[Nfbv-announce] Spring 2009 - Vigilant
LPovinelli at aol.com
LPovinelli at aol.com
Mon Apr 6 19:33:21 UTC 2009
NFB Vigilant
National Federation of the Blind of Virginia
SPRING 2009
“Voice of Virginia's Blind"
In This Issue:
· 2009 McDonald Fellowships by Tracy Soforenko
Articles From 2008 Fellowship Winners
· Bus To National Convention
· Touching Lives, taken from the Eastern Shore News
· Nothing Could Stop Tynes, taken from HamptonRoads.com
· Editor On The Move, taken from ASI Newsletter
· Vigilant Report
· How You Can Assist Us
· State Officers
· Vigilant Production Staff
· NFBV Calendar of Events
2009 McDonald Fellowships
by Tracy Soforenko
Robert “Mack” McDonald knew that attending your first NFB National
Convention could transform your perspective of blind people and yourself. If you have
never attended a national convention, this is the year to attend.
The McDonald Fellowship program was established to: a) assist those who
have never attended a convention of the National Federation of the Blind (NFB)
before, or b) financially assist those who have demonstrated a commitment to
our organization and who are unable to afford the costs of attending a
national convention.
Last year’s McDonald Fellows shared the excitement and thrill of seeing,
meeting, and interacting with over 3,000 other blind and low vision convention
attendees. They not only experience how the problems of vision loss can be
overcome, but they also experience the confidence that can come with it.
Robert McDonald was the founding father of our state affiliate. He and his
wife, Marian, gave of themselves tirelessly and selflessly to further the
progress and better the lives of those who are blind, visually impaired, and low
vision in Virginia.
In establishing the McDonald Fellowship program, we recognized the personal
benefits that come to people who attend a national convention for the first
time. In Mac’s memory, the National Federation of the Blind of Virginia (NFBV)
continues his legacy of education and empowerment to Virginia's blind
citizens.
This year the goal of the McDonald Fellowship program is to issue three
McDonald Fellowship awards each in the amount of $750.00. These funds will be
awarded to assist each fellowship recipient in covering the cost of attending
our 2009 NFB National Convention to be held in Detroit, Michigan, the week of
July 3 through July 8. This event will take place at the Detroit Marriott at
the Renaissance Center in Detroit, Michigan.
We will link each of our fellowship winners up with a state mentor who will
assist them in getting the most out of their national convention experience.
Preference will be given to McDonald Fellowship applicants who have not
previously attended a national convention.
As part of the Fellowship application requirements, McDonald Fellowship
winners are asked to attend the entire NFB convention and write an article about
their experiences for the Vigilant (the newsletter of the National Federation
of the Blind of Virginia) upon their return from convention. Winners will
also have an opportunity to address our 2009 NFB of Virginia state convention.
Deadline for applications for the McDonald Fellowship is April 15, 2009.
Winners will be announced May 15, 2009. We ask that applicants write a brief
letter of application outlining their reasons why they should be considered for
a Fellowship. Preference will be given to applications from: those who have
never attended a NFB National Convention before; those who have demonstrated
commitment to the NFBV organization by their participation in either chapter or
state activities over the past year; and by those applicants who include
pertinent supporting information that will help in our selection process (e.g.
letters of support from chapter presidents).
E-mailed applications or questions about the Fellowship program should be
sent to Tracy Soforenko, Chairman, McDonald Fellowship Committee, by e-mail at
PotomacNFB at verizon.net or by phone at 703.635.2085.
My First National Convention
By Ixchell Laraurri
I had a wonderful time at my first convention. I learned how to deal with
my blindness a lot better. I saw other children who were blind and how they
were dealing with it, this helped me with my feelings.
I saw children and adults using their canes and now I don’t feel bad about
using mine.
I no longer feel alone. I used to feel like I was all alone, the only one
who was blind, now I don’t.
Going to the National Convention helped me be more independent with my cane
and feel a lot more confident. Now when I go places I do more by myself and
not be so dependent on my mom. I am looking forward to going again next
year.
