THE OBSERVER The Montana Association for the Blind Winter 1998 an affiliate of The National Federation of the Blind Montana Association For The Blind Box 352, Butte MT 59703 (406) 723-3383 Who We Are . . . The Montana Association For The Blind is a 501 3 consumer organization comprised of blind and sighted people committed to changing what it means to be blind. Though blindness is still too often a tragedy to those who face it, we know from personal experience that with training and opportunity it can be reduced to the level of a physical nuisance. 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 e-mail. Dues for membership are $5.00 annually. To receive more information about the Montana Association For The 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. Anyone is invited to send articles, information, and announcements to be considered for publication in The Observer. Please submit items in the most final form possible. Unless you specify otherwise, final editorial decisions rest with the Editor. Send items on computer disks, in print, tape, or by electronic mail to: Rik James, Observer Editor, 716 N. Montana, Bozeman, MT 59715-2921. Phone: (406) 586-4123 / E-mail: Disk and cassette subscribers: You may duplicate the 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 its original envelope. The Observer is expensive enough to produce without these extra costs. Your cooperation is appreciated. CONTENTS >From The Editor By Rik James . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 What Blind & Low Vision Can and Can't Do for You by John DeHaas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Old Dogs, White Canes & Other New Tricks by Gwen Wood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 1997 Summer Orientation Program by Myrle Tompkins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Touching the Future: Scholarship and the Organized Blind by Jim Marks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 No More Magoo! By Carolyn Brock, Dan Burke and Jim Marks . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Raising the Bar: First Time at National Convention by Dan Burke . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Chapter Roundup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Inside The MAB / Personals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 In Memoriam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Announcements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Board of Directors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 * * 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 (406) 723-3383 Rik James, Editor Myrle Tompkins & Dan Burke, Associate Editors Vol. 49 Winter, 1998 No. 1 From the Editor With Regrets, and Thanks by Rik James This March marks five years since I volunteered to become the Editor of our state newsletter, The Observer. The circumstance that prompted me was the illness of its editor for many years, secretary-treasurer Lelia Proctor. I had great regard for her, and the job she'd done for so many years, and I felt it was something I could do to help out. By April, Mrs Proctor had passed away, and I tried to continue to honor her memory and to serve our members by carrying on the job. In my last letter from her, she wrote very favorably of the job I'd done, and said that perhaps she should have asked me sooner. The Observer took on a new look, with large print, and computer disk, and E-mail as new formats. I produced the cassette at home, and sent it to the library. The publication expanded in length, and scope. But at its core it remained a newsletter for our organization, to promote a positive attitude and provide information about blindness within our community of members and the public at large. I felt the long hours spent for each issue were worthwhile. Many phone calls and letters encouraged me. I am proud of it, and am proud that original articles written by our members were so highly regarded that indeed we have had no less than eight articles reprinted in national publications. The most recent were two articles from this past issue -- young Cody Greiser's speech at the parent's division at national convention in New Orleans last July (reprinted twice) and Jim Marks' in-depth report on the Greisers fair hearing regarding Cody's education. When I applied and was accepted to the graduate program at Louisiana this past summer, I knew it would be a challenge, but I cared so deeply about the ongoing work of the newsletter that I tried to continue to be the editor from a distance. I had good people back home who would help me with most of it, and I felt that I could continue in the position. But as you have surely noticed, our publication has not been on its normal timely schedule. For this, there is no one who can apologize but myself. And for any inconvenience it has caused you regular readers, I am sorry. There have been members who have been critical of the way I've done the job. They don't like Federation material in the newsletter. They have criticized that articles are sometimes too lengthy to be read on a CCTV. Some members have submitted things that were ultimately not included in the newsletter. As an editor, you come to expect that it is very difficult to please everyone, and you try to do the best you can. At the winter board meeting, I effectively resigned my volunteer position as editor of our publication. The school work simply must come first, and due to the difficulties associated with recent aspects of the job, I decided it would be best to step down. I really wish it could have worked out, because it meant very much to me, and I hope you will understand. It is my hope that you will continue to expect and receive the highest standards for our organization's newsletter. And I sincerely wish the new editor all the best with it. I am open to resuming the job at some time in the future. I'd like to thank all those who have given so much of their hard work for each issue. Top of the list would have to be my wife, Karen, who I'm missing every day that I'm down here in Louisiana. She proofread each and every word of each article, and her time often goes unrecognized, not to mention the hours labeling and mailing each issue. Thanks to all other members for contributing their articles, and on the braille and disk production committee, Jim Aldrich and Linda Hurlock. And finally thanks to Dan Burke, who has worked very, very hard on this issue; and Myrle Tomkins, who just signed on to lend a hand last fall. I hope as you continue to offer yourselves to our work in the organization, that it will include helping in whatever way with our newsletter and giving support to the efforts of your new editor.