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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;line-height:normal'>National Federation of the Blind of Cincinnati<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;line-height:normal'>Meeting Minutes for November 2017<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;line-height:normal'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst style='text-indent:-.25in;line-height:normal;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>1.<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span><![endif]>The November 2017 meeting of the National Federation of the Blind of Cincinnati was convened at approximately 2:05 P.M. by President Deborah Kendrick at the Washington Platform Restaurant in Downtown Cincinnati. In attendance were: Deborah Kendrick, Judy Rudig, Paul Dressell, Bernie Dressell, Diane Carmony, Deanna Lewis, Joy Thomas, Lisa Hall, Christopher Sabine, Paul Jordan, Walter Mitchell, Jean Selvidge, Annie McEachirn Carson, Sheri Albers, Kim McEachirn and Parnell Diggs. Marianne Denning, President of the Ohio Association to promote the Use of Braille, attended today’s meeting as a guest of the Chapter. There was a “mini-blind” this month: “In what year did you first attend an NFB event?”<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle style='line-height:normal'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle style='text-indent:-.25in;line-height:normal;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>2.<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span><![endif]>There was no Treasurer’s Report; Emily Pennington indicated to Deborah in advance that she could not attend today’s meeting, and no one else was available to present it.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle style='line-height:normal'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle style='text-indent:-.25in;line-height:normal;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>3.<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span><![endif]>Walter Mitchell moved to approve the October minutes as emailed; Sheri Albers seconded. The motion passed.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle style='text-indent:-.25in;line-height:normal;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>4.<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span><![endif]>Annie McEachirn gave a report from the Recreation Committee, which consisted of an update concerning the annual Chapter Christmas Party scheduled for December 9 2017 at the Northgate Red Lobster (3564 Springdale Road). Annie expressed that donations from attendees will go to St. Vincent de Paul.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle style='text-indent:-.25in;line-height:normal;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>5.<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span><![endif]>Walter began the Fundraising Committee report, which revolved around the success of the “meet the Blind” T shirt campaign. Kim McEachirn concluded the report by announcing that the last remaining nine T shirts are being returned to the Chapter and are available for members to purchase.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle style='text-indent:-.25in;line-height:normal;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>6.<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span><![endif]>Christopher Sabine gave a report of the Membership Committee, which met by telephone conference on Monday November 27 2017 from 7:00 P.M. to approximately 7:30 P.M. Christopher Sabine, Dale Barta and Walter Mitchell attended. Christopher expressed that the meeting consisted of a status update on outreach efforts. He is supporting Dale Barta with his efforts to organize an event at the Vineyard Church in Springdale and is reaching out to the church’s director of communications for this purpose. He reported that the committee agreed to hold at least one outreach event per quarter. He expressed that Walter Mitchell, Lisa Hall and Dave Perry also have outreach efforts in the works and encouraged all Chapter members to organize events in their communities.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle style='line-height:normal'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle style='text-indent:-.25in;line-height:normal;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>7.<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span><![endif]>Deborah Kendrick gave a brief overview of the availability of ABLE accounts to Blind people. ABLE, established by the passage of the <u>Achieving a Better Life Experience Act by the Obama Administration in 2014, allows people with disabilities to open tax-free investment accounts that can be used for disability related expenses. Funds placed in an ABLE Account are also not counted against income limits for people receiving SSI, SSDI or Medicaid benefits and can be used for a wide variety of expenses, including housing, health care, transportation and technology. ABLE is a federally-funded program administered by each state; Ohio’s program is operated by the Ohio Secretary of State’s office. Further information on ABLE accounts is available at </u><a href="http://www.able-now.">http://www.able-now.</a>com<u>. Deborah expressed that a live Webinar is scheduled for Wednesday December 6 at 1:00 P.M. Deborah reported that she was able to apply for an ABLE account accessibly through the Ohio program’s Web site and shared that this could be a valuable resource for Blind people as well as those with other disabilities.</u><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle style='line-height:normal'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle style='text-indent:-.25in;line-height:normal;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>8.<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span><![endif]>Marianne Denning conducted a guest presentation on a new $30,000 grant funded by Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities to provide uncontracted Braille instruction to the Blind of Ohio—with emphasis on those in rural or remote areas. Marianne expressed that the program is spearheaded by Richard Payne, Sheri Albers and Debbie Baker from the Ohio Affiliate. It will serve 16 Blind clients ages 14 or older in all 88 Ohio counties. Participants do not need to be OOD Consumers. Each participant will be assigned a mentor who will provide individualized instruction remotely under the supervision of Marianne and Debbie Baker, who will serve as teachers. Each participant will be given a Perkins Brailler and slate and stylus, and the McDuffy Reader will be used for instruction—as it uses the Unified English Braille Code. Mentors will be matched to program participants as closely as possible. Marianne expressed that initial trainings for prospective mentors will be offered in Cleveland, Toledo, Dayton and Columbus. There will be no training in Cincinnati, as it was felt that the Cincinnati Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired was already providing high quality Braille instruction. However, this will not exclude prospective mentors from the Cincinnati area from participating. Mentors will receive $10 per hour for their participation, and a training for all mentors on program guidelines will be held in Columbus in February. Sheri Albers is reportedly working on a brochure to promote the Braille program which will be disseminated statewide. Marianne and Debbie are also meeting with all Ohio NFB Chapters, local chapters of the American Council of the Blind, John Mitchell from the Cincinnati Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired, representatives from the Clovernook Center and other interested parties in the state to recruit participants. The aim of this grant is to enhance the employability of Blind participants and demonstrate to OOD the crucial role of quality Braille instruction to increase the employment rate of the Blind of Ohio. Anyone interested in becoming a mentor or program participant or seeking further information about this program can contact Marianne by phone at (513) 607-6053 or email her at <a href="mailto:Marianne@denningweb.com">Marianne@denningweb.com</a>.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle style='line-height:normal'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle style='text-indent:-.25in;line-height:normal;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>9.<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span><![endif]>Today’s meeting concluded with the Chapter’s 2017 bi-annual elections. The Chapter voted on nominees for the offices of President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary and three at-large Board positions. Three incumbents, President Deborah Kendrick and Board members Kim McEachirn and David Perry, expressed a desire to withdraw from service and will not be considered for office at this time. The following Chapter members were elected to the Board of Directors of the National Federation of the Blind of Cincinnati for the 2017-2019 term: Sheri Albers was elected President. Deanna Lewis was elected Vice President, Emily Pennington was elected Treasurer. Christopher Sabine was elected Secretary. Paul Jordan, Annie McEachirn Carson and Paul Dressell were each elected to at large Board positions.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle style='line-height:normal'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle style='text-indent:-.25in;line-height:normal;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>10.<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span><![endif]> The November 2017 meeting of the National Federation of the Blind of Cincinnati was adjourned at approximately 3:40 P.M on Saturday December 2 2017.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle style='line-height:normal'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle style='line-height:normal'>Respectfully Submitted,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle style='line-height:normal'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle style='line-height:normal'>Christopher Sabine<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle style='line-height:normal'>Secretary<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpLast style='line-height:normal'>National Federation of the Blind of Cincinnati<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>