[NFBSF] January NFB meeting Minutes 2023

[taryn.ann.morris at gmail.com]

Hello NFB SF Chapter:

 

Hope everyone is enjoying their Tuesday.  Below you will find the January
2023 meeting minutes.  As always if anyone has any questions or
clarifications feel free to reach out.

 

January NFB meeting Minutes 2023

 

*         Introductions

*         secretary Report

*         Treasurer Report

*                Presidential release Recap

*         Legislative Announcements 

*         Announcements

*         Diversity Equity and Inclusion Discussion

*         Discussion

*         Bell Ringers

 

Members

*         Amy 

*         Laura

*         Christina

*         Sheri

*         Sara

*         Taryn

*         LM

*         Cindy

*         Serena

*         Monica

*         Jeff

*         Rochelle and Archie, the Pug

 

Secretary Report 

*         No December meeting minutes due to December Holiday party

 

Treasurer Report  

*         Currently we have $671.70

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

*         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 Amy, LM second the motion, and all approved of
the treasurer report 

 

Presidential Release Recap


*         Took place on 1/4/2023 Presidential Release 523

*         Braille. Day: Promote braille platform

*         2022 End of year match Vispero exceeded - thank you

*         Dr Jacob Bolotin Award: 1888-1924 Blind from birth first
physician: book "the blind doctor "people and organizations break down
barriers, change perception, exceed expectations",             Awarded at
convention, go to nfb.org to nominate Blind educator, distinguished
educator, scholarship

*         BELL: Braille Enrichment Learning and Literacy, applications are
now available,            Blind kids 4-12,  Offering 3-week In-Home Edition
if not in person 7/24/23

*         Washington Seminar: Monday 1/30 Great Gathering In 5PM EST No
presidential release in February,                Fact sheets are on the
website,   Rules have loosened- no longer escorts needed to go to offices

*         Victory - ABLE ACT: savings accounts, expand to change eligibility
from 26 to46, Omnibus Bill signed by Biden

*         National Convention: 7/1 - 7/6,         Houston TX: Hilton
Americas Hotel or Marriot: 119 per night plus tax, Hilton phone
1-800-236-2905, Marriott Phone 1-877-622-3056, Both hotels call give
reservation code NFB convention

*         Federation Deaths:

                                                                    

*MD Raymond Sewell vendor, 87

(*            CO Scott LeBarr 12/10 legal, financial, PAC, CO affiliate,
CCB, Marakesh treaty

--                             Celebration of life on 1/21 in Denver 4:30 MT
and streamed

                                Scott C LeBarr Leadership and Justice Fund
with all donations

 

Legislative Announcements

*         Information about Washington Seminar

*         Three Bills putting forward

*         Opportunity to go to capital and talk about legislative priorities
to members of congress and senators, each state sends delegation to present
pieces of legislation NFB see passed in upcoming congress

*         First bill is Website Software accessibility act, websites need to
be accessible, law under ADA many states what does it mean to be accessible,
huge department of justice to enforce regulations website to be accessible 

*         Second bill is the medical device Act being mandated to be
accessible like blood glucose readers or dialysis monitors be accessible 

*         Third bill is Blind Americans return to work act, allowing those
who are collecting social security disability funds able to work with
disability income as long as earning up to $2,460 as blind person, phase out
every two dollars blind American earns amount benefits reduced by one dollar


*         Members do not have to have any experience, but what helps is if
members are affected by any of the three bills and to tell stories of how
each bill affects their lives

 

Announcements

*         Elections will be taking place at our next meeting in February

*         To vote, nominate, or run for a position members must pay dues,
ten dollars, pay to our treasurer

*         If member is in any financial hardship and wants to be a paid
member our chapter will take care of membership dues

*         Payment options are above in treasurer report, can pay all the way
up to beginning of our next meeting except if mailing a check

*         Positions up for elections are First Vice President only for a
one-year term, treasurer   for a two-year term, secretary for a two-year
term, first and second board positions also for a two-year term

*         Secretary and first board member will not be re running

*         First vice president helps back up the president in any way shape
or form

*         Treasurer takes care of all financial duties for the chapter

*         Secretary takes care of meeting minutes, and any written manner
for the chapter 

*         Board positions help plan meetings and help in any way shape or
form

 

Diversity and Equity Inclusion Discussion

*         Discussion of Chinese Lunar New Year, and open space for other New
year's celebrations and traditions

*         This year's Chinese Lunar New Year will take place on January 22

*         Tied to the lunar calendar, the holiday began as a time for
feasting and to honor household and heavenly deities, as well as ancestors.
The New Year typically begins with the first new moon that occurs between
the end of January and spans the first 15 days of the first month of the
lunar calendar-until the full moon arrives.

*         Each year in the Lunar calendar is represented by one of 12 zodiac
animals included in the cycle of 12 stations., and also goes along with five
elements of earth, water, fire, wood and metal

*         Each culture celebrates the Chinese Lunar New Year differently
with various foods and traditions that symbolize prosperity, abundance and
togetherness, in preparation for the Lunar New Year, houses are thoroughly
cleaned to rid them of evil spirits from the previous year, Cleaning is also
meant to open space for good will and good luck

*         Some households hold rituals to offer food and paper icons to
ancestors. Others post red paper and banners inscribed with calligraphy
messages of good health and fortune in front of, and inside, homes. Elders
give out envelopes containing money to children. Foods made from glutinous
rice are commonly eaten, as these foods represent togetherness. Other foods
symbolize prosperity, abundance and good luck.

*         Taryn-family is more simplified but still do the common practices
and traditions of doing the big cleaning right before Chinese Lunar New
year, hang the Chinese red scribes with calligraphy for good luck and
prosperity, eat foods for good luck, good fortune and prosperity including
noodles, Chinese stew mixed with healthy vegetables and tofu, do have the
younger children pour tea for elders and receive red envelopes with money
inside, and offer wisdom for the new year

*         Christina, for new year's she eats collard greens for good luck
and black-eyed peas for good health

*         LM- CELEBRATES three kings with three wisemen, water for camels'
morning leave behind treats for children, day of epiphany kings' day

*         Monica-   America New Year's Day tradition polar bears swim cold
swim on New Year's Day annual year   

 

Discussion

*         Braille Month, fears and desires to learn

*         Sheri learned it later in life, desire to learn it was based on
going back to school, reding and writing

*         Laura question for group, adults learning Braille at different
reading levels advice and how to

*         Serena advised to use it in different ways to learn it easier,
restaurants request Braille menus, hotels and buildings have Braille on
doors, and airline security cards, pass notes to friends in Braille

*         Amy pass notes in large spaces, also form reding groups read
Braille aloud to each other 

*         Sheri recommends to have teacher if in school have them and you
read book together out loud helped her speed up rate of reading Braille

*         Lighthouse for the Blind has resources of all   Braille
contractions in one large card as well as note cards

*         If having tactile issues get exercises with all same letter with
one different and see if you can distinguish the wrong letter

 

Bell Ringers

*         Ring bell for Braille

 

Please stay after and hang out with other chapter members

 

Christina made a motion to adjourn the meeting, Amy second the motion, and
all approved.

 

Best Regards,

 

Taryn Morris