ð What Montana Blind & Low Vision Services Can and Cannot Do for You by John DeHaas, Bozeman Chapter (From the Editors: In the past year, Vocational Rehabilitation programs, including those for the blind, implemented new guidelines for financial services. Many rumors have circulated through the MAB regarding what that might mean. Past MAB President John DeHaas looked into the new financial rules, and filed this report.) Blind and Low Vision Services, a part of the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, provides assistance for the legally blind and blind. It administers funds allocated for that purpose derived from federal and state sources. As I understand the new rules, to qualify for financial benefits your income and assets, exclusive of the family home and your car, must be within 230% of the poverty level. Most of us do not understand how the amount is derived. There is a table listing family size, annual income and resources (which do not include home and car). If you need services and fall below these guidelines you are eligible for financial assistance for such equipment as a CCTV, magnifiers, visits to a Low Vision Clinic, etc. For a single person the annual income limit is $18,389 and "resources" of $9,194; for a family of 2 the income limit is $24,614 and resource limit is $12,307; and for a family of 3 the income limit is $30,839 and resource limit of $15,419. As family size increases the limits are raised. The resource limit is a particular problem for older people who need help and yet who saved for years to have money to carry them through the rest of their lives. They are reluctant to tap into reserves when they know that medical expenses may well soar as they become older. The program penalizes those who have worked for many years and have saved for the future. Perhaps they could continue working but cannot afford major items they might need, such as a CCTV, scanner, computer and voice synthesizer. Yet some assistance and training might enable them to maintain their independence, or even continue working in their field. Some services are available to eligible persons regardless of income. These include: 1) Information and referral; 2) Assessment for vocational rehabilitation eligibility (including transportation, meals and lodging necessary for the evaluation); 3) Counseling and guidance; 4) Placement; 5) No-cost post-employment services; 6) Instructional services; and 7) Assessment for rehabilitation technology. Although the above list promises "instructional services," apparently these are to be offered only by Blind and Low Visions Services staff. For example, the MAB Summer Orientation Program certainly is "instructional," but Blind and Low Vision doesn't support those who attend whose income and/or resources exceed the limit. Given the size of the state and the few instructors available to serve our population, many people never receive the help they need. If you want further clarification on this you can talk to your counselor, or go to the top and contact Joe Mathews, Administrator of Disability Services, or Bob Maffitt, Human Services Manager for Blind & Low Vision Services. The address for both is Dept. of Public Health and Human Services, Rehabilitation/Blind and Low Vision Services, P.O. Box 4210, Helena, MT 59624, phone 406 444-5622. If you have been refused assistance by your counselor you can appeal with the assistance of Lynn Winslow, Director, Client Assistance Program, P.O. Box 1680, Helena, MT 59624, phone 1-800-245-4743 or 406 444-3889. Old Dogs, White Canes and Other New Tricks by Gwen Wood, Missoula Chapter (From the Editors: Gwen attended the MAB Summer Orientation Program in the early 90s. She and her husband Bob don't seem to have slowed down since.) I have macular degeneration. It is an age-related disease that is the leading cause of legal blindness in older Americans. Thus, coping with reduced visual skills presents a challenge to a generation that was raised with the adage, "You can't teach an old dog new tricks." You are faced with living down this statement and getting on with your life. The first step in that process is to consult the professional, support, and organized groups that can (and will) assist you in making the transition to coping with limited vision. Since loss of visual acuity is a frightening experience, these groups will help to allay your fears and start you on the way to learning new skills that replace lost ones. One of the main sources of assistance on the road to independence is the Montana Association for the Blind. The program which was the most helpful to me was the MAB sponsored Summer Orientation Program, held each summer at Montana State University. The classes offered during this training helped me to regain self-reliance by acquiring skills such as orientation and mobility, as well as an introduction to Braille. These classes are confidence-builders, giving one the ability to function in new ways. In O&M class, I learned the value of the white cane. Since I retain some peripheral vision, I was at first embarrassed and reluctant to use my cane, and placed my reliance on a sighted guide. However, when going out alone, I realized that stairs, curbs, and traffic are challenges. By using my cane, I can cope with these challenges, and a cane provides me with protection as well as alerting drivers to use care. Now, my cane is out of the closet and used with confidence. Another class offered at the SOP is the introduction to Grade 1 Braille. These skills help you find the correct floor when using an elevator, and find the proper rest room in public areas. It also instructs you in how to use Braille tape to label kitchen supplies to aid in food preparation. I find that when I've labeled freezer foods, the packages are no longer a mystery. There are some humorous aspects to be found, as when I learned they had Braille lettering on the drive-up ATM machines! The Missoula chapter of the MAB has taken up the task of promoting Braille literacy. We are publicizing the fact that Braille is not "another language," but rather is English. It includes proper sentence structure as well as spelling and punctuation -- all of which are necessary for literacy. This Braille literacy focus has evolved into members tutoring other members in Braille skills. The Missoula chapter has also volunteered its members' skills and experience to the school system and stands ready to assist where and when called upon. In conclusion, it has been my experience that the more skills we seniors acquire in O&M, Braille, and other areas promoted by the MAB in its summer program, the more expert and independent we can be. These skills really are new tricks, and old dogs need them to meet the challenges of today.