The ACB Braille Forum Volume LXIII July-August 2024 No. 1 Published by the American Council of the Blind ***** * Be A Part of ACB The American Council of the Blind (TM) is a membership organization made up of more than 70 state and special-interest affiliates. To join, contact the national office at 1-800-424-8666. * Contribute to Our Work Those much-needed contributions, which are tax-deductible, can be sent to Attn: Treasurer, ACB, 6200 Shingle Creek Pkwy., Suite 155, Brooklyn Center, MN 55430. If you wish to remember a relative or friend, the national office has printed cards available for this purpose. Consider including a gift to ACB in your Last Will and Testament. If your wishes are complex, call the national office. To make a contribution to ACB by the Combined Federal Campaign, use this number: 11155. * Check in with ACB For the latest in legislative and governmental news, call the "Washington Connection" 24/7 at 1-800-424-8666, or read it online. Listen to ACB Reports by downloading the MP3 file from www.acb.org, or call (518) 906-1820 and choose option 8. Tune in to ACB Media at www.acbmedia.org or by calling (518) 906-1820. Learn more about us at www.acb.org. Follow us on Twitter at @acbnational, or like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/acbnational. © 2024 American Council of the Blind Scott Thornhill, Executive Director Sharon Lovering, Editor 225 Reinekers Ln., Suite 660, Alexandria, VA 22314 ***** ** Table of Contents President's Message: Convention: More Than Just a Business Meeting, by Deb Cook Lewis Advocacy in Action: Reflections for Disability Pride Month, by Swatha Nandhakumar Last-Minute Convention Information, by Janet Dickelman Affiliate News Ocean Breezes to Walk Us into a Brighter Future, by Donna Browning MMS at the ACB 2024 Conference and Convention, by Jean Mann Inspiration Begins with ACB, by Kenneth Semien Sr. Summary of the April 30, 2024 Meeting of the ACB Board of Directors, by Penny Reeder Focus Call Tips and Information, compiled by Ardis Bazyn From Guide Dog Users, Inc.'s Advocacy Committee: Report those ads that encourage doting pet owners to break the law and identify untrained pets as service and guide dogs!, by Penny Reeder The Queen's Consort, by Larry Johnson It's Just a Prick of a Finger, Please Sign Here, by Ann Chiappetta Here and There, edited by Cynthia G. Hawkins High Tech Swap Shop ACB Officers ACB Board of Directors ACB Board of Publications Accessing Your ACB Braille Forums ***** ** Upcoming Forum Themes and Deadlines October 2024: Employment/White Cane Safety Day; deadline: August 23, 2024 November-December 2024: theme TBA; deadline: September 23, 2024 * How to Submit Articles to the Forum If you wish to submit an article to "The ACB Braille Forum," please send it via email to slovering@acb.org as part of the message, or attached as a Word or ASCII text file. Articles should be between 500 and 800 words. Language should be family friendly. Longer articles may be divided into two or more parts. * 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 make the changes for you. ***** ** President's Message: Convention: More Than Just a Business Meeting by Deb Cook Lewis Before we get started on this, full disclosure requires that I tell you that my favorite ACB event of the year is actually the leadership conference, which combines training for our affiliate leaders along with the nuts and bolts of our legislative agenda. With that out of the way, I still loudly proclaim that I love the convention. I very much appreciate that we are able to bring a meaningful convention experience to our members who are unable to attend in person, and I'm committed to continuing that effort. But my favorite things are those that can only really happen in person. I can't wait to go to exhibits. I've made a list and checked it at least twice. And my husband fervently hopes I don't bring all of the merchandise home with me. I don't generally go on the tours, although I have definitely been on some amazing ones. But I do love that many of you will be taking advantage of the tours -- more opportunities for me in the exhibits. I do enjoy the variety of breakout sessions, and this year is no exception. I do most of my breakout sessions through the excellent podcasts edited and assembled by our fabulous ACB Media team. But I definitely make it in person to events with a social component, so you’ll find me in the exercise classes or learning some wild dance steps in the MCAC mixer. And finally, there are fun opportunities to volunteer, and to meet or to reacquaint with interesting people from all over the country and the world. This year I’ll volunteer at the Information Desk, the Communication Center, and a few other places. I miss sitting with my affiliate in general session, but this is another wonderful experience at the in-person event. Finally, whether you do the convention in person, virtually or both, I hope you will do it. There is no