Podcasts about north carolina council

Bo and Beth welcome Tim Boyum as they recap the North Carolina Council of State meeting in Raleigh yesterday. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

2024 ACB Summer Auction Saturday, June 22 at 6:00pm ET Broadcast on ACB Media One Shipping Donors Thanks to the Bay State Council of the Blind ($250), Veterans of ACB ($150), California Council of the Blind ($100), Council of Citizens with Low Vision International ($100), ACB Families ($100), ACB Teachers ($100), Illinois Council of the Blind($100), North Dakota Association of the Blind ($100), VisAbilities Show ($100), Terry Pacheco )$100), Merrilee Hill-Kennedy ($100), Pat Tusing ($80) ACB Next Generation ($75), Natalie Couch ($50), Angelo Lanier ($50), David Trott ($50), Chris Bell ($50), and Agnes Ferris ($10) for their generous donations for shipping. Segment One - Cindy Hollis and Deb Cook Lewis 100 $50 Gift Card to The Southern Grill donated by ACB Board of Publications Director Cachet Wells The Southern Grill, a local restaurant, has been serving hearty home cooked southern meals in Jacksonville since 1998. Besides serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner with dishes such as BBQ, sandwiches/wraps, Greek platters, vegetarian options and more, along with beer and wine there is something for everyone in the family to enjoy. Located within 15 minutes and approximately 0.7 miles from the Hyatt Regency Hotel. The Southern Grill promotes local musicians that have become a favorite part of their dining experience with Open Jams and live band music several nights a week. 101 A Set of 5 Holiday Ornaments Handmade and donated by Jamaica Miller You will receive one ornament of each color: red, green, gold, blue and white. They are adorned with pins and beads in various bright colors, and each will have a tag of your choosing. You can have any combination of messages, or they can all be the same. The choices are: "Merry Christmas", "Happy Holidays", "Peace on Earth", or "Joy to the World". The tags feature Braille as well as printed text. The ornaments will be packaged in a decorative tin. 102A Two-pound Box of Ghirardelli dark chocolate Fudge donated by Marvelena Quesada You will receive a 2-pound box of Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate Fudge, made from San Francisco's own 100-year-old chocolatier's intense 72% Cacao Dark chocolate. She has crafted this rich, delicious fudge for family and friends for years. While it is especially wonderful around the holiday season, it works throughout the year for the chocolate lovers among us. Enjoy this delicacy with a morning cup of coffee or as an after-dinner treat. 102B Two-pound Box of Ghirardelli dark chocolate fudge donated by Marvelena Quezada You will receive a 2-pound box of rich Ghirardelli dark chocolate fudge, made from San Francisco's own 100-year-old chocolatier's intense 72% Cacao Dark chocolate. She has crafted this rich, delicious fudge for family and friends for years. While it is especially wonderful around the holiday season, it works throughout the year for the chocolate lovers among us. Enjoy this delicacy with a morning cup of coffee or as an after-dinner treat. 103 $50 Olive Garden Gift Card donated by ACB of Connecticut Do you ever get hungry for Italian food? Well, here's something just for you, a $50 gift card to Olive Garden. Hurry up and bid so you can get those wonderful bread sticks, salads, and delicious dinners. Braille menus available upon request. 104 Braille Read Necklace donated by Dorlyn Catron This necklace has a bright copper pendant with the word "read" written in contracted braille and features a tactile image of an open book. The pendant measures approximately 1.5 inches long by half an inch wide. Originally sold by National Braille Press, but there are no more left. Wow, this truly is an exquisite necklace to have either for yourself or someone special! 105 Snakeskin Printed Purse Created by Keri Bishop This purse had its start as a white, black, and gray pair of jeans in a rattlesnake skin printed design. Keri fell in love with this pair of jeans when she saw them at a local thrift shop. Soon the jeans were home and cut, sewn, and reconstructed into this lovely snakeskin printed purse. The words I (heart) ACB across the front in black glitter iron on vinyl. The medium sized purse makes use of the pockets in the jeans repurposed as the pockets for the purse. The shoulder strap is adjustable. 106 Amazon Echo Pop 5th Generation Speaker donated by Cheryl McNeil Fisher You will enjoy owning this ECHO POP compact smart speaker with Alexa. The speaker features full sound that's great for bedrooms and small spaces and is small enough to blend in and mighty enough to stand out. It controls music WITH YOUR VOICE, and you can Ask Alexa to play music, audiobooks, and podcasts from your favorite providers like Amazon Music, Apple Music, Spotify, Pandora, Sirius XM and more. Connect via Bluetooth to stream throughout your space. 107 Celebrate the State of Washington with Chukar Cherries donated by Washington Council of the Blind The recipient will enjoy the no-sugar-added Organic Rainier Cherries, a delicious variety of chocolate covered cherries, Cherry Apple Crisps, Pickled Asparagus, Smoked Salmon, and more. A great gift for anyone missing the Pacific Northwest—send a taste of our beautiful region to friends and loved ones. Arrives in a keepsake metal hamper with an oversized Seattle souvenir mug. What's inside this basket: Organic Rainier Cherries: This prized Northwest cherry is organically grown and picked fresh, then gently air dried with no added sugar or preservatives. Amaretto Rainiers: Honey-sweet, dried Rainier cherries are layered with luscious dark chocolate and almond essence. A unique treat from Washington State. Cherry Quartet: An assortment of four best-selling milk and dark confections, including Cabernet, Amaretto Rainiers, Cherry Bings, and Classic Milk. Cherry Apple Crisps: Healthy and addictive! Fresh Washington state apple slices are infused with cherry juice and cinnamon, then dehydrated to a delightfully crisp texture. Cherry Caramel Twists: Luscious caramels studded with dried cherry bits and almond essence. Gift box of individually wrapped pieces. Souvenir Mug: An oversized mug is adorned with famous Northwest landmarks. Lead safe. Dishwasher safe. Washington State Pickled Asparagus: Fresh Yakima Valley asparagus is pickled with garlic and red chilies for a zesty appetizer or cocktail garnish. Smoked Salmon: Tender, lightly flaked, boneless, skinless salmon in a Seattle-themed gift box. A choice gift for any salmon fan. 108 Two Hand-Crafted Pottery Chili Bowls donated by Mucie Allred Two hand-crafted pottery pieces shaped into unique “Chili” bowls. On each side of the bowl is a curved area to hold your crackers. A beautiful blue swirl color has been added. They are designed by Marcia Springston of Wake Robin Gallery. Don't restrict them to only chili because these one-of-a-kind bowls would be beautiful to display candy or nuts on your table as well. 109 West Virginia Gift Card Bundle donated by ACB Board Director Donna Brown Planning for your upcoming vacation has just gotten easier. This black and blue neck wallet is perfect to carry your necessities wherever you go. It is big enough for your cell phone, keys, credit cards, etc., but small enough to carry easily. Written on the neck wallet is: Wild and Wonderful, Almost Heaven, West Virginia. Plus, a $25 Texas Roadhouse and a $25 Cheesecake Factory gift card and they fit nicely in the wallet. What a fantastic gift for yourself or someone special. 110 Sweet and Savory Treats of North Carolina donated by North Carolina Council of the Blind Enjoy the following fine North Carolina goodies: Red Bird Hand-crafted Soft Puff Peppermint Candy from Lexington; Grammy's Gourmet Pretzels from Raleigh; Chad's Carolina Popcorn from Greensboro; Memaw's Country Cookies from Raleigh; Salem Baking Moravian Thin Cookies from Winston-Salem; Baker's Peanuts from Roxobel; Dark Chocolate/Pecan Toffee from Chapel Hill. You will savor these wonderful treats and treasure the North Carolina Ornament also included. 111 BITS- Blind Information Technology Specialists, full zip, black tote bag from Blind Girl Designs donated by Tricia Waechter on behalf of BITS. Blind Girl Designs has created a complete collection for BITS. We are proudly donating a 15 by 18-inch full-zip black tote bag on their behalf. The print is very circular. The center of the print is an image of the globe with the continents inverted vibrant green and the ocean in blue with North America facing front. Surrounding the globe on either side are hands holding the globe. The hands are created by drawing thin lines, all around the sides and the bottom of the globe. Overarching the globe and the hands in a half circle are the words “blind technology information specialists” with those words in braille underneath. There is a fold in the bottom of the bag to easily allow it to sit upright. It has a full zip across the top as well as a zippered inside pocket. It's a classic from Blind Girl Designs! 112 A Four Mini Loaves of Homemade Banana Bread donated by Kaila Allen You will enjoy four mini loaves of this mouthwatering banana bread made just the way you like it. Choose one of the following add ins: peanut butter chips, chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, walnuts, or pecans. What a fantastic treat to either have for yourself or share with friends! 112 B Four Mini Loaves of Homemade Banana Bread donated by Kaila Allen You will enjoy four mini loaves of this mouthwatering banana bread made just the way you like it. Choose one of the following add ins: peanut butter chips, chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, walnuts, or pecans. What a fantastic treat to either have for yourself or share with friends! 113 Movie Extravaganza Package donated by ACB Associate Director of Development Jo Lynn Bailey-Page Enjoy using this $50 Regal Cinemas gift card to watch the latest audio described movies with some friends or family. Plus, you will love adding some goodies to go along with your movie. 114 Ruby Heart Jewelry Set made and donated by Charlotte lang This lovely set features July's birthstone ruby in 1/2 inch puffed hearts. Each earring features a heart dangling from sterling silver hooks. The bracelet stretches easily on and off the wrist. The 20-inch necklace closes with a matching silver heart-shaped toggle clasp. The hearts on the necklace are separated by silver links. Wow, this would make a lovely gift for that someone special in your life! 115 Two Companion Framed Floral Collages donated by ACB Advocacy Director Claire Stanley The two decoupage style pieces include yellow, brown, and green flowers. The flowers have six petals each and overlap each other across the canvass. The pieces are finished with a gloss which gives off a shiny glare. The two canvasses have been framed in wooden, 10 by 10 picture frames. Wow, what a fantastic gift to have either for yourself or to give to someone special! 116 JBL Portable Bluetooth Speaker donated by Florida Council of Citizens with Low Vision This ultra-portable, waterproof Bluetooth speaker is small in size but with a surprisingly big sound. The JBL Clip 3 features a built-in rechargeable Li-ion battery with up to 10 hours of battery life plus a metal carabiner so you can easily hook it to your clothes, backpack, or belt loop. This portable speaker has noise cancelling and wireless streaming from your smartphone or tablet. Plus, take crystal-clear calls from your speaker with the touch of a button, thanks to the noise and echo-cancelling speakerphone. JBL Clip 3 is completely waterproof, and you can even immerse it in water. Plus, the improved, durable fabric material and rugged rubber housing protects it during all your outdoor adventures. 117 Kentucky Derby Pie donated by Kentucky Council of the Blind Kern's Kitchen Kentucky Derby Pie®! Kern's Kitchen crafts each pie, one at a time, according to a legendary secret recipe. Premium chocolate and choice walnuts are folded into a decadent filling, then baked in a delicate crust. Delicious when eaten at room temperature; incredibly heavenly when eaten all warm and gooey and topped with either whipped cream or ice cream. This 9-inch, 1-pound-4-oz. pie stays fresh for about 14 days. Ready to warm and serve or freeze for later use. Serves 8 to 10. 118 Enjoy A Game Night donated by Connie and Pete Jacomini and Lisa and Ron Brooks Be the host with the most! You have everything you need included in this package for a wonderful game night. All decks of cards are print/braille and dice are tactile. Card games include Classic Playing Cards, UNO, SKIP-PO, PINOCHLE, PHASE 10, ROOK, and MILLE BORNES. Lisa Brooks personally Brailed MILLE BORNES for this package. Also included are a pair of large tactile dice, LEFT RIGHT CENTER and LEFT RIGHT CENTER WILD dice games. You will also get a wood card holder and card shuffler. 119 $100 A T Guys Gift Certificate donated by Diane Scalzi A T Guys provides affordable technology solutions for consumers, businesses, and educational customers. Our product line includes mobile phone software and accessories, portable electronics, screen readers, braille translation software and accessible games. With over 30 years of combined technology experience, our trainers offer customized instruction both in-person or via phone or online voice chat on a wide array of assistive technologies including screen readers, braille displays, embossers, the iPhone and iPad, Android phones, and general accessibility consulting. 120 Welcome to Jacksonville donated by Florida Council of the Blind Are you coming to the ACB convention in Jacksonville? Enjoy one night at the hotel and a$50 Starbucks gift card and a $50 VISA gift card to use while you are at convention! 121 A Song from the Smitherman's donated by Michael and Alison Smitherman If you enjoy listening to country or Gospel music, for your summertime listening enjoyment, Michael and Alison would like to record a song for you. You choose the song from either of these genres, and we will sing it for you. The song will be sent to you in an mp3 file. What a treat for you or someone special to enjoy! 122 A Two Dozen Homemade Shortbread Cookies donated by Deb Trevino and Delaware Council of the Blind and Visually Impaired We are pleased to offer two dozen fresh-baked mouth-watering authentic shortbread cookies guaranteed to explode on your palate with luscious buttery goodness. These are great with milk, coffee, or your favorite tea. Next to Walker's, these are the best I've ever tasted. If you plan to give a tasty treat to someone you love, don't miss this opportunity! 122 B Two Dozen Homemade Shortbread Cookies donated by Deb Trevino and Delaware Council of the Blind and Visually Impaired We are pleased to offer two dozen fresh-baked mouth-watering authentic shortbread cookies guaranteed to explode on your palate with luscious buttery goodness. These are great with milk, coffee, or your favorite tea. Next to Walker's, these are the best I've ever tasted. If you plan to give a tasty treat to someone you love, don't miss this opportunity! 122 C Two Dozen Homemade Shortbread Cookies donated by Deb Trevino and Delaware Council of the Blind and Visually Impaired We are pleased to offer two dozen fresh-baked mouth-watering authentic shortbread cookies guaranteed to explode on your palate with luscious buttery goodness. These are great with milk, coffee, or your favorite tea. Next to Walker's, these are the best I've ever tasted. If you plan to give a tasty treat to someone you love, don't miss this opportunity! Segment Two- Dan Spoone and Kim Charlson 123 Holy Cow Baraboo Chocolate donated by ACB of Wisconsin Chocolaty goodness in every box! This yummy package includes: • 1-Milk Chocolate Cow Pie • 1-Dark Chocolate Cow Pie • 1-Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter Cow Pie • 1-Milk Chocolate Moo Chews • 1-Milk Chocolate Udderfingers • 1-Milk Chocolate Green Bay Puddles • 1-Milk Chocolate Horse Apples • 10-Individually Wrapped Chocolates including mini Cow Pies and assorted Homer's Meltys. plus TWO SURPRISE BONUS ITEMS. This item will ship in September or October once the weather permits. 124 Black Pearl Necklace and Bracelet Set donated by Cindy Hollis This lovely set features a 20-inch necklace and stretch bracelet in naturally shaped black pearls. They are 7 to 8 millimeter in size. The necklace is hand knotted between for added security and elegance. It closes with a lobster claw clasp. Wow, what a wonderful set to have either for yourself or someone special in your life! 125 Get Moving with Couch to Active donated by ACB President Deb Cook Lewis This online fitness program specializes in helping people who have chronic conditions or physical limitations that impact their ability to participate in standard fitness programs. More recently, they have expanded to make sure all their instructional resources and classes are accessible to people who are blind or have low vision. You may choose between: • The 6-pack: Six classes over the next year. This is ideal if you want to have instruction once a month or once a week. • All In! Up to nine sessions per week for one month. These include Pilates, yoga, strength, mobility/stability, dance /movement, and cardio. 126 Accessible Digital Portable Recorder donated by Kim Charlson You will love having this Zoom H1 essential Stereo Handy Recorder with 32-Bit Float, Accessibility, X/Y Microphones, Record to SD Card, USB Microphone, Portable, for Musicians, Podcasters, Filmmakers, & Content Creators. The hottest accessible digital portable recorder on the market. All menus talk, and it comes with accessible documentation. Stereo 32-bit float recording - perfect audio with no need to set gain, High-Quality X/Y Mics capture clean audio up to 120 dB SPL, Records up to 96kHZ sample rate to SD card, USB Microphone for PC, Mac, iOS, or Android using the USB-C Port, Accessibility - Audio guidance function for the visually impaired. 127 Megan's Famous Chocolate Chip Cookies donated by Megan Sullivan Enjoy sharing three dozen homemade Megan's chocolate chip cookies either with family or friends with that favorite beverage. These cookies will melt in your mouth. 128 Bradford Exchange Music Box donated by ACB LIONS We all admire the quality products from the Bradford Exchange. This limited-edition handcrafted heirloom porcelain egg-shaped music box features a hand-enameled red Cardinal on light pink flowers inside the open egg mounted on a base. It is inspired by Peter Carl Faberge's prized eggs and is adorned with 22K Gold accents. It is beautifully hand glazed in a soft blue hue with more than 80 hand-set jewels. It plays, “Always in My Heart.” The abundance of handcrafted details makes each egg a one-of-a-kind treasure. 129 $100 VISA Gift Card donated by Mississippi Council of The Blind Use this card anytime while dining or doing some shopping for yourself or someone special in your life! 130 Lunch with the ACB Board of Director Koni Sims donated by ACB Board Director Koni Sims Enjoy one-on-one time with ACB Bord of Director Koni Sims over lunch in Jacksonville, Florida in 2024 to be determined by the winner and Koni. 131 ACBDA Sugar Warriors Tote Bag from Blind Girl Designs donated by Tricia Waechter on behalf of ACBDA This ACBDA tote bag features on the front a 12 by 12-inch colorful print to celebrate ACBDA! Across the top reads "SUGAR WARRIORS" which is printed in a velvety 3-D puff ink in both letters and Braille. Both sets of letters are a deep orange color and are very tactile. Beneath the words is a drawing of a fist with prominent knuckles, which is holding a 12-inch white cane diagonally across the bag, smashing through cubes of sugar. The white sugar cubes are flying through the air, struck by the mighty force of the white cane. To further emphasize the force, the words, “pow” and “bam” are colorfully included in yellow and red. The bottom of the print is in deep orange, the words “KNUCKLING DOWN ON DIABETES!” fill the entire length of the print. On the back of this classic navy-blue zippered tote bag, there is a white print in the center of the bag reading “ACB Diabetics in Action.” This deep navy-blue canvas tote is 15 by 20-inch full zip, canvas bag with a folded bottom so it can sit upright and a zip pocket on the inside as well! It has a generous strap so you can swing it over your shoulder. 132 Enstrom Milk Chocolate Almond Toffee Two- Pound Box donated by ACB Media and IT Manager Rick Morin This all-natural traditional almond toffee is handcrafted. It is the perfect blend of almonds, butter, and pure cane sugar, covered in a generous layer of milk chocolate and sprinkled with crushed almonds, creates a buttery toffee with a delicate crunch. Enstrom's Almond Toffee is lovingly handcrafted in small batches with a family recipe passed down through four generations. Includes simple ingredients like fresh California almonds, sweet cream butter, pure cane sugar and 36% milk chocolate. Enstrom's Almond Toffee is certified gluten free, kosher dairy and 100% preservative free. We will contact the winner to arrange shipment to consider options to avoid heat damage during shipping. 133 $200 Target Gift Card donated by Beth Corley and Dan Dillon Here's a $200 Target gift card for you to use in store or online. Enjoy this either for yourself or someone special in your life! 134 Jade 14K Gold Earrings donated by The Literacy Project You will love having these authentic small Jade earrings with gold trim. The earrings are oval and are on posts. Wow, these will dress up any outfit for a romantic outing! 