DEAF SENIORS OF AMERICA

Board Meeting

Tuesday, November 4, 2003
Cambridge Recreational Center
Las Vegas, Nevada

 

Vice President Bob Cook, in place of President Gertie Galloway who was absent due to the untimely death of her son, called the meeting to order at 10:20 AM. 

A silent prayer was held in memory of Vance Galloway. 

Introductions were made.

All present were: Vice-President Bob Cook, Secretary Nancy Rarus, Treasurer, Joe Rose, Richard Bonheyo, James Potter, Ron Nomeland and DSA 2005 Chair Ron Hirano

Sue Beckley-Schreiber discussed LV’s desire to have DSA Conference in 2009 and learned that losers of the bid will get refund. (Note: towards end of meeting last night, after reviewing the Convention Guidelines, we noted that it really is non-refundable—and we had concerns and wish to rectify that.)

Sue explained that they would avoid Feb and Nov. and indicated it was cheapest to have Convention from a Sunday to Thursday. Sue asked about exhibit costs and what about costs for non profit organizations. Bonheyo suggested that Sue sets up an executive committee as soon as possible.  Sue says she will start in Jan.  and to get  a hotel lined up before making the bid and Bonheyo cautioned her to have a “lobby” elsewhere than in the front.

Agenda

Minutes:

Motion 2003 #1:  Richard Bonheyo moved that the 2003 DSA Conference minutes not be accepted for various reasons. Carried (One of the reasons being that much of the information is not correct and not in usual format)

Financial report:

Joe Rose distributed an audited report from July 7, 2003 through October 1, 2003 showing a balance of $45,706.51

Ron Hirano, past Treasurer provided Treasurer Rose with an audited report which still reflects the original $34,274.19 transfer.

Motion 2003 #2:  Ron Nomeland moved that the two audited reports be accepted with corrections. Carried

Motion 2003 #3: Richard Bonheyo moved that a Board Meeting be held at CSD, Sioux Falls, SD and that the next meeting be in DC. Carried

Motion 2003 #4:  Richard Bonheyo moved that Treasurer invest 25 k in one year CDs.  Carried

Motion 2003 #5:  Jim Potter moved that Treasurer Rose check into whether it would be necessary to have a Tax ID number. Carried

• After a ten minute break, Nancy Rarus asked the audience if they wished there were a housing for deaf Senior Citizens in LV.  A resounding yes ensued and further comments and tips were provided by Richard Bonheyo.
  

• Jim Potter announced that the Minnesota group is now looking for an existing place that the community would like to eventually move into. Then  one by one families could start moving in.

• Hirano: Wisconsin (southeastern part) has a group of deaf people working on something.

• Bonheyo: San Jose not wanting to be left out of the loop has approached the Fremont group to start something as well.

• Joanne Williams had completed a Directory—to which Nancy Rarus responded: yes, NAD has had that document and really very much outdated and would require much manpower to update it-and that there are at least 58 k websites regarding Senior Deaf Citizens.

Website Update

Ron Nomeland provided the history. Two or three years ago DSA contracted with Nancy Creighton who then maintained it up to the Boston Conference. Last summer, she went to Ron’s place to help acquaint him with Dreamweaver program so he could take over. In the meantime, he has learned about how beneficial using “Blogger” would be. Three questions remain to be answered:

1. Shall DSA keep people informed up to date through the use of Blogger?;
2. Shall DSA make use of the email listing which currently has 293 addresses?;
3. When will DSA have the chance to set up a link to the 2005 DSA ?

This was referred to the meeting to be held later today.

DHHCAN

Ron Nomeland has missed all the past three meetings due to unforeseen circumstances. It was agreed he would forward DHHCAN meeting minutes.  Thus far, DHHCAN has focused on transportation, telecommunication, captioned movies and rehabilitation issues.

2005 DSA Conference Report:

(Ron Hirano, please forward the outline electronically to me so I can insert it.)

Recessed for lunch at 12:30 PM.

Resumed at 1:00 PM

Motion 2003 #6:  Bonheyo moved that DSA donate $75.00 to the Silverbelles for arranging our lunch.  Carried.

DSA Official Poem

VP Cook wanted to know what was expected of DSA in regards to this poem.

Motion 2003 #7:  Jim Potter moved that action be taken at next Board Meeting in regards to the DSA Official Poem which was voted on at the 2003 Conference. Carried

United We Stand: No report from the UWS except that Gary Viall has been appointed to represent DSA.

Election System for 2005

It was agreed that it should remain the same. However, it was further agreed that a voting section be established and only people sitting within that section will be counted.

Workshops/Forums at 2005 DSA

A lengthy discussion revolved around the need to review the schedule and see if improvements could be made. The idea was to have one hour block on Thursday, 
Friday and Saturday with topics pre-specified for all to participate.

Motion 2003 #8:  Jim Potter moved that special topic forums be conducted.  Joe Rose moved to amend that forum speakers expenses be taken care of by DSA. Amendment failed to carry. Main Motion carried.

Motion 2003 #9:  Bonheyo moved that Jim Potter lists issues for the special topic forums for the Board to review and decide on.  Carried

Motion 2003 #10:  Potter moved that the per diem be at $30 per day and that in addition, DSA covers cost of the group dinner. Carried. Rationale: Food costs are now “additional” when traveling.

Recessed at 2:30 PM

In the meantime, Secretary Rarus was able to obtain the 2003 DSA Conference Financial Report for the Board to review.

Meeting resumed at 8:25 PM in Suite 26159.

Reopened the issue of making investments. (See Motion  4 ) It was decided that the Treasurer would purchase one year term of CD with $25K. Carried

It was also moved to engage someone to check whether or not DSA needs to be prepared to report to the IRS. (Motion 5)

Motion 2003 # 11:  Joe Rose moved that an electronic copy of mailing addresses of attendees at 2005 DSA Conference be sent to the appropriate person within a month after the Conference; that this be included in the MOU effective with 2007 DSA Conference and that the format be in Excel.  Carried

Motion  2003 #12:  Jim Potter moved that the Conference Guidelines on page 5 in regards to Fundraising to delete the word engage and substitute with the word initiate. Carried.Memorandum of Understanding

After a very lengthy discussion, it was the general consensus that the MOU as is shall be signed by Ron Hirano within 30 days and sent to President Galloway.

2003 DSA Conference Financial Report

2003 Motion 13:  Ron Nomeland moved that President Galloway contact Bill Nye giving him until January 1 to have the report audited.  Carried.

Further discussion on the Articles of Incorporation took place and it was placed on the back burner.

Discussion ensued on the following items:

VP Cook distributed forms for nomination of Officers and Award Winners along with ByLaw changes.

• Place Bylaws on website:
• Place Bylaws in a New Horizons issue prior to the next Conference along with a form for people to make recommendations for changes.  This could be included in the fifth issue if it were timely. Or possibly, in the issue before the Special Issue that Jim DeBonis plans to have.

Motion 2003 #14:  Nancy Rarus moved that reimburses President Galloway the flight cost in regards to attending CHAD Fundraiser. Carried

Motion 2003 #15:  Nancy Rarus moved that DSA sends the $1000.00 seed money to the 2007 DSA Conference Committee after the Memorandum of Understanding is signed. Carried.

It was the consensus of the group that:

a)      There be someone to coordinate flight arrangements and hotel arrangements.

b)      A list be developed for the Board Members to bring to all meetings: i.e. ByLaws, electronic reports be sent prior to meetings.

c)      It is feasible to have Board meetings via AIM or any other means to cover an issue at a time.

Meeting adjourned at 10:15 PM

Nancy B. Rarus

Secretary