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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Darian and group,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>It was a no brainer for me to join the group. Performing acts of service is a part of my being and a matter that I am passionate about. I started serving my local community when I was in the Cub Scouts at age 10. And of course transitioned to Boy Scouts. It did not stop when I got my Eagle Scout award. I went to college and became a member of a service organization. I participated in numerous activities, but the only ones I can remember are being a an adult troop leader for a boy scout troop that was composed of members who were disabled, habitat for humanity, and making candles for and ushering at a Christmas Vespers service.I did not let leaving academia slow me down for performing community service. When I learned my company had a rather large community service group that was spread out across the country, I joined immediately. I helped with running of blood drives as well as participating in them. I performed over 600 hours of service with Habitat for Humanity within 3 years. I participated and helped lead a team in many run/ walk charity events. I participated in JDRF events. I was involved with Light the night events. Lead a team for a St. Judes Radio-a-thon, participated in and organized charity summer cookouts. I helped organize numerous donation collections including canned food and school supplies. I was a member of the volunteer organization for my company that had a membership of over 800 members for five years. For the last 10 years I have coordinated the adopt-a-family program within my company, where we have adopted up to 22 families over 6 different counties. And I have done a bit of volunteering at and with my church. So as you can see community service is not a foreign thing to me. So since I am a NFB member, why not join the NFB community service Interest and Division group. And who knows maybe I would / could / will get fresh ideas and new resources. And while at it get to know some other people who are blind and enjoy community service too.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>--<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Graham<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>"<span style='font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:black'>I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them.</span>" -- Isaiah 42:16<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>----------------------------------------------------------------------<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>Date: Mon, 1 Dec 2014 20:09:00 -0800<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>From: Darian Smith <<a href="mailto:dsmithnfb@gmail.com"><span style='color:windowtext;text-decoration:none'>dsmithnfb@gmail.com</span></a>><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>To: Community Service Discussion List <<a href="mailto:community-service@nfbnet.org"><span style='color:windowtext;text-decoration:none'>community-service@nfbnet.org</span></a>><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>Subject: [Community-service] Discussion Starter.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>Hi all,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>I hope everyone had a great thanksgiving!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText> As many of you know the Community Service Group/Division has been around the Federation since about 2011. First as an interest group of the Federation and most recently being a newly constituted Division. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText> We all have come to be involved in the division or list serve for one reason or another.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>Why did you become involved?<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText> Thanks,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText> Darian <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>