From dsmithnfb at gmail.com  Wed Nov  6 12:17:19 2013
From: dsmithnfb at gmail.com (Darian Smith)
Date: Wed, 6 Nov 2013 04:17:19 -0800
Subject: [Uabs] Fwd: Important Message Regarding Google Apps and
	Accessibility
References: <015501ceda8f$de3bc2c0$9ab34840$@gmail.com>
Message-ID: <932ABD53-B4B2-4846-9655-EF673A69FE20@gmail.com>

	

Begin forwarded message:

> From: "Sean Whalen" <smwhalenpsp at gmail.com>
> Subject: FW: Important Message Regarding Google Apps and Accessibility
> Date: November 5, 2013 at 5:31:07 PM PST
> To: <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>, <nabs-presidents at nfbnet.org>
> 
> Friends and fellow students:
> 
> We have a wonderful opportunity to use our status as students to help
> further the work of the NFB. Dr. Maurer called me yesterday afternoon and
> advised me that we are in continued conversations with Google regarding the
> accessibility of Google Apps, which are frequently used by schools and
> universities. Unfortunately, Google Apps has many features that are
> inaccessible. We need to change this, and this effort is building momentum.
> The Provost of the University of Michigan has recently circulated the two
> below communications to faculty and students at U of M. As you can read
> after this message, Michigan will not be requiring, and is in fact
> discouraging, the use of Google Apps for coursework, class projects, or
> communication between students until Google Apps are accessible and fully
> useable by disabled students, including the blind. This is a strong message,
> but we need to increase the pressure on Google. They need to hear this
> message from other colleges and universities, and they need to hear it now.
> Does your school use Google Apps or are they considering it? Show your
> administration the principled and courageous stand that the University of
> Michigan has taken, and urge them to do the same. Educate your school's
> administration as to how Google Apps leaves blind students out, detracts
> from our full participation in the classroom, and degrades our educational
> experience. I personally have run across inaccessible Google products here
> at HKS, and will certainly be sharing the below message with my Dean. I urge
> each of you to do the same. This is one of those instances where we as
> students can step up to really make a difference for all blind students and
> shape the future. Please take a few minutes to communicate the importance of
> accessibility of all aspects of education and show your school that it is
> possible to take a stand. Technology can either open doors for the blind, or
> seal them shut. I know which I prefer. So, please, take a moment and help
> show Google that accessibility matters by getting your school to communicate
> their commitment to accessibility.
> 
> Please call or write if you have any questions. And, please share this with
> anybody committed to equal access in education for the blind.
> 
> Many thanks,
> 
> Sean Whalen
> President, National Association of Blind Students
> (608) 332-4147
> ---------
> Dear Colleagues,
> 
> As you know, the University of Michigan has transitioned to Google Apps for
> Education for email, calendar, and collaboration tools. The university has
> been in regular contact with Google over the past year about the
> accessibility of their products, and we have conducted numerous tests to
> measure their progress. While Google has demonstrated definite improvements,
> much work remains to make the experience acceptable and equitable for
> individuals who have disabilities. Because Google Docs and Drive, Chat,
> Sites, and other collaborative technologies in the Google suite do not work
> well with standard assistive technologies, you should not require students
> to use them in coursework. In other words, you should not assign work where
> the only option to complete the work involves use of these tools, and even
> if their use is optional, you should be extremely sensitive and avoid
> situations in which students who have disabilities may be disadvantaged if
> the Google suite is the preferred alternative.
> 
> I am also writing to our students to ask them to be cautious in their
> informal use of this suite of applications, avoiding them whenever their use
