[Faith-Talk] Division Meeting at Convention

[Bill Outman]

Very interesting.  I'm trying to get over there for the convention for a
couple days, and this meeting might fit my schedule.  

I have been on the list for some time, but have never officially joined.
How much are the dues?  

Bill Outman 
Daytona Beach, Florida 



-----Original Message-----
From: Faith-Talk [mailto:faith-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Linda
Mentink via Faith-Talk
Sent: Friday, June 29, 2018 10:40 PM
To: Faith-talk
Cc: Linda Mentink
Subject: [Faith-Talk] Division Meeting at Convention

Greetings All,

I don't know what the agenda is for this year's meeting, but it will be
Thursday, July 5, from 12:30 to 5:00, maybe.  We're usually through earlier.
Also, we will be having a 45-minute time of devotions Friday, Saturday and
Sunday mornings at 8:00.

Just so you have an idea of the kinds of things that take place at our
division meetings, I'm pasting the 2017 meeting minutes below.  Enjoy, and I
hope to see many of you in Orlando next week.  I wish all who going a safe
trip there and back.

Blessings,

Linda Mentink, Secretary

NFB in Communities of Faith

NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND IN COMMUNITIES OF FAITH MEETING MINUTES
Wednesday, July 12, 2017

The National Federation of the Blind in Communities of Faith held its annual
meeting in Orlando, Florida, on Wednesday, July 12, 2017.  President Tom
Anderson called the meeting to order at 1:00 PM.

We heard from publishers of Christian literature, each of whom answered
questions from the audience.  Our first speaker was Gerri Rogee,
Communication Director at Christian Record Services for the Blind, which was
started in Michigan in 1899.  Their magazine is the Christian Record, the
longest continuously running Braille magazine in the world.  They have other
Christian magazines and a lending library of books on NLS cartridges.  They
will soon be rolling out a brand-new library services system which will
offer us services by way of our phones or our home computers.  They also
offer national camps for the blind.  This camping program started in Florida
in 1967.  They also have a Bible school.

Our next speaker was Malachy Falon, Executive Director of Xavier Society for
the Blind, which was founded in 1900 in New York City.  They offer materials
in Braille and audio, primarily, but not specifically Christian,
predominantly, but not exclusively in the Catholic tradition.  They have
about 700 titles in both audio and Braille.  They have a staff of six
people.

Our next speaker was Paul Weigartner, Director of the Assemblies of God
Center for the Blind in Springfield, Missouri.  This ministry started in
1952.  They do most of the Assemblies of God publications and periodicals
and Berean School of the Bible textbooks.  They have a book lending library,
and are converting all their cassettes to DAISY.  They have a number of
nondenominational evangelistic materials.  The descriptive video of the
Jesus Film is now available on DVD through the Jesus Film Project.  They may
eventually buy some to loan or give away.  
They also give away the New Living Translation on cartridge.  He answered
questions from the audience.

Allen Decker, spoke first about Aurora Ministries, which was started in 1970
by the founder of Tropicanna Orange Juice.  In
1980 they started giving Bibles away to people on NLS cassettes.  
The Bibles are now available in talking book and DAISY formats on NLS
cartridges and SD cards.  They have converted most of their major
translations.  The five-year Bible study by J.  Vernon McGee and the Mini
Bible College are also available.  They also offer devotionals.

He then spoke about MegaVoice, a company which makes solar hand-held
accessible players.  Audio versions of the Jesus Film in many languages, the
Through the Bible program and the Mini Bible College are available on these
players.

Mike Smith gave us an update on International Christian Braille Mission, now
in Grayson, Kentucky.  This ministry began in the fall of 1975 by handing
out a small Braille tract titled "We Would See Jesus." He shared the history
of their move to Grayson in June, 2016.

We then learned and sang together "Every Promise in the Book Is Mine," after
which Tom announced the speakers for Devotions the following three mornings:
Rev.  Sam Gleese, Sarah LaRose and Rev.  
Peter Heide.

