[NFBofSC] December 2023 Blind Missourian

Wed Dec 20 22:28:58 UTC 2023

The Blind Missourian

                                       December 2023

Table of Contents  

Youth Programs by: Jenny Carmack                                      1

Blind Equality Achievement Month: Connections, 

   Growth, Partnerships, and Progress by Daniel Garcia         6 

NFB Blog Post by Isaac McBurney                                        8

GED to PhD by Josephine Grove, PhD                                      11

2024 Scholarship Announcement by Robin House              13

National Federation of the Blind of Missouri

       2024 Scholarship Program
14

Convention Assistance Available by Eugene Coulter          16

2024 State Convention Packet by Eugene Coulter               17

Chapter Elections and Reports                                             21

NFB Pledge
24

One Minute Message
24

Youth Programs

By: Jenny Carmack

When I was a child/teen there were very few (if any) activities that I could
be involved in and feel fully included and content. Today things are
different; there are a variety of activities for blind/visually impaired
children and teens to participate in. These activities are created with them
in mind, so they have the opportunity to feel independent, successful, and
accomplished. The NFB of Missouri offers many of these opportunities for
youth of all ages across the state.  Here is the breakdown of what has been
happening throughout the second half of 2023 and a glimpse into the future!

BELL Academy 

July 31 - August 11, 2023, we held the 10th annual BELL (Braille Enrichment
for Literacy and Learning) Academy for children ages 4 - 12 years old. This
year’s theme was Travel and Transportation, and we offered many lessons
around this theme.  

BELL participants went on two field trips. The first one was to a transit
center where the students were able to explore all the parts of a public
transit bus: the fare box, the cord to pull to indicate “stop requested,”
the wheel chair ramp, the bike rack, and how the seats are arranged from the
front to the back of the bus. Then they went on a short bus ride to practice
bus safety such as where to place your cane while you ride and when and
where to exit the bus. Last, the students were able to explore how the
ticket purchasing machine works using the audio and the Braille on each
machine. The second field trip was to the National Museum of Transportation,
where the students explored and learned about a variety of vehicles: a dairy
cart that was once drawn by horses, a dump truck, an electric car, a solar
powered car, and various types of trains. The staff at the museum made these
vehicles available for students to explore with their hands and really get
to understand how these vehicles are constructed inside and out, while a
tour guide told them about each vehicle and its importance and answered any
questions. The purpose of these field trips was to help students gain a
deeper understanding of the various modes of transportation that they
currently use and will use in the future.  Much of the information they
gained through these experiences is like what others gain visually: what a
car engine looks like, how train cars are coupled, different types of wheels
for different vehicles, etc.

We did a variety of other activities during the two-week program as well. We
wrote silly stories about taking a trip on a train; this is where we start
out with a topic and pass the Braille writer around for each person to add
their own sentence related to the topic without reading what was previously
written, then we read it all together. The students really get a good laugh
from these stories. We went on a fishing trip (pretend of course), and when
the students caught a fish, they had to read the sentence on the fish or
throw it back in the pond. We talked about our dream vacation and what types
of transportation we would use to get there, then act out the travel
experience: flying in a plane, driving a car, rowing a boat, or walking. We
got to interact with several different tactile maps, and then we created our
own tactile maps; this really challenged our minds to think differently. Of
course, we cannot forget some of our favorite activities: Braille Twister,
the Ninja running rope, playing games like Jenga and Tic Tac Toe, helping to
prepare snacks, and treasure hunting. There were many other lessons; the
students stay busy each day of the two-week program. Then we can’t forget
the Family Presentation on the last day, the time when students get to show
off the skills they have learned or improved on during the two-week time:
one student read an entire contracted book with no help, one student wrote
his name and the alphabet while confidently using learning shades and
performed some magic tricks for the audience, and another student wrote her
name and the alphabet on the Braille writer using her feet to demonstrate
that Braille can be written in many ways. We want to offer a big
congratulations to our BELL graduate, Salome Cummins, who participated in
BELL from the age of 4 until 12, even doing two programs in one summer; we
are so proud of her!!!

A look ahead! We have begun to plan for next year’s BELL Academy. By the end
of this year (2023), save the date flyers will be circulating, we will
provide the dates, cities, and theme for BELL. This will give families more
of a chance to plan and prepare to participate next summer. Registration
will open in February. When you see the flyers, please help spread the word
by sharing with parents and professionals you know.  

STEM2U

On August 19, 2023, STEM came to Missouri. This year’s STEM (science,
technology, engineering, and mathematics) was called “Launch into STEM,” and
astronomy was the theme. Students came from around the state to Jefferson
City to conduct five different experiments. While conducting these
experiments, students enhanced their scientific skills in: hypothesizing,
theorizing, developing a plan (or method) for conducting the experiment,
carrying out the experiment, and evaluating to see if they proved or
disproved their hypothesis or if their theory was correct. Additional skills
practiced throughout the day included, but were not limited to: reading and
drawing tactile pictures as part of experiment planning, trial and error,
communication, team work, and most importantly a sense of confidence when it
comes to their ability to participate in STEM activities.  

Each experiment that the students conducted came with some background
information and directions (in large print and Braille). First, we read
through the information and directions provided, then we discussed theories
that applied to the experiment, then students got to work hypothesizing,
planning, and conducting their experiments. After each experiment we came
back together as a group and discussed the results and what was learned. The
experiments included: creating a balloon rocket in which the students had to
make the balloon travel along a 10-foot long string, making a rocket out of
a camera film case in which students experimented with the chemical reaction
between water and an Alka Seltzer tablet, creating a simulated moon surface
and using different objects from various heights to see the widths and
depths of the “craters” that each object created, building a model moon
bunker out of marshmallows and toothpicks which involved drawing out the
plan before building it, and finally creating a small scaled parachute that
would work as a real one would.  

