[IL-Talk] at large minutes for August 2022

[David Meyer]

National Federation of the Blind of Illinois
Minutes of meeting held August 7, 2022

The meeting convened at 7:03 PM. Members Present: President Dave Meyer, 
Vice President Linda Hendle, Secretary Bill Reif, Leslie Hamric, Jemal 
Powell, Marilyn Green, Ken Schad, Eileen Truschke, Debbie Pittman, , 
Kyle Chalino, Yvonne Agyarko, Danny Mandrell, and Cathy Randall. 
Visitor: Lisa Wright runs a transition program in Metropolis, Illinois 
for now about 40 elderly blind, .

Minutes for the June 2022 meeting were approved.

The NFB August Presidential Release 518 was presented. Much of this 
release recapped the 2022 National Convention. Participants were urged 
to complete the post-convention survey at nfb.org/convention. General 
convention sessions are available at youtube, the Nations Blind 
podcast, and will be in the August-September Braille Monitor. The 2023 
NFB convention will be in Houston July first through sixth. He 
expressed appreciation for those who followed the Covid-19 protocols 
and who filled in for those who contracted covid-19. Eighteen 
resolutions were passed. The convention passed a constitutional 
amendment revising the procedures under which persons may be 
disciplined for Code of Conduct violations. On July 26th, the NFB 
participated in a round table discussion with Vice President Harris 
celebrating the 32nd year since passage of the Americans with 
Disabilities Act, raising our concerns with web and mobile access ability. Ann
Anil Louis also testified in a 7/28 hearing before the Senate Committee 
on Aging on Section 508 and its inadequacies regarding web access 
ability of government web sites. Members were urged to contact their 
legislators during the August recess regarding our legislative priorities.

October is Blind Equality Achievement Month. Chapters and affiliates 
are invited to host the October Presidential Release Live. Email our 
pitch to membership at nfb.org by August 28th. Information about White 
Cane Awareness day can be found at the domain whitecane.day.

Our next release will be on Thursday September 1st at 8:00 Eastern.

Marilyn presented the State Presidential Report. She discussed the two 
recent BELL programs, which were very successful. The August 28th 
face-to-face Board Meeting will be at the Chicago Marriott Naperville, 
State Convention is October 28-30. Reservations should be made by 
October 1st. Chappel applications are on our web site and must be 
completed by September 1st. Marilyn has reached out to the Illinois 
Talking Book Library and to the new Bureau for the Blind Director 
inviting them to present. Registration Form will be live by the time of 
the Board Meeting.


The program item included presentations from those who attended 
National Convention. Cathy gave a detailed report on several sessions 
she attended. She has attended nearly every National Convention since 
1984. She indicated that she and others were very happy to again be 
meeting in person. Bill also enjoyed the chance to socialize with 
others in ways that are not possible virtually. Bill also observed that 
our convention featured more collaboration and partnerships with 
companies such as Humanware.


Debbie and Bill briefly discussed a proposal to conduct an additional 
fund raiser to generate money to assist people in attending State 
Convention and to contribute to the affiliate through Fifteen for Funds.
It was decided an At Large Board Meeting would be scheduled for that purpose.

The next meeting is scheduled for Sunday September 4th at 7:00. The 
meeting was adjourned at 8:27 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,
Bill Reif, Secretary