[il-talk] chicago minutes January 2015

Tue Feb 10 22:42:38 UTC 2015

NFBI CHICAGO CHAPTER MINUTES

JANUARY 10, 2015

The January 2015 meeting of the National Federation of the Blind of Illinois
Chicago Chapter was called to order by President David Meyer at 1:02 P.M.
There were 29 members present.

What is Happening

Denise Avant will soon be on the Consumer Advisory Board of WTTW, channel
11.  Pam Gillmore reported that Don is continuing to do well.  Steve
Hastalis reported that Holly Frisch who began as a Federationist in Chicago
recently conducted her first meeting as President of the Fredericksburg
Virginia Chapter.  Howard Wilson will be representing the United States in
Judo competitions in Budapest Hungary and Soul South Korea later this year.
Sarah Chung has also qualified for these events.

Medical Corner

Pam Gillmore stressed how one can stay protected in cold weather.   Be sure
to dress with plenty of layers of clothing.  Nit clothing gives one a lot of
protection without losing much hearing.  The best way to treat frost bite to
your hands is to soak them in warm water.  A good basic manual listing
symptoms and treatment options for them is the Mirk Manual, (DB7 7 8 8 1.)
Medicine net.co is a website listing symptoms and treatment options that are
quite accessible.

Program

Jemal Powell introduced our program item as Thought Provoker 32.  The
Thought Provoker series is written by Robert Leslie Newman, an NFB member
from Ohio.  People discussed their thoughts on the Thought Provoker.

All those who commented suggested the need to educate the public about
blindness.

Minutes

Minutes for the December 2014 meeting were tabled, as they were not
available on NewsLine for those who did not have email.  They will be voted
on during the February meeting.

Treasurers Report

Steve Hastalis gave the treasurers report for the fourth quarter of 2014.
Beginning balance, October 1, $4,330.  Income, $3,924.  Expenses, $2,839.36.
Ending balance December 31, 2014, $5,414.64.  The report was approved as
given.

Presidential Reports

National Presidential Release

Mark Riccabono, President, National federation of the Blind reported the
following.  Washington seminar will officially begin with the Great
Gathering In meeting on January 26, 5:00 P.M.  Prior to Washington Seminar,
there will be a Legislative Directors meeting at the National Center.  A
career Fair will take place from 10:00 A.M.-2:00 P.M. at the same location
as the Washington Seminar.  The DC affiliate is responsible for this event.
For more information, contact Janite Forbes at janiteforbes2012 at gmail.com.
Legislative initiatives were then discussed.  Rose Sloan talked about the
Transitioning to Integrated Meaningful Employment (time) act.  This piece of
legislation has the same language as the Fair Wages legislation from the
previous congress.  It calls for the removal of Section 14C of the Fair
Labor Standards Act, removing Special wage certificates over a three-year
period.  Information on this bill will become available as soon as the bill
is introduced.  Lauren McClarney touched on the other two pieces of
legislation.  We will again stress the Technology Education and
Accessibility in Colleges and Higher Education (Teach) act.  This act will
create voluntary guidelines which colleges and universities may use in order
to insure that their course materials are accessible for blind students.  It
will also present a safe harbor from possible lawsuits.  The third priority
will be concerned with the use of braille for blind students.  Proposed
legislation will hopefully strengthen “IDEA”, which is likely to be
reauthorized this year.  There will be a special NFB 75th anniversary
reception on January 27, 3:00-5:00 P.M. in the Rayburn Building.  The
keynote speaker will be Congressman Gregg Harper from Mississippi.  The 25th
anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act will occur in July of
this year.  There will be a Law symposium in March, the theme of which is
“The Americans with Disabilities Act at 50.”  This symposium will occur
March 25-27 at the Jernigan Institute.  Cost is $175 or $25 for students.
Go to www.nfb.org/law-symposium or contact Luanne Blake at 4 1 0-6 5 9-9 3 1
4, EXT 2221 or email her at lblake at nfb.org.  A special writing contest
featuring the theme of 75.  Entries are due by April 1.  The annual
convention will be from July 5-10 at the Rosen Center Hotel, Orlando
Florida.  Make your reservations by calling 8 0 0-2 0 4-7 2 3 4.  Several
members have passed away in the last couple of months, including Bob Brown
from South Dakota, Pauline Johnson from Maryland and Darnell Cruise of
Virginia.  Camille Calaway, daughter of DC President Don Calaway was born on
December 28.

