[CCCNFBW] June chapter meeting minutes

[Don Mitchell]

NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND

CLARK COUNTY CHAPTER

JUNE 2025 MINUTES

 

June 14 2025

 

.Meeting called to order by president Higley at 10 AM at the staff lounge at
the Washington State School for the Blind.

A role was taken of the members present in the meeting room and on line.

Members present at the time of role call were: Chris Higley, President, Doug
Trimble, Treasurer, Cory Grandstaff, Vice-President, Betty Fitzpatrick,
Laura Trimble, Song Downen, Don Mitchell, Secretary, Theo, and on line
Patricia Maddix. Others were present, but I could not hear their names. 

.The president asked if all had received the minutes. It was moved by Betty
Fitzpatrick that the minutes be excepted as amended online. Seconded by Doug
Trimble. Motion passed. 

.The treasurers report was presented by Doug Trimble. The current balance
was reported as $677.36. Betty Fitzpatrick moved that the treasurers report
be excepted. Motion seconded by Laura Tremble and The motion passed. 

.Doug Tremble gave a fund raising committee report: The committee met on
Friday June 5. All arrangements for the Saturday June 21 fund raising
concert have been made. The September 14 Wine and Cheese event is scheduled
for September 14 from 2 to 5 PM at Sellers 55. The next fund raising
committee meeting will be held on July 1.  All checks for the Wine and
Cheese event should be made out to NFBW.

Kaye Kipp arrived at the meeting. 

.Cory Grandstaff announced that the Washington affiliate will be holding a
raffle for a set of Meta Glasses at the national convention for $5 each and
you do not need to be present to win.  Contact Cory if you want to purchase
tickets using a  card. The Washington affiliate will also be selling World's
Finest Chocolates. 

.Cory Grandstaff presented a chapter engagement committee report: He said we
need to follow up with the representative to stay on her radar. The chapter
conducted a scavenger hunt with the students at the Washington State School
for the blind which went very well. Cory thanked the people who helped. Next
year we are going to sponsor a trivia night and an ice cream social. The
other two of three socials next year are a bowling and karaoke night. 

.C-tran is seeking comments on the 2026 fair restoration proposal. Our
recommendation to have the  education opportunity pass(bus passes for
college students and WSSB students) be extended to use on c-van services.
Please plan on attending the September C-tran  board meeting when this will
be considered.  This is designed to bring fairs back to the pre-pandemic
levels with in the next two years. 

.The c-tran board is looking for a new member from the developmentally
disabled community. Be sure to use the IRA access c-tran program. If we
don't use it it could be dropped from the c-tran budget. 

The chapter will hold its summer picnic at Shannahans on McLoughlin at 11:00
on August 23. Betty will coordinate arrangements with Shannahans.

The federal governments move to decrease ADA requirements for building
accommodations was discussed. 

The federal funding for the Washington Talking Book and Brail Library was
decreased, so the library is going to a voicemail telephone message service.
No live answering of calls will occur. The library will return calls on
their own time frame. This is because of reduction of staff. The library
will no longer  be open to walk in visits. Visits must be made by
appointment. 

The National Library Service is  conducting a patron review  of the
HumanWare e-reader.  If you are not a part of this test please call the
library and get involved so that the Washington library will adopt this
reader as its e-reader for the use of patrons. 

.Doug Tremble discussed the problem with C-tran applications that require a
drivers license causing the blind to be eliminated from any job they post.
He has written a letter to the Human Resources person making them aware of
the state law making this illegal. 

Cory Grandstaff discussed the resistance to light rail that is present
before the c-tran board. If we don't speak up now the future of light rail
may be passed for Clark County. 

The group decided to have a short meeting at the August 23 picnic.

.The national convention is being held from July 8-13 in New Orleans. If you
can not travel to the convention the online convention experience is still
available. You may win door prizes if you register for the virtual
convention.

.Bell academy training June 21. Bell program June 22-28.

.Kay Kipp conducted a philosophy session. The topic was whether self
determination in rehabilitation services for the blind should exist. A wide
variety of viewpoints were presented from: You have been given a fair
opportunity and have not achieved employability so your services are
terminated: to: Self determination is written in to the rehab act and it
must be observed. 

The prevailing attitude of the group appeared to be that it is good that
services for the blind exist, but the blind need to have a healthy attitude
and be willing to stand as much as possible with out state support. 

A short discussion of programs of the American Printing House for the blind
took place. 

The meeting was adjourned at 11:17 AM.

.Presidential release 550 June 2025 was played.

The Meta glasses demonstration was postponed until September when we had
more time and a way to share the output of the glasses to the user  might be
developed. 

 

 

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