[Capchapohio] February meeting

Mon Feb 18 16:29:52 UTC 2013

Hi Everyone,

Remember that this Saturday, February 23, 2013 is our chapter meeting. We
will start at 2 p.m. The address is 2350 Indianola Avenue. Use the Maynard
Ave. entrance. Featured items for donation are pasta and toiletries. As
always, any contribution is appreciated so you are not restricted to the
suggested items. 

If you have any subjects for topics you would like to have put on the agenda
please email them to me at shelbiah at att.net by Friday noon. 

Below are the minutes from the January meeting to review. 

Shelbi

NFB Capital Chapter Meeting

Date: January 26, 2013

Place: Maynard Ave Methodist Church

Time: 2:10 pm

Attendees:

Shelbi Hindel, Eric Duffy, Jim Debus, Beth Debus, Stephanie Claytor, Vince
Manning, Annette Lutz, Marilynn, Shivaji Kumar, Carol Akers

President Shelbi H requested that all members share updated contact
information including Name, Address, Phone number and email with Secretary,
Carol, so that the members list and the listserv could be updated.

Dr. Maurer's Presidential Release played by Eric Duffy. 

Information in release included reminder to share 2013 National Scholarship
information with interested students and the deadline for application being
3/31/13.

National Convention 2013 to be held at Rosen Center Hotel 9840 International
Dr. Orlando, Florida. The dates of convention are July 1-6. Reserve rooms
ASAP with $90 deposit per room. Call 800-204-7234 to reserve your room.

OLD BUSINESS

Minutes of November meeting read.  Move to accept made by Eric, second by
Carol, vote and accepted as read.

Treasurer's Report given by Stephanie with current balance of $409.34.

Comments: 

1.         Capital Chapter made a pledge of $100 at 2012 State Convention to
the state affiliate, which will need to be paid. 

2.         Reminder made to all members that 2013 dues need to be paid. Dues
are $10, but $5 if unable to pay the $10.

Move to accept report as read by Jim and second by Eric, voted and accepted.

Jim Debus reported on the OSSB Christmas party held on Jan 17, 2013.

The date had been changed several times due to school conflicts and turned
out to be better timing    since it was closer to Louis Braille's birthday.
This gave more meaning to our visit than having it in December.

Students were very receptive to the ice breaker game which encouraged
mingling of NFB members and students.  Eric Duffy introduced himself as the
new State President of NFB and gave a short speech on what the NFB does.
This gave students the incentive to ask some very good questions about
membership, chapters and scholarships.

Jim moved that we keep the date of the OSSB party as a January party in
celebration of Louis Braille, rather than Christmas.  Second by Stephanie
voted and passed.

NEW BUSINESS

1.       Eric announced that NFB members, himself, Shelbi H,  Debbie Baker,
Carol A,   would be having a meeting with the new Principal of OSSB- Deb
Miller and also Cynthia Johnson, Superintendent of OSSB on Monday, 28th of
January at 1:00 to discuss how NFB can work together with OSSB.  Also
possibly schedule a future NFB meeting at the school so students could
attend.  Find out what needs of the students are, so we can work
cooperatively with the school on those needs.  Decide how we can work
together for the good of the students.

2.        Jim working with CABVI               Cincinnati and announced that
there will be six job openings coming up shortly. These will involve
checking government contracts and require that the applicant be legally
blind, be a citizen, have a degree or experience and undergo extensive
hiring procedure. Good benefits and pay. Send resume to
scott.dehart at cincyblind.org

3.       Fundraising

Eric and Shelbi attended the joint Cleveland and Cuyahoga chapter party in
December and received samples of Harry London chocolates.  Shelbi suggested
we check into this candy as a fundraiser for the chapter, especially with
Valentine's Day coming up. 

We could sell it not only at chapter meetings, but outside to community and
family. Carol presented the information on the product options. Selling the
individual candy bars in a variety pack at $1.00 each, we make 50% profit.
The variety case consists of total of 48 candy bars.

