Present: Heather Field (president), Joe Shaw (vice president), Keith Anderson (secretary), Tony Garcia, Ruth Hollingsworth, Domonique Lawless, and Roxie Chamberlain. Apologies from Gayle Prillaman.

I. Call to order.

Minutes from January 2005 meeting read. Domonique moved, Joe seconded that they be accepted. Passed.

II. Treasurer's Report

Due to illness the treasurer was absent so no treasurer’s report was submitted. Dues ($6) paid by Domonique, Tony, Ruth and Jody Chamberlain (paid by his wife). Roxie paid for NFB State convention registration ($5) and banquet tickets ($20) for herself and her husband, Jody, for a total of $50. Domonique paid $77 to cover three NFB State convention registrations ($5 ea.), 3 banquet tickets ($20 ea.) and $1 each state dues for Sevanna and Brenda from the student division.

III. President's Report

• Heather Field could not conduct Voc Rehab meeting as planned due to illness, but Roger Patton has agreed to reschedule.
• Heather is working with a volunteer to record and describe the printed material and other resources that our chapter has obtained from national for use in publicizing the work of the NFB. She will soon have a list which will be given to members and posted on the website so that members can request what they need and have their own personal supply ready to give out as needed.
• As elections for a new president and secretary were scheduled heather gave a brief “end Of Year” report in which she thanked members and officers for their work and support and encouraged us to continue to make a difference in our own community by changing what it means to be blind through living out the NFB philosophy in our daily lives.

IV. Business arising out of minutes

• After some discussion regarding the need to have consistency of representation of the chapter at the state convention, Domonique Lawless moved and Joe Shaw seconded to postpone elections to the next meeting. Passed.
• Fundraising Committee meeting was scheduled for Wednesday, March 16 th, 7:30PM
• Heather Field raised the issue of domain renewal saying that, after discussions with our webmaster, she strongly believed that we need to retain our dot com URL. Our website is the only web presence in TN. And the dot com url is the most common so it excludes traffic to the site when we don’t have it. She gave an example of how, because of our web presence, our chapter was able to help a lady in China get a talking clock that speaks mandarin, because her relative contacted Heather through the website. All agreed it was a great investment of chapter funds.

V. New Business

• Memphis chapter offering free bus rides to Knoxville for State Convention.
  
• Fundraising.
  1. Tony ’s mother donated three boxes of $1 chocolate bars for us to sell. Divided as follows: Roxie: 10 Almond, 10 Crispy. Joe: 10 Almond. Members bought some to eat and Heather: Remainder of all Almond and Crispy bars.
  2. Fundraising Committee Report: chairman, Tony Garcia, reported that he and Heather Field had been working with a volunteer who is very experienced in holding silent auctions and that he hoped to have some jobs for members by the next meeting. He then read information on silent auctions. Our chapter’s silent auction is currently scheduled for Saturday night, May 21 st, but some discussion was had concerning the need to move this date into June because of the time and work required to organize the event. Some discussion of the procedure for getting donations of items was had and Tony explained that potential sponsors will be sent or given an NFB brochure and information about the benefits of becoming a sponsor. Then someone from the Fundraising committee will make a call following up the letter and arrange to collect the donated items.
     
• NFB National Convention

The president encouraged all members to Start thinking creatively about how they can organize to be at National convention even if it’s only for a couple of days.

She reminded us that it’s more than just going to hear speeches and visit the exhibit hall, it’s the opportunity to see the NFB philosophy being “lived out”, experiencing competent blind adults doing everything that any average sighted person might do at a convention, seeing a convention for over 3000 people planned and flawlessly executed by blind people.

Finally, she reminded us that it’s about family – our NFB family – and it’s an unsurpassed opportunity to network with other blind people, to meet with old friends and to make new friends, and to be encouraged by others as well as to encourage.

VI. Other Business – The president read a Memorandum by Fred Schroeder regarding the Workforce Investment Act Consolidated Plus. This described Proposed changes to the current funding for Vocational and Rehabilitation services at te state level and detailed the disastrous consequences these changes would have on the amount and quality of training and assistance available for blind people.

NFB members were encouraged to write and call their congressmen telling them to vote “no” on bill HR27, and to participate in a national conference call, March 1, 12:00pm CST (1:00pm EST). 1-888-802-8577

Next meeting Saturday: April 9, 2005. 10:30AM Nashville Public Library, conference room 2.

Meeting adjourned.

Respectfully submitted by Keith Anderson recording secretary.