<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto"><div>For your information<br><br>Sent from my iPhone</div><div><br>Begin forwarded message:<br><br></div><blockquote type="cite"><div><b>From:</b> Nate Trela <<a href="mailto:ntrela@gmail.com">ntrela@gmail.com</a>><br><b>Date:</b> March 8, 2016 at 5:37:49 PM MST<br><b>To:</b> <a href="mailto:slabarre@labarrelaw.com">slabarre@labarrelaw.com</a>, <a href="mailto:jonrdeden@gmail.com">jonrdeden@gmail.com</a>, <a href="mailto:jdeden@cocenter.org">jdeden@cocenter.org</a>, <a href="mailto:dburke@cocenter.org">dburke@cocenter.org</a>, <a href="mailto:wmarshall@cocenter.org">wmarshall@cocenter.org</a>, <a href="mailto:nettiecosp@icloud.com">nettiecosp@icloud.com</a>, <a href="mailto:kevanworley@worleyenterprises.com">kevanworley@worleyenterprises.com</a>, <a href="mailto:dillonlln@yahoo.com">dillonlln@yahoo.com</a>, <a href="mailto:nhecker@mavs.coloradomesa.edu">nhecker@mavs.coloradomesa.edu</a>, <a href="mailto:codyjbair@yahoo.com">codyjbair@yahoo.com</a>, <a href="mailto:garyvdrn@msn.com">garyvdrn@msn.com</a>, <a href="mailto:rascal.angel2@gmail.com">rascal.angel2@gmail.com</a>, <a href="mailto:massey52@q.com">massey52@q.com</a>, <a href="mailto:go.melissa@gmail.com">go.melissa@gmail.com</a>, <a href="mailto:annajee82@gmail.com">annajee82@gmail.com</a>, <a href="mailto:bmfvend@yahoo.com">bmfvend@yahoo.com</a>, <a href="mailto:graduate56@juno.com">graduate56@juno.com</a>, <a href="mailto:rmcgeorge@comcast.net">rmcgeorge@comcast.net</a>, <a href="mailto:mnietfeld@cocenter.org">mnietfeld@cocenter.org</a>, <a href="mailto:copobc@gmail.com">copobc@gmail.com</a><br><b>Subject:</b> <b>starting the NFBCO's blind parents division</b><br><br></div></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><div><span>Hello chapter and division presidents and other NFBCO leaders,</span><br><span></span><br><span>I've had a chance to meet many of you, but for those I haven't yet,</span><br><span>I'm working to get a blind parents division started for the state. I</span><br><span>was able to make it to a couple chapters to talk about it and reached</span><br><span>out to many of you to pass the word on at meetings I couldn't make,</span><br><span>but won't be able to make any more meetings before the next one for</span><br><span>the fledgling parents division, so I'm passing this along with the</span><br><span>hope we could get a plug in.</span><br><span></span><br><span>First, a little about myself ... I'm a 2013 CCB graduate and work full</span><br><span> time as a reporterr covering the energy sector for a global financial</span><br><span> newswire. I've got a 13-year-old daughter training for a performing</span><br><span>arts career and a nine-year-old son who lives for soccer and his xBox.</span><br><span>I've been blind for almost four years, (on top of spending roughly 20</span><br><span>months of the five years before that below 20/200 as I went through</span><br><span>surgeries aimed at saving my sight). And I'm divorced but my</span><br><span>girlfriend (a fellow CCB graduate) is practically a stepmom to the</span><br><span>kids.</span><br><span></span><br><span> Some of this is recycled from an email I sent to Colorado Talk a</span><br><span>couple weeks ago before the first meeting, but it's updated with some</span><br><span>more current info ... Please free to pass it on to anyone you think</span><br><span>would be interested as well as with your chapter members. I'll send</span><br><span>another message next week to Colorado Talk to keep things rolling</span><br><span>there.</span><br><span></span><br><span> For many of us, living the life we want means raising a family, and</span><br><span>we know our blindness is a characteristic that shapes how we do some</span><br><span> things as parents, but it doesn't define us or limit us. It</span><br><span>certainly doesn't prevent us from raising happy, bright and active</span><br><span>children.</span><br><span></span><br><span> But we know that to some people - maybe teachers, social workers,</span><br><span>neighbors or even our own families - how we do it all can be hard to</span><br><span>understand. And maybe sometimes we even wonder if there is a better</span><br><span>way to do things like keeping track of a child at a playground,</span><br><span>lugging a car seat around just in case you might want to take an Uber</span><br><span>later, getting the kids too soccer practice or working through their</span><br><span>algebra homework.</span><br><span></span><br><span> So we are launching a blind parents division for the NFBCO and we</span><br><span>want this to be a truly statewide entity. At our first meeting on</span><br><span>Feb. 20, we talked about ways this division can benefit parents</span><br><span>around the state. Whether it's being a resource for new parents</span><br><span>wondering about alternative techniques e have used, addressing</span><br><span>accessibility issues with our children's schools and the technology</span><br><span>they work with, or educating others about parenting without sight, we</span><br><span> have shared experiences and talents that are a benefit to all of us.</span><br><span>We ran the cross-section, from people curious about having children</span><br><span>in the future, an expectant mom, a new mother, parents with</span><br><span>school-aged children and even those with children long out of the</span><br><span>house. We talked about a social component with playgroups and group</span><br><span>outings ... the ideas kept coming.</span><br><span></span><br><span> While we are starting off with meetings in conjunction with the</span><br><span>Denver chapter's meetings, there's a lot of enthusiasm for taking it</span><br><span> on the road in conjunction with other chapters meetings. We'll</span><br><span>likely have a phone line for our next meeting so more people can get</span><br><span>involved and it won't be as Denver-centric.</span><br><span></span><br><span> The next meting is set for March 19 at CCB, starting at 1215 pm, and</span><br><span> we'd love to have as many people participating as possible. We're</span><br><span>planning to adopt a constitution, elect a board and really get things</span><br><span>going. If you can't make it to Littleton or want to talk more please</span><br><span>feel free to send thoughts to me at <a href="mailto:ntrela@gmail.com">ntrela@gmail.com</a> or call me at</span><br><span>303-993-5895. We would welcome parents, grandparents and even those</span><br><span>just curious about how we do it all.</span><br><span></span><br><span> Cheers,</span><br><span></span><br><span> Nate</span><br></div></blockquote></body></html>