[Massachusetts-NFB] Blind Equality Achievement Month is in October--do you have any ideas? or would you like to help coordinate something with me?

Tue Aug 13 13:02:50 UTC 2024

Thanks Stephanie. Let’s talk. When are you available? Next week I have Thursday the 22nd or Friday the 23rd  available, at this time. Let me know if either of those dates work for you and if so, what time.  

Shara Winton

President, National federation of the Blind of Massachusetts

 <http://www.nfbma.org/> www.nfbma.org

 <mailto:sharawinton at gmail.com> sharawinton at gmail.com

617-304-0347

From: Massachusetts-NFB <massachusetts-nfb-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Stephanie Paoli via Massachusetts-NFB
Sent: Tuesday, August 13, 2024 8:01 AM
To: NFB of Massachusetts E-mail List <massachusetts-nfb at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Stephanie Paoli <stephanie.p.valdes at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [Massachusetts-NFB] Blind Equality Achievement Month is in October--do you have any ideas? or would you like to help coordinate something with me?

I think I have a nice idea that can be used as a fundraiser for Bell Academy as well as blind quality achievement month. Happy to discuss it further at any time.

Stephanie Barrera Valdes

Coordinator, NFB BELL Academy of Massachusetts

Find more info or register at: 

https://nfb.org/programs-services/education/nfb-bellr-academy/massachusetts

President, Massachusetts Parents of Blind Children.

A proud division of the National Federation Of The Blind Of Massachusetts

781-839-0628

Stephanie.p.valdes at gmail.com <mailto:Stephanie.p.valdes at gmail.com> 

fbma.org/chapters-divisions/massachusetts-parents-blind-children <https://nfbma.org/chapters-divisions/massachusetts-parents-blind-children> 

On Aug 12, 2024, at 11:46 PM, Shara Winton via Massachusetts-NFB <massachusetts-nfb at nfbnet.org <mailto:massachusetts-nfb at nfbnet.org> > wrote:

               Hello Federation Family,

The month of October is set aside as Blind Equality Achievement Month (BEAM) formally known as Meet the Blind month. The Cambridge chapter will be having their annual David Ticchi Walk and the Mass commission for the Blind sponsors a White Cane awareness day. These two things are great, but I would like to see us do much more across our commonwealth. 

I have been reading about many events that affiliates or chapters have done in the past. I have copied many of them below for your convenience and hopefully to get your creative minds inspired. 

One idea that I have that was inspired by a similar event happening soon, in another affiliate, is to do a White Cane and Wine or Whiskey day. In this event, (I am thinking Salem), we would set up in a park or on the pedestrian walkway or maybe at some other establishment where people are allowed to taste wine or whiskey. While people are doing their tasting we would be demonstrating white cane techniques, decorating white canes, giving Braille demonstrations and maybe giving out candy. 

Below are some ideas that I learned about that other affiliates have done for BEAM. We might use these or perhaps, these past events will inspire new ideas for us. I think it would be really great to have a few events---maybe one for each chapter. We could combine these with some already existing events in October. 

Many chapters set up booths at Farmer’s markets, craft fairs, parades, country fairs, festivals  and so on to share our movement and literature. 

Many chapters  have voter registration drives in several public places around their states. 

1.	The Northern Delaware Chapter will meet on October 15at a state park from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM. And we will be collecting can goods and candy.
2.	 
3.	The park is going to have hayrides the same day, and we are going to give the candy to the kids, as the park has activities for them. We will be giving the can goods to a local shelter or organization that gives food to families in need.
4.	The Southern New Castle County Chapter will be meeting at the Dover public library, and they will be reading Braille books to children, as well as showing different types of technology we as blind people use on a daily basis to live independently. Each child will receive an index card with their name in Braille on it.

1.	The Ruston chapter of the NFBLa and the Greater Ouachita Chapter are planning a joint venture for Meet the blind Month.  We will participate in an annual event where parents and children are allowed to touch and explore large tractors, trucks, and cars at a show in Monroe, Louisiana. We will have a table and distribute information, and several blind children and their parents will attend the hands-on experience. 

