[Cinci-nfb] Correction to May 2016 Chapter Minutes

Christopher Sabine, ONH Consulting info at onhconsulting.com
Thu Jun 23 22:53:10 UTC 2016


Hello. I was informed that a critical motion concerning the Ohio BELL
academy was accidentally deleted from the May 2016 Chapter minutes. The
corrected version is attached. Thanks to Rachel Kuntz for bringing this to
my attention.

 

 

Chris

 

National Federation of the Blind of Cincinnati

Meeting Minutes for May 2016

 

1.       The May 2016 meeting of the National Federation of the Blind of
Cincinnati was convened by President Deborah Kendrick at approximately 2:15
P.M. at the Washington Platform Restaurant in Downtown Cincinnati. Members
in Attendance were: Deborah Kendrick, Christopher Sabine, Paul Jordan, Lisa
Hall, Lilly Pennington, Emily Pennington, Rachel Kuntz, Mike Kuntz, Joy
Thomas, David Perry, Judy Rudick, Kim McEachirn and Annie McEachirn Carson.
Marianne Denning, Billy Brandon and Jamie Reynolds also attended as guests;
neither opted to pay membership dues at this time. There was no "mini-blind"
this month; those in attendance were asked to state their name, indicate
whether or not they were wearing NFB regalia and give a peace of personal
news in no more than 30 seconds.

 

2.       Lilly Pennington moved to approve the April 2016 minutes as
emailed; Paul Jordan seconded. The motion passed.

 

3.       Emily Pennington presented this month's treasurer's report. David
Perry made a motion to approve the treasurer's report; Paul Jordan seconded.
The motion passed.

 

4.       Committee Reports:

 

a.       Membership:

 

Christopher Sabine and Rachel Kuntz presented the report of the Membership
Committee, which met by telephone conference at 7:00 P.M. on May 23, 2016.
Dale Barta, Rachel Kuntz, Walter Mitchell and Christopher Sabine attended.

 

The focus of this meeting was an email disseminated by Danielle Trevino,
Social Media Coordinator for the National Federation of the Blind,
concerning a new national initiative to recruit new members to individual
chapters. This initiative involved members circulating NFB literature and
information about Federation philosophy and values to health care providers
and related organizations, including support groups and counseling offices,
doctor's offices, VA's and other related organizations potentially serving
the Blind. 

Christopher indicated that the impetus for this initiative was a visit from
a perspective new member to NFB's National Office in Baltimore who received
treatment at one of the leading ophthalmology practices in the U.S. This
member reported that staff of the practice was unaware of the Federation,
its philosophy and its numerous activities. It was recommended that each
chapter share Federation literature and philosophy with ten local health
care providers and related organizations.

 

Christopher Sabine discussed his participation in the Autism and All Special
Needs Expo earlier this month, in which he participated. Christopher also
discussed sharing information with the Hamilton County Educational Service
Center and related organizations. Dale Barta reported that he plans to share
information with his doctor at a future appointment. 

Walter Mitchell discussed sharing information with local Veterans
organizations. 

 

The Committee also discussed new membership cards which National Office is
releasing. Christopher indicated that he has ordered 50 of these cards;
Rachel agreed to contact Lisa Hall to have each members name affixed to a
card in Braille.

 

Deborah reminded the Chapter that labels with the Chapter's contact
information have been purchased previously. Rachel provided some points of
clarification concerning the new membership cards. These cards contain the
NFB Logo with the signature of Mark Ricobono, President of the National
Federation of the Blind. Each card also has a QR code with a link to the NFB
National Website. Rachel suggested that Deborah Kendrick's signature also go
on each card along with each member's first name in Braille.

 

                B.            Recreation:

 

Kim McEachirn gave the report of the Recreation Committee, which met on
Thursday May 19, 2016 from 7:00 to 8:00 P.M. by telephone conference. The
full report of the Recreation Committee is attached. Kim indicated that
Rachel Kuntz, Judy Rudick, Kim McEachirn and Annie McEachirn Carson
attended. 

