[il-talk] BELL Comm notes 6/19/18

[Patti Chang]

Thanks to Debbie for a nice set of notes. We appreciate your time and all that you do. 

BELL Committee Notes

June 19, 2018 7:00 pm.

 

Members in attendance: Patti Chang, Brooklyn Geers, Amy Lund, Lauren Mehalek, Bill Reif, Kaitlyn Ryan, Debbie Stein, Chaquita Vinson, Lewis Wood

Sarah Luna 

Patti Chang announced that we just got a $500 check from the Boone Family Foundation. She expressed her appreciation for Cathy Randall's great work in raising funds.

 

Amy and Chaquita reported on the recruitment of volunteers. Chaquita has heard positively from Sara Luna, Amy Bosko, and Debbie Stein. For Chicago BELL, Sara will volunteer all days except the last two. Chaquita will volunteer all classroom days. Debbie will volunteer on trip days both weeks. Janna Stein will volunteer for trip days during the second week. Lauren has recruited Peter Tucic for the second Thursday. Patti said that Katie Leinum and Kaitlyn Ryan will be staying with her and volunteering both weeks. She will send Katie's contact information to Chaquita. Emma Meyer is a possibility for Chicago. We need to be sure which days Amy Bosko is available. Mary Lou Grunwald is a possibility. Patti will reach out to Rebecca Leon. If we need more volunteers we can ask Denise Avant. Lauren will recruit one O&M from her program. Chaquita will put out additional announcements at need  about our need for volunteers on IL-Talk and relay the responses to Amy. We have ten children signed up for Chicago BELL.

 

For Springfield volunteers we have Katie Leinum and Bill Reif. Perhaps Emma Meyer and/or Amy Bosko can volunteer if we provide them with a hotel room. Sara Luna and Chaquita Vinson are also possibilities. They will both check and confirm whether they can volunteer. 

 

Patti explained that the people who travel to Springfield to volunteer will be provided with a hotel room and food allowance from July 29 through August 3. Considering that we have twelve families registered for the program and a number of out-of-town volunteers, Amy will reserve another room. Amy explained the differences between the Chicago and Springfield programs. Springfield involves a lot more interaction with parents, and the parents love talking to blind students. 

 

We need to put all of the volunteers' information into a spreadsheet for the national office so they can run background checks. These checks are in addition to the checks run by the Chicago Lighthouse for Chicago BELL volunteers. Amy will teach Chaquita to create a spreadsheet. The spreadsheet should be in Excel rather than Google Docs.

 

Amy is still trying to work out a kayakking field trip. She has not been getting any response after several phone calls and emails. A trip to the beach will be the backup plan. Judo is all lined up, thanks to Sara's help. 

 

Amy emailed all of the Chicago families yesterday with drop-off and pick-up instructions and information about clothing and food. She mentioned the Facebook group that will allow parents to connect. She also emailed the Springfie'ld families about hotel arrangements and asked them to confirm whether they need a room. 

 

Amy is leaning toward roller-skating for a Springfield activity. There will be a Friday picnic with pizza. 

 

Patti pointed out that we must build in a way to get appreciation letters from the parents. Amy told the Springfield parents that they must include a letter when they submit their receipts for reimbursement. They won't all be like the letter from Angela Raske last year, but we need them all! 

 

One Springfield family already is planning to attend convention. At convention the families will have the opportunity to meet the vendors, because this is a joint convention. We will provide one room per family, plus meals and registration. We don't generally cover travel to and from convention, but can think about it on a case-by-case basis.     

 

We don't need to hold another formal meeting. We can communicate among ourselves as necessary.

 

Notes submitted by Debbie Stein  

 


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Patti Chang Esq.

Treasurer

National Federation of the Blind of Illinois

(773) 307-6440 

 <http://www.nfbofillinois.org/> www.nfbofillinois.org

 

Find us on twitter: “NFBI”

Search for “National Federation of the Blind of Illinois” on facebook.

 

From: Chang, Patti [mailto:PChang at nfb.org] 
Sent: Tuesday, June 19, 2018 5:34 AM
To: Chang, Patti <pattischang at gmail.com>; 'Amy Lund' <alund at springfield.k12.il.us>; brooklyngeers at gmail.com; 'Lauren Mehalek' <lauren.mehalek at gmail.com>; 'Chaquita Vinson' <chaquitavin at aol.com>; 'Sara Luna' <crazyqueen34 at gmail.com>; 'Bill Reif' <billreif at ameritech.net>; 'Lewis Wood' <lewislwood at gmail.com>; State President, Illinois <davant1958 at gmail.com>; Stein, Deborah <DKent5817 at att.net>; 'Julieta Meyer' <julietameyer at yahoo.com>; 'Emma Meyer' <meyeremma13 at gmail.com>; 'Katie Leinum' <kayteaell at gmail.com>; 'Chris Distefano' <chrisvending9 at gmail.com>
Cc: 'NFB of Illinois Mailing List' <il-talk at nfbnet.org>; Chang, Patti <pattischang at gmail.com>
Subject: RE: BELL Comm notes and next mtg 6/19 at 7:00

 

Please don’t forget we have a BELL committee meeting tonight. Call 641 715 3273 and use code 235518. 

 

 

Patti Chang Esq.

