[Nfb-idaho] Nfb-idaho Digest, Vol 133, Issue 10

Wed Dec 20 18:00:11 UTC 2017

LOL 

-----Original Message-----
From: Nfb-idaho [mailto:nfb-idaho-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Dana Ard
via Nfb-idaho
Sent: Wednesday, December 20, 2017 10:25 AM
To: 'NFB of Idaho Discussion List'
Cc: Dana Ard
Subject: Re: [Nfb-idaho] Nfb-idaho Digest, Vol 133, Issue 10

I think it was recap of 2017. Next year is 2018, I think.

-----Original Message-----
From: Nfb-idaho [mailto:nfb-idaho-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of allan
schneider via Nfb-idaho
Sent: Wednesday, December 20, 2017 8:27 AM
To: nfb-idaho at nfbnet.org
Cc: allan schneider
Subject: Re: [Nfb-idaho] Nfb-idaho Digest, Vol 133, Issue 10

Thanks for your message and 2016 recap, Dana.  The NFB of Idaho indeed had a
successful 2016.  Thanks for your leadership.

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Subject: Nfb-idaho Digest, Vol 133, Issue 10

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Today's Topics:

   1. president's update for December 2017. This message is pasted
      in and attached as well (Dana Ard)

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Message: 1
Date: Tue, 19 Dec 2017 18:14:47 -0700
From: "Dana Ard" <Danalynard at q.com>
To: "NFB of Idaho Discussion List" <nfb-idaho at nfbnet.org>,      "'Kevin
        Pirnie'" <kpirnie77 at gmail.com>, <officeothepresident at nfb.orgfe>
Subject: [Nfb-idaho] president's update for December 2017. This
        message is pasted in and attached as well
Message-ID: <006a01d3792f$eddb9190$c992b4b0$@q.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

               President's Update

December 2017

I am amazed that soon 2017 will be a year in the past and 2018 will begin. I
really do believe the adage, "the older you get, the faster time flies." In
this message, I will update everyone about important upcoming events, share
some events that occurred during the past 3 months, and look back at some
affiliate accomplishments, as well as areas that need addressed in 2018.

I have signed the contract for our 2018 state convention. The dates are
April 26-28, and the location is the Red Lion Canyon Springs in Twin Falls.
The address is 1357 Blue Lakes Blvd. N. Twin Falls, 83501, phone 208
734-5000.  Room rates are $81 plus 8% tax for singles, doubles, triples and
quads. Breakfast is included. Our convention committee has been hard at work
planning this event. However, we welcome your ideas for speakers and program
items, so please bring them on. This is the affiliate convention and a great
time to get excited about being a member of the National Federation of the
Blind of Idaho.

On January 15, (Martin Luther King Day), the National Federation of the
Blind of Idaho will hold its annual legislative luncheon at the Crystal
Ballroom, 802 W. Bannock. Tickets for the luncheon are $25.00, and checks
should be made out to NFB of Idaho and mailed to Harry Gawith, 410 Ave. H.
Boise, Id. 83712. There is one meal option, which is gluten free. If you
have other dietary restrictions, please let Jan Gawith know at 208 342-3066.
We will be discussing state funding for the talking book program, as well as
other topics important to the blind of Idaho. Please plan to come.
Legislators need to hear from us.

In late September, I attended the National Federation of the Blind of Iowa
convention in Des Moines along with Larry and Sue Sebranek. I enjoyed seeing
how another state runs its convention. Iowa has a very active and large
telephone chapter. I have encouraged members of our Idaho Gems to join this
chapter by phone to learn more about what they do to contribute to the
chapter success. I participated in a service project packaging dehydrated
meals for people in third world countries. This was a fun project and I got
to know the other Iowa federationists who worked on our packaging assembly
line. Kevan Worley was the national representative and gave an excellent
banquet speech.

