<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html charset=windows-1252"></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space;">Hi all,<div>  </div><div> I am wondering if we’ve safely  closed the training center portion of this discussion?   Hoping to make sure we don’t stray too far off topic</div><div>  <br><div><div>On Feb 23, 2014, at 11:52 AM, Ashley Bramlett <<a href="mailto:bookwormahb@earthlink.net">bookwormahb@earthlink.net</a>> wrote:</div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"><blockquote type="cite"><div style="font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;">Serena,<br>which nfb center did you attend and when? I know you were in the buddy program because your mom wrote about it.<br>Are you still volunteering or did you find a job with that social work degree?<br><br>Ashley<br><br>-----Original Message----- From: Serena Cucco<br>Sent: Sunday, February 23, 2014 1:31 PM<br>To: Community Service Discussion List<br>Subject: Re: [Community-service] Cleveland site center.<br><br>That's great thjat the program at CCB can be tailored to meet your<br>individual needs.  Just curious, were LCB and Blind Inc. (Minasota)<br>developed prior to CCB?<br><br>Also, I just noticed ... Serena N and I have the same first name.  I<br>didn't know my name and spelling were that common.<br><br>Serena C.<br>ior t<br>On 2/23/14, Serena Nickell <<a href="mailto:scnickell1980@gmail.com">scnickell1980@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<br><blockquote type="cite">I remember having that exact discussion.<br>Serena<br><br><br>Sent from my iPhone<br><br><blockquote type="cite">On Feb 23, 2014, at 12:11 PM, Darian Smith <<a href="mailto:dsmithnfb@gmail.com">dsmithnfb@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<br><br>I remember a discussion an  instructor   had while i was at  the Colorado<br>Center.  they  told a student  that you start taking all  classes<br>regardless of  proficiency level in any particular class because no matter<br>how good you might be at something, there is always room for improvement.<br><br>Of course if you are proficient enough in a particular area and need more<br>help in another, things can be worked out where you can work on the area<br>in which you wish to improve.<br><br> Darian<br><blockquote type="cite">On Feb 23, 2014, at 10:03 AM, Serena Nickell <<a href="mailto:scnickell1980@gmail.com">scnickell1980@gmail.com</a>><br>wrote:<br><br>I attended the Colorado center and while it's true that you're required<br>to take all their classes they do Taylor the program to meet your needs.<br>As time went on I was able to adjust my schedule to take less Braille and<br>concentrate on other areas that I needed additional help in.<br>Serena<br><br><br>Sent from my iPhone<br><br><blockquote type="cite">On Feb 23, 2014, at 11:56 AM, Serena Cucco <<a href="mailto:serena.c.cucco@gmail.com">serena.c.cucco@gmail.com</a>><br>wrote:<br><br>Hi guys,<br><br>I think the reason the NFB centers make you take all classes,<br>regardless of your proficiency, is that the centers were first<br>designed for people who were going blind as adults, so generally, had<br>no prior training in blindness skills and may have lacked the<br>confidence that they could live with their new condition.  Of course,<br>being born blind/visually impaired is different.  Hopefully,<br>congenitally blind folks have received at least basic training in<br>Braille or low vision equipment and cane travel, so might not really<br>think they need a Braille class.<br><br>Serena<br><br><blockquote type="cite">On 2/22/14, Cheryl Fields <<a href="mailto:cherylelaine1957@gmail.com">cherylelaine1957@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<br>This is good information, Ashley I am sure you will weigh all your<br>options and make the best choice for your situation.<br>If you are looking for specific training there is a location in<br>Buffalo for hospilitality training. Don't know anyone that used this<br>but occasionally I receive emails from them. Maybe someone knows more<br>about it and can provide details.<br><br>Cheryl<br><br><blockquote type="cite">On 2/22/14, Ashley Bramlett <<a href="mailto:bookwormahb@earthlink.net">bookwormahb@earthlink.net</a>> wrote:<br>Brooke,<br><br>Cleveland sight center is a nonprofit center in cleveland ohio.<br>NFB centers are those private centers in Louisiana, colorado, and<br>Minesota.<br><br>They are big and discussed a lot in the Monitor and convention.<br>Maybe,<br>you<br>are new to NFB?<br><br>Read the monitor for info and that is online at <a href="http://nfb.org">nfb.org</a>. For<br>instance,<br>one<br>article<br>is called Living a Miracle every day and summarizes the LCB training.<br><a href="https://nfb.org//Images/nfb/Publications/bm/bm08/bm0805/bm080504.htm">https://nfb.org//Images/nfb/Publications/bm/bm08/bm0805/bm080504.htm</a><br><br>Basically nfb centers train you in the skills of blindness and daily<br>living<br><br>skills such as home management, technology, braille and cane travel.<br>You have to follow nfb philosophy there though. You have to train as<br>a<br>blind<br><br>person even being legally blind with stable vision; you have to wear<br>sleepshades in training.<br>You have to take all classes.<br><br>Now, cleveland sight center does not force you to take classes you<br>already<br>are proficient in; like if you know braille, you don't have to take<br>it.<br>CSC<br><br>also has a call center training program for blind people who want to<br>work<br>at<br><br>call centers and really works to find clients jobs.<br>They offer the same classes but without NFB philosophy and<br>sleepshades<br>are<br>optional. Also, they have apartments which I find appealing.<br><br>So that is a bit about types of centers and the nfb ones. If<br>interested<br>in<br>nfb centers, I encourage you to call the center staff as they are<br>happy<br>to<br>talk about their centers.<br><br>Ashley<br><br><br>-----Original Message-----<br>From: Brooke Evans<br>Sent: Saturday, February 22, 2014 9:52 PM<br>To: Community Service Discussion List<br>Cc: Community Service Discussion List<br>Subject: Re: [Community-service] Cleveland site center.<br><br>Darian,<br><br>Could you explain a bit more on NFB training centers, please?  