THE BRAILLE FORUM Volume XLV May 2007 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 TO IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED PEOPLE. Christopher Gray, President Melanie Brunson, Executive Director Sharon Lovering, Editor National Office: 1155 15th St. NW Suite 1004 Washington, DC 20005 (202) 467-5081 Fax: (202) 467-5085 Web site: http://www.acb.org THE BRAILLE FORUM (TM) is available in braille, large print, half-speed four- track cassette tape, and via e-mail. Subscription requests, address changes, and items intended for publication should be sent to Sharon Lovering at the address above, or via e-mail to slovering@acb.org. Submission deadlines are the first of the month. The American Council of the Blind (TM) is a membership organization made up of more than 70 state and special-interest affiliates. To join, visit the ACB web site and complete an application form, or contact the national office at the number listed above. Those much-needed contributions, which are tax-deductible, can be sent to Mike Godino at the above mailing address. If you wish to remember a relative or friend, the national office can make printed cards available for this purpose. To remember the American Council of the Blind in your Last Will and Testament, you may include a special paragraph for that purpose. If your wishes are complex, contact the ACB national office. Join the MMS program and help improve tomorrow today in ACB. Contact Ron Milliman by e-mail, rmilliman@insightbb.com, or by phone at (270) 782-9325 and get started making tomorrow look brighter today! To make a contribution to ACB via the Combined Federal Campaign, use this number: 11155. For the latest in legislative and governmental news, call the "Washington Connection" toll-free at (800) 424-8666, 5 p.m. to midnight Eastern time, or visit the Washington Connection online at http://www.acb.org. Copyright 2007 American Council of the Blind TABLE OF CONTENTS More Petition Call-In Times Available, by Christopher Gray We've Got Your Number!, by Melanie Brunson A Tribute to the Late Judge Richard Casey, by Ken Stewart Minneapolis FAQ, by Carla Ruschival The Beginning First-Timers in Minneapolis, by Carol Ann Ewing ACB Auction Still Needs Items, by Ray Campbell Affiliate News: Convention Preview Friends-in-Art Calls for Art for Its Annual Show, by Elsie Monthei Guide Dog Users, Inc. National Convention 2007: "Click on This!", by Sheila Styron and Donna Permar Recreation Preview The Public Address with No Home Address, by Ken Stewart What Is ACBES?, by Michael Garrett Being Deaf-Blind Is Nothing Special, by John Lee Clark Thank You, Louis Braille, by Ethel Siegel Here and There, by Sue Lichtenfels Letters to the Editor High Tech Swap Shop FORUM SUBSCRIPTION NOTES You can now get "The Braille Forum" by podcast! To subscribe, go to "The Braille Forum" page on www.acb.org. If you do not yet have a podcast client, you can download one from the Forum page. To subscribe to "The Braille Forum" via e-mail, send a blank e-mail message to brailleforum-L-subscribe@acb.org. ARE YOU MOVING? DO YOU WANT TO CHANGE YOUR SUBSCRIPTION? Contact Sharon Lovering in the ACB national office, 1-800-424-8666, or via e-mail, slovering@acb.org. Give her the information, and she'll take care of the changes for you. ***** MORE PETITION CALL-IN TIMES AVAILABLE by Christopher Gray The online petition for accessible currency is growing in the number of signers each day. Thanks to all of you who called in to sign the petition in late March. ACB is aware that some people tried to call in but were unable to be connected to the person handling the signatures. Thus, we are scheduling three more days, Wednesday through Friday, May 23-25. As before, the number to call is (866) 633-8638. Press 1 to be connected to a conference and then enter PETITION on your phone, or 73848466. Thank you. ***** WE'VE GOT YOUR NUMBER! by Melanie Brunson Each year, the American Council of the Blind participates in the Combined Federal Campaign, a federal program that allows federal workers to have charitable contributions deducted from their pay and sent to the charity designated by the worker. Although the solicitation of contributions from federal workers doesn't start until the fall, there will be significant changes beginning with the 2007 campaign, so I thought it would be a good idea to let you know about them ahead of time. The most significant of these changes is that ACB has a new CFC designation number. It is 11155. That means that if you, your friends or relatives wish to make a donation to ACB through the Combined Federal Campaign, you will use the code 11155 to indicate that you want the funds to come to us. Please discard anything containing the old four-digit number. All charities now have five-digit numbers and we have been told by the government that these numbers will be permanent. As we get closer to the 2007 campaign, we will probably remind you about this change, but since our old CFC number has circulated so widely, we thought it might be useful to let you know that there is a new one starting this year. It also gives us an opportunity to suggest that any of you who either work for the government, or have friends or family who do, consider designating ACB to receive their CFC contribution in 2007. It's easy to do. Just write in 11155 as the charity code and designate the amount of the contribution you wish to make. Your generosity is very much appreciated and will be a tremendous help as we work to increase the quality of life, equality of opportunity and independence of people who are blind and visually impaired. Thank you in advance for your contributions and for helping to get the word out that ACB has a new CFC number, 11155. ***** A TRIBUTE TO THE LATE JUDGE RICHARD CASEY by Ken Stewart A great many of us who are blind or visually impaired or just love cross-country skiing enjoyed his camaraderie at Ski for Light events over the years. A few of us also had the pleasure of friendly conversation with him, his guide dog snoozing nearby, in his chambers at the federal courthouse in lower Manhattan. In both settings, the universally humbling harshness of a wintry Mother Nature, and the majestic pomp of the United States District Court, Dick was the very same real person. The obituary, published in the March 24 "New York Times" following Dick's fatal heart attack two days earlier, gave us highlights of the very distinguished career which rarely crept into Dick's friendly social exchanges. During his 74 years, Richard Conway Casey earned a college degree from Holy Cross, where he played football. After training in the law at Georgetown, he served several years as a federal prosecutor. During his tenure, his achievements included convictions of a clutch of Russian spies. He went on to private practice where he began losing his sight due to retinitis pigmentosa. Ten years after losing his vision entirely, the Times obit told us, he became the first federal trial judge who was blind. He was nominated by President Clinton in 1997. While sitting on the bench, he presided over several celebrated cases involving the controversial partial birth abortion ban, and the notorious Gambino crime family. It was my personal good fortune to share both Dick's love of the Ski for Light world and his professional dedication to doing justice, albeit at opposite ends of the juridical continuum. And I learned from Dick something as mundane as how to ask a server at a restaurant behind the courthouse to cut the tossed salad up in the