[NFB-Seniors] NFB of Nebraska, Senior Division January Zoom Meeting - a Special guest with a Master Wood Turner - Guest are Welcome

Sat Jan 1 21:33:39 UTC 2022

Hi You All

RE: Our January Meeting is coming up, Monday the 10th

Non-Members are WELCOME

Topic: We have a special guest, Ray Wright. To introduce him to you, from
his website I have copied out and pasted in a short section from his bio:

Ray Wright is a totally blind woodworker and woodshop instructor.

Ray is originally from Southern California. In 1983, he was diagnosed with a
degenerative eye disease called Retinitis Pigmentosa and found out he was
Visually Impaired. He continued his work in the Motion Picture Exhibition
field as a legally Blind movie Theatre Manager and moved up the corporate
ladder as a Promotions Coordinator, Company
Photographer and Graphic Designer.

In 2001, Ray lost all his sight and became totally blind. Not
willing to stay home and do nothing, Ray enrolled in blindness
training classes in Northern California at the Orientation Center for the
Blind. It was there he was introduced to woodworking as a blind individual.
After his training he was elected to the Board of Directors at the Vista
Center for the Blind in Palo Alto, California where he remained until he
moved to Utah in 2007.

After relocating to Utah, Ray became a student at the Division of Services
for the Blind and Visually Impaired (DSBVI) in Salt Lake City, where he
focused on honing his blindness skills including advancing his non-visual
woodworking techniques and knowledge. It was here where he was introduced to
and fell in love with the lathe. After
graduating, he started "Wright Turn Only", his own woodworking business and
continued to privately study, practice and demonstrate alternative
approaches to woodworking techniques.

In 2014, Ray was hired on as the woodshop instructor at DSBVI where he
continues to "pay-it-forward" by sharing his knowledge and love of
woodworking with individuals who are losing or have lost their sight.

In 2016 he had the honor of blind-folding Utah's Governor Herbert and gave
him a hands-on demonstration on how to use a table saw non-visually. At that
time, he presented Governor Herbert with a turned wooden light saber which
the Governor had on display in his formal office in the state capitol
through the end of his term in 2021. 

As Ray likes to say, "Here in our woodshop we like to build two
things.Things out of wood and more importantly, we like to build confidence.
If you can use sharp power saws, lathes and other tools with the lights off
and a blindfold on, you can do pretty much anything."

Contents of this message:

*1: When and how to get on the call

*2: Agenda 

*3: The NFB Pledge

*1: When and how to get on the call

Date: January 10th 

Time: 7:00 CT

Join Zoom Meeting:

 <https://zoom.us/j/97431318555?pwd=NmVpT2VhTEl4ZlczVElyZDYycDNGQT09>
https://zoom.us/j/97431318555?pwd=NmVpT2VhTEl4ZlczVElyZDYycDNGQT09

One tap mobile:

+13462487799,,97431318555#,,,,*637552# US (Houston)

+14086380968,,97431318555#,,,,*637552# US (San Jose)

Dial by your location:

+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)

+1 408 638 0968 US (San Jose)

Meeting ID: 974 3131 8555

Passcode: 637552

*2: Agenda

-First- Come to order, do introductions, and we have our NFB Pledge

-Second- We have our business meeting. Our special guest will join us
shortly after 6:30; public transportation during winter months for getting
home after work can be unpredictable.

--OLD BUSINESS 

- Discuss any news concerning present and future affiliate business.

- Again, touch on Payment of 2022 membership dues

-And anything else members may bring.

--NEW BUSINESS

-Whatever we get from the membership

-Brags and Drags

*3: NFB Pledge: 

I pledge to participate actively in the efforts of the National

Federation of the Blind to achieve equality, opportunity, and security for
the blind; to support the policies and programs of the Federation; and to
abide by its constitution.

Respectfully yours,

Robert Leslie Newman

NFBN Senior Division, President