[Cinci-NFB] National Federation of the Blind of Ohio, Cincinnati Chapter, Meeting Minutes for March, 2023

Thu Apr 13 20:26:31 UTC 2023

Hello Chris,

Please adjust the records to show that Walter Mitchell attended this
meeting.

Thank you,

Walter Mitchell

From: Cinci-NFB <cinci-nfb-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Christopher
Sabine via Cinci-NFB
Sent: Monday, April 10, 2023 9:57 AM
To: cinci-nfb at nfbnet.org
Cc: Christopher Sabine <info at onhconsulting.com>
Subject: [Cinci-NFB] National Federation of the Blind of Ohio, Cincinnati
Chapter, Meeting Minutes for March, 2023

National Federation of the Blind of Ohio

Cincinnati Chapter

Meeting Minutes for March, 2023

1.         The March, 2023 meeting of the National Federation of the blind
of Ohio, Cincinnati Chapter was convened by President Gloria Robinson at
approximately 7:05 P.M. on Saturday, March 25, 2023. In attendance were
President Gloria Robinson, Emily Pennington, Dae Perry, Christopher Sabine,
Chris Windham, Gary Warren, Lisa Hall, Haley Thurston, Akeelah Cade,
Mohammed Ikramullah, and Tammy McRae. 

2.         Emily Pennington moved to accept the February Chapter minutes as
presented. Lisa Hall seconded, and the motion passed.

3.         Emily Pennington gave this month's Treasurer's Report. Gary
Warren moved to accept this month's Treasurer's Report. Christopher Sabine
seconded, and the motion passed. 

4.         Gloria Robinson gave a Transportation Committee report, which
consisted of a follow up from a meeting with Steve Anderson, Director of
Transit Development, and innovation at the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit
Authority (SORTA). This meeting took place as part of the February Chapter
meeting and was scheduled to address several concerns related to service to
Blind riders on SORTA's fixed route and paratransit services, Metro and
ACCESS. She began by expressing thanks to all members who attended that
meeting. President Robinson expressed that "things are being moved around"
as a result of last month's meeting, and she and Christopher Sabine are
reaching out to SORTA regarding members' access to the Everybody Rides Metro
(ERM) fund, which provides a $30 grant to riders who are members of
nonprofit organizations like the National Federation of the Blind. She
encouraged anyone who does not need grant funds for transportation to
consider donating their share back to the Chapter to cover expenses.

5.         President Gloria Robinson gave a report from the Community
Outreach Committee. She indicated that she and Dave Perry are in the process
of reaching out to several churches and other community organizations
regarding the Federation and the upcoming Spring Ball, discussed later in
tonight's meeting. She is also reportedly planning to bring guest speakers
to Chapter meetings, though no specifics were mentioned. She and Dave will
also be advertising the Spring Ball on Radio Reading Services (through the
Cincinnati Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired) The Buzz Radio
and other platforms. Other Chapter members will be contacted and asked to
participate in community outreach activities.

6.         President Gloria Robinson began the Fundraising Committee
presentation by requesting that all members on this call participate in
preparations for the Cincinnati Chapter Spring Ball, which is currently set
for Saturday, April 29 from 6:00 to 11:00 P.M. at the Knights of Columbus at
4109 West Eighth Street, Cincinnati, Ohio as well as a meet and greet at
O'Charley's Restaurant at 5075 Crookshank Road on Friday, April 28 at 6:00
P.M. Gary Warren, Chair of the Fundraising Committee, expressed that he is
still taking RSVP's for this event as he needs information about who is
attending to determine how much food is needed and other details. There will
be an auction, prizes, music, and a comedian from the disability community
to provide entertainment. The menu will include ham, mashed potatoes, green
beans, chicken alfredo, iced tea, lemonade, and water. This is a black-tie
event. Gary's phone number was shared for members to RSVP. Dave Perry
reiterated the importance of participation in planning and marketing the
Spring Ball by all Chapter members and expressed that he believes this could
be a significant fundraising event for the Chapter. Gary and President
Gloria Robinson expressed that they would like to see this become an annual
event for the Chapter. Christopher Sabine expressed that he has posted the
flier regarding this event on the Ohio Affiliate and Cincinnati Chapter
Facebook pages as well as the Ohio-Talk and Cincinnati Chapter email lists.
President Gloria Robinson asked Gary to follow up with Christopher regarding
an audio advertisement for the event. She also indicated that she has
reached out to a number of platforms to advertise the event, including Rob
Williams from WXIX, WLWT TV Channel 5, Radio Reading Service, and the Cable
Access TV program hosted by Robert Harris. Christopher Sabine has agreed to
help market the event on local media and participate in interviews prior to
the event.  President Gloria Robinson provided her phone number for those
interested in donating to the event. Dave Perry expressed that the popcorn
fundraiser is still ongoing, and other campaigns set for later in 2023 were
discussed. 

7.         Gloria Robinson expressed that she is forming a new committee
within the Chapter to organize chapter events and activities, chaired by
Chris Windham and Walter Mitchell. Walter expressed that he and Chris
Windham had a "brief conversation" in which two ideas were discussed. The
first is a chapter picnic. Neither a date nor location has been set for this
event yet. The second is a rating system for restaurants on their service to
Blind patrons which the Chapter would disseminate to its members and the
Blind community at large. President Gloria Robinson expressed that she would
like to take part in discussions and planning for the Chapter picnic and
requested that Walter and Chris reach out to her. She also discussed
organizing a trip to the Miami Valley Chapter's picnic in Dayton. Relating a
personal experience, President Robinson encouraged all members who have had
a negative experience at a restaurant, such as refused service on account of
blindness, to reach out to her or a member of Chapter leadership, expressing
that she believes discrimination at restaurants is an ongoing concern in the
Blind community locally.

8.         Dave Perry, as Chair of the Membership Committee, encouraged all
members to play a part in retaining and recruiting new members.

9.         the March 25, 2023 meeting of the National Federation of the
Blind of Ohio, Cincinnati Chapter was adjourned at approximately 8:20 P.M.
on Saturday, March 25, 2023. The next meeting will be held by telephone
conference on April 22, 2023 from 1:30 to 3:30 P.M.

Respectfully Submitted,

Christopher Sabine

Secretary

National Federation of the Blind of Ohio

Cincinnati Chapter

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