(note) the formatting of this document has been corrupted in one of its transmissions. However, the text seems in tact. David Andrews THE OBSERVER The Montana Association For The Blind Summer 1998 Montana Association For The Blind Box 352, Butte, MT 59703-0352 (406) 723-3383 an affiliate of The National Federation of the Blind =0CWho We Are . . . The Montana Association For The Blind Is a 501 (C) 3 consumer organization comprised of blind and sighted people committed to changing what it means to be blind. The aims and purposes of the Montana Association For The Blind are: 1. To work for the prevention of blindness; 2. To aid in the physical restoration of the blind; 3. To aid in providing vocational rehabilitation for the blind; 4. To work for the social and economic improvement of every blind person in the State. The Montana Association For The blind has eleven local chapters around the State. The organization sponsors an annual training program, The Summer Orientation Program for the Blind and Partially Sighted. The Montana Association For The Blind is a chartered affiliate of The National Federation of the Blind. Our quarterly newsletter, The Observer, is produced in large print, Braille, 3.5" computer disk, on cassette, or via E-Mail. Dues for membership are $5.00 annually. To receive more information about the Montana Association For th Blind, to make address changes for the newsletter, or to be added to our mailing list, call (406) 723-3383. Financial contributions to offset our newsletter costs are appreciated. Our goal is to provide coverage of local and State interest and we encourage MAB members to submit articles for publication in The Observer. Articles are to be limited to 220 words or less which is the approximate capacity of one column page. Please submit items in the most final form possible. We will gladly assist in summarizing long articles to meet this size and final editorial decisions rest with the Editor. Articles may be submitted in print, 3.5" computer disk, cassette tape, or by electronic mail to: Myrle Tompkins, Observer Editor, 1307 9th Avenue, Helena, MT 59601. Phone (406) 443-4352; or to E-Mail address MABNEWS@AOL.COM. Disk and cassette subscribers: You may duplicate materials, but PLEASE return the tape or disk to the return address on the envelope. Braille Subscribers: You may keep the Braille text of your newsletter, but PLEASE return the binder with the attached instructional sheet to the return address on it=FEs original envelope. The Observer is expensive to produce and these efforts will help hold the costs down. Thank you.=0C* * THE OBSERVER * * Newsletter of The Montana Association For The Blind (an affiliate of The National Federation Of The Blind) P.O. Box 352, Butte, MT 59703-0352 (406) 723- 3383 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Article 1. MAB News 1. 1998 MAB Convention Highlights 2. Awards 2. Scholarships 2. Convention Recap 2. By-Laws 3. 1998 Resolutions Committee Report 4. State Library News 5. Western Montana Radio Reading Service 5. Eastern Montana radio Reading Service Update 6. Chapter News 11. Personal Glimpses 12. NFB Scholarship 12. Raising The Bar 12. MAB Large Print Cook Books 12. MAB Summer Orientation Program 12. Reading Aids 13. 1999 MAB Convention 13. A.E.R. Conference 13. Introducing the MAB OBSERVER Staff =0CMAB News At the 1998 convention President Domme made a personal announcement that he was being placed on the pancreas transplant list at the Mayo Clinic. He has been under going evaluation since March 1998 for this treatment for his diabetes and has decided to go ahead with the transplant. Doctors at the Mayo Clinic feel that with Pat's history of transplanted organs (Pat had a kidney transplant in February 1985) that he would be a good candidate for a Pancreas Transplant. Doctors also feel that Pat will have to wait about 8 - 10 months, but should be ready to go anytime for a Pancreas. Pat's feelings that taking on two responsibilities of this magnitude, of being President of the organization and dealing with a recovery from a organ transplant, would divide his time and neither responsibility would benefit. He has stated that he would chose recovery from the operation as his priority and would resign as President from the Association. He feels that after his recovery is handled he can run for this office when elections are held. Pat's previous transplant came from his mother - a related donor kidney and he would have to wait for a cadaver organ for this transplant. We wish the best for President Domme. 