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 bybus #22.
On Saturday, May 8, eight SVCB members went to the Bayview Lasagna dinner. This doesn't sound very momentous, but the transportation was arranged entirely by Outreach--a first, I think. I want to thank Art Takahara, who kept the project moving, and the crew at Outreach for implementing it; and I hope it can be done again in 2011. The food and camaraderie were worth the effort, though I almost didn't get any lasagna through a strange confluence of mysterious events. SVCB's board voted to help compensate Outreach, and flowers were sent as an appreciative thank you.
The San Francisco LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired has submitted a grant proposal to the Silicon Valley Community Foundation to start an educational program in Santa Clara County to help blind and visually impaired people improve their financial futures. SVCB included a letter of support pledging its help in the educational effort. I understand we'll hear by late summer whether the grant is coming through.
Art Takahara, Susan Schulter, Michelle McGrew, and I had a productive brainstorming meeting on possible fund-raising events, including the Barbara Rhodes Memorial Fund, which will give a yearly sum to someone for needed technology. You can read the program's mission statement in the April newsletter, and be sure to read Susan's article in this one.
At our May meeting, Julie Lovins and Mary Nichols from the League of Women Voters sketched the propositions on the June 8 ballot, and I want to thank them both for their effort. Then there was the auction, where auctioneer Brian Higgins "gave away" stuff Michelle will tell you about. I heard a rumor that a Hamilton-Beach talking microwave oven might soon be up for bids.
There were several suggestions to include an auction during the August picnic, which Lupe Medrano, picnic chair, assured us will be at the San Jose Historic Park, exactly where it was last year. Whether an auction will occur will be decided soon. Remember to gather useful items for the picnic, and contact Naomi Grubb with questions.
Events at the spring convention were discussed as part of the business meeting, and I'm sure you'll enjoy the convention report in this newsletter.
In closing, let me remind you that Brian Higgins needs your help organizing his White Cane Safety Walk. I hear he wants 500 blind and visually impaired people, with their canes and dogs, walking in the event. It'll be Palo Alto's "Critical Mass", so be sure to call or email him. Oh boy, let's do it!
Return to the Table of ContentsJune 11, 2010, 1-3 p.m. PDT, at the LightHouse, 214 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco.
Join us to hear Apple discuss the latest universal access features on its iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch and OS X VoiceOver!
Apple's inclusion of assistive technology as an out-of-the-box feature in its latest products has made using the iPhone and other Apple products a truly viable option for blind and visually impaired users who wish to make calls, text, send emails and use various other Apple applications.
Brailled OS X VoiceOver manuals can be pre-ordered from Adaptations, the LightHouse store, and picked up at the event. (Note: Orders must be received 10 or more days before the event.)
To RSVP: Email rsvp@lighthouse-sf.org or call 1-888-400-8933.
Attend in-person or by calling in! (Conference call instructions will be provided with RSVP.)
The LightHouse is wheelchair accessible. Accommodations are available upon request.
Return to the Table of ContentsAs pre-announced on our phone tree, we held an auction at our May meeting. We raised $161! Thanks to those who donated items to be auctioned and to all who participated.
Did you miss the May auction but wished you could bid on the talking alarm clock? Well, you're in luck! We had to postpone the bidding on the clocks (we actually have two of them) because their instructions snuck away. But we have found the instructions, so come to the June meeting prepared to place your bids!
Do you shop at Lucky's in Santa Clara County or have friends or family who do? If so, consider participating in the "S.H.A.R.E.S." grocery rewards program. CCB has enrolled in grocery rewards programs offered by two statewide grocery chains (one of which includes several participating Lucky's stores). Each shopper who requests a "grocery rewards card" will receive a card that looks like a credit card. When making purchases at a participating store, the cardholder can slide his/her rewards card through the debit reader and then make his/her payment using the payment method of choice. Participating stores will then donate three percent of the total purchase amount to CCB. If you and/or your friends or family are interested in participating in this program, contact Lily at the CCB office to get your "S.H.A.R.E.S." grocery rewards cards. Or contact me at fund.raising@svcb.cc to find out which Lucky's stores are participating.
