THE BRAILLE FORUM Volume XLIV July-August 2005 No. 1 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, Acting 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 is available in braille, large print, half-speed four- track cassette tape, computer disk 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 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 Ardis Bazyn 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. To make a contribution to ACB via the Combined Federal Campaign, use this number: 2802. 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 2005 American Council of the Blind TABLE OF CONTENTS President's Message: Back to Basics: How Do We Get There?, by Christopher Gray Monthly Conference Calls Available ACB Rallies 'Round , you may include a special paragraph for that purpose. If your wishes are complex, contact the ACB national office. To make a contribution to ACB via the Combined Federal Campaign, use this number: 2802. 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 2005 American Council of the Blind TABLE OF CONTENTS President's Message: Back to Basics: How Do We Get There?, by Christopher Gray Monthly Conference Calls Available ACB Rallies 'Round Rehab, by Melanie Brunson Who Will Speak for Brandy Prince?, by Allen J. Casey Affiliate News In Memoriam: Susan Kamrass, by Sheila Styron In Memoriam: Gerald Pye, by Marsha Farrow Remembering Gerald Pye Large Print Book Reproduction: An Intimate View, by Laurie Noble, Paul Hernandez and Grace Oshiro Readers Disgusted by 'Extreme Makeover Home Edition' Editorial: Misplaced Goodwill?, by Sharon Lovering Have Dog, Will Travel, by DeAnna Quietwater Noriega Because of Our Guide Dogs, We Felt Like Prisoners in Paradise!, by Patty Yarman Leading the Way: My Path to Becoming a Business Leader, by Daniel Novielli Keep It Simple, Smarty!, by Susan Mazrui Here and There, by Sarah Blake Letter to the Editor High Tech Swap Shop CORRECTION Due to an editing error, the name of the lady offering the large-print "Book of Common Prayer" was misspelled ("Here and There," June 2005). Her name is Ann Dahlen. ***** PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE: BACK TO BASICS: HOW DO WE GET THERE? by Christopher Gray Last month, I wrote about ACB's involvement in international affairs, and shared information about the many critical problems faced by the blind of other countries less fortunate than ours. In this article, I want to bring the focus back home to the United States and to issues of consumerism and the need for assistance we face right here at home. The American Council of the Blind is truly the only consumer organization of the blind in the United States today. We do not accept federal funding that hampers our ability to act as true consumers. We speak from the point of view of participants in the process of education, rehabilitation and as recipients of services such as Social Security. As consumers of these programs, we have specific needs and direct responsibility for such services and for how well they serve us. Take Social Security as one example. Many ACB members are consumers of one part or another of the Social Security program. For over 25 years, my personal role has been that of a contributor to this invaluable national service. Before that, I was an SSI beneficiary while a student. I have every expectation of participating in the future as a recipient of Social Security retirement benefits, based on my past contributions. Many of you reading this fall into one of these three categories, and many others receive Social Security Disability Insurance benefits based on your work and contribution history. It is no secret that we in the blind community have been required to advocate for ourselves with the Social Security Administration (SSA) on a variety of topics for many years. Right now, the American Council of the Blind in conjunction with the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF) is investigating the taking of action to require SSA to provide information and correspondence in accessible media to blind and visually impaired Americans. With the technology and resources readily at our disposal today, there is no reason why SSA cannot provide letters to blind recipients in a form each recipient can read and respond to in accessible media. The right of access to your correspondence from a federal agency is basic, and is clearly guaranteed within the ADA and/or Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. We intend to make sure that the inability of SSA to react appropriately to this need is remedied. Once again, ACB not only talks about the rights blind people ought to have, it takes action to secure them. This proves again how much we are the consumer organization fighting for and protecting the rights of blind Americans. In addition to being able to read our correspondence from SSA, it is necessary, and by no means always obvious, to know how to respond to such correspondence. Often, one must mount a defense against claims made by SSA regarding eligibility for benefits, or for the amount of benefits owed. One of the greatest needs within our community is advocacy assistance to support maintenance of SSI or SSDI to eligible recipients. The services and expertise provided by SSA to the blind community are severely lacking today, and determinations vary widely among district offices around the country. A large number of blind people have no resource to which they can turn for adequate professional assistance when faced with an adverse finding or determination from the Social Security Administration. Here is where an issue arises of responsibility. How much responsibility does a consumer organization like ACB bear to assist recipients in such matters? Might we as an organization wish to play a greater role in the providing of such advocacy assistance? Several years ago, many members of ACB throughout the country took advantage of a series of training seminars in order to assist themselves and others with asserting their rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act. We have no way of knowing how many participants became active advocates on behalf of themselves or of others, but we do know that many ACB members participated in the training seminars and found them very useful at the time. In my visits with affiliates, issues related to Social Security come up in almost every one. Just last weekend, June 10-12, I visited our North Dakota affiliate and heard there from one more member who is struggling to stay under the SGA level for SSDI and who could benefit greatly from advice from other blind people on how this is done. Without proper assistance, it is easy to lose your entire benefit simply by exceeding the monthly SGA level, which can place you in a situation of having no SSA income and no medical insurance. If a person runs afoul of SSA rules and regulations, it can take years to sort out the situation, and too often, the blind recipient loses in the end when he/she has done nothing wrong but when the proper advocate cannot be found to assist. With a consumer corps of advocates, such an unfortunate situation could be more readily avoidable. Finally, while I've used Social Security as the example in this article, equally significant problems exist within the Medicaid system and for clients of vocational rehabilitation. ACB could benefit greatly from the creation of a corps of specialists in any or all of these areas. Training, commitment and coordination are all key elements of starting such a program. I would like to solicit feedback from "Forum" readers and ACB members in the creating of such core groups. We will have this as our topic of conversation on the conference call on August 18. Please come and discuss these issues at (866) 633-8638. The ID for this conference call meeting is letstalk or 53878255. The call will begin promptly at 6:30 p.m. Pacific time (9:30 p.m. Eastern). I hope to visit with many of you on this call. ***** MONTHLY CONFERENCE CALLS AVAILABLE ACB President Chris Gray wishes to remind "Forum" readers that on the third Wednesday of every month, conference calls are held in which any member of ACB can participate. Beginning in July, these calls will later be broadcast on ACB Radio. Join the call between 6:30 and 8 p.m. Pacific (9:30 and 11 p.m. Eastern) and let ACB know your views and concerns on issues. Whether you wish to stay for five minutes and have your say, or stay longer and talk with others, please make it a point to attend these calls. Here is the schedule of calls for the third quarter of 2005. Wednesday, July 20: Discussion of the 2005 convention. What did you like? What would you like to see happen differently in future years? Wednesday, August 17: Could ACB form an assistance corps for Social Security and/or other advocacy advice? Wednesday, September 21: Digital magazines and books. How will they impact us and when will they become available? ***** ACB RALLIES 'ROUND REHAB by Melanie Brunson, Executive Director On May 26, some 60 ACB members and staff joined hundreds of representatives from disability organizations at a rally in front of the U.S. Department of Education. The purpose of the rally was to voice opposition to the department's proposals for restructuring the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) and funding for the vocational rehabilitation program itself. Participants came from across the country and represented a total of 48 local and national disability organizations. The message was clearly and concisely stated: just as no child should be "left behind," neither should any person with a disability be left behind. ACB leaders are very concerned that if the measures being proposed by education officials are implemented, their cumulative impact could seriously erode, rather than enhance, the ability of people who are blind to obtain adequate rehabilitative services. Department actions that are of particular concern include: - Promoting a vocational rehabilitation (VR) super waiver that would allow governors to raid VR funding in order to prop up a system of one-stop centers, which are largely inaccessible to people with disabilities, especially those who are blind, and do not even provide the specialized training needed by people who are blind in order to achieve a positive vocational outcome; - Closing regional offices of the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) that provide assistance and oversight to VR agencies and grantees; - Reorganizing RSA to eliminate the Division of Blind Services, the office which currently administers specialized training and employment programs that are vital to the ability of people who are blind and deaf- blind to live independently and become gainfully employed, fully participating members of their communities; - Cutting RSA staff in half by eliminating 65 jobs, nearly half of which are held by people with disabilities; and - Downgrading the position of the commissioner of RSA (a presidential appointee confirmed by the Senate) to a director appointed by the assistant secretary of education, in spite of widespread protests from the disability community. Vocational rehabilitation services for people who are blind involve much more than job placement. People with disabilities, particularly those with sensory disabilities, must develop a number of skills before they can live independently and function competently in a workplace. Vocational rehabilitation programs give individuals access to personnel who are qualified to teach these skills. One-stop centers were never meant to provide this type of training. Rehabilitation personnel with expertise in employment of people with visual impairments work with both employers and