Members of the National Federation of the Blind of Louisiana will participate in a schoolwide assembly on blindness.

The Treasure Coast Chapter is hosting a walk October 15, 2022 at 9:00 a.m. in Fort Pierce Florida to celebrate White Cane Awareness Day. The Chapter will walk from City Hall through downtown to their table at a local farmers market, demonstrate sighted guide travel technique and will distribute gift bags and literature to attendees.

The National Federation of the Blind of Pennsylvania Keystone Chapter's 3rd annual virtual talent show will feature blind and low vision singers, dancers, musicians, and comedians. Tickets are $10 for individuals and25 for watch parties. 

The National Federation of the Blind of Ohio Greater Akron Chapter will host an Applebee’s fundraiser and education event on October 20. The Chapel Hill Ohio Applebee's will donate a portion of all sales where customers use promo code DOINGOOD when ordering, at checkout, or online. The event will run from 11 a.m. until closing. Chapter members will be on hand to demonstrate braille, provide information about accessible prescription labels, to demonstrate usage of the long white cane, and to answer questions about assistive technology.

1.	October 15 & 16, 2022 the Springfield Missouri Chapter held their annual garage sale.  The garage sale was run by Chapter members, which allowed them opportunities to interact with the public performing tasks that the public is not used to seeing blind people do. Such as use color detectors, money identifiers, take Credit Card payments, and set up and run a successful garage sale.  The Chapter says "We always talk about how we live the life we want," let’s show them. 

1.	On Oct 28, 2022, the Springfield Missouri  Chapter is teaming up with the Springfield Cardinals minor-league baseball team and other local businesses for a fun night at Hammons Ballfield.  Chapter members will be passing out candy along with information on the NFB, and answering any questions trick-or-treaters have about blindness or the NFB. Chapter members will be dressing up in costumes.

the Central Valley Chapter participated in a White Cane Walk with the Stanislaus County Office of Education at JFK School in Modesto. The event included fun activities for our local blind children, including an obstacle course, cane decorating, and games with tactile emojis. Members of the chapter answered questions and demonstrated that blindness should not hold anyone back from living the life they want.

the Central Valley Chapter will have a booth at the Modesto Farmer’s Market, located on 16th Street between H Street and I Street, from 8 AM to 1 PM. Chapter members will be demonstrating Braille and assistive technology. The event will also have some fun Halloween-themed activities, including a descriptive costume game.

The Lancaster Chapter participated in a local event where they designed a blind skateboard kid scarecrow that is displayed in downtown Lancaster in front of the Courthouse. The blind scarecrow kid features a skateboarding scarecrow using a long white cane and has a sign with Chapter meeting and contact information.

The Palouse Empire Chapter Book Club Discussion of "The Power of Love: How Kenneth Jernigan Changed the World for the Blind"
Time: 7:00 p.m. pacific time
This was held via Zoom. 

This book features entries by many of our Idaho NFB members and was edited by Ramona Walhof. The Idaho contributors have been invited to participate in this book club discussion.

These are just some of the ideas. I would love to hear any that you may have. Let’s show our Massachusetts neighbors that we are here and we are living the life we want! 

With Love, hope and determination, 

Shara Winton

President, National federation of the Blind of Massachusetts

 <http://www.nfbma.org/> www.nfbma.org

 <mailto:sharawinton at gmail.com> sharawinton at gmail.com

617-304-0347

_______________________________________________
Massachusetts-NFB mailing list
Massachusetts-NFB at nfbnet.org <mailto:Massachusetts-NFB at nfbnet.org> 
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/massachusetts-nfb_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for Massachusetts-NFB:
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/massachusetts-nfb_nfbnet.org/stephanie.p.valdes%40gmail.com

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://nfbnet.org/pipermail/massachusetts-nfb_nfbnet.org/attachments/20240813/e51fa4e9/attachment.htm>