kitchen, to render it less unruly. And how to confidently respond to an attorney appearing before me who doubted my ability to effectively assess the credibility of a witness, whom I could hardly see, testifying at one of my hearings. I still remember his tale of the vetting he underwent by sitting judges as part of the Presidential nomination process for the federal bench. One of the judges asked Dick how, without seeing a witness, he could assess the credibility of the person on the witness stand. Dick offered his opinion that he would actually be a more attentive and objective listener, not being distracted or biased by irrelevancies like the witness' dress or appearance. His comments evoked an explosively apt and confirming response from one member of the examining panel. He confessed that he himself had just presided at a trial where a particularly attractive woman gave testimony. The judge admitted that when the testimony was completed, he couldn't remember anything she had said! The Times obituary also credits Dick with the good sense to swap a case with a colleague which would rest heavily upon visual evidence in a trademark infringement litigation. And Times readers also learned of the evolution of Dick's attitude toward his blindness, moving from initial anger and depression to an ability to manage his new life with humor and practical adaptations, one more aspect of the rich memories Dick has left us. ***** MINNEAPOLIS FAQ by Carla Ruschival The 46th annual ACB convention is almost here. From June 29 through July 7, Minneapolis, Minn. will be the site of hundreds of informative programs, exciting exhibits and fun events. Please read this article carefully. It contains answers to the most frequently asked questions we receive about the convention. Hotel Reservations: If you are holding a room reservation that you no longer need, please DO NOT cancel that room directly with the hotels. Instead, call Carla Ruschival at (502) 897-1472 or e-mail adamcarla@bellsouth.net with the arrival and departure dates and the name under which the room was reserved. I will then transfer that room to someone needing a last-minute reservation. This will assist both individual conventioners and ACB, as it will help to insure that we utilize our complete room block and avoid, if at all possible, the need for a third hotel. Hotel rates at the Hyatt Regency are $81 single/double, $91 triple/quad; at the Millennium rates are $84 single/double, $94 triple/quad. Rates are quoted per night, and do not include tax. The Hyatt has been sold out since April; please make new reservations with the Millennium by calling 1-800-522-8856. Welcome Party: Enjoy a wonderful strolling Dixieland band while you meet old friends and make new ones at the Welcome to Minneapolis party (Saturday, June 30 at 8 p.m.). The Minnesota host committee has a great evening in store, complete with door prizes and a warm Minneapolis welcome. Pre-Registration: The target date for mailing pre-registration forms is May 10, and thanks to the outstanding cooperation from our special-interest affiliates, we should make that target. Remember that the packets are sent bulk mail due to cost considerations, so it may take up to two weeks for them to reach your mailbox. The pre-registration materials should be on-line by the time the hard copy is ready to mail. You can complete the entire process on the ACB web site (www.acb.org). In addition to the pre-registration form, you will find a booklet called "The Conventionscope" in your pre-registration packet and on-line. Take some time to review the "Scope" BEFORE you fill out the form; it contains details on how to complete the form, descriptions of tours, information on selected activities, and a mini-calendar with dates of special-interest group meetings. Everyone can enter the sweepstakes and become a platinum, gold, silver or bronze convention sponsor, even if you aren't coming to Minneapolis. Sponsors receive special ribbons to wear on their badges at convention, and all names will be read during general session and on ACB Radio. Use the sweepstakes and sponsor form in your pre-registration packet to sign up. Volunteers: There are plenty of volunteer opportunities at ACB conventions. We especially need sighted guides to assist in the hotel lobbies, in exhibits, and on the levels with the break-out rooms. If you would like to volunteer, please contact Margarine Beaman at (512) 206-0157, or by e-mail at oleo50@hotmail.com. Tour Dates: Here is a quick look at the tour schedule; see your Conventionscope for details. Remember that this schedule is unofficial and is still subject to change. Friday, June 29: Landmark Museum (history of keyboards, etc.); St. Croix dinner cruise Saturday, June 30: Minneapolis City Tour; Mall of America shuttle Sunday, July 1: Minneapolis City Tour Monday, July 2: Blind Services; Metrodome; Gangster Cave Tuesday, July 3: Fort Snelling; cheese factory Wednesday, July 4: Mill City Museum; Minnesota History Center Thursday, July 5: James J. Hill House Saturday, July 7: Mystic Lake Casino; Guthrie Theater (sensory tour, dinner and the play "1776" with audio description) Banquet Details: The ACB banquet is always on the last Friday of convention, and this year you can choose your entree. Select from roast sirloin, Minnesota chicken, Minnesota wall-eye fish, or vegetarian; you must make your selection on the pre-registration form. Paratransit Eligibility: If you wish to use paratransit services while in Minneapolis, call (651) 602-1111 several weeks prior to arrival to obtain an ID number; a temporary card will be mailed to you. To book a ride, call (612) 332-7161 up to 4 days in advance. Windows are 30 minutes; rides cost $3.50 one-way during rush hour (6 to 9 a.m. and 3 to 6:30 p.m. weekdays) and $2.50 all other times. Same-day rides may be available; these rides are with taxis, and costs may vary. Airport Taxis: Much has been said concerning taxi service for guide dog users from the Minneapolis airport to the hotels. Please be assured that the Minneapolis Airport Authority, the local host committee, the taxi companies, ACB and others have been working on this issue since January, and we do not expect to encounter any problems. Watch for further information in the pre-registration packet and on the ACB e-mail lists and web site. If you have convention questions or special concerns, contact Carla Ruschival, ACB convention committee chair, at (502) 897-1472 or by e-mail at adamcarla@bellsouth.net; or call the ACB national office at 1-800-424-8666. ***** THE BEGINNING -- FIRST-TIMERS IN MINNEAPOLIS by Carol Ann Ewing Spring has sprung and we all feel the new beginnings around and about us. I feel that same excitement as I ponder the 2007 ACB convention and the beginnings happening for those of us who reside in the blindness community. I am looking forward to the two first-timers who will learn, glean and grow from the experiences offered by the convention. I do wish we could support all nominees, but this year it is not possible. I trust you have heard about the new "People of Vision" version with "The Beginning" added. In this version, the sixth cassette will be a recording Durward made in the early '70s explaining the ACB philosophy, goals and plans for the blind community. Last year during the Jacksonville Orange Blossom Festival, someone suggested we have a program to talk about Durward. We do have a program bearing his name, but just who is he? What did he believe? Do we keep his dream alive? Now there is a tool to answer