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

Sat Mar 18 23:54:53 UTC 2023

Good job as always!

Thanks.

David C. Perry,

Phone: (513) 470-1122;

Email: daveperry509 at gmail.com;

> On Mar 18, 2023, at 8:16 PM, Christopher Sabine via Cinci-NFB <cinci-nfb at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> 
> National Federation of the Blind of Ohio
> Cincinnati Chapter
> Meeting Minutes for February 2023
>  
> 1. The February 2023 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 25, 2023. In attendance were President Gloria Robinson, Chris Windham, Dave Perry, Christopher Sabine, Emily Pennington, Frank Bragassa, James Mingo, Haley Thurston, Lisa Hall, and Walter Mitchell. Dr. Carolyn Peters, Vice President of the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio, also attended today’s meeting representing the Ohio Affiliate. Steve Anderson, Director of Transit Development and Innovation at the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority (SORTA) attended the meeting as a guest of the Chapter to discuss members’ ongoing concerns regarding service to Blind riders of Metro and ACCESS, SORTA’s paratransit service.
>  
> 2.         President Gloria Robinson began today’s meeting by introducing Mr. Anderson and outlining the history of the previous communications between Chapter leadership and representatives from Metro. She expressed that there have been a number of concerns brought to SORTA that have not been addressed, and she or another member of Chapter leadership will be attending the next meeting of SORTA to address them. Foremost were drivers’ disablement of the automatic announcement systems critical for the ability of blind riders to identify bus routes and major bus stops. Several incidents were discussed, and President Robinson emphasized that she and members of the Transportation Committee discussed this issue in the past. However, the issue persists. Mr. Anderson expressed that he will be issuing an APB to drivers regarding this concern. President Robinson also expressed that the Chapter has heard nothing concerning the promised grant from the Everybody Rides Metro grant issued by the OKI council of Governments, also discussed with SORTA representatives in 2021. Mr. Anderson reported that he will look into the matter, and the agency has a new coordinator for the Everybody Rides Metro Program who will determine if the Chapter can apply for this grant. Several other members had questions regarding the new “Metro Now Service” which will provide on-demand services in the Mt. Healthy / Northgate and Springdale metro routes and is expected to roll out at some point in May, 2023. Mr. Anderson clarified to Chapter members that Metro Now is a curb-to-curb service, and those requiring assistance to enter a vehicle (i.e., door-to-door service) need to request ACCESS. Dr. Peters, Vice President of the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio, asked if there is an advisory or community service committee that could address the issues raised by Chapter members at today’s meeting and commented that she believed SORTA needs to update its sensitivity training for drivers and involve Chapter leadership in the driver training process. Mr. Anderson expressed that SORTA has a paratransit committee but could provide no further information about its composition. Chris Windham and Walter Mitchell also made salient comments about the need for training, and it was agreed that the Federation and the Cincinnati Chapter should be involved in sensitivity training for drivers. Contact information was exchanged, and President Robinson agreed to extend invitations for representatives of SORTA to attend Chapter activities, discussed later in today’s meeting.
>  
> 3.         Chris Windham moved to accept the January meeting minutes as presented. Frank Bragassa seconded, and the motion passed.
>  
> 4.         Emily Pennington gave this month’s Treasurer’s Report. Walter Mitchell moved to approve the Treasurer’s Report as presented. Dave Perry seconded, and the motion passed.
>  
> 5.         