THE BRAILLE FORUM Volume XLIV May 2006 No. 8 Published by the American Council of the Blind THE AMERICAN COUNCIL OF THE BLIND STRIVES TO INCREASE THE INDEPENDENCE, SECURITY, EQUALITY OF OPPORTUNITY, AND TO IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED PEOPLE. Christopher Gray, President Melanie Brunson, Executive Director Sharon Lovering, Editor National Office: 1155 15th St. NW Suite 1004 Washington, DC 20005 (202) 467-5081 Fax: (202) 467-5085 Web site: http://www.acb.org THE BRAILLE FORUM 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 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. To make a contribution to ACB via the Combined Federal Campaign, use this number: 2802. For the latest in legislative and governmental news, call the "Washington Connection" toll-free at (800) 424-8666, 5 p.m. to midnight Eastern time, or visit the Washington Connection online at http://www.acb.org. Copyright 2006 American Council of the Blind TABLE OF CONTENTS President's Message: ACB Makes Its Move Toward the Next Level of Greatness, by Christopher Gray Attention Online Shoppers! Have We Got a Site for You!, by Melanie Brunson Board Passes Budget, Fills Open Position, Discusses Convention, by DeAnna Quietwater Noriega Board Decides to Extend Lease for D.C. Office, by DeAnna Quietwater Noriega Convention Answer Line, by Carla Ruschival Is Your Check in the Mail?, by Carol Ewing Guide Dog Users, Inc. National Convention 2006 -- Ready Or Not!, by Sheila Styron and Donna Permar SSPs for SASI, by Patty Sarchi Affiliate News A Major ADA Victory, by Al Pietrolungo and Patrick Sheehan Here and There, by Susan Lichtenfels Letters to the Editor High Tech Swap Shop FORUM SUBSCRIPTION NOTES You can now get "The Braille Forum" by podcast! To subscribe, go to "The Braille Forum" page on www.acb.org. If you do not yet have a podcast client, you can download the program from the Braille Forum page. To subscribe to "The Braille Forum" via e-mail, send a blank e-mail message to brailleforum-L-subscribe@acb.org. To unsubscribe, send a blank e-mail message to brailleforum-L-unsubscribe@acb.org. ARE YOU MOVING? DO YOU WANT TO CHANGE YOUR SUBSCRIPTION? Contact Sharon Lovering in the ACB national office, 1-800-424-8666, or via e-mail, slovering@acb.org. Give her the information, and she'll take care of the changes for you. ***** PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE: ACB MAKES ITS MOVE TOWARD THE NEXT LEVEL OF GREATNESS by Christopher Gray At the 2004 convention, the American Council of the Blind voted to establish a means to recognize leaders in the blind community who have contributed significantly to the progress of blind individuals in all aspects of their lives. The resolution called for the formation of a committee to study building a framework by which ACB could create a means of capitalizing the organization through acquisitions such as property and buildings. By doing this, ACB can free itself from the burdens of rent and it can create new income streams depending on the type and amount of property purchased. This is a long-term project, but one that can serve the organization for decades. This committee is made up of some of the most talented individuals in the field of blindness today. Chaired by Ralph Sanders, the committee consists of such notable blind people as Otis Stephens, Knoxville, Tenn., and Pam Shaw, Philadelphia, Pa. Not only does the committee contain members of ACB, but it also has among its active participants notable individuals from throughout the blind community generally. This committee has deliberated at length, and I am extremely pleased to share with you this month the mission statement the committee has adopted for this project. As you will read, the committee has chosen to undertake the creation of a national center on blindness. It is a center that can embrace the consumer movement led by the American Council of the Blind, and can also have a significant place for many other aspects of blindness and work for the blind. The mission statement reads as follows: "The mission of the American Center on Blindness and Visual Impairment is to provide a thriving and dynamic learning and communications center in an accessible location in Washington, D.C. that: "-- Celebrates the tremendous contributions of individuals who have helped empower people who are blind or visually impaired to pursue their dreams, achieve their goals and successfully serve our world; "-- Encourages open, honest and constructive dialogue on issues impacting people who are blind or visually impaired, promoting greater awareness of issues, meaningful solutions and effective advocacy; "-- Facilitates partnerships resulting in better education, training, and success strategies for people who are blind or visually impaired; and " -- Provides an office and meeting venue to organizations of and/or for people who are blind or visually impaired." This is truly a mission of which we can be proud as an organization. I am eagerly awaiting implementing strategies and recommendations from this committee. Given the statement they have created, I believe ACB has taken a major step forward as an organization, and that this mission can lead us into a progressive and meaningful future in ways that would not otherwise be possible. I hope that many of you can join us in Jacksonville at the 2006 convention to plan for this exciting project and enjoy the other fun and important work done by ACB each year at its annual convention and business sessions. ***** ATTENTION ONLINE SHOPPERS! HAVE WE GOT A SITE FOR YOU! by Melanie Brunson Do you buy airline tickets online? Do you use online travel sites to make hotel reservations? If you are among the growing number of Americans who do, or if you have thought about starting to do more of your shopping online, I've got some very exciting news for you! Just in time for the summer travel season, ACB has its own travel web site! Thanks to the efforts of one of our members, Steve Cole of Ohio, ACB has been able to partner with YourTravelBiz and launch a web site where you can go to make a variety of purchases, including reserving airline tickets and hotel rooms. It's convenient, because you will be able to reach this site either through a link on ACB's web site, or by going directly to it. It's comprehensive because of the wide variety of items and services you can purchase through the site. According to Cole, "You can book a hotel room. You can arrange a cruise. You can take a trip by plane, train or bus. You can go to a resort. You can apply for a passport, do foreign currency exchanges, get travel or flight insurance. You can get tickets to baseball, basketball and football games, auto races, music concerts, theater performances. You can send flowers to friends or family. This site even has a honeymoon registry for those planning a wedding." And for every item purchased through this site, ACB will receive 40 percent of the travel commission. The URL for the web site is www.YTBtravel.com/ACB. We hope that those of you who haven't yet made your travel plans for the convention in Jacksonville will make use of this site to purchase your airline tickets and support ACB while you're at it. If you've already booked your travel to Jacksonville, don't despair. Just keep us in mind for your next trip. In order to help you remember, Steve and his wife are planning to be at the convention so they can spread the word about ACB's new travel web site and answer any questions about what's available on it, as well as how to navigate it most effectively. Finally, don't forget to tell your friends and family that they too can book their travel through ACB's web site. Whether your