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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>Here are the chapter meeting minutes for May, pasted and attached. I feel happy when reading them over right before sending them out to you, as we always come up with lots of great ideas…kudos to us!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><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>May 23, 2020<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Because of the restrictions resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic, chapter members and guests met from our homes by conference call via the Zoom meeting platform<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 12:09PM. She led the group in saying the NFB Pledge.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>All introduced themselves. There were 23 persons in attendance, including our NFBF state President Denise Valkema. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Secretary and Treasurer’s Reports<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>A motion was made by Louise, seconded by Barbara, to approve the April meeting minutes as emailed. The motion passed.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Dan gave the treasurer’s report. Our current balance is $2216.83.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>A motion was made by Sherrill, seconded by Les, to approve the treasurer’s report as read. 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 encouraged everyone to register for the national convention. The deadline is june 15, and there is no cost.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Miranda said that the Friends of the library are the volunteers who would send out our announcement regarding chapter meetings. She said they will be returning to the Daytona Beach library in June, so would possibly be able to send out an announcement for our July meeting.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Miranda said the State Board has decided that we will need to hold a virtual state convention. <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>There was no old business.<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><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Chapter Goals and Activities<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Miranda stated that because of our current uncertain situation, she would like to get our suggestions for goals/activities we could accomplish either virtually or in person.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Marion:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Instead of having us over To celebrate their new kitchen, he could select and send out a recipe that we could all make at home<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Gloria then thanked Yvonne Rosanelli for her demonstration of the InstaPot held during the latest Senior Concerns meeting.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Miranda then asked us for fundraising ideas.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Susan Pierce:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Call restaurants to ask for gift card donations<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Paul:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Ask Uber or Uber Eats for gift cards<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Miranda:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Host a Zoom concert or talent show and charge a small amount<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Merry mentioned that conditions when using the Zoom platform can make this difficult, as the Maryland affiliate just hosted such a concert<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Paul:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Host a Trivia game with an entrance fee, with the winner getting a percentage of the amount raised<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Susan asked about a possible community project.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Marion said that we have a good resource in Rene Muratti of the Hillsborough State Attorney’s office. When it comes to our Florida disability rights laws, She has offered to assist us in reaching out to empower community leaders from disability rights organizations and to educate law enforcement agencies.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Meet the Blind Month Ideas<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Miranda said it isn’t too early to begin planning for Meet the Blind month in October, and called for ideas.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Miranda;<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Distribute information about Florida’s White Cane Law via email<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Sherrill:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Pass along this information to churches for their websites or newsletters <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><br>Paul:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Give out National and local NFB brochures<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Merry:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Reach out to Meals on Wheels to ask if they would pass out NFB literature when delivering meals<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Possible Chapter meeting Program Topics<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Chris:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Non-24 Sleep-Wake Disorder<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Sherrill:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Recycling, from someone with the Hillsborough County Waste ManagementDepartment<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Merry:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Voting information from someone with the Supervisor of Elections Office, and Gloria also suggested a representative from the league of Women Voters<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Sherrill will ask her friend mickey Castor for suggestions on whom to contact from the League. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Gloria:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Information and tips on going out in public during the Covid-19 pandemic<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Miranda:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Riding HART fixed route and HART Plus during The Covid-19 restrictions<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Merry will contact HART’s Greg Bracken<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Les Deemers;<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Availability and accessibility of computer terminals in libraries and kiosks<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Paul:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>NFBNewsline questions and answers with NFBF member Rus Davis<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Paul said Rus is leading a discussion called Sunrise and Shine with Newsline every Thursday morning on the Zoom platform. Miranda will send out the Zoom link for this meeting to the chapter list.<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 that the State Board will determine the dates we will hold our virtual state convention. It will be some time in the fall. She said lots of help will be needed, for example we will need help writing resolutions. Camille Tate is the chair of the Resolutions Committee. Miranda explained that resolutions passed by the membership at each state convention help determine NFBF policies. Merry, who is the scholarship committee chair, said that the deadline for submitting applications for the state scholarship program is July 1, and encouraged everyone to spread the word. There will be two $1500 scholarships given out this year.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Merry suggested that once the national office gives us the green light to meet in person, Debbie Hietala’s Crystal Bay Café would be an ideal location since there would be plenty of room and we could bring our own lunch. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>We closed the meeting , as we did in April, sharing how we are all doing during this challenging time. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Our next meeting will be held on June 27.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The meeting was adjourned at 2:05PM.<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>