1r As you receive our summer issue, you have just returned from a most successful convention in chicago. This year our Merchants Division chose the Washington seminar to hold a winter conference. The week before that we were very active participants at the Sagebrush Conference for blind vendors in Reno, Nevada. There is no doubt that the National Federation of the Blind and our Merchants Division continue to be a leading force to protect and expand the rights of blind business people. We are working more than ever with the Randolph-Sheppard Vendors of America and others who share our concerns. It is your editor's belief that this time of growth and change in the Merchants Division is critical to us all. Blind vendors seem to be putting smaller differences aside to concentrate on larger problems and many of us work as a team with our state agencies. Problems exist which should make even the most passive, uninvolved vendor concerned about our future opportunities. A few examples include proposed changes in the link between the blind and elderly for social security benefits; proposed changes in the way rehabilitation services are provided; state and federal funding cut-backs; deriving maximum benefit from the Kennelly amendment; increasing wholesale costs of goods to smaller retailers; and the paper work shuffle limiting our opportunities on military installations. These are just some of the problems we keep working to solve. Federationists First! by Charles Allen Since I last reported to you, I have visited merchants in several states - Virginia, Indiana, Texas, South Carolina and North Carolina. I find NFB Merchants actively involved in their states' legislative process, holding offices in their state and local chapters and as key members in fund-raising. We are truly Federationists who just happen to be Merchants. The Merchants in Louisiana are on the move with the recent formation of a Merchants Division. We offer them a warm welcome and had the pleasure of hearing from their president, Jeff Pearcy, at our division meeting in Chicago. He already is acting as advocate for a vendor in a disagreement with the Louisiana Agency. He went right to work. Don Morris and I had a positive meeting with representatives of the Randolph-Sheppard Vendors of America. We met last February in Kansas City with their president, Ray Washburn, and their immediate past president, Gene Heisler. During the meeting we identified many areas of common concern, such as our support of the Senior Citizens Equity Act. Our meeting gave a trite phrase new meaning: "those of us committed to different faiths still want to end up together in heaven!" Many people know Ray Washburn as a result of the Oklahoma City Federal Building explosion. Ray's cafeteria was on the fourth floor and he was open for business when the bomb went off. Although the bomb destroyed his business, neither Ray nor his employee were critically injured. Federationists, among others, have tried to help Ray through this difficult time. Ray Washburn and Federationist, Gary Grassman of New York City, share the distinction of being bombed at work. Gary is the New York State President of the NFB Merchants Division. His business is in the New York World Trade Center which had its go-round with terrorists several years ago. Mississippi State University recently conducted a session in Nashville to determine research priorities for the end of this century. The whole gamut of services for the blind was explored. I can report to you strong support for concepts such as independence, licensing only those who can manage facilities, discouraging levels of licensure, having only one vendor per location and better coordination between Business Enterprise and counseling staff. Progress is slowly being made on developing national training standards for vendors and for state licensing agency personnel. The Rehabilitation Services Administration has expanded the NCSAB Ad Hoc Vending Committee by adding government and research personnel. After floundering about trying to understand our purpose, we are finally moving toward a survey to determine training needs in both areas. I am concerned about a low vendor response. When and if you get a chance to express your opinion, do it! One of the good things that came out of our attending Sagebrush West was the formation of a small group of vendors' committee chairs to develop a way to share information. This project is still in its infancy, but may eventually develop into a strong network. Included in this issue is information about the Sagebrush East Conference. I urge your participation. Later in this issue, you will also read a fact sheet supplied to us by James Gashel, NFB Director of Governmental Affairs. After you read it, contact your Congressman and Senators to urge them not to make changes in Title 1 