> may disadvantage students who have disabilities.
> 
> Google email and calendar are accessible with standard assistive
> technologies when used with the client interface for Outlook or MacMail.
> Students, faculty, or staff may call 4-HELP for assistance in setting up the
> client interface or they may visit the Knox Center Adaptive Technology
> Computing Site on the first floor of the Shapiro Library. Generally, if you
> need assistance in making your courses or technology accessible to students
> who have disabilities, don't hesitate to work with the Knox Center or the
> Services for Students with Disabilities.
> 
> We will continue to work with Google to address the accessibility issues in
> their software systems, and we expect that changes will be made so that they
> meet the needs of all our students.
> 
> The university is committed to equal opportunity and equal access, and we
> are continually working harder to find ways to make the tools we use,
> facilities we access, and methods we apply accessible to our entire
> community. Please visit the sites below to learn more about how to support
> our community members with disabilities:
> 
> --Services for Students with Disabilities handbook for faculty
> (http://ssd.umich.edu/files/ssd/SSD_Faculty_Handbook.pdf)
> --Knox Center Adaptive Technology Computing Site
> (http://www.itcs.umich.edu/atcs/computing-site.php)
> --M+Google site
> (https://sites.google.com/a/umich.edu/going-google/accessibility)
> 
> Thank you for your attention to this important matter.
> 
> Sincerely,
> 
> Martha E. Pollack
> Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Dear Students,
> 
> As you know, the University of Michigan has transitioned to Google Apps for
> Education for email, calendar, and collaboration tools. The university has
> been in regular contact with Google over the past year about the
> accessibility of their products, and we have conducted numerous tests to
> measure their progress. While Google has demonstrated definite improvements,
> much work remains to make the experience acceptable and equitable for
> individuals who have disabilities. Because Google Docs and Drive, Chat,
> Sites, and other collaborative technologies in the Google suite do not work
> well with standard assistive technologies, we have instructed the faculty
> not to require students to use them in coursework, and to be sensitive and
> avoid situations in which students who have disabilities may be
> disadvantaged if the Google suite is the preferred alternative.
> 
> I am also writing to ask you to be cautious in your informal use of this
> suite of applications, avoiding them whenever their use may disadvantage
> students who have disabilities.
> 
> Google email and calendar are accessible with standard assistive
> technologies when used with the client interface for Outlook or MacMail.
> Students, faculty, or staff may call 4-HELP for assistance in setting up the
> client interface or they may visit the Knox Center Adaptive Technology
> Computing Site on the first floor of the Shapiro Library.  Generally, if you
> need assistance in making your courses or technology accessible to students
> who have disabilities, don't hesitate to work with the Knox Center or the
> Services for Students with Disabilities.
> 
> We will continue to work with Google to address the accessibility issues in
> their software systems, and we expect that changes will be made so that they
> meet the needs of all our students.
> 
> The university is committed to equal opportunity and equal access, and we
> are continually working harder to find ways to make the tools we use,
> facilities we access, and methods we apply accessible to our entire
> community.  Please visit the sites below to learn more about how to support
> our community members with disabilities:
> 
> --Services for Students with Disabilities handbook for faculty
> (http://ssd.umich.edu/files/ssd/SSD_Faculty_Handbook.pdf)
> --Knox Center Adaptive Technology Computing Site
> (http://www.itcs.umich.edu/atcs/computing-site.php)
> --M+Google site
> (https://sites.google.com/a/umich.edu/going-google/accessibility)
> 
> Thank you for your attention to this important matter.
> 
> Sincerely,
> 
> 
> Martha E. Pollack
> Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
> 

