The State Council met on February 28, 1998, at the Long Beach Marriott Hotel.

In the absence of the President, Royce Hamrick, Treasurer, George Moore, opened the meeting with a few comments and there was a round of self introductions.

He then called on Chapter 32 President, Ben Rockwell, who introduced the Honorable Beverly O'Neill, Mayor of the City of Long Beach. Mayor O'Neill welcomed the delegates to the city and praised our chapter members for their work in the community.

Rev. Kit Wilke, a member of Chapter 32, gave an invocation as a narrative of his father's birth and life and of his own life as one of five boys raised by a father who was born without arms. He recounted his father's work on the ADA and standing with President Bush at the signing of the ADA on July 26, 1990.

Susan Barnhill, Vice President, then took the chair and presided over the rest of the meeting.

Most of the focus was on the various new contracts CDR is writing for professional assistance in managing the affairs of CDR, a happy result of the recent bequests both the corporation and the Foundation have received. Particular strengthening will be given to membership retention and expansion as well as support for CDR's legislative work and the nuts and bolts of helping the State Council be more productive.

Two separate budgets were adopted: one for the parent corporation--CDR--and the other for the CDR Foundation in order to be able to use Foundation money to fund some non-political activites of CDR as well as for the traditional scholarship grants given in the past.

The State Council received an update on the Leadership Training Conference set forApril 30-May 3 in Sacramento and a report on a grant proposal to fund a series of workshops around the state on AB1277, the refueling assistance bill CDR got enacted in 1997.

The Legislative Committee reported on the bills CDR is following in the current session of the Legislature, and particularly on our own bill, AB2702 (Aroner), which seeks to clarify the requirements of the Unruh Civil Rights Act regarding access to buildings and to make it easier to seek monetary damages in Small Claims Courts for violations of the Unruh Act and other similarly protective laws. Legislative update bulletins will be published and distributed independently of the New World. CDR members wishing to subscribe at no cost should write to Pat McPartland, 59 Fallon Lane, Sacramento, CA 95819, or via E-mail.

Election of officers for a two-year term were held with these results:

    President         Susan Barnhill, Sacramento--Ch 14
    Vice-President    Chris Elms, Sacramento--Ch 14
    Secretary         Ben Rockwell, Long Beach--Ch 32 
    Treasurer         George Moore, Yolano--Ch 2

The three additional at-large members to make up the Executive Committee elected were Ralph Black, Sacramento-Ch 14; John Lonberg, Riverside-Ch 34; and Theresa Metro, Long Beach-Ch 32. By virtue of becoming the immediate past-president, Royce Hamrick also became a member of the Executive Committee.