[Nfbofsc] NFB of Palm Beach November Newsletter

Thu Nov 1 23:47:26 UTC 2018

I wanted to share this Newsletter I received on another list.  There is a lot of information in this Newsletter!  Someone has taken a lot of time to write and compile the information to share.  

Steve Cook

District 2 State Board Member of the NFB of SC

1st Vice President of the Computer Science & Technology Division of the NFB of SC

1st Vice President of the Columbia Chapter of the NFB of SC

From: <tnsaffold82 at gmail.com <mailto:tnsaffold82 at gmail.com> >
Date: November 1, 2018 at 8:31:11 AM EDT
To: <tnsaffold82 at gmail.com <mailto:tnsaffold82 at gmail.com> >
Subject: NFB of Palm Beach November Newsletter

NFB OF PALM BEACH NOVEMBER NEWSLETTER 

Let’s recite the NFB Pledge:

I pledge to participate actively in the efforts of the National Federation of the Blind to achieve equality, opportunity, and security for the blind; to support the policies and programs of the Federation; and to abide by its constitution.

Greetings Federation Family! The National Federation of the Blind Palm Beach Chapter is honored to have you at our monthly meeting on Saturday November 10th at Duffy’s 11935 Southern Blvd., Royal Palm Beach, FL from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM. During this meeting, our guest speaker will be Monica Stephenson who works for the VA Hospital to share her job description working with veterans in the Blind Rehab department. 

Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much!

Helen Keller

Happy Birthday or Happy Anniversary from the NFB Palm Beach Chapter if you are celebrating any special occasions this month. Enjoy each moment like it is your last and many blessings!

*	Starting on Monday, November 5, 2018 Palm Tran Connection reservation hours for Monday through Saturday will be changed to 8am to 5pm. They will no longer be accepting Reservation calls from 7am – 8am.

 <https://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/20181022/want-to-vote-now-list-of-14-early-voting-sites> Want to vote now? The list of 14 early voting sites 

There are 14 early voting locations in Palm Beach County. The locations are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. Early voting ends on Nov. 4. KNOW YOUR CANDIDATES: All you need to know before you vote Acreage Branch Library: 15801 Orange Blvd., Loxahatchee, 33470 Belle Glade Branch Library: 725 NW Fourth St., Belle Glade, 33430 Boca Raton…

*	 <https://www.pbcelections.org/content.aspx?id=343#3> Boca Raton Downtown Library
*	 <https://www.pbcelections.org/content.aspx?id=343#4> Ezell Hester Community Center
*	 <https://www.pbcelections.org/content.aspx?id=343#5> Florida Atlantic University
*	 <https://www.pbcelections.org/content.aspx?id=343#6> Gardens Branch Library
*	 <https://www.pbcelections.org/content.aspx?id=343#7> Hagen Ranch Road Branch Library
*	 <https://www.pbcelections.org/content.aspx?id=343#8> Jupiter Community Center
*	 <https://www.pbcelections.org/content.aspx?id=343#9> Lantana Branch Library
*	 <https://www.pbcelections.org/content.aspx?id=343#10> South County Civic Center
*	 <https://www.pbcelections.org/content.aspx?id=343#11> Supervisor of Elections Office
*	 <https://www.pbcelections.org/content.aspx?id=343#12> Wellington Branch Library
*	 <https://www.pbcelections.org/content.aspx?id=343#13> Wells Recreation and Community Center
*	 <https://www.pbcelections.org/content.aspx?id=343#14> West Boca Branch Library

The right to vote is one of the most fundamental liberties we enjoy as Americans and it is also one of our greatest civic responsibilities.

Dan's Story

A look at one man’s story may inspire many people, veterans or not, to help others overcome difficulties such as blindness. Consider the case of First Sergeant Danny Wallace (Ret.). He enlisted in the Army as an infantryman, completing one-stop training that included basic airborne school at Fort Benning, Georgia.

He served for a total of 20 years as a rifleman, radio transmitter operator, team leader, squad leader, ranger instructor, platoon sergeant, company executive officer, and company first sergeant. During a tour in Iraq, Wallace’s life changed forever. Two weeks before Christmas, a car bomb attack in Tal Afar left him totally blind. After multiple surgeries—to attach both retinas, replace the cornea in his right eye, and stitch severe wounds to his face and neck—he was still blind in one eye but had limited vision in the other. 

Wallace remained on active duty for two years after his injury. Upon retiring, he struggled with the transition to civilian life. “I felt distant and unwilling to participate in any veteran’s organization,” he recalled.

Finding Help

This isolation lasted about eight years. Then, he attended the Central Blind Rehabilitation Center at Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital just outside Chicago. There, he found out about the Blinded Veterans Association. Soon after that, BVA invited him to participate in its Operation Peer Support initiative, which connects combat-blinded veterans of World War II, Korea and Vietnam with the newly blinded who have been wounded in Iraq or Afghanistan. Operation Peer Support activities also provide informational seminars that touch on topics such as education, rehabilitation through sports and recreation, technology, and career development. 

