<html><head></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; ">Hello,<div>Below you will find the Georgia Association of Blind Students Connecting The Dotz newsletter. Hope you enjoy!</div><div><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; text-align: center; font: 22.0px Tahoma"><b><br></b></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; text-align: center; font: 22.0px Tahoma"><b><br></b></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; text-align: center; font: 22.0px Tahoma"><b><br></b></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; text-align: center; font: 22.0px Tahoma"><b>CONNECTING THE DOTZ</b></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; text-align: center; font: 22.0px Tahoma"><b>No.7</b></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; font: 16.0px Tahoma; min-height: 19.0px"><br></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; font: 16.0px Tahoma; min-height: 19.0px"><br></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify; font: 18.0px Tahoma"><b>My State Convention Experience</b><span style="font: 18.0px 'Lucida Grande'"><b><br>
</b></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify; font: 16.0px Tahoma">By Grecia Ramirez<span style="font: 16.0px 'Lucida Grande'"><br>
</span> </p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify; font: 16.0px Tahoma">On October 8, the National Federation of the Blind of Georgia traveled to the Macon Marriott hotel for our annual state convention. We took a bus from the Kensington Marta station at around 4:30 to begin a great weekend of education, and fun!<span style="font: 16.0px 'Lucida Grande'"><br>
</span> </p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify; font: 16.0px Tahoma">By the time we arrived and checked in to our rooms, we had just enough time to hear the candidates running for office on that Sunday. Afterword, most of the Gabs student convention went out for a celebratory meeting/dinner. There were many, and the party was full under way for that Friday night. Afterword, there was a mini meeting to discuss the slate for that Saturday’s student elections.<span style="font: 16.0px 'Lucida Grande'"><br>
</span> </p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify; font: 16.0px Tahoma">Saturday morning brought with it, early awakenings and General Session. We listened to several different seminars: from the NLS, to different methods of getting books for college. We also discussed the Minimum wage Act and the small gains we have on it. However, we still need to keep moving forward. The coolest part, I believe, of General Session was when former senator came to speak to us. She was very down to earth, and very honest with us about her opinions and the way the laws work in the states. She ended her speech by giving us her facebook info and encouraging us to add her up!!<span style="font: 16.0px 'Lucida Grande'"><br>
</span> </p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify; font: 16.0px Tahoma">With lunchtime, came the Student meeting. We had several students speak on their unique experience. For instance, Mary Fernandez spoke about her summer. And I spoke about my training at the Colorado Center for the Blind, as well as one of our special guests, travel teacher, Monique Melton. Then, Anil Lewis spoke about making your educational experience a fun one. Afterword, it was time for the voting!!! Congratulations go out to our new board: LaKeisha Holmes, president; Shelby Ball, first vice president; Wilkens Eugene, second vice president; Dawlyn Dieudonne, secretary; Rashi Goel, treasurer; and Allie Watkins and Taey Mack, board members.<span style="font: 16.0px 'Lucida Grande'"><br>
</span> Afternoon breakout sessions are always funny and entertaining. Salsa dancing was no exception. We danced our way into 3:30 and then it was time to switch. However, I had already been to the center so, I found it would be more productive for me to continue in the salsa room. And that lasted until it was time to get ready for Banquet.<span style="font: 16.0px 'Lucida Grande'"><br>
</span> </p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify; font: 16.0px Tahoma">The banquet was a great affair where guest speaker, Anil Lewis, who was also our National rep, gave a rousing speech. The food was good, the speech was good, and it all made for a great start to our Karaoke night festivities. Even Mary and I joined in with the singing to a huge round of applause. Shall I state for the record, that Miss Mary did a fantastic job?<span style="font: 16.0px 'Lucida Grande'"><br>
</span> Sunday brought with it, convention wrap-up and the elections for our board of directors. Huge congratulations go out to them. Afterword, it was time to pack up to leave.<span style="font: 16.0px 'Lucida Grande'"><br>
