TABLE OF CONTENTS

President's Message

Education and Welfare Report

MCB Building Report

Craft Unions Help Council

Membership Report

MCB Convention Update

Jim Henderson Award

Summer Camp Report

In Memoriam: Debra Sue Fitzpatrick

Candidates Corner

SLU Surgeon First In US to Implant Artificial Eye

New Medicines Stop Blindness Cold

Everyday Heroes

Former Mayor, Broadcaster, Has Award-Winning Pipes

A Brief History of the White Cane

Wherever We Gathered, Jack Buck Was There

Sighted People Have Rights, Too: Reader Response

Affiliate Affairs

From The Lower Left-Hand Drawer

Noah and the Ark: 2002

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President's Message

Dear MCB members and friends,

I am only one, but still I am one.

I cannot do everything, but still I can do something.

I will not refuse to do the something I can do.

Helen Keller

The past several months have certainly been busy ones for Linda and I. On April 26th, we traveled upstate to St. Joseph for an affiliate visit with three of our finest affiliates, the Pony Express Association, Allied Workers, and Progressive Council. We all had a wonderful time eating a lot of good food and enjoying one another's fellowship. But the highlight of the evening for me was when I was awarded the key to the city by the mayor of St. Joseph himself and never had I felt more truly honored. I have never thought of myself as being a distinguished dignitary but that is exactly how one is treated when one is the MCB president and makes an affiliate visit to St. Joseph. One is treated with such royalty. Also, Linda and I would like to publically thank Ronny and Phyllis Zirkle for their warm and gracious hospitality. They had taken time out of their busy Saturday to show us around that historical city and we would like to thank them publicly for their kindness.

Then in early May we were off to Sikeston for our MCB May board meeting. I think that we were able to get a great deal accomplished at our board meeting and we are now very much looking forward to going back there again in October for our state convention. I know that Marie Thompson and all of the Delta Area folks, along with the good folks from Southeast Missouri United Blind, are working very hard to make this one of the very best conventions that we have ever had. One little special note of interest, there is a strip mall across the street from the Ramada Inn where you can get a lot of great deals. When we were there in May, we had gone over there with the Burris' and I was able to purchase a lot of good old southern gospel Cds at a very low price. But unfortunately, I was unable to persuade our MCB treasurer to write me out a voucher for all of the Cds that I had bought.

Then a week later we traveled to Springfield for its annual White Cane Walk. It was an absolutely gorgeous day for a walk, even though Linda and I had gotten there too late for the walk. We had been delayed by traffic, if you can believe that, and were only able to walk a little at the end. But we had gotten there in plenty of time to eat some of the good food and to listen to the fine music of Don Waters. Whoever said timing is not everything was wrong. I am proof of that since I was able to come away from that important event with a delicious ham.

Then in June, we made two affiliate visits, one to the St. Charles Council for its 28th anniversary dinner, where I had the distinct pleasure of installing its new slate of officers, and the other affiliate visit was to the River City Workers annual picnic. One thing is for certain about attending a River City Workers picnic and that is one will never go away hungry. Then in July, we found ourselves in Houston, Texas for the ACB National Convention. The highlight of the convention for me was receiving my ACB lifetime membership award that MCB had purchased for me. The award is now hanging on my office wall. Thank you MCB for your kind generosity. Then one of the other highlights was on the 4th of July when I was able to wear my patriotic hat and t-shirt that our MCB teddy bear had gotten for me. My wife had also gotten a patriotic t-shirt as well and a patriotic sun visor but she had forgotten about her sun visor and had left it at home. The Burris' had also gotten patriotic hats and t-shirts for themselves and we all wore our patriotic apparel on the 4th of July, and we were all a great hit. We had even gotten our pictures taken by the ACB photographer. Then of course, as many of you may already know, MCB once again had the largest number of delegates attending the convention. Time and space will not permit me to go into more detail here about the convention but I am certain you will be able to find out more about the convention by reading upcoming issues of the Braille Forum. But before I leave this part of my message, I would like for all of you to know that Leo and Donna Giger are two of the biggest fibbers in MCB. Why do I say that you ask? Because they never tell the truth when playing, "I doubt it", a deceptive card game.

Then our next stop was at summer camp where I always have the time of my life. My brothers and sisters, I wish all of us could attend camp together but I realize that is not possible. So I am very thankful for the three times a year that we do have camp. One of the neat things about camp is that there are so many things to do and the best part is you can have a lot of fun doing them. You really get to see a side of people that you would otherwise never get to see. It is absolutely hilarious. So why not think about making your reservations for next year. We would love to see you there.

One last thing before I close and that is I trust you all are enjoying reading the MCB office news. I think you will agree with me that Patti is doing a wonderful job in putting it together each week. Thank you Patti for all that you are doing for MCB. We all love you and appreciate all of the hard work you are doing for us.

I would also like to thank Celita White and the rest of the building committee for all of their hard work that they have put in on our new building. The building is coming along quite nicely and we are very much looking forward to having our open house sometime in the very near future. So you will want to stay tuned.

Ladies and gentlemen, MCB has a lot to be proud of and I hope you are just as proud and will not be ashamed to display your MCB pride whenever and wherever you can.

Wishing you all the very best,

Chip Hailey, MCB president

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Education and Welfare Report by Dennis Miller

By the time you read this, your affiliate representative to the Education and Welfare Committee will have received a summary of the 2002 legislative year. Hopefully, they will have shared that with the other members of their affiliate. I can't say we had a good year but based on the current economic situation in Missouri, it wasn't as bad as it could have been. I will have more to say about this at the convention.

We will be meeting as usual during the convention in October. This meeting will take place on Friday morning October 11. Check your convention agenda for time and place.

As some of you know, I have been looking for a way to get legislative information out to people who are not part of the MCB listserv. We think we have come up with a way to do that. As you may recall, John has mentioned in previous Chronicles a free information service called Tell Me. It provides a wealth of information on many different topics such as news, sports, weather, traffic, driving directions and many other things. One of the features is an announcements feature. A message can be recorded and people can call Tell Me and enter a series of numbers on their telephone to hear the message. I have created the Missouri Council of the Blind Legislative Update on Tell Me. To access the update, all you need to do is call Tell Me at: 800 555-8355. Once connected to the service punch in: 1-037-100 on your telephone. You will then have to wait a moment and then you will hear whatever announcement has been recorded. I will write a much more in-depth article for the December Chronicle about this. I will also talk about it more at the convention in October.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns don't hesitate to contact me. I look forward to seeing everyone in Sikeston.

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M.C.B. Building

The transformation of a medical building into the M.C.B. Building has been quite an undertaking and we have made a lot of progress. Thanks to John Gaul, Coordinator of the Carpenters Joint Apprenticeship Program and Carpenters Local 417, Floor Layers Local 1310, Painters District Council 2, Francis Dunsford of the Electricians Local 1 and Dennis Gralike director of Electrical Industry Training Center, and Robert Kelly, president of Greater St. Louis Labor Council. All of these Locals and their apprentices have saved M.C.B. over $25,000 in renovation costs donating their time and expertise.

The ten former examining rooms are now one large meeting room. There are four doors into the meeting room, one from the parking lot, two into the long hall and one into the short hall. The room has been painted a neutral beige color with a multicolor border midway from the floor going around the room and the carpet is tannish brown. Windows in the meeting room, kitchen, and restroom will be replaced with glass blocks and a sound system will be installed by mid August. Tables and chairs have been set up and ready for meetings.

The restroom, there is only one, has been painted a mauve rose color with a floral border at the top of the walls. It is wheelchair accessible. The reception room has been painted in an off white color. The sofa is a multicolor of gold, green, and burgundy. The two side chairs are a burgundy diamond pattern. The end table and coffee table are cherry, oval in shape with a table lamp that has a pineapple cut base of reddish-brown. The window treatments are vertical blinds with window scarves each of antique green and a burgundy floral. The same window treatment is in Patti's office. There is a Burris Tree in one corner of the room. Carpeting is the same tannish brown that is in the meeting room, hallway, and Patti's office, and was donated to M.C.B. by the floor layers.

The local unions only renovated the large meeting room. There are five rooms across the hall, the copy room, E.Ddd's office, storeroom, examining room, and kitchen. We converted the examining room into a small conference room. The E.Ddd's office conference room and kitchen were given a fresh coat of paint and the carpeting has been steamed cleaned.

Mitch Freeman installed smoke detectors, replaced the outside lights over the exit doors and removed a sink from the conference room. There is a security buzzer lock on the front door with an intercom system. The M.C.B. logo is on the front door in white lettering. The flower box was cleaned out and old shrubs replaced with geraniums.

Grass seed was sown in the bare spots but the summer heat may prove too much for it. We'll work on it. The sign post in the front now reads in black letters on a white background "Missouri Council of the Blind" with our building number. The Building Committee members are Roy and Edna Freeman, Donna Weidlich, Sam and Celita White. Everyone has worked hard to make this building into a pleasant and proud place to conduct business for M.C.B. and we hope you will be pleased with the results.

Celita White

Building Chairperson

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Craft unions help Council for Blind

from St. Louis Labor Tribune

When the Missouri State Council for the Blind needed repairs and renovation on its office building in South St. Louis, it turned to its friends in the union community for a helping hand. The result was an almost complete makeover of their building at 5453 Chippewa, which they purchased from a group of doctors. Most of the work was done by volunteer apprentices from various craft unions, but it was supervised by experienced journeymen or instructors from their union's training program.

Carpenters rebuilt the interior of the building with new walls, doors and ceilings. Painters prepped walls and ceilings and applied new paint. Plumbers from Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 562 installed new plumbing. Floorlayers built new floors. Electricians from IBEW Local 1 rewired the building and a sign out front.

"This was a wonderful gift to our community," said Edna Freeman, an officer with the council who had approached Robert Kelley, president of the Greater St. Louis Labor Council, for help with the building. "We truly appreciate and thank the generous union craftsmen who did this fine work for us."

"It was a worthy cause," said John Gaul, coordinator of the Carpenters Joint Apprenticeship program, who helped organize the effort. "I think everyone involved appreciated the opportunity to help out."

