THE Braille Forum Vol. XXXIV March 1996 No. 8 Published By The American Council of the Blind THE AMERICAN COUNCIL OF THE BLIND STRIVES TO INCREASE THE INDEPENDENCE, SECURITY, EQUALITY OF OPPORTUNITY, AND QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED PEOPLE. Paul Edwards, President Oral O. Miller, J.D., Executive Director Nolan Crabb, Editor Sharon Lovering, Editorial Assistant National Office: 1155 15th St. N.W. Suite 720 Washington, DC 20005 (202) 467-5081 Fax: (202) 467-5085 Electronic bulletin board: (202) 331-1058 THE BRAILLE FORUM is available in braille, large print, half- speed four-track cassette tape and MS-DOS computer disk. Subscription requests, address changes, and items intended for publication should be sent to: Nolan Crabb, THE BRAILLE FORUM, 1155 15th St. N.W., Suite 720, Washington, DC 20005. Those much-needed contributions, which are tax-deductible, can be sent to Patricia Beattie, treasurer, at the above address. If you wish to remember a relative or friend by sharing in the council's continuing work, the national office has printed cards available to acknowledge contributions made by loved ones in memory of deceased people. Anyone wishing to remember the American Council of the Blind in his/her Last Will and Testament may do so by including a special paragraph for that purpose. If your wishes are complex, you may contact the ACB National Office. For the latest in legislative and governmental news, call the "Washington Connection" toll-free at (800) 424-8666, 6 p.m. to midnight eastern time Monday through Friday. Washington, D.C., residents only call 331-2876. Copyright 1996 American Council of the Blind TABLE OF CONTENTS President's Message: Collaboration And Initiative, by Paul Edwards Report Of The Executive Director, by Oral O. Miller ACB Wins Access For Blind People In Telecommunications Act, by Julie H. Carroll Voting Tidbits And Timelines, by Julie H. Carroll Cash In On The Oil Boom: Come To Tulsa In 1996, by John A. Horst Affiliate News They Promote Vision Protection On A Bicycle Built For Two, by Sharon Lovering Legal Access: Memo II To EEOC: Move McDonald's, by Charles D. Goldman Technology Forum: This Digital Voice Recorder Is A Notable Success, by Nolan Crabb Radio Ways: Watch Out Or You Too Might Get Hooked On The Close Encounters On National Public Radio, by Kathi Wolfe Here And There, by Elizabeth M. Lennon How To Interest The Press In Your Affiliate's Activities, by Ron Brooks Come And Join The Honor Roll Of ACB Life Members, by Charles Hodge High Tech Swap Shop CORRECTION The telephone number for Call Art Greetings was incorrectly listed in "Here and There," February 1996. The correct number is (800) 932-2552. PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE: COLLABORATION AND INITIATIVE by Paul Edwards Over the past several years a new and exciting spirit of cooperation has emerged among organizations working with and representing blind people. Those of you who have read "The Braille Forum" regularly will have seen evidence of this in the publication of several important position papers. One related to the importance and value of categorical programs; another focused on the educational needs of blind children; and a third centered on braille literacy. Most recently, last fall we agreed on language that we wanted to see in the reauthorization of IDEA (the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) concerning incorporating braille into the IEP (Individualized Education Plan) process. The American Council of the Blind has worked hard to encourage this kind of consensus-building and is firmly committed to cooperating wherever and whenever we can. These efforts have seen the American Council of the Blind, the American Foundation for the Blind, the Association for the Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired, the Blinded Veterans Association, the National Federation of the Blind and National Industries for the Blind taking joint positions. We are now at a point where we want to take the initiative and encourage everyone in the blindness field not just to agree on language or a position on a specific, narrow issue. Instead we want to see all these organizations commit a portion of their resources to a larger goal. I want to make it clear that, while the ACB proposes to take a leadership role in developing and implementing this initiative, it is not our intention to either dominate the direction we will take or to determine the shape and structure of the collaboration that we hope will emerge. The ACB believes that there is a subject that can benefit from this kind of collaboration and where we have a chance to make significant progress. This area of cooperation, we believe, is access to information. Many of you will already know that the Telecommunications Act was signed into law on February 8, 1996 and that it included a provision that required that emerging technologies be accessible to people with disabilities. But the issue of information access is far broader than that. It includes simple issues like how do we make sure that public documents like bus schedules, other community brochures, and city council meeting agendas are made available to blind people who want them? It encompasses setting standards for the kind of braille or large print or disk or taped material that is being produced as a result of the ADA. It also relates to how information about the built environment around us can be communicated to us, whether through detectable warnings or talking signs. How will we assure that children who are blind will have access to classrooms as they become more and more computerized? How will we protect the jobs of thousands of blind people as more and more federal departments adopt operating systems that are not accessible to blind employees? What can we do to make the internet available to more blind people? Where do we find the people to train those who are blind so they can access technology? What standards should we be setting for technology trainers? Does literacy now include a familiarity with computers? How can we prevent people who are blind from being kept off the burgeoning information highway? These are just some of the components that must be included. There are many more. It is no accident that some people are now referring to the emerging culture in our country as "the information society." One of the hardest questions concerns where to start and how to prioritize our efforts. Over the next few months you will hear more about this initiative and more about where we propose to go with it. It is not enough to identify and to begin to build consensus on an issue. We must also decide how best to sell this initiative to a country that seems less and less concerned with the needs of people with disabilities. This effort will give us a chance to look hard at that question as well. The American Foundation for the Blind is currently looking hard at this question with others in the field through the Task Force on General and Specialized Services. This group is exploring what the priorities are that we need to develop to get the attention of those in our country who can and will help to get what is needed for people who are blind. This is an area where I am representing the ACB and you will hear more about this as well. Again, I truly believe that there are so many competing needs in our society clamoring for the attention of our nation that perhaps the most crucial question we can ask is how we can persuade legislators, businesses and the public in general that our priorities are important. We must find a way! The majority of blind people of working age are not employed. Too many young blind people are graduating from high school unprepared to work or to be fully able to live on their own. Too many older people who become blind are not receiving the services that can enable them to live independently. We as consumers are the people who must stand up and articulate these needs. My last couple of messages have been depressing. This one is not. I believe that there is a will among organizations working in the field of blindness to work with us to find ways to persuade our society to create opportunities for people who are blind. I am excited that we are at a place in our history with so much promise. Let us reach out and collaborate with others of good will and take the initiative to build a coalition so strong that our voice and our needs cannot be ignored! REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR by Oral O. Miller, Executive Director Although the federal government was shut down first for some time recently by the very serious and highly controversial budget dispute between Congress and President Clinton and then by a devastating blizzard, ACB continued in full operation except during the worst days of the blizzard. During those periods there was essentially no public transportation and hence no effective way for staff members to move about in the community. One day when it was essential for me to get to the national office and in order to get through the two and a half feet of snow that covered the street before my house, I had to employ the owner of a high four-wheel drive vehicle, which itself got stuck a few times before reaching the heavily traveled and barely plowed thoroughfares. Several ACB national staff members and many other ACB members from the Washington metropolitan area spent a few of the last snow-free hours preceding the beginning of the blizzard attending a press conference about and then observing or taking part in a demonstration of talking signs that had been installed on a trial basis in one downtown subway station or the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA). Such talking signs have been demonstrated at ACB national conventions as far back as 1981. Our members had no objections to the use of such signs, which can be helpful in locating such things as information kiosks or farecard machines in large open areas, but it was feared that WMATA would use the installation of such signs to draw attention away from its basic obligation to make its platforms safer and more accessible by the use of detectable tactile warnings. ACB spokespersons such as Director of Governmental Affairs Julie Carroll made it abundantly clear in several media interviews during the event that, in spite of WMATA's intimations otherwise, the talking signs have no impact on platform edge detection. When will WMATA ever learn? Public receptions in Washington are excellent vehicles for focusing attention and tribute on outstanding people or events. We seldom mention such receptions unless they are particularly noteworthy, as one recent event was þ namely, a large reception celebrating the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Education of All Handicapped Children Act (Public Law 94-142). While we commend the hosts of the reception for the outstanding speakers who made brief and very interesting presentations about serving children with different disabilities in the past and in the future, we could not help but notice the lack of attention given to accommodating blind people who attended the reception independently. More specifically, the braille program was helpful, but the blind people who attended the large and crowded reception would have enjoyed it more if they had been told in advance it would involve a buffet dinner or if even minimal assistance had been made available for those wanting it in going through the buffet line, finding a seat, etc. ACB traditionally works closely with other disability organizations in the advocacy field, but the needs of blind people are easily overlooked unless the well-meaning advocates working with us are occasionally reminded of them. As the ACB affiliate presidents were told at their recent meeting in Tulsa, the American Council of the Blind has entered into an agreement