Club Vibes Logo

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER,  2017
NOVEMBER CALENDAR
1-Walking with Delta Gamma; West Town Mall, 6:00-8:00 PM
4 -Indoor Rock Climbing, Riversports, 10:00 AM-12:00 PM, $5.00
5-NFC Training Day, Safety City; details below
8- Walking with Delta Gamma; West Town Mall, 6:00-8:00 PM
12-Subway Race, 5k; World Fair Park, 3:00-5:00 PM
17-Volunteer thank-you party; details below 
No tandem biking in November  

DECEMBER CALENDAR
5-Delta Gamma holiday party for VIBES members, 6:00-8:00 PM, details below
21-January 5-Knox County winter break

CALENDAR UPDATES
Events are continually added and sometimes dates and times change. To be sure you do not miss anything, check the calendar on our website which is kept up to date on all changes.  To view,  click here and then click on Events Calendar
Freedom to Fly Blog
WHAT IS NEW THIS MONTH ON OUR BLOG PAGE?

WHEN SAYING "YES" MEANS "NO"
There is a thin line between squelching enthusiasm for a goal that, while daunting, might still be achievable for a blind child and cheerleading them down a path that is guaranteed to lead nowhere.   Read Blog


NEWS
NFC (NATIONAL FITNESS CHALLENGE) UPDATE

WE ARE STILL  #1!
Club VIBES continues to hold the lead for the highest number of monthly steps taken by each of the 13 teams in the National Fitness Challenge. Our team members stepped 7,407,477 times in October.  The next closest team total was 6,454,575 steps taken by St. Louis. In addition to dedicated team members who continue to meet and surpass their daily goals, our awesome coach, Missy Kane, plans weekly group "training walks" to help us meet our step goal while enjoying a variety of local areas such as Lakeshore Park, and Ijams. In addition to adding to our step count, these walks are helping us get into shape for the November 12 Subway Race Against Cancer, a 5k that we will participate in. We also thank Delta Gamma for leading walks on Wednesday evenings at West Town Mall.  

CLUB VIBES participation in the NFC has had benefits beyond those experienced by team members. For example, 
- Ilya said "A couple of my teachers got fitbits  so that they can follow my example". 
- The entire Conley family is participating along with team member Paige and they report weight loss and an opportunity for extra family time. 
-The wounded warriors (who serve as guides) have expressed that their participation has give them a goal to work for.  

Only one month to go!

        Photo: Walkers gathering for Ijams walk    Photo: Jacoby, Mike and guides stepping 


OUR SEPTEMBER NFC WINNERS ARE...
The top steppers for September are McKenzie Ayers and Cierra Bordner. Thanks to both of you for helping us remain the monthly national winners.

AND FOR OCTOBER
NFC winners for October are Jeremy Irick and Yira Gomez.   Jeremy has done solid stepping throughout the competition and has maintained his fitness level despite his family's hectic schedule.  Yira has also done solid stepping and has taken it upon herself to increase her fitness levels by signing up for several virtual 5K races.

WALKING, TANDEM RIDING, AND EATING
Walking and riding along Cherokee Blvd was a perfect way to spend a beautiful Sunday afternoon in October, especially since a bounteous potluck was the reward for exercising.  We had a large turnout (56) of Vibes members, families, volunteer guides, Delta Gamma and Vol Leaders who served as walking guides, and tandem pilots to help NFC team members reach and surpass their goals.  Thanks to all who participated and helped, and especially to those who brought the delicious dishes for us to share.


Photo: Getting ready for Cherokee Blvd walk    Photo: Ed and Allison, tandem peddlers


Photo: There they go, stepping along Cherokee Blvd

DID YOU TASTE THAT EXTRAORDINARY PEANUT BUTTER PIE?
There have been many requests for the recipe for the delicious peanut butter pie that Jacoby made and brought to the picnic.  This is a family recipe that Jacoby is happy to share.

The recipe for the peanut butter pie is a family recipe and it goes as follows:
1-8oz. cream cheese 
1-1/2c. powdered sugar
1c. creamy peanutbutter 
1regular size tub of cool whip 
Mix all the ingredients together until it is a creamy brown look.  Once you have combined all the ingredients, pour contents into a graham cracker or chocolate pie crust.  Once you have placed the contents into the crust, smooth out.  Once completed, cover the pie and allow 3 hours to settle in the refrigerator.  Pie is now ready to serve!!!   

Thanks, Jacoby!
FRISBEES, KICKBALLS, AND TANDEM BICYCLE RIDES
Club VIBES members, volunteers form Delta Gamma and UT Vol Leaders, and others with various disabilities tried their hands at a variety of sports at the Catalyst Adventure Sports Expo. Club VIBES demonstrated beeping kickball, frisbee golf, and tandem bicycling. In addition, Missy Kane led a group walk. Thanks to all who helped.
null               Photo: IIya fires off a frisbee                             Photo:Sarah trying for a frisbee goal

IN THE MEDIA
VIBES member Allison Alexander was featured in an article in the fall issue of the Blount County HORIZON. To view the article  click here. This will bring up the entire magazine. Scroll through until reaching the article about Allison on page 42.

VISITING TY
A group from Club VIBES traveled to Johnson City to visit the Reese Museum, an art museum at ETSU that had an interest in making their exhibits more accessible to blind and visually impaired visitors.  VIBE member Ty, now a student at ETSU, tipped Sue off about this exhibit. An impromptu group filled Sue's van for a combined visit to the museum and a visit with Ty.  The visitors were very impressed with the adaptations made by the museum in offering audible descriptions and tactual models of many of the pieces of art displayed.  The  link to the audio descriptions of the exhibit, New Subjectivity that we viewed are available by  clicking here . This does require that you set up an account with Sound Cloud that carries the descriptions.