I've<br>only<br>heard of this just now from your post.<br><br>Much appreciation.<br>Brooke<br><br>Sent from my iPad<br><br><blockquote type="cite">On Feb 22, 2014, at 9:47 PM, Darian <dsmithnfb@gmail.com> wrote:<br><br>Ashley,<br>Just curious, have you considered training at one of our Nfb<br>centers?<br>Darian.<br><br>This electronic message has been brought to you by my mobile device.<br><br><blockquote type="cite">On Feb 22, 2014, at 6:15 PM, "Ashley Bramlett"<br><bookwormahb@earthlink.net> wrote:<br><br>Cheryl,<br>You used the first person. So do you work or volunteer for CSC? If<br>so,<br>we<br><br>really should talk.<br>I was considering going there for training.  This is very valuable<br>info<br>and thanks for sharing. I did not realize that CSC had so many<br>blind<br>and<br><br>sighted volunteers, not only to support the students, but also lead<br>recreation and literacy classes. Maybe once I do training there, I<br>should<br><br>get a job at the camp, as I love seeing kids grow and give them<br>opportunities their overprotective parents probably do not give them<br>to<br>do activities.<br><br>Ashley<br><br>-----Original Message----- From: Cheryl Fields<br>Sent: Saturday, February 22, 2014 8:27 PM<br>To: Community Service Discussion List<br>Subject: Re: [Community-service] Seeking ideas for<br>thecommunityservicegroupseminar at national convention<br><br>Ashley, I am thinking about Americore too.<br>My friend, Stanley, provides training for csc consumers on adaptive<br>technology. These consumers are in our supportive employment<br>programs<br>or literacy programs. He and his supervisor recently are providing<br>introductory instruction on mobile devices. When he was with<br>Americore<br>one of his jobs was to support braille instructors during classes<br>provided at csc.<br>Cleveland Sight Center may be an agency to consider inviting to the<br>convention. It is unique, there are more than 15 blind/lowvision<br>employees on staff, entire staff is approx. 100. The agency houses<br>a<br>call center where there are some additional blind employees, these<br>people are not csc employees. The agency has several contracts to<br>provide call center services and they are employees of those<br>various<br>companies. Some work from home, training is at the agency or can be<br>accessed on line. I can provide contact information if you want to<br>connect.<br>Several employees presented /participated, not sure, at the<br>national<br>convention employment seminar last year in Orlando. Like many not<br>for<br>profits, csc could not function without the many volunteers, a<br>large<br>number of them are consumers. Some things that agency<br>volunteers/consumers do, I facilitate a book discussion, someone<br>else<br>instructs line dancing, others provide braille instruction to those<br>not in employment or literacy programs, instruction in crochet and<br>other crafts. We have a camp located in Chardon Ohio and it employs<br>blind and sighted persons 18 years and up, this is a perfect summer<br>job for college students and has the potential for full time<br>permanent<br>employment after graduation. We employ 2 rehab teachers that are<br>blind, there are guide dogs and canes all around the building,<br>smiles.<br>Another program administer by a blind staff person is Share the<br>Vision, this provides Peer support for those that have recently<br>lost<br>their vision. It is a wonderful program that everyone can<br>participate<br>in, the only qualifications are you must be blind and have a<br>telephone!  I'll stop here because this could go on for a long<br>time,<br>as you can tell I am quite proud of the rehabilitation, recreation,<br>staff and volunteers at csc!<br><br>Until Next Time!<br><br>Cheryl<br><br><blockquote type="cite">On 2/22/14, Catherine Michele Mitchell <michmitch66@gmail.com><br>wrote:<br>Thanks Chris. I will definitely look that up.<br><br>Michele Mitchell<br>Tupperware Consultant<br>781-790-3627<br>www.my.tupperware.com/michmitch<br><br>On Feb 21, 2014, at 10:38 PM, Cheryl Fields<br><cherylelaine1957@gmail.com><br>wrote:<br><br><blockquote type="cite">Hello Everyone,<br>Thank you for blog information. I think we should all write an<br>article,<br>smiles!<br>I am sharing this information with my friend that had the<br>experience<br>with Americor that led to employment.<br><br>Cheryl<br><br><blockquote type="cite">On 2/21/14, Denyece Roberts, MSW, RCSW <peace05@comcast.net><br>wrote:<br>Sure I'll be glad to!  Where should I start.<br>----- Original Message -----<br>From: Darian<br>To: Community Service Discussion List<br>Sent: Friday, February 21, 2014 11:07 AM<br>Subject: Re: [Community-service] Seeking ideas for<br>thecommunityservicegroupseminar at national convention<br><br><br>Would you be willing to write about this on the community<br>service<br>group<br>blog.?<br><br>This electronic message has been brought to you by my mobile<br>device.<br><br>On Feb 21, 2014, at 12:30 AM, "Denyece Roberts, MSW, RCSW"<br><peace05@comcast.net> wrote:<br><br><br>Hello Ashley, I did what is called the Americort Vista program.<br>I<br>was<br>paid a stifen every two weeks. This program is strickly<br>administrative<br>work.<br>However there is an area in Americort called direct service in<br>which<br>you<br>can<br>work directly with students.  This service is  usually offered<br>in<br>schools<br>working hands-on. As a Americort vista member   I was the<br>coordinator<br><br>for<br>a<br>youth transition program. I emplimented a high school High tech<br>program<br>for<br>students with disabilities. I developed a employment readiness<br>program<br>preparing students for a summer job for six weeks. The workshops<br>consisted<br>of mock interviews, how to dress appropriately on job, time<br>management<br>etc.<br>After the students completed the program; I worked with<br>professional<br>people<br>in the community who interviewed each student and provided<br>constructive<br>feedback. I raised all mony and each of 10 students were paid<br>600<br>dollars<br>for a period of six weeks. In addition to that, I also worked on<br>the<br>disaster prepareness team, and went to homes of people with<br>disabilities,<br>and delivered emergency kits. Before leaving Americort I applied<br>for<br>a<br>grant<br>to continue the High School High Tec program and got approved.