[NFB-Kzoo] Fwd: September minutes

[Amyrillis Payne]

NFB Kalamazoo Meeting 11/10/2020

Roll/attendance

Robert P-President, Amyrillis P-Secretary, Rashid D-Vice President, Victor
M-Treasurer, Rachel P-Member, Steven C-visitor, Ellis-Member, Jason
M-Member, Osman-Member



Begins 8:01 P.M.

First topic: Treasurer report

No change since last meeting.  $420 in the account. Collecting dues tonight
for 2021 until next meeting.



Monet motions to close, Rachel seconds



Second topic: NFB Minute updates

·         Everyone has received the minutes and there is no discussion on
the minutes.



·         Were going to work on adding emails to the list serve so anyone
who wants to be registered is registered.

·         Motion to close by Rachel to pass minutes, Victor seconds and
motion passes.



Third topic: State Convention

·         Feedback on state convention

·         Monet suggests having the agenda attached to the email that
contains the zoom rooms.

·         Rachel suggests clarity with the breakout session and room for
ease.

·         Victor says he enjoyed putting events together and working within
leadership roles behind putting the convention together. He urges all to
try and run an event or take part in being part of the convention.

·         Jason says he was very satisfied with how convention went and he
loved the toastmasters segment of the convention.

·         Steven says he really found this convention to be interesting
especially since It was the first time we have had an online convention.

·         Robert is very proud of how far our chapter has come since last
year because everyone in this chapter did their best and showed their true
passion for this chapter.

Meet the blind Month

·         Victor says it was unable to happen because the coffee house did
not have the staff to support our event and turned us down for that
location. After this there were plans for a virtual event but then members
fell ill and were a bit disorganized.

·         The plan is to be more orgonized in the future and try and hold
this event in person some time.

·         Jason suggests a Youtube video to still be created and sent out
about blindness.

·         Robert suggest having an event like going bowling or having an
outing where we bring awareness to blindness that does will focus on the
fundraising portion a bit less and more on bringing awareness to meet the
blind month.

·         Meet the blind month is an activity that was started as an
organization and because of this not everyone is aware of this.

·         Robert suggests reaching out to other members of other
communities who are not blind or low vision to help expand the network and
awareness of meet the blind month.

New Business

·         National Scholarship is live.

·         Scholarship deadline is March 31st

·         Robert gives the tip that the weekend of the convention is the
same weekend of the essence festival will be held during the same week so
this can make arrangements difficult.

·         Kenneth Jernagin scholarship available for first timers

Washington Seminar is coming up

·         Jason says because it is virtual it

·         Meet with all 16 congress members and we all talk about three
issues like college education, accessibility issues, and other topics close
to this.

·         Jason asks that anyone in Michigan learn about the issues ahead
of time before we meet with the congress members so questions can be
organized and put together.

·         Robert says last year there were only 2 reps from Kalamazoo so we
hope to have more participants this year.

·         Nabs replaced the leadership seminar with an at large seminar
which is intended to sharpen students advocacy skills through public
speaking. It has a pear mentor program where you will be matched with a
mentor. It also includes discussions that will help you be able to learn
about the federation and their history as well as how to speak publicily.
If you want to join this you can register until December 15th and they are
asking students who want to register to register now. It is $25 and this
covers the entire weekend of activities(virtual). The dates are January 9th
and 10th www.nabslink.org. Rachel will send the link to the student
division.

·         Victor has been suggested as a mentor for public speaking at this
event.

NABS fundraiser

·         The first night(Monday evening) Nabs is having a dinner party
this year that is looking for people to help advertise the event and
support. They are looking for students and businesses that can provide
auction items, they are like an attendance award. Anything can be a door
prize. Action items are things that will be bid on and can be sold at a
higher value. Ex: Nobody will buy a $30 gift card for more than its value.
If you know anyone,Orgonization, or business that will have donations
please contact Robert and if the item is $150 and up the person can just
make it as a pledge and if it is under this price you can get an address to
sent this to. ALL DONATIONS ARE BEING WELCOMED TO DONATE TO NABS.

Elections

·         We are still having a December meeting virtually and since there
are no dues paid yet we cannot vote

·         Victor requests dues at $5 and form to be filled out so all can
be registered

·         Dues give you the ability to vote on issues and elections.

Next Topic: Creating a Nominating committee.

·         Robert is no longer serving as president of the chapter next
semester for 2021. He is finishing up his education and he is relocating
for 6month to south Dakota to work for their blind and low vision training
center. He is still going to be a member.