As you can see, these experiments seemed simple but allowed for students to
build a variety of skills and provided them with the opportunity to
challenge themselves but to come out feeling successful. The students and
volunteers had a great time and learned a lot from each other. Toward the
end of the day, two students were talking about a STEM Day that was held at
their school, and one of them said, “we just sat there most of the time
because no one knew how to help us, and we didn’t know what to do.”  That
quote sums up why it is so important for us to bring STEM opportunities to
students. The STEM field is rapidly growing, and changing and blind people
can and should be included in all aspects of it. 

A look ahead! Missouri is proud to be hosting another STEM Day in the spring
of 2024. The theme will again be astronomy but with a whole new set of
experiments and experiences. Students in grades 3 – 12 will be invited to
participate, no matter what level of experience they have with science.
Watch for more information to be out in early January.  

Cane Drivers

Missouri’s Cane Drivers took a break during the very busy summer months, but
has geared back up now that the school year has begun. This group of teens
(ages 13 – 19) is led by the teens with support and guidance from adult
mentors. This means that the teens plan and lead their activities, which
involves recruiting participants, advertising the activity, planning the
activity, writing an agenda for each activity, and leading the participants
through each activity. This group has a chair (currently Patrick Wilson) and
a co-chair (currently Terra Coccovizzo) who do most of the planning but try
to bring in help from other teen participants.  Teens who participate in
this group have the opportunity to improve upon their skills in: leadership,
self-advocacy, self-confidence, socialization, and career readiness. Most of
the activities are done the second Thursday of each month over Zoom with 1-2
in person activities each year.

In October, Patrick and Terra put together a “Name that Tune” game to draw
in students for the first meeting of the year. In November, the leaders
guided a conversation about what they want the upcoming retreat to look like
and what types of things they want to do beginning in January. Ten teens
will have the opportunity to participate in a weekend retreat in Columbia
December 8-10, 2023.  During the retreat they will be cooking their own
meals, cleaning up after their meals, network with other NFB members,
develop some advocacy techniques through roll playing skits, and more. They
are looking forward to this awesome experience.

A look ahead! In January, the group plans to start a book club; a book will
be chosen, and every other month they will have a book discussion. On the
months that is not the book discussion they are planning to bring presenters
from various professions to talk about their jobs, needed education, and
accommodations they use to perform their jobs. Also, in 2024 we will be
working on getting chapters to sponsor local activities for teens. Details
on meetings and local activities will begin coming out in late December and
early January.  

Mission BEAM

There are exciting things happening in the Mission BEAM (Blindness,
Empowerment, Advocacy, and Mentoring) Program. The two-part program has been
holding various workshops for the past two years in different cities around
Missouri. The value of these workshops is that students have the opportunity
to come together to spend a day focusing on a specific skill. Students learn
from each other and several different blind adults at one time. The
workshops provide skill building, networking, and real-life experiences. On
November 18, 2023, we held the “Confidence in the Kitchen” workshop. The
purpose of the workshop was to help students increase their confidence in
working independently in the kitchen to prepare meals and snacks. Upon
talking to many students and their families it was determined that the most
intimidating things about working in the kitchen are: using knives and using
the stove/oven. We hear these concerns and want to help students to know
that they are completely able to prepare and cook any kind of food they
want. During the workshop we discussed good safety practices, steps for
planning and preparing a meal or snack, explored various kitchen aids that
may make working in the kitchen easier, and prepared a meal of spaghetti,
salad, and garlic bread (incorporating cooking on the stove top, using the
oven, and cutting vegetables). Students who participated got to take home a
flash drive with various resources and simple recipes and some things to
help them to use their kitchen with more confidence (bump dots and puff
paint for marking appliances, oven mitts, cut resistant gloves, push/pull
tool for pulling and pushing oven racks, and double-sided spatula). One
student told us that their favorite food is pasta but that mom makes it, and
now the student is going to try to boil and drain their own noodles.
Another student said that they had never grated cheese before, but now they
want to grate their cheese the next time they have scrambled eggs. Another
student said their kitchen was being remodeled with new appliances and was
glad to have the bump dots, so they could mark the new appliances. 

The second part of Mission BEAM, that has not yet launched, is the
one-to-one mentoring between a successful blind adult and a high school
student. We have interviewed five potential mentors, and they are making
their way through the training and background checks. We are so excited to
be so close to launching this part of the program! This mentoring will help
students to make goals and develop strategies toward meeting those goals.
Students will have the opportunity to work with their mentor on a weekly
basis to participate in activities that will help them to be prepared to
transition from high school into their post-secondary path (ex. employment,
tech school, training center, higher education, etc.). Applications for
mentors will be open on a continuous basis. If you or someone you know is
interested, please go to:  <http://www.nfbmo.org/beam> www.nfbmo.org/beam to
complete an application.     

A look ahead! We are looking to begin recruiting students to participate in
the one-to-one mentoring in January. Announcements and the link for the
application should be shared in early 2024. We will be holding two more
workshops before the end of this academic year; the dates and locations are
currently being decided and should be shared in late December or early
January.