(410) 659-9314, extension 2422

 

From: Patti Chang [mailto:pattischang at gmail.com] 
Sent: Thursday, May 31, 2018 7:41 PM
To: 'Amy Lund' <alund at springfield.k12.il.us <mailto:alund at springfield.k12.il.us> >; brooklyngeers at gmail.com <mailto:brooklyngeers at gmail.com> ; 'Lauren Mehalek' <lauren.mehalek at gmail.com <mailto:lauren.mehalek at gmail.com> >; 'Chaquita Vinson' <chaquitavin at aol.com <mailto:chaquitavin at aol.com> >; 'Sara Luna' <crazyqueen34 at gmail.com <mailto:crazyqueen34 at gmail.com> >; 'Bill Reif' <billreif at ameritech.net <mailto:billreif at ameritech.net> >; 'Lewis Wood' <lewislwood at gmail.com <mailto:lewislwood at gmail.com> >; State President, Illinois <davant1958 at gmail.com <mailto:davant1958 at gmail.com> >; Stein, Deborah <DKent5817 at att.net <mailto:DKent5817 at att.net> >; 'Julieta Meyer' <julietameyer at yahoo.com <mailto:julietameyer at yahoo.com> >; 'Emma Meyer' <meyeremma13 at gmail.com <mailto:meyeremma13 at gmail.com> >; 'Katie Leinum' <kayteaell at gmail.com <mailto:kayteaell at gmail.com> >; 'Chris Distefano' <chrisvending9 at gmail.com <mailto:chrisvending9 at gmail.com> >
Cc: 'NFB of Illinois Mailing List' <il-talk at nfbnet.org <mailto:il-talk at nfbnet.org> >; Chang, Patti <PChang at nfb.org <mailto:PChang at nfb.org> >
Subject: BELL Comm notes and next mtg 6/19 at 7:00

 

BELL Committee Notes 5/31/18 

Call in line 641 715 3273 code 235518 

 

Agenda:

Agenda:

Dates

Hotels 

Field trips 

Outreach calls 

Volunteers 

Background checks 

Acknowledgement letters

State convention 

 

 

Present on the call: Amy Lund, Debbie Stein, Patti Chang, Brooklyn Geers, Denise Avant, Katie, Lauren, Steve, Bill

 

Discussed:

Lauren will commute in Chicago.

Brooklyn will help Amy in Chicago on July 6 to unload and set up.

Springfield Field trips- roller skating or Lincoln sites.

Maybe uber for the younger kids on the field trips in Chicago

Volunteers-need to get ASAP for background checks- do EVERYONE

Plan to get acknowledgment letters-Write the letters in Springfield, Braille notes from kids. Tactile art project for younger kids. 

State Convention- teachers attend, present at breakfast and lunch? Coordinate with the student organization. 

Start telling families now to attend state convention

 

To Do: 

Amy send Patti Chicago hotel info 

Amy will contact Chaquita ASAP about volunteers

Amy will contact Springfield hotel for another room.

Amy will follow up on Kayaking 

Amy will talk with Sara or Bret Wolf about Judo field trip.

Patti will send Brett Wolf's information to Amy.

 

Next meeting June 19, 7:00 pm

Prior notes: 4/28/18 

 

NFBI committee meeting 

4/24/18 7:30 PM

641 715 3273 code 235518          

 

Agenda:

Dates

Hotels 

Field trips 

Outreach calls 

Volunteers 

Background checks 

Acknowledgement letters

State convention 

 

Present 

Patti Chang 

Amy Lund

Bill Reif 

Sara Luna 

Debbie Stein 

Chaquita Vinson

 

Initial matter:

Patti relayed that she will need a conversation with Brooklyn Geers one of our teachers. 

 

Dates 

Dates are set. Chicago July 9-20. Springfield 7/30-8/4.

We are at the Y in the gym or the pool. Church is set. 

 

Hotel 

Chicago is all set. 

Springfield - Northfield Inn and suites. Parents will probably drive. 

Amy to check on Springfield Access. Share rides if need be. 

 

Field trips 

Amy figuring out fieldtrips for Springfield. 

Roller skating.

Maybe Lincoln home with Amy making things accessible.

 

Chgo:

Chicago - Kayak is happening. Pool maybe but river would be better.

Beep kick ball 

Grocery shopping 

Judo 17th or 19th on the Northside. 17th would be preferrable. 

Sara to follow up on Judo. 

Amy to send Sarah list of questions for Bret. 

 

Outreach:

Debbie to reach out to Sarah, Linda and both Pams for outreach 

Bill, Julieta, and Chaquita to finish calls. 

 

Volunteers 

Amy and Chaquita to meet on volunteers. Chaquita to coordinate but Amy needs to explain.  

Katlin Ryan, Amy Bosco, and Emma Meyer are good potential young people. 

Debbie Stein and Janna Stein are a maybe.

Bill and Robert are good too.

Peter T. NIU students through Lauren. 

 

Background checks 

We want to check everyone.

Patti to reach out to Denise to do background checks on all and 

We will all send names and emails to Amy to develop Excel spreadsheet with all volunteers to go to our national office. 

 

Thank you/Acknowledgemtn letters 

We will ask kids to do them as part of the program and we will let parents know that we need theirs before I can issue checks or other documentation. 

 

State convention 

All teachers are expected to attend state convention. This will be considered if they reapply.

All parents will be asked early on to come to convention and we will let them know that some financial assistance is available. 

 

Next Mtg

5/24/18 at 7:00 PM

641 715 3273 code 235518

 

 

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