<br>----- Original Message -----<br>From: Ashley Bramlett<br>To: Community Service Discussion List<br>Sent: Thursday, February 20, 2014 3:09 PM<br>Subject: Re: [Community-service] Seeking ideas for the<br>communityservicegroupseminar at national convention<br><br><br>Denyce,<br>That is great. Do you mind telling me a bit about your<br>americorp<br>experience on or off list.<br>What program did you do? Do you have to be in college or<br>recently<br>graduated to do it?<br>Did you learn a lot from it? were you paid? this is something<br>I've<br>considered as I have not found a job; I love to help people and<br>maybe<br>americorps would not only give me hands on experience but also<br>set<br>me<br>apart<br>from<br>the rest of the applicant pool when I look for work; btw, I did<br>have<br>internships but the internships did not give me enough<br>substantive<br>experience I need.<br><br>Ashley<br><br>From: Denyece Roberts, MSW, RCSW<br>Sent: Monday, February 17, 2014 9:57 PM<br>To: Community Service Discussion List<br>Subject: Re: [Community-service] Seeking ideas for the<br>communityservicegroup seminar at national convention<br><br>Hello, I did two years in the Americorp.  Americorp main office<br>for<br>Florida is located in Orlando.  It would be nice to have someone<br>from<br>their<br>office come and speak about some success services of blind<br>people<br>who<br>have<br>attended the program in florida.<br>  ----- Original Message -----<br>  From: Darian Smith<br>  To: Community Service Discussion List<br>  Sent: Monday, February 17, 2014 5:24 PM<br>  Subject: Re: [Community-service] Seeking ideas for the<br>community<br>servicegroup seminar at national convention<br><br>  Hi all,<br>  The overall  focus will be on celebrating 20 years of<br>AmeriCorps,<br>and the service work that the blind have themselves contributed<br>to<br>the<br>success of the program and the impact the program has had on<br>those<br>who<br>have<br>served.<br>    We are inviting those  who have served in AmeriCorps<br>programs<br>to<br>share  a bit about their experiences, what they've given, gained<br>and<br>the<br>perceptions they believe  they changed of the blind.<br>  This will not  constitute the entirety of the seminar, but it<br>will<br>have a place of prominence on the agenda.<br>  we are looking into inviting service agencies to spend a few<br>minutes<br>talking about their programs  and how attendees may involve<br>themselves<br>in<br>service via what they have to offer.<br>  I believe we are targeting the following agencies: the red<br>cross,<br>big brothers  big sisters, habitat for humanity and hands on<br>network.<br>we'll<br>probably ask them to introduce themselves to the attendees and<br>ask<br>them<br>to<br>table in the back of the room should individuals have further<br>questions<br>regarding involvement in their local communities  Hopefully we<br>will<br>use<br>this<br>opportunity to develop relationships with these agencies  that<br>we<br>can<br>cultivate over the coming years.<br><br>  Hopefully we can  delve deeper into possible partnerships<br>with<br>these<br>agencies in the future.  We could  even look into  the<br>possibilities<br>this<br>year, but  that depends on the interest a committed soul or two<br>has<br>in<br>seeing that it happens.  Unfortunately,  this can be a bit of an<br>undertaking<br>and such folks are proving to be in short  supply at the moment.<br>  We have had some great help in finding the agencies and<br>AmeriCorps<br>alumni federationests, and this has proven to be invaluable<br>effort<br>and<br>results-based action that those who have  stepped up should be<br>proud<br>of.<br>  I'm thinking we are still a few  presenters away from this<br>being<br>the<br>best seminar yet.<br>  We also might be electing a slate of officers and board<br>members.<br>If<br>this is true we will have to make some time for this and upon<br>completion<br>of<br>the meeting we will have become a division of the national<br>federation<br><br>of<br>the<br>blind.<br>  we will see how those details work out  because we are still<br>a<br>ways<br>from convention.<br>    I hope this helps people help us find some great additions<br>to<br>the<br>agenda<br>    Best,<br>    Darian<br>  On Feb 17, 2014, at 1:14 PM, Cheryl Fields<br><cherylelaine1957@gmail.com> wrote:<br><br><br>    Ashly,<br><br>    Yes, I think the hands on training may work better for next<br>year.<br>When<br>    the red Cross is contacted the conversation, audio<br>description<br>for<br>    videos, could begin at that time. It may take some time to<br>have<br>them<br>    see the advantage in added it to their materials. I should<br>have<br>added<br>    that this is a long range goal.<br>    I want to hear about your experience, it may be valuable to<br>hear<br>    before the contact is made. smiles<br><br>    Cheryl<br><br>    On 2/17/14, Ashley Bramlett <bookwormahb@earthlink.net><br>wrote:<br><br>      Cheryl,<br>      It's a good idea. I agree with you it needs registeration<br>and<br>limit  the<br>      size of the workshops so they can give you all hands on<br>instruction more<br>      easily.<br>      However, not everyone is  open to  the commitment to do<br>first<br>aid or cpr<br>      training.<br>      Think of how busy convention gets.<br><br>      Time may be unavailable on either the hotel side or the<br>convention<br>      participants side to do it.<br>      It may be easier to plan a shorter hands on service<br>activity.<br><br>      If you do contact them, I hope red cross is open to<br>adaptations.<br>      Unfortunatly, I had a bad experience attempting to<br>volunteer<br>in<br>their local<br>      office though and volunteering did not work out. I'll<br>write<br>about later<br>      perhaps.<br><br>      If I were planning something to  do at convention, I'd<br>probably<br>pick the<br>      hygene or food kits idea instead.<br>      I'm just thinking about the convention group and all the<br>things<br>going on<br>      there and the wide interest areas among conventioneers.