Editor's Note: This article in accompanied by a photo of several of the craftsmen along with MCB members Roy and Edna Freeman, Donna Weidlich and Bev Shockley.

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Membership Report

Thanks to all for distributing referrals. Not all referrals are going to come join the club, but make sure to follow-up with them so they know the Missouri Council of the Blind (MCB) cares.

I appreciate the calls and questions about membership. Keep them coming!

I have been working with Warrensburg, trying to get a new affiliate started. They were interested in only being a Member at Large. We are very happy to have new Members at Large.

The American Council of the Blind (ACB) is starting a membership drive on September 1st, to last through December 31st, of this year. The slogan will be "Each Member Get A Member". This way, we will possibly be able to double our membership--Won't that be great?!

Melvin Smith 9918 Holly St. Kansas City, MO 64114 (816) 942-0489

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Convention Update

Hello from the Delta Area Blind and the Southeast United Blind,

Here we are with the last convention information for the 2002 Convention. We urge those of you who have not made your reservations to please get them in. Those of you who are Board reps or chair persons are in the computer. I got the list from the MCB office and went to Sikeston to make sure this was done.

The registration table will be located in the dome of the Ramada Inn starting Thursday, October 10 at 12:30. You can also register on Thursday evening from 7:00-9:00. On Friday, the registration table will be open from 9:00 A.M. until 1:00 P.M.. The registration fee is $5.00.

Banquet tickets are $13.00 per person. The hotel staff said they would provide fish for those of you who cannot eat prime rib. If you would like to have fish instead of prime rib, please let me know by October first, so that we can let the staff know in plenty of time. This year's banquet will have a Western theme so if you come dressed in your jeans and boots, you'll fit right in. We would like to have a talent show after the banquet on Saturday, so bring your songs, poems and jokes.

MCB is paying for the pizza party on Friday night, which will be held in the dome.

There was a misprint in the June Chronicle as to the time that the Ramada Inn opens for breakfast. Breakfast is served from 6:00 A.M. until 1:00 P.M. The breakfast buffet is $5.25 every day. There is something for everyone. Lunch and dinner prices are also very reasonable. The office has copies of the hotel menus in Braille and large print which you can get now by calling Patti at the office. We are suggesting that you bring your copies with you to the convention.

Once again here are the hotel phone numbers and room rates: The Ramada Hotel: 573 471-4700. Room rates are $47 per night plus tax for up to four people in a room. The Super 8: (573) 471-7900. Room rates are $41.40 up to two in a room, $49.50 per night for up to four people in a room. The Super 8 has all queen-sized beds. The Peartree: (573) 471-8660, room rates $47 per night. When you call any of the hotels, please let them know if you need a first floor room. See you at the Convention. You may write or call Marie Thompson, 932 Highway 162 east, Portageville, MO 63873. (573) 379-5007.

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2002 JIM HENDERSON MEMBER OF The YEAR AWARD WINNER

Determining a winner of this year's Award was probably the hardest decision the St. Louis Council has had to make in quite a long while. We received seven nominees, and every one was a deserving person. Please remember that it is an honor in deed to be nominated by your fellow affiliate members; to know that they recognize and appreciate your dedication and devotion.

This year's slate of nominees was as follows: Lawanna Copeland from the Delta Area Blind; Leo Benes from the Lake Stockton Area Council; Letha Dangerfield from the Joplin Service Club; Bill Godwin from the River City Workers; Jeanne McLaughlin from the South Central Ozark Association; Mildred Taylor from the Springfield Service Club; and this year's winner: Fred Keller from the United Workers in St. Louis.

We're very proud and appreciative of all these individuals, and we plan to present Fred with his check and plaque at a meeting of his affiliate.

Thomas Reece, President

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Summer Camp Report

Our two weeks at Cobblestone Lodge were some of the best ever. It only rained one day in June, and the usual July hot weather encouraged us to spend a lot of time in the pool and on the river. There were 42 in June and 77 for July, and both weeks saw some first-time campers who really enjoyed themselves. Shirley Ritter and Thelma Yost came with Mildred Long from Joplin along with Jim Murray. Elsie was our 93-year-old from St. Louis who was seen at the pool and made a lot of new friends. In July we were happy to welcome Dan and Elizabeth Crum with their little blind son, Daniel, who won the hearts of everyone.

Our June talent show included some wonderful music by Leroy and Loretta and some surprising piano music by Emma Lou who was there with four generations of her family. Cheryl's hilarious chili-tasting skit was so popular it returned in July when Chris and Jesse gave us their version.

Our Talent in July would have given Branson some competition. The music was outstanding with Ken and Reba, Georgia, John, Bob, Lacy, Jack and June and Bill and Linda Burris. Judge Jeanie and Tony provided the comedy, and the hit of the evening during the talent show was a group of trashy women (Mary, Anna and Donna) who gave some of the guys a big thrill including our president who is still dreaming about Anna.

Cobblestone's games included "The Weakest Link" and "Family Feud" which were very popular with everyone. Being able to vote people off the panel in "The Weakest Link" seemed to be very attractive to MCB members. Those running for office this October might want to be aware of that. Edna's new "Rob Your Neighbor" was enjoyed by all both weeks.

An added attraction which was not planned by the camp committee was the destruction of the Steelville bridge on Tuesday afternoon. Explosives were set up the day before, and no one was allowed on the river that day. We were told to remain at our cabins, and the sound of that explosion was simply awesome. However, it really did not compare with the sound of Chip or Don when they get kings in Pass the Trash or Chip yelling when someone put the bag of ice on his bald head. (Editor's Note: I wonder who did that. And I wonder why Chip is threatening to find a new Chronicle Editor.)

As usual, the food was great and the staff again did a wonderful job. For me, the best thing about going to camp is getting together with our old friends and making new ones. Don and I would like to thank Roy and Donna who help us so much on our committee and all those who help one another while they are there. This is our tenth year at Cobblestone, and it pleases us so much to see what a wonderful time you all have there. We are looking forward to our September weekend and hope to see everyone back again next year.

Beverly Shockley

From The Editor: Bev was much too kind to mention that Don was given his very own sippy cup by Chrissy on Saturday after he spilled water on Bev at breakfast. No more spills for Don. Now, I wish I could say that the Donna in the trashy women skit was Donna Giger. But it was not. It was, in fact, my ordinarily lovely wife, Donna, along with Anna Schell and Mary Strubhardt, all UWB members. What does that tell you?

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IN MEMORIAM: DEBRA SUE FITZPATRICK

by David Plumlee

Debra Sue Fitzpatrick was born on October 15, 1957. Her short life of 44 years was marked by courage in the face of adversity. She lost her sight to cancer at a very early age. Known as "Fitzie" by many of us who were close to her, she was a fighter. She was quick to let anyone know how she felt on an issue under discussion. Anyone who knew her well has at times seen the "stormy" side of Debbie; but the fiery side of her character also made her very well suited for getting involved in an active way and getting things done.

After her graduation in 1976 from Missouri School for the Blind, she attended Blind Focus in Kansas City for a short time to learn computer operation. She obtained employment at the Kansas City Association for the Blind, now known as Alpha Pointe. She served on the Grievance Committee, and she started the yearly collection of food for Harvesters. She also volunteered to receive lunch orders from employees and relay them to a restaurant in downtown Kansas City. In addition, she was often very helpful to several employees who worked in the shop's Activity Center.

In February, 1980, her daughter Tammi was born.

Debbie held several offices in Allied Workers for the Blind including President. She showed her courage and willingness to take on a difficult task when she agreed to serve as Treasurer of AWB, the office which she held at the time of her death.

At the state level, she served as Secretary of MCB, and she was Chairman of the Convention Committee when the MCB convention was held in Kansas City in 1987.

That courage, fire, and resolute determination which have been hallmarks of her life came to the forefront in the spring of 2002 when her cancer recurred in an inoperable form. She vowed to continue her work on all fronts as long as she could. Being a rather private person, she told few people about the recurrence of her disease. "This is the fourth round for me," she told me one night as we talked by phone. While she held a realistic understanding that her cancer was beyond cure, she remained dedicated to life to the end--even looking forward to attending an Allen Jackson concert which actually took place during the last few hours of her life. Sadly, she was not able to attend that concert, and she passed away on June 1, 2002. We shall miss her and long remember her life and her work to make life better for persons with impaired vision in Kansas City and in Missouri.

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Candidates Speak

At this year's convention in Sikeston, we will have elections for President, First Vice President, Second Vice President and Secretary. Here are letters from Chip Hailey announcing that he will seek another term as President, and a letter from Bill Benson, who will again run for the office of First Vice President.

 
Dear MCB members and friends, I would first of all like to thank you for having given me the opportunity to have served you as your MCB president these past couple of years. I can honestly say that they have truly been pleasurable and red-letter ones. I will always remain eternally grateful to MCB for having given me such a rewarding experience.

I would now like to announce my candidacy to run again as your MCB president. I think that as your re-elected president, I can continue to make this strong organization even stronger. I also think that I can successfully lead this organization back to a place of greater harmony and rapport. So I come before you now asking for your continued support. If you feel that I have completely adhered to all my duties as president, and have been just and fair in all of my decisions, and have been successful in leading this outstanding organization to higher heights, I would ask for your continued support. I truly believe that we have made some great strides in where we would like to be as a leading blind consumer organization, but I also believe that we have some greater strides to be accomplished. If you feel that I have manifested a strict regard for what is best for this organization, and have been a very conscientious and hardworking president, and would continue to do so, I would then respectfully ask for your support. Should I be so fortunate as to be re-elected as president, I promise to remain honest and fair in all of my decisions, and I will promise to continue to work hard to make us stronger financially, and I will promise to continue to work hard to make this organization one of the top leaders in the blindness movement, and will promise to continue to serve you to the very best of my ability. I hope you will show your confidence in me by re-electing me as your MCB president. I can assure you that your confidence in me will not be misplaced. May God bless you all. Your friend and comrade, Chip Hailey

Dear MCB Members,

I would very much like to thank all of you who, two years ago, made it possible for me to serve you as First Vice-president of the MCB.

I am honored by the trust you placed in me, and I have endeavored to represent you as best I knew how.

