[NFBO-Springfield] Minutes of February 2021 Meeting

[Todd Elzey]

Attached are the minutes of the February 2021 meeting. I have attached the
minutes in both a .doc and .txt document format so that the document should
be accessible to everyone.  Please let me know if you have any problems
accessing the documents.

Sincerely,

Todd Elzey, Secretary
NFB of Ohio Springfield Chapter.
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://nfbnet.org/pipermail/nfbo-springfield_nfbnet.org/attachments/20210319/1a514c06/attachment.html>
-------------- next part --------------
NFB of Ohio Springfield Chapter
February 20, 2021 Meeting

Attendees:

President Debbie Baker
Todd Elzey, Secretary
Susan Day, Vice President
Arlie Ray, Board Member
Eric Duffy
Macy McClain
Dan O’Keefe
Mickie Cooper
Hans Wagner
Sharon Dodds
Vickie Travis

Treasurer Crystal McClain was absent from the meeting. However, per President Baker the only change was the monthly $20 deduction for the NFB PAC contribution.  

Eric moved adoption of the treasurer’s report, Dan seconded. The motion carried without objection.

President Baker asked all members to complete the Diversity and Inclusion Survey being conducted by National. The survey is available via Survey Monkey.  If you can’t use or do not have a computer you can also call in your survey by calling the National Office and speaking with Janet Kershaw, the NFB’s Diversity Coordinator

President Baker indicated that there are still issues with the membership list from National. She indicated the list is still incorrect.  This has delayed our Chapter responding to National’s request to update it.

Dan O’Keefe updated the Chapter on the Clark County Library.  They agreed to purchase up to 50 books pertaining to Blindness.  They also have agreed to set-up a specific area of the Library for Blindness related books.  He is also working with Bellefontaine and Greene County Libraries to do something similar.  He is also working on getting children’s books.  Eric talked about shifting the burden onto the librarians to search catalogues for appropriate books.  It was clarified that we are looking to provide books/material on Blindness.  Todd will come up with a list of books resources.  Susan asked about Kernel Books. President Baker indicated that they are no longer published.  Arlie still has a collection of Kernel Books.  Sharon Dodds offered to help with Greene County.  

Todd Elzey explained the Microenterprise program at the affiliate level. This is a program being developed to assist blind individuals in developing small businesses. Businesses can even be solopreneur ventures where only one person is involved in running them. The program is intended to have booth a training element and an element to provide some limited start-up funding through either a small grant program or a business plan competition. The affiliate has set-up an Ad Hoc Committee to start looking at this process, which Todd is Chairing.

Springfield Transportation Fund process is on hold.  The Chapter has not heard from Bridget at NFB National.  President Baker wants to keep this in the forefront so that it does not get lost. Todd suggested a tech fair and grant program as an alternative way to spend some of the money the Chapter wants to spend.  There was a discussion of how there was once an Adaptive Equipment Scholarship (AES) through Easter Seals. This program has gotten killed off due to staff turnover and the fact that the Dayton Foundation is no longer funding the project due to COVID.  Consequently, the Chapter expressed interest in pursuing the tech fair/grant program concept. Todd will look into whether or not the Miami Valley Chapter would be interested in cosponsoring the project with us.

Eric had a legislative update.  We have reached out to members of the Ohio General Assembly and have commitment to sponsorships for our legislative proposals, but nothing has been introduced yet.  Todd gave a brief presentation on the Washington Seminar. Todd indicated that, although there were scheduling challenges due to the meetings being virtual, the affiliate had managed to hold meetings with all representatives that had agreed to meet. We generally received positive feedback on the NFB’s four proposals. Todd indicated that the project would not have been successful without the efforts of Barbara Pierce. Todd also thanked several Springfield Chapter members who showed up in force to meet with our Congressman Mike Turner.
.
Eric described the Blind Driver Challenge.  About 15 years ago the NFB undertook the challenge to develop the technology to allow a blind person to drive a car.  There was a competition to determine who would drive the car.  Mark Riccobono, who was the Director of the Jernigan Institute at the time, won the Challenge.  He drove a specially equipped car around the Daytona Speedway, and had to avoid obstacles thrown on the track, which he was able to do.  The next challenge is to see how fast a blind driver can drive as part of a competition that is normally for blindfolded drivers.  This program is designed to get the NFB at the table for discussions on autonomous vehicles. Arlie Ray wondered where the legislative proposals would go on autonomous vehicles.  Eric indicated that efforts to ensure that blind people are included in the autonomous vehicle discussion had already been underway, but nothing is set yet.

President Baker also spoked about the Journal on Innovation & Research.  The Journal of Blindness Innovation and Research is the first scholarly journal created by blind people designed to address the real problems of blindness. The Journal covers such topics as:

* Education and rehabilitation of the blind
* Innovations related to Braille and the use of Braille
* Techniques and tools for independent movement and travel by the blind
* Development of innovative technological approaches
* Findings that can affect advocacy-related efforts
* Analysis of data sets providing descriptive information about the blind
* Innovative practices in preparing professionals and paraprofessionals to work with the blind

Members can learn more about the Journal and read pas issues of the publication by visiting:  https://nfb.org/resources/publications-and-media/journal-blindness-innovation-and-research

President Baker also reminded members about the NFB’s many email lists. To see the many informational lists available and to join them, please visit:  http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo

President Baker indicated that the NFB National convention will once again be virtual due to COVID. The National Convention will be held July 6-10, 2021. However, President Baker indicated that the Ohio NFB State Convention will be an in-person at the Doubletree in Worthington November 5, 6, 7.  

The NFB’s Independence Market is having a sale on Carbon Fiber Rigid Canes for $15 each. President Baker talked about how these canes provide good tactile and auditory cues.  Vickie asked about the differences in tips because she use the ball/marsh mellow tips.  She wondered if these canes are collapsible/telescoping.  President Baker indicated that the canes are rigid, are not collapsible, and are available in length is 49-69 inches. She also indicated that these canes have the smaller metal tips.  Dan briefly talked about a new electronic cane out of Texas.  Mickie found some info on a talking cane that she is going to email to Dan O’Keefe.

Mickie is going to resend the membership list again.  Mickie asked for dues payment info for the National listing.  

Next meeting will be Saturday March 20, 2021.

Macy moved to adjourn / Eric Seconded.    




-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: February 2021 Meeting Minutes.doc
Type: application/octet-stream
Size: 113152 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://nfbnet.org/pipermail/nfbo-springfield_nfbnet.org/attachments/20210319/1a514c06/attachment.obj>