135 Honoring our Heroes Patriotic Package donated by the Georgia Council of the Blind, Marsha Farrow and Blind Girl Designs This package comes in a red Blind Girl Designs bag with white lettering of the Braille alphabet in the shape of a heart. The bag contains a yard flag depicting a red truck with three labradors (yellow, black, and chocolate) flying an American flag. This package also contains a Christmas ornament with an angel holding a folded American flag, a beverage cup with the words “Fear not” on the background of the outline of the American flag, and an American flag pillow. Finally, a paper Braille American flag tactile graphic measuring 7.5 inches by 9.5 inches from the American Braille Flag project completes this gift package. 136 Phoenix Braille Embosser donated by HumanWare The Phoenix is our ninth generation of braille embossing technology that combines our durable and legendary Romeo Braille dot with a proprietary 25 DPI tactile graphics embossing system. All-in-one embosser! There is no longer a need to settle for poor-quality braille text to achieve high-definition tactile graphics. Imagine the ability to scan your pictures, graphs, and charts into your computer and with a few clicks of the mouse, emboss those images in high-definition tactile graphics without compromising the quality of your braille text. Phoenix includes the capabilities to emboss single-sided braille text and high-resolution graphics up to 25 DPI, in a simple to use format. The newly designed Phoenix is smaller and lighter, with an auto-install feature to make setup even easier. The Firebird Software Suite, included with the Phoenix, is a comprehensive set of productivity tools that powers the Phoenix Embosser. The Firebird Software Suite includes the Firebird Graphics Editor that provides you with a list of automatic tools to effortlessly create tactile graphic images. Phoenix is also compatible with your existing braille translator. 137A Homemade Triple Play Oversized Cookies donated by Brian Charlson Here we go again; it's time for Brian's triple play oversized cookies. Those who have won this item in the past will attest to the flavor, size, and overall quality of this perennial auction favorite. This year Brian is offering 1 dozen classic chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin and lemon shortbread. They are packaged individually. Feel free to offer them up as additions to gift baskets or pop them in the freezer to savor them over a few months or weeks. 137B Homemade Triple Play Oversized Cookies donated by Brian Charlson Here we go again; it's time for Brian's triple play oversized cookies. Those who have won this item in the past will attest to the flavor, size, and overall quality of this perennial auction favorite. This year Brian is offering 1 dozen classic chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin and lemon shortbread. They are packaged individually. Feel free to offer them up as additions to gift baskets or pop them in the freezer to savor them over a few months or weeks. 137 C Homemade Triple Play Oversized Cookies donated by Brian Charlson Here we go again; it's time for Brian's triple play oversized cookies. Those who have won this item in the past will attest to the flavor, size, and overall quality of this perennial auction favorite. This year Brian is offering 1 dozen classic chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin and lemon shortbread. They are packaged individually. Feel free to offer them up as additions to gift baskets or pop them in the freezer to savor them over a few months or weeks. 138 IROBOT Roomba 677 robot vacuum donated by Connie Jacomini For effortlessly clean floors, the Roomba® 677 Series Robot Vacuum learns your cleaning habits to suggest personalized schedules that take care of daily dirt, dust, and debris. Effective cleaning is part of the 3-Stage Cleaning System's design. Dual Multi-Surface Brushes grab dirt from carpets and hard floors, while an Edge-Sweeping Brush takes care of corners and edges. 139 $500 Coupon to HumanWare donated by HumanWare Details for this Coupon: Coupon is valid until June 30, 2025, and may be applied to any HumanWare product sold by HumanWare USA Inc. 2. Coupon is transferrable. Winning auction bidder for this coupon need only send an email to David Bradburn, HumanWare's Vice President Global Sales at david.bradburn@humanware.com providing the name and contact information of the person who will be redeeming the coupon. The coupon has no cash value. 140 Fun in the Sun! A week at the Wyndham Ocean Walk Resort at Daytona Beach donated by Tim Paul Must be used August 18-August 25, 2024. This unit is a two bedroom, two bath, fully equipped kitchen, with washer/dryer, and all the amenities of home. The resort offers activities for family members of all ages: indoor and outdoor swimming pools, outdoor hot tub, beach, lazy river water, exercise equipment, bar and grill, live entertainment and more. 141 A Song with Kolby donated by ACB Development Officer Kolby Garrison Kolby will sing a song of your choice acapella. The file will be sent to you in mp3 format. What a treat to listen to with friends. 142 A Kermit's Key Lime Pie Duo Donated by Dan Spoone Direct from Kermit's Key Lime Shop, the winner will receive two 9-inch Key Lime Pies. The pies that started it all named “the best taste Key Lime Pie” by Food Network's Keith Famie's Adventures. Kermit's Key Lime Pie is baked fresh daily. True tart Key Lime flavor in a delicious graham cracker crust and topped with fluffy whipped cream. This Key West delicacy will arrive at your door just waiting to be shared with the people you love the most. 142 B Kermit's Key Lime Pie Duo donated by Dan Spoone Direct from Kermit's Key Lime Shop, the winner will receive two 9-inch Key Lime Pies. The pies that started it all named “the best taste Key Lime Pie” by Food Network's Keith Famie's Adventures. Kermit's Key Lime Pie is baked fresh daily. True tart Key Lime flavor in a delicious graham cracker crust and topped with fluffy whipped cream. This Key West delicacy will arrive at your door just waiting to be shared with the people you love the most. 143 $500 Gift Certificate to Jack Stack's BBQ donated by Melvin Smith Your Package Includes: Pulled Pork 2 Pounds. Pork Spareribs 1 Full Slab Beef Burnt Ends 1 Pound. Lamb Ribs 2 Racks Hickory Pit Beans 1 Quart Cheesy Corn Bake 1 Quart KC Original BBQ Sauce One 18.6 Ounce bottle KC Spicy BBQ Sauce One 18.6 Ounce bottle KC Hot BBQ Sauce One 18.6 Ounce bottle Pulled Pork – Pulled pork might be a Carolina staple, but Jack Stack's is deliciously unforgettable. Our BBQ Pulled Pork is perfect for sandwiches. Pork Spare Ribs – Our Pork Spare Ribs are expertly seasoned, slow-roasted to perfection over hickory logs, and a delicious choice. Beef Burnt Ends – When it comes to classic Kansas City barbecue, Jack Stack's Beef Burnt Ends are second to none. Meaty, juicy, and tender on the inside - with the smokey edges you could only get from double-smoking them over hickory. Hickory-Roasted Lamb Ribs – Tender, savory and hickory roasted, Denver-cut lamb ribs are a uniquely treasured culinary find. Hickory Pit Beans – Beans may be standard barbecue fare, but there is nothing typical about these Hickory Pit Beans. Thick, slow-cooked, and loaded with chunks of our hickory-smoked brisket. Cheesy Corn Bake – It doesn't get more craveable than this: Jack Stack's Cheesy Corn Bake is bubbly, velvety, and unforgettable. Four gourmet cheeses are blended with whole-kernel corn and slivers of our hickory-smoked ham. 144 Black Hills Gold Heart shaped Pendant necklace donated by South Dakota Association of the Blind Enjoy this beautiful and delicate 10KT yellow, Black Hills Gold heart shaped pendant with .02ct round brilliant diamond in the center. It has an 18-inch gold chain. This will dress up a casual outfit or look stunning in a formal setting. What a fantastic gift either for yourself or someone special in your life! 145 Aromatherapy Bundle donated by Seth and Koni Sims, ACB Board of Director This aromatherapy bundle will give you a variety of ways to take care of yourself and your best furry friend. You will find something to help sore achy muscles and joints and headaches. These products are by Wyndmere Naturals. Included in this bundle: Lava Bead Necklace – Aura, Lavender oil 10 ml bottle, Aches & Pains Cream 4 ounce, Detoxification Aide Bath Salts 24 ounce, Citrus Delight Body & Air Mist 4 fluid ounce, Sleepy Time inhalation Patch, Breathe Blend inhaler, Head Aide Roll on 8 ml, Less Stress Pet Mist 4 fluid ounce. Wow, you, and your pooch will really feel relaxed and pampered with all these wonderful items! 146 A DaVinci Pro CCTV donated by Kim Charlson DaVinci Pro is a high-performance desktop video magnifier, featuring a Full HD 1080p 3-in-1 camera and full-page Text-to-Speech (OCR). DaVinci Pro's OCR allows it to easily read your favorite article or book aloud. DaVinci Pro's 3-in-1 Full HD camera allows you to see near, far or a mirror image. It is great for applying make-up, shaving, reading, writing, viewing presentations and whiteboards and so much more! 24” high resolution HD LCD, Auto focus 3-in-1, Magnification up to 77x, Computer compatible, Save documents, pictures or books and export files to your PC. It is a higher end CCTV. 146 B DaVinci CCTV donated by Kim Charlson DaVinci Pro is a high-performance desktop video magnifier, featuring a Full HD 1080p 3-in-1 camera and full-page Text-to-Speech (OCR). DaVinci Pro's OCR allows it to easily read your favorite article or book aloud. DaVinci Pro's 3-in-1 Full HD camera allows you to see near, far or a mirror image. It is great for applying make-up, shaving, reading, writing, viewing presentations and whiteboards and so much more! 24” high resolution HD LCD, Auto focus 3-in-1, Magnification up to 77x, Computer compatible, Save documents, pictures or books and export files to your PC. It is a higher end CCTV. Segment Three- Michael Garrett and Zelda Gebhard 147 Power Tower Donated by ACB of Minnesota This multiple outlet power strip tower has twelve grounded 3-prong AC outlets spaced out to accommodate different size plugs. The five high speed USB charging ports will meet your electronic charging needs. Charge your iPhone, iPad, tablet, or other devices. The 16-foot heavy duty cord ensures high conductivity and safety. The 45dg low profile flat plug and the vertical design makes this tower more space-saving than a traditional power strip. 148 The Pocket Bible donated by Rev. Ray Raysor, President DC Council of the Blind The Pocket Bible is a self-contained digital device that contains the entire bible. It is about the size of the old cassette tapes and has navigation buttons that allow forward and backward movement by both book and chapter. It has no moving parts and is rugged and water resistant. The Pocket Bible has both an internal speaker and an earphone jack. Available in your choice of English Standard Version, King James Version, New King James Version, New American Standard Bible, New International Version NIV, New Living Translation ®. Audio Bibles in Spanish also are available. 149 The Bring it Home $300 Bundle donated by Arizona Council of the Blind Enjoy a $100 Gift Card to Door Dash, $100 Gift Card to Instacart and $100 Shipt gift card. You will welcome the handpicked groceries delivered from your favorite local stores along with your favorite fresh produce from the comfort of your own home. Enjoy On-Demand Delivery from Instacart. Order and have your favorite meals at your door in minutes with DoorDash. Like your avocados a little firm? Shoppers with Shipt go the extra mile to ensure you get the things you want, exactly how you like them. Local stores and national chains you know and love, delivered directly to you same day. Your shopper will keep you updated every step of the way. From special requests to last-minute changes, they are here to help. You will enjoy these three $100 gift cards to shop, shop and shop some more! 150 Lunch with the ACB President donated by ACB Enjoy one-on-one time with ACB President, Deb Cook Lewis, over lunch in Jacksonville, Florida in 2024 to be determined by the winner and Deb. 151 RSVA navy crewneck sweatshirt from Blind Girl Designs donated by Tricia Waechter on behalf of RSVA Come and support the Brenda Dillon Memorial Walk and the RSVA walk team! The print on this sweatshirt is 3-D tactile white puff ink mixed with red, slightly tactile ink. The words “at your service” are arched over the top of the print. Under the three-dimensional words there is matching three-dimensional braille. In the center of the print, there are three shields: a large center shield and smaller shields on either side. In the center of the big shield is a red checkmark and the side shields have red stars. At the bottom in 3-D tactile ink are the letters RSVA with braille underneath. Available in sizes small through five XL. You pick! The sweatshirt is cotton/poly blend and will not shrink. 152 Maker's Mark Bourbon Balls Donated by Greater Louisville Council of the Blind This is an elegant gift for family, friends, and business associates or a fantastic treat for yourself. Fine, handcrafted chocolates made from an old family recipe; laced with a generous touch of Maker's Mark Bourbon Whiskey. The one-pound gift box contains 32 delicious pieces. Shipped directly to the winning bidder. Shipping is not available to Hawaii or Alaska. 153 $150 Amazon Gift Card donated by ACB of Indiana It is time to treat yourself to something special and here's a gift card to help you do it. $150 in spending at Amazon! 154 Shell Hematite and Rose Quartz Jewelry Set made and donated by Keri Bishop The 21-inch necklace is made of alternating chips of hematite shell and rose quartz. The shell chips are spiral slices of shell. The bracelet is elastic with two row shell and hematite beads every six shells bead is double wide with two drilled holes going across both rows. This beautiful handmade jewelry set would make a fantastic gift for that someone special in your life! 155 Ferris wheel Music Box donated by Patty Slaby The Ferris Wheel carries bears as the music plays Night In the Sky, The key to wind it is on the motor. There are more bears standing in line at the bottom. The music box is 6 inches tall and about 4 inches wide. What a fantastic gift to have yourself or to give to someone special! 156 Explore 12 donated by HumanWare Explore is an easy-to-use, portable electronic magnifier that offers HD image quality for improved near and distance viewing. As the largest portable magnifier in our Explore series, its 12-inch touchscreen is perfect for anyone desiring a larger interface, plus it has the added benefit of a foldable stand enabling easy use for reading, writing, and other manual tasks. 157A Homemade Scotchies Cookies donated by CCLVI President Patti Cox These soft and chewy Oatmeal Scotchies are sweetened with brown sugar, packed with oats, and loaded with butterscotch chips. They have crisp edges and chewy centers. Every bite is buttery delicious and packed with flavor. What a delicious treat to enjoy yourself or share with friends! 157B Homemade Scotchies Cookies donated by CCLVI President Patti Cox These soft and chewy Oatmeal Scotchies are sweetened with brown sugar, packed with oats, and loaded with butterscotch chips. They have crisp edges and chewy centers. Every bite is buttery delicious and packed with flavor. What a delicious treat to enjoy yourself or share with friends! 158 Coffee, Coffee, and More Coffee donated by ACB of Minnesota If you have a Keurig coffee maker, this is a must bid for you. You can choose from a box of 100 pods of multiple flavors or of the same flavor. What a fantastic treat for you or the coffee lover in your life. 159 Big Texas Spending Bundle donated by ACB of Texas Enjoy lots of shopping or dining with these gift cards which include: a $50 certificate to the Berdoll Candy and Pecan farm, a $50 gift card to the Container Store, a $50 gift card to Sweet Taste of Texas, and a $50 VISA gift card and others to come! 160 Mantis ™ Q40 donated by American Printing House Keep braille at your fingertips anytime, anywhere, with the Mantis™ Q40: a Bluetooth® keyboard and 40-cell refreshable braille display. Users of the Mantis Q40 no longer need to choose between a keyboard or a braille device. A student or professional typing on the Mantis has a multimodal option of refreshable braille below the keyboard making it easier to participate in, and succeed at, school or work. Contains the following built-in applications: Basic editor to function as a user's pen and paper, book reader to download and read books in braille, calculator to perform basic mathematical calculations, clock to check the date and time, file manager to organize one's work, HumanWare signature thumb keys and home button, 15 hours of battery life with rechargeable, removable batteries and 16 GB of internal storage, SD card slot and USB host port for flash drives. 161 A Song with Lucy Arguijo donated by Lucy Arguijo Lucy will sing a song of your choice. The file will be sent to you in mp3 format. What a treat to listen to with friends. 162 Homemade Peanut Delights donated by Zelda Gebhard If you like salted nut rolls, you will love these! This delightfully delicious candy is all marshmallowy and nutty throughout. There are two pounds of individually wrapped pieces so there is plenty to enjoy and to share of this salty and sweet treat made by Zelda. 163 $150 Braille Superstore Gift Certificate donated by Braille Revival League “Come browse with us and shop to your hearts' content at the Braille Superstore. Check out their great selection of accessible games, toys, signature guides, braille and talking watches, braille card games, educational items for preschool and K-12 students, adapted timers and cooking instruments, tactile labeling items, talking calculators, thermometers, scales, MP3 players, audio Bibles, and braille books, just to wet your appetite.” 164 Purple Pearl Necklace donated by Cindy Hollis This lovely necklace features 7-to-8-millimeter naturally shaped purple pearls. They are hand knotted between for added security and elegance. The 20-inch necklace closes with a lobster claw clasp. This beautiful necklace will dress up any ensemble! 165 Summer Vacation Bundle donated by GDUI Yippee! Another GDUI Sweet Summer Vacation bundle! Rating: 4 paws! GDUI-branded harness pouch where you can store a roll of pick-up bags, keys, and cash/credit card; a gray collapsible bowl with carabiner clip which holds 36 ounces; a Nerf Collapsible 2-in-1 Agility Tunnel and Target Dog Game! Also included is a large, Invincible Triple Chain dog toy and a cute 29-inch plush carrot squeaky toy by Petlou; a package of five reusable Scrubby instant, waterless bath mitts; a large 56 by 28 inch pink microfiber dog bath towel with two white embroidered bones in one corner by Frisco; a blue Coleman roll-up 24 by 36 by 2 inch travel pet bed with a durable water-resistant nylon top, a waterproof PVC base and polyester fill. It folds in half lengthwise to roll up and fasten with two sturdy buckles. Machine wash and line dry. It's time to snuggle up and dream of another fun-filled, splendid sunny summer day tomorrow! (yawn) 166 Echo Show5th Generation donated by Library Users of America The latest and greatest Alexa Echo Show is now available for you to enjoy. The 5.5-inch screen can display the time, a calendar, the weather, photos, video calls, podcasts, read audio books, plus stream your favorite music, tv shows, and podcasts, all controlled with your voice. With the built-in camera, you may check in on children and pets, or drop in on your home when you are away. When not in use, you can set the background to a slideshow of your favorite photos. Prime members also get unlimited cloud storage. There are multiple layers of privacy controls including a mic/camera OFF button and encrypted Ring videos. The Echo Show now has 2 times the bass and a clearer sound for your enjoyment. 167 Joann's Fudge (6 slices) donated by Michigan Council of the Blind and Visually Impaired Joan and Frank Nephew opened the first Joann's Fudge Store on Mackinac (pronounced Mackinaw) Island. Today, Joann's Fudge is a third-generation family business that continues Joan and Frank's commitment to providing high quality products. Each slice is ½ pound for a total of three pounds. You can order six slices of one flavor or mix and match from the list below. Flavors: Butter Pecan, Chocolate, Chocolate Cherry, Chocolate Cookie Crunch, Chocolate Peanut Butter, Chocolate Pecan, Chocolate Toffee, Chocolate Turtle, Chocolate Walnut, Double Dark Chocolate, Double Dark Chocolate Cherry Walnut, Double Dark Chocolate Espresso, Double Dark Chocolate Mint, Double Dark Salted Caramel, German Chocolate, Maple Walnut, Peanut Butter, Pumpkin Pie, Raspberry Truffle, Rocky Road, and Vanilla Salted Caramel. 168 Braille American Wall Flag donated by Veterans of ACB This beautiful flag is designed from very durable polymer and is recommended for permanent indoor display only. The flag measures 15 by 19 inches and weighs approximately 5 lbs. It has a brass-colored frame, mounting hardware and instructions included at no additional cost. Be proud and display your patriotism with this attractive flag. Segment Four- Jeff Thom and Terri-Lynn Higashi 169 $250 Pet Package donated by Tim and Maria Stone of Scoop Masters You will enjoy splurging on your pet and yourself with all the wonderful gift cards included: A $100 Chewy gift card, a $75 Amazon gift card, a $50 Cheesecake Factory gift card and a $25 Starbucks gift card. 170 Lunch with the ACB Executive Director donated by ACB Enjoy one-on-one time with ACB Executive Director, Scott Thornhill, over lunch in Jacksonville, FL in 2024 to be determined by the winner and Scott. 