</span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify; font: 16.0px Tahoma">Overall, this convention was one of the best for me. And one of the reasons is, because I got to share a little bit of my experience with everyone. Hopefully, this will encourage people to continue with their NFB training and attend a center. But, this convention was also innovative, and educational. I’m looking forward to next year’s!!</p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; font: 16.0px Tahoma; min-height: 19.0px"><br></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; font: 16.0px Tahoma; min-height: 19.0px"><br></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; font: 18.0px Tahoma"><b>A True Inspiration</b></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; font: 16.0px Tahoma; min-height: 19.0px"><br></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; font: 16.0px Tahoma">By Allie Watkins</p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; font: 16.0px Tahoma; min-height: 19.0px"><br></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify; font: 16.0px Tahoma">Thelma Godwin was a kind, caring, generous, and altruistic individual. It was a pleasure and an honor to have her in my life and I consider myself very lucky that I knew her. She cared deeply about blind adults, blind children, and parents of blind children. She taught blind individuals alternative skills and methods to accomplish their daily activities and improve their confidence and independence. She also taught them about their rights as blind people and worked to improve their advocacy skills. She worked with parents of blind children to ensure that the children had adequate guidance, support, and skills to become successful and independent individuals. She helped match blind children with blind mentors who could guide, support, encourage, and advise the children throughout their lives. She was not only a considerate and tactful leader, but also a supportive and benevolent follower. She loved to organize programs and events and guide and direct others. However, she also enjoyed allowing others to lead while she contributed time, ideas, assistance, and encouragement. </p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify; font: 16.0px Tahoma; min-height: 19.0px"><br></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify; font: 16.0px Tahoma">I spoke with Thelma many times at the Center for the Visually Impaired and at NFB conventions and events. She and a few other NFB of Georgia board members attended a meeting with me and my vocational rehabilitation counselor before my first year of college. They helped me explain why it would be beneficial for me to have both a Pac Mate and a laptop in college. My counselor attempted to argue that both devices perform the same tasks, which wasn’t entirely true. In the end, Thelma and the other board members convinced my counselor that I would need both machines in college. Thelma and the same board members also attended another meeting with me and the University of Georgia Disability Resource Center employees. The employees, none of whom could read Braille, wanted to Braille all of my college materials themselves instead of outsourcing the materials to the Alternative Media Access Center. Thelma and the board members helped me persuade the employees that it would be more practical and more reasonable to send my materials to AMAC for Braille conversion.</p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify; font: 16.0px Tahoma; min-height: 19.0px"><br></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify; font: 16.0px Tahoma">Ms. Thelma was truly a woman who was dedicated to the federation movement and the betterment of the blind community. She was a great inspiration not only to me, but the lives of everyone she touched and she will be missed by all. </p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; font: 16.0px Tahoma; min-height: 19.0px"><br></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; font: 16.0px Tahoma; min-height: 19.0px"><br></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify; font: 18.0px Tahoma"><b>D.Y.K???</b></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify; font: 16.0px Tahoma; min-height: 19.0px"><br></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify; font: 16.0px Tahoma"><b>Did You Know?</b></p><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; text-align: justify; font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Tahoma; min-height: 19px; "> <br class="webkit-block-placeholder"></div><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify; font: 16.0px Tahoma">Thomas Gore - (December 10, 1870-March 16, 1949) was a Democratic politician. He became blind as a child, but never gave up his dream of becoming a senator. In 1907, he was one of the first two senators from the new state of Oklahoma. He was re-elected twice more. He was famous as a member of the progressive wing of the Democratic Party.</p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; font: 16.0px Tahoma; min-height: 19.0px"><br></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; font: 16.0px Tahoma; min-height: 19.0px"><br></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; text-align: center; font: 18.0px Tahoma"><b>textbook Rental Program, a “STEPP” towards Universal Access</b></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; font: 16.0px Tahoma; min-height: 19.0px"><br></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify; font: 16.0px Tahoma">The Student E-rent Pilot Project (STEPP) spoke at the Georgia Association of Blind Students’ Annual Business Meeting in Macon last October. </p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify; font: 16.0px Tahoma; min-height: 19.0px"><br></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify; font: 16.0px Tahoma">If you aren’t familiar with STEPP, it’s an eTextbook rental program offering cost effective textbooks that can be read with a screen reader. STEPP was launched by Georgia Tech’s Alternative Media Access Center, in partnership with the Access Text Network and CourseSmart® to offer universally accessible electronic textbooks and save students money on their course materials. This gives students with print-related disabilities the chance to participate in a mainstream textbook rental program. textbooks can be accessed on a web-enabled device such as a desktop computer, laptop, or mobile device using an internet browser. By renting an eTextbook, students can save an average of 50% or more as compared to buying a new hardcopy book.