Minutes of the CAF Meeting
October 20, 2007
The Rosen Centre, Orlando

President Geoffrey Revard called the meeting to order at 8:03 a.m.

The first order of old business pertained to the discussion at the April meeting concerning the constitution. Linda Mishkin chaired a committee to research the most recent edition and distribute it for the summer meeting of the executive council (CAF officers), who met during NJCL. As Geoff Revard reported, the committee particularly noticed an inconsistency between the CAF constitution and the way we have had successive terms for several offices. He further stated that he had three additional issues to bring before the organization later today.

The minutes of the April meeting were distributed and approved without their being read aloud. The minutes of the July executive officers' meeting in Knoxville are also on file.

Announcements included Geoff Revard's request to submit proposals for ACL papers. Next year's FFLA will be combined with an ACTFL meeting. The convention will be at the Swan & Dolphin (Orlando) and will be held in November rather than October.

In May 2007 D.J. Holt resigned as CAF vice president. The executive council, through conference telephone and email communication, agreed to appoint Beverly McCaskill to serve out the unexpired term. Beverly reported that there was a meeting of FJCL officers in Jacksonville during July and another one is scheduled for two weekends before State Forum.

The Treasurer, Karen Rieffel, distributed her report and gave highlights that the beginning balance was $6346.73 as of April 13, 2007; there were memorial gifts amounting to $199 for Jim Schrenker and Marie Girardeau's grandmother, as well as expenses for Bob Patrick, special FFLA speaker, which thus far are $677.30 with approximately $200 remaining. Last year there were 111 members of CAF, and so far there are 24 (including 9 retirees). The new list will be produced in November. Karen offered to receive renewals after the meeting and provide a receipt if anyone so desired.

State Chair, Marie Girardeau, reported that 170 attended Nationals at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. Certamen teams placed very well: novice 2nd, Latin II 2nd, and Advanced Level placed first. Next year's NJCL will be July 28-August 2 at Miami University, Oxford, Ohio. Marie is planning an overnight bus trip through Atlanta, and she urged us to notify her whether we plan for our students to fly or use the bus. She will send out the details via email when they become available.

Linda Mishkin reported that the student scholarship information will be on the website and will be emailed upon request. Deadline is January or February. She agreed to continue as chairman of this committee.

Linda Renick reported for the Nominating Committee that the positions for election in April will be Recording Secretary and State Chair.

Aurelia Ogles reported that State Forum will be at Jacksonville Wyndham. After that, she has been negotiating with Orlando Sun Resort. They offered a ten-year contract with rooms beginning at $82 for 2009, increasing by $6 per year thereafter.

Geoff Revard handed out paper ballots regarding one amendment to the CAF constitution. The change would allow officers, with the exception of the Executive Secretary, to serve up to two successive terms (i.e., four years), with more possible only if no other candidate can be found for the office. [After the meeting adjourned, the results of this ballot were reported as follows: motion passed, 36 approved, 3 abstained, 0 disapproved.]

In New Business, Geoff Revard proposed three amendments for consideration, to be voted on during the April meeting:

" Article V, Section 3 mentions an office which is no longer being used, that of "Executive Secretary."

" The office which we have termed "State Chair" is not in the constitution. Therefore, it needs to be added to the list with a defining of the duties as an officer and as a part of the executive council. This post should be a four-year term with a limit of two terms and an apprentice selected one year before the expiration of the present officer's term.

" The "Forum Planning and Steering Committee" is merely mentioned, without any outline of duties, in Article VI Section 5 of the constitution and Article III Sections 2 & 6 in the By-Laws. All members should be listed with specific duties for each. Geoff suggests adding Section 6, "Forum Planning Committee" with list of duties for members, who should be CAF Vice President, FJCL State Chair, Facilities Liaison, Registrar, Financial Director, Academic Chair, Certamen Chair, Projects Chair, Orals and Costumes Chair, and SCL President and Vice President. In the interim we need to define duties and length of terms in our By-Laws.

Ken Andino suggested adding "(s)" to the committee chair names for the fact that some are already co-chaired and other posts might have co-chairs at some time in the future.

Geoff promised to publish his recommendations and the rationales for them prior to our voting on them in April 2008.

Linda Mishkin also researched the FJCL constitution, and Geoff reported that, according to our Constitution, CAF is indeed the sponsoring organization in supervisory capacity for FJCL and therefore we have the authority to review this document. He recommended that we revert their Constitution to the 2003 document, declaring the 2006 one an invalid document. Motion was made by Marie Girardeau and seconded by Linda Gaskin. After discussion, the vote was unanimous. Next we voted to re-elect Marie Girardeau as State Chair.

Amy Hornick received the reports of where the Regional Fora will be held.

Motion to adjourn was made by Aurelia Ogles, seconded by Keitha Ito. Meeting adjourned at 8:58 a.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Cynthia Hazard,
Recording Secretary