[Travelandtourism] Travelandtourism Digest, Vol 97, Issue 5
Tracie Inman
tracieinman at yahoo.com
Tue Aug 6 22:27:34 UTC 2013
Hi. I'm Tracie Inman. I am a board member of the Travel & Tourism Division. Welcome to all our new members. I was born blind and became Deaf at the age of 8. My parents decided to send me to the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind when I was 9 years old. I remained at FSDB as a residential student until I graduated 9 years later. My mother is also blind and hearing impaired as is my daughter. I have a son who is legally blind as well. Our family joined the NFB in 2010. That year I attended my first national convention and became a board member of the Deaf-Blind Division. I am now the First Vice President of the Division. I'm also a board member of FLAGDU, a board member of the Minorities Concerns Division here in the NFB of Florida, and a member of the Jacksonville chapter. I have been traveling around the country since I was a young child, first as the daughter of a U.S. Army MP during the Vietnam War and later as an athlete
competing in various swimming and track events both with the school team and USABA I love to see new places. I believe we can all make a difference in this world no matter what our obstacles might be. Life is short. Live it to the fullest and enjoy every moment.
Tracie Inman
________________________________
From: "travelandtourism-request at nfbnet.org" <travelandtourism-request at nfbnet.org>
To: travelandtourism at nfbnet.org
Sent: Monday, August 5, 2013 8:00 AM
Subject: Travelandtourism Digest, Vol 97, Issue 5
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Today's Topics:
1. Discussion: New members of the division. Let us welcome them
(cheryl echevarria)
2. Re: Discusssion Blind people can travel anywhere with the
right planning (cheryl echevarria)
3. Discussion: Wow 2 new members in 24 Hours (cheryl echevarria)
4. Re: Discussion: Wow 2 new members in 24 Hours
(Margo Downey and Arrow)
5. Re: Discussion: New members of the division. Let us welcome
them (DBrown8827 at aol.com)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Message: 1
Date: Sun, 4 Aug 2013 09:01:35 -0400
From: cheryl echevarria <cherylandmaxx at hotmail.com>
To: travelandtourism <travelandtourism at nfbnet.org>, Denice Brown
<dbrown8827 at aol.com>
Subject: [Travelandtourism] Discussion: New members of the division.
Let us welcome them
Message-ID: <BLU169-W690D3BD5E0B4BDF4ED78E4A1530 at phx.gbl>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/travelandtourism_nfbnet.org
Good morning everyone.
I want to welcome all new members of our division, and the newest one is Denise Brown from the NFB of Pennsylvania.
We have a website, http://www.nfbtravel.org, e-mail: Info at nfbtravel.org in reference to our e-mail address, it goes to not only me but all the officers and not the board members at this time.
Our officers are Vice President, Maurice (Reese) Shackelford of Georgia; Secretary, Margo Downey of New York; Treasurer, Milton Taylor of UT (fyi, Milton has been treasurer since 2004).
We also have 3 Board Members Amy Baron of Minnesota, Jemal Powell of Illinois, and Tracie Inman of FL.
Before I talk about myself, I ask that you tell us about yourselves, who you are, why are you here, and if you are any officer or a returning member what makes you stay.
These are some of the topics, we here at our state conventions to talk to newbies about. It is important to do that.
I would please ask that all officers and members introduce themselves, and please join the talk list. The link above is to our NFB Travel Talk list.
That way we don't have to reply all to everyone.
Saves a lot of time this way.
Anyway, Welcome:
You don't have to give us a full story like mine, but you can see in my writing as bad as it is. LOL, where my head and heart is.
My name is Cheryl Echevarria, I am the current President of this division. I stepped in 2011 for Don Gillmore, the former President, who asked that I take over and was elected by the members due to all the advocating I had been doing in the way of travel with all people with disabilities. In 2012, I was elected to my 2 year term as the President on my own.