Announcements

·         Celebrating Rashid being selected for a scholarship

·         Congrats to Victor and Taylor for getting rave reviews on their
resolution.

Robert adjourns the meeting,

Monet moves to close meeting.

GOODBYE-8:55 pm

On Wed, Oct 14, 2020 at 9:30 PM Amyrillis Payne <amyrillis1001 at gmail.com>
wrote:

>
>>
>> October 13th, 2020
>>
>>
>>
>> Meeting begins 8:01 pm
>>
>>
>>
>> Board/Members/visitors present
>>
>> Robert Parsons-President, Rashid Deme-Vice President, Amyrillis/Monet
>> Payne-Secretary, Victor Marques-Treasurer,
>>
>> Talia-Member, Jeff Crouch-Member, Jason M-Member, Taylor A-Member Rachel
>> P-Member, Lucy-Visitor
>>
>> Meeting Minutes-
>>
>> Minutes have not been going through and Monet is going to re-register and
>> see if this works
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Next topic-treasury report
>>
>>
>>
>> $420 set up at lake michigan credit union, debit card is in place,
>> balance before was $415 and
>>
>> Motion made by Monet Payne and Rashid seconds
>>
>>
>>
>> Robert passes motion
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Next topic-Open floor to Lucy to explain wmu issues and discussion about
>> things are being done that are affecting students
>>
>>
>>
>> Lucy says she wants to speak about her internship project with wmu where
>> she creates training program for wmu instructors on how to work with blind
>> and low vision students. It is being recognized that instructors could use
>> room for some help with learning how to best accommodate students. Lucy
>> wants low vision or blind students to write letters or answer a survey
>> about students’ feedback on what they think instructors should know and do
>> to best accommodate students in the future. The end goal is to train these
>> educators and to help them better understand what its like to be blind or
>> low vision. Sometimes they may feel our accommodations are all the same and
>> that we all have the same skills, and this Is not true. Lucy’s supervisor
>> also wants to help professors get a better understanding of low vision
>> technology and how it works on our end as users. There is no section in the
>> WMU policy about working with students with disabilities and they are
>> hoping to bring change to this issue. Lucy is asking that if you have a
>> story or have experienced an issue with accommodations in class that you
>> write about it and send it to her personally.
>>
>> Victor asks-Does DSS do any mandatory disability awareness trainings with
>> the faculty and staff on campus.
>>
>> Lucy says that WMU does not provide wmu staff/faculty with any
>> sensitivity training/accessibility training.
>>
>>
>>
>> Robert asks is the survey for all disabilities or just for blind and low
>> vision students?
>>
>>
>>
>> Lucy says it is for specifically Blind and Low vision students, but Lucy
>> has hopes that eventually campus can do this for all disabilities.
>>
>>
>>
>> Jason speaks on his past experience as a student. Professors do need to
>> have all course materials in accessible formats at all times and the
>> university needs to take accountability for this. Students should still be
>> sure that they advocate to the best of their abilities.
>>
>>
>>
>> Taylor says she is a present student at western and agrees with Lucy that
>> there needs to be some form of a training program for the university’s
>> faculty and staff.
>>
>>
>>
>> You need to place plans for things that are inaccessible. Taylor has
>> experienced how other universities have found solutions to these issues.
>> There needs to be a structure with individuals who know how to work the
>> software and there are other institutions that will not allow their
>> instructors to use inaccessible software. Western has many things that
>> should be changed, and a training program is a great start.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Victor adds that we should have a state level resolution with western to
>> admit a training for faculty and staff in universities. There are gaps with
>> agencies and there is so much that needs to be standardized with
>> accessibility everywhere.
>>
>>
>>
>> Robert suggests we push for this to the NFB state president about this
>> issue because it needs to be changed at the State level.
>>
>>
>>
>> Jason says that MSU is already doing accessibility and maybe we should
>> reach out to them and get some accessibility training tips from them.
>> Students need to be given the proper tools that they need while at college.
>>
>>
>>
>> Lucy is going to send us the survey and is looking for all input that she
>> can receive on this issue of inaccessible on campus.
>>
>>
>>
>> Robert is going to get Lucy’s information along with her survey and send
>> it to the list serve
>>
>> Next topic- Meet the blind month
>>
>>
>>
>> Civil Coffee House
>>
>> Saturday, October  24th
>>
>> Sunday October 23rd is back up date
>>
>>
>>
>> Victor and Rashid talked about meeting at
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Braille cards and braille can be used. We do not need permit to accept
