Thursday, October 2, 2014

Subscribing to Mailing Lists



The National Federation of the Blind of Kentucky has several e-mail lists in which you may want to participate.  To subscribe to any of the lists, simply send an email to the desired address with the word SUBSCRIBE in the subject line. 

NFB of Kentucky, This is the main list.
nfbk-request@nfbnet.org

NFBK technology Assistance Division, Ask and answer questions about technology in our lives.
nfbktad-request@nfbnet.org

Kentucky Parents of Blind Children,
nfbkpbc-request@nfbnet.org

Kentucky Association of Blind Students, for high school and college students.
nfbkabs-request@nfbnet.org

Be sure to put the word SUBSCRIBE in the subject line.

All the best, 
Kevin Pearl

"Meet the Blind Month" Activity

We have an exciting Meet the Blind month activity coming up here in Louisville!  This Sunday, October 5th, we will be participating in the St. Stephens Martyr health fair.  The event takes place from 12-3:30.  St. Stephens Martyr Church is located at 2931 Pindell Ave. 

October Meeting

This is just a reminder that the NFBGL meeting will be taking place this Saturday, from 11-2 at Tumbleweed on the Riverfront, located at 1201 River Road.

We have a great agenda planned for the meeting that you all won't want to miss!   We're also starting something new this month, if you come to a meeting now through December you will get your name entered to win a $100 gift card, if you bring a new person to our meeting your name will be entered twice!  The gift card will be either a visa or mastercard so you'll be able to use it at any store, just in time for holiday shopping!

Also, just as a reminder please try to read "Blindness, A Left-handed Dissertation" before the meeting.  I would like to read the whole speech at the meeting, but the speech is 22 minutes, so I'll probably be pulling an exert from it.  It would be very helpful if you've read the whole thing, so you can fully participate in the conversation.  The audio version of the speech can be found at: https://nfb.org/Images/nfb/Audio/BanqSpeech/Blindness_A_Left_Handed_Dissertation.mp3

Thanks,
Katie Adkins, President

Tuesday, March 18, 2014

NFB's 2014 Braille Book Fair.

The Braille Book Fair needs both books, and volunteers -- read on.


Braille Book Fair 2014

Calling all Braille readers, teachers, and parents!

It’s that time again: Time to sort through all
those boxes of Braille books and donate those
gently used but no longer needed Braille books to
the 2014 Braille Book Fair sponsored by the
National Organization of Parents of Blind Children.

Our primary goal is to get more Braille books
into the hands of children, youth, and beginning
adult readers, so here’s what we need most:

·       LOTS of print-Braille picture storybooks!!!!

·       cookbooks

·       poetry

Children are so hungry for their very own books
that every year, despite generous donations of
books, most of our books for young children are
gone in less than 20 minutes.  So, begin your
search through the boxes in your basement and
spare room and get those books shipped to:

UPS

Elainna Moore - Area HR Manager

C/O 2014 NFB CONVENTION BRAILLE BOOK FAIR

8901 Atlantic Ave

Orlando, FL 32824



This year's coordinator is Krystal Guillory.  If
you have any questions, you may contact Krystal
Guillory at 318.245.8955 or
kguillory@lcb-ruston.com.  This year's event is
slated to take place on Wednesday, July 3, 2013
from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. Please check the Convention agenda for location.


From: Krystal, Coordinator, 2014 Braille Book Fair
kguillory@lcb-ruston.com
Cell: 318.245.8955

To:  Supporters and past workers at the Braille Book Fair

Re:  Volunteer workers
Where: NFB Convention, Orlando  FL
When:  Thursday, July 3, 2014
Times:  Set-up: Noon - 4:30 pm    Event:  4:30 -
7:00 pm    Clean-up:  6:30 - 8:00 pm
Room location:  See the NFB agenda

When you reply to this message, please provide the following information:
·       YES...I can work the following shift(s):__________________
·       My cell phone number that I will have at
convention is:____________________
·       I live in (state):_________________
·       MAYBE.....I'll check my schedule.  If
possible, my preference is to work these hours ____________
·       Braille skills (including if you read by
touch or by sight as a sighted person)_______________
·       NO...I can't work this year.
Note:  If you are a parent of a blind child under
the age 18 (or still in high school or below), we
know that you will want to attend the NOPBC
Annual Meeting which takes place just before the
BBF, but we would welcome you to work either
during the event or on the clean-up shift after the event.