I have been a member of the NFB since I picked up one of the "Voice of the Diabetic" Subscriptions I found while I was waiting for my dialysis treatment, I had low vision then. That magazine is no longer produced by the Diabetic Action Network. That was in 2002. I have been a paid member since 2006, currently I hold the position of 2nd Vice President of Greater Long Island, and Treasurer as well. I am a member of NAGDU, Diabetic Action Network, the Merchants Division, and the National Association of Blind Veterans (no I am not a veteran, but I am a daughter of a veteran, and I believe in the case of helping those that protect our country)
I have been blind since 2001 at the age of 35, so I know what is to be sighted and now I know what it is to be blind. I think god gives us this trials and tribulations to be better people. It was from diabetes and also kidney failure, which I celebrate my 8th Anniversary on August 23rd at being post Kidney Transplant. God is good.
Since then I have made it my intention to give back to those that have helped me and work in the field of avocation for the blind in anyway shape and form. I am not going to tire you about my life, but if you want to read more about me. There was an article written up in the Braille Monitor about me. The link is here:
https://nfb.org/images/nfb/publications/bm/bm12/bm1204/bm120412.htm
I started my business in 2009, and I believe with the right CONFIDENCE, TRAINING AND EDUCATION, that blind people can do everything and anything we want to do, again we want, and not what others tell us.
Just a quick FYI. Since that person said that this division is failing, we now have and Treasurer Milton Taylor can correct me, but including convention we have 23 paid members. That is double than we had last year. I would like to see this division a strong one like the other divisions. Right now we are listed on the nfb.org under recreation as a division, I think we need to change that, since this division works more than just traveling. We also some of us work in the travel field, and this is a great direction to go into for many reasons for us the blind.
I also shows advocacy in the way of changing the laws in this country on how they protect us here and abroad when we do travel.
Your sister in the NFB
Cheryl Echevarria, PresidentNFB Travel and Tourismhttp://www.nfbtravel.orginfo@nfbtravel.org
Echevarria Travel has partnered with Braille Smith. http://www.braillesmith.com for all her braille needs.Gail Smith is the Secretary of the NFB of Alabama
------------------------------
Message: 2
Date: Sun, 4 Aug 2013 09:25:25 -0400
From: cheryl echevarria <cherylandmaxx at hotmail.com>
To: NFB Travel and Tourism Division List <travelandtourism at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [Travelandtourism] Discusssion Blind people can travel
anywhere with the right planning
Message-ID: <BLU169-W96831E9003D927D74B8D71A1530 at phx.gbl>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Good morning Bibi and Odie:
You don't have to travel to be part of this division. It was what you like to hear about, and we also need to know about the issues with the Paratransit as well. That is what we work on. I know that Margo Downey was appointed by our Governor Cuomo as Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority's board of Commissioners here in NY. Margo is our Secretary of this Division. Also Jemal Powell of Illinois has been an active member of the NFB of Illinois for 21 years, and I have a resume in with my local legislator to sit when there is an opening for the Suffolk County Board of People with Disabilities.
Why do I mention this for Bibi, is because you have rights when you ride the para-transit, it should be an affordable transportation for you and not a burden. We did have a raise in our services this past spring, to go from $2.50 to $3.00 each way, and we haven't had a raise in it since I started using the program which was in 2001, so that is over 11 years. But I also use the public transportation when I can, it is only $.75 when I use that one, it is also less waiting and aggravation.
I do not suppose to know you own income that is not any of my business of those on this list. But I hope you get information on hearings in your area so you can go and speak up at them if you can, I know many who cannot. Is there someone in your state that either sits on a transportation board with the NFB or maybe even call your state president and let them know about the issues.
I do want to remind everyone that on Para-transit that other people with disabilities ride the bus and not just the blind.
So in this case, it was a person on the regular route bus, they should just mind their own business and you should not let it bother you either. I just say thank you and have a great day. Yes, many times we all don't think before we open our mouths. I don't know if people who are sighted think that we are stupid, uneducated or just like to be big bullies. I also say, "What goes around, comes around". I don't wish ill things on people. But God doesn't like nastiness.