those questions and keep ACB's beginning in the forefront of our thoughts. We the committee hope you see the value of your affiliate having a library copy to circulate through your membership. We also hope you see the value of a copy being on every school for the blind library shelf and that you make it happen. Even a copy in your personal library will be a resource as you promote the heritage and value of ACB. This "People of Vision the Beginning" version will be delivered soon after the Minneapolis convention. We ask you to pre-order and pre-pay through the ACB Store. The fee is $40; $15 of that goes into the Durward K. McDaniel First-Timers' Fund in support of this program. "New Beginnings": there are 100 copies available. Order yours today and support the ACB. ***** ACB AUCTION STILL NEEDS ITEMS by Ray Campbell What are you and/or your state or special-interest affiliate or local chapter going to contribute to the first annual ACB auction to be held Wednesday, July 4, during the ACB national convention? While we already have some very enticing items, such as a music box donated by the Piano Boutique, a jewelry-adorned purse, a 3D portrait of Ray Charles sitting at the piano, the ACB time share in Cancun, Mexico, a week in a penthouse suite time share in St. Martin donated by Charlie Hodge, a tin of homemade fudge donated by our own executive director, a vacation package to the country music capital of the world (Nashville, Tenn.), and a $400 gift pack from the Mall of America, we need more and variably priced items! Come on, all of you state and special- interest affiliates and local chapters, surely you can come up with something worth a minimum of $25 to donate to the ACB auction, can't you? How about a bottle or two of California wine? How about reindeer sausage from Alaska? How about some of the world's greatest cheese from Wisconsin? How about some macadamia nuts from Hawaii? These are just examples. What special something is the signature food or drink item from your state? Does your city have a professional sports team visitors love to go see? Then ask for some tickets to be donated! Think about who you do business with regularly and ask them to donate something to the ACB auction. All donations are tax-deductible to the maximum extent allowed by law for the individual or business making the donation. If you need ACB's 501(c)(3) number to give to potential donors for tax deduction purposes, contact the national office for assistance. While we ask that you bring the items you plan to donate to the auction with you to the convention, please let us know by June 15, 2007 what you will be bringing so we can publicize a list of items that will be available to convention attendees and build the excitement for this fabulous event. Please contact Carol Edwards by phone or e-mail with a description of the item(s) you are bringing, each item's value, and the name, telephone number and e-mail address, if available, of a contact person we can reach. Carol can be contacted either at (936) 445-3241 or by e-mail at cedwardsacbt@hotmail.com. If you have general questions about the auction, please address them to auction committee chairperson Brenda Dillon, (615) 874-1223 or brendan0@bellsouth.net. Now, get busy out there, identify those hard-to-find and not-so-hard-to- find large and small items for the ACB auction, and let's make this a fun money-making project for ACB. We've got to keep those auctioneers busy, so let's make sure we have lots of items up for bid! ***** AFFILIATE NEWS: CONVENTION PREVIEW AAVL: Not Just for Older People! If you're planning on attending the national convention this year, why don't you plan on doing some different things? If you think AAVL is just for "old fogies," think again! Most people who have tried our wild, fun-loving group can't believe the fun and great times they have. Let me give you a sneak preview of what the Alliance on Aging and Vision Loss is planning for July 2007! On Monday, July 2, we will hold our annual luncheon. It's not just the best lunch for your money, but entertainment that will start off your convention week with smiles and laughter. Our guest speaker is none other than our own John Dashney, the famous storyteller extraordinary. I know you won't want to miss it. On Wednesday, our meeting will be a discussion on marriage. Should I, as a visually impaired person, marry a blind person or a sighted person, especially for the second time around? Well, that should surely stimulate some opinions! Later on Wednesday afternoon we will still be talking that over with a glass of wine and some nibbles. Our annual wine and cheese, raffle and sing- along will be a blast. George Coorey, pianist from Cincinnati, Ohio, will be playing all the songs you know so you can sing along. Perhaps you will win the cash prizes at the raffle! On Thursday we will be welcoming ACB's newest affiliate, the Human Service Professionals, by presenting the topic of age-related depression. Both the psychological and the sociological angles will be presented. Come and put your thoughts on the subject up for discussion. We end the week on Friday with our business meeting and "meet the national candidates" session. I truly feel you will enjoy the convention more if you plan to be a part of AAVL and our fun-loving activities. Remember us when you fill out your convention schedule! Independent Visually Impaired Enterprisers Convention Announcement Thanks to IVIE program chair Carla Hayes, IVIE has an excellent convention planned during the upcoming ACB convention. IVIE will hold its breakfast, business meeting and elections on Monday, July 2, from 7 to 8:30 a.m. Our breakfast will include: scrambled eggs, bacon, home-fried potatoes, blueberry muffins, orange juice, coffee, decaf and tea. The breakfast ticket price will be $24 pre-registration, $26 on-site. On Tuesday, July 3, IVIE has invited RSVA and other interested ACB members to attend its program from 1:30 to 4 p.m. This will include a segment on business-building techniques and communication, followed by an entrepreneur round table discussion. IVIE also invites any ACB members to visit the IVIE Business Expo and check out the products and services of IVIE members and other business owners from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Any interested ACB member can purchase booth space at the Business Expo and sell any products or services. For IVIE members, each booth costs $10; for non-members, the booth price is $25. Please send your check for membership or booth expense to Sila Miller, 2201 Limerick Dr., Tallahassee, FL 32309. Membership in IVIE is only $15 per year (due on July 1) and includes a free listing on the www.ivie-acb.org web site and the ability to join our members-only listserv to exchange ideas. We look forward to seeing many of you! RSVA Convention Announcement The RSVA convention will begin on Saturday, June 30, with committee meetings set for 1 to 3 p.m. Chairs will contact committee members for specific times. The RSVA Suite will be open if requested. From 3 to 6 p.m. the RSVA board will meet. On Sunday, July 1, the RSVA convention program will begin at 9 a.m. and end at 4 p.m. This general meeting will include reports from various states, updates on legislation and advocacy efforts, and business. Since we have had problems completing business on Monday afternoon, some business will be conducted on Sunday afternoon. We are planning to hold a caucus for ACB candidates from 4 to 5 p.m., followed by the RSVA nominating committee. From 10 p.m. to