[Ohio-talk] Buckeye Update

Sat Jun 1 09:34:01 UTC 2013

Will it be possible for people to connect into the conference call number
using three way calling? 

-----Original Message-----
From: Ohio-talk [mailto:ohio-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Eric
Duffy
Sent: Friday, May 31, 2013 4:44 PM
To: NFB of Ohio Announcement and Discussion List
Subject: [Ohio-talk] Buckeye Update

National Federation of the Blind of Ohio Buckeye Update, May 31, 2013
	I begin this update with news of graduations. Lucas graduated from
eighth grade on Thursday, and John will graduate from high school on
Saturday. Lucas will be in ninth grade when school begins again, and John
will go to Basic Training for the Marines in September. 
	Here is a correction from last week. I have corrected the phone
number in the below paragraph for Barbara Pierce.
	The phone number we have used to contact Barbara Pierce for a good
many years will be gone very soon. You should begin to use her home phone
number which is (440) 774-8077. Last week I listed the phone number I have
dialed automatically for so many years. 
	On Monday, June 17, at 7:30 P.M., we will conduct a conference  call
to review and discuss why we have two chapters in the Cleveland area. At one
time we had racially divided chapters in a number of cities. That is not the
case in Cleveland now, and it was not the case when our Cuyahoga County
Chapter was formed more than twenty years ago. 

The National Federation of the Blind of Ohio exists to improve life for all
blind people in the state. We will not let racism, perceived or real, divide
us. If racial concerns exist within our organization, we must deal with them
wherever and whenever they occur.  But, let me say once again, the fact that
we have two chapters in the Cleveland area does not mean and has never meant
that these chapters are divided along racial lines. They are not! There is
no "black" or "white chapter." There are only NFB chapters. The Membership
Committee discussed this issue earlier this spring and asked the board to
consider the two-chapter issue and help determine whether or not changes
should be made.

At the very least we must find ways for these two chapters to work together
and make the message that they are doing so very clear. At the June 17
meeting we are not going to take a vote of any kind. However, this will be
an important discussion, and we want all members in the Cleveland area to be
a part of it. I urge every member in the greater Cleveland area to plan now
to call in to this important meeting. Spread the word to those who do not
receive this update so that they can call in as well. That evening I am
going to insist that everyone be courteous and that people speak only after
they have been acknowledged as seeking the floor. I will do my very best to
chair the discussion fairly and to allow all points of view to be heard and
not to let one view dominate the discussion. 

On June 17, shortly before 7:30, call (605) 475-4875. When prompted, use
access code 201909 followed by the pound sign.
	The protest we were planning for the National PTA Association has
been canceled. The meeting is just to close to the National Convention. I
want to thank everyone who has talked to me about being part of the protest.
Now you can relax and get ready for convention.
	I am repeating Shelbi's announcement about the Scrip Program:
: Hello Everyone. We are giving away two Scrip prizes again this year. This
is to encourage people to participate in our fundraiser.   Each is a $25
Scrip gift card of your choice.  To enter the  first drawing  you must
enroll in the NFB Scrip Ohio fund raising program,  must sign up for Presto
Pay, and make your first purchase. The second gift card drawing will also be
for a $25 Scrip gift card.  To enter this drawing you must spend $100 and
for each time you do this your name will be entered one time.    Qualifying
begins  with the June order and ends with the release of the October order.
The drawing will take place at the State Convention, during the banquet on
November 2. You do not need to be present to win for this drawing. You just
have to participate in Scrip as outlined above. 
	Remember that Eric Duffy is willing to assist people with the sign
up process. You can contact him by phone at  (614), 377-9877, or by email
eduffy at pobox.com

Your next scrip order must be completed by 7:00 PM June 3. ( That is the
first Monday of the month.) Richard you no longer have time to sign up for
Presto Pay in time for your June order.  But there is always July. Happy
shopping with Scrip, Scrip reload, or Scrip now!!!
Shelbi
	 This is the last day for online registration for national
convention. Registering online saves both money and time.
	This week I have spent some time working on the NFB-NEWSLINE
contract with RSC. We are getting closer to having it completed. Although
the contract is with the National Office, Scott White has been on vacation,
and the process has required some shepherding by me.
	This is a good time to consider what contributions your chapter or
division can make to the National organization. If you want to include your
contribution with that of the Ohio Affiliate, Sherry Ruth must have your
check by June 15. Please make your check payable to the NFB of Ohio and
indicate how much you are contributing to each fund. Remember that the White
Cane Fund supports the general operations of the National Federation of the
Blind. The tenBroek Fund supports the maintenance of the National Center for
the Blind. SUN stands for Shares Unlimited in NFB. This is the rainy day
fund for the national organization. The Imagination Fund really helps to
build the programs that we want to have at the national level. If you write
checks directly to the various funds rather than to the NFB of Ohio,
remember that, contributions to the tenBroek Fund must be made out to the
tenBroek Fund or the Jacobus tenBroek Fund. Checks for all other funds
should be made out to the NFB with the name of the fund in the memo line.

 Finally, we have pledged to contribute a minimum of $200 for door prizes.
We would like chapters and divisions to offset that cost and add to it if at
all possible.
	 The convention is getting ever closer, and so is BELL. There is
much still to be done to be ready for both. Let's keep working together
marching together, and let's continue to change what it means to be blind.