[Colorado-talk] Your Thanksgiving Blind Coloradoan
Dan Burke
burke.dall at gmail.com
Sat Nov 24 19:50:39 UTC 2018
Hey, this is reat! I had no idea that Scott was being honored by the
Lighthouse in San Fran!
Thanks!
On 11/21/18, Kevan Worley via Colorado-Talk <colorado-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> [cid:image001.png at 01D481A2.70D7E870]
> (Up there on top you got the NFB of Colorado Who's It)
> Blind Coloradoan Blog November 21, 2018
> Here is what you need to know in brief.
> The most recent state convention of the National Federation of the Blind of
> Colorado was one for the history books. One of the highlights was the
> seminar entitled "How Did We Get Here?" The attendees were able to interact
> with a distinguished panel facilitated by Dan Burke, co-editor of this Blind
> Coloradoan Blog. The powerful panel included Dr. Marc Maurer, President
> Emeritus and the longest-serving President of the National Federation of the
> Blind; Diane McGeorge, Founder and now Chair of the Colorado Center for the
> Blind Board of Directors and long-time President of the NFB of Colorado;
> Peggy Chong, the Blind History Lady and Recipient of a 2018 Dr. Jacob
> Bolotin Award; and Madeline Williams, Ph.D. candidate in history at Harvard.
> The Blind Coloradoan will feature pieces of that history in future
> additions.
> In last month's Blind Coloradoan, we wrote of the Mission to Nocterra, a
> pitch-black puzzle room intended to put sighted and blind people on equal
> footing. As you walked in you were told about how we found an alien vessel
> containing samples of the Nocterran planet, whose sun emits all wavelengths
> except light. Each of the five walls inside had a unique puzzle to explore
> and solve and each person entering got one wall for herself for the
> 10-minute allotted time. This exhibit was brought to the convention by the
> Colorado Center for the Blind. I am sure it won't be the last time people
> will be able to enjoy this escape room. The lines were long, so I did not
> get a chance to try it. During October and November, one fun Fall adventure
> often taken by some of my friends is to ramble through a corn maze. I have
> always wanted to try it. I wonder how me and my trusty guide dog, Onyx,
> would do?
> And now, for audience participation, we describe the escape room as a
> pitch-black puzzle room. I am curious, if someone asks you what you see as a
> blind person what do you say? Being totally blind I am often asked, well
> what do you see? One response that often occurs to me is, "well, interested
> sighted person, what do you see out of the back of your head. It's not dark.
> It's just nothingness." Dear reader, does that make any sense to you?
> Thoughts?
> Speaking of seeables, a.k.a., pictures, I need yours. We have colleagues and
> friends who would like to see pictures of the things we do. So, take some
> pictures. Send them to me. How about a selfie with you and your turkey. Just
> an idea. Seriously, I need pictures! Otherwise we have five or six pages of
> unbroken text. Makes your eyes hurt, your ears ache, and your fingers
> blistered with all that text.
> Let's chat chapter. Don't miss upcoming chapter meetings and holiday parties
> during December. Below, find a brief list for your consideration.
>
> * Colorado Springs will have its annual Christmas part at Old Chicago on
> Academy and Austin Bluffs on Dec. 8th from 11 am to 2 pm. If you want to
> participate in the white elephant gift exchange, bring a wrapped gift valued
> no more than $10....that's right, $10 or under!
> * Boulder Valley Chapter will have a Holiday Open House at Maryann
> Migliorelli's house starting at 3 p.m. on December 8th. Contact her for more
> information, mrsmigs at mirgliorelli.org<mailto:mrsmigs at mirgliorelli.org>.
> * Grand Valley Chapter will have its annual Christmas party December 7th
> at the Center for Independence, 740 Gunnison Ave. They will also be gift
> wrapping at Barnes and Nobel. Contact Margaret Williams for more information
> about the dates and times, 970- 314-7676.
> * Pueblo will have its annual Christmas party December 8th starting at
> noon at 85 Stanfort Ave.
> * Denver invites you to their chapter holiday festivities, Colorado
> Center for the Blind, 2233 West Sheppard Saturday, December 15th from 10
> a.m. until whenever. They will wrap it up around 1 or 2. Cheers!