We still have cookbooks and T-shirts available! If you didn't get a chance to come by our booth at the CCB convention but would like to order or want more information about our "Twenty Years of Favorite Recipes" cookbook or our "reading is for everyone" T-shirts, contact me as listed above.
Remember to save 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 the June meeting!
Return to the Table of ContentsHappy June birthdays to our members Ken Carey, Elmer Chapson, Victor Clifford, Allen Jones, Alice McGrath, and Art Takahara!
Return to the Table of ContentsThis article about future fund raising ventures for our chapter is a collaboration among Mike Keithley, Susan Schulter, Michelle McGrew and Art Takahara. The seed for these ideas germinated at this spring's CCB Convention. We also received input from the board. Now it's everyone else's turn. Here's what we've been thinking:
Option 1. We could hold a spaghetti party, a dinner at a sponsoring restaurant, or a barbecue where all proceeds benefit our chapter. We'll try to get local organizations to donate food and supplies, so that we don't have to spend money from our own chapter budget. We should invite non-members. That's where we'll make our money. We can tell attendees about CCB as well as about our local chapter. If we've launched our technology scholarship program, we can share information about it as well.
When Art, Mike, Michelle and I discussed this option, Art told us that Mountain View's Sister City organization recently held a fund raising dinner at Chevys restaurant. For each member of the organization, or an accompanying friend of a member, who attended, Chevys donated 25 percent of the price of the meal to the Sister City organization. Chevys' stipulations for such a fund raiser are that no coupons may be used, and it must occur on a weekend. The Mountain View Sister City organization has also worked with Armadillo Willy's, so that if our chapter decided to pursue a restaurant-based fund raiser, we would have venue options and information about them. An advantage of a restaurant sponsored fund raiser over sponsoring our own spaghetti dinner or barbecue would be that we'd have a lot less work to do. We would still need to publicize our event.
Option 2. Conduct a well-publicized chapter concert or talent show. Hear that, Jingleers? Hear that, you quiet, other-talented chapter members? We already have the talent; what we would need next is an appropriate venue. The Sunnyvale Senior Center might be one option. The Bascom Blind Center might be another. An auditorium or theater at a local church, community college or high school might be yet another. Ideally the venue would be accessible to public transportation and centrally located in order to accommodate our own members and the public at large. We might charge $25 per talent show ticket, and this would also include refreshments.
For either of these fund raisers, timing will be crucial. Art, Mike, Michelle and I hypothetically propose holding the restaurant-based fund raiser during October of 2010, and the talent show fund raiser during April of 2011. We think that having the talent show during an afternoon as opposed to evening will draw more participants, and will enable more of our own members to attend.
Please come to our June membership meeting ready to give your input on these ideas. In order for them to succeed, we need everyone's creativity, smarts, and participation, or dare I name it: work.
Return to the Table of ContentsCome and enjoy a free, old-fashioned band concert in a beautiful park setting. Each month, Ye Olde Towne Band of Los Altos provides an enjoyable concert presenting music ranging from rousing marches to popular musicals. Spend a lazy Sunday afternoon sitting on the grass listening to your favorite concert music. A playground is available for the youngsters. Bring a picnic lunch to enjoy.
Shoup Park, 400 University Avenue, Los Altos, CA 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.the last Sunday of each summer month: May 30, June 27, July 25, August 29, September 26.
Fourth of July: 10:30 a.m. Shoup Park, Los Altos, CA.
Los Altos Festival of Lights Parade (November 28) 7 p.m., Main Street, Los Altos, CA
ye olde clarinetist-- www.windband.org/oldtowne/
Return to the Table of ContentsThe convention took place April 15 to 18, 2010 at the Crowne Plaza SFO Hotel in Burlingame.
It began on Thursday afternoon with sessions presented by the Technology Committee and the Rehabilitation Services Committee, followed by an afternoon session of the CCB Board of Directors. At the technology session, Louis Herrera, Chair of the committee, introduced Damien Pickering of HumanWare, who updated us on their latest technology, including the Intel Reader, Braille Note, Apex and Speech Access for the Blackberry, and Louis and others demonstrated the Pen Friend.
