From joltingjacksandefur at gmail.com  Fri Feb 10 22:56:57 2012
From: joltingjacksandefur at gmail.com (RJ Sandefur)
Date: Fri, 10 Feb 2012 17:56:57 -0500
Subject: [Nfb-lions] Okeechobee lions club
Message-ID: <F02394188F7941B6834A685A71A4B8DD@hometwxakonvzn>

Dear list, My name is RJ, and I called our president of our lions club here in Okeechobee in order to inquire about becoming a member, and well it was his wife who I spoke with... our local club is thinking about dissolving, because a majority of the members are in their seventies. Our local club has been around since the early fifties. If theirs anything I can do, in order to save our club, please give me some ideas! RJ

From mota1252 at samobile.net  Sat Feb 11 00:36:33 2012
From: mota1252 at samobile.net (Milton Ota)
Date: Fri, 10 Feb 2012 19:36:33 -0500
Subject: [Nfb-lions] Okeechobee lions club
Message-ID: 3ba63c42-97bc-4eaa-8ae9-dee2c2f57111@samobile.net

Hello:

Are there any other clubs nearby?

Did the wife of the Lion you spoke with think about having her husband 
who is the Lion invite you to a meeting?

I would also look for the Region or Zone chair person for the area for 
help in finding a club.

Lion Milton soon to be moving to Fargo, North Dakota.

-- 
Email services provided by the System Access Mobile Network.  Visit 
www.serotek.com to learn more about accessibility anywhere.




From joltingjacksandefur at gmail.com  Sat Feb 11 00:53:30 2012
From: joltingjacksandefur at gmail.com (RJ Sandefur)
Date: Fri, 10 Feb 2012 19:53:30 -0500
Subject: [Nfb-lions] Okeechobee lions club
References: <4f35b958.24d6320a.308e.ffff8449SMTPIN_ADDED@mx.google.com>
Message-ID: <680F19F3623D4E93A95CED272BD64D22@hometwxakonvzn>

Meetings have been discontinued. RJ
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Milton Ota" <mota1252 at samobile.net>
To: <nfb-lions at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, February 10, 2012 7:36 PM
Subject: Re: [Nfb-lions] Okeechobee lions club


> Hello:
>
> Are there any other clubs nearby?
>
> Did the wife of the Lion you spoke with think about having her husband who 
> is the Lion invite you to a meeting?
>
> I would also look for the Region or Zone chair person for the area for 
> help in finding a club.
>
> Lion Milton soon to be moving to Fargo, North Dakota.
>
> -- 
> Email services provided by the System Access Mobile Network.  Visit 
> www.serotek.com to learn more about accessibility anywhere.
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Nfb-lions mailing list
> Nfb-lions at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-lions_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
> Nfb-lions:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-lions_nfbnet.org/joltingjacksandefur%40gmail.com 




From lellis02 at aol.com  Sat Feb 11 02:35:12 2012
From: lellis02 at aol.com (lellis02 at aol.com)
Date: Fri, 10 Feb 2012 21:35:12 -0500 (EST)
Subject: [Nfb-lions] Okeechobee lions club
In-Reply-To: <F02394188F7941B6834A685A71A4B8DD@hometwxakonvzn>
References: <F02394188F7941B6834A685A71A4B8DD@hometwxakonvzn>
Message-ID: <8CEB67CE9B77117-19B4-5EA9@webmail-d022.sysops.aol.com>


Hello RJ

     It is my pleasure to try to give you an idea that might help you save your club.  With the club thinking about dissolving because many of your members are in their seventies, I do have a suggestion for you.

     The first thing I would do is make an appointment to sit down and talk to your president.  Let him know that you do not want to see the club dissolve.  Ask him to contact your district governor.  Your district governor can send a team from the district in called the MERL team.  He can also contact Lions International on your club's behalf, and ask them to send someone in to help you and your club recruit younger members.  

      My wife, and I are in the Sandy Springs Lions Club here in Georgia.  We are going to do the same thing, as, like all clubs, including yours, we need new, and youner members.  As you go through this, it might also be a good idea to have a project planned so the new, or potential new members can help on it.  

     If I can help you in any way, I will be glad to talk with you on this.

                    Leonard Ellis
                    404-317-2711
                    lellis02 at aol.com




-----Original Message-----
From: RJ Sandefur <joltingjacksandefur at gmail.com>
To: nfb-lions <nfb-lions at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Fri, Feb 10, 2012 6:28 pm
Subject: [Nfb-lions] Okeechobee lions club


Dear list, My name is RJ, and I called our president of our lions club here in 
keechobee in order to inquire about becoming a member, and well it was his wife 
ho I spoke with... our local club is thinking about dissolving, because a 
ajority of the members are in their seventies. Our local club has been around 
ince the early fifties. If theirs anything I can do, in order to save our club, 
lease give me some ideas! RJ
______________________________________________
fb-lions mailing list
fb-lions at nfbnet.org
ttp://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-lions_nfbnet.org
o unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for Nfb-lions:
ttp://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-lions_nfbnet.org/lellis02%40aol.com



From blinddog3 at charter.net  Sat Feb 11 03:03:56 2012
From: blinddog3 at charter.net (Steven Johnson)
Date: Fri, 10 Feb 2012 21:03:56 -0600
Subject: [Nfb-lions] Okeechobee lions club
In-Reply-To: <F02394188F7941B6834A685A71A4B8DD@hometwxakonvzn>
References: <F02394188F7941B6834A685A71A4B8DD@hometwxakonvzn>
Message-ID: <002701cce869$cb5531b0$61ff9510$@charter.net>

RJ,
I just returned from a Lion's Convention just now, and we discussed this
exact same issue as recruitment and retention are so important to Lionism.
There is a new process, called CEP, that you might want to look into at the
LCI level as we are just starting the trainings with our clubs here in
Wisconsin.  Sorry, I can't remember what CEP stands for, but a very no
nonsense process.

Lion Steve Johnson

-----Original Message-----
From: nfb-lions-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfb-lions-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of RJ Sandefur
Sent: Friday, February 10, 2012 4:57 PM
To: nfb-lions at nfbnet.org
Subject: [Nfb-lions] Okeechobee lions club

Dear list, My name is RJ, and I called our president of our lions club here
in Okeechobee in order to inquire about becoming a member, and well it was
his wife who I spoke with... our local club is thinking about dissolving,
because a majority of the members are in their seventies. Our local club has
been around since the early fifties. If theirs anything I can do, in order
to save our club, please give me some ideas! RJ
_______________________________________________
Nfb-lions mailing list
Nfb-lions at nfbnet.org
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-lions_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
Nfb-lions:
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-lions_nfbnet.org/blinddog3%40charter.n
et




From joltingjacksandefur at gmail.com  Sat Feb 11 03:07:03 2012
From: joltingjacksandefur at gmail.com (RJ Sandefur)
Date: Fri, 10 Feb 2012 22:07:03 -0500
Subject: [Nfb-lions] Okeechobee lions club
References: <F02394188F7941B6834A685A71A4B8DD@hometwxakonvzn>
	<8CEB67CE9B77117-19B4-5EA9@webmail-d022.sysops.aol.com>
Message-ID: <8DF5F502BF0A4C7A9DB5D66BCE333BC4@hometwxakonvzn>

