[NFBF-Tampa] Fwd: Tampa Bay Chapter Meeting Minutes March 2026, with a twist!

Tue Apr 21 20:22:34 UTC 2026

Hi Louise and all,

Louise just sent me an email asking who won the 50/50 drawing because, if nobody else happen to notice, there is a blank where the winner’s name should be. Thanks so much, Louise, for catching that omission.

So now I have a very funny story to share with everyone, because we all need to be able to laugh at ourselves sometimes, right?

When I began writing the minutes, looking over my notes, I got to the 50/50 drawing part, and there was no name. For the life of me I couldn’t remember who won. So I called our handy dandy treasurer, Dan the Man, who usually knows everything! But this time he had bad news…he couldn’t remember who won either! So I figured I’d just send the minutes to Debby and she’d surely remember who won and we’d solve the mystery.

But later on, as usually happens after your brain has a chance to simmer a bit, I first thought it was Adriane who had won. But I saw that she won in January, and that Sherri was the lucky winner in February. And then, like a bolt out of the blue, there it was in my brain…Sherrill O’Brien won that March meeting 50/50 and paid for her lunch with the money Mr. Hicks had given her! Oh you can believe I laughed out loud. I can just hear Dan saying “Well, if you can’t even remember that you won some money, maybe you should give it back!”

So to put a cherry on top of the story, Louise notices that there’s no name for the drawing. And it wasn’t because I still couldn’t remember, it was because I accidentally sent out a draft. Now you know the whole crazy story, and I hope you laughed along with me…and Dan!

And I’ll send out the final correct copy of the minutes in a different email.

The minutes posted below are the duds!

Warmly

Sherrill

From: NFBF-Tampa <nfbf-tampa-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Debbie Malone via NFBF-Tampa
Sent: Tuesday, April 21, 2026 1:22 PM
To: NFB of Florida Tampa Chapter List <nfbf-tampa at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Debbie Malone <dmalone510 at gmail.com>
Subject: [NFBF-Tampa] Fwd: Tampa Bay Chapter Meeting Minutes March 2026

Hi Family!

Here is our Agenda for April 25.I am also attaching it for those who like it that way. If I missed anything, please let me know. Thanks. See you Saturday!

NFB Tampa Bay Chapter Agenda

4/25/2026

Call to Order:

NFB Pledge: Adriane

Introductions/ice breaker:  

Secretary’s Report 

Treasurer's Report

President’s Report

Email situation:

                Nfbnet.org email updated

                Membership list

Phone number: Google Voice?

Membership: Miranda

Legislation: 

        State: new voting regulations

National: Texas vs Kennedy

Social Events: Yvonne

Health Initiative: Adriane

Fundraising: 

Publix Table: July 18 Sherril has secured the date

Pancake Breakfast: July 25

National convention: July 3-8 

State Convention: Tom 

Transportation to the state convention. 

Clarification: Chapter help with scholarship applicants?        

New Business

Adjourn: 

 ---------- Forwarded message ---------

From: Sherrill O'Brien <sherrill.obrien at verizon.net <mailto:sherrill.obrien at verizon.net> >
Date: Tue, Apr 21, 2026 at 7:10 AM
Subject: Tampa Bay Chapter Meeting Minutes March 2026
To: <dmalone510 at gmail.com <mailto:dmalone510 at gmail.com> >

 Tampa Bay Chapter 

National Federation of the Blind of Florida

Chapter Meeting Minutes

March 28, 2026

Beef O ’ Brady’s

8810 North Himes Avenue

Tampa, Florida

The meeting was called to order by President Debby Malone at 12:07pM.

Everyone introduced themselves. There were twelve persons in attendance, including   four via Zoom.  Debbie asked for a volunteer,, and Yvonne led us in the NFB pledge.

Adriane will lead it at our next meeting.

Debbie will call on us each month for a brief ice breaker, and this month she asked for our favorite technology tool or app.

Secretary and Treasurer Reports

A motion was made by Barbara, seconded by Dan, to approve the February meeting minutes as emailed. The motion passed. 

Dan gave the treasurer’s report. 

Our current balance is $5,522.87.

A motion was made by Sherrill, seconded by Adriane, to accept the treasurer’s report as read. The motion passed.

President’s Report

Debbie reported she’s continuing to work on resolving our email issues, and that we are making progress. She said that she will meet with our secretary and treasurer via phone call to update our membership list.

Because of today’s ever increasing security concerns, Debbie is looking into setting up Google Voicemail which would create a dedicated phone number for use by our chapter president.

Debbie said that as in the past, our chapter will once again send some of our members to the Lighthouse to give the students information about the NFB, particularly our chapter, inviting them to join us to see what we’re all about.

Tom asked about transportation for attending our state convention in Jacksonville. Debbie said many of us usually  travel together via Amtrak.

We discussed the importance of keeping in touch with our local Supervisor of Elections office concerning all existing and new requirements for voter registration

We also discussed that some of us are not receiving the latest communications from NFB concerning their demand that Florida, along with other states, withdraw from the Texas vs. Kennedy lawsuit which threatens Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. Since this is a state issue we need to contact the offices of the governor and attorney general

Social Activities

Yvonne mentioned the following planned or possible upcoming social events:

Trip to Zoo Tampa on March 31

Clay sculpting on April 18 at Drip Pottery  in Ybor City

Audio Described plays at the Straz, in May The Notebook, in June Beatle Juice

Kristine suggested an outing to the Florida Aquarium. A docent led tour is available.

New Business

Adriane suggested a bingo fund raiser. She said we might want to split the proceeds with another hosting organization. She will look into this, along with Barbara. Kristine will serve as a resource.

Adriane said she never was onboarded as a member of Tampa General Hospital’s ADA committee. Barbara suggested she speak with Tampa ADA Coordinator Raquel Pancho about this matter, since she knows Tampa General’s ADA Coordinator.

Chapter Membership Responsibilities

Kristine said that from experience as our previous chapter president, she feels it is important that we set guidelines so inactive members cannot take advantage of monetary benefits, offered by the chapter, to which they are not entitled. 

The following motion was made by Dan, seconded by Barbara, and passed unanimously:

"In order for a member to receive funding to attend a National or NFBF convention, the member must be active, meaning: attending at least a majority of meetings, either in person or via Zoom, and that the member works toward some aspects of the chapter’s activities, such as fundraising, being a chapter officer, serving on a chapter committee, etc., which is approved by the president or board of directors. In addition, the member cannot be receiving funding from the NFBF or a division or another chapter of the NFBF." 

Our secretary will keep pertinent records to insure that this policy is carried out in an equitable manner. Tom will assist with this task.

Our 50/50 fundraiser drawing was won by , who received $20.

Our next meeting will be held at Beef O ’ Brady’s on April 25.

The meeting was adjourned at 1:47PM.

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  <mailto:Sherrill.obrien at verizon.net> 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

-- 

Debbie Malone

 <https://www.viponlinetoastmasters.org/index.html> VIP Online Toastmasters

 <https://nfbflorida.org/chapters-divisions/tampa-bay-chapter> National Federation of the Blind of Florida-Tampa Chapter President 

 <https://wwwinclusioneducation.com/> Inclusion Education

Amazon Author Page <https://www.amazon.com/~/e/B07RVCRR5R> 

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