PRESIDENT'S MESSAGEACBM Quarterly MeetingA Letter to the Star TribuneSSB Fact Sheet, Fall 2002The ACB-M Dues DanceNews Notes and Alternative Convention ReportFun ThoughtsFundraisingACBM BOARD OF DIRECTORS
American
Council
of the
Blind
of
Minnesota
October 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
A Letter to the Star Tribune
SSB Fact Sheet, Fall 2002
The ACB-M Dues Dance
News Notes and Alternative Convention Report
Fun Thoughts
Fundraising
ACBM BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Hello members: This time around finds a lot of things going on within our organization and the blind community. First, I want to thank all of our members who have stepped forward to assist in many important areas on behalf of our organization; especially those who have been helping with issues concerning the State Services for the Blind, those helping to get audio description for movie theaters, members campaigning for better pedestrian traffic signals, out-reach to politicians, ACBM representatives who attended the State convention, and those trying to form a group that focuses on our younger members. All of this shows you just how busy and proactive we have become. It has also helped ACBM to become more visible within the community as a positive force. And there is more to come. As I have said before, we are only as strong as the involvement of our membership.
There is an important issue I wish to bring to your attention. I am as guilty as anyone and I hope by bringing this to the attention of all members, we can change what may be viewed as a negative into a positive. It is important when situations or issues arise, we react in a positive and a well-informed way. Too often we can let emotions overtake our common sense and react too quickly and too emotionally to a situation or concern. I understand we are all emotional creatures, but reacting with emotions first can result in a result that is opposite of what we may be trying to accomplish. It is important for us to get as much correct information as possible, in order to respond to a situation in a positive, well-informed way.
A good example of what I am talking about is what happened with the closing of the Store for the Blind. When it came to my attention via emotional and distraught telephone calls, I checked into the matter and was able to find out what was actually happening. SSB was in negotiations with at least five other parties who were interested in opening up a store. As we now know, there are two stores opening that will provide services for the blind community. We all need to remember not to over react before all facts are known. By knowing all the facts, we can see the big picture and react in a positive way.
I would like to thank our members, Ken Rogers and Stephanie Hall, for attending the ACB National Convention and representing Minnesota in a positive way. They gave a review of convention sessions and topics and were very positive about the results of the convention. A big thank you should also go out to all the mother members who attended as well. Mike Hally, the winner of our "First Timer's Competition", also attended the convention. He returned with a whole excitement about being involved with ACBM and is very interested in starting a group that focuses on the younger members and issues that affect them.
In closing, I am very pleased and excited about where we are going as an organization and again want to encourage any of you who may have concerns, thoughts or ideas to contact me. I am open and willing to listen to anything you may feel is important to ACBM and bring those issues or concerns to the Board or general membership on your behalf. I hope all of you keep feeling proud to be a member of ACBM.
Walter Waranka, President
The next Quarterly meeting will be held on Saturday, October 26, 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 location and menu choices.
A Letter to the Star Tribune
By Bob Ziegler
To: hopfen@startribune.com Subject: Isn't Blindness Enough Already?
Hi. I am a member of the American Council of the Blind of Minnesota, a moderate organization of blind individuals, and a former employee of SSB. I have been aware of this type of heavy handed NFB action, which has existed for many years now, and polarized the blindness community — not so much for the positive either. Although, it looks totally innocent and consumer driven on its face.
Unfortunately, this polarization is nationwide and has harmed blind people in all walks of life. Just as you wrote of today, this disproportionate agency cut back and the predictable NFB response, usually the only action they ever take, has been anticipated for some time prior to it's occurrence. If the NFB would only put their energies into helping blind people rather than themselves, the entire community would be much better off.
The self absorbed local leader of the NFB, whatever her present title among a variety of alternating titles near the top of the NFB hierarchy, is one of the biggest reasons of all for this disaster that is occurring now to this agency. She has always ignored the laws and regulations that she chose and leaned heavily on others that would be more beneficial to her and her own. That's right. I have been in consultation with a client and had her refuse to exit the private session upon our joint request, and then call the assistant commissioner to complain about that. This outrageous and illegal behavior on her part, required me to defend myself quite easily upon my return to the office. This type of underhanded behavior has been the norm for decades.
Under previous administrations, she received thousands and thousands of dollars funneled to her and the local NFB from a previous assistant commissioner for such things as remodeling her own organizations rehab center. Why could she not get monies from the national office of the NFB for that work now paid for? Because it was easier to get the previous assistant commissioner, whom she had a strong voice in his appointment, to do the fund raising for her at the expense of many blind people's programs who otherwise would have benefited from that money in a greater way and who may never be inside Blind, Inc. She is upset that she will have no money to count upon for a while much more than that the agency is having to cut it's budget; it will have a direct impact and cut upon her own budget at Blind, Incorporated. But she masks it by barking about the cutting of services and it sounds perfectly legitimate.
The truth is that she and her non-democratic counterparts are interested in only their way and success for their own, not anything related to compromise or the broad overall good of the community. Money is the end that she and the NFB have always craved and used any means to obtain, even on the backs of the blind.
Have you checked the history of their stand on descriptive movie theatres lately as compared to the ACB's position? By the way, there will be two theaters opening within a few days that will have this service which will be the first in the Metro if not the state to incorporate this technology no thanks at all to the NFB who has fought tooth and nail against this for years. Do you know how long their national president has been in office? Do you know how long his predecessor was? Doesn't it sound good though that she s standing up for all blind people and the cut in their service? I wish it were true. This squeaky wheel has always gotten the grease in the past. I think she should sit down and shut up. Let the NFB protest; the ACB will strategize and engage leaders of the blindness community in a constructive manner in order to help ALL blind people everywhere. Therefore, it is with a significant bit of skepticism rather than empathy that I read about what I saw coming for some time; another NFB show. Thank you.
