[Nfbk] Kentucky Cardinal Winter 2015 (Within Email Body)

[Lora J Felty]

The Kentucky Cardinal


Winter 2015


 

This is a Publication of the National Federation of the Blind of Kentucky.

 

We invite and encourage your participation in this newsletter. Articles may
be edited for length, and the editors reserve the right to judge suitability
for this publication. Material must take the form of an attachment to an
e-mail and may be submitted to any of the editors.

 

A Message from our President: Cathy Jackson

Happy 75th BirthdayNational Federation of the Blind

 

This is indeed a historical time in the National Federation of the Blind.
History tells us that there were organized groups of blind people as far
back as 1,000 years ago in China and in the Middle Ages in Europe. These
self-governing guilds or brotherhoods were formed to protect the blind from
exploitation by the government and to regulate the trade and craft areas of
employment. In November of 1940, there were sixteen delegates from seven
states that came together in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania to officially
organize the National Federation of the Blind. To refresh your memory the
seven states were: Pennsylvania, California, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Missouri,
Illinois, and Ohio. Under the leadership of our first President, Jacobus
tenBroek, our founding fathers and mothers were following their dream of
organizing for the purpose of national unity and self-expression of the
blind.

 

Seventy-five years later there are fifty-two affiliates, including
Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico. There are over seven hundred local chapters
and countless divisions. We are one organization united to fulfill our
purpose, which is "the complete integration of the blind into society on the
basis of equality".

 

In 1940 our national headquarters was housed in Dr. Jacobus and Hazel
TenBroek's tiny apartment. Now we own a beautiful building that spans one
square block at 200 Wells Street in Baltimore, Maryland. Our National Center
is the hub of considerable activity. In addition to the approximate one
hundred employees of the Federation, there are numerous volunteers in every
affiliate who make our organization such a tremendous success. There is a
constant buzz of activity at the Center, even on weekends. Our technology
center is second-to-none. The teckies here work with companies like: IBM,
Apple, Microsoft, and others to build accessible products. Our Jernigan
Institute focuses on the education of the blind. One of our most popular and
innovative projects is our BELL program, (Braille Education for Learning and
Literacy). More than half of our affiliates will be hosting BELL programs
this summer, including the NFB of Kentucky. Our Jacobus tenBroek Library is
the largest library in the world devoted to blindness. It contains the
history of our movement as well as the biographies and autobiographies of
those men and women on whose shoulders we stand. The library is a tremendous
resource for not only the blind, but sighted people who are seeking more
information about blindness.

 

Our members and sighted colleagues gather at our center for leadership
seminars, senior blind seminars, scholarship committee meetings, law
symposiums, affiliate president trainings, and legislative seminars, just to
mention a few.

 

One of the very first goals of the National Federation of the Blind was to
legislate laws that would make blind people eligible for Social Security and
other forms of public assistance. Dr. tenBroek believed that if blind people
had adequate financial resources to meet their basic needs, the attitudes of
the blind would be greatly improved, motivating them to look for employment.
Over the years we have continued to keep the Social Security Disability laws
in tact. We have worked to increase the annual earnings limits so that those
who wish to enter the workforce are not penalized for taking low-paying
entry-level jobs, which do not offer medical benefits. The NFB has
intervened in thousands of cases when a blind individual is denied SSDI
benefits, or a current recipient has been charged with an overpayment. 

 

Competitive integrated employment is another issue that our organization
takes very seriously. In the early days of the NFB, jobs for the blind were
few and far between. There were a lucky few who found occupations as
teachers and staff members in schools for the blind or state rehabilitation
agencies serving the blind. Others found employment in the so-called blind
trades such as piano tuning, chair caning, and in vending stands. The
majority took work in sheltered shops making pennies on the hour. Because of
the efforts and determination of the National Federation of the Blind, the
employment opportunities for the blind have grown ten-fold. Our blind
teachers are teaching in public schools across the United States. Blind
people are now serving as directors of our state agencies. Those who were
tuning pianos and working in vending facilities are now businessmen and
women in every sense of the word. They are hiring and firing their
employees, running cafeterias, and managing the facility on every level.
Over the past several years, we have voiced our dissatisfaction about the
blind and other disabled workers being paid for less than the federal
minimum wage. We have been successful in getting HR 188, The Transitioning
to Integrated and Meaningful Employment Act (TIME) Act introduced into the
House of Representatives. This act will repeal section 14(c) of the Fair
Labor Standards Act, which will make it illegal to pay the blind or disabled
less than the federal minimum wage.

