EDITOR: Roger Petersen, petersen@svpal.org.
ADDRESS: P.O. Box 493, Mountain View, CA 94042-0493.
DEADLINE: for the May issue: noon, April 27.
VOLUNTEERS: Bernice Kandarian,
bernice@tsoft.net..
MEMBERSHIP: Lorraine Brown, morezipp@sbcglobal.net.
URL: www.svcb.cc.
Legislative Hotlines, current issues for blind persons:
CALIFORNIA CONNECTION: 800-221-6359, after 4 p.m. & weekends.
WASHINGTON CONNECTION: 800-424-8666, 3-9 p.m. & weekends.
DISCLAIMER: This publication contains announcements from the Silicon Valley Council of the Blind and is also a forum for opinions relating to blindness issues. Signed articles reflect the views, and research, of their authors.
STATUS: SVCB is a 501(c)3 non-profit, tax-exempt organization under the California Council of the Blind.
MEETING LOCATION: SVCB's monthly meetings are held in the dining room of the Monte Vista Terrace Apts. at 1101 Grant Road, Mountain View. Meetings run 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. the third Saturday of the month and are open to all. Monte Vista Terrace is one block from the intersection of Grant Road and El Camino Real and is accessible by bus #22.
Note: Local contact information is removed except when requested to remain. For local contact info, access www.svcb.cc.
Happy Easter to everyone! And don't eat too much Easter candy. But if you do, we now have Daylight Saving Time, which means we have more daylight hours to burn it off.
I was very pleased and intrigued with my brother's presentation on the possibility of putting together a bike-a-thon. And while it is a huge undertaking, it would be nice to buddy up with other chapters to make a go of it, not to mention making the load easier. In reality any undertaking of any size can be accomplished with a lot of hard work, perseverance, determination and commitment. Consider, for example, our Tea Party, where Bernice, Donna, Victor and Susan Schulter put a lot of work into a fundraiser that gave us more than we had anticipated. So, to all our members I say, put in some of your precious time and effort and the results can be rewarding. But for right now, let's give Bernice our recipies for our fundraiser recipe book, to make it a smashing success.
In advance, I am sorry that Victor and I will not be at our next meeting, but do come and find out what new and exciting things are happening. See you in May.
At this writing, we don't yet have a speaker for our April 21 meeting, so stay tuned to the Phone Tree for the announcement. I can announce that our member Debee Norling has agreed to speak in May. I think you will find her a very interesting speaker.
I am sure many of you already know this, but thought it would be helpful for those who don't.
Calling 411 from your cell is expensive--it costs about $1.50 to $2.00 per phone call depending upon your wireless service. The following 800 number will save you a lot of money if you are calling 411 often: 800-FREE-411 or 800-373-3411. Program it on your cell today and make use of this free service.
Happy April birthdays to Linda Alviti, Kathy Bonilla, Roy Roderick, Thomas Thompson, and Dawn Wilcox! We welcome new member Debee Norling (see Program article above).
Mark your calendars for Saturday morning, May 12, and plan to participate in this year's 5K walk-a-thon, The Human Race. Or participate in the 5K or 10K professionally timed run. We need people to walk/run and/or collect pledges. The walk-a-thon will again be held at Shoreline Park in Mountain View. I have information, including the registration form, for those who would like to participate.
If you plan to walk or run, you'll want to register prior to April 30 if at all possible while the fees are still at a discount, but you can register up through the day of the race. Registration fees are as follows (amounts in parentheses are the costs after April 30): 5K walk, $15 ($20); youth ages 13-18, $10 ($15); children age 12 and under, free (free); 5K and 10K run: $30 ($35). Each blind or visually impaired participant walking for SVCB may be accompanied by one sighted guide who may walk/run for free. If you will be accompanied by a sighted guide, please let me know the name of your sighted guide so I can give the names of our guides to the walk-a-thon coordinator. And do let me know if you plan to walk/run. Also, we can make arrangements for a volunteer to walk/run with you if you let me know you need assistance. I can be reached at 650-964-7973 or at michelle@svcb.cc.
To contribute, you may give your donation to someone who is walking/ running in the race, you may mail it to SVCB's post office box, or you may contribute online by going to www.vcsv.us/humanrace/recipients.shtml and clicking on the button next to our organization's name. Checks should be made payable to "The Human Race--Volunteer Center" and should have SVCB in the memo. If you are giving the check to someone who is walking/running in the race, please also include that person's name in the memo. Currently, Naomi Grubb and Mike Keithley hope to walk this year. Watch the Phone Tree and the May newsletter to find out who else plans to walk/run.
