From David.B.Andrews at state.mn.us  Thu Oct  1 21:58:47 2009
From: David.B.Andrews at state.mn.us (David B Andrews)
Date: Thu, 01 Oct 2009 16:58:47 -0500
Subject: [Blindvet-talk] Fwd: 2010 Washington Seminar
Message-ID: <auto-000119808669@mailfront1.g2host.com>


 >>> "Pare, John" <JPare at nfb.org> 10/1/2009 3:37 PM >>>

Fellow Federationists:



The dates for Washington Seminar are:



Monday, February 1 through Thursday, February 4, 2010

Great Gathering-In--Monday, February 1, 2010, 5 PM

Congressional Appointments--February 2 through February 4, 2010



             The following message comes from Diane McGeorge who 
organizes much of the logistics of Washington Seminar.



* * *

             Please make your hotel reservations as soon as 
possible.  We need to have reservations no later than December 30, 
2009.  Please do not contact the hotel to make your reservations.  I 
submit all the reservations for the Washington Seminar.  You may call 
(303) 778-1130, extension 219, to make your reservation, or you may 
e-mail your reservations to Lisa Bonder son at 
<mailto:lbonderson at cocenter.org>lbonderson at cocenter.org.  We will 
confirm receipt of your reservation either by return e-mail or by 
telephone, so be sure to give us your telephone number and your 
e-mail address.



             The following is the information that I need to have to 
assure you of a room at the Holiday Inn Capitol.



1.      Your date of arrival and departure.



2.      First and last names of any roommates that might be sharing 
with you.  If you make the reservation by phone, please spell first 
and last names of each person sharing the room.  Please include 
arrival and departure date for each person.



3.      Please specify if you wish to have:



             A smoking or non-smoking room

             An accessible room

             Two beds, one queen bed, or one king bed

             A rollaway bed (there will be a $10 charge per night)



4.      If Divisions (i.e., Students, Parents, Merchants, Lawyers, 
etc.) wish to have space for a meeting, I must have your requirements 
for meeting space no later than December 1, 2009.  We want to be able 
to accommodate everyone, and in order to do so we must have plenty of 
advance notice to work with the hotel.



             Per the hotel contract, individual cancellation must be 
made at least seventy-two hours prior to the date of arrival to avoid 
one-night's-room-plus-tax cancellation charge.  You must get in touch 
with Lisa Bonder son or me to make changes to your reservation as 
soon as possible to avoid such a charge.



             The rates are $154 for single, double, triple, or quad 
rooms, and the tax is 14.5 percent per night.  When you check in you 
must be prepared to cover at least the first night of your stay with 
either a credit card or check, and then arrange to pay the balance by 
presenting a credit card or a check for the remainder of the cost.



             Please remember, the deadline is December 30, 
2009.  There will be a number of special meetings during the seminar 
and you will want to watch the NFB Web site for special 
announcements.  The Great Gathering-In meeting will be held on 
Monday, February 1, 2009.  You certainly don't want to miss that.



             I hope this answers all of your questions.  I look 
forward to seeing all of you in D.C. in February.


Diane McGeorge



From newmanrl at cox.net  Wed Oct  7 03:51:59 2009
From: newmanrl at cox.net (Robert Newman)
Date: Tue, 06 Oct 2009 22:51:59 -0500
Subject: [Blindvet-talk] Notice of Writers' Division writing contest
Message-ID: <auto-000122079315@mailfront2.g2host.com>

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

2010 YOUTH AND ADULT WRITING CONTEST -- WRITERS' DIVISION OF THE 
NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND (NFB)

Contact: Robert Leslie Newman, <mailto:Newmanrl at cox.net>Newmanrl at cox.net

The annual youth and adult writing contests sponsored by the Writers' 
Division of the NFB, 2010, are open January 1 to April 1. Adult 
contests, poetry and fiction, are open to all entrants eighteen years 
and over. Youth poetry and fiction entries will be divided into three 
categories: first through sixth grades, seventh and eighth grades, 
and ninth through twelfth grades. Prizes for contest winners range up 
to $100 for adult categories and up to $25 for youth categories.