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and that Vocational Rehabilitation not be consolidated with the other programs in the work force development legislation. We must work to keep programs for the blind in existence. Chicago, Briefly July 3, 1995 Our meeting began with a presidential report from Charles Allen. Much of this information has already been reported in his "Federationists First!" article, and will not be repeated here. James Gashel spoke to us on legislative issues, the most pressing issue being no change to Title I of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Please see his fact sheet later in this issue and ACT! We were pleased to have a panel discussion by three directors of the Business Enterprise Program: Roger Erpelding, Iowa; Fred Wurtzel, Michigan; and Glenn Cutler, North Carolina. They emphasized the need for cooperation between vendors and agency personnel for the good of the program. Gary Lewis spoke to us about the possibility of developing a Merchant's Health Insurance Policy. He gave out forms to be filled out and mailed in to his agency. Several merchants spoke briefly about subjects of interest: 1) Jeff Pearcy told us about the new Louisiana Chapter. 2) Barbara Swygert described her practice of getting other good companies such as Chick Filet and Pizza Hut to deliver lunch products to her for resale. This also increases the sale of other items for her. 3) Billy Godsey briefly described a food cart invention he and another person are working to develop. The cart can be battery-powered, is mobile and can have both hot and cold sections. 4) Robert Jaquiss spoke of Equinox International which offers "healthy" products ranging from water treatment systems to weight management products. 5) Jay Wolff described his "Music to Go" business, working as an MC and providing music in a variety of locations. Elected to two-year board terms were Pam Schnurr, Indiana; Jeff Pearcy, Louisiana; Fred Wurtzel, Michigan; and Barbara Swygert, South Carolina. And-finally - special recognition was given to four hard working Federationists who together have hundreds of years of experience. Each of the four have retired from business but not from the NFB Merchants Division. Special LIFE MEMBERSHIPS were awarded to Arthur Segal, of Maryland a former Merchants Division President; Andrew Virden of Minnesota, a long time Board Member of the Merchants Division; Mary Brunoli and Ben Snow of Connecticut - Ben has been a Board Member for many years and Mary has done an excellent job of keeping all of us on track. Mary formerly Edited the MERCHANTS MESSENGER. We congratulate and thank each of them. Fact Sheet by James Gashel Job Training Program Consolidation: At What Price For People Who Are Blind Editor's Note: After you read this, ACT! Contact your congressman and senators. Urge them not to change Title I of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Do not include vocational education in with other programs in the work force development legislation. BACKGROUND: Legislation (including block grants) to consolidate education, job training, and employment programs is being considered by the 104th Congress. Under the block grants most of the federal funds would go directly to states for required redistribution to local work force development areas. Services provided with the funds would come from one-stop offices which would be responsible for meeting the education, training, and employment needs of virtually anyone who is unemployed. Blind persons and others with physical or mental disabilities would apply to receive services, including rehabilitation, adjustment training, and other disability-related services, through the one-stop offices. If found eligible they would receive assistance of an unspecified nature or extent. Also, the legislation does not specify any particular planning or authorization mechanism to be used in assuring service delivery or quality in individual cases. In accessing services from the one-stop offices, all applicants for service, regardless of disability or the lack thereof, would compete for the time, attention, knowledge, and funding available. DESCRIPTION OF EXISTING LAW: Under existing law, Title I of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 provides all states with a dedicated block of federal funding for the sole purpose of assisting people with disabilities to achieve individualized rehabilitation goals. Title I is essentially the only source of funding for these services. Moreover, Title I is the principal resource for funding of several activities, including establishment of vending facilities operated by the blind in public buildings. Unlike some services to persons with disabilities, which may often be of a medical nature, programs for the blind cannot avail themselves of third-party reimbursement in