March 20, 2025
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Description: Marsha Moore has medium blond/brown hair and is wearing a light olive shirt and necklace.
Greetings. Good morning. My name is Marsha Moore (shows name sign). This is an update on ODA and what's been happening with it since the last vlog.
ODA did get our 501c3 status from the IRS, which means we are approved and ready to do business as a non-profit. So, that is done.
Next, we are working on establishing our ODA website, which puts in new information so that you can get updated information quickly instead of waiting for vlogs. This will help with communication and improved transparency to ensure everything is clear. It should be up soon.
The next step is to host a half-day conference in the fall with general elections to take place. Anyone who is interested can run for office. This will be on Saturday, September 14, 2024. The location will be announced later.
As you all know, Irene Tunanidas, OAD president, has called for a meeting on Saturday in the video, but really, it's Sunday, June 23rd, to discuss the status of OAD and the possible dissolution and transfer of funds or how do we do that? We need to discuss that with the Deaf Community to get your feedback. We feel that it is important for us to know what the Deaf Community wants before we move forward.
Yes, we do know Fred Palchick was recently appointed president of OAD, but that was without the membership's knowledge and vote to accept him. So we will follow the 2003 OAD Bylaws, the last approved bylaws by the membership, meaning that Irene is still OAD's President. Irene has stated that she will wrap up her term after the June 23rd meeting.
Her purpose for the June 23rd meeting is to confirm with the Deaf Community members what they want to see happen with OAD and make the right decision based on their feedback.
So, depending on the decision of the community, we will make sure that their wishes are followed through. We have made every effort has been made to invite everyone to the meetings. We have had three meetings so far, which were hosted on November 18, 2023, and January 20,2024, and leadership training on March 16 with Mark Apodaca at the Ohio School for the Deaf.
Now, for the June 23rd meeting, we understand that some of you will be on vacation that week but still want to be involved and vote. So, we will set up a Google form that will allow you to vote anonymously for what you want to see happen. So, everyone has had three different opportunities to get involved and discuss with the Deaf Community. All three meetings had good turnouts, too. So now we turn our attention to the June 23rd meeting. The purpose of that meeting is to make final decisions about OAD and what to do next with it. We understand that some of you are out of town during the meeting but still want to be involved and vote. We will create a Google form and allow you to vote anonymously. We will count you in to make sure your voices are heard, too.
Our questions for the June 23rd meeting are as follows:
1. Do you want to dissolve the Ohio Association of the Deaf? Yes or No. We want to hear from you on this.
2a. If yes, where do you want to see OAD’s funds transferred? To Charity? To ODA? Where do you want to see the money go to?
2b. If not, we will leave it alone with OAD and move on with our goals for ODA.
[Note: Remember the funds belong to the Deaf Community].
The meeting on Sunday, June 23rd, will discuss all these issues and answer questions as well. I will also post the link for the June 23rd meeting under the posting here:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83963784391pwd=v1rHbYQ1wF3H1nIrWIqQGRUGbfY0mi.1 Meeting ID: 839 6378 4391 Passcode: 039886
Everyone is welcome to the meeting! If you have any questions, please email us at theOhioDA@gmail.com.
See you all soon! Bye!