[NFBV-Potomac-Announce] FW: NOvember Potomac Chapter Meeting MInutes (apologies for the delay)

[John Halverson]

Here are the November minutes.

Thank you Christine.

John


-----Original Message-----
From: Christine Grassman [mailto:cfgrassman at icloud.com] 
Sent: Wednesday, December 25, 2019 1:40 PM
To: John Halverson <jwh100 at outlook.com>
Cc: Christine Grassman <cfgrassman at icloud.com>
Subject: NOvember Potomac Chapter Meeting MInutes (apologies for the delay)

Potomac Chapter Meeting November 14:
Meeting was called to order at 7:00 PM. with 12 attendees present. 
 The opening  question was: What is your favorite Broadway musical? 
Cats and The sound of Music each garnered two favorites, while others mentioned were Hamilton, Fiddler On the Roof, Book of Mormon, West Side Story, and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

The holiday party, December 12, La Betola. Between 6 and 10 PM; several entrees to choose from; $35 with drinks billed individually. Dinner will be served at 7:00.
558 23rd Street South,
There was discussion of troubling behavior at meetings, including the banquet. Members of the host chapters were embarrassed and took the time to visit representative office to apologize. There appears to be a need to remind people about meeting protocol and etiquette: talking during meetings and presentations; using phones without earphones; skipping lines; not having tickets for events which called for them.
We will streamline how we handle bus trips because of issues with knowledge of pickup times and traffic causing lateness. Pay before bus starts riding to avoid drivers’ concerns about movement on the bus. 
There is still some uncollected bus money.
Marine Corps Museum tour November 30 in Triangle arranged by the Prince William Chapter, beginning at 4 PM for approximately one hour.

Snack volunteers for the next three months:
January, Nick; February, Christine; March, Nijat. 
Karl will bring water.
Membership list: Sandy, Nick, Nijat, Sean.  Joe. Christine. Outreach and recruitment. 
Nancy, Kassahun, and Georgia  to assist with new membership seminar in late winter or early spring.

Fund-raising: Geogia, Sean, Nick, Nijat. 
We must begin to work on the auction and community programming: inviting speakers, activities in the community, attracting new members, educating the public. 
Presidential Release 488:
Board of Directors meeting in early December. 
Meet the Blind Month events were highlighted. President Riccobono gave clarification regarding the Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act.
There must be criteria for the sounds quiet cars make in order to distinguish from other ambient sounds. 
They must be certified to meet federal standards.
The 2020 Annual Convention will be in Houston July 14-19, rather than the original June 30-July 5.
It is time to send in NFB scholarship applications http://nfb.org/scholarships It is also time to consider participating in the Braille Readers Are Leaders contest:

https://nfb-in.org/braille-readers-are-leaders-2019-2020/P

Pat Maurer and staff at the Jernigan Institute will once again act as honorary elves to provide Braille letters from Santa to children under 10 in the U.S. if parents or teachers fill out a form between November 11 and December 16.
Letters will include a tactile picture or fun activity. 
There was a delay in receipt of Braille versions of the August-September Monitor which might impact October and November. 
Send articles and ideas to editor Gary Wunder. 
gwunder at nfb.org
Construction is near completion at the Center. 
Happy holidays.
Respectfully submitted,
Christine Faltz Grassman
Recording Secretary