State Services for the Blind (SSB) is working to ensure services continue for all blind and visually impaired Minnesotans. These efforts focus on maintaining all Communication Center services; they also focus on individual services for persons seeking employment and those persons working towards personal independence.
Amend "Services to Groups" policy to exclude from federal funding programs of the Radio Talking Book which are not vocationally focused and Braille services. Eligible persons could continue to receive Braille services under an Individualized Plan for Employment. The freed-up federal funds will be used by the Workforce Development Unit to maintain the ability to serve all who apply.
For federal fiscal year 03, use three non-federal fund sources for the impacted Communication Center programs.
Secure solid non-federal funding for all Communication Center services.
The ACB-M Dues Dance
By Rebecca Kragnes
Do I hear musicians warming up? Perhaps it's a rock band, a big band, or an orchestra. Whatever your preferred musical format, soon you will hear the power of suggestion in the song. You will boogie through your mail, tango while tearing the envelope, and move to the beat of a drummer which appears only once each year to help you do the ACB-M dues dance. So whether those pens waltz or waddle across those checkbooks and forms, this is a dance in which everyone can participate. You can foxtrot the addressed envelope to your mailbox, mash potato for the members at the October or January quarterly meetings, or tap it over to any ACB-M board member.
Please remember that the national ACB kept everyone on their toes raising its dues two dollars. In order to keep ACB-M kicking up its heels with the same income as years past, we had to do the same. At weddings, it is the dollar dance, but here at ACB-M, it's now the ten-dollar dance.
There's one little extra step we're asking you to do this year on the form, and we think you might enjoy it. Your board of directors has decided that our members should be able to choose options, other than print, for receiving letters from an organization of blind people. So in addition to choosing your formats for the Braille forum and the Minnesota Memo, now you will be able to choose your format for future correspondence from us. In addition to print, other choices will be e-mail, large print, tape, and Braille.
The music will play from now through the January quarterly meeting to give you plenty of chances to show your stuff. Keep in mind that as the end of January draws near, the volume of the music might increase due to the ringing of your phone. It will be me, your membership chair, urging you to dance. I will direct you toward the disco ball before the lights fade as memberships are turned into the national office. What? You don't like disco, then please do the Dues Dance to the tune of your choice before you have to face the spinning globe. After doing her own dues dance, your chair would rather sit in a chair than strain her wimpy muscles pulling people onto the floor. Please make life easier for me by doing the dues dance without delay.
News Notes and Alternative Convention Report
By Mike Vining
Well, several of us attended the 2002 ACB national convention in Houston, in July. This report is not, I repeat, not the official convention report. I will, again talk about things that went on in Mikey's world.
First, we were not affected by the floods in Texas. That was confined to the San Antonio, and Austin areas. We had some rain, early in the stay, Elaine was there on Thursday, and she said that it rained Thursday, Friday, and some on Saturday. In fact, the Northwestern part of the Houston metropolitan area had, what the weather people called a gustnato. Heavy damaging winds, but not a tornado.
On Sunday, I took the Houston city tour. some of the new things shown to us, were the Enron building, Minute Maid field; where the Astros play, Reliant stadium; where the newest NFL franchise, the Houston Texans play, the Astrodome, down town Houston and areas where the rich folks live. Some of these houses have over 114 rooms. The interesting thing I noticed was, when a wealthy person buys a house, he does not just live in it, however, they demolish it and rebuild it to their liking. One other thought, what NFL stadium is the only one with a retractable roof? If you said Reliant Stadium, you are correct sir or madam.
On Tuesday we went on a tour of the Houston Lighthouse for the Blind and taping center. The lighthouse has many similarities to VLR, with programs for blind children, through senior citizens. They have a store, where some of us purchased items, talking caller ID etc. The Taping Center is like our communications center, except that the talking book radio they run is available on the SAP channel of the public TV station in Houston, channel 8.
The annual Wednesday evening event was a trip to the George Ranch. It is located in the boonies south of Houston. We had a BBQ meal, saw cattle roping, and toured the ranch house. Have you ever heard of cattle dipping? They showed us how it was done. This was done in the early 1900s to prevent cattle from contracting deadly diseases. It is not done anymore. Now the cattle are sprayed with insecticides. We toured the house. Mr. George was the wealthiest rancher in that area, and when he and his wife realized that they would have no children to leave the ranch too, when they passed on, they set up a foundation to run the ranch. It still is a working ranch, and has tours all the time.
On the space center tour, we were given listening devices, which you tune, or should I say, punch up buttons like 112. This corresponds with the exhibit you are looking at that moment. The problem with this is that you need a sighted person to tell you what numbers to press to see that corresponding item. Other than making a fool of myself singing karaoke, attending the Showcase; Marion Haselrud did sing in the chorus this year, it was fun. We, also, learned information, but that is up to other people to mention, not me. PS Unlike some of our crew, Elaine and I did not get sick. Either we did things the rest did not do, or just the opposite. Next year, Pittsburgh. Get ready.
News Notes was admonished by a member for forgetting one of the winners in last years bowling season. Gail Drake received a trophy for high series. Thirty lashes please.
If you were at the Picnic Fund Raiser in August, you may have heard that Frank Johnson would be awarded recognition for being one of the 11 who care from KARE 11. The awards were handed out on Wednesday evening, Sept. 4th. Congrats Frank!
For those who take life too seriously!
By the time you get this edition of the Memo, all of the winning numbers will have been picked in the Daily-3 Fundraiser. Congratulations to each of you who won in this fun event. Thank you to all who purchased tickets and support the activities of ACBM.
Thanks, also, to all who participated in the auction at our annual picnic. It was a fun event that raised a significant amount of money for ACB-M.
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 |