Our cookbook committee is hard at work preparing our long-awaited cookbook featuring potluck dishes enjoyed by our members at our picnics and holiday parties. If you have contributed recipes to the cookbook, expect to hear from someone on the cookbook committee in the near future. They are conducting interviews to get interesting stories about our recipes to include in the cookbook. And if you have not yet gotten your recipes to Bernice, we'd appreciate it if you could take a few moments to do so ASAP. We hope to have the cookbook available in June if possible. Please give your recipes to Bernice Kandarian in any medium (those sent by email should go to Roger at petersen@svpal.org. Bernice is even willing to type up your recipes if you give her a call at 650-969-3155.
At our last meeting, we had a brainstorming session regarding the possibility of having a bike-a-thon as a fund-raiser either ourselves or as a partner along with one or more other organizations. If you were unable to attend, we encourage you either to request a cassette tape of the program from Mike Keithley (650-386-6286 or mkeithley@pobox.com) or to go to our website (www.svcb.cc) to obtain a copy. I would be interested in hearing your comments, suggestions, and questions (contact info above).
Remember to save your recyclable aluminum cans and plastic water bottles, which Charlie Stein (650-494-3258) and Donna Sanchez (408-377-8311) redeem for cash that supports SVCB activities. You can make special arrangements with them or bring the cans and bottles to a meeting.
And finally, remember that you may still purchase the talking thermometer key chains ($10 each) and the white cane safety awareness T-shirts ($15 for those we have in stock or $17 for those we must order). To place an order or to request info, please contact me (contact info above). We have received some requests for T-shirts that we do not have in stock, so if you are interested, please do let me know. Once we have enough requests, I can send in another order.
See you at our next meeting!
Representatives from Outreach and Redi-Wheels will be present to deliver information and answer questions.
Date: Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Time: 1-3 p.m.
Location: Vista Center, 2470 El Camino Real, Palo Alto
Phone: Steve Nakagawa, 650-858-0202 ext 187
Email: snakagawa@vistacenter.org.
Please call for reservations since space is limited.
In the March 2007 SVCB IN TOUCH newsletter, a month is misspelled. The fifth person who contacts me and identifies the misspelled month gets a free 2008 SVCB membership, underwritten by me.
Contact mkeithley@pobox.com or 650-386-6286. You must be a listed recipient of the newsletter to be eligible.
I'm so proud of you all! Because of your generosity and willingness to help, we now have a full slate of goodies volunteers--even October finally got filled! We even have two back-ups! You're a bunch of troupers, and we all thoroughly enjoy the taste contributions that you make at each of our meetings.
You'll be hearing from me again around October of this year, when I will start to recruit for 2008, so keep those goodies ideas flowing.
Should you have any questions or comments, please contact me. Phone: 408-223-6444; email: bevclffrd@sbcglobal.net.
If you have been a member of SVCB for a while, you have probably heard about Bill Tipton, a member who has become a very active advocate for people with disabilities in the workplace, even though he has had his disability for a relatively short time. As an employee of Hewlett Packard, he has been able to get involved in activities on a national and international basis to raise the consciousness of employers about hiring people with disabilities. Now he
writes:
"I have been named an Employee of the Year by CAREERS & the disABLED Magazine for my 'professional and advocacy efforts on behalf of people with disabilities
in the workplace.' I will be going to Boston May 7 to accept the award. I am
actually staying all week. While I am there, they will write my story in their magazine highlighting what I do as
well."
We congratulate Bill and wish him a great trip to Boston.
The following press release just came across my desk and reminded me of a visit I made to the Oral Hull Camp a number of years ago. It was a convention of the ACB of Oregon and it was the only convention at which the bathroom was down the hall. But on the other hand, the banquet only cost $5. It's right near Portland and has trailer houses as well as dormitories.
ORAL HULL FOUNDATION FOR THE BLIND
ANNOUNCING 2007 SUMMER CAMPS FOR BLIND ADULTS & YOUNG ADULTS: WHAT A WAY TO SPEND A WEEK!!
Who: Oral Hull Foundation for the Blind
What: 25th annual camps for blind and low vision adults and young adults
When: Young Adult: August 5-11, 2007;
Adults: August 12-19, 2007.
Where: Oral Hull Foundation for the Blind, 23-acre campus, three miles north of Sandy,
Oregon.
The Oral Hull Foundation for the Blind is now accepting registrations for their 25th annual adult summer camps for persons with blindness and low vision. Camp is for anyone that enjoys friendship, field trips, swimming, hot tubbing, competitive games, crafts, entertainment, and great food and fun at their beautiful campus three miles north of Sandy, Oregon. New this year is Young Adult Camp that provides traditional camp activities with opportunities for adventure programs that may include: white water rafting, challenge course, hiking, canoeing, and much more.
