TABLE OF CONTENTS

Editor's Line

President's Message

Education and Welfare Report

The City of Fountains Welcomes MCB

ACB Board Report

Executive Director's Job Description

Organization Helps Members Cope With Approaching Darkness

"Wood, Tools, Screws, nails"

Bone Marrow Found to Have Cells to Repair the Pancreas

Diabetic Eye Disease

News About AOL

AFB Names Best Cities for Blind People

Affiliate Affairs

From the Lower Left-Hand Drawer

Roses In a Pop Bottle

A Different Kind Of Prayer

Back to the 2003 Chronicle List

Back to the Chronicle Archives

Editor's Line

by John Weidlich

It seems as though with every issue lately, we have some kind of production problem. We had quite a delay with the March large print issue, but I think we have the problems worked out and we should be back on schedule again. Speaking of large print, as you probably know, the large print Chronicle is published in 24 point type. At our April Board meeting, a motion was made that all correspondence sent out by the office to members requesting large print should be in 28 point type, which is larger than the current edition of the magazine. Since the motion only covers material sent from the office, I don't believe it necessarily pertains to the Chronicle, but I would like to know what you think. Should we change the type size to 28 point type? It will cost more to produce, but it may be easier for some of you to read. If enough of you ask for the change, I will look into it. IF I don't hear from anyone, I will presume you like it the way it is and I won't change it.

More of you are asking to receive the Chronicle by e-mail. If you want to be added to the list, just let me know. It does not come as an attachment, so there is nothing that needs to be opened and, hopefully, no viruses.

I have a new toy to work with which I think will make my job of editing the Chronicle a bit easier. I have been using a Braille Lite 2000 from Freedom Scientific. Thanks to an assistive technology grant from MCB, I now have a Braille Lite Millennium. It works very much like the Braille Lite, but with lots more storage capacity and features to make editing much easier. It also has better speech and a better Braille display.

I thank all of you who continue to tell me that you enjoy the magazine. Please remember that your comments and suggestions are always welcome. As I have said many times, this is your magazine and I want it to be of interest to you.

On May 13, I will be going into the hospital for some major surgery. By the time you read this, I hope to be fully recovered and back to my usual mischief.

In this issue: more articles on diabetes, the top cities to live in if you are blind, information about the upcoming convention and lots more. Enjoy.

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President's Report

Dear MCB members and friends,

They may forget what you said, but they will never forget how you made them feel. Carl W. Buechner

I would like to begin my message this month by congratulating Dr. Betty Davidson on being appointed the new Deputy Director of RSB. Dr. Davidson was formerly the Special Needs Principal at MSB, and I would like to wish her well in her new position. A reception was held for Dr. Davidson on Sunday, April 6th at our MCB office and was put on by UWB. I must commend UWB and the reception committee for this outstanding effort. It was a tremendous success, and you all did a wonderful job in putting it together. I had the distinct pleasure of meeting Dr. Davidson for the first time at the reception, and found her to be a very warm and friendly person. I will be looking forward to working with her in the months ahead in making certain that MCB continues to have a strong voice in the decision making process of this state agency.

On a special topic, I am proud to announce that the MCB office has a new employee, Donna Weidlich. At our January 2003 Board meeting held in still. Joseph, our MCB Board felt that our MCB office greatly needed an extra assistant who could help out in meeting many of the office demands. I would like to ask that you join together with me now in welcoming Donna to the MCB office. We all know that her assistance will be greatly appreciated.

I would now like for us to turn our attention to an article that I think you will find most interesting. I also hope you will find it encouraging should you be thinking about being one of the many leaders in MCB. Excerpts from the article were taken from the December issue of the Personal Development newsletter For the full article you may visit: httpccststpersonal-developmentddcom Articles are for informational purposes only, not to be taken as professional advice.

The great leader is he who the people say, We did it ourselves

What is meant by leadership? To find out, let's look through the eyes of three commentators. American Management Consultant, Peter F. Drucker has this to say: "Leadership is not magnetic personality--that can just as well be a glib tongue. It is not making friends and influencing people--that is flattery. Leadership is lifting a person's vision to higher sights, the raising of a person's performance to a higher standard, the building of a personality beyond its normal limitations."

A leader's role is one of balance, for as American business philosopher Jim Rohn writes: "The challenge of leadership is to be strong, but not rude; be kind, but not weak; be bold, but not bully; be thoughtful, but not lazy; be humble, but not timid; be proud, but not arrogant; have humor, but without folly."

Perhaps the most significant characteristic of true leadership was expressed more than 2500 years ago by the founder of Taoism, Lao-Tzu: "The wicked leader is he who the people despise. The good leader is he who the people revere. The great leader is he who the people say, We did it ourselves."

Now that a picture of true leadership has been painted, let's take a closer look by examining some of the details.

A leader is foremost a servant, not in word, but in deed. As Christ said, "let the greater among you be as the younger, and the leader as he that serves." (Luke 22:26) One who is elected leader simply wins the right to serve others. Leaders understand that the art of perfect living is the art of perfect giving. And what do leaders give to those they serve? The benefit of the doubt. For they search others for their virtue and themselves for their vices.

What else do they give? Encouragement. For leaders are motivated by the wish to empower others. They want to bring out the best in others. The main role of delegation is not efficiency, but empowerment, for the main role of a leader is to create more leaders.

How do they empower others? Johann Wolfgang von Goethe explains: "Treat people as if they were what they ought to be, and you help them become what they are capable of being." The greatest ability of a leader may be the ability to recognize ability in others and encourage it.

Leaders also give inspiration. A good leader inspires others to have confidence in him or her; but a great leader inspires them to have confidence in themselves. Leaders are positive. Positively enthusiastic. They give hope and inspire others to make things happen. Where do leaders lead their followers? To places where they want to go, but wouldn't go alone.

Leaders give thanks. For they appreciate the efforts of their team. They are generous in praise, not criticism; they give pats on the back, not whacks on the head. They respect team members and let them know. They are also quick to support and defend their team.

Leaders have communication skills. They clearly define their values and goals to their team. By sharing information they illuminate the team instead of keeping them in the dark. They reassure team members by regularly offering feedback. Being empathetic, they are good listeners. So, they learn from their team, problem-solve, and implement solutions.

Leaders are interested in self-improvement. Their own and their team's. However, when it comes to improving others, they are compassionate, not demanding. They realize people have flaws and make allowances for them. Nevertheless, since they wish to uplift others, they point out the correct path and offer encouragement. Like the farmer looking after the crops, they have the patience to wait for the harvest. Their preferred method of instruction is by example.

Leaders don't wear the golden crown of a ruler, but a wreath of thorns known as responsibility. They are responsible for their team's success. And whenever it is achieved, they make sure the team receives the credit. Yet, when problems appear, they have the courage to accept the blame and the wisdom to learn from their mistakes. They don't fear responsibility because they realize, "Unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall much be required." (Luke 12:48) Or, as Winston Churchill said, "Responsibility is the price of greatness."

Leaders have a thirst for knowledge. They keep abreast of the latest developments in their field. They are informed of possible problems, their causes, and solutions, and are aware of the needs of their teammates. It is not only their knowledge that inspires confidence, but their integrity. For leaders have values and live by them. They are known for their honesty and by the way they treat others fairly.

There are too many qualities of leadership to cover here, so I'll close by illustrating some differences between a ruthless boss and a motivating leader. Bosses drive subordinates, leaders coach them. Bosses depend on authority, leaders on goodwill. Bosses say, "I," leaders say, "We." Bosses fix the blame for the breakdown; leaders fix the breakdown. Bosses know how it's done, leaders show how. Bosses say, "Do it!" but leaders say, "Let's do it!" Bosses inspire fear; leaders inspire enthusiasm. Bosses say, "Here's what I think." but leaders say, "What do you think?" Bosses expect you to work FOR them; leaders expect you to work WITH them. Bosses want things done THEIR way; leaders want things done the BEST way. Bosses get angry and point the way to the door; leaders are understanding and point the way. Bosses use people; leaders respect them. Bosses do what's right for them; leaders do the right thing. Bosses inflict pain; leaders share pain. A boss takes more than his share of the credit; a leader takes more than his share of the blame. By Chuck Gallozzi

Have a wonderful summer. Warmest regards, Chip hailey, MCB president

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Education and Welfare Report

by Dennis Miller

At this writing there are two weeks left in the Missouri legislative

session. There is very little to report from this year's session except

to say that it looks like we will escape with relatively few cuts being made

to programs affecting us. There are many proposed changes being considered to Medicaid but nothing is final at this point.

I want to talk a bit about something that I talked briefly about in my last

Chronicle report. The Help America Vote Act is a major voter reform bill

passed by Congress last year. This bill does many things but the main thing

it does that is of importance to blind or visually impaired people is that

it requires each polling place have at least one accessible voting machine

with speech output. One of the components of this bill is that each state

was charged with writing a state plan which they would need to submit in

order to receive federal money to implement the changes required by the Help

America Vote Act. Therefore, Secretary of State Matt Blunt formed a

committee to write Missouri's state plan. This committee is made up

primarily of local election officials with a very few Representatives from

other organizations. Fortunately, the Missouri Council of the Blind was one

of those organizations chosen to participate and I have been attending

monthly meetings since February. I was also appointed to the technology sub

committee which, among other things, deals with the issue of accessible voting

machines. Several public hearings were held throughout the state to get

input from consumers regarding all aspects of voting. A few MCB members

testified at those hearings and those testimonies have been helpful to the

committee members in learning about the needs and concerns of blind and

visually impaired people.

We still have quite a bit of work to do in formulating a state plan, but we

are making progress and I for one am looking forward to the day when I can

go to my local polling place and cast a true secret ballot. I'm sure I will

have more to say about this in September.

