[il-talk] January 24, 2017 Board Minutes

Tue Mar 7 02:34:06 UTC 2017

Hello all,

Below, please find the January 24, 2017 board meeting minutes.

National Federation of the Blind of Illinois

State Board Teleconference Minutes

January 24, 2017, 7pm (641-715-3273 code NFBI)

[THINGS TO DO:

State Legislative committee: prepare a letter pertaining to state
legislature website/s' capcha inaccessibility and any plans relating to
opposition to Sb9 (sugary beverage tax).

IABS: continue with spring seminar planning.

All: promote Scholarships (national and  state), Internships, and Spring
seminar (plus BELL when applicable) by contacting students you know or know
of directly, and DSS offices-go in person if you're a student.

PR and Social Media: be ready for any actions relating to bill SB9 and the
legislature capcha issue. Also promote state and national Scholarships,
Internship, Seminar (and BELL program).

All: contact Amy Bosko of IABS,  about becoming a mentor.

Randall: contact Emma Meyer for the community service segment of Spring
Seminar.

       *7pm CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL OF BOARD PRESENT:

Denise Avant (President)

Debbie Stein (First VP)

Dave Meyer (Second VP)

Glenn Moore (Secretary)

Patti Chang (Treasurer)

Bill Reif

Mary Grunwald

Cathy Randall

Steve Hastalis

Adrienne Falconer

Pat Olson

       GUESTS PRESENT:

Ed Birmingham

Bob Widman

Marco Giannotti

Jemal Powell

       *DECEMBER MINUTES (SENT JAN. 18):

       Randall moves to approve; Meyer seconds; motion carries.

       *2016 4th QUARTER TREASURY REPORT (SENT JAN. 17):

       Reif moves to approve; Grunwald seconds; motion carries.

       Chang: for an update; we've deposited $26,000 and written the
investment check.

       *2017 BUDGET (SENT JAN. 15):

       Chang summarized for those who had difficulty opening the file.

the board likes the reading clarity of the report.

       Cathy Randall, and perhaps George Villa and Emma Meyer will approach
Naperville Lions about additional funding for Freedom Link and internship
programs.

       *DEVELOPMENT REPORT (SENT JAN. 17)

       *NEWSLINE REPORT (SENT JAN. 19)

       Stein moves to approve both; Moore seconds; motion carries.

       PROGRAMS:

       *STATE LEGISLATION:

       Meyer: We've sent letters to Representatives Kelly and Fein relating
to the Parental Rights bill. 

We've talked about whether NFBI should take a position on Senate bill SB9
(proposed sugary beverage tax), which has had a hearing. Several of us tried
to respond with difficulty on the State website. It is inaccessible using
screen reading technology, which is of great concern.

Ed Birmingham explained that it would be a per-ounce tax on any sweetened
beverage not limited to cans or bottles-this would be on top of the county
tax in Cook.

       Reif: this includes hot drinks. It has no direction on how merchants
administer the tax and document consumption (such as in poured cups).

       Avant: a major problem is when people attempt to comment on the
government website, the capcha is inaccessible (without any audio).

       Chang: this problem limits our being able to communicate to the IL
legislature.

       Avant asks Reif and Meyer to draft a letter she can sign strongly
urging the legislature to correct this issue. It will need to be distributed
through all media channels.

       Reif: can draft it by Jan. 27.

       Chang moves the State legislative committee plan and communicate
NFBI's opposition to SB9 and take aggressive action to seek a solution to
the website capcha obstacle.

       Moore seconds.

       The Motion carries.

       *STUDENT SPRING SEMINAR:

       Moore: Since the last meeting, Catherine Webster has agreed to be our
NABS Rep. We've completed the flyer, and posted info to the website. MN says
they want to participate. We'll promote via NABS, PR and through
individual's networks. We've solidified the agenda except a couple
presentations. There will be an interactive mentoring presentation. The
Mentoring Committee is seeking mentors. If you have experience in the NFB,
and would like to share your success as a blind person, please contact Amy
Bosko of IABS to become a mentor.

       Avant: Emma Meyer said she is working out language for the
registration confirmation page to be ready very soon. She plans to solidify
the agenda by Feb. 1. The Seminar is April 22nd.

       Stein: we are considering a presentation about volunteer or public
service by blind youth.

       Randall will contact Emma Meyer about community service experience.

       Avant reiterates encouragement to volunteer as mentors by contacting
Amy Bosko.

       *NATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP:

       Chang: the National goal for applicants is 800. 200+ have applied,
but only 2 from IL. We must aggressively get the word out. The most common
way applicants have learned about the scholarship is they talked to an NFB
member personally. We must each talk to blind students or teachers we know
or can get in contact with about the program.

       Reif and Randall will promote scholarships with Illinois School for
the Visually Impaired (ISVI).

       *STATE SCHOLARSHIP:

       Stein: at State, it is similar, we have inquiries but no applicants
yet, after a second mailing to the schools list. Stein has more college
contacts which she will send to Chang. We can have the
scholarship-internship committee contact student coordinators at the
colleges and universities.

       Avant: has asked students to talk with their schools' DSS offices
directly (in case emails get overlooked).

       Chang: We should also focus on rehab counselors. 

Chang suggests that for schools' social media contacts, Moore can contact
Marsha Dyer. 

       Stein: IABS had a well planned scholarship presentation at the IABS
January meeting with Pam Allen and Jamie Ann Fuller. Many attended.

       *WASHINGTON SEMINAR:

       Chang: Meyer and Bob Gardner have almost all appointments. Seven
delegates are going and all attended the 2 training calls.

       Meyer: I feel optimistic that we will have more meetings with
congressmen themselves than is often possible.

       *OLD BUSINESS:

       *ISVI:

       Reif: talked with Jesse Rogers who plans to remain on the ISVI
advisory board. The Christmas party had inclement weather but we made the
most of it. the kids enjoyed a large gift to ISVI of a large game console.

       *GREAT LAKES BRAL CONTEST:

       Stein: We have 33 participants from all states except Indiana,  who
had their own statewide contest. 4 participants were from ISVI, though we
await reading logs. Reminders have gone out to submit reading logs, due Feb.
1. 

       *NO NEW BUSINESS

       8:17 pm: Moore Moves to adjourn; Grunwald seconds; motion carries.

Denise R. Avant, President

National Federation of the Blind of Illinois

Live the life you want.

For more information about NFBI, 

Go to www.nfbofillinois.org.