[NFBV-Potomac-Announce] November 2025 Potomac Chapter Minutes

[John Halverson]

Hello,

Please find below the minutes for the Potomac Chapter meeting held on November 12, 2025.

John Halverson, Corresponding Secretary

PCNFB Meeting for November 12, 2025

The PCNFB meeting was called to order at St. Georges Episcopal Church in Arlington VA at 7:05 pm. There were five Zoom participants and 17 people in-person.
* A motion was made by Joe Orozco and seconded by Leroy Hansen  to adopt the Minutes for the October 8 meeting. The motion carried.

* The Treasurer's Report for the period from 10/9/2025 to 11/12/2025 was approve. Leroy Hansen moved the report be adopted and Gary Moore seconded the motion. The motion carried.
Beginning Balance: $4421.89
Income:
Dues 6 members $30.00
Bus collection $4,495.00
Total Income: $5,525.00
Disbursements:
Bus driver tip $1200
State convention door prize $125.00
NFB PAC for November $50
NFB VPAD for November $50.00
Square fees $35.78
Convention bus payment $4,425.00
Total Disbursements: $ 5885.78
Ending balance:  $ 4061.11

Note: A corrected Treasurer's report for the period 10/9/2025 to 11/12/2025 was issued.
Beginning Balance: $4421.89
Income:
Dues 6 members $30.00
Bus collection $4,570.00
Total Income: $4,600.00
Disbursements:
Bus driver tip $1200.00
State convention door prize $125.00
NFB PAC for November $50.00
NFB VPAD for November $50.00
Square fees $35.78
Convention bus payment $4,425
Total Disbursements: $ 5885.78
Ending balance:  $3,136.11

* Meeting participants commented on the 2025 NFBV State Convention. Positive comments: Enjoyed the two-day exhibit hall and the broad scope of presentations, and the banquet was enjoyed. Negatives: Not enough print agendas; a lack of a web-based agenda; didn't like the Google.Doc registration form; some attendees didn't receive post-convention surveys; and many would like to see more presentations by blind people on careers like the nurse; some guide dog users were denied transportation around Virginia Beach.

* Following The November 9 Chapter Board recommendations, Appointment of an internal financial review committee will take place early in 2026.

* We discussed collecting St. George's Food Pantry money and in-kind contributions at the Holiday Party on December 13.

* The Holiday Party will be held at the Lyon Village Community House, 1920 North Highland St., Arlington, from 5 pm until 10 pm. The menu choices will be baked chicken with cream sauce, pineapple salmon with havinero sauce or vegetable lasagna. Meals will include salad and dessert. Julie Orozco will organize evening activities. The dinner will cost $30 per person. There will be an optional White Elephant gift exchange, with a suggested gift value of $20.

* The Arlington Kiwanis Club has granted us $1000 for our youth programs. The presentation will occur on December 10.

* It was mentioned that Kelly Smith, a teacher at VSDB is interested in getting students into the Braille Readers are Leaders Contest.

* The affiliate is working on hosting a week-long BELL program in Northern Virginia in late June. The affiliate is also continuing to search for a BELL Program coordinator, with the help of the Parents of Blind Children division and the Teachers of Tomorrow groups.

* Patty Droppers will contact Arlington County Voter Registration to work on establishing a partnership to help evaluate new voting equipment, with a program for early in 2026.

* Alex Castillo offered to give a presentation this evening on VDBVI services, but wasn't present.

* Membership. Aaron Sullivan was accepted as a new member of the chapter.

* Richmond Seminar will be held January 19-20, with the base being the Delta Hotel. The state affiliate will pay for transportation and rooms with two occupants or one-half the cost of a single room. The issues this year will be focused on Autonomous Vehicles, absentee ballot return (Delegate Patrick Hope), and possibly a third issue to be determined. Sign up at nfbv.org/Richmond by December 31.

* The Washington Seminar will take place from Monday, January 26-Thursday, January 29. The "Great Gathering In " kickoff will occur at 5 pm on Monday. Sign up at nfbvorg/Washington-seminar.

* Elections. The following people were elected to office for 2026:

Julie Orozco, President.
Gary Moore, First Vice President.
Leroy Hansen, Second Vice President.
Sandy Halverson, Recording Secretary.
John Halverson, Corresponding Secretary.
Sean McMahon, Treasurer.
Board Members, Frank Riley, Sue Povinelli, and Patty Droppers.
Delegate to State Board: Julie Orozco.
Alternate Delegate: Gary Moore.

* Leroy Hansen is looking for people that are having trouble with accessible pedestrian signals. Email him with as much info as you can: describe the problem and where the signal is located and any other pertinent info.

* Renewing Contract for meeting space for 2026. Patty Droppers will contact the church to see if they will let us continue at the current rate of $60 per meeting.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:50 pm.

Respectfully,
Patty Droppers,
Recording Secretary

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