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

Sun Aug 2 19:23:00 UTC 2020

Hi Sheila,

A+ to my Girlfriend!

Warmly, Joy

From: NFBC-SFV <nfbc-sfv-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Biglang-Awa,
Sheila via NFBC-SFV
Sent: Saturday, August 1, 2020 5:44 PM
To: Joy Stigile <joystigile at gmail.com>
Cc: sheilab370c at gmail.com
Subject: [NFBC-SFV] July 2020 minutes of the Chapter meeting

Hi everyone. Hope all's well.

Below is our July minutes for our Chapter meeting. 

Please let me know if you see any corrections / additons. 

Thanx.

Sheila Marie B.C.

July 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. We began with the Pledge of
Allegiance, the NFB Pledge and the 1 minute message. 

Trivia for the day: tell us something that you are looking forward to
convention.  

In attendance: total - 25

24 members and 1 guest.   

Rochelle Yohai, Sharon Watson, Julian Vargas, Robert Stigile - Chapter
President, Joy Stigile , Julie Skujins, Jo Anne Seaman, Joe Otoole, Lynne
Nishihara, Anthony Melena, Portia Mason, Malik - Treasurer, Candace Luther,
Jose Lomeli, Lindsay Kerr, Ron Hilliard - Member-At-Large, Karen Elo, David
and Valerie Delawder, Jaymee Castillo, Keith Caballa, Sheila Biglang-awa -
Secretary, John and Nancy Albarran. Shanika Thomas  - guest.      

Announcements:

Joe recently found a cool product  and it's an  IOS application playing card
called "cards that talk". Download the app and you can order playing cards.
It has a QR code so you can scan it. If you have a Bluetooth headset or a
braille display, you can listen to the cards. It's a free download from the
Apple's App store.

Joe also shared about AIRa is giving virtual tours from about 300
Afro-American  museums In the U.S. It's unlimited. 

Julian discussed about an Apple settlement that was brought up on the social
call last night.  He searched it  out  and there was an article which points
out that it is a legitimate thing if you receive a notification about it.
What Apple was doing was they were slowing down older iPhone with the new
operating systems. This was in the news sometime ago. People filed a lawsuit
and the way how it's going  to be, is that if you had  an iPhone 7 or
earlier during a certain time frame, you may be eligible  for up to $25.
This particular litigation is called the Apple Inc. device  performance
litigation. So, if any of you might get an email about it, do some research.
You can also call  Apple directly. So, he suggested that if you receive any
notification like that, is to go Google searching or go to snopes.com and
type in any suspicious thing that you receive via email. 

Jo Anne called Tom and see how he is doing.  She also announced the Braille
Institute is going to be open on  September 8. 

Keith corrected the opening of the Braille Institute's opening. Due to the
ongoing pandemic, Braille does not have any specific date that they will be
open. But they are offering virtual classes. 

Robert found an App and did a little background search that if you ever use
an iPhone or Android phone or any cellphone,  when you call 911, they're
unable to tell what your exact GPS location is. Often, you have to give them
your actual location and address. So, Robert found out that if you
subscribed to Applebiz, it has an App called "Siren GPS".  You can download
the for free. Create your account. With this App, basically if you have to
call 911 or the paramedics, it will actually put your GPS location.

This will help them track where you are at. Additionally, you can also put
in your information on this App such as your  medications/prescription or
any allergic reactions etc. Once you make a call to 911 or the Paramedics,
it will show your actual GPS location with your medical information through
this App. 

Robert announced that there will be no social call on July 17th. We'll have
our next social call on July 24th. 

His next announcement is that there have been for the last few months, that
every Saturday afternoon,  there has been a CAGDU (California Association of
Guide Dog Users, California division)  social call. Call time is at 4 pm. 

Secretary's Report

Julian made a motion to approve the June minutes as submitted. Seconded by
Malik and the motion carries. 

Treasury Report

Malik  sent the report this morning on the list serve.

Beginning balance: $6742.77

Robert sent a contribution check to the National for $1000.

Ending balance is $5742.77

The PAC plan has not come out yet on the bank statement.

The National Convention 2020

First thing that Robert wants to mention that if you  registered before June
15th, you will be registered at the convention and you being a Chapter
member and is marked as  being an active participant of the Chapter, you are
eligible for voting. The voting is going to take place on Saturday the last
day of the convention. There will be elections for all of the officers such
as President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and 6 Board Members. It
will be all up for elections and you will be able to vote for that. 

There will be also resolutions that will be brought to the floor and you'll
be able to vote for that as well. But you have to enroll for it. An email
was sent out early this week, letting people know that they needed you to
enroll. You go to  nfbvote.org. Put in  your first and last name and the
phone number that you want to use to vote. You have until Sunday July 12th
at 9 am. If you don't enroll, then you are not eligible to vote.

The number to text or call when they for the vote   is 667-206-6677.

The next topic that Robert talked about the App that they're using. So,
everyone who registered with their  email address, will receive an email
regarding the App called "Crowd Compass". It is a very easy App to set up.
The only thing that is not accessible in the App is the notification that is
located on the upper left corner. You can tap on it and can read the
notifications but it doesn't seem to go away or it cannot be deleted. The
neat thing that Robert had liked about this App is that   you can itemize
the agenda to  your liking, no matter how humongous the agenda is.     The
App agenda that you've created will fit to your schedule and you don't need
to go through  the hundreds of meetings that is set on the actual agenda. If
you need help in setting it up, Robert is willing to walk you through it.
Just keep in mind that you have to use the email that you use to register,
is the email that you have to  use for the App.   

You can also use this with our upcoming State convention.

In this App, you can access the exhibit hall. There are sponsors for the
convention. There are general exhibitors. You can bookmark those that you
like to check out  from the exhibitors.

You can download this App from the Apple App store of the Play store. Once
downloaded, it will ask you the event and you will put NFB2020. Once found,
it will ask for a password and the password is NFB2020. Then it will ask you
your information. So, you'll put in your name and email address. Once you
submit, it will confirm that you have registered and you will receive a
code. Upon receiving the code, you are good to go in creating your agenda
and your list of exhibitors.

If you need any suggestions for any meetings, please feel free to contact
Robert. All door prizes will be sent out after the convention. Robert talked
about the Zoom platform for the convention. The Zoom App on your smart phone
will lead you to the Zoom link and take you to your meetings. You have the
ability to mute yourself. You can raise your hand if you have questions. You
can even send a Zoom chat.

The other type of Zoom account that they will be using is the Zoom webinar
which they were using for the Rookie Round Up, the Presidential Release and
the General Sessions,  Board meeting and Resolutions. This webinar is being
controlled by the National Office. So, you can not raise your hand and/or
mute yourself because  the National Office will have the control of it. 

Raising your hand and muting is  very important. If your using computer, the
important comma keys are: alt A is to mute yourself. Alt Y is to raise your
hand. If your using a landline, press *6 to mute and unmute yourself. Then
*9 is to raise your hand. 

To download the Zoom on the computer,  go to zoom.us/support/download. Click
to run the program and you could join those meetings.

For more information, please contact Robert. 

Julian made the motion to adjourn the meeting and was seconded by Ron. The
meeting was adjourned at 12:11 pm. 

Respectfully submitted by:

Sheila Marie B.C. 

Chapter Secretary

NFB.SFV 

Cell: 818-404-7646        

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