ð 1997 MAB Summer Orientation Program by Myrle Tompkins, President, Helena Chapter The MAB's Summer Orientation Program (SOP) for the Blind has been in continuous operation since 1945. Its goal has always been to help instill confidence and teach skills to the newly blind of Montana, which leads to a more comfortable and productive life. The impact of the Summer Orientation Program can't be stated more eloquently than comments made by students themselves. These are all taken from the 1997 Guide. "Learning and trying new ideas and skills make for a full, happy, active and independent life." ... "It is truly fun to go back to school again even at 79 and to find I can still take instructions and learn again to work and live normally though blind. Thanks for my new grasp on life." ... "I have learned something new everyday that will be helpful to me as my eyes will be able to see less. May the Program be able to continue helping people like me." Montanans have every right to be proud of the service and outcomes of the MAB's Summer Orientation Program. This can best be summed up with a quote from a staff member ... "When I see students arrive every year with so much fear and anticipation, I wish I could let them peek four weeks into the future, they would all see themselves surrounded by new friends and new skills. ... We all end up touching each others' lives in a way we never thought possible, we trade our apprehension for appreciation and our consternation for confidence." Plans for the 1998 SOP are being made. Please call the MAB office for information at (406) 723-3383 or write MAB, Box 352, Butte, MT 59701.ð Touching the Future: Scholarship and the Organized Blind by Jim Marks, MAB Board Member Question: Why do the Montana Association for the Blind and the National Federation of the Blind give scholarships to blind college students? A. To help the Blind Student. B. To help ourselves. What is the answer? Of the two responses given above, I prefer B. Sure, we give out scholarships to assist individuals. Green cash in the hands of students almost always helps the student. But our intent goes beyond the distribution of money to a few students. The organized blind use the scholarships to help ourselves. We help ourselves by finding and funding the leaders of tomorrow. In other words, scholarships touch the future. We can look on the MAB-NFB scholarships as an investment. Our investment is in people who, with guidance and attention from today's leaders, can be groomed for future leadership. It's like a big circle: Today's leaders invest in tomorrow's leaders. When tomorrow's leaders take over, they turn around and invest in the next generation. By extending a hand to one another, we remain strong and vital as an organization working towards a better life for blind people everywhere. I have the good fortune to serve on both the state and national scholarship committees. Committee members like me get the opportunity to meet positive thinkers from a wide variety of backgrounds. Believe you me, we find far more great candidates than we have scholarships for. Those selected are the cream of the crop. Their energy, fresh ideas, willingness to learn, and diversity make the job of committee membership a real joy. It is invigorating to say the least. One doesn't have to be a committee member to get involved, though. Every member should be doing what we can to get students to apply. And even more importantly, we should reach out with our experience and knowledge to give the scholarship applicants the benefits of what we have learned and accomplished.ð To apply or for more information contact: Montana Association for the Blind Emil A. Honka Scholarship (Two at $1,000 each), Due March 20 Scholarship Committee Chairman Roberta LeMieux 305 Fifth Ave South Glasgow MT 59230 (406) 228-2573 National Federation of the Blind Scholarships (26 ranging from $3,500 to $10,000 each), Due March 31, 1998. Scholarship Committee Chairman Peggy Elliott 805 Fifth Ave Grinnell IA 50112 (515) 236-3366 In addition to the state and national scholarships, two Montana chapters offer local scholarships. For more information on these, contact the Bozeman Chapter and Great Falls Chapter presidents. No More Magoo! By Carolyn Brock, Dan Burke and Jim Marks, Missoula Chapter (From the Editors: "Mr. Magoo" was released by Disney on Christmas Day, showing in Missoula at the Wilma Theater. This letter was drafted by members of the Missoula Chapter following a lively discussion of the issues and a vote to move ahead with it at the December 3 meeting. THE MISSOULIAN initially indicated it would run the letter, but the film didn't last two weeks in Missoula, and the letter never appeared on the editorial page.) On November 30, the Missoulian carried a feature about George Kerscher, a local computer consultant, who is an international leader in using current digital technology to make the written word accessible by the blind and dyslexic. This article never mentioned that Kerscher is blind himself. The reporter, Jim Ludwick, wisely focused on Kerscher's contributions rather than his ability or inability to see. Thus Ludwick avoided the many pitfalls of mistaken assumptions about blindness and gave Kerscher the respect he deserves. What a contrast to Mr. Magoo, the anti-hero of Disney's recently-released film. With his poor eyesight, Magoo is a bumbling buffoon who walks headlong into walls and talks to sweaters on coat-hangers, a worst-case scenario of what it is like not to see well. He embodies every sighted person's greatest fears about blindness. With the animated cartoon's first appearance in the 1940s, Magoo became the bane of those without 20/20 vision. "Hey Magoo!" became the epithet of choice for taunting blind and low vision children on playgrounds all over America. Disney's resurrection of the character opens the door for a new generation to be subjected to this shame. Last July, the National Federation of the Blind pointed this out to Disney, and asked that the corporation voluntarily stop production. Disney complained that the blind were trying to impose political correctness on them. Now, the film's closing credits include a little disclaimer stating that blindness can be respectable. Whatever Magoo may be, respectable he is not. Of course, Mr. Magoo is not blind -- or even visually impaired. He is a sighted person who can't see because he won't put on his glasses. Those who wear glasses or contact lenses may identify to some extent with Magoo, which is what gives the character its veneer of credibility. Near-sighted people often assume that taking their glasses off, and their subsequent feelings of frustration and inability to cope, is what it must feel like to be blind. