The Braille Forum Vol. X September 1971 No. 2 Published Bi-Monthly by the American Council of the Blind Oklahoma City, Oklahoma * Editor: Earl Scharry 5714 Ridgeway Ave. Rockville, MD 20851 * Associate Editors: George Card 605 South Few St. Madison, WI 53703 Alma Murphey 4103 Castleman Ave. St. Louis, MO 63110 * President: Reese Robrahn 329 Woodbury Lane Topeka, KS 66606 * National Representative: Durward K. McDaniel 20 E Street NW Suite 215 Washington, DC 20001 To inform its readers and to provide an impartial Forum for discussion. ***** ** Table of Contents Notice to Subscribers Convention Roundup, by George Card National Association of Blind Teachers Established, by Durward K. McDaniel Coordinating Committee of Blind Social Workers Established, by Durward K. McDaniel Their Masters' Voices, by Donna Pastore Report of the VISTA Convention, by Betty Ann Jones Editorial: The Little Fiction, by Earl Scharry Summary of ACB Board Meeting Minutes Blind Lawyers Conference, by Durward K. McDaniel QST ... QST ... QST ... ACB Service Net Organizes Special Interest Affiliate, by Doris Hauser Achievements: Blind Transcriber Increases Efficiency with Magnetic Tape Typewriter ACB Resolutions Amendments to ACB By-Laws HYDE PARK CORNER: Jewels from the Confucius of the Piedmont, by Roby C. Leonard Braille Dollars Make Sense, by Harold Rowley Illinois Blind Teachers Association, by Joanna Cargill In Memoriam: Paul Knowles Auditing the Editors, by Earl Scharry The VENDORSCOPE, by Ione B. Miller NBA Braille Book Bank Here and There, by George Card ACB Officers Directors ***** ** Notice to Subscribers The Braille Forum is available in braille, large type, and on tape -- seven-inch, dual track, ips 3 and 3/4. Subscriptions and address changes should be sent to Floyd Qualls, who is in charge of our three mailing lists. His address is: 106 N.E. 2nd Street, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73104. Items intended for publication should be sent to the editor or to one of the associate editors. Those much-needed and appreciated cash contributions should be sent to ACB Treasurer Fred Krepela, 241 State Street, Salem, Oregon 97301. ***** ** Convention Roundup By George Card Two years of planning and hard work culminated in what is being acclaimed on all sides as the greatest and most successful convention of the American Council of the Blind in its ten-year history. A total of 825 individuals attended at least some part of the proceedings. There were 614 registrants for the general sessions, and 420 attended the banquet. Twenty-eight states were represented and sixty-three occupations. Even the weatherman cooperated. After almost five weeks of hot and humid weather in the 90's, he provided us with delightful low-humidity days in the 70's and cool nights during the entire week. Eight new affiliates were welcomed -- the Arkansas Council of the Blind, VISTA (Visually Impaired Secretarial Transcribers Association), the Columbine Council of the Blind (Colorado), the American Council of the Blind of Pennsylvania, the Louisiana Council of the Blind, the Capital City Council of the Blind (Baton Rouge, La.), the American Blind Lawyers Association and the Arizona Council of the Blind. That brought the total ACB membership to thirty-four. When the NFB was ten years old, there were a few over 200 at its Denver convention in 1949. The speakers who addressed the convention during its first four sessions included some of the most outstanding leaders in the nation of work for and with the blind. There was variety, brilliance and plenty of good solid nourishment. A warm and cordial welcoming address by Wisconsin's Governor, Patrick J. Lucey, officially opened the convention. Next came a welcome by President Herbert Pitz of the host affiliate, the Wisconsin Council of the Blind. T. Munford Boyd, Emeritus Professor of Law at the University of Virginia, followed with the same sort of a heart-lifting address as we so well remember at a San Francisco convention in 1956. Dr. Matthew Davis, world-renowned ophthalmologist, told us of his extensive research into the causes and treatment of diabetic retinopathy. Roy Andries de Groot, blind author of "The Movable Feast" column in ESQUIRE, who appears on NBC's "Today" show and is a celebrated gourmet, related some fascinating experiences. Charter ACB member Paul Kirton, who had been described by the Secretary of the Interior as one of the Keenest legal minds he had ever encountered, told of the problems and prospects for the blind in government service. Robert Barnett, of the American Foundation for the Blind and Douglas MacFarland, of the Office for the Blind, in the Department of HEW, both made intensely interesting and informative presentations. Majorie Hooper spoke of the developments at the American Printing House for the Blind since our Louisville convention in 1965. A panel organized by the Library of Congress gave us some most interesting facts about library service. Benjamin Pumo, of the Detroit Metropolitan Society for the Blind, described how a wide variety of additional resources are utilized in his area. An international flavor was provided by the appearance Friday morning of Tom Parker, of London, Secretary General of the British National League of the Blind. Mary Jane Schmitt, ACB Secretary, described a new development in the field of data processing which will have wide significance for the blind. On the Friday afternoon program there was a general report by President Reese H. Robrahn and a legislative report by Durward McDaniel. Three Wisconsin speakers told of activities in our own state. A uniformly high level of excellence was maintained throughout those first four sessions. Thursday afternoon seven big buses took a lucky 300 for a tour of the Badger Home for the Blind, a visit to the great Schlitz Brewery and to a sumptuous banquet and musical entertainment at the beautiful Schlitz Terminal, provided free by the Schlitz organization. All reports were enthusiastic. On both Tuesday and Wednesday evenings there were social mixers with free beer and other refreshments and with lots and lots of music. The highly talented John W. Studen III, of Baltimore, gave incredibly good imitations of well-known entertainment artists, and local members provided instrumental music. The feature of the banquet was the thrilling address by George Fogarty of San Francisco. He held his audience spellbound. Many people afterward told me he had lived up to all the things I had said and written about him. He is truly the Golden Voice from the Golden Gate. The opening speech of the banquet was delivered by former Milwaukee mayor, Frank Zeidler. The banquet toastmaster was Gordon Haldiman, of Milwaukee, and he did an outstanding job. The tables were beautifully decorated with flowers contributed by a local garden club. Catherine Skivers presented the Ambassador Award to Travis L. Harris, Director of Visual Services in Oklahoma, in recognition of his outstanding work in the ACB Service Net and Lions Eye Bank, and the George Card Award to Mr. Stanley Doran, founder of Pilot Dogs, Inc., in Columbus, Ohio, for his outstanding service to blind people. Earl Scharry presented the Ned Freeman Award for the best Forum article of the past year to Kenneth Hinga, of Kalamazoo, Michigan, for his article, "Fools Rush In," which appeared in the November, 1970, issue. At the business sessions on Saturday, a number of reports were made and several resolutions and amendments to the by-laws were adopted. These will be reported elsewhere in this issue. In 1973 the convention will go to Nashville and in 1974 to Chicago. Next year, of course, we will be at the Portland Hilton in Portland, Oregon. ***** ** National Association of Blind Teachers Established By Durward K. McDaniel On July 31, 1971, the National Association of Blind Teachers was formed at a special meeting at the Sheraton-Schroeder Hotel in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The purpose of the new association is: "To provide a national non-profit organization of blind teachers and students preparing to be teachers which will: A. Provide a forum for discussion of the special problems encountered by blind persons certified to teach and of blind students in training for the teaching profession. B. Acquire, preserve and disseminate materials of special interest to blind teachers and blind student teachers; and C. Do all things necessary and desirable to advance the teaching profession and to protect the interests of blind members of it." It expects to establish state chapters in those states which have a sufficient number of blind teachers (including, but not limited to, those who teach blind students and also including college and university teachers). By-laws were adopted, and the following Officers and Directors were elected: Professor Robert McGann, President, 2638 N. Troy Street, Chicago, Ill. 60647; Wyman Howard, First Vice President, 2114 Avenue K, Council Bluffs, Iowa 51501; Donna Pastore, Second Vice President, 4350 Lee Highway, Arlington, Va. 22207; Susan Harden, Recording Secretary, 204 State Street, Batavia, N.Y. 14020; Dr. Mabel Bailey, Corresponding Secretary, 610 S. Darst St., Eureka, Ill. 61530; Robert W. Campbell, Treasurer, 253 Stonewall Rd., Berkeley, Calif. 