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1093 South Broadway |
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1093 South Broadway |
July, August, September 2007 NewsletterFrom Your BGCB DirectorHello Everyone! It hardly seems possible that an entire year has passed since I assumed the helm of the Blue Grass Council of the Blind. How can I best describe my experience? Well, definitely a learning experience, busy, rewarding, productive and, at times, overwhelming - did I mention busy! In my role as BGCB Director, I have earned the privilege of collaborating with many agencies. My list of networking contacts increases daily. The best part of my year has been the interaction with you, the Membership of BGCB. Your support and involvement in the Council has been my encouragement to continue advocating for the needs and rights of blind/visually-impaired individuals. The monthly VIP meetings have become as much support for me as the folks attending. I get to plan a party every month and have some of my favorite friends attend! Do I have regrets? Yes. I regret not having enough hours in the day/week to contact each of you and see what's going on in your world. Jim and I welcome your calls to the office to chat and bring us up to date with your activities. I wish there was a clone of myself to stay here in the office and take care of the busy work so I could be out in the community advocating for the Council and visiting those of you who are confined to your homes. If our plans come to fruition, I foresee a solution to my dilemma. No, I won't be cloned but with the implementation of an Outreach Program, the BGCB will be reaching out to the blind/visually-impaired community. BGCB has been able to secure several grants and donations this year. The Linda Neville Trust granted BGCB an increase in funding for the salary of Director, as well as, additional funding for the position of Administrative Assistant. The Lexington Lions Club donated the funds ($3600) to carry us through a year of rent for our second office unit. The Junior League of Lexington funded us ($5600) for the purchase of computer upgrades, software and equipment. We have had several corporate donations. We participated in United Way of the Bluegrass Day at Keeneland and won 2nd prize ($500) in ticket sales. We had a great time attending the races. United Way funded us (FY 2007-08) $14,446. Your Board has been active in looking toward the future needs of BGCB. Together, we are constantly setting and revising goals. The biggest, in my estimation, has been the implementation of an Equipment Distribution Program. You are all aware there is very little funding for blind/visually impaired individuals to purchase equipment and the waiting list is long. BGCB has just closed our 1st Fiscal Year and will begin diverting funds in the 2007-08 FY into the Equipment Distribution Program. This fund will enable you to apply for funding to purchase needed equipment. The criteria for obtaining the funding will be forthcoming. We have also entered into an agreement with Vision Technology, Inc. as a resale agent for their equipment. We will take advantage of a considerable discount on demo equipment for the office and equipment for purchase through the Council. BGCB was able to financially assist five members to attend the ACB Conference in MN this month. We have begun to budget funds for members to attend the 2008 Conference held in Louisville, KY. Our Technology/Resource Center is taking on a life of it's own! We've had several pieces of equipment and computer software donated. Jim is now in the process of setting up 2 computers that will be equipped, and capable of running, software specific to the needs of the blind and visually impaired. Every piece of equipment will be set up and accessible for demonstration. Jim and I have both resolved to become familiar with the use of every machine. In an effort not to duplicate other agencies' demo equipment, we will compile a list of those agencies and equipment as a resource for the community. We should be able to network with other agencies to share their demo equipment and provide a wider variety of choices. BGCB Technology/Resource Center has a valuable human resource and asset in Jim Weber. Jim has cleaned, serviced and salvaged all of our donated items and spent many hours equipping and networking the computers. We're off to the ACB Conference! We'll have a report for you when we return. Paula
From The BoardPresident's MessageYou may have noticed a few new recreational activities on the BGCB calendar in recent months. Often, and especially in times past, when recreation or sports is mentioned in connection with blindness, the emphasis has been on what can't be done, and the blind person is sidelined. Once the importance of recreation is recognized, a new emphasis can be placed on adapting the sport so as to include, rather than exclude, the blind person in the many forms of recreation that man, or woman, has invented. Rules may need to be changed, audible cues employed, or physical structures added to allow this to happen. With an emphasis on inclusion, the door is opened, and freedoms of choice and opportunity are created. If recreation is your bag, I encourage you to be inventive in ways so that blindness will not cause a "handicap" in the game. This has been achieved with regard to other disabilities (such as wheelchair basketball) and can also be achieved in the area of blindness and visual impairment. Guide rails for bowlers, and beeping baseballs come to mind. So if you've been prevented from enjoying recreational pursuits because of your blindness, think of ways you can adapt activities to better meet your needs. Call the office if you have suggestions for fun events that the Council can sponsor. And have a happy Fourth of July! Susan Ament
Upcoming EventsVIP FeverYou are cordially invited to the monthly luncheon meeting of the Visually Impaired Support Group. VIP meetings are always held on the 4th Wed. of each month at the BGCB office. Meetings are convened at Noon with lunch and socialization. At 1 PM the speaker is introduced followed by Q & As. We've invited some very informative speakers and have a good line up planned for future meetings. Some of our very own members have provided valuable presentations to the group. Did I mention we have a lot of fun over lunch? I'll warn you, if you come, you'll catch the fever and want to come back! The speaker for July is Kenzie Gleason from the Lexington-Fayette County Government Division of Planning. Wheels passes are provided. For more information, contact the BGCB office. Please join us!
