[Cinci-NFB] National Federation of the Blind of Ohio, Cincinnati Chapter, Meeting Minutes for June 2019

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National Federation of the Blind of Ohio

Cincinnati Chapter

Meeting Minutes for June 2019

 

1.	The June 2019 meeting of the Cincinnati Chapter of the National
Federation of the Blind of Ohio was convened by President Sheri Albers at
approximately 1:50 P.M. on Saturday June 22 2019 in Room 3A of the Public
Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County at 800 Vine street, Cincinnati,
Ohio 45202. In attendance were: President Sheri Albers, Emily Pennington,
Christopher Sabine, Deanna Lewis, Gloria Robinson, Walter Mitchell, Ahkeela
Cade, Anthony King, Jean Selvidge, Lisa hall, Marianne Denning, Diane
Carmony, Taslim Dibba, Paul Jordan, Diane Gudaitis, Chris Windham and Angela
Maddox. President Sheri Albers played the podcast of the June Presidential
Release prior to today's meeting.

 

2.	President Sheri Albers indicated that she visited with Bernie
Dressell, her grandson Eddie and other family members following Paul
Dressell's passing. Sheri indicated that Bernie is coping well and has moved
into a new apartment near her previous residence. Bernie has a collection of
Braille cookbooks and knitting patterns as well as cassettes of the Bible
that she would like to donate to the Chapter. The Chapter agreed without a
motion to use these items for auction baskets, and Sheri agreed to share
Bernie's new contact information with Christopher Sabine and other Chapter
members when she receives it. 

 

3.	Since there was no quorum for the May meeting, a motion was taken to
approve the April Chapter minutes as emailed. Deanna Lewis moved to approve
the April minutes. Emily Pennington seconded, and the motion passed.

 

4.	Paul Jordan moved to approve the May meeting minutes as emailed.
Emily Pennington seconded. The motion passed.

 

5.	Emily Pennington presented this month's Treasurer's Report. Deanna
Lewis moved to approve the Treasurer's Report as presented. Christopher
Sabine seconded, and the motion passed.

 

6.	Sheri Albers reported that the Chapter will institute a new policy
for members seeking stipends to attend the state and national conventions as
well as The Washington Seminar. The Chapter Board of Directors agreed to
develop and implement this policy at a separate board meeting. (This board
meeting took place by teleconference on May 28 2019 at 8:00 P.M. All Board
members were in attendance). In order to qualify for convention assistance,
all Chapter members must attend a given number of monthly meetings and take
part in at least one Chapter or Affiliate fundraising event each year. Sheri
expressed that the Board will meet to finalize the policy and add it to the
Chapter Constitution and expressed that she does not see any objections to
the policy from Chapter members. At that meeting, the Board also decided to
allocate stipends of $200 each to four Chapter members to attend National
convention.

 

7.	Emily Pennington led a discussion on required annual contributions
to the Federation's five national funds and door prizes for National
Convention from the Ohio Affiliate. Walter Mitchell agreed that the Chapter
contribute $20 to each of the five national funds and an additional $20 to
the Ohio Affiliate for door prizes for National Convention. Emily Pennington
seconded, and the motion passed.

 

8.	Christopher Sabine gave this month's Membership Committee report.
Christopher reported that he was interviewed by Bob Wurzelbacher, Director
of the Respect for Life Ministry of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, for a
Podcast to promote improved accessibility of Mass and other church
activities to Blind members of the Archdiocese. The podcast will become
available on August 1 2019, and Christopher expressed that he will share the
link to it on the Cinci-Talk and Ohio-Talk listservs when it is released.
Christopher also expressed that he has secured a venue for a white cane
awareness event to coincide with National White Cane Awareness Day and the
Chapter's annual march on City Hall. The event is set to take place on
Saturday October 12 2019 from 12 to 4:00 P.M. at the Urban Artifact Brewery,
a leading craft brewery and one of Cincinnati's premier music venues.
Located in a facility originally constructed in the 19th Century, the venue
consists of space for six exhibit tables and a stage with its own sound
system for performances. Though planning is in the early stages, plans call
for exhibits and a seminar featuring the contributions and accomplishments
of Greater Cincinnati's blind community. Christopher and Sheri Albers
expressed that there is room for all Chapter members to participate in
planning and organizing the event, including catering, hosting, program set
up and follow up with event organizers and exhibiters. Sheri expressed that
the possibilities for future events at this venue include a movie screening,
fundraisers and potential sponsorship opportunities and emphasized the
importance of member support and participation in planning for this event. A
meeting has been scheduled for July 15 at 7:00 P.M. to begin the planning
process. Sheri expressed her appreciation for the willingness of the staff
of Urban Artifact to host this event and collaborate with the Chapter.

