Georgia Council of the Blind Lions



GEORGIA COUNCIL OF BLIND LIONS

The Georgia Council of Blind Lions (GCBL) is an affiliate of the Georgia Council of the Blind and the American Council of Blind Lions. The purpose of this organization is
A. To promote accessibility and/or reasonable accommodations for the members of blind Lions serving as Lions in the State of Georgia.
B. To promote fellowship and support among blind and visually impaired Georgia Lions.
C. To encourage Lions clubs in Georgia to actively recruit blind and visually impaired individuals into their clubs.
D. To work to increase knowledge of international Lions leadership in Georgia about the ability of blind individuals and the potential of blind people to join and serve as Lions in the international Lions clubs in Georgia. Anyone who is a member in good standing of a Georgia International Lions Club may join the GCBL by requesting and submitting an application. The dues are $20.00 for which $15.00 is sent to the ACB Lions and $5.00 is retained in the local affiliate. There are two meetings each year: One during the Georgia Lions' State Convention, usually in May; and one during the Georgia Council of the Blind Conference-Convention, usually held in August. There are several conference call meetings throughout the year when needed. Some of the projects planned for the next year are membership growth and assisting visually impaired campers to attend the Georgia Lions' Camp for the Blind in Waycross.

Officers are:
President, Anne Wheeler
Phone: 770-786-5778
Email: awheel@bellsouth.net

First Vice President, James Horton
Email: lionjimhorton@comcast.net

Second Vice President, J. C. Coefield
Email: coefield@cox.net

Secretary-Treasurer, Betsy Grenevitch
Phone: 770-464-0450
Email: blindangel@joimail.com

Board Member, Barbara Graham
Email: bobbiegraham511@bellsouth.net

Board Member, Betsy Grenevitch
Email: blindangel@joimail.com

Tail Twister, William (Bill) Holley
Email: kermitholley@msn.com

Lion Tamer, Marsha Farrow
Email: marshafarrow@windstream.net

Minutes of GCBL Business Meeting
August 7, 2010
The business meeting of the Georgia Council of Blind Lions was held in Helen, Georgia, at Unicoi State Park, during the GCB conference-convention. This was our annual breakfast business meeting, and our own GCB Lion, Grace Clower, was our distinguished speaker. She inspired and encouraged us to keep working for our goals and especially mentioned the Georgia Lions Camp for the Blind in which our GCBL group was responsible for sending a visually impaired mother and her visually impaired child to attend in June.
Lion Bill Holley was our fabulous Lion tamer, and he was able to collect $35 from everyone in the room who generously participated. This money will help in funding more projects.
After our breakfast, President, Lion Anne Wheeler opened our business meeting with recognition of members and visitors.
The minutes and treasurers report were given and both approved for filing. They can be read on the GCB Website under GCB Lions.
President Anne explained to our visitors about our group sending Suzette Wood and her daughter, Tyzia, to the Georgia Lions Camp for the Blind in Waycross in June. Lion Ann Sims told everyone how thankful and grateful Suzette and Tyzia were to attend the camp and how much they learned and enjoyed the experience.
Lion Marsha Farrow expressed her appreciation to our group for helping to purchase a hearing device for one of her members in Rome and how much this device was helping the young lady to be able to hear and participate in public meetings now.
Lion Bill Holley announced the slate of officers, and elections were held. There was some confusion regarding the office of vice president, and it was suggested that we postpone the remaining election until we could check into this issue.
There being no further business at this time, the business meeting was adjourned.
After several of us met to clear up the confusion regarding the office of Vice President, President Anne Wheeler sent out a letter to the membership explaining that we were going to propose to revise the GCBL Constitution and Bylaws and send out the proposed changes, then hold a conference call to vote on them and to complete the election.
On Saturday, September 18, after the proposed amendments had been sent out to all the members, a telephone conference call was held. President Anne opened the meeting and asked for votes on the documents’ proposed changes. These were accepted unanimously.
President Anne then went over the officers for election with the addition of Lion Tamer, an added office in the newly revised Constitution. The following candidates were elected to serve for the next two years:
President, Anne Wheeler
First Vice President, Jim Horton
Second Vice President, J. C. Coefield
Secretary/Treasurer, Ann Sims
Board Director, Barbara Graham
Board Director, Betsy Grenevitch
Tail Twister, Bill Holley
Lion Tamer, Marsha Farrow
Lion J. C. Coefield will continue to be our very important liaison representative between the Georgia Lions and GCBL, for which we are grateful. President Anne also appointed Lion Marsha Farrow as our project chairman, and Marsha graciously accepted.
Ann Sims asked if we could have another conference called meeting sometime in January or February just to remind folks of paying their dues and any other business to be handled at that time. No set time was named, but Anne Wheeler will be sending out reminders to the membership for paying dues and for holding a conference after the first of the year.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Ann Sims, Secretary

Treasurers Report
June, 2010 through August, , 2010
(This was approved at the August meeting but included here for those who were not able to attend.)
$380 Opening Balance
Deposit
$150, June 2 Charity Days
$450, June 3 Fundraiser and two Dues of $20 each for new members, Fred Smith and Richard Smith
Check
Check No. 117, $300, June 4, , Lions' Camp for Suzette Wood and daughter, Tyzia
$680, Closing Balance
No activity in July.
August:
$680, Open Balance
Deposit
$75, August 12
($35 collected by Tail Twister and Two Dues of $20 each for Grace Clower and new member, Lila Scott)
$755, Closing Balance, August 31
Ann Sims, GCBL Treasurer

Click Here to Read the Georgia Blind Lions 2010 Archived Minutes As A Text Document.

Click Here to Read the Georgia Blind Lions 2010 Archived Minutes As A Word Document.

Click Here to Read the Georgia Blind Lions 2009 Archived Minutes As A Text Document.

Click Here to Read the Georgia Blind Lions 2009 Archived Minutes As A Word Document.

Click Here to Read the Georgia Blind Lions 2008 Archived Minutes As A Text Document.

Click Here to Read the Georgia Blind Lions 2008 Archived Minutes As A Word Document.

Click Here to Read the GCB Blind Lions Constitution and By-Laws