
meals.
 
Joe stated that the Tulsa chapter has 
designated $1,000 to be use for new 
OCB attendees. The Heartland council 
has plans to send one student to the 
OCB convention. It was noted by 
Norman Dalke that OCB is celebrating 
their 25th year of our new charter name 
of Oklahoma Council of the Blind. 
Jeanne Meyer has researched the 
possibility of having T-shirts at the OCB 
convention. She stated that the cost is 
approximately $6.25 to $6.55 with a logo 
on the front and a quote "lack of sight 
doesn't mean lack of vision" in print and 
braille on the back. There will be a $15 
set up fee. Julie moved, Elaine 
seconded and the board approved that 
we authorize that we have t-shirts in the 
three different colors of red, white and 
blue with a minimum of 4-dozen shirts.
 
Membership: Elaine provided a brief 
report stating that OCB currently has 
around 637 members. We were 
recognized by ACB for providing a good 
clean membership form for this year.
 
DRS Committee: Ray Jones stated that 
at this time there was not much activity. 
He stated that they did meet with Jane 
Nelson concerning the CLICK proposal 
and the 13 points were dropped.
 
Technology Committee: Jeannie stated 
she has been working on the website. 
She has made some changes to the 
minute's page to where you can go and 
get the quarterly minutes. She would 
like to do this for the legislative 
activities. She also would like to add a 
page on the OSB alumni. She stated 
that Rapid Fire has been very helpful in 
working with her to accomplish these 
changes.
 
Awards Committee: Due to Marilyn 
Sanders absence general discussion 
was held about the Gordon P. Stephens 
award. Norman has provided us with 
some information on this. Julie then 
read the proposed information on the 
LeRoy Saunders award. It is 
recommended that we change the 
following: the first guideline strike out 
limitation on the number of years, 
second guideline change work to 
employment and add advocacy, due 
away with guideline four. Vicky moved, 
Elaine seconded and the board 
approved that we adopt as amended the 
LeRoy Saunders guidelines. This 
information will be given to Marilyn 
Sanders.
 
Fundraising: Joe informed us that 
Randy is doing some research on car 
donations. Discussion was held 
concerning the legality of the program 
and at this time the IRS is looking at it. 
 Discussion was tabled until the next 
meeting when further information can be 
provided.
 
New Business: Joe stated that shortly 
after the OKC bombing an Emergency 
Fund was established by OCB that 
could be used to assist those in need 
that were directly affected by the 
bombing. We still have funds in this 
account and have tried to offer it to blind 
individuals involved in the 911 events, 
but no one has taken advantage of it. 
Joe moved, Vicky seconded and the 
board approved that the president be 
authorized to talk with Tulsa and the 
Oklahoma Foundation for the Education 
of Blind Children to develop a fund to be 
used for the Library's educational 
services with the stipulation that the 
Emergency Assistance Fund will go to 
this program. He stated that on June 
17 at 8:00 pm the foundation will have a 
conference call and he has invited those 
who would like to call in.
 
Joe asked Jean Jones to elaborate 
about our Share Fare program in OKC. 
She stated that Larry Harper stated that 
the primary funding source would no 
longer assist as of July 1. A community 
development block grant out of HUD 
has been providing $75,000 per year. 
Those using the program pay 60 
percent and the other is paid through 
these HUD funds. The citizens advisory 
committee did not recommend funding Share 
Fare. COPTA estimates that 
they have only about two months for 
OKC Share Fare users. The outlining 
Areas will still have the Share Fare. 
She stated that we need to 
communicate with the Citizens Council, 
City Council and the Mayor. We are to 
make them aware of this program and 
the need that it is serving in OKC. She 
passed out list of individuals to write. 
She suggests that we contact these 
individuals NOW. She will keep 
everyone advised concerning this issue 
as it is updated. Share Fare is a 30-
year old demonstration project and Jean 
would like to see it taken on as a 
permanent project. Jean moved, Vicky 
seconded and the board approved that 
the president take whatever action to 
express OCB's concerns and encourage 
that OKC restore funding to the share 
fare program. 
 
Vicky provided us with a Free Matter for 
the blind update. She stated that she 
talked with individuals from ACB and 
found that they pay for the mailing of 
their convention information. They don't 
want to stir up the free matter for the 
blind issue at this time as they are still 
sending out the Braille Forum as Free 
Matter. The changes to Free Matter for 
the Blind occurred sometime in 2002 
and at this time there is no national 
movement to have it changed. The 
board can ask ACB to draft a resolution 
concerning this matter.
 
Randy has asked Jeannie to chair the 
bylaws committee and she would like for 
us to look at these and to share our 
thoughts on this.
 
There was no further business and the 
meeting was adjourned at 12:15 PM.
 
Respectfully Submitted,
 
Elaine Boykin, Secretary

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