American
Council
of the
Blind
of
Minnesota
January 2004
A QUARTERLY PUBLICATION OF THE AMERICAN COUNCIL OF THE BLIND OF MINNESOTA
P O BOX 7341
MINNEAPOLIS MN 55407
The articles and comments stated in this newsletter are not necessarily the position of the American Council of the Blind of Minnesota, but rather are the position and opinion of the article's author.
Bert Morlock, Editor
4815 28th Ave. South, #217
Minneapolis, MN. 55417
Phone: (612) 721-9970
E-Mail: albertmorlock@mn.rr.com
Bob Lockwood, Co-editor
3625 Cardinal Road
Minnetonka, MN 55345
Phone: (952) 932-7269
E-Mail: Peggy_Bob@email.msn.com
Philip Kragnes, Webmaster
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
Live A Life That Matters
Ken Blind advocate's past inspires his future
Quarterly meeting on January 24, 2004 at new location
Copy of press release from American Foundation for the Blind Librarian of Congress ruling is victory for people who are blind or visually impaired
In Memory. A Longtime member Passes Michael L. O'Day
FCC#portability
ACB-M Board of Directors
I started my term as President of ACBM with the re-emphasis on the original motto of our founding fathers, "Looking towards the future while recognizing the lessons of the past." Is it just my imagination playing havoc on my brain or does time seem to move faster and faster each day? Sometimes, actually I should say most of the time, I am left at the end of the day with a reoccurring thought and question, "Where did the day go? There are just not enough hours in a day anymore!"
No matter how fast things seem to be going in our lives today, there is one principle that I was recently "introduced" to, which has become my mantra these days. The principle is one of many that stick with me from a list of guiding statements from something called "The Principles of Attitudinal Healing."
The principle I repeat to myself, and yes even out loud sometimes, used to keep me from totally loosing my grip is, "I choose to direct myself to be peaceful inside regardless of what is happening outside."
Being a student of the Principles of Attitudinal Healing is like being an athlete preparing for an event. In order to achieve maximum results one must practice and practice. This keeps me repeating the phrase many times during a course of the day, and like anything one practices many times, over and over hoping to get better, I hope this phrase continues to help me grow to be a better person.
As the principle begins to work, the reward is that I can see and feel a world inside me that is centered, peaceful and grateful, despite all the uncertainty and the fast pace action of things all around me. I can find a link to greater resiliency from worry by not letting my insides mirror the outside, and gain true peace of mind and inner security, regardless of what is going on all around me.
While each person experiences the sense of peace and inner security differently, there is also an unmistakable feel that is common to all of us. It is the feeling of profound trust, strength and security, which serves to enhance each of our lives. When you become more calm, despite what is happening all around, and if you let yourself be open to it, you can start to see, and feel, some of those qualities in people all around you. But perhaps even more importantly, if you let yourself be open to keeping yourself peaceful inside, no matter what is happening all around you, the magic that results is a gigantic leap towards a better quality of life for oneself.
Perhaps not too surprisingly, an organization, like ACBM, has many of the same qualities, as do individuals. If an organization is not careful, it can get caught up in the madness and frantic pace of things happening all around it, ultimately affecting the health of that organization.
You elect the officers and directors of ACBM not merely to just bestow titles upon us, but you elected us to work as a group to ensure the overall health, safety and security of the founding principles of ACBM. Just as important however, you elected us to ensure, enhance and improve the quality of all our lives as people living with visual impairments. This work doesn't happen by sitting back and letting things just happen. It takes vision, planning, determination and physical endurance.
The way I see it, the health of ACBM, as an organization, has not been optimal for some time.
For a while now, ACBM has merely paddled forward, popping its head above water, catching a big breath of air every so often, just keeping itself from falling into ill health. But, beginning this summer, with the tragic and unfortunate drowning of a little blind 7 year old child, ACBM was forced to stand up and stand tall to speak out boldly and truthfully, to answer questions not being answered to the satisfaction of the public and the media searching for answers.
