From chrisvinson1 at gmail.com  Sun Jan  1 09:51:55 2017
From: chrisvinson1 at gmail.com (Chris Walker)
Date: Sun, 1 Jan 2017 04:51:55 -0500
Subject: [Nfbv-announce] Happy new year 2017
Message-ID: <48ADB3E0-08D7-4CD9-8280-C8DA30149843@gmail.com>

Hello Virginia Federation family and all of us across the country,
On behalf of the national Federation of the blind of Virginia, we would like to wish everybody a very happy happy new year, 2017. We thank you all for what you do and to live the life you want!! Blindness is not what holds us back! Let's go build the Federation!

Christopher Walker
National Federation of the Blind 
Vice-President, Winchester Chapter
Corresponding Secretary, NFB of Virginia
www.nfbv.org
chrisvinson1 at gmail.com
540.303.0080


From chrisvinson1 at gmail.com  Mon Jan  2 23:54:39 2017
From: chrisvinson1 at gmail.com (Christopher Vinson)
Date: Mon, 2 Jan 2017 18:54:39 -0500
Subject: [Nfbv-announce] Fwd: Apply to Become a National Federation of the
 Blind BUILD Team Member
In-Reply-To: <000201d26543$3e8bf6e0$bba3e4a0$@gmail.com>
References: <000201d26543$3e8bf6e0$bba3e4a0$@gmail.com>
Message-ID: <CAJnU-TkFvSwkrgvV954qL-K8Kfj-FdiT-0HKiOCM-zez+F3QKw@mail.gmail.com>

Hello,


Technologies are being developed every day that affect the way we all live,
work, and play. In order to ensure access to the ever-evolving technologies
that make it possible for blind people to live the lives we want, we need
blind users to innovate and lead the design process.


The NFB is establishing a database of Blind Users Innovating and Leading
Design (BUILD) to evaluate websites, products, and services for
accessibility.  Apply to become a member of our BUILD team by completing
the survey at

https://nfb.org/build-team.



Tracy Soforenko

President, National Federation of the Blind of Virginia

202 285-4595 <(202)%20285-4595>

Tracy.soforenko at gmail.com


From chrisvinson1 at gmail.com  Mon Jan  2 23:59:56 2017
From: chrisvinson1 at gmail.com (Christopher Vinson)
Date: Mon, 2 Jan 2017 18:59:56 -0500
Subject: [Nfbv-announce] Fwd: Student Division Conference Call
In-Reply-To: <CAJnU-Tkww7UBHXBtaUaWHjchzJsFhwwD+q2b-UMouqctpo8S2Q@mail.gmail.com>
References: <004e01d25b91$f4b14710$de13d530$@gmail.com>
	<CAJnU-Tkww7UBHXBtaUaWHjchzJsFhwwD+q2b-UMouqctpo8S2Q@mail.gmail.com>
Message-ID: <CAJnU-TkSfHRc_pZiyoYpq=+p4vo+BWZW-LJZQ37HPt98tvy0AA@mail.gmail.com>

Greetings Federation Family and Students



As holidays and the breaks associated with them approach, I am sure that
excitement is very high to enjoy a well-deserved release from the pressures
of high school, college, or training. I can honestly say that I feel the
same way, however, I do know how quickly after the New Year?s holiday that
school resumes and we as students are back to regularly scheduled
programming. For these reasons, the Virginia Association of Blind Students,
VABS, are keeping that notion at the forefront of our minds and have
planned a very important conference call for all students, federation
members that are thinking about college, and family members of college
students.


Our January conference call will contain all necessitated information that
is included in business meetings like reports on the treasury, event plans
for the future, and upcoming fundraising; but it will also have a very
special segment on the NFB national college scholarship that is awarded at
our National Convention each year. These awards, ranging from $3000 to
$12000, are competitively attained by blind college students all across the
country that display equal parts merit, determination to succeed, and
practice of the NFB philosophy. To join us on this call with deadline
information and tips, we will have a national representative from Utah, Mr.
Everett Bacon, as well as an anecdote from this year?s Virginia winner and
our Secretary, Ms. Sharon Jose. Please feel free to call in if you have any
questions about how the process works or would like to understand what it
takes to be considered for one of these prestigious awards.



The January 2017 conference call for the Virginia association of Blind
Students is on Thursday, January 5 at 7pm. The call in credentials is 641
715 3655 <(641)%20715-3655>. The access code is 568305. I look forward to
hearing you all on the call.



Warm Wishes



Robert E. Parsons Jr.

President, Virginia Association of Blind Students

National Federation of the Blind of Virginia

804.200.3275 <(804)%20200-3275>

rob.parso3389 at gmail.com

www.nfbv.org


From chrisvinson1 at gmail.com  Wed Jan  4 11:01:03 2017
From: chrisvinson1 at gmail.com (Chris Walker)
Date: Wed, 4 Jan 2017 06:01:03 -0500
Subject: [Nfbv-announce] Fwd: Reminder: Student Division Scholarship
 Conference Call
References: <006501d2666e$20fb9500$62f2bf00$@gmail.com>
Message-ID: <C4073BB3-2588-441C-957F-AB73A34B335D@gmail.com>

Hello,
See below information for the upcoming conference call with the student division. Thank you.

Christopher Walker
National Federation of the Blind 
Vice-President, Winchester Chapter
Corresponding Secretary, NFB of Virginia
www.nfbv.org
chrisvinson1 at gmail.com
540.303.0080

Begin forwarded message:

> From: "Robert Parsons " <rob.parso3389 at gmail.com>
> Date: January 4, 2017 at 4:37:12 AM EST
> To: "'Christopher Vinson'" <chrisvinson1 at gmail.com>
> Cc: "'Derek Manners'" <derekmanners at gmail.com>, "'Kathryn Webster'" <kathrynwebster.nfb at gmail.com>, <Luke.Schwinck at hotmail.com>, "'State President, Utah'" <baconev at yahoo.com>
> Subject: Reminder: Student Division Scholarship Conference Call
> 
> Good Morning Students and Affiliate Members
>  
> I would like to wish you all a Happy and Prosperous New Year. I hope that all of your holiday plans were excellent and welcome you to a refreshing start of a new chapter in the journey of life. I am sending this email to remind all students, parents, and family members of blind students about the important conference call that the student division will be having on Thursday. This meeting, aside from covering all necessary information for upcoming fundraising and events, will be focused on getting our students some financial assistance with college. The Virginia Association of Blind Students will be discussing the current NFB national college scholarship and the keys to successfully winning one during your time in school. To drive this discussion, our secretary, Sharon Jose, will be leading the discussion and giving us valuable information that afforded her the opportunity to become last year?s winner from Virginia. To assist her in knowing the National Scholarship Panel?s requirements, Mr. Everett Bacon, state President of Utah, will be on the call as well. Please make time to call-in and retrieve the treasures of information that they will be dispersing this week.
>  
> The Virginia Association of Blind Students conference call will be on Thursday, January 5, 2017 at 7pm. The call-in information is 641 715 3655. The access code is 568305. I look forward to hearing from all of you.
>  
> Blessings
>  
> Robert E. Parsons Jr.
> President, Richmond Chapter
> National Federation of the Blind of Virginia (NFBV)
> www.nfbv.org
> Phone: 804 200 3275
> "Persist Until Success Happens." -Thomas Bailey
>  


From chrisvinson1 at gmail.com  Thu Jan  5 22:11:31 2017
From: chrisvinson1 at gmail.com (Chris Walker)
Date: Thu, 5 Jan 2017 17:11:31 -0500
Subject: [Nfbv-announce] Mark your calendar for the NFB, national convention
Message-ID: <0CBEA768-C2EB-4D65-A0F8-FE449A3E033E@gmail.com>

Hello federation family,
Mark your calendar! The national Federation of the blind, national convention will be held July 10 to July 15, 2017. The convention will take place at the Rosen shingle Creek resort, Orlando Florida. Room reservations are now available. For more information please visitwww.nfb.org

Christopher Walker
National Federation of the Blind 
Vice-President, Winchester Chapter
Corresponding Secretary, NFB of Virginia
www.nfbv.org
chrisvinson1 at gmail.com
540.303.0080


From holleymanor at verizon.net  Fri Jan  6 18:15:39 2017
From: holleymanor at verizon.net (Rick Holley)
Date: Fri, 06 Jan 2017 13:15:39 -0500
Subject: [Nfbv-announce] Jan. At Large Chapter Meeting
Message-ID: <BCAB90F54ABC4D19B8BC60F19A2B6EE6@LENOVO0A00C700>

AND a Happy New Year to one and all!

Date: Jan. 10, 2017
Time: 8 PM
Conf. No.: 877-394-5901
Passcode: 6149670

Subjects: Richmond and Washington Seminars
     and Jody's new business

Welcome one and all.
Rick Holley


From chrisvinson1 at gmail.com  Sat Jan  7 04:02:34 2017
From: chrisvinson1 at gmail.com (Christopher Vinson)
Date: Fri, 6 Jan 2017 23:02:34 -0500
Subject: [Nfbv-announce] Fwd: Room Reservation Deadline Extended for 2017
 Richmond seminar & Room Share Sought
In-Reply-To: <033f01d26896$215753c0$6405fb40$@gmail.com>
References: <033f01d26896$215753c0$6405fb40$@gmail.com>
Message-ID: <CAJnU-Tk5NKAdna=FD9TTzPk6+p=XXN0mcbmMkRtKo-DEKYGUFw@mail.gmail.com>

Hi,

The Crowne Plaza has allowed us to extend the room block until Monday,
January 9 for rooms at our NFB of Virginia rate. If you have not made your
reservation, please do so.

I believe there are two people  (1 male and 1 female) seeking roommates. I
am glad to make the connection. Please give me a call to discuss but please
do so by Monday.

Tracy Soforenko
President, National Federation of the Blind of Virginia
202 285-4595
Tracy.soforenko at gmail.com

-----Original Message-----
From: NFBV-Announce [mailto:nfbv-announce-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
Christopher Vinson via NFBV-Announce
Sent: Friday, December 30, 2016 12:59 PM
To: NFBV Announce <Nfbv-announce at nfbnet.org>
Subject: [Nfbv-announce] 2017 Richmond seminar - Issues, Reservations and
Reimbursement

Hi,



Richmond Seminar is fast approaching.  We need to know if you are coming.
This year, our legislative agenda will focus on 2 new topics:

A)     Blind Parents Rights - We have a bill in the House of Delegates to
ensure that blindness cannot be a factor in determining custody/adoption
for children.