<br><br>      Ashley<br><br><br>      -----Original Message-----<br>      From: Cheryl Fields<br>      Sent: Monday, February 17, 2014 3:35 PM<br>      To: Community Service Discussion List<br>      Subject: Re: [Community-service] Seeking ideas for the<br>community<br>      servicegroupseminar at national convention<br><br>      Hi Everyone!<br><br>      Great ideas! The cpr and first aid classes are a<br>wonderful<br>idea<br>and<br>      may require some registration.<br>      Think about working with the Red cross to provide audio<br>description<br>      for all of the classes they use vvideos for. I'm not sure<br>how<br>      difficult it would be, most movies are audio described<br>and<br>most<br>places<br>      update materials on a regular basis so, it's worth<br>asking.<br>This<br>would<br>      benefit us across the country!<br><br>      Cheryl F.<br><br>      On 2/17/14, Darian <dsmithnfb@gmail.com> wrote:<br><br>        Hi Serena,<br>        It sounds really cool!<br>        Tell me all about it! What's the name of the<br>organization?<br>How<br>did you get<br>        involved? Why did you get involved?<br>        Darian<br><br>        This electronic message has been brought to you by my<br>mobile<br>device.<br><br><br>          On Feb 16, 2014, at 8:18 AM, Serena Nickell<br><scnickell1980@gmail.com><br>          wrote:<br><br>          Hi, I recently began volunteering with an<br>organization<br>that<br>helps the<br>          homeless.  In addition to the above items we also<br>give<br>out<br>small<br>          flashlights and batteries (usually AA and AAA).<br>          Serena<br><br><br>          Sent from my iPhone<br><br><br>            On Feb 16, 2014, at 10:09 AM, "Michelle Clark"<br><mcikeyc@aol.com> wrote:<br><br>            Hi Michelle,<br><br>            Here is a list of the items we generally add. Also,<br>at<br>the<br>bottom, I<br>            added a<br>            draft of a letter I sent out to just people on my<br>email<br>list and the<br>            Chapter. Hope it helps anyone who is interested in<br>doing<br>something like<br>            this.<br><br>            One other thing we do when we get large bottles of<br>lotion,<br>shampoo, ect<br>            is<br>            we hold them out and make up a gift type bag to<br>give<br>out<br>as a special<br>            gift.<br>            My Church has a Christmas Party for a few local<br>Women's<br>Shelters and we<br>            give<br>            to them as well. This year, they had so much stuff<br>left<br>over they gave<br>            the<br>            rest to our Chapter!<br><br>            Items we include:<br><br>            1.    Wash cloths<br>            2.    Soap<br>            3.    Toothpaste<br>            4.    Toothbrushes<br>            5.    Lotion or petroleum jelly<br>            6.    Shampoo<br>            7.    Conditioner<br>            8.    Mouthwash/non-alcoholic<br>            In the past we have gotten a mixture of things such<br>as:<br>            Toilet paper<br>            Mens deodorant<br>            Women's deodorant<br>            Sanitary items<br>            Combs<br><br><br>            Draft Letter:<br><br>            Hello,<br><br>            The National Harbor Chapter of the National<br>Federation<br>of<br>the Blind of<br>            Maryland is a non-profit group of blind persons<br>striving<br>to help others<br>            in<br>            the   Prince Georges County area who happen to be<br>blind<br>and low vision.<br>            We<br>            help one another through advocacy, outreach,<br>networking,<br>and sharing.<br>            Also,<br>            in the vision of our National Headquarters, we not<br>only<br>help ourselves,<br>            we<br>            help others.<br><br>            This, in our fourth year, we will continue in our<br>outreach<br>to others<br>            with<br>            a<br>            toiletries drive to donate Hygiene Kits to homeless<br>persons. As we did<br>            last<br>            year through an array of generous donations, we<br>were<br>able<br>to give out<br>            approximately 120 bags of toiletries to assist<br>persons<br>who<br>are in a<br>            state<br>            of homelessness. In addition, we were able to<br>donate<br>additional kits to<br>            a<br>            local church that regularly visits a shelter for<br>women<br>and<br>children.<br><br>            Since homelessness is on the rise and help is<br>needed,<br>our<br>continual goal<br>            is<br>            to combine hygiene kits and distribute them to as<br>many<br>as<br>we can. We are<br>            partnering with a local non-profit agency that runs<br>shelters and feed<br>            homeless persons in Prince Georges County. They<br>distribute<br>these items<br>            when<br>            a person enters the shelters. We are asking your<br>assistance with<br>            donations<br>            of toiletry items that will help us in this effort<br>and<br>please forward<br>            this<br>            message to anyone you feel will assist.<br><br>            In specific we are asking for any combination of:<br>            1.    Soap<br>            2.    Shampoo<br>            3.    Lotion<br>            4.    Conditioner<br>            5.    Toothbrushes<br>            6.    Toothpaste<br>            7.    Washcloths<br>            8.    Mouthwash/non-alcoholic<br>            9.    Socks<br>            10.    Grooming items<br>            11.    Sanitary items<br>            12.    Any additional small item you feel a person<br>living<br>in the state<br>            of<br>            homelessness can use<br><br>            If you and/or your organization are able to assist<br>us<br>in<br>this effort,<br>            please<br>            let me know by contacting me directly by either<br>email<br>at<br>mcikeyc@aol.com<br>            or<br>            via telephone at 301 583-8585 evenings or 202<br>720-1560<br>days by November<br>            14th.   We will be compiling these items on the<br>Saturday<br>before<br>            Thanksgiving. Your contribution will be tax<br>deductable<br>and<br>help in the<br>            lives<br>            of those who are in situations other than which we<br>live.<br><br>            To find out more about what we do, please visit our<br>National website at:<br>            www.nfb.org or our State website at www.nfbmd.org.