THE BRAILLE FORUM Volume XLVI December 2007 No. 5 Published by the American Council of the Blind THE AMERICAN COUNCIL OF THE BLIND STRIVES TO INCREASE THE INDEPENDENCE, SECURITY, EQUALITY OF OPPORTUNITY, AND TO IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED PEOPLE. Mitch Pomerantz, President Melanie Brunson, Executive Director Sharon Lovering, Editor National Office: 1155 15th St. NW Suite 1004 Washington, DC 20005 (202) 467-5081 Fax: (202) 467-5085 Web site: http://www.acb.org THE BRAILLE FORUM (TM) is available in braille, large print, half-speed four-track cassette tape, and via e-mail. Subscription requests, address changes, and items intended for publication should be sent to Sharon Lovering at the address above, or via e-mail to slovering@acb.org. Submission deadlines are the first of the month. The American Council of the Blind (TM) is a membership organization made up of more than 70 state and special-interest affiliates. To join, visit the ACB web site and complete an application form, or contact the national office at the number listed above. Those much-needed contributions, which are tax-deductible, can be sent to Mike Godino at the above mailing address. If you wish to remember a relative or friend, the national office can make printed cards available for this purpose. To remember the American Council of the Blind in your Last Will and Testament, you may include a special paragraph for that purpose. If your wishes are complex, contact the ACB national office. Join the MMS program and help improve tomorrow today in ACB. Contact Ron Milliman by e-mail, rmilliman@insightbb.com, or by phone at (270) 782-9325 and get started making tomorrow look brighter today! To make a contribution to ACB via the Combined Federal Campaign, use this number: 11155. For the latest in legislative and governmental news, call the "Washington Connection" toll-free at (800) 424-8666, 5 p.m. to midnight Eastern time, or visit the Washington Connection online at http://www.acb.org. Copyright 2007 American Council of the Blind TABLE OF CONTENTS President's Message: Climbing the Hill, by Mitch Pomerantz ACB To Hire a Development Director in 2008, by Melanie Brunson Save These Dates for the 2008 ACB Mid-Year Meetings And They're Off: ACB Convention 2008, by Carla Ruschival ACB Board Breezes Through the Windy City, by Ken Stewart Boosting Your Membership: Getting Them In and Keeping Them In, compiled by Ardis Bazyn Affiliate News Letter to the Editor Here and There, by Sue Lichtenfels HumanWare's New Victor Reader Talking Book Player for NISO and DAISY Books, by Gerry Chevalier High Tech Swap Shop FORUM SUBSCRIPTION NOTES You can now get "The Braille Forum" by podcast! To subscribe, go to "The Braille Forum" page on www.acb.org. If you do not yet have a podcast client, you can download one from the Forum page. To subscribe to "The Braille Forum" via e-mail, send a blank e-mail message to brailleforum-L-subscribe@acb.org. ARE YOU MOVING? DO YOU WANT TO CHANGE YOUR SUBSCRIPTION? Contact Sharon Lovering in the ACB national office, 1-800-424-8666, or via e-mail, slovering@acb.org. Give her the information, and she'll take care of the changes for you. Happy holidays! ***** PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE: CLIMBING THE HILL by Mitch Pomerantz When I am asked to describe the essence of the American Council of the Blind in a sentence, my usual response is to say that ACB is a consumer advocacy organization of blind and visually impaired people. Many would argue that there are far better and more descriptive one-sentence summations of what our organization is all about, but it is the one I tend to use. Key to this description is the notion that ACB advocates, or speaks on behalf of, its members at all levels of government: local, state, and national. In my October column, I quoted that wonderful old expression: "All politics is local," first uttered by former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Thomas "Tip" O'Neill. I used it in the context of encouraging our members to participate in meetings of local government entities and in so doing, to promote our involvement in the American Council of the Blind. I feel strongly about the need for us to be more vocal about our membership in ACB, as I hope was clear from my message. Having said that, however, I must devote the remainder of this column to the necessity for ACB to show a strong presence on Capitol Hill beyond that provided on a regular basis by our outstanding director of advocacy and governmental affairs, Eric Bridges. There are two reasons for this and I want to remark on each of them in turn. First, having significant numbers of members on the Hill and having at least one blind or visually impaired person stop in at individual Congressional offices helps the national organization, not to mention your own local advocacy efforts. Doing so demonstrates that ACB has a constituency outside the Beltway, something which is very important to legislators. It's called "showing the flag," and it's a necessary part of the advocacy process. As we all know, in the halls of power the two most important "coins of the realm" are money and numbers. The latter translates directly into votes. Since ACB doesn't have the hundreds of thousands of dollars necessary to influence our representatives, we must gain their attention with hundreds of constituents trooping up and down those halls of power. Visiting your representative's D.C. office is also essential to your advocacy work at home. At the recent convention of the California Council of the Blind, some discussion took place over the number of members to be sent by the affiliate to the ACB legislative seminar. At least one individual commented to the effect that visiting the Hill wasn't all that important if chapter members regularly went to their local district offices to meet with Congresspersons and/or staff. Yes, and no! My personal experience -- as well as the experience of many others with whom I have spoken -- has been that both are vitally necessary. While Capitol Hill and district office staffs communicate regularly, they do so on a global basis. Speaking with someone at your representative's local office may not get you a meeting with your member of Congress or even a key staffer in Washington, D.C. This is especially true for those of us residing in large urban areas of the country where there are many more competing interests seeking the time and attention of that representative. Nearly all Hill appointments are made via fax or e-mail directly to the representative's staff member responsible for scheduling. Being on a first- name basis with one of your Congressperson's legislative aides doesn't guarantee you an appointment with his/her health and welfare deputy in Washington. And yes, I know there are exceptions to this general rule; there always are. It is my belief that a visit to Capitol Hill actually makes it easier to gain entrance to your district office, rather than the other way around. The second reason for bringing numbers of ACB members to Washington at least annually is to let our elected representatives know that there are two national blindness organizations with differing, often dramatically so, viewpoints concerning what blind and visually impaired people believe is important. A lot of legislators are unhappy finding out that we have differing opinions on issues. We've all heard that old refrain: "Those NFB folks think ... why can't the two groups get together and agree upon one position?" When I'm confronted with this comment, I simply and calmly point out that Congress is comprised of both Democrats and Republicans and it would be great if the two parties could sit down together more frequently and reach consensus on key