Wow! Look at all these opportunities for students. Putting all these
activities together takes a lot of collaboration from so many people, from
those who give their time to be an on-site volunteer, to those who take
their time to prepare and share things behind the scenes, from those who
work to recruit families for each activity to those who help to plan
activities/lessons, and everything else that so many of our members and
friends have done and continue to do to make these opportunities possible. I
also want to thank the various community partners we have who have allowed
us to use their facilities to hold our program activities: libraries,
churches, and Lighthouse for the Blind; we truly appreciate your generosity
and willingness to give the space we need to carry out our programs.  Last,
but certainly not least, I want to give a big thank you to the families who
have made it possible for their student to participate in these activities.
We know that families have: rearranged plans, pulled kids out of bed early
in the morning, provided transportation for their students (sometimes 100
miles or more), and always do so with smiles and words of gratitude. Thank
you all!!!

In closing, you can keep up to date on all youth programs by going to our
website:   <http://www.nfbmo.org> www.nfbmo.org and going to the “youth
programs” tab. There you will be able to read about upcoming
activities/events, find flyers, and read reflections from students and
volunteers. Please feel free to send an email anytime to:
<mailto:youth-programs at nfbmo.org> youth-programs at nfbmo.org         

Blind Equality Achievement Month: Connections, Growth, Partnerships, and
Progress

By Daniel Garcia

In the National Federation of the Blind, October is Blind Equality
Achievement Month. It is during this month that members of the NFB put forth
an extra effort to make connections with our communities, grow our
membership, leverage the relationships that we have built with community
partners, and reflect on the progress that the organization has made to make
life better for blind people.

The December 2022 Blind Missourian featured an article I wrote about the
Kansas City Chapter’s efforts during 2022 Blind Equality Achievement Month.
I mentioned in that article that we had contacted the Kansas City Area
Transportation Authority about the inaccessibility of the application to
sign up for the complimentary paratransit service. Though an official of the
KCATA then came to talk to our chapter in November 2022, about this and
other issues, there was a subsequent lack of communication between the NFB
and the KCATA in the following months. As a result, the Kansas City and
Ivanhoe Chapters passed resolutions in March 2023 asking the KCATA to have
an ongoing conversation with us about transportation issues in Kansas City.
The text of this resolution can be found in the June 2023 Blind Missourian.
After passing this resolution, we took action by sending the text of the
resolution to various KCATA officials. President Wright also wrote a letter
to the KCATA explaining that the affiliate was willing to help the Kansas
City and Ivanhoe Chapters in any way to advance the cause of better
transportation services for blind Kansas Citians. This led to an in-person
meeting with the KCATA on April 12. This meeting was very productive, and we
then started meeting quarterly with them via the Microsoft Teams platform.
During our quarterly October 11 meeting, we learned that the KCATA had
created an accessible PDF to sign up for the complimentary paratransit
service. We subsequently tested this document and found out that it was
indeed accessible. Though this issue has been resolved, there is much work
to do to improve the service they provide, and we will continue to provide
productive feedback to the KCATA.

On Wednesday, September 6, I received an email message from Kirby Hough,
Blind and Low Vision Coordinator at The Whole Person, an independent living
center in Kansas City. She explained that they were having a resource fair
as part of their “White Cane Awareness Month” and that they were offering us
a table to distribute information. By mere coincidence, this resource fair
would be held on October 11, a couple of hours after our quarterly meeting
with the KCATA. Needless to say, that this was a very hectic and exciting
day. This event gave us the opportunity to hand out NFB literature which any
chapter can obtain for free from our Independence Market. I am very grateful
to Julie Dawson, Kathy Giffen, Willa Patterson, and Tony Waterhouse-Leal for
volunteering to help me represent the chapter at this event. I am happy to
report that one of the individuals who stopped by our table is Dennie Pierce
who has recently moved from Iowa. He was involved in the NFB of Iowa and
decided to join our chapter during our November 18 meeting. I also spoke
with the other vendors, and one of them expressed an interest in sponsoring
our upcoming convention. I am grateful to Dave Hutchins for taking  the
initiative to invite Kirby to be a guest speaker during our April 8 meeting.
I can only guess as to whether we would have been invited to the resource
fair had we not been in Kirby’s radar.

We also had a guest speaker during our October 21 meeting. Missouri
Federationnists know Amy Wilson as one of our affiliate board members, but
during that meeting, she was there in her role of CEO and founder of Safety
Positive Foundation, an organization dedicated to “problem-solving the
personal safety needs of the blind community.” Not only does having guest
speakers help to create more interest in attending a meeting, but it also
serves to give members information about resources available to the blind
community that we can use to improve our lives.

People from outside of the organization can also have a great impact on our
ability to carry out our programs and serve as great ambassadors between the
NFB and the public. Sharen Bradford is a blind individual who on two
occasions a few years apart received two CCTVs from us. She had wanted to
pay us for the CCTVs, but we told her that they were a gift to her and that
they had been donated to us. Although Sharen is not a chapter member, she
eagerly participates in our annual fall nut sale which takes place during
October. She has many neighbors and church members who eagerly anticipate
the goodies we sell from Farmstead Nuts & Treats. She gets us lots of
orders, oftentimes outselling some chapter members. I think that it is fair
to say that she has paid for those CCTVs several times over, and she has
done it in a way that is more enjoyable to her. When President Riccobono
started a conversation in the Chapter Presidents’ Mailing list on October 30
about what chapters are doing to widen the circle with regards to
fundraising outside the NFB, I replied with Sharen’s story as an example of
what our chapter does.

