[NFBO-Springfield] December Chapter minutes

[Todd Elzey]

Fellow Chapter Members:  The minutes from the December 2022 chapter meeting
are below. I am also attaching the minutes as a word document.

NFB of Ohio Springfield Chapter

December 18, 2022 Meeting



President Baker opened the meeting.



In the absence of Chapter Treasurer Crystal McClain, Secretary Todd Elzey
presented the December 2021 Treasurer’s report on her behalf. The November
2021 beginning balance was $4,716.95.  November 2021 income was $40 for
Chapter dues.  November 2021 expenses were $20 for NFB monthly PAC
donation, $100 for NFB of Ohio convention door prizes, November ending
balance was $4,636.35.  Eric Duffy moved adoption of the Treasurer’s Report
and Dan O’Keefe seconded the motion.  Motion carried without objection.



Due to issues people were having accessing the Secretary’s report,
Secretary Todd Elzey read the minutes into the record. Eric Duffy moved
adoption of the minutes. Susan Day seconded the motion. Motion carried
without objection.



President Baker wanted the minutes to show for Gavel Report purposes that
Eric made a presentation for the Affiliate’s Community Service Division’s
cooking program regarding how to make his Banana Pudding recipe.



President Baker said that she tried to contact prospective member Aaron
Bray to remind him of the chapter meeting. Mr. Bray indicated that he had
relocated to New Jersey, and consequently would not be joining the
Springfield Chapter.



President Baker indicated that she had received an email from Kevin Rose, a
local historian involved with the Frank Lloyd Wright House, The Turner
Foundation, and other Springfield history organizations. Mr. Rose accessed
President Baker to serve on an accessibility task force. Through a grant
from the Springfield Foundation, Mr. Rose is developing a heartland rock
garden, which he wants to make accessible for persons with disabilities. He
has invited numerous representatives of disability groups, including the
NFB, to be a part of the accessibility task force.



President Baker announced that chapter member Hans Wagner has a new
grandchild, Ari Wagner. Ari was born December 8, 2021. Ari was born in
Germany and Hans was in Germany for the birth.



Vice President Susan Day spoke of a local Springfield Dentist, Bill Ward,
who was putting together relief supplies for survivors of the Kentucky
tornado disaster. We missed the opportunity to participate in Ward’s
disaster relief efforts.  President Baker pointed out that there were also
now several other storm disasters in the Midwest that could also use
disaster assistance. Mickie Cooper then suggested that perhaps the best way
we could help would be to make a donation to the American Red Cross
Disaster Relief Fund and let that organization determine where the money
could be used best. Mickie Cooper moved that the NFB of Ohio Springfield
Chapter send $300 to the Clark County American Red Cross for tornado
 relief efforts. Eric Duffy seconded the motion. The motion passed without
objection.



Todd reported that the Kettering City Council had modified the shared
mobility regulations in response to the Chapter’s concerns. Kettering
specifically modified the regulations to require that shared mobility
devices have braille labels that identify the device’s owner with
appropriate contact information. The new regulations also require that all
problem reporting websites and apps be accessible to the blind. Kettering
also changed the City’s regulations to require improperly parked
scooters/e-bikes to be moved within 2 hours. The regulations also permit
the City to immediately impound any devices that are deemed to be a safety
hazard. Todd indicated that the regulations still permit riding the devices
on sidewalks. Todd stated that the reason the NFB agreed to this being left
in the regulations is that the regulations state that devices can only be
used on sidewalks without motors. Consequently, the devices will be
permitted on sidewalks in the same manner as bicycles are currently
permitted on sidewalks.

Todd did not believe that it made since to oppose the regulations given
that scooters and bicycles would be treated equally. He stated it would
require a larger effort to change the bicycle regulations that would go
beyond the scope of the shared mobility device regulations. Todd indicated
that the final regulations were enacted at the December 7, 2021, Kettering
City Council meeting. Todd also indicated that Kettering was very easy to
work with and was very willing to consider the changes we requested.



