*THE BLIND MISSOURIAN is the statewide magazine of the National Federation of the Blind of Missouri. It is published four or more times a year. It is read by those who are interested in all aspects of blindness. Subscription rates are $5.00 a year. Because the fee does not cover costs, donations are encouraged-and appreciated; Checks should be made out to The National Federation of the Blind of Missouri. and sent to Carol Coulter, Treasurer, at 1613 Blue Ridge, Columbia, MO 65202.
Proofreading:
Robert Habenstein, Helen Stevens, Gary Wunder,
Tape Duplication:
Larry Arnold, Labels: Carol Coulter
Subscription requests, change of address notifications, and donations should be sent to Carol Coulter, copy submitted for consideration for publication or any questions about content should be directed to:
THE BLIND MISSOURIAN
Editor, Patricia Morrow
915 Sunset Lane
Columbia, MO 65203
Telephone 573-874-2193
E-mail:
pmorrow8@earthlink.net
CONTENTS FOR FALL, 2007
Page
From the President's Computer.............................................................. 1
Roses and Raspberries........................................................................... 1
Worries of Blindness............................................................................... 3
Thoughts on Shoveling Snow................................................................. 4
Registration for State Convention........................................................... 6
Scholarship Applications........................................................................ 8
Annual State Convention Registration Form........................................................................ 13
Board of Directors of the National Federation of the Blind of Missouri........................................................................ 15
Chapter Presidents........................................................................ 15
Calendar of Events........................................................................ 15
Greetings fellow Federationists. Things have been very hectic around here in terms of my family and Federation. Thanks to all of you who have sent your plants, cards, e-mails, and your prayers for Abbey. She is back home and while still a bit under the weather, it appears she has recovered from her Pancreatitis.
Debbie and I took advantage of a speaking opportunity in Hawaii and stretched it into a vacation. Our Affiliate in Hawaii is growing rapidly and let me tell you they certainly know how to entertain a National Representative.
I believe this is our first issue of the newsletter to come out since the death of our longtime reader, Larry McKeiver. Even before he read the Blind Missourian, Larry read our Braille Monitor. His was the voice which introduced me to the Federation and what a pleasure it was to come to know him as a friend.
I know it is holiday time and we'll all be taking a bit of a break, but if you can, please remember to talk with Congress about the need for blind college students to have timely access to textbooks, the need to reform the Social Security system so more of us feel free to work, the need to convert our cassette books to a digital format, and don't fail to mention the menace being posed by Quiet Cars and how imperative it is to have them make some minimal level of usable sound.
Please accept my wishes for a blessed holiday season. This year we will be visiting my parents for Thanksgiving which is something I haven't often done because our National Board has met over this weekend. After the peace and feast of Thanksgiving will come Christmas, and what a splendid time that is. When I next write, it will be after having made some New Year's resolutions, and yes, some I made last year really have come about. I will be asking for clothes this Christmas and they will be a bit smaller than last. Until we meet again, either in person or in these pages, please accept my best wishes to all.
Gathered by Patricia Morrow
The White Cane Proclamation for Missouri was signed by Governor Blunt on Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2007. Witnessing and celebrating this event were Maud Campbell, Sindy Pucket, Robert Williams, and Brian Wekamp, Chair of Governmental Affairs. By now there will probably be pictures of the ceremony on the NFBMO web site.
The rekindled affiliate web site, NFBMO, is now up-to-date thanks to the efforts of Dan Flasar and Pete Donahue. Let these gentlemen know how much you enjoy it by dropping in to have a look.
Ruby Polk, chairman of the annual Braille Readers are Leaders Contest which encourages youthful readers to learn and use Braille with efficiency and pleasure, announced an assembly at the Missouri School for the Blind on Monday, October 22 which included a kick-off for our contest. Jim and Jana Moynihan spoke to the students; they are good models since they have both used Braille in their careers with the federal government. Ruby especially urges members of the St. Louis chapter and the Lewis and Clark chapter to become active with these students to emphasize how important we all think it is to learn to use Braille well.