1998 MAB Convention Highlights Following are some of the highlights of the 1998 MAB Convention=FEs business meeting. The session was opened by President Pat Domme with recognition of the family members who have helped out during the convention. Linda Hurlock reported the results of the District elections. All incumbents were returned to office. District 1 Jim Marks, District 2 Ben Longie, District 3 Kay Kjellstrom, District 4 Sharon Larson, District 5 Sara 'Pinky' Bradley. Jim Marks presented the resolutions. A summary of them follows the article on the by-laws. All resolutions were passed. MR. Bruce Gardener, NFB representative, gave a brief talk. Ted Robbins, chairman of the By- laws Committee, read the proposed changes. A summary of them follows this article. It was moved that the President form a committee to actively support the Business Enterprise Program. A second motion directed the MAB to take possession of the equipment used by the Eastern Montana Radio Reading Service with the intention of looking for a group to restart the program. This equipment is currently held by the State of Montana. Both motions passed unanimously.A motion was made an passed to write the State of Montana and show some interest in the equipment used by the Eastern Montana Radio Reading Service. (See the follow-up article on the Eastern Montana Radio Reading Service.) The Contributions Committee report was given by Betty Lou Berg, Chairman. Committee members were from Kalispell, Helena, Great Falls, Missoula, Butte, Bozeman and Billings. The Committee recommended: Senior Companion Program, $500; Montana Talking Book Library, $500; Western Montana Radio Reading Service, $400; Ski and Trek for Light Montana, $400 (Ski for Light Montana $250; Trek for Light Montana $150); and National Federation of the Blind, $500. The recommended contributions totaled $2,300. The Board of Directors recommended a do-pass. The Convention accepted the Committee=FEs report and recommended contributions. Convention Banquet - Mr. Bruce Gardiner gave an after dinner talk on his experiences in growing up with juvenile macular degeneration. Donna Sevalstead, Beaverhead County Commissioner, also spoke on the need for disabilities awareness at the local level. She also alluded to some of Ben Longie=FEs epxperiences when he was a licensed driver. Awards - Awards were given to the following in recognition of their service: Keith Denton - Dan Burke Beaverhead Chapter - Bonnie Jacobsen Bozeman Chapter - Bernice DeHaas Capital City Chapter - Lorraine Cattermole Great Falls Chapter - Patty Howse Missoula Chapter - Dale Davis Park County Chapter - Lois Haymond Silver Bow Chapter - Mildred Adkins Yellowstone Chapter - Andy Seitz Scholarships - The 1998 scholarship recipients are Kere Shepard and David Donaldson. Convention Recap - There were 108 members attending the convention. The Beaverhead and Silver Bow Chapters extend their thanks for the record attendance, door prizes contributed by MAB Chapters and numerous businesses, and vendor support and displays. By-Laws Ted Robbins, chairman of the by-law committee, read the proposed changes. By-law II Section 7 Section 7a. (changed from 7 to 7a) A reasonable expense of board members attending board meetings shall be paid by the treasurer upon presentation of the expense account IN WRITING. (add) SECTION 7b. A reasonable expense incurred by any Board Member to preform his/her duties, including travel of a representative to visit chapters lying within the confines of his/her district shall be reimbursed upon presentation of the expenses in writing. The Board of Directors gave a do pass recommendation. It was moved and passed unanimously that the by-law addition be adopted. Section 8. (Currently reads) In the event of a vacancy in the office of the president, the vice-presidents shall succeed in order. Section 8. (change to read) In the event of any vacancy in the offices of president or any Vice President, the vice-presidents shall succeed in order. The Board of Directors recommendation was a do-pass. It was moved and passed unanimously that the by-law change be adopted. 1998 Resolutions Committee Report by Jim Marks, Resolutions Committee Chairman Resolutions were read from Braille text at the State Convention by Jim Aldrich, Joy Root, and Bruce Breslauer. The Convention passed all nine and the following is a summary. The complete text may be obtained from the MAB office. 9801 Certification of Braille Literacy for Teachers and Aides: Petitions the Board of Education and Office of Public Instruction to establish standards in Braille competency for instructors of Braille. 9802 Braille Literacy for Blind Children Law: Directs the MAB to work on the passage of a Braille Literacy Law. 9803 Social Security Linkage - Hill: Calls upon Rep. Rick Hill to support and co- sponsor HR612, a bill which restores the Social Security earnings limits linkage between senior citizens and the blind. 9804 Social Security Linkage =FE Burns, and 9805 Social Security Linkage - Baucus: Calls upon Senators Burns and Baucus to support and co-sponsor S375 a bill which restores the Social Security earnings limits linkage between senior citizens and the blind. 9806 Funding for Older Blind Services: Charges Montana Blind-Low Vision Services to find new and alternative funding for independent living services for older blind Montanans. 9807 Montana Blind-Low Vision Services Autonomy and Responsiveness to the Blind: Calls upon the Department of Public health and Human Services to enhance the autonomy of Blind-Low Vision Services, to increase the representation of the blind in the governance of the agency, and to pay particular attention to the unique vocational rehabilitation and independent living needs of the blind. 9808 Access to Information Technology: Insists on a policy of equal access to information technology used by the public and directs the MAB to work for the passage of a law to protect access to information technology by the blind. 