KCB Board Meeting – April, 2016
The monthly meeting of the Kentucky Council of the Blind Board of Directors was held via conference call on Monday, April 18, 2016. President Deb Lewis called the meeting to order at 8:05 PM eastern time. Answering the roll call were Deb Lewis, Joey Couch, Rick Boggess, Carla Ruschival, Bill Deatherage, Debbie Deatherage, Elaine Weisbard, “Cisco” Slusher, Natalie Beyers, Amanda Selm, Shirley Stivers, Bill Wright, Gerry Slusher, Bill Roberts and Frank Campbell. Lisa McKeown checked in late. Deb Trevino and Michelle Haycraft were absent. Guest Adam Ruschival was also present.
President Deb Lewis called for reading the March 21 board meeting minutes and summary. Since copies were distributed in advance, Elaine Weisbard made a motion to dispense with their reading and for their approval. The motion was seconded by Natalie Beyers. Shirley Stivers reported she has not been receiving the minutes and summaries but did not wish to have them read. Carla Ruschival will work with her to try to determine the problem. The board unanimously approved the March minutes and summary.
Treasurer’s Report
Treasurer Carla Ruschival presented her report for March. Bill Deatherage made a motion to approve the treasurer’s report. The motion was seconded by Bill Wright and unanimously approved.
Chapter Reports
Eastern Kentucky Christian Council: Frank Campbell reported he will have a meeting on May 14 to discuss their picnic which will be held in June or July.
Northern Kentucky Council: Gerry Slusher reported that 20 people made pretzels at Wunderbar on March 28. The chapter will host a clothing drive in May. In June chapter members will make crab ragoon at Amerasia, a Chinese restaurant in Covington. Members are allowed to help assemble the food but cannot cook it in the kitchen. The Center for Great Neighborhoods is preparing a video and posting photos highlighting the chapter’s activities which will be posted to the NKCB Facebook page.
Greater Louisville Council: Deb Deatherage reported that 9 or 10 members dined out on April 2 at Dish On Market. The chapter’s quarterly meeting, originally scheduled for April 15, has been rescheduled on April 29. The chapter will hold its derby party from 10:30 to 7:30 on May 7.
Tri-State Library Users Group: Bill Wright reported the chapter will be having a conference call meeting on the conference line at 8 PM on April 19. Turley Richards, a blind recording star and song writer with Warner Brothers, will be the guest speaker. The chapter is selling his autobiography, which includes a CD of some of his recordings, for $15.
Guide Dog Users of Kentucky: Bill Deatherage reported the chapter will host a walk around the United Crescent Hill Ministries neighborhood at 1:30 PM on April 30. Chapter members will talk about guide dogs this summer at Humane Society camps. The chapter will also hold its monthly phone conference call on the conference line at 7 PM on April 25.
Support Alliance of the Visually Impaired: Bill Roberts reported that 14 members (and 2 guests) attended the chapter’s April 12 meeting. Members heard a presentation on emergency preparedness from John Clouse, Deputy Director of the Daviess County Emergency Management Agency. Patty Haas, Low Vision Program Coordinator at the Evansville Association for the Blind, will display and sell products from their store at the May 10 meeting.
KCB Next Generation: Amanda Selm reported the chapter will be sponsoring its first councilwide picnic on May 14 from 4-7 PM at Brown Park located at 1000 Brown Park Lane (near St. Matthews Mall) in Louisville. The chapter will pay for the fried chicken with members bringing side dishes, desserts, and supplies. Cost is $5 per person ($3 for children ages 3-8).
Committees
PR/Membership: Rick Boggess reported the committee shared information about the April newsletter at its April 6 meeting. Efforts continue to share information about ACB and KCB with the four year colleges. Updates continue to the KCB webpage; 2013 board summaries will be posted soon. Carla Ruschival reported she has inserted information about the recent Netflix announcement and that the newsletter should be out soon. She pointed out that the Netflix settlement has resulted in lots of positive coverage for ACB in several national publications.
Old Business
Deb Lewis reported that House Bill 85, requiring the Office for the Blind to draft language about visually impaired pedestrian safety for the KY Driver Manual, died in the senate transportation committee.
Carla Ruschival indicated she recently expressed concern to KSB counselor Elaine Hall that KCB and the KSB Alumni Association were not invited to participate in outreach events in Paducah and Bowling Green. She has since been assured by outreach director Peggy Sinclair that KCB and the KSB Alumni Association will be invited to participate in planning future activities. Letters from KCB and the alumni association, expressing our concerns and appreciation for being included in future activities, will be sent.
President Deb Lewis encouraged members to get sponsors for the KCB e-Racers for the 2016 Brenda Dillon Memorial Walk. The e-Racers page can be reached at http://acb.donorpages.com/2016acbwalk/eracers. The Downtown Louisville Lions Club has pledged $500 for the walk, $3000 for Sound Prints and $1000 for GLCB Roundabouts.
New Business
President Deb Lewis pointed out that we need to set dates with the Ramada Inn on Zorn Avenue for the 2016 state convention. Bill Deatherage made a motion that the KCB State Convention be held at the Ramada Inn on Zorn Avenue on November 11-12. The motion was seconded by Joey Couch and unanimously approved.
Bill Deatherage made a motion that KCB provide doughnuts for the April 22 SRC Committee meeting. The motion was seconded by Elaine Weisbard and unanimously approved.
Carla Ruschival made a motion that KCB purchase two $50 raffle tickets to support The Braille Forum. The motion was seconded by Bill Deatherage and unanimously approved.
Carla Ruschival pointed out that ACB began Angel Pages a couple of years ago to provide recognition on the ACB webpage to individuals and groups who have been special to ACB. She made a motion that KCB contribute $100 in support of former board member Charlie Hodge’s Angel Page. It was noted that Charlie, who passed away about a year ago, was always very supportive of local affiliates. The motion was seconded by Bill Deatherage and unanimously approved.
Carla Ruschival made a motion that KCB spend $500 to sponsor an Angel Page in honor of Jim Shaw. The motion was seconded by Bill Wright and unanimously approved. During the discussion it was pointed out that we can either use the wording from the program page purchased in Jim’s honor or come up with other wording. Carla also suggested that we explore the possibility of including an audio clip on the page.
Rick Boggess asked if anyone knew how the newly adopted state budget will impact KSB and OFB. Specific details are not yet available.
Adam Ruschival shared information about a group that provides financial support to authors who write books about events with historical significance to Louisville. Recent projects include a history of the Dust Bowl and Shawnee High School. The group is currently working with a group of KSB students to produce a book which should be available this fall.
Announcements and Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 9:08 PM.
Submitted by Rick Boggess, KCB Secretary
Download Summary: KCBBoardMeetingApril2016