I hope you will afford me the privilege of serving in this office for another two years. I have been, and would be again, very proud to serve as your Vice-president. Thank you for your support.

Bill Benson

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SLU surgeon is first from U.S. to implant artificial eye BY DEBORAH L. SHELTON Of the Post-Dispatch

A St. Louis University neurosurgeon has become the first American doctor to implant an electronic artificial eye that makes it possible for a blind person to see.

Dr. Kenneth R. Smith Jr., a professor of neurosurgery at St. Louis University School of Medicine, was one of four surgeons who implanted into eight blind patients devices that stimulate the visual cortex of the brain.

The device doesn't restore normal sight and doesn't work for all types of blindness. But it permitted some patients to recognize large objects and walk without aids.

The two-to three-hour operations took place in Lisbon, Portugal, in April, with patients coming from six countries, including one from the United States.

The device has been compared to the one worn by actor Lavar Burton on the TV show "Star Trek: The Next Generation." Burton played a blind engineer on the futuristic science fiction drama who wore a visor over his eyes that allowed him to see.

Work on the device began in 1968. Two years later, Smith began collaborating with the Dobelle Institute, a private company based in New York and Lisbon that develops medical devices.

Born in St. Louis and raised in Greenville, Ill., Smith has been with St. Louis University for 36 years, specializing in treatment of brain tumors and traumatic injury to the brain and spinal cord.

"Our earliest collaborations were with doctors at St. Louis University," said Dobelle, president and chief executive officer of the institute. "Ken Smith did some of the first cases, so there is a very long connection to St. Louis."

Another major step also could take place here.

Plans are under way, Smith said, to establish a center at St. Louis University that would be the first to do the operations in the United States.

Thousands of patients nationwide, especially those who have suffered degeneration of the retina from diabetes, could benefit from the device, Smith said.

The procedure, hospitalization and equipment cost about $98,000.

It was designed for people who went blind due to injury but were not candidates for retinal implants. Those who lost sight in early childhood or at birth would not be good candidates because the visual cortex of their brains would not be fully developed, Dobelle said.

Patients see white flashes of light in patterns that resemble stars on a black background, like a photographic negative.

"Four of the eight patients saw brilliantly colored phosphenes, giving hope that future prostheses will work in full color," Smith said. Phosphenes are flashes of light caused by stimulation of the brain.

Two of the patients were totally blind before their surgeries but see well enough now to practice driving under controlled circumstances.

The patients wear special sunglasses fitted with a miniature television camera. A microcomputer and stimulator are carried on the waist on a belt or in a bag. The equipment attaches by cable to a tiny fire hydrant-like device implanted in the skull that connects to two electrodes on the surface of the part of the brain that controls sight.

Although patients are enthusiastic, raising false hopes is a concern.

David Ekkin, executive director of the St. Louis Society for the Blind and Visually Impaired, said the technology sounds interesting. But he feared it "could generate a lot of false hope for people who have never seen."

Smith shares that fear.

"I'm always worried about raising false hopes," Smith said. "I don't want to be overly optimistic. But this looks very promising at the moment."

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New medicines stop blindness cold

Associated Press

Boston:

To doctors' amazement, experimental new medicines are rescuing people from the brink of blindness so they can read and drive and sometimes even regain perfect vision. These lucky few are the first beneficiaries of an entirely new category of drugs that many hope will revolutionize the care of common eye diseases. Several competing medicines are in development, all based on similar principles. They are designed to stop the two top causes of adult blindness--the "wet" form of macular degeneration, which affects the elderly, and diabetic retinopathy, the biggest source of blindness in working-age people. Vision loss seems halted for most if they take the drugs soon after their symptoms begin. Some experience stunning reversals of what would have been inevitable blindness. "I'm telling you, it's miraculous," says Eileen Russell. Ms. Russell, 76, of Worcester, lost vision in her right eye four years ago.

In May, her left eye went bad, too, and she was declared legally blind. But after four injections of one of the drugs her left eye is 20-25. She drives and reads and is thinking about returning to work as a nurse. "Yesterday, I had to write a cheque," she said. "It looked beautiful, right on the line, with a regular pen. I can do all the little things again."

Around the United States, about 70 patients with wet macular degeneration have been treated with the same drug as Ms. Russell, Genentech's rhuFab. About half were treated by Dr. Jeffrey Heier of Ophthalmic Consultants of Boston, who said: "I can honestly say I have never seen anything as exciting

as this." Experts caution that most of the results from the studies on this and similar drugs will not be known for at least a year or two. And for now, the treatments are available only to study volunteers. None of the drugs are intended for the more common but less aggressive "dry" kind of macular degeneration, nor will they work after eyesight has been gone for months.

Guessing the drugs' ultimate effectiveness based on early testing is risky. Still, doctors estimate that roughly one-quarter to one-third of people with newly diagnosed wet macular degeneration have had significant improvement in

their eyesight. In most of the rest, loss of sight is stopped, at least temporarily.

Among others helped by rhuFab is retired judge Ernest Hayeck, also of Worcester. One day last September, he discovered he was quickly going blind in his right eye. Doorways looked wavy, and everything was dim. Doctors said they could do nothing for him. With wet macular degeneration, vision in that eye would cloud to little or nothing within a few months at best. Mr. Hayeck was an active retiree, nine years off the state Superior Court but busy on the faculty of the National Judicial College and the board of Wendy's International. "I was resigned to it," he remembers. "I told myself I had had 77 good years." But when told of Dr. Heier's rhuFab study, he seized the chance, even though

it meant getting shots in his bad eye. In October, the judge got his first, which he said was painless. By then his sight had failed to 20-100. "I have achieved what I consider to be a miraculous result," says Mr. Hayeck. "My eyesight came back with a vengeance. By the time I had the fourth treatment, I was 20-20 with my glasses on."

Dr. Steven Schwartz, chief of the retina division at UCLA'S Jules Stein Eye Institute, has worked with several of the new drugs. "For the first time in my career, I have actually been able to restore vision in patients who otherwise would never be able to get back their central vision," he said. "It is a spectacular advance." His macular degeneration patients include the actor Dabney Coleman, who in a week on rhuFab went from 20-400 to 20-40 in his left eye and returned to playing tennis.

Both macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy result from misguided growth of blood vessels in the eyes. Since the new drugs attack this underlying problem, doctors hope they will work for both diseases. The need for new treatments is especially dire in wet macular degeneration, because nothing can be done for most victims. Blindness often follows within months or even weeks of the first symptoms. It occurs when leaky blood vessels sprout behind the retina, probably in a mistaken attempt to fix the slow breakdown of light-sensitive cells that occurs with age. These vessels ooze fluid and damage the fragile tissue that controls straight-ahead vision. The new drugs vary, although most of them, like rhuFab, zero in on a growth-promoting protein called vascular epidermal growth factor, or VEGF. It appears to be an especially important trigger of damaging blood vessels in both forms of blindness. Other drugs in testing include: Anecortave acetate from Alcon, a new steroid injected next to the eye once every six months for macular degeneration; Eyetech Pharmaceuticals' EYE-001, which is injected into the eyeball like rhuFab for macular degeneration; Bausch and Lomb's Retisert implant, which exudes a steroid into the eye for up to three years and is being used for diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration; Lilly's LY-333531, the only pill among the new drugs, used to prevent worsening eye disease in diabetics.

Development of these drugs is gratifying to Dr. Judah Folkman of Boston's Children's Hospital, whose three decades of pioneering research into blood vessels provided their scientific basis. Dr. Folkman's goal is a cancer treatment, since new blood vessels are necessary for tumor growth. "Sometimes the most exciting thing in a scientist's career," he says, "is an unexpected outcome from one's work." Nevertheless, experts caution that until the big studies are finished, no one can be sure how well the drugs will work. No one knows how long patients will need to take them, how often disease will return or whether the repeated eye injections have any hazards.

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EVERYDAY HEROES
by David Rosenkoetter

Confidently, self-assured, Renate Goerz of Munich, Germany walked to and from a pet store along a very unfamiliar city street. Neither heavy traffic flow nor unknown obstacles deterred her. Instead, she showed the independence we, being blind or partially sighted, long to have.

"You can't," protested Cecilia Lee, director of All Nations Christian Blind Outreach and Ms. Goerz's host. But despite the concerned objection, Ms. Goerz followed her guide dog's lead into the fray. "John Iman and I wrote up the directions for her," Ms. Lee explained in amazement. "Two hours later, she returned with the dog food."

Independent travel alone, however, did not bring Renate Goerz from Germany to America. No, ambition to learn brought her here. Ever since losing her sight at age seventeen, she has been interested in how blind people live worldwide. Then, a little over a year ago, she learned English. "My teachers said, "You should go to a country where they speak English."," Ms. Goerz told us.

So, last summer, she sent e-mail to many of the blindness organizations in the United States. Just days later, the Rev. Dave Andrus, director of the Lutheran Mission with Blind and Visually Impaired Persons, answered her query with a resounding "yes". He, along with outreach coordinators to the blind nationwide would design her travel schedule.

So, who is this courageous woman who has flown with only her guide dog around the United States and who walked unafraid in the midst of unfamiliar St. Louis? She is the mother of five children who used to work in a German military hospital. She is now retired and a homemaker. Ms. Goerz is an everyday hero. "I train dogs," says Ms. Goerz, "knit, carve, do stone work, and sew."

While most of the German populace belong to the Roman Catholic or Lutheran state-run churches, Ms. Goerz has belonged to the Episcopal denomination for years. Her local congregation, she notes, is not centrally located in Munich. So, faith-based outreach to blind and visually impaired people may prove to be a challenge for her from there. Those who do attend Christian worship in Germany have brailled hymnals and the Holy Bible available for their use.

Ms. Goerz explains that, with regard to her mobility, she began with the long cane. Yet after an accident where she ran into a ladder head on one day, she decided to get a guide dog. Now, Ms. Goerz walks with Winnie, her fourth guide dog from a school in Austria, by her side. Like many guide dog users in the United States, Ms. Goerz went to train for a month for her first dog. Yet, the formal bonding process and training with Winnie took only two weeks for her to complete. Now, she has had her dog for nearly nine years.

