[NFBC-SFV] March 2020 minutes of the Chapter meeting

Thu Apr 9 05:18:19 UTC 2020

Greetings! Hope all's well, healthy and safe.

As requested, please read the minutes of the meeting below. For any
corrections and/or additions, please let me know.

Otherwise, catch you guys on the conference call. 

Stay safe!

Regards, 

Sheila Marie B.C.

Cell: 818.404.7646

Chapter Secretary 

******* 

March 2020 Chapter meeting

The National Federation of the Blind of California 

San Fernando Valley Chapter 

The meeting was  called to order at 10:06 am. Began with the Pledge of
Allegiance, the NFB Pledge and the 1 minute message.

Question of the day: What is your favorite TV show of any era?

In attendance: 21 members  

Robert Stigile - President, Juanita Herrera - Vice President, Betsy Estrada,
Julian Vargas, Jaymee Castillo, Anthony Melena, Candace Luther, Catherine
Bliss, Nancy Albarran, John Albarran, Terry Almy, Keith Caballa, Racquel
Decipeda, Ron Hilliard -Member_At_Large, Karen Elo, Lynne Nishihara, Joy
Stigile, Valerie Delawder, Sonny Hernandez, Lindsay Kerr and  Jane Suh. 

Announcements:

Racquel announced the Hearts For Sight is going to have its first yoga class
on March 29, 2020 Sunday from 11 am to 12 noon for the volunteers and 12 to
2 for the blind participants. It will be at the Stevenson Park in Carson
City. More information will be posted  in  regards of postponing due to the
ongoing safety  conditions.                

Candace got a called from her boss saying that Texas is having a State  of
emergency because of the breakout. So, keep an eye on the status of the
National Convention.

Juanita made an announcement that she won't be able to attend the National
convention because she's due to have her baby on July 10th. 

Julian gave an information about the Orbit rider. It's a pocket size, handy
device with a braille display. It has only a  Perkins entry with arrow keys
so you can  interact with your phone, tablet or other device. The neat thing
is that the price is only $99. 

Valerie announced that David Delawder is in guide dog school and will
graduate next Saturday. He will have a golden retriever / lab mix named
Nate.

Nancy announced that the Disability Community Resource Center will be
closing doors to the public starting on Monday March 16th. If you know of
anyone who is receiving services or is planning to sign up for their
services, they will be doing  virtual call meaning all of their businesses
will be conducted via  conference call, email or phone calls including
intake process. 

Robert announced that the guest speaker that we were suppose to have had
called in to move it in June. 

He also wanted to remind  everybody especially to those who have guide dogs
and to those who knows who has a guide dog and is travelling on Uber / Lift,
that forms still need  to be filled out. The testing phase  is going on
between now  till the middle of July. The NFB at that point will decide if
they will go back to court. You can get the forms at nfb.org/rideshare. 

His next announcement is if you know anyone who is a blind student and is
attending  any school from the L.A. Community College system, please have
them contact  Valerie Yingling at the National Office or send an email at
vyingling at nfb.org <mailto:vyingling at nfb.org> . You can call and speak with
her at 410/659/9314, EXT.2440. The reason to call is because of the lawsuit
that was settled with the L.A.  school college system, they want to find out
if it's being effective and wants to find out what's happening with their
services. 

Another case by NFB just settled a lawsuit against the Social Security
Administration because there's no accessible checking kiosk in their
offices. So, by December 31st, 2021, all Social Security Offices will have
an accessible kiosk machine with braille and audible instructions with
headphones.  

Then his last 2 sad announcements was about Paul McIntyre, a Chapter
Board-member of River City Chapter in Sacramento. He was at a facility while
someone broke in and started stabbing people. He was stabbed while he was
helping another person who was  bleeding. Another person named John Bate who
started the Orange County Chapter had died due to cancer. 

Secretary Report.

Julian made a motion to approve the February minutes as submitted, seconded
by Joy and the motion carries. 

Treasury Report.

Malik will send the report later. He was requesting if you happen to see
that your name is not on the list, to please let him know so he can add it. 

Committee Report.

Fundraising

Joy mentioned that there are still a few of us have not paid chocolate
orders. For those who needs to pay, you can pay Robert through the PayPal
account. Make sure  to make a note that it is for the See's Candy. 

Robert said that any fundraisers will be put on hold so far under further
notice. 

Sports and Activities

Juanita also agreed that since things are going on, most places are being
closed. 

Best In Tech

Juanita mentioned that Best In Tech will not happen at the Braille
Institute anymore. She was looking for some places in Culver City. The one
that they were looking at is Veteran's Memorial Park It's   a theater style
sitting that can hold 1100 people. The only issue with it is that we can
have the vendors in the same room like the main presentation. For vendors,
we have to rent out a separate hall.  Then she added, with any event like
that we need to pay for Culver City police.    So, she asked anyone who has
any suggestion to please let her know.             

Juanita played the March Presidential Release #492. For this information,
please ask Robert.

Then she played the Presidential Release #492.5. For this information, you
can contact Robert.

Terry made a motion to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Julian. The meeting
was adjourned at 11:25 am.  

Respectfully submitted by:

Sheila  Marie B.C.

Cell: 818-404-7646

Chapter Secretary and 

Chair of Fundraising Committee

NFB.SFV       

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