midnight, RSVA will host its annual mixer in the RSVA Suite. This event will be open to all who have purchased tickets. On Monday, July 2, RSVA will host its luncheon from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Lunch will include the soup of the day, sliced braised beef slow-cooked with potatoes and root vegetables, morel sauce, and chocolate tart with chocolate sauce. There will be a speaker and the RSVA awards ceremony. After the break, from 2:45 to 4:30 p.m., we will wrap up the business meeting. Auction set-up will be at 6 p.m., and the auction will be held from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Karaoke night will take place from 9 p.m. to midnight. Both evening events will have a cash bar. On Tuesday, July 3, IVIE has invited RSVA to join in its program from 1:30 to 4 p.m. It will include a segment on business-building techniques and communication, followed by a round table discussion about business entrepreneurship. RSVA will hold its casino night from 8 p.m. to midnight. Enjoy the fun and win some prizes! ***** FRIENDS-IN-ART CALLS FOR ART FOR ITS ANNUAL SHOW by Elsie Monthei Eligibility Artists who reside in the United States and are legally blind may enter a maximum of two original, ready-to-display works of art from the areas of painting, drawing, printmaking, collage, sculpture, photography, woodworking or fiber art. No patterns or paint-by-number kits will be accepted. These must be original works of art. Awards Friends-In-Art will have cash awards in the amount of $100 for first prize, $75 for second prize, and $50 for third prize. There will also be an award for Best of Show, to be selected by show participants. Entry Procedures Artists may enter up to two works in the above areas. You may not enter more than two pieces total. Each entry should be labeled with the artist's name and title of the work of art. The entries should be labeled to indicate orientation. All works of art must be ready to hang or display-ready. The artist's name and title of the artwork will be in braille and large print for display purposes. To enter, send a letter of intent to: Elsie Monthei, 1304 39th St., Des Moines, IA 50311; or phone (515) 277-0442. It should include information about your artwork: the media, size, title and dimensions. Also include a brief description of your artwork; this will be included on the braille information labels. Delivery and return of art work If you plan to attend the ACB national convention, you can bring your artwork with you. We need to know if you intend to display, so call me or return the completed application. You must pick up your artwork and pack it yourself for the return trip home. If you intend to submit a mailed entry, include the return Federal Express fee as well as the cost of insurance. Your art work should be shipped and insured to: Elsie Monthei, Hyatt Regency Hotel, 1300 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, MN 55403. Or you may hand deliver it to Elsie Monthei at the Hyatt Regency Hotel. Entry Fees FIA charges a fee of $10 per entry to cover the display costs. Fees will not be returned if the artist fails to display his/her artwork. Calendar May 15: Completed applications returned June 26: Works should be shipped to the convention hotel attention Elsie Monthei, FIA July 1: Hand deliver works to Elsie Monthei at the hotel July 2-4: Public exhibit from 1-4 p.m. daily July 3: FIA annual business meeting and luncheon, noon July 3: Meet the Artists at 3 p.m. July 4: Notification of award winners July 5: Works will be picked up or mailed back to exhibitor. Liability and Insurance: All reasonable care will be given works in the exhibit. Insurance during transport is the responsibility of the artist. Works unclaimed after July 5 will be considered a gift to FIA. Sales are encouraged. No commissions will be charged by Friends-in-Art. FIA will not act as agent; all sales must be negotiated by participants. Agreement Submission of an entry to this exhibition shall constitute agreement with all conditions in this application. Friends-in-Art reserves the right to reproduce works for publicity purposes. Note: works not ready for display can be withdrawn from the exhibit. The names of artists may be published in "The Braille Forum" and "The Log of the Bridge Tender" (FIA's publication). FRIENDS-IN-ART REGISTRATION FORM 1) ARTIST NAME: STREET ADDRESS: CITY: STATE: ZIP: PHONE: HOME WORK MEDIA TITLE FOR SALE PRICE NOT FOR SALE 2) ARTIST NAME: STREET ADDRESS: CITY: STATE: ZIP: PHONE: HOME WORK MEDIA TITLE FOR SALE PRICE NOT FOR SALE ***** GUIDE DOG USERS, INC. NATIONAL CONVENTION 2007: "Click on This!" by Sheila Styron and Donna Permar You are walking home from a relaxing outing shopping when suddenly you hear the sound of another dog approaching, and your guide dog is attacked by a loose, uncontrolled pet dog. What would you do? Would you be prepared to handle such a situation if you and your guide are the unfortunate victims of a dog attack? Join Guide Dog Users, Inc. for this and other informative workshops that will provide you with valuable information on a variety of topics of interest to guide dog teams. In addition to Emily Simone's presentation on what to do if your guide dog is attacked, convention attendees can look forward to the following presentations and activities. On Sunday afternoon, July 1, guide dog instructors will orient convention attendees to the Hyatt and Millennium and surrounding areas at noon and 5 p.m. You'll learn how to teach your dogs the best convention routes guaranteed to get you where you need to be on time and in one piece. GDUI's affiliate roundup meeting is scheduled from 2:15 to 3:30, where GDUI affiliate representatives must be present for credentialing in order to vote at Tuesday's business meeting. GDUI's board meeting follows from 4 to 6 p.m., and there will be some space available for observers. Monday, July 2 will get under way with Breakfast Club. Walk to nearby Hell's Kitchen at 7 a.m. for a delicious fast break from the hotel, and be back just in time for general session. Breakfast Club will be an official GDUI option Monday through Thursday, for canine teams and cane travelers alike. After general announcements at 1:30, GDUI's Monday afternoon program activities get clicking at 2 with Guiding Eyes for the Blind's presentation, "Guide Dog Ethics and Responsible Dog Handling," by Becky Barnes and Shannon Walsh, followed by the ever-popular guide dog school updates at 3:15. On Monday evening, you are welcome to stroll along Nicollet Mall in downtown Minneapolis where the air is fresh and the shopping is decidedly above average. If this sounds enjoyable, meet us at 8 p.m. in front of the Hyatt. On Tuesday afternoon at 12:30, Jay Stiteley, The Seeing Eye, will discuss independent airport travel with a guide dog, which only Jay can make sound easy and fun. This empowering presentation precedes GDUI's business meeting at 1:30, where elections will be held, followed by GDUI's caucus at 3. On Tuesday evening, from 8 to 10, get ready to raise your paws high in the air for a great cause where your bite, I mean bid, will really make a difference! GDUI is holding its second auction, and hopefully, this one will be even more successful than last year's event and provide a second opportunity for you to walk away guided by your very own Trekker, thanks to another generous donation from HumanWare Canada! Make your reservations early for GDUI's Wednesday, July 4 luncheon where keynote presenter Patricia McConnell, renowned author