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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;line-height:normal'>National Federation of the Blind of Ohio<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;line-height:normal'>Cincinnati Chapter<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;line-height:normal'>Meeting Minutes for June 2019<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:normal'><o:p> </o:p></p><ol style='margin-top:0in' start=1 type=1><li class=MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst style='margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto;line-height:normal;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'>The June 2019 meeting of the Cincinnati Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio was convened by President Sheri Albers at approximately 1:50 P.M. on Saturday June 22 2019 in Room 3A of the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County at 800 Vine street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202. In attendance were: President Sheri Albers, Emily Pennington, Christopher Sabine, Deanna Lewis, Gloria Robinson, Walter Mitchell, Ahkeela Cade, Anthony King, Jean Selvidge, Lisa hall, Marianne Denning, Diane Carmony, Taslim Dibba, Paul Jordan, Diane Gudaitis, Chris Windham and Angela Maddox. President Sheri Albers played the podcast of the June Presidential Release prior to today’s meeting.<o:p></o:p></li></ol><p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle style='line-height:normal'><o:p> </o:p></p><ol style='margin-top:0in' start=2 type=1><li class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle style='margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto;line-height:normal;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'>President Sheri Albers indicated that she visited with Bernie Dressell, her grandson Eddie and other family members following Paul Dressell’s passing. Sheri indicated that Bernie is coping well and has moved into a new apartment near her previous residence. Bernie has a collection of Braille cookbooks and knitting patterns as well as cassettes of the Bible that she would like to donate to the Chapter. The Chapter agreed without a motion to use these items for auction baskets, and Sheri agreed to share Bernie’s new contact information with Christopher Sabine and other Chapter members when she receives it. <o:p></o:p></li></ol><p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle style='line-height:normal'><o:p> </o:p></p><ol style='margin-top:0in' start=3 type=1><li class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle style='margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto;line-height:normal;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'>Since there was no quorum for the May meeting, a motion was taken to approve the April Chapter minutes as emailed. Deanna Lewis moved to approve the April minutes. Emily Pennington seconded, and the motion passed.<o:p></o:p></li></ol><p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle style='line-height:normal'><o:p> </o:p></p><ol style='margin-top:0in' start=4 type=1><li class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle style='margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto;line-height:normal;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'>Paul Jordan moved to approve the May meeting minutes as emailed. Emily Pennington seconded. The motion passed.<o:p></o:p></li></ol><p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle style='line-height:normal'><o:p> </o:p></p><ol style='margin-top:0in' start=5 type=1><li class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle style='margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto;line-height:normal;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'>Emily Pennington presented this month’s Treasurer’s Report. Deanna Lewis moved to approve the Treasurer’s Report as presented. Christopher Sabine seconded, and the motion passed.<o:p></o:p></li></ol><p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle style='line-height:normal'><o:p> </o:p></p><ol style='margin-top:0in' start=6 type=1><li class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle style='margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto;line-height:normal;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'>Sheri Albers reported that the Chapter will institute a new policy for members seeking stipends to attend the state and national conventions as well as The Washington Seminar. The Chapter Board of Directors agreed to develop and implement this policy at a separate board meeting. (This board meeting took place by teleconference on May 28 2019 at 8:00 P.M. All Board members were in attendance). In order to qualify for convention assistance, all Chapter members must attend a given number of monthly meetings and take part in at least one Chapter or Affiliate fundraising event each year. Sheri expressed that the Board will meet to finalize the policy and add it to the Chapter Constitution and expressed that she does not see any objections to the policy from Chapter members. At that meeting, the Board also decided to allocate stipends of $200 each to four Chapter members to attend National convention.<o:p></o:p></li></ol><p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle style='line-height:normal'><o:p> </o:p></p><ol style='margin-top:0in' start=7 type=1><li class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle style='margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto;line-height:normal;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'>Emily Pennington led a discussion on required annual contributions to the Federation’s five national funds and door prizes for National Convention from the Ohio Affiliate. Walter Mitchell agreed that the Chapter contribute $20 to each of the five national funds and an additional $20 to the Ohio Affiliate for door prizes for National Convention. Emily Pennington seconded, and the motion passed.<o:p></o:p></li></ol><p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle style='line-height:normal'><o:p> </o:p></p><ol style='margin-top:0in' start=8 type=1><li class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle style='margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto;line-height:normal;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'>Christopher Sabine gave this month’s Membership Committee report. Christopher reported that he was interviewed by Bob Wurzelbacher, Director of the Respect for Life Ministry of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, for a Podcast to promote improved accessibility of Mass and other church activities to Blind members of the Archdiocese. The podcast will become available on August 1 2019, and Christopher expressed that he will share the link to it on the Cinci-Talk and Ohio-Talk listservs when it is released. Christopher also expressed that he has secured a venue for a white cane awareness event to coincide with National White Cane Awareness Day and the Chapter’s annual march on City Hall. The event is set to take place on Saturday October 12 2019 from 12 to 4:00 P.M. at the Urban Artifact Brewery, a leading craft brewery and one of Cincinnati’s premier music venues. Located in a facility originally constructed in the 19<sup>th</sup> Century, the venue consists of space for six exhibit tables and a stage with its own sound system for performances. Though planning is in the early stages, plans call for exhibits and a seminar featuring the contributions and accomplishments of Greater Cincinnati’s blind community. Christopher and Sheri Albers expressed that there is room for all Chapter members to participate in planning and organizing the event, including catering, hosting, program set up and follow up with event organizers and exhibiters. Sheri expressed that the possibilities for future events at this venue include a movie screening, fundraisers and potential sponsorship opportunities and emphasized the importance of member support and participation in planning for this event. A meeting has been scheduled for July 15 at 7:00 P.M. to begin the planning process. Sheri expressed her appreciation for the willingness of the staff of Urban Artifact to host this event and collaborate with the Chapter.