[IL-Talk] Chicago Chapter Minutes, May 13, 2023

Mon Jun 5 16:51:39 UTC 2023

Olivia's last name is spelled Cichowlas and the Blind Service Chicago
event that is scheduled for October 7 is titled the Vision Expo.

-- 
Marilyn Green, President
National Federation of the Blind of Illinois
312-343-8396
president at nfbofillinois.org
www.nfbofillinois.org
Live the life you want!

The National Federation of the Blind of Illinois is a community of
members and friends who believe in the hopes and dreams of the
nation’s blind. Every day we work together to help blind people live
the lives they want.

On 6/5/23, Deborah Kent Stein via IL-Talk <il-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>
>
> Thanks for the correction. Keep them coming!
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: IL-Talk [mailto:il-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Denise Avant
> via IL-Talk
> Sent: Monday, June 5, 2023 8:23 AM
> To: 'NFB of Illinois Mailing List' <il-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: davant1958 at gmail.com
> Subject: Re: [IL-Talk] Chicago Chapter Minutes, May 13, 2023
>
> Yes, that's right. Sorry I missed that Debbie.
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: IL-Talk <il-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Patti S Chang via
> IL-Talk
> Sent: Monday, June 5, 2023 6:49 AM
> To: 'NFB of Illinois Mailing List' <il-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: Patti S Chang <pattischang at gmail.com>; iabs-talk at nfbnet.org
> Subject: Re: [IL-Talk] Chicago Chapter Minutes, May 13, 2023
>
> The section on Senate Bill 282 is not quite right. S 282 is not the omnibus
> bill. We hope that it would be added to an omnibus bill. Hope this is
> helpful.
>
>
> Patti Chang
> 2nd Vice President
> National Federation of the Blind of Illinois https://www.nfbofillinois.org
> Pronouns: she, her, hers
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: IL-Talk <il-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Deborah Kent Stein
> via IL-Talk
> Sent: Monday, June 5, 2023 12:27 AM
> To: il-talk at nfbnet.org
> Cc: Deborah Kent Stein <dkent5817 at att.net>; iabs-talk at nfbnet.org
> Subject: [IL-Talk] Chicago Chapter Minutes, May 13, 2023
>
>
>
>
>
> NFBI CHICAGO CHAPTER
>
> May 13, 2023
>
> Exchequer Pub and Restaurant
>
> 226 S. Wabash, Chicago
>
>
>
> CALL TO ORDER
>
>
>
> Denise Avant called the meeting to order at 1:02 PM. Present in person were
> Denise Avant, Debbie Stein, Marilyn Green, Kira O'Bradovitch, Francisco
> Chang, Marty Kummetz from Blind Services Association, Kyle Chelino, Ken
> Schad, Eileen Truschke, David Meyer, Pam Gillmore, Gary Jones, Ken Borst,
> Jemal Powell, first-timer Dave Kumkulka, Steve Hastalis, Mary Grunwald, Ed
> Birmingham, Michelle Ault, first-timer Alex Gillaspy, Bruce Paul, Glenn
> Moore, Melissa Fuller, Dan Tevelde, Chris Milsap, Michal Nowicki, and Patti
> Chang. Jemal Powell asked for thoughts and prayers for his father, who is
> in
> the hospital. Kyle Chelino announced that he just started a job with
> Chick-Fil-A. Steve Hastalis shared that he will have cardiac oblation
> surgery on Monday. First-timer Olivia xxx arrived later and announced that
> she just graduated from North Central College in Naperville.
>
>
>
> Several more people took part in the meeting on Zoom: Alisha Green, Debbie
> Pittman, Dustin Cather, Robert Hansen, Bob Lee, Ellen Bartelt, Gina Falvo,
> and Bob Widman.
>
>
>
> The mic was not working well during  the meeting, and Denise encouraged
> everyone to use their outdoor voice.
>
>
>
> PROGRAM
>
>
>
> Marty Kummetz from Blind Service Chicago talked about their history and
> program. Blind Services was founded one hundred  years ago by a woman in
> Hyde Park who was very involved with literacy programs. She began by
> reading
> to blind children in her home. By 1930 she and women from her synagogue
> shifted their focus to secondary and college students and adults. Services
> revolved around reading and recording for blind people.
>
>
>
> During the pandemic Blind Service volunteers read to people via Zoom and
> telephone. There are empowerment groups for adults and students. There  are
> still recording services to cover materials that are not available
> elsewhere. There are now special interest groups and clubs, including a
> popular knitting club. A short selections group involves listening to a
> short story or passage of literature. The stress management workshop is
> very
> popular. Movies with audio description are shown monthly, and there are
> also
> tours and excursions. BSA hopes to bring back computer training and to
> provide equipment for clients to use.
>
>
>
> Dave Meyer asked how people can access the monthly newsletter and how a
> person can become a BSA client. The newsletter can be accessed via email,
> large print, Braille, and via podcast. Services are offered to people in
> Chicago and northern Illinois after a brief intake.
>
>
>
> Denise asked whether there will be more evening volunteers now that the
> pandemic is over. Blind Service is now open until seven on Mondays and
> Thursdays, and they may extend the time to eight. Reading appointments are
> always for two hours.
>
>
>
