The Chronicle
December, 2007
FROM THE LOWER LEFTHAND DRAWER
THE PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
PRESIDENT’S REPORT
by Phyllis Lovett
What a busy time. I think my car could go to St. Louis without a driver.
In August I attended the Lake Stockton annual picnic and benefit auction. I heard that it was the last one. I am sorry about that as they have always put a lot of work into these events. They are great fun but I always come home with things I did not intend to buy. It was a good fund raiser for them but sometimes even good things have to end.
I have made several trips to St. Louis to work on the thrift store; working on the budget; putting together the convention; and meeting with our attorneys about our lawsuit. Judge Patricia Joyce rendered her decision on the blind pension lawsuit on October 5. The judge ruled in favor of the Department of Social Services on all counts. In a teleconference Board meeting on October 24, the MCB Board had the opportunity to ask questions of our attorneys regarding the advisability of appealing the judge’s decision. It was voted by the Board that MCB go forward with an appeal to the Court of Appeals. I am told by 211our attorney, Deborah Greider, that it will probably be some time between May and July that our case will be heard by the Court of Appeals. Our case was filed as an appeal on November 9. The appeal must be filed in the court where the case was tried, so a law student will hand carry the papers to Jefferson City. The Court of Appeals in which our case will be heard is in Kansas City. Beverly and I talk at least once a day and sometimes several times a day. The MCB is fortunate to have great people such as Bev; Sandy and Tom working in our office.
The convention in Joplin was great. The Joplin Service Club put their hearts into the work. Our annual award winners were as follows: The Nathaniel Johnson Award was presented by Shirley Ritter to Ted Jeffers. The Darrel Lauer Leadership Award was presented by me to our former president, Kathey Wheeler; and the Presidential Service award was given to Danny Wheeler. They each received a lovely sterling silver lapel pin. The pins were round and the size of a quarter. The background was brushed silver so the letters were silver so that they could be easily read. It seems to get harder each year to select the winners; not because of the lack of candidates but that we have so many people who deserve an award.
We held our winter board meeting on November 3 in St. Louis. All of our affiliates were represented but The River City Workers.
I have been invited to Ste. Genevieve, and I thank the Ozark Association for their invitation. Be happy and well for the holidays.
"We do not need pity, nor do we need to be reminded that we are vulnerable. We must be treated as equals, -- and communication is the way we can bring this about."—(Louis Braille, 1841), (1809 - 1852)
Summary of Board Meetings
MCB Preconvention Board Meeting
October 4, 2007
The Board meeting of the Missouri Council of the Blind was called to order at 2:20 p.m. by President Phyllis Lovett at the Holiday Inn in Joplin, Mo.
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Second Vice President James Hollins.
Secretary Trudy Blood gave the roll call of affiliates. The affiliates that were absent were River City Workers of the Blind and the South Central Ozark Association.
The minutes were approved with one correction. Beverly Kaskadden was already on the RSB Advisory Board. Bev didn’t think that the Board understood what the 401 Task Force was all about. She explained what it was.
Treasurer Celita White read the treasurer’s report. She read the proposed budget for 2008. In it had been included line items for an Audio and Sound Committee and an Elections, Voting and Credentials Committee. Since the chairperson of Elections, Voting and Credentials could not think of a reason why that committee would need a budget line, this budget line was omitted. Likewise, Galen Blood said he did not see a need for a budget line for Audio and Sound. That line was also struck from the proposed budget. The motion was made and seconded that the proposed budget be accepted with these changes.
Next Bev Armstrong gave a short executive director’s report. She said she would give her full Executive Director’s Report at the regular convention session. Bev had provided in the packets mailed to the Board information regarding stipends taken from the IRS website as well as information from a retired IRS employee who is a CPA. It was moved, seconded and voted to discontinue the stipends and have those who had been receiving stipends send in expense forms and receipts for reimbursement. Bev mentioned that the office needs new office furniture (Sandi needs a new desk). Celita affirmed that the desks are old, either having come from the Gravois address or left in the office when the building was purchased. When the Finance Committee put the $5,000 in the office budget, they were thinking if they might need to buy a new Braille embosser they could do that. That was not projecting the purchase of any furniture. After quite a bit of discussion, Bev Kaskadden made a motion that we increase the line item for office equipment from $5,000.00 to $10,000.00. The motion was seconded and carried.
The meeting was adjourned at 4:02 pm for a fifteen-minute break and reconvened at 4:19 pm.
Next Eldon Cox gave his Convention Coordinator’s report. The pre-registration is working really well. He has several good possibilities for future conventions.
Phyllis talked about the thrift stores. Bev Armstrong read the letter that all the Board members had received in their packets. The letter was from the Henderson Management Company. Phyllis believes they are hoping we will get tired of their messing around and just walk away. She further stated she believes they are trying to push us out. They are poor and sloppy bookkeepers. Phyllis has verbally warned them that if they put new merchandise in the stores--no matter how many signs they put up and if they leave the Missouri Council’s name on the store--then that constitutes fraud. We haven’t talked to the Missouri Attorney General’s office but Phyllis would like to get the audit started before we take any action. We’ll know which direction we can go once we find out more from the CPA. They may be legitimate but they’re not very honorable. Right now we are letting things ride until the audit is done. Celita asked if James Sanders from West Plains could do the audit. A motion was made and seconded that Celita check into whether James Sanders will do the audit. The motion carried. We will be making progress with this when the convention is over. Sandi has all the information for Phyllis from 2005 through 2007. Bev read the contract from HMC. A copy of the contract is available at the office for anyone who wants one. Linda Gerken made a request for donating $250 to be taken from the Lucille Fierce Memorial Scholarship Fund to the Power Up Conference held in the spring. The motion was made by Linda and seconded. The motion carried.
Special Services Program changes: Cindy Reynolds is still getting the release of information forms and the people are expecting her to contact the doctor or eye doctor to get their eye exam or letter from their eye doctor. That is not the Chair’s responsibility but rather the applicant’s job. If they need help, they need to provide all of the documentation. Phyllis suggested that she write the person a short note and say “Are you a member of MCB or are you legally blind? I need documentation of your visual status if you’re not a member of MCB.” Bev Armstrong moved that we include on the Special Services application that it is the responsibility of the applicant to provide the information when they’re requesting the grant. James Hollins seconded the motion and it carried. Bev Armstrong moved that it be stated on the application that the applicant has the responsibility of getting their forms in on time. Linda Gerken moved and it was seconded that the Special Services budget be increased from $8,000 to $10,000. A person may receive up to $500 The Committee has the responsibility to approve whatever they feel is appropriate. If an applicant has problems with the decision, they can bring it to the next Board meeting. Motion carried.
Member-at-large applications: They were read by Sandi Mackley, administrative assistant. They were voted on individually. There were ten in all. Four legally blind and six sighted. Approved were: Jean Fike, from Chesterfield; (Totally blind) Debra Lyle, from St. Joseph; (sighted) Kristy Ratliff, from Butler; (sighted, recommended by Leroy Welch) Shawn Havens, from Butler; (Sighted, recommended by Leroy Welch) Sue Havens, from Butler; (sighted, recommended by Leroy Welch) Kenny Adcock, from Butler; (sighted, recommended by Leroy Welch) Harold Dalton, from Eldon; (Legally blind, Recommended by friends in doctor’s office) Joe Morgan, from Odessa; (Blind, recommended by Trudy Blood) and Sandi Mackley, from Crestwood; (sighted, MCB administrative assistant) Correspondence: Sandi read a letter from Judy Burch requesting assistance for the St. Louis Area Blind Bowlers in the amount of $1,000 to provide transportation to the Midwest Blind Bowlers Tournament. Jack Lenk moved that a donation of $1,000 be made to the St. Louis Area Blind Bowlers. It was seconded and carried. Jack stated that he and June will be traveling to Australia on October 31 and returning on November 15. The purpose of their trip is to represent the United States in the international bowling competition.
The Children’s Miracle Network thanked us for the $400 donation.
A letter was read from Denny Huff suggesting that MCB come up with some fundraisers of their own instead of depending so much on the thrift stores.
The winter Board meeting will be held in St. Louis. James Pohlman, A. G. Edwards (now Wachovia) will meet with us to talk about our investment policy. We have not written a new investment policy since 1997.
U. S. Bank Investment Policy Statement draft: Celita read a draft of our U. S. Bank Investment Policy Statement. The Finance Committee has met with Denise Wondolowski and Angela Pearson from U. S. Bank. The Finance Committee needs to discuss this. Bev Kaskadden moved that this be referred back to the Finance Committee and to be reported on at the next Board meeting. Jack seconded the motion and motion carried.
