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

[Deborah Kent Stein]

NFBI CHICAGO CHAPTER MEETING
August 9, 2025
Wilma's Barbecue
17 N. 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, Nikki Nishijima, Jemal Powell, Krzysztof (Chris) Kalinowski, Cloyues Myles, Patrice Washington, Roland Calupe, Michelle Ault, Debbie Stein, Gary Jones, Darlene Huston, David Meyer, Elsa Gutierrez from the Chicago Transit Authority, Steve Hastalis, and Marilyn Green. On Zoom were 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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