The NFBF OUTREACH The Official News Magazine of the National Federation of the Blind of Florida Issue # 5 컴 Summer, 1994 2 The NFBF OUTREACH is published by National Federation of the Blind of Florida Wayne Davis, President 1949 Marseille Drive Number 2 Miami Beach, FL 33141 (305)861-8425 Please send changes of address, submissions, and all other OUTREACH-related correspondence to: Dan Hicks, Editor 4608 West Longfellow Avenue Tampa, FL 33629 (813)837-4831 ___________________________________________________________________ TABLE OF CONTENTS ___________________________________________________________________ FROM THE PRESIDENT Wayne Davis Page 3 OUTREACH MICROS Page 6 J O B NEWS Gloria Mills Page 11 1993 FLORIDA CONVENTION IS LARGEST EVER! Dan Hicks Page 12 1994 WASHINGTON SEMINAR Wayne Davis Page 17 Y'ALL COME! Gloria Mills Page 19 CHAPTER NEWS Page 19 ASSOCIATES UPDATE Janet Caron Page 22 IN HARNESS Marion Gwizdala Page 24 HOW TO USE A WHITE CANE Connie Reagan Page 26 DALLAS CONVENTION (a Poem) Bea Love Gladden Page 28 LIBRARY SENATE HEARING Wayne Davis Page 29 WHAT'S COOKIN'? Page 30 OUT OF CONTEXT Page 32 SMILES Page 35 EDITORIAL MATTERS Dan Hicks Page 37 3 ___________________________________________________________________ FROM THE PRESIDENT 컴 Wayne Davis ___________________________________________________________________ WHAT IS THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND? I think we can best define the National Federation of the Blind by first deciding what it is not. The NFB is not an organization for the blind, but as we have often been heard to say, it is an organization of the blind. The NFB is not merely a social organization, although, in some ways the Federation is like a great big family. Each year at our state and national conventions old friendships are renewed, and new ones are started. The National Federation of the Blind is not, nor will it ever be, a rubber stamp for any state or national agency, but neither are we the die-hard radicals that we are sometimes said to be. Sure, the Federation has held demonstrations for worthy causes relating to blindness in the past. I know this to be true because I have taken part in several marches and other demonstrations. I know that whenever rights are denied to blind people, and the channels of reason are closed, that we will again stand up and be counted. Far more often, though, we use education of the public to change some factor relating to blindness, rather then marching in front of the television cameras. We, the members of the National Federation of the Blind, are key players in the blindness field. We write all the necessary letters and make all the required phone calls and visits, to change laws and to pass new ones. We personally help other blind men and women and children to learn some of the blindness skills that we ourselves have learned. The Federation offers many different things to many different people. Our publications are sent all over the world, and our voice is heard wherever blindness is an issue. We all have a voice in the policies and goals of the NFB, and any of us can be elected to an office in this organization. It's not just the people with degrees from big universities who serve as leaders. I am living proof of that; my formal education stopped with my high school diploma. 4 We have a long history of bringing about changes in the quality of life for blind people. How do we feel about other organizations for blind people? We do not wish them bad luck. On the other hand, neither are we likely to take up their banner, and support their causes. Not because we have anything in particular against any of them. It is just that we are following our own courses, and have our own agendas. Do we help blind people who do not belong to the NFB? Sure we do. At least half of the phone calls and letters I receive are from people who do not belong to the NFB. A large number of the students that apply for our scholarships are not members of the Federation either. I seldom ask a student if he or she belongs to the NFB. We, the men and women who make up the National Federation of the Blind, are trying to change what it means to be blind: not just for our members, but for blind people everywhere. If this weren't true, our many publications would be sent just to card-carrying NFB members, and our scholarships would be limited to people within our own ranks. I am proud to be a part of this great movement, and I count it as a real honor to serve as the State President here in Florida, my adopted home. When the day comes that I am no longer president and I have handed over the reins of the presidency to the person who will follow me in this office, I only hope that he or she will find something for me to do to help continue our ongoing march toward equality. We are the voice of the blind, and together we shall prevail. INCLUDED BY PRESIDENTIAL MANDATE This last item is included per my order, because I think you, the reader of this publication, should know how many long hours of hard work that Dan Hicks gives to put out the OUTREACH. I know Dan well enough to know that unless I give him a direct order to publish this, he will be reluctant to do so, because he is never one to seek out praise or recognition. Dan Hicks, as editor of the OUTREACH spends many hours just 5 updating the database that is our mailing list. He has around fifteen categories for each entry. We now have well over two thousand people on our mailing list, and it grows almost daily. With the help of the chapter presidents and Theresa and LeRoy Schaffer, Dan is constantly entering new people, and changing the addresses of those who have moved. Now, that is just the mailing list. As for the OUTREACH itself, to get a typed copy ready to go to press, he must select 컴or write컴articles and other material and lay it out, in doing so, keeping in mind the spacing for large type. He then makes a tape of the finished copy for our cassette version. Once the tape is ready to reproduce, he has to set up the tape duplicator and several "slave" units. This equipment takes up his and Gloria's dining room table for several days as he loads the master cassette into the duplicator, and seven blank cassettes into the slave units. This process must be repeated over and over hundreds of times until he has the required number of cassette copies made. He then must pack them into boxes to ship to Vice President Jeff Harmon's home, and to State Board Member Ken Rollman's home so they can mail them out to each of us. Dan must also package envelopes and labels to send to Jeff and Ken. So, when you take your copy of the OUTREACH out of your mail box, and turn its pages or listen to it on your tape player, just remember that a guy named Dan worked hard, so that you could receive it. Thank you Dan for caring enough to do all that hard work. I also want to thank Patti Johnson for helping proofread the OUTREACH, and Gloria Mills for all she does and for letting Dan have all those boxes of cassettes, Labels and envelopes in their home. Also, thank you for letting your dining room table become a recording studio for days at a time. My thanks also go out to Jeff Harmon and Erlinda Harmon and to Ken Rollman and Julaine Arient-Rollman for putting all those cassette copies of the OUTREACH into all those envelopes and sticking on all those mailing labels and getting them mailed. It's all a big job, and it gets bigger each time. Thank you all. 6 ___________________________________________________________________ OUTREACH MICROS ___________________________________________________________________ DEAF-BLIND COMMITTEE ESTABLISHED Joseph Naulty writes: "The National Federation of the Blind of Florida is pleased to announce the formation of a new Deaf and Blind Committee. I have been elected Chairperson. "It is extremely important I contact those in your individual groups who are afflicted with dual sensory impairment. This will include those wearing hearing aids and