[Iabs-talk] Chicago minutes june 2012

[David Meyer]

Dear Dave,

I'm pasting in my draft of the June chapter minutes.  I have one question,
which you will see when you read.  In the recording, you listed the Jernigan
Fund for two donations, one for $300 and one for $200.  I suspect you meant
to say tenBroek Fund for one of them.  No one picked up on it during the
meeting (that's the value of a recording!)  Please make whatever correction
is necessary.  Thanks!

Debbie

________



NFBI CHICAGO CHAPTER MINUTES
June 9, 2012
Exchequer Pub and Restaurant
226 S. Wabash, Chicago

CALL TO ORDER

Chicago Chapter President David Meyer called the meeting to order at 1:00
PM. Thirty people were in attendance, including NFBI scholarship winner Ryan
Parrey and first-time attendee Tia Tatum.

PROGRAM

The program focused on activities and traditions at the NFB national
convention. Mary Lou Grunwald spoke about the Resolutions Committee meeting,
the Mock Trial, and the meeting of the National Association of Blind
Merchants. Pam Gillmore gave an overview of convention week. Bob Widman
described a typical convention banquet. Gina Falvo added some memories of
her first convention. All of the presenters emphasized that convention is an
exciting experience that combines learning and fun.

SECRETARY's MINUTES

The minutes from the meeting of May 12, 2012, were approved.

CONTRIBUTIONS

Dave Meyer explained that the Chicago Chapter traditionally makes annual
contributions to several national funds. The White Cane Fund is a general
fund used to support national activities and programs. The Jacobus tenBroek
Fund helps pay for maintenance of the national center. The NFB SUN Fund
works somewhat like an insurance policy; groups or individuals buy shares,
and the money can be used in any way the NFB sees fit. NFB Camp provides
childcare for children during convention. The Jernigan Fund helps people who
need financial assistance to attend the national convention. The board voted
to give $300 to the White Cane Fund, $300 to the TenBroek Fund, $200 for SUN
Shares, and $200 toward the Jernigan Fund(?) for a total of $1,000 in
contributions. There is currently about $4,500 in the treasury. The
contributions were approved.

STATE REPORT

NFBI President Patti Chang said she is asking convention attendees to attend
and report upon key meetings. We need people to attend the White Cane,
Membership, and Communications Committee meetings. People will report about
these meetings at the board meeting on August 25. The NFBI Convention will
be held October 5-7. Applications for the James Chappell Fund are being
accepted now, and several are in already. The location of the 2013 state
convention is still to be determined. We will be selling travel mugs at
national and state convention. We also have a few T-shirts left. Illinois
now has five sponsors for HR 3086, the Fair Wages for Workers with
Disabilities Act. Bobby Rush is the most recent representative to sign up. 
The NFB is asking people to boycott Goodwill Industries, which pays some of
its workers as little as $1.40 an hour while the CEO makes half a million
dollars a year. The Federation is spreading the word.

HEALTH CONCERNS

Teresa Meyer will have knee replacement surgery on June 26. She is
recovering well from her hip replacement. Mary Monti has had a setback and
is in the hospital again. Gina Falvo thanked everyone for their thoughts and
prayers. She will begin radiation treatment in late June. Connie Davis has
been diagnosed with cancer and will undergo further tests to determine what
type it is. She is very appreciative of all the support she is receiving. 
She will keep everyone posted on Il-Talk. Leeanne Mayne said that Dwayne
Liddingham is on daily dialysis. Leeanne has been diagnosed with
osteopoenia. Roberta Glickman is recovering from cataract surgery. Former
vendor Dennis Mejilla has passed away. Blair Alpert is having health
problems of unknown origin. Leeanne reported that she saw Kelly Doty a few
weeks ago. Kelly has just started a new round of chemotherapy.

OLD BUSINESS

The Chicago Chapter will take part in the Disability Pride Parade on July
21, sharing a table with Concerned Citizens for Paratransit. Glenn Moore
will coordinate our efforts. Some people will march and some will staff the
table. Jemal Powell announced that the Chicago Chapter Picnic will take
place outside the Landmark Café at the Lincoln Park Zoo on July 14. Steve
Hastalis will post bus directions on Il-Talk. The White Sox game fundraiser
will take place after the chapter meeting on August 11.

NEW BUSINESS

Steve Hastalis reported that several things are happening on CTA's ADA
Advisory Committee, on which he now serves. CTA is looking to apply for New
Freedom Grants, which will help provide tactile maps in CTA stations. There
are many concerns about how information will be represented. There will be a
series of open meetings for the public to hear about proposed changes on
CTA, held on June 12, 13, and 14. Information about times and locations has
been posted on Il-Talk. Patti explained that IL-Talk is our state listserv,
and anyone can sign up at www.nfbnet.org. Mary Grunwald congratulated Bruce
Paul for setting up and coordinating a Freedom Link expedition to a physics
lab at University of Illinois/Chicago. Bruce suggested posting a list of
alternatives to Goodwill to help people support the boycott.

ADJOURNMENT

The meeting was adjourn at 2:57 PM.

Respectfully submitted,
Debbie Stein, Secretary