FLORIDA REHABILITATION COUNCIL FOR THE BLIND (FRCB)
QUARTERLY MEETING MINUTES

LEXINGTON HOTEL AND CONFERENCE CENTER
JACKSONVILLE RIVERWALK
1515 PRUDENTIAL DRIVE
JACKSONVILLE, FL 32207

Thursday, October 22, 2015

Meeting called to order at 9:00 AM with the Pledge of Allegiance following roll call.

COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: 10

Robert Kelly, Donte Mickens, Gloria Mills, Patricia Lipovsky, Mikey Wiseman, Jesus Garcia, Charles Brooks, Sandra Burke,  Robert Doyle, Director

COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT VIA TELECONFERENCE: 3

Lenora Marten, Sylvia Perez, Leanne Grillot

COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: 3

Vicky Magliocchino, Ben Grezesik, Bruce Miles,

COUNCIL STAFF: 1

Sharon Scurry

ATTENDEES: 2

Paul Edwards, Howard Bell

Robert Kelly introduced Jennifer Stelmach

Camp Abilities

Ms. Stelmach reported that she is a teacher of students with Visual Impairments in the Jacksonville area.  The Camp Abilities had its first year of Camp Abilities in Florida this past summer.  The program served eight students and six transition students who came from the vision education rehab center. Camp Abilities is a developmental sports camp for students with visual impairments and is located in Green Cove Springs, Florida. This year’s program has about 20 staff members and is located in Clay County at Chowenwaw Park.

The camp consist of camping (in cabins), s’mores, camp fires, cookouts, and all the fun that goes with camping.  The campers will have the opportunity to participate in fishing, beep baseball, swimming, canoeing, hiking, tandem biking and stand-up paddle boarding. We had a lot of fun. The program also hosted a dinning in the dark event.

Comments

Each camper had a one on one counselor that was with them at all times.  The ages ranged from 9 to 14 years old, and transition students were ages14 to 22 years old.   Also, included is a food specialist, nurse and two orientation and mobility specialist.   Most of the parents were able to bring their children. The total cost of the program estimated at $7,000.  
 
Robert Kelly – Thank you very much for your presentation. A true grass root effort and some unbelievable work on your part.  Thank you.

If you would like to know more about Camp Abilities please contact:
Jennifer Stelmach
Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments
stelmachj@duvalschools.org
(904)556-9287

Council Business

A motion to approve the July minutes was made.  The motion second and passed unanimously.  

Agenda Items for February 2016 Meeting

Comments on Agenda items

Location and date of October 2016 Meeting

A motion to have the October 2016 Meeting in Daytona Beach, Florida was made.  The motion passed.

Report on the Florida Rehabilitation Council (FRC) Meeting

Mikey Wiseman- We were not present at the FRC Meeting.

Term Vacancies/Appointments

Robert Doyle - Stated that applications had been sent to the Governor’s office for the appointments/reappointments.

Old Business/New Business/Open Discussion

Public Forum Comments

There was a discussion regarding providing feedback during the public forums.  Discussions included ensuring that clients are receiving a follow-up to their concerns.

Motion to adjourn the meeting at 10:30 AM received and second and passed.

Return to top of page

DISCLAIMER: Links on the Florida Division of Blind Services (DBS) website that are directed toward websites outside the DBS, provide additional information that may be useful or interesting and are being provided consistent with the intended purpose of the DBS website. DBS cannot attest to the accuracy of information provided by non-DBS websites. Further, providing links to a non-DBS website does not constitute an endorsement by DBS, the Florida Department of Education or any of its employees, of the sponsors of the non-DBS website or of the information or products presented on the non-DBS website.