Karen Mayry

Monitor Miniatures

1999 NFB Merchants Spring Meeting:

Don Morris, President of the Merchants Division, has asked us to carry the following announcement:

A conference cruise or Seminar at Sea will be sponsored by the Merchants Division. The conference date is April 18 to 25, 1999. In addition to program topics such as the Randolph-Sheppard Act—What does it say? What does it mean?--and rules and regulations (while you may not think that is an exciting subject, it is the backbone of the program in which most blind vendors earn their daily bread), there will also be panels dealing with Roth and Simple IRA retirement programs for vendors and employees. We are attempting to arrange a personal guided tour of the ship's galley (kitchen for us landlubbers). In addition to a busy conference schedule, there will be plenty of time to visit beautiful ports of call, including San Juan, Puerto Rico; St. Thomas, Virgin Islands; Casa de Campo; and Nassau, Bahamas.

The conference facility is the Costa Cruise Line luxury ship, the Romantica. This is an excellent ship featuring large cabins and an excellent dining room with superb service and a vast selection from which to choose. A variety of packages is available at prices ranging from $723 to $953, including the conference, room, meals, and port taxes. Air packages and baggage handling can also be arranged. For additional information contact Sue Kable at Glyndon Square Travel, (800) 875-9685. A $200-per-person deposit is required to guarantee these prices. Act now; time is of the essence.

For Sale:

We have been asked to carry the following announcement:

The following equipment, including several new items, is in excellent condition for a reasonable cost: talking calculator; four- and two-track tape recorders; glucose monitor, audible Diascan with test strips and carrying case included, almost new; audible thermometer with tape manual; 386SX computer with speech, 120MB, fully loaded with WordPerfect 5.1, accounting program, database, Lotus, with scanner program (Arkenstone OpenBook 2C color scanner); and various other equipment.

Call (413) 584-0807 for prices and more details. Call between 9:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time.

[PHOTO/CAPTION: Karen Mayry]

Honored:

On August 26, 1998, Karen Mayry, President of the NFB of South Dakota, was the recipient of the Failure Is Impossible Award for her outstanding contribution to Women's Equality in South Dakota, celebrating the 150th anniversary of the Women's Rights Movement. The award was sponsored by the National Women's History Project. Only six women were chosen from a field of applicants which included the lieutenant governor, who was not selected. Congratulations to Karen.

Elected:

The East County San Diego Chapter of the NFB of California recently held its annual election with these results: Sheila Johnson, President; Tom Fletcher, Vice President; David House, Treasurer; Linda Gwizdak, Secretary; and Patty Gwizdak and Betty Quinones, Board Members.

Glasses and Braille Materials Needed:

We have been asked to carry the following announcement:

Do you have sighted friends or relatives who wonder about what to do with their old glasses, besides throwing them away? Please tell them not to throw them away but give them to you. Old glasses in good condition can be sent to India, Bangladesh, and Uganda. They will be appreciated in these countries. Braille magazines are welcome too. Glasses and Braille magazines can be sent Free Matter for the Blind to Jackie Mahone, 4433 7th Avenue, Sacramento, California 95820. These items will then be sent overseas where they are needed.

Correspondence with Blind Parents Invited:

We have been asked to carry the following request:

After many years of marriage, my husband and I are now facing the possibility of starting a family with the help of medical intervention. Support from blind parents would be most helpful, which is the purpose of this request. We are both in our forties, are both blind, and live productive lives. My husband works in a local municipality and learns Talmud studies several hours daily. I work in pre- and post-marriage counseling. My husband made the exodus with the Jewish community from Beirut following the 1967 Six-Day War, and I came to Israel from the States while studying in college and decided to stay. We are both committed to our Jewish faith and take it seriously. We both have positive attitudes towards our blindness and talk about it openly. Alternative techniques have allowed us to be mobile and function as well as anyone else.

The possibility of being able to start a family has awakened within me the need to communicate with other mothers who are blind. What are the practical techniques that have helped in everyday situations? I am also interested in exploring the underlying issues of being a blind parent in the larger sighted community. Even if it turns out that our efforts are not fruitful, the exchange of ideas this correspondence could produce would for me in itself be a potentially rich and valuable learning experience.

Anyone wishing to correspond should realize I am looking for individuals who would be willing to maintain an ongoing exchange of thoughts and ideas. Braille and cassettes are my preferred methods of communication at present, although in the future computer communication may be added. If you are interested, please contact Tziporah Wishky, Rechov Harei Yehuda 74/10, Yismach Moshe, Ganei Tikva, Israel 55900.

For Sale:

We have been asked to carry the following announcement:

Optacon 2, in excellent condition, barely used, accessories include extra battery pack, tracking aid, Braille manuals, and A.C. charger/adapter. Asking $2,500 or best offer. Contact S. Oswal in Braille, print, or cassette at P.O. Box 3927, 200 Bloomfield Avenue, West Hartford, Connecticut 06117, or e-mail:

<[email protected]>.

