[blindkid] Passing on a Middle Schooler's Convention Inquiry

Tue Jan 13 14:12:06 UTC 2009

Dear Bonnie and all,

Please do not worry. There will be changes and modifications this year, so
going off other years strictly you will not be worried accurately-smile.
There will be some good ol' things and some entirely new things. 

The teen girl time (if we have it) will likely center on more like hair-do's
fashion make-up and fitting in, and anyway that is only a small piece for
the teen track.

Nothing at all is in concrete yet as I don't even know what, when, rooms we
will get. We will welcome also 13 or even 14 year olds into the middle
school group if the teen activity seems more mature than they are, we will
also welcome mature nine years olds. I will be open working with you to get
the best combination as we can for your child so they have a great
experience.  The only "division" that is strict and will stay is the teens
are teens-meaning minimum 13. Some of the activities I am hoping to group in
workshops k-6 and 7-12 for grade level.

So please all be patient, have a positive outlook, and wait until I announce
the agenda--then you can worry for real, but my hope and efforts are to give
you nothing to worry about-only to excitedly expect. Obviously I cannot
tailor the whole conference to each individual, but we have always and will
continue to do everything we can to make sure everyone gets information,
fun, and opportunity to meet their own needs.

Best Regards,

Carrie Gilmer, President
National Organization of Parents of Blind Children
A Division of the National Federation of the Blind
NFB National Center: 410-659-9314
Home Phone: 763-784-8590
carrie.gilmer at gmail.com
www.nfb.org/nopbc
-----Original Message-----
From: blindkid-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindkid-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Bonnie Lucas
Sent: Monday, January 12, 2009 9:16 PM
To: NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List,(for parents of blind children)
Subject: Re: [blindkid] Passing on a Middle Schooler's Convention Inquiry

would it be possible to include kids who are 13 if they really aren't really

ready to talk about dating and such? that way middle schoolers are all 
included and if they choose, they can wait for the teen stuff until they are

in high school.

Bonnie
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Carrie Gilmer" <carrie.gilmer at gmail.com>
To: "'NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List,(for parents of blind children)'" 
<blindkid at nfbnet.org>
Cc: "'Michael K. Freholm'" <mfreholm at blindnet.zzn.com>
Sent: Monday, January 12, 2009 7:34 PM
Subject: Re: [blindkid] Passing on a Middle Schooler's Convention Inquiry

> Dear Vejas (via his dad),
>
> Do not worry. We started planning way last summer to make certain middle
> school age kids did not get left out in the middle. I have a wonderful 
> blind
> guy from Kentucky who is pumped up with enthusiasm to take you kids on! We
> will have workshops, socializing possibilities and mentor supervised
> "free-time" for exploring the hotel, exhibit hall, attached mall and river
> walkway for your age group (10-12). I can't tell you yet exactly what
> workshops or how many but as soon as I know you will know!
>
> I have a meeting with Mrs. Jernigan in Baltimore this week to begin the
> details of which size rooms, how many we will get and on what days. Then I
> will build a plan to fill those rooms with as much as I can pack in them 
> for
> as many different needs as we have.
>
> I think your age group is as vital and important as any other and you will
> have a ton of fun, opportunity, and a great time in Detroit. Tell your
> friends!
>
> I am the official "responder" as President and it is my primary duty to 
> plan
> a good convention that meets the desires and needs of all. I am giving it 
> my
> very best. I won't let you down Vejas!
>
> Thanks for asking,
>
> Carrie Gilmer, President
> National Organization of Parents of Blind Children
> A Division of the National Federation of the Blind
> NFB National Center: 410-659-9314
> Home Phone: 763-784-8590
> carrie.gilmer at gmail.com
> www.nfb.org/nopbc
> -----Original Message-----
> From: blindkid-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindkid-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> Behalf Of DrV
> Sent: Monday, January 12, 2009 4:54 PM
> To: NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List,(for parents of blind children)
> Subject: [blindkid] Passing on a Middle Schooler's Convention Inquiry
>
> Hi All,
> My sixth grader Vejas was wondering it there were going to be any
> activities/workshops specifically targeted at Middle Schooler's at the
> National Convention.
> I know that quite a few Middle Schooler's tend to attend & based on post
> Buddy camp conversations & conversations with parents at the last Braille
> Challenge, now that the convention & Challenge wont be overlapping this
> year, I suspect even more may attend this year.
> The Middle Schooler's are a little to old for the kids activities, but not
> quite ready to mingle in the High School crowd.
> They also have their own set of issues they have to deal with.
> It sure would be nice to have at least a few things that focused on them
> specifically.
> Respectfully,
> Eric V
> PS: I'm just the messenger :-)
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> blindkid mailing list
> blindkid at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindkid_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> blindkid:
>
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindkid_nfbnet.org/carrie.gilmer%40gm
> ail.com
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> blindkid mailing list
> blindkid at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindkid_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
> blindkid:
>
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindkid_nfbnet.org/lucas.bonnie%40gma
il.com 

_______________________________________________
blindkid mailing list
blindkid at nfbnet.org
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindkid_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
blindkid:
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindkid_nfbnet.org/carrie.gilmer%40gm
ail.com