If You Want to Use the Buses in Houston
Hello all of you folks coming to the convention. If you're interested in using our Metro buses or the MetroLift paratransit service which serves the Houston area, just fax a copy of your identification card to the attention of Dwayne Thompson at this number: (713) 615-7140 and tell them which dates you'll be staying in Houston. Remember that, to use the paratransit service, you'll have to make a reservation at least one day in advance. To schedule a ride, call (713) 225-6716 between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. weekdays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays, and 1 to 5 p.m. Sundays. We're all looking forward to your coming to Houston. -- Ed Bradley
CURTAIN UP ON FRIENDS-IN-ART'S ACTING WORKSHOPS:
Leading Man: George Ashiotis
by Nancy Marie-Luce Pendegraph and Janiece Petersen
Friends-in-Art is delighted to sponsor two workshops featuring a blind actor from live theater: George Ashiotis. Some of you may recognize that name from the 1997 Houston banquet's presentation of Theater by the Blind. George has been co-artistic director of Theater by the Blind since 1993, and brings a wealth of experience from general and blindness-related theatrical productions. He told us that while honing his skills as an actor, he has held a diversity of jobs which give breadth and depth to his insights as an artist.
Wednesday's workshop: Overview with Special Point of View: Any and all are welcome who would like to learn more about the pitfalls of and preparation for acting. George will focus on various facets of acting including blindness-related performance concerns on stage, such as eye contact, blocking of movements, and the subtle visual details of maintaining character. There will be exercises on how to prepare one's body and voice for performing. No, we don't have Barbara Walters dropping by, but George will be interviewed, and there will be an opportunity for questions and answers to learn more about his acting career.
Thursday's workshop: Trying your wings: George has selected two monologues each for men and women -- one serious, and one humorous. Individuals participating in this workshop must pick up their script of choice at the Friends-in- Art Sunday afternoon mixer, the Wednesday afternoon workshop, or at the FIA tables in the exhibit hall. These scripts are available in large print and braille. You may obtain a script by e-mail prior to the convention by contacting Peter Altschul at [email protected]. Participants will read their monologue at Thursday's workshop, and George will give them tips on how to make their performance or communication more effective. This workshop will give you a chance to explore "real acting." It may also expand your ideas of how to communicate.
LUA Invites You to Its Convention and Drawing
You are invited to attend the 2002 annual convention program and participate in our prize-packed drawing at the Adam's Mark Hotel July 1 and 3, 2002.
Schedule
Monday, July 1, 2002 1:15 p.m. to 1:40 p.m.: Finding The Book You Need The Louis Way. Looks at a new database developed by the American Printing House for the Blind to find that accessible book you've been wishing to read for years.
1:40 to 2:45 p.m.: Accessible Public Libraries: How do we get them, and what happens after we have them? Panel discussion led by Barry Levine. Panelists: Joel Pinkus, Terri Lynne Pomeroy, and Pat Shreck. Discussion will focus on various access issues, sources for accessibility funding, and ways to encourage use.
2:45 to 3 p.m.: Break
3:00 to 3:30: Update on National Library Services. NLS representative Michael Moody will discuss developments at the National Library Service and progress on specific projects.
3:30 to 4:10: National Library Committee Reports. Sharon Strzalkowski, LUA vice president, will discuss the NLS Equipment Committee meeting held April 3-5, 2002. Jill O'Connell, board member, Library Users of America, will discuss concerns addressed at the annual NLS Book Collection Subcommittee meeting held in May 2002. Don Breda has been invited to speak on developments in the digital books arena.
4:15 to 4:45: Annual LUA general business meeting. All current LUA members are invited to participate. Elections will be held this year for the five board positions.
5 to 7 p.m.: Annual LUA Wine and Cheese Party. Tickets are $6 in advance, $8 at the door.
Wednesday, July 3, 2002 Library Users of America & Braille Revival League Joint Program
1:30 to 1:40 p.m. Welcome and Introductions. During this brief session, participants will be asked to introduce themselves, tell where they are from and their favorite book from the past year.