Once again, because of the hard work of the National Federation of the
Blind, we continue to make sure that blind students of all ages will receive
an equal education. Early on, it was the National Federation of the Blind
who stood behind parents who chose to enroll their son or daughter in a
public school, rather than having him or her attend the state run school for
the blind. Today our blind students are enjoying the fruits of these
battles. We the NFB witnessed President George W. Bush sign into law the
Instructional Materials Access Act for students in grades Kindergarten
through 12. This law simply stated that students who are blind or print
impaired will have books available to them in their preferred format,
including Braille. Furthermore, these materials will be available at the
same time that they're offered to students reading print. In 2015, we
continue to move forward in the area of education to include those attending
college and post secondary education. Another one of our issues presented at
the annual Washington Seminar was our TEACH Act. TEACH stands for
Technology, Education, and Accessibility in College and Higher Education,
and addresses inaccessible instructional material in these venues. The scope
of educational materials has changed as a result of advancements in
technology. The instructional materials in higher education have expanded to
include: digital books, PDF's, WebPages, etc., most of which is delivered
through digital databases. The National Federation of the Blind is extremely
focused on removing significant barriers to equality in the classroom. Once
more, the NFB has the know-how and can work with colleges and universities,
publishers, and manufacturers to identify just what accessibility is for the
visually impaired.

 

There is no denying how important a formal education is. It is however, as
equally important for blind people to learn the art of using non-visual
techniques to perform the skills of everyday living. We cannot hope to reach
full inclusion into society unless we become competent and are able to
function independently. Proper instruction on the use of a long white cane
is one of the most basic skills needed by the blind. Traveling with a cane
opens the door to freedom of travel. We can be as capable traveling to our
offices, to our child's school play, to church, or walking along the streets
of Paris France as we are with making a trip to the corner grocery in our
neighborhood. Blind people can learn to cook, clean and do laundry too. The
best place to learn these skills is at one of our National Federation of the
Blind Training Centers. You can find an NFB Center in: Louisiana, Minnesota,
and Colorado. What makes our training centers stand head and shoulders above
the others is the preeminent standard for excellence set by the schools for
their students. Another unique feature is that blind instructors actually
teach and mentor the students. Teaching by example reinforces our positive
can-do attitudes about blindness.

 

I have to admit that I am never surprised by the accomplishments of the
National Federation of the Blind, but I have to be truthful; there are
things that boggle my mind. NFB is the brainchild behind the development and
continued improvement of NFB NEWSLINE®. The blind and print impaired readers
have electronic access to over 350 newspapers, 42 magazines and 14
International publications via touch-tone telephone, on-line, downloading to
a DAISY/MP3 player, or iOS device. We can structure a Local Channel where we
can announce events in our local chapters, state affiliates and communities.
This very issue of the Kentucky Cardinal will be available on our state's
Local Channel (on your touch tone telephone, select the Local Channel -
option 2 off of the main menu, option 4, and option 22). One of the most
popular features is the ability to receive emergency weather alerts, which
are vital to our safety. We no longer have to wonder what announcement is
scrolling across the television screen when we hear the emergency alert
tones. 

 

I am not sure that anyone in the NFB back in 1940 thought a blind man would
actually drive a car without sighted assistance. Oh sure, I would imagine
blind people dreamed of what it would be like, but the technology didn't
exist. Well, it does now! President Mark Riccobono drove an automobile
equipped with non visual technology around the track at the Daytona
International Speedway just before the Rolex 24 in front of thousands of
racecar enthusiasts and hundreds of Federationists. Some say we should be
concentrating on the more pressing issues of blindness. They say that most
of us couldn't afford to purchase a car outfitted with such hi-tech
features, even if we wanted to. Some believe we should focus on accessible
appliances, not accessible cars. However, we haven't abandoned any of our
blindness issues, nor our objectives to make the kitchen more user-friendly
for the blind. The accessible car has technology that has since been adopted
by the major car manufacturers. This collaboration has opened endless
possibilities for future teamwork with some of the most prominent companies
in the country. Without a doubt, such joint efforts will help change the
negative attitudes about blindness held by the general public. They will see
that blind people are intelligent, capable, and imaginative human beings who
set goals for themselves just as sighted people do! They will come to know
that we are just like them; we just happen to be blind.

 

So who are we? The National Federation of the Blind is the nation's oldest
and largest organization of the blind. We know that blindness is not what
holds us back and that we can live the life we want. We look back proudly
over the last 75 years and celebrate the accomplishments of the
organization. We will continue to look ahead for the next 75 years, and
dream about what the future will hold for the generations to come.

Come help us celebrate our 75th birthday this summer at our National
Convention in Orlando, Florida the week of July 5th through the 10th at the
Rosen Center Hotel. Our conventions are always exciting! I can only imagine
what will be in store for us this year!!

The Bells Are Gonna Ring in the Bluegrass State!
By Michael Freholm

 

That's right, folks, the NFB BELL program is coming to Kentucky this summer!
What is the NFB BELL program you ask? BELL stands for Braille Enrichment for
Literacy and Learning. The NFB BELL Program is designed to provide intensive
Braille instruction to blind and low vision children during the summer
months. This program is meant to serve students who are not currently
receiving enough Braille instruction in school or who could benefit from
Braille enrichment over the summer. The goal of this program is to provide
children ages 4-12 with two weeks of intense Braille instruction through
fun, hands-on learning activities. I cannot imagine a Federationist who
wouldn't get excited about this!

 

Kentucky's NFB BELL program will be held July 20-24 and 27-31, 2015 at the
South Ashland United Methodist Church in Ashland, kY. The facilities there
are ideal for this type of program and the church is very excited to host.