Having mentors helped me a lot. They showed me different techniques that
they knew and other stuff that really helped. They helped me get the most out
of the convention by making sure I got to different meetings and they helped
me in the exhibit hall too.
I would like to thank everyone who helped me and my NFBV family for sending
me and my mom to the convention.
Ixchell Laraurri was a 2008 McDonald Fellowship winner
My First National Convention
by Jennifer Shields
My name is Jennifer Shields. I am 15 years old, and in the Chesterfield
school system. I am currently in my first year of high school. Attending
national convention this year was a very unforgettable experience for me because
it gave me confidence in myself that I really needed.
When I was younger, I sometimes felt like I was the only person who knew
what it is like to be blind, but talking to people at the National Convention
has helped me realize that I’m not alone. One of the things I enjoyed the most
was meeting other successful blind individuals and people my own age who
could give me advice from first-hand experience. Meeting so many blind people
in one place was an amazing experience that is hard to describe; so many great
people gave me advice about life and helped me learn better ways to do
things. It was cool to be in a place where everyone was blind and could share
their experiences and concerns.
When I first stepped into the hotel at National Convention, I felt a little
overwhelmed. But, over time, I began to relax a little and enjoy the great
opportunity I had to meet new people. There was always something interesting
to do, whether it was visiting the PacMate room or the teen room. I also
spend as much time as I could in the Exhibit Hall, learning all about the
different types of technology that blind people use. It was really cool to walk
into room where Braille brochures were available, instead of the useless blank
pieces of paper that people usually try to give me.
Another fun experience was the March for Independence, where I carried the
Virginia banner. That made a powerful impact on me; I will never forget that
day, because I was participating in something meaningful. National
Convention changed my life in a way I will never forget. I met lots of incredible
people, had some amazing experiences, and realized, through it all, that even
though I may be different, I’m not alone. I would like to take this
opportunity to thank everyone who made it possible for me to attend my first national
convention; I now know that I can be anything I want to be.
Jennifer Shields was a 2008 McDonald Fellowship winner
Joining The Family
>From A Parent’s View
By Chuck and Janet Shields
Our daughter Jennifer is 15 years old and has been blind since birth. In
the past we have attended a few state conventions, several seminars that were
sponsored by the NFB along with a few chapter meetings, but had never attended
a national NFB convention. We considered going the past few years but,
wondered whether Jennifer was old enough to really gain the full benefit from
the entire convention experience. This year we decided that Jen was almost 15
and would be ready for college at the blink of an eye. So it was time to get
her really initiated into the National Federation of the Blind.
Reluctantly Jennifer agreed that it was time for her to spread her wings and
to really begin getting involved with an organization that has great things
to offer blind youth. Not only would she have the opportunity to meet other
blind young adults that not only “talk the talk” but also “walk the walk”.
How many chances would we have to be with over 2,000 blind individuals of
all ages and walks of life in one hotel?
After we learned about the McDonald scholarship from our local Richmond
Chapter president, Maurice Peret, we decided it was time to move forward with out
application and trust that we would find a way to get to Dallas for the
convention. As luck would have it, we were chosen as a 2008 recipient of the
scholarship and were given the chance to go to Dallas. We were thrilled and
felt very blessed to receive this wonderful gift for our family.
Once we started reviewing the agenda, we were a bit overwhelmed with the
opportunities this trip would offer Jennifer. We found ourselves trying to
choose which seminars to attend for both the parent track and the teen track.
What an exciting time for our family!
With Tracey Soforenko’s help, we developed a game plan and drafted a
schedule of events that all of us were interested in attending. In some instances we
could not decide which meeting to attend, so Chuck and I chose to part ways
and benefit from attending two different events at the same time. The teen
track was similarly difficult to decide which sessions Jennifer would like to
attend and which sessions we as parents would like her to take advantage of.