<br>You<br>may<br>also "like"<br>            us<br>            as<br>            the National Harbor Chapter on our new Face Book<br>page.<br><br>            Sincerely Yours,<br><br><br>            Michelle Clark<br>            President<br>            National Harbor Chapter<br>            National Federation of the Blind of Maryland<br><br>            "Changing what it means to be blind in Prince<br>Georges<br>County!"<br><br><br><br><br><br>            -----Original Message-----<br>            From: Community-service<br>[mailto:community-service-bounces@nfbnet.org] On<br>            Behalf of Catherine Michele Mitchell<br>            Sent: Sunday, February 16, 2014 9:35 AM<br>            To: Community Service Discussion List<br>            Cc: Community Service Discussion List<br>            Subject: Re: [Community-service] Seeking ideas for<br>the<br>community<br>            servicegroupseminar at national convention<br><br>            I also really like the idea of putting some kind of<br>kits<br>together as a<br>            project at the convention.<br><br>            I would also like to ask those of you who do this<br>already<br>in your<br>            chapters<br>            or affiliates to please email me lists of items you<br>include in whatever<br>            kit<br>            you are making. I want to add materials like this<br>to<br>our<br>resource bank<br>            to<br>            help other people do these kinds of projects.<br><br>            Thanks, everyone!<br><br>            Michele Mitchell<br>            NFB Community Service Group<br>            Research and Resource Committee Chair<br><br>            Tupperware Consultant<br>            781-790-3627<br>            www.my.tupperware.com/michmitch<br><br>            On Feb 15, 2014, at 5:01 PM, Cheryl Fields<br><cherylelaine1957@gmail.com><br>            wrote:<br><br><br>              I love the idea of hygene kits for the homeless.<br>Our<br>chapter collected<br>              toiletries for a women's shelter last year, but<br>we<br>did<br>not assemble<br>              the items. The shelter was glad to receive the<br>gift<br>but<br>we could have<br>              saved them some time.<br>              I will suggest this when we do it again, sounds<br>like<br>fun!<br><br>              Providing a hands on opportunity for convention<br>attendees is fantastic!<br><br>              Cheryl<br><br>                On 2/15/14, Denise Shaible<br><denise.shaible@att.net><br>wrote:<br>                I like the idea of emergency preparedness.  I<br>know<br>the<br>Red Cross has<br>                some<br>                information on that and we all need to know<br>about<br>it.<br>I also like the<br><br>            idea<br><br><br>                of the Red Cross providing small first aid<br>kits.<br>I<br>remember buying<br>                one<br><br>            when<br><br><br>                I took my first aid class when I lived in Ft.<br>Lauderdale, FL.  I don't<br><br>            know<br><br><br>                if they would provide them but, I'm wondering<br>if<br>we<br>could assemble<br>                them<br><br>            if<br><br>                we know what we need to put in them and then we<br>could<br>give them to our<br>                members or whoever we wish to give them to.<br><br>                I really like the idea of having someone speak<br>about<br>programs to feed<br>                the<br>                hungry or doing a service project with a local<br>food<br>bank.  I don't<br>                know<br><br>            why<br><br><br>                we couldn't help put bags of food together.<br>Yes,<br>it's<br>an assembly<br>                line<br><br>            job<br><br><br>                but, we do it at my church and we're able to<br>feed<br>between 50 and 100<br><br>            persons<br><br><br>                each month.  It's rewarding to know we're doing<br>anything to help and<br>                to<br>                promote the fact that we want to give not just<br>get.<br><br>                Regards,<br><br>                Denise<br><br>                -----Original Message-----<br>                From: Michelle Clark<br>                Sent: Friday, February 14, 2014 10:21 AM<br>                To: 'Community Service Discussion List'<br>                Subject: Re: [Community-service] Seeking ideas<br>for<br>the<br>community<br>                servicegroupseminar at national convention<br><br>                Here in Maryland, my Chapter did reach out to<br>the<br>local agency and<br>                they<br>                provided emergency kits several years ago. As<br>time<br>has<br>elapsed and<br><br>            budgets<br><br>                have shrunk, I find that is not happening<br>anymore.<br>I<br>am thinking<br>                someone<br>                locally would have to initiate that?  It would<br>be<br>important for us to<br>                get<br>                the information and to tie it in with serving<br>an<br>external group to get<br><br>            the<br><br>                information as well.<br><br>                Michelle<br><br>                -----Original Message-----<br>                From: Community-service<br>[mailto:community-service-bounces@nfbnet.org]<br>                On<br>                Behalf Of Cheryl Fields<br>                Sent: Friday, February 14, 2014 11:53 AM<br>                To: Community Service Discussion List<br>                Subject: Re: [Community-service] Seeking ideas<br>for<br>the<br>community<br>                service<br>                groupseminar at national convention<br><br>                Hello,<br><br>                Having the Red Cross is a great idea. In<br>addition<br>to<br>the first aid,<br>                ask if they provide disaster preparedness. It<br>would<br>be<br>good to have<br>                this information available, most people are not<br>prepared and if they<br>                need to evacuate may not know what the<br>designated<br>safe<br>places are. it<br>                could be taken a step further and provide back<br>packs<br>with most items<br>                inside, if the budget allows for this.