First Anniversary Celebration

The Braille Monitor May 2005

First Anniversary Celebration
National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute
Friday, April 8, 2005

Shortly after 5:00 p.m. Federation leaders from around the country stationed themselves at various entrances of the Jernigan Institute to welcome celebration guests and direct them to Members Hall on the fourth floor, where the festivities began at 5:30. Some of Baltimore’s best restaurants provided cuisine from around the world for people to sample. The more than five hundred guests could place bids on a whole range of get-away weekends, dining opportunities, and entertainment activities at the silent auction table. Magicians strolled through the crowd doing tricks, and artists played background music. .

At 7:30 the master of ceremonies, Gerry Sandusky of WBAL-TV 11 Sports, opened the program with a live auction that raised a considerable amount of money in only a few minutes. Several speakers then addressed the crowd, and Mark Riccobono, manager of education programs at the Jernigan Institute, introduced a new video about the Science Academy for blind youth, highlighting the science camps last summer at the Institute. Jordan Richardson from Minnesota, a graduate of the Circle of Life camp, and Nikki Singh from Maryland, a graduate of the Rocket On! camp, described their camp experiences and stole the show from the adults.

Gerry Sandusky did a brilliant job of keeping the program moving and everyone energized. Exactly on time Roberta Flack, well-known jazz singer and musician, and her band mounted the stage and provided ninety minutes of musical masterpieces.

Flack has been a fixture on the jazz scene for more years than she or we would like to admit, but she still sounds great, and she commands the program wherever she performs. In all, it was a memorable first anniversary celebration.

Barbara and Brad Loos (Nebraska) stand in front of the welcoming banner in the first-floor lobby of the Jernigan Institute, prepared to welcome guests

Jackie and Charlie Brown (Virginia) inspect a sounding rocket, like the one launched by Rocket On! campers last summer. It is on display in the first-floor atrium of the Jernigan Institute.

NFB staff member Chris Danielsen provides background music on a keyboard at the celebration.

Magicians Ken Horsman; Chad Allen. an intern on the NFB staff; and Spencer Horsman pose with their card tricks.

Magicians Ken Horsman (left); Chad Allen, an intern on the NFB staff (center); and Spencer Horsman (right) pose with their card tricks.

Celebration guests study item descriptins at the silent auction table.

Celebration guests study item descriptions at the silent auction table.

President Maurer with daughter Diana and wife Patricia.

President Maurer (left) with daughter Diana (center) and wife Patricia (right).

A chef from Matsuri's Teppanyaki arranges sushi at the restaurant booth.

A chef from Matsuri’s Teppanyaki arranges sushi at the restaurant’s booth.

Jordan Richardson of Minnesota addresses the celebration audience.

Nikki Singh (Maryland) describes her experience at the Rocket On! camp.

Woody Collins, honorary chair of the first anniversary celebration, inspects the $1,000 bill before presentation to Mike Ziegler, while Gerry Sandusky, master of ceremonies, and President Marc Maurer look on.

Roberta Flack with two of her singer/musicians.

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