[Cinci-NFB] National Federation of the Blind of Ohio, Cincinnati Chapter, Meeting Minutes for June 2021

Sat Aug 21 06:35:09 UTC 2021

Thank you Chris for your great report, as well as all of your great work in the organization, and throughout the community!

Thanks!

Dave Perry,

National Federation of the Blind.

Phone: (513) 470-1122;

Email: daveperry509 at gmail.com;

The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the characteristic that defines you or your future. Everyday, we raise the expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life you want. Blindness isn’t what holds you back.

> On Aug 20, 2021, at 10:38 PM, csabine2010--- via Cinci-NFB <cinci-nfb at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> 
> National Federation of the Blind of Ohio
> Cincinnati Chapter
> Meeting Minutes for June 2021
>  
>  
> The June 2021 meeting of the National Federation of the blind of Ohio, Cincinnati Chapter was convened by President Gloria Robinson at approximately 1:32 P.m. on Saturday June 26 2021. Members in attendance at today’s meeting were: President Gloria Robinson, Marianne Denning, Emily Pennington, Christopher Sabine, Dave Perry, Taslim Dibba, Haley Thurston, Deborah Kendrick, and Lisa Hall. Suzanne Turner, Vice President of the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio, Eric Duffy, Secretary of the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio and Chair of the Affiliate Legislative Committee, Todd Elsey, Treasurer of the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio and member of the Ohio Affiliate Legislative Committee, Annette Lutz, President of the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio, Capital Chapter, William H. Turner, Member of the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio, Cleveland Chapter, and Terry Bowers, Member, National Federation of the Blind of Ohio, At-Large Chapter, also attended today’s meeting. Our guest presenter at today’s meeting was Ohio Rep. Jessica Miranda (D-Forest Park).
>  
> Marianne Denning, Vice President of the Cincinnati Chapter, introduced Rep. Miranda to discuss the Ohio Affiliate’s legislative priorities. Rep Miranda’s district comprises 13 of Cincinnati’s northern suburbs. She began her presentation with an overview of her role and activities as a member of Ohio’s House of Representatives. Rep. Miranda is currently the ranking member of the House Insurance Committee and also serves on the Transportation and Public Safety Committee, the economic and Workforce Development Committee, and the Technology and Innovation Committee. Eric Duffy introduced himself and expressed that Rep. Erica Crawley (D-Columbus), one of the two representatives who introduced H.B. 352, the Affiliate’s parental rights legislation, is leaving her position to serve on Franklin County’s Board of Commissioners, though the date of her departure is unclear. This legislation has passed the House in both of the past two sessions, and Eric expressed full confidence that it will pass the House this year as well and thanked Rep. Miranda for her support of this legislation. Eric indicated that H.B. 352 now has a companion bill in the Ohio Senate, S. 202 and expressed his interest in arranging a special ceremony when the legislation reaches the Governor’s desk for his signature due to its significance for the civil rights of Blind Ohioans. Eric also expressed that Rep. Richard Brown (D-Canal Winchester) plans to issue a “Dear Colleague letter the week of June 28 to solicit cosponsors for the Affiliate’s nonvisual prescription access legislation, which has not been introduced to the House as of today’s meeting but may be assigned to the House Health Committee when it is introduced. An overview of the affiliate’s accessible prescription labelling legislation was provided. Eric expressed that the Affiliate is seeking a sponsor in the Senate to issue a companion bill for this legislation, and Rep. Miranda promised to look out for Rep Brown’s Dear Colleague letter and the corresponding bill when it is introduced. Suzanne Turner, Vice President of the Ohio Affiliate, expressed that the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio has several divisions and committees of interest to its members. One is the Deafblind Committee and National Deafblind division. Suzanne expressed that the Ohio Deafblind Committee is seeking legislation for a single Support Provider (SSP) program that would facilitate communication between members of the Deafblind Committee and the general public to help them express their needs and reduce their isolation. Other states have similar legislation in place. Eric Duffy expressed that he believed the only way to pass this through the Legislature would be as a line item in the biennial budget, possibly through Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities. Rep. Miranda expressed agreement with this as a possible approach and support of such legislation in the House. Finally, Suzanne turner extended an invitation for Rep. Miranda to attend and participate in the annual Convention of the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio to be held in November in Columbus. Chapter President Gloria Robinson expressed thanks to Rep. Miranda for serving as a guest presenter at today’s meeting. Rep Miranda’s office telephone number and email address were provided.
>  
> Emily Pennington moved to approve the May Chapter minutes. Dave Perry seconded, and the motion passed.
>  
>  
