Present: Heather Field (president), Joe Shaw (vice President), Keith Anderson (secretary), Tony Garcia, Ruth Hollingsworth, Roxie Chamberlain and Michael Seay. Apologies from Gayle Prillaman, Domonique Lawless, John Haendel, Gene Eichelberg, and John and Sharon Bragg.
Call to order.
Minutes from May 13, 2005 meeting read by Keith Anderson. Amended and accepted.
- Treasurer's Report
No report - Ryan Smith not present. $102 candy money ready to be deposited. No balance available.
- President's Report
- Heather Field received word regarding Gayle's nomination for NFB Teacher of the Year award. She did not rceive the award, but Mrs. Maneki personally called Heather to tell her what a great teacher Gayle sounds like and that we should continue applying since it usually takes years of applying before winning the award. We'll reapply next year.
- Heather gave a talk on "Changing What it Means to Be Blind" to teachers in Williamson County
- Silent Auction. Heather is continuing to work on our celebrity guitar signing.
- Convention address. Heather will be representing our chapter when she gives the keynote address at the seminar of the National Organization Of Parents Of Blind Children being held at the NFB 2005 convention.
- Business arising out of minutes
- Michael Seay spoke regarding our constitution drafted by Lev Williams (treasurer of TN State affiliate NFB). This will serve as a model constitution for chapters in TN and all chapter presidents are being encouraged to adopt it.
- A membership list containing names and addresses is periodically submitted to the State affiliate so, if there are any changes, please let us know.
- Chocolate bar money collection. None, except $102 from Heather Field.
- We are still in the process of looking for the best hotel for State convention being held here in Nashville in March 2006. Heather is assisting Lev Williams with some groundwork research on costs etc. We hope to announce location shortly after national convention.
- National Convention - encouraged all to go. A bus from Mississippi will be coming through to pick up those in need of a ride. Please let Michael Seay know immediately if you wish to be on this bus.
- New Business
- Fundraising report by Tony Garcia: Silent Auction to be held August 4th, 2005 from 5:30pm to 7:30pm at the Flying Saucer downtown Nashville. Donations have slowed down, but now with a secure date, should pick up again. Let's talk to businesses requesting donations for silent auction. Main focus now is getting the word out to the public, especially to those who don't know about the NFB. Joe Shaw will call radio stations. Need lots of small items to auction. Everyone is requested to ask for donations from their local retailers etc.
- Fund-raising opportunity at national convention. Roxie suggests we sell chocolates from the Lovelace company which currently has them available at half price. M and M's and others. The TN state table is available for us to use at National convention. We can sell Candy bars there.
- Heather Field will send Roxie and Joe the NFB Convention agenda.
- May Rally in Washington D.C. was successful. 40 co-sponsors. However, there was virtually no media coverage, unfortunately. Heather will send out a "What to do now after the rally" email. We need to call Senators.
- Newsline Article read by Keith Anderson about the state of Texas losing Newsline service, even with 1500 listeners. Tennessee has few listeners, so we may lose it as well if we don't use it and look for ways to fund it. We need to work together and not leave it to others. It is an outstanding accomplishment of the NFB to make over 200 newspapers available to blind people over the phone and we should use it and spread the word about it. Talk to someone about Newsline whenever you get a chance.
Michael Seay:
Michael addressed the meeting.
- Michael also spoke about Newsline and agreed that we need to undertake a concerted effort to get the word out about Newsline.
- TN Merchants Division. Michael discussed the problems which have occurred with the establishment of the new state Merchant’s division and outlined the steps the State board has taken to attempt to sort out the situation.
- State Picnic. In response to a proposal at the State board-meeting that we have some fellowship events, a State Picnic has been planned for the fourth Saturday in September to be held in Murfreesboro. Five dollar fee per person will be charged to cover food.
- National Convention transport: Bus from Jackson Mississippi coming through Memphis and Nashville July 2, 2005 taking people to Louisville, KY for the National Convention. There are 15 available seats (some from Arkansas may also come).
- Presentation. In his position as State president, Michael Seay announced that the Middle TN chapter’s constitution was accepted at the last meeting of the State Board and that the chapter is now officially accepted as part of the NFB of TN and the NFB. Two copies of the Certificate of Affiliation were signed by Michael Seay, president of the NFB of TN, Heather Field, president of Middle TN chapter of the NFB of TN, and Keith Anderson, witness, and were presented to the chapter.
Next meeting: (subject to library scheduling) Saturday July 23, 2005 at 10:30am Nashville Public Library, conference room 2.
Meeting adjourned.
Respectfully submitted by Keith Anderson - Recording Secretary.
