National:

Blind Merchants/Entrepreneurs Resources

National Association of Blind Merchants
Nicky Gacos, President
Phone: 908-464-5359
Website: www.blindmerchants.org

DeafBlind Resources

NFB DeafBlind Division
Alice Eaddy, President
Phone: 856-765-3543 (Text)
Website: www.nfbdeaf-blind.org

Guide Dog Resources

National Association of Guide Dog Users (NAGDU)
Raul Gallegos, President
Phone: 346-439-7444
Website: www.nagdu.org

Spanish Speaking Resources

NFB Spanish Translation Committee
Daniel Martinez, Chair
Phone: 956-545-6402

NFBNJ Committees:

Braille Committee

Mary Jo Partyka, Chair
Phone: 609-888-5459
The goals, purposes, and objectives to establishing and developing a Braille Committee through the NFBNJ is to bring together blind and interested sighted persons that are Braille readers to an organization that assists in believing in raising expectations to create possibilities and higher expectations to its members. To learn more, please visit the Braille Committee page.

Communications Committee

Annemarie Cooke, Chair
Phone: 609-859-4084
Writes and distributes press releases to local and state media to promote activities throughout the state.

Diabetic Committee

Ed Godfrey, Chair
Phone: 856-628-3657
Listserv: http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nj-diabetes-division_nfbnet.org
The goals, purposes, and objectives to establishing and developing a Diabetic Committee through the NFBNJ is to bring together blind and interested sighted persons that are diabetics to an organization that assists in believing in raising expectations to create possibilities and higher expectations to its members. To learn more, please visit the Diabetic Committee page.

Fundraising Committee

Ellen Sullivan, Chair
Phone: 302-658-2268
This committee assists the state affiliate with acquiring funds for its projects and programs.

Legislative Committee

Ryan Stevens, Chair
Phone: 856-520-0016
These are the people responsible for alerting the members of the state affiliate about pending legislation which impacts the blind and actions that need to be taken in response to such legislation. They also coordinate meetings between members and New Jersey Congressional representatives during NFB’s Washington Seminar.

Membership Committee

Carley Mullin, Chair
Phone: 973-440-0649
Melissa Lomax, Co-Chair
Phone: 410-608-6118
As we grow the affiliate’s local chapters and divisions, please contact Carley or Melissa for an overview with helpful procedures.

Resolutions Committee

Ryan Stevens, Chair
Phone: 856-520-0016
This committee reviews issues to discuss what is needed to present as resolutions at the state convention. Resolutions are the policy statements of the affiliate.

Scholarship Committee

Lia Stone, Chair
Phone: 917-570-3166
This committee determines which individual(s) earn academic scholarships at our State Convention.

Social Media Coordinator

Zoraida Krell, Coordinator
Phone: 201-638-3418
This individual is responsible for posting any items of interest onto our social media pages.

Sounding Board Committee

Annemarie Cooke, Editor
Phone: 609-859-4084
The Sounding Board is the publication of the National Federation of the Blind of New Jersey with information to read and share with others. Reflections from our membership, human interest stories, background of individuals and issues pertaining to the blind community are highlighted.

Transportation Committee

Phil Harrison, Chair
Phone: 609-383-5117
It shall be the purpose of the NFBNJ Transportation Committee to provide information to members of the NFBNJ regarding the transportation resources available to the blind and vision impaired citizens of New Jersey and it also shall be the goal of this Committee to advocate for improvement of these transportation services where warranted. This committee provides information to the members with updates from NJ Transit and Access Link.

Groups, Programs, & Projects:

Adopt Adaptive Equipment

Linda Melendez, Coordinator
Phone: 908-590-1747
Individuals wishing to donate equipment are matched with individuals requesting certain equipment. Our most popular items are CCTVs (Close Circuit TVs). The donor and the recipient must make their own arrangements for the pick up of equipment.