finer opportunity to connect and to be part of something, our organization, that really matters. ***** ** Advocacy in Action: Reflections for Disability Pride Month by Swatha Nandhakumar July is Disability Pride Month, a month dedicated to commemorating the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), celebrating our shared identity as disabled members of society, and planning our next moves in advocating for a more accessible and equitable world. It is also a time when we at ACB can celebrate the many wins from the previous year, which is what the inaugural Forum article from the ACB Advocacy team will be doing. So from Disability Pride Month 2023 to Disability Pride Month 2024, let's highlight some of the advocacy wins and moves made to make our world, both physical and digital, more accessible and equitable for individuals who are blind or have low vision. The most recent advocacy win for ACB is the passage and signing of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization package. The FAA was supposed to be reauthorized last September, but politics delayed it; it finally passed in mid-May. Included in this package are several accessibility provisions advocated for by the disability community, including accessibility improvements to airports, airline websites and apps, and in-flight entertainment, improved training standards for meet-and-assist personnel at airports, and a pilot program for guide dog users that would replace the attestation form requirements. The FAA will be reauthorized for the next five years. Backtracking to earlier in 2024, and to late 2023, we have, arguably, two of the most significant administrative rule-makings in the 21st century. On the anniversary of the ADA, the White House announced that the long-awaited proposed rule on accessibility of websites and mobile apps for Title II entities would be published for comment by the Department of Justice. Title II of the ADA prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability by state and local government programs and services. ACB submitted its own comment, and we joined 264 other disability advocacy organizations in a unified comment on the proposed rule. In April of this year, our efforts paid off -- a final rule on accessibility of websites and mobile apps for Title II entities was published. This rule was 14 years in the making, and the Department of Justice has finally clarified that the ADA covers the digital environment, just like it covers the physical environment. Following the publication of the Title II rule, the Department of Health and Human Services published its proposed rule to refresh its regulations under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which covers non-discrimination in programs and services offered by the federal government. Section 504 regulations have not been updated in close to 40 years, so an update was long overdue. ACB once again submitted comments. In early May, HHS published its final rule. Most notable is the inclusion of the new Title II regulations from Justice in this rule from HHS. Health care, both virtual and in-person, will become much more accessible for individuals with disabilities, including blindness and low vision. Another notable advocacy win, although still ongoing, is the publication of the final Public Rights of Way Accessibility Guidelines (PROWAG) from the U.S. Access Board. PROWAG sets standards for accessibility of the built environment. It includes things like curb cuts and ramps, tactile warnings at the end of those curb ramps that lead to street crossings, and accessible pedestrian signals which indicate when a blind or low vision person can safely cross the street. PROWAG, much like the Title II web access and Section 504 rules, is long overdue, and still a work in progress. The Departments of Justice and Transportation still need to adopt the guidelines and turn them into enforceable regulations. When that happens, ACB will certainly be there. Much like with PROWAG, there is still work to be done. We have a Title II rule for websites and apps of state and local governments, but we still need a Title III rule to cover websites and apps of places of public accommodation. We are also still waiting for Section 504 updates from other federal agencies like Department of Education and Department of Housing and Urban Development. Additionally, ACB eagerly anticipates passage of our legislative imperatives, including the Websites and Software Applications Accessibility Act and the Communications, Video, and Technology Accessibility Act. For now, though, let us celebrate the accomplishments and advocacy victories we have achieved thus far, and enjoy the continued job security for ACB's Advocacy team. As we always say at the end of our podcasts, keep advocating! Happy Disability Pride Month! ***** *** Last-Minute Convention Information by Janet Dickelman Whether you are reading this article as you are packing for Jacksonville