[Nfbf-l] FW: Braille.org E-newsletter, Special Edition

Sun Jan 4 14:44:41 UTC 2009

If anyone has already gotten this I apologize but I wanted to make sure no
one missed out.

Thanks,

Jim

From: Braille Literacy Team [mailto:brailleliteracy at nfb.org] 
Sent: Sunday, January 04, 2009 8:53 AM
Subject: Braille.org E-newsletter, Special Edition

Image removed by sender. Braille coin and Braille Readers are Leaders banner

NATIONAL AMBASSADORS  

Marc Maurer
President, National Federation of the Blind
Braille Reader

Terry Bradshaw
Hall of Fame Quarterback

Michael Hingson
Motivational Speaker
Braille Reader

Dr. Abraham Nemeth
Professor Emeritus
Inventor of the Nemeth Code
Braille Reader

The Honorable Pat Schroeder
Executive Director, Association of American Publishers
Former Member of Congress

Dr. Geerat Vermeij
Professor of Geology, University of California at Davis
Braille Reader

View <http://www.marchforindependence.org/site/R?i=FwoUrJEM87tL9g3zINyOlQ..>
this message as HTML in your browser 

January 4, 2009, Special Edition

A Note from Dr. Fred Schroeder

Today we celebrate the two hundredth anniversary of the birth of Louis
Braille. We celebrate not only his life but also the countless lives
impacted by the code that bears his name. 

Through his creation of the Braille code, Louis Braille equipped the blind
with an essential tool for independence and success. He empowered us with
the knowledge that we could compete on the basis of equality, and for the
first time in history, he afforded us the opportunity to both read and
write. Long before the NFB began shattering misconceptions about blindness,
Louis Braille began the process of changing what it means to be blind. 

Now, some two hundred years later, as we celebrate how far we have come, we
must also remember how far we have to go. As we celebrate Braille's birth
and advance the Braille Readers are Leaders literacy campaign, we urge you
to support the NFB's Braille literacy initiative in any way that you are
able. Whether it is through purchasing an NFB-Braille Commemorative Coin,
providing matching funds for the Braille literacy campaign, attending
Braille events, or simply helping to raise awareness of this important
issue, we hope that you will join us in our efforts to end the Braille
literacy crisis. 

Exciting News in Honor of Louis Braille's Birthday

Save the date!  The Louis Braille Commemerative Coin Launch is scheduled for
March 26, 2009. 

Need Braille Books? Want to get rid of old Braille books? Wondering how to
build your Braille book library? Want to help get more books into the hands
of blind children? We are pleased to announce that
<http://www.marchforindependence.org/site/R?i=aPwYtgCc8cCjydJ-XWB3Tw..>
NFBShareBraille.org is ready to meet all of your Braille book needs.
Experience the NFB ShareBraille revolution! A special thanks to our friends
at the
<http://www.marchforindependence.org/site/R?i=7LclRLOqMMLhaN4mBy5-uQ..>
Wal-Mart Foundation for helping us make  NFBShareBraille.org possible. 

Leaders thrive in the face of challenge.  Today, the National Federation of
the Blind is pleased to announce that, in honor of our Braille Readers are
Leaders Literacy Campaign, each regional competition of the
<http://www.marchforindependence.org/site/R?i=shzwKWoP5YygKK8bRz5fzA..> 2009
Braille Challenge will be provided with a certificate to be awarded to one
young Braille reader who has met the challenge.  This certificate will be
redeemable for a United States Louis Braille Commemorative Silver Dollar
courtesy of the National Federation of the Blind because Braille Readers are
Leaders!

Be a Part of the Louis Braile Bicentennial Celebration

Look for Louis Braille celebratory NFB
<http://www.marchforindependence.org/site/R?i=QbV2YmSLaNPy5KrL3vqLHg..>
events in your area. While the majority of events will take place January 4,
many more celebrations will occur later in January and throughout the year.
Be sure to check the events site regularly. 

As always,
<http://www.marchforindependence.org/site/R?i=OaRsqUCRj4MhwdD7KpLRAQ..>
please encourage people to join this campaign list. This campaign is an
excellent vehicle for us to build our list of individuals who want to learn
more about Braille, want to help with Braille literacy, or are interested in
buying coins. Every new subscriber is another opportunity for us to share
our message, a message that carries with it the hopes and dreams of a future
filled with equality and opportunity for every blind American. 
Cut and paste this link to join the NFB-Braille Commemorative Coin and
Literacy Campaign:
<http://www.marchforindependence.org/site/R?i=80aqP-kPjrb2qpwadPhqDw..>
http://tinyurl.com/6jdajq. 

