Date of Meeting: March 10, 2001

The meeting was called to order at 1:05 p.m. by President Amy Ruell. The minutes were read and approved except for a correction that the job opening for a Braille supervisor is at Vision Community Services. not MAB.

Amy Ruell announced that Mike Kosior will be doing next month's presentation on designing web pages. She also told us that she would be away, and Jeffrey Turner, Vice President, will be running the meeting. Tim will be responsible for opening the building.

Jim announced that he has set up an account with ProPay, and is now ready to begin accepting credit card payments for new members. Jim has also established an e-mail address, treasurer@vibug.org. Tim will establish a link on the webpage to that address so that people interested in joining can contact Jim directly. Jim will notify the officers of memberships which VIBUG receives and Jeffrey will continue to maintain an up-to-date membership list. We discussed the issue of charges that are incurred by VIBUG for using ProPay to join, and each time we withdraw money from the ProPay account. The three options were: VIBUG should absorb all costs associated with credit card payments; VIBUG should pay part of the cost, and pass part of it on to members, or members should absorb the entire cost of the credit card transaction. Following a lengthy discussion of these options, a motion was made that VIBUG should absorb all costs associated with credit card charges. This motion was seconded, and the majority of the members present approved the motion with three opposed.

Amy informed us that she often receives notices from people asking that information unrelated to VIBUG be passed onto the e-mail list. She wondered whether people wished to receive these postings, or whether people preferred to only receive VIBUG related news. We also discussed whether we should consider that she should screen material and send out all computer related material. After discussion a vote was taken and a motion to have only VIBUG related material sent to the e-mail list was approved unanimously.

Amy announced that she had made an executive decision that we need to have a cancellation policy for those times when weather does not permit us to meet. Amy indicated that she would notify the VIBUG e-mail list by 8:00 A.M. on the day of the meeting if the meeting is canceled due to inclement weather. Persons who regularly attend meetings and who do not have e-mail will be contacted by the officers. Bill Raeder stated that he would investigate the feasibility of providing a voice mailbox at NBP for use by VIBUG. If this option is available, Amy will post meeting announcements including cancellations in this mailbox.

Amy encouraged people who wished to learn more about the Braillenote to check out ACB Radio's website and listen to the latest review which has now in ACB radio's archives.

Freedom Scientific has placed a free updated version of Jaws which can be downloaded. There are several updates to files for braille displays as well as updates to some other popular applications.

Amy encouraged people to take note of the sale price of Sound Forge, $99.00, as the program would only sell at that price until March 19.

Kathy Anne Murtha will be interviewing Amy on March 27, 2001 and that VIBUG and our activities will be discussed.

Demonstration copies of zoom Text are available for those who are interested in procuring them and may be requested from Amy.

Following a question and answer period, Tom Wlodkowski introduced us to the research prototypes that were being developed to make the WEB, DVD-ROM and CD-ROM more accessible for those with disabilities. He also showed several education prototypes that were developed to enhance math for young people, and physics for college students. The meeting was adjourned at 4:00 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,
Jeanette Kutash
VIBUG Clerk