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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Good afternoon. Hope everyone’s safe and well.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Below is the Chapter’s May minutes.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>For any corrections and additions, please free to notify me. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Happy Monday!!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>May, 2020 Chapter Meeting <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The National Federation of the Blind of California<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>San Fernando Valley Chapter <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The meeting was called to order at 10:04 am Began with the Pledge of Allegiance, the NFB Pledge and the 1 minute message. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Trivia question for the day: something that you gave your Mother for Mother’s Day over the years that was memorable to you. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>In attendance: 23 attendees. 22 members and 1 guest. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:18.0pt'>Nancy and John Albarran, Terry Almy, Keith Cabala, Jaymee Castillo, Racquel Decipeda, Karen Elo, Betsy Estrada, Juanita Herrera – Vice President, Ron Hilliard – Member-At-Large, Tiffanny Johnson, <span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Lindsay Kerr, Malik – Treasurer, Anthony Melena, Jerry Morales, Lynne Nishihara, </span><u><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#0563C1'>Julie Skujins, Joy Stigile, Robert Stigile – President, Jane Suh, Julian Vargas, Rochelle Yohai and Jose Lomeli – guest.<o:p></o:p></span></u></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:18.0pt'><u><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#0563C1'><o:p><span style='text-decoration:none'> </span></o:p></span></u></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:18.0pt'><u><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#0563C1'>Announcements:<o:p></o:p></span></u></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:18.0pt'><u><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#0563C1'>* Racquel announced that the Hearts For Sight just launch one of their new program which is a support Group. They have 2 sessions from 12 pm to 1:30 pm on a Friday and on Monday from 5:30 to 7 pm. This is facilitated by Dr.Mojiana Moghadam. She’s an APTC and being supervised by a MFT - a Marriage and Family Therapist. If you are interested and you think that you would benefit from a support group like this and if you need someone to talk to where you can get support or if you are facing some challenges or even want to share, this is a good platform where you can talk to other people. Then after a couple of weeks, they will also launch another support group for families and friends of visually impaired individuals. This is more on working on the relationship dynamics so families would be able to help blind people out with whatever we need such as emotionally and coping up with blindness especially for new people. And families also adjusting with their blind family member. It will be on Friday from 5:30 to 7 pm. She will be sending out emails about it. <o:p></o:p></span></u></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:18.0pt'><u><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#0563C1'>* Julian first, had a reminder about him maintaining a list of covid19/corona virus resources for blind and low vision users. He’s regularly changing and adding things that would be helpful. You can go to his website: </span></u><a href="http://www.techjv.com"><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>www.techjv.com</span></a><u><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#0563C1'> and look for the link for covid19 corona virus resources blind and low vision. Secondly, Apple and Google had teamed up on, to try to help to track the spread of the corona virus by helping people be notified if they potentially came into contact with somebody who has self-identified of having tested positive with covid19. This is not mandatory if you don’t have to. The way that it will work is it’s not going to send any personal identifying information about you. It’s going to use something called Bluetooth low energy when you are close proximity to somebody else who self-identified. If you run this ap and you tested positive and you are voluntarily participating in it, you would select that you’ve tested positive. Now anybody who’d come close contact with you and it’s been in nearby contact to be close enough where the Bluetooth L.A. can pick up the signal and you’ve been the proximity of this person for a certain amount of time that is long enough that you can potentially been exposed and that you’ll be notified. With this, you might want to limit your exposure. This is something that is coming. Julian is running the beta, IOS 13.5. He has already seen the privacy and health section. By default, it’s not check. It’s off. It’s something that you would have to opt into it. So, you’re in full control of this but in the long run it’s good way for people to participate in. We got to have this country back open up. We got to get things moving and this is one way to do it. This works in other countries too, to help them to track down and limit the spread of the virus. Lastly, Julian mentioned that, because of everything that has been going on, we ought to be careful with scams especially with stimulus money that are floating around. Scams are looking around for this. So, be very careful in emails. Don’t just click links that claims to be from Social Security or IRS. Don’t give your personal information. Contact them directly using the known good numbers. And again, he have these links for IRS and Social Security on his website. <o:p></o:p></span></u></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:18.0pt'><u><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#0563C1'>* Robert announced that on our June 13 Chapter meeting, we will have a guest speaker. Her name is </span></u>leslie from vanda pharmaceutical <u><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#0563C1'> which we often have them as one of the sponsors in our State / National conventions. She’ll speak with us at 11 am and will talk about the non-24 sleep disorder.