[NFBOH-Cleveland] June Minutes by Recording Secretary, Ali Benmerzouga

Wed Jul 17 00:58:47 UTC 2019

June 2019 NFB Cleveland Chapter Minutes

The Cleveland Chapter met on June 21st, 2019 at 3:00 pm at The Cleveland
Sight Center, 1909 E. 101st, Street, Cleveland, Ohio 44106. There were 37
members and four who joined the Chapter, namely, Renee Arrington Johnson,
Jeanette Foote, Theodore Foote and Albert Elia. Also, another visitor
representing AIRA.

New Membership Ceremony:

Both Jeanette and Theodore Foote recited the National Federation of the
Blind Pledge and were warmly and wholeheartedly welcomed and congratulated
by everyone.

Then, while the iron was hot, our President, Suzanne Turner asked Jeanette
Foote to lead the recitation of the Pledge before the meeting starts.
Jeanette was up to the occasion and happily lead the National Federation of
the Blind Pledge for all members. Mr. Cecil Dukes, member of the Federation,
welcomed members and visitors. Then Harold Jefferson led the pledge of
allegiance. Moreover, Second Vice President, Cheryl and President Suzanne
informed members of those who were shut-in and in bereavement.

Ali Benmerzouga, Recording Secretary, brought a vote for the May 2019
minutes to the floor. They were voted and carried.

Our Treasurer, Natassha presented financial reports for May 2019. They were
voted and carried.

Happy Yoga Day:

Carolyn Ann Arrington, Member; wished everyone a happy Yoga day and informed
the attendees about the importance of Yoga exercises in our daily lives. She
demonstrated a couple of easy moves to perform on a daily basis to keep
body, mind and soul upbeat and healthy.

Reflections:

Owen McCafferty, member, announced that he has a volunteering assignment at
Fairview General Hospital. He will be Greeting Visitors and showing them
around the hospital. 3 days a week, 9am - 1pm Monday, Tuesday and Thursday.
He added, it will get him out of his apartment and work with community.
Additionally, he mentioned that he does have an extension with his artwork
that is still at the Beck Center, Lakewood until September 1st, 2019.
Moreover, he mentioned that he has applied for a $1000.00 grant through the
Ohio Arts Council that will help him with art supplies, classes and getting
his artwork out there to the public. He concluded by urging everyone to
support him and visit the Beck Center, Lakewood, where his pieces of Arts
are still exhibited.

Theresa McKenney:

Teresa McKenney, member, did split the pot.

President's Remarks,

Awards:

A: Gavel Award: 

President Suzanne will soon make calls to members to gather information for
the Gavel Awards. 

B: Exhibit Hall Table:

President Suzanne open the discussion, if Cleveland would like to sell items
at the Exhibit Hall at the 2019 State of Ohio Convention.

C: Officer Nominations:

President Suzanne announced that all officers are for election this coming
election time. She urged everyone to submit their nominations after
consulting with the respective member they wish to nominate to any of the
leadership role in the Cleveland Chapter.

D: State Convention:

She reminded everyone that our 2019 State Convention is going to be in
Columbus, Ohio from Friday, November 1st till Sunday, November 3rd, 2019 at
the Double Tree Hotel. Additionally, she urged everyone to reserve their
seats in the bus and to reserve their hotel room as soon as possible. She
reminded everyone that Cleveland is chartering a bus to the 2019 State of
Ohio Convention. Then, reminded those going to get in touch with Natassha
Ricks and reserve their seats. She added that the price is $65.00 for a
round trip. To reserve your seat, a non-refundable down payment of $25.00 is
due today, Friday, June 21st, 2019 and the final payment is due on August
16, 2019 to pay and reserve your seat. She added that after today, the bus
will be open to the Great Akron and Greater Cuyahoga chapters. Many members
paid the $25.00 right after her reminder. 

Gloria Conway, Senior Division Committee Chair reported that Sandy Krems and
her conducted an Introductory presentation entitled "Staying Connected" to
seniors at the Strongsville Senior Recreation Center and discovered that
people were so interested and looking for more help to keep up with their
independent lives. Additionally, she announced that in September monthly
meeting, Sandy Krems and her will give the same presentation at the
Cleveland Sight Center. Finally, she reminded all members about The Sharing
Solutions Series for Vision Loss teleconference that is given every third
Sunday of the month at 7:00 p.m., which will cover many important topics
related to our daily lives. She urged everyone to join the call, and invite
anyone that is new to vision loss and their family members to join the call.
She added, in order to participate please call 712-775-7031 and enter access
code 240281423." She concluded her announcement by mentioning that the
teleconference is sponsored by the NFB of Ohio Senior Division, but callers
do not have to be seniors or NFB members.