>> donations so all will be welcomed!
>>
>>
>>
>> Civil Coffee house diagonally across from Kalamazoo ave located on rose.
>>
>>
>>
>> It is voted on 12-4 and victor says he can bring tables
>>
>>
>>
>> Robert is going to print out NFB literature to give out with our local
>> contact information and chapter info.
>>
>>
>>
>> Information
>>
>>
>>
>> Chapter meeting info and time along with NFB Michigan Logo and Victor
>> says he will print this info as long as he receives it by October 22nd.
>>
>>
>>
>> Jason is going to check with the location if this is available
>>
>>
>>
>> Victor and Rashid are going to put $10 Each in to promote Facebook
>> advertising which will be enough to reach about 1000 people.
>>
>> Robert will help with this because he has Facebook access
>>
>>
>>
>> Robert makes motion to close and all are in favor motion passes
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Next topic- Testimonials about loss of WMU accessibility tech position
>>
>>
>>
>> Robert says all of the testimonials needed to focus on getting this
>> position reinstated.
>>
>>
>>
>> Robert only received 2 testimonials and did not submit them because there
>> is not that many submissions.
>>
>> Rashid says he did not rewrite his testimonial because he feels that
>> although Taylor’s position was what was agreed to write about but he feels
>> there are larger issues at hand  right now such as why accessibility is
>> important and not just this position.
>>
>>
>>
>> Robert agrees that it this position is not the biggest issue on campus
>> but what do we do to get this message delivered the best way, do we use the
>> original testimonials and go in on our own to bring accessibility concerns
>> to President Montgomery or do we go in with the edited testimonials that
>> only focus on Taylors previous tech position.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Taylor agrees that we should go forward with the original testimonials.
>>
>>
>>
>> Taylor says she got a new position working remotely for a company called
>> Got It A I.  They  will be used in trio programs which are programs at
>> colleges to help low income first generation college students. This is a
>> tutoring program where students can get step by step solutions to problems
>> in college and Taylor is helping them to create this app completing
>> accessible for all users.
>>
>>
>>
>> Victor wonders if we can roll all of this into one for of accessibility
>> at western into a resolution, like a Western needs an accessibility
>> ombudsman. We need to write this all out to bring attention to these
>> accessibility issues.
>>
>>
>>
>> Locate past examples of national and state resolutions for victor to
>> review.
>>
>>
>>
>> Victor and Taylor are going to work on this ASAP and the deadline is
>> November first. The resolution will be written up and ready for us to
>> review by this date.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Next topic-State convention
>>
>> Is everyone registered?
>>
>>
>>
>> Robert asks if Jason has anything set up for exhibit hall and Jason say s
>> there will be a technology breakout but no exhibit hall.
>>
>>
>>
>> Adding convention info to the sheet he is writing up for the info sheet
>> on meet the blind.
>>
>>
>>
>> Zoom Lobby during convention
>>
>>
>>
>> Victor says the student division is running a trivia night this Friday at
>> 8pm admission is free when you are a student division member, and it is $5
>> to join in advance and $ at the door. There will be several door prizes.
>>
>>
>>
>> Robert suggests that all register.
>>
>> NABS REP IS Martha Medah and she w crab climb student division drops
>> crabs in a bucket of low expectations and the only way to get up is with $5
>> big supports they have a form you will fill out and you send in money to
>> support each crab. At the end the crab with the most bids escape the bucket
>> and gets a prize and the highest bidder receives a prize also. Campaign
>> speeches for each of the grabs will be sent out soon on why we should bid
>> on them and the email will have the donation link at the bottom. What
>> effects does substance abuse have on the human brain/brain development?
>>
>>
>>
>> I am choosing this question because many members of my family suffer from
>> substance abuse. I want to have a better understanding of how substance
>> abuse can affect brain development and functions. I also am interested in
>> working with families who struggle with substance abuse in the future and I
>> am curious to see how many families could benefit from this information if
>> they knew the statistics and proper information regarding substance abuse
>> effects on the brain. They take cashapp and PayPal.
>>
>>
>>
>> Next topic- Study being done by Henry T who is a student through Wayne
>> state and he is doing a study related to blindness and suicide and if you
>> are looking to participate Rashid can forward you the email with more info
>> on this survey.
>>
>>
>>
>> Victor motions to close meeting
>>
>> Monet seconds motion granted
>>
>
>
>>   meeting adjourned at 9:05 pm
>>
>>
>>
>