> Emily Pennington gave this month’s Treasurer’s Report. Marianne Denning moved to approve this month’s Treasurer’s Report as presented. Dave Perry seconded, and the motion passed.
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> Marianne Denning, Chair of the Cincinnati Chapter Legislative Committee, announced that the Ohio Affiliate will be holding a legislative seminar in Columbus on September 19-21. This will include a state board meeting on September 19, a job seeker seminar and a tour of the Ohio State House on the morning of September 20, and meetings with state legislators on September 21, according to President Gloria Robinson and Eric Duffy, Secretary of the Ohio Affiliate. Affiliate President Richard Payne is requesting all members of the Ohio Affiliate to attend. Members interested need to complete a form included in an email posted to the Ohio-Talk Listserv and return it to President Richard Payne. The form is also available on the Ohio Affiliate web site, http://www.nfbohio.org. President Gloria Robinson reiterated that the Affiliate’s Parental Rights Bills, HB 352 and S. 202, are close to being passed by their respective chambers and signed into law, so as many Affiliate members as possible need to attend this seminar.
>  
> Dave Perry gave a report from the Fundraising Committee. He indicated that the Chapter’s current fundraising campaign is about to commence. Tickets will be sold for entry into a drawing to win an Amazon Air Frier. Dave expressed the importance of all members’ participation in the campaign to the funding of the Chapter.
>  
> President Gloria Robinson expressed that the Chapter held a meeting of the Board of Directors prior to today’s meeting, in which concerns were expressed regarding lack of participation by rank-and-file members as well as members of the Board of Directors. Though the most recent Chapter fundraiser netted $825 in revenues, only five people actively participated in selling tickets. Gloria expressed that more members attend in the months closer to Convention in order to receive financial assistance to attend. A discussion on ways to increase member attendance, which included Suzanne Turner, Current Ohio Affiliate Vice President and President of the Cleveland Chapter, Eric Duffy, Former President and Current Secretary of the Ohio Affiliate, and Former Cincinnati Chapter President Deborah Kendrick, ensued. Several recommendations were made to President Gloria Robinson to improve member participation. These included: meeting members where they are, reaching out to members one-on-one to resolve any concerns and tease out their view of their role in the organization, and giving each member a job in the organization.
>  
> Christopher Sabine gave a brief report from the Transportation Committee. He reported that seven of the most popularly used routes on Metro, the fixed route system operated by the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority, have been converted to 24-hour-per-day, seven-day-a-week service as of June 1 2021.
>  
> President Gloria Robinson indicated that she will be holding the Chapter’s first in-person meeting since March 2020 at her home, located at 917 Enright Avenue, West Price Hill. The meeting will consist of a picnic for Chapter members. The picnic and Chapter meeting will take place on Saturday August 28 from 1:00 to 4:00 P.M. Christopher Sabine made a motion to allocate $50 of Chapter funds for meat and other food items and services for the event. Marianne Denning seconded, and the motion passed.
>  
> Christopher Sabine expressed that he will be part of a panel discussion to be held at National Convention on the experiences of Federation members with multiple or secondary disabilities. The panel will be held virtually on July 6 from 12:00 to 2:00 P.M.
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> President Gloria Robinson reminded all Chapter members that the Ohio State convention is set for November 5-7 at the Hilton Double Tree Hotel in Columbus, Ohio and encouraged all Chapter members to reserve their rooms as soon as possible and take advantage of available financial assistance.
>  
> Christopher Sabine moved that the Chapter allocate $75 to the Ohio State School for the Blind’s Model Restoration Project. Emily Pennington seconded, and the motion passed. Originally spearheaded by the Ohio Affiliate in honor of long time Cincinnati Chapter members Paul Dressell and Paul Jorden, the Model Restoration Project aims to restore a collection of tactile models of historic buildings and landmarks for use by students of the Ohio State School for the Blind. Many of these models, originally constructed in the 1930’s and 1940’s by the U.S. Works Progress Administration, have fallen into disrepair. The Ohio Affiliate is matching all donations made through the Affiliate to this project by July 1 2021.
>  
> The June 2021 meeting of the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio, Cincinnati Chapter was adjourned at approximately 2:40 P.M. on Saturday June 26 2021.
>  
>  
> The next meeting of the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio, Cincinnati Chapter will take place in person on August 28 2021 at the home of President Gloria Robinson, located at 914 Enright Avenue, Cincinnati Ohio 45205. There will be no meeting in July due to National Convention.
>  
> Respectfully Submitted,
>  
> Christopher Sabine
> Secretary
> National Federation of the Blind of Ohio
> Cincinnati Chapter
>  
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