prospective employees to overcome obstacles to employment. One-stop centers do not have the expertise to meet these needs. ACB shares the department's interest in efficient delivery of quality rehabilitation services. However, our concern is that the measures contemplated here place efficiency ahead of quality service delivery. Their cumulative effect could be the destruction of opportunities for future generations of people with disabilities. Some of the proposals described above were included in legislation to reauthorize the Rehabilitation Act that have now passed both houses of Congress. For instance, provisions that would downgrade the RSA commissioner's position to a directorship were in both bills. Others are being undertaken by the Department of Education independent of Congressional action. For instance, they are planning to implement much of their restructuring program for RSA by the end of the current fiscal year. Debate on all of these, and many other proposals that could impact the integrity of vocational rehabilitation services for people who are blind, has been highly charged and is expected to continue for some time. As I write, we are awaiting the appointment of a conference committee to iron out differences between the House and Senate bills and bring a bill to the president. At this time, neither chamber is considering inclusion of harmful provisions such as the super waiver described above. However, since this proposal is supported by department officials, it is not dead. Until we know that this and other proposals that we believe could destroy the integrity of our rehabilitation system are beyond resurrection, we will closely monitor the workings of both the Department of Education and appropriate Congressional committees. We expect to give an update on the latest developments during the ACB convention. We will also use these pages and the Washington Connection, which can be accessed through the ACB telephone system, to provide the latest information on this very critical issue. Finally, and perhaps most important, we will give you suggested actions you can take to help us spread the word regarding the value of rehabilitation services that can meet the needs of real people across this country. Please contact the ACB national office for further information and help us carry on ACB's tradition of commitment to quality rehabilitation services for all Americans who are blind or visually impaired. CAPTIONS Melanie Brunson addresses the crowd of ACB members in the courtyard before heading off to the rally. Among the members in attendance were Bessie Reece (left), Sue Ammeter, Allen Casey and Betty Soderholm. Board member Naomi Soule holds a sign reading "Pencils 5 cents, Rehab Priceless" as she marches around the loop in front of the Department of Education. ***** WHO WILL SPEAK FOR BRANDY PRINCE? by Allen J. Casey It is likely that few of us knew Brandy Prince. I first encountered her name when a friend forwarded a news article to me. Who was Brandy Prince and why should someone speak for her? Brandy was a 56-year-old retired civil servant; a former resident of San Francisco and air traffic controller with the Federal Aviation Administration; a wife living in New Bern, N.C.; and the victim of a danger which daily threatens the safety and welfare of all blind and visually impaired people no matter where they may live. On the afternoon of April 14, Brandy Prince was walking, white cane in hand, on the shoulder of a New Bern street when a Craven County Area Transit System van pulled out of a driveway, striking and critically injuring her. She died the next day in a regional trauma center. In addition to the tragic loss of life, why is this incident important to us? The answer is both simple and complex. Brandy Prince was a visually impaired pedestrian; she represents every person who is blind or visually impaired. She, as so many of us do daily, was exercising her right to walk the streets of her home city in safety and security. She reportedly was on the correct side of the street, facing oncoming traffic. She had no reason to expect a vehicle not on the street to pose a threat to her presence as a pedestrian. Who is responsible for Brandy Prince's death? The van driver was charged with misdemeanor death by motor vehicle, an offense punishable by not more than 120 days in jail or possibly probation. But what about us, the public, the citizens for whom the streets are intended? Do we not bear a liability, albeit indirectly? True, we advocate for pedestrian rights and pedestrian safety. We call for better signage, more adequate signals, expanded driver education. But is this enough? How often have we confronted local, state and national leaders and, face- to-face without equivocation, demanded not only new safety features and stronger laws but also consistent enforcement of existing traffic laws? Have we recognized that we desperately need a partnership, a coalition of laws, technology, education and enforcement which, taken together, constitute the framework of pedestrian safety? Do we understand that the catalyst, the spark, the key to effective and consistent pedestrian safety is enforcement? Without enforcement, the best laws, the most sophisticated technology and the broadest education are fated to fall short of the mark. We neither want nor need more Brandy Princes losing their lives needlessly to carelessness and indifference. Her untimely death and its attendant circumstances speak loudly and clearly to each of us. They challenge us to pursue a proactive crusade for pedestrian safety in our villages, towns and cities; no excuses accepted. Who then will speak for Brandy Prince? There is only one answer: We must speak for her and act for her. To do less is to fail Brandy, ourselves and the welfare of all pedestrians, of all people who exercise their rights to walk the streets in safety and security. ***** AFFILIATE NEWS Braille Through Life Day Braille Through Life was the theme for a braille emphasis day held in the rotunda of Pennsylvania's State Capitol on May 26, 2005. Anthony (Tony) Swartz, Lehigh Valley chapter president, presented the keynote address and Shelly Rhodes, graduate of Kutztown University and a PCB member, spoke on how she used braille as a blind person and student. There were also exhibits and a proclamation by Pennsylvania's Governor Rendell that was read at the conference. Braille Day at the Capitol was arranged by Pennsylvania's state agency for the blind in cooperation with PCB, its braille committee and the state's Braille Revival League. PCB's state convention will take place Oct. 21-23 at the Green Tree Radisson Hotel near Pittsburgh. Hotel rates are $79 plus tax per night. The theme of the convention is "Get to the Point." In addition to reports and affiliate business, there will be panel discussions on radio reading services, an update on accessible voting in Pennsylvania, the future of recorded books, the Freedom Box in use, long-term care insurance, and planning on the Delaware Council of Citizens with Low Vision and PCB working together. For more information contact the PCB office at 1-800-736-1410 or e-mail pcb1@paonline.com. Berkeley Springs Is the Site for the Mountain State Council Convention Berkeley Springs, W.Va. is the site for the Mountain State Council of the Blind convention, which will be held the weekend of Oct. 14-16, 2005. Berkeley Springs offers an interesting look at colonial history, featuring George Washington's bathtub (which is a natural rock formation very much like our present-day bathtubs). It fills naturally with mineral water which is actually quite warm even in the winter. No, you cannot take a bath there now unless you want to risk public display. However, not far from this is the natural mineral springs bathhouse which offers a variety of services, including a professional massage, infrared heat treatment, steam, a bath in your own large ceramic tub of mineral water and a shower. We will be doing this on Saturday afternoon. Within very easy walking distance are a variety of smaller restaurants, craft shops, herbal shop, a homeopathic shop, a historical Catholic church which still holds services, and the park. There is also an art gallery and a museum. We are working with a local performance group on an audio-described performance, too. The Inn and Spa, where the convention will be held, is a historical inn with a full-service restaurant and outdoor swimming pool. A block of rooms will be reserved. Room rates are $99 per night (plus tax) for single and double. Each room has two queen beds. Please call (304) 258-2110 for your reservation and let them know you are with MSCB. There will be opportunities for presentations, fun, socialization, relaxation, history, food, entertainment and did I say fun? MSCB believes in keeping the business short and precise and the fun and food lavish. And so far, not much we have done has been real conventional. I don't expect this one to be any different. We are well aware that transportation is an issue here and we are working with Lions Club members on this. If you fly, you can fly from Pittsburgh to Hagerstown, Md. and be taken to Berkeley Springs by arranged transportation. You can also fly into Washington, D.C. and catch the train into Martinsburg from there and then we will get you to Berkeley Springs. Greyhound also goes into Hagerstown, Md. So if you have always wanted to come to West Virginia, this just could be your time to do it. And remember, we are an easy 90 minutes from Washington, D.C. so it would be easy enough to work in a tour there as well. For more information, contact Jessie L. Rayl at (304) 263-5688, or by e-mail, thedogmom@verizon.net. ACBI State Convention The 34th annual convention of the American Council of the Blind of Indiana will be held on Nov. 4 and 5, 2005 at the L.A. Pittenger Student Center at Ball State University in Muncie, Ind. Room rates are as follows: twin room, one person, $48, and two people, $55; king room, one person, $54, two people, $61. There is an 11 percent tax on all rooms. Room reservations must be made by Oct. 4, 2005. Call (765) 285-1555. Dr. Richard Windsor, a well-known optometrist, and Richard Harris, coordinator of services for students with disabilities at Ball State University, will be speaking to us. There will be exhibits as well. Mark your calendar now and plan to join us for an enlightening and delightful weekend. If you have any questions, contact Gerry Koors at (317) 251-2562 or e-mail gerrykoors@aol.com. ***** IN MEMORIAM: SUSAN KAMRASS by Sheila Styron (Reprinted with permission from "Pawtracks," summer 2005.) It is with deep personal sadness and many warm feelings that I take this opportunity to celebrate the life of Susan Kamrass with ACB members. Susan passed away on March 15, 2005, and is survived by her parents, Lee and Ben Kamrass of Beverly Hills, Calif., who, prior to losing Susan, experienced the untimely death of their son Sam, Susan's only sibling. Susan has family in Nogales, Ariz., where she was laid to rest. I first encountered Susan in Louisville, at an ACB convention, where she admired a colorful beaded fanny pack I was carrying, and we hit it off immediately. Actually, I knew I would like Susan before I even ever met her, having heard that there was this really cool independent blind woman who lived on her own in a rural setting with lots of animals, including a horse, up in Washington state, a lifestyle that very much appealed to me. Susan was the only woman I ever met who owned a pair of silver Birkenstocks. She had a great sense of humor laced with more than a touch of irony at times, and when we were roommates at the ACB convention in Houston, we made up blind