[Ohio-talk] Buckeye Update

[Eric Duffy]

National Federation of the Blind of Ohio
Buckeye Update, July 31, 2013


	It has been more than a month since I last wrote an update. I can
truly say that this is an exciting time to be a part of the National
Federation of the Blind of Ohio. We have had a national convention , and we
have conducted our first Braille Enrichment for Literacy and Learning
(BELL), program since the last update. 
	What can I say about the BELL Program? I don't know where to start.
Without question this is one of our greatest accomplishments since I have
been a part of the affiliate. It cannot be appreciated fully unless you were
there to be a part of it. There will be an article about the program in the
next Buckeye Bulletin. We will do our best to capture the spirit of the two
weeks. I know that everyone wants more detail, but I promise there will also
be time for a presentation on the convention agenda. You will meet some of
the children who participated.
	I want to sincerely thank the team that helped at any time during
the two weeks. You know who you are, and you know what you did to help. The
kids appreciate you and your work and so do I. I also want to thank the
chapters, divisions, and individuals who made financial contributions to
BELL. We couldn't have done it without you.  We also received a lot of
support from other organizations. Cynthia Johnson, superintendent of the
Ohio State School for the Blind made it possible for some of our volunteers
to stay on campus for the two weeks of the program. Her staff also gave us a
lot of support. She also allowed us to use Perkins Braillers.
	Kevin Miller and Mindy Duncan gave us the remaining inventory from a
BE. cafeteria that closed. Both Kevin and Mindy were pleased to do this in
order to support our work and to make a contribution toward a program that
taught blind children Braille and other blindness skills. 
	Carolyn Knight and the Ohio DD Counsel supported BELL with $2,000. I
am excited about what we were able to do for blind children and their
families, and I am pleased to have the support of DD Counsel, OSSB., and
RSC.
	The deadline for the next newsletter is approaching rapidly. I use
the word deadline rather loosely. The real deadline is as soon as possible.
The date I will give is August 15. We must have material quickly, because,
we are working on the convention issue. We want convention information out
as soon as possible. I am counting on everyone who participated in BELL to
contribute something to this article. But I know others have things to write
about. Please help us make this another good issue of the newsletter. 
	It was a great convention in Orlando. I want to thank everyone who
sold candy, worked at the Ohio table, worked in the independence Market,
sold iPad tickets and did so much more. I will have sales totals for you in
a future update. You will read more about the convention in the Buckeye
Bulletin and the Braille Monitor.
	The Ohio Telephone Reader was not funded in the current state
budget. This means that those who relied on that service exclusively for
telephonic reading of newspapers are currently without a way to access
newspapers. Do I know how to get to all of those people to tell them about
NFB-NEWSLINE? NO! I wish I did. They are certainly welcome to sign up with
NEWSLINE at any time however.
	The convention and BELL have received most of my attention for a
little more than a month now. I will soon be turning my attention to the
state convention. Email me with your ideas and suggestions for how to make
this the best convention we have ever had.  Of course you can also call, but
as I said to Richard Payne, if you email, you and I both have your idea in
writing. I may ask you to refine your idea. I may ask how to get it done, or
I might ask you to do it. None of these things necessarily means I don't
like it. Even if you offer a suggestion I don't use this time, it doesn't
mean it can't be done in the future. I have offered many suggestions over
the years that were not used for one reason or another. But Barbara and JW.,
will both tell you that I still kept trying 
	I am pleased to tell you that Sam Gleese will be our National
Representative this year. Sam is a long serving member of the National Board
of Directors from Mississippi. I am looking forward to getting to know him
better. 
	I am attaching the materials for the awards process for 2013. All
materials are due by September 21. Please read the memorandum from Paul
Dressell carefully and direct any questions to him. Even if your chapter or
division does not wish to compete for the Gavel Award, you must submit a
completed form in order for your members to be eligible to vote during the
convention. If you are a chapter or division president and would like the
awards material in Braille please let Shelbi Hindel know. Her new email
address is 
Shelbiah1 at gmail.com


Her telephone number is (614) 377-9877.
Scrip orders are due by 7:00 PM. On Sunday, August 4. If I help you with
your order, please email me the order well before that time. 
	I will write again next week. Please get me information you would
like included in future updates, and get your newsletter articles to Barbara
Pierce.
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