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 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER,  2016


NOVEMBER 
27-Turn in flower orders 4-6 pm at Sue's house
29-Delta Gamma Holiday Party

DECEMBER
3-Catalyst Sports Rock Climbing, 10:00-12:00, Riversports
5-Flower pick-up at Sue's, beginning at 12:00 noon
13-Indoor Rock Climbing, 6:00-8:00pm, Onsite Gym (see details below)
17-Sled Hockey
23-Knox County School break begins

 WISHES FOR A HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON TO YOU AND YOUR LOVED ONES 
     FROM THE BOARD AND MEMBERS OF CLUB VIBES
Freedom to Fly Blog
WHAT IS NEW THIS MONTH ON OUR BLOG PAGE?

WHAT ARE YOU DOING BEHIND THAT CURTAIN?
Let me assure you at the outset that this is not a blog about politics. I'm not commenting on the election or results. Instead, I'm going to look at what goes on behind the curtain when you're trying to vote as a blind person. Traditionally, whether you were using an ... Read More


GREAT HOLIDAY GIFT IDEAS 2016
As I'm writing this, my wife is unpacking Holiday decorations and has Christmas music playing on Pandora. The air in our house is just soggy with good will and love of our fellow man. The only problem with all of this seasonal festiveness is that it means that shopping is ... Read More

KNOWLEDGE BEFORE COLLEGE (PART 1)
As a high-school student, Sarah Holloway was one of the founding members of Club VIBES. She has received her B.S. in microbiology from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. This is Part One of an article written by Sarah as a guest writer for "Freed to Fly". Making the transition from ... Read More



WE WELCOME YOUR COMMENTS
Please share your experiences about these topics in the comments section on the blog page.
 

NEWS
WHAT A GREAT TRIP! 

            Photo: Ready to Roll--setting out for the Washington DC National Mall

After months of planning and fund raising, we have completed our trip to Washington DC and it was GREAT! Seven VIBES members, along with family members and pilots took advantage of fall break to visit our nation's capital October 8-11. We hardly stopped to breathe for 4 days. Shortly after arriving on Saturday, we hopped on the metro to Downton DC where we attended a live political satire called Capital Steps. Then, early the next morning we were off on our bicycles and rode on the Mt. Vernon Trail to the Washington Mall where we were very glad to have bikes to travel between the museums and monuments that we visited. We were quite a sight, 26 bicycles, in a long line, wearing our bright green Club VIBES jerseys and jackets. Our first visit was to the  American Museum of American History where we had a special tour for visually impaired visitors. This was followed by bicycling along the mall to visit the many monuments. Our day ended with dinner with Blake Bivens, a graduate of Farragut High School and MTSU who now lives in DC, working for the FBI.  He provided a living example that blind people can live an interesting and independent life, especially if they are willing to leave their own back yard.
            Photo: We walked our bikes along the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall

Monday we were again off early, but this time traveling by Metro so that we could experience how those with limited vision can travel independently around the city.  We had a wonderful "hands-on" tour of the Air and Space Museum followed by an afternoon visiting areas of special interest in small groups.  The day ended with an exciting adventure--an after dark bicycle tour of the mall to view the buildings and monuments that are lit up at night.  We were joined by an international group attending the Global Sports Mentoring Program led by UT professor Ashleigh Huffman.  We enjoyed meeting and talking with students from all over the world. It was really a sight, a line of 30 bicycles with blinking lights riding along the mall at night.

Photo: Visiting Einstein

Before we knew it, Tuesday, our last day was here. We had a special tour of the Capital with a wonderful guide who included many touching opportunities and provided excellent descriptions of things that could not be touched (like the dome). By noon, our tours were complete and we started on the long drive back to Knoxville.

                                Photo:The night ride with our new friends

Club VIBES wishes to extend a special thanks to all who helped make this trip possible by buying flowers in the spring, ordering holiday wreaths and poinsettias, attending the Belk Charity Day sales, and stepping up as partners of Club VIBES. This trip would not have been possible without all of your support.  THANK YOU!

Over the next months, we will feature reports from the VIBES members who participated in the trip.  
Visiting the Capitol
by Nicole
On the last day of the trip we took a tour of the US Capitol especially adapted for
Photo of Capitol
those who are visually impaired.  The guide did a wonderful job adapting the tour to those of us who were visually impaired.  He engaged us with interesting facts and 
included many descriptions that enabled us to "visualize" what we could not see. There were also many "touch" opportunities.  

Club VIBES AT THE ADVENTURE SPORTS EXPO
Thanks to Catalyst Sports, those with disabilities were able to experience a variety of
Photo: Nicole trying out an adapted bicycle
sports adapted to enable participation by those in wheelchairs, amputees, visually impaired, and various other disabilities.  Club VIBES participated in the Expo by offering rides on tandems and organizing a beeping kickball game which proved to be one of the most popular events of the day. Thank you pilots and other Club VIBES volunteers for helping us out.


VOLUNTEER THANK YOU PARTY
Club VIBES could not provide the programs and activities that we offer without the help
Photo: Sue presents volunteer award to Sarah
of our volunteers.  

On Friday, November 18 we gathered to honor these volunteers. Each year we host this party to enjoy celebrating our victories and accomplishments with the folks that make it all possible.  Sarah Holloway was honored with a plaque recognizing the many volunteer "projects" she has done for Club VIBES.  Other volunteers honored were Linda Attanasio, Ruben and Arlene Hernandez, and Patti Anderson. 

We enjoyed great refreshments, sharing stories, and catching up with each other.  

Thanks to Linda and Ron Attanasio for making their home available to Club VIBES for this occasion.

