[IL-Talk] FW: Chicago Chapter Minutes, January 13, 2024
Deborah Kent Stein
dkent5817 at att.net
Tue Feb 6 01:48:24 UTC 2024
Dear Dan,
Thanks for your attentive reading of the minutes. Yes, it's the museum of the blind people's movement. Perhaps I should clarify.
Debbie
-----Original Message-----
From: IL-Talk [mailto:il-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Dan TeVelde via IL-Talk
Sent: Monday, February 5, 2024 2:03 PM
To: 'NFB of Illinois Mailing List' <il-talk at nfbnet.org>
Cc: dan.tevelde at comcast.net; iabs-talk at nfbnet.org
Subject: Re: [IL-Talk] FW: Chicago Chapter Minutes, January 13, 2024
Hi Debbie,
These are excellent minutes. I have a question about the sentence where you state that we need to donate $250 to the museum. Is this the blindness museum our organization is creating? If so, it would be great to have that in the sentence. I hope you are doing well.
Dan
-----Original Message-----
From: IL-Talk <il-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Debbie Pittman via IL-Talk
Sent: Monday, February 5, 2024 1:06 PM
To: NFB of Illinois Mailing List <il-talk at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Debbie Pittman <debbiepittman99 at gmail.com>; iabs-talk at nfbnet.org
Subject: Re: [IL-Talk] FW: Chicago Chapter Minutes, January 13, 2024
Wonderful minutes Debbie
Debbie P
Sent from my iPhone
> On Feb 5, 2024, at 10:17 AM, David Meyer via IL-Talk <il-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
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> From: Deborah Kent Stein <dkent5817 at att.net>
> Sent: Monday, February 5, 2024 10:11 AM
> To: davant1958 at gmail.com
> Cc: datemeyer at sbcglobal.net; datemeyer at mysero.net
> Subject: FW: Chicago Chapter Minutes, January 13, 2024
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> Dear Denise and Dave,
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> I tried to post the Chicago Chapter minutes to IL-Talk and IABS-Talk
> yesterday and again this morning, but they’re not getting through. I
> just wrote to Dave Andrews asking for his help. In the meantime,
> please one of you post them for me. Thanks!
>
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>
> Debbie
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> From: Deborah Kent Stein [mailto:dkent5817 at att.net]
> Sent: Monday, February 5, 2024 10:03 AM
> To: 'NFB of Illinois Mailing List' <il-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: 'Illinois Association of Blind Students List'
> <iabs-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Subject: Chicago Chapter Minutes, January 13, 2024
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> NFBI Chicago Chapter Minutes
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> January 13, 2024
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>
>
> CALL TO ORDER
>
>
>
> The January meeting of the NFBI Chicago Chapter was held virtually
> over Zoom. Chapter President Denise Avant called the meeting to order at 1:02 PM.
> She commented that with Zoom at least people didn't have to brave the cold.
> She thanked everyone who participated in our Chicago Chapter auction
> in December, including those who donated items, set up the tables, and
> kept track of money.
>
>
>
> INTRODUCTIONS
>
>
>
> Dustin Cather and Patti Chang called on people to introduce themselves.
> Persons in attendance were Marilyn Green, Todd Lively, Melissa Fuller,
> Ken Schad, Pam Gillmore, Glenn Moore, Mary Lou Grunwald, Paul
> Shepherdson, Bart Hickey, Ken Borst, Abdelrahman Osman, Bill Reif,
> Chris Millsap, Dan Tevelde, Ed Birmingham, Eileen Truschke,
> first-timer Frederick Preet, Greg Rosenberg, John Holtgreve, Marco
> Giannotti, Michelle Ault, Bob Hansen, Gary Jones, Steve Hastalis, Sara Luna, Patti Chang, Gavid Meyer, and Bob Widman.
>
>
>
> PROGRAM
>
>
>
> Dustin Cather introduced the program, a discussion of Kyle Walls's
> article from the Braille Monitor on accessibility regulations under
> the ADA. On August 4, 2023, the Department of Justice published the
> ADA Title II Notice of Advanced Rule Making, NPRM. The new
> accessibility standard for online accessibility includes seven
> proposed exceptions. Among these exceptions are password-protected
> websites for students in public postsecondary institutions and class
> or course content on websites for students in public elementary or
> secondary schools. These rules would allow most online educational
> materials to be inaccessible. During the comments period many
> Federationists and others registered their deep concerns. We hope these exceptions will not go through!
