[Cinci-NFB] National Federation of the Blind of Ohio, Cincinnati Chapter, Meeting Minutes for January 2020

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National Federation of the Blind of Ohio

Cincinnati Chapter 

Meeting Minutes for January 2020

 

1.	The January 2020 meeting of the National Federation of the Blind of
Ohio, Cincinnati Chapter was convened by President Gloria Robinson at
approximately 1:30 P.M. on January 25 2020 at the Golden Corral Restaurant
at 8750 Colerain Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45251. In attendance were:
President Gloria Robinson, Candice Armstrong, Chris Windham, Akeelah Cade,
Tapeka Turner, Dianne Gudaitis, Diane Carmony, Lisa Hall, Terry Strader,
Marianne Denning, Taslim Dibba, Lyka Crebillo, Kim McEachirn, Emily
Pennington, Deanna Lewis, Christopher Sabine, Walter Mitchell, Jean
Selvidge, Tony King, Joy Thomas, Dave Perry and Frank Bragassa. Lyka
Crebillo, Terry Strader and Frank Bragassa paid their initial annual dues to
the Chapter at today's meeting and are now members of the National
Federation of the Blind. Gary Warren, Vice President, National Federation of
the Blind of Delaware, attended today's meeting on behalf of Gloria Robinson
and the Fundraising Committee. Diane Lewis, April Turner, Amy Barker and
Angie Taylor attended today's meeting as guests of the Chapter. The meeting
began with the streaming of the January 2020 Presidential Release.

 

2.	Emily Pennington moved to approve the November 2019 Chapter Minutes
as emailed. Tapeka Turner seconded, and the motion passed.

 

3.	Emily Pennington gave this month's Treasurer's Report. Walter
Mitchell moved to approve the Treasurer's Report. Tapeka Turner seconded,
and the motion passed.

 

4.	Following the Treasurer's Report, President Gloria Robinson
announced her committee assignments for her term as President of the
Chapter. She announced that Tapeka Turner and Deanna Lewis will be Chair and
Co-Chair of the Fundraising Committee, respectively-with Kim McEachirn and
Walter Mitchell serving on the Committee as members. Tapeka shared contact
information with anyone interested in serving on the Fundraising Committee.
Gloria Robinson asked that anyone interested in serving on a committee
contact her directly. Gary Warren, Vice President of the National Federation
of the Blind of Delaware, introduced himself to the Chapter and expressed
that he will be available to share ideas concerning Fundraising and other
administrative and operational issues as needed.

 

5.	President Gloria Robinson announced that Christopher Sabine will
continue to chair the Membership Committee and work more closely with the
Fundraising Committee on specific projects. As part of his initial report,
Christopher announced that the next meeting of the Membership Committee has
been scheduled for Tuesday January 28 2019 at 7:00 P.M. by teleconference. 

 

6.	Marianne Denning gave a report concerning national and state
legislation. She began her report by expressing that she and Lyka Crebillo
will be attending this year's Washington Seminar, which is Scheduled from
February 10-12 2020 at the Holiday Inn Capitol Hotel in Washington. D.C. The
Federation's three national legislative priorities were discussed. The
Access Technology Affordability Act, H.R. 2086 / S. 815, would provide a
$2,000 tax credit over three years for the purchase of assistive
technologies, including screen readers and Braille displays. The Greater
Access and Independence through Nonvisual Technologies (Gain) Act, H.R.
3929, would establish minimum accessibility standards for in-home
appliances, medical devices and fitness equipment within 36 months of
enactment. This law would eliminate access barriers to many in-home
appliances (such as microwaves and dishwashers), medical devices-such as
glucose and heart rate monitors, and fitness equipment-such as treadmills.
Finally, The Accessible Instructional Media in Higher Education (AIM HIGH)
Act, H.R. 5312 / S. 3095, would establish a committee to create a minimum
set of accessibility guidelines for instructional materials in higher
education, such as textbooks and online course content, and the systems for
delivering such materials, such as Web-based portals and interactive media
platforms. Marianne expressed that she will email the fact sheets concerning
these bills to Christopher Sabine to post to the Cinci-Talk Listserv. A link
to this year's legislative agenda is also available at
https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/legislative-agenda. At the
state level, Marianne expressed that Ohio H.B. 214, Ohio's Accessible
Prescription Reader Legislation, was voted out of the House Health Committee
following a proponent hearing on January 21 in Columbus and may be set for a
vote in the House as soon as the week of January 27 -31. Ohio Affiliate
President Richard Payne and Secretary Eric Duffy gave in-person testimony at
the hearing. Marianne expressed that Ohio H.B. 309, Ohio's parental rights
bill, is still being considered in the House Health Committee, and language
in the bill has been extended to all disability categories-not just the
Blind. Finally, Marianne indicated that this year's Columbus Seminar, in
which members of the Ohio Affiliate visit Capitol Square to support the
Affiliate's legislative agenda, will take place in April. However, a
specific date has not been announced.

