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, SVCB president.
When April comes around, I'm often reminded of the time my antenna blew off the roof and a life-chapter closed.
It was an April in 1977 when a big storm came through. Those were the days of my second guide dog and my ex-wife. We lived in a duplex on Wolfe Road and Bolinger in Cupertino.
The wind was blowing hard, and I could hear groanings above me as I sat reading Psychology Today and Playboy, trying not to worry about those tortuous sounds up there. Finally, a whoosh, crash, and there was my antenna, a mess of wire and masts, in the back yard. I probably worried it down, with someone saying at the end, "need a little help?" I had to clean and get rid of the mess. Anyway, that was the end of my ham career. Computers waited in the wings, and I never renewed my license.
This month has brought news of opportunities for two of our members to participate in new levels of organizational activities. Sam Chen, our Legislative Committee chair, has been appointed to CCB's Governmental Affairs Committee. This is a worthy appointment for Sam, and we wish him well. And Naomi Grubb is going to the CCB convention in Sacramento as a first-timer. We can be proud of Naomi, who is a very qualified candidate. But we can also be proud that the resolution that created this California First Timers Program was introduced by our own Lupe Medrano.
On a sad note, we hear that misfortune has come to our long-time friend and CCB's former treasurer, Peter Pardini, and his wife Alice, who have been married less than a year. Alice is very seriously--perhaps terminally ill. Let's send good vibes to Peter and Alice.
Our March meeting featured Paul Raskin from the Vista Center. Paul works with kids of all ages, and we spent the time talking about how SVCB, as an organization, can get involved.
Picnic plans are moving along. The event will be at Cuesta Park in Mountain View, and we're about to settle on the caterer SVCB will use. Naomi Grubb is in charge of acquiring door and raffle prizes. Think about things you have but can't use, let Naomi know and gather them together to bring to the picnic.
Our April meeting will feature Debbie Archuleta from Outreach. She'll be telling us about changes at Outreach and ways we can best use the program. All of us have had difficult times with Outreach rides and can get quite passionate about gripes and experiences. Let's be kind to Debbie, who has been a friend of SVCB for many years, and is ready to help us.
Another event at the April meeting will be reports from the CCB's spring convention. Lorraine Brown, I and others who attended the convention will describe much that happened there.
So have fun in April. She's over there, sitting in my computer chair, trying to find my mouse. Maybe you should rescue her!
Return to table of contents.As President Mike said in his message, our April 19 meeting will feature a repeat visit from Debbie Archuleta, who knows all the mysteries of Outreach, our paratransit system. There has also been some talk of the County Registrar of Voters possibly bringing a voting machine for us to demo before the next election on June 3. At this writing, I don't know whether this will happen, so stay tuned for the phonetree message.
In May, we shall try to have another election session so that we can all go to the polls properly informed. Stay tuned for more on that too.
Happy April birthdays to our members Linda Alviti, Debee Armstrong, Kathy Bonilla, Thomas Thompson, and Dawn Wilcox!
Return to table of contentsHere is the legislative briefing for those going to the Capitol before the Sacramento convention. I figured that our members would like to see it even if they are not attending the convention to have a sense of what CCB is talking to the state legislature about.
Issues of Concern to Blind and Visually Impaired Californians
Save the date, Saturday morning, May 10, and plan to participate in this year's 5K walk-a-thon, The Human Race. We need people to walk/run and/or collect pledges. Preparation of the packets was delayed due to a hand and wrist injury, but I should have them ready by the time you read this. So, if you have questions or know you would like to participate, please call me. I can mail you a packet, or if you prefer, I can give you one at April's meeting. However, I do recommend that you preregister by April 30 since the registration fees go up by $5 after that date.
We are now distributing the large print, braille, and CD-ROM editions of our 20th anniversary SVCB cookbook, and hope to have the cassette edition available soon! This cookbook, featuring recipes enjoyed by chapter members and guests at our meetings, picnics, and holiday parties, has truly been a labor of love. Contributors also share special memories about their recipes in short anecdotes. Cookbooks cost $10 each. To place an order or to help sell cookbooks, please contact me < fref="mailto:caille@sonic.net""mailto:caille@sonic.net">contact me, and indicate your format preference.
See's candy bars are still available! Milk chocolate with almonds, milk chocolate with toffee, and plain milk chocolate bars cost $1.50 each. Nut and chew bars and walnut squares cost $1 each. To purchase or help sell See's candy bars, please contact me.
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.
Remember to save your recyclable aluminum cans and plastic water bottles. Donna Sanchez is collecting plastic water bottles, and Charlie Stein is collecting aluminum cans. You may bring these items to an upcoming meeting or call the appropriate contact to make other arrangements. Donna and Charlie redeem the bottles and cans for funds which are then used to support SVCB activities.
Please thoughtfully consider how you personally might help SVCB raise funds this year, and join together with other chapter members to make this year the best yet! See you at our April meeting.
Return to table of contents.This organization does not have any connection to ACB other than some overlap in the people involved. I have heard about it from Mitch and Donna Pomerantz and thought someone might be interested.
Candle in the Window, a small national non-profit organization with the aim of building both individual skills and a sense of community among persons with visual impairments, welcomes blind people with varied experiences to join them at their 21st annual conference entitled "Family Matters: The Roles of Blindness in Family Life."
We aim to address such questions as:
In addition to provocative presentations and stimulating discussions, there will be plenty of time for hiking, eating, singing, quiet reflection, and just plain "hanging out."
The conference will take place from Wednesday, September 10 through the morning of Sunday, September 14th, at Wooded Glen, a lovely retreat center located in Henryville, Indiana just outside of Louisville, Kentucky.
Cost: $475 for two to a room; $455 for three to a room; and $405 for four to a room. A $40 discount if we receive a $35 NON-REFUNDABLE deposit by August 1; limited scholarships and payment plans available.
For additional information, please email Becky Barnes, or Donna Pomerantz.
Return to table of contents.