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SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER,  2017
                                                          SEPTEMBER
12-Board Meeting
14-Deadline to register for Anthem 5k (details below)
15-Young Professionals Karaoke, 6:30 pm (details below)
16-Adventure Sports Expo, Victor Ashe Park
17-No Tandem b iking
26-Disability Life Planning Workshop; 6:00 pm, Courtyard by Marriott;  details below
30-NFC training Day/Anthem Virtual 5k, Lakeshore Park, 9:00 am-12:00 pm

OCTOBER
7-NFC Training Day, West Hills Elementary, 9:00 am
7-Indoor Rock Climbing, Riversports, $5, 10:00 am-12:00 pm
14-NFC Training Day, Ijams, 10:00 am  
15-Turning Leaf Bike Tour, contact Sue for details
22-Tandem biking/walking, DG picnic, Cherokee Blvd, 2:00 pm; RSVP Sue
27-Halloween Karaoke, Asia Cafe West. 6:00 pm
28-Annual Board Planning meeting, 9:00 am
29-NFC Training Day, TBA

TO KEEP UP TO DATE ON LATEST CALENDAR CHANGES, CONSULT OUR WEBSITE OFTEN club-vibes.org

Freedom to Fly Blog
WHAT IS NEW THIS MONTH ON OUR BLOG PAGE?

LAWRENCE OF ARABIA AND THE ROAD TO HELL
Blind and visually impaired students graduate from high school with a different set of experiences than their sighted peers. This month's blog outlines one important way in which the best of intentions may go astray. read blog

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


NEWS
NATIONAL FITNESS CHALLENGE UPDATES
CLUB VIBES CONTINUES TO HOLD THE LEAD
For each of the five months of "stepping", as participants in the The National Fitness Challenge, Club VIBES has been in first place every month with the most total steps taken by our 25 member team, beating the other 12 teams by wide margins.  Our total number of steps in July was 8,507,285 and in August, 8.8 million. Team members have been creative in ways to continue stepping in spite of the summer heat. Popular strategies for beating the heat have been to walk in the mall, early or late in the day, on a treadmill, repeatedly around a circuit in the house, and even walk in place in the house.  Now that fall is here, walkers are returning to the outdoors. 


GROUP WALKS RESUME
On September 30, Club VIBES National Fitness Challenge team resumes outdoor group walks to help us get our steps in, and also prepare us for the Subway Race Against Cancer, a 5k on November 12. Let Sue or Sarah know if you and your guide want to participate in the 5k. Our group walks will be in a variety of interesting and scenic locations such as; 
           9/30-Lakeshore Park, 9:00-12:00
          10/7-9:00-12:00
          10/14-10:00-12:00
We thank coach Missy for organizing and leading our walks.
 
   
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR MONTHLY WINNERS 
Each month two NFC team members are chosen and highlighted for their accomplishments in either stepping the most steps, showing the most effort, showing the most improvement, or other criteria. The winners for July were Valerie Kuentz and Jacoby Yarboro.  August winners were Tim Jones and Theresa Angelino.  Thanks to our winners. They really helped push us into first place.


LIFE PLANNING WORKSHOP
Attorney Jim McCarten, who specializes in trust planning, and a representative from TN Able will present information on Special Needs Trusts and the new TN Able savings plan. The workshop will be held 
September 26, 6:00 pm 
Courtyard Marriott
216 Langley Pl
Knoxville 37922

Please join us to learn more about options to fund the future of your special needs family member. 
RSVP (required) or questions, email  Cathy Snell cathy@nallssherbakoff.com or call at 865-691-0898

DELTA GAMMA HOSTS BACK TO SCHOOL PARTY
What fun we had dressing like hippies, playing games, eating, and singing karaoke at the back to school party at the Delta Gamma House. Thank You Delta Gamma!!
   
Photo-"Hippie Sarah" singing                  Photo-showing Illya and Jacoby

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
There is a need for volunteers to help with the Adventure Sports Expo on September 16 from 9-3 at Victor Ashe Park.  Jobs include helping with registration, setting up and taking down, and helping with activities such as yoga, golf, disc golf, bicycling, and beeping kickball and many more.  Especially needed are volunteer pilots. It you can come, register here and let Sue know if you can be there from 12-3 and if you can bring a tandem.  To register,  click here 
SPOTLIGHT
PAIGE'S TESTIMONIAL ABOUT THE NATIONAL FITNESS CHALLENGE
Paige, 13 years old, is the youngest member of the Club VIBES National Fitness Team (NFC). She was very excited about being a participant in the National Fitness Challenge from the start. She especially loves wearing her Fitbit and feeling the vibration that signals when she has met her daily goal of 10,000 steps.

The goal of the National Fitness Challenge is to raise the activity level of the blind and visually impaired and that's exactly what it has done for Paige -- it's raised her activity level. But it's also so much more than that: the Challenge has given way to a lifestyle change for the entire Conley family. Sometimes, Paige and her mom Dawn go on walks with Club VIBES.  Other times, just Paige and Dawn walk giving them some cherished mother-daughter time which is hard to come by with the demands of homework and other commitments. Occasionally the Conleys will stroll as a family including her 18 year-old brother and dad. Through the Club VIBES walks Paige has met another girl that she also enjoys walking with.

