[Cinci-nfb] National Federation of the Blind of Ohio, Cincinnati Chapter, Meeting Minutes for August 2018

Sun Sep 9 00:11:02 UTC 2018

National Federation of the Blind of Ohio

Cincinnati Chapter

Meeting Minutes for August 2018

1.       The August 2018 meeting of the Cincinnati Chapter of the National
Federation of the Blind of Ohio was convened by President Sheri Albers at
approximately 2:01 P.M. on Saturday August 25 2018 at the Washington
Platform Restaurant in Downtown Cincinnati. In attendance were: Sheri
Albers, Diane Carmony, Deanna Lewis, Emily Pennington, Cassandra Jones, Lisa
Hall, Christopher Sabine, Joy Thomas, Gloria Robinson and Paul Dressell.
Judy Cook, Chris Windham, and Bill and Karren Innis attended today's meeting
but did not pay dues at this time. Deanna Lewis moved to approve the July
2018 Chapter minutes as emailed; Emily Pennington seconded. The Motion
passed.

2.       Emily Pennington gave this month's Treasurer's Report. Christopher
Sabine moved to approve the Treasurer's Report; Lisa Hall seconded. The
motion passed.

3.       Christopher Sabine gave a report from the Membership Committee,
which reportedly met by telephone conference on August 7 2018 at 7:00 P.M.
Paul and Bernie Dressell, Lisa Hall, Dale Barta, Tammy Smith and Christopher
Sabine attended. Christopher expressed that the Chapter has scheduled a
visit with long-time Federationist Marion King for September 3 from 2:00 to
4:00 P.M. Dale Barta, Lisa Hall, Paul and Bernie Dressell, Tammy Smith and
Christopher Sabine have so far committed to make the visit, with Sheri
Albers and Gloria Robinson expressing prior interest. The Committee also
agreed to distribute copies of the general information pamphlet (available
from the Independence Market at National Office) to all the senior centers
operated by the Cincinnati office. The six members in attendance at this
meeting have agreed to distribute three pamphlets each-with Chapter contact
information affixed to each pamphlet. Christopher also expressed that he and
Sheri will meet on Thursday August 30 with representatives of the
Archdiocese of Cincinnati concerning improving their ministry and
accessibility of the Mass and other Church activities to the Blind of the
Archdiocese. It was agreed that Christopher would contact Deborah Kendrick
regarding the status of the Chapter's P.O. Box, which is on the stickers as
a mailing contact. He also agreed to email a reminder of the Marion King
visit to the Chapter listserv. Sheri reported that she has met with the
Butler County Chapter concerning a joint membership recruitment drive for
both the Butler County and Cincinnati Chapters. Sheri expressed that the
consensus among her, Affiliate President Richard Payne and members of the
Butler County Chapter is that the chapter will remain active. However, Jim
Shirk, the chapter's president, is stepping down, and future leadership is
an open question. Sheri indicated that the Butler County Chapter has agreed
to hold a joint membership event with Cincinnati at a date and location that
is still being determined. 

4.       Sheri indicated that the Cincinnati / Northern Kentucky Chapter of
the Foundation Fighting Blindness-in which Jim Shirk from the Butler County
Chapter participates-will be holding its annual Vision Walk Fundraiser on
Saturday September 22 at 8:45 AM at the Theodore M. Barry International
Friendship Park in Downtown Cincinnati (1135 Riverside Dr.) Sheri has
contacted event organizers and will be staffing a table at this event. 

5.       Gloria Robinson gave a report from the Fundraising Committee, which
reportedly met on Tuesday August 21 2018. Walter Mitchell, Deanna Lewis, Kim
McEachirn and Gloria Robinson attended. Gloria expressed that Mercy Health
Partners will conduct a health fair at the Mercy Health Partners Bond Hill
Campus, located at 1701 Mercy Health Place, On Saturday October 13 from
10:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. Gloria has agreed to attend along with
representatives of the Ohio Diabetes Action Network to staff a table with
information about the national Federation of the Blind. Donated chocolates
from World's Finest Chocolates will be provided at the event, and all
Chapter members were encouraged to attend. The remainder of the Fundraising
Committee report was spent discussing the status of future sales of the
"Meet the Blind" T shirts at the White Cane Walk / "meet the Blind Month"
event and plans for another bake sale in October. 

6.       Sheri Albers gave a brief legislative update. She reported on the
passage of the National Defense Authorization Act, which allows Blind
Veterans meeting specific requirements to board military aircraft on a space
available basis. Ohio House Bill 587, which will require the state's
Medicaid program to cover white canes as medical devices, was also
discussed. Finally, Sheri expressed that Ohio's first State Rehabilitation
Council, whose members were nominated by Gov. John Kasich in June, held its
first meeting on August 15. The Chair and Vice Chair of the Commission are
Dr. Carolyn Peters, President of the Miami Valley Chapter of the National
Federation of Ohio, and Dr. J. W. Smith from the Capital Chapter,
respectively. There will be a panel discussion about the duties of the State
Rehabilitation Council at State Convention in November.

7.       Sheri gave a summary of plans for the "Meet the Blind" Month event
on October 8 2018. As in the past, the Chapter will set up the table for the
event at Fountain Square at 9:30 A.M. with participants meeting at City Hall
for the initial presentation at 10:30 and the march from City Hall to
Fountain Square and proclamation following. The table will be staffed for
the general public at Fountain Square until 2:00. Representatives and
employees from the Clovernook Center and the Cincinnati Association for the
Blind and Visually Impaired will participate. 

8.       Online Registration for this year's State Convention, scheduled for
November 2 to 4 2018 at the Holiday Inn Strongsville, is now open at
http://www.nfbohio.org. Denise Avant, President of the National Federation
of the Blind of Illinois, is this year's national representative. Sheri
indicated that the Ohio Affiliate has secured a bus to transport members to
state Convention. At this point, the bus is set to depart Cincinnati at 4:00
A.M. on Friday November 2 and arrive at the Holiday Inn Strongsville at
approximately 10:00 A.M., stopping in Dayton, Columbus and Akron. The bus
will make the reverse trip at 1:00 P.M. on November 4 following Convention.
The cost of the bus is $50 per person-with checks payable to the National
Federation of the Blind of Ohio mailed to Sherry Ruth, State Treasurer, by
September 20. Diane Carmony, Deanna Lewis, Emily Pennington, Lisa Hall,
Christopher Sabine, Sheri Albers, Paul and Bernie Dressell and Gloria
Robinson expressed that they will be attending State Convention. Sheri
estimated that13-15 members from the Cincinnati Chapter will be attending
State Convention and reserving a seat on the bus-with additional members
from Butler County. Room reservations at the Holiday Inn Strongsville are
$82 per night, which includes a free breakfast for two. Breakfast for an
additional person is $5.

9.       Sheri indicated that Jackie Connor from the Clovernook Center is
distributing a survey for people with disabilities who have used Metro or
the Cincinnati Bell Connector.

10.   Paul Dressell requested information concerning Chapter members
contributing to the Scrip and PAC plans or use NFB Newsline.

11.   Judy Cook and Deanna Lewis had Auction items this month, which were
won by Sheri Albers and Judy Cook, respectively. 

12.   The Chapter agreed to hold its next meeting on Saturday September 22
2018 at the Washington Platform Restaurant in Downtown Cincinnati.

13.   The August 2018 meeting of the National Federation of the Blind of
Ohio, Cincinnati Chapter, was adjourned at approximately 3:34 P.M. on August
25 2018

Respectfully Submitted,

Christopher Sabine

Secretary

National Federation of the Blind of Ohio

Cincinnati Chapter

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