THE MINNESOTA MEMO

American
Council
of the
Blind
of
Minnesota

July 2001

THE MINNESOTA MEMO

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.

EDITORIAL COMMITTEE

Bert Morlock, Editor
4815 28th Ave. South, #217
Minneapolis, MN. 55417
Phone: (612) 721-9970
E-Mail: morlock@visi.com

Bob Lockwood
3625 Cardinal Road
Minnetonka, MN 55345
Phone: (952) 932-7269
E-Mail: Peggy_Bob@email.msn.com

Dennis Bartlett
3338 38th Ave. S
Minneapolis, MN 55406
Phone: (612) 722-8686

Shirley Bartlett
3338 38th Ave. S
Minneapolis, MN 55406
Phone: (612) 722-8686

Table of contents

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
July Quarterly Meeting
Nominations for Awards in Human Service
Does a View From the Top of the World Promote a Better View of Blindness?
NEWS NOTES
Tech Talk
ACB Message From Charles Crawford
ACB Message from Jonathan Mosen
The Philosophy of Life
ACBM Fall Convention
Fundraising
Proposed ACBM By-Law Changes
ACBM Picnic
ACBM BOARD OF DIRECTORS

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

As I sit here wondering if it will ever warm up this year, I still get a good feeling from our last quarterly meeting. It was a wonderful meeting for all of us because there was so much interest in running for offices.

I would like to first say thank you for your faith in me to carry on for another two years as your president I hope to continue the current direction that we are moving in and to also benefit from all the help and talents of all of the membership.

To all of you who stepped forward to offer your skills for one of the open seats on the board, I thank you. If you did not make it this year, please try again next year, but also consider the idea of stepping forward to help on one of our many committees.

We continue to add more and more members, we continue raising funds, and we keep exploring more ways to give back to the community around us. These are three things that help to build and make an organization strong. Let's keep up the good work!

I want to encourage all of you to please feel free to call me and let me know any concerns or ideas you may have for the direction of the organization. I am always open to hearing from you and if I don't have an answer, or if it is something that will benefit our development, I will be very happy to bring it to the board or to the general membership on your behalf.

Our board has lost two very good members this time around because their terms were up. They will be missed, but I am sure they will not stop their involvement in ACBM and will still be around. Thanks so much to both of you for all you have given to the organization. We have retained one existing board member and have gotten two very good new members on the board. Their new ideas and enthusiasm will be exciting and rejuvenating for us. Also, one of our board members moved from a general seat on the board to the treasurer's office and I am sure will do a very good job on watching where the funds are going.

This last quarterly meeting, again, was a great example of our group coming together and showing that we all are excited and interested about the direction we are going. That does not mean we have an easy road ahead of us, but if we all want to be a part of the shaping of ACBM, we will continue to be a positive voice for the Blind of Minnesota.

Walter Waranka, President

July Quarterly Meeting

The quarterly meeting will be held at Champions on Saturday, July 28, from 1:00 to 4:00 p. m. The telephoning committee will be contacting you with the luncheon choices.

Nominations for Awards in Human Service
Deadline: August 13, 2001

The Minneapolis-based McKnight Foundation (http://www.mcknight.org) is accepting nominations for the 2001 Virginia McKnight Binger Awards in Human Service. These annual awards are designed to recognize Minnesotans "who strive to make life better for other people but receive little or no public recognition or payment in return." The program will award ten recipients $7,500 each.

Nominees should demonstrate exceptional commitment to human services, addressing concerns in areas such as adoption, chemical dependency, child care, corrections, counseling, disabilities, employment, family violence, foster care, geriatrics, health care, housing, mental health, neighborhood or community improvement, and youth activities. Nominations are open to the public, but individuals may not nominate themselves.

Nomination forms are available on the McKnight Web site, or by calling the foundation.