B)       Autonomous Cars - As Virginia considers the use of autonomous
vehicles, we want to ensure that a driver's license is not a requirement to
use an autonomous vehicle.  We also want these vehicles to be accessible
for blind passengers.



Both of these topics are based on resolutions passed by our convention over
the past few years.



In addition, we have received a few questions on our process for
reimbursing hotel and transportation expenses for Richmond Seminar.



Hotel:

You or your roommate makes your own reservation at the hotel at the NFB of
Virginia rate using your credit card to guarantee the room.  Do not delay,
the NFB of Virginia rate is only available until January 4th.  We can help
people arrange for roommates but don?t wait until the last minute to tell
us.



?         If one person is staying in a room by themselves, the affiliate
will reimburse you for half the cost of a room.

?         If two people are sharing a room, one of the two can submit the
reimbursement request form for the two of you.



Since these are reimbursements, you are responsible for paying for your
hotel room at the hotel.  After Richmond Seminar, follow the instructions
on the reimbursement request form to get reimbursed by the Treasurer.  Our
Treasurer, Mark Roane, will provide the latest reimbursement form via email
in the next few weeks.



Transportation:

Chapter Presidents are responsible for arranging affordable transportation
for their chapters. The affiliate will reimburse for transportation costs.
If you have questions about arranging transportation, please reach out to
either Mark Roane or myself.



Meals:

Meals are on your own. There are very affordable restaurants near the
Crowne Plaza including the  Capitol Ale House with ? price Monday burger
night.



Details on making reservations, board meeting times and other details are
provided in the message below.



Don't  delay, plan to join us in Richmond.



Tracy Soforenko

President, National Federation of the Blind of Virginia

202 285-4595

tracy.soforenko at gmail.com



======================================================================



Hi Virginia Federationists,



We were hoping you were considering joining us for Richmond Seminar and the
NFB of Virginia Board of Directors meeting.



The Legislative Committee Is being proactive and asking chapters to define
who will be attending by January 11th so we are not scrambling to establish
teams.  We will not be turning people away but it will really help us to
know who is coming early instead of waiting until the last minute. We get
better results when we know constituents will be attending.  The hotel room
block is filling up and reservations are due by January 4, 2017.



We now have the details for the January 16 Board of Directors meeting and
Richmond Seminar Prep Session.



Date:   Monday, January 16, 2017. This is Martin Luther King, Jr Day.

Time:   1:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Location:       DBVI Library and Resource center, Large Conference Room,

395 Azalea Avenue, Richmond, VA



Details on Richmond seminar are provided below.

====================================



Our General Assembly visits will be Tuesday, January 17th.



Hotel rooms are available:



Crowne Plaza - Downtown Richmond

555 East Canal Street, Richmond, VA 23219 January 16-17, 2017



The deadline to make reservations is January 4, 2017.  The affiliate will
reimburse transportation expenses and hotel expenses.  Chapter presidents
should arrange cost effective transportation for their chapter members.

Individuals are expected to share hotel rooms and must obtain hotel
reservations themselves at the NFB of Virginia rate. If you need assistance
identifying a room share, please contact Deepa or Jeanette.



You may begin making reservations at any time. You may do so by calling
855-472-7802 and asking for the NFBV group block or by using the following
booking link to make reservations online:



National Federation of the Blind of Virginia https://www.ihg.com/redirect?
path=asearch&brandCode=6c&localeCode=en&regionCode=1&
hotelCode=RICCS&checkInDate=16&checkInMonthYear=002017&checkOutDate=17&
checkOutMonthYear=002017&rateCode=6CBARC&_PMID=
99801505&GPC=FBV&viewfullsite=true



? Group rate is $99 plus state and local sales tax (currently at 13.3%).

? Guest will receive $10 off overnight parking.

? Check-In is at 3 PM and Check-Out is 12 PM.



Do not delay, book your room today.



Chapter presidents must provide the names of the individuals planning to
attend from their chapter to Deepa Goraya deepa.goraya at gmail.com , Jeanette
Gholson jigholson.din at gmail.com ,

and Tracy Soforenko  *tracy.soforenko at gmail.com <tracy.soforenko at gmail.com>*
by Wednesday, January 11, 2017 so we can establish teams in advance.



If you have any questions, please contact Tracy Soforenko at 202 285-4595
or tracy.soforenko at gmail.com _______________________________________________
NFBV-Announce mailing list
NFBV-Announce at nfbnet.org
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbv-announce_nfbnet.org


From john_bailey17 at hotmail.com  Mon Jan  9 16:50:08 2017
From: john_bailey17 at hotmail.com (John Bailey)
Date: Mon, 9 Jan 2017 16:50:08 +0000
Subject: [Nfbv-announce] donated Low vision magnifying devices and software
 looking for a good home
Message-ID: <DM3PR15MB106649BA4803F058177A75988F640@DM3PR15MB1066.namprd15.prod.outlook.com>

Dawne has several low vision devices and software products she would like to donate to members of our organization. Below is a list of most of the items she has to offer.  Please look it over and contact her if any of them would be of help to you. The goal is to put these devices into the hands of those who can get the most out of them.

From: Dawne Hanlin
Email: Dawne.Hanlin at sprint.com

I am located in Sterling VA near Dulles Airport.  I want to donate these items to individuals who can put them to use.
My family has a number of low vision aides we would like to donate for use by other low vision individuals:

3 magnifiers, maxTV glasses, Zoom Text 9.1, Zoom Text 10, Zoom Text keyboard & software.
2 sun shade glasses (one brown, one yellow lenses)
1 telescoping walking cane & case
Magnifier reading glasses (unsure of strength, but incredibly thick lenses)

Several of these items are obviously expensive and fragile.

Please contact Dawne Directly via email for more information or to make arrangements to pick up items.


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From chrisvinson1 at gmail.com  Tue Jan 10 14:21:05 2017
From: chrisvinson1 at gmail.com (Christopher Vinson)
Date: Tue, 10 Jan 2017 09:21:05 -0500
Subject: [Nfbv-announce] Fwd: Washington Seminar Issues/Fact Sheets Now
 Available
In-Reply-To: <008d01d26b01$97c1b740$c74525c0$@gmail.com>
References: <008d01d26b01$97c1b740$c74525c0$@gmail.com>
Message-ID: <CAJnU-Tkci5BxB+sE7zhCqDehREUmHF3Of_6m9cw=eeHTYxYPzw@mail.gmail.com>

Hi Virginia Federationists,



Welcome to a snowy start to January. We have an exciting month kicking off
this new legislative season.

Washington Seminar will include some new issues for the 2017 Congressional
Session and I have been receiving questions. While the Frequently Asked
Questions are expected soon, I hoped it would be valuable to share the fact
sheets we will be providing our elected leaders. The fact sheets are
attached.



At the January 16 Board of Directors meeting, Deepa Goraya and Jeannette
Gholson (our Virginia Legislative co-chairs) will be answering questions
about these issues so you are well prepared for Washington Seminar at the
end of the month.



Tracy Soforenko

President, National Federation of the Blind of Virginia

202 285-4595 <(202)%20285-4595>

Tracy.soforenko at gmail.com





*From:* Tracy Soforenko [mailt
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From chrisvinson1 at gmail.com  Tue Jan 10 14:23:05 2017
From: chrisvinson1 at gmail.com (Christopher Vinson)
Date: Tue, 10 Jan 2017 09:23:05 -0500
Subject: [Nfbv-announce] Fwd: Great Article About Autonomous Cars - Read in
 Preparation for Richmond Seminar
In-Reply-To: <008201d26aff$c992c6d0$5cb85470$@gmail.com>
References: <008201d26aff$c992c6d0$5cb85470$@gmail.com>
Message-ID: <CAJnU-T=Kp89NFi5gSL75F8Po5C0THDcvreNeps6_6j+ednvb6g@mail.gmail.com>

Hello Virginia Federationists,




Steve Mahan, who is legally blind, was the first non-Google employee to
ride alone in the company?s gumdrop-shaped autonomous car. The ride was in
October 2015 in Austin. (Courtesy Waymo)

By Ashley Halsey III
<https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/ashley-halsey-iii/> and Michael Laris
<https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/michael-laris/>

Transportation <https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/traffic-commuting>

December 13, 2016

A blind man has successfully traveled around Austin ? unaccompanied ? in a
car without a steering wheel or floor pedals, Google announced Tuesday.

After years of testing by Google engineers and employees, the company?s new
level of confidence in its fully autonomous technology was described as a
milestone.

?We?ve had almost driverless technology for a decade,? said Google engineer
Nathaniel Fairfield. ?It?s the hard parts of driving that really take the
time and the effort to do right.?

Steve Mahan, who is legally blind, was the first non-Google employee to
ride alone in the company?s gumdrop-shaped autonomous car.

?It is like driving with a very good driver,? Mahan said. ?If you close
your eyes when you?re riding with somebody, you get a sense of whether this
is a good driver or whether they?re not. These self-driving cars drive like
a very good driver.?

Google says it has driven more than 2 million miles on public roads to test
its vehicles.

?In early 2015, we began to see some signs that we were getting close,?
Fairfield said. ?The cars were going for longer and longer times without
the humans having to intervene.?

Fairfield said the company spent six months scrutinizing the vehicle?s
performance before Mahan was allowed to set out alone.

?That is a whole different beast ? to get that driver out of the car, to
take off the training wheels,? Fairfield said.

Mahan said: ?I had the greatest time driving around a neighborhood in
Austin, Texas. It was so much fun, being aware that the vehicle was
navigating intersections and I was in good hands, perfectly safe.?

The car Mahan rode in had a backup computer and multiple systems to control
it.

?If you removed the driver from the loop, you really have to have your
backups,? said Dmitri Dolgov, who heads technological development for
Google?s self-driving effort.

Mahan said: ?This is a hope of independence. These cars will change the
life prospects of people such as myself. I want very much to become a
member of the driving public again.?

Google also announced Tuesday that it is spinning off its self-driving-car
project into a company called Waymo, an independent division under Google?s
parent company, Alphabet.

John Krafcik, chief executive of Waymo, said the Austin solo ride is an
indication that ?we?re close to bringing this to a lot of people.?

