THE BRAILLE FORUM Volume XLV October 2006 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. Christopher Gray, 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 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@ziggycom.net, 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: 2802. 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 2006 American Council of the Blind TABLE OF CONTENTS President's Message: Leading the Way in Electronic Accessibility, by Christopher Gray Plan Now to Join Us in Washington for the Affiliate Presidents' Meeting and Legislative Seminar, by Melanie Brunson California Canes Works with Rotary Clubs, ACB to Distribute Canes to the Blind in Thailand In Memoriam: Edwin Druding, August 26, 1924-August 8, 2006, by Frank Kells In Memoriam: Rose Resnick Seasons, by Teddie-Joy Remhild Bookshare: A Library at Your Fingertips, by Anastasia Saridakis A Brief Look at the Braille Sense, by Cheree Heppe A Beginner's Look into a Computer, by Donna Brown Affiliate News Comcast Does the Right Thing, by Leonard D. DuBoff Here and There, by Susan Lichtenfels Letter to the Editor 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. Happy Halloween! ***** PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE: LEADING THE WAY IN ELECTRONIC ACCESSIBILITY by Christopher Gray In the past week, some notable press has been given to litigation between an organization of the blind, not ACB, and Target, the large department store chain. It would appear that this litigation could potentially establish the right of the blind to sue companies whose web sites are not accessible. If it comes true, this would certainly be a great victory for all blind Americans. The problem with such litigation and the press stories that surround it is that one often never experiences any true value from what one judge is alleged to have created. Too often such suits are a great means of getting publicity, sometimes even large sums of money, but we reap very little as blind individuals from what is alleged to have been done. In this case, for example, what will happen when a federal judge from a different district makes a different ruling? What will happen to this case if it is appealed? Too often, litigation like this goes nowhere and accomplishes very little. I would like to be wrong, and I wish all of the disability litigants every success in their efforts. But, one cannot help but wonder: Is every battle won in court? ACB and its affiliates generally favor a different approach when it comes to providing access to the electronic world. For many years now, in consultation with attorneys and affiliates, ACB has continuously stood in support of creating negotiated settlements between the blind community and those directly involved in providing information and services we need most vitally. In these settlements, the organizations and our attorneys approach companies directly, explain the legal issues that could arise, describe our desire to work in collaboration on solutions that meet our needs and make good business sense, and we agree to sit down and hash out a solution that provides tangible and immediate accessibility. It can be an approach that takes time, but when completed, it isn't subject to the whims of judges or juries, and it is something over which we can form partnerships with corporations to achieve, rather than create enemies who will only do the minimum they are forced by the law to do. While the fanfare is minimal, the results are nothing short of awesome in many, many cases. The American Council of the Blind has not only many press releases about such settlements, but just focusing on the world of banking, we have the following results to be proud of, and to help us know how we are making tangible progress in this area, not just receiving press coverage. Here are the eight most notable of our major banking accomplishments: (1) Bank of America settlement, talking ATMs, accessible web site, and braille statements: In 2000 Bank of America signed a comprehensive agreement with the California Council of the Blind and several CCB / ACB members to make its services accessible to blind people. Included in the agreement is the first commitment by any bank to make its web site accessible. Not only does Bank of America have over 10,000 talking ATMs and a comprehensive alternative format policy providing braille, large print and audio information, but it has one of the most accessible web sites in the private sector. When things go wrong, as of course they will, bank staff has been cooperative and eager to remedy any access issue. (2) Bank One settlement: Like Bank of America, Bank One signed a binding written legal agreement in 2001 covering their ATMs, print materials, and web site. When Bank One merged with Chase, the bank's commitment to accessibility was carried over to the new site. An accessibility link on the home page brings readers to a comprehensive statement of the bank's commitment, which includes this statement: "Chase is actively engaged in efforts necessary to meet online usability and web page design requirements recommended by the World Wide Web Consortium ..." (3) Fleet settlement: Also in 2001, Fleet Bank signed a comprehensive written agreement with the Bay State Council of the Blind (ACB's Massachusetts affiliate) requiring the bank's web site to meet the WCAG standards of the W3C. When Fleet merged with Bank of America, the accessibility commitment carried over in the merger. (4) Washington Mutual settlement: In 2002, the Florida Council of the Blind, the California Council of the Blind, and ACB members in Florida and California signed an agreement with Washington Mutual. Again, the bank made a legally binding commitment to talking ATMs, alternate formats, and an accessible web site. (5) and (6) Sovereign Bank and Citizens Bank: The Bay State Council of the Blind also reached agreements with Sovereign Bank and Citizens Bank, addressing those companies' web sites, talking ATMs, and alternate formats. An example of the outcome of those agreements is evident today on the Sovereign site, which contains the following statement: "As part of this commitment we have made this web site accessible for all users based on priorities one and two of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C)." (7) LaSalle Bank: The American Council of the Blind of Metropolitan Chicago and a blind activist in Chicago signed an agreement with LaSalle Bank in 2005 addressing the bank's web site, talking ATMs and alternate formats. The bank's site reflects its commitment to web access, stating, "We're continually enhancing our web sites to increase accessibility and usability for all of our customers. Web site enhancements are based on universal web design principles, as well as priorities one and two of the W3C's web site accessibility guidelines." (8) Union Bank of California: The Union Bank settlement agreement signed by ACB member Margie Donovan addressed that bank's ATMs and alternative formats. Because of the positive relationships formed during the negotiations that led to the agreement, Union Bank has publicly stated its commitment to web accessibility on its site as follows: "In response to the needs of all of our customers, Union Bank of California has adopted a policy of universal web page design, based on the World Wide Web Consortium ..." Through ACB and its