[IL-Talk] At Large chapter minutes-September 2019

Tue Oct 29 22:16:02 UTC 2019

I have a correction. I was not at the September meeting. I did attend in October.

-----Original Message-----
From: IL-Talk [mailto:il-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Marilyn Green via IL-Talk
Sent: Tuesday, October 29, 2019 1:04 PM
To: NFB of Illinois Mailing List; iabs-talk at nfbnet.org
Cc: Marilyn Green
Subject: [IL-Talk] At Large chapter minutes-September 2019

NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND OF ILLINOIS

SEPTEMBER 1,   2019

AT LARGE MEETING MINUTES

AT LARGE MEETING MINUTES

PRESENT:    President Marilyn green, Natalie Shaheen, Bridget Burke,
Dave Meyer, Winfred O'Gilvie,  Holly Richmond, State  President Denise
Avant,  Danny
Mandrel, Yvonne Agyarko, Leslie  Hamrik, Ryan Wilms, Jamal Powell
Charlene Elder and Debbie  Pittman.  The meeting was called to order
at 7:05 p.m.

THINGS TO DO

1.  Green:  Put out on Il-talk and send to Marko and Ellen from IABS the

song "Ease on down the Road" song of choice for At Large in Battle of
the chapters.

2.        Green: Put the words and the link to the U-tube version
of the song “Ease On Down the Road” on Il-talk.

3.         Everyone:  Those going to State convention get
Chappell-Dennis application in today.

4.        Everyone:  Those going to convention   register by September
27 with the hotel for rooms.

5.        Everyone:  Those going to convention register by October 4,
2019 to get early registration rates and notify Chang of meal choices
by October
4.

6.          Green:  Put out the  September minutes and October minutes
on Il-talk and get them to Meyer for Newsline.

7.  Everyone:  Contact your state reps to get them to support our
legislative efforts.

MISCELLANEOUS

Prayers go out to Linda for her death in the family.

Secretary's Minutes

Green reported that there were technical problems with the May

minutes.  However the June and August minutes were posted on

IABS-TALK, Newsline and Il-talk.

MOTION

Pittman moved to table the May minutes.  It was seconded by

Hamrik and unanimously carried.

MOTION

Hamrik moved to approve the June 2019 minutes.  It was seconded

by Pittman and unanimously carried.

MOTION

Mandrel moved to approve the August 2019 minutes.  It was

seconded by O'Gilvie.

Pittman expressed that O'Gilvie's name was not spelled correctly.

MOTION

Pittman moved that the August minutes be approved with the

correction of O'Gilvie's last name.  It was seconded by Hamrik

and  unanimously carried.

NFB PLEDGE

I pledge to participate actively in the efforts of the national

Federation of the Blind, to achieve equality, opportunity and

security for the blind, to support the policies and programs of

the federation and to abide by its constitution.

PRESIDENTIAL RELEASE:

No presidential  release.

STATE REPORT

State convention:   Avant gave the state report.  The bulletin

will be release this week.  Convention will be October 18, 19 and

20th.  Avant is waiting for a politician to get back to her.  It

will start at 2:00 p.m. with a sculpting activity by Ralph

Constintino.   Theme"  On the cutting edge of leadership"

suggested by a student.  There will be two breakfasts, a student

and parent breakfast.    Dan Wendzel, is the National rep who is

now the director of   the Wisconsin Center for the Visually

Impaired. Elizabeth Rouse is the student NABS rep from Iowa.

Those needing financial assistance must get the form in today

September 1. The form is available on our website at

nfbofillinois.org
under Chappell-Dennis. Avant asked that the forms be kept in an
accessible format and e-mailed to her.  The committee will be meeting
this week.    The
convention is in Springfield at the Windom Springfield City Center.
The cutoff date is September 27.  The room rates are $99 a night.
The

preregistration form  and meals form are due by October 4.    If
people wait until convention the cost will be more for meals and
registration.  Chang
and Meyer will volunteer their time for assisting those who need help
filling out the forms.   Chang's number is 773-307-6440 and Meyer's
number is 708-606-7091.
Avant continued by saying that there is kids camp for the kids and

Stein will be having some activities for kids.   Kids camp is for ages 3 to 11.

Avant added that kids 12 and over  can join the student lunch.

Kids can participate in IABS Idols.

Washington Seminar:     Forms are due for Washington seminar on
December 1.   The great gathering in will be February 10, 2020.

