[Ohio-talk] Buckeye Update

[Eric Duffy]

National Federation of the Blind of Ohio buckeye Update
September 26, 2014

Last evening at about 5:30 I got an Email from John Pare in our National office asking if someone from the affiliate could attend an event in St. Clairsville where Senator Portman would be. So at 7:30 this morning I went racing off to St. Clairsville to meet the Senator.

I talked with him about the TEACH Act S2060. He said that he doesn't normally cosponsor legislation that is not from one of his committees, but that he would seriously consider the TEACH Act. 
	I also talked with him about the Convention On the Rights of People with Disabilities. He said that he has considered the CRPD a great deal, but that he's just not there. He said he would give it further consideration because we and so many groups representing people with disabilities support it.
	It is often said that the world is run by  those who show up. It was clear that my showing up made a difference with Senator Portman. I must say that the few minutes I had with him were very enjoyable. He seemed genuinely interested in what I had to say. I invited him to address our convention. We will see if that comes to be.
	The clock is ticking! Please make your room reservation for the convention as soon as possible. Remember our block of rooms goes away after October 4. Also remember that the Board Of Directors will meet on Thursday, October 30 and not on Friday morning as we announced in the newsletter.
When making your hotel reservation please call (614) 436-0700. Please do not keep the hotel staff on the phone any longer than absolutely necessary. They do not have specific details about our convention. They cannot tell you exactly where your sleeping room will be. It was reported to me that one member kept a hotel staff person on the phone for thirty-eight minutes. That is not acceptable, and it will only harm our relationship with the hotel and other hotels we want to work with in the future if it happens too much.
It has come to my attention that only eight people paid for a lunch at the board meeting. The cost of the lunch was $13. If you took a lunch and did not pay for it, please send your $13 to Sherry Ruth immediately.
	Please prerigister for the convention as soon as possible. You will save money by doing so. 

https://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/eventReg?llr=6tpgtapab&oeidk=a07e9rwrwvt3ae91ce2&oseq=
	At the board meeting last weekend, Bob and Barbara Pierce donated $75 to our 75 in Orlando campaign. We now have $150 in that fund. The $75 that I gave a month or two ago isn't so lonely now. Anyone else who wants to add to this fund and keep our money company is welcome to do so. I thank the Pierces for their contribution. 
	Chapter and division presidents please begin to think about auction items for our convention fund raiser. Shelbi Hindel is keeping a list of items donated and their value. Please let her know what you have, its value, and who the donor is. For example, I received a Malley's Chocolate gift basket valued at $85 donated by the Malley's candy company located in Cleveland. 
Chapter presidents, you should also let Shelbi know who will be representing your chapter on the nominating committee. This is the only committee not appointed by the President. However, I will appoint the chair of the committee, and the Chair will be selected from one of the chapter representatives. Please contact Shelbi by Email to let her know who will be representing your chapter as soon as possible. She must receive notice from the chapter President or one acting in that capacity. It will not do to have someone say I am JW Smith and I am representing the Miami Valley Chapter since Richard Payne is the President of that chapter.

shelbiah1 at gmail.com
	It is also time to start mailing those dues checks to Sherry Ruth. Dues for chapters and divisions are a flat tax of $10 plus a $1 per capita tax. remember that all dues, reports, and membership list must be in by October 24, in order to avoid a $25 fine. Last year when Bruce Peters did not meet this deadline for the Summit County Chapter he said I recommended the policy be adopted so I might as well live by it. I agreed with him, and he paid the fine. Sherry Ruth once told me that JW was a little lenient in this matter when he was President, and I simply reminded her that I am not as nice as JW. But if all of these things are turned in on time we won't have to worry about that.	We need convention door prizes. Money is always good of course, but so are gift cards purchased through our Scrip Program.

www.shopwithscrip.com
	The next Scrip order will be released on Sunday, October 5, at 7:00 PM. It is not too late to sign up if you do so by Monday, and place your first order in October. We are approaching the Holiday season, and Scrip is a great way to give gifts to family and friends and give money to the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio at the same time. 
	Monday night we will have a call to discuss our progress with our convention fund raiser which includes the auction. We will also discuss the progress of the parents division in the effort to find new members and new leaders.
Finally, we will talk about what to do after the banquet. Please don't miss this call. Everyone is welcome.
	Shortly before 7:30 call (605) 475-4875. Use access code 201909 followed by the pound sign. See you on the call.