Sledge Hockey tickets available!

Many people are sad that the Olympics are coming to an end but for athletes with a disability the excitement is still to come.  The Paralympics will begin on March 12th.  Blind Beginnings is pleased to offer an opportunity for a group of children and youth to attend one of the Sledge Hockey games at the Paralympics! 

 

Thanks to the generosity of an anonymous donor, Blind Beginnings has been given 20 tickets to one of Canada's Sledge Hockey games.  Sledge Hockey is a sport for people with a mobility impairment.  Hockey players sit on a small sled and pull themselves around the ice with their sticks.  One end of the sticks is used to pull the sled and the other is used to hit the puck.  This sport is very exciting and fast paced and will certainly be a treat to watch.  Canada's Sledge Hockey team is a gold medal hopeful.  

 

The game is Sunday March 14 at 1:30 pm at Thunderbird Stadium at UBC.  Public transportation will be organized so the group can travel to the stadium together.  Details for transportation will be provided once the tickets have been assigned and we know who is coming and from where.

 

I expect there will be more interest than there are tickets available so priority will be given to children and youth who are members of Blind Beginnings.  Please Email shawn@blindbeginnings.ca if you/your child is interested in attending this event.  If a parent or sibling would also like to attend, let me know that too.  If there are enough tickets we will issue two per family in these cases.  If you are a parent who would like to attend, we will ask you to help with the overall supervision of the youth during the event. 

 

If there is far more interest than there are tickets we will do a draw for the tickets.  The draw will take place on Wednesday March 10 at noon.  Please make sure you have Emailed your interest before that time to ensure your name is entered in the draw.

   

Note: This event is probably more appropriate for children 7 and older unless your child has some understanding and interest in hockey.

 

I look forward to hearing from you. 

 

Go Canada Go!!!

Reminder: Community Discovery - Sunday November 1

Hi Everybody,

 

I'm writing to remind you of our exciting Community Discovery outing to Aldor Acres this coming Sunday, November 1 at 2:00 pm.  For those of you who have responded that you are coming, I look forward to seeing you.  If you have not yet responded, but you are planning on coming, please reply to this Email or call me at: 604-434-7243.

 

Following are the details in case you missed them the first time:

 

When: Sunday November 1 at 2:00 pm

 

Where: 24990 84th Ave. Langley, BC 

 

Who: Families with children/youth who are blind or visually impaired

 

Cost: $6 per person

 

Once again Aldor Acres has agreed to stay open one extra day so that we can have the farm to ourselves.  Come and see the farm in harvest season, go on a hayride, choose your own pumpkin, see baby animals in their natural environment, and visit the famous hands-on animal display.   

 

If you and your family are planning to attend please RSVP no later than Friday October 30.  If the cost is going to be a challenge for you, please let me know and we'll see what we can do to assist.  I look forward to seeing you on Sunday November 1!

 

Happy Halloween 

 

Shawn Marsolais

Manager, Programs & Services

Blind Beginnings

Phone: 604-434-7243

www.blindbeginnings.ca

 

 

Blind Beginnings Community Discovery - Aldor Acres

Hi Everybody,

 

I'm pleased to announce the next Community Discovery family outing will be our 2nd visit to Aldor Acres!

 

When: Sunday November 1 at 2:00 PM

 

Where: 24990 84th Ave. Langley, BC 

 

Who: Families with children/youth who are blind or visually impaired

 

Cost: $6 per person

 

Once again Aldor Acres has agreed to stay open one extra day so that we can have the farm to ourselves.  Come and see the farm in harvest season, go on a hayride, choose your own pumpkin, see baby animals in their natural environment, and visit the famous hands-on animal display.   

 

If you and your family are planning to attend please RSVP no later than Friday October 30.  If the cost is going to be a challenge for you, please let me know and we'll see what we can do to assist.  I look forward to seeing you on Sunday November 1!

 

Shawn Marsolais

Manager, Programs & Services

Blind Beginnings

Phone: 604-434-7243

www.blindbeginnings.ca

 

 

Requesting Volunteers for Blind Beginnings

As many of you may know, Blind Beginnings has been actively fundraising over the past six months.  We are pleased to announce that our efforts are beginning to pay off.  We have raised some money through fundraising events and have also received our first few Foundation grants.  More funding is needed in order to ensure the delivery of our Provincial programs and services but we are on our way.

 

As we continue to raise funds, Blind Beginnings would like to establish a volunteer database.  We want to be ready to go with highly trained volunteers who are committed to our programs and services as soon as we reach our funding targets. 

