[il-talk] Braille Examiner

Patti Chang pattichang at att.net
Fri Nov 16 13:33:01 UTC 2012 

Me too

p.s. give to our annual appeal by sending to NFBI c/o glenn Moore po box 1065 Elgin, IL 60121.

Patti S. Gregory-Chang
NFBI President 
NFB, Scholarship Committee Chair
Sent from my iPhone

On Nov 16, 2012, at 4:39 AM, Hilda Sandifer <hildasandifer at yahoo.com> wrote:

> 
> 
> Sent from my iPhone
> 
> On Nov 15, 2012, at 7:51 AM, "Connie Davis" <connie.davis at rcn.com> wrote:
> 
>> Below is a copy of the Braille Examiner. And for those of you who like it
>> nicely formatted, I have attached MS Word and text formats. Unfortunately,
>> when I copy and paste some aspects of the formatting change.
>> Thank you to everyone who helped with this!!!!
>> 
>> THE BRAILLE EXAMINER
>> Post-State Convention 2012
>> Editor: Connie J. Davis
>> Co-Editor: Debbie Stein 
>> President: Patti Chang
>> 
>> CONTACT INFORMATION
>> President: Patti Chang, (773) 307-6440, pattichang at att.net 
>> Editor:  Connie Davis, (773) 338-6922, connie.davis at rcn.com
>> Co- Editor:  Deborah Kent Stein, (773) 203-1394,dkent5817 at att.net
>> <http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/il-talk_nfbnet.org>  
>> Formatting & Electronic Distribution: Connie Davis, (773) 338-6922,
>> connie.davis at rcn.com <mailto:connie.davis at rcn.com,> 
>> Newsline® Edition:  David Meyer, (708) 209-1767,
>> <http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/il-talk_nfbnet.org> datemeyer@
>> sbcglobal.net
>> Limited Print Edition:  Bill & Roberta Reif, billreif at ameritech.net 
>> Braille Edition:  Leslie Hamric, lhamric390 at comcast.net 
>> Proofreaders: Meg Dowell & Glenn Moore, 
>> Website:  Byron Lee, webmaster, www.nfbofillinois.org,
>> webmaster at nfbofillinois.org
>> 
>> 
>> ANNOUNCEMENTS
>> 
>> Articles and calendar postings should be submitted to Connie Davis at
>> connie.davis at rcn.com. The Newsletter Committee will meet prior to the
>> publication of each issue of the newsletter. Meetings will be announced on
>> our e-mail listservs, posted to the NFBI calendar and on our website. Our
>> meetings are open and new members are welcome. This newsletter is available
>> in electronic format on our listservs, via e-mail, and on our website. It is
>> also available on Newsline®. It is published in Braille and limited print
>> edition for our donors as well.
>> 
>> Postal mail, e-mail address and format changes should be sent to Connie
>> Davis, connie.davis at rcn.com. Question or comments may be addressed with
>> Connie, Debbie or Patti.   
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> BRAILLE READERS ARE LEADERS CONTEST
>> (This is a post that appeared on NFBnet.net Members List, posted by David
>> Andrews.)
>> 
>> It's time to start reading! The reading period for the annual Braille
>> Readers Are Leaders contest for adults begins November 1. Registration for
>> the contest is now open! You can register at www.nfb.org/BRAL now through
>> the end of the contest, January 4, 2013.
>> 
>> The contest is for adults who read Braille. There are categories for all
>> levels of Braille readers, from beginners to experts. Participants read
>> for  prizes, practice, and pleasure. Whether you love the competition or are
>> spurred on simply because it's a great way to promote and refine your
>> Braille skills, this contest is for you.
>> 
>> For more information, you can check the Web site, www.nfb.org/BRAL. There
>> you will find all the forms and reading logs you will need to participate.
>> If you still have questions, please contact the Braille Readers Are Leaders
>> team at (410) 659-9314, extension 2312, or BrailleReadersAreLeaders at nfb.org.