The Braille Book Fair has become one of the
highlights of the convention for many teachers,
parents, blind kids, blind parents, and adult
beginning Braille readers.  But the event could
not take place without the help of many
dedicated, talented volunteers.  And that's where
you come in.  As a past worker, or simply
interested supporter of the Braille Book Fair, I
hope you can either volunteer, or give me the
contact information for someone that you recommend.

You do not need to work the entire afternoon or
evening, but I do ask that you try to work an
entire shift.  We especially need for people who
help customers to come BEFORE we open the doors
at 5:00 pm, and to commit to staying until at least 6:30 pm.

We need volunteers throughout the afternoon and
evening for the following shifts and work responsibilities:

Noon - 2:00 pm Open boxes, sort boxes, unpack
boxes.  Sort and clean-up empty boxes for re-use, tape together new boxes:

2:00 - 3:30 pm Sort books, pair up volumes, weed
out and/or toss unusable books or other materials.
(NOTE: Some good Braille readers are especially
needed for this shift.  Also need "runners" to
take boxes, books, etc. to other locations in the room as they are needed)

3:30 - 4:30 pm Continue sorting, display books on
tables, store overflow books on floor & under tables
(NOTE: Some good Braille readers are especially
needed for this shift  Also need "runners" to
take boxes, books, etc. to other locations in the room as they are needed)

4:30 - 5:00 pm Choose a section of tables to
work, familiarize yourself with the titles, shift volumes around if needed
(NOTE: Some good Braille readers are especially
needed for this shift. Also need "runners" to
take boxes, books, etc. to other locations in the room as they are needed.)

5:00 - 7:00 pm The Event, Job A:  Assist
Customers... with locating books, make sure
customers take all volumes of a title.  Act as
“talking sign” for categories on your
tables.  Serve as mentor to those who look as if
they need assistance.  Place more books on the
tables as space becomes available.
(NOTE: Some good Braille readers are especially
needed for this shift.  Also need "runners" to
take boxes, books, etc. to other locations in the room as they are needed.)

5:00 - 7:30 pm The Event, Job B:  Pack Books...
up for customers for shipping to their
homes.  Write labels, stamp "Free Matter" on
boxes, tape up boxes, and stack boxes.

6:30 - 8:00 pm (We are frequently done by 7:00
pm) Clean-up trash.  Toss or box-up leftover
books.  Label boxes for shipment back to
NFB.  Stack boxes and/or move them for later pick-up by UPS.

Thanks so much for taking time to consider this
request, and I look forward to hearing from you soon!

Krystal Guillory, Coordinator, 2014 Braille Book Fair
kguillory@lcb-ruston.com
Cell:  318.245.8955

Monday, March 17, 2014

Onkyo Braille Essay Contest

Greetings:

The Onkyo Corporation is again sponsoring a braille essay contest for
people of all ages.  Contest winners receive cash prizes valued from
$500 to $2,000. The link for full information and application for the
contest is below, but here are the basics.  Please help us spread the word!

Onkyo Braille Essay Contest
Sponsored by Onkyo Corporation
and The Braille Mainichi

The Onkyo Braille essay contest is being administered by the National
Federation of the Blind (NFB) on behalf of the North
America-Caribbean Region of the World Blind Union.

Essays must be written by contest participants, in English or their
native language, in Braille on paper, and must be completely original
in nature. Participants are also asked to submit their essays in
electronic format.  Entries should be no fewer than 800 words and no
more than 1,000 words in length.  There will be two groups of
competitors-one Junior group, aged 25 and under; and one Senior
group, aged 26 and up, and prizes range from $500-$2,000.

All essays must be received by April 30, 2014. In the US, they should
be sent to the NFB, and in Canada, they should be sent to Braille
Literacy Canada; the contacts are listed on the application.

Essay topics:
1. How do you acquire knowledge and information through Braille or
audio devices? (Illustrate with some interesting personal stories/episodes.)

2. How can blind persons become independent by learning Braille or music?

3. Individual concept about world peace from the viewpoint of persons
with disabilities.

Visit http://www.nfb.org/onkyo-braille-essay-contest for more
information and an application.  The application is also attached
here, in PDF and BRF format. Note that the BRF is in Unified English Braille.

Please use the following contacts if you have questions:
in the US: Trisha Tatam at ttatam@nfb.org
In Canada: Jen Goulden at info@blc-lbc.ca





Seeking: Blind Mentors for 2014 LIFE Program



Seeking: Blind Mentors for 2014 LIFE Program

Are you looking for a job this summer?
Are you a blind college student or young blind professional who is enthusiastic and confident in your blindness skills?
Do you want to inspire while promoting a positive image of blindness to up and coming blind youth and young adults?
Do you want to work with blind youth to help them reach their full potential and encourage them to have high expectations for themselves? 