With a little coaxing, we came up with the right schedule for Jennifer and
she was excited and a little scared all at the same time. Without the help
from all of the NFB mentors it would not have been as great of an experience as
it turned out to be with all the guidance we received.
Chuck and I knew what a great experience for Jennifer this entire week would
turn out to be but we didn’t really grasp how much the entire week of events
would benefit us as parents. To watch your child thrive in an environment
where she did not feel so different than everyone else and found Braille
materials always at her fingertips – words could never express how pleased we were
with the entire experience. I think that the first time we realized how
much this would mean to our family was when Jennifer walked into the enormous
room of Braille reading materials and we saw her face light up when she reached
out and picked up many brochures, books and articles that she could read
without any assistance. Being an avid reader of all kinds of books and
periodicals, she was in heaven! She spent a lot of time pouring over the many
choices of reading materials and asking for another bag to hold everything.
The next stop at the NFB store was equally as fulfilling for our daughter.
She looked at Braille watches, games, books etc. and was able to shop in a
store that had many things that she wanted to buy. We bought her first NFB
cane and she was fortunate enough to have a young man spend some time with her
to give her a quick lesson on how to use the long white cane. Now she felt
even more like her peers and mentors that she met throughout the week.
Moving on to the Exhibit hall where Jennifer looked at many technology
devices among many other interesting things. Here is where she was able to
experience walking with a guide dog name Angel for the first time and it left a
lifelong impression with her.
We attended many great informative sessions and Jennifer spent a lot of time
in the Pacmate suite learning many useful tips on how to use her new
equipment provided by the Chesterfield County School system at the end of her 8th
grade year. This equipment would not have been provided without the NFB’s
guidance and support.
Along with the obvious benefits of attending many quality sessions, it is
the subtle benefits that really hit home for us. For example, during one of the
many meals we had with our various mentors, someone said in passing about
how you gracefully spread butter on a roll and one of the adult blind
individuals said “Oh that’s easy, this is how I do it”. Then she proceeded to
explain in detail how to spread butter gracefully on a roll without being able to
see what you are doing. Another time one of the seasoned NFB members told the
kids to build in “get lost” time so if you do find yourself a bit confused,
you have time to find your way and you won’t be late. These statements meant
a lot more coming from a blind individual who has had life experiences that
make them the experts on real life situations.
Being somewhat of a shy person, the teen room was a great confidence builder
to Jennifer. We knew she would be just fine when she came back from an
afternoon meeting in the teen room and came through the door and said “Sorry I can
’t stay, I just came back to put my stuff down. Brigett and I are going
down to register.” She told us that everything that was discussed in the teen
room was confidential and most of all –parents are not allowed in the room at
any time! This brought a smile to our faces and we knew that she was really
enjoying this entire experience.
When it was time for the Virginia Caucus we were starting to feel exhausted
from the week’s events so far. But when Fred Schroeder asked Jennifer to
carry the VA sign in the March for Freedom, she was honored to participate in
such a meaningful event. Even though it was a late night and a very early
morning, we truly enjoyed the walk and the events that took place bright and early
that morning.
Overall the entire week of meetings, teen events, building friendships and
just being a functional blind person was an invaluable experience that our
family will treasure for many years to come. Thanks again for all who made this
exciting and wonderful event possible.
Bus To National Convention
We are looking for anyone interested in taking a bus to the NFB Convention
in Detroit. We need 55 people who are interested in traveling to Detroit by
bus. The cost is $150.00 per person if we can get 55 people. The bus would
start in Virginia Beach, make a stop in Norfolk, Hampton, Richmond, and
somewhere in Northern VA. We would stop for lunch and dinner. We would leave on
July 2nd and leave on July 9. We need to know if you would be interested by
April 15th so we can book the bus. If you are interested or have any
questions, please call or email me before April 15th.
