Present: Charlie Hodge, Chair, Cindy Burgett, Deanna Noriega, Mike Duke, Winifred Downing. Ex officio Janelle Edwards and Ralph Sanders, who left the call early. Staff, Sharon Lovering, Acting Editor Members absent: Ralph Sanders, ex-officio, secretary
Sharon read the proposed agenda. Winifred moved that the agenda be approved. Mike seconded the motion, which carried.
Minutes: Mike reported that he had sent the December 13 draft minutes to Charlie and Ralph but that he had not distributed them to the full BOP.
Ralph said he had seen them. He went on to explain that he had injured his eye and said he wasn't feeling worth doing anything.
Candidates' Page Questions Charlie noted that Mike had posted a set of candidate questions. He also said that Cindy had sent one out that day. Mike read the six questions. There was a lengthy discussion about the questions. Mike suggested that his number four could be eliminated and replaced with Cindy's question. Following the discussion, Cindy moved that we select questions 1, 2, 3 and 5 from Mike's list and the question she proposed, as the five questions to be answered by the candidates on the candidates' page. Winifred seconded the motion, which carried.
Report of the Biennial Review of the Policy Manual Committee Charlie said that he did not think that there had been much movement on the policy manual. Winifred said that she felt it would be hard for Deanna to do anything on the proposed policy statement by Melanie about the relationship of the editor to the BOP and the PR Committee since the board deferred action on it until the pre-convention Board Meeting. There was a lengthy discussion. Janelle suggested that section 1.2 should be revised to include the chair of the Internet Oversight Committee as an ex officio member, along with the chair of the PR Committee. It was agreed that it should be so amended. Janelle raised a question involving 4.3 which provides that the editor shall edit letters submitted to the editor which are in excess of the word limitation. She pointed out that recently a letter was returned to its author for revision. After some discussion, it was agreed that the manual should be revised to allow the editor the option of editing a letter, or returning it to its author. Deanna will continue to work on editing the policy manual and will report further at future meetings.
Report of Disclaimer Committee Mike said that he and Ralph had not met to discuss the matter.
New BOP Newsletter Committee Report Charlie asked if chapter newsletters would be eligible for the award. Winifred said that any affiliate could submit a newsletter for consideration including chapters. Charlie said that he had received a number of suggestions for names for the new awards. He said he felt it would be helpful if names could be selected by the time the awards are announced. He said he felt he should inform the BOP that he had discussed the awards with President Gray. He said that Chris said he felt that one award is all that should be given. Charlie said he told him that the BOP had already determined that there should be two awards. Charlie reviewed a list of names for the awards. Winifred moved that the award for the larger newsletters be named the Hollis Liggett Braille Free Press Award. Mike seconded the motion, which carried. Deanna moved that the second award be named for Marie Boring. Winifred seconded the motion, which carried.
Date for next meeting Charlie said that because of the deadline for the submissions for the two current awards being April 1, that we should move the date of the meeting back. He said Winifred had suggested April 22. Cindy moved that the date of the April meeting be reconsidered. Mike seconded the motion, which carried. Cindy moved that we hold our next meeting on April 25 at 8 p.m. EDT. Mike seconded the motion, which carried. Cindy moved that the meeting be adjourned. Deanna seconded the motion, which carried. The meeting adjourned at 10:05 p.m. EST.