[Cash-and-caring] My article

Mon Sep 4 22:58:57 UTC 2017

Thank you, Adrijana, for the article.  This is the best way for me to read
it, because my computer skills are limited.  I am glad you enjoyed the
convention.  Hopefully, one day you will be able to join us in person.  

Ramona

-----Original Message-----
From: Cash-and-Caring [mailto:cash-and-caring-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of adrijana prokopenko via Cash-and-Caring
Sent: Monday, September 04, 2017 5:45 AM
To: Fund-raising assistance for Chapters and Affiliates
<Cash-and-Caring at nfbnet.org>
Cc: adrijana prokopenko <adrijana.prokopenko at gmail.com>
Subject: [Cash-and-caring] My article

 Some people stated that they had difficulties finding my articlee that
appeared in "The Kentucky cardinal", so feel free to read it here!

2017 NFB National Convention Perspective The excitement of a National
Federation of the Blind annual convention is something that can hardly be
described unless you have had the opportunity to experience it for yourself
in person.  Although many individuals from around the world may never be
able to experience this event in person, the advent of technology allows
people from all over the world to participate in the NFB national convention
through live streaming.  One individual shares her diary of thoughts as she
experienced her first national convention held in Orlando, Florida this
summer through the miracle of technology.
A Unique Perspective
by Adrijana Prokopenko
NFB diary
July 10
Excitement is in the air for many people going to convention and lots more
that can't go including me. Looking forward to finding out what is in store.
Making a list to make sure I have everything at hand while convention is
streaming, so I don't have to get out of the room
- looking for things. Water, ice coffee,  snacks, mouthwash, cups, spoon,
tissues  and wet wipes  on the shelf, brailler and braille paper for taking
notes next to me, the phone near the computer on silent mode, doors closed
to prevent outside noise, Skype and Facebook  opened for immediate
communication with members that are there at the  spot.
July 11
Some great presentations regarding technology equipment like orCam and
braille devices that have been improved over the years. The thought of being
able to access information as the sighted with not much hustle is great
enough, just hope the price is right for everyone; otherwise, some people
may miss out on it again.
July 12
The Job fair seems to have brought some cool things, as someone recommended
my Facebook group to people from employment divisions, like lighthouse and
different companies. I was even chatting live with someone like that getting
contact info of one of them to be able to email her with more!
July 13
Lots of work today, trying to hunt down exactly the names of companies that
are out there so people can meet them live and get their job ads and include
them into my job group. Also following the progress of convention from the
stream and members that are already there posting on the groups and to me
privately. Everyone seems to be enjoying convention, including Ciera, the
fearful high school girl who thought that the NFB wasn't for her. NFB
related messages spread on the groups' big time! It is great they are
opening the stream 30 minutes early, so we could feel the atmosphere and
hear some informal chat there! As Arianna enjoyed exploring her dad's watch
and feeling overjoyed that she will have to announce the National Federation
of the Blind name to mark the start of the meeting, I could see how kids
could grow into the federation and have fond memories of it. Practice from
the performing arts division in front of the veterans and more...recognition
for their work from others and probably way more that happened during other
events that aren't streamed. Me being the student that I am, I keep learning
the NFB lessons as before, so lesson number 3 goes, stick being a
federations in the true sense of the word, no matter how close or far you
live. And lesson number 4 goes, the NFB site always has surprises, so keep
checking and scrolling to find them. Even though advertisements about the
Nations Blind Podcast didn't appear anywhere before, I could find it from
the audio link and start listening to it to keep up with what is going on!
  Dick Davis had an interview on 1520wbzw, so had to spread the info far and
wide beforehand so people can listen in.  Seems like the KNFB Reader is also
expanding its features to become even more accurate and the brother of
Victor Stream was just born to help those who want to get it with mobility
at the same time. Feels very rewarding to be able to do all this work even
from afar!
July 14
I'm already getting replies from companies that they are joining my group
and supporting the idea, praying this would bring some cool
things for many.   Lots of money talk at convention today, which made
me feel inadequate  for not being able to provide any, but promising I will
fix this next  year. If nothing else, I can send a door prize and
surprise someone!   As presidents got reelected and kept sharing their
enthusiasm, others shared experiences on growing up with blindness and lack
of opportunities and how they became the way they are to help others, which
shows if you really want to do something, you can probably find a way to do
it! Hopefully discrimination would be less talked about when it comes to
blind parents, students and jobseekers rights, as many of us hope for by