94705; Gregory Robinson, Director, 1665 S.E. Linn St., Portland, Ore. 97202; Philip White, Director, 1526 N. Grand Traverse, Flint, Michigan 48503; Richard Johnson Director, c/o Wisc. School for the Visually Handicapped, 1700 West State St., Janesville, Wisc. 53545; and Hazel Daigle, Director, 5230 Welton Drive, New Orleans, La. 70122. The Association established the following dues: $3.00 per year for voting members, except students; and $2.00 per year for student voting members and for associate members. Blind teachers are invited to join, and readers are requested to submit the names and addresses of blind teachers to the corresponding secretary, Dr. Mabel Bailey. The new association is compatible with complementary existing organizations of teachers. It will be affiliated with the American Council of the Blind. ***** ** Coordinating Committee of Blind Social Workers Established By Durward McDaniel On July 28, 1971, blind social workers met in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and formed the Coordinating Committee of Blind Social Workers. The Committee consists of: Mrs. Eunice Fiorito, Chairman, 330 E. 33rd St., New York, N.Y. 10016; Dr. Vincent Laridaen, 1609 N. Prospect St., Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202; Jack C. Lewis, 504 Rogers Drive, Macon, Ga. 35901; Mary Berdell, 749 Willow Street, Waterloo, Iowa 50703; and Mary B. Lodico, 611 Clinton Ave., Plainfield, N.J. 07063. The Committee invites correspondence from blind social workers and social work students and requests readers to send names and addresses of such persons to Mrs. Fiorito. The Committee is the beginning of a professional organization of blind social workers. Plans are already being developed for a professional conference on a statewide basis. ***** ** Their Masters' Voices By Donna Pastore Several interested ACB members met in Milwaukee to establish the Coordinating Committee of Dog Guide Users (CCDGU). This group has set down quite a few goals, some of which would aid even those who do not use a dog guide. As every dog guide user knows, laws pertaining to the use of a guide dog vary from state to state, both in scope and in actual enforcement. Ogden Reid, a Congressman from New York, has introduced a bill (H.R. 2222), which provides for a uniform dog guide law throughout the United States. The CCDGU is actively supporting this bill. Each member will receive a print or braille copy. In addition, the CCDGU encourages the enforcement of already existing dog guide laws and has received assurance that the American Blind Lawyers Association will assist users who are experiencing discrimination in such areas as living accommodation, employment, transportation, restaurant service, etc. CCDGU also hopes to create a public relations program to help educate the general public as to the functions of the dog guide and to emphasize fair employment and housing practices for all blind people. Finally, CCDGU plans to locate a convenient and adequate park site for dog guides near each hotel where ACB conventions will be held. Information concerning a nearby reputable veterinarian will be made available. CCDGU has decided definitely to affiliate with ACB. Officers have been elected and by-laws adopted. Membership is not limited to dog guide users: all interested persons are invited to join. Membership dues have been set at $2.00 per person. If you are interested in joining, please contact the Corresponding Secretary, Mrs. Margie Connorton, 7080 S.W. 23rd St., Miami, Fla., 33155. Please make all checks payable to CCDGU, and note whether you would like print or braille copies of material being distributed. Officers: President, Mr. Donald Connorton, Miami, Fla.; 1st Vice President, Mrs. Phyllis Stearn, Oak Park, Ill.; 2nd Vice President, Miss Lois Wierda, Phoenix, Ariz.; Corresponding Secretary, Mrs. Margie Connorton, Miami, Fla.; Recording Secretary, Miss Susan Harden, Tonawanda, New York; Treasurer, Miss Donna Pastore, N. Arlington, Va. ***** ** Report of the VISTA Convention By Betty Ann Jones On July 26, 1971, the first annual convention of the Visually Impaired Secretarial Transcribers Association was called to order. The two-day meeting delved into the matters of the initial preparation and placement of the visually impaired office worker, the possibility of opening new fields for the blind transcriber and secretary, and some of the courses and aids available to make advancement feasible. Counselling was explored by Mr. William Ferrell of Nashville, Tennessee, training in Houston was explained by Mr. James Clerihan, San Francisco's approach to the training of a medical transcriber was presented by Mrs. Frances Bigger, and placement in New York City and the Denver areas were discussed by Mrs. Eunice Fiorito and Mr. Bryant Moore. Under the heading of opening new fields or extending existing ones, the duties of a secretary in a scientific laboratory were described by Miss Garnet James of Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, Illinois. Miss James said that although many of the secretarial positions at Argonne consisted of the routine duties familiar throughout the field, some secretaries were required to have a knowledge of scientific terminology and to be able to reproduce chemical formulas in the course of their work. At the present time, no blind secretaries are employed at the Laboratory, but it was apparent that such employment would be possible if properly qualified applicants were available. In the matter of courses and aids available to help the visually impaired office worker in his daily duties, Miss Meg Kuhn explained the courses provided by the Hadley School for the Blind, Winnetka, Illinois, relative to the secretarial, field; an IBM representative demonstrated the Braille typewriter and discussed the MTST; Mr. Harold Steinman of Talk, Inc., displayed the Stenomask and explained its use as a means of taking shorthand; and Mrs. Mary Jane Schmitt demonstrated a device for obtaining Braille material from a computer. On Tuesday morning, a panel of employed secretaries and transcribers discussed their jobs which ranged from medical secretary in a hospital through transcribing for an insurance company and transcribing in the home to supervising secretary in an insurance company. The regular program concluded with a report by Mrs. Natalie Black of Houston, Texas, of the secretarial conference held in Chicago under the auspices jointly of the Hadley School for the Blind and the Department of Health, Education and Welfare. A highlight of the convention was the luncheon program when Mrs. Louise Matthews and Mrs. Lee Morrissette explained the examinations for Certified Professional Secretary sponsored by the National Secretaries Association. Mrs. Matthews and Mrs. Morrissette said that passage of this examination was definite proof to a prospective or existing employer that the successful candidate was executive secretary material. At the regular business meeting of the Visually Impaired Secretarial Transcribers Association, Mrs. Natalie Black of Houston, Texas, was elected to fill out the secretary's term of office, and the following Members of the Board of Directors were elected: Mrs. Loretta Bourgoin of Rochester, New York? Mr. Donold Connorton of Miami, Florida; Mr. Garland F. Dowling of Washington, D.C.; and Mr. George Illingworth of Detroit, Michigan. Other officers, continuing in office, are: Miss Betty Ann Jones, Utica, N.Y., Pres.; Mrs. Assunta Lilley, Richmond Heights, Mo., 1st Vice Pres.; Mrs. Frances Bigger, San Francisco, Calif., 2nd Vice Pres.; and Mr. Charles Johnson, Baltimore, Md., Treasurer. In the section of the meeting dealing with VISTA's future plans, the matter of obtaining a grant to establish an information center was discussed; committees to investigate the publishing of a brochure explaining VISTA to those interested in our organization were appointed, and an even better convention was foreseen the first week in July, 1972, in Portland, Oregon. I want to thank ACB for its invaluable help before and during our convention and to thank the officers and speakers who made our program possible; but most of all, I want to thank the members and interested people who attended the convention. ***** ** Editorial: The Little Fiction Once there was a Little Fiction that wanted, oh so very much, to grow up to be a Great Big Fact. And so, the Little Fiction said to itself, "If I talk like a Great Big Fact and act like a Great Big Fact, maybe after a while people will believe I am one, and I may even become one." So it began saying, "I have 40,000 members," and it kept on saying it for fifteen years. Meanwhile, many of its members had become infected with new ideas. The poor Little Fiction, being violently allergic to new ideas, and finding these members extremely irritating and painful, amputated all of them, but still kept insisting, "I have 40,000 members." Only a little while ago it said it in all solemnity and gravity to a Committee of the Maryland Legislature. Since Fictions, whether little or big, are so accustomed to strangeness, it never occurred to the Little Fiction that anyone would think it strange that after all those years it had neither grown nor shrunk by one little digit, so bewitched was it by that lovely round figure, 40,000. And the Little Fiction found a great big Castle, called the Iowa Commission for the Blind, and it moved into the Castle. From there it made attacks and threats against School Superintendents, Librarians, the National Accreditation Council, a great big magazine called Dialogue, and various other "enemies," but especially against little Organizations of the Blind, which kept talking back to it. It was especially infuriated by one big Organization of the Blind, called ACB, to which it kept saying, "Boo," but which kept growing and growing and would not be frightened away. The Little Fiction kept saying over and over, "I am a Great Big Fact, and I speak for all Blind People." ACB kept saying, "The Little Fiction speaks only for the garrison in the big Castle. Blind People can speak for themselves, and I give them the opportunity and the forum from