PERISCOPE
A Quarterly Newsletter sponsored by the
Mississippi Council of the Blind, Inc.
September - November 2011
Table of Contents
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
MOTION SHEET: PRE-CONVENTION BOARD MEETING - APRIL, 2011
MOTION SHEET: POST-CONVENTION BOARD MEETING - APRIL, 2011
NEWS FROM THE NORTH MISSISSIPPI CHAPTER
JACKSON CHAPTER NEWS
HAZLEHURST CHAPTER - MISSISSIPPI COUNCIL OF THE BLIND
GREETINGS FROM THE GULF COAST CHAPTER
NEWS FROM MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY'S REHABILITATION RESEARCH AND TRAINING CENTER ON BLINDNESS AND LOW VISION (MSU-RRTC)
EARLY DUES REMINDER!!
NEW DIGITAL BOOKS AVAILABLE BY DR. MICHAEL GANDY
FCC'S VIDEO DESCRIPTION RULES AND WHAT THEY MEAN TO US
THE FREEZE OF 1989
RESOURCES AND TIPS
MCB OFFICERS & BOARD MEMBERS
MCB COMMITTEES 2011-2012
Tax deductible contributions may be sent to:
MS Council of the Blind
P O Box 31112
Jackson, MS 39286
Anyone wishing to remember the MS Council of the Blind in a last will and testament may do so by including a special paragraph for that purpose. If your wishes are complex, please contact MCB for clarification.
Contributions to the James Doyle Case Memorial Scholarship fund or to the Carter Gable Memorial Technology Assistance Fund should be appropriately marked, and sent to the above address.
Phone MCB at 601-982-1718, or 888-346-5622
Visit our web page at http://www.acb.org/mcb
Editor: Alison Smitherman
1412 Wilhurst St., Jackson, MS 39211
Home Phone: 601-366-5523; Cell Phone: 601-331-8084
E-mail: amduo@bellsouth.net
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
by Michael Smitherman
Hello, MCB members! I hope everyone is enjoying a very, very hot summer. Things in MCB are moving along smoothly at this time. We hope to have our financial statement back from the CPA at our next board meeting, which will be September 17th, 2011, at 1:00 p.m., at the Addie McBryde Rehabilitation Center in Jackson, in the ground-floor conference room. Remember, all board meetings are open, so please feel free to come and join us.
Please join me in thanking Gary Austin for a job well done as President of MCB for the last four years. Thank you, Gary. Great job!
Now that things have settled down after the ACB National Convention, I have managed to complete committee appointments. I want to thank all of you who have agreed to serve on a committee. At the end of this newsletter will be a list of all the committees and their chairs and members. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Morris Ward for taking on the unenviable task of chairing a new committee this year, which is our Fund-Raising Task Force. The purpose of this committee is to find perspective fund-raising opportunities for the state organization, which hopefully will bring in substantial finances and fund-raising that we will do annually. If you have any fund-raising ideas, please feel free to contact Morris Ward and let him know. We strongly encourage the chapters to continue your fund-raising efforts. Everyone knows we lost Bingo, so now is the time to pull together to raise the monies necessary to carry out our different programs and services.
I am proud to announce that MCB is once again working with the Blind & Physically Handicapped Library Services (BPHLS) to produce and distribute our newsletter, The Periscope. While attending the ACB Convention and listening to others talk about their library services, let me tell you, we should be very proud here in Mississippi of the services that we receive from our Library. Let us thank Shellie Zeigler, our new Library Director, and her staff for the outstanding work they do with our newsletter.
For those of you who receive The Periscope on tape, we would like to ask that if you are finished reading or using these tapes, please bring them to the State Convention so that we may re-use them for future editions of The Periscope. As you know, the cost of tapes is going up like everything else, so, if we can re-use these tapes, it saves MCB money. Thank you for considering this request.
I want to thank you, MCB, for the opportunity to serve as your President and work alongside each of you to make the Mississippi Council of the Blind the best it can be. At this time, we have 250+ members, and it will take all of us playing an active role for this to occur. While other states are losing members, MCB has held its own, and I want to thank you for that. If you have concerns or questions, please don't hesitate to contact me or any member of the MCB Board, and share your thoughts with us. My contact information is:
Michael Smitherman
1412 Wilhurst Street
Jackson, MS 39211
Email: amduo@bellsouth.net
Home Phone: 601-366-5523
Cell Phone: 601-331-7740
I hope to see you at the September board meeting!
