[NFBOH-Cleveland] National Federation of the Blind of Cleveland: February 2018 Meeting Minutes

Fri Mar 16 16:52:51 UTC 2018

The National Federation of the Blind of Cleveland
Minutes of February Monthly Chapter Meeting
The meeting was called to order by Vice President Rosa Jones. She
welcomed everyone, made  introductions, and offered a prayer.
Unfortunately, the phone bridge was not installed for this meeting.
Secretary Cheryl Fields reminded members to notify any member of the
executive committee of mending and grieving members. She announced
that as of today we have not been notified of any members in this
situation. Richard and Mary Kirks remain homebound.
One visitor, Regina Mason, was present. William Turner chair of
membership committee welcomed and invited her to join the chapter.

The NFB Pledge was read responsively led by William Turner.

Pizza was provided at this meeting to celebrate the success of the
recent Love Bird Night fundraiser. Mr. Henry Butler was in attendance.
President Turner, presenting him with a plant, announced his Lifetime
Membership in the Cleveland Chapter. President Turner shared the NFB
philosophy and chant with the membership. She emphasized the
importance of believing, "It is respectable to be blind."

The financial report was read by the Treasurer, Natassha Ricks, and
approved by the membership.
 Note: For detailed financial report, contact Secretary Cheryl Fields.

Secretary Cheryl Fields provided an oral summary of January meeting.
She explained that the full meeting’s minutes are posted on the
Cleveland list serve. The summary was approved by the membership. The
full Secretary reports are available upon request.

Affiliate Fundraisers were presented by President Turner. She asked
the membership to participate building the benefit of the affiliate
treasury. The executive committee made the decision to donate $ 100.00
of chapter funds to assist with Washington Seminar and Columbus
Seminar. President Turner is donating 25.00 of her personal funds and
encourages others to donate. She announced the online Malley's Easter
Candy Campaign and will assist those that are needing help.

Piggest Raffle Ever Tickets, each member received 1 ticket and the
process was explained. Deadline in May 2nd and raffle is held on May
4th, 2018. This raffle can generate a $ 5,000.00 contribution to the
Ohio Affiliate if the winning ticket is purchased by someone that has
designated the NFB Ohio as their charity of choice. The individual
winner will receive $ 5000.00 for first place, a 2 year lease on a
Preiss and the 3rd place prize is a weekend in Cincinnati,
Ohio. Paper tickets are available from Susanne Turner and online. (All
rules are posted on the Piggest Raffle Ever website.)  Both of these
fund raisers are shared on face book. Suzanne is
requesting all paper tickets be returned at the April meeting.
President Suzanne Turner announced the failure of HR 620 in the U. S.
House of Representatives. This bill will move into the Senate and the
federation will post legislative alerts when it is time to take
action.
Cheryl fields suggested that the chapter do some phone banking leading
up to the vote to defeat  HR 620.  President Suzanne Turner announced
that she requested funding from
the Cleveland Browns for transportation to the National Convention.
She received a response that the request was granted, without a dollar
amount but, the donation will arrive in 10 days.
She informed the chapter that depending on the amount of the donation,
the Ohio affiliate will be the fiduciary agent for the funds and for
larger amounts the National office take fiduciary responsibility for
the affiliate. She will have detailed information at the next meeting.

Committee reports are as follows:

Employment, Wilbert Turner chair, he introduced the committee. Members are
Robert Campbell, Octavia Culbert, Michael Swinney, Ken Uri, Evelyn and
Brooke Dowdy.
Short term goal: Participate with Cleveland Sight Center Employment
Fair on March 16, 2018
Long Term: To host an educational seminar at the convention employers
of the value of hiring the blind. He provided a brief overview of the
benefits of hiring the blind - best retention rate, tax incentives,
work harder, better productivity.

