[Nfbc-info] meat the blind month

[Jennifer Boylan]

Ken,
 
I think you make an awesome point--we must be out mingling in public to make "meeting the blind" a reality.  Congrats on making the opportunity for yourself to get up and speak!

My local Lions Club had their Oct. 6 meeting focusing on Sight Conservation and I wanted to remind listers that joining service clubs like the Lions is a great way to get out in the community, raise awareness and show exactly what we can do.  
 
My beep baseball team, the Stockton Stingrays, has been a great platform to reaching out and meeting the sighted on their own turf.  I would like to encourage everyone to consider participating in this or other sports/local gyms and to be out just walking around in the community.  We are always seeking players, volunteers and supporters--check out our web page @ www.communitycenterfortheblind.org/baseball_team.php and feel free to contact me at any time.  The Stingrays are holding a Pasta Dinner & Awards Night Nov. 5, 5-8PM @ Community Center for the Blind in Stockton.  Tickets are $10; we'd really love to have you there with us.  Call (209) 466-3836 for tickets & info.
 
Unfortunately, I won't be able to make it to state convention this year but you're definitely the blind I'd love to meet.
 
Jennifer Boylan
San Joaquin Lions
  
 

--- On Mon, 10/18/10, Ken Volonte <kenvolonte at comcast.net> wrote:


From: Ken Volonte <kenvolonte at comcast.net>
Subject: [Nfbc-info] meat the blind month
To: "NFB of California List" <nfbc-info at nfbnet.org>
Date: Monday, October 18, 2010, 4:26 AM


Hi Listers.
The San Joaquin Chapter, NFBC was well represented this month.  Jennifer Boylan participated in a couple of health fairs and got a White Cane Safety Day proclamation from City Hall.  Last night, my wife Velvet and I attended a fund raising reception for our congressman, Jerry McNernie, where we got to talk to him, actually to the whole reception about the problems of accessibility for the blind.  The congressman has already cast a yes vote for the Electronic Accessibility Act, and is waiting to see legislation dealing with appliances.

   This is how we made sure that people met the blind, by showing up and participating.  I didn't know that there would be an opportunity to address the public at large during this reception, but I was there and I knew what I wanted to talk to the congressman about.  So show up. Take an active part in your town's affairs.  Everybody in town knows who I am, how I think and where I live.

   Once in a doctor's office, Velvet and I were asked about our passion for politics.  When we see a problem, we're not quiet about it.  With me, it's problems relating to blindness.  With Velvet, it's problems with inaccessible buildings.  To some extent, our concerns are dictated by our bodies, but we are patiently persistent, and over time, things get better. In no small part, my political sense has been engendered by my membership in the NFBC.  As I've said before about our chapter, we're small, but we're mighty. 

_______________________________________________
Nfbc-info mailing list
Nfbc-info at nfbnet.org
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbc-info_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for Nfbc-info:
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbc-info_nfbnet.org/jaboylan%40sbcglobal.net