THE MISSOURI CHRONICLE

September, 2003


TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Editor's Line
President's Message
Education and Welfare Report
What Is Happening With the Blind Pension Fund by Bev Armstrong
Public Relations Report
MCB Scholarship Winners
Convention Report: The Heart of America Beats for MCB by Jerry Annunzio
ACB Report: Hard Times Make Us Stronger by Jerry Annunzio
Remembering Frank Matoushek
A Letter From Bessie Reece
Candidate's Corner
In Memoriam: Robert Priddy by David Plumlee
Talking ATMS In Missouri
Penelope, The Color Tester by Phyllis Lovett
McCoy Still Has True Baseball Vision
Insights Into Vision Loss: Macular Degeneration Demands Harder View
Buying Blind by Carol Fleischman
Minister Held In Hit And Run Accident
Affiliate Affairs
From The Lower Left-Hand Drawer
Galen's Hod Hints
Friends
Back to the Chronicle Archives



Editor's Line

I recently spent a very entertaining evening over at the MCB office looking
through old issues of the Chronicle, hoping to find some biographical information
about Frank Matoushek. I didn't find what I was looking for, but looking through
those old Chronicles was fascinating. The office has Braille and large print
copies of all of the issues from 1960 through 1993. Although I only read a small
portion of what was there, looking through those magazines brought back many
old names and memories. I saw newspaper articles about Dorris Meyer, Bill Benson,
Mike Keller, John Medlock, Joyce Godwin, Debbie Fitzpatrick and others. Looking
at those back issues gives you quite a sense of just how hard our leaders have
worked to make this organization the fine organization it has become. The office
also has several copies in Braille and large print of the booklet called The
Missouri Federation of the Blind: The First Twenty-Five Years, written by Alma
Murphy. It covers the history of our organization from 1956 to 1980. If you
have never read this and if you would like to know more about our early history,
you might want to ask for a copy. It is very interesting reading.

I understand some of you did not get your June Chronicle tape and some of
you received tapes that were difficult to hear. If you did not receive a June
tape or if it did not play properly, please let me know and I will try to get
another copy to you.

Donna is currently in the process of reviewing the mailing lists for the
various editions of the Chronicle and making some corrections in addresses and
formats. We have found several things that needed to be changed. If you are
not receiving the magazine in the format you prefer, or if someone in your affiliate
is not receiving the Chronicle, please let me know or call the office. The Chronicle
is available in Braille, tape, large print, computer disk or by e-mail.

In this issue: an article about a blind baseball writer, a list of talking
ATMS in Missouri, and an update on what is happening with our Blind pension.
Enjoy.


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President's Message

Dear MCB members and friends,

Blessed is the leader who seeks the best for those he serves.
Peter F. Drucker

Since we will be holding elections for three of our director positions at our
upcoming state convention in October in Kansas City, and since some of our affiliates
will have new board representatives on the MCB board for the very first time,
I thought perhaps the following article from the March, 2001 issue of the Board
Cafe would be helpful. Board Cafe is the electronic newsletter exclusively for
members of nonprofit boards of directors. Short enough to read over a cup of
coffee, Board Cafe offers a menu of ideas, information, opinion, news, and resources
to help board members give and get the most out of board service. Each issue
brings a cornucopia of "Little Ideas," as well as one "Big Idea" one can use
in his board work. There are over 60 great issues in the archive with articles
with titles like How Much to Pay Your Executive Director, Should the Board
Raise Money: True or False? and What to Do When You Really, Really Disagree
with a Board Decision. One way to be sure that everyone on the board is clear
on his or her responsibilities is to adopt a "Board Member Agreement." The discussion
the board has about what to put in its Agreement is valuable itself, and this
sample may help you get started.

BOARD MEMBER AGREEMENT
By Jan Masaoka

I understand that as a member of the Board of Directors of ----, I have a legal
and moral responsibility to ensure that the organization does the
best work possible in pursuit of its goals. I believe in the purpose and the mission
of the organization, and I will act responsibly and prudently as its steward.
As part of my responsibilities as a board member:
I will interpret the organization's work and values to the community,
represent the organization, and act as a spokesperson. I will attend at least
753people of board meetings, committee meetings, and
special events.
I will make a personal financial contribution at a level that is meaningful to me.
I will actively participate in one or more fundraising activities.
I will act in the best interests of the organization, and excuse myself
from discussions and votes where I have a conflict of interest. I will stay
informed about what's going on in the organization. I will ask questions
and request information. I will participate in and take responsibility for making
decisions on issues, policies and other board matters.I will work in good faith
with staff and other board members as partners towards achievement of our goals.
If I don't fulfill these commitments to the organization, I will expect the
board president to call me and discuss my responsibilities with me. In turn,
the organization will be responsible to me in several ways:
I will be sent, without request, quarterly financial reports and an update of
organizational activities that allow me to meet the "prudent person" section
of the law.
Opportunities will be offered to me to discuss with the executive director and the
board president the organization's programs, goals, activities, and status;
additionally, I can request such opportunities.
The organization will help me perform my duties by keeping me informed about issues
in the industry and field in which we are working, and by offering me opportunities
for professional development as a board member. Board members and staff will
respond in a straightforward fashion to questions I have that I feel are necessary
to carry out my fiscal, legal and moral responsibilities to this organization.
Board members and staff will work in good faith with me towards achievement
of our goals. If the organization does not fulfill its commitments to me, I
can call on the board president and executive director to discuss these responsibilities.
Have the Board President sign two copies of this Agreement, and ask new board
members to sign them, return one copy to the Board President, and keep the other
for reference.

Of course, as already stated, this is just a sample board agreement and has
not been adopted by the Missouri Council of the Blind. I just simply wanted
you to see how serious your position on the board is to MCB and how much we
value your commitment.
Please let me know if I can be of any assistance to you in any way. I wish all
of the candidates well in their quest for a position on the board.
See you at our convention in Kansas City.

The BOARD Cafe is published monthly by CompassPoint Nonprofit Services:
706 Mission Street
5th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94103
(phone)
415-541-9000
(e-mail) boardcafe@compasspoint.org

Best wishes to all,
Chip Hailey, MCB president

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Education and Welfare Committee Report
by Dennis Miller

The legislative session ended with very little in the way of bills affecting
the blind and visually impaired being passed. Those of you who attended our
legislative day will be happy to know that the budget items we advocated for
were all passed. The one bill that did pass which will eventually have a
positive effect on us is HB 511 which makes changes to Missouri statutes
which were needed in order to comply with the Help America Vote Act.

Speaking of the Help America Vote Act, you will recall that in the last
Chronicle I wrote about a committee I was serving on which was writing the
state plan necessary to comply with HAVA. This committee has completed the
task it was charged with doing and I am proud to say that the language
needed to ensure that accessible voting machines would be available in each
polling place was included. Therefore, blind and visually impaired
Missourians will, over the next few years, be able to go to their polling
place and cast a truly secret ballot by using a machine that will have voice
output and text enlargement capabilities. Again, thank you to those who
testified at the public hearings that the secretary of state held throughout
Missouri. Your testimony helped make this possible.

You will find elsewhere in the Chronicle an article by Bev Armstrong
regarding our work with blind pension. We are very lucky to have someone
with Bev's knowledge and expertise in the area of blind pension among us.

There will be an education and welfare committee meeting on Friday morning
of the convention; however at this writing, I do not have a time and place.
Consult your convention program or keep checking Tell Me at: (800) 555-8355
and once connected punch in: 1-037-100. Please also remember that this is
an election year so we will need to conduct our business and then elect an
education and welfare committee chairman.
See you in October!

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What Is Happening with the Blind Pension Fund?
by Bev Armstrong

When Dennis Miller was elected as the MCB Education and Welfare chairperson,
he asked me to work with him and particularly to work on monitoring the Blind
Pension Fund.

When the Governor presented his recommended budget for the Department of
Social Services (DOSS) in January of 2003 (which was the 2004 budget), a
number of things were noted that concerned us.

In 1991 the Missouri Legislature passed a piece of legislation which was
included in the Missouri Statutes chapter 209.040, paragraph 4. This is a
formula which states that 753people of the annual growth of the Blind Pension Fund
will be used to increase monthly pension payments. There has been an
increase in income to the Fund every year since this legislation was
implemented in 1993.

Prior to the enactment of this legislation, the Legislature was
appropriating monies from the Blind Pension Fund for Medicaid expenses of
blind people. The Statutes clearly state that blind people who are eligible
will have medical expenses covered by Medicaid but not from funds from the
Blind Pension Fund.

So beginning in 1993 DOSS began taking monies from the Blind Pension fund
for Rehab Services for the Blind, salaries and fringe benefits for those
administering the Blind Pension Fund, leasing of space in buildings as well
as parking leases for those working with the blind, and Hancock refunds.

DOSS believes they are within their rights to use monies from the Blind
Pension Fund for these purposes.

The reason, I am told by the Office of Administration, that Hancock refunds
can be taken from the Blind Pension Fund is that any fund which brings
revenue into the state treasury is subject to having funds taken for these
refunds.

It is my belief that DOSS is using a very broad interpretation of the
Statute. They figure "annual growth" on what is left after all expenses
have been taken out-- monthly blind pension payments, Services for the
Visually Impaired (RSB), salaries and fringe benefits for those
administering the blind pension, building maintenance costs and leasing.

According to my calculations there should have been increases in the monthly
pension payments every year beginning with 1993 and going through 2003. We
definitely know that there were no pension increases in 1995, 1996 or 1997.
During those three years Missouri used blind pension funds to allow them
to obtain Federal funds for RSB. (Generally, RSB'S funding comes as 803people
Federal funds and 203people state funds. At least for the past couple of years,
Missouri's 203people has been money taken from the Blind Pension Fund. For
FY 2004 it is about $2.7 million that is being taken for RSB.)

There is no pension increase scheduled for 2005.

We have sought some legal advice from the St. Louis University Law Clinic
and have been told that DOSS is misinterpreting the Statute and the Constitutional
provision.

We would like to reconcile this matter without taking legal steps, so we
have asked for a meeting with the Governor's legislative person. We have been
told this person is reviewing the same requested information which we received
from the Department of Social Services earlier this year.

If we are not successful in getting this stopped by these means, an injunction
can be filed in Mcb's behalf against Doss.

Of course, our preference would be to resolve this amicably. My belief is
that we need to correct this matter before the Governor recommends his FY 2005
budget.

I have been told that the questions may be asked of us of why we did not
say something sooner. This has been the practice since 1993 so it won't be
easy to resolve, particularly with the state being in the financial crisis of
which we are all aware.

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PUBLIC RELATIONS REPORT

Loretta and I spent two days in Kansas City at Alphapointe attending the
technology seminar. We also attended the white cane walk at Springfield, and
the Queen City get together in Springfield and handed out PR goodies at all
of these places.

We attended the ACB convention in Pittsburgh and enjoyed that also. By the
time you read this, we will have attended the Lake Stockton annual event at
Bolivar.

If you have any ideas for promotional items for PR, please contact me. I
plan on seeing you all in Kansas City in October.

I have enjoyed being Public Relations Director for the last two years. I
would like to serve another term and try to do all I can in promoting the Missouri
Council. I would appreciate all that will vote for me and give me a chance at
the next two years. Thanks for all your help. Please feel free to contact me
at anytime at 660-679-5429.