Kerry Smith, in St. Louis, has just opened a new web site for her business, KS Braille Transcription, which has been thriving now for seven years; You should have a look at the site.
http://www.ksbrailletrans.com/
Bryan Schulz, President of the St. Louis Chapter, announces that he now has a contract with Rehabilitation Services for the Blind to work with clients learning computer skills.
At the October board meeting, several people were appointed to the staff of The Blind Missourian. Their duties are not completely developed yet, but besides writing articles they certainly will be helping to gather news for Roses and Raspberries from their region, they will each take turns at helping to proofread the final manuscript, and they will be glad to help any of you who hesitates to write for The Blind Missourian. They are:
- Bryan Schulz,
- Carol Coulter,
- Debbie Wunder,
- Jana Moynihan,
- Jim Moynihan,
- and Shelia Wright.
If you have suggestions or complaints, please pass such on to one of them or to me; it's great to have the assistance of talented writers and readers.
Do you know about the special adult reading program presented by Wolfner Library February- April? For details telephone or read the Wolfner News.
By Sylvia Modesitt
[Sylvia Modesitt is a high school student with many talents in music and the use of language. When the Board of directors heard this piece, expressing as it does the basic spirit of the NFB, they felt that other members should hear it as well and requested that it be published in The Blind Missourian.]
Is it the unknown; the black?
You being helpless; your life off the track?
Your family ashamed; your home in disrepair?
Your children alone; your clothing and hair?
Blindness at first makes it hard to succeed,
But don't worry, soon success shall feed.
Blindness issues pop up everywhere.
The public try too much to help and the children stare.
How ever many problems blindness may arise,
Doors will continue to open "right before your eyes."
When it comes to blindness, there are choices to be made,
Opportunities to come and dreams to be played.
You can show yourself in the NFB,
Instead of self-pitying "I wish I could see."
Blindness may seem like a big thing to others but to you and me,
Blindness shall always be
The light that no sighted person shall ever see.
[And here is another statement by another blind person who thinks through a problem and uses his blindness skills to increase his independence. In fact, he is independent enough that he can decide between a favor offered by another person and maintaining that independence by turning it down. Gary passed this along after reading it in another Affiliate publication-and we're publishing it just in time: I hear on the radio that there is a probability of snow falling next week.]
By Robert Leslie Newman
Snow shovel in hand I stepped out my front door. "Burr." It was late afternoon and the latest winter storm of ten to thirteen inches accumulation was winding down. I had stayed home from work like most of the city. Digging out after a paralyzing blizzard starts at your front door and I wanted to get my walks and driveway cleared before the night's temps hardened the new snow.
"WOW! Knee-deep!" The snow always drifted up my front steps. "This is going to be work." I breathed in the frosty air, enjoying the clean taste. "Oh well, it all starts with the first scoop." Truth be known, I looked forward to the challenge; I was in good physical shape, enjoyed this type of chore, and it chocked up a mark in the "responsible homeowner column."
My first scoop was straight ahead on the top step. Lifting the blade, I began throwing left over the waist-high bushes. Three more scoops took me down to concrete. Stepping into the cleared space, pivoting left, touching the blade on cement, thinking, "Might be able to get this strip in one go." Jamming the blade forward to the grass line, lifting, pitching; feeling loose snow cascading down onto my feet. "Nope, too much." I began scooping the right-hand side of my trench. Two red cheeks later, the width of the walk was clear and I had to remove my neck scarf to keep from overheating. I repeated this drill along the short walk that ran across the front of the porch to where it met up with the driveway.
While I scooped and tossed, I was thinking, "Interesting, shoveling snow as a blind guy is one of those activities that usually brings about either amazement or negatives in people's heads." Recently, at my monthly meeting for blind consumers, I took a poll. Out of the five blind homeowners, I was the only one who regularly shoveled. Two were elderly women; one of them shoveled when younger. Two were younger than me; one of the guys had no clue how it could be done, and the fifth guy had shoveled some, but had orientation issues about getting lost.
