THE BRAILLE FORUM Volume XLVII September 2008 No. 3 Published by the American Council of the Blind THE AMERICAN COUNCIL OF THE BLIND STRIVES TO INCREASE THE INDEPENDENCE, SECURITY, EQUALITY OF OPPORTUNITY, AND TO IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED PEOPLE. Mitch Pomerantz, President Melanie Brunson, Executive Director Sharon Lovering, Editor National Office: 1155 15th St. NW Suite 1004 Washington, DC 20005 (202) 467-5081 Fax: (202) 467-5085 Web site: http://www.acb.org THE BRAILLE FORUM (TM) is available in braille, large print, half-speed four-track cassette tape, and via e-mail. Subscription requests, address changes, and items intended for publication should be sent to Sharon Lovering at the address above, or via e-mail to slovering@acb.org. Submission deadlines are the first of the month. The American Council of the Blind (TM) is a membership organization made up of more than 70 state and special-interest affiliates. To join, visit the ACB web site and complete an application form, or contact the national office at the number listed above. Those much-needed contributions, which are tax-deductible, can be sent to Mike Godino at the above mailing address. If you wish to remember a relative or friend, the national office can make printed cards available for this purpose. To remember the American Council of the Blind in your Last Will and Testament, you may include a special paragraph for that purpose. If your wishes are complex, contact the ACB national office. Join the MMS program and help improve tomorrow today in ACB. Contact Ron Milliman by e-mail, rmilliman@insightbb.com, or by phone at (270) 782-9325 and get started making tomorrow look brighter today! To make a contribution to ACB via the Combined Federal Campaign, use this number: 11155. For the latest in legislative and governmental news, call the "Washington Connection" toll-free at (800) 424-8666, 5 p.m. to midnight Eastern time, or visit the Washington Connection online at http://www.acb.org. Copyright 2008 American Council of the Blind TABLE OF CONTENTS President's Report, Part II, by Mitch Pomerantz Congress Considers Currency Access, by Melanie Brunson Narrative Summary of the 2008 Pre-Convention Board Meeting, by Ken Stewart Post-Convention Board Meeting Report, by Paul Edwards Mark Your Calendars for '09! Celebrating the Effective and Productive Life of Raymond, Then Buddy, Then Bud, and Then Dr. Bud Keith, by Oral O. Miller Passings With Open Arms, by Paul Edwards My Heart Smiles Because of You, by Carol Ann Ewing ACB Welcomes Bumper Crop of New Life Members, by Charles S.P. Hodge And This Year's Winner Is ..., by Ronald E. Milliman Affiliate News Remembering 9/11: Movie Review: United 93, by Frank Welte Here and There, by Sue Lichtenfels High Tech Swap Shop FORUM SUBSCRIPTION NOTES You can now get "The Braille Forum" by podcast! To subscribe, go to "The Braille Forum" page on www.acb.org. If you do not yet have a podcast client, you can download one from the Forum page. To subscribe to "The Braille Forum" via e-mail, send a blank e-mail message to brailleforum-L-subscribe@acb.org. ARE YOU MOVING? DO YOU WANT TO CHANGE YOUR SUBSCRIPTION? Contact Sharon Lovering in the ACB national office, 1-800-424-8666, or via e-mail, slovering@acb.org. Give her the information, and she'll take care of the changes for you. ***** PRESIDENT'S REPORT, PART II by Mitch Pomerantz Last month I offered, in slightly edited form, the first half of the report I gave during the opening session of the 47th annual ACB national convention. This month's column will cover the second part of my address. Increasingly, ACB's input is being sought out and taken seriously by governmental entities and lawmakers. Our influence in Washington and throughout the blindness community is likewise growing. On June 23rd, ACB and other organizations offered testimony at a hearing convened by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration of the U.S. Department of Transportation concerning the effect that quiet cars are beginning to have on the safety and independence of blind and visually impaired people. Along with talking about this problem, we are supporting H.R. 5734, The Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act of 2008, even though ACB did not introduce it. The language in 5734 mirrors that which ACB drafted and those of you who attended this year's legislative seminar discussed with your Congressional representatives. The growing popularity of hybrid automobiles poses a sufficiently serious threat to all of us that ACB must actively seek passage of this legislation regardless of who was first to introduce it. While on the topic of pedestrian safety, I also want everyone to know that Debbie Grubb, who was largely responsible for drafting ACB's first Pedestrian Safety Handbook, has agreed to update that excellent document for us. You'll hear more about this in the months to come. Thank you, Debbie. Yet another area in which ACB must exert its influence centers on Congressional efforts to drastically alter the Randolph-Sheppard Vending Program. S. 3112, [sponsored by Sen. Michael] Enzi (R-Wyo.), would introduce sweeping changes to the existing statute and several of those changes would be catastrophic. ACB will work closely with the Randolph-Sheppard Vendors of America and the Blind Entrepreneurs' Alliance to remove those harmful proposals from the bill and advocate on behalf of those proposals which will enhance the Randolph-Sheppard Act by guaranteeing its viability for decades to come. Something which has been keeping our executive director, controller and me very busy over the past several months has been the search for office space. The leases on both of ACB's existing locations, in downtown Minneapolis and Washington, D.C., expire later this year and Melanie Brunson and Lane Waters have been involved in finding new digs. I am pleased to announce that they have, and that the board recently approved those leases. Our Minneapolis office will relocate to the suburbs in August and the D.C. office will move to Arlington, Va. -- just two Metro stops from the District -- around New Year's. More good news! On June 24th, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch voted to allocate $34.5 million for the Digital Talking Book Program. This was wholly unexpected given previous strong opposition to increasing funding for the National Library Service beyond the originally requested $12.5 million. If this level of funding clears the remaining legislative hurdles, the transition from cassette to digital format will take three, rather than the four or even six years to complete, had the lesser amount been allocated. In the same week, the House -- totally out of left field -- passed H.R. 3195, The ADA Amendments Act. While it does include language we recommended addressing low-vision aids, web accessibility language we proposed was not considered. It is unclear whether the Senate version of this legislation, which differs somewhat from the House bill, will be taken up during this session of Congress. I have now served as your president for one year, and I am so gratified and encouraged by the support I've received to date. This organization is only as strong as our 70-plus state and special-interest affiliates and the approximately 20,000 men and women comprising the membership of the American Council of the Blind. Every one of you has my commitment -- and the commitment of the board of directors -- that we will do everything in our power to continue fostering the democratic legacy left to us by our founders. It is my strongly held belief that the American Council of the Blind is the only truly grass-roots consumer advocacy organization remaining in the nation today. We have a tremendous responsibility, an obligation even, to strengthen and grow ACB in order to nurture this democratic legacy. My vision for ACB's future is based upon our history and heritage which upholds the twin ideals of true democracy and an abiding belief in the individual abilities and capabilities of blind people. The American Council of the Blind stands poised on the threshold of real greatness as the pre- eminent consumer voice of all blind and visually impaired persons, not just of a fortunate