Minutes
Oklahoma Council of the Blind
Teleconference Call
June 26, 2008
President Sanders
called the Board Meeting to order at
which a quorum was established, with Julie Brantley and Jeanne Meyer absent.
Tommy Robertson and Amy Salmon were also present.
Minutes of the previous meeting were filed as distributed.
The Treasurer's report was distributed on the list and was not presented at
this meeting because the Treasurer joined the meeting late.
Joe Fallin reported that the town meetings in
well attended. Telephone surveys were conducted prior to the meetings to
ascertain what were the most important issues to the
membership. Employment
was the top priority in
the top priorities cited in
seems to be a core of people who wish to become more involved in OCB and
advocacy, but they don't know how to do this.
Joe Fallin moved, with second by Jeri Cooper, that
OCB conduct advocacy
training within the next year. The motion carried. Committee
members are
Joe Fallin, Allison Fallin,
Jeri Cooper, Sandi Webster, Vicky Golightly and
Perry Sanders.
Convention Chairman Julie Bailey reported the 2008 Convention Planning
Committee is working hard with the
Business Enterprise Program to plan a
memorable convention. The theme is "Tech Talk". John
Glass from BookShare
will be the keynote speaker.
The Convention will be held at the
in
need someone to print the convention program as Don Clay was unable to do so
this year. Vicky Golightly will Braille the
program.
Vicky Golightly moved, with second by Julie Bailey,
that OCB pay the
convention registration fee of $80 for ten first-time attendees. The
motion
carried. Sandi Webster said she knew of people from
if anyone knows of people who wish to attend the convention for the first
time.
On behalf of Jean Jones, Vicky Golightly reported
that the Heartland Council
of the Blind and the Oklahoma Rehabilitation Council plan to host
a
candidates' forum for candidates running for state and federal office in the
metropolitan
until
designed to educate candidates about issues people with disabilities face.
Other organizations are invited to co-sponsor this event.
President Sanders commended Jean Jones for keeping everyone updated on
local, state and federal legislation. Joe Fallin
said that legislation to
implement the National
Library Service digital rollout was passed in the
House
Appropriations Committee. This would increase funding from
$12
million to $34 million. If this legislation is passed, implementation of
the digital program might be in place in three years instead of the
anticipated six years. The
with lots of legislative visits and around 500 people in attendance. All
of
us must be diligent in educating our new legislators about disability
issues.
Jeri Cooper said it was an honor and a great learning experience for Sandi
Webster and her to attend the ACB legislative seminar. Ms. Cooper said
she
left the seminar armed with a lot of knowledge about the legislative process
and a feeling that she can now go to the Capitol to share her concerns.
Jeri Cooper intends to do a monthly post on the OCB list to keep everyone up
on what is going on in each OCB chapter and what is happening with
individual members. The purpose is to bring the chapters and OCB
together.
President Sanders and Sandi Webster brought up the issue of how to involve
young adults in OCB. It was suggested that perhaps activities
specifically
geared to young adults could be planned by OCB chapters and at the
convention. Ms. Webster said that young adults at HCB have expressed an
interest in going down to
etc. Contacting young adults could be done by sending flyers to college
disability units, sending information to the School for the Blind and
getting the word out at chapter meetings. Joe Fallin
moved, with second by
Jeri Cooper, that OCB allocate $100 for the Heartland Council to develop
activities for young adults. The motion carried.
There was a lengthy discussion about the pros and cons of OCB members paying
organizational dues. Many of our members do not know that OCB pays over
$3,000 per year for membership dues to the American Council of the Blind.
Fundraising activities were discussed, with the possibility of a certain
percentage of what each chapter raises going to OCB. The issue will be
addressed at the August chapter meetings.
It was suggested that the results of the town meetings be placed on
NEWSLINE, in the OCB newsletter and on the Older Blind Information Telephone
Line.
The following committees were appointed: Constitution, Vicky Golightly;
Resolutions, Joe Fallin, Jean Jones and Jay Doudna; Nominating, Tommy
Robertson; and Awards, Elaine Doudna and Julie
Brantley.
The Heartland Council of the Blind participated in the Tulsa Chapter's
Bowl-A-Thon, goes bowling once a month and has excellent programs at each
meeting.
The Tulsa Council of the Blind raised $2,200 in its
Bowl-A-Thon in June and
is already preparing for White
Cane Awareness Day.
The Muskogee Council of the Blind hosted its annual picnic in April and
there was an excellent turnout.
Visual Services plans to hold focus groups throughout the state to
prioritize issues of importance to blind people.
will retire in December and the first interviews have already been conducted
for her replacement. Hopefully OCB will be able to offer input to this
important selection. Jay Doudna began work this
week at the Library in the
Digital Recording Studio and as the Volunteer Coordinator. Applications
are
being considered for the Program Manager of the Business Enterprise
Program
and preference will be given to someone with a business background.
The meeting adjourned at
Respectfully Submitted,
Lynn (Vicky) Golightly, Secretary