with a fund-raising consultant who has begun contacting possible donors by telephone and asking them to make tax-deductible donations to help ACB fund its many services and programs. This is the first time ACB has entered into a program of this scope and we encourage anyone who is contacted to contribute as generously as possible in order to help our constantly increasing operating costs and to provide new services for which the need is almost limitless. Entry into this new area of fundraising by ACB recognizes the realities that diversification is essential and that an effective advocacy and service organization cannot go very far on membership dues that average less than $3 per member per year. During a typical month, national staff members are called upon to respond to an unbelievable variety of questions and requests. A few of the interesting (and perhaps humorous) requests that have been fielded recently included an inquiry as to whether ACB would pay the treatment costs of a blind person experiencing gingivitis and a request for comments on the careless remarks of a U.S. senator who thoughtlessly asked a witness during a hearing whether he had been "deaf, dumb and blind" for not knowing about something. Another inquiry related to the possible popularity of an inexpensive talking heart rate monitor being considered for development (not now available). One of the more challenging inquiries came from a freelance writer with a known national magazine interested in following the progress over a period of approximately a year of a young woman who is in the process of losing her sight. Eureka! Eureka! Thanks mainly to the efforts of the American Council of the Blind, the Telecommunications Act of 1996, which was signed into law recently by President Clinton, gives persons with disabilities meaningful rights to access new telecommunication services and products at a time when civil rights are under attack. Several years ago Paul Schroeder, who was then on the ACB staff, and I attended a meeting with telecommunications industry leaders and shocked them with the common-sense notion that, if the far-reaching changes being considered were to take place, they should ensure that blind and visually impaired people could use the resulting products and systems. That message was repeated many times over the years during meetings with industry leaders, federal administrators and legislators as the issue of access to the electronic superhighway was explored. Late last fall a radio ad containing the position of the American Council of the Blind was heard by millions of people throughout the United States. In recognition of ACB's leadership in this reform effort, both ACB Director of Governmental Affairs Julie Carroll and former director of governmental affairs Paul Schroeder, as well as legislative assistant Christopher Kupczyk were invited to be present for the signing of the act in the cathedral-like Jefferson Building of the Library of Congress. During a brief conversation following the signing, President Clinton told Julie Carroll that he also was pleased the law contains disability access requirements and concluded by remarking, "We all worked hard for it." For more information concerning the content of the act, see the article titled "ACB Wins Access For Blind People In Telecommunications Act" in this issue of "The Braille Forum." Since this law, like many others, is very complex and will be implemented in many ways by regulations that do not yet exist, it is going to be necessary for blind and visually impaired consumers in particular to remain vigilant and to provide input at every opportunity possible as this enormously complicated law is implemented and interpreted. And what is one of the best ways to stay abreast of such events? Of course, by calling the "Washington Connection" at least once each week at (800) 424-8666! ACB WINS ACCESS FOR BLIND PEOPLE IN TELECOMMUNICATIONS ACT by Julie H. Carroll, Director of Governmental Affairs On Thursday, February 8, President Clinton signed into law the long-awaited Telecommunications Act of 1996. One of the dreams that sparked the idea to reform this country's communications law more than 20 years ago was that school children throughout America would someday have the ability to remotely access the resources of the Library of Congress without leaving their classrooms. It was fitting those roots that the signing ceremony was held in the cathedral-like Jefferson Building of the Library of Congress. It was the first time ever that a bill has been signed into law there. Remote access to information through adaptive telecommunications services and devices is also a dream of many people who are blind or visually impaired. ACB has been actively involved in the telecommunications reform efforts for quite some time to ensure that blind people will not be left out of the information revolution. In recognition of ACB's leadership in this reform effort, both Paul Schroeder and I were invited to be present for the signing ceremony. We had the opportunity to meet President Clinton; President Clinton told me that he, too, is pleased that the law contains disability access requirements. "We all worked hard for it," he said. Overall, the Telecommunications Act is extremely complex. The law deals primarily with the way in which telephone service providers, both local and long distance providers, cable providers, and broadcasters can compete in the marketplace for customers. Very soon, we can expect to see the lines between long distance carriers, local telephone carriers, and cable providers, for example, blur until there is little or no distinction between them. Industry experts predict an explosion of new services and products. While the final language regarding disability access was weakened during conference, it is a major victory that persons with disabilities gained rights to access the new services and products at a time when civil rights are under attack. It would have been an irreparable tragedy if this revolution in our country's telecommunications industry had taken place with no mention of people with disabilities. The act provides that all telecommunications services and products must be accessible to and usable by persons with disabilities, if readily achievable. Additionally, the law provides that manufacturers of telecommunications equipment and customer services equipment (telephones in hotels, motels, hospitals, etc.) shall ensure that the equipment is designed, developed, and fabricated to be accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities, if readily achievable. The Telecommunications Act goes on to provide that whenever these requirements are not readily achievable, such a manufacturer or provider shall ensure that the equipment or service is compatible with existing peripheral devices or specialized customer premises equipment commonly used by individuals with disabilities to achieve access, if readily achievable. Readily achievable was given the meaning set forth in the Americans with Disabilities Act þ that is, "easily accomplishable and able to be carried out without much difficulty or expense," taking into account factors such as the cost of the action required, as well as the size, scope, and resources of the covered entity. Within 18 months after the date of enactment of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board has the responsibility to develop guidelines for accessibility of telecommunications equipment and customer premises equipment in conjunction with the Federal Communications Commission. ACB will no doubt play an active role in the development of accessibility guidelines for people who are blind or visually impaired. In many respects, our work has just begun. Video description was also addressed in the legislation. The act provides that "within 6 months after the date of enactment of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, the Federal Communications Commission shall commence an inquiry to examine the use of video descriptions on video programming in order to ensure the accessibility of video programming to persons with visual impairments, and report to Congress on its findings. The Commission's report is required to assess appropriate methods and schedules for phasing video descriptions into the marketplace, technical and quality standards for video descriptions, a definition of programming for which video descriptions would apply, and other technical and legal issues that the Commission deems appropriate." The FCC issued a notice of inquiry regarding video description services before the legislation passed, in contemplation of this provision of the legislation. An important limitation was placed on the disability access requirements during conference. The law provides that there shall be no private right of action to enforce any requirement or regulation under the disability access provisions. The Federal Communications Commission has exclusive jurisdiction with respect to any disability access complaints. Clearly, the commitment of the FCC Commissioner to people with disabilities, and blind people in particular, will be a critical factor in our future rights to information. The current FCC Commissioner has already established an internal disabilities task force, and has invited ACB in to discuss the new legislation. During the upcoming presidential race, we must evaluate the candidates carefully to determine their commitment to access for people with disabilities. Blind people have much to gain or lose in the next election. We cannot afford to sit this one out. VOTING TIDBITS AND TIMELINES by Julie H. Carroll, Director of Governmental Affairs "A popular government without popular information, or the means of acquiring it, is but a prologue to a farce or a tragedy or perhaps both. Knowledge will forever govern ignorance, and a people who mean to be their own governors must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives." þ James Madison, 1822 On May 20, 1993, President Bill Clinton signed into law the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA), which requires states to offer voter registration services through the mail and at departments of motor vehicles, public assistance and disability agencies, and requires states to establish uniform non- discriminatory procedures to maintain the voter registration rolls. Five million people registered to vote or updated their voter registrations under the National Voter Registration Act in 38 states between January and June 1995 þ the largest increase in voter registration in American history. Many democracies have a turnout of over 85 percent whereas only 53 percent of the eligible population votes in the U.S. Forty-nine million Americans, or 19.4 percent of the population, or almost one out of every five people, have a disability. Twenty-five million Americans with disabilities are registered voters, and in 1992, 10 percent of all voters had disabilities. Data demonstrate that one to three points of former president Bush's seven-point margin of victory in 1988 were directly attributable to the swing in disabled voters from their traditional Democratic leanings toward George Bush after he pledged to include disabled voters in the mainstream. The final Harris poll for the 1992 presidential campaign showed critical impact by the disability community in voting patterns. Getting out the word on where, when, and how to register to vote, sponsoring voter registration drives and contests, holding candidate forums at affiliate meetings, and election night parties are all guaranteed affiliate membership boosters! DIFFERENT DEADLINES BY STATE FOR REGISTERING TO VOTE It is important to remember that there is a deadline to register in time to vote in any upcoming election. Usually an application to register as a voter must be postmarked (or delivered to a local voter