having visual loss. It is my mission to inform everyone with dual sensory impairments of services available to them. The newly formed Deaf and Blind Committee will be working closely with all interested parties to get the necessary information into the hands of those requiring services. "We plan to start out with a newsletter which will contain articles and information concerning deaf and blind issues. One of our ongoing efforts will be continued research into assistive devices. Please send me names, addresses, and phone numbers so we can send the newsletter covering deaf and blind issues to all interested parties." Please send inquiries and information to: Joseph B. Naulty 1800 NE 43 Court Oakland Park, FL 33308 (305)772-1825 HENTER-JOYCE WINS AWARD, PRESIDENT WINS ELECTION Henter-Joyce, one of Florida's leading technology companies, was recently presented with the coveted "Vendor of the Year" Award for 1993 by the U.S. Department of Commerce. The award reads in part, "In recognition of your exemplary contribution by providing 7 valuable adaptive technology and support services for the disabled". Company President Ted Henter has also been elected to the office of President of our Pinellas Chapter. "Getting more involved in politics is something I have been avoiding for some time," Ted wrote in a letter to NFBF President Wayne Davis. "After seeing all the good things happening at the state convention I decided to run. I look forward to working with other members of our chapter and others, like yourself, to do some good things." Congratulations to Henter-Joyce, to Ted Henter, and to the Pinellas Chapter. LIBRARY NAME CHANGE The organization we have known and loved as the Florida Bureau of Library Services for the Blind and Physically Handicapped has a new name. It will now be known as the Bureau of Braille and Talking Book Library Services. This name, it is felt, will more accurately describe the library's mission, and the role it plays in our lives. The library's toll-free number is still 1-800-226-6075. GATOR BUMPS ANNOUNCED J & K Gator Bumps, the braille embossing service founded by Ken Rollman, has now begun serving clients. The company will produce braille copies of menus, documents manuals, and other inkprint material at a cost of 35 cents per page for the first ten pages and 30 cents for each additional page. For more information, contact: Ken Rollman, Owner J & K Gator Bumps 501 SouthWest 75th St #A-2 Gainesville, FL 32607 (904)331-0350 8 NAPUB BRAILLE-A-THON PLANNED For the past five years, the National Federation of the Blind of Louisiana has held a Braille-A-Thon as a pre-convention event, as a means to promote braille literacy and to raise funds. They have received some excellent publicity and have raised over $5,000.00! The National Association to Promote the Use of Braille (NAPUB) will hold a similar event at this year's National Convention in Detroit. It will be held Friday, July 1, 1994, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.. If it is as successful as they hope, it will be a tradition at future National Conventions. Betty Nicely, one of NAPUB's co-chairpersons says, "If Louisiana can raise two thousand for a state convention, there is no reason why we couldn't raise over one hundred thousand for our national Braille- A-Thon." She adds, "We want to make this an annual event. I bet it will be one of the quietest fundraisers we could ever have." For more information or for sponsor sheets you may contact either: Betty Nicely Jerry Whittle 3618 Dayton Ave. 101 South Trenton St. Louisville, KY 70402 or Ruston, LA 71270 (502)897-2632 800-234-4166 MARILYN BALDWIN NAMED TRANSPORTATION COMMISSIONER Greater Orlando Chapter President Marilyn Baldwin has been appointed by Governor Lawton Chiles to be a member of the Florida Transportation Disadvantaged Commission. Marilyn has worked for many years as a member of the NFB to improve transportation in Central Florida and throughout the state, for all blind, disabled, and transportation disadvantaged users. She introduced Resolution 93-04 (see page 16) at our last state convention, which was passed and has been implemented. We will all look forward to working with Marilyn on these vital issues. 9 GOLDEN ACCESS PASS OFFERED This item was submitted by Paula Wilson of Tampa. The National Park Service offers its Golden Age Passport to any U.S. citizen or permanent resident over the age of 62. The passport, which costs $10.00, grants lifetime entrance to all national parks, monuments, and recreational areas. It must be purchased in person at the National Park Service headquarters in Washington, DC, or at any park where a fee is charged. The pass allows free entry to one noncommercial passenger vehicle and its passengers. Additionally, he NPS offers Blind and permanently disabled persons a free Golden Access pass, which must also be picked up in person. For more information, write: National Park Service Office of Public Inquiries PO Box 37127 Washington, DC 20013-7127 CARL MILLER'S LATEST RESTORATION St. Lucy Chapter President Carl Miller is just about finished with his latest antique vehicle restoration, a 1941 World War II military Jeep. Carl says, "I've been working on it for four years. If there had been one more bolt missing, we would have called it a parts car." Among the many items missing from the Jeep were the engine, transmission, seats, windshield, and gas tank. He had to find all these parts in addition to restoring the car. This will be the tenth vehicle he has restored since losing his sight twenty-four years ago. He is very happy with his latest restoration. OLIVE GARDEN HAS MENUS ON TAPE The Olive Garden, the Orlando-based restaurant, has announced that it is introducing menus on audio cassette tape for the blind and others who have difficulty reading print. The tapes are 10 available in most of the chains 425 restaurants. A hand-held cassette player is supplied with the set of four tapes. This is in addition to the braille menus the Olive Garden already offers, giving blind patrons exactly what restaurants should be prepared to offer all patrons컴choice. DONALD MAJEWSKI QUOTED The following is an excerpt from an article that appeared in the "Pasco" section of the St Petersburg Times, October 15, 1993 Donald Majewski, President of the Pasco Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind, explains the "white cane" is a blind person's key to the outside world. "When you see us going about our daily chores, take note of the white cane and help us to make this a safer and nicer world for all of us." Majewski explained that blind people do not want pity or sympathy. He says he does not feel his blindness is a handicap, only a "slight inconvenience." As president of the Pasco Chapter of the NFB, he is assisted by Joann Hotlin, Vice Presient; Morris Bien, Second Vice President; Diane Ficorelli, Scretary; and Roberta Majewski, Treasurer. The club meets at 1 p.m. the third Thursday of the month at the Eagles Aerie, New Port Richey. For information, call Majewski at (813)863-2289. OBITUARY We are sad to note the death of Sylvia Paradise, for several years a member of the Palm Beach Chapter. She contributed a great deal to her chapter, and was one of the top sellers of Florida raffle tickets at the last national convention. She passed away near the end of March of natural causes. 