[Iabs-talk] chicago minutes draft 2.

[David Meyer]

NFBI CHICAGO CHAPTER

MEETING OF OCTOBER 13, 2018

At approximately 1:03 P.M. First Vice-President Patti Chang called the 
meeting to order.

Program: Our guest speaker this month was Anne Scheetz who spoke about 
why she is advocating for a single payer insurance program. If you 
would like more information on this topic, you can call her at 
773-486-6276 or you may email her at annescheetz at gmail.com.One may also 
consult the website, www.singlepayer.org.

What’s Happening: Michael Nowicki passed the Illinois Bar exam. Melissa 
Fuller’s company website is now up and running. There were 23 members present.

Presidential Reports

National Presidential Release: Mark Riccobono, President, National 
Federation of the Blind reported on the following items. The Marrakesh 
Treaty Implementation act was passed by the House of Representatives. 
This has been five years in the making. On September 26 we filed a suit 
against the Ability 1 Commission as they named the American Foundation 
for the Blind to administer all Ability 1 contracts with no input from 
anyone. All local chapters are being asked to say the NFB pledge at 
chapter meetings. President Riccobono went on to explain the meaning of 
the pledge. The Braille Readers are Leaders contest is currently being 
administered by the National Federation of the Blind of Illinois. This 
program was made national again last year. We are doing this in 
collaboration with the Jernigan Institute and the American Action Fund 
for blind children and adults. Each affiliate may register to this 
contest for $100. The Baltimore Orioles wore jerseys with braille on 
them to celebrate 40 years of the National Federation of the Blind 
being in Baltimore. President Riccobono threw out the first pitch for 
this game. We will reach out to all of the other major league clubs to 
duplicate these efforts. Several local chapters were listed as giving 
to the PAC plan. Several members were also welcomed into the Dream 
Makers circle. Deloris Smith of Alabama and Sharon Gold of Texas, 
formally of California passed
Away.

State Presidential Report: Patti Chang gave the state report. The NFBI 
convention will take place October 26-28 at the Sheridan Chicago O’Hare 
Hotel. This year it will be combined with the Illinois Committee of 
Blind vendors. Those still wishing to register are encouraged to take 
advantage of the Saturday lunch for $20. There will be presentations 
from NFBI as well as the vendors. A number of special guests will be 
here to help us commemorate 50 years of the National Federation of the 
Blind of Illinois including Rami Rabby, the first affiliate president, 
and Ramona Walhof, who was on the organizing team back in 1968. 
Washington Seminar will be coming in January of next year. One may 
apply to attend Washington Seminar. The application can be found on the 
NFB of Illinois website. Applications must be turned into Denise by 
December 1. Her email address is davant1958 at gmail.com. Lift and the 
National federation of the Blind are collaborating in an effort to get 
more people out to vote. Coupons will be made available which will 
permit reduced fares to a polling place if Lift is used as the mode of 
transportation. Please give names to Denise by October 15 of people who 
might benefit from this program. The Bureau of Blind Services is 
currently instituting two pilot projects which may well determine the 
future of services for the blind in Illinois. One of them combines 
those who are blind along with those who ARE deaf into a single service 
bureau. The other project is placing services for the blind under 
general field services. This was all done without consulting the Blind 
Services Planning Council, something that is required by law. The 
National Federation of the Blind of Illinois, the Illinois Council of 
the Blind and the Blind Services Planning Council have all opposed a 
merger of any kind. We will do what we can to try to stop any merger.

Committee Reports: David Meyer reported on the final two fundraising 
projects for the calendar year. Our annual read-a-thon will occur on 
November 10. All were encouraged to take part. The entrance fee is $10. 
However, if one is able to raise $10 or more from others, his admission 
fee would be waved. The annual Christmas auction will take place 
following the meeting on December 8. Again, all were encouraged to 
either bring items or bid on those items to be presented.

Vendors Conference: The vendor’s conference will kick off on Thursday, 
October 25. The Illinois Committee of Blind Vendors will meet on Friday 
morning. Friday evening will feature a trade show. All are welcome to 
stop in and sample available goodies. The training session will take 
place on Saturday morning, October 27. This will be followed by a joint 
luncheon with the NFB of Illinois.

Secretary’s report. The minutes were approved with the following 
addition. Pam Gillmore encouraged all of us to get a flu shot.

Treasurer’s Report: Marco Giannotti reported on the third quarter of 2018.
Opening Balance July 1, 2018, $6,283.09. Income, $1,901.17. Expenses, 
$2,980.08. Ending balance, September 30, $5,204.18. The report was 
approved as presented.

New Business: Melissa Fuller reported that there will be a tour of the 
station at Washington and Wabash on October 18. From 4:00 to 6:30 P.M. 
Jemal Powell asked for people to give him ideas for chapter programs. 
His email is derek2872 at yahoo.com and his phone number is 708-557-7979. 
David Meyer mentioned that David Flament from the Illinois Council of 
the Blind contacted him looking for support from us in order to have 
audible traffic signals installed which would help us when the new 
system is installed that permits busses to override stoplights. Patti 
suggested that Melissa and Jemal work with David Flament on this matter.

The meeting adjourned at 2:31 P.M.

Respectfully Submitted,

David Meyer, Secretary