Monitor Miniatures 5/97

Monitor Miniatures 5/97

The Braille Monitor

__May 1997

(back)

(contents)

Monitor Miniatures

One More Convention Tour:

Louisiana Coach Services is offering a special tour to the Casino Magic in Bay

St. Louis, Mississippi, at the 1997 National Convention. On Thursday, July 3,

at 1:00 p.m. a bus will take all interested convention attendees to Bay St.

Louis, Mississippi, (about one hour from New Orleans) to the Casino Magic. The

bus ride is free, and the group will have five hours to gamble on board one

of the great gambling casinos in Mississippi on the Gulf of Mexico. This tour

also features a free buffet on board ship. The bus will return to the hotel

at 9:00 p.m. If interested in participating in this gambling excursion to a

boat anchored on the Gulf of Mexico, please contact Suzie Yost after 6:00 p.m.

CDT at (504) 488-3888.

[PHOTO/CAPTION: From left to right Joel

Perez Ortiz, NFB of Puerto Rico member; Jose‚ Rodriquez, affiliate Board

of Directors member; Alpidio Rolon, NFB of Puerto Rico President; Vanessa Torres,

the bride; Toms Cintron, groom and Secretary of the NFB of Puerto Rico; Lydia

Usero, NFB-PR First Vice President; Vanessa Delgado, affiliate Treasurer; and

Carmin Brigantti, NFB-PR Second Vice President]

Wedding Bells:

We are delighted to report that on December 14, 1996, Tomas Cintron, Secretary

of the NFB of Puerto Rico, and Vanessa Torres, a member of the affiliate, were

married in San German, Puerto Rico. The ceremony and celebration that followed

were shared by many Federationists as demonstrated by the accompanying photograph.

Congratulations to the newlyweds. May their life together be long, joyous, and

filled with Federation activity.

New Travel Agent:

We have been asked to carry the following announcement:

Lelar Gravatt, a Federationist from Idaho,

reports that despite the discouragement of naysayers she has opened her own

business as a travel agent. She is prepared to offer itineraries and travel

information in Braille or on cassette tape to blind travelers interested in

receiving such information in alternative format. For more information contact

Lelar Gravatt, Your Travel Consultant, 227 East

South Fifth Street, Grangeville, Idaho 83530-2119, (208) 983-0687.

For Sale:

We have been asked to carry the following announcement:

One Optacon II, which has barely been used and works like new. I am asking $1,500

or best offer. Contact Leah Zamora at (305) 362-1219.

Free Large-Print Megilas Esther and Haggadah

Available:

We have been asked to carry the following announcement:

The Jewish Heritage for the Blind is pleased to announce that the large-print

Megilas Esther is available to individuals who have difficulty reading regular

print. As in past years, they will make available a large-print Haggadah as

well. Forward your request, along with a copy of a letter from your eye care

specialist indicating your condition, to the Jewish Heritage for the Blind,

Department of Large Print

Publications, 1655 East 24th Street, Brooklyn, New York 11229. Fax your order

to (718) 338-0653 or call (718) 601-9128.

For Sale:

We have been asked to carry the following announcement:

IBM DOS Screen Reader package, including Braille manuals and two keypads (one

for use with a pentium and the other for a 386 or 486 computer). Best offer.

Also DECtalk external speech synthesizer, $900. Call Cheryl Fischer at (216)

721-4853, day or evening.

IBM Braille Writer Wanted:

We recently received the following request:

I would like to purchase an IBM Braille writer, which (unlike the Perkins with

only six keys) has a standard keyboard which anyone could use without knowing

Braille. Contact Mrs. Ina Mae Enzor, 308 Power Street, Cumberland, Kentucky

40823.

New Chapter:

On Thursday, March 20, 1997, the fifty-sixth chapter of the NFB of South Carolina

was established. The Easley Chapter's new officers are Ann Hall, President;

Joyce Scott, Vice President; Karl Burns, Secretary; and Diane Camp, Treasurer.

Elected:

The Clark County Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind of Washington

held its annual election on December 21, 1996. We recently received notice of

the new officers. They are Kaye Kipp, President; Mike Freeman, Vice President;

Alco Canfield, Secretary; and Nancy Martin, Treasurer.