BELL (Braille Enrichment for Literacy and Learning) Academy

Mary Jo Partyka, Coordinator
Phone: 609-888-5459
The BELL Academy is a two-week program for visually impaired and blind children ages 4 through 12 who have had minimal exposure to braille. It is also for those who could use more exposure to braille and blindness skills. It is an opportunity for positive role models with our blind mentors, both adults and teens. We have a “braille-rocks” attitude, with fun, games, field trips, and friendships.

Blind Children’s Resource Center

Carol Castellano, Coordinator
Phone: 973-377-0976
Website: www.blindchildren.org/
The Blind Children’s Resource Center is a collection of items useful for the education and development of blind children.

NFB-Newsline®

Jane Degenshein, Coordinator
Phone: 973-736-5785
Website: http://www.nfb.org/nfbnewsline
NFB-NEWSLINE® is a FREE service that allows blind and print disabled individuals to listen to over 500 publications. The New Jersey Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired is the state’s sponsor.

Parents of Blind Children-NJ Group

Carol Castellano, Coordinator
Phone: 973-377-0976
This group works together to share resources on how to help fellow parents of blind children. To learn more, please visit the Parents of Blind Children-NJ Group page.

Contact Person:

DropBox Administrator

Tony Santiago
Phone: 732-947-2429
This individual, under the direction of the affiliate president, is responsible for uploading all affiliate materials to the affiliate’s DropBox account.

Green Drop

Linda DeBerardinis
Phone: 856-735-5559
Website: www.gogreendrop.org
The National Federation of the Blind has teamed up with GreenDrop to collect donations of clothing and household items. The funds raised from this program go to the National Federation of the Blind general fund to support programs for blind STEM students, veterans, and seniors, as well as the ongoing efforts to improve equality for the blind.

Liability Insurance

Linda Melendez
Phone: 908-590-1747
The state affiliate has secured liability insurance for all state activities, local chapter and division meetings, and for fundrraisers.

PAC (Pre-Authorized Contribution) Plan Coordinator

Linda Melendez, Coordinator
Phone: 908-590-1747
Website: www.nfb.org/pac
The PAC Plan is a method where individuals or groups of individuals can pre-approve a certain amount of money, as little as $5, each month ($0.17 a day) and have those funds contribute to programs at the National Federation of the Blind. These programs include the distribution of free literature, funding the Free White Cane program, funding the Free Slate and Stylus program, fund legal battles, assisting with the national scholarship programs with funding, and provide free web hosting through NFBNet.org.

Parliamentarian

Ryan Stevens
Phone: 856-520-0016
Provides direction to the leaders and members of NFBNJ so that proper procedures are followed during meetings and conference calls.

Technology Advisor

Tony Santiago
Phone: 732-947-2429
This individual advises the state affiliate on all technology related matters.

Vehicle Donation Program

Linda DeBerardinis
Phone: 856-735-5559
Website: http://www.carshelpingtheblind.org/
The National Federation of the Blind’s Vehicle Donation program accepts almost any vehicle, including cars, trucks, boats, motorcycles, and recreational vehicles. All donations may be eligible for a tax deduction on the donor’s federal income tax return, and the NFB receives an average of $360 for each donated vehicle.

Webmaster

Brian Mackey
Phone: 609-680-8488
The webmaster is responsible for the upkeep of the affiliate site with informative information, to raise expectations and to provide information to the visitor to learn the skills, techniques to live the life you want; blindness is not what holds us back.

White Cane Committee

Ann Marie Harris, Chair
Phone: 856 589 8747
Jane Degenshein, Co-Chair
Phone: 973-736-5785
The national organization provides free white canes, please visit www.nfb.org/free-cane-program to order your free white cane. After receiving your free white cane, you will receive a welcome email and a follow up call from a member in your area to discuss numerous possibilities to learn the truth about blindness.

Zoom Admin Coordinator

Mac Biggers
Phone: 801-916-9753