I also want to take a moment to thank Jerry annunzio for representing MCB at

the ACB legislative days in March. It sounds like he did an excellent job.

I also want to thank Bev Armstrong for all the hard work she has been doing

with blind pension. Words cannot fully describe the amount of help she has

been to me over the past several months. We are all going to benefit in the

long run for her diligence and knowledge in this area.

Finally, I want to publicly thank everyone who e-mailed, called and offered

their support over the last couple of months. As many of you know, my

mother has been undergoing treatment for breast cancer and your support has

meant a lot to me and to her.

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** The City of Fountains Invites MCB

By Jerry Annunzio

"Goin to Kansas City, Kansas City here I come." The words of this well

known song invites all of the Missouri Council of the Blind members

to the heart of America. As the Kansas City members of MCB continue to put

all the details together for your arrival in Kansas City for the 2003 MCB

convention, we hope you will plan to come early and stay late. Our

contract with the hotel allows you to reserve the convention rate three

days before and three days after the convention. We have learned that the

Chiefs will be playing an away game that weekend. And the way it looks

now the Royals will be going to the World Series. Yes it is true we have

high hopes. What could be better than the Chiefs in the Superbowl, the

Royals in the World Series and MCB in Kansas City.

With the above scenario it is mandatory that you get your reservations in

early, so that you will be able to get the type of room you want. The

Adams Mark Hotel is at 9103 East 39th Street, just north of Interstate

70. You turn off I-70 at Blue Ridge Cutoff. At that point your driver

will

be able to see the hotel. The cost of the rooms are $59 per night,

single, double, triple or quad. If you are not state tax exempt the room

tax is 13.4753people. The toll free phone number is 1-800-444-ADAM 444-2326. The

local number is 816-737-0200 and the fax number is 816-737-4745. Check in

time is 3:00 P.M. and check out is Noon.

All reservations must be in before September 16, 2003.

If you can plan your vacation around the convention you may want to visit

the hot spots in KC. besides being able to get our convention room rate

three days before and after the convention the hotel will have available

two complimentary vans to take you anywhere within fifteen miles of the

hotel. Check ahead of time on times and availability. That includes

downtown, The Plaza, the gambling boats and a whole list of restaurants

such as Bryant's and Gate's for Barbecue or The Hereford House for

steaks.

If you like to eat, and in Kansas City that is another thing we do well,

here comes the good stuff. On Friday evening is the MCB hospitality

dinner. The menu is a Kansas City barbecue brisket sandwich, chips,

veggies, water, ice tea or coffee. Not too heavy but just enough to fuel

you up for a night on the town.

The Kansas City team has been hard at work developing a spectacular

exciting gastronomic extravaganza for your 2003 Missouri Council of the

Blind Banquet. I can not reveal the wondrous sensations that you will

experience, except to say, there is more there than just chicken. The

menu will be a specially prepared Chicken that includes a special sauce

made for us by the chef, a wonderful chef's salad, a baked potato, the

chef's choice vegetables, strawberry short cake, water, coffee or tea.

All this for only $16.00 inclusive which means the gratuity is in there.

I can't wait for you all to come experience all that Kansas City has for

you: sights, sounds, fragrances and the good vibrations abound all around

in all our town. Sights you can touch like the statues, the sounds of our

friendly people, the fragrances of the Kansas City strip steaks and

barbecue. After all that you will want to top off evenings with the good

vibrations of Kansas City Jazz. The heart of America is open and the city

of fountains welcomes MCB to the 2003 Missouri Council of the Blind

Convention, October 9 thru 12.

Back to Index

** ACB Board Report

By Jerry Annunzio

The American Council of the Blind board has spent a major amount of time

this winter on the budget. After cutting, re-cutting and cutting again we

hopefully have a balanced, although a wounded, budget.

Carla Ruschival has been working hard to obtain convention bids for

future years. During the past year, she has had contacts from 26

different cities. Both St. Louis and Kansas City are on her list of

possible sites. Kansas City is being considered for ACB'S fiftieth

anniversary celebration in 2011. Some of the other bids being considered

are Phoenix, Las Vegas, Reno, Louisville, New Orleans,

Minneapolis and Orlando.

The Las Vegas Riviera Hotel people presented a very attractive bid for

2005 and the board accepted

that bid. A bid for the year 2007 to go to the Minneapolis Hyatt Regency

and Millennium Hotels was also accepted by the board.

So as things stand now it is 2003 Pittsburgh, 2004 Birmingham, 2005 Las

Vegas, 2006 Louisville, 2007 Minneapolis, 2008, 2009 are in the works and

2011 will most likely be in Kansas City. So things are lining up nicely

for future ACB conventions.

On another front, President Chris Gray announced that he had appointed

Jerry Annunzio as Chairman of the Resource Development Committee. As you

may know RDC is charged with developing long term and dependable

financial resources for ACB. There are many different programs which are

active under the umbrella of the RDC. For example, last year the new Major

Donor Program brought in $11,000. So far this year we have installed two

new programs and are working on several others. It will take a while

to bring all the RDC programs into full production. The chairman's personal

goal is to bring in six million dollars within five years. The hunters

remember you aim in front of the flock and let them fly into the shot. So

we will aim high, work hard and hope we hit the mark.

Thank you all again for your support and kind words. See you in

Pittsburgh in July and again in Kansas City in October.

Back to Index

MCB Executive director: JOB DESCRIPTION

At the April Board meeting of the Missouri Council of the Blind, the Board approved a new job description for the position of Executive Director that was drawn up by the Personnel Committee, which consists of Bev Armstrong as Chairman and members, chip Hailey, Dennis Miller, and Russel Ewell.

Executive Director of the

Missouri Council of the Blind

Job Summary: The Executive Director is an employee of the Missouri Council of the Blind and reports to the President and Board

of Directors of the Missouri Council of the Blind. Hestshe is

responsible for the overall management and operation of the Missouri

Council of the Blind office, which includes planning, personnel, budget

development, program development and evaluation, and community outreach.

DUTIES

Arranges functions to meet the needs of the Missouri Council of the

Blind as requested by the President;

Formulates procedures for the systematic retention, protection,

retrieval, transfer and disposal of records to insure compliance with

record retention requirements of all state and federal agencies and the

Missouri Council of the Blind;

Coordinates efforts statewide that are for the benefit of the Missouri

Council of the Blind, including member and community resources, for the

purpose of program development in areas of need;

Undertakes special projects at the request of the Missouri Council of

the Blind president;

Shall attend all Board meetings, state and national conventions, and

other meetings upon request of the Missouri Council of the Blind

president;

Shall submit monthly, quarterly and annual reports to the President

with written copies to be maintained in the Missouri Council of the

Blind office;

Serves as advisor to the Board and Board committees;

Assists with the formulation of organizational goals and policy;

Develops and implements procedures based on policy established by the

Board of Directors;

Determines specific objectives and action steps for achieving goals.

PERSONNEL

Hires, trains, supervises and terminates, when necessary, the staff of

the Missouri Council of the Blind office;

Develops and implements personnel procedures, including job

descriptions, personnel assignments, and maintenance of records and

recommends salary changes of staff of the Missouri Council of the Blind;

On a periodic basis reviews the performance of the office staff

individually, providing input and/or suggestions to improve the quality

and effectiveness of the work of the Missouri Council of the Blind

office.

BUDGET DEVELOPMENT

Prepares an annual budget for the office to be submitted to the Budget

and Finance Committee;

Researches and prepares grant proposals;

Assists in preparing an annual budget for approval of the Board of

Directors;

Assists in the allocation of funds within the established budget;

Assists Board of Directors in identifying budget needs and potential

funding sources to meet those needs;

Assists the Board in conducting fundraising events.

PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT

Identifies program needs within the service area of the Missouri

Council of the Blind;

Assists the Board in developing programs to meet identified needs;

Assists in community networking and program planning;

Evaluates overall quality of services provided and reports findings

to the Board.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH

Establishes and maintains good working relationships with leaders of

community organizations, elected officials, educational institutions and

professional personnel providing older adult services;

Establishes and maintains relationships with other disability rights

leaders at all levels;

Maintains expertise on significant disability issues;

Represents Missouri Council of the Blind at local, state and national

meetings and conferences;

Provides training for community leaders and agencies on blindness

issues;

Gives speeches to community organizations;

At the request of the president works with elected officials, agencies

and organizations to develop and promote legislation and programs on

blindness-related topics that will create greater inclusion of persons

with visual impairments in their local communities;

Work cooperatively with the Public Relations chairperson in raising

awareness of the Missouri Council of the Blind through the printed media

and, when possible, radio and television;

Develop brochures, etc. that will tell the story of the Missouri

Council of the Blind and the blind community in general.

SKILLS NEEDED

Proficiency in contracted Braille (Grade II); is desired

Proficient use of computer software and applications;

Good mobility skills;

Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE IN:

Community development;

Grant writing;

Business records;

Accounting practices and procedures; general office duties.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Personal experience with blindness;

Mandatory participation at all official meetings of the Missouri

Council of the Blind;

Mandatory attendance at all national conventions and meetings

pertinent to the stated duties and responsibilities of the Executive

Director's position;

Must have a six-month probationary period, and at that time the

Missouri Council of the Blind President and Personnel Committee will

evaluate hissther job performance and will report to the Board which will

vote to retain or dismiss.

QUALIFICATIONS

A Master's degree in at least one of the following areas: Human

Services; Administration; Social Work; Rehabilitation; or Education,

plus a minimum of one year of administration and management, and two

years of experience in providing services to persons with visual

impairments; or

A Bachelor's degree in one of the above-named areas with four years of

administration and management experience and two years of experience in

providing services to persons with visual impairments;

Needs to be a strong self-starter.

