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, email Mike Keithley at mkeithley@pobox.com.
At our 20th anniversary meeting in November, I was elected SVCB's President for 2008. I want to thank everyone who voted for me, and I hope that my administration begins a new era of harmony and growth within our chapter. In the January 2008 newsletter, I will be announcing appointments of committee chairs; and I'm hoping to encourage new people to be involved in the day-to-day activity of our chapter.
Please contact me at 650-386-6286 or at mkeithley@pobox.com with your concerns and feedback. I hope to have a brainstorm-ing session with the board soon that will help charter new directions for SVCB. A major concern to me is that we do not have many young people in our membership, especially students; and I hope to rectify this by making SVCB an attractive and worthwhile place for them to be.
And now, a party! Christmas is coming and so is our holiday party on December 15. It will be held at the Santa Clara Valley Blind Center from 11 a.m to 3 p.m. The address is 101 North Bascom Avenue in San Jose.
Bring items for door prizes--new things or items you no longer need but you're sure someone can use. Naomi Grubb and Carol Silveria are in charge of door prizes, and you should call one of them to let them know what you are bringing.
Our party will be catered, but small food-offerings you'd like to bring will be welcomed. Music will be presented by Anna and the Jingleers, SVCB's ad hoc band, and we'll have braille and large print books of holiday songs. In addition, the 2008 administration will be officially installed.
Cathie Skivers, our honorary member and past CCB President, came to our November meeting to highlight the 20th anniversary celebration, and past presidents of SVCB told anecdotes of what it was like on their watch. It was an unusually well-attended meeting--perhaps 50 people!
As I mentioned earlier, I was elected President as part of the 2008 administration. Our new slate of officers is: Mike Keithley, President; Naomi Grubb, Vice President; Allen Jones, Corresponding Secretary; Susan Schulter, Recording Secretary; Victor Clifford, Treasurer; and Steve Nakagawa and Lorraine Brown, Directors. Director Debee Norling Armstrong continues her term as Director.
The 2008 ad hoc budget committee was also appointed. Members are Victor Clifford (Chair), Michelle McGrew, Bernice Kandarian and Mike Keithley. If you have concerns or questions about SVCB's budget, contact someone on the committee. The budget will be finalized by the end of January 2008, published in the February newsletter and accepted at the February membership meeting. In addition, December 15 is the deadline for expense reimbursements to be sent to the Treasurer.
It's time to pay your 2008 SVCB membership dues of $10. You can give your dues to Victor Clifford, our treasurer, at the holiday party (if you need to pay cash, you can ask for a receipt), or mail them to the address in the masthead of this newsletter (please do not mail cash).
Remember the holiday party! See you all there!
Return to "In This Issue"Apologies and belated best wishes to our November-birthday members: Sandy Gouveia, Naomi Grubb, Tom Karnes, Maria Kim, Carol Ann Owens, Amy Shao, and Vivian Younger.
Happy December birthdays to Ruben Armenta, Lorraine Brown, Celina Carey, Bernice Kandarian, Sally Kutner, LeeAnn Nakagawa, Steve Nakagawa, Bianca Stokkingreef, and Bill Tipton.
Every month I get into a quandary about whom I should highlight for the next newsletter. While I was attending the technology committee meeting at the recent convention in Los Angeles, I found myself sitting next to Susan Hyatt, this month's choice.
Susan was born in Los Angeles where her grandfather was a doctor. Because her mother contracted rubella during her first month of pregnancy, Susan was born with cataracts and a heart condition. She had cataract surgery at seven months and heart surgery at 13 months. At age five, she had open heart surgery at St John's Hospital, well known by viewers of the TV show Doctor Welby. Today, she has her sixth pace maker--receiving her first one nine months after graduation from high school.
Her family was living in New Mexico when Susan began kindergarten and she had a home teacher until the third grade. The family moved to Ukiah, California where she had a home teacher until the sixth grade. After Susan began junior high school, she was able to attend school full time. For the last three years of high school, she lived with her grandparents in Los Angeles.
