USBCA Board Minutes
Find United States Blind Chess Association board meeting minutes here.
Board Meeting, April 29, 2024, 7:00 PM central time
Glenn Crawford called the meeting to order at 7:04 PM central time.
Present: Rita Crawford, Marilyn Bland, Glenn Crawford, Evan Reese, Al Pietrolungo. Apologies from Jim Homme.
Rita gave the Treasurer’s report. She indicated that opening a bank account in USBCA’s name is stalled until some other things are in place. Michael will withdraw the money in the existing account and deposit it into the account Rita will create for USBCA. Rita will order cheques for that account.
Marilyn will find out if we can pay IBCA fees for multiple years at the same time.
Marilyn asked about the Free list server. Evan will look into what another server would cost us. Rita will call Jim Thoune to find out about managing the list.
Glenn spoke about creating an appeals committee and made the motion for the establishment of such a committee, seconded by Al. Guidelines for this committee would be written up. The motion passed unanimously.
Jim and Mario must both have access to the web for updating purposes.
Glenn asked about the Norm Doerner tournament. The results were being finalized.
Evan mentioned that the title of the upcoming tournament should be corrected: insert “Blind,“so that it reads “US Blind Open Chess Championship.”
Rita and Glenn will reach out to an attorney that Jim Homme provided the name of.
After discussion about the status of the EIN application, Marilyn suggested that we start afresh.
Glenn made the proposal to close the meeting at 8:08 PM central time, seconded by Evan.
Board meeting, Wednesday, May 29, 2024, 7:00 PM central time
Glenn Crawford Called the meeting to order at 7:02 PM central time.
Present: Al Pietrolungo, Glenn Crawford, Michael Rodgerson, Evan Reese, Rita Crawford, and Marilyn Bland. Jim Thoune, the President, has a leave of absence and vp Glenn Crawford is assuming his duties in the interim.
Rita gave the Treasurer’s report. She discussed formatting and it was decided to keep the format in Word. Evan made the motion to approve the report, seconded by Michael.
Rita and Evan will talk about how Evan can assist with Challenger.
Evan will enquire from someone how to set up an alternative list for the membership.
Evan will speak to Jim Homme about preparing the new site for a later switch should it become necessary. Evan made a motion we stay on Freelist and we only switch should we have another problem, seconded by Al.
Glenn, Olivier, Evan, and Tyson will put together rules for an Appeals Committee.
Glenn is working on updating the membership list, voting and international members lists, and an article for Challenger.
Rita is working on Challenger, Sunday Smiles, Hands-On Chess, and the treasury.
Marilyn is working on an article for Challenger and liaising with the organizer and players for the upcoming tournament in Chicago.
Michael will discuss providing puzzles for Challenger with Rita.
Evan is managing the library.
Jim Homme should set up an alternative server so that when we decide, it would be ready.
Al will reach out to players regarding US blind Open participation.
Glenn will contact board members regarding whether they want to meet at times other than the last Monday of the month.
Mario will be asked to provide a written update about tournaments if he cannot attend the meeting.
Glenn made the motion to close the meeting at 8:24 PM central time, seconded by Evan.
Board meeting, July 25, 2024
The meeting was called to order at 7:02 PM central time. Present: Rita Crawford, glenn Crawford, Marilyn Bland, Evan Reese, Michael Rodgerson, and Al Pietrolungo.
Rita gave the Treasurer’s report. USBCA received a donation of $200 from Al.
Glenn gave an update on obtaining 503C status. The attorney cannot be reached so Al suggested we contact the US Association of Blind Athletes to see if we can operate under their umbrella. Evan will research the organization before we proceed.
Glenn said dues will be reinstated by 1 January, 2025. we should put together a letter to the membership explaining our reasons for starting dues again. We will stay with annual and not lifetime memberships.
Rita set up a PayPal account linked to the bank account Evan and Rita will work out how to provide the email to paypal.
Rita asked for questions she could put to the Hands-On guest speaker.
Glenn has updated the membership list.
Glenn and Evan will work out a draft for the Appeals Committee to share with the whole board. Evan says he has not received books Chris Adamson was to have returned
Marilyn suggests we use a plastic covering for the address and return address when sending books from our library, as they do with books from NLS. Marilyn gave an update on the US Blind Open tournament.
At 8:03 PM central time Evan made the motion to adjourn, and it was seconded by Rita.