Clearly, Ms. Goerz sees well-polished travel to be a major part of independence. "When you have five children," she remarks, "you have to take care of them yourself." With Winnie, however, navigating Munich and other cities around Germany has become almost second nature. "We have buses and subways to go from city to city," she adds, commenting on the public transportation at her disposal. Yet, she also does not shy away from comparing the service one receives on those transit systems with that which we have on this side of the Atlantic. "The bus drivers are much more friendly in the United States, very friendly and helpful."

Some people have observed that blind people, regardless of where they live, share many things in common from their being a minority to the social struggles they face on a daily basis. Now, the ocean separates North America from Europe. Even so, blindness bridges that gap which the seas create.

We are aware, for instance, that unemployment, social discrimination, and the availability of many printed materials continue to concern us in the United States. Ms. Goerz shares the stark reality that, "We have similar problems in Germany. Not all blind people can get a job. She adds, however, that anyone who is blind, working or not, receives financial assistance from the government. As in many other European countries, many forms of insurance and health care come free of charge.

Ms. Goerz has certainly become familiar with many of the challenges blind people face in her country. As a result she is involved in several blindness organizations, some of which resemble the American Council of the Blind and its affiliates. She is active in groups of guide dog users as well as with those which focus on independence and self-help for the blind of Germany. What does Renate Goerz take back home from her visit to the United States? She returns with a greater eagerness to work with other blind people. She has the desire to share the cordiality she received from so many people here, from local congregations who welcomed her and from numerous outreach centers for the blind and visually impaired. Ms. Goerz returns home, having accomplished the twofold goal for which she has strived--she has seen blind people around the world and how they live and has traveled successfully in a country whose people speak English on a daily basis.

We wish Renate Goerz, an everyday hero, well as she resumes her life back in Germany. With her guide dog, Winnie, beside her, she crosses familiar roads to brighter horizons for blind and visually impaired people. ---------------

(David A. Rosenkoetter is a free-lance writer living in St. Louis, Missouri with his guide dog, Lali from Guide Dogs of America.)

The Associated Press State and Local Wire Monday, June 17, 2002 Former mayor, broadcaster has award-winning pipes By DEEDEE CORRELL From The Editor: If you listen to Talking Books, you have almost certainly heard the voice of Narrator Bob Askey and so I thought you would find this article interesting. I had the pleasure of meeting and interviewing Bob Askey many years ago when he was in this area. He was just as kind and gracious as I expected him to be.

LONGMONT, Colo. Bob Askey never had the cracking soprano of an adolescent boy. His voice just dropped and dropped until his problem was remembering to pitch it higher so teachers and other adults couldn't pick it out of a crowd. "People would recognize my voice," the former Longmont mayor said. That hasn't changed for the deep-throated Askey, who worked in radio and television before he turned to narrating about 800 books on tape for Talking Book Publishers in Denver.

Recently, he received the American Foundation for the Blind's honor of excellence for his work in a ceremony at New York's Madison Square Garden. Askey was selected for his narration of "Life Is So Good," a nonfiction account by George Dawson and Richard Glaubman of the life of a grandson of slaves.

A native of Nebraska, Askey grew up on radio shows such as "The Shadow" and always knew he wanted to become a broadcaster himself. His ever-deepening voice didn't hurt, and people would frequently suggest that he use it in radio. "Then I went to the University of Nebraska, thinking I'd become an English teacher," he said. But he got a summer job at a radio station, and that again pulled him in the direction of broadcasting. He also met Johnny Carson, who was two years ahead of him in college at Lincoln. "He did magic shows for the Kiwanis Club, and he was the master of ceremonies at the junior-senior prom," Askey said.

In the early 1970s, Askey was working for Denver radio stations when a friend suggested he'd be well-suited to the work of narration. In 1975, Askey got in touch with Talking Book Publishers, which provides recorded literature to blind and physically disabled Americans, and he's worked for them ever since.

Taping a book takes about two weeks, during which Askey sits in a sound booth, reading aloud for eight hours straight. Out of eight hours, four hours of material can generally be used, he said. Askey said he doesn't read the books beforehand with the exception of mystery novels. "I read the last chapter to see who-done-it," he said. That way, he explained, he knows how to give inflection to the voice of the villains. He also tries to lightly accent the words of foreign or regional characters, but not so much that it draws attention to his voice, rather than the tale. "You don't want an accent to detract from the story," he said. When a female character speaks, Askey pitches his voice higher and softer, lowering it again when a male character speaks.

After three decades of reading hundreds of books, from John Grisham's "A Time To Kill" to Robert James Waller's "The Bridges of Madison County," nothing fazes Askey anymore--not even a steamy love scene. "Not after 30 years," he said. But they sometimes embarrass the monitors working with him, he said. "When I get into these scenes, the gal out there colors up a bit," Askey said.

What can be tricky is correctly pronouncing words from books like "The Thorn Birds" with its Australian names and slang. Inside the jacket of his hardcover copy of that book, Askey has a column of notes from the time he worked on the book. Drogheda, where much of the book takes place, is pronounced: "Draw uh duh." And DeBriccasart, as in Father Ralph, is "Duh Brick uh sarr."

One Library of Congress review described Askey's narration "as easy and comfortable as it gets. He moves through the characters and story with good energy, pace and flexibility. He almost savors the rip. Readers will be able to do the same."

His recent honor marks the second time Askey has received the Alexander Scourby Narrator of the Year Award. In 1986, he won the award in the first year it was given. At the time, only one narrator nationwide received this award. This year, narrators were honored in the categories of fiction and poetry, along with nonfiction, for which Askey received his award. But he's done them all--children's books, nonfiction, mysteries and biographies. He has no favorites, he said. "They all become favorite books. I want to make them as good as I possibly can," Askey said. "There are times when I think, `This is a bad book."' But then I think, `Ok, it's inside work and no heavy lifting."'"

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A Brief History of the White Cane

From The Editor: I've been saving this article for about a year. With White Cane Safety Day just around the calendar, it seemed like a good time to include it. It was written by Phil Strong, who at the time was an intern in the ACB office, working on pedestrian safety issues.

The white cane is not just a tool that can be used to achieve independence; it is also a symbol of the blind citizens in our society. To honor the many achievements of blind and visually impaired Americans and to recognize the white cane's significance in advancing independence, we observe October 15 of each year as "White Cane Safety Day."

Today, the white cane works both, as a tool for the blind as well as a symbol, but this has not always been the case. Throughout history, the cane, staff, and stick have existed as traveling aids for the blind and visually impaired. Dating back to biblical times records show that a shepherd's staff was used as a tool for solitary travel. The blind used such tools to alert them to obstacles in their path. For centuries, the "cane" was used merely as a tool for travel and it was not until the twentieth century that the cane, as we know it today, was promoted for use by the blind as a symbol to alert others to the fact that an individual was blind.

This new role for the white cane had its origins in the decades between the two World Wars, beginning in Europe and then spreading to North America. James Biggs of Bristol claimed to have invented the white cane in 1921. After an accident claimed his sight, the artist had to readjust to his environment. Feeling threatened by increased motor vehicle traffic around his home, Biggs decided to paint his walking stick white to make himself more visible to motorists. It was not however until ten years later the white cane established its presence in society. In February 1931, Guilly d'Herbemont launched a scheme for a national white stick movement for blind people in France. The campaign was reported in British newspapers leading to a similar scheme being sponsored by rotary clubs throughout the United Kingdom. In May 1931 the BBC suggested in its radio broadcasts that blind individuals might be provided with a white stick, which would become universally recognized as a symbol indicating that somebody was blind or visually impaired.

In North America the introduction of the white cane has been attributed to the Lion's Clubs International. In 1930, a Lion's Club member watched as a blind man attempted to make his way across a busy street using a black cane. With the realization that the black cane was barely visible to motorists, the Lion's Club decided to paint the cane white to increase its visibility to oncoming motorists. In 1931, the Lion's Club International began a national program promoting the use of white canes for persons who are blind.

Throughout the 1920s and 1930s, blind persons had walked with their canes held diagonally in a fixed position, and the role of the white cane took on a symbolic role as an identifier. But when the blind veterans of World War II returned to America, the form and the use of the white cane was further altered in an attempt to help return veterans to participatory lifestyles at home. Doctor Richard Hoover developed the "long cane" or "Hoover" method of cane travel. These white canes are designed to be used as mobility devices and returned the cane to its original role as a tool for mobility, but maintained the symbolic role as an identifier of blind independence.

During this period, the white cane began to make its way into government policy as a symbol for the blind. The first special White Cane Ordinance was passed in December 1930 in Peoria, Illinois. It granted blind pedestrians protections and the right-of-way while carrying a white cane. In 1935, Michigan began promoting the white cane as a visible symbol for the blind. On February 25, 1936, ordinance was passed for the City of Detroit recognizing the white cane. To promote the new ordinance, a demonstration was held at City Hall where the blind and visually impaired were presented with white canes. The following year, Donald Schuur wrote the provision of a bill and had it proposed in the State Legislature. The proposal gave the carrier of the White Cane protection while traveling on the streets of Michigan. Governor Frank Murphy signed the bill into law in March 1937.

During the early 1960's, several state organizations and rehabilitation agencies serving the blind and visually impaired citizens of the United States urged Congress to proclaim October 15 of each year to be White Cane Safety Day in all fifty states. This event marked a climatic moment in the long campaign of the organized blind movement to gain state as well as national recognition for the white cane. On October 6, 1964, a joint resolution of the Congress, HR 753, was signed into law authorizing the President of the United States to proclaim October 15 of each year as "White Cane Safety Day". The resolution read "Resolved by the Senate and HR. that the President is hereby authorized to issue annually a proclamation designating October 15 as White Cane Safety Day and calling upon the people of the United States to observe such a day with appropriate ceremonies and activities." Within hours of passage of the congressional resolution, President Lyndon B. Johnson went down in history as the first to proclaim October 15, as White Cane Safety Day. The Presidential proclamation emphasized the significance of the use of the white cane as both a tool and as a visible symbol. In the first White Cane Proclamation President Johnson commended blind people for the growing spirit of independence and the increased determination to be self-reliant and dignified. He said in part: "A white cane in our society has become one of the symbols of a blind person's ability to come and go on his own. Its use has promoted courtesy and opportunity for mobility of the blind on our streets and highways."

