Calendar/Events

MINUTES FROM THE 2010 GEORGIA REGIONAL GROUP

STATE CONFERENCE

THE GEORGIA REGIONAL GROUP’S STATE CONFERENCE BEGAN WITH REGISTRATION ON APRIL 30, 2010 AT 1:00PM.

3:15PM THE CONFERENCE BEGAN WITH A PRAYER BY JOSEPH BUTLER, FOLLOWED BY THE PRESENTATIONS OF VIST COORDINATOR MS. KENDAL PRESCOTT, ATLANTA VA BROS MS. KLARISSA BEDI, ATLANTA VA LOW VISION DIRECTOR MS.DIANA ESTRELLA, ATLANTA VA MOBILITY ASSISTANCE SPECIALIST MS.SYNGE TYSON, ALABAMA/SOUTHEAST GA VIST COORDINATOR MS. DEBRA TAZEWELL AND AUGUSTA VIST COORDINATOR MR. TOD TURANSKY TOGETHER WITH MR. MARK ARMSTRONG WHO IS IN TRAINING. EACH DESCRIBED THEIR POSITIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES. A QUESTION AND ANSWER PERIOD FOLLOWED WITH DETAILED EXPLAINATIONS GIVEN TO EACH QUESTION ASKED. A PROGRAM CALLED THE “HOSTEL” IS IN THE DEVELOPMENT STAGE. IF YOU LIVE 75MILES OR MORE FROM THE ATLANTA VA YOU QUALIFY FOR THIS PROGRAM. THE TRAINING IS A SHORTENED VERSION OF WHAT YOU RECEIVE WHEN YOU ATTEND THE REHAB IN BIRMINGHAM. IT PROVED TO BE A VERY INFORMITIVE SESSION FOR THE ATTENDING VETERANS.

4:10 MS. CHERI MITCHELL IS A DISABILITY CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVIST WORKING WITHIN THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY AS A MENTOR AND A ROLE MODEL FOR THE DISABLED. HOWEVER, SHE IS NOT IN THE VETERAN NETWORK BUT WILL GLADLY WORK WITH VETERANS ASSISTING THEM HOWEVER POSSIBLE. AMONG OTHER POSITIONS SHE IS A CERTIFIED OCCUPANCY EXPERT AIDING PEOPLE IN FINDING AFFORDABLE AND ACCESSIBLE HOUSING AS WELL AS HOMEOWNERSHIP. SHE IS CONNECTED TO A FEW OTHER ORGANIZATIONS ASSISTING THE DISABLED AND ALSO WORKS FOR THE GEORGIA ADVOCACY OFFICE. SHE GAVE INFORMATION ON NON-VETERAN ISSUES THAT WE AS CIVILIANS MIGHT NEED HELP WITH. FOR EXAMPLE, ANY VOTER REGISTRATION PROBLEM AND/OR THE USE OF VOTER MACHINES FOR PRACTICE (AS A BLIND/VISUALLY IMPAIRED VETERAN) AS WELL AS TRANSPORTATION ISSUES (UNDER AN ORGANIZATION CALLED “ACT NOW”). THOSE ARE JUST A FEW SITUATIONS SHE CAN HELP RESOLVE. MS. MITCHELL’S CONTACT NUMBER IS (678)755-6015.

4:40PM POET JOYCE GREEN GAVE A BEAUTIFUL PRESENTATION OF HER LIFE STORY. THROUGH THE USE OF POETRY AND BACKROUND MUSIC SHE TOLD OF THE BEGINNING OF HER DIMINISHING VISION AND THE PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THAT DISCOVERY.

4:55 MR. DOUGLAS BROOKS INTRODUCED HIMSELF TO THE GROUP AS THE NEW FIELD REPRESENTATIVE. HIS CONTACT NUMBER IS 404-929-5338.

