[NFB-of-Delaware] Minutes of last two chapter meetings attached.

[George Reid]

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NFB Northern Chapter Meeting  

Date: 4-28-2025 
Time: 6:30 PM with minutes read 6:00 PM.
Location: Zoom.

Carol called the meeting to order at 6:00 PM. 

Roll call: sylvia Reid, Carol King-Ries, Wayne Marsh, Anthony borreggine, Jim steele, Art cohen, Nakeya Robinson, Catrina Gosine, Shannon Britt, Henry Greene, June Hunter-Hardy. 

Wayne moved, Art seconded to approve minutes as corrected.  Carol abstained because she wasn't at the meeting; all others in favor.  

Treasurer's report (Nakeya) total balance: $4,048.23; 3 transactions all dues deposits: $30.00.  one was a money order made out to Nakeya.  Please address checks and money orders to Nakeya but make them out to NFB DE Northern Chapter. Wayne moved, Shannon seconded to approve treasurer's report, unanimous.  

New members: Liz Keating, Glenn Patterson, Joy Benford-Pyles.  Renewed members: Gina Spense, Ethel Maull, MJ Baynum.  June said Miracle didn't receive her coin and packet.  Art llost coin, Catrina, and Nakeya never got theirs.  Carol will email Beth Braun about coins and packets.    

Book talk (Carol) 5-20 6:00 PM facilitated by Wayne Marsh, Book: Whisper on the Wind: the story of Tom Bass, celebrated Black horseman by Bill Downey DBC 29221. 

Continuing business: 

5-02 Unseen American Dream (Carol) featuring Gary Pizzolo, Sylvia added that Anthea Piscarik wants to know who wants audio description at the showing.  They don't have the headphones to play it with the movie so there will be a laptop set up in another room.  No one present wants to be in another room.   

5-07 Advocacy Day (Carol) table at Leg. Hall, Dover with resolutions, literature, and enticemnets like candy and fruit.  

5-07 Mental Health Association (MHA) Empowering Community Wellness Symposium (June) June and Henry have sponsor table; Bally's casino; 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM.

5-10 Braille Family Fun Day at Brandywine Hundred Library: carol chips, Shannon cookies, Sylvia hot pretzels, Anthony and Lynn brownies, Catrina water, Keya sandwiches, MJ veggie or fruit tray.  Donate prizes toward games $5 gift cards.  darryl donated speaker, Keya bought tshirts "stop staring at me I can't see you," "Move you're in my blind spot" "White cane mode on"  Keya has one that says "Seeing eye human". Sylvia will send gift.    
Sylvia can't be there but Ariadne and her significant other, Matt, are coming.  Catrina is running left, right, center.  Maxi Aids has cards $18.95.  People made various game suggestions.    

New Business: 

5-21 membership building day (June) at Georgetown Library.  Shannon did excellent job with the flyer.  Volunteers contact June to network with prospective members and help them with lunch; Marguerite Woods, Danielle McCann and Kenya Flores will attend from the National office.  We can watch how National runs it and hold our own events in the other two counties.  Shannon asked if we're recording it.  Sylvia will ask Danielle.  

June says National has no brochures in stock.  She's been trying to get them for over a month.  She asked for printing help; Keya can print flyer at work; she'll fed ex them to June.  

State Convention: Next meeting 5-08 6:00 PM.  Shannon will make a save the date flyer.   

The Delaware Division of Libraries considers unsubscribing from Newsline.  Wayne asked who makes the decision and when. Who: the head of DDL Annie Norman.  when: starting now.  Marie Cunningham, head of DLAS, said advocate to state legislators.  Does DVI help fund it?  Wayne will make inquiries.  Sylvia will get a writeup; they just had budgeting last month.  Carol reminded us to start downloading BARD books on thumb drives because you never know what's going to happen.  
Events:

Carol was contacted by DVI to help with 5-06 9:30 AM sensitivity training for Wilm. Police.  Shannon volunteered to come.    

5-28 Walk-in Wednesday assistive technology 10:00 - 1:00 in-person 1901 N. DuPont Highway Biggs Building door 3 New Castle, DE 19720.