9809 Business Enterprise Program: Praises Montana Blind- Low Vision Services for acting on a previous call from the MAB to reinstate a business enterprise program and calls upon the agency to deliver the program as soon as possible. =0CState Library News Christie Briggs accepted the position of Regional Librarian, effective February 2. She replaces Sandra Jarvie, who served eight years in this position. Susan Merrin replaced Christie as the Coordinator of Volunteer Services. We are starting to catch up on the backlog since implementation of the Keystone library automated system. We anticipate at least a full year of "working out the kinks" in the new system. The Montana Cassette Book collection (for our local recording program) is focusing on vintage books to add to our historic book category. Thanks to one of our patrons, "The Great Divide: Travels in the Upper Yellowstone in the summer of 1874" by the Earl of Dunraven is being considered for recording. We anticipate that under Susie Merrin's direction, the Montana Book Collection Group will gather recommendations for other marvelous books as well. We appreciate ideas and suggestions from everyone. We will continue to work together to accomplish improved patron service. =0CWestern Montana Radio Reading Service (WMRRS) - We are in the midst of the KUFM Signal Extension Project which will dramatically improve reception for many listeners and serve some for the first time. New radios have been ordered for Butte, Helena, Kalispell, Hamilton, and Dillon. We have also contacted potential listeners in Dillon. We are a subcarrier channel of KUFM/KGPR and are anxious to have this project completed. It=FEs completion deadline is October 31 and, according to William Marcus, for some areas it is =FElooking good=FE for completion by this summer. Upon completion of the project, KUFM has indicated that they will ask us to begin paying a monthly subcarrier maintenance fee. This is currently provided free of charge. We have also received a letter of notification from TCI Cable Company that they need our office space and have asked us to move by August 1, 1998. This space has been provided rent free since 1981. This move might cause some interruption of service this summer. Both of these factors will have a dramatic financial impact on WMRRS but we believe that everything will work out. We look forward to having a facility to serve you better than ever into the 21st century. Eastern Montana Radio Reading Service Update This service consists of a radio reading service put out by the In Touch Network and only carry's national news and stories. As we know Eastern Radio Reading Service stopped local programming about 8 or 10 months ago. LIFTT has the equipment and wishes to have the equipment removed as they need the space. Therefore the state would place the equipment in the public auction to get rid of excess and obsolete equipment. This would mean the loss of having the proper equipment for the eastern part of our state. The Montana Association for the Blind would take possession of the equipment with the hopes of keeping the option open for a Radio Reading Service on the Eastern side of the state. On or about June 1, 1998 Eastern Montana Radio Reading Service will go off the airways and no longer offer any program of any kind. A committee of interested persons is being formed, for more information or to volunteer for the committee call the State office of the MAB 406 723-3383 or Andy Seitz, P.O. Box 324, Billings, MT 59103, or call him at 406 252-1232. =0CChapter News Bozeman Chapter- The Bozeman Chapter meets each month at 2 p.m. on the second Friday. Except for the January meeting (when it was very cold) we have had 23 to 25 people attending. We had musical entertainment in January and March, while several other programs have been focused on getting to know each other better. In February several couples were asked to describe how they met and when they married. In March all of those who had attended Summer School were asked to tell about their experiences and make recommendations to those considering attending this year. Seventeen Bozeman people attended the State convention at Fairmont, a record for a meeting not held in Bozeman. At the meeting in May a number of them reported on their experiences and impressions - generally favorable. The speakers were especially well received. The Chapter plans to give three $500 scholarships to visually impaired students attending Montana State University. Applications were sent to the MSU Resource Center and distributed to eligible students. The names of the winners will be announced at our June meeting. Bernice DeHaas reporting.