[NFBOH-Cleveland] January 15, 2021 - NFB Minutes - Cleveland Chapter - Ali Benmerzouga
ali benmerzouga
ali.benmerzouga at hotmail.com
Fri Mar 19 15:33:57 UTC 2021
National Federation of the Blind of Cleveland Chapter
January 15, 2021 Minutes:
The January2021 Chapter monthly meeting was held through zoom platform on
Friday, January 15, 2021 at 5:00 P.M. The zoom link and passcode were
provided to all members, guests, visitors and are given below in these
minutes. The reason for having this meeting through zoom platform is to
adhere to COVID-19 social distancing adopted by the National Federation of
the Blind and the local and state officials.
Welcome:
Regina Mason, Board Member, welcomed all members, attendees from other
chapters and Divisions, all guests/visitors.
Roll Call:
Suzanne Turner, President, welcomed everyone and made sure about the
attendance of the chapter's members, guests and visitors.
Mr. Harold Jefferson, member, help all attendees to recite the Pledge of
Allegiance.
NFB Pledge:
William Turner, First Vice President, helped all attendees to recite the
National Federation of the Blind Pledge.
Mending and Bereaved Members:
Suzanne Turner, President and Cheryl Fields, 2nd Vice president, informed
the Board about some Chapter/Affiliate members and/or their relatives are
having some health issues and urged everyone to keep them in his/her
thoughts and prayers. Also, they mentioned those members who are feeling
better or fully recovered.
Secretary Report:
Due to some technological problems, October 16, 2020 minutes were postponed
till the next meeting to be discussed and approved. We will send the minutes
again and read it in the next monthly meeting.
2020 Gavel Award:
Suzanne Turner, President, informed all members that it is an honor to win
the Gavel Award 3 times consecutively and the additional $50.00 that was
deposited in our treasury account.
Memorial for Rosa Jones:
The Board approved having a memorial for her to celebrate her life during
the February 2021 monthly meeting. The program will be prepared by JoAnn
Williams and Teresa McKenney
Senior Division:
Gloria Conway made the following announcements:
1: Shirley Patterson is the guest for the coming Senior Solutions meeting
that will be held on Sunday, January 17, 2021 at 7:00 P.M on the old State
Conference line. Shirley Patterson added that the topic is going to be
Stroke and urged everyone to attend.
2: The dues are $10.00 for 2021 and advised members to use Zale to send
their membership dues.
Community Service Committee:
Cheryl Fields, Chair, informed all members that her committee is very
active, and many important events are going to take place through zoom
platform and urged everyone to attend/participate. She reminded everyone
about the following events:
1: NVDA Training,
2: Anil Louis and Barbara Pierce presentation related to Black Month
History,
3: The weekly happy hour,
4: The super ball party with the participation of 7 states.
OLBPD Representative/Speaker:
Mr. Kenneth Redd gave a great talk about the many services that the Ohio
Library for the Blind and Physically Disabled provides and how to be a
member. He encouraged everybody to apply and be a member and take advantage
of such golden opportunity. He answered many questions from the attendees
and promised to leave his contact information with Suzanne. Suzanne Turner
thanked him on behalf of all members for his time, the service they are
providing and for the very informative speech.
President's Announcements/Remarks:
Suzanne Turner, President, thanked everyone for attending the meeting, for
the help some of the members are providing, and for all the meetings
organized by some members during these COVID-19 difficult times. Moreover,
she welcomed all visitors from other chapters who are joining our meeting
and made the following reminders/announcements:
1: She urged everyone to keep an eye on his/her email to know about the
future speakers invited to the Chapter and the Affiliate.
2: She reminded all members about the Ohio Affiliate Board of Directors
meeting that will be held on Monday, January 25, 2021 and urged everyone to
attend.
3: She informed all members that the Voice box will be updated very soon.
4: She explained what does a duel membership mean, and how it is handled by
the National Federation of the Blind. Additionally, she clarified that if
anyone is an elected officer in another blind organization, he or she cannot
be an elected officer at all levels in the National Federation of the Blind.
She concluded by promising to send the policy that Richard Payne have sent
already.
5: She reminded everyone about the on-going meetings about the four
Legislative Initiatives on Thursdays by the National Federation of the Blind
office and their most updated fact sheets. She urged all members to attend
Eric Duffey's meetings with his Legislative Committee members and get as
much as you can out of their meetings/discussions in order to be ready
whenever faced to speak with your House representative or Senator.
6: She reminded all members about the seminar that will be given by Laura
Gold from Services for Independent Living on Tuesday, January 26, 2021 from
11:00 am to 12:00 pm.
7: She reminded all members about the meeting that our Affiliate president,
Richard Payne is organizing with Opportunities for Ohioans with Disability
(OOD) in the near future and urged anyone with questions about the meeting
to get in touch with President Payne.