As I write this, it is one day before Thanksgiving, and I am again filled
with gratitude for the sixteen individuals from seven different states who
founded the National Federation of the Blind in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
on November 16, 1940. I am also grateful for the generations of
Federationists who followed and worked hard to make life better for all of
us. Let us all commit ourselves now to continuing the fight. The work we do
now may or may not benefit us, but it will surely benefit future generations
of blind people. I am also filled with gratitude for a growing chapter with
many talented and dedicated individuals who are the leading force in
representing the interests of all blind Kansas Citians.

NFB Blog Post: My First National Convention

By Isaac McBurney

Hello, my name is Isaac McBurney, and this was my first tine going to a
national convention. Before I share more about my experiences of a rookie
deep in the heart of the federation, I want to share more about myself
first.

I got really involved with the NFB in April at the state convention. I had
gone to some of the various youth activities here and there but never really
got fully involved. I was selected as a state scholarship finalist, so I
went to the 2023 state convention.  I met so many great people there and
knew this was an organization I wanted to be more a part of. A few weeks
later, the scholarship team reached out and asked, as the top scholarship
person, if I wanted to go to the convention in Houston. I said “yes”, and
started packing that day! So, in having this in mind, let’s get into my
first convention!

I have never been to a convention of this size before, so it was one thing
to be in the presence of this many people, but the fact that most all of
them were blind or visually impaired had a really big impact. We were all
tripping over each other’s canes and guide dogs, but we didn’t care because
it was an even playing field. No one could see this was happening, and it
felt nice to not be the only one running into other people or things. I’m
used to being the only one with a cane when I’m out and about, so it feels a
little awkward to use it sometimes, but I didn’t feel that here. Even at the
airport on the way home, I met someone who was at the convention. I had some
time before my flight Friday, so I went to the Space Center and saw several
other blind people. The blind people were taking over the city!

I went with my mom to the national convention, and my dad got to go with me
to the state convention. They both learned more about blindness and what it
means to “Live the life you want”. I know they both learned a lot from it,
as well as more about blindness from some different people than they’re used
to.

The hotel staff made every effort to make the convention as accessible as
they could. The staff evidently got trained, had Braille menus at the
restaurants, and described what was going on in situations where they needed
it. You can tell that the NFB helped make this the best place for the blind.
Some of the participants were also talking signs, saying things like “this
way to the elevators”, “exhibit hall down the escalator on your right”,
things like this that were really helpful. These are things that I wouldn’t
have thought of and offered a really accessible way for all of us to know
where we were and needed to go.

Throughout the week, I got to learn more about some good resources that I
will definitely look into. I also got the opportunity to do a Juno walk with
one of the guide dog schools there. I’ve been looking into maybe getting a
guide dog at some point, and this was a really good opportunity to be able
to have this here to see if it was a good fit. I also learned more about
some of the book and accessible media projects that some companies are
working on.

Also, during the week, I went to several sessions and workshops where I
learned so much more about apps, organizations, and people in the blindness
field. I went to the National Association of Blind Students Division meeting
where I got to hear from some of the students about college and how they
made their experience the best they could through accessible means. It was
cool to be surrounded by others wanting to peruse higher education at all
different stages, undergraduate students, PhD candidates, everyone. It was
really cool! I also went to the Performing Arts Division meeting and nerded
out over all the different things we talked about, as well as the at improv
workshop. I was also able to connect with blind actors, directors,
musicians, and so many more people.

President Riccobono and all the board that I met throughout the week were so
nice! I went to the presidential suite the first day and got to talk with
him for a few minutes. I also learned at the Performing Arts Division talent
show that First Lady Riccobono did Speech and Debate in high school. So, I
talked with her about that for a few minutes. They all seemed really down to
earth and wanting to connect with the people.

A few weeks before I knew I was going to go to the national convention, I
found out that an international friend I had met at Space Camp was going.
So, it was really great to be able to reconnect with him after five years.
Not really convention related, but something I’ve learned in my life thus
far: the people you meet at these blindness events are some of the best
people you can have in your network. They understand the struggles, as
they’re living through it too. I feel that I can talk to them and they know
what is going on. At this convention, I have met some more of these people.
Sorry for the little tangent. Let’s get back into my closing thoughts.

So, reflecting at the end of this post on a few things: was waking up at
2:30 A.M. Friday morning, only getting two hours of sleep that day (because
that’s how I roll), spending a week away from home the summer before
starting college, and having busy days, worth getting to meet and connect
with so many other blind people, exploring a new city, and making so many
memories. I think it is!

I am so thankful to the NFB of Missouri for giving me this wonderful
opportunity to experience the magic that is National Convention. I know this
won’t be my last convention, and I hope to see you there.

If the national convention proposes a financial hardship for you to be able
to go, they gave out almost 100 first-time convention scholarships for
people to go and experience this great place. If you’re up for it, you
should apply. Also, if you’re a college student, definitely apply for the
state and national scholarships! A surprising amount of people, myself
included, got involved with the NFB through their scholarship program.

I hope through this post I was able to provide some insights in to my time
at my first national convention. If you get the chance, you should
definitely make a plan to attend! That’s enough from me, for now. I hope you
have a great day!

GED to PhD

By Josephine Grove, PhD

In 2020, one week before the COVID shutdown, I completed a doctorate in
Higher Education Administration from the University of Phoenix Online. While
many graduates earned terminal degrees that year, my graduation was unique
because, on graduation day, I was 79 years old. Additionally, I'm an African
American woman who is legally blind. Legally blind indicates visual acuity
with the best correction in the better eye less than or equal to 20/200.  My
visual acuity is 20/400. In my case, blindness is caused by the
disintegration of the rods and cones in the back of the eyes, known as
rod/cone dystrophy. This means I may not drive a car and have almost no
central vision but reasonably good peripheral vision. I can only read the
printed or written word with different forms of magnification. I rely on
speech voiceover to read materials to me. For example, my computer reads
what is on the screen using ZoomText software designed specifically for
blind and visually impaired individuals. My iPhone, watch, and even bathroom
scales all use speech technology to convey information. 

