<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;" class=""><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" class=""><div style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;" class=""><div dir="auto" style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;" class=""><div dir="auto" style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;" class=""><div dir="auto" style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;" class=""><div dir="auto" style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;" class=""><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" class=""><span style="font-size: 36pt; line-height: 51.36000061035156px; font-family: Algerian; color: rgb(0, 176, 240);" class=""> </span><br class="webkit-block-placeholder"></div><p class="ydpe0da8fe8MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 51.36000061035156px; font-family: Algerian; color: rgb(0, 176, 240);" class=""> <font size="5" class=""> The National Federation of the Blind of Arkansas</font></span></p><p class="ydpe0da8fe8MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><font size="5" class=""><span style="color: rgb(0, 176, 240); font-family: Algerian;" class=""> </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 176, 240); font-family: Algerian;" class=""> </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 176, 240); font-family: Algerian;" class=""> </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 176, 240); font-family: Algerian;" class="">Live the Life you want</span></font></p><p class="ydpe0da8fe8MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 31.386667251586914px; font-family: Algerian;" class="">Written By: Tawnya Philpot </span></p><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;" class=""><span style="line-height: 31.386667251586914px; font-family: Algerian;" class=""> </span><span style="font-family: "Amasis MT Pro Medium", serif;" class="">This is going to be the second edition of the newsletter. I hope everyone enjoyed the first edition. I hope there will be more to come.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin-left: 0.5in;" class=""><span style="line-height: 31.386667251586914px; font-family: "Amasis MT Pro Medium", serif;" class=""> </span><span style="font-family: "Amasis MT Pro Medium", serif;" class=""> To start, we want to give a big thank you to all our mothers for what they have done and for what they do for us. You never quit being a mother. Being a disabled mother makes that job three times harder if you are a single disabled mother; well, let us say it makes it a lot harder; I speak from experience. </span></div><p class="ydpe0da8fe8MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 31.386667251586914px; font-family: "Amasis MT Pro Medium", serif;" class=""> So, to our mothers who have been and our mothers yet to come and those who still are here with us.</span><span style="font-family: "Amasis MT Pro Medium", serif;" class=""> Birth is the most painful joyful, and amazing thing you will ever experience.</span><span style="font-family: "Amasis MT Pro Medium", serif;" class=""> But holding that baby and realizing that baby depends on you for everything. Yes, it can be a scary feeling, but God gives us that know-how. And do not feel bad if you need help learning. </span><span style="font-family: "Amasis MT Pro Medium", serif;" class=""> Here is what a mother does for no pay and a lot of time for no thanks. </span></p><p class="ydpe0da8fe8MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 31.386667251586914px; font-family: "Amasis MT Pro Medium", serif;" class=""> She is a teacher,</span><span style="font-family: "Amasis MT Pro Medium", serif;" class=""> a doctor, a cook, a taxi driver, a lawyer, an accountant, a maid, a decorateeer, and a minister to her children. </span></p><p class="ydpe0da8fe8MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Amasis MT Pro Medium", serif;" class=""> </span><span style="font-family: "Amasis MT Pro Medium", serif;" class="">Our mothers Have hidden wings; I like to think. Hug your mom or say I Love you this Mother’s Day. It will mean the world to her. Written by Tawnya Philpot</span></p><div class=""><br class=""></div><div style="text-align: left; margin-left: 0.5in;" class=""><span style="font-family: "Amasis MT Pro Medium", serif; text-align: justify;" class=""><b class="">Birthdays: </b>Shelley Keeland Central, Freddie Wilkey Belated April Birthday Wishes!</span></div><p class="ydpe0da8fe8MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 31.386667251586914px; font-family: "Amasis MT Pro Medium", serif;" class="">May birthdays Tony Sheeler NWA, Kalon Reece ARKABS, Bettye Johnson Central, Joyce Parker River Valley. Happy birthday to all of yawl. Congratulations to anyone with a family member that is graduating.</span></p><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin-left: 0.5in;" class=""><span style="line-height: 31.386667251586914px; font-family: "Amasis MT Pro Medium", serif;" class=""> There was</span><span style="font-family: "Amasis MT Pro Medium", serif;" class=""> a president’s meeting last week, and they went over the steps to be taken for membership. . We have a few more meetings for this month. The Presidential release was last Monday. They did it from New Orleans. It was fascinating to watch what the convention is going to be like this year.