11 ___________________________________________________________________ J O B NEWS 컴 Gloria Mills ___________________________________________________________________ Gloria Mills is JOB Chairperson for the Florida Affiliate. The good news is that you don't have to go to a professional resume preparer to update your resume. If you have recently gone through changes in your life컴e. g., lost your vision, lost your job, or both, this would be an excellent time to update your resume. There are many inexpensive software programs available to guide you in this preparation. If you do not have a computer, start by typing up a short biography of your life. This will help get you in touch with places and events that you have gone through. Start by writing down the first job you ever had. To the left of the position, write the dates that you held it. Write all your positions down to the present. Don't forget all your volunteer work, including work that you have done for the NFB. Remember to enhance the language of your positions. If you assisted the person who wrote the newsletter for your chapter, write "Editorial Assistant". Have you ever been called by an elected official regarding disadvantaged transportation in your area? Then you were a "Transportation Consultant". Now that I've got you started, I'm sure that you can be just as creative, if not more so. Modern resumes are short. Unless the employer specifically requests otherwise, anything over two pages is too long, and if you can keep it down to one page, that's even better. I want to hear about your successes and your attempts, so please write me a note or give me a call: Gloria Mills 4608 W Longfellow Av Tampa, FL 33629 (813)837-4831 And remember, the JOB toll-free number is 1-800-638-7518. 12 ___________________________________________________________________ 1993 FLORIDA CONVENTION IS LARGEST EVER! 컴 Dan Hicks ___________________________________________________________________ The 1993 annual State Convention of the National Federation of the Blind of Florida was held October 8, 9, and 10, 1993 at the Sheraton Inn in Boca Raton. It was the largest such gathering in our history, with over 200 participants. Some convention attendees had to stay in the Holiday Inn across the street as the Sheraton filled up. Several seminars and meetings took place Friday afternoon and evening. The Hospitality featured a disk jockey, dancing, and lots of food. The exhibit hall was open most of the time that general sessions were not taking place and was very well attended. The first general session, Saturday morning, featured reports by NFBF President Wayne Davis and NFB National Treasurer Allen Harris. who was this convention's National Representative. He attended our convention accompanied by his fiance, Joy Osmar. Both of these people were very helpful throughout the convention. Motivational speaker Dr. Grace Mitchell gave a speech called "Wishes, Dreams, and Reality", which drew enthusiastic applause from the audience. That day we also heard from Christine McCarthy, Executive Director of the Florida unit of Recording for the Blind; JOB Chairperson Gloria Mills; Associates Chairperson Janet Caron; PAC Chairperson Jeff Harmon; Legislative Chairperson Melody Lindsey; Leslie Underwood of the Florida Centers for Independent Living; Harry Anderson of the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind; and Florida Division of Blind Services Director Whit Springfield. Doug Hall represented the Florida Bureau of Library Services for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (now the Bureau of Braille and Talking Book Library Services컴see page 7) on behalf of Director Don Weber, who was not able to attend the convention. The lunch break brought a luncheon for students, a seminar on chapter fund raising, and other activities. Wayne Davis' banquet address was appropriately titled "Looking Ahead", and dealt with issues and opportunities that face 13 us now and in the future. This year's moving keynote address was delivered by our National Representative Allen Harris. The drawing was held for the three vacation packages that members had been selling raffle tickets for. The Palm Beach Chapter won the award for selling the most tickets. Palm Beach also won the second annual "What's Cooking" Award for having the "hottest" chapter and for bringing the most people to the state convention. (Yes, you remember correctly; they won it in the year before, also. The other chapters are all going to give them a little more competition at this year's convention in Tampa!) St. Lucy Chapter President Carl Miller was the host of our annual auction, which took place right after the banquet. After that, Henter-Joyce threw a rousing party that took up two rooms, spilled out into the hallway, and lasted late into the night. As is our tradition, Sunday morning brought Theresa Schaffer's Treasurer's Report, reports from all of the chapters present, and elections. All officers and board members who were up for re-election were reinstated with applause for a job well done. During this and preceding sessions the following resolutions were passed by the convention: RESOLUTION 93-01 WHEREAS most blind people who use canes or dogs for mobility have had at least some training in their use; and WHEREAS a large part of that training consists of learning and practicing the techniques of safe street crossing; and WHEREAS we have known of several cases in recent years where blind individuals have been hit by cars and killed or injured while using their canes or dogs correctly and within the provisions of the traffic laws: Now, therefore, BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind of Florida, in convention assembled this 10th day of October, 1993, in the city 14 of Boca Raton, Florida, that this organization strongly requests that all state motor vehicle licensing authorities make questions about canes and dogs a part of all driving tests and that the Driver's Manual contain, not only information about the White Cane Law, but also contain pictorial illustrations of a blind person using a white cane and a blind person using a guide dog; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that any motorist who strikes a blind pedestrian while that pedestrian is using a cane or dog within the provisions of the traffic laws be given the maximum penalty allowed by the law in the state in which the accident occurred; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the burden of proof of correct and safe travel be placed not on the blind person or his/her attorneys or executors, but rather that the motorist or his/her attorneys or executers be burdened with proving that said blind person was violating the law at the time of the accident. RESOLUTION 93-02 WHEREAS the National Accreditation Council for Agencies Serving the Blind and Visually Handicapped (NAC) has long sought to persuade and coerce schools, rehabilitation facilities, and other agencies working within the blindness field to join NAC in the name of accreditation; and WHEREAS membership in or accreditation by NAC has never been an indication of quality service by any agency, nor of fair and equitable treatment of agency clients컴the blind themselves; and WHEREAS accreditation has not been withheld, revoked, or challenged by NAC for certain agencies, even in the instance of questionable practices, as in the case of the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind, despite two student deaths and several student injuries; 15 and WHEREAS there is overwhelming evidence that NAC is losing ground in the very field in which it claims expertise, including: 1. Less than one-fifth of the agencies and schools who qualify to join NAC have ever applied for accreditation or membership. 