[il-talk] April 18 Amended NFBI Board Minutes

[Glenn III]

Good evening,
Below are the amended April minutes that were tabled.
So, for convenience, I've pasted the corrections (and brief notes of mine)
below my signature, so it's easy to locate the changes.
The amended minutes themselves are a plaintext attachment.

-Glenn Moore III

RE: April 18 State Board Minutes (first draft)
Inbox
Patti Chang
May 26 (4 days ago)
to davant[...]

This is what I see. Please be sure I get a final version for our archives.
I think some names are misspelled. Should be:
Brian Sumner
    <i didn't find the misspellings, but all I found are Sumner>
Marilyn Green
    <my appologies>
Rachel Olivero
I researched venbo
    <i misspelled
​ as​
"venzo", but upon search,
​only​
"venmo" comes up, so i
​amended as​
venmo">
If alderman Zalewski is retiring.
We are now working with a woman from DCFS who should be very good. She gets
it. She has done a lot of this kind of thing with the deaf. Patti will
reach back to her soon.
    <this seems to be the portion I couldn't hear under Parental Rights, so
I replaced my text there>
It is Rob Hobson not Bob.

Patti Chang Esq.
___________________________________________

David Meyer <datemeyer at mysero.net>
May 26 (4 days ago)
to davant19[...]

I have one correction and one point of clarification.
My correction is that the committee will receive recorded materials after
the student seminar, not after the National convention.
For purposes of clarification, "Reif and Randall will contact Rodney
Davis." Danny Davis has signed onto all of our initiatives.
-------------- next part --------------
National Federation of the Blind of Illinois
State Board Teleconference
641-715-3273 code 6324 (NFBI)
Wednesday, April 18, 2018

7pm	Call to Order
ROLL CALL OF BOARD PRESENT:
Denise Avant (president)
Debbie Stein (first vice president)
David Meyer (second vice president)
Glenn Moore (secretary)
Patti Chang (treasurer)
Bill Reif
Mary Grunwald
Cathy Randall
Steve Hastalis
Pat Olson
Adrienne Falconer

GUESTS:
Jemal Powell
Marilyn Green
Brian Sumner
Charlene Elder
Lois Montgomery
Linda Hendle
Danny Mandrell

FEBRUARY 18 SECRETARY’S MINUTES (sent mid-March):
Grunwald moves to approve; Randall seconds.
Meyer notes correction of “Illinois Committee of Blind Vendors”, not council.
The motion carries as corrected.

TREASURY UPDATE:
Chang: the account is at $143,000, not including the recent Abby Castle check ($3000) and roughly $500 in checks pending deposit, plus $50,000 in Athene investment.

PHONE CHARGER SALES ITEM:
Chang: Though some have brought payments, we haven’t broken even. Those who’ve taken chargers need to bring back money collected (please, no partial payments). I’ll bring chargers to Student seminar—people should take some to sell there and at national convention. We need people to sell; the board should lead the way. Reif could take some to the Vendors conference.
Reif: can we consider accepting Apple Pay?
Chang: I’ve asked Rachael Olivero to setup our National office to do so—once we work that out, we may try locally. I’ve also researched Venmo and Zell (which is not available for business accounts).

MEMBERSHIP DATABASE:
Chang: We use an excel spreadsheet with some 700 contacts, which is extensive for one person to manage, and we need to delegate this process. It is simplest if each chapter collect membership data, access a shared file, and update their info. I would train these individuals and keep a backup. It only requires basic excel skills and we should use DropBox as the access point.
Avant explains the size of task for one person alone managing the file, and suggests chapter presidents appoint a point-person.
Moore moves that each chapter president designate a person to take training by Chang on the database, collect member information, and update it into the database on a regular basis.
Reif seconds.
Avant will give chapters till May 3 to identify a person and let Avant know so Chang can contact them for training.
The motion carries
Avant will contact Student president about the motion [all other chapters’ presidents are on the call]

