Friends of the North Carolina Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped Newsletter

Fall 2004

President’s Message

 

Dear Friends,

 

I hope you have all had a wonderful summer. It certainly did go by quickly! Fall is approaching and I am looking forward to the cooler weather.

 

The coming of fall also brings many activities for Friends. If you attend the North Carolina NFB or ACB conferences, you will find Friends represented at the display area. In October, we will assist with the Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped booth at the VIP Fishing Tournament.  We will also be participating in the Technology Expo in Raleigh this November. Such events provide great opportunities to educate potential patrons, service providers, and community agency representatives concerning the services of the Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped and our Friends organization.

 

The Volunteer Recognition Dinner will be held October 27 in Raleigh. This gathering always brings good fellowship, food, and entertainment. The most important part, however, is the recognition of those important individuals who donate their time and talent to read books, monitor readers, check cassette boxes, make labels, etc. at the Library. The volunteer program is an integral part of the Library and its smooth, timely provision of materials to patrons. Thanks to all of you who volunteer. We hope to see many of you at the banquet.

    

Our Friends raffle was a great success. Prizes were a DVD player, a talking tape measure, and a talking caller ID. Winners were Carlton Haley, Sr. of Reidsville, Les Seitz of Raleigh, and Larue Adams of Raleigh  Thanks to all who bought and sold tickets!

 

The annual meeting of Friends will be held November 30, 2004 at the Library. Please feel free to join us if you can.

 

You will soon be receiving a ballot with a slate of officers for the coming year. Please take time to respond and return the ballot. Our current treasurer Jack Stein and Susie Davis, a board member, will be leaving the board at the beginning of the coming year. They have made invaluable contributions to Friends and the blindness community and will be missed greatly.

 

Thanks to all of you for your support of Friends. Enjoy fall.

 

Sincerely,

Sandy DeLuca

President

 

Out There 

by Gary Ray         

 

We are proud to start off this report by announcing that the Friends have become a co-sponsor of the North Carolina Assistive Technology (AT) Expo.  This is a statewide conference dealing with all types of AT and all kinds of disabilities.  We have been participating on the Expo Planning committee for some time.  We are extremely proud of this development.

 

We wanted to take a moment to thank Janice Brooks, one of our volunteers, for all she is doing in outreach.  Janice does a lot of outreach to disabled veterans.  She participates in the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) and the Blind Veterans Association (BVA).  She sold 100 raffle tickets at one of their events back in the spring.  She was second in sales only to Johnna Simmons.  Janice, in fact, sold the winning raffle ticket.   

 

This summer was fairly busy on the outreach front.  Here are some of our efforts.  We had a major presence at the GMS Alumni Weekend.  Johnna, Bonnie Kemp, and Gary spent the whole weekend spreading the word about the library and the Friends.  Gary’s presentation was especially well received.  Gary did two DSB special interest workshops at the Rehab Center.  We did a presentation to a VIP support group in Roanoke Rapids.  We did a DSB Mini Center in Clinton.

 

We are about to go into our busy time of the year.  Here are just a few of the events we will be doing this fall: NCCB State Convention (Johnna will attend)

NFB of NC State Convention (Gary will attend)

Lions VIP Fishing Tournament (Shawn will attend)

AT Expo DSB Mini Centers as scheduled VIP Support groups as scheduled Gary will do a workshop at the Community College Conference.

    

We are always looking for folks to get involved in our outreach efforts.  It takes a little time and a little effort, but it is worth it.  If you would like more information about outreach, call Gary Ray at 1-888-388-2460.

 

The Ballots Are Coming!

 

During October, all current members of the Friends should be getting a ballot listing the slate of officers and board members being recommended to the membership for election.  You will need to mark and return your ballot to the library by November 30, 2004.  There is room on the ballot for write-in candidates.

 

No chads, no swift boats, no Iraq question, just a chance for members to be involved in the running of the Friends!