> On October 7 BSA will host the Vision Connection at the Chicago Hilton and
> Towers. The Chicago Chapter is looking into getting a table at this event.
>
>
>
> The phone number for BSA is 312-236-0808. Over the phone you can ask to
> join
> the mailing list in your preferred format.
>
>
>
> STATE REPORT
>
>
>
> Jernigan Convention Scholarships: NFBI President Marilyn Green announced
> that we will have four Jernigan Convention Scholarship winners at this
> year's national convention. There is still time to pre-register for
> convention and get a hotel room.
>
>
>
> BELLR Academy: Our Chicago BELL program will be held July 17-28 at the
> Chicago Lighthouse. Springfield BELL will run July 31 to August 4. Right
> now
> we have four children registered for Chicago, two for Springfield, and one
> for In Home Edition. There is still time for children to register for
> Chicago and Springfield.
>
>
>
> NFB and NFBI Scholarships: The state scholarship application deadline is
> May
> 31. Interested persons should contact scholarship co-chairs Debbie Stein or
> Patti Chang. Illinois has a National Scholarship finalist, Ernest Emmanuel
> Peebles. He is an advocate and actor. He has albinism and wants to be a
> voice for people with this condition. He is from Georgia and is earning a
> master's degree at U. of Illinois in Champaign. We hope he will become
> active with us here in Illinois.
>
>
>
> State Convention: State Convention will be held October 13 and 14 at the
> Chicago Marriott-Naperville Hotel. The face-to-face board meeting will take
> place at the same hotel on August 19. The board meeting is an opportunity
> for people to get familiar with the hotel and to become informed about the
> programs we have. All are welcome, and there will be a Zoom link for people
> who can't be there in person.
>
>
>
> For state convention our room rate will be $119 per night. Make
> reservations
> now for the board meeting and the state convention. The format for state
> convention will be different this year. We will start at 9 AM on Friday and
> adjourn after the banquet Saturday night.
>
>
>
> FEDERAL LEGISLATION
>
>
>
> Dustin Cather reported that the Access Technology Affordability Act was
> introduced into the Senate as S 1467 by Sen. Benjamin Cardin, a Democrat
> from Maryland; Sen. John Boozman, a Republican from Arkansas; Democrat Ron
> Wyden of Oregon; and Paul Jones, a Republican from Indiana. There is no
> House equivalent as of yet. We all need to contact our senators and urge
> them to become cosponsors.
>
>
>
> The Medical Device Nonvisual Accessibility Act was introduced to the House
> as HR 1328 by Illinois Rep. Jan Schakowsky. Currently it has forty-eight
> cosponsors.
>
>
>
> The Transformation to Competitive and Integrated Employment Act has been
> introduced into both houses. The Senate bill is S 531, and the House bill
> is
> HR 1263. It has fifty cosponsors, but none of them come from Illinois.
>
>
>
> Denise noted that our congressional representatives will be coming home
> soon, so now is the time to start reaching out to them. Cosponsors from the
> previous congressional session have not signed back on, and we need to
> remind them to do so.
>
>
>
> Debbie Pittman asked for information about the Joe Orozco case, which
> regards accessibility in federal jobs. Joe works as an analyst for the FBI.
> The federal government is supposed to make sure its software and platforms
> are accessible under Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act. The DC Circuit
> Court found in Joe's favor, which means the FBI has to make its workplace
> accessible.
>
>
>
> NATIONAL REPORT
>
>
>
> NFB President Mark Riccobono encouraged people to apply for jobs at our
> national headquarters. The NFB is always looking for talented people to run
> its programs.
>
>
>
> Social Media: The Federation is active across many social media platforms.
> We want to reach the general public and also blind people who may not know
> us. Due to recent developments, Twitter may no longer be an appropriate
> platform for communicating our message. Twitter has laid off many staff
> members, including all of its accessibility staff. We are also now asked to
> pay to have a verified account. We don't want to abandon supporters who use
> Twitter, but we are starting to build a new community on Mastodon.
> President
> Riccobono invited all of us to launch NFBs social presence on Mastodon and
> to help shape our community there going forward. Mastodon is not controlled
> by any particular company. We are launching an account with nfb.social.
> Find
> nationsblind at nfb.social.
>
>
>
> Guide Dogs: Lately we have heard several news stories about people using
> guide dogs who have been negatively impacted in a number of situations. One
> of our members recently was denied a seat on a plane because she was
> traveling with a guide dog. Several members of the Governmental Affairs
> Committee and Al Elia of the National Association of Guide Dog Users met
> with senior officials at the US Department of Transportation. If you have
> experienced discrimination by the airlines while traveling with a guide
> dog,
> contact Al Elia at aelia at nagdu.org. Be sure to file a complaint with the
