[il-talk] Fwd: Greetings from the National Federation of the Blind Performing Arts Division

[Denise Avant]

Denise R. Avant
President, National Federation Of The Blind Of Illinois
Live the life you want



> Begin forwarded message:
> 
> From: "McGinnity, Julie" <JMcGinnity at nfb.org>
> Subject: Greetings from the National Federation of the Blind Performing Arts Division
> Date: June 16, 2016 at 9:35:55 PM CDT
> To: "State President, Alabama" <joy.harris at dwx.com>, "State President, Alaska" <packeet1 at gmail.com>, "State President, Arizona" <krezguy at cox.net>, "State President, Arkansas" <tosheeler at cox.net>, "State President, California" <mwillows at sbcglobal.net>, "State President, Colorado" <slabarre at labarrelaw.com>, "State President, Connecticut" <Personal.edward at gmail.com>, "State President, Delaware" <Kat.bottner at gmail.com>, "State President, District of Columbia" <callaway.shawn at gmail.com>, "State President, Florida" <valkemadenise at aol.com>, "State President, Georgia" <gscott at nfbga.org>, "State President, Hawaii" <nanifife at aol.com>, "State President, Idaho" <danalynard at q.com>, "State President, Illinois" <davant1958 at gmail.com>, "Brown, Ron" <RB15 at iquest.net>, "State President, Iowa" <dprime27 at gmail.com>, "State President, Kansas" <topage at swbell.net>, "State President, Kentucky" <cathyj1949 at gmail.com>, "State President, Louisiana" <pallen at louisianacenter.org>, "State President, Maine" <leonproctorjr at yahoo.com>, "State President, Maryland" <nfbmd at earthlink.net>, "State President, Massachusetts" <aruell at comcast.net>, "State President, Michigan" <president.nfb.mi at gmail.com>, "State President, Minnesota" <jennifer.dunnam1829 at gmail.com>
> Cc: "McGinnity, Julie" <JMcGinnity at nfb.org>
> 
> Dear Affiliate Presidents,
>  
> My name is Julie McGinnity, and I currently serve as the president of the National Federation of the Blind Performing Arts Division.  You may remember me as a scholarship winner (2011, 2013) or as the singer of the National Anthem at the national convention last year.  At present, I am interning at our national office.  But today I reach out to you as the president of a division that needs support. 
>  
> The National Federation of the Blind Performing Arts Division has great potential.  We have a unique perspective from which we can build the federation.  Like all divisions, we engage members who may not otherwise consider joining the federation.  For example, we provide blind stage performers with mentors and foster opportunities for blind sound engineers to learn about accessible recording studio technologies.  In addition, our voices could lead the charge or start the applause when blind characters appear in the newest feature films and prime time television shows.  I believe that this division could evolve into a resource for affiliate presidents, fellow divisions, and others in the federation.  After all, this organization is full of talent.  Listen to the Rhythm of the Movement cd if you don’t believe me.  The Performing Arts Division could be a home and a network for those who wish to develop their talents. 
>  
> The paragraph above only outlines a few of the potential avenues for the Performing Arts division.  It is up to the membership to decide how we reach out to blind performers and use our skills to build the federation.  So I write this message not only to spread awareness of the division but also with the hope of gaining representation from more of our affiliates.
>  
> We would like to invite affiliates to point potential leaders or interested members towards the Performing Arts Division.  Our board is eager to grow this division, which stands ready to be a resource for anyone involved in the performing arts.  Anyone who may have an interest in our work or has ideas is invited to contact me at the info in my signature.  You may also reach the entire board of the division by sending an email to nfbpad at gmail.com <mailto:nfbpad at gmail.com>.  
>  
> Thank you for reading, and thank you for your support.  I look forward to seeing many of you at convention!
>  
> Yours in the movement, 
>  
>  
> Julie A. McGinnity 
> National Federation of the Blind Summer Intern
>  
> 200 East Wells Street
> Baltimore, MD 21230
>  
> Email: jmcginnity at nfb.org <mailto:jmcginnity at nfb.org>
> Office: 410-659-9314 Ex. 2525 
>  
> The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the characteristic that defines you or your future.  Every day we raise the expectations of blind people because low expectations create obstacles between blind people and our dreams.  You can live the life you want; blindness is not what holds you back.