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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Hi You All<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Another affiliate newsletter; check out what our Kentucky family members are up to!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The Kentucky Cardinal<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Winter 2018<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>This is a Publication of the National Federation of the Blind of Kentucky.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>President: Cathy Jackson, 210 Cambridge Drive, Louisville, Kentucky 40214, Phone: (502) 366-2317, Email <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Cathy Jackson<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Edited by:Lora Felty Stephens and Todd Stephens, 1127 Sharon Court, Ashland, Kentucky 41101,Phone: (606) 324-3394, Email <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Lora Felty Stephens <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>or <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Todd E. Stephens<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The NFB Kentucky Cardinal Editorial staff members are: Kennetta Freholm, Cindy Sheets and Jennifer Stephens.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>We invite and encourage your participation in this newsletter. Articles may be edited for length, and the editors reserve the right to judge suitability<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>for this publication. Material may be submitted to any of the editors and must take the form of an attachment to an e-mail in doc, docx, rtf or txt format,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>or may be submitted directly in the body of the email. No text messages will be accepted.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Note to screenreader users. You may navigate by the headings in this document by depressing H on your keyboard. The heading navigation works for JAWS,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>NVDA and Window-Eyes.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>-----<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Table of Contents<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Topics<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>list of 9 items nesting level 1<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>◦ Meet Our NFB of Kentucky State President<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>◦ 2018 Washington Seminar in Review<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>◦ A Perspective on DeafBlindness<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>◦ A Letter to Louis Braille<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>◦ NFB-NEWSLINE Kentucky News<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>◦ Chapter and Division News<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>◦ Have You Heard?<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>◦ Cook's Nook<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>◦ Officers and Board of Directors<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>list end nesting level 1<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Meet Our NFB of Kentucky State President<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Cathy Jackson has served as president of the NFB of Kentucky since the year 2000, and she has served on the board of directors of the National Federation<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>of the Blind since 2002. Below is her biography which appears on the National Federation of the Blind web site.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Cathy Jackson, Board Member<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Advocate, Braille Specialist, Mother<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Mary Catherine Brothers (Cathy) was born on October 25, 1949, in Louisville, Kentucky to Charles and Catherine Brothers. She is the third of nine children,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>four girls and five boys. Cathy was born with congenital cataracts. In 1949, few resources were available to parents of blind children. The National Federation<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>of the Blind was only nine years old, and the Kentucky affiliate was only two years old. The Brothers family had not heard of either. Her parents had never<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>known any other blind people and couldn't imagine what the future might hold for their daughter. However, they decided that a common-sense approach was<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>their best avenue. Luckily for Cathy, they never considered any approach to raising their blind daughter other than the methods they were using to raise<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>their two older boys.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>After several eye surgeries, Cathy gained some usable vision in her right eye. At age five she was enrolled in a Roman Catholic school. Her parents chose<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>this educational setting since the school offered a sight-saving class, where she would have access to large-print books and other materials that would<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>make classroom work easier. Then, in the fall of 1960, Cathy was enrolled at the Kentucky School for the Blind, where she remained until graduating from<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>high school in 1967. Her parents and teachers decided that it would be more beneficial for her to attend school where she would have access to all of her<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>textbooks in large print and, perhaps more important, where she could learn Braille. This was Cathy's first exposure to totally blind peers and adults.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Although she had been around other visually impaired students at her elementary school, the majority of them could see considerably better than she. She<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>and her parents soon learned that blindness was simply a physical condition, certainly not one that would keep her from achieving whatever goals she set<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>for herself. During these seven years while attending the Kentucky School for the Blind, Cathy began to learn not to be ashamed of her blindness. She learned<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>to advocate for herself and others. Being student council president during her junior and senior years launched her political career. During the summer<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>of 1967, Cathy attended the Chicago Lighthouse for the Blind. An ill-advised rehabilitation counselor thought this training would be the crowning touch<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>to prepare her for college in the fall. That summer school Lighthouse class of 1967 was comprised of very bright, outgoing, normal young adults, who turned<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>the tables on the Lighthouse staff and teachers. As Cathy remembers the experience, the adults were the ones to get the education when the students refused<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>to be bound by the low expectations and negative attitudes of the staff. At this point in her life, she still had not heard about the National Federation<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>of the Blind but was already preaching and practicing NFB philosophy.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Upon graduation from high school, Cathy attended Spalding University, formerly Catherine Spalding College in Louisville, Kentucky. She majored in psychology,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>minored in sociology, and took an active part in academic, student government, and social organizations. The blindness skills and attitudes she had learned<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>at the Kentucky School for the Blind and even the negative attitudes she had been exposed to at the Lighthouse the summer before college were beginning<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>to pay dividends. Cathy was growing into an adult with increasingly resolute convictions and positive attitudes.