[NFBF-Tampa] Minutes for Tampa Bay Chapter Meeting 20170923

[David]

Great minutes.  Thanks

*David and Claire Rose in Clearwater, FL*
*david at bakerinet.com

*
On 10/16/2017 9:48 PM, Dan Hicks via NFBF-Tampa wrote:
>
> *Minutes of Tampa Bay Chapter Meeting*
>
> *September 23, 2017*
>
> The meeting was held at Beef O’Brady’s Restaurant and Sports Bar, 
>  8810 N Himes Ave Tampa, FL 33614.
>
> The meeting was called to order at 12:08 PM by President Miranda Kilby.
>
> First, we heard from Jenny George of CareerSource Tampa Bay.
>
> She said that she is at the North Florida Address. She says they have 
> stations set up at that location which have accessible software. They 
> have a database system which will build a resume for the job-seeker.
>
> There is a jobs database, and every job listed has a “how to apply” 
> link. EmployFlorida uses commercial services such as Monster and 
> Snag-a-Job, as well as its own listings. One can search by job title 
> or by company. They have workshops in various topics.
>
> She talked about SSI and SSDI. People with a work history and have 
> paid enough into Social Security can receive SSDI. The amount paid is 
> based on a person’s work history. The maximum amount of SSI is $731.00 
> per month. SSDI has a trial work period. An SSDI recipient has nine 
> months in which they can work and make an unlimited amount of money. 
> If you a recipient more than the limit for more than the nine trial 
> work months. If the recipient gets a good job and loses SSDI and then 
> lose that job, he or she can go back to Social Security and – without 
> re-applying – he or she can get your check back. It takes two or three 
> months. This is called Extended Eligibility. It lasts for 36 months. 
> After that Expedited Reinstatement takes over. He or she can still get 
> the check back.
>
> Marion Gwizdala brought up the fact that $1950.00 is the limit that 
> can be earned ty those who are blind. Also, self-employed recipients 
> can earn more after expenses. Employees can claim some expenses, too.
>
> Jenny said that impairment-related work expenses can be subtracted 
> from the person’s income when figuring eligibility.
>
> When an SSI recipient works, it always affects the amount they 
> receive. Receiving SSI and working can also affect one’s legibility 
> for other programs. There is a limit of $2,000.00 in the bank for SSI 
> recipients. This is not true of an ABLE account. This is a relatively 
> new program. Not all banks know how to set up and administer an ABLE 
> account.
>
> Only income from work affects the SSDI the amount of the check.
>
> Chapter Vice President Gloria Mills Hicks said that she had used 
> EmployFlorida to try to find an employee. Her problem was that most of 
> the applicants made appointments and then did not keep those 
> appointments, and usually didn’t call to cancel. They just didn’t show 
> up for the interview.
>
> Treasurer Dan Hicks said that the EmployFlorida website is very 
> difficult to use, from the employer standpoint. In the end, he helped 
> Gloria find her latest employee on Criag’sList.
>
> Janet Beyer said she has had problems logging in to the website and 
> creating an account.
>
> Jenny said that she only sees things from the customer side. She said 
> that job seekers can call her and give her their Social Security 
> numbers, and she can help them. She can refer employers to the 
> Business Services Department.
>
> Paul Martinez asked about recipients that receive both SSI and SSDI.
>
> Jenny said that they can generate an Excel spreadsheet showing the 
> affect of earning various amounts.
>
> Vandelon Holland brought up a situation where a person was told that 
> because of a pension, that person could not receive SSDI.
>
> Jenny said that is not true. She said she has heard many cases where  
> the information that was given to people by Social Security was wrong.
>
> She said that EmployFlorida is grant funded. They have lost some 
> funding. They have lost 20 staff members, just recently. Still, they 
> have a lot of programs, one for veterans, one for people who need 
> GEDs, one for English as a second language. She tries to stress to 
> everyone that when they make an appointment, they should show up.
>
> Gloria asked if one could continue to work after age 66 and earn more 
> Social Security, until age 70.
>
> Jenny said that it will increase a bit, but not a lot. If one can wait 
> until 70 to claim one’s own Social Security, he or she will receive a 
> larger check.
>
> She said that one thing that can stop an SSDI check from coming is a 
> medical review that shows the person is no longer disabled.