issues. That response almost always gets the light bulb turned on and I can then explain ACB's position on the issues under discussion. If you don't think presenting our perspective is particularly important, I ask you to recall your reaction the last time a government official -- at any level -- responded to your request to consider taking some action by commenting that those folks in the other organization tell me blind people don't need whatever it was you were asking for. For these reasons, I believe that the ACB legislative seminar is one of the most valuable activities in which the organization engages. By the time you read this, plans for our 2008 seminar will have been announced. At this writing, we have a date and a possible venue. We are planning a lively, interactive program which will benefit veteran attendees and first-timers alike. I urge all presidents to consider sending a minimum of one member from your state or special-interest affiliate to what I expect will be ACB's biggest and best "Hill-climb" ever. Please join me in Washington, and have a joyful holiday season. ***** ACB TO HIRE A DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR IN 2008 by Melanie Brunson For some time now, the leadership of ACB has been considering the possibility of hiring a development director whose primary responsibilities will be to increase and diversify ACB's revenue sources. President Pomerantz has decided that the time for consideration has passed, and the time for action has arrived. Therefore, I am now accepting applications from individuals who would be interested in working for ACB as a development director. It is our hope that we will be able to fill this position by the spring of 2008. The rest of this article will be devoted to the vacancy announcement for this position. Anyone wishing additional information should contact me at the ACB national office. Position Description: Director of Development The director of development will collaborate with the ACB staff and membership to design and implement fund-raising strategies that increase the organization's support from diverse sources, including individuals, corporations, and foundations. The director will report to the ACB executive director. Responsibilities: The director of development will: - Collaborate with the president, executive director, and designated volunteers to plan, administer, implement, and evaluate ACB's fund-raising activities; - Maintain a proactive, creative leadership role in the identification, cultivation, and solicitation of individual, corporate, and foundation contributions; - Provide coordination and assistance with efforts by ACB volunteers and staff to cultivate and solicit key donors; - Collaborate with officers, directors, staff and appropriate committee chairpersons to develop an annual fund-raising plan for presentation to and approval by the board of directors; - Identify potential sources of grant monies, and prepare grant applications; - Provide technical assistance to volunteers seeking to design and implement sponsorship opportunities, and other fund-raising events; - Collaborate with the president and executive director in the preparation of scripts for telemarketing campaigns, fund-raising letters, and other correspondence related to solicitation of funds; - Conduct an evaluation of ACB's need for fund-raising software, and make recommendations based upon the findings of that evaluation to the comptroller and executive director; - Assist accounting staff with the upgrade and maintenance of donor databases, as well as management of other records related to solicitation of funds; - Review and update (as necessary) all efforts to recognize and thank donors to ensure that recognition is both appropriate and timely; - Work with the executive director to prepare ACB's annual report; - Oversee the updating of information about ACB on charitable giving web sites, as well as sites maintained by state attorneys general and the Better Business Bureau; - Serve as staff liaison to the ACB resource development committee, the monthly monetary support committee, the direct mail campaign committee, the convention coordinating committee, and the auction committee; - Participate in ACB board meetings, national conventions, and affiliate activities, as authorized by the executive director; - Provide technical assistance on fund-raising matters to ACB's state and special-interest affiliates; - Perform other duties as assigned. Qualifications and Experience: Candidates must have: - A minimum of three years of experience, either professional or voluntary, raising funds for a non-profit organization; - Proven experience in the design and management of development programs; - A track record of developing and maintaining productive working relationships with board members, volunteers, staff and donors; - Excellent verbal and written communication skills; - Familiarity with a wide range of grant maker databases, and other corporate, foundation, and government fund-raising resources; - Ability to both give and take direction; - Ability to listen; - Familiarity with assistive technology and methods for production of documents in alternate formats is preferred. - A bachelor's degree in a related field is mandatory. - A minimum of 30 hours of work per week will be required. Salary is dependent upon experience. Applications must be received in the ACB national office by January 31, 2008. Please send resume, cover letter, and salary requirements to: Development Director Search, American Council of the Blind, 1155 15th St. N.W., Suite 1004, Washington, DC 20005, fax to (202) 467-5085, or e-mail to staffing@acb.org. ***** SAVE THESE DATES FOR THE 2008 ACB MID-YEAR MEETINGS In 2008, ACB will hold the mid-year board meeting, affiliate presidents' meeting and legislative seminar all together in Washington, D.C. Here are the dates. The board meeting will be Friday, Feb. 8. The affiliate presidents' meeting will begin on Saturday, Feb. 9 at 11 a.m. and run through Sunday, Feb. 10 at noon. The legislative seminar will begin at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 10, and run through Tuesday, Feb. 12. As usual, February 10 and 11 will be devoted to training and discussion of legislative issues; February 12 will be the day we visit Capitol Hill. All of these events will be held at the Washington Plaza Hotel, which is located at 10 Thomas Circle NW, Washington, D.C. 20005. Room rates are $119 per night for singles and doubles, $139 for triples and quads, plus tax. Reservations must be made by January 8; call 1-800-424-1140. There is a $35 registration fee for the legislative seminar. Lunches will be available for purchase on Monday and Tuesday; they will cost $10 each. There is no registration fee for the presidents' meeting, but the meeting will begin with a working lunch on Saturday. Attendees wishing to purchase a lunch may do so for $10. Registration information is available on the ACB web site, from your affiliate president, or from the national office. ***** AND THEY'RE OFF: ACB CONVENTION 2008 by Carla Ruschival Kentucky is famous for its horses and the Kentucky Derby, and the national convention committee and the local host committee are off and running in the 2008 ACB convention race. July 5 through 12 are the official dates, and Louisville, Ky. is the place. The 2008 convention of the American Council of the Blind will be held at the spacious Galt House hotel, on the banks of the mighty Ohio River in the heart of downtown Louisville. The national convention committee has just completed its four-day fall meeting in Louisville. Here are some of the things we have accomplished: Michael Smitherman, exhibits coordinator, interviewed potential decorators, and serious work is under