 

If you have any questions please contact Michael Freholm, program
coordinator by phone or text at 859-608-2470 or email at
<mailto:mfreholm at unbridledaccess.com> Michael Freholm

 

If you are interested in volunteering we are interested in hearing from you.
We need volunteers on site but we also will have things we need help with
that you can do from your home. You can also talk to Briley O'Connor, Cathy
Jackson, Katie Atkins, Lora Felty Stephens and others who are busy planning
this huge, life-changing program for our kids.

 

NFB Washington Seminar 2015

The National Federation of the Blind of Kentucky delegation that attended
the NFB Washington Seminar 2015 included, President Cathy Jackson, Melanie
Peskoe and Michael Freholm. Members from the NFB of Kentucky provided
informational materials pertaining to issues that are important to blind and
disabled Americans.

 

NFB is counting on the support of Kentucky's Congress Members regarding the
legislative initiatives. They are: 1. The Transitioning to Integrated and
Meaningful Employment (TIME) Act (HR 188) Passed in 1938, Section 14(c) of
the Fair Labor Standards Act allows employers to pay workers with
disabilities subminimum wages. This antiquated provision breeds low
expectations and discourages disabled Americans from reaching their full
potential. HR 188 will responsibly phase out the use of Section 14(c)
Special Wage Certificates over a three year period, ending the era of
segregated, subminimum wage work. 2. The Technology, Education, and
Accessibility in College and Higher Education (TEACH) Act Technology has
replaced traditional methods of learning in postsecondary education, but the
overwhelming majority of e-books, courseware, web content, and other
technology are inaccessible to students with print disabilities. Preexisting
law requires equal access in the classroom but fails to provide direction to
schools for how that applies to technology. The TEACH Act creates voluntary
accessibility guidelines for educational technology to improve access for
blind students, stimulate the market, and reduce litigation for schools.
Just after the NFB Washington Seminar, the 2015 NFB Washington Seminar Recap
video was published on the NFB's Youtube page. Please check it out if you
missed it!  <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QusTv4RIolI> Washington Seminar
Recap

 

In just days after the Seminar ended, there were several exciting updates on
our legislative priorities. The TIME Act (HR 188) is up to 28 cosponsors.
This is a fantastic way to kick off the session, and provides great leverage
for negotiating a Senate companion bill.

 

The very day the Washington Seminar concluded, Lauren McLarney and John Paré
ran an intense negotiation meeting with the higher education lobby regarding
TEACH policy, right in the Holiday Inn Capitol! It was the most productive
meeting that they have had to date, an outcome driven by the energy that was
present throughout the Seminar. Thanks to the NFB advocacy, several offices
have been heard from eager to see the language, giving more leverage to
hopefully have a bill in the next month.

 

Scott LaBarre and Lauren McLarney recently attended an informal meeting of
stakeholders about the Marrakesh Treaty. It turns out, the advocacy during
Washington Seminar was the first time (and only time, as of yet) that anyone
had brought the Treaty before members of Congress. Because of the
delegation's feedback, it was learned that the Marrakesh Treaty was not on
many people's radar. The ratification package is expected any day now.

 

Another issue on everyone's mind lately is Social Security. Although that
was not a priority at this year's Washington Seminar, NFB is starting to
dive into the issue. The team is working with President Riccobono and other
Federation leaders on a strategy to combat proposed cuts to the program,
make sure NFB is at the table for critical reform conversations, and
reinvigorate the initiative to improve SSDI work incentives. The team plans
to mobilize on this very soon, so please standby!

 

NFB of Kentucky appreciated the time, professionalism and attention that
legislative staff paid to the issues that were brought to the attention of
Kentucky's Congress Members. NFBK remains committed to working on the
endeavor to accomplish these goals on behalf of Kentuckians who are blind or
disabled!

 

Respectfully Submitted By Pamela Roark-glisson, NFBK Legislative Director

 

National Federation of the Blind Washington Seminar January 26 - 28 2015
by Melanie Peskoe

 

I was fortunate to have the opportunity to attend the Washington Seminar
this year with our NFBK President, Cathy Jackson and my fellow NFBK member
and friend, Michael Freholm. Although we were a small delegation we were
mighty.

 

Before the official Washington Seminar began I attended the National
Association of Blind Students semi-annual seminar. I was glad to meet
different college students from around the country and hear about what
student divisions in other states are doing to progress our movement. There
was a real energy in the room that was nearly tangible. These students were
very excited and passionate about issues of importance to blind students and
I could tell they were ready to get busy in DC! We heard from the National
Association of Blind Students President, Sean Whalen; President of the
National Association of Blind Lawyers, Scott LaBarre; and none other than
our own National Federation of the Blind President, Mark Riccobono. Yes, the
energy in the room was high!

 

Later in the afternoon on Monday the traditional Great Gathering In was held
in the same ballroom. For those who don't know, this is something akin to a
team huddle (except on a much, much larger scale). Everyone gathers to hear
from NFB national leadership and employees in our governmental affairs
office about the key issues we are there to discuss with our Representatives
and Senators. If we're lucky we may even get a visit from elected officials
who either have or plan to support our efforts. The Gathering In has been so
well attended that in recent years there has been a need for an overflow
room in which attendees hear over a loud speaker what's being discussed in
the main ballroom. Remember how I said the energy in the student meeting was
almost tangible? Well, that was nothing compared to the excitement and
energy of the Gathering In! Cheers and applause could be heard far outside
the ballroom when someone would make a call to action. NFB members can
really raise the roof!

