THE BRAILLE FORUM Volume XLVI January 2008 No. 6 Published by the American Council of the Blind THE AMERICAN COUNCIL OF THE BLIND STRIVES TO INCREASE THE INDEPENDENCE, SECURITY, EQUALITY OF OPPORTUNITY, AND TO IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED PEOPLE. Mitch Pomerantz, President Melanie Brunson, Executive Director Sharon Lovering, Editor National Office: 1155 15th St. NW Suite 1004 Washington, DC 20005 (202) 467-5081 Fax: (202) 467-5085 Web site: http://www.acb.org THE BRAILLE FORUM (TM) is available in braille, large print, half-speed four-track cassette tape, and via e-mail. Subscription requests, address changes, and items intended for publication should be sent to Sharon Lovering at the address above, or via e-mail to slovering@acb.org. Submission deadlines are the first of the month. The American Council of the Blind (TM) is a membership organization made up of more than 70 state and special-interest affiliates. To join, visit the ACB web site and complete an application form, or contact the national office at the number listed above. Those much-needed contributions, which are tax-deductible, can be sent to Mike Godino at the above mailing address. If you wish to remember a relative or friend, the national office can make printed cards available for this purpose. To remember the American Council of the Blind in your Last Will and Testament, you may include a special paragraph for that purpose. If your wishes are complex, contact the ACB national office. Join the MMS program and help improve tomorrow today in ACB. Contact Ron Milliman by e-mail, rmilliman@insightbb.com, or by phone at (270) 782-9325 and get started making tomorrow look brighter today! To make a contribution to ACB via the Combined Federal Campaign, use this number: 11155. For the latest in legislative and governmental news, call the "Washington Connection" toll-free at (800) 424-8666, 5 p.m. to midnight Eastern time, or visit the Washington Connection online at http://www.acb.org. Copyright 2007 American Council of the Blind TABLE OF CONTENTS President's Message: Looking at the New Year, by Mitch Pomerantz Want to Be in the Know? Two Tips to Enhance Your Access to Information, by Melanie Brunson Minneapolis 2007: A Brief Roundup, by DeAnna Noriega, Cindy Van Winkle, Jenine Stanley, Paul Edwards, and Sharon Lovering Convention Is Like A Big Family Reunion, by Penny Crane Clicks and Treats at This Year's Convention, by Theresa Duncan RSVA Presents Awards to Three Deserving Vendors, by Ardis Bazyn The Dawning of A New Day, by Rebecca Floyd-Collins In the First Turn, by Carla Ruschival Affiliate News Win the Latest Version of the Victor Reader Stream!, by Donna Seliger DKM Committee Seeks First-Timers for 2008, by Catherine Skivers What Is a Dive-In Movie?, by Brenda Dillon What You Got for the Money, by Gia Alexander The Lonely Train Whistle, by Judy Jones Turner Here and There, by Sue Lichtenfels High Tech Swap Shop FORUM SUBSCRIPTION NOTES You can now get "The Braille Forum" by podcast! To subscribe, go to "The Braille Forum" page on www.acb.org. If you do not yet have a podcast client, you can download one from the Forum page. To subscribe to "The Braille Forum" via e-mail, send a blank e-mail message to brailleforum-L-subscribe@acb.org. ARE YOU MOVING? DO YOU WANT TO CHANGE YOUR SUBSCRIPTION? Contact Sharon Lovering in the ACB national office, 1-800-424-8666, or via e-mail, slovering@acb.org. Give her the information, and she'll take care of the changes for you. ***** PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE: LOOKING AT THE NEW YEAR by Mitch Pomerantz It's 2008, a brand-new year full of hope and expectations for better times. And so it is for the tens of thousands of us in the American Council of the Blind. For reasons I will explain, it does indeed seem that ACB's future is becoming considerably brighter, at least on one key area. Before that explanation and some thoughts about this new year, Donna and I want to first wish everyone a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year. We also trust that you had a joyous holiday, whatever your personal beliefs and however you chose to celebrate the season. So, why am I feeling so upbeat about ACB in 2008? Since last August, we've been incredibly fortunate in receiving bequests, two of them in six figures. These are unrestricted funds, meaning that they can be allocated as the board of directors deems appropriate. To my knowledge, receiving two such donations of this magnitude is unprecedented in ACB history. By established policy, amounts received in excess of $75,000 are placed into board-designated reserves. Previously, ACB established $1 million as a goal for that reserve fund. Thanks to the generosity of our benefactors over the past few months, we are extremely near to that goal. We're not quite there yet, but very close. Let me interject a note of caution before going further. ACB members cannot assume that the aforementioned largesse will ever be repeated. This is why we must continue to grow the Monthly Monetary Support (MMS) Program and employ a development director to seek and procure corporate and foundation grants, as well as other revenue sources including additional bequests. We must not become complacent because of ACB's fantastic good fortune in 2007. As a result, it appears likely that ACB will be in a position to do some things in 2008 we've not been able to in recent years. I should say for the record that ACB's budget committee will be presenting its proposed 2008 budget to the board at our midyear meeting to be held in conjunction with the presidents' meeting and legislative seminar Feb. 8-12 in Washington, D.C. As such, anything mentioned regarding the expenditure of funds is subject to the committee's recommendations and the board's approval. Notwithstanding this proviso, here are some things we should consider. For starters, ACB must invest in ACB Enterprises and Services, the entity which oversees the operation of our thrift stores. A yearly contribution from ACBES provides the largest percentage, although no longer the lion's share, of ACB's revenues. However, trucks to pick up donated merchandise can't run indefinitely, and other infrastructure improvements have been deferred for far too long. ACB has outgrown the telephone system in the national office which provides the Washington Connection and other valuable information to the membership. Additionally, one of the things I've talked about for some time is the need to begin offering the Connection in Spanish, in order to reach out to the large number of Hispanic, monolingual blind people residing in this country. To accomplish this, we need a major upgrade of ACB's telephonic communications system. The board has already determined that some of the money ACB has received will be used to enhance our scholarship program. Scholarships are a vital recruiting tool to attract younger members to the organization and one of which we absolutely must take greater advantage. In the future, ACB will do far more, not only to bring students to our national conventions but to interest them in becoming active members. What else might be on the table this year? Many ACB committees need funds to carry out new or existing programs and activities. One such committee is public relations. Doing more to promote the organization is something I frequently hear mentioned by our members. ACB must develop press kits for the media and other materials to disseminate to the broader blindness community. I am sure that I've missed some crucial initiatives, but you get the idea. Once again let me assure everyone that the budget committee and board will be fiscally responsible with your money. Nonetheless, contemplating how ACB might expend some of our unexpected revenue is a refreshing and positive change from the recent past. This is why I'm so optimistic as we begin 2008. Feel free to join me in this upbeat frame of mind. ***** WANT TO BE IN THE KNOW? TWO TIPS TO ENHANCE YOUR ACCESS TO INFORMATION by Melanie Brunson This month, I have some information to report that should be of particular interest to those of you who use computers and who like to stay "in the know" with regard to the latest news about business, both around the country and around ACB. First, I want to let you know about a very generous offer from an organization known as Need to Know News (NTKN). NTKN is a Washington, D.C.-based financial news and economic data analysis service, provided on a subscription basis to aid traders in the markets who are deluged constantly with financial "news," much of which is of limited or no use to anyone who wants to focus on the immediate impact of breaking events. Need To Know News approached ACB a couple of months ago with an offer to make its real-time audio service available free of charge to ACB members who have Internet access. According to a company spokesperson, NTKN enjoys privileges identical to much larger news organizations such as Bloomberg, Reuters and Dow Jones. As a fully accredited news agency, with access to government lock-up rooms from which market-moving economic and financial news is made available, Need to Know News offers its subscribers live audio economic data, announcements and analysis from the U.S. Department of Treasury, the Department of Labor and the Department of Commerce, among others. NTKN also covers non-governmental economic and financial developments that help subscribers understand how economic data reflect fundamental changes in the United States economy, sometimes impacting the markets within milliseconds. In 2008 the company plans to offer economic data analysis from Europe and Asia as well. In addition to releasing embargoed financial and economic data, NTKN monitors world stock, debt, commodities and futures markets throughout the trading day, reporting on important financial events as they occur in real time, throughout the trading day. NTKN wants to make all of this available to ACB members at no cost. For more information about this service, and instructions on how to download the audio player onto your computer, go to www.needtoknownews.com/players/acb.txt. ACB members will need to use the following account code and password. Account Code: acb Password: odleiy3a We appreciate the generosity of Need to Know News in making this service available. The company staff has been very responsive to our suggestions for enhancing the accessibility of its web site. They are excited about this service and hopeful that they can share information with many of you. Their goal is to provide access to greater information that will in turn increase opportunities for ACB members to conduct their financial and business activities with greater independence and confidence. While we're on the subject of communicating about news items, I thought I would also use the occasion to remind you of the ACB-Announce list. This is an e-mail list that you can subscribe to that will enable you to get announcements from ACB e-mailed to you. It is a one-way list, meaning that you will not receive copies of messages sent by subscribers. All messages come from the leadership or staff of ACB to those who have subscribed to the announcement list. We have not used this list much in the last year or two, because it needed some updating. However, the updates are complete and it is now ready for use. I encourage anyone who would like to receive periodic announcements of significant items from ACB to subscribe to this list. All you have to do is send an e-mail message to announce-subscribe@acb.org, leaving both the subject line and the body of the message blank. You will get a message back asking you to confirm your interest in subscribing. Just hit your reply button. Your subscription will be completed as