NEW ITEM: BSPC PROPOSED BLIND AND DEAF SERVICES MERGER:
Avant: at the BSPC meeting April 6, John Gordon’s report says there is an early stage proposal to combine services for the blind and deaf into one. A reason said is councilors don’t have enough work. Important questions remain. Stein, Meyer, Ed Birmingham, Leslie Hamric, Andrew Webb, and I met to discuss. We sent a letter to Gordon (shared with all council members and ICB), asking what structure this would take, what training would councilors receive, etc. and left it open for others to add questions. This was sent today, asking acknowledgment by April 27, though details may come thereafter. We want to know what the source of the proposal is, if it is mainly administrative, we anticipate input from other stakeholders. President Riccobono mirrors that we have concerns but to find out more is the first thing to do. We want more than anecdotal information to base a position. The notes from the council meeting on the 6th said ICRE Wood and BEP will not be altered, and that Mr. Gordon would contact us about this—though our letter to him is the first correspondence.
The board discuss concerns. Avant will reprise this topic and update us as she learns more.

BRAILLE EMBOSSER:
Reif: there are a couple dots that no longer work, and cannot be fixed by moving the margin. I’ve called for a quote from Humanware (who now services what Enabling Technology used to while it was in business).
Avant: experience has been that you send the printer, pay fee to examine it, then they give a quote for the repair. We bought this embosser recently, and it’s important for our brand to be readily able to provide our material in braille. This has to be settled before Convention at the latest.
Randall moves to authorize Avant or Reif to spend a set amount to fix the brailler as she/he thinks necessary—Chang suggests $1000—which Randall accepts.
Grunwald seconds.
The motion carries.
Chang: the manufacturer applies the estimate payment toward the repair, if we decide to go forward.

LEGISLATION:
POST-WASHINGTON-SEMINAR:
	Green: I posted our progress on IL-Talk today. 3 months out from Washington, we have 9 congress members signed to HR 1772 (Aim High). It took work, and checking the website [that posts status’ of bills]. Green (and Powel) mention congress members cosponsoring.
	Green, Allison Slaughter, and Congressman Danny Davis are thanked by board members.
	Green: 7 congressmen and women have signed onto Access Technology (including Foster)
	Reif and Randall will contact Rodney Davis’ office.

	..GUIDEDOG STATE LEGISLATION:
	Reif: a current IL State Assembly bill is largely a rewording of Rep. Natalie Manley’s prior bill. It proposes to define what a service dog is (but that would mean one that has gone through a specified training through Assistance Dogs International . The bill has gone straight to rules and won’t get a vote this year, though it has been in play since last year and kept its bill number. Bill 3162, from last year, has not moved, but I will recheck. Any of these bills can be called for a hearing, which involves more legislators.

Chang: We were notified Chicago alderman Burke (Chair of Aviation Committee) planned to introduce a City Council ordinance (which conflates service animals and emotional support animals) proposing any dog owner have to furnish a City form certifying their dog by an ‘authority’ to be allowed to pass through any Chicago Airports. It contradicts the Air Carrier Access Act and ADA in several respects. It would even strand blind passengers unexpectedly diverted to O’Hare. We contacted the law department and Hastalis has reached to the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities. Given the opposition expressed, it seems the Alderman will let it go away, but we have gotten no response to our request to either drop the ordinance or amend to not include service-animals, and have not gotten a meeting with Burke after many requests. We need to push Aviation to let us know whether it is up for a hearing. If alderman Zalewski is retiring soon, aviation matters may be on pause for a time. The lack of response means we should strengthen our chapter relations with the City.
Avant: without an expiration, the Chicago chapter (and guide dog committee who meets at the BSA) should track of this, and be the first to pick-up-on guide-dog and other blindness issues in the city.
Reif: for background, this went back to a peacock on Delta, which lead to a Delta policy that Delta refined after we’d made issue of it.
Powell: the Chairman of the Aviation committee retires May 31, but we should monitor this if there’s action surrounding that time.

BLIND PARENTAL RIGHTS:
Chang: We are now working with a lady from DCFS who has done good work for deaf interests.
Chang will contact her soon.