If you've got your health, shoveling blind is just another alternative technique. The shovel is not only a tool for moving stuff; it's also a travel tool. And then there are your feet, just as the shovel tells you tactilely and auditorially about the surface you are clearing, your feet do the same; clear cement is different from cement that is snow-covered, which is different from grass-covered ground. Knowing when your blade is full comes from the weight and amount of resistance that you can feel through the handle. You clear your area by scooping in an over-lapping pattern, just like you cover the surface when using a vacuum sweeper, or clearing your kitchen table, or mopping your floor.
The driveway was next. It is about 10 feet wide and 50 feet long from curb to garage. So after a short rest, and throwing a few snowballs, I started shoveling on across the front of the garage. Now the snow got deeper, above my waist.
Facing down the drive toward the street, I listened around, taking a read on the auditory landscape, getting oriented. Left were the distant sounds of a busy street and across from me and down two houses someone started up a snow blower.
Starting at the right grass line, I dug in at the level of my belt buckle, pitched right, continued to cut down into the drift, widening my excavation in order to clear out the snow that slid into my deepening hole. Shoveling the average snowfall, if you viewed the snow as a long ribbon, I worked back and forth across its end. I'd start from the right side, scoop straight ahead, pitch right, take a half step left, scoop, check to the right with my foot for snow that had come off the blade and clear it, then half step to the left and at midpoint of the ribbon, pitch left. Nope, there was no pretty choreography to today's job, it was just dig and throw, dig and throw. And so I kept with it until I detected the slant at the end of the drive as it slopes down to the street. "At last, here's the turn." I got to the sidewalk running across the front of my property and, after opening up my jacket because I was really working up some internal heat, I cleared that too.
"All right! I'm finished." Walking back over all that I had cleared, checking for little landslides, I heard footsteps coming from where the snow blower guy had been working.
"Hi, I'm Daniel, your new neighbor. Hey." His voice moved from side to side as he looked around, "Good job." Then he added something I had to digest before answering. "If you want, I'd be willing to blow out your drive and walks for the rest of the winter. Interested?"
National Federation of the Blind of Missouri
2008 Annual State Convention
Crown Plaza Airport Hotel
11228 Lone Eagle Drive
Bridgeton MO 63044
314 291-6700
March 28 -30, 2008
In 2008 our convention will be rolling on the river in the fabulous Gateway to the West, St. Louis. The recently remodeled Crown Plaza Airport has given us great room rates for convention of only $71.00 per night (plus tax) for guest rooms with up to four in a room. Call the above number between 8:00 am and 6:00 pm to make your reservation telling them you are with the National Federation of the Blind."
Stylish accommodations and gracious hospitality are the cornerstones of the Crowne Plaza Airport Hotel, but that is just the beginning. Conveniently located just one mile from Lambert International Airport makes the Crowne Plaza St. Louis "The Place to Meet" and a great place to stay. Enjoy the spectacular sun drenched 8 story atrium lobby and the two story water fall.
The Crowne Plaza St. Louis is within minutes of many attractions, the Gateway Arch, Busch Stadium, Fox Theater, Edward Jones Dome, and Six Flags, as well as two casinos- Harrah's Casino and Ameristar Casino.
Relax in one of the Crowne Plaza's spacious guest rooms that have been styled for your comfort. Each room includes CD player, hair dryer, coffee maker and pay per view movies. Take time to enjoy their heated indoor pool, whirlpool and exercise facility. Wireless internet is provided free of charge in public areas and high speed internet is available in guest rooms for $9.99.
TGI Friday's is the hotel's restaurant for casual dining. Cloud's Restaurant is open for breakfast seven days a week. The Atrium Lobby Bar is open from 4PM - 10PM each evening. we invite you to experience the spirited hospitality of this remarkable hotel.