Contact:

McKnight Foundation
121 South 8th Street, Suite 600
Minneapolis, MN 55402
Tel: (612) 333-4220
Fax: (612) 317-0766
RFP Link: http://www.mcknight.org/releases/hsa-601.htm

Does a View From the Top of the World Promote a Better View of Blindness?
by Rebecca Kragnes

I was watching CNN with my husband at breakfast when the news story broke. Erik Weihenmayer had finally reached the top of Mount Everest. Certainly Weihenmayer is to be congratulated for such a feat, because according to an article which appeared in the Las Angeles times and was reprinted in the march Braille Monitor, he received very little physical help for this or any other climbs. But what about financial help? Reading further in the article, I discovered that the Mount Everest Expedition was sponsored by none other than the national Federation of the Blind.

I wonder about some of the hypocrisy that underlies their sponsorship of this expedition. First of all, NFB posits that blind people are just like everyone else, and that a big deal should not be made over our accomplishments simply because we are blind. This seems to be true unless a particular accomplishment serves the purposes of the National Federation of the Blind. They splash Erik Weihenmayer's name on the front Page of their Web site and are diligent about making sure news organizations get this guy's story. If they are not creating a very big deal, then maybe I don't understand what a "big deal" really is. but the bigger and deeper issue concerns the financial end of things. I recently talked to an acquaintance who is a member of the Federation and who was unaware of NFB's lawsuit that attempts to block FCC regulations regarding Descriptive Video Service. He said one of their main arguments is that the money spent could be used for better things that would promote a positive image of blindness.

I suppose NFB would contend that their financial support of this mountain-climbing expedition (which involved nine sighted and one blind climber) benefits the whole blind community because of the attention it brings. However truly, one blind person is benefiting from NFB's financial resources, and he could have found other funding resources to achieve this same accomplishment. By contrast, NFB wants to block funding for warning strips on transit platforms, accessible pedestrian signals, and Descriptive Video Services because, they claim, none of these accommodations would benefit the majority of people who are blind. Reaching the top of a mountain doesn't happen every day, but blind people do, in fact, travel across dangerous streets, negotiate transit platforms, and, yes, watch television every single day. If we blind people really do want to be seen in a positive light, why not give us the tools we need to participate fully and safely in all the tasks of daily living and send us on our merry way to competently live our lives? Isn't this what NFB wants? That's what they say, while they are also saying that no one should make a big deal of the accomplishments of people who happen to be blind.

I imagine that Erik Weihenmayer is a loyal Federationist, and that both he and they feel the relationship they share is a mutually beneficial one. Lots of organizations sponsor people, and NFB would probably argue that they have the right to do with their money as they see fit. I am aware that they have scholarships and other programs that benefit people who are blind. However, The NFB's decision to financially help a few people who are blind while they argue that the government should not require a service that many of us who are blind have asked for because it would only help a few people is hypocritical!

News Notes
By Mike Vining

Well, it is summertime again. Most of what happened in the last few months happened in the cool wet spring in Minnesota.

Bowling Tournament

The ABBA national Blind bowling tournament was held in St. Louis MO, over the Memorial Day weekend. We all had a great time. Our driver, Nancy Giddings was not sick this time, and so, remembered the entire trip. Not like last year in Little Rock. We did not get lost either. Some of us came back, possibly winning. I do not have the results here, now, if they come in before printing, our esteemed author may add it in. We will see, or they will appear in the next News Notes. Michael Vining and partner may win money in the doubles. Michael could win in singles. Gar Giddings could win in singles, and so, could Elaine Vining. The team of ACB people, Gar Giddings and Nancy Giddings, could win money in team events. We will see in the next memo.

Sympathy

News notes wishes to send its sympathy to Bob Ziegler, and the rest of the family of Diane Ziegler. She died on May 17th. Over her life, she had been involved in many blind activities, from North Out of Site to Able, which brought blind children together. She had suffered some strokes. Bob took care of her to the end. They met at the ACB convention in Los Angeles in 1987. Bob was from Arkansas/ Little Rock, and Diane, of course, was from Minnesota. The rest is history.

