From the President

       I am very honored to be serving as your President for the next year.  If you have questions or suggestions, please call me.

 

                     Philip Rose

 

From the Past President

Our Council is off to a new year with our new President:  Phillip Rose.  I anticipate growth in membership, civic involvement, and greater community awareness during the future.  Judy Potter has extended our participation and publicity during her last year of work.  This is very good for the needs of the visually impaired and blind of Lexington.  Let us help continue this fine work.

I hope our members, especially our Board of Directors will make an effort to enlist at least one new member during 2005 per member.  Last year Jean Salladayís enlisting of several caused our total membership to increase over 2003.  Thank you, Jean.

Others worked hard to promote the referendum for public transportation.  Thank you Linda Sutherland and Charles Christmyer.  I found it very disappointing to experience a decline in service after it passed because of stretching stops so far apart and away from needed places such as grocery stores.

Finally, thank you for the privilege of serving these past three years as your President.

 

Joyce McGuire

President

2002, 2003, 2004

 

ÖFrom the Director

As many of you know, I have resigned as the Executive Director.  I will continue working while we search for a new director.  I have enjoyed working with the Council and intend to still volunteer as time allows.

 

       Judy Potter

 

March Membership Meeting

 

       Our next membership meeting will be on Saturday, March 19, 2005 from 1:00-3:00pm and will be held at the Council office.

 

December Membership Meeting

       Our Holiday Luncheon was in December at the Kentucky Inn.  John Ireson performed and led in a sing-a-long during our luncheon.  We had 45 present, including Past President Jim Shaw and the current President Adam Ruschival of the Kentucky Council of the Blind and Carla Ruschival from the American Council of the Blind and Harold White, Past President of the Blind Veterans Association.

       Lots of door prizes were given as well as several Certificates of Appreciation to some members.  Our thanks to Charles Christmyer and the Council for the door prizes.

Thanks to Brett Mason for taking pictures.  You can find them on our web page.

 

Officers and Board Members

       The Officers for 2005 are President Philip Rose

Vice Pres      Joyce McGuire

Secretary      Opal Spencer

Treasurer      Marjorie Robbins

       The Board Members are:

Ruth Ament             Maria Frye

Andrew Thomas   Paul Wiese

Linda Sutherland

Jean Salladay

Martha Wilhoit

 

 

VIP Support Group

 

The  night meetings for January, February, and March will be the second Thursday of each month.  All meetings to be at 6:30 p.m. 

The day Support Group will meet the fourth Wednesday of each month.  All meetings will be from noon until 2 p.m.

At the noon VIP meeting on January 26^th, weíll be having a guest speaker.  His name is Pat Kelly and he represents a company called Lock It Up.

On February 23, Jeanne Van Arsdall will be the speaker.   She is from the Low Vision Center of Central Kentucky.

 

        The BGCB will begin gearing up for the Human Race, which will take place in May.  I hope many of you will join us in the walk/run.

        We will have another yard sale in the spring, so when that urge hits to begin cleaning out closets and garages, call the Council office and either drop things off or we will try to arrange to pick up items.

 

Support Sight, a macular degeneration Support Group, will meet on Monday, February 7, 2005 from 10:00 a.m. ñ noon at the Eagle Creek Branch Library on Richmond Road.

       The speaker will be Peggy Harp, ìLiving Successfully with Macular Degeneraton ñ How I Do Itî.

          For more information, call 859-977-1129 ext 116.

 

       The following article is about a program intended to help low income families receive money from the Earned Income Tax Credit and to also offer an opportunity for people to volunteer time.  Please pass this information along to someone you think could possibly benefit from this information or might be interested.  Please call the Council office if you have any questions

 

CKEEP

 

Central Kentucky Economic Empowerment Project (CKEEP) was established to promote Earned Income Tax Credit.  Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is a federal tax initiative to assist low-income families in self-sufficiency.  The IRS awards EITC to families that fall below the income limit of $34,000.  EITC is in addition to the amount of money that families have withheld from their checks for federal taxes.  With EITC being such a benefit, families need this credit to assist their economic empowerment.