jokes. I guess we were more than just a little irreverent, but since we were both visually impaired, we decided it was OK. Even after convention, we would sometimes call each other up just to see which of us could make the other laugh more with one of our insane attempts at insider quirky humor. We shared a room at three ACB conventions, after Susan, upon hearing my request for a roommate, quipped, "I'm not really the roommate type, but I think you'll do." Susan was a GDUI board member from 2000 through 2003 and very active with Guide Dog Users of Washington, serving as their treasurer. She worked two beautiful golden retrievers from Leader Dogs, Max and Captain, and assisted her training program to raise funds through speaking engagements with the Lions. Born in 1951, Susan graduated from Western Washington University in 1973 with a degree in art history. She was very fond of the arts, from painting to dance and books to music. She loved movies, especially musicals from the '40s and '50s. Susan returned to school a few years later to study math and computer science, and for a while, considered pursuing engineering as a career. However, her fondness for the arts eventually won out, and she jumped at the opportunity to purchase Skagit Bay Books in LaConner, Wash. in the late 1980s, which she operated for a number of years. Susan also painted and was an avid and talented needle worker accomplished in knitting, crochet, and needlepoint. She was an enthusiastic supporter of other artists and craftspeople. Susan had many friends from many walks of life. She made me feel very welcome when I was new to GDUI and ACB through laughter and her ability to bring something special to ordinary activities. While poor health and steadily decreasing vision sometimes challenged her ability to participate in the activities she loved, Susan was an indomitable and adaptable spirit. She usually found a way around the obstacles that she encountered and displayed more courage and determination than almost anyone else would have. Susan's sense of humor was never absent for very long. I'm grateful for the friendship and good times we shared and only wish I had gotten to know her sooner. Susan Kamrass, please know that you are loved and missed by many, and we will cherish your friendship and memory always. From Anna Chamberlain, who shared fond recollections of Susan with me: "I feel lucky to have known Susan over an extended period, to have seen her at a different time in her life and to have witnessed her ability to grow as she met her many challenges. She was an exotic and intriguing 'aunt' to my two children, and for this consistent and loving participation in their growing up, I am eternally grateful. She was also a member of my larger family, and she rarely missed a holiday, birthday, or backyard picnic, so she will be missed by my siblings, nieces and nephews as well." ***** IN MEMORIAM: GERALD PYE January 3, 1929-June 6, 2005 by Marsha Farrow On June 6, 2005, Gerald Pye passed on from this world to his eternal home. Gerri Pye, his loving wife, was by his side when he passed at 8:30 a.m. The funeral services were held at Macon Memorial Chapel on June 9. We will all miss this very dedicated charter member of the Georgia Council of the Blind. Gerald was born Jan. 3, 1929 to Grady Clifford and Dora Bertha Bellflower Pye. He was a member of Log Cabin Baptist Church as well as a Sunday school teacher. Gerri and Gerald were classmates at the Georgia Academy for the Blind. They graduated in 1948. Gerri and Gerald were present at the 1956 meeting held in Macon, Ga. to organize the Georgia Council of the Blind. Both became charter members of GCB. He served as president of his local chapter, chaired the finance committee and constitution and bylaws committee, and held many other crucial leadership roles for 49 years. The Pyes attended every national convention as long as their health permitted. In fact, Gerald and Gerri attended last year's convention in Birmingham. Gerald was a charter member of the American Council of the Blind and has been active in the organized blind movement since the mid-1950s. He and Geraldine provided key historical documents in the preparation of the ACB history regarding Georgia, its people, and their involvement in the creation of ACB. Throughout his life, Gerald played an extremely valuable role in state and national affairs as well. Gerald was a member of the Mayor's Commission for the Visually Impaired. In 2001, he received the first Mary Johnson Award from the Georgia Council of the Blind. A year later, he received the Citizen of the Year Award from DOL-Vocational Rehabilitation Services. He also received the Gerald Pye Award from the Georgia Council of the Blind in 2002 for his outstanding service to the blind and visually impaired. He was a member of the Chit Chat Club, the Alumni Association of the Georgia Academy for the Blind, and a past member of the Southside Lions Club. Gerald worked at Warner-Robbins Air Force Base for many years. He believed in the independence and self-sufficiency of individuals who are blind and visually impaired. His personal beliefs were reflected in his desire to see all individuals with vision loss have the opportunity to support themselves and their families by gainful employment. He was always supportive of his devoted wife who served for many years as a school teacher at the Georgia Academy for the Blind. Gerald Pye was an encourager to everyone who knew him, especially new members of the Georgia Council. Gerald is survived by three sons, seven grandchildren and eight great- grandchildren. ***** REMEMBERING GERALD PYE Gerald is a charter member of the American Council of the Blind and has been active in the organized blind movement since the mid-1950s. He and his wife, Geraldine, provided key historical documents in the preparation of the ACB history regarding Georgia, its people, and their involvement in the creation of ACB. Throughout his life, Gerald played an extremely valuable role in state and national affairs as well. Gerald was a considerate, thoughtful and dedicated member of the Georgia Council of the Blind and the American Council of the Blind. I valued his counsel and his friendship very deeply. We can be thankful he is now in peace and spared the many physical difficulties through which he has lived for the past several years. -- Chris Gray, Sacramento, Calif. Gerald Pye's unshakable and passionate belief in ACB's democratic principles and practices to which Gerald and his wife, Geraldine, of nearly 60 years dedicated so much of their time and energy over those many, many years should serve as a mentoring objective toward which we should similarly dedicate ourselves to replicate. Here, friends and colleagues, was a soft- spoken pillar of unbending steel of a man and leader within the blind community of his native and much beloved "peach tree" state. Gerald, I hope you at long last find peace and comfort in the forgiving, soft red clay of your beloved Georgia. To Gerald's surviving widow, Geraldine, I send my deepest and heartfelt condolences. -- Charlie Hodge, Arlington, Va. I am sad to learn of Mr. Pye's death. I met him one hot August when the Georgia Council of the Blind invited me to attend their very enjoyable state convention. I was so honored to meet Mr. Pye and his devoted wife. They were both so kind and outgoing, delighting in telling stories about the early days of ACB, and in listening and learning from anyone they met, no matter their generation or outlook on life. It is sad when we lose people as gracious and generous of spirit of Mr. Pye. May treasured memories and shared experiences bring solace to his family and friends. -- Penny Reeder, Montgomery Village, Md. ***** LARGE PRINT BOOK REPRODUCTION: AN INTIMATE VIEW by Laurie Noble, Paul Hernandez and Grace Oshiro We considered ourselves lucky. We'd been in the image technology business for 20-some years, not just getting by but doing well. So when the contract from the state of California to enlarge textbooks for visually impaired students in our public schools came through, we were ready for a new vision and jumped in wholeheartedly. We developed custom software to automate our production system and enhance quality. Cost, always a factor, was addressed with a new completely automated version, which reduced the price to a fraction of the old manual processes. We soon found ourselves enlarging books for the school system in Texas, then Maryland and North Carolina. Our list of customers continued to grow and we knew that our hard work was paying off. But as with all endeavors, the human element is all important and so we decided to get a little closer to the people whose lives are touched by the everyday work that we do. We made a visit to one of Sacramento's most venerable institutions, C.K. McClatchy High School, a public school in the heart of Sacramento. There, we met with Kay Rogge, an itinerant special education teacher serving the needs of about 24 students with varying disabilities. A veteran of the public school system, Kay critiqued our ideas with the authority of a teacher with hard-won knowledge. She took us back in time and gave us some insight into the challenges that a visually impaired high school student faces. Our time with Kay passed quickly. We were nearing the end of our appointment when Nicole, a visually impaired student, came strolling in for her session with Kay. We showed her several large-print books, eager for some firsthand impressions. Nicole, a bubbly, long-haired senior, was upbeat and bursting with honesty! She nixed some ideas and gave praise for others. "Oh, that hardbound book is too heavy. I'm not carrying that in my backpack!" she said. Shyly, she told us she would be graduating this year and planned on going on to one of our local junior colleges, making her not only the first to graduate from high school in her family, but also the first to contemplate college. It was apparent that Nicole was rising above her disability and looking ahead to a full life. It felt good to know we were players in that promising life. We watched as student and teacher, sitting side by side, joked and laughed with each other and we knew we were privy to an exchange normally reserved for just the two of them; and somehow, sitting down back at the office, the laughter fresh in our minds, the work went just a little easier. Imtrek Corporation, founded in 1982, is owned by Laurie Noble and Paul Hernandez. On-site services include large print reproduction and electronic document archiving and management. For more information, call toll-free 1- 800-965-PRINT (77468), or (916) 927-5313, or view the web site at www.imtrek.com. [spell] ***** READERS DISGUSTED BY 'EXTREME MAKEOVER HOME EDITION' (Editor's Note: This letter was originally sent to the St. Petersburg Times, May 2, 2005.) Dear Editor: Recently, we had the opportunity to read an article appearing in the St. Petersburg Times dated March 7, 2005. The article was entitled "An Extreme Show Of Support." According to your article, ABC staff is building a home for James Dolan, a man blinded during a robbery. We cannot help but feel that your article does not provide a complete or accurate picture of blind persons. For example, in your article, you did not mention any other disabilities that Mr. Dolan may have as a result of his injury. As individuals personally living with blindness, we find ourselves wondering why a blind person would need larger doorways. If Mr. Dolan were in a wheelchair, that addition to his new home would make more sense to us. Normally, blind persons simply do not need enlarged doorways in order to walk through them. In our opinion, ABC television's attempt at