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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><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>From Sandy Halverson, Recording Secretary, National Federation of the Blind of Virginia<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><h1>National Federation of the Blind of Virginia<o:p></o:p></h1><h1>Board Meeting Minutes<o:p></o:p></h1><h1>May 17, 2025<o:p></o:p></h1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>President Soforenko called our meeting to order at 1 PM at Emanuel Baptist Church in Richmond, Virginia. After thanking Mark and Melody Roane for making our meeting arrangements, 27 participants introduced themselves, delegates were identified after which minutes from our January 17, 2025 were read, corrected to include Annie Ascher on our membership committee, and approved.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Our treasurer reported as of April 30, 2025 our general checking account balance was $61,806.84 explaining all financial transactions; Mark’s report was accepted unanimously.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Tracy next stated we had received a very warm letter from President Riccobono thanking us for and acknowledging receipt of our $50,000 donation to defray some of the legal costs associated with our lawsuit on behalf of blind prisoners in Virginia.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>The NFB of Virginia annually reviews our youth protection, whistleblower, and records retention policies which had been distributed via email. There have been no changes and each policy was accepted unanimously. Our accommodations and Conflict of Interest policies had been previously accepted and Teisha will post all of these documents to our website.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>We next turned our attention to chapter governance and transparency. John Halverson, a former president of our DC and Michigan NFB affiliates, presented some best practices guidance for our division and local chapter presidents. Local board and chapter meetings should be welcoming and open to all. Treasurer’s reports should be shared with chapter members and each chapter should meet monthly. Chapter expenditures should be discussed and voted on during the chapter meeting after which the treasurer executes the transaction. Otherwise, the chapter or division president should provide written authorization to the treasurer to transact financial business. Chapters were encouraged to conduct an annual audit of financial records and documents similar to our annual affiliate audit report which takes place at our state convention.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Teisha Gillespie next offered strategies for member engagement including ways to make our messaging more persuasive using Artificial Intelligence tools. Details from her presentation can be found at:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><a href="https://nfbv.org/AI">https://nfbv.org/AI</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>With regard to our upcoming national convention in New Orleans from July 8 to 13, Jacki Bruce stated our McDonald Fellowship committee met on April 30 and will be awarding four scholarships and we will also have two Kenneth Jernigan award recipients. We are pleased to have Lisa Kavitz, Debora Hamlin, Rachel and Elmer Buenaventura, and Chris and Teisha Gillespie as first-time convention attendees this year. Those interested in mentoring our first-time convention attendees should contact Mary Durbin.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>It was next moved that Tracy Soforenko serve as our convention delegate and Joe Orozco our alternate delegate; motion carried unanimously.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Our NFB of Virginia caucus will take place Wednesday, July 9 at 10 PM with location to be announced when confirmed.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Renee Valdez announced we will be selling multi-use wallets and coin holders at convention and will not be ordering other items until our wallets and coin holders have been sold. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Those attending our convention virtually were encouraged to gather for banquet parties.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Jacki Bruce described the progress our membership committee is making through member to member profiles, my journey through blindness Zoom meetings, NFBV announce list and Facebook changes. Our Prince William and Eastern Shore chapters are no longer meeting or conducting business. An in-depth legislative report from Bonnie O’Day was read. Our very busy year culminated with the presentation of the NFBV Commonwealth Award to Delegate Hope for his continuing work on prescription labelling implementation, and Delegate Tran for her assistance with our ITAA legislation signed into law by the governor.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>After each chapter and division delegate confirmed donations to each of our four national funds, NFB camp and door prizes, Jeremy Grandstaff moved the NFBV add $15,000 to the White Cane Fund, $2,000 to Jernigan, SUN and tenBroek funds, $250 for NFB camp and $250 for door prizes. His motion was seconded and carried u nanimously.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Our Chesapeake Bay chapter is hosting our upcoming state convention in Virginia Beach and Stewart Prost provided information about rates and dates; registrations and reservations should be made by October 7 to avoid late fees.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Our exhibit hall will be open Friday and Saturday afternoons. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Our DEI committee chaired by Renee Valdez is planning a walk-a-thon for Blind Equality Achievement month and will also be hosting an event at state convention. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>On May 21 and June 5, the Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired will be holding Zoom calls to help federal employees access employment-related services.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Jimmy Mooris announced 15 Virginians applied for our national scholarship. We will be awarding three $2500 scholarships at our state convention and all were encouraged to remind blind students about our state scholarship program. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Joe Orozco stated there will be three Project RISE students attending our upcoming national convention with 23 students on our current roster.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Sandy Halverson announced another successful year for Silver Bells, we will be hiring a new coordinator with the job description coming soon, and we have submitted another grant request to the Board for the Blind and Visually Impaired seeking continued funding for this program.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Division reports highlighted student biweekly game nights, seniors learning about adaptive sports and participating in exercise classes, and new opportunities available for blind merchants.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>After Tracy reminded us our next board meeting will take place virtually on Saturday, August 2, 2025 at 1 PM, our meeting was adjourned at 4 PM.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Respectfully submitted,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Sandy Halverson<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Recording Secretary<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Peace,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Jacki Bruce<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Corresponding Secretary NFBV<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><a href="mailto:jackibruce6@gmail.com">mailto:jackibruce6@gmail.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><a href="tel:(757)291-1789">tel:(757)291-1789</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Membership Chair<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><a href="mailto:membership@nfbv.org">mailto:membership@nfbv.org</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Find us on Facebook @NationalFederationoftheBlindofVirginia<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Find us on Instragram @nfbofvirginia<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Subscribe to our Youtube: NFB Virginia<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><a href="http://www.nfbv.org/">www.nfbv.org</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>STRONGER TOGETHER!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>