After high school, Susan went back to Ukiah and attended community college for a year, taking extension classes through Santa Rosa Community College. Then her family moved to San Jose where she attended San Jose City College, receiving an AA degree in accounting in 1980. She said that she realized that accounting was not for her and did not pursue it after receiving her degree. Instead, Susan received clerical training through Goodwill Industries.
In July 1981, Susan was employed by Outreach. She worked there until she retired in 2000. She said that because computers were just beginning to be used, there were some difficult times in getting her job accessible. Her jobs at Outreach included working in customer service and as a scheduler.
Blind Organizations:
Other Organizations: Susan said that her main involvement in other organizations is through her church.
Hobbies: Susan said that she really does not have a hobby, but she likes to do the following: listen to the radio and talking books, work on her computer, and play solitaire.
She said that she does not watch very much TV because she is usually reading her Bible, listening to talking books, or working on the minutes of the SVCB board and chapter meetings.
Quick questions:
Last May, some of our members participated in The Human Race walk-a-thon. I'm pleased to announce that we received $240 from this fund-raising event. Thanks for your participation! And, if you did not join us this year, I hope you will help make next year's walk-a-thon even better.
See's candy bars are again available! Dark chocolate with almond, milk chocolate with toffee, and plain milk chocolate bars cost $1.50 each. Nut and chew bars and walnut squares cost $1 each.
Hungry for some See's peanut brittle? SVCB is selling 5-ounce boxes for $5 each. To purchase or help sell See's candy, please contact me via email.
SVCB has a limited supply of See's Christmas candy for sale. The "Mini Holiday Fancy" and the "Santa Box" are assortments of milk and dark chocolates, each in an appropriately decorated box. These are 4-ounce items, and cost $5 each.
Want a larger See's candy gift or perhaps some sugar-free See's candy? Gift certificates for one-pound boxes cost $14.50, or I can get various one-pound boxes of candy. We can also use gift certificates to purchase See's new sugar-free candy. Contact me via email for additional details.
To commemorate our 20th anniversary, SVCB is producing a cookbook featuring recipes enjoyed by chapter members and guests at our meetings, picnics, and holiday parties. Contributors also share special memories about these recipes in short anecdotes. Cookbooks cost $10 each, and are available in large print, in braille, on cassette tape, and on CD-ROM (as a text file). To place an order or to help sell cookbooks, please contact me via email and indicate your format preference.
SVCB is again selling Entertainment Coupon Books. They cost $25 per book. SVCB receives 20 percent of the proceeds for each book sold. To purchase or help sell books, contact Ken Carey. He has books for San Francisco, San Mateo County, and Santa Clara County. And, if you need books for anywhere else in the United States, just let him know so he can get them for you. If you would be interested in chairing this fund raiser in future years, please also contact Ken as he is interested in taking a break after this year.
Do you have your 2008 large print/braille calendar yet? These calendars feature artwork by blind and visually impaired people of all ages. SVCB is selling them for $9 each. To purchase yours, contact me via email.
See you at the holiday party!
Return to "In This Issue"In further honor of our chapter's 20th anniversary, we thought you might find interesting our membership list from June of 1989:
Judith Barnes, Bruce Campbell, Randy Formenti, Gregory Fowler, John Glass, Christopher Gray, Mary Harsh, Bernice Kandarian, Richard Kendall, Julie Lovins, Roger Petersen, Mickey Quenzer, Paul Raskin, Ray Rice, and Charles Stein.
Incidentally, I noticed that we all had 415 area codes in those days.
Return to "In This Issue"The CCB fall convention was held October 25-28, 2007 at the Four Points Sheraton LAX Hotel in Los Angeles. Most of us who went arrived on October 24. Roger Petersen was the delegate and I was the alternate delegate to the convention.
On Thursday afternoon I attended the joint meeting of the Rehabilitation Services Committee and the Technology Committee. The program speakers were interesting, despite some technical difficulties. Following that meeting, I attended the CCCLV program and business meeting. At the business meeting, I was elected to serve as secretary.