registration office) by a certain date. These deadlines differ by state, as follows: Alabama: 10 days before election; Alaska: 30 days before election; Arizona: 29 days before election; Arkansas: 21 days before election; California: 29 days before election; Colorado: 30 days before election; Connecticut 14 days before election; Delaware: 20 days before election; District of Columbia: 30 days before election; Florida: 29 days before election; Georgia: Fourth Friday before any general primary, general election or presidential preference primary or the ninth day after the date of the call for all other special primaries and special elections; Hawaii: 30 days before election; Idaho: 25 days before election; Illinois: 29 days before; Indiana: 29 days before; Iowa: 10 days before, but if a state primary or general election 11 days before all others and registration forms which are postmarked 15 or more days before an election are considered on time even if received after the deadline; Kansas: delivered 15 days before the election; Kentucky: 28 days before; Louisiana: 24 days before; Maine: 15 days before the election or delivered in person up to and including election days; Maryland: 9 p.m. on the 5th Monday before the election; Massachusetts: 20 days before the election; Michigan: 30 days before the election; Minnesota: must be delivered by 5 p.m. 21 days before the election, but registration permitted at polling places on election day; Mississippi: 30 days before; Missouri: 28 days before; Montana: 30 days before; Nebraska: Fourth Tuesday before the election (or delivered by 6 p.m. on the second Friday before the election); Nevada: 9 p.m. on the fifth Saturday before any primary or general election or 9 p.m. on the third Saturday before any recall or special election; New Hampshire: must be received by city or town clerk 10 days before election; New Jersey: 29 days before; New Mexico: 28 days before; New York: 25 days before; North Carolina: 25 days before; North Dakota: does not have voter registration application; Ohio: 30 days before the election; Oklahoma: 25 days before; Oregon: 21 days before; Pennsylvania: 30 days before election or a primary; Rhode Island: 30 days before; South Carolina: 30 days before; South Dakota: must be delivered five days before election; Tennessee: 30 days before the election; Texas: 30 days before; Utah: 20 days before; Vermont: must be delivered to town clerk before 12 noon on the third Saturday before the election; Virginia: must be delivered 29 days before election; Washington: 30 days before the election or in person to the local voter registration office 15 days before the election; West Virginia: 30 days before the election; Wisconsin: 13 days before (or completed in the local voter registration office one day before the election or completed at the polling place on election day); Wyoming: you must use Wyoming's form to register to vote. 1996 CONGRESSIONAL PRIMARY DATES (in order by date, earliest first) State Date Illinois March 19 Ohio March 19 California March 26 Mississippi Runoff April 2 Texas Runoff April 9 Pennsylvania April 23 Indiana May 7 North Carolina May 7 Nebraska May 14 West Virginia May 14 Arkansas May 21 Oregon May 21 Idaho May 28 Kentucky May 28 Alabama June 4 Iowa June 4 Montana June 4 New Jersey June 4 New Mexico June 4 South Dakota June 4 North Carolina Runoff June 4 Maine June 11 North Dakota June 11 South Carolina June 11 Virginia June 11 Arkansas Runoff June 11 South Dakota Runoff June 11 Utah June 25 Alabama Runoff June 25 South Carolina Runoff June 25 Georgia July 16 Tennessee August 1 Kansas August 6 Michigan August 6 Missouri August 6 Georgia Runoff August 6 Colorado August 13 Wyoming August 20 Alaska August 27 Oklahoma August 27 Nevada September 2 Florida September 3 Delaware September 7 Arizona September 10 Connecticut September 10 Minnesota September 10 New Hampshire September 10 New York September 10 Rhode Island September 10 Vermont September 10 Wisconsin September 10 Massachusetts September 17 Washington September 17 Oklahoma Runoff September 17 Hawaii September 21 Louisiana September 21 Florida October 1 Election Day November 5 (Author's note: ACB thanks the United Cerebral Palsy Association for materials furnished in this article.) CASH IN ON THE OIL BOOM: COME TO TULSA IN 1996 by John A. Horst, Convention Coordinator The search for oil in eastern Oklahoma continued through the early part of the 20th century with great success. The oil barons who earned the huge profits looked elsewhere for investment opportunities. As a result, banking and real estate flourished in the town. A vigorous drive developed to transfer Tulsa from a small cattle and farming town with several saloons and agricultural buildings clustered around the railroad station into a thriving, modern city. Many of the tall office buildings, the elaborate churches, parks and other attractions that are seen today in downtown Tulsa were constructed during the days of the oil boom. The city tour, to take place Saturday and Sunday before the convention, and the walking tunnel tour, to take place midweek, will feature a well-informed narrator/guide who will elaborate on the fascinating history of this now modern midwestern city. The 35th national convention of the American Council of the Blind will occur Saturday, June 29 to Saturday, July 6, 1996 at the Tulsa Convention Center and Doubletree Hotel in Tulsa, Okla. The overflow hotel is the Adams-Mark, located six blocks away. The Howard Johnson Hotel will also be utilized if required. Shuttle service using mini-buses will be provided between the hotels and convention center beginning on Friday, June 28 at 7 a.m. through Saturday, July 6 at 2 p.m. There is a covered walkway that connects the Doubletree Hotel with the convention center. Both the Doubletree and the Adams-Mark provide no-cost bus transportation from and to the airport. Sleeping room reservations can be made by calling the Doubletree Hotel at (918) 587-8000 or the Adams-Mark at (918) 582-9000. Both hotels offer a rate of $47 a night plus tax for up to four persons per room. Special-interest group presidents and committee chairs and others interested in holding convention functions must have their completed information sent to Jessica Beach, Coordinator of Affiliate and Membership Services, by no later than March 29. If your affiliate, chapter, agency, organization or business wishes to hold an exhibit or boutique, forms must be received by April 26 if you want the activity listed in the convention program. There are also opportunities for program advertising, registration packet advertising, convention newsline and newspaper sponsorships. Also you can be a convention sponsor or patron. Contact Jessica Beach at the ACB national office, (800) 424-8666 weekdays between 3 and 5:30 p.m. or (202) 467-5081 during regular business hours, or Diane Bowers, exhibit coordinator, at (918) 745-0807. Name change ACB's designated travel agency has changed its name from International Tours of Muskogee, Okla., to American Automobile Club of Oklahoma. However, all provisions, services, address and telephone number (800) 259-9299, remain the same. If you have any difficulty in utilizing this travel service, ask to talk to Nancy Mayberry, manager. Convention administrative fee Convention costs to ACB have increased significantly during the last several years. As a result, the ACB budget committee has recommended, and the board of directors has approved, an increase in the administrative fee for the 1996 convention. For all persons who pre-register and receive a registration packet with convention program or who purchase tickets for a convention function, the administrative fee will be $10. For persons who register at the convention and who receive a convention packet with program or purchase tickets to any function, the administrative fee will be $15. The ACB constitution and bylaws provide that all affiliate members and members at large duly certified are entitled to vote during the convention. As a result, a certified member can receive a name badge with voter certification without paying the administrative fee. However, if he/she wants to receive a registration packet, a convention program, or purchase a ticket(s) for a convention function, payment of the administrative fee is required. Tours The 1996 convention overnight tour is a unique opportunity to visit fabulous Branson, Mo. Transportation, admission to four shows, one night's lodging and all meals are included in this package for $189. See the February "Braille Forum" for more details. Other tours being planned include a Tulsa tunnel tour, a walking tour from the Adams-Mark Hotel, follow the narrator/guide under and over the streets of downtown Tulsa. Tunnels include a mysterious echo spot, a relief map of the city, and sculptures that can be touched. Tour will include lunch. Tour to Will Rogers country: Visit the Dog Iron Ranch and Will Rogers' memorial and learn all about one of America's most famous humorists and columnists. Tour to weekend retreat of Frank Phillips (Phillips Petroleum): Tour includes lodge, museum and lunch at the Buffalo Haunt. City tour Saturday June 29, repeated Sunday, June 30. Includes lunch. As you drive around the city visiting historical sites, your narrator/guide will answer the question, "why Tulsa?" Holy Tulsa tour: A visit to several historic cathedral-like churches in downtown Tulsa. Narrated tour which includes lunch at Trinity Episcopal Church. Tour to Jim Stovall's Narrative TV Network facility: We are planning several small-group visits at alternate times. The feature tour for Wednesday evening of convention week is to Discoveryland, Okla., to see a professional performance of "Oklahoma!" enjoyed in an outdoor amphitheater with descriptive narration. Dinner theater tour Saturday, July 6 at Spotlight Theater to see a performance of "The Drunkard." The show is hilarious fun and has a long-running history. Additional tours may be planned. Watch future issues of "The Braille Forum" and your pre-registration packet, to be sent out in early May, for more details. CAPTION Daphne Raeder displays a cookbook entitled "In The Kitchen With Rosie" as part of the National Braille Press exhibit at ACB's 1995 convention in Greensboro. All photos copyright 1995 by Ken Nichols. AFFILIATE NEWS COME TO SAN JOSE The California Council of the Blind will hold its spring convention in San Jose April 18-21, 1996. If you plan to attend and are eligible for paratransit, now is a good time to contact Outreach, Santa Clara County's paratransit broker, to establish your status as a visitor. That can be accomplished by writing or faxing a letter stating that you are visually impaired and that you qualify for paratransit in your area; the fax number is (408) 437-9499. Letters should be addressed to Outreach, 96 E. Brokaw Rd., Suite 140, San Jose, CA 95112. Whether you fax or mail your request, you need to decide how many one-way rides you'll need and send a check for that amount ($2.20 a ride). Advise Outreach that you will be attending the California Council of the Blind's convention and you will get an identification card. AWARDS IN OHIO Three awards were presented at the ACB of Ohio's convention banquet in November. James Tudor, broadcast coordinator for the Radio Reading Services of Greater Cincinnati, received the Ken Morlock Award. The award is named after ACBO's executive director and long-time member Ken Morlock. Tudor, responsible for programming and technical duties, also schedules more than 300 volunteers, trains visually impaired people to operate the station, participates in beep baseball, and helped in the creation of the personalized Talking Print dial-in service. Joann Fischer of Columbus received the Ambassador Award. Fischer has been secretary of the ACB of Ohio and is one of the founders of Accessible Arts, a group that describes movies live, and accessibility co-chair for the Ohio Theater Alliance, among other things. Patrick C. O'Brien received the Ruth Davidson Award. He is a trustee of the Cleveland Sight Center and long-time member of the Camp Highbrook Lodge advisory committee; he was a leader in renovating and expanding the facilities, as well as raising funds to support and promote its programming. THEY PROMOTE VISION PROTECTION ON A BICYCLE BUILT FOR TWO by Sharon Lovering When Jonathan Gale lost his remaining sight in 1988, after years of being legally blind, he decided he wanted to give something back to the cause of eye research. He started an organization called National Bike for Sight whose purpose is to raise funds to pay for programs that educate the public, especially families, about protecting their eyesight. The inspiration for the organization's fund-raising bike trip was Dr. Charles Schepens, Jonathan's eye doctor, who had reattached Jonathan's retina several times over 30 years, restoring what sight he had. Around 1991, he and his wife Kim began talking about doing something for eye research. Kim said that when Jonathan went to the doctor to tell him he wanted to give something back to the field, Dr. Schepens asked him what he and his wife liked to do. The answer: tandem biking. The Canton, Mass.