BENEFITS

Paid vacation time will be earned as set forth in the personnel policy

manual;

Paid sick leave time will be earned as set forth in the personnel

policy manual;

Paid holidays will be those named in the personnel policy manual;

A matching pension fund program with a 53people cap will be provided;

- Health insurance is provided for this position; (Health benefits are

to be in effect immediately and the pension program will be available

after the successful six-month probationary period.)

SALARY

This is a full time position (40 hours per week) with an annual salary

range of $35,000 to $42,000, dependent upon the applicant's education

and experience.

Back to Index

Organization helps members cope with approaching darkness

By SU BACON

Special to The Kansas City Star

From The Editor: This is an article from the Kansas City Star about an organization operated by one of our readers. Is it just me or does it irritate you when newspaper reporters refer to blindness as "darkness?" Anyway, aside from that headline about approaching darkness, I think it's a good article.

Cathy Pyper has been married for five years to a man she has never seen.

"I don't have a clue what Peter looks like, but I know what's in his heart," she said. They met and married in 1999---two years after she lost her vision. Her husband is also blind.

Her vision loss was due to diabetes. Despite 12 eye surgeries attempting to save her vision, Pyper said she went from "20-20 to zero" in 15 months.

But vision wasn't her only loss. Pyper also lost her job. She worked as a supervisor in a bank but "you can't run a bank if you can't see the money," she said.

And she lost her independence. She could no longer drive a car, write checks to pay bills, match the colors in the clothes she wears or do many of the other things she had done for more than 30 years.

"I was so lost when it happened to me and I know it is the same for others," Pyper said. She discovered there are many steps a person can take to get ready for blindness when vision loss is inevitable and eventual. So Cathy and Peter Pyper decided to do what they could to help other people prepare. They have founded First Steps for the Blind, an organization to provide information, resources and support for those losing their vision and for their families, too.

"The adjustment can be a little bit easier if you have an idea of what lies ahead," she said.

The Pypers are running the organization from their home in Kansas City, North. Cathy Pyper fields questions and connects individuals needing assistance with government agencies and organizations, volunteers, mentors and other resources that can provide financial help, adaptive equipment, transportation, training, information and other services for the visually impaired.

On the third Wednesday evening of each month, the Pypers have a meeting in their dining room for people from all over the

metropolitan area.

Individuals with macular degeneration, glaucoma and other visual impairments as well as those who are blind find support, encouragement and compassion. What they don't find are pessimism and self-pity.

"Cathy has turned a millstone into a stepping stone," said Loretta

O'Connor of Kansas City, a member of the group. O'Connor packs a lightweight, portable keyboard when she comes to the meetings. Propped on her lap, the keyboard acts as a tablet and pen for her. She types in notes and they are turned into documents that she can listen to later. The device is just one of many products designed for individuals who can't see.

At the February meeting, Pyper discussed some of the other aids available including a label reader that scans bar codes and says what's inside the can, a talking thermometer and a holder for baking several potatoes at the same time. Sticking the potatoes on the prongs of the holder keeps them in one place for easy removal from a hot oven.

"There's very little that a blind person can't do," Pyper told the group at the March meeting. "We just have to work at it harder, do it in a different way and it takes longer."

Between monthly meetings, for example, members of the First Steps group keep in touch through e-mail. Those who are blind have e-mail programs that read messages aloud. Those with vision impairments have magnification programs on their computers so they can read their mail.

"Two years ago I was terrified of computers," said Mary Rohrer of Kansas City. "Now these programs are like a door to the outside world."

Rohrer has macular degeneration and uses both a magnification

program that enables her to read the screen by enlarging the text and a talking e-mail program.

Unfortunately, "everything you need to make life simple is

expensive," Pyper said.

Such software programs cost almost $1,000. The good news is in

Missouri the software is provided free of charge to individuals who

qualify, said Katherine Leu, a consumer support provider for the

state Telecommunication Access Program for the Internet.

Leu attends the First Steps meetings and teaches individuals how

to use the different programs. Qualifying for the software is based on

income, residency and basic keyboard skills, she said.

But there's more to preparing for vision loss than learning to use

adaptive equipment. Families need help, too.

"I was only 18 when my mother lost her vision," recalled Amy

Hochstedler, Pyper's daughter. "This was the person who had taken

care of me and suddenly she couldn't tie her own shoes or brush her

own teeth.

"One day I was a carefree teen-ager and the next I needed to help--not only with the house but also with the bills."

Hochstedler often attends the First Steps meetings. In February, she

distributed guidelines based on her own experience for living with

someone who is visually impaired.

Hochstedler said it was hard watching her mother grieve. When you

live with someone who is visually impaired, "sometimes they just

need to cry. Let them," she said.

Pyper discovered that no matter how well she has adjusted to her

vision loss, grieving is ongoing.

"Something comes along that you want to be able to see, such as a

new baby in the family or a wedding," Pyper said. "There is a constant reminder of what you have lost."

Still, the First Steps meetings are filled with laughter.

Participants joke, share frustrations and triumphs and learn from

each other.

"Your life only has to be a dark and miserable place if you let it

be," Pyper said.

The details:

First Steps for the Blind is in the process of obtaining

nonprofit status. It does not charge for services or assistance. For

more information, call (816) 455-5219 between 8 addm. and 5 p.m.

weekdays or visit the Web site at www.firststepsfortheblind.org

Back to Index

"Wood, Tools, Screws, Nails"

This article appeared in the South County Times back in November of last year. Ned Cox is a member of UWB.

Ned Cox, blind since childhood, has made woodworking his passion.

by Janet Edwards

Ned Cox is celebrating his 86th birthday today. Along with candles and icing, his cake might also be frosted with a bit of sawdust.

The sawdust can't be blamed on the construction crew renovating Delmar Gardens at Meramec Valley, where Cox resides. More likely, it will come from the birthday guy himself.

Cox spends several hours each morning in the basement, working with lumber and power tools. Later, he might play keyboards, call Bingo, get lost in books, write a journal entry, speak to an elementary class or a scouting group, or attend a Lions Club meeting. All of this might seem ambitious for a man his age, except that Cox is also in a wheelchair and--he's blind.

But Cox has never been one to dwell on hardship. In fact, overcoming obstacles may be what he does best.

The trip from his first-floor living quarters to his workshop isn't easy. Cox, a tall lanky sort, shrugs it off. After hoisting himself from one wheelchair, he uses handrails to maneuver down two flights of steps to the basement. He then steps into an older, sawdust-covered wheelchair positioned at the bottom step.

"Are you ready?" he asked a visitor, smiling. "I've spent many pleasant hours down here."

Making his way through a storage room door, Cox stopped and spread his arms out wide, proud of the large work area laid out before him. The workshop is compliments of Delmar Gardens.

Unfinished projects, including 10- and 20-foot shuffleboards and bowling alleys, fill the center of the space. Uncut wood leans against the wall in large pieces. Wooden game boxes line the 14-foot workbench, built by Cox. Tools large and small, are placed strategically along the shelves above and below it.

Storage boxes belonging to the facility are relegated to the back part of the large room.

"I'm going to build walls so he can't keep growing down here," said Karen Muckler, center administrator. "He's expanded his space twice already."

Three years ago, it was Muckler who gave Cox the idea to resume his woodworking hobby, an effort to bolster his sagging spirits. She offered a small project area.

"He made birdhouses and footstools back then" she said, shaking her head. When she considers his progress, Muckler is both amazed by Cox's tenacity, and worried about how to curb his ambition. Basement space is becoming an issue.

Many bigger projects have followed those birdhouses, several of which were donated to the facility. Fellow residents like to throw parties, so Cox built them a wooden fold-up bar on wheels, now used for happy hours, staff appreciation festivities, and open houses. He also donated a shuffleboard table and a bowling alley. As he does when calling Bingo, Cox keeps score with Braille cards.

"This is my home," he said. "I want to please the people around me."

His efforts do not go unnoticed, Muckler said. Cox has been named Volunteer of the Year by the facility. His exceptional attitude is hard to ignore.

"Meet an active resident," Muckler said. "People here find him an inspiration, because of his age and how he has overcome his sight loss."

Over the years, Cox has devised tools and tricks to help him complete projects. He built his own power saw 50 years ago, the same one he uses today. (His accident record is flawless, by the way.) Notched measuring devices on smaller tools help him count out inches, even sixteenths of an inch, with painstaking accuracy. Maintenance workers and community volunteers, one of whom is present at all times, help him hoist large boards and polyurethane the wood. Cox designs, sands and otherwise builds the projects using skills learned as a young boy at the Kentucky School for the Blind.

The school wanted to teach him how to cane chairs, but Cox had other ideas.

"I wanted to use tools--planes, power saws, drills," he said. The shop manager reluctantly obliged.

"Wood, tools, screws, nails, I love to create things with these," Cox said. "I think about projects and plan them in my sleep. This is a great part of my contentment here, to be able to pursue something I've loved all my life."

An injury at the age of seven caused infection and eventually left Cox without sight. His mother pushed him to accept his disability and continue to believe in himself. Cox recalled a time when his father spied him at the top of a telephone pole he had climbed with friends. He wanted to bring Cox down immediately, but his mother thought otherwise.

"Leave him alone, she said, he's with his sighted buddies," Cox recalled. "She insisted that I grow up with the same determination and the same goals as my sighted friends. I guess it was a mother's instinct, and she was right. I had to start out doing what they did."

Cox spent much of his life working as director of Kentucky Industries for the Blind, convincing foremen, executives, and other business leaders that blind people make valuable contributions to the workforce. His ground-breaking work has been recognized many times by the business community, his former school, and Lions Club International, of which he is a longtime member.

When Cox spoke recently to his granddaughter's class, he answered many questions about blindness, but he also shared a message: "Be determined to follow your goals and don't get discouraged. Play the hand life dealt you. You have to be willing to make adjustments."

