MINNESOTA BULLETIN Quarterly Publication of the National Federation of the Blind of Minnesota, Inc. 100 East 22nd Street Minneapolis, Minnesota 55404 (612) 872-9363 Volume LX, Number 3, Winter 1996 WE ARE CHANGING WHAT IT MEANS TO BE BLIND Table of Contents Les Affaires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 75 Years: Promoting Legislation to Help the Blind . . . . . . 8 1996 Legislative Agenda. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Should the Radio Talking Book Be Privatized? . . . . . . . . . 13 Newsline for the Blind Is Coming to Minnesota. . . . . . . . . 15 These Canes Are History. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 How the NFB Changed My Life. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Minnesota's Midhusband to the NFB. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 75 Years: Applying Technology to Improve Our Lives. . . . . . 21 Suggestions From the South--Part III . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 It Was a Great Birthday Party. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Resolutions Adopted at the 1995 Annual Convention. . . . . . . 31 Convention Alert!. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Send articles and comments to: Tom Scanlan, Editor Minnesota Bulletin National Federation of the Blind of Minnesota 100 East 22nd Street Minneapolis, MN 55404 Les Affaires Same Words, Same Tune: "Oh, You Misunderstood" By Joyce Scanlan, President In the presidential report delivered at our 1995 National Federation of the Blind of Minnesota convention on October 14, I referred to a proposed reorganization of the Minnesota Department of Economic Security (MDES) which could lead to a merger of State Services for the Blind (SSB) and the Division of Rehabilitation Services (DRS), the general rehab agency in this state. Since 1985 when SSB was moved to the Department of Jobs and Training, now the MDES, the two rehab agencies, one serving blind people, the other serving those with other disabilities, have been separate entities, each with its own Assistant Commissioner. State law providing for the transfer included language giving SSB its own budget and separate status from the general rehab agency. The Federation fought for this language, because we knew only too well how zealously public officials take to changing departments and whimsically reorganizing various agencies. We have seen this numerous times throughout the country as bureaucratic maneuverings have dismantled rehab agencies serving blind people by merging them with general rehab agencies. When such combining is completed, one has difficulty locating or identifying programs dealing with blindness. So, the direction for the future had to be stated in statute. Late in the summer of 1995 as talk of "block grants" spread from the nation's capital throughout the land, I began to hear rumors from officials and staff in the Department of Economic Security that Commissioner R. Jane Brown was proposing a grand scheme of reorganizing, restructuring or realigning the department to prepare for workforce centers and the federal block grants which would inevitably come. In the early discussions, there was recognition that "consumers in the blind community" had strong feelings about having a separate agency. Then, there was the suggestion that perhaps Services for the Blind and DRS could share administrative services. As the reorganized "branches" appeared on the proposed chart, Services for the Blind and DRS somehow fell within the same "branch." Of course, all this was done without public involvement. The Commissioner knew our feelings against any merger, so she had to move in secret. But when hundreds of people receive the information, how can such a proposal remain secret? An administrative merger of the two rehab agencies was a sign to Federationists that the camel's nose was creeping under the tent, and we had to take action. On October 4, 1995, I wrote the following letter to Commissioner R. Jane Brown: October 4, 1995 R. Jane Brown, Commissioner Minnesota Department of Economic Security 390 North Robert St. Paul, Minnesota 55101 Dear Commissioner Brown: Upon several occasions during the past three years I have had the pleasure of writing to commend you for the improvements in the quality and results of services provided by State Services for the Blind under your direction. The programs have been more responsive to the actual needs of blind citizens; more blind Minnesotans have achieved competitive employment, and an atmosphere of cooperation and hope has been created in the blind community as never before. All of us, especially you as commissioner, can be justifiably proud of these accomplishments. Now I have been hearing from a number of sources that you are reorganizing your department and that you are proposing, among other things, "shared" administrative functions for the two Rehabilitation divisions. Such proposed changes would violate state statute and would begin the dismantling of the quality rehabilitation programs for blind people Minnesota has been proud of. I am writing to request a meeting with you to discuss this very serious matter. There is too much history with other state agencies for the blind already going down this road to destruction being planned for Minnesota, and we cannot sit idly by and let it happen. Programs for blind people in many other states are virtually nonexistent now because a public official had a grandiose reorganizational plan. I am certain you have the best of intentions, but such plans for SSB are not acceptable. I look forward to your prompt response so we can meet and discuss this problem as soon as possible. Very truly yours, Joyce Scanlan President I regarded this as a very gentle and friendly letter and a reasonable request for information and a meeting. The Commissioner, as I understand, prides herself on her quick responses to correspondence. Not so in this instance. I had expected to hear by the time of our state convention on October 14. No response was forthcoming. At the October 7 meeting of the Rehabilitation Advisory Council for the Blind, the members of the council decided to write a letter expressing to the Commissioner the council's position that Services for the Blind must retain its separate identity. The council's letter was sent on October 19. Thus, the Commissioner heard the same position from yet another source. On October 10, Federationists met with Representative Phyllis Kahn and Senator James Metzen, chairs of the House and Senate Committees on Governmental Operations, which have jurisdiction over certain state departments, including MDES. Their committees must be informed of proposed reorganizations, and we were certain that if the alleged realignment or reorganization of MDES was in the offing, these two would be aware of it. We were surprised to learn that they knew nothing of the proposal. They were aware of the existing laws giving State Services for the Blind separate status and giving them authority over proposed changes. They were especially surprised at our news, since they said the Commissioner and her staff had been asked at a recent meeting if there were any plans for reorganizing, and they had given no indication that there were any plans whatsoever. Representative Kahn and Senator Metzen said that they would write a joint letter to Commissioner Brown requesting information relating to the proposed realignment. Here is the letter they sent: October 12, 1995 R. Jane Brown, Commissioner Department of Economic Security 390 North Robert Street St. Paul, MN 55101 Dear Commissioner Brown: Several customers of your agency's services have told us recently that you are said to be undertaking a major reorganization of your department, to take effect later this fall. They are, understandably, concerned, especially since they, as major stake- holders, have heard nothing officially, but have instead had to rely on rumors. We trust that those rumors are unfounded. As you know, the 1995 Legislature passed -- and Governor Carlson signed -- a bill prohibiting any reorganization of your department until a body appointed by the Legislative Coordinating Commission has reviewed the state's economic assistance programs and has submitted a report to the full Legislature. That report is due February 1, 1996. In addition, no reorganization may occur until the Legislative Auditor has completed a review of those programs. We refer to Laws 1995, chapter 248, article 8. In addition, at least one part of your agency's organizational structure is set in statute and may not be changed without legislative action. Minnesota Statutes 1994, section 248.07, subdivision 1, requires your department to maintain a "distinct organizational unit to be known as the division of services for the blind and visually handicapped, separate from the vocational rehabilitation unit and with its own activity budget." Finally, on September 27, a joint subcommittee of the Senate Governmental Operations Committee and of the House Committee on Ways and Means met, in accordance with chapter 248, to review issues related to any potential reorganization affecting your department. You and other representatives of your agency were present. Had you been contemplating any reorganization of the agency, we are sure you would have had the courtesy to inform the joint subcommittee of your plans. Since neither you nor any other agency representative did so, we again assume that rumors of an imminent reorganization are without basis. We would, however, appreciate your assurance that our assumption is correct. Sincerely, JIM METZEN, Chair Senate Governmental Operations and Veterans Committee PHYLLIS KAHN, Chair House Governmental Operations Committee You will notice that the date on the joint letter is October 12, 1995. The response to their letter was dated October 27, a remarkable turnaround time considering that no response had yet been received to our letter of October 4. About this time a significant change began to appear in the organizational charts circulating throughout the MDES regarding the realignment. Services for the Blind and DRS began to be shown as separate branches. Of course, that just happened to appear at this time. Here is the letter from Commissioner Brown to Kahn and Metzen: October 27, 1995 (Faxed) Senator Jim Metzen Representative Phyllis Kahn 303 Capitol Building 367 State Office Building St. Paul, Minnesota 55155 St. Paul, Minnesota 55155 Dear Legislators: In response to your recent letter, let me assure you that our department Is not undergoing a 'reorganization.' Rather, we are aligning our headquarter activities to support the massive restructuring initiated in December 1993 to merge our local offices and partner agencies into Workforce Centers. This huge undertaking is in response to our commitment to improve service to our customers, conserve resources, and finally fulfill the vision of the 1977 legislation that created this department. Our "refocusing" discussions this fall centered on the need to get support services and administration within our various divisions to be more supportive in working out the myriad of details involved in our local mergers. (One of our objectives, in fact, was to stop dividing our department into "divisions", thus, that term has been replaced by "branches.") We have identified our department's main business functions: Prepare the workforce; rehabilitate the workforce; and place the workforce. Currently existing branches will not change; we are simply pulling out high-production activities and creating one additional branch. This will streamline the business functions in the two affected branches, thereby allowing Assistant Commissioners more time to give direct support to the creation of the Workforce Center System. This change will improve program management, operating efficiencies, and productivity measurement. I am enclosing three charts illustrating the realignment that is occurring: * Figure 1 is the identification of the business functions. Each oval on this chart identifies a business function. The narrative under each oval provides a brief description of the function. * Figure 2 is an organization chart illustrating the headquarters structure that will be implemented November 1. * Figure 3 is an organization chart illustrating today's headquarters structure. It is obvious when comparing Figures 2 and 3 that our realignment was designed to streamline productivity without altering the reporting, or status, of the assistant commissioners. We are aware of the 1996 session law Chapter 248, Article 8. This realignment is a step in an ongoing reorganization that has been fully supported by the legislative committees to which our department reports; it did not occur to us that there would be any question of our not complying with that session law. Further, no staff positions are being eliminated in this realignment. It will, however, help us to better downsize through attrition, which is our strategy to deal with our federal cuts. Also, the alignment is "on paper" and does not necessitate a physical move. You question why we didn't mention our refocusing efforts at the September 27 joint subcommittee hearing of the Senate Governmental Operations Committee and the House Committee on Ways and Means. Deputy Commissioner Wilson was outlining our progress toward the Workforce Center System when the Chairman indicated that the testimony was not consistent with the purpose of the hearing. He further indicated that he would like to hear more about it at a future date. You expressed concern about the possible impact on State Services for the Blind (SSB). This is particularly interesting because SSB is the only branch that is totally unaffected. I believe the outcry was caused by an internal memo suggesting that SSB and the Division of Rehabilitation Services (DRS) work together to address the fact that neither has had regular representation on MDES's Information Policy Steering group. Our thought was to have one person represent both entities, as there is apparently not enough work for a full-time information systems professional in either branch. The goal was to save scarce resources which, in turn, could be devoted to direct services to our customers. Clearly our intent was misinterpreted. In all of the discussions regarding our business activities, we have never considered reorganizing SSB, or merging SSB with DRS. We are very aware of not only the statutory language but the long-standing, emotionally-charged history behind that separation. It has been, and will remain, a "distinct organizational unit...separate from the vocational rehabilitation unit with its own activity budget." I am confused about why this issue has arisen. SSB has never enjoyed a more prominent position, nor received more support under this administration. In the past SSB was led by a Director who reported to the Deputy Commissioner, while DRS has always been headed by an Assistant Commissioner reporting to the Commissioner. This administration elevated SSB to Assistant Commissioner status, reporting directly to the Commissioner. We then conducted a national search to fill the Assistant Commissioner position. Additionally, this administration initiated and actively worked to relocate SSB headquarters from a totally unsatisfactory environment to a modern, ADA accessible facility. We appreciate the distinct and important role SSB performs in assisting Minnesotans who are blind or have other visual impairments. Thank you for this opportunity to clarify matters. Sincerely, R. Jane Brown Commissioner October and November passed with no response from the Commissioner. There was no appointment to discuss the matter, no sign of interest, no phone call, no contact whatsoever. Then on December 20 came a letter written by Assistant Commissioner Dick Davis on her behalf saying that the whole thing was just a misunderstanding on our part. Here is the letter prepared for Commissioner Brown: December 20, 1995 Ms. Joyce Scanlan, President National Federation of the Blind of Minnesota 100 East 22nd Street Minneapolis, MN 55404 Dear Ms. Scanlan: Commissioner Brown has asked me to respond to your letter to her of October 4, in which you express concern about a reorganization of our department and its effect on State Services for the Blind (SSB), especially as it pertains to shared administrative functions between SSB and the Division of Rehabilitation Services (DRS). Our department's business realignment, to which you refer, is a change in the way we look at our primary business functions. These are: prepare the workforce, rehabilitate the workforce, and place the workforce. We are focusing headquarters activities to support the massive restructuring initiated in December 1993 when we made the decision to merge our local office and partner agencies into Workforce Centers. The realignment is a dynamic and flexible activity focused on meeting the needs of our customers. Because of the newness of the concepts, it is possible to confuse business functions with organizational structure. The enclosed charts prepared by our department should help clarify the difference between the two: * Figure 1 shows our department's business functions, illustrated by ovals, with a narrative explaining each. DRS and SSB are in the same business function, that of Workforce Rehabilitation. * Figure 2 shows our department's organization chart as of November 1. DRS and SSB are now separate organizational branches. * Figure 3 is our department's previous organization chart. It shows that DRS and SSB were separate organizational divisions. In the discussions regarding our department's business activities, Commissioner Brown has stated categorically that SSB and DRS will remain separate. She respects both the statutory language and the intent of blind customers in this regard. SSB is the only branch whose structure is totally unaffected by the realignment. It is, and will remain, a "distinct organizational unit...separate from the vocational rehabilitation unit with its own activity budget." Perhaps your concerns were generated by an internal department memorandum suggesting that SSB and DRS work together to improve their representation on MDES' Information Policy Steering group. The suggestion, which was not implemented, was that one high level information systems professional might be shared by both branches, saving funds which could be better directed to serve customers. SSB has never enjoyed a more prominent position, nor received more support than under Commissioner Brown's administration. In the past, SSB was led by a Director who reported to the Deputy Commissioner. She elevated its Director to Assistant Commissioner status, made a full division, relocated its staff and customers to new, attractive offices, and provided the kind of support that brought about the improvements noted in your letter. She values State Services for the Blind and Minnesota's blind citizens. If you have other issues or need additional information, please do not hesitate to contact me. Sincerely, Richard C. Davis Assistant Commissioner Despite what Commissioner Brown may say now, the organization charts given to MDES staff in October show one organizational unit combining SSB and DRS. The charts sent by Assistant Commissioner Davis in December show two units, one for SSB and one for DRS. Did we misunderstand? Hardly. Did the change come about because of our intervention? Absolutely. Once again we have escaped the bureaucrat's eraser. The role of the National Federation of the Blind is to maintain vigilance over governmental and private entities providing services to blind people. Although commissioners and assistant commissioners and others may try to hide out and proceed with their private agendas, the National Federation of the Blind has resources to keep abreast of what is going on. We make no secret of our position on the need for separate services for the blind. Anyone who has dealt with us knows well how we feel. Therefore, when such a proposal as came from the commissioner's office regarding a realignment of the department which would be detrimental to blind people came forth, many within the department and in state government realized that the Federation would want to know. We have many friends and colleagues who keep us informed. We have saved Services for the Blind from a certain destruction. The organized blind have again put down a grand scheme of reorganization which would have combined all rehabilitation in the state under the Division of Rehab Services, the general agency serving everyone. The programs we have developed to meet the specific needs of blind people would be lost in the effort to serve cross disabilities. We have won another battle, but the war goes on. Another R. Jane Brown or a commissioner by another name will try again whenever the opportunity presents itself. At least for this time, we have once again won a victory. Many people knew of the potential problem. Only the National Federation of the Blind came out to block the proposed change. And despite what they say, it was a real threat to the existing agency; it was a definite plan. And the National Federation of the Blind spoke out and defeated it. 75 Years: Promoting Legislation to Help the Blind By Peggy Chong After its founding in 1920, the first legislative action by this organization was to secure a Pension Bill for the Blind. This bill would provide a monthly pension of $30 (remember, those are 1920 dollars) to each adult blind person in Minnesota. The ultimate goal of the pension bill was to provide a monthly income that blind people themselves would control. Another goal was to allow blind recipients to make their own choices about where they would live, the jobs they would hold and the type of services that they would receive from state or county welfare agencies. The pension bill took years to pass. When it was finally adopted in 1936, it was short lived. In the fall of that year, the new federal Social Security board declared it invalid. One objection was that the bill still allowed for the county to disburse the money. A positive result of the pension bill was the formation of the Bureau for the Blind. It came into being in 1923, with an appropriation of $25,000, three employees, and an office in the State Office Building. Mr. M. I. Tynan, a teacher at the Perkins School for the Blind, was the agency's first director. In 1921, the organization introduced legislation that called for the State School for the