-based couple decided to bike tandem across the country in 1994. While the trip was in the planning stages, Kim got on the phone and sent letters to hotels and other places, hoping to get sponsorship. She also got maps from Bike Centennial and the American Automobile Association, and meshed the maps together to create their itinerary. "It takes a lot of planning," she noted. While planning, they had to resolve such questions as what to do with four children for eight weeks, and what þ and who þ to take with them. They took a media team of two people which would take photographs and videos, as well as set up interviews for the couple in the town ahead of their arrival. This helped with publicity, lodging and safety throughout the trip, which began in southern Los Angeles on June 1. Southern Los Angeles' heavy traffic became an immediate challenge, and personal safety was a real concern. A female police officer who'd taken their picture for them reportedly said, "When I go through south L.A. I go with my gun OUT." They determined the best way to enhance their personal safety was to leave early in the morning and travel through the area without stopping. While biking there, Kim said, she'd look over the edges of the cliffs at the flora and fauna. "The beaches were just breathtaking," she said. She recalled telling her husband that the colors of the flowers "don't look real!" Safety remained high on their list of concerns while traveling. After training with a coach, they knew what to do to protect themselves. To enhance their visibility, they wore fluorescent vests and put a flag on the back of the bike. "[We] never let our guard down on the road," Kim said. She used the rearview mirror and Jonathan listened closely for anything that might prove threatening. Riding along the Mexican border, they saw signs riddled with bullet holes, and they wondered just how safe they were, Jonathan said. They endured more than their share of catcalls from border-crossing migrant workers who would immediately begin their harassment upon seeing a woman on the bike's front seat. The next leg of the journey took them through the desert, Kim said. Jonathan said that while they were there, they learned just how much they took for granted þ including something as simple as water. Each of them would consume between 10 and 13 gallons of water during the hot desert day. Kim said she was very dehydrated the first day in the desert. Pulling the bottle off the bike and raising it to drink took more energy than she had. When a friend sent her a water backpack that had a straw, the problem was resolved. Arizona was one of Kim's favorite places. At one point they reached 41 miles an hour. One of the men riding a bike with them, after seeing them reach that speed, wanted to try riding on the tandem. She agreed, and rode his single bike. After about 20 minutes, she said, the man "couldn't wait to get off." While they were on a Navajo reservation, a truck followed them, and when they'd make a rest stop, the truck would suddenly appear out of nowhere. As this continued, their anxiety levels increased; they called their media team on a cellular phone and told the team to keep them in sight at all times. Jonathan enjoyed the Rockies most of all. "Climbing the Rockies was an incredible, exhilarating experience," he stated. Going down the mountains at speeds upwards of 60 miles an hour is "pretty scary, but when you can't see ... I didn't have to look." With their arrival in Kansas came the hope that the flat terrain would mean smooth sailing. Unfortunately, that hope got whipped away by the wind. In treeless spots, they'd only manage four miles an hour. When they passed trees which served somewhat as wind breaks, their speed increased to nine miles an hour. While in Kansas, they stopped long enough to visit the Boy Scout Museum and stay in the Boy Scout hostel. The local Lions Club was very helpful, Kim said; some club members offered the couple food and lodging in their houses if they couldn't find a place to stay. "People were awesome in Missouri," she said. "We met a lot of people who had very little who were ready to give us the shirts off their backs." The couple visited a sports clinic and got a free massage and T-shirts þ the first new T-shirts they'd gotten on the trip, Kim noted. The next day's weather brought 100 percent humidity, and they were climbing steep hills. At one point on a steep hill, the humidity got to Kim, and she had to stop. She began screaming when she realized she could not free one of her feet from the pedal clip. Jonathan quickly unclipped himself and held the bike's weight. Then along came a logging truck, barely missing them. "That was a real close call," Kim said. While biking along in Kentucky, they were forced to negotiate their way around coal chunks that could easily make bikers lose control and tip over, Jonathan said. And the hills were fairly good-sized too, Kim said. There were also numerous coal trucks driving along the road. Overall, "truckers were fantastic to us," Jonathan said. On winding mountain roads without guard rails, truckers would honk from as far as a mile back to let the bikers know a truck was coming. They only tipped over twice because of vehicles tailgating them, he added. One thing Kim noted about Kentucky was the dogs. She believed they must have had some kind of message chain, because dogs would often meet them halfway down the road from their owners' houses and chase them. "Luckily we were in pretty good shape by then," she said. They'd have to out-bicycle the dogs. But if the dogs didn't get them, Kim discovered, the cattle just might. On one occasion while trying to out-pedal a dog, Kim saw a cow coming down the wrong side of the road; she had to veer slightly to avoid hitting it head on. The cow's nose hit Jonathan in the stomach; Jonathan thought the dog had gotten up on the bike and bitten him. Kim told him the whole story later. The Gales dealt with thousands of people on the road. In the South, Jonathan said, they often heard some version of "y'all must be crazy." Often, people would stop to look twice because they found it interesting to see a woman on the front of a tandem bike instead of a man. In one place, one of the couple inadvertently dropped three dollars out of a sock. A tractor- riding Mennonite farmer chased the bike for miles to give them the $3. The farmer wouldn't have caught them, he said, if they hadn't made so many pit stops in the woods. They had more than one nasty encounter with poison ivy; Kim felt its effects several times. They would pack her in ice to keep the heat down. She found a cure by accident after the trip was over: a chlorinated swimming pool þ preferably when no one else was in it. While on the road, they learned how to sell themselves to companies and the media. They'd ask companies along the way if they would sponsor the bikers for a meal, lodging or the like, and if the company did, they'd give them a T-shirt and mention them in an interview. When they stopped along the way, sometimes they'd walk into a TV station, introduce themselves and the cause. Often they would get a spot on the news; or they would go into a town, pick a coffee shop and use it as an interview spot. The next morning, Jonathan said, they'd take the newspaper with their picture on the front page, walk in and ask the person in charge for assistance; they would leave the person a T-shirt "to remember us by." Often when they were interviewed, they'd tell the audience to "honk if you heard our message." People would honk twice as they passed the pair on the road. They arrived in Boston at noon on July 20 after covering 4,492 miles, 50 days and numerous roads, just in time for many live news programs. For the last 40 miles, the couple had a motorcycle police escort. "When you live in the big city," Jonathan said, "a lot of what you hear about [on the news] is violence." But the best part of the trip for him was realizing "the majority of people out there care" about people and about their vision. The trip's main focus was to get people to think about their vision and protect it, rather than take it for granted. And, Jonathan said, they succeeded. "We gave a lot of people something to think about," he said. "There was not one day where we felt we didn't accomplish our goal." The Gales don't plan on doing any long-distance tandem biking for a while. "It's not something we would do right away again," Kim said. "If we did it again I think we'd seriously consider a small group." When they do, though, they'd like to have much more corporate support. A trip around the world is a possibility, Jonathan said, but, "we'll have to see what happens." LEGAL ACCESS: MEMO II TO EEOC: MOVE MCDONALD'S by Charles D. Goldman (Reprinted with permission from "Horizons," March 1996.) About a year and a half ago in this space I suggested somewhat tongue-in-cheek that the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which had been totally omitted from the fourth anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act at the White House, open up a McDonald's and learn to jog. These were strategies designed to ensure White House contacts for EEOC. I also challenged readers to name the incoming chairperson of the agency, who had just been designated by President Clinton. It was my thought then (and is now) that for the Americans with Disabilities Act to be effectively implemented, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission must be administered fairly and be able to function in this political environment, which means successfully interacting with the White House. EEOC's role under the ADA is crucial. It has lead responsibility under the ADA for employment issues. EEOC also administers other laws prohibiting discrimination in employment on the basis of sex, race and religion. EEOC is a pivotal institution as we strive for an egalitarian workplace. Now, a year and a half after not being in the Rose Garden, the rest of whatever bloom there was when President Clinton made his appointment to EEOC is clearly off the flower. The Clinton- named chairperson þ Gilbert Casellas (to all of you who did not know) þ was quoted in "The Washington Post" on Sunday, February 11th, as saying, "Nobody gives a crap about us." This is a heavy-duty blast at the White House that normally does not see the light of day. The sense here is that frustration at EEOC is rising, and going public was a last resort. If a moderate (not liberal) president won't be actively involved, what chance does EEOC have with an increasingly