BPI Admin, Author at Blind LGBT Pride International

Quiet Please This is a Silent Auction

Well it is hard to believe that the convention is only a few days away now. It seemed so far in the distance when we first started looking at the idea of holding a silent auction at our convention to assist with fundraising.

Last November, A small subcommittee of the fundraising committee started researching what would be required to hold a silent Auction. with some guidance from Lilian Scaife, we were off and going where BPI had never gone before. Not only is this a first time event for BPI, But as the coordinator, it was a first time for me working on this type of fundraising effort.

After writing many letters and sending out requests to members of BPI for donations, we started receiving items for our auction. At the time of writing this article, we will have several items that will for sure create allot of competition for the highest bid.

For anyone not attending the convention we have not left you out either. We have put the auction on the web for your enjoyment and participation. The items we have already received are already viewable on the website. www.32auctions.com/blindpride. IN order to bid, you will have to create your own user account. Once you have done this, you can participate just like those of us attending the convention in Las Vegas. If you forget the auction link, don’t worry. There will be a link to the auction on the BPI website.

Finally, we would like to thank Aroga Technologies, AI Squared and Serotek for their generous donations of blindness software & services from their companies. We value their support and commitment to the goals of BPI and look forward to a continued working relationship with them and the other individuals and organizations who have donated products to this first time event.

If you would like to know more about the auction, please write to me, Richard Marion, at member2@blind-lgbt-pride.org.

Blind LGBT Pride Congratulates Gabriel Lopez-Kafati for Obtaining His MBA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Will Burley

Company: Blind LGBT Pride International

Address: 5010 Echo Lane, Unit A

Los Angeles, CA

Phone: (832) 779-1729

Email: vicepresident@blind-lgbt-pride.org

URL: http://blindlgbtpride.org

Blind LGBT Pride Congratulates Gabriel Lopez-Kafati for Obtaining His MBA

Los Angeles, CA – Gabriel Lopez-Kafati graduated with a Master in Business Administration (MBA) with a concentration in Management, from the Andreas School of Business at Barry University in May of this year.

The faculty and staff of the Andreas School of Business selected Gabriel to speak to his graduating MBA class due to his achievement within the degree program and his volunteer efforts outside the classroom. Gabriel has also obtained membership in Beta Gamma Sigma – the international honor society for collegiate schools of business.

“Blind LGBT Pride International is very fortunate to have Gabriel among its members and as a part of the board of directors,” states Will Burley, vice president of the organization. “His talents will benefit Blind Pride as well as the American Council of the Blind (ACB) family as a whole.”

Founded in 1976, Barry University’s School of Business provides high-quality academic programs for undergraduate and graduate students in an inclusive and caring environment. They strive to maintain the most rigorous standards while providing an intimate setting that is dynamic and conducive to learning. The School of Business is accredited by AACSB – International (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business), which has been described as the “gold standard of accreditation” for business schools. Their holistic approach to business education results in a challenging academic experience that stimulates you to grow and become a responsible business practitioner and leader. To learn more visit http://www.barry.edu/business/.

Blind LGBT Pride International is a special interest affiliate of the American Council of the Blind. Its mission is to promote the equality and inclusion of LGBT people who are blind or vision impaired by providing its members and allies a forum to promote access to and integration into the LGBT communities as well as to provide a means of expression for the views and concerns of LGBT vision impaired persons in the broader society. To learn more please visit http://blindlgbtpride.org.

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SBA and HRC Present: Making Your Small Business Workplace LGBT-Inclusive

In honor of LGBT Pride Month, the SBA is teaming up with the Human Rights Campaign, America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) equality, to provide a free training for small business owners on making their workplace inclusive for LGBT employees.

Webinar attendees will learn:

Why fostering an inclusive workplace can make employees more productive,
How to provide safeguards for you and your employees by creating a non-discrimination policy, and
Where to find the latest information about changing laws and regulations.

> Register now

BPI Elections: Candidates’ Forum

The BPI Elections Committee will host the 2014 Candidates’ Forum on Saturday, June 21, 2014 at 2:00 P.M. PDT, 4:00 P.M. CDT AND 5:00 P.M. EDT.

This will be an opportunity for members and friends to listen and ask questions of the individuals seeking the open seats of president, treasurer, board member-at-large 3 and the 9^th board position created last year.

Please take the opportunity to find out what vision these candidates have for the forward movement of Blind LGBT Pride International!

If you have any questions, please visit www.blindlgbtpride.org/contact and choose to email the Elections Committee.

BPI Announces 1st Convention scholarship Winner

It is with great pleasure that the Blind LGBT Pride International scholarship committee announces the winner of the first ever BPI convention scholarship!

After reviewing all applications, and conducting subsequent phone interviews, we are excited to announce that Tiffany Taylor of Farmington Hills Michigan is the recipient of this first ever award!

Tiffany currently serves as Legislative and Advocacy Co—Chair. She also volunteers as a proofreader, speaker and fundraiser for Seedlings Braille Books. She has also served as President of the Disabilities Awareness Group on the Campus of Adrian College. Tiffany holds a Bachellor’s degree in Theater. In the past, she has worked with blind and visually impaired youth in various capacities. It is Tiffany’s hope to empower and educate both blind and LGBT individuals and help bring them to their fullest potential. In doing so, she hopes to bring down stereotypes facing both Blind and LGBT individuals.

As a recipient of this award, Tiffany will receive round trip airfare to and from Las Vegas, lodging at the Riviera Hotel and Casino, BPI’s convention package, which includes tickets to all BPI sponsored activities, workshops, and a ticket to the ACB banquet. The scholarship committee extends their congratulations and best wishes to Tiffany in her future endeavors.

The committee thanks those who applied and encourages those applicants to apply next year.

With Pride,

2014 Scholarship Committee

Andrea Damitio, Chair

Leah Gardner

Geno Stone

Gabriel Lopez

Guillermo Robles, President