[IL-Talk] Chicago Chapter Minutes, April 13, 2024, Corrected

[Deborah Kent Stein]

NFBI Chicago Chapter Meeting

April 13, 2024

Tgi Fridays Restaurant

153 E. Erie, Chicago

 

CALL  TO ORDER

 

Chicago Chapter Second Vice President Dustin Cather called the meeting to
order at 1 PM. Members present in the room were Dan Tevelde, Chris Millsap,
Ken Borst, Marco Giannotti, Michal Nowicki, Debbie Stein, Pam Gillmore, Dave
Meyer, Marilyn Green, Steve Hastalis, Paul Shepherdson, Michelle Ault,
Arturo Almiraz, Bruce Paul, Mayokunle Efunbote, Jemal Powell, Charlie
Miller, and Dustin Cather. On Zoom were Ken Schad, Eileen Truschke, Melissa
Fuller, Gary Jones, Glenn Moore, Kim LaDell,, Kira OBradovitch, Bob Lee,
Bill Reif, and Steven McMinn from the Illinois State Library.

 

PROGRAM

 

Steven McMinn introduced himself as program administrator of the Illinois
Talking Book and Braille Service at the Illinois State Library. He started
in this position in September 2023, and he is very excited about the job.

The library is almost fully staffed; they are still looking to add one more
reader advisor. He explained that Illinois was one of the first states to
provide service, which began in 1931. It is now possible for the library to
put ten or fifteen books onto a digital cartridge. BARD allows people to
download books onto Android and iOS devices. NLS is working on access
through Alexa. NLS is coming out with a new player that will use wifi or
Bluetooth, so it will be possible to download books directly onto the new
player. 

 

Mr. McMinn said there are concerns with postal service, because mail from DC
is routed through St. Louis before it comes to Illinois. NLS is updating its
standards of service, which should improve service in Illinois in the long
run. Service has now been expanded to include people with dyslexia and other
reading disabilities. School counselors, social workers, and many other
professionals can now serve as certifying authorities. The Marrakesh Treaty
will greatly expand our ability to share materials with people in other
countries and vice versa. The outreach to US citizens living  overseas has
ramped up.

 

Dave Meyer pointed out that the state library  administers Newsline in
Illinois. Mr.  McMinn acknowledged that bureaucracy has held up the
publication of the newsletter, which will include information about
Newsline. He hopes to streamline the newsletter process. Newsline also will
be highlighted in the new information that goes out. 

 

The  state library makes all kinds of electronic materials available
throughout the state. Mr.  McMinn is making sure that these materials will
be accessible. He also is looking into funding to make Bookshare
subscriptions available. He has some gift money that might be used for
Bookshare until he can get it into the regular budget.

 

Mr. McMinn encouraged people to reach out to him at hmcminn at ilsos.gov
<mailto:hmcminn at ilsos.gov> .

 

TREASURERS REPORT

 

At the start of the first quarter of 2024 the Chicago Chapter had a balance
of $2196.90. At the end of the first quarter the chapter had $2698.91.

Income included two chapter meeting collections 

of $28 for February and $98 in March, for a subtotal of $126. We also
received a separate donation of $150. We received membership dues of $30,
giving us $306 in first quarter income. Expenses included 3 auto-pays to the
NFB amounting to $150, and we donated $500 to the NFB Museum project.

Expenses came to $650. With a few as yet unrecorded changes, our current
balance is $2806.91. Steve moved  and Marilyn seconded  acceptance of the
treasurers  report.  The report  was accepted unanimously.

 

STATE REPORT

 

President Marilyn Green announced that the next NFBI board meeting will take
place on April 17 over Zoom. All are welcome to attend. The  Zoom link will
be sent out. National Convention will take place July 3-8 in Orlando,
Florida. First timers can apply for Kenneth Jernigan scholarships at
nfb.org/jernigan or talk to Marilyn or Dustin. Our Chappell-Dennis
Assistance program is another opportunity to get some  financial help. 

 

NFBI Scholarships: Scholarship co-chair  Dave Meyer  reminded people that
the deadline for scholarship applications is April 30 at midnight. The
application  is available at nfbofillinois.org/scholarships. 

 

BELL ACADEMIES: BELL coordinator Debbie Stein explained that Illinois will
host two BELL programs, one in Chicago and one in Springfield. We are
actively  seeking mentors, because exposure to blind adult mentors is an
important and unique element of BELL. Contact Debbie if  you would like to
be a mentor at dkent5817 at att.net <mailto:dkent5817 at att.net>  or (7 7 3) 2 0
3-1 3 9 4. Volunteers  must undergo a basic background check, submit three
references, and read some information about our code of conduct, so its a
good idea to get started on the process as soon as possible.

 

National Legislation 

 

Dustin reported on last months numbers in terms of legislators who have
signed onto our bills. The Medical Advice Nonvisual Accessibility Act,
HR1328, which was introduced by Illinois Rep. Jan Schakowsky, has
eighty-four cosponsors. Those from Illinois are Mike Quigley, Sean Casten,
Jesús García, Danny Davis, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Jonathan Jackson, and Robin
Kelly. Seventy-four Democrats and six Republicans are cosponsoring the bill
so far. The companion bill, S.3621, has one cosponsor, a Republican. 