elite. I trust you will agree that this is a vision worthy of ACB and that you will help to promote this vision whenever and wherever possible, and to everyone you know. Thank you, and take care. ***** CONGRESS CONSIDERS CURRENCY ACCESS by Melanie Brunson The House Subcommittee on Domestic and International Monetary Policy, Trade, and Technology held a hearing recently to examine issues related to accessible currency. I was invited to testify at this hearing on behalf of ACB. Below is my testimony. Testimony of the American Council of the Blind before the Subcommittee on Domestic and International Monetary Policy, Trade and Technology July 30, 2008 First, I want to thank you, on behalf of the membership of the American Council of the Blind (ACB), for the opportunity to speak with you this morning, and for the interest the members of this subcommittee have taken in the issues surrounding the need for tactilely identifiable paper currency. The American Council of the Blind was founded in 1961 and currently has members in all 50 states. The majority of our members have visual impairments. ACB's mission is to increase the independence, equality of opportunity, and quality of life for all blind and visually impaired Americans. We believe that one way to increase independence, enhance opportunity, and improve the quality of life for blind Americans is to ensure that they can identify the denominations of their own bank notes without the assistance of someone who is sighted. Since the exchange of bank notes is a key component of so many transactions engaged in by our society today, we believe that the recognition that people who have visual impairments should be able to conduct their part of such exchanges independently is imperative. The rate of unemployment among people who are visually impaired is unacceptably high. Job opportunities which are now at best limited, and sometimes even unavailable to people who are blind, would be opened to us if we could identify paper money as efficiently as sighted people do. This is particularly significant for young people and other first-time job seekers who are looking for entry-level positions in stores and restaurants so that they can gain the work experience necessary to advance in their chosen careers. Such jobs generally center on customer service transactions, most of which involve money. Certainly, there are blind people who currently work in cash-intensive business situations, but they are forced to rely on the honesty of colleagues and customers, or to rely on currency-reading technology that is inefficient and often unreliable. At its best, such technology requires the user to keep others waiting while money is being scanned and identified, thereby decreasing the level of the user's performance. Money identifiers are slow, frequently inaccurate, and useless in noisy environments. It is common knowledge that blind people who are required to complete cash transactions quickly, such as cashiers in vending facilities, frequently rely on other people and not their technology to identify the cash involved, because they cannot get the information from technology quickly enough to keep the customers moving efficiently through the line. This has two unfortunate results. First of all, this also takes time. Seeking verification from another person isn't necessarily any faster than using a note scanner. Secondly, this process requires that a blind person either make an issue of his or her visual impairment, or risk being defrauded. The fact is that while most people are honest, I can personally testify to instances from my own experience, and could provide a significant amount of anecdotal evidence from others that would show that this is not a proposition the blind community can rely on. Blind people do get defrauded because of their inability to ascertain the value of U.S. bank notes. If we are to be truly accepted as equal partners in the workplaces, cultural activities and economic life of this society, it is imperative that the United States government design and issue bank notes that we can identify independently. As stated earlier, we believe that currency readers are a very poor substitute for bank notes that are readily distinguishable without vision. Each time the bank notes are redesigned, users are required to return currency readers to the factory to be updated for a fee. Over 180 countries around the world have found ways to incorporate tactile features into their bank notes which enable blind and visually impaired people to distinguish notes of one denomination from another. They have also taken steps to enhance visual distinctions between denominations. The specific tactile features used vary from country to country and it is not our intention to express a preference for any particular type of tactile feature. However, we do wish to make it clear to this committee that we believe it is both imminently possible and absolutely essential that this country, which has led the rest of the world through a myriad of technological, scientific and economic innovations for so long, now join the rest of the world in making it possible for blind and visually impaired people to engage in financial transactions with dignity and independence. We recognize that what we are seeking may take time to implement and we are very willing to allow a reasonable amount of time for the design and implementation processes. We are not as concerned about the speed of implementation as we are about the certainty of action to address this issue. Our goal is a meaningful effort on the part of the Treasury Department to ascertain the most appropriate manner in which to provide currency that is independently identifiable by people who are visually impaired, and to incorporate such identification features into U.S. currency within a reasonable time. The measures will appropriately address the accessibility of currency if the Department of the Treasury can demonstrate that they are effectively usable by the largest number of blind and visually impaired people as possible. In conclusion, I want to thank the Subcommittee on Domestic and International Monetary Policy, Trade, and Technology for taking an interest in this issue. It is our sincere hope that the members of this subcommittee, and indeed the members of the House Committee on Financial Services, will support the efforts of the American Council of the Blind to obtain accessible currency in the United States. ***** NARRATIVE SUMMARY OF THE 2008 PRE-CONVENTION BOARD MEETING by Ken Stewart (Editor's Note: The American Council of the Blind constitution and bylaws require that a narrative summary of every board of directors meeting be prepared by the board of publications' ex-officio representative to the board of directors. Upon approval of the minutes of this meeting by the board of directors, the minutes will be made available to the membership on the web site. Members who cannot access the minutes in that way may request assistance from the national office.) On July 5, 2008, the ACB board of directors held its pre-convention board meeting at the Galt House Hotel in Louisville, Ky. Other ACB members were present at all times the board met in open session. The board discussed a number of financial matters, including announcements of year-to-date budget totals and $50,000 in grants received. Additionally, the board passed a motion to formally thank the Ferrari Club, located in Florida, for its generosity to ACB. All major donors of six figures and above will have their names prominently displayed on a plaque to be hung in the national office. ACB received a request for funding from the Blind Citizens Front of Sri Lanka. After discussion, the board voted to approve $1,000 to be used to promote braille literacy. Dena Wilson, director of development, was introduced. She stated that among her first pursuits will be to assure the presence of the American Council of the Blind on Internet charitable-giving sites. Jeff Thom reported on the work of the voting task force which was mandated to explore ways of introducing more privacy into the standing votes conducted from time to time during convention business meetings. Thom indicated that the task force was expecting to experiment with a form