[NFBF-Tampa] Tampa Bay Chapter Meeting Minutes August 2018

Fri Sep 28 17:00:28 UTC 2018

Greetings everyone,

Here are the August meeting minutes, pasted and attached.

Let's approve them via email if possible.

Thanks, and have a great weekend!

Warm regards,

Sherrill

Tampa Bay Chapter         

National Federation of the Blind of Florida

Chapter Meeting Minutes

August 25, 2018

Chili's Grill and Bar

2903 N. Dale Mabry Hwy.

Tampa, Florida

The meeting was called to order by President Miranda Kilby at 12:10pm.

She introduced our speaker from the Metropolitan Planning Organization,
Michelle Ogilvie. Her topic was long range transportation planning. This
organization is seeking participation from as many interested groups and
individuals as possible for a comprehensive survey. She explained the
survey's twelve questions. We expressed concern that the survey was online
and not accessible to those who cannot read print. Merry generously offered
to  fill out the survey for anyone wishing to call her.

HART News

Merry mentioned that HART has terminated their contract with United Cab
because of unreliable service, especially due to extremely long wait times,
often resulting in customers being forced to cancel and call Uber instead.
HART's policy is that when a customer calls Yellow Cab, if they have to wait
over thirty minutes, they should file a complaint with HART's customer
service department. Merry urged everyone to attend the next HART board
meeting which will take place on September 10 at 5:30. It will be especially
important because it will deal with their budget.

Following a break for lunch, we resumed the meeting at 1:05. Introductions
were made, including three guests, Jeanette Barnes, Linda Evans and Louise
Peyton. There were eighteen in attendance. Merry led us in the NFB pledge.

Secretary and Treasurer's Reports

A motion was made by Marion, seconded by Paul, to approve the minutes as
emailed. The motion passed. 

Dan gave the treasurer's report, and we have a balance of $3,099.14. A
motion was made by Merry, seconded by Janice Butler, to approve the
treasurer's report. The motion passed. 

President's Report

Miranda said  we had to choose Chili's for our meeting because there was a
miscommunication about our August meeting, and our usual room was already
booked. We will return to O'Brady's in October. We will hold our September
meeting, as was previously agreed upon, At O'Brien's Irish pub in Brandon.
We will meet at 11:00, an hour earlier than usual, and Marion will ask
whether we can come in as early as 10:30. Our speaker will be from the
League of Women Voters, and her topic will be the amendments to the Florida
Constitution which will appear on November's  election ballot.

Social Activities

Jeanette Torres reported that our first social activity will be bowling on
either September 8 or 15 at Oakfield lanes in Brandon. They have three
bowling rails available. Our next event will probably be attending a comedy
club some time in November.

Meet the Blind Month Report

Merry reported that Sherrill will check to see if we can hold an event at
her church. We may show the NFB documentary Do You Dream in Color at such an
event. We will investigate showing it  to other organizations such as to
TVI's, Self Reliance or groups from the Lighthouse. We are still in the
process of determining at which intersection  to hold our White Cane Safety
Day walk.

Legislative Report

Merry said she will be accompanying Marion to Baltimore in September for his
trip to meet with Delta officials regarding their service animal policy. She
will go to Washington to meet  with legislators to educate them on
sponsoring important legislation which NfB is supporting. She will email us
to let us know how we can help.

Fundraising

Marion said he and Gloria had a fundraising meeting. Suggestions so far
range from a themed party such as for Mardi Gras or St. Patrick's Day. A
casino night or  carwash were also mentioned. 

We discussed selling the greeting cards with the NFB's logo. A motion was
made by Marion, seconded by Merry, to proceed with this project. The motion
passed. They will cost us 29 cents apiece. We will sell them for twelve
dollars for ten cards. The chapter will purchase  500 cards for about $150.
The chapter will use them as thank-you cards and make them available to
other chapters. They will arrive in time for our next meeting. Marion will
write a marketing message and send it to Dave Andrews for distribution to
all the NFBNnet lists.

Paul reported that the next NFBF state fundraiser will be our annual Holiday
Calendar Raffle which will be held This year in December. Tickets will be
five dollars each. Week night winners will receive $25, and Saturday and
Sunday winners will get $50. The big winner will be drawn on December 31 and
will receive $200. Whoever sells that ticket will also win $200. The chapter
will purchase twenty tickets through a donation from a friend of Sherrill's.

We decided to purchase chapter polo shirts in sunflower yellow.

Barbara Gaw won the 50/50 drawing and received $22.50.

Our next meeting will be held on September 22 at O'Brien's Irish Pub in
Brandon.

The meeting was adjourned at 2:05pm.

Respectfully submitted

Sherrill O'Brien, Secretary

Tampa Bay Chapter

National Federation of the Blind of Florida

Phone 813-935-0474, cell 813-767-1890

email Sherrill.obrien at verizon.net

The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the
characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise
expectations because low expectations create barriers between blind people
and our dreams. You can live the life you want! Blindness is not what holds
you bac

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