[Nebraska-senior-blind] Notes from the President, February 2017

Tue Feb 14 15:24:52 UTC 2017

If you all have not seen this, not gotten this through our Nebraska
affiliate listserv, then let me know, and we will get your email address
onto the affiliate list roster. This is an update from our affiliate
president.

Greetings Fellow Federationists:

Welcome February!

Did you know....that February is

list of 10 items

. American Heart Month

. An Affair to Remember Month

. Black History Month

. Canned Food Month

. Creative Romance Month

. Great American Pie Month

. National Cherry Month

. National Children's Dental Health Month . National Grapefruit Month .
National Weddings Month

Time is hurtling by at rocket speed and I can't believe February is already
well under way. And, what a month it is!

***

Baby Baby

As our thoughts turn towards hearts and love, I want to extend
congratulations to Ross, Bridgit and big brother Declan on the birth of
Duncan True Pollpeter on January 24th. Duncan was four weeks early and
Bridgit reports he is still in the NICU, though doing very well.

They hope to have him home soon.

***

We Are Family!

Speaking of children and families, I want to thank all of you who turned out
to pack the hearing room on Wednesday February 8th for the hearing regarding
LB456. We have gained critical support from several other organizations
within the disability community. Special thanks to senator Tom Briese for
introducing and sponsoring this critical legislation to protect the rights
of disabled parents in Nebraska.

Thanks also to Carlos Servan, legislative chair for all his efforts; to all
of you who came to the hearing and  to those who offered testimony and wrote
letters of support. Information regarding our legislative breakfast will be
coming soon.

***

SLAM THAT!

NFB Youth Slam Volunteers: We Need Your Energy, Love, Hope, and
Determination!

The deadline to apply as an adult volunteer for the 2017 National Federation
of the Blind Youth Slam is fast approaching! The NFB Youth Slam program is a
weeklong learning opportunity for high school students in a wide-variety of
science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) disciplines. In order to
make this program a success we need your help! Please help us engage,
inspire, and encourage the next generation of blind scientists, engineers,
programmers, and mathematicians to consider STEM careers. While some falsely
believe these careers are not for blind students, the NFB is here to
transform dreams into reality.

Volunteers are needed to help our students learn new skills, build
confidence, and increase their science literacy. They can serve in a variety
of capacities including: helping to prepare materials, teaching a class,
providing support to students both in and outside of class, helping execute
program logistics (i.e., set up and tear down, material distribution),
providing navigational support for students (i.e., talking signs), etc.
Volunteers will be needed Friday, July 21

- Saturday, July 29, 2017.

The deadline to apply is Friday, February 17. Visit
https://nfb.org/youth-slam-volunteer-application to apply now! For more
information about NFB Youth Slam volunteer opportunities, please visit
http://blindscience.org/nfb-youth-slam-volunteer-page. If you have
additional questions, contact us at (410) 659-9314, extension 2418, or email
STEM at nfb.org <mailto:STEM at nfb.org> .

Join us as we continue to raise expectations and make history at what
promises to be the best NFB Youth Slam yet

***

Please Sign the Petition

Jamie Principato, who spoke at our national convention last summer about her
experience with inaccessible technology, has launched a petition calling on
congressional leaders to move swiftly to pass our Accessible Instructional
Materials in Higher Education Act. The petition further calls upon President
Trump to unequivocally commit to supporting this legislation by urging its
passage.

***

Presidential Release:

The February Presidential Release has been posted to our website at
https://nfb.org/podcast/presidential-releases-en/rss.xml.

***

Politics and Washington Seminar Re-cap

With a new administration in Washington promising sweeping change, many
wonder what the prospects for legislative success are in the rapidly
evolving political environment. Throughout our history, the National
Federation of the Blind has worked with political leaders of both parties to
craft public policy that helps blind Americans live the lives we want, and
our goal is to continue to do so. Judging by the outstanding success of our
2017 Washington Seminar, there are plenty of partners willing to work with
us and champion our issues, presenting ample and exciting opportunities to
make positive change.

Read a recap of some of the highlights on the Voice of the Nation's Blind,
the blog of the National Federation of the Blind. The full post is here:

https://nfb.org/blog/vonb-blog/national-federation-blind-celebrates-successf
ul-washington-seminar

***

***

Quote of the Month

"Life is full of beauty. Notice it. Notice the bumblebee, the small child,
and the smiling faces. Smell the rain, and feel the wind. Live your life to
the fullest potential, and fight for your dreams."

-- Ashley Smith

***

National Convention and Jernigan Scholarships for First-timers Make your
plans now to attend the national convention this summer in Orlando. It
promises to be the best yet! Life changing and full of inspiration and
innovation, it's a do not miss. If you have never attended, please read for
a word or two on how you could receive financial assistance to attend.

The 2017 Kenneth Jernigan Convention Scholarship Fund by Allen Harris,
Chairman Have you always wanted to attend an NFB annual convention but have
not done so because of the lack of funds? The Kenneth Jernigan Convention
Scholarship Fund invites you to make an application for a scholarship grant.
Perhaps this July you too can be in the Rosen Shingle Creek Hotel in
Orlando, Florida, enjoying the many pleasures and learning opportunities at
the largest and most important yearly convention of blind people in the
world.

