[IL-Talk] Chicago Chapter Minutes, June 2026

Tue Aug 4 04:19:53 UTC 2026

NFBI CHICAGO CHAPTER MINUTES

June 14, 2026

Exchequer Pub and Restaurant

226 S. Wabash

Chicago, IL

CALL TO ORDER

Chicago Chapter President Dustin Cather called the meeting to order at 1 PM.
Steve Hastalis led everyone in the NFB Pledge. Persons in attendance were
Glenn Moore, Kira O'Bradovitch, Michelle Ault, Paul Shepherdson, Sara Luna,
Denise Avant, Marilyn Green, Debbie Stein, Steve Hastalis, Edward Ocampo,
Jackie Cook, Catalina Martinez, Mary Grunwald, Ken Borst, Pam Gillmore,
Francisco Chang, Kayla Chang, Patti Chang, Michal Nowicki, Marco Giannotti,
Bruce Paul, Crystal Smith, Nickie Nishijima, Jemal Powell, Chris Ruffin,
Zulhasnat Ahmed, and Leslie Hamric. On Zoom were Bart Hickey, Ken Schad, Tim
Dumler, Gary Jones, Bill Reif, Cloyues Miles, Dan Tevelde, Bob Widman, it
Eileen Truschke.

PROGRAM

Dustin Cather introduced a program based on memories of National Convention.
Michelle said she was really scared the first time she attended convention,
getting on a plane as a blind person. Then, when she arrived, she felt right
at home among so many blind people who were living their best lives. Pam G.
said her husband Don asked her to marry him at the Illinois state convention
in 1972. Dustin said that sometimes convention is where you find your
people, and he found his people at his first convention. Dave Meyer said he
crossed Canal Street at the New Orleans convention in 1977. He missed all
the traffic islands and lived to tell the tale. Patti remembered how we
broke the Guinness World Record for the largest umbrella mosaic at
convention in Orlando. Mary said that after she took part in a strike at the
Chicago Lighthouse for minimum wage. Many people she didn't know sent her
checks to tide her over, and at convention she set out to meet as many of
them as she could. 

Dustin noted that Convention 2026 will take place in Austin, Texas, from
July 3 to July 8. In 2028 and 2029 we will host convention here in Chicago.

Patti pointed out that if you can't attend convention in person you can have
a virtual experience.

PRESIDENTIAL RELEASE

NFB President Mark Riccobono recorded Presidential Release 561 on May 27. He
talked about the importance of our national convention as explained in the
NFB Constitution. The convention is the governing body of the organization.
We come together as a national movement with all our diverse backgrounds and
perspectives. Convention also is an opportunity for blind people to share
their experience and expertise. Convention creates a unique space where we
get to know one another and draw upon each other's expertise. 

Our Give 25 program is fully underway. In addition to encouraging members to
donate, we also hope that non-members will donate, too. Connectors encourage
non-members to donate. 

Following the Presidential Release Dustin led everyone in singing Happy
Birthday to NFBI president Marilyn Green.

ALLOCATION OF FUNDS

Dustin noted that every year the Chicago Chapter allocates money toward
several of our national funds. The tenBroek Memorial Fund supports and
maintains our national center in Baltimore. The Kenneth Jernigan Fund
provides assistance to first-time convention attendees. The SUN Fund (which
stands for support, unity, and nurture), is a rainy-day fund. The White Cane
Fund provides general funds to operate the national organization. In
December the Chicago Chapter Board approved contributing $800 to these four
funds. Denise moved and Jemal seconded making these contributions. The
motion passed. 

CHICAGO CHAPTER PICNIC

The Chicago Chapter will host its  annual picnic at the Landmark Café at the
Lincoln Park Zoo on Saturday, July 20. We will meet between noon and 3. We
can bring our own food and/or buy food there. Olivia Cichowlas now works at
the zoo and may be able to help us plan an accessible tour. 

VISION EXPO 2026

Every year Blind Service Chicago hosts a Vision Expo, bringing together many
resources for the blind/low-vision community. It will be held October 27,
just a few days after our state convention. Michelle Ault will head up our
initiative, and she will be looking for volunteers to staff our table. If
you'd like to volunteer, reach out to her at 312-375-0820 or
michtlua at aol.com. We share local, state, and national resources. 

