[NFBWV-Talk] Fwd: [State-Affiliate-Leadership-List] COVID-19 Guidance for Federation Leaders (please share with affiliate boards and chapter presidents)

Thu Mar 12 01:29:40 UTC 2020

I hope everyone stays safe. I am currently waiting to see what will 
happen at my job and for my classes, but I have been on Spring break 
this week.

On 3/11/2020 9:23 PM, Sheri Koch via NFBWV-Talk wrote:
> I forgot to remind everybody that we, NFBWV, Has her our own  zoom number
> so Ed doesn’t have to conduct each meeting. If you need to hold a meeting
> of any kind related to NFBWV.  Let me know and I’ll provide you with the
> Zoom information
>
> On Wed, Mar 11, 2020 at 9:16 PM David Allen via NFBWV-Talk <
> nfbwv-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>
>> Hi Sheri!
>>
>> In the event of incouraging other chapters, Zoom has scertainly served
>> well for the MAL meetings. I've remembered to keep my clock straight after
>> your time change, so I had this month's meeting with my morning tea to
>> start the week.
>>
>> Cheers,
>> Dave
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: NFBWV-Talk [mailto:nfbwv-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
>> Sheri Koch via NFBWV-Talk
>> Sent: Thursday, 12 March 2020 1:54 p.m.
>> To: NFB of West Virginia Discussion List
>> Cc: Sheri Koch
>> Subject: [NFBWV-Talk] Fwd: [State-Affiliate-Leadership-List] COVID-19
>> Guidance for Federation Leaders (please share with affiliate boards and
>> chapter presidents)
>>
>> Hi everyone
>>
>>
>> Below is the email from President Riccobono regarding attending NFB
>> functions. Please know that our top priority is to keep us safe and well.
>> At this juncture, I will monitor all directives applicable to West
>> Virginia, Virginia, and Texas and we will make decisions accordingly.  At
>> this point, I am still looking at conducting BELL,  attending National
>> convention, and conducting our state convention. However this could change
>> as a situation worsens.  Again, our primary concern is to keep us safe and
>> well.  I want anyone planning to attend any of these events to take their
>> own health risk and risk to your family very seriously.  I will make Zoom
>> available to any chapter who wishes to hold a chapter meeting via zoom
>> platform rather than face-to-face to minimize risk.
>>
>>
>> If you have any questions as we move forward, please feel free to let me
>> know.
>>
>> ---------- Forwarded message ---------
>> From: President, National Federation of the Blind via
>> State-Affiliate-Leadership-List <
>> state-affiliate-leadership-list at nfbnet.org>
>> Date: Wed, Mar 11, 2020 at 7:45 PM
>> Subject: [State-Affiliate-Leadership-List] COVID-19 Guidance for Federation
>> Leaders (please share with affiliate boards and chapter presidents)
>> To: State Affiliate Leadership List <
>> state-affiliate-leadership-list at nfbnet.org>
>> CC: President, National Federation of the Blind <
>> OfficeOfThePresident at nfb.org>
>>
>>
>> National Federation of the Blind Response to COVID-19
>>
>> The news has been dominated lately by information about the COVID-19
>> outbreak. This message will share what the National Federation of the Blind
>> is doing and recommending. Please know that this is a topic that the
>> leadership group continues to monitor and discuss on a daily basis. The
>> health and safety of all of our members, staff, and friends is always our
>> top priority.
>>
>>
>>
>> Attending a Federation event is a personal decision to be made based upon
>> your current health status and, when appropriate, in consultation with
>> medical professionals. For the latest facts about the virus, we encourage
>> accessing reliable information from sources such as the World Health
>> Organization (WHO)
>> <https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019> or
>> the Centers
>> for Disease Control (CDC).
>> <https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html> Users of
>> NFB-NEWSLINE® can also access the latest information in the breaking news
>> section.
>>    National Convention and National Headquarters
>>
>> The 2020 NFB National Convention is taking place July 14-19 in Houston,
>> Texas, as planned. At this time we do not believe there is a need to alter
>> plans for our annual meeting. We will continue to evaluate the situation
>> and the needs of attendees. We will update the national convention webpage
>> (
>> nfb.org/convention <https://www.nfb.org/get-involved/national-convention>)
>> regarding the status of the event and any related precautions to be taken.
>>
>>
>>
>> At our national headquarters, the National Federation of the Blind Jernigan
>> Institute, we are taking extra precautions and implementing sanitation and
>> safety measures to keep our members, visitors, and staff safe. We are
>> evaluating our planned meetings and tours and will communicate with
>> participants regarding the status of previously planned events. While we
>> have postponed certain large-scale national meetings, we continue to host a
>> number of smaller meetings where the risk factors are low. These factors
>> are being constantly reviewed.
>>    Large State Meetings and Conventions
>>
>> Based on current information, the national leadership recommends that state
>> conventions or other events should be continued as appropriate while