<o:p></o:p></span></u></p><p class=MsoNormal><u><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#0563C1'>He also announced that every Saturday, the CAGDU ( California Association of Guide Dog Users) will have a social hour. But today in particular at 4 pm, they will have 2 guest speakers. Guest speakers are </span></u>melissa smith from guiding eyes for the blind and lucas Franks from seeing eye in new jersey. <u><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#0563C1'>They will talk about how we would work with our guide dogs with social distancing. Anyone is welcome. You can call Robert if you are interested to be added in their guide dog list serve and get information about the Zoom. <o:p></o:p></span></u></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:18.0pt'><u><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#0563C1'>Lastly, as you know that every Friday at 7 pm, we have our social night in this conference call. <o:p></o:p></span></u></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:18.0pt'><u><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#0563C1'>And in the last night’s social call, Sheila announced that she had finished her 900 hours of Master’s Program for Massage Therapy. <o:p></o:p></span></u></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:18.0pt'><u><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#0563C1'><o:p><span style='text-decoration:none'> </span></o:p></span></u></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:18.0pt'><u><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#0563C1'>Secretary Report<o:p></o:p></span></u></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:18.0pt'><u><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#0563C1'>Joy made a motion to approve the April minutes read and adjusted, seconded by Julian. And the motion carries. <o:p></o:p></span></u></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:18.0pt'><u><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#0563C1'><o:p><span style='text-decoration:none'> </span></o:p></span></u></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:18.0pt'><u><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#0563C1'>Treasurer’s Report<o:p></o:p></span></u></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:18.0pt'><u><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#0563C1'>Month of April, the beginning balance $6,440.17. <o:p></o:p></span></u></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:18.0pt'><u><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#0563C1'>Deposited $10 from Tiffanny’s member dues and $32 from Candace Luther’s See’s Candy. <o:p></o:p></span></u></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:18.0pt'><u><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#0563C1'>Withdrawal of $50 for PAC plan. <o:p></o:p></span></u></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:18.0pt'><u><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#0563C1'>Ending balance: $6432.17<o:p></o:p></span></u></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:18.0pt'><u><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#0563C1'>For this month of May, beginning balance is $6432.17<o:p></o:p></span></u></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:18.0pt'><u><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#0563C1'>Deposited $358.60 from the Pathfinder Chapter’s See’s Candy. <o:p></o:p></span></u></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:18.0pt'><u><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#0563C1'>Withdrawal of $50 for PAC plan.<o:p></o:p></span></u></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:18.0pt'><u><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#0563C1'>Ending balance: $6790. <o:p></o:p></span></u></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:18.0pt'><u><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#0563C1'>Malik is still holding cash of $32 from Betsy’s See’s Candy which has not been deposited yet. <o:p></o:p></span></u></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:18.0pt'><u><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#0563C1'><o:p><span style='text-decoration:none'> </span></o:p></span></u></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:18.0pt'><u><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#0563C1'>National Convention <o:p></o:p></span></u></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:18.0pt'><u><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#0563C1'>It will be on July 14<sup>th</sup> to18th. It will be online instead of having it in Houston. So, everyone will be able to attend. They still do not know yet if it will be in Zoom or some other platform. There are 2 things that they want to make sure that they can first, have the translation for those who can only speak Spanish. Secondly, they need to have close caption for the deaf. Stay tune for the announcement on what they are going to do whether to use Zoom or other platform. Now, he added that if you made reservation at the Hilton America, you don’t need to contact them to discuss your reservation refund. The National Office is taking care of that. If you have not receive an email from the Hilton America Hotel regarding your reservation, then you need to contact Susan skaares at the National Office. Her email address is </span></u><a href="mailto:sskaares@nfb.org"><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>sskaares@nfb.org</span></a><u><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#0563C1'>. What you want to include is your reservation number and your contact information and the dates that you are going to be arriving. She will take a look at it and will get back with you with your refund information. As you know that there will be no longer the banquet this year. So, someone should be contacting you from the National Office regarding your convention registration and banquet fee in refunding it. For those who, they have contacted already, many of them have asked that they’re banquet fees be used as a donations towards convention. However, if you decide to get your refund or use it for whatever you need. Someone should be contacting you soon. <o:p></o:p></span></u></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:18.0pt'><u><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#0563C1'>Robert is encouraging everyone to sign up for free registration. You can go to nfb.org/convention and get the registration from there. <o:p></o:p></span></u></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:18.0pt'><u><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#0563C1'>There is also a way to make a donation if you would like to pay the registration fee but they are not asking for it as a mandatory fee. Typically registration is $25. Keep in mind that they do have convention expenses. They have to pay for the platform expenses such as Zoom with an additional of close captioning for the deaf members and other things that need to be paid for. So, your donations are very much appreciated. <o:p></o:p></span></u></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:18.0pt'><u><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#0563C1'>Convention registration is open till June 15. It’s highly recommended to do it soon and if you need any help, you can call Robert. <o:p></o:p></span></u></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:18.0pt'><u><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#0563C1'>There will still be door prizes. Since we’re not sending anyone on grants this year, it might be nice if our Chapter can make a donation to our National Convention to help out such as door prizes. Terry made a motion to donate an amount which will be discussed later, for contribution for door prizes. Seconded by Ron. Terry made another motion to leave it up to the Board to discuss at a later time the amount of money that will be used for door prizes., seconded by Joy. <o:p></o:p></span></u></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:18.0pt'><u><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#0563C1'>Robert discussed the Jernigan grants for first attendees at National Convention. They’re talking about having a contest for people to write a paragraph about attending their first convention experience. Submit it either write it or send it as a video or as an MP3. So he’s highly recommending everyone to participate. <o:p></o:p></span></u></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:18.0pt'><u><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#0563C1'><o:p><span