9.	Gloria Robinson gave a Fundraising Committee report. She reported
that she has given $208 from the Double Good Pop Corn fundraiser to the
Chapter Treasury. However, since Double Good was unable to fulfill some
orders as they were out of season. The CEO OF Double Good has agreed to
support this campaign as an ongoing fundraiser, and Gloria expressed that
her ultimate goal is to raise $1,000 in sales to cover the costs of expenses
related to state and national conventions so the Chapter will not need to
dip into its treasury. Gloria expressed her thanks to Kim McEachirn, Walter
Mitchell and Deanna Lewis for their efforts toward this campaign. Sheri
expressed her thanks for Gloria's efforts. In the course of discussions
related to Fundraising, Walter Mitchell expressed that he will resign as
Co-Chair of the Fundraising Committee effective immediately to focus on his
responsibilities outside the Federation and ensure effective operation of
the Committee. Sheri Albers accepted his resignation. Deanna Lewis agreed
that she will try to secure the facilities of the Clovernook Procter Center
for the Italian Dinner Fundraiser on August 17. 

 

10.	Sheri Albers gave a legislative report which revolved around Ohio's
Accessible Prescription Reader Bill, which was introduced by Ohio Rep.
Richard Brown (D-Canal Winchester) in April as H. B. 214 and is currently
being considered in the House Health Committee. If passed and signed into
law, H. B. 214 will require that all retail and mail order pharmacies in
Ohio provide all prescription labels in a format accessible to Blind
consumers. Though there was some indication earlier this week that the bill
would be up for a proponent hearing in the Ohio House on Tuesday June 25,
Sheri Albers expressed that it is not on the Committee schedule as of
earlier today. Despite this, Sheri requested all Chapter members to submit
written testimony in support of the bill to Michael Leiterman, Co-Chair of
the Ohio Affiliate's Legislative Committee. The remainder of the discussion
revolved around a summary of H. B. 214 from Sheri Albers and comments from
Chapter members. 

 

11.	Deanna Lewis gave a summary of an article from the May Braille
Monitor.

 

12.	Sheri Albers held formal swearing in ceremonies for Marianne
Denning, Ahkeela Cade, Diane Gudaitis and Taslim Dibba, officially welcoming
them as members of the Cincinnati Chapter per the new national member
orientation process. Sheri also presented membership medallions to those who
did not attend the May Chapter meeting.

 

13.	Sheri Albers concluded today's meeting with a summary of two
meetings related to transportation held by the southwest Ohio Regional
Transit Authority, the agency which operates Metro and ACCESS. The first
meeting took place on Tuesday June 25 and was attended by Sheri Albers,
Chris Windham, Dave Perry and Paul Jordan from the Cincinnati Chapter. The
purpose of the meeting was to inform riders of a proposed ballot initiative
in Hamilton County which would eliminate the earnings tax for county
residents and replace it with a 1% hike in the sales tax. This would raise a
projected $150 million for SORTA, according to Sheri Albers' report of the
meeting. This meeting was called to discuss the proposed ballot initiative
and gather feedback on issues facing users of Metro and ACCESS. SORTA's
representatives enunciated several goals to improve services on Metro,
including extending service on certain routes, establishing new routes to
specific areas, increasing service frequency on existing routes and offering
24-hour-a-day service on the most heavily used routes in the system. Sheri
also reportedly attended a meeting of Metro's Advisory Board, which met on
Thursday June 27. Two issues raised at that meeting affecting Blind riders
were drivers' failure to announce route and stop information and lack of a
cohesive definition of a bus stop (i.e. garbage can, pole or shelter). SORTA
is reportedly working on a proposal to address the latter concern that would
employ talking sign technology used in other transit systems nationally to
indicate bus stop locations. Sheri also recommended that Braille signage be
used as well. Sheri expressed that representatives of SORTA's management,
including CEO Darryl Haley, are receptive to concerns of Blind riders and
she anticipates "headway" in Metro's accessibility for Blind riders moving
forward.

 

14.	The June 2019 meeting of the National Federation of the Blind of
Ohio, Cincinnati Chapter was adjourned at approximately 3:21 P.M. on
Saturday June 22 2019. The next meeting is currently set for Saturday July
27 at 1:30 P.M. at the Cincinnati and Hamilton County Public Library at 800
Vine Street in Cincinnati, Ohio.

 

Respectfully Submitted

Christopher Sabine

Secretary

National Federation of the Blind of Ohio

Cincinnati Chapter

 

 

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