Minutes of Meeting of the Braille Authority of North America
December 2, 1976 — Sheraton-O’Hare Motor Hotel, Rosemont, Ill.
ATTENDANCE
Sponsor Representative
American Association of Workers f/t Blind Harold G. Roberts
American Council of the Blind Durward K. McDaniel
American Foundation for the Blind Loyal E. Apple
American Printing House for the Blind Dr. Carson Nolan
Ralph E. McCracken
Association for Computing Machinery Robert A. J. Gildea
Association for Education of the Visually Handicapped James E. Haralson
Canadian National Institute for the Blind E. G. Brown
Darleen Bogart
Clovernook Home and School for the Blind Martin F. Droege
Library of Congress, DBPH Richard Evensen
National Braille Association Babette M. Richman
National Federation of the Blind Dr. Kenneth Jernigan
Ms. Anderson
The meeting was called to order by Mr. Roberts at 10:12 A.M. The minutes of the September 28,
1976 meeting were approved with the change of “Mrs. Bonnie Richman” to “Mrs. Bobbe Richman.”
REVIEW OF STATUS OF ORGANIZATIONAL MEMBERSHIP IN BANA
It was agreed that all sponsors will have voting status immediately upon their acceptance of
sponsorship and that annual dues will become payable January 1, 1977.
Mr. Roberts reported that he had received formal acceptances from the Association for Computing
Machinery, the Canadian National Institute for the Blind and the American Council of the Blind. This
brings the total number of sponsors to eleven.
Dr. Jernigan moved that annual dues be set at $500. The motion passed unanimously. During the
discussion of the motion it was agreed that the funds provided by such dues would probably prove
adequate for the routine work of BANA. Should BANA wish to undertake specific projects, special
funding would have to be sought. Both Mr. Evensen and Mr. Apple indicated that their respective
organizations might be receptive to requests for funding of projects which they felt fell within the
purposes of their organizations.
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REVIEW OF RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BANA AND FLORIDA STATE
UNIVERSITY WITH RESPECT TO U.S. OFFICE OF EDUCATION GRANT
Mr. Roberts gave a brief review of the grant and Miss Hooper’s progress to date. Technical advisory
groups have been established for mathematics and science Braille, music Braille and computer Braille,
and meetings scheduled for the first two in January and February, 1977 respectively. She has
postponed establishing a group for textbook format Braille because the new Code is currently in
press, and she felt that the work of such a committee should be deferred until some experience had
been gained with the new Code and problems identified.
Miss Hooper is considering the establishment of an additional committee to consider the problem of
making Grade 2 literary Braille more “computer compatible” — as suggested during an AFB-sponsored
workshop held in June in New York City.
Mr. McDaniel moved that the Chairman of BANA be authorized to appoint a subcommittee to prepare
a memorandum of understanding of relations between FSU and BANA, which would be submitted to
BANA for consideration as soon as feasible.
ELECTION OF OFFICERS
The following officers were elected by acclamation:
Mr. Brown moved that Mr. Harold G. Roberts be Chairman of BANA; Mr. Evensen moved that Dr.
Kenneth Jernigan serve as Vice Chairman; Mr. Evensen moved that Mrs. Irvin F. Richman serve as
Secretary; Mr. Brown moved that Mr. Martin F. Droege serve as Treasurer.
Mr. Roberts will write Miss Hooper, the Secretary-Treasurer of the Braille Authority of the United
States, to arrange the transfer of funds remaining in its treasury to BANA as soon as BANA has
opened a bank account.
FUTURE EXPANSION OF MEMBERSHIP IN BANA
This portion of the meeting was conducted on an informal basis. The following points were made
during the discussion:
1) There should be communication and an exchange of ideas with similar bodies worldwide
including the Uniform Type Committee of Great Britain and the World Council for the Welfare of the
Blind.
2) We should retain the name BANA and not necessarily confine ourselves to English Braille. We
can limit our attention to problems submitted to us or initiated by us. Should problems in Spanish or
French Braille be submitted, we would consult with those having appropriate knowledge.