or getting ready to join us via Zoom or on ACB Media, read on for information for convention attendees and those of you who will be staying connected from home. ** Attending Tours All tours will depart from the hotel at the entrance by the gift shop. If you arrive Thursday evening, July 4, after registration closes at 9 p.m. and are on the Friday morning tour, don't worry. Your name will be on the tour list. If you are on a waiting list for a tour, please go to the bus loading area in case your name is called, and you are able to get on the tour. If you are not able to join the tour due to your spot on the waiting list, stop by registration and you will receive a refund. ** Conference and Convention Program The program is available in large print, braille, NLS cartridge (deposit required), or emailed directly to you. You can also download the program from our website, www.acbconvention.org. You can also listen to the program on NFB Newsline (subscription required). If you plan to join us in Jacksonville and have not registered, there's still time! On-site convention registration is $55 for ACB members, or $70 for non-ACB members. Registration will be located in Daytona. You can register or add additional items to your existing registration beginning Friday, July 6 at 11 a.m. ** Assistance at the Airport If you haven't already, please provide Margarine Beaman with your flight information. Email her your name, cell number, flight number, city, date and time. Send a message with airport in the subject to oleo501625@outlook.com. ** Joining the Conference from Home If you have registered for the convention, you will receive Zoom invitations for all sessions that are hybrid or Zoom only. In-person sessions such as mixers and other sessions noted in the program as in-person only will not have Zoom capabilities. Probably the easiest way to access the Zoom links is to login to your account at members.acb.org. For screen readers, go to the top of page, arrow down to the navigation region where you will find various links, one of which is labeled "Zoom links." That link will take you to a page where you select the date of the session(s) you are looking for. You will then access a listing in chronological order of all sessions for that day. For each session there are two buttons. If you are listening with your computer, choose the button labeled "Zoom." If you are listening on your phone, choose the button labeled "phone." You don't need to know any access links or passcodes. Much of the conference will be streamed on ACB Media using multiple streams. All general sessions, and some of our afternoon and evening programming, will be live streamed on ACB Media. Other sessions will be recorded and replayed on ACB Media. Sessions will be available as podcasts after the convention and archived for later listening on ACB media. ** Ways to Connect to ACB Media Programming * Amazon Alexa-enabled device (Recommended) Alexa "Ask ACB Media to play Media n." (n = stream number) For example, to listen to general session during national convention: "Alexa, ask ACB Media to play 1." Please note that some Alexa devices may not switch from one stream to another when requested, i.e. you are listening to Media 1 and then ask Alexa to play Media 6, and although Alexa says it is playing 6, it continues to play 1. When this behavior occurs, please unplug your Alexa device, wait a minute, and then plug your device back in. Allow the device to reboot itself and then ask Alexa to play the requested stream. If you have multiple Alexa devices, this issue may happen on some devices but not others. * PC/Browser Access (Recommended) Visit ACB Media online at http://www.acbmedia.org/n (n= stream number). The site has a built-in media player; there is no need to install or use a media player on your device. Hit the play button and the stream will begin playing immediately. * Smart Device Access (Recommended) Download ACB Link from your app store. Find "Radio" along the bottom of the screen, then "Menu" in the top left corner. Select "Streams" and then choose the stream you wish to listen to. Double tap the play button. * Victor Reader Stream Access Navigate to "Internet radio library" in the online bookshelf. Locate the HumanWare North American English playlist. From the playlist, use the 6 key to locate the ACB Media Stream you wish (ACB Media 1 through 10) and hit play. Should you wish to use the Go To button, please note that the ACB Media streams are currently selections 2 through 11, where ACB Media 1 = 2 and so on, with ACB Media 10 = 11. * Dial-In Access for Programming Originating in Zoom Dial the Zoom access number provided with the schedule information for the session. When prompted, enter the meeting/webinar ID followed by #. You will hear the exact same program that is being streamed on ACB Media. * Alternate Dial-In Access (not recommended) Dial (518) 906-1820. Listen to the menu prompts and press the number for