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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>From Sandy Halverson<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>National Federation of the Blind of Virginia<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Board of Directors Meeting<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>January 15, 2024<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Our board meeting was called to order by President Soforenko at 1 p.m. Of the 40 attendees, 18 were first-timers and most of our chapters and divisions were represented by a delegate or alternate; we met in the VRCBVI gymnasium with all board members present except our recording secretary, Christine Grassman.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>MINUTES AND TREASURER’S REPORTS: After approving the minutes from our 2023 state convention Business meeting, Mark Roane gave our treasurer’s report which covered the period from September 30, 2023 through December 31, 2023 reflecting a general checking account ending balance of $113,598.64; his report was adopted unanimously.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>NATIONAL CONVENTION AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR FIRST-TIMERS: Tracy announced our 2024 national convention will take place at the Rosen Centre in Orlando, Florida from July 3-8. Mary Durbin, who chairs our McDonald Fellowship Committee and serves as the liaison with our NFBV Jernigan Fund recipients, will send an announcement soon about the application process for those sources of financial assistance.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>NATIONAL FUNDS: Our chapters and divisions are asked to make annual contributions to our Jernigan, tenBroek, SUN and White Cane funds and presidents will be asked to provide that information at our next state board meeting. Donations may also be made to defray costs of NFB camp.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY: Our conflict of interest policy was next discussed in the context of compensation to Project RISE and Silver BELLs staff, some of whom serve on our affiliate board as officers or delegates. The commitment to these projects is such that staff should not be expected to volunteer their time but are not compensated for other responsibilities as members of the board of directors and this policy was affirmed by our voting delegates. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>ACCOMMODATIONS FOR HEARING-IMPAIRED UPON REQUEST: The NFBV currently owns assistive listening equipment for hearing impaired or deaf-blind individuals and it is possible we may need to either upgrade that equipment or purchase something else. If our chapters are asked to provide interpreting services for a deaf-blind participant, the chapter should attempt to provide that service and contact President Soforenko if the cost is too prohibitive for the chapter treasury; Braille and large print agendas are provided for our blind members and those blind persons with other disabilities need to be accommodated as well upon request. Sign language interpreting services should be requested at least two weeks prior to the event.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>GREATER WILLIAMSBURG CHAPTER CONSTITUTION CHANGE: A delegate vote approved our Greater Williamsburg Chapter Constitution to define a quorum for meetings as 50% of the membership plus one. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>RICHMOND SEMINAR: Tracy next stated that Bonnie O’Day, our very capable legislative lead who has worked tirelessly behind the scenes to promote our priorities by meeting with bill patrons prior to our in-person meetings, was not able to be with us. Her mother is quite ill and Bonnie is in Minnesota. After each of the fact sheets was read, discussed and questions answered, team assignments were reviewed. Team leaders were encouraged to meet with their groups to plan for meeting with our delegates and senators the following day. There are 54 new members of the Virginia General Assembly and all delegates and senators need to understand our 2024 legislative priorities. HB1355, Delegate Tran’s bill, deals with state and local government website inaccessibility and HB516 introduced by Delegate Hope will require pharmacies to provide accessible prescription labels upon request. Many examples were shared demonstrating the need for this legislation. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>NFBV SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM: Our scholarship committee chair, Jimmy Morris, urged us to recruit students to apply for our scholarship. The application will be live by mid-May, 2024.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>NFBV MILEAGE RATE: When conducting NFBV business, hiring a driver is often necessary and we have been paying 67 cents per mile. The consensus was that every year, we match the GSA annual mileage rate.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>WASHINGTON SEMINAR: Tracy provided information about the upcoming Washington seminar mock meetings and gave the date for our members to request financial assistance to attend our in-person meetings.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>GENERAL ASSEMBLY BUILDING: Mark Roane provided a very detailed description of the newly constructed General Assembly Building where we will find our 40 Senators and 100 delegates.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>RICHMOND SEMINAR REIMBURSEMENT PROCEDURES: Our treasurer recommended getting electronic hotel and transportation receipts since those costs are covered by our affiliate. A completed request for reimbursement form needs to accompany the receipts.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>PROGRAM REPORTS: Brief Silver BELLs and Stem 2-U reports were given. Three Project RISE students will be participating in our Richmond Seminar and other youth activities were described. Anyone with summer internship or job shadowing ideas should contact Joe Orozco, our program coordinator.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>COMMITTEE REPORTS: Teisha Gillespie is now chairing our communications committee formerly chaired by Jacki Bruce. Jacki is now chairing our membership committee. John Halverson was recognized and commended for his work in this area and will be assisting Jacki and her committee. Jacki reported she and her committee will be talking with chapter and division presidents about what they need for chapter building, member recruitment and retention. John is updating our national membership portal information. An interactive membership event is being planned for our next board meeting. Brief reports were provided indicating plans for seniors, students, chapter time-sensitive activities, DEI and fundraising.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>PUBLIC OUTREACH: Uricka Harrison and Chris Walker will be working with chapters to strengthen community involvement.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>STATE CONVENTION OPERATIONS: Stewart Prost, operations and logistics committee Deputy Chair, stated our next state convention will be from October 31 to November 3, 2024. Hotel rate at the Renaissance-Portsmouth Hotel is $94 per night. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>There being no further business, our meeting was adjourned.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Respectfully submitted,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Sandy Halverson<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Acting Recording Secretary<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Peace,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Jacki Bruce<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Corresponding Secretary NFBV<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="mailto:jackibruce6@gmail.com">mailto:jackibruce6@gmail.com</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="tel:(757)291-1789">tel:(757)291-1789</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Find us on Facebook @NationalFederationoftheBlindofVirginia<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Find us on Instragram @nfbofvirginia<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Subscribe to our Youtube: NFB Virginia<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="http://www.nfbv.org">www.nfbv.org</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>STRONGER TOGETHER!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>