THE Braille Forum Vol. XXXIV April 1996 No. 9 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., National Representative 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. Submission deadlines are the first of the month. Those much-needed contributions, which are tax-deductible, can be sent to Patricia Beattie at the same 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: Information Please: I Think, by Paul Edwards Report of the Executive Director, by Oral O. Miller Are You Ready for the 1996 Convention?, by John A. Horst Michael Campbell: 1996 National Blind Employee of the Year Randolph-Sheppard Vendor Defeats State Licensing Agency's Constitutional Challenge to Arbitration Panel's Award, by Charles Hodge From Your Perspective: Was the Money Well Spent?, by Buelah Flynn Brazzell Affiliate News Here And There, by Elizabeth M. Lennon High Tech Swap Shop Tulsa's Going to the Dogs, by Margie Donovan Acknowledgments CORRECTION Due to a typing/editing error Mr. Lawrence Campbell's place of employment was referred to as the Holbrook School for the Blind ("Report Of The Executive Director," February.) In fact, Mr. Campbell represents the Overbrook School for the Blind in Philadelphia. The error was not part of the original transcript provided to us by Mr. Miller. We apologize to Mr. Campbell and the Overbrook School. PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE INFORMATION PLEASE: I THINK by Paul Edwards It's amazing to me that almost three quarters of a year has passed since I was elected president of ACB. Being president of ACB doesn't just consist of presiding at meetings and musing over larger issues. It also involves trying to juggle an incredible number of balls at the same time without dropping too many of them at any given moment. I thought it might interest readers of the "Forum" to get a sense of some of the many things that I, as president, have been up to over the last couple of weeks. Telling you about what I have been doing will also help you to get a notion of how differently things are done now than they were just a few years ago. Take this message, for instance. I am sitting on my patio in Florida with the crickets singing and faint smells of someone else's barbecue drifting to me on the evening breeze. I am writing this message on a Braille Lite which, as most of you know, is a small computer with a braille display and speech. I will not print the message and send it in the mail. Instead I will transfer the message onto a computer (though I don't have to do that) and then send it via modem to Nolan Crabb at the national office. He will then make sure to correct any glaring editorial gaffs I might have made and will insert it where it belongs in "The Braille Forum" for April 1996. It is quite probable that this message will never be printed in hard copy until it comes off the presses in large print or in braille. That is a sign of the times, I think. Much of the communicating we now do is electronic. I have received several documents over the past few weeks via electronic mail which allows me to read them, make changes to them and send them on, all without ever printing them out. More than that, electronic mail can often allow the almost instantaneous exchange of messages even from across the country. This can happen without either party involved in sending or receiving the message ever having to call a long-distance number. Much of the writing that I do to others is now done electronically and I have no idea whether anything that I write to those folks with electronic mail boxes ever gets read. I also have correspondents who are kind enough to keep track of certain areas of interest for me. Chris Gray, for instance, watches what is happening in some of the Braille-oriented news groups and lists that have appeared on the internet. When there is an article he thinks I should see, he marks it and sends it to me electronically. Brian Charlson does the same with computer- related information. Others are keeping track of philosophical trends in disability policy, services to the blind, legislation from here and abroad and so on. As president I have delegated information gathering to others and just get the joy of reading the truly interesting stuff while others get to wade through the dross. As a blind person I really never expected to be able to say that there is too much information out there for me to read. As a person who grew up dreaming of the day I could get science fiction in braille and who has read absolutely everything that NLS has produced in that area, I truly didn't expect that there would come a day when I simply found myself overloaded with information. But that day has come! To a degree, at least, we have reached the day when a very large proportion of the information that is available to our sighted peers is available to all of us. Whether we use a scanner or the internet, the information gap has narrowed dramatically just in the last three years. As more and more non-blind people want to access information electronically, more and more information becomes available in accessible, electronic form to those of us who could never have read it when it was in print. We are ill-prepared for this onslaught of data. We are not wont to skim as do our sighted friends! Oh no, we read every word so we take longer to get through stuff than do others even if we have our speech synthesizers or braille displays cranked up to fairly incredible rates. Our society is now looking at how it should deal with information overload. One of the newer professions that is emerging might be described as an information locator. More and more, companies are hiring firms or people whose sole task is to keep track of the huge flow of information that appears every day, looking for that one vital clue that the company needs to get a competitive edge. One of the many questions concerning information that we, as blind people, need to look at is how will we adjust to an almost unlimited information flow. What kind of technology will we use to learn to skim the internet? There are already complex, decision-making programs that learn from what we ask them and use key words and logic trees to search the internet. Some of us are already using "hyperscan" on our speech synthesizers which cuts out all words shorter than four letters so we can get through the information faster. I have already found myself adopting an "electronic" style that is short on words, long on meaning and direct to the point of brusqueness. I don't think I'm alone! Most of us playing around the on-ramp to the information highway are interested in getting the message delivered and don't have time for stylistic finesse. There is something beautiful about a well-crafted letter to a friend that you have taken time to write that is simply absent on the net. There are losses, you see. This message started out to be about what I have been doing for the past two weeks and turned out to be about some of the changes that have occurred with information access. And yet they are very much intertwined. I can get a lot more done electronically and can get the information to more people electronically quicker than I ever could have using print or braille or tape just five years ago. More and more people are taking electronic messaging in stride and I find that I can communicate with more and more members of ACB via e-mail than I ever could have even at the beginning of my term of office. There is a down side, though. I believe that I have actually written more than I might have without electronic messaging and thus, unfortunately, being president takes more of my time than it would have when I would have limited the number of things I did based on having to get copies out and paying for stamps and addressing envelopes. The up side is that there is an immediacy of communication electronically that is simply not there using letters or even conference calling. I have raised a question with a few people and, by the next day, six or eight succinct responses are sitting in my electronic in box. No one has had to sit through a lengthy conference call hearing each other talk. Individuals have been able to sit down in peace and compose a short and clear response to my question. I get the benefit of six answers and can even send all the answers to all the people who sent me replies with the flick of a switch so there is a capacity for immediacy and variety in communications that is an artifact of our electronic times. I must tell all of you that I am a mere neophyte and I am lurking across the field from the verge of the electronic highway but I am already feeling deluged with information and awed by the immensity of what I can have access to on the internet. It is a humbling experience and the last two weeks have seen me truly begin to use a smidgeon of the potential that electronic information-sharing offers me. I am a little scared and there is a little tiny voice deep inside of me that says: "Why bother with work! Stay home and surf the internet! Skip from factoid to flame out, from news groups to gophers and let ACB and your job and your house take care of themselves." It sure is tempting for a guy like me who feels like the internet has let him, an information junky of the first water, loose in the candy store of all candy stores! So, this is what it's like! My e-mail address is edwpaul@netcom.com. Maybe that's where I will end up living, too! REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR by Oral O. Miller, J.D., Executive Director The recently completed meeting of the ACB affiliate presidents was very well received and described generally as very instructive by the dozens of affiliate presidents who made it to Tulsa that very cold and snowy weekend. (As a personal note, the flight schedules were so badly changed by weather conditions that I spent more than eight hours stuck between flights in a major transfer point on my way to Tulsa.) The program included presentations and discussions on a wide range of very practical subjects -- e.g., membership development, convention planning, media relations, fund raising and advocacy techniques. Many of the affiliate presidents said also that they especially appreciated the opportunity they were given to provide input regarding topics to be covered in future meetings. The format of the entire weekend was different this year in that the meeting of the affiliate presidents preceded the meeting of the ACB board of directors, thereby enabling more of the affiliate presidents to get home in time for work on Monday. The mid-winter meeting of the ACB board of directors involved the adoption of a near-record budget and the making of several decisions that will enable ACB to play a more important role in several areas of service to blind people. For example, ACB is sending a representative to the International Conference on Braille Literacy taking place in Montevideo, Uruguay, in late March as well as representatives to the International Forum on Concerns of Blind Women that will precede the general assembly of the World Blind Union in Toronto in August. The 1996 budget, the