<html><body><span style="font-family:Verdana; color:#000000; font-size:12pt;"><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="">Minutes for NFB of CT State Board Meeting <o:p style=""></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;">January 6, 2018<o:p style=""></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><o:p style=""> </o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;">Nathanael Wales,
Treasurer <o:p style=""></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;">Gary Allen,
President<o:p style=""></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;">Mary Silverberg,
Board Member<o:p style=""></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;">Anne Walsh,
Secretary <o:p style=""></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;">Beth Rival, 2<sup style="">nd</sup>
Vice President<o:p style=""></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;">Rob Palaski, 1<sup style="">st</sup>
Vice President <o:p style=""></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;">Cheri Duquette,
Board Member <o:p style=""></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><o:p style=""> </o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;">Absent: Maryanne
Melley, Jim Mcollum<o:p style=""></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><o:p style=""> </o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;">Meeting was called
to order at 11:05 AM at the Plainville Library. <o:p style=""></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><o:p style=""> </o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;">Charlie Rival read
the minutes submitted by Anne Walsh.<span style="">
</span>Mary Silverberg made a motion to accept the minutes. Beth Rival 2<sup style="">nd</sup>.<span style=""> </span>Motion was passed to accept the minutes. <o:p style=""></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><o:p style=""> </o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;">Treasurers report:
Nathanael read the treasurers report. Nathanael said that the current checking
account balance is $19,499.99; our available savings account balance is $63,500.85.
Our total general funds are $40,129.94.<span style="">
</span>Our total restricted funds are $42,870.87.<span style=""> </span>The Cummins Fund is $12,053.91. We have $9,646.30
in the Demarest Fund; $3,383.80 in the Higley Fund; $4235.51 in the Coccomo Fund.<span style=""> </span>Awards were recently completed there will
soon be a zero balance in that fund. We have $5,006.00 in the Blackford Fund.<span style=""> </span>We recently received a $4,800.00 check. We
will be writing a check to the National Federation of the Blind for Newsline for
$4,750.00.<span style=""> </span>That will bring the balance
done to $256.00.<span style=""> </span>We have $3853.02 left
over from the 2016 Bell Program; $2,538.16 in the Trantolo and Trantolo Paul Duquette
Technology Fund; $139.50 for the at large chapter; $226.00 for the Waterbury
chapter; $489.63 for the student division; $873.00 for the guide dog division; $20.00
for the merchants division.<span style=""> </span>We also have
$406.00 for the Stamford chapter. Our losses in 2016 were $27.00 $12,000 were
lost in the first 3 months of the year. We reduced the office expenses for the
year April through December to $15,000.00. Our losses for 2017 are 25,000.00
which is slightly higher. Our expenses VS fund raising are starting to creep
up. We need to reduce some of those losses.<span style="">
</span>We may want to investigate accepting credit cards or finding work for
the office staff to do that is billable to some of our restricted funds such as
newline outreach. Cheri Duquette made a motion to accept the report.<span style=""> </span>Beth Rival 2<sup style="">nd. </sup>to accept the report.
