Board Meeting Notes - Winter 2006

By Jen Kuhar

Below is a summary of what the MSBA Board has discussed over the past few months. Board meetings are held on the first Monday of each month from 7:00 to 9:00 PM. All members are welcome to attend. If you are interested in attending a meeting or have any issues or concerns to be brought up at a meeting, please contact our Operations Associate, Ellen Dugan.

• The MSBA held its bi-annual officer elections at our Annual Meeting in November. The results were unanimous and each Officer will hold a two year term:
• Brian Packard – President
• Hyacinth Bellerose – Vice President
• Brendan Sullivan – Treasurer
• Jen Kuhar – Clerk
• MaryJo Dunleavy of Boston Children’s Hospital attended the MSBA’s Annual Meeting and asked that the MSBAYA Group try to host activities to integrate parents and children with spina bifida.
• To assist Boston Children’s Hospital with assessing how best to meet the needs of individuals with spina bifida, the MSBA has offered to participate in a User’s Group.
• Planning for the 2006 Golf Tournament (Monday, May 8) is well underway. The Golf Tournament Committee had its first meeting in January.
• The MSBA would like to distribute information packets to new and expecting parents. Ellen Dugan is putting ideas together.
• The Annual Picnic will tentatively be held the third weekend in July. Specific date and location to be confirmed soon.
• After a very successful 2005 Holiday Party, the MSBA has already booked the Hampton Inn in Natick again for next year’s party. The date will be Sunday, December 3, 2006.
• The MSBA will be holding a travel readiness seminar on March 5th at the Hampton Inn, Natick (see page 7 of the newsletter or the homepage of this website). This event will be geared to those planning to attend the SBAA’s Annual Conference in Atlanta, GA from June 25-28, 2006.
• Ellen is investigating opportunities for outside entities to fund postage for the MSBA’s newsletter distribution. She is also looking into grant options, and putting together a list of resources for a future MSBA Resource Guide.
• A lengthy discussion was held about how to promote participation of members residing in Western Massachusetts. The MSBA will investigate hosting an event in Western Massachusetts in the future.