> If you would like us to chat about your chapter send me the information.
> Next Fundraiser for the Blind Parent Division. A Christmas Carol. Date:
> Sunday, December 16, 2018. Time: 1:30 pm. Place: Stage Theatre. Ticket
> Price: $35. The show will be 2 hours and 30 minutes with an intermission.
> Essential to the holiday season in Denver, A Christmas Carol is a joyous and
> opulent musical adaptation that traces money-hoarding skinflint Ebenezer
> Scrooge's triumphant overnight journey to redemption. For information, I am
> told you can contact Lorinda Riddle, 303-778-1130, or email,
> lriddle at cocenter.org<mailto:lriddle at cocenter.org>.
> Do you have an Ebenezer Scrooge Award nomination? Which Ebenezer Scrooge do
> you hope will find redemption? Here is my list: National Accreditation
> Council (NAC), The AbilityOne Commission for deciding to establish a third
> central non-profit agency without consultation with the organized blind. How
> about Wal-Mart for their inaccessible self-checkout stations. What about
> Goodwill for continuing to pay many employees with disabilities sub-minimum
> wage. I look forward to hearing about your Scrooge Award nominations.
> And then there is this. Some have begun calling this the social event of the
> season. You can get the information by contacting Brad Basta,
> bmfvend at yahoo.com<mailto:bmfvend at yahoo.com>. The Wild West Chapter and the
> Colorado Association of Blind Merchants invite you to their Holiday Soiree.
> Advance tickets are a must. Make your reservations with Brad, learn about
> the meal and ticket pricing. You never know who will attend. Last year I saw
> the power couple David and Maureen Nietfeld, and NFB of Colorado State
> President Scott LaBarre and First Lady Anahit LaBarre. And this year I saw
> the name of Steve Anton, Director of the Colorado Department of Vocational
> Rehabilitation on the guest list.
> Speaking of Steve. At the recent NFBCO Convention, we passed 7 resolutions.
> One of which offered our appreciation and congratulations to the Director of
> Vocational Rehabilitation Steve Anton and the soon-to-be retired Julia
> Zanon, Manager, Blindness and Low Vision Services. Almost three years ago
> they made it happen. They worked to ensure that Colorado now has a unique
> unit to provide targeted services to blind and low vision citizens.
> Resolution 2018-03 Regarding Colorado Blind and Low Vision Services reads,
> in part, "WHEREAS, this unit stood up under the leadership and
> stewardship of the Director of the Division of Vocational
> Rehabilitation Steve Anton; and WHEREAS, the unit was nurtured,
> developed, and supervised by its first manager Julia Zanon along
> with her team of committed professionals; and WHEREAS, Julia Zanon
> has served the blind of Colorado with professionalism, grace, and
> distinction for almost 30 years; and WHEREAS, Blind and Low Vision
> Services (BLVS) Manager Zanon will retire at the end of 2018;
> and WHEREAS, BLVS has garnered acclaim from clients, employers, and
> stakeholders including the National Federation of the Blind for
> the immediate impact the unit has had on the lives of hundreds
> of Colorado's citizens who are blind and low vision: Now,
> therefore, BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind
> of Colorado in Convention assembled this twenty sixth day of
> October, 2018, in the City of Lone Tree, Colorado, that this
> organization commend the Director of the Colorado Division of
> Vocational Rehabilitation Mr. Steve Anton for his community spirit,
> dedication to the Blind and Low Vision Services mission, and his
> unwavering quest to understand, communicate, collaborate, and lead
> with kindness and warmth; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we
> applaud our blind sister and first manager of the Blind and Low
> Vision Services unit Julia Zanon for more than 29 years of
> dedicated service to the blind of Colorado; and BE IT FURTHER
> RESOLVED that this organization pledge to continue working closely
> with BLVS to ensure that all Colorado citizens are given the
> opportunity to open the doors which will allow us to live the
> lives we want." The entire text of resolutions can be heard on NFB
> Newsline and you will soon find them up on the NFBCO website. There is even
> one about blind hockey! Big thanks to the NFBCO Resolution Committee
> co-chairs Dan Burke and Brent Batron. Big thanks to Chris Parsons for her
> help with proofreading and other tasks.