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Magoo has not learned how to read Braille, navigate with a white cane, or work on a computer without seeing a screen or clicking with a mouse. He doesn't need to; he only needs to remember where he left his glasses! Competent blind people employ a wide range of skills unknown to Magoo -- and most sighted people. These skills make it possible for George Kerscher and others in Missoula to lead successful, productive lives -- earning a good living, raising families, contributing to their community. Meanwhile Magoo gropes and stumbles on, this time tripping the Disney Corporation and its feeble cries of foul play. Disney, it seems, just wouldn't put its glasses on. Magoo's image simply lacks appeal for either sighted or blind moviegoers. Reviewers across the country are panning the film. Susanna Sonnenberg of the Missoulian gave it a mere star and a half, blaming weak writing and direction for the movie's pratfall. We offer another explanation -- Mr. Magoo just isn't funny anymore.ð Raising the Bar: First Time at National Convention by Dan Burke (From the Editors: In 1996, the MAB Board of Directors decided to create more opportunities for Montanans to attend the National Federation of the Blind convention. A "first-timer" category was created and budgeted for any member who had never attended the national convention. In 1997, Dan Burke of Missoula was the first member to benefit from the $1000 award, enabling him to attend the convention in New Orleans. The MAB sends a delegate each year, whose travel expenses are covered by the NFB. In addition to the First Timer, MAB pays for an Alternate Delegate at $1000 and three stipends of $350 each to assist other members.) In New Orleans last summer, the National Federation of the Blind broke its own convention attendance record -- well over 3000 blind people from across the United States, Canada, and from around the world came to New Orleans. That was an organizational best, setting the bar a bit higher for future conventions to better. But I embraced a personal challenge -- raising the bar of what I expect of myself as a blind person. As I left high school and moved through college more than two decades ago, the wisdom spoken all around me was to take the safe route, forget about childhood dreams, ignore the heart. Both my parents and my Counselor for the Blind in Colorado truly wanted the best for me, but my discussions with them left me with the distinct impression that the rules were different for me because I was blind -- or rather, because I would become blind. At the time, I didn't know better. It would be a long time before I began to realize that what needed to be different was what I thought about being blind, not about what I wanted for myself. I struggled through college in four years, "passing" as a sighted person but always afraid of being discovered and feeling the embarrassment of inadequacy at my inability to function as a sighted student. After college, I put my sheepskin in a drawer and set off aimlessly on what turned out to be a downward-spiraling series of unsatisfying jobs. I skipped my 10-year high school reunion. Though I was bound for graduate school the next fall, I felt my life was at an all-time low, and just beginning on its upward turn. The facts were, as I saw it that summer, that I had accomplished nothing, was on Social Security, had just become a father and was broker than I had ever been in my life. I was finally heading into a rehabilitation career, but by default. I didn't have the confidence to attempt anything else, frankly and like so many who feel little personal power to help their own circumstances, I decided the thing I needed to do was to help others. That attitude that I must accept less than what I wanted began to change, though. And by the time I landed in New Orleans last summer I was hungry for confirmation that blindness need not mean giving up on dreams, giving up on achieving beyond the expectations of family, friends, neighbors and rehabilitation professionals. And I found what I was looking for. I was impressed with many things -- the many divisions, such as Braille, merchants, blind lawyers, scientists and techno-geeks, writers and journalists. The greatest impression, I suspect, were the many professions introduced in general session or in smaller division meetings. The scholarship candidates especially intrigued and excited me, because among their many academic disciplines were several I had ruled out when a younger man as being closed to me as a blind person. We heard from a surgeon (who once lived in Missoula!) Who found his way back into employment after becoming blind, working as a consultant. I talked to a woman working on her Master of Fine Arts in creative writing and teaching courses as well. One of the scholarship candidates was completing study as a dinosaur paleontologist. A VR program in Nebraska helped a blind man in his dream of being a truck driver -- not to drive, but to begin a successful trucking company. Admittedly, there was a time in my life when hearing about such successful blind people would have terrified me. It would have confronted my own feelings about my blindness, and the insecurity I felt. It would have raised the bar, the level of expectations for achievement, that didn't fit with my lack of confidence in myself. Now, however, I am tickled pink to carry my white cane. The news carrier can likely hear my Perkins Brailler thunking away at 5:30 in the morning as I compose poems in Braille. In the end, the talk I had with a man from Iowa, a scholarship finalist who was preparing to begin work on his doctoral degree in clinical psychology, summed it up the best for me. His chief area of interest, he told me, was in examining how the way we feel affects the way we think. Of course, I thought to myself, if I feel depressed or embarrassed or useless because I can't see, then I will think there is little open to me because I can't see. But when I can begin to feel that blindness isn't the problem, I can begin to think