the stream you want. Please note that this is a free service provided by Zeno Media. This service is limited in terms of simultaneous listeners, and ACB does not warrant this service. If dial-in is your only option and the program originates in Zoom, we recommend that you dial into the Zoom meeting/webinar directly (see above). If you connect to Zeno Media using the above number and receive a message after your menu selection that the stream is offline, please select the stream again and it should then play. Once you select your stream via the voice menu, it often takes several seconds before you hear the stream. If you receive an unable to connect message when you dial the above number or fast busy, your only dial-in option is to access the Zoom meeting directly via Zoom's dial-in access. * Important Note The ACB Radio Tuner is no longer supported. If you used the tuner in the past, you may access all ACB Media streams from acbmedia.org (see above). Wishing you a wonderful convention experience. For any convention-related questions, contact Janet Dickelman, convention chair, at (651) 428-5059, or via e-mail, janet.dickelman@gmail.com. ***** ** Affiliate News * BITS at the ACB Convention BITS has several exciting events planned during the upcoming ACB convention. We have a total of 6 presentations scheduled during the virtual portion of the convention, including a three-part series on artificial intelligence, at 11 a.m. each day. Then at 2 p.m. each afternoon, we have technology sessions presented by iBug Today, Computers For The Blind, and more. For those who will be in Jacksonville, on Wednesday afternoon, July 10 at 4 p.m., join BITS family and friends for a reception and mixer. Come see what all the excitement is about. We will have refreshments and snacks. There will be a raffle drawing for a Zoom H4E Audio Recording Bundle. This is a $400 value. (Must be present to win.) Registration is required, and you can do so during conference registration. Your ticket gets you a free drink from the cash bar and a raffle ticket. Additional raffle tickets may be purchased on site. * Follow the Dots! Braille Revival League will offer a number of sessions at this year's ACB convention. Thursday, June 27, 12:30-1:45 p.m. (Zoom only): What is the Braille Challenge? How does it work? How can we start one locally? Friday, June 28, 11 a.m.-12:15 p.m. (Zoom only): Choosing a Braille Device Trainer This session explores how you can find a trainer in the area of interest. It offers a practical outline of steps you can take to see just how effective your trainer is likely to be. Tuesday, July 9, 7 a.m.: BRL Breakfast (hybrid) Join BRL for breakfast and a speaker. * Fun with Friends-in-Art FIA is excited to renew connections both virtually and during the Jacksonville convention. We are stepping out in grand style, partnering with the Audio Description Project on June 27 with Audible Description and Dance taking place from 3:30-4:45 p.m. On June 28, rest your tired virtual tootsies, exercise those ears and train your muse with MuseScore from 3:30 - 4:45 p.m. FIA program chair Peter Altschul and Jason Castonguay, performer, composer, and tech geek, will demonstrate how MuseScore empowers individuals who are blind or have low vision to independently create music scores. Ah, though we know opening with the fun topics is gratifying, we must move on to more pressing subjects. You will not want to miss the writers' workshop session on book banning featuring a discussion panel taking place on June 29 from 3:30 – 4:45 p.m. Panelists will share stories focusing on the detrimental effect upon blind and low-vision children and adults, as well as people with disabilities and other minority groups. Annie Chiappetta, FIA president, is facilitating. Panelists are Donna Halper, Ph.D., Professor Emerita, Emerson College; Leah Gardner, BPI president; Cheryl Cumings, MCAC Chair; and Regina Brink, Assistant Director of Governmental Affairs, California Council of the Blind. Now for act two, flexing the writing muscle during the in-person convention in Jacksonville. We are pleased to once again sponsor Carla Hayes, AABT Chair and IVIE, during the Prose and Poetry reading session from 9:00 - 10:15 p.m. It is an evergreen session -- you won't want to miss it. Share some of your original work or just come listen. FAMILY FRIENDLY, PLEASE. The final act is anticipated to wrap up in a percussive crescendo on July 9th from 6:30 - 7:45 p.m. and again from 8 - 9:15 p.m. with two sessions of our Drum Circle. FIA vice president Nancy Pendegraph and FIA board members will guide participants in celebrating the percussive spirit. Though the curtain has fallen upon the annual Showcase, there is a whisper of an impromptu gathering taking place on Wednesday evening, July 9th, starting at 9:30 p.m. There is a high probability spontaneous piano playing and singing might break out in the foyer near the grand ballroom piano -- stay tuned. Send