As my vision loss escalated, the challenges to my educational journey
increased. My first diploma was my GED, earned after I left high school to
deliver my first child. Next, I earned an Associate’s Degree in Nursing
while my vision was still 20/20. When I earned my bachelor’s degree in 1983
from Stephens College, I could still read and drive with only mild
difficulty. Ten years later, when pursuing my master’s degree at Fontbonne
University, I found it difficult to read my handwriting and resorted to
using a thick black marker for written communication. While embracing my
educational goals, I worked full-time and raised four children as a single
mom. Quite frankly, I lived in fear that my employer would discover I had
vision problems, and I would subsequently lose my job. 

Sixteen years later, in 2009, while teaching online, I began studying for my
doctoral degree. By this time, I depended entirely on magnification and
electronic speech recognition for written communication. During the final
year of study, I relied on my daughter to make corrections on the
dissertation because although I could hear the mistake being read by the
computer, I could not visually locate the sentence on the page. Imagine the
frustration and loss of valuable time. As a result, with one setback or
another, it took eleven years for me to complete my PhD. The most arduous
task was writing the dissertation, conducting research, trying to read
graphs, and designing Excel spreadsheets using accessible computer tools. I
was fortunate that many family members and friends supported me with this
monumental document.  

The fact that I graduated at all is a success story. I began the doctoral
journey one month before major surgery to reduce my burgeoning weight.
Recovery from this procedure would take the next two years, with numerous
hospitalizations. The difficulty was worth it, as I lost over 120 pounds,
and my general health improved significantly. Despite complications, I only
missed a few days of class, and with the accommodation of extra time because
of my blindness, I turned in all assignments by the deadline. 

Quite soon after that recovery, I discovered a lump in my breast. A biopsy
was performed, and the diagnosis was cancer. Although the lump was small, I
elected to have a right mastectomy. The weeks following surgery were
demanding, and I was extremely fortunate that no radiation or chemotherapy
was required. I missed only one week of class and continued my studies. I'm
happy to report that I am cancer-free today.

Because of the pandemic, my graduation was presented via YouTube. I prepared
at home with thousands of other graduates. Family and friends around the
country tuned in to watch. When my name was called, my son and his wife were
at my home to officially place my cowl over my head. It was beautiful, even
though I had often imagined walking across the stage to the sound of Elgar’s
Pomp and Circumstance. Recently, at a party for my 82nd birthday, I asked my
brother, who hosted the event, if I could "walk" in my regalia into the
party. He readily agreed, and I had the chance to thank in person many of
the people who helped me complete my doctorate. No matter how lofty your
dreams and ambitions are, you can succeed despite any challenges you face. 

Pursuing goals requires due diligence, belief in yourself and your dream,
focus, persistence, determination, and discipline. Refuse to indulge the
naysayers who might ridicule your efforts or sabotage your daily objectives.
No matter what obstacles you encounter, do not blink. You can do it. 

Contact Information

Josephine Grove

10 Millstone Campus Drive #203

St. Louis, MO 63146

Mobile: 314-320-5957

Email:  <mailto:jogrove08 at gmail.com> jogrove08 at gmail.com

2024 Scholarship Announcement

By Robin House

Greetings,

I hope this message finds you well. The National Federation of the Blind of
Missouri is all about promoting opportunities to enable blind students to
attain their education and career goals. I am writing to let you know about
the National Federation of the Blind of Missouri 2024 Scholarship Program. I
am asking for your help in distributing the attached scholarship
announcement to high school seniors and college students in Missouri. This
is a wonderful scholarship opportunity for Missouri students. Thank you for
your assistance.

Sincerely

Robin House

Scholarship Chairperson

NFB of Missouri

National Federation of the Blind of Missouri

2024 Scholarship Program

The National Federation of the Blind of Missouri announces our 2024
Scholarship Program. We will be accepting applications until February 15,
2024. We invite all qualified candidates to apply. Applicants must be
legally blind and plan to enroll in a post-secondary institution for the
fall of 2024. Applicants should live in Missouri but need not be a member of
the National Federation of the Blind. Scholarships begin at $750 and are
based on merit. We invite applicants to submit all information and documents
online. All application materials must be received by February 15, 2024,
either through the online form found at www.nfbmo.org <http://www.nfbmo.org>
or at the email address provided below. Acknowledgment of applications and
documents will be sent upon receipt. If you have questions or concerns,
please do not hesitate to contact as listed below. 

Q.  What are the benefits of a National Federation of the Blind of Missouri
Scholarship?

A.  Meet other blind students and learn about the Missouri Association of
Blind Students (MABS).

B.  Learn more about how to “Live the Life you Want”

C.  Network with other successful blind people in the career area that you
are interested in. No need to reinvent the wheel.

D.  Make new friends.

E.  All of the above are correct.     Correct answer: E

Scholarship Application Checklist

*	Official application form 
*	Student essay
*	Student transcripts 
*	Two letters of recommendation
*	Proof of legal blindness
*	A letter from an NFB of Missouri Scholarship Committee member.
Contact the Scholarship Chair to arrange this interview after you have
completed the first 5 requirements.

Please note: 

* Letters of recommendation must not be submitted by the applicant, but must
come directly from the person authoring the recommendation.