goodwill is misplaced. Mr. Dolan could use the money being spent on this beautiful home for vocational training that would allow him to return to his role as a productive member of his community, and the primary provider for his family. It is very clear to us that Mr. Dolan is new to blindness. From our own experience, we feel it would be very important and beneficial for Mr. Dolan to receive proper training in the non-visual alternative skills of blindness. Such skills would include training in home management, learning to travel independently in virtually any environment, computer skills, and braille to enable him to communicate effectively both in his personal life, and on the job. Accepting blindness is the first step to being a contributing member of society. Most often, in the beginning, people confronting blindness find themselves uncertain and discouraged about the future. We would hope that Mr. Dolan would strive to have a functional life in his community, rather than one of isolation and dependence. Your article expressed opinions that seem to imply that Mr. Dolan is not going to be an independent and contributing member of his family and community during his lifetime. Without proper training, this may very well be true. The dollars spent on this home, with its many bells and whistles, are not the answer for living a full life. Without training, Mr. Dolan has simply no chance for living the life of freedom and independence he deserves. We are all clients of the Nebraska Orientation Center for the Blind, and our training has enhanced and changed our lives in a very positive way. Each of us is preparing to return to a full life, contributing to our families, holding down a job, and helping to make a difference in our communities. We want the same opportunities for Mr. Dolan, and all other blind people. We cannot help but feel that ABC's misguided efforts to help Mr. Dolan will, in the long run, have the very opposite result, not simply for him, but for many other blind people who are seeking the opportunity to lead normal, productive lives. We believe that ABC's reality show does not portray the reality of the blind. With the opportunity to develop a positive philosophy of blindness, and proper training in the many alternative techniques for the blind, Mr. Dolan could be living in a modest home with his family, commuting to work every day, and enjoying the same sense of freedom and fulfillment as his neighbors, blind or sighted. It is our sincere hope that your newspaper will be fair and provide your readers with a different point of view. Please take the time to view the enclosed video, which shows the impact of training on the lives of blind individuals, who are fully involved in their communities. -- Joy E. Bolin, Angie Larson, Jeremy Richey, Allison Kuchar, Terry Heany, Aldon Thieszen, Alan Wheeler, Bonnie Ainsworth, Hector Miranda, Shaun Lange, Mary Johnson, and Dave Wallick, Nebraska Orientation Center for the Blind, Lincoln, Neb. ***** EDITORIAL: MISPLACED GOODWILL? by Sharon Lovering Sunday night, May 1, I was watching TV with my folks. More specifically, we were watching "Extreme Makeover Home Edition." This particular show featured the Dolan family: dad James, blinded in a November shooting at a St. Petersburg Radio Shack; mom Chrissy; and children Charlie, Haley, and J.T. (ages 12, 6 and 3, respectively). Also living in the house were Chrissy's brother and sister-in-law. As the team of Ty Pennington, Constance Ramos, Preston Sharp, Michael Moloney, Paul DiMeo, Tracy Hutson, Eduardo Xol, Ed Sanders, and Paige Hemmis toured the house and learned about each individual's likes and dislikes, I was hooked. As the Dolans rode away in the limousine toward the plane taking them to their vacation destination (Puerto Rico), the team was busy designing a house that would take into account each person's needs. The Dolans' old house, a 1960s ranch style, was 1,500 square feet, but in a matter of hours was nothing but rubble. The crew, plus an army of volunteers from Lexington Homes, worked around the clock for seven days to build a new house. They called in an accessibility specialist (himself blind) to help adapt the home so that Dolan would be better able to navigate through it. Each child would have his or her own bedroom, along with a bedroom for the parents, a bedroom for the aunt and uncle, and the usual rooms one finds in a house. The design team also put a golf course in the backyard (after consulting with a group of blind golfers). This new house has more than 3,500 square feet inside. I especially enjoyed watching the crew work on the kids' rooms Charlie's robot room was amazing. I hadn't been aware that robots could do so much. Haley's puzzle room reminded me in some ways of my bedroom when I was a kid. J.T.'s jungle room, complete with monkeys, a lion, an elephant, and other animals, plus all the noises at the push of a button, made me wish for something similar for my church's vacation Bible school this August. (Unfortunately, I know the status of the budget; the giraffe will be cardboard, as will the accompanying acacia tree.) Dolan had been working two jobs to pay for the fixing of his house when he was shot on November 18. The show was filmed in early March. At that point, Dolan had only been blind for four months. That's what got to me as I sat and watched. When I came in to work Monday, the phones started ringing. The e-mail lists started firing up with people complaining about how disgusted they felt about the show. I didn't understand. What on earth was wrong with giving the family a new house with some adaptations for Dolan? OK, maybe it tended toward overkill with the voice-activated technology. But how often have you heard people ask for technology that will make it easier for them to use a computer, access the Internet, cook using a stove or a microwave, etc.? And how often have you heard blind people ask to be treated like everybody else? I felt sick after reading all the complaints on ACB-L. But I found myself agreeing with James Hollins' message, which said: "First, people, if you watch the show regularly, you would know that they are never trying to give the public information about a certain disability. ... The show takes the homes of families that have been struck with some sort of situation beyond [their] control, and gives them one less thing to worry about. So he got all of this stuff that the rest of us do not have in our homes. ... if someone offered me half the stuff that he got, I would not turn it down. ..." So is that the problem? Jealousy? Or is it that it didn't meet his actual needs? As I understand it, Dolan had only recently started attending some sort of rehabilitation or adjustment to blindness classes. It's probable that neither he nor the producers and crew members knew about the wide variety of technology available, from speech synthesizers to braille keyboard displays, microtape-recorder-sized personal data assistants to Type 'n Speak devices. Should we fault them for their ignorance? While it was not a true representation of how the average blind person goes through life, it was a gift, and a good effort at making a difference for this family. The phones didn't ring and the e-mail lists didn't light up like this when the Extreme Makeover Home Edition crew rebuilt the house for the deaf couple with two sons, one of whom was blind and autistic. The crew included a large variety of adaptive technology in that house, too. One crucial piece of technology was a tracking system consisting of an antenna-like device and a pager-like device. The pager was designed to be tucked in a pocket or slipped on a belt loop of the child's clothing; the antenna would home in on the signal emitted by the pager. This way, the family could track down the child when he got away from the house or from them. While it might not necessarily have been a true representation of the lives of the average deaf couple with children, it reflected their lives -- and their sons' -- quite well. Though the show is primarily intended for entertainment, it does send a message to its viewers. As I understand it, the message that most people got from this particular show was that "blind people are helpless." You and I know that's not true. But the public does not. What we need to do is educate the public about the capabilities of blind people. And we can't do it just by sitting around. If you were disgusted with the program, call or write to ABC, Inc., 500 S. Buena Vista St., Burbank, CA 91521-4551; phone (818) 460-7477. Be sure to address it to Extreme Makeover Home Edition. Personally, I enjoyed the show. It showed me just how much good could come when people worked together. What would happen if we in ACB worked that intensely on voting accessibility, pedestrian safety, Rehabilitation Act reauthorization, information access, and Randolph-Sheppard issues? ***** HAVE DOG, WILL TRAVEL by DeAnna Quietwater Noriega My German shepherd guide dog has been to the ACB convention five times, to Mexico twice, to Kauai, Maui, Martinique, Haiti, Saint Martin, Saint Bart and Guadalupe. We have made numerous trips around the country by car, bus, train and plane. Although Griffin and I were matched as a team in 1998, I have been a guide dog handler for 36 years and have always loved to travel. Here are a few of my tried-and-true travel tips. If you are leaving the country, don't assume that your dog will automatically be granted the same access rights as you are guaranteed at home. Carefully research the health regulations, access laws and prepare all necessary travel documents well in advance. Start this document-gathering about six months before your departure date. There might be medical procedures that need to be performed at spaced intervals, such as the rabies titre tests required to enter Hawaii. Schedule your final vet visit to acquire a health certificate as close as possible to your departure date. Make copies of a statement of the fact that your dog is a guide dog written in the language of the country you plan to visit. Practice a simple phrase in the appropriate language to explain your dog's status as a trained guide dog. Check to see if you will be permitted to bring dry dog food into the country you plan to visit. If not, find out what brands of food are available and begin transitioning your dog to the new diet to avoid upsetting his system. If you are allowed to bring in your preferred canine cuisine, purchase an adequate supply plus extra treats. The stress of travel and the extra exercise you are likely to get will insure that your dog isn't in any danger of gaining weight during a trip. The treats will make long flights and delays in feeding schedules easier for your dog to handle. Check to see that you have what you will need to cope with stress- related diarrhea or stomach upset. I would suggest a supply of Imodium, medications for hot spots, some Benadryl, vet-wrap, hydrogen peroxide and gauze pads as basics in building a first-aid kit. Include a stack of Swiffer cloths in your bag of grooming tools. If you groom your dog in a hotel bathroom, a quick sweep of the floor with one of these soft cloths will collect loose dog hair for easy disposal. In your purse or fanny pack, fold a few sheets of paper towel, a travel pack of baby wipes or moistened towlettes, plastic pickup bags, and hand sanitizer to clean up any accidents. Accidents can happen to anyone in the hurry and confusion of travel; having the right things handy to deal with them will make them less embarrassing or frustrating. I once made the mistake of allowing Griffin to run loose unsupervised just before an early morning flight. We were delayed on the ground because of ice