[IL-Talk] at large minutes november 2024

[Debbie Pittman]

Wonderful minutes.

Debbie P

Sent from my iPhone

> On Nov 22, 2024, at 9:17 AM, David Meyer via IL-Talk <il-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> NFBI AT LARGE CHAPTER MINUTES
> 
> November 3rd, 2024
> 
> ZOOM meeting
> 
> CALL TO ORDER
> 
> At Large Chapter President, David Meyer, called the meeting to order at 7:04
> PM. Persons in  attendance included At Large Chapter President David Meyer,
> Vice President Linda Hendle, Denise  Avont on behalf of Marilyn Green, Bill
> Reif, Ken Schad, Jean Johnson, Joel Johnson, Eileen  Truschke, Michelle
> Ault, Yvonne Agyarko, Leslie Hamric, Debbie Pittman, Jemal Powell, and
> Michal  Nowicki.
> 
> Persons in attendance introduced themselves and shared one thing they were
> thankful for since we  are getting close to the Thanksgiving Season.
> 
> PROGRAM
> 
> Debbie Pittman introduced the program item and shared with us some new
> technology that she heard on  the Ohio List serve and it is called Glide.
> 
> We listened to the Glide Demonstration video. In this video, Luke
> Buckberrough, one of the  co-founders of Glide, explained how they are
> expecting Glide to be used to get around.
> 
> In the view, Amos Miller is sitting on a bench along a pedestrian sidewalk
> in his local  neighborhood and Glide is standing upright next to him. Glide
> has two black all-terrain wheels  about 7 inches in diameter. It has a
> rounded cylindrical body that is split horizontally with a  black bottom and
> a white top with a visibility LED illumination ring separating the two. It
> features a magenta colored bumper at the front that also serves as a support
> for standing it  upright. The bumper can also be used as a handle to pick it
> up. A white telescopic stem connects to  the base of a triangular shaped
> handle. The handle has a comfortable black grip featuring two  haptic
> surfaces and buttons in the center. It also has a microphone array, a
> speaker for voice  interactions, and a forward facing camera.
> 
> The video demonstrates Amos taking Glide on a walk. Glide keeps him on a
> safe path, avoiding  obstacles, but looks for his input on turning left,
> right or crossing intersections to get him to  his final designation. Glide
> has target and path detection and finds the line. Glide will always  notify
> you when it has found the line ahead. As Amos is approaching the end of the
> next block, he  plans to cross the road to his right. Glide announces the
> options and Amos selects the right  option, thereby selecting the crosswalk
> on his right as his target. Glide confirms his selection.  Amos begins to
> feel a gentle haptic buzz in the handle grip. This is called the tracking
> buzz and  it's Glides way of telling him "I've got the Target, follow me".
> Glide first guides him a little to  the left to avoid a pillar and lines him
> up to approach the curb on his right. He feels the  increased resistance in
> the wheels telling him to slow down. Glide will apply the breaks to bring
> him to a complete stop right to the end of the curb. Glide tells him the
> crosswalk is reached.
> 
> This video is on You Tube. There is a advertisement in the middle of the
> video. The device did take  Amos to the smoothie shop. The Glide also showed
> him where the door was and showed him where the  counter was. The video does
> remind some people of using a Guide Dog except you have command buttons
> instead of giving verbal commands that you would give a Guide Dog.
> 
> With this device you still do need to have your orientation in order to
> effectively use this  device. It will tell you what's ahead, just like a
> Guide Dog would, by the way it behaves and  reacts.
> 
> Amos Miller, who was featured in the video, is the founder and CEO of this
> device and is Blind.
> 
> PRESIDENTIAL RELEASE 543
> 
> David Meyer stated that this is the second in the series of the new
> Presidential Releases.
> 
> We are celebrating the 84th Anniversary of the NFB here in November 2024. We
> are being encouraged  to discuss what events in the history of our movement
> have been most important to us. It is a  interesting question and leads us
> into the next important question which is what are we most  excited about
> for the movement in the future. The reason to understand the past, what we
> have done,  and where we have been, is to have inspiration for where we
> still need to go, and what we still  need to do. We are also encouraged to
> make this an opportunity for the chapter to post something in  social media
> and send it to the communications group at the national office,
> communications at nfb.org . In this video or audio we should state what we're
> excited about for the future of the Federation.
> 
> President Riccobono said that one of our most persistent problems that we
> have been facing since  1940, and will continue to face into the future, is
> correcting the public understanding about  blindness. We need to break down
> those misconceptions.and help the average person in society know  the
> stories of blind people in a authentic way. There is a real need to gather
> more of our stories  in writing, in audio form, or in video, so we can
> continue to inform the public on the  understanding of blindness. Our
> stories are one of the most powerful tools we have when we talk  about the
> work of the NFB, our philosophy, and the difference it makes in our lives.
> One source for  getting inspiration for stories is our Kernel books. These
> books are short stories about the lives  that blind people lead and the
> difference the NFB has made in those stories. These Kernel book  stories
> could be a way to create a platform for us to talk about our stories within
> chapter  meetings. The Kernel book stories could also be great way to