 

Kim reported that the Spring Grove Cemetery Tour conducted on May 7, 2016,
was a great success and expressed his thanks to Annie McEachirn Carson for a
job well done. He reported that photos of the tour were taken by Deanna
Lewis and posted to the Chapter Facebook page by Rachel Kuntz. Rachel also
placed her own photos of the event to the Facebook Page. Annie intends to
write an article on the event, which will be posted on the Chapter Facebook
page and other media. 

 

The bulk of the meeting was dedicated to the annual Chapter picnic, which is
scheduled for Saturday June 18, 2016 from 1:00 to 5:00 P.M. at the home of
Marianne Denning. The cost of the event is $5 per member, which is necessary
to cover meat and drinks, members will make payment to Emily Pennington,
Treasurer.

 

Currently, Annie McEachirn and Deanna Lewis are in the process of
determining who is attending, what food or other item each person is
bringing and which menu items each person prefers. The Committee agreed that
a list of all attendees and menu items-including meat preferences and dishes
that each attendee will bring-will be finalized by June 4, 2016. Annie
McEachirn is in talks with Marianne Denning concerning setup-including
tables and chairs needed to accommodate attendees. On Saturday June 4, Annie
will canvas attendees to determine their meat preferences. Finally, Annie
will post all pertinent details of the event to the Cincinnati NFB Chapter
Listserv. Kim concluded his report by presenting a list of individual
members and their duties and responsibilities during the event.

 

                c.             Ad Hoc "Lollipop Committee":

 

Rachel Kuntz gave a brief update on the Lollypop fundraising event for the
NFB National Convention in Orlando. All details concerning the event have
been submitted and approved by organizers at National Office. Rachel
expressed that the event is named "The Cincy Lucky Lolli Game."

 

                d.            We Care Benevolence Program:

 

Judy Rudick and Annie McEachirn presented the report of the Chapter's newest
program, The We Care Benevolence program. This is a new effort to support
chapter members facing personal difficulties, such as hospitalization or the
loss of a loved one.

 

Annie McEachirn indicated that she and Judy Rudick met on April 28, 2016
from 7:00 to 7:15 P.M. to discuss the new committee. Annie expressed that
they decided on the name "We Care Benevolence program". It was agreed that
the purpose of this program will be to visit, email, phone, send cards and /
or deliver small gifts to individuals who are in the hospital, have a death
in the family or recuperating from an illness at home or in a rehabilitation
facility. Annie expressed that this service will be provided to members of
the National Federation of the Blind of Cincinnati and their families. In
addition, Judy expressed that the program should be available for brief
periods to listen confidentially to any Cincinnati NFB member with a concern
but not offer a solution. Finally, Judy and Annie agreed that the Cincinnati
Chapter Email Listserv will be used to send out prayer requests and report
good news concerning Chapter members.

 

It was agreed that Annie and Judy will work together to make decisions
concerning this program and report updates to the Chapter. All requests
should be sent to Annie McEachirn or Judy Rudick. However, both Judy and
Annie will share each request with one another before taking any action.
Funds to support the We Care Benevolence program will be obtained from
annual contributions of $2 paid by individual members as part of their dues
as well as contributions to the Sunshine Fund throughout the year. 

 

Judy and Annie were clear to emphasize that the WE Care benevolent Fund is
not a committee per se. It is a program that both are administering to
support Chapter members in need. It was agreed that the Treasurer will be
responsible for disbursing all funds for the program.

 

5.       Emily Pennington moved that the Chapter allocate $100 to the
National Federation of the Blind of Ohio to be passed through to each of the
five National Funds: The Jernigan Fund, the Jacobus Tenbroek Fund, The
Sunshine Fund, the Imagination Fund and the Day Camp. Deborah and Emily
expressed that this was in line with last year's allocation to NFB Ohio. Kim
McEachirn seconded, and the motion passed.