questions and comments regarding the FIA program and activities to showcase@friendsinart.org. * IVIE Convention Plans The Independent Visually Impaired Entrepreneurs is partnering with several special-interest affiliates and a few committees this year to present an amazing program. Thursday, June 27, 5 p.m.: P.R.E.P. for Successful Networking (Zoom only) IVIE partners with ACB Next Generation to help you prepare for networking events. (See description in the June 2024 Forum.) Friday, June 28th, 5:00-6:15 p.m.: IVIE Business Meeting (Zoom only) This meeting is for IVIE members only. Saturday, July 6th 12:15 p.m.: RSVA/IVIE Awards Luncheon 1:00 p.m.: How a visually impaired entrepreneur created and launched her new business (hybrid). Speaker: Tricia Waechter, CEO, Blind Girl Designs 2:30 p.m.: Tech It Out! iPhone and Android Tips for Entrepreneurs (hybrid) 4:00 p.m.: Network Yourself for Success (in-person only). In conjunction with our June 27th P.R.E.P. for Successful Networking program, we are pleased to host an in-person networking event where you can practice what you've P.R.E.P.'d. Come mingle with members of the ACB Employment Committee, ACB Government Employees, American Association of Blind Teachers, American Association of Visually Impaired Attorneys, Independent Visually Impaired Entrepreneurs (IVIE), and Randolph-Sheppard Vendors of America (RSVA), among others, and join us for an evening of creating new connections. All are welcome. Co-sponsored by ACB Next Generation. Wednesday, July 10th, 1:00-3:45 p.m.: IVIE Business Expo (in-person only) Blind and visually impaired business owners will showcase their products and services and answer your questions. * Lots to Read About with Library Users of America Thursday, June 27 2:00-3:15 p.m.: What Can Be Accomplished When We Work Together (Zoom only) Talking book libraries can do much more than send out books and magazines. Come and hear how Floridians can access locally produced books and periodicals, videos, and more. You will learn how to collaborate with your local talking book library to enhance services. Come and hear how a "Friends of the Library" group in Florida has worked with their talking book library to support existing programming and to help finance fun and exciting new projects. 3:30 pm – 4:45 pm: Why You Should Get a Public Library Card Some talking book library users are also proud card-carrying public library users. Come and learn how you might take advantage of your local public library to access services that could reduce your reliance on pay-to-play services to access books, music, videos and more. This session will include a short demonstration of the Libby online service offered by many public libraries around the country. Friday, June 28 2:00-3:45 p.m.: You Get What You Pay For (Zoom only) If you find yourself unwilling to wait for the next book in a series or needing access to a niche title, you will find this session on where to go if you are willing to pay for the privilege to be a game changer. Whether you pay by the title, by the month, or through an annual membership fee, there are companies and organizations that can provide you with access beyond the free services you are already using. 3:30– 4:45 p.m.: Library Users of America Business Meeting LUA members will elect board members, consider resolutions, and hear reports from LUA members who serve on library-related committees. We invite you to come and be a part of our business meeting. Tuesday, July 9 (hybrid) 1:00 – 2:15 p.m.: Q&A With Your Talking Book Narrator As in years past, we will once again get to listen to and ask questions of a wonderful talking book narrator, Mare Trevathan, who records at both Books to Life and Talking Book Publishers, Inc. She is a perennial favorite and is likely to read a bit from a couple of her long list of NLS titles. Come early -- this session is frequently standing room only. Co-sponsored by LUA, BRL, and AABT. 2:30– 3:45 p.m.: Q&A With the NLS Director Come and speak with the director of the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled, Jason Broughton. He will update us on changes at NLS and answer our questions on what we can expect in the years to come. Co-sponsored by LUA, BRL, and AABT. * Veterans of ACB Annual Membership Meeting Please join Veterans of ACB at our annual membership meeting. All are invited even if you are not yet a member. Come check us out! You don't have to be a military veteran to join. When: July 8, 2024 Time: 1 p.m. Eastern Where: City Terrace 9 in the hotel You can also check out our table in the exhibit hall! We look forward to seeing everyone there! If you have any questions, contact Cassie Trosper, president, via email, cassie.trosper@gmail.com, or by phone, (541) 290-8103. ***** ** Ocean Breezes to Walk Us Into a Brighter Future by Donna Browning Welcome to this year's walk. If you have not already donated to our fabulous fund-raising activity, it's not too late! Please