The UCB Flier

A publication of
The Utah Council of the Blind
April 2009

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The UCB is a member of Community Shares

For the latest news updates call:

The Utah Connection at 299-0670 or 1-800-273-4569 (You may also leave your message at the end of the announcement.)

In This Issue

President's Message
Candidates for 2009 Elections
Absentee Ballots
Primary Care Network, Open Enrollment
Win a pair of Movie Tickets
Technology Assistance
Lots of Veggies with Little Work
Logan Trip Activity
May Business Meeting
Lagoon Day
Good Buys on Note Takers
Magnifying Reader
Happenings Books
Social Security Distributes One Time Payment
Easter Egg Hunt
Mexican Riviera Cruise
Symphony Tickets
Community Interests
Ogden Association of the Blind Calendar

Presidents Message


I hope to see you at all of our upcoming activities and business meeting in May. It is critical that we meet with our legislators so we can make our issues heard and acted upon. So, please let us know if you can help. I have been appointed to serve on the Advisory Council for the Division of Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired. However, since I work for the agency, I will NOT be a voting member. If you would like me to present an issue, please let me know.

The Board has now chosen me to be the delegate to attend the ACB Convention in Orlando Florida, and Sandy England will serve as our alternate delegate. At least nine people will be going to the National Convention.

I would like to express my gratitude to Alicia Christensen, a student member of UCB, who willingly volunteered to handle the Utah Connection. She has been doing a wonderful job, and I would like to encourage everyone to call the Connection to hear her wonderful voice as she shares weekly updates with all of us!

Thank You,
Cindi Vega, President

Candidates for 2009 Elections


Greetings UCB members, as you may have noted, our annual business meeting is coming up on Friday, May 15, 2009.  At this meeting, we will be holding elections for both the president and the secretary of the Council as well as for one board position.  This year, we have one candidate for the presidency, two candidates for the position of secretary, and four candidates for the board position.  (If you can't attend the business meeting and would like an absentee ballot, see the article on absentee balloting.)  Below are the candidacy letters, presented in order of candidate position and alphabetical candidate name, from those running for officers and/or director positions.

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Dear UCB Members:

My first term of Presidency is coming to an end, June 30, 2009! After careful consideration, I have decided to run for a second term. I have done my best to educate you, and let you know what I’m doing as president of the UCB. This couldn’t happen without the hard work of the Board and people who volunteer to serve on our committees!  THANK YOU!

I was appointed to serve as a director to the UCB Board in 1989 (OOH! YIKES!--20 years?? It doesn’t seem THAT LONG.). I also served as secretary for many terms. I am currently serving my first term as your President.

A little history about my service, I began working for the Division of Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired in 1997. I have served a maximum of 2 two-year terms on the UTA Committee on Accessible Transportation, chairing the committee for almost two years. In addition, I also sit on the UCB Credit Union Board.

Whether you choose to vote for me or another dependable candidate, MAKE YOUR PLANS to attend the business meeting! You will have opportunities to give your input on resolutions, bylaws, and elections for the UCB Board. If you are not able to attend, please request an absentee ballot. Fill it out and get it back to us at least one week before the election!

If I can answer any questions, please feel free to contact me!

Warm Regards,
Cindi Vega

  ************

My name is Alyssia Christensen.
I am running for the position of Secretary. I can take good notes, and will be really good at submitting minutes. I am very reliable, so you can always count on me to show up to all board meetings.

Some of my experience with the UCB includes calling members to remind them to pay their dues, planning activities, and I am currently doing the Utah Connection.

If I am not elected to the position of secretary, I would also be very willing to serve as a member of the board of directors. If you vote for me, I will do the best that I can.  Thank you for your vote, Alyssia Christensen

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My Fellow UCB members,

I am seeking the office of Secretary and wanted to take this opportunity to introduce myself.  My name is Aunilie Hathaway. I have been employed by Jet Blue Airways for several years as a Reservations Crew Support Representative. Outside of work, I enjoy horseback riding, traveling, skiing, reading, crafts, volunteering for my religious affiliation in several capacities, being a mentor with the National Ability Center and serving on the UCB scholarship Committee. I look forward to attending meetings, conventions, and workshops in which I can continue to learn about, advocate for and promote programs to assist the blind and visually impaired. I feel I would be an effective and productive member of the UCB board as your next Secretary. Thank You for your Consideration,
Aunilie HATHAWAY

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Greetings Fellow UCB members,

My name is Brawny Jensen, and I am running for the open position on the UCB Board of Directors.  To help you get to know me just a little better, let me tell you that my interests include fishing, learning and teaching assistive technology, computer programming, music, and issues effecting the blind.  Over the past eight years, I have been involved with the UCB in such capacities as recording and duplicating the newsletter, working as president of the Blind & Visually Impaired Students of Utah, and have participated in various fund raising endeavors such as dressing as the Easter bunny and having my picture taken with children for a small cost to the parents.

