THE BRAILLE FORUM Volume XLVI June 2008 No. 11 Published by the American Council of the Blind THE AMERICAN COUNCIL OF THE BLIND STRIVES TO INCREASE THE INDEPENDENCE, SECURITY, EQUALITY OF OPPORTUNITY, AND TO IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED PEOPLE. Mitch Pomerantz, President Melanie Brunson, Executive Director Sharon Lovering, Editor National Office: 1155 15th St. NW Suite 1004 Washington, DC 20005 (202) 467-5081 Fax: (202) 467-5085 Web site: http://www.acb.org THE BRAILLE FORUM (TM) is available in braille, large print, half-speed four-track cassette tape, and via e-mail. Subscription requests, address changes, and items intended for publication should be sent to Sharon Lovering at the address above, or via e-mail to slovering@acb.org. Submission deadlines are the first of the month. The American Council of the Blind (TM) is a membership organization made up of more than 70 state and special-interest affiliates. To join, visit the ACB web site and complete an application form, or contact the national office at the number listed above. Those much-needed contributions, which are tax-deductible, can be sent to Mike Godino at the above mailing address. If you wish to remember a relative or friend, the national office can make printed cards available for this purpose. To remember the American Council of the Blind in your Last Will and Testament, you may include a special paragraph for that purpose. If your wishes are complex, contact the ACB national office. Join the MMS program and help improve tomorrow today in ACB. Contact Ron Milliman by e-mail, rmilliman@insightbb.com, or by phone at (270) 782-9325 and get started making tomorrow look brighter today! To make a contribution to ACB via the Combined Federal Campaign, use this number: 11155. For the latest in legislative and governmental news, call the "Washington Connection" toll-free at (800) 424-8666, 5 p.m. to midnight Eastern time, or visit the Washington Connection online at http://www.acb.org. Copyright 2008 American Council of the Blind TABLE OF CONTENTS President's Message: Putting Our Money Where ..., by Mitch Pomerantz Acosta Steals the Show at the Hearing on the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act, by Eric Bridges Congress to Consider Quiet Car Concerns of People Who Are Blind, by Melanie Brunson Louisville 2008: ACB At the Finish Line, by Carla Ruschival Convention Sneak Preview, Part II Friends-in-Art Seeks Art for Exhibit at Convention, by Elsie Monthei It's Resolutions Time Again, by Judy Jackson Extra, Extra! Louisville Post-Dispatch Now Seeking Volunteers Consolation and Education in 'People of Vision,' by Rebecca Kragnes Affiliate News Passings In Memoriam: Paul Sauerland, by Kathleen Prime Here and There, by Sue Lichtenfels High Tech Swap Shop CORRECTION Lori Scharff's phone number was listed incorrectly under SASI Checks Out the New Deaf-Blind Communicator ("Convention Sneak Preview," May 2008). The correct number is (516) 887-1336. FORUM SUBSCRIPTION NOTES You can now get "The Braille Forum" by podcast! To subscribe, go to "The Braille Forum" page on www.acb.org. If you do not yet have a podcast client, you can download one from the Forum page. To subscribe to "The Braille Forum" via e-mail, send a blank e-mail message to brailleforum-L-subscribe@acb.org. ARE YOU MOVING? DO YOU WANT TO CHANGE YOUR SUBSCRIPTION? Contact Sharon Lovering in the ACB national office, 1-800-424-8666, or via e-mail, slovering@acb.org. Give her the information, and she'll take care of the changes for you. ***** PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE: PUTTING OUR MONEY WHERE ... by Mitch Pomerantz This president's column is an unabashed personal testimonial and infomercial on behalf of the Monthly Monetary Support or MMS Program. The timing is no coincidence. I want to give my sales pitch in the issue of "The Braille Forum" most everyone will read just prior to our 47th annual convention in Louisville, Ky. For those of you who are relatively new to ACB, or have been on safari or otherwise out of touch for awhile, here is how the MMS Program works. Each month, on either the 10th or the 22nd (you choose), a specified amount is deducted from your checking account or credit card and automatically transferred to ACB. You may designate the entire amount to ACB or authorize up to 50 percent of your contribution to go to the state or special-interest affiliate of your choice. A contribution of as little as $5 a month can be processed. If personal circumstances change, you may cancel or (we hope) increase your contribution at any time. So, why -- aside from leading this wonderful organization -- do I believe in the MMS Program? Because of my notion of commitment. To me, commitment has to do with the extent one is willing to give to a particular cause. Being truly committed to something goes far beyond mere belief in that cause. It means making a contribution in physical and/or mental energy expended, time devoted to, or money given toward whatever it is about which you feel strongly. Let me relate a favorite parable which should illustrate -- if nothing else -- my own level of dedication to ACB. A pig and a hen were strolling down a country road one morning when they spied a very poor village. It was obvious from the emaciated faces and bloated stomachs of the villagers that they were starving. The hen stopped, and, turning to the pig, she suggested that they make a ham-and-egg breakfast for the people of the village. A very shocked pig responded to his companion: "Do you realize what you are asking? For you, contributing eggs is mere involvement; for me, providing ham is total commitment." I'm absolutely convinced that we have reached the stage in the history of the American Council of the Blind when something more than mere involvement is required of each and every member in order to fulfill the vision of our founders: that all blind and visually impaired men and women achieve equal status in society with our sighted peers. Such equality will not happen passively, or without significant effort on everyone's part. In order to accomplish this vision, the aforementioned energy, time and money are crucial to our success. Because Donna and I feel so strongly about putting our money where our mouths are, we joined very early. According to figures through April, we are one of only 146 individual contributors to the MMS Program. While I want to personally express my gratitude to those who have already made a financial commitment to ACB, we can and must do far better! If we ourselves aren't willing to make this commitment, we can't very well ask or expect others to make it, can we? ACB's new development director, Dena Wilson, will shortly be contacting corporations, foundations and individuals to do just that: make a contribution to ACB. Her job will be far easier if she can demonstrate that a significant number of our members are committed, at least monetarily, to the organization. So, what am I asking everyone to do at this summer's national convention? For starters, even before arriving in Louisville, take a few moments and consider your level of commitment to the American Council of the Blind. What impact does ACB have on your life and the lives of other blind and visually impaired people? Is advocating in the halls of Congress and the courts for accessible currency, credit reports and cell phones important to you? What about video description on television, or letters and other material from Social Security in the format of your choice? If any of these things mean something to you, then when you get to the convention, take the time -- either while registering or during the week -- to sign up. It requires perhaps 15 minutes to complete the necessary form, whether you are having the