most instances. PROPOSED CHANGES: With the consolidation of Title I into the generic job training and employment service system, most if not all of the dedicated resources now available under Title I would be gone. The consolidation or block grant approaches are based on the theory that virtually everyone who is unemployed for whatever reason can be served best under one central authority. According to this view the administration and delivery of services to persons with disabilities are essentially the same as those for services to dislocated workers or unemployed welfare recipients. Both the dedicated funding and the resulting specialized services would be diminished through consolidation. It is a matter of historical fact that state agency organization and service delivery patterns tend to mirror the pattern of federal financial assistance. Moreover, the combination of programs will inevitably favor the largest and best-understood needs to be met. Unique services for persons with disabilities will suffer. NEED FOR SPECIALIZED SERVICES TO THE BLIND: Since the needs of a person who is newly blinded or who has not received effective rehabilitation services are drastically different from those of the typical unemployed worker, the consolidation plan will not work. For example, essential services like (1) travel training in using the long white cane or the guide dog; (2) instruction in adaptive methods of reading, writing, and information access like Braille; (3) provision of assistive technology like synthetic speech for devices for computers, screen enlargement programs, Braille computer terminals, closed-circuit television or other magnification devices, reading machines, or scanners; and (4) training in alternative skills of daily living--all essential to blind individuals seeking employment--are not available from, and are completely unrelated to, generic job training and employment programs. Most telling, such programs are--and will be--essential to an individual's eventual success in seeking and holding a job. Effective rehabilitation counseling helps blind and visually impaired persons overcome fears and develop confidence in their newfound skills. They learn to understand employer attitudes about blindness and how to deal with them effectively. The theory of including rehabilitation services to persons with disabilities in one-stop generic service centers is seriously flawed. Blind persons seeking often time-consuming training and adjustment-to-blindness assistance already typically find themselves at the end of the line for service because they cannot be quickly processed as successful closures in a bureaucratic numbers game; the one-stop approach requiring them to scramble with more easily trained unemployed will only serve to exacerbate delays for the blind in obtaining services which will be vastly diminished in utility. The result will be increased numbers of blind persons relying on government services like Social Security Disability Insurance or Supplemental Security Income, with increased--not decreased--cost to the taxpayers. ACTION REQUESTED: The blind urge that changes in Title I of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 not be made at this time and that vocational rehabilitation not be consolidated with the other programs in the Work Force Development legislation. We support continued federal leadership in a partnership with the states for targeted programs to assist persons with disabilities, including specialized services for individuals who are blind or visually impaired. Title I of the Rehabilitation Act, as currently structured, provides an effective mechanism for full integration of blind and visually impaired persons into the nation's work force. The public and private programs funded under it possess the knowledge, technical expertise, and financial resources which are essential to make this integration possible. Report on Mid-Year Conference This year's Division conference was held in conjunction with the Washington Seminar, January 28, 1995. Although it was only a one day meeting, it was packed with interesting and valuable presentations and information. Evan Deoul, a representative of Real Time Data, made a presentation about an innovative monitoring device which will be particularly useful at remote vending locations. This equipment will read all of the selection data for vended products and will also accept data representing inventory increases. By radio and telephone "polling," inventory in a machine can be determined from a base location. This equipment will also monitor temperature, door openings, coin jams and other exceptional conditions. This exciting new equipment is currently in a test market phase and should be available for lease by year's end. President Allen reported on the joint Ad Hoc Committee comprised of