affiliates, we've made a lot of headway in the world of banking and talking ATM machines. Ultimately, we have often become partners with the banks, not their adversaries. ACB has been very active regarding department stores as well. Many of you know of our negotiated settlement with Wal-Mart stores regarding their flat panel point-of-sale machines. As a direct result of our negotiations along with ACB affiliates, Wal-Mart has had for many months now at least one accessible point-of-sale machine in every store in the country. Now, that's a tangible result, worth its weight and more in litigation paperwork and cost. ACB will have additional major announcements regarding stores in the future, perhaps by Christmas or next Valentine's Day at the latest. ACB has also been extremely active in working to overcome new technology issues such as printed capchas, little pieces of graphical text used to thwart computerized search robots. We have worked with Google, and more recently with Sirius Communications, and the results have been excellent, and they are there for users of these services to enjoy today. It is certainly the case that some entities with whom we must deal will not step up to the plate and negotiate for what may be legally required, but that also makes good business sense. Prime examples of this are the Department of the Treasury and the Social Security Administration. But only after attempting for years to negotiate with both of these organizations has ACB taken the step of entering into litigation with them. What we can achieve through negotiation and partnership is unequaled by the legal system. We have the evidence of this before us every day. The independence we have achieved simply with talking ATMs is noteworthy. Our ability to stand alongside our sighted peers is amplified every day that one of us can walk up and use an ATM with independence, dignity, and privacy. I have people stop me in the street after using an ATM machine, and they're excited by what they saw. It is something they will remember for a long time, and they won't remember it about me, they'll remember it about blind people in general. What a huge win for independence! In conclusion, I would like particularly to acknowledge the tremendous work done by two attorneys who really paved the way for these negotiated settlements. They are Lainey Feingold and Linda Dardarian, to whom we owe many "Thank yous." We started this work with no clear picture of where it might go, with no proof that the approaches tried would work. Lainey Feingold has spoken at ACB conventions, and you know how passionate she can be if you have attended or listened to her speeches. She and Linda Dardarian continue to work purposefully in conjunction with us to create a truly more accessible and ADA-compliant world. ***** PLAN NOW TO JOIN US IN WASHINGTON FOR THE AFFILIATE PRESIDENTS' MEETING AND LEGISLATIVE SEMINAR by Melanie Brunson In 2007, ACB will be holding both the affiliate presidents' meeting and the legislative seminar in Washington, D.C. I hope many of you will begin making your plans to attend one or both of these meetings, as I expect that we will have a full agenda for both. The affiliate presidents' meeting will begin on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2007, and run through around noon on Sunday, Feb. 25. The legislative seminar will begin later on Sunday afternoon and run through Tuesday, Feb. 27. Both of these events will be held at the Holiday Inn-Rosslyn at Key Bridge, which is located at 1900 N. Fort Myer Dr. in Arlington, Va. This hotel is right across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C. and is very accessible by both the Metro and taxicab. The Rosslyn Metro station is within a short walking distance from the hotel. And the room rate is only $99 plus 10.25 percent tax per room per night! The hotel is ready to accept reservations now, so please don't wait to call them at either (703) 807-2000, or toll-free 1-888-465-4329. When you call, be sure you give them our group code, which is ACB. We will give you more information about the agenda for the affiliate presidents' meeting and the issues that will be discussed at the legislative seminar a little later. However, it is very likely that the legislative seminar topics will include consideration of legislation dealing with the Randolph-Sheppard and Javits-Wagner-O'Day programs, two programs which are important to the livelihoods of a significant number of people who are blind. The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, as well as the Departments of Defense and Education, are all interested in making changes to these programs, so both programs have been under fairly close scrutiny during the past few months. The problem is that there is very little agreement among policymakers as to exactly what the problems are and how they should be resolved. The result is that some of the proposals being floated at the time of this writing would have very harmful consequences for people who are blind and want to find employment through one of these programs. Fortunately, the organizations of and for the blind are working together to insure that any legislative proposals preserve those aspects of the programs which provide employment opportunities for people who are blind while making legitimate efforts to improve the effectiveness of the programs. To that end, we have offered a legislative package of our own, and many aspects of it have been very well received by Senate staffers who have seen it. Just last week, Congress received the long-awaited report from a committee of representatives from the Departments of Defense and Education, as well as the Committee for Purchase from People who are Blind or Severely Disabled, which was supposed to offer recommendations on how the provisions of both the Randolph-Sheppard and Javits-Wagner-O'Day acts should be implemented in order to eliminate all confusion about which statute governs in any given situation. We received a copy of this report several days ago and are still analyzing its implications. But one thing is certain: it does not eliminate any confusion! In fact, it is my opinion that it raises more questions than it resolves. Much of its wording is vague and therefore subject to varying interpretations. At this time, it is unclear what Congress will do with it; we are urging them to leave it on a shelf somewhere until we have had an opportunity to point out its flaws to them so that they can make an informed decision regarding it. When the dust arising from the release of this report settles a bit, which may happen by the next issue of "The Braille Forum," I plan to write more on the issues surrounding these programs, because they will have implications for many of the programs and services we care about as an organization, as well as for the livelihood of many of our members. Some of the issues are a bit complicated and many have become the center of fairly emotional debate in the disability community, so I anticipate that it will be some time before they are resolved. But when the heat gets turned up, which it will, we will need to be prepared for action in a prompt, firm and united fashion. It is my hope that through the pages of this publication, through our legislative seminar and any other vehicles we can use to distribute information, we will be able to offer you the