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Florida Council of the Blind Executive Committee Meeting January 24, 2025
President Mikey Wiseman called the meeting to order at 06:30 PM.
Present were President Mikey Wiseman; 1st Vice President, Cassandra Jessie; Recording Secretary, Elizabeth Bowden; Treasurer, Mark Lear; and Immediate Past President, Sheila Young. 2nd Vice President, Shelley Sawyer; and Membership Secretary, Sally Benjamin were excused. Guests for this meeting were Paul Edwards and Debbie Grubb. Role was taken and a quorum was established.
Secretary’s Report: Cassandra Jessie motioned acceptance of January 7 Minutes. The motion was seconded by Sheila Young. The motion passed unanimously.
Debbie Grubb reported on the Washington D.C. trip.
Deb Cook Lewis during a meeting of the Education committee told members that they couldn’t advocate with parents of children for legal purposes. She told members that language would be developed about how advocacy will be handled by ACB. If advocacy is to be radically changed, we should reconsider the Washington D.C. trip. A letter expressing concerns was sent by Debbie Grubb and Mikey Wiseman. It is important that we attend the D.C. trip when a new administration takes power. We were told during a call that a training session would be a good idea. The ACB did not include the FCB in the planning of the session. We don’t have information on the training session.
Sheila Young expressed concern about advocacy changes. She has seen no updates about the imperatives.
Nine members have applied to attend the D.C. trip. We will need funding for six members to go. Cassandra Jessie motioned that FCB attend D.C. leadership. Motion seconded by Sheila Young. Motion had no opposition.
Tallahassee Day
Issues are:
More funding from the states for services so more federal dollars can be used
More assistance for older blind which would enable them to be at home
enforcement of the white cane law, have at least one question on the driving test regarding the law. Obtain data regarding incidents, “crash data”.
The committee for Tallahassee day is February 6.
Cassandra motioned that three days of motel be sponsored. The motion was seconded by Elizabeth Bowden. The room rate is $179.00. The motion passed unanimously.
Sheila Young motioned that A member of FCB purchase lunch for all FCB members attending Tallahassee Day. Cassandra Jessie seconded the motion which was unopposed.
Sheila Young motioned, and Cassandra Jessie seconded that a resolution be drafted by the Resolutions committee, requesting that ACB establish a policy that any documents required for ACB event attendance be distributed sixty days before the event in question. The motion passed without opposition.
Mikey has gotten answers to some of the questions in the letter which was sent to ACB. ACB will not affiliate with BPI.
Seaworld: A letter was received by Seaworld from ACB. No action has been taken as of yet. President, Mikey Wiseman has been contacted by an ADA attorney who has requested that we sign a retainer for the purpose of sending a demand letter to Seaworld. Elizabeth Bowden motioned that a retainer be signed, and a demand letter be written to Seaworld. The motion was seconded by Sheila Young and was unopposed.
President’s Calls: The executive committee discussed representatives that should be attending the President’s calls. It was agreed that only chapter or affiliate presidents can attend the calls. Should a president be unable to attend a call, he or she is to give Mikey the name of one representative to take his or her place.
There was no other business. Motion to adjourn was made by Cassandra Jessie and the motion was seconded by Sheila Young and went unopposed.
The meeting ended at 09:04 PM
Respectfully Submitted,
Elizabeth Bowden
Recording Secretary
Florida Council of the Blind