2. Fifteen agencies chose wisely to leave the NAC organi- zation in 1992, leaving only eighty agencies accredited by NAC. 3. Only one-third of the Nation's seventy-one schools for the blind are currently accredited by NAC. 4. Of the fifty-two state rehabilitation agencies (including those for the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico), only thirteen (25 per cent) have ever been accredited by NAC, and only six (including Florida's Division of Blind Services) are currently on the NAC list. 5. Of the fifty states, District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, nineteen states are now NAC-free, seventeen states have only one NAC-member, five states have only two, and only eleven states have more than two NAC-accredited agencies; and WHEREAS of the agencies currently accredited by NAC, more of them are located in Florida than anywhere else: Now, therefore, BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind of Florida, in convention assembled this 9th day of October, 1993, in the city of Boca Raton, Florida, that this organization calls upon the Division of Blind Services of the State of Florida, the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind, and all other NAC-accredited agencies, to re-examine their perceived need for accreditation by an agency which has been shown to have such questionable credentials and cease their membership in and association with the National Accreditation Council for Agencies Serving the Blind and Visually Handicapped; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that these Florida agencies refrain from applying for renewal of their accreditation by NAC; and 16 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this Resolution be sent to Directors of all Florida agencies who endeavor to serve the blind of the State of Florida. (Resolution 93-03 was withdrawn by its maker.) RESOLUTION 93-04 WHEREAS the State of Florida Transportation Disadvantaged Program is currently funded through the levy of a 50 cent fee on motor vehicle license tag renewals and said funds are placed in the State Transportation Disadvantaged Trust Fund for allo- cation annually to the various local county Transportation Disadvantaged programs; and WHEREAS the Trust Fund revenues contribute both to the planning and operations of the local Transportation Disadvantaged programs but primarily are dedicated to operations, in that they pay for the costs of transportation for those individuals who are defined in Florida Statues as "transportation disadvantaged", meaning they have no other means of transportation; and WHEREAS the demand for this specialized type of transportation far exceeds the limited funding available either through the Transportation Disadvantaged Trust Fund or other sources; and WHEREAS the Florida Transportation Disadvantaged Commission is considering requesting the Florida Legislature to increase the motor vehicle license tag fee to provide more funding for operation of the local Transportation Disadvantaged systems through the provision of additional trips: Now, therefore, BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind of Florida, in convention assembled this 10th day of October, 1993, in the city of Boca Raton, Florida, Florida, that this organization 17 supports an increase in the motor vehicle license tag fee from the current 50 cents to $1.00, said increase to provide additional funding for operation of local Transportation Disadvantaged systems through the provision of additional trips. As a follow-up note, let me just add that sometimes things happen faster than even optimistic Federationists predict. Resolution 94-04 has already taken effect; the Florida Legislature has passed a measure which will provide what this resolution calls for. The results of Resolution 93-01 will take a little longer to appear as driver's tests and manuals are revised. And as for Resolution 93-02... Well, NAC is still clinging to life, but porgress is being made. Watch for updates in your BRAILLE MONITOR. And now is the time to make plans to attend the 1994 Florida State Convention in Tampa, October 23, 24, and 25 (see "Y'all Come", page 19). One thing that everyone who attended the 1993 event can all agree on is that the National Federation of the Blind really knows how to put on a Convention! ___________________________________________________________________ 1994 WASHINGTON SEMINAR 컴 Wayne Davis ___________________________________________________________________ This year members of the NFB spoke to members of Congress about four issues, and asked them to support the following proposed legislation: The Americans with Disabilities Small Business Development Act. We are asking that Congress enact this bill because, if passed, it would allow all persons with a severe disability to qualify for a Small Business Loan from the Small Business Administration. The legislation has been introduced by Congressman Jim Ramstad as HR 794. Please ask your Congress member to support this bill. It would put more people to work, while helping blind men and women go into business. 18 Fair Labor Standards Act. We are asking that this act be updated to provide for wage equity for those blind people working in sheltered workshops. Many of these people are being paid far less then the minimum wage. These workshops operate mostly on GSA contracts. The fact of the matter is that these shops can receive a waver allowing them to pay less then the minimum wage when they employ a blind person. This legislation would stop those wavers, thus forcing the payment of minimum wages to all employees. Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The third issue we talked to Congress about was a braille. We, the members of the National Federation of the Blind, feel that facts bear out the need for the IDEA to be modified to allow for the teaching of braille to the blind. Less then nine per cent of blind children in this country are being taught braille. Thirty nine percent of all blind people can read neither print nor braille. Without a bill providing an opportunity for all blind children to be taught braille, we will soon face a situation where blind people can neither read nor write. Restore Library Funding. Last but most certainly not least, we spoke to Florida's Congress members about The Talking Book Library. Over the past few years the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped has received very small increases to its budget. This funding has not even kept up with inflation. President Bill Clinton is asking Congress to give NLS the funds it needs to continue services to the blind community in our nation. Last year over forty thousand new books were published in this country alone. Less then two thousand of these books made it into braille, or were recorded for the blind. If we do not have the printed word in a format we can read, we cannot compete on an equal basis in the sighted world. (See "Library Senate Hearing", page 29.) Please contact your member of Congress, and Senator Bob Graham and Senator Connie Mack about these vital issues. We need your help. Thank you. 19 ___________________________________________________________________ Y'ALL COME! 컴 Gloria Mills ___________________________________________________________________ On September 23, 24, and 25, we will be coming to Tampa for our 1994 NFBF Convention. Soon, you should be receiving your reservation information and registration forms, but let me tell you about just some of the things that will be going on. On Friday afternoon, we plan Seminars for Seniors, Parents of Blind Children, and blind parents. There will be a panel on disadvantaged transportation. (At last year's TD panel there was standing room only. So make plans to get there early. Do you like to pet animals? How about wild animals, like lions and tigers and bears? Well, you're in luck. The Sensory Safari will be part of the exhibits this year. There will be something for guide dog users and something for party people. Make plans to come to Tampa. It's going to be fun. The area where the Holiday Inn is located is known for its restaurants, shops, and funky clubs. The best and most exciting part is all the new friends that you will make. Speaking for myself, I have made some lifelong friends at state and national NFB conventions. There will be something here for everybody. Our State President, Wayne Davis, is working on the meeting agenda now. Yes, even our infamous friends frow DBS will be here. We will have some surprise guests too, so plan to be in TAMPA! ___________________________________________________________________ CHAPTER NEWS ___________________________________________________________________ From Carl Miller, President, St. Lucy Chapter... We have been a busy chapter in the past several months. Our Olympic athlete Steve Skannell made his semiannual trek out to the Rocky Mountain Ski Slopes and did his stint at skiing. 