171 Canvas Tote Bag from Blind Girl Designs donated by Tricia Waechter on behalf of AAVL Join us in celebrating the AAVL with this beautiful canvas 15 by18-inch full-zip tote bag. The 12 by 12-inch print explodes with color. The top of the print has the words CELEBRATE in teal, EXPERIENCE in pink AND WISDOM in orange. The words are in a graceful arch. Beneath the words in the center of the print is a dynamic colorful fireworks display. The bottom of the print in 3D yellow puff ink are the letters AAVL and below that are the letters in tactile, readable braille. There is a fold in the bottom of the bag so that the bag can sit upright. It has a full zip across the top as well as a zippered inside pocket. It's a Blind Girl Designs classic! 172 Delicious Homemade Cookies from Patty's Kitchen donated by Patty Slaby Let your imagination guide your taste buds selecting 3 dozen of the same choice or 3 dozen of three 1 dozen choices. Choices include: peanut butter, oatmeal, molasses-ginger, snickerdoodles, chocolate chip, or anything you can imagine, even lemon. Very popular! Yum, Yum! 173 $100 Honey-Baked Ham Gift Card donated by Leslie and Jeff Thom You will enjoy having this $100 gift card for Honey-Baked Ham plus scrumptious sides from the Honey-Baked Ham Store. Enjoy this delicious feist with family or friends anytime over the summer or during the holidays! 174 Touch of Hawaiian Beauty Earring and Necklace Set donated by Hawaii Association of The Blind You will dazzle in this pair of earrings that feature a shiny ball on the top with tiny white seashell hanging from the ball. The seashell has delicate lines within it. It comes with an 18-inch necklace and a basket charm. Within the basket there are 3 delicate white stones similar to the shiny balls of earrings. It also comes with some surprise treats such as chocolate, and coffee. 175 Two Bottles of Wine donated by the Oklahoma Council of the Blind 1 bottle of Sunset Bliss and 1 bottle of Sex-In-The-Vineyard Wines. Wakefield's Winery is in the rolling hills of central Oklahoma. They produce some of the best kept secrets of delicious award-winning wines in the state for the most discriminating tastes! "SUNSET BLISS", is a tropical fruit Riesling sweet white table wine with hints of kiwi, pineapple and mango is an Oklahoma State Fair Silver Medal winner. “SEX-IN-THE-VINEYARD” is a Black Cherry Pinot Noir. This sweet wine is an “Oklahoma State Fair Bronze Medal” winner and the “People's Choice Award” winner. If you like sexy wine, this is the wine for you! Wakefield's Winery does not ship to the following states: Alabama, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi, New Jersey, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, and Virginia. 176 Explore 8 Magnifier donated by HumanWare Magnification up to 30X with HD stunning image quality, fully customizable functions, touchscreen to navigate easily through menus, twin Ultra HD cameras for desktop or distance viewing, large physical buttons to adjust magnification and contrast, can be connected easily to a large screen TV, battery life of 4.5 hours. 177 Two Pounds of Homemade Fudge donated by ACB Board Director Cecily Laney Nipper Indulge your sweet tooth. Enjoy two pounds of homemade fudge. Choose from flavors such as double chocolate, peanut butter, and coffee; with two pounds of the same flavor or one pound each of two different flavors. You will be contacted to customize this rich tasty treat. Enjoy yourself or share with friends or family! This will be shipped in September. 178 Fun Time in Hawaii donated by Hawaii Association of The Blind A porcelain Shaka wall hook by Hawaiian artist Jason Dow; Enamel mug with a design that says Hawaii in colorful letters below 3 pineapples; Hawaiian Harmony from Big Island Roasters 100% Kona coffee beans 7 ounces; Yellow Hau flower enamel key chain from Paradise Now Hawaii - made on Maui; Lucky Fortune Cat 3-D shaped sponge from Fred. Enamel flair pin shaped like a bowl of ramen noodle soup from Moxhi Kids; Vinyl sticker sheet with Hawaii's favorite smiling foods and 2 larger vinyl stickers shaped like spam musubi and Boba tea from Mochi Kids. These can be placed on water bottles, phone or iPad cases. Bid and enjoy all these fun items from Hawaii. 179 $100 Gift Card to Omaha Steaks donated by AAVIA Everyone loves a good steak! Omaha Steaks offers a wide selection of high-quality meats that are delivered to your doorstep. Yum, yum. 180 Handmade Story Book Quilt made and donated by Margarine Beaman You will love having this story book quilt with each page sporting a different color. The size of this quilt is 45 by 51-inches. This beautiful quilt is great for a young child to look at as they are going to bed. “My grandkids love to lay on top of their bed and look at the colors and animals.” Wow, what an entertaining quilt for that special person in your life! 181 “The Tom Kaufman Make Believe Hillbilly Band” Bundle donated by Tom Kaufman Come and bid on Tom Kaufman's choices from his Make Believe Hillbilly Band showcased during ACB Community Karaoke! You will be able to choose a song or some of Tom's exciting genres from Tom's Band. Tom will send you an mp3 file with your choices. Enjoy this amazing selection repeatedly by yourself or with some friends! 182 A Tony's Energy Bar and Banana Bread Delight donated by Anthony Akamine and Terri Lynn Higashi Akamine, members of Hawaii Association of the Blind Summer days are here again! Yummy for the tummy. Need some treats to kick your summer into high gear? Back by popular demand for the auction. One loaf of chocolate banana bread full of chocolate, bananas, and nuts. If you don't like bananas, we can do mangos. Also, Anthony is perfecting his mom's energy bar treats. Get a bag of these yummy treats packed with Rice Krispies, oatmeal, raisins, peanut butter, and nuts. If you don't like peanuts, we can throw out the nuts. Made by Anthony and his mom's creation. Perfect for those summer days. And the box may even come with a few extra goodies. 182 B Tony's Energy Bar and Banana Bread Delight donated by Anthony Akamine and Terri Lynn Higashi Akamine, members of Hawaii Association of the Blind Summer days are here again! Yummy for the tummy. Need some treats to kick your summer into high gear? Back by popular demand for the auction. One loaf of chocolate banana bread full of chocolate, bananas, and nuts. If you don't like bananas, we can do mangos. Also, Anthony is perfecting his mom's energy bar treats. Get a bag of these yummy treats packed with Rice Krispies, oatmeal, raisins, peanut butter, and nuts. If you don't like peanuts, we can throw out the nuts. Made by Anthony and his mom's creation. Perfect for those summer days. And the box may even come with a few extra goodies. 183 $100 Bloomin' Brands Gift Card donated by AAVL Bloomin' Brands gift cards are the freshest way to see for yourself how one card can offer so many appetizing choices from steak, seafood to classic Italian. Our card can be redeemed at any of the following restaurants: Outback Steakhouse, Carrabba's Italian Grill, Bonefish Grill and Fleming's Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar. What a wonderful way to enjoy a night out with family or friends! 184 Versa Slate Paperless Erasable Braille Slate and Stylus donated by Lucy Edmonds The Versa Slate is a braille slate that is paperless and erasable. It works just like a regular slate and stylus, but without paper. It features four rows of 20 cells each, and a magnetic stylus that is built into the side of the unit for easy storage. 185 Himalayan Salt Lamp donated by Jeff and Keri Bishop of Tucson, AZ You will love using this Himalayan Salt Lamp. It is 9 inches high, 4 inches wide with a 7W night light bulb inside. This lamp glows a lovely pink that shows all the different variations of color in the large salt crystal. It is a spectacular piece of decor that would look great on any mantel or end table. 186 Podcasting Bundle with Accessible Tools donated by BITS This package contains all you need to conduct the interview of your dreams! You will be able to record high quality music or just capture life as it happens. The Zoom H4essentials is an accessible digital voice recorder. The first thing you hear when you turn it on is it prompting you to enable speech and beeps providing independent navigation of most system options. The Zoom H4essentials has a built-in stereo microphone, with dual XLR connections available as well and it supports up to one terabyte micro SD card, and is powered by USB-C or AAA batteries, not included. The Samson Q2U microphone is a versatile handheld dynamic mic. This microphone allows you to connect via XLR into an audio interface, such as the Zoom H4essentials, or directly to your computer via an included USB cable. Great for rejecting off access noise, these microphones are ideal for interviewing individuals in an environment that might not be the most conducive for podcast interviews. Bid today on the great podcasting bundle including one Zoom H4essentials field recorder, 2 Samson Q2U mic's, 2 XLR cables, and 1 128 GB microSD card. 187 A Home Baked Cookies from Andrea Conner's Kitchen donated by Andrea Conner These delicious cookies melt in your mouth! The light, buttery goodness of a crescent formed into a ball, loaded with chopped pecans, flavored with a hint of vanilla, then dusted in powdered sugar. One dozen with almond flavor and one dozen cocoa flavor. They're sure to satisfy your cookie craving! Enjoy these scrumptious cookies yourself or share with friends or family. 187 B Home Baked Cookies from Andrea Conner's Kitchen donated by Andrea Conner These delicious cookies melt in your mouth! The light, buttery goodness of a crescent formed into a ball loaded with chopped pecans, flavored with a hint of vanilla, then dusted in powdered sugar. One dozen with almond flavor and one dozen cocoa flavor. They are sure to satisfy your cookie craving! Enjoy these scrumptious cookies yourself or share with friends or family. 188 One-on-One In-Person or Phone Conversation with Our Talking Book Narrator Donated by ACB Enjoy chatting with our talking book narrator, Mare Trevathan. Here's your chance for a one-on-one, behind the scenes conversation with a talking book narrator. The winner could either use this in person in Jacksonville or be contacted after the convention to make arrangements for a phone conversation. 189 $50 Amazon Gift Card donated by Delaware Council of the Blind and Visually Impaired It is time to treat yourself to something special and here's a gift card to help you do it. $50 in spending at Amazon! 190 One-hour Business Coaching Session and $25 Gift Card to Pete's Coffee donated by Ardis Bazyn Enjoy this one-hour business coaching session with Ardis Bazyn. Ardis coaches on positive image building, secrets for coping with challenges and change, creating a plan for professional/business success, speaking skills, writing skills, advocacy skills and inexpensive marketing/public relations initiatives. Also included is a $25 Pete's Coffee gift card to enjoy with some friends or family! Expiration Date: June 30, 2025. 191 Nebraska Black Tote Bag from Blind Girl Designs donated by Tricia Waechter on behalf of Nebraska The delightful Nebraska tote bag has white vinyl ink printed on a black canvas, full-zip 15 by 18-inch tote bag with an interior zipper pocket. The top of the 9 by 13-inch print starts boldly with the state name NEBRASKA and underneath it is spelled also in braille. Underneath the word NEBRASKA is the entire state outline of Nebraska exactly like a map. The only difference from a map is on the left side of the state there's a white cane instead of a straight line and on the northwestern border there is another white cane instead of a line. At the end of the strap of the white cane, the map continues along the river as it naturally would. The river continues all the way down to the southeast border of the state. In the middle of the west side of the state are the historic rolling sand hills, which are covered by prairie grasses. These sand hills are replicated by small wavy tactile hills as a nod to this critical and historic portion of the state, which supports the cattle industry. Starting in the middle to the right side of the print are three huge stalks of corn. There's a reason this is proudly called the Cornhusker state! 192 Berkey Creamery Bundle Package donated by Pennsylvania Council of The Blind One thing that most Pennsylvanians agree on is “Ice cream is good, and the Penn State Creamery makes some of the best.” We love ice cream, but we love the science behind it even more. By supporting the Berkey Creamery, you also are supporting food science, the dairy industry and agriculture across Pennsylvania and beyond. The PCB Package includes six pints of ice cream: Peachy Paterno; Cookies-n-Cream; Bittersweet Mint; Death by Chocolate; Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough and Vanilla Bean (BASED ON INGREDIENT AVAILABILITY). Enjoy this Penn State Creamery 100% cotton t-Shirt with color options of blue or white, sizes small up to 3XL. We've got some fashion for your sweet tooth! Simply stated, all roads lead to the Creamery! Also, enjoy the 21oz travel mug which is a stainless steel beverage container with the Penn State Berkey Creamery emblem on it. Segment Five- Kolby Garrison and Mary Haupt 193 $50 Amazon Gift Card donated by New Jersey Council of The Blind It is time to treat yourself to something special and here's a gift card to help you do it. $50 in spending at Amazon! 194 Doggie Gift Basket donated by Jeff and Keri Bishop This doggie gift bag comes with lots of goodies for your guide dog. This set includes: Two jumbo collapsible dog dishes for travel, A hard rubber giggle ball, a nylon dual length leash in bright safety green It's the same size and length as standard guide dog leashes, hillside farms chicken jerky for dogs, hillside farms jerky twist (dried chicken and sweet potato), a velour kennel blanket. A back seat cover or hammock (covers the entire seat and floor by putting 2 handles on the head rest in the back or a hammock by putting the second set of handles over the all 4 heads rest of the front and back), a dog safety seatbelt, a tug of war nylon bone, doggy poo bags, a grooming kit (has right and left grooming mittens, a comb and a grooming brush the straps around your hand. This gift set comes in a reusable shopping bag that has been sewn from a recycled dog food bag. 195 Disney 100 Years of Wonder Mickey Watch and Minnie Mouse Watch donated by Connie Jacomini You will love having these enchanting Mickey and Minnie Mouse watches that feature a detailed 3-layer dial with a laser-cut silhouette of your favorite character alongside the Disney 100 logo. Plus, it arrives beautifully packaged and ready for gift giving. Wow, what a fantastic gift either for yourself or someone special in your life! 196 Dry Aged Steaks for a Summertime Grill donated by ACB Development Director Bill Reeder Enjoy four luxury steakhouse prime grade ribeye steaks, dry aged for 45 days and hand cut two inches thick. Grill ready and perfect for a fancy summer BBQ. They are accompanied by two bottles of fine wine (red or white) and Kosmos famous BBQ steak rub. What a treat to have for a summer meal with friends or family! 197 Pat's Beef Jerky Gift Box donated by Kansas Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired This fantastic beef jerky is from A Land of Kansas Company. The box features four different flavors of beef jerky made from Kansas beef, and two packages of beef stick. Enjoy this delicious treat yourself or share with friends. 198 A Gift Box of Fragrance donated by Barry Carver of Mountain Crafted A box of sulfate-free fragrance available in Cactus Flower or Jade. You may request braille labels on all your items. This bundle includes: 8 ounces shampoo, 8 ounces hair conditioner, 8 ounces shower gel, 4 ounces moisturizing cream, 1 ounce body mist, 1 ounce room spray. A little dab goes a long way. 199 $100 VISA Gift Card donated by Mississippi Council of The Blind You can use this $100 VISA gift card any time for dining or doing some shopping for yourself or someone special! 200 a Maryland box of Goodies donated by ACB of Maryland Bid and enjoy this box of goodies from Maryland. It includes: Old Bay Fisher's Popcorn, Jeppi Nuts, Chocolate Crabs dusted with Old Bay, Hot Sauce, Crab Cake Mix, Old Bay Seasoning, and some Chesapeake Mouth Party Caramels! Special Add Ons: "Home is Where the Old Bay Is" 5 by 7 print, Bigs Old Bay Sunflower Seeds, Crab Towel, and an Old Bay Insulated Tumbler. 201 Hills of Purple Heather donated and performed by Jeanette Kutash The lucky winner will enjoy sharing this piano piece performed by Jeanette. As you hear this beautiful melody, imagine yourself walking through the hills with the purple heather, a beautiful flower which represents healing and quieting of the mind. The hills and the heather invite those who walk through them to revel in a feeling of confidence to pursue living life to the fullest with those you love. As the music increases and decreases in volume, we find gradual healing, calmness, and the feeling that we can get through all storms ahead with grace and tranquility. The piece culminates with a final chord which represents that feeling of being whole from the heather's qualities. 202 $100 Honey Baked Ham Gift Card donated by ACB Media Coordinator Larry Gassman Whether you're celebrating a loved one, marking a special occasion, or simply wanting to surprise a friend, show you care with a Honey Baked Ham. Enjoy this delicious treat with friends or family. 203 Baby Afghan in White, Yellow, and Green donated by Keri Bishop Enjoy this baby Afghan crocheted like a jumbo granny square or continuous granny square. The center is white bordered by a pastel green then white and trimmed in pastel yellow. Afghan measures 42 by 42 inches. Wow, what a beautiful Afghan to give as a gift for that someone special! 204 $100 Gift Card to Walmart Donated by Mary Haupt Fill your basket with treats for your family and friends. The $100 gift card offers a wonderful opportunity for you to treat yourself or to please and surprise others. 205 Four Bags of Healthy Dog Treats donated by ACB of Connecticut Here's something for the canines in your life. You will receive 4 bags of healthy dog treats baked, packed, and shipped by special needs students at Bellcate School in Vermont. They are freshly baked upon order and contain no preservatives. The flavors are Peanut Butter Pumpkin, Calming Chamomile and Honey Maple Mousse with the maple coming from the farm on the school property and Apple, Oatmeal and Cheese. They are truly making a difference for our dogs! 206 2012 Read Easy Move Scanning Device donated by Roberta McCall You can use this freestanding scanning device which will read out all printed text to users to assist you with everyday life. It includes headphones so you can hear what the scanner is reading to you. It has a custom carrying case, clear voices, Keypad Feature Pack For users requiring additional features such as multi-page documents, WIFI navigation control, saving, loading, importing, and exporting documents! Low Vision Pack that connects your Move to television or computer screen. Let's you view your documents in large print, (up to 2x newspaper headline size on a 22” screen), as well as listen to them. 207A Loaf of Homemade Pumpkin Bread Donated by Terri Nettles Perfect for breakfast, dessert, or a party, this bread will delight all who love pumpkin any time of day. Enjoy this pumpkin bread either plain or with chocolate chips yourself or share with friends or family. It is delicious. 207B Loaf of Homemade Pumpkin Bread Donated by Terri Nettles Perfect for breakfast, dessert, or a party, this bread will delight all who love pumpkin any time of day. Enjoy this pumpkin bread either plain or with chocolate chips yourself or share with friends or family. It is delicious! 208 Handmade Pottery Snack Tray and Butter Dish donated by Patty Fletcher You will enjoy this lovely snack tray which is a rectangular shaped plate with rounded edges. The edges and sides of this piece are textured. It is a marigold color with a glossy finish. Also enjoy the accompanying butter dish which is an oblong shaped plate. It is marigold with a glossy finish. These one-of-a-kind handmade pottery pieces are both useful and lovely. 209 $50 Amazon Gift Card donated by Friends in Art It is time to treat yourself to something special and here's a gift card to help you do it. $50 in spending at Amazon! 210 Four-piece Amalia Serving Set donated by Becky Gleason Enjoy having this four-piece set of elegant flatware. It will add sparkle to any table setting. Made from high-quality 18/10 Stainless Steel, each piece is beautiful, durable and dishwasher safe. The serving utensils feature a unique vine design and rope detail. This set includes a Serving Spoon, Slotted Spoon, Serving Fork, and Serving Spatula. Use this serving set yourself or make someone incredibly happy by making them the recipient of this useful and classy gift. 211 $50 Starbucks Gift Card donated by Merrilee Hill-Kennedy Everyone loves a good cup of coffee. It's even better with some friends or family members over some laughs! As an extra bonus, Starbucks also has goodies to eat. Bid so you can enjoy all the delicious choices from a great coffee establishment. 212 Two Dozen Homemade Cookies donated by Mary Cook of Outta Sight Sweets LLC Your choice of either snickerdoodle or triple chocolate chip cookies. The snickerdoodle is an old-fashioned d