We adjourned for supper at 6:40 pm and reconvened the meeting at eight pm.
Next, Bev Armstrong reported on the Braille Revival League. They had been reminded many times to send it their dues and membership list. Elizabeth Moore apologized because she thought the membership list and money had been turned in. She encouraged members of MCB to become members of BRL. Marie Thompson moved that we reinstate Braille Revival League as a special interest affiliate. Trudy Blood seconded the motion; motion carried.
Strategic Plan: Phyllis reported that Chip Hailey and Naomi Soule want to work on a strategic plan for MCB. Chip spoke of his ideas about starting a strategic plan. They would appreciate any feedback from people who might have some ideas.
Yellow Pages.com: Bev Armstrong talked about Yellowpages.com. It would cost $350 a month. Our advertisement would be on numerous websites and would be statewide. The Board decided we could not afford this. RCGA: (Regional Commerce and Growth Association: The office was contacted urging MCB to rejoin the RCGA. We were told that MCB had belonged in the past but hadn’t for the last number of years. Bev Kaskadden will contact them to see what it entails. The cost of membership for a nonprofit is $500 per year.
POST CONVENTION BOARD MEETING October 7, 2007
A short Board meeting was held at the close of the convention on Sunday, October 7, 2007 for the purpose of approving the committee chairs appointed by President Phyllis Lovett. They are as follows:
Audio and Sound: Galen Blood
Adaptive Technology Matching Grants:
Franklin Johnson
Budget and Finance: Danny Wheeler
Building: Tom Armstrong
Chronicle: Bill Benson
Convention Coordinator: Eldon Cox
Education and Welfare: Chip Hailey
Elections, voting and credentials:
Donna Giger
Emergency Preparedness: Maryan Harrison
Health Benefits: Blanche Burrell
State Independent Living Council (SILC): tba
Membership: Bunny Maginnis
Missouri-l Listserv Moderator: Denny Huff
Public Relations: Leroy Welch
Resolutions and Amendments: Sabrina Fowler
Resource and Development: Tony Moore
Scholarship: Dr. Jarrell Holt
Special Services: Cindy Reynolds
Summer Camp: Bev Shockley
Transportation: Janelle Edwards
Wolfner Advisory Council: Judith Hawley
Youth Services: Linda Gerken
All chairpersons were approved.
The November 3 Board meeting of MCB was held at the Best Western/Kirkwood Inn in Kirkwood, Mo. All affiliates were represented with the exception of River City Workers.
Following the Pledge of Allegiance, invocation and roll call of affiliates and approval of the October 4 and Oct. 7 Board minutes, the agenda was approved with several additions. Those additions included a report on the November RSB public forum and meeting, RCGA, discussion about the Chronicle and a report on the Children’s Vision Summit.
The treasurer, Danny Wheeler, gave the treasurer’s report.
The President gave a brief report. The Board welcomed and heard from Jim Pohlman, our Certified Financial Planner with A. G. Edwards. Our investment policy has not been reviewed for some years and Mr. Pohlman encouraged the Board to do so. Following his presentation he fielded questions from Board members.
Following a short break the Executive Director gave her report. She reported that all Board members had been provided with copies of the amended Bylaws, the personnel manual and thrift store contract.
It was moved and voted that the attorneys for the blind pension lawsuit be asked to send a letter to MCB stating that Tom Kennedy Law Offices would represent us in the one time appeal capping the cost at $35,000. Bev stated that she was resigning as the liaison for the lawsuit and someone else would need to contact Deborah Greider for the written letter. Phyllis agreed to make the contact.
Chip Hailey, the new Education and Welfare chairman, gave a report on legislative activities concerning the Disability Rights Legislative Day as well as MCB’s legislative days. He also reported on the cost-of-living increase in Social Security and the increase to $1,570 that blind people can earn before affecting their SSDI.
The Board voted that in the future we have hospitality evening on the Friday evening prior to Saturday Board meetings.
Linda Gerken moved that MCB give $500 to MATP as a sponsor of the Power Up Conference. The motion carried.
Denny Huff moved that in the future, when having teleconference calls, that we use a less expensive conference call service. The company he recommended was one that charges ten cents a minute as opposed to twenty-nine cents per minute but those members will have to call in to a given number in order to be a part of the conference call. The motion carried.
Chip Hailey moved that a personnel committee be established and that Patti Schonlau be the chair of that committee. The motion passed.
There was discussion about the three directors being from the same affiliate. The President reminded the members that there is nothing in the Bylaws to prohibit this.
The matter of a couple who are members of MCB receiving grants to attend the ACB Convention and then not following the requirements was discussed. Denny Huff moved that the amount these people owed to MCB be forgiven as their income does not permit them to repay the money. Further, that they be ineligible for any financial assistance from MCB for the next three years. The motion carried.
Before the meeting was adjourned, we were advised that Ted Jeffers had undergone open heart surgery on Friday but was doing well. Also, that Betty Beaver’s son died suddenly on Saturday morning.
The meeting was adjourned at approximately 3:30 p.m.
MCB Convention Highlights
By Beverly Armstrong
The fifty-first annual convention of the MCB was held in Joplin, Mo. at the Holiday Inn October 4-7. Nearly 200 visually-impaired individuals and friends were in attendance.
Many Convention goers hit the floor running by attending the Missouri Guide Dog Users’ breakfast on Friday morning which was followed by committee meetings of Education and Welfare at which a new chairman was elected by the committee. Resolutions Committee had a lot of work to do, discussing and deciding which amendments to recommend to the Convention. The Presidents’ Luncheon was held immediately following the committee meetings.
The opening session on Friday afternoon included the presentation of colors by the Missouri Army National Guard Honors Division, welcomes by the host affiliate president, Shirley Ritter, by the Holiday Inn staff and our President, Phyllis Lovett. Past President Chip Hailey offered the invocation.
The roll call of affiliates showed that there were two affiliates that were absent. We missed seeing the folks from the River City Workers and the South Central Ozark Association. There were some members-at-large who were present and introduced themselves.
The Friday afternoon speaker was Dan Rife from the Joplin Independent Living Center who spoke about Missouri Health Net. This program is to replace Missouri’s Medicaid program.
Committee reports were interspersed throughout the convention.
Friday evening was busy with folks attending special interest affiliate meetings, the youth hospitality gathering and MCB’s hospitality meal.
For the second year in a row our Youth Services Committee invited and hosted three first-timers to our convention.
The Saturday morning session began early with the Library Users’ Breakfast. Dr. Richard Smith, executive director of Wolfner Library, shared information with those at the breakfast and later with the Convention regarding the soon-to-come digital machines.
The Saturday morning session convened at nine a.m. with the invocation given by Chip Hailey. Stephen Giggar told the Convention about accessible cell phones. Thanks to Dr. Smith and Stephen for giving of their time and information to our Convention.
Following lunch attendees were eager to get on with the business at hand. Brenda Dillon, second vice-president of the American Council of the Blind, spoke to us about ACB.
Next, we welcomed Mike Merrick of Rehab Services for the Blind. Members are always interested to hear what RSB is doing.
Knowing that there were a number of elections to be held, our President opened the floor for nominations for the office of first vice-president. Linda Gerken was re-elected first vice-president to serve for the next year.
Next, nominations were opened for the Public Relations chairman. Not new to this office Leroy Welch was once again elected to this position.
As there were three Directors to be elected, our President decided to have the election for one of them on Saturday afternoon. Steve Schnelle, member of St. Charles Council of the Blind, was elected as director.
The Joplin Service Club did a great job on securing entertainment for the banquet. Cindy Degnan, author and speaker, kept all banquet attendees laughing and waiting to hear what the next vignette would be.
Highlights of the banquet are always the awarding of MCB awards. Ted Jeffers of the host affiliate was presented with the Nathaniel Johnson Award. The Ellis M. Forshee Award is given to individuals or businesses who have done significant work in the area of legislation for the blind of Missouri. St. Louis University Law Clinic and Tom Kennedy Law Offices shared in this award. Both had been instrumental in the MCB lawsuit regarding Missouri’s Blind Pension program.
The Darrell Lauer Outstanding Leadership Award was proudly presented to immediate past president, Kathey Wheeler. Another award that MCB Presidents enjoy giving is the President’s Award. This award was presented to Danny Wheeler. We extend most sincere congratulations to these award recipients.
Reconvening once again on Sunday morning the Convention heard more committee reports, the executive director’s report and the adopted budget for 2008.
