First Impressions: My Conversion into Blindness

The Braille Monitor

November,

2003

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My Second

National Convention and I Am Still Growing

by

Katrilla H. Martin

Katrilla

Martin

From the Editor: The

following article appeared in the summer 2003 issue of the Vigilant,

the publication of the National Federation of the Blind of Virginia. Katrilla

Martin has been a member of the NFB for only a short time. However, she has

The 2004 National Federation of the

The Braille Monitor

November,

2003

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The 2004

National Federation of the

Blind

Scholarship Program

This year's scholarship

program will be the twenty-first since the organization determined to expand

the number, variety, and value of the scholarships presented each year at our

annual convention in July. Assisting the nation's most talented postsecondary

A German Voyager's Bold Vision for Tibet's Blind

The Braille Monitor

November,

2003

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A German

Voyager's Bold Vision for Tibet's Blind

by

Jim Yardley

From the Editor: The

following story appeared in the September 20, 2003, edition of the New York

Times. Whenever I read anything about Sabriye Tenberken's work with the

blind children of Tibet, I am reminded of the lyrics of the song, "High

From India with Hope

The Braille Monitor

November,

2003

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From

India with Hope

by Deborah Kent Stein

Syed Yousufuddin

From the Editor: Debbie

Stein is a leader in the Illinois affiliate and a professional writer. She often

uses her talent to introduce us all to interesting Federationists. Here is another

profile that will inspire and encourage us all. Meet Syed Yousufuddin:

Syed Yousufuddin grew up

The Learning Curve

The Braille Monitor

November,

2003

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The Learning

Curve

by Marnie Utz

During the service component of the Braille Is Beautiful curriculum,

Brandon and Stephany, Davis Drive sixth-graders, Braille a deck of UNO

playing cards that will be given to a blind child.

From the Editor: January,

Braille Literacy Month, is just around the corner. In the July 2003 issue, we

A New Beginning

The

Braille Monitor

November,

2003

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A New

Beginning

by Al Spooner

Al

Spooner (right) works with Kotumu Kaamara from Liberia at a computer station.

From the Editor: Contrary

to what Al Spooner says in the opening line of the following article, it has

been almost five years now that he has been a Federationist. From the moment

he joined a chapter, he was a leader. I remember answering his questions in

Frontispiece: Dr. Jernigan's Memorial

The Braille Monitor

December,

2003

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On

October 12, 2003, the fifth anniversary of Kenneth Jernigan's death, friends

and colleagues gathered for a memorial mass at St. Joseph's church in

Baltimore. Following the service they walked together to the grave site

to share a time of remembrance and to eat cornbread, one of Dr. Jernigan's

favorite foods.

Convention Bulletin 2004

The Braille Monitor

December,

2003

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Convention Bulletin

2004

The

Atlanta Marriott Marquis Hotel

It is time to plan for

the 2004 convention of the National Federation of the Blind. This year we are

returning to Atlanta and the beautiful Marriott Marquis Hotel, site of the 1999

and 2000 conventions.

Once

again our hotel rates are the envy of all. For the 2004 convention they are

Report on the Plight of the Blind of Iraq

The Braille Monitor

December,

2003

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Report on the Plight

of the Blind of Iraq

by

Dustin Langan

Dustin Langan is a young

American working with the Office of Human Rights and Transitional Justice of

the Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq. He is responsible for dealing with

nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in the country, like the organization assisting

I Once Was Lost

The Braille Monitor

December,

2003

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I Once Was Lost

by

Darrel Kirby

From the Editor: Darrel

Kirby attended his first national convention last summer. It was a profoundly

moving experience for him, as you will see in the following article, which he

wrote soon after he returned home. This is what he says:

"Can

I help you?" a friendly-sounding man asked as I wandered through the halls