first one prepared under the executive directorship system adopted last year, also included an agreement by the members of the board of directors to be responsible themselves for raising some of the revenue needed to fund the budget. They were commended by many members for this forward-looking decision. In recent weeks, our governmental affairs staff has devoted an enormous amount of time to meeting with the Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines Review Advisory Committee of the Access Board. Much time was devoted by the staff as well as by knowledgeable and concerned members to turning back an ill-considered effort by opponents of underfoot detectable warnings to do away with requirements for such warnings. The committee also adopted additional language proposed by ACB that will establish a performance standard for any transit properties seeking to substitute an alternative detectable warnings system. This standard will require that any alternative detectable warnings system must provide to blind passengers 24 inches of advance notice of the platform edge, and precise orientation information about the platform edge in relation to the blind pedestrian. Part of the campaign against detectable warnings consisted of a demonstration at long last of the highly publicized electronic edge detection system being developed by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) in conjunction with the National Federation of the Blind (NFB). While the demonstration was conducted primarily for the information of the members of the advisory committee, several interested blind and elderly residents of the Washington metropolitan area also observed the demonstration conducted in the L'Enfant Plaza Metro Rail Station. There is not enough space in this article to enumerate all of the shortcomings if not dangerous flaws of the proposed system, but a few will be enlightening. For starters, the hand-held infrared detector/vibrator must be pointed almost directly at the platform edge, where the infrared transmission system is located, in order to activate the vibrator. However, since it is highly unlikely that anyone would deliberately walk off the edge of the platform if he or she knows where it is, and since the proposed system responds only when it is aimed at the edge, it would be useless to a blind pedestrian who does not know exactly where the edge is in the first place. Also, a simple test which I conducted during the few minutes I was allowed to experiment with the vibrator showed that it cannot distinguish whether the pedestrian is walking directly toward the edge or walking parallel with the edge and gradually coming closer to it -- the circumstance under which many blind people who have fallen off platform edges say they experienced. Since the public has not yet been advised of any plans to test this proposed system on more than a one-time 30-minute demonstration basis with a subway train parked at the platform, further discussion on the proposed system's most obvious flaw is being held in abeyance. However, the members of the advisory committee apparently saw enough inherent defects in the proposed system to reject arguments that it or a similar system should be allowed to replace the requirement of underfoot detectable warnings. Nevertheless, this issue is not settled because the WMATA and other transit operators following its lead do not get the message that an environment that is unsafe or considered to be unsafe is not accessible. As we note that the WMATA general manager who has fought against underfoot detectable warnings so feverishly is now accepting a similar position with the New York transit system, we cannot help but wonder what that move portends for that city and that system. As more states are convinced of the necessity of making textbooks accessible to and useful by blind students in braille or by other means, those states are wrestling with the realistic questions that must be answered before these policies can be implemented. Recently the Texas Education Agency established a task force made up of experts from a variety of technical and professional fields to assist in the preparation of written recommendations on broadening access to CD-ROM-based multimedia information as well as textbooks which will be forwarded to state legislators at their request in early 1997. The American Council of the Blind is represented on that committee by Nolan Crabb, editor of "The Braille Forum." The task force held its first meeting recently in Dallas. At that meeting, a number of very important foundation decisions were made. The committee heard from vision teachers in the field who told horror stories about blind children being virtually left out of the education process when a district determined to buy highly visual CD-ROM technology to educate its children. While producing textbooks in braille is relatively straightforward, helping a blind child dissect a frog on a computer screen using a digital knife is a far more difficult process to make accessible. Mr. Crabb will be doing much of the writing for a major section of the report. The task force will hold additional meetings throughout the year. ACB's presence on the task force is vital. It provides us with opportunities to assist CD-ROM publishers and those interested in education, and it provides the Texas Education Agency with much- needed information about what should be accessible and how best to provide that access. Mr. Crabb stressed the importance of braille when appropriate and urged the group to focus on solutions that would directly affect blind children. He stressed the value of finding solutions that are viable in the less economically developed, more rural sections of the state. You can be sure that other states will watch this process closely. Publishers and state textbook purchasers will be very interested in what happens in Texas. I am pleased to welcome to the ACB national office staff Ms. Margaret (Peggy) Thompson, who has assumed the position formerly held by Jessica Beach -- who has been appointed to the position of Coordinator of Affiliate and Membership Services. We are confident that Ms. Thompson's previous experience with the "Congressional Quarterly" and Public Services Association will be extremely helpful to ACB and its members. ARE YOU READY FOR THE 1996 CONVENTION? by John A. Horst, Convention Coordinator Convention time is fast approaching and detailed plans to attend should be completed soon. The volunteers who serve on the convention committee are hard at work completing all activities. Special-interest groups and committee chairs are completing their program planning, and outstanding speakers and panel participants are being scheduled for plenary sessions. The host committee of the Oklahoma Council of the Blind, chaired by Dale Lamar, is working with the Tulsa community to provide all the services necessary. All will be ready by convention time. The 1996 convention of the American Council of the Blind will take place at the convention center and Doubletree hotel downtown in Tulsa, Okla., from Saturday, June 29 to Saturday, July 6. The overflow hotel is the Adams-Mark; the Howard Johnson hotel is also available if additional rooms are needed. Hotel rates at the Doubletree and Adams-Mark are $47 a night plus tax for up to four people per room. At the Howard Johnson, rates are: single, $40 plus $6 for each additional person. As might be expected, by this time the Doubletree Hotel is full, but the Adams-Mark continues to have rooms available. Both these hotels provide no- cost transportation from and to the airport; the Howard Johnson does not. Cab fare is approximately $12. Telephone numbers for the three hotels are: Doubletree, (918) 587-8000; Adams-Mark, (918) 582-9000, and the Howard Johnson, (918) 585-5898. The restaurant at the Howard Johnson has mostly Chinese cuisine. Shuttles Shuttles will operate each day during the convention between the hotels and the convention center. They will be 25-passenger minibuses, each holding about 25 people. They will operate daily from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. beginning Friday, June 28, through Friday, July 5. On Saturday, July 6, they will operate from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Most of the activities of the convention, including the general sessions and the exhibits, will take place at the convention center. There is a covered walkway that connects the convention center and the Doubletree. Attendees staying at the Doubletree will not need to use the shuttles. Food services There will be a concession stand at the convention center for breakfast and lunch. Tables will be provided, and volunteers will be available to provide assistance. This service will begin with lunch on Saturday, June 29. The convention program will include information on restaurants. Planned meal functions will be scheduled both at the convention center and the Doubletree. Travel agency Remember, ACB's travel agency has changed its name to American Automobile Association of Oklahoma. However, all services remain the same. Through this agency, agreements for discounted fares have been established with American and Delta airlines. To secure your flight to Tulsa, call (800) 259-9299. The earlier the reservations are made, the better the chance you have to secure the best fares. Overnight tour The overnight tour this year is to Branson, Mo., in Ozark country, America's live entertainment capital. The dates are June 28-29. The tour includes four shows, "Country Tonite," Barbara Mandrell and the Do-Rights, a breakfast showboat and a film on giant screen at the I-Max theater, "The Legacy and Legends of the Ozarks." There also will be some time for shopping. Some entertainment is planned on the way. This trip will include transportation by motor coach, admission to all shows, one night's lodging double occupancy, lunch both days, dinner Friday evening and breakfast Saturday morning. The cost for all these features will be $189; $209 if you sign up when the buses are departing and there is a vacancy. There will be an additional $28 charge if a single room is preferred. Please make your reservations now for this fabulous tour by contacting ACB's Minneapolis office, 120 S. 6th St., Suite 1005, Minneapolis, MN 55402-1839; (612) 332-3242. Reservations will only be confirmed when full payment is received by check or money order made payable to ACB Convention 1996 or a Visa or MasterCard credit card number is provided. Make your reservations now. Don't miss out on this exciting opportunity to visit Branson at a very reasonable cost. Additional tours During convention week there will be tour opportunities every day. One of the two not indicated before is a day at the races on Thursday, July 4. Travel by motor coach to beautiful Remington Park at Oklahoma City. The tour group will meet in its own lounge where there are large television monitors, and help with reading the program and placing your bets will be available. Also, the races can be seen from this lounge. Some people who will be attending the convention have expressed interest in