Voicepondence Club:

We have been asked to carry the following announcement:

The Voicepondence Club is an international organization in which members correspond with each other by cassette. It is open to all people, with special services to its blind members, including copies of its publications on tape. Its directory of members is available on tape, in Braille, or in large print. Dues are only $5 per year. For more information contact Gail Selfridge, President, Voicepondence Club, 2373 S. York, Denver, Colorado 80210-5340.

New Business:

We have been asked to carry the following announcement:

I have gone into a new business, Adelaide Wink's Forty Winks, making pillows. Sofa pillows, $12; neck pillows, $8;

(knitted or crocheted, square or round). Bed pillows on special orders (prices have yet to be determined): King-size pillows, queen-size pillows, single-bed pillows. Half payment requested with all orders. Postage is always extra. Please write or call and leave a message along with your name and address on voice mail, (352) 746-3087.

Christian Support Group Tape:

Adelaide Wink's Awake and Hope, a Christian support group by tape discussing many topics. Examples: round-table discussion; quiet corner (prayer requests and prayer time); penpals, make a joyful noise (hymns and spiritual songs only); my personal miracle (testimony time); Bible study; job and business ideas; seek and find (trade and sell); craft corner; cooking corner; pet corner; true needs; sponsors; book or sermon nuggets; and comments and criticisms. Available for $12 per person per year. Please write or call and leave a message, (352) 746-3087.

New Edition of How to Read Braille Music Now Available:

We have been asked to carry the following announcement:

Opus Technologies announces the publication of a new edition of How to Read Braille Music by Bettye Krolick. First published in 1975, "How to Read Braille Music" has become the classic text used by blind music students and their parents and music teachers to learn Braille music. Written at a fifth-grade reading level, the book is designed to be both a learning tool and a continuing resource for the reader of Braille music. It contains the music symbols most frequently encountered in elementary to intermediate level music, with concise explanations of their use. An index provides a handy tool for identifying new symbols as they are found in the actual use of Braille music.

In the new edition the self-help teaching materials have been expanded with a section for guitar chords. All of the vocal examples have been updated to reflect the latest changes in the Braille music code. The material on resources is completely new, and "Tips for Sighted Music Teachers" has been added.

How to Read Braille Music, Second Edition, is published by Opus Technologies in print, in Braille, and in an interactive multimedia CD-ROM edition. The CD-ROM lets the reader use a PC to access the complete text of the book, including the examples in music and Braille notation. Audio playback is available for each example, along with detailed listings which explain the meaning of every Braille sign used in the example. Clicking a music notation symbol displays its corresponding Braille sign, and clicking a Braille sign displays what it means. Hyperlinks make navigating through the text easy. You can access index entries by Braille sign, quickly search the entire manual for specific words or Braille signs, and print or emboss any topic. The CD-ROM requires a multimedia PC with a CD-ROM drive and sound card, Windows 95 or later, and for blind users appropriate screen-access hardware and software.

Prices are $12.95 for the print edition (ISBN 1-892195-05-4), $19.95 for the Braille edition (ISBN 1-892195-06-2), and $79 for the CD-ROM edition (ISBN 1-892195-02-X), plus $5 shipping and handling per order. For additional information contact Opus Technologies at 13333 Thunderhead St., San Diego, California 92129, Phone/Fax (619) 538-9401, email: <[email protected], www.opustec.com>.

Museum Tours Available:

We have been asked to carry the following announcement:

The Jewish Museum offers a variety of services for the visually impaired and blind communities. Braille and large-print text labels for the permanent exhibition, "Culture and Continuity: The Jewish Journey," are available in the Goodkind Resource Center. Touch Tours have also been developed focusing on themes taken from the Museum's exhibition as follows:

The Torah: This Touch Tour explores the importance of the Torah. Through interaction with objects represented, visitors experience the content of a painting in the museum's collection depicting men and boys carrying Torah scrolls.

Shabbot: This Touch Tour examines the importance of the Sabbath in Jewish life.

Chanukah and Purim: This Touch Tour focuses on the customs, rituals, and objects used to celebrate these two historic holidays.

Additionally, in-depth descriptive tours are available on request for all Jewish Museum exhibitions. To receive further information or to schedule a Touch Tour, call (212) 423-3318.

Aniridia Resource:

We have been asked to carry the following announcement:

The Canadian Foundation for Aniridia Research (CFAR) is a non-profit organization dedicated to raising public awareness of aniridia and its associated conditions. Originally started in Canada, CFAR now has members in more than seven countries in North America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. Through its U.S. resource contact Liz Dennis, CFAR provides support to the community through a quarterly newsletter, information flyers, Web site, and support online with weekly chats. Contact CFAR at 3780 Verdun Ave., Suite 2, Montreal, Quebec H4G 1K6, (514) 761-5998, e-mail <[email protected]>. Contact Liz Dennis by phone (770) 631-9333, fax (770) 631-8332, or e-mail <[email protected]>.

