[NFBNJ] Notes from PresidentRuffalo, November 2016

Mon Nov 21 19:04:56 UTC 2016

Greetings to all!

As we approach Thanksgiving, we have much to be thankful for.  We have family, we have friends, we have the Federation, we have each other, and we have the right to raise expectations to live the life we want!

I wwant to express my thanks to all that assisted with the agenda, presentations, seminars, workshops, division meetings, door prizes, auction items, contributions to the BELL Academy and the NFBNJ state scholarship program, our exhibitors, volunteers  and  the greatest members in the Federation in the country, the members of the NFBNJ.

A special thanks to Amo  Musharraf , marketing consultant of the NFBNJ, as he supplied his knowledge to stream the state convention and has provided the following message.

Please review and share with others as we continue to celebrate the 40th state convention, Raising Expectations!

Dear Joe and Brian,

I have finished search optimizing all the video clips streamed from the NFBNJ 40th Annual State Convention and parked on the "NFBNJTransformDreams"

channel on YouTube. These are available for the world to enjoy and searchable on Google.  To make these easy to access, I have also created a sequential playlist so that our listeners and viewers may enjoy tuning into the voices, motivational speeches, informative workshops, technology and service offerings, and the sheer joy of all those who were there. To access please use this link:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLqHyYBVtzcL36xaVJoaGF0T-GPb_lnhoc

Then lay back and enjoy as these 124 video clips automatically play for you one after the other. I have also created a 2 minutes introduction video clip with scrolling photos which I teased on Facebook yesterday, along with 181 photographs from the convention. In one day, the intro video garnered 857 views and the photo album 286 'likes' in addition to many more 'likes' and comments on individual photographs.

This is testament to your hard work in putting a great convention together.

Sincerely,

Amo Musharraf

We have highlighted several items of interest from the state convention.

Enjoy the following.

The 2016 NFBNJ Presidential Report audio can be found at www.nfbnj.org/nfbnj-presidential-reports.

The scholarship award presentation during the banquet was not included on the YouTube channel.

But the scholarship presentation during general session was included.

Scholarship presentation (general session):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__56Now2594&list=PLqHyYBVtzcL36xaVJoaGF0T-GPb_lnhoc&index=72

Everette Bacon’s banquet address part 1:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8yTzU1xGsQ&index=109&list=PLqHyYBVtzcL36xaVJoaGF0T-GPb_lnhoc

Everette Bacon’s banquet address part 2:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7rCCB3NZjQ&index=110&list=PLqHyYBVtzcL36xaVJoaGF0T-GPb_lnhoc

Rick Fox - Introducing the Agnes Allen Award:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrA0Bh9iDWY&index=111&list=PLqHyYBVtzcL36xaVJoaGF0T-GPb_lnhoc

Adam Szczepaniak - Recipient - Agnes Allen Distinguished Service Award:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZ90hVuAODE&index=112&list=PLqHyYBVtzcL36xaVJoaGF0T-GPb_lnhoc

Carol Castellano - Presenting the Gail and Tom Ferry Memorial Award:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hfSOUlLL5I&list=PLqHyYBVtzcL36xaVJoaGF0T-GPb_lnhoc&index=113

Larry Veltri - Accepting award for Holiday Inn Manahawkin

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6REj7VO9vY&list=PLqHyYBVtzcL36xaVJoaGF0T-GPb_lnhoc&index=114

Joe Ruffalo - Lifetime Service Award

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6a3uQ9gbjho&index=115&list=PLqHyYBVtzcL36xaVJoaGF0T-GPb_lnhoc

AnneMarie Cooke - Banquet Auctions:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tl9wy8jmL5o&index=116&list=PLqHyYBVtzcL36xaVJoaGF0T-GPb_lnhoc

***

Items of Interest:

1.    Achievements and Accomplishments

2.    Amazon SMILE Program

3.    After The Holidays Party Invitation Flyer

4.    MAVIS Opportunity

**

1. I have a request and I need your assistance.  The information you provide could be used later for distribution.  Over the past number of years, I have been aware of our members that have achieved and accomplished goals.  Many have begun school, graduated school, hold  or held  positions of leadership at school or in the community, earned positions of leadership in civic organizations, earned the rank of Eagle, found employment, reached out of their comfort zone to travel, gain skills and techniques, and much more.