Your sister in the NFB
Cheryl Echevarra, PresidentNFB Travel and Tourismhttp://www.nfbtravel.orginfo@nfbtravel.org
Disabled Entrepreneur of the Year 2012 of NY StateLeading the Way in Independent Travel!
Cheryl Echevarria, Ownerhttp://www.echevarriatravel.com631-456-5394reservations@echevarriatravel.comhttp://www.echevarriatravel.wordpress.com
Affiliated as an independent contractor with Montrose TravelCST - #1018299-10 FL CST T156780Your old car keys can be the keys to literacy for a blind child. Donate your unwanted vehicle to us by clicking https://nfb.org/vehicledonations or call 855-659-9314.Echevarria Travel has partnered with Braille Smith. http://www.braillesmith.com for all her braille needs.Gail Smith is the Secretary of the NFB of Alabama
> From: orleans24 at comcast.net
> To: travelandtourism at nfbnet.org
> Date: Sat, 3 Aug 2013 19:23:36 -0600
> Subject: Re: [Travelandtourism] Discusssion Blind people can travel anywhere with the right planning
>
> Sadly, it seems that disrespect and rudeness is becoming more common.
> I have seen it on both sides of the coin.
> All of that can create lots of emotional damage or even, enemies.
> Although this may not be related to the topic directly, but just an example...
> Yesterday while Odie and I were returning home for a short time before doing anything else, I was on the route0 bus.
> I always try to stick with using public transportation for the most part if I can do so.
> Paratransit is getting too expensive and I find it becoming more inconvenient, given that they expect people to be on the van under five minutes.
> When Odie travels with me while I'm out and about, I have him wear shoes to protect his paws.
> Some lady sitting next to me had the nerve to tell me it was too hot out for Odie to be wearing shoes.
> I told her no it wasn't and that either my partner's feet stay protected or get burned.
> I let her know that if I have to wear shoes, then so should my working partner.
> He also wears them when I use my power wheelchair so if he should accidentally get his paws caught under the wheels, his feet don't get hurt as badly.
> Cheryl, keep on doing the best you can and if I should ever do any other type of traveling, I'll be sure to let ya know.
> I just hope that one day, I'll be able to get over the discomfort of flying again, as I'm not fond of flying that much.
> I have dealt with Greyhound in the past and also used Amtraak last year which Odie and I both liked and enjoyed a lot.
> The experience was great.
> Bibi and son Odie
> who wish if it is going to storm,
> that it would do so
> _______________________________________________
> Travelandtourism mailing list
> Travelandtourism at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/travelandtourism_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for Travelandtourism:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/travelandtourism_nfbnet.org/cherylandmaxx%40hotmail.com
------------------------------
Message: 3
Date: Sun, 4 Aug 2013 11:49:54 -0400
From: cheryl echevarria <cherylandmaxx at hotmail.com>
To: travelandtourism <travelandtourism at nfbnet.org>, Kimberly
<kimbeth at mchsi.com>
Subject: [Travelandtourism] Discussion: Wow 2 new members in 24 Hours
Message-ID: <BLU169-W988E60B7A3054B438486C7A1530 at phx.gbl>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Wow, 2 new members in 24 Hours, we are getting popular.
I just welcomed Denise Brown from PA, now we are to welcome Kimberly Brown of Iowa. Are you 2 related?
Anyway, if you haven't done so, please go and register on the Travel and Tourism Talk List.
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/travelandtourism_nfbnet.org
Again, welcome.
Disabled Entrepreneur of the Year 2012 of NY StateLeading the Way in Independent Travel!