I will do that. RJ
----- Original Message ----- 
From: <lellis02 at aol.com>
To: <nfb-lions at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, February 10, 2012 9:35 PM
Subject: Re: [Nfb-lions] Okeechobee lions club


>
> Hello RJ
>
>     It is my pleasure to try to give you an idea that might help you save 
> your club.  With the club thinking about dissolving because many of your 
> members are in their seventies, I do have a suggestion for you.
>
>     The first thing I would do is make an appointment to sit down and talk 
> to your president.  Let him know that you do not want to see the club 
> dissolve.  Ask him to contact your district governor.  Your district 
> governor can send a team from the district in called the MERL team.  He 
> can also contact Lions International on your club's behalf, and ask them 
> to send someone in to help you and your club recruit younger members.
>
>      My wife, and I are in the Sandy Springs Lions Club here in Georgia. 
> We are going to do the same thing, as, like all clubs, including yours, we 
> need new, and youner members.  As you go through this, it might also be a 
> good idea to have a project planned so the new, or potential new members 
> can help on it.
>
>     If I can help you in any way, I will be glad to talk with you on this.
>
>                    Leonard Ellis
>                    404-317-2711
>                    lellis02 at aol.com
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: RJ Sandefur <joltingjacksandefur at gmail.com>
> To: nfb-lions <nfb-lions at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Fri, Feb 10, 2012 6:28 pm
> Subject: [Nfb-lions] Okeechobee lions club
>
>
> Dear list, My name is RJ, and I called our president of our lions club 
> here in
> keechobee in order to inquire about becoming a member, and well it was his 
> wife
> ho I spoke with... our local club is thinking about dissolving, because a
> ajority of the members are in their seventies. Our local club has been 
> around
> ince the early fifties. If theirs anything I can do, in order to save our 
> club,
> lease give me some ideas! RJ
> ______________________________________________
> fb-lions mailing list
> fb-lions at nfbnet.org
> ttp://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-lions_nfbnet.org
> o unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
> Nfb-lions:
> ttp://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-lions_nfbnet.org/lellis02%40aol.com
>
> _______________________________________________
> Nfb-lions mailing list
> Nfb-lions at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-lions_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
> Nfb-lions:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-lions_nfbnet.org/joltingjacksandefur%40gmail.com 




From mota1252 at samobile.net  Sat Feb 11 05:40:05 2012
From: mota1252 at samobile.net (Milton Ota)
Date: Sat, 11 Feb 2012 00:40:05 -0500
Subject: [Nfb-lions] Okeechobee lions club
Message-ID: c6f7a5e9-83eb-477f-abeb-264c8adc8931@samobile.net

Hello:

Lion International also has a new program that was implemented 
beginning in July of 2011 called GMT which stands for Global Membership 
Team. There should have been someone to chair this program by the 
District Governor and the position/program is a three year one. Lions 
on this team are suppose to be able to help revitalize clubs that are 
having trouble recruting new members and retaining members. I'd do a 
search or contact Lions International to find our who is the District 
Governor for your area and see what he can do from his end.

Lion Milton soon to relocate to Fargo, North Dakota where there is a 
club waiting for me!

-- 
Email services provided by the System Access Mobile Network.  Visit 
www.serotek.com to learn more about accessibility anywhere.




From blinddog3 at charter.net  Sat Feb 11 11:56:09 2012
From: blinddog3 at charter.net (Steven Johnson)
Date: Sat, 11 Feb 2012 05:56:09 -0600
Subject: [Nfb-lions] Okeechobee lions club
In-Reply-To: <YVgh1i03g0lb1tM04VgiPc@host.nfbnet.org>
References: <YVgh1i03g0lb1tM04VgiPc@host.nfbnet.org>
Message-ID: <001b01cce8b4$250120d0$6f036270$@charter.net>

Lion Milton,
Thanks for clarifying this.  Last night, we had both the GLT and GMT,
leadership and membership reps working together with our educational
seminar.  This is where they introduced the new process to us. Let's hope
this club doesn't have to dissolve, but build on it's strengths and continue
on.

In Lionism,

Steve


-----Original Message-----
From: nfb-lions-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfb-lions-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Milton Ota
Sent: Friday, February 10, 2012 11:40 PM
To: nfb-lions at nfbnet.org
Subject: Re: [Nfb-lions] Okeechobee lions club

Hello:

Lion International also has a new program that was implemented beginning in
July of 2011 called GMT which stands for Global Membership Team. There
should have been someone to chair this program by the District Governor and
the position/program is a three year one. Lions on this team are suppose to
be able to help revitalize clubs that are having trouble recruting new
members and retaining members. I'd do a search or contact Lions
International to find our who is the District Governor for your area and see
what he can do from his end.

Lion Milton soon to relocate to Fargo, North Dakota where there is a club
waiting for me!

--
Email services provided by the System Access Mobile Network.  Visit
www.serotek.com to learn more about accessibility anywhere.


_______________________________________________
Nfb-lions mailing list
Nfb-lions at nfbnet.org
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-lions_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
Nfb-lions:
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-lions_nfbnet.org/blinddog3%40charter.n
et




From cherylandmaxx at hotmail.com  Sat Feb 11 11:57:07 2012
From: cherylandmaxx at hotmail.com (cheryl echevarria)
Date: Sat, 11 Feb 2012 06:57:07 -0500
Subject: [Nfb-lions] Okeechobee lions club
In-Reply-To: c6f7a5e9-83eb-477f-abeb-264c8adc8931@samobile.net
References: c6f7a5e9-83eb-477f-abeb-264c8adc8931@samobile.net
Message-ID: <BLU162-W45F590A2C8D8562A266686A1790@phx.gbl>


Good morning haven't posted in awhile now.  Love being a Lion, our District Governor is going to be at our meeting.  Love the Lions and I love the chapter that I joined. I was invited to a meeting at my own town Lion Club, by one of the members of our Chamber of Commerce, and while I was there, members from another club were also there, the next town over, I knew most of them, they asked me if the other club invited me to join yet, I said no, and probably wasn't going to, because the membership was all men, no women was at that one,  So I was invited to the Central Islip one, and since June I have been Lion Cheryl, my husband Lion Nelson has also joined, been on a few committees and working on a few fundraisers.
I am also the webmaster for our e-clubhouse, we are part of District 20 S.
Hope to get to see some of you at our National Convention in Dallas Texas.
Sincerely,
Lion Cheryl

Leading the Way in Independent Travel!