in terms of possibilities -- begin to expect more and work harder for what I want. I can raise the bar higher and higher for myself. And so, since the convention last July, that's what I have done. Chapter Roundup 1997 in Review (From the Editors: We asked each chapter to send a "year in review" article for this issue's Chapter Roundups. We Hope you enjoy them as much as we did!) Billings, Yellowstone Chapter submitted by Marge Moberly In March we gathered at West Park Retirement center one night For a great social gathering -- What a delight! For the Keith Denton Award We nominated Janice Six. Guess what? She came out Tops in the picks! In May Barnes & Noble Paid us many dollars To help them sell some books To their Sunday callers. We also said good-bye to Monica Sayler, our good friend Who moved back to Great Falls, Her mother to tend. In August our annual Picnic was eaten And a time like this with friends Can hardly be beaten. In September we helped Billings Low Vision Clinic open their new shop, Now to visit is easy parking And just a skip and a hop. Bruce and Joy fell in love And got married So over punch and cake We celebrated and tarried. In October the Chapter voted to keep Officers the same So no ballots were marked, Just the arm raising game. Merry Christmas brought a potluck At Casa Village Rec Hall A tasty turkey and all the trimmings We did eat it all. A Christmas shopping story >From Janice and Gerry Six Had a hilarious gift swap In a glorious mix. We did a few others things Throughout the year Including school visits by Members, so cheer, "Rah, Rah!" cause some kids Now know a little bit more About blindness And low vision than they ever did before. That's all from this Chapter for this time We do hope you enjoy Our short little rhyme. Bozeman submitted by Bernice DeHaas After a slow start (heavy snow fall forced cancellation of the January meeting) the Bozeman Chapter had a busy year. Attendance was usually between 25 and 30 members and guests. The calling committee reminds everyone of the meetings each month, which helps keep attendance up. In addition to the monthly business meeting we usually have a program. Speakers in 1997 included Pat Domme, MAB President, Sharon Larson, District 4 Representative, Helen Cowles telling about her activities with the Blind group when she is in California, and our local members who attended the State Convention. Other programs featured a book review by Nancy Gilchrist and a presentation by Michelle Simard of the Alta Physical Therapy and Fitness Center on the importance of regular exercise and a description of the facilities at the Center. In July the Chapter provided a luncheon for students and staff of the Summer Orientation Program and enjoyed visiting with everyone. As is customary, the September meeting was a pot luck luncheon to bring people back after no meeting in August. The Bozeman Lions Club members were our hosts for the December Christmas luncheon , with the local Chapter arranging the table favors and entertainment. This year the Sweet Adelines sang for the group. At the conclusion the Lions presented our "visually challenged" members with fruit baskets. In 1997 the Bozeman Chapter was pleased to be able to present three $500 Bayard and Erma Todd Scholarships to blind students attending Montana State University. These went to Kere Sheppard, George Bennett and Frank Schwaller. A substantial surprise bequest left to the Chapter by Leo Benolken required several meetings and discussions as to how to use it. Finally it was resolved to reserved $5,000 for the scholarship fund, plus $1,500 for scholarships in 1998-1999; give $5,000 to the MAB Summer Orientation Program; and put $5,000 in the Lelia Proctor Memorial Fund. The latter has been growing more slowly of late, but the Chapter hopes it will be seed money for an eventual permanent center or other project to honor Lelia. We were sadden by the death of several members and former members: Arthur "Mike" Schultz, Irma Patrick, Barbara Harman, and Mildred Leigh. Some have moved away (Bill & Peggy Schultz, and Blaine & Rose Cobat among them), but we have acquired a number of new members, both area students of the SOP and others who are facing impaired vision. We don't know what challenges 1998 will bring; hopefully we will be equal to them. Silver Bow and Beaverhead Chapters (From the Editors: These Chapters were too busy to send anything but the announcement for the 1998 MAB Convention to be held at Fairmont on May 1, 2 and 3. It will be a great time and all should plan to attend.) Helena, Capital City Chapter submitted by Myrle Tompkins Our year was dominated by hosting the 1997 MAB State Convention. It was a successful group effort and left us feeling very proud and pleased. Myrle Tompkins attended the Low Vision Seminar in Billings last May. It was an enlightening experience. All low vision members should take advantage of the next one. It was our Chapter's privilege to help sponsor Brittany Eldredge to attend Space Camp in Alabama in September. She delighted us with her experiences when she spoke at our October meeting. Unfortunately our Convention Coordinator, Lorraine Cattermole, suffered a heart attack in December but is now recovering. We gained three new members: Jim Hopkins, June Weston and Rose Ramsey. Sandy Jarvie is leaving us for Texas. She has been our Chapter secretary for the past three years. Many know her as the director of the Talking Book Library. We are starting 1998 by dining out. This will be a farewell to Sandy. The year's planning will begin in February. Kalispell, Buffalo Hills Chapter (From the Editors: The Buffalo Hills chapter was unable to submit a "year-end" report, but here is a summary of their fall meeting reports, submitted by Peggy Grafe.) The Buffalo Hills Chapter of Kalispell took the summer off, and resumed meetings in the fall. Their activities included presentations by Dr. Barth of Kalispell, who discussed facts and myths about vision and vision loss. In October they were introduced to a Leader Dog, and learned of the training process for both dog and master in the effective use of the working animal. In the late summer, some members enjoyed a kayak and canoe trip, which was featured in an article in the Eureka paper. As the year came to a close, the chapter prepared to begin calendar sales and to work with the local United Way. Northwest Chapter submitted by Aggie Gustafson The Northwest Chapter of MAB has had a great year with the participation and enthusiasm of our increasing membership. This year the chapter doubled