attending a Tulsa Drillers baseball game. The Drillers are a triple-A team that will be at home during convention week. A trip will be planned. Of course we will again be holding the Baseball Fanatics' luncheon Sunday, June 30 at noon. Other tours previously listed include the Tulsa city tour Saturday, June 29, repeated Sunday, June 30, includes lunch; a tour to Bartlesville -- Phillips 66 country; a walking tour of downtown Tulsa, both above and below ground; a tour of several historic churches with lunch at Trinity Episcopal Church; a visit to Gilcrease Museum; a tour to Will Rogers country; and a tour to the Narrative Television Network, where descriptive video is produced. Wednesday evening, July 3, features the play "Oklahoma!" at the Spirit of Oklahoma Outdoor Theater with descriptive narration; Saturday evening, July 6, features a dinner and show at the Spotlight Theater. All the above tours are being planned carefully with an emphasis on things to touch, and guide narrators provided when necessary. The pre-convention packet, to be sent out in early May, will give more details on tours. This packet will be in large print and will contain forms that must be used to sign up for convention activities. However, if you would like a cassette tape recording of this packet, call the ACB national office to request it, (800) 424-8666. The Program: One of the best national convention plenary programs in years is being planned for 1996. Although the next issue of "The Braille Forum" will contain more details and although the "Washington Connection" will leak a few of those details out ahead of times in coming weeks, here are just a few of the speakers or topics you will want to hear: 1. The 1995 Disney and McDonald's Outstanding Teacher of the Year -- who happens to be blind, an athletic coach as well as a classroom teacher and a world record-holding blind athlete. 2. One of the most popular talking book narrators in the world; 3. The director of an international foundation which, in conjunction with a major American residential school for the blind, conducts a research and service program for the benefit of blind people in developing nations; 4. A panel discussion of what is probably the most important barrier blind people will face as they approach and enter the 21st century; 5. A banquet speaker who is genuinely interesting and entertaining and who spoke to a standing-room-only crowd when he met with a special-interest affiliate a few years ago. Again, read the next issue of "The Braille Forum" and call the "Washington Connection" for more details. The ACB convention offers multiple opportunities for learning, growth, making new friends, and challenging both yourself and others to a fuller, more meaningful life. ACB's 35th convention will be a fabulous experience. MICHAEL CAMPBELL: 1996 NATIONAL BLIND EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR In recognition of outstanding achievements on the job and overcoming personal challenges, Michael Campbell, a shrink-wrap operator at Wichita Industries and Services for the Blind in Pittsburg, Kan., was selected by the executive committee of the National Industries for the Blind board of directors in cooperation with the General Council of Industries for the Blind as the 1996 National Blind Employee of the Year. Campbell, 43, was diagnosed with diabetes when he was six and diabetic retinopathy when he was 18. A series of laser treatments maintained his vision enough to work, drive, and live a sighted life. Campbell worked at various jobs after graduating from high school but diabetes ended his hopes of entering the military. He married and started a family. Campbell's work situation was subject to change, however. "Eventually my eyes would go out and I would have to quit my job, look for another one, and start all over at the bottom of the ladder," Campbell said. "It was very frustrating. I was making good money before my vision failed and it got harder and harder to make ends meet in the San Diego area." Campbell was told that laser treatments could no longer be continued, so he, his wife and their two daughters moved to Pittsburg, Kan., where they would be near family. He spent the next 10 years at home and took some classes at Pittsburg State University with the goal of obtaining a business degree. Again, complications from diabetes arose, this time in the form of an infection, and required that one of his legs be amputated. In 1993 he contacted a rehabilitation center and was told about employment opportunities at a new manufacturing facility, WISB, which was opening in Pittsburg. He was one of the first people to interview for a position at that facility and has worked there ever since. In 1994 his other leg showed signs of infection and doctors decided he should have it removed, rather than risk getting sick again. "I can do about anything in here," Campbell said. "I'm always reminded of what is going on because I can't see and, with the two legs missing, I've got to do a lot of planning and anticipating. That's a challenge and keeps my mind busy." He has worked as a machine operator, a box erector, and now a shrink-wrap operator. "This company [WISB] has been really good. They kept giving me different jobs depending on my physical abilities. I'm sure if my health failed to the point where all I could do is move one hand, they'd still try and find me something to do here," he said. His job at WISB has enabled him to support his family again, and his wife, who previously worked full time, has been able to work part-time from home and baby-sit their granddaughter. "I know that even if my eyes go out totally, I'll still be able to support my family -- and that's a great feeling," he said. Campbell enjoys fishing and making furniture in his wood shop. He and his wife are looking forward to the birth of their second grandchild, a boy, due in June. CAPTION Michael Campbell, NIB's Employee of the Year, handles shrink wrap as it comes out of the machine. Photo courtesy of NIB. RANDOLPH-SHEPPARD VENDOR DEFEATS STATE LICENSING AGENCY'S CONSTITUTIONAL CHALLENGE TO ARBITRATION PANEL'S AWARD by Charles Hodge From 1985 through 1991, Jeana Martin was assigned by the California Department of Rehabilitation to operate a snack bar and lunchroom at the U.S. Postal Service's General Mail Facility in Santa Ana, Calif., as a licensed blind vendor, pursuant to the priority provisions of the Randolph-Sheppard Act. During this time, the U.S. Postal Service contracted with a local vending machine company which installed a number of vending machines which competed directly with vending machines and the snack bar at Martin's location. Despite Martin's protests that this vending machine contract infringed on the Randolph-Sheppard priority and lowered her earnings potential, since she gained no income from the competitor's machines, the state licensing agency chose to do nothing. Additionally, Martin repeatedly requested that the state licensing agency perform regular required maintenance such as repainting her snack bar to keep the location modernized and competitive with other food service locations in the vicinity. Once again her requests were ignored. As a result of the state licensing agency's neglect and its failure to respond to her protests and requests, the income from her location declined drastically, as Martin had predicted. Yet instead of shouldering some supervisory responsibility for the rapidly deteriorating financial situation at the Santa Ana General Mail Facility snack bar, the state licensing agency shirked all responsibility, shifting the blame to Martin, who had been pleading for help in coping with the deteriorating financial situation and competitive position of her location for several years. The state licensing agency removed her from the Santa Ana location, alleging poor performance. In June of 1992, the agency revoked her license alleging that she failed to perform at a satisfactory level. Naturally, Martin did not take this development lying down. She invoked her fair hearing rights under the Randolph-Sheppard Act. After a fair hearing, the state licensing agency ruled in its own favor, upholding its removal of Martin from her assigned vending location and its revocation of her license as a blind vendor. Martin then petitioned the U.S. Department of Education's Rehabilitation Services Administration to convene an arbitration panel to adjudicate the unresolved dispute between her and the agency. The Department of Education convened an arbitration panel to settle the matter. The state licensing agency named its arbiter, Martin named Robert Humphries, an attorney and renowned authority on the Randolph-Sheppard Act, as her arbiter. A third arbiter was selected to chair the panel. The arbitration panel heard the case, taking live testimony under oath from witnesses in the spring of 1994. In August 1994, the arbitration panel issued an interim order finding the state licensing agency had wrongly failed to come to Martin's defense to fight the outside vending machine contract as an impingement on the Randolph-Sheppard priority and by failing to heed and respond positively to her requests for maintenance of her location. The panel found that once Martin had been removed from the location and the state licensing agency had assigned a new vendor more to its liking in the location, the agency found money to do extensive renovations to the location. The arbitration panel further found that the failures of the state licensing agency to adequately respond to Jeana Martin's protests materially contributed to the deterioration of the location's financial condition and that, therefore, the reasons proffered by the state licensing agency to justify its adverse actions against Martin had been discredited. The arbitration panel held that Martin's removal from her location and the eventual revocation of her license as a blind vendor by the state licensing agency had been unlawful. In December 1994, the arbitration panel issued its final remedial order in the case, awarding the wronged blind vendor, Jeana Martin, back income, compensatory damages, interest, and attorneys' fees totaling approximately $450,000 to be paid by the state licensing agency. Again, not unexpectedly because of California's precarious state budget situation, the agency brought suit in January 1995 in U.S. District Court for the Central District of California against both Jeana Martin and the U.S. Department of Education and Secretary of Education Richard Riley as the convening authority for the arbitration panel. In its pleadings in federal court, the state licensing agency alleged in the alternative that the arbitration panel's award in favor of Jeana Martin should be set aside and a new arbitration panel convened to rehear the case because the panel had no authority to award money damages in Martin's favor against the State of California on account of the state's immunity from such awards by federal authorities under the Eleventh Amendment to the United States Constitution. The little-known Eleventh Amendment strips federal courts of jurisdiction to adjudicate claims for