We then heard from individuals in our midst who are in ministry.  
Our first speaker was Rev.  Dr.  Carolyn Peters, from Dayton, Ohio.  She
spoke to us about our God-given gifts and giving back.  
She is a career social worker, a practicing theologian, and she believes
that we all serve the same God.  She shared about her vision loss and health
issues, earning her Doctorate degree intheology, and publishing her first
book KNOWING WHEN TO GO based on the book of Ruth.

Our next speaker was Sarah LaRose, Professor of Hebrew Studies in Anderson,
Indiana.  She talked about what happens when we think we can't do things.
She shared the trials of learning Hebrew and Greek in seminary as a blind
person who did not want to go somewhere else to do this.  She believes that
language study should be done in the person's own environment.  She is now
teaching inclusive Hebrew classes online for credit.  Next year inclusive
Greek classes will also be available for credit.  She is in her doctoral
study so that she can become qualified to teach full time at the university
level.  She also offers private study options for people who don't need the
credit.  Knowing Hebrew and Greek has greatly enhanced her Scriptural study.

Next we heard from Rev.  Peter Heide, pastor of albany Lutheran Church in
Albany, Wisconsin, and President of our new NFB of Wisconsin in Communities
of Faith division.  He shared about being sighted and blind four times,
going to seminary as a sighted person, and finally living as a blind person.
He shared from the Bible stories of the influence of blindness in God's
plan.  He hopes, in the next couple years, to come up with a Bible study
that will encourage us to start claiming our place as blind people who can't
see, but who have vision.

Tom called the business meeting to order at 2:55.  He mentioned the
following: Sarah LaRose is working with David Andrews on getting our website
going.  We have a presence on FaceBook.  The NFB of Kansas has a Communities
of Faith division which meets monthly by telephone conference call.  They
prepared a brochure about how to reach out to educate churches about blind
people.  
In April the Communities of Faith division was organized in Wisconsin.  The
officers of the NFB of Kansas in Communities of Faith are Tom Anderson,
President, Cheryl Miller, Vice President, and Donna Wood,
Secretary-Treasurer.  The officers of the NFB of Wisconsin in Communities of
Faith are Peter Heide, President, Chelsea Reilly, Vice President, Ericka
Short, Secretary, and Steve Heesen, Treasurer.  Dr.  Peters asked about
organizing a division in Ohio.  We discussed the value of having Communities
of Faith divisions and connecting with other blind people of faith.

Linda read the minutes of the 2016 annual meeting.  Rehnee moved, many
seconded, that the minutes be approved as read.  The motion carried.

In Sam's absence, Linda reported that we have $565 in the treasury, plus
dues for 17 members.  Rehnee moved, Leslie seconded, that we donate $50 to
each of the five funds (White Cane, ten Broek, Imagination, SUN and
Jernigan).  The motion carried.

Tom mentioned that our Student Division is doing something called the
Student Olympics.  They have asked each division to participate.  Tom
created some Bible quiz questions that are of varying levels of difficulty,
and he and Rehnee will participate.  
It will be a good opportunity to plant some seeds.

Elections were held, and the following people were elected by
acclamation: Tom Anderson, President; Rehnee Aikens, Vice President; and
Linda Mentink, Secretary.  While waiting for Sam to come, we discussed the
treasury, asking questions such as Where is our current account? Is Tom's
signature also on it? and Is Sam interested in remaining our treasurer? Tom
stepped out to see if he could get Sam on the phone.  He did, and Sam said
he would like to continue as Treasurer, with the stipulation that someone be
trained to take the position in the future.  Sarah is willing to be trained.
Sam was nominated, and was elected by acclamation.  Sam said we have $655 in
our account.

Donna Posont suggested that we do inspirational podcasts that we could share
with others.  Sarah said they could be posted on our website.  This will be
a long-term project.

The meeting adjourned at 3:42 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Linda Mentink, Secretary

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