 

After the Gathering In, Cathy, Michael and I met to discuss how we would
address the issues with our Senators and Representatives and Cathy briefed
us on our appointment times and locations so we could plan out the next two
days. There are several Senate and Congressional office buildings, many of
which are connected through underground walking tunnels, to which we travel
for our appointments. Kentucky has six Representatives and two Senators
located in four different buildings, so we were preparing to hustle!

 

On Tuesday, January 27, we were hopping all over to make our five scheduled
appointments! We had a couple close calls, but luckily we always arrived
cool, calm and collected (if not a bit winded!) The lineup for Tuesday was
Congressman Guthrie in the Cannon building at 1:00, Congressman Yarmuth
(still in Cannon) at 2:00, Congressman Barr in the Longworth building at
2:30, Congressman Whitfield in Rayburn at 3:00, and finally Senator
McConnell in the Russell building at 4:00. Can you say busy? Yes, we were
very busy, but it was a good busy and we were looking forward to a good
dinner afterward! More about the dinner in a minute


 

During our Tuesday meetings we were fortunate to meet directly with both
Congressmen Yarmuth and Barr, both of whom were very pleasant and interested
in the issues we presented. In the rest of the meetings we met one of the
senior staffers who may handle the policy area to which one or more of our
issues belong. While some appointments went better than others and some
people were more receptive to our issues, everyone was very welcoming and
willing to listen. By the time we wrapped up our last meeting on Tuesday the
three of us were getting pretty hungry and Michael twisted our arm to go
have some soul food at a local restaurant he'd visited before after seeing
it on the TV show Diners Drive-Ins and Dives. The restaurant was called
Ooohs and Aaahs and it was as good as its name implies! If you ever find
yourself in DC and your stomach is growling, grab a taxi and head over there
- you won't regret it.

After a very huge, yet economic meal, we headed back to the hotel to regroup
and rest up for our last three appointments on Wednesday. Wednesday wasn't
nearly as hectic as Tuesday had been. We had three appointments and they
were luckily spread out over a few hours. When at the mercy of our Senators
and Representatives busy schedules we had to take what we could get by way
of appointment times. While we're talking about appointments, this is a good
time to thank our legislative chairperson, Pamela Glisson, for working hard
to secure our appointments. So our agenda for Wednesday went like this:
Congressman Massey in Cannon at 9:30, Congressman Rogers in Rayburn at
11:30, and Senator Paul in Russell at 1:30. Between appointments we had a
little time to stop by the House of Representatives gift shop and pick up a
few souvenirs and have a good lunch in the House cafeteria. By our last
appointment on Tuesday we had our spiel down pat so our Wednesday
appointments were a breeze. We knew who would speak on which issue, who
would jump in with supporting information or anecdotal stories, and who
would pick up anything that was left out. We had it down cold and we were
like a well-oiled machine. John Paré and Rose Sloan, from the NFB department
of governmental affairs, attended our meetings with Senators McConnell and
Paul and both commended us on a job well done. After our last meeting of the
day, we caught a taxi back to the hotel and began preparing to come back
home where the rubber meets the road and the real work is done.

 

The 2015 Washington Seminar was a great experience. it's amazing to see our
government up close and personal. It's very exciting and surreal to think
about all the history that is made in those offices and hallways every day.
While everyone with whom we spoke was open to our issues and some may even
join us in our cause, we must persevere in our efforts to change attitudes
about blindness and live the lives we want.

 

Have You Heard?

 

As the Winter edition of The Cardinal is composed, Kentucky and surrounding
states is seeing an entire season of snow packed into one week. The week of
February 15 has blanketed us with a snow and frigid temperatures we will not
soon forget. Good news! Spring is just around the corner and our NFBK family
is celebrating new beginnings that will bless them for a lifetime!

Last June, Danielle Burton, a member of the Ashland Chapter spent several
weeks at Guiding Eyes for the Blind where she trained with her first guide
dog, Willa. Here are some thoughts that she had as she was first introduced
to her new partner and friend


 

"I got Willa on June 3, 2014 at Guiding Eyes for the Blind. She is an almost
3 year old yellow Labrador retriever. I will never forget that day she came
bouncing into my life. As I sat on my bed waiting on my instructor to come
knock on my door with my dog, the only thing I could think was that it was
taking forever and how would my dog react. I couldn't sit still. I found
myself pacing the room nervously and texting on my phone constantly, to
attempt to occupy myself. Then, I finally heard the knock on my door and my
instructor's voice. I nearly forgot to take my leash to the door. Running
back to my bed to get the leash I managed to call through the door that I
was, in fact, coming. Then, after what felt like the longest 10 steps of my
life, I opened the door to my new guide. She came almost barging into my
room and the instructor held her on leash while I clipped my leash onto her
collar. A small thing to do but to me it was a start of a turning point in
my life.