A little sawdust on the birthday cake might just be a good thing.

Shuffleboards to toy trains: Among Cox's products are: 10-foot bowling alleys, complete with pin setting racks; 12- and 20-foot shuffleboard tables; 6- and 8-player poker tables; a washer toss game; a Crackpot dice game box; and toy trains. Cox sells his work to other retirement communities, charitable organizations, recreational centers and individuals. For more information, call Ned Cox at (314) 602-3599.

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Bone Marrow Found to Have Cells to Repair the Pancreas By NICHOLAS WADE

New York Times: March 15: 2003

Following on the heels of an operation in Michigan in which doctors treated a boy's failing heart with cells from his bone marrow, researchers have discovered that bone marrow also harbors cells that can repair the pancreas and produce insulin.

The discovery, made by Dr. Mehboob A. Hussain and colleagues at the New York University School of Medicine, emerged from experiments with mice but the same is very likely to be true of people, too, Dr. Hussain said. It raises the possibility of treating diabetics with stem cells from their own bone marrow, relieving them from the chore of regular insulin injections.

Bone marrow has long been recognized as the home of the progenitor cells that ceaselessly replenish the new red and white cells of the blood. But it harbors more than blood stem cells: its cells have recently been found to repair the liver, the heart and now the pancreas.

The mature cells of the body's organs and tissues are kept under strict control, probably to prevent cancer, and seldom divide. The business of generating new cells is left largely to the stem cells, which biologists have only recently learned to distinguish from ordinary cells.

Dr. Hussain, an expert in the beta cells of the pancreas that produce insulin, genetically engineered a strain of mice whose cells would turn fluorescent green thanks to an inserted jellyfish gene only if they started making insulin. He used these animals as marrow donors for a second group of mice whose own bone marrow was destroyed with a blast of radiation. Green cells started to show up in the pancreases of the recipient mice, Dr. Hussain's group reports in today's issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation. It seems that stem cells can exit the marrow, home in on the pancreas, morph into the pancreas's specialized beta cells and start churning out insulin.

Dr. Marcus Stoffel, a diabetes expert at Rockefeller University, said the finding was "very interesting because bone marrow is easily accessible from a patient." Trials in which pancreas tissue has been transplanted into patients from cadavers have shown promise, but there is a shortage of donor material and recipients must take powerful immune-suppressing drugs for life. A transplant from a patient's own bone marrow would avoid such problems. The cells could probably be harvested from the blood stream, cultivated outside the body and injected back into the patient.

As with the idea of using bone marrow cells to repair the heart, however, it is not clear why a patient's body does not spontaneously draw on this repair system, if it is already in place. Dr. Richard Furlanetto, scientific director of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation in Manhattan, which financed the research, said there is a normal turnover of beta cells in the pancreas and suggested that in disease the repair process became overwhelmed. Increasing the number of repair cells could even the odds in the patient's favor.

One problem with using the patient's own bone marrow is that type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease, so the immune system would probably chew up replacement cells as well. Another is that any variant gene in the patient's genome that had promoted the diabetes would be present in the repair cells, too. Dr. Hussain said that drugs could halt immune rejection and that genetic defects could in principle be repaired before returning the marrow cells to the patient's body.

The identity of the pancreas's true stem cell remains unclear. Researchers have isolated stemlike cells from the pancreas's duct, but Dr. Hussain is the first to have found a source outside the pancreas. Dr. Stoffel said he did not think the marrow cells were the natural replacement cells for the pancreas because not enough green insulin-producing cells showed up there in the experiment. But Dr. Hussain said that the replacement rate was uncertain and that it remained to be seen if the marrow was the principal source of the pancreas's stem cells. He has yet to develop a way to identify which of the bone marrow's many types of stem cell is the one able to generate insulin-producing cells.

The stem cells in question are adult stem cells. They differ from embryonic stem cells, which are made in the egg, generate all the tissues of the embryo and then disappear. Because of all the technical problems that remain to be solved in developing therapies from adult stem cells, researchers say they also need to work with human embryonic stem cells, despite the political and ethical objections to their use.

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Diabetic Eye Disease: Questions and Answers

From The Editor: This article was posted on the e-mail list for blind diabetics that I belong to. Since diabetic retinopathy is one of the leading causes of blindness, I thought you might find this article of interest.

WHO IS AT RISK FOR THIS DISEASE? All people with diabetes are at risk--those with Type I

diabetes (juvenile onset) and those with Type II diabetes

(adult onset).

During pregnancy, diabetic retinopathy may also be a problem for

women with diabetes. It is recommended that all pregnant women

with diabetes have dilated eye examinations each trimester to protect their vision.

WHAT ARE ITS SYMPTOMS?

Diabetic retinopathy often has no early warning signs. At some

point, though, you may have macular edema. It blurs vision,

making it hard to do things like read and drive. In some cases,

your vision will get better or worse during the day.

As new blood vessels form at the back of the eye, they can

bleed (hemorrhage) and blur vision. The first time this happens

it may not be very severe. In most cases, it will leave just a

few specks of blood, or spots, floating in your vision. They

often go away after a few hours.

These spots are often followed within a few days or weeks by a much greater leakage of blood. The blood will blur your vision. In extreme cases, a person will only be able to tell light from dark in that eye. It may take the blood anywhere

from a few days to months or even years to clear from the inside of your eye. In some cases, the blood will not clear.

You should be aware that large hemorrhages tend to happen more than once, often during sleep.

HOW IS IT DETECTED?

Diabetic retinopathy is detected during an eye examination that includes:

Visual acuity test: This eye chart test measures how well you see at various distances.

Pupil dilation: The eye care professional places drops into the eye to widen the pupil. This allows him or her to see more of the retina and look for signs of diabetic retinopathy. After the examination, close-up vision may remain blurred for several hours.

Ophthalmoscopy: This is an examination of the retina in which the eye care professional: (1) looks through a device with a special magnifying lens that provides a narrow view of the retina, or (2) wearing a headset with a bright light, looks through a special magnifying glass and gains a wide view of the retina.

Tonometry: A standard test that determines the fluid pressure inside the eye. Elevated pressure is a possible sign of glaucoma, another common eye problem in people with diabetes.

Your eye care professional will look at your retina for early

signs of the disease, such as: (1) leaking blood vessels, (2)

retinal swelling, such as macular edema, (3) pale, fatty

deposits on the retina--signs of leaking blood vessels,

(4) damaged nerve tissue, and (5) any changes in the blood vessels.

Should your doctor suspect that you need treatment for macular

edema, he or she may ask you to have a test called fluorescein

angiography.

In this test, a special dye is injected into your arm. Pictures

are then taken as the dye passes through the blood vessels in

the retina. This test allows your doctor to find the leaking

blood vessels.

HOW IS IT TREATED?

There are two treatments for diabetic retinopathy. They are

very effective in reducing vision loss from this disease. In

fact, even people with advanced retinopathy have a 90 percent

chance of keeping their vision when they get treatment before

the retina is severely damaged.

These two treatments are laser surgery and vitrectomy. It is

important to note that although these treatments are very

successful, they do not cure diabetic retinopathy.

LASER SURGERY

Laser surgery is performed in a doctor's office or eye clinic.

Before the surgery, your ophthalmologist will: (1) dilate your

pupil and (2) apply drops to numb the eye. In some cases, the

doctor also may numb the area behind the eye to prevent any

discomfort.

The lights in the office will be dim. As you sit facing the

laser machine, your doctor will hold a special lens to your

eye. During the procedure, you may see flashes of light. These

flashes may eventually create a stinging sensation that makes

you feel a little uncomfortable.

You may leave the office once the treatment is done, but you

will need someone to drive you home. Because your pupils will

remain dilated for a few hours, you also should bring a pair

of sunglasses.

For the rest of the day, your vision will probably be a little

blurry. If your eye hurts a bit, your eye care professional can

suggest a way to control this.

Doctors will perform laser surgery to treat severe macular

edema and proliferative retinopathy.

Macular Edema: Timely laser surgery can reduce vision loss

from macular edema by half. But you may need to have laser

surgery more than once to control the leaking fluid.

During the surgery, your doctor will aim a high-energy beam

of light directly onto the damaged blood vessels. This is

called focal laser treatment. This seals the vessels and stops

them from leaking. Generally, laser surgery is used to stabilize

vision, not necessarily to improve it.

Proliferative Retinopathy: In treating advanced diabetic

retinopathy, doctors use the laser to destroy the abnormal

blood vessels that form at the back of the eye.

Rather than focus the light on a single spot, your eye care

professional will make hundreds of small laser burns away from

the center of the retina. This is called scatter laser

treatment. The treatment shrinks the abnormal blood vessels.

You will lose some of your side vision after this surgery to save the rest of your sight. Laser surgery may also slightly

reduce your color and night vision.

Once you have proliferative retinopathy, you will always be at

risk for new bleeding. This means you may need treatment more

than once to protect your sight.

VITRECTOMY

Instead of laser surgery, you may need an eye operation called

a vitrectomy to restore your sight. A vitrectomy is performed

if you have a lot of blood in the vitreous. It involves removing

the cloudy vitreous and replacing it with a salt solution.

Because the vitreous is mostly water, you will notice no change

between the salt solution and the normal vitreous.

Studies show that people who have a vitrectomy soon after a

large hemorrhage are more likely to protect their vision than

someone who waits to have the operation.

Early vitrectomy is especially effective in people with

insulin-dependent diabetes, who may be at greater risk of

blindness from a hemorrhage into the eye.

Vitrectomy is often done under local anesthesia. This means

that you will be awake during the operation. The doctor makes

a tiny incision in the sclera, or white of the eye. Next, a

small instrument is placed into the eye. It removes the

vitreous and inserts the salt solution into the eye.

