Monitor Miniatures

Monitor Miniatures

Braille MonitorMarch 1986
(back)(contents)
Monitor Miniatures
**New Baby:
Linda Scales of South Carolina writes:
Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Scales of Union, South
Carolina, announce the birth of their
son Lee Jefferson Scales, Jr., on Friday,
February 7. He weighed eight
pounds, two ounces, and was twenty-one
inches long.
**Recovery:
Gloria Brady, a member of the East Bay
Chapter of the National Federation of
the. Blind of California, is recovering
from triple bypass heart surgery which
she had on February 4, 1986. Her sister,
Jeanette Harrison, reports that she
is home and doing well.
**Activity in Maine:
The National Federation of the Blind
of Maine is becoming increasingly active
and effective. The February 21, 1986,
Central Maine Sentinel said:
Sandy Sanborn, secretary of the Maine
affiliate of the National Federation of
the Blind, recently returned from a trip
to Washington, D.C, where he met with Maine's legislative delegation to talk
about his organization's goals. Sanborn
said it was the first time in recent
memory Maine was represented at the
organizations' annual trek to Capitol
Hill.
"The primary function of the organization
is in the area of public education
and self-advocacy. We want to be recognized
as individuals, and we want to be
viewed as respectable citizens," he
said.
"We are trying to be useful people in
the community like everybody else, and
we want to be recognized as such...."
Sanborn and others from the Central
Maine chapter went to Augusta last week
to talk with education officials about
the possibility of including standards
for teachers of the blind.
"We're just trying to insure that
quality standards are put in," he said.
**Supreme Court Rules on Rehab and Religion:

For
the past several years a battle
has been taking place concerning the
right of a blind person to exercise
freedom of choice in what college
courses he will take and still be able
to receive assistance from vocational
rehabilitation. The student is Larry
Witters, and his ambition has been to
study theology at Inland Empire School
of the Bible in Spokane, Washington.
Lower courts said Witters could not
receive help from rehab since this would
violate the constitutional doctrine of
the separation of church and state. The
Supreme Court has now made its decision.
It has reversed the lower courts and
ruled that Witters is eligible to receive
assistance from rehabilitation
while studying theology.
Justice Thurgood Marshall, who consistently
has voted against state efforts
to fund sectarian schools at the elementary
and secondary levels, disagreed
with the lower court's finding that
Witters use of state funds for religious
training had the primary effect of
advancing religion.
Noting the "well settled" precedent
"that the Establishment Clause is not
violated every time money previously in
the possession of a state is conveyed to
a religious institution," Marshall wrote
that Witters' choice to spend vocational
funds for religious education was his,
not the state's.
**The Way I Do It:
Olivia Ferrante of Revere, Massachusetts,
writes:
"I. To cut down on fingers sticking to
thermoform Braille pages, put a little
talcum powder on your hands. Your fingers
will fly over the plastic.
"
2. To grate cheese without spilling,
stand the grater in a large mixing bowl. Grate cheese in the bowl."
** Wedding:
We recently received the following
announcement:
"Because you have shared in our lives
by your friendship and love you are
invited to share in our marriage when we
exchange vows and begin our new life
together on Saturday, the third of May,
Nineteen Hundred and Eighty-Six, at four
o'clock in the afternoon. United Methodist
Church, Merrimac, Wisconsin.
Conne LaVay and Rick Canode."
** Hospitalized:
Jackie Billey, President of the NFB of
Connecticut, slipped on the ice in late

February and injured her face. She was
briefly hospitalized early in March for
corrective surgery. All is now well,
and she is back to her full pace of
activity.
**Kidney Dialysis:

Ed Bryant, Vice President of our Diabetic
Division, has asked that we make
the following announcement:
Arrangements have been worked out for
people needing to dialyze at this year's
national convention in Kansas City,
Missouri. The dialysis contact is: Mary
Kaiser, R.N., Dialysis Clinics, Inc.,
1010 Carondelet, Suite 10, Kansas City,
Missouri 64114, 816-941-0595. If the
unit where you dialyze sets up your
program, they should tell Mary Kaiser
that you are with the National Federation
of the Blind. It is imperative
that you bring your Medicare health card
and other medical insurance information
with you. DCI requires that you pay the
twenty percent not covered by Medicare
up front. If needed, they are willing
to work out other arrangements and you
can be billed later. If you do not have
Medicare, then the total amount must be
paid in advance. If you are in this
predicament or have any questions pertaining
to the avoce, please contact Ed
Bryant, 111-A North Stadium Boulevard,
Apt. 162, Columbia, Missouri 65203, 314445-1928.
**National Church Conference:

We have been asked to carry the following
announcement:
"Make plans to attend the National
Church Conference of the Blind, August
3-7, in Austin, Texas, at the South
Austin Plaza Hotel. Special events
include Bible Studies, Seminars, Choir
and Talent Time, a Texas style barbeque
dinner, and boat ride on the Colorado
River. For cost and additional information
write: NCCB, P.O. Box 163, Denver,
Colorado 80201, or call Frank
Finkenbinder at 303-455-3430."
**Dies:

Under date of March 21, 1988, Hazel
Staley writes:
"Death has once again struck our Charlotte,
North Carolina, chapter. Ken
Batchelder had a heart attack and died
suddenly yesterday afternoon, just one
month to the day from Bob's funeral.
Ken was President of our chapter from
January 1, 1984, to January 1, 1988. His
wife, Rita, was a past secretary of our
chapter."
**Doll Times:
We have been asked to carry the following
announcement:
"Doll Times is a monthly magazine.
Subscription fee is $18 a year. The
magazine contains articles, ads, and
information about doll shows. Each
subscriber may place a free sixty-word
ad each month. The classified ad section
contains: antique dolls, modern,
miniatures, toys, books, paper dolls,
and wanted. Those interested may write
for a free sample. We are trying to
ascertain if there is enough interest to
publish the magazine in Braille or on
tape or disc. Doll Times, 218 West
Woodin, Dallas, Texas 75224, 214-943
2107."
**TBS, Inc.:

We have been asked to carry the following
announcement:
Triformation Braille Service, Inc.,
would like to be included on all mailing

lists with references to state Federation
conventions to be held in 1988.
Thank you. TBS, Inc., 3142 S.E. Jay
Street, Stuart, Florida 33497.
**Runs for Senate:

A news release issued in March of this
year said in part:
Peggy Pinder, a Grinnell lawyer, has
announced her candidacy for Senate District
#27 in the Iowa General Assembly
currently held by Joe Brown, a Montezuma
Democrat who is not seeking reelection.
Pinder, who established a law practice
in Grinnell in 1985, was a prosecutor
for over five years in Sioux City for
the Woodbury County Attorney's office.
A 1971 graduate of Grinnell High
School, Pinder was graduated magna cum
laude in 1976 from Cornell College,
Mount Vernon, where she was elected to
Phi Beta Kappa and Mortar Board and
served as editor of The Cornellian, the
student newspaper.
She received her law degree from Yale
University, New Haven, Connecticut, in
1979 and was admitted to the Iowa Bar in
1980.
Pinder is a member of the Poweshiek County, Iowa, and American Bar Associations
and also has been active in the
National Federation of the Blind, a
civil rights and self-help organization
of blind people. She is also a former
member of the Iowa Commission on the
Status of Women.
**Chapter Organized:

Snow, which is a rare visitor to South
Carolina, did not prevent Don and Betty
Capps from reorganizing the Cherokee
County Chapter of the NFB of South Carolina.
Following two days of contacting
blind citizens throughout the area, a
banquet was held on Friday evening,
February 28, at which time new officers
were elected. These included President,
William Richards; Vice President,
Leonard Home; Secretary, Mrs. Doshie
Mullinax; Treasurer, Mrs. Amy Maynor;
and Social Director, Wallace Caldwell.
President Richards is a blinded Vietnam
Veteran. He is scheduled to assume the
position of personnel management with
the Gaffney Board of Public Works in the
near future.
**FootbaIl Schedule Available:

We have been asked to carry the following
announcement:
"I am compiling a 1986 NCAA college
football schedule with over one hundred
teams represented. Braille copies are
$3.00. Anyone interested should contact
me as soon as possible to be placed on
our mailing list before the fall season.
Contact: Allen H. Gillis, Route 12, Box
2985, Cullman, Alabama 35055."
**Large Cell Brailler:

Howe Press has asked us to carry the
following announcement:
For many years Howe Press has produced
a modified Brailler known as the
Jumbo Dot Brailler, which produced a
larger dot within a larger cell. In
addition, the spacing between the cells
was greater. This type of Braille was
found especially useful for persons with
decreased tactile sensitivity, especially
the elderly and those with diabetes.
We were also producing a special
version of Jumbo which used the usual
Perkins Braille Dot housed in the larger
cell and with the increased spacing.
Consumer feedback tells us that this is
actually easier to read and superior to
the old Jumbo Dot Braille. Therefore, we are retooling to make this option readily available to all. We are calling this "Large Cell Braille" and we will refer to the machine as a "Large Cell Brailler."
Sample sheets are available from Howe Press at no charge which show the three versions of Braille: Regular, Large Cell, and Jumbo. Interested persons should call or write Howe Press at 175 North Beacon Street, Watertown, Massachusetts 02172, 617-924-3490. The "Jumbo" Brailler will still be available. When ordering, the customer must be specific about the model desired."
**Battery Tester:
We have been asked to carry the following announcement:
"Introducing an Audible Battery Tester. This hand-held unit emits a strong buzz when teh battery is good, a weaker buss when the battery is marginal and should not be used in recorders, and no sound when useless. This single unit tests AAA, AA, C, D, N, 9-Vold, and button cells. To order your Battery Tester, send a check or money order for %15.95 each (in U.S. funds only) to Ann Morris Enterprises, 26 Horseshoe Lane, Department M, Levittown, New York 11756."
**Tweedledump:
The Tweedledump is a small compact device that attaches to an RS232C cable. It enables you literally to hear data as it passes through your asynchronous serial connection. Any time data is sent through the line, the Tweedledump makes a continuous chirping noise, and when data flow ceases, the Tweedledump stops chirping. The Tweedledump draws its power from the signal sent through the line, so you don't need any batteries to use it. Using the Tweedledump, you will know immediately when something is being transmitted or received through your serial connection. You don't have to look at your screen or use some other less desirable method.
A development of the Federation's Research and Development Committee, Tweedledump can be purchased for $16. Simply write to: Mr. John Monarch, 525 Pawnee Trail, Frankfort, Kentucky 40601.
**Triple Seminar:
The National Federation of the Blind of Illinois and the NFB of Missouri co-sponsored seminars for parents of blind children, for JOB applicants, and a "Braille Bowl" for blind children on Saturday, March 1, 1986, at the Clarion Hotel, 200 South 4th Street, St. Louis.
**Hope:
Bob Hope has recorded radio and television spots for the National Federation of the Blind. To get these spots to distribute to radio or television stations write to the National Office.
**Piano Technicians Meet:
We have been asked to carry the following announcement:
The annual convention of the Piano Technicians Guild will take place in Las Vegas, Nevada, at the Caesar's Palace Hotel, July 21 to July 25, 1986. There will be a special one-day seminar for blind technicians on Monday, July 21. Kai Okada will be demonstrating tools designed for blind tuners. Room rates are $52 single and $60 double. Convention registration is $90 for Guild members and $150 for nonmembers. For further information contact Piano Technicians Guild, 9140 Ward Parkway, Kansas, Missouri 64114, 816-444-3500 or
Stanley Oliver, 1985 East Outer Drive,
Detroit, Michigan 48234, 313-891-9226.
**Clock Wanted:

From time to time, as Federationists
know, I get letters from my friend Edgar
Sammons, who lives in the mountains of
Tennessee. In a recent letter he said:
"Here is something that I would like you
to put in the Monitor. If anybody has a
Braille Baby Ben alarm clock with two
winding keys that they would sell me, I
would like to hear from them. They
don't make such clocks anymore." If you
want to follow up on this, contact:
Edgar P. Sammons, Route 1, Box 1840,
Mountain City, Tennessee 37633.
**Bicycle:

We have been asked to carry the following
announcement:
A tandem bicycle tour of Europe is
planned for the blind this summer. The
dates are July 19 through August 1,
1986. The estimated cost is $1,595 from
New York. For information write or
call: International Bicycle Tour, Inc.,
12 Mid Place, Chappaqua, New York 10514,
914-238-4576.
** Organized:

We are proud to announce the formation
of the Hartsville Chapter of the NFB of
South Carolina. Hartsville becomes the
twenty-sixth chapter in the state. Don
and Betty Capps spent two days in the
Hartsville area and found blind citizens
to be very receptive. On Saturday evening,
March 15, the organizational banquet
was held. The officers are: President,
W.P. Stogner; Vice President,
Anthony Tidwell; Secretary, Diane Mose;
Treasurer, Rachael Helms; and Social
Director, Belle Finley.(back)(contents)