[Nfbofnc] important action needed

[Lusi98]

Dear Fellow Federationists:

 

For you this year's Legislative session has seemed kind of quiet, but believe me it hasn't been. We have many new senators and representatives who are getting use to their new jobs. They are not familiar with many issues which concern North Carolina residents. Of course one group that they know little about is North Carolina's blind citizens. As a result we are in danger of loosing Newsline, seeing Services for the Blind merged with other agencies, and the dissolution of the Blind Commission. 

 

It is time for us to stand up and protect what we have. Our first assignment is to contact Kelly Nicholson, Senator Phil Berger's Scheduler and request that Senator Berger, the President Protem of the Senate, give us a few minutes of his time. This is important because Senator Berger can influence the Chairman of the Appropriations Committee. Below my signature you will find a script. We will be more effective if we put this in our own words. The same ideas said in many ways will get Ms. Nicholson's attention. Her contact information is (919) 301-1742.  Her email address is kelly.nicholson at ncleg.net.  

 

We have turned the tide in our favor before, and now we must do it again. Pass this email on to chapter members, your family, Lion's Clubs, personal friends and anyone else you know who will help us. This is just the first task that needs to be done in this year's fight. Thank you a head of time for all your hard work.

 

Lusi

 

 

 

The blind citizens of North Carolina are the smallest minority or disabled segment of the population, There fore it is very easy for issues which are vital to our participation in our communities and state to get submerged by those issues of larger groups. This year we are faced with the loss of three entities which have a major impact on our lives:

 

* Accessible Electronic Information System for the Blind and Disabled.

 

* Merger of Division of Services for the Blind with other agencies.

 

* Loss of the Commission for the Blind.

 

  We need the opportunity to sit down with Senator Berger and get to know him, likewise he can get to know us. Because of our small population and the chronic need for rehabilitation services, education, access to information and employment it is important for those in authority to make informed decisions which will greatly impact our future needs.