Quarterly Meeting of the Elected Committee of Managers
October 16, 2015
Omni Austin Hotel at Southpark
4140 Governors Row Austin, TX 78744
1. Call to Order
3:10 P.M.
Attendees:
Zachary Davis - Elections & Website
Aloha Cook - Training
Manny Sifuentes - Training Conference & Vending
Calvin Shepard
Dwayne Zuppardo
Paul Parker
Karla Martinez
Laroi Fier (Kingsley)
Guests:
At least 20 guests were present. Blind vendors, spouses, BET staff, consultants, as well as other state agency representatives.
2. Approval of Minutes:
Paul Parker proposed adoption without them being read, Dave Corbett seconded.
3.Director’s Report
03:13
· 117 facilities open and operational
· There is not another state that has more blind vendors, that are also making as much money, as Texas!
· Closed 3 facilities
Barbara Jordan was the largest closure.
· 10 facilities received operational upgrades.
1. Winter’s, complete make-over of the dining space.
2. FAA successfully transitioned into a completely new structure.
· Only still have two contracted facilities, VA in Waco and NASA in Houston.
· 7 facilities are being temporarily operated.
1. San Antonio post office
2. Camp Mayberry Austin
3. Hardaman County Rest Area North TX
4. Army AF Exchange Fashion Center Dallas
5. IRS Snack Bar, Farmer’s Branch
6. Daton Prison
7. Gatesvill Prison
· In 2015, two six figure facilities were posted for bid!
BET Managers and Numbers
· 110 assigned
· 7 managers left the program.
1. Billy Hutcheson
2. Duane R
3. Tim Shaw
4. Jack Wilson
5. Marleen Beason (retired)
6. Frank Rohas
7. Bunk Goodrum (retired)
· Licensed Managers in 2015
1. Matthew brewerton, DDS
2. Mayra Escalante, AG Child Support
3. Jenna Norwood, Corpus Christy state school
4. Arnoldo Martinez, Texas ECEQ
5. Cornell Pardue, IRS Vending.
· Trainees, graduating Nov-2015
1. Elizabeth Channie
2. Rhonda Essen
Business Consultant & Employment Update
· 2,491 site visits.
· Consistently BET operators employed over 1,400 Texans, this year.
· 8.3% of our 1,400, have disabilities, which several are blind.
Financial News
· Our last grievance was settled in 2003, which is incredible.
· 1.4 million operating fund
· 1.4 million in the trust fund.
· We have enough in reserves to operate for an entire year, if a crisis happened.
· Funding Sources
a. Third parties operating Future Employment Vending $881 Thousand
b. Future Employment Vending on Federal Property (trust fund) $440 Thousand
c. Set-aside, 5%, from all operators. $636 Thousand
· Set-Aside financial target, 2015 $600,000
Hooks, talking regarding military bases.
*First time ever, in RS, we obtained a restraining order against the DOD, where they are barred from taking our El Paso military base facility away.
Hooks talked about the BET website, having meeting notes and agendas.
3:34, Hooks ended his presentation.
Tom Chepey, asked what the expenses were that came out of the vending revenues from Federal property.
Hooks:
· $440k came in
· $4,700 interest was earned.
· last years RHIVS payment, counts as an expense.
· Trust fund acts as a pass through account, for equalization payments. Federal property, if surrounded by direct competition, equalization payments are required, which are funneled through this fund. $40,000 equalization payments for this year.
· Potential Actuarial fees, which we’ve not had since 2010.
· SWACAP- State Wide Comptroller Accounting Process: Comptroller fee on all state accounts, $4,400
Kingsley: Are there any new facilities on the horizon?
Hooks: we’ve got 7 extra facilities currently, and when many applications don’t arrive for 6 figure locations being advertised, the program looks pretty good.
We’ll be talking in more detail, tomorrow, about how the program might need to change, in how we provide services. In summation, we currently are not suffering for lack of facilities.