Costa Samaras, an automation expert at Carnegie Mellon University, said the
move by Waymo ?puts a marker down that says to Uber, Lyft and auto
companies that the race to capture market share in driverless mobility has
begun in earnest.?

Samaras said that ?without a human in the loop, there?s also now a lot less
room for computer error in case something goes wrong. I?m guessing Waymo
has run these numbers and is betting on the computer.?

Google was among the first technology companies to plunge into an area
traditionally dominated by automakers in Detroit and elsewhere in the
world. After initial testing by its employees, the company embraced a
decision to put fully autonomous cars on the road ? probably without
steering wheels or floor pedals ? from the outset. In that decision, Google
became an outlier, as the existing industry, mindful of its need to sell
cars each year, took an approach intended to introduce self-driving
features incrementally.

The Google announcement came on a day when the Obama administration
proposed a rule that would require all new cars to be able to communicate
with other cars wirelessly, a move that advocates said could save lives but
that also raises privacy and hacking concerns among opponents.

The wireless box could, for instance, tell a car to brake when another
vehicle is about to run a red light. Federal officials said the required
technology ?will not collect, broadcast or share information linked or
linkable, as a practical matter, to individuals or their vehicles.?



Tracy Soforenko

President, National Federation of the Blind of Virginia

202 285-4595 <(202)%20285-4595>

Tracy.soforenko at gmail.com


From chrisvinson1 at gmail.com  Tue Jan 10 22:55:30 2017
From: chrisvinson1 at gmail.com (Christopher Vinson)
Date: Tue, 10 Jan 2017 17:55:30 -0500
Subject: [Nfbv-announce] Fwd: Support the Student Division at the State
 Board Meeting
In-Reply-To: <006301d26b88$969a13d0$c3ce3b70$@gmail.com>
References: <006301d26b88$969a13d0$c3ce3b70$@gmail.com>
Message-ID: <CAJnU-TkDYrdvcWtvVGBJQbT=FNjii9GbNXC67p8mEroO66h05w@mail.gmail.com>

Good Evening Federationists



I hope all is well and that your New Year is off to a refreshing start. As
our affiliate gears up for Richmond seminar next week, I want to share a
treat with all of the members that will be attending the state board
meeting. The Virginia Association of Blind Students will be busy at work
again assuring that our affiliate members have an opportunity to have
refreshments during our state board meeting. With such important topics and
plans being discussed, it is only right that people have a chance to wet
their whistle or quell a craving during the meeting.



In the entrance hall of the building the meeting is being held, the board
members of the student division will be selling ice cold beverages and
snack bags for any affiliate member or visitor that is in need of a drink
or snack. As the meeting begins at 1pm, the student division will be set up
at 12:30pm in order to allow members to purchase their items before they
enter the conference room. The items for sale are:



1.       Cans of Coke and Sprite: $1

2.       Bottled Water: $1

3.       Snack bags (consisting of a piece of fruit, nuts, and potato
chips): $2

Please remember that these items will probably go quickly, so look out for
the students? station in order to purchase your refreshment. Remember, the
state board meeting will take place on Monday, January 16, 2017 in the
Library Resource Center and the Virginia Department of the Blind and Vision
Impaired. We look forward to connecting with you all in Richmond and thank
you in advance for any support.



Best Regards



Robert E. Parsons Jr.

President, Virginia Association of Blind Students

National Federation of the Blind of Virginia (NFBV)

www.nfbv.org

Phone: 804 200 3275 <(804)%20200-3275>


From chrisvinson1 at gmail.com  Tue Jan 10 23:00:54 2017
From: chrisvinson1 at gmail.com (Christopher Vinson)
Date: Tue, 10 Jan 2017 18:00:54 -0500
Subject: [Nfbv-announce] =?utf-8?q?Fwd=3A_Funding_the_Movement_=E2=80=93_J?=
	=?utf-8?q?oin_Our_NFBV_Fundraising_Committee?=
In-Reply-To: <CAArCrE2D-JK8qm3D0ikoXj=OfLQ44Ua_siF-98aas1EfxwDS9Q@mail.gmail.com>
References: <CAArCrE2D-JK8qm3D0ikoXj=OfLQ44Ua_siF-98aas1EfxwDS9Q@mail.gmail.com>
Message-ID: <CAJnU-TmJnoMOLrocwBw6vpJHqM-ji5HaeduRRKpr5732bWAKVQ@mail.gmail.com>

Dear Federation Family,

I hope this email finds you well and that you have had a safe and
joyous holiday season. During the six months I have lived in Virginia
I have discovered the fantastic things that we are doing to help blind
Virginians live the lives they want. From our BELL programs that put
braille in the hands of blind children, the McDonald fellowship
program which provides mentoring to new Federationists,to  our student
division activities that inspire and engage our blind youth. We are
working every day to spread the NFB philosophy here in Virginia. I am
excited to be part of such an active, energetic, and enthusiastic
affiliate.

While we do receive grants and donations for our various programs, the
bulk of the money for them comes from fundraising. Every Virginia
peanut, every raffle ticket, and every auction item that was sold
helps us maintain our current programs and inspires us to create new
ones.

President Soforanko has asked me to put together a committee dedicated
to fundraising. If you have an interest in serving on a statewide
fundraising committee or have an idea for an affiliate fundraiser
please send an email to dlawless86 at gmail.com. I will send out further
information regarding a conference call in the near future. Any ideas
and expertise are welcome.

Thank you,
Domonique Lawless
dlawless86 at gmail.com


From chrisvinson1 at gmail.com  Tue Jan 10 23:36:57 2017
From: chrisvinson1 at gmail.com (Christopher Vinson)
Date: Tue, 10 Jan 2017 18:36:57 -0500
Subject: [Nfbv-announce] Fwd: Jan 16 Board Meeting / Richmond Seminar
 Preparation Agenda
In-Reply-To: <00d001d26b45$43b2c330$cb184990$@gmail.com>
References: <00d001d26b45$43b2c330$cb184990$@gmail.com>
Message-ID: <CAJnU-T=ABuSMw1dJfVnnRCU3HCH65PyznSKp+o2agobM18eauQ@mail.gmail.com>

*National Federation of the Blind of Virginia (NFBV)*

*Meeting of the Board of Directors*

Monday, January 16, 2017

1:00 P.M. - 4:00 P.M.



Virginia Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired

Library and Resource Center

395 Azalea Avenue

Richmond, Virginia 23227



        I.            Call to order and Invocation

      II.            Roll call of Members and introduction of guests

    III.            Reading & Approval of minutes from NFB of Virginia
Board of Directors Meeting November 11, 2016 ? Jennifer Shields, Recording
Secretary

    IV.            Treasurer's report - Mark Roane, Treasurer

      V.            Richmond Seminar ? Deepa Goraya and Jeanette Gholson,
Legislative Co-Chairs

A.      2017 issues - Derek Manners

B.      Team assignments - Deepa and Jeanette

    VI.            Upcoming 2017 Washington Seminar, Deepa Goraya

  VII.            Administrative issues

A.      All chapters should submit updated membership lists, including
email addresses

VIII.            2017 NFBV Committee Assignments and Reports

A.      Membership ? Sandy Halverson

B.      NFB of Virginia James Nelson Scholarship-  Brian Miller

C.      Public Outreach/Meet the Blind Month ? Corlis Jones and Uricka
Harrison

D.      Fundraising ? Domonique Lawless

E.       McDonald Fellowship Program-  Mary Durban

F.       BELL Program - Alex Castillo

G.     Chapter President Virtual Retreat- Uricka Harrison

H.      Convention Operations & Logistics ? Joe Orozco

I.        Communications ? Christopher Walker

    IX.            Divisions

A.      Students ? Robert Parsons

B.      Seniors ? nancy Yeager

C.      Parents ? Laurie Wages

D.      Guide Dog Users ? Michael Valentino

E.       Dual Sensory Impairment ? Valerie Luther

F.       Merchants ? Harold Wilson

      X.            2017 National Convention

A.      Dates and location; July 10- July 15 Orlando, FL ? Rosen Shingle
Creek

B.      Subsidies; Tracy

C.      Reminder of the need to have chapter pledges to:

1.       White Cane Fund

2.       Jacobus tenBroek Fund

3.       SUN

4.       Jernigan Fund

5.       NFB Camp.

    XI.            2017 NFBV Convention Plans ? Joe Orozco

  XII.            Longer Term Affiliate Planning ? Tracy Soforenko

XIII.            Topics for a Workshop for the May 2016 Board Meeting ?
Tracy Soforenko

XIV.            Why and How to access Some of our new national materials

  XV.            Other business

XVI.            Date and location of next Board meeting (May 6).





Tracy Soforenko

President, National Federation of the Blind of Virginia

202 285-4595 <(202)%20285-4595>

Tracy.soforenko at gmail.com


From chrisvinson1 at gmail.com  Thu Jan 12 14:32:50 2017
From: chrisvinson1 at gmail.com (Christopher Vinson)
Date: Thu, 12 Jan 2017 09:32:50 -0500
Subject: [Nfbv-announce] Fwd: Blind Parents Bill in Virginia Senate and
 House of Delegates
In-Reply-To: <00d001d26cd5$a9744950$fc5cdbf0$@gmail.com>
References: <00d001d26cd5$a9744950$fc5cdbf0$@gmail.com>
Message-ID: <CAJnU-TnhNMd9cwtodJFi0-zGbRDo_fO_0yWsP7NOO4+Ua4tk-A@mail.gmail.com>

Hello Virginia Federationists,



We are in a good position for next week?s Richmond Seminar. We have
identical bills in the Virginia House of Delegates and Virginia Senate
addressing the Civil Rights of Blind parents. Our team leaders have their
assignments and are making appointments for Tuesday, January 17.



House Bill (HB) 2273 (Patron Delegate David LaRock from Winchester)

https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?171+ful+HB2273



Senate Bill (SB) 1199 Patron Senator Barbara Favola from Arlington

http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?171+ful+SB1199

Our fact sheet is being finalized today and will be distributed tomorrow.
Additional articles will be distributed tomorrow.