>
> I challenge you! The National Federation of the Blind Braille Readers are
> Leaders contest is now open! So is the Braille Challenge. The Braille
> Challenge: Students in grades 1-12 are invited to compete in a series of
> five skills contests demonstrating braille reading and comprehension, speed
> and accuracy, spelling, proofreading, and tactile graphics. Colorado
> Regionals. Students test your skills at one of two locations!
>
> Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind Regional Braille Challenge
>
> * Thursday, January 17, 2019
>
> * 9:00 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
>
> Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind
>
> 33 North Institute Street
>
> Colorado Springs, CO 80903
>
> Denver Metro Regional Braille Challenge
>
> * Thursday, January 24, 2019
>
> * 9:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
>
> Colorado Center for the Blind
>
> 2233 W. Shepperd Avenue
>
> Littleton, CO 80120
>
> Permission forms must be signed and returned by January 10, 2019.
>
> Please contact Diane Covington with questions and for the permission form,
> dcovington at csdb.org or 719-578-2225.
>
>
>
> Calling all kids, teachers, and parents! The National Federation of the
> Blind of Colorado, in partnership with the NFB Jernigan Institute and The
> American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults, announces the annual
> Nation-wide Braille Readers Are Leaders (BRAL) contest for kids. Entrants
> compete to read the most Braille pages, going against other students in
> similar grades across all participating states. The contest runs for seven
> weeks, encouraging students to be proud of their Braille reading ability and
> to work to improve their Braille skills -- while possibly winning prizes in
> the process. For each student who enters, a certifying official (parent,
> teacher, etc.) must fill out and submit a registration form,
> https://www.nfbofillinois.org/BrailleContest/NationwideBRALREGISTRATIONFORM2018-2019.rtf
>
>
>
> In the words of that fun NFB song, sung to the tune of Jingle Bells,
> "Braille is here. Braille is here. Braille is here to stay!" Once again, the
> National Federation of the Blind is helping Santa Claus send letters in
> Braille to young blind children across the country. More than ten years ago,
> Santa asked us to be his honorary elves. Ever since, we have been helping
> him send letters in contracted Braille to blind boys and girls who are ten
> years old and younger in the United States. Along with the Braille letter,
> Santa includes a print letter so that parents who might not read Braille can
> follow along. He also includes a fun tactile coloring sheet. To make a
> request, fill out the online form located at www.nfb.org/santa-letters.
> Requests must be received no later than December 14 so that Santa's letter
> will arrive before Christmas.
>
>
>
> Washington Seminar is just around the corner. A number of NFBCO members will
> be heading to visit our Colorado Congressional Delegation in D.C.
> Festivities kick off on Monday, January 28. We will be on Capital Hill
> trying to educate members of the Colorado Congressional Delegation on
> Tuesday the 29th and Wednesday the 30th. The planning begins now! For
> information about the work we will do you can contact Dan Burke at
> 303-778-1130. If you have a personal connection with one of our Colorado
> members of congress talk with Dan about it. There may be some funding
> available to help members defray costs. Stay tuned for further information.
> Just one more good reason to read your Blind Coloradoan.
>
>
>
> Here is a note from the National Federation of the Blind President Mark
> Riccobono. Scholarship Application Now Available. Every year through our
> scholarship program, we award more than $120,000 to blind scholars from
> throughout the United States in recognition of their achievements and
> professional aspirations. The scholarship application period opened on
> November 1 and runs through March 31, 2019. To learn more and to apply,
> please visit our new scholarship webpage at www.nfb.org/scholarships.
>
> National Federation of the Blind of Colorado State Scholarship chair-person,
> Jessica Beecham, tells Santa that our state scholarship application form
> will be available for distribution December 15. Let's make sure all students
> know about our robust! State and National Scholarship Programs!
>
>
>
> Thanksgiving Traditions. On Thanksgiving I will often watch the classic
> concert movie, The Last Waltz. I usually find time for the famous WKRP
> episode, "As God as my witness, I thought turkeys could fly." And I always
> play Arlo Guthrie's 25-minute anti-war folk ballad, Alice's Restaurant. For
> those of you who do not know that song, it is all about Thanksgiving dinner,
> being busted for littering, and the draft board. It's a great sing along!