soon as you send your reply. If you don't use a computer, do not despair! You won't be left out. Our goal is to put as much of this information as we can in "The Braille Forum" and onto the ACB telephone system. Subscribing to the announce list will enable computer users to get it faster, but everyone will have access to it. It is my hope that 2008 will be a year in which we increase our ability to communicate effectively with you, the members and friends of ACB, making the most of all of the tools available to us, whether electronic or otherwise. To that end, I hope these resources will prove useful to many of you. Enjoy your reading. ***** MINNEAPOLIS 2007: A BRIEF ROUNDUP by DeAnna Noriega, Cindy Van Winkle, Jenine Stanley, Paul Edwards and Sharon Lovering SUNDAY Outgoing president Christopher Gray called the session to order. The Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps of Cretin-Derham Hall High School (St. Paul, Minn.) presented and posted the colors. David Trott led the Pledge of Allegiance, and Stephanie Dawn of Duluth, Minn., led the assembly in singing "The Star-Spangled Banner." Chuck Hamilton, Director of the Minnesota Agency for the Blind, read a gubernatorial proclamation declaring the week of June 30-July 7 to be "American Council of the Blind Week" in Minnesota. He gave an entertaining and informative talk on Minnesota's contributions to the advancement of the blind. Carla Ruschival announced the return of the Convention Ear, a reading of the convention newspaper and convention information by phone for those who can't access convention information through large print or braille. Alice Malbone gave an $800 donation at last year's convention to assist in bringing it back and HumanWare generously stepped in to make this expensive option available once more. Also, convention-goers could drop by the information desk to download the newspaper on their own thumb drives or flash cards or access it online on the ACB web site. Gray's report began with a list of staff, their family and friends and their contributions to the convention and ACB. The assembled members sang "Happy Anniversary" to Mike and Elaine Vining, who were celebrating their 18th wedding anniversary. Gray outlined the gains in financial stability made and the successful achievements of the organization through structured negotiations and the growing recognition of ACB as the voice speaking for all visually impaired people. He credited Brenda Dillon and Ron Milliman for developing partnerships and working to diversify ACB finances. He also touched on the visibility ACB has gained through ACB Radio, making mention of the newest channel, ACB Radio World, which provides programming in five languages. Marlaina Lieberg was able to share that the ACB Radio coverage of the convention was underwritten by her friend Ronnie Milsap. The hall gave a rousing thanks to this well-known country music star. Richard Mander, CEO of HumanWare, spoke about the direction of his company and commitment to partnering with ACB, including being our highest level corporate sponsor of the convention. Janet Dickelman, president, American Council of the Blind of Minnesota and Ken Rodgers, chair of the local host committee, welcomed conventioneers as well. Cathy Skivers introduced this year's first-timers, Susan L'Esperance of Columbia City, Ind., a talented quilter and fundraiser, and Dewayne Hodges of Hot Springs, Ark., was already making many friends with his musical abilities. Ann Olsen and Chris Gray then presented the new life members. Some of this year's new life members were surprised by their affiliates; others chose this way of showing their commitment to ACB. Plaques were awarded to Peggy Williams, Hubert Ward, Arthur Thomas, Penny Pennington, Leroy Welch, Dan Maddox, Ralph Smitherman, Susan L'Esperance, Warren and Julia Toyama, and Terrie Arnold. Jerry Annunzio, chair of the credentials committee, reported that Utah was losing five floor votes, but planned to appeal the committee decision. Then, finally, it was time for the roll call of affiliates. This is a part of the opening night events that traditionalists love and others find exhausting. As secretary Donna Seliger called the roll, two affiliates made donations: Alaska Independent Blind donated $500 to NELDS, and Hawaii Association of the Blind donated $1,000 to NELDS and $5,000 to "The Braille Forum." MONDAY Gray called the session to order shortly after 8:30 a.m. Brenda Dillon announced the many businesses sponsoring our convention. Then Ron Milliman, chair of the Monthly Monetary Support Program, shared the many ways individuals could join up while at convention. The convention then adopted the credentials report, with an amendment to restore 5 votes to Utah. Joel Snyder of the National Captioning Institute gave an update on programming sponsored by NCI taking place during convention, and reminded us of the SAP channel and how, as television moves into all digital, the SAP channel will go away and the many concerns surrounding this. He mentioned a resolution that would be coming before us later in the week, which would ensure that a representative knowledgeable on description issues would be on the board overseeing the digital conversion. The convention adopted the standing rules and convention program as printed. Ray Campbell, chair of the constitution and bylaws committee, gave the first readings of several amendments. After a few more announcements, Gray turned the reins over to M.J. Schmitt, who would chair the remainder of the morning's session. He noted that this would be M.J.'s last time in this capacity as, after this convention, she would no longer be on the ACB board. Ardis Bazyn, chair of the membership committee, presented the Membership Growth Award, which went to the American Association of Visually Impaired Attorneys, an affiliate which doubled their membership over the last year. Schmitt then called upon Nola McKinney, chair of the awards committee, to give some awards. The Robert S. Bray Award was presented posthumously to Norma Schecter of California for her many years of contribution to the production of braille textbooks; Catherine Skivers accepted the award. McKinney next presented the Special Achievement Award to Linda Dardarian and Lainey Feingold, the attorneys who have worked tirelessly on behalf of blind people for several years now on ensuring equal access to ATMs and point-of-sale machines, accessible bank statements and web sites and so much more. The Jim Olsen Distinguished Service Award went to Leroy Johnson for his years of devoted service to ACB. Awards continued with Mike Duke, chair of the Board of Publications, presenting the Ned E. Freeman Writing Award to Ed and Toni Eames for their article, "The Recruitment and Retention of Committed Volunteers." Honorable mentions were given to Donna Smith and Michael Byington, whose articles made the race a very close one. Charlie Hodge then announced that the board had approved a new award, the Hollis K. Liggett Braille Free Press Award, which will be presented by the BOP in recognition of an affiliate publication which demonstrates excellence in writing and best journalistic practices. Nominations must be received by the chair of the BOP by Jan. 15, 2008 to be considered for this award. Many people then stood up to share M.J. stories. After a few door prize drawings, the convention heard from John R. Vaughn, chair of the National Council on Disability. He spoke about the biggest challenge we face as blind people: attitudes. The NCD is a 15-person board appointed by the President whose mission is to promote programs, policies and practices which enhance and integrate the lives of disabled people in society. Next we heard from Richard Keeling, senior tax analyst of Atlanta, Ga. He talked about new initiatives from the IRS Office of Stakeholder Partnerships: Education and Communication (SPEC). The goal of SPEC is to reach out to working disabled people to educate them about tax credits, free tax preparation and financial assistance. SPEC's headquarters is in Atlanta, with 42 territories throughout the U.S., totaling 500 employees. Many partners and coalitions help them do their work. He also talked about the Earned Income Tax Credit and how it is a major financial aid for the working poor that often goes unused. He mentioned that many of the IRS documents have now been made available in accessible text as well as BRF files for braille production. Then Oral Miller filled us in on the three activities taking place this year in the Recreation Zone: water aerobics, audible darts, and a tabletop game called Showdown, which is similar to air hockey. TUESDAY If ACB convention programs had themes, Tuesday's was Youth and Communication. Judi Cannon, chair of the nominating committee, presented the slate of officers. The convention also adopted amendment 07-01. Al Lavoti began the focus on youth with a history of the Indiana State School for the Blind and Visually Impaired's Leos, the only Leo club in the country composed of 100 percent blind youth. The group currently has 17 members. Six students and two advisors attended this year's convention. The group performs a number of community service projects and assists at the state Lions functions as well as researching and keeping up to date on happenings within the major blindness organizations. Scholarship committee chair Patty Slaby presented the 2007 scholarship winners. There were 19 winners, 14 of whom were present at the convention. They were: Floyd Qualls Memorial Scholarships Kari Bailey, Topeka, Kan. Claire Stanley, Mission Viejo, Calif. Lindsey Hastings, San Diego, Calif. Leah Irish, Kent, Ohio Dr. Mae Davidow Memorial Scholarship Rebekah Balmer, Elizabethtown, Pa. William G. Corey Memorial Scholarship Yvonne Garris, Lancaster, Pa. NIB/Grant M. Mack Memorial Scholarship Daniel Perkins, Overland Park, Kan. Arnold Sadler Memorial Scholarship Sharon McLennon, Yonkers, N.Y. Kellie Cannon Memorial Scholarship Karl Belanger, Dover, N.H. Dr. S. Bradley Burson Memorial Science Scholarship Elizabeth Kelley, Oakland, Calif. Bay State Council of the Blind Scholarship Keith Willette, Shrewsbury, Mass. John Hebner Memorial Scholarship Ray Campbell, Glen Ellyn, Ill. Eunice Fiorito Memorial Scholarship James Solem, Lewiston, Idaho Ross N. & Patricia Pangere Foundation Scholarships Keith Edgarton, Durham, N.C. Brian Petraits, Brownsburg, Ind. Alma Murphey Memorial Scholarship Jennifer Barrow, Hull, Mass. Richard Bennet of Maine Memorial Scholarship John Millay, Surry, Maine Guide Dogs for the Blind Dorthea and Roland Bohde Scholastic Achievement Scholarship Sati Wullabbs, Toppenish, Wash. James R. Olsen Memorial Scholarship Eric Frey, Louisville, Ky. Slaby also announced affiliates' scholarship winners. The North Dakota Association of the Blind scholarship winners were Angie Marciniak and Solomon Kerr. The Friends-in-Art scholarship winner was Kurt Westin. CCLVI scholarship winners were Elizabeth Harrel, Lisa Jegroski and Robin Lisker. A number of financial gifts were presented to ACB for the various scholarship funds and other funds administered by ACB. Robert Jones from Jacksonville, Fla. announced that he has provisioned that, upon his death, $50,000 will be donated to the James R. Olsen Memorial Scholarship Fund and an additional $50,000 will be donated to the newly created M.J. Schmitt Scholarship Fund. Susan Mazrui, Director, Federal Regulatory Affairs, AT&T, presented information on AT&T's accessible cell phone services. She announced that AT&T will be working with Code Factory to provide screen reading and enlarging technology for Symbian and Windows Mobile phones. This partnership will allow a range of choices in cell phones. She also noted that AT&T has been active in assuring