Tracy Soforenko

President, National Federation of the Blind of Virginia

202 285-4595 <(202)%20285-4595>

Tracy.soforenko at gmail.com


From john_bailey17 at hotmail.com  Fri Jan 13 17:50:43 2017
From: john_bailey17 at hotmail.com (John Bailey)
Date: Fri, 13 Jan 2017 17:50:43 +0000
Subject: [Nfbv-announce] We do make a difference in Richmond. Read how we
 got a law passed.
Message-ID: <DM3PR15MB106600FB99FCF9BBC6F7FCCF8F780@DM3PR15MB1066.namprd15.prod.outlook.com>

By working with our Virginia Delegates and Senators, we got Newsline funded in Virginia. The NFBV (we) did that!

"DEL. PETERSEN'S TELEPHONIC READING SERVICES FOR THE BLIND BILL SIGNED INTO LAW"
http://cbcbvi.tripod.com/html/News/news8.htm

[Make your own free website on Tripod.com]<http://adtrack.ministerial5.com/clicknew/?a=637394>
DEL. PETERSEN'S TELEPHONIC READING SERVICES FOR THE BLIND BILL SIGNED INTO LAW

Tomorrow at his office in Richmond, Governor Mark Warner will sign into law Del. Chap Petersen's (D-Fairfax) HB 798, funding the Newsline(r) program which provides telephonic reading services for the blind.

Telephonic reading services are designed so that any person, specifically blind persons, can call into a voice telephone newspaper service (Newsline(r)) and pick among nearly 100 updated newspapers they would like to listen to.  The words from the chosen paper are transmitted through digital voice synthesis over the phone and are available by 7:00am each morning.

The idea for this bill was brought to Delegate Petersen by John Bailey, a constituent and member of the Fairfax Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind.  Del. Petersen offered the bill during the 2003 legislative session but was unsuccessful because the legislature would not agree to appropriate funds for the program.  "It was disheartening to watch the bill fail the first time, with the whole blind community supporting it," said Del. Petersen, "I was determined to go back to the drawing board and find a specific funding source so that there could be no excuse not to offer this service in Virginia."

Del. Petersen then offered the bill again in 2004 with funding coming from the telecommunications relay service.   Joe Bowman, the Commissioner for the Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired, on behalf of the Warner Administration, repeatedly testified in support of the bill.  In addition, the State Corporation Commission reported that the cost of Newsline(r) would not have a significant impact on the telecommunications relay service fund.

Members of the blind community from across the Commonwealth testified before committees on behalf of this bill.  Tomorrow their hard work will officially pay off when these same activists will join Del. Petersen, Joe Bowman, and Charlie Brown, President of the Virginia Foundation of the Blind, at Governor Warner's bill signing ceremony.

"Newsline is available in 36 states, and I am proud to finally be able to include Virginia in that group...something as common as having the ability to read the newspaper in the morning won't have to be out of the ordinary for our blind citizens anymore," Del. Petersen remarked.

Back to What's New<http://cbcbvi.tripod.com/html/News/whats_new.htm>
Back to Home<http://cbcbvi.tripod.com/html/News/index.htm>
[Make your own free website on Tripod.com]<http://adtrack.ministerial5.com/clicknew/?a=637394>

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From chrisvinson1 at gmail.com  Fri Jan 13 21:58:45 2017
From: chrisvinson1 at gmail.com (Christopher Vinson)
Date: Fri, 13 Jan 2017 16:58:45 -0500
Subject: [Nfbv-announce] Fwd: 2017 Richmond Seminar Priorities
In-Reply-To: <027701d26daf$98588c50$c909a4f0$@gmail.com>
References: <027701d26daf$98588c50$c909a4f0$@gmail.com>
Message-ID: <CAJnU-TkR_Rf-X=QLeqZ_LJMcwHhkLfGoKgUxtvdAJXjh81TMTQ@mail.gmail.com>

[image: Tracy Soforenko, President 1511 North Jackson Street Arlington, VA
22201 (202) 285 ? 4595 Tracy.soforenko at gmail.com]







*2017 LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES FROM THE BLIND OF VIRGINIA*



*Priority #1: Protect Civil Rights of Blind Parents.*



*Action:* *Co-patron HB 2273 / SB 1199 (Patron Delegate LaRock, 33rd
District and Patron Senator Favola, 31st District) *which creates stronger
protection under the law to eliminate the bias and discrimination that
blind persons face in court decisions regarding custody, visitation, foster
care, guardianship, or adoption.



*Issue: * With increasing frequency, blind parents in Virginia and across
the U.S. are enduring instances where their Constitutional right to raise a
family is being infringed. Competent blind parents have sometimes been
denied adoption, or have lost child custody on the basis of blindness.
Social service agencies are often asked to investigate to ensure that
children receive proper care and protection. Unfortunately, a prospective
parent's lack of vision often becomes the overriding factor used by the
courts and social service agencies when making decisions about the care of
children.



The National Federation of the Blind has documented thousands of cases of
blind people who are successfully raising children, many right here in
Virginia.  This vast experience demonstrates that blindness is not a
relevant factor in deciding whether a person is fit to be a parent. We have
represented many blind persons in child custody cases across the country,
as well as in other situations involving the care of children.
Unfortunately, blatant discrimination still occurs in too many of these
cases.  Even when no other problems were uncovered, blind parents were
forced to demonstrate their child-rearing capabilities beyond that
reasonably expected of sighted persons. The capabilities of blind
individuals to care for children are often brought into question even when
they had been successfully caring for their children for many years.



Despite improved technology, training, and support systems, myths about the
capacity of blind parents persist.  Even judges, social workers, and other
state employees are not immune from these latent biases.  Many of them have
never met a blind person and cannot imagine raising a child while having
limited or no sight.  Because of this lack of understanding, some of these
individuals miscalculate what is in the best interest of the child because
they underestimate the ability of a blind parent to raise a child using
alternative non-visual techniques.



*Solution:*  HB 2273 / SB 1199 will solve this problem by doing three
things.  First, it will establish, as a substantive right, that a parent?s
blindness will not serve as a basis for denial of rights when enforcing
those rights is in the best interest of the child.  Importantly, these new
protections will add to the protections in the Americans with Disabilities
Act, which only ensures an accessible court proceeding, by protecting the
substantive rights of blind parents to raise a family. Second, when a
parent?s blindness is alleged to have a detrimental impact on the child, it
will require clear and convincing evidence that that is actually the case
and that training in the alternative non-visual techniques would not
ameliorate the problem.  Finally, it will require ultimate decision makers
to put their findings in writing to ensure that they consider training
before deciding whether to break up existing families or prevent the
establishment of a new one.



*Priority #2:*  *Ensure That Blind Riders Are Not Excluded from Use of
Highly Autonomous Vehicles.*



*Issue:* Autonomous vehicles have the potential to tremendously increase or
decrease access to transportation for blind and low vision Virginians,
especially in rural parts of the Commonwealth. Autonomous vehicles are
already being tested in Phoenix, Pittsburgh, and elsewhere throughout the
United States.  Google?s autonomous vehicle was recently tested in Austin,
TX where a blind rider successfully rode alone in a vehicle without any
manual driving capabilities.  This technology could greatly increase a
blind person?s ability to travel independently, especially in areas without
public transportation.  Yet, many states are requiring passengers to have a
driver?s license to legally operate highly or fully autonomous vehicles.
This restriction will likely decrease access to transportation by
preventing blind passengers from even riding in a taxi or other vehicle for
hire such as an Uber or Lyft because these businesses are actively trying
to reduce costs by eliminating human drivers.  Therefore, requiring a
driver?s license to operate an autonomous vehicle could actually greatly
reduce or eliminate the only access blind passengers have to cars.



Importantly, ensuring that there will be no legal barrier to blind riders
operating highly or fully autonomous vehicles will also incentivize
manufacturers and developers to incorporate accessibility during the
initial design process. However, if blind riders are locked out of
autonomous cars, then manufacturers will have little incentive to develop
this new technology with our needs in mind, making it much more difficult
for us to ever gain access to this technology. Virginia must ensure that
any autonomous vehicle legislation ensures that there will be no legal
barrier preventing blind and low vision passengers from an equal
opportunity to operate autonomous vehicles.



*****



*ABOUT THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND*



The National Federation of the Blind is America?s largest and most active
organization of the blind. With more than 50,000 members, we are not an
?agency? claiming to speak for the blind; we are blind people speaking for
ourselves. In Virginia, we are organized into 11 local chapters throughout
the Commonwealth, and into various special interest divisions; including a
parents division. We are the only organization that believes in the full
capacity of blind people and because of that, we strive to transform dreams
into reality so that blind Virginians can live the lives we want.





Tracy Soforenko

President, National Federation of the Blind of Virginia

202 285-4595 <(202)%20285-4595>

Tracy.soforenko at gmail.com
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From chrisvinson1 at gmail.com  Sat Jan 14 17:48:56 2017
From: chrisvinson1 at gmail.com (Christopher Vinson)
Date: Sat, 14 Jan 2017 12:48:56 -0500
Subject: [Nfbv-announce] Fwd: Tuesday,
 January 31 Rally for Equal Access in Higher Education at US Capitol
In-Reply-To: <041101d26e0b$e5ab2560$b1017020$@gmail.com>
References: <041101d26e0b$e5ab2560$b1017020$@gmail.com>
Message-ID: <CAJnU-T=5uiEgVzpf4Sko6rZsUFiz13oH7Vg=SbxJ3oZn+4WdTA@mail.gmail.com>

Fellow Federationists,



What do we want? Equal access! When do we want it? Now! The time has come
to have high expectations for blind students in post-secondary educational
settings?we seek to aim high. For too long we have pushed and pulled and
fought with inaccessible technology, but we are no longer willing to
tolerate this inequality, so we say ?don?t deny.?



The United States Capitol Police have just confirmed our demonstration
permit for Tuesday, January 31, 2017, so if you have not already done so,
please make plans to attend our NFB student rally for equal access. I know
some of you will be unavailable due to scheduling conflicts, but I hope
that if you are planning to participate in our 2017 Washington Seminar, and
will not be in an appointment during this time, that you will join us to
demand equal access for blind students in classrooms nationwide. If you
know of blind students or interested supporters who will not be
participating in Washington Seminar, please encourage them to join us to
aim high for blind students on January 31.



