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 4, Spring 1996 WE ARE CHANGING WHAT IT MEANS TO BE BLIND Table of Contents Les Affaires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 75 Years: Building Better Lives With Jobs . . . . . . . . . . 5 A Positive Presentation On the Use of the Blindfold. . . . . . 8 Duluth Lighthouse for the Blind Plays Bankruptcy Card. . . . . 10 Minnesota is NAC-Free! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Legislative Wrap-up. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 75 Years: Educating the Public About Blind People . . . . . . 17 After 75 Years, A Dues Increase. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Everybody, Anybody, Somebody, & Nobody . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 New Ulm Hosts This Year's Move-A-Thon. . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Flash Backs of Nellie Ask. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Rosemary Varey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Convention Alert!. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 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 By Joyce Scanlan, President The National Federation of the Blind offers many wonderful opportunities which expand our horizons and broaden our personal lunch experiences beyond our wildest dreams. 1995 was a year in which the NFB of Minnesota and BLIND, Inc. hosted many visitors from other countries: Sweden, Canada, Germany, Russia, Poland. Blind people came from all these countries to learn about the National Federation of the Blind and our Federation training programs. Most of these groups spent one or two weeks with us. They were eager to learn how such independence and confidence could be instilled in blind people. At the end of each visit as we exchanged farewells and wished each other well, we expressed our hope that each visitor will come again, and in turn, the visitors extended an invitation to us to come to their country in the future. So it was with our friends from Poland. Last summer the president of the Polish Association of the Blind attended our NFB convention in Chicago. Mr. Tadeusz Madzia was very impressed with the independence and confidence of the blind people he met at the convention. The convention itself was also enlightening and demonstrated to Mr. Madzia that there was something to learn from the National Federation of the Blind. He said, "I think I was the only blind person who had a guide at the convention." Of course that was not true. After the convention Tad and his interpreter Tadeusz Majewski visited our centers in Colorado and Minnesota. They spent about two weeks with us at BLIND, Inc. Now in Poland the rehabilitation agency serving blind people and the consumer organization of blind people are one organization, administered and funded by the government. In Poland you get service and advocacy from one organization, and that's the government. We spent much time together talking about our philosophy of blindness, about the Federation, and how our collective action had brought us a long way toward equality with the sighted population in our country. We took them to visit blind people on their jobs, lawyers, vending stand operators, stock brokers, social workers, teachers, computer analysts. They spent time with our students, enjoying home management creations; they visited the classes for older blind people. They went sailing with the students. They asked many questions about how we taught travel and braille and how the students gained the self confidence they were displaying in their daily lives. When our guests left, Mr. Madzia told us that he would like to have a delegation of Federationists come to Poland for two weeks to teach his professionals and other blind people about the National Federation of the Blind and our philosophy of blindness and the type of training programs we have developed. Little thinking that such a thing could ever come about, we said we would be delighted to come. However, Mr. Madzia was as good as his word. By late September he had sent a formal invitation to the National office of the Federation asking us to send people to Poland to help train people there about the Federation and our methods of training. The trip was scheduled for March. Two groups would go for two weeks at a time. I was in the first group with three others from BLIND, Inc., Russell Anderson, Jennifer Dunnam, and Sharon Monthei, and three people from the Colorado Center, Tom Anderson and Doug and Laura Trimble. We left home on March 3 and returned on March 16. The second group was somewhat larger with representatives from the Colorado and Louisiana Centers. The second group was due to return on March 31. This was my first trip out of the country. Since I don't like flying much anyway, the thought of spending six hours over water wasn't very appealing. As we waited for takeoff, the pilot, whom Russell called Captain Bubba, said, "Well, we have to return to the gate; there's a generator problem, but it's probably just a matter of paperwork." We heard more about this kind of paperwork in Amsterdam where we missed our connection to Warsaw. To make good use of the time there, we rode the train into the town, ate a lunch of meat rolls at a little restaurant, took a canal tour, and rode the train back to the airport to catch our flight, only to be informed that our airplane had met a bird (yes, a real once-live bird) in the air, but again it was probably a matter of "paperwork." The flight was eventually canceled and we spent the night at a local hotel called Fang der Fang and caught another plane to Warsaw the next morning. The training was to take place in Uhstron, Poland, about five hours south of Warsaw. Upon arrival we learned that we were one day late, because the Polish people were so eager to get started, they began on March 5 instead of waiting until the sixth. Fortunately our Colorado friends had arrived on time and covered the first day's agenda until the late- comers showed up. The seminar site in Uhstron is a health resort owned by the Polish Association of the Blind. Blind people from around the country can come there for enjoyment and recreation. We learned immediately that in the dining room we were expected to keep our assigned seats. Of course, being Federationists from the U.S., we were not willing to abide by unnecessary dicta and were eager to challenge the system and set about taking different seats at about two tables. We were constantly reminded that we should always sit in the same seats so the servers could find us more easily. Soon others were following our example and were moving about the dining room also. The servers managed well to find everyone when they needed to. We learned many things about conditions for blind people in Poland. For one thing, they are not permitted to teach in rehabilitation of the blind. They were very interested in the educational background of each of the Americans. We came from various experiences, residential school only, residential school/public school combination, resource room in public school, itinerant program, and no special program whatsoever. The Polish people were surprised and shocked to learn that in our training centers the students learn to travel alone with sleepshades during their training. They gasped at the thought of being blindfolded and able to go anywhere independently. We learned that of the 120 people in our seminar, very few were totally blind; as they were invited to come to the seminar, people were asked not to bring their sighted guides with them. Therefore, most who were totally blind did not come. That meant that there were many partially-blind people, few totally blind, and many sighted professionals. There were teachers and psychologists, about six blind lawyers, some massage therapists, and some workers in cooperatives or (as we would call them) sheltered shop workers. We were presenting our information through interpreters, so we all wore headsets and spoke a line or two and waited for that to be translated. When anyone spoke Polish, that was translated into English for us. We had to learn to pace our presentations so we could stay in sync with the interpreter. So if I hesitate in my speech during the next few months, you'll know that I'm just waiting for someone to translate what I'm saying. We had planned a curriculum dealing with all our important topics--the National Federation of the Blind, our philosophy, funding of the movement, our centers, how we