AGENDA             MINUTES

Executive Committee Agenda

May 5 , 2007

1.0       Call to Order [Bill]

2.0       Minutes [Previously e-mailed, Marci]

3.0       Treasurers Report [Reed]

4.0       Standing Committee Reports

            4.1       Membership [Ashlie]
            4.2       Newsletter [Paul]
            4.3       Government Relations [Larry]
            4.4       Publicity/Awards [Bonnie]
            4.5       Constitution/By-Laws [Jackie]
            4.6       Finance [Donna]
            4.7       Scholarship/Mini Grants [Barbara]
            4.8       Multicultural [Bridgette]
            4.9       Technology [Charlotte]
            4.10     Student CEC [Gerlinde]

5.0       Comments on CEC Representative Assembly [Donna/Bill]

6.0       Old Business
           
            6.1       Consideration of mission statement [see appendix A]
            6.2       Consideration of amendment to constitution [see appendix B]

7.0       Super Conference 27

            7.1       Cajundome changes [Bill]
            7.2       General discussion on registration fees
            7.3       Vendors [Karen]
            7.4       Program [Cindy and general discussion]
                        7.41     call for papers
                        7.42     invited speakers
                        7.43     strands

8.0       New Business

8.1       Appointment of treasurer to complete the term of Dr. Rhodes [see appendix C]
8.2       Business from the floor

9.0       Establish date and location of next meeting

10.       Adjournment

Appendix A

Draft Mission Statement

At the meeting of February 24, 2007 the committee authorized the drafting of a mission statement. The draft, for discussion, modification, and possible action follows.

"The Louisiana Council for Exceptional Children (LACEC) supports the efforts of the international organization in advancing the education of children with exceptionalities.  LACEC endeavors to especially serve students with exceptionalities by providing outstanding and reasonable cost professional development, funds for teachers to conduct worthwhile projects, scholarships for worthy students, and opportunities for parents, paraprofessionals, and future teachers to learn about issues in special education."

Appendix B
Constitutional Amendment
At the February 24, 2007 meeting it was suggested that the term of officers be changed to reflect the academic year. The term had been changed to the calendar year to reflect what the international was doing. However, the timing of our conferences makes the academic year more realistic. At CEC in Louisville it was learned that over half of the state and provincial organizations use an academic year. The following would be the new Article IV, Section 2.

"The fiscal year shall be January 1 through December 31 and the administrative year shall be July 1 through June 30 with the current officers holding office until June 30, 2008."

This does not change the fiscal year, a second option would be:

"The fiscal and the administrative year shall be July 1 through June 30 with the current officers holding office until June 30, 2008."

Appendix C
Treasurer Appointment

Dr. Reed Rhodes, out treasurer, is returning to Cambodia. According to the LACEC Constitution the Executive Committee can appoint someone to that office to complete the term. As President I suggest Dr. Donna Wadsworth because she has performed that task before.

Executive Committee Minutes

May 5, 2007

1.0       Call to Order [Bill]

2.0       Minutes [Previously e-mailed, Marci]

• Treasurers Report [Reed]

• Reed will be returning to Cambodia.  Donna will be filling the Treasurer position.
• Reed reported that she deposited the CEC rebate check ($2,580) into savings.
• Reed moved $16,000 into savings for Superconference.
• Reed handed out Treasurer’s Report.
• Bonnie gave a 1st and Larry 2nd.

4.0       Standing Committee Reports

• Membership [Ashlie]
• Ashlie gave our current membership of 421 members.
• In the next newsletter membership will provide members with a list of state chapters and link them to the chapter in their area.
• Donna will assist in getting chapter numbers and names.

• Newsletter [Paul]
• Discussed working on newsletter.

• Government Relations [Larry]
• Larry is attending annual CAN meeting June 9th in Washington D. C.
• Larry discussed that financial cuts are being made to the Javis Act.
• Larry asked us to fill out a legislative action.  Louisiana has already received 400 and something responses.

• Publicity/Awards [Bonnie]
• Cindy gave information to Bonnie there are changes to Yes I Can Foundation.  The Yes I Can Foundation no longer exists and national is taking over.

• Constitution/By-Laws [Jackie]
• Was not present at meeting.