deduction taken from your checking account or credit card. If you wish the deduction taken from your checking account, be sure you have a check with you, because we will need your bank routing number to process the paperwork. It is my hope to see the number of ACB members who contribute to the Monthly Monetary Support Program double during our upcoming convention. Please help make this hope a reality. ***** ACOSTA STEALS THE SHOW AT THE HEARING ON THE 21ST CENTURY COMMUNICATIONS AND VIDEO ACCESSIBILITY ACT by Eric Bridges It has been a very active few months of monitoring Congressional proceedings. As many of you know, a hearing concerning the Twenty-first Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act discussion draft was held on May 1 in front of the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. As a founding member of the Coalition of Organizations for Accessible Technology (COAT), ACB played a pivotal role in the drafting of the legislation and was honored to have Sergeant Major Jesse Acosta testify as part of the hearing. The hearing was extremely compelling as celebrities representing the hearing loss community gave impassioned testimony regarding their daily challenges in working with everyday consumer electronics. Representatives from industry also gave their standard views on the proposed legislation, saying that they were already addressing many of the issues covered in the draft bill. But if industry had been doing its job, then there would not be a need for this comprehensive piece of legislation designed to expand access to Internet-enabled telephony, video programming through video description of emergency information and program content, availability of equipment for deaf-blind consumers, and the now largely inaccessible user interfaces employed by a wide variety of devices that receive and display video programming. Acosta, who lost his sight in a mortar attack in Iraq two years ago, stole the show by giving his own personal examples of the inaccessibility of technology. In front of a packed hearing room, he was asked by a member if he had experienced an emergency alert on television since he had lost his sight. He responded by saying yes and then was silent for five seconds. He then said after the silence, "Ma'am, that's what it sounded like, like nothing." His passionate testimony was as moving to the members as it was for those seated in the audience. Members from both parties expressed support for the draft legislation and agreed to establish a deadline to move this initiative forward. The one challenge that we face is industry's obvious fear of the private right of action and undue burden language that currently exists in the draft. Negotiations are ongoing with industry; this topic will be addressed. I am confident that this hearing was a very productive and entertaining event that gave ACB, through Jesse Acosta, excellent visibility and credibility. This hearing took place because of the relentless grassroots efforts of ACB membership advocating for this draft legislation to their members of Congress. There is still much more to be done in order to pass this draft bill, but I am confident that we are moving in the right direction. ***** CONGRESS TO CONSIDER QUIET CAR CONCERNS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND by Melanie Brunson For some time, ACB members and others throughout the blind community have been looking for ways to increase public awareness about the dangers blind pedestrians face when confronted by automobiles that are too quiet to be detected without vision. Last month, this effort received a major boost with the introduction of H.R. 5734, The Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act of 2008. This bill, which is being sponsored by Reps. Edolfus "Ed" Towns (D-N.Y.) and Cliff Stearns (R-Fla.), directs the Secretary of Transportation to conduct a study beginning within 90 days of enactment of the legislation to determine the minimum level of sound emission that is necessary to enable pedestrians to detect the presence of, speed, and direction of travel of automobiles. This study must be completed within two years of its commencement, at which time, the secretary shall report the study's findings to Congress. Within 90 days after the conclusion of the study, the secretary is then directed to establish a standard that will take into account the results of the study, and will set forth the minimum information that must be provided by motor vehicles required for blind and other pedestrians to travel safely and independently in urban, rural, and residential environments. The bill provides that the standard shall apply to all "new motor vehicles." ACB is working closely with staffers from both of these representatives' offices, as well as the office of Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska) who has been very supportive of federal legislation to address these issues. Young has recently signed on as a co-sponsor of this legislation. And many more co-sponsors are needed if we are to get this legislation through the House and Senate. Many of you visited your representatives in February to speak to them about this issue. Now that we have a specific piece of legislation that addresses it, we are asking that you contact your representatives again and urge them to co-sponsor H.R. 5734. If you have not voiced your opinion to members of Congress yet, now is the time! We are asking all ACB members and friends to get behind this legislation and urge members of Congress to support it. There are several ways to do this. You can get in touch with your representative's local office, or you can call their Washington offices by calling the Capitol switchboard and asking for your particular representative's office. The number to call in Washington is (202) 225-3121. This legislation should result in measures that will benefit not only people who are visually impaired, but pedestrians of all ages and abilities. Rep. Stearns, one of the bill's sponsors who is fully sighted, described an incident from his own experience that prompted him to take an interest in this issue. During a press conference announcing the bill's introduction, Stearns described how he and his wife were nearly hit by a car as they exited a grocery store because they were looking at their loaded grocery cart and talking to one another instead of looking for oncoming traffic. Neither of them saw the car that was approaching them, and neither of them heard it, so they did not react to its presence until it was dangerously close. This scenario could happen to anyone, especially, anyone with a visual impairment. If you want to reduce the chances that it will, please help us increase Congressional support for H.R. 5734. Call your representative today and ask them to co-sponsor it. When you do, don't forget to let us know how your representative responded. ACB's governmental affairs director, Eric Bridges, is keeping track of which members agree to sponsor this legislation as a result of contact from ACB members. He is also looking for opportunities to follow up with members who might be interested, but want more information, so please call us and let us know the results of your contacts with Congressional offices. This is an opportunity to effect real change with very practical benefits. Please join in the effort to make that change happen. ***** LOUISVILLE 2008: ACB AT THE FINISH LINE by Carla Ruschival It's June, and it will only be a short time until everyone starts arriving at the finish line in Louisville, ready to step into the winner's circle with ACB at its 47th annual national convention. Convention activities begin with tours to Maker's Mark Distillery and to the Stephen Foster musical on Friday, July 4, and end on Saturday, July 