[nfbmi-talk] {Spam?} Opportunities Unlimited for the Blind TheBlind Planet

[joe harcz Comcast]

Is Essenberg and are other BSBP employees still members of the OUB Board?


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Larry Posont" <president.nfb.mi at gmail.com>
To: "nfbmi List" <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, February 17, 2014 4:47 PM
Subject: [nfbmi-talk] {Spam?} Opportunities Unlimited for the Blind TheBlind 
Planet


> The Blind Planet
> February 2014
> OUB is a charitable nonprofit organization under Section 501c3.  We
> gladly accept your generous donations!
> Opportunities Unlimited for the Blind's mission is to enrich the
> quality of life of people who are blind and visually impaired through
> lifelong education and recreation.
>
> Breaking News!
> Opportunities Unlimited for the Blind is now partnering with four
> organizations to provide great experiences for children, youth and
> adults with blindness or visual impairment!  Our new camp home is
> Indian Trails Camp in Grand Rapids, and we are working with Michigan
> Parents of Children with Visual Impairments, the Association for the
> Blind and Visually Impaired in Grand Rapids, and Running Blind, who is
> sponsoring our fabulous Adventure Trip!  See inside for more details!
>
>
>
> From your Executive Director, Gwen Botting
> Happy February, everyone!  Who knew that we were going to have record
> weather all over the country this winter?
> If you are having trouble coping with this season's challenges, it
> might help to imagine our Spring and Summer events and camps, coming
> very soon!  All of our camps in 2014 are being offered through some
> great partnerships with Indian Trails Camp (our new camp home),
> Michigan Parents of Children with Visual Impairments (MPVI), the
> Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (ABVI), and Running
> Blind.
> Our Spring Fling will be a lovely weekend at ITC spent in nature,
> enjoying each other and the music of our feathered friends and blind
> and visually impaired campers!  So find your dancing shoes and come on
> out for a great time!  Also coming soon is our Michigan Parents of
> Children with Visual Impairments (MPVI) Family Camp weekend, where one
> of our activities will be to install our new garden - requiring
> woodworking as well as gardening, and we want everyone to have a
> chance with a hammer and a shovel!  Previous experience not required!
> We also have a completely new camp, Blindness Immersion, that is a
> 2-week camp, or you can come to just the first week or just the second
> - whatever fits your life and your schedule.  Blindness Immersion is
> just that - all things blind!  Music, art, cooking, daily living
> skills, sports, nature - everything will be offered both weeks of
> camp.  If you are 14 or older and want to take part in the Association
> for the Blind and Visually Impaired's Summer in the City program,
> never fear!  We are currently working things out with ABVI so that you
> can attend BOTH programs, and making transportation easier for your
> family!  It's going to be an awesome opportunity!  We end the season
> with two fantastic camps:  Survivor Art Camp, focusing on survival
> skills at Camp Optimist and on exploring the art community in Grand
> Rapids, and our Running Blind Adventure Camp, sponsored by Running
> Blind, an organization dedicated to fostering athletic endeavors for
> blind and visually impaired persons.  THIS IS GOING TO BE THE MOST
> AWESOME ADVENTURE TRIP EVER!  Sign up soon, because, for only $200 per
> camper, this trip is available to ONLY the first 15 campers to
> register!
> There is a lot coming up, and you can help and have fun by attending
> our fundraiser, Bowling Blast!  This event will be held this coming
> Sunday, February 16. See flyer inside for more details!  You can also
> check out Indian Trails camp this weekend - see flyer for their Snow
> Ball Dance!
> Looking forward to seeing YOU at camp!