5:25 END OF DAY ONE OF STATE CONFERENCE 2010

DAY 2 MAY 1, 2010

9:00 THE BENEFITS OF HAVING A GUIDE DOG WAS VERY WELL PRESENTED BY MR. DORSEY AND HIS DOG CAMIA. HE DESCRIBED HOW THE DOGS ARE TRAINED FROM 8 WEEKS TO THE TIME THEY ARE READY TO BE ADOPTED BY A BLIND OR VISUALLY IMPAIRED PERSON. WHEN THE DOG IS READY TO BE ADOPTED, HE/SHE IS INTRODUCED TO THE INDIVIDUAL WHO IS THEN TRAINED TO BE WITH THE DOG. TRAINING FOR A GUIDE DOG USUALLY TAKES APPROXIMATELY 30 DAYS AT THE TRAINING FACILITY IN NEW YORK NEAR STATEN ISLAND. ALL VISUALLY IMPAIRED VETERANS ARE QUALIFIED TO RECEIVE A DOG.

9:20 MS. BEVERLY HUNTER AND MS. ANN COLLINS TALKED OF THE IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNICATIONS FOR THE BLIND AND HANDICAPPED.  THE VETERAN CAN SIGN UP FOR “NEWSLINE” SERVICES WHICH CAN DELIVER UP TO SIX NEWSPAPERS DIRECTLY TO YOUR EMAIL. TO SUBSCRIBE FOR THAT SERVICE, CALL (404)371-1000.

9:40 MR. BILL HOLLEY 1ST VICE PRESIDENT OF THE GEORGIA COUNCIL OF THE BLIND SPOKE OF THE NEED FOR UNITY AMONG THE BLIND ORGANIZATIONS.

 MR. STEVE LONGMIRE ALSO A MEMBER OF THE GEORGIA COUNCIL OF THE BLIND IS A WEB DESIGNER. HE MAINLY DESIGNS WEBSITES FOR SMALL BUSINESSES. MR. LONGMIRE DESIGNED AN EASY TO USE AND ATTRACTIVE WEBSITE FOR THE GEORGIA REGIONAL GROUP. THE HARD WORK AND PATIENCE IN CREATING OUR WEBSITE IS GREATLY APPRECIATED.

9:50 MS. JAE COSBY OR GARRS SPOKE OF COMMUNICATIONS FOR THE BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED. THEIR RADIO STATION BROADCASTS CANK BE HEARD IN MANY COMMUNITIES GEORGIA. YOU CAN LISTEN TO MUSIC, READINGS OF BOOKS, NEWSPAPAERS/MAGAZINE ARTICLES AND SPORTS NEWS. A RECEIVER (RADIO) CAN BE PURCHASED AND GARRS WILL WORK WITH YOU IF YOU CANNOT AFFORD TO BUY ONE. A PORTABLE RADIO AND A WEATHER ALERT RADIO ARE ALSO AVAILABLE. FOR MORE INFORMATION GO TO THEIR WEBSITE AT WWW.GARRS.NET

20 MINUTE BREAK

                             BUSINESS MEETING

11:00 GRG TREASURER JOSEPH BUTLER GAVE SOME PROS AND CONS ON FORMING A NON-PROFIT “S” CORPORATION. HE EXPLAINED THAT AN “S” CORP IS SIMILAR TO A “SOLE PROPRIETOR” CORP. A $500.00 ONE TIME FEE IS REQUIRED TO ESTABLISH AN “S” CORPORATION. HAVING AN “S” CORPORATION PROTECTS THE INDIVIDUALS WITHING THE ORGANIZATION FROM ANY PERSONAL LIABILITIES. LATER IN THE DAY, THE GEORGIA REGIONAL GROUP VOTED TO BECOME AN “S” CORPORATION.