> Department of Transportation immediately.
>
>
>
> Teachers of Tomorrow: We are in the process of recruiting a new cohort for
> our Teachers of Tomorrow program. Applications for the 2023-24 cohort are
> now open. The program connects current and future teachers of blind
> students
> with blind individuals and with the leaders and resources of the NFB. The
> program is open to people who are studying to become teachers of the blind
> or who have been teaching for up to five years.
>
>
>
> National Convention: The room rate at the Marriott is now $125 per night.
> Resolutions are due by June 1. Send them to resolutions at nfb.org. Donald
> Porterfield will chair the Resolutions Committee this year. Long-time
> committee chair Sharon Maneki will be a special advisor to the new chair.
>
>
>
> News of Our Federation Family: Patti Chang says people still can become
> part
> of the Dream-makers Circle before convention. There will be a special event
> for new members during convention this year.
>
> Dennis Holter of California, Juanita Bronton of Colorado, Frank Carrillo of
> Texas, and Woodrow Berry of Virginia are all recent losses from our
> Federation family. Duran Tucker and DeShawn Dodson of Georgia are newly
> married.
>
>
>
> Patti said that Jonathan Mosen created a great podcast about Mastodon on
> Living Blindfully.
>
>
>
> NFB NEWSLINE
>
>
>
> Because we had several new members at the meeting, Dave Meyer introduced
> NFB
> NewslineR. Newsline has about 500 US newspapers, papers in Spanish, and
> several international papers. There are numerous magazines, and there are
> job listings. The Illinois State Library sponsors Newsline in Illinois. You
> can apply through the library or by contacting Dave. Newsline is accessible
> with a standard touch-tone telephone, with a cellphone, on a PC or laptop,
> and on a digital Talking Book machine. Dave's number is 708-606-7091, and
> his email is datemeyer at sbcglobal.net. Newsline is a free service to
> individual subscribers.
>
>
>
> SECRETARY'S MINUTES
>
>
>
> Ken Borst moved and Jemal Powell seconded acceptance of the April 1
> minutes.
> The minutes were approved unanimously.
>
>
>
> TREASURER'S REPORT
>
>
>
> Treasurer Kira O'Bradovitch reported that the collection brought in $83.76.
> The treasury is in transition, and past treasurer Steve Hastalis said that
> the treasury currently has $3259.55.
>
>
>
> COMMITTEE REPORTS
>
>
>
> Fundraising: Dave Meyer said the Fundraising Committee is working on a
> bowling fundraiser for August 5. Details will be forthcoming. A
> mini-auction
> was scheduled for today's meeting. We will hold a Read-a-Thon on October
> 28.
> We will have a fundraiser at Beggar's Pizza on November 15, at 310 South
> Clinton. And of course in December we will host our annual holiday auction.
>
>
>
>
> Advocacy Committee: The Advocacy Committee is working to arrange a meeting
> with the CTA Advisory Commissioner to discuss several concerns about
> transit. We want to advocate for audible announcements in the stations to
> give information about trains that are coming in. We also want to encourage
> better  training of bus drivers to be sure they don't turn down the audible
> announcements. The committee is also working on in-person voting. Marilyn,
> Denise, and Kira plan to meet with Max Faber at the Chicago Board of
> Elections to look at accessibility of the new voting machines and training
> of poll workers. The next meeting is scheduled for May 24.
>
>
>
> Denise brought us up to date on accessible ballot return for mail-in
> ballots. SB 282 is an omnibus election bill that could include accessible
> ballot return. We don't know whether the omnibus bill will reach the
> legislature, and we don't know whether our provision will be included. Many
> of us made calls to let our reps know the importance of this issue. We
> won't
> know anything until May 19.
>
>
>
> AUCTION ITEMS
>
>
>
> Pam Gillmore brought four restaurant certificates for a mini-auction, and
> Ed
> Birmingham served as auctioneer.
>
>
>
> NEW BUSINESS
>
>
>
> Debbie Pittman urged people to file a report if their paratransit ride is
> an
> hour or more late. Users will get a ticket at the end of the quarter.
> Debbie
> also announced that on May 30 the Harold Washington Library will air an
> audio-described movie. We got the Talking Book Center re-opened, and we
> need
> to use the services it provides.
>
>
>
> Denise said the Taxi Access program was free during the pandemic, but now
> it
> will cost $2 per ride. If you lose your card it will cost $6 to replace it,
> and it will take three weeks.
>
>
>
> Steve said that ICB Metro Chicago chapter is having a fundraiser at
> Calder's
> at 4939 West Irving Park Road. They support many of our fundraisers, and we
> should reciprocate when we can.
>
>
>
> Steve noted that we recently lost a former chapter member, Dale Waltof. His
> passing was mentioned in the April Presidential Release.
>
>
>
> ADJOURNMENT
>
>
>
> Marilyn moved and Denise seconded adjourning the meeting. The meeting
> adjourned at 3:07 PM.
>
>
>
> Respectfully submitted,
>
> Debbie Stein, Secretary
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> a
>
>
>
>
>
> --
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