</span></div><p class="ydpe0da8fe8MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 31.386667251586914px; font-family: "Amasis MT Pro Medium", serif;" class=""> We had a great board meeting on the 10<sup class="">th</sup> of May 2022. There was discussion on several different topics for the new year. This was our first meeting since the State Convention. I want to say that our President and this board are on the ball for the new year. We are all excited here in Arkansas. </span></p><div class=""><br class=""></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin-left: 0.5in;" class=""><span style="line-height: 31.386667251586914px; font-family: "Amasis MT Pro Medium", serif;" class=""> </span></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin-left: 0.5in;" class=""><span style="font-family: "Amasis MT Pro Medium", serif;" class=""> I did an interview with my husband, Brent Philpot, and asked some questions about his story of how he became Blind and how it has changed his life as a kid and adult. </span></div><p class="ydpe0da8fe8MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 31.386667251586914px; font-family: "Amasis MT Pro Medium", serif;" class=""> I am calling it the Interview with a Blind man.</span></p><p class="ydpe0da8fe8MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 31.386667251586914px; font-family: "Amasis MT Pro Medium", serif;" class="">First, let me tell you a little about Brent Philpot. He is the 1<sup class="">st </sup>Vice President of the National Federation of the Blind of Arkansas. He has accomplished many things that we will discuss in this interview.</span></p><p class="ydpe0da8fe8MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 31.386667251586914px; font-family: "Amasis MT Pro Medium", serif;" class=""> I asked Mr. Philpot how he lost his sight at such an early age? </span></p><p class="ydpe0da8fe8MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 31.386667251586914px; font-family: "Amasis MT Pro Medium", serif;" class=""> He started with it as a traumatic accident that caused my blindness. I was run over by a delivery truck at six years old. I was in a coma for 3weeks. However, when I came out, it was scary; I was hooked up to machines. I came out of the coma on Easter Sunday. My mom found me listening to the Kiss tapes she had left me. It is my favorite band to this day. </span></p><p class="ydpe0da8fe8MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 31.386667251586914px; font-family: "Amasis MT Pro Medium", serif;" class=""> I asked What was it like going to a new school and learning in a whole unique way? </span></p><p class="ydpe0da8fe8MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 31.386667251586914px; font-family: "Amasis MT Pro Medium", serif;" class=""> When I was coming out of the coma and doing physical therapy, my mom realized that I would need specialized schooling, so we moved to Little Rock, AR, and went to the Arkansas School for the Blind. As far as I was concerned at the time, I was just making more friends. </span></p><p class="ydpe0da8fe8MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 31.386667251586914px; font-family: "Amasis MT Pro Medium", serif;" class=""> Next, I asked Mr. Philpot what teacher had a significant impact on his life in school? </span></p><p class="ydpe0da8fe8MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 31.386667251586914px; font-family: "Amasis MT Pro Medium", serif;" class=""> From kindergarten to first grade, I still had problems reading the braille alphabet. So, Mrs. Ogburn took the summer before I went into first grade to tutor me in Braille. She would have been the teacher that influenced me the most.</span></p><p class="ydpe0da8fe8MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 31.386667251586914px; font-family: "Amasis MT Pro Medium", serif;" class=""> What were your high school and college years like? </span></p><p class="ydpe0da8fe8MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 31.386667251586914px; font-family: "Amasis MT Pro Medium", serif;" class=""> It was a new adventure every day. I did musical theater and participated in the junior high and high school bands. I also ran track and was on the cheerleading team during this time and much more. </span></p><p class="ydpe0da8fe8MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 31.386667251586914px; font-family: "Amasis MT Pro Medium", serif;" class=""> I asked Mr. Philpot, what would you tell kids that just became blind or visually impaired?</span></p><p class="ydpe0da8fe8MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 31.386667251586914px; font-family: "Amasis MT Pro Medium", serif;" class=""> First, follow good influences; follow what your teachers, instructors and parents tell you to do.</span></p><p class="ydpe0da8fe8MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 31.386667251586914px; font-family: "Amasis MT Pro Medium", serif;" class=""> What was college like the first two years? </span></p><p class="ydpe0da8fe8MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 31.386667251586914px; font-family: "Amasis MT Pro Medium", serif;" class=""> The first two years were an eye-opening experience. </span></p><p class="ydpe0da8fe8MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 31.386667251586914px; font-family: "Amasis MT Pro Medium", serif;" class=""> Why was it an eye-opening experience?</span></p><p class="ydpe0da8fe8MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 31.386667251586914px; font-family: "Amasis MT Pro Medium", serif;" class=""> Going from the Arkansas School for the Blind to a public college was an eye-opening experience. Yes, we had small variants of races and religions at the school for the blind, but at UCA, the variants were vast. I also had to change the way I learned. Going from braille books to readers and audiobooks. </span></p><p class="ydpe0da8fe8MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 31.386667251586914px; font-family: "Amasis MT Pro Medium", serif;" class=""> What are the next steps in the next phase of your life?