Yours truly,
Leroy Welch PR Chairman

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M.C.B. Scholarship Winners


By Phyllis Lovett

Chairman, M.C.B. Scholarship Committee

Congratulations to all of the winners of the M.C.B. scholarships:

Megen O'rourke, Chasity Jackson, Brandon White, Joseph Still, Felicia Smith,
Daniel M. Koester, Tia Teal, Shanta Peebles, Marcella Schale, Kimberly Castro,
Lisa Beacher, Amy Pefferkorn, Gustin Majtas, and Anita Michelle Ponder.

Thanks to Jean McLaughin and her husband for serving on the Committee. Each
scholarship winner will receive $1,200 to be used for educational expenses.
If you plan to attend college next year, be sure to apply for a scholarship.
You just might win one.

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The ACB Report: Hard Times Make Us Stronger
By Jerry Annunzio

The ACB board has had numerous telephone conference calls, most of which were
on the budget. After many hours, days, weeks and even months it is finished.
Although everything is not as good as we would like, the pre-convention and
post-convention board meetings went as well as could be expected. The news
is not all bad. Adversity may very well be the stimulus that is needed to
make us stronger. Our focus now is to cut out all expenses that can be cut and
work harder on the income side.

At a recent board meeting two motions were passed that could help lower the
convention expenses and raise money for the ACB general fund. The first of these
motions that passed will offer reserved prime location tables at the national
banquets for one thousand dollars. The second motion passed would seek sponsors
for the speakers' receptions at a rate of three hundred and fifty dollars or
more per reception.
A third issue came out in the form of an amendment to theBylaws. This amendment
passed and broadened the nonvoting membership category to make it much more
inclusive.
A fourth income producing event was the ACB Store. The store is now open, on
line, under the management of Pat Shreck. At the convention this year we opened
the store in the exhibition hall and were very pleased with the response. Sales
were just under five thousand dollars. For the first time out and a limited
number of items we did very well.
Thanks to all of you who stopped by our store.

A rumor came to me that the board was going to cut out the Braille Forum.
No, we will not cut out the Forum, although the staff is looking for ways to
cut costs. The Braille Forum is far too valuable to cut short, but it is not
a bad thing to look for ways to live within our budgets. At this time every
ACB project needs to be running at top efficiency.

As I said before, the board cuts itself first. Our September ACB board meeting
will be in Washington DC. All board members will cover all their own expenses
for that meeting. That will save ACB several hundred dollars per member.

The good news is that we are not resting. No one is giving up. In fact, adversity
does make us stronger. An example of that is "People of Vision," which is the
name of our newly published history. It is available for sale on the web site at:
www.www.acb.org/acbstore4
So stay focused, keep working and remember, "Together we will win."

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The Heart of America Beats for MCB
By Jerry Annunzio

Yes, it is down to the wire, the end of the line, time to hit the road and all
the other clicheso that may say it is MCB convention time in "The City of Fountains."
And yes we will have fountains, but you will have to come to the convention
to see how the Kansas City people have worked them into this year's program.

Now for the things you need to know. Remember the number sixteen. The
cutoff date to make sure you can get the convention room rate is
September sixteenth. If you need a special meal for any of the planned
meal functions you must let Patti in the MCB office know no later than
September sixteenth. And do not forget the banquet cost is sixteen
dollars.

All convention activities will be in the Adams Mark Hotel. It is located
at 9103 East 39th Street, just north of Interstate 70 and east of Blue
Ridge Cutoff. At that point your driver will be able to see the hotel.
The room rate is $59 per night, single, double, triple or quad.
If you are not state tax exempt, the room tax is 13.4753people. The toll free
phone number is 1-800-444-ADAM (800) 444-2326. The local number is 816-737-0200.
Check-in time is 3:00 PM and check out is Noon. The hotel doors are not
tall enough to accommodate horse and rider so please leave your ride
outside.
If for some reason you need a meeting room and you forgot to let me know
earlier, just contact me and I will do my best to help. The cutoff date
for that was July ninth. But who knows, miracles do happen, so we will do
our best.
Remember the swimming pool, the parking, the hotel van and the grass is
complementary. No, not that kind of grass. I mean the grass for the guide
dog relief areas. Oh, and do not forget to tip the van drivers if you have
them take you somewhere to eat, to party, to sight seeing or whatever.

We will have a small crafts room this year so don't forget to bring your
crafts to display and or sell. Please mark them with your name and the
price on each item. Even if they are crafts that you have made, full size
automobiles and airplanes must remain outside in the parking lot.

As you can tell, we are ready for all of you to come to Kansas City
October ninth through the twelfth for tons of fun, loads of Barbecue and
lots of Jazz.

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Remembering Frank Matoushek

The Missouri Council of the Blind lost one of its leaders in the passing
of Frank Matoushek, who died on July 26 at the age of 90. Here is the obituary
for Frank Matoushek as it appeared in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch:

MATOUSHEK, FRANCIS L. FRANK, fortified with the Sacraments of Holy Mother
Church, Sat., July 26, 2003; beloved husband of Shirley Specht Matoushek (nee
Boennighausen) and the late Delphine Matoushek; dear stepfather of Beverly (the
late Bud) Groepper, Donald (Billie) Hobart, Christine (Jim) Gorman, Deborah
(Glen) Haman, Leroy 'Lee' (Jaina) Specht, Beverly (Brian) Bremer and Sandra
(Matt) Zahradka; dear brother of the late Lawrence Matoushek; our dear step-grandfather
of 19; step-great-grandfather of 12; step-great-great-grandfather of 8; brother-in-law,
uncle, great-uncle, great-great-uncle, cousin and friend to many; dear grandson
of the late Bohemian King of St. Louis. Funeral from KUTIS AFFTON Chapel, 10151
Gravois, Tues., July 29, 9:30 addm. to St. Timothy Church for
9 addm. Mass. Interment SS. Peter and Paul Cemetery. Member of Harmony Lions.
(Lions Rose Service Mon., 7 pddm.) R.I.T.E. for the Blind and Missouri Council
for the Blind. In lieu of flowers, contributions to the Lions Eye Foundation,
P.O. Box 510381, St. Louis, MO 63151-0381 appreciated. Visitation Mon., 2-9
p.m.

Of course, the bare facts in this obituary hardly describe the many activities
engaged in by this energetic man. Frank was not born blind, but I have been
unable to find out just when or under what circumstances he lost his sight.
I am told that before he went blind, he worked for or operated a concrete company
and also owned a grape vineyard in St. James, Missouri. After becoming blind,
he got involved in the vending stand program and had several locations in St.
Louis. Frank was the first President of the Executive committee of Blind Vendors
in Missouri and served on the Board of BOMB, Business Opportunities for Missouri
Blind. He was also active with the Harmony Lions and held many offices, including
President. He was also President of RITE. After his retirement from the vending
program, he was hired as the Executive Director for MCB, a position he held
from 1985 until 1996 or 1997, supervising the daily operations of the MCB office,
planning conventions and representing the Council whenever he was asked to do
so. I am told that he was an avid poker player and we all know how much he loved
to talk and tell good stories. Mark Gillam told me that one of the most surprising
things Frank ever did occurred on an evening when he won an award from the Lions.
Mark said he came up to accept the award, said he was speechless and sat down,
no doubt leaving everyone else in the room speechless as well. Frank was a tireless
worker for the blind and a dear friend to many in the blind community. He will
certainly be missed by all who knew and worked with him.

Back to Index


A Letter From Bessie Reece

Dear Fellow Council Members,
I offer you my humble thanks and gratitude for the great honor of being selected
to receive a lifetime membership of the American Council of the Blind. On
Sunday, July 5, 2003, I was presented with a beautiful wooden plaque at the
42nd Annual ACB Convention in Pittsburgh, Pa.
Thank you all very much and God Bless Y.
Yours in Christ,
Dr. Bessie Reece

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Candidate Corner:


At this Year's Convention, we will have elections for Treasurer, Public Relations
Director and the three Directors on the MCB Board. Here are the letters which
I received from candidates planning to run for those Board positions.

For the past two years it has been my pleasure to serve as Treasurer of MCB.
You never realize the great responsibility that comes with this office until
you are in that position. It takes several hours each week to keep everything
caught up.

I feel that some of the changes we made will streamline the office for future Treasurers.

I have decided to run for this position during the October State Convention
in Kansas City. I hope that I have fulfilled the office of Treasurer well
enough to count on your vote in October.

Linda has been a great help to me and I could not have done the job without
her assistance.

See you in October and Thanks for your support over the past years.

Bill R. Burris
ea
To All MCB Affiliates and Members at Large,

I would like to take this opportunity to address you because I won't be able
to attend our convention this year in October due to work schedule conflicts.

As the time draws near for our convention and annual election process, I
would like to address you now.

Dr. Bessie Reece has been an active and loyal member of the Mo. Council
of the Blind for 45 years, dating all the way back to before its inception when
it was still the Mo. Federation of the Blind. In the past, she has served on
the Board of the MCB Credit Union before it was dissolved. She was a member
of the Tower Club of the Blind and served as First Vice President and Secretary
for them.

She is currently a member of Agape Council of the Blind and has served as
Secretary, Treasurer, and Legislative Representative to MCB for us.

Dr. Reece and her husband Thomas both attended Mo. School for the Blind
and have been prominent members of the Blind Community and their Church Family
all their lives. They have raised three children who have also taken prominent
roles in the Council and in the Community. Dr. Reece has gone on to work hard
and to receive her Doctorate of Theology from Lael College and Grad. School.
She currently has a thriving prison ministry. To be sure, she has her finger
on the pulse of our community and its needs for the blind--especially concerning
accessibility issues, voters rights, health, education and welfare of the blind.
As recording secretary of Agape Council of the Blind, I respectfully submit
Dr. Bessie Reece's name to be considered for nomination in October, for a directorship
position on the MCB Board.
Sincerely,
Karen L. Hawkins
Secretary,
Agape Council of the Blind

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In Memoriam: Robert Paul Priddy

November 23, 1942 - March 26, 2003


by David Plumlee

Many of us were saddened by the sudden passing of Robert Paul (Bob)
Priddy on the evening of March 26, 2003. Those who knew him well
enjoyed his humor and gained much from his knowledge of radio
broadcasting in the Kansas City area. He was well versed on country
music of the 40's, 50's, and 60's along with 50's and 60's rock. He had
a large collection of records, Cd's, and tapes of this music along with
many old-time radio shows. If anyone played an oldy for him, he could
quickly determine whether it was "right" or whether it was a "remake"
or an "out-take." I learned much from him about the history of radio
broadcasting in the Kansas City area, and he could entertain friends
with many reminiscences about Kansas City Radio.

Bob was active in amateur radio, helping many people obtain their ham licenses.
He was a charter member of the Kansas City Association for the Blind Amateur
Radio Club (KCABARC), and he was President at the time of his death.

He enjoyed the computer hobby; he, along with a few more of us
"computer buffs" in the Greater Kansas City area, often helped
visually impaired computer users with matters of operation, software,
and hardware. He had a strong interest in weather, and he made
extensive use of services on radio and the Internet to keep track of
weather conditions.

Bob was active in the alumni association of the Kansas School for the
Blind, having served as President for several years in the mid-90's and
also serving on the committee which judged the craft projects made by KSB students.