>
>
>
> WASHINGTON SEMINAR
>
>
>
> Dustin reported that the Illinois team attending Washington Seminar
> will consist of Michelle Ault, Denise Avant, Dustin Cather, Abbu
> Elfaki, Kira O'Bradovitch, Dilip Shah, and Kaitlyn Ryan. The Great
> Gathering In will take place on January 29, and it will be live
> streamed for anyone who wants to listen. Illinois is unique in having
> training prior to Washington Seminar itself.
>
>
>
> We will be presenting three legislative priorities to our members of
> Congress. The Website and Software Applications Accessibility Act, HR
> 5813 and S 2984, would establish a comprehensive definition of
> accessibility to avoid confusion in the private and public sectors. It
> will establish a technical assistance center for covered entities,
> commercial providers, and people with disabilities, and it will direct
> the Department of Justice and the Equal Employment Opportunity
> Commission to promulgate accessibility regulations.
>
>
>
> The Medical Device Nonvisual Accessibility Act, HR 1328, will call on
> the Food and Drug Administration to come up with nonvisual
> accessibility regulations for all Class II and Class III medical
> devices with digital interfaces. Such devices include home pregnancy
> tests, COVID-19 tests, home dialysis machines, and much more. The act
> will require manufacturers to make devices nonvisually accessible and authorize enforcement by the FDA.
>
>
>
> The Blind Americans Return to Work Act is not yet sponsored in the
> House or Senate. It would eliminate the earnings cliff for people
> receiving SSDI by instituting a ten-year pilot program to phase out
> benefits with earnings over the limit. It would create incentives for
> blind people receiving SSDI to earn more money, as they would be able to keep their benefits.
>
>
>
> Dustin encouraged everyone to visit nfb.org/washington-seminar to
> learn more about the issues we will cover. Right now HR 1328 has
> fifty-two cosponsors, five of them from Illinois. The bill was
> introduced by Jan Schakowski; cosponsors are Mike Quigley, Sean
> Casten, Jesús García, Danny Davis, and Raja Krishnamoorthi. HR 5813
> has two cosponsors, and S 2984, introduced by Sen. Tammy Duckworth, has five cosponsors.
>
>
>
> We also are seeking cosponsors for S. 533, the Transformation to
> Competitive and Integrated Employment Act. So far it has one sponsor.
> The companion bill in the House is HR. 1263, with twenty-six
> cosponsors, including Robin Kelly and Mike Quigley from Illinois. The
> Access Technology Affordability Act, HR 3702, has seventy-three
> cosponsors, four of them from Illinois: Mike Bost, Mike Quigley, Brad
> Schneider, for Jan Schakowsky. The Senate companion bill is S. 1467.
>
>
>
> Denise added that even though we will not be promoting HR. 3702 at
> Washington Seminar, we should make calls and urge our representatives
> to sign back on. At one time fifteen of our seventeen representatives
> had signed on. Right now we have only five.
>
>
>
> TREASURER'S REPORT
>
>
>
> Chapter Treasurer Kira O'Bradovitch delivered the Fourth Quarter
> Treasurer's Report for 2023. The report covered October through December.
> The opening balance was $3,689.59. Fourth-quarter income was $1,115
> from the Read-a-Thon, $192.75 from the Beggars Pizza fundraiser, and
> $1,875 from the holiday auction, for a sum total of $3,182.75. We also
> brought in $155 in dues from new and renewing members. We received
> $150 in donations and $10 for cane tips, for a total of $160. We
> brought in $223 in the collections in November and December. Altogether our fourth quarter income was $3,720.75.
>
>
>
> Total expenses for the fourth quarter came to $2,218.43. These
> included donations of $50 toward the IABS door prizes and three
> monthly payments of
> $50 each to the NFB. We spent $39.69 for copies and $58.74 for
> transportation to events for individuals. We ended the fourth quarter
> with
> $2,196.90 in the treasury. Due to some additional expenses in January,
> the treasury now has $1,656.90. Ken moved and Marilyn seconded
> acceptance of the report. The report was approved unanimously.