teach, what we teach, especially travel, adventure learning, working with those who have disabilities in addition to blindness, technology, legislation, advocacy, education--a very full agenda. We presented several topics each day and had two or three small group sessions each day also. We had brought only five NFB canes with us. The people were so excited to see how they worked that soon we had no more canes. We were divided into six small groups. Each of the Americans served as travel instructors for our respective groups. We explored a small area, and some of us ventured out into the fresh mountain air for a walk. I was the only totally blind person with a white cane in my group. The sighted staff from the Polish Association had been assigned to look out for the blind people. So when I attempted to go out with my group using shades and some of the Polish canes, the sighted guides came running in alarm to intervene. One of our sighted Federationists from Colorado stopped her and said, "It's o.k. She's fine." The guides reluctantly stepped back into the building. I then took off with my group. The Federationist from Colorado said it was like the Pied Piper of Hamline. We had so much material to cover that we had little or no time for touristy kinds of activities. One of our lessons was on adventure learning, so I fenagled my group's adventure to be a shopping trip into the village. Of course, we carried out all our assignments to get information at the train station, to cross the suspension foot bridge and check out the swans there. Then we had a wonderful time shopping in the village of Uhstron. There was wonderful crystal; there were finely-carved wooden boxes; there were dolls dressed in Polish costumes. I had a great group of shoppers with me. We found a music store and bought some CD's with Polish folk music. Then our time was up and we didn't have time to walk back the two miles to our conference center. We just had to take a taxi. On the way back we passed some of our group walking; they had a good laugh at us. I say that when you need time for shopping, you don't have time to walk. Every evening we had great fun in the coffee house telling jokes, singing, dancing, (I hadn't danced for years), drinking, learning more about each other. By the way, I did the twist once or twice. Polish men have a nifty tradition in which they kiss the hand of their dancing partner at the beginning and at the end of each dance. We heard "Que Sera" and "Jambalaya" sung in Polish. One night a group of musicians from Kilsa put on a concert of original music. Another night we celebrated International Women's Day, which was not much fun to celebrate during the Communist era, but now that it was no longer required, it was great fun. That is, the men thought it was fun; the women did not. There was a flower and a glass of wine for every woman. During the evenings we learned more Polish words and more about the Polish culture and about the lives of blind people. We took one day off to tour Krakow, where Pope John Paul II is from. The weather wasn't kind, but we enjoyed touring some castles and markets and learning the story of Smuck, the dragon, which is the symbol of Krakow. Smuck in Krakow is like the Pope in Rome. If you go there, you must go see Smuck. There are so many intriguing myths about Poland. A myth about a trumpeter tells of how as the trumpeter was playing a tune in the church tower to announce the arrival of invading Tartars, he was hit in the neck by an arrow and ceased playing midtune. At noon every day a trumpet sound is broadcast over nationwide radio. The Polish people were warm and friendly and enjoyed sharing their history and culture with us. We learned that in Poland there is a rehabilitation fund from which $10,000 in technology can be purchased for an individual. The fund is available only for new employment though. The blind of Poland would like to loosen up this fund so they can use it for all employment purposes. Just as in America, employment for the blind of Poland is a problem. As we discussed education, it was clear that blind Poles are denied an equal education. Expectations are very low, and opportunities are few. The problem we had in discussing discrimination with the blind people of Poland was that they did not recognize the existence of discrimination when we first began our discussions. They said, "People are very kind to us in Poland." They couldn't understand that they had a right to equal and fair treatment. When we gave examples of discrimination cases the Federation had fought, at first the Polish blind people struggled to see the discrimination. They listened in wonder to our stories of discrimination against the blind of the United States by the airlines. Why wouldn't you be willing to move when you were asked? What difference does it make where you sit on the plane? They took great interest in the legislation the Federation had passed, especially the White Cane Laws. By the time we left, the blind were beginning to recognize that most of them had indeed experienced discrimination. They talked about employment problems and how blind children were not given appropriate education. They began to talk about the problems with their national system of disability certification. Apparently there are three categories of certification for "Invalids." Most blind people fall into the first category of certification. The determination is made by a psychologist. The people are big on psychologists. I seized upon many opportunities to say that blindness is a mere physical loss of eyesight and not a trauma to the psyche. The people began to suggest that this certification system should be changed. In our small groups the people drafted proposals to present to the Polish Association of the Blind. They decided that two weeks of training was not adequate. They asked many questions about the Federation and the role of consumer advocacy in America. At the end of each day's session, we heard feedback from the Polish participants. In the beginning we often did not recognize what came back to us at day's end. We worried that we weren't coming through. By the second week, enthusiasm increased, and we began to see the Polish people show genuine excitement about how they could change conditions for the blind of their country. They were thrilled with the canes. Their need is for basic technology such as slates. Some wrote braille with page-size slates, but these slates are very expensive. Our visit to Poland is only the beginning of a long road toward better lives for the blind people of Poland. When asked by the television reporters what he had learned from the seminar with the Americans, one guy said, "When I return to my village, I will use my white cane and not be embarrassed." A teacher, who was sighted said, "When I go back to my classes, I will fight for my blind students to have the best education possible. I'll have high expectations for my students." The last two days were spent in partying. My group, which was group two, had a great party with wine, chocolate, and fruit. We sang Polish and American songs and talked about life for blind people in America and Poland. On the last night in Uhstron, we had a party with all 130 seminar participants. The Federationists presented the Polish people with one of the eagle bells our students receive when they graduate from our three Federation centers. On the bell was inscribed "Together we are changing what it means to be blind." We also left with our Polish friends a set of carved loons symbolizing the sense of family that we all felt. Then there was dancing into the wee hours of the morning. We spent the last evening with President Madzia in Warsaw and discussed with him future plans for carrying out the work we had begun. We all agreed that it would be great for several blind people from Poland to come to our Federation centers and learn firsthand about the National Federation of the Blind and how we incorporate our philosophy of blindness into our training programs. We invited the Poles to send blind people to our upcoming National Convention in Anaheim this July. We will continue working together. The experience in Poland was one of the most exciting Federation activities I have been involved in throughout my life in the organization. The Polish people are very warm and giving. We in America believe that we have everything nearly perfect in our grasp. We have made progress in improving conditions for blind people, it is true. And perhaps