SPOTLIGHT
MEET OUR NEW MEMBER, JACOBY
 Jacoby joined Club VIBES in October and has been very active since then, especially enjoying the recreational activities of tandem bicycling and beeping kickball. He has also been working with Sue, learning how to set up his household for independent living.  As a social person, Jacoby has enjoyed meeting people and attending the social events that Club VIBES offers.  In his free time, he enjoys cooking, going to the movies (he is learning about descriptive video), and walking around downtown practicing his mobility skills.

Future plans for Jacoby include going to grad school (he graduated from Carson Newman University), and traveling the country and the world.

 Jacoby has a wonderful role model to follow.  His grandmother is Helen Ashe, one of the founders of the Love Kitchen that provides meals and assistance to those in need in Knoxville. 

Welcome, Jacoby!

MEMBERS CORNER
SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITY
High school seniors and current college students, there is  a scholarship available to legally blind residents of East Tennessee who are seniors or already in college or vocational programs. The Debbie Van Cleave  scholarship is in memory of a former blind student that attended Knox County Schools and is administered by the East Tennessee Foundation. Applications must be completed and submitted online before February 15, 2017. For details about the scholarship and for the online application, click here and then click on the Receive Tab followed by the Scholarships Tab. The East Tennessee Foundation lists about 60 other scholarships for which you can also apply.

GOOD FOOD FOLLOWING TANDEM BIKING
October 23 was a beautiful day for tandem biking on Cherokee Blvd. We welcomed two new members that were brave enough to try their skills as stokers on the tandems. In addition to riding, we enjoyed hanging out, getting to know each other, and especially the feast that followed. Thanks to all who brought dishes of food to share, especially the ladies of Delta Gamma who cooked some great dishes including fantastic banana pudding. A special thanks to the pilots. Without you, there would be no tandem rides.
 
    Photo: Tandem bicyclers                            Photo: Enjoying the potluck after the ride

GREAT TURNOUT FOR BEEPING KICKBALL
VIBES partnered with UT athletes for a game of Beeping Kickball on November 13 at Safety City. We thank the ladies from Delta Gamma and the UT athletes for joining us in this adaptation of kickball.  All players were blindfolded to even "the playing field". This was a lot of fun for everyone! 

Photo: Beeping Kickball Players
INDOOR ROCK CLIMBING CONTINUES
There are now two places available for you to participate in indoor rock climbing. Riversports Outfitters on Sutherland Ave offers their indoor rock climbing program for persons with disabilities on the first Saturday of every month from 10:00am until 12:00pm. There is a $10 fee which covers equipment, coaching and time on the wall. There are scholarships available. For more information or to register,  click here

The second place offering adapted indoor rock climbing on the second Tuesday of each month is Onsite Gym at  5335 Western Avenue. Call 888-9123 for more information.  C lick here  for the online waiver,

Both location's adaptive programs are offered in conjunction with Catalyst Sports.

CLUB VIBES HOLIDAY PARTY
November 29 is the date of our holiday party hosted by Delta Gamma. Bring your family, favorite covered dish, dress in festive holiday wear, be prepared to "show your socks" and maybe win the prize. We will enjoy the season with games, food, and songs. 

The party is from 6:00-8:30 pm at the Delta Gamma House at 2906 Sorority Village Circle. Parking is across the street at the UT Visitor Center, 2712 Neyland Dr.

SUPPORT CATALYST SPORTS 
Make plans to attend the Knoxville Ice Bears hockey game on December 17, a fund raiser for Catalyst Sports and Sled Hockey. This is your chance to "pay it forward", thanking Catalyst for their help in organizing sports opportunities for those with disabilities such as the Indoor Rock Climbing that many of us enjoy.  Tickets must be purchased online using the Promo Code SLED. Click here to buy tickets.
FUNDRAISING
THERE IS STILL TIME TO ORDER!
Our annual poinsettia and wreath sale is in progress.  This is one of our biggest fundraising events and we ask you to please consider ordering. You will not only enjoy large, beautiful plants and wreaths, but you will also help us to continue to carry out programs that help our members lead independent lives.

We are taking orders for holiday poinsettias and natural wreaths until November 27 with delivery on December 5. Contact Sue or any VIBES board or club members. Poinsettias will be in foil covered pots for $15.00 each. They are beautiful; huge and covered with blooms. They will be available in Candy Cane (mix of white and red), Red, or White. 

  
     Photo: Candy Cane Poinsettias                            Photo: Red Poinsettias,  White Poinsettias  

In addition, we will also be taking orders for fresh wreaths. They will be $20.00 for 12", the perfect size for the front door or over the fireplace and $15.00 for an 8" wreath which are great on windows. 
                                    
                                                     Photo:  Natural  Wreath                                                    

TECH NEWS
NHTSA SETS 'QUIET CAR' SAFETY STANDARD TO PROTECT PEDESTRIANS
"New requirement of audible alert will help prevent 2,400 pedestrian injuries a year".

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) today announced that it is adding a sound requirement for all newly manufactured hybrid and electric light-duty vehicles to help protect pedestrians. The new  federal safety standard will help pedestrians who are blind, have low vision, and other pedestrians detect the presence, direction and location of these vehicles when they are traveling at low speeds, which will help prevent about 2,400 pedestrian injuries each year once all hybrids in the fleet are properly equipped.
THANK YOU TO OUR PROGRAM PARTNERS FOR 2016

PLATINUM
GOLD
SILVER
DRAGONFLY
 
Sherbakoff Nalls Group

ANONYMOUS



Arnold Cohen,
Attorney at Law

Dr. Bruce Gilliland