[Ohio-talk] Buckeye Update

[Eric Duffy]

National Federation of the Blind of Ohio
Buckeye Update, November 22, 2013
	 It was fifty years ago today that President Kennedy was shot down
in the prime of his life. Some of you may well remember where you were and
what you were doing when you heard the news. I do not. I was ten months old
at the time. 
	By now many of you know that Paul Dressell has had a stroke. I spoke
with Bernie shortly after it happened. At her request I did not announce
anything on Ohio-Talk or put any information about Paul in the last update.
I try to keep the membership, (or at least those who read these updates),
informed about things that we are doing and matters that effect our
Federation family. But I will always honor requests for privacy, and that is
what I got from Bernie shortly after Paul had the stroke.
	I am pleased to report that Paul is at home now and is recovering
nicely. His speech is improving almost by the day. Paul and Bernie are
asking those who wish to contact them to do so in Braille. At this point
Bernie can read cards or letters to Paul, and we believe Paul will be able
to read them for himself as time goes on.
	I thought I would rerun the commercials from the Pierces Christmas
letter. Do what you can to pass the information to your friends and family.
Here they are: The NFB is now accepting donated vehicles. Please think of us
if you have something on wheels to get rid of. Go to
www.nfb.org/vehicledonations, or call our toll-free vehicle donation number
(855) 659-9314. From November 29, Black Friday, to December 3, Giving
Tuesday, the NFB is conducting an online auction, Bidding for Equality. I
won't promise that the solution to your Christmas list problems is waiting
for you somewhere in the items available, but I will promise great stuff
definitely worth looking at. Go to <http://www.biddingforgood.com/> to
preregister. 
Preregistering on <biddingforgood.com> will ensure you are ready to bid as
soon as the auction goes live. To preview our exciting donations, please
visit our auction homepage at
<http://www.biddingforgood.com/bid-for-equality>. 
You can even add items to your cart to access them easily at a later time.
Finally many of you have made contributions to the Imagination Fund at my
request. This provides funding for the many valuable programs that we
conduct. If you are inclined to help us this year, you can do so by going to
www.nfb.org/ImaginingOurFuture.
	Although they did not include a Malley's Chocolate fund raising
commercial they were the first to place an order. Milena Zivoli, Sherry
Ruth, and I have also ordered. We still have a lot of orders to get before
reaching our minimum goal of $1,000 in sales. We are running out of time, so
do what you can to get orders for us. Online ordering ends December 15.
As I mentioned last week we are already planning for the 2014 BELL program
in Ohio. We are going to build on what we learned from the last program and
make this one a little bigger and a little better than the one before.
Debbie Baker and Marianne Denning will co-teach this year.  
	Barbara tells me that the convention issue of the newsletter is
coming along nicely.   Please get articles and information to her as soon as
possible. Chapters and divisions have had, (or soon will have), elections.
We need to have those results quickly.  This is our organization and our
newsletter. Let's all do what we can to make it better.
	December 1 is the deadline for submitting your name as someone who
is interested in participating in the Washington Seminar. Affiliate funds
are scarce this year, and I urge you to find the money to pay your way if
you give me your name.
	I am asking each of you to consider which committees you are
interested in serving on for 2014. Some of you have already emailed me. I am
including the 2014 committee list here. 
	This is the last time I will mention these things in an update. If
you don't let me know about Washington, committees, or submit material for
the newsletter by the end of December 1, you will be too late.
	Next week is Thanksgiving. We have much to be thankful for. We have
the National Federation of the Blind, and we have each other. I will not
write next week, so I wish you all a very happy Thanksgiving!!



	2014 NFB of Ohio Committee Descriptions

	 At the first board meeting following the annual convention the
president traditionally makes the committee assignments for the coming year
with the advice of the board. Here are the charges to the affiliate
committees:

DEAF-BLIND COORDINATORS 
	Charge: To provide assistance and information to those who are in
this unique community and to serve as a vehicle to foster a positive
relationship for the deaf-blind community. This year we will work toward
forming an Ohio DEAF-Blind Division by the next State Convention.

AWARDS COMMITTEE  
	Charge: To oversee the awards process, to provide information and
feedback when necessary, and to make reasonable judgments about NFBO awards.

CONSTITUTION COMMITTEE 
	Charge: To make sure that all NFBO constitutions are in compliance
with the state and national constitutions, both philosophically and
rhetorically.

EDUCATION COMMITTEE
	Charge: To advise the president about policies, legislation,
strategies, and initiatives in which the National Federation of the Blind of
Ohio should be engaged to improve educational opportunities for blind youth
throughout the state. 

FINANCING THE MOVEMENT COMMITTEE (SUN coordinator), (national fundraising
program coordinator), (Jernigan Fund coordinator), (PAC coordinator)
	Charge: To make members aware of these specific organizational
fundraising opportunities and to implement strategies to increase
participation. 

FUNDRAISING COMMITTEE  
	Charge: To investigate additional opportunities to increase NFBO
resources and to implement effective fundraising strategies and programming.


LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE
 	Charge: To increase the organization's visibility and effectiveness
in the state legislature, and to continue to support our efforts in
Washington throughout the year. 	

MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE 
	Charge: To implement effective strategies to recruit, retain, and
reinvigorate the chapters and members of the NFB of Ohio. 

PROMOTION AND PUBLICITY COMMITTEE
	Charge: To promote and publicize appropriate programs and events,
and to acquire as much positive publicity as possible for such activities. 

RESOLUTIONS COMMITTEE 
	Charge: To oversee the submission process and to write and
distribute clearly articulated and philosophically sound resolutions. 

SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE 
	Charge: To conduct the affiliate scholarship program and to develop
and implement effective strategies to increase the visibility of the program
and increase participation. 

	
The National Federation of the Blind of Ohio is conducting a fundraising
activity with Malley's Chocolates of Cleveland, Ohio.

A website has been setup specifically for the National Federation of the
Blind of Ohio fundraising campaign. All purchases made on that site will
directly benefit the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio. To connect to
this site, please visit
http://www.malleys.com/national-federation-of-the-blind-of-ohio 

Thank you very much,
Eric Duffy, President National Federation of the Blind of Ohio 

http://www.malleys.com/national-federation-of-the-blind-of-ohio   
Our mailing address is: 
13400 Brookpark Road
Cleveland, Ohio 44135 
Contact us by phone: 1-800-275-6255
Fax: 1-800-211-0567  
All website content C Copyright 2013 Malley's Chocolate. All rights
reserved.