20 He did really well. Steve has been a member of our chapter for the past year. He took part in the 1988 Special Olympics in Korea as a swimmer. All of his skiing prowess has been gained since he lost his sight. Leurti Brennen brought her chocolate labrador retriever, who's name is Hershey, home from Southeastern Guide Dogs just before the Governor's pronouncement of White Cane Safety Day last October. We thought it would be great to set up a demonstration for the Fort Pierce Tribune of Leurti crossing one of our busy streets with her dog. They did send out a photographer, who was so taken with the dog that she took several other pictures. We waited for the picture to appear, and when it finally did, was it a picture of Leurti with her dog and Steve with his white cane, both of them crossing six lanes of traffic? No, it was a picture of Leurti playing with Hershey on the lawn! We were incensed and complained to the newspaper. When I finally got a hold of the head of the photography department, he said he blew it; he had not been informed about what the photo was supposed to represent. Beware of the news media, when you try to get them out to do something positive with the blind! The chapter, in conjunction with Indian River Community College, has been working very hard to get a radio information service going. We thought we had everything about ready to go, until a Senator, from Jacksonville, dumped Fort Pierce off the list in favor of Jacksonville. We have been fighting to get funding restored so the service can get on the air. Our members have been working hard at contacting state Senators and Representatives to get the Commission for the Blind bills passed. I think that is about the extent of our news for now. See you next time! From Gloria Mills, President, Tampa Bay Chapter... Our chapter is really growing. We are getting new people every time we meet. Going back to November, we held elections. Our officers are 21 the same as before. Our board members are Dan Hicks, Lloyd Mathews, and newly elected Carol Rehfelt. Carol is interested in working with parents of blind children. Our meetings this year have been well attended, although we have had no special programs. In March we held a yard sale for a fund raiser. In April we had a meeting to bring parents and educators together. We are now planning for another free car wash like last year's. Many of our members have written letters and signed partitions for our pending state and federal legislation. More next time. Go Tampa Bay! From Ron Burns, President, Pompano Beach Chapter... On December 18, 1993, we changed from a seven-member to a nine-member board, and here it is: Ronald L. Burns, President; Janet Caron, Vice President; Bill Broge, Treasurer; Shirley Smart, Secretary; Helen Weil, Art Skidmore, Joe Naulty, Joe Davis, and Billy Pitcock, Board Members. We have 58 members at this time and hope to add more. We have been sending our chapter newsletter out in large print only, but in February, we began offering a cassette edition. It did not turn out as well as we had hoped, but one of our members, Gerry Capron, stepped forward and offered to take the job off my shoulders. He has a degree in journalism and has been working at the Department of Transportation as a radio man, so he has a very good voice and will sound much better than I did on the first issue. Last year, just before Joe Naulty left the presidency, we sent out a fund raising letter and have been doing pretty well with that project. We are also planning to sell NFB calendars from the National Office. We believe our chapter is going to do great things in the years ahead as we grow and raise the funds that we need. We want to send more of our members to NFB functions so that we can learn more about what the organization is doing to make each blind individual a first class citizen. And that's what's happening with the Pompano Beach Chapter! 22 ___________________________________________________________________ ASSOCIATES UPDATE 컴 Janet Caron ___________________________________________________________________ Janet Caron is Associates Chairperson for the Florida Affiliate. Personally, she ranks number fourteen out of 304 recruiters nationwide, bringing $621.00 to our national treasury every month. Florida has certainly come a long way in the Associates Program, having been in 46th place in the nation about three years ago, and now being number nine of our fifty states컴our highest rank ever! As of March 1, 1994, we have 70 Associates, brought in by nine recruiters, bringing in a total of $1,396.00 each momth. It's such a good feeling to hear our state mentioned in the top ten listing at our National Convention. As Associates Chairperson for Florida, I am very pleased with the progress shown thus far. However, we have a long way to go to approach New Mexico and Maryland, the usual top two leaders. I recall the challenge issued to those of us who participated in the "Babbling Seminar", to try to obtain at least ten associates each for the following convention. I felt quite pleased and proud with my acquisition of over twenty Associates, but my pleasure turned to utter amazement as I learned that a fellow Seminarian, New Mexico's Art Schreiber, had obtained over 300 associates, putting New Mexico ahead of everyone in the Nation! It certainly proves to me that "where there's a will, there's a way!" New Mexico remains in first place with the most Associates, and Maryland tops the list in dollar amount. I do most of my recruiting during and after the holiday season. I enclose an Associate form with my Christmas cards to my family and friends. asking them to renew their memberships. To those I am recruiting for the first time, I also send NFB literature, particularly "Do You Know a Blind Person" and What is the NFB?" I obtain most of my Associates during this campaign, and I send follow-up letters within a few weeks. I inform prospective Associates of the fact that the Associates Program helps to fund the $100,000.00 in scholarships awarded each year at our 23 National Conventions. I invite them to participate in and to become part of the NFB movement. When they realize what the NFB means to me personally and how my life has changed since I became part of the NFB family, my friends and family members are happy to support me in this worthy endeavor. I ask all of you to approach people with a positive and enthusiastic attitude. You'll be pleasantly surprised at just how easy it is. Again, I am issuing a challenge to each and every one of you, to obtain at least one associate in time for our next National Convention in Detroit. Let's keep Florida in the top ten by "walking alone and marching together". We can do it! �袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴敲 � � � If you are blind or visually impaired, or just care � � about those who are, we invite you to become a member � � of the National Federation of the Blind of Florida. � � We have chapters located throughout the state. Contact � � President Wayne Davis to see if there is one in your � � area. If there is not, consider joining the Florida � � Affiliate as a member at large. This can be done by � � sending $3.00 per year, plus your name, address � � (including zip code) and telephone number(s), along � � with the format in which you wish to receive your � � publications (the BRAILLE MONITOR and the OUTREACH) � � to: � � Theresa Schaffer, Treasurer � � National Federation of the Blind of Florida � � 622 West Williams Street � � Lakeland, FL 33805 � � � 훤袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴袴� 24 ___________________________________________________________________ IN HARNESS 컴 Marion Gwizdala ___________________________________________________________________ Marion Gwizdala is Chairman of our Guide Dog Users Committee. When Mike Sargent, Executive Director