=0CBuffalo Hills Chapter (Kalispell) - = We meet on the first Friday of each month at 1 p.m. at Buffalo Hills Terrace. For the past several months we have scheduled speakers to talk on subjects that directly affect our members. Dr. Roger Barth from the Glacier Eye Clinic spoke about Macular Degeneration and other eye diseases. His talks are always followed by a question and answer period. Dr. Stan Smith, a Low Vision Specialist, from Kalispell spoke on low vision and brought several vision aids that people could try. Our Chapter also participated in the Kalispell Share-Fair at the Gateway West Mall. The Share-Fair is an event where the public is educated about organizations in the community. It was our turn to educate the public about the Montana Association For The Blind. We thought it was very successful and are looking forward to doing it again next year. The Chapter will no= t be meeting in July or August although we are in the process of planning some fun outdoor events. If you want any information about the Buffalo Hills Chapter you may call Nancy Buhre, President, at (406) 257-8859 or Peter Petitte, Vice President, at (406) 862- 0439. Have a great summer.=0CBeaverhead Chapter (Dillon) - The Chapter is recovering from their successful joint efforts with Butte in organizing the 1998 State Convention. Mr. Nikolai Stevenson was the featured speaker. His topic was =FELiving With Macular Degeneration=FE. He was both informative and understanding for those many members who have macular degeneration. Mr. Stevenson is the President of the ASSOCIATION FOR MACULAR DISEASES, INC. Write to the association at 210 East 64th Street, New York, NY 10021 or telephone (212) 605-3719 for Information on macular degeneration. Silver Bow Chapter (Butte) - The Silver Bow Chapter had their Easter Brunch at the Country club on April 19. Deedee Dunn played the piano and we all sang old-time songs. Rita Layman, president, announced that Lana Nelson, Dorothy O'Brien, Betty Lou Berg, Pat Domme, Lee and Duran DuBoise and she would be attending the State Convention. The Chapter's newlyweds Vicki and Tom King, who were married in August, were at the brunch and Tom gave the blessing. Rhonda Hook provided the table decorations which were used as door prizes at the end of the brunch. Everyone present had a great time.=0CCapital City Chapter (Helena) - March - Rosemary Rougle had sold 56 calendars and was the top salesperson. The Montana "Aging Horizons" TV program will be interviewing President Myrle Tompkins and Vice President Peggy Barnekoff in May to learn more about blindness, the MAB, and the Summer Orientation Program. Members expressed concern about the format and quality of the new USWest phone directory. The small, light print and "Yellow Pages" are particularly difficult to use with a CCTV. April - Jim Hopkins reported that he had recently returned from the V.A. Center at Palo Alto, California and would like to talk with other Veterans about his experience. Jim and Ed Porter will be attending the State Convention. Renee McDaniel gave a very informative demonstration of some of the equipment available through Montana Low Vision Services. A Chapter newsletter is sent out the week prior to our meetings as a reminder of coming events. Chapter meetings are held on the 4th Monday at 7 p.m. at the Eagles=FE Manor. On a sadder note - Dick Cattermole, Loraine's husband, passed away on May 23. The Chapter will miss his quiet, friendly manner.=0CGreat Falls Chapter - 1998 began a bit slowly with only fifteen members in attendance. February improved and a pot luck during March drew even more members. Previous members and new members are showing interest too. We are hoping to offer a wider variety of activities for our members to participate in and show their contributions to our organization. Our fund raisers have had a sluggish start. The Buttrey Share Card Program doesn=FEt have many months to live due to Albertson=FEs acquisition taking place. We are planning other fund raisers. Our plans include a spring or summer fund raiser. We have had several members participate in activities including United Way workshops, a health fair and our local meetings. Thanks to our members who travel into the community, lead us in prayers, the Pledge of Allegiance, and those reading our printed materials. Special congratulations to Kay Kjellstrom. Her efforts in organizing the Washington Forum and as Director of the Summer Orientation Program, display the strength, courage and confidence we hope to spark in those individuals just beginning to cope with vision loss. Our Chapter was graced with a visit from the newly hired representatives in the Great Falls Blind and Low Vision Services office, Craig Dunlop, Rehabilitation Instructor, and Stephanie Kilian, Orientation and Mobility Instructor. It was a pleasure to have them introduce themselves and speak to us. We looked forward to the State Convention and were able to help by giving a donation, door prizes, and helping our members attend. We have bad/good news also. Gerald Merrit took his wife Caroline to California to celebrate her birthday with her sister in February. While in California, Gerald spent time in a Sacramento hospital with a bacterial disease which almost took his arm. Gerald is home now and doing well he says, but Caroline's nephew, Dan Goodau, died in March due to diabetic complications. Our prayers and sympathy are sent on angel's wings their way. Donations in memory of Anna Robbins' parents' have been made by the Great Falls Chapter to the Memorial Loan Fund also. Missoula Chapter - Know those awful disability awareness activities in which school children wear a blindfold