April 2004
Home
|Membership Form| |Fundraiser| |Newsletter| |Officers| |Schedule of Events|
Topics
Billy Mack Awarded South Eastern
Guide Dogs’
Angie Bone To Moderate New Radio
Broadcast
Billy Mack
2003 VOLUNTEER GRADUATE OF THE YEAR!
Billy Mack Billy was recognized for his outstanding involvement in community service;
his assistance to the blind community through his work as a certified
braillist; and his association with various groups, such as the American
Council of the Blind and Dixie Land Guide Dog Users.
Billy , blind at birth, returned to his Columbia , S.C. Fitz . Billy and his
former guide, Jill , worked together for years and he was heartbroken to
have to retire her. Now he and Fitz work the streets of
Columbia
Congratulations, Billy ! As a fellow Southeastern graduate as well as
a Dixie Lander, I am very proud of your accomplishments and appreciate
your constant positive spirit. Good job!
Back
Angie Bone, a native of Pelion, S.C., and the
key individual most responsible for our state’s new guide dog protection
bill, “Layla’s Law”, has been commissioned to host a Columbia radio talk show
that focuses on people with various types of disabilities. Angela ’s “HOUR TO EMPOWER” will air on THE BOSS WCEO radio station, 840
AM, on Saturdays from 9am
until 10
am . Each week she has
scheduled special guests to inform, educate and entertain her listening
audience. Jim Durrance Ivy Creek Guide Dog School Angie ’s guests on Saturday, April 17th. Be sure and tune in to hear
the great things Jim , Julie , Judie, Karen and the
Scharlings are doing for the blind.
Finally, we have an avenue of communication dedicated to us, where we can
obtain valuable, pertinent information, and voice our particular
concerns. WCEO boasts 50,000 watts of power and serves over 4 million
listeners. Angie has been so very supportive to all of us with
disabilities and special needs. Let’s return the good deed by supporting
her weekly radio broadcast. For those of you who may be self-employed,
sponsorship for her program is only $25 per week, with no minimum. What a
deal! Where else could you advertise to so many for so little?
Wal-Mart’s to Help
Back
The Ashley Crossing’s Wal-mart in Charleston, South Carolina announced
its support of Dixie Land Guide Dog Users by pledging 4 $25 gift cards to
be given as door prizes to some lucky workshop participants! This
Wal-mart continues to illustrate its concern, regard and respect for all
customers, especially those with disabilities. Of course, they
provide the necessary parking spaces, ramps, handrails, restroom facilities and
wheelchairs to better accommodate their patrons. In addition the
management has provided special sensitivity and awareness classes for the
associates and cashiers to better prepare them for the special needs of the
visually impaired and blind community.
Scott , Ned , Joanne ,
Charity and the others at Ashley Crossing
Zack’s
Tales
Hi, everybody;
Whew! Has my mom really kept me busy! First, we visited lots of
folks asking them to sponsor us in South Eastern Guide Dogs Walkathon..
Now, for all of you who know my mom, you know that means I had to take lots of
baths, get my ears and teeth cleaned daily, and stay on the go all the
time. I barely had any time to play with my kong . My mom
says it’s important for everyone to give back and she wants us to
be able to raise enough money to sponsor another yellow lab, just like me,
‘cept she insists on a girl. What’s up with that, mom? Any way,
she’s decided to name her “Faith”, ‘cuz, as we all know, you gotta have faith
in your God and faith in your guide. Mom says we only need another $200
before we will all have “Faith.”
Now, if that weren’t enough, mom kept getting these phone calls asking us to
come to special meetings for little 2 legged people who
travel in packs, or dens called, “Scouts.” That was fun! We must
have gone a guzillion miles and talked with a trazilion of those
“Scouts.” Mom told them about that funny looking long white cane she used
to carry before she got me. Then she got down to the real
nitty-gritty-ME! She told them all about how I was born, where I
was raised and all about Cheri and Lew, my
puppy raisers. I still remember them! They had a pool! Those
“Scout” people seemed amazed at how smart I am. Mom told them how I saved
her and Aaron , her trainer at
South Eastern, when the truck ran the red light in Tampa Riley was there, too,
and she got to pet those “Scouts.” She’s old, but she really likes
to pet people. I like to pet people too, but not while in my
harness. At the last meeting, the man there said they were making Riley and me “honorary
scouts.” I sure hope we don’t have to start selling cookies or tying
funny knots in my tug rope!
Wow! Just thinking about all we did these last couple of months makes me
tired. Think I’ll take a nap now. A guy needs his beauty rest, you
know.
So now you see why I’m so tired. Just thinking about it all makes me
sleepy. Yaaaaaaaaawwwwwn! I’m going to go take a nap now.
Good-bye for now. See ‘ya in the streets!
Zack
Paws
for Concern
Back
Transportation
seems to be the number one universal obstacle for blind folks through out the
entire world. Here in
Even with those drastic cut-backs, Carta was in danger of having to completely
stop its service. That’s when
RUN, (Riders Unite Now), a coalition of Carta supporters, headed by Gilbert
Smith and Karen Bays-Petty, are trying to educate the citizens of Charleston
county on the actual facts of the situation and encourage voters to register to
vote and to approve the much needed half cent tax referendum. RUN’s next
meeting is scheduled for
FALL
WORKSHOPS UPDATE
Everything
seems to be pulling together for our fall workshops, scheduled on Friday,
November 12, at the Holiday Inn West in
Our day will
begin at
NEW MEMBERS
Dixieland is proud to welcome its newest members,
WRITER’S BLOCK
Dear Reader;
I wanted to take just a moment to thank you for the supportive response I’ve
received from our first issue of
Thanks for your continued support. If you know of a way we can help
others, please contact me. If we don’t lead the way, who will?
Take care and God bless you all.
Your humble president,