[Nfbf-l] NFBF-Parents President

[Sherri]

Hi Lenora,

I do remember meeting you last year and was very impressed. Though Debby has 
done a tremendous job, I have complete confidence that you will continue the 
growth and work of the Parents' division in Florida. Thank you for your most 
eloquent and well-thought-out letter. It is so nice to hear a sighted person 
say it's okay to be blind.

Sherri
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Lenora J. Marten" <bluegolfshoes at aol.com>
To: <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, May 06, 2009 6:59 PM
Subject: Re: [Nfbf-l] NFBF-Parents President


> Hello Sherrill,
>
> Thank you so much for your kind words! You're right, I don't think we have 
> formally met. You probably haven't
> formally met Eric either, but you would remember him as the boy everyone 
> sang "Happy Birthday" to during
> general session last year here in Jacksonville. Joe, Gina and Debby are 
> indeed great mentors. Debby has
> done a tremendous job with the Parents Division and I am looking forward 
> to continuing as well as expanding
> the division. Of course, I still must be elected, but I am "visualizing" 
> my goal and thinking positive. I too look
> forward to meeting and getting to know everyone and their families.
>
> Have a great evening!
>
> Lenora Marten
> NFB-Greater Jacksonville Chapter Secretary
> NFBF-Parents board member
> bluegolfshoes at aol.com
> 904-229-9554
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Sherrill O'Brien <sherrill.obrien at verizon.net>
> To: NFB of Florida Listserv <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Tue, 5 May 2009 11:00 am
> Subject: Re: [Nfbf-l] NFBF-Parents President
>
>
>
> Hello Lenora,
> I don't think I've had the pleasure of meeting you at past state 
> conventions,
> ut I just had to write and tell you what an inspiring letter you have 
> written!
> our family has gone through so much uncertainty  and frustration, mainly 
> caused
> y ophthamologists who are notoriously ignorant and/or uncaring about 
> blindness.
> hey simply want to fix the eye problem, and when they can't, most of them 
> give
> o wise counsel or referals.  Your letter is of the sort that makes me 
> proud to
> e a member of the NFB!=2
> 0 I'm so glad you were introduced to the NFB through Joe,
> ina, Debby and the Parents Division.  You have indeed found great mentors.
> I'm sure I can speak for everyone when I say we're looking forward to 
> meeting
> nd getting to know you  and your family!
> Sherrill O'Brien
> FBF Board Member
> ampa Bay Chapter Vice President
>
> ----Original Message-----
> rom: nfbf-l-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfbf-l-bounces at nfbnet.org]On
> ehalf Of Lenora J. Marten
> ent: Tuesday, May 05, 2009 10:26 AM
> o: nfbf-l at nfbnet.org
> ubject: [Nfbf-l] NFBF-Parents President
>
> I am announcing my candidacy for President of the National Federation of 
> the
> lind Florida Parents Division. I was saddened by President Debbie Brackett’s
> ecision to step down. She has been a dedicated advocate for blind children 
> and
> entor to parents. As the parent of two blind children and sibling to 
> another, I
> elieve I have the ability and knowledge to develop our Parents Division 
> into
> FB’s finest!
>
> When I took my oldest son for a check-up, I mentioned to our pediatrician 
> that
> e was not focusing properly. He referred us to an ophthalmologist and 
> after
> everal tests; Jon’s blindness was diagnosed with bi-lateral optic nerve
> ypoplasia. It was explained that his optic nerves stopped growing before 
> they
> ere fully developed. We were told that this condition was not genetic, but
> ighly unusual that it occurred in both eyes. We weren’t referred to
> arly-childhood intervention services. We weren’t referred to a parent 
> group. We
> eren’t20given books, brochures or a list of references. We were just sent 
> home.
>
> Like most parents faced with blindness, I was devastated and scared. But, 
> I was
> etermined. The first thing I did was call my brother who referred me to 
> our
> ocal NFB chapter who in turn referred me to Foundation for Blind Children. 
> We
> ere able to meet some local parents and Jon was able to meet some kids 
> just
> ike him.
>
> Seven years later when Eric came along, we thought we were safe. We had 
> been
> old Jon’s problem wa
> not genetic. We had been told Allan’s problem was not genetic and 
> completely
> nrelated to Jon’s. It was clear to us as Eric grew that he had vision 
> problems.
> e had trouble focusing, his eyes moved like windshield wipers, he didn’t
> ecognize people and ran into things. We went through almost 5 years of 
> doctors
> nd tests with every one of them telling us he could see. One doctor, a
> ediatric neuro-ophthalmologist, assured us Eric could see while suggesting 
> that
> aybe he was just copying his brother’s behavior. When we tried to tell him 
> that
> asn’t the case, he said we just hadn’t noticed and should probably pay 
> more