Blind in Faribault to be moved from the Department of Institutions to the Department of Education. Unfortunately, the organization was not successful in accomplishing this goal. A resolution was passed at the 1952 annual convention that was much the same. In 1952, the Braille and Sight Saving School was still located in the Department of Institutions. The cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul passed White Cane ordinances in 1933. In 1945 a state White Cane law was passed. To educate the public to the meaning of the White Cane Law, members spoke on radio talk shows, passed out leaflets at a variety of functions, and distributed book covers to Twin Cities school children. In the 1940-41 legislative session, the organization worked successfully to obtain a budget for the Department for the Blind of $376,000, with money specifically designated for rehabilitation and the vending stand program. This was a substantial increase. The organization was also successful in amending the Aid for the Blind law to provide for the right of appeal. On February 23, 1947, the legislative committee held a public hearing in downtown Minneapolis to inform and educate officials on the legislation affecting the blind for that year. Over 100 persons attended the meeting. Legislation discussed that day and later passed by the state legislature included lowering the age for collecting Aid to the Blind from 21 to 18, a burial allowance for blind persons, and reducing the residency requirement for collecting Aid to the Blind to one year instead of five years. The speakers at the public hearing included the Mayor of Minneapolis, Hubert Humphrey, and Paul Martin of WTCN News. Some problems required many years to resolve through legislation. Today we take for granted many rights that our forebears had to fight for. We owe a great debt of gratitude to them. Among their achievements that benefit us today are the following: ensuring the right to choose one's own doctor while receiving Aid to the Blind, requiring at least a 30-day notice for any changes in the Aid that a recipient would receive, removing the requirement that a blind traveler be accompanied by a sighted person when using public transportation, providing the right to choose one's own rehabilitation plan instead of being told by the state agency for the blind what to study and where to study it, providing the right to refuse corrective surgery and not lose aid nor be turned down for rehabilitation services, building a cost-of-living adjustment into the Aid for the Blind program (continued in the Supplemental Security Income program that replaced Aid to the Blind). It seems that the more things change for the better the more we need to correct the loopholes made by those changes. This organization pursued changes to Aid for the Blind nearly every year. In 1976, we called for a pass through of cost of living increases in the Federal SSI (Supplemental Security Income) program to the Minnesota recipient instead of having Minnesota Aid for the Blind reduced. In 1970, we introduced legislation to prohibit discrimination in employment for blind persons. We also worked with the legislature in 1970 to bring to its attention the fact that blind persons were being discriminated against in the insurance industry. After the legislators realized that blind Minnesotans were being charged higher insurance rates (or denied insurance altogether) solely because of their blindness, they passed the Fair Insurance Bill in the spring of 1975. One of our active pieces of legislation today is the Braille Literacy Law, first passed in Minnesota in 1987. This law ensures that every legally blind child in the state is given the opportunity to learn Braille. The bill has needed tightening up to assure that the intent of the law was being observed. A teacher competency standard is currently being addressed in the state legislature to ensure that the teachers who teach Braille know how to read and write it proficiently. To this day, the National Federation of the Blind of Minnesota stays vigilant in monitoring all legislation that could affect blind persons. 1996 Legislative Agenda By Judy Sanders Our activities at the Minnesota Legislature have started quickly. True to her promise, Representative Mindy Greiling managed a speedy hearing on HF1921, our bill to require a teacher competency test in braille for vision teachers. On Tuesday, January 23, the House Committee on Education heard our bill and referred it to their Quality Initiatives Subcommittee where it will probably have another hearing. There was no controversy at this hearing and we can hope that harmony will continue. Time will tell. Our Day at the Capitol, on February 7, found blind persons from throughout the state distributing our fact sheet. We let the members of the Legislature know about our Braille bill and we gave them a status report on the privatization issue regarding the Radio Talking Book. We made it clear that this is an issue that needs no further discussion. Here is the fact sheet. TO: The Minnesota Legislature FROM: THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND OF MINNESOTA RE: 1996 Legislative Agenda DATE: February 7, 1996 CONTACT: JOYCE SCANLAN, PRESIDENT: 872-9363 Who are we? The National Federation of the Blind (NFB) is Minnesota's and the nation's organized voice of blind persons; adults, children, parents of blind children, all take part in formulating our policies on issues affecting the blind. We help educate the public (including newly-blinded individuals) that, with the proper training and with a belief in oneself, blindness will not be a severe disability. However, without that training and lacking confidence, blindness becomes a tragedy; a life is wasted and true potential is never realized. Each year we bring you legislative proposals and information that are designed to bring about maximum opportunity for blind persons to achieve independence. This year, we have two matters to discuss with you. We are urging passage of HF1921, dealing with the licensing of teachers of braille to blind children. We are also reporting on the possibility of privatizing of the Radio Talking Book which is currently operated by Minnesota State Services for the Blind. Below are fact sheets on both matters. VOTE YES ON HF1921 What the bill does: HF1921 requires that the Minnesota Board on Teaching develop standards for obtaining a license to practice as a vision teacher in the state of Minnesota. Testing competency in braille must be comparable to the test that has been developed by the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped. This is an amendment to the Braille Literacy Law. The problem: The National Federation of the Blind in Minnesota and throughout the country has contact with parents of blind children who tell us that they cannot obtain braille instruction for their children. Many of the children have some usable vision and teachers opt for instruction in large print. They deprive their students of the opportunity of using both modes of reading--print and braille. Many reasons have been given for this preference but we believe that one of the less talked about reasons is a lack of ability on the part of vision teachers themselves in braille. We emphasize that we know there are some highly skilled teachers who work with braille; however, we note that at a recent public meeting, one vision teacher said that she teaches braille so rarely that she must constantly look up rules to stay ahead of her student. Rationale for support: We have every right to expect, and we know our teachers want a high degree of professionalism. It has always been assumed that a college degree in Special Education with emphasis on vision courses guarantees that professionalism. In many cases, it probably does. However, passing a test in braille competency ensures that Minnesota will have highly-qualified teachers for our blind children. The test does not examine teaching methods; we know of no test to do so. We ask for your support for HF1921. We want high standards for our teachers and our children. RADIO TALKING BOOK FOR THE BLIND This matter is being brought to your attention this year because of the very real possibility that legislation will be introduced to privatize the Radio Talking Book, Minnesota's radio reading service for the blind and print handicapped. In our judgment, privatization would destabilize and diminish the Radio Talking Book, to the detriment of blind persons in Minnesota. Last year, the following language was signed into law: "The Commissioner of the Department of Economic Security, the Friends of the Communication Center, the Rehabilitation Advisory Council of the Blind, and consumer organizations of the blind will initiate open public discussions regarding privatization of the Radio Talking Book for the Blind. The discussions will include, but not be limited to, a study of the Radio Talking Book, its statewide coverage, effectiveness of service, staffing, funding, programming, and the relationship between State Services for the Blind, the Friends of the Communication Center, consumer organizations of the blind and Radio Talking Book consumers." The NFB of Minnesota joined with other organizations of the blind, the Friends of the Communication Center and the Department of Economic Security to form a task force to examine issues surrounding the Radio Talking Book. Between September and December 1995, the task force met three times. During the discussions which took place, blind people stated repeatedly that they would prefer to maintain the present structure of the Radio Talking Book. They said that privatization was not necessary as there was no problem to fix. Although there might be some concern over Minnesota Public Radio's use of the subcarrier frequency assigned to the Radio Talking Book, this problem would most certainly not be solved by pulling the Radio Talking Book out of State Services for the Blind. The Friends expressed a different view. In a widely circulated position statement, the Friends said: "It is the intent of the Friends of the Communication Center to privatize Minnesota Radio Talking Book. Privatization means that the Friends will discontinue its role as a support organization of the Communication Center at Minnesota State Services for the Blind, establish Minnesota Radio Talking Book as a new entity, and dissolve the Friends present structure. . . . If privatization of Radio Talking Book does not occur, the Friends of the Communication Center cannot justify its continued existence as a support organization to the Center and will close down its operations." The NFB of Minnesota believes that the Friends will likely try to introduce a bill to force the privatization of the Radio Talking Book. Privatization is not necessary, nor is it in the best interest of blind consumers, who are largely satisfied with the Radio Talking Book as it is. We urge the State Legislature to refrain from making any changes in the structure and operation of the Radio Talking Book. Other issues may arise affecting the blind of Minnesota and the NFB will be there to see that legislators act responsibly and do what will increase our opportunity for independence. Should the Radio Talking Book Be Privatized? By