>
> Gwen
>
>
>
>
> Winter Bowling Blast
> Please mark your calendars for this exciting event:
> Sunday, February 16
> 2:00pm
> Park Center Lanes, 2222 28th St SW Wyoming, Michigan
> For $20 you get to bowl three games, includes shoes, 2 slices of pizza
> and a pop. If you are not a bowler, join us for the Silent Auction
>  Sponsored by: Opportunities Unlimited for the Blind
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> 2014 Camp and Event Schedule
> Locations:  Indian Trails Camp, 1859 Lake Michigan Drive, Grand Rapids, MI
>          Camp Optimist, 10324 Lovers Lane NW, Grand Rapids, MI
>          Camp-in-a-Box, Beaver Island and Lake Charlevoix, MI
> Date Event Location
> Jan 17-19 Snow Much Fun (family event) Indian Trails
> April 4-6 Spring Fling (family event) Indian Trails
> May 16-18 MPVI Family Camp/Open House Indian Trails and Camp O
> May 27- June 1 Staff Training with ITC staff ITC and Camp O
> June 4 - 8 Specialized Staff Training for OUB staff ITC and Camp O
> June 8 - 14 Tech Camp (Adults 18 and over) ITC and Camp O
> June 15 - 22 Blindness Immersion (Ages 7-HS)* ITC and Camp O
> June 22 - 28 Blindness Immersion (Ages 7-HS)* ITC and Camp O
> June 29 -  5 ------off------no camp
> July 6 - 12 Survivor Art Camp (Ages 12-HS)** Camp O only
> July 13-23 Running Blind Adventure Camp (Ages 12- HS)** Beaver Is,
> Lake Charlevoix
> October 24-26 Harvest Festival (family event) ITC and Camp O
> *campers may attend either or both weeks of Blindness Immersion Camp.
> Campers do not need to return home over the weekend between the two
> weeks of camp.
> **participants in Survivor Art may stay with us for the Adventure Trip
> without returning home in between camps - but they will be expected to
> help us pack!!!
> Join us for a great experience - fun and learning and friendships
> all-in-one package:
> OUB Camps!
>
> Camp Descriptions - Everything you want to know!*
> *if we missed something, please call, email, or check out our website,
> www.oubmichigan.org
> Snow Much Fun January 17-19 - This was our first event at Indian
> Trails Camp and it was SO MUCH FUN!  We "got lost" on a nature walk,
> made cardboard sleds, creatures out of vegetables and gingerbread
> houses, played games, ate s'mores and had hot chocolate, sat by the
> fire and had a great time!  Indian Trails is a great camp for us!
> Spring Fling April 4-6 - Don't miss this fun family event with nature
> exploration, music, crafts, dancing, an auction and so much more!
> Held at Indian Trails Camp.  Cost: $75 per family of 4, $20 each extra
> person.
> MPVI Family Camp/ Open House May 16-18 - We love Family Camp!  MPVI
> co-sponsors this camp which will give families a great opportunity to
> explore both ITC and Camp Optimist, help put in our new garden at Camp
> O, and just relax and have fun together, play games, do special crafts
> designed just for you, and learn from each other. Held at ITC and Camp
> O. Cost: $75 per family of 4, $20 each extra person.
> Staff Training May 27-June 1 and June 4-8 - for those of you who are
> considering applying to work as a camp counselor this summer, consider
> working for OUB!  Staff training will be held with ITC staff May 27 -
> June 1 and with OUB staff only from June 4-8.  Held at ITC and Camp O.
> Tech Camp June 8 - 14 - for adults only (18 and over).  This camp is
> for adults of any age who enjoy meeting others with blindness or
> visual impairment, like to have fun, and want to learn more about the
> latest in technical improvements and help with those they already own.
> Brush up on your cooking and life skills, too!  Experts in the field
> will lead classes, and fun activities will be planned for the
> evenings.  All meals included. Held at ITC and Camp O.   Cost: $500
> per person.  Hint: talk with your BSBP counselor about helping you
> attend this camp!
> Blindness Immersion June 15-28 (ages 7 - HS)  or June 15-21 or June
> 22-28.  This camp includes - well - EVERYTHING!  Music, drama, art,
> cooking, like skills, sports, field trips (even a baseball game!),
> campfires, swimming (in a pool!), boating, singing silly songs - all
> things blind, all the time!  Come to one week or both. SPECIAL
> ARRANGEMENT: for those students who are 14 and over who would like to
> attend the Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired's Summer in
> the City Program, we are currently working out details to make it
> possible to do BOTH - OUB will provide transportation to and from this
> great program in Grandville, and participants can then come back to
> Indian Trails to participate in our evening and weekend activities,
> including overnight accommodations and meals.  For more information on
> Blindness Immersion or the Special Arrangement, please call Gwen at
> 989-855-2430. For information about Summer in the City, contact Amy
> Schreiner at the Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired at
> 616-458-1187 extension 332. Held at ITC and Camp O.  Cost: $1200 per
> week or $2000 for 2-week camp.  Reduced rates based on ability to pay.