Ryan asked for help with his I-Phone and reported that he has a new number.

FEDERAL LEGISLATION:  Green reported that we're not doing that

well in Illinois this year.  Tammy  Duckworth is on the Access
Technology Affordability Act which is S815 and we also have an
agreement from Rep. Jan Schakowsky
to cosponsor the Access Technology Affordability Act which is HR2086
in the House.  The transformation to competitive employment Act which
is also known
as the Time Act which is   the Transitioning  to integrating

Meaningful Employment  which is HR873 in the House and S260 in

the Senate.  We are doing better on the TIME Act.  Tammy Duckworth is
cosponsoring the TIME Act.  In the House representative Jan Schakowsky
 and Representative
Jesús G. “Chuy” García  cosponsoring the TIME Act.   The newest piece
of information for Illinois is that Illinois' own Rep. Jan Schakowsky
is an originating
cosponsor for the GAIN Act which is in the House under HR 3929.  The
GAIN Act stands for Greater Access and Independence through Nonvisual
Access Technology
Act. Information has been sent to all of our congressmen and both
senators in Illinois and we were requested to make contact with our
reps to see if they
will support us.   The GAIN Act is new

and has only been circulating since July 24.  The Access Technology
Affordability Act will give a $2,000 refundable tax credit for our
expense of access
technology.  For example refreshable Braille displays.  The
Transformation   to competitive employment Act has been worked on by
the  Federation for a
number of  years.  It is to phase out Section 14 C of the fair labor
standards Act that allows  not-for-profits which hold a 14C
certificate to pay less
than minimum wage to their disabled workers.  Green went on to explain
the GAIN  Act.  GAIN is to establish minimum standards for home
appliances, home
medical equipment and sports equipment  for these devices to be made

accessible out of the box.  Green is our federal legislation go-to person.

PROGRAM ITEM

Green explained that the Merchants division won battle of the chapters
and so now the theme this year will be  movie sound tracks.

It was decided to go with "Ease on down the road"  from the Wiz.

Green will post it to Il-talk and send it to Marko and Ellen. Also
Green will put the words and the link to the U-tube version of the
song on Il-talk.
There will possibly be a practice session at 6:30 or 6:45 the day of
idols.  It was recommended to listen to the song a lot and go for
yourselves.

NEW MEMBERS

Bridget Burke and Natalie Shaheen joined us. They are both from
Marilyn.  Natalie is originally from Columbus Ohio.  She moved to
Illinois to take a job
as a professor at Illinois State University. Natalie also participated
in our student parents seminar a  few years ago.

Note:  Green was kicked off the call and so part of Bridget's story is
missed because Green was recording. Bridget is in Bloomington Normal
Illinois.

MOTION

Pittman moved to welcome Natalie and Bridget.  It was seconded by

Hamrik and unanimously carried.

OLD BUSINESS

Chicago Chapter will be having a read-a-thon on October 12 at the

Exchequer from 1 to 4 and anyone wishing to pledge should contact Dave Meyer at

708-606-7091 or datemeyer at sbcglobal.net.

NEW BUSINESS

Avant reported that the next state board meeting will be Sunday
September 29 at 7 p.m.  It will be the last board meeting before
convention . The call
in number is 605-313-4819 and the code is

6324.

scholarship applications:  Scholarship applications come out

November 1 2019 and are due by March 31, 2020.   National

deadline time for applications is March 31 2020 11:59 p.m. eastern time. The

Illinois application is March 31, 2020  11:59 p.m. Central time.

Next meeting:  The next meeting will be August 4, 2019 at 7:00

pm.

Hamrik reported that Kalakh  James recently had a book published on
Amazon and Elizabeth Brecker a student of her for five years in
Braille music and secretary
of IABS has started at Roosevelt University as a piano performance
major on August 17 and is doing very well. Hamrik also gave two
websites for I-Phone

help.
blindcooltech.org
 and
applevis.com
 for resources.  there is also a number for Apple accessibility help:
877-204-3930.

New members were strongly encouraged to join Il-talk and IABS-talk to
keep abreast of Illinois events and Also Facebook at Illinois.org

ADJOURNMENT

MOTION

Hamrik made a motion to adjourn.  It was seconded by  Elder and

unanimously carried.

The meeting adjourned at 8:14 p.m.

Respectfully submitted by

Debbie Pittman on behalf of Charlene Elder

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