Cheryl Echevarria
http://www.echevarriatravel.com
631-456-5394
reservations at echevarriatravel.com

For daily updates read our blog at
http://www.echevarriatravel.wordpress.com

> From: mota1252 at samobile.net
> To: nfb-lions at nfbnet.org
> Date: Sat, 11 Feb 2012 00:40:05 -0500
> Subject: Re: [Nfb-lions] Okeechobee lions club
> 
> Hello:
> 
> Lion International also has a new program that was implemented 
> beginning in July of 2011 called GMT which stands for Global Membership 
> Team. There should have been someone to chair this program by the 
> District Governor and the position/program is a three year one. Lions 
> on this team are suppose to be able to help revitalize clubs that are 
> having trouble recruting new members and retaining members. I'd do a 
> search or contact Lions International to find our who is the District 
> Governor for your area and see what he can do from his end.
> 
> Lion Milton soon to relocate to Fargo, North Dakota where there is a 
> club waiting for me!
> 
> -- 
> Email services provided by the System Access Mobile Network.  Visit 
> www.serotek.com to learn more about accessibility anywhere.
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Nfb-lions mailing list
> Nfb-lions at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-lions_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for Nfb-lions:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-lions_nfbnet.org/cherylandmaxx%40hotmail.com
 		 	   		  

From cherylandmaxx at hotmail.com  Sat Feb 11 13:28:51 2012
From: cherylandmaxx at hotmail.com (cheryl echevarria)
Date: Sat, 11 Feb 2012 08:28:51 -0500
Subject: [Nfb-lions] Okeechobee lions club
In-Reply-To: <8DF5F502BF0A4C7A9DB5D66BCE333BC4@hometwxakonvzn>
References: <F02394188F7941B6834A685A71A4B8DD@hometwxakonvzn>,
	<8CEB67CE9B77117-19B4-5EA9@webmail-d022.sysops.aol.com>,
	<8DF5F502BF0A4C7A9DB5D66BCE333BC4@hometwxakonvzn>
Message-ID: <BLU162-W98B8BCBD08BF68D6FFCC4A1790@phx.gbl>



Do you have a LEO Club in your local high school? Do you do a scholarship for that school?  Some of the parents of the LEOS come to meetings to learn more about us.
Well if you haven't noticed as well many of our NFB Chapter and affiliates are smaller and smaller as well, many of our members are older than myself, I am the youngest adult member of our chapter here in Long Island, and I am 45.
We just got a new member, but he is a parent of a blind child,  but his family is also joining our chapter.

What about doing an event, we did this Christmas, contacted the local high school and asked for a list of families that could use our help, we picked a family that lost the mother during child birth, the baby was born with disabilities including being born blind, baby still in hospital, they have 7 other children, we each picked a child to purchase clothes for and a Christmas present, also gift certificate to the local supermarket to the father as well.  One of the girls in the family, the mother died on her birthday.
We are not a big chapter, but we do a lot, this year we also did our annual pasta night, I was away on a cruise, but we raised our largest fundraiser to date over $4,000
Just some ideas.

Leading the Way in Independent Travel!

Cheryl Echevarria
http://www.echevarriatravel.com
631-456-5394
reservations at echevarriatravel.com

For daily updates read our blog at
http://www.echevarriatravel.wordpress.com

> From: joltingjacksandefur at gmail.com
> To: nfb-lions at nfbnet.org
> Date: Fri, 10 Feb 2012 22:07:03 -0500
> Subject: Re: [Nfb-lions] Okeechobee lions club
> 
> I will do that. RJ
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: <lellis02 at aol.com>
> To: <nfb-lions at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Friday, February 10, 2012 9:35 PM
> Subject: Re: [Nfb-lions] Okeechobee lions club
> 
> 
> >
> > Hello RJ
> >
> >     It is my pleasure to try to give you an idea that might help you save 
> > your club.  With the club thinking about dissolving because many of your 
> > members are in their seventies, I do have a suggestion for you.
> >
> >     The first thing I would do is make an appointment to sit down and talk 
> > to your president.  Let him know that you do not want to see the club 
> > dissolve.  Ask him to contact your district governor.  Your district 
> > governor can send a team from the district in called the MERL team.  He 
> > can also contact Lions International on your club's behalf, and ask them 
> > to send someone in to help you and your club recruit younger members.
> >
> >      My wife, and I are in the Sandy Springs Lions Club here in Georgia. 
> > We are going to do the same thing, as, like all clubs, including yours, we 
> > need new, and youner members.  As you go through this, it might also be a 
> > good idea to have a project planned so the new, or potential new members 
> > can help on it.
> >
> >     If I can help you in any way, I will be glad to talk with you on this.
> >
> >                    Leonard Ellis
> >                    404-317-2711
> >                    lellis02 at aol.com
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: RJ Sandefur <joltingjacksandefur at gmail.com>
> > To: nfb-lions <nfb-lions at nfbnet.org>
> > Sent: Fri, Feb 10, 2012 6:28 pm
> > Subject: [Nfb-lions] Okeechobee lions club
> >
> >
> > Dear list, My name is RJ, and I called our president of our lions club 
> > here in
> > keechobee in order to inquire about becoming a member, and well it was his 
> > wife
> > ho I spoke with... our local club is thinking about dissolving, because a
> > ajority of the members are in their seventies. Our local club has been 
> > around
> > ince the early fifties. If theirs anything I can do, in order to save our 
> > club,
> > lease give me some ideas! RJ
> > ______________________________________________
> > fb-lions mailing list
> > fb-lions at nfbnet.org
> > ttp://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-lions_nfbnet.org
> > o unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
> > Nfb-lions:
> > ttp://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-lions_nfbnet.org/lellis02%40aol.com
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Nfb-lions mailing list
> > Nfb-lions at nfbnet.org
> > http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-lions_nfbnet.org
> > To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
> > Nfb-lions:
> > http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-lions_nfbnet.org/joltingjacksandefur%40gmail.com 
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Nfb-lions mailing list
> Nfb-lions at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-lions_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for Nfb-lions:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-lions_nfbnet.org/cherylandmaxx%40hotmail.com
 		 	   		  

From mota1252 at samobile.net  Sat Feb 11 16:01:30 2012
From: mota1252 at samobile.net (Milton Ota)
Date: Sat, 11 Feb 2012 11:01:30 -0500
Subject: [Nfb-lions] Okeechobee lions club
Message-ID: ac0b147e-f427-45e2-a883-144e07c4db3a@samobile.net

Hello Fellow Lions/Federationist:

For those who will be attending the 2012 National Convention in Dallas, 
Texas, I recently spoke with Co-chair Ramona Walhof and there will be a 
meeting of NFB-Lions during the week of convention. Check the 
program/Agenda schedule for day, date, time and room of the meeting.

More information about this meeting will be forth coming.

Co-Chair in Lionism,
Lion Milton Soon to be moving to Fargo, North Dakota.

-- 
Email services provided by the System Access Mobile Network.  Visit 
www.serotek.com to learn more about accessibility anywhere.