State Presidential Report

Denise Avant, NFBI president reported the following.  As one of the original
7 states in NFB, Illinois has been asked to be one of the host affiliates of
the National convention.  Patti Chang is co-chairing the planning committee.
Please attend the convention.  The next NFBI board meeting is scheduled for
January 20.  The number is 8 0 5-3 6 0-1 0 0 0 code 6324.  If you wish to
join a state committee, please notify the co-chair or the president of your
availability.  There are 9 people attending Washington Seminar this year.
Those from Chicago will be Denise Avant, Adrienne Falconer, David Meyer and
Glenn Moore.  Others going are Jonathan Brayfield, Bob Gardner, Annette
Grove, Leslie Hamric and Christina Kuckie.  Follow-up meetings will have to
be arranged when Washington Seminar is complete.  Our Spring Seminar will
occur on April 17-18 at the Midway Marriott Hotel.  The TVI seminar will
take place on April 17 with parent & student seminars on April 18.  We will
schedule Bell programs in Chicago and Springfield.  Chicago will take place
June 18 through July 1.  Dates are not set for Springfield yet.  Thank you
to all who either bought or sold Raffle tickets for the IPad Mini Raffle.
Please give money to Patti.  Please support us through Amazon Smile.  If you
go to www.amazon.com/smile and purchase an item, NFBI will get ½ of 1% of
the purchase price of that item.

Fundraising Committee Report

President Meyer mentioned that Games night will occur immediately following
the meeting.  Please pay Steve Hastalis for this event.   Cost for this
event is $25.  A Night for the Ages fundraiser will occur on Thursday, March
5 at Dicks Last Resort, 313 North Dearborn in Chicago.  Cost for this event
is $50.  Payments can be made on line.  Included is a buffet, as well as two
hours of free domestic beer, wine and soda.  All checks must be made to NFBI
as the fundraiser must be run through the state.  All money must be into
Patti by February 28.  The chapter will have an on-going dice game.  Four
dice will be used and each chance will cost $2.  If one rolls four of a
kind, they will receive 50% of whatever is in the fund.  The Chicago Chapter
will receive the other 50%. It was moved, seconded and passed to name this
activity “Federation, four of a kind.”  We will schedule a Fundraiser with
Beggars Pizza in April of this year.  The chapter will receive 20% of each
bill accompanied by a flyer which Beggars provides.  We will be using three
locations, downtown, North and South.

IPAD Raffle drawing.  The winner was Donna Sauter.  

Transportation concerns

The next CTA Disability Advisory Committee will occur on January 12 at
1:30-3:00 P.M.  Location for this event is the Chicago Transit Authority 567
West Lake Street, Chicago.  We are looking for an opportunity to see work
done on station guides produced under the Freedom Grant.

  Jemal Powell, David Meyer and Bruce Paul will also attend this meeting.

New Business

Michal Nowicki mentioned that there are some problems accessing the Ventra
website.  This topic will also be discussed at the meeting.   Michal will
attend the meeting to address this issue.  The meeting schedule has been
altered somewhat.  The next meeting will be February 14, followed by a
meeting on March 21, (the third Saturday in March.)  There will not be a
chapter meeting in April, due to the Spring seminar.  The regular schedule
will resume in May.  Howard Wilsons cousin received a PHD in Aeronautics
Engineering from Georgia Tech University.  She will be working on simulators
of the F35 fighter plane.  Anyone attending the National convention can get
the special rate up to 5 days before and 5 days after the convention.

The meeting was adjourned at 3:12 P.M.

Respectfully Submitted,

Robert A. Hansen, Secretary