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Hello All,
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Chapter President, Sherry Rogers,
with her husband, Mel Moskowitz. |
Another year has passed, and the New York City chapter has continued to grow. At Visions 2011, FFB recognized us with the Chapter of the Year award for our efforts in support of the Foundation’s mission; and thanks to your activism, I was recognized as the Northeast’s Volunteer of the Year award at Visions 2012.
While we’re on the topic of national conferences, there’s a link to the annual Visions events on FFB’s website. Just go to www.FightBlindness.org and look for the Visions 2013 box on the left. Click on the Visions 2012 rewind box, and you’ll hear/see what happened in Minneapolis this summer. It’s also a great time to sign up for Visions 2013. If you register before February 28th, you’ll get an early-bird discount (and who doesn’t want to save money these days?). Next year’s conference is in Baltimore, so it’s easy to get to and -- with the FFB discount we get on hotels -- very affordable. And don’t forget: your registration fee, transportation and hotel room costs are tax deductible (check with your accountant)!
If you’ve been checking the postings on FFB’s website, you’ll know that there’s been a burst of clinical trials over the past year. These would not be possible without funding from FFB, so all our hard work and contributions are not only helping find treatments and cures down the line; we’re helping ourselves with options available TODAY!
Our chapter has been busy on so many fronts over this past year:
- We have active networking groups in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx. The Stargardt Networking Group meets in Manhattan at the Lighthouse. Click on the Events link for dates and contact information. Each of these groups welcomes newcomers. We’re currently seeking participants and facilitators to form groups in Staten Island and New Jersey.
- We’re also looking to expand our networking group program to include groups for: parents of children with retinal diseases; working visually impaired people who would like to socialize with one another; and, visually impaired teens. If you have an interest in any of the above, contact the FFB office (212 244-1470) or Sandy Padernacht (
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).
- Our Leadership Team members have formed a committee and begun outreach to the community of eye-care professionals for a national program called Partners for Retinal Health. This committee, chaired by Mark Ramnauth, will revise our local referral list to make it not only current but we’ll screen for doctors and low-vision providers who really WANT to work with their patients to provide information, services and hope. No one should leave a retinal partner’s office without information about what to do next. If you see a retinal specialist and think they’re someone we should know about, please send their contact information to the FFB NYC office (attention Kristin DeStefano –
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). Our committee will get in touch with the doctors and begin the process.
- We want our NYC chapter to grow. We want to reach out to many who still sit in darkness and without hope. If you know of a street fair or health fair coming to your neighborhood, let us know. We’d like to have a table at such an event, so we can distribute information about what FFB is and does. Our Leadership Team is looking into making our information available in languages spoken in our wonderful multi-cultural city. If you are multi-lingual and interested in working with us on this (by either translating or staffing a table to talk to your neighbors), please let me know (
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).
- We are looking for individuals who are interested in becoming more active volunteers. So far, we have a Leadership Team of wonderful volunteers. But there’s room for YOU as well. Contact me or the NYC office (212 244-1470), and let’s talk. Our leadership is remarkable. Check out the “Leadership” link, and you’ll see who they are.
- Speaking of the website, we’re going to see some changes in our chapter page. We have a new media chapter leader, Steve Fialkoff, who has offered to make it easier to access and more interactive. Many thanks, Steve!!! Check out the NYC Resources link. One of the things we’d like to do is make an audio recording of our Speaker Series available online. If this appeals to you, let us know.
- Our Saturday Speaker Series occurs only three times a year. Hopefully, you attended the September event that focused on the challenges of having low vision in the workplace. We’re planning our next event, and we welcome your input. Don’t be shy…. We know you’ve got some great ideas! Call me at 718 263-7638, and let’s talk.
I’m taking this opportunity to put in a word about our VisionWalk2013. This is the time to begin contacting local businesses to become Corporate Sponsors. It’s the time to talk to family and friends and co-workers to form teams for the spring Walk in Central Park. Start early, raise money, fund research and find cures!!!
So, dear friends, that’s what’s new and we’ve only just begun. Come to our meetings, become active. And remember: Activism = more members = more money for research = more treatments/cures. We are the ones who can make a difference!
Sincerely,
Sherry Rogers
NYC Chapter President
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