the Polish people have less in material wealth, but they are generous, warm and very eager to learn so lives of their fellow blind can be made better. Each of us has much to share. We taught the blind of Poland about collective action, about overcoming discrimination, about skills for independence, and about success in promoting long-range social change. They in turn taught us about genuine human kindness, about a very giving spirit, and about a burning desire to make better lives for the people of Poland. We all came away recognizing that there is much for all of us to do to bring blind people from throughout the world to first-class status. We have made great progress through the Polish experience in learning that we can work together in peace and love to reach our common goal. 75 Years: Building Better Lives With Jobs By Peggy Chong From the very beginning, employment has been this organization's ultimate goal for blind persons. In the 1920's, the most common occupations were rug weavers, piano tuners, and broom salesmen. These were the openings to the working world that made it possible for blind people to expand to the variety of careers that we enjoy and expect to be employed in today. The Industrial Center for the Blind (see "75 Years: The Home and Center for the Blind" in the Fall 1995 issue) is just one example of how this goal was carried out. The Center was to be a place where blind entrepreneurs could find space and sometimes financial assistance to start their own business. Those blind businessmen who formed this organization banded together, raising money from themselves and the community for "start up" money for blind-owned and operated businesses. Some of the first members to benefit from the "start up" money were Frank Jordan and William Schmidt. Frank Jordan was a rug weaver who received money to purchase looms and was given space in the back of another member's store to start his business. He was successful in his business and later moved to his own space. His arrangement with the Board of Directors was that he would hire only blind persons for his business at all levels if possible. William Schmidt received money to purchase vending machines that at first only dispensed gum. His business was extremely successful. In no time at all, he had enough capital to pay back his loan, hire more staff and expand his business. One of his arrangements was that his business would contribute 10% of his net proceeds to the organization and place advertisements for the organization on his vending machines. Each month in the minutes, there is a notation of his contribution for the month. For years, this monthly contribution would be over $100, even during the first year of the Great Depression. It seems that Mr. Schmidt was quite a financial success! A vending stand at the Home was staffed by a resident for many years. The stand sold candy, gum, combs, and incidentals to residents and visitors. Items were made at the Home, then sold by the organization as a fundraiser. A mat-making machine was purchased by the organization and residents and other members could work on the machine making belts, runners and rubber door mats. They were made from old tires that the Board of Directors had obtained. Blind men and women were hired as solicitors by the Board to sell the items made at the Home. Musical groups were formed to play for public functions for many businesses, the State Fair, and organizations around the Twin Cities. This not only brought invaluable PR for the organization, but it also was an opportunity for blind musicians to gain distinction, experience and a chance to earn extra money. In the late 1930's and early 1940's, the organization wanted the state agency for the blind to take a more aggressive role in getting blind persons in the WPA and war-effort programs. However, at the 1941 state convention, the representative from the state admitted that the agency had not done much to secure employment for blind Minnesotans in those programs. One reason for the good working relationship between the organized blind and the Braille and Sight Saving School in Faribault during the 1930's, 1940's, and 1950's, was the treatment of the blind staff persons. John C. Lysen, superintendent of the school, hired competent blind teachers and paid them the same salary as the sighted staff members. In the thirties, this was unheard of. The school attracted blind educators that were active in the blind community. Many instructors at the school were active members of the organization and some were elected to the Board of Directors. There were many piano tuners in the organization. They got together and decided that if the organization were to purchase piano-tuning supplies in large quantities that they could get them at a much lower cost. This was done in the mid 1930's and was the beginning of the Sales Service Committee. Piano tuners began holding clinics at the Home and Center on March 25, 1950 to encourage other blind individuals to become tuners and to share new techniques with each other. After World War II, vending stand operation became a popular job opportunity for many blind Minnesotans. Conventions and Minnesota Bulletin articles kept members and vendors informed on the latest changes in the law. In 1945, the convention addressed the vending stand operators concern that they be allowed to handle their own money. As it was, the state agency required sighted persons to handle the books. This had proven to the organization that the amount of sight did not necessarily make one a better bookkeeper. Many vendors had complained that the sighted bookkeepers had handled their books incorrectly and that they had to clean them up. A Loan Committee was established on February 10, 1951 to lend money to members for a variety of reasons. A person needing money to start a business or new job was given priority. The first loan was made to Margaret Kline on May 5, 1951. The rate of interest was 3 percent with a 25-cent monthly service charge. A member could borrow up to $300. It was called the Lend-a-Hand program. The Blind of Minnesota Credit Union was formed in April of 1959. Because of the new Credit Union, the organization decided to end the Lend-a-Hand program as it was a duplication of services. But from time to time, blind persons needed just a little help in securing a loan from the credit union for their business. The credit union and the Federation would work together to get the blind person started in business. At the August 14, 1975 NFB of Minnesota Board of Directors meeting, the Board decided to co-sign a loan for a blind man. Warren Ranger wanted to start a candy business in his home. He wanted a loan from the Blind of Minnesota Credit Union. NFBM put up collateral of $4,000 that it had in the Credit Union. Mr. Ranger succeeded with his business and quickly paid off his loan. In 1981 the shares held in the Blind of Minnesota Credit Union were again used as collateral on a loan for a blind hog farmer, Irwin Johnson, to start a hog farm. That venture was not fruitful, and NFBM lost the money. The first State Fair booth that sold items was a fund raiser in 1960. The organization sold products made by the blind. Individual members were also encouraged to put out items that they had made and were allowed to keep the profits. As the decades came and went, more professions were opened to blind applicants. Sometimes it took a bit of a push from the organized blind. Resolution SA-70-10 called for blind teachers to be allowed into the teaching profession. In other parts of the country, blind teachers were working successfully as teachers in all areas. Blind Minnesotans should also be given the same opportunity. The resolution was submitted by a new member, Joyce Hoffa (Scanlan). In 1971 a bill was introduced that would allow a blind person to take the Civil Service test in Braille or use a reader. A resolution was passed and circulated that called for alternate testing options for blind applicants with the same weight as any print test with Civil Service. This resolution was to address and educate the City of Minneapolis after it tried to keep a blind member out of a computer programming job that he was highly qualified for. Legislation was constantly introduced or modified to liberalize the Aid to the Blind law so that blind Minnesotans could get the training they wanted and needed to be competitive in the job market. Until the 1960's it was legal to deny rehabilitation services to a blind person who did not