Middle Tennessee Chapter
MINUTES OF MARCH 6, 2004.
Attending: Heather Field, John Brown, Gayle Prillaman, Keith Anderson, Ruth Hollingsworth,
Joyce Hollingsworth, and Ricky Godfrey. Gene Eichelberger was sick and
could not attend.
Location: Downtown Nashville Public Library
Old Business:
Heather reminded members that at our luncheon in Feb. members agreed that the
chapter would pay for two hotel rooms (one for women, one for men) for
Saturday night. The estimated expense is $130. The State NFB Conference
is the second weekend in March in Memphis. Gene and Keith are planning
to drive. Heather, Dominique, John Haendel and Chris Moore are also planning
to attend.
Minutes of the Aug. 4, 2004 meeting were submitted and approved.
Treasurer's Report:
John Brown reported that since Jan. 2004 there have been
three deposits for a total of $26. Our current balance is $ 742.90. He noted
that Ricky Godfrey made a $50 donation to our chapter last year. Members were
reminded that our fiscal year is July 1- June 30th. Officially our Chapter dues
of $5.00 are due in April. Members voted to renew our Web site Domain that is
due. Heather will notify John of the exact amount. Members were reminded that
our site is www.nfbmidtn.org.
It was agreed that next year each member will pay the one dollar state NFB fee
(that is paid in March at the State Conference) which will bring the annual dues
to $ 6.00.
New Business:
1. Our official new meeting place/time is the Downtown Public Library,
the second
Saturday of each month from 2:00 -4:00pm.
.We have an opportunity to become a "partner" with the library. To
do this we need to write up a proposal for our Chapter concerning Literacy.
.
We could tie in our interest in supporting passage of the Braille Bill in TN
with our work on Literacy in our state. Attempts to contact local legislators
(Senator Doug Henry) have not been successful. There was some discussion
of the Braille Bill, which requires that any child with 20/200 acuity be
taught Braille.
.
There will be a link on our web site about transportation. Access Ride
is currently $1.75 one way.
2. Spring Picnic will be the last Saturday in April, the 24th at 12:30pm at Gene
Eichelberger's home. Bring a salad, drinks and a musical instrument, if
you play. Directions will be available at our April meeting.
3. New contacts /Outreach:
.
We discussed the need to get NFB brochures in area ophthalmologists' offices.
A year ago John called eye care specialists in the Nashville area. Ricky
volunteered to call John Haendel and work to get NFB listed on the Vanderbilt
Web site as
a resource. Gayle and Heather offered to visit the 3 ophthalmologists in
Williamson County whose offices are by the Williamson Co. Med. Center.
.A motion was passed to purchase multiple copies of the first Kernal Book at
National Convention this summer to include in a "packet" that we prepare and
leave in ophthalmologist's offices.
4. A motion was passed to change our chapter elections from April to June in
order to be more closely aligned to our fiscal year. This year our elections
for chapter officers will be in June.
5. A motion was passed to make final revisions to our Constitution and submit
it for approval. Our President will chose an Ad Hoc Committee to look at
this.
NEXT MEETING: Saturday, April 10, 2004 from 2:00 to 4:00.
Downtown Nashville Public Library
Meeting Room # 2
Respectfully submitted by Gayle Prillaman