He had the ability to cheer people when they were sad, and he knew how
to lighten a situation with laughter. Those who knew him well enjoyed
many good laughs in his company. He also had an in-depth knowledge of
the Bible, and he taught a Sunday School class in his church for many
years. He used his Open Book program to read many books on religion,
especially in the area of prophecy. Bob had a remarkable memory
concerning dates: He could tell you immediately the day of the week on
which a date fell; if that date was during his lifetime, he could often
tell you what he was doing on that date or recall an event of interest
on that date.

He worked for twenty-seven years as a typist for the Food and Drug
Administration, and he also worked for two and one-half years at Alpha
Pointe workshop.
On October 21, 1967, he married Bobbye, and they enjoyed thirty-five
years of loving marriage. He was a long-time member of Christian
Fellowship for the Blind and Allied Workers for the Blind. We who knew
him well will miss him and long remember his life and influence in the
Greater Kansas City area.

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Talking ATMS in Missouri
From The Editor: I have been reading a lot lately about the increase in the
use of talking automatic teller machines for blind and visually impaired people.
There seem to be lots of them in many parts of the country, but what about Missouri?
Well, Robyn Wallen has researched the topic and has compiled a list of talking
ATMS in the St. Louis and Kansas City areas. Each listing has a general location
followed by the address. Thanks, Robyn. I hope you will check these out for
yourselves.

For the past two years I did some research and found these locations for
Talking ATMS in the St. Louis Area. County Locations are first but city is below
so please scan and try them out.
Robyn

Westport: 2200 Westport Drive
Bridgeton: 12430 Still Charles Rock Road
Missouri Baptist Hospital: 3015 North Ballas
Bass Pro Outdoor World: 1365 S Fifth Still Still Charles
Harvester: 1555 Jungerman Rd
Chesterfield: 500 Chesterfield Center
Manchester: 13999 Manchester
Wash U: Small Group Housing, 6585 snowy Way
Wash U West: 7425 Forsyth
Hazelwood: 7601 North Lindbergh
Galleria South: 1155 Still Louis Galleria
Howdershell: 495 Howdershell
Wash U campus: 6515 Wydown
Clarkson: 15886 Clarkson
Sunset Hills: 10230 Watson
Crestwood Plaza: 608 Crestwood Plaza
Wash U Ambulatory Care Unit: 4921 Parkview Place
Lindell: 4625 Lindell
Cardinal Glennon Hospital: 1465 S Grand
Union Station: 1 Still Louis Union Station
Plaza 9th Still: 800 Market Street
Tower Still Louis: 100 North Broadway
Tower Still Louis Lobby: 100 ation Broadway
Lemay Ferry: 1495 Lemay Ferry

Kansas City Area
UMKC Campus: 5100 Rock Hill Road
Watkins Crossing: 6320 Prospect
Rockcreek: 2260 Armous Rd ation kansas City
North Kansas City Hospital: 2800 clay edwards drive
Truman Medical Center East: 7900 Lee Summit Lees Summit
Medical Center Independence: 17203 E 23rd Street
Antioch Center: 5307 Center Mill
Overland Park Regional Medical Center: 10500 Quiva Rd
Overland Point: 8440 135th street
Belton: 1818 E North Ave Belton Mo

There are also several at Git n Go locations in Springfield and Joplin as
well as in Quincy and in Desoto and Festus.

Robyn

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PENELOPE, THE COLOR TESTER
BY PHYLLIS LOVETT

After reading the Lower Left Hand Drawer in the June issue of the Missouri
Chronicle, I decided to write an article about my APH Color Tester. She speaks
with a British accent so I named her Penelope. I have had Penelope for about
six years. She is very useful especially now that I live alone. The Color
Tester is about the size of a remote control. It is a mini computer, which
can determine colors. You place the small end against the item and press the
left side button. Penelope's clear voice will then describe the color such
as red, gray with tones of brown or white. She is very picky as she tells me
all of my white things are pale gray. To determine the shade, intensity and
hue of the color, you press the right side button. The Color Tester is expensive,
around $700 but well worth it. I use it to match my socks, clothes and even
to match yarn or threads. The battery is rechargeable and lasts a long time.
I would be lost without Penelope and I use her at least three times a day. I
haven't seen the new one from Ann Morris Enterprises so I can't compare them.
With my Penelope, I know that when I leave the house, my clothes and socks match.
The Color Tester is a product which lives up to its advertisement.

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Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Thursday, July 03, 2003

MCCOY STILL HAS TRUE BASEBALL VISION


The gent in the PNC Park press box with the flashlight, the magnified-screen
laptop and the large-print scorebook filed three stories last night for the
readers of tomorrow's Dayton Daily News. Just another day in a 31-year career
of covering the Cincinnati Reds. Just another Hall of Fame performance by a
baseball writer headed at month's end for Cooperstown and a ceremony that will
cause him to miss his first Reds road trip.

What, Hal McCoy slack off because of a stroke behind his other eye? "Don't
intend to," said the gent prepared to write two stories today and five more
tomorrow, on a holiday.

McCoy is legally blind. His field of vision is a blurry tunnel at perpetual
dusk, and his peripheral view and the perspective below his waist is completely
gone. During our conversation, he would gesture, and accidentally thump my left
knee. He needs someone to drive him to home games, a 2 1stb-hour commute from
Dayton to Cincinnati's Great American Ball Park. He needs the flashlight to
locate anything he drops on the floor, the extra-strength screen to look over
his own words, the biggie-sized scorebook to continue to record every out of
every game of every year spent on a beat that essentially kept him on the road
for nearly 14 full years of his 62.

Two years ago this August, heading to his press-box seat in St. Louis, he
lost half the vision in his right eye because of a sudden stroke to the optic
nerve. No headaches. No warning. A blur, just like that. The condition is known
as ischemic optic neuropathy, and that's about the only part on which specialists
seem to agree. One quoted him 15 percent odds that it would happen to his other
eye.

"My left eye took over. Continued to drive. Played tennis three or four times
a week. Forgot all about it. Until January 23."

That day, barely a month after fellow baseball scribes voted him into the
Hall as the prestigious J.G. Taylor Spink Award winner, McCoy awoke to find
he beat those odds with his left eye.

A total blur. Just like that.

"I'll admit, after it happened, and during spring training, there were a
lot of frustrating days and a lot of tears. I thought something that I loved
so much was going to be taken from me. It's pushed me. Pushed me hard. But millions
of people are worse off than me. I'm still getting to do what I love to do."

Here's a sports writer who displays the kind of perseverance daily that rivals
the perseverance of the people he writes about. But his is a tale beyond the
margins of a newspaper page. It's a story of respect in sports, of all things.
A story of amazing support from readers, employers, competitors and the very
people he covers--Reds players.

McCoy already has a portion of his Hall speech written for July 27, the part
in which he personally thanks Reds third baseman Aaron Boone.

McCoy remembers walking into the Sarasota, Fla., clubhouse that appeared
more dark and foreboding than ever before. He remembers feeling he would have
to quit the first morning of spring training. He remembers this 30-year-old
player sitting him down at his locker and lecturing "the hell out of me."

"He told me about what was going on with him and that he didn't think he
was going to be able to continue," Boone recalled. "I just listened to him and
told him, `No. That's not good enough.""

Boone offered help at every turn. Same with Sean Casey of Upper St. Clair.
Ken Griffey Jr., too. And more.

"I think everybody respects him," Boone said. "I think we're all better off
that he's still doing what he does and still, as much as ever, he has his finger
on what's going on in this clubhouse.

"Of course, I joke with him from time to time: `Hey, I'm over here.""

Boone teasingly yelled about the subject matter across the PNC Park visitors
clubhouse to Casey the other day. "We do more interviews about Hal than us,"
Casey said. "But he knows he has a support system here. I admire Hal for his
attitude and the way he's handled this whole thing."

McCoy is the leadoff jokester when it comes to the eyesight that will never
return. He knocks over his share of chairs and garbage cans in the clubhouse,
steps on enough gloves and spikes that would elicit angry screams most anywhere
else. He tells folks it's OK to laugh at him when he interviews the Coke machine.

Last winter, when McCoy first went to Dayton Daily News sports editor Frank
Corsoe with his eye-test results, both men cried. The bosses offered him a choice:
write a column or continue to try to cover the Reds. His wife, Nadine, shoved
him out the door to Sarasota. For the record, she figured he'd only last a week.

Tony Jackson of the Cincinnati Post became his Florida chauffeur, though
Jackson maintained he benefited from their everyday companionship. The rest
of the Reds beat writers, many of whom received McCoy's counsel when they first
started on the job, now escort him to clubhouses and hang even closer. His paper
dispatched a newsroom assistant to drive him to and from Cincinnati on game
days, a duty lately awarded to an intern.

True, he has made accommodations. He wears yellow-tinted bifocals. He carries
a third briefcase to games, with the flashlight, binoculars, magnifying glass
and all. He uses a foot to carefully feel out that first step, though he tumbled
down a Denver airport escalator in late April and tore a hole in his favorite
jeans. Stress makes his eyesight condition worsen, he said, "and airports are
always stressful."

Look at him now.

He threw out the first pitch when the Reds played at Tampa Bay in mid-June.
Last week, he was given Hal McCoy Day by the Dayton Dragons minor-league team
and another first pitch. He gets his own mound ceremony July 21 in Cincinnati.

Expect him to toe the rubber and throw a third strike.

Pretty impressive in a game in which the umpire is supposed to be legally
blind, not the writer.

"We love Hal," said Casey, echoing a sentiment the writer hears from several
hard-bitten scribes nowadays. "Guys in this clubhouse have reached out to Hal
because of who he is as a person. He's always fair in how he writes. He never
makes the player look like a complete idiot, you know what I mean? And he writes
it as he sees it."

No malaprop there. McCoy writes in the style befitting the grand old game,
even if he cannot make out much of any ball beyond the infield. He is clear,
witty, accessible, knowledgeable and forthright. Long considered among baseball's
finest reporters, he graced the cover of an inaugural edition of an ill-fated
magazine devoted to sports writing. He is no Reds apologist, which caused former
owner Marge Schott to ban him from the ballpark dining room and use his newspaper
column for, uh, Schotzie relief appearances.

His sports writing journey started when he was an Akron East High basketball
player who asked to write for the school newspaper about his team. After graduating
from Kent State, where he played baseball with future Yankees player-general
manager Gene Michael, a career was jump-started. The Dayton paper had him covering
all kinds of sports--high schools, University of Miami, University of Dayton,
golf, auto racing, the defunct NBA Cincinnati Royals, the Cleveland Browns--before
a boss offered him a choice in his 11th year there, 1973: baseball or the Bengals.

"I'm sure glad I took the Reds," he said with a smirk.

In an age of Jayson Blairs and uncaring management and athletes behaving
badly, it's a blessing to hear of a few good people coming together.

Baseball's better off because of them. We all are.

Back to Index


The Washington Post
Tuesday, July 15, 2003

Insights Into Loss; Macular Degeneration Demands Harder View
By Elinor Waters

Some things about having low vision are funny. Like the time I served my
husband vanilla ice cream mixed with chicken fat. (I thought it was lemon sherbet.)
For the most part, though, being visually impaired is a frustrating experience
that can transform your life. It did mine.

Five years ago I was diagnosed with age-related macular degeneration (AMD),
joining 1.6 million other Americans with a condition that is the leading cause
of low vision among older adults in this country. Since then, the disease has
progressed so that today I cannot drive, read without electronic aids, recognize
faces or shop without help.

