[NFBV-Potomac-Announce] Minutes August 2026 Potomac Chapter Meeting

[John Halverson]

Hello,

Please find attached and below the minutes of the August 2026 NFB Potomac chapter meeting.

John Halverson, Corresponding Secretary

Potomac Chapter
National Federation of the Blind
Chapter Meeting Minutes
August 12, 2026

Our meeting was called to order at 7 p.m. by President Orozco after which Zoom and in-person attendees introduced themselves.

Larry Povinelli moved and John Halverson seconded approving the minutes; motion carried unanimously.

Larry Povinelli moved and Sandy Halverson seconded accepting the treasurer's report which was accepted unanimously.

Our chapter picnic will take place on Saturday, September 19, 2026 from 3 to 7 p.m. at 810 22nd Street, South, Arlington, VA 22202. John and Sandy Halverson will be sending an announcement soon about details.

Our wine tasting was next discussed and Tracy Yeager, who had attended a recent wine tasting at this venue, said the sommelier names, describes, and pours each one-ounce pours of the eight wines offered at one of their tastings. Also noted was some of their wines have Braille labels. At our September meeting, Tracy will report date and time options. Patty Droppers and Tracy Yeager will decide our wines  to be tasted and after discussion, it was agreed we would also request the charcuterie board. The cost will be $50 per person.

Gary Moore, our fundraising chair, recommended we purchase prepackaged trail mix after which Patty Droppers  moved authorizing that our chapter purchase up to 75 3-ounce bags of prepackaged trail mix for sale at our upcoming state convention; John Halverson seconded and the motion carried unanimously.

Gary Moore, Larry Povinelli, LeRoy Hansen, Julie Orozco and Nancy Yeager volunteered to serve on our Blind Equality Achievement Month (BEAM) committee to plan a community event showing blind people being physically active.

The consensus among those attending our recent national convention was that it was a great convention, great hotel, reflected a wide range of interests and will be summarized in our August-September Braille Monitor convention roundup.

Joe Orozco will chair our chapter programming committee with Sue Povinelli, Sean McMahon and Sarah Blumberg.

Our affiliate president, Tracy Soforenko, reminded us that our state convention will take place from Thursday, October 22 to Sunday, October 25, 2026 at the Crowne Plaza Washington-Dulles Airport in Herndon, Virginia. Our $125 per night rate plus tax also includes a complimentary breakfast; general sessions will take place Friday and Saturday mornings, breakout meetings Thursday evening, Friday and Saturday afternoons, and our exhibit hall will be open Friday and Saturday. Our national representative will be Tom Page, president of our Kansas affiliate who also serves on our national board of directors. It is anticipated that our registration form will go live by mmid-September.

John Halverson announced our chapter book club will continue. We are planning to meet the first Wednesday of each month and more details will be forthcoming.

Our Kiwanis grant application has been submitted. If we receive funding, we plan to support a 2027 Braille Enrichment for Literacy and Learning (BELL) program in 2027 and a recognition ceremony for northern Virginia Braille Readers Are Leaders participants to connect parents with our Parents of Blind Children Division and encourage BELL program participation.

Matthew Whitaker is a blind jazz musician who has earned a Grammy in recognition of his talent. He will be performing with his quintet at the Birchmere in Alexandria on Saturday, August 15. Tickets are $50 and contact President Soforenko for more information.

There being no further business, our meeting was adjourned at 8:45 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,
Sandy Halverson
Recording Secretary



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