so they can experience so-called blindness? The Missoula Chapter confronted the IDEA PTA as well as school teachers and administrators with our assertion that blindness simulation hurts blind people by reinforcing rather than eliminating myths about blindness. A blindfolded child learns the wrong things about blindness because the activity doesn=FEt take into account the long hours of rehabilitation and skill development we undertake as competent blind people. Nor does it foster positive attitudes about blindness. Since we believe we shouldn=FEt just criticize, the Chapter undertook the project of presenting to several schools about blindness. We promoted the can-do attitudes of the able blind to several hundred children in about seven schools. More presentations are planned. The response from the children and school officials has been overwhelmingly affirmative. The Missoula Chapter continues supporting some of our spin-off activities. Our Braille Study and planning luncheons march on. And the student group, the National Association of Blind Students, meets every Friday at the University of Montana as its members study Braille, discuss blindness topics, plan activities, and have an old fashioned good time. Four of our members --- Carolyn and Bob Brock and Jim and Karen Marks --- participated in the Convention of the NFB of Idaho in Sandpoint. The Missoula Chapter had two sets of speakers so far this year. In February, Barbara Rolf of the Montana School for the Deaf and Blind and Connie Peterson of Missoula School stalked about their work with blind children in elementary and secondary schools. In April, Counselor Del Addias talked about ways the MAB and Montana Blind-Low Vision Services could improve the employability of the blind in Montana. Lastly, our Chapter is proud to have two award winning members among our midst. Dale Davis won the Chapter award for his contributions to our group. And Dan Burke won the Keith Denton award for his contributions to the whole state. Way to go, guys! Jim Marks reporting. Northwest Chapter (Kalispell) - Our Chapter had to make some changes and are back on course. We are meeting on the second Friday at 1:30 p.m. in the meeting room of the Flathead County Library. Two couples of the group enjoyed attending the State Convention at Fairmont Hot Springs May 1 - 3. It was very well planned, interesting speakers, good accommodations, and meeting many very interesting folks from throughout the State. Our summer in the Flathead will probably find us enjoying outings with picnics and fellowship. Always meeting on the second Friday at 1:30 p.m. Come join us. Aggie Gustafson reporting. Park County Chapter (Livingston) The group enjoyed a Christmas dinner and fellowship at the Paradise Inn. President Lois Haymond=FEs brother, Raymond Stephens, was a guest. He also is a victim of Macular Degeneration. January found Celeste Mezzuli telling about her training at the Perkins School for the Blind in Boston, Massachusetts. Our February speaker, Diana Frelich, was wonderful. She grew up in the Great Falls area where the Montana School for the Deaf and Blind is located. She started out very young to volunteer with the children at the school and in her own public school wherever she saw a need. As she grew older, the more interested she became and the more hours she spent as a volunteer with the visually impaired and hearing handicapped. She held us totally mesmerized. Eunice Nelson reporting. White Cane Chapter (Lewistown) - = January - No meeting. February - Met at the Meadows with the regular members and a new member, Ray Conard, who has macular degeneration. Ray is a Lewistown resident. Bob Brassey and Jim Schultz had interest in helping with the Books for the Blind when it was getting started. Both President Tim Hayward and 1st Vice President Ed Durbin reported on Ski for Light which was held in Lewistown and will be held here again next year. March - Our biggest and best surprise was the adopted baby son of Ed and Trissy Durbin. He was 4 days old when they got him. He weighed 5 pounds 13 ounces at birth and was up to 6 pounds 10 ounces by meeting time. He has been named Jared Wilson Durbin. Our congratulations to the happy couple. April - Members discussed the candidates, Phyllis Rohloff and Kay Kjellstrom, who running for District Representative, and local and National happenings and gave their opinions of each. A card was signed for Ed, Trissy and son Jared Wilson Durbin. No meeting is scheduled for May. Katherine Kurns reporting.=0CYellowstone Chapter (Billings) - January - We started a project to place pamphlets in Ophthalmologists=FE and Optometrists=FE offices. February - We lost our meeting place and now meet at Pizza Hut at 1604 Grand Avenue on the 2nd Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. and will continue meeting there. Meeting time will change to 7:15 p.m. in September. April - We decided to hold a fund-raising raffle for a 13 inch Panasonic TV/VCR. Tickets are $2 each or 3 for $5. Get in touch with Tracy Rector, Jim Aldrich, or any Chapter member to purchase tickets. Twelve members from our Chapter attended the MAB Convention at Fairmont Hot Springs. We all agreed that it was a great Convention, and we vote to hold it at Fairmont EVERY year. Thanks, Dillon! We welcomed two new members this month, Chris and Kathy Presley. We are working on getting the Radio Reading Service back in operation. We lost Marlene Ashworth to lung cancer and extend our sincere sympathy to Lee and family. Our annual picnic will be held August 11, and we invite members from all the other Chapters in the State to attend. See you all late summer. Marge Moberly reporting.