Breanna Joy Nelson, here from Michigan to attend summer camp at Blind, Inc., operated by NFB of Minnesota, had reportedly been on a day outing to swim at Lake Calhoun. With 8 blind children being supervised by 3 blind counselors, on a very hot and humid typical Minnesota summer day, Nearing the end of their outing, Breanna reportedly asked one of the counselors if she could go to shore as she was tired and wanted to rest. That was the last communication and contact anyone had with her before Breanna was found sometime later.
ACBM was thrust to its feet and called to answer questions of the print, television and radio media, culminating with a live interview on CNN. And although ACBM was accused of seeking media exposure and the usual comments were made about and towards ACBM as, ""taking advantage of the situation to push our outdated and old philosophy on blindness." nothing could be farther from the truth.
ACBM was eagerly and tenaciously sought after by every media source for statements day after day following the incident. This merely gave ACBM a chance to share our thoughts, principles and our beliefs. Because of the tremendous and tumultuous positive feedback we received from the public and the extended interviews asked for by the media sources long after the drowning, ACBM has no longer been relegated to a "second class organization." ACBM was forced to stand tall and proud and willingly shared its beliefs and principles with the result being like that of an organization with new and revitalized energy. Perhaps because we were called upon to verbalize and profess just exactly what and why ACBM "is," in its most basic and fundamental form. Or, perhaps because of the deliberate attention to remain focused on a life that had been lost, instead of accepting the same predictable rhetoric about philosophy and not being held accountable for a life that was lost. , Whatever the reason, the fact remains that ACBM emerged from a bit of a slumber mode and took the lead, alive and renewed with palpable purpose. Now placed back on the road to strong and vibrant health as an organization that is healthier and alive with purpose once again
Next, following the incredible success of the 2003 State Convention held at the Doubletree Park Place Hotel in Minneapolis in October 2003, ACBM has leaped completely out of the water and has been firmly rooted solid on dry land ever since. With attendance at the convention reaching an all time high, participants came away with renewed vigor and excitement and left wanting more.
The launch of our new telephone news and hotline information system called, ACBM Info Express," in October 2003, has been another innovative program designed by the Board of Directors, at membership request, to fill a major communication gap. With news and information changing so fast these days, and realizing not all our members have access to computers and the Internet, "ACBM Info Express" began. "ACBM Info Express" is reached by calling (651) 642-5003 from any touch-tone telephone. By using a menu system and voice mailboxes, callers can select to listen to a weekly updated Community Calendar of Events, and can hear a weekly audio column by yours truly called, "As I see it." Callers can also get the latest ACBM membership news and can access contact information for addresses and important numbers as well. The system can grow as our needs change, is easy to use and already gets hundreds of calls on a weekly and monthly basis, and our numbers of callers continue to grow each month! ACBM Info Express receives calls from interested people in the farthest rural areas and in conversations I have had with some of them they all say they are grateful to be able to feel "connected" to ACBM once again. I had no idea there were people in these far away places who even wanted to feel connected with us until now!
For years ACBM has used Champions Restaurant and Bar for its quarterly membership meetings. It has been a tight squeeze for some time now and the service has always been influenced by the lack of room to move about safely. We simply have outgrown that space. I am proud to let you all know we now have a new meeting place which is easy to get to, is much, much larger and has plenty of space for us to grow into! It is Old Chicago Pasta and Pizza Bar and Pub, in downtown Minneapolis! The address is 508 First Avenue North and is just across the street from the Westside entrance of the new Block E Entertainment Complex. It is just about 200 feet south from the corner of Fifth Street and First Avenue where the landmark Loon Sports Café and Bar is located. We have expanded the options for lunch and have been able to keep the price the same while adding garlic bread and a soft drink to each order! . I just know you'll love the food just as much as our new meeting location!
There are many signs that point to a healthy organization, and one of these is a growing membership. Based on this factor alone, ACBM has never been so healthy! In the last 5 months, ACBM has welcomed fifteen new members into its ranks as "first time ACBM members." The continued growth of any organization is always a very good indicator of a vibrant and strong healthy organization and vital to its future. But people don't freely join organizations unless there is something to receive back from the organization in trade.
Building on this principle and taking advantage of our membership growth momentum, your Board of Directors have been busy heading up various committees and Task forces and will be leaping into the new year by launching a number of new exciting and innovative programs designed to "give back" to its members.
