[nfbwatlk] Fw: CFB President's Message, Dec. 2010

[Gloria Whipple]

What a wonderful message!


Gloria Whipple
Corresponding Secretary
Inland Empire chapter
nfb of WA

cell number: 509-475-4993

-----Original Message-----
From: nfbwatlk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfbwatlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Mike Freeman
Sent: Sunday, December 19, 2010 10:45 AM
To: NFB of Washington Talk Mailing List
Subject: [nfbwatlk] Fw: CFB President's Message, Dec. 2010

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Elizabeth Lalonde" <elizabeth.lalonde at shaw.ca>
To: <list at cfb.ca>
Sent: Sunday, December 19, 2010 10:30 AM
Subject: [List] CFB President's Message, Dec. 2010


> The following message is also on our Website www.cfb.ca
>
>
>
> President's Message
>
> December, 2010
>
>
>
> Hello everyone,
>
>
>
> I am happy to connect with you all this holiday season.
>
>
>
> One of the biggest challenges we face as Canadians is our geography. It is

> difficult to connect with each other when we live across such vast 
> distances. Members of the Canadian Federation of the Blind want to bridge 
> this distance, and we try through emails and teleconferences. We need to 
> do more. And I look forward to hearing your ideas about ways we can do 
> this.
>
>
>
> The most important part of the Federation is the family spirit: the 
> feeling of togetherness, vitality and oneness we feel when we are 
> together. When you go to a National Federation of the Blind convention in 
> the states, or a CANADIAN FEDERATION OF THE BLIND convention in Canada, 
> people feel connected, part of a like-minded group, not just of blind 
> individuals, but of those who want to work in a positive and united way to

> promote equality and empowerment for blind people.
>
>
>
> I prepared this message to let you know we are here and that we want you 
> to be a part of our family.
>
>
>
> We have a Website, www.cfb.ca, a Facebook page, and a toll-free phone line

> 1800-619-8789. Please contact us and tell us about yourself.
>
>
>
> We have a listserv. If you would like to be on this list, please send us 
> an email to info at cfb.ca.
>
>
>
> As many of you know, I was away last year in Louisiana training at the 
> Louisiana Centre for the Blind. It was an amazing experience: a 
> life-changing adventure. I didn't learn Braille as a child, for the 
> reasons so many children with low vision do not learn Braille - they 
> thought I had enough sight to read print.
>
>
>
> This year, at the Louisiana Centre for the Blind, I learned to read 
> Braille at nearly 50 words per minute. It is an empowering accomplishment 
> for me. I wore sleep shades everyday during my training and learned to 
> cook, travel, work with tools all without using sight. It freed me and 
> gave me the courage and the confidence to accomplish even more.
>
>
>
> I deeply miss my time at the centre and the lifelong friends I made there.

> But I am happy to be back in Canada to lead this amazing group and to help

> other blind people experience the things I gained.
>
>
>
> I thank everyone in the CANADIAN FEDERATION OF THE BLIND and the executive

> for working so hard in my absence.
>
>
>
> The CANADIAN FEDERATION OF THE BLIND is looking forward to growing in the 
> coming year. Our blind youth mentoring program has started and we will be 
> doing much more with this program in the new year.
>
>
>
> Gail Copp organized a successful fundraiser this December, a screening of 
> the documentary film "The Eyes Of Me." This event was well-attended, 
> earned money for the CANADIAN FEDERATION OF THE BLIND, and most 
> importantly, educated people in a positive way about blindness.
>
>
>
> As always, we are raising funds to help support those members who want to 
> attend the National Federation of the Blind convention in Orlando Florida 
> in July 2011. These conventions are the pinical of Federation life; they 
> provide a way to meet new people and stay connected with old friends in 
> the Federation; they offer a venue for learning about blindness, how to 
> succeed as a blind person, and they build enthusiasm for the important 
> work we do in the organization.
>
>
>
> In the Canadian Federation of the Blind, we are continuing our advocacy 
> work in the areas of getting proper training and rehabilitation for blind 
> Canadians and bringing this important and largely neglected issue to the 
> attention of government and the public.
>
>
>
> I want to thank you all for your efforts: the work you do as individual 
> blind people wherever you are in Canada or in the world makes a 
> difference. Every time we accomplish something in our own lives helps 
> others to know what is possible and sets a positive example . Every time 
> we reach out in small ways to other blind people to support and mentor 
> them makes a difference in our lives and in the lives of those we mentor.
>
>
>
> I wish you a happy holiday season, and best wishes  for the new year.
>
> Yours in love and friendship
>
> Elizabeth Lalonde, President
>
> Canadian Federation of the Blind
>
>
>
> Elizabeth Lalonde, President
> Canadian Federation of the Blind
> www.cfb.ca
> PHONE: (250) 598-7154
> TOLL-FREE: 1-800-619-8789
> E-mail: info at cfb.ca
> P.O. Box 8007
> VICTORIA, BC V8W 3R7
>
> Together we are changing what it means to be blind.
>
> _______________________________________________
> List mailing list
> List at box334.bluehost.com
> http://box334.bluehost.com/mailman/listinfo/list_cfb.ca 


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