  All contest winners will be announced at the Writers' Division 
business meeting during the NFB national convention to be held in 
Dallas, Texas, the first week of July, 2010. In addition to being 
announced during the business meeting, the winners will appear on the 
Writers' Division website, www.nfb-writers-division.org, shortly 
after convention adjournment. First, second, and third place winners 
in each category will appear in the summer and fall issues of the 
Writers' Division magazine, "Slate and Style."

For additional contest details and submission guidelines, go to the 
Writers' Division website, www.nfb-writers-division.org.

Robert Leslie Newman
Email- newmanrl at cox.net
THOUGHT PROVOKER Website-
<Http://www.thoughtprovoker.info>Http://www.thoughtprovoker.info

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From JFreeh at nfb.org  Thu Oct  8 02:06:55 2009
From: JFreeh at nfb.org (Freeh,
	Jessica)
Date: Wed, 07 Oct 2009 21:06:55 -0500
Subject: [Blindvet-talk] National Federation of the Blind Announces Dr.
 Jacob Bolotin Awards
Message-ID: <auto-000120710645@mailfront1.g2host.com>



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE



CONTACT:

Chris Danielsen

Director of Public Relations

National Federation of the Blind

(410) 659-9314, extension 2330

(410) 262-1281 (Cell)

cdanielsen at nfb.org



National Federation of the Blind Announces Dr. Jacob Bolotin Awards





National Federation of the Blind to Award $50,000 in 2010



<?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = 
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Baltimore, Maryland 
(October 7, 2009): The National Federation of the Blind today 
announced that applications are now being accepted for the 2010 Dr. 
Jacob Bolotin Award Program.  Each year the National Federation of 
the Blind presents cash awards to individuals and organizations that 
have made outstanding contributions toward achieving the full 
integration of the blind into society on a basis of equality.



Dr. Jacob Bolotin was a blind physician who lived and practiced in 
Chicago in the early twentieth century.  He was widely known and 
respected in Chicago and throughout the Midwest during his career, 
which spanned the period from 1912 until his untimely death at the 
age of thirty-six in 1924.  He was particularly recognized for his 
expertise on diseases of the heart and lungs.  Bolotin used his many 
public speaking engagements to advocate for the employment of the 
blind and their full integration into society.



Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind, 
said: "Dr. Jacob Bolotin was a pioneer who overcame low expectations 
and discrimination to become a renowned member of the medical 
profession without the benefit of the support services and civil 
rights protections available to blind people today.  He was also a 
fierce advocate for greater opportunity for the blind in his time, 
and doubtless would have been a leader in the organized blind 
movement had he lived to see it come into being.  The Jacob Bolotin 
Award Program celebrates his pioneering spirit by recognizing and 
supporting outstanding programs, technologies, and individual efforts 
that promote independence and opportunity for blind Americans."



Recipients of the 2010 Dr. Jacob Bolotin Awards will be determined by 
the Dr. Jacob Bolotin Award Committee of the National Federation of 
the Blind.  Online applications are due by April 15, 
2010.  Individuals or organizations are encouraged to apply on behalf 
of themselves or others.  The award recipients will be announced at 
the 2010 National Federation of the Blind Convention in Dallas.  A 
total of $50,000 will be distributed to the award recipients.



The Jacob Bolotin Award Program is funded through the generosity of 
Dr. Bolotin's nephew and niece, Alfred and Rosalind Pearlman.   In 
addition to establishing the Alfred and Rosalind Pearlman Trust to 
endow the awards, the late Mrs. Pearlman also wrote The Blind Doctor: 
The Jacob Bolotin Story.   The book has been published by Blue Point 
Books and can be ordered directly from the publisher at 
www.bluepointbooks.com. Proceeds from book sales will also benefit 
the award program.  For more information or to fill out the online 
application, please visit <http://www.nfb.org/>www.nfb.org.