tools necessary to preserve these and other crucial programs for people who are blind. The threat to programs that allow people who are blind to become economically self-sufficient and gainfully employed is real, and decisive action is necessary to help preserve those opportunities. We will all need to work together if we are to achieve success, and if we do, I believe success is very attainable. Stay tuned and get ready to join the fray! ***** CALIFORNIA CANES WORKS WITH ROTARY CLUBS, ACB TO DISTRIBUTE CANES TO THE BLIND IN THAILAND Blind people in Thailand chose American walking canes over all others globally, when the Prakanong Rotary Club of Bangkok proposed supplying them canes. The Hesperia Rotary Club in California, where the supplier -- California Canes -- is located, and the Bangkok Ploenchit Rotary Club joined the project that has imported 127 canes so far. In the photograph (left to right) are the principal of a school for the blind in Songkhla Province, southern Thailand; one of the blind people helping with the selection; the principal of a school for the blind in Surathani Province, southern Thailand; Jon Harger, an American and the only foreign member of the Thai- language Prakanong Rotary Club, who initiated the project; and a teacher at the National School for the Blind in Bangkok who was the initial contact person and has handled coordination for the distribution of the canes. Mr. Harger, with the input from these two blind people, designed a custom carrier for the canes that bears the names of the three participating Rotary Clubs. We much appreciate the efforts and participation of California Canes and the American Council of the Blind (ACB) in making sure we received the canes for this project. ***** IN MEMORIAM: EDWIN DRUDING August 26, 1924-August 8, 2006 by Frank Kells Dr. Edwin Druding, born Aug. 26, 1924 in Abington, Pa., died suddenly Aug. 8, 2006 at his home in Glendale, Ariz. He was a long-time member of ACB and held several different offices in the Arizona Council of the Blind. His death was a great shock to all who knew him. He and his wife, Ruth, were strong advocates for the blind and other disability groups throughout Arizona and the United States. Dr. Druding was well-known here and abroad as a clinical psychologist and hypnotherapist. For over 50 years he taught psychology at Phoenix College and elsewhere. He was a dedicated volunteer with a wry sense of humor. According to his colleagues, "He was willing to do anything and go anywhere if he could help someone in need." If you were stranded after a late Arizona Council meeting, you could count on Edwin to drive you home, even if you lived 20 miles away. For many years he has assisted Ruth as co-chair of the annual Arizona conventions, but perhaps he is best known for his outstanding job as editor of "Foresight," the Arizona Council newsletter. To most of us who worked with him all these years, it came as quite a surprise to learn that his first name was Charles (and that Edwin was really his middle name). He is survived by his wife, several children, grandchildren and great- grandchildren, to whom we express our deepest sympathy on behalf of the entire ACB. He will be sorely missed. ***** IN MEMORIAM: ROSE RESNICK (Reprinted from "The San Francisco Chronicle," Aug. 15, 2006.) Rose Resnick passed away early Aug. 14, 2006 at age 99. She was born on Nov. 27, 1906 in New York City to parents, immigrants from the Ukraine in Russia. Glaucoma caused her blindness at the age of 3. Her innate musical abilities led her to scholarships at the Manhattan School of Music, New York City, the Fontainebleau Conservatory of Music in France, and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. She toured as a concert pianist before settling in San Francisco where she resumed her studies, receiving a teaching credential and master's degree from San Francisco State University in 1961. Rose's dream of a camp that would get blind children and adults out of their homes and into the open air of the countryside was first realized with the first camp for blind children in the United States. After serving as the executive director of the Enchanted Hills Foundation until 1958, the Enchanted Hills Camp merged with the San Francisco Association for the Blind to form the San Francisco Lighthouse, now the Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired. She founded "A Garden of Fragrance" in Golden Gate Park, and initiated taping service for the blind throughout the California prison system. In 1981, Rose received her doctorate in education from the University of San Francisco. Her many awards include the prestigious Migel Award of the American Foundation for the Blind; the San Francisco Examiner's "Woman of the Year" award; a Presidential citation for meritorious service to the handicapped; the Hannah G. Solomon Award for community service from the National Council for Jewish Women; "Professional Woman of the Year"; Myrtle Wreath Award from Hadassah; Jefferson Award from the American Institute for Public Service; the Distinguished Alumni Award for outstanding contributions to profession and society from San Francisco State University; "Hall of Fame," Hunter College, and others. In 1988, Athenaeum Press published her autobiography, "Dare to Dream - - The Rose Resnick Story." Though she experienced at first discrimination concerned with teaching in the school system due to her blindness, Rose traveled to Sacramento and delivered an effective plea for integration rather than segregation of the blind. Graveside memorial services were held on Aug. 15 at Sinai Memorial Chapel, Eternal Home Cemetery in Colma, Calif. ***** SEASONS As autumn arrives with its blessings and warm rewards, The dying leaf yearns to be revived. You and I share the seasons of life. We, too, evolve, even as the dying leaf, Yet savoring the dwindling days. Winter awaits. -- Teddie-Joy Remhild ***** BOOKSHARE: A LIBRARY AT YOUR FINGERTIPS by Anastasia Saridakis (Editor's Note: To check this library out for yourself, visit www.bookshare.org.) Imagine hearing a sighted friend comment on a wonderful book he/she read. Imagine being able to gain access to that book the same day from the comfort of your own home. A decade ago that would have been impossible for people in the blind community, but not any more. On Feb. 21, 2002, one web site decided to make that dream a reality. Benetech is sponsoring Bookshare.org, a web site where a member with a print disability can download an entire book in seconds. Bookshare currently has more than 4,000 members and more than 29,000 books in 33 different categories. As a result of a partnership with the National Federation of the Blind, this diverse library contains newspapers and magazines from all over the United States. In addition to its material in English, Bookshare.org contains material in other languages, including more than 1,000 books in Spanish. More books are approved every day. The Bookshare database reflects the interests of its members and volunteers. Bookshare has a section of books recommended by teachers for students, so when a student needs a book for school, he/she can find it more quickly. Bookshare.org currently highlights New York best sellers on its home page. The site contains the entire Harry Potter series, including the Spanish translations. The latest book in the