[NFBMI-Talk] Welcome to Project R. E. C.

[Robert Earl Parsons]

Good Evening Federation Family and Friends!

It is time for a party because it is officially our month! Let's begin by letting me state on behalf of the affiliate board that we wish all of you a happy and successful blind equality and achievement month (BEAM)! As promised, the Michigan affiliate of the National Federation of the Blind is here to raise awareness and funds towards our newest endeavor. We could use all of your help and promoting and making this event successful, so read below to learn about Project R. E. C.


The Premise

The NFB of Michigan hopes to charter a Sports and Recreation division that can create activities and pathways to fitness and health in the near future. Our objective is to create this division by our annual state convention in November 2022. To celebrate the induction of this division into our affiliate, we have commissioned a statewide goal ball league, consisting of four teams owned by four leaders of the Federation. These teams will participate in our inaugural goal ball tournament next year, sponsored by the efforts of the division and our state fundraising committee. The champion team will then go on to face other teams of other NFB state affiliates. This is where you can help. Our four team owners are hard at work soliciting donations for the cost to put on such an event and could use the help of each of you to secure its success. From Friday, October 1 until Saturday, November 13, our team owners will be looking for you to share this fundraiser with your community, family, and friends, as well as pledge a donation to support a team. The funds generated from this fundraiser covers:

  *   Cost of Equipment for the Tournament
  *   Recruitment and Practice Location Use
  *   Personnel Expenses for the Activities
  *   Travel Expenses for Champion Team's Inter-Affiliate Match
  *   Future Sports and Recreation Programs Throughout the Year
How to Participate
Donating to this cause is very easy. Simply click the link to the Google Form below. After doing so, complete the donation form. Be sure to indicate which team you intend to pledge to. Pledges cost $5 and donors are able to donate as many times as they choose. Donors can also pledge to support more than one team if they choose. After completing the pledge form, please use the donate button at www.nfbmi.org<http://www.nfbmi.org> link to submit your payment to the National Federation of the Blind of Michigan. At the moment, PayPal is the preferred method of payment, but you are welcomed to reach out to one of the team owners listed below and provide them with the payment. Once they receive this, they will be tasked with submitting the payment to our state affiliate. It is only once the payment is received that you will be counted as a donor and your pledge will be recognized. You are also welcomed to share this with family, friends, and coworkers to increase the chances of success this year.
The Teams
Our four team owners are all dedicated to expanding the work of our affiliate and the national organization. Our pledge, to achieve equality, opportunity, and security for the blind of Michigan, is always taken seriously, but that does not mean that we cannot get competitive. We invite you to support the team that best fits your interests. The team names and their respective owners are listed below:

  1.  The Marauders: Mike Powell (President, National Federation of the Blind of Michigan)
  2.  The Sparks: Jennifer Kennedy (Executive Director, BLIND, Inc.)
  3.  The Navigators: KaShonia Graham (Detroit Chapter, National Federation of the Blind of Michigan)
  4.  The Chunky Chargers: Robert Parsons (Board Member. National Federation of the Blind of Michigan)


Prizes
It would not be a Federation event if we did not offer prizes for competitors. This year, we have received generous donations from various partners that are excited to see the blind become more active. Our prizes have been designated for both donors and team owners for their efforts. There are also prizes that are designed for specific fundraising benchmarks that have been reached. They are:

  1.  Visio 55-inch Television (Awarded to the Team Owner that Raises the Most Money)
  2.  Gourmet Chocolate Cheesecake (Awarded to the Donor that Pledges the Most Money)
  3.  Echo Dot Speaker (Awarded to the Donor Whose Pledge Brings the Fundraiser Total Past $100)
  4.  Gourmet Chocolate Dipped Strawberries (Awarded to the Donor Whose Pledge Brings the Fundraiser Total Past  $500)
  5.  Google Nest Speaker  (Awarded to the Donor Whose Pledge Brings the Fundraising Total Past $1000)

So, feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions about this fundraiser. The link to the form to complete a pledge for donors is below. We look forward to a great BEAM and hope that you all will turn our dreams into reality. Let's go build the Federation!

Project R.E.C. Form: https://forms.gle/6xCw2jUNMP5YvcaR9<https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fforms.gle%2F6xCw2jUNMP5YvcaR9&data=04%7C01%7Crobert.e.parsons%40wmich.edu%7C9f70c08c501148da8b3008d9835c1478%7C257622517aa94c72905f39bf026a8a84%7C0%7C0%7C637685253771753533%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=DPlYLK%2B5H2IkiJLTRM5vJXUO14WnkkSiG6%2BARCKPtus%3D&reserved=0>


With Love,

Robert E. Parsons, Jr., M.A., CRC, CVRT
Board Member| National Association of Blind Students
Board Member| National Federation of the Blind of Michigan
Doctoral Student| Counselor Education and Supervision
Western Michigan University '25
Pronouns: He, Him, His
P: (804) 801-7674