You may be able to return home soon after the vitrectomy. Or,

you may be asked to stay in the hospital overnight. Your eye

will be red and sensitive. After the operation, you will need

to wear an eyepatch for a few days or weeks to protect the eye.

You will also need to use medicated eye drops to protect against

infection.

Source: NIH

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News From AOL

From The Editor: As you probably know, America Online (AOL) is the largest internet service provider in the US. However, many blind people have complained that the services provided by AOL have not been fully accessible to blind computer users who use screen readers and magnification software. The situation was so bad that the National Federation of the Blind sued AOL several years ago in an effort to get them to deal with accessibility issues. Here is a recent press release that indicates that AOL is indeed trying to make its service more accessible to blind customers.

Announcement:

America Online Expands Reach To Blind Community With Discount On Package of

Premium Services

Custom Package Features AOL by Phone, An Easy To Use Audio-Based e-mail

System And Unlimited Monthly Access To Flagship AOL Narrowband Service

April 21, 2003 Dulles, VA--As part of America Online's ongoing commitment to meeting the technology needs of people with disabilities and delivering an Internet experience that is accessible to all consumers, the company

announced today that it is offering a custom package of premium AOL services

for new

subscribers who are blind or visually impaired. The package will feature

AOL by Phone, an easy to use, voice-activated, audio-based e-mail service that

further

extends the company's ease of use and convenience to the blind and visually

impaired. It will also include unlimited monthly access to the flagship AOL

narrowband service, which has attracted the world's largest online community

through a wide range of innovative programming, features and tools. This

custom

package is available for $19.95 a month, which is over a 303people cost savings

over the regular subscription price of $28.95 for the two services combined.

The first two months are free. More information is available by calling

1-866-854-1025.

"We are continually striving to deliver unique ways for our members to stay

connected to essential information, anywhere anytime," says Tom Wlodkowski,

AOL Director of Accessibility. "We believe AOL by Phone offers a valuable

solution for the blind community. The service expands access to e-mail, the

most

popular feature on the Internet, and is especially beneficial when access

technology such as a screen reader is not available."

With AOL by Phone, members can read and reply to e-mail messages by calling a

toll-free number. A friendly voice guides them to the information they want

to find online. By selecting "e-mail" from the main menu, callers can

quickly

review and respond to all of the messages in their mailbox. In addition to e-mail, Aol by Phone connects users to news headlines, weather, sports, stock

quotes, entertainment information and much more. Access to free business

and

residential 411 directory assistance is also included. Best of all, callers

can choose to navigate AOL by Phone menus via voice or by pressing numbers on

their telephone keypad.

"Although screen reading technology is great, there is nothing like being

able to send and receive e-mails over the phone," says Matt McCarthy, AOL

member

and parent to a teenager who is blind. "I have a fifteen year old and AOL by phone helps keep her in the loop with her friends and family. The live

voice

is very pleasant and a great utility."

The release of AOL 8.0 introduced several new mainstream features, which

enhance accessibility support for members who are blind or visually

impaired.

For

example, AOL 8.0 supports hundreds of custom Instant Message sounds, which

allow members to easily identify people who are online. Likewise new audio

cues alert members to the arrival of new e-mail messages.

Earlier this year AOL and Freedom Scientific produced "Using AOL with JAWS,"

an audio demonstration of how users interact with staple features on AOL

including

e-mail, the Buddy List, Instant Messages, parental controls and much more.

Tutorials are available for download at

www.freedomscientific.com/fsproducts/training.asp4

A cassette copy is also available from America Online.

Further information on AOL'S accessibility efforts and projects can be found

at www.aol.comstaccessibility or AOL Keyword: Accessibility.

To learn more about this limited time offer featuring AOL by Phone and

unlimited access to the flagship narrowband AOL service for $19.95 a month,

please

call 1-866-854-1025.

Tom Wlodkowski

Director of Accessibility, America Online

Phone: 703-265-1999

TTY: 703-265-7567

e-mail: tomwlodkowskiaol.com

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AFB Names Best Cities For Blind People

From The Editor: A few issues back, I told you that the American Foundation for the Blind (Afb) was asking people to submit nominations for the best places to live if you are blind. They wanted opinions on which communities had the most accessible services for blind people, in such areas as transportation, educational facilities recreational opportunities and jobs. Well, here is a news release announcing the top five winners. Sorry, no Missouri cities listed, but this may be an ongoing project, so we might get one of our communities nominated later.

The American Foundation for the Blind Announces

America's Five Best Places to Live for People who are Blind or Visually

Impaired

New York, NY

The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) today presented 2003 AFB

Livable

Community Awards to honor the best places to live in the United States for people who are blind or visually impaired.

The awards, a component of AFB'S Livable Communities Project, recognize cities and towns that have developed solutions for facilitating the

participation of blind or visually impaired people in community

activities.

AFB named Charlotte, NC, the best place to live in the United States for

people who are blind or visually impaired, and presented the city with the

2003 AFB Most Livable Community Award. AFB Livable Community Awards were

presented to five other U.S. cities for the accessibility they provide their blind or visually impaired residents. Coming in second after

Charlotte was

Berkeley, CA, followed by Kalamazoo, MI, and New York City.

LaCrosse, WI, and Louisville, KY, tied for fifth place.

AFB launched the Livable Communities Project to document environmental

features such as the walkability of a city, availability of public

transportation, cost of living, and availability of jobs at various skill levels that create or limit access for blind or visually impaired people.

Said AFB president and CEO Carl R. Augusto, By identifying communities

that

have found creative solutions for promoting community access, the

Livability

Communities Project will bolster those who are advocating for equal access to a community's resources for all of its citizens, including those who are blind or visually impaired. An estimated 10 million Americans are blind or

severely visually impaired.

This figure is expected to grow as baby boomers age, so it is critical

that

cities and towns across the country have programs and features in place to enable visually impaired people to lead independent lives.

The American Foundation for the Blind, the organization to which Helen

Keller devoted her life, is a national nonprofit whose mission is to eliminate the inequities faced by the 10 million Americans who are blind

or visually impaired.

For additional information on the Livable Communities Project, please

visit:

www.afb.org

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Affiliate Affairs

Where we find out what's happening in your corner of Mcb

Action Council of the Blind of Missouri

by Burt Maurer

How much is a breath of fresh air worth in cash? How much is a little sight worth to a person who has none? Cathy Hohlt of O'Fallon, Missouri could not put a price on the high intensity light presented to her by the Action Council of the Blind of Missouri on Monday night, April 14 at their monthly business meeting.

President Steven Schnelle presented the light to Cathy, which was purchased from the St. Louis Society of the Blind, located at Manchester and Brentwood. The Society is an invaluable asset to the blind community in the St. Louis area. They not only supply adaptive hardware to their clients but also teach Braille and mobility courses to them as well.

Cathy has retinitis pigmentosa (RP). She is relentless in her quest to live as normal a life as she possibly can. Like so many visually impaired persons, all she asks is to be given the tools so she can take advantage of any opportunity to receive an education or compete for gainful employment.

Action Council meets at the Brigdgeton Library on the second Monday of the month from 7:00-9:00 P.M. Action Council is the Northwest and North County affiliate of the state organization, the Missouri Council of the Blind. The Missouri Council has over 800 members across the entire state and is the largest blind consumer organization in Missouri. Many blind persons in the St. Louis area know what services they need but don't know how to access them. Action Council is not only a resource center for these individuals but an information center as well.

The second Monday of the month is not an occasion for a pity party. It is a time when persons who have the same daily obstacles to overcome can meet and exchange ideas, information and become a force for the welfare of the blind in Missouri. There is no litmus test to become a member. All an individual has to believe in is the three linchpins of the Holy Grail: Education, Employment and Independence.

That every child in Missouri, not only those that can see, hear, talk or walk, every child has the right to equal public education.

That every Missouri adult, not only those that can see, hear, talk, or walk, every adult has the right to be given the opportunity to be trained so they can compete for gainful employment, so they can pay taxes their entire working lives, instead of using taxes their entire lives.

That every senior Missourian, not only those that see, hear, talk or walk, has the right to live their golden years, at home, happy, productive and independent.

The Action Council only asks that an individual has one major goal: To improve the quality of life of the blind of St. Louis County, Missouri and the entire country. Are the blind of Missouri better off today than they were one year ago?

Blind of Central Mo

Friday April 25, 2003

It is a busy time with people having their summer plans,

People will be making use of their air conditioners and fans.

Hello to everyone from Sedalia.

Our bowling party that we had in February was a big success. The pizza, bread sticks, and cinnamon sticks were a big success for everyone. Trudy Blood got the highest score which was 128 on the team she was on.

We are meeting at the American Legion, and it seems to be working out really well.

Some of our members have been sick. Gerry Arnold is doing fine after her foot surgery. Reba Carter found a lump under her arm, which is second stage lymphoma, but it is treatable. Jeanie Halphin had a slight heart attack. Paul Bremer has been at Columbia with kidney stones. Bill Lehman is doing fairly well but he had a setback with his cancer. Roy Hagerman will be having some tests the first week of camp. We hope that our members have a speedy recovery.

Some of our members will go to camp and we will look forward to seeing old friends and making new friends.

We hope everyone has many good months ahead and a happy summer. Until next time, keep your smile and a song in your heart. If you can't be good, be good at it. Trudy Blood Blind of Central Mo Recording Secretary

Trudy's husband, Galen, also sent along some material he had gotten from the Internet. He thought you would enjoy this story, and I think you will, too.

A sobbing little girl stood near a small church from which she had been turned away because it was "too crowded." "I can't go to Sunday School," she sobbed to the pastor as he walked by. Seeing her shabby, unkempt appearance, the pastor guessed the reason and, taking her by the hand, took her inside and found a place for her in the Sunday school class.