Mary Durbin
700 Biltmore Drive
Virginia Beach, VA 23454
757-431-1205
757-472-2495 (cell)
mrdurbin at cox.net
Touching Lives
Event at The Book Bin, Onley, VA designed to promote Braille literacy
By Carol Vaughn, Staff writer, Eastern Shore News, January 14, 2009
Few people would argue against teaching children to read, but that argument
is made on a regular basis when it comes to blind children -- only 10 percent
of them are being taught to read Braille, the system of raised dots by which
the blind read using their fingers. Two members of the National Federation
of the Blind last week demonstrated the Braille system at a local bookstore
in an effort to raise support for literacy for the blind. The event Tuesday
at The Book Bin was one of dozens held across the county as part of a
celebration of Louis Braille's 200th birthday on Jan. 4.
Braille developed his reading system in 19th century France from a spot code
used during Napoleon's time, using cells of up to six raised dots to
represent letters.
Along with the birthday, the federation initiated its Braille Readers are
Leaders campaign to double the number of readers by 2015 and to have all 50
states enact legislation requiring special education teachers of blind children
to be Braille-certified.
"I just can't imagine my life without being able to read," said Sandy
Halverson, who has been blind all her life and learned to read Braille as a child.
Halverson, who lives in Northern Virginia and attended the event here, was
the first totally blind court reporter in the United States and is president of
the Virginia Association to Promote the Use of Braille.
"The National Federation of the Blind has a mission to fully integrate the
blind into society and it begins with education...If we can't read and write,
what kind of jobs can we get?" said the other presenter, Richard Holley of
Assawoman, who is president of the federation's Eastern Shore chapter. "The
state teaches sighted children to read. Why shouldn't they teach blind children
to read?" he added. Braille literacy will help lower the 70 percent
unemployment rate for blind people in the United States, Holley said, citing studies
that say 85 percent of employed blind people use Braille on the job Holley,
who has a doctoral degree in chemical engineering, is a retired product
development manager for a textile company. He was declared legally blind as a child
and gradually lost nearly all of his vision. Holley now is learning to read
Braille with the help of an employee from the Virginia Department of the
Blind and Visually Impaired who visits the Shore twice monthly. "I love that he
has taken his blindness and made it positive," said Holley's wife Pam, who
accompanied him Tuesday.
Marjorie Evans of Cashville was among those who stopped by the event. Evans'
great-grandson, Bryce Ward, 5, a kindergartener at Pungoteague Elementary
School, is legally blind and has had several eye surgeries. "They shouldn't be
left behind; it's wrong," said Evans. She said about her great-grandson,
"He's very smart; I don't want him to lose anything because he's legally blind."
Among the items on display at The Book Bin were Halverson's Braille knitting
patterns -- she is an expert knitter -- along with a large hardcover volume
that is 1/18th of her Bible. Also there was a hefty computer-generated
Braille cellular telephone manual --one of two volumes-- which Nokia provided at no
charge. Halverson also showed Evans several Braille/print children's books,
similar to those she used to read to her sighted son.
"If you read it to me, I'm not learning to spell...and I don't have the
freedom to go back and look at the book," she said of the need to teach the blind
to read. The federation also has a parents' organization and provides
resources to help families of blind children. The Potomac chapter, of which
Halverson is a member, provides free white canes to children until they reach age
18. The canes help children feel more confident and independent, Halverson
said. "People have this notion that if you cannot see, you can't do anything,"
said Halverson, citing surveys that show going blind is near the top of the
list of things people fear.
But the evidence refutes that notion, the presenters said. "There's story
after story of successful blind people," Holley said -- including the current
state and national presidents of the federation, both of whom hold doctoral
degrees, in education and law, respectively.
Holley himself continues to downhill ski--something he has enjoyed doing
since childhood -- thanks to a free service that provides guides for blind
skiers. There also are many different methods of writing Braille available to
blind people today -- from a simple index-card sized metal slate and stylus to
Halverson's $3,000 personal digital assistant, which she uses to take notes,
keep track of phone numbers and for other tasks. The device can be hooked up
to a computer to print out information either in Braille or print.
The Eastern Shore's is one of 700 federation chapters in the United States.