Deaf Blind Committee chair, Joann Williams, introduced the committee.
Members are
William Turner, Delcenia Brown, Tyrone Bolden. Short Term: The
committee will reach out National Deaf Blind Division and sign up for
list serve. The committee is gathering information that will benefit
the deaf blind community through IConnect. Delcenia reported this
company provides apple products to enhance the lives of the deaf
blind. Former known as the National Deaf Blind Equipment Distribution
Program through the federal government has several criteria.
Criteria 1: You must be deaf
Criteria 2: You must be blind
Criteria 3: There must be a financial need.
Short Term Goal: Assisting the deaf blind to communicate. Long Term
Goal: Partner with schools and the Cleveland Speech & Hearing Center
to find out about programs.
Senior Committee chair, Shirley Patterson, introduced the committee.
Members are Paula King, Billie Graham, Lou Moch, Rita Jemenez, and
Danielle Turner.
Short Term Goal: To make places where seniors frequent aware of the
National Federation of the Blind. Long Term Goal: To educate skilled
care facilities about blindness and the NFB.

This committee will partner with the Cleveland Stroke Club and share
the NFB message and offer assistance/ resources.
The senior committee has developed a emergency contact form for
chapter members, this will be edited and distributed soon.
The literature in in print and will be sent soon.

Fundraising Committee chair, Natassha Ricks, introduced the committee.
The co-chair is Teresa McKinney. Other Members are Arlene Hlad, Annie
Dixon, Rebecca Russell, Joann Williams, and Gloria

Natassha Ricks, treasurer, thanked everyone for their participation in
the Lovebird fundraiser.
Here is the fundraiser breakdown:
Double Tree Hotel expenses: $ 317.00
158 tickets sold at $ 10.00 each, totaling $ 1580.00
Additional Donations: $ 77.00
Total income from the fundraiser: $ 1,657.00
After expenses, $ 1340.00 was added to the savings account.
Current balance of savings account: $ 2,340.89
Goal: Raise $ 2,000 by year end includes snacks, t shirts and future
fund raisers.
She indicated there were changes regarding the NFB gear. There is no
extra cost of extra-large sizes. Additional color choices are blue,
green, and orange for polo and t-shirts. The jackets are only in blue
and green. The payment deadline for the NFB gear is March 16th. The
shirt will reflect the NFB logo. This is keeping within the new
branding guidelines. Estimated delivery is April 20th.

Wilbert Turner asked the cost of shirts. Natassha explained cost
depends on quantity of the Hanes tag less shirts.

Delcenia wants detailed info about convention as to how do the love
birds raffle help chapter members go to national convention.
Natassha informed the chapter due to the persistence of Cecil Dukes a
senior event is in the planning phase. Proposed date is June 8th,
2018. The location is Mitchel's Lounge in Euclid, Ohio from 2P.M.-6
P.M. There will be live music, a DJ, linens, and meal. The total cost
is 3,000.00 with a deposit of $ 1000.00. Tickets are $35.00 per
person. Committee is requesting a motion to use chapter funds for
deposit and to continue planning. Deposit is non-refundable, but the
date can be rescheduled if necessary. William placed motion on the
floor for committee to allow fundraising committee to pay deposit,
finishing planning and execute this event. Cheryl seconded. The motion
passed.

Billie expressed concern for having too many fund raisers planning
things. People will be overworked and burned out.

Cheryl Fields introduced the Community Engagement Committee. Ronnie
Leeth, Carol Ann Arrington, Norma Turner and Frankie Jones.

Cheryl Fields announced a RTA teleconference call on Thursday,
February 22 from 7 P.M.-8:30 P.M. She would be taking suggestions for
topics. The guest speaker is Sam Henderson.

Cheryl asked chapter members to contact other members that are without
email to call and remind them. We will attempt to get everyone in on
the call. Some members were asked to do some 3-way calling. Shirley
wanted to know why not a face-to-face. It is because of weather
conditions, and wanted to do it soon as possible considering the major
changes that may be comming soon.
Split the Pot winner Ken Uri: $ 14.50. The winning ticket was pulled
by Regina Mason, visitor.
President tabled convention and adjourned the meeting.

 Submitted by: Cheryl E. Fields Secretary

National Federation of the Blind of Cleveland

-- 
Wishing You All the Best,

Cheryl E. Fields

A man has made at least a start on discovering the meaning of human
life when he plants shade trees under which he knows full well he will
never sit.
--D. Elton Trueblood