[NFBOH-Cleveland] Cleveland Chapter September Updates

Wed Sep 17 21:30:05 UTC 2025

Cleveland,

We have returned from one of the most eventful opportunities yet.

As you know, many of our members along with President Payne and family
members of Renee, Louis Johnson, Darcel Arrington, Tillman Appling,
Suzanne's grandson, Johnathan Brown and a potential member, Mary Castor
traveled to DC and toured the African American Library and the Library of
Congress. Along with that, we were given a tour of our home, the Jernigan
Institute. It has changed and the upgrades are outstanding. Members
purchased items in the Independence Market and had a delightful and
educational experience in the Technology Center and the Tenbroek Library. We
are in one piece and grateful to be home.

Please keep Jackie Schieman in your prayers as she goes through surgery this
week.

Also, keep Cecil Jones in prayer as well.

We also learned today, Gloria Robinson lost her sister. Do the same for her
and say prayers for the family.

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The Cleveland Chapter will hold our annual monthly meeting on September 20,
2025 at the Cuyahoga Library, located at 3545 Fulton RD. The meeting will
start at 3:30 to 5:00 PM. EDT. There will be a zoom option as well.

Also, on the same day, September 20th, I am requesting members to
participate in the 4th annual March for Access. Wilbert Turner has been
selected as a speaker on transportation access, such as Paratransit and
walking along sidewalks. The event will begin at 10:00 AM. To noon. There
will be resource tables, posters and a rally. The address of this event is
127 Public Square. Please attend and wear your NFB Gear.

Note: After the rally, we will go into the Cleveland Jack Casino for the
buffet. The cost is $20. Then we will travel to the meeting from there. So,
if you are traveling by Paratransit, here is what you should request.

Note: the pickup and drop off addresses on Public Square are different.

Saturday, September 20, 2025:

First stop: Drop off at 127 Public Square at 10:00AM.

  Second trip: Pickup at 1 Public Square Going to 3545 Fulton RD to arrive
at 3:15PM

Finally: Pick up at 3545 Fulton RD to go home at 5:00PM

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Cleveland, I am asking everyone who can travel to Columbus for the Ohio 14C
Task Force Legislative Advocacy Day to notify me. The NFB of Ohio along with
various advocacy networks and organizations will be at the State House in
Columbus on Tuesday, October 7th. We will be meeting with legislators to
educate them on HB225, which will phase out subminimum wages for workers
with disabilities. These meetings will be in person or virtual depending
upon your availability. However, President Payne, would like many to be in
person. There is a registration ling for you to sign up. Meetings will be
scheduled accordingly. Please alert me if you can attend as I will assist
with the link. This will be discussed at our chapter meeting on Saturday.

///

Elections in the Cleveland Chapter will take place during the October
meeting. There are two Cleveland Board seats open, Theresa McKenney and
Robert Campbell. If you are wishing to run for a seat, contact "William
Turner, 330-328-9863. William Turner and Chasity Gilliam will be the 2025
Nominating Committee.

///

Cleveland will be in the community during October as well. There are several
dates of awareness, White Cane Safety Day, Blind Equality Achievement Month
and Disability Employment Awareness Month. Please come up with ideas on how
to honor and celebrate these important events. 

///

Cleveland, we will discuss whether our chapter members need to update their
demographics on Saturday. If so, there is a process that you would need to
follow in the Membership Portal, such as adding new addresses, telephone
numbers, emails and even names. Every member has a link to this portal to
update information. Even if you do not have an email, you can make changes
by calling the Jernigan Institute.

///

Please make your reservation for the Ohio State Convention and
Preregistration is also open for you to do this as well. Do not wait!

///

Finally, the topic this month is integrity.

Dynasty Lavender, Wilbert Turner and Sharon Jackson will provide insight on
what is integrity. How do you build it and cultivate it? And how can you
uplift others with it?

///

Zenobia Whittaker has been appointed to be Cleveland's Consumer advocate.
She will bring to the membership helpful information on tools and products
that will enhance the chapters well-being.

///

By popular demand, the Cleveland Voice Box will return starting this month.
This will be communicated in the meeting as well on Saturday.

Hope to see you on Saturday and bring a friend.

Suzanne M. Hartfield Turner

National Federation of the Blind of Ohio, Vice President

Ohio Legislative Director

Cleveland Chapter, President

The National Federation of the Blind advances the lives of its members and
all blind people in the United States. We know that blindness is not the
characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the
expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles
between blind people and our dreams. Our collective power, determination,
and diversity achieve the aspirations of all blind people.

P: (216) 990-6199

W: NFBOhio.ORG

Facebook:  <https://www.facebook.com/ohiosblind/photos/>
https://www.facebook.com/ohiosblind/photos/

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