The child was so happy that they found room for her, that she went to bed that night thinking of the children who have no place to worship Jesus.

Some two years later, this child lay dead in one of the poor tenement buildings and the parents called for the kindhearted pastor, who had befriended their daughter, to handle the final arrangements. As her poor little body was being moved, a worn and crumpled purse was found which seemed to have been rummaged from some trash dump. Inside was found 57 cents and a note scribbled in childish handwriting which read, "This is to help build the little church bigger so more children can go to Sunday School." For two years she had saved for this offering of love.

When the pastor tearfully read that note, he knew instantly what he would do. Carrying this note and the cracked, red pocketbook to the pulpit, he told the story of her unselfish love and devotion. He challenged his deacons to get busy and raise enough money for the larger building.

But the story does not end there! A newspaper learned of the story and published it. It was read by a realtor who offered them a parcel of land worth many thousands. When told that the church could not pay so much, he offered it for 57 cents. Church members made large donations. Checks came from far and wide. Within five years the little girl's gift had increased to $250,000.00--1 huge sum for that time (near the turn of the century). Her unselfish love had paid large dividend.

When you are in the city of Philadelphia, look up Temple Baptist Church, with a seating capacity of 3,300 and Temple University, where hundreds of students are trained. Have a look, too, at the Good Samaritan Hospital and at a Sunday School building which houses hundreds of Sunday Schoolers, so that no child in the area will ever need to be left outside during Sunday school time. In one of the rooms of this building may be seen the picture of the sweet face of the little girl whose 57 cents, so sacrificially saved, made such remarkable history. Alongside of it is a portrait of her kind pastor, Dr. Russel H. Conwell, author of the book, Acres of Diamonds. A true story, which goes to show WHAT GOD, CAN DO WITH 57 cents.

The BRL Report

BRAILLE Is Alive And Well

Please forgive that corny rhyme, but I just wanted to let everybody know that BRL had a meeting in conjunction with the April Board meeting and here is what we came up with. All members and potential members take note.

A meeting is planned for Saturday, August 9, in St. Louis. Jack Lenk has kindly offered the use of his home and I heard a rumor--something about a barbecue, I think the whisper went. We want to talk then about fundraising, (we hope our tax exemption will be through by then), and also about the possibility of brailling local ballots when an election is coming up.

We are thinking about having a luncheon as well as a Friday night meeting at convention this year. Let me know what you think. Sorry, I can't take

e-mail, so send tape or Braille. Do let us know your thinking, your wishes about the convention, yes-- even your gripes. We want to hear from you, and

do make plans for the meeting in August and again in October.

Marti Watson, BRL President

Delta Area Blind

Hello from the Delta Area Blind,

Well, I guess we have finally hit the spring thaw. Winter was bad this year. Not too much has happened with the Delta Area Blind members since our last report.

We have three new blind members since November. They are Laura Craig, who is presently attending Lions World Services in Little ROCK; Christi Ryan, who is renewing her teaching certificate at SEMO College in Cape Girardeau; and Abby Pefferkorn, who is also attending college in Cape Girardeau. Welcome board, girls.

I also attended the April MCB Board Meeting, thanks to one of our sighted members, Lawanna Copeland, who was my driver.

The Delta Area blind and sighted members had a nice Easter outing, with a nice lunch and a short meeting at Ryan's Restaurant in Sikeston on April 22. It was enjoyed by all of us.

Stay cool this summer. So long for now.

Submitted by Marie Thompson

Joplin Service Club of the Blind

Time goes by so fast and it's time for me to get the article ready for the Chronicle. As I write, it is a very beautiful day. We certainly have had yo-yo weather this year.

An item that I received too late for the last edition: Mildred Long and Shirley Ritter belong to the Joplin Welcome Club and the members donated $100 to our Service Club for the Blind in December. We appreciate it very much. Robert and Nancy Horwell attended the meeting in St. Joseph in January. They enjoyed the meeting and trip very much. Ted Jeffers was their chauffeur. Robert gave us a very good report. Shirley Ritter, along with driver Ted, attended the Legislative meeting and we received a great report from her.

On March 15th, fourteen from our club made a trip to Springfield and were guests of the Queen City Club for a beans and corn bread lunch. We enjoyed it very much and say a special thank you.

On April 10, eight of our club attended the play at the Stained Window Theater in Joplin. It was a great play.

The following morning, Virgil Mccoy thought it would be nice to have a pancake and sausage brunch. He recruited some extra help and it was very tasty and mentioned it may be repeated at a future time.

Letha Dangerfield, who has been a ham radio operator for 57 years, was given a special award in April. She is a special lady.

Again we have had several of our members in the hospital.

Our White Cane walk will be May 15th at the North Park Mall. We are having a good attendance at our Tuesday lunches. We have to give Bill Eden a big thank you for shopping and cooking and to all those who help in the kitchen serving.

Until next time,

Vavlva York

Lake Stockton Area Council of the Blind

Hi to everyone and we wish you a wonderful spring and summer. It's so nice to have winter behind us and we are looking forward to another fun auction this year, even if it is a lot of work.

Our February meeting was special for valentines. Leota Amlin sang "Let Me Call You Sweetheart." She did a beautiful job and it was really enjoyed by all. We always like playing bingo after the meeting. Robert and Teresa Evans are so great about taking charge of the game and giving our surprise gifts to the winners.

The theme for the March meeting was St. Patrick's day and the tables were so pretty.

The April meeting was decorated for Easter and again hostesses had the tables so nice.

We are so happy to welcome Betty Jean Floyd as a new member. Sorry to report another death in our affiliate, W. D. Fewox. We express our deepest sympathy to Dorothy, his wife.

Eujean Dody is our President and I just want to say thank you to her and all she does for us. I know I speak for everyone in our club.

Submitter by Pauline Eggert

Missouri Guide Dog Users

Hello from the Mo. Guide Dog Users,

I have been busy trying to get new members and, thanks to several of you, we have about 18 or 19 members now. But we can always use new members.

I checked about the cost of the Guide Dog Users breakfast at the MCB Convention and the best price is $9.75, which does not include tax or gratuities. So I need your input. Should Missouri Guide Dog Users pay for the breakfast or do we pay for our own breakfast and save the organization's money?

We have a list of proposed medical guidelines to vote on, which Patti will mail to each member by September first. Please look over these proposed guidelines and let me know whether or not you want to adopt them before October first. Also, let me know if you plan to attend the Guide Dog Users breakfast because the hotel needs a head count. Thank you for your cooperation.

Marie Thompson, Missouri Guide Dog Users President

932 Highway 162 East

Portageville, MO 63873

(573) 379-5007

Progressive Council of the Blind

Hello Everyone, From your friends at Progressive Council.

The last few months have been busy ones for our members of Progressive. During January and February, member Ed Reyes brought home his new dog. In March and April we held a very successful fund-raiser for a Holiday Ham raffle. Thank you for all that donated to this raffle.

Currently, our member Becky Nash is visiting the Seeing Eye in New Jersey for training and to meet her new dog.

In May we will be hosting a booth at the Tech Fair in Kansas City, Missouri. Many of our members will be working the booth.

Our regular scheduled meeting will be held on May 17th at the new Alphapointe Location.

Respectfully Submitted:

Kim Jones

Public Relations

Queen city Council

Dear Readers,

We have really had a very wet and rough winter this year. We had a wonderful Christmas dinner of turkey, ham and all the trimmings, and all kinds of deserts, prepared by all of the members. Then a barber shop quartet entertained us.

In January for our program we had a couple come and speak to us about a radio station that is kept on the air by selling tickets to Branson and by donations.

Howard Hufford spoke to us in February about the history of the United States flag. He had several flags from the Revolutionary War through the present. Several of the flags had stars embroidered or sewn on which we could feel. There was a drawing for a large American flag which was won by Bill Hays. A very informative program.

Howard is a retired engineer who has taught at three major universities. He was the manager of Conservation for Springfield city Utilities during the energy crisis of the seventies and manager of the Solar Energy program for the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, Division of Energy until he retired.

On Saturday, March 15, we held Ozark St. Patrick's Day, at United Broadway Methodist Church. Jobelle Burk led us in the Pledge to the Flag. Marti Watson sang God Bless America. Twenty-six members were joined by fifty members from surrounding affiliates. We enjoyed a lunch of ham and beans, corn bread, veggies and dip, and many deserts, supplied by the members. The beautiful afghan donated by Marilyn was raffled off with assistance by Dan Koch and Donna Giger. It was won by one of the Joplin Service club guests, Naomi Miller. The raffle brought in $172. Before the party broke up, Nancy Hodson, with help from Randy Edwards, called numbers for a Italian game called Tombla. It is like bingo but more fun. Door prizes and table decorations were passed out. The day was a great success.

We have three new members, Mary Mueller, Bill Hays and Nola Conway.

We wish you all a very Happy summer and will report to you again in the next issue.

Submitted by Marilyn Tuso

The RITE Report

Due to weather that just would not cooperate, we were unable to meet in

January and February. Therefore, this report will be short.

Angelo and Janet Trapaso will welcome their 4th grandchild in the near future. I believe they said it is a boy.

We regret to report that Frank Matoushek had to be admitted to Sherrybrook Village nursing home. We gave him a beautiful plaque and a lifetime membership. The plaque was made by the Maplewood lions and they did a very

good job.

About ten of our members plan to go to camp this summer.

So many of our members have been lost to us by death that we are a small

affiliate, but we are growing. We are making lots of plans for the coming

months.

That's about it for this time. We wish all of you a wonderful summer and we'll see you in the fall. Warm blessings

Bunny Maginnis, secretary

River Cities Workers

Spring has sprung and summer is just right around the corner; we are relishing these cool spring days and getting ready for that sultry summer weather here in the beautiful river city area.