</p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify; font: 16.0px Tahoma; min-height: 19.0px"><br></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify; font: 16.0px Tahoma">Anyone can rent titles on CourseSmart’s website at <a href="http://www.coursesmart.com%22%20%5Ct%20%22_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline ; color: #4600ff">www.coursesmart.com</span></a>. Below are guidelines for getting started: </p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify; font: 16.0px Tahoma; min-height: 19.0px"><br></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify; font: 16.0px Tahoma">Create a free account on <a href="http://www.coursesmart.com"><span style="text-decoration: underline ; color: #4600ff">www.coursesmart.com</span></a>. </p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify; font: 16.0px Tahoma">Search for titles.</p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify; font: 16.0px Tahoma">Contact <a href="mailto:accessibility@coursesmart.com"><span style="text-decoration: underline ; color: #4600ff">accessibility@coursesmart.com</span></a> to enable the accessibility feature on your account (if using JAWS®, NVDA, Window-Eyes). </p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify; font: 16.0px Tahoma">Preview the first chapter of a book before renting. (This is a good time to test the book to see how it works with your screen reader.) </p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify; font: 16.0px Tahoma">If a book needs to have structural tags added to improve its accessibility, you can submit your title request to <a href="mailto:accessibility@coursesmart.com%22%20%5Ct%20%22_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline ; color: #4600ff">accessibility@coursesmart.com</span></a>.</p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify; font: 16.0px Tahoma; min-height: 19.0px"><br></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify; font: 16.0px Tahoma">If you’ve rented an eTextbook before, STEPP would love to hear about your experience. Please participate in a survey about eTextbook rentals at: <a href="http://stepp.gatech.edu/survey.php"><span style="text-decoration: underline ; color: #4600ff">http://stepp.gatech.edu/survey.php</span></a>. Your feedback will help support you and future eTextbook renters. </p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify; font: 16.0px Tahoma; min-height: 19.0px"><br></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify; font: 16.0px Tahoma">For more information on the Student E-rent Pilot Project, visit the STEPP website at <a href="http://stepp.gatech.edu"><span style="text-decoration: underline ; color: #4600ff">http://stepp.gatech.edu</span></a> or watch a 5 minute video on YouTube at <a href="http://youtu.be/pAHFky7p7_c"><span style="text-decoration: underline ; color: #4600ff">http://youtu.be/pAHFky7p7_c</span></a>.</p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; font: 16.0px Tahoma; min-height: 19.0px"><br></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; font: 16.0px Tahoma; min-height: 19.0px"><br></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; font: 18.0px Tahoma"><b>Youth Slam: An exciting fun filled week!!!</b></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; font: 16.0px Tahoma; min-height: 19.0px"><br></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; font: 16.0px Tahoma">By Jasmine Cook</p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify; font: 16.0px Tahoma; min-height: 19.0px"><br></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify; font: 16.0px Tahoma">The third annual youth slam took place July 18-22 at Towson University in Baltimore Maryland. During the course of the week students were engaged in various tracks from chemistry, biology and journalism. Students were also involved in educational and fun activities during the course of the whole week. </p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify; font: 16.0px Tahoma; min-height: 19.0px"><br></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify; font: 16.0px Tahoma">The week kicked off on a Sunday when the students arrived in high sprints for the week ahead. When arriving to the campus, meeting their mentors and roommates were among the first things that the students did. Later that night, the students went to dinner where a welcome ceremony was held and worked in their pods to make a tower out of marshmallows and string. Yes, I know it sounds a little strange, but it was a lot of fun and really helped to break the ice among the students. </p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify; font: 16.0px Tahoma; min-height: 19.0px"><br></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify; font: 