vendor representatives from the NFB Merchants Division, RSVA, and agency personnel belonging to the National Council of State Agencies for the Blind (NCSAB). He noted that Don Morris had been selected chairman of that group. Charlie gave us details on the unanimously agreed-to-language which was subsequently rejected by the NCSAB national body, even though their representatives participated in the drafting of that language. Charlie noted that even without NCSAB support, committee activities had resulted in Florida abandoning forced partnerships, and that there is clear evidence that Kentucky is headed that way. He told us that it is obvious blind vendors acting together can improve our program with or without State Agency help. On December 7, 1974, the Randolph-Sheppard Vending Act was amended. On December 8, 1994, a recognition ceremony was conducted commemorating that event. President Allen told us that among those receiving awards was NFB President Marc Maurer in recognition of the positive efforts by the organization on behalf of blind vendors. The NFB Merchants Division and RSVA paid the cost of refreshments which were catered by a D.C. area blind vendor. Don Morris reported on the self-employment tax question regarding assigned vending machine income. Preliminary research by the tax attorney indicates that a private ruling letter by IRS would be specific to one individual. Unfortunately, though it might be precedent setting, there is no such guarantee. The second alternative to the private letter is a well crafted legal opinion which supports the case that assigned vending machine income received by blind vendors is not earned income and therefore is not subject to self-employment tax. It was agreed by those present that this is the avenue we should pursue. Morris reported that voluntary contributions so far covered only about $1,800 of the approximately $5,000 legal fee for research and drafting this opinion. Members were reminded that for every thousand dollars of assigned vending machine income they receive, they will save $153 as a result of this letter. Members were encouraged to donate at least one third of one year's tax savings to help pay for the legal fee. Larry Posont reported on efforts by Michigan vendors to stop the State Licensing Agency from abusing the Freedom of Information Act. Today, any person including competing vendors can request private, confidential information including earnings, evaluations, etc., and receive it due to the erroneous belief by the Michigan Commission for the Blind that it is public information and not restricted by confidentiality requirements. A report on the upcoming Chicago convention reaffirmed that we will once again have boutonnieres and corsages for sale, will conduct our $1,000 raffle, and will have a booth in the Exhibit Hall. Volunteers are needed for all projects. Contact Karen Cox (CO) for flowers; Joe Van Lent (IA) for "manning" the booth; and Wayne Shevlin (NC) for raffle tickets. It was also noted that we were not having a seminar this year but our business meeting will take place on Monday afternoon, July 3, 1995. The next speaker was Mike Kaminez, a young blind man who will soon graduate from the C.I.A. - not "the company" in Virginia, but the Culinary Institute of America. Mike is articulate, well trained in food and a success waiting to happen. Good luck MIKE!!! Bob Marcus, the recently retired head of Concessions for GSA, spoke to us about a changing GSA customer. He noted downsizing in the number of GSA employees and no smoking policies as two of the most dynamic causes of change in our businesses. He noted that vendors who survive these changes will respond to evolving customer needs and tastes and will provide a high degree of courteous service and professional management. He also noted that state agencies must shorten their response time to opportunities available to them; the government will not tolerate delays of as much as 18 months while state agencies try to make up their minds. We appreciated Bob being willing to come out of retirement at his own time and expense to share his knowledge. Rep. Richard Edlund (KS) next spoke to us about his many years as the blind owner of a community hardware store which sold everything from stove bolts and salt blocks to wall paper and hay bales. Dick also told about capturing opportunity when, years ago, he developed surplus state land into an airport. Dick is an NFB National Board Member and former Treasurer and has been a long time friend of blind business people. The next presenter was Andrew Freeman, Esq. Andy provided extensive detail about the NFB vs. Veterans Administration in Minnesota. He also reported on his activities in Maryland where the state licensing agency selected him to represent them on an arbitration panel. The Maryland SLA has filed an