[NFBOH-Cleveland] February Meeting Minutes for Cleveland To Vote at the March 15, 2019 Meeting

Thu Mar 14 19:17:02 UTC 2019

March 14, 2019

February Minutes

On February 15, 2019, the Cleveland Chapter of the National Federation of
the Blind of Ohio met at the Cleveland Sight Center for their monthly
meeting.  The Minutes are as follows.

There were 27 in attendance. Cleveland had 4 visitors with 1 joining.

The meeting took place at the Cleveland Sight Center, 1909 E. 101st, Street
Cleveland, Ohio 44106 from 3:00 to 5:00 PM.

There were refreshments to celebrate Valentine's Day and a joke, What did
Lego man give to his wife?

Answer: A piece of his heart!

The National Federation of the Blind Pledge  was read by William Turner, 2nd
Vice President and the Pledge of Allegiance

Was led by United State Veteran, Edward Loudon. Mending and Bereavement
Members Were acknowledged as well. 

The Secretary Report was tabled, due to Cheryl Fields absence. The Treasury
Report was given by the Treasurer, Natassha Ricks. And, President Remarks
were also delivered by President Suzanne. A: Thank you, B: Facebook report,
January 13th through February 9th, 632 post reached, 244 post engagements,
23 page likes, 26 Cleveland posts and 46 new followers. The President
requested that members please encourage people to like our Facebook page and
share the posts when you see them. C: keeping with the 2018 National
Convention, President Riccobono coined it INCLUSIVITY, DIVERSITY, AND SOCIAL
CONDUCT. So in February, Cleveland celebrated African-American leaders  and
January was celebrated with Louis Braille Day. Also, the Social Conduct
Policy will be emailed and put on the voice box. Richard Payne, Carolyn
Peters, Ron Brown and Shawn Callaway's bio's will be put on the voice box
for others to review. D: The State Fundraisers were discussed, Piggest
Raffel Ever, Honey Baked Ham and the Preauthorized Campaign.

E: Reminders were announced, February 22nd: Final date to sign-up for the
Ohio Braille Literacy Class, February 28th: Cleveland Food Bank Initiative,
March 2019 date to be determined for Read Across America. April 5th and 6th:
BELL Training, April 7th: Ohio Executive Board Meeting, April 7th and 8th:
Ohio Leadership and Columbus Training, and  April 9th: Visit to the Ohio
State House April and 12th to 14th Ohio Braille Literacy Class in Cleveland
Ohio. July 7th to 12th: 2019 National Convention and finally, November 1st
to November 3rd:  2019 Ohio State Convention.

The Washington Seminar was expounded by the Chairperson of the Cleveland
Legislative Committee,  Ali Benmerzouga. President Suzanne provided
information on the Columbus Seminar.   

The Cleveland Chapter donated Clothing and Canes organized by Sandy Krems
and Edward Loudon. Also, Senior Committee Chair, Gloria Conway made the
announcement about the monthly conference call on Sharing solutions for
Vision Loss. An, President Suzanne presented the 2019 Cleveland Committee
Chairs, 

Wilbert Turner, Education 

Gloria Conway, Senior

Ali Benmerzouga, Legislature

Sandy Krems, Community Engagement

Theresa McKenney, Membership

If members would like to serve on one of these committee they were advised
to speak to the Chair. Committee Chairs will present a report on members,
short-term and long-term goals for the March Meeting.

There was an open Forum where members talked about concerns regarding Para
Transit. Natassha explained the policy on one way trips that Ivory proposed.
It was a great discussion. Also discussed was private transportation when it
pertains to service in neighboring communities; for example, ADA rules
verses private transportation policies.  

Note:

Please read and bring your questions, objections and sustentions. 

End of the Minutes for February. But keep reading

Reminders are not part of the minutes; but for your information. 