series, "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince," was available on Bookshare the same day as it was available in print to the public. A book goes through a three-step process before it can be on the site. First, a person scans, edits, and submits a book. This can take anywhere from an hour to several weeks, depending on many factors. Some of these factors include access to a computer, access to the book, the quality of the scan, and of course, time. Then, a validator picks the book up from the site, proofreads it and recommends it for approval. Finally, the book is approved by a Bookshare.org staff member who makes a final decision about the book. In general, it is illegal to scan and share copies of books. However, there is an exception in the United States Copyright Law. It states in part "... it is not an infringement of copyright for an authorized entity to reproduce or to distribute copies ... of a previously published, non-dramatic literary work if such copies ... are reproduced or distributed in specialized formats exclusively for use by blind or other persons with disabilities." Bookshare volunteers can submit books in one of five formats including Arkenstone, Kurzweil, Microsoft Word documents, Wynn and rich text format. Arkenstone is a format that is only accessible to a user who has Open Book. Likewise, Kurzweil is a file format that can only be accessed with that software program. Bookshare is encouraging all its volunteers to submit their books in rich text format, which is accessible to more members than any other format. Once the book is downloaded, the talking software on the individual's computer helps make the print audible. If the user does not have such a program, he/she can download Humanware's Victor Reader software from Bookshare. A member or visitor can search the entire database by using the search function. A search can be done by title, subject or author. One can also search within a category. For example, if someone were searching for a book on Helen Keller, he/she could do a general search or search the disabilities category, which would cut down on time. Once the book is found, a page is displayed with the title, author, ISBN, copyright name and year, length, quality (excellent, good, or fair), and two synopses. One synopsis is 250 characters or less. The other is 500 words or less. This helps the user know if he/she has the right book before downloading it. Once the user is sure he/she has the right book, he/she can download it from the web site. Bookshare.org is different from other organizations that offer reading material for the blind in many ways. First, it costs money. It costs $75 the first year and $50 each additional year for the service. A volunteer can work off this cost by submitting or editing books. Each submitted book is worth $2.50 credit toward membership. If one wants credit toward a subscription but does not have access to a scanner, he/she can validate a book for a 50-cent credit. Validators are essential for Bookshare to run. These dedicated readers take books that were submitted, proofread them, and categorize them so they appear on Bookshare in the right place. A person can become a member by filling out a short online form and submitting a proof of disability to the site either proving that they are a member of the National Library Service (NLS) or getting a printable form filled out and signed by his/her eye doctor. Bookshare has a small staff and relies on its active volunteer community to grow the collection. If a member can get a volunteer to scan the book, Bookshare will have it on the site for the whole community. Bookshare has a wish list for this type of situation. Members need to keep in mind that there is no guarantee a book they ask for will be scanned, however. Bookshare also offers another unique feature for braille users. Any book in excellent or good quality can be bought in braille from the Braille Institute of America thanks to a partnership between the two organizations. Books can be purchased for 8 cents per braille page for unformatted and 36 cents for formatted braille. Membership is not necessary for purchase of braille books. I enjoy scanning books people request for two reasons. First, I know the book I submit will be read by a member who either wants it or needs it. Some people who use Bookshare have the equipment to scan books, but don't have the time. I feel fortunate that I have the time and the resources to submit books for others. I scan children's books often because they are fun to read, and parents, teachers and children can benefit from them. I also describe pictures in every children's book so the reader won't miss out on any visual information in the print copy. I learn a lot by scanning books on different topics, too. A friend asked me to scan a book for her on Buddhism. If she didn't ask, that would not have been a book I would have scanned. I learned a lot about the religion and I thanked my friend as much as she thanked me. Bookshare.org is a wonderfully diverse library that has affected the lives of its members in many ways. The size and scope of this library reflects the needs and interests of its members and volunteers. The site allows members to gain access to information in a quick and easy way that was unheard of 10 years ago. Bookshare.org has a growing collection of diverse reading material with no end in sight. ***** A BRIEF LOOK AT THE BRAILLE SENSE by Cheree Heppe I recently learned of the availability of the Braille Sense, newly marketed in the United States. It is a product collaboration between Human Information Service, Sony and other groups in South Korea. GW Micro has been marketing the Braille Sense in the U.S. The Disability Services Office at the University of Buffalo got a Braille Sense for a short time for demonstration purposes. A demonstration scheduled for May 11 was to be for agencies and rehabilitation counselors, with no consumers directly invited or notified. However, when I contacted the Disability Services Office, Andy Borst agreed to take time to show me and another lady the Braille Sense on May 13. So I took my guide dog and traveled from Rochester to Buffalo, arriving at the university mid-morning. Andy Borst met me at the bus stop in front of the building to escort me to the office. Unfortunately, the other lady decided not to come. Another consumer, a college student who could have benefitted from such a demonstration, was discouraged from traveling to see the new device. The Braille Sense struck me as extremely intuitive to operate. It worked like a braille version of plug-and-play without a lot of tweaking needed. The keyboard differs from a Perkins brailler's in that it is curved, presumably as an ergonomic adjunct. There are four braille keys on either side of the space bar. The outermost keys act as function keys; controls and commands involve chording keys and a space bar, like playing chords on a musical keyboard. Above the braille display area and below the keys and space bar are four function keys, labeled one through four from left to right. The braille display has routing buttons along its upper edge. Speech output may be turned off when utilizing the braille, or left on to operate simultaneously. Although I do not consider myself an advanced computer user, I began accessing the Braille Sense's features immediately by trying the keys. Jeremy, a