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>In 1972, Cathy met Betty Niceley, the longtime leader of the Kentucky affiliate, and for many years a member of the NFB board of directors. The rest is<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>history. This friendship began her formal Federation education. Although Cathy was slow to join the Federation, Betty never gave up on recruiting her.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>In 1975, Cathy became a member of the Louisville Association of the Blind, the former name of the local NFB chapter. Through the years, Cathy eventually<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>served as secretary, vice president, and president of the National Federation of the Blind of Greater Louisville. She was also treasurer of the National<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Association to Promote the Use of Braille of Kentucky. In the Kentucky affiliate, she has served as board member, treasurer, first vice president, and<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>now president. At the 2002 annual convention of the National Federation of the Blind held in Louisville, Cathy Jackson was elected to the board of directors<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>of the National Federation of the Blind. Cathy has held a variety of jobs through the years. During college, she was employed at the Kentucky Industries<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>for the Blind (now LC Industries for the Blind) to do seasonal contract work. For a short time after college, Cathy worked for the state of Kentucky as<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>a social worker in the Food Stamp Office. After staying home to raise her daughter, Cathy worked successfully as the program coordinator for the National<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Federation of the Blind of Kentucky Braille Service Center, a clerical support staff member in a law office, and the Braille clerk for the Jefferson County<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>school system. But her favorite job of all was stay-at-home mom to her daughter Dana Nicole. She volunteered as a classroom aide, did substitute teaching,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>and worked as a secretary in the principal's office. Cathy served as president of the school Parent Teacher Association, secretary of the athletic club,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>and member of the parish council. In addition, she coached both the peewee basketball team and the cheerleading squad.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>In June of 2010, Cathy joined the ranks of the retired. She is enjoying retirement to the fullest. She says it affords her more time to concentrate on<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>her NFB obligations. She is also enjoying spending precious time with her family, especially her two granddaughters, Hana and Haley.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Cathy has received a number of awards for academic and athletic achievement, but the awards she cherishes most are the Susan B. Rarick, Harold L. Reagan<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>and T. V. Cranmer awards presented to her by the National Federation of the Blind of Kentucky. Cathy commented that her roots and commitment to the NFB<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>go deep, and that the past forty-three years are just the beginning.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>2018 Washington Seminar in Review<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Angela Dehart serves on the board of directors of the NFB of Kentucky. She holds offices in several of our state divisions as well. She, along with NFB<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>of Kentucky President, Cathy Jackson, Michael Freholm, second vice-president, and Jayne Seif, NFBK board member, represented the state of Kentucky at the<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>NFB Washington Seminar this January. Here is what Angela has to say about their efforts at this year's legislative and advocacy event.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The 2018 Washington Seminar kicked off on Monday, January 28th with the great gathering in at the Holiday Inn Capitol. We heard from the NFB legislative<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>committee as well as President Riccobono about the issues we were to discuss on the hill over the next few days. ON Tuesday and Wednesday, Cathy, Michael,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Jayne and I headed off to the hill to speak with our Kentucky Congressmen and Senators about the three legislative issues we were bringing to their attention<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>this year. The legislative issues we discussed are as follows;<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Opposition to the ADA Education and Reform Act of 2017 (H.R.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>620)<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Accessible Instructional Materials in Higher Education Act (S. 2138/H.R. 1772)<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Access Technology Affordability Act (S. 732/H.R. 1734)<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Cathy, Michael, Jayne and I made a good team when it came to discussing our legislative issues. We were each able to bring unique perspectives and share<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>personal insights related to each issue. HR 620, also entitled the ADA Education and Reform Act of 2017, was one of the main issues on the table. We were<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>trying to persuade our congressmen to vote "no" to HR 620 and to change the minds of those that had already co-sponsored the bill. It seemed that many<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>of the congressmen we spoke with had some very skewed views of this bill and how it would be of "help" to the United States. One of our congressmen even<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>asked in seeming disbelief, after our well thought presentations "I signed that?" Only to have his aide remind him that the particular bill we discussed<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>would "help the hotels and other businesses prevent lawsuits." She then went on to explain to us that many hotels were receiving calls about accessible<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>access to hotel amenities and that this bill would prevent such businesses from getting sued "unnecessarily." I was quick to point out that in their so<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>called attempt to aide businesses; they were jeopardizing the rights of the disabled community. Rights that the ADA has granted us for 27 years and by<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>doing so, would further marginalize the disabled community by making it easier for businesses to deny access and accommodations to those who need it. I<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>am very disheartened and simultaneously fired up after seeing the news on Thursday and finding out that HR 620 passed the House in a vote of 225-192. It<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>is because of this, that I earnestly implore you to call your senators and ask them to say "NO" to this bill once it comes up for a vote on the senate<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>floor. Alone we can only do so much, but together we can fight this battle!