which to do so." But because the Little Fiction kept repeating so often and so Loudly that it was a Big Fact and represented all Blind People and not merely the retainers in the big Castle, and because too many Blind People were willing to stand aside and listen to the rival claims, even though the Little Fiction had not really grown into a Big Fact at all, some people were uncertain, and some even began to think that perhaps the Little Fiction really was a Big Fact. Like all allegories, this one has a moral. We know that we have many sympathetic readers and well-wishers who give us their blessing and good will, but little in the way of participation. To those we would say: Someone has always been anxious to speak for the blind. Unless you stand up and speak for yourselves, someone will speak for you. Right now, the Director of the Iowa Commission for the Blind is purporting to speak for you. You may not like what he says in your behalf and in your name, but unless you are willing to stand up and be counted, there will be those who will believe and do believe that you endorse his claims and demands. The most effective way in which you can ensure that you will not be misrepresented by a self-appointed spokesman for you is to join with and participate in ACB. Within the limits of space, this forum offers the opportunity for the expression of grass roots views. We must also, as in this issue, give prominence to the activities of ACB, which gives us sustenance. If you wish to participate and do not know how to go about it, get in touch with our National Representative Mr. Durward K. McDaniel, at 20 E Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20001. He will tell you if there is an affiliate convenient for you to associate with, and if there is not, or if you prefer, how to become a member-at-large. ***** ** Summary of ACB Board Meeting Minutes The ACB Board of Directors met in a preconvention session on July 27, 1971. After a discussion of inactivity of the Leaf Gum Project, the President stated that he would instruct the National Representative to investigate the matter and report to him. Fred Krepela, 1972 convention chairman, read a list of suggestions for the Portland convention and stated that the dates of the ACB convention proper are to be July 5-8. Mrs. Betty Hoffman, of the Evergreen Travel Service, next addressed the Board, saying that her travel agency how sponsors three tours annually specifically set up for blind persons. She also stated that one of these tours each year is to be sponsored by Dialogue. She suggested that ACB might want to co-sponsor this tour. It was moved by Fred Lilley, seconded by Don Cameron, that we approve the idea of tours designed for blind people and request more complete details regarding this travel agency and its tours to be mailed to the Board before we take any action relative to co-sponsorship of a tour with Dialogue. The motion passed unanimously. Catherine Skivers discussed the guidelines for awards and the possibility that we might want to change one section of the existing guideline covering the George Card Award from: "he shall have demonstrated outstanding service to the blind community on a local and national basis" to: "he shall have demonstrated outstanding service to the organized blind on a local or national basis." It was moved by Fred Lilley, seconded by Mary Jane Schmitt, that the guideline remain in its present form; the motion received unanimous approval. After a discussion of fund raising, the meeting was adjourned. At the post-convention meeting on July 31, the first item of business was the election of an Audit Committee. On motion of Vernon Williams, seconded by Mary Jane Schmitt, Fern Prichard (Calif.), Richard Kohl (Ore.), and Harlene Stone (Ariz.) were appointed. It was motioned by Earl Scharry, seconded by David Krause, that it be recommended to the Guidelines Committee that the convention guidelines include a requirement that a hospitality room be provided when the ACB convention is not in session. It was the consensus of the Board that the Guidelines Committee consider recommending that convention programs provide more adequate time for discussion and questions. The idea of trying to obtain group health insurance for ACB members, which had been discussed earlier, was revived. Floyd Qualls had reported on a discussion he had had with an insurance agent who is trying to interest a large insurance company in writing a nationwide plan for ACB members. This agent wants to mail to each of our members, at his own expense, a questionnaire to provide necessary information to the insurance company. Floyd emphasized that we would do the actual mailing, and the replies would be directed to the insurance company, so that our membership list would never leave our hands. The agent proposed mailing an application for a cancer insurance policy as well as the questionnaire. Upon motion by Don Cameron, seconded by Fred Lilley, it was voted unanimously to authorize Floyd Qualls to go forward with the mailing of the questionnaire, exclusive of the cancer policy application. ***** ** Blind Lawyers Conference -- 1971 By Durward McDaniel The second annual conference of the American Blind Lawyers Association was held in Milwaukee and was attended by more than half of the association's 50 members. A series of educational seminars was conducted by Association members, and four important projects were inaugurated. 1. A referral system was approved to assist blind persons (including deaf-blind persons) in the obtaining of preliminary advice on legal questions. This service is now in process of being established, and Dr. Warren C. Germain, 542 Meadow Road, Winnetka, Ill. 60093, has agreed to be the project officer to receive inquiries (including those in braille). In accordance with prevailing professional standards, a nominal fee of $1.00 will be required with each inquiry. It is expected that this new service will assist blind persons in evaluating legal problems and perhaps in communicating with their regular attorneys. The Association does not contemplate that the blind attorney who accepts an assignment of such an inquiry will necessarily represent the inquirer. Further information can be obtained from the Secretary of ABLA at 20 E Street, N.W., Suite 215, Washington, D.C. 20001. 2. The Association established a Board of Editors for the purpose of publishing on cassette tapes a quarterly law journal. It will be circulated without charge to blind lawyers, judges, teachers and students, as well as other eligible readers. The Board of Editors consists of: Philip E. Pofcher, Chairman, Roslindale, Mass.; Reese H. Robrahn, Topeka, Kan.; Arnold Ostwald, New York, N.Y.; Judge Mario Pieroni, Muncie, Ind., Judge George Howeiler, Sandy, Ore.; Prof. T. Munford Boyd, Charlottesville, Va.; and Durward McDaniel, Washington, D.C. Mr. Robert Bray, Chief, Division for the Blind and Physically Handicapped of the Library of Congress has met with the Chairman of the Board of Editors and has been most cooperative in helping to plan for this project. 3. The Association will establish a law information center of taped material with the direct participation of the Oklahoma Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped. Miss Peggy Sapp of the Library will be in charge of the law material. The Association's Law Library Committee consists of: John P. Patterson, Chairman, Buffalo, New York James D. Faimon, Lincoln, Nebraska Marcus E. Roberson, San Antonio, Texas Robert Hegland, Des Moines, Iowa Howard Heldt, Chicago, Illinois Vernon Williams, Aberdeen, South Dakota Durward McDaniel, Washington, D.C. 4. The Association established a Student Advisory Committee to assist blind students preparing or desiring to enter the profession. The Student Advisory Committee consists of: Paul Kirton, Chairman, Woodford, Virginia T. Munford Boyd, Charlottesville, Virginia Vincent Laridaen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin George A. Caldwell, Washington, D.C. Norman Robinson, Chicago, Illinois Howard A. Heldt of Chicago and Judge George Howeiler of Sandy, Oregon, are new members elected to the Association's Board of Directors. Other directors re-elected are: T. Munford Boyd, Charlottesville, Virginia Garland F. Dowling, Washington, D.C. Paul Kirton, Woodford, Virginia John P. Patterson, Buffalo, New York Marcus E. Roberson, San Antonio, Texas Reese H. Robrahn, Topeka, Kansas The officers of ABLA are: John Vanlandingham, President, 5800 North 19th Avenue, Phoenix, Arizona 85015 Vernon Williams, 1st Vice President, Aberdeen, S.D. Philip Pofcher, 2nd Vice President, Roslindale, Mass. Durward McDaniel, Secretary, Washington, D.C. Oral O. Miller, Treasurer, Washington, D.C. Judge George Howeiler will be the chairman of the 1972 conference, which will be held in Portland, Oregon, during the first week of July, prior to the annual convention of the American Council of the Blind. ***** ** QST ... QST ... QST ACB Service Net Organizes Special Interest Affiliate By Doris Hauser On July 29, at the Sheraton-Schroeder Hotel, a group of blind radio amateurs met in the ham shack, Room 1907, to organize and apply for affiliation as a special interest organization of the ACB. Officers elected were: Travis Harris, W5PGD, Pres.; Lester McGlaughn, W4IDB, Vice Pres.; Doris Hauser, WA9MWM, Sec.