>> <http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/il-talk_nfbnet.org> 
>> 
>> Put your fingers to the paper and start recording what you are reading
>> today! Braille Rocks,
>> 
>> The Braille Readers Are Leaders Team
>> 
>> MANNA CERTIFICATES ORDER DETAILS & DEADLINE
>> by David Meyer
>> 
>> The deadline for placing an order for our Manna Gift Certificates Fundraiser
>> is December 2nd. The order will be placed on December 3rd. If you would like
>> to place an order for certificates, please contact Dave Meyer by calling
>> 708-606-7091 or by e-mailing datemeyer at sbcglobal.net. 
>> 
>> A complete certificate list has been posted to both of our listservs and on
>> Newsline®. 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> POST-CONVENTION 2012 PRESIDENTIAL REPORT
>> by Patti Gregory-Chang
>> 
>> As I write from Washington State, I think with excitement about the
>> convention I am about to attend and review our recent convention in Illinois
>> with pride.
>> 
>> I begin with the numbers. We registered 149 people, almost one-third of them
>> people, under the age of thirty. This involvement of young people bodes well
>> for our future. 
>> 
>> Most of this newsletter will be devoted to convention, but I would like to
>> note a couple of very important things here. First, our At Large Chapter has
>> been issued a charter. We were all so busy during the convention that we
>> forgot to present the charter at our banquet! Be assured that it was issued
>> by our national office. Second, our Vendors Chapter met at convention. By
>> all indications, a new charter will be issued soon for our Illinois
>> Association of Blind Merchants. 
>> 
>> Now that convention is over, we can begin to work on our first Illinois BELL
>> Program. We plan to conduct a Braille Enrichment for Literacy Program in
>> Chicago next summer. If you wish to serve on the BELL Committee, please let
>> me know.
>> 
>> The NFBI board also approved a TVI/Parent seminar for next spring. This
>> should feed students into the more intensive BELL program. We need people to
>> work on this event as well. Even if you can't work during the days of the
>> seminar, you can help with the planning and publicity. I will call on many
>> of you. Please feel free to volunteer by calling me at (773) 307-6440 or
>> e-mailing at pattichang at att.net.
>> 
>> We want a good contingent of Illinois Federationists to attend Washington
>> Seminar, which will be held February 2-4, 2013. Applications for Washington
>> Seminar are now available. The 2013 NFB National Convention will take place
>> July 1-6. Please mark your calendars. Convention will be held at the Rosen
>> Center in Orlando, Florida. Please join us.  
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> WELCOME ILLINOIS VENDORS!!!
>> by Mary Lou Grunwald
>> 
>> On October 17th, The Illinois Association of Blind Merchants voted
>> unanimously to become a chapter of NFBI. This has been a dream of mine for
>> 35 years. That dream has finally come true. Many of my vendor colleagues
>> have been attending state and national events over the past year, and I have
>> had the honor and privilege of sharing all the exciting aspects of our
>> organization with them. I have heard many positive responses. I am looking
>> forward to seeing what new talents and abilities they will bring to NFBI.
>> 
>> Welcome fellow vendors!!!!
>> 
>> 
>> HOW TO KEEP YOUR NEWSLINE® SUBSCRIPTION
>> by David Meyer
>> 
>> Several weeks ago, our state president, Patti Chang, received a communiqué
>> from Sharon Ruda of the Illinois Talking Book and Braille Service. The
>> message detailed the process the library has undertaken to identify those
>> who wish to keep or cancel their NewsLine® subscriptions. Since our
>> convention I have learned that not all NewsLine® subscribers have received a
>> survey or any other communications regarding their subscription. We are
>> publishing Ms. Ruda's letter to inform Newsline subscribers before any
>> decision is made on their behalf.
>> 
>> If you wish to keep your NewsLine ® subscription, please call the Illinois
>> Talking Book and Braille Service at 800-665-5576. Press 5 to get to the
>> Talking Book and Braille Service, then ask for Debra Hurley. She will be
>> glad to talk to you about this matter.
>> 
>> Here is Sharon Ruda's letter to President Chang.
>> 
>> Patti,
>> 
>> Below is information you can share with NewsLine® subscribers. I think I
>> have included all the information you requested. Please call if you have
>> additional questions.