We also wish to remember Ray, the bartender at Stardust Lanes. He tended bar during the Saturday Morning Minneapolis Blind Bowling league meetings. He was present at the league Banquet in May. He had heart problems, and died in his sleep on May 18th. When there was a big Vikings playoff game, he would set up a food buffet for the folks there, for around $5 per person. He will be missed. The league will have to train some one new in.

Mike Vining can see, a little more?

Mike Vining had cataracts on his eyes, almost, bringing his vision to light and dark. The Cataract in the left eye was separated from the lens, enabling him to see some. He will have surgery to remove the cataract and lens replacement on July 17th. His thoughts on seeing again, I haven not ever had total vision/been sighted, but could see a little, until around 15 years ago, when the cataracts were discovered. Some things are different. The cars look more like small ships. People tend to cross streets while the lights are red. People get out of the way for a white cane, like they are afraid of it. Women wear pants, more than they did in the past; it looks like red China. Many are overweight. And finally, people look different than he pictured them. We all look older. He even looks almost bald, himself. So much for that.

Now that he has gotten himself in to trouble, it is time to close News Notes for another time. Happy summer. And have a great convention ACB folks who are going to Des Moines Iowa.

Tech Talk
By Dennis Bartlett

This Month I am going to review a very useful product. This product is SCANACAN, manufactured by Ferguson Enterprises. SCANACAN consists of a barcode scanner and software for reading barcodes. This is a very useful product for us because it allows us to go to the grocery store, pick out our groceries, bring them home and scan them before putting them away.

Here is what the manufacturer has to say about the product.

SCANACAN FOR WINDOWS: Are you tired of opening the wrong can? Are you embarrassed to find out that you put on a green shirt when you wanted a blue shirt? Are you frustrated when you can't find the disk or CD or movie you were looking for? Those days are over now, with the new SCANACAN Technology at your fingertips. The days of endless waiting for sighted assistance with product identification are now over. With the SCANACAN technology you can have it all. SCANACAN For Windows is the only speech-friendly, simple, powerful, affordable barcode scanning system, and independent living aid, and home management system you will ever need.

Since just about everything you purchase has a bar code on it, there is no need for labeling grocery items any more, and no excuse for not cataloging all your items that are already bar-coded. Now, with the excellent quality commercial Omni Directional Laser Wedge bar code scanner, you can easily identify anything with a bar code on it. SCANACAN For Windows allows you to identify groceries, and anything with a bar code just by passing it in front of the lens of the scanner. If the item you scanned or entered is not in the database, of 84000 grocery items, you can add it to the database with just a few keystrokes. You can create as many databases as your hard drive will hold. Each database holds up to 2 billion records in it. With the simple one-letter alt commands, you can quickly and easily enter the data needed to make your grocery shopping much easier. You can purchase clothing bar code labels and create a clothing database with the description, including the color, and manufacturer of your clothes. SCANACAN For Windows is a must for every visually impaired person.

I have heard about this product and seen it a few times when working with Bert Morlock on his computer. I now have the system and can see what Bert's excitement was all about. Many times we have wondered what a particular can or box was and we had to wait for someone to come over and read the label. Now we can just scan the package and know what it is.

SCANACAN also allows you to put instructions into the file. So, let's say you had a cake mix. You could have someone reread you the directions and you could type them into the SCANACAN database. When you want to make the cake you tell SCANACAN that you want to look up directions then scan the barcode on the box. You would then be read the directions on how to bake the cake. There are many uses for this product. You can create a database of your CD and video collection. Almost everything has a barcode on it somewhere. If there isn't a barcode on something SCANACAN ships with some barcode labels which you can attach to anything and enter the item in the database. I found this product to be written very well and speech friendly. SCANACAN is available locally so keep your ears open.

ACB Message From Charles Crawford
CCrawford@ACB.org

Hi Everyone!

There is no question that the American council of the Blind has achieved many social justice goals for blind people, even with the meager resources we have. Now we have found a way to raise money for ACB-Radio with no real burden to those wanting to help out! Not only that, but we have worked a deal where signing up is even easier than before!

