2026 ACB Budget
Board of Directors Meeting
Monday, December 1, 2025, and
Monday, December 8, 2025
7:00PM ET
Call to Order: Deb Cook Lewis, ACB President
The December 1, 2025, meeting was called to order at 7:01 PM ET.
Roll Call: Katie Frederick, Secretary
At the call of the roll, the following officers, directors, staff and guests were present.
Officers: President Deb Cook Lewis; First Vice President David Trott; Second Vice President Kenneth Semien Sr.; Secretary, Katie Frederick; Treasurer Michael Garrett; and Immediate Past President Kim Charlson.
Directors: Chris Bell, Donna Brown, Cheryl Cumings, Peter Heide, Gabriel Lopez-Kafati, Cecily Nipper, Terry Pacheco, Koni Sims, Jeff Thom, and BOP Representative Zelda Gebhard.
Staff: Scott Thornhill - Executive Director, Nancy Marks-Becker - CFO
Guests: Janet Dickelman - Conference and Convention Coordinator
Absent: Rachel Schroeder (excused absence)
At the completion of the roll call, quorum was confirmed.
Review and Approval of Agenda: Deb Cook Lewis, ACB President
Chris Bell moved and Koni Sims seconded approval of the agenda, the motion passed.
Approval of 2026 Workplan
Chris Bell moved and David Trott seconded approval of the 2026 Workplan. The motion passed.
Convention 2030 Hotel Proposal
Janet reported that she does not have anything to share on the Fall Board meeting contract in 2026 in Jacksonville. The proposed 2030 contract is with the Hyatt in Dallas July 5 -12 with a room rate of $139+tax. This is the same rate we have for 2029. David Trott moved and Kenneth Semien seconded the proposal to move forward with Dallas in 2030. The motion passed.
Stop Streaming of Board Meeting
Jeff Thom moved and Koni Sims seconded moving into the budget session of the board meeting. The motion passed. The public portion of the meeting ceased streaming at 7:25 PM Eastern.
Review and Approval of the 2026 ACB Revenue Budget: Nancy Becker, CFO
Review and Approval of the 2026 ACB Convention Budget: Nancy Becker, CFO
The December 1 meeting was recessed at 8:50 PM ET until Monday, December 8, 2025, at 7:00PM ET.
Call To Order: Deb Cook Lewis, ACB President
President Deb Cook Lewis called the December 8 meeting to order at 7:00 PM ET.
Roll Call: Katie Frederick, ACB Secretary
At the call of the roll, the following board and staff were present.
Officers: Deb Cook Lewis, President; David Trott, First Vice President; Kenneth Semien, Second Vice President; Katie Frederick, Secretary; Michael Garrett, Treasurer; and Kim Charlson, Immediate Past President
Directors: Chris Bell, Donna Brown, Cheryl Cumings, Peter Heidi, Gabriel Lopez Kafati, Cecily Nipper, Terry Pacheco, Rachel Schroeder, Koni Sims, and Jeff Thom
BOP Representative: Zelda Gebhard
Staff: Scott Thornhill, Executive Director, Nancy Marks Becker, CFO
Discussion of letter from auction committee on behalf of the board:
David Trott moved and Koni Sims seconded a motion to send a letter to the conversation list on behalf of the board discussing the auction. The motion passed.
World Blind Union Contribution Regional Development Fund:
Kim Charlson requested $400 to this fund, David Trott seconded the motion. It passed.
Review and Approval of the 2026 Expense Budget: Nancy Becker, CFO
Review and Approval of total 2026 ACB Budget: Kim Charlson moved to add a $400 contribution to the World Blind Union Regional Development Fund (added to the 2026 budget). Donna Brown seconded the motion, which passed. The board voted to approve the 2026 budget as amended with Terry Pacheco opposed.
Approval for withdrawal of Reserve Investment funds to meet cash flow in 2026: $100,000. Cecily Nipper moved and Rachel Schroeder seconded to withdraw up to this amount for the year ahead. Jeff Thom moved approval of the withdrawal. Kim Charlson seconded and the motion passed.
The meeting adjourned at 8:26 PM ET.
Respectfully submitted,
Katie Frederick, Secretary
Date Submitted: 1/25/2026
Date Approved: 3/07/2026