 

It took me a minute to actually get the leash clipped due to such intense
emotions. I was having trouble thinking straight; however, I did eventually
get the leash clipped. It only took a few seconds in reality, but I could
have held that moment forever. The trainer then had me sit in the desk chair
while she brought Willa over to me. This was a good thing since I do not
think I could have stood much longer. There were too many emotions going
through me at one time. I was excited and nervous all at the same time; not
to mention that Willa was not in any way calm. She was literally squirming
with excitement and energy at the new situation. I must confess that this
shocked me a little bit. At the time, I thought that this dog was a little
bit too energetic; however, I could not help but find her high energy level
sweet and adorable. A part of me also wondered if I could even handle such
an energetic animal. I mean, I'm small, and she was a big dog. When I was
finally sitting in the chair the trainer brought Willa over on the leash and
handed me a handful of treats. I was instructed to call Willa to me, and
when she came, to praise and treat her a few times. I was touched at how
eager she was to come. Of course, we all know that Labradors love food,
which was most likely the main reason she was coming at this point, but it
was still precious the way she took her nose and pushed against my hand. I
can vaguely remember the trainer talking to me during this time;it was
barely registering in my brain, although I somehow processed what she was
saying. It was a little bit too much for my brain to deal with at that
particular moment. Then, before I knew what was happening, the trainer was
handing me the leash to a not so calm dog and told me to hang out with her
until lunch, and if I had any questions to just call. The next few minutes
were spent trying to keep up with a dog who insisted on sniffing every
single inch of my room. After the trainer left us to get to know each other,
I finally came to my senses enough to sit down in the floor with Willa. I
was surprised at how quickly she calmed down and stretched out on the floor
beside me. I began to pet her and found myself talking to her. The longer I
sat there, the more I could not believe I was actually petting my first
guide dog.

 

I was already starting to love this dog. Within those 15 to 20 minutes her
personality was already growing on me. There was a strange connection I had
with her that I cannot describe. She barely knew me and was already giving
me tons of kisses and wagging her tail. She didn't know me, but it was
apparent that she already liked me. Although it may have been because I gave
her food, and if you give a dog food, they will certainly love you for it
regardless of who you are.

 

So, there we sat on the floor for the next hour before lunch. I could have
sat in that floor all day with her and been just fine with that. I knew
lunch time would be our first adventure we would have together as a team.
Although I had no idea of what was in store for us, I knew even then that we
would make it, somehow and some way."

Angela Dehart, secretary of the NFB Ashland Chapter, graduated from Morehead
State University in May with a BA degree in education. She spent the summer
filling out job applications and hoping she would get a job. After a
disappointing job interview in June, Angela feared that she would not get
hired for the 2014-2015 school year; however, on July 28, she received a
call from the Fairview Independent School district in Ashland, offering her
a job at Fairview Elementary teaching students in grades K-5 with severe
cognitive disabilities, and she was to report to work the next day. Angela
experienced so many different emotions at that time, but she has nearly
completed her first year as a full time teacher. Angela, we are very proud
of you and all of your hard work!

 

Last September, John Glisson, secretary of the NFB Lexington Chapter and
NFBK board member, was re-elected as the President of the Kentuckiana
Regional Group of the Blinded Veterans Association (BVA), Inc.-Lexington
Chapter, beginning his eleventh year of service to blind veterans and their
families. Congratulations on your re-election, John!!!

 

On October 16, 2014, Michael, Kennetta, Wesli and Ian Freholm of the Ashland
Chapter were excited to welcome the newest member of the Freholm clan, Miss
Eva Kate Freholm. Mom, Kennetta, says that little Evie is a cuddle bug. She
is a mommy's girl and she loves to snuggle. Congratulations Freholm family
on the new addition to your family!

 

On Saturday, December 20, 2014, Lora Felty, secretary of the NFB of Kentucky
and president of the Ashland Chapter and Todd Stephens, president of the
Technology Assistance Division (TAD) and former first vice-president of the
Lexington Chapter were married at First Baptist Church Russell.
Federationists, Angela Dehart and Danielle Burton were maid of honor and
bridesmaid to Lora, and Chris, Todd's brother, was Todd's best man. Todd and
Lora were so very happy to have many members of their NFBK family from
across Kentucky and Indiana to share in the celebration of their special
day. If you missed the occasion and would like to see photos, hear audio and
see videos of the wedding, please visit Todd and Lora's wedding web site at
<http://www.lorantodd.net/photos.html> http://www.lorantodd.net/photos.html;
the password to view the protected content is ltstephens2014. Enjoy!

 

Chris Stewart, a member of the NFB Lexington Chapter, law student at the
University of Kentucky and NFBK 2014 scholarship winner was published as
co-author on an article for the London School of Economics and Politics. The
subject was the role of state court judges in defining the right to vote.
The piece was published in December, and a PDF version is now archived at
<http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/60428/> http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/60428/
Congratulations on your publication, Chris!

 

After ten years of service as Executive Director of Independence Place, the
NFB of Lexington chapter President, Pamela Roark-Glisson, has moved into
engaging services for people who are blind or who have other disabilities in
a new and greater dimension at the state and national level.