There was also the bid for the 2008 convention. It was voted to hold our 2008 convention at the Holiday Inn in St. Peters to be hosted by the St. Charles Council.
And, yes, more elections. Nominations were opened for the office of treasurer. Danny Wheeler of Allied Workers for the Blind was elected as the treasurer. Two more directors were also elected. They were: Denny Huff and Bev Kaskadden.
Amendments: In Article III. Membership Section 1. the word “meetings” was changed to read “conventions. With this change members may speak from the floor at conventions, but can no longer speak at board meetings unless they have prior permission from the President, or unless a board member requests permission for a non-board-member to speak and that request is made in the form of a motion which is then approved by the rest of the board.
Currently the MCB prohibits its members from jointly belonging to the National Federation of the Blind. An amendment was introduced which would have deleted this section from our constitution; however, this amendment did not pass. So the rule still remains that MCB members may not also be members of the NFB.
Article XI. Section 5 was amended. This amendment changed some dates. Now, proposed resolutions and amendments will have to be in to the chairman of that committee by July fifteenth. The chair must have them into the office by August first; and the office must have them sent out to the affiliates by August thirty-first. stablished that there can be no other special interest affiliate in kind. In other words, there can be no more than 1 BRL, or Library Users, or guide dog special interest affiliate.
Several years ago MCB passed a resolution which allowed members who intended to attend the ACB national convention to receive a grant to help with their expenses. This resolution was further clarified and strengthened by an addition to the By-laws. The amendment, which passed, states that a member who receives a grant to attend the ACB Convention, but is unable to do so or to attend all the business sessions, must return the money by July fifteenth. Failure to do so may result in the MCB taking legal action. The individual would be ineligible to receive any future grants for a period of three years or until the money is returned, whichever is longer.
The convention was adjourned at 1:30 p.m.
Additional Notes
by Chip Hailey
I was pleased that at the pre-convention Board meeting the Board approved a $250 donation to MATP and the 2008 Power Up Conference to go towards the Lucille Fierce Memorial Scholarship. This scholarship will assist recipient winners to attend the conference, which by the way will again be in Tan Tara next year.
I was also pleased that our madam president and the Board approved to establish a committee to put together a strategic plan. This is something that desperately needs to be done. It hasn't been done since 1997. Naomi Soule and I will be working together on this project and will be asking others of you to participate.
The Board also decided to discontinue the stipends for the president, the treasurer, and the Chronicle editor.
The Joplin Association went way beyond the call of duty by providing transportation to our conventioneers requesting it to any restaurant of their choice. This will be a tough act to follow St. Charles Council. Smiles!
The Boy Scouts did an outstanding job on providing sighted assistance to anyone requesting it.
The Joplin Holiday Inn did a fantastic job to make everyone feel welcome and comfortable.
Eldon Cox deserves a great big pat on the back for the outstanding job he is doing as our convention coordinator. Thanks Eldon for assisting our host affiliate in putting together another fabulous convention. Even though this year's convention may have been the least attended in a while, there were a lot of good things that had happened. For example, there was the truck driver couple who had made a gracious donation of $1,000 to MCB and also paid for a night's stay for two of our MCB members, a husband and his wife. I believe this truck driver couple had also paid for a meal for this husband and his wife. Now who says there aren't any angels lurking about.
Steve Schnelle and Mary Pendleton did an absolutely terrific job on their respective patriotic songs. They did a really great job!
Cindy Sigler Dagnan was a terrific banquet speaker and we hope to have more like her in the future.
Virgil McCoy was the Master of Ceremonies at the banquet and did a marvelous job.
On Saturday morning, Steve Giggar, also known as Dr. Phone, did a great job on speaking on accessible cell phones.
Brenda Dillon, ACB second vice president, was our ACB speaker on Saturday afternoon and was she ever delightful. She and her husband, Dan, sang to us their personal answering machine song and it was great. I wish more of you could have heard them, I know you would have enjoyed them as well.
Our ATI meeting on Friday night was a big hit with everyone who attended. Denny Huff really deserves a lot of credit for what he and others have brought to this special interest affiliate. I honestly don't believe it would be the successful special interest affiliate that it is today if Denny and others like him hadn't gotten involved.
Our Friday night Youth hospitality was another huge success. A great big thanks and applause needs to go out to Linda Gerken and James Hollins for working so diligently on this project. We love you guys for working together on this and hope you will continue the good work.
Franklin Johnson did another outstanding job on setting up the tech exhibits again for us this year. Wow! What would we ever do without this man and his love for technology and desire to help others in the technology field. Franklin, please, please, please, keep on inviting those wonderful vendors to our convention, and please keep up the good work.
I believe we will all greatly miss Celita as our MCB treasurer but wish her well as she takes some much needed time off.
I also think a great big thank you needs to go out to our parliamentarian, Virginia Berberick, who has served this organization for the past 22 years. Thanks to Sandi Mackley and our Madam Executive Director for honoring our Madam parliamentarian by giving her a gold name tag. A very nice and thoughtful gesture.
Well, those are just some of the positive things that took place and I hope you will join me by letting all of these good folks know how much we love them and appreciate all that they do for MCB.
DONNA GIGER SAYS THANK YOU
I want to take this opportunity to thank all the caring people who volunteered for our state convention in Joplin. Things couldn’t have gone as smoothly as they did without the helping hands of our volunteers. A huge THANK YOU to all of you!
“After all is said and done, usually more is said than done.”
Committee Reports
Education and Welfare Committee
Dear MCB family and friends,
"To make democracy work, we must be a nation of participants, not simply observers. One who does not vote has no right to complain." Louis L'Amour
I would like to start off my report by first thanking my predecessor, Mary Pendleton, on the remarkable job she did the past two years as Education and Welfare Chair. Her legislative efforts will be long remembered not only in MCB but throughout the Halls of the Capitol. Her dedication and commitment as well as her passion she expressed in serving MCB on a local, state, and national legislative level will be very difficult to equal. However, Mary has promised that she won't be completely absent from the legislative scene. She and I will continue to work closely together to keep the membership informed of the latest legislative developments affecting the blind.
I would also like to express my deepest appreciation to all of the affiliate legislative representatives for their perpetual sacrifice. MCB would not have experienced its legislative success without your continuing endeavors.
I would also like to thank the Education and Welfare Committee for electing me as your new Education and Welfare chair. I promise to diligently work legislatively to better the lives of all blind Missourians. I will be calling on all of the affiliate representatives to join together with me in making this pledge. As we continue to work together I am confident that we will experience even greater success.
Already I have been asked to serve on the Disability Rights Legislative Day Committee. Last August, our Madam Executive Director was contacted by Megan Schulz of Paraquad about having blind representation on the committee. So then our Madam Executive Director contacted me to see whether I would be interested in serving on that committee. I attended the September and October meetings and it looks as though next year's Disability Rights Legislative Day will be another huge event that you won't want to miss. I will be providing more details as they become available.
Now for the 2008 MCB Legislative Days: MCB Legislative Days will be February 19-20, 2008, at the Hotel DeVille, in Jefferson City. The legislative meeting will begin at 2:00 p.m. on February 19, 2008. We hope to see as many of you as possible at this important event. Without your much needed help, we will be unable to have the kind of necessary impact on our legislative representatives. So please make every effort to join us in Jefferson City on the dates mentioned and together let's make a difference for all blind Missourians.
Some of the issues we will be considering will be the Textbook Revision Act, which will not only insure that blind students receive their textbooks in an accessible format but in a timely fashion as well. We will also be considering the Blindness Education Screening and Treatment (BEST) Fund to be moved under the direction of Rehabilitation Services for the Blind, and we will be requesting additional appropriations for at least 1 more blindness skills specialist.
Should you need to contact me, please feel free to do so either by phone or by e-mail. My home telephone number is (417) 781-6728, and my work number is (417) 659-8086. My e-mail address is chailey4@ipa.net. Additional information regarding MCB Legislative Days is available either by contacting me or the MCB office. Here is the contact information for the Hotel DeVille should you need it: www.devillehotel.com. 319 W Miller St, Jefferson City, MO 65101 (573) 636-5231. The Hotel DeVille is a hotel of eclectic charm. Conveniently located in the Downtown area, it is 2 blocks from the State Capitol Building and other nearby attractions such as the Truman and Broadway State Office Buildings, Supreme Court Building, Governor's Mansion, Missouri State Penitentiary, Lincoln University, and the Veterans Memorial.