* In an effective essay the applicant may consider sharing about his or her
life in a way that gives the committee insight into him or her. The essay
should cover the ways in which one lives successfully as a blind person and
describe personal goals for the future. Committee members give the essay a
great deal of attention.

* In addition to receiving the monetary award, the scholarship finalist will
attend the convention of the National Federation of the Blind of Missouri,
April 11-14, 2024, at the Hilton Kansas City Airport Hotel, 8801 NW 112th
St, Kansas City, MO, 64153. Accommodations, convention registration, and
planned meals during the convention will be included. We are also happy to
help coordinate transportation to ensure this is not a barrier to our
scholarship class. The type of transportation assistance may vary based on
where in Missouri the winner resides and the available transportation
resources in that community. 

* Throughout the convention, scholarship winners will have an opportunity to
learn about the National Federation of the Blind and network with successful
blind people. In addition, final interviews with the Scholarship Committee
will aid the committee in determining the scholarship each winner will
receive.

*  You should know that merit scholarships from the National Federation of
the Blind go directly to the winner. Therefore, students can use funds to
meet expenses that other funding sources do not cover. Also, merit
scholarships are viewed favorably when included on a resume.

The application can be found on the NFB of Missouri website. If you have any
questions about the application process, please contact the scholarship
chair. 

Robin House, Chair, Scholarship Committee

National Federation of the Blind of Missouri

Phone or Text: 314-265-6852.

Email:  <mailto:scholarships at nfbmo.org> scholarships at nfbmo.org

Web Page:  <http://www.nfbmo.org/scholarships> www.nfbmo.org/scholarships

Convention Assistance Available

By Eugene Coulter

We are pleased to announce that applications will be open on February 1,
2024 for convention assistance through the Gwen and George Rittgers
Convention Memorial Fund. Applications must be submitted online by March 12,
2024 at 5:00 pm. Applicants will be notified by March 16 of the committee’s
decision. When applications open go to the state convention page on the
affiliate website  <http://www.NFBMo.org> www.nfbmo.org and click on the
convention assistance link to apply. Priority is given foremost to those who
will be attending their first state convention. Then the committee may
consider applicants who have not previously received Rittgers funding.
Normally, funding is not granted to those who have previously received a
stipend for state convention from the fund. Applicants should make hotel
reservations but should NOT register for the convention until after they are
notified of the results of their application.

Rittgers stipends are based on financial need, therefore, those applying for
funding should lay out their needs so that the Rittgers Committee can get a
picture of the applicant’s situation, so we can make the most informed
decision to help the greatest number of people. Applications are kept
strictly confidential and are shared only on an absolute need to know basis.
Also, keep in mind that funding is very limited and will only cover a part
of the recipient’s expenses, but the hope is that it will be enough to make
the difference in the applicant’s ability to attend the state convention. 

Just because a person receives funding from their chapter or another source
does not mean that they will not get assistance from the fund. Please state
whether you will need hotel accommodation for two or three nights.

Generally, there are stipends provided for the national convention. A notice
will be posted on or before April 19, 2024 on the affiliate website and list
serves about the availability of funds with the application deadline for
these funds being May 20, 2024, at 5:00 pm.

If you have additional questions, email me at  <mailto:GCoulter at NFBMo.org>
GCoulter at NFBMo.org or call me at 573-474-3226. Thanks for your attention and
look forward to seeing as many folks at the state convention as possible.

62nd Annual Convention of the National Federation of the Blind of Missouri

Hilton Kansas City Airport Hotel  

8801 NW 112th Street, Kansas City, MO 64153 Phone: 816-891-8900  

April 11-14, 2024 

pre-register online at www.nfbmo.org <http://www.nfbmo.org> 

The Kansas City and Ivanhoe Chapters would like to warmly welcome you to
Kansas City for our 62nd annual convention. Kansas City is proud to be the
home of museums examining World War I, the Negro Leagues, the Steamship
Arabia, and the Nelson Atkins Art Museum. Visitors can enjoy many
entertainment options including Starlight Theater and our four professional
sports teams including the multi-time Super Bowl Champions the Kansas City
Chiefs.

Come to the Hilton Airport Hotel with room rates of $109 a night (plus 16.6%
tax and $1.76 KC development fee). To make reservations, call 816-891-8900
before March 21. The hotel is pet friendly and has a fitness center, free
Wi-Fi, and complimentary airport transportation. Hotel check-in at 3:00 PM
and check out at noon. Hotel dining options include Asado Urban Grill, Asado
Lobby Bar, and Starbucks. 

•The hotel’s web page is kansascityairport.hilton.com.

Once again, we have the Federation Saver Package for $80 if bought by April
1. This includes registration, a banquet ticket, and a Saturday lunch
ticket, saving you up to $35. Be sure to make your choice between chicken
and steak for the banquet when you register. We will also have a planned
lunch for Friday and the Prayer Breakfast Sunday. After April 1, the cost
for registration and all meals will increase by $5 each. There will be
opportunities to register and pick up packets on Friday and early on
Saturday. Hospitality will be open on Friday evening. 

We will be offering the Kid’s Zone for children in need of supervised care.
There is no cost for children registered for the convention. See the
information on the following pages for details on Kid’s Zone, children’s
meal prices, and exhibitor/sponsorships. To donate door prizes, please
contact Chair, Linda Coccovizzo. Her email address is linda at coccovizzo.com
<mailto:linda at coccovizzo.com> . Those bringing door prices should drop them
off at the registration table. 

•Note: All attendees are required to adhere to Our Code of Conduct, and we
will abide by all government issued Covid protocols. 