From ramona.walhof at gmail.com  Sun Feb 12 04:13:15 2012
From: ramona.walhof at gmail.com (Ramona Walhof)
Date: Sat, 11 Feb 2012 21:13:15 -0700
Subject: [Nfb-lions] Convention Lions meeting
Message-ID: <97E81995B8584D148045EE5757E28494@acer56fb35423d>

I was thinking of holding our Lions meeting at Convention this year at 5:00 
or 6:00 p.m. Saturday evening after the seminars, but before the Rookie 
Round-up.  I would love to hear who could and would come at that time.  The 
meeting would probably be about an hour, so there would be plenty of time 
left for dinner and whatever other evening activities may be wanted.  I will 
be waiting to hear from you, but must send in the time soon.

Ramona, Co-Chair Lions NFB Group 




From mota1252 at samobile.net  Sun Feb 12 05:45:12 2012
From: mota1252 at samobile.net (Milton Ota)
Date: Sun, 12 Feb 2012 00:45:12 -0500
Subject: [Nfb-lions] Convention Lions meeting
Message-ID: 198c4717-0721-47a3-8372-de26f770807d@samobile.net

Aloha Fellow Lion in Federationism:

I hope to be there at the Dallas convention and think that the 5 PM 
Saturday meeting/get together sounds great! Maybe those who are 
interested could go out or have dinner together somewhere in the hotel.

Lion Milton

-- 
Email services provided by the System Access Mobile Network.  Visit 
www.serotek.com to learn more about accessibility anywhere.




From braille at satx.rr.com  Sun Feb 12 05:58:47 2012
From: braille at satx.rr.com (Mary Donahue)
Date: Sat, 11 Feb 2012 23:58:47 -0600
Subject: [Nfb-lions] Convention Lions meeting
In-Reply-To: <20120212054549005.KHVV9788@cdptpa-imta07.mail.rr.com>
References: <20120212054549005.KHVV9788@cdptpa-imta07.mail.rr.com>
Message-ID: <000001cce94b$63134cd0$2939e670$@satx.rr.com>

Hello Milton and everyone,

	That sounds good to me, but I would have to leave some time after
six to register for the NABOP meeting. Plus, I will be one of the major
presenters during the NABOP meeting, and want to make sure everyone gets a
handout when he or she registers. Keep me posted, please.

Lion Mary Donahue


-----Original Message-----
From: nfb-lions-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfb-lions-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Milton Ota
Sent: Saturday, February 11, 2012 11:45 PM
To: nfb-lions at nfbnet.org
Subject: Re: [Nfb-lions] Convention Lions meeting

Aloha Fellow Lion in Federationism:

I hope to be there at the Dallas convention and think that the 5 PM Saturday
meeting/get together sounds great! Maybe those who are interested could go
out or have dinner together somewhere in the hotel.

Lion Milton

--
Email services provided by the System Access Mobile Network.  Visit
www.serotek.com to learn more about accessibility anywhere.


_______________________________________________
Nfb-lions mailing list
Nfb-lions at nfbnet.org
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-lions_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
Nfb-lions:
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-lions_nfbnet.org/braille%40satx.rr.com




From braille at satx.rr.com  Sun Feb 12 06:00:19 2012
From: braille at satx.rr.com (Mary Donahue)
Date: Sun, 12 Feb 2012 00:00:19 -0600
Subject: [Nfb-lions] Convention Lions meeting
In-Reply-To: <97E81995B8584D148045EE5757E28494@acer56fb35423d>
References: <97E81995B8584D148045EE5757E28494@acer56fb35423d>
Message-ID: <000101cce94b$99929040$ccb7b0c0$@satx.rr.com>

Hello Ramona and everyone,

	Five o'clock would work better than six, as I have to register and
present at a 7:00 meeting.

Lion Mary Donahue


-----Original Message-----
From: nfb-lions-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfb-lions-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Ramona Walhof
Sent: Saturday, February 11, 2012 10:13 PM
To: NFB and Lions
Subject: [Nfb-lions] Convention Lions meeting

I was thinking of holding our Lions meeting at Convention this year at 5:00
or 6:00 p.m. Saturday evening after the seminars, but before the Rookie
Round-up.  I would love to hear who could and would come at that time.  The
meeting would probably be about an hour, so there would be plenty of time
left for dinner and whatever other evening activities may be wanted.  I will
be waiting to hear from you, but must send in the time soon.

Ramona, Co-Chair Lions NFB Group 


_______________________________________________
Nfb-lions mailing list
Nfb-lions at nfbnet.org
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-lions_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
Nfb-lions:
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-lions_nfbnet.org/braille%40satx.rr.com




From albert at myblindspot.org  Mon Feb 13 00:33:21 2012
From: albert at myblindspot.org (Albert J Rizzi)
Date: Sun, 12 Feb 2012 19:33:21 -0500
Subject: [Nfb-lions] a survey for the print disabled.
Message-ID: <70491E42950E4B4290B2E7CB772760C9@JkTC4D1>

I think members 

>of this list will have especially relevant experience to share.

> 

>The Digital Images and Graphic Resources for Accessible Materials

>(DIAGRAM) Center <http://www.diagramcenter.org/> is a U.S. Department 

>of Education-funded project, conducted by Benetech, with the US Fund 

>for DAISY and the WGBH National Center for Accessible Media.

> 

>DIAGRAM is conducting a brief survey to track trends in how people with 

>print disabilities obtain and access reading materials electronically.

>Your answers will help us focus our research and development efforts on 

>the reading tools and digital reading materials. Please take a few 

>minutes to visit the link below and give us your input. The survey 

>closes on March 8, 2012.

> 

>Many thanks.

> 

>http://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/786454/DIAGRAM-Reading-Technology-Survey

> 

 

 

 

 

Yours in Lionism,

 

Albert J. Rizzi, M.Ed.
Founder
My Blind Spot, Inc.
90 Broad Street - 18th Fl.
New York, New York  10004
 <http://www.myblindspot.org> www.myblindspot.org

PH: 917-553-0347
Fax: 212-858-5759
"The person who says it cannot be done, shouldn't interrupt the one who is
doing it."

Visit us on
<http://www.facebook.com/home.php?filter=pp#/pages/My-Blind-Spot/19374068832
8?ref=nf> Facebook  <http://www.linkedin.com/pub/albert-j-rizzi/13/142/0>
LinkedIn

 



From alovati at sbcglobal.net  Mon Feb 13 02:32:08 2012
From: alovati at sbcglobal.net (Al Lovati)
Date: Sun, 12 Feb 2012 18:32:08 -0800 (PST)
Subject: [Nfb-lions] Convention Lions meeting
In-Reply-To: <000101cce94b$99929040$ccb7b0c0$@satx.rr.com>
Message-ID: <1329100328.15649.YahooMailClassic@web83606.mail.sp1.yahoo.com>

Romana and everyone,

The time works for me and my group.