Respectfully submitted by
Chip Hailey
MCB Education and Welfare Chair
401 Blind Task Force Committee
by: Patti Schonlau
August 8, 2007
Missouri School Boards Association (MSBA)
2100 I-70 Drive, S.W.
Columbia, Missouri
Roselie Backer-Thompson demonstrated the GH Player (software)and reported on the Braille Display unit, and National Instructional Materials Accessibility Standard NIMAS)/National Instructional Materials Access Center (NIMAC). Missouri Assistive Technology (MoAT) has been designated as an authorized user of NIMAC, which is the repository for electronic textbooks. Electronic files contain watermarks and fingerprints so that they are not used illegally.
BSS Update: Jan DeHart gave a brief overview of her year-end report submitted to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) which included: one presentation for the National Federation for the Blind (NFB), eight workshops of her own, provided services for 38 students in 24 school districts. Jan is planning a workshop for Missouri vision teachers in approximately eight weeks. She is inviting Yvonne Ali to present information about American Printing House for the Blind, Inc. (APH) and NIMAS/NIMAC.
Current BTF Membership Vacancies: Missouri Council of Administrators of Special Education (MO-CASE) has been contacted regarding an appointment to the Special Education Administrator vacancy. Discussion regarding contacting a Building Administrator group is taking place to provide an appointment to the Building Principal Vacancy. One application has been submitted for the Rehabilitation Council for the Blind representative.
In addition to current vacancies, the DESE will also post any upcoming vacancies for the Blind Task Force (BTF) prior to term expiration.
Announcements: MSB received the status of fully accredited following their recent MSIP review.
Mike Merrick reported on the Shared Vision for Missouri meeting that will be held August 13-14, 2007 at MSB. This group will work to develop a shared vision of services for visually impaired (VI) Missourians. Some of the entities being represented include: Special School District (SSD), Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), Lighthouse for the Blind, Rehabilitation Services for the Blind (RSB), MSB, Alpha Pointe, Children’s Center for Visually Impaired, Independent Living Center, and Missouri School for the Deaf (MSD).
Missouri Statewide Parent Involvement Network (MoSpin), a family focused home-based intervention program, is currently training their first cohort for families with children ages birth to five. The number of families being served has more than doubled since January 2007.
The next BTF meeting is scheduled to be conducted on November 14, 2007.
Transportation Committee
Needs Members
I planned to speak to those of you who attended the MCB convention in person. Due to my husband's health that was not possible.
What has the Transportation committee accomplished in the past year? Unfortunately, it has not accomplished very much. Only one person has expressed interest in joining the committee. Each affiliate is requested to find someone who would like to work on transportation issues to serve on this committee. Alternatively, if you as an individual would like to serve we would love to have you join us too! You may contact the MCB office or contact me directly.
This past year I served on an advisory team that devised a plan to help coordinate transportation services in the local area. I imagine other MCB members may have also represented MCB on other such teams across the state. I have also educated myself regarding transportation related issues in Missouri whenever possible and forwarded material to other MCB members if it had not already been provided by someone else.
I am sure that many of you are doing great work to improve your transportation systems in your local communities. I know that some people in Springfield serve on committees and boards to advocate for our rights as blind people.
It is my hope that this year, through the Transportation Committee, we can all work together. Perhaps he can learn from each other what the best strategies might be for reaching our goals. Perhaps we can obtain grants to improve transportation services statewide. They are out there, but we would have to have some infrastructure in place – like committee members in the local communities first. Please consider joining me in this worthwhile endeavor.
Janelle Edwards,
Transportation Committee Chair
Missouri Call to Listen
By Laura Di Vries
Have you ever wished you could shop the sales? Would you like to have an informed opinion on your local government, who they are and what each is doing or not doing? If you vote, I'm sure you would. Knowing what's going on in your area, as well as statewide and nationally, can increase intelligent participation in conversations.
Radio Reading Services are the source of such knowledge for many visually impaired people as well as others who have difficulty reading for whatever reason. Volunteers come into a studio and read the daily papers and , a variety of articles from periodicals. Listeners tune in using a specially designed, closed-circuit FM radio receiver. Many stations hook up via satellite to others for shared programming. There are about 150 Radio Reading Services throughout the world--but not in Missouri! Missouri residents in the St. Louis and Kansas City areas rely on services based in Illinois and Kansas. Missouri’s third largest city, Springfield, has none at all. Now is the time for Missouri to catch up with the rest. Please show your interest and support by signing up with your name,phone number and email address and permission to add your information to the list. The website is: mslgdv61@att.net. Or you can call Laura De Vries at (417) 869-1087.
A Touch of Genius
By Roger Wilson Hinds
(From the RNIB Website, 2007 from The Blind Blogger)
Louis Braille invented "braille" , a world wide system of embossed type used by blind and partially sighted people for reading and writing. It has been adapted to almost every known language, from Albanian to Zulu.
He died in 1852 and, for a while, it seemed as if this system would die with the inventor. Thankfully a few key people realised the importance of this invention.
Where does the story begin? Louis Braille was born in a small town near Paris on 4 January 1809.
One day when Louis Braille was a small boy, he crept into his father's workshop to play. He had often seen his father making shoes and he decided he would like to try. He picked up an awl, a sharp, pointed tool used for making holes in leather. As he bent over, the awl slipped and pierced his eye, destroying it forever. Some time later his other eye became infected by the first and he lost his sight altogether . He went on to become one of the most famous Frenchmen ever to live.
Louis Braille's school years: Despite his sight loss the young child attended the village school with his sighted friends for two years. Eventually it became clear that he would not be able to learn much more, largely because he could not read or write. Without an education it was likely that he would have to beg on the streets, like other blind people at that time.
At the age of ten he was lucky enough to be sent to a school for blind boys in Paris, one of the first in the world. Conditions in the school were very harsh. The building was damp and unhealthy and discipline was severe. Pupils who misbehaved were beaten, locked up and given stale bread and water. In fact, this kind of discipline was common in all schools at that time. Life was harsh for nearly everyone and most sighted children left school at the age of 12 and went to work in factories or in mines.
At the school in Paris the blind pupils were taught practical skills like chair caning and slipper making so that when they left the school they would be able to make a living. Once a week, after lunch, the boys were taken for a walk in the park, linked together by a long rope.
They were also taught to read but not to write . The letters they read were raised above the surface of the page so that they could feel them with their fingertips. This form of writing was very difficult to read because it was very hard to tell the letters apart. The letters were printed by pressing copper wire into one side of the paper to make a raised shape on the other. Because each individual letter had to be made out of wire first and because the wire then had to be forced into the paper with a press blind people were unable to write anything for themselves.
One day something happened that changed the lives of blind people forever. In 1821 , a soldier named Charles Barbier visited Louis' school. He brought with him a system he had invented called "night writing". Night writing had originally been designed so that soldiers could pass instructions along trenches at night without having to talk and give their positions away. It consisted of twelve raised dots which could be combined to represent different sounds. Unfortunately it proved to be too complex for soldiers to master and was therefore rejected by the army.
How did he develop braille? The young Louis Braille quickly realised how useful this system of raised dots could be, provided it was simplified. Over the next few months he experimented with different systems until he found an ideal system using six dots. He continued to work on the scheme for several years after, developing separate codes for maths and music. In 1827 the first book in braille was published.
Even so, the new system did not catch on immediately. Sighted people did not understand how useful braille could be and one head teacher at the school even banned the children from learning it. Fortunately this seemed to have the effect of encouraging the children even more and they took to learning it in secret. Eventually even sighted people began to realise the benefits of the new system. Not only could people with sight problems read braille but they could also write it for themselves using a simple stylus to make the dots. For the first time blind and partially sighted people began to be truly independent and to take control of their own lives.
What did he go on to do? Louis Braille eventually became a teacher in the school where he had been a student. He was admired and respected by his pupils but, unfortunately, he did not live to see his system widely adopted. He had always been plagued by ill health and in 1852, at the age of 43, he died from tuberculosis .
In France itself, Louis Braille's achievement was finally recognised by the state. In 1952 his body was moved to Paris where it was buried in the Pantheon, the home of France's national heroes.
The Editorial Eye
(Guest editorial by Dr. Ronald E. Milliman)
Before you reject this idea because it is so different, open up your minds and really think about this concept. It is a solution to many problems we face daily.
