| June 2009 Las Vegas |
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DSA Forum Thursday, June 25, 2009 President Cook opened the Forum at 10:30 AM instead of 10:00 due to audio/visual difficulties. Topics covered during the forum: Alfred Sonnenstrahl announced that the Elderhostel plans will resume next summer. Someone stated it was unethical to name people who withdrew from the Conference. Part A of the General Meeting session was called to order at 11:00. Barbara Schmidt led the Pledge of Allegiance. President Cook asked for a moment of silence in honor of those who have passed on. President Cook proceeded to give the State of DSA address covering following subjects:
Vice President Bonheyo gave the Clear Blue report showing a balance of $ 10,855.97 as of May 16. Approximately DSA earned $20,000. Secretary Rarus reported that DSA should continue sending a representative to NAD Conference as long as they still have Affiliate Caucuses in place. Treasurer Rose reported that DSA had a balance of $67,315.22. Board Member Potter brought the audience up to date about the amendments and the various policies and guidelines. These all have been updated. These will be a work in progress. Board Member Nomeland explained that he had hoped we would view the new look of the DSA website. Again, technical difficulties prevented him from showing it. Recessed for lunch at Noon. Part B of the General Meeting session was called to order at 1:25 PM President Cook turned over the reins to Board Member Potter to present the new amendments to the audience. Potter explained that the Law Committee recommended 8 of the 28 proposed amendments. Members of the Law Committee were: Barbara Bass, Al Couthen, Norbert Enos, Judy Mohan and Howard Wahl. Ronald Sutcliffe moved that the members accept the recommendations that the Law Committee made. Carried. New Business: 1. Tom Posedly moved that in order to assist the medical community to align with ADA law, DSA will distribute pocket cards showing Deaf/Hard of Hearing/Deaf-Blind patients’ right to choose which “effective communication” preference will be provided. The user will just point to his/her choice. Carried. The following motions were referred to the Board in interest of time since Motion 2 was debated much too long. 2. Brent Nowak moved that the Board of DSA check the dates, sites and cost of hotel and its facilities as well as the distance to and from the airport after bids are submitted prior to commitment. 3. Howard A. Sultan moved that the bidding fee be increased to $2000 effective with the 2015 conference. 4. Gertrude Galloway moved that DSA establishes an Ad Hoc committee to explore and develop guidelines in regards to scooters and wheelchairs at DSA conferences. 5. Barb Schmidt moved that DSA provides “visors” to people who get on the stage so that they can see the audience. 6. Buddy Singleton moves that DSA does not exclude any sponsors. 7. Betty Oshman moved that next DSA host to give more consideration to wheelchair and scooter users such as making pathways exclusively in the exhibit room and other conference areas. 8. Lillian Mittaur moved that exhibits be open to the public. 9. Marilyn McCallon moved that we get an ASL interpreter for the hotel information center and registration center. 10. Alvin Leff moved that the exhibit hall be open to everyone including registrants and non-registrants. 11. Allan H. Karp moved that DSA implements six regional chapters of NE, SE, NC, SC, NW, and SW with their own rulings by head regional boards and secondary regional board to be determined by their regional chapters’ voting of two (2) year term with maximum of two (2) consecutive terms. This is to be supervised by Vice President of DSA. 12. Ed Corbett moved that DSA at its next conference rent an electronic vote counter to accurately record/tally all votes that take place. Election of Officers:President: Alan Ander and Jim Potter. Potter won. 2013 Bidding Presentation: San Francisco, Houston, Baltimore and New York City competed. Baltimore won. Meeting was adjourned at 4:30 PM. -nbr
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