[Nebraska-Senior-Blind] June Secretary's Report and August Treasurer's Report

Tue Aug 13 02:09:19 UTC 2019

NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND OF NEBRASKA SENIOR DIVISION SECRETARY'S REPORT

Monday, June 10, 2019

The NFBN Senior Division met by telephone conference on Monday, June 
10, 2019. President Robert Newman called the meeting to order at 7:00 
PM CDST. Members present were: President Robert Newman, Vice 
President Barbara Loos, Secretary Linda Mentink, Treasurer Cheryl 
Livingston, Board Member Nancy Oltman, Chris Boone, Gina Finnell, 
Brad Loos, and Jerry Whitlow. Guests present were: Walt Hively and 
Cameo Rogers from Nebraska and Ruth Sager from Maryland.

Chris recited the NFB Pledge. Jerry will recite it in August.

Our guest speaker was Cameo Rogers, Corporate Life Enrichment Manager 
for Immannuel, working out of the Omaha office. She has been working 
in Senior living most of her career. She is a Recreational Therapist 
by trade. She is currently serving as the Activities Association of 
Omaha President. This organization supports and serves activity 
directors and Recreational Therapists in the association who are 
working in a field of health care. These fields include independent 
living, assisted living, long-term care, memory care, and working 
with individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities. 
They serve people 18 years and up. She has connections with activity 
directors in most towns, but does not actively know any in Pickrell 
and Crofton. What they want is someone who will reach out and offer 
an opportunity for an education. Volunteering would be another good 
way for us to be involved. In preparation for this call, she sent out 
a poll to the membership to find out what they have an interest in 
learning more about. They focussed on technology such as apps and NFB 
Newsline, how to help people with low vision to feel involved, 
included and valued in activity settings, and strategies and advice 
for teaching people how to get through daily challenges. Members gave 
her lots of information about apps, computers, low vision devices, 
games, and how to make some activities accessible. We discussed 
putting together some short videos for people to access, somewhat 
like Hadley Institute is doing. Ruth suggested that we work on this 
with other NFB divisions, and also mentioned our Independence Market 
and literature. Cameo suggested that some of us might present at the 
association's conference October 11 at Brookstone Meadows in Elkhorn, 
but that is when our state convention will be. Maybe we can get her 
some materials. Robert will give us Cameo's contact information so 
that we can contact her to get names of workers in our area.

Linda read the May Secretary's Report. There were no additions or 
corrections, so it will become a part of the record of the organization.

Cheryl read the Treasurer's report as follows:

Treasurer's Report-Senior Division

June 10, 2019

Beginning Balance May 13, 2019 $1305.44

Expenses

PAC plan for June $ 15.00

Total Expenses $ 15 .00

Deposits

None

Ending Balance June 10, 2019 $1290.44

Respectfully submitted,

Cheryl Livingston, Treasurer

The report will become a part of the financial record of the organization.

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE. Chris reported that LB220 passed, which means 
that blind business operators will receive priority in bidding on 
food service concessions in state locations. Nothing much will be 
done right now because there is not a Business Entervrise Program 
Manager on staff at the Commission. Thanks to the work of many of us, 
the Appropriations Committee did recommend full funding for the 
Commission, so they will receive $540,000 in Fiscal year 2020, which 
begins July 1, 2019, for the Older Blind Program. Carlos will hire 
five or six new staff. Chris believes that he is going to be rehiring 
that number of persons who were laid off in March. Those people will 
be providing older blind services. There was also more funding 
provided for staff benefits. We did not get LB17 passed this year, 
but it's not dead yet.

Robert mentioned that Jolene is retiring from J. B. Translations. 
Sahar is retiring from the Commission June 28, and will be taking 
over Jolene's business.

Brad mentioned that he and Barbara were out at the Veterans Music 
Festival representing the National Association of Blind Veterans on 
Saturday, June 1. Barbara added that Shane Buresh, Eileen Leigh, 
Kathy (she forgot her last name), and Kimberly Sherbarth were also 
there with the WAGES students.

Nancy reported that Brad and Barbara alerted her to a couple people 
to contact about our Senior Division. She contacted one lady, Edie 
Hicks, who is interested in joining. She had planned to call in. She 
took a fall, but doesn't have any broken bones. Her birthday is in 
July, and she'll be 88. Nancy will get the other lady's number from 
Edie, and contact her. Her name is Lorraine.

Barbara said that she and Brad followed up with a Veteran from 
Scottsbluff whom they met there at the conference, trying to help him 
get some services.

Chris had three brags. She missed our last meeting because she and 
Doug were at the BEET (Blindness, Education, Employment and 
Technology) Conference in Goshen, Indiana, at Goshen College, 
training four people in cane travel, Braille and some cooking. She 
was excited to meet a World War II Veteran on the bus going to 
Lincoln a couple weeks ago. He graduated from high school in 1937, 
served in Asia, is 96, and was on his way to visit his son in 
Derango. They just got back from Philadelfhia, where they celebrated 
her aunt's 90th birthday.

Gina's drag was that they had frost there last night.

Our next meeting will be in August. We will discuss the National 
Convention just passed, begin to make plans for the upcoming State 
Convention and talk about getting something together for Cameo to use 
at the conference.

There was no other business, so the meeting adjourned at 8:40 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Linda Mentink, Secretary

Treasurer's Report-Senior Division

August 12, 2019

Beginning Balance June 10, 2019 $1290.44

Expenses

PAC plan for July $ 15.00

PAC plan for August $ 15.00

Check 1236 on Aug 10 to

Robert Newman $ 45.11

NFB Sr Division cards for Sr retreat

Total Expenses $ 75.11

Deposits

Dues on Jun 6 $ 5.00

Ending Balance August 12, 2019 $1220.33

Respectfully submitted,

Cheryl Livingston, Treasurer