[NFBF-Tampa] Fwd: Tampa Bay Chapter Meeting Minutes March 2019

Wed Mar 27 00:08:09 UTC 2019

Registration for the Walk-a-thon for MS is between 8:00-9:30.

Jeanette Torres

From: NFBF-Tampa [mailto:nfbf-tampa-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of tampa President via NFBF-Tampa
Sent: Tuesday, March 26, 2019 7:42 PM
To: nfbf-tampa at nfbnet.org
Cc: tampa President <nfbf.tampa at gmail.com>
Subject: [NFBF-Tampa] Fwd: Tampa Bay Chapter Meeting Minutes March 2019

Please see the below email from Cheryl, our lovely secretary. Please be conscience of the deadlines that she has outlined for us. Feel free to contact me regarding any of the deadlines by your preferred method of choice. Thanks

-- 
Miranda b. Kilby

Ph: (352)942-0417 <tel:(352)942-0417> 

Begin forwarded message:

From: "Sherrill O'Brien" <sherrill.obrien at verizon.net <mailto:sherrill.obrien at verizon.net> >
Date: March 26, 2019 at 5:36:51 PM EDT
To: "Miranda Kilby" <mbkilby at gmail.com <mailto:mbkilby at gmail.com> >
Subject: Tampa Bay Chapter Meeting Minutes March 2019

Hello to all,

The March minutes are pasted below my signature.

But first I have copied and pasted  all the sentences from the minutes indicating upcoming deadlines which we discussed at last Saturday’s meeting. If I’ve left out any, or got a date wrong, please send out an email to let us know!

This sure shows what an active and awesome chapter we have!

Important Deadlines

*March 31 is the deadline for letting Miranda know if you plan to attend the April 13 BELL training.

*March 31 is the deadline for letting Miranda know if you wish to have a hay ride included with the horseback riding event.

* April 13 is the deadline for getting the remainder of your horseback riding payment and/or the bonfire payment of ten dollars to Dan, by PayPal or check. or the money can be given to Miranda at the BELL training.

*March 31 is the deadline for letting Miranda know if you plan to participate in the April 6 MS walk-a-thon.

*May 1 is the deadline for letting Miranda know your convention banquet entrée choice: chicken, fish or vegetarian.

*May 5 is the deadline for making your convention room reservation with Embassy Suites.

Wow, I’m exhausted now (haha!) 

Sherrill

Tampa Bay Chapter         

National Federation of the Blind of Florida

Chapter Meeting Minutes

March 23, 2019

O’Brien’s Irish Pub

701 Lumsden Road

Brandon, Florida

The meeting was called to order by President Miranda Kilby at 12:25pm. All introduced themselves. There were  17 persons in attendance.

Jeanette led us in the NFB pledge.

Treasurer’s and Secretary’s Reports

Dan gave the treasurer’s report. Our current balance is $3,843.00. 

 A motion was made by Merry, seconded by Paul, to approve the treasurer’s report as read. The motion passed.

Miranda stated that there was a correction to the February minutes. A motion was made by Dan, seconded by Merry, to approve the February minutes as corrected. The motion passed.

President’s Report

Miranda said that the topic of the March 411 call was the importance of  NFBF members being able to get and stay connected. Therefore, following this call, an email was sent out with the contact information for the state Board, chapter and division presidents, and chairs of committees and groups. Deon Bradley asked about accessing Newsline via an Amazon Alexa skill. Miranda said that will be addressed in a seminar at state convention. Marion asked if there would be any objection by the state affiliate or national to putting our meetings on FaceBook Live, thus giving opportunity for more people to learn about the NFB. Miranda will look into it. 

Miranda said she participated in the March state convention planning teleconference. She also reported that the chapter Board held a meeting on March 21.

State Fundraiser

Miranda said our latest state and chapter fundraiser has a Las Vegas theme of High Roller Raffle. Tickets are five dollars each. All chapters will receive thirty percent of the proceeds. First prize is $1000, second prize $500, and third prize $250. The drawing will take place at our national convention in las Vegas on July 12, and will be held live on our YouTube channel.

Paul distributed the tickets to those at the meeting.

State Convention

Miranda said that again this year, our chapter will pay for the registration fee of $25 and the banquet ticket, $40, for each chapter member who attends the state convention in Boca Raton. We will again contribute $200 worth of door prizes.   

State Scholarship Program

Merry, who is chair of the NFBF scholarship committee, asked us to spread the word about the two $1500 state scholarships being offered this year. Louise suggested that she contact Mark Harshbarger from the Division of Blind Services. Miranda said that our chapter Board approved our contribution of $375 toward a scholarship.

Miranda announced that Jeanette and Yvonne were chosen from our chapter to attend the NFBF’s leadership seminar which will be held prior to the state convention.

State Convention Transportation  

Miranda said many attendees will take the train, and encouraged all to look into going together on Friday by train.