12, with tours to Squire Boone Caverns and a barbecue followed by a Belle of Louisville dance cruise. Hundreds of workshops, seminars, programs, tours, exhibits, and parties are jammed into convention week. Pre-registration opened in late May, and will remain open until June 27. You can pre-register on the paper form or online at www.acb.org. You save money by pre-registering; the basic fee is $20 in advance, $30 if you wait until you get to convention to sign up. Yes, you're right! The registration fee is less than it was last year. Thanks to the generosity of our individual and corporate convention sponsors, the ACB board was able to roll back the pre-registration and registration fees by a full $5. Banquet tickets are only $29 pre-registration, down from a high of $38 in 2006. In fact, you will discover that many ticket prices are lower this year. Lower prices mean more people can afford to come to convention. Convention Reminders Reserve assistive listening devices (ALD's) by paying a $20 deposit when you pre-register. Receive your refund when you return the ALD to registration as you leave the convention. The ALD will come with a fresh battery; you are responsible for supplying additional batteries during the week. Notify us of your need for a lift-equipped bus on ACB tours when you pre-register. Remember that tour volunteers cannot act as personal assistants on tours. If you need someone to push your wheelchair or you want a personal guide, plan to take the tour with a friend who is willing to give you his or her undivided attention. If you are deaf-blind and you need an interpreter, please notify us, either by pre-registering or by e-mailing Carla Ruschival at adamcarla@bellsouth.net, NO LATER THAN June 15. Tell us the type of interpreter you need and the session(s) or event(s) you wish to attend. Be sure to include details on how we can contact you for more information. If you require other reasonable accommodations, it is absolutely imperative that we know of your needs by June 15. We will make every effort to fill requests received by that date. The American Council of the Blind is not required under the ADA to provide personal care assistants or round-the-clock services of any kind. ACB, hotel staff and volunteers cannot administer medications or provide transportation. Transportation Gas prices have risen since the last issue of "The Braille Forum." A taxi from the airport to the Galt House is now $19.55, but could change without notice. Sandollar Shuttle is available from the airport to the hotel for $10. To use the shuttle, call (502) 561-4022 with your flight number, time of arrival, and cell number where you can be reached upon arrival. The bus station is about 8 blocks from the hotel, and the fare is approximately $8. Louisville is not served by rail. To use TARC-3 services while you are in Louisville, fax documentation of your eligibility for paratransit services to Steve Tharpe at (502) 213-3243. For more information about public transportation in Louisville, call the 24-hour TARC information line at (502) 585-1234. EXHIBITS, ADVERTISING AND SPONSORSHIPS: Some last-minute exhibit, advertising and sponsorship opportunities may still be available. Don't miss this chance to target your products and services to blind and visually impaired people from across the country and around the world. For more information, visit our web site at www.acb.org/convention, or contact Michael Smitherman (exhibits) at (601) 968-4164, or Brenda Dillon (advertising and sponsorships) at (615) 874-1223. HOTEL RESERVATIONS: To make a reservation at the Galt House, call (502) 589-5200. Standard rooms are $85/night; executive suites (fridge included) are $105/night. Rates are single/double, and do not include tax; add $10 per night for each additional person in the room. CONVENTION INFORMATION: Join the acbconvention e-mail list by sending a blank message to acbconvention-subscribe@acb.org. For convention questions or special concerns, contact Carla Ruschival, 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. ***** CONVENTION SNEAK PREVIEW, PART II 2008 ACB Membership Seminar Announcement Curious about how fund-raising can be used as a membership tool? Want to know what makes special-interest affiliates successful in recruiting members? Come to the ACB membership seminar, titled "Growing & Strengthening ACB Today for Tomorrow." It will take place on Thursday, July 10, 2008 from 2-3:30 p.m. You'll get to hear about fund-raising, membership recruitment, and much more from the participating panelists. You can also learn who won the Affiliate Growth Award, about our new ACB brochure, about Spanish documents now available, and win a door prize! Library Users of America to Host Bookmarket Are you an avid reader? If so, you probably have books that you have read and perhaps even re-read that are just sitting on the shelves. Why not share those books with others and get some new reading materials at the same time? LUA is holding a Bookmarket at the convention in Louisville. You may donate books to LUA or sell or trade with others. This is an opportunity to clean off your bookshelves and to pick up some new ones. We encourage conventioneers to bring your braille, large print and audio books to the LUA Bookmarket on Tuesday, July 8th between 6:30 and 7:30 p.m. So gather up those books that are just collecting dust and we'll meet you there. LUA is a special-interest affiliate of the American Council of the Blind. Established in 1987, LUA is composed of individuals who are interested in improving library services for people who are blind or visually impaired. LUA members network and advocate for maintaining and increasing services for people who are unable to read regular print. In addition to the Bookmarket, we will be holding informative programs on Monday and Wednesday during the ACB national convention. We'd love for you to join the LUA family. To become a member, send a check made out to LUA in the amount of $12 to Adam Ruschival, Treasurer, 148 Vernon Ave., Louisville, KY 40206. ***** FRIENDS-IN-ART SEEKS ART FOR EXHIBIT AT CONVENTION 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, wood working or fiber art. No patterns or paint-by-number art 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, not to exceed two entries. 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. Notice of intent to enter should be sent to Elsie Monthei, 1304 39th St., Des Moines, IA 50311; or phone (515) 277-0442. Your application should include information about your artwork: media, size, title and dimensions, and a brief description. Delivery and Return of Art Work If you plan to attend the ACB national convention, you can bring your artwork with you. If you intend to display, call me or return the completed application. You must pick up your artwork and pack it yourself for the return home. If you intend to submit a mailed entry, the return Federal Express fee should be included. For those items that are mailed, add in the cost of insurance. Your artwork should be insured and shipped to: Elsie Monthei, The Galt House and Suites, Fourth Street at the River, Louisville, KY 40202. You can hand-deliver your artwork to me when you arrive at the Galt House. I will check the mailroom for items you have sent. Your artwork may be left at the Friends-in-Art booth also. PLEASE give me or Amy Monthei a call if you hand-carry your artwork with you. Entry Fees A fee of $10 per entry will be charged to cover the cost of display. Fees will not be returned if the artist fails to display his/her artwork. Calendar May 25: Completed applications returned to me or call me with details. June 27: Works should be shipped to The Galt House, attention Elsie Monthei, FIA. July 5: Hand-deliver works to Elsie Monthei at the hotel July 6-9: Public exhibit from 1-4 p.m. daily July 8: FIA annual business meeting and luncheon, noon; Meet the Artists at 3 p.m. July 10: Notification of award winners; works will be picked up or mailed back to exhibitor. Liability and Insurance All reasonable care will be given to works in the exhibit. Insurance during transport is the responsibility of the artist. Works unclaimed after July 10th 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. 