IT IS TIME TO APPLY FOR MINI-GRANTS! |
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It is January and time to kick off the mini-grant program. The Club Vibes mini-grant committee is looking forward to receiving applications for mini-grants which are available to all Club VIBES members, past and present. The grants will provide financial support to members, making it possible to attend classes, conferences, seminars, or other activities that will make it possible for them to expand their independence. Grants can also fund learning new skills in a wide variety of areas which might include technology, mobility, independent living, fitness, or others that a member, with committee approval, feels will help them achieve an independent and productive life.
HOW TO APPLY FOR A MINI-GRANT
In the subject line of your email write Club-VIBES mini-grant application. Complete the application and return it by email to the same address, info@club-vibes.org. Be sure to follow the directions thoroughly and completely provide all of the information requested. Applications must be submitted by the 15th of each month for consideration by the committee that month. Only one grant will be awarded each month. In the case of multiple worthy applications, the committee will select one to receive that month's grant, postponing the others for consideration in future months. Time-sensitive applications will be considered first.
The committee is excited to receive your applications and to start awarding grants!
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JANUARY CALENDAR
5-Last Day to RSVP General Meeting
7-General Meeting; 7:00 pm
9-Chat on the Porch; 7:00
11-Board Meeting; 6:00 pm
15-Deadline for submitting mini-grant application
20-Leadership Meeting; 7:00 pm
16-Book Club; 7:00 pm
23-Chat on the Porch; 7:00 pm
27-The Hub Social; 7:00 pm
FEBRUARY CALENDAR
2-Last Day to RSVP General Meeting
4-General Meeting, 7:00 pm
13-Chat on the porch; 7:00 pm
17-Leadership Meeting; 7:00 pm
20-Book Club-7:00 pm
24-The Hub Social; 7:00 pm
27-Chat on the Porch; 7:00 pm
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WHAT IS NEW THIS MONTH ON OUR BLOG PAGE?
BE MY EYES
There are times when probably all blind or visually impaired people need to "borrow someone's eyes" to find a misplaced object, select an outfit with properly matching colors, or verify that the can they are about to open is chicken noodle soup and not diced tomatoes. There is an app, Be My Eyes, where volunteers lend their eyes to those with visual impairments. Click here to read John's blog about this app.
COMMENTS
SUBSCRIBE
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Seven VIBES shoppers and fourteen DG "elves" pose for a group picture in front of the climbing wall at Dick's Sporting Goods.
SHOPPING WITH ELVES
Though Club VIBES is continuing to use Zoom for most of our activities and meetings, in December, we ventured into meeting face to face for one of our favorite activities, Shopping with Elves.We met at West Town Mall. It was just wonderful to see our VIBES and Delta Gamma friends in person after almost two years of interacting only on our screens. VIBES members, and shopping volunteers from Delta Gamma, after greetings and hugs set out individually with one or two Delta Gamma ladies to search for the perfect gifts for those on our lists. Some of us even had time to stop by the food court for some lunch or for a treat at the Chocolate Monkey. We thank the Delta Gamma volunteers who provided excellent advice and carried our packages!
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Sariah had three elves to help her at Sees Candy Shop.
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Paige and her elves are sitting on a bench in the mall, taking a break from frenzied shopping.
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Sarah had 2 "expert advisors" helping her pick the right shirt at Eddie Bauer..
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VIBES MEMBERS GIVE BACK
Club VIBES could not exist as it does without the generosity of many individuals and organizations. Now we would like to follow the example of giving by donating to two charities that also depend on donations. Members nominated organizations that they felt would benefit from our donation and the general membership voted to donate to the Blind Children's Center in Los Angeles and Computers for the Blind in Texas.
Computers for the Blind refurbishes donated computers, installs screen reading software, and provides them free of charge to blind persons. For more information, click here to go to their website
The Blind Children's Center, which was started in 1938 by Delta Gamma, provides early intervention and preschool for blind and visually impaired children at no cost to the family. For more information, click here to go to their website.