• Finance [Donna]
• Books were audited and came back o.k. 
• Donna presented copies of the financial report.  The following report stated:
• Net Assets $138,165 Beginning of the Year
•  Net Assets $122,517 End of the Year
• Total Liabilities and Net Assets $127,008
• There was $15,648 less in assets.  The decrease contributed to the lack and venders and Superconference falling in one year.
• All taxes will be filed next month; June.  A report will be brought to the next meeting.
• The contract was renewed with the accountant to file our taxes.

• Scholarship/Mini Grants [Barbara]
• No report

• Multicultural [Bridgette]
• Bridgette is looking for a guest speaker.

• Technology [Charlotte]
• Charlotte is speaking with Ashlie about membership changes to website.
• Charlotte will take any suggestions to the website.  She feels that she is taking things from the national website.

• Student CEC [Gerlinde]
• Gerlinde recruited a student, Sarah Rabaley, to work with her.
• Sarah went to National CEC conference to represent students.  A motion to pay the $70.80 difference of her trip.  The cost was $70.80 of the $500 LACEC normally pays.
• Gerlinde gave a 1st and Larry a 2nd.

• Comments on CEC Representative Assembly [Donna/Bill]
• Key issues were RTI and special education and CEC’s response to RTI.
• 1.  CEC will take over a RTI task force.  CEC is proceeding and working on guidelines for RTI. 
• 2. Will Bill or Wanda have access to the representative assembly website?
• 3.  The Foundation is going away.  Yes I Can will be under CEC.  They financially have considerable assets again.
• 4.  Donna and Bill were to identify top issues of special education in the state that CEC can address.  CEC will put issues in national priority order in order to address.  CEC will address top five priorities of each state.
• 5.  LACEC are to try to recruit people to serve on the nominating committee.  If you are interested please let Donna know if you want to apply.
• 6.  There were a lot of representatives from LA.

6.0       Old Business
           

• Consideration of mission statement [see appendix A]
• Reed redrafted the mission statement.
• Donna and Reed made some suggested corrections and committee members gave further recommendations and changes.
• Cindy gave a 1st and Gerlinde 2nd to consideration of mission statement.

• Consideration of amendment to constitution [see appendix B]
• Bill read Jackie’s statement amending the constitution for the change in the fiscal year.
• Amendment will go out in the newsletter to vote on.
• A motion was given to change the fiscal and administrative year to July 1st to June 30th.
• Reed gave a 1st and Cindy 2nd
• Another motion was given that offices stay until June 30, 2008.
• Bonnie gave a 1st and Bonnie 2nd

7.0       Super Conference 27

• Cajundome changes [Bill]
• Rent went up $700.

• General discussion on registration fees
• Bill stated that we can’t keep things the way they are with Superconference registration fees.  He discussed increasing Superconference registration fees.
• Pre-registration Fees

• Post-registration

• Larry gave a 1st and Bonnie 2nd

• Vendors [Karen]
• Not present – Sent a letter to Bill- CARC  has responded and will be at Superconference.

            7.4       Program [Cindy and general discussion]

• call for papers
• Registration form will be online.
• Registration deadline will be Septembr 1st.  Cindy will take until November 15th. 

• invited speakers
• Cindy wants to continue paying speakers $599 plus travel expenses.
• strands
• Changes were made to Call for Papers registration.  Changes were made in Topic Areas, Target Audience, and Content Knowledge Level of Presentation. 

8.0       New Business

• Appointment of treasurer to complete the term of Dr. Rhodes [see appendix C]
• Executive Board appoints Donna Wadsworth as treasurer.
• Bonnie gave a 1st and Larry 2nd

• Business from the floor
• Ashlie presented a motion to allow LADEC to be under the umbrella of LACEC on its current Chase account.  This will prevent LADEC from accruing monthly service charges depleting their account.
• A motion was given to allow all divisions under the auspices of LACEC to be located on their Chase account. 
• Bill will send out a letter to all divisions and Chase bank.
• Gerlinde gave a 1st and Donna 2nd

• Establish date and location of next meeting
• Meeting will take place Saturday, August 25th at 10:00 a.m.
• Location of Meeting will be Baton Rouge, LSU, Peabody Hall

10.       Adjournment

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