Its two dozen members represent only a tiny fraction of the 800 or so blind
people the state says live on Virginia's Eastern Shore. Holley's goal is to
increase membership to at least 80, or 10 percent of the local blind population
-- but he said privacy laws prevent the state and school systems from giving
the group names of local blind people -- meaning recruitment is mainly
through word of mouth or media announcements. Events like this one help raise
awareness about the local NFB chapter and about the needs and abilities of
blind people. "I guess the point is, the blind can do anything," Holley summed
it up, adding as he turned to Evans, "I look forward to Bryce being what he
wants to be."
Nothing Could Stop Tynes
Duane Bourne, Published on HamptonRoads.com, December 2008
Andre Predale Tynes had practiced walking across the gymnasium stage at
Norfolk State University, his walking cane guiding him. He lost his vision 10
years ago to diabetes, but his disability never beat him and a few steps surely
would not.
On Saturday morning at Joseph G. Echols Memorial Hall, Tynes reached for the
railing when his name was announced. He stepped onto the staircase and
stopped for a moment when his cane became wedged in metal halfway up. He wrenched
it free and made it across the platform to the standing ovation.
Back at his seat to the right of the stage, the 42-year-old Newport News man
was overwhelmed.
“I guess I got nervous,” he said. “That did not happen at rehearsal.”
Tynes was one of 562 students who graduated from Norfolk State. Nearly 1,000
received diplomas at two ceremonies at Old Dominion on Saturday.
It was impossible to collect the anecdotes from those people and chart
personal struggles they may have faced in just getting here.
However, a singular message pervaded the fall commencements at both
universities: Despite the challenges surrounding them, this was an exciting time.
Norfolk state senior class president Tiese Bright mentioned this in her
address, as did Naomi Carp, alumna and chairwoman of the U.S. Equal Employment
Opportunity Commission in hers.
Perhaps Delores Johnson Brown, who helped break the color barrier at Norfolk
public school as one of the “Norfolk 17,” showed that when she received an
honorary degree during ODU’s afternoon ceremony.
“Life is not a race,” said Kathleen Parker, a syndicated columnist, during
her ODU address. “Sometimes the road is not straight. Relax. Go out and so
something creative.”
Like may of the graduates, Tynes is trying to figure out what to do next.
After losing his sight, he decided to go back to college. He’s got a bachelor
’s in social work and now a master’s in severe disabilities.
Tynes hopes to land a job counseling people with disabilities, helping them
find jobs.
He said that, if nothing else, he wanted to be an example not only for the
disabled, but for people confronted with their own sets of challenges.
Although he wrestled with his cane Saturday, Tynes said nothing would have
stopped him from walking across the stage.
“I guess it’s a sign of my independence,” he said. “I wanted to prove that
I can do anything.”
The Editor on the Move
>From an Accessible Space Inc. Newsletter
AP’s Freedom Apartments located at 11400 Occohannock Neck Road in Exmore,
Virginia began construction on September 22, 2009. The 15 unit accessible,
affordable apartment building is for very low income adults with physical
disabilities. It is the sixth sponsored development in Virginia by Accessible
Space, Inc. (ASI). AP’s Freedom Apartments is name for Althea P. Pittman,
Executive Director of Eastern Shore Center for Independent Living (ESCIL). ESCIL
invited ASI to pursue this development in the Accomack-Northampton area of
Virginia. AP’s Freedom Apartments has received significant support from the HUD
Section 811 Program; the Virginia Department of Housing and Community
Development; the Accomack-Northampton Planning District; and ESCIL. AP’s Freedom
Apartments are expected to be completed in July 2009. The grand opening of AP’
s Freedom Apartments and ESCIL’s 10th Anniversary is planned for September
12, 2009.
Chapter Roll Call
Potomac Chapter
Tracy Soforenko
This winter, members of the Potomac chapter have been so busy, we haven’t
noticed the cold temperatures. We have been busy raising funds, working the
legislative front, and having fun.