money damages by the citizen of a foreign state or of one state of the union against a sister state of the union. By judicial interpretation by the Supreme Court of the United States, the Eleventh Amendment immunity of the several states has been extended to suits for money damages brought by a citizen against his/her own state. Alternatively the state licensing agency alleged that the arbitration panel's award against it should be voided as being arbitrary and capricious and contrary to the weight of the record evidence. The agency also raised two technical potential conflict of interest arguments as reasons for the district court to overturn the panel's award and order a new arbitration proceeding. First, the agency argued that Robert Humphries, who was named as an arbitration panel member by Jeana Martin, had previously written letters on Martin's behalf and had thus already announced his view of the case and was therefore not a neutral, unbiased arbitration panel member. Second, the agency similarly argued that the arbitration panel had taken testimony during its hearing of the case from Durward McDaniel as an expert witness on the provisions and operations of the Randolph-Sheppard program. The agency pointed out that McDaniel had also previously written letters on Martin's behalf to both federal officials and the state licensing agency, and therefore McDaniel could not be an unbiased, trustworthy expert witness, requiring the overturning of the resulting arbitration panel award. Martin retained counsel and vigorously opposed the state licensing agency. She filed a counterclaim against the state licensing agency seeking the district court to hold that the arbitration panel award in her favor was in accordance with law and for an order from the district court confirming the award and enforcing the award's remedial provisions against the agency. Cross-motions for summary judgment were filed and argued before the district court by the agency and Martin. Meanwhile, the federal defendants were taking a strange and strained legal position. In its pleadings before district court, the U.S. Department of Education indicated that it did not oppose the state licensing agency's Eleventh Amendment argument and that on that ground the department would be perfectly happy to void the arbitration panel's award and reconvene a new panel to retry the matter. However, the department also argued that if the district court disagreed with the agency and overruled its Eleventh Amendment contention, then on the merits the federal defendants argued that the panel's award was supported by the record evidence and should be sustained as not being arbitrary or capricious. The federal defendants then moved for partial summary judgment in the case. After all the pleadings had been filed with the court, arguments made by the parties, and everything digested by the court, U.S. District Judge John G. Davies entered his opinion on February 13, 1996. He first came to grips with the threshold constitutional argument pressed on him by the state licensing agency that the arbitration panel's award in favor of Martin should be voided because the panel had gone beyond its legitimate authority by awarding money damages against an agency of the State of California. Judge Davies rejected the agency's argument for two reasons. First, he held that the California Department of Rehabilitation had consented to the jurisdiction of the arbitration and waived its Eleventh Amendment immunity. Davies pointed to the facts that the California Department of Rehabilitation had done far more than just accept federal money and participate in a program of federal financial assistance. The state licensing agency had actively applied for and been recognized by federal officials in its capacity as a state licensing agency and active partner with the federal government in the Randolph-Sheppard program, which is a joint federal/state partnership program. The agency had continued its participation in the program subsequent to the enactment of the arbitration proceedings provisions of the Randolph-Sheppard Act in 1974. The agency had actively participated in this proceeding by selecting one of the members of the arbitration panel and actively participated in the hearing by calling and cross-examining witnesses. Only after the panel rendered an adverse award to it did the agency raise its Eleventh Amendment immunity objections. Second, Davies held that in adopting the arbitration provisions of the Randolph-Sheppard Act amendments of 1974, Congress clearly intended, at least to some degree, to abrogate the Eleventh Amendment immunity of state licensing agencies that participated in the program. Davies pointed out the Congress in 1974 was well aware that arbiters in the employment context regularly awarded money damages in the form of back pay to individuals who were found to have been wronged by their employers. In enacting the arbitration provisions of the Randolph-Sheppard Act, Congress must be presumed to have taken terms such as arbitration panel and arbitration awards in their normal usage, and thus Congress, knowing full well that arbiters regularly awarded money damages to wronged employees, must have intended to permit arbitration panel awards embracing money damage awards against wrongdoing state licensing agencies. The judge then quickly held that the arbitration panel's award was supported by substantial evidence viewing the administrative record as a whole and therefore should be sustained against contentions that the award was arbitrary, capricious, or without foundation. He then turned to the agency's two technical conflict of interest arguments. First, with respect to arbitration panel members, the court pointed out that the only requirement is that the chairperson of the panel selected by the two arbitration panel members must not be an employee of the state licensing agency. Thus, with respect to the panel members selected by the opposing parties, the Randolph- Sheppard Act and its implementing regulations are silent as to limitations or qualifications. In fact, it is assumed by Congress, the U.S. Department of Education, and all the parties, that each party in selecting its arbitration panel member will attempt to select a person who is sympathetic to their contentions. Thus, the court gave little weight to the state licensing agency's argument that Martin was obligated to choose a neutral, unbiased arbitration panel member, and that by selecting Robert Humphries, who had earlier written letters on her behalf, she had invalidated the entire arbitration panel proceeding. Davies refused to buy such a strained argument. With respect to the state licensing agency's argument that the entire arbitration panel proceeding and award should be overturned because the panel had heard expert witness testimony from Durward McDaniel, who had previously advocated on Martin's behalf, the court held that the panel was aware of McDaniel's earlier involvement in the case and that the arbitration panel was capable of weighing the evidence offered by the expert witness while keeping in its mind McDaniel's possible bias in the matter. Davies also pointed out that in rendering its two separate orders in the case, the panel had not relied at all on McDaniel's allegedly biased expert testimony. The court therefore found no ethical considerations meriting disqualifying the testimony. Consequently, Davies denied the state licensing agency's motion for summary judgment and request to disqualify the arbitration panel and void the panel's award to Martin. The court granted Martin's motion for summary judgment on her counterclaim and confirmed the lawfulness of the panel's award, and ordered the state licensing agency to comply with the remedial provisions of the award, including payment by the agency of the monetary damages specified in the panel's award. The court also granted the federal defendant's motion for partial summary judgment sustaining the panel's award if the court should rule against the agency's Eleventh Amendment contentions. Judge Davies' opinion in Premo v. Martin et al is a landmark judicial victory for blind vendors and their advocates, sustaining and re-enforcing the authority of arbitration panels under the Randolph-Sheppard Act to make whole awards, including back wages to injured or wronged blind vendors, even if such monetary awards must be paid by participating state licensing agencies. Because of the presence of federal defendants in the litigation, the parties will have until mid-April to announce whether any or all of them will appeal the case. At press time, attorneys close to the litigation indicate that because the state licensing agency does not want to pay the nearly one-half-million dollar award and has everything to gain and nothing to lose at this point, the agency is likely to appeal the opinion. Such an appeal would probably take about two years to brief, argue and gain a decision from the appellate court, so stay tuned for further developments. FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE: Was the Money Well Spent? by Buelah Flynn Brazzell (The opinions expressed in this column are strictly those of the author and may not reflect the opinions of the elected officials, staff or membership of the American Council of the Blind. Brazzell holds a master's degree from Peabody Teachers College. She has both privately tutored blind children and taught braille in South Carolina public schools.) Last summer at the South Carolina state convention of the American Council of the Blind, Scott Marshall, representing our national organization, reported that congressionally proposed budget cuts could profoundly affect many current social programs. Everything was up for scrutiny. Even the American Printing House for the Blind, our oldest federally funded agency for the blind, had been slated for trimming. Then Scott encouraged us to let our voices be heard in Washington. I knew there was no way I would come to the defense of the APH, especially in the way it spends its nearly $6,000,000 budget in serving the educational needs of the more than 51,000 school- aged children on its blind register. Instead, since 82 percent of all blind children are now enrolled in their own local school districts, their needs might be better served were those funds distributed among the various states' Departments of Education. Then the APH could become a competitor for school business rather than monopolizing the market. For instance, according to a 1992 report APH filed with Congress, 27 percent of all students enrolled on the APH register are print readers. Is there anything about the APH's books that could not be duplicated or even improved upon in the publishing houses that print books for public schools? Large print is becoming ever more popular in books and magazines, and there must be a need for larger print for some school children, not limited to the legally blind. In our modern, technological age, it is easy for a publisher to produce its books in various types. If school districts could include orders for large print in their normal book orders, then the legally blind children could have their books at the same time the rest of the students received theirs, instead of waiting for the APH books to arrive. Ten percent of all blind children now receive their basic education through listening. Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic has specialized in making its books compatible with the printed books used by sighted children. There are also studios throughout the country producing books on tape. Then, with regard to tangible materials for multiply disabled children, who probably account for the 31 percent of non-readers in the blind population, many companies, such as Fisher Price, today produce educational toys that are easily adapted for the use of the blind child. Again, if the APH were in a competitive market and its product were superior to the commercially available option, schools would turn to the APH as supplier, rather than just accepting what was produced because it could be furnished under quote funding. In short, since its founding in 1879, the APH has moved into areas for which it was not originally intended, and in which the consumer might be better served by a competitive market. When it was established, its purpose was to serve the country's residential schools, whose children were either totally blind, or had a visual impairment which precluded their being able to read the printed page. Therefore, the APH was to produce embossed books and to make educational, tangible equipment, such as maps and globes, to be used in instruction. The APH's sponsors, the American Association of Instructors of the Blind (AAIB), considered the printing house a great advancement in the education of blind children. However, from the outset, the APH had a dilemma. By the time it was established, the "dot players" had developed their own code. New York Point was by far the most economical and easiest to write by slate and stylus, or to be mass produced. American Braille, with its three-dot vertical alignment, was by far the easiest code to read. By the time the APH was established, the schools where either Braille or Point were taught were about evenly divided. Because of the ease of writing Point, the APH opted to publish material in that form. Although funds were appropriated to supply materials to all residential schools, those schools using braille did not get service until an act of Congress, in 1890, forced the APH to publish in two codes. One of the APH's initial goals was to publish all its embossed material in one code. Therefore, when faced with the problem of publishing in two, it decided to put all books in a highly contracted form, regardless of the age of the students it was required to serve. By so doing, a strange thing occurred in 1895 that had never been tried in the history of education. First-grade blind children received books written in a form of shorthand. The APH must have decided that, if it were required to produce two codes, then it would use the full code in all the books it produced, regardless of the age of the consumer. It was as if blind children should be able to read any code, no matter how complex, that a stereotypist could produce. One hundred years ago, this policy was protested by Mrs. O.C. Shattuck, a teacher of blind children in the New York public schools, at the AAIB convention in 1896: "Our children," she said, "though bright in everything else, could not learn to read. We decided it was the fault of the book. Economy of space had gone too far, and what with punctuation marks to add to the confusion, it was just too much for the young undisciplined mind and fingers. We sent for new books in the old code, and the children began to read." It is regrettable that Mrs. Shattuck's voice could not have been heard at the 1950 convention, when, through the maneuvering of Paul Langan, a former president of AAIB and the Kentucky School for the Blind, the AAIB voted to start teaching grade two braille at the kindergarten level. Since about 1955, when first-grade books appeared in grade two braille -- not to mention the confusion of punctuation in the Alice and Jerry Series -- has the APH truly served the beginning learner? Or, rather, is not the APH directly responsible for the braille illiteracy we are finding among the adult blind population between the ages of 20 and 50? Won't the 22 percent of pre-readers become non-readers because, after 40 years, the APH is still following its policy of keeping everything at one code level, regardless of the children's ability to learn to read in that code? No sighted children receive shorthand instruction in first grade. Yet these children who must read with their fingers are expected to have far greater learning ability than their sighted peers. The APH is not totally responsible for the morass in which education for the blind is floundering today. Two men -- Robert Irwin and Paul Langan -- are accountable for some of the practices and philosophies which seem like brick walls when one wants to talk about returning to a simpler way of education for the young blind child. First, Robert Irwin, a scientist for the newly founded American Foundation for the Blind in about 1921, and later the agency's president, did much in his scientific experiments to undermine the work of the Uniform Type Committee. This committee had worked over 15 years, selflessly, devotedly, to developing a one-code reading system for America. It was designed to enhance learning for the young blind child, but at the same time, with its 44 contractions, to challenge older students and the adults who were having to switch their reading media from New York Point to what became known as grade one and a half braille. This committee understood the nature of the "dot players," who would always be looking for ways to shorten the endless punching of dots with the slate and stylus for their writing purposes. This code, as adopted, was intended to bring literacy to blind school children. After all, Louis Braille had invented his code for the use of blind students in Paris, and he had not played around with contractions which would shorten the writing process. Instead, he made literacy possible by developing the fine art of reading with the finger tips. I received my basic education beginning in 1927, which, in retrospect, must have been the "golden age" of education for the blind in our nation. At that time, children learned the joy of reading unencumbered by the planned vocabulary so prevalent in today's reading instructional books. In contrast, today, with such texts as "Patterns," their pleasure reading is profoundly limited until the fourth grade. Miss Minnie Hicks, a braille teacher, described her method to the AAIB convention in 1920, when she explained that she started her children out by teaching them to make their letters on a pegboard so that there would be no confusion about the positioning of dots in the cell. Not until the children understood the braille letters did they encounter them on the braille page, which required more finger dexterity. Henry Latimer and Minnie Hicks had designed a special primer for braille instruction free from all punctuation except the period and question mark. The APH had been instructed how to format its books through third grade so that new contractions would appear at the top of the page when introduced. There was none of this nonsense that blind children should never see a word except as it would appear in its contracted form. We were taught how to read and spell a word before we saw the contracted form. The Uniform Type Committee had given blind children a legacy of literacy, but Robert Irwin was determined to break their will. He had been on the Uniform Type Committee in 1911, but as Latimer writes: "His views were so unconventional, to say the least, he was dropped from the committee, when shortage of funds made it necessary to reduce its size." Irwin was one of those blind men who never gave up on an idea, even if it took years to carry it through. As a scientist at the AFB, he initiated an experiment with Perkins School for the Blind to see if blind children could learn by the word and phrase method prevalent in the "look and say" fad in the public schools. Learning by such a method undid the work of Minnie Hicks, who advocated very careful instruction in making the alphabet. Since sighted teachers had been trained in this method, they were glad to try it out on the blind, with about the same effect as the introduction of grade two braille in first grade. This fad would probably have ended shortly, but since it was heralded as a scientific approach to the teaching of reading, the AFB sent out members of its staff to instruct teacher training courses in colleges in the new method. This experiment was accepted as gospel, and as late as 1964, I learned the method in my preparation for teaching blind children. My teacher was adamant in her approach and scoffed at the idea of teaching the alphabet first by the Hicks method. I suspect this same method is still used in some colleges with programs for teachers of the blind. Irwin's second contribution was nearly as disastrous, when, as president of the AFB, he announced in England, in 1931, that America had decided to accept English Braille Grade Two as the code for the English-speaking world. His decision was quite arbitrary, but because of his position, it was not challenged. It would also improve the writing speed of the adult blind. He should have found out in England how their students progressed from grade one, or alphabet braille, to the more advanced grade two. England had and still does maintain two codes in its educational hierarchy. In making the report to the AAIB convention in 1932, he justified his decision on the grounds that, since we were in a depression, grade two braille would be more economical to produce. Then he threw in his clincher: grade two should not be taught to students until high school. How students were to be moved from 44 contractions in third grade to 185 in ninth grade was not his concern, nor that of anyone in the educational community. In 1938, books began to arrive in grade two braille for high school curriculum with no preparation for the new code, and there were no manuals for instruction. If it had not been for bookworms like me in the school, we would have been headed for complete disaster. We picked up a library book and began to read, and by the time we were finished, we knew the new code. This approach to learning grade two braille was being enacted all over the country, and we who mastered the code became tutors or readers for our peers who could not make an automatic adjustment. This unique approach for learning a true shorthand form of reading gave advanced braille a complexity that it did not deserve and helped to push along the philosophy of Paul Langan that it would be better to teach grade two braille in first grade so that the children would not have to learn more than one code. This was tantamount to saying that sighted first graders should learn to read with newspaper writing rather than with first-grade readers. Now the APH was