 

Corbb and Briley O'Connor of the Greater Louisville Chapter look forward to
welcoming their first child, a son, named Silas! Silas will arrive in April.
Corbb and Briley are appreciative of prayers for God's grace throughout
these final few weeks and for this baby to glorify Him! Best wishes for the
new addition to the O'Connor family!

 

Kevin Pearl, member of the NFB of Greater Louisville, is the new manager of
the vending facility in the Gene Snyder building in downtown Louisville.
Good luck, Kevin with your new job opportunity! We wish you lots of success
in this new venture!

 

Miss Hana Priddy, daughter of nickie and Kevin Pearl, of the Greater
Louisville Chapter and grand-daughter of our NFBK President, Cathy Jackson,
will graduate from Presentation Academy in Louisville on May 16. She was
offered a scholarship and has signed her letter of intent to play Lacrosse
for the University of Indianapolis Greyhounds next fall. Congratulations
hana and family! We are so proud of you!

 

Our NFBK family has many things to look forward to this spring; new love,
new life, and new beginnings! May God comfort each of you through this
season and always remember to "live the life you want!"

Chapter Round-UP

 

NFB of Ashland Chapter Update: Lora Felty Stephens, President: Regretfully,
the Ashland Chapter doesn't have much to report in regards to NFB related
news in recent months because the members of the chapter have been
preoccupied with new and exciting life changes; first guide dog, new job,
new baby and new marriage. Six members of the Ashland Chapter attended the
NFBK state convention in Louisville this past September. The only member who
was unable to join us was Kennetta, wife of Michael Freholm who stayed home
to await the birth of their daughter. As a part of Meet the Blind Month, the
Ashland Chapter had planned to participate in a white cane walk being
planned by Verna Howell, Kentucky School for the Blind Outreach Consultant,
that was to be held in Greenup, Kentucky. Unfortunately, this event was
cancelled at the last minute. Verna says that she plans to hold the event in
2015, and the Ashland Chapter will be there to support the event. Due to our
hectic schedules, we did not have our annual Christmas party; however, all
of the members of the Ashland Chapter were on hand to celebrate the marriage
of president, Lora Felty to Todd Stephens on December 20. Michael Freholm
attended the BELL Seminar at the national office in Baltimore in December.
He and Lora Felty Stephens are involved in planning the upcoming BELL
Program that is scheduled to take place here in Ashland in July. The chapter
looks forward to assisting in making Kentucky's first BELL Program a great
success.

NFB of Frankfort Chapter Update: Ranelle Mackey, secretary of the Frankfort
Chapter, reports: The new slate of officers for the Frankfort Chapter in
2015 is President, George Stokes, 1st Vice President, Darlene Stephens,
Secretary, Ranelle Mackey and Treasurer, Betty Allen.

 

In January, we had a representative from Hospice speak to us. We voted to
donate $100 to support the work of Hospice.

 

Our fund raiser this year will be the gas card (Valued $400) raffle, and we
will begin selling tickets soon. This went over extremely well last year, so
we thought we would try it again. Tickets are $5 for one, or three for $10.
Contact a member of the Frankfort Chapter to purchase a chance.

 

At this time, five members of the Frankfort Chapter are planning to attend
the75th annual national Convention in Orlando, FL, and we are hoping that a
couple more members will work it out to join us there.

We would like to say "Job Well Done" and congratulations to Greater
Louisville for a very successful chili supper and live auction. We had lots
of fun with our Louisville friends!

 

NFB of Lexington Chapter Update: Pamela Roark-Glisson, President: NFB of
Lexington remains dedicated to the efforts of changing what it means to be
blind in promoting living the life you want through advocacy and outreach.
Just after the 74th national convention of NFB, where NFB of Lexington was
well represented, chapter members continued the devotion to loosening the
chains in the world of print through the chapter's work in promoting
accessible audio information services. The NFB of Lexington members joined
with the NFBK Technology Assistance Division members to plan and participate
in the Technology Assistance 2014 Symposium to kick off the 67th NFBK state
convention. Ten chapter members participated in the activities of the state
convention to support the NFBK President and her efforts to promote
inclusion across the Commonwealth. The chapter members were encouraged and
energized by the banquet address delivered by Mr. Sam Gleese, the NFB
national representative.

 

The Chapter President and Secretary participated in the year-long planning
of the Eye Opening Symposium which occurred In Lexington on October 8 and
was well attended by teachers of the visually impaired, service providers,
ophthalmologists and people who are blind from across the state. The
National Federation of the Blind was highlighted, along with other consumer
and service organizations. This community event was held in recognition of
the White Cane Safety Day.

 

In November the NFB of Lexington chapter organized and participated in a Bob
Evans Family Restaurant fund raising opportunity. Chapter members spent an
entire day working an exhibit table and sharing with restaurant customers
about NFB.

 

The NFB of Lexington chapter is looking forward to 2015 activities of
advocacy, outreach, and living the life we want.