Dr. Carolyn Peters, Vice President of the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio, expressed that the Affiliate is trying to develop the Diabetes Action Network (DAN). DAN’s president, Walter Mitchell, attended today’s meeting. Dr. Peters encouraged all members who have Diabetes or have a loved-one with the condition to participate in the division’s meetings. All members, young and old, are encouraged to participate, and all members are requested to help recruit new members. Gary Warren, who serves on the Cincinnati Chapter Board of Directors and received a kidney transplant in June, presented at the divisions most recent meeting on February 4 to share his experiences. Dr. Peters also expressed that the Affiliate is actively recruiting young and old members to all chapters and divisions. In particular, the affiliate is establishing a blind parents division in Ohio as well as revitalizing Ohio’s Parents of Blind Children Division. Later in today’s meeting, Dr. Peters expressed the importance of communication and the Affiliate’s embrace of members of diverse backgrounds to the overall growth of the Affiliate, summarizing the work of the Affiliate’s Committee on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and encouraging all members to listen to the recordings of its presentations. In particular, this committee conducted a workshop on February 22 on the experiences of African American male leaders in the Ohio Affiliate, which Dave Perry and Christopher Sabine promised to share with the Chapter through the Cinci-Talk listserv.
>  
> 6.         Dave Perry gave a report from the Membership Committee. He expressed that efforts to recruit members continue and encouraged all members to reach out to the Committee with any questions or concerns.  Dr. Peters also commented on the importance of mentoring for new members.
>  
> 7.         Following his Membership Committee Report, Dave Perry shared that the Cincinnati TUKANDU Tandem Cycling Club will begin meeting next month and promised to share information on the Ohio-Talk and Cinci-Talk Listservs when it becomes available. TUKANDU is Cincinnati’s tandem cycling club which offers tandem bike rides in collaboration with the Cincinnati Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (CABVI).
>  
> 8.         President Gloria Robinson expressed that she is establishing a new committee, Planning and Organizing, to organize community outings for chapter members. Walter Mitchell and Chris Windham will serve as the committee’s chair and co-chair, respectively.
>  
> 9.         Dave Perry gave a Legislative Committee report, which revolved around his participation in Washington Seminar. he expressed that the Ohio Delegation took part in reviewing the Federation’s three national legislative priorities. These were discussed in the January meeting, and information and fact sheets are available at https://nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/washington-seminar. Responding to a question from President Gloria Robinson, Dr. Peters reported that the Columbus Seminar, the Ohio Affiliate’s statewide legislative event, is planned for some time in September, though a date has not been set.
>  
> 10.       President Gloria Robinson introduced the Fundraising Committee by expressing thanks for all who attended the Valentine’s Day Event on Saturday February 11 at the Knights of Columbus Hall in West Price Hill. President Robinson expressed that the Committee is organizing the Cincinnati NFB Ball which will take place on Saturday, April 29, 2023 from 6:00 to 11:00 P.M. at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 4109 W. Eighth Street, Cincinnati Ohio. The dress for the event will be formal with the theme of spring colors. Admission will be $20 per person with all proceeds going to the Chapter. There will be a full dinner menu, dessert, iced tea, fruit punch, and lemonade. There will also be guest speakers and door prizes. The Committee is distributing fliers for the event at CABVI and the Clovernook Center as well as to the statewide Affiliate. Hotel Rooms will be available for attendees on Friday, April 28 and Saturday, April 29 for $99 per night at the Quality Inn Queensgate, located at 800 W. Eighth Street. The hotel has rooms with either one king sized bed or two queen sized beds as well as a free breakfast. Check-in time is at 3:00 P.M. with check-out at 11:00 A.M. President Gloria Robinson expressed that she intends to make this an annual event. Dave Perry expressed that the pop corn fundraiser is ongoing, and the Amazon air frier drawing is still in the works.
>  
> 11.       Lisa Hall reported that the Clovernook Center conducted Ohio’s Braille Challenge event the week prior to today’s meeting, and the event was featured on WKRC Local 12 and WXIX TV 19 News. She also reported that the Clovernook Center is conducting its annual fundraiser at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center following today’s meeting. Other topics of interest to members were discussed.
>  
> 12.       The February, 2023 meeting of the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio, Cincinnati Chapter was adjourned at approximately 3:10 P.M. on February 25, 2023. The next meeting will be held from 1:30 to 3:30 P.M. on Saturday, March 25, 2023 by telephone conference.
>  
> Respectfully Submitted,
>  
>  
> Christopher Sabine
> Secretary
> National Federation of the Blind of Ohio
> Cincinnati Chapter
>  
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