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 and photographs of the artists 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." FRIENDS-IN-ART REGISTRATION FORM 1) Artist Name: Street Address: City, State, Zip: Phone Numbers (home and work): Media: Title: For Sale (Price?): Not For Sale: 2) Artist Name: Street Address: City, State, Zip: Phone Numbers (home and work): Media: Title: For Sale (Price?): Not for Sale: ***** IT'S RESOLUTIONS TIME AGAIN by Judy Jackson The time has arrived for all of us in ACB to begin thinking about this year's national convention in Louisville, Ky. In thinking about attending the convention, we also begin thinking about the issues that are important to us as people who are blind or visually impaired. One way that we do that is through the resolutions process. Anyone who is a member in good standing is free to write a resolution and bring it to the committee. You may submit your resolution in braille, large print, cassette, e-mail, compact flash card, or an SD card. All resolutions must be submitted to the committee in one of these formats no later than the close of the resolutions hearings on Tuesday, July 8. The committee will conclude each evening at approximately 1 a.m. Anyone wishing to submit a resolution before the start of convention is free to do so. Each resolution that is submitted will be considered by the members of the committee. I will also notify the maker of the resolution as to when the committee will be hearing his/her particular resolution. If it involves a committee within the structure of ACB, I will contact its chairperson and ask if he/she or a representative from the committee can attend the hearings during the discussion of that resolution. I look forward to hearing from those of you who have issues that you would like to bring to the forefront of ACB this year. You may contact me by e-mail at judyjack@nts-online.net, or by cell phone at (940) 255-9241. ***** EXTRA, EXTRA! LOUISVILLE POST-DISPATCH NOW SEEKING VOLUNTEERS Are you coming to convention? Do you like helping out where needed? The communication center is now seeking volunteers to help collate and staple papers, take ads and announcements, and staff the room. Sharon Lovering is the operations manager, aided by Steve and Marcia Dresser. She is seeking volunteers to fill two-hour shifts throughout the day (8-10 a.m., 10 a.m.-noon, noon-2 p.m., and 2-4 p.m.). The communication center will be open Friday through Wednesday, and be taken down Thursday morning; it will open daily at 8 a.m. and close to the public at 5 p.m. To sign up for a shift, contact Sharon at the ACB national office, (800) 424- 8666 extension 15, or via e-mail, slovering@acb.org. This year's convention newspaper will be called "The Louisville Post- Dispatch." It will run from Saturday through Thursday in braille and large print. Ads and other items intended for publication must be in the center's hands by 2 p.m. each day. Ads should be 100 words or less. By a directive from the board of publications, ads will be allowed to run for only three days, in order to give important convention announcements more space. Fees are as follows: for-profit businesses, $100 for three days or $35 for one day; non-profits and ACB affiliates, $10 per day; individuals, $5 per day. The board of publications editorial policy manual prohibits us from producing or distributing campaign materials. During the evenings, we will need people to help collate and staple the braille papers. Thanks to Enabling Technologies, we will have three braille printers this year, and we will need one person per printer. Got an hour to spare between 5 and 11 p.m.? Drop by and see if the communication center needs help. If you have signed up for home delivery of "The Louisville Post- Dispatch," PLEASE make sure you drop by the information desk and give them your name, room number and format preference once you arrive. This will ensure that you don't miss an issue. Hold onto your Saturday issue; it will include all the suite numbers, phone numbers, and room changes. Photocopying will again be allowed this year. Copies will cost 10 cents per page. Please pay the registration office. And if your committee or affiliate needs something brailled, we will be able to do that as well. Make certain you label your disk(s) before bringing them down to the press room, and tell us how many of each format (braille and large print) you will need, by what time. Bring your items down in the morning before the general session to help us fit them in. If you need something brailled for a 1 p.m. meeting, don't wait until 12:30 p.m. to bring it to us. Affiliates, if you know who your delegate, alternate, and nominating committee representative will be, please let Marlaina Lieberg and Sharon Lovering know as soon as possible. ***** CONSOLATION AND EDUCATION IN 'PEOPLE OF VISION' by Rebecca Kragnes It took a month, but I finally finished the book, "People of Vision: A History of the American Council of the Blind" by James J. and Marjorie L. Megivern. I read all of it on my portable notetaker using speech when my hands had other tasks to do, and braille when they didn't. But no matter how you read it, I can't stress enough how good you'll feel about being an ACB member after reading the chronology of milestones before any organizations for the blind, the early NFB, the "civil war of the blind," and the formation and development of ACB. After the chronology, I thought the book was over, but the best part was yet to come. The authors analyzed three questions with one each relating to the past, the present and the future of organizations of the blind. The authors' analysis and answers were even more welcome than learning about the series of events. At a couple points in the book, the authors described a young Chris Gray and other young blind people trying to make sense of why there were two organizations of the blind. This was exactly my scenario as Becky Rupp, a high school senior. I didn't even know there were two organizations until the scholarship applications came in the mail. Then I was a finalist for both, and I discovered their conventions were the same week! What was I going to do if by some miracle I won both? It got even more confusing when I was sent to Iowa's Orientation Center at the Department for the Blind in Des Moines where -- despite his resignation 12 years ago -- Kenneth Jernigan was still God. Even the staff who were ICUB members seemed to have a pretty high regard for the man. Despite the indoctrination classes, I never agreed that he was anything more than an articulate man. His arrogance and controlling nature came through to me in his radio spots and speeches. In the spots, his reference to stereotyping of all blind people as musicians really ticked me off, because I happened to be both blind and musical. It seemed that I was not supposed to go into any kind of musical career because of the stereotyping I would reload on the blind's shoulders. Soon after graduation and before spending the first month in Des Moines, I learned I had won the Floyd Qualls Scholarship. So it was off to Denver I went. In addition to the formal sessions, I had a couple of informal conversations with other students -- one of whom introduced me to M.J. Schmitt. Because of my confusion, I started