> You ought to try it! But here is another tradition. You can listen to some
> of the most iconic NFB banquet addresses on NFB Newsline. Enjoy the spoken
> word version or the text version. The system currently is featuring speeches
> by Kenneth Jernigan, Marc Maurer, and Mark Riccobono.
>
> Start by pressing one off the main menu and enjoy. I mean, how much football
> can one person endure?!
>
>
>
> Who's up for a little flag football sometime this weekend? I am reminded of
> the Jerry Whittle article about the flag football played at the Louisiana
> Center for the Blind. Yes, the blind can play football as adapted. Read all
> about it in the December 2012 Braille Monitor or the Summer 2013 Future
> Reflections.
>
>
>
> Scott LaBarre will be honored on November 29 at the first annual San
> Francisco Lighthouse Gala. Scott will be honored for his work to combat the
> book famine through the recently passed Marrakesh Treaty. NFBCO President
> LaBarre was appointed by Doctor Marc Maurer to lead our effort back in 2009.
> The President of the United States signed enactment legislation into law
> last month. Simply put, the treaty and related pieces of legislation will
> make it possible for more blind people of the world to access literature.
> Negotiation and passage of this far-reaching treaty was not an easy lift nor
> was it a forgone conclusion. On Thursday the 29th, our President LaBarre and
> our Federation will receive a well-deserved award. Congratulations President
> LaBarre! At this time of Thanksgiving we are grateful for the hard work you
> and your family do for the blind of Colorado and the world.
>
>
>
> I am making a personal appeal to you. It goes like this:
>
> 1) Reach out to the parent of a blind child and tell them about Braille
> Readers are Leaders, The Braille Challenge, and how they can get their child
> a letter in Braille from Santa.
>
> 2) As you know, the Colorado Center for the Blind is a sister organization.
> We need to find ways to fund our CCB programs. I invite you to consider
> contributing to our Center on or before Colorado Gives Day. Spread the word.
> When we contribute on or before December 4, our contributions allow the
> Center to secure matching dollars from the Colorado Gives fund. I will be
> making my contribution before this newsletter is even published. Join me
> won't you. www.cocenter.org<http://www.cocenter.org>. If you have trouble
> making an online contribution call the Center and someone there can help you
> do it on the phone. As easy as pumpkin pie! Almost as sweet as Diane
> McGeorge fudge! And much better than Worley's turkey!
>
>
>
> Did you vote? What was your experience? The Online Survey of Blind and Low
> Vision Voters Closes November 30th! Please complete the blind and low vision
> voter experience survey, the link to the survey is
> www.nfb.org/votersurvey<http://www.nfb.org/votersurvey>. Red, Blue, or
> Purple if you voted we need to hear from you. There is no rhyme for purple.
> I was thinking that orange was the only word without rhyme. My Google search
> turns out that there are many. My favorite, you might imagine, is
> discombobulate. Whether your voting experience was easy or discombobulate we
> want to hear from you.
>
>
> The Blind Coloradoan is aggregated by myself and Dan Burke. We need your
> feedback and material. We will edit as appropriate. I will make snide
> observations about it. And we will all be thankful for it. We aren't
> promising a regular publication schedule, but we are working with our social
> media and NFB Newsline teams to bring you greater access to more current
> information about items in which you may have interest. We will be finding a
> space on our website and in social media and we will be posting all this
> information on NFB Newsline. We will also post on Colorado Talk and we will
> be developing other channels as we move forward. We will need your
> announcements and any brief observations. Just send me a note and we will
> get started.
> At Your Service,
> [cid:image001.png at 01CDBC37.7997B120]
> Kevan Worley
> Cell: 303-929-2369
> WE Fit Wellness
> The Right Fit for Everyone
> Accessible, Affordable, Achievable
> www.wefitwellness.com<http://www.wefitwellness.com/>
> Like us on Facebook<https://www.facebook.com/wefitwellness>!
>
>
>
>
--
Dan Burke
President, NFB of Denver
"Blindness is not what holds you back. You can live the life you want!"
My Cell: 406.546.8546
Twitter: @DallDonal
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