that Section 255 of the Telecommunications Act also applies to VOIP (voice-over-Internet protocol) technology so that no matter how a call is made, the process and all related services fall under the act's provisions for accessibility. As of convention, there had been no independent testing of Apple's iPhone for accessibility. Mazrui noted that there are some features for people with low vision. More information can be found at www.apple.com/accessibility/iphone. Concerns about accessibility of Apple products may be directed to accessibility@apple.com. Mazrui cautioned that for best results when testing accessible products, go to AT&T owned and operated stores. Third-party vendors do not have to honor provisions such as 30-day money-back guarantees. For people with hearing impairments, phones in the AT&T stores that have an M or T rating are telecoil-accessible. For more about different types of accessible technology from AT&T, visit wireless.att.com/accessibilityresources. She encouraged people to contact her at mazrui@att.com. Gil Johnson, Senior Advisor, Critical Issues, American Foundation for the Blind, complimented ACB's employment seminar with remarks about the changing face of employment and rehabilitation. He discussed four main points: changes in how we look at employment; changes in today's work force; critical non-job-related skills; and a major shift in how rehabilitation agencies do their work. In the past, both rehabilitation agencies and blind people have focused on barriers to employment. Johnson used the saying, "If we always do what we've always done, we will always get what we've always got" to describe this state. He went on to note that there needs to be a better understanding of what skills are needed when entering the work force and what challenges face employers. In today's labor market there is increased competition, which means the employee must contribute to the bottom line. Other factors that affect the workplace include the shift from a manufacturing to a service economy and the retirement of the baby boomers. Employers are often desperate for people to fill positions. Critical "soft skills" today break down into two categories, employability skills and personal values. Communication skills, analytic skills, and computer technology literacy are key employability skills. The ability to multi-task and be flexible, the ability to work in teams and solve problems also fall into this category. In terms of personal values, self-confidence forms a crucial piece. Johnson used another popular quote to illustrate this. "If you think you can, you're right. If you think you can't, you're right." He noted that he has seen a shift in how rehabilitation agencies deal with employers, in that they now view them as customers. Another shift: rehabilitation counselors are less likely to work with employers and more likely to work through job placement specialists. This creates a glut of such specialists dealing with employers. Employers would rather deal with one central point of contact, but this presents difficulties if the blindness division of the agency is not included or does not work itself into that central point of contact. Johnson recommended that people visit www.afb.org and look into the Career Connect section where over 1,000 blind and visually impaired people serve as mentors. He also recommended the Hadley School for the Blind, where more employment-related courses are being added. Next, Owen Rachal, vice president of marketing and communications, and Terry Pacheco, director of public outreach, of Tenacity, Inc., presented "How to Make the Most of Your Telephone." Tenacity, Inc. is a software company that works with providers of VOIP to make the services offered by the technology easier to use for everyone. Their software product, Access A Phone, works with Enterprise VOIP phones. It offers keyboard commands, has its own native speech but will also work with screen readers and a variety of other adaptive devices. For more information, visit www.tenacitycorp.com or e-mail info@tenacitycorp.com. Finally, Milliman spoke about the Monthly Monetary Support (MMS) program. He encouraged people to reach outside of ACB to recruit participants. The person who signs up the most people from outside of the organization between today and next year's convention wins a Victor Reader Stream. WEDNESDAY The morning session began with some remarks by the president of Visually Impaired Veterans of America, Skip Sharpe. The amendment of Bylaw 7, section A as amended was adopted. The amendment of Article 4, Section D of the constitution was defeated. The amendment of Bylaw 6, Section K was passed as amended from the floor, setting the number of members to five for the advocacy committee. Next on the program was a brief presentation on Leber's congenital amaurosis. Following it was a major presentation on the Americans with Disabilities Act, which featured a review of some recent court cases. Priscilla Rogers from the American Foundation for the Blind discussed new developments on aging and blindness that AFB is working on. Frank Kurt Cylke and Michael Montoya updated listeners on the National Library Service for the Blind and Visually Impaired. After his presentation, Cylke received the Robert S. Bray Award. Charlie Boone, a Minneapolis radio personality, talked to the convention about his career. THURSDAY The morning's business began with a treasurer's report indicating that we had budgeted $1,056,673 for the year. Our income was $1,135,625. On the expense side, ACB budgeted $1,056,514 and actually spent $1,091,846. We have an excess of income over expenses of $43,779. These accounts have already been submitted to an auditor and the completed audit is expected soon. Mike Godino's treasurer's report was accepted with no comments. The convention then tackled a few resolutions. Resolution 2007-19 concerning gasoline prices was defeated. Resolution 2007-05, concerning Window-Eyes training materials, was also defeated. Melanie Brunson gave her executive director's report. She asked for feedback from members and introduced Natasha Janifer. One of the highlights of her year was a trip to Japan to present a paper on audio description. She announced that analog TV would go away in February of 2009 and indicated that, as a result of this deadline, ACB was working hard to assure that audio description was included fully in the roll-out of digital television. The government is proposing that some set-top converters be made available which can be purchased instead of full digital television sets. These would be made available for people on low income. When the original requests for proposals for the production and standards for these devices came out, no provision to assure their accessibility was included. AFB and ACB are working together on this issue as well as on audio description. SAP channels will go away but each digital channel will have the capacity to have up to four subchannels, one of which could be used for audio description. Brunson also announced the Coalition on Accessible Telecommunications (COAT) and encouraged affiliates to join it. Finally, in the area of telecommunications and television, ACB is working with many other groups, including WGBH and AFB, to convince the FCC that the technology exists to do something about emergency warnings that scroll across the screen but say nothing. She expects progress over the next year. ACB has worked on writing training materials for poll workers all over the country, which should improve how blind people are treated during elections. The organization has continued to work in the area of emergency preparedness, producing a guide on how service animals should be treated in shelters as well as other materials concerning blind people and emergencies. Legislation that drew attention to the need for better services to people with disabilities during emergencies was passed last year by the Congress, primarily through the hard work of ACB members who lobbied for its provisions. She also announced that FEMA has now hired Cindy Daniels as the coordinator of disability services. Brunson indicated that ACB continues to work on pedestrian safety where Philip Strong has conducted training for traffic engineers and has worked hard with state and local affiliates to promote the installation of accessible pedestrian signals. Strong and ACB have also been working hard on the issue of hybrid vehicles and quiet cars. Brunson also discussed ACB's efforts to turn around a decision made by the government to no longer cover Medicare or Medicaid purchases of low-vision devices. Other issues, such as dental care and access to information on prescription drugs, are also on ACB's plate. She mentioned that copies of the rehabilitation white paper were available and encouraged affiliates to read it, get behind its issues, and distribute it widely. Brunson indicated that considerable work goes on to raise funds for ACB but that much more needs to be done. She particularly encouraged people and affiliates to consider supporting the scholarship endowment funds of ACB. ACB is also working to encourage some long-range corporate sponsorships for scholarships which she hopes to be able to tell folks about in the future. Jeff Lovitky discussed the accessible currency suit with convention attendees. Then Kate Grasswall from Vision Loss Resources of Minneapolis gave a presentation. Resolution 2007-15 on Maxi-Aids was not considered by the convention based on a motion from the floor made by Michael Byington. There did not appear to be a second. However, the motion that the question not be considered because of pending litigation passed. Resolution 2007-02 concerning destination elevators was adopted. Resolution 2007-06 concerning a resolution written by a young lady in Nebraska about accessible currency was adopted. Resolutions 2007-10, which concerned pedestrian safety, and 2007-17, concerning accessible correspondence, were adopted. FRIDAY "Are you ready for a full day of business?" Gray asked at the start of the morning session. Someone in the audience hollered back, "No!", which generated laughter from the assembled crowd. Nevertheless, the convention got right down to business. First was a credentials issue: several individuals had paid their membership dues and received voting dots, but had not been officially recognized and seated. The convention voted to accept and seat them. Resolutions committee chairman Judy Jackson presented a resolution dealing with state rehabilitation services, which passed. Convention committee chairman Carla Ruschival gave a report on the convention. She thanked the local host committee for its hard work. The convention committee met in the fall, instead of at midyear, she said, because "we didn't think doing tours in 10 below would be a good thing." She thanked the national convention committee, too. She mentioned that the Convention Ear returned this year; also, the ACB convention e-mail list premiered this year, along with the file copying capacity onto people's electronic devices. Looking ahead, next year's convention will be in Louisville, Ky., at the Galt House. Rates are $85 single/double on the west side, $105 for suites (single/double) on the east side. ACB will return to the Galt House in 2012, and the rates will be the same. In 2009, the convention will be in Orlando. Following several announcements, the convention finally got to what everyone had been waiting for: elections! Judi Cannon, chair of the nominating committee, restated the slate: president, Carla Ruschival; first vice president, Kim Charlson; second vice president, Ed "Doc" Bradley; secretary, Marlaina Lieberg; treasurer, Mike Godino. Gray reviewed the election process with the group, then started with