[Iabs-talk] chicago minutes may 2018

[David Meyer]

Nfbi Chicago chapter meeting

May 12, 2018

At approximately 1:02 PM. President Steve Hastalis called the meeting to order.

What is Happening: Gina Falvo was named volunteer of the year at second 
sense. She is also the co-leader for the Seniors Support group at Blind 
Service Association. Theresa Jones is celebrating five years of being 
cancer free. Pam Gillmore has been caring for a blind cat in her new 
volunteer position at Treehouse Cat Shelter. Pam Provost is asking for 
prayers so that she can continue to travel independently. Anthony 
Thomas has enjoyed much professional success, as he has won three cases 
in the last three weeks. Ken Staley is back home and would love phone 
calls. His number is 773-472-3085. Marilyn Green announced that she is 
now the new at large president. Nick Robertson was commended for being 
a successful advocate on his job. Joan Porter announced the passing of 
Willie Williams, a former instructor at Icre Wood. There were 23 
members present.
President Hastalis then lead us in reciting the NfB pledge.

Presidential Reports

National Presidential Release: Mark Riccobono, President, National 
Federation of the Blind reported on the following items. The 
Scholarship Committee met the previous weekend to decide who would win 
NFB scholarships for 2018. President Riccobono was in Seattle to meet 
with Amazon during the previous month. He will also be in Canada to 
attend the World Blind Union. The National Convention will take place 
for the final time in Orlando Florida for the foreseeable future. You 
will have to attend the convention to find out where next years 
convention will be held. On April 25, we reached an agreement with the 
Department of Health and human Services. Medicare and Medicaid 
beneficiaries will now be able to make a single request for information 
in the format of their choice, including braille, large print, audio or 
electronic data. A policy will be implemented which expands the time 
for blind beneficiaries to respond to time sensitive requests to the 
number of days it takes Medicare to receive that request. The Senate 
Foreign Relations Committee met on April 18 to discuss ratifying the 
Marakesh Treaty. Scott LaBarre represented us in this hearing. The 
Senate Judiciary committee is scheduled to meet  later this month to 
vote on S2559 the Marakesh Treaty Implementation act. We are all asked 
to contact our senators, asking them to support the Marakesh Treaty 
Implementation Act. Call the Capital Switchboard at 202-224-3121. The 
Access Technology Affordability Act now has 61 cosponsors in the house 
and 10 in the senate. The National Downs Syndrome Association is now 
with us in support of the Time act. Ten states have now passed Parental 
Rights legislation.         Colorado, Nebraska and Arizona have all 
passed legislation in the past month. Several federationists have 
passed away in the last month, including Lauren Smith of Iowa, and 
Raoul Gutierrez of California. Frank and Shelly Kopel of South Carolina 
recently became grandparents.

State Presidential Report: Denise Avant, President of the National 
Federation of the Blind of Illinois reported on the following items. 
Senator Duckworth is now supporting S2559. Denise thanked all of us who 
made calls or wrote to our senators reguarding this legislation. We 
were asked to call Senator Durbin, as he is on the Senate Judiciary 
Committee and has yet to cosponsor S2559. Marilyn Green was thanked for 
her great work on federal legislation. The National Convention will 
take place in Orlando at the Rosen Shingle Creek Resort July 3-8. 
Preregistration will be open through May 31. Denise expressed the hope 
that all of us could attend this event. Those who preregister will pay 
$25 for registration and $65 for the banquet. Those who register at the 
convention will pay $30 for registration and $70 for the banquet. Room 
rates are $88 for singles and doubles, and $93 for triples and quads 
per night. You must make reservations with the Rosen Shingle Creek 
Hotel. The phone number is 866-996-1338. Please go to 
www.nfb.org/convention to register for the actual convention. The 
Illinois affiliate will gather in President Avant’s room during the 
evening of Tuesday, July 3. We will have two Bell programs this summer. 
The Chicago Bell will run July 9 through July 20. The Springfield 
program will extend July 30 through August 3. Those interested in 
volunteer for either program should contact Amy Lund. The face-to-face 
board meeting will occur on Saturday, August 26 at the SheridanO’Hare 
6501 North Manheim Road in Rosemont. The meeting will begin at 9:00 
A.M. Those wishing to participate in the board meeting but cannot 
attend are welcome to call in at 641-715-3273 with the access code 
being 6324. Dates for the state convention, which will be held jointly 
with the vendors convention will be October 26-28. There will be a 
presentation at this convention commemorating the 50th anniversary of 
this affiliate.