The report was accepted.<span style=""> </span><o:p style=""></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><o:p style=""> </o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><u style="">Coccomo Fund and
other Fundraising Ideas:<o:p style=""></o:p></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;">Mary talked about
the Coccomo Fund.<span style=""> </span>She said that we are
all saddened that we no longer have the Coccomo Fund.<span style=""> </span>The Fund came to an end.<span style=""> </span>The committee was notified by Kathy Roche in
December.<span style=""> </span>Mary said that they were not
able to meet in December because they were not able to meet at the same time.<span style=""> </span>They met on January 4, 2018.<span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span>They
made their decisions carefully to use the money.<span style=""> </span>She would like us to start a small committee
to locate funders to start a new funding source that will fund assistive
technology. (Anne West said that she received her Braille sense 3 years ago.<span style=""> </span>She said that it has been wonderful in her professional
and personal life.)<span style=""> </span>Mary Silverberg said
that she would chair that committee to find new foundations and donors. Nathanael
said that the Coccomo Foundation has funded several of our scholarships.<span style=""> </span>They have been giving us $6000.00, which
explains $6,000.00 of the $25,000 in losses.<span style="">
</span>Beth Rival said that we will have to cut some of those scholarships down
in size to reflect the shortfall in the scholarship funds. Gary said that he
would like to wait 6 months before we cut the scholarship program.<span style=""> </span>Gary said that he would like to fundraise for
scholarships.<span style=""> </span>He said that fundraising
is going to be the most important thing that we do this year. <span style=""> </span>Phil asked how much we usually get from the
Coccomo Fund. Mary said that the fund gave around $20,000 a year for the
technology grant plus more money for scholarships. <span style=""> </span>Rob Palaski said that funds raised by members
do not have to go back to National.<span style=""> </span>50
percent of the funds raised by the staff must go back to national.<span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span>Cheri answered a question about the office
staff. She said that Lucia and Diane work mostly 20 hours a week sometimes a
little more; the callers work 4 hours a day, 4 days a week. We are down to 2
callers because one caller has a serious medical problem.<span style=""> </span>Nathanael said that her statement was correct
based on the salaries that we pay.<span style="">
</span>Noreen said multiple fund raising should be coordinated to make sure
that the same people are not being asked multiple times for different
reasons.<span style=""> </span>She said that it has to be
strategic.<span style=""> </span>Nathanael said that this is
something that we must be watchful of as far as donations go.<span style=""> </span>Nathanael said that we may have to reevaluate
our telephone solicitation efforts. Nathanael said that we may want to try a
little harder to let people know what the money that they give the NFB is used
for. <span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span>Rob said it is important for us to do outreach,
because if people see us out in public they may give if they get a call from
our office.<span style=""> </span>Gary said it is important to
let people see us and be more transparent, so people can see how the money is
used for, let people know that most of the money that we raise goes for our
programs and people. Gary said that we should develop a pamphlet to let people
know what we do. <span style=""> </span>Anne Walsh said that we
should contact corporations to try to raise money like we have done in the
past. Beth suggested that we have a templet for when people make these calls. Mary
said that we must approach it a different way because we cannot just call
corporations. <span style=""> </span>Anne Walsh said that we must
find a way to raise large sums of money because it could affect us in the
future. <span style=""> </span>Mary said that you have to have
a contact to talk to people in large corporations. Mary said that fund raising
and what she would like to do are two very different things. She said that the
two types of fundraising should be organized in different ways. Cheri said that
we should 1.<span style=""> </span>Put together a pamphlet on
where our money goes. 2.<span style=""> </span>She would like
Gary to organize some of these ideas. 3.<span style="">
</span>She said that she would like to see more involvement of our chapters.<span style=""> </span>Cheri said that she agrees on fundraising, but
she would like more people to fundraise.<span style="">
</span>Phil said that it is all one and the same.<span style=""> </span>Nathanael said that we should set up two or
three committees.<o:p style=""></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><o:p style=""> </o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><u style="">Washington
Seminar</u>: <o:p style=""></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;">Gary asked who is
planning to go to the Washington Seminar. Mary Silverberg, and her friend Joe,
Phil and Honorota.<span style=""> </span>Gary also said that
Edgar, Brian, Melissa, Brianna, and Jim are planning to go. <span style=""> </span>The issues for the Washington Seminar are not
up yet.<span style=""> </span>Cheri asked what the issues were
that we would be talking about.<span style=""> </span>Gary
said Probably Aim High, and the Technology affordability act.<span style=""> </span>Nathanael said it would be important to go to
the legislative workshop from 2 PM to 4 PM on January 29<sup style="">th</sup> before
the great gathering in.<span style=""> </span>It is helpful
for people who have not been to the Washington seminar before. <span style=""> </span>Gary said that we are going to meet after the
great gathering in for a caucus where all the assignments would be divided
up.<span style=""> </span>Mary said that the bills should be
up on the website in the next couple of weeks. <span style=""> </span>Nathanael said the most important thing is the