In the continuing summer series on Genesis 1, this Sunday's guest speaker was Ren Martin. Ren is the Eco-Justice Connection Program Coordinator for the North Carolina Council of Churches. Genesis teaches us that all of creation is a gift from God. Our response to this gift should be one of deepest respect and gratitude. We must cultivate a profound appreciation for the wonders of nature, acknowledging that every tree, every creature, every ecosystem carries God's divine blessing. With this reverence we should naturally be inclined to protect and preserve the earth for future generations.

Interview with Gail Ashby Bryant (Army veteran 1975-1981), Mark Bartholomew (Iraq Combat Medic veteran), and Bill Dixon (Vietnam veteran and Board Chair of Vets to Vets).THE WRITE TO HEAL: SOLDIERS DEEP DIVE INTO STORYTELLING In this new, limited six-episode audio series, Artist Soapbox speaks with life-changers – people who champion creative writing as a catalyst for soldiers' healing, as well as soldiers whose lives have been radically transformed through story. The interviews are conducted by Tamara Kissane, Artist Soapbox producer and 2020 Piedmont Laureate, with June Guralnick, 2022 Raleigh Medal of Arts recipient and creative writing teacher for veterans.GUEST BIOSGAIL ASHBY BRYANT was born and raised in Harlem, New York (the middle child of seven children). She attended Pace University for teaching but upon graduation, enlisted in the Army instead. From 1975-1981 she was a cook and Mess Sergeant. After her service in the army, she graduated from Orange County Community College with a degree in Police Science and State University of New York at New Paltz with a degree in Social Work. She was Director of Social Services for nursing homes for more than 25 years before retiring to North Carolina. Writing is her first love!MARK BARTHOLOMEW grew up in eastern North Carolina. He served in the Army Reserves from 2000-08, deploying to Iraq from 2003-04 with the 351st Military Police Company Combat Support (as a Combat Medic). After coming home, he struggled with PTSD and a traumatic brain injury. It has been a long road but now he happily fills his days as a husband to an amazing wife, a stay-at-home dad to four wonderful boys, while enjoying nature, art, and writing.BILL DIXON, Spec 5 U.S. Army, Vietnam 1967 currently serves as Board Chair for Vets to Vets United, placing rescued dogs with veterans (at no cost) as well as a Board member of Vietnam Veterans of America, North Carolina Council. He is a life member of VFW, Commander of American Legion Post, a member of VET-Rep. Working for VA, and a representative to Wake County Veterans Council and North Carolina Veterans Council.EPISODE LINKSTranscript CREDITSTHE WRITE TO HEAL: SOLDIERS DEEP DIVE INTO STORYTELLING is a production of Artist Soapbox in partnership with June Guralnick.This series is dedicated to the memory of David Brave Heart.The intro montage is sound engineered by Royce Froehlich, and music in both the intro and outro are by David Brave Heart, with additional music by Louis Wilkinson.Post-production is by Tamara Kissane and Jasmine Hunjan.WHEN I WRITE I FEEL… CONTRIBUTORSJenny BaileyLinda BelansGail Ashby BryantKammie DeGhetoChuck GalleLinda GilesJune GuralnickPJ HarperKirsten HowardTamara KissaneAllie McDonaldRay OwenShirley PerrySande SouthworthScott Charles WhittemoreNorah & SusannahFor more information, see artistsoapbox.org and juneguralnick.com.