The day is not too far off when we will be able to purchase a guide robot, perhaps to be called a "Guidebot." It will be very friendly andinteractive, programmed to be especially helpful to blind people. It will have some very valuable attributes that a dog or cane does not possess, e.g. the Guidebot will be able to recognize people and call them by name and help you such as: "Here comes Linda Myers," allowing you, then, to speak up and say: "Good morning Linda; how are you this beautiful morning?" Of course, our Guidebot would be able to spot vehicles, and using its radar type technology, be able to accurately determine how fast the vehicle is moving and in which direction, and thus, be able to calculate whether you have sufficient time to cross the street without risking being hit. The Guidebot could also identify traffic lights and what color they are, identify paper money, etc., etc.
The technology is, essentially, available now, but it is just not all assembled in a package that makes it function the way I described here. Such Guidebots could come in a variety of configurations, e.g. like a dog, like a person, etc. So, if you wanted a Guidebot that would look like a Golden Retriever, you could just order that particular physical configuration.
Frankly, I, personally, would strongly favor our working toward this technological solution rather than some of the other things we are fighting for because it solves the problems from an entirely different direction. It is one solution to many, many different problems that we , as blind people, face everyday for which we are currently seeking multiple solutions, many of which are opposed by various segments of our society, business, government, and yes, even some other blind populated organizations.
Dr. Ronald E. Milliman, Professor of Marketing, Western Kentucky University
**Chair, ACB Public Relations Committee
**Chair, ACB Monthly Monetary Support Program (MMS) Committee
(Response from Dan Rossi):
“If you want a guide bot that looks like a dog and actually walks on four legs, it is going to require a lot of power. Not to mention a lot more development on the robotics side. Sure, four leg walkers are around, but four leg walkers that are stable enough, and agile enough to guide a human will take a lot more work.”
“also, guiding a person takes a lot more intelligence than basic obstacle avoidance. It would require more than just computer vision, because to a computer, a shadow looks a whole lot like a hole. So LASER range finding or ultrasonics would need to be part of the package.”
“all of this stuff does exist. It is nothing terribly new. Look at the DARPA Grand Challenge. However, putting it all into something portable, and powering it is something else.” “None of what Ron says is impossible. However, I think it would take quite a lot of money to bring it all together.”
I’m wondering how much it would weigh, and would that make for a problem when it comes to flying?
Dealing With Vision Loss
(A New Book by Fred Olver)
The author, blind since birth, attended the Michigan School for the Blind for most of his school life. In this book he presents his own unique perspective on blindness by blending his life experience with his work in and out of the field of blindness.
Fred Olver was the first blind student to attend, and graduate from, Wayne Memorial High School in an era when most children who were blind were attending schools for the blind.
He received his B.S. degree in Communications and Secondary Education and his M.A. in Blind Rehabilitation Teaching both from Western Michigan University.
While a member of the Fort Wayne Jaycee’s, Fred assisted in many fund-raising events and also relieved many members of their hard-earned money while playing poker with his Braille cards.
During the International Year of Disabled Persons, Fred was a city liaison for Fort Wayne, Indiana and has also received the American Radio Relay League’s highest award for public service during a community emergency.
His first job was at the School for the Blind at the age of 16 where he produced multiple copies of Braille books. He says, “If you want me to do something, just tell me I can’t.” He has also worked in a Library for the Blind, as a Rehabilitation Teacher, offering skills training in cooking, Braille, guiding techniques, teaching people to function in a world where vision has become a secondary rather than a primary sense. Other jobs include tele-marketer, substitute teacher, small-business owner, and snack bar manager and now he has chosen to use his expertise to provide you the reader with never-before presented concepts of thinking about blindness and how to cope with vision loss.
Fred now lives in St. Louis, Missouri with his daughter, Maggie, age 16 where he spends his time gardening, barbecuing on his gas grill, collecting movies and developing an internet business.
This book speaks in particular to those who are experiencing vision loss, to other family members of those experiencing vision loss, and to parents of children who are losing or have lost their vision. The book is available in large print and in a recorded format. Contact the author: goodfolks@charter.net
Affiliate Affairs
Over, Around and Across Missouri
Let’s Find Out What’s Happening Where
Blind of Central Mo.
Hello to everyone from Sedalia
Another year is almost gone, We hope it’s been good for everyone.
We had our election of officers at our September meeting. They are: President, Terry Thompson; Vice President, Brenda Gardner; Recording Secretary, Trudy Blood; Treasurer, Susan Sanderson; and Public Relations, Emma Lou Swopes.
We have 2 new members in our club. They are Amanda Pulliam, and Becky Coombes who is losing her sight. Amanda graduated from the Kansas School for the Blind, as I did, also, in 1970. Amanda graduated much later than I did. She also attended her first MCB convention this year. She got to enjoy the benefits of the youth group. I believe she really enjoyed the convention. Becky works with our president, Terry Thompson, at Envision in Knob Noster, Mo. Congratulations and welcome Amanda and Becky.
We will have our Thanksgiving dinner on November 8, which is our meeting night, at the Celebration center where we meet. The Country Bumpkin will cater our meal. We will have turkey, ham, and all of the sides that go along with it, and coffee, and iced tea to drink. I'm sure it will be a great time of fun, food, and Fellowship; although, by the time you read this, it will have already happened.
I will close this way for a reason, Wishing all a great holiday season.
Until next time keep your smile and a song in your heart, and if you can't be good, be good at it.
Trudy Blood, Recording Secretary
Greetings From Joplin,
The Joplin Service Club has participated in several activities in the passed few months.
One of the highlights was the Picnic and Auction hosted by the Lake Stockton Club in August. Our group has always enjoyed this event, and the food and fellowship is always the best. To our Friends from Lake Stockton we send our Thanks!
We have a wonderful Volunteer cook, the Infamous "Tom Fortson", who provides us a meal each and every Tuesday at noon, hear at the Center so that we can have our weekly social gatherings. If he is unable to be there then he calls his back up, the "Infamous Virgil McCoy”. We want to Thank these men and All of the individuals who volunteer to help out at the Center on our behalf !
Our August monthly dinner night was hosted by a group from the First United Methodist Church, they cooked Brats and Burgers out on the grill, (what a treat), and provided entertainment.
The September Dinner was hosted by St. Paul's United Methodist Church group, and a group of Dulcimer Players entertained.
It is with great pleasure that we welcome" Pam Lanham, as a new member of our Club she was voted in, in September.
The Stained Glass Theatre held a performance of "The Miracle Worker", a production about Helen Keller, and several of our members attended and really enjoyed it.
Our October monthly dinner was hosted by the St. Peter's Catholic Church, and entertainment was provided.
One of our longtime, dedicated Service Club members, Sophie Straine, recently moved to St. Ann, Mo. She moved to be closer to her son and his family. We wish her the very Best, and want her to know she is greatly missed by everyone!!
We would bet that you could guess what our group spent countless hours working on. Yes, the MCB Convention! Well, that time came and has since passed and we did survive it all! A "special thanks" to those who gave us direction, in what to do, and what not to do, which made things flow smoother.
Thanks, to Everyone who helped us in anyway!
We want the MCB members around the state to know that it was "Our Pleasure" to Host the Convention in Joplin for such a Wonderful group of people. Those of you that attended made us proud to be associated with such a great organization.
We would like to leave you with something to think about:
There is so much bad in the best of us, and so much good in the worst of us, it does not behoove the most of us, to be talking about the rest of us.
Until we meet again,
Your Friends from the JSCB
Shirley Ritter, President
Sending Thankful Thoughts
Your Way from Lake Stockton
At the time of this writing, Thanksgiving time is fast approaching. It is a time to stop, think, and reflect on the blessings that we have been given and be thankful:
Thankful for the MCB staff, Joplin Service Club, and all who put forth the time and effort to make the 51st annual MCB Convention informative as well as enjoyable. Thank you, Leroy and Loretta Welch, for honoring so many people with corsages and gift cards. Eight members and two guests from Lake Stockton traveled to Joplin for the convention.
Thankful for so many people that have supported our Annual Dinner and Auction held each August. We enjoyed this yearly event and regret that it has come to an end.
Thankful for our affiliate members that have become our friends, and although we have lost three more loved ones--Doris Rickert, Ethel Glidwell, and Ruby Sibley--we rest assured that they wait for us in Heaven’s land. May God’s love heal the sorrow, and may His peace replace the heartache with warm and loving memories.
Thankful for Lake Stockton’s members, family, and friends who gathered for the traditional Thanksgiving meal on November 1. We shared our “bounty” by bringing non-perishable food items to the dinner and meeting. These items will be donated to the local food pantry. Past and present executive officers were recognized for their leadership with Wal-Mart gift cards. Robert and Teresa Evans were recognized for receiving the affiliate’s nomination for the Jim Henderson Member of the Year Award. Mildred Rickman was recognized for her time and effort in collecting Best Choice labels for the last several years.
