[NFBF-Tampa] Tampa Bay chapter meeting minutes May 2025

[Sherrill O'Brien]

Tampa Bay Chapter 

National Federation of the Blind of Florida

Chapter Meeting Minutes

May 17, 2025

Beef O ' Brady's

8810 North Himes Avenue

Tampa, Florida

 

The meeting was called to order by President Christine Copley at 12:04pM.

Everyone introduced themselves. There were  twenty persons in attendance,
including   six via the Zoom platform.

Secretary and Treasurer Reports

A motion was made by  Marion, seconded by Dan, to table the  April meeting
minutes until everyone has a chance to read them and that we approve them
via email. The motion passed. 

 

Dan gave the treasurer's report. Our current balance is $4,487.10. A motion
was made by Marion, seconded by Sherrill, to accept the treasurer's report
as read. The motion passed.

Christine reminded those who attended our bowling event  but have not yet
paid to please give their money to Dan.

 

Fundraising

Pancake Breakfast

This annual fundraiser will be held on July 19 from 8:00 to 10:00, followed
by our regular July meeting. 

We have raised the cost per ticket from eight to ten dollars. In conjunction
with the breakfast We will again offer a 50/50 raffle, as well as raffles
for several themed baskets. Christine encouraged everyone to volunteer at
the breakfast  to help make it a big success. We decided to sell mimosas
again this year. Tickets will cost ten dollars, up from the eight dollars we
have charged for several years. Sherrill announced that she was unable to
reserve a table at the Carrollwood Shopping Center Publix, since all the
possible weekend dates have been taken. Members will reach out to their
local Publix stores to see if there are any open dates. Dan will again print
up flyers for members to distribute. We will print the fliers in English on
one side and Spanish on the other. Luis Perez offered to translate the flier
into Spanish.

 

We discussed other possible fundraising products. Those which were
successful in the past include hot and cold beverage containers and Florida
themed keychain bottle openers,

 

We are updating information on new chapter polo shirts. Christine suggested
we also consider purchasing and selling shirts with humorous sayings.

 

Marion mentioned that he and Merry need to find a new place to store chapter
items which they have been keeping  at their house. Miranda said some of
those things probably came from the state affiliate. It was suggested that
we try to donate some of the items to appropriate organizations or to
chapter members.  

 

HART ADA Accessibility Committee Report

Marion thanked those members who attended and participated in HART's ADA
Accessibility committee meeting to support the Tampa Bay chapter's
resolution concerning changes which should be made to improve the
paratransit system. Marion encouraged everyone to come to the meetings to
demonstrate NFB's ongoing commitment to work for these changes. The next
meeting will be on August 21. Marion is eligible to serve two terms. But
since he is representing our chapter on the committee, if he and Merry move
away,   he can choose someone from the chapter to serve in his place during
his second term. Miranda then suggested Debby Malone. Debby said she would
be interested.

 

Our 50/50 fundraiser drawing was won by Miranda, who received $41.

 

Scott Greenblat told us that this is his last chapter meeting since he and
his family will be moving to Phoenix.

 

Our next meeting will be held on June 28.

A motion was made by Miranda, seconded by Merry, that we adjourn the
meeting. The motion passed, and we adjourned at 1:55pm.

 

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 back.

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://nfbnet.org/pipermail/nfbf-tampa_nfbnet.org/attachments/20250627/30c8fb7d/attachment.htm>