In December, 40 chapter members gathered for an enjoyable holiday party at
Tivoli Restaurant. To celebrate Louis Braille’s birthday, we held an event on
January 4th at a local Library. The weekend of January 24th was very busy.
The Potomac Chapter was pleased to assist with the Fairfax Low Vision
Resource Fair. Chapter members provided children with canes from our Potomac
Chapter Kiwanis Club Cane Bank. Adults were signed up for the NFB National Free
Cane program. Later that day, 22 members and guess participated in our
wine, cheese and chocolate tasting where we raised $740 for the chapter. Later
that same weekend, 10 chapter members headed to Richmond to participate in a
very successful Richmond Seminar.
The Washington Seminar took place in early February. The nerve center for
the seminar was the Mercury Room, run this year by Potomac Chapter members
Sandy Halverson, Seville Allen, John Halverson, Louise Ruhf, Nancy Yeager, and
Patty Droppers.
Finally, the chapter ran a successful February auction where we raised
$1,200.
Fredericksburg Chapter
Michael Kasey
Our annual Walkathon will be held Saturday, April 18 at 10 a.m. at the City
Dock. This being our major fund raiser, we hope all will attend. Hundreds
of dollars of in gift certificates will be awarded to walkers to use the day
of the walk.
The Chapter is planning to join others in Virginia for our weekend trip to
Baltimore on April 25th to visit our National office.
Our leaders here in Fredericksburg continue to be involved in many community
organizations such as Marilee Kenlon, who is a board member of the Center
for Independent Living (CIL), Bernie Werwie also serves as a board member of
the Disability Services Board (DSB) and Brittany Crone serves as a member of
the Leos Club at Colonial Forge High School.
Eastern Shore Chapter
Rick Holley
Who is Jane Gustafson? She is the Eastern Shore Chapter’s oldest member at
83 (and maybe the VA Affiliate‘s oldest active one also). Although she
resides in Williamsburg, VA she belongs to our chapter since she is Rick’s
mother-in-law and of course Pam’s mother. With reduced vision due to AMD, Jane is a
natural for membership in the NFB. Although she lost her husband in 2004,
she continues to live independently in her home of 35 years despite the lack
of a driver’s license. For transportation she relies on friends, family, and
other resources as many of us do. Fiercely independent she either
completes or makes arrangements for, routine house and yard maintenance, resisting
the efforts of family to make these arrangements for her.
Now for the active lifestyle she lives. Up by dawn each morning, she walks
through the neighborhood for daily exercise and has been seen at the local
recreation center in organized exercise programs. As recently as 2006 she was
elected and served as President of the Williamsburg chapter of the Lady Lions
Club where she is still an active participant. She fills out her days and
weeks with many other activities such as wool carding, spinning, knitting and
weaving. Admittedly she does have trouble with color differences and prefers
to use colors of high contrast or solid ones. Jane is also active in the
spinning, knitting and weaving guilds from Williamsburg to Richmond and has been
seen at local craft shows in southeastern Virginia demonstrating the art of
wool spinning. Another activity she finds especially rewarding is the
hospice care she provides those in need in her neighborhood.
An avid reader, Jane uses the public library, the Library of Congress and
her daughter to supply her with an inexhaustible number of audio books. I have
even caught her reading (listening) to more than one at a time. As for mail
and other printed materials, she does use a reader, which was loaned to her
by the Lions Club.
Now for the really fun stuff, Jane is a baker extraordinaire. She loves to
bake and shares the results with family, friends, doctors, yard men and the
NFB as evidenced by the 14 dozen cookies she baked and auctioned off at our
latest State Convention. Her baked goods as well as the afghan she made, added
about $500 dollars in the live auction. Wow, I’m tired just writing this and
just think she’s only 87, I can’t wait to update this in maybe 5 or 10
years.
Winchester Chapter
Paula Kelsey
What we have accomplished in the past year. We have made our presence in the
community known. I have consistently put our meeting dates in the
Winchester Star.
