[Ohio-talk] Buckeye Update

[Aleeha Dudley]

Congratulations to Kaiti! I for one am very happy to once again have a scholarship winner from Ohio! 
Regarding the Kindle app, it appears as though it is completely accessible with VoiceOver. That being said, while this is wonderful news, especially with the nook app being accessible as well, there is still no excuse for the fact that the actual Kindle devices are not accessible. Just my two cents worth. 

Aleeha dudley 

On May 3, 2013, at 8:44 AM, "Deborah Kendrick" <dkkendrick at earthlink.net> wrote:

> Eric and all, 
> Just in case you didn't see it, there was wide distribution yesterday of the
> news that there is now an apparently completely accessible app for using
> Kindle on iOS devices. 
> Deborah
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Ohio-talk [mailto:ohio-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Eric
> Duffy
> Sent: Friday, May 03, 2013 2:16 AM
> To: NFB of Ohio Announcement and Discussion List
> Subject: [Ohio-talk] Buckeye Update
> 
> National Federation of the Blind of Ohio Buckeye Update, May 3, 2013
>    Earlier in the week I said that I would write this update on
> Thursday. As I begin writing it is 1:15 AM., so I am writing very early
> Friday morning.
>    Later today Shelbi and I will attend the state-wide meeting for the
> Business Enterprise Program. We will then have dinner with a large group of
> blind operators from around the state.
>    Thursday evening I went to dinner with Kevan Worley and Terry Smith.
> They are here to address the BE meeting and interact with operators and
> staff.
>    Congratulations to Kaiti Shelton who is Ohio's only national
> scholarship winner this year. Kaiti is an active member of our student
> division, and I am looking forward to having her as a part of our convention
> delegation this summer.
>    The May 1, deadline for our Ohio scholarship application has come
> and gone. If you have been asked to write a letter of recommendation for a
> scholarship applicant, please get your letter to Barbara Pierce immediately.
>    The At-Large Chapter will be meeting by conference call at 7:30
> Sunday evening. Members of the Board in particular please be a part of this
> call if you can. I have a family commitment and cannot make this call. The
> number to call is (605) 475-4875. Use access code 201909 followed by the
> pound sign.
>    Sunday evening is also the deadline for May Scrip orders. May has
> the potential to be a very good month for us in this program. It can be a
> great month if everyone who is signed up orders something. 
>    I have no real information yet, but I was contacted by the National
> office on Tuesday about taking major responsibility for a protest  at the
> Parent Teacher Association's National Convention in Cincinnati. This will be
> from June 20-23. In short:  PTA is urging the use of Kindles and the Kindle
> Whispercast, which are inaccessible to disabled students.  Dr. Maurer  sent
> them a letter on March 11,  urging them not to keep pushing that program and
> educating them on how inaccessible Kindles in the classroom is a violation
> of Federal law, but they are moving full steam ahead anyway. You now have
> all of the information that I have on this subject. When I know more, I will
> be in touch with Sheri Albers as well as other chapter presidents and the
> Board.
>    Many of you have asked  how I am doing after my recent kidney stone
> surgery. I am doing very well, and I thank you for your concern. I can
> honestly say the only pain I left in my life at this point is Richard.
>    I am including the minutes from the April 20, Board of Director's
> meeting here. I want thank Shelbi and Barbara for the work they do to get
> the minutes done accurately and quickly. 
> 
> Minutes
> Board of Directors Meeting
> National Federation of the Blind of Ohio April 20, 2013
> 
> 1. President Eric Duffy started the meeting promptly at 10:00 a.m. This was
> a teleconference meeting (605) 475-4875 access code 201909#.
> 
> 2. Board members Debbie Baker, Crystal McClain, and Bruce Peters were not
> present. During the roll call board members were asked to state whether or
> not they had signed the online Fair Wages petition and filled out the NLS
> survey. See the attachment for the results. 
> 
> 3. All members of the organization are encouraged to participate in both the
> signing of the Fair Wages petition and the NLS library survey. We do not
> know what the survey will be used for, but participating will strengthen our
> position, should the need arise. 
> 
> 4. Sherry Ruth moved the acceptance of the January 2013 minutes. Susan Day
> seconded the motion, and it carried. 
> 
> 5. Shelbi Hindel read the financial report. Barbara Pierce moved that the
> report be approved as read. Susan seconded the motion. Sherry Ruth answered
> several questions, and the motion passed. 
> 
> 6. The affiliate has tickets for an iPad drawing. The tickets are $5 each.