Last year, people from all over the United States, including Florida, Texas, Michigan, Ohio, Colorado, Oregon and Washington had the time of their life enjoying a full week of activity, peer support and personal growth.
Fees for the entire week are $350, with some "Camperships" available to Oregon and Washington residents, on a needs and fund-availability basis.
For information about Oral Hull's summer camp programs, weekend retreats and other special events contact us at: Oral Hull Foundation for the Blind: Jeff Lann, Executive Director; 503-668-6195; oralhull@teleport.com. .
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Santa Clara Bowling Group: Every Saturday at Moonlight Lanes in Santa Clara, info@visionbeyondsight.org.
Apr 1, 2 P.M., TheatreWorks presents TRYING at Lucie Stern with description by The Visual Voice. Tickets: call 650-903-6000.
Apr 4, 7-9 p.m.: SVCB Board meeting; Meeting Place, 650-260-9029 ID 7822222.
Apr 6, 10 a.m.-noon: SAF lab tour. Call 408-245-7330 for reservations.
Apr 7, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.: SMCB meeting. Contact Frank Welte at fwelte@sbcglobal.net.
Apr 8, 2 p.m.: AudioVision description of ALTAR BOYZ; Orpheum Theater; 1192 Market St. at 8th; San Francisco. AudioVision tickets: $30; call 415-551-2027 and request AudioVision tickets.
Apr 12-15, CCB Spring 2007 Convention; Sacramento Arden West Hilton Hotel; 2200 Harvard Street; Sacramento, CA 95815; reservations: 916-922-4700 or 800-344-4321; Room rates: $80 single or double. Apr 18, 6:30-8 p.m.: ACB Open Forum; 800-633-8638, ID 53878255 (let's talk).
Apr 18-20 at 8 p.m., 21 at 2 p.m., 23 at 1 and 6:30 p.m.: American Musical Theatre presents SMOKY JOE'S CAFE with description by AudioVision. Tickets: call 408-453-1550 or email amtsj-access@amtsj.org.
Apr 21, 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m.: SVCB membership meeting; dining room, Monte Vista Terrace Apartments, 1101 Grant Road, Mountain View; Outreach reference: 650-940-9769. Lunch orders must be made by 9:45. 9:30: Coffee and conversation, 10: Program, 11: Business, 12: lunch. Program: TBA; business: Committee reports, etc.
Apr 21, 2 p.m.: AudioVision description of JERSEY BOYS, Curran Theater, 445 Geary between Taylor and Mason, San Francisco. Tickets: $50; call 415-551-2027 and request AudioVision tickets.
Apr 27, noon: May SVCB In Touch newsletter deadline.
Apr 28: SMCB bowling; contact Frank Welte.
Apr 27-28 at 8 p.m. & 29 at 2 p.m.: TheatreWorks presents: MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG with descriptions by The Visual Voice.
May: Healthy Vision Month.
May 4, 10 a.m.-noon: SAF lab tour.
May 5, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.: SMCB meeting.
May 9, 7-9 p.m.: SVCB Board meeting.
May 9, 10, 11 at 8 p.m., 12 at 2 p.m., 13 at 1 and 6:30 p.m.: AMTSJ presents DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS with descriptions by The Visual Voice.
May 12: The Human Race Walk-a-thon, Shoreline Park, Mountain View.
May 12, 5-9 p.m.: Bay View Chapter annual lasagna fund-raising dinner, Lions Blind Center, 3834 Opal St., Oakland. For reservations and additional information, call Ida Johnson at 510-655-1982.
May 16, 6:30-8 p.m.: ACB Open Forum.
May 19, 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m.: SVCB membership meeting. Hear CCB spring convention reports, finalize picnic plans, remind members to acquire door prizes for picnic.
May 25, noon: SVCB In Touch newsletter deadline.
May 26: SMCB bowling.
June: Vision Research Month.
Jun 1: Helen Keller Day.
Jun 1, 10 a.m.-noon: SAF lab tour.
Jun 2, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.: SMCB meeting.
Jun 6, 7-9 p.m.: SVCB Board meeting.
Jun 17, 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m.: SVCB membership meeting.
Jun 20, 6:30-8 p.m.: ACB Open Forum.
Jun 22, noon: SVCB In Touch newsletter deadline.
Jun 24, 1 and 6:30 p.m.: AMTSJ presents ALL SHOOK UP with descriptions by AudioVision.
Jun 30-July 7: American Council of the Blind National Convention, Minneapolis. Convention hotels are the Hyatt Regency and the Millennium. They are located literally across the street from each other, and events will be held at both facilities. To make individual reservations at the Hyatt, call 1-800-233-1234; for reservations at the Millennium, call 612-332-6000 or 1-800-522-8856.