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From dsmithnfb at gmail.com  Wed Nov  6 12:19:57 2013
From: dsmithnfb at gmail.com (Darian Smith)
Date: Wed, 6 Nov 2013 04:19:57 -0800
Subject: [Uabs] Fwd: [nabs-l] Employment Mentoring Opportunity for College
	Students who are Blind
References: <000c01ced713$4fa44840$eeecd8c0$@gmail.com>
Message-ID: <BE169FA5-41C1-48DF-8CED-C29F65E4C8EF@gmail.com>



Begin forwarded message:

> From: "Sean Whalen" <nabs.president at gmail.com>
> Subject: [nabs-l] FW: Employment Mentoring Opportunity for College Students who are Blind
> Date: November 1, 2013 at 8:01:57 AM PDT
> To: <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
> Reply-To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
> 
> Check out this one on one mentoring opportunity if you are a student under
> 35 years of age (grad students included). Also, if you are a young
> professional and would like to serve as a mentor for a blind student, they
> are looking for you, too!
> 
> 
> 
> From: Jamie O'Mally [mailto:jomally at colled.msstate.edu] 
> Sent: Wednesday, October 30, 2013 4:54 PM
> To: nabs.president at gmail.com
> Subject: Employment Mentoring Opportunity for College Students who are Blind
> 
> 
> 
> Hello Silverman Arielle,
> 
> 
> 
> Do you know a college student graduating next year who is legally (or
> totally) blind? The National Research and Training Center on Blindness and
> Low Vision (NRTC) is pairing students nationwide with mentors who are also
> legally blind and working in a similar field of interest.  Opportunities
> include face-to-face mentoring, job shadowing, and networking.  We offer
> career preparation resources and student incentives to participate.
> Students must be under age 35 and should sign up by December 2013.
> Professionals who are blind and interested in serving as mentors are also
> encouraged to apply. For more info, visit http://tiny.cc/mentoring-project.
> For questions, contact Jamie O'Mally at nrtc2 at colled.msstate.edu, or call
> 662-325-2001 or toll free at1-800-675-7782.  Please share this information
> with anyone you think may be interested! 
> 
> 
> 
> Thank you,
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Jamie O'Mally, Ph.D.
> 
> Assistant Research Professor
> 
> The National Research and Training Center on Blindness & Low Vision (NRTC)
> 
> Mississippi State University
> 
> P.O. Box 6189
> 
> Mississippi State, MS 39762
> 
> 662-325-3151
> 
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> nabs-l mailing list
> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for nabs-l:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/dsmithnfb%40gmail.com

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From dsmithnfb at gmail.com  Wed Nov  6 12:20:07 2013
From: dsmithnfb at gmail.com (Darian Smith)
Date: Wed, 6 Nov 2013 04:20:07 -0800
Subject: [Uabs] Fwd: [nabs-l] Apply Now for NASA Summer 2014 Internships:
	Recruitment Letter for Student Interns with Disabilities and
	Frequently Asked Questions Attached (Please Distribute Far
	and Wide!)
References: <001901ced713$887c21b0$99746510$@gmail.com>
Message-ID: <17E058E5-F74F-4DC3-8388-8E5BAF7F3957@gmail.com>



Begin forwarded message:

> From: "Sean Whalen" <nabs.president at gmail.com>
> Subject: [nabs-l] FW: Apply Now for NASA Summer 2014 Internships: Recruitment Letter for Student Interns with Disabilities and Frequently Asked Questions Attached (Please Distribute Far and Wide!)
> Date: November 1, 2013 at 8:03:32 AM PDT
> To: <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>, <nabs-presidents at nfbnet.org>
> Reply-To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
> 
> Please see the attached for info about summer internship opportunities with
> NASA.
> _______________________________________________
> nabs-l mailing list
> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for nabs-l:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/dsmithnfb%40gmail.com

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From dsmithnfb at gmail.com  Sat Nov 16 18:02:31 2013
From: dsmithnfb at gmail.com (Darian Smith)
Date: Sat, 16 Nov 2013 10:02:31 -0800
Subject: [Uabs] Reminder: your 2013-2014 National association of Blind
	Students Committees and their chairs.
Message-ID: <FDFAD56E-D6AE-4C1E-B7FB-4EA4A19B959E@gmail.com>

> Greetings fellow students!
> 
> Just a reminder that if you have not found a NABS committee and would
> like to do so, it is not too late.
> Below please find the committees and the people chairing them.
> 1.	fundraising: Candice Chapman- chapman.candicel at gmail.com  and
> Cindy Bennett -clb5590 at gmail.com
> 2.	Student Slate: Karen Anderson - kea.anderson at gmail.com  and  Cody
> Bair - codyjbair at yahoo.com
> 3.	 Communications: Bre Brown - bre.brown24 at gmail.com  and Gabe
> Cazares -gcazares10 at gmail.com
> 4.	Membership: Justin Salisbury -PRESIDENT at alumni.ecu and Darian smith
> ? dsmithnfb at gmail.com.
>  Please be in touch with the listed chairs of the committee(s) you
> wish to join, and they?ll be happy to help you get involved in the
> work that is done to advance equal rights   for blind students across
> the country.
>   Remember that we all can make a difference and maximize our impact
> when we work together. This is the idea of collective action.
> 
> Yours in the movement,
>   Darian



