IN THIS ISSUE

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
by Mike Keithley

On February 25 I attended the second of three meetings on what to do about the #34 community bus route in Mountain View. I was able to use an assistive-listening receiver, which made all the difference: I could participate!

This route was developed for the use of seniors, but ridership is low, which is understandable in relation to the current route and schedule. At the meeting we selected one of several proposals offered to reroute the line so that it once again goes to the Senior Center! But VTA's length-of-route constraints on the line mean that it still won't serve many seniors who want to use it, limiting additional ridership.

While the #34 bus route may not be of much concern to many of you, I noted some aspects I'd like to pursue here. First, community bus routes will again be threatened by harsh service cuts this July. VTA has a 30 million dollar shortfall in 2010, and routes with poor ridership need to be severely modified, merged or scrapped. Secondly, I noted VTA's silent response to an impassioned comment that community bus routes should be operated as services to the community, not for profit. Silence underscores the fact that the days of such an operating philosophy are gone now. Why? Well, VTA has always operated for profit; and the fact that we've enjoyed good transportation through the years is a reflection of good economic conditions, where state aid and sales tax revenues could support them. Not so any more. It seems that we're now living with the view that it's better to let services crumble rather than pay for them. We're lost until that attitude changes.

So we're in for more service cuts. One thing I admired about VTA's negotiation effort is that they're encouraging people served by community bus routes to provide feedback and commentary. They were friendly, too. So much for transportation. Let me move on.

Julie Lovins was our program speaker at the February meeting. Did you know there is an ever- increasing, continent-size island in the Pacific ocean composed entirely of plastic garbage, and we have a part in its existence? So let's reduce, reuse, and then recycle! Julie outlined many ideas to do this, and you can hear the program on our website.

The CCB spring convention is coming! Be sure to make your reservations now. The convention is in Burlingame from April 15 to 18 at the Crowne Plaza SFO hotel, and it's ready for you. Callers must state that they are making reservations for the "California Council of the Blind Convention in April 2010 at the Crowne Plaza SFO Hotel." The total cost per night is $99--probably the lowest we'll see for a while. The hotel recommends that you use its local number at 650-342-9200. We hope to provide you with details on how all of you can get to the convention, and I hope you take the opportunity to do so. It won't be this close for a long time.

During February's business meeting, Brian Higgins was elected convention delegate and Jack Syvertsen is alternate. Roger Petersen will represent SVCB on the nominating committee, where a new CCB director will be proposed to complete Louis Preston's term. He passed away recently, and you'll read about that in the next BC. SVCB will be credentialed as having 68 voting members, which translates to 13 affiliate votes.

We'll be co-hosting the convention's Hospitality Room with the San Mateo and San Francisco chapters. Our day will be Friday, and six people volunteered to help. Susan Hyatt's dad will give the invocation at Friday's general session.

We also decided that Andy's All You Can Eat BBQ will cater our August picnic, and the cost will be $20 for adults and $10 for those 12 and under.

PROGRAM
by Roger Petersen

April 1 is "Census Day." This is the day when, every ten years, everyone is to be counted according to the US Constitution. Besides the Constitutional purpose of apportioning Congressional seats, the Census is important in determining how a lot of federal money is handed out.

Doris Tse, Partnership Specialist in the local office of the Bureau of the Census, will talk with us on March 20 about how we can best participate in the census and avoid scams from people who say they are census takers and are not.

If you have questions about the census, this is your chance.

MEMBERSHIP CORNER
by Mike Keithley

Happy March birthdays to John Buck, Sam Chen, Cathy Olson, and Jack Syvertsen.

This month we have a mini-profile of Jack. He has been married for 65 years to Stella, who I hope comes to a meeting soon. He will celebrate his 86th birthday on March 20, the day of our membership meeting.

Jack, who has macular degeneration and wears hearing aids, came with his family to San Jose about 12 years ago, and has been with SVCB for 10 years. His son James has started a center for visually impaired people in Modesto.

He is a veteran, and spends most of his time with Lions Clubs in the area. He works to help visually impaired seniors "get out of the house." He started the Visionaries, a Lions Club of visually impaired people.