-Treas; and two board members: Mary Ballard, W2ZRO, and Walter Siren W5RNH. The purpose of the group will be to disseminate information pertinent to blind radio operators. There has been a lot of misinformation floating around in the past, and we hope to clear up this situation. It is not necessary to belong to the group in order to check into the Net, but we would certainly appreciate the support of all the blind operators. Any ideas or suggestions you have will be welcomed. Two dollars dues per year will make you a member, and you will receive a certificate of membership. Many thanks to Howard Traxler, WA9RYF, of Milwaukee, who provided his rig for the use of the convention attendants. Many messages were passed on the regular ACB net, which is held every day at twelve noon CDT on 14,305 KH. W4RNH is attempting to establish an evening net at 7 o'clock CDT, on forty meters around 7253 KH. Congratulations to Travis Harris from all his friends on the Service Net for receiving the Ambassador Award. It couldn't happen to a nicer human being. See you on the Net and don't forget to send your dues to me: Doris Hauser, 937 Bowditch, Aurora, Ill. 60538. 73's ***** ** ACHIEVEMENTS: Blind Transcriber Increases Efficiency with Magnetic Tape Typewriter By Bennett Karmin An IBM Magnetic tape "Selectric" Typewriter (MT/ST) is increasing the productivity and reliability of a blind transcriber for the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Md. Mrs. Barbara Heffner, a transcriber in NIH's Clinical Center Medical Record Department, is one of the approximately 18 sightless operators in and around the nation's capital now using an MT/ST. Before using this machine, Mrs. Heffner prepared reports on a conventional typewriter but typed at a deliberately reduced speed so as to minimize the number of errors. If an error was made, a sighted staff member would make the correction for Mrs. Heffner. With the MT/ST, Mrs. Heffner can always type at her maximum speed. The fear of errors does not slow down her rate of production, even when approaching the end of long typing projects. The machine uses a magnetic tape which stores typed information in coded form. As Mrs. Heffner operates the machine's conventional keyboard, the words and numbers are recorded and stored on a half-inch tape. The tape is 100 feet long and can hold 24,000 characters, roughly the equivalent of a full day's typing. The MT/ST is operated as is any other electric typewriter. However, if an error is made in spelling, grammar or punctuation, Mrs. Heffner merely backspaces and strikes over the incorrect character or word. Backspacing and typing over the error automatically erases the magnetic tape so only the new typing is recorded. In addition, if a word or previous sentence is to be deleted, Mrs. Heffner presses a button on the machine's console and the machine returns to the beginning of the previous line. She then retypes the line, thereby erasing any previously typed material on that line. As with most blind operators, Mrs. Heffner's work has been outstanding partly because sightless typists are not diverted by the visual distractions usually found in an office. A blind operator usually brings to her work a concentration and dedication that impresses her supervisor. Mrs. Heffner's skill with the machine was so outstanding that she was asked to participate in the annual meeting of the President's Committee on Employment of the Handicapped held in Washington, D.C. At this meeting she demonstrated her work routine for a number of visitors including the handicapped, Committee members and special guests. Mrs. Heffner's transcription usually begins when she receives a dictated report from a physician using a transcribing machine. She then transfers the information to medical record forms and magnetic tapes. The blind operator selects and inserts forms in the MT/ST and installs magnetic tape reels into the tape console without assistance. Mrs. Heffner has a number of techniques to help compensate for her lack of sight. For example, while transcribing, she uses a grooved ventilator plate on the back of her machine. She finds she can use the groove as an indicator of when she has reached the end of a form. While speed of transmission is important, accuracy is essential for Mrs. Heffner, especially when recording medical terms, new drugs or unfamiliar diseases as is frequently the case at NIH. ***** ** ACB Resolutions The following resolutions were adopted by the American Council of the Blind in the convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, July 31, 1971. * 71-01. Whereas, a common problem of proving personal identification exists for many blind persons in such practical everyday matters as cashing checks and other such activities; therefore be it Resolved, That the president of the American Council of the Blind appoint a committee of three to study the problem with the view toward recommending a uniformly acceptable means of personal identification for blind persons engaged in such activities; and said committee report to the next ACB Convention (1972). * 71-02. Resolved, That the American Council of the Blind in convention assembled in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, this 31st day of July, 1971, authorize the Washington Representative of the American Council of the Blind to obtain amendments to any legislation concerning an ecological service corps, or similar organization, which would provide that such ecological corps include a substantial percentage of severely handicapped persons; so that such severely handicapped persons might, during periods of national unemployment, continue to enjoy the opportunity to participate in constructive and beneficial work for their community. * 71-03. Whereas, Braille and recorded material mailed by or to the blind is now accepted by the United States Post Office Department free of charge, but is handled as third-class mail, often resulting in long delay in delivery; and Whereas, Blind persons sometimes need faster service for important mail; and Whereas, Braille and recorded material is heavier than material typed on ordinary paper, and therefore costs substantially more to mail; therefore be it Resolved, That the Post Office Department be petitioned to establish a first-class, three-ounce limit rate for braille and recorded material mailed by or to the blind and such rate should be nominal. Postal service for such braille and recorded material should receive full first-class privileges and should be clearly marked to indicate its first-class status. This new first-class service should be in addition to, and not a replacement for, any other special rates provided for mail by or to blind persons; be it further Resolved, That Dialogue Publications, Inc., be commended for initiating negotiations to obtain a first-class postal privilege for service by or to the blind. * 71-04. Whereas, There seems to be an almost irreversible trend toward integrating blind children into the public school system; and Whereas, It is the part of wisdom to ride a wave of the future rather than to be swept away by it; and Whereas, There are vast discrepancies in the training provided or made available in various public-school systems; and Whereas, In some public-school situations blind children receive no instruction in such things as physical education, daily living skills and music; and Whereas, There are known instances of children graduating from public school systems who have never so much as heard of a Talking Book and who are given no instruction in braille; now therefore be it Resolved, That the American Council of the Blind asks the National Accreditation Council to set up standards or guidelines for public or private school systems which undertake to teach blind children, setting forth, among other things, the kind of training which should be provided, and the kinds and qualities of teaching, counseling and administrative personnel which should be necessary for accreditation by the NAC. * 71-05. Whereas, blind people, particularly active blind people, are relatively much more dependent on public transportation than other people; and Whereas, In most communities the prices for public transportation are constantly increasing and the quality and frequency of service constantly going down; now therefore be it Resolved, That the American Council of the Blind strongly urge its affiliates and local chapters to work with other groups to bring about better intracity transit service and cheaper fares through subsidization or public ownership; and be it further Resolved, That the national officers and representative of American Council of the Blind be instructed to assist and advise such local chapters or state affiliates in promoting such subsidization or public ownership, particularly by seeking the assistance of the U.S. Department of Transportation. ***** ** Amendments to ACB By-Laws Two amendments to the ACB By-Laws were adopted at the 1971 convention. The first amendment raises from twenty cents to fifty cents the per capita dues an affiliate must pay in order to vote at an annual convention. No affiliate will be required, however, to pay more than $250.00 in any one year. The limit under the old by-law was $100.00. The second amendment establishes a Committee on Credentials, which "shall determine that each member and/or affiliate desiring admission to and participation in the annual convention or any other meeting of the membership shall have complied with the requirements set up in the Constitution and By-Laws and with any pertinent ruling or actions taken by prior annual conventions." The By-Law includes a provision that any ruling of the Committee shall pertain to a single convention only and that any member or affiliate may appeal an adverse Committee ruling. The Committee will announce to the convention the total number of voting members admitted to that convention, and will submit additional and more detailed reports in writing. The amendment further provides that: "Within 180 days subsequent to the adoption of this section, the