KCB Board Meeting – May, 2017
The monthly conference call meeting of the Kentucky Council of the Blind Board of Directors was held on Monday, May 15, 2017. President Debbie Deatherage called the meeting to order at 7:37 PM eastern. Answering the roll call were Debbie Deatherage, Joey Couch, Gerry Slusher, Rick Boggess, Carla Ruschival, Amanda Selm, Natalie Couch, Shirley Stivers, Matt Selm, Bill Roberts, Bill Wright, and Dennis Runyan. Frank Campbell, Elaine Weisbard, Josh Gentry, David Smith, “Cisco” Slusher, Deb Lewis and Winter Renfrow were absent. Guests Adam Ruschival and Bill Deatherage were present.
President Debbie Deatherage called for reading the April 20 board meeting minutes and summary which were distributed in advance. She indicated the motion to provide a $250 stipend for those attending the ACB Convention appeared to have been omitted. Carla Ruschival made a motion to dispense with their reading and for approval with the correction to include the stipend if needed. The motion was seconded by Bill Wright and approved.
Treasurer’s Report
Treasurer Carla Ruschival reported April 30 balances which reflect a transfer from cash to stock and a Downtown Louisville Lions Club donation for Sound Prints. Bill Wright made a motion to approve the treasurer’s report. The motion was seconded by Shirley Stivers and approved.
Old Business
Carla Ruschival, Patti Cox, Adam Ruschival and Kathy Jackson attended Allison Flanagan’s retirement reception in Frankfort on April 20. Allison really appreciated the gifts.
Shirley Stivers reported she was part of the steering committee (which included Carla Ruschival, Kathy Jackson and Theresa Thomas) that met with Becky Cabbe, Kora McNabb and Beth Kuhn in Covington on May 3. There is no interest in closing or combining the rehab centers in Louisville and Thelma. The next meeting, including Education and Workforce Cabinet Secretary Hal Heiner, will be in Frankfort on June 14.
Carla reported the donor page for the 2017 Brenda Dillon Memorial Walk is live at https://acb.donorpages.com/2017ACBWalk/eracers/. This year’s national goal is $65,000. Last year’s walk raised about $63,000. Several pledges have been made which are not yet posted.
New Business
Carla Ruschival provided ACB updates. convention preregistration begins on May 24. (Air fares from Louisville are about $200 less than in March. A redesigned website will soon be unveiled. Those on the ACB Leadership email list are participating in a mock election using email and the phone as ACB explores ways to extend voting to those unable to attend conventions.
President Debbie Deatherage announced that she and Rik Boggess have joined Joey Couch on the ACB Leadership Email List. They will share list information with KCB members as necessary.
Carla and Adam Ruschival reported this week’s Sound Prints podcast marks the program’s 15th anniversary. The first broadcast contained an interview with ACB President Chris Gray who discussed ACB’s lawsuit to force the treasury to provide accessible currency. Despite court victories we still do not have accessible currency. Progress is often very slow when dealing with the government.
Carla Ruschival made a motion that the KCB e-Racers and KCB chapters set a goal of raising $2500 for the ACB Brenda Dillon Memorial Walk. Rik Boggess seconded the motion which was unanimously approved.
Chapter and Committee Reports
Eastern Kentucky Christian Council: Frank Campbell, who was absent, asked Rick Boggess to deliver a report. The May 20 meeting has been cancelled due to Frank’s surgery. They hope to meet in June to plan for their picnic.
Northern Kentucky Council: Dennis Runyan reported the chapter will have a picnic at Gerry and Cisco Slusher’s house on May 27. They are exploring ideas for a summer fund raiser, discussing ideas for a gardening workshop, and working to determine if they are eligible to apply for a $5000 Creative Communities Grant from the Covington Center for Great Neighborhoods. Two new members joined at their last meeting. Gerry demonstrated the Echo Dot and a talking thermometer APP at an iPhone meeting.
