[Nebraska-Senior-Blind] August Secretary's Reported Corrected, Pasted in and Attached

Tue Sep 15 18:44:00 UTC 2020

Wonderful! Thanks. 

Hugs,
CB

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Nebraska-Senior-Blind <nebraska-senior-blind-bounces at nfbnet.org>
> On Behalf Of Linda Mentink via Nebraska-Senior-Blind
> Sent: Monday, September 14, 2020 9:31 PM
> To: nebraska-senior-blind at nfbnet.org
> Cc: Linda Mentink <mentink at frontiernet.net>
> Subject: [Nebraska-Senior-Blind] August Secretary's Reported Corrected,
> Pasted in and Attached
> 
> 
> NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND OF NEBRASKA SENIOR DIVISION
> SECRETARY'S REPORT
> 
> 
> 
> Monday, August 10, 2020
> 
> 
> 
> The NFBN Senior Division met by telephone conference on Monday, August
> 10, 2020. President Robert Newman called the meeting to order at 7:02 PM
> CDT. Members present were: President Robert Newman, Vice President
> Barbara Loos, Secretary Linda Mentink, Treasurer Cheryl Livingston, Board
> Member Nancy Oltman, Chris Boone, Jo Boshart, Gina Finnell, Brad Loos, and
> Jerry Whitlow. Guests present were: Sharon Wolfe from Oklahoma and
> Verita Turner from Delaware.
> 
> 
> 
> Cheryl recited our NFB Pledge. Jerry will recite it next month.
> 
> 
> 
> We discussed the virtual National Convention.
> 
> 
> 
> Linda read the June 8 Secretary's Report. The date read was corrected, and
> the report will become a part of the permanent record of the organization.
> 
> 
> 
> Cheryl read the August Treasurer's Report as follows:
> 
> 
> 
> Treasurer's Report Senior Division
> 
> 
> 
> Monday, August 10, 2020
> 
> 
> 
> Beginning Balance $1029.83
> 
> 
> 
> Expenses
> 
> 
> 
> PAC for July $15.00
> 
> 
> 
> PAC for August $15.00
> 
> 
> 
> Deposits
> 
> 
> 
> None
> 
> 
> 
> Ending Balance $999.83
> 
> 
> 
> Respectfully submitted,
> 
> 
> 
> Cheryl Livingston, Treasurer
> 
> 
> 
> It will be made a part of the permanent financial record of the
organization.
> 
> 
> 
> Cheryl reported on the National Seniors Division meeting as follows:
> 
> 
> 
> NFB Senior Division meeting at virtual National Convention
> 
> 
> 
> The NFB Senior Division met over Zoom on June 16, 2020. There were
> approximately 235 people in attendance at the Zoom meeting.
> 
> 
> 
> The first item on the agenda was a panel presentation from some
> seniors who had attended a retreat at the Rocky Bottom Camp of the
> Blind in SC. The camp holds 2 retreats each year for seniors.  One
> senior named Darrell said he wanted to learn how to grill. Training
> is done with sleepshades and straight canes. He learned to thread a
> needle and to sew on a button. He would recommend attending the
> retreat and commented that the participants were not babied, that the
> training was not for the faint of heart and that the skills needed
> would be learned. At this point, Shelley Copple from SC interjected
> that the next retreat would be held virtually from Oct. 18-24, 2020.
> The next presenter named Katie discussed her experience. She stated
> that the Senior Division is ahead as far as inclusion is concerned.
> She said that she did not experience anything negative. She reported
> that a typical day started with walking down the mountain to have
> breakfast each morning. Then people broke up into small groups to
> work on skills, such as cane travel, Braille, cooking and technology.
> At the end of the day there was a recap of the day's experiences and
> a time for fellowship. The participants were shown various
> technologies and made their own decisions as to what was best for
> them. There were also outings to various places, such as shopping.
> Participants learned how to request shopping assistance and how to
> work with the assistants.
> 
> 
> 
> The next agenda item was a presentation by author Debra Kendrick. She
> has written 2 books that are based on her personal experiences and
> for seniors. Both books are published by the National Braille Press.
> The first book is titled Navigating the Health Care System When all
> They See is That you Can't. The book describes strategies on how to
> get past "how much can you see" to getting the health care that is
> needed. There are several chapters on subjects such as how to find a
> doctor. NBP will provide the book free of charge. The website to get