=0CPersonal Glimpses - Nancy Buhre After the State Convention last year, and talking to representatives as well as owners, I decided to apply for a guide dog. I was accepted to Leader Dogs for the Blind in Rochester, Michigan. My schooling was from the 3rd to the 28th of August last summer. I came home with an 18 month-old male Golden Retriever named Zodiak. Since arriving home= , we have been busy traveling around the town on foot, by car and bus, as well as a trip on the train last fall to help my dog learn my routes and his environment. Recently, we had to wait in vain for the taxi to come get us for over an hour after my class at the Community College got done at 7:45 p.m. When all avenues had been exhausted, the only thing for us to do was to walk home. It was now 9:00 p.m., and we were 2 =AB miles from home. I told him =FEWell Zo, it=FEs up to you to get the two of us home safely.=FE He had only been to the campus once before in the daylight, so I wasn=FEt sure if he would know the way, but with only a couple of commands he got us home safely and in record time! It greatly bolstered my confidence in him, and I now have no qualms about going anyplace with him no matter what time of day!! Plus he is such a good companion!!=0CNFB Scholarship Jim Marks, NFB Scholarship Committee Member, announced that Rik James is one of 26 finalists who will be awarded a scholarship ranging from $3,500 to $10,000 at the 1998 National Federation of the Blind Convention in Dallas, Texas. Rik is in graduate study in orientation and mobility instruction at Louisiana Tech in Ruston, Louisiana. Only a few Montanans have ever won the national scholarship. Rik is to be congratulated for the honor and recognition. Raising The Bar =FERaising The Bar=FE, an article written by Dan Burke of the Missoula Chapter, first published in the Winter Issue of the MAB OBSERVER, is in the May issue of the Braille Monitor. Dan produced a fine article and is worth reading. MAB Large Print Cook Books The MAB=FEs Large Print Cook Books are still available at only $10 each! These make excellent gifts. The cook books were produced as a service project and are sold at cost. Contact Kay Kjellstrom at (406) 453- 0452 or the MAB Office at (406) 723-3383 to place your order.=0CMAB Summer Orientation Program I= t has been 54 years since the MAB conducted it=FEs first Summer Orientation Program. We think that Dorothy Bridgeman and Keith Denton were in this first class and we=FEre interested in hearing from anyone who may have more information. We=FEd also like to hear from anyone who would care to reminice about the SOP. Reading Aids Have you ever falle= n asleep while listening to your talking book? You wake up and want to continue listening but now you can't find where you stopped. Rewinding is a frustrating process. Jim Daily has solved this problem with his "Talking Book Marker". It is a hand held switch that plugs into the talking book machine. As you listen, holding the switch, falling asleep is no problem. The book shuts off as soon as your hand relaxes. Call Jim at (406) 782- 2202 or write to him at 835 Emma Street, Butte, MT 59701, for more information about this handy switch. =0C1999 MAB Convention The Missoula Chapter invites all to the party we=FEre throwing on April 30 through May 2 when our Chapter hosts the 1999 MAB Convention in Missoula. We will celebrate the end of the 20th Century and look forward to changing what it means to be blind in the 21st. Be sure to read your Observer for more details as next year=FEs Convention draws nearer. A.E.R. Conference Great Falls will be the site of the Association for the Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired Conference. It is scheduled to be at the Best Western Ponderosa Inn from October 14 - 16, 1998. Events include: a Braille and Speak workshop conducted by Duran DuBoise. "Should Vision be a criteria for O. and M. Certification?" by Michael Graham. Registration is $75.00 before September and $100.00 after. Contact Lee DuBoise for more information at (406) 496-4925 or E-Mail lduboise @mt.gov.=0CIntroducing the MAB OBSERVER Staff =FE This issue of the Observer is the first one produced by the newly appointed editor and editorial staff. I=FEm Myrle Tompkins and am replacing Rik James as editor. Rik did a very commendable job of keeping the Observer going and it is my goal to continue in this light. Our editorial staff includes Lee DeBoise and Kere Sheppard. They will assist in developing the contents of each newsletter, and Al Tompkins will be responsible for assembling the final copy for distribution. We look forward to this opportunity to serve MAB members and hope to hear from you. We=FEll do our best to keep you informed of local and State happenings in a timely manner.