Cheryl Echevarria, Ownerhttp://www.echevarriatravel.com631-456-5394reservations@echevarriatravel.comhttp://www.echevarriatravel.wordpress.com
Affiliated as an independent contractor with Montrose TravelCST - #1018299-10 FL CST T156780Your old car keys can be the keys to literacy for a blind child. Donate your unwanted vehicle to us by clicking https://nfb.org/vehicledonations or call 855-659-9314.Echevarria Travel has partnered with Braille Smith. http://www.braillesmith.com for all her braille needs.Gail Smith is the Secretary of the NFB of Alabama
------------------------------
Message: 4
Date: Sun, 04 Aug 2013 12:08:41 -0400
From: "Margo Downey and Arrow" <margo.downey at verizon.net>
To: "'NFB Travel and Tourism Division List'"
<travelandtourism at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [Travelandtourism] Discussion: Wow 2 new members in 24
Hours
Message-ID: <055d01ce912c$e45a3a30$ad0eae90$@verizon.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
Welcome, Denise and Kimberley We're glad you're with us. Jump in any time.
Margo and Arrow
-----Original Message-----
From: Travelandtourism [mailto:travelandtourism-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of cheryl echevarria
Sent: Sunday, August 04, 2013 11:50 AM
To: travelandtourism; Kimberly
Subject: [Travelandtourism] Discussion: Wow 2 new members in 24 Hours
Wow, 2 new members in 24 Hours, we are getting popular.
I just welcomed Denise Brown from PA, now we are to welcome Kimberly Brown
of Iowa. Are you 2 related?
Anyway, if you haven't done so, please go and register on the Travel and
Tourism Talk List.
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/travelandtourism_nfbnet.org
Again, welcome.
Disabled Entrepreneur of the Year 2012 of NY StateLeading the Way in
Independent Travel!
Cheryl Echevarria,
Ownerhttp://www.echevarriatravel.com631-456-5394reservations@echevarriatrave
l.comhttp://www.echevarriatravel.wordpress.com
Affiliated as an independent contractor with Montrose TravelCST -
#1018299-10 FL CST T156780Your old car keys can be the keys to literacy for
a blind child. Donate your unwanted vehicle to us by clicking
https://nfb.org/vehicledonations or call 855-659-9314.Echevarria Travel has
partnered with Braille Smith. http://www.braillesmith.com for all her
braille needs.Gail Smith is the Secretary of the NFB of Alabama
_______________________________________________
Travelandtourism mailing list
Travelandtourism at nfbnet.org
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/travelandtourism_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
Travelandtourism:
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/travelandtourism_nfbnet.org/margo.downey%4
0verizon.net
------------------------------
Message: 5
Date: Sun, 4 Aug 2013 17:43:25 -0400 (EDT)
From: DBrown8827 at aol.com
To: cherylandmaxx at hotmail.com, travelandtourism at nfbnet.org
Subject: Re: [Travelandtourism] Discussion: New members of the
division. Let us welcome them
Message-ID: <2d078.6de54f46.3f3024fd at aol.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
Thank you for welcoming me to the Travel and Tourism Division. Again, my
name is Denice Brown and I live in Philadelphia, PA. I am President of the
Greater Philadelphia Chapter of the NFB of PA. I have been President
since 2003. I am blind due to retinitis pigmentosa which I have had since
birth, but my vision began to diminish greatly in 1990 at the age of 32. I am
a retired elementary school teacher.
I currently serve on the SEPTA Advisory Committee which is the voice for
persons with disabilities who might right Para Transit, or the fixed-route
bus system. I ride both, but I spend about 90% of the time riding public
transportation. I am also a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and I
serve as the recording secretary for my local chapter, with this
organization I spend a great deal of time serving my community.
I travel to the NFB major events each year along with my sororities
events. I love to travel to New York City for Broadway Shows, shopping and
eating. I do have concerns about accessibility when it comes to travel for
blind individuals. I have had mostly good experiences when it comes to
airlines, airports, hotel staff and restaurants. I know that many others have not
been as lucky and I want to make sure that they register their complaints
and either get satisfaction, or find the proper procedure to make sure that
this does not happen again.
If it can fit into my schedule, I might like to travel with this group (or
any other group for that matter).