Thankful for Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior and the freedom to celebrate His birth not just during the Christmas season, but each and every day.
Wishing you a never-ending season of love and peace.
Linda Dawes, Secretary
RIVER CITY WORKERS
Greetings from the River City Workers of the Blind on a beautiful October morning,
The weather is warm for this time of year, and the leaves are beginning to turn their beautiful colors.
A big thank you to the Delta Area Blind for inviting us to their annual picnic at Ryans. We very much enjoyed the food, fun and fellowship.
Frieda Jones and Mike Gamblin were united in marriage in September. Frieda is one of our members. Congratulations to the newly-weds, and God bless you both.
We were unable to attend the MCB convention this year, but feel certain everyone who attended had a wonderful time; and even though we were not there, we appreciate all the hard work put forth by the Joplin Service Club as the host affiliate.
Due to the fact that our library is getting a face-lift, we will be holding our next few meetings at the home of Joann and Bill Godwin, 328 N. Fountain. Thanks much for the warm hospitality.
October was a very busy month for us. Robin McCollough chaired our service projects: Personal items for Women’s Safe-house; and shopping for school items and clothing for a child our affiliate voted to help.
We had a pizza Halloween party, and it was enjoyed by all.
In November we celebrated Thanksgiving at our meeting and a dinner at a local restaurant.
RCWB has a celebrity among us. Norman Puckett, who is a resident of the Heartland Care and Rehab., received recognition for an essay he wrote entitled Advancing Excellence, A Resident’s Perspectibe On Quality. It was sponsored by the National Consumer for Quality Long-term Care. His picture appeared in our local newspaper. Congratulations, Norman; we’re proud of you!
Again this year we will have our Christmas display at Cape County Park. Bill Godwin and his committee do a wonderful job of setting it up. On Thanksgiving Eve there is a lighting ceremony, and all the lights are turned on at the same time. It is beautiful!
In December we’ll be shopping for the visually impaired and physically handicapped children in our area to help them have a better Christmas. As we approach this special time of the year, let us never forget the reason for this season. Remember to be helpful to those who are less fortunate. Have a very blessed Cjhristmas and a happy, prosperous New Year.
RCWB Communications Committee
Southwest Missouri Friendship
Council of the Blind
August: Our Business Meeting was held August 2nd, 7:00p.m. at the Webb City Senior Center. Our group discussed different ways for our organization to raise funds and it was decided that we would sell tickets for a 50/50 drawing. The winning ticket will be drawn during the MCB Convention in October. Chip Hailey briefed all on how the proceedings were going on the Blind Pension.
The group selected Ryan’s Cafeteria in Joplin for the location of our social event at 7:00p.m., August 21st. The need for a Finance Meeting was discussed and it was decided that the date would be selected later. The Awards Committee (Mike Galbraith, Jan Whitmer and Cathie Brauner) was appointed to select the club member who was the most dedicated to our organization; as well as the business who donated the most money to our group this year. Ron Brauner, my dear husband, won the door prize of $101.00 at the Bolivar Auction and generously split his winnings with me. Congratulations and Thank You, Ron!
We all met at Ryan’s Cafeteria on August 21st. and enjoyed the food as well as the company of our club members. A good time was enjoyed by all.
September: Our Business Meeting was held Tuesday, September 4th. at 7:00p.m. Club members received tickets to be sold for the 50/50 drawing in October. We discussed the MCB Amendments and voted for or against. We selected Granny Shaffer’s in Webb City as the location for our Awards Banquet to be held September 17th.
We all gathered at Granny Shaffer’s at 7:00p.m. Mike Galbraith, Chairman of the Awards Committee, presented awards to Margaret Forcum, our Secretary, and Glen Palmer with Universal Lubricants. Universal Lubricants has covered the cost of our organizations Christmas Dinner for the past two years. Congratulations to both! We appreciate the dedication and the financial support!
October: Our Business Meeting/Covered Dish Dinner was held Tuesday, October 16th. at the Webb City Senior Center. We discussed the Blind Pension Lawsuit and everyone was disappointed to learn that MCB lost on the local level; as reported by Chip Hailey. We also learned that the winner of the 50/50 drawing was much in need of the extra $283.00 for a family situation. Thanks to everyone who worked so hard to sell tickets; you all did an EXCELLENT JOB!!! Our bank account is now $283.00 richer!
Everyone enjoyed the delicious dishes brought for our Covered Dish Dinner; as always!!!
The following is a really nice story that our group would like to pass along…..Lois and Harold Griffoth attended the MCB Convention in Joplin the beginning of October. Lois was approached by the female member of a trucking couple. The trucker complimented Lois on the red hat she was wearing and the two struck up a conversation regarding MCB and all the organization stands for. The trucking couple was so impressed with Lois, Harold and MCB that they donated $1,000 to MCB. They also bought dinner and breakfast for Harold and Lois; and said they would be willing to help out in raising funds for our group. Congratulations, Harold and Lois, you must have said all the right things.
Hope all of you enjoyed a Great Thanksgiving, and will have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! I will visit with you again in 2008!
I will leave all of you with the following thought…..”Today is the greatest treasure you will ever hold in your hands…spend it on a brighter tomorrow!” Lorraine Catcheny
Cathie Brauner, Public Relations
Springfield Service Club
In August, some club members made the usual trip to Lake Stockton for the lovely annual picnic and auction there.
Once again, a few of our members attended summer camp. I am told that they had a good time as always.
Several of our members were able to make it to the MCB convention in Joplin. They brought back reports to those of us who could not attend on the business and fun of convention. My husband, MCB member Jon Gormley, needed two separate heart surgeries, and three hospitalizations, in the month of October. As of this writing, at the beginning of November, he is at home recovering. We both plan to attend the MCB convention next year.
May your holidays be safe and filled with joy.
Janelle Edwards, Secretary
ST. CHARLES COUNCIL
Of The BLIND
Excitement is brewing in St. Charles. Plans are underway to host the 2008 MCB convention at the St. Peters Holiday Inn. Joplin will be a hard act to follow. What a lovely banquet, and the hosts were incredible.
St. Charles Council always has a pot luck in the month of September. Our members enjoyed it so much, that a motion was made to have another pot luck in November. This sure sounds like a good idea to start out a business meeting. Come to think of it, we will also have a Christmas dinner for December. No wonder our membership is growing!
SCCCB will be adopting three needy families for Christmas. We always look for a family who has one member who is blind or legally blind. Santa Claus always shows up with gifts for the children. Even though we need to count our blessings every day, even the Scroogiest of Scrooges smiles and is thankful this time of year.
St. Charles Council would like to thank those who bought candy bars during the convention. Our fund raisers help tremendously to assist in our giving during the holidays.
Sincerely,
Beverly Kaskadden
The MCB Rhymoceros
(The old fellow’s contribution this time might possibly be considered a New Year’s Eve rhyme, I guess.)
“Is the glass half empty or half full”
Is a question whose answer depends
On the answer to yet another one:
Are we pouring or drinking, my friend?
FROM THE LOWER LEFTHAND DRAWER
I hope you’ve had a very good, though probably very busy, Holiday season thus far. Once again we have a pretty jam-packed drawer; vbut before we begin emptying it, let me remind you, as always, any mention of a product or service is in no way to be taken as an endorsement or solicitation. Our intention is to present them for their interest value only. Now that we’ve established that, let’s see what all has accumulated over the past 3 months.
Register for Eye Information: The National Retinal Degenerative Disease Registry is connected with the Foundation Fighting Blindness. They will contact people whose names are on this registry when critical information about their particular eye disease becomes available. . If anyone would like the phone number, it is 1-800-683-5555. The information needed includes: name, address, phone, e-mail address and date of birth. If you include your ophthalmologist's name and address, the FFB can provide him with the latest research developments and information on upcoming clinical trials.
Audio-Vision Canada has a recorded catalog of hundreds of audio-described movies; some are on video cassettes, and others are on audio cassettes or CD’s. The catalog is on 3 CD’s, but you can listen to it by phone if you call: (641) 715-3900 and enter ext. 7001, 7002 or 7003. Also, you can call Audio-Vision Canada free of charge from anywhere in North America at (866) 297-7623. They can be borrowed free of charge just as in the U. S.
