September 2018 Meeting
Minutes for the September 2018 Toronto chapter meeting
Date of meeting: Tuesday, September 25th , 2018
Location: CNIB, 1929 Bayview Ave. Toronto M4G 3E8
Welcome and introductions
Number of members present: 36
Coffee money box/snacks by Linda Spinney.
General and community announcements
Introducing your new CCB Toronto Visionaries Chapter Executive:
President, Ian White
Vice President, Paul Mack
Secretary, Lynda Spinney
Treasurer, Steve De Lorenzi
Communications, Helena Krasocka
Membership Coordinator, Neena Avery
Outreach, Jim Stratton
Volunteer Coordinator, Mato Aguilar
Member at Large, Kamini Rodhan King
Executive Committee Volunteers: Ken Rojas, Rosie Arcuri, Alicia Modeste & Anna Jacobs
Activities and events
Yang’s Latin Dance Classes are suspended until further notice. Contact Yang Wang for more info.
Jo Billard invites you to join the Braille Club at the CNIB Community Hub, 1525 Yonge St., the first and third Wednesday of the month. Contact Jo Billard at nocturnalfeline@sympatico.ca
Sue Marsh-Woods is looking to connect potential participants with a research study being conducted by Dalhousie University on the relationship between blindness and language acquisition. For more information, contact Sue Marsh-Woods at (sue.marsh-woods@vlrehab.ca)
VL-Rehab Orientation & Mobility Instructor, Mark Rankin is looking for feedback on new street crossings. Deadline is Sept 28. Contact Mark at (Mark.Rankin@vlrehab.ca) for more details.
CNIB BRAILLE + TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE - Thursday Oct 18 and Friday Oct 19 at the Ontario Science Centre
New!: We’ll be publishing Visionaries Monthly Meeting minutes via email and Facebook, and eventually on our website.
CCB Toronto Visionaries 5th year Anniversary Dinner, Saturday October 20 from 5pm to 9pm. Tickets are just $25 for a 3-course dinner, available from Executive Committee Members, at Visionaries Events & Activities, or online by arrangement.
It’s time to begin our 2019 membership renewal drive! Membership in the CCB must be renewed annually and, for just $10, you’ll continue to have access to all the discounts and cost off-sets we offer throughout 2019. Current 2018 memberships will lapse as of December 31, 2018. Contact our Executive Member – Membership, Neena Avery, and renew today!
Immediately following the Visionaries Meeting today, Florence Carter will be announcing the release of her autobiography, ‘Dare to Dream’, in audio and Braille formats. The book chronicles Florence’s loss of sight as a teenager, her struggle to realize her dream of becoming a teacher, and her 7 decades of work as an instructor and mentor with the CNIB. Stay and meet the woman who invented the New Beginnings Program at CNIB and who has been recognized as one of the most influential people in helping more than two generations of Canadians with vision loss rebuild their lives.
Guest speaker
Our guest speaker is Donna Jodhan, CCB’s 2018 Person of the Year; Mystery Writer; Anti-bullying Advocate; Blogger on Adaptive Tech Solutions, and the President of the CCB Mysteries Chapter.
Among her many interests, Donna is a long-time, passionate advocate for the rights of persons with disabilities, and successfully sued the Federal government to ensure that all government documents and websites are accessible to all Canadians.
She is involved in the ongoing conversation with all levels of government to develop legislation that reflects the needs of Canadians with all abilities, including Bill C. 81 - The Accessible Canada Act, currently in second reading in Ottawa.
The following points were covered:
- What does advocacy mean to her?
- When she advocates for herself and for others
- Speaking up and speaking out
- For our community and for our kids of the future.
- Donna hopes to make a difference.
- And does not expect to win every battle.
- Donna stated that she picks and chooses her battles.
- She is driven by what Steve Jobs has done and wants to help make a better future for our kids.
Refreshment break
Upcoming CCB Toronto Visionaries activities
See the calendar on our Events & Activities page.
New!: Monday Oct 1 (1st Monday of each month) at 10am, Coffee & Conversation with Denise Chamberlin, at Druxy’s Cafeteria, CNIB Centre, 1929 Bayview.
Tuesday Oct 2 at 5pm, Pub night (half-price wing night, St Louis Bar & Grill), $5 member rebate.
Wednesday Oct 3 at 1pm, Montgomery’s Inn & Farmer’s Market Tour , members free/non-members $7.
Tuesday Oct 9 at 2pm, Bowling at Bathurst Bowlarama, members free/non-members $9+tax.
Thursday Oct 11 at 10am, Spiders exhibit at the ROM, members $5/non-members $10.
Wednesday Oct 17 at 10am, Peter’s Book Club, free.
CNIB Lion’s club Bingo: For more info, contact Lynda Spinney at lspinney@rogers.com
Thursday Oct18 at 6pm, Get Together with Technology, free.
Saturday Oct 20 at 5pm, 5-year Anniversary Dinner at CNIB, Tickets $25 each.
Saturday Oct 27 at 4pm, Halloween Ghost Walk with JJ Hunt, free.
Sunday Oct 28 at 4pm, Ghost Walk II, free.
Tuesday Oct 30 at 10am, Visionaries Monthly Meeting, Halloween theme, free.
CNIB LION’S BINGO: Bayview Location, every third Wednesday, Time - 6 to 8:15 PM. (We start at 6 PM sharp). WHEEL TRANS USERS - Please arrange your rides to arrive at CNIB for 5:30 PM. Departure is 8:30 PM. If you have any further questions, just call or text or e-mail, Lynda Spinney at lspinney@rogers.com.
TILTED DOG PUB: 424 Parliament Street on the third Thursday evening of each month. Time: 8:30-10:30 PM.Fis fully accessible.
So mark your calendars, and come out and join us! CCB Toronto Visionaries Chapter, Canadian Council of the Blind (www.ccbtorontovisionaries.ca)
Business arising (none)
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 12 noon.
Submitted by
Lynda Spinney, Secretary,CCB Toronto Visionaries
Cell/text: (416) 456-7117