take the time to visit the website, http://weblink.donorperfect.com/AmericanCounciloftheBlind/2024BrendaDillonWalk, and find your team. If your team is your affiliate, you can help them bring lots of money to your organization for various needs. What? You haven't set up your team yet?! Don't delay a minute longer! To create a team, go to http://weblink.donorperfect.com/AmericanCounciloftheBlind/2024BrendaDillonWalk. Then choose the "Create my own fundraising page" link. After activating the "Create my own fundraising page" link, a pop-up will appear. Navigate through the pop-up using the tab key, and enter the requested information. If you have trouble creating your team, contact the ACB Financial Office at (612) 332-3242. Once your team page is created, be sure to share your team page link with friends, neighbors, and family members far and near who may be willing to make a donation to your team. This fundraiser means so much to ACB and its affiliates. The Brenda Dillon Memorial Walk has been a long-standing activity at our convention. Waiting to hear what the theme is has been something to look forward to each year. What's this year's theme? It is Walking Into A Brighter Future. This year, the smell of the ocean will be an added attraction to entice us to get up and take a walk with a friend, be it at the convention or in our neighborhood. That bright future is out there for everyone to walk up to. Come join us!! ***** ** MMS at the ACB 2024 Conference and Convention by Jean Mann Greetings from the Monthly Monetary Support (MMS) committee. We hope you enjoy ACB's 2024 conference and convention, either in person in Jacksonville or virtually from the convenience of your home. Wherever you are, with all the busyness of convention, we hope you'll take a few minutes and consider helping us raise money for ACB and your affiliate. Most of you probably know how the MMS program works, but in case you don't, or you need a reminder, here's a quick review. You donate a minimum of $10 a month, more if you can, to ACB. Up to 50 percent of what you give can go back to an affiliate of your choice, or the whole amount can go to ACB. The money is either deducted from your checking account or charged to your credit card. Every quarter ACB will send a check with the funds designated by you and others in your affiliate. Fundraising can’t get any easier than that! If you're in Jacksonville and would like to sign up, increase your monthly donation by at least $5, or have questions answered, stop by our table in the Marketplace on Tuesday or Wednesday mornings, or go to the Registration Office, where they'll have forms they can help you fill out. You can also send us an email at askacbmms@gmail.com or call us at 1-888-999-3190; leave us your name, a phone number and/or email address where we can contact you, and we'll get back to you. Do this by 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, July 14, and your name will be entered in one of several drawings which will take place after all your information has been processed and we've received your first payment. Now about those drawings. We decided this year that we wanted to recognize those of you who have been with us on a consistent basis for several years. So our prizes, all gift cards, will be awarded as follows: - Two $100 prizes for new or returning members; - Two $150 prizes for those of you who increase your monthly donations by at least $5; - Two $100 prizes for those of you who have been in the program consistently for at least 3 years; and - Two $150 prizes for those of you who have been in the program consistently for at least five years. - One prize per person only. If you can't donate right now, but would like to do so in the future, you can always call the Minnesota office at (612) 332-3242, or go to ACB’s website, www.acb.org, scroll down to "Support ACB," click on "Donate," and you will find MMS as one of the options there. The monies you donate through the MMS program go into ACB's general fund, which pays for all the everyday expenses incurred by an organization like ours. If you regularly read or listen to ACB Braille Forums, you obviously have an interest in the American Council of the Blind, so please do what you can to support ACB. Every little bit helps. ***** ** Inspiration Begins with ACB by Kenneth Semien Sr. From the humble beginnings of the Mentorship, Access, and Peer Support Program, the ACB INSPIRE Mentoring Program will enter its second year during the fall of 2024. Online applications will be accepted from July 19th through August 17th. The 2025 cohort will be selected by September 5th, and the program year will begin on September 19th. The program is a nine-month exploration of learning and grasping new concepts. Activities will conclude on June 18, 2025. The program culminates with a virtual graduation ceremony during the virtual week of the ACB Conference and Convention. INSPIRE refers to