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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Hello to all,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The March meeting minutes are pasted below my signature and also attached.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I hope to see you at Beefs for our meeting this Saturday.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Warm regards<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Sherrill<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Tampa Bay Chapter <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>National Federation of the Blind of Florida<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Chapter Meeting Minutes<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>March 25, 2017<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Beef O’Brady’s<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>8810 N. Himes Avenue<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Tampa, Florida<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The meeting was called to order by President Miranda Kilby at 12:15pm. Miranda introduced our guest speaker, Christina Estillaga from Envision America. She demonstrated and passed around the two products sold by the company, which are the ScripTalk and the ID Mate Galaxy. She will represent the company as an exhibitor at our state convention.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Following the presentation, Miranda asked All to introduce themselves, and to share with the group their favorite app. There were fifteen members in attendance. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Merry led the group in saying the NFB pledge.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Treasurer’s and Secretary’s Reports<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Dan reported our balance is $3710.77. A motion was made by Merry, seconded by Marion, to approve the treasurer’s report as read. The motion passed. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>A motion was made by Marion, seconded by Paul, to approve the February minutes as emailed. The motion passed.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>President’s Report<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Miranda reported on the great experience she had while attending the leadership seminar in Baltimore.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>There is an upcoming state fundraising raffle called Lucky Seven in honor of NFB’s 77<sup>th</sup> anniversary. The winner will receive 777 dollars in a travel voucher or cash. The drawing will take place at national convention in July.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Miranda said that “why I am a Federationist” stories are being posted on our NFBF FaceBook page, and said she will post a story for anyone needing that assistance. She reported that the Tampa chapter Board met by teleconference on March 22.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Old Business<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Miranda said we need to vote in four new members. Some were not in attendance, so we will vote them in when they are present. A motion was made by Merry, seconded by Marion, that we vote to accept Jeanette Torres as a member of our chapter. The motion passed.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>State Convention<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Miranda said the deadline is May 5 for reserving a room at the DoubleTree Hotel in Orlando at the reduced NFBF rate. She called for door prizes and can provide a donation letter to give to businesses. She announced that the chapter Board had passed a motion that the registration fee and banquet ticket for all members attending the state convention will be paid for by the chapter.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>HART information and activities<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Gloria said the next HART accessibility committee meeting will take place in May, and Miranda encouraged our participation. Merry will find out when the next HART Board meeting will be held.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Merry then shared some personal experiences when taking fixed route buses. She said there is an ongoing problem with both inside and outside announcements not being made consistently. Announcements are an ADA requirement. She stressed the importance of logging in complaints with customer service and then following up. She said more people need to file complaints so HART will have to recognize this is a widespread problem which demands correcting.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Meet the Blind Month<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Miranda said it will soon be time to begin making plans for our Meet the Blind Month activities.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Marion said that if the chapter could hold an October Meet the Blind event down in Gaslight Park on a day when the city contracts with musicians to play there, he would donate his earnings to the chapter. We will discuss this further.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Janice Butler won the 50/50 drawing.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Our next meeting will be held on April 22.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The meeting was adjourned at 2:20pm.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Respectfully submitted<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Sherrill O’Brien, Secretary<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Tampa Bay Chapter<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>National Federation of the Blind of Florida<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>