GW Micro staff member, coached me via the speaker phone in Borst's office. The braille output read cleanly and responded seamlessly. Unlike the BrailleNote, there are no large thumb buttons on the near edge of the Braille Sense. This meant that while carrying the Braille Sense, I could not trigger something inadvertently by leaning on the thumb buttons. In place of those buttons, the Braille Sense has recessed controls governing a Daisy recorder/player along its front edge. This seemed very functional, although I focused mainly on the braille interface and did not test it. The speech was tolerable to listen to. The Braille Sense used synthesized speech, while I prefer the human-sounding digital voices. Currently, the Braille Sense can use only its onboard speech engine. The Braille Sense weighed less and seemed smaller than the BrailleNote and the PACMate. I have seen the BrailleNote via a blind user, as well as the PACMate and the BrailleNote PK. I disliked the PACMate, and wasn't pleased with the interface required through Freedom Scientific. The Braille Sense can multi-task between a maximum of seven separate, open applications. Beyond smooth functionality and user-friendliness, the cost of this notetaker is lower than the full-sized BrailleNote and PACMate, and offers a 32-cell braille display not available on the PK. It would require more in-depth exposure to cement my impressions from my brief time with it. However, as of now, the Braille Sense would be the notetaker I would consider when replacing the speech-only notetaker I currently use. Thanks to Jeremy at GW Micro and Andy Borst for their time and resources demonstrating this device. For more information about the Braille Sense, contact GW Micro at (260) 489-3671. ***** A BEGINNER'S LOOK INTO A COMPUTER by Donna Brown I can feel this computer humming and anticipating my every move, and I'm not happy about it, because it's like holding onto a ledge by your fingers not knowing what to do next. I hadn't even planned to use one. You might say that I was forced to try one out by my husband, who found me a temporary screen reader, Window-Eyes. It was my husband who decided he wanted a computer. Our house is big and we had an extra room with nothing but boxes in it, so he made room in it for the computer. As this room was emptied of junk boxes and filled with computer stuff, the equipment grew, along with the software. Then came all of those programs that the computer and its user just had to have. Those programs were expensive then, too. Since then, we have given a few computers and extra equipment to a blind society to fix for their use. The computer, to me, took up too much time. I really did not know if I could even manage one. I hadn't heard of a screen reader before, but I knew that some blind organizations were really pushing companies and the government to keep the blind from being discriminated against. The technology that has come along in the past few years has done a lot for the blind. If it hadn't been for those organizations, we would still be sitting or stumbling around trying to keep ourselves busy. But I don't like to be pushed into anything, even if it is for my own independence. After trying it, I got hooked on typing again. It had been 45 years since I had done any typing. But it only takes one little thing to get started, right? I am a nut for even thinking that I could write, or type, in this case, on different things in my own head! Who did I think I was, anyway? I certainly wasn't an author. It has been four years since I started trying to use a computer. After I learned how to turn it on, I began to write my memoir. Of course, I had to practice my typing to see if I still could. I knew the keyboard, but I had to learn a few of the computer's function keys. And I will never forget the first time I got into Explorer -- I didn't know I wasn't supposed to type in there! My first favorite keys were "delete" and "save." As time went by, I figured out that I didn't have to save everything. So I began writing my first book. It came along nicely until the guy on the screen reader read back things that I did not remember typing. I was about three-quarters through the book when I finally learned how to edit and find anything in the middle of the document. I had to get used to the screen reader's pronunciation of certain words, some of which still make me cringe. I am looking forward to the day when I can get online and hear my own computer say those three little words: "You have mail." I finished my first book at age 65. I have learned how to put a disk in the computer, so I shouldn't lose any documents. I do not have to use a computer, but it is nice to finish a project! When and if I ever get the instructions on working Window-Eyes with the computer, it will probably be hard to get me to do anything else for a while. It has been a few years and it seems that I have changed my mind about computers. It will just take a little cooperation from everyone. I will keep trying and will learn more when the opportunity comes along. I have exhausted all of what I am learning for now. I will have to write another booklet in another five years on how I got online. So, computer, you will never be idle, unless you decide to crash! ***** AFFILIATE NEWS New Executive Director Named in Ohio At the end of August, Ken Morlock retired as executive director of the Ohio affiliate. Mary Hiland of Columbus has agreed to take the position. Hiland is a graduate of the Ohio State University, with a degree in social work. She has served on the state board and as president of the Columbus chapter. Hiland has been very active in Ski for Light. She has published articles in "The Braille Forum," "Dialogue," and "Chicken Soup for the Parent's Soul." For the past 21 1/2 years, she has been the director of Volunteers at VOICEcorps, formerly known as the Central Ohio Radio Reading Service. ACB Human Service Professionals Revitalizing A new ACB affiliate, ACB Human Services Professionals, received its charter at the convention in Jacksonville. Psychologists, social workers, rehabilitation counselors, human services students, and anyone interested in human services are invited to join. We have an e-mail list on the ACB web site. Dues are $10; send them to Pam Shaw, 7601 Crittenden Street, Apt. #F2, Philadelphia, PA 19118. Our president is Jessie Rayl. You can e-mail her at thedogmom@verizon.net. ***** COMCAST DOES THE RIGHT THING by Leonard D. DuBoff In late December 2005, Leonard DuBoff, an Oregon attorney, decided to follow a recommendation he read in a prominent consumer-oriented magazine to save money by purchasing cable TV, high-speed Internet and telephone services from the same carrier. Relying on an advertisement that appeared on television and on the Comcast Digital Voice web site, DuBoff contacted Comcast and arranged to have his telephone service transferred from his existing hardwired carrier to Digital Voice, Comcast's Voice-Over-Internet Protocol (VOIP). The web site and television commercials made it clear that the Comcast Voice-Over-Internet Protocol is a technology used to transmit voice and related calls over a data network. Most VOIP providers use the public Internet to transmit your calls. Comcast does not; it uses this technology to transmit calls over its advanced broadband network. Comcast Digital Voice (TM) service