Lion Al

--- On Sun, 2/12/12, Mary Donahue <braille at satx.rr.com> wrote:

> From: Mary Donahue <braille at satx.rr.com>
> Subject: Re: [Nfb-lions] Convention Lions meeting
> To: "'NFB and Lions'" <nfb-lions at nfbnet.org>
> Date: Sunday, February 12, 2012, 1:00 AM
> Hello Ramona and everyone,
> 
> ??? Five o'clock would work better than six,
> as I have to register and
> present at a 7:00 meeting.
> 
> Lion Mary Donahue
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nfb-lions-bounces at nfbnet.org
> [mailto:nfb-lions-bounces at nfbnet.org]
> On
> Behalf Of Ramona Walhof
> Sent: Saturday, February 11, 2012 10:13 PM
> To: NFB and Lions
> Subject: [Nfb-lions] Convention Lions meeting
> 
> I was thinking of holding our Lions meeting at Convention
> this year at 5:00
> or 6:00 p.m. Saturday evening after the seminars, but before
> the Rookie
> Round-up.? I would love to hear who could and would
> come at that time.? The
> meeting would probably be about an hour, so there would be
> plenty of time
> left for dinner and whatever other evening activities may be
> wanted.? I will
> be waiting to hear from you, but must send in the time
> soon.
> 
> Ramona, Co-Chair Lions NFB Group 
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Nfb-lions mailing list
> Nfb-lions at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-lions_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account
> info for
> Nfb-lions:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-lions_nfbnet.org/braille%40satx.rr.com
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Nfb-lions mailing list
> Nfb-lions at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-lions_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account
> info for Nfb-lions:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-lions_nfbnet.org/alovati%40sbcglobal.net
> 



From RJaquiss at nfb.org  Mon Feb 13 14:05:57 2012
From: RJaquiss at nfb.org (Jaquiss, Robert)
Date: Mon, 13 Feb 2012 06:05:57 -0800
Subject: [Nfb-lions] Convention Lions meeting
In-Reply-To: <97E81995B8584D148045EE5757E28494@acer56fb35423d>
References: <97E81995B8584D148045EE5757E28494@acer56fb35423d>
Message-ID: <15131457E4DA6B4EBD8776E13F2B3E100E7AAFD92E@VA3DIAXVS751.RED001.local>

Hello Lion Ramona:


     A Saturday evening meeting sounds good to me.

Regards,

Lion Robert

Robert Jaquiss
National Federation of the Blind 
200 East Wells Street at Jernigan Place
Baltimore, Maryland 21230 
Phone: 410-659-9314, ext. 2422

-----Original Message-----
From: nfb-lions-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfb-lions-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Ramona Walhof
Sent: Saturday, February 11, 2012 11:13 PM
To: NFB and Lions
Subject: [Nfb-lions] Convention Lions meeting

I was thinking of holding our Lions meeting at Convention this year at 5:00 
or 6:00 p.m. Saturday evening after the seminars, but before the Rookie 
Round-up.  I would love to hear who could and would come at that time.  The 
meeting would probably be about an hour, so there would be plenty of time 
left for dinner and whatever other evening activities may be wanted.  I will 
be waiting to hear from you, but must send in the time soon.

Ramona, Co-Chair Lions NFB Group 


_______________________________________________
Nfb-lions mailing list
Nfb-lions at nfbnet.org
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-lions_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for Nfb-lions:
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-lions_nfbnet.org/rjaquiss%40nfb.org


From ramona.walhof at gmail.com  Mon Feb 13 16:40:11 2012
From: ramona.walhof at gmail.com (Ramona Walhof)
Date: Mon, 13 Feb 2012 09:40:11 -0700
Subject: [Nfb-lions] Convention Lions meeting
References: <97E81995B8584D148045EE5757E28494@acer56fb35423d>
	<15131457E4DA6B4EBD8776E13F2B3E100E7AAFD92E@VA3DIAXVS751.RED001.local>
Message-ID: <FFDDB7D65F444AB5956BEBB9CF5804C5@acer56fb35423d>

Robert, we have met Saturday evening at 8:00 pm for several years.  The 
difference I am proposing for this year is to meet earlier, probably at 5:00 
pm.  That would be before dinner for many people, and it will not conflict 
with the Rookie Round-up.  So far I have not received any objections.

Ramona
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jaquiss, Robert" <RJaquiss at nfb.org>
To: "NFB and Lions" <nfb-lions at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, February 13, 2012 7:05 AM
Subject: Re: [Nfb-lions] Convention Lions meeting


> Hello Lion Ramona:
>
>
>     A Saturday evening meeting sounds good to me.
>
> Regards,
>
> Lion Robert
>
> Robert Jaquiss
> National Federation of the Blind
> 200 East Wells Street at Jernigan Place
> Baltimore, Maryland 21230
> Phone: 410-659-9314, ext. 2422
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nfb-lions-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfb-lions-bounces at nfbnet.org] 
> On Behalf Of Ramona Walhof
> Sent: Saturday, February 11, 2012 11:13 PM
> To: NFB and Lions
> Subject: [Nfb-lions] Convention Lions meeting
>
> I was thinking of holding our Lions meeting at Convention this year at 
> 5:00
> or 6:00 p.m. Saturday evening after the seminars, but before the Rookie
> Round-up.  I would love to hear who could and would come at that time. 
> The
> meeting would probably be about an hour, so there would be plenty of time
> left for dinner and whatever other evening activities may be wanted.  I 
> will
> be waiting to hear from you, but must send in the time soon.
>
> Ramona, Co-Chair Lions NFB Group
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Nfb-lions mailing list
> Nfb-lions at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-lions_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
> Nfb-lions:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-lions_nfbnet.org/rjaquiss%40nfb.org
>
> _______________________________________________
> Nfb-lions mailing list
> Nfb-lions at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-lions_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
> Nfb-lions:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-lions_nfbnet.org/ramona.walhof%40gmail.com 




From joyce.scanlan at earthlink.net  Tue Feb 14 17:29:17 2012
From: joyce.scanlan at earthlink.net (Joyce Scanlan)
Date: Tue, 14 Feb 2012 11:29:17 -0600
Subject: [Nfb-lions] Convention Lions meeting
References: <97E81995B8584D148045EE5757E28494@acer56fb35423d>
Message-ID: <A56EA65F61CB48CC8F2498D973D5E17C@tomdddfc55fb39>

Tom and I would come.
Joyce
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ramona Walhof" <ramona.walhof at gmail.com>
To: "NFB and Lions" <nfb-lions at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Saturday, February 11, 2012 10:13 PM
Subject: [Nfb-lions] Convention Lions meeting


>I was thinking of holding our Lions meeting at Convention this year at 5:00 
>or 6:00 p.m. Saturday evening after the seminars, but before the Rookie 
>Round-up.  I would love to hear who could and would come at that time.  The 
>meeting would probably be about an hour, so there would be plenty of time 
>left for dinner and whatever other evening activities may be wanted.  I 
>will be waiting to hear from you, but must send in the time soon.
>
> Ramona, Co-Chair Lions NFB Group
>
> _______________________________________________
> Nfb-lions mailing list
> Nfb-lions at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-lions_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
> Nfb-lions:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-lions_nfbnet.org/joyce.scanlan%40earthlink.net
> 