way on the floor plan for the exhibit area. Exhibit packets should be ready for mailing and posting on the ACB web site earlier than ever this year. Sharon Lovering and Patti Cox interviewed several photographers, and that individual will be selected before the end of the year. Robert Spangler (our new tour coordinator) and Carla Ruschival began developing the bus contract for the tours and Youth Activity Center; this contract should also be complete by January. Margarine Beaman concentrated heavily on accessibility details at the airport and hotel. She spent an entire day plus another afternoon scouring signage on every sleeping and meeting room at the Galt House, noting needed corrections in braille and/or large print. As she does each fall, Margarine is completing a list of details that the hotel will need to address by the time ACB comes to town. Donna Seliger has graciously agreed to assist other convention committee members with mailing and paperwork, whether it be with exhibitors, sponsors, volunteers etc. Jerry Annunzio will work with Jay Doudna and Mike Duke again on audiovisual duty, but Jerry will also oversee the use of suites at the convention by special-interest groups and ACB committees; no more wondering where to find a key or when to set up your social! Mike Duke (public relations) and Brenda Dillon (advertising and sponsorships) are also hard at work in their respective areas. One of the major duties of the committee at this meeting was to assist Robert Spangler (tours) and Patti Cox (Youth Activity Center) in the selection of sites to visit next July. We began with about 50 potential tour sites, and we will soon have the list narrowed down to about 20. Those 20 activities will be combined into events that are sure to please; watch the next issue of "The Braille Forum" for details. Committee members enjoyed some delicious chili at the Louisville East Lions Club fall fundraiser. Following the great chili and homemade desserts, the committee held a get-acquainted meeting with many enthusiastic Kentuckians. Chair of the Kentucky local host committee is Darrell Buford; the vice chair is Jim Shaw. Also on the national committee but not at the fall meeting is Pam Shaw. Pam will be in her familiar spot at the information desk for one more year, and she will be assisted ably by Jim Shaw (who is rumored to have tried every restaurant in Louisville at least once). For those of you interested in guide dog issues, you will be pleased to know that Sheila Styron, president of GDUI, is serving as a consultant to the convention committee; long before the convention, Sheila will be meeting with Christopher DiIorio from Doodle Scoopers and with the Galt House to address relief area issues. Sandy Isaac, who has worked with Kentucky deaf-blind consumers and professionals in the field for many years, will serve as a consultant to the national committee on reasonable accommodation issues. Sandy is very knowledgeable about resources for the deaf and hard-of-hearing in Louisville and throughout Kentucky. You may now make individual reservations at the Galt House, but we ask that you reserve a room only IF you truly have plans to attend. The practice of reserving rooms just in case you decide to spend a week with ACB causes problems such as those experienced by many of you in obtaining rooms in Jacksonville and Minneapolis, and can result in unnecessary costs and inconvenience to both you and ACB. To make individual reservations at the Galt House, call (502) 589-5200. Standard rooms (in the Galt House West) are $85/night. One-bedroom suites, which include a small parlor, are located in the Galt House East and are $105/night. All rates are single/double and are plus tax. Add $10/night for each additional person in the room; limit four people to a room, please. To begin planning for convention events or reserve meeting rooms, contact Carla Ruschival by phone at (502) 897-1472 or by e-mail at adamcarla@bellsouth.net. ***** ACB BOARD BREEZES THROUGH THE WINDY CITY by Ken Stewart (Editor's Note: The American Council of the Blind constitution and bylaws require that a narrative summary of every board of directors meeting be prepared by the board of publications' ex officio representative to the board of directors. Upon approval of the minutes of these meetings by the board of directors, the minutes will be made available to the membership on the web site. Members who cannot access the minutes in that way may request assistance from the national office.) The ACB board of directors convened its third meeting on Oct. 13-14. Board members came to Chicago from around the country for an intense day and a half of deliberations, decision-making, and information exchanging. With the metaphorical gavel in the firm hand of President Mitch Pomerantz, the body moved through a long agenda crisply, working from 9 a.m. Saturday to about 5 p.m., and then finishing up with a full morning session on Sunday. Also participating were executive director Melanie Brunson, comptroller Lane Waters, and ACBES board chair Michael Garrett. About a half-dozen others were in the room too, mostly spouses of board members. They were excused from the room only during an executive session, during which Brunson updated the board on three legal matters. Brunson also reported on the staffing at the national office in Washington, D.C., and recent activities of the office. She presented a job description for a new national office position, a director of development. The board then discussed its content, with final approval to follow later. Mitch Pomerantz reported on his recent and impending official presidential functions, the latter including an appearance at the convention of the Mid-Atlantic affiliates, immediately followed by a formal reception at the national office on Nov. 5. He established a task force consisting of Jeff Thom, Pat Sheehan, Ken Stewart and Brenda Dillon, whose scope will be to determine whether there is a need to change the method by which voting is conducted at national conventions and, if so, to recommend how or what method(s) might be implemented. The board also elected several members of the board of the American Center on Blindness and Visual Impairment: Marlaina Lieberg, Carla Ruschival, Pam Shaw, and Otis Stephens. Comptroller Lane Waters reported on behalf of the Minneapolis office where the organization's financial affairs are overseen. Much of the business of the remainder of the day-and-a-half meeting pertained to budgetary issues, asset management, fund-raising efforts, and decisions about expenditure priorities. Treasurer Mike Godino, assisted at times by Waters, presented a very detailed report on each line of the organization's budget. An increase in vehicle donations was noted, as was the placement of virtually all of the approximately $1.5 million asset base in interest- bearing accounts or investments. There was divided opinion expressed during discussion of the pros and cons of the current contractual relationship between ACB and Damar Travel. The fund-raising letter solicitations done by a company identified as "AKA" were referenced, as well as the urgency of a fall ACB direct-mail appeal. The board selected members for the budget committee, which will soon begin developing the 2008 budget. Brunson expects specific budget requests from committees and other organizational entities by early November. The board returned to a proposal introduced at its post-convention meeting, to authorize a $200 stipend to help defray the expenses of board members' travel and lodging for the present meeting. There was recognition of the value of returning to such a general policy so as to avoid discouraging ACB members from seeking elective office in the organization if their personal