11:30 END OF MORNING BUSINESS MEETING

LUNCH BREAK UNTIL 1:30

RESUMPTION OF BUSINESS MEETING

1:30 THE GRG’S TREASURY REPORT WAS GIVEN BY GRG PRESIDENT JOSEPH D. MCNEIL. A COPY OF THE TREASURY REPORT WAS GIVEN OUT TO MEMBERS UPON REQUEST. AS OF APRIL 29, 2010 THE BALANCE WAS $5259.76. MOTION TO ACCEPT THE TREASURY REPORT; MOTION WAS SECONDED AND ACCEPTED.

DR. JONES SUGGESTED THAT THE GRG GO BACK TO HAVING A ONE DAY CONFERENCE DUE TO EXPENSES. THIS WILL BE DISCUSSED AT A PHONE CONFERENCE ON WEDNESDAY MORNING MAY 6TH AT 10:00.

A MOTION TO BUY AN AD IN THE NATIONAL CONVENTION BOOK WAS BROUGHT TO THE FLOOR; IT WAS SECONDED AND ACCEPTED. DR. JONES VOLUNTEERED TO WORK ON A DESIGN FOR THE AD.

MR. O’HARA READ THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS. MOTION TO ACCEPT THE BY-LAWS (AMENDMENTS) WAS SECONDED AND ACCEPTED.

THE MATTER OF FUND RAISING WAS BROUGHT UP AND DISCUSSED. IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT THE ORGANIZATION BE ABLE TO RAISE MONEY TO INCREASE ITS BANK BALANCE.

A MOTION TO ADD A “DONATION” BUTTON TO OUR WEBSITE. THE MOTION WAS SECONDED AND ACCEPTED.

A MOTION TO ALLOW MEMBERS TO WEAR MILITARY UNIFORMS (FATIGUES) TO MEETINGS WAS SECONDED AND ACCEPTED.

JOE BUTLER WILL NOW CHAIR A COMMITTEE OF AWARDS AND THE GIVING OUT CERTIFICATES.

A MEMBERSHIP CHAIRPERSON HAS YET TO BE SELECTED.

A MOTION TO AWARD MS. PAT LEE AND OTHERS THAT HELPED IN THIS YEARS CONFERENCE WAS SECONDED AND ACCEPTED.

ELECTIONS OF OFFICERS FOR 2010

NOMINATION FOR PRESIDENT – JOSEPH D. MCNEIL- NO CHALLENGERS – ELECTED

NOMINATION FOR 1ST VICE PRESIDENT – CLIFFORD C. JONES – NO CHALLENGERS – ELECTED

NOMINATION FOR 2ND VICE PRESIDENT – CLINTON JONES – NO CHALLENGERS – ELECTED

NOMINATION FOR REGIONAL SECRETARY – YVONNE WILLIAMS – NO CHALLENGERS – ELECTED

NOMINATIONS FOR TREASURER – DONALD BROOKS – NO CHALLENTERS – ELECTED

NOMINATIONS FOR SAA – DONALD O’HARA – NO CHALLENGERS – ELECTED

NOMINATIONS FOR CHAPLIN – DR. NORMAN JONES – NO CHALLENGERS – ELECTED

NOMINATIONS FOR ASSOCIATE CHAPLIN – OTIS SMITH – NO CHALLENGERS – ELECTED

BY ACCLAMATION ALL NOMINEES ARE ELECTED

DELEGATES TO GO TO THE NATIONAL CONVENTION IN WASHINGTON, AUGUST 2010 ARE JOHNNIE BUSCH, SR., 1ST ALTERNATE MR. ALONZO EDWARDS, AND 2ND ALTERNATE MR. WILLIAM TREADWAY. A STIPEND OF $1500.00 WILL BE DIVIDED 3 WAYS FOR THE DELEGATES USE.

5:00 END OF BUSINESS FOR GEORGIA REGIONAL GROUP 2010

7:00 BANQUET, SWEARING IN OF ELECTED OFFICERS BY DR. NORMAN JONES, AWARDS, PRIZES (GAMES) AND RAFFLES.

END OF GRG STATE CONFERENCE 2010