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.
CHANGES OF ADDRESS
Contact Julie, database@svcb.cc.
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.
As you may have heard, I was in surgery for the installation of my second cochlear implant. It went well, and the CI is now working. I am now in the "getting used to it" period, where I have to forget all about what things sounded like and work with what I have. But the push to get this done, for better localization of sound and stable hearing, is already bearing fruit.
So at our January annual membership meeting I was in the audience enjoying Susan Schulter's moderation of the meeting. We had a great program, where we discussed how individual educational experiences helped deal with blindness. Some people loved residential schools, others hated them; some found mainstream rewarding, others didn't; and it was quite clear that education, along with attitudes around it, continues far beyond school. Don't forget that you can hear program segments through SVCB's website at www.svcb.cc and following the "SVCB meeting programs" link.
In the business section of the annual meeting, the 2010 business calendar was approved. Historic Park, where we had our picnic last year, will be the site for this year's event. However, the board was asked to get quotes for two caterers.
SVCB will donate $200 to blind people in Haiti. At this time, we are waiting for reliable information from blindness organizations there.
I am happy to announce that Ruben Armenta is the new transportation committee chair. If you are interested in transportation issues, be sure to contact Ruben so you can work on the committee.
SVCB's 2010 budget is included in this newsletter. Please read it. We will approve this budget at the February meeting.
A project that has been quietly developing is the "placemat project," where restaurant patrons can get contact information for SVCB. LeeAnn Nakagawa is in charge of this effort. During the Christmas holiday, we did a test run of 1000 flyers at the two Holder Country Inn restaurants, and over 500 of these were taken away by customers. After all this, we received only one inquiry. Whether this one "hit" is worth the effort will be up for discussion. What do you think?
Plans are under way for SVCB to co-host the spring convention in Burlingame with the San Mateo and San Francisco chapters. Stay tuned!
Return to the Table of ContentsWe have a little additional information on the NIB recruitment for their Contact Center CSR program, described in our January newsletter. The initial program will probably be in Dallas, with expansion to other locations later. Salary will probably be set in February.
Return to the Table of ContentsAt our February 20 meeting, SVCB member Julie Lovins will talk about "Bags, Bottles, and Mugs", focusing on the first two R's in the sustainability mantra, "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle". There will be freebies, as well as news you can use! We can also discuss "recycling" as time allows.
Return to the Table of ContentsHello to you all, and many blessings,
We are your Guardian Angels. Okay, some of you are skeptical, I know; but really, honestly, you DO have one! We are always watching out for you, and we never feel happy if you are in pain or want--or if you are hungry! That's why we are whispering in Bev's ear right now, so she knows exactly what to write.
It has come to our attention that only four people have volunteered thus far to bring goodies to the 2010 SVCB meetings. Oh dear, we collectively sigh! What a conundrum! Can something be done about this? Well, we're trying here, but we will need help from each and every one of you who (1) like to cook or like to shop, and (2) feel called to do either of these two things on behalf of poor, starving SVCB members who haven't had breakfast yet. We angels love you very much, and desire only the best for you, and we know that you'll feel just terrific about yourself if only you will be one of the five additional people to step up and offer to be a part of this worthy endeavor.
You probably already know this, but Bev's contact info is bevclffrd@sbcglobal.net. So if you'd like to choose a month to offer your heavenly culinary delights, please do let her know. But wait, Bev's whispering back!--what was that? Oh, she says there's no meeting in April due to the CCB convention, the annual picnic's in August, and the holiday party is in December, so don't ask for those months. January is past, and March, July, and October are already taken, too. So you can sign up for February, May, June, September, or November.
We Guardian Angels sincerely thank you in advance--and even if you can't bring goodies, we promise to still watch over you, anyway.
Love,
Your Angels
An anonymous donor has graciously donated a brand new Pen Friend Portable Voice Output Device to SVCB for us to auction at February's meeting. The minimum bid is set at $80 (it retails for $130 to $150). For those of you who are unfamiliar with the Pen Friend, this device looks like a very fat pen. It measures 6 1/4 inches long by a little over an inch in diameter, weighs 1.9 ounces, and runs on 2 AAA batteries. You use re-recordable stickers to label whatever you wish to label (except clothing). You then briefly touch the device to the sticker to record your message or play back a message that you have already recorded. You can also download MP3, book and music files onto the Pen Friend. You may listen to your information via the built-in speaker or by using headphones, and you may back up recordings onto your computer via its USB port.
Thanks to all who supported CCB and SVCB by getting CCB sweepstakes tickets from us. SVCB raised $100.50 from this fund raiser.