Ali Benmerzouga, the Legislative Committee Chair meetings announced that the
ADA Anniversary/Celebration is as planned and will take place at the
Cleveland Sight Center on July 19th, 2019 from 3:00 pm till 5:00 pm. Also,
he informed all attendees that representatives from both Congresswomen,
Fudge and Kaptur will be attending and celebrating the event with us.
Furthermore, he mentioned that an invitation email was sent to all NFB Ohio
Leaders to personally attend and celebrate the event with us. Ali, the
Legislative Committee Chair for the Cleveland Chapter, thanked his
Legislative Committee members for making themselves available to discuss and
plan for this very important event. Finally, Suzanne Turner, the President
of the Chapter, urged everyone to be present during this great and historic
event.

Delcenia Brown, member of the Community Engagement Committee made the
following two announcements:

1.	Wade Oval: Wednesday ADA celebration is on July 17 beginning at 4:00
<x-apple-data-detectors://9> .  She reminded everyone to ask paratransit to
drop off and pick up at the Cleveland Botanical Gardens.  Everyone should
wear their NFB gear and use white canes.  She added that we do not have an
information table.  There will be a table available for organizations that
don't have a reserved table where we can place NFB literature or we can pass
out contact information or brochures to people that we meet at the event.  

2.	There will be another Food Bank volunteer day in September.
Tentative date is Wednesday, September 4th from 2:00 p.m. till 4:00 p.m.
<x-apple-data-detectors://10>  She added that we are waiting for a
confirmation of that date and time.  People can sign up at the July or
August meeting, once we have the confirmed date.  

Wilbert Turner, Education Committee Chair and Suzanne Turner, the Cleveland
Chapter President reminded all attendees about the collection of money and
order forms for the Popcorn Fund raising that is today and the money and
forms should be given to Natassha Ricks before leaving the room. Suzanne
Turner, the President, informed those participating in the Popcorn Fund
Raising that their popcorn will be available in two weeks or so. Finally,
the board decided that today is the last day to submit all popcorn orders
and no extension is granted until further discussion and approval of any new
arrangements by the Board. 

Next, they announced that the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio
(NFBOH) Cleveland Employment Committee, would like to invite all members to
an organized Town Hall RoundTable, on Friday, August 23rd, 2019 from 11:00
a.m. till 1:00 p.m. Cleveland State University - Levine Urban Studies
Building, 1717 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44115. Further, they clarified
that this activity includes two major segments, the first one is to learn
about programs and services for blind Ohioans, that are administered by
Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities, Bureau of Services for the
Visually Impaired. In the second segment, they added that the Ohio
Developmental Disabilities Council (ODDC), Opportunities for Ohioans with
Disabilities Council (OODC), Services for Independent Living (SIL), and the
Ohio Civil Rights Commission (OCRC), will equally present their specific and
inter-related services for persons with various disabilities. They mentioned
that the two segments will focus on the untapped group of disabled
employees, students transitioning from school to work, and Ohio's older
blind population. Highlighted topics include OOD's eligibility process,
information and referrals, adaptive aids with supportive training,
rehabilitation services and statistics on nutrition, and more. For more
information, please contact Wilbert Turner, Cleveland Employment Committee
Chair, at 216-212-4959.

Recreation and Social Activities Committee, Natassha Ricks and Cheryl
Fields, Co-Chairs are planning our yearly picnic. We will bring a dish to
the sight center in August to celebrate the ending of the fiscal year.

Guests:

Eric Duffy, AIRA Distributor:

President Suzanne introduced the AIRA distributor, Mr. Eric Duffy and gave
him the floor to address the attendees about the great deals and promotions
AIRA is having lately and are exclusively for Ohio. Members asked him many
questions which he answered thoroughly and clearly. Additionally, Mr. Duffy
urged all attendees to call him for any further questions. All members
thanked him a lot for such informative presentation and for his great
patience.

Meeting adjourned.

Please make a note of the action items below:

Voice Box Number:

(641) 715-3900

Code: 582705

New Teleconference Number:

(605) 313-4834

Code: 246345

Ali Benmerzouga, Recording Secretary

440-590-0315 - cell

Natassha Ricks, Treasurer

(216) 376-9863

Notes!

1. Please take a moment and like, share and promote Cleveland's Facebook
Page

<https://m.facebook.com/NationalFederationOfTheBlindOfOhioClevelandChapter/>
https://m.facebook.com/NationalFederationOfTheBlindOfOhioClevelandChapter/ 

2. Please ensure that your 2019 dues of $15.00 are up-to-date.

3. Please prescribe to Ohio-Talk to stay informed on the know in the Ohio
Affiliate.

Ohio-Talk mailing list

 <mailto:Ohio-Talk at nfbnet.org> Ohio-Talk at nfbnet.org

 <http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/ohio-talk_nfbnet.org>
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/ohio-talk_nfbnet.org

4. Please prescribe to Cleveland's List Serve for all up-to-date information
in the Cleveland Chapter.

 <http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfboh-cleveland_nfbnet.org>
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfboh-cleveland_nfbnet.org

 <mailto:nfboh-cleveland-request at nfbnet.org>
nfboh-cleveland-request at nfbnet.org

5. Please call a member who you have not seen for a while and talk to them
about returning to the Cleveland Chapter.

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