[Nfbv-potomac-announce] FW: [EXTERNAL] Minutes October 2016 Meeting

Sat Oct 29 14:29:08 UTC 2016

Good Morning Colleagues,

Please  find the revised October minutes below and attached.

We still have room on the bus.  Please join us.

Thank you.

John

From: Valdez, Evelyn [mailto:Evelyn.Valdez at va.gov] 
Sent: Monday, October 24, 2016 9:03 AM
To: John Halverson <johnh50 at verizon.net>
Subject: RE: [EXTERNAL] [Nfbv-potomac-announce] Minutes October 2016 Meeting

John, 

I have made the revision to the minutes, I do apologize for the confusion. 

Please see the revised minutes pasted below and also attached. 

With Warmest Regards, 

Evelyn Valdez

Logistics Management Specialist

Office of Acquisitions and Logistics

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

E-Mail:  <mailto:evelyn.valdez at va.gov> evelyn.valdez at va.gov 

PCNFB Chapter Minutes for October 13, 2016

The Monthly meeting of the Potomac Chapter of the National Federation of the
Blind was convened at 7 p.m. by President John Halverson. Twenty members
were present. This month's icebreaker was what is your favorite foreign
country to visit (either you've already visited or you wish to visit). 

The NFB pledge was recited. 

The minutes of the September 8, 2016 meeting were accepted without
correction.

Treasurer's Report for the period of 9/07/2016 to 10/13/2016

Beginning Balance: $6263.37

Income: 50-50 cash $14.00

New Member Dues: $5

Total Income $514.00

Disbursements:

NFB Pac for October $75.00

NFB VPAD for October $75.00

NFB Youth Fund: $100.00

Check to Caterer: $440.00

Tip to Caterer: $100.00

Check to MWABA: $600.00 

Total Disbursements: $1290.00

Ending Balance as of 10/13/2016: $5487.37

Philosophy Discussion

Tracy Soforenko  led the philosophy discussion for this month about how we
must step outside our comfort zone and display courage against
discrimination and inequality. Tracy urged the chapter members to go out
there and vote because we live in a democracy. Our voices need to be heard.
The Federation wants to hear what problems we have and what resolutions can
be put in place. There will be a conference call on Monday, October 24,
where Federationists of the common wealth can bring forth their concerns to
the Resolutions Committee.  At a time long ago, blindness agencies thought
that it was in the best interest of their blind consumers that they choose
their leaders. That is not the case. Our movement  was founded with the
mission that we the blind of the United States have one collective voice. We
are more powerful that way with one voice in legislative affairs and
demonstrations. There are laws in place that are unjust because individuals
who are blind are being discriminated against. For example, in Section 508
of the Americans with Disabilities Act, individuals are being discriminated
against because they are not given materials in an accessible format.
Inaccessible websites prohibit screen reader users to fully participate
alongside their non-sighted counterparts.

There's an example in Missouri where a blind couple was taken their right to
parent because a social worker deemed it appropriate to take the infant of
blind parents because she thought that the blind parents would need 24-hour
sighted supervision. This is the lack of awareness. .  

Vanda Pharmaceuticals

A local Vanda Pharmaceuticals representative wishes to come in and speak to
our chapter about the Non 24 drug. There has been a rep that has come in the
past to speak to the chapter, but this would be a new rep. There are new
types of drugs that will be coming out that will have different symptoms.  

Chapter Picnic

The picnic was a success. There were about 28 people present at the home of
Sandy and President John Halverson and there was so much food! It was a
great time and the weather was wonderful. 

State Convention/Bus

There will be abus departing from the St. George's Episcopal Church on
Thursday, November 10, 2016 at 1PM. The cost is $80 per person. One way is
only $40. We will return to the church on Sunday, November 13, 2016. Book
your rooms for the state convention because soon there will be no rooms
left. Make your reservations, just in case, and you have 72 hours before the
convention to cancel. Jacki Brown is collecting items for the auction and
door prizes. If you have items to donate, Jacki can meet you at a Metro
station. Harry Potter in Braille has been donated as well as Confederates in
the Attic by Tony Horwitz and Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. It's
going to be a big and great convention! 

Metro Washington Association of Blind Athletes 1st Ever Goalball Tournament

Justin Chan shared the success of MWABA's first goalball tournament that
took place at the Atletic Center at George Mason University in Fairfax on
Saturday, October 1, 2016. The New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania,
Washington DC, and Florida teams were present and ready to play! There was a
silver medal Para-Olympian, Andy was present and he played. A sorority,
DBVI, NFB, and other volunteers really helped with all the other necessary
activities that took place. 

The girls team took home the gold medal.  

Social Networking classes

Save the Date!

Danielle Trevino, who works at the National Center will be coming to
northern Virginia to give classes on social media since she is a social
media expert on Saturday, October 22nd. There are still some slots available
if you may have an interest. The cost is $20 to cover lunch and the room
availability. Please contact President John Halverson no later than Friday,
October 21st if you may want to go. 

Bring your smart phone/tablet or laptop. 

Programming Committee

President John Halverson asked who would like to be a member of the
programming committee for activities so that different guests can come to
our chapter monthly to speak. He would like a conference call for members to
discuss/brainstorm ideas. Evelyn Valdez, Alex Castillo, Justin Chan in
addition, Arielle Silverman and Deepa Goraya all volunteered to be part of
the programming committee. 

Holiday Dinner

Justin will still check if Bus Boys and Poets in Sherlington is available,
but the restaurant that he checked made it $40 per person and that's too
expensive.  

Presidential Release

The Presidential release was played in which President Riccobono discussed
an array of items such as the position he has expressed  not with the
foundation fighting blindness itself. Our concern is with their

As Eye See It fund raising campaign, which promotes misconceptions and fear
about blindness.

We have no issue, and many of us support, the medical research that the
foundation fighting blindness champions.

By promoting fears about blindness, the campaign promotes the idea that
blindness is a horrible thing. In the NFB, we realize that blindness is just
another characteristic, which can be addressed using the alternative
techniques of capable blind people

This distinction is very important. There are many of our members who have
misconceptions about the position the NFB is taking. They believe we are in
opposition to the work that the foundation fighting blindness is doing. Our
concern is the particular campaign. 

Washington Seminar taking place on January 30, 2017 at the Holiday Inn
Capitol located on 550 C Street SW. Hotel rooms are $188 a night and the
Great Gathering In will be taking place that Monday at 5pm,  etc

New Business

Jacki Brown is selling wine tasting tickets for the Kiwanis Club of
Arlington fundraiser. 

50/50 Raffle

President John Halverson won the 50/50

Have a spooky and safe Halloween!!!

Respectfully submitted,

Evelyn Valdez,

Recording Secretary

2016 Virginia Fellow

From: Nfbv-potomac-announce
[mailto:nfbv-potomac-announce-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of John
Halverson via Nfbv-potomac-announce
Sent: Sunday, October 23, 2016 11:34 AM
To: nfbv-potomac-announce at nfbnet.org
<mailto:nfbv-potomac-announce at nfbnet.org> 
Subject: [EXTERNAL] [Nfbv-potomac-announce] Minutes October 2016 Meeting

Good Morning,

Attached please find the minutes for our October 2016 meeting.

One note.

This is very important.  We are charging $40 for a one way trip on the bus
not $80.  The minutes show the one way cost is $80.

The minutes are in read only mode and I do not know how to make that change.

Again the one way cost is $40.  The round trip costs $80.

John

We are charging $40 for a one way trip on the bus, not $80.  

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