> Scholarships available.  Blindness Immersion/Summer in the City
> rates: $300 per week or $500 for two weeks.
> Survivor Art Camp July 6-12 (ages 12-HS)  In this exciting reboot of
> our wild and crazy new camp of 2013, Survivor Art Camp will be held at
> Camp Optimist, learning survival skills, sleeping in tents,
> participating in crazy challenges, cooking all of our own meals but
> also taking field trips to explore and do extremely cool 3-dimensional
> art with experienced artists in the Grand Rapids community. Held at
> Camp O.  Cost: $1200.  Reduced rates available based on ability to
> pay. Scholarships available.  Special Rate: for participants in
> Survivor Art and Running Blind Adventure Camp, two-camp (2 1/2 weeks)
> special rate is $600!  What a deal!
> Running Blind Adventure Camp July 13-23 (ages 12-HS)  THE ADVENTURE OF
> A LIFETIME!  5 days on Beaver Island and 5 days at Lake Charlevoix,
> all sponsored by Running Blind!  Hop on one of our camp vans on July
> 13 for the ferry to Beaver Island, spend 5 days there exploring and
> camping, swimming and whatever else we can cook up, and then go back
> to the mainland for 5 days of adventures including Fort Mackinaw, zip
> lining, canoeing, track and field challenges, backyard barbeques and
> even parasailing!  (That is, being lifted up on a giant kite over the
> water behind a boat!  All events are with professional organizations
> and are inspected and safe!)  You will NOT want to miss this!  With
> the financial and organizational support of Running Blind, we can
> offer this camp for only $200!  Limited to first 15 participants.
> Held at Beaver Island and Camp Whiting and various locations in NW MI
> Lower peninsula.  Cost: $200 Special Rate: for participants in
> Survivor Art and Running Blind Adventure Camp, two-camp (2 1/2 weeks)
> special rate is $600!  What a deal!
> Harvest Festival  October 24-26 It might be hard to think of the fall
> of 2014 right now, but plan on taking part in our Harvest Festival
> family event at ITC and Camp O.  See what our new garden produced for
> us over the summer!  Held at ITC and Camp O.  Cost: $75 per family of
> 4, $20 each extra person.
>
> Pricing our camps - why so many options?
> We are trying a new pricing structure this summer.  $1200 per week
> might sound like a lot, but we run small camps with a lot of staff to
> get a nearly one-to-one ratio of campers to staff.  We find our kids
> learn best this way.  We also have to pay a little more to hold camps
> at Indian Trails than in our previous location.  $1200 is what it
> actually costs us to produce camps for your kids.  We know that, for
> some families, paying $1200 may be what they can choose to do.  But
> for most, that much is out of the question.  So we are offering a $600
> half price option, and we are offering that rate for those of you who
> get scholarships from the State of Michigan Department of Education
> Trust Fund.  That will allow you who qualify for those scholarships to
> come to at least two camps for free.  For those who DO NOT qualify for
> MDE-LIO scholarships, but cannot afford $600, we have a third option.
> We will accept $200 from you, but we ask that you try to get
> scholarship money from other sources to make up the difference.  All
> you have to do is write letters to local service organizations in your
> area, and send me a copy to show me that you asked for assistance.  A
> sample letter is included in this newsletter!  BUT HERE'S THE CATCH!!!
> A lot of service groups like Lions Clubs don't meet in the summer!  If
> you plan to ask for scholarship assistance, you need to do it NOW!
> Better yet, ask your child to help you with the letter, so that they
> begin to understand the process of politely asking for help from
> groups that like to help others.  It always helps if you are willing
> to share your child's story with the group you are asking for funds
> from.  DO NOT PROCRASTINATE!