Convention registration post marked on or before March 15, 2008 will be $10.00. After March 15 the cost to register will be $15.00. Registration will be open from 5:30 to 8:00 Friday evening and 8:00 to 10:00 Saturday morning. Hospitality will open on Friday evening from 5:00 to 10:00. Sorry but, as usual, the hospitality room will be a smoke free zone. Come eat, drink, and enjoy the fellowship!
We have several planned meals throughout the weekend at prices lower than the industry norm. The highlight will be our Saturday banquet for $25.00. We will also have a planned lunch Saturday hosted by our Missouri Association of Blind Students division for $13.00 and our annual Prayer Breakfast Sunday morning at a cost of $12.00. Attendees our encouraged to take advantage of the planned meals as there are not many other restaurant facilities in easy walking distance.
We again will be offering child care for those children in need of supervised care. The cost is $20.00 for the first child and $10.00 for each additional child for the entire weekend. Care will be provided on Saturday during the morning and afternoon sessions, the evening banquet until 9:00 p.m. and the Sunday morning session which will adjourn at 12:00 p.m. Meals are not provided in child care so parents need to make arrangements to feed their children. Important: Parents wanting care for their children must send their request in on or before March 15, 2008.
Exhibit space will be free to the chapters and divisions of the Federation for federation fund raising and information distribution and for a cost of $25.00 to outside exhibitors. If you have door prizes you wish to contribute for the convention please contact Door Prize co-Chair: Stephanie McDowell, 3140 Calvert; St Louis, MO 63114 Phone 314-733-1583.
The Lewis and Clark Chapter looks forward to welcoming everyone to the heart of Cardinal Country and want to do our best to make sure you have lots of fun and fellowship throughout the weekend. Come to our 46th annual celebration of blind persons helping ourselves to make life better for all of us.
Equality * Security * Opportunity
Completed forms must be received on or before February 1, 2008.
(If you run out of space, continue answers on an attached sheet, numbering your answers carefully.)
Name: (Please include any birth or other names by which you may have been known.) _______________________________________________
Phone number at which you can be reached or receive a message: __________________________________________________
Name of institution you are currently attending with location, dates and class standing (freshman, sophomore):
List other high school(s) and post-secondary institutions attended, including dates, location, and cumulative grade point average:
College or post-secondary institution to be attended in fall of 2008 with class standing: (If accepted after application deadline, indicate this and submit documentation as soon as possible under separate cover.)
Please provide the name and district number of your Missouri State Representative in the General Assembly and Missouri State Senator, including office addresses in Jefferson City. If you need help in finding this information, go to the reference desk in the nearest library.
Please either attach all the following documents to your application or send under separate cover.
>Students who are chosen to receive an award will be invited, at the NFB's expense, to the state convention on March 28-30, 2008, in St. Louis, MO. Final interviews determining the awards will take place at the Saturday morning breakfast during the convention and the awards will be presented Saturday evening at the banquet. Therefore, students should plan to attend all three days of the convention. Students will be notified of the status of their applications in ample time to arrange attendance.
Mail completed applications in printed form and attachments to Ms. Carol Coulter at the address given below. Applications and all documentation, including letters of recommendation, must reach me on or before February 1, 2008 to be considered. Please do not send them by Federal Express or priority mail since there may be no one to sign for them and they will be returned to you. Prepare and send these in a timely manner so they can be handled via regular first-class mail. For applications or information, you may call or write either Ms. Coulter or Mr. Wunder.
Send completed application in printed format to arrive on or before February 1, 2008 to:
Ms. Carol Coulter
1613 Blue Ridge Rd.
Columbia, MO 65202
573 474 3226
(In case you cannot reach Ms. Coulter for information, you may write or telephone (evenings or weekends)
Mr. Gary Wunder
State President, National Federation of the Blind of Missouri
3910 Tropical Lane
Columbia, MO 65202
573 874 1774
Check to determine if you have answered fully every question on this application. Write N/A in response to questions that are not applicable to your specific situation.
Plese use one form per ADDRESS. Several registrations may be combined on one check if needed if in the same envelope.