travel is for pleasure or business, or even a state or national ACB convention, you'll have the convenience of access to everything you need in one place, and the satisfaction of contributing to ACB at the same time. Happy travels! ***** BOARD PASSES BUDGET, FILLS OPEN POSITION, DISCUSSES CONVENTION by DeAnna Quietwater Noriega The ACB board convened in Jacksonville, Fla., on Presidents' Day weekend. All members were present except for Naomi Soule (due to the illness of her father) and Cynthia Towers (who had resigned). The agenda for the midyear board of directors meeting was lengthy -- so much so that two conference calls were scheduled to finish examining the deficit budget for 2006 that the budget committee had proposed. The first agenda item was to hold an election to fill the position formerly held by Cynthia Towers. Those nominated were Becky Floyd Collins of Mississippi, Brenda Dillon of Tennessee, Gene Barton of Pennsylvania and Carol Ewing of Nevada. After two rounds of voting, Carol Ewing was elected. My respect for the complexity of secretary Donna Seliger's task is boundless, especially since I miscounted Billie Jean Keith's vote in my efforts to record the voting on the Maxi-Aids issue in a previous summary. I extend my apologies to Billie Jean. Two sets of minutes were approved. Then the board heard a report from President Chris Gray. He requested volunteers to work on a new long-range plan for the organization. Mitch Pomerantz asked for clarification on where the funds would be found to underwrite such an undertaking. He estimated that a grant to cover the expense would be at least $50,000. Gray suggested that a board training session should be scheduled for September. Ed Bradley presented a report on the MMS program. Only 81 individuals have signed on to the program so far. He was disappointed and requested greater board participation. In these difficult financial times, it is difficult to convince grant sources of the worthiness of requests if the governing boards don't show that they are dedicated enough to give generously to support their organization. He felt that the board needed to work harder to promote this painless means of showing support through automatic withdrawals or credit card donations. Pomerantz requested that an appeal be written to be included in "The Braille Forum" along with the mention of bequests and other gifts. It was decided that the chair of the fund-raising committee would prepare such an appeal by the April deadline for its first appearance in the May edition. Oral Miller requested that all board members take greater responsibility for promoting the program in their home affiliates. Michael Garrett commended the ACBES board for its tireless work, which increased with the resignation of the executive director. Two thrift store managers also left the organization. He reported that store pricing systems were changed to increase sales and move merchandise. Sales are up in most of the stores. A mentoring program to assist new managers by pairing them with more experienced ones has begun. He also felt that the managers' enthusiasm has improved since they joined ACB at the Las Vegas convention. The networking and sharing of ideas to increase sales and donations has started to show positive results especially among the stores that were performing badly last year. Garrett was confident that ACBES would be able to make a $450,000 contribution for the 2006 budget. Pomerantz questioned the decision not to replace the CEO of ACBES. Garrett responded that, after checking out the stores with ACB's controller, it was decided that increasing the networking of store managers and making themselves available for consultation to the manager pool, it wouldn't be necessary to hire a new chief executive officer for ACBES at this time. David Trott presented the resource development committee report. He was frustrated by not having the statistics from all of the revenue sources such as the MMS program, direct mail appeal and other sources. There has been some difficulty locating the original documents regarding the time share. The ACB raffle did not generate sufficient funds to print an additional issue of the Forum as was hoped. Trott requested that the committee be allowed to determine where the revenues it generated should be allocated. Brian Charlson moved that the resource development committee be authorized to proceed with the raffle and that funds raised be earmarked to support existing programs rather than new projects. The motion passed. The bowling tournament was deferred to either the post-convention or September board meeting to be considered for the 2007 convention. Mike Godino estimated that ACBES was able to generate $319,000 and that $150,000 would need to be moved from reserves to meet the shortfall. Melanie Brunson wanted the board to schedule a conference call at a later date to have the opportunity to get more exact figures for both the revenues and deficits; the board agreed. Godino wanted the board to put in place some policies regarding which signatures should be accepted to deal with ACB assets and holdings. He favored having the board adopt a corporate resolution to authorize one elected and one employed official signer on contracts and banking transactions. Charlson moved that a committee to develop such policies consisting of the treasurer, chair of the budget committee, the ACB controller, and executive director be formed. He also moved that the controller be authorized to move stock certificates to the Morgan Stanley Investment Bank for safekeeping and that American Insurance Group, the holder of our trust accounts, be notified that Don Gardner is authorized to act on ACB's behalf. This will handle the immediate problems until the committee can develop a set of corporate signature policies. Don Gardner presented a "state of the Minneapolis office" report. He recommended that the office be moved from its current location to a less expensive space when the lease runs out. He stated that the accounting software upgrade is progressing, but that until the data can be completely transferred to the new system, three separate accounting systems and sets of software are running. He felt that most of the 2004 audit recommendations have been resolved. Brunson stated that as soon as the 2005 books have been closed, the controller will be ready to present quarterly financial statements to assist the board in its decision-making. Patty Slaby presented the scholarship committee report. She requested that the scholarship presentations be moved to first thing Tuesday morning so that winners could have a guarantee of their allotted time. She also requested that second-time winners not be required to attend the convention, and that their alternates be brought to convention. She thought the breakfast meeting should be moved to a luncheon one. Much discussion ensued as to how to improve the involvement of scholarship winners in ACB. Sending winners' contact information to the affiliates was one suggestion, as well as requiring scholarship winners to attend the convention unless they are prohibited from doing so by medical, employment- or school-related reasons. President Gray presented the direct mail report. He reiterated his belief that this program is the best option for developing another funding source outside the thrift stores. He outlined two possible programs. In one, a monthly newsletter would be developed to be sent to existing donors. The other program would require six mailings similar to those sent out in 2006. He felt that by the May mailing, the program would reach the break- even point. Oral Miller felt that the mailings needed