NFB

So this is how Tuesday goes at CCB sometimes.

First thing this morning Alie Mays came for our “Birding by Ear” class. Seven of us reviewed recordings of local bird songs, then walked over to Sterne Park, where we heard mallards, doves, goldfinches and of course Canada geese. Today’s mascot was the belted kingfisher, an unexpected find. He just kept calling and calling as he circled over the pond.

In the Senior Resource Room something was happening called sugar scrub. Jenny Callahan led Seniors in making sugar scrub, using sugar (surprise) and oil and scents like lavender and almond. Whatever it is, it sure sounded fun to make, judging by the giggles and cackles.

And now raise your lemonade glass in a toast to employees at the Curtis Hotel!

Last weekend, at the 2016 National Federation of the Blind of Colorado Convention in Lone Tree, Marc Greytak of the Curtis Hotel in downtown Denver presented a check to CCB for $3141.25.

That’s pretty exciting, you bet! What makes this donation a bit more interesting, however, is that the money comes from the employees of the Curtis. The Colorado Center for the Blind was selected to be the beneficiary of the Curtis’s #WeLovetheCurtis giving program. Associates at the Curtis can give in a number of ways, including by payroll deduction or from proceeds from its Friday fund-raiser, the “Lemonade Stand.”

How did CCB get picked for the program, you might ask? Well, from our own Maryann Migliorelli , who is one of those Curtis Hotel employees and also president of the NFB of Colorado Boulder Chapter!

Thanks MaryAnn and all the associates at the Curtis – yes, #WeLovetheCurtis, too!

Got about 20 minutes to be wowed?

We’re just back from our 2016 National Federation of the Blind of Colorado Convention in Lone Tree from October 27 to 30. All staff and students attended and, since we’re an NFB training center (the NFB of Colorado started the Center in 1988), Executive Director Julie Deden always makes a report the the entire convention about all that’s happened in the last year. It’s always a highlight of an affiliate convention that is full of highlights.

This year Julie’s report included this video of 2016 highlights and retrospective of our graduates this year. But you’ll have to wait till the end for the really, really cool part …

Okay, this is really not about finding a girlfriend, but it is about Jackson developing the skills and confidence to be an independent blind person. And what’s not attractive about that? He gives his thoughts on the #HowEyeSeeIt challenge as well.

Does blindness cause people to be unable to tell the difference between water and vinegar? That’s what one #HowEyeSeeIt video concludes. Two of our Home Management Instructors suggest that there’s more than a whiff of the ridiculous in that.

Believe it or not, the HowEyeSeeIt campaign hsows folks who are convinced they couldn’t type without their vision. Elementary thinking, and a pretty basic skill that Matt mastered long ago.

Warren completed his woodshop project this week. We’ll call it a “Littleton Slugger”, which he turned on the mini-lathe. He plans to have all his instructors sign it when he graduates and returns home to Philadelphia.

Wednesday Brigid successfully completed her support drop and Marlene went on her solo drop. Oh yeah, Marlene made it back too.

The national Federation of the Blind turns 75 today!