[NFBWV-Talk] Fwd: [State-Affiliate-Leadership-List] COVID-19 Guidance for Federation Leaders (please share with affiliate boards and chapter presidents)

Thu Mar 12 01:23:12 UTC 2020

I forgot to remind everybody that we, NFBWV, Has her our own  zoom number
so Ed doesn’t have to conduct each meeting. If you need to hold a meeting
of any kind related to NFBWV.  Let me know and I’ll provide you with the
Zoom information

On Wed, Mar 11, 2020 at 9:16 PM David Allen via NFBWV-Talk <
nfbwv-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:

> Hi Sheri!
>
> In the event of incouraging other chapters, Zoom has scertainly served
> well for the MAL meetings. I've remembered to keep my clock straight after
> your time change, so I had this month's meeting with my morning tea to
> start the week.
>
> Cheers,
> Dave
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: NFBWV-Talk [mailto:nfbwv-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
> Sheri Koch via NFBWV-Talk
> Sent: Thursday, 12 March 2020 1:54 p.m.
> To: NFB of West Virginia Discussion List
> Cc: Sheri Koch
> Subject: [NFBWV-Talk] Fwd: [State-Affiliate-Leadership-List] COVID-19
> Guidance for Federation Leaders (please share with affiliate boards and
> chapter presidents)
>
> Hi everyone
>
>
> Below is the email from President Riccobono regarding attending NFB
> functions. Please know that our top priority is to keep us safe and well.
> At this juncture, I will monitor all directives applicable to West
> Virginia, Virginia, and Texas and we will make decisions accordingly.  At
> this point, I am still looking at conducting BELL,  attending National
> convention, and conducting our state convention. However this could change
> as a situation worsens.  Again, our primary concern is to keep us safe and
> well.  I want anyone planning to attend any of these events to take their
> own health risk and risk to your family very seriously.  I will make Zoom
> available to any chapter who wishes to hold a chapter meeting via zoom
> platform rather than face-to-face to minimize risk.
>
>
> If you have any questions as we move forward, please feel free to let me
> know.
>
> ---------- Forwarded message ---------
> From: President, National Federation of the Blind via
> State-Affiliate-Leadership-List <
> state-affiliate-leadership-list at nfbnet.org>
> Date: Wed, Mar 11, 2020 at 7:45 PM
> Subject: [State-Affiliate-Leadership-List] COVID-19 Guidance for Federation
> Leaders (please share with affiliate boards and chapter presidents)
> To: State Affiliate Leadership List <
> state-affiliate-leadership-list at nfbnet.org>
> CC: President, National Federation of the Blind <
> OfficeOfThePresident at nfb.org>
>
>
> National Federation of the Blind Response to COVID-19
>
> The news has been dominated lately by information about the COVID-19
> outbreak. This message will share what the National Federation of the Blind
> is doing and recommending. Please know that this is a topic that the
> leadership group continues to monitor and discuss on a daily basis. The
> health and safety of all of our members, staff, and friends is always our
> top priority.
>
>
>
> Attending a Federation event is a personal decision to be made based upon
> your current health status and, when appropriate, in consultation with
> medical professionals. For the latest facts about the virus, we encourage
> accessing reliable information from sources such as the World Health
> Organization (WHO)
> <https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019> or
> the Centers
> for Disease Control (CDC).
> <https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html> Users of
> NFB-NEWSLINE® can also access the latest information in the breaking news
> section.
>   National Convention and National Headquarters
>
> The 2020 NFB National Convention is taking place July 14-19 in Houston,
> Texas, as planned. At this time we do not believe there is a need to alter
> plans for our annual meeting. We will continue to evaluate the situation
> and the needs of attendees. We will update the national convention webpage
> (
> nfb.org/convention <https://www.nfb.org/get-involved/national-convention>)
> regarding the status of the event and any related precautions to be taken.
>
>
>
> At our national headquarters, the National Federation of the Blind Jernigan
> Institute, we are taking extra precautions and implementing sanitation and
> safety measures to keep our members, visitors, and staff safe. We are
> evaluating our planned meetings and tours and will communicate with
> participants regarding the status of previously planned events. While we
> have postponed certain large-scale national meetings, we continue to host a
> number of smaller meetings where the risk factors are low. These factors
> are being constantly reviewed.
>   Large State Meetings and Conventions
>
> Based on current information, the national leadership recommends that state
> conventions or other events should be continued as appropriate while
> monitoring local conditions and directives. Affiliate leadership should