HOLIDAY PARTY ZOOM STYLE
by Sariah
Recently Club Vibes got together to celebrate the winter holidays. One of our good friends from Club Vibes, Marian, decided to host a Christmas gathering over zoom. We all were very excited to celebrate this wonderful season together. Since we have not been able to get together in person for quite some time, Club Vibes has adapted by using Zoom to "party" virtually. Marian is a great zoom host. Some might say Marian is a Zoom Wizard for all the times she has hosted our Porch Chats. When she announced a Holiday celebration, we were all excited and hopped on board.
On December 17 we joined together for our Zoom Holiday Party. It was loads of fun. We played games in teams. One team was called the Sugar Plum Fairies and the other team was the Red-Nosed Rebels. We even played a game of Holiday Family Feud and had the great pleasure to meet Marian's son who played the host for our game. Thanks to Marian and her son we were able to have a lot of fun that night. I hope next year we can meet in person, but if not we have our great friend Zoom.
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WE HAVE A NEW DELTA GAMMA REPRESENTATIVE
The beginning of the new year means that we will be saying goodbye to last year's Delta Gamma Representative, Laura Lee Parsons, and welcoming our new rep, Macy Gouge. To help us get to know her, Macy has written a little about herself.
"Hi everyone. My name is Macy Gouge. I'm a sophomore at UT and Delta Gamma's newest Vice President of Foundation which gives me the honor to serve alongside Club VIBES. I am a marketing major from Johnson City, Tennessee. During my free time, I love to watch sports, especially college football, and play with my adorable golden doodle! I am so excited for this new time!"
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WHAT CLUB VIBES MEANS TO ME
By Marian
As a Club Vibes mentor for the past seven years, I have struggled with getting to know our members and feeling helpful. The Pandemic has offered me the opportunities to do both through Zoom and Facebook. Our Club activities have grown, and hosting the twice-monthly “Chat on the Porch” has let me spend time with members in a very informal setting, laughing and getting to know each other better by sharing our experiences and feelings in a relaxed and respectful setting. Being a weekly contributor to our Club Vibes Vision Facebook group gives me the chance to reflect on, research, and post information that I think would be valuable to our members, plus the Facebook group members that are not members of Club Vibes. Before the Pandemic, Club Vibes only met in person monthly, for tandem-biking, and special outings. There was not as much time or convenient ways to connect, and so I did not get to know our members very well because they are spread out in and around Knoxville. I wish this Pandemic had never happened, but we are making lemonade out of lemons in Club Vibes because of it!
IT IS SCHOLARSHIP TIME
The East Tennessee Foundation has a list of over 70 scholarships that can help with expenses to a variety of institutions including 4-year colleges and universities, 2-year community colleges, and specialty trade and vocational schools. There are some specifically for those with a disability, such as the Debbie Van Cleave scholarship which is just for those who are blind or visually impaired.
To apply for one or more of the scholarships you must fill out one online application. After you submit the general application you will receive a list of scholarships for which you are eligible. Go to this webpage, East Tennessee Foundation, for a list of the scholarships, very explicit directions, and the application. It is very important to read and follow the directions carefully before submitting an application.
Applications are due February 15.
Good Luck
THE HUB SOCIAL
Club VIBES would like more participation from younger members in grades 5-10. The Hub Social is starting January 27 to address the needs and interests of this age group and give them a forum where they can engage with each other monthly on Zoom. Owen will be the leader and host of these get-togethers.
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BLIND ALIVE
This is also the time of the year when many of us are looking for exercise opportunities. There are many available online but it is more of a challenge for those who are blind or visually impaired to find a program that they are able to do, as most are very visual. Blind Alive is a series of workout, audio-only, "videos" on YouTube that are easy to follow and provide a good workout. There are 8 different videos, each with a specific focus such as balance, cardio, stretching, boot camp, or yoga. Each session lasts from twenty to forty minutes and begins by telling you what equipment you will need. To workout with Blind Alive, click here to go to the website on YouTube
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THANK YOU TO OUR PROGRAM PARTNERS FOR 2020-2021 |
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THE NALLS SHERBAKOFF Gthe ROUP LLC. |
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SMOKY MOUNTAIN WHEELMEN
BRONZE
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Ruth E. Bailey, D.D.S.
COSMETIC DENTISTRY OF KNOXVILLE
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