One of the new programs is called, "Club ACBM," and will be offered on the second Friday of each month. Club ACBM will be held in different locations around town but will be easy to get to by walking, bus or Metro Mobility. These will be mostly social events but will include an educational focus by featuring guest speakers from within the community who will offer presentations on a variety of interesting subjects." Club ACBM" will also feature light refreshments, be a great place for old friends to get reacquainted and offer opportunities to make new friends. "Club ACBM" events will be free to members of ACBM and will be open to the community for a very low, nominal donation. There will be no "Club ACBM" during the Quarterly Membership meeting months of January, April, July or October. Club ACBM is partially designed to help build the visibility of ACBM within the community as well as addressing the educational aspect of our organization.
Another new program event for ACBM members and friends is called, "The Mostly Monthly Outings." These events will be "mostly" monthly and the location will change each time offering members an opportunity to sample the many wonderful and varied eating establishments or theatrical events in our great City. These events will be "Dutch treat", meaning everyone will pay for their own way, but we will sit together as a group sharing in the great companionship of each other. Again, this program focuses on mostly social aspects but also gives our organization a greater visibility within the community with which we belong.
There is also a program currently being developed right now, which will be both a service to you as members, but will also be of benefit to all blind and visually impaired restaurant-goers in the Twin Cities as well as to the restaurants themselves. This program, without giving out too many of the finer details, will work to get more Braille menus produced and placed in service to some of our most frequented restaurants throughout the city! The program will be called, "Bump Appitete," which is a play on the words Bon Appitete." Be sure to listen to "ACBM Info Express (651) 642-5003" to get the latest news as the program details are developed.
There are more programs ready to be launched but you will have to wait for the January 24th Quarterly Membership Meeting to hear about them.
Let's leap into action in the Leap Year together with trust and faith in each other and ourselves. All it takes is a willingness to take part in these opportunities to expand and improve your own awareness. . Time is moving faster and there is no time like the present for joining in for fun, friendship, laughing and learning together.
Your Officers and Directors guarantee you their integrity, their dedication and their continued passion in every program, service and offering... Now, all you need to do is take the challenge and opportunities as they present themselves throughout the New Year. May we all gain the strength to be able to step out of those places of safety and comfort to be able to take those risks and actively participate in activities that might be new to us? And, just perhaps, by taking those risks, may we be lucky enough to find a new aspect of our self. Aspects that are even happier, healthier and much, much more alive than ever! Here's to a calm and Happy New Year!
Live A Life That Matters
Author Unknown
Ready or not, some day it will all come to an end. There will be no more sunrises, no minutes, hours or days. All the things you collected, whether treasured or forgotten, will pass to someone else. Your wealth, fame and temporal power will shrivel to irrelevance. It will not matter what you owned or what you were owed. Your grudges, resentments, frustrations, and jealousies will finally disappear. So, too, your hopes, ambitions, plans, and to-do lists will expire. The wins and losses that once seemed so important will fade away. It won't matter where you came from, or on what side of the tracks you lived, at the end. It won't matter whether you were beautiful or brilliant. Even your gender and skin color will be irrelevant. So what will matter? How will the value of your days be measured? What will matter is not what you bought, but what you built; not what you got, but what you gave. What will matter is not your success, but your significance. What will matter is not what you learned, but what you taught. What will matter is every act of integrity, compassion, courage or sacrifice that enriched, empowered or encouraged others to emulate your example. What will matter is not your competence, but your character. What will matter is not how many people you knew, but how many will feel a lasting loss when you're gone. What will matter is not your memories, but the memories that live in those who loved you. What will matter is how long you will be remembered, by whom and for what. Living a life that matters doesn't happen by accident. It's not a matter of circumstance but of choice. Choose to live a life that matters.
Ken Blind advocate's past inspires his future
by Joe Sorenson
Reprinted from the Minnesota spokesman recorder. www.spokesman-recorder.com
Media Highlights (column)
First of a two-part story
Ken Rodgers (KR), president of the American Council of the Blind in Minnesota.
