[IL-Talk] Chicago Chapter Minutes, August 9, 2025

[Deborah Kent Stein]

NFBI CHICAGO CHAPTER MEETING

August 9, 2025

Wilma's Barbecue

17 Not. Wabash

Chicago, IL

 

CALL TO ORDER

 

Second Vice President Dustin Cather called the meeting to order at 1:02 PM.
He began by giving information about the room, where the chapter was meeting
for the first time. He explained the location of the washrooms and said that
the wait staff will accept separate checks. Michal Nowicki led everyone in
the NFB Pledge.

 

Persons in attendance were Ken Borst, Mary Grunwald, Paul Shepherdson, Bruce
Paul, Robert  Hansen, Marco Giannotti, Michal Nowicki, Glen Moore, Mazen
Istanbouli, Kira O'Bradovitch, Melissa Fuller, Dan Tevelde, Chris Millsap,
Jemal Powell, Krzysztof (Chris) Kalinowski, Cloyues Myles, Patrice
Washington, Roland Calupe, Michelle Ault, Debbie Stein, David Meyer, Elsa
Gutierrez from the Chicago Transit Authority, Steve Hastalis, and Marilyn
Green. On Zoom were Gary Jones, Glenn Moore, Eileen Truschke, Sabiha Vohra,
Jackie Cook, Nicole Gleason, Bob Widman, Debbie Pittman, Bart Hickey, Howard
Wilson, Jean Johnson, Ken Schad, Ed Birmingham, and Crystal Smith. Bob
Widman reported the passing of Bruce Breslauer, a former member of the
Chicago Chapter who had moved to Montana.

 

PROGRAM

 

Kira O'Bradovitch introduced guest speaker Elsa Gutierrez from the Chicago
Transit Association (CTA). Elsa is Vice President of Scheduling and Service
Planning. She provided an update on accessible signage at CTA bus stops and
other efforts at ADA compliance. She described the bus stop  signs as blue
and white with the words BUS STOP in Braille and large print. Currently only
twenty-five bus routes are outfitted with tactile signs, but CTA just
received funding to make signs available system wide. CTA received comments
from NFB/Chicago and other groups that more information should be available
on the tactile signs. CTA is launching a pilot project with signs that
include the route and direction of travel in Braille and raised print. The
pilot will start with one hundred bus stops in high ridership areas. Ms.
Gutierrez brought three prototype signs, which she passed around for
everyone's inspection. She also gave a verbal description for the people on
Zoom. She explained that some abbreviations are used: NB for northbound, EB
for eastbound, SB for southbound, and WB for westbound. Stickers for the
signs will go into production in September and will be deployed in October. 

 

Sample signs have been available at the ADA Advisory Committee and at Access
Living. Marilyn urged that CTA make the signs available to more blind people
by bringing them to Second Sense and Blind Services Chicago. Jemal
congratulated CTA for making this sincere effort and doing an excellent job
with the new signs.  

 

Ms. Gutierrez said that CTA also is working on solar-powered signs that will
provide information in audio format. These signs will list arrival times or
will announce when there is no scheduled service. Route changes also can be
announced. 

 

You can reach Elsa Gutierrez at egutierrez at transitchicago.com.

 

STATE REPORT

 

NFBI President Marilyn Green thanked everyone who attended the NFB National
Convention in New Orleans in person and on Zoom. Highlights are available at
nfb.org/convention. She also welcomed the first-time attendees. She thanked
the volunteer mentors who attended our Chicago and Springfield BELL
Academies. Nine children are registered for our STEM2U program that will
take place on August 23 at the Chicago Marriott Naperville. Our board
meeting will take place at the same hotel the following day. People also can
attend the board meeting on Zoom. 

 

Our state convention will take place at the same hotel October 17-19. If you
have any trouble making your reservation, contact Patti Chang at
pchang at nfb.org. You can pre-register for convention at nfbofillinois.org by
October 3. Modest financial assistance is available through the
Chappell-Dennis Awards; applications must be received by September 1. Our
national rep will be Donald Porterfield of Arizona. 

 

We have three state scholarship finalists: Abbu Elfaki, Toby Ellis, and Mia
Zutter.  

 

PRESIDENTIAL RELEASE

 

NFB President Mark Riccobono delivered Presidential Release  551, recorded
on Thursday, July 31. He thanked everyone who helped make the 2025 NFB
National  Convention a success. Convention highlights will be posted on the
NFB website, nfb.org/convention. 

 

October will be Blind Equality Achievement Month. All chapters and
affiliates are encouraged to plan activities with this in mind. Post
information  about your activities at nfb.org/blind-month.

 

Some bills are being reintroduced to the legislature. Senate and House
versions of the Transformation to Competitive Employment Act have been
introduced with bipartisan support.   

This bill would outlaw subminimum wages on a national basis. On  July 22 NFB
sent  a letter to all members of Congress, urging them to make permanent the
Telehealth  Benefits, which were extended through September 30. They benefit
blind people and all people living in areas with limited transportation. 

 

SECRETARY's MINUTES

 

Jemal moved and Kira seconded approval of the secretary's  minutes from June
2025. The minutes were approved.

 

TREASURER's REPORT

 

Chicago Chapter Treasurer Kira O'Bradovitch reported that the chapter has
$4097.78. We began the second quarter with $5825.84. In June we had
$4962.78. We had a total income of $1689.16 with $1872 in expenses. We
received $260 in donations, $45 in membership dues, $153.16 from chapter
collections, $1165 for Games Day. Expenses came to $150 for  donations, $452
to pay for the food for Games Day, we donated $1000 to the state affiliate
to pay for Convention donations, $100 to Blind Services Chicago for
participation in their fall event. We deposited $1529.16. Another $165 will
be posted in the third quarter. A fourth quarter amount of $120 will be
posted in the third quarter. We had expenses of 

$2392.25. 

 

Marilyn moved and Jemal seconded approval of the Second Quarter Treasurer's
Report. The report was accepted.

 

FUNDRAISING COMMITTEE

 

Dave Meyer said there will be a bowling fundraiser at Fireside Bowling on
August 16. Contact Dave Meyer or Marilyn Green if you have trouble with the
link to sign up for bowling. 

 

OLD BUSINESS

 

Marilyn explained that there has been a problem with the server at
nfbnet.org. Yahoo, Sbcglobal, and several other accounts are not receiving
emails. List manager Dave Andrews is aware of the problem, and is doing his
best to resolve the situation. Check with a friend if you're not getting
your messages.

 

NEW BUSINESS

 

Dustin happily welcomed four new members into the chapter: Chris Kalinowski,
Cloyues Myles, Patrice Washington, and Roland Calupe. All were welcomed with
enthusiasm.

 

Steve Hastalis announced that today was very close to the fifty-seventh
anniversary of the founding of the Illinois Congress of the Blind, which
became the National Federation of the Blind of Illinois. 

 

Michal Nowicki announced that the Resolutions Committee is accepting
resolutions to be considered at our state convention. Resolutions will be
accepted until August 15. Please email draft resolutions to Dustin or
Michal. Take a look at past resolutions on our website to understand the
structure and formatting. The Resolutions Committee will meet on August 27
over Zoom, and all are welcome. 

 

Dustin thanked the staff at Wilma's for hosting us. We'll determine whether
we will return to this venue.

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

The meeting adjourned at 1:50 PM.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Debbie Stein, Secretary

 

 



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