We are partnering with Easy Access USA which is a national local dial-up Internet service provider and they will give ACB $4 per month per subscriber to their service. You get two email accounts, local dial-up for 56kb modems, Internet newsgroups and you can run your MSN or AOL messengers as well!

ACB has decided to dedicate all necessary revenues from this fund raising opportunity to support the costs of ACB-Radio. In this way, we can insure the continued growth and vitality of our internet streams and the learning and enjoyment our many listeners want.

Please take the time to go to the Easy Access Web site at http://www.easyaccessusa.net and check out if there is a local access number you could dial. Then you can sign up for the service and support ACB's radio streams as well! It's only $19.95 per month and you'll be helping out the American Council of the Blind and our radio programs every month of every year!

If you have experienced problems with the site or would rather register by phone; here's the scoop. call 866-835-7872 and they can help you register and get set up. Please call this number between 8:00 A.M. and 7:00 PM eastern time.

When you visit the site, we suggest that you check to see if there is an access number in your area which you can search for right there on the Web site. If there is, then you can use the signup link to fill out a form to sign up. You will be given a choice of whether to use the form with the java script or to go to a text form that we suggest you hit enter on that link. Then use your screen reader MSAA or other access mechanisms to go through the screen and fill out the edit boxes. Of course with MSAA you have to hit enter on the edit box you want to fill out and then fill it out and go back to MSAA to read what they want in the next box. Once you have filled out the form and read through the terms of agreement, then you can sign up online!

Again, if you want to skip going to the Web site altogether, then call the following special toll free number they have set up for us at 866-835-7872 where you will be able to talk with a representative to get squared away. Please call that number only for registering and getting set up. It is not a tech assistance number, but just for ACB related registration and please call between 8:00 AM and 7:00 PM eastern time.

There is only 56 KB dial-up capacity at this point. Once the company gets the resources to do DSL, then they are looking at going in that direction as well. Like ACB, they are growing and this partnership will be beneficial to us as an advocacy organization and to them as a company that wants to give back to the community through helping charitable groups.

Please sign up and especially pass this message along to all your friends and family so we can really start to grow the support we know is out there. It truly is easy and will do a great deal of good!

Perhaps you are not able to take advantage of this opportunity because you have DSL or cable modem connectivity to the internet? You can still support ACB by sending email to info@ACB.org and we can send you information on other ways to financially assist us. For more information on the American Council of the Blind go to www.acb.org or check out our ACB Radio streams at www.acbradio.org.

We are not rich, but we have done much with the little we have. We are blind people together in our membership of the American Council of the Blind. Please sign up and designate ACB as your charity today!

ACB Message from Jonathan Mosen
jonathan@outofsight.org.nz

In the last eighteen months, many blind people from over 60 countries have discovered ACB Radio, and now make regular visits to our site. However, there are still many others who have Internet access who have yet to hear about ACB Radio. We now have a tool designed to reach those people, and if you like what we're doing on ACB Radio, you can play your part by spreading the word.

We've just completed the production of an ACB Radio Promotional CD. This CD runs for just under 40 minutes. It tells you about ACB Radio, plays you samples of all our four streams, and explains just how easy it is to tune in. It also discusses how people can encourage their local radio information service to take up our offer of carrying ACB Radio programming free of charge, so that those who don't have Internet access can hear our programming.

There are a number of ways in which you can hear this CD. Firstly, it is available for listening on line, as a low bandwidth mono stream suitable for modem users, and a high bandwidth stereo stream for those with DSL, cable, or other high-speed connections. Even if you're an ACB Radio veteran, you may like to take a listen to the stream. ACB Radio is now such a large site that there may be programs and features that you didn't know we had.

Another on-line version we offer is a 51-megabyte zip file. In this zip file are 7 MP3 files encoded at 192 KBPS stereo. These files are suitable for burning onto an audio CD, using software like Easy CD Creator. We encourage you to make copies of this CD, play it at computer clubs or consumer group chapter meetings, and give it away to your friends.