the office of president. Mitch Pomerantz was nominated from the floor. When the votes were tallied, the winner was Mitch Pomerantz, 59.68 percent (616.5 votes), to Carla Ruschival's 40.32 percent (416.5). While the vote for president was going on, Gray called on Michael Garrett to give the ACBES report. Garrett thanked the ACBES board for its hard work and gave a brief explanation of what it is. He mentioned that the thrift store managers had met in Minneapolis in April for two days of intense training; the goal "was to build a team that is not only committed to their work but is also committed to ACB." ACBES' goals were to help every store reach its maximum potential for sales and profits, and to expand operations to grow profitability. Jackson read several more resolutions, dealing with topics such as access to appliances, the Telecommunications Act, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, accessible currency, and the Randolph-Sheppard Act, among other topics, as elections continued. In the race for first vice president, Charlie Hodge challenged Kim Charlson and lost, 321 votes (31.69 percent) to 692 (68.31 percent). The race for second vice president was a cliffhanger; it featured Ed "Doc" Bradley and Brenda Dillon. Bradley received 487.5 votes (49.34 percent) to Dillon's 500.5 (50.66 percent). After a lunch recess, the convention returned to elections. Judy Jackson and Lynne Koral challenged Marlaina Lieberg in the race for secretary. Koral had 89.5 votes (9.67 percent); Jackson received 338.5 votes (36.5 percent), and Lieberg received 498 votes (53.78 percent). Mike Godino was elected treasurer by acclamation. The election of Dillon to the post of second vice president opened up a seat on the board of directors. Nominees for that post were Cammie Vloedman, Becky Floyd, Donna Seliger, Ken Rodgers, and Jean Mann. Mann received 79.5 votes (9.11 percent); Rodgers, 122.5 (14.03 percent); Seliger, 184.5 (21.13 percent); Floyd, 248 (28.41 percent); and Vloedman, 238.5 (27.32 percent). This resulted in a run-off between Vloedman and Floyd. The winner was Vloedman, with 475 votes (55.04 percent of the vote). Pomerantz named Ardis Bazyn as chair of the membership committee, Paul Edwards as chair of the board of publications, and Jenine Stanley as the second appointee to the board of publications. The remaining six resolutions were referred to the board of directors by the convention body. ***** CONVENTION IS LIKE A BIG FAMILY REUNION by Penny Crane Minneapolis what a beautiful, progressive city the American Council of the Blind chose for its 46th annual convention! I felt like a queen in the Hyatt Regency. Two friends, "Boo" (Bushemi, a big dog) and I shared a room. We didn't feel crowded at all. The hotel staff was friendly and gracious. They'd had training to meet our special needs, even folding the bills so they could be easily signed by blind people. Every morning, we found a local newspaper outside the door. Monday through Friday from 8:30 'til noon, we met for general sessions in a huge room with long narrow tables that had chairs along one side. Each table had a big state sign. Alabama was in front of Arizona. One day, in the back of an elevator, I heard a voice say, "The back of your head looks familiar." He was from Arkansas. Some of the volunteer work I did was meeting people in the halls and taking them to their tables. I got to meet a lot of great people. There were volunteers everywhere! Some of the issues brought up at the general sessions were digital books, quiet cars, the sizes of money and absentee voting. I thought the officer elections were interesting. We wore name tags, and stood up for the candidate we wanted. Sometimes there were so many people being counted that we had to stand for 15 minutes! There were all kinds of sessions in the afternoons. As I am a senior citizen and a retired kindergarten teacher, I attended sessions run by the Alliance on Aging and Vision Loss. One day the topic was depression and aging; another day, "Who shall I marry?" (I really enjoyed their wine and cheese mixer.) I also attended the women's concerns committee sessions on a couple of afternoons. They had programs on financial independence and heart health, among other topics. GDUI and ACB both held auctions. They were a lot of fun and raised a lot of money. I donated a hand-made baby quilt. I was impressed with all the wonderful programs for the kids from being invited into the Hyatt kitchen and preparing box lunches with the chefs, to going to touch-and-feel museums. A friend invited me to the Guide Dog Users luncheon, and the next day, I was invited to a breakfast. I learned about clicker training, Lyme disease testing, and international ID chips. I told a friend it was like two different worlds there: life above the table and life below it. I could just envision one dog saying, "How has your year been? Well, let me tell you about mine ..." My convention experiences were fun, informative and uplifting. Observing long-time friends greeting each other made me feel like a visitor at a big family reunion! ***** CLICKS AND TREATS AT THIS YEAR'S CONVENTION by Theresa Duncan, Guide Dogs for the Blind Alumni Associations Director Wags and smiles were all around at the clicker training seminar at this year's ACB convention sponsored by Guide Dog Users, Inc. (GDUI). Guide Dogs for the Blind held its first ever Clicker Clinic, led by Michele Pouliot, Director of Research and Development. Using clicker training, handlers can train guide dogs to locate specific objects they may need to find, such as a bus stop kiosk, a vacant chair or bench, or poles with traffic signal buttons. Guide dogs are usually trained to maneuver around these objects, often without the handler even knowing the obstacles are there. Clicker training allows handlers to further improve orientation and mobility skills, sharpen their dog's obedience responses, and teach their guides a new targeting behavior. Participants left with an increased awareness of the power of clicker training. We're confident that the use of clicker training will continue to expand throughout the entire guide dog industry in the months to come. In addition, many individuals had the opportunity to try out our new Swiss harness that was designed specifically for GDB. It is very light and comfortable for my dog, Dario. One of the greatest features is the quick-release harness handle, which allows me to remove the handle for his comfort while traveling in cars, buses, trains, and planes. The connection, handle and harness are made like a fine Swiss watch, with beautiful attention to detail. The harness is the most revolutionary change to the guide dog harness since its inception in the 1940s. We also hosted an alumni breakfast with GDB graduates attending from all over the country. It was nice to reconnect with graduates and give them the opportunity to meet each other. This was a great opportunity to network, keep alumni involved and build community. It was also a chance for GDB's staff to hear what kind of challenges our graduates are facing in their home environments and help them to remedy these situations. ***** RSVA PRESENTS AWARDS TO THREE DESERVING VENDORS by Ardis Bazyn The Vendor of the Year Award is given to a person who has been an active vendor for at least five years. This year's Vendor of the Year Award goes to Dan Sippl. Dan became a blind vendor in the Business Enterprise Program in 1999 and became an RSVA member in 2000. He was elected to the RSVA board in 2005, and currently is the chair of the elected committee of blind vendors in his state. At the age of 20, after a back injury and surgery, Dan became an auto mechanic for Montgomery Ward and later a service manager for Schmidt Oil Company. The spinal injury and declining vision due to retinitis pigmentosa gave him the impetus to work for the Wisconsin state government as a consumer protection investigator for 21 years until the RP impaired his reading ability. For several years he created arts and crafts out of wood as well. Civic activities include: past president of the Eau Claire Area Art League, past president of Eau Claire Golden K Kiwanis Club, past secretary of the Wisconsin Elected Committee of Blind Vendors, and currently chair of that committee. The Jennings Randolph Service Award is presented to someone who has given his or her time and energy to the Randolph-Sheppard Vendors of America, but who is not an active vendor. This year the Jennings Randolph Award was presented to Hazel Harmon of California. Hazel has truly lived up to the meaning of "dedicated." She is a hard-working, energetic individual who is always willing to help where needed. This recipient gives 110 percent to every task, and is truly committed to RSVA. She deserves this prestigious award for all the hard, tedious work she has done for RSVA's publication, "The Vendorscope." We commend her for making our auction a huge success with her articulate descriptions of each item being auctioned. She is a dedicated RSVA volunteer and truly cares about blind vendors; in fact, she's married to a blind vendor. Don Cameron did an outstanding job of advocating for his fellow blind and visually impaired peers. The award named for him has three criteria: 1. The nominee must be either a current or former member of RSVA; 2. The nominee must have been a vendor for at least 20 years, and 3. The nominee should be a vendor who is seeking to improve the goals of RSVA as well as promoting awareness of the blind in his or her community, state and nation. This year's Don Cameron Award recipient is Dan Dwyer of Illinois. Dan has truly lived up to the meaning of advocacy, as well as service and dedication in his state. Last year he attended his first national convention. He has been a vendor for 21 years. He has served on the Illinois State Elected Committee for the past eight years, and never says "no" when he is asked to advocate for another vendor or take on a new project. He was a key person who worked hard to make lottery machines user- friendly for our blind vendors who have them in their retail establishments. He enjoys the hands-on role of an advocate and is best known in the state of Illinois for the concern he demonstrated with one blind vendor, Allan Sugar, who is both blind and deaf. Sugar was the recipient of Dan's hard work in making sure that he had all of the tools and skills needed to make his facility a success. ***** THE DAWNING OF A NEW DAY by Rebecca Floyd-Collins We are all home from the ACB convention and looking forward to the next one, less than a year away. What a great convention this one was, but there is still that age-old problem of not being able to be in two or more places at the same time. The exhibit hall is always the high point of the convention for me, and this year was no exception. It is never disappointing (other than not being able to buy everything I want). Now we are awaiting a visit to Louisville, Ky. horse country. For those of us who follow the horse races every year, love and own horses, and just plain enjoy being around horses, next year's convention is something special to which to look forward. I don't know whether Churchill Downs, the home of the Kentucky Derby, will be closed at that time of the year, but it is always open for tourists, as are many of the thoroughbred farms in the area. This part of Kentucky is one of my favorite areas of the United States. We won't want to miss seeing the local services for the blind, either. And I'm sure there will be some wonderful tours, and I will want to be in at least three places at once. I wonder if medical science can help me with this problem? The next convention is part of the new day that is dawning. Have you ever had that strange feeling that something