finances are limited. The board will revisit the proposal during the consideration of the next annual budget. For a portion of the first day, the board reconstituted itself as the membership of ACB Enterprises and Services. (For details on ACBES, see "What Is ACBES?," May 2007.) With Michael Garrett presiding, new and re- appointed members for the ACBES board were selected; they are Chris Gray, Mike Godino and Carla Ruschival. The board adopted a policy requiring a written contract with each vendor selling merchandise through ACBES. Garrett and Waters cited specific actions being taken to improve the business practices at thrift stores, and to assess the value of present store locations and potential new locations. Convention committee chair Carla Ruschival led discussion of several convention-related items. Negotiations continue with a hotel now under construction in Phoenix, a possible site for 2010. There will be a site visit some time next year as it is nearing completion. There was acknowledgement that adequate provision must be made for guide dog comfort in that city's very hot climate. Several locations for the 2011 convention are receiving consideration, with the 2009 and 2012 sites already determined, Orlando and Louisville, respectively. The last major item on the agenda was one of the most informative and most heartening too! It was the time set aside for the board to hear about the activities of all standing committees. Each officer spoke in detail about each of the committees for which he/she serves as liaison. It was evident that virtually all of the well over a dozen committees identified in the presentations have been active since the July convention, setting goals, and in several instances dividing work among sub-committees. The transportation committee, for example, has created a sub-committee to focus on rural transit, another to develop a training curriculum for ACB members desiring to become more effective transportation advocates, and a third aiming at coalition-building with other transportation stakeholder groups. One action of the Internet oversight committee had resulted in an agenda item earlier during the board meeting, a recommendation that the ACB-Chat listserv be discontinued, which was approved. Many of the standing committees have established listservs to optimize communication among committee members. Pomerantz observed that other ACB members may contact a committee chair to determine how and whether non-committee members may participate in these listservs. Board Conference Call October 29, 2007 Just 15 days later, the board reconvened via teleconference to follow up on several financial matters and to decide on convention-related items. There was consensus expressed in support of the judgment reached between the president and the executive director, that an eleventh monthly issue of "The Braille Forum" could be restored. Sufficient funds are available and properly budgeted to publish December and January issues, rather than the joint issue originally planned. The board approved a request from the public relations committee for $500 to duplicate a public service announcement for distribution to media outlets. It also voted unanimously to place three-quarters of a just- received $100,000 bequest in the reserve fund. The remainder will be added to money allocated to scholarship awards. There was active discussion of a convention committee idea to increase the share of convention proceeds given to the local host chapter. The amount will be upped, retroactive to the 2007 convention, from the usual $2,000 to $4,000. Ruschival reported that in a recent teleconference, her committee has fine-tuned a convention badge policy which will encourage the wearing of badges at all events, and will expect affiliates to actively support the policy at their individual functions. Convention volunteers will not be burdened with any enforcement responsibilities. Finally, the board approved a convention committee idea to add to the convention program a section in which a memorial page can be purchased to acknowledge someone an affiliate wishes to honor. At adjournment, the expectation was the next board meeting would be at the mid-year presidents' meeting in Louisville during the Presidents' Day weekend in February. ***** BOOSTING YOUR MEMBERSHIP: GETTING THEM IN AND KEEPING THEM IN Compiled by Ardis Bazyn On October 21, our membership focus call was on the topic "Boosting Your Membership: Getting Them In and Keeping Them In." The group discussed the various internal communication methods used by affiliates in ACB from the August membership focus call. Since communication is one of the key ingredients necessary to retaining your current members, I hope all the suggestions given will be useful to your chapters and affiliates. Please consider adding a new idea or two in the next few months. I will first list the internal communications used by chapters and affiliates to reach current members and past members. Then I will list the methods used by various chapters and affiliates to assist in boosting their membership. Internal Communications -- E-mail lists: general membership lists, board lists, committee lists, newsletter lists, chapter lists, and one-way announce lists about upcoming events and updates -- Newsletters: weekly or monthly newsletters by chapters and quarterly newsletters from affiliates in a variety of formats -- Toll-free phone number and/or state affiliate number: some have personnel answering the phone and others have an answering machine -- Weekly Connection: phone or e-mail message to receive updates on events and legislation; some have menu-driven options such as legislation, events, committee memos, etc. -- Chapters with monthly meetings: some have more than one meeting, including social events, book clubs, or birthday lunch meetings -- Special-interest chapters -- Phone trees: call members (both current and past) about monthly activities and legislative updates -- Monthly or bi-monthly presidents' calls: interactive way to share information useful to chapter presidents -- Leadership training: some have seminars at conventions and others have separate leadership training sessions -- Conference call number: can be used by committees and chapters who have members in wide geographic area (using speaker phone) -- Web site: includes chapter links, brochures, fundraising links, membership links, and other info about the state affiliate -- Blogs for interactive participation -- State annual or biannual conventions: variety of events from general sessions with wide range of speakers, exhibits, luncheons, banquet, and business meetings -- Employment conference -- Quarterly in-person board meetings -- State Department for the Blind letters: some state affiliates submit letters for the department to send that give information about the state affiliate and local chapters throughout the state -- Presidents participate in quarterly board meetings Ways to Boost Membership -- Invite blind people you meet during paratransit trips -- Visit in person or send notices to local senior centers -- Have interesting speakers on a variety of topics: yoga, stress management, financial management, CPR, breast cancer, talking medicine bottles, transportation options -- Newspaper and radio announcements -- NFB Newsline has to give announcements for both organizations since it uses state funding -- State Department or Division for the Blind info line announcement -- Web site listing chapter meeting times and locations -- Letters sent by state library for the blind or other state agencies for the blind -- Legislative weekend, including a day at the Capitol -- Have special program for blind people to share specialized technology they use -- "Everyday People with