Having been a voter myself, I realize it's difficult to really get to know a person via the printed word.  However, I believe myself to be a valuable addition to this organization and I know that if you give me the opportunity, I can assure you that I will do my absolute best to represent and advocate for the needs of those who are blind and/or visually impaired.

Sincerely,
Brawny Jensen

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My name is Michael Lisle Smith,
and I am running to renew my service on the UCB Board of Directors. Serving the blind community both professionally and as a volunteer is a blessing and a privilege for me. A Board member since 2004, I have chaired the Resolutions Committee, helped with the annual convention, and spoken on Utah's Capitol Hill in advocacy for the blind community. Recently, I have helped raise awareness of the threat posed to the blind community by drunk drivers. I am currently slated to organize the 2010 UCB Annual Convention. I take my service on the Board very seriously and consider it both a privilege and a great responsibility. I answer to you, the members of the UCB, and I welcome every opportunity to visit with you. I enjoy your friendship and would welcome the opportunity to continue serving you on the Board for the next two years. Thank you for your friendship and the opportunity to serve you!
Michael Lisle Smith

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Dear UCB Members:

I am writing this letter to announce my intentions for running for a board position this year.  I have served on the UCB board in one capacity or another since 1995.  I have served as Secretary for the past two years.  My intent at this time is not to run for Secretary, but I would appreciate your vote for a board position, should you feel it is warranted.  I look forward to seeing everyone at the UCB Business meeting.  Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,
Tammie L Hansen

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Dear Members of the UCB,

My name is Tara Briggs and I am running for the UCB board.  I have worked with the UCB for a number of years, having served on both the student board and on the UCB board.  I had to leave the board for several years while obtaining my education and getting married.  But now that I am somewhat more settled and am working as a teacher of Daily Living Skills at the Division of Services for the Blind, I am excited to once again serve on the Council's Board of Directors.

My experience includes chairing the scholarship committee, serving on convention committees, and working to improve travel options for persons with disabilities. Skills which I can bring to the table include creativity, a vision of the bigger picture, and an understanding of blindness, since I am blind myself.  I enthusiastically embrace the opportunity to help bring about a positive future for the Utah Council of the Blind, and hope that you will give me the opportunity to do so by voting for me on the fifteenth of May.

Sincerely,
Tara Briggs

Absentee Ballots

If you wish to vote in this year's election for officers and board members, but will be unable to attend the UCB business meeting on Friday, May 15, 2009, you can use absentee balloting as an alternative.

To participate as an absentee voter, you must request a hard copy absentee ballot. To ensure that you have time to request a ballot, have it mailed to you, get it filled out, and have it back to us one week before the business meeting, it would be best to make you request by April 24, 2009.  You can make your request for an absentee ballot by mail or by phone. By mail, send your full name, address and phone number to:

Utah Council of the Blind
1301 W 500 S
Woods Cross, UT 84087

Or you can call with your request to either TerriLynne Pomeroy at 801-299-8522 or Leslie Gertsch at 801-292-1156.

Primary Care Network, Open Enrollment

Health care of individuals with low income is having their open enrollment for PCN, (Primary Care Network).  This health care coverage is for adults ages 19 to 64 and who are uninsured.  Family size and income are considered when determining eligibility.  PCN (Primary Care Network) will open on March 23, 2009 and close on April 30, 2009.  PCN does have a small annual fee of $50.00 and very low co-pays.  Income guidelines and the following website www.health.utah.gov/pcn have all the information.  You can also call (800) 662-9651 if you need more information.

CHIP, Children's Health Insurance Program, is also open.  The information for children can be found at: www.health.utah.gov/chip. Application for both PCN and CHIP can be made online, at the local Department of Workforce Services office, or the application can be downloaded and printed.

Win a Pair of Movie Tickets

The Utah Council of the Blind's web site is currently a page on the web site of the American Council of the Blind: http://www.acb.org/utah. We are considering the option of moving our site to its own location, but we're not sure what to call it.  www.ucb.org might be an obvious choice, but unfortunately, this address has been taken for years.  So we’re wondering if anyone might have a suggestion for an address for the UCB web site.

If you submit a name that we decide to use, you will receive a pair of movie tickets.  How can you lose?  If you like surfing the internet and have any great ideas for a domain name, just let us know.  You can e-mail your suggestions to tl1@ml1.net.

TECHNOLOGY ASSISTANCE

Have you ever wanted to purchase some fancy computer gadget, such as a screen reader, scanning software, or the hottest thing out there now, a Victor Stream? Well, if you have, you certainly know that this type of technology doesn’t come cheap. Since there isn’t a money tree in our back yards, the UCB may be able to help!