faced with another dilemma. It had to produce primary books in alphabet braille and also grade one and a half. It was back to a two-code system, which created confusion for the stereotypist. This time a campaign had to be waged because the Uniform Type Committee had laid down guidelines for printing so that the APH could not go off on a tangent as it had in 1895. What to do? In answer, Paul Langan was willing to promote the one-code idea. He became editor of the "Journal of Education," chairman of the Unified Braille Committee, and he was on the Publications Committee of the APH. His voice was heard and still echoes today when someone philosophizes: "You really wouldn't want blind children to have to learn three grades of braille, would you?" To that I say: Oh, yes, I would. No matter what we do, the "dot players" will see to it that the blind will always read by a "read and wonder method" I learned well, while deciphering the grade two code. No, we need to be teaching that the love of reading, rather than braille, is necessary to get through the lifespan. Braille is only the means to the end. One hundred years have passed since the blind themselves decided to ensure literacy for blind children. No one is asking adults to give up grade two braille, but why can't we as adults restore braille in its uncomplicated form to first-grade children? We would be paying homage to that 14-year-old French boy, Louis Braille, who gave a form of reading to the finger tips of blind children throughout the western world. AFFILIATE NEWS COME TO IOWA The Iowa Council of the United Blind will hold its state convention May 3-5 at the Days Inn, 3501 E. 14th, Des Moines, IA. The convention's opening session will be held at 8 p.m. Friday due to updated programming. LOUISIANA CONVENTION The Louisiana Council of the Blind convention is set for May 3-4 at the Holiday Inn East in Baton Rouge. Room rates are $51 plus 11 percent tax for single through quad; total room rate is $56.50 per night. Make your reservations by April 21 with the Holiday Inn East at (504) 293-6880. 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. GALLAGHER AWARD The American Foundation for the Blind seeks nominees for the first Catherine T. "Kay" Gallagher Award, established in memory of the wife of retired AFB president William F. Gallagher to recognize blind or visually impaired individuals who have shown exemplary participation in the workplace and the community and served as role models for other blind people. The recipient must be: blind or visually impaired; nominated in writing by a community group, school or civic organization; have at least two testimonial letters from blind or visually impaired people naming the person as their mentor; have all references include and describe attributes of independence, community participation and contributions, potential as a mentor or role model, and public speaking abilities. Nominations should be sent by May 15 to Dr. Susan Spungin, Vice President, National Programs and Initiatives, American Foundation for the Blind, 11 Penn Plaza, Suite 300, New York, N.Y. 10001; phone (212) 502-7631. PARALYMPIC TRIALS The Paralympic Athletic Trials, sponsored by the Atlanta Paralympic Organizing Committee, will be held May 9-12 at Cheney Stadium in Atlanta, Ga. Cheney Stadium will serve as the summer games' warm-up track because it has the same configuration and track surface as the Olympic stadium. All athletes who have made the United States Association for Blind Athletes standard between January 1, 1995 and the trials will be invited to attend. USABA athletes wishing to attend the trials must send USABA "A" standard results from sanctioned races to USABA by May 6. The event will serve as the final selection of the U.S. Athletics Paralympic Team, as well as be a test event for APOC and a pre-Paralympic education opportunity for the games. Packets will be mailed to each athlete as soon as they are available. USABA will provide a $200 travel stipend to all current USABA members who have met the "A" standard. Athletes will be responsible for APOC's entry fee. For more information contact Mark Lucas, 33 N. Institute St., Colorado Springs, CO 80903; phone (719) 630-0422. NEW ADDRESS GW Micro has moved to a new, larger facility. The new address and phone numbers are: 725 Airport North Office Park, Fort Wayne, IN 46825; phone (219) 489-3671, fax (219) 489-2608, and bulletin board service, (219) 489-5281. The internet address, support@gwmicro.com, has not changed. CALLING ALL HAMS Are you into amateur radio, or would you like to be? Gordon West's audio cassettes can help you. The "Radio Amateur Callbook" catalog offers West's tutorials. Cassettes include: no code beginner; 21-day novice; novice code; technician plus theory; general theory; general code; complete general cassettes and book; advanced theory on cassettes; extra class theory; extra class code; complete extra cassettes and book. For more information, contact Radio Amateur Callbook, 1695 Oak St., P.O. Box 2013, Lakewood, N.J. 08701; phone (908) 905-2961. BANA OFFICERS The Braille Authority of North America elected new officers at the annual meeting in November. Dolores Ferrara-Godzieba (Associated Services for the Blind, Philadelphia), was elected chairman; Frederick Sinclair, vice chairman, (California Transcribers and Educators of the Visually Handicapped); Charlotte Begley, (Clovernook Center), treasurer; and Phyllis Campana, (American Printing House for the Blind), secretary. NEWS FROM RFB&D Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic's "1996 RFB&D Catalog of Books" is now available. It lists all recorded and computerized books available from RFB&D. It comes in two editions: the adult collection, including listings of books from the college level and beyond, and the juvenile collection, which includes listings of books from elementary through high school level. Each edition can be ordered separately. The juvenile collection is $29.95 plus $7.50 for shipping and handling; the adult collection is $49.95 plus $8 shipping and handling. The complete set costs $69.95 plus $8.50 shipping and handling. To order, call RFB&D at (800) 221- 4792. CLEARINGHOUSE The U.S. Information Agency recently awarded $450,000 to Mobility International USA to develop a clearinghouse of information and resources on international exchanges of interest to disabled people. The clearinghouse will provide information about both public and private opportunities, including academic exchanges, professional and citizen exchanges, international visitor programs, youth exchanges and art exchanges. It will also assist exchange organizations in developing understanding and skills in including disabled people in their programs. This grant makes it possible for Mobility International to maintain an electronic data base of such opportunities. SPEAK TO ME! The "Speak To Me" catalog has a mid-winter supplement showcasing several new products, including: the Univex digital recorder reviewed in the March issue of "The Braille Forum," talking horoscope clock, talking English/Spanish translator, recording message clock, and much more. There are also new novelty items such as: talking dog caller, talking bingo box, flushing toilet keychain, singing "Wizard of Oz" clock, rappin' Easter bunny, and many more. Call (800) 248-9965 during business hours (Pacific time) to receive a free catalog -- request a print, cassette, or MS-DOS-formatted disk copy. The catalog can also be obtained via e-mail request from speak@clickshop.com. BRAILLE IN S.D. The brailling service at the South Dakota Industries for the Blind charges 30 cents per braille page. For an estimate on a transcription job, call Frank Green at SDIB, (800) 658-5441. BASEBALL TAPES Danrick Enterprises has a cassette catalog containing World Series, championship playoffs, significant regular season baseball games and other baseball games. The oldest selection is from Sept. 20, 1934, featuring the New York Yankees with Lou Gehrig playing against Hank Greenberg. The most recent is the 1995 World Series game. Most games are on two cassettes, costing $12.35; some games take three tapes and cost $13.95. There are also other baseball informational tapes, such as team highlights from important year(s), interviews, Dizzy Dean 1948 radio programs, etc. The cassette catalog costs $1; the print version, containing all 1,500 events in the inventory, costs $2. Write to Danrick Enterprises, P.O. Box 1347, Clifton, N.J. 07015. SPORTS FOR HEALTH Blind, visually impaired and sighted people can participate in biking, horseback riding, canoeing, and hiking in Northeastern Pennsylvania Regional Ski for Light's "Sports for Health" program. It will be held July 28 to August 4. For information about the cost and an application, call Fred Quick at (718) 379-0246 between 6 and 9 p.m. Eastern time. VOICES FOUNDER DIES Constance "Connie" Hindman, the founder of Voices for Blind, died December 1, 1995. The company has moved; its new address is VOICEs for Blind, Inc., P.O. Box 781, Barrington, N.H. 03825, or phone (603) 332-9355. BRAILLE INPUT Aria, a small braille input/speech output computer, will soon be available. It is small enough to fit in a purse or pocket. It can access DOS and run external software, retrieve information in an understandable voice, and can be used as a DECtalk compatible speech synthesizer. For more information, contact Technologies for the Visually Impaired, 9 Nolan Ct., Hauppauge, N.Y. 11788; phone (516) 724-4479. WANT TO HEAR IT? If you're a late-night TV addict and have an interest in infomercials, this announcement is for you. Many times, blind and visually impaired people who want to purchase an item sold on an infomercial are unable to get the address or phone number of the desired product or service because they are shown on screen, not read. Here's your chance to voice your concerns about this dilemma: write to Chris Ourand, Editor, National Infomercial Marketing Association, 1201 New York Ave. NW, Suite 1260, Washington, D.C. 20005. CHURCH CONFERENCE The National Church Conference of the Blind will be held July 21-25 in Oklahoma City, Okla. Hotel reservations should be made with La Quinta Inn Airport, 800 S. Meridian, Oklahoma City, OK 73108; phone (800) 531-5900. Rates are $48.56 per night for up to four people per room, including tax. For more information, contact National Church Conference of the Blind, P.O. Box 163, Denver, CO 80201, or phone (303) 825-5857. VACATION CAMP Visions Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired has four sessions available for the summer. Trip A, called "Horizons Unlimited," is scheduled for July 3-7 for adults with special needs. It has a 50-camper limit. Trip B, scheduled for July 10- 21, is called "Chez VCB." It is for independent single adults, couples, seniors and mainstream campers with special needs -- not for children. Its limit is 120 people. Trip C, called the "Tour de Force," is scheduled for July 22-28. Its attendance is limited to 60 adults who can travel independently, administer their own medications, and need no assistance with daily living skills. Trip D, "One