Michigan Blind Athletic Association

Board of Directors’ meeting minutes

May 13, 2009

Directors present: John Hulsebus, Sue Fluri, Mike Branch, Rob Wall Emerson, Frank Wolf, Tom Coyne, Tom Vance, John Boes and Sherry Gordon

Guests: Gerald Rickert

Boes called the meeting to order. Branch introduced Gerald Rickert who is the incoming Blind Bowlers’ president. Branch plans to attend the June 2009 MBAA Board meeting; then Rickert will be the bowlers’ representative on the MBAA Board, technically taking over those responsibilities in August.

Minutes from the April 2009 MBAA Board meeting were approved as distributed.

Treasurer’s report. Hulsebus reported that at the end of April we have $5363.09 in savings; in checking we have a balance of $21,988.79 for a grand total of $27,351.88

Hulsebus noted that he would be keeping money which is not needed immediately in the savings account, which earns some interest. Hulsebus noted that in the past, it appeared a good deal of the money was kept in the checking account, which does not earn interest.

Hulsebus noted that presently we have checks which have been written for a total of $4403.98 which have not yet been cashed. Therefore we have cash on hand totaling $22,947.90

Boes inquired as to whether the payment for the 6 goalballs which were purchased was worked out. The answer is yes; Mike McAbee was actually reimbursed for 3 goalballs; Gordon was reimbursed for the other 3 goalballs. In addition the registration for the liability insurance was also paid and the membership card has also been received by the New Perceptions Tandem Club.

Gordon reported that the Sports Education Camp (SEC) went very well. There were 19 beginner campers and 40 campers at the advanced camp. Many thanks to the following MBAA Board members: Vance for his great publicity efforts; to Mary Lou Brooks who was the transportation coordinator; to Tyler Merren who assisted in a variety of venues; and to Gordon for tandem biking and goalball. Rickert reported the beginner bowlers also did a great job and that each athlete definitely displayed improvement in their game scores! Hulsebus reported at SEC athlete Jordyn Castor from Kentwood had a very nice article written about her in the Grand Rapids Press, along with a picture of her running with a guide runner.

Gordon presented a funding request for the national goalball tournament which will be held June 11-14 in Colorado Springs. There will be 4 women athletes and 3 men athletes, along with one coach attending. Each athlete and coach are paying their own airfare which is around $300 per ticket. Total funding request is for $1210. A motion was made and seconded that this motion be approved. Discussion ensued regarding how much money we will have in our treasury—following payment for SEC expenses. Hulsebus determined the $16,000 which had been allotted to the SEC should be enough money to cover SEC costs. Hulsebus noted that the SEC folks had just turned in $2500 in donations from the SEC. Question as to whether the youth goalball national tournament costs are part of this year’s costs or whether goalball costs are figured on a calendar year basis. Coyne noted that the Gilmore Foundation took a big hit since the economy is so bad, indicating that a lot of these large foundations’ financial future is very insecure and that we should not assume we will be receiving the same amount of money we have received in the past. We have not yet heard anything from the Michigan Braille Transcribers Fund so that possible funding source is still unknown.

The vote was called for the goalball nationals request. The $1210 was approved unanimously.

Rickert presented the funding request for the 2009 National Blind Bowling tournament, held in Cleveland, Ohio during Memorial Day weekend. Total funding request is for $1135.75. Discussion ensued involving how much money would be remaining in the MBAA treasury if this funding request was approved. There would be approximately $3700 remaining which would need to last us until October when some “new” money may be available. Clarification was given regarding the type of donations which may be used as match money. Clarification was also given that the MBAA is a 501 © (3) entity; however we are not tax exempt.

Rickert reported that the 2010 State Bowling tournament will be held in Kalamazoo. Suggestion to work with the Convention Bureau in Kalamazoo regarding hotel rates, facilities to use, etc. as well as with the Kalamazoo Foundation for possible assistance with funding the cost of the tournament. The Kazoo Foundation often assists events in coming to Kazoo when there are a large number of persons traveling to Kazoo. Rickert is also the USABA National Bowling Coordinator. Rickert will be running a bowling tournament in the fall where first place prize money will be $3000 with many other prizes also given. The idea of these efforts is to encourage folks to become involved in bowling as well as to raise money for the USA National Blind Bowling team to go to the International Games in 2011.

A vote was held regarding the funding request for the bowlers. The Board voted unanimously to fund this request for $1135.75.

Wolf reported he had not heard anything from the Michigan Braille Transcriber’s Fund. He is waiting for a call from Mary Lou Brooks to see if she and Paul Ponchillia have heard anything. Wolf noted that Tyler from MBTF seems interested in assisting the MBAA; however it appears Tyler is having some challenges in convincing the MBTF Board of the worth of the MBAA and namely the SEC.

Vance reported that Tyler Merren had sent an e-mail message at 3:25 pm this afternoon, asking about getting the $231 for the pizza party reimbursed to the Kalamazoo NFB Chapter by the MBAA. The thought was to have the MBAA reimburse the NFB for the $231 and then the NFB would make a donation to the MBAA in this same amount.

Hulsebus brought up a point of concern, indicating that a donation is something where someone donates money or services and does not get anything in return. It appears that some of the items we may have thought would be used for matching funds are not truly donations. We certainly do not want to risk putting the matching grant at stake. Hulsebus indicated one of his next tasks is to go through the books and determine what is able to be used for match. The Board unanimously agreed that Hulsebus should go ahead and make ethical decisions as to whether a donation is appropriate to be used toward match for Gilmore. If Hulsebus has questions, he should bring those to the Board.

Further discussion on the pizza party was held. Decision is for Hulsebus to contact Merren and let him know that if the NFB is interested in making a donation to the MBAA—that is great. However the MBAA will not be reimbursing the NFB for the $231 and then expecting a donation back to the MBAA—since this donation would not qualify as match money unless the money donated is more than $231. The simplest way to handle this is to have the NFB pay for the pizza party with their funds.

Boes noted that at our June meeting we need to discuss other possible funding grants.

The next MBAA Board meeting will be held on Wednesday, June 10 at 4:00 pm at the Michigan Commission for the Blind Training Center conference room.

Respectfully submitted,

Sherry Gordon, MBAA Secretary