its membership. We have a great group of new and old members. In July Audrey and Leonard Jungers hosted a potluck picnic at their home for members and families. It was a beautiful day. President Flo and Joe Nelson attended the Low Vision Seminar held in Billings in May. Flo returned with lots of enthusiasm and helpful ideas. In September Pat Domme visited our Chapter and reported on projects of MAB. Several of the Chapter attended the District meeting held in Kalispell. In October our District Representative, Jim Marks, visited us. He presented our Chapter with the book Walking Alone, Marching Together, which was donated to the Flathead County Library in our name. In December several of the group donated items for the Buffalo Terrace Christmas Party for visually impaired children of the valley. December 12 the Chapter held its no-host luncheon at the Outlaw Inn. 13 members and guests attended. Entertainment was by the West Valley Girls Chorus singing a variety of Christmas songs led by their delightful leader, Linda Peterson. Lewistown, The White Cane Club (From the Editors: The White Cane Club was unable to provide a "year in review" article. Here are highlights of fall meeting reports submitted by Secretary Katherine Kurns.) The White Cane Club of Lewistown meets monthly at The Meadows. But the members met at the home of Helen Dalton for their August pot-luck picnic. Helen set up the table in the patio, and it was a beautiful day. We had a variety of food and Helen served coffee and lemonade also. The time was spent in eating and visiting. During early fall, members sold at least 10 Large Print Cookbooks, which are available from the MAB. Helen turned 90 and was celebrated throughout the community. Other members visited with family, cared for livestock and completed woodworking projects. Livingston, Park Chapter submitted by Mildred McMillion The Livingston Chapter of the Blind has had a very interesting year. We began the year by welcoming two new members, Ann Woodhall and Carolyn Alverson. One of the highlights of our year was our picnic. It was held in the city park. We had a very good turnout and wonderful food, including homemade ice cream and a variety of chicken, salads and desserts. We had some very interesting programs this year. One was about animals of the far north and a second program with detailed information about the sights and sounds of China. Sam Lorango visited us and explained the working of the funding for the blind services in the State. It seems to get more complicated every year. In April Mildred McMillion fell and broke her ankle so several different people acted as secretary for the next two months. Margo Asserland spoke about working with blind children and the efforts being made to main stream them. We also had a program about Senior Companions. We ended the year with a lovely no host Christmas party at the Paradise Inn. A good time was had by all. It has been a very interesting and productive year. Missoula submitted by Carolyn Brock "Good habits shouldn't be broken." That was the theme of the Missoula Chapter's recent book fair, and one of the year's highlights for us. As the original intent of the project was to publicize the importance of Braille for blind people of all ages, we created the slogan to emphasize the idea that reading was a habit which should not be broken, even if a person could no longer read print. But the phrase came to mean much more: the good habit of lending our association's support to locally owned businesses, and that of those businesses supporting organizations such as the MAB. The three ideas are now inseparably linked. Our chapter's book fair to promote Braille literacy was held on November 6th in three local bookstores: Fact and Fiction downtown, Freddy's Feed and Read in the university area, and the Book Exchange in a busy shopping center. Owners of each of the three stores had agreed to donate ten percent of their sales that day to our chapter. In each store, a display table or counter was set up, and chapter members were on hand all day to discuss the importance of Braille for blind people of all ages. We handed out the Braille alphabet cards provided by the state library, as well as print copies of the NFB pamphlet "Questions Children Ask about Blindness." We had samples of publications in Braille, and also print copies of the most recent edition of the Observer. We also demonstrated how to write Braille, using both a slate and stylus, and a Perkins Brailler. We all wore Braille name tags, as did the bookstore employees -- a real attention-getter! Of course, our most curious customers were children. One of the stores had run a newspaper ad the previous day, emphasizing the opportunity for children to learn about Braille. Since the grade schools were not in session because of parent-teacher conferences, a number of parents brought their children in, wanting a mini-lesson in Braille and a name tag. Children were eager to punch out letters on the slate and to type on the Brailler. We were repeatedly amazed at how fast they learn! Another of the stores had invited Jeannette Ingold, a local writer whose book, The Window, is about a blind teen-aged girl. (Those of you who attended last year's MAB convention will remember Jeannette as our banquet speaker.) It was fun to join her and the book store owners in good conversations about good books we had all read -- another example of a good habit which shouldn't be broken. The book fair was also an occasion for our members to enjoy working together, as we put in our shifts at the bookstores in groups of two or three. It was a chance to talk about books and to improve our knowledge about Braille, learning from each other. The Missoula Chapter has developed a steady membership since moving meetings to evenings two years ago. We had a summer pizza party in the park to celebrate spring, and kicked off the fall schedule with a meeting at Bonner Park followed by the City Band Concert. We have a chapter treasury over $1000, remarkable in that prior to the change to evening meetings, the chapter never had more than $100 in its account! In 1997 we made connections in the area with parents of blind and low vision children, and for 1998 plan to work more closely with educators and rehabilitation professionals in western Montana. We ended the year with a Christmas party, hosted by Gail and George Kerscher in their home. Gail's co-workers from Missoula Hospice were also there. The party was a well- deserved celebration for a busy and productive year in Missoula. Montana Association For The Blind Low Vision Cook Books Now Available, only $10.00 each The State Coordinator for Sales is Kay Kjellstrom (406) 453-0452. The recipes are your own. Impress your family and cook away! Does your chapter have a cookbook coordinator yet? Volunteer!