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<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Aptos">The local chapters of the National Federation of the Blind state affiliate are where the efforts of the Federation begin. Chapter meetings are an opportunity for NFB members to conduct the business of the Federation and plan events that will bring in new members to our organization. In many cases, local chapters are how newly blind individuals find out what resources exist for understanding blindness and low vision. Without chapter meetings and membership, the grass roots advocacy nature of the NFB would cease to exist.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Aptos">Chapter meetings should occur once a month and are scheduled at a time when it is most convenient for the majority of the membership. The chapter president and board members should be present for the meetings of the chapter and should have board meetings as necessary and at the pleasure of the president to develop the chapter and make possible an engaging, fun, and productive chapter meeting. Typically chapter meetings are from two to three hours in length. Since the local chapter is in many cases the first exposure to the NFB a newly blind person has, meetings should have a structure but should always be a welcoming and nurturing environment!</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Aptos">The general expectation of running for and becoming a chapter board member of any kind is attendance at chapter meetings and a commitment of the time necessary to do the work of the Federation. Keep this in mind when considering an office. That being said, it is not a requirement that one hold office to further the goals of the Federation. Our ability to meet the goals and objectives of the Federation requires us working together regardless of any titles or offices that one might hold. The important part to remember is that together we accomplish what no one can alone.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Aptos">Below are some ideas on engaging with your members and making them aware of meetings and events:</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Symbol">·<FONT FACE="Courier New"> </FONT></FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"> <FONT FACE="Aptos">Be sure to announce chapter meetings via email and on listservs. A good rule of thumb is to remind people of the meeting ten days before and two days before. Sharing the agenda for the meeting at this time is helpful in a number of ways. Doing so will keep members aware of what will happen at the meeting and can encourage them to attend should there be a speaker or topic of interest to them being discussed.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Symbol">·<FONT FACE="Courier New"> </FONT></FONT> <FONT FACE="Aptos">Social media! Have a chapter member or board member oversee your social media feeds. This person should be well acquainted with our brand standards. Social media is a great way to reach existing and potential members.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Symbol">·<FONT FACE="Courier New"> </FONT></FONT> <FONT FACE="Aptos">Calls and text messages to members. Again, assign a chapter member willing to help, or a board member such as the secretary to call and text members with reminders. For larger chapters splitting this duty may lighten the load on one person and help all board members get to better know the membership of the chapter. Be sure to highlight any special guests or activities you have planned for the meeting.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Aptos">Each chapter meeting will be unique, as these meetings should reflect the diversity of our membership. However, there are several core components which must occur at any chapter meeting:</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Symbol">·<FONT FACE="Courier New"> </FONT></FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"> <FONT FACE="Aptos">Welcome and introduction: It is important that the chapter president take the lead and help everyone feel welcome. Make sure to have everyone introduce themselves and announce any special guests or speakers.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Symbol">·<FONT FACE="Courier New"> </FONT></FONT> <FONT FACE="Aptos">The </FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><A HREF="https://nfb.org/Images/nfb/Publications/bm/bm98/bm980115.htm"><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><U><FONT COLOR="#467886" FACE="Aptos">NFB Pledge</FONT></U></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN></A><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Aptos">: Reciting the pledge at the beginning of a meeting focuses the group on the reason for the gathering. It also highlights our philosophy as an organization and serves as a good introduction for any newcomers. In addition, some chapters choose to recite the One Minute Message. Again, this is a good idea as it highlights our mission and core beliefs.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Symbol">·<FONT FACE="Courier New"> </FONT></FONT> <FONT FACE="Aptos">The </FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><A HREF="https://nfb.org/resources/publications-and-media/presidential-releases"><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><U><FONT COLOR="#467886" FACE="Aptos">Presidential Release</FONT></U></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN></A><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Aptos">: The Presidential Release serves a variety of purposes. First, it is the one way our membership can feel directly connected to our President. It gives a voice and human touch to all our initiatives. Second, it is the primary method by which the President of the organization communicates national initiatives and reports on the progress of our work. Last, it creates community. By listening and discussing the release, members will gain a deeper understanding of what we do and be more motivated to continue helping in the efforts of the organization. President Riccobono wrote an article on the importance of the Presidential Release that can be found at: </FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><A HREF="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/publications/bm/bm18/bm1804/bm180410.htm"><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><U><FONT COLOR="#467886" FACE="Aptos">An Open Letter to Federation Chapters Regarding the Presidential Release</FONT></U></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN></A><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Aptos">. In the appendix you will find a document detailing the methods to access the Presidential Release.