MOTION SHEET: PRE-CONVENTION BOARD MEETING - APRIL, 2011
Submitted by Ralph Smitherman
1. A motion was made to accept the minutes as distributed with the correction that MCB would not pay Board transportation to the state convention; the motion was seconded and passed.
2. A motion was made to sell the I-Pal-Solo and the KNFB Reader at the auction; the motion was seconded and approved.
3. A motion was made to use Ralph Smitherman’s storage space-$300 per year-; it was seconded and approved.
4. A motion was made to hold the post-convention board meeting immediately after the banquet; the motion was seconded and approved.
MOTION SHEET: POST-CONVENTION BOARD MEETING - APRIL, 2011
Submitted by Ralph Smitherman
1. A motion was made to have the next board meeting on June 11, in Jackson; it was seconded and approved.
2. A motion was made to give Dr. Michael Gandy a plaque of appreciation for all he has done for MCB; it was seconded and approved.
3. A motion was made to adjourn; it was seconded and approved.
NEWS FROM THE NORTH MISSISSIPPI CHAPTER
Greetings to our fellow Council members and friends from the North Mississippi Chapter of the MS Council of the Blind. We certainly hope that you all had a wonderful summer this season and enjoyed many summer activities.
Great news! We have once again started our cheese sale fund raiser which will be sold throughout the fall season. In addition to this fund raiser, we recently had a penny drive fund raiser and will continue to do so throughout the next few months. Also, MCBNM members continue to collect canned goods for our quarterly canned food drive that we donate to the needy whether it is to a food pantry, a church, etc.
During the month of September, we are planning a potluck luncheon where we all will be able to sit down, eat heartily, and fellowship with one another, and maybe even play a few games. Oh yeah, we plan to sit down to a bountiful Thanksgiving luncheon during the month of November to celebrate the holiday and give many thanks.
We hope you all enjoy the upcoming fall season and the Thanksgiving holiday. Until next time, much Love to You All!
Sara M. Rogers
MCBNM
JACKSON CHAPTER NEWS
by Michael Smitherman
Greetings from the Capitol City!
The Jackson Chapter just completed two excellent fundraisers. The first fundraiser was a night with the Mississippi Braves on August 18th, which turned out to be very successful financially, as well as a fun outing for all who were able to attend. Our Pancake Breakfast at Applebee's on August 27th made a profit, but more importantly, we came together and worked as a team to make this project successful. As President of the Jackson Chapter, I want to thank all those who participated in these two projects. We want to encourage the next Chapter Board to make these fundraisers annual events.
The Jackson Chapter now has Braille/large print calendars for sale. These beautiful calendars sell for $15.00 apiece. If you are interested in purchasing one, please contact Melvin Smitherman at 601-856-6806 or you can e-mail him at melmara@bellsouth.net.
The Jackson Chapter continues to produce our bi-monthly newsletter called The Visual-Eyes. This newsletter serves as a great tool for keeping our members informed of Chapter events and other information that is pertinent to the blindness community. Ralph Smitherman does a great job as editor.
Thank you, Jackson Chapter members, for your participation in our ongoing projects and social activities!
HAZLEHURST CHAPTER - MISSISSIPPI COUNCIL OF THE BLIND
Greetings from Hazlehurst!
The chapter is growing and current rolls reflect 67 paid members. Our normal place of meeting, Hazlehurst steak and fish house, had a fire, and we have been experimenting with other local restaurants to hold our monthly meeting. The restaurants have been very accommodating, and we should have a new home picked out soon.
We are conducting a couple of fundraisers at this time, a shotgun raffle to be drawn in November 2011 in time for the hunting season, and a 50-50 split. The Hazlehurst Railroad Days and Wesson Flea Market are the two largest events in the county and our best opportunity at fundraising.
No updates on the Copiah Library finding a replacement for the sight impaired program.