 

An Update from NFBGL: Katie Adkins, President: As always, we've been
extremely busy here in Louisville! Right after convention ended we got
started on Meet the Blind Month in October. Members set up tables and
informed the public about NFB at both the St. Stephen's Martyr health fair
and the Office for the Blind open house. This year's White Cane Day was a
rainy one, but several of our members braved the weather in order for NFBGL
to have a strong presence, as we always do. In December we had our annual
Christmas party at Hourstbourne Christian Church. We had a wonderful
turnout, enjoyed a great dinner, and Santa even came to visit the kids! For
the past several years, NFBGL has made donating to local children in need a
priority for Christmas, this year was no different. This year we chose three
children from KSB that would benefit from presents from us. As always our
members went out of their way to make sure these kids had a wonderful
Christmas.

 

Two weeks ago we had our annual chili supper and auction. We had some
wonderful items this year that helped us bring in tons of money, once again.
We really appreciate the support we received not only from our members here
in Louisville, but also from those of you that came from around the state to
help support us. Thank you!

 

Our goal for the past couple of months and for the months to come has really
been to raise enough money to send our hardworking members to this year's
national convention for the 75th anniversary. We knew we would make a good
amount of money at the chili supper, but we wanted to start thinking outside
of the box so that we could make as much money as possible. Our fundraising
committee has been hard at work doing just that. In January we launched our
Birthday Bonanza raffle. First prize for the raffle will be a 50' inch class
T.V., second prize is a $200 air voucher to Southwest airlines, (a great way
to get to convention!) and third place is a $100 gas gift card. Tickets are
one for $5 or 3 for $10. Tickets can be bought online at nfbgl.org or from a
GL member. The raffle drawing will take place at the April Luncheon.

 

We've also started having local fundraising events each month. In January we
had a fundraising dinner at Mark's Feed Store and on March 11th we'll have
another dinner at Rockie's Pizza. Lastly, we are selling tickets for a night
of comedy at The Laughing Derby on February 27th. Comedian Henry Phillips is
sure to please all!

 

We are currently in the process of planning our April Luncheon. The April
Luncheon is our time to look back at what we've accomplished in the previous
year and make plans to do even better next year. Details will be coming out
about the luncheon within the coming weeks.

Technology Assistance Division (TAD) Update: Todd Stephens, President: Well,
the Kentucky Technology Assistance Division is and has been following up on
how best to continue its outreach in assistive technology to members of TAD
as well as other individuals with visual impairments. We are focused on
building on the TAD Assistive Technology Symposium, featured at the 2014 NFB
Kentucky Convention, which had an amazing turnout of more than sixty
individuals from all over the state. Our new program manager Cindy Sheets
has been hard at work planning and coordinating TAD's new training program,
otherwise known as TAD Tech Tuesday. Here is some detail that Cindy would
like to share with us about TAD Tech Tuesday:

 

Tech Tuesdays will always be held on the second Tuesday of the month and
feature a short presentation of a device, software, or app that will be
taught later in the month. These presentations are not designed to teach
step-by-step Instructions, but to give an over-view, list features, and give
you a chance to ask questions so you can decide if the item will meet your
needs or just simply be something you want.

 

To join the chat dial (712) 775-7031 and when prompted enter the code
192-638- 683. Tech Tuesdays are brought to you by the Technology Assistance
Division (TAD), a division of the National Federation of the Blind of
Kentucky. To find out more about us or how to join, go to
<http://www.nfbofky.org/> http://www.nfbofky.org> 

 

We are very excited about providing assistive technology instruction, and we
are excited about continuing our growth in NFB KY TAD membership. don't
forget to visit the Tad website at http://www.nfbkentuckytad.org

Our At Large Chapter: By NFBK President, Cathy Jackson: The National
Federation of the Blind of Kentucky finally took the plunge. For several
years we had talked about organizing an At Large Chapter. This past fall in
September Katie Adkins, Michael Freholm, and I facilitated our first
meeting. Katie and Michael are members of the Spirit of 75 committee
organized by the National Federation of the Blind as a means of building our
organization. We are celebrating our 75th anniversary of the NFB, and what
better way to celebrate than to invite others to join us in the movement.
The purpose of an at large chapter is to bring people together from across
the state who do not live in an area where there is an organized NFBK
chapter. Hopefully, at some point, we may actually find enough individuals
from a particular region that they can come together to form a physical
chapter. The ultimate goal is to build our membership.

 

Unfortunately we have not managed to generate enough members to charter an
at large chapter, nor a physical chapter, but we are persistent. In the
meantime we are spreading the word about the National Federation of the
Blind. We have had six meetings thus far. Some who call in are just becoming
acquainted with the NFB. Still others are very familiar with who we are and
what we are all about. We set an agenda for each month much like we do at
regular chapter meetings. We have discussed NFB philosophy, read and
discussed a Kernel story, talked about state and national conventions and
talked about our Washington Seminar issues. Something we would like to do at
a future meeting is to invite an NFB state president where an at large
chapter is flourishing to share with us their success story. At this point
in time we are not conducting business so therefore we do not keep minutes
or have a treasury.

