Georgia Blind Lions 2008 GCBL Minutes January 26, 2008 The meeting of the Georgia Council of Blind Lions (GCBL) was held on Saturday, January 26, 2008, at the Center for the Visually Impaired. Meeting was called to order by Bill Holley at 9:15 a.m. Those present were Bill Holley, Jerrie Toney, Diane Simms, Marsha Farrow, Tim Barrett, Robin Oliver, Barbara Graham, Peter Tolly and Ann Sims. Bill announced that Anne Wheeler had been appointed to take over as GCBL President since he was appointed to fill the unexpired office of Second Vice President of GCB, but that he would continue to be an active member of GCBL. J.C. Coefield was appointed to the unexpired term vacated by Peggy Chavis Garrett as Vice President, and Ann Sims was appointed as secretary-Treasurer to combine the positions and fill the unexpired term of Treasurer held by Anne Wheeler. Bill Holley reported that Bob Robinson is working on a brochure for us to have to distribute and put on the GCB Website. We are also getting a GCBL pin which should be available within the next few months. Some of the goals for GCBL this year are to work on membership, and to try and organize a Leo club both with the STARS group and the youth at the Georgia Academy for the Blind. The Constitution and Bylaws for GCBL have been revised and are enclosed as an attachment to these minutes. A conference call will be planned to vote on these revised documents, and to decide when we can meet with the prospective groups to organize the Leo clubs. Two Board Directors need to be voted on during the next conference call, and delegates need to be named to represent GCBBL at the State Lions International Convention, planned to be held in Marietta, May 16-18. Some dues were collected, but those who have not paid yet can send their dues of $20, payable to GCBL, to the Secretary-Treasurer by February 15, 2008. The address will be included at the end of this report. As of January, 2008, the bank balance is $345.00. There being no further business, meeting was adjourned. Respectfully submitted, Ann Sims, Secretary-Treasurer, GCBL Please send your dues to: Ann Sims 3361 N. Whitney Avenue Hapeville, GA 30354. Telephone number, 404-767-1792. GCBL Minutes April 2, 2008 The meeting was called to order at 8:01 p.m., by President Anne Wheeler. Those present were Barbara Graham, Bill Holley, Jim Horton, Tim Kelly, Robin Oliver, Bob Robinson, Ann Sims, Peter Tolly, Jerrie Toney, and Anne Wheeler. President Anne Wheeler welcomed everyone and explained the purposes of GCBL, encouraging everyone to tell members in their Lions club about us and inviting them to join us. Next on the agenda was voting on the revised GCBL Constitution and Bylaws. After some positive discussion and explanation, Bob Robinson moved that the documents be accepted; Bill Holley seconded the motion, and it was passed. We were reminded that one of the board members was supposed to be our liaison member, and that person is Bob Robinson. Jim Horton was nominated for the second board position. Both gentlemen were elected unanimously. The treasurer's report was given with a balance of $699.00 as of April 2, 2008. There were 17 GCBL members' dues sent in to the ACB Lions, and there are five prospective members joining soon. Bob Robinson informed us of the GCBL pin he has been working on along with some brochures and letterhead stationery. Anne Wheeler will try to have a table at the Lions State Convention in May, and if we want to have an informal meeting during that weekend, she will arrange for that as well. Several members are going to try and attend: Anne Wheeler, John and Ann Sims, Peter Tolly, Bob Robinson, Bill Holly, Marsha Farrow, and possibly others who were not on the conference call tonight. The dates for that convention are May 16-18, in Marietta. If you need more information, please contact our president, Anne Wheeler, email address: awheel@bellsouth.net , phone number, 770-786-5778. Anne Wheeler asked Tim Kelly if he would represent her at the national ACB convention in Louisville, KY at the ACB Lions meetings, to which he agreed. The alternate will be Marsha Farrow. There was some discussion about organizing a Leo Club, and the first plan is to send out an article in the STARS newsletter explaining what Leo Clubs are all about and ascertaining if there is any interest among the STARS students for such a club. If so, the GCBL members of the Hapeville Lions Club will find out if this club will sponsor the Leo Club. Bob Robinson gave us the contact person in the State Lions for Leo Clubs, whom we will contact for information and applications. Tim Kelly suggested that after we organize a Leo Club, we might consider the next goal to be getting the Lions State Newsletter in audible format. Everyone agreed to work on that goal next. There being no further business, meeting was adjourned at 8:41 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Lion Ann Sims GCBL Secretary-Treasurer GCBL Minutes, May 16, 2008 A luncheon business meeting of the GCBL was held during the State Lions Convention, on Friday, May 16, 2008, with the following members present: Anne Wheeler, President; J. C. Coefield, Vice President; Bob Robinson, Liaison Board Member; Jim Horton, Board member; Marsha Farrow; Barbara Graham; Bill Holley; Robin Oliver; John M. Sims; and Ann Sims, Secretary-Treasurer. President Lion Anne Wheeler asked Lion John Sims to open the meeting with prayer to bless the food and business meeting. Then introductions were made around the room, and we had one visitor, Gail Coefield. Lion Wheeler explained the picnic basket we are selling tickets for to raise money for the scholarship we gave for a blind child to attend the Lions Camp for the Blind this summer. Also, the money raised will go to pay for the table in the Convention Hall and for the cost of the picnic basket with a gift certificate for a honey baked ham and