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Accessible Instructional Materials in Higher Education Act (S. 2138/H.R. 1772). Was an issue that I was able to speak to on a personal level. I am a professional<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>educator, and I am also a graduate student. Due to a recent exponential rate of vision loss I have to adjust to a whole new way of doing things than I<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>have done the majority of my life. One of which is learning to use screen reading technologies vs the screen enlargement programs I have used up until<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>this point. This became an issue when I was no longer able to access my course material in a timely manner due to formatting issues and the case studies<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>and documents required for me to read were not able to be read with my screen reader. Long story short, I chose to take a leave of absence from my masters<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>classes in order to better learn my technology and to better prepare myself to be able to explain to my professors exactly what I needed them to do so<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I could access their course materials. The accessible instructional materials in higher education act would create a commission of sorts that would provide<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>colleges and universities assistance in accommodating students when they have run out of options themselves. This commission would be comprised of professors,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>technological innovators and persons with a disability to offer firsthand knowledge of how to provide and troubleshoot for accommodations. The majority<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>of the congressmen and senators we spoke with seemed to feel this was a good idea.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The last bill on the docket was Access Technology Affordability Act (S. 732/H.R. 1734). This bill if passed would provide a tax credit amounting to $2,500<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>over the course of 3 years to offset the costs of accessible technology. Jane provided a fantastic visual demonstration for our congressmen and senators<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>with the technology devices she pulled out of her bag to demonstrate to them just how expensive technology can be just to enable us to access the sighted<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>world. Many seemed very receptive to her demonstration.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>There is a lot of work that goes into lobbying on the hill. However, there is some fun to be had too. On Tuesday evening, we had the opportunity to go<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>to The Newseum to watch history unfold. The NFB partnered with photographer John Olson, who is the founder of 3DPhotoWorks, to create tactile images of<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>photographs he had taken as a combat photographer during the Vietnam War. We were able to hear from Mr. Olson himself as well as the Assistant Commandant<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>of the Navy prior to the unveiling of the photos. The pictures were beautiful, not only visually, but tactfully as well. The sensors located in the photos<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>brought the pictures to life, told the story of the photographs; not only describing the photos, but providing the background story as well. It was a moving<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>experience to be able to tactually explore these historic photos that, until this exhibit, were inaccessible to the blind community. I would encourage<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>anyone who has the chance to explore this exhibit to do so.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Before boarding planes to go our separate ways Wednesday evening, the four of us decided to do some sightseeing and decided to go tour the Holocaust Museum.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>This was a bone-chilling, heart wrenching experience from start to finish. Thanks to my KNFB reader I was able to read all displays and informational text<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>that otherwise would have been unavailable to me. It was a somber end to what was otherwise a very busy if not exciting trip to our Nation's Capital.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>A Perspective on DeafBlindness<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Danielle Burton is a former NFB of Kentucky scholarship winner and a national scholarship winner. She currently serves as secretary of the NFB DeafBlind<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Division. She reflects on her transition from a Blind individual to one who considers herself DeafBlind.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Mastering the Skills of DeafBlindness By: Danielle Burton<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>For many of us who have been in and around the National Federation of the Blind for a while, we know that one of the unique things about the Federation<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>is its belief in having mastered the alternative techniques of blindness. These blindness skills such as independent living, cane travel, assistive technology<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>and braille, that are taught in our three training centers, are important skills needed in order to be a successful blind person. However, sometimes blindness<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>skills alone are not enough for us to be able to compete on equal terms with the larger society.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I was born DeafBlind. I currently have no vision and have a mild to moderate hearing loss which causes my hearing to vary from day to day. Back in 2011<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>when I joined the NFB I did not consider myself as DeafBlind. I knew my hearing wasn't normal as I've been fitted with 2 hearing aids my entire life. I<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>simply kept trying to pass as a hearing blind person while struggling over and over to cross streets, use sound for orientation while traveling. Trying<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>to follow people in a group by hearing alone is equally ineffective. With traveling becoming more and more exhausting, I began to realize that relying<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>on blindness skills alone wasn't working. Particularly in the area of communicating with hearing people, sighted or blind where there is background noise.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>After many months of thinking, and evaluating my situation, I came to the decision to learn Tactile American Sign Language or ASL. I attended the Helen<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Keller National Center, located in Sands Point, New York to begin the process of learning ASL. After eight months there, I learned the basics of ASL, its<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>grammar, structure and Deaf culture. I spent time learning from other DeafBlind individuals and practicing with native signers in my spare time as a student<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>at Helen Keller National Center. Upon returning home to Kentucky, I had attained basic ASL communication.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Many people might think that this basic knowledge would be plenty. However, growing up in the Federation has taught me otherwise. I am now attending Eastern<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Kentucky University, double majoring in Deaf studies and Deaf education and am currently enrolled in ASL 101.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The ASL courses offered here are total immersion classrooms. They are similar to how we teach blindness skills to blind students at our training centers.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>In this case you are learning how to communicate without using your hearing. In the classroom you use ASL and written communication with your classmates<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>and your professor.