arbitration with the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education because the Office of Veterans Affairs refuses to issue a permit in a new Baltimore medical facility. President Maurer next spoke to us citing the NFB/VA battles as proof positive of need and benefit for collective action by blind people. Mr. Maurer noted that VA is learning that when you mess with the NFB the war isn't over until we win. He urged us to continue standing together not only about vending issues but in the support of all of us as blind people. Charles Allen and Don Morris gave a brief report on their participation and observations at the Sagebrush Conference in Reno, Nevada. At the Conference, Allen and Morris provided those present with information on the Ad Hoc Committee mentioned earlier. In an attempt to build on some areas of common concern Charles Allen suggested a meeting between him , Ray Washburn, RSVA president;, Gene Heisler, RSVA immediate past president; and Don Morris. This meeting will be to determine additional areas of common cause, a follow-up to the activities of the March, 1994 meeting in Washington D.C. Jim Gashel spoke to us about the legislative view and the upcoming push to increase the earnings limitation and to retain the linkage between blind SSDI recipients and Social Security recipients between ages 65 to 69. Jim reviewed the materials which would be distributed to Congress in the following days and also told how to report results of our Congressional appointments. The day finished with a grand banquet featuring a keynote speech by Dr. kenneth Jernigan. The speech, titled "Enlightened Self Interest", was recorded and is available on request from any of the Merchants Division Officers. In recognition that blind vendors always give full measure, a $100 bill was auctioned in a "pay every bid" sale. The selling price was a mere $50.00, the receipts a little more than $1,000. In Brief It seems that many of you enjoy reading and then trying the menu suggestions we include from time to time in the pages of the Merchants Messenger. I continue to hear from vendors who have had great success with the Power Breakfast recipe which was printed in the winter of 1994 and the Soup in a Bun recipe which was printed in the spring of '94. So, come on and share what works for you. All of us need money-making, unique ideas to try in our businesses. Karen Cox, who operates the City Grill in Colorado Springs, CO, reports successes with a couple of items that you may want to try. First, creamy tomato soup with wild rice, white beans and croutons. And how about this summer sandwich- the Monte Carlo, a ham, turkey and bacon sandwich served open-face with lettuce and tomato, topped with one half of a sliced hard boiled egg - best when served on sourdough bread. Attention, Training Officers! We know that most state agencies receive and read the Merchants Messenger. Here is a suggestion for a training exercise. If you have students who are in training to become Business Enterprise Managers, why not give them a copy or two of the Merchants Messenger and ask for feed-back? What better way to inform them of the consumer perspective on vending program issues? Monetary Musings by Charles Allen The low fat and fat free vend market continues to grow. Austin is offering three new low fat items- wheat with cheddar crackers (120 ct. 1.4 oz) Caramel Rice Chips and Salsa Rice Chips (both 60ct./1.25 oz.) Lance has added blueberry and strawberry to its vend line of fat free bars which already include fig, apple and cranberry. Mother's Cookies - doesn't that name sound comforting? Has fat free apple cobbler and fat free raspberry cobbler (both 84 ct./2.25 oz.) Each package has three fig bar like cookies. Very tasty. Other new items include Bold'n Zesty Chex Mix (60 ct./1.75 oz.) from Ralston Purina. Tropicana has twisters in the 11.5 oz. can. Flavors include pink grapefruit, orange cranberry and apple raspberry, blackberry (a blended flavor). Very Fine has 11.5 oz. can chillers in five flavors aptly named for consumption in the hot summer months- raspberry flavored tea, lemonade, freezing fruit avalanche, glacial grape and shivering strawberry melon. The last three would have tasted great during our recent heat wave. The January-February 1995 issue of MIDWEST FOODSERVICE NEWS gives some tips on how to do an unpleasant, but sometimes necessary job--firing an employee. The article quotes AT YOUR SERVICE, a publication of the Restaurant and Hospitality Association of Indiana. 1. Avoid prolonging the firing. There is no need for a long-winded introduction. It will only increase the tension. The direct approach is best. 2. Don't feed the employee the line that being let go is in reality "good" for the employee. 3. Don't look for solace by explaining how difficult it is for you to do this. 4. Don't argue or debate the matter with the employee. 