Ok, I have said enough. If you want to learn just a little more about me,
you can read a story that was printed in the December 2006 Braille Monitor
with the title 'What A Relief'
Take care,
Denice Brown
In a message dated 8/4/2013 9:01:36 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
cherylandmaxx at hotmail.com writes:
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/travelandtourism_nfbnet.org
Good morning everyone.
I want to welcome all new members of our division, and the newest one is
Denise Brown from the NFB of Pennsylvania.
We have a website, http://www.nfbtravel.org, e-mail: Info at nfbtravel.org in
reference to our e-mail address, it goes to not only me but all the
officers and not the board members at this time.
Our officers are Vice President, Maurice (Reese) Shackelford of Georgia;
Secretary, Margo Downey of New York; Treasurer, Milton Taylor of UT (fyi,
Milton has been treasurer since 2004).
We also have 3 Board Members Amy Baron of Minnesota, Jemal Powell of
Illinois, and Tracie Inman of FL.
Before I talk about myself, I ask that you tell us about yourselves, who
you are, why are you here, and if you are any officer or a returning member
what makes you stay.
These are some of the topics, we here at our state conventions to talk to
newbies about. It is important to do that.
I would please ask that all officers and members introduce themselves, and
please join the talk list. The link above is to our NFB Travel Talk list.
That way we don't have to reply all to everyone.
Saves a lot of time this way.
Anyway, Welcome:
You don't have to give us a full story like mine, but you can see in my
writing as bad as it is. LOL, where my head and heart is.
My name is Cheryl Echevarria, I am the current President of this division.
I stepped in 2011 for Don Gillmore, the former President, who asked that I
take over and was elected by the members due to all the advocating I had
been doing in the way of travel with all people with disabilities. In 2012,
I was elected to my 2 year term as the President on my own.
I have been a member of the NFB since I picked up one of the "Voice of the
Diabetic" Subscriptions I found while I was waiting for my dialysis
treatment, I had low vision then. That magazine is no longer produced by the
Diabetic Action Network. That was in 2002. I have been a paid member since
2006, currently I hold the position of 2nd Vice President of Greater Long
Island, and Treasurer as well. I am a member of NAGDU, Diabetic Action Network,
the Merchants Division, and the National Association of Blind Veterans (no
I am not a veteran, but I am a daughter of a veteran, and I believe in the
case of helping those that protect our country)
I have been blind since 2001 at the age of 35, so I know what is to be
sighted and now I know what it is to be blind. I think god gives us this
trials and tribulations to be better people. It was from diabetes and also
kidney failure, which I celebrate my 8th Anniversary on August 23rd at being
post Kidney Transplant. God is good.
Since then I have made it my intention to give back to those that have
helped me and work in the field of avocation for the blind in anyway shape and
form. I am not going to tire you about my life, but if you want to read
more about me. There was an article written up in the Braille Monitor about
me. The link is here:
https://nfb.org/images/nfb/publications/bm/bm12/bm1204/bm120412.htm
I started my business in 2009, and I believe with the right CONFIDENCE,
TRAINING AND EDUCATION, that blind people can do everything and anything we
want to do, again we want, and not what others tell us.
Just a quick FYI. Since that person said that this division is failing,
we now have and Treasurer Milton Taylor can correct me, but including
convention we have 23 paid members. That is double than we had last year. I
would like to see this division a strong one like the other divisions. Right
now we are listed on the nfb.org under recreation as a division, I think we
need to change that, since this division works more than just traveling. We
also some of us work in the travel field, and this is a great direction to
go into for many reasons for us the blind.
I also shows advocacy in the way of changing the laws in this country on
how they protect us here and abroad when we do travel.
Your sister in the NFB
Cheryl Echevarria, President
NFB Travel and Tourism
http://www.nfbtravel.org
info at nfbtravel.org
Echevarria Travel has partnered with Braille Smith.
http://www.braillesmith.com for all her braille needs.
Gail Smith is the Secretary of the NFB of Alabama
=
------------------------------
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------------------------------
End of Travelandtourism Digest, Vol 97, Issue 5
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