5-08 Wilmington Police Department Resource Fair 4:00 - 6:00 PM Helen Chambers Park 700 block of West 6th St. 

DLAS luncheon 6-14  dues $12 lunch $10 Luther Towers Dover.  

DABA events:
5-17 12:30 - 2:30 PM Milford Bowling Lanes 809 N. DuPont Blvd Milford, DE 19963 302-422-9456 $5 members $10 non members included bowling, shoes, pizza, soda RSVP Amy Forrest 302-359-2194 Patti Addison 302-463-8700.
6-07 10:00 Yoga at Newark Co-op (Contact Amy Forrest 302-359-2194)
Food bank of Delaware Community & Resource Fair 5-07 10:00 - 2:00 222 Lake Drive Newark, DE 19702. 

Next affiliate meeting 6-19 

Presidential  release PR549 5-15 8:00 PM.  

Philosophy discussion of concepts from book Freedom for the Blind: the secret is empowerment by Jim Omvig facilitated by Sylvia.  (see recording)        

To-Do List:  
- All - Please be at as many events as possible this month; these are all-hands-on-deck.
- All who signed up - Bring food to Braille Family Fun day.  
- Carol - Inquire about membership coins and packets.
- Sylvia - Send gift for Braille Family Fun Day.  
- Sylvia - Ask Danielle how we can record the membership building event.
- Nakeya - Print outreach material for June. 
- Shannon - Make State Convention save the date flyer.  
- Carol and Shannon - take part in DVI sensitivity training of Wilmington Police. 
- Wayne - Inquire whether DVI helps fund Newsline.  
- Sylvia - Get fact sheet and writeup from National about Newsline.

Calendar: 
Note: All events are in-person unless otherwise stated.
5-02 7:00 PM short film "Unseen American dream" starring Gary Pizzolo and Chris Heist 1313 N. Market St. Wilmington, light refreshments and discussion.
5-06 Carol King-Ries and Shannon Britt help with DVI sensitivity training for Wilmington City Police.
5-07 8:00 - 3:00 June Hunter-Hardy staff sponsor table at MHA Empowering Community Wellness Symposium Bally's Dover 1131 N. DuPont Highway Dover, DE 19901.   
5-07 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM Food bank of Delaware Community & Resource Fair 222 Lake Drive Newark, DE 19702. 
5-07 10:00 Advocacy day at Legislative Hall, Dover.
5-08 4:00 - 6:00 PM Wilmington Police Department Resource Fair Helen Chambers Park 700 block of West 6th St. 
5-08 6:00 state Convention Committee meeting on our Zoom. 
5-10 12:00 noon Braille Family Fun Day at Brandywine Hundred Library.
5-14 6:00 PM Fundraising meeting 
5-15 6:00 State Convention Committee meeting on our Zoom.
5-15 8:00 Presidential release on National Zoom.
5-17 10:00 - 2:30 DABA bowling at Milford Lanes 809 N. DuPont Blvd. Milford, DE 19963 
5-19 6:30 PM Northern Chapter meeting with minutes read 6:00 PM on our Zoom. 
5-20 6:00 PM book talk facilitated by Wayne Marsh Whisper on the Wind: the story of Tom Bass, celebrated Black horseman by Bill Downey DBC 29221.          
5-21 10:00 AM Membership Building Day at Georgetown Public Library 123 W Pine St. Georgetown, DE 19947.
5-28 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM DVI's Walk-in Wednesday assistive technology 1901 N. DuPont Highway Biggs Building door 3 New Castle, DE 19720.