Since the initial diagnosis, I have gone through all the stages of grief,
alternating between feeling afraid, depressed, angry and accepting. Sometimes
I feel like I am playing the children's game Chutes and Ladders. As soon as
I make it up a ladder and become more accepting of my situation, I hit a bump
and slide down a chute. For example, I was proud when I flew to San Francisco
alone to visit family, then devastated when I could not respond to my grandson's
request to read him a story.

I've received counseling from another mental health professional. But what
has helped me most has been meeting with other people who are visually impaired.
As a former gerontological counselor, I have led groups with older adults for
many years. Now I'm not just doing this for them--I'm doing it for me.

In the support group, sponsored by Iona Senior Services, we share feelings
and strategies for coping--from how to cross the street safely to how to ask
for help without crying. We talk about fears of losing independence and becoming
a burden. And we laugh a lot about the difficulties and crazy situations we
encounter.

One man, a retired military officer, told us how he sometimes tries to answer
people who are talking as they walk down the street. "I think they are talking
to me, because I can't see their cell phones," he says.

Another, a retired business executive, recounts a common response when he
asks for directions. "Turn right when you see that big white house on the corner,"
someone will say to him. When he explains that he can't do that, he says, "the
helpful stranger usually repeats the same directions, but in a much louder voice."

It's a good thing we can laugh.

AMD comes in two forms, "dry" and "wet." Both affect the macula, the central
part of the retina. The dry form is far more common and progresses much more
slowly--though eventually it can steal just as much vision.

In dry AMD, the light-sensitive cells in the macula break down, gradually
eroding vision. In wet AMD, abnormal blood vessels grow behind the retina. These
blood vessels may leak blood and fluid under the macula, causing rapid vision
loss. Although only 10 percent of people with AMD (myself included) have the
wet form, it accounts for 90 percent of the severe vision loss associated with AMD.

My AMD first showed up after I had cataract surgery. Though the surgery was
deemed a success, my vision didn't improve, so I was referred to a retina specialist.
He used fluorescein angiography, a procedure that involves injecting dye into
a patient's arm, then taking pictures of the back of the eye at several time
intervals to detect and measure the leakage of blood and other fluids. The doctor
found significant leakage in my left eye. A year later, more angiograms showed
my right eye was affected, too.

Because my eyes were deteriorating at an unusually rapid rate, I visited
two major eye care centers, the Wilmer Eye Institute at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore
and Wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia. Despite my desire to try anything that
might help, I was deemed ineligible for several clinical trials because my type
of wet AMD didn't fit their research protocols.

I did participate in one trial of photodynamic therapy, but later found I
had been in the placebo group. I have had many feeder vessel laser treatments,
designed to cut off the flow of blood to the larger blood vessels in the center
of the retina, but I don't know if they've slowed progression of the disease.

At this point, most of my central vision is gone, but peripheral vision enables
me to get where I want to go by walking or riding the Metro. My focus now is
on making the best possible use of the vision I have left and on emotionally
accepting my situation. This hasn't always been easy.

Losing your vision doesn't threaten your life, but it can change your lifestyle,
damage your self-image and leave you in fear that the independence you treasure
will be stolen along with your eyesight. I've gotten a lot of help from a low-vision
specialist, a mental health professional, visits to resource centers that demonstrate
low-vision aids and technology, and especially from other people who are coping
with the loss of their vision.

For people like me, or those who are just entering the world of limited eyesight,
a good low-vision specialist is invaluable. Suleiman Alibhai, who practices
in Virginia and Maryland, sees his job as not just assessing eyesight, but helping
people in a process of rehabilitation. He helps introduce patients to a huge
range of devices including specialized magnifying glasses, telescopic lenses
and electronic video magnifiers.

I've learned, with equal parts frustration and gratitude, to make use of
this technology. My computer has a software program, ZoomText, that magnifies
words on the screen and also talks. I have a closed-circuit television that
enlarges text, enabling me to do some reading on a monitor. Without these two
pieces of equipment, I could not have written this article.

I also listen to talking books, available without charge from special needs
libraries. I use "bump dots" to help me locate settings on stove dials, safety
pins to distinguish blue clothes from black ones, and rubber bands to identify
particular medications. I have a talking watch, clock and calculator, and I
call telephone information without cost. I fall, burn and cut myself less often
than when I could see well, because I am more careful. The downside is that
everything takes longer than it used to.

Amy Gabala, director of the Low Vision Information Center in Bethesda, says
people are amazed by the hundreds of low-vision aids available--from talking
clocks and check-writing guides to an enormous variety of magnifiers and closed-circuit
televisions. "The technology that's available today makes it possible for nearly
everyone who has low vision to do the things they want to do, even if they have
to do it in a different way than they're used to," Gabala says.

Other experts can provide mobility training--helping people with impaired
vision learn to use a white cane, take the Metro and buses safely, or otherwise
learn to get around without bumping into things. They can also help people learn
to modify their homes and offices to accommodate their limited vision.

In addition to acquiring helpful equipment and gadgets, those of us with
low vision need to attend to the emotional impact of our disease.

At one point, when I was doing a lot of crying, I realized that I needed
help in handling my depression and ups and downs. Fortunately I found a social
worker who helped me come to terms with my situation.

My support group has been another source of help. Group members encourage
each other to stay involved in activities they enjoy and to try new ventures.
Several members, who want to be useful to others, do volunteer work. Two of
them help people in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease. A former seamstress--who
can still identify colors and fabrics but has trouble crossing the street--volunteers
in a church thrift shop.

Such activities convey our main message, that we want to lead active, independent
and meaningful lives despite the challenges posed by our low vision. The challenges
are real, but so is our determination.

When one almost totally blind member was asked how she manages to prune her
rose bushes, she replied, "Same way I always did, but with a few more ouches."
She now grows flowers and herbs that she can identify and enjoy by smell.

Back to Index


BUYING BLIND
by Carol Fleischman

This was sent to the MCB List by Judy Burch who got it off another list she
belongs to. She thought it was funny, and so do I and so, I think, will you.

Have you ever tried to buy a dress when you can't see? I have, because I'm
blind. At one time, I would shop with friends. This ritual ended after an incident
showed me that I needed to be more discriminating about their tastes. Happily
bringing home a dress which a friend helped me to choose, my husband,
Don, offered a surprising observation: "The fit is great, but do you like all
the huge fish?" The dress went back.

Now I rely on Don and my guide dog, Misty, as my shopping partners. We enter
the store and make a beeline for the dress department. Don sees two or three
sales people scatter. The aisles empty, as if a bomber is on the scene. Then,
I realize I'm holding the "live wire." I'm not judgmental--once I, too, was
uneasy around large dogs. Although she is better behaved than most children,
I know a 65 pound German Shepherd is imposing.

One recent shopping trip, a brave salesman approached us. "Can I help you?"
she said to my husband.

"Yes, I'm looking for a dress," I replied since I will wear it, not him.
"Maybe something in red or white."

"RED or WHITE," she said, very slow and loud, though my hearing is fine.
I managed not to fall as Misty jumped back on my feet frightened by the woman's
booming voice. Don was distracted too. I heard him rustling through hangers
on a nearby rack. I called his name softly to get his attention. Another man
answered my call. What were the chances of two Dons being in earshot?

"This is great!" Don said, holding up a treasure. I swept my hand over the
dress to examine it. It had a neckline that plunged to the hemline.
"Himm''''"
I walk three miles daily with Misty and stay current with fashion, but I'm positive
this costume would look best on one of the Spice Girls.

Finally, I chose three dresses to try on. Another shopper distracted Misty,
even though the harness sign reads: "Please do not pet. I'm working." She said:
"Your dog reminds me of my Max, who I recently put to sleep," so I am sympathetic.
We discuss her loss for fifteen minutes (some therapists don't spend that much
time with grieving clients).

Don was back. He told me the route to travel to the dressing room. I commanded
Misty: right, left, right and straight ahead. We wove our way past several
small voices: "Mom, why is that dog in the store?" "Mom, is that a dog or a
wolf?" My personal favorite is: "But that lady's eyes are open." I trust these
parents to explain: "The lady is giving her guide dog commands. Her dog is a
helping dog. They are partners." I questioned whether this positive message
has been communicated when I heard an adult say, "Oh, there is one of those
blind dogs."

Other people, though well intentioned, can interfere with my effective use
of Misty. Guide dogs are highly trained and very dependable, but
occasionally
make potentially dangerous mistakes. On my way through the aisles, Misty bumped
me into a pointed rack, requiring my quick action. I used a firm voice to
correct her, and she dove to the ground like a dying actress.

Witnessing this performance, another shopper chastised me for being cruel.
I was shocked. Misty's pride was hurt, but I needed to point out the error in
order to avoid future mistakes. If I did not discipline her, what would prevent
Misty from walking me off the curb into traffic?

Composing myself, I was delighted by the salesperson's suggestion: "Can I
take you to your dressing room?" I was less delighted when she grabbed me and
pushed me ahead while Misty trailed us on a leash. I wriggled out of the woman's
wrestling hold. Gently pushing her ahead, I lightly held her elbow in sighted
guide technique (called so, because the person who sees goes first).

"This is better. Please put my hand on the door knob. I'll take it from here,"
I said. In the room, Misty plopped down and sighed with boredom. I sighed with
relief that she was still with me. Once, I was so preoccupied with trying on
clothes that Misty sneaked out beneath the dressing room doors. I heard her
tags jingling as she left, but was half dressed and couldn't retrieve her. Fortunately,
Don was outside the door and snagged her leash.

I modeled the dresses for Don and, feeling numb, bought all three. Leaving
the store, Misty's magnetism, like the Pied Piper, attracted a toddler who draped
himself over her. She remained calm as he tried to ride her. The boy's fun was
soon foiled by his frantic mother.

When we returned to our car, I gave Misty a treat and lots of praise. A good
day's work deserves a good day's pay for both of us. "Shop till you drop" or
"retail therapy" could never be my motto. To me, "charge" means going into battle.

Back to Index


Minister is held in hit-and-run accident;
Student Struck On Grand Boulevard Dies Of Injuries
By HANNAH BERGMAN
Post-Dispatch
08stajstbjjc


>From The Editor: I have included this newspaper story because DeJuan Banks
was a student at the Missouri School for the Blind. Many of us are quite familiar
with this intersection. This is the same intersection where June Lenk was struck
by a car several months ago. DeJuan had a summer job at the Six Flags Amusement
Park. I do not know whether he was using his white cane when he was hit by the
car. A memorial service was held on August 11 for DeJuan Banks at the intersection
where he was struck. A memorial fund has been established to help the family
with funeral and medical expenses. Donations may be sent to the DeJuan Banks
Memorial Fund, Gateway Metro Credit Union, 1001 Pine, St. Louis, MO 63101.

Police arrested a Kentucky minister in Friday's hit-and-run accident on South
Grand Boulevard that resulted in the death of a 16-year-old athlete.

The victim, DeJuan Banks of Cool Valley, died at St. Louis University Hospital
Saturday afternoon. He had been listed in critical condition after he was struck
about 4 p.m. Friday, just north of the intersection of South Grand and Magnolia
Avenue.

While it will be several weeks before an accident reconstruction team determines
exactly what happened, police say Banks was crossing Grand in the 2700
block
when he was struck by a silver Chevrolet that was traveling southbound.

He was just north of the intersection with Magnolia near the Missouri School
for the Blind. There are signs at the intersection cautioning drivers that pedestrians
may be visually impaired.

