[NHLakesChapter] NFB of NH Lakes Region Chapter June 2026 Meeting notes

[randi62]

Hi, Melissa!This all looks good to me! Looking forward to hearing everybody on Saturday morning!Randi Wilson Sent from my Galaxy
-------- Original message --------From: Melissa & Todd Abbott via NHLakesChapter <nhlakeschapter at nfbnet.org> Date: 9/17/26  12:04 PM  (GMT-05:00) To: NFB of New Hampshire Lakes Region Chapter List <nhlakeschapter at nfbnet.org> Cc: Melissa & Todd Abbott <modeanit at gmail.com> Subject: [NHLakesChapter] NFB of NH Lakes Region Chapter June 2026 Meeting
  notes Hello Everyone!Hoping you all are enjoying the last few weeks of your summer season. Our annual picnic was wonderful this year and it was so nice to see everyone in person! I look forward to seeing you this Saturday, September 19 at 10:30 for our regularly scheduled chapter meeting. It will be nice to catch up on all NFB objective and intitatives. Please be advised that I was absent for the June meeting so some meeting objectives are not included and the format will be slightly different for this meeting report. For example, who did the prayer, pledge of allegiance, who read the belief message, philosophy statement, my secretary's report and fundraising report, etc. Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns. Have a great rest of your day!Kindly, MelissaSecretaryNFB of NH Lakes Region ChapterNFB of NH Lakes Region ChapterJune 20th, 2026 Secretary Meeting NotesMembers in Attendance, 19 NFB NH Lakes Region Chapter Board MembersPresident, Deanna O’BrienVice President, Sheryl DuttonTreasurer, Dennis O’Brien NFB of NH North Country Chapter Board MembersRichard ChabotJackie GagneCarolyn Corrigan, Christine Demers, Deb Moore, Andrew Harmon, Dana Trahan, Fred Fournier, Lillian Leroux, Lucille LerouxJoanne Jordan, Randi Wilson, David Brownell, Nancy Downing, Dan Levesque, Kelley Snyder.Treasurer’s Report:May 2026 Beginning Balance: $3,744.20Checks/Debits $100.00Interest $0.03May 2026 Ending Balance: $3,644.23Meeting Summary Quick Recap:1) Bay Bridge Run/Walk Across New England initiative, where the six New England states will collaborate to raise funds for the national office. The affiliate agreed to participate by having members log individual miles through walking, treadmill exercise, swimming, or other movement activities between October and November, with Randi taking the lead role as champion and forming a committee with Andrew and Christine to coordinate the effort. 2) The group also decided on August 15th as the date for the annual picnic, with an August 1st deadline date for RSVP's and food sign-ups.3) The group discussed challenges with the recent May 2026 convention at the Grappone Center regarding the breakfast service and scheduling conflicts with a prom. 4) The meeting ended with a brief mention of a disability pride parade in July and a corporate matching fund donation from Kelley's employer that needed follow-up.Meeting Summary Quick Recap Details:Andrew    • Volunteer to help Randi and the committee identify suitable locations (parks) for potential group walk events and assist with logistics as needed.    • Email information about the July 18th Disability Pride Parade to the listserv and coordinate with interested members (including Christine) about possible NFB table/representation.Christine    • Join the Walk Across New England planning committee and assist with brainstorming and organizing participation, especially around community engagement ideas.David    • Communicate with Deanna about his possible contribution to the Walk Across New England fundraising.Deanna    • Communicate with Shara Winton and other New England state presidents to clarify event dates, mileage, and logistics for the Walk Across New England; share updates and materials (flyers, QR codes) with the chapter when available.    • Communicate with Grappone Center to address issues with breakfast service and prom scheduling, and inquire about room rates for the last week of April and first week of May for the 2024 state convention; report findings to the chapter.    • Put out information on the listserv regarding possible 2024 state convention dates and hotel options for chapter feedback.    • Provide Christine's email address to Andrew and ensure she receives chapter communications until she is added to the listserv.Deb    • Confirm picnic date of August 15th with the park and ensure the 22nd is held as a rain date; communicate final details to Deanna and the chapter.Collaboration    • Randi, Andrew, Christine: Meet (using affiliate Zoom if needed) to develop a plan for individual and collective participation in the Walk Across New England, including tracking miles and engaging community members.    • All members: Begin tracking individual movement/miles (walking, swimming, treadmill, etc.) as of the date set by the committee, and report to Randi or designated committee member for tallying.    • All members: RSVP to Deanna by August 1st regarding attendance at the August 15th picnic and indicate what dish or item they will bring.    • Deanna and Dennis: Follow up with Raytheon regarding the status of the corporate matching fund donation for Future Insight and ensure funds are properly directed to Fred (Treasurer).SummaryNew England Walk Initiative PlanningThe meeting began with a belief statement from the National Federation of the Blind and a prayer led by Lillian. The group reviewed and accepted both the Secretary's report and the Treasurer's report, with Andrew and Lillian making the necessary motions and receiving unanimous approval. Deanna then discussed a new initiative called the "Walk Across New England," where six New England states will collaborate to raise funds through a walk or run event, though details about implementation and coordination are still being determined.Coast to Coast Challenge PlanningDeanna announced that New Hampshire must participate in the Coast to Coast Movement Challenge despite the late planning, as all six New England states are participating. The group discussed how to approach the challenge given their geographic spread across the state, with Deanna proposing that members track individual miles through walking, treadmill exercise, or walking guide dogs, with the collective miles representing the distance between state capitals. Randi volunteered to be the champion for the initiative, and the group explored ideas including community involvement, potentially incorporating Halloween costumes for October events, and using local parks for group walks.October Movement Challenge PlanningThe group discussed organizing a movement challenge event in October, with Deanna suggesting a week-long walking event where participants could log various physical activities including walking, swimming, and gym workouts toward a total mileage goal. Christine and Andrew agreed to join a committee led by Randi to plan the event, with the committee