It helped Wallace rediscover purpose in his life and the experience had a ripple effect as he now serves as a BVA peer mentor for newly blinded veterans such as Mark Wilson, who lost his sight as a result of a gunshot wound to his face. Wilson’s mother says that meeting Wallace through BVA has literally “transformed” her son. 

Over the past two years, Wallace’s eyesight has begun to decline even further. Nevertheless, he remains driven to serve. And he is once again a Sergeant, this time for BVA. “Early in 2014, I had the privilege to be selected as the Sergeant-at-Arms for the Blinded Veterans Association,” he explained. “Words cannot express how grateful I am. Now it is my turn to help other veterans feel that they belong as well.”

Fundraiser Info:

The fun and excitement of the Holiday Calendar Raffle will be a part of the Florida Affiliate during the month of December.  With daily drawings, bigger and better prizes, and lots of fun for everyone.

This year we will kick off on Saturday, December 1, 2018 and run through Monday, December 31, 2018.

The raffle is as follows:

Each day a winner will be drawn.  Monday through Friday the prize is $25.00. On Saturday and Sunday, the prize is $50.00, and this year there is an extra bonus, on New Year5’s Eve, December 31st, the winner will win $200.00.

In addition, the chapter that sells the lucky ticket on December 31st will also win $200.00.

NFB of Palm Beach Holiday 50-50 Raffle ticket Sale!!!

When: During our meeting in December 

Cost: $ 5 donation

Please support the programs of the chapter; we greatly appreciate your support. 

Social Security Benefits to Increase in 2019

Posted on October 11, 2018 by Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications 

Each year we announce the annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA). Usually there 

is an increase in the Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefit amount people receive each month, 

starting the following January. By law, federal benefits increase when the cost of living rises, as measured by the 

Department of Labor’s Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W).

The CPI-W rises when prices increase for the things the average consumer buys. This means that when prices for goods and 

services we purchase become more expensive, on average, the COLA increases monthly benefit levels and helps you keep up 

with the changing cost of living.

As a result, more than 67 million Americans will see a 2.8 percent increase in their Social Security and SSI benefits in 

2019.

January 2019 marks other changes that will happen based on the increase in the national average wage index. For example, 

the maximum amount of earnings subject to Social Security payroll tax, as well as the retirement earnings test exempt 

amount, will change in 2019.

Want to know your new benefit amount as soon as possible? In December 2018, we will post Social Security COLA notices 

online for retirement, survivors, and disability beneficiaries who have a my Social Security account. You will be able to 

view and save these COLA notices securely via the Message Center inside my Social Security.

Be the first to know! Sign up for or log in to your personal my Social Security account today and choose email or text 

*New Information: Just Us Blind Girls of Palm Beach Support Group 

Please come and join us at our regular monthly meeting which is every third Wednesday of each month.

This is an organization for adult blind women. The purpose of the organization is to show blind women that they can strive to be more independent, self-sufficient, active and self-confident. There is a lot more to come in the near future. Come and give us a chance; we are on the move. All women are invited to come to our meetings.

Don't miss this Black Friday Sale!

Get a like-new Galaxy i.d. mate talking barcode scanner for only $899 plus free shipping* (regular price is $1,299 plus shipping). 

That’s over $400 in savings!

Friday-Sunday, Nov. 23, 24, 25, 2018

Shop online:  < <https://envisionamerica.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=db4dd6006ff4b508c6e63c45d&id=df67dd3ade&e=5f4db85e1e> https://envisionamerica.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=db4dd6006ff4b508c6e63c45d&id=df67dd3ade&e=5f4db85e1e>  <http://www.envisionamerica.com/store/> http://www.envisionamerica.com/store/

Monday, Nov. 26, 2018

Shop online until midnight:  < <https://envisionamerica.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=db4dd6006ff4b508c6e63c45d&id=317e1a2446&e=5f4db85e1e> https://envisionamerica.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=db4dd6006ff4b508c6e63c45d&id=317e1a2446&e=5f4db85e1e>  <http://www.envisionamerica.com/store/> http://www.envisionamerica.com/store/

or by phone: 1-800-890-1180 8:30-5 (Eastern Time)

Identify anything in your environment with a scan of a barcode! Listen to everything on a product label.

HURRY! LIMITED INVENTORY AVAILABLE!

Special price available on sale dates only; sale ends at midnight on November 26th. 

*Free shipping in the US; international rates will apply

The mission of the National Federation of the Blind is to achieve widespread emotional acceptance and intellectual understanding that the real problem of blindness is not the loss of eyesight but the misconceptions and lack of information which exist. We do this by bringing blind people together to share successes, to support each other in times of failure, and to create imaginative solutions.

“To handle yourself, use your head; to handle others, use your heart." Eleanor Roosevelt

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