The School for the Blind's Web site says Banks was on the wrestling and track
teams.

Maj. Roy Joachimstaler, commander of the South Patrol Division, said the
extent of Banks' vision impairment is unclear, along with how that could have
contributed to the accident. Police say Banks may have been walking toward a
bus stop when he was struck.

The driver of the Chevrolet turned himself in to St. Louis police about 10
addm. Saturday, Joachimstaler said. The driver told police that he knew he hit
someone and panicked, leaving the scene.

Police have not released the driver's name but said the man is in his 50s.
He remains in custody, and Joachimstaler said he expected the driver to be charged
with a felony count of leaving the scene of an accident.

Back to Index


Affiliate Affairs
Where we find out what's happening in your part of MCB

Blind of Central Mo

Thursday July 31, 2003

The week of camp was really a blast,

The activities make the week go by fast.


Hello to everyone from Sedalia.

We had our annual picnic on Thursday July 10th. It was held at Liberty Park.
We had hamburgers, hot dogs, potato salad, potato chips, baked beans, veggies
and dip, cake, fruit, s'mores, and assorted kinds of soda to drink. Unfortunately
we didn't get to ride the train because a few days earlier, it jumped the track.
I understand on Saturday it was running again. Oh well, better luck next year.

We had a good time at camp. The staff was great as always. The activities
were great, and we had some very good talent. I would say the best and most
unique talent on the show was when Ned Cox passed around his melody bells. Eventually
all of the audience got to participate in playing them.

Well, this is Trudy saying So long until our next report. Keep a smile and,
a song in your heart. In addition, If you can't be good, be good at it.

This is Galen with my two cents worth. Not too long ago, I had the chance
to show the note teller in a couple of places. One was at our local bank here
in Sedalia, and another place was at our favorite grocery store, Woods. I also
explained to the people at both locations about how many more people that are
blind should have access to these kinds of devices without having to pay an
outrages price.

I also informed as many people as I knew about Cobblestone camp, and how
they really went out of their way to make sure that we had a great time.

I have also been active in educating the public on technology, Braille, and
the use of each item as well as ways that blind people use different methods
to accomplish what they do. For the most part, I didn't notice much in the way
of complaints.


Delta Area Blind

Greetings from Delta Area Blind,

We have had several people ill. Barbara and Marvin Shelton have had more
than their share of illness. Mickie Ormsby had two surgeries in six months.
She is now doing great and back to most of her normal activities, including
doing cardiac exercises at the YMCA. Andrew Ormsby had a light heart attack
in June and had to have a stint put in his heart.

We plan to have our annual picnic in September.

Some of our members had a great time at the River City Workers picnic in Cape Girardeau.

We also hope to have a Christmas fund raiser at the Convention.

Some of us will see you at the Convention. Until then, God bless all of you.
Mickie Ormsby
P. S., A big heart-felt thank you to the St. Louis Council of the Blind for
choosing one of of our Delta Area blind members to receive the wonderful Jim
Henderson award for 2003. Her name is La Wanna Copeland. She is one of our hard
working sighted members. By the time people read the Chronicle, it will already
have been presented at our august meeting. Thanks again, St. Louis Council of
the Blind. La Wanna will be surprised and grateful.
Marie Thompson

Joplin Service Club of the Blind

Hello again from Joplin.

Summer has arrived. When I wrote the last
article
it was pretty cool and people were hoping for warmer weather.
We
continue to receive some rain so everything is pretty and green.

Our area was hit May 4th by the very devastating tornados; lives were lost
and damage was in the millions. People are picking up the pieces and trying
to start over.

On May 13th eight of our club attended the play at the "Joplin Little Theater"
and enjoyed it very much.

At our board meeting May 13th, Margie Shuey joined the club.

May 15th, nine of our people went to the North Park Mall in honor of "White
Cane Week." They were met by our mayor, Richard Russell, and he

presented Mildred Long (our president) with a proclamation in honor of
"White Cane Week."

Eleven from our club attended camp the first week of June.

On June 21st thirteen of our club made the trip to Branson to see the Dutton's
family show. We all enjoyed the show and the Dutton family treated us like we
were royalty.

The United Way day of caring was held June 18th at the Schifferdecker Park.
Volunteers from different businesses helped to prepare and serve the food. Some
of the volunteers played Beeper Ball with the children. All had a great time.

This week has been a very sad week for me as I just returned from North Carolina
where my oldest son, Steve York, suffered a heart attack and passed away July
20th. I ask for your prayers.

Sincerely,

Valva York, P.R.

Lake Stockton Area Council of the Blind

Hello from Lake Stockton.

It really is hot out today. It has been in the 90's for a few days now. It
has been a rough summer with the terrible tornados around us. We are thankful
our members who live in Stockton made it through safely. It is so sad to see
the damage the storm did. It really looks like a war zone. It will take a long
time to rebuild and start over.


Our May meeting took on the theme of spring with painted flowerpots holding
flowers and seeds to plant for centerpieces. In June we took a trip to Branson.
We went to the White House, (not the big one), the one that used to be Charlie
Pride's Theater. We all enjoyed the show so much. Needless to say we would like
to go again sometime.

There is a lot of discussion about our Auction August 2nd. Our theme will
be "Let Your Light Shine." We are looking forward to having a good turnout and
lots of good food to eat. The fellowship with the different affiliates that
come makes it so special.

We had five from our affiliate that went to camp. They said they had a good
time but the weather was rather wet and cold. They really enjoyed the good food.

Pray the rest of your summer is a healthy happy one!!!!!

Blessings

Pauline Eggert, secretary


Missouri Guide Dog Users Report

Hello again from the Missouri Guide Dog Users,

I can not believe that by the time you read this article summer will be gone
and we will be thinking about the coming Holidays.

It is time for elections for new Guide Dog Users officers. Be thinking about
who you would like to elect for President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer.
I am listing these offices because we have some new members.

I would like to say a big thank you to all of you who sent your dues to Linda
Hailey.

We will also be voting on some proposed new medical guidelines for our guide
dogs. Patti will send them to you around September first.

The Missouri Guide Dog Users will be paying for the breakfast this year.
The menu is the Executive Continental Breakfast, consisting of chilled fruit
juice, sliced seasonal fresh fruit, mini ham and cheese croissant, regular and
decaf coffee and herbal tea. It will be at 7:30, A.M. Friday, October 10 in
the Pantry Room. We would like to have many of our Guide Dog Users members attend
and potential new members are welcome.

I would like to thank my Board members now and the ones who worked with me
when I took office. I have enjoyed being your Guide Dog User President. Thanks,
Chip, for giving me the opportunity to serve. It has been a good experience
and me. Good luck, new officers.

The relief area for our guide dogs for the convention is located in the area
of the outdoor swimming pool. There will be several trash cans so please clean
up after taking your dogs to relieve themselves. Thank you.

Ethel Lee is donating three nice items to be raffled off at the convention
for a money maker for the Guide Dog Users. They are a little tv-radio combo,
a beautiful lap robe, and a porcelain doll. Tickets will be one dollar each
or six for five dollars. Thank you, Ethel for your wonderful donations. Thank
you for all your help.

See you at the Convention.


Marie Thompson, Guide Dog Users President
932 Highway 162, East
Portageville, MO 63873
Phone: 573 379-5007


Queen City Council

We hope that everyone is in good health and are getting ready for the Convention!
We are also very pleased to know our editor, John Weidlich, is doing so much
better! Our President, Jobelle Burke, who was in the hospital earlier is doing
so much better.

We have had two very good speakers just recently. In May, Ed Golden, who works
for Nagle Visual Aids, spoke to us about grieving over the loss of vision both
gradually and recently. He brought several different visual aids to demonstrate
how they work and catalogues to order from.
Vicky
Rogers spoke to us about how to maintain a positive attitude.

On July 12th, we held a pizza party with drinks and deserts for the blind children
in the area. Approximately 20 of our members attended as well. Eight of our
members attended the camp session in July and had a wonderful time.

We also are so sad to report that Dianna Meeks, one of our near and dear members
has passed away and she will really be missed. By the time you read this, football
will be in full swing so Let's hear it for the St. Louis Rams and the Kansas
City Chiefs!
We hope to see you at the Convention!
Respectfully Submitted, Marilyn Tuso

The Rite Report

It's hard to believe that by the time you are reading this, summer will be
over and convention will be just around the corner. My, time does fly.

We are sad to report the death of one of our long time members. Frank Matoushek
passed away on Saturday, July 26. He held many offices in the organization and
served as Executive Director of MCB for several years. Our prayers go out to
his wife Shirley. He will be missed.

George Hunsicker was hospitalized after suffering a slight stroke. He is now
recuperating at home.

We are getting to be busy little beavers. We are gathering used eye glasses,
slates, styli, Braille magazines and so on to send to third world countries
who are in need of such articles. We had a fundraiser at our last meeting with
the Home Interior company. Our picnic will be held on August 30 at LeMay Park.
The committee has planned a wonderful time. Several of our members went to camp
and had a wonderful time. Wish I could have been there.
Have a beautiful autumn and we'll tell you more next time. Warm blessings.
Bunny Maginnis

River City Workers of the Blind Report

Sultry summer days are upon us and as we sweat through these dog days of
summer, those of us here in the River City are grateful for the freedoms we
are able to enjoy. We have been quite busy these last few months since we last
reported and we would like to share a bit of what we have been up to here lately
with you.

The second and third of May we had a yard sale, with a really good turn
out from the community. We have found that these yard sales are a great fundraiser.
The only investment that we have in them is the cost of a classified ad, as
well as the donation of items to sell (and if you are like us we all have too
much stuff lying around the house as it is). In addition to our regular sales,
we also receive quite a few donations for which we are so thankful.

June was our busiest month. We elected officers at our meeting and they are:
Charles Werner, President; Sharon Davis, Vice President; Elaine Shirrell,
Secretary; Bill Godwin, Treasurer; and Katie Kaufman, Member at Large.
In addition we were busy planning for our picnic at Cape County Park South.
We were joined by a few of our friends from Delta Area Blind and enjoyed a delicious
meal of fresh fried chicken, hot dogs, and all the trimmings. We enjoyed a beautiful
day with almost perfect weather.

July has been a bit calmer. We all enjoyed the fourth and celebrated our
freedom. We do have three members planning on going to summer camp and we hope
that everyone there had a great time.

We want to welcome our newest member, Ruth Millitte of Jackson. She is a
wonderful individual and we look forward to having her as one of our members.

A few of our members have been under the weather lately. Mary Howard had
a stroke and a heart attack in May and she is doing well. Currently she is staying
at a rehabilitation center until she is back up on her feet. Like we said last
time it takes a lot to keep Mary down. Also Pat Fleurdelys had a stint put
in her heart in May. She is doing really well and is back in to her normal routine.

We are looking forward to the fall with our annual fall project coming up.
We are looking to possibly adopt a senior, or a needy family. We have a few
other ideas we are looking in to as well.

Thanksgiving is right around the corner and we are again planning our Thanksgiving
dinner, which is tentatively set for November 8th at the First Church of God,
500 Emerald here in Cape. Everyone is welcome to come on down for some tasty
home cooking and great entertainment.

Speaking of right around the corner'''' "Kansas City, Kansas City here we
come". We are looking forward to the upcoming convention. We enjoy being able
to see old friends and meet new ones, as well as learning more about the issues
that are important to the visually impaired community. Oh yeah, and don't forget
about that delicious Kansas City style Bar B Que.

