Self-Help for Independency in Michigan = Deafblind

Fall Meeting of the Board of Directors

November 8th, 2008

Madonna University- Livonia, Michigan

 

Open Board Meeting

 

SHI-M=DB met at Madonna University in Livonia, Michigan on Saturday, November 8th, 2008. 

 

The meeting was called to order at 10:50 a.m. Eastern Time with  Vice President Mr. Scott Davert presiding as the chair and the following Board Members:

 

        Ms. Isabell Florence , President-absent

Mr. Scott Davert, Vice-President-present

Ms. Jill Gaus, Treasurer-present

Ms. Brenda Cuddeback, Secretary-present

        Mr. Mike Reese, Board Member at Large-present

        Ms. Odessa Carter, Board Member at Large-present

        Mr. Harold Riley, Board Member at Large - present

        Mr. Johnny Robe, Board Member at Large-present

        Ms. Patty Grindel, Board Member at Large-present

 

Deaf Blind present:

Chasity Coryell

Melanie Bond-SSP committee

Marge Spencer-fundraising committee

Steven Evans

Roderick Gordon

Thomas Gruchela

Bob Flynn

Debbie Wright

Vice President Scott Davert, welcomes all and announces that

The Vice President will run the meeting as President Isabell Florence is unable to attend.  Mr. Davert set up the

Communication rules, members are to raise hands if able to understand communications.  Communication rules were reviewed including, no cell phones, if need to please put on vibe and excuse self if need to leave.  Side conversations, if needed please leave the room.  If a person wants to talk please raise hand, wait for acknowledgement and then we will go in order of hand raised, board and DeafBlind have priority.  Roll call for board members, deafblind, and interpreters were called.  Names of interpreters are listed at the end of the minutes.

 

President’s Report- Tabled due to Ms. Florence being unable to be present.

 

Vice President’s Report by Mr. Davert- The news leter, as well as the minutes for this meeting  will be posted on the web at WWW.SHIMDB.ORG and that is all that I have to report. 

 

Treasurer report by Ms. Gaus- The total balance is $14,884.75  I want to remind you we have three different accounts.  The SHIM account is $3,228.39.   The DBTC-stands for DeafBlind Transition Camp for teens.  This camp is held every other year and that account shows a loss of $983.00.   DeafBlind Workshop account has- $12,214.08  SHIM voted awhile ago to have two, $5.000 CD’s and they have matured but SHIM allowed that to renew.  All the interest from this account automatically goes in to the SHIM account. Questions were entertained.  Ms. Gaus relayed that the SHIM account was audited by Tom Robertson, Dee’s husband who is an attorney.  This audit was done in the spring.  In response to a question from one of the deafblind membership, Ms. Gaus explains that the audit was conducted pro bono by Mr. Robertson.  SHIM brought a dinner gift certificate as a demonstration of gratitude for this free service.  Ms. Gaus explained that the check book requires two signatures, the treasurers and the presidents.

 

DeafBlind Workshop will be held July 16 -19th of 2009 at Desales, in Brooklyn.  Registration forms will be available in 2009.  Please register early as this camp is getting very popular.  The camp can have twenty-five DeafBlind, fifty interpreters and our CART providers.  Evaluation did not get distributed after our 2008 camp.  This was an oversight and the camp was different.  The afternoon was more relaxing and massages, haircuts, makeup, and boating, swimming were available.  On the night of the dance, there was a Disc Jockey instead of a band.  The band cost $2,500 and the Disc Jockey offered their services at no charge.  Other states are copying our camp.  These states include: Ohio, IL, IN and now WI is interested. 

 

Services that were donated at the camp include:  Disc Jockey, massage therapist, hair stylist, nails and makeup.

 

DeafBlind board member, Odessa Carter thought the disc jockey was really good.  She learned some new dances and did other dances that she hasn’t done in a long time.  Suggested by board member Mr Robe, that SHIM recognizes those that donate to camp.

Patty Grindel created a poem last year.  This year, Ms. Gaus asked Odessa Carter, to sing the poem.  It was really beautiful.  Odessa Carter, also sang amazing grace. 

 

Report, member at large and newsletter editor-Mr. Reese.  The newsletter was sent out.  SHIM is encouraging people to go green i.e. using the web or email instead of mailing.  This not only saves the resources of paper, but saves SHIM money for postage. The next newsletter will go out next month.  Please make submissions by November 29th.

 

Member at Large report- Patty Grindel -I started selling in 2005 I have sold $5,637 worth of pins and this year is $745.00 which is good with our current economy. 

 

Member at large- Johnny Robe- I was to investigate the cost of brochures and did not have time to finish this project but will resume this project.

 

Member at Large and membership report- Odessa Carter- No report at this time, Odessa was interested in finding some one to take over this committee for her.  After exploration as to what this committee’s goals were (to increase membership and to set dues) Ms. Gaus offered to assist with this task.

 

Fundraising Committee report-Ms. Spencer- SHIM has been working on selling candles and have approximately, $1,145.00 and the rest of the candle sales will be for profit.  Discussion ensued about the cost of the candles and whether the committee should continue to sell the candles and the decision was to continue with the fundraiser of selling candles.

 

Member at large- Harold Riley- I have no report.

 

Melanie Bond reported on the project to start an SSP program.

Melanie has been researching on line on how to set up an SSP program in Michigan. Melaine recommends setting up a survey process.  The other idea was to have SHIM set up a SSP workshop and maybe have a person from out of state that has experience in this give us some guidance. Melanie wanted to request that some of the members, if interested will help her out with these projects. 

 

Old Business:

None

 

New Business:

None

 

Motions:        

None

 

Action items:

None

 

Meeting adjouned at 1:30 pm.

 

Interpreters and SSP roll call:

 

Interpreters:

Helen Boucher- present

Angela Grzemkowski - present

Angela Katcher- present

Amanda Niven-present

Anita West- present

Sue Clark-present

Dee Robertson- present

Francis Mead- present

Josh Hogarth-present

Sandra Goulart- present

Kathy Truman- present

Diana Campbell-present

Maureen Wagner

Beth Makowski

Jeremy – present Said he was a Deaf interpreter no wait I am an interpreter for the Deaf!  HA!

Warren Coryell= present

 

ITPs:

Alison Lane

Ashlee Jordan- present

Kathryn Kitson- present

Chuck Dornbos

Jennifer Head - present

Jen Mieras

Jennifer A. Richmond -present

Liz Jackson-present

Jill A. Vega- present

Marianne G. Tritten-present

Mary-Jo Clapsadle- present