<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=us-ascii"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)"><style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Aptos;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ligatures:standardcontextual;}
span.EmailStyle17
{mso-style-type:personal-compose;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
color:windowtext;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
--></style><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</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><span style='font-family:Aptos'>National Federation of the Blind of Virginia Board Meeting<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:Aptos'>May 11, 2024<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:Aptos'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:Aptos'>President Soforenko called the meeting to order at 10 a.m. and all in attendance introduced themselves.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:Aptos'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:Aptos'>Mark Roane’s treasurer’s report reflected all our account transactions with the general checking account current balance as of April 30, 2024 of $89,210.64. His report was accepted unanimously.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:Aptos'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:Aptos'>Sandy Halverson, our Silver BELLs coordinator, gave a brief update about our three in-person weekends, the number of participants in each program, and thanked staff and volunteers who continue to make this a successful program for blind and low vision seniors throughout the Commonwealth.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:Aptos'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:Aptos'>Mary Durbin, who chairs our NFBV McDonald Fellowship program and serves as liaison to Virginia Kenneth Jernigan Fund scholarship recipients provided information about some of the first-timers who will be joining us in Orlando. As of this date, there are five first-timers and anyone who is interested in serving as a mentor should contact Mary. Tracy, who chairs our national Kenneth Jernigan Fund committee thanked Mary and her committee for their recruiting efforts and expressed appreciation to our affiliate for continued financial support of this program.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:Aptos'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:Aptos'>Tracy next announced that our affiliate caucus will take place at 10 p.m. on July 4, 2024 and that virtual experience details will be coming soon. This year, there will be a small fee for virtual registrants. Banquet parties were encouraged for those attending virtually since some banquet party drop-ins will occur throughout the evening.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:Aptos'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:Aptos'>After some discussion of the need for door prizes, it was moved, seconded and passed unanimously that the NFBV would provide six $50 door prizes for a total of $300.00.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:Aptos'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:Aptos'>Louise Walch was not able to be present so her BELL report was read in which she commended DBVI promotional efforts and parent outreach. We are sure this will be another success and offer exciting opportunities for our blind and low vision kids. It was also fun to learn that one of our prior BELL participants will be attending our national convention in Orlando.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:Aptos'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:Aptos'>Tim Schmidt-Eisenlohr, president of our Virginia parents of blind children division, told us there have been some virtual meet and greet events to not only identify families with blind children but to determine what is needed from our parents division. On Monday, May 13, there will be a virtual meeting to discuss transition needs of blind students. His research has indicated there are 2,000 families in Virginia with blind children and he is hoping to engage more parents in our work and also working with our national organization of parents of blind children to strengthen and support our efforts. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:Aptos'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:Aptos'>Tracy next described the ways in which our membership committee is key to the work we do. He introduced Jacki Bruce, our committee chair stating that the leadership activities which would take place following the board meeting were driven by this committee as we come together to learn, grow, and lead. Jacki thanked her committee members, many of whom were on the train from northern Virginia, but told us work is being done to get all contacts and data into our database. Members have been called and we were pleased to learn we have almost 600 members in our affiliate. The committee is learning what has been going well, some of the challenges, and the program today is the first of many training sessions to be presented in the future. If you have not been contacted yet, you will be soon not only to update your contact information but to discuss how you can help us and how we can help you with challenges you may be facing. She described our membership coins and encouraged us to always have them with us. Increased member involvement may result in additional projects we can do as an affiliate.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:Aptos'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:Aptos'>Our attention next turned to our NFBV James F. Nelson scholarship. Tracy stated our national scholarship program receives between 600 to 700 applications. Our NFBV scholarship chair, Jimmy Morris, interviews Virginia applicants on Tracy’s behalf. Jimmy promotes our national scholarship program, interviews for the national program, and introduces the students to our statewide scholarship program. Three $2500 scholarships will be awarded at our upcoming state convention and the application form will go live later this month with details coming soon.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:Aptos'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:Aptos'>Our legislative update was provided by Stewart Prost. Our Accessible Prescription Act was signed into law on April 28, 2024 resulting from our Richmond seminar and other forms of collective impact on the health of our blind and low vision population. Those who provided personal testimony were thanked. The Board of Pharmacy (or pharmacists) will adopt regulations by December 31, 2024. We are reviewing regulations from other states to ensure adoption of strong regulations in the Commonwealth. With regard to our technology bill, city, county and state of Virginia website and software developers were opposed so this issue has been referred to a study which we will be monitoring closely to ensure Virginia entities comply with new regulations and we will be participating in that study. We are also seeking someone with technical support and website accessibility expertise. We will also be looking into the question of electronic ballot return. Delegate Patrick Hope attended our recent Potomac Chapter meeting and suggested a study be done about electronic ballot return to determine how it should work and we recognize this is not something we can accomplish alone. This will be a long-term, coordinated effort and support between overseas voters, military voter support, and the NFB of Virginia will be required to secure passage. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:Aptos'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:Aptos'>Uricka Harrison stated we are seeking new ideas for chapter involvement in their communities and increasing our social media presence. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:Aptos'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'>Renee Valdez proposed several items to be sold at our national convention. <br>Based on feedback, a phone wallet with a lanyard will be sold along with our coin holders. Tracy then discussed our national funds: White Cane, Kenneth Jernigan, Jacobus tenBroke, and SUN Fund, along with NFB camp and asked chapter delegates for their chapter pledges . <br>The final Project Rise gathering will take place the weekend of May 16-18 at our the NFB Jernigan Institute in Baltimore.<br>We do not yet have a location for our 2025 state convention. More details will be given at the August board meeting. <br>President Riccobono was invited to, and attended, the annual meeting of Virginia’s blind vendors. We then heard from both our student and senior divisions, including that one of our students will be attending the Louisiana Center for the Blind. <br>The Tidewater and Peninsula chapters are co-hosting our state convention in Portsmouth which will take place from October 31 through November 3. Please start thinking about agenda topics. <br>It was moved, seconded, and carried unanimously that the updated Fairfax chapter constitution be adopted. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The Whistleblower, Conflict of Interest, Records Retention, and Youth Protection policies were readopted. <br>It was moved, seconded, and carried that the meeting adjourn at just after noon.<br>Respectfully submitted,<br>Sandy Halverson and Christine Faltz Grassman<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>