Darian Smith
2nd Vice President, National Association of Blind Students
dsmithnfb at gmail.com

www.nabslink.org
Follow the National Association of Blind Students on twitter: @nabslink
> 
> Vehicle Donations Take the Blind Further 
> Donate your car to the National Federation of the Blind today!
> For more information, please visit: www.carshelpingtheblind.org or call 1-855-659-9314

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From dsmithnfb at gmail.com  Sun Nov 17 16:55:34 2013
From: dsmithnfb at gmail.com (Darian Smith)
Date: Sun, 17 Nov 2013 08:55:34 -0800
Subject: [Uabs] Correction to National Student Division Committee List
Message-ID: <AF3643FA-525C-402B-A859-06C4803C340D@gmail.com>

Hi all,
  The Correct e-mail address to use for  for contacting  Justin Salisbury is: justin.salisbury at earthlink.net	 
 Aside  from this correction, all other committee chairs and their  contact information is accurate.
  Reminder should you have any questions, please feel free  to contact any of the board including President Sean Whalen at nabs.president at gmail.com.
 Thanks,
   Darian 


From dsmithnfb at gmail.com  Wed Nov 20 05:09:40 2013
From: dsmithnfb at gmail.com (Darian Smith)
Date: Tue, 19 Nov 2013 21:09:40 -0800
Subject: [Uabs] Fwd: [Nabs-presidents] NABS Fundraising Committee Meeting
References: <90C24D9B-A97F-4AC2-9084-E9B15CA996D5@yahoo.com>
Message-ID: <96A9DD3B-3FA7-43AD-9A9B-7857AF7F030A@gmail.com>



Begin forwarded message:

> From: Candice Chapman <warren.mercy at yahoo.com>
> Subject: [Nabs-presidents] NABS Fundraising Committee Meeting
> Date: November 18, 2013 at 6:37:01 PM PST
> To: "nabs-presidents at nfbnet.org" <nabs-presidents at nfbnet.org>
> Reply-To: List for NABS State Presidents <nabs-presidents at nfbnet.org>
> 
> Hello all, 
> 
> We all know how important fundraising is to accomplishing the goals and activities of our organization. We also know the key to the success of a fundraiser relies heavily on the folks behind the scenes putting it all together. That being said the NABS Fundraising Committee needs your help! We will be holding a meeting on Wednesday, November 20th to begin working on plans for our upcoming fundraisers. If you are interested in joining our committee please call in  at 8:30 p.m central (9:30 est., 6:30 pacific) using conference number:605-475-6700 passcode: 7869673
> 
> We look forward to hearing from you!
> 
> Warm regards,
> 
> Candice Chapman
> NABS Fundraising Committee Co-Chair
> 
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Nabs-presidents mailing list
> Nabs-presidents at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-presidents_nfbnet.org

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From dsmithnfb at gmail.com  Wed Nov 20 05:10:34 2013
From: dsmithnfb at gmail.com (Darian Smith)
Date: Tue, 19 Nov 2013 21:10:34 -0800
Subject: [Uabs] Fwd: NABS Update submissions
References: <9DBBA637-FDDE-41A6-BC66-49CE14495DBA@gmail.com>
Message-ID: <018551FC-1C61-439E-842B-D575264D2182@gmail.com>



Begin forwarded message:

> From: Darian Smith <dsmithnfb at gmail.com>
> Subject: NABS Update submissions
> Date: November 18, 2013 at 10:17:23 AM PST
> To: List for NABS State Presidents <nabs-presidents at nfbnet.org>
> 
> Hello:
>   NABS is looking for updates from our various student divisions. so, should  you have any updates  from a convention or recent student event, or change in leadership  or anything else  really exciting  and interesting, please send them to me at dsmithnfb at gmail.com by Friday at 5p.m. Pacific time and  we?ll include them(as appropriate and as submitted).
>   Thank you in advance   for helping to keep us all connected!. 
>  
> Darian Smith
> 2nd Vice President, National Association of Blind Students
> dsmithnfb at gmail.com
> 
> www.nabslink.org
> Follow the National Association of Blind Students on twitter: @nabslink
>> 
>> Vehicle Donations Take the Blind Further 
>> Donate your car to the National Federation of the Blind today!
>> For more information, please visit: www.carshelpingtheblind.org or call 1-855-659-9314
> 

