[IL-Talk] Chicago Chapter Minutes, February 14, 2026

Wed Apr 8 22:09:04 UTC 2026

NFBI CHICAGO CHAPTER

February 14, 2026

Exchequer Pub and Restaurant

226 S. Wabash

Chicago, IL

CALL TO ORDER

Chicago Chapter President Denise Avant called the meeting to order at 1 PM.
She wished everyone a happy Valentine's Day. She reminded members that they
must pay dues thirty days before the April 11 meeting in order to vote. She
said that she will not seek the presidency again, and that Dustin Cather has
expressed his interest in running. Denise said that she supports Dustin's
candidacy, but any member is welcome to run.

Persons present on Zoom were Jackie Cook, Pam Provost, Minnie Nesbit, Ed
Abraham, Jim Nietzel, Robert Hansen, Bob Widman, Kira O'Bradovitch, Lou
Gaslein, Chris Kalinowski and his father, Steve Hastalis, Tim Dumler, and
Bart Hickey. In person were Francisco Chang, Patti Chang, Jemal Powell, Ken
Borst, Pam Gillmore, Mary Grunwald, Ken Schad, David Meyer, Eileen Truschke,
Martha Forley, Daniel Kukulka, Elaine Gray, first timer Adela Wiggins,
Cloyues Miles, first-timer Loretta Hubard, Olivia Cichowlas, Edward Ocampo,
Bruce Paul, Michelle Ault, Erika Randolph, Debbie Stein, Marilyn Green, and
Glenn Moore. Altogether we had forty-one people in attendance.

PROGRAM

Debbie Stein presented a short program called "Exploring Creative
Possibilities." She talked about her experience as a writer and storyteller
and invited people to share small stories in a game called "The End." Bart
Hickey, Robert Hansen, Dave Meyer, and Jemal Powell shared quick personal
stories involving snow.

PRESIDENTIAL RELEASE

NFB President Mark Riccobono recorded Presidential Release 557 on January
28. He thanked all those who braved the weather and the airlines to attend
Washington Seminar. Even if you weren't able to attend, there is still
plenty that you can do to advance our legislative agenda. 

Our affiliate presidents met in DC before Washington Seminar to plan for the
work of the Federation. The Student Division raised record funds with a
Monday-night auction. There were many worthwhile meetings on the Hill.
President Riccobono praised all of the attendees for their work speaking to
representatives and making the case for our legislative agenda. Members of
Congress were impressed by our intrepid team showing up despite the record
blizzard. We seem to have momentum on all of our bills, especially the Blind
Americans Return to Work Act. You can find information about our bills at
nfb.org/washington-seminar.

President Riccobono reported that he traveled to India to attend the
officers' meeting of the World Blind Union in New Delhi. He discovered that
the NFB of the United States has inspired the development and continued work
of the NFB of India. (The organizations are totally separate, although they
share a name.)

The thirteenth episode of the podcast "Walking Alone and Marching Together"
is Dr. Kenneth Jernigan's 1973 banquet speech, "Is History against Us?"
President Riccobono urged everyone to listen and to reflect upon ways we can
capture our own stories, which can be part of our museum projects. Send
ideas for traveling exhibits to museum at nfb.org.

President Riccobono said that if you have trouble accessing any of our NFB
websites, go to communications at nfb.org <mailto:communications at nfb.org>  for
help. 

The NFB recently created a tool called the NFBMembers Digest. It puts
information in one place where it can easily be accessed. If you aren't
receiving posts in your email, check with your chapter's membership
co-ordinator to make sure your membership is listed as current. If you are a
president or membership chair and have trouble using our membership tools,
reach out to membership at nfb.org. 

Our next Presidential Release will be a live event on March 5. We'd love to
hear your ideas about topics we should cover. Send ideas to
officeofthepresident at nfb.org.

MUSEUM OF THE BLIND PEOPLE's MOVEMENT

Patti Chang invited everyone to think about ways we might tell our stories
for the museum. It will have traveling and virtual exhibits. She urged
everyone to read or listen to Dr. Jernigan's 1973 banquet speech, "Is
History Against Us?" Bring ideas to the April meeting!

WASHINGTON PEMINAR

Dustin Cather reported that we had a very successful Washington Seminar. Our
small but mighty team consisted of Dustin, Denise, Jean Johnson, Michelle
Ault, and Olivia Cichowlas. Our meetings on Tuesday were virtual due to the
weather, but on Wednesday we were able to meet directly with staffers. We
talked about the Blind Americans Return to Work Act, the Access Technology
Affordability Act, and a bill to protect education and other resources such
as Randolph-Shepard and IDEA, funding for APH, and training for bl indsenior
citizens. Although a few weren't responsive, we met with the majority of our
legislators. Dustin encouraged everyone to listen to President Riccobono's
speech at the Great Gathering In. Three senators attended the Congressional
Reception on Tuesday, but none were from Illinois.