Well until we are together again stay cool and safe, and may God Bless.
Brandi Emmons

Elaine Shirrell

Dee Niswonger

River City Workers of the Blind

Communications Committee


Southwest Missouri Friendship Council

Hello again from your fellow comrades in the Southwest corner of the state.

The past several months have certainly been busy ones for the Friendship Council.
In May, we had several of our folks attend the White Cane Walk in Springfield.
The Walk is put on by our sister affiliate, the Springfield Service Club, and
is an annual event that we are always very proud to participate in.

In June, several of our members attended summer camp, and came back saying they
had the time of their lives. When asked about camp, Helen Highley says there
is no other place on God's green earth where she can have more fun and relax
and simply enjoy life. Also in June, Tom and Elvena Smith were awarded our
distinguished service award and Mayberry Construction Company was awarded our
community service award. Congratulations to both Tom and Elvena as well as
to Mayberry Construction Company for all of the fine work they have done and
continue to do for the blind.
The awards will be presented to them at our dinner meeting in August.

In July, Chip and Linda Hailey attended the ACB National Convention in Pittsburgh
and not only came back with a lot of helpful information but also came back
telling a lot of wild stories, such as the one told about Bill Burris forgetting
his luggage with his underwear packed in it.
Rumor has it that Bill washed his only pair of underwear with his bath soap
and then hung it over the shower rod to dry. The question swirling around
MCB now is what did the MCB Teddy Bear have to sleep in.

Also in July, we had a rummage sale in which we did quite well. We would like
to thank all of those who donated items to the sale and also those who worked
the sale and made it a great success. You all did a terrific job and we applaud
your efforts. We could not have done it without you. We would also like to
thank Eujean Dody for coming all the way down from Lake Stockton to attend the
sale. In addition to our rummage sale, we were also given a very generous grant
from Sams. This money will be greatly appreciated and will certainly be put
to good use. I think we now have enough money to feed Cox's Army as they say.

Also in July, we had our dinner meeting at Crave-n-Custards, where it was said
that Tom Duvall ate so much custard that he wound up buying stock in the
place.

In August, several of our folks are very much looking forward to traveling
to Lake Stockton for its annual auction. Perhaps we will find some nice little
goody to buy for our affiliate president, Ed Forcum.

Well guys and gals, it is time once again to say goodbye. But before I leave,
I would just like to say that I think we should all thank our trail boss of
the Chronicle, John Weidlich, for putting out so many fine editions of the Chronicle.
John, you have made my listening to the Chronicle one of my favorite pastimes.
Thanks for all your fine efforts. We hope to see you all in KC for our state
convention.

Respectfully submitted,
Chip Hailey, Friendship Council Interim Public Relations Officer


The Hottest News from St. Charles:

The hot summer days are flying by way too fast. We have had a wonderful
summer. There have been new and exciting things happening here in St. Charles.
Our membership is growing. Along with new members comes new ideas and new excitement.
We elected a new treasurer, Carolann Yates, and new member at large, Brenda
Gebhart. We appreciate their dedication.
On July 13th we held our annual picnic at Fort Zumalt Park in O'Fallon. You
couldn't ask for more perfect weather, not to mention the great food and wonderful
attendance. We even had one of our member's daughter and son-in-law entertain
us with singing. None of us wanted to depart.
I look forward to seeing dear friends at Cobblestone and convention.
With deepest regards,

Beverly Kaskadden


UWB Update

Hello from your friends in UWB,

In June, we elected new officers. Our new President is Patty Schonlau. This
is the first time she has been President and she is doing a great job of conducting
the meetings. Our other officers are: First Vice President, John Weidlich; Second
Vice President, Mike Jolls, Recording Secretary, Anna Schell; Corresponding
Secretary, Bob Smith; Treasurer, Howard compton; and Members At Large, Rena
Holmes and Jack Lenk.

Several of our members attended the ACB Convention in Pittsburgh. Several
members have also been to summer camp in June and July. In July, we especially
enjoyed getting the chance to spoil Jack Lenk's grand-daughter, Sarah. She is
quite literally a bouncing baby girl.

We have lost one of our members. Nancy Wampler passed away in June.

June Lenk is currently at Leader Dog getting a guide dog. She will also be
having more eye surgery.

We were very pleased to have Bev Armstrong attend our July meeting to give
us information on the latest developments with the Blind Pension fund. Bev is
doing an excellent job of keeping us all informed on this important issue. Be
sure to read her article in the Chronicle on this subject.

You will be happy to learn that Celita White has fully recovered from her
accident. She is walking without assistance, although she still moves a little
slowly. She will still have to undergo some surgery in a few months.

Not much else to tell you this time. We hope to have more news to report
in December.
John Weidlich

Back to Index


From The Lower Left-Hand Drawer

It's time to look into that lower left-hand drawer once again for our latest
collection of products, tips and other information of interest. These are collected
from a wide variety of publications and sources. It seems that more and more
of this material is computer-related, which I know is of interest to many of
you but I also know that many of you are not
computer users and may not
be interested in some of these high-tech and expensive gadgets. I will do my
best to keep looking for a variety of material for this column and look very
hard for things of general interest. If there is anything you have come across
that you think readers would be interested in knowing about, please share it
with me.

How many of you who are Talking Book listeners remember a longtime narrator
named Dale Carter? According to an article in Dialogue Magazine, Dale Carter-Cooper,
who recorded more than 500 books for the American Printing House for the Blind
in Louisville Kentucky, is now a talking book user because of macular degeneration.
Carter-Cooper 85, began recording books for APH in 1951. She says her absolute
all-time favorite book was Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy. Other favorite books
were Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier (RC 11106) and Pride and Prejudice by Jane
Austin. Her favorite author to record was Nora Lofts. For Carter-Cooper, switching
from talking book narrator to talking book user was tough. She thought "If I
have to listen to myself, I can't stand it!" She says that having macular degeneration
has been difficult but that her life is full and satisfying. One of the biggest
adjustments for her has been arranging transportation to do the things she wants
to do. Doesn't that sound familiar? The entire article about Dale Carter can
be found in the Spring, 2003 issue of Dialogue Magazine.

The Rose Resnick Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired has an online
store called Adaptations. Shop there by visiting:
www.lighthouse-sf.org

or by calling (415) 431-1431.

Charlotte's web sites: Charlotte Thornsberry has sent along some Web sites
she thought some of you might want to check out.
www.voiceprint.ca
is a Canadian web site containing newspaper and magazine articles and DVS movies.
Articles from various newspapers and magazines can also be read or downloaded from:
www.assistivemedia.org4
You can visit:
www.soundprint.org
for some interesting documentaries. Finally,
www.comedycorner.net
has 30 years of Dr. Demento radio shows. If you don't know who Dr. Demento is,
he is a very weird disc jockey who does a weekly radio show featuring offbeat
comedy records. I used to listen to him often when his show was carried in St.
Louis. I've got to check that one out.

Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology in Minnesota
are developing a system to display graphics tactually. I'm not sure I understand
this, but here's what it says. The machine uses a thin rod under a bed consisting
of several thousand round pins. The rod pushes up the pins to draw an image
of an object on a metal plate that has one hole for each of the pins. The pins
are then locked in place. The resulting image is the size of about half a sheet
of paper. The resulting image can then be scanned into a computer. It could
be used for everything from book illustrations to web site graphics. Researchers
believe the commercial unit could be produced for around $2,000.

A company called VirTouch sells a device that is said to translate visual
information on a computer screen into tactile vibrations. Called the VT Player,
it can be used to play computer games. It is a small pad containing pins that
rise or fall depending on what is displayed on the computer screen. It costs
$695 and comes with several Windows-based computer games. For more information,
call VirTouch at: (888) 393-4040 or visit:
www.virtouch.com

This year, it is estimated that 250,000 women in the US will be diagnosed
with breast cancer. Since early detection and treatment are so crucial, the
FDA has approved a device called the Breast Self-examination Pad for over the
counter sales. For a free tape explaining how to use the pad and giving information
on prevention of breast cancer, call (888) 468-8716 or e-mail:
df4healthcs.com4

A low vision resource guide in large print is now available from Telesensory.
It has information on major eye diseases and products that help people with
low vision remain independent. The cost is $5.00 and it can be ordered from
the Telesensory-Low Vision Guide Department, 520 Almanor Avenue, Sunnyvale,
CA 94085. It can be downloaded free from
www.telesensory.com

We have mentioned in the past some sources for Braille jewelry. Here are
two new sources. Brierwood Custom Jewelry specializes in custom signet rings,
ID bracelets and earrings with Braille inscriptions. Phone: (714) 378-1345 and
ask for Rocky. Another company offering Braille jewelry is BrailleStone, (800) 630-6650.)
BrailleStone has a sterling silver spinning ring with the words "Follow Your
Dreams" in Braille for $45.00. Their web site is:
www.braillestone.com

Innovation House, a Canadian company, sells the luggage locator, a device
that allows you to find your luggage on airport carousels by sound. It consists
of a small transmitter that you attach to your luggage and a small receiver
on a key chain that lights up and makes a whistling sound when it detects your
luggage. It sells for $25.95. The phone number is (877) 661-6660.

Atomic clocks are becoming increasingly popular these days. These clocks
somehow reset themselves each day by connecting with the Naval Observatory radio
station. There is a talking atomic clock and calendar available for $60. I'm
not sure of the name of the company but the phone number is (800) 458-4888.
You can also check it out at:
www.sightconnection.com4

Someone has told me that Speak to Me has a much cheaper talking clock, but I
didn't find it in their catalog. Speaking of Speak to Me, Speak to Me now
has product announcements and demonstrations on Tell Me. Call (800) 555-8355 and
enter extension 1-361-058 or 1-874-054. Some of their new products include a
talking tape measure, a voice recognition talking universal remote control unit,
a six-hour digital recorder and a talking Bible. The phone number for Speak
to Me is (800) 248-9965.

The 2003 NCAA College football schedule is now available in Braille. It gives
schedules for over 130 college teams along with other information of interest
to the college football fan. The cost is $10 and it can be ordered from:
Allen Gillis
302 Schaeffel Road
Cullman, Alabama 35055.

The Princeton Braillists have a new item for sale. It is the Atlas of East
Asia, with Braille maps of China, Taiwan, Mongolia, North Korea, South Korea,
and Japan. There are a total of 26 maps, as well as factual information about
each country. The atlas costs $21. The address for the Princeton Braillists
is:
76 Leabrook Lane
Princeton, NJ 08540
and the phone number is (215) 357-7715 or (609) 924-5207.

Music by Ear has several new courses on tape, including Intro to the Guitar,
Intro to the Bass Guitar, Intro to the Five-string Banjo and Intro to the Piano.
For information, call (800 (484-1839, code 8123, or go to:
www.musicvi.com4

The Selective Doctor repairs Perkins Braillers and IBM typewriters. Call
before shipping (410) 668-1143.

The web site
www.govbenefits.gov
contains information about hundreds of government assistance programs and federally
funded benefit programs administered by state and local governments.