16.0px Tahoma">Bright and early on Monday morning, we were off to the opening ceremonies. Afterward, students headed for their assigned tracks and short sessions. Later that evening, we attended social activities which included yoga, a dance class, and board games. The following day students were up and off for more track sessions for the majority of the day. Later that evening, student’s participated in more assorted activities from belting out some tunes with karaoke to taking to the water for some relaxing swimming. </p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify; font: 16.0px Tahoma; min-height: 19.0px"><br></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify; font: 16.0px Tahoma">On Wednesday morning, in true fashion, students attended more sessions. Then mentors and students traveled to the National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute for a Slam Seminar. That night was filled with fun at the Talent Extravaganza and there were also two comedians who performed! On Thursday, students had another day full of track sessions. The activity for the night was RecX which ranged from activities such as rock climbing to bungee jumping. There was even a mechanical bull! </p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify; font: 16.0px Tahoma; min-height: 19.0px"><br></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify; font: 16.0px Tahoma">Friday was the final day of this exciting week. That morning students were involved in a track exhibit hall to show what they had learned. Then it was back to the Jernigan Institute for the Blind Driver Challenge. Afterwards, everyone went back to Towson University for a fun-filled barbecue and dance. </p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify; font: 16.0px Tahoma; min-height: 19.0px"><br></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify; font: 16.0px Tahoma">Bright and early on Saturday morning students and volunteers headed home. Students took home new friends and knowledge about what is available to them as a blind student. I really enjoyed serving as a martial at the 2011 Youth Slam and I see the importance of these programs and the positive impact they have on blind youth. </p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; font: 18.0px Tahoma"><span style="font: 16.0px Tahoma"> </span><span style="font: 16.0px 'Lucida Grande'"><br>
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</span><b>F.Y.I. For Your Information</b></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; font: 16.0px Tahoma; min-height: 19.0px"><br></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify; font: 16.0px Tahoma"><b>Do you need money for college?</b></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify; font: 16.0px Tahoma">NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND - The NFB Scholarship Program application is now available online. This national scholarship program is available to persons who are legally blind andliving in the United States or Puerto Rico. There are 30 awards, from $12,000 to $3,000. In addition, each winner will be assisted to attend the NFB Annual Convention for 2012 in Dallas, Texas. The annual contest began the first week of November 2011; all documents required from the applicants must be postmarked by the March 31, 2012, deadline. Applications and full details are available online at <a href="%22http://www.nfb.org/scholarships%25"><span style="text-decoration: underline ; color: #4600ff">http://www.nfb.org/scholarships>www.nfb.org/scholarships</span></a>. Questions may be emailed to<a href="https://mail.google.com/mail/h/1gihw3oev5cph/?&v=b&cs=wh&to=scholarships@nfb.org%3Escholarships@nfb.org%22%20%5Ct%20%22_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline ; color: #4600ff">mailto:scholarships@nfb.org>scholarships@nfb.org</span></a></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; font: 16.0px Tahoma; min-height: 19.0px"><br></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; font: 16.0px Tahoma; min-height: 19.0px"><br></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; font: 16.0px Tahoma"><b>For legally blind students</b></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; font: 16.0px Tahoma; min-height: 19.0px"><br></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify; font: 16.0px Tahoma">AFB Scholarship Programs for 2012 offers 11 scholarships totaling $19,000. They are in these amounts:</p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify; font: 16.0px Tahoma; min-height: 19.0px"><br></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify; font: 16.0px Tahoma">1 award for $500 – restricted to student in full-time graduate study, any field.</p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify; font: 16.0px Tahoma; min-height: 19.0px"><br></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify; font: 16.0px Tahoma">5 awards for $1,000 each – 4 different restrictions (grad or undergrad in rehab field/teacher of the blind or VI; grad or undergrad female in study of classical or religious music; grad or undergrad in study of engineering or computer, physical or life sciences; 2 awards restricted to undergrad females in a four-year degree program for literature or music).