SUBMINIMUM WAGE:
	Reif: Subminimum wage was an amendment last year to a shell bill. Though the amendment was voted down by the labor and commerce subcommittee, there were many sponsors at the time of its hearing. The bill was voted down in hearing—no testimony appears to have been taken. The bill remains as before amended.
Avant suggests we begin now to craft and circulate among legislators a subminimum wage bill even for next year’s legislative session—as we’d done with parental rights. We need momentum by January.
Chang moves NFBI officially take the position to support phasing out subminimum wage in IL and direct the State Legislation committee to prepare and promote a bill or language to our elected state officials.
Moore seconds; the motion carries.
Reif: also note, many of us filed witness slips on record.
Avant lets the committee leaders know our national office has resources that can augment this project, and that we need to focus on securing a sponsor and cosponsors.

STATE REPORTS:
	PUBLIC-RELATIONS / SOCIAL-MEDIA:
	Moore: through the last month, we have sent a multi-program message to lists (media, parents, teachers, students, schools, and blindness organizations), with focus on the student seminar to students and schools. We have made follow up calls to media channels to disseminate our messaging. We have a new FaceBook page (which gives more content control than the FaceBook group that we’ve had). Robert Hansen has given credentials to myself, Chang, and Avant, and bob and I have posted. He has sent some “friend requests”, but there is more to learn about the interface. The next meeting is Tuesday, May 1, which I will post to IL-Talk prior. We are seeking additional people to help with fanouts.
Avant: for our brand, we want to be a strong social media presence, to get out the word of who we are and what we’re doing, and our programs, particularly to younger blind people. The committee will need to be very active on FaceBook. Dustin Cather, Chang, Allison Slaughter and Moore are driving twitter content. Pat Olson has come onto the committee, and people don’t need to be on the committee to help with fanouts now and again.

BELL:
Chang: We have locations (including the Springfield Northfield Inn hotel) and dates (Chicago in July, with Springfield right after), plus information and applications on the state website. With a third teacher and only 8 Chicago and 6 Springfield applicants, we need more people signing up. PR is key for this. Amy and I have reached to Second Sense, the Lighthouse, etc.  The most recent Slate Pals list will need to go to PR. The next meeting is April 24 at 7:30.
Avant: I will receive national scholarship numbers soon, but signs are they are down. I interviewed over a dozen national applicants. Chang and Stein sent emails to promote both state and national scholarships. I asked students to contact their colleges to get the word out.

STATE SCHOLARSHIP:
Stein: numbers are also down from 26 last year to 18, who are strong applicants. We did get the word out similarly as past years. Scholarship has been a great way to build long-term relationships with the affiliate. I will get accessible material (recorded by Francisco Chang) to the committee after student seminar. We have 1 internship applicant.

BUDDY PROGRAM:
Avant: in January we paid for slots at BLIND Inc. Now Stein has found worthy candidates to go.
	Stein: we have 3 IL students applied for the program.
	Stein tells the board about the applicants and their families.

	MIDWEST STUDENT SEMINAR:
	Avant: the seminar is April 20—22 at the Holiday Inn O’Hare. The agenda has been on the website. IL is hosting and working with NABS to reach more students in the region. We have 47 registered, largely from Michigan, plus Minnesota, Iowa State president, and one from Iowa. John Ericson, Kareem Dale (who worked in the White House and now at Discover) are on a career panel. Maurice Paret (heads mentoring nationally), Rob Hobson, and Cody Beardsley have panels on internships, “Why I am a Young Federationist”, etc. Katherine Webster is representing NABS. Panels have been meeting, and it looks like it will be a full weekend.

	AUGUST BOARD MEETING:
	The board discuss dates for the August board meeting, which is settled on Sat., Aug 25th. All board members express they are available. Chang will check the hotels availability and make arrangements; Moore will calendar once confirmed.