Past VIP Meeting UpdateWe received this email recently: Paula, Could you please forward this email to your members? Dear BGCB members, I so enjoyed and appreciated the time I spent with you at your May monthly meeting. I hope that you were able to gain some insight from the discussion that we had and I cannot begin to communicate how much insight, awareness, and knowledge I gained from talking with all of you. My hope is that my research and the research being done by others in my area will better the lives of the thousands who are currently visually impaired as well as the many more who will become visually impaired in their lifetimes. I will discuss with Paula what other events I might be able to attend in an effort to get to know all of you better. Many of you have contacted me via email or telephone to share your stories and tell me of concerns that you have. Again, my current study requires visually impaired persons who read Braille. This is not to say that there are not research opportunities for everyone in your group. If you are interested in participating in a research project for which you may qualify, please send me your contact information to shannon@uky.edu or call me at 859-492-4939. The best way to reach me is email but you can always leave a voice message at the above number. At some point I hope to send out a screening questionnaire that will ask various questions that will better help researchers in the area know who is suitable for their particular studies so that they will be able to contact directly those who are the types of persons they need (for example, some may need persons who became blind later in life, some may need those who became blind early in life). As I said before, research sometimes takes forever, so don't be discouraged if you don't hear from someone right away. Again, thank you for having me at your meeting, for being patient with me, and for sharing all of your thoughts and concerns. Hopefully we can all work together to help at least one underserved community.
Shannon Bridgmon Rinaldo
Quarterly Membership MeetingThe next BGCB quarterly membership meeting will be on Saturday, September 22. The time and place will be announced.
Lions Bluegrass FairThe Lexington Lions Bluegrass Fair will run from July 12 - 22. The Bluegrass Fair is the Lexington Lions only fundraiser. The fair is second in size in KY only to the KY State Fair. The Lexington Lions have donated monies for the past 2 years to assist BGCB with rent for our second office unit. This year, BGCB will be providing volunteers to work with the eye screening at the fair. We will be distributing materials and signing folks up for eye screening. We will be in an air-conditioned trailer. If you are available to volunteer, please contact the BGCB office. Here is our current schedule:
Fri. July 13 5-9 p.m.
Sat. July 14 5-9 p.m.
Sun. July 15 3-6 p.m.
Sun. July 15 6-9 p.m.
Fri. July 20 6-9 p.m.
Sat. July 21 6-9 p.m.
Call To RollWould you like to bowl? Join BGCB at Eastland Lanes on April 14, and again on April 28 from 1 - 3 PM. The price is only $2.25 per game. If you're interested, please contact the BGCB office.
