[IL-Talk] at large minutes september 2024

[datemeyer at sbcglobal.net]

> NFBI AT LARGE CHAPTER MINUTES

> September 1st, 2024

> ZOOM Meeting

> CALL TO ORDER

> At Large Chapter Vice President Linda Hendle called the meeting to  >
order at 7:02 PM. Persons in attendance included Vice President Linda  >
Hendle, Bill Reif, Debbie Pittman, Ken Schad, Michelle Ault, Richard  >
Ainsley, Yvonne Agyarko, BobRandal, CathyRandal, Pat Olson, Leslie  >
Hamric, Rebecca Moore, Eileen Truschke, Dustin Cather, and Marilyn Green.

> APPROVAL OF MINUTES FOR AUGUST 2024 AT LARGE CHAPTER MEETING

> Minutes were approved

> PROGRAM

> Debbie Pittman shared with us that one of our biggest fund raisers  >
throughout NFB is Double Good Popcorn. She did an interview with a  > fellow
State Affiliate member from another state on how they did their  > popcorn
fundraiser. The question she has for us will be if we want to  > do our
popcorn fundraiser the way they did it or if we want to wait  > until next
time to try it and the other question she will have for us  > is when do we
want to start our fundraiser. We do it in September and  > then we do it
again in April.

> Bill Reif played the interview for us.

> The guest being interviewed is an NFB Board Member from another State  >
and they had their fundraiser in the early part of May. They had set up  > a
number of Double Good Popcorn Stores. Each individual member who  > wanted
to participate set up their own stores and sold the popcorn the  > best way
they could. They sent out links to Church members, family  > members, and
neighbors, They had gifts for the top three people and  > this year they
sold almost $7000.00 of popcorn and received a check for  > somewhere around
$3400.00. The stores were being separated among  > Chapter members and each
person focused on their own groups to get the  > word out. The top seller
received a gift card and the other two  > received a gift basket.

> Debbie Pittman summed up the interview and explained to us they did it  >
like a contest and it was within the Chapter and whoever wanted to have  > a
store could have one. A store would be set up under each of our names  >
using the same code. Each person would then focus on the groups that  > they
know. Whoever would have the most sales would win the contest for  > our
Chapter.

> Our store has already been set up for September 3rd at 5:00 We can  >
change it as long as it is changed before September 3rd at 5:00.  > Everyone
would have to have the same 4 day period to sell popcorn from  > their
store. It would be each person's responsibility who has a store  > to
promote their own store.

> A motion was made to start our popcorn fundraiser on September 3rd the  >
way we have been doing it and that we try it the new way in April 2025.  >
The motion was seconded. The motion was passed.

> STATE PRESIDENTS REPORT

> NFBI President Marilyn Green announced that the preregistration for  >
State Convention is live and that we still have about four or five  > weeks
for preregistration. We can visit

>  http://www.nfbofillinois.org/convention

> < http://www.nfbofillinois.org/convention > and register online there.

> Registration fee is $5.00 and each meal is a different price. After the  >
preregistration deadline each meal goes up $5.00 and than the  >
registration fee goes up $15.00. If anyone needs any assistance with  > the
form please call,text, or email Marilyn. Her number is (312)  > 343-8396.
Her email address is  president at nfbofillinois.org.  State

> convention is a wonderful time to network within our organization and  >
learn about the different programs that we have within our Affiliates  > as
well as different activities. The convention agenda is coming  > together
nicely and we will have someone there to represent our NFB training  >
center. John Pare, who is the Executive Director of Advocacy and Policy  >
for the NFB, will be our national rep. We have a few exhibitors who  > have
already signed up and we have a convention sponsor for 2024. Our  >
Convention is October 18th-20th.

> There is financial assistance for people who may need it to attend the  >
State Convention. Today is the last day to apply for that at 11:59PM.  > You
can go to nfbofillinois.org and do a search for the Chappell-Dennis  > form.
Please leave the form in it's original format and fill it out for  >
financial assistance. We do offer some modest financial assistance and  > do
not pay for everything due to limited resources.

> We will be at the Chicago Marriot Naperville hotel. We can go ahead and  >
make our room reservations by calling 630-505-4900. Let them know that  >
you are with the National Federation of the Blind of Illinois and would  >
like our group rate. We will need a credit card to hold the room for  > the
deposit. If we need to cancel, please do not cancel the  > reservation,
please call, text, or email Marilyn because we do have a  > room block at a
discounted rate and there may be a waiting list for  > those rooms and
rates. Once you let Marilyn know she will let you know  > what the process
is to get that room changed over.

> We will start the Convention Activities around 2:00 PM Friday, 4:00 PM  >
Resolutions and then go into evening General Sessions. Braille is  >
Beautiful, have some dinner and IABS Idol. We will have Saturday  >
breakfast, regular general sessions, lunch, afternoon general sessions,  >
our business meeting, and our Banquet as usual. We will have our  >
Scholarship/Membership breakfast on Sunday. It is required for the  >
Scholarship Committee and the Scholarship finalist but for anyone else  > it
is not a requirement. We will be doing some Philosophy that morning  > also.
A lot of members seemed interested in the Sunday breakfast so we  > will be
having that.

> The song the State Board chose to sing at State Convention is by the  >
Everly Brothers and they picked Dream.

> NEW BUSINESS

> The At Large Chapter voted on the song they will sing at State  >
Convention. The Impossible Dream sung by Barbra Streisand was  > mentioned.
A version of The Impossible Dream from Man of La  > Mancha....sung by Byran
Strokes Mitchell was played for everyone to  > hear. It was mentioned that
this song goes good with our philosophy. A  > motion was made for The
Impossible Dream to be the battle of the At  > Large Chapters song, the
motion was seconded and all were in favor of  > The Impossible Dream to be
our song at this year's State Convention.

> We welcomed Richard Ainsley and Rebecca Heeman-Moore to the At Large  >
Chapter of the NFBI. A motion was made to welcome them to the Chapter  > and
the motion was seconded. All were in favor and the motion was approved.

> The next meeting will be October 6th and a motion was made to cancel  >
the October meeting due to the fact it was close to State Convention  > and
it was seconded. The motion was rescinded.

> A point made was that in October we usually discuss what we give to 15   >
for funds.

> A new motion was made not to have the meeting in October and to have  >
our President At Large, David Meyer. poll the board on what we want to  >
give for 15 for funds after our Popcorn Fundraiser. It was seconded  > and
all were in favor.

> We will meet again on November 3rd, 2024.

> MOVED TO ADJOURN

> The meeting was adjourned at 8:24 PM.

> Respectfully Submitted,

> Michelle Ault Secretary