No new updates on the sidewalk project; last news was the City of Hazlehurst was fully involved in the project.
Until next time,
Lorne Smith
GREETINGS FROM THE GULF COAST CHAPTER
By Jan Erickson
The Gulf Coast Chapter has been quite busy this year. Over the course of the next few months, Mike Mason, President, will be working with Morris Ward to come up with ideas for fundraisers that would be very beneficial. Mike Mason has made a radio commercial to support Richard Marshall, who is running for District 119 in Gulfport. In the commercial, he talks about MS Council of the Blind, and Mr. Marshall backs him by talking about what the schools need to benefit blind children. We are in the process of trying to help a blinded veteran from Biloxi, MS. Until next time, be safe, and God Bless each and every one of you!
NEWS FROM MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY'S REHABILITATION RESEARCH AND TRAINING CENTER ON BLINDNESS AND LOW VISION (MSU-RRTC)
MSU-RRTC researchers are actively recruiting college students and professionals for “An Employment Mentoring Intervention,” one of six research projects under our current National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) RRTC on Employment Outcomes for Individuals who are Blind or Visually Impaired. Nationwide recruitment of college students who are legally blind with mentors who are employed in similar professions and who are also legally blind is underway now and will continue through July, 2012. To volunteer for participation in this project, please complete an online eligibility survey for students at http://tiny.cc/mentor-students or for professionals at http://tiny.cc/mentor-professionals. For more information about this project, visit our website at http://www.blind.msstate.edu/research/projects/project.php?id=2, or contact Jamie O’Mally by email at rrtc2@colled.msstate.edu or by phone at 662-325-2001.
The Vision Specialist in Vocational Rehabilitation Certificate program offered by MSU-RRTC is currently accepting applicants. A limited number of stipends are available for students enrolled in this program, which provides specialized training for rehabilitation professionals to allow them to better serve the needs of consumers who are blind or visually impaired. For more information, visit http://www.blind.msstate.edu/training/visionspecialist/ or contact MSU-RRTC training coordinator, B. J. LeJeune, at bjlejeune@colled.msstate.edu or 662-325-2694. The application deadline for the 2012 Vision Specialist program is October 1, 2011.
EARLY DUES REMINDER!!
It is not too early to start thinking about paying your MCB membership dues for next year. Beginning October 1, we will start accepting dues for 2012. The deadline for paying dues is February 15, 2012. So, start saving your pennies and plan to pay your dues early so you'll have one less item to take care of before the holidays.
NEW DIGITAL BOOKS AVAILABLE BY DR. MICHAEL GANDY
If you enjoy reading great mysteries and short stories, now you have a wonderful opportunity to read two new books written by a fantastic Mississippi author who is no stranger to many of us in the blindness community, Dr. Michael J. Gandy.
Two of Dr. Gandy's books are now available in digital format for your listening pleasure. These books are: Murder in Olivet and Tatters and Other Tales. You can order these books in one of two ways:
1. You can purchase a book by mailing your payment to:
Friends of Handicapped Readers
3881 Eastwood Dr.
Jackson MS 39211
ATTN: Shellie Zeigler
Please make checks pay to the order of F O H R. Each book costs fifteen dollars.
2. You can order these books from the Blind & Physically Handicapped Services as you would any digital book from the Library. The books are listed as follows:
Murder In Olivet: DBX 1301
Tatters and Other Tales: DBX 1302
One thing that makes the recorded version of these books unique is that they are narrated by Dr. Gandy himself, who does an outstanding job and really makes the characters come alive with the different voice inflections that he uses. You are going to really enjoy listening to these books!
Happy reading!
FCC'S VIDEO DESCRIPTION RULES AND WHAT THEY MEAN TO US
by Eric Bridges, ACB Director of Governmental Affairs
While we didn't get everything we had advocated for in these rules, I am very happy to announce that video described content will be required in 2012!
Below is a good summary of the critical components in the rule. WGBH contributed greatly to the development of this document.
ACB's members and affiliates have worked tirelessly over the past several years to insure that video description would once again be required. We are now less than a year away from having meaningful access to some of our favorite television programming!
ACB should be very proud of the leadership roll it has played through the legislative and regulatory process to make this a reality.
