General Meeting Minutes (September 27, 2003)

Utah Association for the Deaf
General Meeting
Utah Community Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Taylorsville, Utah
September 27, 2003

Ron Nelson, president, opened the meeting at 1:27 pm. The quorum was met with 20 members were present. More members came in later.

Reports

Eli McCowan outlined plans for crowd control at the Renaming Ceremony on Saturday, October 4. She gave information about parts of the program.

John Peebler spoke on a two-way paging system that could be implemented for emergency situations. Possibly it could be a moneymaking venture since we no longer have Utah Relay Service.

Larry Forestal gave an update on U of U curriculum for teaching ASL. He has made revisions to the curriculum that would be more in line with what is needed. Credits total 63 hours. The revised curriculum will be presented to EDAC, then the Utah Board of Regents. Only one other university, Columbia, offers the same curriculum.

Dennis Platt, treasurer, indicated that we lost $15,000+ in 2002. The bookstore sold approximately $60,000 in goods. The Salt Lake City storage shed has been closed and an Ogden shed rented.

Robert Sanderson asked where the bleeding in the UAD treasury was. Dennis Platt said in several areas but measures are being taken to cut corners where we can.

GM09-27-2003-01 – It was moved to accept the general meeting minutes of March 22, 2003, with correction that the last paragraph read "deaf seniors," not "deaf students." Passed.

David Samuelsen indicated that for NAD regional meetings, up to 5 delegates can be selected; for NAD conference, up to 2 delegates.

The NAD Regional IV meeting will take place October 31 – November 2 in Tucson, Arizona.

GM09-27-2003-02 - Val Kinney moved, with John Peebler seconding, to send one delegate to the Tucson meeting.

GM09-27-2003-02 AMENDMENT – Robert Sanderson moved, with John Peebler seconding, to amend the main motion to read "two delegates" and to have the delegates pay their own registration.

Amendment passed. Main motion as amended passed.

GM09-27-2003-03 – Dennis Platt moved, with George Wilding seconding, to allocate $500 to each delegate if the two were of different genders, and $400 to each delegate if they were of the same gender. Passed.

Ron Nelson opened the floor to nominations for delegates to the Region IV meeting.

The following were nominated. Votes were as follows:
          Eli McCowan 13
          Nancy O’Brien 13
          Ron Nelson 12
          Rodney Walker   3

Eli McCowan and Nancy O’Brien will represent the Utah Association for the Deaf at the Region IV meeting, with Ron Nelson and Rodney Walker as alternate delegates in the event that Eli and/or Nancy are unable to make it.

Rachel Miller, a sophomore at Skyline High School, represented Junior UAD and spoke to the audience about hiring a deaf counselor, but that Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind has turned down their request. They are petitioning.

Ron Nelson asked the audience for priorities that Utah Association for the Deaf should work on. Suggestions were:

  • Hospital service
  • Quality of captioning
  • Status of JMS (need statistics)
  • Two-way paging system for emergencies (with RUCC asking PSC why pagers cannot be supplied for emergency purposes)
  • Good relationship with PSC (where is the money spent?)

New Business

GM09-27-2003-04 - Nancy O'Brien moved to have Eli McCowan chair the UAD Conference in 2005. It was duly seconded.

Robert Sanderson moved that the nomination be by acclamation. It was duly seconded.

The secretary cast the ballot on behalf of the UAD membership present.

GM09-27-2003-05 - David Samuelsen moved, with Larry Forestal seconding, that a minimum surcharge of $1 be added to all fundraising and admittance events, the event committee reserving the right to increase up to the maximum of $5. The surcharge proceedings shall go to, and be limited to, Jean Massieu School of the Deaf for their needs.

GM09-27-2003-06 - Val Kinney moved, with Nancy O’Brien seconding, to refer the motion to the financial committee, with a report to be given to the board at its November meeting. Passed.

Dennis Platt, treasurer, said he needs volunteers to form a financial committee. Nancy Taylor volunteered.

New business was closed.

Announcements

Val Kinney spoke of the Staples Business Rewards cards and tags, and passed out swipe cards and tags.

David Samuelsen spoke of donations to Jean Massieu School; he has donation forms.

Adjourned at 4:16 pm.

After adjournment, refreshments were served.

Valerie Kinney
UAD Secretary