Tom Scanlan "Privatization" is a leading buzz word in some political circles these days. It is based on the idea that private industry can do almost anything better than government can do it. Senator Cal Larson (Republican from the Fergus Falls area) introduced a rider to the appropriations bill funding State Services for the Blind (SSB) in the 1994 legislative session ordering discussions to privatize the Radio Talking Book. We opposed that move and got the legislation changed to conduct a real study of the issue (see "Legislature Orders Study of Radio Talking Book" in the Summer 1995 Minnesota Bulletin). Tom Scanlan and Eric Smith represented the NFB of Minnesota in the study. The American Council of the Blind of Minnesota, the United Blind of Minnesota, the Friends of the Communication Center, and the Rehabilitation Advisory Council of the Blind also had two representatives each. Commissioner R. Jane Brown, Assistant Commissioner Dick Davis, and Communication Center Director David Andrews represented the Department of Economic Security and State Services for the Blind. The study revealed the following information: the direct cost of running the Radio Talking Book (RTB) in 1995 was $396,000, the Communication Center provided an additional $277,000 worth of support services (engineering, shipping, Brailling, etc.), the rest of SSB provided $17,000 worth of services, the total cost of operating and supporting the RTB for 1995 was $690,000, and the Friends of the Communication Center contributed only $15,000 to the RTB (just 2% of the total cost). The RTB staff conducted two surveys. The first was a survey of other radio-reading services around the country. That survey found that no service that had been privatized had survived. All remaining services needed extensive public funds. The second survey was of the RTB users. SSB has distributed 7,000 radios but has no way of knowing how many are in use. SSB mailed 6,500 survey forms and received 1,180 returns. That is a good response to a survey, especially in the short time allowed. The survey showed the following principal results: three-fourths of the RTB users are elderly (65 or older), less than half the people listen to their radio every day, two-thirds listen to the newspapers, less than half listen to other items, most people consider the newspapers as most important, and the vast majority is satisfied with the service. The Friends of the Communication Center provided an outline of their plan for managing the RTB. This plan included a nonprofit public/private structure similar to the Minnesota Historical Society that receives 80% of its funds from the state but is managed by a private Board of Directors. The plan also included an organization chart showing what the Friends thought was needed to manage and operate the RTB. The financial data, the two surveys, and the Friends' plan were very important to the study to answer the main questions of: what is the problem, would privatization fix it, and could the Friends of the Communication Center successfully operate a privatized RTB? The survey of the RTB listeners, the discussion from the representatives of the blind consumer groups, and the comments from the public at two public meetings clearly show that blind people do not think there is any problem to fix. Only the Friends see a problem in that they believe SSB pays too much attention to its other programs such as vocational rehabilitation and independent living. The Friends believe that blind people (especially the elderly) must be just sitting around waiting to get a radio, and SSB is not doing enough to provide one to those poor unfortunate people. The plan and organization chart provided by the Friends just as clearly show they lack the financial, engineering, and management ability to operate the RTB. When they were asked about major gaps in their plan such as the source of funding and key functions lacking from their organization chart, their answer was always "we'll figure that out later." All the participants in the study, except the Friends, agreed that there was no problem to fix. Commissioner Brown and Assistant Commissioner Davis repeatedly stated their willingness to meet with the Friends and work with them to improve distribution of radios and on any other issues. The Friends' final response was that they would take over the RTB or they would disband. The Department of Economic Security said it would write a report to the Legislature with the results of the study. The report was to be circulated to all the study participants for agreement, and anyone who did not agree could attach their own statement. However, two months after the last meeting and half way through the legislative session, there is no report. The legislation does not require a report, and we do not believe one is needed from the department. We have already informed the Legislature of the results of the study. Of course there is always the chance that the Friends will try to sneak legislation through Senator Cal Larson (who is also on their Board of Directors) as they did last year. We will watch for such as action and oppose it if they try. We won last year, and we will win again this year if we need to deal with it again. Newsline for the Blind Is Coming to Minnesota By Tom Scanlan Minnesota has always been a leader in helping blind people keep up with the daily news through newspapers. The first generation of newspaper access was the Radio Talking Book (RTB) run by State Services for the Blind (SSB). The RTB was the first radio reading service in the country, and provides four hours per day of newspaper reading on a set schedule. The second generation of access was Dial-in News, also run by SSB. Minnesota was the second state to set up a dial-in newspaper. It provides a blind person access to the Minneapolis Star Tribune and the St. Paul Pioneer Press through a telephone any time he/she wants to read the paper. The main advantages of Dial-in News over RTB are the broader content and access on the reader's schedule instead of the radio's schedule. Although it contains more news than the RTB, it is limited by the time the volunteer readers can devote to it. Now the third generation is coming. Minnesota continues its leadership in news access and is the second state to set up this generation. This new service is called Newsline for the Blind (Newsline) and is a national service operated by the National Federation of the Blind. Newsline is similar to Dial-in News in its use of the telephone to read a newspaper stored on a computer. Like Dial-in News, the reader chooses what to read and when to read it. However, Newsline carries different newspapers and uses computer-generated speech instead of human volunteer readers. Newsline currently carries USA Today (today's and yesterday's editions), the Chicago Tribune, and the New York Times. Every day, these newspapers send the computer text they use to print their paper editions to the Newsline headquarters at the National Federation of the Blind in Baltimore. The Newsline computer then converts the newspaper text to the format used by the speech generator and sends that to the Newsline computer in our NFB of Minnesota office in Minneapolis and other Newsline centers around the country. It all happens automatically and at computer speed. Any blind person can register to use Newsline free of charge. Each person will be given an identification and security code that can be used to access any of the Newsline service centers that are springing up around the country. This is truly a national system carrying national newspapers. Note that Newsline does not compete with Dial-in News. The two services complement each other with different newspapers. It would be quite reasonable for a person to use both. We expect the different systems will appeal to different age groups. Since most people are most comfortable with the technology they grew up with, they will tend to use the newspaper-access technology which is closest to that becoming common when they grew up. For instance, people born before roughly 1930 will likely be most comfortable with radio and use RTB, those born between 1930 and roughly 1970 may be more comfortable with the telephone and use Dial-in News, while those born since about 1970 are more accustomed to computer-generated speech and will tend more toward Newsline. If this proves to be true, it holds some interesting ramifications for each service. Newsline should be operational from the NFB of Minnesota office in March. At the time, we will distribute more information and application forms. We have two big challenges ahead of us. The first is raising the money to pay for the service and phone lines to support it. The other is getting the word out to blind people about this exciting third-generation newspaper service. (Newsline, National Newsline for the Blind, National Newsline for the Blind Network, and Newsline Service Center are registered trademarks of the National Federation of the Blind.) These Canes Are History By Patrick A. Barrett (Editor's Note: Our Metro Chapter held an essay contest on how the National Federation of the Blind has changed lives. This is the winner of that contest). Any cane-using Federationist will tell you: one loses count on the many canes gone through. Mine have been involved in car accidents where a hungry door has snapped its life short. Other Federationists, while rushing off to convention meetings or parties, have involuntarily abducted my cane. I must confess, I have been guilty of the same misdemeanor. Those canes were history, as they say. My history with the cane began when I was a sophomore in high school. I was legally blind up to that point, and no one had suggested to me to use a cane, not even the itinerant teacher I had from the Idaho School for the Blind. Crossing the street just before getting to school one cloudy day, I did not look carefully enough. A car, not going very fast, bumped me over its hood down to the pavement. I was not really hurt, but badly shaken. I went to traffic court. The judge asked me how fast I had been going. My mom said, "Your Honor, Pat is legally blind, and does not drive." The judge did a double-take and looked at the officer, who nodded. I was found negligent, and the judge "sentenced" me to use a cane--for life. That was one of the best things to happen toward my independence. I attended my first NFB national convention in Chicago in 1975. No longer was I using my aluminum fold-up cane that would at times fold up while I was crossing the street. Attending the orientation center at the Idaho Commission for the Blind, I was given a solid straight Rainshine cane. I still have it for when I want to "rough it." This was my first significant exposure to blind people. I marveled at how Frank Smith, Norm Gardner, and hundreds of others swiftly got around using their canes. Trying to retain it all during this fast-paced enlightening week of activity, one realization hit home. All these blind people were working and raising families so naturally. I was not going to regard my blindness anymore as a barricade to go around, and courageously pat Pat's self on the back for doing it. I was relieved with the revelation that blindness was simply a part of me. It was no