</span></p><p class="ydpe0da8fe8MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 31.386667251586914px; font-family: "Amasis MT Pro Medium", serif;" class=""> I have always worked until C</span><span style="font-family: "Amasis MT Pro Medium", serif;" class="">ovid-19 happened, but I was already looking for another job. I have a lot of experience advocating for the National Federation of the Blind, and I am the first vice president of the Arkansas affiliate. My wife and I would like to be able to travel more. We hope to, at some point, be grandparents. </span></p><p class="ydpe0da8fe8MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 31.386667251586914px; font-family: "Amasis MT Pro Medium", serif;" class=""> Did you have employment, and what types? </span></p><p class="ydpe0da8fe8MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 31.386667251586914px; font-family: "Amasis MT Pro Medium", serif;" class=""> I have worked since I was 14 years old. I have been everything from a maintenance man to a Liberian, and I was an instructor. One summer, I was even a lifeguard title only I helped the lifeguards set up and get their drink water, so they did not have to leave the stand and other things like that. I also worked at the vending facility program.</span></p><p class="ydpe0da8fe8MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 31.386667251586914px; font-family: "Amasis MT Pro Medium", serif;" class=""> How would you like to close this interview, and do you have anything to say to today's youth being our future of tomorrow? </span></p><p class="ydpe0da8fe8MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 31.386667251586914px; font-family: "Amasis MT Pro Medium", serif;" class=""> Thank you very much for this opportunity and for the youth to study what we have done and try to do better for tomorrow’s youth. And anything you want to accomplish, you can do with hard work and patience.</span></p><p class="ydpe0da8fe8MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 31.386667251586914px; font-family: "Amasis MT Pro Medium", serif;" class=""> I hope everyone has enjoyed reading about Mr. Brent Philpot. If you would like more information, you can contact him at </span><a href="mailto:bphilpot@nfbar.org" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" class=""><span style="line-height: 31.386667251586914px; font-family: "Amasis MT Pro Medium", serif;" class="">bphilpot@nfbar.org</span></a><span style="line-height: 31.386667251586914px; font-family: "Amasis MT Pro Medium", serif;" class="">. If you are interested in telling your story, you can contact me at </span><span style="line-height: 31.386667251586914px; font-family: "Amasis MT Pro Medium", serif;" class=""><a href="mailto:philpot.tawnya@yahoo.com" class="">philpot.tawnya@yahoo.com</a>.</span></p><div style="text-align: left; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin-left: 0.5in;" class=""><span style="line-height: 31.386667251586914px; font-family: "Amasis MT Pro Medium", serif;" class=""></span></div><div style="text-align: left; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin-left: 0.5in;" class=""><span style="line-height: 31.386667251586914px; font-family: "Amasis MT Pro Medium", serif;" class=""> </span><br class="webkit-block-placeholder"></div><p class="ydpe0da8fe8MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 31.386667251586914px; font-family: "Amasis MT Pro Medium", serif;" class="">The Central Arkansas Chapter meeting speaker was Sydney Washington with the Tap program. A special thanks to her for joining us. We appreciate NFBCAC Vice President Ginger Robertson for making arrangements.</span></p><p class="ydpe0da8fe8MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 31.386667251586914px; font-family: "Amasis MT Pro Medium", serif;" class="">We want to congratulate Joshua Goolsby and His wife on the birth of their daughter. We also want to welcome Melanie Thornton as a new member of the National Federation of the Blind Central Arkansas chapter at the last meeting. </span></p><p class="ydpe0da8fe8MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 31.386667251586914px; font-family: "Amasis MT Pro Medium", serif;" class="">Our next Chapter meeting will be on June 11, 2022, at 11:00 am. The Next affiliate meeting is June 14<sup class="">th</sup>, 2022, at 7:00 pm. . I hope you have a good Memorial Day weekend and stay safe. Let us bring in the Summer with Positive thoughts.</span></p><p class="ydpe0da8fe8MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin-left: 0.5in;"><span style="line-height: 31.386667251586914px; font-family: "Amasis MT Pro Medium", serif;" class="">Written By Tawnya Philpot</span></p><div class=""><div style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration: none;" class="">Nena Chadwick, President</div><div style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration: none;" class="">National Federation of the Blind of Arkansas</div><div style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration: none;" class="">Phone: 479-435-8348</div><div style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration: none;" class=""><a href="mailto:nchadwick@nfbar.org" class="">Email: nchadwick@nfbar.org</a></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration: none;" class="">Website: <a href="http://www.nfbar.org/" class="">www.nfbar.org</a></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration: none;" class=""><br class=""></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration: none;" class="">Live the life you want.</div>
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