asking questions about the history and the differences between the two organizations. She wanted so much to answer my questions, but she told me it would take hours to do so. I definitely heard the comparison and contrast about how students were treated at ACB conventions versus NFB conventions. I heard about students having so-called mentors at NFB who dragged them to all kinds of meetings. ACB was respectful enough to let me determine my own convention schedule and only requested that I show up to thank ACB for my scholarship. This seemed more than reasonable to me. I found the same respect upon winning another scholarship and attending the 1994 convention in Chicago, but I still had such nagging questions! So when the book came out, I was ready to devour it, but then I hit a snag. I didn't want to be tied to my computer to read this thing, and at that time, portable notetakers didn't have the ability to help me view files on cards as they do today. The file wouldn't fit in the notetaker. Sure, I could get it on tape and listen to someone else read it or get the boxes of braille volumes, but neither of these options seemed attractive. So what finally got me to read the book? It was after an encounter of the Federation kind this past October as I chaired a Minnesota State Rehabilitation Council for the Blind meeting. NFB members used particular wording in an article I wrote for the Minnesota Memo -- the ACB-M publication -- to accuse me of abusing my role as chair of this body. Others in ACB tried to console me, and one even said that if I was making the NFB mad, I must be doing something right. The NFB's twisting of the facts made me so angry that I could think of nothing else -- even during leisure reading. I interrupted a Dean Koontz book and began reading "People of Vision." I read the whole thing to get the chronology, but my interest intensified as foreshadowings of the split began to appear. I couldn't help but think that I had been at two ACB conventions with Durward McDaniel, and to my knowledge, I didn't have any interaction with him. He and the others were so brave to step out on principle and start ACB despite the haranguing they received from loyal Federationists. Winning the Floyd Qualls scholarship has come to mean more to me after reading about the serious and humorous ways Qualls spoke out and helped form ACB. As I proceeded into the '70s and '80s, I couldn't help but think of my childhood and adolescent naivete concerning knowledge of the struggles blind people had endured within our own community. It was interesting reading about things I remember from the two conventions I attended and the many articles from "The Braille Forum" and "The Braille Monitor." My parents insisted that I read both publications even if I had already decided that ACB was my organization of choice. A good example of the coverage difference appeared in articles in both publications regarding the NAC dinner and the Federation eavesdroppers. I recall how gleeful the Monitor article sounded regarding Grant Mack's being taken to a police station in a paddy wagon. In contrast, the Forum article stuck to the facts with no exaggeration. It was only upon reading "People of Vision" that I realized Grant Mack's importance to ACB, and it makes me look down on NFB's yellow journalism in the coverage of this event even more. I smiled with nostalgia as I read about the 2000 and 2001 conventions, because I had listened to parts of them live on ACB Radio. It was this which brought to mind that I was a part of ACB's history. There are still questions I have after reading the book, and perhaps some might be answered by taking the time to read the NFB's history. But I don't care to hear about the revisionist history after reading the real deal. Still, I'll make my comments and ask the questions here. In what and from where did Jernigan and Maurer get their honorary doctorates, thus suddenly being referred to as "Doctor" from loyal Federationists? It was so refreshing to read a book in which only those who had actually earned a doctoral degree of some type have Dr. in front of their names. There was no reference to the anti-dog guide October 1995 issue of "The Braille Monitor." I believe this issue brought a few more friends to ACB. I hope that appears in the next edition. Finally, did anyone else catch the slight error regarding Erik Weihenmayer climbing to the summit of Mt. McKinley, referred to as the world's highest mountain? I believe that McKinley is the highest in the United States. Everest is the highest mountain in the world, and Weihenmayer reached its summit later. The authors were just predicting the future. They probably would admit to making this error rather than covering it up or revising history. ***** AFFILIATE NEWS Indiana State Convention The theme for ACBI's 37th annual state convention is "Sharing the Dream Making It Reality with ACBI." The convention will be held Sept. 12- 14 at Spring Mill State Park, P.O. Box 68, Mitchell, IN 47446-0068. ACBI has reserved rooms at the Spring Mill Inn for Friday and Saturday nights. The room rates per night are as follows: double room with one bed, $69 (with tax, $76.59); double room with two double beds, $69 (with tax, $76.59); king room with one king bed, $79 (with tax, $87.69); and queen room with two queen beds, $89 (with tax, $98.79). To reserve your room, call the inn at 1-877-563-4371 and make sure they know you are attending the ACBI meeting. Rooms must be reserved by Aug. 8. When you make your room reservations, you will be asked to cover the cost of your room for one night, by charging it to a credit card or sending a check to the inn within 10 days. Save these dates and make your room reservations to attend our state convention. You will be glad you did! ***** PASSINGS It has come to our attention that we are rapidly losing members of our community, friends and supporters of ACB. In order to honor these people whose lives have impacted us, in large and small ways, we are publishing this column, "Passings." In it, we will include brief obituaries of those who have passed away. See below for the format in which to submit information. Obituary Format Please include as much of the following information as possible when submitting material for this column. Submissions must involve dates no more than six months from intended date of publication. Name (first, last, maiden if appropriate) City of residence (upon passing) State/province of residence (upon passing) Other cities/states/countries of residence (places where other blind people may have known this person) Occupation Date of death (day if known, month, year) Age ACB affiliation (local/state/special-interest affiliates or national committees) BARTH, NELS Nels Barth of Longview, Wash., died Jan. 13, 2008. He was 50. Nels was a native of Washington state and had lived in southern locales as well as in the Seattle area. Before he lost his sight to type I diabetes, Nels worked as a real estate agent and broker, for Alaska and Northwestern Airlines and also in several retail services. After he lost his sight in 1998, Nels again worked in real estate and then in insurance and as a paralegal. Nels was a fun-spirited and active man until his death from a heart attack at his daughter's home in Longview earlier this year. He had many friends in Washington and seemed to develop friendships in the blind community as soon as he met other people with vision disabilities. Nels is survived by his older brother Mark of Seattle, sister Gail of Tacoma, and his two daughters, Sammi and Tory, both of the Kelso-Longview area. He will also be fondly remembered by the friends he entertained with his instantaneous wit and humor. SPINNER, GERALD ANDREW Gerald Andrew Spinner, 58, of Chandler, Ariz. (formerly of