The Cleveland Executive Board would like to present a wonderful opportunity
for you to participate in the Columbus Seminar. There are 99 State Ohio
Representatives and the Affiliate is hoping to cover them all. We need
Cleveland to attend. Therefore, we will go down to Columbus on April 9th and
return the same day. The cost of the trip is only forty dollars per person.
The deposit is ten dollars, that is due immediately and with no refund.
However, the thirty dollars will be due on March 8, 2019. Please consider
helping to ensure that the blind is represented. There are two key
legislative initiatives, the Parental Rights Bill and the Prescription Bill.
This is not like the Washington Seminar with a great deal of walking. We
will ride on elevators to get to the Representative offices. There is a
comfortable waiting room that will be available to us as well. We will
discuss this at the meeting. This will give you an opportunity to be a voice
for the Ohio blind. Note! If you have other blind individuals who are not
members and they wish to attend for the cause. Have them contact Cheryl
Fields.

The National Federation of the Blind State of Ohio Fundraisers. 

The State Affiliate has several fundraisers that I want to bring to your
attention.

1: Piggest Raffel: Tickets are five dollars each. Winners will have an
opportunity to win one of three prizes. The first prize is ten thousand
dollars. Your Affiliate would win five thousand dollars and you would win
the other. The second prize is a yearly lease of a car. And the final prize
is a weekend in Cincinnati. Please be prepared to purchase or sale one
ticket. This will be the easiest funraiser that Cleveland will take part in.
Why you ask? Well, when we sale these tickets, the Cleveland Chapter will
keep two dollars for our treasury. However, we have to send the entire
ticket sales into the Ohio Affilliate Treasure, Sherry Ruth; and then she
will send our Treasurer, Natassha Ricks a check. I have thirty tickets and
have sole twelve. So, we have eighteen left.

2: Honey Baked Ham: You can still purchase your Honey Baked Ham at
<https://honeybakedfundraising.com/fundraisers/NFB_of_Ohio_Fundraiser>
https://honeybakedfundraising.com/fundraisers/NFB_of_Ohio_Fundraiser

3: Malley's Chocolate: I have not seen the flyer, but it will be coming soon

Facebook: The Cleveland Chapter has increased the activity on our Facebook
page. Owen and Suzanne have been posting current information on the local,
state and national levels As of January 13th through February 9th, 632 post
reached, 244 post engagements, 23 page likes, 26 Cleveland posts and 46 new
followers. Please encourage people to like our page, members please share
the posts when you see them. Also, please put the link to our page at the
bottom of your emails. You can cut and paste it or make a signature. You can
click on the link below even if you do not have Facebook to see some
activity. This page is solely to promote the efforts of the National
Federation of the Blind. 

Please visit and take a moment to like our Facebook Page!

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

Reminders:

February 22nd: Final date to sign-up for the Ohio Braille Literacy Class

February 28th: Cleveland Food Bank Initiative

March 2019: Date to be determined, Read Across America

April 5th and 6th: BELL Training

April 7th: Ohio Executive Board Meeting

April 7th and 8th: Ohio Leadership and Columbus Training

April 9th: Visit to the Ohio State House

 April 12th to 14th Ohio Braille Literacy Class in Cleveland Ohio

July 7th to 12th: 2019 National Convention

November 1st to November 3rd:  2019 Ohio State Convention

Contact Information:

Suzanne Turner, President

(216) 990-6199

Vice President, Rosa Jones

(216) 486-8585

Recording Secretary, Cheryl Fields, 

(216) 566-4317

Treasurer, Natassha, Ricks

(216) 376-9863

Affiliate President, Richard Payne

(937) 829-3368

Cleveland Voice Box:

(641) 715-3900

Code: 582705

Facebook Page:

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

ListServe Address:

 <mailto:NFBOH-Cleveland at nfbnet.org> NFBOH-Cleveland at nfbnet.org

To Sign-up:

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

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and put the word subscribe on the subject line

Humpty Dumpty Sat On A Wall! 

Humpty Dumpty Had A Great Fall! 

All of the king horses and all of the Kingsman Could Not Put Humpty Dumpty
Back Together Again!

Today I heard this from an inspiring leader. It appeared to me that Humpty
sat on that wall all by himself and when he fell it must have been a lot of
horses and Kingsman rushing to put him back together again.

Although, I feel for Humpty. I cannot help but think that if I were to fall,
my National Federation of the Blind family who looked like me, would know
just what to do, to put me back together, and lift me up on that wall again.