News to UseUrgent - Support Digital Talking BooksAs you may know, the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS) has been working on a plan to convert Talking Books from cassette to a digital format. The cost of this transition is $76.4 million over a four-year period, or $19.1 million a year for each of the next four years. On June 12 the House Appropriation Committee met to determine how much will be funded for this program next year. The subcommittee recommended that only $7.5 million be awarded for digital conversion in 2008. Two amendments were proposed in the full committee meeting: the Republicans requested that money be taken from Capitol construction to provide the full $19.1 million; the Democrats requested to add $5 million from the Government Printing Office for a total of $12.5 million. The Democrats' amendment passed but this is less than 2/3 of the amount needed to keep the digital transition on schedule. The issue goes before the Senate June 18-22. What does this mean to you? Fewer Digital Talking Book players and books will be produced. Instead of taking 4 years for everyone to receive digital players, and for all new books to be digital, it will take much longer. Meanwhile, cassettes have become obsolete. The existing cassette players and books will continue to deteriorate with use, and it is becoming more difficult for libraries to purchase blank cassettes and adequate duplication equipment. NLS has spent almost 15 years researching and developing the digital Talking Books. The USB flash cartridge books and players were chosen over commercial CDs or MP3 players because they are robust enough to withstand multiple users and mailing, they are easier to use by those with limited sight and dexterity, they will support Braille labeling, and the special format complies with U.S copyright and free matter mailing restrictions. The Talking Books program essentially serves as the public library for those who are blind, visually impaired, or physically disabled. It is not too late to show your support for digital Talking Books. Contact your congressman and/or senator and tell them how much Talking Books mean to you. Call your local public library to find who your congressman is and how to reach him. Kentucky's senators are:
Sen. Mitch McConnell
Sen. Jim Bunning
ITN Is Coming To LexingtonGale Reece, who has been working long and hard in her efforts to bring ITN to Lexington, recently sent us this message: Dear Friends of ITN© in the Bluegrass: We did it! Thanks to your gift and many others like it, I am thrilled to report that the Bluegrass will soon have its very own affiliate of the Independent Transportation Network (ITN)©, an innovative transportation alternative for elders 65+ and visually impaired adults. In addition to wide community support ranging from sponsorships from local businesses to numerous individual gifts, we are also proud recipients of a $50,000 grant award from the Retirement Research Foundation in Chicago and a $17,500 award from the Great Bay Foundation in Portland, Maine. All this great support has helped us reach our start-up goal of $125,000; in July, we will begin our training such as how to use ITNAmerica 's@ sophisticated Rides! TOW technology and how to sustain our nonprofit business for years to come. If all goes well, we expect to begin giving rides by February 2008! Once again, the ITN© model features:
ITNBluegrass© is also making plans to have a contingent of riders and walkers in Lexington's July 4 parade. We'd love to see you there! If you are, let us know you're one of our supporters! For more information on ITN©, you can visit our local website at www.itnbgfriends.org or the national website at www.itnamerica.org. ITN© is a much-needed program in the Bluegrass and one many of our elders and sight-impaired neighbors are looking forward to using. A local affiliate will allow them to stay connected to families, friends and activities that bring meaning to their lives - and to ours. And when that happens, communities - like Lexington - thrive. Thank you again for your support!
BGCB Thanks!Judy Potter who has "thrown open" her garage door for 2 sales! BGCB earned $600 from sales of donated items. Art Hellebusch with InsuranceWorks for supporting the work of BGCB with a corporate donation of $500. Todd Wiese with a corporate donation of $100 from Crimson Coal. Adam Ruschival for donating his transportation expense of $75 since he was not able to attend the June Membership Meeting.
BGCB SpotlightHappy Birthday!We'd like to wish the following Council Members with birthdates in the third quarter a very Happy Birthday!
Congratulations!The Lexington Lions Club recently awarded Lion of the Year to BGCB Member Paul Wiese for his dedication to the mission of the Lions Club. Jerry and Patsy Rose welcomed a new granddaughter - Sarah Caroline.
State Rehabilitation CouncilPaul Wiese and Morry La Tour will be officially appointed to the State Rehabilitation Council at the August 2007 meeting. Morry will assume the position vacated by the resignation of Opal Spencer. As Director, it has been my pleasure to travel back and forth to the Council meetings with Opal. She has enlightened me on the past of BGCB and given me direction in my role as Director. She is dedicated to the Blue Grass Council of the Blind and very selflessly resigned her position on the SRC feeling it was in the best interest of BGCB's future with SRC. Opal continues to serve on the BGCB Board. What a lady!
About The Blue Grass Council of the BlindThe Blue Grass Council of the Blind, Inc., a United Way agency, is located at 1093 South Broadway, Suite 1220, Lexington, KY 40504. The Council provides the only full-time information, education, advocacy, and referral service in Fayette County for individuals and their families who are blind or visually impaired, without regard to gender, race or religion. Among the services offered are peer counseling, referral to appropriate agencies or programs to assist individuals in their adjustment to blindness, educational and social activities, advocacy services for the blind as well as a speakers' bureau to acquaint the community with the potential of the blind and visually impaired. Our office offers demonstrations of many aids and appliances to help the blind and visually impaired cope with their loss of vision. We also provide catalogs and brochures describing thousands of aids and devices that can be purchased directly from the supplier. The Council sends a newsletter, every three months in large print, on cassette tape, or via email to all who request inclusion on our mailing list. This newsletter makes interested persons aware of the various activities of the Council, of current legislative actions affecting the blind and other items of interest to the community. All services offered by the Council are free of charge. The Blue Grass Council of the Blind seeks to promote awareness of the abilities, rights, and specific needs of blind/visually impaired (b/vi) people. We encourage and motivate b/vi individuals to become productive, involved citizens of their community. Another challenge is to educate the public about the needs, aspirations and achievements of the visually impaired. Please call 859 259-1834 for more information on the following services for the visually impaired:
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