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Wherever we gathered, Jack Buck was there By Bernie Miklasz

Many wonderful tributes were written about Jack Buck at the time of his death. I think this one, wrjtten by Post-Dispatch Sports Columnist Bernie Miklasz, is one of the best.

The great, familiar, famous voice has gone silent now. For decades, Jack Buck provided the soundtrack of the St. Louis summer. He brought baseball to life for generations of Cardinals fans. Each season he took us from April to October. He was our companion, our tour guide, our historian, our friend, the man we entrusted with this precious St. Louis tradition of baseball.

He was there in backyards, when families gathered around a grill and a picnic table to listen to the Cardinals on KMOX.

He was there on the front porches of a breezy, cozy evening, his friendly voice meeting us under the night-time stars. His voice was in the hospital rooms, providing comfort for patients who wanted to stay in touch with their favorite team. He was in the nursing homes, and the schools, and the golf courses, and on the lakes. All we needed were batteries for the radio, and he would take care of the rest.

He was under the pillow, late at night, as kids smuggled their radios into bed, to stay up late and monitor a distant game from the West Coast. He provided the lullaby, as the youngsters drifted off to sleep, happy in knowing that the Cardinals were winning the game.

He was in the car, traveling with us, a pal who always made us feel closer to home, no matter where the road led us, as long as we could receive the radio signal that all but placed him on the passenger side, going along for the ride.

He described them all, from Stan Musial to Bob Gibson to Ozzie Smith to Mark McGwire to Albert Pujols. His words were the link that connected them all. He was there at Sportsman's Park, and he was there at Busch Stadium, and he was at all the road games. When you heard his voice warming up in that first broadcast from spring training, you knew that baseball was about to return, and it was time to be hopeful, time to worry, time to wait and see what the new season would bring.

He was part of the family. How many grandparents and parents and sons and daughters shared the experience of listening to Cardinals games together? There could be friction in the family. Maybe a dad and his son weren't getting along. And maybe Jack Buck helped bring them back together, because the Cardinals were a common bond.

He was the guy who never said no to kids who wanted an autograph, or anyone who wanted him to pose for a photo. He emceed dinners and fund-raisers, ate more banquet chicken than any person in this city's history, and raised millions of dollars in charity.

And he was the funniest speaker we've ever heard. His one- liners, his zingers, were legendary. He could have been a comedy star, as big as anyone in the business. The best playbook in town was Jack Buck's joke book; those who had to do public, sports-related speaking snatched Jack's best material and used it as their own.

Jack went national, calling football games and baseball games for the networks, but always returned home. He never sold out, never forgot where he lived. He never wanted to be in New York, or Los Angeles. On these trips out of town, he always left his heart in St. Louis, and St. Louis was the only place he wanted to live. And the other prominent national broadcasters in our town through the years-- Bob Costas, Dan Dierdorf, Dan Kelly-- followed suit.

For a tough guy who survived a blast of shrapnel in World War II, he was a soft touch. He'd see a poor person on the street and peel off $20. He was a lavish tipper, the favorite of bellhops and waiters around the nation. One time, during the NFL season, a visiting team's PR man traveled to St. Louis to advance the game, and he was all alone on Thanksgiving. At least until Jack Buck found out about it, and had him over to the house to enjoy the dinner that Carole Buck had prepared.

Nearing the end of the life, as he battled Parkinson's disease, Jack Buck realized how much he wanted to live. The sweetness within him found a fulfilling outlet through poetry. He would sit down and scrawl a poem. He'd read it to his friends with a wavering voice, overcome by emotion. And when he stopped reading, Jack would pull a hanky from his pocket to wipe away the tears, and you knew how much he savored each moment of being alive.

In Jack's final days, his dear son Joe Buck would read to Jack late at night in the hospital room. Joe would lovingly read all of your letters and cards and notes. Jack Buck, 77, knew he was dying, but he held on longer than the doctors believed was possible. Joe Buck said the fans sustained his father. Joe would read the beautiful tributes, all of the stories about how Jack had enriched their lives. Andwiththe lights dimmed, in the quiet of the night, Joe would look close into his father's eyes, and he could see his dad smiling. On the night Jack Buck died, the Cardinals defeated the Anaheim Angels 7-2 with Joe doing a masterful job of putting his emotions aside to call the game on TV, to serve the fans. Just what you would expect from Jack Buck's son. That's a winner.

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Reader Response

In the June issue, I published an article from The Braille Forum by Peggy Shoel called "Sighted People Have Rights, Too," in which Peggy talked about the rudeness sometimes displayed by blind people when sighted people offer to help them. I asked what you thought of the article and I received this response from Norm Yale from the Kansas City Area:

As a low vision person--babied for most of my life--I sometimes fall into the rudeness trap. In my experience, without exception, all of us with this tendency need to work on self-esteem.

A small but significant minority of sighted individuals when offering help display a kind of contempt or hostility rather than their stated aim. I've always been happy to explain my blindness to anyone. Often getting someone into a discussion breaks down barriers. When time lacks, or if the person is truly offensive or hindering safety, I suggest a polite firm refusal.

Ms. Shoel is right; we all have feelings. Her advice about how to refuse help is sound. We are all much alike, sex, creed, skin tone, blindness notwithstanding.

Sincerely,

Norm Yale

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Affiliate Affairs

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

We have thirteen reports this time, some from new reporters, so let's get started:

AWB " READY FOR HOUSTON
by Norman Yale

Eleven members of our Kansas City affiliate AWB attended the ACB convention, including Gregg Hollins, our newly elected AWB president, and Kathey Wheeler, our treasurer. Kathey served as parliamentarian for both the Randolph Sheppard Vendors of America and the convention itself. Renee Deggs, Jerry Annunzio, Edna Annunzio, LaTrecia Hendrix, Charlene Brown, Shirley Brokaw, Melvin Smith, James Hollins, and George Battiste also attended. Several of these individuals are committee chairs in AWB.

The convention was held at the Adams Mark Hotel, 2900 Briarpark Drive in Westheimer, Houston, Texas. Preliminaries such as a reception, the pre-convention ACB board meeting, committee activities, and pre-convention tours began Thursday, June 27. The regular convention convened with the first general session on Sunday, June 30 and lasted through Saturday, July 6. A post-convention board meeting and other activities concluded the proceedings on Sunday, July 7.

General sessions were held in the mornings from 8:30 until noon. Sometimes special speakers addressed the assembly. The exhibits, eighty-one in all, went on display in the mornings. Tours to Galveston, the Museum of Natural Sciences, the Museum of Fine Arts, NASA, a cowboy ranch, and numerous city tours filled the afternoons Special interest groups gathered at this time. There could be up to forty-five meetings occurring at once. Evenings were reserved for the all-important business of socializing. Fund raising was conducted, including wine and cheese parties for a fee. Special interest groups met and old friendships were renewed. There was a casino night.

Five amendments were added to the ACB Constitution. Pat Sheehan,

Carla Raschdal, and Billie Jean Keith were elected to the board of directors. Brian Charlson retained his position on the board.

Said Jerry Annunzio of the ACB board, "We are focusing on diversifying income sources." Projects include the seeking of grants from foundations and the Automobile Donations Program. Under ADO, individuals would donate vehicles, which would be resold. The proceeds would go to ACB. The Major Donor Campaign is working to reactivate the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC), which, like the United Campaign, allows employees to make direct donations. The difference: the CFC targets federal employees. The ACB is considering the sale to members of radios that receive the Internet without being attached to a computer.

Speakers to the general assembly included Doctor Lockley from England. He reported that there are definite sleep disturbances among the blind due to differences in their circadian clocks. This is because these individuals are in the dark all the time. The most promising treatment is melatonin, but he warned against its purchase over the counter. Without using it under a doctor's care, sleep problems may be increased.

In a discussion of fire safety and fire alarms, new sounds were demonstrated. These are proving easier for blind people to locate than methods previously used, such as flashing lights or bells. The new sounds cut through other noise at frequencies most people can hear.

Someone spoke about blind persons' safety on a cruise ship. Sounds to indicate fire and locations of exits were demonstrated. A woman from China described conditions for the blind in her country. There was a speaker from Rehabilitation Services for the Blind. Joe Anne Wilson, Director of the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA), answered questions. Myriad scholarships were presented.

The remote controlled talking sign created a sensation. "You just walked by and your receiver told you what you were seeing. Duxbury, American Printing House, anything," said our Kathey Wheeler. Commented Shirley Brokaw, "It will tell you what you're seeing as you go down the hall if you've programmed it." The sign located the exits.

Another notable exhibit was Beyond Sight's laptop computer with GW Micro's WindowEyes installed, but with no monitor included. Weighing three and one half pounds, the system sells for $1,700. A monitor can be added.

The National Braille Press had an exhibit. There was a botanical garden, a talking voting machine, a talking ATM machine, and

seventy-six other exhibits. As a result of negotiations between Bank of America and Eldon Cox of Progressive Council of the Blind, one of our sister organizations in Kansas City, we will receive three of these talking ATMS between August and December.

Special interest groups such as the Braille Revival League and the Randolph Sheppard Vendors of America were represented. There were dog users groups, even diabetes awareness. There was something for every personal shade of interest and AWB was in the thick of it.

Hope to see you at next year's convention in Pittsburgh.

From The Editor: That was an excellent Convention report, Norm, but I think you may have left some things out. Something about George Battiste and a very close encounter of the wet kind with a hot tub and another member in the swimming pool when he thought he was on dry land. These are the things about which inquiring minds want to know. We hope there are no hot tubs or swimming pools in the Remada Inn in Sikeston or we may have to keep a close watch on the AWB delegation!
 

BLIND OF CENTRAL Missouri

Wednesday July 24, 2002

Hello readers:

Usually I put a little rhyme: and, in this edition I'll keep my traditional format.

I'm writing this from Camp Cobblestone, near Cuba and Steelville Mo. I am enjoying camp with my new husband Galen Blood. We were married on June 25th, 2002.