to be more intriguing as he felt that they didn't compare well to others he had received. Action was tabled until later in the agenda. Melanie Brunson presented the national office report. She outlined various projects and funding sources she was working on. Day Al-Mohamed bubbled over with enthusiasm as she outlined the actions on various resolutions, the number of legislative alerts sent out and the work she has done to keep the phone messages current. Sharon Lovering reported that Forum readership was 24,358. Terry Pacheco reported that Universal Studios is including descriptive video on all DVDs. She stated that additional assistive listening devices have been purchased and that she is pursuing the funding to add additional transmitters so that more events can be covered simultaneously. Applications for scholarships have been coming in, but the number of applicants is down. One hundred and one members participated in the legislative seminar representing 28 states plus the District of Columbia. Carla Ruschival questioned why the rates at the hotel were so high since moving the date to so early in the year was supposed to mean a lower rate. A change in hotel management was given as the reason. Charlson stated that he felt the information access committee should look at the inaccessibility of emerging HDTV technology. He felt that we needed to address this issue both legislatively and through coalitions with descriptive video promoters as having DVS available on broadcasts that couldn't be received because the technology was completely inaccessible. Charlie Hodge regretted that his heart attack had forced him into retirement. His offer to pay the filing fees for the copyrighting of ACB's intellectual properties would need to be modified. But he presented a check for $600 to begin the copyrighting process. David Trott moved that the board authorize proceeding with the March, April and May direct mail appeals but look at improving the look of the material used. Bradley seconded the motion. Brian Charlson spoke against the idea of continuing to spend funds we didn't have in a deficit budget year. Trott and Bradley offered to withdraw the motion and Charlson moved the adoption of the monthly newsletter expense be moved into the budget and the projected income be set at a break-even figure. This motion passed nine to five, with Seliger, Bradley, Keith, Pomerantz and Ruschival casting the "no" votes. Paul Edwards moved that the resultant figures from the mailings be presented at the pre-convention board meeting so that the direct mail issue could be revisited. This passed on a voice vote. After a careful review, Brian Charlson moved acceptance of the revenue side of the budget. The expense side was deferred until the next day. Rhonda Trott apologized for not having a report on the ACB store as eye surgery had prevented her from moving quickly on taking on this responsibility. She still needed to receive the store inventory, and wanted to establish a store committee which would include herself, Carla Ruschival, Donna Seliger, and Don Gardner. On Monday morning, it was decided to move the review of the expense side of the budget to two conference calls to facilitate careful study without placing an undue burden on the east coast participants. Pam Shaw introduced the new international relations committee. She stated that this committee does not intend to oversee ACB's involvement with the World Blind Union or BANA. It will act in collaboration in its international activity. Oral Miller was elected as the board liaison to this committee. The board accepted Shaw's report. Ruschival gave her convention report. Conventioneers will be pleased that the committee intends to provide quick meals in Jacksonville. There is a shopping area two blocks from the hotel called The Landing with many restaurants, a food court and shops, but it didn't appear they were open on Sunday mornings before 11. Godino moved and Charlson seconded that the same firm of accountants be hired to audit this year's books. The motion carried. Mitch Pomerantz gave a report on the National Telecommuting Institute (NTI) problem. This company offered home employment but denied jobs to visually impaired people because officials said it would be too expensive for them to make their software accessible. They claimed it would cost $400,000 to alter their software. ACB had made a freedom of information request to the IRS which was denied. A 508 complaint has been filed. This report was accepted. M.J. Schmitt presented a membership committee report. She briefly outlined the committee's activities and asked that the board go on record as supporting the development of online payment options as appropriate. Her report was accepted. Melanie Brunson asked to be authorized to negotiate with an organization wishing to offer training to the deaf-blind in the Ukraine. Brian Charlson made a request on behalf of Kim Charlson of BANA for clarification of ACB's stand on the proposed Louis Braille coin issue. A letter representing the ACB view was part of the material distributed at the presidents' meeting. Schmitt gave the National Accreditation Council report. NAC worked to develop standards for service to low-vision clients. Paul Edwards stated that if the Commission for the Accreditation of Rehabilitation Services (CARF) were to continue developing standards in this area, such standards would be process-driven rather than outcome-oriented, which would not benefit the low-vision population. This report was accepted. The remainder of the budget was tabled until the conference calls. Summary of the March 6 and 16 Conference Calls On March 6, the call convened with all voting board members except Paul Edwards in attendance. Also present were staff members Melanie Brunson and Don Gardner. Brian Charlson was pleased to report an amended figure for the revenue side of an additional $25,000 to the donations category. $5,000 of unrestricted donation funds and $20,000 were logged in for the 2005 year from car donations. This further reduced the deficit for 2005 to approximately $72,000. The board-designated reserves were also in a better position than previously thought. Ruschival moved to increase the figure for upgrading the web site to $23,000; the motion passed. Some billing adjustments for the cost of ACB Radio required shifting this figure as well. Moving amounts up or down proceeded as some items were reassigned to different categories and board members attempted to trim expenses or increase areas that were underfunded. Line items where additional information was needed were deferred to the March 16 call. Following this decision, the meeting adjourned. The March 16 call permitted all of the pending figures to be entered and adjustments made to several items. Naomi Soule was unable to attend due to a death in her family. Guests included Kathey Wheeler and staff members Brunson and Gardner. President Gray began the meeting by informing the board of the death of BITS president Rob Hubbard in a traffic accident. Carla Ruschival expressed concerns over cost-of-living increases being fairly distributed between the support staff in the Minneapolis and D.C. offices. Brunson discussed the ramifications of relocating the D.C. office to less expensive quarters. They included incurring greater travel expenses for staff members to attend meetings. She indicated that the current line item was sufficient to cover the cost of moving because of the money saved by receiving a lower rent. She also presented an additional amount to "The Braille Forum" budget to cover the cost of a CD edition once the equipment to produce it was in place. Adjustments to various lines