###





About the National Federation of the Blind


With more than 50,000 members, the National Federation of the Blind 
is the largest and most influential membership organization of blind 
people in the United States.  The NFB improves blind people's lives 
through advocacy, education, research, technology, and programs 
encouraging independence and self-confidence.  It is the leading 
force in the blindness field today and the voice of the nation's 
blind.  In January 2004 the NFB opened the National Federation of the 
Blind Jernigan Institute, the first research and training center in 
the United States for the blind led by the blind.  Please visit our 
Web site: <http://www.nfb.org/>www.nfb.org.



From MisterAdvocate at aol.com  Sat Oct 10 21:05:51 2009
From: MisterAdvocate at aol.com (MisterAdvocate at aol.com)
Date: Sat, 10 Oct 2009 17:05:51 EDT
Subject: [Blindvet-talk] Now here is the National Anthe like it should be!m
Message-ID: <d63.42c63543.3802512f@aol.com>

_http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ETrr-XHBjE_ 
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ETrr-XHBjE) 
 
Play this link and turn up your sound. It will give you the biggest goose  
bumps you ever had.
Dwight


From MRiccobono at nfb.org  Thu Oct 15 15:35:43 2009
From: MRiccobono at nfb.org (Riccobono,
	Mark)
Date: Thu, 15 Oct 2009 10:35:43 -0500
Subject: [Blindvet-talk] Corrected E-mail Address in Study Request
Message-ID: <auto-000121847476@mailfront1.g2host.com>


Please note that the original copy of the below message went out with 
an incorrect e-mail address to respond if you are interested in 
participating. The correct e-mail address is 
<mailto:fmd22 at pitt.edu>fmd22 at pitt.edu. Our apologies for this error.



----------

Dear Students,



Please see the below announcement about an opportunity to participate 
in some important Braille and technology related research.  This 
research will help provide some important data to the field so we 
encourage you to participate if you fit the criteria. Let your voice 
be heard.



Thank you,

Mark A. Riccobono

Executive Director, Jernigan Institute

NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND







-------------

[Flyer for Students: Announcement of Study]



Seeking Students for Research Study



Students who are between the ages of 16 and 22 years who are Braille 
readers and users of assistive technology are needed for a study. 
This study will explore how you use both Braille and electronic 
information for classroom work, and how you learned these literacy 
practices. The purpose of this research will be to add to our 
understanding of the current role of both hard-copy (paper) Braille 
and use of electronic access to information by people who are blind 
from ages 16-22, and your attitudes and perceptions about both 
Braille and technology. This information will inform how we prepare 
pre-service teachers to instruct young Braille readers.



If you are interested in participating in this study or getting more 
information, please contact me via email 
at  <mailto:fmd22 at pitt.edu>fmd22 at pitt.edu, by calling 412-521-5797, 
or by writing to me at:

Frances Mary D'Andrea

5513 Posvar Hall

University of Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh PA 15260



If you are under 18, you MUST have your parents' or guardians' 
permission. A consent form will be send to you in braille or 
electronically after you verify that you are:

1. between the ages of 16-22

2. a student enrolled in school

3. a braille reader

4. a user of electronic assistive technology devices, hardware, or software.

If you are under 18, your parents will also receive a consent form 
that must be signed before you can participate.



Let me know if you have any questions. Thank you for your interest!



Frances Mary D'Andrea


From CDanielsen at nfb.org  Fri Oct 16 02:43:39 2009
From: CDanielsen at nfb.org (Danielsen, Chris)
Date: Thu, 15 Oct 2009 21:43:39 -0500
Subject: [Blindvet-talk] Presidential Proclamation for White Cane Safety Day
Message-ID: <auto-000123424142@mailfront2.g2host.com>


Dear Fellow Federationists:


Below is the text of this year?s White Cane 
Safety Day proclamation issued by President 
Obama.  As you will read, the proclamation 
highlights the importance of Braille 
literacy.  It is clear that our advocacy on this 
issue is having an impact on policy makers at the 
highest levels of our government.  We continue to 
accomplish great things for blind Americans.  Happy White Cane Safety Day!