 

The Website and Software  Applications Accessibility Act, introduced in the
Senate by Tammy Duckworth as S.2984, has five cosponsors, all of them
Democrats. The companion bill in the House, H.R.5813, has twenty-seven
cosponsors, including Mike Quigley, Jan Schakowsky, Jesús García, Jonathan
Jackson, and, most recently, Sean Casten. 

 

H.R.3702, the Access Technology Affordability Act, has eighty-six
cosponsors. Those from Illinois are Mike Bost, Mike Quigley, Brad Schneider,
Jan Schakowsky, and Raja Krishnamoorthi. The companion bill, S.1467, has
eight co-sponsors. 

 

The Transformation to Competitive and Integrated Employment Act, H.R.1263,
has twenty-nine  cosponsors, including Robin Kelly and Mike Quigley from
Illinois. S.533 has three cosponsors.

 

Possibly a new piece of legislation, introduced on January 30, is the
Autonomous Vehicle Accessibility Act. The purpose is to prohibit a state
from issuing a motor vehicle operating license for autonomous vehicles in a
manner that discriminates against people with disabilities. It is noted as

H.R.7126. As yet we have no information about sponsors and cosponsors.     

 

BOARD MEETING

 

Our face-to-face state board meeting has been scheduled for August 17 in
Naperville. It will run from 9 AM until 2 or 3 PM. This will be our last
board meeting before our state convention. We will work through a lot of
logistics to ensure that things run smoothly. People can attend on Zoom if
not in person. Rooms are $140 per night for a king room or $150 for a room
with two queens. State convention will take place October 18-20 at the
Naperville Marriott. Email Marilyn at president at nfbofillinois.org
<mailto:president at nfbofillinois.org>  with ideas for a convention theme.

 

PRESIDENTIAL RELEASE

 

Presidential Release 537 was delivered on April 3 from the Louisiana Center
for the Blind in Ruston, Louisiana. President Riccobono was not able to be
there in person due to the recent passing of his father. 

 

President Riccobono thanked the federationists from all over the country who
reached out to the National Center about the collapse of the Baltimore Bay
Bridge. Fortunately none of our staff members were directly affected, but
the event has had a huge impact on the Baltimore community. 

 

In March we held our sixteenth annual Jacobus tenBroek Disability Law
Symposium. The 2024 NFB National Convention will be held in Orlando,
Florida. The Deafblind Division is seeking volunteers to serve as support
providers. Fill out the questionnaire on the NFB website. The American
Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults will again sponsor the Braille
Book Fair. Donations of gently used Braille books are needed. Braille/print
titles, early readers, and  cookbooks are especially welcome. Send questions
to bookfair at actionfund.org <mailto:bookfair at actionfund.org> . NAGDU will
offer convention support of $500 each to two guide dog users. 

 

Applications for the 2024 Teachers of Tomorrow program are now open. The
deadline for applications is  May 3. Information is available at nfb.org.

NFB has created an accessibility toolkit to help Federationists engage with
companies around accessibility issues. An Inaccessibility Tracking Form will
help people report accessibility issues and create greater leverage. We  are
in conversation with the Equal Employment Opportunity  Commission regarding
drivers license requirements on job applications. 

 

Washington Seminar 2025 will take place February 3-6 2025. Put it on your
calendar!

 

ELECTIONS

 

NFBI President Marilyn Green conducted the Chicago  Chapter elections. Only
people present in the room could vote, although people not present could be
elected. The  following persons were elected by the famous Illinois
acclamation thing:  President, Denise Avant; First Vice President, Patti
Chang; Second Vice President, Dustin Cather; Treasurer Kira OBradovitch;
Secretary Debbie Stein; and board members Marilyn Green, Steve Hastalis,
Michelle Ault, and Ken Borst. 

 

SECRETARYS MINUTES

 

Jemal moved and Marilyn  seconded approval of the March chapter minutes. The
minutes were approved.

 

Committee REPORTS

 

Advocacy: Dustin reported that we continue to work on signage at CTA bus
stops. Print signs include information about the bus number and route, but
the Braille signs simply say Bus Stop. We need members to provide public
comment at the next CTA board meeting in May. 

 

Fundraising: Dave Meyer said that the next committee meeting will take place
on Zoom on April 23. The At Large Chapter is doing a popcorn fundraiser
April 15-19, and he encouraged everyone to take part. At Large also has an
ongoing fundraiser with honey-baked ham. 

 

NEW BUSINESS

 

Steve Hastalis said that the Ada Advisory Committee will meet on May 7 at

565 W. Jackson. Debbie Stein announced that she will give a one-woman show
at Chicago Dramatists on April 20 at 2 PM. Steve said he has created Braille
signs for the CTA stations; during the 1990s and 2000s CTA had the capacity
to make great signs. Michal said that todays collection brought in $22.

Donations to the chapter through Zell are always welcome. 

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

Marilyn moved and Steve seconded adjournment. The meeting adjourned at 3:11.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Debbie Stein, Secretary

 

 

 

 

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