[Nfb-idaho] NFB-Idaho state president's update, June, 2015

[Susan Ford]

Dana: 

I forgot to send you my cell phone. I know Susan has it, but here it is.
314-276-9419. 

 

 

From: Nfb-idaho [mailto:nfb-idaho-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Dana Ard
via Nfb-idaho
Sent: Monday, June 29, 2015 12:33 PM
To: 'NFB of Idaho Discussion List'
Cc: Dana Ard
Subject: [Nfb-idaho] NFB-Idaho state president's update, June, 2015

 

Fellow Federationists,

On June 11-12, Alison Steven, Ramona Walhof, and I traveled to Lewiston and
Moscow to tour a possible convention site, visit a camp that will be used
for the north Idaho BELL program, and meet with the newly elected president
of the Palouse Empire chapter, Pat Mittan. Mary Evelyn Smith, who worked as
a cane travel instructor for the Idaho Commission for the Blind for many
years, and who is a great friend of the Federation, drove and gave valuable
input on the trip. We are currently planning the2016  state convention for
the weekend of April 15-17. We are waiting to receive the proposal from the
Quality Inn in Clarkston, Washington to determine if that will be the
location of the event. We were impressed during our tour of the facility. It
is very accessible and will meet our needs. The camp outside of Moscow, Camp
Lael, has lots of exciting possibilities for the North Idaho BELL program.
Our biggest challenge is working out the details of the event. Because of
the distances in northern Idaho, we were hoping to do a  3 or 4 day BELL
camp where one parent would accompany their child and would participate in
some of the activities. Families have had  several problems with this
approach and we are currently evaluating options. Our meeting with Pat
Mittan was delightful. We enjoyed a great meal and conversation and got to
know one another better. Pat is excited about the NFB and I have no doubt
that he will make an excellent leader. 

I have been in close contact with the chairs of the fundraising and website
committees. Ramona Walhof is working on a fundraising flier with pictures
which we will be able to use. Kevin Pirnie has obtained the necessary
information to move forward on updating our website. We will update the
officers, and begin to add content that will be of value to our affiliate
and the general public seeking information. If people have ideas for content
on the website, please contact me  at danalynard at q.com or Kevin Pirnie at
kpirnie77 at gmail.com.

Every month I receive a report from the national office with the names and
contact information of people who have ordered the free white cane and/or
the free slate and stylus from national. I have contacted the two
individuals from the May report and another two people from a previous
report. I am experimenting with phone versus email as the initial contact.
Email is easy for people to delete without reading, but some people may
think the phone call is intrusive or that you are a telemarketer. Time will
tell on this. 

 

We have several new convention attendees this year, including 4 students who
are participating in the ICBVI college days program. We have one participant
who received a Jernigan scholarship. 

I'm sure I will have much exciting information to share when I return from
convention. I will be planning our state board meeting when I return. I
would like to hear from board members regarding weekends that you could not
meet for the board meeting. I am planning for the meeting to occur in Boise
in either August or September. 

As always, please contact me if I can if I can be of help. Remember to
encourage everyone with a computer to get on this list.

Dana Ard

NFBI president 

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