Miranda asked everyone to bring their chapter polo shirts and wear them as a group on the last day of convention. Marguerite asked if changing the date of the convention could reduce the cost. Merry explained that we have tried other times of the year, but have come back to Memorial Day weekend, since hotel rates are less at that time.

*May 1 is the deadline for letting Miranda know your banquet entrée choice: chicken, fish or vegetarian.

*May 5 is the deadline for making your convention room reservation with Embassy Suites.

Braille Enrichment for Literacy and Learning BELL Program

Miranda announced that the BELL program will definitely take place in Tampa this summer, from June 17 through the 28th. Chapter member Barbara Gaw is working with the organization Self Reliance to allow us to use their building for the two week program. There will be an allday  training on April 13, done by NFB national board member and  NFB Camp director Carla McQuillan. Merry and Marion have offered their house for the training. Anyone who intends to help with the BELL program needs to attend. Miranda said she needs to know who is coming so we will have enough food. Merry said we also need to know if anyone is allergic to dogs or cats. Yvonne Rosanelli offered their medical offices as a back-up for the training if allergies are a problem. 

*March 31 is the deadline for letting Miranda know if you plan to attend the April 13 BELL training.

Legislative Report

Merry said that of the three proposed Washington Seminar initiatives, the only one to have sponsors so far, and just on the Senate side, is the Accessible Technology Affordability Act. She is pleased that this bill has bipartisan support. It would provide a refundable tax credit of $2000 over a three year period to offset the cost of special technology needed by the blind, such as JAWS software.

Social Activities

Jeanette said the April 20 horseback riding event will be at 4:00, and the bonfire at 5:00 till no later than 8:30. Those attending must provide the food and paper goods, so a sign-up email will be sent. The cost of attending the bonfire only is $10. 

*March 31 is the deadline for letting Miranda know if you wish to have a hay ride included with the horseback riding event.

* April 13 is the deadline for getting the remainder of your horseback riding payment and/or the bonfire payment of ten dollars to Dan, by PayPal or check. or the money can be given to Miranda at the BELL training.

Walk-a-thon for MS

Jeanette said there is a walk-a-thon fund raiser for MS to be held on Saturday, April 6, beginning at 9:30, at Al Lopez Park. 

The chapter Board has expressed interest in our participation. The $25 registration fee is not mandatory, but paying it gets you a tag, and your name will be announced. Marion asked if it is possible  to have a table at this event, and Miranda will look into it. Marion said if not, we could at least carry some of our NFB literature with us to hand out.

Miranda said we should wear our yellow chapter polos and walk as a group.

*March 31 is the deadline for letting Miranda know if you plan to participate in the April 6 MS walk-a-thon.

HART Update

Merry announced that HART’s new CEO Benjamin Limmer will conduct a meet and greet on Monday, March 25, between 5:30 and 6:30, at the Robert Sanders Library, 1555 N. Nebraska. She encouraged chapter  members to attend. She suggested that he be invited to our April 27 chapter meeting, and that we should ask if he could arrange HART Plus transportation for the children to attend the BELL program.

Proposed chapter meeting topics/speakers

Sherrill: recycling—its importance and new guidelines

Louise: New HART CEO

Deon: Greg Bracken, HART ADA Coordinator

New Tax Exemption

Marion stated that as of January 1, blind homeowners in Florida are exempt from paying the ad valoremportion of their property tax. He spoke to the property appraiser’s office in Hillsborough County to confirm this. You need to go to hcpafl.org <http://hcpafl.org>  to get the proper forms. And you will then need two ophthamologists to confirm that you are visually impaired.

Fundraising

Marion, who is our Fundraising co-chair, suggested we investigate holding an Octoberfest fundraiser. He has organized these in the past for NAGDU, and feels they have been successful. Most of the food would be donated, and we would charge about $20 for a mug for beer. We would probably hold an auction in conjunction with it.

Still on the topic of fundraising, Yvonne had interesting news to share about a doctor she knows, Ramesh Ayyala, the new chairman of the Department of Ophthamology at USF. At a glaucoma conference in San Francisco, he assured her she could call on him for help with fundraising. We then discussed the fact that ophthamologists often feel they have failed if a person they have treated becomes blind despite their best efforts. Merry mentioned that Dr. George Rosanelli, Yvonne’s husband, does not hold this type of attitude, and that it would be good if we could work with doctors who are willing to learn about  the daily lives of blind people and the skills they acquire to succeed. The goal is for doctors  to no longer view blindness as their failure and a tragedy, but instead give positive information to their patients.

Several of our members mentioned having a very good experience as patients of Dr. Ayyala.

In our monthly 50/50 drawing, Louise Peyton was the winner, receiving $18.

Our next meeting will be held on April 27 At Beef O’Brady’s in Tampa. There will be no chapter meeting in May because of state convention.

The meeting was adjourned at 1:52pm.

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 <mailto: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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