[CCCNFBW] October Clark County chapter minutes

[Don Mitchell]

NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND

CLARK COUNTY CHAPTER MEETING MINUTES

October 10, 2026

•Meeting called to order by President Chris Higley at 10:02 Am on 
October 10,2026 at the Staff lounge on the Washington State School for 
the blind campus.

•Role was taken and the following persons were present. Chris Higley, 
President: Song Downen, board member: Betty Fitzpatrick: Don Mitchell, 
Secretary: Bob Sellers: Skyler: Kaye Kipp: Ren, New Member??: Autum 
Scott??: Tim Retonfielt: Vicky Masterson: Sharon Zinger: Beth Greenberg:

•The secretary report was presented for acceptance: Betty Fitzpatrick 
moved for Acceptance and seconded by Kaye Kipp. The motion passed and 
the minutes were approved as printed.

•In the absence of the treasurer President Chris Higley presented the 
treasurer’s report for October 2026. Current balance $2096.00.Chris 
reported that we cleared $1700.00 profit on the wine and cheese event. 
Kaye Kipp moved acceptance of the report. Betty Fitzpatrick seconded and 
the treasurer’s report was excepted.

•The President asked for a fundraising report. Kaye reported that no 
meeting has been held since the Wine and Cheese event. President Higley 
clarified that our income from the fund raising event was $1681.57. Some 
where around 42 persons attended the event. Don reported that no 
progress has been made on finding a different band for our fundraising 
concert.

•Chris Higley presented an engagement committee report. In the School 
for the Blind school year 2026-27 the following events have been 
proposed. On November 9 6:30 8:00 PM ice cream and Uno event. Chris 
asked for chapter members who will come and support this event. February 
8, 2027 Kuroki event. May 7 we are presenting a scavenger hunt. Cjhapter 
members participating in these events must be certified volunteers who 
have been approved by the school. Several members volunteered to come 
and support the November event. Names were not specified.

•The President announced that October is Blindness awareness month and 
that October 15 is national white cane day. We discussed what kind of 
event the chapter might want to do to support blindness awareness month. 
We discussed a chapter walk event. The suggestion was made to walk main 
street from turtle Place park at the vine stop at seventh and main up to 
Blue Door Bakery. The bakery was suggested because they have supported 
our Wine and Cheese event. The bakery is located at about 24^th and 
main. A five minute break was taken while the bakery was contacted. Don 
made a motion to do a chapter walk on October 10 at 10:00 AM starting at 
Seventh and main and walking to the Blue Door Bakery at 24^th and main 
as a blindness awareness event. The motion was seconded by Betty and the 
motion passed.

•Chris announced that the c-tran bus company is looking for new members 
for its Community Advisory Committee. Two at large positions, One 
blindness committee member position, One environmental committee 
position, One business owner position. Applications are on the c-tran 
website. The committee meets on the last Thursday of the month from 5:30 
to 7:30 PM. Application due date is October 12. Committee members serve 
two year terms and they receive free bus passes while serving.

•The Washington state National Federation of the Blind convention is 
being held February 25 through 28 2027 at the Hilton Doubletree in 
SeaTac WA. Room rates are $129.00 per night plus applicable taxes and 
fees. A financial assistance form will be available on the NFBW website.

•A possible holiday gathering in December was discussed. Olive garden 
and Red Robbin were discussed for locations. A decision was tabled until 
the November meeting. Betty Fitzpatrick will bring a report of some 
possible locations in November.

Chris introduced the chapter chat. Song asked about people who give 
unwanted assistance when crossing streets ETC. This is a classic problem 
for the blind and we discussed the issues and basically determined that 
the final decision must be the travelers. We do need to try and educate 
and be polite and yet firm.

Skyler brought up the availability of white canes that would be good and 
functional for wheel chair users. Don suggested talking to an O&M 
person, particularly, Doug Tremble, who is an NFB member.

•Some discussion took place about getting new members on the list-serve 
for chapter emails.

•Because it is blindness equality month we caried on, as a philosophy 
discussion, a discussion about equality for the blind. We tackled where 
the line between equality and opportunity meet. What part of inequality 
is placed on society and their expectations of the blind and what part 
is upon us as blind individuals to advocate for ourselves. When are we, 
in fact, equal and when are we inequal. Many viewpoints were brought 
fourth.

•After our philosophy discussion Ren and Autum were invited to become 
members of the chapter. Membership was explained and a motion was made 
to except these two new members. The motion passed.

•At 11:16 AM it was moved that the meeting be adjourned and the 
presidential message 564 be played for the month of October.
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