exciting and profound was about to happen? Well, as I watched the elections of the new officers and one board member this year, that is the feeling I got. I see three areas being very important in ACB: fund-raising, advocacy, and communication. I believe that this new board will be willing and able, with the help of the membership, to address these three important areas. Fund-raising: We must look outside our membership for continuous fund- raising activities. Although all of the fund-raising that our members do will always be the backbone for our organization and money on which we can depend, year after year, we need to find ways of tapping into the wealth of this great country, as many other non-profit organizations have done. Advocacy: Over the years, ACB has made quite a difference in the lives of people who are blind or visually impaired, but I believe that the stage is set for ACB to influence legislation, services and activities in a number of areas. The one thing we must remember is that we cannot spread ourselves too thin. We need to pick our battles carefully, and involve the membership in our efforts. Over the past 25 years, in my job as an advocate, I have learned that whether it is individual advocacy, group advocacy, lawsuits, or advocacy through legislation on the local, state or national level, you must be organized, and you must find the right time and way to advocate. We often use the media to sell our position in some advocacy efforts, because many voices are louder than one or just a few. The board, the ACB staff, and/or the advocacy committee cannot make a difference by themselves. They need our help. Communications: Communication is a two-way street. The board must get information out to the membership, to keep the membership interested in the goings-on in ACB, and to involve them in activities, such as advocacy. In turn, the board must listen to the membership. After all, 50,000 voices are louder and more convincing than just one or a few. ACB has a wonderful membership, and ideas and answers can come from that very knowledgeable membership. It is the board's job to implement those ideas and answers in a way that will benefit ACB and all blind and visually impaired people in the United States. I am very proud to be a member of the greatest, biggest, most democratic organization of blind people in this country. Let's unite behind our board and make this new day dawn a much brighter one for ACB and for our members. ***** IN THE FIRST TURN by Carla Ruschival January is here with its dreary days, but sunshine and summer can't be far away. And with summer comes the 2008 ACB convention. Official dates are July 5-12; the place, Louisville, Ky., at the beautiful Galt House Hotel on the banks of the mighty Ohio River. At the 47th annual convention of the American Council of the Blind you'll explore caves, listen to great music by Stephen Foster, visit Abraham Lincoln's birthplace and the Muhammad Ali museum and the American Printing House for the Blind, and much, much more. You'll meet old friends and make new ones at the many mixers and socials; dances, a karaoke, comedy night, free described movies, and fast-moving auctions will fill your evenings with fun. But there's more to convention than just fun. Here is a sampling of some outstanding opportunities that address problems related to education, career, and daily living. Exhibits: What a fabulous chance to contrast and compare the latest products for blind and visually impaired people! Discover which video magnifier, braille device or speech program best meets your needs. Examine tutorials, print/braille books, canes, watches, and an endless variety of products for work, school and daily living. Collect materials to take home to others in your office or organization. The ACB exhibit area is a blind person's mall, and you will want to spend hours and hours browsing the aisles. Exhibits open on Saturday, July 5, at 1 p.m.; they are available all day, Sunday through Wednesday, and close Thursday at 1 p.m. Workshops and Focus Groups: Every convention features unique opportunities to learn new skills, tips and techniques on a wide range of topics. Seminars on diabetes, employment issues, and information access to off-the-shelf technology are some examples. You will find instruction on high-tech products such as screen readers, braille notetakers, low-vision products, and much more. Programs and Discussions: ACB general sessions (Sunday evening, Monday-Thursday 8:30 a.m.-noon, and all day Friday) address major issues such as education, rehabilitation, employment, Social Security, voter access, health-related issues and much more. The presentation by a Talking Book narrator and an update on the changeover to digital talking books will be popular. While the 2008 program is not complete at this time, you can be assured that it will be exciting and information-packed. ACB committees, special-interest affiliates and others sponsor a seemingly endless variety of break-out sessions and small-group discussions. Look for informative programming for teachers and rehabilitation counselors, government employees, blind vendors and private entrepreneurs, attorneys, and information technology specialists. Students can explore careers and perhaps network with others working in their area of interest. Special programming targets individuals with low vision, guide dog users, deaf-blind issues, braille readers, etc. Networking: It is often said that networking with others with similar interests is as important as education and training, and that it greatly enhances the job-seeking process. Whether you are a teacher or student, rehabilitation counselor or administrator, parent or caregiver, employer or job-seeker, you will be able to network with others in your field. Details, Details Exhibit, advertising and sponsorship opportunities are now available. For more information, visit our web site at www.acb.org. For exhibit questions, call Michael Smitherman at (601) 968-4164; for advertising and sponsorship questions, contact Brenda Dillon at (615) 874-1223. Special-interest groups, ACB committees, and others wishing to sponsor programs or activities at the convention should submit all information for the pre-registration form by April 1. Program details need to be submitted by May 1. Make all arrangements related to convention events (reserving space, ordering food or AV equipment, etc.) with Carla Ruschival (phone, (502) 897-1472 or e-mail, adamcarla@bellsouth.net); please DO NOT call the hotel directly to make these arrangements. The local host committee realizes that planners for special-interest affiliates may not be aware of local resources, and thus it has prepared a list of potential speakers to assist your group in program planning. E-mail Carla Ruschival to receive this list. Get to the first turn in the race to the 2008 ACB convention by making your hotel reservations at the Galt House. Rates are $85 single/double for standard rooms on the west side (the Rivue tower), and $105 single/double in the east tower (one-bedroom suites). Add $10 for each additional person in a room; limit four people per room. Rates are quoted per night, and do not include tax. For reservations, call (502) 589-5200. If you have convention questions or special concerns, contact Carla Ruschival at (502) 897-1472 or by e-mail at adamcarla@bellsouth.net; or call the national office at 1-800-424-8666. ***** AFFILIATE NEWS Friends-In-Art Scholarship Announcement High school seniors and college students are invited to apply for the Friends-In-Art scholarship for the 2008-2009 school year. This $1,500 scholarship is offered annually for achievement, talent, and excellence in the arts. If you are planning to major, or are currently majoring, in the field(s) of music, art, drama, or creative writing, and are a blind or visually impaired student and live in North America, you may apply for this scholarship. You may obtain an application form by writing to Harvey Miller, 196 E. French Broad St., Brevard, N.C. 28712-3410. Include a self-addressed, stamped envelope when requesting the application. You also may request an electronic application by sending an e-mail to hhmiller@citcom.net. Applications and supporting information must be in the hands of the scholarship committee by the end of May 2008. GDUI Goes Cruising in 2008 Join GDUI on Sept. 27, 2008 for a seven-day cruise on the Carnival Victory, departing from New York and cruising to Boston; Portland, Maine; St. John, New Brunswick, Canada; and Halifax, Nova Scotia. This itinerary was chosen over one with a Caribbean destination, because there will be no access issues for guide dogs, and all tours and on-shore environments will be guide-dog-friendly. Damar Travel specializes in setting up blind-friendly cruises. Damar's staff will complete all your forms, meet you at the airport, orient you to the ship's layout, provide menus and other documentation in braille and large print, create accessible room signage on board, provide personal assistance with tours, shopping and much more! Carnival will contribute matching funds, enabling GDUI to raise $100 per booking for its important work. Prices are $942 for an inside cabin, $1,122 for an ocean view, and $1,292 for a private balcony. All prices include seven-day cruise, port charges, government fees and gratuities. Please contact Dave Kronk with Damar Travel at 1-800-999-6101 for specific details about the cruise and deposit deadlines, and be sure to mention you are interested in the GDUI cruise. ***** WIN THE LATEST VERSION OF THE VICTOR READER STREAM! by Donna Seliger Start off your new year with a pledge to the ACB to become a participant in the MMS program, or if you are already a participant, to increase the amount of your monthly contributions. By doing so, you could win the very latest version of the incredible Victor Reader Stream! The names of all new contributors and existing participants who increase the amount of their contributions by at least $5 per month will go into a drawing for a HumanWare Victor Reader Stream. This includes all participants since the end of our 2007 ACB national convention in Minneapolis and will continue through the end of the 2008 convention in Louisville. The Monthly Monetary Support Program (MMS) is designed for ACB members to take part in financially supporting the organization through monthly contributions of as little as $10. In addition, your contributions can be split between the national organization and a state affiliate of your choice, allowing you to support two levels of our organization at the same time with one monthly contribution. I can't emphasize enough how important it is for the members of this organization to step up and financially support the current and future activities of ACB. Yes, we pay dues, but that is only $5 per year; that amount doesn't even come close to paying for publishing "The Braille Forum," not to mention the many other activities the ACB and its many affiliates perform on our behalf. Currently, we have nearly 200 participants in the MMS program, but this number is still a relatively small proportion of our total ACB membership. Just think about this: if a thousand members signed up for the minimum amount of only $10 each month, ACB would be $10,000 richer every month or $120,000 over a year! Think of the possibilities for using the extra funds. With the added income each month, "The Braille Forum" could be produced and distributed without reducing the number of issues. ACB Radio could add more streams and programs. We could do an even better job with our marketing and public relations efforts, produce more public service announcements, create the other support materials we need to help our affiliates, recruit new members, and