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Logo of The Friends of The New Jersey Library for the Blind and Handicapped: Within a circle is a family with their pets. Around the circle is our organization name, The Friends of the New Jersey Library for the Blind and Handicapped. THE FRIENDS OF THE NEW JERSEY LIBRARY FOR THE BLIND AND HANDICAPPED
 
SPRING 2012 NEWSLETTER


The Friends of the New Jersey Library for the Blind and Handicapped is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization which promotes financial assistance and acts as an advocacy group for the New Jersey State Library Talking Book and Braille Center (TBBC).

How much do you love the TBBC? Do you want to be a part of a group that helps support TBBC in its efforts to continue providing you with the services you love? We meet twice a year on the first Saturday in June and December. We alternate locations between Mercer County in December and Middlesex County in June to accommodate the northern and southern members. At our meetings we voice our opinions concerning the direction of the Talking Book and Braille Center and learn about TBBC's new developments. The next meeting will be held on Saturday June 2nd from 10 AM to 12 PM followed by lunch from 12 PM to 1 PM at the Grace Lutheran Church, 600 New Brunswick Avenue, Perth Amboy, NJ 08861. Anyone wishing to stay for lunch will be asked to contribute $5.00 towards the cost of the food. Directions are at the end of this newsletter. We look forward to you joining us at our next meeting. For more details and to become a member see our application in this newsletter or on our web site http://www.friendsnjlibraryfortheblind.org. Our E-Mail address is Friendsnjlbh@yahoo.com.

Message from the President

Using the definition a final public act for a swan song, I am writing my last Friends of the NJLBH presidential message. I have been devoted to serving you first as Vice-President and then as President of the Friends of the NJLBH, but as a member I will continue to be active with the Friends.

The Friends motto for me is to enable the disabled to do all things possible in their lives. Since the inception of the Friends of the NJLBH, it has been our purpose to serve the TBBC in every possible way to enhance their programs and serve their patrons.

It has been an honor and a privilege to serve you. During the past years there have been many changes to the library. For instance, a name change, the digital player, and down loads. There have been several accomplishments from the Friends of the NJLBH as fund raisers, advocacy acts, and inviting the author, Mary Jane Clark, to speak at the Fall Festival, to name a few. Remember "We are on line people" as the commercial says. Keep in touch with our website for future meetings and events.

I have enjoyed your enthusiasm and appreciated your support and although I am finishing my term as President, I will continue to take an active role in every capacity.

Thank you for your faith in me.

Elisabeth P. Dougherty

NOMINATING COMMITTEE for JUNE, 2012 ELECTIONS

The following report has been submitted by the Nominating Committee, Jim Dougherty, Pat Kay and Joan Leonard:
Election of officers for The Friends of the New Jersey Library for the Blind and Handicapped, Inc. (Friends) for FY 2012-2014 term will be held at the Spring Meeting on June 2, 2012. Nominations from the floor will be permitted at the time of the Election. But, any member being nominated for an office must have been approached in advance of this meeting and have already expressed a willingness to run. After the election, the President will appoint two (2) at large board members.

All new officers and board members at large will begin their two (2) year terms on July 1st following the spring meeting and election in the even numbered year.

The Friends of the New Jersey Library for the Blind and Handicapped. Inc.
Proposed Election Slate of Candidates for
July 1, 2012 - June 30, 2014
President: Mary Jo Partyka
Vice President: Lauren Casey
Secretary: Ottilie Lucas
Treasurer: Joyce Sowa
New: TBBC Donor Wall

The Friends recently received a request from TBBC to underwrite the cost for the creation of a donor wall in the lobby of the library which will replace the NJLBH sign. According to Library Staff, the donor wall is a vehicle that acknowledges monetary gifts given by patrons or organizations. The Library's goal is to raise $15,000 in donations over a six-month period for this project. In addition to the print lettering on metal acrylic plaques, Braille lettering will be included on all plaques so that the donor wall will be accessible as a tactile mural for all to experience. Because the Friends agree with the library's goal of obtaining funding to support their projects, we agreed to supply the requested funding for the donor wall.