Treasurer shall furnish the Secretary a certified list of all of the members-at-large, and each affiliate shall furnish a certified list of all its voting members eighteen years of age or older. The Secretary shall duplicate these lists and any additionally submitted lists for submission to the Committee on Credentials no later than March 1, 1972. Thereafter, the Treasurer shall furnish to the Secretary, no later than twenty days prior to the annual convention, a report reflecting any changes in the membership rolls." ***** ** HYDE PARK CORNER * Jewels from the Confucius of the Piedmont (Editor's note: When we dedicated this platform to honest and relevant self-expression on the part of our members, we weren't just fooling. The following excerpts from a commentary submitted to us by Roby C. Leonard of Lexington, N.C., meet that criterion. Though some of our readers may find the idiom and construction strange and some of the ideas startling, we felt that they were both salty and intriguing and that their unique flavor should be preserved as much as possible. Well, anyway, isn't that what self-expression is all about?) Apropos, anent, in re -- or, about that Dave Arocho bewonderment in the latest issue of the Forum: I'd like to put in my two bits worth. Braille Forum is special to, for and by the blind, in general, representative, proffering all a fair shake. First, let me say, you folk have done remarkably well with the Forum. In its policy and the execution of those tenets, it is unique; serves a good end. Abounding in interest, pertinent in coverage of some aspects of blindness, still, tho, but infant, babe in arm, as it were, stumbling, fumbling, falling, ever trying to foot it along, promising a maturity that will beatify cecodom, maybe. Certainly a ceca-vicarious improvement over its abandoned erstwhile parent. That you even bothered to print Arocho's comments bespeaks well for you. Your answer to it was editorially artful, tops in its way, revelatory of your exceptional talent and editorial know-how. Congratulations. Keep the mind open; keep the policy flexible; don't congeal or ossify. In the world of eyedom, Americans do as Americans are wont to do. In their organs they play tunes to which various ears are attuned, special particularized outpouring for certain requirements of the special readership, as all the low-downs on bedding, designs, styles, stuffings, degrees of resiliency, cost, suitability, where to find ingredients, etc., if a mattress-making journal for mattress-making readers. Likewise, for car mechanics, their particular organ educates, guides, helps; or to theosophists, their peculiar religious cants; and in medicine, doctors have their special magazine; farmers have material galore how to farm more proficiently, back-sparingly, and money-makingly. But in the world of the blind, is there a single organ tailored to our particular needs? One telling us how to overcome it? How to live with it? How best to cope? Best gimmick to employ to tackle this or that problem want of sight subjects us to? How to earn in one's own home? Where to buy at a saving? How to get along, blind, in ways apart from aping after that of be-eyed visualites? How to be true to ourselves, face up to our limitation, do as the blind could do, not as some sighted person does. Negroes emulating whites, grieving their hearts out for albanitude aggravate the difficulties of their minorization. Self-betrayal -- that every trying to be somebody else. If blind, accept it, recognize it, face up to it, be master of it; do not succumb to it, not be ashamed of it, not be false to it and self by imitating seeing folk, which but aggravates the disadvantageousness of sightlessness instead of alleviating it or overcoming it. At the table, for instance, why eat as a sighted person eats, pretending you ain't blind, thus making a bigger fool of yourself in the blind belief you are seeming less foolish? Like knife-forking a piece of ham or steak into giblets, which then you fork up piece by piece, making awkward business of it. Simpler, place the meat in the bread, sandwich-wise, eating bread and meat along with your other fare. If not like the sighted, at any rate, works less stultifyingly on the whole. Headgear, misplaced, bothers self and others; to hell with it; nobody needs to wear a hat or cap these days. Blind, one's head helps to orient him better, his awarement of the circumambience clearer, bareheaded. Never gloves for the blind! For appearance sake, gloves but hamper, aggrafretting the drawbacks of unbe-eyement, grievously. Unless compelled to be out in the cold for longish spells, never a coat, regular or over-, seldom, even, a sweater; out of house into car, from car into place of arrival, why the botheration of superfluous sartoriality? These are no more the days of the horse and buggy, long mare-shanking it. If escorted by another who sees, why lugging along a cane? If accompanied by one who sees, why inflict upon him and others the smelly awkward burden of a dog? Since blind, unable to see a speck, you absolutely cannot distinguish between a one and a fiver; why lie about it, pretending you can? Keep the bills separate, ones in one pocket, fivers in a different pocket. Billfold can be dispensed with altogether, it usually being bulkier than the total of your currency. It does not follow that by fooling oneself he can fool others. Affectation in the blind is more objectionable, even, than it is among the seeing. To try so hard to be sighted in all ways is but idiocy which augments the hell of blindness, in nowise ingratiating one toward others. It does not conduce to social amenities or societal acceptance. A dog can go it better on his four; and in hind-legging it in imitation of his humanoid associates, he only succeeds in making himself silly. So does a blind person, trying so desperately to behave and comport himself as if he could indeed see. Sure, in those aspects wherein the blind can surely do as the sighted do, go to it, and so do, but not invariably, inexceptingly. A single imitation which falls short of the mark can outdo the advantages of a dozen instances where the imitated way works. Biggest liar tells the truth oftener than he lies. There is no substitute under the sun for sight better than money. With ample dough, one can see thru other, via others, by others, with others, money having the virtue of buying sight, of making an unaccommodating guy ever so obliging, hard-hearted cur, gentle natured, a blind chap able to see with loaned eyes. Money beats all religions; for every faith is restricted to its own kind of following, but money has appeal to all, universally understood. So ways to make money count; ways to save it figure; it comes down to maximizing intake and minimizing outgo. The seeing are able to work in so many ways and places, getting dollars per hour plus fringe benefits of the job, discounts on things, or items snitched (billions of dollars' worth lost that way, but it is universal), side benefits of bejobments for the sighted. You know it; others know it. It is a fact. But for the blind, it doesn't hold, not even the job in the first place for most, and without that job, none of those numerous side-gains, fringe breaks. For us the brakes are on, never the break of unbraking. We are the tortoise who must trudge slowly, awkwardly. Overloaded we must lug it uphill, brakes on. Seeing avail themselves of specials, endless recurrence of bechancements at reduced-price items, denied us, unable to see these specials, ubiquitously in evidence for the lucky eyedomites. So we who need a break more don't get it. So we need buying guidance, all manner of help in this area, how and where to get things at lower prices; for a cost reduces means the same as a bit extra earned; for a cent saved in buying is tantamount to a cent extra earned. The seeing world works on trademarks, trade names, brand designations. Why, if we are Americans, citizens in good standing, are we denied like favoritism? The blind need a special trade name, a trademark for blind made, blind-sold products. Vending stand program, best thing ever for the blind, but 3,000 helped out of 600,000 figures only half of one per centum. Not the lost sheep found, but the 90 and 9 lost left out in the cold. Special rentless location widens profit margin. Why should so few enjoy a break? Extend that profit-margin to benefit tens of thousands now ignored, then the vending stand edge could prove a break for ten to twenty times as many. In the seeing world of business, American free enterprise, the sighted buy from factories, store in warehouses, and redistribute to member units of the syndicate for merchandising. Same principle could be employed for the good of the blind; a national purchasing agent, obtaining items at the lowest possible prices, cheap as those bought by a purchasing agent for Sears and Roebuck. Let each state's blind agency warehouse these, and let the field workers distribute them to the blind. In this way the blind could sell from their own homes or low-rent places, and enjoy the vending stand breaks the privileged few now get. And even if the blind wanted these standard items for their own use, that, too, is O.K. A variant of the food-stamp idea, available for those needing this benefit. We are limited in ways to make money; so the more ways to make what little we have go farther, the better. It is but good sense, independent of state of eyes. Blind, wanting to know what is available for us, we appeal to various organizations and government departments and get the go-around, ignorements. Why not a clearing house for matters appertaining to the blind, a central agency to relay particular matters to proper