take the advice or services offered by his or her counselor. If the counselor said there was an opening in the vending stand program and you wanted to become a lawyer, if you wanted funding you became a vender. If the counselor felt that you should try corrective surgery for your eye condition and you declined, this too could jeopardize your rehab plan. When we read today of the problems blind persons are having on their jobs or entering into new fields, we can see how far we have to go. But when we remember the rug weavers of the 1920's, we can see how far we have come. A Positive Presentation On the Use of the Blindfold By Chris Cuppett (The following article is an introductory speech that I give to my senior students when they are about to enter the Adjustment to Blindness Training Program. We tell them all about wearing a blindfold throughout the program so that there will be no major surprises. If any of you are having some doubts about the effectiveness of a total blindfold program, perhaps this little speech will convince you that it can work quite successfully.) I would like to welcome you to this introductory meeting of the Adjustment to Blindness Training Program. Many of you are here because you feel that you may have to give up many simple daily activities as a result of having lost much of your vision. You may have stopped pouring coffee, threading a needle, handling your money, walking downtown by yourself, or reading your mail. You may be experiencing more difficulty with cooking, with grocery shopping, and with participating in leisure activities. Maybe you have some fears about how you will continue to manage in your home or apartment. Most of us have relied primarily upon our vision to accomplish just about everything we do each day. Many of us believe that the only way we can carry out any task successfully is by doing it visually. This way of thinking is not surprising since the majority of us are "visual" people. If we have had our vision all of our lives, most of us will receive about 85 to 90 percent of our information through our vision. The human body can be compared to a very wonderful and elaborate piece of engineering, such as a rocket ship. The main engine is our vision. On any sophisticated piece of engineering, there is a backup system that will kick in when the main engine isn't working properly. Our classes will help you to make full use of your backup system. This backup system consists of your remaining four senses--hearing, touch, smell, and taste--as well as your memory and imagination, your ability to learn new things, and your experience gained throughout a lifetime. Maybe some of you have had difficulty admitting to others that your main engine isn't working up to speed. You may try to continue to make use of that main engine, even when you know the results aren't very satisfactory. Perhaps you have noticed that you are expending more energy and accomplishing less work because you are straining to see everything. You may be afraid to think how you will manage if this main engine loses more power. Since you really can't determine how well your main engine will continue to function in the future, it is a good idea to learn some different ways of operating your machine. Then you can make an "informed choice" about when it would make sense to use your main engine and when it would make sense to use your backup system. You may be surprised to discover that in many instances it will be wiser and safer for you to give your main engine a rest and to let your backup system take over. The best way we have found to help you to use your backup system "to the max" is to give you a blindfold to wear throughout the class. By wearing a blindfold you will deliberately shut off your main engine so you can train yourself to listen more effectively, to get more information through your sense of touch, and to improve your memory. You will have the opportunity to work out solutions to potential problems while you are in a safe and comfortable environment. In the past we found that when we tried to teach people to use their backup systems without having them wear blindfolds, many of them naturally fell back on what was familiar and continued to struggle with their remaining vision. We also found that some people who had stronger main engines would not take certain aspects of their training very seriously. They would say things like: "My sight is still pretty good, so I don't need to learn this. But poor so-and-so over there in the corner should learn it because her sight is worse than mine." Some of our students have also been known to say something like: "I won't use my backup system as long as my main engine is still working a little, but I will wait and use it when I absolutely have to." If they take that approach to their training, "when I absolutely have to" is usually too late. Often they will feel panicky or discouraged and will not be able to remember how to fall back on their remaining faculties. The blindfold will act as an equalizer for all of our students. You will all be given equal opportunities to learn to use everything you have. At first you may feel uncomfortable, so we will be sure to give you several breaks and lots of encouragement. This may seem difficult to believe right now, but as you get further into your training, you will forget that you are wearing it, and you will be able to concentrate fully on whatever project you are doing. You will find yourself saying more frequently, "Hey, I really can dial the telephone or pour my coffee, without needing to see. I really can tell what things are by touching them. I really can walk safely and confidently with my white cane." You may find yourself thinking without panicking, "How could I work through this situation by using my other senses?" It is our desire that the problems you encounter will begin to seem more like puzzles to solve instead of obstacles to fear. It is also our desire that learning to use your wonderful backup system will help you to continue to lead a productive and fulfilling life. Advantages of Wearing a Blindfold 1. I will learn to use my remaining four senses, my memory and imagination, and my reservoir of life experiences more fully. 2. I will not be constantly comparing myself to other students and either feeling a sense of superiority or a sense of despair about having more or less sight than others. We will all be learning to do things by using faculties other than sight. 3. I will have the opportunity to discover for myself that I can accomplish a great deal without relying upon my vision. It is much more empowering for me to discover this truth for myself rather than for someone simply to tell me that this principle is true. 4. I will have the opportunity to solve potential problems while I am in a safe and comfortable environment. 5. My instructors will become better at their jobs because they will need to explain concepts more. Duluth Lighthouse for the Blind Plays Bankruptcy Card By Tom Scanlan Bankruptcy. To many people, the word means failure, collapse, and the end. However, corporations (and some individuals) use the bankruptcy laws to prevent those results. Some corporations have declared bankruptcy to avoid paying people for defects in their products. Last January the Duluth Lighthouse for the Blind sent terror through its blind employees by declaring bankruptcy. The purpose for this bankruptcy was to get a higher price from the federal government. The following article from the Duluth News-Tribune explains the Lighthouse's maneuver well. Note that, like all sheltered workshops, the Lighthouse is doing it for the good of the blind. How often have we heard statements such as "From the taxpayers' perspective, it's had to make value judgments about the costs associated with Javits-Wagner-O'Day programs versus the benefits of giving blind people the opportunity to work." Such statements are always made by the sighted management of a sheltered workshop though most of the employees are not blind. BITING THE HAND THAT FEEDS? By John Welbes News-Tribune staff writer For years, Duluth's Lighthouse for the Blind has counted on the federal government to keep orders coming to help employ blind workers. Now, saying that they sense a change in what the government is willing to do to help blind workers, Lighthouse officials are digging in for a legal battle with the General Services Administration. "It's pretty scary. You don't know if your job's going to end or not," said Kenneth Beetcher, 