7.	President Gloria Robinson announced that she will establish a new
Transportation and Safety Committee, chaired by Chris Windham and co-chaired
by Christopher Sabine. This committee will advocate with SORTA and other
community organizations concerning transportation issues impacting the Blind
Community.

 

8.	President Gloria Robinson announced the formation of another new
committee, Community Outreach, chaired by President Gloria Robinson and
Co-chaired by Marianne Denning. Members of this committee will conduct
community outreach to schools and other community organizations concerning
topics related to Blindness. Gloria expressed that she takes outreach
efforts very seriously as increasing the prominence of the Chapter in our
community is a major goal of her tenure as president. Gloria expressed that
she will tap Amy Barker and Angela Maddox to also serve on that committee.

 

9.	President Gloria Robinson reported that tickets are available for
the Piggest Raffle Ever, an annual fundraiser which coincides with the
Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon. The raffle has been a fundraiser for the
Ohio Affiliate for the past five years. Tickets are available for $5. The
grand prize winner will receive $10,000-with the winner's charity
organization also receiving $10,000. The second and third prize winners will
receive a two-year lease on a Toyota Prius and a weekend getaway in
Cincinnati, respectively. Marianne Denning expressed that she will pick up
paper tickets at the office of the event organizers for sale at the next
Chapter meeting. as in previous years, the Ohio Affiliate is also seeking 30
volunteers to staff a station at the event, which will take place the
morning of Sunday may 3 2020 as part of the Flying Pig Half Marathon. 

 

10.	President Gloria Robinson expressed that applications for the Ken
Jernigan Scholarship for first time attendees of the national Federation of
the Blind's annual convention are now available. The application is
available online at
https://www.nfb.org/get-involved/national-convention/kenneth-jernigan-conven
tion-scholarship. Applications must be completed by April 15 2020, and the
maximum award amount is $500 per recipient. As in year's past, all award
recipients must include a statement explaining the reasons for attending
National convention and what they plan to gain from their attendance, which
must be submitted to the Affiliate President as part of their application.
Awards recipients must attend the Rookie Roundup, all general sessions and
the convention banquet. The charge to register for the banquet is $75. Award
recipients will receive a debit card in the amount of their award at Rookie
Roundup.

 

11.	After discussion, Marianne Denning moved that all members requesting
financial assistance from the Chapter to attend an event-such as State or
National Convention-must attend six of eleven Chapter meetings. Tapeka
Turner seconded, and the motion passed.  

 

12.	Kim McEachirn reported that he has found a new PA system for the
Chapter for less than $100 on Amazon.com. Gloria Robinson agreed that a new
PA system is needed but indicated that she was exploring other avenues to
procure it before purchasing it from Amazon.

 

13.	The January 2020 meeting of the National Federation of the Blind of
Ohio, Cincinnati Chapter was adjourned at approximately 3:08 P.M. on
Saturday January 25 2020.

 

14.	The February 2020 meeting of the National Federation of the Blind of
Ohio, Cincinnati Chapter is scheduled for Saturday February 22 2020 from
1:30 P.M. to 3:30 P.M. on the third floor of the Cincinnati and Hamilton
County Public Library, Main Branch, located at800 Vine Street, Cincinnati,
Ohio 45202.

 

Respectfully Submitted,

 

Christopher Sabine

Secretary

National Federation of the Blind of Ohio

Cincinnati Chapter

 

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