FCC's Final Video Description Rules - Basic Summary (technical and other details available in full R&O at fcc.gov)
Commercial network affiliates of ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC in top 25 markets must provide 50 hours of described prime-time or children's programming per quarter, starting with the quarter beginning July 1, 2012; expands to top 60 markets in July 2015.
Cable nets subject to same rules - top 5: USA, the Disney Channel, TNT, Nickelodeon, and TBS; via their carriers: cable and satellite systems that serve 50,000 or more subscribers (officially "multichannel video programming distributors" - MVPDs - which includes Verizon's FiOS-TV and AT&T's U-verse). Determination of top 5 based on Nielsen ratings; will be updated at three-year intervals.
All broadcast stations associated with any television network must pass through video description when the network provides it, if the broadcast station has the necessary technical capability.
All MVPDs of any size must pass through video description of any broadcast station or non-broadcast network.
Described programs can be counted twice toward 50-hour requirement - that is, one original airing and one repeat. Second airing can be in next quarter from original airing.
Exemptions can be petitioned-for and granted by FCC upon a finding that the requirements would be economically burdensome ("imposing significant difficulty or expense"), based on costs, resources, operations of provider. Public notice and comment period required. Program considered exempt until FCC decision issued.
Complaint procedures detailed in R&O; no private right of action allowed (consumers cannot sue responsible parties for compliance). Penalties for violation of rules can be assessed by FCC, including additional description requirements.
THE FREEZE OF 1989
The party was planned Saturday, the night before Christmas Eve,
Not knowing the complications of the oncoming freeze.
The fellowship was great and the food was out of sight,
But soon it came time to bid all a good night.
I know the party must have been a success,
As I turned around quickly to clean up the mess.
I looked over the kitchen and began to think,
How could I do all this in that one little sink.
I turned on the water to find only a trinkle,
Just enough to remind me that I had to tinkle.
So I ran to the bathroom in quite a rush,
To find there was no water not even to flush.
I said, Lord, what do I do, I knew I had been had,
I knew the situation was beginning to get bad.
I stood in despair trying not to curse,
Because I knew even then things could get worse.
Thoughts ran through my mind like a tiny little mouse,
But all I could think of was a little out house.
I think things happen just to make us see,
How wonderful all the modern things can be.
We run in a circle and never stop to think,
How simple but precious is the water we drink.
Finally we were blessed with a little water one day,
But with much regret I had to flush it away.
I didn't have water to fill my coffee mug,
So I rushed to the fire station with a two gallon jug.
They furnished clean water for all of us to drink,
But they were not worried about the five gallon tank.
I decided then that I must pray for rain,
If only to catch enough water just to flush again.
The dishes didn't bother me because I can't see,
But I knew I had to keep that bathroom free.
Have you ever tried to bathe your front and your back,
With one tiny little wipe that comes in a pack?
It's been three days now and there's no water in sight,
And I pray that it will come back to us tonight.
Because my toes need to soak and my hair needs a shine,
And so does the rest of this body of mine.
I'm not going to worry, I know I'll get through,
As long as I can flush no matter what I do.
Listen for a moment, what's that I hear?
Could it be the sound of water trinkling so near?
I sprang from my chair to go check it out,
To find there was water dripping from the spout.
I quickly reached down to place the plug in,
Maybe I could catch enough water to flush once again.
There is a lot to be said about the old days,
And in time how modern day goes.
But if you can remember back in those days,
It wasn't the water that froze.
I don't know what tomorrow will bring,
But I'll remember this holiday for a time.
It began the night before Christmas,
The Freeze of 1989.
Written by Fannie Benson, December 26, 1989
I am thankful that there can still be humor in times of stress.