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From dsmithnfb at gmail.com  Mon Nov 25 20:36:38 2013
From: dsmithnfb at gmail.com (Darian Smith)
Date: Mon, 25 Nov 2013 12:36:38 -0800
Subject: [Uabs] 2013 Fall NABS Update
Message-ID: <CAEwUdjNFqunXBj6_E35DJ1tSRY29wF-Oo7fNEyPnnt5d=UL_jA@mail.gmail.com>

The National Association of Blind Students is  excited to bring to you
an update on  the recent happenings  of your fellow blind students.
 These are updates from across the country of students who are
organized and unified in the mission of changing what it means to be
blind.
 We encourage you to contact   the student division in your state as
well as become involved in the work of NABS via it?s committees such
as  Student Slate, Fundraising, membership and Communications.


>From the NABS fundraising  committee:
The fundraising committee invites  you to be a part of the important
work of  it?s committee.
 The committee is currently planning for an exciting Washington
seminar, and needs your help in order to make it a  success!
Please contact Candice Chapman: chapman.candicel at gmail.com   or
 Cindy Bennett:clb5590 at gmail.com. They are your committee Co-Chairs,
and they are   happy to have you!



 From Illinois:
At our convention last month, Brianna (Bree) Lillyman was elected
president of the division.

In other news, IABS is happy to report that our t-shirt fundraiser
went really well, and the mentoring program was a big success.  We are
looking forward
to planning a student seminar in Chicago in April.
?	Rose Sloan.

>From Ohio
Our convention was held November 1st-3rd in Dayton Ohio.  The student
division held elections on Saturday the 2nd at our annual business
meeting.  The following
officers were elected: Kaiti Shelton, President; Aleeha Dudley, Vice
President; Lillie Pennington, Secretary; and Abby Bolling, Treasurer.
We are still
working out some leadership things, and may amend our constitution to
change corresponding secretary from an appointed position to an
officer position,
and change the ?secretary? to Recording Secretary.  We are also going
to elect board members to comply with our constitution, which OABS has
not had for
some time.  I am excited that we are on our way to having a complete
board of directors to spearhead the organization.

In addition to the board members, several committees have been set up
including Fundraising chaired by Emily Pennington, Membership chaired
by Aleeha Dudley,
and Social Media chaired by Amber Meloy.  We have also appointed one
of our newest members who is working on a masters degree in English to
serve as editor
and to spearhead efforts to create the first OABS newsletters.  Our
Social media chair and Corresponding Secretary is in the process of
setting up a web
site, and Emily Pennington is heading up our first long-term
fundraiser, which will be beautifully designed braille bookmarks.  One
side of the bookmark
will show Whozit and the braille alphabet with the words, ?The Ohio
Association of Blind Students,? and ?NFB?.  The other side of the
bookmark will contain
a short explanation of braille, along with a message for sighted
readers to crack.  The message will be, ?Seeing occurs in the mind.?

We?re beginning to network more than before, with a partnership
between the Ohio student and parents of blind children divisions
quickly forming.  Our affiliate
is happy to see the growth of the student division, and sees us as the
next group of Ohio federation leaders.  It?s been quite some time
since Ohio had
a booming student division, so the older federationists are glad to
see some new blood around convention and on conference calls.  Our
group is eager to
grow, and efforts are already being made to expand and recruit more
members.  Another milestone Is that we now have two prospective
members from Cleveland
in northern Ohio, after having no one outside of Cincinnati and Dayton
for the past two years.