STATE CONVENTION:
Avant: the 50th Anniversary convention is Oct. 25—28, at the Sheraton Chicago, 6501 Mannheim Rd. Rosemont, concurrent with ICBV conference.
Hastalis: the anniversary committee has had good discussion. The theme is [not quoting a title] ‘commemorating the past and building the future’. Ramona Walhof would be a good national rep. as someone integrally involved in our past. We’d like a tribute Saturday morning, something at banquet, and will explore formatting a dramatic reading for Braille is Beautiful Sunday morning, relating to the anniversary.
Avant: I will check availability then submit national rep. requests to president Riccobono in order of, Anil Lewis, Jeanne Massay, and Amy Burris. We need to consider travel expense if Walhof is a special invite. As meals are known, the unknown is flight and ground transport.
Chang moves we designate a person to approve travel expenditure prior to deciding to cover travel.
Randall seconds; the motion carries.
Avant will find out if Walhof is available.
Hastalis: anniversary committee meetings will be monthly, starting Wed. May 16, 7pm, 641-715-3273 code NFBI.
Avant: the committee has a theme, any thoughts or alternatives for this or national reps?
Grunwald: we chose this theme to both talk about the past and emphasize transition to the future.
Avant: there is only a little agenda space open. Lunch Saturday is 3 hours combined for students and vendors. We need to invite one or 2 speakers for the morning and a couple for the afternoon, plus time to talk about our programs. With fewer speakers as past years, we could have different speakers with small time slots or one speaker with a lot of time.
	Board members express preference for multiple speakers with shorter times.
	Avant notes time considerations, whether speakers will need 15 minutes to half an hour, Banquet considerations, etc.
Stein says she is working on blind parents programming for lunch and Saturday breakfast.

	NATIONAL CONVENTION:
	Avant: dates are July 3—8, in Orlando.
	Chang moves we contribute $1000 to TenBroek, White Cane, Jernigan, and SUN, and $500 to Kid Kamp; Randall seconds; the motion carries.

	Avant: if you know someone who needs assistance to convention, have them go to our website and fill out the Chappell-Dennis form and return it to me by May 1.

PAC:
Avant: Our individual and affiliate donations to PAC help fund programs, legislative action, etc. IL now ranks 22nd at $630 per month, behind Washington state and Iowa. We’ve improved, however from around 28th. There’s room to improve, but we have made effort to up our contributions. You can join for as little as $5 per month deducted from your credit or debit card. Chang or I can get you the form to fill out.

KEY MEETINGS AT NATIONAL:
Avant: Jen White will be reaching to people to help for a time at the independence market, please give some of your time. We have many meetings which we need to be covered and reported on at or prior to the August board meeting. I will have a list once the agenda is released, which will include communications, library committee, vendors, guide dog, etc.
	Sumner volunteers to cover membership.

IL SOCIAL:
Avant: people seemed to enjoy last years’ arrangement. Our pre-convention social gathering can be in my room like last year. People can make contributions if they wish.
	After discussion, the board determines this would be Ambassador’s day (before Seminar day).

IL CAUKUS:
	The board discuss caucus times, and determine the caucus would be July 5th (before the National Board Meeting).
	Avant will request John Burbon keep the same schedule, of 7:30am and we need to finish by 8:30.

JERNIGAN TICKETS:
Avant will inquire if she doesn’t receive them by the next day, but will be selling tickets for $10 once available.

OLD BUSINESS:
CODE OF CONDUCT:
Avant inquires if we should modify protocols to reflect our adopted code. The board express preference both to amend and not amend, but discuss settles at the point that it would be logistically simpler to leave protocols as is, and the code of conduct as an independent document as it is updated over time.
Chang: we should consider protocol for room reservations. We’d said we would put 3 people to a room of same gender (which excluded couples, but also any pair of people). Now that we will put 2 to a room, it can be costlier to not simply let a couple room together.
Chang moves to amend the room policy to allow NFBI to arrange rooms with 2 people in a room in whatever arrangement is most cost-efficient, regardless of gender, if both people agree (though cover the cost portion for only individuals working the event).
Reif seconds; the motion carries.

NEW BUSINESS:
	Avant congratulates Marilyn Green, affiliate-active for a number of years, but now president of At-Large Chapter, and along with Alison Slaughter, pivotal in our Washington Seminar leadership and success. Avant also thanks Linda Hendle for her service as At-Large President for 3 years.

Grunwald moves to adjourn; Reif seconds.
9:09pm	Meeting adjourned.