destination? The sighted world has such. These various touched-on items you could work into the Forum instead of only the conventionalized, organizationalized, professionalized, legislationalized, formalized, usualized make-up. We have the same problem, blindness, and solutions are the paramount need. I am but one; taking my ideas with those of others, our lot could be made infinitely less onerous and limiting. O.K.? Or have I wasted this pleasant Sunday forenoon to no purpose or avail? -- Roby C. Leonard ***** ** Braille Dollars Make Sense By Harold Rowley I read in the issue of THE BRAILLE FORUM for July 1971, p. 29, of the introduction into the House of Representative by the Hon. John Rarick of Louisiana of his bill, H.R. 9102, which would require that all paper money printed after Jan. 1, 1972, have a designation in braille indicating the denomination of the bill; and I must say that even just reading about such a bill really made my day. Such numerical designations on our bills would add a dimension to the freedom of the blind that is almost inconceivable. Think of the ease with which stand operators and their blind businessmen could make change. And no one who is blind would have to resort to that old practice of keeping fives in one compartment of a wallet, tens in another, etc. All of us could make change far easier when making purchases or sales, and we would not have that feeling that we are holding up progress when a long queue is forming behind us at any window where bills are paid. I have written my two senators and my representative urging favorable action on this bill when it reaches a vote in their respective chambers of the congress and I urge that all readers of THE BRAILLE FORUM write to theirs. I think we must act concertedly while this bill is hot on the griddle. We can be apathetic and let it go down to defeat, and perhaps such a great bill will never again be introduced in either House. So now is the time to act, while our actions will count. But I also urge that THE BRAILLE FORUM carry a list of the names of all committeemen on all committees that may have this bill under consideration before it reaches a floor vote. It must first be reported out favorably before it can be voted on favorably by both houses of Congress and signed by the President. But I do thank you ever so much for running the small notice of the bill so that I can begin my personal crusade for its passage. And I can only hope that many other blind across the country will also see the light and give a leg up to this bill that may mean more to them in its way than many another bill which the organized blind have supported. (Editor's note: The bill discussed in this article has been referred to the House Committee on Banking and Currency (Suite 2129, House of Representatives, Washington, D.C. 20515). The members of that Committee are: Wright Patman, (D-Tex.), Chairman; William A. Barrett (D-Pa.); (Mrs.) Leonor Sullivan (D-Mo.); Henry S. Reuss (D-Mich.); Thomas L. Ashley, (D-Ohio); Wm. S. Moorhead (D-Pa.); Robt. G. Stephens, Jr., (D-Ga.); Fernand J. St. Germain (D-R.I.); Henry B. Gonzalez (D-Tex.); Joseph G. Minish (D-N.J.); Richard T. Hanna (D-Cal:); Tom S. Gettys (D-S.C.); Frank Annunzio (D-Ill.); Thomas M. Rees (D-Cali.); Tom Bevill (D-Ala.); Charles H. Griffin (D-Miss.); James M. Hanley (D-N.Y.); Frank J. Brasco (D-N.Y.); Bill Chappell, Jr. (D-Fla.); Edward I. Koch (D-N.Y.); William R. Cotter (D-Conn.); Parren J. Mitchell (D-Md.); William B. Widnall (R-N.J.); Florence P. Dwyer (R-N.J.); Albert W. Johnson (R-Pa.); J. William Stanton (R-Ohio); Ben B. Blackburn (R-Ga.); Garry E. Brown (R-Mich.); Lawrence F. Williams (R-Pa.); Chalmers P. Wylie (R-Ohio); Margaret M, Heckler (R-Mass.); Phillip M. Crane (R-Ill); John H. Rousselot (R-Cal.); Stewart B. McKinney (R-Conn.); Norman F. Lent (R-N.Y.); Bill Archer (R-Tex.); Bill Frenzel (R-Minn.). It should be pointed out that in Holland, where this system is in effect, embossed geometrical figures rather than braille have been used to differentiate the denominations. We think this is more practical than braille.) ***** ** The Illinois Blind Teachers Association by Joanna Cargill Illinois has taken a giant step in the promotion of quality teaching by the blind in public schools. On June 30 and July 1, a conference was held at Southern Illinois University which concluded in the formation of The Illinois Blind Teachers Association. The conference opened with a keynote speech by Carlton Eldridge, teacher of vocal music at Springfield College in Illinois and Ursuline Academy. Participating through the conference were: Dr. Kathleen Toomey, English instructor at Niles College of Loyola University; Dr. Mabel Bailey, retired teacher of English at Eureka College; Dessie Page of Tennessee, an Electronics Technician doing graduate work at SIU; and Robert McCann, elementary school teacher in Chicago. The program was varied and inspiring. It began with experienced blind teachers sharing their ideas and methods. This included Dr. Randell Nelson, Head of the Department of Government at SIU, who received the 1970 Teacher of the Year Award. Discussion groups in the afternoon considered the subjects: "Student Teachers and their Supervision, "Administrative Questions -- Expectations by and for Teachers Without Sight," and "Background Information." The morning program of July 1 was presented from the viewpoint of knowledgeable persons who are not blind. Dr. Edith Spees, SIU Coordinator of Services to Disabled Students emphasized the word "quality," and explained the necessity for careful preparation of credentials, understanding oneself as seen by the sighted interviewer, and being prepared for unusual questions. Then followed a panel of placement, rehabilitation, and research agents, who leveled with the group, disclosing the problems encountered when blind persons compete in the teaching field. Out of the conference came some general agreement which was stated repeatedly: 1. Blindness is neither a qualification or a disqualification for teaching. The emphasis should be on "teaching," and not on "blind." 2. A blind teacher must be willing to work harder, get more education, make better plans, do more work, and spend more time than he would if he could see. 3. Discipline problems are minimized when the students have a high regard for the teacher. 4. The administrator is concerned to find the best teachers for his students. He is not primarily concerned with the responsibility of hiring the blind. Therefore, it is up to the blind applicant to convince the interviewer that he will be a good teacher. He must be ready with answers. Further interest was nurtured at the conference by a get-acquainted reception and an exhibit of tools and materials used by the blind. With Durward McDaniel officiating, The Illinois Blind Teachers Association adopted temporary by-laws and elected officers. Dr. Mabel Bailey was elected president. All people teaching, or qualified to teach, in Illinois, students in the third year of college or beyond who are preparing to teach, and interested sighted associate members are eligible for membership. Twenty-two people have indicated desire for charter membership. Southern Illinois University was an outstanding host. Two students, James Rhoades and Bob Richardson, conducted tours of the campus and helped install "Beep" system for directing the guests to the buildings in use. The University made everyone comfortable and showed interest and concern for the new push toward quality education by the blind. This conference was sponsored by The Illinois Federation of the Blind, The Illinois Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, and Southern Illinois University. ***** ** In Memoriam: Paul Knowles Paul Knowles, representative of Leader Dogs for the Blind in Rochester, Michigan, died at Henry Ford Hospital Tuesday, July 27, at the age of 68. Mr. Knowles, blind since birth, had attended the Georgia Academy for the Blind. He worked as a physical therapist at the Warm Springs Foundation, having received his training at Battle Creek, Michigan. While at Warm Springs he had the privilege of working with the late President Franklin D. Roosevelt. His first venture in the field of public relations was with the American Foundation for the Blind. Paul Knowles became associated with Leader Dogs for the Blind on December 1, 1948, and was the School's representative until his death. He was a member of the Eastside Detroit Lions Club and an honorary member of many other Lions Clubs. He was a member of the American Association of Workers for the Blind, the Michigan Federation of the Blind and the American Council of the Blind. In his work he provided every help and stimulation possible to assist the blind in developing and using their own abilities. A man of courage, he proved that a blind man can be positively independent. His dog, Sherry, is star of the Leader Dog movie, "She'll Never Walk Alone." Paul Knowles appeared before numerous civic groups across the nation; made thousands of radio and television appearances and lectured high school, college and grade school students. Friends wishing to provide memorials in the name of Paul Knowles are invited by the family to send them to Leader Dogs for the Blind, Rochester, Michigan 48063. ***** ** Auditing the Editors By Earl Scharry One of the more memorable occasions at the Milwaukee convention as far as this writer was concerned was the workshop of editors of affiliate newsletters. It had everything that a meeting should have; but most of the credit should go to the efficient and imaginative presiding and planning of Helen Vargo, Chairman of the ACB Board of Publications. Some 30 editors were in attendance, and Helen achieved total participation by having each in turn describe his publication, the mode of operation and the peculiar problems encountered. The response was enthusiastic and the discussion spirited and instructive. From the other (and no doubt greener) side of the fence, the eminent author, Roy Andries de Groot, contributed valuable comments based on his experience and know-how as a writer. His sparkling personality added a piquant sauce to the repast, and it was evident that he was a gourmet of intellectual as well as culinary fare. It was voted to recommend that the Publications Board conduct a similar workshop at the next annual convention; and that a committee be appointed to set up guidelines for affiliate newsletters and perhaps to evaluate them on request. ***** ** THE VENDORSCOPE by Ione B. Miller (The Braille Forum is pleased to cooperate in including in its pages this first bulletin of the newly established RSVA publication.) THE RANDOLPH-SHEPPARD VENDORS OF AMERICA presents THE VENDORSCOPE Editor, Ione B. Miller 9291 Fermi Avenue San Diego, Calif. 