House Representative Edward Lindsey to speak at the Atlanta Lions Club

Atlanta Lions Lindsey EdwardThis Friday we welcome District 54 House Representative Edward Lindsey as our honored guest and speaker.

Representative Edward Lindsey is a native Georgian and a graduate of our public schools with deep roots in our state’s rural, small town, and urban communities. He earned a degree in History from Davidson College, and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Georgia, School of Law. Edward and three partners started their own firm in 1990 defending individuals, small businesses, corporations, churches and private schools. Today, this firm business employs almost 80 individuals in three states.

First elected in 2004 to the Georgia House of Representatives, Edward has risen to the highest levels of Republican leadership serving as the Majority Whip for three terms, in charge of building support for Republican legislative initiatives.

Previously, he served as Chair of the House Appropriations Sub Committee on Education, Co- Chair of the Republican Caucus Policy Committee, and Vice-Chair of the Judiciary Committee. Rep. Lindsey also serves on the Appropriations, Industrial Relations, Education, Ethics, Judiciary, and Rules Committees, as well as ex officio on all other standing House Committees. In addition, he also serves as one of Georgia’s Commissioners to the Uniform Law Commission, a member of the Georgia Commission on Family Violence, a member of the Advisory Board of the Georgia World Congress Center, and Chairman of the Conservative Policy Leadership Institute. Since entering the General Assembly, Rep. Lindsey has been honored by the American Conservative Union (100% rating in 2012), Georgia Conservation Voters, the Georgia Coalition Against Family Violence, the Georgia Psychological Association, the Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation, the Atlanta Bar Association, Georgia Women for a Change, and the Georgia Academy of Family Physicians for his efforts on behalf of the people of Georgia.

Rep. Lindsey is a founding partner with the law firm of Goodman McGuffey Lindsey & Johnson, LLP, and has practiced law for over 29 years throughout the state of Georgia. Edward and his wife Elizabeth, live in the Buckhead Community of Atlanta and have three sons — Harman, Charlie, and Zack.

Atlanta Lions Support the National Federation for the Blind’s Bell Program

Atlanta Lions National Federation for the Blind
The National Federation for the Blind’s Bell Program provides several programs and initiatives which focus on Education as education is the most urgent civil rights issue facing the blind in the 21st century. It is known that very few blind children receive Braille instruction for one reason or another. Almost 85% of blind children are Braille illiterate. This is not acceptable in our society today.

One of these NFB programs is The BELL program – Braille Enrichment for Literacy and Learning. BELL increases awareness and supports Braille literacy among blind children. The two week summer program provides intense Braille instruction and training to children who are not currently receiving the services they need during the regular school year. It is meant to serve students who are not currently receiving enough Braille instruction in school or who could benefit from Braille enrichment over the summer.

The program is designed to run Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m which operates like a regular school day. The schedule and activities were developed with the individual needs of the children in mind. The schedule allows for small group instruction, which provides children with the opportunity for more individual attention. In addition to Braille crafts, games, and other engaging projects, children may also enjoy field trips to sites related to the NFB BELL curriculum. A parent seminar will also accompany the program where parents can learn strategies to support their child in the learning and use of Braille. From this seminar parents can also gain valuable information to aid them in the empowerment of their child as they interact with other parents of blind children and successful blind adults.

As a parent of a six year old blind child I truly understand the need for early intervention, braille literacy and strong parent advocacy – literacy and independence would be the main keys to my daughter’s success and if I would like to support that for other children as well.

The two week program will be held at The Center for the Visually Impaired (CVI) and some of the expenses include, materials, transportation and a daily healthy lunch for the kids (an average of 18 children).