I appeared on Cable Talk presenting a variety of gadgets that can be used by
blind and visually impaired individuals throughout their daily lives. I was
given the opportunity to give out our contact information and phone number.
I received several calls in response to the show. I was able to assist one
individual with valuable information from the Social Security Administration
concerning the Ticket to Work program. Many other individuals in our area are
concerned about finding employment and maintaining benefits until they can
establish gainful employment. My two mile walk from the Social Security
Administration was well worth it when I was able to deliver these materials along
with information about our meeting time and location.
Winchester’s chapter is proud to report that some of our newest members have
been on the move spreading the word of the NFB.
Vigilant Report
The tape version of the Vigilant will no longer be available. Instead, the
full text of the Vigilant can be heard on NFB-NEWSLINE®. One reason for this
change is that the time and expense required to create each audio issue of
the Vigilant are very costly. A second reason is that many services that
produce audio tapes are switching over to alternative formats because technology
is changing and that change does not include the continued use of audio
tapes. There are much better alternatives.
NFB-NEWSLINE® is a free service available to all Virginians. It is as close
as your telephone and enables you to read not only the NFBV Vigilant, but
over 200 other publications from around the country.
If you are not already a NFB-NEWSLINE® subscriber, signing up is easy. If
you have Internet access, go to www.nfb.org, and follow the directions. You
may also call toll free: 1-866-504-7300. Having the Vigilant available on
NFB-NEWSLINE® means that you will be able to read each issue as soon as it is
available. You will not have any more long delays while the tapes are being
manufactured. You will also get the great features that come with being an
NFB-NEWSLINE® subscriber. For example, being able to select the reading voice
you want, having the ability to read the articles as fast or as slowly as you
want, the ability to read word by word or character by character; and best
of all, NFB-NEWSLINE® IS FREE.
Don’t hesitate to sign up for NFB-NEWSLINE® now and begin receiving the
Vigilant along with hundreds of other state and national publications!
How You Can Assist Us
The National Federation of the Blind of Virginia is a nonprofit organization
whose purpose is to improve the lives of the blind through education and
legislation. The NFBV is the blind speaking for the blind. Assistance from
those who share our mission is always welcome. If you can offer time, material
resources, or financial help, it would be greatly appreciated.
Another way to support the efforts of the NFB of Virginia is by means of
bequests. Simply include the following information in your will: "I give,
devise, and bequeath unto National Federation of the Blind of Virginia, 702 Prince
Edward Str. Apt. 5, Fredericksburg, VA 23401, a Virginia nonprofit
corporation, the sum of $___ (or "___ percent of my net estate" or "The following
stocks and bonds:___") to be used for its worthy purposes on behalf of blind
persons."
To learn of other ways in which you can support the organization, call Fred
Schroeder, President, NFBV, at (703) 319-9226.
State Officers
President, Fred Schroeder
First Vice President, Seville Allen
Second Vice President, Althea P. Pitman
State Treasurer, Lawrence Povinelli
Asst. Treasurer, Mark Roane
Recording Secretary, Stewart Prost
Corresponding Secretary,
Gwen Beavers
Vigilant Staff
Chief Editor/Print Production, Althea P. Pittman
Staff, Kathryn R. Hall, Jazmine Collins
Braille Production, Alan and
Billie Ruth Schlank
NFBV Calendar of Events:
· Deadline for applications for the McDonald Fellowship is April 15, 2009.
Winners will be announced May 15, 2009.
· On Wednesday, April 29, 2009 at 11:00am, a NEW Low Vision Support Group
will meet to address the needs of local citizens with visual impairments. The
meeting will be held at The Oaks Apartments in the Committee Room -- 305 Oak
Springs Drive, Warrenton. This will be the founding meeting of the Warrenton
Chapter. Everyone is welcome! We promise information and fellowship! We
will have snacks and door prizes.
· The NFBV Board Meeting will take place on Saturday, May 9, 2009
· The NFB National Convention will take place in Detroit Michigan July3-8,
2009
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