Springfield, Ill.), passed away April 6 in Tempe, Ariz. He was born in Centralia, Ill. to Evelyn and Ernest Spinner on June 22, 1949. He attended the Illinois School for the Visually Impaired in Jacksonville and graduated from Sandoval High School. He married Nancy Hughes on July 7, 1978. He attended the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana, where he earned an undergraduate degree in European history and the University of Illinois College of Law for a juris doctorate. Gerald practiced law in Springfield, where he served first as corporation counsel for the city of Springfield, and as director of legal services for the state's Department of Rehabilitation Services. From 1979 to 2003, Gerald was assistant legal advisor for the Illinois State Board of Education, specializing in government finance and contracts and special education. He and Nancy retired in February 2003 and moved to Chandler, Ariz. Gerald is survived by his wife Nancy; his mother Evelyn Spinner of Sandoval; two sisters, Kathleen (Lee Roy) Roper of Centralia and Theresa Thornton of Sandoval; and a niece, nephews, cousins, aunts and uncles. He was preceded in death by his father, Ernest Spinner, and a brother, Kenneth. ***** IN MEMORIAM: PAUL SAUERLAND by Kathleen Prime Where does one begin the bittersweet task of paying tribute to a dear and trusted friend who has passed from this life? That is precisely the task with which I am confronted at this poignant moment, and the challenge is made even greater by the fact that he was a friend, an advocate, and a light in the darkness for so many who knew him. This dynamic and sensitive person of whom I speak is Paul Sauerland, whose long, productive and meaningful life came to a close on March 26, 2008. About a year ago, I told Paul that one day I was going to write an article about him for "The Braille Forum," and his response was, "What did I do to deserve that?" That was one of Paul's many humorous lines. Whenever someone teased him or gave him a hard time about something, he would invariably respond with a grin and a playful "Thanks a lot!" Those of us who knew and loved Paul are aware that he was someone with a gift for diplomacy which was balanced by a secure sense of self and a definitive set of values and opinions pertaining to just about every subject! His own words best illustrate this aspect of his character. Whenever Paul didn't quite agree with someone but wanted to be respectful all the same, his favorite answer was, "You have a point there " Paul Sauerland will be remembered by all of us as someone who always did his best to live, speak, and act according to the beliefs which were most important to him; that is, his faith in God, his keen sense of right and wrong, and his desire to unobtrusively serve others. He was a man who skillfully combined his traditional Catholic identity with an awareness of social justice issues that extended far beyond that of the average person. What's more, Paul took things one step further and turned his moral and spiritual precepts into an everyday reality. He was born with sight but lost all his vision by the age of two due to congenital glaucoma. From then on, he simply compensated by learning to see with his mind and heart, and perhaps that is what I loved most about Paul. His life and example certainly lend new meaning to the well-known phrase, "We walk by faith and not by sight." It seems only right to acknowledge his 30 years of music ministry in the choir at his local parish church, St. Ignatius of Loyola in Hicksville. All other achievements aside, that in itself says a great deal about Paul as a person. After completing his elementary and high school studies at the New York Institute for the Blind, during which time he also had the chance to explore his gift for music, Paul went on to obtain a bachelor's degree in business from Rutgers and then began the long process of searching for employment. He was eventually offered a typing job (after applying for it twice) since it was wartime and his employer needed staff to replace personnel who had enlisted or been drafted into military service. Paul patiently worked in this capacity for 10 years, until the opportunity presented itself for him to return to school and study social work. He graduated magna cum laude from the social work program at Fordham University in 1959, and in 1963, Paul began a very fulfilling 37-year career as a social worker, administrator and legislative consultant with the office of services for the blind and visually impaired at Catholic Charities in the diocese of Rockville Centre. His competence, perseverance and spirit of service are evidenced by the fact that he willingly remained at this job until the age of 80, when most of us would have to think twice about getting up early and traveling to and from work, not to mention putting in a full day at the office! Even then, Paul could not quite bring himself to retire. As his health began to deteriorate, Paul still worked from home for Catholic Charities as a consultant on legislative issues. In addition to his many years of dedicated service as a social worker, Paul Sauerland also contributed much to the advancement of legislation protecting citizens who are disabled, elderly, or oppressed in some way. Paul received numerous awards, including the prestigious Durward K. McDaniel Ambassador Award in 2002, for his lasting contributions to these commendable causes. Over the years, he remained deeply involved in and committed to the work of advocacy by serving in various state organizations, such as the Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired, the New York State Rehabilitation Association, and the New York State Catholic Conference Advisory Committee for Persons with Disabilities. At the local level, he served for a time as president of the Long Island Council of the Blind and as chairman of the Nassau County Transportation Citizens' Advisory Committee. Additionally, he served on the Catholic Charities Diocese of Brooklyn Legal Committee, and, in his later years, was an active member of a committee organized by the New York State Office of the Aging. He was also on the board of the Xavier Society for the Blind in New York City and, in 1978, participated in the drafting of the U.S. Catholic Bishops' Pastoral Statement of People with Disabilities. In 1982, he was appointed to the board of the National Catholic Partnership for Persons with Disabilities, and it was in this capacity that he assisted the NCPPD's Legislative Committee in formulating key statements which contributed greatly to the eventual enactment of the Americans with Disabilities Act. This article would be incomplete without adding a personal note to the story. For the past 10 years, I have counted Paul among my closest and most trusted friends. No matter what was happening in my life, he was always there to listen to my troubles, offer a few words of wisdom, and assure me of his prayerful support. He cared about and respected me as the person I am, without trying to change the things about me which he may not have completely understood. We could talk with each other about anything, from amusing incidents at work to world events to our personal struggles and small victories. Although conversations with Paul were always enjoyable and informative, our level of understanding and communication was such that we did not always have the need for a lot of words. Try as I might, I cannot seem to find the right words to capture the unique and lasting connection that we shared as two friends who understood, respected, loved and supported one another as individuals who happened to have many points in common. Among the many gifts with which Paul was blessed in his lifetime are his devoted wife of 53 years, Mary, their