do an even better job of educating the public. In other words, with your support, we can better meet our needs and be the organization you want and expect ACB to be! Please help us get the new year started off in a big way by becoming a participant in the MMS program, or if you are already a participant, please increase the amount of your monthly contributions. Every little bit will help ACB meet its goals in the new year! I ask you to join with me and give a little back to ACB. For more information, to become a participant, or to increase your monthly contributions, contact Dr. Ron Milliman, chair of the committee, by e-mail at rmilliman@insightbb.com or by phone at (270) 782-9325. ***** DKM COMMITTEE SEEKS FIRST-TIMERS FOR 2008 by Catherine Skivers The members of the Durward K. McDaniel (DKM) committee are hard at work planning for our part of the ACB convention to be held in Louisville, Ky. July 5-12, 2008. Our committee is looking forward to hearing from those of you who would like to attend the ACB convention for the first time. Each year two people, one from east and one from west of the Mississippi, are chosen to be with us. If you want to apply, please send us a letter giving your name, address, telephone number and e-mail if you have one. Tell us about yourself and why you would like to attend the ACB convention. Let us know how you feel you would benefit by attending. You need not write a long letter, but we would like to get to know you. If you belong to an affiliate, please ask your president to write a letter of support for you. All letters should be sent to the DKM First-Timers Committee and mailed to the ACB office at 1155 15th St. NW, Suite 1004, Washington, DC 20005 as soon as possible. The closing date for submissions is April 15, 2008. If you're chosen, your transportation and hotel expenses will be covered, and you will receive a per diem as well. Winners are introduced at the convention and, again, at the party this committee holds each year. Each month, a member of our committee will be telling you more about what we will be doing in Louisville. We will be having tickets for sale as a fund-raiser and this time you will not have to be present to win. The winners will be drawn at the ACB banquet. We hope that you will send us your letters about becoming a first-timer and we hope that all of you will sign up for our party and help us with our fund-raiser. Durward was one of the founders of this organization, and building membership in ACB was one of his major goals. Please come and help us make up what has become a tradition in ACB. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Carol Ewing, chair of our committee, at (702) 524-8444 or Cathy Skivers at (510) 357-1986. The other members of our committee will be happy to help you. They are: Carl McCoy, Stephanie Hall, Mike Hoenig, Carol Edwards, Mike Godino and Terry Pacheco. ***** WHAT IS A DIVE-IN MOVIE? by Brenda Dillon I'm sure many of you have enjoyed the fun of going to a drive-in movie, but how many of you have experienced the utter relaxation of a dive- in movie? Dan and I had our first opportunity to take in a dive-in movie during our week-long stay at the Wyndham Ocean Walk Resort in Daytona Beach, Fla. Thanks to the generosity of ACB member Tim Paul of Illinois, who donated this great vacation to the auction held at the 2007 national convention, and the fact that we were the lucky high bidders on this fabulous item, we were afforded this unique experience along with so many others. Imagine watching great movies like "Ever After" or "National Treasure" while kicked back, relaxing in the pool, or lounging poolside for those who preferred a dry seat! As the heat of the sun gave way to the cooler evening breeze, the movie was shown on a huge inflatable screen set up outside by the pool. The freedom to move about and frolic a bit in the water added a carefree element to the viewing of the movie. A tiki bar was located nearby with luscious tropical drinks and yummy appetizers. If you ever get a chance to stay at this resort, I strongly encourage you to do so. Our one-bedroom unit with full kitchen had a huge jacuzzi and included a balcony overlooking the majestic surf of the Atlantic. The resort featured numerous pools, both indoor and outdoor. In addition to a couple of really large hot tubs on the pool deck, there was a lazy river to float around in and a two-story curvy slide. You could dance and sing along with the live entertainment at the indoor bar, and there was a full schedule of fun activities to participate in each day. They hosted karaoke for adults and a special time for kids. There were tournaments to show off your skills at poker, billiards and golf. Various relays and competitions were held on the pool deck. We played the not-so-newlywed game but didn't win. Thankfully we didn't embarrass ourselves by coming in last either. Our team won in the "Name That Tune" game and received a very nice prize package. We made several neat crafts during our stay there, including glass bead memory bracelets, beach in a bubble ornaments, tile trivets, and stuffed an alligator and a pink flamingo. There was a three-level shopping mall with lots of great restaurants attached to this resort as well as an amphitheater where we heard a free concert. The assistant property manager, Tom St. Peter, and his staff could not have been friendlier or more accommodating. Assistance was readily available, but they did not hover, which enabled us to feel independent and yet know that we could rely on capable staff when needed. They made our stay a very pleasant and fun-filled experience and provided us with memories we will cherish forever! I cannot end this article without bragging about our ACB family in Daytona Beach. John and Faye Harden extended true Southern hospitality! They introduced us to several great restaurants in town where we were joined by other ACB friends. Dan even went to work with John one day to observe him as he inspected library players and repaired braille writers. We invited them to join us for some fun events at the resort. Be forewarned, if this resort package is ever available again at the ACB benefit auction, the Dillons will be among the bidders trying to win this outstanding trip!! It's not too early to begin thinking about what you can donate to the 2008 ACB auction! ***** WHAT YOU GOT FOR THE MONEY by Gia Alexander (Editor's Note: Some of you may remember Gynger Ingram, a scholarship winner in 1986. In 1995, she legally changed her name to facilitate her writing career.) In 1986, the American Council of the Blind generously awarded me the $1,500 Floyd Qualls Memorial Scholarship. Subsequently, the Louisiana Council of the Blind provided an additional $300 to sponsor my trip to the ACB national convention in Knoxville, Tenn. to accept the scholarship in person. That was 21 years ago, yet I remain most thankful for the award and the experiences it brought me. I used the funds for tuition, textbooks and a large-print thermal typewriter, an indispensable tool for a visually impaired student in the days before laptop computers. As a measure of gratitude, I would like to let ACB members know what they got for their investment in my future. I went on to graduate summa cum laude from Northwestern State University of Louisiana in May 1989, earning a bachelor of arts in English. I then proceeded to graduate school at Texas A&M University at College Station, earning a master of arts in English in August 1991. During my master's program, I developed an interest in scientific and technical writing that augmented my original goal of being an author and university administrator. In the second year of my graduate program, I earned a split assistantship, continuing to teach one class of freshman composition while also working as a technical writer in the university's Supercomputer Center. This role defined the future course of my career. Better Communicators In today's global work force, one cannot underestimate the value of clear, precise communication. In the fall of 1991, I took a teaching position at the College Station, Texas branch of Blinn College, the oldest community college in Texas, which regularly prepares students for advancement to Texas A&M and other four-year institutions throughout the state. I taught courses in freshman composition, introductory literature and technical writing. My department head quickly discovered that I possessed an unusual gift for working with international students, who often began their course work at the community college level to improve their language skills before moving on to their advanced degree programs. Between 1989 and 1995, I taught over 1,000 American and international students to be better writers. Over the years, I have heard from many of my former students who have taken what they learned and successfully applied it to their own careers. Interestingly, throughout six years of teaching, I had only one student who blatantly took advantage of my low vision. His own peers called his treachery to my attention and made him apologize to me. Ironically, the culprit was a physical therapy major studying to work with disabled people. I took him privately into the hallway and encouraged him to evaluate more closely his career choice. The rest of the semester passed uneventfully. A Safer World In the summer of 1994, the head of Texas A&M's Department of Nuclear Engineering spotted me teaching a technical writing class and remembered me from the Supercomputer Center. He was considering adding a technical writer to his staff pending an upcoming large-scale research project. I took the position in December 1994, although I continued to teach in the evenings for another year. That research project turned out to be the Amarillo National Resource Center for Plutonium (ANRCP), a program established by the U.S. Department of Energy to look into options for disposing of excess weapons- grade plutonium from the Cold War era. For the next three and a half years, I worked with scientists from around the world as they investigated the best options for dealing with the excess plutonium. My role involved everything from sending e-mail reminders about technical meetings to preparing abstracts and progress reports to serving as the technical editor of a full- length book containing the proceedings of a NATO conference on nuclear waste management. I also assisted professors in the department with their technical publications by typesetting their equations, correcting their English and checking galley proofs of their articles prior to final publication. I felt particularly honored when one of the department's lead professors invited me to serve with him on the university's Council of Principal Investigators. In fact, he had made it clear that he would not accept the CPI's nomination of him as secretary unless he had my help. In this capacity, I worked with researchers throughout the Texas A&M University system by helping coordinate the meetings, taking the extensive minutes, and streamlining the dissemination of electronic information throughout the membership. The most rewarding aspect of my position, though, involved helping nuclear engineering graduate students prepare their theses and dissertations. Again, I strove to impart principles of good writing and clear communication to these young professionals who would go on to work at nuclear power plants and serve as stewards of nuclear arsenals. After all, I reminded them again and again, the Chernobyl accident was a direct result of miscommunication. By April 1998, the ANRCP investigators had identified vitrification and deep burial as the best methods for disposing of excess plutonium. Vitrification involves combining the plutonium with a glass-like medium from