freed up additional funds without increasing the overall numbers in the budget. The board voted to use this surplus to bolster the direct mail program. The 2006 budget finally passed. Brian Charlson brought forward a request that ACB sign on to an effort to increase funding for deaf-blind programming from Congress. This motion passed. With no further business, the meeting adjourned. ***** BOARD DECIDES TO EXTEND LEASE FOR D.C. OFFICE by DeAnna Quietwater Noriega The ACB board of directors met by conference call to handle some decisions growing out of the budget meetings. All members were in attendance except Paul Edwards, who was in transit to Texas. Also in attendance were Melanie Brunson and Don Gardner. Brunson reported that she will be going to a conference regarding changes in the Combined Federal Campaign that will go into effect in 2007. These changes in the rules and regulations are expected to tighten such things as how the overhead is computed. President Gray reported that Dave Williams is completing his last week as executive director of ACB Radio. He has accepted a job elsewhere. In the interim, the program will be handled by a management team. Gray briefly described how various functions will be distributed among the management team. It isn't known at this time how the streaming of the convention will be handled. Gray presented the office review committee report. A new, broader job description for the position held by Terry Pacheco has been developed. Among other things, she will now be working with the executive director to assist in the area of fund-raising. He also presented a recommendation to extend the lease at the higher rate for the D.C. office to bring it into synchronization with the Minneapolis office lease. There was much discussion over whether it would be better to move the office in October to less expensive rental property or spend the additional amount of the increase of rent for two years. Don Gardner pointed out that bringing the two leases into alignment would allow the organization to evaluate combining the operations in a building owned by ACB or changing the size of office space leased to accommodate the running of the organization. Brian Charlson moved that the office lease line item be increased in the 2006 budget to cover the rent increase. The motion passed. Consensus appeared to be that regardless of whether the office remained in the current location, the money would be needed to pay for the rent increase or to cover moving costs. Carla Ruschival asked lots of questions to clarify the exact costs involved in extending the office lease. Charlson moved the lease be extended for two years. Ruschival asked for a roll call vote. The motion to extend the Washington, D.C. lease for two years passed 10 to 4 with Ruschival, Schmitt, Seliger and Trott casting the "no" votes. There was some discussion on how to encourage the membership into participating in the Monthly Monetary Support program without browbeating or using the intimidation tactics used in other organizations. Carla Ruschival requested that board members make their Jacksonville room reservations by May 1. The meeting adjourned with members of the convention program committee being asked to stay on the call to confer for a few minutes. ***** CONVENTION ANSWER LINE by Carla Ruschival It's mid-April as I write this article, and convention planning is moving along at a fast and furious pace. Mention April and most people think of spring, Easter, and taxes. Mention April around ACB and many of us start talking about the convention. To be sure you have the details you need, we are including answers to our most frequently asked questions. Convention Basics The 45th annual ACB convention will take place from Saturday, July 8 to Saturday, July 15 in Jacksonville, Fla. Convention headquarters is the Hyatt Regency Jacksonville-Riverfront; hotel rates are $79 per night plus tax (single, double, triple, quad). Make reservations by calling (800) 233-1234 or (904) 588-1234. Registration Pre-registration forms should reach you between the middle and end of May, depending on where you live. On-line pre-registration will also be available again this year. Pre-registration is important. It saves you money; it lets us know how many people will be attending meal functions, tours, and social events. Here are some do's and don'ts: -- DO pre-register as soon as possible. Many tours and other events are limited in size, and you don't want to be left out. -- DON'T mark free events on the form unless you are fairly certain you will attend. Checking off free events just because they are free creates a huge amount of work for our staff and slows down convention preparations. -- DO read the ConventionScope, included in the pre-registration packet. Details of tours and many other activities are found there. Reading that information can prevent many problems later. -- DO check all appropriate boxes on the front of the form. We must know if you need an assistive listening device, if you require a lift-equipped bus, your preferred program format, etc. Without this information, we may not be able to meet your needs when you arrive in Jacksonville. YAC Sign-up Once again the Youth Activity Center (YAC) will be available from Monday through Friday. Kids 6 to 17 will enjoy crafts, swimming, bowling, trips to an interactive science museum and Adventureland, and a Friday night pizza party. To simplify registration, each YACster should complete a separate form. The YAC fee has been eliminated, and kids just pay the convention administrative fee instead. For YAC questions, call Patti Cox at (502) 897-3864. Paratransit If you wish to use paratransit while in Jacksonville, you MUST establish eligibility. Call the JTA Connexion as soon as possible at (904) 265-6001. To schedule rides (up to 7 days in advance), call (904) 265-6999. Exhibits and Sponsors The convention exhibit area is the perfect place to market your company's products and services, or to say "thank you" to your customers. Reserve your exhibit space by contacting Michael Smitherman at (601) 968-1013. Corporate sponsorships and convention advertising are great ways to reach both philanthropic and marketing goals. Acknowledgments, ads and features on ACB Radio, ongoing posting of convention programs on the ACB web site, and on-demand convention programming in the ACB Radio archive are just a few of the ways your message reaches the folks at home both during and after convention week. For more information about sponsorship opportunities, call Brenda Dillon at (615) 874-1223. Tours To attend the pre-convention St. Augustine tour, plan to arrive in Jacksonville on Thursday, July 6; the tour will leave the hotel at 7:15 Friday morning. And it will be close, but you should be back just in time to leave for the baseball game between the Jacksonville Suns and the North Carolina Mud Slides. Arrive in Jacksonville on Friday, July 7 in order to make the Saturday casino cruise; the bus will leave at 9:30 a.m. Wind up a great convention week with another casino cruise on Saturday, July 15. Complete your day of fun at the Alhambra Dinner Theater; we'll enjoy delicious food and a production of "Beauty and the Beast." Fridges The hotel has a very limited number of refrigerators that can be placed in guest rooms. For availability and pricing, call the hotel directly at (904) 588-1234. Need more info or have a comment or suggestion? Contact Carla Ruschival at (502) 897-1472, or call the national office at (800) 424-8666. ***** IS YOUR CHECK IN THE MAIL? by Carol Ewing Guess what? The Durward K. McDaniel First-Timers' Fund is seeking your donation. We wish to bring two first-timers