of paper balloting at some point during convention week. The second part of the task force's mandate, to examine the potential for remote voting, will be addressed at a later date. Thom also gave the report of the vehicle donation task force. All issues have been corrected, and affiliates should now be receiving their contributions as is appropriate. He noted that this source of giving is improving and companies managing these programs are making an effort to educate the public regarding the relevant tax laws. The board next approved the fitness equipment equity task force. Its mission will be to study and enhance the availability of accessible fitness equipment. This will also include the accessibility of fitness centers, instruction manuals, and exercise videos. Executive director Melanie Brunson announced the schedule for the next mid-year affiliate presidents' meeting. It will be held at the Holiday Inn National Airport in Arlington, Va., from Feb. 20-24, in conjunction with the annual board of directors meeting, presidents' meeting and legislative seminar. Director of advocacy and governmental affairs Eric Bridges reported that he has been appointed to the FCC Consumer Advisory Committee. He also indicated that the revised edition of the pedestrian safety handbook should be completed by the end of the year. The board held one executive session over lunch. Once the board returned to open session, Pomerantz reported the board heard a status report on litigation matters, a report regarding an initial exploration with Joel Snyder of a possible business venture concerning the production of video description in a variety of venues, and a report on various personnel matters. No actions were taken. Other business included action to suspend the charter of the inactive Connecticut affiliate, and a decision to consider the status of the Idaho affiliate at the fall board meeting. The board is hopeful that work being conducted in both these states will result in a return of Connecticut and strengthening of Idaho. The meeting adjourned just after 1 p.m. ***** POST-CONVENTION BOARD MEETING REPORT by Paul Edwards (Editor's Note: Each year, a member of the board of publications is appointed as an ex officio member of the board of directors so that he or she may report on each board meeting to the membership through a "Braille Forum" article. Ken Stewart fulfilled that task last year and the board of publications wishes to express its appreciation to him for his hard and excellent work. Now Paul Edwards has taken that role and, for the next year, he will be reporting on board meetings. The American Council of the Blind constitution and bylaws require that a narrative summary of every board of directors meeting be prepared by the board of publications' ex-officio representative to the board of directors. Upon approval of the minutes of this meeting by the board of directors, the minutes will be made available to the membership on the web site. Members who cannot access the minutes in that way may request assistance from the national office.) The post-convention board meeting was called to order at 10:10 a.m. July 12, 2008 at the Galt House Hotel in Louisville, Ky. All board members were present, including the three newly elected members, Berl Colley of Washington state, Marsha Farrow from Georgia, and Michael Garrett from Texas. President Mitch Pomerantz welcomed them and congratulated David Trott from Alabama and Billie Jean Keith from Virginia for their re-election to the board. He also thanked Naomi Soule for her service on the board. She chose not to run for another term on the board. Many of the items that were dealt with were carry-over elements from the pre-convention meeting. Carla Ruschival reported on progress being made toward the completion of a reasonable accommodations policy. This document is intended to provide guidelines to ACB on how to deal with individuals who have special needs based on a disability other than blindness, while attending our convention. She has gathered and circulated older policies and plans to have an updated document ready for presentation at the fall board meeting. Ruschival also presented a convention report. Since she had reported to the membership only the day before, she asked for questions. There was a good deal of discussion of the life members' reception; she reported that the hotel had not scheduled the event appropriately. It was agreed that, in the future, the reception would be a hosted bar in some fashion. It was also agreed that life member ribbons would be provided starting next year to honor our members who have made this important commitment to ACB. With regard to the convention, the board discussed caf‚ hours, the appropriateness and completeness of interpreter services to people who are deaf and blind, and some concerns about tours. The board commended both host committees and both affiliates for an excellent convention. There was also some discussion of next year's convention in Orlando, where the rate will be $83 per night. Ruschival reported that the new hotel in Phoenix, where we are now scheduled to meet in 2010, was almost ready for site inspection. There is the possibility that the Phoenix convention may have to be moved a week later than its current scheduled time, but no motion was made or adopted. After each convention, the board receives a report from the resolutions committee and its staff liaison, in which the resolutions adopted at our convention are prioritized. Each resolution is rated as a 1, a 2, or a 3. Resolutions rated 1 are to be acted on immediately; those rated 2 are to be acted on as a matter of priority; and those rated 3 are considered not to be time-sensitive but, of course, are to be implemented as soon as possible. The prioritization report was adopted with one change. The board moved to executive session for discussion of a matter of some sensitivity concerning an affiliate and its constitution. When the board returned to open session, Pomerantz reported that a motion was made that the president be authorized to request a meeting with the board of GDUI regarding a situation about which we are concerned, in the hopes of resolving the matter in a satisfactory manner. Each officer serves as a liaison to one or more national committees and, at this meeting, they were asked to report on work that these committees are doing. The officer liaison reports were received and accepted. There was some discussion of when and where the next board meeting would be held. It appears that it will occur in Orlando and the primary date suggested for this meeting was Oct. 18. Pomerantz and Ruschival will finalize both the date and location and will inform the board as soon as that decision has been made. The meeting adjourned at 1:50 p.m. ***** MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR '09! Begin now to make plans for the 2009 ACB mid-year meeting and legislative seminar. Next year's events will be held Feb. 20-25 at the Holiday Inn National Airport in Arlington, Va. Room rates are $119 plus tax per night for singles, doubles, triples and quads. To make your reservations, call (703) 684-7200 or 1-800-465-4329. More details on how to register will be available in the fall. We hope to see many of you there! ***** CELEBRATING THE EFFECTIVE AND PRODUCTIVE LIFE OF RAYMOND, THEN BUDDY, THEN BUD, AND THEN DR. BUD KEITH by Oral O. Miller In view of Dr. Bud Keith's interest in participating in sports before graduating from the Maryland School for the Blind in 1958 and American University in 1962, it should not come as a surprise that I met him for the first time (he was then known as Buddy) in a bowling alley. He was demonstrating the use of the bowling guide rail to inexperienced blind bowlers who were forming a bowling league in Washington, D.C., many of whom were at least twice his age. That dedication and leadership skill motivated him thereafter for more than 40 years as he obtained his master's degree in special education from Syracuse University in 1965 and his Ph.D. in special education from the University of Pittsburgh in 1976, served in the Peace Corps in the late 1960s in Panama as a teacher and developer of programs for blind children, served as a founder and later president