Spotlight

In this new feature, our goal is to spotlight Friends members who have been instrumental in making the Friends organization flourish. This month we are spotlighting Lauren Casey who was the first library patron to become president of the Friends. "I have been a member of the Friends of the NJLBH since it was established," stated Lauren. "I think our organization is important because it supports the library and the interests of our patrons. In the past we were instrumental in obtaining grants which supported the purchase of an outreach van, foreign language books and the establishment of the RTAC center which is used to familiarize and evaluate blind persons for the purchase of equipment which can enhance their work and daily living skills. In addition, the Friends provided funds for programs like the Children's Story Hour, deaf-blind services and Audiovision and sponsored the Library's Fall Festivals and Volunteer Dinners."

In addition to being an avid reader, Lauren is a past president of the New Jersey Council of the Blind and an active member of the Advisory Council for the Personal Assistance Program which is under the auspices of the Division of Developmental Disabilities and the State Rehabilitation Council (SRC). "I feel privileged to be part of this organization and would like to see our membership grow."

Options for Reading the Friends Newsletter

Options for reading our newsletter: Large Print, Cassette, E-mail, on our website, http://friendsnjlibraryfortheblind.org and on Newsline. The newsletters are recorded at normal speed and can be played on any commercial cassette recorder. To access the Friends Newsletter on Newsline call into the service via the local dial up number provided when you signed up. If you don't remember your local number or have questions about Newsline, call the Newsline headquarters in Baltimore at 1-866-504-7300. If you wish to change the medium in which you receive the newsletter, please complete and return the attached membership form.

Annual Dues are Due June 1st

To our members: The Friends Fiscal year begins on July 1, 2012 through June 30, 2013. To be an active member of The Friends, please pay your dues. This year we are requesting dues for Individual members of $10.00 and Family of $25.00. Checks should be made payable to The Friends of the NJLBH. Even if you are a current member, dues need to be paid. Attached to this newsletter is a membership form that needs to be completed by everyone. A form is also available on our website (http://friendsnjlibraryfortheblind.org). If you have any questions about your membership status or anything else Friends, please call us at 609-895-1048. Thank You.

A Heartfelt Thank You

The Friends of NJLBH would like to thank the following people for their generous donation: Harry Kyriakoudis & Family, John Taylor & Family

Directions to June Meeting

Grace Lutheran Church
600 New Brunswick Ave.
Perth Amboy, NJ 08861

Cross Street "Convery Blvd."
Take Route #1 to Route 287
Take 287 south ramp to NJ 440/interstate 95/Raritan Center/ Perth Amboy
Merge onto 287 South
Continue onto 440 North
Exit onto US 9 north
Take New Brunswick Avenue exit toward Perth Amboy/Fords
Turn left at County Road 616/New Brunswick Ave.
Church is at 600 New Brunswick Ave.

We want to hear from you

The Executive Board of the Friends wants to hear from you! We welcome your comments, suggestions and thoughts on what the Friends are doing for the Library and what you think of our newsletters too. We welcome your comments by email to Friendsnjlbh@yahoo.com or call at 609-895-1048 or write us at PO Box 434 Woodbridge, NJ 07095. We look forward to hearing from you!

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THE FRIENDS OF THE NJ LIBRARY for the BLIND MEMBERSHIP FORM

Name: _______________________________________________

Address:________________________________________________

City, State, Zip:___________________________________________

Telephone (with area code):_________________________________

E-mail address:__________________________________________

Preferred Media Format: LP_______    Tape_______    or E-mail______ or None I will read online_____

I am eligible for NJLBH Services: Yes ___ No ___

Individual Member $10.00 ___

Family Membership $25.00 ___

Donation $ _________

Donation in Memory or Honor of:

Name: _______________________________________________

Send acknowledgment for memorial gift to:

Name:_________________________________________________

Address:________________________________________________

City, State, Zip: __________________________________________

I have made a bequest in my will _____

Please return this form together with your check payable to:

The Friends of the NJLBH
PO Box 434, Woodbridge, NJ 07095