uses VOIP technology to provide users a number of enhanced new features without sacrificing any of their current phone features or clarity. The Oregon attorney did not realize it, but he was in for quite a surprise. When the first telephone bill arrived, it contained a notice indicating that directory assistance cost 99 cents per call. Since DuBoff is totally blind, he contacted the Oregon State Commission for the Blind and requested the form to obtain free directory assistance for blind telephone subscribers. He was surprised to learn that Comcast did not have a form on file. DuBoff contacted the telephone company's business office in order to find out how he could obtain free directory assistance mandated by the Americans with Disabilities Act. This federal statute requires public carriers, such as Comcast, to provide reasonable accommodation for disabled Americans. Free directory assistance is one of those reasonable accommodations that was expressly considered when the ADA was adopted in 1990. Unfortunately, Comcast personnel were unaccommodating; in fact, one of the business office supervisors suggested that DuBoff sue them if he felt his rights were being violated. So he did. On March 17, 2006, he filed suit in the United States District Court for the District of Oregon requesting that the court require the public carrier to provide blind Americans with the reasonable accommodations required by the ADA. DuBoff also asked the court to have the case certified as a class action so that he could represent all other blind and disabled individuals who were similarly situated. When Comcast executives reviewed the matter, they realized that the law requires companies providing telephone services, such as Comcast, to accommodate their disabled subscribers by providing free directory assistance to those who cannot read telephone books. Interestingly enough, Comcast's hardwired division, also known as Comcast, provides the free service to its disabled subscribers. Apparently, the new online telephone company may have been moving so fast in implementing this new form of telephone service that it omitted some of the legal requirements for many of its subscribers. It would also appear that the organization did not have an appropriate institutional policy for dealing with disabled individuals. As a requirement of the settlement between DuBoff and Comcast, the phone company now offers free directory assistance to qualified disabled subscribers (as of July 1, 2006). Comcast has also agreed to compensate qualified disabled subscribers who were required to pay for directory assistance prior to July 1. It is clear that Comcast now recognizes its obligation under the federal law, and it is also clear that the company is willing to do the right thing when reminded what the law requires. The speed with which Comcast implemented the corrective program makes it clear that it is a good corporate citizen and will do the right thing when reminded to do so. Unfortunately, that reminder sometimes must take the form of a federal lawsuit. ***** HERE AND THERE by Susan Lichtenfels The announcement of products and services in this column is not an endorsement by the American Council of the Blind, its staff, or elected officials. Products and services are listed free of charge for the benefit of our readers. "The Braille Forum" cannot be held responsible for the reliability of products and services mentioned. To submit items for this column, send a message to info@acb.org, or call ACB at 1-800-424-8666 and leave a message in mailbox 26. Please remember that postal regulations prohibit us from including advertisements, and that we need information two months ahead of actual publication dates. NATIONAL DISABILITY EMPLOYMENT AWARENESS MONTH National Disability Employment Awareness Month is celebrated every October. This year's theme is Americans with Disabilities: Ready for the Global Workforce. A poster is available which brings attention to the contributions workers with disabilities make to the American workplace. To request a free copy of the poster, e-mail ndeam@dol.gov and specify your choice of size, either 20" x 30" or 10" x 15". You can also download a PDF version from www.dol.gov/odep/pubs/posters.htm. INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS Global Explorers is now accepting applications for its summer 2007 programs. There are two exciting programs being offered for blind, visually impaired, and sighted high school students: Leading the Way 2007: A Blind and Sighted Journey with Erik Weihenmayer, and Sounds of the Amazon 2007: Explore the Peruvian Rainforest in Surround Sound. We are seeking very capable, mature and confident students who feel that this experience will help their personal growth and discovery. Application materials for both programs are due Oct. 15. You can find more information about the programs and digital versions of the applications on the web site, www.globalexplorers.org. Click under the left side menu for "Disabled Student Programs." To obtain a braille copy of the application or flyers, call Global Explorers at 1-888-359-3801. ART SHOWS IN PHILADELPHIA USArtists: American Fine Art Show will be held Oct. 20-22, 2006 at the 33rd Street Armory in Philadelphia. To navigate the crowds, hour-long docent tours can be booked in advance. General admission to USArtists is $15 and includes a full-color show catalog with more than 55 images of American fine art. Seniors and students with ID pay $12; groups of six or more that have registered in advance, $12. Pennsylvania Academy members with member tickets and children 12 and under are admitted free. Show times are 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. For more information, call (215) 972-2042 or visit www.usartists.org. Other shows this fall include: "Treasures: From the Silk Road to the Santa Fe Trail," which runs Oct. 27-29, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show, Nov. 2-5. For more information on the "Treasures" show, contact www.museum.upenn.edu or treasures@museum.upenn.edu. To learn more about the craft show, contact www.pmacraftshow.org or twcpma@philamuseum.org. CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING IN THE SIERRA Do you enjoy cross-country skiing or snowshoeing? Have you always wanted to learn? Sierra Regional Ski for Light is now accepting applications for its 2007 ski season. The schedule includes three one-day trips (open to children and adults), January 6 and 20, and February 10, and the 15th annual three-day event (adults only), March 10-12, 2007. Skiing will be at the Tahoe/Donner Cross Country Ski Resort in Truckee, Calif. Each skier is matched with a trained guide. Skiers at all levels are welcome, from beginning to advanced. For more information, go to www.srsfl.org. You may also contact Cindy Quintana, ski coordinator, at (510) 483-2948 or e-mail cindyq12345@sbcglobal.net. SRSFL looks forward to seeing you on the snow! SKI FOR LIGHT 2007 INVITES APPLICATIONS Are you a visually impaired adult who cross-country skis or is interested in learning? If your answer is yes, then join 300+ active adults from across the U.S. and around the world for our 32nd annual Ski for Light International Week! While primarily recreational, Ski for Light attracts cross-country skiers from beginners to advanced competitors. Skiers and guides come from every adult