Kaiti Shelton

>From Indiana:
?An update from the Indiana Association of Blind Students: a new
president was recently selected at the NFB of Indiana state convention
in

October, Christopher Meyer, studying in Indianapolis, IN. Christopher
is an undergraduate public affairs student in public and nonprofit
management at Indiana
University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) and former graduate
from Blindness: Learning In New Dimensions (BLIND), Inc., in
Minneapolis, MN. He
takes over the post from former student division president Ashley
Ritter. A word from student president Meyer:

?I?m really glad to step up in this role as young blood for the
student division and hope to bring some positive changes. My primary
goal this year is to
build an organization open to many new members, since our biggest
problem currently is a lack of significant involvement by students. I
plan to find and
develop leaders who can help me in this effort, as well as identify
ways we can plan programs that draw participation and attention to
what the student
division might offer.

On a lighter note, we?re kicking around more interesting names like
INABS or iNABS, since Illinois has beat us to the simpler IABS. INABS
has a certain
distinctness to it, does it not??

Minnesota gives a report from their student division elections which
took place  recently at their state convention:
 President
Vanasha Washington
First vice president
Hannah furney
Second vice president
Quint habrol
Treasure
Candice chapman
Secretary
Chelsey duranleu

>From Virginia:
This past year has been a good year for the Virginia Association of
Blind Students. On October 25th through the 27th, Virginia held its
55th annual state
convention. The student division held a meet and greet on Friday night
to kick off the weekend. During this time, students were able to
mingle with their
peers while engaging in activities. Students were given scenarios by a
few mentors, who were successful college students and professionals,
regarding the
public?s view of blindness. After being given a scenario, the students
talked to the mentors about what his/her own reaction would be and
whether the student?s
response was appropriate or whether he/she should handle the issue in
a different manner. If the scenario came from a mentor?s own
experience, the mentors
explained how he/she handled the situation. On Saturday afternoon, the
student division held its yearly business meeting, electing the
following new officers:
Sarah Patnaude (President), Kimberly Valko (Vice President), Kierra
Davis (Treasurer), Vee Gaspa (Secretary), and Chris O?Meally (Board
Member). During
the luncheon, mentors discussed the importance of going to an adult
program at a rehabilitation center and the differences between a state
center and a
NFB center.  The student division board has been working diligently on
writing its constitution and is proud to say that the constitution is
in the process of being finalized.

>From North  Carolina:
Officers:

President:  Alan Chase, M.Ed.
aachase1 at gmail.com
1st Vice President:  Kevin Currin
kwcurrin at live.unc.edu
2nd Vice President:  Bobbi Pompey
Pompey2010 at yahoo.com
Treasurer:  Eric Galindo
ericgal62 at gmail.com
Secretary:  Travis Sherrill
tssherrill at windstream.net
Webmaster:  Justin
drummer060891 at gmail.com

What SUP?

SUP stands for Students Uniting for Purpose.  It was created by Alan
Chase, M.Ed., as a way to increase membership, retention, and outreach
by bringing students together in smaller geographic regions.  They
will be feature round table seminars to be held throughout North
Carolina in the months of October, January, April and July.

1.  Admission is free and lunch will be provided.  Please bring $5.00 for lunch.

2.  Meet other blind students from around NC who are enrolled
in college or working, who are active in sports, involved in their
communities, and the leaders of tomorrow.

4. Find answers to all those questions you?ve had about internships,
cooking, cleaning, guide dogs, transportation, and much more!

NCABS Scholarship

The NC Association of Blind Students is in the development phase of
creating its own scholarship to help supplement larger sums of
financial aid already awarded to blind students in North Carolina.
Currently, a committee headed by 1st Vice President Kevin Currin is
creating eligibility criteria, drafting applications, and seeking
funding for this exciting opportunity.

>From Connecticut:
The Connecticut Association of Blind Students is proudly beginning its
second year.  We had a successful fundraiser at our state convention
in November,
where we sold snack packs.  We now have enough money in our treasury
to open a bank account and are actively pursuing its establishment.
We have amended
our constitution to have a first vice president and second vice
president instead of just one vice president.  We have been holding
two conference calls.


We Thank the Presidents who contributed by sharing what has   taken
place  in the divisions  of wich they lead.  We also encourage you to
keep on the lookout, we know that you?ve not heard too much from us
lately, but this will start to change very soon. Thank you for your
support  and we  wish all of you a very happy thanksgiving!

 The National Association of Blind Students.