> These have been mailed to presidents of chapters and divisions. Sell them
> now. Do not wait till convention since we have a total of 1,000 tickets. The
> iPad has been donated by a member of the Lorain County chapter. The winner
> can choose an iPad Mini, Retina, or 16-gig. The only cost for the drawing to
> the affiliate is printing the tickets.
> 
> 7. Carol Akers gave a report on the Elder-Beerman fundraising project that
> was conducted in the fall of 2012. We should be receiving an additional
> check for $409.80 sometime soon. This is our portion of store sales during
> the community days. We have already received $480.00 for the sale of coupon
> booklets. 
> 
> 8. In the past we have contributed to various national funds, but now our
> financial situation is dire. Barbara reported that the Imagination Fund is
> still in place, and money is being appropriated to it although no one is
> actively chairing it at this time. Sherry R. moved that we contribute $100
> to each of four funds: White Cane Fund, tenBroek Fund, SUN Fund, and
> Imagination Fund and a minimum of $200 for door prizes. Barbara seconded the
> motion, and it carried. Chapters and divisions are encouraged to contribute
> to any fund that they'd like. These contributions will be included in the
> total Ohio contribution. Checks should be to Sherry R. by June 10. Any such
> contributions should still be listed on the chapter or division Gavel
> Report. Barbara reported that we have given $200 for door prizes in the past
> and we should give at least that much this year , so we are asking chapters
> to contribute at least this amount. If we receive more than that, we will
> send the total donated for this purpose.
> 
> 9. Richard Payne is coordinating the candy sales for the affiliate at the
> national convention. He is still trying to find a source for purchasing the
> candy. 
> 
> 10. Natalie Shaheen joined our call to speak about the BELL Program. She
> gave an overview of the program and answered questions. The word is getting
> out, and we have approximately five children who have applied. Soon we will
> be purchasing materials. Lessons are diverse and individualized as much as
> possible. Debbie Baker is the certified Braille teacher. Thanks to Natalie
> for participating with us. 
> 
> 11. We would like to know beforehand who is going to the national
> convention. It would also be helpful if we had email addresses and cell
> phone numbers for attendees. Email this information to the affiliate
> secretary at shelbiah at att.net.
> 
> 12. Suzanne Turner reported that a team of people from the Cleveland Sight
> Center will be attending the national convention so that they can learn how
> to serve blind clients better. The Sight Center will be paying their
> expenses. Approximately twelve people from the Cleveland chapter and the
> Sight Center will be going to the convention. In May an aide from Marcia
> Fudge's office will be attending the Cleveland chapter meeting. Barbara
> Pierce will join the group, and members will press Fudge to reconsider her
> refusal to cosponsor H.R. 164 and to sign on as a sponsor of H.R. 831.
> 
> 13. Shelbi read the proposed changes to the Ohio Constitution and Eric read
> the original. Each article with a proposed change was voted on individually.
> All the proposed changes passed, so they will be presented to the convention
> and voted upon in November.
> 
> 14. Jesse Hartle joined our call to speak about legislation on the national
> level. He is working to keep states better informed on the progress of
> issues. There was discussion. We appreciate Jesse's joining us. 
> 
> 15. William Turner gave a report from the membership committee.
> Consolidating the Cleveland and Cuyahoga chapters has been recommended by
> the committee. The charters of Ohio River Valley and Southeast chapters
> should be lifted. William has not had a chance to speak with Richard
> McConnell, president of the Muskingum county chapter, so William doesn't
> have a recommendation for them at this time. Barbara reported that Mary
> Pool, president of Stark County, is having some health issues and is very
> tired. Mary would like to see that chapter revitalized. Barbara will be
> talking with Shirley Beckner about becoming president of Stark County.
> Richard moved that the charters for the Ohio River Valley and Southeast
> chapters be lifted. William seconded the motion. It passed. Barbara moved
> that we explore consolidating the Cleveland and Cuyahoga chapters. This will
> take time to work through and should not be understood as a mandate from the
> board of directors. The final decision should be made by the chapter members
> who care enough to show up for the discussion and work through the details.
> A number of people remember the history of the early 1990's in which there
> were hurt feelings on both sides. We want to be sensitive and look forward.
> Richard seconded the motion. It passed. 
> 
