[Iabs-talk] chicago minutes january 2017

[David Meyer]

NFBI CHICAGO CHAPTER
MEETING OF JANUARY 14, 2017
At 1:00 P.M. First Vice-President Patti Chang called to order the 
January 2017 meeting of the National Federation of the Blind of 
Illinois Chicago Chapter
What’s Happening: Pam Gillmore reported that her husband Don is stable 
at this point. David Meyer asked for prayers for Bob and Nancy Gardner. 
Nancy’s mother passed away recently. There were 23 people present.
Program: Jemal Powell introduced our program for the month which 
addressed how . we might respond when people ask us if we would like to 
see or tell us how much better off we might be if we had sight. Many 
stories and observations on this topic were put fourth. The discussion 
emphasized that this is a very individualized topic.


Presidential Reports
National Presidential Release: Mark, Riccobono, President, National 
Federation of the Blind reported on the following items. President 
Riccobono will attend the Consumer Electronics show and will do some 
networking with manufacturers of technology, as well as educating 
people about the KNFB Reader. The Washington Seminar will happen later 
in January. It will begin with the Grate Gathering In meeting at 5:00 
P.M. on Monday, January 30. The fact sheets will soon be available. 
There are several new issues we will be dealing with this year. 
President Riccobono then went into a discussion about priorities for 
the coming year. The first of these was building membership and 
engaging new members. We must step up our efforts to protect and assist 
blind parents as well as parents of blind children. We also need to 
continue to improve educational opportunities for blind children. We 
need to improve accessibility of educational materials for blind 
children. Finally, we need to continue to raise expectations for blind 
people. Finally, we need to find better ways to communicate with each 
other, our supporters, friends and donors. Anyone who has any ideas on 
how to facilitate better communication may email President Riccobono at 
officeofthepresident at nfb.org. You may call him as well at 410-659-9314.
We have begun our “Build” program, Blind Users Innovating and Leading 
Design.) The purpose of this program is to test items for their 
accessibility and to make recommendations when they are necessary.
Please go to nfb.org/build-team for more information.

This year, the National convention will take place at the Rosen Shingle 
Creek Hotel in Orlando, July 10-15. Room rates are $83 for singles and 
doubles and $89 for triples and quads. Currently, an additional 12.5% 
tax is in effect. To make reservations, call the Rosen Shingle Creek 
Hotel at 866-996-6338.
A $95 fee will be assessed when you make your reservation. This fee is 
partially refundable if you cancel before June 1. There will be no 
refunds for those who cancel after that date.

Several federationists and others have passed away in the past month, 
including Lisa Bonderson’s father, Alice Lockwood, Charles Evans and 
Mike Freeman. Patrina Pendarvis, President of our Mississippi affiliate 
just graduated from the Louisiana Center for the Blind. Linda and 
Anthony Clay were married on December 24.
State Presidential Report
Denise Avant, NFBI President reported on the following. Washington 
Seminar will be coming up at the end of the month. Patti Chang, Steve 
Hastalis, David Meyer and Jemal Powell are representing Chicago in this 
effort. Emma Meyer is our student rep and Julietta Meyer will be our 
parent rep. Applications are now being taken for both our National and 
State scholarships. National scholarship applications must be in by 
12:00 A.M. Eastern time on March 31. State scholarships must be in by 
12:00 A.M.  Central time. Scholarship applications for the National 
scholarship can be found by going to www.nfb.org/scholarships. The 
state application is on the NFB of Illinois website, 
www.nfbofillinois.org. We will have a student seminar this year on 
April 22. It will occur at the Midway Holiday Inn. If you know any 
students wishing to attend, please contact Emma Meyer, Student Division 
President.Those in need of financial assistance may fill out a 
Chappell-Dennis form and submit it to Denise by April 1. Those who are 
attending convention for the first time may apply to the Jernigan fund 
for assistance. Please have your application into denise by April 1, so 
she has time to write a presidential recommendation and send everything 
to National by April 15. Those in need of financial assistance to the 
national convention must fill out a Chappell-Dennis application and 
send it to Denise by May 1. We will again have two Braille Enrichment 
for Literacy and Learning, (Bell) programs. The Chicago program will 
begin on July 17, and will run for two weeks. The Springfield program 
is for one week and will begin in early August., the face-to-face board 
meeting will occur on August 26 at the Naperville Marriott Hotel, which 
is also the site for our convention this year. The student division is 
looking for adult mentors. If you are interested, please call Amy Bosco.
Chairman Chang talked about the four issues we will be presenting at 
Washington Seminar They are the Marrakesh treaty, the Accessibility for 
students in higher education act, providing a tax credit for those who 
purchase blindness related technology and a one time appropriation to 
the National Library Service to purchase braille displays which should 
make braille production less costly and make braille itself more available.
Denise mentioned that the next state board meeting would take place on 
January 24. Please call 641-715-3273 and use the code 6324.
Fundraising Report: David Meyer mentioned that if there was anyone who 
wished to attend Games night and did not have funds to cover the cost, 
Debbie Stein was donating two reservations for this fundraiser. We will 
again have our Beggars fundraiser on Wednesday, April 19. Flyers for 
this event will be available at the February meeting. To participate, 
you must hand in a flyer when placing an order. Beggars will donate 20% 
of the cost of your order minus tax and gratuity. We should start 
thinking about when to schedule a White Sox fundraiser. Dave also 
described NewsLine and offered people who did not already have the 
service a chance to sign up.
Secretary’s Report: It was moved and seconded to approve minutes for 
the December 2016 chapter meeting. The motion carried.
Treasurers Report: Steve Hastalis gave the report for the fourth 
quarter of 2016. Beginning balance, October 1, $6,678. Income, $1,884. 
Expenses, $2,975. Ending balance December 31, $5,487. The report was 
approved as presented.
Chairman Chang mentioned that we will have a brain storming session  on 
things we wish to dedicate our efforts to during the coming year.
There was no old business.
New Business: Steve Hastalis mentioned that he was at a transportation 
conference where he asked an expert who was both a lawyer and a civil 
engineer if one might some day be able to operate a self driving car 
without a traditional drivers lisence? The presenter did not reject the 
idea out of hand. We need to continue to advocate for the right to 
operate self driving cars when they become available. Bill Reif 
mentioned that regulations have now been established regarding the 
noise level of hi-bred cars covered in the Pedestrian Safety 
Enhancement Act. Melissa Fuller mentioned that there will be a tour 
provided of some new train stations.
The meeting was adjourned at 3:18 P.M.
Respectfully Submitted,
David Meyer, Secretary