conservative Congress? The Post reported that Chairman Casellas had not met privately with the president since his appointment. Nor were his telephone calls to the president being returned. Whatever the strategies had been, none had worked to ensure highest level commitments which come from contacts. Meanwhile EEOC is being overwhelmed by more and more charges being filed since the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990 and its becoming effective in 1992. EEOC received 88,000 new complaints (including under the ADA). This was a significant increase over the 62,000 from just five years ago! And the EEOC has not gotten budget increases commensurate with the added ADA responsibilities and work. The backlog of old complaints now exceeds 100,000! EEOC has tried to do a good job with its responsibility under ADA. And unlike the Department of Justice, EEOC maintains a cumulative record of its ADA work. EEOC has a court case load which reflects a broad attack on illegal terminations, job accommodations, benefits, hiring and workplace practices that affect people with different impairments. EEOC's litigation docket makes clear that the ADA benefits many people with differing disabilities, including people with back problems, mobility impairments, emotional impairments, vision or hearing impairments, and people who are HIV-positive/have AIDS. What's a chairperson to do? Chairman Casellas cut his personal staff and even, I daresay, his official travel. Now he has gone public with his complaints as a seemingly last resort. But that is not the solution. What he's got to do is move the agency, or at least his part of it. The perfect space is now available. To boot, it's free! I'm thinking about the area right on Pennsylvania Avenue, between 15th and 17th streets N.W. This is the area in front of the White House, near Lafayette Park, which has been cordoned off for security reasons after several persons aimed gunshots at the White House. Since Chairman Casellas took a verbal potshot at the White House, the neighborhood should be acceptable. It also is about as close as he'll ever get to President Clinton. The EEOC chairman should set up a personal field office there. By doing so, there is no way that President Clinton can miss you or not have a daily reminder of the EEOC. The area is flat, without any bumps, so it should be accessible to people who are mobility impaired. You can bring in cellular telephones and portable teletypewriters for the deaf. And since you will be near Lafayette Park, home of many demonstrations and people soliciting funds, your placard, with raised letters of course, will fit right into the scene, as would a staff person soliciting funds for the EEOC. Lafayette Park has many homeless people (including people with various physical and mental impairments) who have lost their jobs. EEOC can help them by enlisting the help, pro bono, of the many high-priced lawyers who cut through the park en route to the infamous K Street power corridor. It is most definitely politically incorrect to criticize an incumbent president, who if re-elected in 1996 (as appears likely) has the power to reappoint you to another five-year term in 1999. If Chairman Casellas is the person who gave the story to "The Washington Post," he has sealed his personal fate while trying to ensure the viability of the EEOC. If the White House gurus somehow let the story out, Casellas' and EEOC's fate of being irrelevant was already sealed. Either way, it does not look like Chairman Casellas will be reappointed (if he wanted to be). And what's worse for people who care about equal employment, including for people with disabilities and the Americans with Disabilities Act, the public display of rancor by Chairman Casellas is a clear indication of major trouble at EEOC. So let me add one final suggestion to help Chairman Casellas and EEOC as he relocates to his new office space. "Hello, Army/Navy Surplus, I'd like to order some bulletproof vests ..." TECHNOLOGY FORUM: THIS DIGITAL VOICE RECORDER IS A NOTABLE SUCCESS by Nolan Crabb I first heard about digital voice recorders in early 1990 when I read an article in the Smith-Kettlewell quarterly journal. Two years ago or so, I began hearing ads for these now-ubiquitous little machines on late-night TV sandwiched between the psychic hotline and the date hotline ads. For $19.95, you could get something that would hold a single message up to 30 seconds in length. I got a hands-on look at such a machine about a year and a half ago, and I knew someday I'd own something like that. Being a gadget geek, I was impressed by the simplicity of the machine þ no micro tapes to entangle in the mechanism, no heads to clean or demagnetize, and best of all, no agonizing searches through a tape to find a particular bit of information. I even bought one of those $20 gems only to throw it away a day or two later. It distorted my voice the way the network news shows distort the voices of guests who insist on anonymity for whatever reason. That was my last foray into the world of digital voice recorders þ until now. Things can change a lot in a few months, especially where technology is concerned. We purchased for review the Univex Business Memo SPU3A, a European-manufactured digital recorder distributed in the United States by E.W. Bridge LLC of Redwood City, Calif. The unit has a suggested retail price of $119.95, but you may be able to get it for something less than that at some stores. Weighing in at a mere 2 1/2 ounces, the Univex Business Memo is thin and small. Even when inserted into its leather case, the recorder fits easily in a shirt pocket; the metal chassis enhances the unit's durability. According to Clay Bullwinkel, president of E.W. Bridge LLC., the Business Memo can hold up to 400 messages and, when set to long play, can record for up to 12.1 minutes. Documentation: The manual is small, both in terms of the print and the actual size. It's not the kind of vividly clear documentation we all hope for when we expectantly remove the shrink wrap from whatever it is we bought, but it's not a complete waste of time either. The machine is simple enough to operate that you won't spend more than a few minutes in the manual. It has a grand total of seven keys, after all, and while six of the seven keys have two functions per key, the learning curve you'll experience will be relatively painless. Operation: In the world of digital recording, there's no such thing as high and low speed. Instead, engineers refer to compression. The recorder hears the sound of the human voice or whatever you're recording, and turns that sound into a series of 1's and 0's which can be stored and played back to you. These 1's and 0's that make up the sound of your recording can be compressed to fit into a small amount of storage space. The sound of the human voice can take up huge amounts of storage space on a machine if it is stored without being compressed. The more you compress a digital recording, the lower will be the quality of the sound when you play it back. It has the same effect you get when you record something on a low-speed tape. The Business Memo does a truly outstanding job of recording and replaying messages when you record at the lower compression rate. Unfortunately, you only have 4.3 minutes of recording time at that rate. The 12.1 minutes are available when you select the higher compression rate. You'll sacrifice some sound quality in the long-play mode, but I never found it significant enough to cause a real problem. The built-in microphone is extremely sensitive, and while the tiny wafer speaker in the unit I used manifested some annoying vibration, the sound quality was quite understandable in the long-play mode. If you're recording a telephone number in long-play mode, you want to say "five zero" rather than "50" since f's and s's may not be easily distinguishable depending on the background noise occurring when you're making the recording. The normal play mode produces an extremely bright clear sound. You can record bits of information from the speaker of a computer's voice synthesizer in the normal mode and have it sound perfectly clear and crisp. (I don't recommend recording off a synthesizer in the long-play mode.) Even though you lose some sound quality in the long-play mode, you don't get that strange digitized voice sound you hear on some digital answering machines and similar products. Univex has obviously worked hard to produce a product that sounds as natural as possible even under a relatively high compression rate. Still, you shouldn't expect CD-quality sound on long-play mode. It's understandable, and it's usable, but you aren't likely to burst into spontaneous tears of joy if you're a sound purist. I don't mind the moderate deterioration in sound quality, but you might; and, I don't recommend using this recorder on long-play mode if you have even a moderate hearing loss associated with your blindness or low vision. You should have virtually no problems understanding messages recorded in normal mode, however. The unit's tiny audio amplifier delivers some solid sound when the volume is set to its highest position. (There are only two positions þ high and low.) Located at the top center of the machine, the record button can either be held down while you're taking your note or can be forced to stay in record by pushing it twice rapidly. The other buttons are below the record button in two rows three across. I found the buttons to be easily defined and easy to use. They are membrane buttons, however, so someone with diabetic neuropathy may have difficulty differentiating them. You can, via a two- keystroke combination, delete selective messages or delete all messages at once. Perhaps one of the great selling points for this machine is its relatively extensive audio feedback. Two beeps sound when a message has been successfully deleted. The recorder also beeps twice to confirm that you've selected long- play mode when you're about to record. You also get audible tone feedback when you lock and unlock the keyboard. If the keyboard is locked, pushing any key other than the two-stroke unlock combination yields a single low tone. You can rapidly jump from message to message and scan for words within a message, depending on which button you press. You can even create a special code that must be tapped in before the keyboard will unlock if you're security-conscious. While you can't insert messages between existing ones, you can delete selectively and the machine automatically consolidates your messages. Data Protection: I admit when I first tried the Univex Business Memo, I had more than my share of reservations. I was most concerned with the safety of the data. Since I carry the recorder in a pocket, I wondered how susceptible it is to static electricity. I'm pleased and relieved to report I've had no problems with data loss as a result of any external environmental changes. My recorder has been through airport security checks and scanned in baggage with no apparent effect on the data. Because the unit uses flash Random Access Memory as opposed to Dynamic Random Access Memory, you don't lose messages when changing batteries. The company says batteries should last anywhere from three to six months; four button batteries are required. Batteries are included in the Business Memo; in the machine I tested, the batteries lasted less than a month, but they could have been in the recorder for some time prior to purchase, and a company spokesperson said some of the original batteries in some of the units were prone to shorter-than-usual lifespans. Add to that the fact that I put the Business Memo through some heavier-than- normal paces, and you can understand why batteries died more quickly than normal. The Down Side: I'm not a big fan of button batteries. You have to go somewhere special to get them all too often, and