[IL-Talk] at large minutes april 2021

[David Meyer]

NFBI AT LARGE MEETING

APRIL 4, 2021

President Marilyn Green called the meeting to order at approximately 
7:05 PM. We did not have a formal program in April, as elections were 
the focus for this month.

National Presidential Release: NFB President, Mark Riccobono presided. 
Some of the highlights were as follows.
1.      The National Office has put together a survey concerning the 
accessibility of websites where one can make appointments for Covid 
vaccinations. We are all encouraged to fill out the survey.
2.      We are sponsoring Dan Parker, a blind racer who will attempt to 
break the speed record of a blindfolded driver.
3.      H.R431 the Access Technology Affordability Act has 71 
cosponsors in the house and 15 cosponsors in the senate. The senate 
number for this bill is S212. S1, the “For the People Act” has passed 
the house and is now being considered in the senate. President 
Riccobono has written a letter to all senators asking that the bill be 
amended so that the access to voting we have gained thanks to the Help 
America Vote Act will be retained. You can find a copy of the letter on 
our policy page. Please write Senators Duckworth and Durbin, asking 
them to support our amendments.
4.      The Survivor lead Task force is continuing to work on make the 
federation a safer, more inclusive place for all of us. Rainn training 
has begun with approximately 250 members having gone through it.
5.      We now have a new group in the federation for blind muslims. 
The chair is Tasnie Attulie.
6.      The convention will take place via zoom, July 6-10. Maryland is 
the host affiliate.
7.      We will begin to accept funds from chapters divisions and 
groups to our National funds on May 1. Please declare your contribution 
by July 5 and send it to the National office by August 1 if 
possible.Contributions will be recognized during the honor rollcall at 
convention.
8.      For door prizes, please make checks payable to the National 
Federation of the Blind and include door prize in the memo line. Checks 
and gift cards may be sent to 200 East Wells Street at Jernigan Place, 
Baltimore MD 21230.
9.      A fillable PDF registration form has been posted to our 
website. Please assist members who do not have e-mail by filling out 
the form and e-mailing it to the National office.
10.     Several federation members passed away during the month of 
March and two new members were born.
If one wishes to hear the Presidential release in its entirety, go to 
www.nfb.org, click on publications and media, and finally, click onto 
presidential release.

Marilyn Green gave the state report. She urged all of us to register 
for the National convention in July. She also mentioned the 
congressional members from Illinois who have signed onto H.R431. They 
include Bobby Rush, Robyn Kelly, Jesus Garcia, Raja Krishnamoorthy, Jan 
Schakowsky, Brad Schneider, Mike Bost, Rodney Davis and Lauren 
Underwood. Please write your congress person if they have yet to sign 
onto the bill. We hope to have a face-to-face convention in Illinois 
this year. If we do, it along with the face-to-face board meeting will 
occur at the Sheriton Hotel in Lysle. Whether we are live or on zoomn, 
the convention will occur October 22-24, 2021.

Elections: Marilyn stated that she would not be running for At Large 
President this year. She thanked every             one for their 
support over the last three years. The following people were elected 
for the coming year. President, David Meyer, Vice-President, Leslie 
Hamric, Secretary-Treasurer, Bill Reif, and board members Debbie 
Pittman and Danny Mandrell.

There was no old or new business.

The next at large meeting will take place on May 2 at 7:00 PM.

The meeting adjourned at 8:20 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,

Bill Reif, Secretary-Treasurer.