<o:p></o:p></li></ol><p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle style='line-height:normal'> <o:p></o:p></p><ol style='margin-top:0in' start=9 type=1><li class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle style='margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto;line-height:normal;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'>Gloria Robinson gave a Fundraising Committee report. She reported that she has given $208 from the Double Good Pop Corn fundraiser to the Chapter Treasury. However, since Double Good was unable to fulfill some orders as they were out of season. The CEO OF Double Good has agreed to support this campaign as an ongoing fundraiser, and Gloria expressed that her ultimate goal is to raise $1,000 in sales to cover the costs of expenses related to state and national conventions so the Chapter will not need to dip into its treasury. Gloria expressed her thanks to Kim McEachirn, Walter Mitchell and Deanna Lewis for their efforts toward this campaign. Sheri expressed her thanks for Gloria’s efforts. In the course of discussions related to Fundraising, Walter Mitchell expressed that he will resign as Co-Chair of the Fundraising Committee effective immediately to focus on his responsibilities outside the Federation and ensure effective operation of the Committee. Sheri Albers accepted his resignation. Deanna Lewis agreed that she will try to secure the facilities of the Clovernook Procter Center for the Italian Dinner Fundraiser on August 17. <o:p></o:p></li></ol><p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle style='line-height:normal'><o:p> </o:p></p><ol style='margin-top:0in' start=10 type=1><li class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle style='margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto;line-height:normal;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'>Sheri Albers gave a legislative report which revolved around Ohio’s Accessible Prescription Reader Bill, which was introduced by Ohio Rep. Richard Brown (D-Canal Winchester) in April as H. B. 214 and is currently being considered in the House Health Committee. If passed and signed into law, H. B. 214 will require that all retail and mail order pharmacies in Ohio provide all prescription labels in a format accessible to Blind consumers. Though there was some indication earlier this week that the bill would be up for a proponent hearing in the Ohio House on Tuesday June 25, Sheri Albers expressed that it is not on the Committee schedule as of earlier today. Despite this, Sheri requested all Chapter members to submit written testimony in support of the bill to Michael Leiterman, Co-Chair of the Ohio Affiliate’s Legislative Committee. The remainder of the discussion revolved around a summary of H. B. 214 from Sheri Albers and comments from Chapter members. <o:p></o:p></li></ol><p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle style='line-height:normal'><o:p> </o:p></p><ol style='margin-top:0in' start=11 type=1><li class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle style='margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto;line-height:normal;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'>Deanna Lewis gave a summary of an article from the May Braille Monitor.<o:p></o:p></li></ol><p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle style='line-height:normal'><o:p> </o:p></p><ol style='margin-top:0in' start=12 type=1><li class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle style='margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto;line-height:normal;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'>Sheri Albers held formal swearing in ceremonies for Marianne Denning, Ahkeela Cade, Diane Gudaitis and Taslim Dibba, officially welcoming them as members of the Cincinnati Chapter per the new national member orientation process. Sheri also presented membership medallions to those who did not attend the May Chapter meeting.<o:p></o:p></li></ol><p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle style='line-height:normal'><o:p> </o:p></p><ol style='margin-top:0in' start=13 type=1><li class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle style='margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto;line-height:normal;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'>Sheri Albers concluded today’s meeting with a summary of two meetings related to transportation held by the southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority, the agency which operates Metro and ACCESS. The first meeting took place on Tuesday June 25 and was attended by Sheri Albers, Chris Windham, Dave Perry and Paul Jordan from the Cincinnati Chapter. The purpose of the meeting was to inform riders of a proposed ballot initiative in Hamilton County which would eliminate the earnings tax for county residents and replace it with a 1% hike in the sales tax. This would raise a projected $150 million for SORTA, according to Sheri Albers’ report of the meeting. This meeting was called to discuss the proposed ballot initiative and gather feedback on issues facing users of Metro and ACCESS. SORTA’s representatives enunciated several goals to improve services on Metro, including extending service on certain routes, establishing new routes to specific areas, increasing service frequency on existing routes and offering 24-hour-a-day service on the most heavily used routes in the system. Sheri also reportedly attended a meeting of Metro’s Advisory Board, which met on Thursday June 27. Two issues raised at that meeting affecting Blind riders were drivers’ failure to announce route and stop information and lack of a cohesive definition of a bus stop (i.e. garbage can, pole or shelter). SORTA is reportedly working on a proposal to address the latter concern that would employ talking sign technology used in other transit systems nationally to indicate bus stop locations. Sheri also recommended that Braille signage be used as well. Sheri expressed that representatives of SORTA’s management, including CEO Darryl Haley, are receptive to concerns of Blind riders and she anticipates “headway” in Metro’s accessibility for Blind riders moving forward.<o:p></o:p></li></ol><p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle style='line-height:normal'><o:p> </o:p></p><ol style='margin-top:0in' start=14 type=1><li class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle style='margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto;line-height:normal;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'>The June 2019 meeting of the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio, Cincinnati Chapter was adjourned at approximately 3:21 P.M. on Saturday June 22 2019. The next meeting is currently set for Saturday July 27 at 1:30 P.M. at the Cincinnati and Hamilton County Public Library at 800 Vine Street in Cincinnati, Ohio.<o:p></o:p></li></ol><p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpLast style='line-height:normal'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:normal'>Respectfully Submitted<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:normal'>Christopher Sabine<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:normal'>Secretary<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:normal'>National Federation of the Blind of Ohio<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:normal'>Cincinnati Chapter<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:normal'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>