From brianrmiller88 at gmail.com Tue Feb 13 15:32:53 2018 From: brianrmiller88 at gmail.com (BrianMiller) Date: Tue, 13 Feb 2018 10:32:53 -0500 Subject: [NFBV-Alexandria] FW: Request for Participants In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <001001d3a4df$ea9d8390$bfd88ab0$@gmail.com> Good morning Greater Alexandria chapter, Here is an email request for participants in a study involving tactile graphics? The chapter is not sponsoring or endorsing the study, but I offered to share this request in case any chapter members would like to assist. There is some compensation offered. Thanks, Brian R. Miller, Ph.D. President GAC/NFBV From: Dianne V Pawluk [mailto:dtpawluk at vcu.edu] Sent: Monday, February 12, 2018 3:33 PM To: john_bailey17 at hotmail.com; brianrmiller88 at gmail.com; potomacnfb at gmail.com Subject: Request for Participants Hello John, Brian and John, We are having difficulty recruiting participants for an ongoing study. It involves assessing a new method to automatically produce appropriate tactile diagrams from visual pictures and diagrams within less than 1 minute. We are looking for individuals who are blind or visually impaired who are 16 years of age or older who have used tactile graphics in middle school or high school. The study takes approximately 4-5 hours, participants will be paid for participating ($15/hr) and also compensated for travel. Although we are located in Richmond, we would be willing to arrange to perform the study in the Washington area for those located there. Potential participants should contact Tyler Ferro at ferrot at vcu.edu or 804-828-7839 . Please let me know if you have any questions. Sincerely, Dianne Pawluk -- Dianne Pawluk Associate Professor Biomedical Engineering Virginia Commonwealth University -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From brianrmiller88 at gmail.com Mon Feb 19 00:59:30 2018 From: brianrmiller88 at gmail.com (BrianMiller) Date: Sun, 18 Feb 2018 19:59:30 -0500 Subject: [NFBV-Alexandria] FW: Holman Prize Applications Close in Two Weeks! In-Reply-To: <9e359c44299d47298d6fed432c70b7b9@1155-009.core.lighthouse-sf.org> References: , , <7b16cc60517c45e3b410623efa7d051e@1155-009.core.lighthouse-sf.org>, , <0edac46cea384b3d9398161f5eb34fb6@1155-009.core.lighthouse-sf.org>, <9e359c44299d47298d6fed432c70b7b9@1155-009.core.lighthouse-sf.org> Message-ID: <022901d3a91c$e6a75220$b3f5f660$@gmail.com> Fellow chapter members, I wanted to share the below as a follow up to my brief presentation on the Holman prize at January?s meeting? Let me know if you have any questions! Sincerely, Brian R. Miller, Ph.D. President Greater Alexandria Chapter NFB of Virginia From: Max Levenson [mailto:MLevenson at lighthouse-sf.org] Sent: Wednesday, February 14, 2018 12:00 PM Subject: Holman Prize Applications Close in Two Weeks! (Image: a blue and black silhouette of a figure with a cane on a mountaintop, above the words "Holman Prize") Greetings! Submissions for the Holman Prize, LightHouse for the Blind?s annual $25,000 award for blind creators and adventurers, are coming to a close! You have until February 28 at noon PST to submit your application! To apply, submit a 90 second YouTube video explaining the project that you would undertake with the prize money, as well as a brief questionnaire. The application, as well as more information on how to apply, can be found on our website, www.holmanprize.org. You can read more about the prize in the Washington Post, the San Francisco Chronicle, the BBC, and PRI?s The World.? In 2017, our inaugural year, we received more than 200 applications from two dozen countries, and our three winners, chosen by a panel of blind judges, represent a wide spectrum of ambition and ingenuity. Ahmet Ustunel is training to kayak Turkey?s Bosphorus Strait, completely solo; Penny Melville-Brown is taking her YouTube baking show to six continents; Ojok Simon is teaching his fellow blind and low-vision Ugandans to become self-sustaining beekeepers. If you have questions, please feel free to contact Max Savage Levenson, Holman Prize Coordinator, at mlevenson at lighthouse-sf.org Max Levenson LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired 1155 Market Street, 10th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94103 Despite damage from the Napa fires, we are pleased to reopen Enchanted Hills Camp for Summer 2018! -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image001.