[Nfbsf] Budget cuts to the school for the blind proposed; action needed!

[Darian Smith]

Hello All:

 One of the things we do (and do particularly well) in the National
Federation of the Blind is organize in times where action is needed;
well  now is one of those times.
  We are in the midst of budget cuts, and these cuts have, do, and
will continue to have an impact on us as blind Californians.
  Below is a message from Affiliate President Mary Willows.  Mary is
looking for  us to organize around  potential cuts to the   California
School for the Blind.
 I have pasted her message and below her signature I will include the
name and contact information for the Chairperson of the State Senate
Fiscal Budget Committee.
Should you have any questions please feel free to get in touch with me
and I will do my best to get those answered for you!
 Regards,
  Darian Smith
Hello Members & Friends,

We need your help!  On Thursday, March 22 at 9:30 A.M. the Senate Committee
On Budget and Fiscal Review will hold a hearing in the capitol.

We need blind people to appear at that hearing.  I would like to know who is
Available for this critical job.  The committee will be considering budget
Cuts at that time.  This is the time for all of us to step up and be seen at
The capitol.

The cuts are going to hurt blind children who attend the California School
For the Blind, as well as, the two schools for the deaf.  The cut is 1.8
Million dollars.  The message we need to communicate is that they are
forgeting that there was a 1.5 million dollar cut last year.  Together that
equals 3.3 million dollars.  This is not fair to all blind children who
benefit from the technology training and support outreach programs to school
districts all over the state.

We need members to actually visit the Budget committee members offices. I
will be sending that information out as well as talking points for people to
stress when they visit the offices.

Blind people need to be visible and heard.  If you cannot make it to the
hearing, you can still visit the offices before then.  The message will
still be loud and clear.

Thank you,
Mary Willows, President
National Federation of the Blind of California

Senator Mark Leno, Chair: Room 5100, State Capitol, Sacramento, CA
95814 : Phone 916-651-4003


-- 
Darian Smith

"To dream what is possible and to put oneself in service of that dream is the
formula
for a life well lived."

- Dr. Peter Benson