ð Inside the MAB / Personals Low Vision Library Access The Glasgow City-County Library now has a Closed Circuit TV, a Luxo Lamp and a new desk thanks to the determined work of Candi Lemeiux. Candi chose this goal as her Girl Scout Gold Award Project -- the highest Girl Scout achievement possible. At 17, Candi is one of the youngest girls to receive this award, which takes three years to complete. Candi earned $2800 by catering a 3 day Girl Scout Camp in May, asking local businesses to help, as well as receiving individual donations from the Glasgow community. Candi is the daughter of Clem and Roberta Lemeiux, all members of the MAB. This project makes the Glasgow library and its contents accessible to community members with low vision. Candi has demonstrated a wonderful sense of citizenship. She is a young lady that we can all be very proud of. Thank you Candi! NASA Space Camp (From the Editors: This is a recap of Brittany Eldredge's report on her trip to the NASA Space Camp in Alabama. Brittany is a junior at Helena High School.) Brittany Eldredge took her first trip away from home and first airplane flight. She left Great Falls with Becky Monroe, her mobility instructor. In Huntsville students were taken to the space center and assigned quarters in "the Habitat" with three other space travelers. Brittany and shipmate Winter were scientists on their first mission. They went through physical conditioning and constructed model rockets. Other pre-flight preparations included several space flight simulators. They next became familiar with the booster prop and learned how to check the engines, all about the planets and what it is like to live in space. They performed their mission on Thursday and it was a success! Brittany graduated with her Space Class and expressed a desire to go again. Miscellaneous Bruce Breslauer and Joy Root married September 27 at Messiah Lutheran Church with a reception following. The newlyweds address is 51 Roundup, Billings, MT 59102-6289. Kay Maloney of Great Falls is also rumored to have married on October 4, details unknown. Board Member Kay Kjellstrom and Ann Sutton went camping and hiking in Glacier over the Labor Day weekend. Kay says she saw the Park in a different way even with the leg she broke and for which she is still in therapy. (Kay broke one leg in three places falling off an unexpected step next door, not while hiking in Glacier.) Aaron Tillman of Great Falls broke both legs in a fall from his roof out in Belt. Friends completed the re-roofing on the day of the Great Falls picnic. Alice Ridl had a replacement knee put in September 21. You may write to her at 1016 7th Ave. No, Great Falls, MT 59401. In Memoriam In recent months, a number of MAB members and friends of the MAB have been lost, including Helen Burns of Kalispell last fall, Earl Lee Chamberlain on December 8 and Lori Wold of Bozeman on January 2. Mrs. Rosetta Lawson of Columbus, Mississippi, passed away April 10. Mrs. Lawson was the mother of Third Vice President Nancy Holt of Great Falls. Nancy flew to Mississippi to attend the services, missing last April's convention in Helena. She brought her father back when she returned. Mrs. Lawson came to Great Falls in spring 1994 when Nancy had her leg amputated and stayed until Nancy went to summer school. She attended MAB chapter meetings. Richard Gilead, an MAB member from Havre and Alice Ridl's brother died August 11. The Bozeman Chapter lost three members since the first of the year. Mildred Leigh, a former SOP student died recently. Avis and Wayne Martin both died as a result of an auto accident in late January. Memorials in the names of the Martins should be made to the MAB, Bozeman Chapter, c/o John DeHaas. Our deepest sympathies to all the friends and families of all those we've lost in the past year.ð Announcements Call for New Editors With Rik James resigning as Observer editor the Montana Association for the Blind is looking for a new team of editors. Interested people should send letters to the state office at P.O. Box 352, Butte MT 59703-0352. The letter should include ideas for publishing the quarterly newsletter of the association, ideas for obtaining articles and for informing members of programs and activities happening within our state and organization. The letter should be in the state office by March 12, 1998. All letters of interest will be reviewed by a committee and prioritized as to interest, ideas, and ability. The list will be given to the Board of Directors for review. The Board of Directors will choose the best team of Editors for the Observer. Any articles, chapter reports or other announcements for the Observer should be sent to the state office, P.O. Box 352, Butte, MT 59703. Convention Is Coming! The 1998 MAB Convention will be held May 1, 2 & 3 at Fairmont Hot Springs. Featured speaker will be Nikolai Stevenson, President of the Macular Degeneration Foundation. Transportation from the Butte bus station and the airport are being arranged. Registration and reservation materials will be in the mail soon. Mark your calendars and watch the mail! MAB Election '98! (Editor's Note: Linda Hurlock of Billings is serving again this year as chair of the nominations committee for the MAB. The letter below was sent to chapter presidents in early January. However, as of press time, no nominations have arrived. As a result, the deadline for receipt of nominations has been extended to March 7, 1998.) It is time again to think about the upcoming election. This year, we will be electing five district representatives. All the nominations with biographical sketches must be mailed by February 28th to the MAB nominating committee, Linda Z. Hurlock Chairman, 3116 8th Avenue North, Billings, MT 59101, so the ballots can be sent out in March. Don't hesitate to nominate someone other than yourself; just remember they must reside in the district and be willing to serve if elected. Biographical sketches should be no more than 150 words in length. It will be the most helpful to the voting membership if the sketch follows these guidelines: 1) A short description, the candidate is blind, low vision, long time MAB member etc.; 2) a summary of past and current involvements with the MAB, such as summer school committee, legislative committee, local chapter officer etc.; 3) Overall