on the wings and were in danger of missing a tight connection. So we dashed through the concourse at a run trailing the meet-and-assist person panting in our wake calling out the changes in directions we needed. At 30,000 feet, my normally calm dog suddenly erupted from under the seat in front of me and crawled into my lap. He panted and whined frantically. I went to the front of the plane with an airsick bag in hand. Griffin jumped and scratched at the exit door. I stood there trying to convince him that he could pee into the bag. Unfortunately, he had ingested something that didn't agree with him and had a severe attack of diarrhea. At most airports, you need to leave the concourse area to go outside to relieve your dog. This means coming back through security before boarding your next flight. Try to schedule longer delays between flights to make this extra trip outside possible. If the worst happens, don't let it ruin your trip. All any of us can do is be as prepared as we can be and deal with it as calmly as we can. After all, anyone can get sick while traveling. Now if airports would only supply indoor facilities for canine travelers, life would be a lot simpler for the dog on the go! Carry a few meals for your dog in your hand luggage. If a bag goes astray, you won't arrive at your destination tired with a hungry dog and no place to purchase supplies late at night. In fact, counting out individual meals in Ziploc bags is a convenient way to pack your dog food. It makes it easier to distribute the bulk and weight in your luggage. You can purchase heavy-duty disposable plastic dog dishes that fold flat for water in most pet stores. The bags of food can be easily converted into serving dishes by folding the stiff top edges back on themselves. If you are concerned about the quality of the water and its adverse effects on your dog, you might consider using only bottled water or carrying tablets to purify the water he drinks. Pack at least one toy for burning off steam after a hard day of guiding. I know it doesn't seem logical, but dogs do enjoy a vigorous romp to unwind after having to remain focused guiding all day. A towel, mat or rug serves well as a travel bed and gives your dog a sense of place in a strange room. A tie-down or bed chain comes in handy if you are planning to share living space with another dog handler. It also shows your dog where his place is in an unfamiliar setting. You will both be happier if he isn't wandering around getting into things or tripping you as you attempt to make your way to the bathroom in the middle of the night. If you don't normally relieve your dog on leash, start doing this about two weeks before your trip. This will permit you and your dog enough time to develop a routine. You will avoid those struggles to get your dog to relieve in unfamiliar places if you don't have to add the strangeness of being asked to relieve on leash, when he is accustomed to running free in his own backyard. You will also have a chance to practice picking up after him if you don't ordinarily do that. Picking up dog waste makes you a more welcome guest wherever you go. This practice has the added benefit of allowing you to monitor your dog's health. When stools are soft, unshaped and begin to have a strong odor, you might want to slow down your sightseeing for awhile or administer an anti-diarrhea medication before things really get out of hand. The day before your trip, cut back on your dog's food by about half. If you feed in the evening, substitute a couple of dog biscuits. Limit his intake of water by measuring a cupful into his dish the morning of your departure. During the day, you can give a small biscuit or a few pieces of kibble at spaced intervals to avoid empty-stomach vomiting. You can also give him an ice cube or two to keep him hydrated but not in need of a frantic dash to find a relief area. If you are flying, your dog will mostly spend the journey sleeping, so limiting his intake won't put much of a strain on him. Sometimes, it is easy to forget that when you don't know the area yourself, you may need to give more praise and attention to reassure your dog that you know he is trying to do his job. If you need to correct Juno because he is showing an unprofessional interest in chasing that iguana, have him perform a simple task like "come" or "sit." This will return his focus to his job and allow you to praise honestly. During stressful times, it helps to give your dog more positive feedback like a stroke on the head, a scratch behind the ears or other quiet attention. Such little gestures of affection keep his mind on pleasing you and give him reassurance he may desperately need when your routines and environments are undergoing radical changes. Have fun, but remember to keep a reasonable routine that also meets your dog's needs. ***** BECAUSE OF OUR GUIDE DOGS, WE FELT LIKE PRISONERS IN PARADISE! by Patty Yarman For the past two years we have vacationed with friends who own a time share. In 2002, we spent a week in Orlando, Fla. In October of last year we visited St. Maarten of the Netherlands. My traveling companions are Lynn Boulter, age 75, his wife Edith, 78, and Lynn's guide dog, Park. I travel with my husband Steve, and guide dog Roosevelt. Our guide dogs have always been well received during our travels, so we were totally unprepared for what happened recently. After our trip to St. Maarten, Lynn and Edith asked if we would join them in Puerto Vallarta the following October. I hesitated, taking several months to decide. I wasn't sure about traveling to Mexico. I guess I had heard too many stories. Lynn had contacted the Sheraton Buganvilia Resort where they had stayed previously, and was assured there would be no problem having guide dogs with us. So in March 2004, I finally said "yes" and purchased our airline tickets. On Oct. 22, I took Roosevelt to the vet where he received another rabies vaccine. I hated doing this, but it was a requirement for his mandatory health certificate to enter Mexico. Stateside, he wasn't due for another vaccine until 2006. At 5 p.m. on Oct. 26, after changing planes three times, we finally landed in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. The Sheraton hotel and its surroundings were breathtakingly beautiful! After registering at the desk and getting settled into our suite, we walked through the courtyard to dinner. Edith is in fragile health, so my husband pushed her in a wheelchair. Lynn and I were well taken care of by our guide dogs, Roosevelt and Park. After a delicious meal, we returned to our suite and settled in for a night of planning our next day's adventures. Sunday morning, we decided to attend a 90-minute breakfast buffet. There we met a nice agent named Eddie, who seemed very pleasant. This kind man took me and Edith through the buffet line while pushing her wheelchair. We were eating and answering Eddie's questions when a hotel staffer brought him a phone. After a moment, Eddie handed the phone to Lynn and our pleasant mood suddenly evaporated. We had been tracked down by the hotel manager and were being told to leave the hotel! No ifs, ands or buts! The Sheraton manager was telling Lynn they had received complaints about our pets and we were to leave. I felt so bad for Lynn, who was trying patiently to explain, while sitting in this huge outdoor breakfast area, that Roosevelt and Park were guide dogs, not pets. We were told to return to our suite. When we got back to our rooms, the phone rang almost immediately. The manager was again telling us to "get out." Lynn explained that he had made numerous calls to the Sheraton and each time Guillermo (Bill) said our guide dogs would not be a problem. The weekend manager replied that Guillermo (Bill) was on his days off and we must leave. The other option was to lock our dogs up in a fenced-in parking lot! After several minutes of debate, Lynn and my husband agreed to see the lot in question. Upon his return, my husband said it was a fenced-in concrete area, at least half a mile away, where they kept fertilizer! Obviously, these people had very low regard for these remarkable animals. I would NEVER allow my guide dog to be parted from me in such a manner, especially in a foreign country around total strangers! Later, Guillermo (Bill) was called into the hotel, where he flatly denied ever telling Lynn we could bring our guide dogs, either by phone or in an e-mail. My husband told him he saw an e-mail message Lynn had sent dated Sept. 23, 2004, once again stating we would be there with our dogs and giving our names. The manager said, "But I never answered the e-mail!" Then these Sheraton managers stated we were not to take our dogs downtown or on the boardwalk. They were not welcome, and we were NOT to let our dogs out of our rooms for ANY reason. Then we were booked on the first flights available back to the U.S. We felt like prisoners in paradise! We watched as the hotel manager walked past our windows at least 10 times. Apparently he was making sure our dogs were not taken outside. We literally had to sneak the dogs two feet out the door and under a bush to relieve. I felt like a criminal! There we sat with the pool, amenities and ocean all visible and we were imprisoned in our rooms. We could have left our dogs and gone out, but were terrified they might bark and the police be summoned. For all we knew, they could shoot our beautiful Roosevelt and Park! So there we sat all day and night Sunday, only leaving long enough to purchase food in the hotel grocery. At 7:30 a.m. Monday, both managers were there to escort us out of the Sheraton. These men rode in the hotel van and made sure we went inside the airport. They took us there several hours before the small plane was due to depart. The place was practically deserted. I felt saddened and humiliated, knowing there was absolutely no reason for this type of treatment. These people had never met me or my beautiful, sweet Roosevelt. They hadn't met Lynn's guide Park, or even Edith for that matter! We had all booked rooms at the Sheraton in Los Angeles for our return home from Mexico. Of course that didn't happen, as we were forced to leave before we even got started. Before leaving home, I had made reservations as a preferred customer to stay in the Sheraton our guide dog school utilizes. Our school probably gives them their largest clientele. Is this the way the Sheraton hotels are run in other countries? I wonder how it looked to see two elderly people, one in a wheelchair, the other blind and being guided by a service dog, along with a blind woman, being escorted away by the hotel management. I wouldn't be surprised if people who care about the rights and fair treatment of the elderly and/or disabled, their choice of mobility tool, and the fair treatment of animals boycott this Puerto Vallarta hotel. ***** LEADING THE WAY: MY PATH TO BECOMING A BUSINESS LEADER by Daniel Novielli It is not too often that you come across a business leader who is blind. Yet that is my career ambition. I am well on my way to achieving that goal, in large part due to the National Industries for the Blind's (NIB) Fellowship for Leadership Development. Ten years ago I was involved in a life-changing head-on collision on my way to work at my family's construction business. I finally woke up from a coma, and realized I was blind, had multiple broken bones, and had suffered a stroke that left my limbs lifeless. I knew that I had a long journey ahead of me. I was not about to give up and 10 weeks later, to everyone's surprise, I learned to walk again. Less than a year later, I completed all of my physical rehabilitation and received training from the Seeing Eye, including mobility, adaptive