A free Bible correspondence course is available on tape. Contact:
James Vandermolen
2214 West LaRua Street
Pensacola, FL 32505

Peirce College, a 137 year-old college based in Philadelphia, is offering
blind and visually impaired people the opportunity to earn a college degree
through the Internet. Each student will have a program advisor to provide assistance.
Online support services include tutoring, library research, and career counseling.
Courses last seven weeks and sessions begin each month. Degrees can be earned
in such areas as business administration, assistive technology and paralegal
studies. For more information, go to:
www.peirceonline.net
or contact Dr. Patricia Rucker, who is the Dean of the College, at (215) 670-9282.
Her e-mail address is:
paruckerpeirce@edu4

The Food and Drug Administration has approved for sale the first device that
combines a glucose monitor and insulin pump into one unit. The device, which
combines a Medtronic MiniMed insulin pump with a Becton Dickinson glucose monitor,
is the first step toward the development of a fully automated glucose monitoring
and insulin delivery system. The unit has circuitry that allows for the transfer
of data between the two devices and software that allows transfer of data to
a personal computer. Unfortunately, the news release that I saw had no information on price.

I always say that I am not endorsing any product I mention in this column,
but I am going to talk here about something I am using and would recommend to
anyone who could use it. I have mentioned before that I have recently developed
Type Ii diabetes. Although my sugars are under very good control, I try to take
a reading at least once a day. Like many blind diabetics, I have had lots of
trouble using the meters that require you to get blood from your finger and
put it on a strip. I have recently obtained a new device that makes this task
much simpler. It is called the Precision SofTact Meter. You insert a strip and
a lancet into the meter, put the meter on your arm or on the fleshy part of
your thumb and press a button. The meter creates a suction on your skin, gets
the blood and puts it on the strip. After you hear a beep, you remove the meter
from your arm and a reading shows up in twenty seconds. The bad news is that,
although it has a very large and easy to read display, it does not talk, so
a totally blind person would need someone to read the result. Aside from that
problem, this is an extremely easy device for a blind person to use. No more
getting blood everywhere but on the strip, like I used to do. I have been told
that a new version will contain speech. I have contacted the company, urging
them to consider putting speech on this unit and telling them that there would
be a big market for such a device. The meter costs around $200. It is made by
MediSense, a division of Abbott Laboratories. You can call them at (866) 763-8228.

The National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse has compiled a diabetes dictionary
which defines many of the terms people use when talking or writing about diabetes.
It can be found at this web site:
www.niddk.nih.gov/health//diabetes/pubs/dmdict/dmdict.htm4
Now that's a web site!

Insulin Free Times is a magazine published electronically by Diabetes Portal.
It contains articles on therapies, research and clinical studies related to
finding a cure for diabetes. Read it by going to
www.insulinfreetimes.org

Most information about assistive technology comes from producers of equipment
who, quite naturally, want to promote their products by convincing you to buy
them, so, of course, they tell you how wonderful their products are. It's difficult
to find out just how these devices will perform in everyday use. For this reason,
an organization called Tech Connections has established the AT Connection, a
web-based forum where users can post their own product reviews and exchange
information about their use of assistive technology devices. The web site is:
www.techconnections.org/forum.cfm4

I imagine that many of you are currently using one of the tactile thermostats
that allow you to set the temperature in your home by listening to the clicks
on the thermostat dial. Well, if you want to go a little more high-tech, you
can now purchase a talking programmable thermostat from Bartman. It costs $149.00
or $199.00, depending on whether you want to install it yourself or have someone
from the company install it for you. Pushing the report key gives you the temperature.
It will even tell you if your filter is dirty or the battery is low. The address
for Bartman is 257 West Main Street, Monongahela, PA 15063 and the phone number
is (724) 258-9125.

I'm not much of a TV watcher, so I haven't seen these yet, but I have read
that there are three commercials on the air showing blind characters using the
sponsor's products. The ads are for the Kohler plumbing fixture company, Pontiac,
and Royal Crown liquor. The ad for Kohler shows a blind guy in a bar using a
white cane to go to the men's room. He examines the bathroom fixtures and when
he returns, tells his date, "You should see the bathroom." The Pontiac ad shows
a young woman in dark glasses driving a Pontiac at full speed through the desert.
She stops, opens the door and extends her white cane. The Royal Crown ad depicts
a young, good-looking blind guy at a bar, sipping Royal Crown and very much
aware that he is getting admiring glances from women at the bar. He says: "I
think the one on the left likes me." So why blind characters in ads? Jonah Bloom
of the industry magazine Advertising Age, says of the ads: "a blind person in
an ad is a useful vehicle for getting a message across. You are immediately
telling the viewer that there are other senses involved, other pleasures to
be derived that aren't visual. How else can you so easily convey that message?"
The blind characters in these ads are shown as young, appealing, attractive
and self-confident, a far cry from the way blind people are usually depicted
on television and in movies. However, the "blind" characters in the Kohler and
Pontiac ads aren't really blind; they are portrayed by sighted actors. Only
the Royal Crown commercial uses an actual blind actor, Peter Seymour. Nevertheless,
many people in the blind community view this as a step in the right direction.
So keep an eye on those commercials; you might just see a blind person.

The South Carolina Commission for the Blind is training blind persons to
be blood donor recruiters for the Red Cross. The training program lasts twelve
weeks and trainees are guaranteed to receive job offers. The Red Cross has more
than four thousand blood donor recruiters employed all over the country and
turn-over is high. The jobs are said to have good wages, benefits and performance
bonuses. If you are interested in learning more about this job opportunity,
contact Ed Bible at (803) 898-8786.

John Boyer operates the God Touches Internet Ministry for the disabled. It
includes prayers, poems, bible quotations, stories and more. The e-mail address is:
john@godtouches.org
and the web site is:
www.godtouches.org

How many of you still use the Franklin Talking Dictionary that came out several
years ago? I still have the one that Donna bought me and use it often. Now
a company called Premier Assistive Technology has introduced what it calls the
Ultimate Talking Dictionary. It is computer software containing definitions
for 250,000 words, plus a thesaurus. Each definition includes a sentence using
the word. It works with screen readers and does not require use of a mouse.
The cost is $29.95. For more information, or to order the dictionary, contact
the company at (815) 722-5961 or visit the web site:
www.readingmadeeasy.org
The same company, Premier Assistive Technology also sells software called PAIDF
Magic, which converts PAIDF files into text files that can be read by blind
computer users with screen readers. There are two versions, one for $59.95,
one for $99.95.

Several new products were introduced at the ACB Convention. Beyond Sight
introduced a Nokia cell phone and personal data assistant with software that
makes all of the functions accessible, including the display on the PAIDA screen.
With the software, the price is $940. The phone number for Beyond Sight is (303) 795-6455.
Jack Lenk was very impressed with a device he saw called Aviva from Talking
Solutions Corporation. It's a talking Cd player and MP-3 player that can also
be used to download and read books from the Internet. Apparently, it can also
play DVD'S and pre-recorded books. It will be available next year for around
$500. All inPlay, formerly known as As-Form, has introduced its latest computer
game, the traditional card game Crazy Eights. Their web site is:
www.allinplay.com4
Conventioneers also got to see a new Braille embosser from Enabling Technologies
called Gemini and a new mobility device called Hand Guide from Guideline Technologies.
Hand Guide uses infrared beams to signal blind travelers about objects in their
paths. I will try to bring you more information about these new devices in future
columns.

Here is news involving some of our readers. Ida Scotti from Festus, a member
of the Ozark Association for the Blind, was given a Distinguished Service Award
by the American Council of the Blind. It was presented to her at the ACB Convention
by Kathey Wheeler. Congratulations, Ida. Dorris Meyer is quite proud of her
daughter Alexis. Lexi has been accepted for the St. Louis Childrens Choir, which
consists of children from ages 6-18. Lexi is eight years old. Jeanne Wisa Fike
wants to know if there are blind people in West St. Louis County who would be
interested in some informal get-togethers. Her phone number is (636) 530-9427.

One of the articles in this issue concerns a blind sportswriter, who covers
baseball for a Dayton, Ohio newspaper. I thought you might be interested in
hearing that one of the announcers on the Spanish language broadcasts for the
Tampa Bay Devil Rays baseball team is blind. His name is Enrique Oliu. He sees
only black shadows in very strong lighting. He was born in Nicaragua, but attended
the Florida School for the Blind and Deaf where he participated in all of the
school's athletic activities. He got the job because of his extensive knowledge
and love of baseball. He does mostly game analysis, but when he is called upon
to do play by play, his wife sits behind him and gives him the information he
needs to describe a play. The broadcasts can be heard on WAMA, 1550, AM.

Do blind people have better memory than sighted people? I'm sure many people,
blind and sighted, think so and now researchers at Hebrew University in Jerusalem
have come up with some findings from a study that lends some validity to that
belief. It seems that blind people are able to use a portion of the brain normally
devoted to vision for memory. Scientists tested a group of sighted people and
a group of congenitally blind people, asking them to recall lists of unrelated
words while their brain activity was scanned by an MRI. The blind subjects did
much better at the task than the sighted subjects. The brain scan showed that,
unlike the sighted subjects, the blind people were using portions of the primary
visual cortex of the brain to perform the memory test. There is a lot of research
going on in this area of studying brain function, including some ongoing studies
at Washington University here in St. Louis, much of it involving blind people.
Here's a little memory test you can give yourself, just for fun. Take a minute
or so and memorize this list of words: plank, banker, sauce, umbrella, abdomen,
reptile, lobster, orchestra, forehead, and jury. Now in about twenty minutes
or so, see how many of those words you can recall, without looking at the list,
of course. A score of eight to ten is excellent, five to seven is about average.
If you could recall only four words or less, you might want to look into some
memory training courses. Now, if I could just remember where I put my keys.

I still have several items left, but I will try to remember to save them
for next time. See you in December.

Back to Index


Galen's Household Hints.

Here are some great tips sent along by Galen Blood from Sedalia. I don't
think these are his; I think he got them from the Internet. I don't know how
many of these he has tried, but they sound like pretty good household hints.
Let us know if they work for you and pass along anything you have found helpful
to fix things around your house.

Domestic Tips:

Flies or bees bothering you? Spray them with hair spray and they will take
a dive.

Sealed envelope: Put in the freezer for a few hours, then slide a knife under
the flap. The envelope can then be resealed. (himmmmmm.)

Use empty toilet paper roll to store appliance cords. It keeps them neat
and you can write on the roll what appliance it belongs to.

For icy door steps in freezing temperatures: get warm water and put Dawn
dish washing liquid in it. Pour it all over the steps. They won't refreeze.

(wish I had known this for the last 40 years!)

Crayon marks on walls? This worked wonderfully! A damp rag, dipped in baking
soda. Comes off with little effort (elbow grease that is!).

Permanent marker on appliances or counter tops (like store receipt GLUE!)
rubbing alcohol on paper towel.

Whenever I purchase a box of S.O.S. Pads, I immediately take a pair of scissors
and cut each pad into halves. After years of having to throw away rusted and
unused and smelly pads, I finally decided that this would be much more economical.
And now a box of S.O.S pads last me indefinitely! In fact, i have noticed that
the scissors get sharpened this way!

Opening brand new jars can be a feat in itself. Well, I have

Found a way to make it the easiest thing to do. Instead of banging a jar
of jam, pickles, etc., with a knife until it loosens up, I simply reach into
the drawer and bring out the handy nutcracker. It adjusts to the size of the
jar and I simply give it a good twist and off pops the lid!

Blood stains on clothes? Not to worry! just pour a little

Hydrogen peroxide on a cloth and proceed to wipe off every drop of blood.
Works every time!

