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<DIV><SPAN class=281084201-18112010><FONT color=#0000ff size=2
face=Arial>Thought some of you would be interested in this.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=281084201-18112010><FONT color=#0000ff size=2
face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=281084201-18112010><FONT color=#0000ff size=2
face=Arial>Cathy</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr class=OutlookMessageHeader align=left><FONT size=2
face=Tahoma>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B>
nfbnet-members-list-bounces@nfbnet.org
[mailto:nfbnet-members-list-bounces@nfbnet.org]<B>On Behalf Of </B>Mary Ellen
(by way of David Andrews<dandrews@visi.com>)<BR><B>Sent:</B> Wednesday,
November 17, 2010 12:06 PM<BR><B>To:</B>
nfbnet-members-list@nfbnet.org<BR><B>Subject:</B> [Nfbnet-members-list] NFB/eBay
Entrepreneurs Project<BR><BR></FONT></DIV><BR>On September 15, in a joint press
release, the NFB and eBay announced the NFB/eBay Entrepreneurs
Program..<BR><BR> <BR><BR>We are now seeking blind people who want to
participate in this innovative pilot
program.<BR><BR> <BR><BR> <BR><BR>Business Start Up Pilot<BR><BR>The
NFB/eBay Entrepreneur Project is looking for serious entrepreneurs who want to
create new eBay businesses or expand existing businesses to include eBay
selling. We will offer successful applicants intensive eBay training and connect
them with successful blind business people and other experts who will provide
assistance in specific areas, such as business planning, development, and
working with accessible accounting software.<BR><BR> <BR><BR>Individuals
chosen for the Business Start Up Pilot will take part in an intensive training
program at the NFB Jernigan Institute in Baltimore. They will receive
transportation, lodging, training classes, accessible training materials, and
ongoing mentorship support.<BR><BR> <BR><BR>If running your own eBay
business appeals to you, please write us at <A
href="mailto:entrepreneurs@nfb.org">entrepreneurs@nfb.org</A> and request an
Entrepreneur Program package. Your letter of interest should include:
<UL>
<LI>a resume describing your employment and education history, with particular
emphasis on entrepreneurial projects;
<LI>a brief description of the product or service you intend to market using
eBay; (Is this a completely new enterprise, or are you intending to create an
eBay outlet for a business that already exists?)
<LI>a basic budget outline. </LI></UL><BR> <BR><BR>Because this is a pilot
program intended to demonstrate the viability of eBay businesses run by blind
individuals, we must select from applicants those with the strongest plans and
the greatest willingness to mentor the blind people who will follow.
<BR><BR> <BR><BR> <BR><BR>Training the
Trainers<BR><BR> <BR><BR>In order to provide opportunity to as many people
as possible, we will train interested blind people to be eBay certified
education specialists. EBay Certified Education Specialists are people who buy
and sell on eBay themselves and want to create a business teaching others how to
do it. The trainers we train will be equipped to teach other blind people who
use screen readers; they will also be certified to teach the sighted. With
ninety-two million people already using eBay and more joining the community
every day, the business opportunity for anyone who can teach them how to be more
effective is enormous!<BR><BR> <BR><BR>The Certified Education Specialist
training will consist of a program that will take place at the NFB Jernigan
Institute in Baltimore, plus follow-up individualized support and group
teleconference training. <A name=OLE_LINK3></A>Those selected for the �Train the
Trainers� program will receive transportation, lodging, training classes,
accessible training materials, and ongoing mentorship
support.<BR><BR> <BR><BR>Is being an eBay Certified Education Specialist
for you?<BR><BR> <BR><BR>If you have a deep desire to be of service to
others, an entrepreneurial spirit, the aptitude to teach, and basic computer
literacy using screen readers, we want to hear from you.
<BR><BR> <BR><BR>Because selling on eBay has not been readily accessible to
blind people in the past, you will not need to have experience as an eBay seller
to take part in the first �Train the Trainers� class. However, you will need to
demonstrate success in buying and selling on eBay in order to graduate and
receive certification. <BR><BR> <BR><BR>You will need some ability to use a
screen reader to access web sites, though it is not necessary to be a screen
reader power user. <BR><BR> <BR><BR>To apply to enter the �train the
trainers� inaugural class, send a letter to <A
href="mailto:entrepreneurs@nfb.org">entrepreneurs@nfb.org</A> explaining your
background, qualifications (particularly your entrepreneurial and/or teaching
experience), and telling us why you want to become an eBay Certified Education
Specialist. <BR><BR> <BR><BR>Testing the Waters<BR><BR> <BR><BR>Even
if you do not yet have a perfectly developed business plan, we still want to
hear from you. As eBay trainers receive certification, we will help connect you
with them so that you can get started on the path to running your own eBay
business.<BR><BR>Contact <A
href="mailto:entrepreneurs@nfb.org">entrepreneurs@nfb.org</A> or phone
<BR><BR>Mary Ellen Gabias, coordinator <BR><BR>NFB/eBay Entrepreneurs
Project<BR><BR>(410) 878-2660 for further information or an application
package.<BR></BODY></HTML>