to the convention in Jacksonville with the hope that they see the opportunities of ACB activities plus the benefits of participating and promoting their favorite interests. So, hurry and mail that check payable to "ACB First Timer" to Carol Ewing, c/o Nevada Council of the Blind, P.O. Box 364496, North Las Vegas, NV 89036- 8496. The First- Timers' Committee looks forward to seeing you, and the two first-timers, in Jacksonville. Thanks for your support! ***** GUIDE DOG USERS, INC. NATIONAL CONVENTION 2006 -- READY OR NOT! by Sheila Styron and Donna Permar Your dog is suddenly incapacitated by injury or illness. You have arranged for a ride to the vet that will come within the hour. What can you do to stabilize your dog until you can get to the vet? How will this illness or injury manifest itself? On Thursday afternoon, Robin Chambers, DVM, owner of the Companion Animal Hospital in Jacksonville, Fla., will provide information and action steps for a multitude of scenarios that may save your dog's life. Join Guide Dog Users, Inc. for this and other workshops on a variety of topics of interest to guide dog teams. In addition to Dr. Chambers' presentation on triaging immediate care for your guide dog, convention attendees can look forward to a number of informative presentations and activities. The overall good health and care of our guides is very important, and a second veterinary seminar courtesy of Phillip Hightman, DVM, Specialty Small Animal Medicine, Jacksonville, Fla., will provide information on canine health issues with a focus on treatment options ranging from holistic to standard veterinary care for common conditions. Since the tragedies of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita have so painfully and recently reminded us of life's fragility, there has been quite a bit of discussion on how handlers and their guide dogs can be prepared in the event of an evacuation due to a natural disaster. Tuesday afternoon, Rita Princivalli of Southeastern Guide Dogs, Inc. will inform us on how we can be ready for events we hope we'll never encounter. Would you like to experience the exhilaration of traveling almost as freely as a sighted person? Everyone is interested in enhancing travel capabilities, and on Monday afternoon, Harold Abraham of Leader Dogs for the Blind will discuss using Trekker, the most portable GPS technology to date, to enhance travel with a guide dog. How would you like to get to the head of your class with style, grace and freedom of mobility? This year, opposite the Trekker presentation, NABS and GDUI will co-host a joint session on incorporating a guide dog into student life. Next, we will be hearing from guide dog school reps about what's new at U.S. training programs. Do you know which questions to ask when choosing a guide dog school? Come prepared to find out what the chatty canine contingent really thinks about all the happenings at the Jacksonville convention. GDUI's Monday evening reception features Dogs On the Street by DeAnna Quietwater Noriega, a potpourri of brief canine interviews interspersed among all the tasty human appetizers or rather appetizers for the human contingency. Would you enjoy walking along a relaxing riverside route under the sultry skies of Florida? On Tuesday evening you can sign up for this very activity, which will get under way right across from our hotel lobby. Make your reservations early for GDUI's July 12 luncheon where keynote presenter Sarah Wilson, a renowned author and professional dog trainer (back by popular demand), will discuss the dynamics between trainer/handler and dog. You won't want to miss out on Sarah's captivating presentation style even if you don't have a guide dog. After lunch, get ready to raise your paws high in the air for a great cause where your bite, er, bid will really make a difference! GDUI is holding its first ever auction. Wednesday evening's entertainment is Waggable Tales. This is a celebration of our guides through presentation of original songs, poetry and stories. Reminder: There is time for approximately 12 performers, so if you have a tale to tell, please contact Maia Scott as soon as possible to reserve your place. Performance scheduling is on a first-come, first-served basis. Maia can be reached via e-mail at Maiamoves@cyberhotline.com or by telephone, (415) 334-1416. On Thursday evening, get ready for "Downward Dog." Come learn how to stretch, do some simple yoga poses which include the position known as downward dog and really breathe, plus other techniques for a happier and healthier lifestyle if you're willing to "get down" with your guide (on the floor, that is). As in past years, on Sunday there will be two hotel and surrounding area orientation sessions you can sign up for at pre-registration. Guide dog instructors will teach you how to teach your dogs the best convention routes guaranteed to get you where you need to be on time and in one piece. Also on Sunday afternoon, the Affiliate Roundup meeting hosted by Jennifer Holladay is scheduled for 2:15 p.m. GDUI affiliate reps must attend to be credentialed for voting at the GDUI business meeting on Tuesday afternoon. GDUI's pre-convention board meeting will take place at 4 p.m. Sunday. There will be some space available for observers. GDUI Breakfast Club Are you up for a stroll to a nearby restaurant, returning just in time to attend ACB's general session? The Breakfast Club will convene Monday through Thursday from approximately 7 to 8:30 a.m. Veterinary Contact Information For care during the day, contact Dr. Phillip Hightman at Brentwood Animal Clinic, 4605 Brentwood Avenue, Jacksonville, FL 32206; phone (904) 354-0547, fax (904) 358-7566. Doctors Rossi and Esser of Riverside Animal Hospital are also available for daytime care. Riverside is located at 2641 Park Street at Kings; phone (904) 388-3494. For emergency care, contact Central Veterinary Emergency Clinic, 1546 San Marco Blvd., phone (904) 399-8800. Hours are 6 p.m. to 8 a.m. Dog Food Orders For convention attendees who wish to order dog food in Jacksonville, we have two suppliers. If you are a Petsmart shopper, GDUI has made arrangements with a local branch where you may order your food. Petsmart is asking that orders be placed no later than June 8 to insure that your brand of food will be in stock. Call (904) 997-1335 and ask for Heather. All dog food orders should be made using a credit card, and you must identify your order as being a part of the Guide Dog Users group order. Dog food can be picked up in the GDUI suite between noon and 4 p.m. on Sunday, July 9. Pet Supplies sells holistic natural foods such as Innova, Wellness, California Natural, Solid Gold, Pinnacle, Natural Life, Chicken Soup, Natural Balance, Royal Canine, Eagle, and Canidae. Orders must be placed no later than June 20. Call (904) 262-8111 and ask for Dick or Dave. Or visit the web site, www.holisticpetfoods.net. ***** SSPs FOR SASI by Patty Sarchi I recently had the opportunity to attend a four-day conference with the services of an SSP. This lady was my roommate as well. We were matched by the conference sponsor and shared a few e-mails and phone conversations. We were to meet at the airport. It was much easier to hail a taxi with someone else's assistance. Patty Arnold and I found that we not only shared a name but some common interests. Upon arrival at the hotel, we quickly found a relief area for Brandy. We got settled in our room and she helped me get acclimated to the area. Then we found the dining area. After eating, Patty showed me around the lobby and surrounding areas. The next morning we attended the first of many meetings. I cannot express how wonderful it was