> SPECIAL DEAL #1: Partnerships are allowing us to offer some camps for
> extraordinarily low rates!  If you live in the Grand Rapids Area and
> your child is 14 or older, you may have heard of the STEPS program
> offered by the Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired and the
> Bureau of Services for Blind Persons, or their two-week (Monday
> through Thursday) summer program called Summer in the City.  This
> program offers lots of experiences with cooking, managing money,
> taking public transportation and other important skills under the
> watchful eye of Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialists and
> Certified Vision Rehabilitation Therapists.  This is a really great
> program with a terrific track record.  The only problem is, for some
> families, that parents often have to provide transportation both to
> and from this program 4 days a week for two weeks.  HERE'S THE SPECIAL
> DEAL:  Your blind or visually impaired teenager can come to Blindness
> Immersion Camp at Indian Trails AND to Summer in the City.  Your
> student can stay with us overnight, have breakfast at Indian Trails,
> then we will provide transportation to the SITC program, pick them up
> in the afternoon, and they can stay with us and participate in all of
> our evening activities.  They can also stay THROUGH THE WEEKEND, June
> 20-22.  The cost is only $300 for one week or $500 if participating in
> both weeks.  WE hope you like this new option that will help more kids
> participate in both SITC and OUB CAMPS!
> SPECIAL DEAL #2:  Running Blind, and organization dedicated to
> fostering athletic endeavors with people who are blind or visually
> impaired, is sponsoring our RUNNING BLIND ADVENTURE TRIP.  This is a
> totally awesome combination - our great staff and programming ideas
> partnered with Hal Wolf and his ability to organize and fund events
> that he is passionate about.  Entirely due to this passion and
> generosity, the cost to any camper attending this 11-day camp is only
> $200.  Again, DO NOT DELAY.  Open only to the first 15 registrants!
> This camp will fill fast!
> SPECIAL DEAL #3: For those of you 12 and older who are REALLY into
> Adventure, you can attend BOTH Survivor Art Camp AND the Running Blind
> Adventure Camp for one low price of $600!  You can stay with OUB staff
> for the entire 2 1/2 weeks, but you can also expect to be asked to help
> us pack and unpack between camps!  Call Gwen Botting at 989-855-2430
> for more information on any of our camps or financial arrangements,
> help with scholarships or letters to community organizations.
>
> How to ask for camp scholarships from your community!
> Looking for more ways to get scholarship money to attend camp?  When
> parents, and sometimes kids, look at websites and try to find a camp
> to go to in the summer, COST is often the deciding factor.  Most
> people don't realize that is isn't hard to ask community organizations
> for financial help to go to the camp of your choice - and your dreams!
> Send your request to several organizations.
> Michigan Department of Education Low Incidence Outreach Funds
> MDE-LIO has been the source of scholarships for camps, parent events
> and other activities for children whose families receive Bridge Cards
> or who qualify for free or reduced lunch.  You can easily find the
> application for these scholarships on the MDE-LIO website under
> Scholarships.  You can also call the Low Incidence Outreach office for
> assistance.  You can e-mail Ann Langley at langleyA at michigan.gov.  The
> phone number to reach them is: 1-888-760-2206.
> Letter of Inquiry
> A letter of inquiry is written to someone who may have funds to help
> you attend OUB events and summer camps.  The first place to start is
> your local Lions Club.  Their primary mission is to serve people in
> need, but early in their history Helen Keller encouraged them to be
> the "Knights for the Blind".
> Other philanthropic organizations that might be willing to help you are:
> Your church or house of worship
> Knights of Columbus
> Kiwanis
> Rotary
> Optimist Clubs
> Banks (banks have Community Reinvestment Act funds that they must
> disperse every year, so it helps if you mention CRA Funds)
> Michigan Parents of Children with Visual Impairments
> There may be other philanthropic organizations in your area.
> You can find all Lions Club in Michigan on this website:
> http://lions.silverthorn.biz/state/clinks.html
> You can find all the banks in Michigan on this website:
> http://www.thelocalbanker.com/michigan_banks.html
>
> Here is how to start your letter:
>
> Date
>
> Name of the person you are writing to, if you know someone, or have a
> name to send your letter to
> Company, organization or bank name
> Address
> Address
>
> Dear Sir or Madam (or the person's name, if you have one),
>
> My name is______________, and I am a blind (or visually impaired)
> student at ____________School.   I am working hard at school to learn
> the special skills I need to be an adult in the world today, but it's
> hard to get the time I need to learn everything, like cooking and how
> to organize my things.  I also need time with others who are like me.