Even though Easter isn't until April, it is time to begin thinking of Easter gifts! SVCB can get the following items from See's: Fluffy Chick Box, Bordeaux Egg, Milk Chocolate Butter Egg, and Peanut Butter Egg. These 4-ounce items cost $6.20 each. We do not need to purchase them a carton at a time as we have in the past, so I will only purchase as many as are ordered. For additional details or to place an order, email to fund.raising@svcb.cc or to svcb@onebox.com. Orders must be placed by Sunday, March 14, 2010. I will have your orders available at the March SVCB meeting unless you make other arrangements with me.
Currently, SVCB's "reading is for everyone" T-shirts are white with black artwork. Would there be interest in purchasing an order in another color if this did not increase the price? We'd want to pick a color that would be the same for all of the sizes we offer. Taking this into account, our choices are orange, navy, lime, black, ash, and royal, and possibly light blue and athletic heather (these are slightly different but may be close enough). Of course, we would have the artwork done in an appropriate contrasting color. Please consider this possibility and be ready to discuss this at the February SVCB meeting.
SVCB is selling candy bars again! You may purchase dark chocolate with almonds, milk chocolate with almonds, and milk chocolate with toffee bars for $2 each, and you may purchase Walnut Squares and Nut and Chew Bars for $1.50 each. To place an order or for more information, call or send email to me as listed above.
Also contact me to place an order or for more information about our 20th anniversary cookbook. The cookbook is available in large print, cassette, or CD-ROM for $10 each.
Remember to continue saving your recyclable aluminum cans. Charlie Stein redeems them for funds which are then used to support SVCB activities. You may give cans to Charlie at an upcoming meeting or call him to make other arrangements.
See you at February's meeting!
Return to the Table of ContentsHappy birthdays to Ruth Fisher and Barbara Manipod.
As I'm acting Membership Committee chair, I'm writing this column, and I hope to restart a fun feature in this newsletter: mini profiles of our members. However, I've got too many hats around here, and I'd love to appoint someone else as membership chair. If you like working with people and can use a computer (the two major requirements for the job), please contact Mike Keithley at mkeithley@pobox.com so I can talk to you.
Return to the Table of ContentsPlease join Kevin Hughes and Damian Pickering from HumanWare at Vista Center for a hands-on introduction to the exciting new BrailleNote Apex. Learn all about the thinnest, lightest notetaker available, and get answers to your questions about any of the full range of HumanWareþs innovative blindness products. A light lunch will be provided. When: Tuesday, February 16, from noon until 2 p.m. Space is limited. RSVP to 800-722-3393 Ext. 219, or e-mail: damian.pickering@humanware.com by Friday, February 12. We hope to see you there.
Steve Nakagawa
Vista Center
2470 El Camino Real, Suite 107
Palo Alto, CA 94306
Phone: 650-858-0202 ext 123
Fax: 650-858-0214
Through the Looking Glass and its National Center for Parents with Disabilities and their Families are pleased to announce new scholarships for high school seniors and college students who have parents with disabilities. A total of ten $1000 scholarships will be given out in Fall 2010.
Please note that the 2010 awards have different application procedures than previous years. There are separate scholarship awards for high school seniors and for college students, and each has separate eligibility requirements:
1. High School Seniors. To be eligible, a student must be a high school graduate (or graduating senior) by Summer 2010, planning to attend a two-year or four-year college in Fall 2010 in pursuit of an AA, BA, or BS degree, and have at least one parent with a disability.
2. College Students. To be eligible, a student must be currently enrolled in a two-year or four-year college in Fall 2010 in pursuit of an AA, BA, or BS degree, be 21 years of age or younger as of March 1, 2010, and have at least one parent with a disability.
All application materials must be postmarked by March 1, 2010. Individuals may submit only one application per award period.
Selection criteria for all scholarships include academic performance, community activities and service, letter of recommendation and an essay describing the experience of growing up with a parent with a disability.
Please go to the website www.lookingglass.org for more information, including the application form, complete application directions, and an FAQ page that answers many common questions as well as offering helpful suggestions.
The American Council of the Blind (ACB) annually awards approximately 20 scholarships ranging in amounts from $1,000 to $2,500 to vocational, entering freshmen, undergraduate and graduate students who are legally blind, maintain a 3.3 GPA and are involved in their school/local communities. Applications may be submitted beginning January 1 and all materials must be received by 11:59 p.m. on March 1. Scholarship monies will be awarded for the upcoming academic year.
To read the scholarship guidelines and complete an on-line application, please visit: www.acb.org. For more information, please contact the ACB National Office at 202-467-5081 or 800-424-8666. We look forward to receiving your application materials.
The Council of Citizens with Low Vision, a Special Interest Affiliate of ACB, is also offering scholarships. The Fred Scheigert Scholarship is available to an entering freshman, an undergraduate and a graduate student. The Dr. Sam Genensky Video Magnifier Memorial Award program is available to two students and two non-students.
Both of these programs are described and can be applied for online at www.cclvi.org. Information toll-free, 800-733-2258. The deadline for the Scheigert Scholarship is March 1 and for the Genensky Award is March 15.
Return to the Table of Contents