If the answer to these questions is a resounding YES, then the VRCBVI 2014 LIFE summer program needs you to work as a mentor!

The Virginia Rehabilitation Center for the Blind and Vision Impaired (VRCBVI) is seeking three blind college-age mentors to work with our 2014 LIFE Program with the possibility of working in our 2014 College Assessment Program.

Learning Independence, Feeling Empowered (LIFE) is a five week residential summer program for high school-age blind and vision-impaired youth who want to learn the skills of blindness, develop a positive attitude about blindness, and have fun while getting to know their blind peers from across the state.

VRCBVI is recruiting for three mentors who will work alongside our instructional staff in the areas of Braille, Personal and Home Management, Access Technology, and during after-hours confidence building activities.  If you are enthusiastic about giving back to the next generation of blind and vision-impaired youth and you want to have fun while working, then being a mentor in the 2014 LIFE Program is the place for you.

Dates of the LIFE Program: July 6 – August 8, 2014
Where: On the campus of VRCBVI in Richmond, VA
Hours: 40 hours a week which includes some evenings and weekends
**Dates of employment for mentors: July 4 – August 8, 2013.
Rate of pay: $9.00 an hour plus room and board

**Special note: there is the possibility that the mentors will have the opportunity to work with our College Assessment Program (CAP). In that case, mentors will need to arrive on June 10.

Requirements for mentors:

·        Excellent blindness skills — Braille, ability to travel independently using a long white cane or dog guide, proficiency in non-visual Access Technology, etc.
·        Maturity — ability to remain professional at all times
·        A level head, sense of humor, and enthusiastic sense of adventure.
·        Mentors will live in the dorm apartments on the VRCBVI campus
·        Pass background check

How to Apply:
·        Submit the following by mail to Amy Phelps, 401 Azalea Ave, Richmond VA, 23227 or by email to amy.phelps@dbvi.virginia.gov
o   Cover letter
o   Resume
o   Three professional references
o   500 word essay explaining why you would be the best candidate for the position and the role mentoring has played in your success

·        Deadline for application: All items must be received by no later than April 21, 2014.

Friday, March 14, 2014

National Federation of the Blind, 2014 Auction Item List--Final!


Greetings!  Just a few reminder about our 2014 Chili Supper & Auction!  The event is this Saturday, March 15th at the Kentucky School for the Blind, 1867 Frankfort Ave. Chili will be served beginning at 4:00PM.  The auction will begin about 6:00PM.  The cost is $5.  We will also have door prizes & our split pot jackpot! Come one, come all! Below you will find the final auction item list.  There are some great items this year, so please join us for some fun!