and professional dog trainer, will explain what we all do "For the Love of a Dog: The Biology of Emotions in People and Dogs." Most of you reading this article have heard the buzz about clicker training, so at 2:30 on Wednesday afternoon, GDUI will host "Click On This!: How Clicker Training Can Make Learning More Effective and Fun for You and Your Guide," with Michele Pouliot, Director of Research and Development, Guide Dogs for the Blind. Later that afternoon, GDUI will sponsor a focus group on clicker training from 5:30 to 7:30, where handlers can get hands-on practice with clicker techniques and be guided through this process by some of your favorite instructors. Interested participants are strongly encouraged to attend "Click On This!," especially handlers with no experience. And at 8 p.m., the category is Guide Dog, and the question is: why not come out and play JeoparDog with Maia Scott and Lisa Salinger. On Thursday afternoon at 2, you can't afford to miss "What Steps to Take in the Event of an Attack on Your Guide Dog," by Emily Simone, Senior Field Representative, Guide Dogs for the Blind. And finally, on Thursday evening from 7 to 9, your guide will have the opportunity to show just what a good citizen he/she really is by taking the Canine Good Citizen Test courtesy of the Twin City Obedience Training Club, with Jan Heck, Director of Training. Space is limited to 25 teams, so please pre-register early to reserve your spot at this fund-raising event. Half the proceeds will be donated to the Twin City Obedience Training Club, home of the gentle leader, invented by Dr. R. K. Anderson and Ruth Foster. Other Information Veterinary Contact Information For care during the day: Lyndale Animal Hospital Telephone: (612) 872-4674 For emergency care: Golden Valley Emergency Veterinary Service Phone (763) 529-6560 For convention attendees who wish to order dog food for their stay in Minneapolis, we have two suppliers. They are: Fido Delivers, phone (763) 493-2275; e-mail fido@fidodelivers.com; web site, www.fidodelivers.com. The deadline for orders is June 27 before 3 p.m. Central time. People must indicate that they are with the Guide Dog Users group that needs the food delivered to the Hyatt on Sunday, July 1. Our second dog food delivery source is Christopher Diorio with Doodle Scoopers, 1- 888-780-2095. The deadline for dog food orders is Friday, June 15. All dog food orders should be made using a credit card, and you must identify your order as being a part of the Guide Dog Users group order. Dog food can be picked up in the GDUI suite between noon and 4 p.m. on Sunday, July 1. Do It for the Dogs On another note, I want to address the subject of relieving guide dogs at the convention. It was noted last year that most of the relieving accidents take place late at night and first thing in the morning. Just imagine how you would feel if you were in a strange place and really needed to go! Please, please, please make a serious effort to consider your dog's relieving needs. Bring along a set of clothes that is easy to slip into first thing in the morning, so you can get your dog outside sooner rather than later, and schedule break times during your busy days so your dog will be less likely to have an accident. At night before you turn in, please remember to take your dog out one more time so you'll both be able to sleep better. Accidents can and do happen, and some dogs may even become ill at convention, which simply can't be predicted or avoided. However, if your dog does have an accident, please stay with it and notify the front desk of the hotel where the accident takes place. You may not be able to prevent an accident, but if your dog does have one at convention, GDUI strongly encourages you to step up to the plate and handle the situation responsibly. ***** RECREATION PREVIEW During the ACB national convention in Minneapolis, the Twin Cities Blind Audio Darts League will conduct an exhibition on blind audio darts. What is audio darts? It's playing darts using a dart board that talks. The board will be available Monday through Thursday afternoons from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. The location will be announced at the convention. If you play darts, and have darts and blindfold, come join us. We hope to have some Twin Cities dart players to show off the sport and answer questions. The Twin Cities Blind Audio Darts League has been in existence for around 20 years. It is the only dart league of its kind in the country. Come check it out! ***** THE PUBLIC ADDRESS WITH NO HOME ADDRESS by Ken Stewart From where I sat in the mammoth airport waiting area, I could hear all the electronically enhanced announcements well, perhaps too well. When a perky airline ground agent chirped, "We're just about to start boarding now ...," I gathered up my carry-ons and aimed myself at my gate for early- boarding assistance. Not so fast, big guy! The P.A. announcement was actually from another one of the five or six gates all sharing the waiting area. It was not the only announcement that day requiring my full attention to discern its specific origin. All those gates communicated through the same loudspeakers. The experience called to mind other circumstances too, in which a voice coming to me out of a centrally located speaker system totally concealed the locus of the person behind the magnified tones. As the summer convention season approaches each year, an annually repeated experience is vividly called to mind. One of my favorite events every July at the ACB convention is a breakfast meeting convened by a nationally prominent service organization. The program is always very interesting, and it is a great opportunity to say hello to colleagues not seen for a year. But this favored event has an annual disappointment too. When a staffer walks around the room with a remote microphone, all the sound emanates from wherever the loudspeakers are. So, there is no non-visual way to locate him. As he moves from table to table, inviting attendees to identify themselves, the place in the room of each is undeterminable. So what? So when I want to find someone particular afterward, which part of the room do I head for? A similar masking effect results when there is a presentation being made from a large banquet room with many tables and no distinctive "front," stage, or podium area. Those of us who depend on our ears to determine in which specific direction to skid our chairs toward, have only the centralized public address system to hear. Alas, these frustrations are not inevitable or intractable. A technique I have come to call "pre-miking" is an easy solution. By pre-miking, the person at the microphone simply says something before putting it up to his mouth. A simple "Good morning" can locate him. At that nice breakfast meeting convention week, the staffer can describe his movements around the room off-mike. Or he could announce where he is as he wanders about -- "I'm back here at the far left corner now," or, "Here we are with the folks at table seven," or, "Let's see who we have out here in front of the head table." A bonus from this simple strategy would be that it would alert people before the microphone is suddenly thrust in front of them for their greeting. Several times I have offered this suggestion in past years to this prominent national organization serving the blind community, and I shall continue my efforts to influence their host behavior at that otherwise delightful convention event. Even the airport's public address announcements