Broccoli May Prevent Blindness: (By Jeanie Lerche Davis, WebMD Medical News Reviewed By Brunilda Nazario, MD.) --To protect your eyesight, try broccoli. An antioxidant found in broccoli may be a powerful force in preventing blindness. Researchers at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine have discovered that sulforaphane, the naturally occurring antioxidant in broccoli and broccoli sprouts, protects the eye from damage caused by the sun's ultraviolet light. Cells in the eye's retina are extremely sensitive to damage caused by oxidants, especially those generated by light. While several processes within the eye help cut that damage, the eye gradually loses that capability as we age. This is believed to be the primary cause of age-related macular degeneration -- the leading cause of blindness, writes researcher Xiangqun Gao, a molecular scientist with the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. To combat this damage, a simple long-term strategy is important, Gao notes. That's where sulforaphane comes in. Previous studies from this group of researchers have shown that sulforaphanep revents tumor growth and kills stomach bacteria that lead to ulcers and stomach cancer. In one study, they showed that feeding broccoli sprouts to rats prevented high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke. Sulforaphane protected eye cells from damage, reports Gao. In fact, the more sulforaphane exposure the cells got, the more protection they received. Dr. Gao says: “A diet high in broccoli and broccoli sprouts is a safe, long-term approach to preventing age-related macular degeneration and blindness.”
Seattle Sutton’s Healthy Eating Offers Braille Menus: Fitness & Health IV, OTTAWA, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Seattle Sutton’s Healthy Eating (SSHE) is now offering Braille menus for its clients. The new menus address a need that founder and president, Seattle Sutton, RN, BSN, discovered earlier this year when she learned about a couple from California that ordered meals for the first time and the idea was born. “I learned we had a blind couple from California who had signed up to receive our meals and I thought it would be nice to provide them with a menu that they could read. That’s how the idea of the Braille menu was born. These menus are just one more way we continue to help serve our clients needs and have done so now for 22 years,” said Seattle Sutton. www.seattlesutton.com “Each Braille menu contains 50 pages, since one menu item takes a half page to print in Braille, including the item, description of meal and preparation instructions. The spiral bound menu is printed double-sided to reduce number of pages. Each menu contains a table of contents that corresponds with Braille meal labels that are affixed to each meal container to allow customers to distinguish between the meals,” says Sutton. customer service representatives contact the clients and walk them through the week’s worth of meals twice a week when they received the meals. Customers receive 21 meals per week (7 breakfast, lunch and dinner), on Mondays and Thursdays to total 21 meals.” How to Obtain Braille Menus: Customers ordering via the phone who inform customer service that they would like a Braille menu will receive a copy of it with their new order. For current clients, to obtain a copy of the Braille menu, please call (1-800) 442-DIET (3438). Re-register for the “Do-Not-call List: Numbers placed on the registry, begun in June 2003, are valid for five years. For the millions of people who signed onto the list in its early days, their numbers will automatically drop off beginning next June if they do not enroll again. "It is incredibly quick and easy to do," Lydia Parnes, director of the FTC's bureau of consumer protection, said in an interview with The Associated Press this week. "It was so easy for people to sign up in the first instance. It will be just as easy for them to re-up." But Rep. Mike Doyle, D-Pa., says people should not be forced to re-register to keep telemarketers at bay. Doyle introduced legislation, with bipartisan support, to make registrations permanent. "When someone takes the time and effort to say 'I don't want these kinds of calls coming into my house,' they shouldn't have to keep a calendar to find out when they have to re-up to keep this nuisance from happening," Doyle said in an interview. The FTC built the five-year expiration date into the program to account for changes, such as people who move and switch their phone number, Parnes said. Doyle, however, points out that the list is purged each month of numbers that have been disconnected and reassigned to new customers. People can register their home and cell phone numbers or file complaints at http://www.donotcall.gov or by calling 1-888-382-1222. The registry prohibits telemarketers from calling phone numbers on the list. Companies face fines of up to $11,000 for each violation. Organizations engaged in charitable, political or survey work are exempt. Companies that have an established business relationship with a customer also may call for up to 18 months after the last purchase, payment or delivery. The registry now has more than 149 million phone numbers. The FTC plans a consumer education program next spring on the re-registration process.
Braille Slate. Future Aids: The Braille Superstore has produced a full-page braille-writing slate for use with standard letter-sized paper. It lets you braille 25 lines with 28 characters per line on a sheet of 8.5x11-inch braille paper, without having to move the slate down the Page every four lines. Made of durable plastic, the slate has braille line numbers embossed down the right side and comes with a stylus. Order It For $19.95 from 800-987-1231, or visit www.futureaids.com, or send e-mail to craig@futureaids.com.
Pen That Reads To You: Wizcom offers several hand-held products that scan. Each WizCom product is shaped like a pocket-sized pen. Users scan printed text with the small optical scanner in the tip of the pen, and the device translates, defines, reads aloud, or stores the text quickly and accurately anytime and anywhere. Our products include: Special needs – The Readingpen Basic Edition and ReadingpenII. Using a well-known monolingual dictionary, these pens display words in large fonts, divide them into syllables and letters, and sound them aloud. With The Readingpen we also incorporate leading third-party technology, such as the Real Speak™ text-to-speech module by ScanSoft®. We put much thought into usability, ergonomics, and other issues of utmost importance to the user. For more information, contact: Franklin Electronics; Phone: 1-800-266-5626; Fax: (609) 239-5948 E-mail: service@franklin.com Website: www.franklin.com
Another Way To Read Your Mail: A California company offers a fairly portable scanner which connects to your computer. It costs $212 including the shipping, and is about a foot long, rounded on top, kind of resembling a foot-long florescent tube. There is a slot on the front into which you insert a single sheet of paper. The paper is scanned and exits out the back. You then use the arrow keys on your computer to read it. If you don’t have Open Book or something similar, this is a pretty economical alternative. For more information, call Connie at (916) 381-5011.
Read This: Read This To Me" is a free reading service for the blind, powered by volunteers and Internet collaboration. http://www.readthistome.org/
"Read This To Me" allows blind and low-vision people to have printed documents read to them over the phone. All the blind person needs is a phone line and a fax machine (no computer is required.) Here's how it works:
- The blind person (whom we'll call the "client") faxes the document to be read to the "ReadThisToMe" toll-free fax number: 1-877-333-8848. The first page of the fax needs to be a cover page that includes the client's first name and callback (voice) phone number. The document itself can be just about anything: a handwritten letter, a bill, a label from a can of food, a multi-page magazine article – just about anything that can be faxed.
- One of ReadThisToMe's volunteer readers will call the client back and read the document. 3. That's it! The service is available throughout the U.S. Audio information is available by dialing )1-877) 333-8847.
Feeling Good: Tattoos are an artistic expression of individuality, style, and art, and have (until now) only been appreciated by those with the gift of sight. But now, through the efforts of a student at The University of Arts Berlin, you can also make a statement that can be felt and appreciated by the blind. By having a series of small beads or a small plate embossed with text (made of stainless steel, titanium, or plastic) implanted under the skin you can have an expressive work of art that can be appreciated through both sight and touch. It's braille for your skin! Would you do it? I'm thinking with color maybe, without, it just would look like an organized group of zits.
Accessible TV Listings: Nancy Lynn posted the following to the Missouri Listserve: “Thank God for Newsline or I'd have an awful time finding tv listings. This is good too, though. Here's an accessible TV guide website, http://wireless.tvguide.com”
Go To School By Phone: Teleclass.com offers a wide variety of classes via conference phone calls; many of them are free. One class was promoting ways to rid ourselves of the “winter blahs” without medication or other such aids. If you’d like to see a listing of all the classes they offer, send a blank e-mail to classes@teleclass.com.
CD Repair: A scratchy CD that sticks or jumps has to be included among life’s aggravations. There are several CD and DVD repair devices on the market. One of them is the Skip Dr. Automax from Digital Innovations. You spray the disk with a special solution, insert it in the device, and after about a minute it ejects it much as a toaster would a slice of bread. You then wipe the disk with the included pad, and that’s all there is to it. It costs $39.95, and Computing Magazine claims that it does a good job. You can call Digital Innovations at (800) 762-7858.