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Symbol">·<FONT FACE="Courier New"> </FONT></FONT> <FONT FACE="Aptos">Voting in and recognition of new chapter members: It is important for new members to understand that membership means a commitment to the organization and that there is organizational recognition that membership is an important milestone.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Symbol">·<FONT FACE="Courier New"> </FONT></FONT> <FONT FACE="Aptos">Treasurers report and minutes: Some chapters choose to send out the minutes and reports so members are prepared to discuss them during the meeting. Regardless, reading some of the key highlights and approving both the treasurer reports and minutes is an important step. As a chapter leader, you may find the documents Tips For Running an Effective Meeting, and Basic Parliamentary Procedures to be useful.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Aptos">From here, there are many ways one can add to the local chapter meeting. Philosophy discussions about blindness and low vision are very popular topics. </FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><I></I></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><I><FONT FACE="Aptos">Braille Monitor</FONT></I></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Aptos"> article reading/discussion is another popular subject. Coming up with themes for legislative advocacy on a local level or discussions about transportation issues. An effective way to engage your members is by finding out what they would like to have included in the chapter meetings. Chapter meetings should not be boring; they should speak to the membership in ways that are unique. Chapter members are full of knowledge and expertise that may interest other members. So, get to know your membership and get them involved in planning and running a chapter meeting. Have activities such as community service or gatherings as part of your meetings. Once you take care of the business items outlined above, the rest of the time can be used to illustrate that being part of the National Federation of the Blind means that we live the lives we want.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Aptos">Tips for New Chapter Presidents</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Aptos">Long-time Federationist Barbara Pierce compiled many ideas, projects, and principles that we in the organized blind movement have found useful in building our local chapters. Below you will find highlights from what Barbara has to say in an Open Letter to New Chapter Presidents:</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Symbol">·<FONT FACE="Courier New"> </FONT></FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"> <FONT FACE="Aptos">There are some organizational matters that you or the board should decide without bothering the general membership. These are things that individuals can and should express opinions about but on which chapter meeting time should not be wasted. I am thinking of transportation arrangements and meeting location, for example. </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Symbol">·<FONT FACE="Courier New"> </FONT></FONT> <FONT FACE="Aptos">Generally speaking the meeting location should be central, free or inexpensive, and accessible by public transportation.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Symbol">·<FONT FACE="Courier New"> </FONT></FONT> <FONT FACE="Aptos">Minutes should record all decisions made by the organization and list all matters discussed. The chapter needs a record of the substantive actions of the organization and the policies decided. Minutes and treasurer's reports should be maintained in an accessible format.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Symbol">·<FONT FACE="Courier New"> </FONT></FONT> <FONT FACE="Aptos">Requests to the treasurer to make payments should be written and include appropriate documentation (i.e. receipts).</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Symbol">·<FONT FACE="Courier New"> </FONT></FONT> <FONT FACE="Aptos">Before you arrive at the meeting, you should have planned your agenda. This of course should include old and new business so that other people can bring up things that they would like to discuss.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Symbol">·<FONT FACE="Courier New"> </FONT></FONT> <FONT FACE="Aptos">The first thing on your agenda (after the roll call, the reading of the minutes of the previous meeting, and the treasurer's report) should be playing the presidential release. You should listen to the release before the meeting so that, if there is information that you need to know more about, you can get a briefing from a state officer before people begin asking you questions you can't answer.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Symbol">·<FONT FACE="Courier New"> </FONT></FONT> <FONT FACE="Aptos">The release is very important because the chapter must feel itself to be an integral part of the whole tightly knit organization that reaches across the nation. Part of your job as president is to help every member of the Federation in your area understand that President Riccobono is a real friend. Everyone should recognize his voice and understand that the issues that affect the organization as a whole must be recognized as important in your city.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Symbol">·<FONT FACE="Courier New"> </FONT></FONT> <FONT FACE="Aptos">Pools of money at the local or state levels are not likely to encourage health in the Federation. People are less likely to scramble to make money if the savings account is significant and certificates of deposit are squirreled away in the bank. They will be inclined to see efforts to vote contributions to the state or national organizations as attempts to "get our money away from us." Though it is certainly true to say that our organization, like most others, is only as strong as its local chapters, it is equally true that a dollar spent at the national level will do tenfold the good that the same dollar can do at the state level and one hundredfold the good that it can do at the local level. Money must, of course, be spent at the chapter level, and there are many programs that cannot work except at the grassroots, but if we want to change the climate of public opinion and the quality of life for blind people everywhere, we must work nationally. If we ever hope to improve services to the state's blind, we must work at that level, and such efforts must be undertaken by entities beyond the local chapter.