Image of Dragonfly
MARCH,APRIL 2022
WE HAVE OUR FIRST MINI-GRANT RECIEPIENT
SAID HAS A NEW COMPUTER
by Said
I decided to apply when I received the email of an application for a mini pell grant. I thought it would be a great idea since I’ve been wanting to purchase a laptop for a few years. 

This grant helped me purchase a Dell laptop, Microsoft Windows.

Photo-Said with new computer
This will help me excel personally and professionally as I plan to turn this hard work and practice into reality by working. Once I am fully comfortable with learning I plan to demonstrate it in terms of forming income through TBI, Tennessee Business Enterprise. I will be taking a course at TBI which will then allow me to work in management. 

I work on my laptop every day so I can get comfortable with it and work towards my goal. 

I am beyond appreciative that I was chosen for this min- grant and am thankful for everyone that made this happen.
Most Vibes events continue to be held via Zoom
A calendar of events is sent to members at the end of each month. The Zoom link is listed on the calendar next to the event

MARCH CALENDAR
1-Board Meeting, 6:00 pm
2-Last day to RSVP General Meeting
4-General Meeting;7:00 pm
6, 20-Fitness with Vibes; 3:00 pm
11-Next Steps Celebration; 6:00 pm
15-Last day for Mini-Grant Submissions
12 & 25-RS Game Night; 7:00 pm
13 & 27-Chat On the Porch; 7:30 pm
15-Last day for Mini-Grant Submissions
18-Leadership Meeting; 7:00 pm
20-Book Club-7:30 pm; 7:00 pm
21-General Meeting
24-The Hub-7:00 pm
27-Walk With Delta Gamma; 2:00 pm (RSVP by 3/23)

APRIL CALENDAR
2-Last day to RSVP General Meeting
4-General Meeting;7:00 pm
5-Board Meeting 6:00 pm, in person at the Buckleys'
6 & 20-Fitness with Vibes; 3:00 pm
8 & 22-RS Game Night; 7:00 pm
10 & 24-Walks with Delta Gamma; 2:00 pm, (RSVP by 4/6 & 4/20)
13 & 27-Chat On the Porch; 7:30 pm
15-Last day for Mini-Grant Submissions
18-Leadership Meeting; 7:00 pm
20-Book Club-7:30 pm
24-The Hub-7:00 pm
27-Walk With Delta Gamma; 2:00 pm


WHAT IS NEW THIS MONTH ON OUR BLOG PAGE?

TEN FACTS ABOUT BRAILLE
A belief is developing today that Braille is becoming obsolete with the development of text-to-speech software becoming more reliable and easier to use. Click here to read John's blog

AND YOU WANT TO KNOW ABOUT MY SEX LIFE?
When we visit the doctor we are often asked to fill out a fairly detailed description of our health including some rather personal habits. Well, if you are blind or visually impaired an employee will often come out to the waiting room and ask you the questions orally. What is John's experience with this public display of his information? Click Here to read John's blog

COMMENTS
We would like to hear from you. Add your comments at http://club-vibes.org/blog/ or at the blog on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/groups/clubvibesgroup/

SUBSCRIBE
To guarantee that you do not miss any of our blogs, you can subscribe to them on our website, http://club-vibes.org/blog/
NEWS
BLIND AND LOW VISION EXTREME ATHLETES
WHAT IT'S LIKE TO SKI NEARLY BLIND
If you watched the slalom skiers in the Olympics flying downhill at 70 MPH, weaving between the poles, it is hard to imagine that there is a blind slalom skier participating in this event in the Paralympics which begin March 4. You can watch on NBC each evening. Downhill skiing is listed every day but slalom is not specifically named. The skier is Millie Knight. She has a tiny slit of vision in one eye that allows her to see the bright orange jacket of her guide which she then follows. Click here to continue reading the article in the New York Times.

AT 65 AND LEGALLY BLIND, "SISTER SHRED" HAS NEVER MET A SLOPE SHE WOULDN'T RIDE
Kris Nordberg, AKA Sister Shred, rides the trails in the neighborhoods and foothills around Denver. She has enough peripheral vision to allow her to see people, shapes, and colors in the trail ahead if her head is turned to the correct angle. Occasionally, she asks other riders to lay a bright orange strap on the trail to help her follow the route. Click here to continue reading the article in the New York Times.

MINI-GRANT APPLICATION DEADLINES ARE MARCH 15 AND APRIL 15
Club VIBES is currently accepting applications for mini-grants. Current and past members can apply for up to $1500 to allow them to pursue classes, training, or equipment that will contribute to improvement in employability, independence, or quality of life. Applications can be requested by email at info@club-vibes.org . Write "Club-VIBES mini-grant application" in the subject line of the email. Applications can be submitted by the 15th of each month for evaluation by the mini-grant committee.

THE HUB IS OFF TO A GREAT START
by Owen 
The Hub is an event that takes place on ZOOM on the fourth Thursday of each month. There have been two meetings so far. The Hub is for teenagers from the age of 13-17 years old. The purpose of the Hub is to get teenagers who are visually impaired or blind together to chat with each other. The first two Hub meetings have gone very well. In the first meeting, we had 21 participants. We talked about the purpose of the Hub and other topics that popped up during the meeting. The 2nd meeting was just as good as the first. We had 20 participants, and again, we discussed topics that popped up during the meeting. We have started off very successfully, and we hope to continue with our success.
MEMBERS
Club VIBES provides members the opportunity to be very busy. Since most activities take place over Zoom, finding a ride is not an issue. In addition to Book Club, Chat on the Porch, and member meetings, we have resumed Fitness on Zoom (currently, Fit for Battle) and game night. Walks with Delta Gamma have resumed for an in-person, outdoor activity. Check the calendar for dates and times of these events.

RS GAME NIGHT
RS Games has made many popular games such as Monopoly, Scrabble, Apples to Apples, Uno, and many others that are accessible to blind and low vision players. These games are played online using the screen readers JAWS or VoiceOver. They can also be played from the browser for those not needing a screen reader. Vibes members meet bi-monthly for a very competitive and fun night. It seems that Apples to Apples is emerging as an early favorite. To learn more about how to play RS games, to download the RS app, and to participate in game night, click here.

BOOK CLUB
The book club meets on the fourth Sunday of each month at 7:30 pm. Members select a different book each month and meet to discuss it. The book for February was Hole and for March it is The Lightning Thief by Percy Jackson. There is still time to read this book before the March 20 meeting.

FITNESS FOR VIBES
Join fellow Vibes members for Sunday afternoon fitness. The format is to compete with others while playing Fit For Battle. This online game provides a workout while you run and jump while battling orcs, goblins and dragons. You can download the app to your iPhone at the Apple App store or by clicking here.

WALKS WITH DELTA GAMMA
Our first activity to resume in person gathering will be Sunday afternoon walks with members of Delta Gamma on March 27, April 10, and April 24. On March 27 we will meet at 2:00 pm in the parking area of West Side Learning Center at 513 Vanosdale next to West Hills Elementary School. We will walk on the greenway behind the school. Please RSVP Macy at mgouge2@vols.utk.edu
TECH AND MEDIA
LABELING DOTS
A lot of the equipment we use every day now come with flat touch screens that make it impossible for those who are blind or have limited vision to use without some modifications. One easy way to make these things accessible is to mark important locations on the screen with labeling dots. These come in various sizes and shapes and can be placed on touchpads to show the locations of on/off buttons, temperature selections, and special functions. Click here for a link to the article in the journal, "Everyday Sight," that provides information on different kinds of dots and where you can order them.