of Southeastern Guide Dogs, Inc., asked me to sit on the newly-formed Graduate Council, I thought it would be an excellent opportunity to further the work of the National Federation of the Blind. After discussing this with Wayne Davis, I accepted the appointment with the understanding that I would represent the Federation and its views. Mike agreed, since the Federation had been responsible for repealing the legislation allowing discrimination against guide dog users in zoos. This had been a troublesome issue for Southeastern and, until the Federation became involved, one which seemed irresolvable. Fourteen graduates sit on the Council, which held its organizational meeting at the Holiday Inn Riverfront in Bradenton, Florida on November 6, 1993. Lots were drawn to determine which members would serve two, three, and four year terms. Subsequent terms will be three years, with the terms staggered to prevent the entire Council from being unseated at one time. This organizational meeting was momostly for getting acquainted and developing a purpose, though issues of concern to graduates were discussed. At this meeting, my representation of the Federation met with some disapproval from others. One graduate even threatened to leave if she "had to sit and listen to Federation rhetoric". This comment was sparked by my suggestion that both the NFB and the American Council of the Blind (ACB) be represented on the Council. (Though there are members of the ACB on the Graduate Council, the Federation is the only consumer group officially represented.) Another advised me that the Council was formed to "help the school". I responded that our purpose was to offer consumer input to the school. I told them I felt that what is best for the consumer and best for the school is not always the same. We cannot compromise the best interest of the consumer by the best interest of the school. Mike assured the members that I was chosen partly because of the work the Federation 25 had done on behalf of guide dog users. The matter of greatest interest to Federationists occurred during our March 4, 1994 meeting. As Federationists know, the 1992 convention in Charlotte voted to work with the guide dog schools on the issue of ownership. Ed Eames, a member of the National Association of Guide Dog Users and our California Affiliate, and I have discussed this issue with Mike on several occasions. Those discussions led to the presentation of a "Co-ownership Agreement". There was a great deal of lively discussion of the issue at the meeting. The greatest concern of the Federation has been the lack of protection of the blind handler from arbitrary repossession of the guide dog. Currently, Southeastern has the right to take possession of a dog they have trained if, in the sole judgement of the school, the dog is being abused, neglected, or mistreated. Both Mike and Bob Roberto, one of the trainers, cited a couple of cases of abuse and abandonment by former graduates. They even cited one case in which a graduate was accused of abuse, the school investigated the report, and no action was taken. I made it clear that my position컴and that of the NFB�-was not against the school but for the graduate. I believe that the current administration would act fairly and objectively while investigating reports of abuse. However, the current컴and proposed컴agreement gives the school present and future administration the power to arbitrarily remove the dog. Without the protection of objective evidence and third-party confirmation, I could not support the proposed agreement. The Council meets in closed session in which no one from the guide dog school is present. Recommendations are then made as a body. In this manner members are able to discuss concerns openly and anonymously. Most of the closed session was dedicated to the issue of objective third-party evidence. The Council made the recommenda- tion that the agreement be rewritten to insure objective third-party evidence of abuse or neglect before a dog could be removed. The Graduate Council of Southeastern Guide Dogs will meet again in September. At that time we will continue our discussion of ownership. By the time the Affiliate meets in Tampa, I am confident Southeastern Graduates will be given ownership. Attendees will be some of the first to receive the exciting news. On that note, start making your plans now to attend the largest 26 meeting of blind people컴and their dogs컴in the State of Florida, as part of the NFBF State Convention (see page 19). If you have any ideas to make this meeting more special, please let me know. Also, if you would like a list of the members of Southeastern's Graduate Council, or a copy of the minutes of our first meeting, please write in print, braille, cassette, or ASCII (downloads accepted) to: Marion Gwizdala 820 Valley Hill Dr. Brandon, FL 33510 (813) 684-8981 ___________________________________________________________________ HOW TO USE A WHITE CANE 컴 Connie Reagan ___________________________________________________________________ Connie Reagan is a member of the Tampa Bay Chapter. Here is a speech she gave last year as a member of the 10th grade class of Gather High School. "Hey, what is that thing?" "How do you use it?" These are common questions asked when someone sees a white cane. This morning I'm going to answer these questions for you. First of all, a white cane is a tool used by blind or partially blind individuals in order to identify objects and/or obstacles that they encounter. A cane can also be used as an identification aid. (What I mean by identification could simply be when someone is crossing the street and drivers see that white cane, they know that person has a vision problem and they may give them a little extra time in crossing the street instead of running them over when the light turns green.) There are several different types of canes. There are straight canes which do not fold at all. There are collapsible canes which fold inside of themselves. There are also folding canes, which is the kind of cane I'm going to talk about today. Unfolding: The first step in using a folding cane is to unfold the cane. You do this by pulling off the cord that is 27 wrapped around it. The cane should unfold by itself. If it doesn't, then there is probably something wrong with your cane. Securing: After you have unfolded the cane you want to make sure it is secure. You do this by making sure it is interlocked properly. If it is not interlocked when you go to use the cane it will just unfold and you can't use it. Holding: After you have secured the cane, you need to put your hand on the grip. The grip is at the top of the cane. You should then hold the cane about waist level. Don't put the cane directly in front of you because, if there is so much as an uneven sidewalk, the cane will feel it and jab you in the stomach and, after awhile, it will hurt. When you get your first cane, it will be measured to your height, but as you get more proficient with the usage and start to walk faster, you can get canes that are longer and longer. Walking: There are two main ways people walk with a cane. The way that you are taught when you first start to use a cane is to tap it from side to side in an arc. The most preferred way and most popular is just sliding it back and forth in front of you. Both ways are correct. At corners: One of the most important things you are taught when crossing streets is to hold the cane in front of you and not to swing it around your head or to play baton with it. There are several reasons for this. One is that when drivers see you and your white cane, you are representing something. If they see you playing with your cane, they will think that you are not serious and this will defeat the whole purpose. The other reason is that if someone up to no good was walking around and saw you playing with your cane, they will see the cane and know that you are visually impaired and that you aren't paying attention to your