which extraction is extremely difficult. The plutonium/glass material is then encapsulated in safe containers and buried deep in the earth at a secret location. These processes deter future recovery and destructive use of the plutonium. With the project at an end, it was time for me to move on with my career. A More Sustainable Rio Grande Valley During my time with the Department of Nuclear Engineering, I worked on a number of proposals, including the original proposal for the ANRCP project. I marketed this skill across campus, and in May 1998 I joined the Center for Housing and Urban Development in the College of Architecture, also at Texas A&M. There, I worked as a proposal development specialist for the center's nationally recognized Colonias Program. Colonias are unincorporated settlements along the Texas/Mexico border that lack even the most basic infrastructure such as paved streets, municipal sewers, telephone service, health care facilities and so forth. To help the colonias become more sustainable communities, the Colonias Program established a series of local community centers to provide housing, education, health care, senior care, employment and other essential services and information to residents. Beneficial as these programs are, they require money, and lots of it. While with the center, I helped other Colonias Program team members develop proposals to institute helpful programs in these needy communities. Of course, I found the outcomes of my efforts rewarding, but the intensely collaborative environment proved quite stressful. The Colonias Program is, by its nature, a very social entity, whereas I find myself to be a very scientific entity, much more effective and productive as an individualist. Call me odd if you will, but I missed editing technical conference proceedings and typesetting equations. Hence, I requested and received a departmental transfer that brought me full circle back to my days with computers, technical abstracts and lots and lots of equations. A Cleaner Environment After a year with the Colonias Program, I transferred to the Institute for Scientific Computation. As a communications specialist, I primarily assisted the Institute's director, who was and is by far the most versatile scientific professional I have ever had the honor to serve. A mathematician at heart, he worked extensively within the petroleum industry developing computer models to simulate fluid flow through porous media. In plain English, that means he studied how oil and other petroleum byproducts or contaminants might behave if they leak into the soil or groundwater. From this knowledge, he developed recommendations for preventative measures and contingency plans to mitigate contamination incidents. His work necessitated frequent travel to conferences to give presentations on his work, presentations which I often prepared for him. I also maintained his numerous publications, edited articles for him and his colleagues and assisted with scientific grant proposals. More To Come By late 2000, I was in trouble. Despite my reliance on a CCTV and a catalog case full of magnifying glasses, I suppose all that technical editing had taken its toll. Or perhaps it was just because I had officially reached middle age. Either way, my residual vision was going, and I knew it. I started making too many typos of my own and failed to catch those of others. My time as a technical writer and editor was ending, so I started to investigate my other options, such as medical transcription. Then, a secondary near-fatal illness sidelined me completely in early 2001. The illness is improved now, and I am becoming accustomed to living with the lowest visual acuity I have ever had. I worked in supportive roles during my first career, and I hope you find that I attached myself to worthy coattails. I am currently researching options for a second career with a leadership role this time, perhaps as the proprietor of my own business. Whatever the outcome, I will always remember the generosity of the American Council of the Blind and other sponsors who contributed to making me a productive individual. Thank you. ***** THE LONELY TRAIN WHISTLE by Judy Jones Turner As I sat down to type a letter, my thoughts were suddenly distracted, as they often are, by a long and sorrowful train whistle from the distance. My mind goes back to the memories of a fateful day in the fall of 1965. It was a cool October morning as I lay in bed listening to the sounds of another work week. As I lay snuggled between two flannel sheets with a pile of quilts on top, I heard conversation among my father, mother, and older brother. It was the first day of work at the cotton gin for my brother Earl, who was 17. When the front door opened, Mom said to Earl, with warm words of encouragement, "Work hard, son, and make them a good hand." The door shut, and the footsteps outside my window led to the old '59 mustard- and mayonnaise-colored Ford truck. The truck doors closed; the key was engaged and, after some hesitation, the truck's engine finally started. Before Dad could get the truck on the gravel road, Rex, my German shepherd, ran alongside the truck, barking. Rex always seemed to have a smile on his face as he ran, tongue hanging out and lapping over his teeth. Rex always chased the truck down the road until it picked up enough speed to leave him behind; then in the afternoons, he would meet the truck for the chase home. I finally heard the last of the barking as the clattering of the truck dwindled into the distance. "Get up, sleepyhead!" Mom hollered through the open door. "We've got to get to the cotton field. The hired hands will be there before us if you don't hurry." I was reluctant to get up, but I knew if I didn't, Mom would be back in just a few minutes with a reinforced voice which meant business! Going to the field today would be different from what it had been in the past few weeks because today it would be left to my mother and me to take the cotton weights, help put the cotton in the trailer, and pick cotton ourselves without the help of a male from our household. I got out of bed and dressed. I went into our fairly new indoor bathroom, washed my hands and face, and proceeded into the small dining room for my bowl of oatmeal. Mom was in a frenzy, as usual. She was trying to get the kitchen cleaned after having cooked breakfast for the family. She was in a hurry to get to the field before everyone else. We were catching a ride to the field that morning with the DeFrieses, our neighbors who worked in the field for us. They were giving us a ride because Mom couldn't drive, and I was too young to drive. So I hurriedly ate my breakfast. That morning we were to be working on land which my dad had rented from a friend, Mr. Blankenship. It was about 7 o'clock that morning as we loaded into our neighbor's car, ready to begin the day. With picnic lunches in hand and plenty of cold water for everyone to drink, we began our day in a happy mood. We had approximately 10 people working for us that day, ranging in ages from 5 to 40. I was 14. Sometimes in the early morning the dew would still be on the cotton leaves, making the cotton more difficult to pick. But around 9 o'clock the sun's warmth had dried the cotton and everyone was trying to outdo the other by picking the most cotton for the day. The day had the makings of a good one. The smell of cotton was in the air. On that particular day some places in the field were as white as snow where the leaves had dropped from the stalks. At other places, the cotton was so tall and dense that some of the younger workers could become lost in the denseness. Occasionally, we ran across a big garden spider basking in the sun, hanging from a beautiful web which it had created. When I saw such a sight, I would quickly pull my hand back from the area so as not to disturb the spider. I would ease around it and go about my cotton picking. After a hard morning's work, we all decided to break for lunch about 11:30. Lunch was always quite exciting in the cotton fields. We had our nickel pop, bologna sandwiches, and sometimes a Hostess cupcake that Mom had supplied. I had been diagnosed as a diabetic, but I still relished the sweetness of those cupcakes. As we ate, we all talked about how many pounds of cotton we had picked and how much more we had to get in order to meet our goals for that day. Before my brother had gone to work for the gin with my father, I worked hard to beat him in picking cotton. After all, he was three and a half years older than I, and I really wanted to beat him so that I could brag about it to him. Beating him was really easy sometimes because he would sing Beatles songs or other songs that were popular at the time so that he could entertain his sidekick, Jerry DeFries. One day after I had picked a complete round, more than the two of them, I caught up with them. The day was almost over, and I understood why they weren't going anywhere. The two of them were absolutely hilarious, and naturally I got caught up in the fun and quit working as hard. After that episode, I tried not to get caught up in the fun anymore. I liked it better when I had bragging rights! The noontime sounds and the sun beaming down on us beckoned us back to our cotton sacks. From where we worked, we could hear and see in the distance the sound of the huge Cotton Belt freight trains moving down the tracks. We were about a half mile from our little home town of Marmaduke, Ark. Mom and Mildred DeFries got to their feet about the same time and said to the workers, "Let's get up and get at it, kids." So, one by one, we did. We went back to the rows of cotton we had been picking before lunch and began working again. Nearly everyone had somebody that he or she buddied up with, including me. Since Jerry no longer had my brother to entertain him, we started picking cotton together that day. We would stop occasionally and stretch our tired backs from being bent over the cotton rows for so long. Around 12:40 we noticed that a train had stopped on the tracks. Jerry and I thought that strange since there were no side tracks in that area. Others commented on it also. After a while, someone behind us noticed two people coming toward the field. They were not dressed in cotton-picking clothes. Mom had noticed too. She was standing now, and I heard her say to the man and woman, "Where's your pick sack?" They had reached Mom, who stood just a few feet from me, and they responded, "Goldie, there's been an accident. You're going to have to come with us." At that moment, I could not see my mother's face, but the expressions on the couple's faces showed the seriousness of the accident. In her heart, Mom knew that the life she had known had just come to an abrupt end. She turned to me and said, "Judy, come on, right now." Bewildered, I took off my cotton sack and ran to catch up with them. Mom was starting to sob, and with K.C. on one side of Mom and his co-worker companion on the other side, they supported my mom as she walked through the field. Late that afternoon, before all daylight was engulfed by the darkness, I lay on my bed again. I was listening for a familiar sound to come down the road. Rex was waiting too. I looked out my window, and I could see Rex looking to his right, then to his left, but this time his smile was gone. He had concern in his dark eyes. There were unfamiliar cars in the yard. He couldn't put all the pieces together, but I knew he was listening for the familiar clatter of that old Ford truck that I, too, so wanted to hear. Later on that night, with tears in my eyes, I heard in the distance another train whistle. Then I heard Rex howling. I think he had put the pieces together. ***** HERE AND THERE by Sue Lichtenfels The announcement of products and services in this column is not an endorsement by the American Council of the Blind, its staff, or elected officials. Products and services are listed free of charge for the benefit of our readers. "The Braille Forum" cannot be held responsible for the reliability of products and services mentioned. To submit items for this column, send a message to info@acb.org, or call ACB at 1-800-424-8666 and leave a message in mailbox 26. Please remember that postal regulations prohibit us from including advertisements, and that we need information two months ahead of actual publication dates. 