New Internet Group Discussion List for

Lawyers:

The National Association of Blind Lawyers, a division of the National Federation

of the Blind, has established a list serv on the Internet. The purpose of this

list serv is to provide a medium through which blind lawyers, legal professionals,

and other interested people can share information about the law and related

topics. Even though the list serv is in its infancy, a number of interesting

messages have already been transmitted through the virtual ether of the Internet.

Questions about White Cane laws, ADA cases, and blind lawyers trying to do their

jobs on terms of equality have already been hot items for discussion. The list

serv allows us to share information and news with each other almost instantaneously.

Anyone with a computer and an e-mail account can join the list. There is absolutely

no cost. The service is sponsored by the National Association of Blind Lawyers

and the National Federation of the Blind.

To join the list, send an e-mail message

to "[email protected]." (Leave out the quotation marks and the second

period.) When you send the message, leave the subject line blank, and in the

body of the message type "subscribe blindlaw"--again without the quotes.

Within a few minutes you should receive a return message confirming that you

are on the list. Then you will start to receive all the messages written by

list members throughout the nation and the world. Feel free to respond to the

messages and join the fray as legal beagles hash out the hot legal issues of

the day. We hope to see you on the list soon.

You can also find older messages from the list on NFB NET, the official bulletin

board system of the NFB. The messages can be found in Message Area 8. You can

reach NFB NET on the Internet by Telneting to nfbnet.org or by calling (612)

696-1975 using your modem.

If you have further questions, contact Scott LaBarre, President, National Association

of Blind Lawyers, 1830 South Acoma Street, Denver, Colorado, 80223, (303) 778-1130,

e-mail [email protected]

[PHOTO/CAPTION: Richard Edlund Receives

the Distinguished Service Award from Kevin Gillmore, President of the Kansas

State Board of Education.]

Honored:

We recently learned that the Board of Directors and staff of Accessible Arts,

Inc., and the Kansas State Board of Education honored Richard Edlund, Member

of the NFB Board of Directors, as a recipient of a 1996 Distinguished Service

Award. The presentation was made Wednesday, March 12, 1997, at the Kansas State

School for the Blind in Kansas City, Kansas.

Braille Publication for Diabetics Available:

We have been asked to carry the following announcement:

Exchange Lists for Meal Planning, published by the American Diabetes Association

and the American Dietetic Association, is available in Braille. The publication

contains exchange lists, nutrition guidance, tips for selecting appropriate

foods, a glossary, and an index. The Braille edition is eighty-two pages in

length and costs $10. Contact Louis Braille Center, 320 Dayton Street, Suite

125, Edmonds, Washington 98020-3590, (206) 776-4042.

Baseball Computer Game Update Available:

We have been asked to carry the following announcement:

Version Eleven of the award-winning World Series Baseball Game and Information

System is now available. The game is being played in forty-eight states on IBM-compatible

computers with screen readers and synthesizers. As manager in the game you have

many offensive and defensive strategic options available to you. Version Eleven

comes with 160 teams, including the 1996 pennant winners and All-Star teams.

There are two baseball games and ten information programs. There are many improvements,

most suggested by users of the game. Baseball action during the game is described

in the words of many of the famous radio and TV announcers. The cost is still

only $15 to new users, $5 for updates for old users. Send your check to Harry

Hollingsworth, 692 S. Sheraton Drive, Akron, Ohio 44319, (330) 644-2421.

PHOTO/CAPTION: Betty Niceley]

Betty Niceley Elected Vice Chairperson of BANA:

In a March 1, 1997, press release the Braille Authority of North America (BANA)

announced that Betty Niceley, Member of the Board of Directors of the National

Federation of the Blind and the NFB's representative to BANA, was elected Vice

Chairperson at its annual meeting in the fall of 1996.

Elected:

Kenny Johnson, Secretary of the San Fernando Chapter of the National Federation

of the Blind of California, reports the results of the chapter's January 11

election. The new officers are Robert Stigile, President; Joy Cardinet, Vice

President; Kenny Johnson, Secretary; Helen Barnstein, Treasurer; and Don Burns,

Board member.