technology and braille. I was finally feeling whole again the only thing that was missing was a new career path. I had the same goals and ambitions as many people do; I just knew that I had to do things a little differently to succeed. I was determined to go to college, since after graduating from high school I had opted to serve my country by joining the Coast Guard instead. In 2001, I graduated magna cum laude from Middle Tennessee State University's School of Business and am proud of my Outstanding Scholar Senior Award, which is bestowed upon students who graduate first in their class within their major. Then came the real world as a blind American. I sifted through several job ads and found myself running straight into a brick wall more than once. Interviewers were not very accepting, focusing on my disabilities rather than my abilities, and I found it challenging to make a company believe that I could succeed in business. I finally accepted a government internship that left me feeling empty because my sighted colleagues failed to believe in my capabilities. It was then that I realized that people who are blind remain one of America's greatest untapped labor resources, with nearly 70 percent of working-age blind adults still not employed. About one-third of those who are working are considered underemployed in relation to their qualifications. Just as I persevered after my accident, I knew that I could not give up on my dream and that I needed to change my attitude. Shortly thereafter, I saw an ad for NIB's Fellowship for Leadership Development. To be honest, at first I felt little enthusiasm for the program, believing initiatives supporting employment programs contain many false promises. But I decided to apply anyway and was accepted as an NIB Fellow. After being accepted, I decided to turn my pessimistic feelings into optimistic energy in order to drive my success as a potential leader. I became excited about learning to become a successful business leader and to finally apply my skills and abilities. Employment Choices NIB is an organization dedicated to combating the unacceptable rate of unemployment facing Americans who are blind. For nearly 70 years, NIB and its network of associated non-profit agencies around the country have been creating and improving employment choices for Americans who are blind. It is the single largest employer for this segment of the population. However, NIB is not about to stop there. NIB has noted, with great enthusiasm, a rising population of talented, capable professionals who are blind emerging from college and university campuses, as well as the workplace. But we often have fewer career choices than our sighted counterparts, and those interested in professional careers have historically been counseled toward vocations that allow us to function more as independent contributors. Over the years, NIB also noticed that training and development programs designed to prepare individuals who are blind for careers in business are few and far between. The result? Only a small number of people who are blind occupy upper-level management positions in the business world, something I was learning firsthand. This deficiency in business training and employment preparation is a major barrier to competitive employment for people like me who are well-educated, motivated, and potential leaders. NIB is uniquely well-qualified to help solve this problem. In 2003, it launched the Business Leaders Program, which provides a tri-fold menu of training opportunities designed specifically for highly capable people who are blind, allowing us to gain applicable business skills and experience. The Business Leaders Program operates on the premise that, given natural ability and inclination, people who are blind need only the tools and skills -- such as those taught in business schools -- and hands-on opportunities to achieve success. To that end, NIB offers three tracks: the Fellowship for Leadership Development; Business Management Training; and Leaders at All Levels. Each program component is designed to further develop the leadership and business skills of people who are blind, allowing us to enter or advance in the business world with confidence. The fellowship combines experience- based learning with formal training in business and management over a two- year period in on-the-job, classroom, distance-learning, and conference settings. It provides three consecutive job assignments at NIB, or an NIB- associated agency, in varied professional positions, offering hands-on management experience. The fellowship has been treading new waters and the success of the program proves the capabilities of people who are blind. Becoming a Leader I remember my first week of the fellowship orientation in September 2003. I, and the other fellows, were anxious, excited, energetic and determined to prove our potential. Because we are all blind, we were nervously walking into objects, as well as each other, but by the end of the week we were like a well-oiled machine in perfect harmony. It is a good analogy for how the competencies we have developed throughout our fellowships drive our success; things may seem out of place for awhile, and then our road map (competency profiling) would lead us to our destination (success). I knew instantly that I was going to be part of a successful program when I witnessed the passion and determination of the NIB staff and the other fellows during fellowship orientation. As I reported for work assignments at my designated rotations, I immediately became part of each organization's management team. NIB assured us that we would work in an atmosphere that would provide development opportunities and allow the fellow to perform, utilizing past experiences and education for a successful completion. Being part of the management team, I was given ample opportunity to express my point of view, leading and contributing to organizational functions. The level of the assigned projects required extensive past experience and education for successful completion. Projects or deliverables completed through my fellowship include the development of a marketing follow-up plan for trade shows and events, completion of a departmental budget approved by the executive financial committee and board of directors, facilitation of an employee workgroup to strengthen relationships between management and employees, and the development of new business opportunities for the agency to diversify and expand its products and services. NIB continuously develops and improves the fellowship to assure fellows are given ample opportunities to develop business and communication skills through a variety of training and other learning opportunities. This complements the support given by the agencies to succeed in the fellowship. With all the tools necessary to succeed, the program measures the fellows' performance, and only those who are successful will graduate from the program. The Fellowship for Leadership Development directly addresses the issue of increasing the pool of resources within the business leadership world with qualified people who are blind. Some may view the fellowship as an innovative program, but NIB views it as "overdue," explaining that it is imperative that we qualify individuals who are blind today to fulfill business leaders positions tomorrow. Today, I work side by side with all kinds of people, both blind and sighted, and I now feel confident to compete for a business leadership position. I have already proven to myself that I can perform successfully in business, and I am certain that I will continue my success after my fellowship is completed this fall. In my opinion, NIB's approach to business leadership should be a model not only for the blindness community, but corporate America as well, to ensure that people who are blind can build careers of their own choosing. For additional information regarding NIB's Business Leaders Program and the fellowship, please visit www.nib.org. NIB is now accepting applications for a new fellowship to begin in January 2006. ***** KEEP IT SIMPLE, SMARTY! by Susan Mazrui Somewhere along the line, developers of assistive technology got the wrong impression of me. For example, although I'm college-educated, I never received an advanced degree in computer science and do not consider creating either profiles or patches a life-enhancing experience. I do not welcome a steep learning curve and translate that phrase as "something that will transport me to the brink of insanity." Call me jaded, but I simply do not view learning curves as some therapeutic means for delaying Alzheimer's. Perhaps the same person who created the Daredevil comic strip character came up with the theory that when a person loses vision, he or she gains special abilities. I am not sure. I am certain, however, that many manufacturers of assistive technology actively subscribe to this theory. Apparently, there is the general acceptance that devices that talk should require a high degree of prompting. To get the desired response from many of these devices, the user must employ investigative skills usually found only among the very best psychotherapists and fictional sleuths. Other "specialized" products require the development of mnemonics that even a person with a degree from Harvard would have trouble generating or remembering. I think that some manufacturers were trained at the MS School of Extermination and entertain a devout belief that bugs are an essential part of the computer ecosystem. Of course, it could be worse. AT manufacturers could think of us as young mutant reptiles with karate skills. I'd hate to see those products. I know for the highly evolved Blind, that is blind with a capital "B," it is nothing short of heresy to want something that is easy to use. After all, were we not conditioned as self-supporting blind people to view problems as challenges? We smile in the face of oncoming traffic and view discrimination as an opportunity to advocate for our rights. But something happened to me in the two decades since I entered into adulthood. I began to see crossing high-traffic areas, even with excellent mobility skills, as potentially life-altering or life-ending experiences. I still cross all sorts of streets, perhaps an even greater number than I did years ago, and sometimes with more abandon than I should. I generally advocate effectively -- albeit with less patience these days. But I cannot accept the notion that as a person with a disability I should be willing to accept technologies that require my brain to run an intellectual gauntlet each time I want to save an address or read a note from a friend. My hats are off to beta testers, who try to make products easier for us to use. But have you noticed that most of the testers seem to be unusually technically savvy? So maybe more folks without extensive backgrounds in computer programming or advanced degrees in electrical engineering or computer science should also be recruited when testing the user interface, do you think? A representative sample that includes us mere mortals would be nice. Just a thought ... There is another common misconception that most AT manufacturers seem to have of me, and I think blind people may reinforce this. When we finally find a product that meets a particular need, often after many, many years of searching and coveting, we are willing to pay several times more for a product than our sighted peers would dream of paying. Techno lust is a powerful thing. Like hungry people in food lines in Russia in the 1980s, at conferences and conventions some even use moves usually reserved for professional hockey players to be first in line to purchase an overpriced (in my opinion) product. All I ask is that AT manufacturers understand that I was not handed a six-figure salary when I lost my vision, nor did a rich, childless couple adopt me. To be fair, I understand there are times when high research and development costs spread across a small market necessitate a higher price tag. For example, units that have refreshable braille displays have unique challenges, are more costly to develop and maintain and have a very small market. However, I do not believe this is always the case. I have also heard an assistive device developer pitch a product to a mainstream company, saying the company can charge whatever it wants, since the need for access is so great. While this was not a developer of technology for the blind, in the for-profit world "what the market can bear" is a serious consideration when pricing a product -- and this is not limited to assistive technology. When we let the market decide, it often decides that specialized products are not profitable enough to develop without a very high profit margin. So, those with limited or even moderate incomes often do without products commonly purchased by sighted peers because accessible versions are just too costly. Just as the Americans with Disabilities Act made the statement that the cost for making public places accessible should not be visited solely on the shoulders of people with mobility disabilities, the cost for making accessible products should not be solely borne by people with sensory disabilities. As a society, we need to develop a means for developing affordable accessible products, especially in the areas of information technology, and making these available to people with disabilities. In theory, Section 508 should encourage the development of more accessible electronic and information technologies. With increased sales to the federal government to accommodate both employees and the public, the cost for research and development should be spread out across a larger market. In theory, more products should be available and prices on assistive and accessible technologies should drop. Did I miss something or am I just shopping in all the wrong places? The best outcome of Section 508, as far as I can tell, is a slight increase in the employment of blind specialists in the area of accessible Web design and computer-related technologies. With the unemployment rate of blind people as high as it is, despite how critical I may be, I am very happy that we have Section 508 and grateful to those advocates who made it happen. While not required by Section 508, I have recently seen a change in the approach to talking devices that makes me happy -- well, almost happy. Talking Solutions Corp., a company owned and operated by blind people, recently demonstrated a prototype device, called the AVIVA, that seemed to take into consideration that my IQ remains in the three digits -- despite my intelligence-enhancing loss of vision. A combination of a talking Internet radio, electronic book reader, and CD/MP3 player, it is also designed to access the menus of most DVD movies. The company says it should be marketed for around $500. What makes me happy is that it is easy to use and it appears to be, dare I say it, intuitive. In the field of assistive technology, phrases like "easy to use" and "intuitive" are few and far between. Most AT manufacturers, while often highly intelligent, do not seem to understand that a device that is stressful to use will at some point become an expensive paperweight. This is why I am intrigued by the approach Talking Solutions Corp. has taken. First, the company seems to have looked at what I would want in an entertainment unit and what I have only thought about purchasing to date because of my concerns about the accessibility of the user interface. Second, they have promised a product that, while not cheap, will not require me to take out a second mortgage to own. Certainly, this unit is more expensive than a single CD player, Internet radio, book reader, etc., but as a combined unit, it seems worth the expense. Moreover, I truly look forward to having a device that will allow me to use its every capability -- not just specific accessible features. As Martha Stewart might say, if she were blind, "Accessibility. It's a good thing." Of course, if Ms. Stewart were involved, the product would probably come in all sorts of colors I have never heard of and coordinate perfectly with bedding offered at K-Mart. Still, Talking Solutions Corp. cannot receive my "Not-So-Bad" seal of approval (my highest rating) just yet. The company faces some major challenges. The first is to actually produce a product that is attractive to our sighted counterparts and the second is to maintain this product over a period of time. One thing I have noticed about AT manufacturers is that they seem to live a variation of the theory that "if you build it, they will come;" that is, "If you talk about it long enough, it will be produced." While hype produces anticipation during our hopeful 20s, by our 30s and beyond, it only evokes skepticism and an occasional yawn. Embittered though I may sound, I want to relax and watch a DVD or listen to ACB Radio without booting my computer. Let's hope Talking Solutions is doing more than just talking. Now, having said some positive things about a product that doesn't officially exist on the market, for this article to maintain any credibility, I must state that should the AVIVA get off the ground, I will in no way benefit financially. I have no financial agreements with Talking Solutions Corp. or any other AT manufacturers -- other than to pay through the nose for things like screen-reading software and the like. Once marketed, I may or may not purchase the AVIVA, depending on personal finances and my own neurosis regarding my daughter's looming college bills. I do plan, if I cannot purchase it, to at least visit the Talking Solutions booth at each convention, longingly. (Despite the fact I am a late adopter of new technologies, I am not entirely void of techno lust.) I will eagerly sign up for drawings that will benefit good causes, at least those at the under-$10 level, that have the AVIVA as a prize. I will continue to ask a number of annoying and sometimes stupid questions, and treat them no differently than any other AT manufacturer. It seems to me that Talking Solutions, at least in theory, has been able to overcome perhaps the biggest misconception about blind people. The fact that we want simple-to-use devices does not mean that we are simple. While some of us might actually have advanced degrees in computer science, we may not want to exercise our programming skills in all aspects of our lives. We may not want to program a toaster to make bagels. Nor do we want to have to enlist sighted assistance to program a VCR because the sequence of commands needed would challenge the memory of the likes of Big Blue. We only want something that is intuitive to operate, not unlike our sighted counterparts. Using simple-to-operate products will not hurt our self-esteem. I am not advocating for eliminating more complex and powerful devices. A product like the AVIVA may not be ideal for those who live to program. Sometimes more complex devices are needed to be able to perform more complex tasks. Sometimes they just keep techies out of the kitchen and that, in some cases, may be beneficial to society as well! Nor am I advocating for all talking products to shout, "My owner likes me because I am easy." That, too, is open to a range of far too many interpretations. Devices that allow for customization are needed in some situations and for some people. However, I do wish that more AT manufacturers understood that the concept of being user-friendly is more than a meaningless advertising claim. The benefit of making intuitive and affordable products is easy to understand. ***** HERE AND THERE by Sarah Blake 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. Please remember that postal regulations prohibit us from including advertisements, and that we need information two months ahead of actual publication dates. NISH NAMES NINE TO BOARD NISH recently named nine new members to its board of directors. They are: Kay DeBow, co-founder and executive vice president of the National Black Chamber of Commerce, Washington, D.C.; John Daniels, partner, Quarles & Brady, Milwaukee, Wis.; Mary Ann Greenawalt, owner and president of B&B Specialty Foods, Bloomfield Hills, Mich.; Adrian Guglielmo, CEO and founder of Diversity Partners, Inc., New York, N.Y.; Juan Carlos Iturregui, director, Quinn Gillespie & Associates, Washington, D.C.; Frank Johnson, chief of Change Management Business Systems Modernization for the Defense Supply Center, Philadelphia; Jean Johnson, president and CEO, LegalWATCH, Houston, Tex.; Thomas Miller, who has been involved with the JWOD program for 12 years in Rapid City, S.D.; and Patricia Szervo, retired lawyer, McLean, Va. COLLEGE FOOTBALL SCHEDULES IN BRAILLE The 2005 NCAA college football schedule in braille will be available again this year with 119 division 1-A and some requested division 1-AA teams. Included will be the results of the 2004-2005 bowls, the top 25 teams in the AP final polls, the 2005-2006 bowl schedule and much more. Each schedule costs $10. To receive one, make your check payable to Allen H. Gillis and send it to him at 302 Schaeffel Road, Cullman, AL 35055. If you have questions, call him at (256) 734-4047, or e-mail gill4047@bellsouth.net. 2006 SKI FOR LIGHT Join over 300 active adults for a cross-country skiing vacation at the 31st annual Ski for Light International Week, Jan. 29-Feb. 5, 2006 in Granby, Colo. Participants will stay at the Inn at Silver Creek and ski each day at nearby Snow Mountain Ranch. Ski for Light pairs visually and mobility impaired skiers with sighted instructor/guides. The skiers set the pace, asking their guides to assist with skills, technique, endurance or simply enjoying the outdoors. Those interested in attending may contact Lynda Boose at (906) 370- 7541 or lynda@sfl.org. You may also apply online at www.sfl.org. The application deadline is Nov. 1, 2005. GOURMET SALAD DRESSINGS Carmela's Gourmet, owned by blind entrepreneur Carmela Cantisani, is offering six gourmet salad dressings at the special price of $25 (including shipping), or five 6-packs for $100 (including shipping). We will donate $5 for the sale of each 6-pack to the ACB. Great as gifts, these award-winning dressings are made with all-natural ingredients, no sugar, low sodium and are cholesterol-free. The flavors currently available are: vinaigrette authentique, balsamic vinaigrette, low-fat Proven‡ale vinaigrette, low-fat California Caesar, low-fat roasted garlic fantasy, and low-fat Mediterranean Mystique Vinaigrette. To order, please send your check to Carmela's Gourmet, 415 English Ave., Monterey, CA 93940. For more information, visit www.carmelasgourmet.com. Please mention the ACB offer when placing your order. SUPPORT GROUP ON TAPE Ever wanted to participate in a support group, and felt you didn't have the time? Now there's a solution: the Party Line talking cassette support group. For your free sample copy, write to: Sanford Rosenthal, 3360 NE 33rd St., Apt. #4, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33308. GETTING IN TOUCH WITH LITERACY The Getting In Touch with Literacy Conference will be held in Denver, Colo., Dec. 1-4, 2005. Literacy for individuals of all ages with visual impairments is an area of increasing interest. At one time, the subject was just one of many diverse topics discussed at general conferences, but for the past 14 years, a group of professionals and individuals with visual impairments has