are amenable to improvement. A little "pre-miked" perky chirping would help. And it always helps when the first thing to come out of that ubiquitous public address is location-specific, like "Here at Gate 24 we're ready to ..." ***** WHAT IS ACBES? by Michael Garrett It has come to my attention that some of our members may not know what ACBES is. Well, never let it be said that our membership is not enlightened. Here is my attempt to share with you about ACBES, what it is and what it does. American Council of the Blind Enterprises and Services (ACBES) is a wholly owned, non-profit subsidiary (with its own board of directors) of the American Council of the Blind. Its primary mission is to provide funding for the ongoing programs and projects of ACB. This subsidiary currently consists of a network of eight thrift stores strategically placed throughout the U.S. Locations include three stores in the greater Detroit area; Lubbock, Tex.; Amarillo, Tex.; Louisville, Ky.; Knoxville, Tenn.; and Milwaukee, Wis. The stores accept pre-owned and slightly used items and even new merchandise which was previously unsold. Items accepted include: furniture, large and small appliances, articles of clothing (such as hanging garments, shoes, purses and belts), antiques, books and miscellaneous housewares. From time to time, we have also had cars donated. These products are sorted, priced and made ready for resale. We have a loyal and dedicated group of roughly 200 employees who perform the necessary tasks to keep our stores running. They solicit for donations, and then collect, clean, sort and price thousands of pounds of products, which are then sold to our customers. The stores display the ACB logo and brochures are available for our customers to learn more about our organization. Each store manager has been charged with the task of becoming more visible in the local community where the store operates. So, there you have it. That's a brief description of what ACBES is and what it does. If you'd like further information, feel free to contact me directly via e-mail at megarrett4443@sbcglobal.net or any of our board members through the Minneapolis office at (612) 332-3242. If you have items you'd like to donate, contact the store in your area for pickup. Store phone numbers Kentucky Louisville: (502) 968-6666 Michigan Detroit: (313) 336-5455 Lincoln Park: (313) 928-2685 Warren: (586) 758-4111 Tennessee Knoxville: (865) 688-5884 Texas Amarillo: (806) 371-7707 Lubbock: (806) 762-1453 Wisconsin Milwaukee: (414) 302-5123 ***** BEING DEAF-BLIND IS NOTHING SPECIAL by John Lee Clark In 1994, a teenage boy with Usher's syndrome had a summer job working for Dr. Sandra L. Davenport, a geneticist and a leading authority on causes of deaf-blindness. One day, she asked him to write an article on "What a Person with Usher's Syndrome Sees." He obliged, producing a document that Davenport still passes around today. Davenport's initial interest was medical, of course, and the article contained forthright descriptions of what the world looks like through "Usher eyes." But the boy did not stop there; he closed the article by making this statement: I consider deaf-blindness a benefit, not a loss. Many people, without hesitation, pity deaf-blind people due to the "fact" that they cannot hear and see. From my point of view, that "fact" is completely absurd! I believe that all people, no matter what the circumstances may be, are normal. We human beings do not have to see with our eyes; we do not have to speak with our mouths; and we do not have to hear with our ears. We CAN see, speak and hear using various methods. Therefore, all people are normal . . . just in different ways. This single paragraph encompasses the cultural perspective of deaf-blindness. It holds that being deaf and blind is not a disability but a perfectly normal. Yes, it may be "different," by virtue of its rarity, but not any more special than what is included in the staggering variety of the human race. But what led the boy to feel strongly, at such an early age, about this, enough to write against the medical and the most widely accepted understanding of what he was? I know the answer, because the boy was me. It is a simple matter, really: I was exposed to deaf-blind culture before, and always more than, I was to mainstream culture and its social construction that brands me as disabled. My father is deaf-blind, so I grew up in the deaf-blind community and had deaf-blind role models. Only, my father was just my father, the deaf- blind community was just a collection of people I knew, and my deaf-blind role models were just role models, good men and women who shared their stories and wisdom with me. In other words, they were just human beings. But the medical perspective is formidable, so much so that many deaf- blind people themselves internalize it. In society, they are treated either as lesser or very special beings. Often, maddeningly, they are treated as both. Despite this, what I have always known is that we are ordinary people. The aim of cultural awareness, both for the community and the rest of the world, is to understand deaf-blind life well enough to appreciate how we all are "normal . . . just in different ways." What I am saying is not remarkable. Take Mel Stottlemyre, a fine former major league baseball pitcher. After he was diagnosed with a blood disease that kills most people within four years, he said, "I never ask 'Why me?' I mean, why NOT me? After all, I am just another human being." If an athlete can accept imminent deterioration in health and death as part of the human condition, is there any excuse for not accepting a different way of living? What is sometimes worse than being pitied, because it is harder to resist, is being exalted, to be an object of awe not because of what one did but simply because one is deaf and blind. It has its rewards, and Helen Keller invested profitably in it, becoming such a success story that Mark Twain declared, "She is the most marvelous person of her sex that has existed on this earth since Joan of Arc." While Helen Keller's accomplishments by themselves warrant merit, she was far more opulently praised because she was deaf-blind. This, too, is disabling. I cannot help but read between the lines of what Keller once said: "I long to accomplish a great and noble task; but it is my chief duty and joy to accomplish humble tasks as though they were great and noble." I, too, long to do great and noble things. But I do not want to stop there; I want to do these things. Why not? Deaf-blind people can do anything. Sometimes in unusual and creative ways, certainly, but anything. But if I fail to do truly great and noble things, then it will be my joy to do small things. Either way, however, I would like to get the same credit anyone else would get for doing the same things. After all, I am just another human being. ***** THANK YOU, LOUIS BRAILLE by Ethel Siegel Dear Louis Braille, On behalf of blind people all over the world, I would like to thank you for your marvelous invention. We are very grateful because literacy gives our lives meaning. It is sad that you weren't recognized during your life, that you weren't recognized for your many accomplishments on behalf of blind people. You had many obstacles to overcome, in spite of poor health, but you revolutionized the world for blind people -- literacy meant independence in every area of life. The system you invented helped blind people become educated and employed. Literacy enables people to keep their lives