Legislative Workshop and the Great Gathering In.<span style=""> </span>He also said to have an experienced person
with the new people. Beth Rival also said to save your receipts and make sure
you hand them into the office. <o:p style=""></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><o:p style=""> </o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><u style="">SRC: </u>No
report<o:p style=""></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><o:p style=""> </o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><u style="">BIACAC</u>: No
Report<o:p style=""></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><o:p style=""> </o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><u style="">BESB:<o:p style=""></o:p></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;">Mary Silverberg
said the most important thing is that BESB has avoided an order of
selection.<span style=""> </span>Mary said that we are good
for this year the problem is going to come in for 2019 and 2020, regarding cuts.<span style=""> </span><o:p style=""></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><o:p style=""> </o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><u style="">Chapter building
discussion: <o:p style=""></o:p></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;">Gary said that Phil
is starting the Stamford chapter and he just wanted some advice on starting a
chapter. <span style=""> </span>Rob said food is
important.<span style=""> </span>Nathanael said location is
very important. It is important that the chapter meeting be located close to
bus and train.<span style=""> </span>Gary said that it is
important to have a good core of people that are willing to work.<span style=""> </span>He said the most important thing is to have
fun.<span style=""> </span>Plan an activity.<span style=""> </span>Understand what your needs are of your people.<span style=""> </span>Have guest speakers.<span style=""> </span>Phil suggested that members people know what
is going on in their chapter.<span style=""> </span>It is
really word of mouth.<span style=""> </span>Several members
talked about the importance of outreach. <span style=""> </span>The importance of advocacy. <a name="_Hlk510773242" style=""><span style=""> </span>Honorata </a><a href="https://www.facebook.com/honoratas?fref=gs&hc_ref=ARRqYx-qRBoYh1hAD3mx393yy6PEVXDVL1_ohTmPGX-GBVP0DcXfhMi3B2C8WDsBgzY&dti=115782588454564&hc_location=group" style=""></a><span style=""><span style="">Kazmiercz </span></span><span style="">suggested
that the chapters let people know what activities they are doing by publishing
what their chapter is doing on Facebook or on the web.<span style=""> </span>Honorata said that if you would send her the
information she would put it on Facebook.<span style="">
</span><o:p style=""></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><span style=""><o:p style=""> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><u style=""><span style="">Convention Committee</span></u><b style=""><span style="">:<o:p style=""></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;">Mary Silverberg,
Anne West, <span lang="EN-GB" style="">Barbara Blejewski,
Deb Read, </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/honoratas?fref=gs&hc_ref=ARRqYx-qRBoYh1hAD3mx393yy6PEVXDVL1_ohTmPGX-GBVP0DcXfhMi3B2C8WDsBgzY&dti=115782588454564&hc_location=group" style=""><span lang="EN" style="">Honorata </span></a>Kazmiercz, and <span lang="EN-GB" style="">Phil Magalnick will be on the state
convention committee.<span style=""> </span>Deb Read would
like to find some sponsors for the convention. Rob will send Deb sponsorship information,
so the Reeds can try to find sponsors. Nathanael suggested UPS and the UPS
Foundation. Honorata suggested that we train the hotel staff on the courtesy
rules of blindness. <o:p style=""></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><o:p style=""> </o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><u style="">Birdies for
Charity</u>: No information yet.<o:p style=""></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><o:p style=""> </o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><u style="">NFB Newsline</u>:<span style=""> </span>Newsline offered a training for BESB staff on
the many ways of using Newsline.<span style=""> </span><o:p style=""></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><span style=""> </span><o:p style=""></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><u style="">Trantolo and
Trantolo Paul Duquette Fund</u>:<span style=""> </span>they
established a committee George Reed, Charlie Rival and Paul Duquette. The fund
will be awarded twice a year. The award is for NFB members in good
standing.<span style=""> </span>The complete rules are
available on the application. <o:p style=""></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><o:p style=""> </o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><u style="">Chapter News:<o:p style=""></o:p></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;">Central Connecticut
Chapter:<span style=""> </span>The Central Connecticut Chapter
had a Christmas party in December.<span style=""> </span>They also
went to the Transit Service Analysis Meeting where proposals for changes were
made to the transit system which include expanded services to Southington. <o:p style=""></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><o:p style=""> </o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;">East of the River: <o:p style=""></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><o:p style=""> </o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;">Southern
Connecticut Chapter: They had a Christmas Party in December.<span style=""> </span><o:p style=""></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><o:p style=""> </o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;">Student Committee
meeting:<span style=""> </span>They will continue to have Teleconference
meetings twice a month they hope to grow as a chapter for a committee to a
division.<span style=""> </span>Four people from the Student
Committee will be attend the Washington seminar.<o:p style=""></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size:12pt;"><o:p style=""> </o:p></div>
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