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 10215 bytes Desc: not available URL: From brianrmiller88 at gmail.com Tue Feb 20 22:46:00 2018 From: brianrmiller88 at gmail.com (BrianMiller) Date: Tue, 20 Feb 2018 17:46:00 -0500 Subject: [NFBV-Alexandria] FW: Alexandria Commission on Persons with Disabilities/Chamber of Commerce Awards In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <048301d3aa9c$95458e20$bfd0aa60$@gmail.com> All, Please see the below announcement about award and scholarship opportunities here in Alexandria! Brian Miller President GAC/NFB -----Original Message----- From: Miladis Martinez Gutierrez [mailto:Miladis.Martinez at alexandriava.gov] Sent: Tuesday, February 20, 2018 3:30 PM To: Miladis Martinez Gutierrez Subject: Alexandria Commission on Persons with Disabilities/Chamber of Commerce Awards The Alexandria Commission on Persons with Disabilities (ACPD) is seeking applications and nominations for the Gerry Bertier Scholarship, the John Duty Collins III Outstanding Advocate for Persons with Disabilities Award, and two Disability Awareness Awards in conjunction with the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce. Gerry Bertier Scholarship The Gerry Bertier Scholarship is awarded based on merit to a City of Alexandria resident with a disability or to a student with a disability attending a school located in the City of Alexandria who is seeking post-secondary education. John Duty Collins III Outstanding Advocate for Persons with Disabilities Award The Collins Award recognizes an individual who advocates for and contributes to the promotion of equal opportunity for persons with disabilities within the City of Alexandria. Disability Awareness Awards in conjunction with the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce 1. An Alexandria business that makes a commitment to promote positive awareness among its employees of the needs of customers with disabilities or otherwise makes special efforts to render its goods or services accessible to persons with disabilities. 2. An Alexandria business that makes a commitment to hire persons with disabilities or aid employees with disabilities to further their careers. The deadline is April 30 and the awards will be presented at a reception at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 26, 2018, in the Vola Lawson Lobby at City Hall. All application and nomination forms are attached. They can also be submitted online at https://www.alexandriava.gov/ACPD. If you need additional information, please contact Miladis Martinez Gutierrez at 703.746.3140 or email ACPD at alexandriava.gov. To request a reasonable accommodation or an alternative format, e-mail mike.hatfield at alexandriava.gov or call 703.746.3148, Virginia Relay 711. Miladis Martinez Gutierrez Administrative Support IV Alexandria Office of Human Rights 123 N. Pitt Street, Suite 230 Alexandria, Virginia 22314 703.746.3140 703.838.4976 Fax -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: ACPD Awards -- Bertier Scholarship Form 2018 (002).pdf Type: application/pdf Size: 160367 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: ACPD Awards -- JDC III Outstanding Advocate Form 2018.pdf Type: application/pdf Size: 148821 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: ACPD - Chamber Awards 2018.pdf Type: application/pdf Size: 239876 bytes Desc: not available URL: From brianrmiller88 at gmail.com Sat Feb 24 03:18:19 2018 From: brianrmiller88 at gmail.com (BrianMiller) Date: Fri, 23 Feb 2018 22:18:19 -0500 Subject: [NFBV-Alexandria] 30 Scholarships for Blind College Students Message-ID: <018001d3ad1e$1fe805c0$5fb81140$@gmail.com> Greater Alexandria Chapter members, Don't miss your chance to apply for an NFB national scholarship, or to encourage a student you know to apply... See affiliate president Tracy Soforenko's message below for details. Some of your fellow chapter members have won, or have served on the national scholarship committee, so please let your chapter leadership know if you have questions. Good luck! Brian Miller President GAC/NFBV National Federation of the Blind Scholarship Program The National Federation of the Blind offers thirty scholarships annually to blind students from across the United States. Any legally blind, full-time college or graduate student may apply, as well as graduating high school seniors who will be attending college full-time in the fall of 2018. Check out the link below for eligibility information and to apply! https://nfb.org/scholarships The application deadline is March 31, 2018. All finalists must attend the entire convention of the National Federation of the Blind, to be held from July 3-8 in Orlando, Florida. The NFB scholarship program is our investment in the future of blind people who demonstrate scholastic aptitude, leadership, and service. All blind college students are encouraged to apply! Tracy Soforenko President, National Federation of the Blind of Virginia 202 285-4595 Tracy.soforenko at gmail.com www.nfb.org www.nfbv.org National Federation of the Blind. Live the Life You Want The National Federation of the Blind is a community of members and friends who believe in the hopes and dreams of the nation?s blind. Every day we work together to help blind people live the lives they want. _______________________________________________ NFBV-Announce mailing list NFBV-Announce at nfbnet.org http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbv-announce_nfbnet.org From brianrmiller88 at gmail.com Sat Feb 24 03:21:23 2018 From: brianrmiller88 at