Writer, aggregator Kevan
Worley.
Contributing editor Dan Burke.
Here is what you need to
know
Hope is a Powerful Concept.
In the National Federation of the Blind, we often say that with
love, hope, and determination we transform dreams into reality. During these
difficult times hope can be a powerful thought. Along with love, faith, heart,
and determination, our National Federation of the Blind of Colorado family stand
united. Through our NFBCO COVID-19 helpline, our daily 5:00 zoom calls, and our
1-to-1 outreach we offer hope, support, and words of love for one another. This
is who we are. If you know of a blind or vision impaired person who needs a
little extra hope, please let us know. 303-778-1130, extension 219 or email assistance@nfbco.org. Here is hoping you
are secure, safe, and that your physical and emotional needs are being met. We
can’t wait to hug each and every one of you. For now, we send you a virtual hug.
Colorado Center for the Blind Continues to Change Lives During the COVID-19 Shutdown.
Our Center is closed but the work of a caring diligent staff
continues. Most students returned to their homes across the nation more than 2
weeks ago. The Center has a few students living at our apartments. The Center
continues to provide long distance training, encouragement, and hope. Each day
Center staff and students congregate over zoom for a discussion of the philosophy
of mutual support, independence, and opportunity. Congratulations to the
Colorado Center for the Blind for the grace, hard work, and imagination with which
they continue to raise expectations.
Sharing the Hope of the Federation Over YouTube.
NFBCO Secretary Maureen Nietfeld is well known for the
Breaking Blind videos she has posted over the years on YouTube. Many blind
folks have been made aware of our Federation and attracted to our Colorado Center
for the Blind by first meeting Maureen on YouTube. As people look for ways to
spend time during the COVID-19 crisis, why not send everyone you know one of
Maureen’s personal stories. Here is a link to one of my favorites, Maureen Gets a Guide Dog.
National Federation of the Blind COVID-19 Resource Page.
Sometimes the questions you have may be as close as NFB.org.
Check out our COVID-19
Resource Page.
Zoom, Zoom, Zoom!
Never have we heard the word zoom so often. Throughout the
state and nation, our NFB has been using the zoom platform to provide our
members our vast social network, encouragement, and interesting training. On Thursday
evening, April 2nd, at 6:00 p.m. Colorado time the President of the
National Federation of the Blind will be offering his monthly presidential
release live over zoom. Feel free to join President Mark Riccobono. After
providing information and perspective, President Riccobono intends to take
questions from our Federation family. Join
the experience! Or one-tap mobile +14086380968,,2368918214#, meeting ID 236
891 8214.
Of Course, Chapters and Divisions are Meeting.
Our Federation family can always find a way to persevere.
Now is the time to plan your next chapter or division meeting. No! Not in
person. In cyberspace! We know that the Colorado Springs chapter will gather at
our usual time, at 10:00 Saturday morning, on the 2nd Saturday of April.
President Jeanette Fortin says that details about how to join our zoom call-in
are forthcoming. Looking forward to our visit on April 11th.
Connect to NFB-NEWSLINE to be informed on COVID-19.
We received the following note from NFB Newsline Director
Scott White. If you are not a subscriber to NFB Newsline, sign up today.
In an effort to bring the latest
news on the Coronavirus (COVID-19) to our subscribers, we are pleased to offer
a new information source in our "Breaking News: Online" category.
This source of information is being provided by Johns Hopkins University and is
titled "COVID-19 Pandemic Data." Johns Hopkins University is
considered one of the leading worldwide resources concerning statistics on this
pandemic, and we are pleased that we can offer it in an accessible audio and
Braille format to our subscribers.
…
Access the COVID-19 information
using the telephone by pressing 5 from the main menu, then press 1 for the
"Breaking News: Online" category, followed by pressing the 1 key,
which will bring you to the virus search results, or press 2 for the Johns Hopkins
data. If you are using the NFB-NEWSLINE Mobile iOS app, look for the virus
information under the "All Publications" section. Web News on Demand
users can find the COVID-19 information by selecting "Publications
Organized by State," and then "Breaking News Online".
