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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Happy Friday to all,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Here are April’s minutes.<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>April 23, 2022<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><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The meeting was called to order by President Miranda Kilby at 12:05PM. All introduced themselves. There were a total of 17 persons in attendance, 14 in person and 3 via the Zoom platform. We welcomed two guests, Greg Farley and his father, who were invited by Kristine Copley.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Miranda urged those who are not subscribed to our Tampa Bay Chapter listserv to join, offering to help anyone needing it.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Secretary and Treasurer Reports<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>A motion was made by Dan, seconded by Kristine, to approve the March chapter 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 $1,801.65. A motion was made by Barbara, seconded by Sherrill, 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>President’s Report<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Miranda said anyone wishing to do so can now book their room for our NFBF state convention, which will be held in October at the Marriott River Walk in Jacksonville.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>She mentioned the national convention which is coming up shortly in July in New Orleans.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Social Activities Report<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Yvonne is the chair of the social activities committee. She said that the comedy club Side Splitters will be featuring comedian Josh Blue during the first weekend of June. She feels this would be a particularly good comedian for us to support since he has cerebral palsy. She will look into this event for us. She will also check into a bowling event for our group at Pin Chasers.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>TD Tampa Bay Report<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Sewar, who is now in charge of this project, has composed a letter asking that this cross county ride service be reinstated. We are hoping that the governor will include the funding appropriated for it in the state budget which he will soon be signing. Sewar encouraged others to write letters in support of the service. Miranda will send out Sewar’s letter to the Tampa Bay chapter list.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Fund Raising Report<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Gloria is the fund raising chair. She reported on the meeting which the committee held on April 18. Ideas from that meeting included:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Holding Spirit Nights<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Miranda will look into restaurants which offer Spirit Nights to nonprofits. These would be similar to those which the chapter held at Beef O ’ Brady’s several years ago.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Miranda will also ask Beef O ‘ Brady’s management whether we could host a breakfast fund raiser at this location which we have done several times in the past.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Selling candy at Yvonne’s office<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>We decided on M&M’s, and will ask for a donation of $3 for one pack, $5 for two.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>We authorized $200 for Yvonne for the candy and petty cash.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Holding a car wash<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>One suggestion was to partner with a fire station, holding the event at their location and splitting the profits.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Kristine Copley volunteered to head up working toward this event.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Greg Farley suggested selling snacks or soft drinks from a tent at a Bucs or Lightning game.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Blindness Equality and Awareness Month (formerly Meet the Blind Month)<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Yvonne mentioned that the Italian Club in Ybor City has a ground floor cantina available where we could hold an educational event.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>We sang Happy Birthday to Miranda, and then held our 50/50 drawing which was won by Louise Peyton. She received $71, and generously donated $30 back to the chapter.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The meeting was adjourned at 1:45.<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>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><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>