gmail.com (BrianMiller) Date: Fri, 23 Feb 2018 22:21:23 -0500 Subject: [NFBV-Alexandria] Join us in Orlando: 2018 McDonald Fellowships and Kenneth Jernigan Scholarship to National Convention Message-ID: <018601d3ad1e$8d12f3d0$a738db70$@gmail.com> Fellow chapter members, Please see the below email for information about how to apply for a Jernigan or McDonald fellowship to assist with attending the national convention in Orlando this July. Good luck! Brian Miller President GAC/NFBV From: Mary Durbin [mailto:mrdurbin at cox.net] Chair, McDonald Fellowship and Virginia Liaison, Kenneth Jernigan Scholarship The 2018 NFB National Convention is an experience you do not want to miss. Many of those who have attended our national NFB conventions are amazed at how meeting and interacting with over 3000 other blind and low vision convention attendees has positively changed their lives. They not only learn how the problems of vision loss can be overcome, but also experience the confidence that comes with solutions. If you have never attended a convention, we offer two programs to assist you in attending the convention and getting the most from the experience. McDonald Fellowship organized by the National Federation of the Blind of Virginia Kenneth Jernigan Scholarship run by the National Federation of the Blind You are strongly encouraged to apply for both. This message provides details on both programs. A separate message will come out from Tracy Soforenko for assistance requests from individuals who have attended previous conventions. McDonald Fellowship Robert and Marian McDonald selflessly contributed to our Virginia affiliate to further the progress and better the lives of those who are blind, visually impaired, and low vision in Virginia. In their honor, we recognize the personal benefits that come to people who attend a national convention for the first time. In their memory, the National Federation of the Blind of Virginia (NFBV) continues their legacy of education and empowerment to Virginia's blind citizens. We anticipate awarding fellowships to assist each recipient with costs of attending our 2018 NFB National Convention to be held in Orlando, FL, from July 3- July 8. Please note: The banquet ends late in the evening of Saturday, July 8 and fellowship winners are expected to attend the banquet so return travel must occur on Sunday, July 9 or later. This event will take place at the Rosen Shingle Creek Hotel in Orlando Florida. The McDonald Fellowship program was established in 1998 to assist those who have never attended a convention of the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) or those who have not attended in many years and wish to come to a convention this year. Federationists are welcome and encouraged to apply for both the Virginia specific McDonald Fellowship and a National Kenneth Jernigan Scholarship. We will link each of our Fellowship winners with mentors who will assist them in getting the most out of their national convention experience. McDonald Fellowship winners are expected to attend the entire NFB convention and share their experiences by addressing our 2018 NFB of Virginia state convention. Deadline for applications for the McDonald Fellowship is Sunday, April 15, 2018. Winners will be announced May 15, 2018. Your application should be in the form of a letter delivered via electronic mail. There is no specific form for the application. Applicants should write a brief letter outlining reasons why they should be considered for a Fellowship and the letter must include: A) Name, Address, phone and email contact information B) Chapter or other connection With the affiliate C) How you will benefit from the experience D) How you have participated with your chapter or the affiliate in the past year E) Any other pertinent details In addition, you are required to contact your Chapter President or an affiliate Board Member for a letter of recommendation. Letters of recommendation are due by Sunday, April 15, 2018. Applications or questions about the Fellowship program should be sent to Mary Durbin, Chairman, McDonald Fellowship Committee, email at Mary Durbin (mrdurbin at cox.net) or by phone at 757-472-2495. Our committee wants to help you make 2018 the year you attend our national convention. The convention will be even better because you were there. The Kenneth Jernigan Convention Scholarship Fund by Allen Harris Allen Harris is the chairman of the Kenneth Jernigan Fund Committee and was one of the people who came up with the idea of honoring our former president and longtime leader by establishing a program to promote attendance at the national convention, where so much inspiration and learning occur. Here is Allen?s announcement about the 2018 Kenneth Jernigan Convention Scholarship Fund Program: Have you always wanted to attend an NFB annual convention but have not done so because of the lack of funds? The Kenneth Jernigan Convention Scholarship Fund invites you to make an application for