organized in every way, just as sighted people do, by keeping phone numbers, recipes, personal and business expenses in order. And, just for fun, we play games such as bingo and cards. Braille is so versatile, it can be used in music, math, science and many different languages. Books and magazines are available in braille and, although I do read some things on tape, braille makes me feel closer to what the author is saying. Technology has also brought the printed word to us in a phenomenal way. There are those who have said that tapes and technology will either replace braille, or lessen the need for it. There are also those with partial vision who are not even being taught braille because it is thought that braille is not needed by them. Just as when you were alive, your invention is still not without controversy. There are those who want to change the code, their reasoning being that this would make it easier. However, Louis, you can be sure that there are many of us who are advocates for braille as the primary method of literacy for blind people. Other media may be helpful, and even beneficial, but nothing will ever replace your wonderful invention, braille, just as nothing will ever replace the printed word. We are working to have a commemorative stamp produced in honor of your 200th birthday in 2009. I am sorry that I never met you; many others feel the same way. It is sad that you died at such a young age, without the recognition you deserved. But rest assured that braille will live forever. Again, thank you; rest in peace, my friend. ***** HERE AND THERE by Sue Lichtenfels The announcement of products and services in this column is not an endorsement by the American Council of the Blind, its staff, or elected officials. Products and services are listed free of charge for the benefit of our readers. "The Braille Forum" cannot be held responsible for the reliability of products and services mentioned. To submit items for this column, send a message to info@acb.org, or call ACB at 1-800-424-8666 and leave a message in mailbox 26. Please remember that postal regulations prohibit us from including advertisements, and that we need information two months ahead of actual publication dates. BOOK WIZARD SOFTWARE The American Printing House has created new digital talking book software. The Book Wizard program is available in two versions, Reader and Producer. The programs allow users to read and create DAISY/NISO 2002 Digital Talking Books. For more information about the features and pricing, visit www.aph.org/tech or call 1-800-223-1839. PRE-ORDER THE LAST HARRY POTTER BOOK "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," the seventh and final book in J.K. Rowling's magical Harry Potter series, will be released on July 21, 2007. By arrangement with the book's publisher, Scholastic Press, National Braille Press is pleased to announce that the braille edition of the book will again be ready on the same day as the print edition. Pre-orders are now being taken for hard-copy braille, PortaBook, and downloadable braille files. The price for orders placed before the release date will be $18.89. On or after July 21, the regular price is $34.99. To learn more, visit www.nbp.org/ic/nbp/HALLOWS.html. To order, send payment to: National Braille Press, 88 St. Stephen Street, Boston, MA 02115-4302 or call 1-800-548-7323. INCLUSIVE BROCHURE AVAILABLE The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability and Employment Policy has released a brochure to help faith-based and community organizations understand federal requirements for including people with disabilities in their programs. The brochure, "Demystifying Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act," addresses common questions relating to Section 504 requirements in plain, conversational language. The brochure is available for free at www.dol.gov/odep/pubs/fact/faith.htm. TRAINING FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS Perkins School for the Blind has recently published "Welcoming Students with Visual Impairment to Your School: A guide for training public school personnel and families about the needs of students with vision loss." These multi-media modules, funded by a grant from The Gibney Family Foundation, have been developed to provide vision professionals with a user-friendly resource for sharing information about students with visual impairment. Topics include an overview of visual impairment; social implications of vision loss; orientation and mobility; and low vision. The grant enables the school to offer the first 500 copies free, plus $14.99 for shipping and handling. Subsequent copies will be available for $70 plus shipping and handling. For a copy, contact Marianne Riggio at the Perkins School for the Blind, 175 N. Beacon St., Watertown, MA 02472 or call (617) 924-3434. Learn more at www.perkins.org. NEW SITE FOR SENIORS AFB recently launched a new web site to connect older people who are losing their vision with the various service providers who can help. The site includes photos, videos, articles, and resource links. Other sections include Understanding Vision Loss, Finding Help and Support, Daily Living, Changing Your Home, and Fitness & Fun. Additional features and sections are being added frequently. Visit www.afb.org/seniorsite to learn more. NEMETH CODE TUTORIAL FOR NOTETAKERS Dr. Gaylen Kapperman and Jodi Sticken of Northern Illinois University have developed a Nemeth code tutorial for the BrailleNote mPower family of notetakers. The tutorial consists of 18 chapters, with lessons covering everything from the basics of writing numbers up to statistics. Each lesson is broken down into four parts: an explanation of the lesson, and reading, writing and proofreading exercises. It is available as an option for the BrailleNote mPower BT and QT only, running the latest version of KeySoft. For more information, contact Richard Krafsig at Integration Technologies Group at (703) 698-8282 x262, or e-mail him, richard.krafsig@itgonline.com. THE MONEY READER Monty Drespling of Flossmoor, Ill. has created The Money Reader to identify U.S. paper currency. The device is comparable in size and shape to a credit card. When a bill is inserted, a computer chip reads the currency and verbally identifies it through a speaker. The Money Reader includes an on-off switch and volume control. Monty is seeking a manufacturer to begin production and distribution of The Money Reader. If you know of a company that may be interested in manufacturing this product, contact Donna Hardiman at (843) 457-7854 and reference account 21540. ON-LINE CAREER RESOURCE America's Career Resource Network has an on-line hub of resources available for students, parents, and professionals on career development and education. Many of its brochures have been converted to MS Word files for users who are visually impaired. Visit the site at www.acrnetwork.org. ICON PDA RELEASED LevelStar has released version 1.0 of Icon, a personal digital assistant designed for people who are visually impaired. The Icon comes with life-managing software applications pre-installed, including calendar, music player, podcast, journal, voice recorder, clock, stopwatch, e-mail, web browser, word processor, RSS reader, and library options for Daisy and Bookshare books. Wi-fi and Bluetooth wireless are also built-in. The Icon works with LevelStar's Icon Docking Station, which transforms the Icon PDA into a highly functional, portable notetaker with expanded connectivity and an ergonomic keyboard. The Icon PDA is