Sincerely:



Chris Danielsen etc.




White Cane Safety Day, 2009



By the President of the United States of America



A Proclamation





All Americans deserve the freedom to participate 
in every aspect of our society and pursue their 
full measure of happiness.  For blind Americans, 
the white cane is a potent symbol of that 
freedom?affording them greater independence and 
mobility.  Today, we renew our commitment to 
provide full inclusion and equal opportunities 
for those among us who are blind or have low 
vision.  As Americans, we must nurture a society 
that values the unique abilities and individual 
contributions of all its people.



Individuals who are blind or have low vision are 
less constrained and better integrated in our 
country than ever before, but much work remains 
to ensure they have the opportunity to reach 
their full potential.  My Administration is 
committed to securing full and equal access to 
education and employment for blind Americans and 
all those with disabilities.  The American 
Recovery and Reinvestment Act substantially 
increased funding for the Individuals with 
Disabilities Education Act, as well as vocational 
rehabilitation services, including job training, education, and placement.



For Americans who are blind or have low vision, a 
white cane is just one of a wide range of tools 
that sustain independence and productivity.  In 
recent years, refreshable Braille displays and 
speech synthesis devices have given these 
individuals access to the Internet, unlocking a 
new frontier of limitless possibility.  As we 
encourage the development of new assistive 
technologies, we must also improve access to 
existing tools.  The Braille code has opened a 
doorway to literacy for countless individuals, 
but far too many blind children in our country 
are not learning to read it.  By improving 
Braille literacy, we will secure a brighter future for these young Americans.



In the 45 years since White Cane Safety Day was 
first proclaimed by President Lyndon Johnson, 
Americans who are blind or have low vision have 
achieved substantial progress.  As leaders in 
government and business, academics, and the arts, 
they have made remarkable contributions to our 
Nation, proving that sight is no requisite for 
success.  We will continue to strive for a more 
just and equitable Nation that celebrates 
diversity in all its forms and promotes the full 
inclusion of all individuals in our communities.



By joint resolution approved on October 6, 1964, 
(Public Law 88-628, as amended), the Congress 
designated October 15 of each year as White Cane 
Safety Day to recognize the contributions of 
Americans who are blind or have low vision.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the 
United States of America, by virtue of the 
authority vested in me by the Constitution and 
laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim 
October 15, 2009, as White Cane Safety Day.  I 
call upon all Americans to observe this day with 
appropriate ceremonies, activities, and programs.



IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand 
this fifteenth day of October, in the year of our 
Lord two thousand nine, and of the Independence 
of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fourth.



From Curtis.Chong at blind.state.ia.us  Sun Oct 18 23:43:47 2009
From: Curtis.Chong at blind.state.ia.us (Curtis Chong)
Date: Sun, 18 Oct 2009 18:43:47 -0500
Subject: [Blindvet-talk] Opposing Freedom Scientific's signed Braille Driver
	Initiative
Message-ID: <auto-000123685470@mailfront2.g2host.com>

Greetings:

The Open Braille API Initiative, the National Federation of the Blind 
in Computer Science, and Earle Harrison, President of Handy Tech 
North America have created and posted an online petition which 
expresses sharp opposition to Freedom Scientific's recently-announced 
Secure and Compatible Braille driver signing policy.  The petition is 
self explanatory.  If you wish to read the petition and possibly 
demonstrate your support, please point your browser to:

http://www.petitiononline.com/brl4all/petition.html

and express your view.

Thank you for your attention.

Yours sincerely,

Curtis Chong, President
National Federation of the Blind in Computer Science
  
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