[Nfb-kzoo] Update on the Chapter

Wed Sep 23 18:59:19 UTC 2009

Tyler,
I just want to apologize most sincerely for not telling you that I would
not be at the last meeting.  I thought of it late that night and felt
like a real heel!  
Sorry for taking this long to write to you, but we just returned from
Iowa and my mother-in-law's funeral.  That was not why I missed the
meeting though...well, not entirely anyway.  I am having some darned
health issues again, which just cause me to be beyond exhausted by the
end of the work day.  

OK, that is as good as it gets.  So you see, I am a heel.  As my Dad
would have said, ... "your generation is really a bunch of wimps!  Can't
you just suck it up for once and do what needs to be done?"  Yes, my
Daddy was a part of what Tom Brocaugh has called "The Greatest
Generation", and for good reason.  

It sounds like you guys had a great meeting and how great to have J.J.
and Matt back again.  I can tell you that Tim is no longer working at
the TC, except as a relief person, so he at least, might be available
for our meetings once again.  I hope so, because Tim is a real asset.

All for now.
Hugs to LeAnn and the kids!

Christine

-----Original Message-----
From: nfb-kzoo-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfb-kzoo-bounces at nfbnet.org]
On Behalf Of Tyler merren
Sent: Saturday, September 19, 2009 12:38 PM
To: NFB of Kalamazoo Michigan List
Subject: [Nfb-kzoo] Update on the Chapter

Fellow NFB Members,
We had our last meeting on Monday September 14 at Leanne and I's house.
We had pizza and enjoyed some good conversation, so below is a quick
update as to the conversations and the direction we are looking for the
next year.  We just missed quarem, so no official minutes were taken,
but here is the jest of the meeting.

The meeting began around 6:30, at which time we ate pizza and began our
discussion.  Those present were Tyler Merren (current president), Leanne
Merren (current secretary), Jason Meddaugh (current member), Matthew
McCubbin (current member), and Mike Torrez.  No membership fees were
collected at this meeting.

Jason Meddaugh indicated that his pet project of working with the
Kalamazoo Metro Transit to have them purchase an audible announcement
system for stops is looking hopeful, as they are about to purchase a GPS
system for the buses.  He indicated that he will be working with them
and updating the chapter.

Jason also brought up the fact that the second millage vote will be
happening this fall, and that it may be another situation where their
will have to be some phone work done to help the millage pass, though he
sounded hopeful that it wouldn't be as much of a challenge with this
millage, the big concern would be more with the understanding that this
millage would bring Kalamazoo back to the same point, and wouldn't be
another increase.

I emailed Kevin King, our contact from the library, to check on how the
library project is progressing.  He indicated that due to some budgeting
issues that the actual purchasing of the equipment would have to be
pushed back to January 2010 approximately.  We are keeping in contact.

I spoke with the group about the direction that I want the chapter to
look this coming year.  One thing that I want to focus on is building a
steady membership.  I feel that the one thing that will help out with
this is to make the meetings a little more fun and enjoyable.  I don't
think the meetings have been bad, but maybe just a little too serious?
Perhaps some feedback on this thought would be good.  We tried this out
by playing some games at the end of the meeting, and I think it was a
lot of fun.  Any ideas would be welcome.

Elections will be held at our next meeting Monday October 12.  I will
update the group as to the location of the meeting.  Put it on your
calendars and we'll see you there.  In the mean time ideas would be
appreciated as to how we can improve attendance at the meetings and
increase membership.  Also, if you know that you will not be present at
the meeting, a notice would be very much appreciated, however advanced
it can be is also good.

Thanks,
Tyler Merren
President of the NFB of kalamazoo
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