>
> Marion Gwizdala said that he is self-employed, but still paid into the 
> insurance fund. He asked if those payments will increase is Social 
> Security at retirement.
>
> Miranda thanked Jenny for the fine and informative presentation.
>
> Miranda asked all who were present to introduce themselves.
>
> Treasurer Dan Hicks gave the Treasurer’s Report. We have $2,524.57.
>
> Board Member Barbara Gaw moved, seconded by Marion, that the 
> Treasurer’s Report be approved as read. The motion passed.
>
> The 50/50 drawing was held. The winner was Lynn Golden, who won $21.00.
>
> Miranda asked for a moment of silence in honor of those who have lost 
> their lives in the recent hurricanes.
>
> Miranda said that Secretary Sherrill O’Brien is not present today. She 
> emailed the minutes to the chapter list.
>
> Motion by Board Member Barbara Gaw to accept the minutes as emailed, 
> seconded by Dan Hicks. The motion passed.
>
> Miranda said that there have been a couple of meetings of chapter 
> members and with members of the Suncoast Chapter, to discuss the 
> upcoming State Convention, which they are both cohosting.
>
> Friday, October 6, will be our Spirit Night at Beef O’Brady’s. Fifteen 
> per cent of the gross proceeds for the food sold will go to the 
> chapter. We will have a table in the front of the restaurant with 
> literature and information.
>
> Marion asked if the restaurant would let us set up a sound system for 
> the event.
>
> Miranda said she would find out. She said, in the past, they have let 
> us shout out whatever we have needed to, but she did not know about a 
> sound system.
>
> She mentioned the event in the park on Friday, October 20. We are 
> getting the insurance paperwork and approval from the City of Tampa.
>
> The Pancake Breakfast is October 21, at Beef O’Brady’s. Miranda will 
> let us know about tickets. We should be able to print them at home.
>
> Miranda said she has spoken with Ms. Pierse, an HCC professor. She 
> asked if she could borrow our copy of /Do You Dream in Color?/ She 
> wants to show it to a psychology class. If chapter members would like 
> to go to the class to answer questions, that might be helpful and 
> informative. We don’t know the date. It might be November 29.
>
> The chapter agreed that she can use our copy of the film.
>
> Marion said that if the event is on November 29, he believes that he 
> can be there.
>
> Barbara said she would like someone to go with her the last Friday of 
> October to Grass Roots, an event for people with disabilities. The 
> focus of the meeting will be technology.
>
> Paul said he would go with her.
>
> Miranda mentioned the NFBF raffle. There are no tickets left to 
> distribute, so she asked anyone who knows that they will not be able 
> to sell their tickets, to please return them to her so they can be 
> sold. Tickets that have been sold can be turned in with the money at 
> the October 20 event or at the pancake breakfast.  The drawings start 
> on November 1.
>
> Dan asked Paul about posting the drawings on Youtube or as live drawings.
>
> Paul said he and Dan will get together later to work that out
>
> Miranda said that drawing results will be posted on NFB email lists.
>
> Paul mentioned that he has been in contact with NFB members in Puerto 
> Rico. He said that any help that people can give the people hit by the 
> hurricane, via local churches or otherwise, would be greatly appreciated.
>
> There followed a discussion of the damage in Puerto Rico.
>
> Miranda mentioned that there is help for those in Florida who were 
> impacted by the hurricane. For instance, those who receive food stamps 
> will automatically receive a 40 per cent increase in their food stamp 
> allotment for the month.
>
> Marion said that some credit companies are deferring payments for 
> those affected by the hurricane without charging late fees or 
> interest. He asked Gloria about IRS extensions.
>
> Gloria said that the IRS is deferring extensions through January 31, 
> 2018. Those who owe will still pay interest, back to April 15 for 
> individuals and to March 15, for corporations.
>
> Jeanette Torres said that she applied for a job with Spectrum. Their 
> application site is not accessible.
>
> Gloria mentioned that Spectrum does not give its business telephone 
> customers with disabilities free long distance.
>
> Vandelon Holland gave an update on activities sponsored by the Tampa 
> Lighthouse for the Blind. On Friday October 13, there will be a White 
> Cane celebration. At 11:30 there will be a cookout followed by a White 
> Cane Walk. On October 7, there will be a Dining in the Dark fundraiser 
> at the Tampa Club. The tickets are $125.00 each.
