[Nfbf-l] submitting my name as a candidate for the position of Board Member of the National Federation of the Blind of Florida.

[peter cerullo]

 This appeal was written in the true MMB spirit, and I'm looking forward to
meeting you at convention in introducing you to the greater Daytona beach
chapter members that will be attending this event. Thank you
On Fri, May 19, 2017 at 4:50 AM peter cerullo <peter.cerullo at gmail.com>
wrote:

>
> On Fri, May 19, 2017 at 3:06 AM Jeanette via Nfbf-l <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org>
> wrote:
>
>> Dear NFBF family:
>> My name is Jeanette Torres and I am writing to submit my name as a
>> candidate
>> for the position of Board Member of the National Federation of the Blind
>> of
>> Florida.
>> Below is a brief bio for you to consider. If I were to describe myself in
>> one word, it would be "persevering." I work hard until I achieve what I
>> need
>> to achieve. I remain committed to a desired goal, and I am willing to
>> invest
>> the necessary time and effort to succeed. I do not give up easily and I
>> persevere when confronted with obstacles. My passion to succeed inspires
>> others to follow through and reach the goals they set for themselves. I
>> motivate others through my dedication.
>> I was born with retinopathy of prematurity, making me totally blind. I am
>> currently thirty-eight. I was born in Santuse, Puerto Rico and I moved to
>> Tampa, Florida when I was two because there are more opportunities for the
>> blind here. I was mainstreamed in public schools. Currently I continue to
>> reside in Tampa Florida. I attended the University of South Florida where
>> I
>> earned a degree in criminology and am currently looking for an either job
>> in
>> my field of study, IT Help Desk work, or advocacy for the blind.
>> Some of my interests include advocating for blind people, dogs, Martial
>> Arts, playing the Violin, Playing Play-by-post role-playing games,
>> Listening
>> to music, reading, Socializing with friends, Troubleshooting PC and iPhone
>> problems, PC Maintenance, Video gaming, Watching movies, Watching
>> television, and Web surfing.
>> After hearing about the NFB Training Centers while messaging with someone
>> online in 2010, I tried to find a way to get my VR Agency to take me as a
>> client so I could get training. With the help, advice and support of Anil
>> Lewis, as well as the persistence of Pam Allen, in 2016 I attended and
>> graduated from the adult training program at the Louisiana Center for the
>> Blind. While in training, I increased my reading speed in Braille, was
>> taught cane travel, and was taught home management skills. I was also
>> given
>> the opportunity to attend in person my first national convention. Growing
>> up, I had no exposure to successful positive blind role models. The blind
>> people I knew would engage in habits such as excessive rocking and eye
>> poking, had low expectations placed upon them, and were immature. I did
>> not
>> know any blind people who were working successfully as scientists,
>> lawyers,
>> teachers, or businessmen. I did not know anyone who could help me unlock
>> my
>> potential by showing me strategies they used to do their job as well as
>> their sighted colleagues. There was no one who could help me see that it
>> was
>> truly possible for me to live the life I want. I had no blind community
>> that
>> I could turn to for support. However, while in training at the Louisiana
>> Center for the Blind, I discovered the value of the Federation. For the
>> first time I realized that, I am not alone. I have a network of people
>> just
>> like me. They not only understood the challenges I faced, but also lived
>> and
>> overcame some of the very same issues I had been struggling with every
>> day.
>> After listening to the audio stream of the National Convention in 2015, I
>> had developed a passion for the legislative efforts of the Federation,
>> which
>> drove my interest in pursuing advocacy and policy on behalf of blind
>> people.
>> I have been discriminated against and overprotected for the majority of my
>> life and people have tried to close doors on me but I try not to let them
>> succeed. My own struggles had created in me a deep personal desire to
>> ensure
>> that no more blind people would be prevented from achieving their dreams
>> as
>> I was. For me, advocacy for the blind is not merely an aspiration; it is a
>> personal passion. I want to be a part of it. I think the blind of the
>> future
>> should have opportunities that I did not have, and they should have
>> another
>> blind person working with them and fighting for them. Here is an
>> organization in which I could help to fight discrimination and increase
>> opportunity for all the blind. I could participate actively in this
>> movement
>> for civil rights and equal opportunity. I've gone to Capitol Hill, meeting
>> with our representatives in Congress advocating for Rights for the Blind.
>> We must change the attitudes of both the public and the agencies doing
>> work
>> with the blind. This is why I'm part of the Federation. This is why I give
>> to it all that I can.
>> I have been a part of our Federation family a little over a year now. I
>> am a
>> proud NFB member, and I love working to continue changing what it means to
>> be blind. I'm also so proud to be among such driven individuals. The
>> National Federation of the Blind has been enormously helpful in my life so
>> I'm looking to have an opportunity to give back. Success starts with
>> learning and growing so let's go build the Federation. I am excited and
>> humbled to work with so many other intelligent, and passionate blind
>> people
>> to continue raising the expectations of blind people. I am ready to build
>> the Federation so all blind people can live the lives we want! I look
>> forward to working with all of you to transform our dreams into reality!
>> Please consider voting for me as a member of the Florida state board on
>> Monday morning at convention.
>> Sincerely,
>> Jeanette Torres
>>
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