Family," has a 120-camper limit, including families with children, young adults, and seniors. It's scheduled for July 29 to August 9. Activities on trips include swimming, boating, tandem bikes, croquet, shuffleboard, basketball, miniature golf, crafts, entertainment, movies, and more. The minimum fee is $10 a day for trips A, B and D, $250 for trip C. Fee includes round trip transportation from New York City to camp. For applications or more information, call Visions at (212) 425-2255, extension 107 or 124. KALEIDOSCOPE Kaleidoscope Television, America's Disability Channel, hopes to expand its coverage to include more cable markets. This network is geared to people with disabilities as well as their friends, families, educators and those who work in the disability field. KTV has been on the air for five years, and now offers 24-hour programming. The network features programs for the blind and visually impaired such as DVS movies, sports programs with disabled athletes participating and much more. If you'd like your cable system to air Kaleidoscope, call your cable operator. Kaleidoscope TV's address is 1777 NE Loop 10, San Antonio, TX 78217; phone (210) 824-7446. FERGUSON ENTERPRISES Ferguson Enterprises carries computers, scanners, CD-ROM titles accessible with speech for DOS and Windows; CD-ROM bundles; screen readers such as ASAP, Vocal-Eyes and JAWS for DOS and Windows; OutSPOKEN for Windows; speech synthesizers, and off-the-shelf software which works with your favorite screen reader. The company also has some new games accessible with speech. Other new products include: Flashback recorders, Sony modified stereo tape recorders, Sharp talking clock/calculators, and more. The company is taking orders for the following items, coming soon: Window-Eyes from GW Micro and ASAP for Windows from Microtalk. When you purchase a Windows screen reader, you receive the tutorial on cassette and the Windows manual on disk for free. When you purchase a modem, you receive a DOS-based fax program that is very easy to use and works well with speech. For more information, or for a free catalog in large print, cassette or disk, call Ferguson Enterprises at (605) 546-2366, or write the company at RR 1 Box 238, Manchester, SD 57353-9722. RICHCREEK GOODS C. Richcreek Enterprises has several products available. The Easy Writer guide is made of wood with beads to mark your place. Its suggested retail price is $16 plus $4.50 shipping and handling. The scanner deck, made for the HP ScanJet IIP, supports book while scanning. The Aladdin knife sharpener is mounted on a four- by six-inch stained oak plaque. Its suggested price is $12.95 plus $1.50 shipping and handling for each sharpener ordered. For more information call (503) 325-4005. Send your order along with a purchase order or check to C. Richcreek Enterprises, Route 5 Box 42B, Astoria, OR 97103. NEW AIDS Etcetera Gifts has several new items. One, the Talking Calculator 6616, is available in English; it has a large eight- digit LCD display with white numbers on black background, adjustable volume, on-off speaker switch, audio repeat button and speed control. It costs $11.99 plus $3.25 shipping and handling. The Talking Watch 6645 is available in both English and Spanish; it has an hourly time report and crowing alarm. It costs $9.99 plus $3.25 shipping and handling. The Talking Analog/Digital Watch 8804 is available in chrome or gold with adjustable bracelet band; it has an hourly announcement plus an alarm announcement with rooster sound. It costs $24.99 plus $3.25 shipping and handling. And the Recording Memo 6689, available in black, is a credit-card-sized personal recorder; its recording capacity is 10 seconds. It costs $9.99 plus $3.25 shipping and handling. Send check or money order, along with your order, to Etcetera Gifts, 961 47th St., Brooklyn, N.Y. 11219. FREE TO GOOD HOME Fifteen years of "The Braille Forum" (large print) and 10 years of "The Braille Monitor" (regular print). If you would like to archive these, please arrange transport and contact Del Wachter at (301) 916-3992. HIGH TECH SWAP SHOP FOR SALE: ScanJet Plus scanner with Calera card and Oscar 2.1a. Asking $600 or best offer. Vert Plus synthesizer and software. Asking $900 or best offer. Call David Nelson at (716) 877-5620 or write him at 265 Irving Terrace, Buffalo, N.Y. 14223. FOR SALE: Vantage CCTV. Asking $1,000. Contact Esther Pasalis at (216) 331-2888. FOR SALE: Apple accessories. Cricket software with speech synthesizer; Term Talk and Word Talk, best offer. Spell check program for Apple IIC or II GS. Also, braille version of Webster's Student Dictionary. Contact Richard Fiorello at (716) 873-4132. FOR SALE: Perkins brailler, $250. Also, two 37-cell board slates, $20 each. One full-page 36-line slate, writes on both sides of the page, $15. Two cube slates with cubes, $15 each. Contact Deb Lewis at (210) 734-5475. FOR SALE: Blazer braille printer. $900 or best offer. Wanting to upgrade to interpoint for braille business. Call Sharon at (817) 294-2369 or write in braille, typed, or tape to 7314 Kingswood Circle, Fort Worth, TX 76133. FOR SALE: Xerox/Kurzweil model KPR 35 scanning system. Includes True Book Edge scanner, both PC KPR reading software and Discover Text and Graphics Reading software. Will run on IBM compatibles such as PC XT, AT, etc. Manuals in print, tape and braille. Asking $2,000. Artic Business Vision speech package, including internal Synphonix speech card, turbo pedal, Business Vision version 3.04, Sonix TTS program to run other screen readers with this software, and manuals on disk and tape. Works in PC and higher-class IBM compatibles. Asking $300 for the software; can be combined with scanner package above. Contact Doug Rose at 207 Dickinson Ave., Newbury Park, CA 91320, or phone (805) 499-8377; e- mail drose@rain.org. FOR SALE OR TRADE: Old Apple IIe system with echo speech card, boxes of software and documentation. Contact Del Wachter at (301) 916-3992. FOR SALE: Versa Braille II with external disk drives, battery charger and braille and print manuals. $1,000 or best offer. Call or write Brian Charlson, 57 Grandview Ave., Watertown, MA 02172; phone (617) 926-9198. TULSA'S GOING TO THE DOGS by Margie Donovan For the past several years now, there have been 350 to 400 guide dogs and their handlers in attendance at the ACB national conventions. The numbers keep increasing as more and more people are choosing to use guide dogs. This year will be no exception. We are expecting approximately 400 dogs in Tulsa. For all of us who plan to bring our guide dogs, it is important to know that Tulsa has very strict laws regarding animal waste. Guide dogs are not exempt from these laws; clean-up is the owner's responsibility. Yes, ACB is working with the Adams-Mark and the Doubletree hotels to designate dog relief areas, and we will, as usual, have assistance with keeping these areas clean. However, if you choose not to pick up after your dog, you are running the risk of being fined. If you are fined, there is nothing that ACB or GDUI can do to help bail you out. We, as usual, encourage all dog guide handlers to clean up after their own dogs. We are very aware that many members have not been trained to clean up after their dogs. If you are one of these people, we have the perfect opportunity for you. At this convention, we have once again invited all of the guide dog schools to send a representative. We have also asked the schools to have their representatives register their names and hotels with the convention registration desk so that we can locate the representative from a specific school. We have also asked them to assist in teaching how to clean up. If your school is not represented, please don't hesitate to contact a representative from another school for training. It is our sincere hope that we will come very close to having 100 percent cleanup by guide dog owners. However, since we can't guarantee this, we have made arrangements to have assistance in maintaining the relieving areas. As in the past few years, we ask that all guide dog handlers make a monetary contribution through the pre-registration process or to Jane Sheehan, GDUI's treasurer, at the convention. This enables ACB and GDUI to generously tip those individuals who have had the awful task of maintaining the dog relief area for the week. Finally, here are a few tips that may help you and your guides to have a smooth and enjoyable week in Tulsa. 1. Carry two or more plastic baggies and Wash 'N' Dry packets with you at all times so you will be prepared in case your dog has an accident. Always plan to clean up after your dog, even though you may make a donation for relief area cleanup. 2. Prior to check-in at the hotel, locate the relief area and give your dog an opportunity to empty. 3. To avoid accidents, anticipate your dog's need to relieve ahead of time. Do not wait until it is panting or prancing. 4. In case of carpeted bathrooms, always bring newspaper or plastic to place under your dog's bowls. 5. While sitting, be sure to place your dog under your chair, being careful to tuck in his or her tail. 6. When stepping into an elevator, always be sure in advance that there is enough room for you and your guide; do not allow your dog to push its way inside. 7. While riding on elevators, place your dog at "sit," tucking in its tail, and always keep a hand on your dog's head to limit sniffing by monitoring its head movements. 8. Be sure to give more playtime than at home to relieve extra stress your dog may experience due to being at a convention. 9. Groom your dog daily while at conventions. You may want to consider taking some kind of coat and skin moisturizing conditioner, as hotels are often very dry and can cause unnecessary scratching and/or odors. 10. Always relieve your dog first thing in the morning and last thing in the evening, even prior to attending a breakfast meeting. 11. Dip your dog just prior to and upon return from convention to minimize flea problems. 12. When using the shuttles between hotels and the convention center, be sure to place your dog under the seat even if it requires removing the dog's harness. 13. When entering or leaving the shuttles, please be sure to be aware of and polite to those individuals just ahead of you, as our dogs often have a tendency to push their way to the front. Please keep in mind that the above-mentioned tips are merely suggestions and are not intended to imply that any of us are not responsible for the care of our guide dogs. It is not very often that we find ourselves in the midst of 1,500 to 2,000 blind people, 400 of whom are guide dog users! This tends to present additional undesirable stress upon our dogs. As a result, some of our guides can and doubtless will have accidents or even snap at people. We must also remember that for many of us the weather in Tulsa will be much hotter than we and our guides typically experience. Happy traveling. We'll see you in Tulsa. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ACB wishes to thank its many members and friends who gave so generously in response to our fall 1995 letter requesting support for ACB's ongoing programs and services. This partial list of donors reflects only those people who gave us their approval to publicly acknowledge their gifts. Dorothy Jackson, Prattville, AL; Josetta Matthews, Montgomery, AL; Mary Parr, Gadsden, AL; Maxwell Dederick, Kasilof, AK; Myreda Herman, Fairbanks, AK; Russ Riemann, Anchorage, AK; Lorene Denney, Clinton, AR; M.M. Devine, McGehee, AR; Billie Haymes, North Little Rock, AR; Mrs. Chester Holden, Little Rock, AR; Imogene Johnson, Little Rock, AR; W.C. O'Connor, Marmaduke, AR; Don Enterline, Phoenix, AZ; Joyce Holsey, Tucson, AZ; Stanley Olivier, Sun Lakes, AZ; Robert & Faye Williams, Phoenix, AZ; California Council of the Blind, Burbank, CA; Larry Allen, San Diego, CA; Mary Barna, Redondo Beach, CA; Frederick Bell, San Jose, CA; Kevin Berkery, Burbank, CA; Ralph Black, Sacramento, CA; Mr. & Mrs. Michael Chin, Corning, CA; Gary Lee Clayton, Glendale, CA; Christine Cline, Long Beach, CA; Dennis Crapanzano, Fair Oaks, CA; Bianca Culbertson, Carmichael, CA; Virginia Dancil, Canoga Park, CA; Ann DeLint, Cerritos, CA; John Di Francesco, Oakland, CA; Anne Berenice Donald, Mountain View, CA; Winifred Downing, San Francisco, CA; Juliet Esterly, Walnut Creek, CA; Gerald Glass, Redlands, CA; Vera Gurrola, Los Angeles, CA; Philip Hallford, San Diego, CA; Russell Johnson, Modesto, CA; Virginia Katsanes, Union City, CA; J. Henry Kruse, Albany, CA; Patricia LaFrance, Rowland Heights, CA; Robert Lyon, Eureka, CA; Patrick Malone, Santa Rosa, CA; Frances Mannino, Glendale, CA; Gordon Minor, Chester, CA; Robert Montague, South Gate, CA; Jill O'Connell, Carlotta, CA; J. Ray Penix, Burbank, CA; Mitch Pomerantz, Los Angeles, CA; Nora Pouliot, Redondo Beach, CA; Teddie Remhild, Burbank, CA; Donna Sanchez, San Jose, CA; Mr. & Mrs. Marion & Hazel Beal, Pueblo, CO; John Bear, Denver, CO; Marjorie Gallien, Colorado Springs, CO; Nellie Garcia, Wheatridge, CO; Mr. & Mrs. Ernest Gay, East Hartford, CT; Carol Gillispie, West Haven, CT; Anna Godrie, Fairfield, CT; David Goldstein, Bridgeport, CT; Bernie Kassett, Tolland, CT; Louise Manginello, Hartford, CT; Marcia Nigro, Hamden, CT; Robert Redington, Guilford, CT; Ellen Telker, Milford, CT; Jim Doherty, Washington, DC; Roberta Douglas, Washington, DC; Oral Miller, Washington, DC; Thomas Miller, Washington, DC; Mary Nugent, Washington, DC; Mrs. Freddie Peaco, Washington, DC; Pam Ransom, Washington, DC; Alice Capodanno, Wilmington, DE; Milly Stokes, Wilmington, DE; Stewart Wiggins, Wilmington, DE; Charles Allen, Orlando, FL; Mike Avalon, Pensacola, FL; Mayme Ballenger, Longwood, FL; Frank Bartola, Winter Park, FL; Dolly Burch, West Palm Beach, FL; Mary Dailing, Plantation, FL; Lelah Edgell, Winter Park, FL; Herbert Eiermann, Orlando, FL; Lucille Erven, Lakeland, FL; Samuel Farber, Tamarac, FL; James Kracht, Miami, FL; David Lang, Ormond Beach, FL; Judy & Frank Mazza, Naples, FL; Alma McCormick, Port Charlotte, FL; Elbert D. Moore, Bradenton, FL; Grace Moulton, Tallahassee, FL; Jay Naiman, Delray Beach, FL; Luis Oliva, Carol City, FL; Neal W. Oliver, Winter Haven, FL; Doris Petersen, Dunedin, FL; Katherine Schroeder, Sarasota, FL; Ronald Scouten, Lakeland, FL; Peggy Williams, Stuart, FL; Janet Clary, Augusta, GA; Joseph Parks Hill, Ellijay, GA; Phil Jones, Lilburn, GA; Ruby Latimer, Martinez, GA; Thomas Lucik, Milledgeville, GA; Juanita Matthews, Savannah, GA; Charlene Doi, Honolulu, HI; Cynthia Hirakawa, Honolulu, HI; Ardis Bazyn, Cedar Rapids, IA; Linda Dietrich, Fairfield, IA; Lu Ann Emmen, Harlan, IA; Roger Larson, Eagle Grove, IA; Dorothy O'Leary, Vinton, IA; Frank Strong, Des Moines, IA; Frances Thayer, Urbandale, IA; Ann Brash, LaGrange, IL; Frank C. Butler, Chicago, IL; Ray Campbell, Glen Ellyn, IL; Sally Hering, Lake Bluff, IL; Lawrence Jones, Trenton, IL; Heidi Kimbel, Rock Island, IL; Earl Kirk, West Frankfort, IL; Donald Morrow, Chicago, IL; Evelyn Rex, Normal, IL; Mr. & Mrs. Charles Rosenbom, Harwood Heights, IL; Terry Ann Saurmann, Arlington Heights, IL; Patti Schwartz, Bartonville, IL; Alan and Paula Sprecher, Berwyn, IL; Helen Wear, Macomb, IL; Maurice E. Brockman, Bloomington, IN; Kimberly Hopkins, Indianapolis, IN; George List, Bloomington, IN; Janet Markiewicz, South Bend, IN; Ruth McLain, North Vernon, IN; A.J. Peltz, South Bend, IN; Wilbur Shortridge, Indianapolis, IN; Pauline Ulrey, Indianapolis, IN; P.L. Barfield, Lindsborg, KS; Mabel Hoss, Ness City, KS; Kathy Koehn, Montezuma, KS; Marilyn Lytle, Wichita, KS; Kathryn Smith, Manhattan, KS; Lewis & Anna Cain, Louisville, KY; Charles Christmyer, Lexington, KY; William Goetz, Lexington, KY; Thomas Lutes, Bardstown, KY; Dolores Lykins, Louisville, KY; Rosemary Raaya, Ft. Thomas, KY; Susan Robertson, Louisville, KY; Phillip G. Rose, Lexington, KY; Pearl Turner, Louisville, KY; Jeanne Van Arsdall, Lexington, KY; Jules Arena, Kenner, LA; Guy Lund, New Orleans, LA; Beverly Brady, Quincy, MA; Sandra Burgess, Springfield, MA; Marion Cole, Braintree, MA; Sandra Goldstein, Springfield, MA; Rose Matthews, East Harwich, MA; Helen McDonagh, West Roxbury, MA; Grace Mondor, Lynn, MA; Judith Savageau, Worcester, MA; Mr. & Mrs. Richard White, Randolph, MA; Jessica Beach, Rockville, MD; Philip Guntner, Baltimore, MD; Jo Ann Kucic, Baltimore, MD; Jamal Mazrui, Silver Spring, MD; Jane Sheehan, Silver Spring, MD; Sylvia Adrian, Port Huron, MI; Jennie Baly, Lansing, MI; Linda Byers, Battle Creek, MI; Gerald Clark, Benton Harbor, MI; Iris Colwell, Gladwin, MI; Kathryn Graham, Muskegon, MI; Margaret Hunerjager, Niles, MI; Betty Jane Neumann, Lansing, MI; Frederic Neumann, Lansing, MI; H. Kirkland Osoinach, Cross Village, MI; Eugene Saumier, Lansing, MI; Edward Bender, White Bear Lake, MN; Ottila Gilliland, St. Louis Park, MN; Jack & Sharon Hicken, Duluth, MN; Maryann Jakela, Sandstone, MN; Alden Moran, Minneapolis, MN; Max Swenson, Minneapolis, MN; Michael & Elaine Vining, Minneapolis, MN; St. Louis Council of the Blind, St. Louis, MO; Verneiah Abbott, St. Louis, MO; Carolyn Alflen, St. Ann, MO; Ruth Cramer, Lawson, MO; Pauline Krueger, St. Louis, MO; Ann Murphey, Rolla, MO; Bernice Shreve, St. Louis, MO; J. Elton Moore, Mississippi State, MS; Sharon Near, Hazelhurst, MS; William Sallis, Jackson, MS; Marvin Gatlin, Greensboro, NC; Wilhelmina Glenn, Kinston, NC; Carl Johnson, Rocky Mount, NC; R. William Joyce, Madison, NC; Norma Krajczar, Morehead City, NC; Slater Newman, Raleigh, NC; Glenn & Donna Permar, Durham, NC; Kenneth Pond, Charlotte, NC; Herbert Stowe, Gastonia, NC; Earl Melin, Cheyenne, ND; James Faimon, Lincoln, NE; Jennifer Hawkins, Portsmouth, NH; Marcie Anguillo, Caldwell, NJ; Richard Bleecker, Jersey City, NJ; Arianna & Lou Calesso, Morristown, NJ; Edward Fedush, Garfield, NJ; Beverly Hendrickson, Bridgewater, NJ; Joan Leonard, Edison, NJ; Sherry Moccia, Belleville, NJ; Peter Pasinosky, Jersey City, NJ; Debbie Potocki, Washington, NJ; Frances Rau, Randolph, NJ; David Baxter, Albany, NY; Harriet Burke, Red Hook, NY; Mary Ellen Cronin, Lawrence, NY; Tony & Inez D'Agostino, New York, NY; Helen S. Goldfein, New York, NY; Karen Gourgey, New York, NY; Richard Hutcheson, Potsdam, NY; Elizabeth Juvet, Bethpage, NY; John Lane, Johnstown, NY; Celeste Lopes, Plainview, NY; James Ricciardi, Oyster Bay, NY; Margaret Ricciardi, Oyster Bay, NY; Philip Rich, Albany, NY; Paul Sauerland, Hicksville, NY; Ms. Miriam Vieni, Westbury, NY; Helen Whelan, Seaford, NY; Ron Malcolm, Henderson, NV; Kae Pohe, Boulder City, NV; Florence Daniels, Akron, OH; Carolyn Hathaway, North Industry, OH; Harry Hollingsworth, Akron, OH; Marilyn Huheey, Columbus, OH; Patricia Hunt, Cincinnati, OH; Deborah Kendrick, Cincinnati, OH; Larry King, Kent Lions Club, Kent, OH; Charmaine King-Johnson, Dayton, OH; Catherine Manghelli, Lima, OH; Jill Olashuk, Defiance, OH; Anera & David Shell, Cincinnati, OH; Ms. Bobbie Simon, Portsmouth, OH; James Storer, Gates Mills, OH; Tom Tobin, Shaker Heights, OH; Louise Zotter, Dayton, OH; Lillian Alexander, Tulsa, OK; Janet Calahan, Edmond, OK; Jesse Castillo, Tahlequah, OK; Ms. Olukanyin Lyons, Muskogee, OK; Raymond Washburn, Oklahoma City, OK; Margaret Alvarez, Tigard, OR; Cathy Bickerdike, Keizer, OR; Greg Hill, Grants Pass, OR; Teena LaHazel, Pendleton, OR; Gerald and Carolyn Patrick, King City, OR; Margaret Reznicsek, Salem, OR; Donald & Grace Snyder, Roseburg, OR; Linda Bach, Philadelphia, PA; William Baranowski, Philadelphia, PA; Kenny Baumert, Folcroft, PA; Richard C. Bechtel, Havenford, PA; Amy Bigna, Horsham, PA; Sebastian & Theresa Demanop, Havertown, PA; Rose Docktor, Philadelphia, PA; Jay Doudna, Lancaster, PA; Russ Dougherty, Washington, PA; Jeffrey Ermold, Doylestown, PA; Michael Greenway, Sharon Hill, PA; Janice Hargick, Shenandoah, PA; John Horst, Forty Fort, PA; Kathleen Huebner, Philadelphia, PA; Evelyn Kaufman, Philadelphia, PA; Marie Keane, Washington, PA; Stacy Keller, Wexford, PA; Jerold Klevit, Jenkintown, PA; Cathy Long, Camp Hill, PA; Edward McKelvey, Abingdon, PA; Pearl Young McMichael, New Brighton, PA; Hannah Meyer, Philadelphia, PA; Elizabeth Pannell, Audubon, PA; Doris Ritchey, Lewiston, PA; Margaret Sutter, Pittsburgh, PA; Joe Wallace, King of Prussia, PA; Carlene Wilson, Florence, SC; Jeanette Auch, Sioux Falls, SD; Jackie Campbell, Rapid City, SD; Dean & Dawn Flewwellin, Aberdeen, SD; Leighton Meyers, Sioux Falls, SD; Kevin Puetz, Rapid City SD; Robert Armstrong, Memphis, TN; Kathy Lamb, Nashville, TN; Margarine Beaman, Austin, TX; Jo Cassidy, Cypress, TX; Lois Cathcart, Houston, TX; Peggy Copeland, Houston, TX; Joan Cox, San Angelo, TX; Edward & Nancy Guerra, Austin, TX; Clessia Himes, Hurst, TX; Janet Jones, Houston, TX; Herbert Kadish, Austin, TX; Ireneo Felix Rayos, El Paso, TX; McLeod Stinnett III, Dallas, TX; Alyce Bai, Salt Lake City, UT; Frank Fowers, Roy, UT; Noel Redmond, Salt Lake City, UT; Eugene & Eileen Wood, Salt Lake City, UT; Dr. & Mrs. Barry M. Berkey, Fairfax, VA; Robert Burke, Jr., Palmyra, VA; Sharon Burniston, Fairfax, VA; Dorothy Charlton, Newport News, VA; Philip E. Everhart, Hampton, VA; Eunice Fiorito, Alexandria, VA; Carol Hahn, Alexandria, VA; Robert Hoel, Roanoke, VA; Barbara Lawson, Stanleytown, VA; Sonny Roberts, Woodbridge, VA; Fred Scheigert, Arlington, VA; Roy & Mabel Ward, Richmond, VA; George Jun Yin, Fairfax, VA; Norman Case, Bethel, VT; Shirley Hartley, Barre, VT; William Knorr, Brattleboro, VT; Joann Nichols, Brattleboro, VT; Sue Ammeter, Seattle, WA; Lloyd Anderson, Lynnwood, WA; Heidi Campbell, Kent, WA; Christine Ethier, Bellvue, WA; Joleen Ferguson, Walla Walla, WA; Ed Foscue, Seattle, WA; Laura Gorton, Vancouver, WA; Kimberly Grieco, Seattle, WA; Barbara Harville, Richland, WA; Rhonda Nelson, Auburn, WA; Bill Van Winkle, Richland, WA; Sharon Fridley, Nitro, WV; Roger Behm, Janesville, WI; Lorraine Bowen, Oshkosh, WI; John Boyer, Madison, WI; Patrick & Kathleen Brockman, Milwaukee, WI; Charlotte Gotz, Cudahy, WI; Walter Johnson, Milwaukee, WI; Thomas Kohl, Ripon, WI; Donald Lehman, Kenosha, WI; Janet Rinzel, Milwaukee, WI; Leland Messman, Cheyenne, WY; Earl Bryenton, Brytech, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. 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