> There is a special camp in Grand Rapids, Michigan that can help me and
> others who are blind or visually impaired.  It's called Opportunities
> Unlimited for the Blind.  They offer some really great events and
> camps during the summer, when I have more time to spend on learning
> how to do things as a blind person.  They have a lot of staff persons
> there who are also blind or visually impaired, and that helps me feel
> like I can learn new things and be successful.
> I would really like to attend ________________________________camp
> this summer, but it costs a lot of money to go to this camp.  The
> price is_______________.  My family (can or cannot) help pay for this,
> but they cannot pay for all of it.  My family can pay_______________.
> Attending camp at Opportunities Unlimited for the Blind is really
> important to me, and it will help me be successful in the future.
> Please help me go to camp.  I would be happy to come to a meeting of
> your organization to talk about my camp experience and what I learned.
> For more information about OUB CAMPS, please look at the website,
> www.oubmichigan.org, or call Gwen Botting, Executive Director, at
> 989-855-2430.  You can contact me at:
>
> Your name
> Your address
> Your phone
> Your email
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Your name
>
> Good Luck!
>
> OUB Board and Staff Members Available for Presentations
> We are so excited about our upcoming camp season, we want to share
> what we are doing with everyone!  OUB Board Members and Staff are
> available to do presentations for business organizations, community
> groups, civic or service organizations, Scout meetings, church
> education programs, teen groups or any other group you can think of.
> We can focus on our mission or on topics such as disability awareness.
> Please contact Gwen Botting, OUB Executive Director at 989-855-2430
> or gwen at oubmichigan.org to make an appointment or for more
> information.
>
> Frequently Asked Question:  What is Indian Trails Camp Like?
> Indian Trails is our new location for most of our events.  Yes, we
> loved Camp Tuhsmeheta, but the time had come for a change, and Indian
> Trails wanted to work with us to form a new kind of partnership!  ITC
> is a 15-acre camp located within Aman Park, a Grand Rapids City Park.
> The Park is quite big and is mostly wilderness, with several different
> kinds of terrain, including ravines and a creek running at the bottom
> and miles of trails for us to explore, local history, and more.  ITC
> has a small lake for boating and fishing and an indoor pool.  We will
> be sharing space during most of our camps with their camps for
> children and/or adults with other disabilities.  Everything at ITC is
> wheelchair accessible, including the sliding doors on the dining room
> - as Gala, Ozzie's guide dog, discovered gave her instant access to
> the great outdoors!  They have cabins that sleep 12 each, a large
> dining hall with an attached rec room/program area, a screened in
> porch for plays and other stage events, and several smaller buildings
> that have other purposes.
> ITC has another camp that they operate that is about 3 miles away
> called Camp Optimist.  This camp has a lodge with a large open kitchen
> that is perfect for group cooking classes, an outdoor pool, a craft
> building, recreation field, campfire ring/amphitheater, and more.
> This camp does NOT have cabins at the present time, but showers and
> restrooms are available there in the lodge and the pool building.
> What they do have is 120 acres of natural area with widely variant
> ecosystems ripe for exploring.  This is where we will be establishing
> our camp garden and where we will be holding Survivor Art Camp - more
> on that in this newsletter!
> The staff at ITC are great and they want us to have a great
> experience.  We are looking forward to this remarkable sharing of
> resources that will benefit all!
> Tips
> By Osman Koroma
>
> Conversing with Others
> You may find that others are at first uncertain about how to speak
> with you. They may address their comments to your sighted companions
> rather than speak directly to you. Or they may speak more loudly that
> usual. Let them know that if they wish to get your attention, they
> should simply address you by name.
>
> If you would like to share tips or want us to put your news in our
> newsletter or write a story for our newsletter please e-mail Osman
> Koroma: osman at oubmichigan.org
>
>
> Microsoft Announces Scholarship for Students with Disabilities
> Microsoft is pleased to announce the launch of the Microsoft
> DisAbility Scholarship intended to empower and enable high school
> students with disabilities to (a) go to college, (b) realize the
> impact technology has on the world, and (c) target a career in the
> technology industry.
