[IL-Talk] at large minutes june 2021

[David Meyer]

NFBI At Large Chapter

Minutes of meeting held June 22nd, 2021

Members present: President Dave Meyer, Marilyn Green, Secretary Bill 
Reif, Debbie Pittman, Danny Mandrell, Linda Hendle, Dan Tevelte, and 
John Holtgreve. Attendees:  Steve Hastalas, Ken Chad, Jemal Powell, and 
Tammy Hamton.

Marilyn moved, and Dan seconded, that Minutes for the May meeting be 
tabled until or unless the secretary can reassemble a record of what 
happened and who attended. The secretary did report that, according to 
memory,  there was no Presidential Release at the May meeting and that 
the program item consisted of a detailed reading and review of the NFBs 
most recent revisions to its Code of Conduct. All members and others 
participating in NFB-sponsored events are considered to have agreed to 
abide by this code.

Debby Pittman introduced the meetings program item. Tammy Hamton works 
in an embroidery shop with her Godmother. The shop specializes 
primarily in Masonic regalia, and also produces merchandise for sports 
teams, etc. She described some of the non-visual techniques and 
technologies she uses in the process of taking phone orders, directing 
customers to what they are looking for, making sales, processing 
refunds if necessary, and identifying money. She said the iPhone app 
Seeing AI has proven very helpful in describing colors or pictures and 
in identifying money.

Dave Meyer reported that we now have $451 and change in our Treasury. 
The At Large treasury is held as a sub account of the NFBI as it is now 
small enough not to make sense to have its own account. We discussed 
whether the At Large Chapter, in conjunction with our upcoming NFB 
Convention, should contribute to one or more of the funds through which 
the NFB is financed. The purpose of each of four funds was discussed. 
Bill Reif moved, and Marilyn seconded, that we donate $100 to the 
Kenneth Jernigan Fund, a fund which financially assists those wishing 
to attend their first National convention. Aside from a $150 donation 
in the past, our expenses have been limited to funding our State 
Conventions pizza party. It was noted that this year, unlike last, 
there will be a hybrid convention. Debbie Pittman moved, and bill 
seconded, an amendment to donate $25 each to the Jernigan, the White 
Cane, the Tenbroek and the SUN funds. This amendment was voted down. 
The original motion to donate $100 to the Jernigan Fund passed four to two.

State Report:

Marilyn reported that registration is still open for National 
Convention, but you will not be able to vote if you missed the May 31 
deadline. She mentioned the upcoming Rookie Roundup, though 
registration for that event may have already closed. She reported that 
at our State Board Meeting, it was voted we will have a hybrid 
convention October 22nd through noon October 24th at the Sheridan Lisle 
Naperville, 3000 Warrenville Rd, Naperville, IL. Room rate is $99 per 
night. Please contact Marilyn with convention ideas, theme suggestion, 
etc. Our face to face Board Meeting is scheduled to take place August 
28th at the same hotel and room rate. There are two more Braille 
Enrichment for Learning and Literacy (BELL) at Home sessions scheduled. 
We are urged to let people who have young children know to contact 
Debby Stein, dkent5817 at att.net or contact her if interested in 
mentoring. Illinois has secured 12 cosponsors for HR 431  our Access 
Technology Affordability Act, and has Senator Ducworth cosponsoring 
S212. To check whether your cosponsor is on contact Dustin Cather, at 
cather.dustin at gmail.com or Denise Avant at davant1958 at gmail.com.

Presidential Release 506 was played. Most items regard the upcoming 
convention, which will have taken place before you read this and are 
therefore not included. Mitell has released a Helen Keller doll with 
Braille on the package. President Riccobono, in recognition of June 
being Pride Month, introduced Sanho Steel Lukart who has published in 
the February Monitor and was recently appointed Chair of the NFB 
LGBTQAI+ Group. The group is intended as a place for LGBTQAI+ and 
allies to discuss intersectionality and visibility. The group meets 
every Thursday at 9:00 PM on Zoom. The group also has an email list 
that can be found on nfbnet.org. There is also a facebook group NFB 
LGBT. He reported that The Access Technology Affordability Act, HR 431 
has 83 cosponsors. Companion bill S 232 has 20. Our goal is to get a 
quarter of each chamber to cosponsor. Our Endless Frontiers Act has 
been renamed the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act. This act deals 
with autonimous vehicles. The NFB supports a Senator Thoon  amendment 
mandates such vehicles include access technology for people with 
disabilities. The amendment would also prohibit licensing provisions 
that would preclude people with disabilities from operating them. The 
NFB has released a Blind Parents Essential Guide to Effective 
Communications in Public and Private Schools, available at blindparents.org.

Vallary Yingling needs to hear from people who have experienced 
employment discrimination at Amazon fulfillment centers, or through  
the National Telecommunicating Institute. The latter is a company with 
a platform that can allow people to work remotely. Her email: 
vyingling at nfb.org. This pi part of investigatory work by the NFB.

Next Meeting:

The July meeting will not take place, due to the fact it is already 
late June and the upcoming National Convention. The next meeting is 
scheduled for Sunday August
first at 7:00 PM on Zoom.

The meeting adjourned at about 9:23 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,

Bill Reif, Secretary