what was being said. So many Emails given out at convention were inaccurate.
I'm glad I wrote to them first to test before I spread the info out about
the NFB news...line echo testing, radio station interview, job related
emails, and address information. So lesson number 5 may be, when people get
excited, some addresses can go wrong! Smile. Also glad that I subscribed to
the press release email list and presidential reports link. I wish someone
had told me about these things way back when I became a member! Don't think
any of this was mentioned in the new member pack and I think it would be
useful for any new member and anyone else who is truly interested to help
the NFB.
July 15
An exciting day today, don't want to miss the banquet or anything else by
falling asleep, so dividing my sleep hours so I can stay up and listen.
What a great thing to hear that companies and organizations can work
together to achieve things, even if change is slower and things take time,
no one said no at convention so far to the president's words, which made me
gain whole new respect for conventions like this one because of this. If it
was a roundtable in Macedonia, the discussions would have probably gone
nowhere and
everyone would have blamed the other for all our problems.   Prizes
and awards going to deserving professionals once more, which  may probably
bring many great things for them and the rest they are connected to, to even
keep achieving greater things together and stay together in the fight! What
can be better than that?
As the banquet gets going and prizes get drawn, it's exciting to hear who
gets  recognized for drawing in the largest number of people and raising the
most money, people cheering for certain individuals and their own  state,
loud enough to hear even with the sound  trouble! As Dr. Maurer gives little
NFB facts and stories from the past and lets people get ready for the main
thing, excitement goes greater about what is to follow. As singers start
introducing each other and invite everyone to  join in, I can't help but get
to sing with them and pull the headset  out of the computer for the whole
house to hear, not minding that it  is one AM where I am! As songs go in a
faster mood, people get to clap and dance around in their limited space in
the crowd. As the video for the students' scholarship and sponsors starts,
we are having a chance to learn more about everyone that is involved in the
deal, hoping that they will continue to support the organization as greatly
in the future. As students recite their little songs especially created for
the occasion and prizes get drawn, I can't help but want to suggest  that it
may serve a great purpose if some are given in products and  not money,
because this would benefit both the organization and the  people that
receive and purchase them from. As amazon gives out a certain amount of
money for every product you buy from certain organizations, it may actually
benefit the NFB to get their own products from there and get back some of
the money in for the organization. As many people are also recognized and
skilled for doing different things, from music to crafts and other things,
if they have a way to show their products in front of such a large audience,
it may be a great pathway for them to be able to keep promoting and getting
their products to others that they don't even know much about! That way
everyone would feel equal and it wouldn't give an impression that only
sponsors and people that put in the big money are greatly promoted at
convention and since the organization keeps tracks and cares for all its
members, it would be a nice thing to know that people are thought of at all
times and their talents and skills are always recognized and appreciated.
With the banquet address starting and the room getting quieter, the serious
business starts that will hopefully give us the great address for a greater
tomorrow.
As science and technology advance and take a great  part in blind peoples'
lives if they are able to afford  it, our power  to change things for a
better tomorrow for us and our children is even  greater than ever, if we
possess all the skills and knowledge to be  able to do this nonvisual. As we
stick together and share what we have and can do, it is the only way that
will bring us and many others forward. As these years' scholarship students
come to shake hands with former and current presidents, Marc Maurer and Mark
Riccobono, Kurzweil inventor, Ray Kurzwiel and others, let's hope that they
would be the ones that would be the great movers and shakers of the
organization in the best way they know how!
About the author: I'm Adrijana Prokopenko and I was born on February
02 1979 in Skopje, Macedonia. I attended primary school at the state school
for blind children in my own city, then went to mainstream high school and
after that spent a year at the Overbrook school for the blind in 1998and
1999 learning blindness skills.
After that, I did my English teaching degree at Eastern Mediterranean
University in North Cyprus from 1999 to 2003. After coming back to my
country, I have been doing volunteer work to help the blind and have been
the founding member of a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) that helps
disabled people with assistive technology. I have been working as a teacher
of English at the same school I studied since 2007.

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