MARYLAND PARENTS OF BLIND CHILDREN MINUTES OF GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING NOVEMBER 14, 2005 Present: Susan Polansky Karen Herstein Barbara Cheadle Danielle Becker John Cheadle Renee Kirby Darlene Dorr Kevin Harris Bernice Lowder Loretta White Samta Singh Bob Watson Meeting was called to order at 7:50 am by President Susan Polansky. The items on the draft agenda included: * Avon Fundraiser: To be generally coordinated by Lorie Kammerer. Bob Watson will follow up with her to get the fundraiser started. Delivery date and run of promotion TBD. Loretta White will coordinate the order assembly and contacts for pickup or arrange delivery details with BISM staff/youth. * Transition Club: Barbara Cheadle will be making contact with Melissa Riccobono on the upcoming activities, as well as working on some mailings to parents in advance of meetings. Also, Barbara will be in touch with David Andrews at NFB about setting up a list-serv for members of the transition club. Barbara will have a member of the Common Senses VISTAs working on the activities for the Holiday Party planned at the National Center on December 18th * Scholarship committee: Karen Herstein reported that she and Danielle Becker will be working to revise the current request for scholarship forms, in conjunction with Sharon Maneki, to ensure that this form and the YOUTH EMPOWERMENT STIPEND requests remain distinct and do not cause confusion. It was agreed that only families with current membership in MDPOBC will be considered for scholarship assistance. It should be considered that the requests for scholarships also include youth who may not pursue the traditional 4-year college track. * Bob Watson is maintaining the active list of memberships in a database that is available to anyone requesting such information. General Business: * It was decided that the term “BOARD MEETING” would be replaced by “MEETING OF THE PARENTS OF BLIND CHILDREN”, so as to take away the impression or perception of exclusivity. To that end, the minutes of each meeting will be widely distributed and Bob Watson will modify the website to have text versions and Microsoft Word versions of each meeting. * Bob Watson will modify the website to allow members to pay their dues online by credit card if they wish. Payments will still continue to be accepted by check or cash. * Darlene Dorr has offered to assist in writing grant proposals with the guidance of Loretta White. This includes the request and the follow up reports. Anyone who has leads on possible sources of funding/grants etc should contact Darlene at navydarlene@yahoo.com * Annapolis Day – all encouraged to attend. The date is January 20, 2005. For more information, contact Sharon Maneki at NFBMD@Earthlink.net * The Washington Seminar is January 29-Feb 2. The Student Division will host a gathering on 1/29. Further information from Quantrise Smoot at XXXXX * There is still a plan to have an OPEN HOUSE at the National Center at a date TBD. Barbara Cheadle would like volunteers to help plan this. * Renee Kirby is coordinating a FAMILY STORY HOUR in Eldersburg on December 2nd. A specific mailing advertising this will be prepared. Dates to Remember: November 20th, 2004 – Pickup of Uncle Ralph’s cookie orders at NFB – 12 noon December 2, 2004 – Family Story Book Hour, Eldersburg MD. 6:30 pm -9 pm March 12th, 2005 - MEETING OF THE PARENTS OF BLIND CHILDREN – Danielle Becker’s house, Frederick. 10 am June 11th, 2005 - MEETING OF THE PARENTS OF BLIND CHILDREN – tentative at Darlene Dorr’s house. 10 am September 10th 2005 - MEETING OF THE PARENTS OF BLIND CHILDREN – hosted by BISM/Loretta White – 10 am November 2005 TBD - MEETING OF THE PARENTS OF BLIND CHILDREN Meeting was adjourned at 8:50 am Respectfully submitted, Bob Watson Secretary, MDPOBC