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I have found immersion to be an excellent way to master the skills of DeafBlindness, while signing in the areas designated as sign specific spaces. I do<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>not use my vision or my hearing which allows me to really focus on being able to communicate as a DeafBlind person only. I have found immersion to be challenging<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>and rewarding.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I am slowly beginning to experience the ease of communication that tactile sign language provides. I can chat with friends at gatherings in the dining<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>hall and other areas with background noise with a new level of ease. I don't have to struggle to understand what is being said or sit on the sidelines<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>of the group, not knowing what the conversation is about. Since many of my new friends on campus can sign to some degree, I have been able to interact<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>with them in a way that allows us all to enjoy doing what every college student does while not doing homework, having fun with friends.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>ASL will also play an important part in my role as a student, future teacher, and as an active member of the National Federation of the Blind. By having<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>interpreters to interpret for me in multiple settings, I can now have full access in the classroom, to presentations and meetings like never before. While<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>still in transitions between the worlds of ASL and hearing, I will continue to work toward my goal of mastering ASL. Because I believe in the Federation<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>philosophy, I will master this skill.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>A Letter to Louis Braille<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Lora Felty Stephens serves as secretary of the NFB of Kentucky and as president of the NFB Ashland Chapter. In 2012 she had the opportunity to travel to<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>France to visit the birthplace of Louis Braille. In reflecting upon this experience, she wrote the following letter to Mr. Braille.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Dear Mr. Louis Braille,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I want you to know that you are my hero. That seems a little strange because you lived 200 years ago, far across the Atlantic Ocean in France, but yes,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>you are my hero. I am a literate blind adult. What a precious gift you gave to me, the gift of literacy. Every day I use the special code of raised dots<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>that you created and that bare your name. I read these dots with my fingertips because I too am blind. Because of you I am a teacher, and I teach blind<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>children to grow up and be literate blind adults. Your genius and ingenuity change the world for blind people everywhere! Thank you for being you!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Yes, you are my hero. My lifelong dream was to take a pilgrimage to France to visit your birthplace and to pay my respects at your tomb. In 2012, my dream<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>became a reality. I and three other blind friends traveled to Paris and Coupvray, France.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Coupvray was a lovely little hillside village, and the residents were most friendly and helpful. Your sturdy stone home was welcoming and cozy. I imagined<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>you as a little boy playing there in front of the fireplace while your mother cared for your family. As I walked around the house and up the hill to your<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>father's harness shop, I imagined you as a youngster playing in the yard. In your father's shop I explored the various tools and harnesses like your father<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>used in his trade. I remember the feel of your father's workbench under my fingertips. The wood was so old; it nearly seemed to feel like stone. I thought<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>of you playing there. You would have felt quite big and important as you played with your father's tools and scraps of leather. Then, I thought of your<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>injury: the pain, the tears and the blood after the sharp tool hit your eye. I imagined your parent's distress, as they could do nothing to relieve your<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>pain. I thought of their fear and heartbreak at your loss of vision. But, little did they know the purpose that God had for your life. Through your pain<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>and suffering, you have changed the lives of countless blind persons from all around the world for generations and for many generations to come.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Next, we went into the museum. I enjoyed seeing the different exhibits. I enjoyed seeing the slates. French slates are different from the ones we have<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>in the United States. The one I remember was made from plastic, so it wasn't old. It was narrower than I have seen here. I also remember a tactile globe,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>but the most amazing thing that I saw was your tin cup. This was the tin cup that you used when you were a student at the National Institute for the Blind<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>in Paris. There was a Braille number embossed on the side of the cup to indicate who it belonged to. As I held your cup in my hands, I thought of your<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>hands holding this same cup. I was amazed and honored.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Back in Paris, I visited your tomb at the Pantheon. I know that you were originally buried in your hometown of Coupvray, but in 1952, your remains were<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>brought to Paris to be entombed in a place of honor among France's notable figures. The guides at the Pantheon were so accommodating. They opened the gate<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>that blocked the entrance to your tomb. We were allowed to go inside and stand beside your tomb. I reached up to touch your tomb...I had to reach high,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>but with my fingertips, I could touch the metal plate embossed with your name. As I read your name, tears began to stream down my face. As I cried, I thought<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>of you, your life and the hardships you faced. I thought of your genius, your persistence and your courage. You made the most profound impact on my life.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>On the display just outside your tomb, there was a raised-line replica of your signature. As I traced your signature with my fingertips, I imagined you<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>writing your name with your own hand. I listened to the recording of Helen Keller's speech that she gave on the day your remains were brought from Coupvray<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>to the Pantheon. I spent quite a long time there by your tomb...thinking about you and your legacy. The guides were a bit curious about my emotional reaction<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>to your tomb. They kept checking to see if we were ready to move on, but I needed time to be near you. As I planned my visit to Coupvray and the Pantheon,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I never imagined what an emotional experience I would have. Thank you for being you. Thank you to your parents for their courage and love as they allowed<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>you to attend the National Institute for the Blind, so far away in Paris where you could be educated. Their courage in allowing their young blind son to<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>go so far away from home paved the way for you to invent your Braille Code. Thank you for taking a tragic experience and turning it into something so incredible.