more noteworthy than my brown hair. The summer of 1980 saw some serious pavement pounding. I was now using the 59-inch hollow fiberglass cane. The end of June was my first NAC tracking in Boston. Ninety-five degrees and 95% humidity didn't keep us from carrying picket signs and distributing flyers. I was handing out flyers in front of the NAC meeting place. One passerby wanted several, but I was suspicious he might be a NAC-ster. I just gave him one. I went from Boston to Minneapolis. I met Trudy there: this was our first national convention. We married in August of 1979. Our canes tapped together down Hennepin Avenue with hundreds of other Federationists toward the Minneapolis Society for the Blind (MSB). We were protesting MSB's refusal to allow fair representation of the blind on its board. Joyce Scanlan, armed with a megaphone, was demanding that Jessie Roston come out and listen to the largest organization of the blind. Our canes were trumpets, tapping a chorus to topple the walls of old ideas. In 1984 the Idaho Commission for the Blind faced the loss of its autonomy. Ramona Walhof, Director of the Commission, went to the legislature and press to stop this decision by the governor. Federationists a generation before had fought to create a separate agency to focus on the specific needs of the blind. The governor and two Commission board members dismissed Mrs. Walhof for her actions. Trudy and I marched with others in support of Mrs. Walhof. Three years later, when our daughter Raeann was a baby, I was dismissed from my job by Howard Barton for my stance. I believe that blind kids should use canes from the moment they start walking. At our 1992 NFB convention in Charlotte, I smiled to myself seeing all the toddlers using canes. At that same convention, I lost my cane while holding an elevator door open for several people. I must have positioned my cane just wrong and, whoosh, down the shaft it fell. That cane was history. Looking back, I guess it was callous of me not to give a short eulogy over my thin white friend. Next day, over my grief, I visited Jerry Whittle at the cane table in the exhibit hall. Jerry still teaches at the Louisiana Center for the Blind. I asked him for a 61-inch cane. In his smooth, southern, salesman voice he said, "Why don't y'all try a 63. It'll give you more notice and y'll walk faster." I was skeptical because the dang thing almost touched my nose. After two weeks of test caning, however, I was sold on it. Russell Anderson, my travel instructor at BLIND, Inc., paired me with a 65-inch cane in 1993. It was with me during travel routes, rock climbing, and canoeing. Though in the last case, we went overboard. Thanks to Coach Dan Harman, we realized the thrill of victory after muddy feet. Raeann has been learning from infancy that mom and dad's canes are ways to get our family to the zoo, church, or the library. One time when Raeann was three, the librarian asked her, "Are you a big help to your mom and dad?" Raeann's reply was immediate and firm, "My mom and dad help themselves." Dr. Jernigan taught us in his banquet address, Blindness: is History Against us? about Zisca and other great blind leaders throughout world history. Their dreams and drive made them leaders. In my NFB history, many sighted and blind role models have inspired me to go for the goal of independence. I no longer strain to see the ground. With cane in hand and head held high, I view the future with optimism. That's the bright baton of understanding I want to pass on to blind and sighted citizens. How the NFB Changed My Life By Raeann Sarita Barrett (Editor's Note: Raeann is the nine-year-old daughter of Pat and Trudy Barrett. This is her entry in the Metro Chapter essay contest.) When I was born, I was adopted by two blind people. Their names are Pat and Trudy Barrett. They used to take me to NFB meetings, and still do. When I was young, I did not understand them. When I was older, I did understand what the NFB was about. What really changed my life was my mom and dad being members of the NFB. My mother is special because she reads Braille books to my classroom. After she reads the Braille, she shows my classmates the pictures. My mom is also special because she teaches me how to sew and take care of my garden. My dad is special because he taught me how to ride my bike and roller skate. These are some ways that the NFB changed my life. I enjoy having blind parents. Minnesota's Midhusband to the NFB By Jonathan Ice (Editor's Note: Jonathan wrote this article last October. Joe DeBeer suffered a stroke the day after Christmas and died on January 3, 1996. This article remains a tribute to Joe, his devotion to the National Federation of the Blind, and the work he did over the years.) Over the past year I have had the distinct pleasure of taping two interviews with Joe DeBeer, our longtime Federationist from Rochester. Among other things, I found that Joe was in the thick of actions that led to the formation of the NFB in 1940. At age 16 Joe immigrated to the U.S. from his native Holland. When he was 21 he lost all of his sight to a water-borne illness that he got while swimming. After a three-month training program at the school for the blind in Faribault--where he learned the trades of piano tuning, chair caning, broom making, and weaving of fly nets and doll hammocks--he set out on his own as a traveling salesman. His wares were the very products that had been made by him and his fellow blind students. The brooms, fly nets, etc. had been gathering dust in an attic at the school for the blind, and Joe bought them for a pittance and sold them. At one point in his sales career, Joe and a teenaged sidekick were selling brooms door to door in Fargo, ND. The police hauled them into court for violating the "green law," which forbade direct door-to-door solicitation. Joe asked the judge to explain the law, and found that it allowed the taking of orders for merchandise. Upon release, Joe and his companion returned to the very place of their arrest, with Joe going to the door with his sample broom, giving his sales pitch, then returning to his partner (who had remained out on the sidewalk with the goods for sale), getting the broom, and presenting it to the customer. Seeing the idiocy of the law, the customers bought more brooms than ever before! Joe also made money from tuning pianos. Once, after a tuning job in Morris, he had to go on to Grey Eagle for his next job. Lacking a car, he did the next best thing, hopping a freight train. A train official caught him and, seeing the white cane, gasped, "You're blind, and hopping a freight?" He was going to take a collection for Joe to take the passenger train, but Joe would have none of that. He paid for it himself. By the late 1920's Joe had moved to Minneapolis. In 1932 he and a group of other blind people organized the United Blind of Minnesota, which, along with the Minnesota Organization of the Blind (MOB), was one of the predecessor groups to our NFB affiliate. By the late '30's Harold Stassen was the "Boy Wonder" governor of Minnesota, and he had plans to reduce blind persons' pension from $17 a month to $10. Joe felt this action unfair, and he called upon all the blind people he knew to march on the state Capitol. Carrying signs printed by his friends in the labor movement, 70 blind people picketed for three days, protesting the governor's action. The media were notified, and pictures of the blind protesters were found in all the local dailies. The governor's first reaction was to ignore this blind rabble. However, some of his counselors advised him that, if he had any ambitions for higher office, it would be very embarrassing to have the record of putting the blind people of his state out on the streets. In the end, it was the governor who gave in. Blind Minnesotans not only did not have their pension cut, but it was increased to $24. By 1940 there was a smattering of local organizations of the blind, spread all over the country, but no national organization. Joe sent letters to as many leaders of these groups as he could find (he remembers the number as 140), inviting them to convene at Wilkes- Barre, PA, to form a national organization. When the time came he was unable to attend, because his son had just taken ill with polio. He sent his right-hand man, Frank Hall, in his place to the meeting, with the exhortation: "Coming together is a beginning, working together is progress, staying together is success." They heeded his word and formed an organization at that meeting--an organization that now has over 50,000 members. It is known as the National Federation of the Blind. Joe and that other Dutchman, Jacobus tenBroek, were close friends, but Joe did not have a leadership position on the national level for very long. He was too busy here in Minnesota at the "Potter's Field." In those days landlords were reluctant to rent to blind people, whom they saw as living fire hazards. Joe DeBeer and Frank Hall joined forces to push for a home for the blind in Minneapolis. After appeals to the Odd Fellows, Kiwanis, and the Minneapolis Society for the Blind (the fractious relationship had not yet been developed), they had secured enough funds to buy the old Field Hotel at 510 South Eighth street. Joe and his friend William Potter (brother of Stanley Potter, longtime director of State Services for the Blind) managed the place, which soon came to be called "Joe DeBeer's and Potter's Field." In the early days of this home for the blind, the Minneapolis Fire Department was concerned about their safety, so they had frequent fire drills. At one of those fire drills the residents--who had all been organized for fire drills--all got out within three minutes. The firemen said that they did better than most of the sighted people. By the 1960's more apartments were available and--more importantly--the public had discovered that blind people were no more fire hazards than anyone else. Since there no longer was a burning need for such a place, Potter's Field was closed as a home for the blind in 1964, the same year that Joe retired from managing it. Since then he has gone into semiretirement, moving to Rochester in 1971, where he continues his activity in the local Federation chapter. He remains vigorous, if a tad deaf, at the age of 93. 