23, one of 40 blind employees at the Lighthouse. He works on production lines that make thousands of cases of toilet tissue, napkins and other paper products. Earlier this week, the Lighthouse told employees it was filing for bankruptcy, planning to reorganize and laying off 12 non-blind workers. Beetcher said employees took the news well, but still are worried. "I don't have a clue what I'd do. I like my job because it's 40 hours a week and I know I can go to it every day," he said. The Lighthouse's bankruptcy filing aims to force the GSA to honor a contract for toilet tissue that extends through November 1996. Through the Javits-Wagner-O'Day Act, which helped create employment opportunities for blind people, the federal government purchases goods and services from a number of businesses like the Lighthouse. The GSA and the Lighthouse now are blaming each other for letting the dispute take the next step to the federal courts. This week, Paul Almirall, the Lighthouse's chief executive officer, said the GSA and a government committee "have done everything possible to drive this product out of the Javits-Wagner-O'Day program." Federal officials disagreed and said they're disappointed by the Lighthouse's decision to settle the dispute in the courts. "I have to take strong exception to them saying the committee has tried to drive (toilet tissue) out of the Javits-Wagner-O'Day program," said Beverly Milkman, executive director of the Committee for Purchase from People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled. "The committee has bent over backward for the Duluth Lighthouse." The committee, made up of federal agency employees and private citizens, decides which products should be included in the Javits-Wagner-O'Day program. It also determines the fair market price for the products. Milkman said disputes like this with a company are rare, and she's not sure how the bankruptcy case will play out. "We're on uncharted ground here," she said. In November, after a lengthy price dispute with the Lighthouse, the committee deauthorized the West Duluth plant as a supplier of toilet tissue to the GSA. The toilet tissue contract accounts for about 70 percent of the Lighthouse's business. Current GSA orders will keep the Lighthouse busy at least through January. Milkman said the decision to take the Lighthouse out of the program happened only after the Lighthouse reneged on a series of agreements that would have kept orders coming from the GSA. She declined to go into detail on what the conditions were, but said pricing was part of it. "I just don't feel the (Lighthouse) management has lived up to their understanding of the agreement," said William Gormley, an assistant commissioner with the GSA. "Overall, it has not been a good business relationship. We have more sympathy for the (Lighthouse) workers than we have for the board of directors." Earlier in 1995, the Lighthouse had found itself losing money on shipments to the GSA after the price of paper skyrocketed. At one point, the Lighthouse refused to fill an outstanding order of toilet tissue at $26 per case - a decision that appears to have contributed to the committee's decision to deauthorize. Later, a temporary deal was worked out at $33 per case. In November, Almirall obtained an order at $41.90 per case, but the Lighthouse was deauthorized as a provider that same month. For the fiscal year that ended June 30, 1995, the Lighthouse lost $1.3 million, Almirall said. But with the higher price being paid by the GSA, the Lighthouse will break even for the seven-month period ending Jan. 31. One solution to the dispute forwarded by the government has the Cincinnati Association for the Blind taking over the operation of the Duluth Lighthouse. "From a financial standpoint, Cincinnati is a much stronger organization, and it has not reneged on the conditions set for them before," Milkman said. Almirall said the Cincinnati strategy looked good originally. But now it's clear that under that agreement, the GSA wouldn't be stocking as many of its warehouses with the Lighthouse's toilet tissue. He said it also appears that contract would run for only nine months. "We are a low-cost provider, but we'll never be the lowest-cost provider," Almirall said this week. From the taxpayers' perspective, he said, it's had to make value judgments about the costs associated with Javits-Wagner-O'Day programs versus the benefits of giving blind people the opportunity to work. "There will be 40 blind people counting on disability (payments) or other federal programs if the Lighthouse closes," he said, and placing those people with other private employers is often difficult. That's one reason the Javits-Wagner-O'Day Act was passed in the first place. Bankruptcy maneuver may save Lighthouse Blind workers and others produce toilet tissue, napkins and other paper products that are sold in large volumes to the GSA for government use nationwide. The government contracts are given to the Lighthouse through the Javits-Wagner- O'Day Act, which passed in 1938 with the goal of providing jobs for people who are blind and want to work. In recent months, the skyrocketing price of paper - which the Lighthouse has to buy to make its products - has caused problems. At one point earlier this year, the Lighthouse was losing about $6 on every case of toilet tissue it shipped out. The Lighthouse was able to renegotiate that contract to include a higher price for its toilet tissue - $41.90 per case. Lost authorization But the committee that administers the Javits-Wagner-O'Day Act decided in November to deauthorize the Lighthouse as a supplier of toilet tissue to the GSA. Current orders only extend through the end of January, even though the current contract extends through November, 1996. One reason for the GSA's decision is that the Lighthouse refused to deliver 13,000 cases of tissue at the old price of $26 per case. In years past, Almirall said the Lighthouse had problems meeting some of the GSA's production demands. But the pricing is the top issue now, he said. The bankruptcy filing will include a financial break-even plan for the next six weeks, he said. As the court and the Lighthouse work out a reorganization plan, the Lighthouse hopes to obtain a judicial order forcing the GSA to honor the contract through November. If there are no changes, there could be more layoffs in February, he said. Surprised by scope Mary McGill, a rehabilitation instructor at the Lighthouse who is legally blind, said workers knew some changes were in the wind, but didn't realize the ramifications until managers met with employees Wednesday afternoon. "I'm very concerned personally for all of the employees. For a lot of them, there are just not opportunities elsewhere," she said. As the Lighthouse has tried to work through its financial problems in the last few months, it has also turned to Duluth-area banks and foundations for some financing, Almirall said. "But it's not appropriate, to take another $200,000 to $300,000 from the community to subsidize the federal government when there's no long-term solution in sight," he said. State Services for the Blind (SSB) not only has an interest in what happens to the blind employees of the Lighthouse, but also has a financial interest. The toilet-paper program now in dispute was started with a substantial grant from SSB. For the first several years SSB monitored the program, but then the former Lighthouse convinced SSB management that everything was fine and there was no need to continue its monitoring. Of course, everything was not fine. Both the Lighthouse and SSB have new management since then, and SSB is again monitoring the Lighthouse. The following letter shows the situation today. March 1, 1996 Mr. Richard Davis, Assistant Commissioner State Services for the Blind and Visually Handicapped 2200 University Avenue West, #240 St. Paul, MN 55114-1840 Dear Dick: I have good news to share with you. We can all breathe a sigh of relief for the time being. We've signed an agreement with the General Services Administration and the Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled to continue supplying toilet tissue to GSA through the current contract period, November 30, 1996. Our primary objective in filing for protection under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code was to preserve our existing tissue paper contract with GSA and the Committee. We are pleased that the Justice Department, on behalf of GSA and the Committee, worked with our counsel