The editorial staff reserves the right to edit letters for content, style and space available. Opinions expressed are those of the authors, not those of the American Council of the Blind, its staff or elected officials. "The Braille Forum" is not responsible for the opinions expressed herein. We will not print letters unless you sign your name and give us your address.
ACB in the CFC
Dear ACB Members:
During the ACB national convention coverage on ACB Radio, I was listening to Ed Bradley talking about giving to ACB. I have been doing so for a couple of years through the Combined Federal Campaign for federal government employees. Normally this campaign, which encourages charitable contributions, begins in the fall, so keep an eye out. The CFC number for ACB is 2802.
The nice thing about the CFC is you can designate an amount and it is taken out of your paycheck each pay period; for example, if you designate $260, then $10 is taken out of your check every two weeks.
The CFC is a convenient way to help raise money for ACB.
-- Barry Campbell, Gaithersburg, Md.
A Jolly Caucus Race?
Dear Penny Reeder,
Remember the poem from Alice in Wonderland, called "The Jolly Caucus Race?" It starts with:
Forward, backward, inward, outward
Come and join the chase!
Nothing could be drier
Than a jolly caucus-race.
A caucus race it is; jolly it isn't. I'm still reeling from the caucus race run by candidates in the recent ACB election process in Houston during our national convention. There is almost no way for candidates to get to every caucus held by state affiliates and special interest groups. I understand and agree with the reason for having a caucus -- for affiliate members to discuss the pros and cons of each candidate. This is democracy in action, and I agree wholeheartedly there should be caucuses.
However, I think the process could be improved to make it a little easier on the candidates to participate in the convention, and to minimize the repetitiveness of their messages. I'd like to suggest that the Candidates' Forum be held earlier in the week, say before noon on Wednesday, so everyone interested could ask and have questions answered in a way that everyone hears the same answers. This could take place as part of our general session. Then states and special interest groups can hold their caucuses on Wednesday afternoon or evening, and Thursday with prior knowledge of candidates' answers to members' questions.
As it is now, caucuses are held Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday (all before the Candidates' Forum) with four caucuses an hour beginning at 7 a.m., and continuing after the general session and more meetings throughout the afternoon and into the evening -- as many as 17 or 18 caucuses a day. This is an exhausting process for anyone running for office, and forget meals and seeing friends. For candidates who have obligations in special interest programs, they can't take part at all, because they feel the need to attend caucuses.
I sincerely request that ACB leadership look at this situation and see how we might make it possible for people to run for office and still take part in the convention.
And Lewis Carroll can have the final say here:
... Backward, forward, outward, inward,
Bottom to the top,
Never a beginning
There can never be a stop
To skipping, hopping, tripping
Fancy free and gay,
I started it tomorrow and will finish yesterday.
-- Billie Jean Keith, Arlington, Va.
Regarding a previous letter to the editor
Dear Editor of The Braille Forum,
I heartily agree with Rudy Lutter's letter in the May 2002 issue of your fine magazine. We live in our brains, although too often people don't act like it -- they act like they live elsewhere in their bodies and are sitting on their brains instead of using them.
Too often sighted people -- the majority I have run into -- think because we are blind, it affects our minds as well. They often don't want to be educated, and these people can include one's own family. I've had this happen to me.
I like the Forum very much and look forward to each issue. I admire the ACB of which I am a member, for bringing about solutions peacefully instead of taking everyone to court.
-- Marie Rudys, Sacramento, Calif.
Seeking Abacus Teacher
Bob Groff of Quitman, Ark. is seeking an elementary school teacher to work with him on basic math facts. He's trying to bring up his math skills so he can take the GED. Please correspond with him via cassette. His address is 487 PC Circle, Quitman, AR 72131.