Use vertical strokes when washing windows outside and horizontal for inside
windows. This way you can tell which side has the streaks.

Straight vinegar will get outside windows really clean. Don't wash windows
on a sunny day. They will dry too quickly and will probably streak.

Spray a bit of perfume on the light in any room to create a lovely light
scent in each room when the light is turned on.

Place fabric softener sheets in dresser drawers and your clothes will smell
freshly washed for weeks to come. You can also do this with towels and linen.

Candles will last a lot longer if placed in the freezer for at least 3 hours
prior to burning.

To clean artificial flowers, pour some salt into a paper bag and add the
flowers. Shake vigorously as the salt will absorb all the dust and dirt and
leave your artificial flowers looking like new! Works like a charm!

To easily remove burnt on food from your skillet, simply add a drop or two
of dish soap and enough water to cover bottom of pan, and bring to a boil on
the stove top.

Spray your TUPPERWARE with nonstick cooking spray before pouring in tomato
based sauces and there won't be any stains. (Key Word: Tupperware)

When a cake recipe calls for flouring the baking pan, use a bit of the dry
cake mix instead and there won't be any white mess on the outside of the cake.
Or you can sprinkle sugar in the pan and get a "crunchier" crust with white
mess!

Wrap celery in aluminum foil when putting in the refrigerator and it will
keep for weeks.

When boiling corn on the cob, add a pinch of sugar to help bring out the corn's natural sweetness.

Cure for headaches: Take a lime, cut it in half and rub it on your forehead.
The throbbing will go away.

Don't throw out all that leftover wine: Freeze into ice cubes

for future use in casseroles and sauces.

To get rid of itch from mosquito bites, try applying soap on the area and
you will experience instant relief.

Ants, ants, ants everywhere? Well, they are said to never cross chalk line.
So get your chalk out and draw a line on the floor or wherever ants tend to
march. See for yourself.

Use air-freshener to clean mirrors. It does a good job and better still,
leaves a lovely smell to the shine.

When you get a splinter, reach for the scotch tape before resorting to tweezers
or a needle. Simply put the scotch tape over the splinter, then pull it off.
Scotch tape removes most splinters painlessly and easily.

Now look what you can do with Alka Seltzer:

Clean a toilet. Drop in two Alka Seltzer tablets, wait twenty minutes, brush
and flush. The citric acid and effervescent action clean vitreous China.

Clean a vase. To remove a stain from the bottom of a glass vase or cruet,
fill with water and drop in two Alka Seltzer tablets.

Clean a thermos bottle. Fill the bottle with water, drop in four Alka-Seltzer
tablets, and let soak for an hour (or longer, if necessary).

Unclog a drain. Clear the sink drain by dropping three Alka Seltzer down
the drain followed by a cup of Heinz White Vinegar. Wait a few minutes, then
run the hot water.

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Friends

All of us have many casual friends and a few really true friends. This piece
might help you to figure out the difference between them.

A casual friend has never seen you cry.

A real friend has shoulders soggy from your tears.


A casual friend doesn't know your parents' first names.

A real friend has their phone numbers in his address book.


A casual friend brings a bottle of wine to your party.

A real friend comes early to help you cook and stays late to help you clean.


A casual friend hates it when you call after he has gone to bed.

A real friend asks you why you took so long to call.


A casual friend seeks to talk with you about your problems.

A real friend seeks to help you with your problems.


A casual friend wonders about your romantic history.

A real friend could blackmail you with it.


A casual friend, when visiting, acts like a guest.

A real friend opens your refrigerator and helps himself.


A casual friend thinks the friendship is over when you have an argument.

A real friend calls you after you had a fight.


A casual friend expects you to always be there for them.

A real friend expects to always be there for you!



I would like to end with this great quote from writer Leo Rosten: "I cannot
believe the purpose in life is to be happy. I think the purpose of life is to
be useful, to be responsible, to be compassionate. It is, above all, to matter:
to count, to stand for something, to have made some difference that you lived
at all."


MISSOURI COUNCIL OF the BLIND
5453 Chippewa
St. Louis, MO 63109
Phone: (314) 832-7172 Toll-free (800) 342-5632, Fax: (314) 832-7796
e-mail:
moblind@mindspring.com

Administrative Assistant:
Patti Ashby

Office Clerk:
Donna Weidlich

OFFICERS, DIRECTORS AND COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSONS

President:
Chip Hailey:
2940 West 17th Street
Joplin, MO 64801
(417) 781-6728 toll-free (800) 644-9667
e-mail: chailey4@ipa.net

First Vice President:
Beverly Armstrong:
2149 Gray Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63117
(314) 781-1866
e-mail: barmstrong2@mindspring.com

Second Vice President:
Jack Lenk:
6347 Mardel
St. Louis, MO 63109
(314) 351-2814

Secretary:
Bill Benson:
612 Francis Place
St. Louis, MO 63105
(314) 863-6353

Treasurer:
Bill Burris:
1202 Chateau Drive
West Plains, MO 65775
(417) 256-3954
e-mail: burris@wpcs.net

Director:
Don Shockley:
3337 Macklind
St. Louis, MO 63139
(314) 352-4233
e-mail: dshockley1@mindspring.com

Director:
John Weidlich
5736 Bancroft
St. Louis, MO 63109
(314) 752-3031
e-mail: weidlich@swbell.net

Director:
Dennis Miller
1103 N. Luther
Kirksville MO 63501
(660) 627-4857
e-mail: dennisemiller@sbcglobal.net4

CHAIRPERSONS

Adaptive Technology Grants:
Clint Campbell:
408 E. 64th Terrace
Kansas City MO 64131
(816) 333-4056
email: clintec@sbcglobal.net

Budget And Finance:
Bill Burris:
1202 Chateau Drive
West Plains, MO 65775
(417) 256-3954
e-mail: burris@wpcs.net4

Building:
Celita White:
856 Liggett Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63126
(314) 822-2925.

Chronicle Editor:
John Weidlich
5736 Bancroft
St. Louis, MO 63109
(314) 752-3031
e-mail: weidlich@swbell.net4

Convention Coordinator:
Jerry Annunzio
8605 NW 85th Terrace
Kansas City, MO 64153
(816) 741-2348
e-mail jer.kc@juno.com

Education And Welfare:
Dennis Miller
1103 N. Luther
Kirksville MO 63501
(660) 627-4857
e-mail: dennisemiller@sbcglobal.net4

Health Benefits:
Rosario Mazzella
3234 S. Dayton
Springfield, MO 65807
(417) 883-3484

Membership:
Melvin Smith
9918 Holly
Kansas City, Mo 64114
(816) 942-0489

Public Relations:
Leroy Welch
RR 2, Box 284
Butler, MO 64730
(660) 679-5429

Resolutions:
Bill Benson
612 Francis Place
St. Louis, MO 63105
(314) 863-6353

Scholarship:
Phyllis Lovett:
3925 south Jefferson, Number 45
Springfield, MO 65807
(417) 883-7408

Special Services:
Phyllis Zirkle:
11695 SW Rogers Road
Stewartsville, MO 64490
(816) 364-4447
e-mail: phylaron@webtv.net

Summer Camp:
Beverly Shockley
3337 Macklind
St. Louis MO 63139
(314) 352-4233
e-mail: dshockley1@mindspring.com

Youth Services:
Linda Gerken
201 Hopkins Street
Hughesville, MO 65334
(660) 826-1690

AFFILIATE PRESIDENTS

Action Council of the Blind:
Burt Maurer
2 West Sunny Wood Court
St. Peters, MO 63376
(636) 970-0435

Agape Council of the Blind:
Elizabeth Moore
310 South Grand
Apartment 209
St. Louis, MO 63103
Phone: (314) 533-3740.

Allied Workers for the Blind:
James Hollins
4917 South Benton
Kansas City, MO 64130
(816) 721-6065

Blind of Central Missouri:
Geraldine (Gerry) Arnold
1007 S. Vermont
Sedalia, MO 65301
(660) 826-5483

County Line Council of the Blind:
Allan Anthony
801 ation Lyne
Raymore, MO 64083
(816) 331-7929

Delta Area Blind:
Marie Thompson
932 Highway 162 East
Portageville, MO 63873
Phone: (573) 379-5007

Joplin Service Club of the Blind:
Mildred Long
324 North Tom, Apartment 410
Webb City, MO 64870
Phone: (417) 673-1950

Lake Stockton Area Council of the Blind:
Eujean Dody
2251 West College
Bolivar, MO 65613
(417) 777-7225

Northeast Missouri Council of the Blind:
Dennis Miller
1103 N. Luther
Kirksville, MO 63501
(660) 627-4857
e-mail: dennisemiller@sbcglobal.net4

Ozark Association of the Blind:
Linda Stoll
500 Market
Ste. Genevieve, MO 63670
(573) 883-3321

Pony Express Association of the Blind:
Phyllis Zirkle
11695 SW Rogers Road
Stewartsville, MO 64490
(816) 364-4447
e-mail: phylaron2@webtv.net

Progressive Council of the Blind:
Hank Pearce:
4914 Smart Avenue
Kansas City, MO 64124
(816) 231-4914
e-mail: peertech@earthlink.net

Queen City Council of the Blind:
Jobelle Burk
613 South Main,
Springfield, MO 65806
(417) 869-6251

RITE for the Blind:
Verneiah Abbott:
7332 Hampshire Drive, Apartment 1
St. Louis Mo 63109
(314) 353-1279

River City Workers of the Blind:
Charles Werner
802 Penny
Cape Girardeau, MO 63701
(573) 334-7422

St. Charles County Council of the Blind:
Beverly Kaskadden:
646 Woodchuck Lane
Lake St. Louis, MO 63367
(636) 561-6947

St. Louis Council of the Blind:
Tommy Reece
607 North Grand, Number 204
St. Louis MO 63103
(314) 534-4825

South Central Missouri Ozark Association of the Blind:
Jean Mclaughlin
RR 3 Box 679B
Cabool, MO 65689
(417) 948-2480

Southeast Missouri United Blind Club:
Paul Guzman
1629 Spring Street, Apartment 15
Poplar Bluff, MO 63901
(573) 785-5924

Southwest Missouri Friendship Council of the Blind:
Edward Forcum
2621 East 35th Street
Joplin, MO 64804
(417) 623-1292

Springfield Service Club of the Blind:
Phyllis Lovett
3925 South Jefferson, Number 45
Springfield MO 65807
(417) 883-7408

Tower Club of the Blind:
Marie Kelley
2628 Hope
Maplewood, MO 63143
(314) 646-8272

United Workers for the Blind:
Patty Schonlau:
5521 Sutherland
St. Louis, MO 63109
(314) 481-6722

SPECIAL INTEREST AFFILIATES

Adaptive Technology (AT):
Bob Jaco:
10215 Midland Boulevard
Overland, MO 63114
(314) 428-4606
e-mail: jjaco31@earthlink.net

Braille Revival League of Missouri:
Marti Watson:
822 West Scott
Springfield, MO 65802
(417) 865-0410

Library Users of Missouri:
Leo Giger
827 North Nettleton Avenue
Springfield, MO 65802
(417) 866-5778

Missouri Guide Dog Users:
Marie Thompson
932 Highway 162 East
Portageville, MO 63873
(573) 379-5007

Randolph-Sheppard Vendors of Missouri:
Jack Lenk
6347 Mardel
St. Louis, MO 63109
(314) 351-2814

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