92123 JUST TO TELEVENDOR This is the first bulletin from RSVA to the Vendors of America. We solicit your participation. Do you like this name? If not, send in a better one. We are offering a $25.00 prize for the best article submitted to us this year. We expect to use only material pertaining to a vendor's life or the stand process. We expect to put out 4 bulletins this year. The first 2 issues will go through the Braille Forum to try to reach as many vendors as possible. Will you help us by sending names and addresses of vending stand operators who would like to receive our bulletin to Floyd Qualls, 106 N. E. 2nd St. Oklahoma City, Okla. 73104 and say you want the Vendorscope bulletin. For membership, contact Byrdyna Goodart, 4458 Oregon, San Diego Calif. 92103. The convention in Milwaukee was productive as well as fun and thanks from RSVA to the people that did all the work. Newly elected members of the RSVA Board of Directors are: Terry King, Ill. Chester Holden, Ark. Dalton Brown, La. Charles Simpson, Okla. Arthur Segal, Penn. Francis Morton, Tenn. Karen Perzentka, Wis. Byrdyna Goodart, Calif. There were other very fine and capable people nominated to the Board. We anticipate their being around to run next year for the executive positions. The RSVA Board expects to work on three things this year. They are means, membership and communication. The convention agenda contained interesting panels of discussion of stand programs as they are in the various states. Representatives from the federal and state levels and the operators spoke on different aspects of the stand programs. RSVA operators are destined to have a voice in the rules and regulations that govern us. They are working to promote the stand program so others may have an opportunity to become fully self-supporting. RSVA is investigating ways in which we could provide retirement benefits for operators. It was recommended that all operators contact Senator Jennings Randolph as well as their local Congressmen requesting support for the reintroduction of the Randolph-Sheppard Act Amendments as they were written last year. There is some belief that we need a clear definition of the "management services" referred to in the law governing stand set-aside funds. Operators at the convention requested and held a special meeting with Dr. Douglas MacFarland to discuss the problems of stand programs. The most appreciated person at the convention was Anne Dewees, Durward McDaniel's Secretary. Next year's convention will be held in Portland, Oregon. Orval Nunn will be the chairman. We hope to see you all there. THE FIVE LEADING STATES IN GROSS SALES: California: $11,730,619 Pennsylvania: $6,833,221 New York: $5,079,546 Ohio: $5,023,947 Dist. of Columbia: $4,196,294 FIVE LEADING STATES IN NET PROFIT: California: $2,136,804 Pennsylvania: $1,343,233 Ohio: $1,094,662 Florida: $1,058,029 Georgia: $902,611 Whatever happened to New York's net? FIVE LEADING STATES, IN NUMBER OF VENDING STAND LOCATIONS California: 278 Pennsylvania: 194 Ohio: 166 Alabama: 151 Georgia: 141 THE TENN. VENDING STAND ASSOC. was organized in 1967 with 40 charter members. They now have 130 members. They have been promoting communication between operators and the Administrators of the program. Through the efforts of the Tenn. Vending Stand Assoc., all stand operators in Tenn. have been issued portable tape recorders. The operators contributed for a tape duplicator to be placed in their central office. Through their efforts, several blind secretaries have been hired by the Tenn. Business Enterprise program to send out material in braille to operators. Tennessee has an Advisory Board of 9 delegates, chosen by the operators from each geographical area. Transportation to their meetings is paid through the state. Francis Morton from Nashville, Tenn. represented the stand operators from Tenn. at the convention and invited the ACB-RSVA convention to Nashville in 1973. He promised us grits and red-eye gravy (we think that's what he said) and a whole lot of other good things to eat that go along with southern hospitality. JOHN THOMAS, first President of the Randolph-Sheppard Vendors of America, expired at 10 A.M. Sunday, August 8, 1971. In John's passing, R.S.V.A. lost a strong supporter. John was an untiring worker. He worked hard for his family and anything that be believed in. John is survived by his wife, Marjorie, and daughter, Phyllis, of 1328 Boswell, Topeka, Kansas. John will be missed by his family, his community, and our organization. FRANK LAWLOR, a cigar stand concessionaire in the Los Angeles Dept. of Human Resources Development (employment office) received on his 80th birthday, the first 'Distinguished Senior Citizen' award of HRD. They termed him an "unofficial ambassador of goodwill" and an "informational resource for the past 24 years" because he had been so helpful and courteous to strangers. He was knowledgeable and informative on those Where-do-I go and Who-does what questions. Mr. Lawlor has set a fine example of the value a good operator can be in a public building. ***** ** NBA Braille Book Bank Braille copies of the 1971-72 NBA BRAILLE BOOK BANK CATALOG are now available at cost of 50 cents each. Orders, accompanied by payment, should be sent to: National Braille Association, NBA Braille Book Bank, 85 Godwin Avenue, Midland Park, New Jersey 07432. The name and address to which the catalog should be sent should also be included with the order. ***** ** Here and There By George Card The current GCB DIGEST (Ga.) devotes a large portion of its space to a series of well-deserved tributes to the late Walter McDonald, including one from former Gov. Marvin Griffin. "Mr. Mac," as he was universally known, gave 48 years of his life to public service and was one of the leading spirits in the 1959-61 revolt against what he believed had become an intolerable situation in the NFB. No leaders are indispensable, but some are irreplaceable, and Walter was one of these. From the BLIND ADVOCATE (U.K.): In open industry workers are encouraged to make suggestions which they think will raise the level of efficiency in the factory. Unfortunately in some workshops for the blind suggestions by workers as to the best way of doing a particular job are regarded as criticism of management. -- During slack period in any department, wherever possible, workers should be trained to do work in other sections of the establishment. From the ABC DIGEST: The California Dept. of Rehab has announced plans to sell California Industries for the Blind and the Opportunity Work Centers -- sheltered workshops for the blind -- to the private sector. (In Wisconsin we were able to block such a move, at least for the next two years.) -- The safety record of blind and otherwise handicapped factory workers of the Calif. Industries for the Blind plants in Berkeley, Los Angeles and San Diego paid off in cold cash when the State Compensation Insurance Fund recently refunded $6,300 of premiums paid by the Dept. during the fiscal year 1970. -- Rosemarie Grayley slides beads on little rods to compute figures as the only abacist working as a tax service clerk at the Federal Building in Los Angeles. She says the abacus serves her better than conventional calculating machines in the office. -- The Library of Congress has received a grant to develop computer programs for translating music notation into braille, as has been done with literary braille. "When Your Patient is Blind" is a free booklet for nurses in inkprint, distributed by the Industrial Home for the Blind, 57 Willoughby Street, Brooklyn, N.Y. 11201. From VIEWPOINT: The National Federation of the Blind of Great Britain has become affiliated with an organization known as the Disablement Income Group which is seeking Parliamentary recognition of the additional expenses attendant upon various types of disablement. To help find 250 "forgotten" deaf-blind persons in Spain was a key objective of Dr. Richard Kinney, Executive Vice-President of the Hadley School for the Blind, and Mrs. Jean Ridenour, the School's Director of Public Relations, during a recent consultative mission to Madrid. Spain may well have over 300 such doubly handicapped individuals, yet less than 50 are known to the schools and agencies that could help them. Dr. Kinney's own textbook INDEPENDENT LIVING WITHOUT SIGHT AND HEARING is being translated into Spanish Braille. The book is now the basis of a free correspondence course provided by Hadley in braille to English-speaking deaf-blind persons throughout the world. From the WCWB NEWSLETTER: It is with great sadness that we announce the death in April of Mrs. Vi