Who We Are
The Middle TN chapter of the NFB is a group of blind and sighted people who are
committed to the ideals of security, equality and opportunity for blind people
and who seek to achieve these ideals through changing what it means to be blind,
both for society in general and for individual blind people specifically. The
chapter is organized and maintained by blind people and is part of the TN state
affiliate which is part of the national organization - The National Federation
of the Blind.
The membership is diverse, as blindness effects people from all walks of life,
of all ages and from all professions. Though the chapter is still less than 50
members strong membership already includes parents, grand-parents, high school
and college students, musicians, song-writers, a recording engineer, teachers,
salespeople, a nurse, a computer network administrator, a chiropractor, a radio
station owner, a disabled persons program coordinator and several small business
owners. There are single people, married people, blind people and seeing people,
diabetics, Australians, guide-dog users and cane users, smokers and non-smokers.
In short, our chapter is representative of society in general.
Click
here to
read the bio's of the officers of this chapter.
Who Can Join?
All are welcome to join irrespective of gender, race, age, religion, political persuasion, amount of sight and choice of mobility aids.
No special qualifications or talents necessary. If you would like to contribute positively to your community and to make a difference in our world through touching lives with the truth about blindness, then come and join us, because that's what this chapter is all about and we need people like you to join.
What We Do.
The activities of this chapter include, but are not limited to, the following:
-- Monthly meetings of the chapter membership.
-- Advice and active support for members of the community dealing with blindness personally or in the family.
-- Providing informed advocates for blind people seeking appropriate services.
-- Proactive community outreach to find and inform blind people, teachers and parents of blind children.
-- Collective representation to the legislature on issues, such as education funding, rehabilitation services and text-book availability, that directly effect the lives of blind people.
-- Public education about the competence of blind people through:
* Providing speakers to schools, clubs, conferences/conventions, churches, etc.
* Acting as role models and mentors for blind children, teens and newly blinded
adults.
* Holding interactive displays, at public libraries, shopping malls etc., of
the equipment and techniques, such as braille and talking computers, used by
blind people in daily life.
* Providing printed material to ophthalmologists,
optometrists and doctors on the truth about blindness and the opportunities for
training and rehabilitation available to blind people through the NFB.
* Maintaining a web site which provides information and contact details.
Please
contact us if you would like more information,
would like to attend a
meeting,
or if we can be of assistance as outlined above.
Members of the Board.
President: Heather Field, Vice president: Joe Shaw, Treasurer: Sharon Paris, Secretary: Tim Anderson, Roxie Chamberlain and Mary Baker.
BIOGRAPHIES OF CHAPTER MEMBERS.
President : Heather Field
I grew up with my 5 brothers and 2 sisters on a small-crop farm in Queensland,
Australia and have been blind since infancy. I have a Bachelor's Degree in Forms
of Communication, a Teaching Diploma in Vision Education, and a Master's Degree
in Special Education. I worked in Australia in a number of teaching positions,
including Early Intervention Preschool, before moving to Nashville in 1997 to
pursue an already successful song-writing career. Now I live just outside of
Franklin, Tennessee.
Besides writing and recording songs, I am currently an Educational
Consultant for Discovery Toys which keeps me in touch with children and parents
with whom I still love to work. I am also a Christian counselor. My other interests
include entertaining and cooking, writing, public speaking and church and advocacy
work.
I joined the NFB in 1997 because of the profound effects of its philosophy
in changing what it meant to be blind in my own life, and because I saw how I
could make a real and lasting difference in the lives of others by being part
of the collective action of an organization which has already done, and continues
to do, so much to practically change what it means to be blind for people all
over the world.
Vice President: Joe Shaw
Treasurer : Sharon Paris
Recording Secretary : Tim Anderson
I am originally from Wisconsin and am the second son of four boys from a very musical family. I have a bachelor's degree in Vocal Music Education and have worked in both public and private schools, and have taught voice and piano lessons privately. I moved to Nashville, TN in early 1997 to further my career as a singer and song-writer. I am currently working on several albums and I work as a freelance artist performing my original songs. I enjoy socializing, reading, surfing the internet, keeping fit and eating healthily.
My involvement with the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) started a short time after I began writing songs with a blind woman, Heather Field, whom I met at church. She was a staunch Federationist and, although I had grown up with a blind cousin, I had not been exposed to the positive philosophy of the NFB. I became convinced of the ideals of the Federation and, although I am sighted, I offered to assist Heather in realizing her dream of starting a local chapter of the NFB. At the time, I didn't realize what this would mean in my life.
After three NFB annual conventions, at which I sang several times, spoke as a panelist, sold copies of my first album and met many blind people whose lives had been radically changed by their involvement with the Federation, I accepted the challenge of becoming an officer in my local chapter and doing what I could to change what it means to be blind where I live.
I am excited to be part of The National Federation of the Blind and look forward to meeting the many people who will be helped to overcome their fears, gain new skills and be part of this organization of blind people who will love them, fight for them and come alongside them as they change what it means to be blind in their own lives and in their community.
[For a more detailed bio and to listen to samples of my music please visit my web site: www.timandersonmusic.com ]
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