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3) Until BANA has more fully organized itself no further invitations to become sponsors should be
extended whether to other organizations in the U. S. or to organizations concerning themselves with
Spanish or French braille.
Mr. Roberts then read a letter from Mr. Terry Small of New Zealand. Mr. Small pointed out that New
Zealand is the only foreign country using English Braille, American Edition exclusively and asked that
New Zealand be admitted to membership either as a full member or on an "affiliate" basis. After
some discussion, it was decided that the Secretary would write Mr. Small acknowledging the receipt
of his letter and advising him that we were in the process of organizing. When the organization of
BANA had been completed, we would come to a decision on New Zealand's application for
membership and inform Mr. Small.
ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMITTEES
Mr. Roberts then appointed Mr. McDaniel as Chairman and Mr. Evensen as member of the Bylaws
Committee. They were charged with preparing a Statement of Purpose, Articles of incorporation and
Bylaws.
Mr. Roberts appointed a committee to serve as liaison between BANA and the Florida State University
Braille Project. He will serve as Chairman. The members are Mr. McDaniel and either Dr. Nolan or Mr.
McCracken. The Committee will arrange to meet at FSU to discuss relations between BANA and the
FSU project with Miss Hooper and Dr. Gideon Jones.
FUTURE MEETING
The next meeting of BANA will take place in Chicago in March or April, 1977.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 12:10 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Mrs. Irvin F. Richman,
Secretary
BRAILLE AUTHORITY OF NORTH AMERICA
Harold G. Roberts (Chairman)
American Association of Workers f/t Blind
c/o Helen Keller International, Incorporated
22 West 17th Street
New York, New York 10011
Dr. Kenneth Jernigan (Vice Chairman)
National Federation of the Blind
Randolph Hotel Bldg.
Des Moines, Iowa 50309
Mrs. Irvin F. Richman (Secretary)
National Braille Association
9555 Central Park Avenue
Evanston, Illinois 60203
Martin F. Droege (Treasurer)
Clovernook Home and School f/t Blind
7000 Hamilton Avenue
Cincinnati, Ohio 45231
Loyal E. Apple
American Foundation for the Blind
15 West 16th Street
New York, New York, 10011
Mr. E. G. Brown
Canadian National Institute f/t Blind
1929 Bayview Avenue
Toronto, Ontario M4G 3EB
Canada
Richard Evensen
Division for the Blind & Physically Handicapped
U.S. Library of Congress
1291 Taylor Street, NW
Washington, DC 20542
Robert A. J. Gildea
Association for Computing Machinery
Mitre Corporation
P. O. Box 208
Bedford, Mass, 01730
James E. Haralson
Association for Education of the
Visually Handicapped
8072 Dartmouth Road
Indianapolis, Indiana 46260
Durward K. McDaniel
American Council of the Blind
818 18th Street, NW, Suite 700
Washington, DC 20006
Dr. Carson Nolan
American Printing House f/t Blind
1839 Frankfort Avenue
Louisville, Kentucky 40206
BRAILLE MEETING
Tuesday. September 28", 1976
Hotel Burlington. Washington. D. C.
AGENDA
Welcome and Introduction of Participants
Background Statement and Purpose of Meeting
Review and Discussion of Proposed Restructured Braille Authority
Future Plans
Minutes
of
Meeting on the Braille Authority
September 18, 1976
Burlington Hotel, Washington, D.C.