<br><br>                Another idea is to plant a sensory garden at<br>one<br>of<br>the convention<br>                host hotels in Florida, since we are spending a<br>few<br>years there.<br>                Plants  and other materials can be donated from<br>local<br>garden centers.<br><br>                I happen to be working on a similar event in<br>Cleveland<br>and another<br>                idea from 1 of our brainstorming sessions was a<br>mural.<br>Making it<br>                visible to the community sending a clear<br>positive<br>message about the<br>                blind. The Cleveland chapter has a on going<br>project,<br>we volunteer at<br>                the Cleveland food Bank re packing produce for<br>distribution and while<br>                working with the food bank a community produce<br>distribution can be<br>                arranged. It is rewarding and can be lots of<br>fun!<br><br>                Have a great weekend and Happy Valentine's Day!<br><br>                CherylOn 2/14/14, Denise Shaible<br><denise.shaible@att.net> wrote:<br><br>                  Darian,<br><br>                  We spoke sometime ago about having a<br>Representative<br>of the Red Cross<br><br>            give<br><br>                a<br><br>                  presentation on first aid.  Are you still<br>interested<br>in that?  Please<br><br>            let<br><br>                me<br><br>                  know and I'll start researching it.  Also, if<br>you<br>know any details<br>                  about<br><br>                our<br><br>                  seminar, please send that as well.  Thanks.<br><br>                  Regards,<br><br>                  Denise<br><br>                  From: Darian Smith<br>                  Sent: Thursday, February 13, 2014 10:26 AM<br>                  To: Community Service Discussion List<br>                  Subject: [Community-service] Seeking ideas<br>for<br>the<br>community service<br>                  groupseminar at national convention<br><br>                  Hi all,<br><br>                  I'm looking for some  great ideas for our<br>seminar<br>at<br>National<br><br>            convention.<br><br>                  any topics or presenters that could round out<br>an<br>already developing<br>                  and<br>                  exciting seminar. would be appreciated!<br><br>                  regards,<br><br>                  Darian<br><br><br><br>                  Darian Smith<br>                  Chairperson, Community Service Group<br>-National<br>Federation  of The<br>                  Blind.<br>                  (415)215-9809<br>                  dsmithnfb@gmail.com<br><br>                  "<br>                  "I don't know what your destiny will be, but<br>one<br>thing I know: the<br>                  only<br><br>                ones<br><br>                  among you who will be really happy are those<br>who<br>will have sought and<br><br>                found<br><br>                  how to serve"<br>                  - Albert Schweitzer.<br><br>                  Your  unwanted vehicle can be  just what the<br>blind<br>need to make<br>                  possibilities reality.<br>                  Donate your car to the National Federation of<br>the<br>Blind today!<br>                  For more information, please visit:<br>www.carshelpingtheblind.org or<br>                  call<br>                  1-855-659-9314<br><br><br>----------------------------------------------------------------------------<br><br>                ----<br><br><br>_______________________________________________<br>                  Community-service mailing list<br>                  Community-service@nfbnet.org<br><br>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/community-service_nfbnet.org<br>                  To unsubscribe, change your list options or<br>get<br>your<br>account info for<br>                  Community-service:<br><br><br>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/community-service_nfbnet.org/denise.shaibl<br><br>                e%40att.net<br><br>                _______________________________________________<br>                Community-service mailing list<br>                Community-service@nfbnet.org<br><br>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/community-service_nfbnet.org<br>                To unsubscribe, change your list options or get<br>your<br>account info for<br>                Community-service:<br><br><br>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/community-service_nfbnet.org/mcikeyc%40aol<br><br>                .com<br><br><br>                _______________________________________________<br>                Community-service mailing list<br>                Community-service@nfbnet.org<br><br>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/community-service_nfbnet.org<br>                To unsubscribe, change your list options or get<br>your<br>account info for<br>                Community-service:<br><br><br>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/community-service_nfbnet.org/denise.shaibl<br>            e%40att.net<br><br><br><br><br>                _______________________________________________<br>                Community-service mailing list<br>                Community-service@nfbnet.org<br><br>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/community-service_nfbnet.org<br>                To unsubscribe, change your list options or get<br>your<br>account info for<br>                Community-service:<br><br><br>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/community-service_nfbnet.org/cherylelaine1<br>            957%40gmail.com<br><br><br>              _______________________________________________<br>              Community-service mailing list<br>              Community-service@nfbnet.org<br><br>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/community-service_nfbnet.org<br>              To unsubscribe, change your list options or get<br>your<br>account info for<br><br>            Community-service:<br><br>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/community-service_nfbnet.org/michmitch66%4<br>            0gmail.com<br><br>            _______________________________________________<br>            