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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 style='text-indent:.5in'>Hello to all,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'>Since I have a problem somewhere along the line causing me not to receive any NFBF or chapter emails, I hope this reaches all of you. Hopefully I’ll get this mystery resolved soon.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'>Sherrill<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'>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>February 24. 2024<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><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 12:06pM.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Everyone introduced themselves. There was a total of 22 persons attending, including guests, Raquel Pancho, Tampa's ADA coordinator and Liz Mueller, with the County Alliance for Citizens with Disabilities. Another guest was Cuanise Sparkman and her family. Seventeen attended in person, and five participated via the Zoom platform.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Secretary and Treasurers' Reports<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Dan gave the treasurer's report. Our current balance is $4,816.70. A motion was made by Merry, seconded by Shanti, 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>The January minutes had been emailed on the previous day, so only a few members had read them. A motion was made by Marion, seconded by Merry, to table the approval of the January minutes until the March meeting. 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 announced that at next month's meeting we will have a guest speaker from the Hillsborough County Transportation Organization (TPO) which was formerly the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO.) The organization is hoping we will help them by filling out a survey, either via a print copy, or online. Marion volunteered to write up a news release to publicize the meeting.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Miranda said she hopes we will get involved in the planning meetings for both our next state convention, to be held in October in Jacksonville, and our national convention, to take place in July in Orlando. Miranda will send out Zoom links for the planning meetings.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Miranda said it's important to let people know that Section 8 housing applications can be submitted starting at the beginning of March.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>HART ADA Accessibility Committee Meeting<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Scott greenblat and Marion spoke about the February meeting of the committee. Adrienne also attended. Marion is a member of the committee and thanked them for attending. He had urged members to come to voice their concerns about the inaccessibility of the very involved HART Plus paratransit application, which must be filled out and renewed every five years. It has never been available onlllline or in Braille. Scott reported that the committee says it is now accessible online,, with the exception of the applicant's signature. Scott suggested that HARTPlus initiate a newsletter to keep riders up to date, since often HART makes proposals and changes which are not publicized. Marion then encouraged everyone to attend the upcoming HART Board meeting on March 4. He will be speaking there on behalf of the accessibility committee and would like lots of support, including by inviting others who are not part of our chapter. Merry said it is crucial that we inform the Board that though most of the HART Plus drivers are curteous, there are a few whose treatment of consumers can be "appalling", and disciplinary action should be taken. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Fund Raising<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Saint Patrick's Day Fund Raiser<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Marion will once again provide the music at O'Toole's, located at 1215 W. Brandon BLVD. from 3:30 to 6:30. The chapter is invited to lend our support. Miranda ordered festive beads for us to give out as souvenirs at the pub. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>We will bring NFB hand-outs including Braille alphabet cards.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>We discussed fund raising and whether we should be giving a certain percentage of the money we raise to either the State or National organization. A motion was made by Marion, seconded by Merry that we donate ten percent of the proceeds from our Stronger Together concert to NFBF. The motion passed.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Elections<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>New Member Elections<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>A motion was made by Merry, seconded by Marion, that we accept as new chapter members Andy Andrews, Sherri Brun, Scott Greenblat and Adrianne Kurmon. The motion passed.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Chapter Elections<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The following offices and Board positions needed to be filled this year: <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>President, currently Miranda Kilby;<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Secretary, currently Sherrill O'Brien<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Board 1 currently Yvonne Rosanelli<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Board 3 currently Sewar Qumebi<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The following persons were elected, all by acclamation:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Miranda Kilby reelected as President<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>(She said it was important that we understand that she agreed to run with the stipulation that she might hold the office for only one year.)<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Sherrill O'Brien reelected as Secretary<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Yvonne Rosanelli reelected for Board Position 1<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Scott Greenblat elected for Board position 3<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 she is in possession of lots of odds and ends left over from state conventions and auctions and needs a place to put them. Marion agreed to store them at his house. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Guest Speaker<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Tampa ADA Coordinator Raquel Pancho spoke to us about the work being done by the city to continually improve accessibility. She said feedback from organizations such as ours is extremely helpful. . <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 discussed how we might help Miranda with expenses related to her need to travel a great distance to attend chapter meetings and other functions. A motion was made by Dan, seconded by Scott, that the chapter reimburse Miranda for her transportation expenses. The motion passed.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Our 50/50 fundraiser drawing was won by Miranda Kilby, who received $42.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Our next meeting will be held At Beef O'Brady's on March 23.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The meeting was adjourned at PM.<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 back.<o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>