5. Don't elaborate or embellish unless asked to do so later. 6. Allow the employee the right to feel pain and disappointment and show some emotion. 7. Stay calm. If the employee becomes hostile and responds with anger or begins to threaten, remember to keep your cool. 8. don't give the employee false hope that a reprieve may be forthcoming. The same issue tells about a new product called San-Sure Pine which kills bacteria and controls odor. It kills pseudomonas, salmonella and staphylococcus and acts as a virucide against influenza, type a, Brazil and Herpes Simplex type 2. This super stuff comes in one-gallon bottles and even controls mildew. For more information, contact Drackett Professional, 800/242-1677. The March-April, 1995 issue of MIDWEST FOODSERVICE NEWS gives some wonderful sounding recipes for summer drinks in an article written by Gerry Ludwig, a graduate of Dumas Pere School of French Cooking, Glenview, Illinois and he has been a consultant with Gordon Food Service for eight years. (Note: Garnishes for iced coffee could include whipped cream, powdered cocoa, cinnamon sticks and mint sprigs. To make strong coffee, use twice the amount of grounds as usual.) Ice Cappuccino Ingredients: 1 gallon double-strength coffee 8 ounces granulated sugar Method: Mix coffee and sugar together and refrigerate. For serving in a 16 ounce glass, fill the glass with ice and add six ounces of the coffee base and three ounces of whole milk. Stir and garnish as desired. (Note: For the following recipes, combine the ingredients and refrigerate, to serve, pour over ice and garnish with fresh fruit such as a slice of orange, lemon, star fruit, kiwi or a whole strawberry on the rim of the glass.) Strawberry-Kiwi Lemonade Ingredients: 1 gallon lemonade 8 ounces strawberry daiquiri/margarita mix 1pint pureed kiwi fruit (about eight kiwis) Method: For the kiwi puree, peel the kiwi and puree in a blender. Strain through a medium sieve to remove the seeds. Lemon Colada Ingredients: 1 gallon lemonade 1 quart pineapple juice 4 ounces pina colada mix The thank you's in this article go two ways. First and foremost, thanks to each of you who supported the Merchants Division fund raising activities by buying tickets in the $1,000 raffle (it was won by a fellow Kentucky vendor, Jerry Grimes, our pres sold the winning ticket). Also for buying corsages and boutonnieres for the Thursday night banquet (you all looked lovely); and for buying this years great new item, the convention survival SNAK-PAK (you all look so round). Your purchases made it possible for the Merchants Division to take part in the Honor Roll for the Ten Broek and White Cane Funds and for SUN shares. The second half of the thank you goes to all of you who not only purchased but who helped to sell each of these items. The third thank you goes to Barbara Swygert who ably chaired the flower project on fairly short notice then to Wayne and Linda Shevlin for monitoring the thousand dollar raffle. Then to Don Hudson and Priscilla for undertaking the SNAK-PAKs. A special thanks to Joe Van Lent and Laura who swore they would find somebody to work every time slot and the Merchants Division Booth. Find people they did but they also filled much of the time themselves. And a special, special thanks to Charles and Betty Allen who oversaw the whole thing, making sure that all the bases were covered. About Snak-Pak Two outstanding memories of the Chicago '95 Convention will be the Bag-Pipers and the Merchants Division Snak-Paks. The Pipers touched everyone's heart and the Snak-Paks should have touched every ones waist. This clever idea thought by the Library Lady, Priscilla Hudson and carried off by her husband, Don and President Allen resulted in the Merchants Division selling goodie bags which had 18-20 snak type items from fat free, cholesterol free pretzels to good old gooey sugar filled (probably made with lard) and other good stuff pastries. The Snak-Paks included gum, mints, candy, fruit bars, (some of the merchandise really was healthful) and other good stuff. Valued at about $12 to $14 the entire package included the Kentucky State Parks souvenir bag was sold for $5.00. Charlie Allen, Don Hudson and Joe Van Lent (probably some others I have forgotten) made arrangements with their suppliers to have the merchandise donated in support of the Merchants Division. The project was an overwhelming success. The proceeds, along with other money was donated to our National Organization during the Honor Roll of States on Friday. his super stuff comrw%G%Y7e<4YMe<4  ^"Y @00gp`FG%Z3'i4 iG%+Z HG%GZBmo24K]_$ &   acbbdjlsu46XZEE  )+-9JLq!!$$&&&**//2244 6"6$606E6G6#7%799<<<}>>BBADCD6F8F:F=G?G2J4JKKMM"O$O$OxQzQRRSSTTTTxVzVXX+X?XAXYYYYYYZZZZ0[2[[[N\P\\\^^ _ ____``W`Y`````.a0aaaaaxczcddUeWeWegeveeeeffwgyggggggh1h