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>You lived your life in the fullest way possible in 19th century France. I owe you so much. Thank you for being who you are and for paving the way to make<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>me who I am. You are my hero!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>With all love and respect,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Lora Felty Stephens<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>NFB-NEWSLINE Kentucky News<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Within the last 36 months, NFB-NEWSLINE Kentucky has subscribed over 250 individuals to the service; there are now 2,069 current NFB-NEWSLINE Kentucky<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>subscribers. We are well on our way to reaching the next milestone of 2100 subscribers! Now, this is the point where I want to give some props to a few<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>individuals who make this project exciting and productive. Thanks to our very own Sandra Williams and Charles W. McDowell Center Manager, Steve Deeley<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>for their contributions in consistently bringing new folks to the NFB-NEWSLINE audio reading service through their rehabilitation outreach. Branch manager,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Barbara Penegor and her staff at KTBL are to be commended for their contributions to this project as well. Big thumbs up to KY OFB Independent Living Counselor,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Nancy Harper down in Paducah who is always thinking about NFB-NEWSLINE when she performs her independent living assessments! An honorable mention goes<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>to Iname Shalati for the wonderful referrals that she has made to the service of late. Inam has been a devoted NFB-NEWSLINE subscriber for many years now.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Thank you Inam! Last, but certainly not least, thanks to Ginny Green, Diana Cline, Adam Adkins and Ramazani Mubelela for the crucial roles that you have<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>all played in helping to keep this service running smoothly. It's great to have such a conscientious staff!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>NFB-NEWSLINE Kentucky would like to introduce two new partners in our quest to provide essential outreach efforts as we continue to expand the service<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>in Kentucky. These new partners are 1. Dr. Donna Brostek-Lee, VI Program Faculty Chair, University of Kentucky College of Education and Mary Kay Flege,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Certified Ombudsman with Catholic Charities of Louisville. Dr. Donna Lee, staff and students will be working with us in our outreach efforts within the<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Kentucky Commonwealth as we continue to spread the good news about NFB-NEWSLINE, A Tool of Empowerment. The University of Kentucky VI Program Staff and<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>students being aware of this unique audio reading service can inform their clients and consumers about NFB-NEWSLINE as a valuable resource as an accessible<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>option to independently read the news and information that is important to them. Ombudsman Mary Kay Flege works with long term care patients and has 1,500<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>patients in her jurisdiction. Mary Kay feels confident that she can bring a ray of hope to some of these patients with a print impairment who just want<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>to be able to read their news. NFB-NEWSLINE Kentucky is fortunate to have both of these institutions/organizations working with us on the NEWSLINE project.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>NFB-NEWSLINE has and continues to be an awesome tool in allowing those who have print impairments to gain free and independent access to current news and<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>information 24-7.!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The NFB-NEWSLINE Kentucky team has also been busy with outreach events this year. Allow me to briefly summarize those events since our last update:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>list of 5 items nesting level 1<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>◦ The NFB-NEWSLINE Kentucky team ran a vendor table at the 2017 NFB Kentucky Technology and Business Symposium, which took place on Friday, September 22nd<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>from 11:30 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. This time was designated during the symposium for vendors to interact with participants.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>◦ On Tuesday, September 26th, Todd was invited to the 2nd Annual Senior Summit: Reflect Today, Reshape Tomorrow, hosted by the Attorney General's Office<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>of Senior Protection where there were 95 in attendance. Todd presented a NFB-NEWSLINE PowerPoint entitled, NFB-NEWSLINE - A Tool of Empowerment. This PowerPoint<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>presentation overviewed the service and service features consisting of the four C's of NFB-NEWSLINE (as defined by Todd): Content, Convenience, Compliance,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>and Clarity. The Senior Summit was held on Tuesday, September 26th from 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>◦ On October 19, 2017, Todd Attended the Ashland Coalition Meeting entitled, Celebrating National Disability Employment Awareness Month at the Boyd County<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Library in Ashland, Ky. These types of events provide NFB-NEWSLINE the opportunity to reach those individuals who have print disabilities that may or may<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>not include visual disabilities.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>◦ November events - the NFB-NEWSLINE Kentucky team participated in the Charles W. McDowell Rehabilitation Center outreach in Louisville on November 1st<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>and the annual ENVISIONING the Future Day for Northeastern middle and high school visually impaired/blind students. This event took place on November 15th<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>in Ashland.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>◦ December events - the NFB-NEWSLINE Kentucky team participated in the Kentucky Assistive Technology Services (KATS) Network Council meeting in Louisville<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>at the Charles W. McDowell Rehabilitation center on Friday, December 15th. Todd was provided the opportunity to address the council members and guests<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>that were in attendance.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>list end nesting level 1<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Thank you for your time and be sure to visit us and give us a Like on Facebook at: <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>NFB NEWSLINE-KY Standard,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>or on Facebook Mobile at: <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>NFB NEWSLINE-KY Mobile.