Susan asked about where the shared mobility devices are allowed to be
parked. Todd explained how this issue is regulated at the local level and
how every community’s regulations can different. Todd indicated that in
Kettering the actual regulations are a bit complicated, but that the
simplest answer is that the devices cannot be parked in any area that would
block the path of travel of a pedestrian or a motor vehicle.



Mickie Cooper indicated that in Springfield the downtown are has
strategically placed racks for shared mobility device parking, but outside
of the downtown area people just leave them on sidewalks. We also discussed
how the devices are regulated in Clark and Logan Counties and Todd agreed
to look-up regulations for these counties and report back to the Chapter.



President Baker reminded members to pay their 2022 Chapter dues of $5.
Send checks for the dues to Chapter Treasurer Crystal McClain.



President Baker opened the monthly Legislative Update by stating that
chapter members Todd Elzey and Eric Duffy would be representing the chapter
and the NFB of Ohio at the 2022 Washington Seminar February 7-10, 2022, in
Washington D.C. Eric indicated that Ohio will only have 6 members going to
D.C. because of COVID. But that we will also have a virtual team working on
virtual meetings with Congressional offices that do not want to hold in
person meetings. Eric indicated that there will be more information on the
Washington Seminar in the upcoming edition of the Buckeye Bulletin.



Eric Duffy gave the Legislative Update. He indicated that the NFB of Ohio’s
Parental Rights Legislative was approved by the Ohio House of
Representatives. Eric indicated that the next step is to get the Senate to
pass the companion bill.  Once that is passed, then the bills would go to
the Governor.  Eric hopes that, since this is a major Civil Rights
Legislation, the NFB can get a ceremonial signing ceremony when the
Governor takes up the legislation.



Eric indicated that the NFB of Ohio’s next major push will be to get HB
448, our accessible prescription labeling bill, passed by the House. Eric
anticipated that the House Insurance Committee would take up the bill for a
Sponsor hearing at some point in January. He asked that all members contact
their legislators to garner support for H.B. 448. He also indicated that
while H.B. 448 is working its way through the process, the NFB of Ohio will
be looking for a Senator to sponsor a Senate companion bill.



Eric also discussed the 4 Federal bills that will be promoted during
Washington Seminar.  This year’s legislation will be:



1. Access Technology Affordability Act (H.R. 431)
2. Medical Device Nonvisual Accessibility Act (H.R. 4853)
3. Twenty-First Century Websites & Applications Accessibility Act
4. Transformation to Competitive Integrated Employment Act (H.R. 2373)



At the close of the legislative update, Susan Day moved to have the chapter
contribute $200 ($100 each) for Todd and Eric’s unreimbursed expenses in
attending the Washington Seminar. Mickie Cooper seconded the motion. The
motion carried without objection.



We had a discussion about how chapter member Dan O’Keefe is looking for
assistance in finding portable devices to read materials during meetings
and presentations. As the discussion progressed, Arlie Ray indicated that
he had a portable CCTV in his basement that he can no longer use. Arlie
offered it to Dan, and they were going to work out the details.



Mickie Cooper announced that she won Day 8 of the Ellen Show’s Christmas.
She won a $300 home depot gift card, a pizza oven, a cast iron cookware
set, a 5 year subscription to Paramount Plus, and a 65-inch television.
Congratulations Mickie!



Dan O’Keefe asked for the Chapter’s prayers for his sister who is in
hospice care because of Cancer.  The chapter unanimously said that we would
keep Dan’s family in our thoughts and prayers.



Vice President Day also explained about how the Affiliate’s Diabetic Action
Network is looking to strengthen its organization by adding in new members.
She asked the chapter to promote the group to individuals who would benefit
from the group. She indicated that the next scheduled meeting is January 8,
2022.



President Baker announced that our next chapter meeting will be January 15,
2022. Eric Duffy volunteered to come up with an article or podcast for the
chapter to discuss during the January 2022 meeting.
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