[il-talk] FW: Draft Chapter Board Minutes, April 7, 2012

[David Meyer]

These are the actual minutes from the April 2012 meeting.

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Deborah Kent Stein [mailto:dkent5817 at att.net] 
Sent: Sunday, May 06, 2012 9:54 PM
To: David Meyer
Cc: David Meyer; denise avant; Jemal Powell; Steven Hastalis; Mary Grunwald;
pittmanenterprises at att.net; Gina Falvo; Patti Gregory-Chang
Subject: Draft Chapter Board Minutes, April 7, 2012


CHICAGO CHAPTER MINUTES
April 7, 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. Dave announced that Teresa Meyer is recovering well from her surgery. 
Greg Rosenberg is still experiencing some pain and numbness. Gina Falvo is
still undergoing chemotherapy and expressed her appreciation for everyone's
thoughts and prayers. Thirty-two people were in attendance, including
first-timers Jim Reed and Ryan Parrey.

SECRETARY's MINUTES

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

PRESIDENTIAL RELEASE

NFB President Marc Maurer encouraged everyone to pre-register for the
national convention. The number for the Hilton Anatole Hotel in Dallas is
214-761-7500. The agenda should be ready by the end of May or the beginning
of June. The governor of Michigan has withdrawn his executive order to
eliminate the Michigan Commission for the Blind. NFB  of Michigan President
Larry Posont and former president Fred Wurtzel spearheaded the effort to
keep services for the blind alive. James Brown has been elected president of
the NFB of Tennessee. Karen Kenninger has taken up her new position as
director of the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically
Handicapped. "Train the Trainers" is a conference on access technology that
will be held at the National Center for the Blind May 9-11. The DAISY
Consortium will host a conference on challenges to accessibility in e-book
publishing at the National Center on June 8. Each affiliate is asked to send
at least one member to the meeting of the Public Relations Committee at
national convention. Florida State University has resolved litigation with
the NFB regarding accessible classes. Each of the two blind plaintiffs will
be awarded $75,000, and the university will work to ensure that classes and
materials are fully accessible. Congressman Edward Markey (D-MA) has
introduced the Prescription Drug Labeling Act of 2012. We have 63 sponsors
on HR 3086, the Fair Wages for Workers with Disabilities Act. We need to
record the stories of blind people who have been employed at subminimum
wage. Carl Jacobsen has been appointed to head the Imagination Fund program.

STATE REPORT

NFBI President Patti Chang announced that she has books of Jernigan Raffle
tickets to distribute for sale. The books sell for $10 apiece and help to
fund the Jernigan Convention Scholarships. The NFB National and NFBI
Scholarship application deadline has passed. A seminar for teachers of blind
children will be held on April 13, coordinated by Debbie Pittman. A seminar
for parents of blind children will take place on April 14, coordinated by
Debbie Stein. We need people to demonstrate technology, and we need people
to help with Kids Camp and the Teen Scene. Illinois has four cosponsors on
HR 3086: Jackson, Manzullo, Quigley, and Gutierrez.

ELECTIONS

Dave Meyer read aloud a list of chapter members who are eligible to vote. 
The results of the election are as follows: president, Dave Meyer; first
vice president, Denise Avant; second vice president, Jemal Powell;
secretary, Debbie Stein; treasurer, Steve Hastalis; and board members Debbie
Pittman, Mary Lou Grunwald, Patti Chang, and Gina Falvo. All were elected by
acclamation.

TREASURER's REPORT

Treasurer Steve Hastalis read the report covering January, February, and
March 2012. The opening balance on January 1 was $5,255.09. Income amounted
to $397.10. There were $150 in expenses. The ending balance on March 31 was
$5,502.19. The treasurer's report was accepted.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Fundraising: We took in over four thousand dollars in orders for Manna gift
certificates. The list of certificates is posted on IL-Talk, the NFB of
Illinois webpage, and Newsline. A fundraiser at Beggar's Pizza will be held
on April 11. The chapter gets 20 percent of everything we bring in all day. 
The spring candy sale is coming up. We will be selling variety packs. Each
pack contains 52 bars that are sold for $1 apiece. We will take orders until
May 1. We will sell tickets to the White Sox game on August 11. Tickets will
be sold for $25 each.

Membership: Bob Widman welcomed first-timers and those who have come back
after a long absence. We will host our semiannual membership tea on May 12. 
Bob noted that the At Large Chapter is preparing to elect officers.

NEW BUSINESS

Steve Hastalis announced that he has been appointed by the CTA to serve on
the ADA Advisory Committee. The first meeting will take place on April 9. 
Ryan Kwaak reported that Adobe Digital Editions has come out with an
accessible program, Version 8 Preview. Ryan found it to be fully accessible
with a screen reader. Byron Lee said he received a letter from the state
library asking if he wishes to continue his Newsline membership. Dave urged
everyone to complete the Newsline survey and to use the service. We need to
use it or lose it!

ADJOURNMENT

The meeting adjourned at 2:20 PM.

Respectfully submitted,
Debbie Stein, Secretary