other picnic items. We are selling the tickets six for $5.00 and have had very good success thus far. The drawing is planned for Sunday, June 1, and you do not have to be present to win. Lion Bob Robinson described the GCBL pin we are hoping to have in a few weeks, and everyone was encouraged to try and get a donation from their clubs to help with this cost. Lion J. C. Coefield mentioned that Lion Tim Kelly had wanted one of our projects to be the accessibility of the newsletters. Lion J. C. explained that this was already in progress and was being discussed to provide it in alternate formats. Lion Jane Finley is the editor of the newsletter, and Lion Ed Hurshburger is working with her on this project. Lion Marsha Farrow thanked everyone for agreeing to send Sandoria Jones to the Georgia Blind Lions Camp this summer. Lion Marsha explained about the Jones family and their dedication to adopting three blind and multi-handicapped children. Lion Anne Wheeler's GCB East Georgia Chapter and Lion Marsha Farrow's Chattooga County Chapter will be helping to send the others to this camp as well. We were encouraged to invite our club members to join our GCBL. We have seven prospective members who may join soon. Presently, we have a total of 17 GCBL members. Lion Robin Oliver was recognized as President of her Athens Heritage Lions Club. There was some discussion about our having a Tail Twister for our GCBL Club, and Lion Marsha said she might be interested. No final decision was made at this meeting. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned. The Treasurer's report was not given at this meeting, but it will be provided here: Bank Balance as of April 30, 2008, $699.00. Checks Cleared after that date: Check No. 102, $150 Dues to ACB Lions 3-12-07 (This was posted on May 6 after more than one year of receipt) Check No. 105, $255 Dues to ACB Lions 3-7-08 (This was posted on May 7, 2008) Check no. 107, $75.00 Lions of Georgia exhibit table, 5-16-08 (This was posted on 5-20) Deposits $231.00, 5-20-08 (This was money raised from the sell of tickets for the picnic basket after expenses were paid to President Wheeler of $75.00) We raised $301.00 during the Lions Convention weekend and will be selling more this coming weekend. Balance as of May 28, 2008: $450.00 We have one outstanding check Check No. 106, $150 Jones Child Camp Fee, 5-6-08 Respectfully submitted, Lion Ann Sims, Minutes from GCB State Convention Columbus, Georgia November 8, 2008 The business meeting of the GCBL was held at the close of the Lions Breakfast on Saturday, November 8, at the GCB State Convention in Columbus, Georgia. Members present were Anne Wheeler, President; Bill Holley, Marsha Farrow, Barbara Graham, Tim Kelly, Robin Oliver, Ann Sims, John Sims, Jeff Toney, Jerrie Toney. There were several visitors including Stella Cone with the Sandy Springs Lions Club, who joined our GCBL. Bill Holley reported that four members from his Lions club would be joining GCBL. President Wheeler brought a rolling cart-stool with flower seeds, hand tools for planting, and a beautiful fall flower arrangement atop the cart, and we planned to sell raffle tickets throughout the day as our fundraiser. The tickets would sell for a dollar apiece or ten for $5.00. We purchased two beautiful plaques to award our blinded veterans, Frederick McDade and Alfred Camp. The club invited Ms. Editha Jones and her daughter, Adora, to speak at our breakfast. We enjoyed hearing about the camp experiences of this amazing mother and her three adopted daughters. Adora was the one our club sponsored to attend the Georgia Blind Lions Camp last summer. The presentation was both informative and inspirational, and we all were blessed as Adora sang some of her camp songs. The treasurer’s report was given with a balance of $413.00 on November 1, 2008. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned. Note: Those who paid their dues at the convention for 2009 are Anne Wheeler, Barbara Graham, Robin Oliver, and Bill Holley. New members are Stella Cone from the Sandy Springs Lions Club, and, four from the Athens Heritage Lions Club: Jamie and Mike Teal, and Annie and Willie Harris. Treasurer’s Report Beginning Balance, November 1, 2008: $413.00 Debits: Withdrawal of $135.00 on 11-05-08 $50 GCB Door Prizes and Hospitality Room $75 Gasoline for Jones Family to and from convention $10 Editha Jones’s breakfast Bank Charge $19.00 Bank Charge for Order of 200 checks Deposits: $352.00 on 11-12-08 Dues: $180 Raffle: $172 Checks Check No. 108 $60, 2 Plaques for Fred McDade and Alfred Camp Check No. 109 $25 GCB Affiliate Membership, 2009 $526.00, Ending Balance, 11-28-2008 Notes: Lion Tim Kelly won the drawing for the flower cart. Respectfully Submitted, Lion Ann Sims, Secretary-Treasurer, GCBL GCBL Secretary-Treasurer Wednesday, June 4, 2008 Dear GCBL Members, The winner of our picnic basket and certificate is Elaine Jones, an alumna of the Georgia Academy for the Blind. She was thrilled, and her sister, another alumna of the school, drew her name. It was Eloise's birthday on Sunday, so we asked her to do the drawing. We raised a total of $414 for this fundraiser. After the expenses of $75 to President Anne, and $75 for the table at the convention, and the $150 for the camper, we cleared $114. The check for the camper has not gone through yet, but when it does, we will have a balance of $413 in our account. We thank everyone who participated in this successful fundraiser. Blessings, Lion Ann Sims Secretary-Treasurer, GCBL Thursday, June 5, 2008 Dear GCBL Members, Lion Bill Holley had a toe amputated last week, and I sent a get-well card from our group. If any of you want to write or call him, here is his contact information: William K. Holley 185 Weatherly Woods Drive Winterville, GA 30683 (706) 552-0521 I know he would be encouraged with your calls and cards. Blessings, Lion Ann Sims