[NFBV-Announce] Minutes from the 11/2/2025 NFBV Business Meeting

[tracy.soforenko at gmail.com]

The below minutes will be presented at the 1/19/2026 Board meeting.

National Federation of the Blind of Virginia

State Convention Business Meeting

November 2, 2025

 

Our meeting was called to order at 9 a.m. on Sunday, November 2, 2025 at the
Wyndham-Ocean Front Hotel in Virginia Beach, Virginia. 

 

After the invocation by Deborah Prost, minutes from our August2, 2025 board
meeting were read; a motion to accept the minutes was made, seconded and
adopted unanimously.

 

Our treasurer's report covered transactions from September 30, 2024 through
September 30, 2025; our current balance is $97,508.92. After questions were
asked and answered, a motion was made and seconded to accept his report;
motion carried unanimously.

 

Deepa Goraya, chair of our resolutions committee, introduced each of our
resolutions, one urging the Department of Education to rescind
reduction-in-force orders, another advocating for the deployment of
autonomous vehicles in Virginia with non-visual accessibility, and a third
supporting alternative hiring processes for people with disabilities in
state employment. Each was adopted unanimously after which Deepa thanked the
committee members for their assistance with drafting and finalizing our
policy statements. 

 

Everett Bacon, our national representative, expressed gratitude for the warm
welcome and shared closing remarks before departing. 

 

Sean McMahon next presented the audit committee report, describing the
process used to examine our financial records, reviewing and matching bank
statements with authorizations and determined NFBV accounts are in
compliance with state and federal guidelines. After thanking his committee
members, a motion was made, seconded and passed unanimously to accept his
report.

 

Bonnie O'Day, our legislative committee chair, discussed their annual
activities, including team formation, priority setting, and award
presentations. She outlined plans for upcoming seminars in Richmond and
Washington, emphasizing the importance of timely registration and
preparation. Depa Goraya highlighted the need for appointments with
congressmen to address concerns about Department of Education budget cuts,
urging members to contact their representatives promptly. Additional
information about these seminars will be coming soon via our NFBV announce
list.

 

Teisha Gillespie reported on the communications committee's success in
growing social media followers and sponsorships over the past quarter, and
encouraged further volunteer involvement. Postconvention surveys will be
emailed soon; please be honest with your responses. It was exciting to learn
our convention sponsors increased this year adding $7425 to our treasury.
Jacki Bruce, our membership committee chair, reported on member-to-member
profiles and the Journey Through Blindness calls, which have had a steady
attendance. 

 

After discussion, a motion was made, seconded and passed unanimously that
our Eastern Shore and Prince William County chapters be disbanded due to
prolonged lack of activity. The Prince William Chapter funds have already
been deposited in the affiliate account and our eastern shore chapter had no
funds. President Soforenko will report these changes to our national office.

 

  The DEI committee discussed their recent program on microaggressions and
upcoming fireside chats. The fundraising committee thanked participants and
contributors  to the success of the skeleton scamper and will be selling
wallets and coin holders online. The 2026 National Federation of the Blind
Convention will be held in Austin, Texas, from July 3-8, and the 2025 state
convention will be at the Crown Plaza Dulles Airport Hotel from October
22-25 and will be hosted by our Loudoun County chapter.

 

We are  looking for a Zoom coordinator whose responsibilities are primarily
maintaining our affiliate Zoom events calendar and hosting meetings as
requested.

 

Our brag and steal presenters suggested chapters consider defibrillator and
fire extinguisher training, volunteering at a food bank, fundraising
auctions, and recognizing local legislators for their support of our
initiatives,.

 

We participated in a town hall discussion facilitated by some of our
Leadership in Service Program participants.

 

After it was announced we had raised $11,785 from our auction and the last
door prize was drawn, the 2025 NFBV business session was adjourned at 11:45
a.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Sandy Halverson

Recording Secretary

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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