As I sit and listen to the many sounds around me such as air conditioner compressors, laughter from people in different locations, hearing people from different cabins playing and singing songs, birds singing, and just enjoying nature, it reminds me of the many things that God gives to us. He gives us strength when we need it, calms us when we need to relax, and, gives us the choice to either accept or reject any of his loving gifts.

The following rhyme came to me as I sat here this morning: In fact, you will find a bit of a twist in this column.

Camp is a very good place to go,

You meet new friends and old friends that you know. Birds singing, once in a while a far off phone that I do not have to answer ringing,

My husband assisting me when I need his brain,

his assuring me that everything is all right the other night when it rained.

The electricity flickered: but, didn't go out,

His telling me that everything would be all right when our toilet paper almost ran out.

These things I am grateful for because they are just some of the things that cause me to enjoy life as it is and how it will be,

And I thank god for the things that he has given to me.

We have 3 new members in our club. They are Linda Hagerman who is blind, Roy Hagerman, her husband who is sighted, and Sue Glenn who is blind. Congratulations and welcome to our club.

We had our annual outreach picnic on Thursday, July 11th at liberty park. We had around 30 members and guests in attendance. We had hamburgers, hot dogs, pork steak, potato salad, baked beans, chips, relish trays and dip, fruit trays and dip, s'mores, cake, and assorted kinds of soda to drink. We rode the little train which is always a lot of fun. It was a great time of fun, food, and fellowship.

Until next time keep smiling and keep a song in your heart. If you can't be good, be good at it.

Trudy Blood

Blind of Central Mo

Recording Secretary

From The Editor: Before we leave Sedalia, I thought you might enjoy reading this article from the Sedalia Democrat. Congratulations, Trudy and Galen. Have a long and happy life together.

Blind couple tie the knot
BY RON JENNINGS

The Sedalia Democrat

Their marriage ceremony Tuesday morning at the Pettis County Courthouse was short, but Trudy Howard and Galen Blood anticipated that.

What they didn't count on was OATS bus driver Debbie Edwards picking them up afterward in a decorated van that dragged a pair of blue women's shoes and a pair of brown men's boots on the rear bumper.

This vehicle was followed by another OATS van, driven by Dolores Norton, who joined her associate in making the traditional horn-honking commotion around the courthouse square and then north on Ohio Avenue to Main Street.

The two vans proceeded west on Main Street to the OATS headquarters at 2501 W. Main Still, where they stopped for a photo session.

Because neither Trudy Blood nor Galen Blood can drive due to blindness, they rely on the OATS bus and know both drivers. When Ms. Norton learned of the wedding plans, she devised the idea of picking them up in style.

"Trudy and Galen are really good and happy people; they're just made for each other," Ms. Norton said. "That's why Debbie and I wanted to do something special for them."

Shortly before Ms. Edwards picked them up, Mr. and Mrs. Blood stood before Associate Circuit Judge Robert Koffman. Each promised to take the other

"for better, for worse; for richer, for poorer; in sickness and in health, until death do you part."

After each responded "I do," they added "All my love, all my life," a
phrase each plans to have inscribed on the yellow gold bands they exchanged.

After leaving the OATS office, Ms. Edwards drove the couple to a grocery store before returning them to their home at 2614 Bristol Lane. The newlyweds plan to honeymoon later.

"I thought the whole thing was great," Mr. Blood said. "I'd been in a few
processions before, but nothing like this. Some people waved."

His new wife agreed.
"It was fun," she said. "We had a great time."

 
Joplin Service Club

Hi to everyone from the Joplin Area. Is everyone enjoying the summer months? It is hard to believe summer is just about done again for another year. The month of May was fairly quiet here for us. During June a group of us went to summer camp in Cuba, Missouri. We also had our Day of caring June 19th, where we had a picnic lunch at Shiffendecker park. Day of Caring is where we have area companies go out and visit different agencies and volunteer their time to see what we actually do in our area, and how they can help us in any way.

During July we went to Baxter Springs Museum. We also had our Thursday night dinner which was hosted by the First Presbyterian Church who provided us with a wonderful meal and also had wonderful entertainment as well. Gene Strausser came and sang for us that evening. We also went to Baxter Springs, Kansas July 29th to the Heritage Center and Historical Museum which is filled with exhibits depicting the various stages of the city's history from the days of the Osage Indians through the civil war and the lead and zinc mines. I highly recommend this Museum to go and see. Wow!! Many Happy Birthday wishes go out to all those who had birthdays in May, June and July.

Here at the Joplin Association for the Blind we have a van for sale. It is a 1989 Ford Econo Line, 10 passenger seating capacity, which includes the drivers seat. It comes with luxury interior, which has 6 captain chairs and a bench seat in the back and mood lighting. Mileage is 62 thousand. Asking price is $4,000.00 All inquiries please call 417-623-5721 or fax 417-623-1968.

Submitted by Cynthia Rowen

Lake Stockton Council of the Blind Hello from Lake Stockton!

Here we are in the middle of a hot summer and plans for our Birthday Celebration and Auction are in full swing for August 3rd.

In May we were happy to add two new members, Beverly Wheeler and Lora Mayor. We welcome them both to our affiliate.

In June we had a special program of accordion music played by Ron Kieferle, Music that we all remember and still enjoy hearing.

On a sad note we lost Anna Scott who passed away in May.

Our July meeting was held a week late because of the 4th of July Holiday. We had potluck and all played Bingo. We also worked on last minute things to be done for the Auction. In the next Chronicle I will let you all know how it turned out. We are looking forward to a great day August third. Submitted by Pauline Eggert

Missouri Guide Dog Users Report

Once again it is time for election of new officers for the Missouri Guide Dog Users Affiliate. The Guide Dog Users breakfast will be on Friday, October 11 from 7:30-8:30 A.M. in the West Room. The price of the breakfast will be $6.50 and it will be served to you. Since that is such a good price, I think we should all pay for our own breakfast. After all, we have to eat somewhere.

On a sad note, Chip had to put his guide dog down. Many of us know what that is like and how hard it can be because our guide dogs are like members of our family. Chip, we are all very sorry about your loss. Lynda Purdy had to put her guide dog in the hospital for a few days. We hope he is doing better.

There will be plenty of relief areas at all three convention hotels, but Please, Please, clean up after your dogs and try to keep them on a schedule so that they won't have accidents in the hotels. We are going to try to have a vet on call during the convention.

Chip has asked the Guide Dog Users Board draw up guidelines for spending money. I will bring a copy to read at the breakfast on Friday morning.

The Guide Dog Users dues are $5.00 per member. We need members so we welcome any and all of you to join. See you at the 2002 convention in Sikeston.

Marie Thompson, Guide Dog Users President

Progressive Council of the Blind

Hello from the Progressive Council of the Blind,

We have started our year off with our new slate of officers: President, Hank Pearce; First Vice-President, Eldon Cox; Second Vice-President, Rebecka Nash; Secretary, Valorie Stanard; Treasurer, Kim Jones; and Member at Large Gary Hider. In September we will have our annual nut sale and picnic. We had five members travel to Houston for the convention. A good time was had by all. Hope everyone is keeping cool in this hot weather. Until next time.

Susan Pearce

Queen City Council of the Blind:

Greetings fellow members,

We certainly hope you all have enjoyed your summer with camping, family reunions etc. We have been been quite busy these past few months. We have had guest speakers at our meetings from the wildlife museum, and the nature center. Another special guest was Wayne Glynn, who does a show on radio station Ktxr in Springfield called Remember When. Wayne wrote a book about his family going back a hundred years. He is in the process of writing another book. Dan Kinney, Director of Green County Park System also spoke to us about the park system.

On June 29 we held a pizza party at Grant Beach Park for the blind children, their siblings and families. There were 24 children in attendance, nine of them blind. Seventy-five people attended the party. We had pizza and soft drinks and cookies and brownies. We also handed out little bags that were filled with whistles, a jar of bubbles and water guns. There were also water balloons.

Gene Dahlmann went to the ACB convention to represent our group.

In May, we celebrated Dolores Holmes 98th birthday. We have five new members with more prospects to come.

Several of us took a trip to the zoo and had a picnic. On August 3rd several members went to the Ozark Empire State Fair. A trip to Silver Dollar City is planned for August.

Several members also went to camp in July. We will look forward to seeing you all at the convention in October. God bless each and every one of you. Marilyn Tuso

The RITE Report

Hello to all from Rite for the Blind

Since the last report we have had many changes. First, we have seven new members join our affiliate. They are Blanch Burrell, Dan Crum, George Hunsicker, Rose Wilson, Larry Ledford, Richard Kolasch, and Bunnie Maginnis. A warm welcome to all new members.

The Rite building has been sold. Our new meeting place is now at the Windsor Community Center, 4092 Roberts. The time and date has stayed the same. All are welcome.

Ann Becker and Verneiah Abbott attended the board meeting and gave a great report at our July meeting. Blanch Burrell attended this year's ACB convention in Houston. I found it to be very knowledgeable and fun. Hope to see all of you in Pittsburgh, PA next year.

Ann Becker enjoyed summer camp the first week in June. Verneiah Abbott, Angelo and Janet Trapasso and their daughter Lynne, Dan and Elizabeth Crum and their son Danny all attended summer camp the last week in July. Dan and Elizabeth Crum were a great help to all at summer camp. During the talent show on Friday night, Angelo Trapasso sang two songs and his daughter Lynne did a dance. Verneiah Abbott also sang a song. Everyone had a great time at camp. Hope all of you can join us next year. Hope to see all of you in Sikeston at the MCB convention. Blanch Burrell of Rite for the Blind

River City Workers

Greetings from the beautiful river city of Cape Girardeau and the River City Workers of the blind,

We have been fairly busy this spring and early summer despite the hot and humid "swamp east" Missouri weather.

In May we elected officers. They are as follows: President, Charles Warner; Vice President, Sharon Davis; Secretary, Elaine Shirrell; Treasurer Bill Godwin and Member-at-large, Mary Lou Howard. Also in May we held our fund raisers, our candy sale at Bank of America here in Cape as well as our yard sale at Member Jo Ann Ervin's lovely home. We have found both of these fund raisers a great way to earn money as well as get our name out in public.