MUSEUM CONTRIBUTION

Denise pointed out that the Chicago Chapter pledged to donate $2500 to the
Museum of the Blind People's Movement over a five-year period. This will be
our fourth year to make a five-hundred-dollar donation. 

COAST TO COAST CHALLENGE

Patti reminded everyone that the Chicago Chapter voted to take part in the
Coast to Coast Challenge in October. Our New England affiliates have pledged
to walk across the northeast. The purpose of the Coast to Coast Challenge is
to raise public awareness and raise funds. Right now we are considering
walking in Millennium Park or taking the River Walk. We will hand out
literature and we will ask people to contribute. The chapter voted to walk
in Millennium Park on October 3, with October 17 as a back-up. We need as
many people as possible to sign up. If you can't walk the distance, you can
hand out literature. 

STATE REPORT

NFBI President Marilyn Green pointed out that we have a state board meeting
coming up June 17 at 7 pm. The agenda will be out soon. The face-to-face
board meeting will take place on Sunday, August 16, at the Hyatt Regency
Hotel in Lisle. It will run from 9 AM to 2 or 3 PM. Our room block will
close July 15. Make room reservations right away. State convention will be
October 23-25 at the same hotel.

The Illinois Caucus at national convention will take place on Sunday, July
5, at 7 AM in Room 201 at the convention hotel. Marilyn will send out the
information on our listservs.

Springfield BELL will run July 13 to July 17. We welcome back Amy Lund
Yount, our longtime BELL teacher, who will be with us this summer. Our
Chicago program will be held at the Chicago Lighthouse July 20 through July
31. Bridget Hickey will again be our lead teacher, and Michelle Ault will be
assistant teacher for both programs. There is still space available for
children ages four through twelve, so help us spread the word.

NFB STEM2U is our science, technology, engineering, and math program to
debunk the notion that blind people can't do STEM. This year's program has
to do with forensics, DNA, and strawberries. It's a one-day program at the
Lisle Hyatt on August 15. We recommend it for students ages eight to
thirteen.

State convention will take place October 23-25 in Lisle. Make reservations
as soon as possible. The schedule will follow the same pattern as last year,
ending with breakfast on Sunday. Information about registration is at
nfbofillinois.org/convention.

SECRETARY's MINUTES

Jemal moved and Glenn seconded approval of the May secretary's minutes. The
minutes were approved.   

TREASURER's UPDATE

Chicago Chapter Treasurer Kira O'Bradovitch reported that we have $5275.20,
including today's collection and mini-auction. From that we will take our
contributions to the museum and the NFB funds. 

ADVOCACY COMMITTEE

Kira reported that Rap/Tap rides will increase from thirty to forty. To get
your extra ten rides you must fill out the request on the website. Kira,
Michelle, and other committee members can help people sign up after the
meeting. You are only eligible if you are a current RAP/TAP user. 

The Advocacy Committee will meet on June 29 at 7. They are working with the
Illinois Transit Authority and PACE. We will have a tour of our accessible
signs before the August chapter meeting, probably at 11. 

FUNDRAISING COMMITTEE

David Meyer reported that we will host a bowling fundraiser on August 22 or
August 29 at Fireside Bowl. There are some accessibility challenges, but
they have been very friendly toward us. In September we will have a mini
auction, and we will host the Read-a-thon in October.
Finally we will have our holiday auction in December. 

NEW MEMBER

Chris Ruffin is a student at ICRE-Wood. He attended a couple of chapter
meetings some time ago, and has decided to join. Chris was enthusiastically
voted into the chapter.

NEW BUSINESS

Dave Meyer reported that the Weekenders through Horizons for the Blind will
host a picnic on Saturday, June 20. There will be a lunch at Berghof in
July. In August there will be a visit to the Lincoln Park Zoo. 

ADJOURNMENT

Dave moved and Marilyn seconded adjournment. The meeting adjourned at 3:15
PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Debbie Stein, Secretary