[Iabs-talk] chicago chapter minutes for september

[David Meyer]

September 13, 2014 NFBI Chicago Chapter Minutes

 

David Meyer, Chicago Chapter President called the meeting to order at 1:05
P.M.

Tech problems with the public address system were discussed at the opening.

David mentioned he would bring his system from home

 

Introductions were done.  Twenty-seven people were in attendance, including
several newcomers.

 

Due to technical difficulties, the second microphone could not be used.
Steve Hastalis asked that everyone keep their voices down so that the
meeting can go smoothly.

 

Next on the agenda is what is happening

Health concerns, and good things that have been happening.

David announced Theresa got a new job

Sad note her brother is in the hospital

Theresa's brother was not doing well at the time.

Ken talked to his brother, he is having trouble breathing, an m r i.

There was one more introduction making the final count as 28 members.
Howard Wilson announced that on September 5 he represented the United States
in a judo tournament in Colorado Springs, sponsored by International Blind
Sports Associations

He got to train with the Olympic team.  He has been invited to come back and
train once a month.

 

Program

 

Jemal Powell introduced Two representatives from the Chicago Board of
Elections, Audra Lewicki and Laura Grimm.   

They gave us Important dates for registering and information for absentee
voting, 

early voting and the grace period for registering to vote.

October 27 through October 31 for early voting

Extended hours for these dates

Early voting runs from October 20 and runs through November 1st

Early voting at five sites is available on November 2

Early voting is available on Weekends

You can apply for an absentee ballot on line or by mail beginning October
5th

www.chicagoelections.com for information about voter registration

The extended grace period for registering to vote extends through election
day.

You are also able to update your registration on election day.  

Laura and Audra brought paper ballots as part of their presentation.

Election judges volunteer at polling places to be trained on the use of
voting equipment.

Audra and Laura explain how the judges are trained.  The voter has a choice
of either a paper ballot or using the touch screen/accessible audio
equipment.

If the election judge is unfamiliar with how to use the equipment, he/she
can call election central.  This includes how to activate the election card.

Please do not hesitate to contact the board of elections to activate the
card.

Avant raises a concern that the burden of activating the card should not be
placed on the voter.  The 

Burden should be placed on the election worker.  

When engaged in Early voting you have to show an I d card in order to vote.

When voting on Election day you do not.  Illinois is a signature
verification state.  Compare signature from when you registered with the one
done on election day.

Hastalis  prefers people refer to the machine as the accessible voting
machine for clarification.  He described the basic functions of the machine.
Keys, buttons.  Also the machine comes with headphones.  You can bring your
own headphones to use.  

You have the option of using a handheld device or touch screen if you are
visually impaired.

 

Chang  Stated she uses the audio ballot all of the time.  She wanted to know
who handles complaints concerning faulty equipment.  What is the process for
this?  She waited a half hour on one occasion to resolve this issue.  

This might have been a presidential election.  The presenter mentioned the
phone lines were super busy and website saw heavy traffic that day. 

Margaret  Can you bring your own hedphones?  Wanted to know if an accessible
machine was brought for practice.  Headphone covers are available.  You can
bring things with you to assist you in voting.  The polling place is a
campaign free zone.

Meyer  asked if election judges are tested on how to activate the election
card.  He went on to say that using the audible ballot has always been an
adventure for him.  He has called into the polling place to say he is coming
into vote and the machine still does not work. 

He said that if necessary, he will tie up the judgesin order to excersize
his right to vote.  

In Training class the judges physically set up the machines and are taught
how to activate the cards.  Assistant trainers are present.  Every judge is
trained how to activate the cards.  There are still judges that do not know
how to activate the audio equipment and the cards.  

Hastalis   wants to know if the machine can be plugged into the public
address system  for a demonstration?  

The machine was connected to the public address system and was demonstrated
with the help of a volunteer.  A sample ballot is being used for the
demonstration.  

The voting machine has a tutorial on how to opperate the keypad for voting. 

The accessible voting machine describes in detail how to operate the keypad.
It tells the voter the various key functions, e.g. up arrow, down arrow.
Also color descriptions are used for the various keys.  

There are documents available on NFB Newsline to check out concerning voting
under the Illinois Elections channel within your states Information channel.

 

State Report  Patti Gregory-Chang

Starting off with a State board meeting held on Sunday 14 september 7 p.m.

Agenda dealing with Bureau of Blind Services which is in crisis

Dealing with resolutions to discuss during state convention

October Fest will be on September 20 at Patti Changs house.

People need to RSVP

$25 for a ticket and the 1st drink is included.

Modesto and Steve will handle the money.

Drink chits can be purchased at the event.

The Party starts at 4 p.m. Pattis address is 6919 West Berwyn Avenue,
Chicago. 

Make checks out to NFBI.

Jemal wants to know if you are permitted to add extra money for drink chits.


Patti will be available after the meeting to collect money for the event

If you cancel your reservation after September 13, you will still need to
pay

Pattis phone number is  (7 7 3)3 0 7-6 4 4 0.  to RSVP  

Ample transportation is available.  People will be picked up at the
Harlem/Higgins Blue Line stop

Plenty of music will be there.

State convention

You are allowed to register and pay on line.  You can pay using PayPal.  You
can use a credit card on PayPal.