Reflections on our NFBCO activities and Our Federation Family, by Scott LaBarre.
From your aggregator: The following was posted by NFBCO
President Scott LaBarre, Monday evening, March 30th on our ColoradoTalk
listserv. Although we have touched on a few of these items in this issue, we
thought you would enjoy reading Scott’s message:
Good evening everyone, as I
begin writing this email, I am listening to this evening’s NFBCO zoom call
which is focusing on opportunities available in the Randolph-Sheppard
Program. These sessions have been a
smashing success and have covered an impressive breath of topics. For example, I am looking forward to shifting
gears from talking about business opportunities to tomorrow night’s session
with the Blind History Lady.
Beyond enjoying the substance of
these sessions, I am beaming with pride for our affiliate and our terrific
members. In particular, Kevan Worley,
Jessica Beecham, and Maureen Nietfeld have done an incredible job of putting
these programs together and executing them with tremendous skill. I want to thank all the participants from our
speakers to those who join the calls and help us create fascinating
discussions.
I also want to publicly thank
Jessica and Maureen along with their great volunteers for operating our COVID19
assistance program which has helped many blind individuals get what they need
to make this crisis a bit easier to manage.
We are truly blessed with great leadership and dedicated volunteers.
I also encourage you to think
about and appreciate our Colorado Center for the Blind and what our Center is
facing. We remain open offering
instruction remotely and virtually to our students who have largely returned to
their homes all over America, but we have also been serving several students
who remain in our apartments because it was not possible for them to
leave. We should definitely tip our hats
to Julie Deden, our amazing staff, and our terrific students.
This crisis is challenging us in
so many ways that we would have never imagined just a few weeks ago. The news is often overwhelming and depressing
like today when over 500 people died from the virus in the U.S. alone. For me, I could not imagine getting through
all of this without my families, the LaBarres and all of you. Anahit, Alex, Emily, Moka, and I are all
hunkered down here in Centennial, and we haven’t killed each other yet, but I
am pretty sure that the only one who still really likes me is our dog, Moka, as
long as I give her treats, anyway. I am
incredibly appreciative, also, for our Federation family from our great
President, Mark Riccobono, to the countless other national leaders, our
terrific state Board and chapter/division leaders, and, of course, all of
you!! Our bond of love and faith in one
another are far stronger than the virus
will ever be. Even in the grips of this
terrible pandemic, we support each other and continue to build our Federation!!
Warmly,
Scott
LEADERS MUST BE ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE AGENTS, by Jose Tamayo.
From the aggregator: I am taking the liberty of including a
piece I saw on Facebook earlier this week. During this challenging time, I have
found social media can be a connector or a crock! It can give us hope through
our isolation or be downright insulting. In addition, we often hear from members
that they don’t know how to take leadership. Under what circumstance? “What can
I do to make a difference?” I found the advice in this post to be helpful. I
hope you do too.
The leaders in any organization
must be the environmental change agents. They must be more like thermostats
than thermometers. At first glance, a person could confuse these instruments.
Both are capable of measuring heat. However, they are really quite different. A
thermometer is passive. It records the temperature of its environment but can
do nothing to change that environment. A thermostat is an active instrument. It
determines what the environment will be. It effects change in order to create a
climate.
The attitude of the leader, coupled
with a positive atmosphere in the organization, can encourage people to
accomplish great things. And consistent accomplishment generates momentum. Many
times, momentum is the only difference between a winning, positive growth
climate and a losing, negative growth climate.
The next time you find it difficult
to adjust the environment in your team, keep in mind this simple fact from the
laws of physics: Water boils at 212 degrees, but at 211 degrees, it is still
just hot water. One extra degree, an increase of less than one-half of one
percent, can make the difference between a pot of languishing liquid and a
bubbling caldron of power. One degree can create a full head of steam--enough
power to move a train weighing tons. That one degree is usually momentum.
That’s It for This Edition of the Blind Coloradan.
Forward, always Forward!
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