to go to meeting rooms, dining rooms, restrooms, etc. with the help of an SSP. My mobility skills are good, but my hearing loss is a barrier. Finding the restroom is not too hard; it usually has an odor of detergent or air freshener. But is it the men's room or the ladies' room? Once in a meeting room, it is hard to tell if I am facing the podium or on one side of it. I like to be facing the speaker, not the wall. A blind person can judge the size of a room by the sounds and echoes. But I don't get the feel of the sound. My guide dog is a wonderful tool, companion and guide, but I have to know where I am going so I can direct her. As smart as guide dogs can be, they are not mind readers. The service of an SSP is extremely helpful to those of us who are sight AND sound impaired. They alleviate lots of stress in a day's work. A conference is less exhausting, confusing, stressful and much more enjoyable with the help of an SSP. The role of an SSP (Support Service Provider) in a conference/convention setting should not be viewed as an added expense to the organization. SSPs should be matched with an individual at the beginning of the conference so they can serve the needs of the individual who needs them. Any of us who embark on a week-long convention do not need a person 24 hours a day; a guide for daytime meetings, meals, and maybe some evening events and tours is sufficient. If a person wishes an SSP to accompany them to a meal, it is reasonable for that individual to pay for the SSP. I hope that ACB will begin to understand the need for SSPs for SASI convention attendees. Anyone who needs an SSP or interpreter during the ACB convention in Jacksonville should contact Lori Scharff at (516) 887-1336. This is NOT a service for people just wanting a companion. Proper screening will be done. Arrangements must be made by June 20, 2006. ***** AFFILIATE NEWS Arizona Council Convention Coming Up The Arizona Council of the Blind will hold its annual convention on May 26 at the Embassy Suites, I-17 and Greenway, in Phoenix. Attendees will hear about transportation and related problems; remodeling of rehabilitation services; diabetes; new issues in macular degeneration; and bioptic driving, among other topics. Rooms are $99 per night plus tax. A van will be available for those requesting transportation within the area. Registration is $25 and includes a continental breakfast, lunch and the banquet. For more information, contact Edwin or Ruth Druding at (623) 937-1211, or via e- mail, drdruding@cox.net. ACBGE to Focus on Sections 504, 508, Outsourcing and More Many of us in ACB Government Employees frequently hear stories from blind employees in federal, state and local governments regarding the problems they are having with adaptive technology, and the lack of technical support. They report a general lack of understanding from supervisors with respect to the requirements of Sections 504 and 508. We are convinced that the implementation of Section 508 has not been as effective as it should have been. ACBGE members will have a chance to hear from Doug Wakefield, who wrote the implementing regulations for Section 508, which are now being revised. Doug will be able to suggest what might be included in this update to give more definitive guidance to blind and visually impaired employees and their supervisors. We must make it easier for us to access the technology on which our employment depends! Another burning issue for local, state, and government employees is the outsourcing of jobs, causing office closures and downsizing the workforce. Several of our members have had to relocate to another part of the country with almost no notice and without moving assistance. During our annual meeting in Jacksonville on July 13, we will be addressing these topics. Please join us for Doug's important presentation and our annual business meeting, both of which follow the ACBGE luncheon July 13 at 12:30 p.m. You are also welcome to attend the ACBGE Mixer on Sunday afternoon. BFLAG Continues to Grow BFLAG has moved its web site to a server that can handle its needs and the new site is getting a lot of hits. It is a resource for new members and is serving to get the much-needed information out around the world. The site has brought in four new members in the last couple of weeks! Outreach in Jacksonville has already begun for BFLAG and a network of local individuals and organizations is in place and working very well. This network will provide for one of BFLAG's best conventions ever, with events planned both in the hotel and at local sites. On Sunday afternoon, Sunday night after the ACB opening session and on Monday night, after its annual meeting, BFLAG will host parties in the hotel. One of the new events this year is a dinner sponsored by St. Luke's MCC church on Tuesday night. BFLAG and CCLVI will offer joint programs of interest to all convention attendees. BFLAG programs at the 2006 convention in Jacksonville are open to all. We look forward to meeting a lot of new friends this year. For more information, send a message to ButchArnold@BFLAG.org. ***** A MAJOR ADA VICTORY by Al Pietrolungo and Patrick Sheehan Recently, ACB of Maryland celebrated a major victory in an ongoing effort to get accessible pedestrian signals (APS) installed and make street- crossing easier for blind pedestrians. In a letter dated July 8, 2005, the Federal Highway Administration found that the State Highway Administration was not in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act when that agency denied requests by blind citizens for accessible pedestrian signals. This brief statement was the official response to an effort which began about six years ago when Charlie Crawford's leadership on this issue inspired our affiliate to make the installation of APS a major priority. Initially, our effort involved the administrative complaint process. Charlie Crawford in Montgomery County and Phil Guntner in Baltimore County filed complaints with the Federal Highway Administration after the state ignored their requests for the installation of APS near their homes. We commented that asking FHA administrators to investigate the SHA was like asking the fox to guard the chicken coop. Unfortunately, this prediction was accurate, and both complaints were dismissed. After this disappointment, Ralph Sanders and the legislative committee introduced a pedestrian safety bill in the Maryland General Assembly that would have required the installation of APS, but our bill was combined with other bills in committee. Our APS language disappeared in that smoke-filled committee room. Being stubborn folks, we approached local governments about installing APS, and Montgomery County and Baltimore City agreed to install a few. The effort in Baltimore required the members of the Central Maryland Council of the Blind to hold a demonstration in front of city hall on Dec. 18, 2000. A few months later, the Southern Maryland Council of the Blind held a similar demonstration in Waldorf, which forced the SHA to agree to install an APS at that intersection. With all this work, by October 2002, we had obtained about seven new signals and promises for a few more. We were dissatisfied with this limited progress. So, on Oct. 17, 2002, we filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Transportation. After we participated in a meeting to try to resolve the dispute, the waiting process began. After much waiting, we received a letter from the Federal Highway Administration on July 8, 2005, which informed us that SHA was not in compliance with the ADA. As previously indicated, FHA interpreted an intersection as a traffic facility and indicated that restricting