[Travelandtourism] Report on last nights division meeting which went wonderfully

[cheryl echevarria]

We had a great turnout last night for the Division Meeting of the Travel & Tourism Division.
Everyone was new accept 1 person.  Also Milton Taylor, took over for Glenda Farnum, Treasurer, for the night; and our Secretary, Margo Downey, is not well, so please remember Margo in your prayers. Also, we did not hear from Vice President, Maurice Shackelford.
We have 2 new paid members, Brandy Pinder (NFB of NY) and Lavar Phillips who is not new to the division, he is our webmaster, and is also from the NFB of NY, so welcome the both of you.
Since, we had some many people on the call, about 8 all together.  We did a review of what this division is, and what we do, etc.
Such as this division, you don't have to be a travel professional, a leader in the organization, a traveler to foreign countries, etc.
We talk about those things, as well as, give advise about local para-transit contacts, especially if you need help with your programs. Both Margo Downey, Secretary, who is a transportation commissioner, in Buffalo, NY and Jemal Powel, Board Member sit on transportation advisory board in Illinois, that we will be having future discussions just dedicated to these topics in the future.
We went around and introduced each other, where each one was from, we had people from Wisconsin, Oregon, Missouri, California and more.
We gave a history of the division which started in 2001 by Stephanie Scott Nelson speaking with Dr. Maurer, about an interest group related to travel through today on areas that affect all of us in the travel industry from the TSA, Airline Personnel, issues affecting our Veteran's. I also am a member of the National Association of Blind Veterans, I am not a veteran, but I did join the division in helping with travel related issues.
Which reminds me, we still need support on the, Space Available Bill, this year in DC, we were not actively seeking support because of the Fair Wages and Airline Bills, but this bill is very serious as well. So let's remind our Senators of S346, because it seems that Senate is dragging their heels on this, leave your House of Representative people alone, they are all for it.
For more information on S346, please go to the nfb.org website nfb.org/national-federation-blind-applauds-introduction-bill-benefit-disabled-veterans.
Some of the other things that were discussed, the 2013 trip to Utah, which was our 1st fundraiser, and we have people on the call that went and we have many people who would like to go back to Utah for 2015.
Another topic that came up with doing something this year at National Convention for group trips to the local sights, well it is kind of late for that, even though the convention is in July, there are a lot of planning on that, and if the division is going to do it as a fundraiser, the officers should be there to make sure things go smoothly, this can be looked at for the 75th Convention, since we will be in Orlando again, but we need to start thinking of these things after convention.
So, going forward, we will have a few calls a month, like we would like to have our next meeting just about ideas for the 2015 fundraiser trip, this is the only thing we have as a fundraiser to bring in money, we raised $1400 last year, and that doesn't go very far.
One meeting we will have just to discuss you local transportation in your area, and get ideas on how and what to mention at local hearings or whom to speak to locally before you reach out to a Senator or someone else that doesn't handle the local areas.
As well as, employment opportunities, and I don't just mean, being a travel agent, maybe work in a hotel, or resort, or on a cruise ship, we can have guests on the calls that actually have some ideas in that area, such as Statler Center, who will be at our Convention meeting, or maybe have Mark Jones come back and see if he can recommend, some areas where to apply for a job, or see if we can have Cathy Vazquez or other areas of the travel industry where you can work.
But we need your inputs on the things we will talk about. Milton Taylor, had mentioned to me this morning, that the Seniors Division is doing this, and so I thought we can do the same thing.
What do you all think?
We will try to have 2 meetings a month, and not all officers have to be on the calls for this.
Right now we have our meetings starting at 8pm Eastern Time on Tuesday Nights.
Our first meeting will be April 29th, 2014 to discuss only ideas for Fundraiser Trip 2015, you do not need to be a paid member yet until July, since that is when the year starts, so please RSVP that you will be attending, via this list travelandtourism at nfbnet.org, and the ideas you have, but bring exact ideas, don't just say California, NY, Utah, without stating why you would like to go there, what you would like to see and do.
Make is realistic, meaning we cannot go from New York City to Buffalo in one trip, because it is 8 hours to get there. Just some advice.
Nothing is off the table on this.
Respectfully,
Cheryl Echevarria, PresidentNFB Travel & Tourism631-236-5138cherylandmaxx at hotmail.com


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