[NFBSF] November NFB meeting Minutes 2022

[taryn.ann.morris at gmail.com]

Hello Everyone:

 

Hope everyone is having a great day and evening.  Below are the November NFB
2022 meeting minutes.  As always, if anyone needs any clarifications,
corrections or has any questions please feel free to reach out.  Thank you.

 

November NFB meeting Minutes 2022

 

*         Introductions

*         secretary Report

*         Treasurer Report

*                Presidential release Recap

*         Legislative Announcements 

*         Announcements

*         Diversity Equity and Inclusion Discussion

*         Discussion

*         Bell Ringers

 

Members

*         Bobbi 

*         Amy 

*         Sheri 

*         Taryn 

*         Sara

*         Rochelle and Archie, the pug

*         Monica

*         Jeff

*         Jinny

 

Secretary Report 

October meeting minutes were sent out to the list serve 

*         Motion was made by Sheri, Cindy seconded the motion, and all
approved of secretary report

 

Treasurer Report  

*         Currently we have $721.60

*         Transferring ten dollars every month to avoid fees to our account

*         This month we donated fifty dollars to our state affiliate for our
state convention

*         Sheri made a motion to temporarily discontinue our monthly
ten-dollar donation to the PAC (Pre-Authorized Contribution) plan, Cindy
second the motion and all approved

*         If anyone wants to pay dues and is using PayPal or venmo please
use this information to pay:  Sara Hadsell, 510-387-0766

*          <mailto:SaraAHadsell at gmail.com> SaraAHadsell at gmail.com, if anyone
needs to pay with a different mode, please email sara or call her

*         if you prefer to mail a check is: 585 9th St, Oakland, CA 94607.

*         If paying by PayPal, you must do it on a computer, which is where
you can select that you are paying a friend, rather than purchasing an item.
The PayPal phone app is set up for commercial purchases.

*         If someone needs to use another method of payment, they should
contact Sara directly,

*         Motion was made by Cindy, Sheri second the motion, and all
approved of the treasurer report 

 

Presidential Release Recap


*         This month's presidential release was live from our California
state convention

*         Vispero challenge gram allow two for one donation, will take place
for a while, any donations will be matched Up to$ 50,000 

*         Reminder everyone continuing collecting survey on how people's
elections experiences have gone including access to right to private ballot,
trying to ensure it takes place, survey write what is working and not 

*         If you did vote please go to nfb.org/vote and answer quick poll
about voting experience, is available in Spanish and English 

*         If needing assistance filling out the voting survey you can Call
jeff k Caleb at the national office with the extension 2206 

*         There was a Lyft ride code to assist getting to polls, but is now
done 

*         Uber and lift and service animal's update

*         Uber has improved driver education around driving those with
service animals, and if rider reports denial driver will be suspended until
investigation is done and if uber guide dog refused involved driver will be
removed 

*         If you need to report a denial of a ride with a service animal,
please visit Nfb.org/legal 

*         Questions or more info issues reach out to
<mailto:aelia at nagdu.org> aelia at nagdu.org or Justin young 2210 extension
national office 

There will be a Braille readers contest from December 5-jan 23, registration
later this month with action fund, people adults and kids of all braille
reading levels will participate, and prizes will be awarded to winners

*         NFB is partnering to send out Santa letters in Braille, children
under ten will receive a celebration packet with activities and a copy of
the letter for the parent or family to follow along with, if one would like
to request letter or a celebration packet, please visit the NFB website

*         Members are encouraged to still write to their local
representatives to get the 21st website accessibility guidelines act passed

*         Uber is not as far along as Lyft is with in dealing with rider
denials with those with service animals

*         Jinny doing a project to take Uber with her guide dog and report
how many rider denials she receives and report back her experience, and is
encouraging those with service animals to use Uber more than Lyft and
compare with experience of rider denials 

 


 

Legislative Announcements

*         No Legislative Announcements this month

*         Today is voting day asking about members experiences voting

*         Amy had a smooth, got accessible marking tool, did not get it
mailed of in time, so she went to a drop off location and went smoothly, and
also got help signing and filling out envelope, as signing the envelope is
not accessible and requires assistance

*         Sheri also had same experience as Amy, and agrees signing the
envelope is not accessible and requires assistance

*         Bobbi heard from someone their reasoning not to vote this year,
thought it was interesting

*         Monica had to jump through major in accessibility hoops to get
assistance voting, took work but got it to work and is very happy