We have some limited funds available to assist people who would like to purchase adaptive equipment. Here’s how the program works: Members of the UCB send in a request for assistance in purchasing assistive technology. The assistive Technology committee will conduct a needs analysis, to make sure each member qualifies. Each member will agree to pay a portion of the purchase price, and the UCB will pay the remaining amount. Members can come up with their portion on their own, or they can request an adaptive equipment loan from the UCB Credit Union, at only 3% interest. Once all of these requirements are met, the equipment can then be purchased.

You might ask why we’re asking each member requesting assistance to pay a portion of the costs. The reason is because the UCB has a very limited amount of funds for this type of program. As you know, this technology is extremely expensive, and if we were to purchase the equipment outright, these funds would be gone very fast. The UCB wants to help as many people as possible. We know how important this technology is to everyone.

So, if you’re interested, please contact Sandy England at (801) 282-1905, or email syeangel@comcast.net. You can also contact me, Tammie Hansen at (801) 265-3460 (No calls after 9:00 PM please). Or email, tammiehansen@smartfella.com.

Lots of Veggies with Little Work

Come join us on Saturday, April 18, at the Salt Lake Center for the Blind, 250 N 1950 W, to learn how to create and care for your own "Square Foot Garden."  These gardens produce a lot more vegetables in a much smaller and easy to handle space, they have almost no weeds or bugs!!!  With today's continuing outbreaks of E. coli, salmonella, and the like, to have access to your own fresh produce can be a real blessing! This activity will run from 10 a.m. to 12 noon. The activity will run from 10 a.m. to 12 noon, and if people want to build their own planter box, we are working to make this option available from 9 to 10 a.m.

The plan is to make small 1 foot by 2 foot gardens which can be completed during the class.  This smaller size allows the garden to be trucked to your home.  We’re offering an option to make even smaller windowsill gardens which can be used indoors for those who don't have a yard or don't want to go out in the heat, or do a lot of bending over.

The cost of a 1 by 2 foot garden should be under $20.  In order for us to get the materials and construct planters we ask that you contact TerriLynne Pomeroy before April 10th. We need to discuss such issues as building your own box or having someone else build it for you, what kinds of vegetables you wish to grow, or to discuss which window you might be putting an inside garden into, so that we can determine which veggies will do best for you.

TerriLynne can be reached at 801-299-8522.

Logan Trip Activity

On May 2nd, the UCB will be taking a trip to Logan. The cost for transportation per person round trip will be $10. You are responsible for money needed for shopping and lunch. Everyone should meet at the Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired at 250 N. 1950 W., between 8:00 and 8:15 AM. We’ll leave promptly at 8:30 AM. If you’re not there, you will be left behind.

We’ll return home to Salt Lake by 5:30 PM. If you live between Salt Lake and Logan call for a possible pick-up point in your area.

We are visiting several locations. One will be Gossners Food Inc. outlet store, which has viewing windows into the factory, and lots of tasty cheese, milk, and other dairy products to buy. The Pepridge Farm Factory, and Casper's Ice Cream store, which both have great discounts on their products, will also be visited.

We’ll stop for lunch after visiting the cheese factory. If you plan on bringing home frozen items, please bring a cooler. If you buy ice cream, we’ll stop to buy dry ice.

Please make reservations by April 25th in writing. Enclose your transportation money because space is limited. Send to, 1301 W. 500 S., Woods Cross, UT 84087. No phone reservations will be accepted for this activity.

Dogs are welcome but please bring a sheet or blanket to cover the floor. The cost of cleanup in some cases has been very expensive. An extra fee can/and will be imposed if your dog presents a problem for cleanup.

May Business Meeting

You’ll all want to mark your calendars for the UCB business meeting to be held on Friday evening May 15 at the Division of Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired, 250 N. 1950 W. Salt Lake City. The business of the organization including elections will be conducted and dinner will be served.  Remember, if you cannot attend you will need to obtain an absentee ballot so you can vote.  To obtain a print or braille ballot, see the article on absentee balloting. Scholarships to outstanding students will also be awarded at this meeting.  Reservations will be necessary if you wish to eat.  Leave your reservation on the Utah Connection or call Linda Collins at 801-296-1400.  Hope to see you there.

Lagoon Day

Get your family and join us for the annual Lagoon outing on Saturday June 6.  It’s time to ride and swim while prices are reduced. Free gate passes will be available at the UCB office on Wednesdays at the center for the blind and by mail if you call 801 292-1156.  Lunch will be on your own at the Terrace and BINGO will be played at 1:00 p.m. The gate pass will also act as your coupon for a reduced all day ride pass.  The cost this year is $29.55 for those three years and above, this includes taxes. Children under three are free unless they ride at which time the cost is $21.95 plus taxes. Please do not send the UCB the money.  You need to present the coupon at the gate and pay there. You’ll need to order enough free gate passes for every member of your group.  Please plan far enough ahead for the passes to be mailed or for you to pick them up because you cannot get in without them. The Terrace is the ensign which is on the left side of the main entrance near the restrooms. This is the area where Bingo will take place as well as lunch. We look forward to seeing you there.