the devices that require them are often designed so that the battery cover must be unscrewed before you can get the batteries out. Such is the case with the Business Memo. You'd better have a small straight-edge screwdriver handy þ and I mean small. Fortunately, the batteries pop out easily enough, and the unit is constructed such that you won't damage the chips without some deliberate effort on your part. Still, a screwdriver isn't as convenient as simply removing a battery door. I found the metal cover a bit tricky to put on. In addition to the single screw in the middle of the cover, the recorder clamps together at the bottom; that requires a bit of careful aligning so as not to damage the little clamps, but a totally blind person with a reasonable amount of dexterity can align the cover with a bit of practice. This machine doesn't include an earphone jack; I wish it did. While the volume can be set to a low position, an earphone jack wouldn't be a bad thing to have. Because of the recorder's size, engineers might be hard pressed to include such a jack, but it might be handy. I wish the unit had a slide volume control rather than the two-position button control it offers. There are times when the low is too low and the high is too high. While the Business Memo's portability is a major selling point, it would be nice on occasion to run the unit from house current. You have to buy the SPU4A which retails for around $259 to get rechargeable batteries and the capability to use the device with house current. The company is apparently working on a model which allows you to send your digitized recordings to a computer; that could be useful under certain circumstances if you want to create an audio to-do list and play it through your PC. The Business Memo SPU3A does not include that capability. The Last Word: If you can't afford something like a Braille 'N Speak or a more expensive digital recorder alternative for taking notes, and if your slate and stylus skills are as dismal as mine or if you can't read your writing once it's on the page, the Univex SPU3A Business Memo may be the machine for you. If you insist on CD- quality sound from every digital device you own, you may not want to spend the money. There's only so much that can be done with a wafer speaker, compressed sound, and a tiny audio amplifier. I find the Business Memo highly valuable and easy to use. Just how durable the unit is remains to be seen, but so far, I have no regrets regarding its purchase or use. If you're a gadget geek who's been told to get a life, you may want to at least get this gadget and better organize the life you already have. In fact, this isn't just for gadget geeks. It's for anyone who needs an efficient, safe way to take quick notes and who values a machine that offers a significant amount of recording time. For more information on the Univex SPU3A, contact E.W. Bridge LLC, 1645 W. Selby Ln., Redwood City, CA 94061 Tel. (415) 365- 4916. The unit can be purchased from Ann Morris Enterprises, 890 Fams Ct., East Meadow, NY 11554. Call (800) 454-3175. RADIO WAYS Watch out, or you too might get hooked on the close encounters on National Public Radio. by Kathi Wolfe (Reprinted with permission from "Mainstream," December 1995- January 1996.) I don't know what you did as a kid that made your parents doubt your sanity; maybe you dyed your hair green or locked yourself in the bathroom for six years if someone said "trigonometry." My family thought I was nuts one Thanksgiving when I made National Public Radio's Susan Stamberg's cranberry relish recipe. (If you've been living on another planet þ this involves onions, sour cream and horseradish.) I loved the strange mixture; the other 10 people at the table hated it. "You can see," said my grandma to my mom, "what that radio's done to her." Until then, I'd felt different because I was legally blind; at that moment, I knew it was the cranberries. Years later, I see that my grandmother was right. Radio has indelibly marked my life; particularly National Public Radio. Like millions of other listeners, I've felt connected to the world þ through sound and imagination þ by listening to NPR. Perhaps I, and other blind listeners, sense this connection more intensely. Not seeing leaves you feeling out of the picture when watching TV, but more closely connected when listening to the radio. I became hooked on NPR when I heard the archangel (on the radio) telling the clouds how they should stand during the sunset. "When will I be able to do a solo?" a cloud asked. "Perhaps next week," the archangel told the stage-struck cloud. Nearly 25 years later, I can still hear the announcer saying, "... the sunset appearing nightly in the western sky þ its author is also responsible for the sunrise and the lightning storm." Kettledrums played in the background. Listening to Mike Waters (then with NPR) as the voice of the archangel, I felt lighthearted; even angels could be funny. Despite wars and other horrible news, not everything in the world was grim. Over the years, I've heard everyone from writer Joan Didion to chef Julia Child to Bob Denver (of "Gilligan's Island") on NPR. Then there was the time when God appeared on the radio. This happened a few months ago, when I encountered a "faith healer" near a Washington, D.C. subway stop. (I've nothing against religion; I just don't like "faith healers.") Then, as he proclaimed, "If you prayed more, you'd be able to see," I had a sudden inspiration. Remembering that a movie theater was nearby, I pointed toward the cinema and said, "Sorry, I can't talk with you now. God was on the radio last night; He told me I must see this movie." "Oh, I heard that on NPR," the "faith healer" said, turning away from me toward the subway. A few weeks ago, I had my most unusual experience listening to NPR on a crosstown New York City bus. It began when some German tourists saw me walking with a Walkman toward a bus stop on a busy Manhattan street. "Stop!" they shouted (in German accents), grabbing my arm. "It's not safe to walk with that music on your head." "It's OK," I explained, "it's NPR." "What is this NPR?" asked one of the Germans as I boarded the bus. For half a block, the bus driver listened while I told the Germans about NPR. Then he said so the whole bus could hear, "They don't need to hear you, lady! Let them hear NPR! Anybody got a radio? Well, bring it up here! We'll all listen to it!" Riding across town, we heard Melissa Block tell "All Things Considered" listeners about her addiction to New York subway ads. As we listened, this busload of strangers became a group of "friends" hanging out at a neighborhood pub. Some people quietly told about their favorite ads; others loudly registered their disgust with such advertisements. When someone wanted to get off the bus, the driver would say, "Why rush? Stay until it's over!" Everyone applauded when Block's story ended. Some even laughed as they rushed to make up the time lost during all that schmoozing. On hearing that National Public Radio is celebrating its 25th anniversary, I recalled some of the voices of disabled people heard on NPR over the years: Amy, a Fort Wayne, Ind. third-grader with cerebral palsy, asking Santa for a day when kids wouldn't tease her; Ryan Martin, who at 13 became a paraplegic when he was an innocent victim of a Washington, D.C. shootout; Berkeley, Calif. poet and journalist Mark O'Brien, describing his polio, loneliness and poetry; Weslia Whitfield, a San Francisco cabaret singer who makes even the tone-deaf want to belt out torch songs; and Gene Chelberg, who is blind, talking about the power of pride at the opening of the University of Minnesota's Disabled Students Cultural Center. How does NPR view its coverage of people with disabilities? "We see ourselves as part of the mainstream," says NPR's special correspondent Susan Stamberg. She adds, "We don't have a disabilities beat. We cover disabilities as we cover everything þ as a part of life." One reason why public radio provides such compelling coverage of disabled people is that 'it's not like TV. You don't see people when you listen to the radio," says NPR and WBUR medical and science reporter David Baron. He cites a story in which he reported on dwarfism. "It involved some complex ethical issues. It wouldn't work on TV; people wouldn't hear the ideas, they'd focus on what the dwarfs look like." George Covington, a legally blind disability advocate, echoes Baron's point. He says, "More than ten years ago, 'The Today Show' wouldn't do a story on some deaf kids who had taken photos of a museum. They felt this would be too depressing. Unfortunately, things haven't changed in TV land." Ironically, NPR's "Weekend Edition Saturday" recently broadcasted a riveting profile of Maggie Lee Sayre, a deaf woman whose book of photographs of Mississippi River life has been published by the University of Mississippi Press. I listened intently to this story þ forming a picture in my mind's eye of Sayre looking at her world through her camera. While my imagination worked overtime, I wondered: were listeners getting depressed because a disabled person was on the radio? I put out an all-points bulletin þ to the moon, to the sun, to the stars, to the archangel þ WAS CIVILIZATION ABOUT TO COLLAPSE? "No," answered the archangel, "the sunset will appear tonight as always in the western sky." Recommended reading: "Listening to America: Twenty-five Years in the Life of a Nation, as Heard on National Public Radio," edited by Linda Wertheimer, Houghton Mifflin Company, $24.95 "The Sound and the Story: NPR and the Art of Radio," by Thomas Looker, Houghton Mifflin Company, $24.95. "Moving Violations: War Zones, Wheelchairs, and Declarations of Independence," by John Hockenberry, Hyperion, $24.95. "Talk: NPR's Susan Stamberg Considers All Things," by Susan Stamberg, Berkley, $15. HERE AND THERE by Elizabeth M. Lennon The announcement of new products and services in this column should not be considered an endorsement of those products and services 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 responsible for the reliability of products or services mentioned. PASSOVER GIFT The Jewish Heritage for the Blind will provide a large print Hebrew or Hebrew English "Haggadah" to your friend or relative who is visually impaired. The free gift order form is available from the Jewish Heritage for the Blind, 1655 E. 24th St., Brooklyn, N.Y. 11229; phone (718) 601-9128, or fax (718) 338-0653. Supply is limited. STOVALL'S BOOK "You Don't Have to Be Blind to See," a book authored by Jim Stovall, founder and director of the Narrative Television Network, is now available. For more information, call (918) 627-1000. NEED NOMINATIONS The American Foundation for the Blind is seeking nominations for the 10th Alexander Scourby Narrator of the Year Awards. Two awards will be presented, representing outstanding narration in fiction and non-fiction. All talking book readers are eligible to nominate a narrator in each category. A third "special recognition" Scourby Award will also be given at the awards ceremony, tentatively scheduled for early June. To cast your ballot, send a letter or postcard with your choices (one per category) to the American Foundation for the Blind, Communications Group, 11 Penn Plaza, Suite 300, New York, N.Y. 10001. Submissions may be made in print or braille and must be postmarked no later than March 29. Or you can vote by phone: (800) 232-5463 Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to noon and 2 to 4 p.m. Eastern time. Previous recipients are not eligible for the award. BITSTREAM "Bitstream," a bimonthly magazine dealing with accessible computers and other high-tech items, will return shortly to the market as a standard-speed cassette. Its main focus will be users of PC-compatible computer equipment using speech or braille access; it will also focus