Jack shows up at many of our meetings, so say "hi"!

GOODIES UPDATE
by Bev Clifford, Goodies Chair

Hi Everyone,

We have done very well in acquiring snacks for upcoming SVCB meetings, and I sincerely thank all those who have volunteered. Every slot for 2010 is now filled, so it seems that your angels have had quite a bit of influence! I guess I'd better thank them, too, huh?

EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT
submitted by Eric Bridges, ACB Washington Office

Earned Income Tax Credit Can Put Money in Your Pocket

You could be cheating yourself at tax time, even if you are not required to file a tax return. The IRS estimates one in four eligible taxpayers will overlook the Earned Income Tax Credit-- or EITC--worth up to $5,600 or more this year.

EITC is a refundable tax credit, meaning you can get money back even if you owe no federal income tax or had no tax withheld. And, if you owe tax, it can offset the amount you must pay.

The credit has been making the lives of working people a little easier for 35 years. Yet it remains little known, possibly because people move into and out of eligibility as their income, marital status and parental status change.

Unlike other tax credits, EITC is based on a combination of factors such as the source and amount of your income, or combined income if married, whether you have qualifying children and how many. Although children are not required for eligibility, they increase the amount of your credit. Through new legislation, families with three or more children can get even more money.

The credit is complex, but worth exploring. It's even more valuable if your state has a corresponding tax credit. If you had less than $48,000 in income from wages, self-employment or farming in 2009, see if you qualify. Find more information at www.irs.gov/eitc. Use IRS's online EITC Assistant to determine your eligibility and the amount of your credit, or use the worksheet in your tax instruction package.

No-cost help is available in many communities. Volunteer income tax assistance sites or IRS Taxpayer Assistance Centers will compute your EITC and prepare your return at no charge. To locate a volunteer site, call your community's 211 or 311 number for local services or call the IRS at 1-800906-9887. Locate an IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center in the blue pages of your telephone directory. Remember: If you are eligible, you must file a federal income tax return, even if you are not otherwise required to file, and you must specifically claim the credit to get it.

Per the IRS, rural and non-traditional families (such as grandparents raising grandchildren), childless workers, and Spanish-speaking taxpayers are among those who most frequently overlook the credit.

FUND-RAISING REPORT
by Michelle McGrew

As announced in my last report, we held an auction at our February meeting, with a brand new Pen Friend Portable Voice Output Device. We also received an additional item, a reusable shopping bag, from Julie after her talk on recycling. We'd like to thank our anonymous donor and Julie for their contributions to our auction. And thanks to all who participated. We raised $116!

ORAL HULL CAMP FOR THE BLIND
submitted by Roger Petersen

Editor's Note: Bernice and I attended a convention of ACB of Oregon here several years ago. It's dormitory living, along with some mobile homes owned by regulars.

Enjoy a Summer Experience in Beautiful Oregon! Oral Hull Foundation for the Blind Announces our 2010 Adult Summer Camps

28th annual summer camps for blind and low vision adults:

Adventure I Camp, July 24 - July 30

Adventure II Camp, August 1 - August 7

Friends & Alumni Camp, August 9 - August 15

Modified Adventure Camp, August 17-August 23 - New this year

featuring our most attractive elements of adventure camp in a stimulating yet relaxed atmosphere.

Oral Hull Foundation for the Blind, 23-acre campus in the foothills of Mt. Hood, 3 miles north of Sandy, Oregon--average August temperature is in the low 80s.

Cost: Adventure Camps $400 with the Friends & Alumni and MAC $375

Free round-transportation provided to the Portland Airport.

Registration is now open to the Oral Hull Foundation for the Blind's 2010 summer camp season. Oral Hull's four one-week sessions of adult vacation camps offer high quality programs and activities that appeal to a wide array of tastes. This summer participants will dine on fine cookery, enjoy ideal weather and have a choice of participating in traditional camp activities as well as our more adventuresome programs such as white water rafting, skydiving, bungee jumping, horse back riding, archery, hiking, rock climbing and more.

EVENT CALENDAR
compiled by Mike Keithley