[Nebraska-senior-blind] NFBN Senior Division Meeting TODAY - Special Guest

Mon Apr 18 14:24:16 UTC 2016

Hi you all

RE: Reminder April's meeting is coming TODAY! Monday the 18th; Our special
guest is Joyce Kane, President of the NFB Krafters division

Contents of this message:

*When and how to get on the call

*Agenda 

*The NFB Pledge 

*Minutes from last meeting are pasted in below

*April National Presidential Release is attached 

*#1 When and How to Get On the Call:

Date: Monday April 18th 

Time: 6:00 MT, 7:00 CT, 8:00 ET 

Phone: 1-605-475-6006

Access: 203747Pound

*#2 Agenda:

-First- Come-to-order, say our NFB pledge (Nancy's turn)

- Second- Special Guest Joyce Kane will speak prior to conducting our
business; this presentation and resulting discussion will serve as our April
philosophical discussion.

-Third- secretary & treasurers Reports Will be discussed and approved and/or
accepted

--OLD BUSINESS: 

-Discuss: Cheryl will update us on progress to get our constitution okayed
by the state board

--NEW BUSINESS:

-Whatever the members may bring 

--Finally- Brags & Drags

--Adjournment

*#3 NFB Pledge: 

 I pledge to participate actively in the efforts of the National

Federation of the Blind to achieve equality, opportunity, and security for
the blind; to support the policies and programs of the Federation; and to
abide by its constitution.

**Copy of March Meeting Minutes:

National Federation of the Blind of Nebraska

Senior Division

March 21, 2016 Meeting

The March 2016 meeting was called to order at 7:04 PM (CT). In attendance:
President Robert Newman, VP Barbara Loos, Secretary Karen Lemmon, Treasurer
Cheryl Livingston. Members Brad Loos, Nancy Oltman, Linda Mentink, Gina
Finnell, Steve Senteny and Della Johnston.

President Newman asked that as people at the conference calls arrive they
use *6 to mute their phone and when having something to add or discuss use
*6 again to remove mute. Also when commenting during the meeting please
announce yourself before your comment to the meeting topic.

NFBN Secretary, Jamie Forbes, joined the call to report on the BELL Academy
and the Walk for Independence. The BELL academy for ages 4 through 12 is
designed to introduce and reinforce the reading and writing of Braille. This
is a day program for the youth and their families and this year it will be
held from June 13 to June 24 in Lincoln. Jamie reported that although the
program has attracted mostly children from the Omaha and Lincoln area it is
open to all across the state who are interested. Volunteers to read to the
students, teach Braille and work in other capacities are needed. Background
checks are necessary so Jamie asked that volunteers apply by May 15.

The Walk for Independence will be held in Omaha on June 18th with
registration at 9-10 AM. The fee to participate is $30 per person. If
pledges of $30 or more are brought in then the walker does not have to pay
the $30 participant fee. Robert asked that the pledge forms come out early
so people have more time. Jamie agreed and said the pledge forms would be
out as soon as possible.

Jamie Forbis left the call and the regular meeting began. 

The NF B Pledge was recited, led by Linda. Nancy volunteered to lead the
pledge in April.

Secretary Lemmon using JAWS read the Secretary minutes from February. Two
corrections were noted: 1. rather than using the word 'motioned' in the
minutes use 'moved' and, 2) change 'treasurer's minutes to 'treasurer's
report'. Cheryl moved that the minutes with these two corrections be
accepted. Gina seconded the motion and motion carried. NOTE: Changes were
made and sent to President Newman on March 22, 2016).

Treasurer Livingston gave the financial report which was reported with a
balance of $912.95. Gina moved that the Treasurer's report be approved as
read. Barbara seconded. Motion carried unanimously. (NOTE: Treasurer's
report attached)

OLD BUSINESS

President Newman asked Cheryl Livingston if the approval of the revised
Senior Division Constitution by the NFBN State Board had been completed.
Cheryl reported that Jamie Forbis had checked back on past minutes of the
NFBN and did not find where this had been on any agenda since we passed it
on to them last year. Cheryl said she would talk to Amy to get this on the
agenda for the May State Affiliate meeting.

Discussion about recruitment to the Senior Division was next on the agenda.
Robert suggested that since our time on our calls was limited that further
reports on call assignments would be done through emails or phone calls
unless there would be some questions that needed to be answered by the
members of the Senior Division. 

NEW BUSINESS

Discussion. For non-email users, we explored the use of a thumb drive to
communicate minutes and notices. The thumb drive with MP3 recordings could
be used in the talking book machine. Concerns were how to record in MP3
format and what sort of container or envelope to mail the thumb drive.
Barbara volunteered to contact the talking book office and ask if the
containers they use could be purchased and what the price would be. Karen
suggested that we check with the post office as well and possibly use
envelopes with return envelopes included in the mailing of the thumb drive. 

Due to some confusion on the time of the meeting, Joyce Kane who is
President of the Crafters Division of the NFB called in as the meeting was
closing. She agreed to call at our next meeting on April 18 but asked for a
reminder as the time grew closer.

BRAGS and DRAGS

Karen reported her frustration with the lack of progress on a resolution of
two years ago concerning the accessibility of the Historic Buildings and
Museum at Fort Robinson. Karen gave a brief explanation of what has led to
her frustration. Karen upon the request of Jeff Altman, had written a
detailed letter of the lack of accessibility to the blind at Fort Robinson.
This letter was written shortly after the resolution passed on the floor of
the general meeting and was emailed to Jeff. Sometime later, Jeff also
requested contact information for where the letter needed to be sent. This
too was sent to Jeff after an email from Karen last year to see what
progress had occurred up to that time. Again last week in response to
another email Karen sent to Jeff to check on the progress or if she could
assist, another request came from Jeff for this contact information so Karen
re-sent the contact information. Over a year ago Karen had received an email
from State Affiliate President Amy Buresh that a letter had been sent to the
Nebraska Historical Society. Upon this report at this meeting Cheryl said
that the letter had been sent sometime last year. Karen reported her
frustration and confusion as the summer open season at Fort Robinson is
about to begin and there has been no changes at the Fort. President Newman
asked for future updates on the situation. 

Barbara asked for prayers for Brad as he is suffering from kidney stones.

The next meeting will be on April 18th and our guest speaker will be Joyce
Kane.

There being no further business the meeting ended at 8:14 PM (CT)

Respectfully Submitted,

Karen Lemmon

Secretary

*REMINDER that the NFBN State convention will be held on the weekend of
October 7-9, 2016 at the Riverside Inn in Columbus Nebraska. Further details
concerning the Convention will be announced at future phone meetings of the
Senior Division.

Treasurer's Report-Senior Division

March 21, 2016

Beginning Balance Feb 15, 2016           $834.95

Expenses

March PAC plan                                          $ 10.00

Deposits

10 % of B Canes Donation                       $88.00

Ending Balance       Mar, 2016                $912.95 

Respectfully submitted,

Cheryl Livingston, Treasurer

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