[Massachusetts-NFB] At-Large Chapter February Minutes

[Cullen Gallagher]

Hello At-Large Chapter members:
The minutes from our February meeting are attached and pasted below.
Thanks,
Cullen
At-Large Chapter Minutes, February 10, 2026

The February 10, 2026 meeting of the At-Large Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind of Massachusetts was called to order at 7:00 PM.
In attendance:

Liz Lesperance, President
Sandy Burgess, Vice President
Cullen Gallagher, Secretary
Allen Larkin, Treasurer
Kristina Constant, Board Member
Shara Winton, Affiliate President
Mike Karsok
Shirley Dorris
Stephen Yerardi
Neil Schoonmaker
Brian Langlois
Lavender Darcangelo
Sengil Inkiala
Pam Kalinoski
Marc Kelly
Ren Lovegood
Shannon Canton
ElizabethAnn Johnson
Icebreaker: where would you take yourself for Valentine's Day?
NFB Pledge

Kristina led the NFB Pledge.
Approval of Minutes

Stephen moved that the January minutes be accepted; the motion was seconded by Sandy and passed unanimously.
Treasurer’s Report

Allen indicated that dues had continued to come in. The At-Large Chapter used the affiliate account. Sandy would send Allen the starting balance she had in her record so it could be tracked. Members were instructed to contact Liz or Allen once they had paid their dues so it could be added to the treasury and the membership updated in the national database. Those who had not paid yet would be considered inactive as of January 31.
Afiliot President’s Report

STATE CONVENTION

Registration was now open for the State Convention, with early bird options priced at $120. This price would include Friday night dinner, Saturday lunch, and banquet. The hotel room rate of $119 per night would also include breakfast.
Friday night would feature a talent showcase. A donation of $10 was requested for those wanting to perform. Performances could include singing, karaoke, poetry, comedy, and more. Everyone would be encouraged to dress up as their favorite entertainer for this event.
Donations for auction items and door prizes were also being accepted. Carol was the door prize chair, and Stephanie was the auction chair.
Reserve A Hotel Room for State Convention <https://www.ihg.com/crowneplaza/hotels/us/en/find-hotels/select-roomrate?fromRedirect=true&qSrt=sBR&qIta=99801505&icdv=99801505&qSlH=bosms&qCiD=27&qCiMy=022026&qCoD=29&qCoMy=022026&qGrpCd=nfb&qAAR=6CBARC&qRtP=6CBARC&setPMCookies=true&qSHBrC=CP&qDest=15%20Middlesex%20Canal%20Park%20Rd.,%20Woburn,%20MA,%20US&showApp=true&adjustMonth=false&srb_u=1&qRmFltr=>
Register for State Convention <https://nfbma.org/state-convention/registration>
NATIONAL CONVENTION

Room reservations were open for the National Convention. Anyone attending for the first time could apply for the Kenneth Jernigan scholarship. Members applying were instructed to let Shara know, as she would need to submit a letter of recommendation.
WASHINGTON SEMINAR

Shara indicated that Washington Seminar went well despite the snowstorms. A few representatives switched to virtual meetings, and members who were not able to attend the seminar in person were able to participate in those meetings virtually. Representatives seemed willing to sponsor the Federation’s legislation.
Members were encouraged to respond when asked to contact representatives regarding these issues. There was a town hall regarding the Randolph-Sheppard Program, which was facing cuts at Army locations. Members expressed that they did not want to see the Randolph-Sheppard Act affected in any way.
Presidential Release

The February Presidential Release  <https://nfb.org/sites/nfb.org/files/2026-01/presidential%20_release_february_2026_chapter_version.mp3>was played.
Rideshare And Self-ID

Self-ID for guide dog users in rideshares was discussed. Members found that it was not reducing the amount of denials. Stephen indicated that there had been no updates on bill 2066, which would include penalties for Uber and Lyft drivers discriminating against guide dog users.
Ren mentioned the Department of Justice lawsuit and encouraged members to share their experiences. The lawsuit was filed in California, and it was unknown whether Massachusetts could join the lawsuit. The possibility of joining the lawsuit would be explored.
Museum

Ren reported that she had been appointed to the advisory board and archives committee for the national museum project. The committee was reviewing the archives housed at the Jernigan Institute and tenBroek Library to evaluate what materials should be included in a future physical and digital museum. Ren noted that feedback would be welcomed, particularly regarding archival materials outside the NFB, as blind people had organized prior to the founding of the Federation. She also noted that many archival materials had not yet been digitized.
Shara added that the museum could help address common misconceptions about the organization. Members discussed recent posts claiming that the NFB had done nothing for blind people and noted that the Federation’s work was often misrepresented.
Tips for Attending Conventions

Ren shared her experience attending her first state and national conventions and offered guidance for first-time attendees. While conventions could feel overwhelming, she emphasized that members were welcoming and eager to connect. Arriving early could allow time to get acclimated, and staying at the convention hotel made it easier to take breaks as needed. Members noted that conventions provided opportunities to learn about the many ways to get involved in the Federation.
Resources for learning more about the NFB

Several resources were mentioned for learning more about the history of the Federation, including the Braille Monitor, which dates back to 1957, and the Kernel Books. The Kernel Books were described as inspirational stories related to blindness and were available through NLS. The Braille Monitor was available online and in multiple formats. Read the Braille Monitor Online <https://nfb.org/resources/publications-and-media/braille-monitor>
Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 8:34 PM. The next meeting was scheduled for March 10.

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