2008 SUMMER INTERNSHIPS ENTRY POINT!, a program of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), is accepting applications for its 2008 summer internship program. ENTRY POINT! offers paid, 10-week internships and semester co-ops in major companies throughout the United States, including NASA, IBM, NOAA, Merck, Lockheed Martin, Google, CVS, and NAVAIR. To qualify, students must: be full-time undergraduate or graduate students; be a science, mathematics, engineering, business, or computer science major; have at least a B average GPA, and be a U.S. citizen. For more information, contact Laureen Summers at (202) 326-6649 or Lsummers@aaas.org. You can apply online at www.entrypoint.org. While applications will be accepted through April, the placement process begins as early as January for some corporations. TEAM USA MEDALS IN AUSTRALIA The results are in from the third IBSA Tenpin Bowling Championships, and Team USA did very well. Marie Van Liere of Newport News, Va. earned the team's first gold medal in the B2 women's scratch event. She followed that up with a silver medal in the women's handicap event. Melody Heath of Greensboro, N.C. earned a bronze medal in the B1 women's handicap event. Jack Lenk of St. Louis took home a silver medal in the B1 men's scratch event; Gar Giddings (Ramsey, Minn.) brought home the bronze. In the three- person team event, Van Liere, Lenk and Jim Fleming (Roanoke, Va.) won a bronze medal in the handicap division. In the four-person team event, Van Liere, Lenk, Fleming and Herbert Everett (Raleigh, N.C.) captured the bronze in the handicap division. ARIZONA STATE STUDY Dr. Barry Hughes at Arizona State University is conducting a research study to investigate how the fingers and brain work together during braille reading. Based on the results, he hopes to develop some ideas for how to improve its teaching and learning. Hughes seeks individuals to take part in one or more studies (up to a maximum of six) which will take no more than 90 minutes each. The research will involve participants reading sample braille text of various lengths and word familiarity. The study will measure the position of the dominant reading finger and its speed as the participant reads. Qualified study participants must: be over 21; be a good reader of both English and braille; have no usable residual vision; and have no disability other than blindness. Participants will be paid $25 per study and transportation can be provided to and from the ASU Tempe campus. For more information, or to participate, contact Barry Hughes by e-mail at barry.hughes@asu.edu or by phone at (480) 334-5374. MARK YOUR CALENDARS! The Josephine L. Taylor Leadership Institute will take place April 4- 5, 2008 at the San Francisco Airport Marriott. Room rates are $145 per night plus tax. Call 1-800-228-9290 to make your reservation. The conference registration fee is $345. You may register online at www.afb.org/jltli.asp. For more information, call 1-800-232-5463. NEW ZOOMTEXT RELEASED Ai Squared recently released ZoomText USB, a portable program on a USB memory drive that fits in your pocket or around your neck on the included lanyard. The drive enables users to install and run ZoomText wherever and whenever needed without having to purchase additional licensing or worry about activating each installation. Just plug in the USB drive and, if ZoomText has already been installed on the system, immediately use the software. If ZoomText hasn't been installed, a low-vision--friendly setup program launches for a quick installation. The user settings are saved back to the USB drive and load automatically each time the drive is used. For more information, visit www.aisquared.com or call 1-800-859-0270. NEWS FROM MICROSOFT Microsoft and the Digital Accessible Information System (DAISY) Consortium recently announced a joint development project that will make it possible for computer users who are blind or print-disabled to gain access to more written content by using assistive technology. This project will be a reference model for other Open XML solution models. It will be available on SourceForge.net, and will yield a free, downloadable plug-in for Microsoft Word that will enable users to translate Open XML-based documents into DAISY XML, the standard for reading and publishing navigable multimedia content. When it becomes available in early 2008, the "Save as DAISY" feature will mean that people with print disabilities will have better access to the information in billions of documents. AOL BECOMES ACCESSIBLE AOL has recently launched a new web interface, Websuite Lite, which makes the dynamic Web 2.0 interface accessible for users who are blind. The team that designed the interface was led by Tom Wlodkowski, a blind man who experienced the challenges Web 2.0 applications presented firsthand. To further enhance web accessibility, AOL also released a new Javascript library that makes it easier for web developers to implement accessible features with modern Web 2.0 sites. VICTOR NOW PLAYS AUDIBLE Victor Reader Stream, the pocket-sized portable MP3 player designed for blind and low-vision people, now has the capability to play the popular Audible.com books. The Audible format provides a huge additional choice of content to users as Audible is the leading provider of spoken audio on the Internet, providing over 140,000 hours of digital audio editions of books, newspapers and magazines. For Audible books, the user will be able to navigate from one Audible heading to the next, move by increments of one-, five-, or ten-minute time jumps, and move with an accelerated fast-forward feature that announces the amount of time lapsed. Current Victor Reader Stream users will need to upgrade their player to software version 1.1 in order to play Audible books. For more information, visit www.humanware.com. NEW SET OF MAPS The Princeton Braillists recently released a new set of maps, "Maps of Canada and the United States." This is a single volume, 75 pages long, which includes 28 maps. There are four thematic maps (major cities, land forms, elevation and climate) of Canada and the U.S., six maps of Canada (including enlarged maps of the maritime provinces and the Great Lakes region), and 18 maps on the U.S. and its territories (including four thematic maps), maps of Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Guam. These maps are much more detailed than those in the company's "Atlas of North and South America." "Maps of Canada and the United States" is bound with cardboard covers and a multi-ring binder, and costs $20. Shipping is by free matter, if eligible. Send check or money order to The Princeton Braillists, 76 Leabrook Lane, Princeton, N.J. 08540, and allow four weeks for delivery. For more information on other maps and atlases, visit http://mysite.verizon.net/resvqbxe/princetonbraillists/ or call (215) 357-7715 or (609) 924-5207. BRAILLER REPAIR Bring your brailler back to life! The Selective Doctor, Inc., specializes in the repair of Perkins braillers. Repairs cost $55 for labor, plus the cost of parts. You can send your brailler to: The Selective Doctor, Inc., P.O. Box 28432, Baltimore, MD 21234; free matter shipping is accepted. Please insure your brailler. The company will include the cost of return postal insurance to your invoice. For more information, call (410) 668-1143 or e-mail braillerrepair@yahoo.com. You may also visit the web site, www.selectivedoctor.com. MEDIA DIRECTORY America's Telability Media, a directory containing nearly 1,500 mass media resources that serve the disability community and the rehabilitation industry, is now available. It can be purchased for $60 in print, or $40 by e-mail, by calling Charlie Winston at (573) 445-7656. ***** HIGH TECH SWAP SHOP FOR SALE: Juliet Classic interpoint braille embosser by Enabling Technologies. Rarely used; in excellent condition. Factory-installed single sheet feed feature allows brailling on light metal for signs. Comes in original box, with braille-and-print manual, connecting cords, and driver. Asking $2,000 or best offer. Buyer responsible for shipping and insurance. Money order, cashier's check or credit card payment through PayPal only. Contact Alex at (714) 672-0007 or by e-mail at eljefe@ciego.net; please include the word "embosser" in the subject line. FOR SALE: Smartview 3000 CCTV. Best offer. Contact Mazen Abouantoun at (301) 344-3662 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Eastern time. FOR SALE: PAC Mate, hardly used. Price negotiable. Call Arlene at (510) 849-0721 between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. Pacific, or e-mail coyote@transbay.net. FOR SALE: Sony scanner. New; hardly used. Asking $35. Two slates and styli, $5. Contact Cait at (517) 227-1122. LOOKING TO TRADE: I have a used 17-inch black-and-white CCTV that I'd like to trade for a Braille 'n Speak 2000 or better. Contact Kareem Hopkins at (313) 826-5223. SEEKING GOOD HOME: Two free versions of the King James Bible in braille. Contact Adam at (262) 325-1323 or by e-mail, adpob@charter.net. WANTED: Donation of JAWS and MAGic 10.5 professional (or any good screen magnification software). Please write to Jerry Hamrick, PO Box 16, Beverly, WV 26253-0016, or call him at (304) 636-2832 (Eastern time). No collect calls. WANTED: Donation or low-cost Type Lite notetaker. Owasys 22C screenless cell phone. E-mail trekfan79@yahoo.com. WANTED: Donation of IBM braille portable typewriter, VersaBraille 2 with built-in disk drive, two hard cases with keys for Perkins brailler, a money brailler and a braille labeler, any braille recipe books, braille dictionary, braille atlas, raised-line drawing kit, braille compass, braille printer, braille adding machine, any braille games or puzzles, and braille notebooks with braille paper included. Slates and styli that nobody wants. Laptop computer with braille display. Sharp talking calculator/clock/timer/calendar. Talking color indicator, talking compass, talking alarm clock/radio, disk drive for Type 'n Speak. Contact Melody at (609) 271-3701 evenings Eastern time if you have any of these items. ACB OFFICERS PRESIDENT MITCH POMERANTZ 1115 CORDOVA STREET #402 PASADENA, CA 91106 FIRST VICE PRESIDENT KIM CHARLSON 57 GRANDVIEW AVE. WATERTOWN, MA 02472 SECOND VICE PRESIDENT BRENDA DILLON 313 OVERRIDGE COVE HERMITAGE, TN 37076 SECRETARY MARLAINA LIEBERG 632 S. 189TH ST. BURIEN, WA 98148 TREASURER MIKE GODINO 104 TILROSE AVE MALVERNE, NY 11565-2024 IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT CHRISTOPHER GRAY 94 RAMONA AVE. SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103 ACB BOARD OF DIRECTORS Ed Bradley, Houston, TX Ray Campbell, Glen Ellyn, IL Billie Jean Keith, Arlington, VA Oral Miller, Washington, DC Carla Ruschival, Louisville, KY Patrick Sheehan, Silver Spring, MD Naomi Soule, St. Louis, MO Jeff Thom, Sacramento, CA David Trott, Talladega, AL Cammie Vloedman, Oklahoma City, OK Ex Officio: Ken Stewart, Warwick, NY BOARD OF PUBLICATIONS Paul Edwards, Chairman, Miami, FL DeAnna Noriega, Fulton, MO Jenine Stanley, Columbus, OH Ken Stewart, Warwick, NY Cindy Van Winkle, Bremerton, WA Ex Officios: Janelle Edwards, Springfield, MO Ron Milliman, Bowling Green, KY