National Federation of the Blind of Missouri

62nd Annual Convention, April 11-14, 2024

Please use one form per residence. Several registrations may be combined on
one check if they are sent together. Sorry No refunds unless the event is
cancelled.

First Registrant’s Name: ___________________________________________

Second Registrant’s Name: _______________________________________

Street Address: __________________________, Apt.: ________

City: ______________________, State: ____, Zip Code: _________

Phone Number: ______________, Email: _____________________ 

Select preferred agenda format: Braille ___ Print ___ Email ___

Federation Saver Package: only available until April 1, 2024, Includes
registration, banquet, and Saturday lunch.

Number of packages including Chicken for banquet ___ at $50.00      $_______

Number of packages including steak for banquet _____ at $50.00
$_______

***After April 1, 2024, please add $5 for each item below. 

Friday Lunch:  number needed _______     at $25.00                 Total:
$______

Prayer Breakfast: number needed_______  at $20.00                Total:
$______

Convention Registrations in addition to saver package ___at 25.00
$_______

Chicken banquet in addition to saver package _______    at 50.00
$_______

Steak banquet in addition to saver  <mailto:package___ at 50.00> package
_________     at 50.00      $_______

Saturday lunch in addition to saver package _________    at 25.00
$_______ 

                                                                      Total
amount enclosed:    $______

Send payment made out to NFB of MO to: Carol Coulter, 

1504 Furlong Drive, Columbia, MO 65202. 

National Federation of the Blind of Missouri Convention 

Children’s Registration Form and Kid’s Zone Request April 12-14, 2024

We will be offering childcare for those children of parents who are
registered for the convention in need of supervised care. There is no
additional cost for children who are registered for the convention, see the
form below to register. Care will be provided during all general sessions
and the evening banquet until 9:00 PM. Meals are not provided in the Kid’s
Zone, so parents need to feed their children. Important: Parents wanting
care for their children must send this request along with payment for
registration and meals on or before March 12, 2024. Mail it along with
payment to the address below. Note: for children NOT needing childcare,
payments for pre-registration and meals must be received by April 1.
Payments can be mailed or made at www.nfbmo.org <http://www.nfbmo.org> .
Meals and registration purchased after April 1, 2024, will cost an
additional $5.00 each.

Name of Parent or Guardian: _____________________            

Address: ________________________________________

City, State, Zip: ________________________________

Cell Phone: _______________ Home Phone: ________________

Names and Ages of Children: ___________________

Special Concerns:
__________________________________________________________________Are the
above-named children in need of services in the Kid’s Zone? _____

Number of registrants: ___ at $10.00                                  Total:
$______

Annual Child’s Banquet: ____ tickets needed at $25.00     Total: $______

Friday Lunch: ________ tickets needed at $10.00              Total: $______

Saturday Lunch: ______ tickets needed at $10.00              Total: $______

Prayer Breakfast: ______tickets needed at $20.00            Total: $______

                                                               Total amount
enclosed:    $______

Send payments made out to NFB of Missouri to: Carol Coulter

1504 Furlong Drive, Columbia MO 65202. 

National Federation of the Blind of Missouri Convention 

Sponsorship and Exhibitor Registration April 12, 2024

We are pleased to offer the opportunity for companies and organizations to
either exhibit or sponsor our 2024 convention. This year we will be at the
Hilton Kansas City Airport Hotel 8801 NW 112th St Kansas City, MO. from
April 11-14. Exhibits will be open on Friday, April 12 from 1:00 PM to 9:00
PM. Below is the registration form including information on sponsorships.
Forms must be returned by April 1.

Name of Organization: _____________________ Phone: __________________

Contact person: _______________________ Email: ___________________

Address: _____________________________________________

Items exhibiting: __________________ ___________________

Exhibits:

•____ $40 for exhibit table only

•____ fee waved NFB Chapter or division exhibit  

Sponsorships:

•____ Bronze $100 includes exhibit table, 25-word informational message in
agenda, and a mention on the www.nfbmo.org <http://www.nfbmo.org>  State
Convention Page until April 30, 2024.

•____ Silver $250 includes exhibit table, 60-word informational message in
agenda, a thank you at opening ceremony and banquet, and a mention on the
www.nfbmo.org <http://www.nfbmo.org>  State Convention Page until April 30,
2024.

•____ Gold $500 includes exhibit table, 100-word informational message in
agenda, a thank you at opening ceremony and banquet, and a mention on the
www.nfbmo.org <http://www.nfbmo.org>  Home Page and State Convention Page
until April 30, 2024.

•____Diamond $1,000 same as Gold plus a one-hour showcase Friday morning and
the ability to include your company logo on the NFBMO.org website until
April 30, 2024.

Make checks payable to NFB of Missouri and mail to: Carol Coulter, Treasurer
1504 Furlong Drive, Columbia, MO 65202.

Chapter Elections and Reports

Not every chapter’s election had taken place in time for this issue. We hope
to have their election results in the next issue. 

Jefferson City Chapter by Melissa Kane

President: Debbie Wunder

Vice President: Eric Meister

Secretary: Pam Nesselhuf

Treasurer: Carolyn Patterson

Board Member 1: Vivian Smith

Board Member 2: Sue Tussey

Board Member 3: Rick Elgin

Kansas City Chapter by Daniel Garcia

President: Daniel Garcia 
First Vice President: Linda Coccovizzo 
Second Vice President: Laurice Cason 
Secretary: Sarah Coccovizzo
Treasurer: Jeff Giffen

First Board Position: Willa Patterson
Second Board Position: Tony Waterhouse-Leal

Third Board Position: Julie Dawson

The Kansas City Chapter has a strong board, and we (along with the Ivanhoe
Chapter) will continue to be a leading force in advocating for the rights of
all blind Kansas Citians. The job of president can be difficult, but it is
made easier by the fact that I have such talented and dedicated leaders who
can
help me lead the chapter.