Everyday Problems": sharing gadgets and services which help blind people (held at beginning of convention to include newcomers) -- Sharing information about affiliate with service groups like Lions -- Handing out brochures to acquaintances, Lighthouse patrons, library patrons, churches, and meetings -- Tandem bike races, community white cane walks, blind bowling leagues, theaters with audio description, and other outings that generate both publicity and interest -- Contact paratransit companies and give them information to pass on to clients -- Monthly advocacy classes in conjunction with centers for the blind -- Ability awareness activities with door prizes -- Membership contests, giving prizes to those who bring the most members (use coupons from restaurants, free membership dues, gift certificates) -- Asking members what types of speakers they'd like at meetings -- Follow-up with blind people met or attending conventions or other events and fundraisers -- 50/50 raffles and door prizes at chapters and events -- Participation in community fairs (both disability-related and for general public) Please check out other membership resources on the ACB web site under resources. If you need assistance for your chapter or affiliate, call any member of the membership committee. I look forward to hearing from you on our next membership focus call, which will be held on Jan. 27, 2008, at 5 p.m. Pacific/8 p.m. Eastern. The call-in number will be 1-866-633-8638 and the passcode will be 200701. The topic will be "External Communication: How to use publicity effectively to get more members." ***** AFFILIATE NEWS DC Council Hosts Briefing of Danish Educators of the Blind When a group of eight Danish educators of the blind who were planning an information-gathering trip to the USA were unable to contact the largest rehabilitation agency for the blind and visually impaired in the national capital area, they contacted the D.C. Council of the Blind for possible assistance in gathering as much information as possible as quickly as possible. D.C. Council president Oral Miller immediately sent them the contact information for the principal organizations and government agencies providing services for the blind and visually impaired and at the same time he discussed realistically with them the difficulty of attempting to visit distant suburban offices during the three days they would be in the city. Consideration then turned to the development of a day-long briefing session by several agencies after ascertaining which suburban offices the delegation wanted to see in person during the limited time they would be in the area. Miller, with the cooperation of the ACB national office and ACB board member Billie Jean Keith of the neighboring Old Dominion Council, quickly invited knowledgeable spokespersons from in-town offices to speak to the delegation during an essentially day-long meeting to be hosted in the conference room of the ACB national office. This arrangement gave ACB executive director Melanie Brunson and Miller an opportunity to kick off the program by explaining the role and importance of consumerism, ACB and its affiliates in the USA. Some of the knowledgeable presenters who discussed national as well as local services included Mark Richert of the American Foundation for the Blind (whose Washington office was being moved from one part of the city to another that very day), Venetia Demson, chief of the Adaptive Services Division of the D.C. Public Library System (who demonstrated some of the latest digital technology), and Toni Thomas of Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic. After attending this briefing but before rushing off to a late afternoon meeting with an accreditation agency, the Danes were able to walk down the street a few blocks from the national office to view the White House. Oh yes, this interesting and educational meeting with the Danes took place while Miller, Keith and Brunson were preparing to leave for the ACB board of directors meeting the next day. Hey Neighbor by Billie Jean Keith Remember that song, "It Was a Real Nice Clambake" from the Broadway musical "Carousel?" Well, we recently attended a real nice regional convention in Arlington, Va. Five mid-Atlantic ACB affiliates planned and created a brilliant program, a wonderful atmosphere, and invited all the neighboring ACB affiliates and special-interest groups and welcomed more than 185 happy and enthusiastic participants. There were three major sponsors: The Seeing Eye, Polara and Clever Devices. Fourteen-month-old Nicole Mazrui, unofficial greeter/Miss Hospitality, said "Hi" at least twice a day to everyone in the ballroom. The steering committee included leadership from ACB of Maryland; D.C. Council of the Blind; Old Dominion Council of the Blind; Maryland Area Guide Dog Users and National Capital Citizens with Low Vision. Visitors arrived from West Virginia, New York, Massachusetts, California and the Virginia Association of the Blind. Exhibitors from 17 businesses, service providers and agencies let us see and try out what's new -- high tech and low tech. The program began with an overview of the future of electronic books with many models to see and discuss; then cell phones and better access was cogently delivered by Mark Richert of AFB, followed by issues of transportation and how to meet our ongoing needs and how to get from A to B and back to A, or home or work. Later, there were 15 sessions from which to choose, including ones on finding and joining support groups in the area; guide dogs and whether to become a guide dog handler; and a session on video description presented by Joel Snyder; and finally, eye care. Even if a person is totally blind, it is important to see an eye specialist to make sure eyes are healthy. We also had time to socialize, beginning with a lovely reception sponsored by The Seeing Eye and hosted by MAGDU, accompanied by cool jazz. Our headline speaker was ACB President Mitch Pomerantz, who gave a meaningful history of how and why ACB was founded in 1961. Our written history, "People of Vision," is very worthwhile reading, especially for new members. Another outstanding and refreshing presentation came from Jim Fruchterman, CEO of Bookshare. Jim made the research and development for Arkenstone and Bookshare seem a lark, but we know it wasn't. A big highlight followed the Saturday night banquet -- the auction conducted by Terry Pacheco with description by Joel Snyder. Who would have thought that the bid for cookies baked by Hope Pietrolungo would go for $100, and that Oral Miller would bid $62 for pumpkin bread and apple butter? Other donated items included spa baskets for guide dogs and the VictorReader Stream. The room rocked. Meanwhile, Miss Hospitality, having discharged her greeter duties, proceeded to perfect her cane technique -- using a paper towel roll. We understand she plans to start blogging as soon as she can reach a keyboard. Yes, it was a real nice weekend. ***** LETTER TO THE EDITOR The contents of this column reflect the letters we had received by the time we went to press, Nov. 15, 2007. Letters are limited to 300 words or fewer. All submissions must include the author's name and location. Opinions expressed are those of the authors. Regarding 'Tilt!' and McGregor's Response I grew up being told: "To succeed in the world, you must be better than everyone else." That's a myth. We're people -- like all the other humans on the planet! We encompass high achievers, non-achievers; strong and weak; capable and helpless; challenged and unmotivated. Success can be the satisfactory completion of a thing or the gaining of wealth or power. Most will never achieve the second. I certainly won't, but I have succeeded at many things. I'd had my