surroundings, making you a prime target to get hurt. Folding: Sometimes after long use your cane will get stuck, then, when folding it, you may need to twist as you are pulling, and then it should come undone. The white cane is so important that it is recognized in a national holiday. In the middle of October, there is White Cane Observance Day. If there is only one thing that you remember out of this speech, remember that a cane is a tool, not a toy. 28 ___________________________________________________________________ DALLAS CONVENTION (a Poem) 컴 Bea Love Gladden ___________________________________________________________________ Beatrice Gladden is Vice President of the Greater Miami Chapter. I went this summer to the NFB And socialized with folks like me Whose vision was bad or they just couldn't see. We laughed, we talked, we listened a lot To reports and speeches that were really hot. We ate pizza, barbecue, and good ol' American food That was really quite pricey, but oh-so-good! Just trying to get a really quick meal Was like making a big time corporate deal. We stood in lines, we bumped into each other And sometimes we even yelled, "Oh, Brother!" But once basic needs were met We ventured off for something else to get. We toured the city, we roamed the halls; Some of us even found the malls. We purchased souvenirs for family and friends Of the latest fashions, logos, and trends. And when the sessions came to conclusion There were best wishes and some confusion. And to our new found friends we bade farewell And promised them in our hearts they'd dwell. Until we meet again at next year's convention We'll be in Detroit with bigger contention Of NFBers who are loyal and true. Just come and join us, we need each of you! 29 ___________________________________________________________________ LIBRARY SENATE HEARING 컴 Wayne Davis ___________________________________________________________________ On May 5th, I flew into Baltimore Washington International Airport, just outside of Baltimore. The purpose of my visit was to attend the Senate Hearing concerning the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped. On this afternoon, James Gashel, Scott LaBarr, several other Federationists, and I traveled from our National Center into Washington for appointments with several key senators and their staffs, to talk about our library service. As you know, the federal budget is tight, and it is not easy to get a senator to commit to spending federal dollars. Our arguments were strong, though, and, for the most part, well received. Afterward, we traveled back to our National Center in Baltimore, where those of us who had flown in spent the night. On the morning of the 6th, we had an early breakfast at the center, and then traveled with a vanload of people from the Baltimore Chapter back to Washington for the Senate Hearing. We were joined there by members of the Washington, DC Chapter. There were more than 75 NFB members in attendance. Of course we knew that, because of limited space, not all of us would be able to actually attend the hearing. However, President Maurer and Mr. Gashel wanted people standing in the halls outside of the hearing room, to demonstrate to the senators serving on the committee that there are a lot of blind citizens concerned about the funding for our library services. I was one of the few members chosen to sit in the hearing room. The library committee is, in fact, a subcommittee of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and is chaired by Senator Harry Reid of Nevada. Senator Reid is a Democrat. The ranking Republican of this important subcommittee is Florida Senator Connie Mack, who has come to know the NFB and the NFB of Florida very well. Frank Kurt Cylke, the Director of the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, made a 30 persuasive presentation to the subcommittee. An NLS tape player, complete with talking book cassette, was on hand for the senators to see and try. Mr. Cylke explained that the books are recorded at a slower speed and on four tracks, thus taking up far fewer cassettes than if they were recorded at standard speed and format. Not having been to a Senate hearing before, I could not make a good judgement of how well it all went, but Jim Gashel and Scott LaBarr were pleased. In past hearings of a similar nature, NFB issues have been given only a few minutes, a small fraction of the hearing time. This time, however, about half the total time of the hearing was devoted to our talking book and braille library services. Senator Reid alluded to the fact that his office received seventy- five letters on this one issue. He seemed alarmed at this, stating that, normally, if he got three letters addressing a single subject, then it was a hot issue. Senator Mack told Reid that he had gotten over three hundred letters, plus dozens of faxes and phone calls컴-all addressing the need for increased NLS funding. So, you see, your calls, letters, and faxes to Senator Mack have been most helpful in supporting the efforts to maintain the quality of our library service. But, please remember that the final vote has not taken place. Some of the Federationists who attended the hearing will return to Washington for that important vote. It is very important that individuals and chapters within the National Federation of the Blind continue to make their voices heard. __________________________________________________________________ WHAT'S COOKIN'? __________________________________________________________________ This one is from NFBF Board Member Gloria Mills BEEF STROGANOFF 1-1/2 pounds beef sirloin cut 1 medium clove garlic, crushed into small cubes (or 2 teaspoons garlic Some flour powder) 31 8 ounces sour cream 1 can beef bouillon soup 1 medium onion, diced 8 ounces fresh mushrooms, chopped 1/2 stick (2 ounces) butter or 1 tablespoon tomato sauce margarine 2 ounces red wine Dredge meat in flour and brown in skillet, with onions, garlic, and mushrooms, using half the butter or margarine. When ingredients are browned, remove from skillet, leaving only drippings. Add remaining butter, the beef bouillon, the tomato sauce, and a little flour. Reduce heat and stir until thickened. Replace the meat, onion, and mushrooms back in skillet. Add sour cream and wine and cook on low heat (about 250 degrees) for 10 minutes. Serve over cooked noodles or rice. These recipes are from NFBF Board Member Janet Caron. BAKED SALMON LOAF 2 cups canned salmon 1-1/2 cups milk 2 eggs 4 tablespoons butter 1 slice bread Beat milk, bread, and butter until creamy. Add beaten eggs and salmon. Mix well. Bake at 350 degrees for one hour in greased loaf pan. Enjoy. RICE WHIP 1 cup whipping cream 1 cup crushed pineapple 1/2 cup sugar 2 cups cooked rice Whip cream until stiff. Mix pineapple and rice. Add whipped cream and mix well. Serve very cold. 32 __________________________________________________________________ OUT OF CONTEXT __________________________________________________________________ "Civilization is a movement, not a condition; it is a voyage, not a harbor." 컴Arnold Joseph Toynbee "...we establish standards in our children's lives by example and by expectation. This is certainly true in every area of life, but it is nowhere more evident than in teaching blindness- connected skills and attitudes. For after all, your blind children, whether they be your students or your own youngsters, are surrounded by some pretty lousy attitudes and some pretty low standards "Your job is to wave the flag and to make sure that the expectations and the standards they adopt as their own are high. What your attitudes are will, in significant measure, determine what your children think about blindness and think about themselves as blind people. So you've got to be careful and watchful and mindful at all times about what it is that you are doing and saying and communicating to your child." 