From cherylandmaxx at hotmail.com  Thu Feb 16 14:48:32 2012
From: cherylandmaxx at hotmail.com (cheryl echevarria)
Date: Thu, 16 Feb 2012 09:48:32 -0500
Subject: [Nfb-lions] =?windows-1252?q?Cheryl_Echevarria=3A_Founder=2C_Eche?=
 =?windows-1252?q?varria_Travel_=96_Advocate_for_the_Blind?=
In-Reply-To: <BLU162-W27A3C9167688BC83204E5FA1620@phx.gbl>
References: <BLU162-W3426BDB75225A16A843E0EA1620@phx.gbl>,
	<BLU162-W4482E23E7114628D66362CA1620@phx.gbl>,
	<BLU162-W27A3C9167688BC83204E5FA1620@phx.gbl>
Message-ID: <BLU162-W3033D9F40E15220BB391B9A1620@phx.gbl>





















February 16, 2012  This is from www.fortune52.com, I am also going to be honored with 52 other women from Across Long Island on March 12, 2012Cheryl Echevarria is blind and might not be able to sightsee like everyone else, yet this intrepid Brentwood woman loves to travel. She relies on her service dog, Maxx, her heightened sense of smell, touch and sound and the confidence that comes from traveling often.Born with Type 1 diabetes, Cheryl was 22 years old when she was diagnosed with diabetic retinopothy, a common diabetic eye disease that is the leading cause of blindness in American adults.Cheryl?s life changed forever one night in 2001 when she was driving home from her job as an administrative assistant when suddenly, she recalls, her vision became completely blurry. ?I had to pull over. I couldn?t see.?Cheryl?s doctor told her that if her diabetes was affecting her eyes, it would also affect other organs in her body. Subsequently her kidneys began to fail as well. In 2002 she began kidney dialysis treatments three times a week for four hours a day. Her treatments continued for three years until she went through another life-altering experience when her friend Steve Carroll donated his kidney to her.Once Cheryl recuperated from the organ transplant, she was determined to go back to work. During her dialysis treatments, she lost her sight completely in one eye. She says her remaining sight is ?like looking through a telescope hole covered in thick plastic.?Cheryl enrolled in a training program provided by the New York State Commission for the Blind and Visually Handicapped (CBVH), where she learned new job skills, including how to use computer software for the blind.After completing the program, Cheryl was ready for the next step in her recovery which was to go back to school. She began taking classes at Branford Hall Career Institute in Bohemia, and became the school?s first blind student to graduate. She found an administrative job in the healthcare field where she worked for two years.Cheryl felt she missed 10 years of her life being sick and was ready to transition into a new career. She began scouring the internet for new connections.?I found the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) online and joined the greater Long Island chapter,? she says.The NFB is the largest non-profit organization in the world for the blind that is operated by the blind. Cheryl now serves as the treasurer of the Long Island chapter, adding that all members and officers must be blind to serve in a board position. ?We are advocates for education, employment and accessibility,? Cheryl says proudly. ?We lobby ourselves, we don?t hire anyone.?After searching through the federation?s resources, she decided that becoming a travel agent would be a good career choice. She loved to travel and she could work from home. ?I have a background in customer service and sales, and this was a good fit,? she says. After completing her job training online, Cheryl started working through a host travel agency, confident that becoming a travel agent was the right career move.In 2009 Cheryl and her husband, Nelson, founded Echevarria Travel. Cheryl says Nelson is an integral part of the agency, and is the photographer and videographer for the travel images used on their website. ?I?m the only blind travel agent in the tri-state area that I know of,? she says and was recently named president of the NFB?s national travel and tourism division.Cheryl?s blindness has given her a very clear insight into the planning required to ensure a pleasurable trip for her clients.Her agency offers services to everyone, but Cheryl?s specialty is the traveler who is blind, on dialysis, in a wheelchair, or has had an organ transplant. As a survivor of all of these illnesses, Cheryl is uniquely qualified to help them plan their trip.?I know what a person would need and the questions to ask,? she says. ?What?s your degree of blindness?  Do you use a cane??If travel plans include a cruise, she will want to know if the client can read Braille. ?I ask because not everyone does,? she explains. ?If they don?t [read Braille], I contact the cruise line and make sure they get a meet-and-greet and tour of the ship so they can familiarize themselves with their surroundings,? she says.If they plan on traveling with their service animal, Cheryl explains that they will need to go to their vet to get a health certificate and they need to secure a permit to bring the animal into another country.The cruise industry has taken notice of this newly mobile customer base and are making their vessels more accessible so sight-impaired travelers can acclimate themselves quickly.Cheryl has been working closely with Norwegian Cruise Lines, and says she helped them implement Braille menus on their ships.No two visually impaired people have the same level of functional vision so Cheryl helps her clients overcome some of the red tape they might encounter to ensure that they have a good experience. All of this pre-travel preparation includes additional paperwork that Cheryl helps her clients complete as part of her services.Understanding the requirements and information needed for traveling today is invaluable. As a travel advocate and advisor for the blind, Cheryl has opened up a world of new experiences for these sensory travelers that might have been out of reach before.For more information, email: reservations at echevarriatravel.com, call Cheryl at  631-456-5394 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            631-456-5394      end_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            631-456-5394      end_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            631-456-5394      end_of_the_skype_highlighting , or toll free at  866-580-5574 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            866-580-5574      end_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            866-580-5574      end_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            866-580-5574      end_of_the_skype_highlighting  ; or go to:www.echevarriatravel.com. For daily updates read Cheryl?s blog atwww.echevarriatravel.wordpress.com
Leading the Way in Independent Travel!

Cheryl Echevarria
http://www.echevarriatravel.com
631-456-5394 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            631-456-5394      end_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            631-456-5394      end_of_the_skype_highlighting
reservations at echevarriatravel.com

For daily updates read our blog at
http://www.echevarriatravel.wordpress.com 		 	   		   		 	   		   		 	   		   		 	   		  

From cherylandmaxx at hotmail.com  Thu Feb 16 15:37:44 2012
From: cherylandmaxx at hotmail.com (cheryl echevarria)
Date: Thu, 16 Feb 2012 10:37:44 -0500
Subject: [Nfb-lions] =?windows-1252?q?FW=3A_Cheryl_Echevarria=3A_Founder?=
 =?windows-1252?q?=2C_Echevarria_Travel_=96_Advocate_for_the_Blind?=
In-Reply-To: <BLU162-W27A3C9167688BC83204E5FA1620@phx.gbl>
References: <BLU162-W3426BDB75225A16A843E0EA1620@phx.gbl>,
	<BLU162-W4482E23E7114628D66362CA1620@phx.gbl>,
	<BLU162-W27A3C9167688BC83204E5FA1620@phx.gbl>
Message-ID: <BLU162-W76C0B8F0AF23F1B1EB11FA1620@phx.gbl>




Leading the Way in Independent Travel!