209: Looking for Leadership as a Nonprofit Funder (Robb Webb)SUMMARYDoes your nonprofit embody the leadership qualities for which major funders are looking? Nonprofit leaders who are best prepared when applying for grant funding can save themselves precious time and set their organization up for success if they seek to understand what philanthropic leaders are evaluating. But how do you know what funders are actually looking for? In episode #209 of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership, Robb Webb, Director of Rural Church at The Duke Endowment, shares how they address community needs and what they're looking for when considering funding. We examine what Robb identifies as three key topics funders look for; budget and financial help, community need, and distributed leadership. As a nonprofit leader himself, Robb shares his 70/20/10 framework for managing teams and setting attainable goals.    ABOUT ROBBRobb Webb serves as Director of the Rural Church program area of The Duke Endowment. Webb joined the Endowment in January 2006 as a program officer after serving as a management consultant for PricewaterhouseCoopers and Healthcare Resource Associates. He is a member of the Board of Visitors for Duke Divinity School and the Parish Ministry Fund. He serves on advisory boards for the National Fund for Sacred Places, the Center for Environmental Farming Systems and the North Carolina Council of Churches. He is also consulting faculty at Duke Divinity School, teaching a class on leadership in the rural church. Webb holds degrees from Davidson College and Duke University and is an ordained deacon in the Western North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church. He has served the Western North Carolina Conference on the Board of Ordained Ministry and as vice-chair of the Council on Campus Ministry. Through the Rural Church Division of the Endowment, Webb has engaged in North Carolina food initiatives such as hunger relief through rural United Methodist churches, community partnership development through Come to the Table (with RAFI), and most recently, the development of the World Food Policy Center at Duke University's Sanford School of Public Policy. He believes churches can serve as catalysts in their communities, contributing to human, community and economic advancement.EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCESThe Opposable Mind: How Successful Leaders Win Through Integrative Thinking by Roger L. MartinLearn more about The Duke Endowment and Robb hereCheck out Patton's book Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership: Seven Keys to Advancing Your Career in the Philanthropic Sector

Media often tends to focus on and center emaciated, thin, young white adolescents who are hospitalized due to medical complications of malnourishment when speaking on the topic of eating disorders. We don't often hear stories of Black girls with anorexia, Black men struggling with body image, Black families and the impact of these narrow stereotypes on limiting care and life-saving access to care. Today's episode was recorded almost half a year ago, but it still rings so important. Mimi talks with Dr. Erikka Dzirasa, MD about messages we received around mental health growing up and our work as Black healthcare providers in the eating disorder field. *The title was tricky for me to think about, I wanted to capture how Black children experience eating disorders because the narrative is lacking. I also wanted to capture that little Black girls and Black men and non-binary and trans Black people experience eating disorders. Blackness and eating disorders aren't mutually exclusive. I landed on Black Young Girls because that is the experience I can speak to the most and we need more voices. And also, one podcast episode doesn't capture the whole Black experience of eating disorders, there is so much complexity. So just narrowing in on some aspects here. I've also since read the book, It's Always Been Ours by Jessica Wilson, MS, RD, which has been absolutely incredible, I highly recommend reading! We talk about.. Black families and eating disorder care Messages prominent in many Black families around mental health The need for more representation within the field of eating disorder care How stereotypes lead to lack of early diagnosis and are life-threatening Dr. Dzirasa's leadership positions within Arise and Project HEAL, and the importance of diversity within organizations providing care Erikka Dzirasa, MD, MPH, DFAACAP is a double-board certified Child and Adult Psychiatrist who brings more than 10 years of deep expertise in eating disorders and mental health since first seeking out specialized training while in Duke University's residency and fellowship programs. She previously served as the Medical Director of an Eating Disorders specialty hospital system, leading policy and program development to deliver high-quality, effective care in their intensive outpatient (IOP) and partial hospitalization programs (PHP), residential and inpatient units for people living with eating disorders. Erikka is currently Chair of the Board of Directors of Project HEAL, a leading eating disorder nonprofit breaking down systemic barriers and providing education and supportive resources to people of all identities and background experiencing eating disorders. She is a partner in Catalyst Therapeutic Services, a private practice in Durham, NC and a Consulting Associate at Duke University Medical Center. As a mental health advocate, she also serves on the Race, Ethnicity and Equity committee for the North Carolina Psychiatric Association, and is the immediate Past President of the North Carolina Council of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. Dr. Dzirasa earned her Bachelor of Science at Spelman College, Master of Public Health in Health Care and Leadership at UNC Chapel Hill, and her Doctor of Medicine at Duke University School of Medicine. She is also a certified yoga instructor.  Find Dr. Dzirasa at: IG: @dr.erikka Arise: www.wearearise.com/about Find Mimi at: Main IG: @the.lovelybecoming Podcast IG: @lovelybecomingpodcast Website: www.mimi-cole.com

On the first ever Protestant Libertarian Podcast roundtable, my three guests are Reverend Doctor Jennifer Copeland, who is the director of the North Carolina Council of Churches, Doctor Christina Cowger, who is the facilitator of North Carolina Stop Torture Now, an organization that has been fighting against CIA torture programs that use North Carolina-based planes, and Raymond McGovern, an army veteran and a CIA analyst for decades, who has a heroic record of opposing the excesses of the US war on terror and writes for antiwar.com. We discuss Dr. Copeland's recent piece ‘Dishonoring the Boy Scouts of America', in which she critiques the George W. Bush administration's shameful record on torture. We discuss the torture programs, the CIA, rendition using North Carolina tax-funded planes, how we are programmed to legitimize the bad foreign policy decisions of the US government, why this is a bi-partisan problem, and why Christians need to take this issue extremely seriously. This is not one to miss!Media Referenced:Dishonoring the Boy Scouts of America: https://www.ncchurches.org/2022/09/dishonoring-the-boy-scouts-of-america/North Carolina Council of Churches: https://www.ncchurches.orgNC Council Twitter Handle: @ncchurchesNorth Carolina Stop Torture Now: http://ncstn.org/content/Dr. Christina Cowger Twitter Handle: @ChristinaNCSTNRaymond McGovern's Website: https://raymcgovern.comRaymond McGovern's Twitter Handle: @raymcgovernQuestions, comments, suggestions? Please reach out to me at theprotestantlibertarian@gmail.com.  You can also follow the podcast on Twitter: @prolibertypod. If you like the show and want to support it, you can! Check out the Protestant Libertarian Podcast page at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/theplpodcast. Also, please consider giving me a star rating and leaving me a review, it really helps expand the shows profile! Thanks!

20220921 Untangling Transportation – No Cars Required Originally Aired September 21, 2022, on ACB Media 5   On September 22nd, Car Free Day encourages motorists around the world to give up their vehicles for a day. Newsflash! Those of us who are blind or have low vision does this daily. So, we can skip all the oohs, ahs, and OMGs our car-loving neighbors might be voicing at the very notion of going a day without driving. Instead, we can take the time to talk about life as a pedestrian—the good, the bad, and the challenging. We've got a very special guest to help us do just that. Becky Davidson is First Vice-President of the North Carolina Council of the Blind; Co-Chairperson of ACB's Pedestrian Environmental Access Committee: and a long-time advocate for Accessible Pedestrian Signals (APS) and anything else that helps to increase pedestrian safety. So, we discussed APS and pedestrian safety and the link between community accessibility and public transportation. We took a few minutes to dream about what a world could look like without so many cars. Sponsored by Accessible Avenue

Nadia Ramlagan, North Carolina News Service Faith and climate leaders convene in Charlotte this week, as the Southeast Climate and Energy Network and US Climate Action Network join forces. They're asking the nation to pay its fair share to help communities feeling the worst effects of climate change. Rev. Michael Malcom is the executive director of the Birmingham, Alabama-based People's Justice Council. He pointed out that Black, Brown and other historically vulnerable communities are disproportionately experiencing loss and damage from climate disasters - and are the least likely to have the resources to rebuild. "All of us in the South, I would say, are aware of the effects of climate change," said Malcom, "because we are the ones that are being hit - I would say the hardest - particularly in the gulf region." Research shows warming global temperatures will likely make parts of the southern U.S. more tropical, fostering the spread of insect-borne diseases and invasive species, extreme temperatures and heavy rain events. North Carolina ranks in the top five states that have experienced billion dollar weather disasters since 1980. Susannah Tuttle is the director of the North Carolina Council of Churches Eco-Justice Connection Program, and is community liaison for the USCAN's Fair Share program. She said as the second-highest emitter of carbon emissions in the world, the U.S. can make good on its promises and help ensure that financial assets are used to promote shared welfare in a changing climate. "It is an absolute moral imperative to end investment in climate destruction," said Tuttle. "All people of faith and spirituality with a role in the financial system have a responsibility to create action immediately, to put the world on a path to a just and sustainable future." Rev. Malcom said he believes religious groups have a role to play in educating the public on how climate change is affecting their lives. "And I think communities of faith, that's where we can be most impactful, in helping to control that narrative," said Malcom. "If we can become hubs of resilience, hubs of restoration." A Morning Consult poll released last year found nationwide, 60% of Christians and 79% of Buddhist, Hindu, Jewish and Muslim Americans believe passing legislation to address climate change and its effects should be a top priority for Congress. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/carolinaweather/message

As we enter our second year of podcasting, the Docs are reflecting on their favorite episodes and sharing the highlights with you! Thank you for two years of 3BD! Dr. Zanetta chose our episode(s) with Dr. Erikka Dzirasa about depression and mental health in children during the pandemic. As we move into a COVID endemic world, these signs and resources are still just as useful. --This week, we're continuing our conversation with Dr. Erikka Dzirasa by covering the warning signs of depression in children and where to find resources if you see some of these signs.For more information on the resources mentioned:Taraji P Henson's Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation : Break the Silence, Break the Cycle. Focused on erasing the stigma around mental health issuesAAKOMA Project: dedicated to helping diverse teenagers and their families achieve optimal mental health through dialogue, learning, and the understanding that everyone deserves care and supportManaged Cares Services through Medicaid Dr. Erikka Dzirasa, MD, MPH is a double board-certified Child, Adolescent, and Adult Psychiatrist, a certified yoga instructor, and a cycle instructor. She is a graduate of Spelman College, and she completed medical school, residency, and Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship at Duke University. She has experience in treating psychiatric conditions such as anxiety disorders, mood disorders, eating disorders, trauma, neurodevelopmental disorders, and psychotic disorders. She is committed to providing compassionate and comprehensive care that incorporates supportive therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and psychopharmacology.  She also has expertise in topics such as eating disorders, body image, racial trauma, resiliency, school/work/life balance, stress management, faith & mental health, and mental health among diverse populations. She is the immediate Past-President of the North Carolina Council of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry and the co-owner/founder of Catalyst Therapeutic Services, PLLC in Durham, NC. Follow her on IG @dr_e2kCatalystnc.com @Catalyst_nc   New episodes every Tuesday! Subscribe so you don't miss a beat! Also, join us for our monthly live podcasts on Facebook and Youtube! Join the Conversation! Follow us on social media! 3 Black Docs facebook.com/3blackdocstwitter.com/3blackdocsinstagram.com/3blackdocsYouTube Dr. Karen Winkfield facebook.com/drkarenwinkfieldtwitter.com/drwinkfieldinstagram.com/drwinkfield Dr. Zanetta Lamar facebook.com/drzanettainstagram.com/drzanetta

Duke Energy's solar panel rebate program expires this year, and faith groups such as the North Carolina Council of Churches and Interfaith Power and Light are urging churches across the state to take advantage of the program during National Faith Climate Action Week, which begins today. Anne Hodges-Copple, bishop suffragan of the Diocese of North Carolina, said dozens of North Carolina congregations have saved on energy bills using the program. "There's all kinds of partners ready to help make this line up in a way that just has a huge benefit to any worshiping community that needs to save money," Hodges-Copple pointed out. "As well as cares about taking care of the earth." A 2018 survey by the U.S. Energy Information Administration found many commercial buildings, including churches, spend thousands of dollars a year on lighting and space heating and cooling. Elizabeth Bennett, director of stakeholder engagement for Duke Energy, said churches may be able to receive up to $75,000 in rebates. "And what the rebate program does is not only provides a rebate for nonprofits who want to install solar, but really helps them through the process," Bennett explained. She noted church leaders should first look at the program's eligibility requirements and added there are plenty of resources to help congregations start the process. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/carolinaweather/message

Meredith Stanley is K-8 math coach and specialist and founder of Meredith 4 Math LLC, a math education consulting business. A former elementary classroom teacher and instructional coach, she is a two-time finalist for the Presidential Award for Math and Science, a Buncombe County Teacher of the Year, a Buncombe County Math Teacher of the Year, and a National Board certified teacher. In addition to supporting schools and districts across the country through her consulting business, she is also a lecturer for the Mount Holyoke College Masters of Mathematics Teaching program and serves the teachers of North Carolina as the Elementary State VP for the North Carolina Council for Teaching Mathematics. Meredith's passion for providing quality mathematics instruction to marginalized students was the impetus for starting Meredith 4 Math in 2015. Now Meredith 4 Math provides interactive, classroom-based, professional learning and coaching experiences for schools and districts. These experiences engage educators in learning math instructional strategies that position students to develop positive math identities, to connect conceptual understanding to fluency, and to make sense of mathematics through representation and problem solving. You can find more information about Meredith, as well as a bank of instructional resources, at www.meredith4math.com and on Twitter and IG at @meredith4math.

