[Nfb-editors] Alaska February 2011 Newsletter

Fri Feb 18 19:23:10 UTC 2011

Bill Packee, State President and Editor sends this newsletter for us to have
a sample of what Alaska is doing:

Description: NFBHome_Logo.gif

State of Alaska

Newsletter

February 2011

>From My Desk:

          As I write this Newsletter to all of you, we, the NFB, are on the
verge of creating history through the successful completion of the NFB Blind
Driver Challenge here in Daytona Florida. The stage is set, the cameras are
ready, our NFB brothers and sisters are all here, we will have perfect
weather conditions, and all we need now is a driver and we’re all set to go.

          There will be a gathering tonight, Friday night, to catch the
attendees up to speed with the latest news, and information about the
Challenge, which is slated to start Saturday morning at 730am Alaska Time,
followed by a news conference from the speedway starting at 830am Alaska
time. (The Rolex 24 race itself will start at 1130am Alaska Time, and will
be broadcast live on the Speed cable channel (channel 41 on the GCI cable
system)). The news conference will be covered by both national, local, and
Alaska local. What? Alaska local? Yes, KTUU, Anchorage, has contacted me
through a press release I sent them on the event, and they said that they
wanted to cover the event as well, so keep an eye out for that, as well as
other Alaska TV and Alaska newspapers covering the event. Excited yet? How
about receiving updates as things happen? You can follow the Alaska
attendees via Face book, and Twitter, OR you can CALL ME UP! Yes, give me a
call during the event, and I’ll let you know what is happening. I have one
line in, so if you can’t get through, I’m on the line with someone else. You
can call me directly, you do not need to dial 907, but just dial 888-8322,
and it’s a local number and call. Be part of the Blind Driver Challenge,
even from Alaska!

          But, the Blind Driver Challenge is but only one of the events in
the coming week. Starting the 31st, the NFB will be holding the 2011
Washington Seminar from Washington, DC, and Capitol Hill. The Great
Gathering, the opening session of the Seminar will be held at 5pm local time
(1pm Alaska time) where the estimated 500 attendees from all 50 states, DC
and Puerto Rico will gather to get the latest on the legislative initiatives
we, the NFB, will present to the Congressmen and Senators on Capitol Hill.
Our Alaska delegation will be meeting with an Aide from Congressman Young at
2pm on the 1st of February, and Senator Murkowski at 330pm that same day. On
February 2nd, we will meet with Senator Begich at his office at 4pm.

The three initiatives we will present are:

1)   A Technology Bill of Rights for the Blind

2)   Ensuring Equal Education for Blind Children: Setting Standards that
Promote Excellence

3)   Americans with Disabilities Business Opportunity Act

Each of these initiatives is explained further on the NFB website at:
www.nfb.org, and go to Washington Seminar.

A couple of days before the Washington Seminar, also at the Holiday Inn
Capitol, the Parents of Blind Children Division will be holding an
information meeting and training for State leaders who want to bring this
Division to their States. Pamela Gebert will be attending this training
session for Alaska, gathering great ideas, information and other tidbits to
start up a Parents of Blind Children Division here in Alaska. Thank you
Pamela! More information on this will be coming.

          Anchorage Chapter Elections were held on Friday January 21st. At
the count that I had while listening in, I had 26 people attending! That is
a great turnout, thanks for coming out and participating and making a
difference in our Chapter!

Election results:

          Chapter President: Bonnie Lucas

          First Vice President: Terrence van Ettinger

          Second Vice President: Lorelei

          Treasurer: Warren Lucas

          Secretary: Charlie Roggie

          Anchorage State Board Member: Pamela Gebert

Congratulations to you all!

Article of the Month:

This month’s article is a list and description of the Legislations
(initiatives) for the 2011 Washington Seminar.

Legislative Agenda of Blind Americans:

Priorities for the 112th Congress, FIRST Session

The National Federation of the Blind (NFB) is the oldest and largest
organization of blind people in the United States.  As the Voice of the
Nation’s Blind, we represent the collective views of blind people throughout
society.  All of our leaders and the vast majority of our members are blind,
but anyone can participate in our movement.  There are an estimated 1.3
million blind people in the United States, and every year approximately
75,000 Americans become blind.  The social and economic consequences of
blindness affect not only blind people, but also our families, our friends,
and our coworkers.  

Three legislative initiatives demand the immediate attention of the 112th
Congress in its first session.  