Imagine, Nurture, Support, Prepare, Influence, Reflect, and Evolve. The ACB INSPIRE mentoring program serves as a roadmap and places an emphasis on aiding and guiding potential leaders to expand their involvement at the local, state and/or national level. Members are urged to apply to become a Guide/Mentor or Explorer/Mentee. The INSPIRE Experience includes an introductory Guide-Explorer meet and greet; informative orientation training; personalized Guide-Explorer team meetings; interactive quarterly check point meetings; empowerment segments with leaders of the blindness community, as well as other collaborative partnerships; optional office hours feedback sessions; support meetings with the ACB INSPIRE Mentoring Team; sharing of inspirational books, articles, poems, quotes, and other material from the INSPIRE Library; participant communication on the designated ACB INSPIRE email list; and end of program evaluation survey. To serve as a Guide or mentor, applicants must be an ACB member for seven years or more; current on membership dues; have at least five years of confirmed leadership experience within ACB, one of its affiliates or chapters; submit name and contact information for a reference; have personal knowledge of ACB's history, mission, purpose, and core values; agree to meet with designated Explorer/Mentee at least twice a month; conduct effective goal-setting meetings with a designated explorer/mentee; agree to keep all communication with explorer/mentee private and confidential; agree to attend and participate in scheduled group empowerment sessions, including quarterly check point meetings and optional office hours feedback sessions; agree to submit a monthly report to the ACB Mentoring Team on Guide-Explorer progress; and agree to complete an end-of-program evaluation. To qualify as an Explorer or mentee, applicants must be an ACB member for at least two years (membership in an ACB state or special-interest affiliate, or chapter is applicable); current on membership dues; demonstrate an eagerness to learn and grow; faithfully attend and participate in goal-setting sessions with a designated guide/mentor; agree to meet with Guide/Mentor at least twice a month; agree to attend and participate in group empowerment sessions, including quarterly check point meetings and optional office hours feedback sessions; agree to submit a monthly report to the ACB Mentoring Team on Guide-Explorer progress; and agree to complete an end of program evaluation. Now is the time to strongly consider becoming a participant in the program as a Guide or Explorer! Just submit an application for consideration. The link to the application will be placed in the "Dots and Dashes" newsletter, on various email lists, and on www.acb.org beginning on July 19th, with a deadline of 11:59 p.m. Eastern on August 17th. For additional information, send an email message to acb.mentoring@gmail.com. ***** ** Summary of the April 30, 2024 Meeting of the ACB Board of Directors by Penny Reeder The April 30, 2024 meeting of the ACB Board of Directors commenced at 7 p.m. Eastern. All board members were present, as well as executive director Scott Thornhill; CFO Nancy Marks Becker; Voting Task Force co-chair Patrick Sheehan; and convention coordinator Janet Dickelman. The meeting was streamed live by ACB Media, and the link to the podcast is https://pnc.st/s/acb-business/6cf31da7/20240430-acb-board-meeting. After roll call, review and approval of the meeting agenda, and approval of minutes from the March 2nd board meeting, President Deb Cook Lewis introduced the meeting's Mission Moment, during which Deb, Scott, and several board members highlighted aspects of the D.C. Leadership Conference they especially enjoyed. Scott told the board how much he enjoyed meeting so many participants who represent organizations that partner with ACB on advocacy and legislative priorities. Kenneth Semien Sr. said that he particularly enjoyed meeting several first-timers and leadership fellows. Many board members mentioned how much they had enjoyed visiting ACB's new office and interacting in person with staff and members from across the country. Deb said that a review of the Leadership Conference survey results will be on the agenda for the July 5 board meeting. In her president's report, Deb said that some reports that have traditionally been presented at both the convention board meeting as well as during general session will be presented this year only at the board meeting. Because all board meetings are streamed live by ACB Media, and recordings are made available as podcasts, anyone who wants to hear these reports has ample opportunity to do so. Resolutions will be discussed and voted upon on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings of the virtual convention week -- June 25, 26, and 27 -- and proposed constitutional amendments and bylaws will be handled on Friday evening of the virtual convention week, after their first reading on Tuesday, June 