The American Council of the Blind of Minnesota, also called ACB-M, is an advocacy organization, that consists of blind people. Many of you remember that a couple of months ago we talked about blind people and DVS, which stands for descriptive video service. Ken gives his views on this subject in this week's column — and much more.
MSR: Now, as I understand it, you were not always blind. Is that correct?
KR: That's right — I had always been a sighted person until 1996, when I first started having difficulty with my vision. I woke up one morning absolutely fine. Then sometime, in the late morning after 10 am.it was like someone pulled a shade about halfway down on one of my eyes. I could see everything below where the shade was pulled, but I could see nothing above it.
Of course, it freaked me out! I did not know what was going on. I called the doctor on the phone, and he said "Come in right away." He looked in my eye for a long time; then he left, and didn't say anything.
He came back a few minutes later, and [sent me to a specialist]. So within the half hour I was in the specialist's office. After a pause, he finally said, you know, you've got to have surgery — you have a detached retina, a partial detached retina. And it's got to be very quick!
Within two or three more hours, I was in surgery. When I woke up from the surgical procedure, the nurse was there. She said, "Well, you've got good news and bad news — what do you want to hear first?" "Well, I said, the good news."
She said, "Well, you will be able to see, he repaired your retina. The bad news is that the reason you have a detached retina is you have a disease in your eye; it's a viral infection. It's called progressive outer retinal ecrosis."
That was in the summer of 1996. Then, slowly, the infection spread to the other eye. It took about a year for all of it to go away.
MSR: You are a licensed nurse?
KR: I am a registered nurse, and I had been working at Abbot Northwestern Hospital as a cardiac nurse. I love nursing. Actually my first career was a teacher; I taught junior high, in math and science.
There is much more to the story of Ken Rodgers.
Rodgers took adjustment training to learn the skills of being a blind person at Vision Loss Resource Center (VLR), located at 1936 Lyndale Avenue South in Minneapolis. Many people remember that at one time it was called the Minneapolis Society for the Blind.
When he was a student at VLR, Rodgers heard about the American Council of the Blind.
MSR: Now you are president of American Council of the Blind of Minnesota. All in a rapid time period!
KR: Yes, it has been a rapid rise. I am one who speaks out. When I see something that can be better, I jump in and roll up my sleeves and get busy.
For information about ACB-M you can write to ACB-M, Post Office Box 7341, Minneapolis Minnesota, 55407, visit www.acb.org/minnesota/, or call 612-825-0248.
Joe Sorenson welcomes reader responses to jsorenson3@mn.rr.com or 612-339-0022.
This edition concludes my interview with Ken Rodgers (KR), president of the American council of the Blind of Minnesota (see part one in October 2-9 issue).
MSR: How did you first hear about the Am erican Council of the Blind? What drew you to it?
KR: Well, I first heard about it when I was a client at Vision Loss Resources (VLR). There were other people going through adjustment to blindness training at the same time. There were some people that were going to these meetings. Every once in a while they would come back share what they did; that's how I first heard about it from other members — word of mouth.
MSR: What is your opinion of Descriptive Video Service (DVS)?
KR: Well, I have always been a theater goer as a sighted person. I love going to the theater. I thought that it was over when I became blind; I thought I would never be able to go to the theater again. When I was going through my adjustment blindness training, I learned that people go to the theater all the time — blind people. I learned there was this thing called audio description, where a blind person would go to the theater and be given a radio to listen to somebody who would be describing all of the action that happens — all of the visual elements of the play. They would fill in all of the details I wouldn't be able to see with my eyes.
When I went to my first play as a blind person and I put that radio in my ear, I could actually enjoy the play, almost as if I could see everything happening right in front of me. I thought it was the best thing that was ever invented. So, I learned all I could about it; it fascinated me! Where did this come from? Who else was doing it? I quickly learned that there were many people in the Twin Cities that were audio describers. I found out through my research that this descriptive video technology was being created for movie theaters, so that when people go to the movies, there would be an audio describer voice that you would be able to hear. I followed it through to the WGBH 89.7 Boston radio station. This is an organization that is prominent and well-known for their DVS work. They do a lot of educational and creative things. One of their main aside organizations is the Access Media Group, which developed descriptive video technology for the movie theaters. I wanted to write letters to movie theaters so that they would get this system in the Twin Cities.
