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--></style></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><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>From Sandy Halverson, Recording Secretary, National Federation of the Blind of Virginia<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><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>May 2, 2026<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>President Soforenko called our meeting to order at 1 p.m. After thanking Mark and Melody Roane for arranging our meeting space at Emanuel Baptist Church in Richmond, 17 delegates and 29 participants introduced themselves.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Minutes from our January 19, 2026 board meeting were read and approved.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Our treasurer’s report covered the period from December 31, 2025 through April 30, 2026 with an ending balance of $107,275.41. Sandy Halverson moved and Rachel Schreiman seconded accepting Mark Roane’s report; motion carried unanimously.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Recruiting and maintaining members is a major component of the work we do. Julia Ford, who chairs our affiliate membership committee, described the subcommittees responsible for outreach, engagement, and chapter building and development. She facilitated our first membership activity interacting with participants who shared challenges they face as chapter leaders and members. To support our newer chapter presidents, Kandace Haney , president of our Greater Loudon chapter, presented our second activity to help identify chapter president responsibilities. We met in groups for this purpose and look forward to hearing results.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>It was next determined that at least 24 of those present will be attending our upcoming national convention in Austin, Texas.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Mary Durbin next thanked our McDonald Fellowship Committee for their commitment to the process of selecting some of the first-time attendees from Virginia and the Virginia Kenneth Jernigan award recipients will be announced soon.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>We were pleased to learn that our NFBV caucus will take place Saturday, July 4 at 5:30 p.m. with location to be announced later.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Chimere Roberts and Chris Christie provided state convention sponsorship and affiliate fundraising committee information. Teisha Gillespie is chairing corporate sponsorship and Chimere is chairing fundraising and individual giving. After discussion of items being considered for sale, Mary Durbin moved that we defer national convention exhibit hall sales and seek unique items for sale at our state convention; motion was seconded and passed unanimously. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>After President Soforenko described our need for volunteers to work at our national convention independence market, we were asked to email him if we were not available for that purpose.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Chapter and division presidents had been asked to report contributions to our tenBroek, Jernigan, White Cane and SUN committees as well as donations for door prizes and NFB camp. Mark Roane, our treasurer, next collected those data. Sandy Halverson moved and Renee Valdez seconded that the NFBV donate $15,000 to our White Cane Fund, $2,000 to the remaining funds, $250 for NFB camp and $300 for door prizes. Motion passed unanimously.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Stewart Prost brought us up-to-date regarding state convention breakfast, and other food events. Our 2027 state convention location is being finalized and will be announced soon.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Bonnie O’Day recognized our legislative committee members and is pleased that Sue Povinelli is helping with the Excel sheet for legislative district and affiliate member matches. Although the General Assembly opposed our voting rights legislation, Delegate Hope is forming a work group including opponents to develop a proposal for consideration by the next session. Trial lawyers were instrumental in defeating our autonomous vehicle legislation. We are working with Waymo to develop what we want. Our next Richmond seminar will take place January 19, 2027. The Virginia Department of Transportation, VDOT, has developed an app so your state ID card can be accessed via that medium and is accessible unless your eyes are disfigured. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Our DEI committee members will be contacting chapter presidents to strengthen outreach to diverse populations. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Our NFBV scholarship information was provided by Chris Infante and three $2500 scholarships will be awarded at our upcoming state convention. All scholarship applicants will be encouraged to attend our convention and we were urged to share this information among our networks in the blind and low-vision communities.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Joe Orozco next described the ongoing work of our communications and organizational technology team whose members are Sean McMahon, Harry Staley and Julia Ford. They are working on multimedia outreach to welcome everybody and change the narrative that we only care about blind people. He also coordinates our Project RISE program in which we have 29 across Virginia. In early March, he, President Soforenko and Evelyn Valdez met with staff at the Virginia School for the Deaf and Blind and will be conducting a Stem-2-U program on Veterans Day in 2027. We are conducting outreach with VSDB and have recruited three students and are pleased that one of our teachers of tomorrow participants teaches on that campus. Other Project RISE activities have included apartment hunting for young adults, college admissions process, credit card 101 and job shadowing. He hopes to do more with our parents’ division for family inclusive programming and is considering Scouting USA for outdoor learning. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Our Chapter Leadership Institute began monthly meetings in January with programming organized by Joe Orozco and Renee Valdez. We look forward to learning how our chapters and affiliate will benefit from their leadership opportunities.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Our northern Virginia BELL program, coordinated by Conchita Hernandez Legoretta and Louise Walch, will take place from June 22-26 at Saint George’s Episcopal Church in Arlington.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>After our Silver Bells report was read, NFBV Conflict of Interest, accommodations, whistleblower, youth, and records retention policies were accepted. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Patty Droppers moved that Tracy Soforenko serve as our national convention delegate and Joe Orozco serve as our alternate delegate; motion was seconded and passed unanimously.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>After it was announced our next board meeting will take place virtually on Saturday, August 8 at 1 p.m. and there being no further business, our meeting was adjourned at 4:12 p.m.<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>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><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></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><a href="mailto:jackibruce6@gmail.com">mailto:jackibruce6@gmail.com</a> or <a href="mailto:membership@nfbv.org">membership@nfbv.org</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><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>