Serving the blind and low vision population of South Central Kentucky
A chapter of the Kentucky Council of the Blind
SCKCB Minutes of November 15, 2006
The meeting started at approximately 7:11 p.m. at the Alive Center in Bowling Green, KY. Members present were Ron and Palma Milliman, Max and Sue Robinson, Cody Norris, Natasha Davis, Nancy Imran, Sam Morris, Sylvia Kersenbaum, and Mitchell and Simon Reed.
President Milliman began by introducing our guest speaker for the evening, Mark Bitterling from The Place in downtown Bowling Green. Mark specializes in MAC computers and peripherals. He brought a new I-MAC to demonstrate for us, because the I-MAC comes with synthesized speech, screen magnification, and voice recognition software built into the package. Everyone had a chance to see it in action and ask questions. It was a very educational presentation, which everyone really enjoyed.
After Mr. Bitterling left, we had a short business meeting. Our secretary, Palma Milliman read the minutes of the October's meeting. The motion was made by Max Robinson to accept the minutes as read, and seconded by Cody Norris. The motion passed. That was followed by the Treasurer's report given by Max Robinson. Our current balance was given as $4,073.27, plus the $500 check that had just been deposited from a Wal-Mart grant. Palma made the motion to accept the report as read, and it was seconded by Sylvia Kersenbaum. The motion passed.
Max gave a report on the WKYU Sponsorship Program. He suggested that we come up with a generalized theme for getting the attention of our target market. Ron suggested that we use something like, "Are you losing your site, or know someone who is?" Everyone agreed that it sounded good. Max suggested that perhaps WKYU would let the public know about our meetings. Cody volunteered to be our communications officer.
President Milliman mentioned that an additional grant from the new Wal-Mart was likely yet in 2006 with more possibly forthcoming in 2007, and he will also be contacting Sam's for some possible additional funding.
President Milliman introduced the idea that we may want to try to develop an endowment fund to help our members purchase needed adaptive devices and equipment for blind and low-vision people. It would help our members and be an additional incentive to join our organization. We would not fund such needs entirely, but rather, we would fund accepted grant applicants 25 or 33% and help them find sources for the remaining amount from such possible additional funding sources as American Association of Disabled People (AADP). or Kentucky Assistive Technology Service KATS.
President Milliman emphasized that ACB National is hurting for money. He suggested that SCKCB consider donating something like $250 to $500 during the ACB National Convention in July. We agreed to take this topic up again at a later meeting after the first of the new year.
Sylvia Kersenbaum offered to do a benefit for us next Fall. Everyone thought this was a good, wonderful and very generous idea!
Ron and Max presented a brief State KCB Convention report.
President Milliman reminded everyone that Sylvia's Concert at WKU was scheduled for Sunday, November 19, at 3:00 p.m. and Palma took names of those who were planning to attend. There is a reception dinner scheduled at Montana Grill after the concert.
President Milliman stated that we needed to discuss future goals, but that discussion would have to be delayed until another meeting when there would be more members present.
The time for our scheduled Christmas party on December 16, 2006 was changed to 2:00 p.m. instead of 1:30p.m.. Cody made the motion to authorize a maximum of $125 to spend on party goodies. The motion was seconded by Sylvia Kersenbaum. The motion passed unanimously.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:10 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Palma Milliman, Secretary