Urban Design and Art Project:
Heather ways informed all members that the Urban Design and Art Agency are
in the process of getting rid of any physical barriers in the city of
Cleveland and urged everyone to get in touch with the Agency if they know of
such barriers and let them know. She added that they will have an interview
with the caller that will last about 30 minutes and concluded that this
agency is part of Kent State University.
The NFB Affiliate Cookbook:
Pat McPherson excitedly talked about the cookbook project and the planning
that is taking place. She urged everyone to submit his/her recipes to the
committee in charge. She added that the cookbook has many categories, will
be available in many formats, the money earned will go to the affiliate
and the deadline for submitting recipes is end of February 2021. She
concluded by mentioning that Coleen Ruth, Cheryl, Delcenia, Maggy, Wanda and
Candice are the rest of the members of the Cookbook Committee. She urged
everyone to submit his/her recipes.
Toastmaster Membership:
Suzanne Turner informed everyone that she is now a member in the
International Diversity Toastmaster Club and will be giving a speech very
soon. She added that she will let us know when she knows about her speech
date and time.
Zero Tolerance for Sexual misconduct and Harassment:
Suzanne Turner and Cheryl Fields reminded all members about what our
National President, Mark Riccobono said, "There should be a safe and healthy
place for all members in the community." They added that any such misconduct
must be immediately reported to the persons in charge. Additionally, they
mentioned the following:
1: There are some links that have more information about the matter.
2: These are very sensitive topics and should be discussed with empathy.
3: No tolerance whatsoever with sexual abuse or harassment.
4: During February/March monthly meetings we will go over the code of
conduct provided by the National Federation of the Blind.
5: The National Federation of the Blind and RAIN, now, have a joint Task
Force/committee composed of six members (all survivors) that included our
own Cheryl Fields. When contacting them they carefully listen to you and
give you advice.
7: Suzanne Turner promised to send an email about the subject and on how to
handle the situation and mentioned that she was a victim of the above.
8: Cheryl fields reiterated that the subject is very sensitive and pointed
out to the two articles that are on the news media. She added that Sexual
abuse and harassment does exist in the National Federation of the Blind and
that's why they partnered with RAIN to deal with the matter and solve it.
9: The National Federation of the Blind is now in the process of Rewriting
the code of conduct to better deal and handle the matter.
10: Cheryl Fields mentioned that the six members of the task force are all
females (all survivors) and we are considered External Investigators all
over the USA. She added that we have a website and a phone number that are
confidential. She concluded that if you have been a victim at any of the
events/activities of the National Federation of the Blind You need to go to
the NFB website and fill an application to start getting help and advice.
11: Cheryl Fields added that there is one to one contact, there is a hotline
and the problem may not be solved overnight.
12: both Suzanne and Cheryl stressed the fact that NFB should be a safe
place for its members!!! They concluded their presentation by mentioning
that sweeping the sexual misconduct and harassment under the rug is not
acceptable anymore!!! William Turner appreciated the Great initiative and
firmly said that this is a step in the right direction and this type of
conduct needs to stop immediately!
Miscellaneous:
1: Suzanne Turner, President, reminded all members about Committees/Chairing
for this year.
2: She reminded all members about their great work and achievements for the
last three years or so and how they managed to win the Gavel Award for three
consecutive years. She congratulated everyone and advised them to Keep it
up!!!
3: She reminded everyone about the 2020 taxes, the use of H&R Block, and
Filing a rebate if you did not receive your stimulus checks. She added that
in February or so there will be City Hall vaccination;
4: Patricia McPherson reminded everyone about the Greater Akron Chapter's
fundraising that is going to be on Friday, January 29, 2021.
New Little Member:
Suzanne Turner, President, informed all members that Brooke was gifted a
baby girl and she named her Emma. She added that both mother and baby are
doing great.
I O S training:
Suzanne Turner informed everyone about the available I O S trainings and
urged all members to register online on their website for such important
training. She added that they need Mentors to teach I O S as well.
Shout Out:
Suzanne Turner welcomed back both Cecil Dukes and Rebecca Russel and
mentioned that she is so glad to see and hear both of them on the
phone/zoom.
Meeting adjourned at 6:40 PM.
///
Please make a note of the action items below:
Voice Box Number:
(641) 715-3900
Code: 582705
Cleveland Teleconference Number:
(605) 313-4834
Code: 246345
Ohio Conference Line:
Tel: (712) 775-7031
Code: 240281423
Zoom link:
Join Zoom Meeting
<https://zoom.us/j/4081850851> https://zoom.us/j/4081850851
Meeting ID: 408 185 0851
One tap mobile
+16468769923 and ID code: 408-185-0851.
Zoom Telephone number:
(669) 900-6833
Id: 4081850851
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 subscribe 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
3. Please subscribe 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
4- Please don't forget to send your dues to our Treasurer, Natassha Ricks as
soon as you can.
5-please call a member who you have not seen for a while and talk to him/her
about returning to the Cleveland Chapter.
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