"We were just sitting on the porch like normal on a beautiful Saturday. And then we heard this tractor, and then all of a sudden this animal waste was coming everywhere and it was stinking like nothing we had ever experienced," says Elsie Herring of Wallace, North Carolina. Herring is one of many eastern North Carolinians who have had negative health impacts and financial burdens as a result of nearby concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFO's) over the last several decades. In this episode of CAFO's & Communities, we explore how the hog industry's hazardous waste redistribution has harmed neighboring communities and what they're doing about it.Produced by Dedan Waciuri, Kayla Guilliams, and Laura Bratton in collaboration with Sherri White-Williamson, Elsie Herring, Jeff Currie, Larry Baldwin, and Naeema Muhammad. Special thanks to Larry Baldwin of Coastal Carolina Riverwatch.To learn more and get involved, visit North Carolina Environmental Justice Network, North Carolina Conservation Network, and Coastal Carolina Riverwatch's websites.Music: Pure Water by Medyn, Thoughts by ANBR,  Aquarius by Spearfisher. Sounds by Badlands Sound via Artist and YouTube Audio Library. Photos by Laura Bratton. Bottom right photo by Jeremy Lange, taken from ProPublica. References:Environmental Working Group, “EXPOSING FIELDS OF FILTH: Locations of Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations in North Caroling by County,” EWG and Waterkeeper Alliance,https://www.ewg.org/interactive-maps/2016_north_carolina_animal_feeding_operations_bycounty.php.Kravchenko, J., “The Coming Storm 2019: Hog CAFOs, Human Health & Hurricanes in N.C,” Duke's Nicholas School of the Environment (2019), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHf22c_uwzc.Kravchenko et al., “Mortality and Health Outcomes in North Carolina Communities Located in Close Proximity to Hog Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations,” North Carolina Medical Journal, 79 (5):278-288 (2018).Marks, R., “CESSPOOLS OF SHAME: How Factory Farm Lagoons and Sprayfields Threaten Environmental and Public Health,” Natural Resources Defense Council and the Clean Water Network (2001).Schiffman et al., “Potential Health Effects of Odor From Animal Operations, Wastewater Treatment, and Recycling of Byproducts,” Journal of Agromedicine, 7(1): 7-81 (2000); Policy Statement Adopted by the House of Delegates, North Carolina Council of Churches (2000).Sobsey, M., McBride Health Conference, UNC Chapel Hill (1990), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BoTcCooC7AE.Thu, et al., “A Control Study of the Physical and Mental Health of Residents Living Near a Large-Scale Swine Operation,” Journal of Agricultural Safety and Health 3(1): 13-26 (1997).Wing, S., “Community Health Impacts of Factory Farms,” TEDxTalks Manhattan (2013), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZW8-LQftnY.

Food insecurity in children is a tragic issue around the world and in the US. In America, the issue is especially changing in rural areas. Rural faith communities often play a central role in addressing rural child hunger, and the support needs and desires of these organizations are nuanced by their faith tradition. This is the subject of a report done jointly by the Duke World Food Policy Center and the No Kid Hungry program of Share Our Strength. It is entitled, Rural Child Hunger and Faith Community Engagement. Joining us today are three experts on this issue. Emma Lietz Bilecky, the chief author of this report, received her graduate training at Duke University and is now Research Fellow with Princeton Theological Seminary's Farminary project. Norman Wirzba and Robb Webb are some of the nation's leading thinkers on issues of food and faith. Norman Wirzba a faculty member of the Duke Divinity School and has written some of the most influential texts on food and faith, and Robb Webb is Director of the Rural Church Division of The Duke Endowment and Chair of the Rural Life Committee of the North Carolina Council of Churches. Download the report at: https://wfpc.sanford.duke.edu/reports/rural-child-hunger-faith-community-engagement Interview Summary Emma, let's jump right in and I'll ask you if you might provide a quick overview of the report. Let's take it as a given that rural child hunger is a very important problem and that faith institutions hold considerable promise in this context. What are some of the things you found in your research that might be especially promising? Thank you, Kelly. Rural child hunger is obviously a really big problem, but it's a problem that's bigger than just access to food. There's a spiritual and a moral dimension to hunger that many religious traditions understand and can speak to. And when we're speaking about rural child hunger, we also need to pay attention to the context in which it exists within families, within communities and within rural food environments. This is often the motivation for the work of faith communities on this issue. Hunger also points to and encompasses bigger issues and systems which perpetuate inequality and injustice. Religious language can help us see this more clearly. The second overarching theme in the report is this movement from charity to justice. And this has a lot to do with the histories of food aid involving religious communities. It's so far haven't solved underlying problems. That doesn't mean that it's not important, but we're thinking about root causes. A lot of the experts we interviewed for this report spoke to that. So the report really focused on and identified justice-centered solutions, which tend to be community-led and defined. The report also talks about mindsets of scarcity versus abundance, which come to bear on this work. So just solutions really recognize abundance. They recognize the human, spiritual and shared resources that communities have already and are distinct from approaches that start by identifying what rural communities lack. And this relates to the final theme of the report, which is all about context and contextual analysis. Just solutions to rural child hunger are really contextually specific, meaning they might not look the same everywhere and they take into account a community's history, assets and unique challenges. This one can be difficult when anti-hunger efforts prioritize big impact and scaling up. But again, why it's important that just solutions be led by rural stakeholders. Thanks for that overview. Robb, you've done such extensive work in faith communities and rural areas. Why are faith community so important in rural America, and how does food insecurity fit in here? Kelly, thank you for the question and for this time. I also just want to give a plug for Emma's report, which I think is terrific. And she hit on a number of the reasons that I might use to answer this question. I think in rural communities, churches are anchor institutions. They are the place that remains. One thing I like to point out, at least in rural North Carolina is we've had school consolidation. And so in many communities, the school might not necessarily be local. We've had work consolidation where the meals may have left. Even those that farm may have to have a second job in order to make things happen. What's remained, and what's been at the center of the community, has been the church. And the church has a number of assets, many of them are picked up in the report. I want to emphasize resilience. I think rural communities, rural people in rural churches are incredibly resilient and creative, and that's an important asset. They also have a tremendous amount of available land. Buildings that can be put to use, kitchens and a volunteer-base that has local knowledge, energy, and is solution-oriented. I think what you have in churches is this unbelievable ability to mobilize, to address the deepest challenges and communities and rural child hunger is certainly among those. Robb, thanks for that. Let me ask you one follow-up question. Given that you're in the world of philanthropy, what role do you see philanthropy's playing in this area and how can they be more active? Our traditional role is as grant makers, and I think we have an expanded role. One, I think as conveners, we can take the good examples that are in this report and creative programs that are happening across the country and make those more well-known with the groups that we typically work with. We can convene and lift up projects. I also think we can think about the way in which we invest our money so that we're investing in ways that help families advance. So what I think philanthropy needs to do is ask the question, why are people hungry problem is bigger than access to food? I think we have a role in the way that we invest, in the way that we give and the way that we convene that can help begin to address challenges in rural child nutrition. So Norman, one can think of faith communities as places where services and aid can be delivered, but you've written extensively that food and faith are connected in theological and spiritual ways. Can you explain? Sure. I think what's really important to understand is that we're living in a fairly new time in the history of the world where food appears for many people as a commodity. And so the most important concern is whether we can get it as cheaply and conveniently as possible. And that's done a lot of good in the sense that it has provided a lot of calories, but I think it's also left people with an impoverished understanding of what food actually is. Because when you think about food from the perspective of some of the world's great religious traditions, or even the spiritual traditions of indigenous peoples, food registers primarily as a gift rather than as a commodity. And when you start to think about food as a gift, that opens up different ways for thinking about how we're going to grow food, how we're going to process and distribute food, but also how we're going to consume food. And so for me, one of the really important things is to engage some of these faith traditions or these traditional indigenous cultures to see what difference would it make if we thought about land, not simply in terms of how much yield we can derive from it, but also think about land from the perspective of how do we participate in this sense that food exists for the nurturing of people's lives. It exists for the purposes of building community. It exists for the purpose of helping people understand more deeply their place in a world with a bewildering array of creatures, whether those are plant or animal creatures, but also then how these faith traditions can be the places where by people can be inspired to think about growing food in different ways, but also sharing and distributing that food. You've written about this in very powerful ways. Are there signs that thinking more about food and food systems is happening on the ground in faith communities? I think so. And one of the reasons I think that is when I first started working on these kinds of themes, there would be a handful of people that I would consider allies or even people who took much interest in it. And what I have seen is that the interest has simply exploded. There's now a proliferation of books about this. There's a proliferation of leaders now in different faith organizations, institutions who are understanding that food ministries and by food ministry I mean something much more than simply a pantry or a soup kitchen, but actually getting people involved in food production, trying to form connections between institutions and producers, right? They're understanding something about how food and the way we eat can be a profound witness to what we value in life. And so rather than just being something like a boutique side item in the life of a faith tradition, food can actually become something much more central, perhaps even indispensable in certain contexts for living out what the values are of that faith tradition. Norman, if you look at different religious traditions, which of course have profound differences in the way some things are viewed, are there common themes that weave through these traditions with respect to food and land? Yes, I think that's certainly the case. And I think one of the general ways that we might describe it is to say that food is not simply a mundane reality. There's something sacred about it. And this is not just a sort of warm and fuzzy notion of sacred because most people from a historical point of view have understood that for anybody to eat, others have to die. And that means that the gift that we call food, that we consume is a really costly and precious gift. And so to affirm something about the sacred character of life, means that we should not presume to think that food can be taken without a sincere effort to be morally in right relationship with the land and with creatures. And most basically what that has meant is that you take care of the sources of food that nurture us, right? So that means you respect the life of animals and plants. You respect the integrity of fields and watersheds, and then you also respect the eaters of this food by not producing food that's going to make them ill. So it really becomes a way of affirming life as not just some sort of mechanical motion or eating as some sort of fueling operation, but to really think about eating and food production as ways of helping us understand life in a much richer, more profound, what I would call sacred sense, which is to say it's affirmed by the divine and should be also affirmed and nurtured by us. Emma, one of the topics I'd like to ask you about this new thinking that's being done about the use of church-owned land. Can you explain some of what's been done on this issue and where things are going? Sure, Kelly, I really love this idea and this work that seems to be happening more and more in rural faith context. Moving from thinking about access to food, to thinking about access to land for food production. And it really relates to this school charity to just this theme, specifically a community's capacity for self-determination and self-preservation, which comes out in a lot of recent work, both practical and academic. That really draws from this history of land dispossession, which has disproportionately hurt and affected communities of color and also disrupted cultural food systems like in indigenous communities. And land is the root of this inequality of this disconnection from food. A lot of people also have been saying for a while, this idea that land really is just the most important thing in determining a community's food future and food security. It's a bigger issue of access to the capacity of a food production, as well as economic, social and ecological health and resilience. So one example I can look up is that the Black Church Food Security Network, which is engaged in these kinds of asset-based community development projects. And while they've been working primarily in urban spaces, they're also starting to work more rural and thinking about church-owned land or food production, but also for reparations. So Robb let's have you weigh in on this. I know that when we talk about church-owned land, there's the physical property the church happens to be on, but it's a bigger picture than that isn't it? Yes, it can be. And the audit that I mentioned, what we found is that a number of people have donated land to a church or a church has purchased property. For example, in the half of North Carolina, from Greensboro to the Tennessee border, there are about 7,500 available acres just in the United Methodist Church. And that's from accumulation of parcels that have been donated, requested across time, or that that church has bought up. That then presents an incredible opportunity to begin to ask questions about what would it look like for first-time farmers or early farmers to give them a way in which to start their work. One of the ways that we've been thinking about this is... And this is a question, so I don't have an example, but the question is, Could you create a supply chain for a business that was food-oriented in a rural place? For example, the central kitchen model, which comes out of the Child and Adult Care Nutrition Program offers some reimbursement for low-income children when they're in a licensed childcare setting. Well, what if you could take a commercial kitchen in a church and build out along with all of this available land, a whole supply network. So you're putting people to work. You're creating some economic opportunities and you're preparing food that's fresh, local, nutrient-rich. I think that's the kind of creative thinking that we're looking for in churches. And that available land is out there, but it does require taking the time to do the audit. I think that's a challenge, but it's another way in which philanthropy can help churches begin to think about what they have, specifically that would be at the denominational level. So at the adjudicatory level. We've done it with Methodists. Others might want to look at other denominations to see what holdings are available. So I'd like to ask each of you, what do you think are exciting and important developments around rural hunger and faith communities? Norman, let's begin with you. Norman Wirzba: I think one of the very exciting things is that we're seeing a number of people first of all, who are coming into rural communities. I know that in many parts of the country and there will be regional variations we know that there's been an exodus of people out of rural communities moving towards urban. But we're also seeing that some places, people are moving back into rural communities and they're wanting to invest in communities. And the way they're doing that is often going to be through a rehabilitation of a local food economy. And it takes a variety of forms, right? On the one hand, it might be that you've got a proliferation of CSA's in the area and congregations are partnering with these farmers directly to not just provide food for congregations or for families, but it's also becoming a way then of connecting people to the sources of their food, by connecting them to the farmers. Sometimes people in these congregations will go work with the farmers. Or sometimes it'll take the form of more niche kinds of ventures. I'm thinking here about the form of a local brewery, local cideries, right? These become ways that local efforts around food often supported by faith, traditions or faith communities become ways to rebuild something like a community center. A sense that what you really have is not just a conglomeration of people living in their disparate houses, but are actually trying to come together and create a sense of fellow feeling. Because, as my students will often say is after they've been thinking about food for a while, they realize that food is really an expression of fellowship, right? It's a way of people knitting their lives into the lives of each other. And I think what we're seeing is that communities are trying to do more of that kind of work. And that's really exciting because that means that food and eating can be ways of community development. And this is a vastly different model than we might have thought about 10 or 20 years ago, where congregations might host a meal from time-to-time, or they might have a food pantry where they will give out food. But none of those were really about establishing relationships with many community members or just thinking about the betterment of the community as a whole. So I would say that's one of the real exciting things that I'm seeing happening in many parts of the country now. Robb Webb: I think one of the most exciting changes is the change in orientation, the real desire to move to justice-oriented solutions. And what I see over and over again is churches who are engaging their community, who are asking the question behind the question and then are beginning to think about how to engage. So rather than simply moving to a distribution model, they are asking how to alleviate hunger right now in the distribution model, and then change the economic situation for people long-term through the food system. And I think that long-term will have an important impact on rural child hunger and hunger in general. I'm excited to see where this is going and it's built on a lot of good work that's gone before. Emma Lietz-Bilecky: I think of two things. First, I'm really excited about the ways that I see all kinds of religious communities starting to engage with their traditions differently and reinterpret them for the purposes of health and justice. One example is Adrienne Krone writes about the Shmita year, the year where land is given rest. And this isn't a practice that Jewish communities have been practicing, but she asks could they be. So mining our traditions for these practices and these ideas that can be used in the present moment to solve the problems that are before us. And then the second thing, I really am excited about the ways that faith communities are drawing on principles of community organizing at many levels. And we talked about asset-based community development and that how churches are thinking about what resources they have available, but it's also about what resources are available in the wider community. A faith community might not have everything it needs to solve these really complex and embedded problems, but by joining with other organizations and institutions at many levels, some really cool things can happen. And that's what I see as pretty exciting in this work.