job only eight months when, because I was the "new kid on the block," I got a layoff letter. My supervisor suggested I move into a different job and do less work than everyone else. I wouldn't accept it. I told her, "If I can't do the work, I don't want the job." I feel now as I did then. To be successful, I must carry an equal share of the load. I've been able to do that by using blindness techniques and reasonable accommodations. This makes me as good as -- but not better than -- my sighted peers. Problems occur when we demand or rely upon more help than we truly need. Special techniques and accommodations compensate for our vision impairments. When we make demands for more accommodation than we need, or when we accept more help from sighted people than we need because THEY think we need it, we hurt the blind community. Those who realize major achievements honestly deserve accolades and benefit the blind community. The rest of us do our parts when we do as best we can with just enough accommodation to keep us even with our sighted peers. That's as it should be because we, like all other humans on the planet, are unique in our individuality. -- Nancy Johnson, Topeka, Kan. ***** HERE AND THERE by Sue Lichtenfels The announcement of products and services in this column is not an endorsement by the American Council of the Blind, its staff, or elected officials. Products and services are listed free of charge for the benefit of our readers. "The Braille Forum" cannot be held responsible for the reliability of products and services mentioned. To submit items for this column, send a message to info@acb.org, or call ACB at 1-800-424-8666 and leave a message in mailbox 26. Please remember that postal regulations prohibit us from including advertisements, and that we need information two months ahead of actual publication dates. LUCKY TOUCH The holidays and the new year are coming. Do you need any fortune cookies for your special events? Contact the Lucky Touch Braille Fortune Cookie Company, a student-run business selling braille and large-print fortune cookies. Small braille fortune cookies, individually wrapped, are 40 cents each; braille chocolate-dipped cookies run 75 cents each. Specialization is available. Contact the company at the California School for the Blind Parents and Friends Association, 500 Walnut Ave., Fremont, CA 94536; phone (510) 794-3800, or e-mail ssung@csb-cde.ca.gov or jlesner@csb- cde.ca.gov. GIFTS AVAILABLE ONLINE Ricky's Treasure Chest online and catalog sales offers gifts for the entire family. Save on Christmas items, home d‚cor, and Native American and Western items. Also available are Jim Shore Products. To view the catalog, visit www.rickystreasurechest.com. EXTENSIVE REEL-TO-REEL COLLECTION Darlene Barton is looking for a new home for a 600-piece collection of old-time radio programs on reel-to-reel tapes. This collection includes mysteries like I Love A Mystery, Inner Sanctum, The Whistler, and The Shadow. There are radio plays such as Mr. First Nighter and The Lux Radio Theater, and westerns like Gun Smoke, The Lone Ranger, Hopalong Cassidy, and Have Gun Will Travel. There's comedy, too: Duffy's Tavern, Fibber McGee & Molly, Burns & Allen, Our Miss Brooks, and The Life of Riley, as well as quiz shows like Truth or Consequences, The 64 Dollar Question, and People Are Funny. Children's shows like Let's Pretend, Space Patrol, Sky King, Super Man, and Big John and Sparky, are included too. Almost all of these tapes are catalogued. The collection is free to whoever would like it; you need only pay for shipping. To learn more, contact Darlene Barton at (412) 341-0114 or e-mail Darlene.barton@comcast.net. HADLEY SCHOOL FOR PROFESSIONALS On Jan. 7, 2008, The Hadley School for the Blind will launch The Hadley School for Professional Studies (HSPS). The program consists of 24 distance education courses, 20 of which offer continuing education units. Tuition ranging from $99 to $139 will be charged for most courses. Enrollments will be accepted online only. For information on HSPS policies and procedures, visit www.hadley.edu/hsps, e-mail hsps@hadley.edu or call 1-800-323-4238. MEDIA SURVEY National Public Radio is looking for visually impaired participants to survey about their experience with media devices. If interested, please provide name, contact information, preferred contact method (phone, e-mail) and type of disability (blindness, dyslexia, etc.) to participant coordinator Daniel Schwab at dschwab@npr.org or (202) 513-2466. 2007 TOUCH OF GENIUS PRIZE FOR INNOVATION Karen Gourgey and Steven Landau have been awarded the 2007 Touch of Genius Prize for Innovation from the National Braille Press. They developed the Talking Tactile Tablet, an inexpensive and simple computer peripheral device that acts as a viewer for tactile diagrams, maps, and illustrations. Users place one of many overlay sheets on the TTT device and explore a graphic using the sense(s) of touch and/or vision. For more information on the 2008 Touch of Genius Prize for Innovation, visit www.nbp.org. BIG NEWS FROM BOOKSHARE The Office of Special Education Programs, U.S. Department of Education, recently made a major five-year award of $32 million to Bookshare.org. This funding will fully support all schools and students with qualifying print disabilities in the United States, K-12 and post- secondary, with access to the entire Bookshare collection of accessible electronic books and to the software for reading them. As of October 1, Bookshare ceased charging these schools and students any membership fees. The organization plans to add more than 100,000 new educational books and materials to its collection, and to reach out to every student, every family with a disabled student, and every school in the United States to offer them the chance to join; to coordinate with schools and publishers to deliver the best quality content possible and lower costs in meeting its obligation to serve every student. For more information, visit www.bookshare.org. RFB&D SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic presented its National Achievement Awards at a gala reception in New York City in April. The winners of the Mary P. Oenslager Scholastic Achievement Awards are: Christina Chang, Villa Park, Calif.; Thomas Hahn, Ruston, La.; and Elizabeth Phillips, Moraga, Calif. GUILDSCHOLARS OFF TO COLLEGE In early 2007, the Jewish Guild for the Blind awarded 16 scholarships to high school seniors. They are: Maida Avdic of Omaha, Neb., attending the College of St. Mary; Alyssa Bates of Fairborn, Ohio, attending Pennsylvania State University; Christine J. Bouchard of Starkville, Miss., attending Sewanee: The University of the South; Casey Burkhardt of Toms River, N.J., attending Villanova University; Mindy Cook of Celina, Ohio, attending Ohio State University; Mandi Curtis of Massena, N.Y., attending the State University of New York at Plattsburgh; Colin A. Dalrymple of Midlothian, Va., attending George Mason University; Blair Douglass of Pittsburgh, Pa., attending the University of Pittsburgh; Carly Englander of Wantagh, N.Y., attending the State University of New York at New Paltz; Corey Grandstaff of Marengo, Ohio, attending Grace College; Elizabeth Haro of San Antonio, Tex., attending Stanford University; Maria Kristic of Rhinebeck, N.Y., attending Western New England College; Casey Joshua Lakritz of Bridgewater, N.J., attending New York University; Adlee Faith Manion of Leitchfield, Ky., attending Campbellsville University; Sarah Katherina Meyer of Kokomo, Ind., attending Indiana Wesleyan University; and Lauren Sullivan of Cumming, Ga., attending Furman University. For information on the Guild's scholarship program, contact Gordon Rovins at (212) 769-7801 or e-mail guildscholar@jgb.org. FREEDOM