We?ll gather at the Upper Senate Park, located on the west side of the
Russell Senate Office Building along Constitution Avenue, between Delaware
and New Jersey Avenue, and our rally will begin promptly at 12:00 p.m. No
one moves a policy agenda like the National Federation of the Blind, and I
am confident that with our love, hope, and determination, we will encourage
members of Congress to promptly move our AIM HE legislation along with all
of our other legislative priorities for 2017. It?s time for Congress to
#DontDenyAimHigh!



Spread the word: Let?s have the largest gathering of blind students ever on
the capitol grounds. Let?s demonstrate to all the importance of this issue.
If you have questions about the rally, please contact Gabe Cazares at
gcazares at nfb.org or 410-659-9314, extension 2206 <(410)%20659-9314>.



Mark A. Riccobono

President

200 East Wells Street, Baltimore, MD 21230

(410) 659-9314 | officeofthepresident at nfb.org





[image: National Federation of the Blind] <https://nfb.org/>



                         [image: Facebook]
<http://www.facebook.com/nationalfederationoftheblind>    [image: Twitter]
<https://twitter.com/NFB_Voice>    [image: Youtube]
<https://www.youtube.com/NationsBlind>



The National Federation of the Blind is a community of members and friends
who believe in the hopes and dreams of the nation?s blind. Every day we
work together to help blind people live the lives they want.
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_______________________________________________
State-Affiliate-Leadership-List mailing list
State-Affiliate-Leadership-List at nfbnet.org
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/state-affiliate-leadership-list_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for State-Affiliate-Leadership-List:
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/state-affiliate-leadership-list_nfbnet.org/tracy.soforenko%40gmail.com

From chrisvinson1 at gmail.com  Sun Jan 15 01:25:50 2017
From: chrisvinson1 at gmail.com (Christopher Vinson)
Date: Sat, 14 Jan 2017 20:25:50 -0500
Subject: [Nfbv-announce] Fwd: Washington Seminar Interactive Workshop: MANY
 COMMUNICATE- FEW CONNECT on Sunday, 1/29/2017
In-Reply-To: <00a301d26eac$91728f00$b457ad00$@gmail.com>
References: <009201d26eab$6440ff90$2cc2feb0$@gmail.com>
	<00a301d26eac$91728f00$b457ad00$@gmail.com>
Message-ID: <CAJnU-Tk0ukaSf84gmetwYGhsFpnMcz84ad7Y3To3TPO984U-gQ@mail.gmail.com>

Even if you can?t join us for the legislative appointments during
Washington seminar, this Sunday (1/29) program held at the Holiday Inn
Capitol should be very valuable. You do not need to attend Washington
Seminar to participate in this program.

*?MANY COMMUNICATE- FEW CONNECT?*



?Don?t miss this unique opportunity for professional development. Whether
you are a student, a young professional, or well along in your career, you
will benefit immensely from these two workshops.?

Rules of Engagement - If you have ever been stymied by the prospect of
attending a networking event or a reception, you?re not alone. Walking into
a room filled with dozens of people who you have never before met can be
overwhelming for new entrants to the workforce and established
professionals alike. This program will give you ten ?rules? that will help
you make the most of any Washington D.C. business-social event, including
how to prepare for and navigate the events, and most importantly, how to
follow up and build relationships with your new important contacts.



Communicating with Style - Some studies suggest that fully 85% of your
success is directly linked to your ability to effectively communicate. Yet,
few professionals receive any formal training in basic communication
skills. This highly interactive 90-minute program is an introduction to
communication styles. Because your communication style is based, in part,
on your behavioral style preference, we?ll use the DISC assessment tool to
help you identify your individual behavioral style preference. Then, we?ll
turn our attention to the people with whom you work and give you some clues
to help you identify their behavioral style preferences, too. Highlighting
points of commonality and potential conflict, we?ll focus on adjustments
that you can make to enhance your communications with others.



Mary R. Crane. Esq.



A graduate of George Washington University's National Law Center, Mary
Crane practiced law and lobbied in Washington D.C. for nearly ten years.
Working first for the American Petroleum Institute and then with the
American Heart Association, Crane specialized in non-profit tax issues. In
the early 1990s she decided to pursue her life-long fascinations in food
and wine. With these interests in mind, she spent two years exploring the
world of gastronomy at the prestigious Culinary Institute of America, from
which she graduated with honors. Crane further gained certification as a
sommelier from the Court of Master Sommeliers London, England. Immediately
thereafter, she began work as an assistant chef at the White House. Crane left
the professional kitchen and approached law firms with her innovative
program, "The Rules of Engagement." That seminar provided participants with
the rules they needed to successfully work receptions and navigate the more
formal dining setting.



Since then, Crane has expanded the training programs she offers to include
many of the other practical business skills all professionals need to
succeed. Her programs cover a broad range of skill sets including: getting
the most out of networking events and receptions, managing business lunches
and dinners, communicating effectively via paper or e-mail, interacting
effectively with other behavioral styles at work, bridging the generation
and gender gaps, and working ethically. Crane?s clients include many
Fortune 500 companies and more than 50% of the AmLaw100.  She is a frequent
speaker at national conferences, and has appeared on 60 Minutes, Fox
Business News, and ABC Radio. She makes monthly guest appearances on Let?s
Talk Live, a Washington, D.C. televised ABC-affiliate program. Crane has
also been quoted extensively in a variety of print and electronic media,
including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes.com,
Fortune.com, and CNN.com



This highly-anticipated seminar will take place on Sunday, January 29, 2017
at the Holiday Inn Capitol located on 550 C Street SW Washington DC in the
House Room to be held at 3:00 to 6:15pm.

Please join us with this world renown speaker who will be offering her
expertise at a nominal fee of $15 for each 90-minute session or $20 for
both.

Sponsored by the Potomac Chapter/National Federation of the Blind of
Virginia and the DC Affiliate.



Facilitated by Mary Crane, Esq.,?creator of the *100 Things You Need To
Know* book series, which provides people entering the workforce with
crucial information in easy-to-absorb, almost tweetable chunks. The series
currently includes *Starting Work* and *Networking.*



mary at marycrane.com



https://www.linkedin.com/in/mary-crane-2003939

 Tracy Soforenko

President, National Federation of the Blind of Virginia

202 285-4595 <(202)%20285-4595>

Tracy.soforenko at gmail.com
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From alexandera.castillo at gmail.com  Tue Jan 17 15:31:40 2017
From: alexandera.castillo at gmail.com (Alexander Castillo)
Date: Tue, 17 Jan 2017 10:31:40 -0500
Subject: [Nfbv-announce] donated Low vision magnifying devices and
 software looking for a good home
In-Reply-To: <DM3PR15MB106649BA4803F058177A75988F640@DM3PR15MB1066.namprd15.prod.outlook.com>
References: <DM3PR15MB106649BA4803F058177A75988F640@DM3PR15MB1066.namprd15.prod.outlook.com>
Message-ID: <CAE-zYLtcj_=MhoM6zjdtMXmEJcGjQS-Du26DehYOeu-tw9pH4A@mail.gmail.com>

Hello all, I've a client  in need of a donated CCtv . Any leads on one
please let me know.

Also, as I in the area, I can take some of these devices off your
hands and provide them to DBVI clients.

Thanks and have a terrific day,
Alex Castillo
917.532.7439.

On 1/9/17, John Bailey via NFBV-Announce <nfbv-announce at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> Dawne has several low vision devices and software products she would like to
> donate to members of our organization. Below is a list of most of the items
> she has to offer.  Please look it over and contact her if any of them would
> be of help to you. The goal is to put these devices into the hands of those
> who can get the most out of them.
>
> From: Dawne Hanlin
> Email: Dawne.Hanlin at sprint.com
>
> I am located in Sterling VA near Dulles Airport.  I want to donate these
> items to individuals who can put them to use.
> My family has a number of low vision aides we would like to donate for use
> by other low vision individuals:
>
> 3 magnifiers, maxTV glasses, Zoom Text 9.1, Zoom Text 10, Zoom Text keyboard
> & software.
> 2 sun shade glasses (one brown, one yellow lenses)
> 1 telescoping walking cane & case
> Magnifier reading glasses (unsure of strength, but incredibly thick lenses)
>
> Several of these items are obviously expensive and fragile.
>
> Please contact Dawne Directly via email for more information or to make
> arrangements to pick up items.
>
>
>



From chrisvinson1 at gmail.com  Thu Jan 19 11:33:48 2017
From: chrisvinson1 at gmail.com (Christopher Vinson)
Date: Thu, 19 Jan 2017 06:33:48 -0500
Subject: [Nfbv-announce] =?utf-8?q?National_Federation_of_the_Blind_Commen?=
	=?utf-8?q?ts_on_Secretary_o_f_Education_Nominee_Betsy_DeVos?=
	=?utf-8?q?=E2=80=99_Remarks_Regarding_the_Individuals_with_Disabil?=
	=?utf-8?q?ities_Education_Act?=
Message-ID: <CAJnU-TkZc+QF_Tj7R6Ny4ORxHC7_VMM7Lboy97ywksNUeyYaLA@mail.gmail.com>

*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT:*Chris Danielsen
Director of Public Relations
National Federation of the Blind
(410) 659-9314, extension 2330 <(410)%20659-9314>
(410) 262-1281 (Cell)


*National Federation of the Blind Comments on Secretary of Education
Nominee Betsy DeVos??? Remarks Regarding the Individuals with Disabilities
Education Act Baltimore, Maryland (January 18, 2017):* The National
Federation of the Blind, the nation's leading advocate for the equal
education of blind students, commented today on responses given by
President-elect Donald J. Trump???s nominee for Secretary of Education,
Betsy DeVos, at her confirmation hearing yesterday regarding the
obligations of schools under the federal Individuals with Disabilities
Education Act (IDEA).

Mark A. Riccobono, President of the National Federation of the Blind, said:
"The National Federation of the Blind believes that all blind students,
regardless of where they attend school, are entitled to equal educational
opportunities, and that the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and
its implementing regulations are clear on this point. Sadly, all too often
schools across the country fail to meet their federal obligations to the
blind and other students with disabilities, and so it is critical that the
Department of Education continues to enforce IDEA's requirements. We
therefore call upon Betsy DeVos to publicly commit that she will, if
confirmed, vigorously enforce IDEA and take all other necessary measures to
protect the rights of students who are blind or who have other disabilities
throughout our nation. As a father of two blind children and President of
the National Federation of the Blind, I am well aware that innovation is
sorely needed in educational services provided to blind children, and we
are prepared to work closely with our nation???s educational leaders to
raise the standards of excellence for the blind in our schools.??


