[Cinci-NFB] National Federation of the Blind of Ohio, Cincinnati Chapter, Meeting Minutes for February 2022

Sat Mar 19 15:16:52 UTC 2022

National Federation of the Blind of Ohio
Cincinnati Chapter
Meeting Minutes for February 2022

  1.  The 2022 meeting of the National federation of the Blind of Ohio, Cincinnati Chapter was convened by President Gloria Robinson at approximately 1:35 P.M. on Saturday, February 26, 2022. In attendance were President Gloria Robinson, Marianne Denning, Christopher Sabine, Emily Pennington, Dave Perry, Chris Windham, Tammy McRae, Haley Thurston, Deanna Lewis, Diana Carmony, Frank Bragassa, and Lisa Hall.

  1.  Marianne Denning moved to accept the January Chapter minutes as emailed. Dave Perry seconded, and the motion passed.

  1.  Emily Pennington presented the February Treasurer's Report. Marianne Denning moved to accept the February Treasurer's Report. Christopher Sabine seconded, and the motion passed. At the request of Marianne Denning, Emily Pennington reviewed the ways in which members can pay their dues, which include PayPal, Venmo, the Cash App, and by check to Emily Pennington payable to the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio, Cincinnati Chapter. The web site for paying dues via PayPal is https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/NFBCincinnati/. Annual dues are $10, and current dues are due by March 2022. No further information on dues was provided at today's meeting.

4.      Christopher Sabine gave a legislative report for February at the request of Marianne Denning. Christopher expressed that he was unable to attend this year's Washington Seminar which occurred earlier this month due to prior commitments, so his report revolved around H.B. 448, Ohio's accessible prescription bill. This law, if passed, will require all pharmacies operating in Ohio to provide prescription labels in accessible formats to Blind patients. Christopher expressed that Tod Elzey from the Ohio Affiliate sent an email to the Ohio-Talk Listserv two weeks prior to today's meeting asking all members to write letters to all members of the Ohio House Insurance Committee requesting that they hold a proponent hearing on the bill immediately.

5.      Christopher Sabine gave a report from the transportation Committee regarding proposed updates to service from the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority (SORTA), the agency that operates Metro and ACCESS, Cincinnati's fixed route and paratransit service. SORTA held a series of public meetings regarding a proposed new service called Mobility on Demand. The agency is piloting this service in six communities within SORTA's service area in Hamilton County: College Hill, Avondale, Groesbeck, Forest Park, Pleasant Run, and Blue Ash. The goal of Mobility on demand is to serve areas that traditional fixed routes cannot cover. SORTA is exploring several different models for providing these services in these areas. Christopher indicated that he was able to attend one of these public meetings which took place on Monday February 20, 2022, where he met with Khalid Shammout, Director of Strategic Planning at SORTA. President Gloria Robinson, Chris Windham, and Christopher Sabine met with Mr. Shammout and other management staff at SORTA in October 2021 to address concerns of Chapter members outlined in the November 2021 Chapter minutes. He indicated that the pilot of the Trapeze App still has not been implemented as of today's meeting. President Gloria Robinson indicated that she has yet to hear back from Mr. Shammout regarding Chapter members eligibility for the Everybody Rides Metro (ERM) Grant program, which offers a fixed amount for members of organizations to put toward the cost of riding METRO or ACCESS, SORTA's fixed route and paratransit services. Christopher agreed to follow up with Mr. Shammout and ask that he connect with President Gloria Robinson. ((Christopher Sabine followed up with Mr. Shammout by text immediately following today's meeting). Christopher expressed that he was able to discuss drivers' disabling the automatic announcement systems on buses, making it impossible for a Blind rider to determine the route and direction of a given bus or bus stop location without sighted assistance and other technologies such as GPS. Mr. Shammout indicated that management at SORTA has investigated and determine that drivers were turning the volume on the announcement systems down to zero, and a software upgrade will be released in the near future that will make it impossible for drivers to do this. Finally, Mr. Shammout indicated that he would be able to take part in the next Chapter meeting as a guest speaker.

  1.  President Gloria Robinson gave an update from the Community Outreach Committee. She expressed that she has reached out to contacts at some schools and members of the Cincinnati Public Schools Board of Education and is arranging a class presentation to a school on blindness through the Everybody Counts Program. She expressed that she would like a few people to speak at this class on blindness, particularly Deanna Lewis and Marianne Denning who are guide dog users. She also indicated that she would like to give back to the community by working with a given school within Greater Cincinnati, providing school supplies, canned goods, toys, and other items for students. No specific action was taken during this report.

  1.  President Gloria Robinson reported that the 2022 Convention of the National Federation of the Blind will be held from July 5-10 at the New Orleans Marriott Hotel at 555 Canal Street in New Orleans, Louisiana. Rates are $109 per night, and the Sheraton Hotel across the street is being used as an overflow location for attendees. The Ohio Affiliate has allotted $10,000 to offset the cost for members to attend. First timers are also encouraged to apply for the Ken Jernigan Scholarship for first-time attendees. Chapters are being asked to help cover the cost of members to attend National Convention as well.

  1.  Dave Perry gave a report from the Fundraising Committee, which met by teleconference on Friday February 18. He expressed that the Chapter's Spring Double Good Pop Corn Fundraiser is starting March 1, and President Gloria Robinson will be sending out brochures at that time. The campaign will take place from March 1 until the end of April, with half of the proceeds going to the Chapter to offset the cost of attendance for members to attend National Convention. Each member will receive 2-3 brochures, and members are asked to send all orders to President Gloria Robinson, who will fulfill them. Christopher Sabine agreed to email the current Chapter membership list to President Gloria Robinson. Gloria also expressed that she will begin the next drawing for an Amazon air frier / rotisserie oven in April after she receives it from a donor. No further details of that campaign were provided at today's meeting.

  1.  Lisa Hall indicated that David Kingsbury, Author, and Assistive Technology Instructor at the Carroll Center for the Blind, has just released his third book, a windows primer for screen readers. This primer covers using Windows as well as other software apps, including web browsers, Word, and PowerPoint. This book is available at no cost from the web site of the Carroll Center for the Blind at http://www.carroll.org. Lisa Hall posted a link to order the book to the Cinci-Talk listserv following today's meeting.

  1.  Gloria Robinson indicated that she is working on plans for an event to observe Blind Equality Achievement Month in October. She also expressed that she has received an invitation for all Chapter members to attend the Miami Valley Chapter Picnic in August in Dayton, Ohio. No specific information was provided at today's meeting concerning either event.

  1.  The February meeting of the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio, Cincinnati Chapter was adjourned at approximately 2:36 P.M. on Saturday February 26 2022. The next meeting is scheduled for Saturday March 26 2022 from 1:30 to 3:30 P.M. by telephone conference.

Respectfully Submitted,

Christopher Sabine
Chair
National Federation of the Blind of Ohio
Cincinnati Chapter

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