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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 chapter members and friends,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'>The Tampa Bay chapter August meeting minutes are pasted below my signature. Please take a moment to read them so you are prepared to vote on their approval at our next meeting, which will be held on Saturday, September 28, at O’Brien’s Irish Pub and Grill, 701 W. Lumsden Road in Brandon. As usual, we will have a meet and greet at 11:30, so we hope you will come early and get to know everyone a little better…and so they can get to know you! As usual, the meeting is scheduled from 12:00 till 2:00.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'>You will find my phone number and email address below in my signature, just in case you have a great suggestion or question. I would be very pleased to hear from you.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='color:#1F497D'>Wa</span>rmest regards<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'>Sherrill<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><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>Phone 813-935-0474, cell 813-767-1890<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>email <a href="mailto:Sherrill.obrien@verizon.net">Sherrill.obrien@verizon.net</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>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<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>August 24, 2019<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Beef O’Brady’s<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>8810 North Himes Avenue<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Tampa, Florida<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The meeting was called to order by Vice President Merry Schoch at 12:00PM.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>She chaired the meeting due to the absence of President Miranda Kilby.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Merry told the group that Miranda is still not feeling well. Miranda wanted the chapter to know she very much appreciated the beautiful flowers which we sent her following our June meeting.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>There were 13 persons in attendance, including Angie Chism’s daughter and granddaughter. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Marion led us in saying the NFB pledge.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Secretary and Treasurer’sReports<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Sherrill thanked Dan for taking the June meeting minutes in her absence.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>A motion was made by Sherrill, seconded by Barbara, to accept the June meeting minutes as emailed. The motion passed.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Dan gave the treasurer’s report. Our June balance was $2,064.66, and Our current balance is $1,964.65. Dan mentioned that we received three new members at the June meeting: Linda Mumford, Joy Relton and Lynn Reynolds. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>A motion was made by Barbara, seconded by Marion, to approve the treasurer’s report. The motion passed.<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><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Social Activities<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Jeanette reported that since the members had expressed interest in attending a comedy club outing, she sent out information via the Tampa email list detailing a variety of comedy club acts available in the near future. Following discussion, we decided to wait on this till the beginning of the year, since transportation is a challenge for many.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Possible Location Change for Chapter Meetings<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Merry mentioned that we have previously discussed the possibility of changing the location of our chapter meetings to make them more centrally located for all in Hillsborough County. She also mentioned that for some, attending a monthly NFB chapter meeting, taking into account the cost of transportation and food, poses a hardship. Merry reminded the group that when we were unable to locate a more central meeting place, NFB member Debby Hietala offered her business, Crystal Bay Café, downtown at the County Courthouse. There would not be any food available, so Merry suggested we could all pitch in and whoever wished to do so could contribute something to eat or drink. She said she and Marion could provide a main dish.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Angie Chism mentioned that she is a member of a Moose lodge which is centrally located on South Gandy Blvd., and that perhaps we should look into holding our meetings there. She said the food is very reasonably priced. We will check into this as another option.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>After further discussion, it was determined that the membership would eventually vote on this issue via email. We will make sure all who wish are subscribed to the Tampa chapter list prior to taking such a vote. We will be sure to include the wording that if such a change does not work out, we can go back to our present arrangement.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>Barbara made the suggestion that we go to the Crystal Bay Café and try it out prior to a vote being taken. It was agreed that would be a good idea.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal>Merry said she had spoken with HART officials concerning transportation to our meetings, and hopes they will come through and provide transportation from Sun City Center. Marion also plans to reach out to the Sun City Lions Club to see if they might help with transportation.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal>Membership<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Merry pointed out that with our chapter now having over fifty members, membership chair Sherrill O’Brien could use some help reaching out to all these people every month. Sherrill will ask a couple of volunteers to help her with calling our members.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Meet the Blind Month and White Cane Safety Day<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Marion reported that there is a large food truck rally on November 6 in Gaslight Park in downtown Tampa. He feels that would be a good venue for us to hold a Meet the Blind event since it naturally draws a lot of people. Tampa ADA coordinator Raquel pancho likes the idea, and thinks we might be able to get the mayor or other dignitaries to be involved with our event if it is held in conjunction with the downtown rally. <br>A motion was made by Sherrill, seconded by Marion, that we hold our Meet the Blind event at Gaslight Park in conjunction with the food truck rally on November 6. The motion passed.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Barbara mentioned that particularly because of having to deal with high heat and humidity during our outdoor events, it would be a good idea for the chapter to have our own pop-up tent. Following discussion, a motion was made by Barbara, seconded by Sherrill, that the chapter purchase a pop-up tent. The motion passed.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>We discussed at length the best place and time to hold our White Cane Safety Day street crossing event. A motion was made by Barbara, seconded by Jeanette, that we hold our White Cane Safety Day event from 10:00 A.M. till 11:30A.M., on our regular meeting date, October 26, at Spruce and Dale mabry, and then have lunch at Denny’s. The motion passed. Note that this is the same place we held our event last year.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>New Business<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>We decided to go ahead and hold our November meeting on the regular fourth Saturday, the 23<sup>rd</sup>. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Merry will ask Yvonne Rosanelli if she is still interested in hosting our holiday party, as she had indicated previously.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Sherrill won the 50/50 raffle drawing, receiving twelve dollars.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>NFBF State Fundraiser<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Merry reported that we will once again be holding our annual state fundraiser, the Holiday Calendar Raffle. As introductions were made, those wishing to participate in the raffle indicated how many books of tickets they wanted to sell. Tickets are again five dollars apiece, and there will be a name drawn each evening during November. As was the case last year, the grand prize will be drawn on Thanksgiving, and the chapter selling the winning ticket will be a winner as well.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Our next meeting will be held on September 28 at O’Brien’s pub in Brandon.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The meeting was adjourned at 1:15 PM.<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>Phone 813-935-0474, cell 813-767-1890<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>email <a href="mailto:Sherrill.obrien@verizon.net">Sherrill.obrien@verizon.net</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>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<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>