The woman at WGBH who is in charge, Mary Watkins, she put me with another person who is also very interested in getting this going, so we started a letter-writing campaign. We wrote to anybody and everybody we could think of that might help get this started. It was about the same time the Block E development was under consideration. We put it all together and joined a whole bunch of other people to push for getting this installed. Once we found out there was going to be a movie theater coming into the Block E in downtown Minneapolis, we thought, that is a perfect time to put in a system like this, when they are developing and constructing a theater. So we started writing letters and getting other people involved. Then it took off, and took a life of its own. Now we have a movie theater in downtown Minneapolis that has this Descriptive Video Technology. It's wonderful — it's the best thing. If you would like more information about DVS, visit www.wgbh.org/dvs.
Joe Sorenson welcomes reader responses to jsorenson3@mn.rr.com or 612-339-0022.
Version: 6.0.537 / 2 - Release Date: 11/6/2003
Quarterly meeting on January 24, 2004 at new location.
Location: Old Chicago Pasta and Pizza Bar and Pub Downtown Minneapolis 508 First Avenue North Minneapolis, MN 55401 Entrance is just south of the corner of 5th Street, on First Avenue North. It is also on the West side of the street, across from the west entrance of Block E.
Menu Options - Select one@ $10.00:
Directions: First Avenue North is the same street the Target Center is located on. Old Chicago Pasta and Pizza Bar and Pub is between 5th and 6th Streets (closest to 5th Street), directly on First Avenue North. The entrance door to Old Chicago is on your right side as you travel South on First Avenue from the Southwestern corner of 5th Street and First Avenue North. The famous Loon Sports Bar and Cafe is directly on the Southwestern corner of 5th Street and First Avenue North and has a diagonal entrance on the corner. Old Chicago is the first entrance past the Loon heading south towards 6th Street. There are 6 cement steps up to the door entrance on First Avenue. There will be volunteers in front of Old Chicago on Saturday January 24th to help guide you to the meeting room, which is directly downstairs from the main dining room. There is a stairway and an elevator for easy access to the meeting area.
If anyone has a problem with the location or menu selections please refer them to me. Also, please encourage members to consider bringing a friend with them to the Quarterly meeting! This meeting will be a great way to introduce people to just exactly and what ACBM is all about and will highlight our special guests: State Representative Torrey Westrum — who will be receiving an award from the State Convention Planning Committee, and, Chuk Hamilton — the new Director of State Services for the Blind, who will be outlining his major goals and sharing where he would like SSB to be heading in the coming years. Plus, ACBM will be unveiling some new great programs and services which will begin soon and will be a great way for current members to show their non member friends what ACBM is all about!
Reminder to members: 2004 Membership dues of $10 are due and can be paid at the meeting. And, there will be a fifty/fifty drawing at this quarterly meeting too!
American Foundation for the Blind celebrates improved access to eBooks
November 4, 2003 (Washington)—The Librarian of Congress issued a ruling last week supporting the right of people who are blind or visually impaired to gain full access to electronic books (eBooks). The ruling provides an exemption to the 1998 Digital Millennium Copyright Act DMCA), making it legal to circumvent any encrypted or protected features that render the text inaccessible for the specialized computer technologies used by people who are blind or visually impaired to read electronic text.
"This ruling upholds the fundamental right to read for all people," said Carl Augusto, President of the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB). "The emerging electronic book technologies have the potential to make published information more accessible and usable to people who are blind or visually impaired. By removing barriers to utilizing eBooks, the Library ensured all people can continue to enjoy the benefits of progress."
This ruling is the result of a concerted advocacy effort by AFB to bring this issue to the attention of the Librarian of Congress. AFB originally requested the exemption in December 2002, and later provided testimony and evidence to show that approximately 50 percent of currently published eBooks are inaccessible for people who are blind and visually impaired.
"This is a major victory, but there is more work to do," continued Augusto. "AFB will continue to work with Congress, the Librarian and publishers to ensure future titles are fully accessible for people who are blind or visually impaired."
