OREGON COMMISSION FOR THE BLIND

535 SE 12th Ave. (Portland office)

Business Enterprise Program

BECC Special meeting

Thursday, Feb. 6, 2014 (3:30 PM)

Call in: (712) 432-1500

Participant code: 312353#

AGENDA

Please review below this agenda, information for you to familiarize with #4, BEI membership.

  1. Called to order- Chairman Young.
  2. Role call- Lewanda Miranda
  3. Disposition of minutes- Jan. 21, 2014 (as recorded)
  4. Selection of Vice chair
  5. BE handbook (action item)
  6. BEI membership (action item)
  7. Other business
  8. Adjournment

SLA Membership / Subscription Service

The National Federation of the Blind’s Entrepreneurs Initiative (NFBEI) recently celebrated its second anniversary. The first two years have been successful beyond anyone’s wildest imagination. SLA’s and elected committees alike, told us loudly and clearly that there was a lack of national coordination, expert technical assistance, ongoing training and advocacy for this program. The NFBEI was established to marshal the efforts of the Randolph-Sheppard community and bring greater focus to its mission. One of our primary efforts has been to work with individual states on Randolph-Sheppard issues.

The NFBEI is funded by those who benefit the most from our efforts – the state agencies and other Randolph-Sheppard stakeholders. Contributions are a key part of our fundraising efforts. However, a significant portion of our funding has come from State Licensing Agencies who take advantage of our innovative membership / subscription service. In 2013, we had 19 states subscribe to our services. We offer our special thank you to those original subscribers. This helped get us close to meeting our financial needs so we can do the types of things we are doing to enhance the program both nationally and in individual states. 2013 was the very first year of our unique subscription support program. As 2013 concluded, we realized that there may be some additional states who are willing to do the administrative heavy lifting necessary to join the effort and realize the great benefit of this service. We appreciate that. We plan a banner year for the NFBEI and we want you to be one of our principle beneficiaries.

What does an SLA get if it takes advantage of the membership / subscription service?

  1. Access to national experts who can provide consultation and technical assistance on key Randolph Sheppard issues in their respective states;
  2. Mentoring for new BEP Directors;
  3. Participation in distant education programs provided by the NFBEI, including a bi-monthly conference call that features training on relevant Randolph-Sheppard issues;
  4. Training and Orientation for Newly Elected Committee Members;
  5. Transportation for one speaker representing the NFBEI to attend the state’s annual BEP operators meeting and speak on national issues and selected topics;
  6. The opportunity to contract with the NFBEI via the National Association of Blind Merchants to plan and conduct the annual BEP operators meeting; and,
  7. The opportunity to contract with the NFBEI via the NABM to perform other desired services.

This further elaborates on the above.

Technical Assistance – Over the years, many of you have benefited from the unique expertise and experience of Terry Smith. Terry C. Smith served the blind of Tennessee as agency director and BEP administrator for almost 30 years. He successfully collaborated with blind vendors, national organizations, and state and federal agencies to build and sustain a highly successful program. His focused energy on this program has made him one of this fields most sought after role model experts. Terry brings determination, diplomacy and capacity. For more than a decade he served as chair of the NCSAB subcommittee on Randolph-Sheppard. He facilitated a 4-year, very successful effort under the Blind Entrepreneur Alliance. This alliance brought every Randolph-Sheppard stakeholder together for collaborative focused engagement. The BEA was the precursor to the NFBEI. Terry currently spends an extensive amount of time working with SLA’s on state specific issues. Through the NFBEI, he coordinates an extensive network of committed experts. They include long-time advocates for the program, attorneys with Randolph-Sheppard experience, and long-time state agency directors. The NFBEI is fully engaged in a range of issues important to this program. Sometimes, it is consultation on a troop dining issue. At other times, the NFBEI has provided assistance on rest area issues and appropriate use of program income. With a strong background in correctional services, Terry has consulted with several states on creating entrepreneurial opportunities for blind entrepreneurs in correctional facilities. In two states, the NFBEI is assisting with revising those states’ Little Randolph Sheppard Acts. The NFBEI is also often called upon to assist with the interpretation of the Randolph-Sheppard regulations.

The services provided under this section will not include the program evaluation and strategic planning services that Terry typically provides through a TACE or via contracts with individual states. However, such services can be contracted through NABM which is discussed below.

Annual BEP Training – The NFBEI will provide a speaker for the state’s annual BEP meeting. The speaker will do up to two presentations – one on national issues and activities of the NFBEI and one on a topical subject as mutually agreed upon. There will be no speaker fee. The SLA is asked to include the speaker on its hotel group billing if applicable and to cover any costs for a banquet or similar events. Examples of topics that were presented this past year include:

“The NFBEI: Building a Strong Randolph-Sheppard Program One Brick at a Time”

“With Rights Come Responsibilities: A Look at the Vendor’s Bill of Rights”

“Ten Characteristics of a Highly Effective BEP”

“Blind Vendors: Real Entrepreneurs or Not?”

“A 10 Step Program to a Healthy National Program”

“Active Participation: What It Is and What It Isn’t”

“Randolph-Sheppard 101”

These topics are for illustration purposes only. Other topics can be customized as needed.

Mentoring New BEP Directors – One need identified by state agencies is training and/or orientation for new BEP Directors and staff. There is an obvious void that the NFBEI can fill. Terry Smith is available to serve as a mentor for these new directors. The NFBEI has often served as a mechanism to connect new directors with knowledgeable, experienced directors. This will include regularly scheduled telephone calls. The NFBEI can also send someone to the state and train on-site at no cost if the state agency is willing to cover any travel costs.

Orientation and Training for Elected Committees - Blind vendors are usually elected to serve on the Committee of Blind Vendors with very little or no understanding of what the role entails. The NFBEI can assist with training and orientation of the Committee members. Training can be done through the provision of training materials or the NFBEI can provide on-site training. On-site training can be up to a full day depending upon what the Agency hopes to accomplish.

NABM and the NFBEI are also available to contract with a subscribing state to plan and conduct annual in-service training for the state’s blind vendors and/or SLA staff. The NABM and the NFBEI can bring national quality training to the states while easing the bureaucratic burden on the state agencies.

Contracting for Expanded Services – The NFBEI can provide expanded services beyond what is considered to be traditional technical assistance.

What does a membership / subscription cost? The fee for 2014 is $3,500; however, those states renewing in 2014 will still pay only $3,000. . We are hopeful that all states will renew and a number of additional states will join our highly successful subscription plan. States who subscribed in 2013 will automatically receive a renewal notice when it is time to renew. Most states subscribed on the calendar year while others did so for the fiscal year.

If a state with a small program cannot afford the full dues amount but would still like to support the NFBEI and benefit from its services, Terry Smith should be contacted so that a possible reduced rate can be considered. Likewise, if a state anticipates an inordinate need, it can voluntarily pay a higher annual fee that could include additional services as mutually agreed upon.

The question has been asked several times. Can set aside and/or federal dollars be utilized to pay for this membership / subscription service? The answer is yes. All of the services listed above are allowable expenses under the Randolph Sheppard Act. Most would fall in the category of management services or training, both of which are permissible expenditures under the Act.

How do we do this logistically? If your state wishes to subscribe, simply contact Terry. He will issue an invoice which you can process through your normal procurement process. It couldn’t be simpler. Be part of something special. Join with us. Be a supporter of the NFBEI.