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> You can also follow us on Twitter at: <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>NFB NEWSLINE-KY Twitter<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Todd E. Stephens, State Coordinator<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>NFB-NEWSLINE Kentucky<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Chapter and Division News<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Ashland Update<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>2017 was a great year for the NFB of Ashland, and 2018 promises to be even better. We are pleased to welcome several new members to our chapter, with our<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>membership growing to 16 members, which is a record for our "little" chapter. Since several members of our chapter must travel for over an hour to attend<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>meetings, we decided that bi-monthly meetings on Saturdays work best for our members. We held our first meeting of 2018 on February 10 at the home of Michael<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Freholm. At our February meeting we held election of officers with the results as follows: Lora Felty Stephens was re-elected as president, Michael Freholm<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>as vice-president. Todd Stephens was elected secretary, and Diana Cline was elected as treasurer. At our February meeting we lined out some initial plans<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>for 2018, with the group beginning plans for a community outreach event to be held during Meet the Blind Month in October. We hope to turn this event into<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>a Pre-ETS event and invite several young people to participate and learn about the NFB and how we are helping blind individuals to "live the lives we want."<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>as a way of helping to pull our chapter together, during our April meeting we are going to spend some time learning about the Federation and helping each<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>other with technology issues. Plans for June include a Walk-A-Thon, which we hope to use as a fund raiser to help make money to get our members to state<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>convention. Our annual picnic is scheduled for Saturday, August 11 at Armco Park in Ashland. We are excited that our chapter is growing, and we hope to<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>reach out and make an impact on our community.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Lora Felty Stephens, President<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Frankfort Update<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>On February 1, our chapter had a very special guest. He was a captain on the Frankfurt police force. His name was Chris choir. He came to talk to us about<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>home security. He let us know how to sign up for Smart 911. Also, Frankfort is the second city in Kentucky to have 911 texting. He said mostly domestic<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>cases use that feature, but it is a very handy thing to have. We are very proud of our city for that. A bunch of us are going to sign up for citizens Academy.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I believe they're having the Academy in late April or early May. It sounds like a lot of fun. I would tell more about it now, but I don't know that much.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>In the next cardinal, I will give a full report. All I know is that you learn what the police do in an Academy, and plus you get to have dinner. It sounds<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>like a lot of fun. I'm also very interested to know how law enforcement in our city of Frankfort works. We have been planning to have a social, but weather<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>has not permitted us to do it yet. Hopefully we will be having one pretty soon.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Karen Mayne,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>president<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>NFB of Greater Louisville Update<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>This winter has been a cold one, but as usual we are pushing forward and making the best of it. I've said it before and I'll say it again, this chapter<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>and the friends of this chapter are extraordinary when it comes to giving and charity. For our Holiday giving project, we decided to collect gift cards<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>for our fellow Federationists who had suffered great damage during the hurricanes last fall. We collected $565 worth of gift cards that would be distributed<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>to Federation families in Texas, Florida and Puerto Rico. I know these families were grateful for the financial help getting their homes and lives back<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>in order. Thank you to all of you who gave to this project.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Social media has changed the world and most of the time we have a negative view of these new platforms, but when social media can bridge a gap in a positive<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>way, it's awesome.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>In January, a few of us Gl members got together and did a Facebook live video of some easy and low impact workouts that everyone can do. Using household<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>items to create weight or elastic bands, it just shows with a little imagination, you can overcome obstacles. We received lots of positive feedback on<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>that video and comments from friends wanting more.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Our first movie night was a success! We got together at our meeting spot and watched the audio described version of 23 Blast. 23 Blast is a story of a<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>young high school football player from Corbin Kentucky. After an illness he wakes up totally blind. Thinking his life was over and struggling to cope with<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>his new reality, a strong willed and out of the box type of O&M Instructor shows him differently. With the desire for the game and some imagination, he<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>heads back onto the grid iron. I encourage everyone to watch this movie. We can all relate to the struggles and triumph in this movie.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The next couple of months are going to be some fun ones around here. On Saturday March 10th we will be hosting our annual Chili Supper and Auction. Check<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>our social media for more info.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>In April is our April Luncheon. We'll be presenting our first Mittie Lake Academic Scholarship to a well deserving high school student. Stay tuned to our<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>social media for more information on this event as well.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Nickie Pearl,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>President<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Sports and Recreation Division Update<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The Sports and Recreation Division hopes you're keeping warm this winter. To help you stay active, even if it's cold outside, please join us via social<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>media as we post stories of inspiration, notices of events, and most importantly, workout and inspirational live videos uploaded by our members. It may<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>be cold outside but we are staying warmed up on Facebook. Don't miss out!!