available for $1,395 alone, and $1,745 with the Icon Docking Station from LevelStar. For additional information, visit www.levelstar.com or call (303) 926-4334. ON-LINE SOCIAL NETWORK Draconis Entertainment has launched a social networking portal aimed at people who are visually impaired. BlindSpots.net is a free service that allows blind and visually impaired computer users to keep blogs, make new friends, and showcase their talents and wares in a fully accessible web-based community. Users of the service can keep a list of friends, leave comments for one another, and maintain a fully customizable profile. For additional information, or to try out the service, visit www.BlindSpots.net. BOOK FOR DISABLED TEENS "Physical Disabilities: The Ultimate Teen Guide," by Denise Thornton, provides a road map through tribulations teens with disabilities face by showing the methods, mechanisms, and resources other teens are using to cope with their disabilities. Interviews with teens who are meeting the challenges of living with cerebral palsy, spina bifida, osteosarcoma, amputations, visual impairment, reflex sympathetic dystrophy, paralysis, hearing impairment, and deafness are included. The book is organized into eight categories: school; tools and technology; transportation and access; sports; the arts; relationships; independence; and advocacy. Each chapter combines the experiences of teens and young adults in all these spheres with up-to-date information on the resources that readers can call on as they follow their own dreams. The book is available through all mainstream bookstores; by calling Scarecrow Press, Inc. at 1-800-462-6420; or by visiting www.scarecrowpress.com. Orders through the publisher's web site receive an automatic 15 percent discount. ***** LETTERS TO THE EDITOR The contents of this column reflect the letters we had received by the time we went to press, April 16, 2007. Letters are limited to 300 words or fewer. All submissions must include the author's name and location. Opinions expressed are those of the authors. Struggle Over Accessible Paper Money I consider the struggle over accessible paper currency to be a non-issue for most of us who are blind. The time, effort and money which ACB is spending on this matter could well be employed elsewhere. It reminds me of the struggle NFB waged in the 1980s over the issue of whether blind people could sit in the exit rows on airplanes. As a totally blind person, I regard accessible currency as about number 12 on my list of priorities, behind a lot of other things. Furthermore, the inflated rhetoric regarding this issue is very unhelpful in enabling us to rationally evaluate the question. I found the article "A Somewhat Modest Proposal" in the February issue to be a waste of space. This article was merely someone's opportunity to vent. It did nothing to help form opinions on the matter. Let's move on to more vital things. -- Timothy Hendel, Huntsville, Ala. Regarding the April Issue The last issue of "The Braille Forum" was excellent. I especially appreciated the extremely thorough article, "Membership Strategies for the Year," compiled by Ardis Bazyn. Someone has done a great deal of research and creative brainstorming to come up with such a unique range of new ideas to increase membership. I was also pleased to read the president's letter. I, too, had difficulty with Independent Living Aids, eventually declining to do business with them after returning an adapted ILA recorder four times without ever getting a product that worked or a remedy for this sad manufacturing problem. I was hesitant to go to Maxi-Aids because of the rumors swirling about its reliability. It was good to get some balance to this issue. I would also like to send my regards to Day Al-Mohamed. She made the legislative agenda come to life and I started becoming much more active in politics and blindness issues at a local level. I will miss her enthusiasm and wish her well in her new position. -- Marie R. Heep, Mason, Ohio ***** HIGH TECH SWAP SHOP FOR SALE: Index Basic-D braille embosser, new, never used. Best reasonable offer. Focus 40 braille display, new. Best reasonable offer. Perkins brailler, excellent condition. Asking $250 or best offer. Braille 'n Speak with external hard drive, free. Buyer pays shipping on any of the above. Contact Dave at (928) 634-8474, or by e-mail at shotgun@byrdsoft.com. FOR SALE: PACMate QX440 or QX400. Has 40-cell display, quick start manual, USB cable, charger, carrying case and a wi-fi card. Asking $2,700. Would consider trading for a Braille Sense. Alva 380 braille display in excellent condition. Comes with carrying case, parallel and serial ports, charger and cables. Asking $2,100 or best reasonable offer. Mobile Phone Organizer notetaker with built-in phone, braille and speech. Comes with case, charger, and manual; can be used as a braille display with JAWS and Window- Eyes. Asking $1,500. Contact Isaac Obie at (617) 247-0026 or via e-mail, iobie@theworld.com. FOR SALE: Portable CCTV with battery pack and carrying case, used less than 6 times. This Olympia by Telesensory has 3 viewing modes: positive, negative and color, with magnification of 3.3x to 26x. Also includes writing stand. Asking $900 or best offer, which includes shipping to buyer. Call Billie Jean at (703) 528-4455, or e-mail billiejean1@comcast.net. FOR SALE: Juliet Classic braille embosser, recently refurbished. Asking $1,500 plus shipping or best offer. I accept money orders or personal checks; if you're paying by check, it will have to clear my bank before I ship the embosser. Contact Ron Kolesar via e-mail, kolesar16417@adelphia.net, or at (814) 774-5709 between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. Eastern time. FOR SALE: Versapoint Duo interpoint braille printer for $975. Includes shipping and a box of 8 1/2" x 11" tractor-fed braille paper. Send e-mail inquiries to B.C. Starkson, asktiger@bellsouth.net. FOR SALE: King James Version of the Bible in grade one-and-a-half braille. Very used and looks that way, but is still readable -- the book names on the spines are readable but difficult. 20 large volumes. Asking $100 or best offer. For more information, contact Shanda Adkins via e-mail, living4Jesus4ever@hotmail.com, or by phone, (336) 334-2180. FOR SALE: Braille Lite 40 with new battery pack. Comes with case, charger and disk drive. Recently cleaned. Asking $1,000 or best offer. Contact Robert Lewis at (410) 653-2498. ACB OFFICERS PRESIDENT CHRISTOPHER GRAY 94 RAMONA AVE. SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103 FIRST VICE PRESIDENT M.J. SCHMITT 119 SHELL EDGE DR ROCHESTER, NY 14623 SECOND VICE PRESIDENT MITCH POMERANTZ 1115 CORDOVA STREET #402 PASADENA, CA 91106 SECRETARY DONNA SELIGER 3912 SE 5TH ST DES MOINES, IA 50315 TREASURER MIKE GODINO 104 TILROSE AVE MALVERNE, NY 11565-2024 IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT PAUL EDWARDS 20330 NE 20TH CT. MIAMI, FL 33179 ACB BOARD OF DIRECTORS Ed Bradley, Houston, TX Ray Campbell, Glen Ellyn, IL Brenda Dillon, Hermitage, TN Billie Jean Keith, Arlington, VA Oral Miller, Washington, DC Carla Ruschival, Louisville, KY Patrick Sheehan, Silver Spring, MD Naomi Soule, St. Louis, MO Jeff Thom, Sacramento, CA David Trott, Talladega, AL Ex Officio: Charles Hodge, Arlington, VA BOARD OF PUBLICATIONS Mike Duke, Chairman, Jackson, MS Charles Hodge, Arlington, VA DeAnna Noriega, Fulton, MO Ken Stewart, Warwick, NY Cindy Van Winkle, Bremerton, WA Ex Officios: Ralph Sanders, Las Vegas, NV Janelle Edwards, Springfield, MO