Jarvis, the wife of WCWB's former Secretary General, John Jarvis. -- Indonesia, Cyprus and Ghana became full members of the WCWB in 1970, making the total number of countries with full membership 57. The WCWB is now represented in 68 countries through either full or associate membership. -- A committee with Judge Reese Robrahn as Chairman was appointed at the Executive Committee meeting in New Delhi to prepare a draft revision of the constitution of the WCWB. -- The World Council has received a most generous gift of $5,000 from the CNIB (Canada) in memory of the late Col. Edwin Baker, past President of the WCWB. -- The Italian Parliament has enacted a law which provides for the exemption of taxes and duties of any kind on patents granted for the invention and the production of any device which is intended to be used exclusively by blind persons. From the KAB NEWS: Old friend Augie McCollom has been awarded the Elkins Counselor of the Year Award by the Kansas Rehab Ass'n. After 34 years of service during which he has been responsible for over 600 competitive placements in approximately 200 different occupations. -- ACB President Robrahn and KAB President Helen Vargo, who is also Chairman of the ACB Board of Publications, were featured speakers at the first annual convention of the Arkansas Council of the Blind in Little Rock on April 17. From the NEW BEACON: Dr. Merle E. Frampton has retired after 36 years as Director of the New York Institute for the Education of the Blind, the oldest school for the blind in the Western Hemisphere. He established the first graduate training program in the U.S. for teachers of the handicapped and was in charge of rehabilitation for the Navy in World War II. He organized the President's Committee on Employment of the Handicapped, serving as its Vice President and Executive Committee Chairman. -- Since January, 1971, Trans-Australian Airlines and Ansett Airlines of Australia have extended internal travel concessions to cover all blind people. The concession is of the two-for-one type. From PERFORMANCE: AN INTRODUCTION TO BRAILLE MUSIC TRANSCRIPTION is now available for free distribution from the Library of Congress, Division for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, 1291 Taylor Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20542. Its author is Mrs. Mary Turner De Garmo. From the June NEW OUTLOOK: The American Foundation for the Blind will observe its 50th anniversary this fall. -- The Rev. Thomas J. Carroll, 61, a leader in work for the blind for more than 30 years, died in Boston on April 24. -- The National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Stroke has awarded five contracts for research related to a visual prosthesis involving direct stimulation of the brain with signals from a miniature television camera. From the AP, Springfield, Mass.: Paul Caputo is believed to be the first blind person regularly employed to read news on television. His program originates from WWLP-TV. Caputo's getting the job was contingent on research at Mass. Institute of Technology, where a team was developing a high-speed braille embossing machine, known as "Braillemboss " which can be connected to newswire teleprinters to produce instant reports in braille. Talking Book readers will be saddened to learn that a beloved voice was silenced forever on April 23 with the passing of House B. Jameson. For many years he starred as the father in the Henry Aldrich radio and television series and had had many Broadway roles. From the MISSOURI CHRONICLE: Don't wait for your teenager to grow up before testing him for glaucoma. It may be too late. Until now, attention was directed mainly to checking middle-aged and older persons for the eye-destroying disease, but a new report from Washington University shows 125 youths with glaucoma. -- Even if one has a mild form of the disease, it can be made irrevocably worse by using the soothing cortisone eye drops, doctors warn. -- A unique facility in Dearborn, Mich., trains dogs to serve their deaf masters just as seeing eye dogs serve the blind. The "hearing dogs" alert their masters to all sorts of noises -- telephones, doorbells, automobile horns, screeching tires, human voices and sounds of possible attackers. The dogs will never go into a street without a specific signal from the master -- a slap on the left thigh. A snap of the fingers means sit, a clap tells the dog to come. A short downward stroke in front of the dog's face signals him to stay. A longer stroke instructs him to lie down. It is hoped the program will expand nationally, to be a program run by the deaf for the deaf. -- Researchers recently learned that detached retinas are 5 to 10 times more frequent among children with exceptional laxity in their joints (double jointed). This can be a tip-off to potentially detached retinas because the fluid in the eyeball, the vitreous humor, is chemically similar to the connective tissue joints. From the CCB OUTLOOK (Canada): The color probe may be one method of bringing "sight" to the blind through their hearing. Red, green and blue sensors transform colors to tones of sound which are carried to the ear by earphone. With the color probe, developed by Dr. Cho Yuk Leung, of the University of Western Ontario, the blind may be able to "hear" colors. Researchers believe the color probe might enable the blind to detect color-coded wires, advancing the possibility of soldering jobs in industry. They are sure it will aid the blind in jobs such as knitting, sewing and painting. Dr. Leung is optimistic that mass production and micro-circuitry will lead to a working model that will fit on the finger like a signet ring at a cost of under $50. From the Illinois BRAILLE MESSENGER: All babies cherish toys that cuddle and squeak, but babies who are blind not only love them, they need them. The state's Instructional Materials Center is providing free kits of specially selected toys to a group of 12 children between six months and one year who have been diagnosed as legally blind as a part of a research project. Toys were selected for their touch or sound quality. The study is aimed at determining how effective these toys are in improving the blind child's rate of development. For additional information, contact: James T. Meeks, Field Representative, Instructional Materials Center, 1020 South Spring Street, Springfield, IL 62706. From the CNIB NEWS (Canada): A newspaper is being developed in Germany with grooves on the page for the convenience of sound scanning devices. -- Vito A. Proscia (blind since the age of 12), Director of Sensory Aids Evaluation and Development at MIT, has invented a radio-operator pathfinder which can be worn around the neck to detect obstacles. -- From Washington comes report of a new plastic paper on which raised letters can be printed with a jumbo ball point pen and then read by touch. -- The National Society for the Prevention of Blindness warns that skin diving can cause protrusion of the eye and resultant damage. -- As a means of upgrading and developing their abilities in the Canadian vending stand and cafeteria programs, special courses for supervisors, unit managers, vending merchants and food handlers have been set up. From THE PROMOTER (N.D.): Durward McDaniel was the featured speaker at the 1971 convention of the NDAB in Minot, which was well attended. The summer school program was suspended for this year and a summer camp, beginning August 15, was planned. Mildred Kline, of Mandan, was re-elected President. From the AFB NEWSLETTER: The AFB has added a new dimension to its conglomerate of services -- accelerating the commercialization of sensory devices for blind persons. The AFB Personnel Referral Service, which has functioned since 1959, was discontinued June 30. -- Paul J. Langan has retired after serving blind people over 40 years. He has been superintendent of the Ky. State School for the Blind and principal of the Maryland School, as well as functioning in many executive capacities with the AFB and AFOB. From the FEDERATION NEWS (Mich.): Betty McWethy has resigned as Director of the Service Center and is now its full-time Counselor-Social Worker. -- An evening course in home mechanics is being planned to deal with the small things that can be quickly repaired or replaced without calling the repairman. From the BLIND ADVOCATE (U.K.): New industries in the Liverpool Workshop include electrical wire assembly, dismantling brake drums and a new department set up to make coffins. -- The National League of the Blind is urging that the present very small blind-operated kiosk program (vending stands) be expanded on the model of that in the U.S. There are only 19 such stands in London now and almost none in the other large cities of Britain. ***** ** ACB Officers President: Judge Reese Robrahn, 329 Woodbury Lane, Topeka, Kansas 66606 First Vice-President: Dr. S. Bradley Burson, 917 Kenyon Street, Downers Grove, Ill. 60515 Second Vice-President: Vernon Williams, 217 Western Union Bldg., Aberdeen, South Dakota 54701 Secretary: Mrs. Mary Jane Schmitt, 510 Tarrington Rd., Rochester, New York 14609 Treasurer: Fred Krepela, 241 State Street, Salem, Oregon 97301 ** Directors Mrs. Catherine Skivers, 836 Resota Street, Hayward, California 94545 George Card, 605 South Few Street, Madison, Wisc. 53703 Floyd Qualls, 106 N.E. 2nd Street, Oklahoma City, Okla. 73104 Earl Scharry, 5714 Ridgeway Avenue, Rockville, Maryland 20851 J. Edward Miller, 2621 Chesterfield Avenue, Charlotte, North Carolina 28205 David Krause, 2121 P Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20037 Fred Lilley, 7629 Dale Avenue, Richmond Heights, MO 63117 Don Cameron, 724 S. Davis Boulevard, Tampa, Fla. 33609 ###