OKLAHOMA
COUNCIL OF THE BLIND
ANNUAL
BUSINESS MEETING
SUNDAY,
SEPTEMBER 30, 2007
President
Perry Sanders called the meeting to order at approximately 9:30 am. Board members present were President Perry
Sanders, 1st Vice President Elaine Boykin Daudna, 2nd
Vice President Jeannie Meyer, Public Information Officer Vicky Golightly, Secretary Jeri Cooper, Treasurer Paul Miller,
and Members at Large Teresa Kruta, Julie Brantley,
and Kathy Tuton.
Approximately 40 members were in attendance.
President
Sanders thanked the convention committee for a job well done and introduced the
members on the committee which were Kathy tuton
Chairperson, Vicky Golightly, Teresa Kruta, Elaine Daudna, Sandy
Webster, Jeannie Meyer, Jeri Cooper, Pat Kelly, and Laurie Leach.
Motion
was made to accept the minutes from the last annual meeting as distributed on
the listserv. Motion was moved and
seconded.
Motion
was made to accept the Treasurer's report as distributed on the listserv. Motion was moved and seconded. Paul went over the Treasurer's report and
stated 69 attended the convention. He
said there were checks written, one to AFB in the amount of $500 and another
one for last year's convention, that have been voided because they had not been
cashed and had exceeded 90 days.
Vicky Golightly reported on the newsletters and said the last one
was designated for the convention and memories to Judy Hansen. Paul stated approximately 380 newsletters
were being distributed and only a handful were returned. There was a brief discussion concerning how
to make the newsletter more accessible for those who do not have emails. It was suggested the newsletter could
possibly be read on the Older Blind Information Line, or maybe produced in
Braille by the North Fork Correctional Center.
OCB would be responsible for purchasing Braille paper. Vicky would be the contact person at the
Library for the Blind if someone requested the newsletter be in Braille.
Paul
Edward, our guest speaker for the convention, wanted to thank everyone for
their hospitality and he said he had a great time and enjoyed himself
considerably. President Sanders
recognized our new members and first time attendees. He stated we had a suggestion box and for
everyone to please make suggestions, comments, and/or complaints to help make
our conventions even better.
Jeri
Cooper commented on what a great time she had at the National ACB convention in
Minneapolis and was honored to represent Oklahoma. She explained several events that occurred,
and encouraged others to come next year to Louisville July 5-12, 2008. She informed the new attendees how to find
more information on the website. Pat
Saunders gave the phone number to register at the Galt House in Louisville,
502-589-5200. Jay Daudna
stated we had our National convention in Louisville in 2000 and it is a
wonderful place. Perry recognized Cammie Vloedman from Oklahoma
because she was elected President of the National Alliance for Blind Students,
and in addition, was elected one of the Members at Large on the ACB Board.
Jean
Jones updated members on current legislation and related issues. She
reported on introduction of H.R. 3195 and S. 1881, the ADA Restoration Act, a
bill to assure that Americans with Disabilities Act protections will extend to
all persons who experience unfair discrimination on the basis of disability.
Jean also updated the group on the status of legislation to reauthorize the
Rehabilitation Act. She noted that the Senate was considering new
provisions that would make service to transition-age youth a top priority and
end the 18-month time limit on VR provision of supported employment services to
individuals. She said that without new funding for these expansions, money
available for adult VR services could be reduced. Jean also reported on
the status of Medicare issues including the denial of coverage for low vision
aids, the effort to end the "in-the-home" restriction on coverage of
power wheelchairs, and Medicare rules which reduce access to inpatient
rehabilitation and make it harder for rehab units to stay open. Jean told
members that DRS would once again sponsor Disability Awareness Day at the
Capitol sometime next spring. She noted that Council participation in
this event has always been strong, and encouraged all members to consider using
this occasion to visit their own legislators and educate them on blindness issues.
Joe Fallin proposed due pass for
the following resolutions:
RESOLUTION 2007-03 - Appreciation for Convention
Committee
WHEREAS, the 2007 Annual convention of the Oklahoma Council
of the Blind has been deemed an outstanding success, with excellent education
and entertainment features, great exhibits, increased attendance and an
abundance of new faces, and
WHEREAS, the 2007 OCB Convention Committee
devoted much time, labor and expertise to Convention planning and organizing,
with results enjoyed by all, and
WHEREAS,
the Convention Committee and the many volunteers it enlisted to produce this
extremely successful OCB event have made a valuable contribution to OCB and the
solidarity of blind Oklahomans working to “improve tomorrow, today” for all
visually impaired individuals,
NOW
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the membership of the Oklahoma Council of the Blind
in Convention assembled this 30th day of September, 2007, that the
Council expresses its deep appreciation to all those who served as 2007
Convention planners, organizers and workers, and
BE IT
FURTHER RESOLVED that the OCB
Board of Directors shall use any means deemed appropriate to
express the sense of this resolution to the 2007 Convention Committee.