* ###*


*About the National Federation of the Blind*
The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the
characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the
expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles
between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life you want;
blindness is not what holds you back.


From chrisvinson1 at gmail.com  Thu Jan 19 11:36:00 2017
From: chrisvinson1 at gmail.com (Christopher Vinson)
Date: Thu, 19 Jan 2017 06:36:00 -0500
Subject: [Nfbv-announce] Washington Seminar Social Media
Message-ID: <CAJnU-TnLFuKqrSvA5obiaLO5mJRUoyY6Z_UqP-tNaNtLRZ16dA@mail.gmail.com>

Howdy Fellow Federationists,



The 2017 Washington Seminar is less than two weeks away! As we prepare to
take the hill by storm, we wanted to share the following social media tips
and tricks our Communications Team has developed to maximize our impact and
messaging prior to, and during our time in Washington DC.


Hashtags

?        Washington Seminar: #NFBWS17

?        Marrakesh Treaty: #MarrakeshTreaty

?        AIM HE Act: #dontdenyaimhigh

?        NLS Appropriation for the Purchase of Refreshable Braille Devices:
#NLSBRL

?        The Access Technology Affordability Act: #ATAA


What to Tweet

?        Thank you messages to members of Congress after meetings

o   Example: Thank you, @RepCummings, for meeting with the @NFBMD this
afternoon #NFBWS17 (photo: Rep. Cummings, Sharon Maneki, Gabe Cazares
smiling)

?        Photos of the group smiling after your meeting

?        Positive messages about the issues being discussed

o   Example: Excited about discussing #MarrakeshTreaty & the importance of
removing barriers to access of published works w/ @ChrisVanHollen #NFBWS17


What else to do

?        Send to Melissa Kroeger, mkroeger at nfb.org, any photos and videos
you?d like to share. Please note that your photos and videos may be
reposted on NFB social media accounts.

If you have any questions, please contact Melissa via email or by calling
the national center; her extension is 2207.



Looking forward to building the Federation alongside all of you at #NFBWS17!

Best,



...Gabe



Gabe Cazares

Government Affairs Specialist

200 East Wells Street, Baltimore, MD 21230

(410) 659-9314, extension 2206 <(410)%20659-9314> | gcazares at nfb.org

Twitter: @gmcazares


From markwroane at gmail.com  Thu Jan 19 19:56:32 2017
From: markwroane at gmail.com (Mark W. Roane)
Date: Thu, 19 Jan 2017 14:56:32 -0500
Subject: [Nfbv-announce] Reimbursement Request Form
Message-ID: <004101d2728e$22309f20$6691dd60$@gmail.com>

Attached is the most recent Reimbursement Request Form.

Complete the form electronically and e-mail to markwroane at gmail.com
<mailto:markwroane at gmail.com> 

Then, if you have receipts,

Print the form, include all receipts and mail to:

 

NFB of Virginia

3230 Grove Avenue

Richmond, VA  23221

 

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From chrisvinson1 at gmail.com  Fri Jan 20 00:03:54 2017
From: chrisvinson1 at gmail.com (Christopher Vinson)
Date: Thu, 19 Jan 2017 19:03:54 -0500
Subject: [Nfbv-announce] Washington Seminar Interactive Workshop: MANY
 COMMUNICATE- FEW CONNECT on Sunday, 1/29/2017
Message-ID: <CAJnU-Tmubu3D7-KW4DojduXY=e_g2QOnoV2QQyYbA5x-=4SzjQ@mail.gmail.com>

Even if you can?t join us for the legislative appointments during
Washington seminar, this Sunday (1/29) program held at the Holiday Inn
Capitol should be very valuable. You do not need to attend Washington
Seminar to participate in this program.

*?MANY COMMUNICATE- FEW CONNECT?*



?Don?t miss this unique opportunity for professional development. Whether
you are a student, a young professional, or well along in your career, you
will benefit immensely from these two workshops.?

Rules of Engagement - If you have ever been stymied by the prospect of
attending a networking event or a reception, you?re not alone. Walking into
a room filled with dozens of people who you have never before met can be
overwhelming for new entrants to the workforce and established
professionals alike. This program will give you ten ?rules? that will help
you make the most of any Washington D.C. business-social event, including
how to prepare for and navigate the events, and most importantly, how to
follow up and build relationships with your new important contacts.



Communicating with Style - Some studies suggest that fully 85% of your
success is directly linked to your ability to effectively communicate. Yet,
few professionals receive any formal training in basic communication
skills. This highly interactive 90-minute program is an introduction to
communication styles. Because your communication style is based, in part,
on your behavioral style preference, we?ll use the DISC assessment tool to
help you identify your individual behavioral style preference. Then, we?ll
turn our attention to the people with whom you work and give you some clues
to help you identify their behavioral style preferences, too. Highlighting
points of commonality and potential conflict, we?ll focus on adjustments
that you can make to enhance your communications with others.



Mary R. Crane. Esq.



A graduate of George Washington University's National Law Center, Mary
Crane practiced law and lobbied in Washington D.C. for nearly ten years.
Working first for the American Petroleum Institute and then with the
American Heart Association, Crane specialized in non-profit tax issues. In
the early 1990s she decided to pursue her life-long fascinations in food
and wine. With these interests in mind, she spent two years exploring the
world of gastronomy at the prestigious Culinary Institute of America, from
which she graduated with honors. Crane further gained certification as a
sommelier from the Court of Master Sommeliers London, England. Immediately
thereafter, she began work as an assistant chef at the White House. Crane left
the professional kitchen and approached law firms with her innovative
program, "The Rules of Engagement." That seminar provided participants with
the rules they needed to successfully work receptions and navigate the more
formal dining setting.



Since then, Crane has expanded the training programs she offers to include
many of the other practical business skills all professionals need to
succeed. Her programs cover a broad range of skill sets including: getting
the most out of networking events and receptions, managing business lunches
and dinners, communicating effectively via paper or e-mail, interacting
effectively with other behavioral styles at work, bridging the generation
and gender gaps, and working ethically. Crane?s clients include many
Fortune 500 companies and more than 50% of the AmLaw100.  She is a frequent
speaker at national conferences, and has appeared on 60 Minutes, Fox
Business News, and ABC Radio. She makes monthly guest appearances on Let?s
Talk Live, a Washington, D.C. televised ABC-affiliate program. Crane has
also been quoted extensively in a variety of print and electronic media,
including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes.com,
Fortune.com, and CNN.com



This highly-anticipated seminar will take place on Sunday, January 29, 2017 at
the Holiday Inn Capitol located on 550 C Street SW Washington DC in the
House Room to be held at 3:00 to 6:15pm.

Please join us with this world renown speaker who will be offering her
expertise at a nominal fee of $15 for each 90-minute session or $20 for
both.

Sponsored by the Potomac Chapter/National Federation of the Blind of
Virginia and the DC Affiliate.



Facilitated by Mary Crane, Esq.,?  creator of the *100 Things You Need To
Know* book series, which provides people entering the workforce with
crucial information in easy-to-absorb, almost tweetable chunks. The series
currently includes *Starting Work* and *Networking.*



mary at marycrane.com



https://www.linkedin.com/in/mary-crane-2003939




Tracy Soforenko

President, National Federation of the Blind of Virginia

202 285-4595 <(202)%20285-4595>

Tracy.soforenko at gmail.com


From chrisvinson1 at gmail.com  Fri Jan 20 03:12:05 2017
From: chrisvinson1 at gmail.com (Christopher Vinson)
Date: Thu, 19 Jan 2017 22:12:05 -0500
Subject: [Nfbv-announce] Link to NFB's 2017 Washington Seminar page.
Message-ID: <CAJnU-TmrqWGb65wLqbAL+UyQQ8VAejnH3T1Jam1kVP1K0shhWQ@mail.gmail.com>

Hello NFBV Family,

Below is the link to the NFB's 2017 Washington Seminar webpage:

https://nfb.org/washington-seminar

This page includes additional links to the:

   - Agenda
   - Legislative Agenda and Fact Sheets
   - Frequently Asked Questions for New NFB Members
   - Highlights from Previous Years
   - Room Rates and Reservations
   - Restaurants and Menus


From tracy.soforenko at gmail.com  Sun Jan 22 19:54:17 2017
From: tracy.soforenko at gmail.com (Tracy Soforenko)
Date: Sun, 22 Jan 2017 14:54:17 -0500
Subject: [Nfbv-announce] 2017 Washington Seminar Agenda , Fact Sheets,
 & Frequently Asked questions
Message-ID: <011001d274e9$50c140d0$f243c270$@gmail.com>

Hi Virginia Federationists,

 

Washington Seminar is next week. There are a great set of Federationists
from Virginia participating but we can gladly accommodate more.

 

Even if you can't do the legislative advocacy during the day on Tuesday and
Wednesday, we still invite you to participate in the career /networking
seminars , film screenings, student rally, seminars for students and parents
of blind children, fitness activities, and legislative receptions.

The full agenda can be found at:

 

https://nfb.org/washington-seminar-agenda

 

for our issues, you can find the fact sheets and frequently asked questions
at the below address:

 

https://nfb.org/washington-seminar 

 

Tracy Soforenko

President, National Federation of the Blind of Virginia

202 285-4595

Tracy.soforenko at gmail.com <mailto:Tracy.soforenko at gmail.com> 

 

 



From tracy.soforenko at gmail.com  Sun Jan 22 23:24:19 2017
From: tracy.soforenko at gmail.com (Tracy Soforenko)
Date: Sun, 22 Jan 2017 18:24:19 -0500
Subject: [Nfbv-announce] Monday (1/30) Student Seminar as part of Washington
 seminar
Message-ID: <01af01d27506$a7f54b90$f7dfe2b0$@gmail.com>

From: Robert Parsons [mailto:rob.parso3389 at gmail.com] 



Greetings Federationists and Students

 

As we get closer to Washington Seminar, I would like to take time to urge
you all to try to attend the excellent student seminar that will take place
on Monday, January 30, 2017. This seminar will allow students the chance to
understand all the legislative topics being discussed at Washington Seminar
and the position that the National Federation of the Blind will be taking
this year. As a bonus, you will get a chance to hear from student division
members and leaders nationwide about what AIMHEA means and how it affects
each student in attendance. During this seminar, there will be a panel
discussion with student division presidents (myself included) that have
worked in Disability Student Services offices that will provide insight to
how accessible materials play an integral part in the success of a student
and the lack thereof plays a part in that student's inability to pass a
class. All the information will be useful for both students that are
advocating for themselves during the seminar as well as affiliate members
that will be meeting with their elected officials next week.