Thursday evening, I went to the CCB Board of Directors meeting. I found it interesting.
On Friday morning, I attended the Access and Transportation Committee, and California Council of Citizens with Low Vision joint meeting. I heard a lively panel discussion on what stops should be announced when riding public bus/light rail systems.
I then went on to the business meeting of the California Library users of America, followed by the joint luncheon of the Braille Revival League and California Library users of America. They had someone speak and demonstrate the Victor Reader Stream, the newest portable reader from HumanWare.
The Friday afternoon general session of the CCB had interesting speakers, who spoke on such topics as continued improvements to Greyhound bus services, a section 8 homeowner program, and an update on the Department of Rehabilitation. I was interested in hearing Jesse Acosta, an Iraq war veteran who lost his sight in the war. He spoke about how he is adjusting to his vision loss, in a positive way. He wants to help others like him to do the same.
I attended the Presidents' dinner where the discussion topic was leadership development.
The Friday evening general session had a remembrance of CCB members who had passed away since the spring convention. Reports were made by the Credentials Committee, ACB president Mitch Pomerantz, and CCB president Jeff Thom.
The rest of the evening was spent on the election of officers and directors. Some of the seats were hotly contested, with more than two candidates running for the same seat. In the end the following were elected: First Vice President: Gene Lozano; Second Vice President: Rhonda King; Secretary: Gabe Griffith. Directors reelected were Jerry Arakawa, Ann Kysor, Richard Rueda and Peter Pardini. Directors newly elected were Donna Pomerantz and Ken Metz.
Saturday morning I came in on the Seniors with Vision Loss Committee meeting as they were discussing how to get seniors to learn Braille.
At the CCCLV joint meeting with the Seniors with Vision Loss, I heard from Sharon Toji of Access Communications who discussed her research on accessible signage. I spent part of the lunch break looking at exhibits, followed by lunch in the hospitality suite.
At the Saturday general session, I heard a panel discussion on talking glucose meters, a presentation on identity theft, accessible telecommunication, and a report by Dan Kysor on state and federal legislation. After the general session, I attended the Governmental Affairs Committee meeting.
I found that the best part of the banquet was the keynote speaker, Mitch Pomerantz, the newly elected ACB President.
At the Sunday morning general session, I got a door prize, candy, t-shirt, and $25 in cash. This was the business session of CCB, where minutes, treasurer's report, committee reports, and of course resolutions were given.
After the convention was adjourned, I headed for the airport for my flight home, tired but satisfied that all went well.
Return to "In This Issue"As Susan noted, I was delegate and she was alternate from SVCB at this convention. But I am taking my prerogative as editor to read her report and make additions as needed.
One product that was in the exhibits as well as featured on the Rehab/Technology session on Thursday afternoon was the Zoom-Ex, a new combination electronic magnifier and talking reading machine. It is from a company called ABISee in Massachusetts. The document is input through a camera, rather than a scanner, and the tripod on which the camera is attached forms a frame for the document, allowing accurate placement. This device looks promising and the software with it for the PC appears quite good.
At the Braille Revival League meeting on Friday morning, Winifred Downing gave a workshop on a proposed new braille system developed by Dr. Abraham Nemeth, the inventor of the mathematical braille system that is now used in North America. The proposed system, called NUBS, Nemeth Uniform Braille System, is intended as an alternative to the UEBC (Unified English Braille Code) which has been under development internationally for a number of years and about which the blind community has expressed its dissatisfaction. Stay tuned!
At the banquet, we inducted two members into the CCB Hall of Fame. Ahmad Rahman unfortunately died between the times we chose him and inducted him. We welcomed a number of his family to the banquet to receive his plaque. This is the second time we have inducted someone posthumously when it was not planned that way. Ahmad was a great worker in the organization and in his community. The other inductee was John Lopez, who was president of CCB in the troubled times of the early 1990s. He attended and was very pleased.
