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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>Greetings to all,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>January’s minutes are pasted below my signature. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I hope to see you tomorrow or hear you on Zoom.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>And stay warm. This is cold weather for us Florida folk.<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>January 25, 2025<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 12:10pM.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Everyone introduced themselves. There were 20 persons in attendance, including 5 via Zoom. Among those attending were many guests.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>We then recited the NFB pledge together.<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>Miranda explained for the benefit of our guests that we have not held a formal meeting since October due to Hurricane Milton and our annual holiday party which was held at the home of Barbara Gaw.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>A motion was made by Louise, seconded by Dan, to approve the October 2024 chapter meeting minutes as emailed. The motion passed. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Dan read the treasurer’s report. Our current balance is $5,038.32.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>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 mentioned two local ADA accessibility committee openings currently available n Hillsborough County, one for HART, the other for Tampa General Hospital (TGH.) Adriene Kurman said she had applied and was just informed that she had been accepted to serve on the TGH committee. Sherrill suggested that we invite TGH's ADA coordinator, Justin Stark, to be a guest speaker at an upcoming chapter meeting, affording us the opportunity to provide valuable input.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Miranda summarized the chapter's activities during 2024, which included fundraisers such as the annual Pancake Breakfast and 50/50 drawings, and social outings such as Zoo Tampa, bowling, history museum. Several fundraisers and educational events did not happen because of the hurricane interrupting our October plans.<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>Miranda asked for our suggestions and goals for 2025. They included: annual Pancake Breakfast fundraiser, Blindness Equality Achievement Month (BEAM) activities, book club, comedy club, "Paint and Sip," boating or kayaking, inexpensive Thursday mornings with the Florida Orchestra at the Straz, (Barbara will get information about this), private rental of movie theater so all can hear audio description without dealing with headsets. Sherrill will get info. Miranda suggested community outreach by partnering with another group. Z'Aleah, who is the Statewide chapter president, proposed that we look into collaborating with her chapter in a barbecue dinner fundraiser, perhaps in a park in Hillsborough County. A lengthy discussion about this followed. We decided to hold a collaborative meeting between the two chapters via Zoom to determine if this could be a feasible and profitable project.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Kristine asked for an up-to-date chapter membership list. Dan and Sherrill said we will get this done following February's elections when dues need to be paid.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Kristine then told us about a unique opportunity for which she is applying. It's through a group called Flight for Sight which awards $10,000 grants for creative projects. These ideas and/or projects are to be a means for building bridges between the blind and sighted community. Kristine wants to make short videos about accessibility. She will be traveling to Costa Rica as part of the project.<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>Miranda encouraged everyone to pay their dues at the start of next month's meeting. Dues must be paid by then in order to nominate someone and to vote. She said elections will be held for President, Treasurer, and Board positions 1 and 3. She reminded us that she will be stepping down in February, and so we must elect a president for a one year term.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Our 50/50 drawing was won by Miranda, who received $22.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Our next meeting will be held on February 22 at Beef O'Brady's.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>A motion was made by Barbara, seconded by Dan, to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The meeting was adjourned at 1:50PM.<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 back.<o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>