to reach an agreement without litigation. This agreement is fair to both the Lighthouse and the federal government. The newly established price is profitable for us, yet less burdensome for GSA than December's purchase price. Furthermore, the Lighthouse proposed, and GSA accepted, a pricing mechanism that provides for quarterly price adjustments based upon fluctuations in our paper costs. This agreement precludes further layoffs at the Lighthouse during the remainder of the contract period; all 40 blind employees and 44 of our sighted employees will remain on the job. During this time, we'll be working at full production capacity to demonstrate to GSA and the Committee our reliability as a tissue supplier. However, to ensure long-term success, we must work as diligently to renew this contract for subsequent years. It is our intent to spend the next several months rebuilding a good faith relationship with GSA and the Committee in hopes of doing just that. So, there is much to be done in the days and weeks ahead. Our future truly depends on our ability to renew a similar, equitable, long-term contract. We'll keep you posted. We will also be working this spring and summer on a program to implement the ideas we discussed during your visit. I look forward to hearing back from you or Doug about some of the resources and other successful programs which we might use to help us. Thanks, again, for your continued support. Sincerely yours, LIGHTHOUSE FOR THE BLIND Paul L. Almirall Chief Executive Officer So far the Lighthouse's bankruptcy maneuver is working. That is good news for the minority of the employees who are blind. However, the long-term prospects for the Lighthouse and other sheltered workshops are still bleak as blind people move more into the mainstream of society and depend less on them. As the workshops continue their slow collapse and more sighted than blind people lose their jobs, we will likely see more such bankruptcies and pleas to "protect the blind." Minnesota is NAC-Free! By Tom Scanlan It has been a long time coming, but it finally has. There are no longer any agencies in Minnesota allied with the National Accreditation Council for Agencies Serving the Blind and Visually Handicapped (NAC). Long-time members of the National Federation of the Blind will say "hooray and good riddance," while newer members may say "so what?" In those varied reactions lies part of the story of our successful struggle against NAC's attempt to foist inferior service on blind people. NAC was founded about 25 years ago by the American Foundation for the Blind and some of the most regressive agencies in the country. The Minneapolis Society for the Blind (MSB) was among them. NAC promoted itself as a "standards setter for quality services for the blind." It did set some standards to which agencies were supposed to adhere. However, those standards dealt with such quality issues as adequate vacations for staff and adherence to fire codes. There were no measures of quality service. There was no input by blind people as to the services provided by the agency. Any attempt by blind people to object to poor service was dismissed as "negative interference." At the peak of its influence in the early 1980's, NAC could count only about 25% of the agencies in the country as wishing to be "accredited" by it. MSB remained the only Minnesota agency to show any interest. The minority of agencies NAC could count on dwindled throughout that decade. Even the founding agencies fell away. The American Foundation for the Blind stopped funding it. When MSB merged with the St. Paul Society for the Blind to survive, we wondered what would happen to its alliance with NAC. Steve Fisher had been Executive Director of the St. Paul Society for years and had no love for NAC. We hoped he would maintain that attitude as head of the merged societies (now called Vision Loss Resources) and pull MSB out of NAC. He did. But meanwhile, the Duluth Lighthouse for the Blind had fallen on hard times. In a desperate attempt to improve its image, it sought "accreditation" from NAC. NAC had never rejected any application, and it certainly wasn't going to start in the days of its decline. So MSB was out, Duluth was in, and NAC was still in Minnesota. When Paul Almirall came to the Duluth Lighthouse last year (see "A New Day at the Duluth Lighthouse for the Blind?" in the Fall 1995 issue), he would not say what he would do about NAC. We wondered how he could continue to maintain the financial commitment to NAC considering the problems he faced. We waited to see. Well, the Duluth Lighthouse for the Blind is no longer listed by NAC in its January report. It has quietly dropped NAC. Minnesota is now one of the 23 states that are free of NAC. For those of us who fought NAC for years, this is indeed a time to celebrate. Remember one of our sayings in the National Federation of the Blind: "We may lose a battle, but we never lose the war because we don't give up until we win." MSB didn't believe it. NAC didn't believe it. One is gone, and the other is in its last days. Legislative Wrap-up By Judy Sanders Another year, another legislative session and another Braille bill. Three cheers for Representative Mindy Greiling and Senator Larry Pogemiller for shepherding our bill through the legislative process with little difficulty. They made it look easy. Last year Representative Greiling introduced House File 1921, requiring teachers of blind children to pass a competency test in Braille to be licensed to teach blind children in Minnesota. This bill was not introduced in the Senate because Senator Pogemiller preferred to have the Minnesota Board of Teaching make the requirement. However, he promised that if the Board did not act he would work with us. Prior to and during this session Greiling worked quietly to bring our bill along with as little controversy as possible--no easy task when the subject is Braille. We agreed to one amendment to the bill that requires that the National Library Service (NLS) of the Library of Congress competency test be used upon its validation. (NLS is currently working on the validation process. See the March 1996 issue of the Braille Monitor for the latest update.) Our bill was then amended into the Omnibus K-12 Education bill and Senator Pogemiller incorporated the same language in the comparable Senate bill. On the House side, we had a hearing where no opposition was expressed. The Omnibus Education bill finally passed both Houses at the end of the session. It was ironic that the only threat to the bill came when Governor Carlson expressed his displeasure with a proposed revision of testing procedures for regular classroom teachers. Fortunately, the Legislator and the Governor ironed out their differences and the bill is now law. What happens next? The Minnesota Board on Teaching is reviewing all licensing requirements in the state. When the NLS test has been validated, the Board must promulgate a rule for instituting the test. The Board on Teaching has a choice; it can wait for the test to be validated to begin writing its rule or it can act positively and write the rule now to be ready to put into place upon validation of the test. Another piece of news is what did not happen at the Legislature. You will remember that, during our day at the Capitol, we told legislators that no action was necessary regarding privatization of the Radio Talking Book. After that day, no more was said on the matter. We will want to be sure that we maintain our vigil next year. Another year has come and gone in the annals of legislative history. We can count this one as a plus. What you can do in the off season: The National Federation of the Blind does not endorse candidates for political office. But each of us has a right and a responsibility to figure out who our friends are, let them know that they have our support and take an active part in helping them get elected. Happy campaigning and see you next year at the legislator. 