June
Every Tuesday and Thursday 12:00 - 3:00 blind seniors meet for lunch and chat at Modern Maturity 1121 Forest ave. Dover, DE (Contact Darryl Garner 302-521-8111)  
6-01 - 9-30 Friends of DLAS book challenge fundraiser; (please sponsor June Hunter-Hardy 718-438-0525,  Sylvia Reid 302-743-8811, Verita Turner 302-734-7419, or Marsha Blalock )
6-04 2:00 - 3:00 Mill Croft Senior Living Peer Support Group 255 Possum Park Rd. Newark, DE (Contact Terry Marsh 302-998-5913)
6-07 10:00 - 11:00 AM DABA yoga at Newark Co-op East Main St. (contact Amy Forrest 302-359-2194)
6-11 10:00 - 11:30 Wilmington Peer Support Group Absalom Jones Senior Center 310 Kiamensi Rd. Wilmington, DE (contact Terry Marsh 302-998-5913) 
6-11 11:00 - 12:30 Peer Support DE at Kent County Public Library 497 s. Red Haven Rd Dover, DE 19901 (Contact Patti Addison 302-463-8700)
6-12 1:00 - 2:30 Peer Support DE at Long Neck Cheer Center 26089 Long Neck Road Millsboro, DE topic independent living resources (Contact Patti Addison 302-463-8700)
6-14 DLAS luncheon at Luther Towers (Contact Verita Turner 302-734-7419)
6-15 - 8-15 DLAS Summer Reading program (Contact Marie Cunningham, librarian 302-257-3006)  
6-16 6:00 PM NFB book talk on Zoom (book The Guncle by Steven Rowley) (Contact Sylvia Reid 302-743-8811)
6-17 9:30 - 11:00 New Ark Vision Peer Support Group Newark Senior Center 200 Whitechapel Dr. Newark, DE (contact Terry Marsh 302-998-5913)
6-17 12:00 - 3:00 ACE (Advocacy Communication Education) meeting and speaker at Modern Maturity 1121 Forest ave. Dover, DE (Contact Darryl Garner 302-521-8111)
6-18 10:00 - 1:00 Walk-in Wednesday technology Biggs Building 1901 N. duPont Highway New Castle, DE (Contact Steve Pierson 302-255-9800)
6-18 1:00 - 3:00 PM ILS Meet and Greet emergency preparedness and organization, Georgetown Library 123 W. Pine St. Georgetown, DE 19947 (contact Mary Lacy 302-255-9800) 
6-19 1:00 - 2:30 Long Neck Cheer Center Peer Support Group held by conference call 712-432-3900 passcode: 683233# 
6-19 6:00 National Federation of the Blind of DE affiliate meeting on Zoom (Contact Sylvia Reid 302-743-8811)
6-21 10:00 - 11:00 AM Yoga weight strengthening Newark Co-op East Main St. Newark (contact Amy Forrest 302-359-2194
6-23 6:30 Northern Chapter meeting with minutes read 6:00 on Zoom (Contact Sylvia Reid 302-743-8811) 
6-23 - 7-11 American Counsel of the Blind Convention, Dallas, TX (check acb.org)
6-28 10:00 ACB meeting on Zoom (contact Debra Trevino 502-541-7018)
6-28 10:00 - 11:00 DABA Walk in the Park at Old New Castle Battery Park (Contact Amy Forrest 302-359-2194)

July
No NFB book talk or chapter meetings
Every Tuesday and Thursday 12:00 - 3:00 blind seniors meet for lunch and chat at Modern Maturity 1121 Forest ave. Dover, DE (Contact Darryl Garner 302-521-8111)  
7-02  2:00 - 3:00 Mill Croft Senior Living Peer Support Group 255 Possum Park Rd. Newark, DE (Contact Terry Marsh 302-998-5913)
7-05 10:00 - 11:00 AM DABA yoga at Newark Co-op East Main St. (contact Amy Forrest 302-359-2194) 
7-08 - 7-13 National Federation of the Blind National Convention New Orleans, LA (check nfb.org)
7-18 10:00 DLAS book club on conference call (book Wish you were here by Jodi Picoult) (Contact Marie Cunningham 302-257-3006) 
7-19 10:00 - 11:00 AM Yoga weight strengthening Newark Co-op East Main St. Newark (contact Amy Forrest 302-359-2194
7-21 12:00 - 3:00 ACE meeting and speaker at Modern Maturity 1121 Forest ave. Dover, DE (Contact Darryl Garner 302-521-8111)
7-26 10:00 DABA paddleboating and picnic at Killin's Pond (Contact Amy Forrest 302-359-2194)
7-26 10:00 ACB meeting on Zoom (contact Debra Trevino 502-541-7018)

