[Cabs] Colorado Newsletter

[David Andrews]

NFBCO NEWSLETTER

Winter 2007 

National Federation of the Blind of Colorado 

Scott LaBarre, President 

2233 W. Shepperd Avenue
Littleton, CO 80120
Phone: (303) 778-1130
Toll Free: (800) 401-4NFB
Notes from the Editor’s Desk

My name is Diane McGeorge.  I have been a member and leader of the National Federation of the Blind of Colorado for over thirty years.  It is my pleasure
to now serve as editor of our new electronic newsletter which will be sent to NFB members quarterly via Email.  It will also be available on the NFBCO
Web site at 
www.nfbco.org
, the Colorado-Talk list serve, and the NFB-NEWSLINE® NFBCO’s local news channel. 

The usual format of the newsletter will include an affiliate report from President Scott LaBarre, chapter and committee reports when available, and an update
on activities at our Colorado Center for the Blind, as well as any special announcements from the national office.   

>From time to time I will use the Editor’s Desk to comment on the content of a particular article.  If you have suggestions or comments please feel free
to contact me at 
rmcgeorge at comcast.net
 or call me at 303-778-1130, ext. 219.  

Greetings from the President

Welcome to the first edition of your NFB of Colorado newsletter.  It has been a long-standing goal of the NFBCO affiliate to create a newsletter that will
help all of our members across the state to stay up-to-date with affiliate activities and projects.  I want to thank Diane McGeorge for her willingness
to take on the responsibilities of editor.  You can help Diane with this important challenge by providing suggestions for newsletter topics and sending
reports from your chapter or committee as well as articles themselves.  

Another way to help Diane would be to also check with your friends and NFB colleagues to make sure that they are on our Email list.  If they are not receiving
this newsletter by Email and would like to, please contact Lorinda Riddle at 
lriddle at cocenter.org
 or call her at 303-778-1130, ext. 236 or call our toll free number listed above. 

It is a busy time in the National Federation of the Blind of Colorado.  This newsletter reflects our activity and our spirit.  I am delighted that we have
finally gotten it out.  Please stay tuned for more news in future editions.  Before closing, however, I would be remiss if I didn't mention that our state
convention will be coming up in late September or early October.  It will be here in Denver, and I am in the process of selecting the hotel.  That will
be finalized by mid March and we will pass on the information as soon as we have it. 
Read more from the President on the Washington Seminar, HB07-1274 State Election Reform, and NFB-NEWSLINE®.  

There will be a statewide board meeting of the National Federation of the Blind of Colorado (NFBCO) on Saturday, May 5, 2007, starting at 11:00 a.m. at
the Colorado Center for the Blind located at 2233 W. Shepperd Avenue, Littleton, Colorado.   All members are welcome to attend.  To reserve a lunch please
contact Lisa Bonderson (
lbonderson at labarrelaw.com
) or call her at 303-504-5979 no later than Monday, April 30.  

nfbconewsletterwinter2007

In Memoriam  

The NFB Youth Slam – Explore, Dream, Discover! 

A 2007 STEM Leadership Academy

>From July 30-August 4, 2007, two hundred blind and low vision high school students will stay at the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, to
be mentored by blind role models during fun and challenging activities meant to build confidence, expand leadership and advocacy skills, and increase science
literacy. Participants will also attend various social events as well as workshops on topics such as leadership, career preparation, and advocacy. The
NFB Youth Slam will culminate in an inspiring rally at Baltimore's Inner Harbor and a celebration at the center of innovation in the field of blindness—the
NFB Jernigan Institute. The NFB Youth Slam will be the most dynamic gathering of blind youth ever.  
Sign Up Now! 

NFBCO Day at the Capitol 
Mark your calendar for Wednesday, March 21.   That will be the NFB of Colorado Day at the Capitol.  Federationists will gather at 8:00 a.m. in the Old Supreme
Court Chambers, State Capitol Building, for a briefing before visiting with members of the Colorado General Assembly. 
Read about this year’s issues and more. 

State of Colorado Commission for the Blind Bill 

This past Thursday, February 22, 2007, the House Health and Human Services Committee heard testimony for HR07-1274, Concerning the Creation of a Commission
for the Visually Impaired (click here for a PDF version of the bill), sponsored by House Representative Joe Rice.  The NFB of Colorado provided testimony
strongly supporting this bill.  
To learn the outcome of this hearing and our next steps click here.  

State Election Reform and Accessibility 

For the first time ever blind voters in Colorado were able to cast their vote independently and in secret.  
Check out a recent Rocky Mountain News article by Rosa Ramirez.
   However, this right to a secret and independent ballot is now at risk because of a movement in the state to have all votes cast by a mail-in ballot. 
This may take away the right of a secret ballot for those of us who are blind.  Significant reform to the type of voting machines used is also being discussed. 

Read what the NFBCO is doing to keep accessible voting in the state. 

B.L.A.S.T. Conference – March 7 through 10
Over five hundred blind businessmen and women will assemble at the 
Adam's Mark Hotel
 in downtown Denver on March 7, 2007, for the National Association of Blind Merchants’ annual meeting.  The meeting, known as the 
Business, Leadership, and Superior Training (B.L.A.S.T.) conference
, will feature speeches, training sessions, technology demonstrations, exhibits, and networking opportunities. For more details, go to 
www.blindmerchants.org.      

2007 NFBCO Scholarship Deadline – May 15, 2007 

Each year at its state convention, the National Federation of the Blind of Colorado gives a broad array of scholarships to recognize achievement by blind
scholars.  All applicants for these scholarships must be (1) legally blind, and (2) pursuing or planning to pursue a full-time post-secondary course of
study in the fall semester of 2007 or spring semester of 2008, in the state of Colorado. One scholarship may be given to a full-time employee also attending
school part-time.   If you are a blind student, please apply immediately! If you are a teacher, counselor, family member or friend of a legally blind student,
please encourage them to apply now!  Students who have previously won an NFBCO scholarship are encouraged to apply again. Go to 
www.nfbco.org
 for more information or 
click for an application. 

Colorado Center for the Blind—Always an Adventure

What is the Colorado Center for the Blind?

The CCB is a training center where all staff members have full belief and confidence in blind people; a place where we push and challenge ourselves and
our students to learn and grow each day.  Everyone here has a story.  Our students come to the center to get their lives back and to gain belief in themselves. 
The excitement of learning is contagious and inspiring to all of us.  The seemingly little events turn into the steps that make the difference towards
confidence.  Our Center is special because we are passionate about what we want for everyone. 
Our Center is your Center!  Thanks to the NFB we are truly making a difference! Check out what’s happening! 

* CCB Presents the 4th Annual Evening at the Theater

* CCB Student Makes Generous Donation

* Snow, snow and more snow

* Neighborhood Welcome and Open House

* A Special Congratulations! 

* Doris Willoughby—Academic Skills Instructor 

The NFBCO Newsletter is a quarterly publication sent to all who have provided an Email address.  If you want to sign up, change, or remove your name from
any future general Email distribution, please contact Lorinda Riddle at 
lriddle at cocenter.org
.  Your address will only be used within the NFBCO and its entities.  We do not sell, rent, or exchange Email addresses.