Elected:

At its 1998 convention the National Federation of the Blind of Mississippi elected the following officers: Sam Gleese, President; Gwen Stokes, First Vice President; Wade Branum, Second Vice President; Delois Watkins, Secretary; James Prince, Treasurer; and Alfred Morgan, Robert Skillon, Ellie Barrantes, and Prentice Horton, Members of the Board of Directors.

For Sale:

We have been asked to carry the following announcement:

Keynote Gold Windows compatible voice system for notebook computers. Asking $950 or best offer. Contact Gary Davis, 177 Lake Eden Road, Black Mountain, North Carolina 28711, or call (828) 686-9180.

New National Braille Press Releases:

We have been asked to carry the following announcement:

National Braille Press now has a large inventory of Sarah Morley's award-winning book, Windows 95 Explained, in all formats: Braille, large print, tape, and disk. This book describes fundamental Windows 95 concepts from a non-visual perspective. To complement the book are tactile diagrams of various Windows screens.

Windows 95 Explained (Braille, disk, cassette, or large print) costs $18. Windows 95 Braille & Tactile Diagrams (1 volume) costs $15. Special 2-pack price is $25.

Ever wonder what you'd do if you were mugged or assaulted? Is a blind person at greater risk? Explore these issues and more in National Braille Press's Safe Without Sight: Crime Prevention and Self-Defense Strategies for People Who Are Blind.

This book teaches you how to stay safe or, if necessary, to defend yourself. The authors include Wendy David, Ph.D., a blind clinical psychologist; Scott McCall, a blind director of a rehabilitation center where the program was developed; and Kerry Kollmar, a sighted self-defense instructor. All of the self-defense moves were described by and for blind people. The cost for Braille, tape, or disk is $14; print, $17 (includes shipping). Order from National Braille Press, 88 St. Stephen Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, or call (800) 548-7323 and charge it with your VISA, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover Card.

For Sale:

We have been asked to carry the following announcement:

The Braille Lite 18 I have for sale is four years old and has a July, 1995, revision. Currently the unit needs a battery replacement but should be as good as new after that. Because of the battery situation, I am asking $2,200. This price is negotiable. I have spoken with Blazie Engineering and was told that having the unit's battery replaced and the software upgraded with the latest revision would cost $125. The unit is in good condition and comes with carrying case, charger, and serial cable. If interested, call Shawn Cox at (757) 487-8363 or e-mail at <[email protected]>.

New Chapter:

We are pleased to announce that the Tacoma Pierce County Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind of Washington was recently established. The officers are Judy Jones, President;

Walt Cone, Vice President; Ann Mary McCullough, Treasurer; and Kari Butler, Secretary.

Elected:

The National Federation of the Blind of Washington held elections at the state convention. The new officers are Noel Nightingale, President; Maria Bradford, First Vice President;

Mike Freeman, Second Vice President; Albert Sanchez, Secretary;

Gary Mackenstadt, Treasurer; and Bennett Prows and Judy Jones, Board Members. Dan Frye and Mark Noble continue as Board Members.

Audio Computer Magazine, Tutorials:

We have been asked to carry the following announcement:

Top Dot Enterprises publishes Sound Computing, a bimonthly magazine on adaptive technology, computers, and the Internet for blind users. Each issue features recommendations of Web sites and useful software, information about new products, mini-tutorials and reviews by computer users. Subscriptions are $24 per year for the cassette edition and $19 for the RealAudio version, available for listening or download via the Internet. Back issues or sample copies of the cassette edition are $4 each.

Top Dot also sells low-cost, comprehensible recorded computer tutorials. Recent titles include Top Word 97, Top Eudora 4 (which also teaches the earlier versions), and Top Real Internet Explorer 3.02 (teaching both Internet Explorer and RealPlayer 5.0.) Ask about new titles available or forthcoming. Tutorials cost $19.50 each, plus a per-order charge of $5.

For information about Sound Computing or Top Dot tutorials, contact us at (425) 335-4894; 8930 11th Place S.E., Everett, Washington 98205; e-mail: <[email protected]>;

<http://www.eskimo.com/~deamar>.

For Sale:

We have been asked to carry the following announcement:

Single-sided Porta-Thiel embosser for sale, capable of printing on both narrow and wide paper, has printed fewer than 100 pages, asking $1,500 or best offer. Call Richard Brown, (602) 933-1969.

Assistance Needed:

Robert Bell writes to say that he needs a computer with speech output. Anyone who knows of organizations or individuals prepared to donate such equipment should contact him in Braille or on tape at P.O. Box 464, Parkersburg, West Virginia 26101 or call him at (304) 424-6919.

NFB PLEDGE

I pledge to participate actively in the efforts of the National Federation of the Blind to achieve equality, opportunity, and security for the blind; to support the programs and policies of the Federation; and to abide by its Constitution.