> The scholarship launched Friday, January 17, 2014 and includes a goal
> to increase enrollment of persons living with a disability in higher
> education and, in the long term, decrease the unemployment bias for
> disabled persons.
> This new program was started by, and is supported by, Microsoft
> employees who will select promising high school seniors who require
> financial assistance in order to enter and successfully complete a
> vocational or academic college program.  This non-renewable $5000
> scholarship will be paid to the recipient's Financial Aid Office by
> the Seattle Foundation on behalf of the DisAbility Employee Resource
> Group (ERG) at Microsoft.
> Eligibility
> All candidates must be high school students living with a disability
> who plan to attend a 2 to 4 year University or College program,
> maintain a cumulative 3.0 CPA or equivalent and have declared a major
> from the approved list (see scholarship guidelines on application).
> Requirements
> To apply for the Microsoft DisAbility Scholarship, the student must
> meet the following guidelines:
> 1.     Be a current high school senior with living with a disability
> (as defined by WHO), whether that be visual, hearing, mobility,
> cognitive or speech.
> 2.     Plan to attend an undergraduate program in a 2 or 4-year
> University/College or Technical College in the fall of the academic
> year following high-school graduation.  Schools must be in the USA or
> have a USA-Affiliate for financial transactions (contact Seattle
> Foundation to verify non-USA school's eligibility).
> 3.     Declare a major in engineering, computer science, computer
> information systems, legal or in business that are approved (i.e.
> paralegal, pre-law, finance, business administration, or marketing).
> 4.     Demonstrate a passion for technology.
> 5.     Demonstrate leadership at school and/or in the community.
> 6.     Have a high school cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
> 7.     Require financial assistance to attend college.
> 8.     Enrollment status must be full-time or half time
> Contact:
> DisAbility Employee Resource Group
> Microsoft Corporation
> http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/diversity/programs/microsoftdisabilityscholarship.aspx
> Email: Disability Scholarship Fund
>
> Now Available on Blindscience.org:   Blindmath Gems
>
> For almost 10 years, the NFB has maintained the Blindmath listserve, a
> lively exchange of worldwide postings on all topics mathematical. The
> Blindmath archives are now ginormous.  For math tools or to join the
> list or  learn more go to this website
> www.blindscience.org/blindmath-gems-home.
>
> New Show Features Blind Dad
> A new TV show will be starting in February about a family whose two
> children are dealing with the divorce of their parents, like many
> families. However, Dad is blind with a guide dog. It's based on true
> happenings of the executive producer, growing up with his blind
> father. It is humorous and heatfelt. They are using a lot of "creative
> license"...because it's for TV - so don't take it too seriously. Lorri
> Bernson from Guide Dogs of America is a consultant for the program on
> blindness issues - but not dog guide use.
> The show will premiere after the Olympics Closing Ceremony on Sunday,
> February 23rd at 10:30pm (ET/PT) and then in its regular slot on
> Tuesdays (beginning February 25th) at 9:30pm (ET/PT) on NBC.
>
> New Website!
> In case you missed it, we have a new website and new email addresses:
> www.oubmichigan.org, gwen at oubmichigan.org, melinda at oubmichigan.org and
> osman at oubmichigan.org.
>
> Indian Trails Camp
> invites you to join our respite campers in attending our winter
> Snow Ball Dance
> Saturday, February 15, 2014
> From 6:00pm to 8:00pm at the
> Indian Trails Camp Lodge
> Dancing, Games, and Snacks
> Please RSVP to Amy DeMott at 616.677.5251 or
> email info at indiantrailscamp.org.
>
>
> * Individuals needing support are required to have a person accompanying 
> them.
>
>
>
>
> Looking for GREAT EMPLOYEES!
> OUB is looking for great employees to join its summer staff at our new
> location at Indian Trails Camp, only a few miles from the Allendale
> campus of Grand Valley State University.  OUB hires young adults who
> are totally blind, visually impaired or sighted.  If you or someone
> you know is looking for a job experience that will be exciting and
> fulfilling, check out our website, www.oubmichigan.org, soon for an
> application.  Applications are expected to be available before the end
> of 2013.  Don't miss out - apply today!
