PRESIDENT'S MESSAGEACBM Quarterly MeetingFundraising Announcement for ACBM!News NotesFood For ThoughtDaily-3 FundraiserACBM BOARD OF DIRECTORS
American
Council
of the
Blind
of
Minnesota
July 2002
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: 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
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
ACBM Quarterly Meeting
Fundraising Announcement for ACBM!
News Notes
Food For Thought
Daily-3 Fundraiser
ACBM BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Greetings. As some of you remember at our last quarterly meeting, I mentioned there were some negative things brewing in downtown Minneapolis with the Block E Project. I had discussed the fact that the developer and the theater owners were not going to put in descriptive equipment for movies that would be shown in the complex. This had the disabled community upset, especially because of the fact that the city of Minneapolis had given the Project 39 million dollars, yet the developer and theater owners were not willing to put in this equipment for the disabled community. ACBM was involved in the planning for dealing with this issue and was also in the process of preparing a letter for us to send to the developer and theater owners, when we got word that they had decided to put descriptive equipment in the theater complex.
Some time in August 2002, there will be two theaters in downtown Minneapolis, which will be accessible to the blind community. With more movies being produced with this feature already in place, it means there will be more opportunities for us all to fully enjoy first run movies like everyone else.
After all was said and done, we will not have only one theater being equipped with this technology, but two of them, along with the commitment of additional equipment if the need increases. I want you to know that the developer and theater company are each paying for one. The most important thing that came out of getting descriptive equipment into the theaters is that the entire disabled community came together as a cohesive unit on an important issue. It was a wonderful experience for us and I hope this cooperation will lead to more opportunities for us to work together on more issues that will impact the disabled community. If the disabled community works as a single group, I feel we can get more done and it may help speed up the process when the need arises.
I would like to personally thank the hard work done by the Minneapolis Mayor's Committee for People with Disabilities and the leadership role they took in this important issue. I hope this is just the beginning of a united group supporting each other when future needs arise.
Finally, thanks should go to both the developer and the theater for their willingness to add this technology to their project. When the project is complete and the equipment has been installed, let's all make sure we take advantage of what we have all worked so hard for. Our enthusiasm may also help show the rest of the community there is a great need for these kinds of projects to continue.
I would also like to thank the ACBM members who have served on the Board of Directors and the newly elected Board members. Thanks to Juliette Silvers, Nicole Mykkanen, and Mike Vining for their service to ACBM. I'm sure that you will continue to support ACBM as you have in the past. Welcome to our new Vice President, Becky Kragness, and our new Board members Mike Hally, Ken Rogers, and Joe Sorenson.
Walter Waranka, President
The next Quarterly meeting will be held at Champions on Lake Street in Minneapolis on Saturday, July 27, 2002. The meeting will start at 1:00 PM and end at 4:00 PM. The Calling Committee will be contacting you shortly with the menu choices.
Fundraising Announcement for ACBM!
By Ken Rodgers, Fundraising Chairman
Need a Computer? Here's a great opportunity for you and for ACBM!! As the proud new Chair of the Fundraising Committee for the 2002 ACBM Board I am excited to unveil our first fundraising campaign which is a wonderful opportunity for both you and for ACBM as well. It's a raffle... And with the winning ticket, you could be the new owner of a Compaq Presario 5030 Mini-tower Computer System!!
Recently, one of our members, Rebecca Kragnes, and her husband Phil, purchased a brand new computer for their home and donated their slightly used computer for us to raffle. And, as it turns out, before they decided to purchase a new computer system, they upgraded some of the components of their 4-year-old computer thinking they were just going to keep it. So, we win. And that means you could win too!! Here's a description of what the system includes:
• 300 MHz Intel Pentium II processor!
• 128 MB RAM (memory)!
• 8GigaByte Hard Drive!!
• 3.5 Inch 1.44 MB floppy Drive!
• 32 X CD Rom Drive!
• Yamaha 16x CDRW Drive (CD burner)!!
• On board Sound system!
• 2 Parallel Ports, 1 Serial Port, 2 USB Ports on front!
• Rockwell 56 k Data Fax Modem!
• Internal Double Talk Synthesizer and interface speaker and cable!
• Windows 98 Operating System!
• Microsoft Office - Small Business Edition Included!!
• Omnipage Pro 9.0 (Loaded, Version 8 disk included)!
• Various original Software and manuals!
• Compaq 15 Inch Monitor, mouse, and keyboard with Easy Access Buttons!