 

6.       Emily Pennington gave a list of the names of the chapter members
who have paid their dues for 2016 and expressed concern that some members
have not paid dues for the current year.

 

7.       Emily Pennington inquired if the Chapter will be providing stipends
to Chapter members attending National Convention. It was agreed that since
the Chapter treasury is small, there is currently no fund raising committee
and so many members have registered, no stipends will be issued to Chapter
members. 

 

8.       Currently, eight people from the Cincinnati area have reportedly
registered for National Convention, including those who are not Chapter
members, but members of other State or National Divisions and affiliates:
Deborah Kendrick, Lisa Hall, Paul Jordan, Rachel Kuntz, Emily Pennington,
Lilly Pennington, Sheri Albers and Marianne Denning. Deborah indicated that
she held a gathering at her room last year before the Banquet for Cincinnati
area Federationists and expressed that she would like the Chapter to provide
a small amount for a similar gathering this year in lieu of a stipend. Emily
Pennington moved that $50 be allocated for a "pre-banquet" party for
Cincinnati area Federation members; Lilly Pennington seconded. The motion
passed.

 

9.       David Perry gave a brief overview of his visit to Washington, D.C.
to attend legislative hearings on a bill to provide competitive employment
opportunities to the Blind and Visually Impaired. John Mitchell, Executive
Director, Amy Scrivner, Director of Community Relations and Steve Ogletree,
a fellow employee in the Industries Program of the Cincinnati Association
for the Blind and Visually Impaired, also attended. David was reportedly
selected to attend the event as Employee of the Year. David indicated that
he was recognized for his service by Sen. Rob Portman during the event.

 

10.   Marianne Denning gave an overview of Ohio's BELL Program, which will
be held from July 17 to July 22, 2016 at the Ohio State School for the Blind
in Columbus. Marianne Denning is one of two lead teachers for the BELL
program in Ohio.

 

BELL, Braille Enrichment for Learning and Literacy, was established to
encourage children to learn Braille-especially those with some usable
vision. Marianne expressed that Braille literacy is important for these
children for many reasons and even children with visual acuity as high as 20
/ 200 experience eye fatigue, making it difficult or impossible for them to
read print. Schools often deny these children Braille instruction due to
their visual acuity. The purpose of the BELL program is to encourage
children with Blindness or low vision to learn Braille and teach Blind
children that Blind people can lead successful lives.

 

Marianne indicated that there are over 50 BELL Programs nationwide; some
states have two programs. The Ohio BELL program-branded as the Ohio BELL
Academy--will be using a modified version of a national curriculum. This
will be a 24-hour-a-day residential program-for the first time in Ohio.  The
program will reportedly consist of academically-oriented activities during
the day and leisure and individually-based activities in the evening.
Individual activities will be tailored to reinforce the goals of each
student's Individualized Education Plan. Marianne expressed that this is the
fourth year for the Ohio BELL Academy, and some students have attended all
four years. Marianne reported that she believes eight students have signed
up for BELL Academy this year; there is a cutoff of ten students.

 

Marianne indicated that volunteers are needed to assist with a wide variety
of activities during the day and evening / night shifts. These might include
a bus ride, a walk to a nearby restaurant or ice cream store and a visit to
a farm. Volunteers are also needed to cook and prepare meals for program
participants. Volunteers will stay in one of several recently built
residential cottages on the Ohio State School for the Blind Campus.

 

Anyone interested in volunteering is asked to contact Marianne Denning, and
her contact information was provided to Chapter members. Volunteers do not
need to be a member of the National Federation of the Blind. Marianne
indicated that since the Ohio Bell Academy is a residential program this
year, volunteers will need to complete an application and pass a background
check.

 

Rachel moved that the Chapter allocate $200 to support the Ohio BELL
Academy. Emily Pennington seconded. The motion passed.

 

11.          The May 2016 meeting of the National Federation of the Blind of
Cincinnati adjourned at approximately 3:30 P.M. on Saturday May 28, 2016.

 

Respectfully Submitted,

 

Christopher Sabine

 

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