program or information access to that facility constituted a violation of the ADA. At the ACB of Maryland state convention in November 2005, Neil Pedersen, administrator for the State Highway Administration, made a commitment to install APS at 1,250 traffic-controlled intersections on highways controlled by his department. He said this process would be completed by 2015. In addition, Pedersen agreed to convene a panel of stakeholders to go beyond what ADA mandates throughout the state to increase pedestrian safety. This panel, which will be convened in the next 60 days, will look at issues like sidewalk construction, lighting and the installation of accessible bus shelters throughout the state. What is significant in the APS saga is the FHA's determination that intersections are traffic facilities, and that everyone has the right to access the information provided by traffic signals. Maryland has shared this decision with other affiliates, hoping they can take advantage of this favorable ruling by the FHA. In addition, we are using this position to push for other APS installations throughout the state at non-SHA-controlled intersections. Thanks to the efforts of Charlie Crawford and many dedicated Maryland members, the Maryland Department of Transportation and SHA have come to recognize ACBM as the leader in the state when it comes to pedestrian safety and access issues. ***** HERE AND THERE by Susan 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. CALL FOR ARTISTS The San Francisco Lighthouse seeks submissions for its 17th annual Insights Art Exhibition. Work by legally blind artists in all mediums except video will be considered. The show will run in September 2006 at the San Francisco Arts Commission Gallery at City Hall. Cash prizes will be awarded. The submission deadline is May 15, 2006. To receive an application by mail, contact Sarah Millett at (415) 431-1481 ext. 286 or visit the San Francisco Lighthouse web site, www.lighthouse-sf.org. BRAILLE LITERACY THROUGH THE ARTS On Saturday, June 3, 2006, several New Jersey blindness organizations will collaborate to sponsor Braille Literacy Through The Arts. The event runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Grounds for Sculpture in Hamilton, N.J. It will provide touch tours of sculpture and other art appreciation activities specially designed for individuals with visual impairments. The event is free and registration is open to all who are blind, visually impaired, or a customer of the New Jersey Library for the Blind. Because of space limitations, preference for individual program events will be given to attendees who are blind or visually impaired. For more information, visit www.njlbh.org/ or call the library at 1-800-792-8322. BIKE CAMP FOR DISABLED The 2006 Introduction to Bike Racing Camp will be held June 22-28, 2006 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. Cyclists who are blind and visually impaired who race on tandem bikes with a sighted partner, along with cyclists with cerebral palsy or head injury who use both standard bikes and tricycles, and amputee cyclists who ride single bikes, ages 16 and older are invited to apply for the camp. Cyclists will learn bike handling skills, safe riding techniques, road racing strategies, and how to ride and race on a velodrome. For more information, or to request an application, contact Pam Fernandes at pamala@quik.com or call (781) 449-9563. You may also get the information and applications from the USABA web site, www.usaba.org. FITNESS PROGRAM FOR THE BLIND The Out of Sight Health & Fitness Program was designed by Bob Koppenjan, a certified personal trainer for more than 20 years who happens to be blind. The exercise and nutrition program is designed specifically for people who are blind. It is available in braille or large print. Both versions include an audio tape with the exercise portion. The program costs $39.99. For more information, write to DuKo Health International, 175 Irving Place, Rutherford, NJ 07070, or call (201) 507-1510. SCDORIS FINISHES THE IDITAROD USABA athlete Rachael Scdoris of Bend, Ore., finished the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in 12 days, 11 hours and 42 minutes, making her the first legally blind athlete to do so. She drove her team into the finishing chute at the famed Burled Arch in Nome at 1:42 a.m. Alaska time on Saturday, March 18. She finished 57th overall, 7th among the rookies, out of 72 teams (not counting the 11 that dropped out). ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY HELP LINE The Chicago Lighthouse has established a telephone assistive technology support line. The toll-free number for the new service is 1-888- 825-0080. They will assist with any hardware or software relating to assistive technology as long as the customer is visually impaired or calling on behalf of someone who is visually impaired. PAC MATE UPGRADE AVAILABLE Freedom Scientific has released PAC Mate 4.0. Visit the PAC Mate web site for information on all the features, www.freedomscientific.com/fs_downloads/DL_PACmate_40_Update.asp. IDEA REAUTHORIZATION RESOURCE There is an online resource for school districts and parents about how the reauthorized Individuals with Disabilities Education Act provides for students with disabilities enrolled in private elementary and secondary schools. A document entitled "Questions and Answers on Serving Children with Disabilities Placed by Their Parents at Private Schools" is available at www.ed.gov/policy/speced/guid/idea/idea2004.html. LARGE TYPE MAILING KITS Very Truly Yours makes extra-large label kits to aid seniors and low- vision individuals in sending mailings independently. The kits include bold- type labels, a binder with zippered pockets for each addressee's labels, an easy-grip pen, and a bag for keeping stamps. Contact Very Truly Yours LLC at (717) 334-0330 or www.verytrulyyourspak.com. WEIGHT LOSS BOOK "Simple Ways to Control Your Weight" is a new one-volume book available through National Braille Press for $8. NBP has compiled this book by summarizing the basic steps, tips and ideas that can be found in all of the popular diet books. It tells you what all the leading authorities are saying about the best ways to lose weight and keep it off. Order the book at www.nbp.org/ic/nbp/CONTROL.html or call 1-800-548-7323. NEW DIABETES BOOK IN BRAILLE Pocket Reference Journals recently published "My Pocket Doctor," a reference guide and journal. It's written by an endocrinologist, a certified diabetes educator, and a registered dietitian, and it's designed to answer any questions that a newly diagnosed diabetic would ask. It is currently available in contracted braille and will soon be available on CD. For more information, contact Pocket Reference Journals directly at www.pocketreferencejournals.com, or call (714) 965-4570. EASYLINK 12 RELEASED Optelec US Inc. has launched its newly designed EasyLink 12 refreshable Braille Assistant. It is a wireless braille keyboard with a 12- cell refreshable braille display. The EasyLink 12 gives blind individuals wireless access to their PCs, PDAs and smart phones. It is compatible with all desktop and pocket speech synthesizers. For more information, visit www.optelec.com, or call 1-800-828-1056. SITE FOR BLIND PROGRAMMERS At the Blind Programming web site, blind and visually impaired computer programmers can exchange resources, knowledge, and ideas. The site includes an e-mail discussion group, resource materials for most programming languages, speech-friendly tutorials, manuals and documentation, and job/project classifieds. You can check out the site for yourself at www.blindprogramming.com. FREE AUDIO NEWSPAPER