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I mage of Dragonfly

JULY/AUGUST,  2019
JUNE CALENDAR
26-29-National Cycling championships in Knoxville

JULY CALENDAR

21- Tandem bicycling, Cherokee Blvd, 2:00-4:00 pm; RSVP to Sue
Singo at Calhoun's Bearden Hill immediately following biking
19-Fundraising committee meeting 6:00 pm 
  
AUGUST CALENDAR
2-VIBES membership meeting, 6:00 pm
5-Knox County Schools resume
10-ETCH Butterfly Dash and Burger Bash, World Fair Park, 8:30 am
Note: VIBES will reimburse members who want to walk-see below
11-Delta Gamma back to school party
13-Board meeting, 6:30 pm
15-Student meeting, 6:00 pm
18-Tandem bicycling, Cherokee Blvd, 2:00-4:00 pm; RSVP Sue

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

THE DOG BLOG: WHAT SHOULD I KNOW ABOUT GETTING A DOG?
Some blind persons travel by the use of a cane while others prefer to use a dog. What is involved in making the decision to use one form of travel over the other? This and upcoming blogs will answer some of your questions about what is involved in having a guide dog.  Read Blog

HOW DOES A BLIND PERSON USE A COMPUTER OR SMARTPHONE?
In case you are not interested in learning about guide dogs, here is another blog that will answer your questions about how a blind person can use technology such as a computer, tablet, and a smartphone.  Read 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
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NEWS
HANDS-ON ART 
Photo of masks
 VIBES member, Diana Green, set up an art experience for VIBES members. Diane's artist friend, Linda Bohannon, creates three- dimensional art using recycled and re-purposed materials. Participants explored, tactually and visually,  a piece of art and were asked: "What do you think this is?"  One item used to represent fur or hair was discarded gauze (unused).  This experience expanded members ideas of what constitutes art and hopefully motivates some of them to try some creations of their own.

                
Photo: Marian checks out art
 
       Photo: Sue exploring a lamb


A DAY AT THE LAKE
Photo: preparing to go into the water
VIBES celebrated the beginning of summer vacation by spending Saturday, June 1 at Big Ridge State Park.  Each member brought their own meat to grill and a side dish.  After the feast, we hit the lake for a break from the heat. We bobbed around on floats, kayaked, and tried peddling "peddle boats". There was even tandem biking. Some of us just soaked up the sun in lounge chairs.  We wrapped up the day with "beeping volleyball" created by David Cass. Everyone had a great time.  Thanks to the volunteers who helped with grilling, guiding us around the lake in kayaks and boats.  A special thanks to David Cass who was the master planner of the event, tandem pilot, and site "preparer".  Special thanks also to the griller of the day, Ryan Webster.
                   
Photo: Ruben leading "train" made up of  Erin, Mariah, Mike, Jacoby, and Tabitha

Photo:  six swimmers floating on noodles and floats    
       
Photo: Erin and David taking off on a tandem ride
 
HARD WORK PAYS OFF!
by Illya Popov
Every year Club Vibes has a fundraiser to sell flowers that are provided by Stanley's Greenhouse. Ever since I joined Club Vibes I've had a great time participating in the sale. As much fun as I've had selling the flowers, I didn't want to do it forever. I had school to think about. Going into my senior year of high school, I had to be prepared not just for my graduation but also going to college. I knew that the first step I had to take was to learn some computer skills. At the time the only computer I had wasn't even mine, it was a Windows 7 laptop that my school provided. It was good, but there was only so much I could learn with it. I wanted to buy my own laptop, but not having the money made it impossible. I was approached by Sue Buckley, who said Club Vibes could provide the laptop that I needed. All I had to do was to earn enough money by selling flowers in the 2019 fund raiser. I accepted, of course, because I knew it would be a great first step towards college. In April I began to sell as fast and as many flowers as I could, because I knew that if I earned enough money I would be able to buy the laptop that I needed. I will admit that this is not the hardest job a person could have, but not everybody wants flowers. I am thankful to everyone who bought the flowers from me, including the principals, the counselors, the secretaries, the teachers at Hardin Valley Academy and even my cousins. Without them, I would never have earned nearly enough to buy the laptop that I wanted and needed. Finally, I would like to thank Club Vibes for giving me this great opportunity. It is one thing when you don't have anyone to sell the flowers to, but it is another when you don't have the opportunity to take the next step forwar

Editor's notes 
One of Club VIBES goals is for members to learn that they need to set goals and put in hard work to achieve them.  We are proud of Illya for achieving his goal and for the example he sets for other VIBES members.