needing to determine a specific location and accommodate different participation levels including those with mobility limitations. The group clarified that registration should be done under affiliate rather than chapter status, and they acknowledged this would be their first year participating, with plans to improve the event in future years.Bay Bridge Run Planning MeetingThe meeting focused on planning New Hampshire's participation in the Bay Bridge Run/Coast to Coast walk event. Deanna explained that the event will have both group and individual components to accommodate participants across different regions of the state. The committee discussed coordinating local activities and keeping track of participation, with plans to clarify the fundraising purpose and receive official information after the national convention. Dana suggested using Google Gemini to research the event's fundraising mission, and the group agreed to share this information once available.August Picnic Planning MeetingThe group decided to hold their picnic on August 15th with August 22nd as a rain date. Deb will contact the park to confirm the 15th date and keep the 22nd as a backup. Attendees must confirm their attendance by August 1st and bring their own drinks, chairs, and food items like desserts, salads, or side dishes, while the chapter will provide meat, buns, and plates. The meeting also noted that Kevin will not be able to help with grilling this year due to being out of work and health issues.State Convention Planning DiscussionThe group confirmed that the picnic date would remain the 15th and discussed issues with the recent state convention, including problems with hotel breakfast service and a prom being held on the same day. While some members expressed interest in returning to a multi-day convention format, they agreed to stay in Maine and consider the same hotel, pending discussions about resolving the issues encountered. The group also discussed the success of having Maggie Goodlander attend the convention and explored strategies for inviting other congressional representatives to future events, though they acknowledged the challenges in scheduling due to legislative breaks and busy schedules.Convention Scheduling and Venue IssuesThe group discussed scheduling the next convention, with consensus to keep it in April or May rather than continuously moving the date. Deanna expressed concerns about issues at the current venue, the Grappone Center, including breakfast service problems and conflicts with prom scheduling. The group agreed to let Deanna first address these issues directly with the hotel before considering forming a convention committee or changing venues.State Convention Date Change DiscussionThe group discussed moving the state convention from late May to late April due to Memorial Day conflicts on May 31st. Deanna explained challenges with securing hotel rooms for overnight stays, noting previous attempts to guarantee room blocks failed due to affiliates backing out at higher rates. The group agreed to explore both late April (April 24-30) and early May dates, with Deanna committing to contact the hotel for rate comparisons and potentially calling an emergency chapter meeting to finalize the decision before the next regular meeting in September.State Convention Planning MeetingThe group discussed planning for an upcoming state convention, with Deanna emphasizing the need to select a date early and requiring board members like Richard to prioritize attendance over other commitments. Deanna agreed to work with the hotel to determine room rates and will share information on the listserv, while noting they may need to find a new venue if the current hotel doesn't work out. Andrew brought up a disability pride parade on July 18th outside the State House in Concord, and Christine offered to help coordinate attendance at the event, with Deanna providing her contact information to the group.New Investigator Welcome and UpdatesDeanna welcomed Christine as the new investigator and expressed pride in having her join the NFB. Randi requested a moment with Deanna after the meeting to complete a form and exchanged contact information with Christine. David inquired about the national fund drive timeline, and Deanna indicated they would discuss it further, suggesting they focus on finding community and business donors rather than affiliate members. Jackie announced a road toll event in North Country on July 18th, which raised $800 last year. Jackie also will discuss the Walk Across New England event at the next North Country chapter meeting and coordinate local participation and mileage tracking. Kelley raised concerns about Raytheon's corporate matching fund donation process, which Deanna promised to follow up on.Dana Trahan Legislative Director Report: Thank you to Randi, our second VP, for embracing the Bay Bridge Run project.Bay Bridge RunIs an annual 10K walk or run across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge in Maryland. The National Federation of the Blind (NFB) participates in it as a major charity partner alongside their nationwide "Coast-to-Coast Movement Challenge."While the actual in-person bridge crossing typically takes place in early November, with fundraising virtual events kick into high gear in October, which is Blind Equality Achievement Month.The funds raised from the event directly support the NFB's core mission to help blind and low-vision individuals live independent, fulfilling lives. Specifically, the money goes toward education and literacy programs such as the Braille Reading Pals, NFB BELL Academy (Braille Enrichment for Literacy and Learning) to help blind children develop critical reading and writing skills. Advocacy & legal defenses protecting the civil rights of blind Americans, ensuring equal access in the workplace, and fighting for digital accessibility (like making medical devices and websites compatible with nonvisual screen readers).Employment resources by hosting virtual career fairs and career mentoring networks to connect blind job seekers with employers and combat high unemployment rates in the blind community.Free White Cane Program and manufacturing and distribution of high-quality fiberglass white canes to any blind person in the US who needs one, completely free of charge, to promote independence and mobility.Essentially, it's all about "shattering barriers" and creating opportunities so that blindness doesn't hold anyone back from their dreams.    _______________________________________________NHLakesChapter mailing listNHLakesChapter at nfbnet.orghttp://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nhlakeschapter_nfbnet.orgTo unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for NHLakesChapter:http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nhlakeschapter_nfbnet.org/randi62%40comcast.net
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