• Eastern Multimedia Speakers!!
• Hewlett-Packard 5100C flatbed Scanner (parallel) with automatic document feeder and dust cover (Original lid also included)!
As you can see, although it is 4 years old, it has been upgraded with great features to make it a very valuable and comparable computer to any system available today on the market! If you were to purchase a system like this on the market, you could expect to pay well over $1500. And all this can be yours for only one dollar per chance!! Imagine, for less than a cup of coffee at Starbuck's, you could be the lucky ticket holder and walk away with this incredible powerhouse of a system! Someone is going to win this system, why not let it be you? We're keeping it simple, only One Dollar per chance! Want 5 chances?? That's Five Dollars! Ten chances?? Ten Dollars! It's that simple. It's perhaps the greatest opportunity of the summer. Don't let it pass you by. This is an incredible opportunity for everybody to win on this fundraiser! For only One Dollar, and the lucky winning ticket, this powerhouse of a computer system can be yours!! And, not only will you be a winner and walk away with a terrific computer system but ACBM wins too, as with the purchase of every ticket 50 cents goes to ACBM and 50 cents go to the previous owners. Everybody wins!! Someone will win, why not let it be you? There are four ways you can purchase your chance at the lucky winning Tickets:
1. Tickets can be purchased at any ACBM event.
2. By phone: You can reserve your tickets by calling Ken Rodgers at (612) 825-0248! Just tell me how many lucky chances you want and I will hold them for you.
3. You can order your lucky chances By snail mail. Send check or money order (made out to ACBM) to: Ken Rodgers - ACBM Tickets 3941 12th Avenue South Minneapolis, MN 55407
4. Or order your lucky chances by E-mail: "kgr@isd.net"
That's how easy it can be to own a great, totally upgraded Super Computer System!! The winning ticket will be drawn at the annual ACBM Picnic this summer, date to be announced soon! And, the winner need not be present at the picnic to win!! Although it would be so very nice to hear your wild screams of joy as your number is called!! And imagine the wild frenzy of congratulatory handshakes and high fives you will get if you are there in person!!
OK, here comes the quasi "legal" mumbo jumbo: Although Becky and Phil give their well-known reputation as to the super fine working order of the entire computer system at the time of the raffle, and whereas Phil's reputation in his job partly entails keeping computers in good working order, obviously, there is no warrantee, implied nor expressed, by either Rebecca, Phil, ACBM, nor any of its agents - or off-spring, mom's, dad's, uncles, aunts or cousins of their agents, should the system stop working sometime in the future. Further, it should be stated here that simple, periodic home maintenance of the system should help keep any computer system in proper working order for years to come...end of quasi "legal" mumbo jumbo!).
That's it, folks!! And, it's not a bad fundraising beginning, if I don't say so myself! Someone will win. Why not let it be you?? Only One Dollar per chance! The more chances you purchase, the more chances you will be the lucky winner!!
Well, it is time for another News Notes section. Hope you are having a good summer.
Our Minneapolis Blind Bowling league had its banquet on Saturday, May 11th. Of course, all awards were handed out. Many ACBM members were rewarded for bowling achievements. Mike Vining for most improved male bowler. The team, Private Eyes, featuring Elaine Vining and Karen Johnson came in second place for the year. Gar Giddings, had high game and series, Walley Warranka, also had high game, however, his was the first week of the season. For him, it was downhill from that time on. Everyone had a good time. The league is always looking for new members, so, if you are interested, why not start, and enjoy the fun.
The national ABBA tournament was scheduled for memorial weekend in Houston, TX. A small group of Minnesotans made the trip. None of the ACBM members, who bowl were in attendance. Coincidence, that is the same city where the national ACB convention was to be, as well. By the time you get this Memo, the convention will be completed. Everyone who attended had a good time.
Congratulations to Mike Hally. He will be attending the ACB national convention as a first timer, representing the west of the Mississippi. He will be the guest of ACB national. He'll have a lot to talk about.
The Twin Cities blind Audio Darts league had its banquet on Tuesday May 21st. Awards were handed out for the 2001/2002 season. Cheers to all winners. To us losers, better luck next year.
Ain't no sunshine for the sunshine lady: We forgot to mention last time, that Barb Bangsund, ACBM's sunshine lady was in sickbay in February. She has been recovering from neck surgery. We hope you are feeling better since then, Barb. We, also, heard that Barb's mother passed away on June 13th from a long illness. Our sympathy to Barb and her family.