After Illya purchased his new laptop, he received adaptive computer software training from John Buckley to begin the process of using a screen reader and other needed computer skills to be successful in college.

Illya sold 69 hanging baskets of flowers.

SUPPORT FOR OUR PARTNER
Club VIBES helped our partner, Smoky Mountain Wheelmen, with the Cherohala Challenge by working at two of the rest stops on the 115-mile bike ride that goes from Tellico Plains through the Tail of the Dragon and returns on the Cherohala Skyway. This event is an annual fundraiser for theSmoky Mountain Wheelmen. Rest stop #1 was staffed by Sue Buckley, Tammy Fugatt, David Cass, and Mike Milley.  About thirty-five miles down the road, at the top of the Dragon, rest stop #2 was staffed by Ruben and Arlene Hernandez along with Wheelman Harvey Lieberman.  What started as a beautiful day became a very wet and rainy day with steady downpours.  The riders were very thankful for a few minutes under our tent and our peanut butter sandwiches, pickle juice, water, Gatorade, and many other snacks. We were happy to have an opportunity to help those who help us.

MEMBERS CORNER
MEMBERSHIP MEETING
The general membership group has welcomed two new members, Isaiah Hamilton and Grace Bumpus.  Their attention is currently directed toward making plans for a fundraising event, dueling devices. More information will be in the newsletter as plans are finalized.

BACK-TO-SCHOOL PARTY
Delta Gamma will host a back-to-school party for VIBES members on August 11. Members, put this on your calendar and watch for more information.
MEMBERS TO BE REWARDED FOR CONTRIBUTIONS
One of Club VIBES' goals is to encourage members to be independent and contributing members to society.  To help achieve these goals, a system was instituted in which members earn points for contributing to Club VIBES in various ways. In order to participate in our "fun" events and trips, members must earn a minimum number of points.  Our first award event is A Day at the Island In Pigeon Forge and will include a visit to Alcatraz, a museum of crime, hanging out at the Island, and lunch at the Mellow Mushroom.  This is scheduled for July 25.  We have a trip to Nashville planned for a September rewards event which will include a day of bicycling led by pilot "EZ" and his wife Beth who have recently moved to Nashville.  We will also spend two nights in a Nashville hotel. 

Congratulations to Jacoby, Illya, Sarah, Campbell, Paige, Diana, Mike and Marian on their hard work.

GET IN SHAPE FOR THE BUTTERFLY
One way VIBES members can contribute to their community is by participating in the 5k/10k which will benefit Children's Hospital Pain and Palliative Care Program.  The races will be held on Saturday, August 10 at World's Fair Park starting at 8:30 am. VIBES members are encouraged to take part in this event, but to do so, they must find a volunteer guide to assist them, pre-register and let Sue know they have registered. On the day of the event, members must check in with Sue and they will then be reimbursed by Club VIBES for the cost of registration

For more information,  click here. To register, click on the sign up button at the top of this web site.

PARTNERS
THANK YOU TO OUR PROGRAM PARTNERS FOR 2018-19
PLATINUM- Delta Gamma Fraternity and Nalls Sherbakoff
GOLD-Group One Mediation Training Inc.
SILVER-Smoky Mountain Wheelmen
BRONZE-Blount County Eye Center and West Knox Lion's Club

  THANK YOU TO OUR PROGRAM PARTNERS  FOR 2018-20


       PLATINUM                        GOLD                                  SILVER                                 BRONZE
                                     
     Delta Gamma                Group One                       Smoky Mountain                       Blount County
        Fraternity           Mediation Training Inc               Wheelman                                Eye Center


                                                                                                                     Nalls Sherbakoff                                                                                                           West Knox                                                                                                                                                        Lion's Club
    Li                                                                                                                         Lion's 

                                                                                                                           L  Lion's C;ub