[Ohio-talk] Buckeye Update

[Eric Duffy]

National Federation of the Blind Of Ohio Buckeye Update
October 2, 2015

We had a productive meeting of the Board of Directors last Saturday. Although We faced some challenges and tough discussion, the meeting went well.

We decided to create a Barbara Fohl Memorial Scholarship This is the third named scholarship offered by the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio.

We are providing financial assistance to a family from South Point so that their blind child could attend the STEM2You Program in Arizona during the first weekend in November. Why didn't they attend the Columbus program in May? I don't know. But I don't know why families from outside Ohio attended our program. It could have been due to scheduling or a myriad of other reasons. The important thing is that we were able to help this family and answer a request from our national organization.

The newsletter is finished. This is a good issue. I want to thank Barbara Pierce for her hard work and Bob Pierce for his assistance. Thank you to those who contributed material as well. I read a lot of affiliate newsletters, and I can say with pride that our newsletter is second to none. It will appear in your inbox early next week. We are waiting until the convention registration process is available on the Website.

Here are the things you need to know about the convention right away. Our room rate is $89 plus tax. Our block of rooms will be released after October 29. Please make your reservations immediately.  The contact information for the hotel is: Doubletree Hotel  6200 Quarry Lane, Independence, Ohio 44131, phone, (216) 447-1300. 

I am encouraging as many people as possible to register online. Registering before November 13 will save you money. 

Chapter and Division Presidents, please pay close attention to the following information. If you want to be a part of  the Gavel Award Competition, or if you want to nominate someone for an award, you must have your material to Shelbi Hindel by October 4, at 9:00 PM. shelbiah1 at gmail.com <mailto:shelbiah1 at gmail.com> If you decide not to submit a report for the competition, You must still submit a report by November 12.

Chapter and division reports, membership lists, and dues must all be in by November 12. After that date any one or all of these items are considered late and the offending chapter or division is subject to a fine of $25. 

Shelbi also needs to know who will represent your chapter on the nominating committee. The members of this committee are appointed by chapter presidents. The president of the affiliate selects the chair from among the members. Please let shelbi know who will represent your chapter as soon as possible. shelbiah1 at gmail.com <mailto:shelbiah1 at gmail.com>

I have spent some time working on our Website and will continue to do so. I am always looking for ways to improve the site, and this morning I spent about an hour and twenty minutes working on one section. I will put more time in next week.

It is once again time to begin selling Malley's chocolates. I know you will hear from Melina Zavoli very soon.

I have started working on the convention agenda. I can tell you this is going to be an exciting convention. You don't need the agenda or a press release to start talking up the convention, although I will get the agenda to you as soon as possible  Tell people about who we are, what we do, and why they should be a part of our convention based on your experience.

On Monday evening I attended the conference call meeting of the Cincinnati Chapter. This is an active chapter, and we can be proud to have it in our Federation family. As someone who knows how difficult it is to run a conference call meeting  I have to congratulate Deborah Kendrick for the way she kept things moving. The administrator of an organization that is actively engaged in the community and doing good work for the organization never has an easy job, and I was reminded of that as I observed Deborah moving through the agenda and navigating some rough waters Monday night. As I say, Deborah and the Cincinnati chapter are doing good work.  Keep it up.

I am always proud to be a member of the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio but never more so than when I participate in a local chapter meeting or prepare for a convention. Let's go build the Federation. let's make this the best convention we've ever had.