Community-service mailing list<br>            Community-service@nfbnet.org<br><br>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/community-service_nfbnet.org<br>            To unsubscribe, change your list options or get<br>your<br>account info for<br>            Community-service:<br><br>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/community-service_nfbnet.org/mcikeyc%40aol<br>            .com<br><br><br>            _______________________________________________<br>            Community-service mailing list<br>            Community-service@nfbnet.org<br><br>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/community-service_nfbnet.org<br>            To unsubscribe, change your list options or get<br>your<br>account info for<br>            Community-service:<br><br>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/community-service_nfbnet.org/scnickell1980%40gmail.com<br><br><br>          _______________________________________________<br>          Community-service mailing list<br>          Community-service@nfbnet.org<br><br>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/community-service_nfbnet.org<br>          To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your<br>account<br>info for<br>          Community-service:<br><br>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/community-service_nfbnet.org/dsmithnfb%40gmail.com<br><br><br>        _______________________________________________<br>        Community-service mailing list<br>        Community-service@nfbnet.org<br><br>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/community-service_nfbnet.org<br>        To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your<br>account<br>info for<br>        Community-service:<br><br>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/community-service_nfbnet.org/cherylelaine1957%40gmail.com<br><br><br><br>      _______________________________________________<br>      Community-service mailing list<br>      Community-service@nfbnet.org<br><br>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/community-service_nfbnet.org<br>      To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your<br>account<br>info for<br>      Community-service:<br><br>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/community-service_nfbnet.org/bookwormahb%40earthlink.net<br><br><br>      _______________________________________________<br>      Community-service mailing list<br>      Community-service@nfbnet.org<br><br>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/community-service_nfbnet.org<br>      To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your<br>account<br>info for<br>      Community-service:<br><br>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/community-service_nfbnet.org/cherylelaine1957%40gmail.com<br><br><br>    _______________________________________________<br>    Community-service mailing list<br>    Community-service@nfbnet.org<br><br>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/community-service_nfbnet.org<br>    To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your<br>account<br>info<br>for Community-service:<br><br>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/community-service_nfbnet.org/dsmithnfb%40gmail.com<br><br>  Darian Smith<br>  Chairperson, Community Service Group -National Federation  of<br>The<br>Blind.<br>  (415)215-9809<br>  dsmithnfb@gmail.com<br><br>  "<br>  "I don't know what your destiny will be, but one thing I<br>know:<br>the<br>only ones among you who will be really happy are those who will<br>have<br>sought<br>and found how to serve"<br>  - Albert Schweitzer.<br><br>  Your  unwanted vehicle can be  just what the blind need to<br>make<br>possibilities reality.<br>    Donate your car to the National Federation of the Blind<br>today!<br>    For more information, please visit:<br>www.carshelpingtheblind.org<br>or<br>call 1-855-659-9314<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br>------------------------------------------------------------------------<br>  _______________________________________________<br>  Community-service mailing list<br>  Community-service@nfbnet.org<br><br>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/community-service_nfbnet.org<br>  To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account<br>info<br>for Community-service:<br><br>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/community-service_nfbnet.org/peace05%40comcast.net<br><br><br>--------------------------------------------------------------------------<br>_______________________________________________<br>Community-service mailing list<br>Community-service@nfbnet.org<br>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/community-service_nfbnet.org<br>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account<br>info<br>for<br>Community-service:<br><br>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/community-service_nfbnet.org/bookwormahb%40earthlink.net<br><br><br>--------------------------------------------------------------------------<br><br><br>_______________________________________________<br>Community-service mailing list<br>Community-service@nfbnet.org<br>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/community-service_nfbnet.org<br>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account<br>info<br>for<br>Community-service:<br><br>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/community-service_nfbnet.org/peace05%40comcast.net<br>_______________________________________________<br>Community-service mailing list<br>Community-service@nfbnet.org<br>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/community-service_nfbnet.org<br>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account<br>info<br>for<br>Community-service:<br><br>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/community-service_nfbnet.org/dsmithnfb%40gmail.com<br><br><br>------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br><br><br>_______________________________________________<br>Community-service mailing list<br>Community-service@nfbnet.org<br>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/community-service_nfbnet.org<br>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account<br>info<br>for<br>Community-service:<br><br>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/community-service_nfbnet.org/peace05%40comcast.net<br></blockquote><br>_______________________________________________<br>Community-service