[NFBV-Announce] Minutes from the 8/17 NFB of Virginia Board of Directors meeting

Wed Oct 30 11:25:31 UTC 2019

>From Evelyn Valdez, NFB of Virginia Recording Secretary

Tracy Soforenko National Federation of the Blind of Virginia NFBV

Meeting of the Board of Directors

Saturday, August 17, 2019

1pm-4pm

The Westin Tysons Corner

7801 Leesburg Pike

Falls Church, VA 22043

The National Federation of the Blind of Virginia's Board of Directors
meeting was called to order by President Tracy Soforenko

Invocation by: Corliss Jones

Roll Call: 49 members were present including delegates and alternate
delegates

Minutes for May 18th board meeting were read by Evelyn Valdez. Minutes were
approved without correction

Treasurer's Report

Treasurer's report was read by Mark Roane

Reporting period was April 30, 2019 - July 31, 2019

General checking account balance as of July 31 is $60,110.71

Treasurer's report was accepted without any corrections

Membership Coins

1st VP Sandy Halverson presented the 25 membership coins to the delegates
present. National President Mark Riccobono gave out the membership coins.

Committee Reports

McDonald Fellowship/Jernigan Fund Scholarship: Sandy reported on behalf of
Mary Durbin the four finalists who were selected and how they worked hard at
convention. Mary Durbin assigned mentors at convention to work and play with
the finalists; thanking the affiliate for McDonald funds and President
Soforenko for writing letters of recommendation. .

Fundraising: 

Chris Walker-gave the report on behalf of Earl Everett and mentioned that
Virginia peanuts salted and coated were sold at national convention at our
Virginia table along with something brand new and custom-made to hold our
membership coins.coin holders. Thanking members for volunteering to work
shifts at the Virginia table and Jim Walker for all the legwork and the
fundraising committee will continue to hold fundraising efforts throughout
the year.

At state convention, the fundraising committee is bringing back the Crab
Race, 50/50 raffle and premium seating! Also, bring gift baskets so it can
be auctioned off at the Action Auction at state convention.

Chapter Leadership Institute: Joe Orozco and Domonique Lawless  presented a
report regarding the individuals who have been in CLI for 9 months, they are
being assessed with leadership personality assessments, diving deep into
Federation philosophy, tasked with chapter simulations, growing as leaders
and strengthening weaknesses, learning to use one's voice, and CLI is
seeking additional participants and another year of funding if the affiliate
can consider-CLI has spent $2,451.10.

Another year for CLI was approved and the application will be available
online and the deadline will be September 1st.

Convention Operations:

Richmond Seminar will be taking place on January 20th and the deadline for
making reservations is January 3rd and we will be staying at the Delta Hotel
for proximity purposes.

Info for state convention will be available on the website at
nfbv.org/convention

We are seeking your help to find some sponsors and exhibitors. The
convention will be held at the Renaissance Hotel in Portsmouth beginning on
Friday, Nov. 1-Sunday, Nov. 3rd. Tidewater and Peninsula chapters will be
hosting the convention.

John Halverson, president of the Potomac Chapter will be in charge of the
bus since the affiliate would like to have a bus pick up at various points
beginning in northern Virginia, a 1-way seat and a round-trip seat will be
available for members, however, keep in mind that the Amtrak will cost $96
excluding the cost of the Uber from the train station to the hotel.

Our national rep for the state convention is 2nd VP of the NFB, Ron Brown.

Some ideas for state convention are an empowerment lunch suggested by Evelyn
Valdez and Sandy and Sarah Blumberg will gladly assist, Joe Orozco suggested
a financial literacy workshop to educate individuals of financial planning
for college students, beware of scams, accessible apps, ,Kathryn Webster
discussed having upcoming leaders and having chapter presidents in a chapter
leaders and presidents university focusing on how to run a chapter meeting,
operate a chapter and overcoming challenges, Nancy Yeager suggested the
Seniors division of having a Possibilities Fair, Annette Carr suggested
having entrepreneurs who are members come to the exhibit hall, Joe Orozco
suggested a prayer breakfast on Sunday morning, Brittany Ingram suggested
having a workshop on the logistics side of running a chapter, Jessica Reed
suggested having a breakout session for blind parents and we should attract
the southeastern part of the state, Stewart Prost suggested having experts
show us how to use social media to promote our chapters, Sean McMahon
suggested having chapters work on an accessibility issue, Kathryn Webster
suggested having a Federation Open House, Joe Orozco suggested for the
convention in 2021 either Charlottesville and Winchester, Nikki Jeffards
suggested an employment track, Kris Foley suggested on how to advocate to
organizations on how to make websites accessible,         

Membership:

National President Mark Riccobono was our guest and addressed some questions
from our affiliate. Questions were raised about global advocacy for blind
and hence the World Blind Union has been established; why the NFB exists as
a watchdog to oversee programs and ensuring that quality services are being
provided to blind consumers; blind federal government employees have lack of
accessibility with Share point in addition to other platforms, but it must
be brought to the attention of the committee of blind federal government
employees; the Domino's app is not accessible and they could have just
poured their money into making their website accessible instead of spending
money in media; the presidential release should be played at chapter meeting
to bring people together to have a sense of unity and togetherness;
inquiring how to engage individuals who live in rural areas of Virginia and
figuring out carpooling options and how to maximize a chapter's tools to
share with other chapters to see what is working and what is not; the code
of conduct is a framework for handling any member issues but understanding
that a member can bring an issue to the attention of the National Office or
to Tracy Soforenko; the Marrakesh Treaty allows a blind person to have
access  to material/content from other parts of the world; finally,
developing a standard for tactile graphics. 

Division Reports-

Scholarship: 

Patrick Johnson gave the report indicating that the scholarship applications
would be available in written and online similar to last year's process.
Deadline will be late September for applications. Application forms being
submitted via website will be discussed by the committee in October.

Public Outreach: 

Uricka Harrison/Corliss Jones  reported the committee will be holding a walk
with the blind on October 12 in Williamsburg as a Meet the Blind activity.
If you have an activity planned for your chapter, please email Uricka or
Corliss to let them know.

Seniors 

Nancy Yeager gave the report indicating that the division is working on a
Seniors Possibilities fair for state convention; the seniors division holds
a monthly conference calls on Wednesdays.

VABS 

Gerald Meredith reported that VABS holds their conference call the first
Thursday of the month ; Bowl with the Blind will take place in October as a
Meet the Blind activity; there will be a students meet and greet on Friday
of the state convention and lunch/elections on Saturday.   

Communications: Joe reported that Tracy Soforenko now will have his email
through the NFBV website.

The board meeting was adjourned at 3:53pm. 

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