The three biggest ticket items you need to cover when attending an NFB
national convention are the roundtrip transportation, the hotel room for a
week, and the food (which tends to be higher priced than at home). We
attempt to award additional funds to families, but, whether a family or an
individual is granted a scholarship, this fund can only help; it won't pay
all the costs. Last year most of the sixty grants were in the range of $400
to $500 per individual.

We recommend that you find an NFB member as your personal convention mentor,
someone who has been to many national conventions and is able to share
money-saving tips with you and tips on navigating the extensive agenda in
the big hotel. Your mentor will help you get the most out of the amazing
experience that is convention week.

Who is eligible?

Active NFB members, blind or sighted, who have not yet attended an NFB
national convention because of lack of funding, are eligible to apply.

How do I apply for funding assistance?

1. You write a letter giving your contact information, and your local NFB
information, your specific amount requested, and then explain why this is a
good investment for the NFB. The points to cover are listed below.

2. You contact your state president in person or by phone to request his or
her help in obtaining funding. Be sure to tell the president when to expect
your request letter by email, and mention the deadline.

3. You (or a friend) send your letter by email to your state president. He
or she must add a president's recommendation and then email both letters
directly to the Kenneth Jernigan Convention Scholarship Fund Committee. Your
president must forward the two letters no later than April 15.

Your letter to Chairperson Allen Harris must cover these points:

.        Your full name, and all your telephone numbers and label them-cell

phone, home, office, other person (if any).

.        Your mailing address and, if you have one, your email address.

.        Your state affiliate and state president; your chapter and chapter

president, if you attend a chapter.

.        Your personal convention mentor, and provide that person's phone
number.

.        Your specific request:

Explain how much money you need from this fund to make this trip possible
for you. We suggest you consult with other members to make a rough budget
for yourself.

The body of your letter should answer these questions:

How do you currently participate in the Federation? Why do you want to
attend a national convention? What would you receive; what can you share or
give? You can include in your letter to the committee any special
circumstances you hope they will take into consideration.

When will I be notified that I am a winner?

If you are chosen to receive this scholarship, you will receive a letter
with convention details that should answer most of your questions. The
committee makes every effort to notify scholarship winners by May 15, but
you must do several things before that to be prepared to attend if you are
chosen.

1. Make your own hotel reservation. If something prevents you from
attending, you can cancel the reservation. (Yes, you may arrange for
roommates of your own to reduce the cost.) 2. Register online for the entire
convention, including the banquet, by May 31.

3. Find someone in your chapter or affiliate who has been to many
conventions and can answer your questions as a friend and advisor.

4. If you do not hear from the committee by May 15, then you did not win a
grant this year.

How will I receive my convention scholarship?

At convention you will be given a debit card or credit card loaded with the
amount of your award. The times and locations to pick up your card will be
listed in the letter we sent you. The committee is not able to provide funds
before the convention, so work with your chapter and state affiliate to
assist you by obtaining an agreement to advance funds if you win a
scholarship and to pay your treasury back after you receive your debit or
credit card.

What if I have more questions? For additional information email the
chairman, Allen Harris, at <kjscholarships at nfb.org
<mailto:kjscholarships at nfb.org> > or call his Baltimore, Maryland, office at
(410) 659-9314, extension 2415.

Above all, please use this opportunity to attend your first convention on
the national level and join several thousand active Federationists in the
most important meeting of the blind in the world. We hope to see you in
Orlando.

***

***

Survey Says...

Amber Sherrard asked I share the below message with you.

Hello,

The National Federation of the Blind is proud to partner with WE Fit
Wellness to learn about the real barriers that people who are blind and low
vision face to exercise, nutrition, and access to medical equipment and
services. The information obtained in this study will be helpful in
providing health programming, policy changes, and guiding future research
that support blind people in the pursuit of a healthier lifestyle.  To
participate in this study simply complete the survey. Participants have the
option to be entered into a drawing for a chance to win a $50 gift card.
The survey will remain open for responses until Sunday evening, February
27th.  Please feel free to forward this letter to other blind adults who may
be interested in taking the survey.  A higher response rate will lead to
more accurate and valid results.  Our team began data collection at the
National Federation of the Blind's annual Washington Seminar. If you took
the survey with us there please do not retake it. If a participant is unable
to complete the survey online, research assistants are available to assist
over-the-phone by calling (866)-543-6808.

Our principal investigator is Amber K. Sherrard of Northwestern State
University.  She is being guided in this research by Dr. Catherine McMillan
and supervised by Jessica Beecham. Other people on the research team may
assist at different times during the study. Please contact Amber with any
questions you may have or to obtain a summary of results when the study is
complete.. Her email address is amber at wefitwellness.com
<mailto:amber at wefitwellness.com> .

Survey Link:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/TJPT6JX

Thank you for your consideration and participation!

