Present: Heather Field (president), Joe Shaw (vice president), Keith Anderson (secretary), Tony Garcia, and Ruth Hollingsworth. Apologies from Dominique Lawless, Gayle Prillaman and Ryan Smith (treasurer).

Call to order.

• Minutes November 13, 2004 meeting were read by Keith Anderson. A motion to accept the minutes was moved by Joe Shaw and seconded by Ruth Hollingsworth. Passed.

II Treasurer's Report:

• Ryan Smith not able to attend. Heather Field says still problems with the bank. More next meeting.

III President's Report:

• Wonderful Christmas party last night! Special thanks to all, especially to Tony Garcia for donating the Turkeys and the ladies who brought desserts.
• Conference early next year for parents of blind children. Heather Field will be presenting.
• Heather Field had lunch with Gayle Prillaman and someone else sharing the NFB philosophy and presented Braille is Beautiful pack for their use with students.
• Contacted Roger Patton. Wants Heather Field to hold a workshop for teacher’s of Blind children in TN. Opportunity to share the NFB philosophy with these influential teachers. In many circles, the NFB is considered radical. We need to show that we are not out of touch but are defining what it means to be blind. Beginning of a long and prosperous relationship with this organization
• This past year we have: met regularly and been committed, organized a great Christmas Party, gained new members, established relationships with some key influential and government people among other things.

IV Business arising out of minutes:

• Christmas Party. Need to get receipt and reimburse Amanda Cantrell for purchasing supplies for us.
• Write Thank You notes to certain people who helped out at the party, such as Amanda Cantrell, wives of NFB embers, etc. This should be done by correspondence secretary Gayle Prillaman.
• Fund raising. Tony Garcia has done some research and presented us with several “grant” options from banks and other foundations. Well-worth looking into. Full-on fund raising meeting postponed until January. Need to form a brain-storm committee.
• Student Division Liaison Committee report by Joe Shaw. Heard that the students had a good meeting recently. Next meeting scheduled for January. They were officially accepted as a student division chapter by the State of Tennessee NFB board.

V New Business:

• Next meeting date – January 8, 2005. 10:30am Nashville Public Library conference room 2, as always.
• Officers conference call meeting scheduled for January 3, 2005 at 7:30 (or 8) PM.
• New listserv on web site for NFB announcements and events so everyone in our NFB of Middle TN chapter and other interested people can stay informed or be in contact with each other regarding NFB related information and requests. Personal messages should, instead, be done through personal email, not the listserv.
• Membership. Joe Shaw says we have a new member, Roxanne Chamberlain. We should organize some social events as outreach opportunities to the community. Several ideas were discussed, such as a lunch, picnic, bowling, ice skating, service projects, etc. Heather Field suggested we look at doing something every 6 weeks or so in addition to our normal monthly meeting.
• Fund raising needed for convention in June/July 2005, which will be in Louisville, KY. All encouraged to attend.
• Georgia Varble, our Nashville Public Library liaison, stopped by and accepted a Christmas gift from our chapter.

Next meeting Saturday: January 8, 2005. 10:30am Nashville Public Library, conference room 2.

Meeting adjourned.

Respectfully submitted by Keith Anderson recording secretary.