>
> OUB Board Meetings
> The Opportunities Unlimited for the Blind Board meets, generally, on
> the 4th Monday of each month by conference call, and once or twice per
> year in person in an all day retreat.  There is opportunity for public
> comment at each of these meetings.  For more information about OUB
> Board meetings, please contact Board Chair Casey Dutmer at
> casey354 at comcast.net.  We are currently looking for people who are
> interested in what OUB does and want to be part of the great work we
> do.  If you are interested in board membership, please contact Casey.
>
> OUB Youth Advisory Council - and thank you, Austin and MPVI!
> OUB recently began a Youth Advisory Council made up of 7 teens and
> young adults who love our camps!  Austin Shepherd, Yang Heppe, Kristen
> Kellen, Leah Richter, Taylor Arndt, Dustin Pogue and Emmie Lo have
> been busy thinking up cool new events, challenges and fund raisers!
> Austin Shepherd came up with the idea to hold a live auction of
> donated items at MPVI's Challenge Mountain Weekend in January.
> Austin's mom, Amy, publicized the event and asked families to bring
> items to auction.  Austin was fabulous as the auctioneer, using his
> "radio announcer voice"!  Families were very generous, and all of the
> money collected was given to OUB for camp scholarships!  Well done,
> Austin!
>
> Thanks to our supporters!
> Our list of financial supporters continues to grow!  Here are some of
> the highlights:
> Kalamazoo Community Foundation
> Michigan Parents of Children with Visual Impairments
> Greenville Community Foundation
> Running Blind
> Grand Rapids Community Foundation
> Visually Impaired Persons for Progress
> Many Lions Clubs from all over the state!
> Anonymous (private donors - over $1000 so far!)
>
> The Braille Monster
> We are very sorry to report that the Braille Monster, also known as
> the nefarious, Theodous Drosophilus Mysterious, has EATEN this month's
> story, and he did it in a particularly ingenious way!  Apparently,
> from all the evidence we have been able to gather, the Braille Monster
> entered Ozzie's house in the dead of night through a mouse hole,
> walked right under Gala's ear, and took a snowball (which was, we are
> thinking, close to zero degrees due to the FRIGHTFULLY COLD weather we
> have been having), and stuck the snowball in Ozzie ear!  Of course,
> Ozzie woke up and was pretty, well, shall we say, in shock, and while
> Ozzie was concerned about how in the world a zero degree snowball
> ended up in his ear, the nefarious Braille Monster calmly made his way
> to Ozzie's computer, found the thumbdrive on which all the Braille
> Monster stories are stored, and ATE IT.  How do we know all this took
> place?  Well, there was a line of very tiny snowy footprints from the
> mousehole to where Gala was sleeping, and one of her ears - and this
> is very, very odd - was standing straight up for almost three days.
> Now Gala is a Labrador, and Labs don't have ears that stand up, and
> she was thoroughly  embarrassed - but there was nothing that Gala,
> Ozzie or anyone else could do about it.  Her ear was just sticking up
> like a German Shepherd's!  And how do we know the Braille Monster ATE
> the thumbdrive?  Well, you see, that was the only thumbdrive that
> Ozzie had that he had typed in BRAILLE, and we all know how the
> Braille Monster LOVES Braille.  Ozzie thought it would be safe since
> it was electronic Braille, but no, apparently the Braille Monster has
> discovered a love of all things Braille!  But this just might be his
> undoing.........stay tuned for the next installment of The Braille 
> Monster!
>
> ANNOUNCING WMU/MBAA
> SPORTS EDUCATION CAMPS for Students with VISUAL IMPAIRMENTS 2014!
>
> Location: Campus of Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI
>
> Eligibility: Applicants must have visual impairments of 20/70 or greater.
> Students with mild secondary disabilities will also be considered. 
