[Nfb-idaho] president's message for October, 2015

[Dana Ard]

President's Message for October 2015 

On October 9 and 10, Ramona Walhof and I traveled to Pocatello and Idaho
Falls to meet with the Snake River Valley chapter and talk to blind people
in Pocatello. We met with a newly blind woman who is very interested in the
possibility of a chapter being organized there. I also had a phone
conversation with another man who expressed interest in assuming a
leadership position when a chapter is organized. Ramona and I and our driver
were invited to spend Friday night at Snake River Valley Chapter President,
Sandy Streeter's home in Blackfoot. We had a lovely evening of great food,
conversation, and warm hospitality from Sandy. After breakfast at a local
restaurant, we attended the chapter meeting. They held elections, discussed
the book fair that they held as part of Meet the Blind Month, and discussed
fundraising ideas, as well as other topics. This is a very solid and
hardworking chapter. 

 

Chris Jones, President of the Central Valley Chapter in Twin Falls, reported
that 32 people attended the meeting and pizza party with students and staff
from the Idaho School for the Deaf and Blind

And staff from the Idaho Commission for the Blind. The event was a great
success and will go a long way to build partnerships among the three
organizations. 

 

Joe Thompson is agreed to assume the presidency of the Palouse Empire
Chapter. We developed a short

Survey which was sent out to chapter members. They will hold their meeting
this Friday, November 13, at 1:00 P.M. following a goal ball activity
sponsored by the Northwest Association of Blind Athletes (NWABA). 

 

Treasure Valley chapter held its election in October and had a presentation
from Valley Regional Transit on some of their new programs and developments.
The Go Ride program, which is one of the TVT programs, has been very helpful
for the NFB. We used a Go Ride van and driver to travel to Idaho Falls, and
may be able to use the program for a van and driver for state convention. It
is a good partnership. 

 

On October 15, members of the Northern Rockies Association for the Education
and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (NRAER,ICBVI students
and a board member, and some NFB members met at the state capitol for a
reading of a White Cane Safety Day proclamation written by  Boise Mayor
David Bieder. I had contacted both the mayor and our governor requesting a
proclamation as part of the NRAER conference, for which I was conference
chair. I did receive the governor's proclamation after the conference was
over. I read the mayor's proclamation and was interviewed by channel 7 KTVB.
Next year, we need to be sure that the governor issues the proclamation for
White Cane Safety Day, and remind him that this has been the law of the land
since Linden Johnson signed the joint resolution HR753 on October 6 1964.
This resolution came as a result of the resolution passed during the 1963
NFB national convention, stating that October 15 should be declared White
Cane Safety Day by proclamation of all of the governors of the 50 United
States. We must ensure that this landmark legislation is not forgotten. It
provides a good opportunity to share with the public our accomplishments, as
well as our continuing challenges. Our campaign with schwans cares
(https://www.swans-cares began on November 1. For each order placed with
Schwan's-cares, the NFB of Idaho will receive 20% of the cost of the order.
This will continue until December 16. To register for the program, contact
schwas-cares through the website or 1-888-724-9267. Our promotion code,
which you must reference with your order, is 23867. Our campaign is called
"support the blind of Idaho." After December 16, we will get 5% of all
orders placed. Please sign up and tell your friends. Orders can be placed
for this campaign anywhere in the country. Let your friends know, as this is
an easy way to support our organization. Our second fundraiser is getting
sponsorships for our convention. Each chapter president should have a
fundraising letter that members can use to give to businesses. I recently
provided information to my dentist and he plans to sponsor. Having just
concluded my work as conference chair for the NRAER conference, I am more
aware than ever that conventions are very expensive to put on. Most
organizations try to cover most expenses through their registration costs
for each member. We do not do this in the federation and therefore, we need
to fundraise to cover these costs as well as costs of all the great programs
we do. 

 

Remember that our legislative luncheon is January 18, 2016, from 11:30 A.M.
to 1:00 P.M. Invitations will be going out soon, but please contact your
legislators with a personal invite. We will showcase our NFB, as many
legislators do not know us. We will also talk about the needs of IESDB and
ICBVI. IESDB is hoping to obtain funding for an assistive technology
specialist and a teacher for the upper elementary grades. 

 

Remember our state convention will be April 22-24 at the Red Lion hotel in
Lewiston. Rooms Aare $89.00 per night for singles, doubles, triples, and
quads. The address is 621 21st Street, phone 208 799-1000. I'm beginning to
contact vendors and to consider speakers for the main program. 

 

I wish everyone a happy Thanksgiving and look forward to talking with you in
December.

 

Dana Ard, President

National Federation of the Blind of Idaho