DMCA, which became U.S. law in 1998, makes it a felony to develop or use technology to get around security provisions of various classes of intellectual property including software, ebooks, DVD movies and audio, among others.
The Librarians ruling provides an exemption for: "Literary works distributed in eBook format when all existing eBook editions of the work (including digital text editions made available by authorized entities) contain access controls that prevent the enabling of the eBook's read-aloud function and the enabling of screen readers to render the text into a specialized format."
Additional information about the DMCA and on this ruling, including copies of all testimony, can be found on line at, www.copyright.gov/1201/. Press Release Published: November 2003 For additional information, please Contact: Carrie Fernandez, AFB Communications, 212-502-7674 or cfernandez@afb.net or use traditional mail services.
In Memory. A Longtime member Passes Michael L. O'Day
Michael L. O'Day, age 70, of Richfield, Minnesota, died Friday August 22, 2003, after a long illness. Michael is survived by wife, Hazel; children, Bonnie O'Day (Robert Hartt), Michael (Allison) O'Day; grandchildren, Daniel & Elizabeth O'Day. Proceeded in death by sister, Patricia O'Day.
Michael battled lung cancer since May. He underwent radiation treatments and then surgery in late July to remove the tumor. After the surgery he contracted pneumonia and an infection of the wound. In his weakend state, he just couldn't fight those infections, and died Saturday at about 11:00 pm. all the family was able to be with mike during his final moments.
Visitation took place Tuesday, August 26, 2003 from 5:30-8 pm at the Morris Nilsen Chapel, 6527 Portland Avenue, Minneapolis, MN. Funeral services were held Wednesday, August 27, 2003 at 1:00 pm at Richfield Lutheran Church, 60th Street & Nicollet Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN. Interment immediately followed at Pleasant View.
Michael was a member of the original Gopher State Blind Association in the early 1960's and maintained membership as it became the American Council of the Blind of Minnesota . The family requests Memorials be made to American Cancer Society or Richfield Lutheran Church.
Our most sincere and heartfelt prayers and condolences go out to Michael's entire family. He will be missed and may he rest in peace.
Wireless Number Portability - You CAN Take It With You From the FCC Consumer Alert,
December 2003, consumers in the country's 100 most populated areas, this includes Minneapolis/St. Paul, began being able to switch wireless carriers and keep their existing phone numbers. The rest of the country will be able to do this by May 24, 2004, at the latest. There are also provisions for keeping your number when switching from a wire line service, to a wireless service phone. Check out the FCC.gov Web page for additional specifics about this new law,: http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/NumberPortability/.
Who ever said, "You can't take it with you," didn't know about this new law!
Ken Rodgers, President
3941 12th Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55407
Phone: (612) 825-0248
E-mail: kgr@isd.net
Becky Kragnes, Vice-President
3515 Pleasant Avenue South #4
Minneapolis, MN 55408
Phone: (612) 827-2132
E-mail: rebeccak@tcq.net
Marian Haslerud, Secretary
232 W. Franklin #205
Minneapolis, MN. 55404
Phone: (612) 870-8761
E-mail: marian.haslerud@ssa.gov
Bob Lockwood, Treasurer
3625 Cardinal Rd
Minnetonka, MN 55345
Phone: (952) 932-7269
E-mail: peggy_bob@msn.com
Linda Oliva, Director
4001 BlazedaleAvenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55409
Phone: (612) 827-1033
E-mail: Linda.Oliva@allina.com
Mike Hally, Director
530 South Saratoga Street
St. Paul, MN 55116
Phone: (651) 690-0011
E-mail: mike_hally@hotmail.com
Jane Lund, Director
8848 Nicollet Avenue South #206
Bloomington, MN 55420-2850
Phone: (952) 888-4397
E-mail: jane.v.lund@healthpartners.com
Marilynn Highland, Director
3532 Bryant Avenue South #316
Minneapolis, MN 55408
Phone: (612) 824-9492
E-mail: mari@mninter.net
Joseph Sorenson, Director
111 Marquette Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55401
Phone: (612) 339-2360
E-mail: jsorenson3@mn.rr.com
 | Copyright © 2002 American Council of the blind of Minnesota kgr@isd.net |