Meanwhile, at the rehab services session, Frank Welte, CCB's Director of Advocacy and Governmental Affairs, commented on surveys completed by consumers and others at the last convention, concerning the rehabilitation services at the Department of Rehabilitation.
The LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired invited everyone to a reception to meet the new LightHouse CEO, Bryan Bashin. Another Brian!!
For me, the highlight of the convention was the students of the California School for the Blind. Their Jazz Ensemble entertained convention goers before the evening Board meeting. The students were a big part of the convention this year. I was surprised at how much advocacy is conducted by CCB.
Friday started with the Credentials Committee conducted by our very own Rob Turner. The exhibit hall opened with the usual suspects, including Chris Gray of Bay Area Digital, Mike May of Sendero and Peter Proscia of IRTI. Affiliates had their business meetings: BRLC, CCCLV, CAT, and CLUA. AMC had their luncheon.
At 1:30 the First General Session was followed by the Constitution and By Laws and other committee meetings.
First General Session:
We started with Ben Kamphuis and Sean Corritore discussing Ben's Golden Gate Park Recreational Horticultural program for people who are disabled. They gave away plants and herbs.
Next Stuart Wittenstein, Superintendent, California School for the Blind in Fremont, spoke about their 150 years of service. After other school staff members described a variety of their programs, he concluded with "CSB's Next 50 Years".
Access and Transportation Committee met at the same time as First Timers' Seminar, Membership, Public Relations, Fund Raising, and Publications Committee.
At the Presidents' Dinner, James Forbes, President, Humboldt County Chapter, led a lively roundtable discussion on stereotypes of blind and low vision persons.
Second CCB General Session: Our first speaker was very interesting, newly blind Chris Downey talking about being a blind architect. Then Stuart Wittenstein, CSB, presented "The State of the Art: Innovations and Issues in Special Schools for the Blind".
Only one person was elected at this convention: the President of Blind Students of California, Leena Bandy, was elected to the Board to fill a vacancy.
On Saturday, the Education Committee had a breakfast, the Guide Dog Users had their GDUC business meeting, and the Convention Exhibits continued.
Other organizations who met as well:
Blind Students of California Business Meeting and Seniors with Vision Loss Committee. CCCLV, who joined the Seniors with Vision Loss Committee, presented Kim Charlson on Library Services for Seniors and People with Low Vision. Orientation Center for the Blind Alumni (OCBA) and Randolph-Sheppard Vendors of California (RSVC) also had business
meetings.
Third CCB General Session:
Following the Invocation, and the Pledge of Allegiance led by our own Mike Keithley, there were five speakers:
"Understanding Your Rights to Alternate Format from the Social Security Administration": Larisa Cummings, Esq., Staff Attorney, Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund, Berkeley.
"Department of Rehabilitation in Budgetary Hard Times": Joe Xavier, Acting Deputy Director, Specialized Services Division, and Catharine Bailes, Blind Field Services District Administrator, both Department of Rehabilitation.
"Putting Together an Entertainment and Recreation Listing and Its Benefits to your Organization": Beth Berenson, Program Coordinator of the LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired, San Francisco.
"Easy Steps for CCB Advocacy": Frank Welte, CCB Director of Governmental Affairs. In these times of term limits and budget deficits in Sacramento, it's more important than ever that CCB members become strong advocates in our local communities. Frank laid out steps for influencing your community leaders to make life better for people living with vision loss.
"Bits of San Mateo County History": Joan Levy, Board of Directors, San Mateo County History Museum, Redwood City.
Finally we got to the "Attitude Adjustment Hour" and then the CCB Banquet, with Board member Dan Kysor serving as emcee. Our guest speaker was Anita Aaron, Executive Director, World Institute on Disability.
Jack and I were both exhausted!!
The last general session, on Sunday, included reports from the Constitution and By-Laws Committee, the CCB Treasurer and the Resolutions Committee.
The seven resolutions included two that came from SVCB. My recollection is that the prescription labeling one was defeated because it was felt that it would jeopardize some negotiations going on with drug companies, and the one to censure rehab for causing the downfall of SAF was referred back to the committee for further clarification.
So ended the Convention.
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