mailing list<br>Community-service@nfbnet.org<br>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/community-service_nfbnet.org<br>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info<br>for<br>Community-service:<br>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/community-service_nfbnet.org/michmitch66%40gmail.com<br></blockquote><br>_______________________________________________<br>Community-service mailing list<br>Community-service@nfbnet.org<br>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/community-service_nfbnet.org<br>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info<br>for<br>Community-service:<br>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/community-service_nfbnet.org/cherylelaine1957%40gmail.com<br></blockquote><br>_______________________________________________<br>Community-service mailing list<br>Community-service@nfbnet.org<br>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/community-service_nfbnet.org<br>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info<br>for<br>Community-service:<br>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/community-service_nfbnet.org/bookwormahb%40earthlink.net<br><br>_______________________________________________<br>Community-service mailing list<br>Community-service@nfbnet.org<br>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/community-service_nfbnet.org<br>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info<br>for<br>Community-service:<br>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/community-service_nfbnet.org/dsmithnfb%40gmail.com<br></blockquote><br>_______________________________________________<br>Community-service mailing list<br>Community-service@nfbnet.org<br>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/community-service_nfbnet.org<br>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info<br>for<br>Community-service:<br>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/community-service_nfbnet.org/brooke6358%40aol.com<br></blockquote><br>_______________________________________________<br>Community-service mailing list<br>Community-service@nfbnet.org<br>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/community-service_nfbnet.org<br>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for<br>Community-service:<br>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/community-service_nfbnet.org/bookwormahb%40earthlink.net<br><br><br><br>_______________________________________________<br>Community-service mailing list<br>Community-service@nfbnet.org<br>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/community-service_nfbnet.org<br>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for<br>Community-service:<br>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/community-service_nfbnet.org/cherylelaine1957%40gmail.com<br></blockquote><br>_______________________________________________<br>Community-service mailing list<br><a href="mailto:Community-service@nfbnet.org">Community-service@nfbnet.org</a><br>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/community-service_nfbnet.org<br>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for<br>Community-service:<br>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/community-service_nfbnet.org/serena.c.cucco%40gmail.com<br></blockquote><br>_______________________________________________<br>Community-service mailing list<br><a href="mailto:Community-service@nfbnet.org">Community-service@nfbnet.org</a><br>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/community-service_nfbnet.org<br>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for<br>Community-service:<br>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/community-service_nfbnet.org/scnickell1980%40gmail.com<br></blockquote><br>_______________________________________________<br>Community-service mailing list<br><a href="mailto:Community-service@nfbnet.org">Community-service@nfbnet.org</a><br>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/community-service_nfbnet.org<br>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for<br>Community-service:<br>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/community-service_nfbnet.org/dsmithnfb%40gmail.com<br></blockquote><br>_______________________________________________<br>Community-service mailing list<br><a href="mailto:Community-service@nfbnet.org">Community-service@nfbnet.org</a><br>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/community-service_nfbnet.org<br>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for<br>Community-service:<br>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/community-service_nfbnet.org/scnickell1980%40gmail.com<br></blockquote><br></blockquote><br>_______________________________________________<br>Community-service mailing list<br><a href="mailto:Community-service@nfbnet.org">Community-service@nfbnet.org</a><br>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/community-service_nfbnet.org<br>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for Community-service:<br><a href="http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/community-service_nfbnet.org/bookwormahb%40earthlink.net">http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/community-service_nfbnet.org/bookwormahb%40earthlink.net</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br><br>_______________________________________________<br>Community-service mailing list<br><a href="mailto:Community-service@nfbnet.org">Community-service@nfbnet.org</a><br><a href="http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/community-service_nfbnet.org">http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/community-service_nfbnet.org</a><br>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for Community-service:<br><a href="http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/community-service_nfbnet.org/dsmithnfb%40gmail.com">http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/community-service_nfbnet.org/dsmithnfb%40gmail.com</a></div></blockquote></div><br></div></body></html>