75 Years: Applying Technology to Improve Our Lives By Peggy Chong When we hear the word "technology" today, most of us think of high tech computers, Braille printers, talking note takers, and many devices that talk to us and do everything but empty the dishwasher. The founders of our organization were concerned with new and beneficial technology as well. But today, we would probably consider it "low tech". The white cane was the first example of the interest in new technologies that would help blind persons become first-class citizens. You might be interested to know what a cane cost. In 1935 a white cane about three feet long cost 15 cents or 25 cents if it had already been painted white. In 1952 the cost of a cane was advertised as 65 cents. They have gone up a little in price since then. At the June 3, 1933 Board of Directors meeting, President Otto Grey told of the Talking Book Machine that he was going to see at the Minneapolis Society for the Blind the next week. Later that year, the Board purchased three talking book machines from the American Foundation for the Blind for use by members and residents at the Home. The first talking book machine was released by the Library of Congress in April of 1934. Although the talking book machine was a welcome addition to the reading choices for blind persons, many members were concerned that this would be thought of as a replacement for Braille materials. Resolution 34-04, introduced by Christopher Easton, addressed the importance of Braille as a basic reading skill and encouraged continuing funding for Braille periodicals and other Braille material. Mr. Easton reported that the growing popularity of Talking Books had already caused a decline in the production of Braille publications. The Minnesota Bulletin ran many articles and announcements about new technology for the blind. Articles concerning anything from new Braille writers and watches to glass eyes and writing guides were frequent. Sources for more information were listed as well as the cost for the items and how to get them. Before all the high tech came on the scene, Federationists were inventive with their ideas so they could keep up with their sighted co-workers. Early computer programmers in our affiliate used a thin piece of elastic across the pins of a printer to produce Braille output for their jobs. In the early '70's technology for the blind took off. Members brought to the organization all the information they could find on new ideas and items. Many items were shown at conventions. Members would also show their new devices in the back of the room or in the hall between sessions. At the summer quarterly meeting in August of 1975, a new talking calculator was introduced and demonstrated. This eight-digit eight-function calculator cost only $565--a bit out of most individuals' price range. At first, as in the general computer world, most technology was for business purposes. It was much too bulky and expensive for an individual to own. Attention was focused on the providers of services for the blind to set up new technologies that would speed up the production of Braille material. Resolution Q73-02 encouraged the application of computer technology at State Services for the Blind (SSB) to improve services to those who read Braille. A committee was formed to work on this issue with Stan Potter, Director of SSB. This turned out to be the most popular committee in the organization with more members asking to serve on it. When the Optacon first came out, it was believed by the professionals that this too would replace Braille. The Optacon is a camera-like device that transmits the print letters that it scans to a pad where hundreds of little pins would then take the shape of the letters. In 1976 the St. Paul Public Schools applied for grants for a program that would teach use of the Optacon and talking calculator to their blind students. The reasoning behind this was that the Optacon was much faster than Braille. The schools never were approved for funding for this project. Many employers were beginning to deal with making an office easily accessible to both blind and sighted employees in the early '80s. Computers were everywhere and in almost every job. The NFB of Minnesota wanted to create a model system to show employers how easily blind and sighted employees could work on the same equipment in an office setting. We purchased the newly-introduced IBM Personal Computer and software. Speech and Braille output were added to the system. Each day blind members and a sighted secretary used the same computer for the organization's business without difficulty. The computer system was purchased in the fall of 1983. We received grants for $12,000 from IDS in computer time, $1,000 from IBM, and $9,500 from Northwestern Bell. Businesses did come to learn just how easy it would be for them to hire a blind person for their office. If there is one lesson to be learned from history, it is that no matter how advanced technology may become, there is no replacement for Braille. Suggestions From the South--Part III By Chris Cuppett I have been receiving the Minnesota Bulletin since I joined the National Federation of the Blind of Minnesota in 1978. Until some point in the mid-eighties, each chapter secretary was responsible for creating and submitting a quarterly summary of the chapter meetings and fundraisers. The report I always read first was "Riverbend News" by Jim Tracy. He always took the time to make his quarterly summaries very clever and entertaining. At the time that Jim was secretary of the Riverbend chapter, I was living in Minneapolis and teaching Braille at the Minneapolis Society for the Blind, which is now Vision Loss Resources. While I was in my last few months of teaching there, Jim made a temporary move to Minneapolis to receive rehabilitation training. For at least a little while, I had the pleasure of helping him to beef up his Grade 2 Braille. When I eventually moved to Mankato in 1988, I looked up Jim Tracy right away. He was still a member of a very small Riverbend chapter, and he encouraged me to come to the meetings and to make the chapter a little larger. Jim Tracy lives alone in his own home in rural Kasota, a little town about twelve miles from Mankato. An active member of the NFB Writers' Division, he has recently put together a lighthearted and helpful booklet entitled, Staying Put: An Older Blind Person Can Live Alone. It contains a practical short course in Grade 1 Braille and a section on cane travel. The rest of the booklet is filled with easy kitchen tips, with "different" techniques of daily living, and, finally, with several of Jim's favorite recipes written in his own inimitable style. With Jim's permission, I am reprinting some excerpts from his booklet in this article. As you will soon discover, the wisdom in his brief publication is derived from Jim's personal experience. I say "different" when I refer to Jim Tracy's techniques of daily living, because many of them are not the same as the skills I teach in my Adjustment to Blindness classes. They still work, and that is all that really matters. After his explanation of cane travel, he does a rather neat segue into a section on techniques of daily living. "If you goof up and run into something that tears your shirt, you can thread a needle in the following manner: Stick the needle into something receptive, a rubber eraser, a cork, something like that. Squish a dab of carpenter's glue on the ball of your thumb and wipe the last half inch or so of the thread between your thumb and forefinger, rubbing the glue into the thread. Let the glue dry for a few minutes. You can detect the eye of the needle by pulling a thumbnail around the eye end of the needle. Hold the glue end of the thread between a thumb and forefinger until a tiny tip of thread protrudes, and try to slip it through the eye, picking up the thread end with your other hand. (It may take a few tries, but you'll make it. I did.) If you want to know the length of that tear in your shirt, buy a wooden yardstick and find someone with a jigsaw or band saw. Have them cut off the yardstick at each foot, then cut a shallow slot every half inch. Remove some of the wood from alternate cuts, so that the result leaves low, toothlike crenelations. "If the tear in your shirt is so long that you give up on sewing and want to buy a new one, talk to someone at your bank about raised-line checks. I prefer raised-line checks to carrying a checkwriting guide because I keep losing track of the guide. "Keep paper money sorted out by folding each denomination differently. I leave the ones flat, fold fives the long way, tens the short way, and twenties both ways. Be cautious about folded bills catching other money in your wallet and letting it drift to the floor. It is generous, but unprofitable. Trust me on that one, too. "I got lost in my own big back yard once. I got confused in some bushes and was a hundred yards from home before I got straightened out. After that I put a small radio in the porch window as a sort of bellboy. It was loud enough so that I could hear it, but low enough so that it wouldn't annoy my neighbors. Then I found in an electronics store, a new gadget, a remote control doorbell. The push-button part goes in my shirt pocket with lots of room left. The doorbell part is maybe half as big as my cassette recorder. The box it came in claimed a range of fifty feet. I found the range to be quite a bit more than that, more like eighty feet. The advantages are that while a neighbor may have a radio tuned to the same station that mine is, they aren't likely to have a doorbell that responds to the push-button in my pocket. My doorbell doesn't make noise until I want it to. "Another useful gimmick is a recorder. Keep it near the telephone, ready to use. I have my own imitation of a telephone book. One cassette is the yellow pages with my doctor, dentist, lawyer, banker, and such. One is family only, one is friends, and the fourth lists members of an organization to which I belong. Another cassette has recipes. Another has my Christmas list, and so forth. Each of the cassettes is labeled in Braille, so I know what it contains. "Every state government has a division that deals with blind people, and yours should be able to supply you with a list of places that sell products specifically for the blind. Any of them will be glad to send you a catalog. What you will want from that catalog, I think, will be a Braille timer for kitchen use. Don't get the electric kind, but one on which you just crank the knob around. Mine has two dots every five minutes and a single dot in between for every two and a half minutes. "They should list talking watches, too. Some electronics shops carry these, also. You should be able to get one for under twenty dollars. "You will need a long white cane, and unless you saw off a tree branch, this is where you'll have to get it. And finally, you'll need at least one slate and a stylus or two. And that's about it for your shopping list. "You don't need an electronic float that squeals when your coffee cup is full. Hook the end of one finger over the edge of the cup and pour. When your finger gets hot, stop pouring. You can squeal if you want to. Common sense doesn't run on batteries." The last part of the book contains several recipes, one of which I will include in this article. After concluding a recipe for homemade white bread, Jim begins the next recipe by saying: "Man does not live by bread alone. Sometimes he needs Corn Dodgers. "Shovel two cups of cornmeal into a metal or ceramic bowl. Sprinkle in a teaspoon of salt, and squeeze in a couple of teaspoons of butter. Heat one and three-quarter cups of water to boiling. Dump the water over the other stuff and stir pretty good with that old wooden spoon. When it's fairly cool, grease a cookie sheet and pull off lumps of dough. You can form them into just about any shape you want on the sheet, but they have to be thin. You have preheated your oven, of course, chucked them in at that same old 400 degrees, and baked them for about thirty minutes. They should be crisp, anyway. Try one with butter. Then maybe you'll want a few with pork sausage and milk gravy dumped on them. And