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Symbol">·<FONT FACE="Courier New"> </FONT></FONT> <FONT FACE="Aptos">One of your first tasks as president will be to appoint committees. Some of these should be standing committees, and some should be ad hoc. Typical standing committees include Ways and Means, to do fundraising; Nominating, to recruit a slate of board and officer candidates when appropriate; Legislative, to work with the state organization on educating your local representatives in the state legislature and the Congress; Public Relations, to do local PR and to help with state and national projects; Associates, to encourage chapter members to recruit family, friends, and acquaintances as members at large who will become associates of the NFB; Membership, to build the organization by recruiting new members, and social media, to generate social media posts, a Facebook page, and perhaps a local listserv.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Symbol">·<FONT FACE="Courier New"> </FONT></FONT> <FONT FACE="Aptos">I would not try to appoint all committees immediately. Like a juggler, you must get them launched one at a time and learn to keep the ones already appointed working well before starting another project. Your aim is to make everyone feel that he or she is playing an important part in the ongoing functioning of the chapter. Some will be more effective committee members than others. You must decide how to divide the chapter talent among the committees so that no group has too much weight to carry and too few people to carry it. Some people will be able to give good service on more than one committee; others will be happiest putting all their effort into one activity. You must balance the needs and the preferences as best you can. This task will get easier as you get to know the people with whom you are working. Try to establish the kind of relationship with your committee chairs that will enable them to turn to you with their problems for advice and encouragement. Your job as president is not to do everything but to enable others to get it done.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Symbol">·<FONT FACE="Courier New"> </FONT></FONT> <FONT FACE="Aptos">Assisting chapter members with their personal problems: As people come to know and trust one another, they will volunteer their troubles. The newly blind have many issues to grapple with. Others will have problems with the state rehabilitation agency, Social Security, employers, schools, or over-protective family and friends. You may want to form a Human Rights Committee to work intensively with these people, or you may wish to use a general discussion of one person's dilemma (having previously checked with the individual to ensure that they are happy to discuss it) to educate everyone about these issues and to bring the group together in a caring relationship with each other. This is tricky to achieve but valuable when it works.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Symbol">·<FONT FACE="Courier New"> </FONT></FONT> <FONT FACE="Aptos">Establishing a Calling Committee: This is or can be different from the Membership Committee, which seeks to build the chapter by finding new members. The Calling Committee builds the chapter from within. Its members call everyone with a reminder about the coming meeting. The members keep tabs on who is ill, who is bereaved, or who is just having a hard time for some other reason. Cards and calls can help at times like these. It is also nice to celebrate together graduations, births, marriages, and the other happy milestones in people's lives.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Symbol">·<FONT FACE="Courier New"> </FONT></FONT> <FONT FACE="Aptos">It is also a good idea from time to time to plan for presentations at chapter meetings. Talking with state or national legislators about matters of concern to the blind is a very good use of chapter time. Having a presentation by a teacher of blind children and then talking about our concerns is also important. If members are unsure about the services of local agencies that purport to serve the blind, invite someone from the agency in to explain the programs and answer questions. Anytime a member has trouble with being denied service because he or she is blind, you have an excellent opportunity for a program devoted to that problem.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Symbol">·<FONT FACE="Courier New"> </FONT></FONT> <FONT FACE="Aptos">We are all here to help each other. Our goal is the full integration of the blind into society on terms of equality. To do this we must support each other, the newly blind, the parents and families of blind children, and the public, which knows next to nothing about the capacity of blind people. If you stop to think about it, you know quite a lot about this whole subject. You will make a wonderful president. Everyone in the state and national leadership is here to help you. Good luck.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"> </SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"> </SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT FACE="Aptos">Richard Payne, President</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"> <FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=2 FACE="Helvetica">National Federation of the Blind of Ohio</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=2 FACE="Helvetica">937/829/3368</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><A HREF="mailto:Rchpay7@gmail.com"><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><U></U></SPAN><U><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN></U><U><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT COLOR="#467886" SIZE=2 FACE="Helvetica">Rchpay7@gmail.com</FONT></SPAN></U><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN></A><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><A HREF="http://www.nfbohio.org"><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><U></U></SPAN><U><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN></U><U><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT COLOR="#467886" SIZE=4 FACE="Aptos">www.nfbohio.org</FONT></SPAN></U><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN></A><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=4 FACE="Aptos">The National Federation of the Blind advances the lives of its members and all blind people in the United States. We know that blindness is not the characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the expectations of blind people, becaus</FONT><FONT COLOR="#000000" SIZE=4 FACE="Aptos">e low expectations create obstacles between blind people and our dreams. Our collective power, determination, and diversity achieve the aspirations of all blind people.</FONT></SPAN></P>
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