Initiative 1

We urge Congress to work with blind Americans to create a Technology Bill of
Rights for the Blind which mandates that consumer electronics, home
appliances, kiosks, and electronic office technology and software provide
user interfaces that are accessible through nonvisual means.  

This legislation should:  

*	Mandate that all consumer electronics, home appliances, kiosks, and
electronic office technology and software be designed so that blind people
are able to access the same functions as sighted people by nonvisual means
and with substantially equivalent ease of use.  
*	Create a commission within the Department of Commerce to establish
standards for nonvisual accessibility of electronic devices intended for use
in the home or office.  Such a commission should represent all stakeholders,
including:  

-       organizations of the blind; 

-       manufacturers of consumer electronics, home appliances, kiosks, and
electronic office technology and software, or associations representing such
manufacturers; and 

-       experts on universal design, electronic engineering, and related
fields.  

Establish within the Department of Justice the authority to enforce the
regulations promulgated by the commission established by this legislation.  

*	Authorize the commission to reexamine and rewrite standards
periodically as consumer electronic technology continues to evolve.  

Initiative 2

We urge Congress to work with blind Americans to establish a commission
within the Department of Education to set uniform national standards for the
education of blind students in grades K–12.  The Individuals with
Disabilities Education Act and other existing laws and regulations do not
currently provide objective standards to measure the educational progress of
blind students.  

This legislation should:  

·        Create a commission within the Department of Education, comprised
to ensure representation of all stakeholders, to set educational standards
for blind children, and to promulgate regulations.  

Initiative 3

We urge Congress to increase business opportunities for disabled Americans
by enacting the Americans with Disabilities Business Opportunity Act.  

This legislation should:  

·        Authorize tax credits to for-profit businesses that purchase goods
or services from businesses owned by individuals with disabilities
(including from businesses operated under the federal Randolph-Sheppard
program), 

·        Amend Section 8(a) of the Small Business Act to include people with
disabilities as presumptively socially disadvantaged, 

·        Change federal procurement law to provide that businesses owned by
individuals with disabilities (including businesses operated under the
federal Randolph-Sheppard program) are included on the list of preferred
small businesses to which subcontracts must be awarded, and 

·        Create training and technical assistance programs to prepare
individuals with disabilities to operate businesses capable of securing
federal and private contracts.  

Recipe of the Month:

Thank you again Dana!

Dana’s Very Chocolate Saucepan Brownies

1 stick butter

2 ounces of unsweetened baking chocolate

2 ounces of semi-sweet baking chocolate

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 cup granulated sugar (or Splenda)

3 large eggs

¾ cups flour

¼ teaspoon baking powder

¼ teaspoon salt

½ cups chopped walnuts (optional)

1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (optional)

Heat oven to 325 degrees.  Grease and flour an 8-inch square baking pan.

Melt butter and the 4 ounces of baking chocolate over medium heat.  Watch
carefully so it doesn’t burn.  Cool.  With a whisk, beat in the vanilla and
sugar.  Whisk in eggs, one at a time, until well blended.  Combine flour,
baking powder and salt.  Add to chocolate mixture and mix until well
blended.  Add nuts and chocolate chips as desired.  Spoon the mixture into
the baking pan and bake for about 25 to 30 minutes or until set in center.
Cool and enjoy.

Makes 16 small brownies, 12 medium ones, and 9 very large brownies.

Hint:  for Valentine’s Day bake individual brownies in a heart muffin pan.
Frost with a chocolate frosting of your choice.  Top with red cinnamon
candies.

Upcoming Events:

January 29: Blind Driver Challenge (Daytona Beach)

January 31 through February 3: 2011 Washington Seminar

February 18: Midnight Sun Chapter meeting 

          Time: 530pm to 8pm

          Location: Bill & Tracy’s (Tracy’s Lasagna made!)

February 21: President’s Day!

February 21: Wasilla Chapter Meeting

          Time: 6pm

          Location: Alaska Club (Please note location change)

February 22: Anchorage Chapter Meeting

          Time: 6pm to 730pm

          Location to be announced

July 3rd to 8th: NFB National Convention

          Location: Orlando Florida

July 17th through 23rd: 2011 NFB Youth Slam

October: NFB of Alaska State Convention

          Time and location: To be announced

Final Thought:

          One kind word can warm three winter months.  ~Japanese Proverb

Robert Leslie Newman

President, Omaha Chapter NFB

President, NFB Writers' Division

Division Website

 <http://www.nfb-writers-division.org> http://www.nfb-writers-division.org

Personal Website-

 <http://www.thoughtprovoker.info> http://www.thoughtprovoker.info

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