Performing Arts Division News Update. Winter, 2007. Website: http://www.PADNFB.STARCITYNET.COM President's E-mail: DHolston@NYC.RR.COM Mailing Address: Performing Arts Division. PO Box 4203 New York, NY 10163 Welcome to all new members of the Performing Arts Division of the National Federation of the Blind. Upon the conclusion of the successful 2006 national convention, the division began work on a few projects. The first of these was the NFB Songs Album project. It was introduced by board member Mindy Jaikupson. Singers, musicians, and producers from the Performing Arts got together and rerecorded some traditional NFB songs. The division collaborated with the New York State affiliate. The affiliate financed the project, and the Performing Arts will use the album for fund raising. President Dennis Holston reintroduced a rewritten version of the Performing Arts compilation project. The project will be a compilation album of blind singers and musicians. This project was originally introduced by then board member, now Vice President Brooke Fox in 2005, but due to funding issues, the division was unable to pursue it at that time. On January 1, 2007, the division began taking submissions for the project from blind and visually impaired artists from all over the nation. The deadline for submissions is April 1, 2007. The division hopes to have it out by the summer convention. Anybody who wants to submit their work can call 917 903-5650, or send a non-returnable cd with their work to the performing arts mailing address. 2006 was the first year that the Performing Arts Division sponsored the national convention's annual talent show. It was a great show, and we look forward to sponsoring many more in the coming years. President Dennis Holston appointed board member Adrian snow to be the official talent show coordinator. She was instrumental in making this year's show what it was. She will oversee all talent show affairs such as, registration, scheduling, timing, and other show related activities. In the interest of keeping our membership informed about Performing Arts activities, the President's office will begin sending out news updates to the members who do not have e-mail. The members can also communicate any ideas or causes that they would like the division to take up. There is already an e-mail list serve, and you will also be able to access the constitution, Performing Arts initiatives, structural changes, and all other events about the division on our website. Our new webmaster, David Dunphy, is upgrading the site. In a December 14, 2006 board meeting, the president introduced a couple of big projects. One of the biggest is a mentoring program. This program will have a database of mentors, and a person can be matched to a mentor through an application process. It is called The Pro-Form program. It passed, and the president named Carlos Montas from Florida as the coordinator. A plan was worked out to put together a program for blind and visually impaired children that will talk about the performing arts. Barbra Chetal, president of the national Parents Of Blind Children, asked the division to arrange such a program, and Board member Beth Allred will chair the project. We look forward to serving the needs of blind entertainers all over the country. If you have any issues that you would like us to deal with, please contact us through snail mail, or e-mail. We thank you for being a member, and look forward to many more years together. Mary Anne Parks: Secretary. Dennis Holston: President. Performing Arts Division.