Tammy Nell: Asked regarding direct competition and equalization payments… direct competition, she has vending on a military installation, and at her location, Coca-Cola under bid her machine pricing for 1/3 her pricing.
Hooks: The reason she does not receive equalization payments, because it is VA, and VA refuses to comply with the federal regulations.
Hooks: referenced how the US post offices also used to fail to comply with these regulations. BET took the entire US Post Office, for the entire state of Texas to court. Which we promptly won, and they were required to comply.
Clayton: every national conference, since 2009, RS and the VA has been a discussion, every time.
4. Chairman’s Report
03:44
Oklahoma State Conference Visit
· 34 facilities, and only 27 managers.
· 16 of the state’s blind vendors attended the conference.
· Interested in how our relationship works, between managers and the SLA.
· One of their breakout sessions was on learning how to file grievances against the SLA
· Very happy to have found $600,000 to purchase new equipment, they had not purchased new equipment, in 10-15 years.
· The program had a single contractor who repaired vending machines, state-wide.
· BET operators need to appreciate how our system works.
· IRS Breakout Session- 2 hour session, unpaid, with an IRS auditor. The auditor’s presentation was about what can and cannot be claimed on taxes, what audits look for, and other interesting topics like that.
· In OK, blind vendors can be elected to their committee, while not being present.
*Aloha C, mentions how it could be good to incorporate an in person nomination / voting process.
Nominations on Friday, they spend the conference weekend campaigning, and all managers vote in person, on Sunday.
NAMA Meeting in Vegas
· Clayton attended this conference, and healthy vending was a major topic of discussion.
· Topics such as how to make healthy vending affordable and profitable.
· There are customers that do want healthy vending, a small portion, but a very vocal portion.
· Clayton has noticed a increase in customers wanting healthier drinks, such as smart water and or poweraids.
· Strong encouragement that we need to get out in front of this healthy drive, because mandate is coming down the pipeline.
· Better eating Today, is the BET provided healthy vending program, , and he believes we need to work on adopting this state-wide.
Karla M:
We need to meet with the Health and Wellness committees. If we work with them, helping them realize what we are doing, perhaps they can help us market what healthy items we are providing.
Clayton Agreed, it is an outstanding idea, but it’s difficult, since it appears that each building, state and federal, has their own wellness committee, so we couldn’t meet with just one group.
5. District Reports
4:19
D1 F Manny S
· HB 2824, was the drastic healthy vending proposed bill.
Manny stepped up, testifying at the capital, and did a very good job.
Manny gave examples of other people that testified.
He explained to the committee who and what we are, and the bill ended up being tabled, for this year.
Different people, with different interests, be it cafeterias and or vending machines. We need to start working together with these individuals.
· Mark Russle: doing well, and he also helped Teas of Texas become a conference sponsor and attend our tradeshow.
Wayne S: troubled still with VA< and he is getting slow progress. VA is not granting temporary badges, which means to hire an employee it is taking upwards of 3 months, to get badges.
· Harvey S: he’s doing well.
· Edgar: seems very busy and happy.
· Mayra E: he was unable to get ahold of her.
· Keith Turner: had a situation, involving taxes on inventory. Case might exist, where the state comptroller can tax your ending inventory.
· Manny S: 6-8 months, experienced awful situations regarding plumbing. Time Warner, bore a hole, severing the line to his grease trap. Which led to all of Manny’s drains back flowing.
D1 V Calvin Shepard
· Erwin Orcott: doing fine, attending the conference.
· Sparks: will not be attending, seriously ill. Changing from Coca-Cola, bringing in Big Red machines. They allow other branded drinks inside their machines. Lockheart prison, changed into a women’s facility. Only using 1 dining room, instead of both, which has reduced sales.
· Robbert Jones: Implemented card readers on 6 machines, noticing a good increase in sales. Renegotiating with Canteen vending, who has also tested out card readers. Austin State School, saved from certain death, by a lobbyist, Jeff Heckler, saved the life of this facility.