six children, and eight grandchildren! To them we all extend our most sincere condolences and a wish for peace. Since my present workplace and apartment are not far from the home that Paul and Mary shared since October 1963, I was privileged to be a member of their parish and to attend Sunday Mass with them almost every week during the last few months of Paul's life. That spiritual dimension of our friendship is one that I cherish -- a blessing I never expected to receive. If he were here with us now, I'm sure Paul would call me to task for submitting this article, as he was someone who did the things he did out of love, not because he sought recognition. After all (and he might very well reprimand me for saying this), he was born on All Saints' Day. Paul's presence in my life is something I will treasure always, and the light of hope which he inspired will live on in our hearts. ***** 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. CRUISE FOR VISUALLY IMPAIRED American Star Travel specializes in group travel for people who are visually impaired. The agency is offering a seven-night cruise from Boston to Bermuda that sails Oct. 5-12, 2008 on the Norwegian Dream. Staffers will provide orientation on the ship at arrival and special assistance during embarkation and debarkation. Guide dogs are also welcome. The ship offers 13 places to eat, 10 bars/lounges, a casino, two swimming pools, a jogging/walking track, 24-hour fitness center and more. For more information, or to book a trip, call American Star Travel at (508) 815-4327, or visit www.americanstartravel.net. Fares start at $689 plus tax per person for an inside cabin. Time for this offer is limited. TRAVEL OPPORTUNITIES Mind's Eye Travel specializes in trips for people who are visually impaired or blind. Three upcoming trips are: Discover the coast of Maine, Sept. 10-14, 2008; Sedona, Ariz. and the Grand Canyon, Oct. 8-13, 2008; and 7-day southern Caribbean cruise, Feb. 15, 2009. All trips are hosted by owner Sue Bramhall and a fully sighted assistant. Trips are designed for visually impaired or blind people traveling with a sighted guide. If you are traveling alone, the company will make every effort to offer assistance with scheduled activities and meals. However, Mind's Eye cannot offer assistance 24/7. Space and time is limited on these offerings. For more information, go to www.mindseyetravel.com. To make a reservation, call (207) 542-4438 or write to mindseyetravel@verizon.net. JOB OPPORTUNITIES Envision seeks blind or low-vision individuals who want a rewarding career in manufacturing or retail operations. Good, stable jobs in an air-conditioned and clean facility in Wichita, Pittsburg, Kansas City, Kan. or in one of many base service stores across the Midwest and western U.S. may be available right now. Envision offers competitive pay and a generous benefits package, which includes relocation assistance. Our vision rehabilitation department is ready to assist with your needs, too. Envision's product line includes: plastic bags, grocery bags, seal closure bags, biodegradable bags, general purpose bags, plastic sheeting, industrial wiping towels, gunslings, high-visibility belts and compostable bags. To learn more, call (316) 425-7150 or 1-888-425-7072. You can also e-mail goodjobs@envisionus.com. SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP TRAINING The Braille Without Borders International Institute for Social Entrepreneurs (IISE) in Kerala, South India, will start its first course in January 2009. BWB is looking for engaged, motivated and highly talented people who want to contribute to society by setting up their own social or environmental project in their regions or countries. Participants should speak and read enough English to fully understand the application form, to follow a conversation and to do interviews. They should be confident and independent enough to live abroad for one year. Preference is given to blind and partially sighted candidates, although applications from engaged, motivated sighted individuals are welcome. Scholarships will be provided. BWB will accept applications for this 11-month program until September 2008. To find out more, visit www.braillewithoutborders.org. ANNUAL NCCB CONFERENCE The National Church Conference of the Blind will hold its annual conference Sept. 13-18, 2008 at the St. Louis Hilton Frontenac located at 1135 S. Lindbergh Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63131. For hotel reservations at the $95 per night rate, call (314) 993-1100 by mid-August. For information regarding registration and payment, contact Rheba Dunn at (970) 895-2352 or radioman@mindspring.com. For more information, visit www.thenccb.com. EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PUBLICATION The National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research is pleased to announce the release of a new online publication, "Emergency Management Research and People with Disabilities: A Resource Guide." This guide provides a listing and description of research projects funded by the federal government and non-federal entities, research recommendations that have come out of conferences on emergency management and disability, and a bibliography of relevant research publications. NIDRR's hope is that it will facilitate the development and implementation of a nationwide research agenda on emergency management and people with disabilities, so that we can develop a strong evidence base about the best ways to ensure the safety and security of people with disabilities in emergency and disaster situations. This report is available on the U.S. Department of Education's web site at www.ed.gov/rschstat/research/pubs. CHOICE MAGAZINE LISTENING GOES DIGITAL Choice Magazine Listening is one of the latest additions to the digital download pilot program sponsored by the NLS. CML presents eight hours of the best current magazine writing, free of charge, six times a year. The unabridged short stories, essays, poetry and interviews are chosen from approximately 100 periodicals and literary journals such as "The Smithsonian," "The New Yorker," "National Geographic," "Sports Illustrated," "Paris Review," and "Business Week." They are read by talented actors at the studios of the American Foundation for the Blind. CML also continues to be available on four-track cassette. Information about a free subscription and player is available on the web at www.choicemagazinelistening.org, or by phone at 1-888-724-6423. WBU NEWS Carl R. Augusto, President & CEO of the American Foundation for the Blind, was elected president of the North America/Caribbean region of the World Blind Union (WBU) on April 17, 2008, at its meeting in Nassau, Bahamas. The WBU is the internationally recognized organization that represents over 160 million blind and partially sighted persons in 177 member countries and is the only organization entitled to speak on behalf of blind and partially sighted people to global organizations such as the United Nations. NBP NEW PRESIDENT National Braille Press' board of trustees has named Brian A. MacDonald to serve as the company's new president. MacDonald brings with him a solid track record of success in operations, sales, marketing and donor development within the non-profit world. "To be chosen to lead National Braille Press is a most welcome joy and privilege for me and my family," MacDonald said. "Because my grandmother reads braille, I have a strong personal interest in its advancement. I realize there are challenges, especially in succeeding such a great leader as Bill Raeder. It is hoped that my leadership of the strategic plan for the future will continue to complement Bill's vision of strengthening programs and building capacity while remembering NBP's