[il-talk] chicago minutes september 2015

Sat Oct 3 09:49:20 UTC 2015

David Meyer, NFB of Illinois

Coordinator and Channel Administrator, NFB-NewsLine

NFBI CHICAGO CHAPTER MINUTES

MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 13, 2015

The meeting was called to order by First Vice-President Patti Chang at 1:00
P.M.

Introductions and Federation Family News: The count showed 25 members at the
beginning of the meeting. Patti Chang was in the hospital for approximately
a week between the August and September meetings. She is doing much better,
though she is not completely recovered. Gina Falvo is beginning to develop
cataracts. Robert Hansen had a job interview with Eastern Illinois
University. Teresa Meyer has ovarian cancer. She is scheduled to have her
first chemotherapy session in three days or so. Ken Borst now has a new
guide dog. Paul Shepardson graduated from his internship program and is now
a full-time employee.

Program: Jemal Powell introduced the program which concentrated on what one
might typically expect at a state convention. Highlights of the program
included the following. If one goes to a convention, they should plan on
staying at the hotel, even if they live close to where the convention is
taking place. Staying at the convention gives one the chance to get to know
people from throughout the state who are attending. Also, one should take
the time to talk with others in the convention about NFB philosophy. When
coming to an Illinois convention, you will get exposure to successful blind
people of all ages; students, employees and retirees. Another highlight for
the convention is the employment panel, which features blind people doing a
variety of jobs not necessarily associated with those who are blind. 

Secretary's report:  It was moved and seconded to approve the minutes for
the September 2015 meeting. The motion carried without descent.

Presidential reports

National Presidential release: National Federation of the Blind president
Mark Riccobono reported on the following items. The New York City public
schools were planning to give a $30 million contract to Amazon to provide
digital materials. Unfortunately, Amazon Kindle products are not fully
accessible to the blind. The National Federation of the Blind planned to
protest this contract. Fortunately, the contract offer was withdrawn a
couple of days prior to the scheduled picket:

More information may be obtained at nfb.org/kindle-books. The Onkio Braille
Essay contest is under way. Winners may receive cash prizes from $500 to
$2,000. Essays must be received by September 13. Essays may be anywhere from
800 to 1,000 words in length. Jonathan Lazar, Dan Goldstein and Anne Taylor
have written a book on accessibility on the internet. A print or E-pub copy
of the book may be obtained. Go to store.elsebier.com and receive a 40%
discount by using the code lazar40. Our 75th anniversary book is now
available. The book is entitled Building the Lives We Want. The book is done
in E-pub3. This allows for complete accessibility, as well as the ability to
go to actual speeches and writings that are quoted or otherwise referred to
in the publication. The book can be found at www.nfb.org/buildingthelivbes.
In the "Membership Minute", Danyelle Trabino mentioned that the National
office is introducing what it calls the "Kit" (Keeping in touch event.) This
publication may also be used as a guide to recruit new members. When
recruiting members, please get their name, address, email address, phone
number, birthdate and the medium in which they wish to receive information.
Send contact info to membership at nfb.org. We have a new brochure similar to
the publication what is the National federation of the Blind. It will be
available for Meet the Blind Month. Posters of the image of our Guinness
World Record event will be available. In other news, Shirley Morris, Matt
Lyles, Darlene Worley and Eliza Brown all passed away in the month of
August. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers. 

State Presidential Report: Denise Avant, President, National Federation of
the Blind of Illinois reported the following. The National Federation of the
Blind of Illinois state convention will take place at the Marriott
Naperville Hotel, October 30-November 1. Room rates are $93 per night. One
must make a reservation by October 9. One can preregister for the convention
at a cost of $5. You must preregister by October 16 in order to get this
rate. Those registering after October 16 will pay a $15 registration fee.
Everyone is encouraged to register online at www.nfbofillinois.org. Regular
meals, veggie meals and coshier meals are available.  If you wish for veggie
or coshier meals, please notify Patti Chang. You may email Patti at
pattischeng at gmail.com, or call her at 773-307-6440. Please have all
resolutions into Patti Chang, resolutions committee chairman by October 16.
Marco Gionatti is the chairman for door prizes.  Please bring all door
prizes to Marco at convention. Our national representative is James Gashel,
secretary, National federation of the Blind. Dick David from Blind
Incorporated will also be with us to talk about employment. Braille is
Beautiful will again be featured at the convention.

The Washington Seminar application is now up on the website. If you wish to
attend, you must have your application into President Avant by December 1.
This event will take place January 25-28, 2016. Please continue to call your
representative and ask him/her to cosponsor HR188, the Time act. Call
Senators Derbin and Kirk and ask them to cosponsor S2001. So far,
Representatives Gutierrez an Schakowsky have cosponsored HR188. The NFBI
scholarship application is now on the website. Students and prospective
students may apply for an NFBI Scholarship beginning November 1.
Applications must be in by March 31, 2016. There will be a meeting for
anyone interested in assisting with convention audio on September 18 at 7:00
P.M. Call 641-715-3273 and use the code 6324. Our NFBI raffle will be drawn
on December 12 at the Chicago Chapter meeting. Please sell as many raffle
tickets as you can. The grand prize is $1,000.

October Fest will take place at the home of Patti and Francisco Chang on
Saturday, September 19. If you wish to attend, you must have your
reservation into Patti by September 13. Cost of the event is $25.

Shopping Certificates: David Meyer mentioned that we need participation from
many more people in order to make the certificate program a viable
fundraiser. He set a goal to have orders from 25 different individuals in
December, which is when the next order will occur. You may place certificate
orders by calling David Meyer at 708-606-7091 or by emailing him at
datemeyer at sbcglobal.net. Patti Chang explained further how the certificate
program works and how NFBI benefits from it.

Committee Reports: In fundraising matters, David Meyer talked about the
read-a-thon which will take place on Saturday, November 14 at Exchequer.
Anyone may contribute or read for this fundraiser. Audio reading is also
acceptable. Everyone is encouraged to find a book, come to Exchequer, read a
book, find people to pay them to read that book and thank them afterward. 

There was no old business.

New Business

IABS Idol: The theme for Battle of the Chapter this year is TV theme songs.
The Chicago Chapter will sing the Adams Family theme. There will be a state
membership committee meeting at 7:00 P.M. on September 21. Call 641-715-3273
with the code 6362. Bob Widman encouraged everyone who has not yet signed up
for NewsLine to do so. There is a new NFB National channel which will
feature among other things, Building the Lives we Want, our 75th anniversary
book, Future Reflections, the Braille Monitor, and the Presidential Release.
Lions Magazine is one of the newer magazines on NewsLine.

The meeting was adjourned at 2:57 P.M.

Respectfully Submitted,

David Meyer, Secretary