Secretary’s Report: It was moved and seconded to approve the minutes of 
the March meeting. The minutes were approved with the following 
correction. Pam Provost will be going to the Louis Braille Museum 
rather than the Louis Braille Foundation.

Treasurer’s Report: Marco Giannotti gave the Treasurers report. We had 
an opening balance on January 1 of $4,113.09. Income, $1,157. Expenses, 
$855.Ending balance, March 31, $4,429.09. The report was approved as presented.

Elections: The following individuals were elected to the following 
positions. President, Steve Hastalis. First vice-president, Patti 
Chang. Second vice-president, Jemal Powell. Secretary, David Meyer and 
treasurer, Marco Giannotti. Board members elected were Denise Avant, 
Gina Falvo, Debbie Stein and Ken Borst.

Committee reports: In fundraising, President Hastalis summarized the 
fundraising activities we have had so far this year. He then called on 
Ken Borst to ttalk about the upcoming Bakers Square fundraiser, which 
will take place on June 19. Chapter members and friends will be able to 
participate at any Greater Chicagoland location of Bakers Square. All 
each member will need to do is turn in a flyer along with their order. 
David Meyer talked about the upcoming fundraiser with the Chicago White 
Sox. He is extending the time limit for placing ticket orders for 
another two days. Please email all orders to datemeyer at mysero.net or 
call him at 708-209-1767. The date for the Sox fundraiser will be 
August 18, the opponent will be the Kansas City Royals, we will be 
seated in bleacher seating on the lower concourse along the left field 
line. Regarding membership matters, Robert Hansen encouraged all who 
have fan out calls to make, please continue to do so. We also were 
encouraged to tell others about our organization, where we meet and 
when. Alisa Gray will be making phone calls informing people of meetings.

Old Business: President Hastalis talked about the efforts that have 
been made to schedule a meeting with Alderman Burkes office to discuss 
a proposed ordinance which would effect guide dog users. Though we have 
been in touch with Alderman Burke’s office, we have heard nothing about 
whether or not a meeting will be scheduled about this ordinance. The 
Mayors Office for people with Disabilities is also opposed to Alderman 
Burke’s ordinance. Pam Provost indicated that there still may be some 
problems concerning Delta Airlines and guide dog users. Denise Avant 
suggested that she contact President Riccobono with whatever 
information she has. His email address is officeofthepresident at nfb.org. 
President Hastalis suggested that Pam also contact Marion Guisdala at 
president at nagdu.org. President Hastalis announced that the June chapter 
meeting will be a combination meeting and picnic which will be held on 
the grounds of St. Andrews Greek Orthodox Church, 5649 North Sheridan 
Road in Chicago. One can take either the 151 or 147 bus from the loop 
to get there. The actual meeting will take place in the Presidents room 
of the facility. A number of questions came up regarding whether or not 
chapter members would bring specific food items, who would supply the 
condaments, plates-utensils, et cetra. Denise Avant suggested that a 
committee should be formed to take care of logistics concerning the 
picnic and that there would not be enough time to do this before the 
June meeting. Following much discussion, it was decided to have the 
picnic on July 28 at the church, provided that the church can 
accommodate us on that date. President Hastalis will check on 
availability of the above mentioned location. The June meeting will 
occur at Exchequer pub on June 9. We will have a face-to-face 
boardmeeting at 11:30 A.M., with the regular chapter meeting to take 
place beginning at 1:00 P.M.

New Business: Melissa Fuller announced that there will be a CTA-ada 
Advisory committee meeting on July 9 at CTA headquarters beginning at 
1:00 P.M. Jemal Powell announced that the Pace City and Suburban ADA 
Advisory committees will have a joint meeting on May 22. The meeting is 
in Arlington Heights at 550 West Algonquin Road.

The meeting adjourned at 3:02 P.M.

Respectfully Submitted,

David Meyer, Secretary