<html xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=us-ascii"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)"><style><!--
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--></style></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Welcome to another edition of member to member! This week, Norma Bateman from our Greater Williamsburg Chapter is in the spotlight. Nroma has been with our NFB Family for about two years now. She attended our Silver Bells Program with Maggie Phillips, highlighted earlier. This is her second year being involved with our BEAM walk and you’ll see her smiling face at the majority of our chapter meetings. She enjoys helping people and would like to see more social gatherings and the ability to get to know others in the chapter and around the NFB.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Norma has been a volunteer with the Red Cross and has been a driver for Faith in Action, a non profit who provides rides for seniors and people who are unable to drive. She teaches Sunday School and is very involved with Church. Norma was born in West Jefferson, N.C. and she was raised in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. “I love the mountains! My house had a creek in the yard; it was beautiful.” Norma was born hard of hearing, no one realized it for a long time “I was really good at lip reading. No one knew until one day my Dad came up behind me and was trying to get my attention, I didn’t acknowledge him until he was right in front of me.” There wasn’t anything the Doctors could do so they told her Dad not to worry about her because she developed such a skill lip reading. She had two older brothers, one died; her Mom died when she was 17; “if I had one wish, it would be to see Mother again.” and her Dad raised her and her brothers. Norma came to Williamsburg in 1960 and graduated from James Blair High School and Hampton Roads Business College. She worked for The College of William and Mary. She was in the purchasing department where she started as a Secretary. Through the years, she advanced to become Treasurer! The first woman to ever hold that position; way to go Norma! Norma has one adopted daughter, Faye, and two Grand daughters, who live near her. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Ok guys, you have to sit down for this one…Norma thinks her NFB Family would be surprised to know that she was in a gang when she was younger! Yes, that was a shocker for me. “The girl who lead the gang kind of tricked me into joining. Once I joined, there was a boy who threatened me, with my life, if I did anything to upset the gang. I stayed in line because I was scared. My initiation was to beat up the Pastor’s Son. He and I were friends so I told him to fight me and let me win so I wouldn’t be beat up by the other gang members. Soon after, I found God and became a Christian; I asked the leader to let me out and thankfully, she did. My family moved shortly after that so I wasn’t looking over my shoulder for the rest of my life. Interesting times!!” <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Norma would love to have dinner with Billy Graham. “He’s such an inspiration! I’ve followed him for many years and still watch his show, of course they’re reruns, to this day.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Thank you, Norma, for sharing your story and allowing us to get to know you better! Stay tuned for another edition of member to member next week.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Peace,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Jacki Bruce<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Corresponding Secretary NFBV<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><a href="mailto:jackibruce6@gmail.com">mailto:jackibruce6@gmail.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><a href="tel:(757)291-1789">tel:(757)291-1789</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Membership Chair<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><a href="mailto:membership@nfbv.org">mailto:membership@nfbv.org</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Find us on Facebook @NationalFederationoftheBlindofVirginia<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Find us on Instragram @nfbofvirginia<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Subscribe to our Youtube: NFB Virginia<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><a href="http://www.nfbv.org/">www.nfbv.org</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>STRONGER TOGETHER!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>