We have had quite a busy spring, starting with our Valentine Day party which we held after our February meeting. Sharon Davis, one of our members, provided pizza to celebrate the birth of her new grandson, Tanner, and our local Sam's Club was kind enough to donate a delicious cake for our members to enjoy at the party.

In March, we held a St. Patrick's day party after our meeting, where we enjoyed a huge selection of green foods.

In April, we had our candy sale and are planning for our yard sale the first weekend in May. At our April meeting, we had an early visit from the Easter bunny "Pat" who delivered fresh hot KFC to our meeting, while all the bunny's helpers (our other members) provided all the other fixings.

Speaking of Easter, it is one of our more busy times of year. Each year for the past few years we have performed some kind of community service project in the local area. We have provided Easter baskets to families who are less fortunate and have children with visual impairments, we have provided items for our adopted elderly friends, and this year we provided Alma Schrader Elementary School with a swing set, especially designed for children with visual impairments. This gives us an opportunity to get our name out in the community to those who may not otherwise know about us.

We know it sounds like we do a lot of partying here in Cape Girardeau, but we find that socializing has helped a number of our members come out of their shells. We think of each other as family rather than just acquaintances, and we find it has made our bond strong and our affiliate even better for it.

We are preparing for a busy summer. We are getting ready for White Cane Week in May. Currently, we are in the process of planning a few activities which we will tell you more about in our next Chronicle report. We would appreciate it if the other affiliates would share their ideas as well so that we can learn from each other and make all of our affiliates better.

We would like to update you on a few of our members who have been ill recently. Our President, Charles Werner, is recovering quite nicely from the heart surgery he had in January and is beginning to get back in the saddle again. Mary Howard is doing spectacularly after her recent illness. Mary and a few of our other members are looking forward to seeing everyone at summer camp in July. As they say, you can't keep a good horse down and nothing is going to stop Mary from doing what she likes to do best.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Celita White after her accident. We are hoping that she has a speedy and painless recovery.

Our thoughts and prayers are with our brave men and women of the military and their families. We are praying that they come home safely and quickly. So until next time, God bless each and every one of you and God bless America.

Respectfully Brandi Emmons Elaine Shirrell and Dee Niswonger

Communications Committee

St. Charles County Council

Hello from St. Charles:

The St. Charles County Council of the Blind has undergone some reconstruction. The new president is Beverly Kaskadden, Vice President is Jane Schaberg, Secretary, Mary Adams, and we are searching for just the perfect treasurer. I have confidence that position will be filled soon.

We have two new members that we would like to welcome to the Council, Mary Mellis and Lydra Isgrig. We are so excited to have them join us. I have three interested people coming to our meeting this Monday, one of which was a referral from RSB. These are valuable sources, but there are many sources for new members and individuals who would love to hear from us. We have some wonderful dedicated veteran members also. Since we will be having new individuals at our May meeting, we will be discussing how to handle the daily living skills, besides answering questions on how the Council operates. This will also be a get acquainted night.

In June, we will hold our annual dinner sponsored by the St. Charles Key Club. This is always a very festive evening. In the next affiliate report I will tell you all about the evening, what was served, what was said, and who wore what. I will see who I can draft as our Roving Reporter.

Now that spring is here, I am ready for "fun and relaxation" at Cobblestone Resort. I can't wait to see my dear friends.

Sincerely,

Beverly Kaskadden

Southwest Missouri Friendship Council

Happy Spring to all Missouri Chronicle readers. Everyone here at Southwest Missouri Friendship Council was glad to see the long, hard winter give way to the hints of another beautiful, renewing season. The purchase of a new van for transportation for club members has given everyone a lift and plans for more events with comfortable, reliable transportation are in the air.

Along with the purchase of the van came a renewed interest in fund raising. Candy bar sales have been brisk. Our club was also fortunate in being able to set up a booth at the John Q. Hammond Center, where a lot of information was given to community members, along with good public relations for the Missouri Council on the whole.

I will close this report with a wish that everyone have a wonderful summer as we look toward to the convention in the fall.

Tracy B. Cushman

Public Relations, S.W. Missouri Friendship Council of the Blind

UWB Update

Hello from UWB,

On April 6th, the United Workers for the Blind hosted a reception at the MCB Building for Dr. Betty Davidson, the new Deputy Director for Rehab Services for the Blind. About forty MCB members and guests turned out on a cold, blustery day to meet Dr Davidson, including President Chip Hailey and First Lady Linda. I think Dr. Davidson impressed us all with her warmth and friendliness and her eagerness to hear what people had to say about some of the issues facing RSB. Although the reception was only supposed to last from 1:00 until 4:00, Dr. Davidson stayed around until well past 5:00. Dr. Davidson was very impressed with the MCB Building and was surprised that Chip came all the way from Joplin to meet her. I think this reception will help MCB develop a good working relationship with the new RSB head. Rick Burch and his committee did a great job of putting on this reception. As President, I am very proud of UWB for successfully undertaking this project.

I think most of you know by now that Celita White was hit by a car last month and required extensive surgery on both of her legs. She is home but it will take about three months before she is fully recovered. Other than being bored, she seems to be doing quite well.

Congratulations to one of our youngest members, Amy Hall, who graduated from Maryville College with a Master's Degree in Rehabilitation Counseling on May 3rd. Amy has overcome many obstacles in addition to blindness along the way. She now hopes to find a job in her field and I'm sure she will find something very soon. Amy, we are very proud of you and wish you much success.

Fred Keller spent several weeks in the hospital but is now back home. Harold Sang had hip replacement surgery last month. I will be having surgery on May 13th.

June Lenk has learned that she would be a good candidate for a procedure to implant a synthetic cornea. The procedure will be done on May 12 in Kentucky. June is also considering going for a guide dog. Good luck, June.

That's all for this time. Enjoy the summer and we'll share more with you in September.

John Weidlich

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From The Lower Left-Hand Drawer

It's time to look into the drawer again and find out what's new that might be of interest to you. As usual, I remind you that the mention of a product or service in this column does not imply any endorsement by the editor or by anyone in MCB. They are included for your information and use. This time we will look at several new magnifiers, some web sites, a new magazine from NLS and some strange shoes.

You can order free braille playing cards from the Carson City Natives and Newcomers. The cards are brailled by inmates at the Nevada State Prison and are distributed by a group of senior citizens in Carson City. To order, write PO Box 4000, Carson City NV 89702-4000.

Recorded Periodicals has added two new magazines to their growing list of magazines on cassette. They are BLOOMBERG Personal Finance and Gardening Howto. Each subscription is $36 a year. To order, or to get a list of their other selections, contact Recorded Periodicals, at (215) 627-0600, Extension 3206. This is a service of the Philadelphia Association for the Blind. You can visit their Web site,

www.asb.org

Speaking of new magazines, NLS has added Holticulture to the list of magazines you can order free from Wolfner Library. This magazine replaces New Choices, which recently ceased publication. Horticulture is published eight times a year and is said to be the definitive magazine for the serious gardener. It contains articles on garden design, landscaping, soil nutrition and planting techniques.

The 2003 catalog from Seedlings, listing more than 500 childrens books in Braille, is now available. Seedlings has also begun the Rose Project to make articles from the encyclopedia available to students. The address for Seedlings is PO Box 51924, Livonia, MI 48151. Phone: (800) 777-8552.

Pulse Data International has launched something they call Key Web, a Web browser for users of their Braille Note line of notetakers. For information, call HumanWare at (800) 722-3393. or visit their web sit

www.humanware.com

I'm not sure exactly how this works, a you can check it out if you wish. You can go to

www.audible.com

to download books, magazines and newspapers to your computer. This is a large commercial web site that was not designed specifically for blind people but I understand that it is quite accessible to blind computer users.

WXEL-TV in Palm Beach Florida is airing a very unique show. It is called Cooking Without Looking, the first television show created especially for the blind and visually impaired. It deals with coking techniques as well as with issues faced by blind people when dining out. The show is broadcast with audio description. Of course, sighted people are encouraged to watch it, too. The program is being underwritten by Magnifying America, a retailer of technology solutions for people who are blind.

California Canes is selling canes that are designed to glow in the dark. They are made of carbon fiber with a coating that lights up at night for added visibility. They range in price from $23 to $30, but supply is limited. Contact California Canes at (866) 332-4883. The web site is

www.californiacanes.mom

and the address is 16263 Walnut, Hesperia, CA 92345.

A company called Goodysquare.com sells a line of digital recorders. There are several models with varying recording lengths. For more information, call (888) 229-0118.

The John Milton Society is discontinuing all of its publications for the blind. It is currently seeking other organizations to take over its work. It will, however, continue its scholarship program.

The American Optometric Association has a Doctor Locator Service available on its Web site

www.aoa.org

Now that we have several audio described programs on network television, some of you may still have a problem accessing the Secondary Audio Program or SAP Channel on your tv. Often you have to get there through a menu that is inaccessible to someone without vision. The Panasonic Corporation is trying to solve that problem by putting a SAP channel button on the remote controls of its stereo tvs, VCRS and combination units. The company has also added accessibility features to many of its cordless telephones. For more information, you can call (800) 211-7262 or visit this web site:

panasonic.com/ccessibility

Toby Press produces hardcover books in 16 point type. The address is PO Box 8531, New Milford CT 06776, Phone: (203) 830-8508.

Three new Magnifiers: The Pocket Viewer is a potable battery-operated video magnifier available from Pulse Data, and distributed by HumanWare. It weighs ten ounces and uses a miniature camera to enlarge material up to seven times on a four-inch flat screen. It costs $895 plus shipping. Contact Pulse DatastHumanWare at (800) 727-3393.