August
No DABA Yoga
Every Tuesday and Thursday 12:00 - 3:00 blind seniors meet for lunch and chat at Modern Maturity 1121 Forest ave. Dover, DE (Contact Darryl Garner 302-521-8111)  
8-02 10:00 DABA paddleboat and picnic at Lum's Pond (Contact Amy Forrest 302-359-2194)   
8-18 12:00 - 3:00 ACE meeting and speaker at Modern Maturity 1121 Forest ave. Dover, DE (Contact Darryl Garner 302-521-8111)
8-18 6:00 PM NFB book talk on Zoom (book TailSpin by Catherine Coulter) 
8-25 6:30 NFB chapter meeting minutes read 5:30
8-30 10:00 AM American Counsel of the Blind on Xoom 

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NFB Northern Chter Minutes 5-19-2025

Roll call: June Hunter-Hardy, Shannon Britt, Carol King-Ries, Sylvia Reid, gilberte Pierre-Lowe, art Cohen, Wayne Marsh, MJ Baynum, Ethel Maull, Jim steele, Henry Greene, Anthony Borreggine, Patti Addison, Nakeya Robinson, Catrina gosine, Dave Eppler.   

Carol called meeting to order 6:31 PM.
Carol recited the one-minute message.  Sylvia recited, all repeated, the pledge.  

Sylvia will send out amended minutes with this meeting's minutes.  Wayne moved, MJ seconded, unanimous.  

Treasurer's report (Nakeya) Happy Birthday Nakeya!  Erin made brief appearance.  
Balance: $3,823.23.  Withdrawals: check Braille Day $200, PAC $35; deposits: dues $10, end of Apr.  $50 more dues.  We thanked Nakeya for her fabulous job at Braille Family Fun Day; 7 kids participated.  Multi-generational universal fun.  

Wayne moved, Art seconded, unanimous, Nakeya left, celebrating birthday.  
 
Book talk(Carol) happening tomorrow, originally scheduled today but had to reschedule because of Memorial Day; Wayne Marsh will facilitate Whisper on the Wind by bill Downey.  Book talk in June led by Shannon Britt 6-16, The guncle by Steven Rowley.  

chapter updates: (Carol)  
Sensitivity Training with Wilm. Poice Dept. 5-06 with Carol, Shannon Udelle, and a blind teenager.  Shannon reviewed guide dog law around Uber and Lyft, National sent her courtesy rules for the blind to pass out within a week.  She'll talk to DVI for feedback.  
5-02 documentary "Unseen American Dream" starring Gary Pizzolo.  Wayne, Bryant, and Carol were there, went well except that the audio description wasn't integrated into the film.  
5-07 Advocacy Day at stylus
Leg. Hall, Dover.  Tue. and Thu. better days because legislators in longer session.  Why don't the schedulers let us know that?  They talked to aids, went around to offices.  Talked about NFB newsline, and the next week we learned that DDL would not cut Newsline.  We were effective.  Blind vendors: Gina Spence and Gillian Bundy were there.  

Newsline update: (Sylvia)  Sylvia inquired of affiliate presidents and no one else said their state was considering this, Scott White sent good statistics including the names of the 4 DE publications not available to us anywhere else.  Carol printed them at the last minute.  Marie is setting up a training date with Scott White, head of Newsline, and wants to invite us, DVI, and the public.  Carol said we need to use Newsline and other services to show others that they're valuable to us, we have to come up with different ways to use them.   Patti said that Newsline could draw others into the NFB.  Peer Support can advertise Newsline.  DABA, NFB, DLAS, and Peer Support could have Newsline channels.   

5-10 Braille Family fun day:  We aggreed to make it quarterly.  We have names of participating children and their parents.     

Mental Health Association Expo (Henry and June) June made many connections with other participants and handed out 150 of 200 pamphlets.  Someone asked about making a donation but WIFI wasn't strong enough.  Henry and June will make a list of contacts so we can find speakers from other agencies.  Since their table was near front door many people stopped there.  She asked members of her sorority to help out at our state convention.  Carol thanked them both.   

Sylvia will send White Cane and Slate and Stylus lists to June and Carol.  National generates these every month when someone from DE requests a free white cane or slate and stylus.    

