[IL-Talk] Chicago Chapter Minutes, May 10, 2025

[Deborah Kent Stein]

NFBI CHICAGO CHAPTER

May 10, 2025

 

CALL TO ORDER

 

NFBI Chicago Chapter President Denise Avant called the meeting to order at
1:02 PM. Persons in attendance on Zoom were Alicia Green, Jean Johnson,
Steve Hastalis, Bob Lee, Bob Widman, Chris Millsap, Sabiha Vohra, Crystal
Smith, and Dan Tevelde. In person were Michelle Ault, Pam Gillmore, David
Meyer, Mary Grunwald, Debbie Stein, Sara Luna, Ericka Randolph, Murthi
Conda, Francisco Chang, Patti Chang, Eileen Truschke, Ken Schad, first-timer
Garley Houston, Gary Jones, Paul Shepherdson, Glenn Moore, Jemal Powell,
Bruce Paul, Rachel Ng, Ken Borst, Edward Ocampo, Dustin Cather, Melissa
Fuller, and Marco Giannotti. 

 

The meeting began with everyone reciting the NFB pledge. Denise announced
that we had a successful Games Day and urged participants to pay the
entrance fee if they have not yet done so.

 

PROGRAM

 

Murthi Conda spoke about his experiences as a blind chemical engineer at
Honeywell. Murthi has been connected with the NFB for several years and said
he appreciated the opportunity to speak about his experiences. He said he
would like to see more blind people enter the field of engineering.
Engineering is involved in nearly every aspect of our lives. Blind people
are naturally good at problem solving, and problem solving is the basis of
engineering. Gasoline, plastic, drinking water, and nearly everything else
we use in our daily lives derives from chemical processes. When he started
to use JAWS he became far more productive. JAWS PictureSmart gives him
access to graphics. He can listen to JAWS with one ear and hear his
colleagues with the other. He emphasized that no one else can tell us what
we can or cannot do. When he met inspiring mentors at his first NFB of
Illinois convention it changed his life. 

 

STATE REPORT

 

Denise reminded everyone that National Convention will take place in New
Orleans July 8-13. Pre-registration closes on May 31. To pre-register, go to
nfb.org/convention. Our main hotel is the New Orleans Marriott, and the
overflow hotel is the Sheraton across the street. 

 

Debbie Stein reported that Illinois will host two BELL Academies this summer
to strengthen the Braille skills of blind students. Chicago BELL will run
from July 21 through August 1. Springfield BELL will run from August 4
through 8. Please contact her if you would like to volunteer. Volunteers
need to submit references, undergo criminal background checks, and do Code
of Conduct training. Bridget Hickey and Carson Cross will run our Chicago
BELL program, and Carson and Abbu Elfaki will run the program in
Springfield. We need volunteers for both programs. 

 

We are also doing a one-day STEM 2U program in Naperville on August 23. To
sign up as a volunteer contact Debbie Stein at 773-203-1394. 

 

NFBI BOARD MEETING AND CONVENTION

 

Patti Chang said the NFBI Convention will take place in Naperville October
17-19. Our face-to-face board meeting will be held on August 24 at the
Naperville Marriott, the day after STEM 2 U.

 

PRESIDENTIAL RELEASE

 

NFB President Mark Riccobono recorded Presidential Release 549 on May 30. He
urged everyone to pre-register for the NFB National Convention by May 31. It
will also be possible to register at convention in person, at a higher cost.
Convention will take place at the New Orleans  Marriott Hotel, with the
Sheraton across the street as the overflow hotel. If you can't make it to
New Orleans, sign up for our virtual convention on Zoom.

 

Much of our policy in the Federation begins at the local and state levels.
Members can submit resolutions that direct our national policies.
Resolutions must be submitted to resolutions at nfb.org
<mailto:resolutions at nfb.org>  by June 8. At the present moment many of the
laws we have relied upon are threatened by changes in national policy.
Through our discussions at the local level we can build toward effective
national action. 

 

This year we launch our Give Twenty-five Campaign to support the work of the
NFB. You can donate by calling 410-659-9314, Extension 2430. By giving in
increments of $25 members will put their names into a drawing for tickets to
Convention 26. The first hundred people who contribute $100 or more will
receive a pair of Aftershocks headphones. If you're not at convention in
person, they will be sent to you. We have a $25,000 matching grant from an
anonymous donor.

 

SECRETARY's MINUTES

 

Ken Borst moved and Jemal seconded approval of the secretary's minutes for
April 2025. The minutes were approved.

 

TREASURY

 

Treasurer Kira O'Bradovitch was not in attendance, so Denise gave a brief
summary. She reported that our treasury is in good order. We had a
successful Games Day on May 3. We have about $5800 in our treasury, but we
are starting to pay our convention donations. We need to keep up our
fundraising, as we will have Washington Seminar and several other expenses
by the end of the year. Dave Meyer thanked everyone who attended Games Day.
We will have a mini auction at the June meeting. In August we will have a
bowling fundraiser, the date yet to be determined. 

 

OLD BUSINESS

 

Denise again reminded everyone to pay their $40 for Games Day, by check,
cash, or Zell. 

 

We will caucus at national convention, and have not yet planned any social
events.

 

NEW BUSINESS

 

Jemal asked whether we will hold a chapter picnic this summer. Denise said
we will discuss it at the June meeting. We will not hold a chapter meeting
in July.

 

Denise announced that our meeting space is less than ideal for several
reasons. She asked for everyone's patience and understanding. She also urged
all of us to be respectful when people ask questions. Check on ILTalk for
the announcement of our next chapter board meeting.

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

Mary moved and Dustin seconded adjournment. The meeting adjourned at 2:33
PM.

 

Respectfully  submitted,

Debbie Stein, Secretary

 

 



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