The Traveller is a portable video magnifier from the Tieman Group. It is a portable CCTV with an adjustable screen and several other features. It has a magnification range of 4.5-x to 16-x. It weighs 1.76 pounds and it costs $1,895. It is sold by Optelec (800) 828-1056, e-mail

salesoptelec.com

The Genie is the newest computer-compatible video magnifier from Telesensory. It can be used with a computer monitor or a Tv. It has split screen and shadow masking to reduce glare. The price is $3,295. For information, you can call Telesensory at (800) 227-8418.

You might assume that all of the people who read the Chronicle live in Missouri, but that's not the case. I recently heard from a reader who lives in Ohio who asked me to include this item about himself. Reggie Anglen is a motivational speaker and diversity trainer, who speaks at workshops, conventions and other group events. He is a graduate of the Ohio School for the Blind and Ohio University, where he worked for fourteen years as coordinator of Public Relations. He has won numerous community service awards including the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Humanitarian award from the Columbus Teachers Union. He invites you to visit his web site

www.reggietalks.com

or e-mail him at

ranglenwideop5nwesn.org

Several years ago, the American Printing House put out a device called a color tester that would speak the colors of clothing. Many blind people ordered it and found it useful, although it cost several hundred dollars. Ann Morris reports that she is selling a new model from Britain that costs $139. It is not in the latest catalog, so you will have to contact her to find out more about it. The number for Ann Morris Enterprises is (800) 454-3175 or you can visit her web site which is

www.annmorris.com

National Braille Press has a number of interesting new titles in their catalog. Here's a sample: Pilsbury's Fast and Healthy Cookbook, two Volumes, $12.95. Touch The Stars: An Introduction to Astronomy for Blind People, including tactile drawings, $30. Windows XP Explained by Sarah Morley, Braille, large print tape or disk, $20. Finding e-books on the Internet, braille or disk, $14. The Royal Guide to Stain and Spot Removal by Linda Cobb, $5.99. For a order of $25.00,, you can get a free guide to tipping in Braille, or you can buy it for $5.00. NBP also says that the newest Harry Potter book, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, should be available in Braille after June 21. To order any of these titles, contact National Braille Press, 88 St. Stephen Street, Boston, MA 02115, (800) 548-7323 or e-mail

ordersnbp.org

LIFT is a nonprofit company that recruits, qualifies, trains, and hires information technology professionals with physical disabilities and places them with major corporations. For more information, call LIFT at 800 552-5438. www.lift-inc.org.

American Helping Hand collects Braille and taped books and magazines and sends them to blind and deaf-blind individuals in developing countries. To donate material, contact Janice Lee, 312 N. 80th Street, Seattle, WA 98103.

Vip-sheep-talk is an e-mail list for blind people who knit, crochet or do other crafts with yarn. Members share patterns, discuss yarn and related supplies, talk about difficult stitches and patterns and make friends. To subscribe, send a blank e-mail to

vip-sheep-talk-subscribeyahoogroups.com

The Blind Handyman List is for blind people who want to share ideas about projects around the home or yard. To join, send a blank message to

blindhandyman-subscribeyahoogroups.com

The Hadley School for the Blind has a new course called Chess For BEGINNERS that teaches the basics of chess. The course is available in Braille or tape. To enroll, call the Student Services Department at (800) 526-9909.

The Voice Internet Service from Philmore Productions, is still another service that offers access to the Internet by phone. The company is based in Chicago and the phone number is (877) 638-2974.

Each year, The American Foundation for the Blind gives what it calls access awards to individuals and organizations who have made significant contributions to the blind. Among this year's winners was Missouri Senator Harold Kaskey, given an award for helping to establish the TAP-I program which provides free adaptive equipment to Missouri residents. Other awards went to the Asko Corporation for the Aloud audio labeling system and to the Bally Gaming Systems for developing audible slot machines.

Beth Finke, a freelance writer and commentator on National Public Radio's Morning Edition has just written a book called Long Time, No See, describing her life as a blind juvenile diabetic and mother of a child with multiple handicaps. Proceeds from the book will be donated to Audio Books for the Reading Impaired. To order, send $24.95 to the Audio Studio for the Reading Impaired, PO Box 23043, Anchorage, KY 40223.

I recently read a review of a new book that sounds like fascinating reading. It is called My Path Leads to Tibet by Sabriye Tenberken. The author is a totally blind German woman who was determined to do something about the appalling conditions for blind people in Tibet. The book tells of her journey to Tibet and how she established schools there for blind children and adults. This book will soon be available in Braille and cassette through NLS.

A new web site

www.deafblindinfo.org

contains a directory of resources for people with vision and hearing loss. It is sponsored by the Minnesota Department of Human Services.

The Lighthouse International in New York City has a magnifying vanity mirror for $59.95. It provides two views, one with 2-x magnification, and one with 7-x magnification. You can order this and other products by calling (800) 829-0500. The Lighthouse also has a web site with the latest information on vision loss, prevention of blindness and rehabilitation information. The site is

www.visionconnection.org

The Blinded Veterans Association, (BVA), is dedicated to providing a variety of services to blind veterans, including counseling, rehabilitation training, equipment and other benefits. It was founded in 1945 by a group of veterans who were blinded during World War Ii. All services are provided free of charge and blindness does not have to be service connected. For more information, call ((800)) 669-7079 or check out BVA'S web site

www.bva.org

Another organization, Help Disabled War Veterans, makes computers available free to disabled veterans who meet the organization's qualifications. To qualify, you must have been honorably discharged from the Service, have a disability and have received at least one Purple Heart. Applicants can receive a Dell computer, a monitor, and an Epson printer. For an application, contact Help Disabled War Veterans at 36589 Penfield Lane, Suite D, Winchester, CA 92956 or call (909) 926-2210. About one hundred computers are awarded each month.

The National Church Conference of the Blind, (NCCB), will hold its annual conference at the Ramada Inn, 3125 Sinton Road, Colorado Springs, Colorado September 21-25. The conference will include Bible study, worship, tours and a fiftieth anniversary celebration. Contact Rheba Dunn, Membership Secretary, NCCB, PO Box 196, Grover, CO 80729. Phone: (970) 895-2352.

The American Printing House for the Blind is now selling Studio Recorder, a software package for professionals and hobbyists who wish to produce high quality digital spoken word recordings. It has features that make it easy to record, edit and proofread audio books. It sells for $200. For more information contact APH at (800 (223-1839 or visit their web site

www.aph.org

Computers and Assistive Technology, Inc., helps blind people use computers and assistive technology, by giving advice and help with setup, installation, repair, and trouble-shooting. The organization also sells refurbished equipment, including note takers, at reduced prices. To find out more, you can call (772) 546-8950. Their web site is

www.computerassistivetech.com

Another company offering similar services is a Wyoming-based company called Web and Audio Design. They can give advice on setting up a computer system and designing a web site. Contact Scott Berry at (888) 347-1932.

I wonder what you will think about this final item in the drawer. Over the years, many very well-intentioned sighted people have come up with inventions that they think blind people need, based on their perception of what it must be like to be blind. This is probably another example, but you may find the idea rather intriguing. Or you may think it's the silliest thing you've ever heard of. Richard Castle, a graduate of the University of Massachussetts, has designed vibrating shoes, shoes equipped with small motors that vibrate when a blind person is approaching an object. The vibrations increase as the wearer gets closer to the object. Motors on top of the shoe vibrate if you are walking toward a wall, indicating a tall object in your path. The motors in the front of the shoe vibrate to indicate a short obstacle like a couch or perhaps a coffee table. Vibrations also indicate an object on your left or right. The prototype cost about $200 to design. Castle hopes to find a buyer and develop a more sophisticated model. How would you like to walk a mile in those shoes?

With that, I close the drawer for this time, leaving just a few items behind for the next issue. Please keep in touch and send along any item you think should be included in this column.

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Roses In A Pop Bottle

I found this poem in the Illinois Braille Messenger, the publication of the Illinois Council of the Blind. I hope you like it as much as I did.

Roses In A Pop Bottle

Home is roses in a pop bottle,

The slam of a screen door

The laughter of children

Or the wagging tail of the family dog.

Home is a Mother with floury hands

And the beginnings of a baby

Billowing her apron.

"Something's in the oven."

Home is a cozy place to be

When warm rain beats on the roof.

It is the smell of lilacs

And the catching of fireflies.

Home is the rumble of Dad's voice

As he cuddles a sleepy child.

Home is bandages on "Boo-Boo's"

And kisses on bruises.

Home is a warm bed on a chilly night;

And corduroy overalls with worn knees

Mud pies and grass soup

And molasses cookies warm from the oven.

Home is blessings and bedtime stories

Belly laughs, kisses and bear hugs

Celebrations and mournings

And roses in a pop bottle.

--- Marylou Chaiken

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Different Type of Prayer:

From The Editor: I don't know who wrote this, but it was sent to me by Bob Jaco.

Heavenly Father,

Help us remember that the idiot who cut us off in traffic last night is a single mother who worked nine hours that day and is rushing home to cook dinner, help with homework, do the laundry and spend a few precious moments with her children.

Help us to remember that the pierced, tattooed, disinterested young man who can't make change correctly is a worried 19-year-old college student, balancing his apprehension over final exams with his fear of not getting his student loans for next semester.

Remind us, Lord, that the scary looking bum, begging for money in the same spot every day (who really ought to get a job!) is a slave to addictions that we can only imagine in our worst nightmares.

Help us to remember that the old couple walking annoyingly slow through the store aisles and blocking our shopping progress is savoring this moment, knowing that, based on the biopsy report she got back last week, this will be the last year that they go shopping together.

Heavenly Father, remind us each day that, of all the gifts you give us, the greatest gift is love. It is not enough to share that love with those we hold dear. Open our hearts not to just those who are close to us, but to all humanity. Let us judge not lest we be judged, and quick to forgive, show patience, empathy and love.

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