on access problems created by graphical user interfaces. A subscription of six bimonthly issues costs $22. To subscribe, call ShrinkWrap Computer Products at (703) 620-4642; e- mail, 72456.2140@Compuserve.com; or U.S. mail, ShrinkWrap Computer Products, 11706 Saddle Crescent Circle, Oakton, VA 22124. Make checks payable to ShrinkWrap Computer Products. HELP GHANA SCHOOL The Ghana School for the Blind needs braille papers, Perkins braille writers, thermoform machines and material, white canes (collapsible and rigid), sunglasses (with and without lenses), typewriters, tape recorders, blank cassettes, used braille magazines, used clothing, and money to construct a classroom building and dormitory. If you have any of these things, please send them to the attention of Dr. Patrick Clerk, African Poverty Eradication Commission International, 1127 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 907, Los Angeles, CA 90017. BRAILLE TOO Braille Too is a new braille program designed specifically for middle- and high-school students who are learning braille. It teaches grade two braille reading and writing, starting with the alphabet and numbers. The basic package includes a teacher edition (choice of print copy or braille copy on disk), a student edition in braille on disk, and student large print writing exercises. The hard copy of the teacher's edition and student text combined is available for an extra charge for those without access to IBM- compatible computers and braille embossers. All sections can be purchased individually. The basic package is currently $125. For more information and an order form, contact: Marketing Department, Grant Wood Area Education Agency, 4401 Sixth St. SW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52404; phone (319) 399-6714. NEW ADDITION Eloy Aranda of Madrid, Spain, recently joined the training staff of the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind of Smithtown, N.Y. Aranda's family runs a dog training center in Spain; he trained his first dog when he was 12, and served his apprenticeship in the English guide dog school system. AWARD WINNER Walter Smith of Raleigh, N.C., recently received an Employee of the Year Award from "Careers and the Disabled" magazine. NATIONAL AGENDA The American Foundation for the Blind recently announced that "The National Agenda for the Education of Children and Youths with Visual Impairments, Including Those with Multiple Disabilities," will be released in booklet form in mid-October. It is a consensus document endorsed by more than 100 national organizations, specialized schools, state and private agencies, and other groups concerned with blindness and visual impairment. It was written by National Agenda Steering Committee members Anne Corn, Phil Hatlen, Kathleen M. Huebner, Frank Ryan and Mary Ann Siller. To order bulk copies ($60 for 25, $15 for 5), contact the American Foundation for the Blind, c/o American Book Center, Dept. J, Brooklyn Navy Yard, Building 3, Brooklyn, N.Y. 11205; phone (718) 852-9873. Single copies are available free through AFB's information line (800) 232- 5463. TALENTED FUNDRAISER Wells Jones, executive director of the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind, was recently named the 1995 Outstanding Fund Raising Executive by the Long Island chapter of the National Society of Fund Raising Executives. The award was presented November 16, 1995. BRAILLE GREETINGS Philip W. Myers has braille pictured greeting cards for sale. There are six designs: Christmas, Easter, Valentine's Day, birthday, get well and anniversary cards. Each card costs $2.50. To order, write to him at Shadows in the Dark, 1820 E. Texas St. #803, Bossier City, LA 71111-3864, or phone (318) 747-2317. Hours are: Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 1 p.m. to 9 p.m.; Tuesday and Thursday, 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., and Saturday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. (Central time zone). NEW FROM LIGHTHOUSE The Lighthouse National Center for Vision and Aging has created a videotape and presenter's guide called "See For Yourself" to inform the older adult population about vision loss. It is available in both English and Spanish, and tells about vision changes affecting older adults, encouraging them to take an active role in decisions concerning their vision, and shows what help is available. It costs $50. "See For Yourself" brochures can be purchased separately at a cost of $25 per 100 copies. The Lighthouse has also published a new Spanish brochure "La diabetes, la perdida de la vista y la vejez" on diabetes-related vision loss. It identifies common diabetes-related eye symptoms and provides detailed descriptions of related conditions such as secondary glaucoma and hemorrhage. Single copies are free; multiple copies can be purchased for 50 cents each. Also available free is information and resources on diabetes-related vision loss, low vision care, and consumer products catalogs. Also new is a brochure called "Macular Degeneration," which answers the basic questions people ask when they have been diagnosed with this age-related eye disorder. It stresses that there are options such as low vision care, rehabilitation, and adaptive devices and products. Single copies are free, as are information and resources on macular degeneration. Multiple copies can be purchased in quantities of 100 or less for 50 cents each, and more than 100 for 25 cents each. The Lighthouse has another new booklet available: "Cataract and the Aging Eye." It describes what to expect in an eye exam; it details common signs and symptoms of cataracts; non-surgical treatments; routine preoperative procedures; types of surgery, and what to expect after surgery. It also includes a glossary and resource list, as well as color illustrations. A single copy costs $10; bulk orders are $9 per copy for 10-24 copies, $8.50 per copy for 25-49 copies and $8 per copy for 50 or more copies. All orders must be prepaid. Make checks payable to The Lighthouse Inc. and mail them to: Publications Department, Lighthouse Industries, 36-20 Northern Blvd., Long Island City, N.Y. 11101. BRAILLER REPAIR The Braillery can repair your broken Perkins brailler. It has a repair shop full of all the tools needed to repair braillers. It accepts purchase orders and vouchers from schools and institutions; it also has quantity discounts and maintenance contracts. For more information, write to The Braillery at 5 Cumberland Circle, El Paso, TX 79903-1911, or phone (915) 565-0179. RAIN JOURNAL The "RAIN Journal" is a bimonthly, tone-indexed audio cassette publication for ham radio enthusiasts published by the Radio Amateur Information Network. Now in its fifth year, the 90-minute magazine contains interviews, excerpts from Dayton Hamvention forums, and commentaries. Subscribers receive a free matter mailer, reversible address card and the first tape. One year's subscription costs $17; if you wish to keep the tapes, add $5. Make checks or money orders payable to RAIN and send it with your name and address to: RAIN, P.O. Box 2565, Des Plaines, IL 60017- 2565. SUMMER CAMP Cleveland Sight Center's Highbrook Lodge has announced its summer camp schedule. The season will include separate sessions for blind and visually impaired children, youth, active adults, deaf-blind adults, people with multiple disabilities, the elderly and their families. The lodge helps people build independent living skills, as well as swimming, boating, fishing, bowling, hikes, field trips and much more. It is seeking applicants for jobs in water safety, sports, arts and crafts, music specialists, general camp counselors, cooks and other positions. If you are interested in camping, or any of the positions, contact Bashir A. Masoodi, Camp Director, or Jackie Crayton, Camp Registrar, at: Cleveland Sight Center, 1909 E. 101st St., P.O. Box 1988, Cleveland, OH 44106; phone (216) 791-8118. FIFTY YEARS OF FIGHTS If you're a boxing fan who wants to relive boxing's great years, you'll doubtless enjoy some 120 boxing matches which were originally broadcast on radio. The quality ranges from excellent to good, according to Mike Welsh, the collector of the broadcasts. Fights range in time from 1937 to the late 1980s. Welsh offers 10 Joe Lewis bouts and nine Floyd Paterson fights. Other fighters include Mohammed Ali, Henry Armstrong, Sugar Ray Robinson, and Joe Frazier. All tapes are standard speed two-track recordings. A free print catalog is available and is divided into two sections þ one listing bouts of prominent fighters, the other listing fights of less well-known contenders. The prominent bouts sell for $12 per tape. Buy three tapes and get the fourth one free. Less prominent fights sell for $8 per tape. A cassette catalog is available for $2. For a catalog or more information, write to: Fight-Tapes, 9822 W. Morgan Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53228; (414) 321- 9555. BRAILLER CARE The Selective Doctor, Inc., specializes in repairing Perkins braillers and IBM typewriters. Repairs for braillers are $40 for labor, plus the cost of parts. Ship your brailler via U.S. mail to The Selective Doctor, P.O. Box 28432, Baltimore, MD 21234; free matter shipping is accepted. Please make sure to insure your brailler; this costs about $6. The company will add the cost of return insurance to your bill. For more information, call (410) 668-1143. HOW TO INTEREST THE PRESS IN YOUR AFFILIATE'S ACTIVITIES by Ron Brooks (Editor's note: This article is adapted from a presentation which was given by Mitch Pomerantz, president of the California Council of the Blind, at the ACB Affiliate Presidents Meeting in Tulsa, Okla., February 3, 1996. Ron Brooks serves as the chairman of the California Council's Public Relations Committee. The author has drawn information from the Southern California Broadcasters Association in Los Angeles, EIN SOF Communications þ a public relations consulting firm, and "Media Relations: Telling Your Own Story," a document I wrote as part of the leadership seminar training packet.) So you're preparing for your affiliate convention or special- interest affiliate activity. You've done all the right things and answered all the right questions þ except one: How do we get the press interested in what we're doing? You can heighten your chances for a successful public outreach campaign by following the four steps outlined here. Getting public exposure for your state or special-interest affiliate is not only a good idea; it is essential. Without this exposure, your organization will have a difficult time publicizing its message, conducting worthwhile projects and raising needed funds. 1. Create Press Releases and Media Advisories Press releases and media advisories are similar in that both inform media of an activity or issue of importance to your organization; however, they differ in their emphasis. Media advisories are short bullet-point outlines which are particularly appropriate for providing general information about an activity, including: date, time, location, contact information, and a brief summary of the activity or issue. Press releases are somewhat more detailed than media advisories and are intended to summarize an activity or issue. Press releases and media advisories have standardized formats which include: release date, contact name and telephone number as well as any additional information as described above. In addition, media advisories and press releases should never exceed two pages, and the body of media advisories and press releases should be double spaced. Correct grammar and proper spelling are hallmarks of excellent media advisories and press releases. Grammatical and spelling errors will likely mean your release or advisory gets trashed and your organization gets discredited. Media advisories and press releases should be sent as soon as possible and should be re-sent one or two days prior to the activity or issue's relevance. 