[il-talk] CHICAGO MINUTES AUGUST 2012

[David Meyer]

NFBI Chicago Chapter Meeting
August 11, 2012
Exchequer Pub and Restaurant
226 S. Wabash, Chicago

CALL TO ORDER

The meeting was called to order by Chicago Chapter President David Meyer at
1:03 P.M. Approximately thirty people were present, including first-timers
Valencia Howard and Margaret James.

FEDERATION FUZZIES AND HEALTH CONCERNS

Mary Grunwald expressed appreciation for the number of vendors who attended
the NFB national convention. Glenn Moore announced his thirtieth birthday. 
Gina Falvo announced that she has had two successful radiation treatments. 
Denise Avant expressed appreciation for the number of Illinois students who
went to convention. Denise will represent the NFB on the Ada Commission on
Disability Rights. Bob Widman announced that Don Jordan has broken his leg
and that John Gordon's father passed away. Mary Monti had successful hip
replacement surgery.

SECRETARY'S MINUTES

The minutes for the June 2012 meeting were approved unanimously.

TREASURER'S REPORT

Chicago Chapter Treasurer Steve Hastalis gave the treasurer's report
covering the second quarter of 2012. The opening balance on April 1 was
$5,502.19. Income amounted to $1,468.81, and expenses totaled $3,200. The
ending balance on June 30 was $3,771. The report was approved as given.

PROGRAM

Our program consisted of a spirited round of NFB Trivia.

STATE REPORT

NFBI President Patti Chang gave the state presidential report. The National
protest of Goodwill Industries, an organization that pays many of its
disabled workers less than the minimum wage, will take place on August 25. 
The Chicago protest will occur between 11:00 A.M. and 12:00 PM at the
Goodwill retail store in Des Plaines. NFBI will also stage a protest in
Springfield at a location to be announced. A face-to-face NFBI board meeting
will take place on August 25 at the Holiday Inn O'Hare, 5615 North
Cumberland Avenue, Chicago, beginning at 9:00 AM. The state will hold an
Oktoberfest fundraiser at the home of Patti and Francisco Chang from 5:00 to
9:00 PM on Saturday, September 15. Burgers, brots, hotdogs, beer and wine
will be served. The cost for this fundraiser is $25 per person. Patti gave
special recognition to Denise Avant and the student division for their work
in planning convention. The agenda is almost complete. There will be several
panels, including an employment panel, a cancer survivors panel, a vendors
panel and a Teachers of Tomorrow panel. The banquet will feature scholarship
awards as well as a keynote address by Carl Jacobsen and a cello performance
by Leslie Hamric. Patti encouraged people to apply for Chappell Awards if
they need financial assistance. Reservations must be made with the hotel by
September 15. Resolutions are due to George Villa by September 24. This
year, the Resolutions Committee will meet on Friday at 4:00 PM. IABS Idol is
the big student chapter fundraiser. Anyone wishing to take part in this
friendly competition must pay $5 per performance. All submissions should go
to Rose Sloan. We draw for door prizes throughout the convention. All door
prizes should go to Denise Avant. David Meyer mentioned that the Chicago
Chapter is also offering convention assistance. The deadline for the
submission of applications for Chicago assistance is August 15. Anyone
wishing to apply should contact David Meyer by phone or email. The NFBI will
present a charter to the At Large chapter. Patti concluded with a call to
Don Jordan.

PRESIDENTIAL RELEASE

NFB President Dr. Marc Maurer  announced that Robert Hunt, a longtime leader
in West Virginia, recently passed away. Joe Nulty has a 1931 Model A Ford
for sale. He is asking $20,000 or best offer. Anil Lewis has been appointed
by President Obama to the Committee for Purchase from the Blind and Severely
Handicapped. He will work on matters related to fair wages. Twenty BELL
programs are being held throughout the country this summer. A regatta will
take place in Baltimore Harbor on September 22. One heat will feature all
blind sailors. Kelly Thornbury has been elected president of the NFB of
Wyoming, replacing President Max Aguilar. The NFB is planning an
informational picket of Goodwill Industries throughout the country on August
25. The picket will help inform the public about the practice of paying
subminimum wage to workers with disabilities. The Federation is supporting a
national boycott of Goodwill thrift shops. Anil Lewis will distribute
further information. A US Senate committee has been considering the
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, a document that has
been adopted by the United Nations at the recommendation of the World Blind
Union. Fred Schroeder was the NFB's negotiator on the document. On July 26,
the 22nd anniversary of the signing of the ADA, the Senate Committee on
Foreign Relations approved a resolution of advise and consent to the
convention. The resolution will soon be presented to the Senate floor. Sen. 
John Kerry is the leading sponsor. The treaty is modeled upon the Americans
with Disabilities Act, and states that people should be free from
discrimination and exploitation on the basis of disability. October is Meet
the Blind Month, and the NFB will co-ordinate events nationwide. Affiliates
and chapters are challenged to organize innovative and creative events. 
Micah Baugh, this year's coordinator, can be reached at 4 1 0-6 5 9-9 3 1 4,
Extension 2371. The Meet the Blind Month webpage can be found at
www.nfb.org. Project Innovation, this year's program for blind youth, has
just been completed. One of the most exciting projects was the construction
of hovercraft devices that were used to ferry some of the children around. 
They actually did work.

CONVENTION IMPRESSIONS

NFB national scholarship winner Rose Sloan described her experiences at the
national convention in Dallas. She spoke of her wonderful mentors and fellow
scholarship winners. A highlight was when Patti Chang introduced her to
Kareem Dale, President Obama's advisor on disability issues. Glenn Moore
added that the hardest part of convention is deciding which events to
attend, because there is so much to choose from. Patti Chang said how much
she enjoys meeting new people at convention. She said the energy at this
year's convention was amazing, especially with all of the students who
attended for the first time. Dave Meyer noted that conventions are streamed,
so people who are not able to attend physically still have a way to stay in
touch. Denise Avant explained that many presentations are posted on the NFB
website. Mary Lou Grunwald reported about the enthusiasm of the seventeen
Illinois vendors who attended convention this year for the first time.

FUNDRAISERS

Francisco Chang passed out samples of candy from the Catherine Beik Company,

which is distributed by Great American Opportunities. We can sell World's 
Finest Chocolate again this year, but it will have to be the last time, due 
to changes in the company.

NEW BUSINESS

Work is this year's theme for the Battle of the Chapters at IABS Idol. The 
Chicago Chapter voted to sing "I've Been Working in the Workshop." Dave will

order some NFB songbooks in Braille and large print from the national 
office. He encouraged people to think about activities for Meet the Blind 
Month. Patti pointed out that talking to people is more effective than 
distributing leaflets. Bruce Paul offered to arrange for us to do a 
presentation at the Chicago Children's Museum. The chapter voted not to hold

a meeting in October. Jemal Powell announced that there will be a 
Transportation Committee meeting on Monday night, August 13, via the 
conference line. IABS will meet at 7 on August 12. Public Relations will 
meet on August 20. Fundraising will meet on August 14. The library is 
calling people who did not fill out the Newsline survey, asking if they wish

to be unsubscribed from the Newsline list. Dave urged people to complete 
their surveys and to ask to remain subscribed. If you have it, use it! After

partaking of many delectable candy samples, the chapter voted to sell 
Catherine Beik Candy as a fall fundraiser. Steve Hastalis announced that CTA

has acquired about a hundred new El cars. Bob Widman reminded everyone that 
the fall membership tea will begin at 11:30 before the September chapter 
meeting.

ADJOURNMENT

The meeting was adjourned at 2:35 PM.

Respectfully submitted,
Debbie Stein, Secretary