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Jayne Seif,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>President<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>NFB Technology Assistance Division (TAD) Update<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Let me begin by introducing the board members for NFB Kentucky TAD for 2017 and 2018. Todd Stephens - President, Sandra Williams, Vice-President, Hellena<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Emery - Treasury, Angela Dehart - Secretary, Scott Spaulding - Communications Manager, Danielle Burton - Program manager, and Avery Baggett - Board Member.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Nickie Pearl, Cindy Sheets, Jennifer Hall, Ryan Harvey, Ramazani Mubelela, and Justin Reagan all serve on this board as TAD Consultants under a presidential<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>appointment.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I want to take this opportunity to express my appreciation and to give Danielle Burton a resounding round of applause for developing an awesome instructional<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Braille program. Danielle instructed 10 middle and high school aged students From the Kentucky School for the Blind (KSB). Danielle Burton, Gena Burton,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Cathy Jackson and Todd Stephens were present for this training at KSB. We all witnessed Danielle at her best as she did a wonderful job of multi-tasking<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>effectively between ten students to provide a great learning experience for those who participated in this training. Ringing endorsements were showered<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>down upon Danielle and rightfully so! This specialized training focused on the instruction of the Braille Note Touch Note Taker for ten KSB students, which<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>included six Pre-Employment Transition Students (Pre-ETS) on the KSB campus on December 6, 2017 from 11:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>TAD has gotten off to an early start to planning for the 2018 NFBK TAD Symposium. What I can tell you is that it will not follow the format of the prior<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>symposiums, nor will it be a full day event due to the expansion of our two new NFBK Divisions. With this said, you will not be disappointed. At present,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>we are in communication with several community partners to bring something very special to the table for you on October 12th at the Hilton Garden Inn Northeast<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>in Louisville. It will also be a morning event, so put this on your calendar and stay tuned for further details in the near future.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Thank you for your time and be sure to visit us on our website at:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>NFB Kentucky TAD<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> and on Facebook at: <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>NFBKentucky TAD Facebook.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Todd Stephens,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>President<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>NFB of Kentucky Technology Assistance Division (TAD)<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Have You Heard?<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>As the seasons change from winter and we begin to look toward springtime sunshine, Our NFBK members are embarking on new adventures in their lives.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Danielle Burton of the Ashland Chapter completed her training at the Helen Keller Center for the Deaf-Blind in New York in November, and is now well into<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>her first semester at Eastern Kentucky University where she has begun the next chapter in her life as she embarks on a degree in Deaf Studies and Deaf<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Education. After completing her studies at EKU, she hopes to get her master's degree at the University of Kentucky in Blindness Education. She hopes to<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>help others to understand the difficulties encountered by individuals who live with dual sensory deficits.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Wedding bells are in the air...Angela Dehart is engaged to Ben Henderson. They plan to be married on September 22, 2018 at Meade Memorial Methodist Church<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>in Russell, Kentucky. Angela is excited to be getting married in the church where she grew up, and she is looking forward to a long and happy life with<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Ben.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Wesli Freholm, a junior at Raceland High School and daughter of Michael and Kennetta Freholm was selected to participate in the All-State Choir in Louisville<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>this February. Wesli gave an amazingly soulful solo performance as a part of the choir performance. Both Michael and Kennetta are very proud of her accomplishments.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Todd Stephens received his certification as a blind vendor in the Kentucky Business enterprise Program. Since there aren't many vending opportunities in<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>eastern Kentucky, he hopes to secure a stand the he can commute to for a few years until Lora retires and they can relocate. He is looking forward to beginning<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>his new career as a blind vendor.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Todd and Lora Stephens had the opportunity to participate in the 86th NFB Leadership Seminar held at the Jernigan Institute in Baltimore, MD during the<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>first weekend of March. They had a wonderful experience and came away rejuvenated and ready to jump right in and continue helping others to learn that<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>they can live the lives they want.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Jayne Seif will be traveling to the Jernigan institute during the third weekend of March to participate in the BELL Academy training, as she will once<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>again coordinate the Kentucky BELL Academy this summer that will be held at the American Printing House for the Blind during the last week of July. She<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>will certainly come back with new ideas and enthusiasm to share for the 2018 BELL Academy.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Our condolences go out to Dennis Franklin and his family upon the loss of his mother, Thelma. She was a fighter, and now she is at peace. Our thoughts<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>and prayers go out to the Franklin family as they grieve the loss of a dear mother.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Cook's Nook<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The following recipes come to us from the kitchen of Diana Cline. Diana serves as treasurer of the Ashland Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>of Kentucky. Diana is a wonderful cook, and the Ashland Chapter members always look forward to what delicious items Diana brings to pot luck meals or just<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>for a surprise treat at chapter meetings.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Old Fashioned Ghoulish<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>2 lbs. ground beef<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>2 tsp. minced garlic<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>1 Onion, chopped<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>2 1/2 c. water<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>1/2 c. beef broth<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>2 14 oz. cans tomato sauce<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>30 oz. diced tomatoes<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>1 tsp. Italian seasoning<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>1 tsp. adobo seasoning or chili powder<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>1 tsp. seasoned salt<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>1/2 tsp. pepper<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>2 c elbow noodles.