> monitor and follow any directives or guidelines issued by public health
> officials in your state or area that are specific to outbreaks there. The
> local circumstances should be the strongest guide for adjusting statewide
> meetings. State leaders are asked to coordinate their plans with the
> President of the Federation so assistance can be provided and clear lines
> of communication can be maintained across the nation.
>
>    - If an event is proceeding, take appropriate precautions and let
>    members know about the details of those precautions or updated
> information.
>    Please review the general guidance for executing meetings during
> COVID-19
>    offered below.
>    - If an event is cancelled, appropriate messaging should be distributed
>    through all relevant channels.
>
>   Local Chapter Meetings and Events
>
> Like state meetings, our current recommendation is that local leadership
> should continue activities as appropriate while monitoring local conditions
> and directives. Local chapter meeting changes should be coordinated with
> the affiliate president.
>
> ·         Communicate to members that they should decide their level of
> participation based on their own health and safety. Be sure to utilize the
> general guidance for executing meetings found below.
>
> ·         Local chapters should communicate with meeting locations to
> understand what precautions those facilities are taking to support hosted
> meetings.
>
> ·         Chapter leaders may want to secure supplies to assist members in
> keeping the meeting environment as free of germs as possible.
>
> ·         Local leaders should ensure that clear communication plans exist
> for sharing updated information to members.
>
> ·         For meetings of small chapters or of chapter or division boards,
> leaders might consider using a service like Zoom or FreeConferenceCall.com
> to conduct virtual meetings as a temporary measure if local circumstances
> do not permit public meetings.
>
>
> General Guidance for Executing Meetings
>
> The most important prophylactic step that Federation members can take is to
> encourage those who are exhibiting any type of symptoms related to a
> respiratory illness to refrain from attending any organizational events. If
> someone has been exposed to the virus in any way, that person should stay
> away from Federation events as well. Additionally, those who are in
> high-risk groups should consult with their medical professionals and
> consider staying at home. At Federation events, it is critical that
> everyone practice the highest level of hygiene.
>
> ·         We should refrain from handshakes or physical contact like hugs,
> etc.
>
> ·         Hands should be washed frequently and/or hand sanitizer should be
> used liberally.
>
> ·         It should be recognized that serving food at Federation meetings
> is a potential exposure point. We recommend considering eliminating food at
> Federation events during the current circumstances. However, if food is to
> be served extra attention should be given to best practices for serving
> food and keeping surfaces clean. Specifically, anyone serving food should
> wear gloves, and before serving, hands, serving surfaces, and
> serving instruments should be sanitized.
>
>
>
> Again, we will continue to monitor all aspects of this situation as they
> develop, focusing first and foremost on the health and safety of everyone
> in our Federation family. I wish you, your families, and your colleagues
> the best as we address these challenges.
>
>
>
> Warmly,
>
> Mark A. Riccobono, President
> National Federation of the Blind
>
>
>
>
>
> Mark A. Riccobono, President
>
> 200 East Wells Street, Baltimore, MD 21230
> <https://www.google.com/maps/search/200+East+Wells+Street,+Baltimore,+MD+21230?entry=gmail&source=g>
> <
> https://www.google.com/maps/search/200+East+Wells+Street,+Baltimore,+MD+21230?entry=gmail&source=g
> >
>
> (410) 659-9314 | Officeofthepresident at nfb.org
>
> Twitter: @Riccobono
>
>
>
>
>
> [image: National Federation of the Blind] <https://nfb.org/>
>
>
>
>                          [image: Facebook]
> <http://www.facebook.com/nationalfederationoftheblind>    [image: Twitter]
> <https://twitter.com/NFB_Voice>    [image: Youtube]
> <https://www.youtube.com/NationsBlind>
>
>
>
> The National Federation of the Blind is a community of members and friends
> who believe in the hopes and dreams of the nation’s blind. Every day we
> work together to help blind people live the lives they want.
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
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>
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> --
> Sheri Koch, President
> National Federation of the Blind of West Virginia
> 304-993-5103
> _______________________________________________
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>
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>
-- 
Sheri Koch, President
National Federation of the Blind of West Virginia
304-993-5103