<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40">
<head>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8">
<meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)">
<style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:blue;
text-decoration:underline;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:purple;
text-decoration:underline;}
p.msonormal0, li.msonormal0, div.msonormal0
{mso-style-name:msonormal;
mso-margin-top-alt:auto;
margin-right:0in;
mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:0in;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;}
span.EmailStyle18
{mso-style-type:personal-reply;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
color:windowtext;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
font-size:10.0pt;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
--></style><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]-->
</head>
<body lang="EN-US" link="blue" vlink="purple">
<div class="WordSection1">
<p class="MsoNormal">Thank you Christine for these great minutes.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">John<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a name="_MailEndCompose"><o:p> </o:p></a></p>
<span style="mso-bookmark:_MailEndCompose"></span>
<div>
<div style="border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in">
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>From:</b> Christine Grassman [mailto:cfgrassman@icloud.com]
<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Saturday, August 24, 2019 9:10 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> John Halverson <jwh100@outlook.com><br>
<b>Subject:</b> Chapter Minutes August 8, 2019<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">NFB of Virginia Potomac Chapter Minutes August 8, 2019:<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">The meeting was called to order at 7:00 PM with sixteen attendees. <o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">This meeting’s question was: Name a teacher who made an impact on your life. Several members named two teachers, and discussion reflected the real influence teachers and mentors can have on a person’s self-worth and future expectations. <o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">The post-convention Presidential release, No. 485, was played.<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">President Riccobono discussed the success of the 2019 Las Vegas convention, gave the top ten convention attendance rates, and gave the dates and location of the 2020 convention: the Hilton Americas in Houston, Texas, from June 30-July 5.
HOtel rates will be $105 across the board.<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">Twenty-one resolutions were passed and are available at the web site; chapters are encouraged to discuss their significance. <o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:9.0pt">We are implementing a new initiative to answer questions of prospective members called open houses, which will </span><span style="font-size:13.5pt;background:white"> be calls that will take place in order
to answer questions, demystify what the NFB is, and what membership means. </span><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:13.5pt">The first one will be in August. They will be happening on the third Sunday of each even numbered month and on the third Wednesday of each odd numbered month. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:13.5pt">You must RSVP for these calls by emailing
<a href="mailto:membership@nfb.org">membership@nfb.org</a>, or calling (410) 659-9314, ext. 2509. Prospective members can also ask questions via these methods. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:13.5pt">Legislative update:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:13.5pt">H.R. 3929, the GAIN Act, one of our priorities at Washington Seminar, has been introduced in the House. Please use this time to contact your representatives to encourage co-sponsorship. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:13.5pt">This legislation authorizes the United States Access Board to develop a minimum nonvisual access standard for home use, medical devices, exercise equipment, and home appliances. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:13.5pt">Send details about Meet the Blind Monthactivities to
<a href="mailto:web@nfb.org">web@nfb.org</a> with what, when, and where. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:13.5pt">There will be a major announcement in October that will put the name of the NFB and Braille into stores worldwide.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:13.5pt">President Riccobono discussed the harm of “click by” lawsuits where attorneys recruit blind and other disabled people to file complaints against businesses who have inaccessible web
sites, settle for a certain amount, and nothing changes for others. Contact the NFB about these and avoid these harmful attempts to capitalize on the ADA.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:13.5pt">The Federation only signs public agreements. if the NFB’s name is used, implying our endorsement, contact us or your affiliate president. If you are approached about any click-by
lawsuit, contact us; these lawsuits change nothing for the greater disabled community.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white;font-stretch: normal;min-height: 22px">
<span style="font-size:13.5pt"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:13.5pt">The same applies to research in the blindness field. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:13.5pt">Valerie Yingling is the contact for legal case coordination, and LuAnn Blake handles research coordination.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:13.5pt">The American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults is turning 100 years old. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:13.5pt">You can order a free Braille calendar from the American Action Fund by calling 410-659-9315, or you can send an e-mail to
<a href="mailto:calendars@actionfund.org">calendars@actionfund.org</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:13.5pt">Three free calendars per individual request. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:13.5pt">For $35, you can obtain a Twin Vision (TM) book Pedro and the Octopus from the Independence Market; you will receive one book and one will be given free to a blind child in the U.S.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:13.5pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:13.5pt">***<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:13.5pt">We discussed membership committees and discussed projects going forward. The upcoming state convention was discussed. There will be details of transportation traveling to Portsmouth
on Thursday, October 31, and returning Sunday, November 3. If you commit, you must pay regardless of whether your plans change. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:13.5pt">Our National Harbor trip with other local chapters will take place September 7.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:13.5pt">Our wine-tasting event will take place September 14, and orders for wines will be taken and handled by a local store, and we will receive some percentage of the proceeds. The cost
of the vent is $40; light refreshments will be served. Assistance with set-up and clean-up is appreciated.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:13.5pt">There are serious issues involving blind inmates, who have the same rights as other blind individuals. We are forming a committee to address these issues. There is currently a lawsuit
pending against the state on behalf of several blind inmates.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:13.5pt">We have a new member!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:13.5pt">Respectfully submitted,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:13.5pt">Christine Grassman<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:13.5pt">Recording Secretary<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br>
<br>
<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
</div>
</body>
</html>