that's it for recipes. Now start collecting your own and just experimenting." Cassette recordings of Jim Tracy's booklet can be obtained by writing to: Tom Stevens, NFB Writers' Division, 1203 Fairview Road, Columbia, MO 65203. Each copy is $5.00. Make checks payable to the NFB Writers' Division. It Was a Great Birthday Party By Jan Bailey The 1995 annual convention of the National Federation of the Blind of Minnesota was held over the weekend of October 13-15 at the Normandy Inn in downtown Minneapolis. This convention is noteworthy in that it celebrated the seventy-fifth anniversary of the organization. Allen Harris, treasurer of the National Federation of the Blind and president of the NFB of Michigan, served as our national representative. The enthusiasm and energy of the convention was wonderfully high this year. Our traditional convention bake auction brought in well over $2,000. The Metro Chapter outdid itself in terms of the quantity and quality of door prizes, not to mention the most excellent hospitality which made Federationists from throughout the state feel welcome. We were also privileged to have a number of convention attendees from Canada. Convention activities began early Friday afternoon with two seminars: one dealing with older blind persons and the other sponsored by the Minnesota Association of Blind Students (Mike Heilman, president). Later in the afternoon, there was an open meeting of chapter officers and State Board members. Early Friday evening--along with hospitality provided by the Metro Chapter--there were meetings of the National Association to Promote the Use of Braille (NAPUB) in Minnesota (Jennifer Dunnam, president) and the Resolutions Committee (chaired by Curtis Chong). To celebrate 75 years of accomplishment, NFB of Minnesota memorabilia was on sale during hospitality, and there was a fine display of historic materials depicting the struggle of blind Minnesotans to achieve first-class status in society. Federationists got up bright and early Saturday morning to attend the open breakfast meeting of the Board of Directors of Blindness: Learning in New Dimensions (BLIND), Inc. This breakfast has become a tradition at annual conventions of the NFB of Minnesota. BLIND, Inc. is the only private agency for the blind in Minnesota which regularly holds board meetings that are open to the public--particularly to blind consumers. The Saturday morning general business session began with some welcoming remarks from Peggy Chong, president of our Metro Chapter. Then President Scanlan introduced people who had come to the convention from other states such as Iowa and Wisconsin. She also introduced a delegation from various parts of Canada. Scott LaBarre, formerly a board member of the NFB of Minnesota, then presented President Scanlan with a gift from the NFB of Colorado--a beautiful National Federation of the Blind Banner. Mr. LaBarre declared that the banner was meant to celebrate our accomplishments as a movement--both locally (75 years in Minnesota) and nationally. President Scanlan thanked Mr. LaBarre for the fine gift. She observed that the day on which it was presented, October 14, was precisely one year after the Grand Opening of our new headquarters at 100 East 22nd Street in Minneapolis. Peggy Chong, who has delved into our historical records with great persistence and enthusiasm, next presented a program item entitled "A Glimpse at the First Seventy-Five Years." She capsulized many of the events that helped to make the NFB of Minnesota into the strong, active, and proud organization that it is today. Here are some interesting facts: * At previous conventions, the entire roll of the membership was read. * The first convention of the organization (then the Minnesota State Organization of the Blind) took place on May 27, 1920. * The membership dues at the founding of the organization were $1. They have remained at that level ever since. * Braille was an issue of concern to the organization as early as 1926. * Many leaders of the NFB of Minnesota today were once students who joined the organization in the early 1970's. President Scanlan commented that in the 75-year history of the organization, we have never had a charter pulled or leaders expelled. This is something about which we can be tremendously proud, she said. We have been the very same organization as that which was created in 1920. President Scanlan then went on to talk about our accomplishments for the past year. All in all, we have had a very good year with many challenges and successes. An employment panel was the next program item of the convention. Maureen Pranghofer talked about her business, Hidden Gifts, and how her training at BLIND, Inc. totally changed her attitude toward her blindness, enabling her to succeed in her own business. Pat Barrett, also a BLIND, Inc. graduate, talked about his job as a rehabilitation counselor/teacher at Services for the Blind. We next heard a report from the Regional Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped. The report was presented by Nancy Walton, head of the Library. The work on the new building is just about complete. Some new recording equipment will soon be installed. Interestingly enough, the Minnesota Regional Library has the highest Braille circulation of any regional library in the National Library Services system. Moreover, Minnesota has the fewest number of complaints referred to Washington. Ms. Walton expressed some concern about the library's future within the Minnesota Department of Children and Family Services. There is some confusion about the library's position within that department. To this date, the library does not yet know what its budget is. Despite these problems, the library continues providing service to consumers and conducting outreach efforts. Orders can now be sent to the library via fax or through the Internet. President Scanlan explained to Ms. Walton that it would be helpful for the Library for the Blind to work cooperatively with the National Federation of the Blind. The Federation can act as a powerful force to help the Library get the money it needs. We helped the National Library Service to maintain its funding level; we felt that NLS was a true friend to the Federation. There is no reason why we could not maintain a similar relationship with the Minnesota Library, President Scanlan said. Judy Sanders next presented a report on legislation. House File 1921, our Braille Competency Bill, has been introduced by Representative Mindy Greiling. Vision teachers are sure to oppose this legislation. We are committed to demonstrating the need for vision teachers who possess basic competence in Braille. The State Board of Teaching has already been instructed by the Senate to begin developing standards for Braille competency. A committee has been organized, and the National Federation of the Blind is represented on that committee. Judy also reported that we are closely monitoring the proposed realignment of the Department of Economic Security. We must ensure that Services for the Blind is not subsumed into the Division of Rehabilitation Services. Finally, Judy encouraged members to "get to know" their legislators. This is the best way to get them to pay attention to any issues that might be raised. The Saturday afternoon session began with a report from Allen Harris, our National Representative. The history of the NFB of Minnesota exemplifies a cardinal principle of the Federation, he said. We never give up--not even in the face of defeat. Mr. Harris then went on to talk about our struggles in the Congress to protect the Federal Rehabilitation system. He said that people should not mistake our support for rehabilitation as an endorsement of the system; for in truth and in fact, the system is not working for people in many states. Mr. Harris then detailed current activities between the Federation and the Association of American Publishers. Of particular concern to us is our continued ability to obtain Braille and audio material when we need it without being delayed by copyright restrictions. Mr. Harris described other activities and accomplishments of the National Federation of the Blind. It is, he said, our organization--one in which we can continue to take great pride. The convention next heard about the Store, operated by State Services for the Blind. This item was presented by Sam Berkowitz, the Store's director. Mr. Berkowitz said that the mission of the Store is to facilitate the independence of blind people by providing products that blind people find useful. He encouraged everyone to suggest new items that the store might carry. Sam is one of the few SSB employees who received a month's worth of training at BLIND, Inc.; he takes great pride in the training he received there. Scott LaBarre, a former Minnesotan, NFBM Board member, and now an attorney working for the Colorado Center for the Blind, next discussed the cases he is handling for the National Federation of the Blind. In these cases, the fact that we have an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) has been helpful. Mr. LaBarre declared that for him, simply knowing that there are thousands of his blind brothers and sisters working together in the organized blind movement is a tremendous source of courage and inspiration. The next program item dealt with the subject "Rehabilitation on a See-Saw." This was presented by Richard Davis, Assistant Commissioner, Services for the Blind. Mr. Davis updated the convention on the Communication Center director and CILS director positions. The Communication Center directorship has been filled by David Andrews, who comes from the International Braille and Technology Center of the National Federation of the Blind. The CILS director position is expected to be filled fairly soon, he said. SSB continues to battle the Veterans Administration, which seems bent upon installing vending machines to compete directly against Dennis Groshel, a blind vendor at the VA's St. Cloud facility. Mr. Davis also reviewed the sequence of events leading to the public meetings on privatizing the Radio Talking Book. Mr. Davis said that it is acknowledged nationwide that the National Federation of the Blind played a major role in saving rehabilitation. To add to the confusion, the American Foundation for the Blind has indicated an interest in organizing a task force to preserve independent agencies for the blind. No one has expressed any support for this idea, especially since a similar task force was organized earlier this year. It could be that the Foundation is trying to diminish the leadership position that the Federation played in this earlier task force. SSB has been working hard to ensure that Minnesota's move toward "one stop centers" does not subsume unique services to blind people. Mr. Davis then turned to the subject of the "realignment" of the Minnesota Department of Economic Security (MDES). Responding to the likelihood of federal cutbacks, the Department has developed a plan to realign department-wide functions, he said. The MDES leadership team has developed a plan which is scheduled to go into effect on November 1. MDES would have branches instead of divisions. Each branch would be organized around a "business" function. There would be a Workforce