1:40 to 2:30 p.m. NLS Narrator, Erik Sandvold
2:30 to 3 p.m. Bookshare.org -- It's happening and it works. Jim Fruchterman, founder of Benetech, Technology Serving Humanity, talks about this great new online service called Bookshare.org from its beginnings to today's reality.
3 to 3:15 p.m. Break
3:15 to 3:45 p.m. Exploring E-Books. Cecelia Robinson, with the Texas education program, will talk about the e-book online service we've been hearing so much about.
3:45 to 4:30 p.m. A Look at the Future of Radio Reading Services. Panel discussion. Jonathan Mosen and others TBA
Library Users of America is having a drawing. Tickets are just $1 each. Winners will be announced Friday, July 5, during the ACB annual convention in Houston. Winners need not be present. Prizes include: one copy of the ACB History book on cassette (value as yet undetermined) - donated by the National Library Service; one TV/radio receiver (value $160) - donated by C. Crane Company; one subscription to Bookshare.org (value $75) - donated by Benetech, Technology Serving Humanity; one one-hundred dollar ($100) cash prize - donated by Library Users of America. Your one dollar donation per ticket will help fund many LUA activities, including production of the LUA newsletter, published and distributed twice a year, development of informational materials about library programs and services, and efforts around the country to make local public libraries accessible. To donate and place your name in the drawing, please contact Pat Shreck, LUA President, or any LUA officer or board member during the national convention in Houston. And GOOD LUCK!!!
Workshop For Serious Job Seekers
by Mitch Pomerantz, Chairperson
Employment Issues Task Force
Employment -- or the lack thereof -- has been a hot topic around ACB for as long as I can remember. With establishment last summer of the Employment Issues Task Force, the American Council of the Blind is preparing to do more than simply talk!
On Sunday, June 30th, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., the task force will conduct "Brass Tacks Job Search and Retention Strategies for the 21st Century." This interactive program is geared for serious job seekers, no "lookie-loos" please. Topics to be covered include: Preparing to Get a Job; Getting the Job; and On the Job Issues. An entertaining and informative ADA presentation will kick-off the festivities and there will be plenty of time for discussion and questions.
Additionally, the task force will provide employment-related materials on diskette which you can use later.
We are limiting participation to 64 people in order to maximize interaction between attendees and presenters. A $3 fee will be charged to cover the cost of wake-up refreshments.
If you are unable to attend the Sunday program, one of the break-out sessions on Thursday will address much of the same information, although not in as much detail. However, given the number of people likely to attend, the Thursday session cannot be as participatory. Nonetheless, if you miss out on the Sunday program or just want to find out what we're doing and saying, join the task force on Thursday. See y'all in Houston!
Wanna Buy a Horse?
by Barbara Kron
Well, here's your chance. CCLVI's Game Night, Wednesday, July 3 from 7 to 11 p.m., will feature a horse race you will never forget. Six horses and riders will be sold to the highest bidders. They may be purchased at the Welcome to Houston party, CCLVI mixer and CCLVI Sunday night dance. You or your affiliate can bid on: Princess Papoola aboard Hawaiian Knight, Scarecrow on Hayburner, Batt Masterson on his black stallion Stardust, the Gambler with Shady Lady in the saddle, Ghost Rider on Spoke, or Long Tall Texan on Pecos Pete. If your horse and rider are the grand winner of this three-heat race, you will be welcomed into the winner's circle to receive your reward.
Come and see some of ACB's most popular couples tell all in our version of "The Marriage Game," sing along with "Team Name That Tune," play "Team Trivia" and "The Dating Game." Let CCLVI buy dinner for the winning bachelor and his date and the winning bachelorette and her date. All this and more will take place in a cabaret-like setting complete with bar. If you want to participate in "The Dating Game," call Barbara Kron at (707) 838- 9207 or CCLVI at (800) 733-2258.
All games, horses and riders will be described by your host and hostess for the evening, Charles Glaser and Barbara Kron. So get your teams of five together for "Team Name That Tune" and "Team Trivia." Come join the fun; you don't even have to leave the hotel.