“This Little Light of Mine, I’m Gonna Let It Shine”: Design Technology International Ltd has partnered with The Business Advice Team to secure funding for development of an innovative illuminated folding cane for specialist cane supplier Somerwood Limited. The folding cane is being developed for the blind and visually impaired and has an internal light source that increases the visibility of the cane in the dark. The new cane can be used as a conventional white cane during the day and an illuminated cane at night. The illuminated cane addresses a safety need for the visually impaired to be made more visible to motorists, cyclists and other road users at night. The modular construction of the cane allows a number of different lengths and product variants to be manufactured from standard components. The cane uses leading edge ultra high brightness LEDs and rechargeable Nickel Metal Hydride battery technologies to illuminate and power the cane. The cane can be switched on for a minimum 6 hours between recharges. An audible tone confirms when the stick is illuminated and an alarm warns when the batteries need recharging. Somerwood Ltd will undertake a market research programme to quantify market response before commissioning Design Technology International Ltd to finalise development of the product for launch in 2008. Should you want to follow the development of this cane, you can contact Somerwood Limited at their website: www.somerwood-walking-aids.co.uk/
Another Cane Innovation: Design Student Creates Innovative Guiding Cane For Blind By Jose Fermoso: A recent issue of Business Week tells us of an award-winning new invention by a German student, SebatianRitzler, of the Muthesius Academy of Art and Design in Kiel, Germany. He created an interactive guiding system for the blind called Mygo that comes in the form of a cool, rolling white cane. Some would go so far as to call the design 'flashy pimptastic.' The cane is supposed to be tough, height-adjustable for men and women, and waterproof. But here's the best part: It includes a system with a smart sensor and camera combo that can measure the ground area accurately in real time and pushes auditory feedback to a headset. In addition, the mini wheel at the tip of the cane has a hub motor that provides intuitive feedback through the grip, doubling as a steering engine that can last about 6 hours on a lithium-ion battery. All this would give people an excellent maneuvering system, especially during difficult weather. So this one could replace the regular old cane, but could it take the place of a guidedog? There are many reasons why not, but, perhaps foremost among them: The cane won't hug you back or lick you silly. The positive social affect of a kind service dog is likely way too important in the lives of many in the blind community. While the device has not yet gone to production, the creator is looking at an affordable option - one estimate thrown around is about 150 Euros (about $200). The IDEA site lists a super -cheap option of about 15 Euros, but for the technology this item's going to be packing, that's probably a bit unrealistic. Here's the item page from the Business Week article detailing the Mygo:
http://www.idsa.org/IDEA2007/gallery/award_details.asp?id=66&cat=12
(Source)
http://blog.wired.com/gadgets/2007/09/design-student-.html
Listen On Your Phone: Thanks to Denny Huff for posting the following to the Missouri Listserve: “A podcast is an audio file that can be listened to on your computer that normally contains news and information about a particular topic. It can be downloaded to your PC and listened to later. This service allows you to listen to the podcast on your telephone as opposed to a computer. Here is a short list of several podcasts you can listen to on your phone: ACB Radio Main Menu Podcast, +1(312) 324-7342; CNN News Update, +1 (415) 376-7253; NPR: Hourly News Summary, +1 (650) 523-6819; PotterCast: The Harry Potter Podcast, +1 (818) 688-2780; this WEEK in TECH - MP3 Edition, +1 (831) 480-3911; The Cell Phone Junkie, +1 (510) 495-6352; NewsPod, +1 (510) 248-0337; Diggnation (Mp3), +1 (408) 538-2141; Buzz Out Loud from CNET, +1 (818) 688-2714; Faith Church Weekly Word, +1 (408) 538-2182; and TalkCrunch, +1 (831) 480-3920. To find more, go to: http://www.PodLinez.com/
Free Directory Assistance: For some time Google has been a well accepted source of all sorts of information for computer users. They have now expanded into providing directory assistance over the phone. This service is usable only for locating a particular business or type of business in your city or area. If you dial (1-800) goog411 (that translates into 466-4411) you’ll be asked to name the city you want and the business or type of business you are searching for. You’ll then be presented with a number of choices, and you can choose whether or not you wish to be connected to one. This service could be quite helpful as a Yellow Pages substitute. Also, AT&T is offering a free Yellow Pages service. Just call (1-800) 935-56972. They say to call 1-800 yellow pages, but, of course, you can only get as far as the P A.
Bird Songs: You might be surprised to learn just how many blind and visually impaired bird watchers there are. Even many who are sighted have come to depend more on their ears. Here’s a chance to get a jump on spring and be ready to enjoy a lot of the birds even more because you will be able to identify them by their song. If you’re a computer user, try the natural history, education, science, technology site: www.nhest.org or I am pretty sure Wolfner Library has some recorded material. Also, if you have unlimited long-distance you could call (612) 673-9050, extentions 5050 through 5094. Forty-five different bird songs in all.
Computer by Phone: Again if you have unlimited long-distance, but don’t have a computer, you might be interested to know that you can use your telephone pad to help you listen to various websites, read e-mail, make use of Google and have access to many things you would otherwise have to have a computer to access. The service costs about $15 a month. If this sounds interesting call: (773) 572-3000, and ask about the computer by phone service.
Cookbook: The following announcement comes from the National Braille Press: “Baking Illustrated, Chapter Eight: Favorite Cookies and Brownies By the Editors of Cook's Illustrated Magazine Braille or PortaBook, $6.95. Requiring minimal time and effort and using mostly basic ingredients, baking cookies and brownies is always a favorite baking project. But with thousands of recipes circulating, how do you know which ones are the most reliable? Enter the good folks at America's Test Kitchen, who have painstakingly tested every recipe they could find in order to discover the perfect, most fool-proof recipe for, say, the best sugar cookies, peanut butter cookies, and of course, chocolate chip cookies. Included here are 33 recipes from Chapter 8 of Baking Illustrated. And if you've tried our other chapter from this book, you know that this is much more than a simple recipe list -- it's more of a baking encyclopedia. The editors at Cook's Illustrated and the cooks at America's Test Kitchen have exhaustively examined every ingredient, technique, and piece of equipment. As they say in the Test Kitchen, "We make the mistakes so you don't have to." This is a baking book that works. For a complete recipe list, visit our web site at www.nbp.org/ic/nbp/BAKE8.html To order this book, send payment to: NBP, 88 St. Stephen Street, Boston, MA 02115-4302 Or, call: toll-free (800) 548-7323 or (617) 266-6160 ext 20
Feed Your Mind and Feed The World: I don't usually get into games on the computer but I have to say I'm addicted now to this one. Check out http://www.freerice.com Here is the blurb from the website. Happy wording! “Free Rice - For Each Word You Get Right, We Donate 10 Grains of Rice through the United Nations to Help End World Hunger; about 1 word = 10 grains, 5 words = 50 grains; Play and feed hungry people. (Example: relevant means pertinent; inefficient; shocking; or wearisome? How to play: Click on the answer that best defines the word. If you get it right, you get a harder word. If wrong, you get an easier word. For each word you get right, we donate 10 grains of rice to the United Nations World Food Program. WARNING: This game may make you smarter. It may improve your speaking, writing, thinking, grades, job performance...”
A Touch of Genius: January 4 will mark the anniversary of the birth of Louis Braille. Coincidentally he also died in January, just 2 days after his 32nd birthday. I hope you will make it a point to read the article about him in this Chronicle. You’ll find it just before The Editorial Eye. Also, on January 4th give some special thanks for Louis Braille and his gift to us.
I suspect it will be close to January First before many of you have a chance to read this Chronicle, so what better way to close this issue than with a nod to the first month of the new year. I hope that 2008 will be a good year for you and yours, and that the winter will be gentle with you. See you next year in the spring.
THE MONTH AFTER CHRISTMAS
Twas the month after Christmas, and
all through the house
Nothing would fit me, not even a
blouse.
The cookies I'd nibbled, the eggnog
I'd taste.
At the holiday parties had gone to my
waist.
When I got on the scales there arose
such a number!
When I walked to the store (less a
walk than a lumber).
I'd remember the marvelous meals I'd
prepared;
The gravies and sauces and beef
nicely rared,
The wine and the rum balls. The
bread and the cheese.
And the way I had never said,
"No thank you, please."
So--away with the last of the sour
cream dip,
Get rid of the fruit cake, each cracker
and chip.
Every last bit of food that I like must
be banished
'Till all the additional ounces
have vanished.
I won't have a cookie not even a lick.
I'll want only to chew on a crisp
celery stick.
I won't have hot biscuits, or
corn bread, or pie.
I'll munch on a carrot and quietly cry.
I'm hungry, I'm lonesome, and life is a
bore--
But isn't that what January's for?
Unable to giggle, no longer a riot.
Happy New Year to all and to all a
good diet!
5453 Chippewa, St. Louis, MO 63109
Phone: 314-832-7172
Toll-free: 800-342-5632
Fax: 314-832-7796
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