goals and directions, more involved membership, include transportation, technology training etc.; 4) Lastly, a brief position statement. The closer you follow these guidelines, the less editing there will be and if you stay within a hundred words, there will be no editing at all. Let's work hard to be sure that there are at least two candidates from each district. It's a great opportunity to contribute on the state level. Don't just sit back and let others do it! Sincerely, Linda Z. Hurlock (406) 255-8957 MAB Scholarship Time! Each year at its spring convention, the MAB awards two $1000 scholarships in the name of Emil A. Honka. The Honka scholarships are open to any Montana resident who is blind, legally blind or has a prognosis of severe vision loss, and is completing either an undergraduate or graduate degree. Applications must be received by March 20, 1998. They will be awarded during the convention banquet on May 2 at Fairmont Hot Springs. For more information and for application materials, contact Scholarship Chairperson Roberta Lemieux, 305 5th Avenue S., Glasgow, MT 59230 or call her at (406) 228-2573. MAB Awards The MAB gives two state-wide awards each year at its spring convention, as well as recognizing contributions at the chapter level. The Dorothy C. Bridgman Award may be given for outstanding contributions to the blind, either as a member or non-member. The Keith Denton Award is given for significant contributions to the MAB by a member.. All awards information are mailed to the chapters, or may be obtained from the state office. SOP Positions Open And of course, planning is underway for the 1998 Summer Orientation Program in Bozeman. Positions are available for instructors in cooking, Orientation & Mobility, Rehabilitation Teacher, crafts, Braille, typing, computers and low vision. There are also positions for discussion leader, exercise leader and Director's Aide. Applications are due at the MAB office in Butte by March 31, 1998, and materials can be obtained by calling Betty Lou Berg at the MAB office, (406) 723-3383. Until Next Time Thanks to our contributors, as well to the volunteers who help put this issue together. Thanks also to Jim Aldrich, you get a high quality Braille edition. His phone number is (406) 259-3729, should you want to talk about it or just thank him. And thanks to Linda Hurlock who mails out the computer disk version. She asks that we remind you that the card in the pocket of the disk mailer is to be flipped so the mailer can be sent back. Any envelope with velcro is a returnable mailer. Please remember to send your change of addresses and preference for format to Secretary Betty Lou who keeps the ever changing mailing list up to date. Our thanks to the Montana State Library who duplicate and distribute the cassette version. The remaining two pages are reference sheets of addresses and phone numbers of your leaders. Use them. Let them hear from you! And please send the editor your news notes and articles for the next issue. Deadline is set at May 30, 1998. MAB Office Hours Mrs. Betty Lou Berg - Secretary 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday / Tuesday / Wednesday 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Thursday / Friday Phone : 406 / 723-3383 Items you should send to the Secretary: Annual membership dues, chapter meeting times and location, the names of officers, chapter financial reports, committee reports, and your mailing address and format preference for receiving The Observer. Chapter Presidents and Meeting Times MONTANA ASSOCIATION FOR THE BLIND 1997 Chapter Presidents Billings: Yellowstone Chapter Tracy Rector, President 415 19th St. West Billings MT 59102 (406) 698-7672 Meets 3rd Tuesday at 7 p.m. at First Congregational Church Bozeman: Bozeman Chapter Lillian Todd, President 402 Yarger Dr. Bozeman, MT 59715 (406) 587-3729 Meets 2nd Friday at 2 p.m. at Darlington Manor, 606 N. 5th Ave. Butte: Silver Bow Chapter Rita Layman, President 2123 Silver Bow Blvd. Butte, MT 59701 (406) 723-0289 Meets 3rd Thursday at 7 p.m. at Community Center Dillon: Beaverhead Chapter Julie Jacobsen, President 725 West Park St. Dillon, MT 59725 (406) 683-2826 Meets 2nd Monday at 7 p.m. at Women's Resource Center Great Falls: Great Falls Chapter William Kleinhans, President 3624 3rd Ave. South Great Falls, MT 59405 (406) 761-4818 Meets 2nd Monday at 7 p.m at Senior Citizen Center Helena: Capital City Chapter Myrle Tompkins, President 1307 9th Ave. Helena, MT 59601 (406) 443-4352 Meets 4th Monday at 7 p.m. at Eagles Manor Kalispell: Northwest Montana Chapter Flo Nelson, President Box 271 Big Fork MT 59911 (406) 837-3888 Meets 2nd Friday at 1:30 p.m. at the Public Library Kalispell: Buffalo Hills Chapter Nancy Buri, president Buffalo Hills Terrace 40 Claremont St. #115B Kalispell, MT 59901 (406) 257-8859 Meets 1st Friday at 1:00 p.m. at Buffalo Hills Terrace Lewistown: White Cane Chapter Tim Hayward, President 414 4th Ave. N. Lewistown MT 59457 (406) 538-3856 Meets 2nd Wednesday at 2 p.m. at the Meadow Manor, 707 Farewell St. Livingston: Park County Chapter Lois Haymond, President 125 S. 7th Livingston, MT 59047 (406) 222-1339 Meets 1st Monday at 1:30 p.m. at Living Steps Wellness Center Missoula: Missoula Chapter Carolyn Brock, President 3020 Elm Park Drive Missoula MT 59801 (406)543-8077 Meets 1st Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. at Corbin Hall, University of Montana, Missoula Montana Association For The Blind Board of Directors - Autumn, 1996 President : Pat Domme 2724 Amherst Ave. Butte MT, 59404 (406) 494-4571 1st Vice President : Rik James 716 North Montana Ave. Bozeman MT, 59715-2921 (406) 586-4123 E-mail: rikjames@mcn.net 2nd Vice President : Myrle Tompkins 1307 9th Ave. Helena, MT 59601 (406) 443-4352 3rd Vice President : Nancy Holt 905 32nd St. South Great Falls MT, 59405 (406) 761-4348 District One : Jim Marks 540 E. Kent Missoula MT, 59801 (406) 549-7047 E-mail: marks@selway.umt.edu District Two : Bennie Longie 1160 E. Sebree Dillon MT, 59725 (406) 683-2826 District Three : Kay Kjellstrom 3222 Second Ave. North Great Falls MT, 59401 (406) 453-0452 District Four : Sharon Larson Box 81 Shawmut MT, 59078 (406) 632-4706 District Five : Sarah Bradley 1633 Lynne Ave. Billings MT, 59102 (406) 656-7162 Montana Association For The Blind FREE MATTER P.O. Box 352 FOR THE BLIND Butte, MT 59703 FIRST CLASS MAIL Dated Material Address Correction Requested We are a United Way Member Agency Gallatin - Cascade TO: [ Part 3: "Attached Text" ] daniel J. Burke access Coordinator The University of Montana