Recorded Publications Available:

We have been asked to carry the following announcement:

Recorded Periodicals, a Division of Associated Services for the Blind, announces

the availability of subscriptions to the following recorded periodicals: Anthropology/Archeology,

$36; Civil War Times Illustrated, $28; Computers, $36; Computerworld, $36; Discover,

$42; Family Circle, $42; Forbes, $57; Harvard Men's Health Watch, $36; Harvard

Women's Health Watch, $36; Mac User, $36; Ms. Magazine, $36; Organic Gardening,

$36; Pennsylvania Magazine, $28; Popular Mechanics, $36; Popular Science, $36;

Psychology Today, $30; Radio Digest, $36; Science News, $48; Science and Medicine,

$48; Scientific American, $48; Skeptical Inquirer, $22; Smithsonian Magazine,

$36; Stroke: a Special Report, $16; Taste of Home Cooking Magazine, $28; The

Sensitive Gut: a Special Report, $16; Timely Topics "TIME," $36; and

Trains Magazine, $36.

To receive any of these publications, send your request to Recorded Periodicals,

Associated Services for the Blind, 919 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

19107, or call (215) 627-0600, extension 3208. You may pay with cash, check,

money order, VISA, or MasterCard.

Elected:

In its annual elections the Kankakee Heartland Chapter of the National Federation

of the Blind of Illinois elected the following officers and Board members: Bill

Isaacs, President; Dan Boudreau, Vice President; Marjorie Stouffer, Secretary;

Ruth Isaacs, Treasurer; and Board members Eileen Boudreau, Frank Richmond, and

Marcia Beck.

Braille Transcription Service Available:

We have been asked to carry the following announcement:

I am Jolene Boshart and have been a member of the Federation since 1978. I now

own a Braille translation company, called J. B. Translations. This is your opportunity

to get affordable, accurate Braille translation at $.45 per Braille page, because

I believe that blind people should have access to Braille at an affordable rate.

I have used Braille all of my life and taught Braille for sixteen years. I provide

expert translation and will pay particular attention to the layout of each Braille

page. I can work from print material as well as scanned text or text taken directly

from a disk. (Save all documents in an MS-DOS format.) My English major enables

me to provide minor grammatical corrections and spell-checking, if desired.

My company also offers custom typing, including interviews, papers, and other

manuscripts. Prices: $1.25 per double-spaced page of regular print, $2 per single-spaced

page of regular print. Large-print materials are also available at $.45 per

page.

Quick turn-around on materials. Discount pricing available on quantity brailling

or typing.

For further information contact J. B. Translations, 2019 S. 10th Street, Lincoln,

NE 68502; phone: (402) 435-6697.

Attention Blind Women Going to New Orleans:

The Committee on the Status of Blind Women of the North America/Caribbean Region

of the World Blind Union has asked us to conduct a focus group during the National

Convention discussing issues and challenges of socialization for blind and visually

impaired girls and young women. If you were blind as a child or very young woman

and would be interested in taking part in this discussion, please consider volunteering

for this activity. The discussion will take place at 9:00 p.m. Wednesday, July

2. Participants will be asked to read a short paper beforehand. To express interest

in this project, contact Barbara Pierce at 237 Oak Street, Oberlin, Ohio 44074-1517,

or e-mail [email protected]. Please indicate the format in which you prefer

to receive the paper--Braille, large print, or e-mail. Be sure to

include your postal or e-mail address.

Mississippi School for the Blind Reunion:

Plans for a school reunion are underway for former students, employees, and

friends of the Mississippi School for the Blind, which was located on Capers

Avenue. This celebration is scheduled to be held August 29 to August 31, 1997.

All who are interested in participating in this historic occasion should contact

Gwendolyn Stokes as soon as possible at (601) 982-7014. Her address is 987 Chastain

Drive, Jackson, Mississippi 39206. Please come and renew old friendships.

National Church Conference for the Blind:

We have been asked to carry the following announcement:

The 1997 National Church Conference of the Blind will meet in Denver, Colorado,

July 27 through 31. There will be music, Bible study, seminars, and tours for

your enjoyment. For further information call (303) 789-7441 or write NCCB, P.O.

Box 163, Denver, Colorado 80201.

Brailler Repair Available:

We have been asked to carry the following announcement:

Is your Brailler getting a little sluggish? Whatever the problem, let Alan Ackley

recondition it. Trained at Howe Press, he uses only factory parts. He has restored

more than 1,500 Braillers from over forty states and Canada. He is a certified

transcriber. Fast turnaround, reasonable charges, and all work guaranteed. Call

(515) 288-3931 or e-mail to [email protected] or just ship your anemic

Brailler to Ackley Appliance Service, 627 East 5th Street, Des Moines, Iowa

50309.