> practice braille and to get ready for  our Braille Readers are Leaders
> contest that will be coming up in the next month or so. The Kernel  books
> are available on our web site in text and audio form. You can go to NFB.org
> to find them. We  can use the Kernel book stories to encourage members to
> write new stories for the monitor, for our  podcast, and for our blog. Our
> stories are really one of the most powerful tools that we have. It  is a
> great opportunity as a way to talk about the work of the NFB and sharing the
> power of our  movement.
> 
> The article that was suggested was the audio recording of one of our classic
> Kernel book stories.  The article is the title article from the Kernel book
> titled "Wall to Wall Thanksgiving" which was  released in 1997. The author
> of that article is Barbara Pierce and she will be celebrating her 80th
> birthday in November 2024. Mary Ellen Jernigan also turned 80 a few weeks
> ago.
> 
> The last item he wants to bring up on this release is related to gratitude.
> President Riccobono had  some sad news but it also is an opportunity to
> share a bunch of gratitude. John Cheadle of Maryland  passed away. He has
> made positive contributions towards blind people and non blind people,
> parents  of blind children and others across the country. His contributions
> really touch every corner of our  nation. President Riccobono has a deep
> amount of gratitude for having been in his circle, to have  been influenced
> by him and to have had the opportunity to learn from him and his experience
> as a  non blind person who was deeply committed to the organized blind
> movement. One story that comes to  President Riccobono"s mind is that John
> Cheadle had the assignment to teach some blind individuals  how to drive
> when technology was being tested for the Blind Driver Challenge. Some blind
> individuals have never been drivers and John Cheadle was the instructor and
> also the navigation  system. President Riccobono reflected on a time when he
> learned how to drive for the challenge with  John Cheadle. Looking back, it
> was a fun moment he shared with him.
> 
> He hopes all our chapters get out there, tell stories, review our Kernel
> books and use them as a  source of inspiration and he wishes everyone a
> Happy Veterans Day, Happy Federation Anniversary and  a Happy Thanksgiving.
> 
> The next part of the Presidential Release President Riccobono played the
> audio for the Kernel book  "The Wall to Wall Thanksgiving" by Barbara
> Pierce. She is no stranger to Kernel book readers and  appears on the pages
> frequently. We can read her heartwarming account of her young families
> efforts  to celebrate traditional American holidays while living in London.
> 
> If anyone would like to listen to the book and may need assistance listening
> to it, Bill Reif  stated he is willing to help members find it.
> 
> STATE PRESIDENTS REPORT
> 
> Denise Avant is here on behalf of state president Marilyn Green. Marilyn
> would want to wish  everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving and would like to
> thank everyone for a great state convention.  At our state convention we
> welcomed many first timers as well as reconnected with old friends.
> Feedback is welcomed about the 2024 convention as well as any ideas we may
> have on the 2025  convention. which is the weekend of October 17th 2025. We
> can send feedback or ideas to her at  president at nfbofillinois.org .
> 
> Next item is Washington Seminar 2025. The applications for Washington
> Seminar 2025 are now  available. We can go to nfbofillinois.org and download
> the application. The dates are February 3rd  to the 6th. It is noted that
> Illinois usually comes in on that Sunday and then we are generally  done
> with all our appointments by that Wednesday. If you questions about
> Washington Seminar or  about the application you can contact President Green
> or Denise or Dustin Cather. They are the co  chairs for federal legislation.
> If you need assistance to fill out the application you can call  President
> Green at 312-343-8396 and she will be happy to help you fill it out or have
> someone  assist you.
> 
> On December 1st we will have the scholarship applications for our National
> Scholarships Program. We  can find that at NFB.org/scholarships. We award 30
> scholarships to deserving blind collage students  in the amount of 8000.00
> apiece. We can also be on the lookout for our state scholarship  application
> which will be uploaded during the month of December. State Scholarships to
> be given  away is decided by the board. This past year there were two,
> sometimes we have had three, and  sometimes as many as four or five. The
> board has yet to make that determination on how many will be  given out next
> year. It will be dependent on what the budget shows we have. In the past it
> has been  5000.00 per state scholarship and last year we had two.
> 
> Also be on the lookout for information about our National Convention in New
> Orleans, Louisiana. The
> 
> dates are July 8th thru the 13th and we will be hearing more about it in
> places like the Braille  Monitor and our List serves.
> 
> OLD BUSINESS
> 
> We do not have any old business to be covered at this time.
> 
> NEW BUSINESS
> 
> Seeing that it is election season, people were asked to do letters to the
> editor column on the  importance of having electric ballot return. If
> someone wants to vote by mail we currently have  delivery but no return.
> Denise has already written to the Chicago Tribune, and the Sun Times.
> 
> The next At Large meeting will be Sunday, December 1st.
> 
> The meeting was adjourned at 8:12 PM.
> 
> Respectfully Submitted,
> 
> Michelle Ault
> 
> Secretary
> 
> 
> 
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