National Federation of the Blind of Greater Louisville
2014 Chili Supper and Fundraising Auction
Auction List
1.   HomeFit gift card for 2 (in home or in studio) personal training sessions ($150 value) and 1 month of boot camp classes in studio ($150 value)
2.   COACH brownish orange leather iPhone 5 case
3.   Silver Braille Bracelet ($40 value)
4.   $25 Best Buy gift card and Cocoons “fit-overs”  brown sunglasses – medium
5.   $25 gift Bed Bath & Beyond and Small ceramic appetizer dish with stand
6.   Large griddle with removable top (200 square inches surface) and food chopper
7.   XL grey and blue UK short sleeve t-shirt, Commonwealth of KY stoneware mug, 6 KY themed scenic fabric placemats
8.   31 Designs tablet cover (iPad, Nook, Kindle) grey with blue circles w/ matching wristlet ($50 value)
9.    4 passes to The Laughing Derby at Comedy Caravan
10.                      $25 gift card – Costco, 4 piece brown leather-like placemat set and Party Lite small amber glass vase
11.                     HomeFit gift card for 2 (in home or in studio) personal training sessions ($150 value) and 1 month of boot camp classes in studio ($150 value)
12.                      $25 gift card – Costco and 2XL black and red UofL short sleeve t-shirt and UofL stoneware mug
13.                     Apple iPod Touch (apple certified refurbished – 32GB)
14.                      Hot air balloon ride for 2 ($350.00 value)
15.                      Ladies earth tones faux stone and silver bracelet – Only Two Jewelry and $15 gift card to Tumbleweed
16.                      2 one day admission passes to Kentucky Kingdom
17.                      Children’s 4pc bath set (Avon – berry scent) and Disney Read and Play gift set (books/magic wand/flashlight ages 3+)
18.                      Like New authentic medium Dooney & Bourke leather purse and wristlet (blue plaid – spring/summer, value $150)
19.                      Hand knit baby blanket (pastel colors) and Scholastic Storybooks on DVD (over 100 stories)
20.                      Ladies Braille Watch – white face / black leather band
21.                      Large tan and dark pink, straw tote bag, handmade wristlet, lavender bath & body set, and berry scented 3 wick candle
22.                      Scented wax candle warmer plug in (chocolate cupcake) and Small diamond-like silver toned star necklace and earrings set
23.                      Hello Kitty necklace and earrings set, and girls t-shirt w/ musical notes, light blue, size medium
24.                      Deluxe corkscrew set, 1 bottle of wine, 2 wine glasses, chocolates
25.                      $20 gift card Dundee Candy Shop, $20 gift card The Book & Music Exchange
26.                      Heated car/truck seat warmer cushion (plugs into 12V cigarette lighter) and XL Louisville Bats t-shirt (black w/ white)
27.                      Doo Wop Shop Karaoke party package rental 1 week (locations in Lou, Lex & Frankfort)
28.                      Coit Carpet Cleaning $75 certificate, box of 2 draft stoppers, cinnamon roll candle
29.                      2 - $10 gift cards to Mark’s Feed Store and 1 $20 gift card to The Book & Music Exchange
30.                      Coit Carpet Cleaning $75 certificate, Christmas ornaments, bows, toilet seat/tank cover, large ‘winter wonderland’ candle, and 6 Christmas placemats
31.                      Ladies size M black blingy UofL Cardinals T-shirt and large Modessa makeup palate
32.                      $25 gift card McDonalds and Ladies Red UofL Breast cancer t-shirt
33.                      Large emerald green throw blanket, ladies PJ’s (L) and slippers (9)
33.(a) $50 gift certificate to Silver Dollar
34.                      Boyds Bear “Billy Bob” Bruin with 15” stand and Norman Rockwell “for a good boy” mug
35.                      Maxine character large serving bowl “take plenty they’re stale” with 3 small bowls with lids and plastic mixing cup with lid
36.                      Black&Decker food steamer/rice cooker, Tupperware bowl w/ strainer & lid, and a food chopper
37.                      Over 100 gospel and country cassette tapes with leather like 48 tape carrier and Optimus handheld cassette recorder
38.                      Coit Carpet Cleaning $75 certificate, First Alert Carbon Monoxide Alarm
39.                      4 passes to the Laughing Derby at Comedy Caravan
40.                       2 – 1 hour bike rentals ($30 limit) by Wheels of Fun
41.                      4 passes to the Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft
42.                      Coit Carpet Cleaning $75 certificate, 1 admission to the Ali Center museum
43.                      Wellness 360 10-classes of  yoga, 60 minute massage, 60 minute personal wellness consultation ($300 value)
44.                      AMF Pizza Bowl (2 hrs bowling, pitcher of soda, 1 topping team pizza, shoe rental for up to 6 people) exp 6/15/14
45.                      Ambutech 59 inch telescoping cane (collapses to 30 inches) with marshmallow roller tip
46.                      Kids Cincinnati Bengals hoodie size Medium
47.                      Avon Blue Escape for men aftershave conditioner and hair and body wash, and beer stein
48.                      Keep Louisville Weird black XL t-shirt and bumper sticker, Louisville Stoneware Mug (Horse “last place”)
49.                      Tastefully Simple gift basket
50.                      Imari antique porcelain bowl with gold rim and pics of geishas and flowers (value $65)
51.                      Antique Brass candlestick holder with 2 green taper candles (value $50)