2. Create Public Service Announcements Public Service Announcements (PSA's) are generally pre-recorded 10, 15, 20, 30 or 60-second messages which can be aired by radio and/or television stations in order to meet their federally mandated air time quota for public service programming. Organizations that are eligible to use PSA's must be tax-exempt non-profit organizations, and/or your PSA must benefit such an organization. PSA's are most effective when they are targeted for the particular market segment (in terms of age, interests and/or other demographics) of the station to which you send the PSA. PSA's should be sent between three weeks and six months in advance of the activity for which they are developed. Generally, media outlets will keep PSA's in the "rotation" for one to three months, depending upon the number of PSA's from which to select. 3. Get Involved As A Guest in Public Affairs Programming Many, if not most, television and radio stations offer time for public affairs programming. This programming time is generally in off-peak time periods, but the format is longer, thus allowing for a more qualitative discussion of your organization's issue or activity. Consider a radio or TV station's market segment before determining whether to pursue a public affairs program with that particular station. It may help to watch or listen to a sampling of the station's public affairs programming to determine its appropriateness for your issue or activity. When you approach a program director, sell your program topic in terms of "how it will appeal to the station's market segment." A few days prior to the actual interview, provide the moderator with materials relevant to your organization, issue or activity. It is also helpful to prepare a list of questions for the moderator. This will ensure that you cover the topics you deem important, and it will save the moderator time. 4. Learn to Work with the Entertainment Industry Perhaps the most powerful influence on our culture is that of the entertainment industry. Public perceptions of your organization are strongly affected by information from it. Sometimes it represents blindness and the blind community inappropriately, and sometimes it gets it right. In order to identify negative as well as positive portrayals, it is important that as many blind individuals and organizations representing the blind take an active role in educating entertainment industry leaders. While the movie industry is less easily influenced, there are some suggestions which may be of assistance for organizations wishing to provide feedback to it. First, whether a portrayal is bad or good, it can be used to further a positive end. For example, a particularly bad portrayal of a blind person may serve as an excellent opportunity to issue a press release describing the poor portrayal in contrast to an accurate one. For other general input, a movie's producer (whose name usually appears at the beginning and/or end of a movie) would be the appropriate recipient of positive or negative comments. The television industry is somewhat more amenable to public input. Each of the four major networks has two individuals to whom letters and/or other correspondence can be directed. To contact the American Broadcasting Company, write to Robert Iger, President, or Brett White, Vice President of Broadcast Standards, 2040 Avenue of the Stars, Los Angeles, CA 90067. When contacting the Columbia Broadcasting System, write to James Warner, President, or Carol Alteri, Vice President of Program Practices, 7800 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90036. At the National Broadcasting Company, contact Warren Littlefield, President, or Ted Cordis, Vice President of Program Practices, 4000 Alameda Blvd., Burbank, CA 91523. At the Fox network, write to Jamie Kellner, President, or Don Bay, Vice President of Broadcast Standards, P.O. Box 900, Beverly Hills, CA 90213. Chronology of activities necessary for an effective media outreach effort Your media outreach effort can succeed without money, but organization and follow-through are essential. The following outline should help you plan your affiliate's significant media outreach effort. Before proceeding with any significant media outreach endeavor, prepare a "press kit." The press kit can include any or all of the following: brochures about your organization, press releases about your organization and/or issue, information about your issue of importance, published articles of relevance to your organization or issue of importance, information about other organizations with whom your organization participates or cooperates. Two weeks prior to your activity, send a media advisory, detailing your upcoming event to all appropriate media outlets. Verify that the media advisory has been received by the appropriate personnel with each targeted media outlet. About one week prior to your activity, follow up with media outlets. If necessary, re-pitch the story and answer questions. Provide additional information about your organization, your issue or other issues pertaining to your planned activity. One day prior to your event, call and fax updated information (press releases and/or media advisories) to radio and TV stations, a city news service, wire services and daily papers which serve your targeted area. On the morning of your media event, call assignment desk and/or reporters to confirm that your event is being covered. Remind them of the importance of the story and alert them to any similar events occurring around the region, state or country. At the media event: Bring a clipboard for signing in media representatives. You might briefly educate the media regarding such things as appropriate behavior near working guide dogs and notifying visually impaired and blind attendees of the presence of cameras, lighting or cables in or near frequently used travel areas. Once your media event has concluded, you should call the newsroom to offer any further assistance. Following these four steps and the planning outline is an excellent beginning toward a successful public outreach campaign. Remember that effective public and media relations development is a skill which must be learned, practiced, and honed. Resources in your affiliate's area may include anything from your local library, to a local college's journalism department to the professional media. COME AND JOIN THE HONOR ROLL OF ACB LIFE MEMBERS by Charles Hodge As I am writing this piece, I have just returned reinvigorated from the ACB affiliate presidents and mid-winter board of directors meetings in Tulsa, Okla. We always seem to gain new inspiration from such meetings where we hear firsthand about the many positive and constructive accomplishments in which ACB and its members have participated at the national, state and local levels. We in ACB have much of which we may be rightfully proud in the realm of past and present accomplishments while we stay forever mindful of the undeniably formidable challenges which confront us in the future. Clearly, if we are to be successful in the future to the same degree or greater than we have been in the past, we in ACB must marshal our human, financial and other resources to best meet those future challenges. ACB's life membership program affords inspired individuals to participate in a meaningful way in the ongoing efforts of ACB as well as affording affiliates and others to honor those who have contributed most to our past and ongoing accomplishments. How does one become an ACB life member, you ask? By paying the life membership dues specified in the ACB bylaws. The ACB bylaws set life membership dues at $1,000. While this is undeniably a substantial sum of money, I hasten to point out that life membership dues may be paid in up to five equal annual installments of $200 each, which may bring this opportunity into the range of affordability for a number of our members and friends. Every potential new life member should be absolutely assured that his or her considerable and substantial contribution will be used to assist ACB in better meeting and overcoming the challenges of the immediate future. In addition, the life membership program offers to organizations affiliated with ACB an excellent opportunity to honor living members who have contributed in a special or sustained manner to the success of ACB and their organization. Each year at the ACB national convention, new life members are presented with very handsome, specially designed and printed life membership certificates which are matted and framed. In addition, all new and present life members are invited to attend a special reception for life members, which is typically held in the ACB president's suite at some point during the convention. At this time last year when I wrote a similar piece, I said that my fondest wish would be to have a dozen new life membership certificates presented at our national convention in Greensboro, N.C. Well, that wish was fulfilled as exactly a dozen new life members joined the honor roll of ACB life members last year. Once again, I am asking those of you who believe deeply in ACB's programs and objectives to step forward and answer my appeal by becoming ACB life members at this year's national convention in Tulsa, Okla. I don't believe in sitting on my laurels; I do believe in bigger challenges. So this year I am setting my fondest wish on at least a baker's dozen, or 13, new ACB life members to join me and the ever-growing number of life members. Now don't be bashful; step forward and take your place with us on the honor roll of ACB life members. Those individuals or organizations wishing to participate in the ACB life membership program should contact James R. Olsen, Assistant Treasurer, American Council of the Blind, 120 S. 6th St., Suite 1005, Minneapolis, MN 55402-1839; phone (612) 332-3242. CAPTIONS Assistant Treasurer Jim Olsen presents Brady Jones of North Carolina with a life membership plaque at the 1995 convention in Greensboro while Mary Jones looks on. ACB member Scott Marshall proudly holds his new life membership plaque while LeRoy Saunders offers him a microphone. HIGH TECH SWAP SHOP FOR SALE: Voyager XL CCTV. 19-inch screen. Sharp, clear picture. Asking $1,995. Call Tom Blom at (941) 349-5755. FOR SALE: Juliet braille embosser. Price negotiable. Not used more than 25 hours. Phone Solomon at (813) 376-6911 (days) or (813) 938-6692 (evenings and weekends). FOR SALE: Braille Blazer. Asking $800. Contact Rodney Neely at 1716 Grove Ave. #1, Radford, VA 24141; phone (540) 633-2634. FOR SALE: Xerox/Kurzweil Reading Edge. In mint condition. Asking $5,250. Contact Skip or Kathy at (817) 267-1061. FOR SALE: Navigator 40 eight-dot braille with Screenpower integrated, of your choice. Contact Sean Cummins at (520) 639- 2111. ACB BOARD OF DIRECTORS Sue Ammeter, Seattle, WA Ardis Bazyn, Cedar Rapids, IA Christopher Gray, San Jose, CA Charles Hodge, Arlington, VA John Horst, Wilkes-Barre, PA Jean Mann, Guilderland, NY Kristal Platt, Omaha, NE M.J. Schmitt, Forest Park, IL Pamela Shaw, Philadelphia, PA Richard Villa, Irving, TX LeRoy Saunders, Immediate Past President, Oklahoma City, OK BOARD OF PUBLICATIONS Carol McCarl, Chairperson, Salem, OR Kim Charlson, Watertown, MA Thomas Mitchell, North Salt Lake City, UT Mitch Pomerantz, Los Angeles, CA Jay Doudna, Lancaster, PA Ex Officio: Laura Oftedahl, Watertown, MA ACB OFFICERS PRESIDENT PAUL EDWARDS 20330 NE 20TH CT. MIAMI, FL 33179 FIRST VICE PRESIDENT BRIAN CHARLSON 57 GRANDVIEW AVE. WATERTOWN, MA 02172 SECOND VICE PRESIDENT STEPHEN SPEICHER 825 M ST., SUITE 216 LINCOLN, NE 68508 SECRETARY CYNTHIA TOWERS 556 N. 80TH ST. SEATTLE, WA 98103 TREASURER PATRICIA BEATTIE CRYSTAL TOWERS #206 NORTH 1600 S. EADS ST. ARLINGTON, VA 22202 CONTRIBUTING EDITOR ELIZABETH M. LENNON, Kalamazoo, MI