· Jaime Garze: doing fine, looking for ways to increase his profit, checking out different product options. Constantly has issues with vandalism.
· Mark Vanlanningham: doing fine and happy.
· Cornell Pardue: doing fine, slowly changing machines around, is happy.
· Leroy D: TWC, been having issues. Food trucks, parking outside of the building, impacting machine sells. The building is also hosting a lot of food events, which is also having an impact.
· Deborah Westin: doing fine, didn’t have any issues to bring up.
· Bobby Allen: took over TSBVI vending, getting machines changed, and learning POCs at the location.
· Calvin S: His vending is doing fine, recently put in 20oz Coca-Cola machines. Using new Royal machines, which he is pleased with. Currently 2 snack machines have card readers, and he will be increasing.
D2 F Zach Davis
· Steve S: everything is going ok. His son has moved on to other employment. Health is stable. He’s continued to engage in good building relationship building, working with them with functions and events.
· Tommie Crawford: He really enjoys his new Cowtown vending route. Alpha RD is going well, sales have increased slightly, and are remaining steady. He is concerned that no one will be ready to take over Alpha RD, and he is not interested in signing another one year lease. Hooks commented, rumor is, someone is strongly interested in the location.
· Al M: everything's going well, standard slight decrease, due to seasonal IRS employees being furloughed. His 5th floor was evacuated, due to a rat invasion, but he’s handling getting his vending machines moved. He’s proud to announce the launch of his own private coffee label, McClurge’s coffee.
· Ed Marlow: Pleased that his new FAA location is up and running. He is not happy regarding not receiving a financial report quarterly, as we voted in July. He really Wants to see more financial transparency, throughout the year.
· JD Stuart: did not get ahold of.
· John Mauler: did not get ahold of.
· Zach D: Everything is going well. Introducing additional grab-&-Go healthy items such as Chicken Caesar salads, tuna salads, and soon to be providing wraps. Customers are quite pleased.
D2 V Dwayne Z
· Contacted all of his managers, basically said everything is fine.
· Welcomed Tommie Crawford to the vending side of D2.
· Ranger Hill, supposed to be opening by end of 2015, closing Palo Pinto, when this new one opens.
Josh D, mentions they will be cutting Ranger Hill’s height down. IF that does impact the rest area, it will have significant impact.
· Thank Chung, for temporarily managing the AF Exchange location. He’s doing a great jobbringing it back to life.
D3 F Greg S:
Not present.
D3 V Kingsley
· Dayton Prison manager resigned, but still remains in the program.
· Boice Best, has started temporary managing this prison.
· Roger Best, actively working with TSA, and his location has been combined with a state school, making it a bit more profitable.
D4 F Dave Corbit
· Jerry: everything is fine.
· Alex: everything is good, no issues.
· Roland, in Austin giving a seminar.
· Those were the only managers he could get ahold of.
D4 V Clayton Hell
· Spoke with several of his managers, and they are doing well.
· Gay N: is now temporary manager of SA Vending route.
· Mr. Harris: resigned his facility, moving on.
· Robert Chaney assigned and changeover took place.
· Richard F: happy with his decision to resign, and moving on.
· Rames Gonzalez: still doing ok.
· Paul Zapata: could not contact.
· Tammy: doing ok, but she has her Coca-Cola struggle, referenced earlier.
· Jenna N: could not contact.
· Pablo: could not contact, but is present, and he said he is doing really good.
· Bill Pierce: Haven’t spoken with him in a while.
· Clayton H: his new facility continues to be a problem. The restrooms are constantly closing, which has impacted sales.
D5 F Harvey J
Late to meeting, had not arrived yet.
Clayton provided the report, “everything is just lovely”.
D5 V Paul Parker
Talked with most of his managers, few with health issues, but they are doing well. Wished it could be better, but no complaints.
D6 F Karla Martinez
· Kristin M: sales are great, very happy, trying to keep growing her business.