>
> Marion said that the NFB opposes Dining in the Dark activities because 
> they portray a negative image of blindless.
>
> Miranda said that there will be a meetings of the Tampa Bay and 
> Suncoast Chapters to make plans for the convention. We are looking for 
> a theme for the convention. She will remind interested members about 
> upcoming meetings.
>
> Jeanette Torres talked about the recent Legislation meeting. The bill 
> signed by Cathy Castor having to do with the ADS has no cosponsors. 
> Several of our chapter members went to Cathy Castor’s office and met 
> with a staffer who did not have any knowledge of the bill.
>
> Dan said that Cathy Castor has a long history of working with us.
>
> He was surprised that she would sponsor a bill to weaken the ADA.
>
> Miranda called for more Old Business.
>
> Gloria brought up the Senior Concerns Committee. She said that members 
> do not have to consider themselves as seniors to participate. The 
> committee is for anyone who wants to see more seniors involved in the 
> NFBF. The meetings are held the first Thursday of the month via 
> conference call.
>
> Miranda said she wanted to take a quick poll about other activities 
> that chapter members might be interested in taking part in as a group, 
> besides our monthly meeting. Examples would be going to a movie or 
> attending a comedy club or going bowling, or to a Broadway play at the 
> Straz Center (with audible description). She will put a poll out on 
> the email list.
>
> Barbara asked about accessibility earphones. If they have a limited 
> number of headsets, could we use our own?
>
> The consensus was, probably not.
>
> Marion announced version 2.0 of the NAGDU is available in the Apple 
> App Store and will be in the Google Play Store.
>
> Miranda reminded everyone to keep sharing @nfbflorida on Twitter and 
> the chapter page on Facebook.
>
> Marin asked if we are still working on a public showing of /Do You 
> Dream in Color?/
>
> Miranda said yes, as the film can be a great influence on teachers and 
> blind high school students.
>
> Vandelon asked if there have been any updates on HART?
>
> Marion said the Brandon Flex has been reinstated for a year. All of 
> the people who were to lose their HARTPlus service because of changes 
> in service will be grandfathered in. They will keep their service as 
> long as they live where they lived when the had service.
>
> Miranda said that this continuation of service is primarily because of 
> the protests and work of the Tampa Bay Chapter of the NFBF.
>
> Gloria said that she saw the Kathy Eagan, CEO of HART, of a meeting 
> and Kathy said that the organization was not prepared for the number 
> of concerned people who showed up at the meetings to discuss changes. 
> Gloria added, because of our efforts, about one hundred HARTplus 
> patrons will keep their service, when they would have not done so 
> without us.
>
> Marion said that he and Merry and others had met with HART officials 
> in Merry’s office. They were told that HART would not farm their 
> service out to Sunshine Line. He also mentioned that Kathy Eagan had 
> said on television that her family was in a hurricane shelter. In 
> reality, they were at a timeshare in Orlando. He said we need to 
> continue to attend meetings where transportation is discussed and 
> decisions are made.
>
> Miranda thanked everyone for taking part in the meeting. She said we 
> did not get everything we wanted but made a lot of progress.
>
> Dan said that we must keep in mind that one vote of the Hillsborough 
> County Commission took away our right to vote on a tax increase which 
> would have funded HART and other transportation projects. The polls 
> showed that it would have passed. We need to vote those who voted 
> against the referendum out of Office.
>
> Michael Akpewero said that is having trouble getting service from the 
> Florida Division of Blind services.
>
> Suggestions were made. Miranda said he should contact DBS. He needs to 
> apply. If he gets a counsellor who he feels is not working out for 
> him, he should call Walter Blackman, Case Advocate, in Tallahassee.
>
> Barbara made the motion to adjourn. Seconded by Dan. The motion passed.
>
> The meeting adjourned at 2:35 PM
>
> Respectfully Submitted
>
> Dan Hicks
>
> Treasurer
>
> NFBF Tampa Bay Chapter
>
> “Justice will not be served until those who are unaffected are as
>
>  outraged as those who are.”                          ― Benjamin Franklin
>
>
>
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