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

Sheri Koch skochnfbwv at gmail.com
Thu Mar 12 01:39:10 UTC 2020 

 We want you to be safe as well

On Wed, Mar 11, 2020 at 9:30 PM Keri Svendsen via NFBWV-Talk <
nfbwv-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:

> 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.
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> _______________________________________________
> >> State-Affiliate-Leadership-List mailing list
> >> State-Affiliate-Leadership-List at nfbnet.org
> >>
> >>
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/state-affiliate-leadership-list_nfbnet.org
> >> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> >> State-Affiliate-Leadership-List:
> >>
> >>
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/state-affiliate-leadership-list_nfbnet.org/skochnfbwv%40gmail.com
> >> --
> >> Sheri Koch, President
> >> National Federation of the Blind of West Virginia
> >> 304-993-5103
> >> _______________________________________________
> >> NFBWV-Talk mailing list
> >> NFBWV-Talk at nfbnet.org
> >> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbwv-talk_nfbnet.org
> >> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> >> NFBWV-Talk:
> >>
> >>
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbwv-talk_nfbnet.org/dave.blindsight%40gmail.com
> >>
> >>
> >> _______________________________________________
> >> NFBWV-Talk mailing list
> >> NFBWV-Talk at nfbnet.org
> >> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbwv-talk_nfbnet.org
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> >> NFBWV-Talk:
> >>
> >>
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> >>
> --
> Keri Svendsen
>
>
> _______________________________________________
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>
-- 
Sheri Koch, President
National Federation of the Blind of West Virginia
304-993-5103

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