ANNUAL MEETING HIGHLIGHTS

The Lutheran Braille Evangelism Association celebrated its 60th anniversary on Monday May 7, 2012 at Roseville Lutheran Church in Roseville, Minnesota. The evening began at 6:30 PM with devotions by LBEA President Rev. Scott McLaughlin. Following the singing of "Be Present at Our Table Lord" the banquet meal of beverage, roll and butter, salad with dressing, Swedish meat ball with mashed potatoes and gravy, carrots, and chocolate cake for dessert was enjoyed by the seventy-two persons who attended this anniversary event.

After the meal LBEA Executive Director Rev. Dennis Hawkinson thanked Roseville Lutheran Church and caterer Jean Odeen and her workers for the delicious banquet meal. Barbara Hawkinson then read selections from the John Gustav Erickson Memoirs as a special Remembrance of John and Erma Erickson who founded the LBEA Ministry on June 17, 1952. Door Prizes which included merchant gift cards, two audio Bibles, and a new enhanced BibleCourier were among the prizes distributed to one lucky person at each table. Executive Director Hawkinson then led in a special prayer and the Offering for LBEA was received (note: this offering was $3,100).

The St. Paul Swedish Male Chorus was introduced and they sang several music selections and the director provided narrative and comments about each piece. During their program Dennis and Barbara Hawkinson were called forward and each was pinned with the Choruses Code of Arms pin making them honorary members of the group.

President Scott McLaughlin then called the annual business meeting to order. The current members of the LBEA Board of Directors were introduced and thanked. The 12 month financial report was read by Treasurer, Bethany Muinch. The report showed income of $102,752.46 with expenses of $93,669.37. A motion was made by Eunice Fredrick and seconded by Matt Dobbins to approve the treasurer's report. The motion was approved.

The Executive Director's report was presented by Rev. Dennis Hawkinson. Pastor Hawkinson expressed thanks to all who have faithfully supported LBEA with prayer and gifts this past year. Thanks and praise go to God for 60 years of "Helping The Sightless See The Savior!" This year LBEA sent out 23,100 large print Christian Magnifiers, 1,271 audio Christian Magnifiers, and 5,259 Braille Tract Messenger Magazines. This year LBEA produced a Braille edition of the "Sing And Rejoice" hymnal and distributed over 40 of these one volume hymnals to blind and sight-impaired individuals. LBEA also sent out over 250 Bibles most of which were BibleCouriers. The popular BibleCourier was recently enhanced with the addition of rechargeable batteries and an internal speaker. The BibleCourier still comes with two complete Bible versions but now its firmware has been enhanced with a powerful word search function.

Pastor Hawkinson Encouraged friends of LBEA who have Thrivent policies to use the Thrivent for Lutherans Choice Dollar program which has been recently improved directing more funds to eligible ministries. This year LBEA received $6,586 from the Choice Dollar program. Barbara was then called upon to share a sampling of letters and e-mail received during the year. She concluded by listing the names of 30 countries that receive materials from LBEA.

The four candidates for election to the LBEA Board of Directors were then introduced by Rev. McLaughlin. There being no additional nominations from the floor, a motion was made by Eunice Fredrick and seconded by Herb Svendsen to cast an unanimous ballot to elect Matthew Dobbins, Kay Molstrom, Mary Schintz and Rev. Roger Schwartz to three year terms on the LBEA Board of Directors. The motion passed.

There being no other business a motion prevailed to adjourn the 2012 annual meeting. The evening closed with the Benediction.

Officers for June 2012 to May 2013 are as follows:

President - Rev. Scott McLaughlin.
Vice President - Matthew Dobbins.
Secretary - Herb Svendsen.
Treasurer - Bethany Muinch.