> ttention. We were treated like ignorant parents.  It wasn’t until someone 
> did
> he right kind of test, an extensive ERG, that we finally got a diagnosis. 
> Eric
> as a rare cone-rod dysfunction that affected the genetic sequence of the 
> cones
> nd rods in his brain occurring in only one out of every one=2
> 0million people.
> ost ophthalmologists only read about it. His eyes were perfectly fine, but 
> his
> rain didn’t receive the picture.
>
> So why have I been a board member and now want to be President of 
> NFBF-Parents?
> hy am I secretary for my local NFB chapter? Why am I continually looking 
> for
> ew fund-raising ideas?
>
> I’ve come to realize it’s not about me. It’s about my boys. They are blind
> hildren. They will grow up to be blind adults. I want to be part of a 
> group
> hat can hel
> prepare them for that. Belonging to NFBF-Parents is essential. Blind 
> children
> eed blind role models. They need programs like Braille Readers are 
> Leaders,
> outh Slam, and mentoring programs. Our children need the NFB.
>
>
> I’ve come to realize that parents need the NFB just as much as our 
> children. We
> eed a place to turn to for answers and fellowship. We need to know that we’re
> ot alone. We need other parents and blind adults to rely on. What you 
> believe
> bout blindness affects everything. You can be a loving parent. You can be 
> a
> killed teacher. You can sincerely love blind children and want them to 
> succeed.
> ut if you don’t truly believe in your heart that it’s okay to be blind, 
> your
> hild won’t either.
>
> It is my sincere belief that our kids can do anything and that by joining
> ogether; we can make a difference in the future of all blind children. The 
> NFB
> s changing what it means to be blind.
>
>
> The real problem of blindness is not the loss of eyesight. The real 
> problem is
> he misunderstanding and lack of information that exists. If a blind person 
> has
> roper training and opportunity, blindness can be reduced to a physical
> uisance. A belief that blindness is much like other nuisances such as 
> being
> eft-handed, being too tall, too short, too heavy or too thin. Independence 
> is a
> lind person’s right.
>
> Throughout my life I have tried to conduct myself in the above principles 
> in my
> areer, home an
> family life and volunteer work. After moving to Florida a short four years
> go, I have been a member, board member and now Secretary of our local
> FB-Greater Jacksonville Chapter. I became a board member of NFBF-Parents 
> in
> 007. I am also a member of PLP-Parent Leadership Program and Parent Action
> ommittee at FSDB.
>
> In March 2009, with the help of our local NFB chapter, my husband and I
> rganized and executed the 1st Annual Cut-a-Thon benefiting the NFB. We 
> held the
> vent at a local cosmetology school with 14 participating salons and over 
> 40
> tylists volunteering their time. 100% proceeds went to NFB-Jacksonville 
> Chapter
> here part of that money will go to parents and children attending state 
> and
> ational conventions. Best of all, the officials at North Florida Institute 
> were
> mpressed with our group and more than happy to give back to the community. 
> They
> ave offered to host another cut-a-thon for us toward the end of the summer 
> and
> gain in March 2010
> .
>
> Since September 2008, I have been networking with parents in the
> acksonville/St. Augustine area in order to start a Saturday activity 
> program
> or parents of blind children. This program will enable parents and their 
> blind
> hildren to interact, socialize and share information with other parents 
> and
> lind adults. Families will be able to bond with other NFBF-Parents in our 
> area
> long with our local NFB-Jacksonville Chapter.
>
> I now want to devote my time and energy to the continued works of 
> NFBF-Parents.
> ur parents divis
> on has much to do and I want to make a difference. I want to see parents
> etworking together, sharing experiences and concerns, through NFBF-Parents 
> and
> ocal chapters. I want to bridge the gap between NFBF-Parents and local 
> NFB. I
> ant to see them working together in order to facilitate an easy transition 
> for
> lind children as they grow into young adult blind men and women.  Together 
> we
> an initiate activities throughout the year in addition to state and 
> national
> onventions. We can convince educators that Braille is essential, necessary 
> and
> lways, always required. We can assist our children in learning to be
> ndependent. I want us to function as an integral part of the National
> ederation of the Blind in its ongoing effort to eliminate discrimination 
> and
> rejudice against the blind and to achieve for the blind security, equality 
> and
> pportunity. I am asking for your support for Lenora Marten as President of
> ational Federation of the Blind Florida Parents.20Thank you!
>
> Lenora Marten
> 7175 Overland Park Blvd E
> Jacksonville, FL  32244
> 904-777-5976 – home
> 904-229-9554 – cell
> bluegolfshoes at aol.com
>
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