[NFBV-Fairfax] Affiliate Zoom Link for Thursday Evening Meeting and February Chapter Meeting Minutes

[Christine Grassman]

Minutes from the February 20, 2025 Fairfax Chapter meeting follow the link and call-in information for the affiliate Zoom  for our Thursday evening chapter meeting, from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM. Please see yesterday’s email for the agenda. 
Here’s how to join us:
https://zoom.us/j/8297256345?pwd=SFAyamlQNU44ZTJ6dUZNMTV4RmhCQT09
 
One tap mobile
tell: +13017158592,,8297256345#
 
Telephone Dial: 1 (301) 715-8592
Meeting ID: 829 725 6345#
 
If needed the password is 20201940

Fairfax Chapter Meeting, February 20, 2025
The meeting was called to order at approximately 7:00 PM. 
Following member check-ins, members were reminded that there were no January minutes due to our meeting cancellation due to significant illness among chapter members. Our planned January celebration will be moved to April 12; we will meet virtually via the affiliate Zoom again on March 20 due to Ramadan. 
Treasurer Ameenah Ghoston provided the Treasurer’s report; we are still awaiting the transfer of the funds from our previous bank account. 
Despite repeated efforts, the past treasurer has not closed out the account. There will be further efforts in securing the chapter’s funds, and we are hopeful that we will have a working email address for receipt of dues, donations, etc., via Zelle.
The Treasurer’s report was accepted; the balance will be updated once our funds have been fully transferred. 
The balance of the meeting involved presenting the concerns and strategies the Board discussed regarding a local transportation advocacy campaign. 
This issue proved to be so encompassing that we did not address the other items on the agenda beyond superficial discussion. 
The chapter would like to collaborate with the newly formed Greater Loudoyn Chapter as we delve into our transportation advocacy. 
We have reached out to a few well-known allies working with and/or for WMATA Accessibility. 
We will contact Greater Loudoun Chapter President Bryan Duarte to discuss chapter collaboration. 
We will work to narrow our focus; transportation advocacy is a broad subject; we discussed focusing on those who live outside the Metro Access perimeter who are faced with significant difficulties getting to work, attending college classes, attending appointments, pursuing employment opportunities, etc. 
A significant issue is the loss of bus stops within the vicinity of residences after one has deliberately moved to a location under the impression that the public transportation option would not suddenly be cut, leaving those who do not drive stranded in a way that could not reasonably be anticipated. 
It is not feasible for individuals who find themselves in this predicament to “just move”. 
Housing options are scarce and expensive, and those who are students, under-employed, or unemployed are not in a position to move. 
At our March meeting, we will continue our discussion of transportation advocacy and will hold a philosophy discussion regarding the dilemma of ableism that does not quit, even when dealing with those who work with, are familiar with, are related to, or are  friends with people with disabilities. 
Why is ableism so persistent, even in the face of familiarity and education? 
How do those of us with different disabilities balance the competing goals, needs, and resources of our siblings with disabilities, and the allies who support us? 
The meeting was adjourned at 8:30 PM. 
** These minutes were assembled from board meeting notes and scant chapter meeting notes due to unforeseen difficulties. 
If anyone has any revisions, updates, or modifications of any kind, please email me and/or offer them as amendments at the meeting Thursday evening.
Christine

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