TO COMPETE AWARD Naomi C. Earp, chair of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, recently presented the Freedom to Compete Award to five employers from the private and public sectors for best practices that promote access and inclusion. The winners were: Johns Hopkins Health System, for developing a series of programs to increase job opportunities for area youth with disabilities; Emory Crawford Long Hospital, for its Project Search Program, created to assist hospitals experiencing shortages of nurses and medical technicians by employing young people with developmental disabilities to assist with routine tasks that don't require medical expertise; the IRS, for its Lions World program to facilitate the hiring and retention of individuals with visual impairments; the city of Norfolk, Va., for its Pathways to Public Service Program, which was designed to remove barriers to public employment for people of color, women, and individuals with disabilities; and Abilities, Inc., for its Experience Counts Program to assist mature workers with disabilities or age-related limitations to regain meaningful employment. OUT OF SIGHT FITNESS The Out of Sight Health & Fitness Program is especially designed for people who are visually impaired and blind. The program includes one braille book, a companion CD that reinforces the exercise portion of the program, a quarterly e-newsletter and two free phone consultations. The program costs $39.95 plus $5 shipping. For more details, contact Bob at (201) 507-1510 or e-mail dukohealth@comcast.net. GOLDEN MOMENTS "Golden Moments: Reflections of a Retriever" is a heart-warming braille and large-print book. It is the story of how Camille Petrecca conquered her fear of dogs and other obstacles. Goldy, Petrecca's first Seeing Eye dog, tells the story in realistic and humorous terms. The photos included in the large-print edition are captioned in the braille edition. Each edition costs $20, including shipping and handling. To order, make check payable to the Campanian Society and mail it to PO Box 243, Rhinecliff, N.Y. 12574. Allow four weeks for processing. ROMANCE NOVEL "We Shall Overcome" is a romance novel written by Abbie Johnson Taylor and published by iUniverse, Inc. It is not only about falling in love and getting married but is also about overcoming fears and stereotypes related to disabilities. The author is visually impaired and has been writing full- time for several years. Visit her web site at www.abbiejohnsontaylor.com. The book is available in print and eBook on the publisher's web site and in print from Amazon.com and booksamillion.com. For more information, contact Abbie Johnson Taylor by mail at 352 W. Whitney, Sheridan, WY 82801, by e-mail at abbietaylor501@msn.com, or by phone at (307) 674-6109. SAFETY WHISTLE According to Wings & Safety Things, sound is the number one factor in deterring crime and finding people during emergencies. They offer a safety whistle that includes a key clip to attach it to keys or a pocket. It meets and exceeds U.S. Coast Guard and SOLAS regulations and the anti-choking federal regulations for children. It also has the endorsement of the American Red Cross. Each safety whistle costs $6.50 and includes shipping. Send check to: Wings & Safety Things, 1182 W. Hamilton Ave., Suite 2, Campbell, CA 95008. For more information, call (408) 378-0700 or e-mail safety@safetywhistle.com. OLD-TIME RADIO CONFERENCE There will be an Old-Time Radio Fans Get-Together in Chicago Aug. 7- 10, 2008. The conference is primarily for old-time radio fans who are blind. However, all are invited. Because hotel space is limited, you must write or call in a request for a personal written invitation. E-mail Robert Acosta at boacosta@pacbell.net or call 1-877-422-0300. VONAGE TO PROVIDE FREE DIRECTORY ASSISTANCE Vonage Holdings Corp. will be providing qualified disabled Americans with free directory assistance as part of a settlement with the DuBoff Law Group, LLC. ***** HUMANWARE'S NEW VICTOR READER TALKING BOOK PLAYER FOR NISO AND DAISY BOOKS by Gerry Chevalier (Editor's Note: Gerry Chevalier is HumanWare's Victor Reader Product Manager.) At the ACB convention in July 2007 HumanWare, the world's leading supplier of the Victor Reader line of CD-based digital talking book players, unveiled its first flash-based portable talking book player, the Victor Reader Stream. The Stream is the result of extensive research in terms of design, usability, and user testing. The Stream is designed to play NISO Z39.86 books, DAISY books and MP3 books and music. NISO Z39.86 is the format that will be used for the new NLS digital talking books. NLS is the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped which is transitioning its four-track cassette talking book service to a new digital service. At the July ACB convention NLS announced that, beginning August 2007, it will expand its trial of download digital talking books to include all NLS patrons who are registered for NLS service by their local library, who have a computer and high-speed Internet connection to download the books, and who also have an NLS-authorized digital book player capable of playing the NISO books downloaded from the NLS server. Only residents of the United States or American citizens living abroad who are unable to read or use standard print materials as a result of a temporary or permanent visual or physical limitation may receive NLS audio book services. Each individual must be certified first before accessing the NLS audio book services. The new Victor Reader Stream will be able to play downloaded NLS NISO books as soon as NLS authorizes the player to do so. NLS NISO books are encrypted and any digital player must be authorized by NLS with a decryption code to play the NLS books. HumanWare has discussed the player authorization process with NLS. The development of the web form and NLS operational procedures are currently under way. As soon as NLS concludes this process, Victor Reader Stream users will be able to register for NLS download book service through a simple web form on the NLS web site. Once the patron is registered for NLS download book service, HumanWare will be able to supply him/her with the required software decryption code to install on the Stream. The decryption code will be sent from HumanWare through a simple e-mail attachment. NLS also announced that it will further expand its digital service in 2008 to begin sending digital recorded books on special cartridges mailed to its members. Included in the Stream package is a short USB cable to allow the future book cartridges to be connected to the Stream and copied to the Stream's SD memory card. For users who prefer to play the cartridge directly on the player, HumanWare will sell an optional book cartridge holder that will clip to the back of the Stream. As with download books, the cartridge books may only be played on an authorized Stream player equipped with the decryption code. As the newest member of the family of Victor Reader digital talking book players, the Stream offers the same powerful and simple to use user interface made popular by the Victor Reader Classic+ and Wave players used by thousands worldwide. Stream users will find the well known four-arrow navigation keys of the Classic+ and Wave allowing book navigation by chapter and section without the need to memorize complex key combinations. As well, the Stream's telephone-style keypad provides advanced book navigation functions such as entering bookmarks, or jumping directly to a specified page or heading. The Stream also has the popular Key Describer feature of other Victor Readers, allowing you to press a key anytime to announce its function. The Stream is an ideal companion to the future NLS player