컴Barbara Pierce, "What's a Spitball?" The Journey Concerning relativity... "How long a minute is depends upon which side of the bathroom door you're on." 컴San Ewing, quoted by Paul Harvey "A fanatic is someone who can't change his mind and won't change the subject." 컴Sir Winston Churchill "Motivation is when your dreams put on work clothes." 컴Dr. Grace Mitchell "Wishes, Dreams, and Reality", a speech delivered before the 1993 NFBF State Convention, October 9, 1993 33 "Today, we in the National Federation of the Blind do much to help make Braille available to blind students and to encourage the teaching of Braille both to children and adults who are blind. But this is not how it has always been. There was a time when Braille was regarded as inferior, and all too often today it does not get the attention it deserves. Much of my work as a lawyer could not been done without Braille. I now read to my children most evenings. They enjoy the stories, and I enjoy the reading as much as they do. How different my life would have been without the ability to read Braille. How different it can be for the children of this generation if we give them the chance to learn." 컴Marc Maurer, "Keeping Within the Lines" The Journey "Biography lends to death new terror." 컴Oscar Wilde "I'm not trying to be noticed, but I won't be ignored." 컴Levi's 501 Jeans commercial "Remember, what we do today will not only affect us, and others like us, but will help those who come after us. They may be our own children, grandchildren or anyone else that we might know, love, or care about. The Scribes of History are watching us. Don't let them write that we failed because no one cared." 컴David Evans, President, Palm Beach Chapter From the Palm Beach Chapter Newsletter, May, 1994 From Marion Gwizdala of Tampa... "Men show their character in nothing more clearly than by what they think laughable" 컴Goerte From Virginia L. Beresford of Deltona... "An apology is a good way to have the last word." 컴Unknown 34 Some of you expressed interest in last issue's Yogi Berra quote and asked for more "Berraisms". Here are several... "It ain't over till it's over." "If the people don't want to come out to the park, nobody's gonna stop them." "It's like deja vu all over again." "There are some people who, if they don't already know, you can't tell them." "A nickel ain't worth a dime anymore." "Half the lies they tell me aren't true." "If you can't imitate him, don't copy him." Upon receiving a check made out to "Bearer"... "How could you spell my name like that?" Attending a certain restaurant... "No wonder nobody comes here anymore; it's too crowded!" Receiving an award... "I want to thank all the people who made this night necessary." About baseball... "Ninety-nine per cent of this game is half mental." 컴Yogi Berra Maybe this extraordinary talent with words runs in the family. Here's one from Yogi Berra's son Dale... "The similarities between me and my father are different." 컴Dale Barra 35 __________________________________________________________________ SMILES __________________________________________________________________ The man who applied for the lumberjack job couldn't have been more than five feet tall and a hundred pounds in weight. "Tell me," the boss asked him, "have you had any previous logging experience?" "I sure have," the applicant replied. "I helped to clear the Sahara Forest." "The Sahara Forest?" the boss sneered. "There is no Sahara Forest. Maybe you mean the Sahara Desert?" "Well, sure," the man replied, "that's what they call it now." Prison librarian: You there, what is that book you are reading? Prisoner: Nothing much. Just the usual escape literature. Writer: I feel like my writing is getting worse. Is this true? Agent: Not at all. It's just that your taste is improving. Henry: Dad, I just went through the entire M volume of the encyclopedia. Father: What an accomplishment! What have you learned from it? Henry: Never hide a twenty dollar bill in a big book without remembering the page number. Did you hear about the movie theater owner who died? The funeral will be at 2:00, 4:20, 7:00, and 10:00. Did you hear about the cookbook author who died? Her funeral will be at 4:25 for 30 to 35 minutes. Jury Foreman: On three counts of armed robbery, we find the defendant컴not guilty. Defendant: Thank you. Does this mean I get to keep the money? 36 A little boy was complaining to his friend that his mother would not answer his questions. "I asked her how old she was," he said. "Then I asked her how much she weighed. Then I asked Her why she and Dad got divorced. All she ever says is, `Son, there are some questions you shouldn't ask a woman.' I don't get it." His friend advised him, "Next time she's in the shower, go in her purse and get her driver's license and bring it to me. You can find out a lot from your mom's driver's license." A few days later the little boy retrieved the license and brought it to his friend to interpret. "See here," said the friend, "your mom is 38 years old and she weighs 115 pounds." "That's interesting," said the boy, "but I still wonder why my Dad divorced her." "That's here too," said the friend. "See, it says here she got an 'F' in 'sex'." Did you hear about the man who didn't pay his exorcist? He was re-posessed. Parent: How is little Suzie coming along with her piano lessons? Music teacher: Well, I think she should switch to the clarinet. Parent: The clarinet, why? Music teacher: Because, when she's playing the clarinet, she won't be able to sing along. Mike: Look at the sign in the window of that car! It says, "For sale, phone number 555-7421." Spike: Forget it. What would we want with another phone number? From Allen Preston of West Palm Beach... Did you hear about the guy who knew nothing at all about sports? He thought that a pitcher was what you bought beer in and a quarter- back was the change you received when you paid for the pitcher. 37 ___________________________________________________________________ EDITORIAL MATTERS 컴 Dan Hicks ___________________________________________________________________ Once again I want to thank everyone who contributed material to or otherwise helped with this issue of the NFBF OUTREACH, especially, Wayne and Carmen Davis for lots and lots of reasons. Thanks to Jeff and Erlinda Harmon and Ken Rollman and Julaine Arient-Rollman, for mailing. Thanks to Gloria Mills for more reasons than will fit here. Thanks to Katie and Robin Hicks for database and duplicating help. Thank you to Patti Johnson for another excellent job of proofreading the print edition. Thank you to all of you who sent boxes of cassettes to recycle into copies of our cassette edition, specifically: LLoyd and Lola Crawford of Winter Haven; Byron Jay of Winter Haven; Connie Reagan of Tampa; Walter A. Klavans of Beverly Hills; Theresa Schaffer of Lakeland; Marion and Jan Gwizdala of Tampa; Benjamin A. Marr of Pinellas Park; Louis P. Auger of Ocala; John Christianson of Tampa; Anne Lombardo of Tallahassee; Chrystelle Mason of Tampa; David Evans of Palm Beach and the Palm Beach Chapter; and Mary Mormon of Miami. Those of you who receive READER'S DIGEST, NEWSWEEK, and THE BRAILLE MONITOR on cassette directly from the producers, please remember that the respective producers of these magazines do not want the tapes back. Don't throw them away because we DO want them (to recycle). Gather them up and send them to the OUTREACH. You can send them FREE MATTER FOR THE BLIND. We will thank you by name in our next issue. Please send changes of address to the editor, at the address on page 2. Send both old and new addresses컴including zip codes. Some back issues are still available. If you have missed an issue of the OUTREACH, let us know and we will send it to you, if we can. We appreciate all your comments and letters. Please keep them coming, as well as articles, jokes, recipes, quotes, and new ways of doing things; we enjoy hearing from you and need your input. Thank you all for supporting the National Federation of the Blind and for reading OUTREACH.