· Tom C: ECM funds, transparency.
Tom interjected: he’s actually asking about the lack of an ECM audit, that has not been conducted, and he’s awaiting an answer.
Clayton H: answered, it will be addressed later.
· Maria Bosch: sales are steady, everything is working better.
· Arnold Martinez: TCEQ, reported sales have increased, a lot, and he’s hitting $23k monthly!
· Ronnie Watson: was unable to reach him. She’s really proud of him. Sales are fine, facility is running smoothly.
· John Latigo: TXDOT, sales are steady, was having equipment issues, but they have been resolve.
· John DeSimone: facility is going great, but he is having some health issues.
· Travis Warren: a year back, cornea transplant, baby kicked his transplant eye, and eye issues are re-surfacing, which means he is unable to attend the conference.
· Karla Martinez: very happy at her location, sales are great. Another 100 employees will be added to her building, soon. Working with HHSC, regarding charity events. She’ll donate $5 for every person that decides to sing karaoke.
D6 V Aloha Cook
Talked with most managers, most are doing well.
· Dwayne Sparks: Navasota Prison, he resigned. Moved out of town, but has not resigned the program.
· Ozzy: doing "good".
· Cha Cha Lima: doing "good", but has some health issues.
· Aloha: facility is ok, but they are supposed to be increasing more building population.
· Jerry R: Water issues, continuing to damage his coffee machines. Trying to work on getting some type of a filtration system in place. Down machines = no sales, being written up, and machines are getting ruined. Repair, over $500, BCs are telling the manager to pay it, instead of BET footing the bill. A BC is stating they will not pay. Hooks responded, call me Monday. He reiterated, if you are dissatisfied with your BC, don’t wait, call him.
6. Committee Reports
Rules & Bylaws
Zach D: Explained the discussions and reasoning behind the proposal to revise the by-laws, removing the annual requirement for a financial audit on the ECM fund. Replacing that requirement with verbiage making a financial review required, if the ECM stops providing detailed financial fund information, quarterly.
Clayton H: Spoke briefly regarding the concept of the audit, his belief that it is unnecessary, and commented favorably regarding the posting of detailed financial data, on the website, from here forward.
Tom C: asked what our plan is to do regarding the last 6 years of data that might be inaccessible.
Paul Parker & Kingsley: both stated unless there is a specific reason to delve, that far back, we want to simply move forward.
Zach D: Explained what financial data was posted currently, year to date transactions for both the ECM PayPal account and the ECM Wells Fargo account.
Discussion on whether or not the names of people making donations should be redacted.
M Vandervoort, made the suggestion we should simply let the donor decide.
Conclusion was, allow the person making the donation to decide.
Manny S: moved to pass the revisions
Aloha C: seconded.
The vote passed.
Finance Committee
Harvey, passed the floor to Manny.
Manny: Briefly spoke again about the great success we had through the online donation system. Thanked all present blind vendors for their support and donations.
Election Committee
Nominations due 15-Nov
Votes tallied 15-Dec.
Training Conference
Manny, proud of what has taken place, and explained what our goals are:
1. Provide the best training for Texas, and hope to become a regional annual conference location, for other states who might not have the budgets to do them.
2. Bringing BLAST back
3. Ability to send our blind vendors out of Texas, to teach as well as learn from others.
Manny mentioned how we’re doing the 50/50 raffle.
$5 each or $20 for 5.
Aloha C: asked where the vending specific training is at this conference.
Manny answered describing what training we do have.
Discussion regarding charitable donations to the ECM fund, and how the ECM fund is a 501c4, which cannot receive charitable donations, but contributions can be listed as a variety of business expenses.
Training of Potential Managers
Aloha C:
The training is going well, and our trainees are very excited to start making money.
Harvey S: nominated Manny for district 1 food service ECM representative.
Kingsley proposed adjournment.
Aloha seconded.
The vote was passed.