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 in January and one at the state convention of GCB.  There are several conference call meetings throughout the year when needed.  Some of the projects planned for 2008 are membership growth and organizing a Leo Club for visually impaired teens. 

Officers are:   
President, Anne Wheeler
2199 Floyd Sreet
Covington, Georgia 30014
Phone:  770-786-5778
Email:  awheel@bellsouth.net 

Vice President, J. C. Coefield,
105 Fox Den Camp
 Warner robins, Georgia 31093
Phone:  478-922-9023
Email:  coefield@cox.net

Secretary-Treasurer, Ann Sims
3361 N. Whitney Avenue
Hapeville, GA  30354
Phone:  404-767-1792
Email:  teacherann@bellsouth.net

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, 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 leiason 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