a scholarship grant. Perhaps this July you too can be in the Rosen Shingle Creek Hotel in Orlando, Florida, enjoying the many pleasures and learning opportunities at the largest and most important yearly convention of blind people in the world. The three biggest ticket items you need to cover when attending an NFB national convention are the roundtrip transportation, the hotel room for a week, and the food (which tends to be higher priced than at home). We attempt to award additional funds to families, but, whether a family or an individual is granted a scholarship, this fund can only help; it won?t pay all the costs. Last year most of the sixty grants were in the range of $400 to $500 per individual. We recommend that you find an NFB member as your personal convention mentor,(Virginia will assign one to the Virginia winners) someone who has been to many national conventions and is able to share money-saving tips with you and tips on navigating the extensive agenda in the big hotel. Your mentor will help you get the most out of the amazing experience that is convention week. Who is eligible? Active NFB members, blind or sighted, who have not yet attended an NFB national convention because of lack of funding are eligible to apply. How do I apply for funding assistance? 1. You write a letter giving your contact information, and your local NFB information, your specific amount requested, and then explain why this is a good investment for the NFB. The points to cover are listed below. 2. You contact your state president in person or by phone to request his or her help in obtaining funding. Be sure to tell the president when to expect your request letter by email, and mention the deadline. 3. You (or a friend) send your letter by email to your state president. He or she must add a president?s recommendation and then email both letters directly to the Kenneth Jernigan Convention Scholarship Fund Committee. Your president must forward the two letters no later than April 15. Your letter to Chairperson Allen Harris must cover these points: Your full name, and all your telephone numbers and label them?cell phone, home, office, other person (if any). Your mailing address and, if you have one, your email address. Your state affiliate and state president; your chapter and chapter president, if you attend a chapter. Your personal convention mentor, and provide that person?s phone number. Your specific request: Explain how much money you need from this fund to make this trip possible for you. We suggest you consult with other members to make a rough budget for yourself. The body of your letter should answer these questions: How do you currently participate in the Federation? Why do you want to attend a national convention? What would you receive; what can you share or give? You can include in your letter to the committee any special circumstances you hope they will take into consideration. When will I be notified that I am a winner? If you are chosen to receive this scholarship, you will receive a letter with convention details that should answer most of your questions. The committee makes every effort to notify scholarship winners by May 15, but you must do several things before that to be prepared to attend if you are chosen. 1. Make your own hotel reservation. If something prevents you from attending, you can cancel the reservation. (Yes, you may arrange for roommates of your own to reduce the cost.) 2. Register online for the entire convention, including the banquet, by May 31. 3. Find someone in your chapter or affiliate who has been to many conventions and can answer your questions as a friend and advisor. 4. If you do not hear from the committee by May 15, then you did not win a grant this year. How will I receive my convention scholarship? At convention you will be given a debit card or credit card loaded with the amount of your award. The times and locations to pick up your card will be listed in the letter we sent you. The committee is not able to provide funds before the convention, so work with your chapter and state affiliate to assist you by obtaining an agreement to advance funds if you win a scholarship and to pay your treasury back after you receive your debit or credit card. What if I have more questions? For additional information email the chairman, Allen Harris, at or call his Baltimore, Maryland, office at (410) 659-9314, extension 2415. Above all, please use this opportunity to attend your first convention on the national level and join several thousand active Federationists in the most important meeting of the blind in the world. We hope to see you in Orlando. Mary Durbin McDonald Fellowship Chair Mary Durbin 700 Biltmore Drive Virginia Beach, VA 23454 757-431-1205 (home) 757-472-2495 (cell) 757-962-3913 (fax) mrdurbin at cox.net _______________________________________________ NFBV-Announce mailing list NFBV-Announce at nfbnet.org http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbv-announce_nfbnet.org