NFBNJ-Seniors] Minutes/Agenda for our upcoming meeting folks

Thu Feb 9 20:50:20 UTC 2017

Hello all seniors
I hope you did not get too much snow today.
Enjoy reading the minutes and agenda below and see you on our conference call this Monday night at 8 PM.
Call: 1 712 432 0180
Code: 460994#
Minutes from our senior division meeting  January 9, 2017 at 8 PM
1 Roll Call
There were 32 in attendance.  The Following persons attended.

Joe Ruffalo, President NFBNJ
Jane Degenshein, President, Senior Division
Lydia Keller, Vice President, Senior Division
Mary Jo Partyka, Secretary, Senior Division
Joe Braz, Treasurer, Senior Division

Les  Cameron, board member
Fannie Davis, board member
Linda Mackey, board member
Angela Perone, board member

Rebecca Bryant
Pat Bunce
Samson Carr
Linda De Berardinis
Alice Eaddy
Ed Fedush
Jerry Fontenelli
Chris Franz
Renee Freiling
Charlene Groves
Phil Harrison
Pam Hayes
Peggy Kane
Brian Keane
Jo Luland
Linda Melendez
Andrew Rees
Marie Sawyer
Andrea Schwartz
Barbara Simon newbie

Eleanor Thompson
Jennifer Uchanow

Ruth Sager, guest

2 Minutes: Mary Jo Partyka
Mary Jo asked if all received the minutes
Motion: Fannie Davis
Seconded: Peggy Kane
Discussion?
Motion passed.
3 Treasurer’s Report: Joe Braz
Treasure’s report for the meeting  Jamuary 9, 2017

Last Balance $751.46
Deposit: 210.00 (160.00+50.00)
Withdraw:
    1 MFB NJ (Convention 2016) $100.00 our donation for the scholarships
    2 Linda McKay (Cards & Stamps) $20.00
    3 PAC Plan $10.00
New Balance: $831.46
We have 33 members with dues paid for 2017
Motion: Joe Ruffalo
Seconded: Linda Mackey
Treasurer’s  report accepted and motion passed

4 Dues: Jane Degenshein
Jane asked those that need to pay their dues to do so in a prompt fashion and send to Joe Braz our treasurer.
Joe Braz’s Address is 434 Elm Street, first floor, Kearney, NJ.   07032
5 Committee Reports: Linda Mackey, Marie Sawyer and Fannie Davis
A. . Senior Caring Cards: Linda Mackey-  Linda stated that she sent out the following cards since our last meeting:  condolence cards to Jane Degenshein, Mary Jo Partyka, Eileen Scrivani, and Fannie davis, a thinking-of-you card to Anthony Lanzalotti and a get-well card to Rebecca Bryant.  

B. Senior Caring Calls: Marie Sawyer-Mariie called the following senior division members: Anbgela Perone, Chris Franz,  and Ed Fedush who had been in the hospital.  She also called and welcomed new members Barbara Simon and Ronnie Washington

C. Senior Corner/Fannie’s Chronicle: Fannie Davis-Jane stated that Caryn Fitzpatrick wasn’t able to beon the Board or do the Senior Corner column due to her mother’s illness.  Fannie Davis will assume responsibility for this column and the column is renamed Fannie’s Chronicles.  Fannie read a few vignettes relevant to seniors.  

6 State Convention Revisited and shared: All
Linda Berardinis said this was the best convention ever and that it gets better each year.  Her onlyu concern is that the technology seminar should not be near the vendor room because it was too noisy.  Everyone agreed that we needed to do things differently next year in that regard. Jane noted that we re-elected Les Cameron, Linda Mackey, ang Angela Perone for another two-year term.  Fannie Davis is a new board member and very excited about this.  
7 Senior Division Book Club

Earlier this evening, the book club members discussed the book Keep Moving by Dick Van Dyke and everyone liked it.  The next book selection for March is In Such Good Company which is written by and narrated by Carol Burnett.  
8 Old/New Business: All
Jane asked the group if they were interested in perhaps starting a NJ senior division list serve.  Everyone voted unanimously and liked this idea.   
Jane Introduced Ruth Sager who is the President of the National Senior Division.  Ruth Sager praised Jane andour members for their enthusiastic participation in this group.  One reason Jane asked Ruth to come on the call was because Andrew Rees had a question for which he wanted an answer.  Andrew stated that he has been trying to obtain long-term-care insurance.  Although he talked to several brokers, his efforts proved unsuccessful.. He, like everyone else, is concerned about having sufficient insurance later on in life.   Ruth Sager acknowledged that many people are having trouble getting this insurance.  She claimed that we have come a  a long way since blind people formerly had trouble obtaining life insurance.  Ruth suggested that Andrew write a letter to Mark Riccobono to see if this matter could be researched and addressed.  Joe offered to help Andrew write the letter.  
Ruth talked about the calls sponsored by the National Senior Division and asked if there were any topics people were interested in learning more about.  Someone asked for pointers when addressing issues like paying bills and figuring out who can be trusted and who could help blind seniors.  
Joe Ruffalo discussed the Washington Seminar which will take place beginning January 30.  The TIME Act and the Veterans Space Available Act will be put on the back burner for this year.  The following issues will be addressed this year:  making Braille displays available to people who need them but can not afford them, Social Security Administration helping blind people obtain equipment, using set-aside money, and the Books without Borders as discussed in the Marrakesh Treaty where people from the United States and other countries could get college textbooks from a source where they will be immediately available to them.  
9 Round the Phone/Brags and Drags: all

Jane thanked everyone for tthe condolence messages, cards and support she received after the death of her mother-in-law.
Rebecca Bryant thanked everyone for the get-well cards and wishes she received.

Chris Franz is having rotator cuff surgery later this month.
Brian Keane, Joe Ruffalo, and Peggy Kane stated that they had unpleasant experiences with the workers at the polling places  where they  tried to vote  independently.
Brian  said he wrote to the Board of Elections and Brian, Joe, and Peggy all reported their problems to the Help America Vote hotline established by NFB  national.
Eleanor Thompson said her great-granddaughter and fiancee recently became engaged.  To celebrate, they took Eleanor to a Japanese restaurant where she tried sushi for the first time.
Joe Ruffalo told the group that 80 people attended the eighth annual after-the-holiday party.  Several people were unable to come because of the inclement weather we received on Saturday.

10 Adjournment:
The meeting was adjourned at 9:00 PM.
Motion: Joe Ruffalo
Seconded: Linda Mackey
***
Agenda for our senior division meeting Monday, February 13, 2017 at 8 PM
Welcoming remarks and thanks to Lester for making the reminder calls.
1 Roll Call
2 Secretary’s Report: Mary Jo Partyka 
3. Treasurer’s Report: Joe Braz
4 Dues: Janie Degenshein
5. Committee Reports: Linda, Marie, and Fannie
A. Caring Cards: Linda Mackey
B. Caring Calls: Marie Sawyer
C. Fannie’s chronicle/Senior Corner: Fannie Davis
6 Washington Seminar Short Summary: Attendees
Next steps?
7 National Senior Division conference Calls and News: Janie Degenshein
8 Book Club for March 13: Janie Degenshein
9 Old/New Business: All
10 Round the Phone/Brags and Drags: All
11 Adjournment
9 
Keep Smiling,
Janie Degenshein
Happiness isn't having what you want, but wanting what you already have!
Facilitator of ECHO (Eyes Closed Hearts Open)
state affiliate board member
President of the senior division of the National Federation of the Blind of New Jersey
President of the Technology division of the National federation of the Blind of New Jersey
NFBNJ Newsline co-ordinator
jdegen16 at comcast.net

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