 

VITA Sites

 

The IRS created VITA sites to file taxes for families with no charge.  Through these sites, families can get their state and federal taxes filed, receive the EITC if eligible, and are not responsible for paying any fees. 

 

CKEEP Needs

CKEEP has two primary needs at this time. 

1.  Volunteers are needed to prepare taxes at VITA sites.  Lexington will open 10 VITA sites in February 2005.  They need 40 volunteers to prepare taxes at the sites.  Volunteers need computer skills and to know how to file Form 1040.  Volunteers are trained by IRS-certified trainers.

2.  CKEEP needs help spreading the word about EITC and VITA sites.  Although local businesses are donating public service announcements and billboards, CKEEP still needs ìword-of-mouthî marketing.

 

VITA SITES

Calvary Baptist Church Recreation & Outreach Center; Central Kentucky Job Center; Community Action Council ñ Fayette West, Georgetown Street, & Winburn; Employment Solutions; Family Care Center;  Lexington Public Library ñ Downtown; Transylvania University; University of Kentucky Student Center, and Urban League

 

Used Eyeglasses

 

If you have any eyeglasses that you no longer need, drop them off at the Council Office.  The Lions Club recycles these.

 

 

 

BLUE GRASS COUNCIL OF THE BLIND

 

Tiered Membership

 

        The Blue Grass Council of the Blind is now offering several types of memberships.  Each membership helps us provide information and referral services to the blind and visually impaired.  Also, each membership helps with research, advocacy, and a voice on the national level through the American Council of the Blind.  The Blue Grass Council of the Blind is a non profit organization and dues are tax deductible.  A receipt is provided upon request.

 

 

     $10.00                Regular Member

     $25.00                Contributing Member

     $50.00                Supporting Member

   $100.00                Sponsoring Member

   $250.00                Benefactor

   $500.00                Patron

$1,000.00 -      Friend of the Council

      & up

 

Name______________________________________________________

 

Street____________________________________Phone______________

 

City_________________________________State_____Zip___________

 

Email: _________________________Birthday:  Month______  Day______

 

Would you like to receive our newsletter?  ___yes _____no

If yes, would you prefer ____Large Print or _____Cassette tape

 

THE PURPOSE OF THE BLUE GRASS COUNCIL OF THE BLIND, INC,

The Blue Grass Council of the Blind, Inc. is a United Way Agency, is located at 1093 South Broadway Suite 1220, Lexington, Kentucky  40504.  The Council provides the only full-time information and referral service in the Central Kentucky area for individuals and their families who are blind or visually impaired, without regard to age, gender, race, or religion.

* * *

THIS IS A LIST OF SERVICES WE PROVIDE:

…    AGENCIES AND PROGRAMS

…    PEER COUNSELING

…    EDUCATIONAL AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES

…    ADVOCATE OR SPEAKERS BUREAU

…    WE DEMONSTRATE AIDS AND APPLIANCES

…    NEWSLETTER LARGE PRINT AND CASSETTE QUARTERLY

These services are provided at no charge in hopes of enriching the lives of the recipients.

* * *

Those much needed and appreciated cash contributions, which are tax deductible, may be sent to the Blue Grass Council of the Blind, Inc. at 1093 South Broadway, Suite 1220, Lexington, KY 40504.

You may wish to remember a relative or friend by sharing in the continuing work of the Council.  Our office will send a special letter of acknowledgment to loved ones for their contributions made in memory of the deceased.

Anyone wishing to remember the Blue Grass Council in their last will and testament may do so by including in the will a special paragraph for that purpose.  If your wishes are complex, you or your attorney may wish to contact the Council.

* * *

ACB HOT LINE SERVICE

MONDAY THRU FRIDAY

TOLL FREE  1-800-424-8666          3:00 PM to 5:30 PM

8:00 PM TO MIDNIGHT EASTERN TIME

        ALSO AVAILABLE

        "WASHINGTON CONNECTION":  1-202-467-5081

        FAX NUMBER 1-202-467-5085