52.                      Sight Enhancement Systems Sci-Plus Scientific large print & talking calculator
53.                      Pulse Rechargeable Battery Pack – compatible with many devices (apple/Samsung/htc/LG/Motorola/Blackberry, etc)
54.                      Dell Dimensions desktop computer, 2004, great pre-owned condition (windows 7, speakers, keyboard, mouse, 15” flat screen monitor)
55.                      Knitting basket w/ needles, gauges, 10 skeins yarn, and Knifty Knitter Assorted Loom Set
56.                      Belle of Louisville Sightseeing Cruise for 2 – exp. 8/30/14
57.                      Two tickets KY Derby Museum – exp. 3/2015
58.                      $25 gift certificate Annie May’s Sweet CafĂ© (allergy friendly bakery)
59.                      2 tickets – Louisville Ballet performance of Complementary Voices 4/4 @ 8pm, 4/5 @ 2pm, or 4/5 @ 8pm
60.                       Dinner for 2 at Jack Frye’s exp. 3/15/15 ($75 value)
61.                      2 tickets – Actors Theater 9/2/14 – 4/12/15 (up to $118 value)
62.                       $25 gift certificate for one painting class at Uptown Art Center
63.                      2 tickets to a Derby Dinner Playhouse dinner and play exp. 10/5/14 ($90 value) and 1 night stay at Townplace Suites by Marriot – Jeffersonville IN
64.                      2 passes to the Stoneware Art Factory tour and paint your own potter class ($66 value)
65.                      iPod nano (green) 8GB (excellent pre-owned condition)
66.                      Bath and Body Works gift set Rome Honesuckle Amour scent
67.                      Wine gift basket (2 glasses, corkscrew, decanter, and wine)
68.                      Insulated cooler bag filled with snacks
69.                       Chick-Fil-A catered tray for 12 and glass candy dish with lid
70.                      Dinner for two at Bravo’s
71.                       $50 certificate to Captain’s Quarter
72.                      2 one day admission passes to Kentucky Kingdom
73.                      Barry Wooly Designs handmade throw (sage green) and glass rose candle holder with scented candle.
74.                      Clinque skin products, bath & body lotion/spray in case (moonlight path), Monteil makeup
75.                       Barry Wooly Designs black beaded clutch
76.                      Ladies Talking Watch – white face with gold tone expandable ban, Elizabeth Arden Red Door perfume w/ case
77.                       $25 gift card to Carraba’s Italian Grill
78.                      ½ Gal Tupperware pitcher, ceramic cheese plate with mouse in center, garlic jar w/ lid, and glass cream/sugar tray set
79.                       5 – 1 hour massages Louisville School of Massage student clinic
80.                      Louisville Slugger Museum, curator led tour for 4 and a personalized bat
81.                      Jewelry by Cherie Columbia Necklace and earring set: Salmon color pendant with little black specks
82.                       4 Stretch bracelets (multi-color / multi-stone) by Cherie Columbia
83.                      Warm Vanilla Sugar bath set and body pillow
84.                      Duck Dynasty game and pocket hose (25 feet)
85.                      GE Stainless Steel medium sized microwave (like new)
86.                      Large butterfly wall sculpture
87.                      Fringed faux-suede handbag, handmade 8 page scrapbook
88.                      3 piece bathroom accessory set
89.                      Cow hopper ride on toy (age 3 and up
90.                       Lego set, Open Season DVD
91.                      2 hours of computer training via telephone with Tonia Gatton
92.                      5 – 1 hour massage certificates at Louisville School of Massage student clinic
93.                      2 admissions to Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari
94.                      $50 certificate to Highland Cleaners
95.                      Lazer Blaze – 5 attraction passes, $5 in arcade tokens, 5 large fountain drinks (exp. Sept. 2014
96.                      $35 gift card to Edenside Gallery, (art, jewelry, gift)
97.                      1 gift certificate to Sport Clips for men MVP (haircut, hot face towel, massaging shampoo and back/shoulder massage)
98.                      Pillsbury classic cook booklets and loaf pan (4 small cakes), 2 large bundt pans
99.                       1 handcrafted custom made ice cream pie from The Comfy Cow
100.                 $50 gift certificate to the Maker’s Mark Bourbon House & Lounge (4th Street Live)
101.               2- tickets to “Taste of Frankfort Avenue” at the Clifton Center on June 22, 2014
102.               2 guided Segway tours by Wheels of Fun
103.               $10 gift certificate to 31 Designs (Amy Steel Cotrell – consultant), 31 tablet cover, 31 large utility tote
104.               Whistling tea kettle, box of assorted mugs
105.               Large Alabama clay jar and copper potpourri bowl with lid
106.               Milk white ceramic bowl and 4 ceramic mugs
107.               4 sets of baking racks and baking pan for 9 small cakes, baking page for 12 shell shaped cookies/cakes
108.               7 foil loaf pans, 7 foil 9x13 pans with lids, and Watkins double strength 11 oz vanilla, Tupperware cake pan
109.               Peace sign lamp and girls long sleeve “Louisville” t-shirt
110.               One night stay at the Louisville Marriot East hotel
111.               Falls of the Ohio gift certificate
112.               Green beaded necklace and earrings