75 Years: Educating the Public About Blind People By Peggy Chong Looking through the archives, I have found many flyers and promotional pieces done for the organization. I was struck by the use of white canes in all the materials. Obviously the white cane was an important and powerful symbol that the organization wanted to be associated with the blind. When promotional materials for the Home and Center were done, photos were taken for them. Careful thought was given to preparing each picture. Blind persons with their white canes were prominent in the publications doing the everyday activities of living. The focus of many publications was to communicate with blind Minnesotans throughout the state. The first newsletter of the organization was called Views and Reviews. It was started in August 1924, but did not seem to last very long. Then the organization relied on circulars at irregular intervals to inform the membership of the activities of the organization and the issues that were being addressed. The circulars dealt with one issue at a time and usually asked for a response from the member. Before the Minnesota Bulletin, the organization also prepared a regular column for the Braille Minnesotan entitled "M.S.O.B. Activities." This magazine may have been the first Braille magazine published locally for the blind of the Metro Area. It was printed by the Minnesota Council of Social Agencies for the Blind. The first Minnesota Bulletin was printed and mailed to members and interested blind and sighted persons throughout the state in August 1935. Richard Gustafson was the first editor. It came out once a month for a year and then went to a bimonthly basis. The entire cost of the first edition was less than $5.00. It ran such columns as "Board's Business," "Ands" and "News Briefs" as well as all committee reports and legislative updates. Editorials were encouraged in every issue. In November 1946 the Minnesota Bulletin was first published in Braille. The response to a Braille edition was overwhelming. By March 1947 there was a notice that, because of the high demand, they needed donations right away to continue the service. There has been a Braille edition ever since. At the August quarterly meeting in 1975, Tom Rhode from the Library for the Blind in Faribault offered to duplicate the Minnesota Bulletin on cassette tape for the organization. His offer was happily accepted and acted upon immediately. State Services for the Blind had offered to duplicate a recorded version of the Bulletin several times since 1958, but had also attached strings to their offer. Luther Meyer, a reader chosen by the organization, read the cassette edition until the summer of 1981. Since then, members have read the cassette edition, many of them from a Braille copy. The Minnesota Bulletin has always served as a tool to keep in touch with the membership as well as a way to reach and educate new members. But it also serves as a way to state our policies on issues to agencies and legislators. During the 1950's, the Minnesota Bulletin was read by many members of the North Dakota Association of the Blind. It became the unofficial newsletter for the North Dakota affiliate as well. Each issue included the North Dakota News as well. Extra copies were printed of issues that were important to get into the hands of nonmembers. Sometimes these were sent to legislators to promote our cause in the state Legislature for the coming year. Another time, copies were sent to ophthalmologists so they could pass the message of the organized blind onto their patients. During our fiftieth year, numbers of copies of each issue were sent to community leaders and groups. Our Golden Jubilee editions, celebrating our 50th anniversary, were the only issues to have pictures in them. At the Board meeting on September 19, 1980, the Board of Directors voted to look at publishing another newsletter aimed at the public. The first Blindside came out during February 1981. This was a quarterly newsletter that was printed for over five years. Each of the 22 issues has provided us with a wealth of material easily understood by the public. Many articles were reprinted in other organizations' newsletters and newspapers throughout the state. It was very well received by every one who read it. In 1982 the Blindside won an award of excellence from the International Association of Business Communicators. Some members felt that it was not informative and a bit tame, but then it was not meant to replace the Minnesota Bulletin. In September 1981 the information sheet Why Minnesota's Blind Do Not Always See Eye to Eye was widely circulated. This was a factual piece that laid out in a chart format the differences between the National Federation of the Blind of Minnesota and the Minneapolis Society for the Blind. Because of its simplicity and straight forwardness, we could use it in many situations and for many different populations. Throughout the years, a common thread of equality, opportunity and positive philosophy have dominated all the publications of our affiliate. These publications show the determination and forethought of the leadership and the members to maintain a statewide organization operated by the blind that can truly speak for the blind. After 75 Years, A Dues Increase By Tom Scanlan When this organization was founded in 1920, the dues were set at $1. That was almost a day's wage for many people. Postage was a penny. The convention banquet cost a whopping 35 cents. Seventy-five years later the dues were still just one dollar. We all know what has happened to wages, postage, banquets, and other costs. If our dues had kept pace with those costs, they would be about $50. We have never considered dues as a way to raise money. Payment of dues is a way to show some commitment and help defray some membership expenses such as convention notices and the Minnesota Bulletin. Unlike some organizations of the blind, we really do keep track of memberships and drop people who do not pay their dues. Many people considered one dollar to be a ridiculously low amount and included more with their annual membership renewals. We gladly accepted the additional contributions. Considering all this, at the 1995 state convention the membership voted to increase our dues. Not to $50, but just to $5. Our membership year runs from June 1 to May 31, with a 60-day grace period. After August 1, anyone who has not renewed his or her membership by paying dues cannot vote or hold office (including chapter votes and offices). In the past, we sent letters and renewal notices in August. That is a bit late, so this year we sent them with the Semi-Annual Convention notice in April. So, if your dues were paid through June 1996 or you were delinquent from 1995 you received a convention notice and membership renewal. Please return your renewal with the new $5 dues. Five dollars. What a great deal. Now, if we could only hold postage and meals back like that. Everybody, Anybody, Somebody, & Nobody By Charles Osgood (Reprinted from the April 2, 1996 Family Circle magazine) There was a most important job that needed to be done, And no reason NOT to do it, there was absolutely none. But in vital matters such as this, the thing you have to ask is WHO exactly will it be who'll carry OUT the task. Anybody could have told you that Everybody knew that this was something SOMEBODY would surely have to do. Nobody was unwilling. Anybody had the ability. But NOBODY believed that it was his responsibility. It seemed to be a job that ANYBODY could have done, If Anybody thought he was supposed to be the one. But since Everybody recognized that Anybody could, Everybody took for granted that SOMEBODY would. But Nobody told Anybody that we are aware of, That he would be in charge of seeing it was taken care of. And Nobody took it on himself to follow through And DO what Everybody thought that Somebody would do. When what Everybody needed so did not get done at all, Everybody was complaining that Somebody dropped the ball. Anybody then could see it was an awful crying shame And Everybody looked around for SOMEBODY to blame. Somebody should have done the job and Everybody would have. But in the end Nobody did what Anybody could have. New Ulm Hosts This Year's Move-A-Thon By Peggy Chong The 1996 Move-A-Thon is being hosted this year by our Riverbend Chapter in New Ulm Minnesota. They have been preparing for this event for several months now, and it sounds like it will be a new and wonderful event! The event will be held on Saturday, September 14, at 9:00 a.m. A charter bus will leave the Twin Cities early that morning to bring Metro folks eager to MOVE. More information will be available about the bus later in the summer. We'll move along a 10-K route that has been used often for events like this for many other non-profit groups in that area. There are few street crossings or turns. It begins and ends at a park not far from Charleen Childrey's home. She tells me that she is planning for a little snack for those who participate. She also says that