You need to register early if you choose to do so on line.  Otherwise send
Glenn More a check along with a paper registration form.

The cost of registration is $5 before October 20, $15 after that date.  The
convention will be at the Naperville Mariott.  Dates are October 31 through
November 2.

Call the hotel to make reservations.  

Help is needed in Kid Camp on Saturday morning.  Chappell-Dennis forms are
due October 1st.

Registration on line is preferred.  

The State Affiliate is raffling an iPad Mini with retina display.  

Tickets may be purchased on line for $5 each.  The drawing for the iPad will
happen in early January of 2015.

We are not using ticket books for the raffle.  This is done to make it fully
accessible.

You must fill out each ticket on line and send a check for all purchases to
Glenn More, state treasurer.  

 

Amazon/Smile is a way for the state affiliate to raise money.
www.amazon.com/smile is the site.  

Patti gave a tutorial how to register for Amazon Smile

Everytime you shop, you go to www.amazon.com/smile to give NFBI the benefit.

 

Certificates

There are more than 400 vendors.  Be mindful of how much money is given to
the affiliate.  The percentage is important.  Some vendors are generous with
how much is given to the affiliate.

The due date for certificate orders is December 8.  

If you do not have many shopping preferences, pay attention to percentages.
It is all about percentages.  

Meyer gives examples of the various vendors that offer huge percentages
concerning the certificates. 

This concludes the State report

 

Next is the approval of the August 2014 minutes.

Minutes are approved as presented.

 

National Presidential Release September 2014

President Mark Ricobono

 

Presidential release 431. September 2 kicks off the 75 Days of Action to
build the NFB.  Bringing in new members into the NFB. 

A protest was held in front of Source America,  The largest facilitator of
employers who pay disabled workers less than the minimum wage.  

For more information, one may contact Rose Sloan at rsloan at nfb.org.
Creating opportunities.  One opportunity is the BELL program.

The Bell program is available in 23 states.  

www.nfb.org/bell is the place to find out more about BELL.

Contact Natalie Shaheen at nshaheen at nfb.org for more information (4 1 0)6 5
9 9 3 1 4 Ext. 2293

Joe Ruffalo hosts www.thruoureyes.org and September 17 at 8 p.m. Scott White
will be interviewed about NewsLine app 2.0 for the smartphone

If you tune in via phone (3 4 7)2 1 5-7 0 3 7 and listen that way.

Tune in online www.thruoureyes.org  

KNFB app for the I Phone is available.  This app was/is beta tested.  The
app was announced at the National Convention

KNFB app will be available when the I o s 8 app becomes available (September
10, 2014.)

Lauren McClarnie is working on the TEACH ACT.  There is opposition to this
legislation by a bureau of higher education.  Most every stakeholder is
supportive of TEACH Act except the schools.  

Refer to the presidential release for the statement given concerning the
TEACH Act.

Contact your elected representative about this piece of legislation.

 

www.nfb.org 

 

Hastalis makes a comment to urge people to get things done.  Stand up to A C
E American Council of Education.  This is disturbing.  It is important to
get things done to be a force for change.  The longer we wait, the harder it
will be to get the accessibility features built into the software.  

Chang   informs people to contact their elected officials concerning
important legislation.  Also, contact Congressman Shimkus to let him know
about this.  Tell him your disappointment in not supporting HR 831.  

 

October is Meet The Blind Month

The Read-A-Thon will be held in November.

The read-a-thon will count as the Meet The Blind event even though it will
take place in November

 

Fund Raising and membership-

Membership meeting will be held on Saturday 11 October at 12 pm

Staley about the Read-A-Thon.

Ken Staley wants to gear up for the Meal Appeal eent and the Christmas
Auction for the fund raisers. 

Raising money for the read-a-thon.  

We need people to read for the read-athon.

Bring anything, audio, braille, print.  Get money into the treasury.  A
minimum of $10

 

Member participants

David Meyer

Gina Falvo

Jemal Powell

Ken Staley

Eileen Trushkee

Robert Hansen

Hilda Sandifer

Pam Gillmore will read on a cruise ship.  

Roberta Glickman and Ken Borst will also participate.  Steve Hastalis agreed
to sponsor someone.  

Staley will match $1000 if the chapter raises $1000.

The time and date is November 8 from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m.

Once again,

Print book, Braille book, or bring a device using an s d card, e.g. Victor
Reader Stream or a Braille Note Taker

Raise money for the affiliate.  If you do not raise money then bring $10 to
give.  Bring a check or cash.

Meyer makes a point that we need funds to have available to purchase a new
public address system.  The importance of fund raising. 

 

There was no old business.

 

New Business

 

Steve Hastalis - We have $4,134 in the treasury before the meeting,
collected $41.34 during the meeting, $40 in dues collection and $150 in Sox
revenues.  

Anticipates there will be $4314 in the bank

What song to sing for Iabs Idol? 

The group chose Monster Mash

As its entry for IABS Idle battle of the chapters.  The theme is Spooky
Songs.

Chang announced a special guest Rob Jones will come in perform the opener
for Iabs Idol - He is a professional performer (R&B)

The meeting was adjourned at 3:02 p.m.

 

 

Respectfully Submitted

Robert A. Hansen, secretary