As always, if you want further information about anything discussed in these convention reports, please let us know and we will answer your questions or try our best to get them answered. Also, keep in mind that we are not eligible to be delegates at the Spring convention in Sacramento in April 2008, so someone else needs to step up to the plate.
Return to "In This Issue"Dec 1: SMCCB Gala Installation Party
Dec 1, 11:30 a.m to 2:30 p.m.: Golden Gate Chapter holiday feast at Sinbad's restaurant located at Mission and Embarcadero Streets (next to the Ferry Building) in San Francisco. The price will not exceed $20. For transportation and reservations contact Gilda Chico at 415-337-0937.
Dec 2, 2-4 P.M.: Delta Gamma holiday party; Mountain View Community Center in Rengstorff Park. Call Lolly.
Dec 4, 8-10 a.m: Target's shopping for disabled people' wrapping and refreshments.
Dec 5, 7-9 p.m. SVCB Board meeting; Meeting Place.
Dec 7, 10-noon: SAF lab tour. Call 408-245-7330 for reservations.
Dec 7, 10 a.m.-3 p.m: Vista Center holiday open house.
Dec 7, 1-3 p.m: GPS seminar at the San Francisco Lighthouse for the Blind; 214 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco. This seminar discusses GPS systems dedicated to visually impaired people. You can participate in person, by computer or through a telephone conferencing system. To register, call 888-400-8933 or via email at info@lighthouse-sf.org. For those participating via conference call or live stream, instructions will be provided to you when you RSVP. Also, there will be demos of GPS equipment from 3 to 5 p.m. in small group settings.
Dec 8, 5 -11 p.m.: Holiday Dance; Lions Center for the Blind; 3834 Opal Street; Oakland. For information, call 510-450-1580.
Dec 8: SMCCB bowling; contact Karl Jaeger, local contact, at 650-556-1456.
Dec 8, 2 p.m.: THE COLOR PURPLE with descriptions by AudioVision. Orpheum Theatre, 1192 Market St, San Francisco. Tickets are $45; call 415-551-2027. Info: katiemags@aol.com or 408-265-2203.
Dec 9, 4 p.m.-8:30 p.m.: Bayview Chapter holiday party; Buttercup Kitchen in Jack London Square, Oakland. Call Ida Johnson at 510-655-1982.
Dec 10-15, 8 a.m.: JC Penney: assistance to disabled shoppers.
Dec 15: SVCB Christmas Party; Check Phone Tree message for updates. Deadline for expense reimbursement requests, with documentation.
Dec 22, 2:30: JERSEY BOYS with descriptions by AudioVision; Curran Theatre, San Francisco; info: katiemags@aol.com.
Dec 28, noon: January 2008 SVCB In Touch newsletter deadline.
Dec 30, 1 and 6:30 p.m.: AMTSJ presents JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR with descriptions by AudioVision.
January 2008
Braille Literacy month, Glaucoma Awareness month.
Jan 5, 10 a.m.-noon: SAF lab tour.
Jan 6, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.: SMCCB meeting. Contact Philip Kutner for info.
Jan 9, 7-9 p.m.: SVCB board meeting (provisional date).
Jan 19, 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m.: SVCB annual meeting. Dining room, Monte Vista Terrace Apartments, 1101 Grant Road, Mountain View. Lunch orders must be made by 9:45. 9:30: Coffee and conversation, 10: Program, 11: Business, 12: lunch. Program: TBA. Business: Approve 2008 business calendar.
Jan 25, noon: February SVCB In Touch newsletter deadline.
Jan 30-31 at 8 p.m, Feb 1 at 8 p.m., Feb 2 at 2 p.m., Feb 3 at 1 & 6:30 p.m.: LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS at AMTSJ with descriptions by AudioVision.
Feb 2, 10 a.m.-noon: SAF lab tour.
Feb 2, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.: SMCCB meeting.
Feb 4, 7-9 a.m.: SVCB board meeting (provisional date).
Feb 16, 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m.: SVCB membership meeting. Approve 2008 budget.
Feb 29, noon: March SVCB In Touch newsletter deadline.
Return to "In This Issue"