September 20, 2025 - Meeting Minutes

Meeting Minutes – September 20, 2025

In Person: Ed Worrell, Juli Brandvold, Patti Howse, Wava Goetz
On Zoom: Kathy Reed, Angela Tabb, Joseph Fochs, Chris Broadhurst, Satin LaRance, Phoenix Robinson, Dexter Penwell

Minutes from Aug. 9: Patti motioned to approve, Juli seconded, minutes approved.

Convention Report:
- Chris provided a report and shared that the convention went well.
- Live Auction: brought in about $2,400 (benefits SOP).
- Silent Auction: brought in about $1,250 (benefits the sponsoring chapter).
- New Officers Announced:
  - President: Doug Robinson
  - 1st Vice-President: Ed Worrell
  - 2nd Vice-President: Misty
  - 3rd Vice-President: Juli Brandvold
- Awards:
  - Kay Stevens Award: Linda Lay (staff) and Jana Hoffman (student)
  - Keith E. Denton Award: Ed Worrell
Convention Support Discussion:
- Suggestion: Other chapters should contribute more, such as paying the $50 registration fee for members who work on the convention.
- Suggestion: Create a “scholarship” style option to help cover hotel costs for those who need it.
- Suggestion: Start a voluntary contribution fund for convention support.
- Note: Doug Robinson suggested the Board choose the convention location and all chapters contribute.
- Discussion included reducing the convention to one night, but the majority preferred keeping it to two nights.

Convention 2026:
- Location discussion included Billings or Roe River Chapter hosting.
- Ed stated RRC could host; after discussion, the group agreed RRC will host.
- Potential Venue: Holiday Inn (only hotel option with all meeting rooms on the ground floor).
- Food/Catering: Must use hotel catering (majority of the cost).
- Banquet: Expected to be more formal rather than buffet style.
- Vendors: Suggestion to replace vendor tables with vendor panels where each vendor can speak.
- Opening Ceremony: Ed suggested contacting the Little Shell Tribe; the group was unanimously excited.
- Further discussion covered event planning and scheduling; Ed will notify Doug as soon as possible that RRC will host.
Brochures / Packets:
- Wava suggested including information about other resources in packets.
- Ed recommended keeping the focus local.
- Becky will create rough drafts.
- Wava volunteered to deliver packets.
White Cane Day / Disability Awareness Month:
- White Cane Day: Oct. 15
- October is Disability Awareness Month.
- Phoenix is working with Shayla at NCLS.
- Ideas Suggested:
  - White Cane walks
  - Rent AMC for screenings
  - Hand out posters, flyers, and other materials
  - PSAs
  - Contact media for a human-interest story (Phoenix will reach out to CARETV and Chris Tabb)