style='text-decoration:none'> </span></o:p></span></u></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:18.0pt'><u><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#0563C1'>Robert discussed about advocacy and as you know that this is one of the NFB’s biggest part of what we do. At this time, the NFB is still hoping for the next stimulus package that comes out, to have the Technology Affordability Act as part of it. So, he was recommending everyone to email or call your congressional members and left them know that you want them to include HR2086. Contact your Senators and asked them to include S815 in the next stimulus bill. What that would do allow for a tax credit when and after purchasing technology such as JAWS, braille display and/or any technology base. You can get a tax credit of up to $2500 for purchasing technology. Our voices needed to be heard so call your congressional members and Senators. <o:p></o:p></span></u></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:18.0pt'><u><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#0563C1'>Along with that, the NFB is also working to get a waiver for those who are applying for SSDI, Typically it takes 5 months after you have applied to get any decisions and it takes 24 months for Medicare. The NFB is trying to get that waived so it doesn’t take that long.<o:p></o:p></span></u></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:18.0pt'><u><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#0563C1'>Also, if you have been applying with Social Security and you have to electronically sign your signature and there has been an issue with it. the National Office needs to hear from you and contact Valerie Yingling via email at </span></u><a href="mailto:vyingling@nfb.org"><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>vyingling@nfb.org</span></a><u><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#0563C1'>. <o:p></o:p></span></u></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:18.0pt'><u><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#0563C1'>There is a form that you need to sign if you are wanting someone to represent you at a hearing for Social Security form 1690. Valerie would like to also hear from you if you need to sign that form and are not able to. These are all things that National Federation of the Blind works on in our behalf. People at the National Office have ways who to talk to, to make things more accessible and to get it done.<o:p></o:p></span></u></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:18.0pt'><u><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#0563C1'>In California, everyone has to register to vote in the November election. <o:p></o:p></span></u></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:18.0pt'><u><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#0563C1'>Governor Gavin Newsom mentioned that all Californians voters will be receiving a ballot in the mail. You will fill out this ballot and send it back in. It will be a pre-paid postage for the mailing So robert encourages everyone to vote. . <o:p></o:p></span></u></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:18.0pt'><u><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#0563C1'><o:p><span style='text-decoration:none'> </span></o:p></span></u></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:18.0pt'><u><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#0563C1'>Robert introduced our guest named Jose from Carson and gave a little background about himself. Julian made a motion to welcome Jose as a new member. Seconded by Malik. <o:p></o:p></span></u></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:18.0pt'><u><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#0563C1'>Julian made a motion to adjourn the meeting and it was seconded by Malik. The meeting was adjourned at 11:27 am. <o:p></o:p></span></u></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:18.0pt'><u><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#0563C1'><o:p><span style='text-decoration:none'> </span></o:p></span></u></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:18.0pt'><u><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#0563C1'>Recorded by: Racquel<o:p></o:p></span></u></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:18.0pt'><u><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#0563C1'><o:p><span style='text-decoration:none'> </span></o:p></span></u></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:18.0pt'><u><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#0563C1'>Respectfully submitted by:<o:p></o:p></span></u></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:18.0pt'><u><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#0563C1'><o:p><span style='text-decoration:none'> </span></o:p></span></u></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:18.0pt'><u><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#0563C1'>Sheila Marie B.C. <o:p></o:p></span></u></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:18.0pt'><u><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#0563C1'>Cell: 818-404-7646 <o:p></o:p></span></u></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:18.0pt'><u><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#0563C1'>Chapter Secretary and <o:p></o:p></span></u></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:18.0pt'><u><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#0563C1'>Chair of Fundraising Committee<o:p></o:p></span></u></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:18.0pt'><u><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#0563C1'>NFB.SFV <o:p></o:p></span></u></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:18.0pt'><u><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#0563C1'> <o:p></o:p></span></u></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:18.0pt'><u><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#0563C1'> <o:p></o:p></span></u></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:18.0pt'><u><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#0563C1'> <o:p></o:p></span></u></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:18.0pt'><u><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#0563C1'> <o:p></o:p></span></u></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:18.0pt'><u><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#0563C1'> <o:p></o:p></span></u></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:18.0pt'><u><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#0563C1'> <o:p></o:p></span></u></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:18.0pt'><u><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#0563C1'> <o:p></o:p></span></u></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:18.0pt'><u><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#0563C1'> <o:p></o:p></span></u></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:18.0pt'><u><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#0563C1'><o:p><span style='text-decoration:none'> </span></o:p></span></u></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:18.0pt'><u><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#0563C1'> <o:p></o:p></span></u></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:18.0pt'><u><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#0563C1'> <o:p></o:p></span></u></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'> </span> <span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>