Follow the Braille Literacy Campaign on
<http://www.marchforindependence.org/site/R?i=ZC0TrBHBj7sNlU00t5KxnA..>
Twitter. Twitter is a service for friends, family, and co-workers to
communicate through e-mail and texting quick frequent answers to one
question: What are you doing? Now, when you are asked, "What are you doing?"
you can answer, "Making Braille literacy a reality for all blind people!"

The Impact of Braille

Watch the video
<http://www.marchforindependence.org/site/R?i=0Ji6Aq5umZntL1nSLItnCA..>
Braille: Unlocking the Code
<http://www.marchforindependence.org/site/R?i=CPc-xW69ORHDL7ika8ktgA..> . In
this the exciting new video, the history and importance of Braille is
explored with commentary and insights from successful Braille readers.  

Youth Writing Contest

The NFB Writers Division is hosting a Youth Writing Contest to promote
Braille literacy and excellence in creative writing. Entries will be judged
on creativity and quality of Braille. We are looking for creative writing,
in the form of fiction and poetry. There is no charge for entering. This is
a contest for students who use Braille. Entries must be submitted in hand
embossed Braille, either on a slate and stylus or on a Braille writer. No
computer Braille entries will be considered. Submissions must be Brailled by
the entrant. Elementary students (K-5) may submit contracted Braille,
uncontracted Braille, or an acceptable combination of the two. Students in
higher grades will be expected to submit stories or poetry in contracted
Braille. There are six categories: Elementary Fiction; Elementary Poetry;
Middle School Fiction; Middle School Poetry; High School Fiction; High
School Poetry. The Elementary category includes grades K-5, the Middle
School category includes grades 6-8, and the High School category includes
grades 9-12. The contest begins January 1, and all entries must be
postmarked by April 1. There will be three cash prizes for each of the six
categories. First prize per contest is $25.00, second prize is $15.00, and
third prize is $5.00. Submissions for fiction may not exceed one thousand
words, and poetry submissions may not exceed twenty lines. Authors may
submit multiple entries, and all work must be original and unpublished. Each
entrant must provide an identical print copy for possible publication.
Entries must be accompanied by a cover sheet containing entrant's name,
address, phone, e-mail, title of the entry, school, and grade of entrant,
and winners will be announced at the Writers Division meeting during the
2009 NFB National convention held in Detroit, Michigan. 

Send entries to Fred Wurtzel, 1212 N Foster, Lansing, Michigan 48912
Questions? Contact Fred Wurtzel at  <mailto:f.wurtzel at comcast.net>
f.wurtzel at comcast.net or 517-485-0326 

Image removed by sender.

Image removed by sender. Photo: Blind girl reading Braille

Image removed by sender. Jim Portill assists Tim Kelly on a Braillewriter

Image removed by sender. Photo: Blind girl reading

Image removed by sender. A child reading a Braille book

Image removed by sender. NFB Braille Readers are Leaders logo

Visit
<http://www.marchforindependence.org/site/R?i=foJSnDkRkP1446iWqFEUUA..>
Braille.org                                                        Visit the
U.S. Mint
<http://www.marchforindependence.org/site/R?i=156cOSlHSll_UAplQXS2-g..> 

National Federation of the Blind
1800 Johnson Street
Baltimore, Maryland 21230
410-659-9314 * Fax 410-659-5129

Forward
<http://www.marchforindependence.org/site/R?i=PRPugd-2bh1gTpAthcObGw..>
this message 

Change
<http://www.marchforindependence.org/site/CO?i=KIfUQPBn3bqSfoD6sZVM2ANnslq_a
wcY&cid=1101>  your email preferences 

 <http://www.marchforindependence.org/site/R?i=C1JLu7oiPTBnJDdQ9U_ASA..>
Image removed by sender. Powered by Convio.

__________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature
database 3735 (20090104) __________

The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus.

http://www.eset.com

-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: ~WRD000.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 823 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://nfbnet.org/pipermail/nfbf-l_nfbnet.org/attachments/20090104/f881f52d/attachment.jpg>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image001.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 6140 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://nfbnet.org/pipermail/nfbf-l_nfbnet.org/attachments/20090104/f881f52d/attachment-0001.jpg>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image002.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 332 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://nfbnet.org/pipermail/nfbf-l_nfbnet.org/attachments/20090104/f881f52d/attachment-0002.jpg>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image003.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 602 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://nfbnet.org/pipermail/nfbf-l_nfbnet.org/attachments/20090104/f881f52d/attachment-0003.jpg>