Visually Impaired Data Processors International
VIDPI Chatroom
VIDPI invites you to participate in our chatroom on Sunday evenings at 8 p.m. EDT on www.for-the-people.com. We meet there for approximately one hour or however long you might want to hang around afterwards. In order to use the chatroom, you must sign up with "for-the-people" ahead of time. One of the first links on that site will allow you to sign up. Allow a day or two to get a response back. There is no charge. After that, you will use your ID and password to get into the VIDPI chatroom. To find the chatroom, just hit the letter "V" twice and you'll be there.
Session on Visual Basic on Chatroom John Mattioli is planning to host a session on Visual Basic on the VIDPI chatroom at www.for-the-people.com on the evening of June 9, 2002 starting at 8 p.m. We are going to see how this one works and if it works well we would like to do other sessions in the future. Please do join in.
National Convention Program Our vice president and program chair, Frank Welte, is putting together a great program for the convention in Houston. Once again our Sunday session will allow our exhibitors to explain their products to VIDPI and friends. We will present both technical and not-so-technical sessions later in the week. There will be something for a wide range of computer users and power users alike. As always, our luncheon speaker will provide an interesting perspective. Afterwards, VIDPI will hold its annual business meeting. Among the items of business, there will be presentation of proposed amendments to the constitution and bylaws. Please keep us in mind when making your convention plans.
Join VIDPI VIDPI invites you to become a member. If you are a computer user anywhere on the spectrum from hobbyist to power user, VIDPI invites you to join us. Among our benefits is the newsletter on tape or on our web page. Rob Hubbard, our editor, does an outstanding job. You can sample our newsletter by going to our web page and streaming the audio or you can download the MP3 file to your computer for later listening. Information about joining can be found on the web page.
AAVL Elections
The Alliance on Aging and Vision Loss will be holding an important election on Tuesday, July 2, following our annual luncheon. A new president will be elected as well as two board positions. The offices of vice president and recording secretary will also be open for re-election. The AAVL slate selected by our nominating committee will be sent to all members by June 1, 2002.
The AAVL prize-drawing this year will offer three wonderful prizes: 3 day, 2 night stay in Las Vegas at the Orleans Hotel, a set of tapes of old radio shows and an afghan, hand-made by Milly Lillibridge commemorating the "Heart of America." AAVL board members will be selling tickets including Jeanne Sanders, Teddie- Joy Remhild, Bill Lewis, Al Gayzagian, Jean Peyton and Bob Chaffin. The winners will be announced on Thursday at the general session.
McDaniel Fund Drawing
There will be a prize-drawing for the Durward McDaniel Fund to be held at the "Texas MacHatter Tea Party" on July 4th. There will be two sets of prizes. Drawing prizes will include $250, $150 and $100 cash. The winner of prizes for the most inventive hat will receive four handmade mats which will be red, white and blue in color and have a star on them for Texas, and an authentic Texas hat, and a replica of some historic sites in Washington, DC. We will also have a few other surprises. Our tickets cost $1 each or 6 for $5. Tickets can be bought from any committee members or they can contact me at (510) 357-1986. Request tickets from Cathie Skivers at 836 Resota Street, Hayward, CA 94545-2120. Committee members are Terry Pacheco, M. J. Schmitt, Dr. Ed Bradley, Stephanie Hall, Lucille Fierce, Milly Lillibridge, Carl McCoy, and Gerald Pye. I hope everybody helps with this most worthwhile cause. -- Cathie Skivers
Illinois Drawing
The Illinois Council of the Blind is holding its annual computer drawing again this year. The system specifications for the computer are: Intel Celeron 1.2 Ghz, 128 MB Ram, 20 GB hard drive, 3D video, sound, speakers, CD-RW drive, floppy drive, 17- inch monitor, 56K modem, keyboard, optical mouse, Windows XP, Microsoft Office 2002. Tickets are $2 each or 3 for $5. The drawing will be October 12, 2002 during the ICB convention. Tickets may be obtained from our office by calling (888) 698-1862 or at the ACB convention from Ray Campbell, MJ Schmitt or any of the Illinois delegation.