>> monitoring local conditions and directives. Affiliate leadership should
>> monitor and follow any directives or guidelines issued by public health
>> officials in your state or area that are specific to outbreaks there. The
>> local circumstances should be the strongest guide for adjusting statewide
>> meetings. State leaders are asked to coordinate their plans with the
>> President of the Federation so assistance can be provided and clear lines
>> of communication can be maintained across the nation.
>>
>>     - If an event is proceeding, take appropriate precautions and let
>>     members know about the details of those precautions or updated
>> information.
>>     Please review the general guidance for executing meetings during
>> COVID-19
>>     offered below.
>>     - If an event is cancelled, appropriate messaging should be distributed
>>     through all relevant channels.
>>
>>    Local Chapter Meetings and Events
>>
>> Like state meetings, our current recommendation is that local leadership
>> should continue activities as appropriate while monitoring local conditions
>> and directives. Local chapter meeting changes should be coordinated with
>> the affiliate president.
>>
>> ·         Communicate to members that they should decide their level of
>> participation based on their own health and safety. Be sure to utilize the
>> general guidance for executing meetings found below.
>>
>> ·         Local chapters should communicate with meeting locations to
>> understand what precautions those facilities are taking to support hosted
>> meetings.
>>
>> ·         Chapter leaders may want to secure supplies to assist members in
>> keeping the meeting environment as free of germs as possible.
>>
>> ·         Local leaders should ensure that clear communication plans exist
>> for sharing updated information to members.
>>
>> ·         For meetings of small chapters or of chapter or division boards,
>> leaders might consider using a service like Zoom or FreeConferenceCall.com
>> to conduct virtual meetings as a temporary measure if local circumstances
>> do not permit public meetings.
>>
>>
>> General Guidance for Executing Meetings
>>
>> The most important prophylactic step that Federation members can take is to
>> encourage those who are exhibiting any type of symptoms related to a
>> respiratory illness to refrain from attending any organizational events. If
>> someone has been exposed to the virus in any way, that person should stay
>> away from Federation events as well. Additionally, those who are in
>> high-risk groups should consult with their medical professionals and
>> consider staying at home. At Federation events, it is critical that
>> everyone practice the highest level of hygiene.
>>
>> ·         We should refrain from handshakes or physical contact like hugs,
>> etc.
>>
>> ·         Hands should be washed frequently and/or hand sanitizer should be
>> used liberally.
>>
>> ·         It should be recognized that serving food at Federation meetings
>> is a potential exposure point. We recommend considering eliminating food at
>> Federation events during the current circumstances. However, if food is to
>> be served extra attention should be given to best practices for serving
>> food and keeping surfaces clean. Specifically, anyone serving food should
>> wear gloves, and before serving, hands, serving surfaces, and
>> serving instruments should be sanitized.
>>
>>
>>
>> Again, we will continue to monitor all aspects of this situation as they
>> develop, focusing first and foremost on the health and safety of everyone
>> in our Federation family. I wish you, your families, and your colleagues
>> the best as we address these challenges.
>>
>>
>>
>> Warmly,
>>
>> Mark A. Riccobono, President
>> National Federation of the Blind
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Mark A. Riccobono, President
>>
>> 200 East Wells Street, Baltimore, MD 21230
>> <https://www.google.com/maps/search/200+East+Wells+Street,+Baltimore,+MD+21230?entry=gmail&source=g>
>> <
>> https://www.google.com/maps/search/200+East+Wells+Street,+Baltimore,+MD+21230?entry=gmail&source=g
>> (410) 659-9314 | Officeofthepresident at nfb.org
>>
>> Twitter: @Riccobono
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> [image: National Federation of the Blind] <https://nfb.org/>
>>
>>
>>
>>                           [image: Facebook]
>> <http://www.facebook.com/nationalfederationoftheblind>    [image: Twitter]
>> <https://twitter.com/NFB_Voice>    [image: Youtube]
>> <https://www.youtube.com/NationsBlind>
>>
>>
>>
>> The National Federation of the Blind is a community of members and friends
>> who believe in the hopes and dreams of the nation’s blind. Every day we
>> work together to help blind people live the lives they want.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
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>> State-Affiliate-Leadership-List at nfbnet.org
>>
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>>
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>> --
>> Sheri Koch, President
>> National Federation of the Blind of West Virginia
>> 304-993-5103
>> _______________________________________________
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>>
>>
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-- 
Keri Svendsen