[Missouri-l] MCB Board Meeting Highlights

Tue Nov 17 12:01:36 CST 2009

The MCB Board met last evening via teleconference call with 22 board members
present and two absent.

The board welcomed several new board members which included:

Treasurer - William Hawkins

Agape - Wilma Chestnut House

Delta Area - Christie Ryan

Springfield Service Club - Janelle Edwards

Rite - Angelo Trapasso

Ozark Association - Melvin Brown

The board heard reports from me, our Executive Director, Jennifer Parker and
the Field Marketing Representative Lowell Newsom.  The board voted to change
Lowell's title to, Director of Development.

I announced that we will be holding an affiliate organizational meeting in
Jefferson City on December 4th at 6:00 PM.  Anyone in that area or if you
know of someone in that area that might be interested in having an affiliate
are welcome to attend.  The meeting will be at the Capitol Plaza hotel in
the Carnegie room.  The hotel has donated that room to MCB for that purpose.

The board made modifications to the budget in four areas.  The membership
committee amount was increased to $2,000.00.  The board meeting and
conference calls was increased to $25,000.00.  The Executive Director and
Director of Development salaries were increased to be in line with what they
will actually be paid for the 10 months they will work this fiscal year.

Mike Keller gave a thrift store report and stated that progress is being
made on opening our own thrift store.  The business plan should be in their
hands before Christmas as provided by the consultant that was hired.  The
board approved the thrift store committee to file with the secretary of
state and to proceed with the filing of the 1023 in order to become a 501
C3.  The location of that thrift store has not been decided but the thrift
store committee is meeting today with a real estate person to look at
several possibilities.  These locations include several places in the St.
Louis area and several out state locations.

James Hollins gave a youth conference report and stated that there are five
applicants that have expressed an interest in attending the June summer
camp.  Anyone that is interested in joining the Youth mailing list can do so
by sending an email message to: youth-join at moblind.org.  Or if you know of a
legally blind person between the ages of 18 and 28 that might be interested
in attending, please let James know about them.

Chip Hailey gave an Education and Welfare report and talked to us about the
legislative days coming up in February.  Although the positions papers are
not ready, he will have them a couple of weeks in advance of the legislative
days on February 16th.  We will try and have Chip to record the positions
and make them available ahead of time on the MCB phonecast.  You can call:
816-298-8969 to hear the phonecast at any time.  The board also voted to
instruct the chairperson of the Education and Welfare committee to inform
any legislative representative attending the legislative days to dress
professionally.  We are representing MCB and the blind community and how we
are dressed is a reflection on all of us.

The board approved a new committee for the deaf blind.  Elizabeth Moore was
appointed as the chairperson for that committee.  You will be hearing more
about that committee as it begins to take shape.

Eldon Cox decided to resign as the Convention Coordinator and Susan
Sanderson was appointed to take his place.

At the October convention the membership approved the location of the 2011
convention to be in Joplin to be hosted by the Queen City affiliate.  Queen
City has decided not to be the host for that convention so the board
approved to still hold the convention in Joplin at the Holiday Inn.  If no
affiliate comes forward to be the host then the MCB Board will host it.

Several repairs and maintenance problems have come up at the MCB building.
The board approved those repairs and has asked to building committee to
bring back some estimates for the remaining repairs to the next board
meeting.

I am very pleased with the MCB board and the unity and cooperation they are
showing.  The spirit is good and although there are differences of opinions,
we all came away with a good feeling about MCB and the direction we are
going.

If you have any questions please feel free to call me at, 866-362-1383 or
email me at: dhuff at moblind.org

Thanks!

Denny Huff - President

Missouri Council of the Blind

5453 Chippewa

St. Louis, MO  63109

Phone: (636) 262-1383

Toll Free: (888) 362-1383

Phonecast: (816) 298-8969

FAX: (636) 629-1710

DHuff at MoBlind.Org

www.moblind.org

MCB - A GREAT PLACE TO BE!

The purpose of Missouri Council of the Blind shall be to promote the general
well-being of our members and legally blind people in Missouri, and to
support or participate in other programs promoting the best interests of
legally blind people everywhere.

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