[Nfbv-announce] Fwd: Historic Fredericksburg Chapter Walk a success!

[Chris Walker]

We want to thank everyone who helped make our 15th annual Walk With the
Blind a Success and extend my congratulations.  Without your kind and
enthusiastic assistance,  there would have been no success.



Forty-six chapter members, their friends and families participated in our
walk.  Our special visitors included Vice Mayor Billy Withers, affiliate
president Tracy Soforenko and his wife Sharon, Richmond chapter president
Robert Parsons and Richmond chapter secretary Earl Everett.  Merchants
contributed 37 prizes with a total value of $650.  One is so generous, we
kept it so we can raffle it off and, in so doing, bring in more money for
the chapter.  Roy Murphy will have raffle tickets for this prize at our May
20 meeting.  It is a one night stay for two, valued at $200, in the
Courtyard Marriott.



I am taking this opportunity to recognize some families and individuals.
Roy Murphy brought in almost $1,100 in donations alone.  He also directed
and encourage the team which visited every single business on Caroline
Street between the train station and the library to solicit and collect
gift certificates.  This effort required several days of persistent follow
through.  Often, they had to visit a business several times before the
owner made a decision and the gift certificate was ready to collect.  The
other team members were Chris Ehrmann, Mark Ross, BJ Werwie and Sandy
Ferris.



Chris and BJ. Worked together to label the envelopes containing the gift
certificates.  BJ. Dictated the information so Chris could put it in
Braille.  Then, BJ. Labeled all the envelopes in print.



Bernie Werwie obtained two significant gift certificates and a donation
from Fredericksburg Fitness.



Mark Ross worked with Laurie and Hannah Wages during the first part of our
event.  Laurie helped Hannah Braille all the names of participants so
everyone could be eligible for the gift certificates given as door prizes.
Then, she read them to Mark Ross as they were drawn.  Mark loaned us the
benefit of his theater training to project his voice so everyone could hear
the names clearly.



In addition to helping Hannah, Laurie helped Leon collect money from all
the donations so many of you worked enthusiastically to obtain.  She also
brought everything physically required, including a Braille writer, index
cards, a table,  at least one chair, and our flag!  Little Jessie Walensky,
with assistance from his dad, held the flag for us.  Despite several
unexpected hospitalizations, Traci Jones assisted me with calls and
paperwork.



Last but absolutely by no means least, Michael Kasey did his usual
outstanding job conducting our opening ceremonies.  As always, he made the
occasion beautiful and meaningful.  Earl and Robert worked under his
direction to collect the statistics mentioned earlier in this message.



If I forgot anyone, it was entirely unintentional.  As far as I am
concerned, every person who participated in any way, before, during and
after our Walk, genuinely contributed to its success.




Holly Frisch, President

Fredericksburg Area Chapter