[NHLakesChapter] Lakes Region Meeting notes

Fri Nov 14 00:59:16 UTC 2025

Hello Federation members and friends,

Hoping everyone is well this evening. Attached below are two file formats,
a word document, and a pdf of the October meeting notes. After my signature
is the plain text format. I appreciate your patience as I learn a new
platform to communicate with our chapter.

Please let me know if you have any corrections, edits, or questions. Have a
nice evening.

Kindly,
Melissa

Plain text meeting notes:

New Hampshire Federation of The Blind (NFB)

Lakes Region Chapter Meeting

*Secretary*’*s Report*

The meeting began on Saturday, Oct 20, 2025, at 10:30 am

Susie read the Pledge of Allegiance

David read the NFB Pledge

Melissa read the NFB Belief Message

Lillian & Lucille offered a prayer

*Attendance Report*

Those in attendance (20):

Madam President, Deanna O’Brien

Treasurer, Dennis O’Brien

State Treasurer, Fred Fournier

Secretary, Melissa Abbott

Andrew Harmon, Sheryl Dutton, Deb Moore, Carolyn Corrigan, Jackie Gagne,
Richard “Ricky” Persons, Lillian Leroux, Lucille Leroux, David Brownell,
Jody Ianuzzi, Susie Hoitt, Randi Wilson, Dana Trahan, Michelle G,
Christopher Duffley, Joanne Jordon

*Treasurer Report*

Dennis updated the chapter’s funding account for 9/30/25, as follows:

Beginning balance $3443.96

Deposits $0.00

Interest $0.03

Withdrawals $0.00

Ending Balance $3443.99

1st motion Melissa, 2nd Sheryl, 3rd-all in favor

*Beginning messages from members*

Melissa will call Lisa Klaud to follow up on volunteering efforts and call
Scott regarding potential Gamefest fundraising.

Jody announced Maggie had fallen downstairs and broken her wrist, elbow,
ankle, and collarbone.

*President Deanna*’*s Objectives for the meeting*

Dana’s legislative affairs report

Scholarship program and new requirements for applicants

State convention updates

Melissa’s fundraising report and new requirements for sending out secretary
notes to members on the list serve

*VP, Sheryl* *Dutton*

Good morning, get outside!

Google Maps is on WMUR, which has GPS for the blind & visually impaired.

*Secretary, Melissa Abbott *

Send contact list out to members, updates needed.

Please send secretary notes in TXT format (universal file type).

An alternative option is to copy & paste notes into email for list serve.

Send Deanna Word doc as usual.

Emailed Dana a new email contact.

As a chapter, we went through the previous attendance meeting for any
inconsistencies; those who call in with a number find it hard to know who
it is.

Fred suggested that the meeting minutes be published to the group &
approval vote on the minutes.

Deb said legally obligated to do so.

Dana asked to publish on the website.

President Deanna said to put on the list serve, not the website.

*Fundraising Efforts *

Gaming night registration is now complete.

The new mission statement for the application process is completed.

The mission statement is at the end of the meeting notes for everyone.

Hannaford bags application in process; awaiting approval.

Randi wants to chat about a new opportunity. Melissa will call her next
week.

Fred inquired about multiple sites in a calendar year. Melissa will
double-check.

Deanna wants the status of Hannaford bags. Melissa will call to inquire on
application status.

Melissa is to add the mission statement to the October minutes.

Andrew is wondering whether anyone else can join the fundraising efforts.

*Legislative alerts next chapter mtg w/Dana Trahan *

Dana spoke with Jesse Shira.

Meeting with each state’s Legislative director on Monday evening.

The cancellation of Special Ed funding is impacting all areas: mobility
training, entrepreneur support, braille instruction in classrooms, and
technology.

SBVI will be affected tremendously.

Federal level Department of Education-Randall Shepard

**Very critical /serious problem.

*Jody announced Medicare cancellation and pull out (Medicare monthly fee
increased by $200)

*NFBNH Event Scholarship Policy*

Support members, attend the state convention, scholarships, the national
convention, and the Washington seminar.

Awards are based on financial need in written form, on a case-by-case
basis. Scholarship policy sent to the list serve for everyone to read.

Travel accommodations for long-distance (airlines, trains, etc.) & local
(taxis, Lifts, food & incidentals) transport are the responsibility of the
individual.

*State & National conventions*

Criteria for applying for funding. Dana requested to be read to all.

Dennis read the requirements for funding & scholarships for the chapter
members.

The chapter had a good collective discussion regarding questions of the new
policy.

*Next Important Dates:*

1/26/26 WA seminar

5/30/26 State convention

7/3-8/26 National convention in Austin, TX

*New proposed mission statement:*

The purpose of the National Federation of the Blind of New Hampshire is to
help the blind achieve self-confidence, self-respect, and
self-determination by fostering personal empowerment and coordinating
nationwide advocacy to build a greater understanding of blindness. Our
ultimate goal is the complete integration of the blind into society on a
basis of equality through removing legal, economic, and social barriers,
educating the public, and promoting opportunity in employment, schooling,
recreation, and healthcare.

*Next meeting, 11/15/25*

President Deanna O’Brien called the meeting at 12:15.
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://nfbnet.org/pipermail/nhlakeschapter_nfbnet.org/attachments/20251113/3d6589ce/attachment.htm>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: NFBOct2025ChapterNotes.docx
Type: application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document
Size: 11808 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://nfbnet.org/pipermail/nhlakeschapter_nfbnet.org/attachments/20251113/3d6589ce/attachment.docx>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: NFBOct2025ChapterNotes.pdf
Type: application/pdf
Size: 110978 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://nfbnet.org/pipermail/nhlakeschapter_nfbnet.org/attachments/20251113/3d6589ce/attachment.pdf>