 

The student seminar hosted by the National Association of Blind Students
will begin at 10am sharp at the Holiday Inn Capital. To assure a seminar
that will be ran per schedule, please preregister online at www.nabslink.org
<http://www.nabslink.org> . If you have any questions about this seminar or
other student events, please feel free to call me at 804 200 3275 or send me
an email at rob.parso3389 at gmail.com <mailto:rob.parso3389 at gmail.com> . I
look forward to seeing you all in Washington, D.C.

 

Best Regards

 

Robert E. Parsons Jr.

President

Virginia Association of Blind Students

National Federation of the Blind of Virginia (NFBV)

Phone: 804 200 3275

 



From chrisvinson1 at gmail.com  Mon Jan 23 23:05:50 2017
From: chrisvinson1 at gmail.com (Chris Walker)
Date: Mon, 23 Jan 2017 18:05:50 -0500
Subject: [Nfbv-announce] Fwd: For Distribution: NFBV Senior Division January
 Conference Call
In-Reply-To: <001e01d2758f$ae62a840$0b27f8c0$@net>
References: <001e01d2758f$ae62a840$0b27f8c0$@net>
Message-ID: <CAJnU-TnMavSLdHwyCY7+y=_9P5M2zDdADFoG=p7NiPi4EYuECQ@mail.gmail.com>

This is a reminder that the NFBV Senior Division will hold the next monthly
conference call meeting on Wednesday, January 25, from 7:00 to 8:00 PM
eastern time.



Our guest speaker will be Mary Ann Robinson, VICE President, NFB Human
Services Division.  Mary Ann is a Clinical Social Worker with 37 years of
experience.  She will speak on: ?Depression: Signs, Symptoms and
Management.?



Call-in numbers are below:



Dial - (712) 432-1500
Enter Access Code ? 830676 followed by the pound sign, (key to the right of
the 0).



If you have any questions, please call:  (703) 283-2524 or email:
nfbvseniors at gmail.com.



Nancy Yeager, President,

NFBV Senior Division


From michaelgkasey at verizon.net  Sat Jan 28 17:25:14 2017
From: michaelgkasey at verizon.net (Michael Kasey)
Date: Sat, 28 Jan 2017 12:25:14 -0500
Subject: [Nfbv-announce] Passing of Christopher Walker's Mother
Message-ID: <000701d2798b$7d209cb0$7761d610$@verizon.net>

We regret to inform you of the passing of Christopher Walker's Mother.

 

Final services are tomorrow in Williamsburg, Virginia (detail below)

 

Please keep Christopher, his Mother and the entire family in your prayers.

 

Michael

 

Ruth Blevins

Cross walk church

5100 John Tyler Highway

Williamsburg, VA 23185

The service is this Sunday, January 29, 2017 at 2 PM. 



From tracy.soforenko at gmail.com  Mon Jan 30 13:12:59 2017
From: tracy.soforenko at gmail.com (Tracy Soforenko)
Date: Mon, 30 Jan 2017 08:12:59 -0500
Subject: [Nfbv-announce] Fwd: Team Assignments, Instructions,
 and Appointments for Washington Seminar. Please read if you are
 attending Washington Seminar.
References: <D7F3A080-AAAD-4F44-A8A9-5979C6436B81@gmail.com>
Message-ID: <FEAB5879-85FA-46F4-B427-2A0E6AAA2B40@gmail.com>

Please read

Tracy Soforenko 
Tracy.soforenko at gmail.com
202-285-4595

Begin forwarded message:

> From: Derek Manners <derekmanners at gmail.com>
> Date: January 30, 2017 at 7:21:47 AM EST
> To: Tracy Soforenko <Tracy.soforenko at gmail.com>
> Subject: Team Assignments, Instructions, and Appointments for Washington Seminar. Please read if you are attending Washington Seminar.
> 
> Hi NFBV, thank you all for your willingness to help out with legislative meetings. 
> 
> Below please find group assignments and appointments. Groups 1-3 are made up of people attending meeting on Tuesday. Groups 4-5 are made up of groups of people with meetings on Wednesday.  The group leader is listed first with cell phone number provided. Anybody in their group should call the team leader and figure out where and when to meet to go over to Capital Hill by no later than 7 p.m. the night before the meetings. Typically you meet an hour or so before the first appointment somewhere near the lobby or Starbucks in the hotel. If you have trouble connecting with your group leader or have questions, please call Earl Everett at (804) 252-8998. If he's unavailable then call Tracy Soforenko at (202) 285-4595. 
> 
> Team leaders, if you haven't heard from someone in your group by 7 p.m. the night before your meetings, please let Derek Manners know at 903-271-6494 and he will make sure you are connected. 
> 
> We have two additional meetings that may be made so team leaders keep an eye on your email throughout today. 
> 
> If anyone's planned meetings interfere with travel, attendance, or prior engagements, let Derek Manners know at 9032716494 and we will do our best to move folks around. 
> 
> Abbreviations for the buildings are CHOB: Cannon House Office Building, LHOB: Longworth House Office Building, RHOB: Rayburn House Office Building, HSOB: Hart Senate Office Building, DSOB: Dirksen Senate Building, and RSOB: Russel Senate Office Building. 
> 
> Tuesday Groups
> 
> Group 1 
> 
> Mark Roane: 308-243-6445
> Melody Roane
> Sarah Bloomberg
> Nathan and Donna Branch
> David Bagget
> Evelyn Valdez
> 
> 9:00 am: Rep. Barbara Comstock- Meeting with Ryan McManus, Legislative Assistant, CHOB 229
> 
> 1:30 P.M. Rep. Dave Brat LHOB 1628 Meeting with Hugh Fike tentative to be confirmed. 
> 
> Group 2
> 
> Fred Schroeder: 703-901-0887
> Sean McMahon
> Tasha Hubbard
> Joe Orozco
> Tabatha Mitchell
> Robert Parsons
> 
> 11:30 am: Rep. Thomas Garrett-Meeting with Kevin Reynolds, Chief of Staff or Nicholas O?Boyle, Legislative Director or Andrew Griffin, Deputy Chief of Staff CHOB 415
> 
> Meeting with Senator Tim Kaine still to be determined on exact time Tuesday afternoon. 
> 
> Anyone that does not have a meeting on Tuesday that would like to attend the Senate meeting, please contact Derek Manners at 903-271-6494 and he will give you further details. 
> 
> Group 3
> 
> Charlie Brown: 703 300-5870
> Michael Casey
> Mark Ross
> Rachel McDonald
> Alex Castillo
> Jessica Reed
> Dominique Lawless
> 
> 2:00 pm: Rep. Rob Witman-Meeting with Congressman Wittman RHOB 2055
> 
> 3:30 pm: Rep. Bob Goodlatte-Meeting with Lindsay Black, Legislative Director RHOB 2309
> 
> Group NFBV
> 
> Everyone that is not tied up in a prior engagement is highly encouraged to attend the Congressional Reception from 5:00 PM ? 7:00 PM in Dirksen G50. Several members do have prior engagements or can't attend due to travel so please come if you are here. We are expecting at least two members of Congress from Virginia there. 
> 
> Wednesday Groups
> 
> Group 4
> 
> Tracy Soferonko: (202) 285-4595
> Billie Ruth Schlank
> Joe Hobson
> Michael Kitchens
> Arielle Silverman
> Derek Manners (maybe)
> 
> 10 am: but trying to move up a little, Rep. Robert Scott-Meeting with Kimberly Knackstedt, Disability Policy Advisor LHOB 1201
> 
> 10:30 am: Senator Mark Warner-Meeting with Lauren Marshall, Legislative Aide RSOB 475
> 
> Similarly, anyone that is here and that does not have meetings on Wednesday and that would like to attend the Senate meeting, please contact Derek Manners at 9032716494 for further details. 
> 
> 3:30 pm: Rep. Don Beyer-Meeting with Congressman Beyer LHOB 1119
> 
> Group 5 
> 
> Charlie Brown: 703 300-5870
> David Bagget
> Earl Everett
> Jeannette Gholson
> Portia Baskerville
> Uricka Harrison
> 
> 10:15 am: Rep. Donald McEachin-Meeting with Cody McClellen, Legislative Director or Keenan Austin, Deputy Chief of Staff CHOB 314
> 
> 11:00 am: Rep. Morgan Griffith-Meeting with Kristen Seum, Legislative Counsel RHOB 2202


From tracy.soforenko at gmail.com  Mon Jan 30 21:26:45 2017
From: tracy.soforenko at gmail.com (Tracy Soforenko)
Date: Mon, 30 Jan 2017 16:26:45 -0500
Subject: [Nfbv-announce] Fwd: Update: Team Assignments, Instructions,
 and Appointments for Washington Seminar. Please read if you are
 attending Washington Seminar.
References: <7C6F8880-A7CD-4DDB-9E8F-57743D6B9F81@jd16.law.harvard.edu>
Message-ID: <CF955B1F-8BFC-4D01-8CBB-98DF5F9DE1AF@gmail.com>

Please note that teams and meeting assignments and phone numbers have changed.
Please connect with your team leader right away. Finally, the team and that was formally run by Fred Schroeder on Tuesday will be run by Tracy Soforenko
We apologize but we've booked additional appointments and the legislators have asked for schedule changes.