because it does everything the NLS player will do, but in a pocket-size package. Once the player is authorized, not only will you be able to play and navigate the NLS books on cartridges but you will also have access to the NLS download books. The Stream has a USB port to connect to your computer so you can transfer downloaded books from your PC to the Stream's SD flash memory card. In addition to the ability to read NLS books, Stream will also play recorded DAISY 2.02 books from other DAISY producers, including RFB&D. However, every day more and more books and content are becoming available in non-recorded electronic text formats. Stream also has built-in computer text-to-speech to listen to the text portion of full text/full audio books or the text-only books such as those from Bookshare. The built-in speech also provides access to text files transferred from your computer. Indeed, the Stream combines the best features of the NLS player together with the award-winning Victor Reader CD and software players to make Stream the most powerful NISO and DAISY player in the HumanWare family. As an advanced player for recorded audio, e-text NISO and DAISY, and plain computer text, Stream is truly your complete solution in the palm of your hand for all your work, school, or leisure reading needs. But what about MP3 books and music? As an MP3 player, Stream will not only play your books and music but, using the built-in text-to-speech, it will also announce the book, album and track names. And rounding out its versatile book reading capabilities, Stream will support the popular commercial recorded books from Audible. Weighing in at only 6 ounces and measuring 4 « x 2 3/4 inches, this little player does it all. Consider a player that is not much bigger than a pack of cards that will have the ability to play NLS downloaded books and book cartridges, but will also play RFB&D books, Bookshare books, MP3 books, Audible books, computer e-text, and MP3 music files. Finally, the Victor Reader Stream also has a voice recording capability for students and professionals who may want to record audio notes, meetings, or lectures. Recording is possible via a built-in microphone or external microphone connection. For listening versatility, the Stream will allow the user to vary the playback speed and listen through headphones or a small built-in speaker. The best news of all -- priced at only $329, the Stream is your best buy for a NISO and DAISY player offering so much performance and functionality at such a low price. And don't forget, all ACB members receive a 5 percent discount. Visit http://www.humanware.com for complete product information and the opportunity to be first in line to purchase your Stream, or call toll-free, 1-800-722-3393. HumanWare is confident that you will find the Victor Reader Stream is one of the most exciting products introduced in recent years. ***** HIGH TECH SWAP SHOP FOR SALE: Blank cassettes. Narrated and dramatized New and Old Testaments, together or separately. Programs from the golden age of radio from the '30s to the '70s. Braille cards. Slates and styli, different sizes. Contact J.C. Kelly at (903) 794-4852 (Central time). FOR SALE: Gateway dual core laptop, never used! Features include: Microsoft Windows XP Professional edition (SP2), 17" monitor, and integrated 24x/10x/24x CD-RW / 8x DVD combo. Asking $950. Price includes: JAWS for Windows 8.0, Kurzweil 1000 11, Microsoft Office Professional 2003 and a brand-new printer, as well as 30 days of phone instruction and support. Free shipping in the continental United States! Call Keith Robertson at (206) 984-5896 (Pacific time) or e-mail kdr.email@gmail.com. FOR SALE: PAC Mate BX with 40-cell display. Comes with long and short USB cables, charger, quick-start manual in braille and print, carrying case, Street Talk GPS and receiver, CF card with backup and Destinator software, plus the software CDs, PM Companion and data CDs, and two plastic covers. Asking $2,600; willing to trade it for a Braillino. PAC Mate QX with no braille display. Comes with charger, quick-start manual in print and braille, earphones, long and short USB cables, wireless modem, carrying case, and one plastic cover that allows the unit to be used independently, plus the CDs with PAC Mate software. Asking $900. Make offer. Money orders and cashier's checks only. Contact Isaac Obie via e-mail, iobie@theworld.com or iobie@gis.net, or phone (617) 247-0026 (Eastern time). FOR SALE: BrailleNote mPower, 18-cell, braille keyboard. Brand new, still in the box. Asking $3,300. Money order or cashier's check only. Will pay shipping. Call Jean at (518) 473-1634 days, (518) 452-1237 evenings (Eastern time). If I don't answer, leave a message and your number and I'll call you back. FOR SALE: Optelec video magnifier system. Magnifies anything placed under it in black and white or color from 2x to 50x original size while maintaining perfect focus. Asking $800. Call Barbara Knurek at (480) 949- 7295 (Mountain time). FOR SALE: Braille Sense, 32-cell display. Two years old; in great condition. Comes with all necessary cords, earphones and battery, as well as a wireless card and CD manual. Asking $4,000. Send an e-mail to charityrose12@msn.com, or call (612) 822-6991 (Central time). FOR SALE: Braille 'n Speak 640 with leather case, disk drive, cables, braille and print manuals. Asking $225; postage not included. Sharp Electronic typewriter (purchased in 1992) in good working condition with print manual. Asking $35; postage not included. Apollo Visual Aid black- and-white CCTV. Asking $250; postage not included. Contact Vileen Shah at vileenshah@hotmail.com or (847) 647-6677 evenings and weekends Central time. FOR SALE: 20-inch black-and-white closed circuit TV. Has not been used in the last two years. Asking $1,000 or best offer. Shipping not included. Please contact Gregg Welch at (503) 408-1419 (Pacific time) or tallcoolgregg@msn.com. FOR SALE: Telesensory Pico pocket video magnifier, model SU1A. Includes wrist strap, carrying case and car adapter. Asking $350; includes USPS ground shipping. Vision Technology, Inc. Freedom Machine, model VT- 2020 desktop CCTV. Magnifies up to 50x, works with cable-ready TV. Asking $750 plus shipping. Contact Marilyn or Jay Dailey at (937) 299-4950 or mpdailey@woh.rr.com. WANTED: Book 10 of the "Left Behind" series, "The Remnant," on CD (dramatized). Contact Walter at (661) 833-3663 (Pacific time). WANTED: General Electric table model four-track cassette recorder. Contact Jim Barnes at barnesj@wabash.edu or (765) 361-6319. WANTED: Donation of talking computer and Braille 'n Speak. Contact Eva Kurtz at (785) 233-5546 (Central time). ACB OFFICERS PRESIDENT MITCH POMERANTZ 1115 CORDOVA STREET #402 PASADENA, CA 91106 FIRST VICE PRESIDENT KIM CHARLSON 57 GRANDVIEW AVE. WATERTOWN, MA 02472 SECOND VICE PRESIDENT BRENDA DILLON 313 OVERRIDGE COVE HERMITAGE, TN 37076 SECRETARY MARLAINA LIEBERG 632 S. 189TH ST. BURIEN, WA 98148 TREASURER MIKE GODINO 104 TILROSE AVE MALVERNE, NY 11565-2024 IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT CHRISTOPHER GRAY 94 RAMONA AVE. SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103 ACB BOARD OF DIRECTORS Ed Bradley, Houston, TX Ray Campbell, Glen Ellyn, IL Billie Jean Keith, Arlington, VA Oral Miller, Washington, DC Carla Ruschival, Louisville, KY Patrick Sheehan, Silver Spring, MD Naomi Soule, St. Louis, MO Jeff Thom, Sacramento, CA David Trott, Talladega, AL Cammie Vloedman, Oklahoma City, OK Ex Officio: Ken Stewart, Warwick, NY BOARD OF PUBLICATIONS Paul Edwards, Chairman, Miami, FL DeAnna Noriega, Fulton, MO Jenine Stanley, Columbus, OH Ken Stewart, Warwick, NY Cindy Van Winkle, Bremerton, WA Ex Officios: Janelle Edwards, Springfield, MO Ron Milliman, Bowling Green, KY