Saturday, November 8, 2008, 07:35 PM
The members of the East Hillsborough Chapter – both individually and collectively – have a great deal for which we are thankful. You are warmly invited to celebrate with your Federation family at our 8th Annual Thanksgiving Party. The pot luck lunch will feature turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, and all of the trimmings. Lunch will be served at the Gwizdala/Schoch residence on our regular meeting day – Saturday, November 15 from 10:00 until 1:00 pm. Even if you have not yet had the chance to attend a Chapter meeting, you are cordially invited. This will be an excellent opportunity to meet Chapter members in a relaxed, casual atmosphere! Merry and Marion’s address is
1003 Papaya Drive
Tampa, Florida 33619
Plans are being made for some exciting events in 2009, including the return of “fat Saturday”! We have been invited to participate in the USF Children’s Festival once again, an event at which our tactile booth was a great hit last year. Of course, we need to plan for our State Convention which will be held in Boca Raton at the ever-popular Embassy Suites! Those who attended the last convention there will remember the exciting train rides that got us there! We cannot forget our National Convention which will be held in my childhood stomping ground of Detroit Michigan!
So, mark your calendars and book your ride to the first and greatest Thanksgiving party of the season! We urge everyone to RSVP by Wednesday, November 12 by either emailing us at
president@blind411.org
or calling us at 813-626-2789.
Fraternally yours,
Marion Gwizdala, President
East Hillsborough Chapter
National Federation of the Blind of Florida
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Monday, September 15, 2008, 08:13 AM
Are you blind or visually impaired or know someone who is? Are you interested in making a real difference in the lives of the blind? Then the East Hillsborough Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind of Florida needs you!
October has been designated as “Meet the Blind Month”, a time when the blind around the country make a concerted effort to help the public understand the realities about blindness: We are just like everyone else! We have the same dreams and aspirations; the same concerns and challenges. We want to participate in society on terms of equality! The real problem we face as blind people is not our blindness, but the misunderstanding and lack of information that exists! When you meet the blind, we know we can eliminate the myths and tear down the stereotypes that keep us from achieving true equality. Will you help us accomplish this? If so, read on and take action by joining us for our September meeting to finalize our plans!
October 15 is National White Cane Safety Day, a nationally recognized, Presidentially proclaimed observance to educate motorist about the traffic laws that assist blind pedestrians in their safe and independent travel and raise public awareness to the potential of blind citizens. This year the East Hillsborough and Tampa Bay Chapters of the National Federation of the Blind, with the cooperation of Hillsborough County, will mark White Cane Safety Day by sponsoring a march through the streets of downtown Tampa. The march will begin at 11:00 am from Joe Chillura Courthouse Square, located across from the Frederick B. Karl County Center, traversing a ¾ mile route through downtown Tampa and returning to Chillura Courthouse Square. Upon their return, marchers will receive proclamations from officials from the City of Tampa and Hillsborough County. They will also be entertained by the music of a blind musician and receive a free box lunch. The media is invited to cover this event.
So, put on your walking shoes and help us stride for independence! Interested participants are asked to complete a registration form available at
http://www.blind411.org/volunteer.asp
Registration is required to receive a free box lunch! Those without internet access can register by calling 813-626-2789.
On October 26, the Chapter will participate in “Halloween Horribles”, a safe trick or treat event sponsored by Center Place Fine Arts and Civic Association of Brandon. More than 800 kids and their parents will take part in this event. The Chapter will distribute treats for both the kids and the adults, including peanut butter crackers, Braille alphabet cards, Louie Braille Commemorative Coin pins, and much more! Volunteers are asked to arrive by 2:30 pm and look for the Chapter tent in front of the Towers on Vonderburg Drive. Costumes are strongly suggested! You can have fun and make a difference at the same time!
At this month’s meeting, we will also have a discussion entitled “Meet the blind Month All year Long!” in which we will share information about how we can do our part to change public perceptions about the blind by our daily lives. Bring your experiences and share them with the group! Together we are changing what it means to be blind!
Please be aware that our October meeting will not be held in order to encourage participation in our “Meet the blind Month” activities. We will also decide about our November and December meetings this month, since these are traditionally our Chapter family’s times to gather in thanksgiving and celebrate the holidays, so watch your “In Box” for further details!
If you come…
When: Saturday, September 20, 2008
Time: 10:00 until 11:00 am (Breakfast social)
11:00 am until 1:00 pm (Business Meeting)
Where: Piccadilly Cafeteria
1225 Brandon Blvd., W.
Brandon, Florida 33511
For more information, please feel free to give the Chapter a call. Our contact information is below my signature.
Fraternally yours,
Marion Gwizdala, President
East Hillsborough Chapter
National Federation of the Blind of Florida
813-626-2789
president@blind411.org
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Friday, August 8, 2008, 04:34 AM
From June 28 through July 5, Merry Schoch, Tom Goldman, Pearl Warren, and Marion Gwizdala attended the annual convention of the National Federation of the Blind in Dallas, Texas. Along with nearly 3000 other Federationists from around the globe, we participated in the largest gathering of any disability group in the world. Merry refers to Convention as "a shot of NFB-12", as we always return re-energized for the work ahead of us and with a renewed commitment to the goals of the organization.
This year was especially inspirational and we will share the details at our next meeting. We hope you will plan on joining us and getting your own shot of NFB-12 by becoming involved with the oldest and largest organization of the blind in the world!
The two major initiatives of the National Organization this year are Braille literacy and accessible technology, both of which are in the works within our Chapter. The Jernigan Institute has grants available for Affiliates, Chapters, and Divisions with priority given to projects that will promote our "Braille Readers Are Leaders" campaign and those focused upon Science, Technology, Engineering, & Math (STEM) programs, especially in the area of website development. The Chapter needs your input, suggestions, and energy to help make these projects successful. Come and join us on Saturday, July 12 as we continue to change what it means to be blind!
If you come:
When: Saturday, July 12, 2008
Time: 10:00 until 11:00 am (Breakfast social)
11:00 am until 1:00 pm (Business Meeting)
Where: Piccadilly Cafeteria
1225 Brandon Blvd., W.
Brandon, Florida 33511
For more information, please feel free to give the Chapter a call. Our contact information is below my signature.
Fraternally yours,
Marion Gwizdala, President
East Hillsborough Chapter
National Federation of the Blind of Florida
813-626-2789
president@blind411.org
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