[NFBSF] Join NFB San Francisco: Committee Meeting, Community Call, and Blind Cricket Picnic!

[Laura Millar]

Dear NFB San Francisco Chapter,

We’re excited to share three opportunities to connect, learn, and build
community with the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) San Francisco
Chapter this week!

Join us for our Outreach & Education Committee Meeting and Community Call
tonight, September 16, 2025, and our September Social Picnic & Blind
Cricket event this Saturday, September 20, 2025. Whether you’re curious
about the NFB, passionate about advocacy, or eager to try an accessible
sport, there’s something for everyone in the Bay Area blind and low vision
community.

Outreach & Education Committee Meeting
When: Tuesday, September 16, 2025, 6:00 PM Pacific Time

Where: Zoom (link below)

Details: Help shape our chapter’s community engagement and advocacy
efforts! This meeting is open to all—whether you’re a longtime member or
new to the NFB. Share your ideas, learn about our outreach initiatives, and
help us plan ways to empower and connect the Bay Area blind community.

Join via Zoom:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6535619678?pwd=g2r7hfzZq8UC4czxbEKdlnqtf0c7yw.1

September Community Call: Myths & Misconceptions About the NFB
When: Tuesday, September 16, 2025, 7:00 PM Pacific Time
Where: Zoom (link below)
Details: Curious about the NFB, our philosophy, and community? Come visit
us and ask your questions! This call is for anyone in the Bay Area blind
and low vision community—whether you’re new to vision loss, exploring the
NFB, or a longtime member eager to welcome others. We’re neighbors across
San Francisco and the greater Bay Area, building a community where real
questions get honest answers without judgment.
Why This Conversation Matters:
We’ve all heard myths about the NFB. Some of us believed them once, too.
Questions like, “Do I need a specific cane to join? Is it okay if I use a
guide dog?” are common and show how misconceptions can make the NFB seem
intimidating. The truth is simpler: we’re a diverse community of blind
people supporting each other to live the lives we want.
What You’ll Get from This Call:
• Belonging and Straight Talk: A welcoming space to ask anything about the
NFB and get respectful, honest answers.
• Local Voices: Hear from San Franciscans about finding community,
advocacy, and practical support in the NFB.
• Real Options: Learn how we support a range of tools—from long canes and
guide dogs to Braille, screen readers, and smartphone tech.
• Connection: Meet others on similar paths and discover ways to stay
involved.
Common Myths We’ll Unpack:
• Myth: You must use a long, non-collapsible white cane to be part of the
NFB. Reality: Training centers use long canes during instruction for
consistent skills, but in everyday life, you choose what works for
you—cane, guide dog, or no aid. Your autonomy comes first.

• Myth: The NFB prefers canes and doesn’t support guide dog users. Reality:
We support guide dog users through our National Association of Guide Dog
Users and advocate for access, including public actions against rideshare
discrimination in San Francisco.

• Myth: The NFB has rigid expectations, and everyone must do things one
way. Reality: Our high expectations are about believing in blind people,
not sameness. Our chapter includes students, professionals, parents,
artists, retirees, cane users, guide dog users, and low vision folks.

• Myth: The NFB is only for totally blind people. Reality: Blindness is a
spectrum. People using large print, magnification, or screen readers are
welcome.

• Myth: The NFB rejects technology in favor of traditional skills. Reality:
We champion both—Braille, tactile skills, and mobility, alongside screen
readers, OCR, GPS, and apps that support independence.
Bring Your Questions: Come with your folding cane, long cane, neon green
cane, guide dog, or just yourself. Bring your curiosity, skepticism, and
lived experience. Pull up a virtual chair, meet your neighbors, and
discover what the NFB is really about.


Join via Zoom:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6535619678?pwd=g2r7hfzZq8UC4czxbEKdlnqtf0c7yw.1

September Social Picnic & Blind Cricket
When: Saturday, September 20, 2025, 12:00 PM Pacific Time
Where: Grassy area at Hearst and McGee, North Berkeley (near North Berkeley
BART station)

Directions: Enter “Hearst and McGee, North Berkeley” into Google Maps or
Apple Maps. Text Asanda at 510-507-1656 or Laura at 925-321-8804 if you
need help finding the group.

Details: Join us for a fun-filled afternoon of community, food, and Blind
Cricket! Asanda Pavlacka, who made the Blind Cricket World Cup team, will
teach accessibility techniques for this dynamic sport designed for blind
and low vision players. Using a sound-making ball, larger stumps, verbal
cues, and underarm bowling, Blind Cricket ensures everyone can participate.
No experience is needed, and you don’t have to play—come for the picnic,
learn about accessibility techniques, or both! Learn a few skills or set
your sights on the World Cup next time!

Why Come?
• Connect with others in the Bay Area blind and low vision community.
• Experience an accessible sport and see how we make games inclusive.
• Enjoy a delicious picnic and good conversation with friends.
• Spark fun, healthy competition—members of the NFB, American Council of
the Blind (ACB), and anyone curious are welcome!

Picnic Details: Laura Millar is organizing a group sandwich order from
Togo’s Sandwiches. View the menu at togossandwiches.com/menu. To order or
RSVP, contact Laura by Friday, September 19, 2025, 12 PM via text/call at
925-321-8804 or Venmo (@Laura-Millar-2, venmo.com/u/Laura-Millar-2).
Include sandwich cost + tax and consider a small donation to support the
NFB San Francisco Chapter.

Blind Cricket Questions or RSVP: Contact Asanda at 510-507-1656 or join her
WhatsApp group.

Togo’s Sandwich Full menu at togossandwiches.com/menu

Get Involved
Live the life you want—blindness doesn’t have to hold you back. Whether
you’re joining us tonight for the committee meeting or Community Call, or
coming out Saturday for the picnic and Blind Cricket, we can’t wait to
connect with you. Bring your ideas, your enthusiasm, and your questions!

Want More Details? Reply to this email with your preferred contact method
(email or text) to receive full event details or ask questions. For
anonymous submissions, email nfbsfcommunity at gmail.com.

We look forward to seeing you at these events as we build a stronger, more
inclusive Bay Area blind community together!

Best,
NFB San Francisco Chapter


Laura Millar MPH, M.A., MCHES (She/Her)
Sexuality Educator, Consultant, Coach & Community Organizer
Contact # (925)-321-8804