of Ski for Light International from 1981 to 1988 and 1994 to 1996, and excelled as an equal opportunity specialist in the Office for Civil Rights of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services from 1974 until his medical retirement in 1996 due to prostate cancer. Please do not conclude that his dedication, conviction, drive, concern for other blind and visually impaired people, and determination as an advocate waned at all as he heroically fought the cancer before passing away in Arlington, Va., on June 14, 2008. The somewhat unusual title of this memorial article summarizes the maturing of Bud Keith (to whom I usually referred as "Dr. Bud" because of my penchant for giving friends nicknames) from that 11-year-old little boy who was blinded when a playmate hit him in the eye with a nail to the community and international advocate who was honored in 1991 by the king of Norway, who recognized him as a tireless champion of sports and recreation for the handicapped. When he left Panama to return to the USA, he vowed to maintain the cooperative spirit and camaraderie of his Peace Corps colleagues and to that end he initiated an annual Panama alumni newsletter, which he edited for the next 43 years. During those years his colleagues freely described him as "the glue holding their organization together." In his honor, those Peace Corps alumni have set up a scholarship in Bud's name; several have already been awarded to blind students in Panama. His interest in ten-pin bowling flourished following his return from the Peace Corps in the late 1960s and during the next 25 years he and his teammates won countless national championships. He and I as teammates often joked as to which of us was the inspiration for the name of our championship team, the "Over the Hill Gang." His interest in the Ski for Light program took off like a rocket when that program was introduced by the Lions Clubs and the Sons of Norway in 1975. Within two years he had established essential contacts and working relations in Norway and other involved nations. In 1981 he led a delegation of Ski for Light participants from the USA to Beitostolen, Norway, to take part in the 25-kilometer cross-country ski competition which had served as the model for the Ski for Light program in the USA -- and all of us completed the 25-kilometer event. Although he was physically unable to ski in the 2008 Ski for Light event held in Oregon, his presence and participation in non-skiing events celebrated his participation in all 34 of the annual international events conducted since the establishment of the program. During a recent interview with "The Washington Post," Bud Keith explained that too many blind people are out of shape and in need of the assistance of outdoor sports. He defined himself as "physical independence as well as a dash of mischief and irascibility," while saying with a smile that he "never much liked guide dogs, except as an excuse to meet women." During the 1980s he was one of 10 disabled adults chosen to scale Mt. Rainier in celebration of the United Nations Year of Disabled Persons. Altitude sickness prevented him from completing the climb that year and very dangerous weather prevented him from completing the climb the next year. During a white-water rafting trip later in the 1980s, Dr. Bud and another blind paddler in his four-person raft shocked everyone else by successfully maneuvering through a set of dangerous and extremely rough double-hydraulic rapids without the assistance of the two sighted paddlers who were thrown from their raft by the turbid waters. Dr. Bud was also a devotee of bluegrass and folk music, and on several occasions led small delegations to several of the many festivals that take place in the middle Atlantic states each year. Dr. Bud Keith served as the first president and thereafter an active member of the ACB Federal Employees (now ACB Government Employees) organization as well as a long-time member of the Old Dominion Council of the Blind, serving as treasurer of the Northern Virginia chapter for the past 20 years. The quality and popularity of the chapter's annual Christmas party and dinner attested to his careful planning, publicity, attention to detail and selection of outstanding musicians. He was an effective and outspoken advocate on many relevant issues in his community -- accessible transportation, pedestrian safety, job testing and educational opportunities. It was his initiative and advocacy that led to the adoption of ACB's no-smoking rule during plenary national convention sessions. During an ACB convention sing-along in the 1980s he met a genteel lady from Mississippi by way of England and, following what she described as their "13-year whirlwind courtship," he married Billie Jean Hill in 1996. Four years later, Bud received ACB's George Card Award, which is given to an individual who has dedicated his or her life to work with and for blind people, making a real difference and improving quality of life, for providing leadership and being a positive role model. In his unpublished autobiography, Dr. Bud Keith summarized part of his philosophy as follows: "Although I've been totally blind for 57 years, being blind has not been the foremost aspect of my life. Once blindness was accepted as a part of my total reality, my focus was to do what I wanted to do, and take the steps that would most quickly and effectively make that happen. Of course, being blind certainly had to be considered, but I've never automatically discarded any desire by first saying or thinking that I couldn't do it because of being blind. Perhaps in a few cases that turned out to be the case, but it sure as hell wasn't the starting point. ... Every so often I wonder how different things might have been if I had seen, but of course that can't be known. ... I wonder if I could have become a well-known athlete; in my mind's eye I have been able to make every woman of whom I became fond the most beautiful woman in the world; I wonder if I would have appreciated my life so much without the human interaction that blindness has facilitated. Would I have met and had personal audiences with two different kings of Norway? Would I have had a four-way conversation with the queen of Norway, the prime minister of Iceland and Thor Heyerdahl? ... Would I have made so many friends or would that lonely and socially inappropriate little boy that was accidentally blinded have become a lonely, socially inappropriate sighted adult?" ***** PASSINGS It has come to our attention that we are rapidly losing members of our community, friends and supporters of ACB. In order to honor these people whose lives have impacted us, in large and small ways, we are publishing this column, "Passings." In it, we will include brief obituaries of those who have passed away. See below for the format in which to submit information. Obituary Format Please include as much of the following information as possible when submitting material for this column. Submissions must involve dates no more than six months from intended date of publication. Name (first, last, maiden if appropriate) City of residence (upon passing) State/province of residence (upon passing) Other cities/states/countries of residence (places where other blind people may have known this person) Occupation Date of death (day if known, month, year) Age ACB affiliation (local/state/special-interest affiliates or national committees) GILBERTSON, DONALD GENE Donald Gene Gilbertson, 73, of Seattle, Wash., passed away on Nov. 29, 2007. He was a medical technician for 27 years, as well as a cafeteria owner and operator. He was the owner of the C.J.T.C. cafeteria. He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Martha, his sons, Orvel James (Leslie), Duane and Ted, his daughters, Patty (Zadih) Bacon and Suzy (Michael) Capdeville, 10 grandchildren and extended family and friends. HIESLER, GENE After a long, hard-fought battle with several medical issues, Gene Hiesler passed away on Aug. 13 in the Hospice Hospital in Texas. He was 79 years old. Gene was the only person to serve three terms as president of the Randolph-Sheppard Vendors of America (RSVA) from 1988 to 1994, and remained on the RSVA board until July 2008. He received RSVA's Lifetime Achievement Award (a life membership in ACB) at the 2004 convention in Birmingham, Ala. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Opal, several children and grandchildren, and extended family and friends. ***** WITH OPEN ARMS How do you like "The Braille Forum"? What would you change on ACB's web site if you were king or queen for a day? What great ideas do you have for making ACB Radio better? On Monday, Oct. 6 at 9 p.m. Eastern, the board of publications will hold an open meeting with members. We will be conducting some business at this meeting so you can get an idea of the kind of work we do, but we also want to hear from you about the things ACB publishes and how we can make them better! To join us for this meeting, call (866) 633-8638 and enter the meeting ID 2671008. We on the board of publications look forward to meeting you and hearing and using your ideas and feedback. -- Paul Edwards ***** MY HEART SMILES BECAUSE OF YOU My heart smiles as I think of your support to the Durward K. McDaniel First-Timers' Program. Again this year, the selection was difficult because you found dynamic folks to nominate. Your financial support makes this event happen. Ticket sales from the drawing and the DKM reception were exceptional. Picture this: I'm in an elevator at convention when a voice chimes, "Hi, Carol, I sent $25 to Minneapolis for the DKM." Also, in mid- August, the Nevada treasurer phoned to tell me she collected the mail from the NCB mailbox, then asked me what she should do with the $100 check payable to ACB/DKM. Yes, not only do you make my heart smile but you continue to amaze me with your dedication to ACB and the DKM. Here is a big, huge, enormous THANK YOU programmed to create a smile in your heart. So take a moment and recognize the appreciation. -- Carol Ann Ewing ***** ACB WELCOMES BUMPER CROP OF NEW LIFE MEMBERS by Charles S.P. Hodge At its 47th annual convention, held in Louisville, Ky., in early July, ACB welcomed and honored a new delegation of life members, 22 to be exact, increasing ACB's overall life membership number by approximately 10 percent. As you will see below, individuals, affiliates and a chapter stepped up to the plate and purchased life memberships to honor deserving individuals. That chapter is the Hastings chapter of the ACB of Nebraska, which purchased six (yes, you've got that number right) life memberships to honor six of its members. This group of new life members includes Sally Baird, Larry Baumgartner, Lowell Popp, Donald Pohlmann, Vivian Pohlmann, and Howard Simons. With deep sadness yet joy in the ongoing legacy of her many contributions on behalf of blind people of her state and of the nation, ACB of Ohio posthumously honored one of its longtime leaders, Arlene R. Cohen, with a life membership plaque. The North Carolina Council of the Blind continued its practice of honoring two of its members with life memberships, Allen Casey and Mary Catherine Jones. The Arkansas Council of the Blind presented Susie Weatherford with a life membership plaque. ACB of New York honored John Farina. The Tennessee Council of the Blind purchased a life membership to honor Pam Robison. Missouri presented Linda Burris with a life membership. Not to be outdone, the Mississippi Council purchased three life memberships, one each for Gary Austin, Luther Dement, and Doug Laprade. The Virginia Association of the Blind honored Hazel Burton with a life membership. Friends-in-Art purchased a life membership plaque to honor one of its members, the legendary storyteller John Dashney. ACB president Mitch Pomerantz honored his wife, Donna, by purchasing a life membership on her behalf. An anonymous donor honored outgoing board member, and the outgoing president of the ACB of Texas, Ed "Doc" Bradley, by presenting him with a life membership plaque. Another anonymous donor honored David Lovern. And another anonymous donor honored Iris Edwards with a life membership plaque. As a longstanding life member, it was heartening for me to welcome this bumper crop of new ACB life members to the ever-growing honor roll of life members. Once again, I thank the individuals, affiliates, and the local chapter from Nebraska for making that substantial commitment to ACB through your purchases of life memberships, thereby honoring deserving individuals. You too can join the honor roll of life members. For more information, contact Lane Waters at ACB's Minnesota office at 1-800-866- 3242. ***** AND THIS YEAR'S WINNER IS ... by Ronald E. Milliman Immediately following our 2007 national convention, the Monthly Monetary Support (MMS) Program Committee announced a new campaign to promote the MMS Program among our ACB membership. The names of all new contributors, and all those existing participants who increased their contributions by at least $5 per month, were placed in a pot for a drawing to win a Victor Reader Stream produced by HumanWare. The promotion ran through the end of the ACB 2008 national convention. After the convention, the winner was selected, using a random number program to ensure total fairness and objectivity. Each eligible contributor was numbered, and the computer program selected the magic number 50. And so, the winner is ... Ken Metz of California!! Congratulations to Ken, and we certainly hope he gets lots of enjoyment out of his new Victor Reader Stream. Again, the campaign was very successful, bringing into the MMS Program lots of new participants. We greatly appreciate everyone who contributes to the program. All contributions are important and they all add up to helping ACB and its affiliates. I want to recognize the efforts of our MMS committee members: Ray Campbell, Donna Seliger, Kathy Brockman, William Benjamin, Ed Bradley, Mike Godino, and Melanie Brunson. I also thank Lane Waters and Dena Wilson for their extraordinary assistance during the convention. Lane has done a wonderful job sending me updates and quarterly reports on the progress of the MMS Program. Also, I want to recognize the people who either became MMS Program contributors for the first time or increased the amount of their contributions during our 2007-2008 campaign. These people are: Ninetta Garner, Robert Jones, Richard Rueda, Linda Watgen, Charles Hodge, Michael Keithley, Beth Henderson, Debra Turner, James Barnes, John Ross, Morry LaTour, Caitlin Snyder, Christina Saylor, Fred Scheigert, Bryan Dufelmeier, Michael and Peggy Garrett, Lucinda Talkington, Alice Ritchhart, Ann Byington, Annette Carter, Audley Blackburn, Billie Jean Keith, Bonnie Thompson, Cynthia Hirakawa, Dawn Brush, Edythe Huffman, Glenn McCully, James Kracht, James Thompson, Linda Schultz, Mary Haroyan, Melanie Brunson, Naomi Soule, Norman Dalke, Pamela Hill-Metz, Pratik Patel, Rev. George McDermott, Richard Johnson, Sally Benjamin, Steve Bauer, Terrie Arnold, Valorie Stanard, William Benjamin, Barbara and Richard McDonald, Dennis Ameden, Dick (Richard) Kohl, Evelyn Larson, Janet Dickelman, Kathleen Brockman, Ken Metz, Lisa Drzewuski, Lyle Sine, Marcia Dresser, Marilyn Lutter, Michael Malver, Nona Graves, Pam Shaw, Robert (Ottilie) Lucas, Sharon Strzalkowski, Steven Hart, and Dot Taylor! The total annualized amount of the contributions for our 2007-2008 campaign is $58,200. We are making progress, and I sincerely thank all of you who have made this progress possible. We will be announcing the details for our next annual MMS Program campaign shortly. ***** AFFILIATE NEWS Independence Through Empowerment The Pennsylvania Council of the Blind will hold its state convention Oct. 31 through Nov. 2, 2008 at the Holiday Inn Downtown in Johnstown, Pa. The theme of the convention is "Independence Through Empowerment." There will be sessions on the overprotection of disabled people, working effectively with the local media, an update on the transition to digital talking books, an in-depth presentation on living with low vision, and tips from the Red Cross on preparing for a disaster. To reserve your room, call the hotel at (814) 361-2602. The room rate is $79.99 plus tax per night. For more information, call the Pennsylvania Council of the Blind office at (717) 920-9999 or 1-877-617-7407. Or you may contact the office by e-mail at pcb1@paonline.com. Charleston Chapter Member Attends National