 

We would like to ask all of you to help us in our quest to build our
affiliate by spreading the word about our at large chapter meetings. Katie,
Michael, and I make phone calls, send emails, and post announcements on
social media each month as a reminder. We encourage those who attend to
bring a friend or two to the next meeting, but we need to do more. If you
know of someone who you believe would be interested in joining us, please
reach out to him or her. Our meetings are held the second Monday of each
month at 8 O'clock Eastern time, 7 O'clock Central time. We are pretty good
about keeping on topic so you can expect a call to last about forty-five
minutes, on average. The call-in number is 1-712-432-0600, followed by an
access number, 1021099. You must have unlimited long distance on either your
land line or your cell phone or else you will be charged for a long distance
call. You might want to check with your carrier before calling to make sure
there are no charges associated with this number. If you or anyone you know
would like more information you are welcome to call me, Cathy Jackson, at
502-366-2317. Let's go build the Federation.

 

Cook's Nook

As these cold winter days have settled upon us, Angela Dehart shares two
special recipes with a Mexican flare that are sure to warm you up and give
you a lift as you try to keep cozy and snug as you dream about adventures
south of the border.

 

Taco Soup

Ingredients: 1.5 pounds ground lean beef (or turkey) 2 cans black beans, not
drained 2 cans kidney beans, not drained 2 cans whole kernel corn, not
drained 2 cans of diced tomatoes, not drained (I use Chili tomatoes) 2 cans
of diced tomatoes with green chilies, not drained 1 can of beef broth (If
using ground Turkey use chicken broth) 1 packet of ranch dressing dry
seasoning mix 1 packet of taco seasoning.

 

On the stove: Brown 1.5lbs lean ground beef drain and rinse.

 

In a slow cooker or large pot pour contents without draining or rinsing...

2 cans black beans 2 cans kidney beans 2 cans of whole kernel corn 2 cans
diced chili tomatoes 2 cans diced tomatoes with green chilies.

 

Add: Browned ground beef 1 packet of taco seasoning 1 packet ranch dressing
seasoning.

 

Cook on low for 2-4 hours.

 

This soup is good served with: Avocado, Shredded cheese, Tortilla chips,
Sour cream, or Hot sauce.

 

Homemade Tortilla Chips:

 

Ingredients: 8 - 6 inch corn tortillas Canola oil Sea salt Cracked black
pepper (optional).

 

Position racks in middle and lower third of oven; preheat to 375 degrees.
Coat both sides of each tortilla with cooking spray and cut into quarters.
Spread in an even layer on 2 large baking sheets. Sprinkle with salt and
pepper (optional) Bake, rotating the pans from top to bottom and stirring
once halfway through, until the chips are golden and crisp, 14 to 18
minutes.

These recipes are not of my own creation, but I have enjoyed tweaking them
and making them my own. I hope everyone else enjoys them as much as I do!

 

National Federation Of The Blind Of Kentucky
Officers And Board Of Directors

2014-2015

Executive Officers:

 

Cathy Jackson, President 210 Cambridge Dr. Louisville, KY 40214 (502)
366-2317 cathyj1949 at gmail.com 

 

Pamela Roark-Glisson, First-Vice President 3390 Montavesta Rd. Lexington, KY
40502 (859) 335-9282 pam.glisson at twc.com 

 

Charles Allen, Second-Vice President 801 Leawood Frankfort, KY 40601 (502)
875-1413 clbtallen at bellsouth.net 

 

Lora Felty Stephens, Secretary 1127 Sharon Ct. Ashland, KY 41101 (606)
324-3394 lorafelty at windstream.net 

J. Mike Freholm, Treasurer 2012 Harris Way Russell, KY 41169 (606) 839-0577
<mailto:mike at SoundAdviceAdvocates.com> mike at SoundAdviceAdvocates.com 

 

Board of Directors:

 

Katie Adkins 2025 Brownsboro Rd. Louisville, KY 40206 502-533-5933
kcpenn01 at louisville.edu 

 

Denise Franklin, 3639 Hurstbourne Ridge Blvd. Louisville, KY 40299 (502)
499-0759 kyfranks at yahoo.com 

 

John Glisson 3390 Montavesta Rd. Lexington, KY 40502 (859) 335-9282
j.glisson at twc.com 

 

Jennifer Hall 216 Maddux Ave. Salem, KY 42078 270-559-1780
Jennifer.hall at tds.net

George Stokes 202 Manor House Ln. Frankfort, KY 40601 (502) 875-3111
george4581 at gmail.com

 

Todd Stephens 1127 Sharon Ct. Ashland, KY 41101 (859) 433-5023
<mailto:todde.stephens at windstream.net> todde.stephens at windstream.net

 

 

 

President: Cathy Jackson, 210 Cambridge Drive, Louisville, Kentucky 40214,
Phone: (502) 366-2317, Email CathyJackson <cathyj1949 at gmail.com>

Edited by:Lora Felty Stephens & Todd Stephens, 1127 Sharon Court, Ashland,
Kentucky 41101,Phone: (606) 324-3394, Email Lora Felty Stephens
<lorafelty at windstream.net> or Todd E. Stephens
<todde.stephens at windstream.net>

Editorial staff: Jennifer Hall, Email Jennifer Hall <jennifer.hall at tds.net>
and Angela DeHart, Email Angela DeHart <acdehart91 at gmail.com>

 

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://nfbnet.org/pipermail/nfbk_nfbnet.org/attachments/20150306/442e759f/attachment.html>