Tracy Soforenko 
Tracy.soforenko at gmail.com
202-285-4595

Begin forwarded message:

> From: Derek Manners <dmanners at jd16.law.harvard.edu>
> Date: January 30, 2017 at 3:28:40 PM EST
> To: Tracy Soforenko <Tracy.soforenko at gmail.com>
> Subject: Update: Team Assignments, Instructions, and Appointments for Washington Seminar. Please read if you are attending Washington Seminar.
> 
>> Hi NFBV, thank you all for your willingness to help out with legislative meetings. 
>> 
>> Below please find group assignments and appointments. Groups 1-3 are made up of people attending meeting on Tuesday. Groups 4-5 are made up of groups of people with meetings on Wednesday.  The group leader is listed first with cell phone number provided. Notre, we had the incorrect area code for Mark Roane. Also, Tracy is leading Group 2 instead of Fred. We've also added a few meetings and adjusted 1 meeting time. Anybody in their group should call the team leader and figure out where and when to meet to go over to Capital Hill by no later than 7 p.m. the night before the meetings. Typically you meet an hour or so before the first appointment somewhere near the lobby or Starbucks in the hotel. If you have trouble connecting with your group leader or have questions, please call Earl Everett at (804) 252-8998. If he's unavailable then call Tracy Soforenko at (202) 285-4595. 
>> 
>> Team leaders, if you haven't heard from someone in your group by 7 p.m. the night before your meetings, please let Derek Manners know at 903-271-6494 and he will make sure you are connected. 
>> 
>> If anyone's planned meetings interfere with travel, attendance, or prior engagements, let Derek Manners know at 9032716494 and we will do our best to move folks around. 
>> 
>> Abbreviations for the buildings are CHOB: Cannon House Office Building, LHOB: Longworth House Office Building, RHOB: Rayburn House Office Building, HSOB: Hart Senate Office Building, DSOB: Dirksen Senate Building, and RSOB: Russel Senate Office Building. 
> 
> If anyone has free time and would like to attend the senate meeting on Tuesday or Wednesday, we'd love to have you. The more folks we have at the meeting, the better. 
>> 
>> Tuesday Groups
>> 
>> Group 1 
>> 
>> Mark Roane: 318-243-6445
>> Melody Roane
>> Sarah Bloomberg
>> Nathan and Donna Branch
>> David Bagget
>> Evelyn Valdez
>> 
>> 9:00 am: Rep. Barbara Comstock- Meeting with Ryan McManus, Legislative Assistant, CHOB 229
>> 
> 10 
> 
>> 1:30 P.M. Rep. Dave Brat LHOB 1628 Meeting with Hugh Fike. 
>> 
>> Group 2
>> 
>> Tracy Soferonko: (202) 285-4595
>> Sean McMahon
>> Tasha Hubbard
>> Joe Orozco
>> Tabatha Mitchell
>> Robert Parsons
> 
> 10 A.M. Rep. Gerry Connolly
> 2238 Rayburn HOB meeting with Lauren Covington
>> 
>> 11:30 am: Rep. Thomas Garrett-Meeting with Kevin Reynolds, Chief of Staff or Nicholas O?Boyle, Legislative Director or Andrew Griffin, Deputy Chief of Staff CHOB 415
> 
>> 
> 3 P.M. Senator Tim Kaine with Evan McWalters | Legislative Correspondent, other staffers, and possibly Senator Kaine for 5-10 minutes. 
>> 
>> Anyone that does not have a meeting on Tuesday that would like to attend the Senate meeting, please contact Derek Manners at 903-271-6494 and he will give you further details. 
>> 
>> Group 3
>> 
>> Charlie Brown: 703 300-5870
>> Michael Casey
>> Mark Ross
>> Rachel McDonald
>> Alex Castillo
>> Jessica Reed
>> Dominique Lawless
>> 
>> 2:00 pm: Rep. Rob Witman-Meeting with Congressman Wittman RHOB 2055
>> 
>> 3:30 pm: Rep. Bob Goodlatte-Meeting with Lindsay Black, Legislative Director RHOB 2309
>> 
>> Group NFBV
>> 
>> Everyone that is not tied up in a prior engagement is highly encouraged to attend the Congressional Reception from 5:00 PM ? 7:00 PM in Dirksen G50. Several members do have prior engagements or can't attend due to travel so please come if you are here. We are expecting at least two members of Congress from Virginia there. 
>> 
>> Wednesday Groups
>> 
>> Group 4
>> 
>> Tracy Soferonko: (202) 285-4595
>> Billie Ruth Schlank
>> Joe Hobson
>> Michael Kitchens
>> Arielle Silverman
>> Derek Manners (maybe)
>> 
>> 9:30 am: Rep. Robert Scott-Meeting with Kimberly Knackstedt, Disability Policy Advisor LHOB 1201
>> 
>> 10:30 am: Senator Mark Warner-Meeting with Lauren Marshall, Legislative Aide RSOB 475
>> 
>> Similarly, anyone that is here and that does not have meetings on Wednesday and that would like to attend the Senate meeting, please contact Derek Manners at 9032716494 for further details. 
>> 
>> 11:30 pm: Rep. Don Beyer-Meeting with Congressman Beyer LHOB 1119
>> 
>> Group 5 
>> 
>> Charlie Brown: 703 300-5870
>> David Bagget
>> Earl Everett
>> Jeannette Gholson
>> Portia Baskerville
>> Uricka Harrison
>> 
>> 10:15 am: Rep. Donald McEachin-Meeting with Cody McClellen, Legislative Director or Keenan Austin, Deputy Chief of Staff CHOB 314
>> 
>> 11:00 am: Rep. Morgan Griffith-Meeting with Kristen Seum, Legislative Counsel RHOB 2202
> 
> 11:30 A.M. Jason Ragar | Legislative Assistant
> Congressman Scott Taylor (VA-02) 412 Cannon House Office Building


From tracy.soforenko at gmail.com  Tue Jan 31 05:52:38 2017
From: tracy.soforenko at gmail.com (Tracy Soforenko)
Date: Tue, 31 Jan 2017 00:52:38 -0500
Subject: [Nfbv-announce] Location for Tuesday 3:00 p.m. Senator Kaine Meeting
Message-ID: <011801d27b86$3abc51a0$b034f4e0$@gmail.com>

Hi,

We realized we failed to share the meeting location for the Tuesday (1/31)
3:00 PM meeting with Senator Kaine's staff and possibly the Senator.

The Senator Kaine meeting location is 231 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington DC 20510

 

Remember, as described at the Great Gathering In, we are not going into the
office for the meeting until just a few minutes before the meeting. I will
be in the building but outside of the office until we go into the meeting at
a few minutes before 3:00 PM.

Sorry for the earlier omission.

 

Tracy Soforenko

President, National Federation of the Blind of Virginia

202 285-4595

Tracy.soforenko at gmail.com <mailto:Tracy.soforenko at gmail.com> 

 

 



From john_bailey17 at hotmail.com  Tue Jan 31 14:04:38 2017
From: john_bailey17 at hotmail.com (John Bailey)
Date: Tue, 31 Jan 2017 14:04:38 +0000
Subject: [Nfbv-announce] Notes from the networking for blind people program
 at Washington Seminar
Message-ID: <DM3PR15MB1066FBF5E845D03B121FB95A8F4A0@DM3PR15MB1066.namprd15.prod.outlook.com>

Power Networking for Blind People (And Everyone Else)

Can a blind person be as effective at networking as their sighted counterparts? Of course, the answer is a resounding 'Yes'. Here are some power networking tips everyone can use.

Last Sunday, at Washington Seminar,  I attended a networking program hosted by the Potomac Chapter for professionals where Mary Crane was the speaker. She spoke for over an hour outlining her many tips for how to become a more effective (dare I say power) networker.

I have my own business and I have read my share of boring business books that talked about the how and why networking is so important. Never have I heard someone make the topic so informative as well as entertaining.

In this email, I will identify 10 rules I drew out of Mary's presentation. And by the way, they are not just for the vision impaired! They are for anyone who wants to get the most out of professional business encounters.

Here are Mary Crane's Rules of Engagement

Rule #1: When introducing yourself, start by saying your name and then follow it with a very short description of what you do. For example, Mary says, "My name is Mary Crane and I teach young lawyers how to be professional". Now, people know your name and what you do and can ask informed questions.

Rule #2: Make yourself memorable. For example, if you have an unusual name, make sure you say it to everyone. Then, you will be remembered as the person who has that weird last name. Or, if you are like me with a very generic name, you can Wear something distinctive. Here, standing out in someone's memory is a good thing.

Rule #3: Shake hands properly. Always give a firm handshake. In order to do that, when extending your hand, make sure your arm is parallel to the ground. This will help make a firm hand shake. If you reach up at an angle to shake hands, your grip will be weaker and this can send the wrong message.

Rule #4: Hesitate one or two seconds before extending your arm for a hand shake. Men automatically shake hands with each other. However, when introducing yourself to a woman, it is her choice whether or not to shake. Give her a chance to reach out first before reaching out with yours. If she doesn't reach, your hands should remain on your side of the conversation.

Rule #5: Be aware of the protocol for giving introductions. In general, the most important person in the group is the one that gets introduced to. For example, a junior partner in a company and a senior partner need to be introduced to each other. You say, "Mr. Senior Partner, please let me introduce you to Junior Partner". If the senior partner is surrounded by several junior partners, you say the same thing, introducing the senior partner to each junior partner in turn.

Rule #6: Make a goal for each networking event you attend. Having a goal makes these events more productive. You will know whom to talk to and what about. A random goal makes for mixed results.

Rule #7: Do your homework prior to the event. A day or so before the event, request from the networking event host a list of attendees and their contact information. Use this intelligence to identify the people you want to meet. Plus, it allows you to do a bit of research prior to the event about the people you want to meet.

Rule #7: Attend events with a full stomach. Talking with your mouth full or with food particles on your hands and clothes sends a bad message. Eat prior to the event and leave the snacks on the buffet table. You are there to build your business.

Rule #8: Always carry a drink in the hand you don't shake with. Holding a drink gives your hands something to do. It is unsightly for a man to keep his hands in his pockets or for a woman to hold her hands behind her back. It makes you look awkward and unapproachable.

Rule #9: Arrive early. Get there early to familiarize yourself with the networking event room layout. This also gives you time to talk to the people working registration if you may need assistance with anything.

Rule #10: Always thank the host. It is always important to follow-up with people you meet at a networking event as soon as possible. It is also important to thank the event hosts too. Send them a short business style email letting them know how much you appreciated the opportunity to attend.

Much of business is based on relationships. Attending networking events is an excellent way to meet the people you need to grow your business or career. Getting the most out of each event just requires a plan. Take the above ideas and implement your plan at your next networking event.

Did I miss anything? I am sure I did. Share what I missed with the rest of your chapters and we can all become power networkers.

John Bailey
John_bailey17 at hotmail.com<mailto:John_bailey17 at hotmail.com>
Fairfax Chapter
703.994.2040

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