Cheryl Echevarria
http://www.echevarriatravel.com
631-456-5394
reservations at echevarriatravel.com

For daily updates read our blog at
http://www.echevarriatravel.wordpress.com

From: cherylandmaxx at hotmail.com
To: cherylandmaxx at hotmail.com
Subject: Cheryl Echevarria: Founder, Echevarria Travel ? Advocate for the Blind 
Date: Thu, 16 Feb 2012 09:25:37 -0500
















February 16, 2012  This is from www.fortune52.com, I am also going to be honored with 52 other women from Across Long Island on March 12, 2012Cheryl Echevarria is blind and might not be able to sightsee like everyone else, yet this intrepid Brentwood woman loves to travel. She relies on her service dog, Maxx, her heightened sense of smell, touch and sound and the confidence that comes from traveling often.Born with Type 1 diabetes, Cheryl was 22 years old when she was diagnosed with diabetic retinopothy, a common diabetic eye disease that is the leading cause of blindness in American adults.Cheryl?s life changed forever one night in 2001 when she was driving home from her job as an administrative assistant when suddenly, she recalls, her vision became completely blurry. ?I had to pull over. I couldn?t see.?Cheryl?s doctor told her that if her diabetes was affecting her eyes, it would also affect other organs in her body. Subsequently her kidneys began to fail as well. In 2002 she began kidney dialysis treatments three times a week for four hours a day. Her treatments continued for three years until she went through another life-altering experience when her friend Steve Carroll donated his kidney to her.Once Cheryl recuperated from the organ transplant, she was determined to go back to work. During her dialysis treatments, she lost her sight completely in one eye. She says her remaining sight is ?like looking through a telescope hole covered in thick plastic.?Cheryl enrolled in a training program provided by the New York State Commission for the Blind and Visually Handicapped (CBVH), where she learned new job skills, including how to use computer software for the blind.After completing the program, Cheryl was ready for the next step in her recovery which was to go back to school. She began taking classes at Branford Hall Career Institute in Bohemia, and became the school?s first blind student to graduate. She found an administrative job in the healthcare field where she worked for two years.Cheryl felt she missed 10 years of her life being sick and was ready to transition into a new career. She began scouring the internet for new connections.?I found the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) online and joined the greater Long Island chapter,? she says.The NFB is the largest non-profit organization in the world for the blind that is operated by the blind. Cheryl now serves as the treasurer of the Long Island chapter, adding that all members and officers must be blind to serve in a board position. ?We are advocates for education, employment and accessibility,? Cheryl says proudly. ?We lobby ourselves, we don?t hire anyone.?After searching through the federation?s resources, she decided that becoming a travel agent would be a good career choice. She loved to travel and she could work from home. ?I have a background in customer service and sales, and this was a good fit,? she says. After completing her job training online, Cheryl started working through a host travel agency, confident that becoming a travel agent was the right career move.In 2009 Cheryl and her husband, Nelson, founded Echevarria Travel. Cheryl says Nelson is an integral part of the agency, and is the photographer and videographer for the travel images used on their website. ?I?m the only blind travel agent in the tri-state area that I know of,? she says and was recently named president of the NFB?s national travel and tourism division.Cheryl?s blindness has given her a very clear insight into the planning required to ensure a pleasurable trip for her clients.Her agency offers services to everyone, but Cheryl?s specialty is the traveler who is blind, on dialysis, in a wheelchair, or has had an organ transplant. As a survivor of all of these illnesses, Cheryl is uniquely qualified to help them plan their trip.?I know what a person would need and the questions to ask,? she says. ?What?s your degree of blindness?  Do you use a cane??If travel plans include a cruise, she will want to know if the client can read Braille. ?I ask because not everyone does,? she explains. ?If they don?t [read Braille], I contact the cruise line and make sure they get a meet-and-greet and tour of the ship so they can familiarize themselves with their surroundings,? she says.If they plan on traveling with their service animal, Cheryl explains that they will need to go to their vet to get a health certificate and they need to secure a permit to bring the animal into another country.The cruise industry has taken notice of this newly mobile customer base and are making their vessels more accessible so sight-impaired travelers can acclimate themselves quickly.Cheryl has been working closely with Norwegian Cruise Lines, and says she helped them implement Braille menus on their ships.No two visually impaired people have the same level of functional vision so Cheryl helps her clients overcome some of the red tape they might encounter to ensure that they have a good experience. All of this pre-travel preparation includes additional paperwork that Cheryl helps her clients complete as part of her services.Understanding the requirements and information needed for traveling today is invaluable. As a travel advocate and advisor for the blind, Cheryl has opened up a world of new experiences for these sensory travelers that might have been out of reach before.For more information, email: reservations at echevarriatravel.com, call Cheryl at  631-456-5394 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            631-456-5394      end_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            631-456-5394      end_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            631-456-5394      end_of_the_skype_highlighting , or toll free at  866-580-5574 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            866-580-5574      end_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            866-580-5574      end_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            866-580-5574      end_of_the_skype_highlighting  ; or go to:www.echevarriatravel.com. For daily updates read Cheryl?s blog atwww.echevarriatravel.wordpress.com
Leading the Way in Independent Travel!

Cheryl Echevarria
http://www.echevarriatravel.com
631-456-5394 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            631-456-5394      end_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            631-456-5394      end_of_the_skype_highlighting
reservations at echevarriatravel.com

For daily updates read our blog at
http://www.echevarriatravel.wordpress.com 		 	   		   		 	   		   		 	   		   		 	   		  

From ramona.walhof at gmail.com  Thu Feb 16 15:42:49 2012
From: ramona.walhof at gmail.com (Ramona Walhof)
Date: Thu, 16 Feb 2012 08:42:49 -0700
Subject: [Nfb-lions]
	=?windows-1252?q?Cheryl_Echevarria=3A_Founder=2C_Eche?=
	=?windows-1252?q?varria_Travel_=96_Advocate_for_the_Blind?=
References: <BLU162-W3426BDB75225A16A843E0EA1620@phx.gbl>,
	<BLU162-W4482E23E7114628D66362CA1620@phx.gbl>,
	<BLU162-W27A3C9167688BC83204E5FA1620@phx.gbl>
	<BLU162-W3033D9F40E15220BB391B9A1620@phx.gbl>
Message-ID: <A87E116EA2B446709AB8527F58A22C4E@acer56fb35423d>

Nice article, Cheryl.