age group and occupation. You will be paired with a sighted instructor/guide who will assist with skills, technique, endurance or simply enjoying the outdoors. After a day of skiing, join in on any number of organized activities, or simply relax and enjoy the facilities and the company of fellow participants. The 2007 Ski for Light event will be held from Jan. 21-28, 2007, in the White Mountains of northern New Hampshire. We will stay at the North Conway Grand Hotel in North Conway and ski at Great Glen Trails in the Pinkham Notch section of the town of Gorham. More information about the event and online applications are available now at www.sfl.org. The total cost for the week, which includes all meals and ground transportation, is $975 single occupancy, $725 per person double-occupancy; there are no triples at the hotel this year. For additional information, call Dave Thomas at (303) 298-0672 or e-mail davet@sfl.org, or Lynda Boose, lynda@sfl.org or (906) 370-7541. VIRTUAL SYMPOSIUM ON DIABETES Helping Hands for the Blind and The Accessible World Symposiums have formed a partnership to produce the first online symposium on diabetes, to be held Wednesday, November 8, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Pacific time. Speakers will include Gretchen Becker, the author of "Living with Type 2 Diabetes;" Dr. Bernard Mahaver, an endocrinologist who will discuss the various drugs in use to control diabetes; and Dr. Anne Williams, a noted diabetic educator who will discuss research and trends in diabetic care. The program will be followed by a question-and-answer period. To participate in this interactive online event, you will need a computer running Windows, an Internet connection, speakers, a microphone and a sound card. Agencies serving blind and visually impaired people in the U.S. will be providing computers and space to enable blind people who are not computer literate or do not have a computer at home to participate. To access the online conference room, go to www.accessibleworld.org and select the Auditorium link. BLUE PENCIL AWARD The National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped recently received two distinguished Blue Pencil Awards from the National Association of Government Communicators. "Blind Justice: Jacobus tenBroek and the Vision of Equality" received the Award of Excellence, and the public service announcement "A Good Book Is Worth Sharing" received first place. "Blind Justice" focuses on the life of Jacobus tenBroek. The PSA features ACB members Bud and Billie Jean Keith of Arlington enjoying a recorded book over coffee. CELEBRATION OF LIGHT The U.S. Association of Blind Athletes and the Cornea Research Foundation of America have joined forces to promote the book "Celebration of Light," written by Dr. Francis Price Jr., president of the Cornea Research Foundation. It is a collection of inspirational and informative stories of people who are blind and visually impaired, and features Trischa Zorn, the most decorated Paralympic athlete in the history of disabled sport. The book costs $20, and is available from Authorhouse, 1-888-519-5121 or www.authorhouse.com. All proceeds go to the Cornea Research Foundation of America. HONORS FOR KIM CHARLSON Kim Charlson has been named the 2006 Outstanding Alumna by the University of North Texas School of Library and Information Sciences Alumni Society. Charlson is known nationally and internationally for her expertise in information access and library services to the disabled. She is currently director of the Braille and Talking Book Library at the Perkins School for the Blind in Watertown, Mass. MACFARLAND AWARD WINNER In September, Dr. Robert J. Winn, past president of the Hadley School for the Blind, received the prestigious Douglas C. MacFarland Award from the Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired. Dr. Winn pioneered parent curriculum internationally through the Hadley School for the Blind; he retired in 2001 after serving 19 years as president. HUMANWARE DISCOUNT FOR GDUI MEMBERS GDUI and HumanWare have partnered to provide guide dog users with easier access to GPS technology. On July 1, 2006, HumanWare began deducting $100 from the price of each Trekker or Trekker/Maestro sold to a GDUI member living in the United States and donating an additional $100 to GDUI. This opportunity is only available until June 30, 2007. GDUI members interested in purchasing the Trekker or the Trekker/Maestro should call 1-888-858-1008. SEEKING CONTRIBUTIONS FOR LIBRARY Oasis Blind Support Association is an Ethiopian-based organization working to reduce the problems of people who are visually impaired. Some of its work has focused on HIV/AIDS awareness, tutorial classes, financial support and advocacy. Oasis' major objective is to create a library for blind students. The organization seeks financial and material contributions such as books, tables, chairs, computers, blank CDs and audio cassettes. Contact Oasis, P.O. Box 1766 Code 1250, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; e-mail obsa_2004@yahoo.com. NEW DISCUSSION GROUP FOR DISABLED Discussions in this on-line group will focus on books, technology, hot topics, and general subjects that pertain to people with disabilities. To join this group, send an e-mail message to rossiter_vern@yahoo.com. BLINDCONNECT E-MAIL GROUP Danney Yates has created an e-mail group called "BlindConnect" for people who are blind or experiencing sight loss. Its purpose is to offer a forum for discussion of victories, defeats, good days, bad days, and to give or receive encouragement in dealing with the daily stressors of blindness. To subscribe, send a blank e-mail message to BlindConnect- subscribe@yahoogroups.com. KNITTED AND CROCHETED ITEMS Knitted and crocheted items for sale. For more information, please contact Patie Sawyer at (775) 786-1429. TEXAS HOLD'EM LAUNCHED The fully accessible online version of Texas Hold'em is now up and running at AllinPlay. The game works with all major screen readers and magnifiers, including JAWS, Window-Eyes, ZoomText and Dolphin Supernova. It allows up to eight players to come together and enjoy a friendly game or a high-stakes battle with virtual chips. To try the game, visit www.AllinPlay.com. MAESTRO 2.0 RELEASED HumanWare recently released Maestro 2.0, an enhanced version of the mainstream PDA for the visually impaired. Its functions include a Wi-Fi e-mail manager, a media player for music and audio books, and a task manager. All information is sent to the user in audio form. Maestro users can organize their appointments and address books, consult and edit text documents, record voice notes, read books, organize e-mail, and listen to music. For more information, visit www.humanware.com, or call 1-800-722- 3393. AUTOGRAPHED FOOTBALL RAFFLE The Beaver County Council of the Blind in Pennsylvania is raffling off a football autographed by both Joe Namath and Joe Montana. Send $3 per chance to Bernie Joyce at 6090 Tuscarawas Rd., Industry, PA 15052 or call (724) 495-7524. The drawing will be held on Dec. 15, 2006. ETHIOPIAN SCHOOL NEEDS HELP Christina Hanley and Anna Dolan are seeking assistance in helping the 82 blind students attending the Mekele Blind Boarding School in northern Ethiopia. The school is in need of instructional materials, braille paper, slates, braille writers and general financial