Eric moved that we order Harry London chocolates for a fundraiser, seconded
by Marilynn, voted and passed.  Jim or Stephanie will order the candy on
Monday with the hope that it will arrive by the end of the week.  Eric has
agreed to take some with him to Washington when he leaves on Saturday. 

4.       President Hindel noted that the chapter needs to have a Fundraising
committee and asked for volunteers.  Jim D, Carol A, Vince M and Stephanie C
will make up the committee.  Marilynn suggested that we also look into
selling Poppycock snack food as a project option to candy and volunteered to
provide some information on the product for consideration.

5.       BELL program was discussed and explained.  Braille Enrichment,
Learning and Literacy for children ages 4-12 or 13.  Ohio has been chosen to
participate in the 2013 program.  It will be held this July for a two week
period of July 15 and 22nd from 8am to 5 pm.   Our goal is to have at least
10-12 kids and tailor the program to the kids we get.  It is an intensive
Braille experience and includes some O & M, daily living skills, possible
field trips and more.   Eric and Debbie Baker will be attending a training
session in Baltimore at the end of February to learn more.   The program
will cost between $2,000 and $6,000 to host.   Debbie will fill the
requirement of having a Certified Braille instructor to oversee the program.
Deborah Kendrick has developed a letter to use for requesting donations in
support of the program. It is up to Ohio to fund the program.  Eric has
secured a pledge of $2,000 from the Department of Developmental Delays in
support of the program.  If we do not use all the funds we raise for 2013
program, we will carry it over to use next year as we expand the program to
other major cities in Ohio.    The letter is available to everyone who
wishes to help seek donations. Instructions will be included in the letter
as to where checks can be sent.  Further report during March meeting. 

6.       Jim stated that his instructor is the Day Coordinator at OSSB and
is interested in attending our March meeting to learn more about NFB and
working with us.  He also announced that Camp Abilities will be held July
9-19 targeted for kids older than those in the BELL program. More
information later.

7.       Brief discussion on the topic of the need for Columbus taxis to
have accessible card readers and talking meters to make travel  more
convenient and the ability to use credit cards for payment easier.  Several
other major cities in the US are using this equipment.  Eric will gather
more information while in Baltimore in February and report his findings at
the February meeting.

8.       Church donations.  We will continue to contribute items for the
church food pantry as a gesture of appreciation in return for free use of
their space.   We all need to recommit to this.  Motion was made by Jim to
recommit to contributing to the church food pantry, seconded by Eric, voted
and passed. Each month a specific item is requested, but any item can be
contributed. Shelbi will update on each months item prior to the meeting
date.

9.       Possibility of using chapter Wal-Mart card as needed during BELL
program for snacks, etc.  Will consider in future. 

10.   Church will be doing approximately $70,000 in renovations this year on
roof, etc. We should consider contributing to the project.  Carol moved that
the chapter contribute a donation of funds toward the church renovation
fund, with the fundraising committee to decide on a project to raise the
funds. Seconded by Stephanie, voted on and passed.

11.   The church will also be opening a thrift store in the near future.
Soon we could donate to the thrift store as part of our monthly donations
and perhaps we could volunteer to assist in the store as part of a community
project.  We have wanted to find a community project that we could volunteer
for and thus make ourselves more visible in the community.

12.   The next Scrip order will be placed on Sunday, February 3rd at 7 pm.
There is a current promotion for selling $150 of new Bath & Body cards, we
will get free shipping.  This is good only on new physical cards, not
reloads or Scrip Now orders. Shelbi encouraged all members to sign up for
the program and to promote it to our relatives, even if they are out of town
or state. She will put together another instruction sheet to share with
family and friends.

13.   Recent Dispatch article on Sports and Disabled kids read and
discussed.   Jim related that Sports in High School has huge benefits to
kids, with increasing their confidence and self- esteem.  The Goal in all of
this is to show we have come a long way with positive changes in schools. It
used to be a Right just to get kids into schools, now we are getting them
included in sports.

Meeting was adjourned at 3:44 pm.

Respectfully submitted by Carol Akers, Secretary

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