organized a conference devoted specifically to this topic. For more information about the conference and for registration information, visit www.gettingintouchwithliteracy.org, or call Tanni Anthony at (303) 866-6681. BOOK EDITOR SEEKING CONTRIBUTIONS In an effort to enhance the positive image of visually impaired people, Ann Morris Bliss is co-authoring an anthology of poems and short fiction which portrays visually impaired people in an uplifting, inspirational manner and depicts contemporary images of blind people. Our goal is to circulate this book widely as a benefit to the general population and those losing their vision. The works must say something constructive or helpful about what it is to be visually impaired. There are many ways a visually impaired person can benefit society at large, and we aim to feature them in our practical spiritual book of poetry and prose. Please e-mail all personal submissions, including screenplays, plays, radio and television scripts, and references to other literary works, to annmorris@optonline.net and to Cheri Langdell at cheril@family.net. If necessary, you may mail them to Ann Morris Bliss at 551 Hosner Mountain Rd., Stormville, NY 12582. Choice of materials for the book is the sole discretion of the authors. NEW HADLEY COURSE "Blindness Basics" is an interactive, tuition-free web course that allows a person to apply knowledge of the blindness field to real-life situations. The course is open to students in the professional education program and acts as an orientation for anyone working within a blindness organization. For more information, call (800) 526-9909 or enroll online at www.hadley.edu. BRAILLE ALPHABET BUTTONS Are you always on the lookout for fresh new ways to introduce folks to braille? Could you use a great new fund-raising idea? Check out the Braille Alphabet Buttons. Each two-inch button is so different, so unique, and just so cool that sighted and blind people alike can't help but notice them! The buttons easily pin to your shirt or jacket, and feature all 26 letters of the braille alphabet embossed in perfect, raised dots. The words "The Braille Alphabet" appear in a stylish font behind the actual braille letters for the benefit of print readers. To order a five-pack of buttons for $9.95, visit www.braillesuperstore.com or call 1-800-987-1231. NEW IVEOT SOFTWARE MAKES PICTURES SPEAK IVEOT allows pictures to be labeled with audio tags, making them more interactive and inclusive for the reader. Different components of an image can be individually labeled with speaking tags in IVEOT. By navigating with a mouse or keyboard, one can hear the labels assigned to each part of a diagram or image, enhancing comprehension beyond use of vision alone. For blind people as well as sighted tactile/kinesthetic (touch) learners, IVEOT has an optional hardware component, called the IVEOT Touchpad. Tactile printouts can be placed on the IVEOT Touchpad to provide an alternative display of images on the computer screen. Users can then read printouts through a combination of sight and touch, receiving audio feedback as they explore the image. The IVEOT Creator software and IVEOT Touchpad can be purchased separately or as a set. The IVEOT Viewer is also available as a free download to enable easy sharing of files made in the IVEOT Creator software. Call your local ViewPlus distributor, contact ViewPlus directly via e-mail at info@viewplus.com, call (541) 754-4002, or visit www.viewplus.com for more details. BOOK FOR ADOLESCENT BOYS Right after we transcribed a popular book for girls several years ago called "The Period Book," we started looking for an equivalent book for boys that speaks specifically to their private concerns. We've found it. Written by the same author, "What's Going on Down There?" reassures boys that there are a lot of different ways to describe normal when discussing puberty, and that each person experiences changes on his own timetable. Facts about puberty, sex, and sexually transmitted diseases -- even what happens to girls during puberty -- are presented clearly and completely. Because it's written specifically for boys, the information considers all the worries, fears, and questions that boys might find difficult to ask. The book balances information about being a sexual person with that of being a responsible person. The chapter "Girls Are Changing Too" offers detailed information not typically presented in books for males. Other standout chapters include "Is This Normal?" and "What If?" -- both in question-and-answer format. And in "If I'd Known Then What I Know Now!," several adult men offer insights and different perspectives on puberty. This is an outstanding and informative book for boys who want to know what's going on with their bodies. To read more about this book or place an order online, go to: http://www.nbp.org/ic/nbp/DOWN.html. To place an order by phone, call 1-800-548-7323 or (617) 266-6160 extension 20. PERKINS BRAILLER AVAILABLE IN COLORS Almost 55 years after introducing the Perkins Brailler and manufacturing hundreds of thousands of machines in classic gray, Howe Press is now introducing braillers in two new colors: metallic slate blue and bright jade green. For more information or to place an order, visit www.Perkins.org; call (617) 972-7308; or e-mail HowePress@Perkins.org. ***** LETTER TO THE EDITOR The contents of this column reflect the letters we had received by the time we went to press, June 15, 2005. Letters are limited to 300 words or less. All submissions must include the author's name and location. Opinions expressed are those of the authors. In Reply to the Call for Amendments I read with interest yesterday the constitution and bylaws committee chair Ray Campbell's appeal for submissions from members of amendments for this year's national convention. Last year, hearing similar appeals and the appeals of those saying, "If you don't like something, then submit an amendment," I did just that. In fact, I wrote 10 amendments and collaborated on several others. Two passed unanimously. Three were tabled in whole or part or circumvented from a vote by parliamentary maneuvers. Five more never even had the courtesy of a debate let alone an up or down vote before the convention was moved to be adjourned. This is not opinion but a part of the public record and is archived in the proceedings on ACB's web site. I must say that, true to his word, Mr. Campbell was very cooperative both by phone and e-mail in providing assistance on the crafting of these amendments and updating me on their status in committee. But apparently things broke down in establishing enough time for consideration during the business sessions. President Gray was apprised of these items well before the convention in one of his monthly meetings. All amendments were sent out to relevant parties well in advance and posted upon various listservs for comment and input. Ultimately, however, there is no true democracy if there is no vote upon such important items. It seems to me that before we solicit new amendments, we might just try to take care of old business first. In light of these facts, to state, based upon the record, that we encourage input from the rank-and-file or that we follow good "democratic" order at our conventions is simply Soviet-style revisionism. -- Joe Harcz Jr., Mount Morris, Mich. ***** HIGH TECH SWAP SHOP FOR SALE: Lexmark X125m all-in-one printer, scanner, copier and fax machine. Both color and black-and-white copies, faxes, scans and prints. Comes with power cord and all original software. In excellent condition. Asking $175. For more information, call Danny at (601) 366-0514. FOR SALE: Braille 'n Speak 2000. Used only twice. Comes with all accessories and manuals. Asking $950 (includes shipping). Call Lisa at (847) 201-1093. FOR SALE: Sound Forge 7.0 bundle. Never opened, never used, never registered. Asking $120. Includes Sound Forge 7.0, CD Architect, and Noise Reduction 2.0. Price includes shipping in the U.S. Contact Keith Bucher, P.O. Box 130, Reader, WV 26167; e-mail kbucher@earth1.net. FOR SALE: 21-chord autoharp. Brand new. Call (727) 539-1089 or e-mail rmgold@tampabay.rr.com. FOR SALE: Reconditioned Perkins brailler with hinged hard cover, $450. Insul-gauges for BD U-100 insulin syringes and Medi-coolers, $125 for the lot or $5 per gauge. 20 pill minders, 19 of which are brailled. Asking $2 each, or $30 for the lot. Audiophile 2496 sound card, still in box. Asking $75 or best offer. Contact Robert Ziegler at (763) 537-8000 or via e-mail, jemob@earthlink.net. FOR SALE: Computer, completely loaded and configured for blind users. In excellent condition. Comes with hot key and optimal adaptive software performance. Creative Labs 52X CD drive, Yamaha CD burner, 56K modem, multi- channel PCI Sound Card, floppy drive, 6 USB ports (4 back, 2 front), built- in Ethernet, with Windows XP home edition (license & manual), MS Office 2000 Premium, Norton Anti-Virus 2005, JAWS 6.1 with CDs and authorization & previous versions CD 5.0 and 4.5 & 4.0, Open Book 6.0 with manual & all documentation in original packaging, Duxbury 10.2 software with manuals and CDs, Spy Bot and Ad-aware, Eudora, Anytime Deluxe scheduling software pro 8, Quicken 98, HP Scan Jet 6300C scanner, 15-inch Envision Model EN-LM 500 LCD monitor, speakers, mouse & keyboard. Asking $3,000. DoubleTalk Lite synthesizer in excellent condition. Asking $195. Contact Laura Ann at (979) 680-0022, or by e-mail, agapepetsitting@verizon.net. FOR SALE: 1999 Telesensory CCTV. Asking $3,000 or best offer. I will pay shipping, handling and insurance. Contact Lisa Burkart at (757) 495- 7179. FOR SALE: Telesensory Chroma Plus CH 3A. Comes with movable table, an operator's manual and a document holder. In perfect operating order. Asking $500 plus shipping. Contact Cliff Zimmer via e-mail, cliffz@webworkz.com, or by phone, (828) 837-6448. FOR SALE: Alba Braille display in excellent condition. Barely used. Comes with all cables, power adapter, and drivers. Asking $3,000 or best offer. PayPal payments preferred. Send payment and/or inquiries to LuAnn at cluannhowe@excite.com. FOR SALE OR TRADE: PAC Mate BX with braille display. Comes with all cables and manuals, earphones and carrying case. Looking for a qwerty BrailleNote. Contact Boo or Kevin at (240) 430-1017. FOR SALE: Braille Lite 2000, in good condition, with disk drive, and AC adaptors for both. Asking $500 or best offer. Contact Tom Mitchell at (801) 521-2418 or e-mail him at tom@tommitchell.org. FOR SALE: Video Eye, six years old. Rarely used, in excellent condition. Asking $2,000. Contact Donni at tommit50@hotmail.com or (801) 521-2418. ACB OFFICERS PRESIDENT CHRISTOPHER GRAY 94 RAMONA AVE. SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103 FIRST VICE PRESIDENT M.J. SCHMITT 7320 DIXON UNIT 204 FOREST PARK, IL 60130 SECOND VICE PRESIDENT MITCH POMERANTZ 1115 CORDOVA STREET #402 PASADENA, CA 91106 SECRETARY DONNA SELIGER 3912 SE 5TH ST DES MOINES, IA 50315 TREASURER ARDIS BAZYN 500 S. 3RD ST. #H BURBANK, CA 91502 IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT PAUL EDWARDS 20330 NE 20TH CT. MIAMI, FL 33179 ACB BOARD OF DIRECTORS Alan Beatty, Fort Collins, CO Ed Bradley, Houston, TX Brian Charlson, Watertown, MA Billie Jean Keith, Arlington, VA Oral Miller, Washington, DC Carla Ruschival, Louisville, KY Patrick Sheehan, Silver Spring, MD Naomi Soule, St. Louis, MO Cynthia Towers, Seattle, WA David Trott, Talladega, AL BOARD OF PUBLICATIONS Charles Hodge, Chairperson, Arlington, VA Cindy Burgett, Bremerton, WA Winifred Downing, San Francisco, CA Mike Duke, Jackson, MS DeAnna Noriega, Colorado Springs, CO Ex Officios: Ralph Sanders, Las Vegas, NV Janelle Edwards, Manhattan, KS