Warm regards,

The WE Fit Wellness Team

Amber K. Sherrard

Graduate Intern

WE Fit Wellness

1837 S. Nevada Ave

PMB 243

CO Springs, CO 80905

W           866-543-6808

C            225-892-3697

amber at wefitwellness.com <mailto:amber at wefitwellness.com> 

www.wefitwellness.com <http://www.wefitwellness.com> 

***

Improving the Lives of Those with Both Vision and Hearing Loss I received
the below message from NCBVI Director Dr. Pearl Van Zandt and Beth Jordan,
Nebraska's Regional Representative from the Helen Keller Center.

From: Beth Jordan [mailto:beth.jordan at hknc.org]

Sent: Wednesday, February 08, 2017 4:32 PM

Subject: Support Service Providers (SSPs) in Nebraska

Hello.

The Helen Keller National Center (HKNC) is working with the Nebraska
Commission for the Blind & Visually Impaired (NCBVI) to create SSP services
in Nebraska.  SSP stands for Support Service Providers.

What is an SSP?  An SSP serves as the eyes and the ears for the person who
has vision and hearing loss.  SSPs provide visual and environmental
information.  They may provide transportation and guide the person when
traveling in their community.  SSPs can help you when running errands,
reading mail, and with social activities.  Bottom line, they help you with
independence.

In other states, one thing has been certain.  When creating SSP services, it
was not possible without involvement from people who have vision and hearing
loss themselves, the people requesting SSP services.  Their "voice" made it
possible to fund SSP programs.

We need the help from you as a person who has vision and hearing loss for
three things.  Please reply to this email regarding any or all of these
items:

1)   Are you interested in receiving SSP services?

2)   Would you like to assist our committee, to share your story as we

create the SSP program?

3)   Do you know someone with both hearing and vision loss who would

benefit from SSP services?  Please forward this email to that person and
contact me.

Here is a link to more information about Support Service Providers.

http://www.aadb.org/information/ssp/white_paper_ssp.html

We look forward to hearing from you.  Beth

Beth A. Jordan, regional representative CRC Helen Keller National Center,
Great Plains Regional Office

450 E. Park Street

Olathe, KS  66061

913-677-4562 voice

913-227-4282 videophone

Beth.Jordan at hknc.org <mailto:Beth.Jordan at hknc.org>
www.HelenKeller.org/HKNC <http://www.HelenKeller.org/HKNC> 

***

A Little Help From Our Friends

I have been asked to share the below information from the Friends of
Nebraska Commission for the Blind and visually Impaired.

We are the Friends of the Nebraska Commission for the Blind and Visually
Impaired and are raising funds to be used to sponsor educational enrichment
opportunities for blind youth, expanding their world with the knowledge that
blindness is not what defines them, and it need not prevent them from
finding joy and success in all that they undertake. During sponsored
academies and camps, children participate in sports, read Braille, perform
science experiments, make music together and learn success, independence and
adventure from competent blind adults. You can help to build a brighter
future for young people across Nebraska while enjoying the convenience and
tastiness of Schwan's.

How? Choose one of the three options below and order items from Schwan Foods
between now and March 23, 2017.

1 Go to the Group Page URL: https://www.schwans-cares.com/c/30260

2 Go to http://www.Schwans.com and enter the campaign name Friends of the
Nebraska Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired and the Campaign ID

30260

3 Call 1-855-870-7208 with the Campaign Name Friends of the Nebraska
Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired and the Campaign ID Code

30260

Friends will receive a 20% contribution or 40% on an e- gift card you
purchase online (one per customer per campaign) during the campaign period
and a 5% contribution for 90 days after the campaign ends.

Thank you.

To learn more about Friends, go to

***

Dates to Keep in Mind:

.        February 24th - Legislative Breakfast - Lincoln

. March 23, 2017: EPUB 3 Training Seminar .MARCH 24-26: NABS and NCBVI
College Workshop, Holiday Inn, Kearney, Nebraska

          .March 30-31, 2017: Jacobus tenBroek Law Symposium

.        March 31, 2017: Deadline for scholarship applications

.        April 8th - State Board Meeting - Omaha

. April 15, 2017: Deadline for Jacob Bolotin Award applications

.        May 20th - Walk for Independence - Lincoln

. June 12-23 - NFB BELL Academy of Nebraska - Lincoln . July 10-15, 2017:
National Convention, Rosen Shingle Creek Resort, Orlando, Florida

.        July 21-29, 2017: Youth Slam, Towson University

. August 5th- State Board Meeting - Ramada Columbus and River's Edge
Conference Center

.        September 12-17, 2017: BLAST, Nashville, Tennessee

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.

Amy Buresh President, National Federation of the Blind of Nebraska
president at ne.nfb.org <mailto:president at ne.nfb.org> 

The National Federation of the Blind is a community of members and friends
who believe in the hopes and dreams of the nation's blind.

Every day we work together to help blind people live the lives they want.

_______________________________________________

Nfbn-membership mailing list

Nfbn-membership at nfbnet.org <mailto:Nfbn-membership at nfbnet.org> 

http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbn-membership_nfbnet.org

To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
Nfbn-membership:

http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbn-membership_nfbnet.org/newmanrl%40cox.
net

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://nfbnet.org/pipermail/nebraska-senior-blind_nfbnet.org/attachments/20170214/28564aea/attachment.html>