In June, we held our annual picnic on the 22nd at the Cape County Park South, where we had the pleasure of the company of our esteemed MCB President, Chip Hailey and his lovely wife, Linda. We had beautiful weather and well as a wonderful time. In June we also adopted a visually impaired resident at a local nursing home where member Elaine Shirrell volunteers in the Alzheimer's unit. The resident is a lovely lady with retinitis pigmentosa as well as Alzheimer's disease. Unfortunately dishonest people took advantage of her by claiming they were doing work around her house for her while they took money from her checking account. Now she is a ward of the state of Missouri and we are helping with her necessities. Elaine will also be participating in the memory walk to raise money for Alzheimer's research in September and some of our members have agreed to sponsor her.

We are looking forward to the convention in Sikeston. We have already started dusting off our cowboy boots and getting our blue jeans ready to pack. We are looking forward to a rootin tootin good time.

We are looking forward to our Thanksgiving dinner. We will have to get back to you with the date for that, though. Also we are looking forward to the arrival of our new jackets and shirts with our logo embroidered on them from Sam's Wholesale Club. Their jackets with embroidery were less expensive than a local printing company with similar jackets, and the embroidery is much nicer looking. We were very impressed with the fact that Sam's does not require a minimum order and that they send a representative with samples to give you a better tactile feel of what you are ordering. Sam's is even able to design your logo with you if you do not currently have one. We encourage the affiliates to investigate this possibility as a way to advertise their own affiliate.

Well time has come quite us to close until next time. Just remember--if life gives you lemons, make lemonade. Jod bless and take care.

Elaine Shirrell, Brandi Emmons and Dee Niswonger

Southeast Mo United Blind Club

A big hello from Poplar Bluff,

It has been quite a while since I sent in a letter to let you know what is going on with us. We always enjoy the letters from the other clubs. We have added two new members since my last report. They are Virginia Tuck and Kristie Orchard. Welcome, girls. We also had a wedding. Edna Malone married Bill Kingser.

We held our regular cake, coffee and soda for Delavina Ferrin and Paul Gusman. By the time this goes in print we will be close to convention time again. Hope to see you there all decked out in Western wear. Until next time, God bless all of you.

Eunice Ezell

Southwest Missouri Friendship Council

Warm summer greetings to all.

The members of the Southwest Missouri Friendship Council of the Blind have been enjoying busy and fun-filled activities this summer. Several of our members attended camp and had a wonderful time. In June we enjoyed the performance of Kelly Barker at our meeting. Gospel music is a favorite of all.

While our members have been busy with vacations and other summer related activities, time has been found to take care of business for the Southwest Missouri Friendship Council. Hope everyone's summer has been fun and productive. We're looking forward to reporting to you in the next issue about all of our autumn activities.

Tracy Cushman

St. Charles County Council

I will try to bring you up to date with what is happening in St. Charles County. I would love to report that our membership has increased tremendously, but that is not true. In fact, it has not increased at all. But, on the brighter side, it has not decreased, either. Increasing membership is my goal this year. I have worked two health fairs this year and I think that is a great way to get information out to the general public. I installed new officers in June at which time we were honored to have our State President, Chip and Linda Hailey present. Our officers are: Lynne Smith, President; Beverly Kaskadden, First Vice President; Jane Schauberg, Second Vice President; Sandy Baumgardner, Secretary, Frank Goldberg, Treasurer and Barbara Borgmeyer, Member At Large. What a great team!

During July, we had a picnic in the park and if you weren't there it was not because of the weather. It was beautiful. In a few days, we will be heading for Cobblestone and I can't wait to see so many of my friends. Love to all, Beverly Kaskadden, Still Charles County Council

UWB Update

Greetings from UWB,

We want to begin by congratulating Fred Keller, who won the Jim Henderson Member of the Year Award presented by the St. Louis Council of the Blind. Fred was presented with a plaque and a check for $100 by Tommy Reece at our August meeting. We want to thank the St. Louis Council for giving Fred this honor. Fred joined UWB around 1940. He has been President several times and has held other positions on the Board. Even after all these years, Fred rarely misses a meeting or UWB function. Fred also directs the Service Club for the Blind in St. Louis, which provides much help to blind people in the St. Louis area. Once again, thank you, St. Louis Council and congratulations, Fred! As they say, for all you do, this one's definitely for you!

UWB held election of officers in June with the following results: President, John Weidlich; First Vice President, Patti Schonlau; Second President, Mike Jolls; Secretary, Anna Schell; Corresponding Secretary, Robyn WALLEN; Treasurer, Charles Smith; Members At Large, Mark Detjen and Rena Holmes. Mike and Anna are new to the Board.

We have one new member. Her name is Nancy Lynne and she moved here recently from Arkansas.

Congratulations to Linda Hall, who started a new job in August. It is her first job and she is naturally anxious and excited, but we know she will do just fine. Robyn Wallen has started a new travel business, which you will read about in the Lower Left-Hand Drawer column. Also, congratulations to Jack Lenk who became a grandpa again this summer. We hope Sarah Michelle will have Jack's singing voice, sense of humor and mathematical abilities. And be a good bowler, too.

Our prayers go out to Jean Dinwiddie, who suffered a heart attack on August 9th.

We will celebrate our 90th anniversary on September 21st at the Drury Inn in St. Louis. I will write more about that in December. See you in Sikeston.

John Weidlich

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From The Lower Left-Hand Drawer

Once again, the lower left-hand drawer slides open to reveal a new collection of resources---new every-mail lists, new cookbooks from National Braille Press, new sources for religious material and more. These announcements were collected from a variety of sources. They are not endorsed by your editor or by MCB; they are provided for your information in the hope that they may be useful to you.

I've just learned about an interesting new service called the Audio Yellow pages. Operated by a company called Voice Access Communications, this free service allows blind or disabled people to get addresses and phone numbers for several million businesses anywhere in the united states. To use the audio yellow pages, you dial (888) 654-1236 and enter a four digit pass code which will be assigned to you. You can also use the code 1222, which apparently was assigned to the American Council of the Blind. Here's how it works. You enter a zip code using your phone touch tone pad or speak the city and state for which you want to find a listing. You then speak the type of business you are looking for, such as bank, real estate agent, restaurant or whatever. You will then hear a list of all of the Yellow Page listings for that category in that area. It reads each listing one after another. When you hear the listing you want, you say "That one" and you hear the address and phone number and sometimes other information contained in the yellow page listing. For example, I asked for St. Louis, Missouri, asked for taxicab companies and heard nine listings. I stopped it when I heard Laclede Cab and was given the information, with the phone number repeated three times. When I asked for pharmacies, I was given a list of fifty. When I asked for restaurants, I was told there were 469 listings. But then, when I entered my zip code and asked for restaurants, I was given over 570 listings. I'm still trying to figure that out and, no, I didn't wait to hear them all. The system is easy to use but seems rather slow to respond, especially when it lists the items found. At times, the mechanical speech is difficult to understand and it sometimes has problems with voice commands. When I asked for Belleville, Illinois, it kept asking if I wanted Daytona Beach, Florida. You cannot ask for a specific business, only the type of business you are looking for, so you have to figure out how you think the company you are looking for might be listed. Come to think of it, sighted people often have the same problem when they try to use the Yellow Pages. I also don't know if you can get listings for small towns. It's certainly a clever idea and you might find it useful, especially if you don't have a particular business in mind but just want to get a list of, say, plumbers or music stores. But Directory Assistance is a lot faster if you know the specific business you are looking for. But try it out and see what you think.

There's a new e-mail list for those of us who like to discuss our favorite books. It's called Reading Club For the Blind, but when you type the address, you use the numeral 4 instead of the word For. So to subscribe, send a blank message to

readingclub4theblind-subscribeyahoogroups.com

Sight Lines is a new e-mail list for blind people, family members or anyone interested in the challenges of living with blindness. You can exchange information on access issues, news, techniques, articles or stories of your successes and failures. To subscribe send a message to

sightlines-subscribesmartgroups.com

The Hooleon Corporation sells Braille and large print labels for computer keyboards for $19.95. You can also purchase computer keyboards already labeled in large print or Braille. The large print keyboard costs $119.95, the Braille keyboard costs $64.95. Call (800) 937-1337 or write the Hooleon Corporation, 417A South 6th Street, Cottonwood, AZ 86326. There is another Arizona company called Data Cal that sells similar products. The address is Data Cal, 531 East Elliot Road, Chandler AZ 85225, Phone: (800) 453-7937.

I can't seem to find out much about this organization, but the Association of Blind Citizens has established a technology fund which covers 50 percent of the retail cost of adaptive devices or software. It covers items ranging in price from $200 to $6,000. To be eligible, you must have a family income of less than $50,000 with assets under $20,000. You may also be asked to provide tax returns, bank statements and other financial records to verify your eligibility. What I find a bit curious is that you can only get an application from their web site,

www.assocforblindcitizens.org4 There is no address or phone number given in any of their ads. This same organization also has a scholarship program for blind college students, but again you can only get the applications from the web site.

Innovative Rehabilitation Technology Inc. (IRTI) offers a wide range of products, including handheld and tabletop tape recorders, talking watches and timers, computer software, screen readers, and refreshable Braille display units. The address is 13453 Colfax Highway, Grass Valley CA 95945, phone: (800) 322-4784. Their web site is

www.irti.net

Our Favorite Recipes is a collection of 200 recipes compiled by the East Bay Center for the Blind. It is available in Braille or large print for $25, plus $3 for shipping. Order from East Bay Center for the Blind, 2928 Adeline Street, Berkeley, CA 94703. Phone: (510) 843-6935.

The National Braille Press is selling two new cookbooks: Fruit Smoothies and Cocktails, one Braille volume for $5.00 and George Foreman's Lean, Mean, Fat-reducing Grilling Machine Cookbook for $19.95. To order, contact NBP at 88 St. Stephen Street, Boston, MA 02115, (800) 548-7323.

If you have a computer with a CD-ROM drive, you might check this out. National Braille Press has a super Cd, containing more than 600 books in ASCII text, including the Bible, the complete works of Shakespeare, novels by American and British writers, childrens books and reference books. The price for this huge amount of material is only $39. Now that's awesome. You can order it from National Braille Press at the address given above.