Attendance:
American Association of Workers for the Blind Harold G. Roberts
American Council of the Blind Durward McDaniel
American Foundation for the Blind Loyal E. Apple
American Printing House f/t Blind Dr. Carson Nolan
Association for Computing Machinery Robert A. J. Gildea
Association for Education of the Visually
Handicapped Mary K. Bauman
Canadian National Institute for the Blind E. G. Brown
Clovernook Home and School f/t Blind Martin F. Droege
Library of Congress Kurt Cylke
Richard Evensen
National Braille Association Mrs. Bonnie Richman
National Federation of the Blind Dr. Kenneth Jernigan
Mrs. Anderson
(Mr. Terry Small, New Zealand Foundation for the Blind attended as an observer)
The meeting was called to order at 9:15 A.M. and the participants were welcomed by Mr. Roberts
who expressed his appreciation to the participants for their interest. He explained that although the
Canadian Council of the Blind and the Blinded Veterans Association were unable to be represented,
they indicated their interest.
Mr. Roberts then gave a brief background statement describing the developments which led to the
decision of the current three sponsoring organizations, namely AAWB, AEVH and NBA, authorizing a
restructuring of the current Braille Authority and an enlargement of the number of sponsoring
groups. The following points were stressed.
A. The proposed change was initiated by the Braille Authority and its National Advisory Council
which established and Ad Hoc Committee to study the existing structure and method of financing.
B. The three sponsoring agencies have formally accepted the basic recommendations of the ad
hoc committee because they believe they could lead, if accepted, to a strengthening of the
mechanism for the development of new Braille codes and the adoption of changes in existing codes
which would result from increased financing and greater responsiveness to the needs of Braille
producers and readers. The structure proposed by the ad hoc committee was modified by the
current sponsors in order to achieve greater administrative efficiency.
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The participants then engaged in a lively discussion which resulted in clarification of the following
points:
a) The terms of office of the current members of the National Advisory Council and the Braille
Authority have been extended by the three sponsoring Associations until such time as the proposed
new structure is legally established.
b) There are no conditions to the resolution adopted by the three sponsoring associations inviting
increased sponsorship of the Braille Authority. Each new sponsor will be entitled to designate one
representative to serve on the proposed Braille Authority of North America and each sponsor will
have one vote.
c) Although the current three sponsors have jointly proposed a revised structure, the new Braille
Authority of North America will be completely free to alter this proposal in any way they deem
necessary.
d) With respect to future financing, the existing plan in which each sponsoring organization
provides $500 per annum will be continued until such time as the new Braille Authority authorizes a
change in light of future budgetary needs. (Since the current sponsors have made their annual
payment for calendar 1976, the next payment will be due on January 1, 1977.)
The representatives of the following organizations indicated their willingness to become sponsors of
the new Braille Authority of North America: American Association of Workers for the Blind, American
Foundation for the Blind, American Printing House for the Blind, Association for Education of the
Visually handicapped, Clovernook Home and School for the Blind, U. S. Library of Congress, National
Braille Association, and the National Federation of the Blind.
The following representatives indicated their need to consult with their respective organizations
before making a formal commitment: American Council of the Blind, Association for Computing
Machinery, and the Canadian National Institute for the Blind.
A deadline of November 15, 1976 was agreed to for providing Mr. Roberts with a written acceptance
of the invitation to become sponsors of the Braille Authority of North America (BANA).
It was further agreed that an organizing meeting of BANA will be held on Thursday, December 2,
1976 in Chicago, Illinois. Mrs. Richman and Dr. Jernigan will cooperate in soliciting the most
advantageous hotel in which to meet, either in downtown Chicago or at the airport depending on
costs and availability of a meeting room. After this selection is made, Mr. Roberts, who agreed to
continue as temporary chairman, will send out a formal notice of the meeting together with a
tentative agenda.
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After the participants were warmly thanked for their interest and cooperation, the meeting was
adjourned at 11:45 A.M.
Respectfully Submitted,
Harold G. Roberts
PROPOSED AGENDA
Braille Authority of North America
Thursday, December 1, 1976
I. Approval of minutes of September 28, 1976 meeting.
II. Review of status of organizational membership in BANA
III. Future expansion of membership in BANA
IV. Election of officers
V. Establishment of Committees:
a) Budget and Finance Committee
b) Technical Committee
VI. Review of relationship between BANA and Florida State University with respect to U.S.
Office of Education Grant.
VII. Future meeting.