she is looking into local businesses that will rent bikes on that day. More information should be available on that later in the summer. Pledge forms should be available by the July chapter meetings. So attend your July meeting, pick up pledge forms for yourself, your friends and family who want to move with you and for any businesses that you know of that will put them out for the public to participate or contribute. Remember, this is our only statewide fundraiser! You do not have to move the 10-K to collect money for the NFB. Each member can collect for a member of your chapter who will be attending the Move-A-Thon. Try to collect the contribution right away. This saves you the trouble of going back to that person after the event and collecting. However you choose to move, walk, run, bike, roller skate or wheel chair, a good time will be had by all. I look forward to seeing all of you there. Flash Backs of Nellie Ask By Peggy Chong Nellie Ask has been a member of the National Federation of the Blind of Minnesota since the late 1930's. I have known her for almost 25 years now and have found her to be as solid a member as anyone. She did not demand the limelight or petting for the contributions she made. She was Nellie Ask; a woman who knew what she wanted and set out to create that life for herself. Here are some of her memories of her life as a blind person. "Let's turn back to the year of 1935, May 29. On the stage in the chapel of the Minnesota School for the Blind, located in Faribault, Minnesota, four young ladies, dressed fit to kill, were ready to graduate from high school. I was one of them. While waiting for my diploma, dreams of my future flashed through my mind. First, I must attend college. My mother always insisted that her three daughters would obtain a better education than dad and she had. Then, I must get a job. I wasn't certain about what kind of job I wanted, but I must be independent and earn my own bread and butter. Of course, a home, husband and busy social life were also part of those dreams." At the age of three, Nellie had polio that would leave a lasting imprint on her life. During her early teen years, Nellie developed glaucoma. This took most of her sight by her high school graduation. She hadn't the faintest idea how to reach her goals, but knew she must find a way. The NFB of Minnesota, or MOB as it was called back then, really had few role models to help or show the way. Living in a small town, there were no other blind persons. Nellie was on her own. After finishing high school, Nellie spent a year at home. Then she went four years to St. Cloud State Teacher's College. She earned Alpha Beta Phi honors and graduated with a B.A. degree with a major in history and a minor in English and social studies. She was all ready to teach. However, it was not that simple. The schools for the blind were not hiring and public schools wanted two years of experience before hiring a teacher. No teaching, no school, no job. State Services for the Blind placed her in a vending stand in Brainerd, where she earned about $20 a month. That job ended in a couple of years when Nellie developed physical problems caused from her childhood polio condition. She says, "Perhaps, it was a good thing it did come to an end." Nellie was just starting to hear about the white cane and what it was all about. She tells me that she doesn't recall that getting around was a real problem before using a cane. When she wanted to go somewhere, she just went. Often she would find others to go with her. When she moved to Minneapolis in 1943, blind people here were using canes to get around. They encouraged her to use a cane to travel in the cities. So Nellie got a cane and took off. Nellie tells of her quest for a job like this: "I had no trouble getting jobs, but not in my chosen field. The war was on and factory work was plentiful. One job was at Judy Toy Co. There were several other blind people working there. Once, everyone got a raise but the blind workers. I wanted my raise. So I went in and asked for my raise too. They told me that I should be glad I had the job in the first place. No one else would hire me because I was blind and if I did not like the working conditions there, I could quit. So I did." "Right away, I got a job at Honeywell. The management at Judy Toys was very surprised. My blind co-workers at Judy Toys got their raise just shortly afterward." Another job Nellie had was at Folton Bag Co. in Northeast Minneapolis. There she met a very nice man who was also blind. His name was Oscar Ask. At first, she set him up with her girlfriend, but ended up marrying him just one year later in 1945. Later that year, in 1944, she applied at the Fanny Farmer Candy factory for a job. At first, they would not hire a blind person unless State Services would sponsor her. Finally, a counselor did go with Nellie for an interview. She offered to work a week for nothing to prove she could do the work. A boss had a deaf son whom he said could dip and mark chocolates, so why couldn't a blind person? So he reasoned. He hired Nellie for the week. Nellie did not want to dip and mark chocolates as she could not touch them at all to mark them and did not know how she would do the work. "When the floor lady set eyes on me, she was horrified. Hot chocolates must be marked but not touched. I suggested trying one of the belts that packed the candy. She was delighted with the idea and happy to get rid of me. I was immediately sent to the belt lines with her approval where I had wanted to work in the first place." "My week of trial turned into twenty years of work. I was accepted as one of the gang, no favors shown, just keep up, that was essential." In 1955, Nellie and Oscar bought a house in South Minneapolis where they lived for many years. Oscar got his own news stand in Minneapolis. Nellie became active in the MOB/NFBM in the 1940's. She was a member of the Woman's Guild where she held many offices including president. She took active part in fundraisers, festivals and helped with meal functions. Many of us will remember that Nellie wrote the column "News About Our Friends," but did you know that Nellie also wrote articles on helpful hints and articles about the Woman's Guild? Over 80 years young, Nellie continues to be active. She calls people each month from her three calling lists from three of the organizations she is currently active in including the Metro Chapter. She still enjoys knitting, cards and reading. Rosemary Varey By Tom Scanlan Some people quietly and competently fill leadership positions in an organization. Then when they retire from office, they continue to work and support the organization, bringing cheer and good feelings to everyone. Rosemary (Rosie) Varey is one of those people. When I joined this organization in 1970, Rosie made me feel welcome and encouraged my active participation. She held the office of Secretary at the time, and I was impressed that a top officer would pay attention to me and encourage me. That's Rosie. She makes a friend of nearly everyone. During the wrenching refocusing this organization went through in the 1970's, Rosie stayed connected with the issues and didn't get caught up in the generational gap some people tried to create. People like Rosie, Jim Schleppegrell, Clarence Johnson, Nellie Ask, and Marie Whitteker played a key role in keeping the organization together while moving it in a new direction. Despite a bout with cancer, Rosie enlivened Metro Chapter meetings, state conventions, and national conventions. She served on the Board of Directors until she suffered a stroke several years ago. Since her stroke, she has not been active nor forgotten. People are always asking, "How is Rosie doing?" Sadly, her cancer has returned and she has moved to a nursing home near her family in Jordan. She is alert and enjoys hearing from her friends. Drop a line or card to her at: Rosie Varey Valleyview Health Care Center 4061 West 173rd Street Box 7 Jordan, MN 55352 Convention Alert! Exciting times are coming in NFB conventions. Keep these in mind as you plan your activities throughout the coming year. 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 1995 issue of the Braille Monitor for details. The Annual NFB of Minnesota Convention will be held October 11-13 in Rochester. Members will receive a letter with details in early September. The Metro Chapter will charter a bus from Minneapolis. The Semiannual NFB of Minnesota Convention will be held in the Twin Cities in April.