Mary Williams-Stover, executive director of the North Carolina Council for Women & Youth Involvement, discusses a new that report provides a sobering assessment of the rates at which North Carolina women are participating in politics and government. Read The Status of Women in North Carolina: Political Participation The post Mary Williams-Stover discusses The Status of Women in North Carolina: Political Participation appeared first on NC Policy Watch.

Mary Williams-Stover, executive director of the North Carolina Council for Women & Youth Involvement, discusses a new that report provides a sobering assessment of the rates at which North Carolina women are participating in politics and government. Read The Status of Women in North Carolina: Political Participation The post Mary Williams-Stover discusses The Status of Women in North Carolina: Political Participation appeared first on NC Policy Watch.

This is the second episode in a new series called Faith-Based Programs and Their Impact on Rural Communities, which we’re doing in collaboration with and supported by The Duke Endowment. This private philanthropic organization serves North Carolina and South Carolina in four distinct grantmaking areas: health care, child & family well-being, higher education, and rural United Methodist churches. Michelle chats with Heather Kilbourne, Program Manager of the Faith in Rural Communities Initiative at the North Carolina Rural Center; Nicole Johnson, Associate Director for the Partners in Health and Wholeness program of the North Carolina Council of Churches; and Michelle Osborne, the Program Manager for Come to the Table, one of many initiatives of the Rural Advancement Foundation International-USA. Their conversation focuses on how rural congregations are filling gaps in local communities during the COVID-19 pandemic and covers a wide range of critical issues, including food systems, public health, and community development. Kilbourne says her program helps churches and other faith communities use their resources to meet the significant needs of residents and that “rural churches thrive when they help their communities thrive.” She also describes how, during COVID-19, churches have purchased meals for community members in need, delivering them directly to residents or via drive-throughs. Johnson says her program assists faith communities in addressing a variety of essential issues, including food security, mental health, and substance abuse, and that faith communities are particularly gifted in “reminding people that they are whole.” She also discusses how her program and local churches have pivoted during the pandemic to offer food drops, deliver COVID-19 kits, and establish testing sites. Osborne describes how her organization works to connect the hunger relief programs of churches to local agriculture to address food security, poverty, and strengthen justice in the state’s food system. She also shares details about a grant program designed to provide churches with funds to purchase food from local farmers and give it to families in need.  The Duke Endowment (http://www.dukeendowment.org) sponsored this episode.  

For more information on the resources mentioned:Taraji P Henson's Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation : Break the Silence, Break the Cycle. Focused on erasing the stigma around mental health issuesAAKOMA Project: dedicated to helping diverse teenagers and their families achieve optimal mental health through dialogue, learning, and the understanding that everyone deserves care and supportManaged Cares Services through Medicaid Dr. Erikka Dzirasa, MD, MPH is a double board-certified Child, Adolescent, and Adult Psychiatrist, a certified yoga instructor, and a cycle instructor. She is a graduate of Spelman College, and she completed medical school, residency, and Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship at Duke University. She has experience in treating psychiatric conditions such as anxiety disorders, mood disorders, eating disorders, trauma, neurodevelopmental disorders, and psychotic disorders. She is committed to providing compassionate and comprehensive care that incorporates supportive therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and psychopharmacology.  She also has expertise in topics such as eating disorders, body image, racial trauma, resiliency, school/work/life balance, stress management, faith & mental health, and mental health among diverse populations. She is the immediate Past-President of the North Carolina Council of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry and the co-owner/founder of Catalyst Therapeutic Services, PLLC in Durham, NC. Follow her on IG @dr_e2kCatalystnc.com @Catalyst_nc   New episodes every Tuesday! Subscribe so you don't miss a beat! Also, join us for our monthly live podcasts on Facebook and Youtube! Join the Conversation! Follow us on social media! 3 Black Docs facebook.com/3blackdocstwitter.com/3blackdocsinstagram.com/3blackdocsYouTube Dr. Karen Winkfield facebook.com/drkarenwinkfieldtwitter.com/drwinkfieldinstagram.com/drwinkfield Dr. Zanetta Lamar facebook.com/drzanettainstagram.com/drzanetta

Dr. Erikka Dzirasa, MD, MPH is a double board-certified Child, Adolescent, and Adult Psychiatrist, a certified yoga instructor and a cycle instructor. She is a graduate of Spelman College, and she completed medical school, residency, and Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship at Duke University. She has experience in treating psychiatric conditions such as anxiety disorders, mood disorders, eating disorders, trauma, neurodevelopmental disorders, and psychotic disorders. She is committed to providing compassionate and comprehensive care that incorporates supportive therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and psychopharmacology.  She also has expertise in topics such as eating disorders, body image, racial trauma, resiliency, school/work/life balance, stress management, faith & mental health, and mental health among diverse populations. She is the immediate Past-President of the North Carolina Council of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry and the co-owner/founder of Catalyst Therapeutic Services, PLLC in Durham, NC. Follow her on IG @dr_e2kCatalystnc.com @Catalyst_nc New episodes every Tuesday! Subscribe so you don't miss a beat! Also, join us for our monthly live podcasts on Facebook and Youtube!Join the Conversation! Follow us on social media!3 Black Docsfacebook.com/3blackdocstwitter.com/3blackdocsinstagram.com/3blackdocsYouTubeDr. Karen Winkfieldfacebook.com/drkarenwinkfieldtwitter.com/drwinkfieldinstagram.com/drwinkfieldDr. Zanetta Lamarfacebook.com/drzanettainstagram.com/drzanetta

Episode 53. July 10, 2020 CLP  Topic. Democrat Party Socialism The Right to Work Constitutional Amendment to Reign In North Carolina’s Rogue Lockdown Governor. Introduction. Our podcast today is titled The Right to Work Constitutional Amendment to Reign In North Carolina’s Rogue Lockdown Governor and we re-examine North Carolina’s history of tyrannical governors, to gain insight into the lessons of history about how common citizens deal with rogue governors. The most important lesson is that when the normal legislative channels do not work, and rogue governors ignore the rule of law, common citizens must take matters into their own hands to protect their liberties. We argue that the citizens must enact a constitutional amendment to clarify the rights of citizens during any future emergency declarations by rogue governors, who may use the emergency powers for political purposes. We argue that modifying, or amending, the defective Emergency Management Act is insufficient protection of citizen rights. North Carolina has a vast, overwhelming population of common, working class citizens, and a tiny percentage of social class elites, compared to other states. North Carolina is unique among the states because of its cultural traditions of radical egalitarianism among common citizens. The cultural value is captured by the phrase “We are as good as anyone. And, anyone is as good as us.” Part of our cultural heritage is that common citizens applied this egalitarian philosophy to social class aristocrats and royal governors in demanding equal and fair treatment on economic exchange issues. The rogue governors, then, and now, never appreciated being equated with common citizens, and used violence and fraud to subjugate Black and White common citizens to the elite tyranny. Part of our egalitarian heritage is derived from the historical fact that North Carolina was initially settled by settlers who were lower class migrants from other states, primarily Virginia. The felons and poor people came to North Carolina to escape elite class tyranny in other states. For many years, the state’s own historians liked to use the phrase “a sea of humility between two mountains of conceit,” to contrast the common class of citizens in North Carolina with the slaveocracy of Virginia and South Carolina. On a per capita comparison, North Carolina had many more common farmers and far fewer slave owners than either Virginia or South Carolina. One of our most honored and highest praise that we can bestow on a citizen is to call the citizen a “yeoman” derived from the tradition of our mountain independent, hard-working farmers. In general, as a people, we are very slow to anger, and very slow to adopt social change to the status quo. But, when we finally reach our limit of toleration, as a people, we are tenacious in defending out social values. For many years, historians from outside of North Carolina called the state “the Rip Van Winkle” state because the citizens seemed to slumber through the crises that affected other states. The Encyclopedia of North Carolina noted,           “There was general political apathy under the state's Democrat-          controlled one-party system, which resulted in widespread           indifference to all economic, social, and cultural improvements. A           letter writer to the North Carolina Farmer in 1845 voiced his           frustration: "O! that our State, . . . would wake up from her Rip Van           Winkle agricultural sleep!!" We were the only state, in 1788, that refused, on a matter of principle, to ratify Madison’s new centralized Constitution, until it contained a citizen’s Bill of Rights. For 3 years after the refusal to ratify, the Federalists inflicted serious economic damage on the citizens, in an attempt to coerce North Carolina into ratifying the defective document. The citizens of North Carolina were extremely reluctant to join the Confederacy, but once committed to battle, the State sent more soldiers to the Confederacy than any other state, suffered more casualties and death than any other state, and had more soldiers skedaddle, from the Army, than any other state. Our proud heritage of tenacity in the face of overwhelming odds is captured in the phrase from the Civil War:           First at Bethel. Farthest at Gettysburg. Last at Appomatox. Robert E. Lee admired the fighting spirit of the North Carolina soldiers by saying that they stuck to the front lines of battle and fought like they had tar on ‘dem’ heels. North Carolina citizens liked Lee’s description of common Confederate soldiers so much that they nicknamed the UNC athletic teams “The Tar Heels.” Silent Sam, the statute torn down by socialists, on the campus of the University of North Carolina, was a tribute to the courage of the common soldier, not to the slaveocracy of plantation owners. The common citizen soldiers of the Confederacy were acutely aware of their economic class differences between themselves and the slave-owners. One of their favorite sayings was that the War “Was a rich man’s war, and a poor man’s fight.” Unlike the plantation elite rendition, after the War as “the lost cause,” the common soldiers said that they were fighting for “a southern commonwealth of independent producers.” Later history, as in the fusion politics of 1890s, confirms that the purpose of the War, for common citizens, would have been to create a southern commonwealth of independent producers which was multiracial and egalitarian. An example of how common North Carolinians citizens have dealt with tyranny, after the War, is provided by the example set by Leonidas Lafayette Polk, the State’s first Commissioner of Agriculture, the founder of N. C. State University, and the leader of the North Carolina farmer’s agrarian populist party, whose political motto was,            “equal rights for all. special privilege for none.” Polk confronted the neo-slaveocracy of one-party rule of the Democrats by creating a third political party, which successfully won the campaign for Governor in 1896.  The Encyclopedia of NC noted,           “thousands of desperate farmers abandoned the Democrats, who           called themselves "the white man's party," for the Populists, who           claimed to be the poor man's party. The Democrat (white mans’s)           Party had abolished the right to vote in local self-governments in a           number of counties having Republican majorities. Local officials in           these counties had been appointed by the Democratic majority in the           legislature.” The Encyclopedia could have been more accurate by noting that fusion was a political coalition between common white farmers, and common Black citizens, that “fused” together to elect Republican Governor Russell, in 1896. We argue that this history of fusion would have been the desired outcome of the War for common citizens, but not for the slave-owners. The Democrat slave-owners organized a violent revolt to kill the populist insurgency, including the use of gatling guns and howitzers to kill unnamed Blacks in Wilmington, in 1898. After the Democrat white man’s party coup d’etat of the overthrow of the Republican Wilmington town council, in 1898, North Carolina endured 70 years of one-party tyrannical apartheid of white man Democrat governors. As Josephus Daniels, the owner of the Raleigh News and Observer, put it, in 1899,           “North Carolina is a WHITE MAN'S STATE and WHITE MEN will           rule it, and they will crush the party of Negro domination (Polk’s           Populist Party) beneath a majority so overwhelming that no other           party will ever dare to attempt to establish negro rule here.” One hundred years before the agrarian populism of Polk, North Carolina’s farmers formed a resistance movement to tyrannical royal governors, who had been appointed by the King’s Privy Council. Known as the Regulator Movement, 6,000 farmers joined forces in an armed revolt against royal officials, who were engaged in corruption and fraud, by charging the farmers with excessive fees, falsifying records, and engaging in other mistreatments. The farmer’s called themselves “regulators” because they wanted to regulate their own affairs, free from centralized tyranny. According to the Encyclopedia of North Carolina,           “A new governor, William Tryon, arrived in 1765; he was a British           army colonel and became the cause of renewed unrest, The           Regulators sought a public meeting with colonial officials to       discover "whether the free men of this county labor under any        abuses of power or not." In March 1771, the governor's privy     council advised Tryon to call out the militia and march against the          rebel farmers.” One lesson from that episode comes from Tryon’s seeking advice from his privy council, modeled after the King’s Privy Council, in London. The historical genesis of the Governor’s Privy Council is derived from John Locke’s first constitution of North Carolina, in 1669. The legacy of the rogue governors caused the common citizens to distribute executive power in the hands of many other elected representatives. From that point forward, all of North Carolina’s Constitutions have included a provision for the governor to seek advice from the privy council, renamed to the North Carolina Council of State. The most recent version of the North Carolina Constitution, adopted in 1971, states,           “Sec. 8.  Council of State. The Council of State shall consist of the           officers whose offices are established by this Article.” The “other officers” mentioned in Section 8, are the ten independently state-wide, elected executive officers, who share co-equal executive powers with the Governor. And, it is to this provision that citizens must now turn for insight into how to deal with Governor Cooper’s rogue Covid lockdown tyranny. (Tyranny Slips Quietly Into the Tar Heel State, Laurie Thomas Vass, The CLP News Network, March 29, 2020.) I am Laurie Thomas Vass, and this is the Introduction of a much longer copyrighted article of the Citizen Liberty Party News Network, for July 13, 2020. The other sections of the longer article include: Section 1. Governor Cooper’s Illegal and Unconstitutional Covid Lockdown Edicts. Section 2. The Inadequacy of Reforming the Defective General Statute 166A. Section 3. The Constitutional Amendment Imperative to Protect Citizen’s Right to Work. Our podcast today is under the CLP topic category Democrat Party Socialism, and is titled, The Right to Work Constitutional Amendment to Reign In North Carolina’s Rogue Lockdown Governor. The most recent podcast of the CLP News Network is available for free. The entire text and audio archive of our podcasts are available for subscription of $30 per year, at the CLP News Network.com.