>> 
>> Starting in November of 2011, the Illinois State Library Talking Book and
>> Braille Service began to survey individuals who are subscribers to the NFB
>> NewsLine®, a service sponsored and administrated [sic] by the Illinois State
>> Library. Although this survey was approved by our Consumer Advisory
>> Committee, we have learned that some people have questions regarding this
>> project. This is a project we do every two or three years. We do this in
>> conjunction with the annual review of Talking Book and Braille Service
>> readers. Every year, according to National Library Service procedures, we
>> review our Talking Book clients to remove from our program database anyone
>> who is deceased, from whom we have received returned mail/location unknown,
>> people who called and told us to cancel their service for a number of
>> reasons, etc. We follow through and make changes regarding each situation.
>> It is our administrative responsibility to keep our records as up-to-date as
>> possible.
>> 
>> Five attempts have been made to contact subscribers who have not responded
>> to the survey. 
>> 
>>               1. A large print letter was sent to 1351 subscribers in
>> November,               2011. We received 334 responses.
>>    A follow-up mailing was sent in March to those who did not respond.
>>    Beginning in July, staff at the Chicago office of the Illinois state
>> library have been making calls to 689 subscribers who did not respond to the
>> 2nd mailing. A response was required if the patron wished NewsLine ®. A
>> voice message was left with instructions to call an 800 number if the
>> individual wished to continue the subscription.  
>> 4. If phone numbers given to us by subscribers from our database were
>> discontinued, additional sources including the national NewsLine ®) database
>> record phone number, whitepages.com, personal contact numbers, etc. were
>> used to attempt to reach the subscriber. 
>> 5. If we were unable to reach subscribers through the above process, the
>> final attempt was through email. We are receiving responses from the email.
>> If we are unable to communicate with people, after trying numerous times,
>> they will be removed from the database. I'm sure you know, being deleted
>> from the NewsLine list is not a problem. If someone is inadvertently
>> deleted, a simple call gets him/her reinstated and at the same time allows
>> us to update his/her record. Updating changes in address or telephone number
>> is critical for any entity that administers a subscription program. It is
>> the responsibility of the subscribers to keep their record up-to-date. If
>> you move or get a cell phone and drop your land line, the ISLTBBC needs that
>> information.
>> 
>> An invaluable part of this survey is that David Meyer, our NewsLine® mentor,
>> is getting lots of referrals to people who need his assistance and training.
>> This is beneficial to those who answered our survey, noting that they found
>> NewsLine® too hard to use or didn't know anything about it.
>> 
>> The Illinois State Library Talking Book and Braille Service understands how
>> important NewsLine is to our patrons, and we are pleased that NewsLine will
>> continue to enhance the lives of those who use the service.
>> 
>> Sharon Ruda 
>> Associate Director Illinois State Library
>> 
>> 
>> THE NFBI SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS OF 2012
>> by Deborah Kent Stein
>> 
>> Last May the NFBI Scholarship Committee tackled the difficult task of
>> selecting the 2012 scholarship winners from a pool of highly qualified
>> candidates. Shortly after the winners were notified, the NFBI board voted to
>> invite them to attend the NFB national convention. With only three weeks
>> notice, three of the winners managed to arrange their busy schedules in
>> order to spend a week in Dallas. Months before they received their awards,
>> they began to learn about available resources, to bond with one another, and
>> to absorb the NFB philosophy.
>> 
>> Seven outstanding students were awarded NFBI scholarships at the NFB of
>> Illinois convention banquet on October 6. Kenneth Jernigan schlarships of
>> $1,250 went to Anthony Overhiser, a freshman at Loyola University planning
>> to go to medical school; Ryan Parrey, a doctoral candidate in disability
>> studies at the University of Chicago; Adrian Rodriguez, a pre-law freshman
>> at Stanford University; and Gaia Iaccarino, who studies screenwriting and
>> film at Scott Community College in Bettendorf, Iowa. Mary MadDill Knapheide
>> Scholarships of $1,500 were awarded to Katie Leinum, a freshman at Southern
>> Illinois University/Carbondale who plans to study architecture; and Brianna
>> Lillyman, a freshman at Loyola University who hopes to attend law school.