These on-line versions of our CD can be found at http://www.acbradio.org and then choose the link near the top of the page that says "listen to our promotional CD or read an Introduction to ACB Radio."

Finally, we hope to have a large number of copies to give away on CD at the ACB Convention in Des Moines. We hope that you enjoy this new promotional resource and that you'll use it to help us spread the word. It's the positive endorsements of our listeners that has seen ACB Radio continue to grow, so thank you.

Jonathan Mosen
mailto: jonathan@mosen.org
Work Phone: +64-6-348-8127
Mobile: +64-21-4Mosen, +64-21-466-736

Editor's note: Dennis Bartlett is willing to burn copies of the above CD for those who would like one. Dennis can be reached at: 612-722-8686.

The Philosophy of Life

A philosophy professor stood before his class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly he picked up a large empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with rocks, rocks about 2" in diameter. He then asked the students if the jar was full? They agreed that it was.

So the professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles, of course, rolled into the open areas between the rocks. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was. The students laughed.

The professor picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. "Now," said the professor, "I want you to recognize that this is your life. The rocks are the important things - your family, your partner, your health, and your children - things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house, and your car. The sand is everything else, the small stuff. If you put the sand into the jar first, there is no room for the pebbles or the rocks.

The same goes for your life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you. Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your partner out dancing. There will always be time to go to work, clean the house, give a dinner party and fix the disposal. Take care of the rocks first - the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.

But then... A student then took the jar that the other students and the professor agreed was full, and proceeded to pour in a glass of beer. Of course the beer filled the remaining spaces within the jar making the jar truly full. The moral of this tale is: no matter how full your life is, there is always room for BEER.

ACBM Fall Convention
By The Convention Committee

ACBM will hold a State Convention on Saturday and Sunday, October 20 and 21, 2001. The Convention will be held at the Millennium Hotel, 1313 Nicollet Ave, Minneapolis, MN. The theme for the Convention is: Advocacy, Commitment, and Betterment. Our guest speaker will be Brian Charleson, first Vice President of ACB. The program includes the following:

Saturday morning trip to Closing the Gap
Saturday afternoon panel discussions
Saturday evening cash bar and entertainment
Sunday morning business meeting
Sunday morning topical discussion
Sunday noon luncheon and awards presentation

The cost for the convention is $50 per person. If you want to attend only the Saturday events, the cost is $25 per person. If you want to attend only the Sunday events, the cost is $35 per person. A block of rooms has been reserved at the hotel for a cost of $145 (quad-occupancy). For those who wish to attend but are limited financially, please contact any board member, since some scholarship money is available.

Fundraising

A big "Thanks" to all of you who are participating in the ACBM Daily 3 fundraiser. We have gotten a full subscription again this year thanks to the hard work of Carol Heinl.

We also want to remind you about the auction that will be held at our annual summer picnic (more about the picnic later in this Memo). New items that will be of interest to everyone in attendance usually bring the best auction prices.

Proposed ACBM By-Law Changes

The ACBM Board of Directors has identified the following proposed changes to the ACBM By-Laws. These proposed changes will be voted on at the ACBM State Convention in October.

ARTICLE 3: MEMBERS

SECTION 2

Current wording:
Membership shall be open to all visually handicapped persons and to their sighted friends who are interested in the purposes and programs of this Council.

Proposed Wording:
Membership shall be open to all visually impaired persons and to their sighted friends who are interested in the purposes and programs of this Council.

ARTICLE 4: MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS

SECTION 2

Current Wording:
Officers and Directors shall be elected during the second quarterly meeting of each calendar year. The Board of Directors shall, between May 1 and June 30 of each calendar year, designate a date for the annual convention of the membership, if applicable.

Proposed Wording:
Officers and Directors shall be elected during the second quarterly meeting (April) of each calendar year. The Board of Directors shall, between May 1 and June 30 of each calendar year, designate a date for the annual convention of the membership, if applicable.