I had collected such information to share during my presidential message during the state convention.  In addition, we have established a page on the state website to share with others.

I will confer with the state board to provide the page with the following title, “Spotlight On Our Members: Achievements and Accomplishments”.

The purpose of this message is to provide an opportunity for all to share such items of interest.

Please consider the following:

1.    provide your name

2. provide your email

3. provide your phone number

Note, the above is needed if I need to contact you for additional information.

4. provide a short summary, probably two sentences highlighting your achievements and or accomplishments.

Any questions, please call, 973 743 0075.

Please forward the information to Joe Ruffalo at nfbnj1 at verizon.net.

With this information, we will be able to demonstrate that we are living the life we want by raising expectations to transform dreams into reality.

***

2.    Now that convention is behind us, we can begin to think about all those holiday gifts we want to purchase. Through Amazon Smile you can help the NFB of New Jersey as you buy presents for your friends and family. If you haven’t yet signed up for Amazon Smile, please do so, and make the National Federation of the Blind of New Jersey your designated charity. Encourage the people in your network of friends and acquaintances to do the same. Then, when you purchase from Amazon, simply go to www.amazon.com/smile, and half of one percent will be donated to the NFBNJ. It doesn’t sound like much money per purchase, but when lots of people take part and buy lots of gifts, it adds up fast! Please give the NFBNJ a holiday present by using Amazon Smile!

***

3.    After The Holidays Party

You are cordially invited

to the

National Federation of the Blind of NJ’s 8th Annual

After the Holidays Party

Saturday, January 7, 2017

1:00 pm to 5:00 pm

Knights of Columbus Hall

94 Bridge Street, Belleville, NJ

Access Link accessible    Cross Street, Belleville  Avenue

$23 per adult; $13 for children 6- 12 years; free for children 6 & younger

Please include a separate sheet with attendees’ names & phone numbers.

All payment must be received no later than December 31, 2016.

Make check payable to NFBNJ and mail to:

Joe Ruffalo, President

NFBNJ

254 Spruce Street

Bloomfield NJ 07003

For additional information call Joe at (973) 743-0075.

We’ll have door prizes, a sing–along, & a special appearance by jolly old Santa!

Special note: If you would like an attendee to receive a gift from Santa, please bring a wrapped gift labeled with the name of the recipient.

MISTLETOE MAGIC MENU

Holiday Tossed Garden Salad with Vinaigrette Dressing

Chicken Savoy, Eggplant Rollatini, Meatballs, Pasta with Vodka Sauce

Assorted Cold Cuts and Potato Salad

Chicken Fingers

Rolls and Butter

Homemade Holiday Desserts

Coffee, Tea and Assorted Soft Drinks

Cash bar will be available.

Please join us in celebrating the holiday season!

We look forward to seeing all of our members, family and friends!

***

4. MAVIS Opportunity

The following information is being forwarded by CBVI as a courtesy, in accordance with our continued efforts to share information that may be of interest or of benefit to individuals who are blind and vision-impaired and should not be construed as an official endorsement.

MAVIS (Music Association for the Visually Impaired) is a non-profit organization that has helped to provide free musical instruments and subsidized music lessons for the vision-impaired community of New Jersey since 1979.  This musical education facilitates an enriched use of leisure time and allows students of all ages to develop their musical and creative abilities. The discipline involved in mastering musical instruments can improve concentration and study skills and is often a path toward higher education and fulfilling employment.

MAVIS is governed by an all-volunteer board of directors.  Our directors have had the pleasure of watching hundreds of our students blossom throughout the years.  MAVIS has no center and no school but rather supports our students and their families by providing reimbursement for individualized music lessons in their community.  We have no paid administrators, clerical staff or employees of any kind.

The only eligibility requirement to receive our services is to be classified as legally blind according to CBVI standards.  Please contact us if you would like more information about our program.

MAVIS

Phone: (732) 826-8216

Email: mavisnj at optonline.net,

Address: PO Box 173, Woodbridge, NJ 07095

***

We care. We share. We grow. We make a difference

Joe Ruffalo, President

National Federation of the Blind of New Jersey

973 743 0075

nfbnj1 at verizon.net

www.nfbnj.org

Your old car keys can be keys to literacy for the blind.

Donate your unwanted vehicle to us by clicking www.carshelpingtheblind.org or call 855 659 9314

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