RESOLUTION 2007-01 - Dedicated Funding for Public
Transportation
WHEREAS, the availability of accessible, affordable,
flexible and convenient transportation provides a foundation for the economic
and cultural life of our society, and
WHEREAS,
without adequate transportation, Oklahomans who are blind or visually impaired
have limited opportunities to participate in their communities as business
owners, employees, customers and taxpayers, and
WHEREAS,
Oklahoma has historically supported the development of infrastructure for the
use of personal vehicles, but lags behind other states in provision of funding
for the development and operation of public transportation, and
WHEREAS,
economic, environmental, health, energy and congestion factors, along with the
aging of our population, all suggest it is imperative that Oklahoma begin
immediately to fund development of effective and regionally linked public
transportation systems, and
WHEREAS,
inadequate local and state funding for public transportation have long held
back the development of public transportation throughout the state,
NOW
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the membership of the Oklahoma Council of the
Blind, in Convention assembled this 30th day of September, 2007,
that the Council calls upon the Oklahoma Legislature to establish a dedicated
source of substantial revenue to assist the development of local and regional
public transportation in Oklahoma, and
BE IT
FURTHER RESOLVED that the OCB President and Board of Directors shall take all
action deemed appropriate to promote substantially improved funding for public
transportation in Oklahoma, and
BE IT
FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this resolution shall be distributed to the
Governor of the State of Oklahoma, members of the Oklahoma Legislature, Mayors
and transit authority Boards of Oklahoma City and Tulsa, and to other local
officials and organizations as deemed appropriate.
RESOLUTION 2007-02 - State funding to restore DRS
independent living services
WHEREAS,
for individuals with significant disabilities, independent living services can
be the basis for learning to function as independently as possible at home, in
the community and at work, and
WHEREAS,
some of the most costly but critical types of independent living services
needed by Oklahomans with disabilities include specialized skills instruction,
assistive technology devices and training, wheelchairs and other durable
medical equipment, home access modifications and vehicle modifications, and
WHEREAS,
in recent years the Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services (DRS) has
lost funds previously available for provision of this type of substantial
independent living service for individuals who are not ready to pursue
employment, leaving many Oklahomans without any chance to obtain the devices,
training or access modifications needed to enhance their independence and build
a foundation for future employment,
NOW
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the membership of the Oklahoma Council of the Blind
in Convention assembled this 30th day of September, 2007, that the
Council encourages the Oklahoma Commission for Rehabilitation Services to request
and the Oklahoma Legislature to appropriate state funds to permit DRS to resume
provision of independent living support services for individuals who are not
ready to pursue employment, and
BE IT
FURTHER RESOLVED that the OCB President and Board of Directors are authorized
to take any action deemed appropriate to implement this resolution.
Joe
proposed a fourth resolution of complimenting the Holiday Inn airport for their
excellent service and sensitivity throughout the 2007 convention. This was adopted in concept, and the Board
will implement it.
Tommy
Robinson, Nominating Committee Chair, presented the Slate of Officers and
conducted the nominations. The 2007-2008 Slate of Officers were Perry Sanders
for President, Elaine Boykin Daudna for First Vice
President, Jeanne Meyer for Second Vice President, Paul Miller for Treasurer,
Vicky Golightly for Secretary, Jeri Cooper for Public
Information Officer, and Members at Large were Julie Brantley, Teresa Kruta and Sandi Webster.
Nominations were held and several nominations were made from the
floor. The new OCB 2007-2008 Board of
Directors are President Perry Sanders, First vice President Elaine Boykin Daudna, Second Vice President Jeanne Meyer, Treasurer Julie
Bailey, Secretary Vicky Golightly, Public Information
Jeri Cooper, and Members at Large are Julie Brantley, Joe Fallin,
and Sandi Webster.
President
Sanders thanked Tommy for conducting the nominations and voting. He also thanked the previous board for all
their contribution, and congratulated the new upcoming board.
Sandi
Webster reported on the activities of the Heartland Council. she stated their
meetings were getting bigger and better.
They will be sponsoring their first CPR training for blind individuals
in November. She was excited about the
many things HCB is doing and invited all who were interested to come and
participate.
Tommy
Robinson reported on the Muskogee Council.
He stated it's not very active right now but they will be having their
usual annual picnic the last Saturday in April.
He invited everyone to come and join the fun because everyone always has
a really wonderful time together.
Jeri
Cooper reported on the Tulsa Council. She
stated they had another annual bowl-a-thon and raised
over $1300. She reminded everyone of the
previous challenge she made to the other chapters to join in a combine
bowl-a-thon and each chapter could split their winnings with their chapter and
OCB. She also said they were having a
White Cane booth at the Promenade Mall on October 20.
Jeannie
Meyer reported on the Sustaining Membership.
She reminded everyone this is tax deductible and helps to support OCB. She gladly announced she had received a
donation of $300. Jeannie also invited
everyone to attend Career Day Future Shock at the Oklahoma School for the Blind
on November 8.
Jeri
Cooper reminded the new members to check out the OCB website and to sign up on
the listserv to stay caught up with information and activities.
Kathy
Whaley invited everyone to come and tour the Oklahoma League for the Blind the
second and fourth Thursday of each month.
Meeting
adjourned at approximately 12:00 pm.
Respectfully submitted
Jeri
Cooper
OCB
Secretary