Columbia Chapter by Gary Wunder

President: Gary Wunder 

Vice President: Gene Coulter

Secretary: Dacia Cole

Treasurer: Carol Coulter 

Board Member: Grace Warn

The Columbia Chapter had a successful Blind Equality Achievement Month with
a fundraiser at Shakespeare's pizza, a presentation on KFRU radio, and an
afternoon of gameplaying at Valhalla’s. Our chapter meeting also included a
visit from our paratransit agency, where we offered a number of suggestions
and hope for a better working relationship.

We will also be soliciting donations through CoMoGives, a central Missouri
based platform for organizations to use during the month of December to
support our worthy programs. We had two new members join this year and are
glad to welcome to our family Lydia and Julia. We will finish out the year
with a Christmas party on December 9. With love for one another and energy
in a cause we share, we look forward to 2024.

Lewis and Clark Chapter by Jenny Carmack

President: Jenny Carmack 

Vice President: Mark Harris 

Secretary: Stephanie McDowell  

Treasurer: Randy Carmack  

Board Member: Nancy Aguilera.

What has the Lewis and Clark Chapter been up to lately?  In short: planning,
working on member retention, and recruiting new members.  

On August 31st, we were honored to host the Route 66 Ride for Braille
Literacy Pit Stop Party in St. Louis. The Lewis and Clark Chapter along with
the St. Louis Blues Blind Hockey Club, Wolfner Library, news media, and many
friends and guests met at the Kirkwood Public Library to celebrate as Dan
O’Rourke made his way through St. Louis on his journey along Route 66. Dan
was making this ride to bring awareness to the importance of Braille
literacy and to raise funds for the NFB’s Braille literacy programs. We had
the opportunity to hear Dan talk about why this is important to him, why he
chose to do this, and how his journey was going. We were excited to be a
part of this memorable moment. 

On October 1st, we had our annual chapter picnic, which also served as our
chapter’s 20th birthday celebration. Yes, that is right, the Lewis and Clark
Chapter is 20 years old, and going strong. We had lots of good food and even
better friends to share the day with. FYI, according to Alexa, the most
memorable events from 2003 were: the launch of Word Press (a website
development program), the launch of the Ellen DeGeneres Show, and the
retirement of Michael Jordan. HA, HA!

On October 14, we had a Dine and Donate event at Mods Pizza. This meant that
after the chapter meeting, we all made our way to the pizza place, had some
good fun, and raised some money for our chapter. Thanks to our families and
friends who had a meal at Mods that day. 

On November 1st, we launched an online fundraiser through Mickman Brothers
selling live holiday wreaths and other décor. This fundraiser will be ending
on

December 7, but I hope some of you got these fresh smelling and beautiful
decorations for your home. Thanks, if you did purchase any.

On November 4th, the chapter had an informational booth at a senior fair in
Maplewood. The booths of this fair contributed information on how they can
be of benefits to senior citizens of the community. We had a variety of
pamphlets, alphabet cards, and Kernel Books on hand to distribute. At our
November chapter meeting, we held our annual elections, the results are
listed above. I am very excited to be working with each of them as we
continue to build the chapter.

To round out our year, we are having a holiday party at Ami’s Italian
Restaurant on December 2. Then, it will be time to relax, reenergize and be
ready to go in January. Happy Holidays!!!. 

Show Me Chapter by Denis Miller

President: Dennis Miller

Vice President: Dan Keller

Secretary: Carol Morgan

Treasurer: Gene Fleeman

Board Member: Matt Schumacher 

Pledge of the

National Federation of the Blind

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.

One Minute Message

The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the
characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the
expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles
between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life you want;
blindness is not what holds you back.

Board of Directors

National Federation of the Blind of Missouri

Officers:

Shelia Wright, President                               Jenny Carmack, First
Vice President 

Daniel Garcia, Second Vice President            Becky Boyer, Recording
Secretary

Dennis Miller, Corresponding Secretary         Carol Coulter, Treasurer

Board Members:

Eugene Coulter               Seyoon Choi
Janice Grisham

Amy Wilson                    Randy Carmack                          Jeff
Giffen           Svetlana Ehlers                President Emeritus, Gary
Wunder

Chapter Presidents

Columbia Chapter, Gary Wunder, 573-874-1774    

Jefferson City Chapter, Debbie Wunder, 573-874-1774      

Springfield Chapter, Janice Grisham, 417-761-0253

Kansas City Chapter, Daniel Garcia, 816-621-0902             

Lewis and Clark Chapter, St. Louis, Jenny Carmack, 314-239-9776 

Mineral Area Chapter, Farmington, Roger Crome, 573-701-8409

Ivanhoe Chapter, Kansas City, Linda Black-White 816-923-7074

Show Me at-large Chapter, meets via Zoom, call Dennis Miller, 660-234-5351

Blind Missourian Editor Carol Coulter

Proofreaders: Shelia Wright, Daniel Garcia and Grace Warn

Read by Elisabeth Coulter

NFB of Missouri

1504 Furlong Dr.

Columbia, MO  65202

  _____  

Private voting is a right, it should not require sight.
<https://nfbmo.org/PrivateVoting> 

The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the
characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the
expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles
between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life you want;
blindness is not what holds you back.

 <https://nfbmo.org/> 

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