>
>
>
> ADVOCACY COMMITTEE
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>
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> Kira reported that the Advocacy Committee is trying to make sure that
> the CTA Advisory Committee will take our concerns seriously. The
> committee encouraged members and the public to be aware of our
> concerns about signage and announcements.
>
>
>
> MEETING SPACE
>
>
>
> Denise said that we are still looking for a place to meet in 2024. We
> need to pay our donation of $250 for the museum project.
>
>
>
> PRESIDENTIAL RELEASE
>
>
>
> Presidential Release 534 was recorded on January 4, which is World
> Braille Day, commemorating the birth of Louis Braille in 2009. Braille
> is a great example of empowerment through alternative techniques.
> Check out braille.day for a sampling of 215 ways Braille can be used.
>
>
>
> Thirty years ago the NFB affiliated with training programs that
> exemplify the philosophy, spirit, and policies of the Federation. Our
> training centers in Louisiana, Colorado, and Minnesota are affiliated
> with the national organization but are run by independent boards of
> directors. In December the board of BLIND, Inc., in Minnesota
> announced that all programs will be discontinued in January 2024. The
> board hopes to reimagine and redesign the program to open again in the
> future. Millions of dollars are needed to care for the Pillsbury
> Mansion where the program is held. This is the first time one of our
> centers has had to close. Federationists are encouraged to share ideas
> by contacting Ryan Strunk at boardchair at blindinc.org <mailto:boardchair at blindinc.org> .
>
>
>
> In 2015 the NFB supported blind workers in Ohio who were being paid
> subminimum wages under a 14C certificate. In 2016 the plaintiffs were
> awarded back pay and damages. The workshop appealed and filed a
> federal lawsuit, seeking judicial review. The district court found in the clients'
> favor to cover the workers' back pay. This sets an important tone for
> workshops that use 14C certificates.
>
>
>
> Factsheets for Washington Seminar are available in multiple formats at
> nfb.org-washington-seminar.
>
>
>
> Over many years we have raised concerns about the Cogswell and Macy
> Act, which was just reintroduced in Congress. We just sent a letter to
> leaders in Congress outlining our concerns about this bill. It
> attempts to amend IDEA by adding new sections that weaken the Braille
> presumption and fails to leverage our Dear Colleague letters. To learn
> more, contact Justin Young at jyoung at nfb.org <mailto:jyoung at nfb.org>
> or extension 2210 at the national office.
>
>
>
> STATE PRESIDENT'S REPORT
>
>
>
> NFBI President Marilyn Green reminded everyone that Washington Seminar
> will take place the week of January 29. Information about our state
> board meeting will be sent out shortly. Applications for national and
> state scholarships are now open. National scholarship applications are
> available at nfb.org/scholarships, and Illinois scholarship
> applications are at nfbofillinois.org/scholarships. Nationally we will
> award thirty scholarships of $8000 each) We will award at least one NFBI scholarship of $5000.
>
>
>
> The NFBI committee list went out on January 1. If you wish to be
> dropped from or added to a committee, contact Marilyn at
> president at nfbofillinois.org <mailto:president at nfbofillinois.org> .
>
>
>
> Locations for our BELL programs are all set. Springfield BELL will run
> July
> 15-19 and Chicago BELL will run July 22 to August 2. Contact Debbie
> Stein if you would like to volunteer.
>
>
>
> National Convention runs from July 3 through 8. Call 407-996-9840 to
> make hotel reservations.
>
>
>
> SECRETARY'S MINUTES
>
>
>
> The Chicago Chapter minutes, with corrections, were posted on IL-Talk
> and NFB Newsline. Robert Hansen moved to approve the minutes, and
> Eileen Truske seconded the motion. The minutes were approved unanimously.
>
>
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> FUNDRAISING COMMITTEE
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>
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> Dave Meyer said the committee will meet at 7 on February 27. He will
> send out information and the Zoom link.
>
>
>
> MEETING SPACE
>
>
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> Denise announced that our February meeting will take place on Zoom, as
> we are still searching for a meeting place. We would like to return to
> our hybrid meetings as soon as possible.
>
>
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> ADJOURNMENT
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>
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> Bill Reif moved to adjourn, and Dave Meyer seconded. The meeting
> adjourned at 2:52 PM.
>
>
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> Respectfully submitted,
>
> Debbie Stein, Secretary
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