Since the new block E. entertainment center, which is scheduled to open in August, has two movie screens which will be descriptive, let's have an ACBM movie afternoon or night? How about it guys.
On June first, my wife and I went on a walking shopping trip and brunch. One of the stops was a local big box electronic provider to take care of my credit from the cordless phone, see previous memo if interested. We then went to the other electronic big box provider, Circuit City, for some computer stuff. While there, I took a look at Satellite radio, the latest new electronic toy. The neat thing about this is that Sony has put out a receiver that can be used in the home. The main thrust of satellite radio marketers has been to motorists, especially, those who drive long distances. They are now targeting the average driver going to work, shopping, or carting kids around. There are two providers for satellite programming. The one I saw was from XM.
This Sony receiver can be hooked up to your stereo system as a component, like your CD player etc. You get all the 100 channels that is all music, news, sports, etc. that is being offered. I played around with the device, and was impressed by the CD like sound of the music. Different channels include, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, and today's music from classical, country, jazz, Chinese rock, Jamaican reggae, alternative, top 40, etc. These receivers will just pickup satellite transmission. So, you will still use your AM/FM radios for everything else. Some companies are manufacturing AM/FM/XM radios for the car.
The only problem I saw with the Sony, and this goes for the other brands, was that there was again, the print readout. However, this readout said the channel and program offered. However, that can be gotten around for us blind folks. These music formats have DJs who will give the titles of songs, and what the channel is.
The cost, for the Sony is around $303 plus your $10 monthly charge. With the uncertainty of the internet for music, with internet radio, maybe this will be an alternative for us all.
We wish to congratulate the new editor of the Blind Bowler, a publication of the American Blind Bowling Association. The editor for the next two years will be Nancy Giddings. She can use help. If us Minneapolis Blind Bowlers/ACBM members help her out, we can help improve the Blind Bowler magazine.
You Think A Gallon Of Gas Is Expensive? This will make you think, and puts things in perspective:
• Diet Snapple at 16 oz for $1.29 is $10.32 per gallon
• Lipton Ice Tea at 16 oz for $1.19 is $9.52 per gallon
• Gatorade at 20 oz for $1.59 is $10.17 per gallon
• Ocean Spray at 16 oz for $1.25 is $10.00 per gallon
• Brake Fluid at 12 oz for $3.15 is $33.60 per gallon
• Vick's Nyquil at 6 oz for $8.35 is $178.13 per gallon
• Pepto-Bismol at 4 oz for $3.85 is $123.20 per gallon
• Whiteout at 7 oz for $1.39 is $25.42 per gallon
• Scope mouthwash at 1.5 oz for $0.99 is $84.48 per gallon
• And this is the REAL KICKER — Evian water at 9 oz for $1.49 is $21.19 per gallon.
$21.19 FOR WATER! And the buyer doesn't even know the source! So, the next time you're at the gas pump, be glad your car doesn't run on Scope, or Whiteout, or God forbid, PEPTO-BISMOL or NYQUIL!!!!
By the time you get this edition of the Memo, at least one winning number will have been picked in the Daily-3 Fundraiser. Congratulations to each of you who win in this fun event. Thank you to all who purchased tickets and support the activities of ACBM.
Walter Waranka, President
26 10th Street West #1003
St. Paul, MN 55102
Phone: (651) 293-1299
Becky Kragnes, Vice President
3515 Pleasant Ave. S.
Minneapolis, MN 55408
Phone: (612) 827-2132
Marian Haslerud, Secretary
232 W. Franklin #205
Minneapolis, MN. 55404
Phone: (612) 870-8761
Bob Lockwood, Treasurer
3625 Cardinal Road
Minnetonka, MN 55345
Phone: (952) 932-7269
Stephanie Hall, Director
433 7th St. S. #2227
Minneapolis, MN 55415-1645
Phone: (612) 332-7837
Joe Sorenson, Director
111 Marquette Ave. S #1103
Minneapolis, MN 55401
Phone: (612) 339-2360
Barbara Bangsund, Director
24 105th Lane NW
Coon Rapids, MN 55448
Phone: (763) 757-8951
Mike Hally, Director
2001 Bryant Ave. S. #205
Minneapolis, MN 55405
Phone: (612) 870-0075
Ken Rodgers, Director
3941 12th Ave. S.
Minneapolis, MN 55407
Phone: (612) 825-0248
 | Copyright © 2002 American Council of the blind of Minnesota wallyw@lifetrackresources.org |