 Ty is doing great at ETSU and says "Hi", to all at Club VIBES.  

Photo: Vibes group in art museum                Photo: Sue explores tactile drawing of painting
MEMBERS CORNER
YOUNG PROFESSIONALS AND COLLEGE GROUP
September and October have been busy months for the Club VIBES young professional and college group! From moving people into new housing,  people heading away for school,  regularly scheduled activities and a few extra unplanned things, we have managed to keep very busy. This September we welcomed back a member of Club VIBES who returned to Knoxville- Michael Milley, by moving him into his new apartment in the downtown Knoxville area. We also celebrated Illya's birthday by unleashing some vocal abilities at karaoke!  Being able to join in and celebrate this awesome guy's birthday was a spectacular occasion. 

We have resumed group walks as a preparation for the Subway Race Against Cancer 5k on November 12, as well as keeping in contact with one another and helping us meet our step goals. One Friday night we met downtown for Movies on the Square iwith the Delta Gammas. We were able to check out the movie Guardian's of the Galaxy, and the DG's provided audio description throughout the movie.  We wrapped up the month with a Halloween celebration at karaoke.  As we continue to do some more exciting things down the road, we hope you will join in with us! 

Thanks to Jacoby for being the official "reporter" in charge Professional  and College Group.      

HOLIDAY PARTY
Mark December 5th on your calendar so that you will not miss the Delta Gamma holiday party.  This will be held at the Delta Gamma House at UT at 6:00 pm. Invited are VIBES members, families, and friends. Delta Gamma ladies are awesome party planners so this is guaranteed to be fun.  RSVP is required. More details to come.

WE THANK OUR VOLUNTEERS
Club VIBES could not offer the number of programs and activities without the help of our many volunteers.  As a way to show our thanks, we will be inviting them to a volunteer thank you party on November 17.  This is a chance for everyone to get to know each other and to know how much we appreciate each and every one of our volunteers. More details will be coming.
SPOTLIGHT
VIBES HELPING OTHERS
ClubVIBES believes that it is important to help others beyond our own membership. In accordance with this, the board voted to make a donation of $500 to the Akroprong School for the Blind (ASB) in Akropong, Ghana. This school was brought to our attention by board member Arlene Hernandez, who while working as a TVI in Prince William County VA met TVI Esther Riverson who is from Ghana. Esther is instrumental in the operation and leadership of this school. She spends every summer providing teacher training and other assistance at ASB. She has created a foundation, CITA , to help with fund raising for this school as well as another boarding school in the same area. Currently ASB has 400 students in grades k-8 but very limited resources--they only have 14 Braille  writers.  In addition to this monetary donation, we are asking for material donations of things that you may no longer need such as Braille books (English is their language), toys, canes, audio books, teaching aids, or anything else you think might be useful to this school. Arlene will get these supplies to Esther who is able to get them to Ghana. To learn more about CITA and ASB click here

  
Photo: A group of students at Akropong School for the Blind
FUNDRAISING
BELK CHARITY DAY SALE
We thank all who bought Belk Charity Day tickets from Club VIBES.  This is a good deal for both those holding the ticket and for Club VIBES.The entire ticket price of $5.00 goes to VIBES as well as a part of the ticket sales at the door. Those who bought the tickets were treated to some fabulous bargains on a wide variety of merchandise.  Watch for the next sale in April.

PARTNERSHIP DRIVE UNDERWAY
An important part of Club VIBES support comes from our partner sponsorships. We are currently in the process of seeking two-year sponsors for 2018-2020. We have five levels of support and benefits include (depending on the level) acknowledgement in our newsletter, logo placement in each edition of our newsletter, logo placement on our website and Facebook page as well as on our club riding and walking gear. Sponsors will also be featured in one edition of our newsletter.  If you know of a business or individual that might want to be a sponsor, please contact Sue.

VIBES TO ATTEND ACB CONFERENCE
One of the goals of Club VIBES is to develop member's skills needed to independently travel beyond their familiar realm.  One way we do this by taking trips out of the area.  Currently plans are underway to take a group of VIBES members to the American Council for the Blind annual conference in St. Louis in June. This provides an opportunity to meet and interact with others with similar conditions and to learn about the latest technology directly through hands-on explorations of new devices. In addition to the benefits of the conference, VIBES members will learn about packing so that they can function independently, carry their own luggage, independently select and attend workshops, find their way to such locations as restaurant, meeting sites, gathering places of their friends and how to seek help when needed.   

It is through support from our sponsors and funds raised through our fundraising events that we are able to provide these opportunities.   

TECH NEWS
SUNU WRISTBAN AIDS MOBILITY


     Photo; Sunu wristband which resembles a fitbit with a small knob which is the sensor

A small company, Sunu, recently introduced a mobility device that works similarly to echolocation in assisting a blind or visually impaired traveler  in locating obstacles, especially those above waist height. The hope is that it will supplant assistance provided by guide dogs, canes, and mobility apps.  Sunu does not give directions but by vibrating can notify the user of obstacles including those higher up that are frequently missed by the dog or cane such as tree branches, hanging signs and other head-level dangers.  The price of the Sun is $249.

Click here for an article giving more details about the use of Sunu. 

Click here for the Sunu website.

THANK YOU TO OUR PROGRAM PARTNERS FOR 2016

PLATINUM
GOLD
SILVER
DRAGONFLY
 
Sherbakoff Nalls Group

ANONYMOUS



Arnold Cohen,
Attorney at Law

Dr. Bruce Gilliland