contributions. Contact these women regarding your resources at rjchmojo@comcast.net. NEW SUPPORT SITE There is now an online forum for blind computer users, as well as diabetics. It's called The Lights Out Forum, and can be found at www.2eu2.com/lightsout/index.htm. The site is founded by a blind diabetic who wanted to create a place where people can both find support and give support to others. WEEKLY WRITERS TELECONFERENCE Sanford Rosenthal hosts a weekly Sunday night teleconference for writers with disabilities. Whether you are accomplished or just thinking about writing, it is available at no charge. To register, call Sanford with your complete contact information, (954) 537-7557, or e-mail it to him, sanfordrosenthal@nwuatlarge.org. ***** LETTER TO THE EDITOR The contents of this column reflect the letters we had received by the time we went to press, Sept. 15, 2006. Letters are limited to 300 words or fewer. All submissions must include the author's name and location. Opinions expressed are those of the authors. Thank You for Helping Students in Ghana Remember the article that appeared in the July-August "Here and There" column requesting help for students in Ghana? Many "Braille Forum" readers responded to that request for assistance. Below is a letter from Wendy Olson, a teacher of the visually impaired from New Jersey, who coordinated the effort. Thank you to all of you who provided your time, equipment and/or financial support for the 12 blind college students in Ghana. Several boxes of materials (including braille writers, a braille printer, computer software, a CCTV and braille books) have been shipped. The principal wanted me to tell all the donors that the students are very appreciative of the support, and look forward to accessing their new Resource Center soon. Thank you all for making this possible. -- Wendy Olson, New Jersey ***** HIGH TECH SWAP SHOP FOR SALE: "The Diary of Anne Frank," three hardbound braille volumes. In excellent condition. Asking $15. Books will be mailed free matter. Call Laura Collins at (605) 341-2357, or e-mail her, jlcolls@rapidnet.com. FOR SALE: Optelec Clearview 317XL CCTV with black-and-white 17-inch monitor, electronic controls, and line or window marker option. Excellent condition. Asking $975 or best offer. PayPal accepted; payment plan available. Price includes UPS ground shipping and insurance within the continental United States. Call Bill at (847) 342-7155 between 1 and 8 p.m. Central time, or e-mail him, 052338@comcast.net. FOR SALE: Braille Lite notetaker running KeySoft version 3.06 and Windows 2.12. Has a 32-cell braille display. Asking $2,000 or best offer. Braille Blazer. Willing to accept payments. Please contact James Konechne by phone at (605) 680-4740, or by e-mail at J_konechne@hotmail.com. FOR SALE: Telesensory Chroma Plus SVGA system plus CCTV (1995). The CCTV is in perfect working condition, and features a smooth riding table, large enough to accommodate a book or a magazine. 17" monitor optional. Can connect to any computer monitor. The Chroma Plus includes a super vista card, program disks (for Windows 95/98), power cord and cables. Asking $499 without monitor, $599 with the monitor. Buyer will pay for shipping. Contact Saleh at (408) 263-5015 or e-mail salehbhai2000@yahoo.com. FOR SALE: PAC Mate, version 3.70, BX 40 display, in excellent condition, hardly used. Includes USB cable and network card, tutorial on CD, AC adapter, setup disks, print/braille quick start reference guide, headphones, attachable covers and carrying case. Asking $2,500 or best offer. Pay by money order, cashier's check, or personal check. The check must clear the bank before the merchandise is sent. Contact Taletha Crawley at (313) 382-7191. FOR SALE: Braille Blazer in good condition. Comes with power cable, parallel printer cable and a stack of lightweight tractor-feed paper. Asking $600. Contact Joshua Kennedy at 63 Magnolia Drive, Mertztown, PA 19539; phone (610) 682-4525 or e-mail jkenn337@kutztown.edu or cluannhowe@excite.com. FOR SALE: Braille 'n Speak with 2001 firmware revision. Excellent condition, rarely used, recently serviced. Includes new battery, WinDisk 3.5 data transfer software and cable, braille/cassette documentation, and all other connectivity adapters for peripheral devices. Asking $450 or best offer. E-mail Pat at toolshopper@sbcglobal.net or call (512) 837-3041. FOR SALE: BrailleNote QT-32 Classic 32-cell braille display. Comes with QWERTY keyboard, KeySoft version 7.01 (build 25), and the latest classic firmware upgrade. Includes media player, e-mail client, web browser, internal 56 KBPS modem and more. Documentation is present on board the unit, as well as on CD. Accessories include original case with large outside storage pocket and adjustable shoulder strap, as well as serial interface and telephone cable. Extras include Super Disk drive with PCMCIA interface card and one 130 MB super disk, and assorted compact flash cards. Asking $2,500. Price includes shipping anywhere in the U. S. or Canada. I will accept bank or personal checks, but I prefer PayPal. Call Andy at (818) 885-8559 weekdays after 6 p.m. Pacific, or all day on weekends, or e- mail wq6r@socal.rr.com. FOR SALE: PowerBraille 40, very good condition, with all accessories. Asking $1,000 or best offer. Perkins Brailler with carrying case, very good condition, asking $450. APH tabletop cassette tape recorder/player model 5198-A, never used, in original packing; asking $125. CareTec Colorino, like new, in carrying case with extra batteries and user's manual (print), $125. Shipping and handling will be added to price. Send e-mail to mlreidh@comcast.net. FOR SALE: Brand-new, unopened MAGic 8.0 standard version, with speech (screen magnification program). Asking $495 or best offer. Call Jamie at (408) 997-2803. WANTED: Money identifier and Road Runner Bible as donations. Contact Charles at (215) 490-7430. WANTED: Talking money identifier. Contact Dwain at (609) 404-8123. WANTED: Double cassette radio, any donated music tapes or CDs, and a minidisk player. Old laptop computer with speech and older braille printer. Any cookbooks in grade 1 braille. Braille raised-line drawing kit. Braille 'n Speak Classic. Braille Bible in grade 1 braille. Any braille games. Contact Melody at (941) 750-9102. ACB OFFICERS PRESIDENT CHRISTOPHER GRAY 94 RAMONA AVE. SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94103 FIRST VICE PRESIDENT M.J. SCHMITT 119 SHELL EDGE DR ROCHESTER, NY 14623 SECOND VICE PRESIDENT MITCH POMERANTZ 1115 CORDOVA STREET #402 PASADENA, CA 91106 SECRETARY DONNA SELIGER 3912 SE 5TH ST DES MOINES, IA 50315 TREASURER MIKE GODINO 104 TILROSE AVE MALVERNE, NY 11565-2024 IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT PAUL EDWARDS 20330 NE 20TH CT. MIAMI, FL 33179 ACB BOARD OF DIRECTORS Ed Bradley, Houston, TX Ray Campbell, Glen Ellyn, IL Brenda Dillon, Hermitage, TN Billie Jean Keith, Arlington, VA Oral Miller, Washington, DC Carla Ruschival, Louisville, KY Patrick Sheehan, Silver Spring, MD Naomi Soule, St. Louis, MO Jeff Thom, Sacramento, CA David Trott, Talladega, AL Ex Officio: Charles Hodge, Arlington, VA BOARD OF PUBLICATIONS Mike Duke, Chairman, Jackson, MS Charles Hodge, Arlington, VA DeAnna Noriega, Fulton, MO Ken Stewart, Warwick, NY Cindy Van Winkle, Bremerton, WA Ex Officios: Ralph Sanders, Las Vegas, NV Janelle Edwards, Springfield, MO