<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=us-ascii">
<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:Aptos;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;
mso-ligatures:standardcontextual;}
span.EmailStyle17
{mso-style-type:personal-compose;
font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;
color:windowtext;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;}
@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="#467886" vlink="#96607D" style="word-wrap:break-word">
<div class="WordSection1">
<p class="MsoNormal">Hello, Members and Friends,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Please find the minutes for the January 14, 2026 PCNFB meeting below.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">John Halverson, Corresponding Secretary<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">PCNFB Chapter Meeting<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">January 14, 2026<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">President Orozco called our meeting to order at 7:10 after which each participant was asked to mention a skill that could be taught and the responses ranged from cooking spaghetti, teaching Braille music, growing sprouts, salsa dancing,
skiing, and <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">microeconomic theory. Based on this information, there could be many fun chapter
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">projects throughout the year.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">John Halverson moved and Larry Povinelli seconded approving our November 2025 meeting minutes; motion passed unanimously.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Sean McMahon stated his November treasurer’s report was revised, had been sent but was not received for distribution so his November and December reports will be discussed at our February meeting.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">NFBV President Soforenko next inducted our newly elected PCNFB officers and board members, thanking those who had served last year and said we have much to do.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">President Orozco next asked us to consider goals for 2026; Julie hopes to have committees appointed by our February meeting. There is definite interest in hearing from and working with Arlington County board of elections about voting machines
to be purchased and the accessibility of absentee ballot by mail. There is also interest in learning about InnoSearch, apps that are not intuitive but are beneficial once learned, website accessibility update from Laura Kim, and we also might consider a cooking
class committee.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">John Halverson agreed to send a copy of our recently amended PCNFB Constitution to Julie.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">President Orozco next described a very unpleasant encounter she and her family experienced with Uber where the driver would not transport them because of “the dog” and the Arlington police officer who came to the scene did not feel it
was within their jurisdiction to insist that the driver obey the law. We are ready to show our support when a plan of action has been developed.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Conchita Hernandez Legoretta, our NFBV Braille Enrichment in Literacy and Learning (BELL) coordinator, described the program we hope will take place in northern Virginia from June 22-26. She, Louise Walch, our past BELL coordinator, and
Jodi Nicholson who was the teacher of blind students during several Virginia Beach BELL programs, are actively recruiting families from DC and Virginia. Many volunteers will be needed for the various activities that take place from lunch and snack prep, reading
Braille during story time, excursions to offering space in our homes for parents and their children. Conchita will provide updates as details are confirmed. Volunteers are crucial to the success of this program designed for children to have fun while being
pushed out of their comfort zones.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Tracy stated 56 participants have registered for our upcoming Richmond seminar, several of whom are from our chapter. Our legislative priorities are related to electronic absentee ballot return patroned by Delegate Hope, and supporting
autonomous vehicles in the Commonwealth. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Our Washington Seminar great gathering-in takes place on Monday, January 26 and our confirmed appointments will take place on January 27 and 28.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Board member consensus was that we meet quarterly with our first meeting on February 9 at 8:30; Julie will contact our Zoom coordinator for scheduling with an announcement distributed to our chapter list.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Sue Povinelli informed us of the passing of Carl Knoettner, a longtime PCNFB member who not only provided transportation for many of us to board meetings and Richmond seminars but regularly attended chapter meetings, was an active participant
in our book club; a memorial service is being planned at his church and Sue will keep us updated as the date and time are confirmed.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">After Patty Droppers told us that St. George’s is happy to have us continue meeting in their space, Tracy moved and Larry seconded payment of $600 for 2026 room rental; motion passed unanimously.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There being no further business, our meeting was adjourned at 8:45 p.m.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Respectfully submitted,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Sandy Halverson<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Recording Secretary<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</div>
</body>
</html>