You see, Humpty was an egg and not a horse or Kingsman. So, who better to
put him back together, then another egg!     

Just think of that!

Aren't you glad that; We, the National Federation of the Blind have a
network of tens of thousands of blind members who are living full lives;
that look like you and share a commonality? These members are not broken
sighted people either. So, if you need to be put back together again; the
blind got your back!  

These are blind members who are living the lives they want. And, these blind
members are willing to come to your aid. These are mentors, ministers,
students, they are teachers, some are federal workers and even engage in
recreational activities. But, all in doubt they are brothers and sisters
that bind us all in a collective and unified way.

Now, repeat After me!

We are blind, but not broken sighted people! We are blind, but it is not the
characteristics that defined us or our future! We are blind, and we will not
be stopped! We are blind, and pledge to participate actively in the efforts
of the National Federation of the Blind! We are blind, and all do not sing
and play the piano! We are a cross section of the broader society, therefore
are all not alike! We are blind, but with proper training and opportunity,
we can live the life we want!

Ohio, let's work together to remove low expectations and misconceptions
about the blind! We must denounce and combat people, issues and fear. We
cannot allow these negative components that stand between blind people and
our dreams take us off course! Dr. Jernigan said, "We are the National
Federation of the Blind and we will never go back"! 

Go back where you ask?

Well, working in sheltered workshops and being paid less than the minimum
wage. Sitting back while manufacturers continue to make advanced digital
interfaces for products, like stoves and diabetic monitors that are
inaccessible for the blind. Accepting defeat when it comes to purchasing
high cost technology that would ENHANCE, provide FLEXIBILITY and social
productivity for students, employees and seniors. Discarding prescription
leaflets in print provided by your local pharmacies with the in ability to
read instructions, dosage and other health warnings. And most importantly,
stand-by while physicians, social workers and the legal system remove or
inhibit blind parents from nurturing and caring for their children. We will
continue to fight for equality, opportunity and security for the blind. This
is why the Washington and Columbus Seminars are crucial and valuable for
you, me and those blind individuals who we will never know. Do it for all
blind children, blind teenagers, blind seniors, your blind sister and others
with blindness.

Finally, We Can Do This Together! If you can't walk, call! If you can't
call, email! If you can't give financially, we will take your time,
dedication and commitment! Let's Go Build The Federation!  

Cleveland please call and email your Centremen and Senator in reference of
removing Section 14c. Below is the email that came from the National Office
urging us to make the calls. Please call at 2:00 PM. If you also have a
landline, call from it and the cell; which would give you two calls per
representative.

Please email with the instructions below at 2:00 PM as well. Ask your family
and friends also to call; or use their number as well. The more we can get
in, the better.

Here is the jargon. Even if you could not be on the call, you can say:

Hello, my name is XXX and I reside in Cleveland Ohio. I am calling to urge
xxx to co-sponsor bill name that will remove section 14c from the Fair Labor
Standard Act that pay persons with disabilities under the minimum wage.
Thank you.

There is an example below as well. But, it is wordy. However, you can use it
for the emails.

Here are the names and their contact info.

Portman's office:

202-224-3353

Portman.Senate.Gov

Bill: S. 260

///

Brown:

202-224-2315

Angelique Salizan email:  

 <mailto:Angelique_salizan at brown.senate.gov>
Angelique_salizan at brown.senate.gov

Bill: S. 260

///

Robert Latta

Rachel Schwegman Rathore

Rathore (Schwegman), Rachel <Rachel.Rathore at mail.house.gov
<mailto:Rachel.Rathore at mail.house.gov> 

202-225-6405

Bill: H.R. 873

///

Carrie Swope

Marcy Kaptur

Swope, Carrie <Carrie.Swope at mail.house.gov
<mailto:Carrie.Swope at mail.house.gov> 

202-225-4146

Bill: H.R. 873

///

Jim Jordan

Jared Gilley

202.225.2676

Jared.Dilley at mail.house.gov <mailto:Jared.Dilley at mail.house.gov> 

Bill: H.R. 873

///

Marcia Fudge

Linda.Matthews at mail.house.gov <mailto:Linda.Matthews at mail.house.gov> 

216-522-4900

Bill: H.R. 873

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