MCB OFFICE NEWS

Some of the information is old news but other parts of it are still relevant.

As I begin writing this, many of our members are at the ACB Convention in Minneapolis. As far as I know, there should be at least 70 some members in attendance.

As many of you already know, Tom, Sharon and I were not able to go due to the unexpected gallbladder surgery for Sharon on June 25. Even though she was fortunate enough to have the laparoscopic procedure, the doctor said it was too soon for her to travel so far.

Thanks to all of you who called, sent cards and prayers for Sharon. She was very appreciative of your remembrances. She is doing well.

LARGEST CONTINGENCY: Since I was unable to go to the ACB Convention, I have been listening to it on ACB Radio. I heard most of the opening session on Sunday evening. That was the time when the lifetime certificates were awarded. I did hear Leroy Welch receive his lifetime Certificate. Congratulations, Leroy!

I also heard the Roll Call of Affiliates. Missouri had the largest contingency with at least 70 people. California was next with 50.

On Monday morning Lynn Trapasso won a door prize. It was two $5.00 certificates off of dinner at the Jerusalem Restaurant. Others of our members also won door prizes throughout the week.

MCB caucused on Thursday afternoon and apparently voted to use the unit rule when voting. Elections were held on Friday (the last day of the Convention). Using the unit rule means that all of Missouri’s 25 votes go for one candidate nominated for each office. Example: All 25 Missouri votes went for Mitch Pomerantz, who is the new President of ACB.

Hopefully, everyone has returned home safely by now.

KATHEY: On Tuesday, June 26, Kathey was moved from the Mid-America Rehab Center to a nursing home in Independence, Mo. The name of the nursing home is: The Groves, 1415 West White Oak, Independence, Mo 64050. Her phone number is: 816-521-4842.

Kathey had been in the Rehab Center two weeks. According to the insurance company she wasn’t progressing fast enough. She will receive both physical and occupational therapy every morning except Sunday.

CONVENTION PRE-REGISTRATION FORMS: On June 20 memos and MCB convention Pre-registration forms were sent to each of the Affiliate Presidents so they would be received in time for distribution at the July affiliate meetings.

Completed Pre-registration forms and money will be accepted in the MCB office from August 1-September 1, 2007. MCB Board members, committee chairs and their guides need to complete a pre-registration form but do not need to send any money as MCB covers those expenses. Any pre-registrations postmarked after September 1 will not be considered as a pre-registration. Monies must also accompany pre-registration form in order to be a valid pre-registration. Pre-registration is $5.00. Registration on site is $10.00. The cost of the banquet is $23.00. Cost of the hospitality meal is $2.00.

Pre-registration forms will also be available on our website later in July.

You may make your hotel reservations at any time. Be sure to state that you are coming for the MCB Convention. The room rates are $69.00 plus tax per night for 1-2 people. Additional persons in a room will be ten dollars for each.

UPDATED MEMBERSHIP LISTS AND DUES: Updated affiliate membership lists are due in the MCB office by September 1. This is in accordance with the MCB Bylaws. Dues are also due by September 1, 2007. Affiliate dues are ten dollars for each affiliate plus $2.00 for each individual member. Please, please do not use old lists. This has been a problem in the past.

Speaking of updated membership lists, please try to let the office know when a member of your affiliate dies. We recently found out that someone whom we were sending the “Chronicle” to in Springfield had moved to Texas about ten years ago and then passed away. Even stranger than that, only one issue of the “Chronicle” came back which is what caused us to pursue her whereabouts.

Member-at-large dues are also due by September 1. They are ten dollars per individual.

THE WEDDING: On June 22 I took a day’s vacation, and Tom, Sharon and I traveled to Kansas City for the wedding of Kathey and Danny’s son, Daniel. The ceremony was held on Saturday afternoon. The colors the bride chose were vivid blue and orange. I understand they were very pretty. The reception was held in a place called The Mansion House. The entire affair was lovely.

Kathey was able to attend the rehearsal dinner and wedding, though it was very difficult for her.

MIKE FESTER: Some of you may not know that Mike Fester, deputy director of the Family Support Division and Director of Rehab Services for the Blind, has taken another position beginning July 14. He will be the Executive Director and CEO of Job Point in Columbia, Mo. There’s no word yet as to who will succeed him. We do wish him well.

DIGITAL TALKING BOOKS: There have been a number of postings on the Missouri-l regarding funding for the transitioning from cassette talking books to digital talking books. Last word is that both the House and the Senate have approved $12.5 million for the National Library Service to make this change. $19.1 million had been requested. The House initially approved $7.5 million, but the Senate approved the $12.5 million and the House concurred. A Senator from the state of Louisiana said she would try to find the remaining $6.6 million somewhere and if she could, she would then introduce an amendment for the additional funding. I feel sure all of the talking book readers are very grateful for this Senator’s concern.

FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING: On June 21 the MCB Finance Committee met with representatives from U. S. Bank and A. G. Edwards to be updated on our investments. Both institutions reported that our investments are doing well.

OTHER BUILDING USE: Denny Huff used our conference room to meet with a distributor of low vision products from Freedom Scientific. UWB also used the building for a board meeting.

THRIFT STORES: On June 13 the Board held a teleconference call for the purpose of deciding what step MCB would take next regarding our problem with the thrift stores. Upon the advice of our contract attorney, the Board voted to have a full audit done by a Certified Accounting firm of what MCB should have been receiving from the thrift stores. Some funds have been received from Henderson Management; however, we are not certain it was the correct amount.

BRAILLEWRITER REPAIR: Occasionally I receive calls asking where one can get a Braillewriter repaired. There is a young man whose name is Tim Lehmann who is in Springfield, Mo. You can send a braillewriter by free matter to him and he will return it the same way. The repair costs nothing. I believe I am correct in saying that this is done in cooperation with Missouri State University in Springfield. His phone number is: 417-836-4248.

BRAILLE LITES: Some of you may recall that MCB owns two Braille Lites that were purchased four years or more ago. The maintenance agreements we have on them will expire the end of July. I have sent them in to Freedom Scientific for servicing and have renewed the maintenance contract for another year.

BLIND PENSION LAWSUIT: On July 10 I will be traveling to Jefferson City for the closing arguments by the attorneys on our blind pension lawsuit. The closing arguments will take place on Wednesday morning, July 11, at 9:30. It is not necessary that we have a large group there, but anyone is welcome who wishes to come and listen.

MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN: I received a call from a reporter for the Post Dispatch a short time ago. He was interested in doing an article with a person who is blind at the Botanical Garden. The article would let the readers know how a person who is blind can enjoy the garden.

I have recommended Patti Schonlau and she has agreed to do it. I’m only guessing that it will be sometime in early to mid-July.

WHERE DID ALL THE FLOWERS GO? This is what Tom and I am asking those pesky little squirrels at our house. We had planted three geraniums in our window box. Tom has seen a young squirrel digging in there. Now, one of the geraniums is completely gone! He also says something has been digging in our bed of impatiens in front of our building.

Till next time…