Brytech, a Canadian firm, is selling the Note teller II talking money identifier for $295. For more information call Trish Hodge at (800) 263-4095.

The latest publication being offered by the Princeton Braillists is a Braille atlas of Central and South asia. It shows the physical features and major cities and towns of thirteen Asian nations, including Afghanistan, India and Pakistan. The cost is $16. The Princeton Braillists has a new address which is 76 Leabrook Lane, Princeton, NJ 08540. The phone number is (609) 924-5207.

Here are the winners of this year's Alexander Scourby Narrator of the Year Awards: The fiction winner went to Kimberly Schraf, a narrator for Potomac Publishing Company. The non-fiction winner was Bob Askey, who won the first award back in 1986. George Holmes won an award for poetry reading. Finally, a lifetime achievement award was given to Dale Carter Cooper, who recorded hundreds of books for the American Printing House from 1952 to 1981.

Bernadette Dressel operates a Braille writer cleaning and repair service. She charges $65 for normal cleaning, lubricating and adjusting. The address is 2714 Ruberg Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45211-8118, (532) 481-7662.

A support group on tape has recently been formed for blind people who are dealing with such mental health issues as depression, anxiety, panic, shyness or sexual abuse. Self-help materials are included on each tape. Dues are $12. Contact the Mental Health Issues Support Group, 610 But Avenue, Vinton, IA 52349. You can send e-mail to

bevprairieinet.net

The year 2009 will mark the 200th anniversary of the birth of Louis Braille. Norma Schecter, a Braille transcriber and leading advocate for the use of Braille, would like the Us Postal Service to issue a commemorative stamp in honor of Louis Braille. However, the first criteria for issuing stamps is that stamps honor Americans or American subjects. However, Norma feels there may be some interest in this proposal. If you want to show your support for a Louis Braille stamp, you are asked to write Terrence Mcaffrey, Stamp Development, Us Postal Service, 475 LEnfant Plaza, S.W., Washington DC 20260-4237.

I wonder how many of you have ever tried to use EBay, that huge Web site where millions of people bid on items that people put up for sale. Well, EBay now has a section where you can bid on disability-related items, including books, independent living aids, assistive technology items and mobility products. Items listed change daily. The link is

http://pages.ebay.com/theme/disability.html

Need the definition of a word? Just send an e-mail to

wsmithwordsmith.org and write define followed by the word for which you need a definition. You can also use this service to get synonyms for words. I haven't tried this yet, but I understand that the web site

www.wordsmith.org has lots of interesting and fun information about words.

Christian Duplications International has a free catalog of Christian publications, including the Bible on Cd and tape. Contact the company at 1710 Lee Road, Orlando, FL 32810. Phone: (800) 327-9332.

Angels of Light Ministry for the Blind and Physically Handicapped operates a lending library containing books and music. The address is 301 Wimmerton boulevard Number 106, Latrobe, PA 15650-2534, Phone: (877) 643-1299, PIN Number 0117.

Tape Ministries NW also has a lending library of inspirational books and devotional material on tape. The address is 122 Southwest 150th Street, Burien, WA 98166-1956. The phone number is (206) 243-7377.

Which US cities do you think are the best places for blind people to live in terms of good transportation, accessible housing and other services? How would you rate the city where you live? The American Foundation for the Blind is attempting to find answers to those questions. AFB is conducting what it calls the Livability Project, to find out which communities are good places for blind or visually impaired people to live. AFB hopes this information will be useful to people who are moving to a new city or who want to advocate for better accessibility in the places where they live. You are asked to give your input on this topic by writing the American Foundation for the Blind, 11 Penn Plaza, New York, NY 10001, or calling (800) 232-5463. You may e-mail your responses to

livabilityafb.net4 Information from the study, along with ratings, will be published early next year.

Beyond Sight has just released an exciting new product called Lap Talk. It's a lap top computer with speech, but no screen. It is said to combine the power of a lap top computer with the convenience of a portable note taker. It uses the Windows XP operating system and the Window Eyes screen reader. The cost is somewhere around $2,000. For more information: contact Jim Misener at Beyond Sight, (303) 795-6455.

The 28th annual Ski for Light session will be held February 23 through March 2, 2003. Ski for Light is a cross-country skiing vacation for blind people. For more information, contact Lynda Boose at (906) 250-7836 or send an every-mail to

lyndasfl.org

The 2002 college football schedules are now available in Braille for $10 from Allen Gillis, 302 Schaeffel Road, Cullman, Alabama 35055.

The Schwan's catalog, listing hundreds of frozen food products is available in Braille, tape or computer disc. To order, call (888) 724-9267. The web site is

www.schwans.org

One of our members, Robyn Wallen, has started her own travel business, called D.A.S. Travel Specialties. Robyn will specialize in the unique needs of travelers with disabilities. She will provide information on accessible hotels, as well as information on taxi, transit and paratransit services. Call (314) 608-7323 and leave a message.

A new service getting a lot of attention in the blind community is Bookshare, which is a web site containing the text of hundreds of books that have been scanned into the system. For a $25 sign-up fee and an annual $50 subscription, users can download the books and read them on their computers. For a fuller and better explanation of how it works go to the web site

www.bookshare.org

A Verbal View of Windows XP is a new tutorial designed to teach blind computer users the basics of the new Windows XP operating system. It is available in Braille, tape, large print or by every-mail. For more information and prices, contact Braille, Inc. at (877) 993-4994.

The Hadley School for the Blind has been offering courses to blind people through the mail since 1920. Their 2002 catalog lists more than 90 courses for adults and high school students. In addition to courses in academic subjects such as English, history, math and science, the school teaches Braille and offers courses on independent living and adjustment to blindness. Other subjects include art appreciation, Bible studies, and chess. Best of all, the courses are free. To obtain a catalog, write to the Hadley School for the Blind, 700 Elm, Winnetka, Il 60093, call (800) 323-4238 or visit the web site

www.hadley-school.org

The Disability rights movement lost one of its most dynamic leaders with the passing of Justin Dart on June 22 at the age of 72. Often referred to as the father of the Americans With Disabilities Act or the Martin Luther King of the disability civil rights movement, he liked to refer to himself as a simple soldier for justice.

Now here's an amusing fund raising idea. An organization called the Joint Action Committee of organizations of and for the Blind (JAC) is selling license plate frames that read "Driver Reads Braille" for $12, $9.50 if you order more than one. No, I haven't heard of this organization before and I don't know if there is a market for this item. But if you want to order one or more, write to the JAC Fund-raising Chairperson, 4502 La Granada Way, La Canada, CA 91011.

Finally, a personal note: I want to take you back to September, 1999 at the height of the Beth Eckles controversy. That issue of the Chronicle contained a song I wrote attacking Missouri State Librarian Sarah Parker and blaming her for the firing of Beth as Director of Wolfner Library. The song got lots of laughs and expressed what many of us were feeling at the time. Since then, a new Director for Wolfner has been hired and the anger has subsided. Well, a few weeks ago I got the chance to meet Sarah Parker when she was a guest on the Radio Information Service. And guess what? I liked her. A lot. She was friendly, easy to talk with obviously a strong supporter of our Library. In other words, hardly the villain I had imagined. And so I would like to publicly offer my apologies to Sarah and offer the hope that we will all continue to work together in the future to keep Wolfner Library the wonderful library that it is.

That closes the drawer until December. Please keep in touch.

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Noah and the Ark: 2002

It is the year 2002 and Noah lives in the United States. The Lord speaks to Noah and says: "In one year I am going to make it rain and cover the whole earth with water until all is destroyed. But I want you to save the righteous people and two of every kind of living thing on the earth. Therefore, I am commanding you to build an Ark."

In a flash of lightning, God delivered the specifications for an Ark. Fearful and trembling, Noah took the plans and

agreed to build the Ark. "Remember," said the Lord, "You must complete the Ark and bring everything aboard in one year."

Exactly one year later, a fierce storm cloud covered

the earth and all the seas of the earth went into a tumult. The Lord saw Noah sitting in his front yard weeping.

"Noah." He shouted, "Where is the Ark?"

"Lord please forgive me!" cried Noah. "I did my best but there were big problems. First, I had to get a permit for construction and your plans did not comply with the codes. I had to hire an engineering firm and redraw the plans. Then I got into a fight with OSHA over whether or not the Ark needed a fire sprinkler system and floatation devices. Then my neighbor objected, claiming I was violating zoning ordinances by building the Ark in my front yard, so I had to get a variance from the city planning commission. I had problems getting enough wood for the Ark, because there was a ban on cutting trees to protect the Spotted Owl. I finally convinced the US Forest Service that I needed the wood to save the owls. However, the Fish and Wildlife Service won't let me catch any owls. So, no owls. The carpenters formed a union and went out on strike. I had to negotiate a settlement with the National Labor Union. Now I have 16 carpenters on the Ark, but still no owls. When I started rounding up the other animals, I got sued by an animal rights group. They objected to me only taking two of each kind aboard. Just when I got the suit dismissed, the EPA notified me that I could not complete the Ark without filing an environmental impact statement on your proposed flood. They didn't take very kindly to the idea that they had no jurisdiction over the conduct of the Creator of the universe. Then the Army Corps of Engineers demanded a map of the proposed new flood plain. I sent them a globe. Right now, I am trying to resolve a complaint filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission that I am practicing discrimination by not taking godless, unbelieving people aboard! The IRS has seized all my assets, claiming that I'm building the Ark in preparation to flee the country to avoid paying taxes. I just got a notice from the State that I owe some kind of user tax and failed to register the Ark as a recreational water craft. Finally the ACLU got the courts to issue an injunction against further construction of the Ark, saying that since God is flooding the earth, it is a religious event and therefore unconstitutional. I really don't think I can finish the Ark for another 5 or 6 years!"

The sky began to clear, the sun began to shine and the seas began to calm. A rainbow arched across the sky. Noah looked up hopefully.

"You mean you are not going to destroy the earth, Lord?"

"No," said the Lord sadly. "The government already has." AMEN

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