wonderful past." SSI GUIDE "Legal Planning for Special Needs In Massachusetts: A Family Guide to SSI, Guardianship, and Estate Planning" by Barbara D. Jackins shares what this attorney has learned in over 25 years of practicing law. In a relaxed, conversational style, she explains the essential elements of SSI (Supplemental Security Income), guardianship and estate planning when there is a child with a disability in the family. Although some of the materials are specific to Massachusetts, most of the strategies are valid in any state. This 327-page book's ISBN is 0-9789741-5-8; it retails for $24.95. To review the table of contents, read excerpts, and purchase, go to www.disabilitiesbooks.com/legal_planning/index.html. To order by mail, send $28 (includes shipping) to DisABILITIESBOOKS Inc., 33 Pond Ave. #807, Brookline, MA 02445. Massachusetts residents, add $1.20 sales tax. WEBSITE & TRANSCRIPTION SERVICE Toni Fraser has started a new web site solely for the use of blind adults. It shares hard-to-find information with regard to employment, education, technology, shopping, camps for adults who are blind, vocational rehabilitation, and much more. She is also starting a fee-based personal transcription service for people who are blind. Transcriptions might include: personal letters, reports, business letters, Excel spreadsheets, address labels, envelopes, etc. To learn more, visit Toni's web site at www.accessabilitysolutions.net. NEW YORK LIFE SITE ACCESSIBLE New York Life, the insurance company, has recently revamped its web site to make browsing easier for consumers, especially those who are visually impaired. One of the features, "Read this page," allows users who have visual impairments to have content read out loud. The reader function is the product ReadSpeaker, which is licensed from VoiceCorp International, and is available for all pages explaining products and their features. The New York Life web site is available at www.newyorklife.com. TALKING WEB PORTAL Spoken-Web is a web portal, managing a wide range of online data-intensive content like news updates, weather and travel, and business articles for computer users who are blind or visually impaired. The site provides a simple, easy-to-use interface for navigating between the different sections and articles. Using the keyboard to navigate, a person who is blind or who has a visual impairment can hear the full range of an article content provided in a logical, clear, and understandable manner with no advertisement interruptions. The full features can be operated from any computer or Internet caf‚ in seconds. This resource is available at www.spoken-web.com. SLOW COOKER COOKBOOK National Braille Press is offering "5-Ingredient Favorites: Comforting Slow-Cooker Recipes" by Phyllis Pellman Good, part of her famous "Fix-It & Forget-It" series. This cookbook includes 359 recipes for chicken, turkey, beef and pork main dishes, and offers convenience and comfort to anyone faced with a too-full life and hungry people to feed. Each recipe's instructions spell out every step so you won't get stranded along the way. Read more about this book, or order it, at www.nbp.org/ic/nbp/FIXIT.html. For mail orders, send payment to NBP, 88 St. Stephen St., Boston, MA 02115-4302. For phone orders, call 1-800-548-7323 or (617) 266-6160. ***** HIGH TECH SWAP SHOP FOR SALE: CD cases, 8 for $1; erased 90-minute cassette tapes, 8 for $1; HP Scanjet scanner, $15. Lexmark printer, $25. IBM Home Page Reader, $25. Keypad for IBM screen reader, $25. Harley Hahn's Complete Internet Reference (8 volumes), $50. Road Runner, $75. Accent SA speech synthesizer, $95. Zip drive, adapter for use with notebook computer and over 1GB storage, $150. GPS Talks, Magellan receiver, and all maps of U.S., $250. DECTalk Express, $550. Braille Lite, $650. Alva 40-cell braille display, $1,695. For more information, call Kathy at (615) 469-4891 or e- mail kjl6126@yahoo.com. FOR SALE: Shortwave Emerson radio with TV, AM/FM radio, and weather band. In good condition. Asking $35. Will accept checks, money orders, or cash. Contact Tonya Smith in braille at 1665 Paree, Newport, MI 48166, or e-mail her, tsmith@pmpmail.com. FOR SALE: Bookport. Asking $200, including insurance, shipping and handling, or sent free matter with insurance. In original box; comes with CD, cable, ear buds, and all materials. Contact Terrie Arnold at terriedavo@kc.rr.com. FOR SALE: Braille writer, in good condition. Asking $400. Contact Rosemir at (714) 267-3399. FOR SALE: Plextalk PTR1 CD player/recorder with 256-megabyte compact flash card for additional file storage. Asking $400. Book Courier MP3 player with Audible support. Will include additional 4-gig compact flash card. Text-to-speech synthesizer will play text documents, and voice recorder. Asking $160. Call Dan at (317) 626-2847. FOR SALE: Tap Memo. Comes with instruction disk. Asking $125 or best offer. Contact Adam Pobursky at (262) 325-1323. FOR SALE OR TRADE: Windows computer with 1 gig RAM and monitor. Will throw in demo version of Window-Eyes or JAWS, depending on your preference. Asking $200; will trade for any 32-cell notetaker with braille display. Contact Michael Robles at (909) 434-0426, or e-mail michaelro99@yahoo.com. FOR SALE: Like new Smartview 3000 CCTV; only used for about two months. Asking $900 with $75 shipping. A Tap Memo PDA; comes with earphones and power cord still in box. Asking $145 with $5 shipping. Brand-new, still in box, color-coded beige Large Print Easy Type PC keyboard with oversized legends printed directly on the keys and color-coded control keys. The keyboard has a PS/2 adapter (fits either the AT keyboard socket or the PS/2 socket). Asking $135 with $5 shipping. Will accept PayPal or money order only. E-mail trekfan79@yahoo.com if interested in any of these items; when e-mailing, please put "ITEMS FOR SALE" in the subject line. FOR SALE: Perkins brailler with dust cover, in hard carrying case. In good working condition; will be mailed free matter with insurance. Asking $350 or best offer. Contact Margie at (415) 309-6821. FOR SALE: Juliet classic interpoint embosser with single sheet feeder upgrade. Cleaned/repaired once, in excellent condition, used only as a backup embosser. Includes braille manual, packed in original box. Asking $2,000. PayPal also accepted. Payment plans are possible. Sangean shortwave radio, model ATS 818 ACS with 25-foot indoor antenna and cassette instructions. Used once, still in original box. Asking $150. Please contact Pat via e-mail, toolshopper@sbcglobal.net, or phone (512) 837-3041. FOR SALE: M20 with leather case and memory card, disk drive, and cables for $900 (negotiable). E-mail kylenva@comcast.net. ACB OFFICERS PRESIDENT MITCH POMERANTZ 1115 CORDOVA STREET #402 PASADENA, CA 91106 FIRST VICE PRESIDENT KIM CHARLSON 57 GRANDVIEW AVE. WATERTOWN, MA 02472 SECOND VICE PRESIDENT BRENDA DILLON 313 OVERRIDGE COVE HERMITAGE, TN 37076 SECRETARY MARLAINA LIEBERG 632 S. 189TH ST. BURIEN, WA 98148 TREASURER MIKE GODINO 104 TILROSE AVE MALVERNE, NY 11565-2024 IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT CHRISTOPHER GRAY 94 RAMONA AVE. SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103 ACB BOARD OF DIRECTORS Ed Bradley, Houston, TX Ray Campbell, Glen Ellyn, IL Billie Jean Keith, Arlington, VA Oral Miller, Washington, DC Carla Ruschival, Louisville, KY Patrick Sheehan, Silver Spring, MD Naomi Soule, St. Louis, MO Jeff Thom, Sacramento, CA David Trott, Talladega, AL Cammie Vloedman, Oklahoma City, OK Ex Officio: Ken Stewart, Warwick, NY BOARD OF PUBLICATIONS Paul Edwards, Chairman, Miami, FL DeAnna Noriega, Fulton, MO Jenine Stanley, Columbus, OH Ken Stewart, Warwick, NY Cindy Van Winkle, Bremerton, WA Ex Officios: Barry Levine, Homer Glen, IL Ron Milliman, Bowling Green, KY