RESOURCES AND TIPS
Report a rip-off
www.FTCcomplaintassistance.gov
877-FTC-HELP
National Do Not Call Registry
www.DoNotCall.gov
888-382-1222
Learn more about credit, loans, and mortgages
www.ftc.gov/credit
Get a free copy of your credit report
www.annualcreditreport.com
877-322-8228
Report ID Theft
www.ftc.gov/idtheft
877-ID-THEFT
Online Safety
www.OnGuardOnline.gov
Report Telephone Fraud
www.ftc.gov/phonefraud
Find information on saving energy
www.ftc.gov/energysavings
General Consumer Tips
www.ftc.gov/consumer
MCB OFFICERS & BOARD MEMBERS
06/01/2011 - 05/31/2012
President: Michael Smitherman
First Term - 2011/2013
Jackson / Blind
601-366-5523
amduo@bellsouth.net
Vice President: Terry Shelton
Second Term - 2011/2013
Tupelo / Blind
662-842-5408
t.e.shelton@comcast.net
Corresponding Secretary: Sara Rogers
First Term - 2011/2013
Tupelo / Blind
662-620-9976
sarargrs@comcast.net
Recording Secretary: Ralph Smitherman
First Term - 2011/2013
Jackson / Blind
601-825-8076
redbird26@bellsouth.net
Treasurer: Gary Austin
First Term - 2011/2013
Jackson /Blind
662-887-5398
austingl@bellsouth.net
At Large Board Members
Three-Year: Tammy Cantrell
Second Term - 2011/2014
Tupelo / Blind
662-620-7677
t.l.cantrell@comcast.net
Three-Year: Janice Gable
First Term - 2011/2014
Jackson / Blind
601-956-3290
jkgable@bellsouth.net
Two-Year: Peggy Maddox
First Term - 2010/2013
Jackson / Sighted
601-981-1376
peggy2231@comcast.net
Two-Year: Lorne Smith
First Term - 2010/2013
Hazlehurst / Sighted
601-643-5816
lorne.smith@lc-ind.com
One-Year: Ella Reed
First Term - 2009/2012
Hazlehurst / Blind
601-894-5834
One-Year: Ruthie Skeen
Second Term / 2009/2012
Pine Belt / Sighted
662-563-9231
Chapter Representatives
Gulf Coast
Pine Belt
Jackson
Hazlehurst
Tupelo
Chapter representatives are subject to change at each board meeting.
MCB COMMITTEES
2011-2012
Finance
Chair:Terry Shelton: 662-842-5408
Gary Austin
Eddie Turner
Fund-Raising
Co-Chair:Lorne Smith: 601-643-5816
Co-Chair:Kenny Maddox: 601-937-0025
Gary Austin
Wayne Moore
Mike Mason
Membership
Chair:Gary Austin: 662-347-9998
Sarah Rogers
Tupelo Chapter President
Jackson Chapter President
Hazlehurst Chapter President
Pine Belt Chapter President
Gulf Coast Chapter President
Service to Individuals
Chair:Ruthie Skeen: 662-563-9231
Shirley Meadows
Margaret Smitherman
Scholarships
Chair:Tammy Cantrell: 662-620-7677
Ann Maddox
Stacy Blackwell
Awards
Chair:Janice Gable: 601-956-3290
Joyce Granger
Kathy Brewer
Service Projects
Chair:Peggy Maddox: 601-981-1376
Janet Erickson
Roy Granger
Technology
Chair:Terry Shelton: 662-842-5408
Jan Hawthorne
Mike Duke
Legislative
Chair:Bonnie Thompson: 601-956-7906
Peggy Maddox
Billy Mayfield
Periscope
Editor:Alison Smitherman: 601-366-5523
Mike Duke: Braille
Melvin Smitherman: Recording
Margaret Smitherman: Distribution
Sara Rogers: Mailing List
Convention
Chair:Michael Smitherman: 601-366-5523
Hotel:Gary Austin
Registration:Gary Austin
Program:Pshon Barrett
Exhibits:Tammy Cantrell
Auction:Kenny Maddox
Door Prizes:Ralph Smitherman
Prg. Print:Alison Smitherman
Coalition Rep.:Ralph Smitherman: 601-825-8076
Library Rep.:Alison Smitherman: 601-366-5523
Fund-Raising Task Force
Chair: Morris Ward: 601-591-2846
Terry Shelton
Michael Mason
Kenny Maddox
Lorne Smith
REMINDER FROM THE EDITOR: If you would like to submit an article for the December 2011 - February 2012 edition of The Periscope, please send your article(s) to me by no later than Monday, November, 21, 2011. Thank you!