 

If you have questions, call Gary Ray at (919) 733-4376 or 1-888-388-2460.

 

All Friends Members are Cordially Invited to the 2004 Volunteer Recognition Dinner

 

Food, Fun, Celebration, and Awards

Wednesday, October 27, 2004

6:00 PM – 9:00 PM

 

Raleigh Marriott Crabtree Valley

4500 Marriott Drive      

Raleigh, NC  27612

 

Friends Members:  $15 per person

For reservations, call Shawn Lemieux at (919) 733-4376 or 1-888-388-2460.

Volunteers Making a Better Tomorrow Today

 

Fundraising Committee   

    

The Fund Raising committee, under the great leadership of Gail Didsbury, had a very successful raffle project earlier this year.  In all, we sold 966 raffle tickets.  Johnna Simmons drew the winning tickets on August 1.  The winners were:

 

1.      Carlton Haley, Reidsville.  Sold by Janici Brooks at a Disabled Veterans event.  Prize was a multi DVD Changer.

2.      Les Seitz.  Ticket sold by Johnna Siimmons.  Prize was a talking tape measure. 

3.      Larue Adams.  Ticket sold by Larue Adams.  Prize was a talking caller ID.

 

After deducting the costs for the raffle, we cleared a total of $816.  This is a good profit on a raffle when the tickets are just $1.

 

FREINDS

Annual Membership Meeting

 

Tuesday, November 30, 2004

 

10:00 AM

 

Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped

1811 Capital Boulevard

Raleigh, NC  27635

 

ALL MEMBERS ARE INVITED TO ATTEND

 

For Information, call Gary Ray at 1-888-388-2460.

 

The budget for 2005 will be presented for approval at this meeting.

 

 

How Far Will You Tote Your Talking Book?

 

We want to know how far you have taken your Friends Tote Bag.  Everyone is urged to take their Take a Talking Book Tote Bag with them on trips to far away places.  Take a picture that shows you, the tote bag, and the far away place you are visiting.  Send the photo to us to the attention of Gary Ray, at NCLBPH, 1811 Capital Boulevard, Raleigh, NC  27635.  Be sure to include your contact information and a brief summary of your trip and details of where the photo was taken.  Regular photo or digital ones are OK.  We’ll put the photos up on the website of the Friends of the NCLBPH and feature some of them in future newsletters.

 

If you haven’t bought your Take a Talking Book Tote Bag, you’ll find an order form elsewhere in this newsletter.

 

GIVE THE GIFT OF FRIENDSHIP

 

Name of person giving gift ________________________________

 

Address _______________________________________________

 

_______________________________________________

 

Your Phone Number _____________________________________

 

Occasion for Gift ________________________________________

 

Name of Person Receiving Gift ____________________________

 

Address _______________________________________________

 

_______________________________________________

 

Telephone Number ______________________________________

 

Does Recipient receive materials from NCLBPH? Yes___  No___

 

___ Individual $10

 

___ Family $15

 

___ Organization/Professional $50

 

___ Hundred Dollar Club $100

 

___ Plus Club $300

 

___ Other $ __________

 

Make check payable to FNCLBPH

 

Mail to:

FNCLBPH

1811 Capital Boulevard

Raleigh, NC  276035

 

 

Volunteers Needed!

 

The Public Information Committee needs volunteers to help person the library table on Thursday, November 4 from 8:30 to 4:30

 

To volunteer to help the Public Information Committee, call Shawn Lemieux Faircloth at (919) 733-4376 or 1-888-388-2460.

 

The Volunteer/Outreach Unit also needs volunteers to assist with the Expo at the registration table, in the exhibit hall, at the information counter, during the silent auction, and as sighted guides. 

 

These volunteers are needed on both Thursday and Friday, November 4 & 5, 2004.     To volunteer to help in other areas at the Expo, call Shawn Lemieux Faircloth at (919) 733-4376 or 1-888-388-2460.

 

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