I met with Sue Walker and Ann Goslin, state librarian, to discuss funding
the talking book program with state rather than federal funds. I was asked
to write a letter of support to Governor Otter. At this time, we do not know
whether or not the governor supports this funding, but my letter of response
from him seemed positive. Even if he does not support this move, we have a
great opportunity to let our legislators know how valuable the talking book
program is for the blind of Idaho.

On a national level, we had 3 federationists conduct testing on ATM
machines, as part of our settlement with Cartronics, a manufacturer of ATms.
This testing will continue and I hope our testers, as well as other
volunteers, will participate in this worthwhile endeavor.  Thanks to Yiska
Hugo and others who have sent in reports on experiences using Uber with
service dogs, Idaho reached the reporting goal set by our national office.
This reporting will continue next year. I have submitted 5 names of blind
parents for our national parenting initiative. Sylvia Bernert has agreed to
be the state-wide parenting coordinator. I know many of us have called our
senators and representatives this year supporting several bills. We will
need to keep up the fight until our initiatives have passed. I will attend
our Washington seminar, at the end of January, along with Ramona Walhof and
our new Twin Falls President, Mai Nguyen. Mai, who is from Vietnam, is
excited to attend and learn more about our government, as well as meet many
successful federationists.

We have had many successes this year. In October, we held our fundraising
concert, 3 Bands for Blind Kids. Justin Bonner was instrumental in getting
the 3 bands to volunteer time to do this event. Erin Olson designed the
flier and tickets, and monitored the event on the Brown Paper Tickets
website. The fundraising committee, chaired by Ramona Walhof, worked hard to
make this event a success, raising around $2000. Alison Steven led the Boise
BELL students in a musical presentation during the first break, which
everyone enjoyed. Another fundraising success for the state affiliate was
our first ever on-line auction. Again we raised around $2000.00. The
affiliate board voted to do this event again in 2018. Our Schwan's Cares
campaign is close to reaching the target goal of $500.00. The Treasure
Valley chapter Cycle for Independence, under the leadership of Al Schneider,
had its most successful year, raising approximately $23,000. Fundraising is
essential if we are going to develop and offer programs to help the blind of
Idaho. We have been fortunate to partner with the Idaho Commission for the
Blind for our BELL program and for Newsline. However, with changes in
federal funding, we cannot be guaranteed these funds on an on-going basis.

Thanks in large part to a grant from the American Action Fund; Idaho had 27
people in our delegation at our national convention in Orlando, Florida. The
comments from those attending indicated that the experience was valuable.
Hopefully, we will be able to continue to send people to our national
convention, as this is an excellent way to help people become excited about
our organization.  We had the largest number of registrants in recent
history at our state convention in Boise. We had 62 participants at our
board meeting and 85 at our banquet. This is the first year that our
convention provided CRC credits for rehabilitation counselors who attended.
I believe no other state convention has attempted to get this type of
accreditation, which I believe will encourage blindness professionals to
attend our convention and learn about our positive message about blindness.

We had 25 children participating in our 3 BELL Academy programs. All of
these participants learned positive attitudes from blind role models and
further developed and strengthened their blindness skills.

Now, it's time to look beyond our accomplishments to our future. We need to
continue to build our chapters. We have several strong chapters in our
state, and some that need our help and support. I have instituted a chapter
presidents' conference call so presidents can share information and learn
from each other.  I also am expanding our web committee to form a
communications committee. I have asked for people to volunteer to help our
web chairman, Kevin Pirnie, to learn to put material on the website. I have
heard from several members who are interested in doing this. Strong,
vibrant, web communication is essential to get our positive message out to
those who need it. Of course, the web does not replace personal contact. We
need both.

If I have missed items that should be mentioned, please post them on our
listserv. I know it's always dangerous to mention specific names,

So if I have forgotten to acknowledge someone, let me know.

I wish everyone a blessed and happy holiday season. My hope for 2018 is that
we continue to work together to send our positive message to the blind of
Idaho and build the National Federation of the Blind of Idaho

Dana Ard, President

National Federation of the Blind of Idaho

Phone 208 345-3906

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