Greater Louisville Council: Bill Wright reported Roundabouts continue to be very successful. The Imagine Blind Players performed a dress rehearsal of Lady Anderly’s Rose at the May 12 meeting. The play will be performed on four consecutive Friday nights at the Bristol Bar and Grill beginning on May 26. There will be no Roundabout on May 19. The next meeting will be on May 26. Dine outs have been cancelled so they do not impact attendance at other activities. The following officers were elected at the April 28 quarterly meeting: Bill Wright President; Deb Lewis, 1st Vice President; Josh Gentry, 2nd vice President; Deanna Scoggins, treasurer; and Natalie Couch, Secretary. Chrystal Brock was elected to replace Josh Gentry as one of the directors.
Tri-State Library Users Group: Bill Wright reported there will be a dinner meeting from 6-7:30 on May 16 at Clifton Pizza in Louisville. Library Users of America will host the Library Without Walls call at 8:30 PM (EST) on May 17. They will discuss books you might give as a gift. Call 605-475-1500, code 5822255. The Book Club is meeting as part of Roundabout on the fourth Friday of each month. This month’s book is Don’t Say a Word by Beverly Barton.
Guide Dog Users of Kentuckiana: Bill Deatherage reported that the May 20 walk has been cancelled. The next meeting will be a conference call on May 22. Guide Dog Eye Exams will be performed from 3:30 to 4:45 at Roundabout on June 9 for those who registered by April 30.
Support Alliance of the Visually Impaired: Bill Roberts reported 13 members and two guests (one of whom joined) attended the May 9 meeting. Patti Haas, Evansville Association for the Blind, talked about kitchen aids which people could examine and purchase. They hope to invite a physical therapist to their June or July meeting and hope to have a picnic in September.
KCB Next Generation: Matt Selm reported their monthly meeting has been changed to an in-person meeting at Aspen Grill (302 Bullitt Lane) at Oxmoor at 4:30 on May 21. Other Upcoming events include the Belle of Louisville Cruise on May 27 and the council wide picnic from 2-5 on June 10 at Brown Park. The deadline to make picnic reservations and order Chick Fill-A catered meals ($10 each) is May 26. Call 502-895-4598 to pay and make reservations. Matt Selm reported that Chick-Fill-A requires two weeks’ notice for ordering meals.
KCCLV: Amanda Selm reported that Denise Russell from Speak To Me demonstrated lots of talking products from their Catalog during the May conference call. A donation and drawing at Roundabout have brought $134 into the chapter’s treasury. Carla Ruschival made a motion that KCB donate $100 to the chapter. Rick Boggess seconded the motion which was unanimously approved. In the past, KCB has given $100 to new chapters. The chapter, which holds in-person meetings from 1:30 to 3:30 at UCHM on the second Thursday of the month, will add meetings on the fourth Thursday of the month at the same time. The chapter now has 18 members.
PR/Membership: Rick Boggess reported the committee met on May 3. Webpage and calendar updates continue. Carla reported that installation of MailChimp has not totally resolved email issues. In response to a question, she indicated we can discontinue paying for the service if it does not work out since there is no contract. Carla reported the newsletter should be sent out shortly. The next meeting will be on June 7 on the conference line.
Setting up rolls to allow others to work on our webpage has proceeded more slowly than anticipated. Chapters are encouraged to look at their pages and provide corrections or changes to Carla or Rick.
Bill Wright made a motion to approve chapter and committee reports. Shirley Stivers seconded the motion which was unanimously approved.
Announcements and Adjournment
President Debbie Deatherage reported she has asked Joey Couch to chair the convention planning committee and has begun contacting people to serve. It is hoped they can meet shortly.
Natalie Couch made a motion to adjourn. The motion was seconded and unanimously approved. The meeting adjourned at 8:41 PM.
Submitted by Rick Boggess, KCB Secretary
Download Summary: KCBBoardMeetingMay2017
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