Audiochronicle.com is a free weekday audio newspaper with customizable content. The web site publishes a number of podcasts in various categories. The news is from AFP and Accent Radio. Two to three hours of fresh content are added each day; that includes weather forecasts for America's 100 largest cities. KANSAS BRAILLE TRANSCRIPTION INSTITUTE The Kansas Braille Transcription Institute now has available the newly revised "My Pyramid" in braille with tactile graphics and large print. The institute also offers cleaning and repairing of manual and electric braille writers and embossers. It is looking to contract with certified braille transcribers in all areas of transcription. Contact the Kansas Braille Transcription Institute, 1200 E. Waterman, Wichita, KS 67211, phone (316) 265-9692, or e-mail infor@kbti.org. HUMANWARE APPOINTS NEW CEO HumanWare has appointed Dr. Richard Mander as its new CEO. Mander worked for 7 years at Apple Computer and spent the last 7 years as a consultant advising technology companies on customer-centered product design and methods for improving product development. SAY HELLO TO AMIGO The Amigo is a high-powered video magnifier designed for on-the-go use. Users place the magnifier directly on the printed material for magnification. The Amigo can be used to enlarge price tags, restaurant menus, and product labels. For more information, contact Enhanced Vision at 1-888-811-3161. ***** LETTERS TO THE EDITOR The contents of this column reflect the letters we had received by the time we went to press, April 14, 2006. 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. Access to a Home Involves More than Ramps It was heartening to read executive director Melanie Brunson's message in the February issue. My favorite line was, "It is our [ACB's] view that access to a home involves much more than ramps and [widened] doorways." That line was followed by a description of the national office's effective strategy to influence manufacturers to design household appliances so they can be controlled non-visually. I would add that our efforts should also include influencing of the general public, and even the activist segment of the community of people with mobility disabilities. Toward these ends I recommend for all ACB members two specific measures: 1) write letters to the editor each time a story is published which spotlights an enlightened developer somewhere who is building homes proclaimed "accessible" because they have ramps and wide doorways, and 2) get involved with local multi-disability membership organizations. Within two I have joined, I have found people in wheelchairs who are at first surprised to hear my perspective. But once exposed to it, they become willing partners in an advocacy for an expanded notion of "access." -- Ken Stewart, Warwick, N.Y. Regarding Dr. Nemeth Regarding the article "Congratulations, Dr. Nemeth!", by Winifred Downing, in the March "Forum": I enjoyed this summary of where we stand with regards to braille. Also intriguing is court reporting. I understand they use a special machine and code. I would like to know more about it. I wonder how it differs from braille -- both in execution and appearance. How is it translated into print? What are the machine and code like? Of course, it's not in dots --but that's all I know. Can anyone give input? Thanks. -- Beth Terranova, Newport News, Va. Regarding 'Sound Blind' The article "Sound Blind" brought back a funny but pathetic memory. Nearly 30 years ago, my brother attended the Overbrook School for the Blind. Here in Pottsville, about 100 miles away, a local department store sponsored Overbrook Day. Many of the students would have displays in the store, from piano tuning to some woodworking projects. These students would then get a significant discount off anything that they wanted to purchase. A friend's daughter worked in this store and was talking to a co- worker. This co-worker worked in the record department. She told my friend's daughter that she was informed that the blind kids liked music. She then went on to say that she did not understand because the records all feel the same to her. Also, these students were all housed in local homes for the evening. A friend of my mother volunteered to sponsor one of these kids. She quickly called my mother to ask her if she should drag down a mattress and place it at the bottom of the steps to keep the kid safe. -- Lenny McHugh, Pottsville, Pa. ***** HIGH TECH SWAP SHOP FOR SALE: Braille Lite 18 in good condition. Asking $950. Includes a cable that connects the Braille Lite to a disk drive for $25. Contact Anne at (503) 233-0452, or e-mail Cverduin@earthlink.net. If e-mailing, please include "Braille Lite" in the subject line. FOR SALE: Connect Out Loud. Make offer by calling or e-mailing Joel Woodbury at (801) 706-3343, e-mail datawoodbury@hotmail.com. FOR SALE: Brand-new, unopened MAGic 8.0 standard version with speech. Asking $445. Call Jamie at (408) 997-2803. FOR SALE: New in box, unopened JAWS professional edition. Asking $750 or best offer. Call (812) 282-4240 or (502) 314-4472, or e-mail debrawhitt@sbcglobal.net and include "JAWS" in the subject line. FOR SALE: Nokia 6620 talking cell phone with two batteries, leather case and charger. Asking $150. Contact Robert at (410) 653-2498. FOR SALE: Type 'n Speak with charger and all manuals. Asking $200. JAWS 3.5, $150. JAWS 4.0, $150. Open Book 5.0, $200. Contact Steve Hearn at (601) 885-8413. FOR SALE: Jumbo Perkins brailler in excellent condition. Comes with dust cover and erasers. Asking $300 or best offer. Contact Bernie at (509) 586-8060 in the Pacific time zone, or e-mail gadgetman101@verizon.net. FOR SALE: Braille writer in great working condition, asking $300. Jumbo brailler in excellent condition, completely overhauled and repaired, asking $375. I will accept payments via PayPal. Call Richard at (703) 451- 5372 or e-mail richard.benham@cox.net. FOR SALE: Braille Note 32 with all the latest software updates; recently serviced. Contact Richard Villa at (512) 447-8860. FOR SALE: Two Perkins braillers, recently cleaned and serviced. Asking $350 each. Contact Brian Collins at (562) 645-5013. FOR SALE: Perkins brailler, less than two years old, in excellent condition. Asking $300 plus $20 shipping. Contact Donald Buchanan at (601) 354-5562. WANTED: Braille textbooks in good condition. Contact Eva Kurtz at (785) 233-5546. WANTED: Talking HP 34C scientific calculator from Science Products in any condition. Contact Bernie at (509) 586-8060 in the Pacific time zone, or e-mail gadgetman101@verizon.net. ACB OFFICERS PRESIDENT CHRISTOPHER GRAY 94 RAMONA AVE. SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103 FIRST VICE PRESIDENT M.J. SCHMITT 119 SHELL EDGE DR ROCHESTER, NY 14623 SECOND VICE PRESIDENT MITCH POMERANTZ 1115 CORDOVA STREET #402 PASADENA, CA 91106 SECRETARY DONNA SELIGER 3912 SE 5TH ST DES MOINES, IA 50315 TREASURER MIKE GODINO 104 TILROSE AVE MALVERNE, NY 11565-2024 IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT PAUL EDWARDS 20330 NE 20TH CT. MIAMI, FL 33179 ACB BOARD OF DIRECTORS Alan Beatty, Fort Collins, CO Ed Bradley, Houston, TX Brian Charlson, Watertown, MA Carol Ewing, Las Vegas, NV Billie Jean Keith, Arlington, VA Oral Miller, Washington, DC Carla Ruschival, Louisville, KY Patrick Sheehan, Silver Spring, MD Naomi Soule, St. Louis, MO David Trott, Talladega, AL Ex Officio: DeAnna Noriega, Colorado Springs, CO BOARD OF PUBLICATIONS Mike Duke, Chairman, Jackson, MS Cindy Burgett, Bremerton, WA Rochelle Hart, Sioux Falls, SD Charles Hodge, Arlington, VA DeAnna Noriega, Colorado Springs, CO Ex Officios: Ralph Sanders, Las Vegas, NV Janelle Edwards, Springfield, MO