Denise reported that the Blind Americans Return to Work Act, HR 775, has two
cosponsors, none of them from Illinois. It seeks to do away with the
earnings cliff under the Social Security Disability Income program. We need
to get busy calling our representatives and urging them to sign on. The
Access Technology Affordability Act, HR 1529 and S. 1918, has fifty-eight
cosponsors in the House. Two of them are from Illinois: Darrin LaHood and
Mike Bost, both from down state. We need to reach out to our representatives
in the first through tenth districts. Neither Jonathan Jackson nor Delia
Ramirez responded to our requests for appointments. We really need to be
proactive seeking cosponsors!

NEW MEMBERS

Denise welcomed several new members into the chapter. Tim Dumler, Olivia
Cichowlas, Michael Corley, Loretta Hubbard, Ardella Wiggins, and Jim Nietzel
have paid their dues and were voted into the chapter. Denise welcomed them
amid enthusiastic applause.

Denise announced that she paid Exchequer the rental fee for the room for the
next eight months. We will not meet in March, July, or October. Otherwise we
will meet at 1 pm on the second Saturday of each month. December, when we
hold our holiday auction, is the only exception; in December we meet at
noon. 

STATE REPORT

President Marilyn Green announced that our next affiliate board meeting will
take place over Zoom on February 25 at 7 pm. She encouraged people to
subscribe to our IL-Talk listserv to get news and information. The deadline
for registration for the Midwest Student Seminar is February 20.        

The seminar will take place the weekend  of March 13 at the Chicago O'Hare
Holiday Inn.

The NFB National Convention will be held July 3-8 at the JW Marriott in
Austin, Texas. For information go to the Braille Monitor. If this will be
your first national convention, you can apply for assistance through a
Kenneth Jernigan Convention Scholarship. The application deadline is April
15. There is also assistance available for Illinois members through the
Chappell-Dennis Fund. The deadline for that application is May 1.  

The NFB will award thirty national scholarships of $10,000 each. The
application deadline is March 31. Applications are available at
nfb.org/scholarships. The deadline for our NFB of Illinois Scholarship
applications is April 15. Find information at
nfbofillinois.org/scholarships.

We are again planning to host a STEM 2 U program for blind students in
grades 3 through 8. It will take place on a Saturday in August. Our dates
are now confirmed for our BELLR Academies. BELL stands for Braille
Enrichment for Literacy and Learning. The program serves blind children
between the ages of four and twelve. Our Springfield program will run July
13-17. Chicago BELL will run July 20-31. BELL gives students exposure to
adult blind role models and involves a host of activities where Braille is
used. 

The NFBI State Convention will take place October 23-25 at the Hyatt Lisle
Hotel. More information will go out as the date draws closer.

NATIONAL CONVENTION

Patti said she recently visited the JW Marriott Hotel in Austin, Texas,
which will host our national convention. She reported that it is a fantastic
hotel, and she urged everyone to make reservations right away. The overflow
hotel, the Residence Inn, is somewhat less expensive.

SECRETARY's MINUTES

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

TREASURER's SUMMARY

Treasurer Kira O'Bradovitch reported that the chapter has $5231.20. We added
$65 at the meeting, for a total of $5296.20. We received an extremely
generous donation from the Illinois Association of Blind Merchants to pay
for our room rental for the year. Everyone applauded to express their
appreciation. Kira reminded everyone to pay their dues before the election
in April. You can pay through Zelle at chicago.treasurer at nfbofillinois.

ADVOCACY COMMITTEE REPORT

Kira reported that the committee continues to put pressure on the RTA to
evaluate plans for the TAP and RAP programs. Now that the weather is
improving, the committee will plan to go out and look at the accessible bus
stop signs that recently have been put in place. There will be signs with
audio output when you push a button, as well as signs with information in
Braille.

PRIMARY ELECTIONS

Chicago primaries will take place on March 17. Denise thanked Marilyn for
helping train poll workers on how to interact with blind voters. She urged
people who use mail-in ballots to read the instructions carefully and to
mail the ballot in plenty of time. Early voting begins March 2.

FUNDRAISING

Dave Meyer reported that we will hold occasional mini auctions during
chapter meetings. Now that we're back at Exchequer, we no longer have
restrictions on how much money we can take in.

On Thursday, April 23, we will hold a comedy club fundraiser. The cost is
$25 for those attending in person and $30 for those attending on Zoom. If
you plan to attend in person you need to visit the comedy club website. If
you order through the website you can get a link to the menu. If you plan to
attend on Zoom the cost is $30, which you must pay directly to the chapter. 

NEW  BUSINESS

Denise said that we need to decide whether we wish to participate in the
Disability Pride Parade at the end of July. We have to plan with plenty of
time. We also need to plan for the chapter picnic.

ADJOURNMENT

The meeting adjourned at 2:50.

Respectfully submitted,

Debbie Stein, Secretary