Rehabilitation Branch headed by two assistant Commissioners, one in charge of Services for the Blind and the other in charge of other rehabilitation services. In other words, SSB is being placed into the same branch as DRS. This is the first step toward the merging of both agencies into one. President Scanlan said that she had written a letter to R. Jane Brown, Commissioner of the Department of Economic Security, to request a meeting to discuss the issue. So far, no response has been forthcoming. It is certainly true, said President Scanlan, that the consumers were not consulted about this "realignment." Furthermore, the realignment has all the appearances of reorganization for its own sake. President Scanlan went on to say that the Department had not communicated with the House and Senate chairs of the Governmental Operations Committee about the realignment. Mr. Davis said that R. Jane Brown had assured him that no merging of budgets or services would occur and that SSB would be left intact. There is some thought of sharing some administrative services to save money, he added. Convention attendees were skeptical about the claim that no merging of services would occur. Where, it was asked, were the principles of total quality, which talk about doing what customers want? Why was the realignment kept so secret? Could we, the blind, really trust the Commissioner to do what was right for our programs and services? Then, Resolution A-95-01 (printed at the end of this article) was read to the convention. It reaffirmed the organization's position that services to the blind can only be provided through an independent, separate, and identifiable agency for the blind with its own autonomous budget. It also called upon the Governor and the State Legislature to remove Services for the Blind from the Minnesota Department of Economic Security and to elevate the agency to a Department, reporting directly to the Governor and the Legislature. The resolution passed unanimously. As always, the highlight of the convention was the banquet, which took place Saturday evening. Curtis Chong served as master of ceremonies. In continuation of our celebration of our seventy-five-year history, we heard an excellent audio history of the NFB of Minnesota. We heard live recordings of many historic leaders. We were thrilled to hear some recordings made during our struggle to reform the Minneapolis Society for the Blind as well as some of the PR we received at the height of our battle with the airlines. Peggy Chong, Metro Chapter President, presented an award for the chapter's essay contest to Pat Barrett. The keynote speech was presented by Allen Harris. It renewed our determination to forge ahead toward first-class status for the blind. After the banquet, Federationists stayed up late into the night, enjoying the Karaoke music. Early Sunday morning, despite the lateness of the evening before, Federationists arrived ready for work. The first program item--provocatively entitled "You're Over Fifty, Blind, and Still Independent"--was presented by Kathy Burnside, who serves as coordinator of the older-blind program at BLIND, Inc. As with everything else we do, a positive philosophy of blindness is woven into the program. The classes are always full, and there is a waiting list. The fact that more and more older people are viewing blindness in a positive light is a very real measure of the program's success. The convention next heard from a number of Federationists who represent us on various community boards, committees, and organizations. These include: * Jan Bailey, who serves on the Regional Library Advisory Committee; * Peggy Chong, who serves on an advisory committee for the Minnesota Academy for the Blind and also as a Board member of the Cooperating Fund Drive; * Curtis Chong, who chairs the Rehabilitation Advisory Council for the Blind; * Chris Cuppett, who serves as a Board member of the Friends of the Communication Center; * Tom Scanlan and Eric Smith, who serve on the task force to discuss privatization of the Radio Talking Book; and * Maureen Pranghofer and Janet Lee, who serve on the Statewide Independent Living Committee. The convention next held an election of officers and Board members. The following individuals were elected: Joyce Scanlan, President; Jan Bailey, Secretary; Chris Cuppett, to fill the Board position formerly held by Jenny Koch; and Janet Lee, who was re-elected to the Board. Resolution A-95-02 (printed at the end of this article) was next presented to the convention. It commends Representative Mindy Greiling for introducing House File 1921, a bill requiring teachers of the blind to meet minimum Braille competency standards. It further calls upon vision teachers throughout Minnesota who teach Braille to blind children to stop opposing House File 1921 and to take the NLS Braille Competency Test to discover for themselves that it is indeed a valid measure of their ability to read and write Braille. The resolution was adopted unanimously. The convention next heard from our chapters around the state. In general, our chapters are doing well, whether recruiting new members or raising funds. Whatever is done, we continue to maintain our character as a truly statewide organization of the blind. Tom Scanlan then presented the Treasurer's report for the first half of our fiscal year: April 1 through September 30, 1995. The report was approved. The convention next discussed the dues of the organization. Traditionally, we have always charged $1 per year for membership dues. After some discussion, it was moved, seconded, and passed unanimously to set the membership dues at $5 and that this take effect for the membership year beginning June 1, 1996. President Scanlan then announced that we have scheduled the next annual convention to be held at the Holiday Inn in Rochester, Minnesota, from October 4-6, 1996. This was truly a wonderful convention--one in which we can take tremendous pride. In keeping with our seventy-five year history, it is interesting to note that we had no less than three members present who joined the Federation in the 1930's. They are Joe DeBeer, Nellie Ask, and Marie Whitteker. As an organization, the NFB of Minnesota has had many victories in the past year as well as some challenges. The future looks bright, for we know that through our own organization, the National Federation of the Blind, we can control our own destiny as blind people. Resolutions Adopted at the 1995 Annual Convention Resolution A-95-01 WHEREAS, practical experience has shown that rehabilitation services to blind people are best provided through a distinct, identifiable agency for the blind which is separate from the general rehabilitation agency; and WHEREAS, ever since Services for the Blind (SSB) was transferred from the Minnesota Department of Human Services to the then Department of Jobs and Training (DJT), government officials have made repeated assurances to the effect that SSB would never be combined with the Division of Rehabilitation Services (DRS); and WHEREAS, DJT, now the Minnesota Department of Economic Security (MDES) is proposing, as of November 1, to undergo a "business realignment;" and WHEREAS, realignment plans call for the creation of a single Rehabilitation Branch, which would contain SSB and the Division of Rehabilitation Services (DRS); and WHEREAS, MDES officials claim that the new realignment represents "no change" in the services provided to blind Minnesotans; and WHEREAS, the National Federation of the Blind, which has too often seen services for the blind gobbled up by similar organizational maneuvers in other states, is not so easily taken in by this false assertion; and WHEREAS, it is clear to the blind that SSB as an agency will not be permitted to function in any department of state government as a separate, distinct, and independent service delivery vehicle for the blind with control over its budget; NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, by the National Federation of the Blind of Minnesota, in convention assembled this fourteenth day of October, 1995, in the city of Minneapolis, Minnesota, that this organization reaffirm its position that the highest quality of rehabilitation services to the blind can only be provided through an independent, separate, and identifiable agency for the blind with its own autonomous budget; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this organization call upon the Governor and the State Legislature to remove Services for the Blind from the Minnesota Department of Economic Security and to elevate the agency to a Department, reporting directly to the Governor and the Legislature. Resolution unanimously adopted. Resolution A-95-02 WHEREAS, Minnesota's Braille Literacy law requires that all legally blind children shall have the opportunity to learn Braille; and WHEREAS, in order to provide the highest quality of Braille instruction to blind children in Minnesota, it is vital for vision teachers to possess basic competence in this critical tool of literacy for the blind; and WHEREAS, the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS) has developed a Braille Competency Test which serves as a tool to measure basic competence in the reading and writing of Braille; and WHEREAS, blind people who are proficient Braille users have found the NLS Braille Competency Test easy to pass; and WHEREAS, in our estimation, this test does a good job of measuring basic competence in Braille; and WHEREAS, House File 1921, introduced by Representative Mindy Greiling, requires that in order to receive a license to teach blind children in Minnesota, a teacher must meet minimum Braille competency requirements; and WHEREAS, it has come to our attention that some vision teachers are actively opposing this requirement; NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, by the National Federation of the Blind of Minnesota, in convention assembled this fifteenth day of October, 1995, in the city of Minneapolis, that this organization commend Representative Mindy Greiling for introducing House File 1921, a bill requiring teachers of the blind to meet minimum Braille competency standards; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this organization call upon vision teachers throughout Minnesota who teach Braille to blind children to stop opposing House File 1921 and to take the NLS Braille Competency Test to discover for themselves that it is indeed a valid measure of their ability to read and write Braille. Resolution unanimously adopted. Convention Alert! Exciting times are coming in NFB conventions. Keep these in mind as you plan your activities throughout the coming year. The Semiannual NFB of Minnesota Convention will be held in Mankato in April. Members will receive a letter with details in early March. The Metro Chapter will charter a bus from Minneapolis. The National NFB Convention will be held in Anaheim, California from June 29 (Saturday) through July 5 (Friday). This is a whole week of friends, fun (Disneyland!), and serious business. It is a chance to be part of the largest gathering of blind people in the world. See the December issue of the Braille Monitor for details. The Annual NFB of Minnesota Convention will be held in October in Rochester.