 

Blind Beginnings is looking for volunteers in the following areas:

 

Support Parents - Parents of children who are blind or visually impaired who will be trained to provide support, resources, and information to parents who are new to parenting a child who is blind or visually impaired. (We are looking for parents from all regions of the Province)

 

Youth Leaders - Youth who are blind or visually impaired who will be trained as leaders, role models and mentors to younger children, and speakers who will assist with blindness presentations in the community. (We are looking for youth from all regions of the Province)

 

Child/Youth Workers - interested in being trained to work directly with children and youth who are blind or visually impaired one-to-one or in a group setting.

 

Leadership Volunteers - interested in participating on the Board of Directors of Blind Beginnings

 

Administrative Volunteers - interested in assisting with bookkeeping, accounting, filing, processing registrations, etc.

 

Special Events - interested in assisting with fundraising, marketing, and public relations

 

All volunteers will receive extensive training relevant to the position, at no cost to the volunteer.  If you have any questions or would like more information about any of the positions, or would like to inquire about the process to register as a volunteer, please contact Shawn Marsolais by phone at: 604-434-7243 or toll free at: 1-866-736-8620 or via Email: shawn@blindbeginnings.ca.

 

Please forward this announcement to anyone you think might be interested.

 

Sincerely,

 

Shawn Marsolais

Manager, Programs & Services

Blind Beginnings

Phone: 604-434-7243

www.blindbeginnings.ca

 

 

Community Discovery with Daniel Kish

Hi Everybody,

 

Blind Beginnings is pleased to provide a Delightful Day of Discovery with Daniel Kish!

 

When: Sunday September 13, 2009 - 12:00 - 3:00 PM

 

Where:  Moody Park - 6th Ave & 8th St. New Westminster

 

What: Family Picnic followed by children's activities led by Daniel Kish

 

All families are welcome.  Please bring a picnic lunch for your family.  Following our lunch we will begin a variety of activities including; discovering the park, ball games, hide & seek, etc.  

 

Daniel Kish will be assisted by Lani Thompson of Australia.  Lani is one of Daniel's students.  He is totally blind and is now using echolocation to perform and teach martial arts.

 

This is an amazing opportunity to meet Daniel Kish and Lani Thompson and learn a bit more about echolocation.  Please RSVP if you and your family are planning to attend. 

 

Please forward this Email to anyone you think may be interested in this opportunity.

 

  Regards,

 

  

Shawn Marsolais

Manager, Programs & Services

Blind Beginnings

Phone: 604-434-7243

www.blindbeginnings.ca

 

 

Another Garage Sale Fundraiser - Saturday in Langley

Hi Everybody,

 

I am pleased to inform you that Blind Beginnings is having another Garage Sale Fundraiser this Saturday August 28 from 8:30 am - 3:00 pm.

 

Where:   20061 36a Ave. Langley

 

There were quite a few items left over from our June Garage Sale and many new treasures we have accumulated since then.  If you have unwanted items you would like to donate or would like to help sell, please contact me via Email or phone at: 604-434-7243.  If you happen to be in the neighborhood on Saturday please stop by and say hello.  Please pass on this information to anyone who might be interested in supporting a great cause. 

 

Regards,

 

Shawn Marsolais

Manager,n Programs & Services

Blind Beginnings

Phone: 604-434-7243

www.blindbeginnings.ca

 

 

Blind Beginnings Update

Hi Everybody,

 

I'm writing to give you an update on what is happening with Blind Beginnings.

 

First a quick reminder of our Garage Sale fundraiser scheduled for this Saturday June 27 from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm.  The Garage Sale is taking place in New Westminster at 1304 Hamilton St.  It's in the back lane at the corner of Hamilton and 13th St.  Thanks to everybody who has donated items or is planning to come out to help sell.  We are keeping our fingers crossed for no rain.

 

Secondly, you may or may not know that CNIB has contracted Blind Beginnings to run the children and family summer camps at Bowen Lodge this summer.  We are currently hiring a Lifeguard and Recreation Counsellor for July 30 - August 25.  The job postings are posted on our Web-site at www.blindbeginnings.ca.  Please pass this information onto anybody you think might be interested in applying.  

 

Finally, our next Community Discovery outing is tentatively booked for Sunday July 26.  The activity will be an introduction to Dragonboating.  Thanks to Liz Charyna and the Eye of the Dragon for organizing this event for us.  Stay tuned for more details closer to the day.

 

That's all for now.  Have a great weekend!

 

Regards,

 

Shawn Marsolais

Manager, Programs & Services

Blind Beginnings

Phone: 604-434-7243

www.blindbeginnings.ca