Braille Competition Brianna Murray, an honors student and violinist at a Charleston high school, attended the National Braille Competition in California in June. She was selected to represent the entire southeast region in the braille contest by the Charleston County School Board. South Carolina's annual convention will be held Nov. 7-9 in Charleston. For more information, or to be a convention sponsor, send a note to: Charleston c/o 313 Seewee Circle, Mount Pleasant, S.C. 29464. Mark Your Calendar and Save Nov. 21-23 That's the weekend for the second annual Mid-Atlantic ACB Affiliate Convention! If you were there last year, you know how informative and engaging the convention was, and if you missed it in 2007, you can stop regretting the fun you didn't have, and get ready to attend this year's regional convention, where you'll experience informative seminars, fabulous speakers, vendors from all over the D.C. metropolitan area selling and demonstrating products and services to fit every blindness need, a banquet where the former national ACB president and current board of publications chairperson, Paul Edwards, will be the featured speaker. Renew old friendships, meet new people who understand, like you, the meaning of blindness and visual impairment, and share your experiences with others. This year's theme is "Short on Sight, Long on Vision," so you will certainly have ample opportunity to renew your commitment to living a full and fulfilling life, no matter how much you see. The Mid-Atlantic ACB Affiliate Convention will take place at the Holiday Inn Rosslyn at Key Bridge, located at 1900 N. Ft. Myer Drive in Arlington, Va. Room rates are $99 per night, single or double occupancy. To book a room, phone the Holiday Inn Rosslyn at (703) 807-2000, or 1-800- 368-3408, and mention "ACB" for the convention group rate. ***** REMEMBERING 9/11 MOVIE REVIEW: UNITED 93 by Frank Welte I recently attended a described screening of the film, United 93, which tells the story of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attack with stunning realism and emotional impact. The film begins as we see the soon-to-be hijackers in their hotel rooms praying, reading the Koran, and going to the airport. The movie then follows the events of that fateful morning, seemingly in real-time, of the passengers and crew of San Francisco-bound United flight 93 from its boarding at the Newark, N.J. airport to its final dive into the farmland of western Pennsylvania. The action is interspersed with scenes from nearly a half-dozen civilian and military air traffic control centers as they struggle, mostly belatedly, to make sense of and react to all of that day's disastrous events that we know so well. We see many of the misinterpretations, miscommunications and misjudgements that are so apparent to us in hindsight, but were probably inevitable in such an inconceivable event. Because the story seemed to take place in real-time I gained a strong impression of just how quickly everything happened, and, in spite of the obvious blunders depicted, the professionalism and competence of so many people on that morning was also clearly seen. The most powerful element of the presentation is, as it should be, the tale of the people aboard the airplane; the fanatics as they execute their plan, and the passengers and crew as they move from blissful ignorance of the pending atrocities, to their fear and confusion when the aircraft is seized, on to their horror and resolve as word of the other terrorist attacks reaches them, the tension as they plan a counter-attack under the noses of their enemies, and finally the pandemonium of the actual courageous uprising that comes just short of success but achieves lasting victory in the soil of the Quaker state. On the whole, the audio description was well done. My only complaint was with the description of the planning and carrying out of the counter- attack. The sound track of the movie got quite loud at that point, and we found it nearly impossible to hear the description track. This was also the case in some other scenes. It was like trying to follow the last two minutes of the final game of the NCAA college basketball tournament on a transistor radio while being seated right at courtside. I suspect that this was because of the volume of the sound in the theater and not a flaw with the volume of the description track. I guess I'll need to see the movie several times to absorb the complex choreography of those final 10 minutes. I strongly urge that you see this film with the following stipulations. 1. This is a big movie with a sound track to match. You will do yourself a disservice if you don't see it in a theater with sound equipment worthy of such a production, so don't wait for the movie to come out on video unless you have a friend with a phenomenal home entertainment center. 2. This film demands audio description. While the story is centered on the action aboard United flight 93, the large cast of characters, the frequent scene changes and the sub-titles of some of the Arabic conversations of the terrorists will leave you in confusion without the help of description. This is especially true as the film approaches its climax, the wild battle for control of the aircraft. I suspect we could get quite a few more co-sponsors for the Video Description Restoration Act if we could send audio CDs of the described sound track to every member of Congress, so they'd be able to appreciate the full impact of audio description. 3. This film is rated R for very good reasons: very rough language and graphic violence. However, the language and violence aren't gratuitous, being a reflection of the real events of Sept. 11. 4. This motion picture is absolutely not for the squeamish, faint of heart or children. To be blunt, I question the judgment of anybody who would take their kids to this one. This film would pack a punch in any case, but the impact of the film is increased by several orders of magnitude because this heart-wrenching story is not only true, but taking place so recently in our collective experience, unlike such intense films as "Saving Private Ryan" or "Schindler's List" that, while also depicting true events, told a story from a prior generation. You might guess how someone with a personal connection to the story, say a New Yorker, would be affected by it. If you're carrying around emotional baggage from 9/11 or if you thought "The Passion of the Christ" was too intense for you, don't even think of seeing this movie. On the other hand, if you found the former film moving and profound, as I did, you'll probably have the same reaction to this one, too, but remember, unlike "Passion," there's no happy ending in "United 93." The film's end will probably leave you in tears or sitting in stunned silence for several minutes. You have been warned. The stories from Sept. 11, 2001 will probably provide source material for feature films for many years. This first serious attempt to bring this singular event in American history to the silver screen sets a very high standard for other cinema artists to live up to in their own interpretations of 9/11. ***** HERE AND THERE by Sue Lichtenfels The announcement of products and services in this column does not represent an endorsement by the American Council of the Blind, its officers, or staff. Listings are free of charge for the benefit of our readers. The Braille Forum cannot be held responsible for the reliability of the products and services mentioned. To submit items for this column, send a message to info@acb.org, or phone the national office at 1-800-424-8666, and leave a message in mailbox 26. Information must be received at least two months ahead of publication date. ACCESS AWARD NOMINATIONS AFB is now accepting nominations for its 2009 Access Awards which honor individuals, corporations, and organizations that are eliminating or substantially reducing inequities faced by people who are blind or visually impaired. The awards will be presented on March 5, during the 2009 Josephine L. Taylor Leadership Institute at the Washington Marriott Hotel in Washington, DC. Nominations should illustrate an exceptional and innovative effort that has improved the lives of people who are blind or visually