Ramona
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "cheryl echevarria" <cherylandmaxx at hotmail.com>
To: "cheryl echevarria" <cherylandmaxx at hotmail.com>
Sent: Thursday, February 16, 2012 7:48 AM
Subject: [Nfb-lions] Cheryl Echevarria: Founder, Echevarria Travel ? 
Advocate for the Blind






















February 16, 2012  This is from www.fortune52.com, I am also going to be 
honored with 52 other women from Across Long Island on March 12, 2012Cheryl 
Echevarria is blind and might not be able to sightsee like everyone else, 
yet this intrepid Brentwood woman loves to travel. She relies on her service 
dog, Maxx, her heightened sense of smell, touch and sound and the confidence 
that comes from traveling often.Born with Type 1 diabetes, Cheryl was 22 
years old when she was diagnosed with diabetic retinopothy, a common 
diabetic eye disease that is the leading cause of blindness in American 
adults.Cheryl?s life changed forever one night in 2001 when she was driving 
home from her job as an administrative assistant when suddenly, she recalls, 
her vision became completely blurry. ?I had to pull over. I couldn?t see.?Cheryl?s 
doctor told her that if her diabetes was affecting her eyes, it would also 
affect other organs in her body. Subsequently her kidneys began to fail as 
well. In 2002 she began kidney dialysis treatments three times a week for 
four hours a day. Her treatments continued for three years until she went 
through another life-altering experience when her friend Steve Carroll 
donated his kidney to her.Once Cheryl recuperated from the organ transplant, 
she was determined to go back to work. During her dialysis treatments, she 
lost her sight completely in one eye. She says her remaining sight is ?like 
looking through a telescope hole covered in thick plastic.?Cheryl enrolled 
in a training program provided by the New York State Commission for the 
Blind and Visually Handicapped (CBVH), where she learned new job skills, 
including how to use computer software for the blind.After completing the 
program, Cheryl was ready for the next step in her recovery which was to go 
back to school. She began taking classes at Branford Hall Career Institute 
in Bohemia, and became the school?s first blind student to graduate. She 
found an administrative job in the healthcare field where she worked for two 
years.Cheryl felt she missed 10 years of her life being sick and was ready 
to transition into a new career. She began scouring the internet for new 
connections.?I found the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) online and 
joined the greater Long Island chapter,? she says.The NFB is the largest 
non-profit organization in the world for the blind that is operated by the 
blind. Cheryl now serves as the treasurer of the Long Island chapter, adding 
that all members and officers must be blind to serve in a board position. 
?We are advocates for education, employment and accessibility,? Cheryl says 
proudly. ?We lobby ourselves, we don?t hire anyone.?After searching through 
the federation?s resources, she decided that becoming a travel agent would 
be a good career choice. She loved to travel and she could work from home. 
?I have a background in customer service and sales, and this was a good 
 fit,? she says. After completing her job training online, Cheryl started 
working through a host travel agency, confident that becoming a travel agent 
was the right career move.In 2009 Cheryl and her husband, Nelson, founded 
Echevarria Travel. Cheryl says Nelson is an integral part of the agency, and 
is the photographer and videographer for the travel images used on their 
website. ?I?m the only blind travel agent in the tri-state area that I know 
of,? she says and was recently named president of the NFB?s national travel 
and tourism division.Cheryl?s blindness has given her a very clear insight 
into the planning required to ensure a pleasurable trip for her clients.Her 
agency offers services to everyone, but Cheryl?s specialty is the traveler 
who is blind, on dialysis, in a wheelchair, or has had an organ transplant. 
As a survivor of all of these illnesses, Cheryl is uniquely qualified to 
help them plan their trip.?I know what a person would need and the questions 
to ask,? she says. ?What?s your degree of blindness?  Do you use a cane??If 
travel plans include a cruise, she will want to know if the client can read 
Braille. ?I ask because not everyone does,? she explains. ?If they don?t 
[read Braille], I contact the cruise line and make sure they get a 
meet-and-greet and tour of the ship so they can familiarize themselves with 
their surroundings,? she says.If they plan on traveling with their service 
animal, Cheryl explains that they will need to go to their vet to get a 
health certificate and they need to secure a permit to bring the animal into 
another country.The cruise industry has taken notice of this newly mobile 
customer base and are making their vessels more accessible so sight-impaired 
travelers can acclimate themselves quickly.Cheryl has been working closely 
with Norwegian Cruise Lines, and says she helped them implement Braille 
menus on their ships.No two visually impaired people have the same level of 
functional vision so Cheryl helps her clients overcome some of the red tape 
they might encounter to ensure that they have a good experience. All of this 
pre-travel preparation includes additional paperwork that Cheryl helps her 
clients complete as part of her services.Understanding the requirements and 
information needed for traveling today is invaluable. As a travel advocate 
and advisor for the blind, Cheryl has opened up a world of new experiences 
for these sensory travelers that might have been out of reach before.For 
more information, email: reservations at echevarriatravel.com, call Cheryl at 
631-456-5394 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            631-456-5394 
end_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 
631-456-5394      end_of_the_skype_highlighting 
begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            631-456-5394 
end_of_the_skype_highlighting , or toll free at  866-580-5574 
begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            866-580-5574 
end_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 
866-580-5574      end_of_the_skype_highlighting 
begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            866-580-5574 
end_of_the_skype_highlighting  ; or go to:www.echevarriatravel.com. For 
daily updates read Cheryl?s blog atwww.echevarriatravel.wordpress.com
Leading the Way in Independent Travel!

Cheryl Echevarria
http://www.echevarriatravel.com
631-456-5394 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            631-456-5394 
end_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 
631-456-5394      end_of_the_skype_highlighting
reservations at echevarriatravel.com

For daily updates read our blog at
http://www.echevarriatravel.wordpress.com
_______________________________________________
Nfb-lions mailing list
Nfb-lions at nfbnet.org
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-lions_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
Nfb-lions:
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-lions_nfbnet.org/ramona.walhof%40gmail.com 




From cherylandmaxx at hotmail.com  Fri Feb 24 16:16:12 2012
From: cherylandmaxx at hotmail.com (cheryl echevarria)
Date: Fri, 24 Feb 2012 11:16:12 -0500
Subject: [Nfb-lions] Monthly teleconference of the travel and tourism
 division meeting, Monday, February 27th
In-Reply-To: <BLU162-W54A38488B14D61037AAB7EA16A0@phx.gbl>
References: <BLU162-W54A38488B14D61037AAB7EA16A0@phx.gbl>
Message-ID: <BLU162-W445D24D77FC29D5B683BC5A16A0@phx.gbl>



The Travel and Tourism Division, a proud division of the National Federation of the Blind, will be having there monthly teleconference on Monday, February 27th at 8pm Eastern, 7pm Central, 6pm Mountain, and 5pm Pacific Time.

We will be discuss 2 possible tours at the National Convention, as well as any ideas that the membership may have ideas about as well.  Plus updates from Peter Donahue on our website, as well a new name to our Division Mr. Daniel Carr from Texas, who is working as a co-webmaster and also as an interim board member.
We need to finalize these things to be published in the Braille Monitor by the April Edition.
We welcome anyone onto the calls, members of the division, members of the NFB, and those of you who do not fall under any of the categories.
Call in directions for the call as follows.
The call in number is             1-805-360-1000       this is not a toll free number

 

once you get the recording you will be asked to put in your participant
access code which is 871517#.Thank you. 

Sincerely,
Cheryl Echevarria, PresidentTravel and Tourism DivisionNational Federation of the Blind631-236-5138president at nfb-travel.com
Leading the Way in Independent Travel!

Cheryl Echevarria
http://www.echevarriatravel.com
631-456-5394
reservations at echevarriatravel.com

For daily updates read our blog at
http://www.echevarriatravel.wordpress.com 		 	   		   		 	   		  