> However,
> the SEC attempts to fill a niche between the services offered by the 
> public
> schools and those of Special Olympics.  As such, students whose cognitive
> disabilities, cognitive delays, or developmental disabilities are
> sufficiently severe as to require technical expertise should be referred 
> to
> Special Olympics.  Additionally, those whose physical or sensory
> disabilities are severe enough to require specific technical expertise 
> will
> be considered only if support staff from the local ISD or another local
> agency can assist at Camp.  If clarification of this statement is needed,
> either contact us in one of the ways listed below or complete the
> application and describe the student's need for technical expertise and we
> will contact you.
>
> Age:    Junior Camp:  9-12 years
> Senior Camp:  13-17 years
> Michigan State Games:  age 13-19 years old who have previously
> attended Senior Camp and
> are still in high school.
>
>
> Dates:    Junior Camp:  Sunday, May 4th to Tuesday, May 6th, 2014
> Senior Camp:  Wednesday, May 7th to Saturday, May 10th, 2014
> Michigan State Games:  Friday, May 9th to Saturday, May 10th, 2014
>
> Application Deadline: Applications are needed by March 1, 2014,
> for all athletes who wish to attend the Junior Camp, Senior Camp, or the
> Michigan State Games.
>
> Dear vision teacher/parent/professional:
> We are sending this notice to you in the hope that you will distribute it 
> to
> the parents and students within your area.  You are the only link to
> students, since privacy laws forbid the Department of Education from
> distributing mailing lists.
> We would like to notify you of three major events occurring during the 
> week
> of May 4th to May 10th, 2014, which will be of interest to students with
> visual impairments.  The first event is the Junior Camp, a series of 
> clinics
> designed to teach younger students fundamental athletic skills.  The 
> second
> event is the Senior Camp, a series of clinics designed to teach middle and
> senior high school students intermediate athletic skills. The final event 
> is
> the Michigan State Games, which offers an opportunity for students to
> compete as individuals and on teams.
> The camps are designed to introduce students with visual impairments to
> sports and recreational activities and to provide continued training to
> those demonstrating athletic potential.  Typical Junior Camp activities
> include: introductory running, throwing, jumping, kicking, swimming,
> and gymnastics, and wrestling, rock climbing wall, judo, and goalball.
> Senior Camp
> activities will likely include: track and field (athletics), swimming,
> wrestling, goalball, tandem cycling, ERG rowing, weight training, rock 
> climbing
> wall, and judo.
> Athletes who attend these Camps have the unique opportunity to interact 
> with
> others who have the same difficulties in physical education as they do.
> However, applicants need to understand that the primary focus of these 
> camps
> is sports education.  As such, it requires nearly nonstop active
> participation, and is designed specifically for those who show interest in
> physical activities.
> Unfortunately, we cannot accept all who apply to the Wednesday thru Friday
> clinic part of Senior Sports Camp.  Virtually all new applicants are
> accepted, but a few returnees may not be, due to limited slots available.
> However, they will, along with everyone, who participates in Senior Camp, 
> be
> invited to compete in the Michigan State Games on Friday and Saturday.
> Because we are limited to 60 athletes who can attend camp, it will be
> necessary to take applications, review them, and determine which camp a
> student will be invited to attend.  The following applicants will be given
> priority in this process:  (a) those with the most severely limited 
> vision,
> (b) those in the age group 10-16, (c) those whose applications indicate a
> strong desire to participate in sports, (d) those who have attended 
> previous
> camps and demonstrated interest and sports potential, and (e) 1st time
> applicants.
> Please complete the application that can be found at
> https://mbaa-mi.com/Sports_Camp_HNNF.html we appreciate your time and
> effort.  If
> you have any questions please contact Scott or Leanne Ford at
> michigansec at gmail.com or 231-715-1732.
>
> **Applications must be received by March 1, 2014.  Athletes
> will be notified of acceptance by the end of March. **
>
>
>
> About this newsletter
> Please subscribe to our mailing list to receive our newsletters! You
> can join by going to:
> http://oubmichigan.org/mailman/listinfo/info_oubmichigan.org
> If you have any questions about OUB or have question about blindness,
> you can post your question on this list and someone in the OUB family
> will answer it! Please join our family today!
> The Opportunities Unlimited for the Blind Newsletter is published 8
> times per year and is co-edited by Gwen Botting, Osman Koroma and
> Melinda Latham.
>
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