impaired by enhancing access to information, the environment, technology, education, or employment, including making mainstream products and services accessible. The effort should be one that has a national impact or can be a model for replication on a national level. Send letters of nomination and supporting documentation to Darren Burton via e-mail at dburton@afb.net or postal mail to: Darren Burton, AFB, 2009 Access Awards Committee, 949 Third Ave., Huntington, WV 25701. Nomination materials must be received no later than Sept. 26, 2008. For additional information on the Access Awards, visit www.afb.org. SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITY disABLEDperson Inc. will be holding their fall 2008 nationally based scholarship competition for disabled college students beginning Aug. 6, 2008 and ending Oct. 10, 2008 for the sum of $750. Applicants must be U.S. citizens with a disability who are enrolled full-time in a two- or four-year college. The first step is to visit www.disabledperson.com/articles/fall08.asp and complete the application. Then, you will need to write a 1,000-word or less essay. Visit www.disabledperson.com for the essay topic and complete rules. BRAILLE FOOTBALL GUIDE The Braille Revival League of Alabama offers the 2008 NCAA College Football Guide covering 120 division 1-A teams and most division 1-AA teams in braille. Also included will be the results of the 2007-2008 bowls, the AP top 25 final polls, the 2008-2009 bowl schedule and much more. Checks covering the $10 cost should be made out to Allen H. Gillis and sent to him at 302 Schaeffel Rd., Cullman, AL 35055. For more information, contact him at (256) 734-4047 or gill4047@bellsouth.net. ONLINE TRAINING Beginning this fall, Northcentral Technical College in Wausau, Wis. will be offering an Internet-based certificate program in access technology for the blind. Certifications will be available in magnification, speech output, and braille. For more information, contact Joe Mielczarek at (715) 803-1087. RX LABEL ENABLE CAMPAIGN The AFB has recently launched the Rx Label Enable Campaign to help bring about policy changes in medication labeling standards. As part of the campaign, AFB teamed up with the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists Foundation (ASCP) to develop the "Guidelines for Prescription Labeling and Consumer Medication Information for Persons with Vision Loss." The guidelines provide pharmacists and pharmacies with specific format recommendations for making important medication information accessible to patients with vision loss, and will serve as a resource for people with vision loss and blindness-related organizations. They also contain suggestions for making information accessible to people for whom larger print is not useful, general information on assistive technology, resources, and services that pharmacists and pharmacies can share with their blind and visually impaired customers. For people who have trouble reading their medication labels, and pharmacists who want to provide better customer service, information on the Rx Label Enable campaign and the full set of prescription labeling recommendations can be found at www.afb.org/pharmacistguidelines. AFB also seeks feedback from blind and visually impaired individuals regarding their prescription medication experiences that can aid the campaign's efforts. RT ANNUAL TRAINING CONFERENCE The annual joint training conference of the Association of Southeastern Rehabilitation Teachers (ASERT) and the Mid-America Conference of Rehabilitation Teachers (MACRT) will be held Nov. 13-15, 2008 at the Sheraton Birmingham Hotel, 2101 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. N., Birmingham, AL 35203. Their phone is (205) 324-5000. Early registration (by Oct. 3) is $130; after Oct. 3 will be $160. For more details, call Lenore Dillon at (256) 549-7790 or Sue Schulgin at (205) 290-4447. TACTILE GRAPHICS 2008 The fourth international conference on tactile diagrams, maps and pictures for use by blind and partially sighted children and adults in education, work and daily life will take place at the Jurys Inn in Birmingham, UK Dec. 3-5, 2008. The event brings together the world of design, production, procurement, use and support of tactile graphics (images which are touched rather than looked at). The conference offers pre-conference workshops and excellent networking opportunities and covers all aspects of tactile graphics for use by blind and partially sighted children and adults in education, work and daily life. Presentation topics will include challenges and solutions, applications and good practice, technologies for producing and accessing tactile graphics, perception, training, and tactile graphic literacy. For more information, visit www.nctd.org.uk/conference or e-mail accessevents@rnib.org.uk. VIDEO DESCRIPTION SURVEY John Riccio, a master's student from Ryerson University in Toronto, Ontario is looking at alternative methods of audio description in an attempt to identify which method provides the best understanding and enjoyment for viewers. He is seeking blind and low-vision individuals who are over the age of 18 to take part in this experiment. As a participant, you will watch three episodes of a television show (approximately 22 minutes each), and fill out a survey following each episode. You will also complete pre- and post-study questionnaires about your experience and opinions of video description and your current television viewing habits. This survey will be conducted online, so you will be able to watch these episodes at your convenience. If you are interested in participating in this study, please contact John via e-mail at jriccio@ryerson.ca. JOB TRAINING FOR VETERANS The Veterans Business Training Center provides online job training and professional placement assistance to combat-wounded and disabled veterans by using the Internet and web-based training technology. The goal is to recruit, train and retain qualified veterans for careers in the Contact Center industry that offer long-term job placement. The course work maximizes the military training veterans received and re-engineers their skills to the information industry -- creating employment opportunities to provide for themselves and their families. Applications for participation in the program are currently being accepted at www.combatwoundedcallcenter.com. CAMP BLOOMFIELD Nestled in the Santa Monica Mountains of Malibu, Calif., Camp Bloomfield offers various week-long camp sessions for children and teens who are blind, visually impaired or multi-disabled, and their families. Campers participate in fun and challenging adaptive activities, such as horseback riding, swimming, archery, climbing wall and high ropes course. Celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, Camp Bloomfield has provided tens of thousands of children with a safe and supportive environment to build self-esteem, increase independence and experience the joys of childhood. All sessions are offered free of charge with the exception of a $25 registration fee. For more information, contact Frank Cardenas, Director of Recreation, at (323) 295-4555 extension 261, or visit www.juniorblind.org. FREE SPEECH SOFTWARE FOR STUDENTS Serotek Corp. recently unveiled a new program, Keys for K-12, which allows students who are visually impaired computer access by providing Serotek's System Access Mobile software for text-to-speech screen reading and/or screen magnification at no charge. It provides a free license to carry the capability on a U3-enabled USB thumb drive so students can plug the drive into any computer anywhere and have instant access to all resident Windows-based and Microsoft Office applications such as Word, Excel and PowerPoint. When unplugged, no trace of usage is left behind on the host computer. The license is renewable every year until the student's 18th birthday or graduation from high school. Blind students can complete the online eligibility form at www.serotek.com/kk12.html, which includes certification of visual impairment from medical and educational professionals, and follow the simple steps to download the software to a USB drive. VICTOR UPDATE Victor Reader Stream version 2 will now play electronic braille files with its built-in text-to-speech including multiple formats of English braille encoded files, Unified English Braille, and non-English braille formats. Version 2.0 also adds playback of Windows Media Audio (WMA) and rich text format (RTF) files. Further, the bookshelf feature has been extended to enhance the access and playback of all media types with special new features for Audible books, podcast files, and music. For more information, visit www.humanware.com. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED The Braille Authority of North America (BANA) seeks knowledgeable and enthusiastic braille readers, teachers, and transcribers to serve on various committees. BANA has nine technical committees which are charged by its board to develop code (e.g., rules and symbols), revise and update code, review work from other technical committees, and respond to questions from constituents. In addition, there are five ad hoc committees dealing with issues such as publications, crafts and hobbies, and braille signage and labeling. All committees have representatives from both the United States and Canada, and consist of at least one braille reader, one teacher and one transcriber. Most work is done via e-mail. Several committees are currently seeking members. If you are interested in serving on a BANA committee, fill out the form on BANA's web site, www.brailleauthority.org, stating your areas of interest and your qualifications (for example, years of braille reading, teaching, or transcribing experience, etc.). ***** HIGH TECH SWAP SHOP FOR SALE: Aladdin Ultra CCTV, black-and-white, with 17-inch monitor. Comes with all cables. Price negotiable; best offer. Contact Argenys Caba at (732) 697-9112 or e-mail mlindholm@cpofnj.org. FOR SALE: Color Optelec Spectrum Jr. CCTV. In excellent condition. Asking $600 or best offer. Contact Mari Hunziker at (512) 670-9950 or kmhunziker@yahoo.com. FOR SALE: Braille 'n Speak 640 with leather case and a disk drive, cables, braille and print manuals. Asking $225 or best offer; postage not included. Free matter recommended. Sharp electronic typewriter for inkprint (purchased in 1992) in good working condition with print manual. Asking $35 or best offer; postage not included. Perkins brailler in good working condition. Asking $250. Postage not included. Free matter recommended. Contact Vileen Shah at vileenshah@hotmail.com (preferred), or (847) 647- 6677 evenings and weekends. FOR SALE: PAC Mate Omni BX440, rarely used. Warranties good until March 31, 2009. Comes with cables and disks. Asking $3,000 or best offer. Optelec Braille Voyager 40-cell braille display with USB connector. Comes with USB cable and disks; asking $2,000 or best offer. DECTalk Express external speech synthesizer with serial cable connector and AC adapter. Asking $200 or best offer. PowerBraille 65/81 braille display with serial and parallel connectors; recently serviced by Freedom Scientific. Asking $1,500 or best offer. Juliet Classic interpoint embosser with serial and parallel connections, in great condition. Asking $1,000 or best offer. Contact Tony Cothren at (205) 979-8818 or e-mail tonycothren@bellsouth.net. Shipping not included on some items. FOR SALE: Desktop computer. Has 19-inch flat-screen monitor, 500-gig hard drive, 2 gigs RAM, Windows XP Professional, JAWS 7.10, ZoomText 8, and Kurzweil 1000 with scanner. Asking $1,250. I will pay for shipping. Contact Jose Luis at (818) 220-6256. FOR SALE: Aladdin CCTV with 20-inch monitor. Used very little. Has sliding table built in and has a great picture. Will take the best cash offer or trade. Shipping not included. Contact Gregg via e-mail, tallcoolgregg@msn.com, or by phone, (503) 408-1419. Call between 10 a.m. and 9 p.m. Pacific. Seeking new stereo equipment or a device like the Voice Note. I am open for trade discussions. FOR SALE: Complete King James Bible on DVD, Alexander Scourby narrating while print word shown simultaneously. Includes other features as well. Brand-new, still in wrapper. Asking $39 (including shipping). King James Bible on audio cassette, Old and New Testaments, together or separately. Brand-new. Asking $75 for the Old Testament, $15 for the New Testament. New high-quality blank cassette tapes, 62 minutes and 92 minutes. Asking 54 cents each for the 62-minute tapes, 68 cents for the 92- minute tapes. Old-time radio programs from the '30s to the '70s. Want to buy or trade slates and styli. Contact Joe Kelly at (903) 794-4852. FOR SALE: Magnicam black-and-white CCTV with camera and 5-inch monitor. Includes all cables, power adapter, and carrying case. Excellent condition. Asking $100 plus $25 shipping, handling and insurance. Lexmark X9350 all-in-one USB, network and wireless printer, copier, fax, scanner. Excellent condition. Includes all software and cables plus two brand-new unopened black and color cartridges along with USB and network cables. Asking $125 plus $25 shipping, handling and insurance. Crank-up AM/FM radio, flashlight, and alarm and cell charger. Uses no batteries. Never used. Asking $20 plus $10 shipping, handling and insurance. Kingston 4-gig Traveler USB flash drive. Never used, never opened; brand-new. Asking $35 plus $5 shipping, handling and insurance. Epson Perfection 1660 USB 48-bit flatbed color scanner with power adapter, USB cable and all software. Excellent condition. Asking $25 plus $25 shipping, handling and insurance. Contact Don Risavy Jr. via e-mail, drisavyjr@cox.net. FOR SALE: Braille Sense in excellent condition. Includes CD manual, braille command summary, latest software, all of the original cords and carrying straps, as well as a wireless card that I am throwing in. Asking $3,750. Contact Connie at (612) 822-6991, or by e-mail at charityrose12@msn.com. FOR SALE: Clearview 317 CCTV, made in 2001. In perfect condition. Comes with ZoomText pre-installed. Asking $500. Contact Jackie Boutros at (954) 735-7054. FOR SALE: Two-year-old PAC Mate Omni BX 420 with all the cords and documentation that came with it. In good condition. Asking $3,000. Contact Stephanie at (314) 443-0180 or by e-mail, gdbalumni@sbcglobal.net. FOR SALE: Several texts in braille. "Intermediate Algebra with Applications" by Richard N. Aufmann, Vernon C. Barker, and Joanne S. Lockwood; published by Houghton Mifflin; 6th edition (January 27, 2003). Volumes: 50; pages, 3,567. Chapters brailled: chapters 1-12. "Precalculus Fifth Edition," by Ron Larson and Robert P. Hostetler, published by Houghton Mifflin. Chapters brailled: 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.6, review exercises, chapter test; 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5, review exercises, chapter test; 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6, 4.7, review exercises, chapter test; 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4, 5.5, review exercises, chapter test; 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, review exercises, chapter test. Contact Linda Williams via e-mail, lwilliam@butler.edu. FOR SALE: Braille Note BT Classic. Comes with software CD, adapter and 1-gig flash card. Asking $1,200 (negotiable). Contact Norm Burke-Yale at (816) 254-9670. ACB OFFICERS PRESIDENT MITCH POMERANTZ 1115 CORDOVA STREET #402 PASADENA, CA 91106 FIRST VICE PRESIDENT KIM CHARLSON 57 GRANDVIEW AVE. WATERTOWN, MA 02472 SECOND VICE PRESIDENT BRENDA DILLON 313 OVERRIDGE COVE HERMITAGE, TN 37076 SECRETARY MARLAINA LIEBERG 632 S. 189TH ST. BURIEN, WA 98148 TREASURER MIKE GODINO 104 TILROSE AVE MALVERNE, NY 11565-2024 IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT CHRISTOPHER GRAY 94 RAMONA AVE. SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103 ACB BOARD OF DIRECTORS Ray Campbell, Glen Ellyn, IL Berl Colley, Lacey, WA Marsha Farrow, Summerville, GA Michael Garrett, Missouri City, TX Billie Jean Keith, Arlington, VA Carla Ruschival, Louisville, KY Patrick Sheehan, Silver Spring, MD Jeff Thom, Sacramento, CA David Trott, Talladega, AL Cammie Vloedman, Oklahoma City, OK Ex Officio: Paul Edwards, Miami, FL BOARD OF PUBLICATIONS Paul Edwards, Chairman, Miami, FL Marcia Dresser, Reading, MA Judy Jackson, Lubbock, TX Jenine Stanley, Columbus, OH Ken Stewart, Warwick, NY Ex Officios: Barry Levine, Homer Glen, IL Ron Milliman, Bowling Green, KY