Paige was excited as she talked about a cruise she and her family were about to embark on, all the way to Mexico.  When asked about walking and wearing the Fitbit while on vacation, Paige didn't miss a beat or hesitate at all.  "I'm going to walk on the track, if the boat has one," Paige said. "And I'll go to all the different shops."
The cruise won't stop her from getting her steps in, Paige said. The NFC has helped Paige in other ways in addition to motivating her to have increased activity.  Her legs have become stronger which has improved her gait and she has lost weight and inches around her waist.  Not only Paige, but the entire Conley family has benefited from the NFC by adopting a healthier diet and increased activity for everyone.

MEMBERS CORNER
VIBES MEMBERS, PUT THESE ACTIVITIES ON YOUR CALENDAR
ANOTHER "STEPPING" OPPORTUNITY
USABA would like to invite you to participate in a nationwide virtual 5k with National Fitness Challenge supporter, Anthem! On Saturday, September 30, join hundreds of others running and walking the Fit Anthem 5k nationwide.

What? A virtual 5k race happening across the nation!
When?  Saturday, September 30, 2017- 10 am 
Where? Right where you are! 
Since it's a virtual 5k, you can run or walk in your neighborhood, on a treadmill at the gym or in your home, with friends 
and family, or solo!
Who? You! We're recruiting individuals who are blind and visually impaired of all  ages and fitness levels to run with us on September 30. You can walk or run!
How? By September 14th, register online:  Click here for more details and to register.

ADVENTURE SPORTS EXPO
Catalyst Sports is once again sponsoring an expo to showcase sports opportunities and adaptations available to those with any disability. It will be on September 16th, 10:00 am-3:00 pm at Victor Ashe Park. Club VIBES will be joining in on the Expo, demonstrating beeping kickball and tandem biking. This is a chance to have all kinds of fun with adaptive sports, such as  blind golf, beeping kickball and much more. Come, play and help us out.




Photo-Adventure Sports Expo Flyer



MOVIES ON MARKET SQUARE
Ladies from Delta Gamma will offer video descriptions of the Friday night movies on Market Square Mall.  The movies are free! Bring your chairs, come and enjoy an evening of fun and friends.  Dates and further details to come.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ILLYA AND KARAOKE
We would like everyone to come out and celebrate Illya's birthday. We will meet at  Asia Cafe West,  8111 Gleason Drive  at 6:30 for dinner (at your expense) and birthday cake before Karaoke night which begins at 8:00.  Karaoke is an activity of the Young Professional group and is free with the expectation that you will order something, maybe a beverage and a snack.  Be sure you have RSVP Sue so we will have room for everyone.
FUNDRAISING
DELTA GAMMA SPONSORS ANCHOR SPLASH  
Thank you to Delta Gamma for all your support for our organization. You ladies are awesome! Read the following testimonial from one of the DG members.

"Th is week is all about our national philanthropy, Service for Sight, and our local philanthropy, Club VIBES (visually impaired/ blind enhanced services). Club VIBES is something that is special to every Delta Gamma member. We have grown so close to the members of VIBES. Not only do we raise money for them so they can keep helping their members, but we actually take the time to get to meet with them and get to know them. Last year at the Anchor Man pageant (one of the nights of Anchor Splash) a member of VIBES got to speak to the crowd and tell her story. I felt that her story helped everyone see what we were really there for. We weren't there to make fun of other Greek chapters. We weren't there to hang out with our friends. We were there because we are raising money for a cause."

Thank you Delta Gamma for working so hard to support the programs of Club VIBES.


BELK CHARITY SALE
The next Belk Charity sale is scheduled for Saturday, November 4. Tickets are $5.00 and will be available from Club VIBES board members with the complete ticket price going to Club VIBES. 

WE HAVE COOL CLUB VIBES MERCHANDISE FOR SALE
How can you "be cool" and help VIBES at the same time?  By buying some of our unique items with the VIBES Logo such as t-shirts, caps, cup holder coasters, or microfiber golf towels.  Email Sue with your order.


                              
 Photo of Car Coasters $2.50 each                      Photo of Golf Towels $18.00


                         
        Photo of Cap $10.00                           Photo of Freedom to Fly T-shirt $20.00                                  
BACK TO SCHOOL TIPS
TRANSITIONING FROM HIGH SCHOOL TO COLLEGE
Here is a good article from APH that explains the role of Vocational Rehab in your support system after leaving high school.

VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION SERVICES FOR COLLEGE BOUND STUDENTS WHO ARE BLIND OR VISUALLY IMPAIRED
Right now, your support system may include a teacher of students with visual impairments, an orientation and mobility specialist, a guidance counselor, and your subject area teachers. These professionals are in charge of preparing you for adulthood and making sure you will have the necessary skills to succeed as a future employee who is blind or visually impaired in the workforce. 

After you graduate from high school, you will be in charge of creating a new support system for your adult needs. An important resource you can access for support is the vocational rehabilitation agency in your state.  Continue Reading

THANK YOU TO OUR PROGRAM PARTNERS FOR 2016-17

PLATINUM
GOLD
SILVER
DRAGONFLY
 
Sherbakoff Nalls Group

ANONYMOUS



Arnold Cohen,
Attorney at Law

Dr. Bruce Gilliland