> 16. In states where at-large chapters are going strong there is a lot of
> support from the state board. Eric and Barbara encouraged all board members
> to participate in the at-large chapter calls. Colleen Roth, president of the
> At-Large Chapter, thinks that having people help with the calls by using
> three-way calling and their long distance plan will greatly assist. Eric
> stated that this could be a means of building new chapters if we have a
> large number of people in a given area who show interest. At the national
> convention there will be a meeting, led by Joe Ruffalo, for states wanting
> to develop strong at-large chapters. The upcoming At-Large Chapter call will
> be May 5, starting at 7-30 p.m. Contact Colleen for further information. 
> 
> 17. Richard would like to see the Ohio Brochure revised and distributed.
> Barbara said that Sylvia Cooley had done the layout and we no longer have
> her services. It would cost more money than the affiliate currently has to
> pay for the production of a brochure. It was suggested that chapters stamp
> the national pamphlets with their local information. If you have any copies
> of the Ohio brochure do, not use them unless you put an updated information
> sticker over the outdated contact information. 
> 
> 18. Deborah Kendrick recorded the Buckeye Bulletin in MP3 format. Eric has
> had a very difficult time putting this recording on the website but is still
> trying. This was a very good issue of the newsletter. Eric encouraged people
> to keep contributing to the newsletter. The next issue will be after the
> national convention and the BELL Program.
> 
> 19. The national affiliate has a new vehicle donation program. Richard Payne
> is the coordinator of this program in our state. We can accept boats that
> float as long as they come with trailers, motor cycles, cars, vans, RV's,
> and trucks. NFB is guaranteed at least $500 for each donation, and there is
> the possibility of more money if the book value is greater. The company does
> all the paper work. Our part of the process is to get the donor in contact
> with the company. There is a link on the NFB website and a toll-free phone
> number, 855-659-9314. Vehicles will be towed to Colorado. The challenge for
> each of us is to get the word out about this program in our communities. 
> 
> 20. A national online auction is going to be held in November from Black
> Friday to Cyber Monday. Each state is asked to donate something of value
> that is unique to it. Shelbi will coordinate this effort for Ohio. Some of
> the suggestions for our state are tickets for a Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame
> weekend get-away, a piece of furniture made in the Amish country, a National
> Football Hall of Fame weekend, Ohio amusement parks passes, and a fine item
> from Longaberger. Some of these suggestions might need to have a package
> deal that would include hotel stay, meals, and entry tickets. Remember we
> are aiming for donations so that the items do not cost the affiliate
> anything. 
> 
> 21. Eric reported that the monthly presidents' calls have been well attended
> with good discussions. The next call will be on Tuesday, June 18th, at 7-00
> p.m. Use the conference line that is being used for this meeting.
> 
> 22. We must continue to find ways to promote NFB-NEWSLINER. At our last
> convention Kevin Miller committed RSC to support NEWSLINE. Continue to
> encourage people to sign-up for the service, and, if you are already signed
> up, continue to use the service. NEWSLINE is a robust service with many ways
> to use it such as iPhone app, email, standard telephone, and more. 
> 
> 23.DAN will be having a fundraiser in the near future. They plan to sell ink
> pens, reported Barb Fohl. 
> 
> 24. The September meeting of the board of directors will be held in person
> in Columbus. It will be on the 21st, starting promptly at 10 a.m. with the
> location to be announced at a later date. 
> 
> 25. Crystal McClain is coordinating the Ohio table at the convention. Since
> she was not on this call, she will email people with information. 
> 
> 26. The money raised by the Parents of Blind Children's gift card drawing
> will go to BELL. Sherry Ruth drew the tickets, and Tom Ruth announced the
> names. Winners were as follows:
> A. $25 Olive Garden Ecard-Angie Clark of Columbus  B. $25 Panera Bread gift
> card--Paul Gordan of Cincinnati  C. $10 Pizza Hut gift card and a $10 Subway
> gift card--Tom Ruth  D. $10 Bob Evans gift card and $10 Bath and Body gift
> card--Colleen Roth  E. $25 Giant Eagle gift card-Cindy Conley  F. $100 Giant
> Eagle gift card--April James, sold by Stephanie Claytor Thanks to all who
> participated in this fundraiser.
> 
> 27. The next NFB Scrip Ohio order is due Sunday, May 5, 7:00 p.m.
> 
> 28. The meeting adjourned at 2-17 p.m. 
> 
> Respectfully submitted,
> Shelbi Hindel, Secretary
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
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