[Nebraska-Senior-Blind] March Meeting Secretary's Report, Pasted in and Attached

[Linda Mentink]

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



Monday, March 8, 2021



The NFBN Senior Division met via Zoom on Monday, 
March 8, 2021. President Robert Newman called the 
meeting to order at 7:01 PM CST. Members present 
were: President Robert Newman, Vice President 
Barbara Loos, Secretary Linda Mentink, Treasurer 
Cheryl Livingston, Board Member Nancy Oltman, 
Chris Boone, Bob Burns, Gina Finnell, Geralyn 
Konruff, Brad Loos, Steve Senteney, and Jerry 
Whitlow. Guests present were: Dorothy Babel and 
Melvin Forster from Nebraska, Jennifer Lyman from 
Illinois and Patricia Maddix from Washington.



Robert recited our NFB Pledge. Bob will recite it next month.



Jennifer Lyman, a Non-24 Nurse Educator in the 
midwest working for Vanda Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 
talked to us about Non-24 Sleep Wake Disorder. 
Vanda Pharmaceuticals is a bio Pharmaceutical 
company that focuses on education and research in 
the area of Non-24. She explained the science 
behind Non-24 and how it differs from other 
common sleep disorders. It is a rare circadian 
rhythm disorder, and is a chronic condition. It 
can cause sleep disturbances which can cause 
significant health issues. The symptoms are: 
difficulty falling asleep, difficulty staying 
asleep and exessive sleepiness during the day. 
There tends to be a cyclical pattern to these 
sleep struggles. A person can have one or more of 
these struggles, and they can range from mild to 
severe. They can appear at any time. It can 
effect up to 70% of those who are blind, but one 
does not have to be blind to have it. Our 
circadian rhythm is controled by the master body 
clock in the brain, it needs to be in sync with 
the daytime nighttime cycles of the environment 
and the master body clock gets its signal to 
reset by light cues from our environment. Anyone 
who thinks they have Non-24 may contact Jennifer 
at 202-875-4714. She answered questions we had.



Linda read the February 2021 Secretary's Report. 
At Robert's suggestion, Linda will not read the 
Treasurer's Report, but will paste it at the 
bottom of her report from now on. There is no 
need to read it. The Secretary's Report will be 
made a part of the permanent record of the organization.



Cheryl read the March 2021 Treasurer's Report. 
Barbara asked for clarification about dues paid 
through PayPal. Cheryl explained that the total 
amount that is paid by PayPal will go toward the 
total that will be paid to the state, and, 
depending on how it works out, either the state 
will reimburse the division, or the division will 
reimburse the state to make it come out right. It 
will be reflected in Cheryl's report. There were 
no further questions, so the report will be made 
a part of the financial record of the organization.



Robert asked Chris if there was anything new on 
what was accomplished at the Washington Seminar. 
She said that, when we met with Congressman 
Fortenberry, he and his legislative aid got 
really excited about the Medical Device Nonvisual 
Access Act. Congressman Fortenberry is the 
ranking member on the agriculture subcommittee of 
the House Committee on Appropriations. This 
committee is responsible for the FDA, which would 
be responsible for making regulations requiring 
companies who make home medical devices to make 
them accessible. The Congressman wondered why 
they couldn't tie it to their appropriation. John 
Paré filled out the Appropriations Request form, 
which had to be filled out twice. Congressman 
Fortenberry's office has been notified. They are 
strategizing on how to get a bill introduced into 
the Committee on Energy and Commerce. This 
committee's chairperson said that no piece of 
legislation brought by a Republican will even be considered.



Robert mentioned that one other good thing came 
out of our contact with Congressman Fortenberry. 
His Norfolk office manager Lee has a 
sister-in-law who went blind about six months 
ago. Congressman Fortenberry knows the Bureshes. 
Amy contacted Laura and told her about the 
Federation and the Senior Division. Robert 
contacted her, and she wants to join us in our meetings.



We shared brags and drags.



Steve mentioned that he'd like to know how blind 
people stay safe in their homes. His home was 
burglarized Saturday night, so he's getting 
security cameras put in. That will be our topic next month.



There was no further business, so we adjourned at 9:05 PM.



Respectfully submitted,



Linda Mentink, Secretary



Treasurer's Report Senior Division



Monday, March 8, 2021



Beginning Balance $954.83



Expenses



PAC for March $15.00



Deposits



None



Ending Balance $939.83



Jolene Boshart paid dues by check. The deposit will be reported next month.



Respectfully submitted,



Cheryl Livingston, Treasurer
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