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Brown beef and onion until it is half done. Add garlic and cook until completely browned. Add all other ingredients except elbow noodles and cook for 20<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>minutes. Add noodles and cook until done.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Serve with a salad, and this will make a hearty meal for a cold winter evening.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>RAVE REVIEWS CAKE<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>1 yellow cake mix<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>1 small box vanilla instant Pudding<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>2 c. Coconut<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>1 1/2 c. Water<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>1/4 c. Oil<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>4 eggs<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>1/2 c. Chopped pecans<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Blend dry cake mix, oil, water and eggs together in a large bowl. Beat with a mixer on medium speed for 4 minutes. Stir in coconut. Spray nonstick spray<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>in three round cake pans. Divide cake mixture evenly into the three pans. Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Coconut Cream Cheese Icing<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>1 8 oz. Package cream cheese<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>4 Tbsp. Butter<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>3 1/2 c. Powdered sugar<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>2 c. Coconut<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>2 Tbsp. Milk<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>1/2 tsp. vanilla<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Melt 2 Tbsp. butter. Add 1/4 c. Coconut. Cook on low heat until browned. Set aside. Cream 2 Tbsp. butter with cream cheese. Add milk and beat in sugar.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Stir in vanilla and coconut. Ice cake and sprinkle top with remaining coconut and chopped pecans.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>This cake is sure to get "Rave Reviews from anyone who loves the rich flavor of coconut.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Danielle Burton is a member of the Ashland Chapter of the NFB. She serves as secretary of the national DeafBlind Division and as the vice-president of<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>the Kentucky NAPUB Division. She shares this delicious Corn Bread Casserole that would go great alongside Diana's Goulash.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Corn Bread Casserole<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Ingredients<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>2 boxes Jiffy corn bread mix<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>1 stick melted butter<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>1 can cream corn<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>1 can whole kernel corn, drained<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>1 16 oz. sour cream<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>1 egg<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl combine all of the ingredients and mix well. Spray a '9x12 Baking pan with cooking spray. Pour mixture into<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>baking pan. Bake for one hour. Enjoy hot out of the oven, or this even keeps well and is good cold.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>-----<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>National Federation Of The Blind Of Kentucky<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Officers And Board Of Directors<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Executive Officers:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Cathy Jackson, President<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>210 Cambridge Dr.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Louisville, KY 40214<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>(502) 366-2317<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Cathy.Jackson@nfbofky.org<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Katie Adkins, First-Vice President<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>412 Clair Lane<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Louisville, KY 40206<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>(502) 533-5933<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Katie@nfbofky.org<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Michael K. Freholm<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>1510 Chestnut Drive<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Ashland, KY 41101<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>(859) 608-2470<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Michael@nfbofky.org<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Lora Felty Stephens, Secretary<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>1127 Sharon Ct.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Ashland, KY 41101<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>(606) 324-3394<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Lora@nfbofky.org<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>J. Mike Freholm, Treasurer<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>2012 Harris Way<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Russell, KY 41169<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>(606) 839-0577<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Mike@nfbofky.org<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Board of Directors:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Nickie Jackson Pearl<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>1014 Camden Avenue.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Louisville, KY 40215<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>(502) 489-4457<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Nickie@nfbofky.org<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Jayne Seif<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>4805 S Forth St<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Louisville, KY 40214<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>(502) 500-7576<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Jayne@nfbofky.org<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Angela Dehart<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>427 Wallace Ave. Apt 1<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Covington, KY 41014<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>(606) 694-5096<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Angela@nfbofky.org<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>George Stokes<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>202 Manor House Ln.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Frankfort, KY 40601<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>(502) 875-3111<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>George@nfbofky.org<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Todd Stephens<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>1127 Sharon Ct.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Ashland, KY 41101<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>(859) 433-5023<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Todd@nfbofky.org<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>-----<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>list end<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The age of the National Federation of the Blind is 78 years, 1 month, and 29 days.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>© 2009-2018 National Federation of the Blind All Rights Reserved<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Webmaster <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Privacy Policy<o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>