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

Call to order.

• Minutes from October 9, 2004 meeting were read and approved.

II Treasurer's Report:

• The treasurer, Ryan Smith, reported that $381.13 as the current account balance. He also reported that Amsouth bank had mislaid the paperwork regarding transfer of account signatories and requires a new form be submitted. The treasurer provided a new form which he asked the president to complete and submit to the bank. Because of the problem with the bank, Ryan was still not able to sign checks and was unable to pay The Nashville Library for October and November meeting room hire. To ensure that we could meet at the library, this month, President Heather Field, paid the outstanding $50 from her private funds. The treasurer recommended that the chapter reimburse her this amount. Joe Shaw moved that the Treasure’s report be accepted, Ruth Hollingsworth seconded, the motion was passed. Joe Shaw moved that NFBMTC reimburse heather Field $50 for payment of October and November meeting room hire at the Nashville library. Ruth Hollingsworth seconded and the motion was passed.

III Business arising out of minutes:

• Student Division Liaison Committee Report. Joe Shaw reported that Domonique Lawless has been working with April and Amanda Jones, students from Chattanooga to organize the new Tennessee Division of Students. They were holding a meeting that day to elect officers and vote on a constitution to be submitted to the state board of the NFB for ratification. All present agreed that this was a momentous occasion in the history of the work of the NFB in Tennessee. Heather Field reported that Meet the Blind Month publicity materials are now available. She presented samples of the materials now available for use by chapter members in publicizing the work of the NFB and assisting those in need of information on blindness issues, and she gave samples to those interested. These included the book “If Blindness comes”, and an audio brochure on the Jernigan Institute. The contents page of the book was read out by Tony Garcia and all present expressed their excitement at having so many excellent resources now available to chapter members. Heather Field also said that she intended to contact Voc Rehab people regarding giving them NFB literature and to request that counselors and teachers give packets of our materials to their clients.
• Planning Christmas Party. Members discussed who to invite and the importance of using this event as an outreach opportunity to introduce people to our chapter and the work of the NFB, as well as an opportunity for reaffirming already existing relationships particularly with members who aren't active in the chapter. Suggested invitees included Friends, family members, non-active members, people who had contacted the chapter during the year and people working in organizations who worked with the blind in our area. Names submitted included Terry Smith director of Services for the Blind,, Roger Patton from the department of Human Services Division of Rehabilitation for the blind, Georgia Varble coordinator of the conference center at the Nashville Library and Tom Sullivan from Tn Rehabilitation Center.

Heather Field agreed to invite those from organizations.

It was agreed that the party would be held at the home of president Heather Field, on Friday night Dec 10, at 6:30pm. Tony Garcia volunteered to transport those interested. It was also decided that, where appropriate, attendees should be asked to bring a gift under $10 for gift exchange. Tony Garcia offered to purchase two turkeys and Heather Field agreed to co-ordinate the food and drinks for the evening.

Chapter will buy party accessories such as plates, cups, plastic utensils etc.

IV President's Report: (Summary below).

• The radio interview on WAKM successful, especially regarding networking with Franklin and TN government officials, librarian and head of Franklin Schools.
• Completed project for designing early childhood room at headquarters for Parents of Blind Children
• Active Learning Conference featuring Doctor Lily Nielson as presenter – co-sponsored by the NFB – important for us to recommend to people. February 7-9, 2004 in San Francisco Bay, for Special Ed. teachers, Physical Therapists, parents of Blind Children developmentally under the age of four. www.lilyworks.org/convention.
• Continuing to work/talk with parents of blind children.
• Article in Tennessean, Bowling outing for blind children. Our own Gayle Prillaman and Marc Vagas were involved!

V New Business:

• Members discussed assisting interested blind people, who live in Murfreesboro, to get to meetings and other chapter events. Vice president Joe Shaw, who is responsible for membership matters, said that in his conversations with a number of them, Murfreesboro people had indicated that they were interested in coming but lack of transportation was the problem.

Sharon Paris volunteered to talk to Vaughn ------- about a possible group rate on transport from and/or return to Murfreesboro.

• Schedule officer’s meeting. 29th of November.

Joe Shaw to confirm with correspondence secretary Gayle Prillaman.

Meeting time. The possibility of changing the meeting time was raised and discussed. Ryan Smith moved that the chapter change the time of monthly meetings from 2:00pm to 10:30am on the morning of the second Saturday of each month. Joe Shaw seconded and the motion was passed unanimously.

• Heather Field discussed the need for a fund-raising committee and a committee chairman. She asked Tony Garcia if he was willing to serve as chairman and Joe Shaw and Ryan Smith if they would serve on the committee. All agreed and the president appointed them.
• It was agreed that while membership recruitment is the primary focus in this phase of the chapter’s development, fund-raising is an important part of the work of any chapter and we also need to focus on it. Members agreed to discuss Fund Raising ideas at the December meeting.

e. The president read a letter from Jim McCarthy, congratulating National Federation members and friends on their work in securing the successful passage of two bills in the senate. (IMMA) individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) – every student has right to the best education. Instructional Materials Accessibility Act. Expected to pass in the legislature. HR1350. States must adopt this standard – publishers must provide books in electronic form when books are published and in a timely manner.

Next meeting Saturday: December 11th, 2004. 10:30AM

Meeting adjourned.

Respectfully submitted by Keith Anderson recording secretary.