The Rural Church has a vital role to play during this current pandemic.  The nature of the rural church is built around relationships – relationships with church members, but also the community. Rural Churches have a unique opportunity to provide resources, connections, and hope during these stressful times.  This episode of the Means of Grace podcast features a conversation three leaders who have experience and expertise in leading and understanding churches in rural areas.  They discuss the role of the church in a rural community and how it can build the kingdom through these connections. Guests: - Rev. Allen Stanton, a clergy member of the WNC conference and the executive director of the Turner Center at Martin Methodist College in Tennessee. - Rev. Santosh Niroula, the pastor of Fountain Hill and Mount Moriah United Methodist Churches in the Uwharrie District of WNC - Rev. Kristen Richardson-Frick, a clergy member of the SC conference and the Associate Director of the Rural Church Division at The Duke Endowment The Turner Center has launched a new series, “Leading During COVID19.” Each episode features an interview with experts, thinking with churches on leading during challenging times: https://www.cultivaterural.com/turner-center-resources Cullowhee United Methodist Church worship during the pandemic: https://www.cullowheeumc.org/multimedia/ Christian Century article, “The Gifts of Small Church During a Pandemic,” by Kara Root: https://www.christiancentury.org/blog-post/guest-post/gifts-small-church-during-pandemic Resources from the North Carolina Council of Churches: https://www.ncchurches.org/covid-19-resources/ Two articles by Allen Stanton: https://www.ministrymatters.com/all/entry/10178/how-the-rural-church-can-help-during-covid-19 https://medium.com/@atstanton/worshiping-apart-rural-churches-in-covid-19-e32b0adb1018

025: Utilizing A Coach to Strengthen Your Nonprofit Leadership (Nancy Beard)SUMMARYNancy Beard offers great perspectives on the value of finding good mentors as well as the potential a coach can have on your personal and professional journey. Her path to nonprofit leadership was shaped by early volunteer roles, both as a board member and a volunteer, and she continued to hear a calling for social justice causes that began during her childhood. We had a great conversation about what she is seeing at all stages of the nonprofit professional’s career, and in particular the challenges many are facing as they deal with their boss or their board. Nancy is also a great champion of planned giving, and helps put those she coaches and teaches at ease with ideas that don’t overwhelm. Multiple books and resources to consider as you curate knowledge for nonprofit leadership! ABOUT NANCYNancy has twenty-five years of fundraising stories and experience. She is a thought leader in non-profit work who delights in sharing the “how to” in fund development work in an entertaining presentation. She is currently President of United Church Homes and Services Foundation where she is a generalist handling all aspects of fund development with a special emphasis on a legacy giving program that has grown exponentially. Nancy delights in teaching fund development professionals how to find joy in the legacy conversation. Nancy currently serves as President of North Carolina Council of Charitable Gift Planners. She is a graduated of Queens University in Charlotte, North Carolina and has her Certificate in Non-Profit Management from Duke University. She is a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) and is a Master Trainer through the Association of Fundraising Professionals. Nancy is a Certified Life Coach through The Life Coach School with a private practice, Nancy Beard Coaching & Motivational Speaking, through which she coaches executive and fund development women in the non-profit sector. EPISODE TOPICS & RESOURCESParker Palmer's book Let Your Life Speak: Listening for the Voice of VocationTom Rath's book StrengthsFinder 2.0Henri Nouwen's book A Spirituality of FundraisingDavid Solie’s book How to Say It to Seniors: Closing the Communication Gap with Our EldersBrene’ Brown’s book Gifts of Imperfection

I’m thrilled to have made friends with Dr. Amy Laura Hall. Not only is she back on the podcast to talk about Stanley Hauerwas’ influence on her work and theology, she’ll be our special guest in June at our annual live podcast at Annual Conference in Roanoke, Va. Amy Laura Hall was named a Henry Luce III Fellow in Theology for 2004-2005 and has received funding from the Lilly Foundation, the Josiah Trent Memorial Foundation, the American Theological Library Association, the Child in Religion and Ethics Project, the Pew Foundation and the Project on Lived Theology.At Duke University, Professor Hall has served on the steering committee of the Genome Ethics, Law, and Policy Center and as a faculty member for the FOCUS program of the Institute on Genome Sciences and Policy. She has served on the Duke Medical Center’s Institutional Review Board and as an ethics consultant to the V.A. Center in Durham. She served as a faculty adviser with the Duke Center for Civic Engagement (under Leela Prasad), on the Academic Council, and as a faculty advisor for the NCCU-Duke Program in African, African American & Diaspora Studies. She currently teaches with and serves on the faculty advisory board for Graduate Liberal Studies and serves as a core faculty member of the Focus Program in Global Health.Professor Hall was the 2017 Scholar in Residence at Foundry United Methodist Church in Washington D.C., served on the Bioethics Task Force of the United Methodist Church, and has spoken to academic and ecclesial groups across the U.S. and Europe. An ordained elder in the United Methodist Church, Hall is a member of the Rio Texas Annual Conference. She has served both urban and suburban parishes. Her service with the community includes an initiative called Labor Sabbath, an effort with the AFL-CIO of North Carolina to encourage congregations of faith to talk about the usefulness of labor unions, and, from August 2013 to June 2017, a monthly column for the Durham Herald-Sun. Professor Hall organized a conference against torture in 2011, entitled “Toward a Moral Consensus Against Torture,” and a “Conference Against the Use of Drones in Warfare” October 20-21, 2017. In collaboration with the North Carolina Council of Churches and the United Methodist Church, she organized a workshop with legal scholar Richard Rothstein held October, 2018.Amy Laura Hall is the author of four books: Kierkegaard and the Treachery of Love, Conceiving Parenthood: The Protestant Spirit of Biotechnological Reproduction, Writing Home with Love: Politics for Neighbors and Naysayers, and Laughing at the Devil: Seeing the World with Julian of Norwich. She has written numerous scholarly articles in theological and biomedical ethics. Recent articles include "The Single Individual in Ordinary Time: Theological Engagements in Sociobiology," which was a keynote lecture given with Kara Slade at the Society for the Study of Christian Ethics in 2012, and "Torture and American Television," which appeared in the April 2013 issue of Muslim World, a volume that Hall guest-edited with Daniel Arnold. Her essay “Love in Everything: A Brief Primer to Julian of Norwich" appeared in volume 32 of The Princeton Seminary Bulletin. Word and World published her essay on heroism in the Winter 2016 edition, and her essay "His Eye Is on the Sparrow: Collectivism and Human Significance" appeared in a volume entitled Why People Matter with Baker Publishing. Her forthcoming essays include a new piece on Kierkegaard and love for The T&T Clark Companion to the Theology of Kierkegaard, to be published by Bloomsbury T&T Clark.Laughing at the Devil was the focus of her 2018 Simpson Lecture at Simpson College in Iowa and has been chosen for the 2019 Virginia Festival of the Book. She continues work on a longer research project on masculinity and gender anxiety in mainstream, white evangelicalism.

I’m thrilled to have made friends with Dr. Amy Laura Hall. Not only is she back on the podcast to talk about Stanley Hauerwas’ influence on her work and theology, she’ll be our special guest in June at our annual live podcast at Annual Conference in Roanoke, Va. Amy Laura Hall was named a Henry Luce III Fellow in Theology for 2004-2005 and has received funding from the Lilly Foundation, the Josiah Trent Memorial Foundation, the American Theological Library Association, the Child in Religion and Ethics Project, the Pew Foundation and the Project on Lived Theology.At Duke University, Professor Hall has served on the steering committee of the Genome Ethics, Law, and Policy Center and as a faculty member for the FOCUS program of the Institute on Genome Sciences and Policy. She has served on the Duke Medical Center’s Institutional Review Board and as an ethics consultant to the V.A. Center in Durham. She served as a faculty adviser with the Duke Center for Civic Engagement (under Leela Prasad), on the Academic Council, and as a faculty advisor for the NCCU-Duke Program in African, African American & Diaspora Studies. She currently teaches with and serves on the faculty advisory board for Graduate Liberal Studies and serves as a core faculty member of the Focus Program in Global Health.Professor Hall was the 2017 Scholar in Residence at Foundry United Methodist Church in Washington D.C., served on the Bioethics Task Force of the United Methodist Church, and has spoken to academic and ecclesial groups across the U.S. and Europe. An ordained elder in the United Methodist Church, Hall is a member of the Rio Texas Annual Conference. She has served both urban and suburban parishes. Her service with the community includes an initiative called Labor Sabbath, an effort with the AFL-CIO of North Carolina to encourage congregations of faith to talk about the usefulness of labor unions, and, from August 2013 to June 2017, a monthly column for the Durham Herald-Sun. Professor Hall organized a conference against torture in 2011, entitled “Toward a Moral Consensus Against Torture,” and a “Conference Against the Use of Drones in Warfare” October 20-21, 2017. In collaboration with the North Carolina Council of Churches and the United Methodist Church, she organized a workshop with legal scholar Richard Rothstein held October, 2018.Amy Laura Hall is the author of four books: Kierkegaard and the Treachery of Love, Conceiving Parenthood: The Protestant Spirit of Biotechnological Reproduction, Writing Home with Love: Politics for Neighbors and Naysayers, and Laughing at the Devil: Seeing the World with Julian of Norwich. She has written numerous scholarly articles in theological and biomedical ethics. Recent articles include "The Single Individual in Ordinary Time: Theological Engagements in Sociobiology," which was a keynote lecture given with Kara Slade at the Society for the Study of Christian Ethics in 2012, and "Torture and American Television," which appeared in the April 2013 issue of Muslim World, a volume that Hall guest-edited with Daniel Arnold. Her essay “Love in Everything: A Brief Primer to Julian of Norwich" appeared in volume 32 of The Princeton Seminary Bulletin. Word and World published her essay on heroism in the Winter 2016 edition, and her essay "His Eye Is on the Sparrow: Collectivism and Human Significance" appeared in a volume entitled Why People Matter with Baker Publishing. Her forthcoming essays include a new piece on Kierkegaard and love for The T&T Clark Companion to the Theology of Kierkegaard, to be published by Bloomsbury T&T Clark.Laughing at the Devil was the focus of her 2018 Simpson Lecture at Simpson College in Iowa and has been chosen for the 2019 Virginia Festival of the Book. She continues work on a longer research project on masculinity and gender anxiety in mainstream, white evangelicalism.

Dr. Dan Eichenbaum and Ortrud (Oddy) Crist, PhD. Th., discuss history and events leading up to WWII and how the citizens of Germany were manipulated by their government. If we don't learn from history, we are doomed to repeat it. Recently NC Speaker of the House Tim Moore appointed Dr. Crist to the North Carolina Council on the Holocaust. For more information, see post. E85: Oddy Crist - How to Predict the Future (2 of 5)E85: Oddy Crist - How to Predict the Future (3 of 5)E85: Oddy Crist - How to Predict the Future (4 of 5)E85: Oddy Crist - How to Predict the Future (5 of 5)

Dr. Dan Eichenbaum and Ortrud (Oddy) Crist, PhD. Th., discuss history and events leading up to WWII and how the citizens of Germany were manipulated by their government. If we don't learn from history, we are doomed to repeat it. Recently NC Speaker of the House Tim Moore appointed Dr. Crist to the North Carolina Council on the Holocaust. For more information, see post. E85: Oddy Crist - How to Predict the Future (1 of 5)E85: Oddy Crist - How to Predict the Future (3 of 5)E85: Oddy Crist - How to Predict the Future (4 of 5)E85: Oddy Crist - How to Predict the Future (5 of 5)

Dr. Dan Eichenbaum and Ortrud (Oddy) Crist, PhD. Th., discuss history and events leading up to WWII and how the citizens of Germany were manipulated by their government. If we don't learn from history, we are doomed to repeat it. Recently NC Speaker of the House Tim Moore appointed Dr. Crist to the North Carolina Council on the Holocaust. For more information, see post. E85: Oddy Crist - How to Predict the Future (1 of 5)E85: Oddy Crist - How to Predict the Future (2 of 5)E85: Oddy Crist - How to Predict the Future (4 of 5)E85: Oddy Crist - How to Predict the Future (5 of 5)

Dr. Dan Eichenbaum and Ortrud (Oddy) Crist, PhD. Th., discuss history and events leading up to WWII and how the citizens of Germany were manipulated by their government. If we don't learn from history, we are doomed to repeat it. Recently NC Speaker of the House Tim Moore appointed Dr. Crist to the North Carolina Council on the Holocaust. For more information, see post. E85: Oddy Crist - How to Predict the Future (1 of 5)E85: Oddy Crist - How to Predict the Future (2 of 5)E85: Oddy Crist - How to Predict the Future (3 of 5)E85: Oddy Crist - How to Predict the Future (5 of 5)

Dr. Dan Eichenbaum and Ortrud (Oddy) Crist, PhD. Th., discuss history and events leading up to WWII and how the citizens of Germany were manipulated by their government. If we don't learn from history, we are doomed to repeat it. Recently NC Speaker of the House Tim Moore appointed Dr. Crist to the North Carolina Council on the Holocaust. For more information, see post. E85: Oddy Crist - How to Predict the Future (1 of 5)E85: Oddy Crist - How to Predict the Future (2 of 5)E85: Oddy Crist - How to Predict the Future (3 of 5)E85: Oddy Crist - How to Predict the Future (4 of 5)

Equal access to meetings, conferences and events is one part of compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) but this requirement is often overlooked or misunderstood. Join us for this episode where we will discuss issues that should be part of planning and hosting temporary events, such as conferences and workshops. Speaker: Karen Hamilton, North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilities More Information and Transcript available at: https://www.adalive.org/episode3

This week on Armed Lutheran Radio Lloyd and Pastor Bennett look at a news story about a billboard campaign by the North Carolina Council of Churches which suggests you are idolizing your guns if you think owning guns for self-defense will keep you safe. THIS EPISODE IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY COOK'S HOLSTERS. AMERICAN MADE CUSTOM HOLSTERS WITH A 100% SATISFACTION GUARANTEE. www.CooksHolsters.com Links of Interest News & Observer – The 2nd Commandment outweighs the 2nd Amendment, thousands of NC churches say NC Council of Churches – Council Posts Billboard about Gun Violence NC Council of Churches – The Second Commandment Aaron Israel of Fundamental Defense Aaron Israel shares his thoughts on the recent shooting at Waffle House. Clinging to God and Guns  Thanks to a listener for submitting a news story to us from the Raleigh (NC) News & Observer. The North Carolina Council of Churches has started a billboard campaign that says “You Shall Not Make for yourself an Idol,” suggesting that you are an idol worshiper if you have guns for self-protection. Ballistic Minute with Sergeant Bill Sgt. Bill will be back with us next week. Mia's Motivations with Mia Anstine Mia Anstine will be back with us next week. Prayer of the Week O God our Father, from whom all good things do come, grant to us, Your humble servants, that by Your holy inspiration we may think those things that be right and by Your merciful guiding may perform them; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Savior, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. Our Closing Theme A rockin' rendition of A Mighty Fortress is Our God, performed just for Armed Lutheran Radio by Kenny Gates.  

Activist and pastor Isaac Villages grabs the mic with Adam and I (Josh) to discuss Durham protests and his life growing up with immigrant parents. We talk a bit of theology, what happens when you disagree with your superiors over gay marriage, and how protests in Durham often involve gas-masked officer holding assault rifles as marchers sing hymns. Isaac S. Villegas is pastor of Chapel Hill Mennonite Fellowship in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. He is a member of the governing board of the North Carolina Council of Churches and has served on on the denominational board of Mennonite Church USA, as well as non-profit organizations, including School for Conversion and Open Table Ministries. He is the co-author of "Presence: Giving and Receiving God." He has a B.A. from Westmont College and an M.Div. from Duke Divinity School. A big thanks to Hardworker band for letting us use their songs "Homesick" and "Moriah." This will be our last episode for 2016. Keep a lookout for episode 12 in early January.