[Nfb-editors] Alaska February 2011 Newsletter

[Wunder, Gary]

This newsletter has one of the most well-written and informative "Message from the President" sections I've ever seen. I wish I had written it.

Thanks.


-----Original Message-----
From: nfb-editors-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfb-editors-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Robert Leslie Newman
Sent: Friday, February 18, 2011 1:23 PM
To: editors nfb list
Subject: [Nfb-editors] Alaska February 2011 Newsletter

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