Chapter tshirts: (Carol) People have requested them, and the last time we made them was 2021.  She will work on them this summer and have them by state convention.  MJ said, and we all agreed, to keep the old design because it's very nice and cheaper. New people get their first shirt free, all those who want another must pay.   

June is election month for officers and board members.  Jim and June are the nominating committee.  Everyone, Consider stepping up.  Carol is willing to mentor anyone wishing to step up to the presidency, and Sylvia is willing to mentor a new secretary.  Sylvia will write the June minutes.  Jim suggested a bigger board since we have new members.  We need an odd number on our board to break a tie, therefore we'd have to elect two additional people.  We decided not to expand the board.  Carol explained that the board is not a major decisionmaker; they bring the decisions to the chapter for a vote.  MJ asked where the other members are who aren't on this call.  We need to spark their interest.  We have 14 people on Zoom right now.  That's about a third of us.  The 80-20 rule is real.  

We discussed Southern Chapter board members at the affiliate level.  We will table that issue till closer to State Convention.      

National Convention: Please sign up for virtual attendance for $10 if you preregister.  Sylvia moved, Art seconded, to financially support our members who register in-person or virtually for the full amount of registration.  Wayne, MJ, and Shannon offered to make the reimbursement into a donation. 

Sylvia and Carol discussed their editions of the roster, Carol's is best updated.  

Walk-in Wednesdays DVI's Kim Parker and Steve Pierson do tech consulting.  Patti wants Adam to hold them in lower 2 counties.  He was working with people at the SVI meet and greet.  Sylvia suggested we request Adam host in Kent and Sussex.  

Affiliate update: (Sylvia) Two first-time Kenneth Jernigan scholarship winners will receive $700 toward this year's national convention: Henry Greene and Mailaika colson our alternate delegate!  Congratulations!   We have two state scholarship contenders whom we never knew before they applied so our marketing has borne fruit.  Recently we've received landlord complaints which we've referred to CLASI, one was successful.  This gets our name out there.  National is sponsoring a Membership building day Wed. 6-21 at the Georgetown Public Library.  Mary Lacy (DVI) and Marie Cunningham (DLAS), will attend, we registered 6 people, email is required field and many don't have email.  Agenda: NFB philosophy, Newsline, iPhone survival Q&A, lunch and networking, White Canes and mobility.  Lions clubs said yes to helping with transportation, no one requested it.  The Lions Club asked Patti and Sylvia to make a calendar of in-person events to that the Lions could assist.  It is called the Leader Lions calendar.  Anil Lewis has begun scheduled leadership conversations with June, Shannon, and MJ.  Counsel on the Blind is meeting in person 6-06 for Lloyd Schmitz's farewell.  It's a public meeting but private lunch.  Lloyd would like someone to take over and distribute his 4 lists.  Wayne and Carol would like his legislative contact list.  MJ would like the lists from Patti.   

Sylvia apologized for forwarding things that people are already getting.  Carol suggested that all those who forward emails write a sentence explaining why they're forwarding them.   

Next Affiliate meeting 6-19 6:00 with minutes read 5:30.  
Next chapter meeting 6-30 at 6:30 minutes read 6:00 PM.

Shannon Britt brilliantly demonstrated her Ray Ban meta glasses.  Please listen to chapter recording.           

To-do List: 
 - All - Consider running for office.  
 - All who attend chapter meetings - Spark the interest of one member who didn't attend.   
 - Sylvia - Send amended copy of last meeting's minutes with this meeting's minutes. 
 - June and Henry - Make and distribute list of contacts from MHA expo.  
 - Carol - Pick Tue. or Thu. for next Advocacy Day.  
 - Carol - get sensitivity training feedback from DVI. 
 - Nakeya - Plan next quarterly Braille Family fun Day. 
 - Sylvia - Let NFBDE know date of Newsline training event. 
 - Sylvia - Send White Cane and Slate and Stylus lists to June and Carol.
 - Carol - Order new chapter tshirts.  
 - Nominating committee (June and Jim) - Find candidates for all positions.  
 - Anyone who wants Lloyd's lists, please contact Lloyd schmitz.  
 - Sylvia - Ask Lloyd whom to contact about APS crosswalks outside city of Wilmington.

Note: The calendar will be sent in a separate email and will include events from other organizations.