[Nfbaz-talk] Marty Silba's Passing

Tue Jun 9 00:17:10 UTC 2009

Hello from San Antonio, Texas,

    Being from Brockton Massachusetts where Marty and Donna once lived I 
knew them both and had the privilige of training Donna when she took over my 
position as a darkroom technician at the Brockton Hostpital in 1976. Donna 
if you're on this list know that Mary and I will keep you in our prayers and 
wish to pass on our condolances to you and your family. Marty was a great 
guy and one heck of a federationist. I know he will be missed. All the best.

Peter and Mary Donahue

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Allison (NFBA)" <nfbarizona at gmail.com>
To: "AABS List" <arizona-students at nfbnet.org>; "NFB of Arizona Discussion 
List" <nfbaz-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, June 08, 2009 6:20 PM
Subject: [Nfbaz-talk] Fw: NFBA president's June message

>From Bob Kresmer, president of the NFB of Arizona.

June 8, 2009

Hello, fellow Federationists,
In this message, we will discuss -

* NFB of Arizona state convention
* memorial fund in the name of E.R. Rodriguez
* Marty Silba passed away
* Phoenix Bowl-a-thon delayed
* Arizona member wins NFB national scholarship
* NFBA helps to make Dial-a-Ride application form accessible *important
issues at Phoenix city council *Important meeting regarding future of
transit system in Maricopa county
* New NFBA membership roster file is attached

The NFB of Arizona state convention will take place September 11 through 13
at the Radisson Suites hotel in Tucson.  The room rates are $79.00 (plus
tax) and the rate includes a hot breakfast each morning.  The rooms include
a refrigerator, microwave, coffeemaker, and free shuttle service to
restaurants and other attractions within a three mile radius.  More details
will be forthcoming, as well as our pre-registration form.

As reported last week, the young vice-president of the Arizona Association
of Blind Students passed away from a re-occurrence of a fatal brain tumor.
The Students Division has decided to establish a fund to create a
scholarship in E.R. Rodriguez' name.  If you are so inclined, you can donate
to this memorial fund by writing a check to the NFB of Arizona and noting
his name in the memo line.

Donna Silba, NFBA treasurer, reports the sad news of Marty Silba's death
from a heart attack May 19, 2009.  Marty was a past president of our Phoenix
chapter, a long-time member of NFB of Arizona, and a member of NFB of
Massachusetts.  Marty is survived by three sons.

Marty was cremated and his remains sent to Massachusetts, and there will be
no memorial service in Arizona.  Donna says Marty would have appreciated
that any memorial gifts be made to the NFB of Arizona or Massachusetts in
his name.

The June 13 Bowl-a-thon is not cancelled, but is instead being pushed back
to an October date.  The Phoenix chapter asks that members notify anyone who
made a pledge of funds that the event will take place later in the year.

One of our newest members, Dawei Fu of Tucson, has won an NFB National
scholarship!  Dawei, who is a Ph.D candidate in engineering at the
University of Tucson, joined the Tucson chapter after submitting his
application for the scholarship and has already attended two chapter
meetings.   He and his wife and four year old daughter will attend the
national convention together.

Dawei, a graduate student from China, became blind three years ago in an
automobile accident, and is still learning blindness skills while continuing
to pursue his doctoral degree.

>From Sharonda Greenlaw, president of our Phoenix chapter - It was reported
the Metro Valley Dial-a-Ride application form is not accessible to blind
patrons, and the corporation could not independently make the form
accessible in a timely manner.  The corporation asked the NFB of Arizona for
assistance in this instance, and Sharonda Greenlaw volunteered our expertise
for the benefit of blind passengers.

>From Marc Schmidt, NFBA first vice-president and West Valley chapter -
president Please help me in spreading the following message:
At this coming Wednesday's Phoenix city council meeting, we have one final
opportunity before the council's summer recess to voice our opposition to
the but and dial-a-ride fare increases planned for next month, while service
continues to deteriorate.
If many people from several different disability advocacy groups show up and
provide public comment, we will have a better chance of influencing our
politicians, to hopefully modify their proposals, to lessen the adverse
impacts on the disabled.
The meeting starts at 3 pm and will likely be over by 5. As usual, it will
be held at the city council chambers, located at 200 West Jefferson.

>From Mary Hartle-Smith, president of East Valley chapter - This is a good
meeting to attend to learn about future transportation plans in the Maricopa
region.

Transportation Public Hearing

Thursday, June 18, 2009

MAG Office, Suite 200 - Saguaro Room

302 North 1st

Hosted by:

Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG)

City of Phoenix Public Transit Department

The public hearing will include information on the following items:

*       Draft Project Listing for the MAG 2010-2014 Transportation
Improvement Program.

*       Status of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds
programmed in the MAG Region.

*       City of Phoenix Public Transit Department Program of Projects.

*      Review of the issues for the MAG Regional Transportation Plan 2010
Update.

For more information, or to arrange special disability accommodations,
please contact Jason Stephens, MAG public involvement planner, at
602-452-5004. Parking under the MAG building will be validated, and bus
tickets will be provided to those who use transit to attend the meeting. To
provide input via e-mail, send your comments to
jstephens at mag.maricopa.gov<mailto:jstephens at mag.maricopa.gov>

The newest update of our NFBA membership roster is attached in a text file
and an MS Word file.

Thanks,

Bob Kresmer, president
1 888 899-6322

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