</p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify; font: 16.0px Tahoma; min-height: 19.0px"><br></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify; font: 16.0px Tahoma">4 award for $2,500 each – grad or undergrad in rehab or education of the blind or VI.</p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify; font: 16.0px Tahoma; min-height: 19.0px"><br></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify; font: 16.0px Tahoma">1 award for $3,500 – grad or undergrad but preference given to new immigrants to the U.S. residing in NYC metro area.</p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify; font: 16.0px Tahoma; min-height: 19.0px"><br></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify; font: 16.0px Tahoma">Information and application forms at <a href="http://www.afb.org/scholarships.asp">www.afb.org/scholarships.asp</a>. Questions to AFB Information Center: (800) 232-5463 or <a href="mailto:afbinfo@afb.net">afbinfo@afb.net</a>.</p><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Tahoma; min-height: 19px; "> <br class="webkit-block-placeholder"></div><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; font: 16.0px Tahoma; min-height: 19.0px"><br></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; font: 16.0px Tahoma"><b>New travel agent? </b></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; font: 16.0px Tahoma; min-height: 19.0px"><br></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify; font: 16.0px Tahoma">Travel City is a new travel agent company started up by a blind young man, living in Baltimore, Michael Spriggs. They deal mostly in cruises, with trains and flights coming in at a close second. Lastly, they can provide low prices on rental cars if needed. This company is small, but quickly growing. So remember: Need a cruise, flight, or anything else? Visit Travel City for your one-stop travel needs.</p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify; font: 16.0px Tahoma; min-height: 19.0px"><br></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify; font: 18.0px Tahoma"><b>Upcoming Events</b></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify; font: 16.0px Tahoma; min-height: 19.0px"><br></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify; font: 16.0px Calibri"><b>Friday February 17, 2012</b><span style="font: 16.0px 'Times New Roman'">-</span> <span style="font: 16.0px 'Times New Roman'"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></span>iPad raffle drawing<span style="font: 16.0px 'Lucida Grande'"><br>
</span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify; font: 16.0px Calibri"><b>Sunday February 26, 2012</b><span style="font: 16.0px 'Times New Roman'">-</span> <span style="font: 16.0px 'Times New Roman'"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></span>GABS Monthly teleconference<span style="font: 16.0px 'Lucida Grande'"><br>
</span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify; font: 16.0px Calibri"><b>Sunday March 25, 2012</b><span style="font: 16.0px 'Times New Roman'">-</span> <span style="font: 16.0px 'Times New Roman'"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></span>GABS Monthly teleconference<span style="font: 16.0px 'Lucida Grande'"><br>
</span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify; font: 16.0px Calibri"><b>Sunday April 22, 2012 </b><span style="font: 16.0px 'Times New Roman'"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></span>GABS Monthly teleconference<span style="font: 16.0px 'Lucida Grande'"><br>
</span><span style="font: 16.0px Tahoma"> </span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify; font: 16.0px 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 18.0px"><br></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; font: 18.0px Tahoma"><b>Letter from the Editor</b></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify; font: 16.0px 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 18.0px"><b></b><br></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify; font: 16.0px Tahoma"><b>Dear Connecting the Dotz Readers:</b></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify; font: 16.0px Tahoma; min-height: 19.0px"><br></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify; font: 16.0px Tahoma">The CTD news team would like to thank you for taking the time out to read our division’s newsletter. This newsletter was designed not only to provide you with a variety of information, but also to give you, the reader, an opportunity to speak out and express yourself. If you enjoyed the newsletter, spread the word. If you weren’t quite satisfied and you would like to contribute a submission or you just had a question, contact us at <a href="mailto:ctdnewsteam@gmail.com"><span style="text-decoration: underline ; color: #4600ff">ctdnewsteam@gmail.com</span></a>. Remember, Connecting the Dotz was not only created for the students, but by the students so we hope to hear from you guys. Look out for the release of the next issue sometime in April. Peace and Blessings…</p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12.0px"><br></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12.0px"><br></p><div>
LaKeisha Holmes<br>President<br>Georgia Association of Blind Students<br>(404) 580-3040<br><a href="mailto:lholmes@gabstudents.org">lholmes@gabstudents.org</a><br>GABStudents.org<br>"Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome." -Booker T. Washington
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