Good Buys on Note Takers

Mr. Rod Bulloch has available several note takers at prices reduced for quick sale.  He also has two Braille printers. If you thought you couldn’t afford one before, now might be your chance.  He has both Braille-n-Speaks and Braille Lights.  To learn more call him at 801-225-1835.

Magnifying Reader

Aladdin Classic Magnifying Reader, for sale by, Patricia Peterson. It’s a Model AL2A and it was only used three times. If you have an interest please give Patricia a call at 801/943-1688.

Happenings Books

The UCB has a couple of Happenings Books left at a greatly reduced price of $15.  These are great for entertaining two people since most of the coupons are buy-one-get-one free. During this time of tight money they are perfect for the bargain hunter. If you’re interested call the Utah Connection or call 801-292-1156 and inquire.  If you need to have it shipped add $3.50 to the price.

Social Security Distributes One Time Payment

In May 2009, Social Security will distribute a one-time payment of $250 to Social Security and Supplemental Security Income beneficiaries nationwide. The payments are provided under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.  A leaflet which discusses distribution of the one-time payment in greater detail is available at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10519.pdf. It is our hope that, by widely disseminating this leaflet, we will be able to increase awareness about the one-time payments and ensure that all who are eligible receive their check in a timely fashion.     

Easter Egg Hunt

Join us on March 28th for food, fun, and prizes at the annual Easter Egg Hunt sponsored by Qwest Pioneers and UCB. All blind children, blind adults and their families are welcome. Visually impaired and sighted children are invited to wear blindfolds and participate with their blind peers as everyone searches for beeping eggs.

The festivities will begin at 10:00 a.m. and last until 12:00 p.m. at the Division of Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired, 250 N. 1950 W., Salt Lake City. Reservations are required so there will be enough food for everyone. To reserve, call Connie at 801-266-2184 or Leslie at 801-292-1156.  In case of bad weather the hunt will be moved inside.

Mexican Riviera Cruise

The 7 Day Mexican Riviera Cruise aboard the Carnival Splendor, January 10, 2010 is getting great support.  If you’ve never cruised and think you’d like the experience, now’s the time to sign up and come along with friends. Passports are required. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to call. If you’re interested in signing up, a $25.00 deposit per person is required. This deposit is fully refundable until final payment is due on Oct. 20, 2009. The next payment of $250.00 per person is due on Aug. 11, 2009. This is also refundable until the October 20th date. You can contact Steve at Around the World Travel with any questions at 801-292-9494 or Toll Free 888-292-9493.

Symphony Tickets

The thrill of the Symphony is made possible again this year by a generous donor. Many of you are enjoying these concerts and many requests for tickets continue to be made. Some tickets are still available for a couple of the remaining symphonies. Each blind or visually impaired individual may have a ticket and another for their escort. One available is the equivalent of a pair of tickets. Standby means all tickets have been asked for but often people cannot make their commitment and their tickets are given to the person on standby. Below is the list of upcoming symphonies:

A Hero’s Life 04-11-09 standby only
Rach 2 with Jon Kimura Parker 04-18-09 standby only
Keith Concludes Mahler 04-25-09 standby only
Tchaik’s Big 5 05-09-09 standby only
Keith’s Finale 05-30-09 standby only

If you have an interest in participating, please call Linda Collins at 801-296-1400 or email: symphony2009@live.com. Confirmation of use is made the week of the concert. Standbys will be informed in that week.

COMMUNITY INTERESTS, Ogden Association of the Blind

The Ogden Association of the Blind would like everyone to be aware of their calendar for the year 2009. Everyone is invited to attend their activities. Monthly meetings are held on the 2nd Saturday of each month at the Deaf/Blind School in Ogden at 1:PM. There are no meetings in July and August. For answers to any questions or for membership information please call Sandy Gibson at 801-732-8900.

Social classes are held on a monthly basis and Connie Joy can be contacted for questions you might have about those at 801-621-2849. These are held at 6:30PM and materials are furnished free of charge.

April 9th, Easter Craft, 6:30 PM
April 11th, General Meeting, 1:PM
April 23rd, Resources available on the computer, 6:30 PM
April 25th, Tulip Festival at Thanksgiving Point
May 7th, Home Repairs, 6:30 PM
May 9th, General Meeting, 1:PM
May 21st, Indoor Gardening , 6:30PM
May 23rd, Trip to shoreline railroad in Farmington, $3.50
June 11th, Spring Craft, 6:30 PM
June 13th, General Meeting, 1:PM
June 24th, Crystal Springs swim and picnic
June 25th, What’s available in the freezer section, 6:30 PM

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