[NFBV-Potomac-Announce] FW: September 14th Potomac Chapter Minutes

John johnh50 at verizon.net
Thu Oct 19 14:12:14 UTC 2017


Here are the minutes from our Septem ber meeting.

 

Thank you.

 

John

 

 

From: Valdez, Evelyn [mailto:Evelyn.Valdez at va.gov] 
Sent: Wednesday, October 18, 2017 10:41 PM
To: johnh50 at verizon.net
Subject: September 14th Potomac Chapter Minutes

 

John, 

Attached and pasted are the chapter minutes. 

 

 

PCNFB Chapter Minutes for September 14, 2017

 

The Monthly meeting of the Potomac Chapter of the National Federation of the
Blind was convened at 7 p.m. by President John Halverson. Seventeen members
were present. 

 

The icebreaker was what is your favorite breakfast item? 

 

We had a moment of silence.

 

The NFB pledge was led and recited by  Charlie Brown.

 

The minutes of the August 10, 2017 meeting were discussed and accepted
without correction.

 

Treasurer's report for the period from 8/10/2017 to 9/14/2017

General Fund:

Beginning Balance: $7016.47

Income:$0.00

Disbursements:

NFB PAC for September $75.00

NFB VPAD for September $75.00

Check  for NFBV Board transportation $220.00

Total disbursements: $370.00

Ending Balance: $6,646.47

Youth fund: Unchanged $2,000.00

 

Programming Committee

Alex Castillo demoed the Seeing AI app and the AI Poly app which is
artificial intelligence technology that allows you to retrieve information
quickly by simply using your phone and changing the modes/channels such as
document, short text, bar code reader, and person. You are now able to get
information about objects and people in a room. For example, one of our
members, Brandon mentioned that he is able to use the short text
mode/channel in the Seeing AI app and just hover his phone over some type of
text and the app would just read it. This is especially helpful if for
example, you are trying to scan some mail out of your mailbox and you can
just hover your phone towards the left corner of an envelope, and the app
can quickly read to you the sender. You can also point the phone towards a
power point screen to read you a power point presentation if you didn't want
to use your KNFB reader app. Also, you can use the bar code mode/channel to
tell you what product you are seeking or looking for and it will also tell
you necessary information about the product.There is a person mode/channel
which will recognize people in your photos or Facebook. First, you must take
a picture of an individual three times and then you save the picture with
the indicated person's name, so that way the Seeing AI app will then
recognize the person who will appear most frequently in your pictures/social
media. Naim also mentioned that the new iPhones have new features including
Braille input and voice over activation. Brandon informed us that there's a
new free transportation ride service named Sprynt in the Arlington area and
their app is user friendly. The wait time is reasonable.

 

Hurricane Harvey Relief

One of the benefits from the established Hurricane Harvey Relief in
coordination with the NFB of Texas with Norma Crosby spearheading efforts
that we as a chapter would be able to adopt a family. There's a single mom
with a medically fragile seven-year old daughter who is oxygen tank
dependent, a wheelchair user, and utilizes a feeding tube. The Potomac
Chapter will be donating $500 to this family.          

 

Project RISE

Resilience, Independence, Self-Advocacy and Employment is a new pilot
program for transition-age students 14-22 years old  in Northern Virginia
with a program coordinator role and a logistics coordinator role leading
about twenty-five hours of dedicated time along with the support of core
mentors in conjunction with the Department of the Blind and Visually
Impaired (DBVI). The expectations of mentors would be to demonstrate
positive skills of blindness and meet students where they are as together we
learn what we know and what needs to be taught. This is an opportunity for
us to take the low expectations that blind students in Northern Virginia
might be facing. 

 

State Convention

In preparation of our upcoming state convention taking place on Friday, Nov.
3-5 at The Westin Tysons Corner in Falls Church, Seaton and Patti Droppers
have confirmed with the rector's office that someone from St. Georges
Episcopal Church will be present. Nancy briefly announced the members of the
hospitality committee and the menus, potential theme and entertainment for
the Friday night hospitality event. Sarah, social chair announced the picnic
taking place on Saturday, September 16th at the home of John and Sandy
Halverson. Jacki Brown, our auctioneer conveyed that she needs your best
things. She is looking for nice quality things like perhaps a basket from
your hairdresser, etc. Jacki has already gathered four door prizes. Please
try to get some auction items and invite family and friends.  

 

Announcements

President John Halverson announced that since both Sandy and him are
retiring, they will be going on a two-week cruise. We wish John and Sandy
well in their retirement and what ever their next steps may be. 

 

Naim announced that there will be transportation provided by his dad with a
cost of $60 round-trip to participate in the VABS (Virginia Association of
Blind Students) "Bowling with the Blind" in Virginia Beach on Saturday,
October 7th. There will be a raffle for the Amazon Tap.  

 

I hope everyone enjoyed the picnic!

 

Yours in the Federation

 

Respectfully submitted,

Evelyn Valdez,

Recording Secretary

Virginia Leadership Fellows, Classof 2016 

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