> the book is nbp.org. The second book is titled When Your Ears Can't
> Help you See. This book deals with general coping strategies with
> hearing loss, decorating and furniture placement to enhance sound and
> chapters on hearing aids and sound amplification products. Debra said
> that the most valuable section is on how to teach your audiologist
> about blindness. This book is available in Braille, in LP, and for
> download from nbp.org.
> 
> 
> 
> The next presentation was from Ben Cooper and Mike Tran of Benetech-
> Bookshare. Bookshare is holding a summer read-a-thon for readers of
> all ages. The goal is to read 200,000 books. Bookshare has 2 book
> clubs, one for teens and one for adults. Bookshare has a special
> convention offer that if you sign up by July 31 and use the code
> vet2020, you will get the first year's membership for $50. On the
> Benetech side, they are working on a prototype for smart speakers.
> Information can be found at smartspeakers at benetech.org.
> 
> 
> 
> Next was a panel discussion about senior groups in various parts of
> the country. Veronica Smith is the president of the New Mexico senior
> group called Senior Action Group Energy or SAGE. The group started as
> a senior group in 1996. They hold monthly online meetings and have
> guest speakers. The at large group and the senior group have combined
> into 1 group. Stacy (I did not get the last name) is a rehab
> specialist working at the Louisiana Center for the Blind. She does
> outreach to seniors in Louisiana, working with individuals based on
> their individual needs. Senior retreats are held in which 4-6 people
> go to Ruston to the LCB to work on blindness skills. Shelley Copple
> talked about the Rocky Bottom Camp of the Blind in South Carolina.
> The camp holds 2 senior retreats each year, one in May and one in
> September. An announcement was made that the NFB Seniors Division
> meets once a month virtually at 4 pm eastern time. A speaker is
> arranged for each meeting. All are welcome.
> 
> 
> 
> The next speaker was Dr. Penny Rosenblum, who is the director of
> research at the American Foundation for the Blind. She discussed
> several surveys that were being conducted. One that was recently
> concluded was the Flatten Inaccessibility survey. Among the items
> addressed in the survey were access to covid testing, access to
> obtaining prescriptions if no online option is available and there is
> not a way to get prescriptions in person, access to hospital care,
> eyecare and eyecare regimens, and access to transportation. A report
> will soon be available on the AFB website, afb.org. Navigate to Dr
> Penny Rosenblum and then click on the link to the Flatten
> Inaccessibility website.
> 
> 
> 
> A couple of the presenters for the afternoon were not able to join
> the meeting apparently due to technical difficulties. Following the
> presentations was some general discussion. Robert Newman answered
> questions about the payment of dues and gave information about the
> senior division website. Duncan Larson read the treasurer's report.
> It was decided that elections would be held over until the next
> meeting. Diane McGeorge made some final comments before the meeting
> was adjourned.
> 
> 
> 
> We complimented Cheryl, and thanked her for such a thorough report.
> 
> 
> 
> We decided to wait until after the state board meeting to plan our
> annual meeting at our upcoming NFBN convention, because we don't know
> whether it will be in person or virtual. Chris and Barbara suggested
> that we ask Cameo Rogers, Corporate Life Enrichment Manager for
> Immannuel, if she would be a guest and
> 
> talk about the continuing need for an in-service on handling blind
> 
> residents in nursing homes and assisted living facilities. Barbara
> also suggested Peggy Chong, the blind history lady.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> BRAGS AND DRAGS. Linda shared that two church friends have serious
> physical issues, and asked for prayers for both.
> 
> 
> 
> Jo mentioned that the next day would be a year since she had a brain
bleed.
> 
> 
> 
> We expressed our condolences regarding Della Johnston's passing.
> 
> 
> 
> There was no further business, so we adjourned at 8:54 PM.
> 
> 
> 
> Respectfully submitted,
> 
> 
> 
> Linda Mentink, Secretary