<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 14 (filtered medium)"><style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:blue;
text-decoration:underline;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:purple;
text-decoration:underline;}
span.EmailStyle17
{mso-style-type:personal-compose;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:windowtext;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
--></style><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Hello to all, and Happy Fall!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Here are the August minutes for your reading pleasure.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I hope to see you tomorrow at Beefs!<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>August 21, 2021<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><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The meeting was called to order by President Miranda Kilby at 12:50PM.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> All introduced themselves. There were 14 persons in attendance, including two via the Zoom platform.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Secretary and Treasurer’sReports<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>A motion was made by Barbara, seconded by Paul, to approve the July 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 $1582.85. Miranda explained that the chapter Board had agreed to pay for the registration and banquet tickets for all chapter members attending the state convention. A motion was made by Barbara, seconded by Sherrill, to accept 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 reported that we have paid our annual chapter dues to NFBF. We have a total of 36 members.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>She encouraged everyone to attend the open convention planning meeting via Zoom on August 30.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>She said state secretary Sylvia Young will be running for the position of secretary/treasurer.<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 we have approximately 150 reusable cloth masks to give out to attendees at the beginning of convention. Yvonne said she could obtain hand sanitizers from the drug rep who comes to their ophthalmology office. Other information she gave us;<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The restaurant will be open for lunch.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>We will hold Friday night trivia.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Tampa ADA Coordinator Raquel pancho will open the convention by reading a proclamation from Tampa’s Mayor Jane Castor. Paul said Raquel has been a great friend to our chapter, and encouraged everyone to send her a thank-you email.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The question was raised about whether vaccination of attendees will be required, and Miranda said it will not be. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Yvonne is continuing to work on the description of our convention hotel, the Embassy Suites USF. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Following discussion, it was decided that our chapter’s auction basket theme would be wine and relaxation. Miranda will send out an email for us to reply to all indicating what we plan to donate. We need to bring the item(s) to our next chapter meeting.<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>TD Tampa Bay<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Debbie Malone will resend the letter to our chapter listserv Which gives us ideas about what and to whom to write in support of reinstating the TD Tampa Bayintercounty ride program. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>We will send information out to the Lighthouses inviting them to participate in this issue. Miranda said Pinellas County is funding a scaled-down version only for their county.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Chapter Matters<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Miranda said that with the resignation of chapter vice president Merry Schoch, she has appointed Gloria to serve in that capacity until elections in February. She would like to work on our constitution so officer and board member terms are staggered rather than electing all at the same time.<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>Louise expressed concern about the absence of several members. Miranda said that without the TD Tampa Bay program, HART Plus from sun City would cost around $40 each way. She said we need a membership committee to make calls.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Gloria invited everyone to call into the Senior Concerns meeting on September 2 to get expert technology information from NFBF member Ryan Mann. She said that at our state convention, the Senior Concerns seminar will take place on October 2. The program will cover the important topic of wills and estate planning.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>NFBF<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Paul said that our state president Denise Valkema does not plan to run again for that office. Dan said it is very important that we work hard to elect a good state board of directors at our upcoming elections in October. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Noe Villeda won the 50/50 drawing, receiving $80.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Our next meeting will be held on September 25 at Beef O’Brady’s.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The meeting was adjourned at 1:55PM.<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>