Correction:

In the March, 1997, issue we published Lonnie and Gail Wagner's notice of a

home-based business opportunity with telephone training and support and an audio-tape

system for beginners. The toll-free number listed was incorrect; the correct

number is (800) 927-2527, extension 02972. We regret the error.

Attention VI Teachers:

Teachers of the blind and visually impaired are planning to get together during

the 1997 convention and

share ideas, experiences, and friendship. If you are working in this field or

interested in doing so, listen for an announcement of the time and place of

this meeting.

Audio Cable Guide Available:

We have been asked to carry the following announcement:

An audio cable guide is available on four-track cassette twenty-four times a

year. Premium Cable Listings gives up-to-date information concerning broadcast

channels, cable networks, and premium movie services as well as sports information

for regional sports networks. The guide is $28 a year or $10 for a four-month

trial subscription. Call (410) 391-9890 for more information, or send a check

or money order payable to Premium Cable Listings, 107 Cloverwood Court, Baltimore,

Maryland 21221.

Elected:

The NFB of Missouri held its annual convention

April 11 to 13 in Springfield, Missouri. Officers elected were Gary Wunder,

President; Tom Stevens, First Vice President; Rita Lynch, Second Vice President;

Dick Morris, Recording Secretary; Jim Moynihan, Corresponding Secretary; Carol

Coulter, Treasurer; and Debbie Houchen and Bill Neal, Board members.

For Sale:

We have been asked to carry the following announcement:

I have for sale a 1.44MB, 3.5-inch portable disk drive for the Braille 'n Speak

and Braille Lite series. This drive is only for the Blazie notetakers mentioned.

Brand new these drives cost $600; asking $250 plus shipping and handling. Contact

Isaac Obie, 755 Tremont Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02118, or call (617) 247-0026,

e-mail: [email protected]

Recorded Tutorial on Searching the Net

Now Available:

We have been asked to carry the following announcement:

"Top Netsearch Guide: How to Find What You Want to Find on the Internet"

is now available. This recorded tutorial teaches how best to use AltaVista,

the most comprehensive index to the World Wide Web, how to use Yahoo and other

important directories of Internet resources, how and why to search Usenet using

AltaVista and DejaNews, how to find information on a wide variety of topics

of broad interest, and how to accomplish all these things using e-mail. The

tutorial comes in two- and four-track versions and with a supplemental disk

containing an html file of pointers to the resources discussed and other files

of interest. Prices are as follows: the four-track version, $19.50; the two-track

version, $22.50. Add $2 shipping for either version. Contact Dean Martineau

at Top Dot Enterprises, [email protected], (425) 335-4894, 8930 11th Place SE,

Everett, Washington 98205, Deamar's Domain: http://www.eskimo.com/~deamar

Also be sure to ask about tutorials for Windows 95, which may now be available.

[PHOTO/CAPTION: Mark Noble]

Elected:

Noel Nightingale writes to report that in February Mark Noble, Second Vice President

of the Greater Seattle Chapter and member of the Board of Directors of the NFB

of Washington, was elected to chair the Advisory Council to the Washington State

Department of Services for the Blind.

[PHOTO/CAPTION: Lucy Carpenter, 1918

to 1997]

In Memoriam:

We are saddened to report the death on March 30 of Lucy Carpenter, President

of the Eastern Orange Chapter of the NFB of New York. Lucy and Dick Carpenter

founded the chapter in 1975, and they were chapter leaders from then on. Dick

died in 1991. Lucy will be deeply missed.

Tae Kwon-do Jungtion Self-Defense Seminar:

NFB New Yorkers in action! Join Marie and Rodney Kouthoofd at 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday,

July 1, and benefit from their extensive experience in the martial arts. This

convention seminar will be a hands-on, practical, step-by-step self-defense

class for anyone eighteen or older. Accompanying Rodney and Marie will be assistant

instructors Pam Whaley and Steve Winner. Together we will discuss issues pertinent

to self-defense instruction in basic techniques using cane skills as well as

a confident attitude and awareness. Our goal? to prepare you for situations

that may arise in an attack. Registration, $10. If you have questions, call

Rodney or Marie at (716) 234-0654 or (716) 392-3826. No prior experience necessary.

Join the fun; you'll get a kick out of it.