>> The Peter Grunwald Memorial Scholarship in the amount of $2,000 went to
>> Megan Dowell. Meg is a junior at Olivet Nazarene University. She has a
>> double major in English and Dietetics.
>> 
>> As the winner of the Grunwald Scholarship, Meg Dowell had the opportunity to
>> address the banquet. "I first want to say thank you so much to everyone who
>> is here. I am so, so grateful," she said.  "I would like to tell a story. I
>> am a dietetics major, and I'm learning that it requires a lot of tasks I
>> never thought I could push myself to do. One of my classes this semester is
>> food science. It includes a lab that requires cooking--lots of cooking! That
>> is something I do not have a lot of experience with. There are six kitchens
>> in the lab, and in your kitchen you're part of a group of three. Each person
>> has tasks to do during the lab to get the food prepared.
>> 
>> "After the first lab I went to my instructor and said, 'I can't do this. I
>> can't cook this food. I don't know what I'm doing.' And she said, 'We're
>> going to let you do this by yourself so you can learn.' So this past
>> Wednesday I was back in the lab. Part of the lab was to boil green beans.
>> That's not hard, right? You put the pan on the stove and you turn the stove
>> on. Well, I burned my green beans! As I was burning my green beans I turned
>> on the fan and opened all the windows in the kitchen, and I took the beans
>> and dumped them in a strainer in the sink. I thought, what am I doing? Then
>> my instructor walked in and she said, 'What happened in here?' I said to
>> her, 'I am never going to be a dietetics major! I burned my green beans! I
>> can't even boil vegetables! I'm never going to be able to do this! I'm going
>> to fail!' And she said, 'Meg, you can do anything. You just don't know it
>> yet.'
>> 
>> "With every green bean I'll ever burn, I will think of NFBI and what you all
>> have blessed me with. You believed in me even before I was here. Thank you
>> so much."
>> 
>> 
>> CONVENTION FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF FIRST-TIMERS
>> 
>> A First Timers Perspective
>> By:  Ed Birmingham
>> 
>> Usually the first weekend in October means high school and college football
>> along with the beginning of baseball playoffs.  However, this year would be
>> different.  Approximately twenty Randolph-Sheppard Vendors, along with
>> spouses and grandkids, attended our first ever National Federation of the
>> Blind of Illinois Convention.  President Patti Gregory-Chang was kind enough
>> to include the Vendors in the Convention agenda.
>> John Gordon, who is the Chairman of the Illinois Committee of Blind Vendors
>> and I were asked to speak briefly at the student luncheon.  We also took
>> part in a panel discussion on the Randolph–Sheppard Program with our
>> colleagues, Jesse Rogers and National Association of Blind Merchants
>> President, Nicky Gacos.  Raven Pulliam, Administrator for the Business
>> Enterprise Program for the Blind, rounded out the panel.  We discussed many
>> issues concerning blind entrepreneurs.
>> 
>> The highlight of the weekend for me, personally, was getting the opportunity
>> to listen and learn from all of those involved in the Student Division.  I
>> cannot put into words how impressed I was with these young men and women.  
>> 
>> I also enjoyed National Representative Carl Jacobsen’s keynote address at
>> the banquet Saturday night.  I thought Carl delivered a very inspiring
>> message as did so many others before him.
>> 
>> As President of the Illinois Association of Blind Merchants, I would like to
>> speak for our entire membership when I tell you that we are ecstatic to be a
>> Division of the National Federation of the Blind of Illinois and a proud
>> Affiliate of the National Association of Blind Merchants.  We look forward
>> to working collaboratively on issues that affect us all.
>> 
>> A FIRST TIMER'S PERSPECTIVE
>> by Linda Hendle
>> 
>> As a first-time attendee, I found convention to be very exciting,
>> informative, and fun. N
>> <Braille Examiner Post State Convention 2012.doc>
>> <Braille Examiner Post State Convention 2012.txt>
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>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/il-talk_nfbnet.org/hildasandifer%40yahoo.com  
> Awesome!!! I can't for the upcoming national convention 
> I am so glad that I am a member of Nfb
> Hilda Sandifer
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