*         Steven used the accessible voting machine at the polling place,
the polling place workers did NOT KNOW HOW TO WORK THE MACHINE, TOOK A VERY
LONG TIME AND HAD TO RESEARCH HOW TO MAKE IT WORK, THE WORKERS WERE VERY
HELPFUL BUT IT TOOK A LONG TIME FOR HIM TO VOTE

*         Sheri feels it is not right for polling places not to know how to
work accessible voting machines as it is our right for it to work, advised
Steven to make calls to advocate to ensure a smoother voting process

 

Announcements

*         On October 28, the Lighthouse had there grand opening for the new
Sirkim center, the manufacturing plant for Lighthouse that produces chemical
and cleaning materials in bulk for certain facilities and military, Serena
Olsen and Lisa Maria Martinez volunteered to table and get the word out,
they had a great time, had materials and brochures to pass out, Amy helped
produce the brochures, thanks them very much for volunteering to help table
for the event

*         In February we will have our elections, more details to come when
we get closer, positions up for re-election are secretary, treasurer, first
vice president, and both board positions, anyone can run for a position but
you must be dues paid and find a member to nominate you during elections

*         Sheri announcing that she will not be r running again for first
board position

*         Next month will be our holiday celebration, will be virtual

*         Ideas are to send out cookie recipes and share, origami lessons,
gift exchange, write letters to members on our list serve who have not been
able to make it to our meetings lately, 

*         Bobbi, Laura, And Amy agree to plan the celebration, anyone
wanting to help please reach out, also if you have any ideas reach out as
well

*         If anyone has fundraising ideas, please reach out to Bobbi or any
board member

 

Diversity Equity and Inclusion Discussion

*         On November 13, it is world kindest day

*         Let's hear what members are grateful for

*         Laura was with someone at LGBT center, person was in elevator with
her who is blind, person noticed that they slanted the Braille so it is
easier to read and was super excited that people truly cared and understand
went an extra step to make the braille easier to access

*         Laura is happy to be a part of a lot of Diversity equity and
inclusion work, happy to be a part of the LGBT community, always find places
in the LGBT community to connect with

*         Laura is happy to listen to members experiences of voting even if
it was not the best

*         Amy had found a cute cat twitter profile with really cute cat
pictures, they were not described, she reached out to the twitter profile,
and the pictures are now being described, says they are the cutest pictures
with the best descriptions ever, and makes her smile when she comes across
one of these amazing cat pictures with description

*         Bobbi grateful for those who went above and beyond to make state
convention very enjoyable, loves all of the amazing work NFB members go
through especially dealing with crazy technical issues

 

Discussion

*         Asking for members experience at the California state convention

*         Monica did not attend as it came down to not being able to vote,
she felt that she would only be able to be an audience member verses being
able to participate

*         Resolution passed   to explore virtual voting options for the
future

*         There is a voting website in the works to do virtual voting for
the future

*         Bobbi says a notable constitution amendment passed that will
change every reference in current constitution language dealing with gender
he she changed to they and now will be gender neutral, other resolutions
around over the counter hearing aids and accessibility of them

*         Jinny attended her first in person state convention, was surprised
at how formal the convention was, a lot of talk around policies, was looking
for more interest around different Blindness topics, did not see anything in
the exhibit hall that related to her interest, had a crazy time getting
there but was proud that she made it and did have a great time

*         Sheri saying Jinny should attend national as it is so different
and all of the things Jinny was looking for will be at national level

*         Bobbi stated that due to the size of the hotel was not big enough
to have a lot of other activities and break out rooms, also had endorse from
southern California since the convention was located in that area

 

Bell Ringers

*         Monica calling out Bobbi, reporting that the reason she did not
attend state convention was to help her recover from a surgery, and is very
thankful

*         Bobbi is very happy to report that Monica survived her surgery and
is recovering very nicely

*         Laura very happy to report that she is a home owner

*         Sheri happy to report that she will not be a home owner in
California

*         Bobbi calling out Serena Olsen, she was one of the top scholarship
winners at state convention

*         Jeff celebrating raise

*         Jinny happy she went to her first state convention in person, she
made it there even during a crazy adventure of almost losing her suitcase
and almost missing her flight 

*         Sheri happy she woke up and voted today

 

Our next meeting will be December 13th, 2022, and we will have our holiday
celebration.

 

Please stay after and hang out with other chapter members

 

Sheri made a motion to adjourn the meeting, Jinny second the motion, and all
approved.

 

Best Regards,

 

Taryn Morris