25. Record votes on resolutions and constitutional amendments will be scheduled for July 1. ACB has hired a new parliamentarian. Her name is Julie Palm. She will be available via Zoom during all the proceedings that take place during the week of June 24, and available in person during elections for the Board of Directors and the Board of Publications. Deb asked the board to think about ways to solicit and receive input from members. Anticipating that there is likely to be a resolution on this topic, she said that one approach that has been effective in the past has been to provide a Google telephonic number and a specific e-mail address where members can leave feedback, which can then be made available to board members, either as copies of the e-mails and voice-mail attachments that members have sent, or as collated summaries. The board very successfully employed a similar approach, Terry Pacheco pointed out, when the code of conduct was being discussed and debated. At the behest of the ACB Board of Directors, Kenneth Semien Sr. recently prepared a description of expectations, policies, and procedures which guide officers and directors as they work to govern ACB and assure the organization's prosperity and effectiveness. Although the board had initially considered adopting the document as an official board publication, after discussion, they decided to accept Kenneth's well-written description, and to encourage all candidates running for board seats in the coming election to become familiar with the document, but not to adopt it as official policy right now. This will give the board more time to evaluate the list of responsibilities Kenneth has included in the document. The document will be posted on the ACB website, and it will be included in an issue of "The ACB Braille Forum." (Editor's Note: It appeared in the June 2024 issue.) The board encourages candidates to become familiar with the document and to consider what is expected of directors as they reach their own decisions about whether to run for office. Deb noted that ACB needs to develop similar descriptive documents to describe ACB's expectations with respect to how committee and steering committee members and staff do the work of the organization. "This document has so much to contribute to that effort,” she said. "But it's just one piece of a bigger endeavor. We need to provide orientation and guidance to those who are serving as volunteers and our staff." Scott spent a few minutes describing several conferences that he and staff members had attended during recent weeks, including the assistive technology-focused conference held annually in Anaheim, Calif., on the California State University-Northridge campus (CSUN), which director of advocacy and governmental affairs Claire Stanley and development officer Kolby Garrison had attended; and the VisionServe Alliance Conference held this year in Kansas City, which Scott, Dan Spoone, Claire, and Doug Powell attended. Both conferences offered tremendous opportunities for learning, sharing information, networking, and strengthening ACB's partnerships with others in the blindness field and community. Scott told the board that administrative assistant Kaitlyn Herrera is leaving ACB to accept a position more directly associated with sociology, which has been her field of study. ACB recently hired Hannah Park, whom Kaitlyn is currently training, to take on the administrative role in the Alexandria office. Scott and Nancy told the board that finding and hiring an accountant to work in the Minnesota office continues to represent a challenge for ACB. CFO Nancy Becker reported that the in-person audit of ACB and ACBES was conducted between March 25 and 28th. Once again, ACB and ACBES received a clean audit, which is the highest rating organizations like ours can receive. She said that initial certification of ACB affiliates' members had just wrapped up, and she expected to complete the credentials report soon. If new members are added to affiliate membership rosters before the close of business on May 24 (the record date), they will be eligible to vote at convention. Nancy reported an increase in certified members this year. She told the board that the scholarship committee is ahead of schedule, and that she would soon be notifying this year's winners. She complimented all of those who updated membership records for their affiliates this year. Nancy also noted that the link for registering for this year's Brenda Dillon Memorial Walk is now up and running on the website. In her convention update, Janet Dickelman reported that registration for members will cost $45 and open on May 13; registration for non-members will cost $60 and open on May 20. Registration will run through June 17. If you wait to register until convention, the cost will be $55 for members and $65 for non-members. Janet said that ACB has hired leaders who will manage Kids Club at the Jacksonville convention, and she is hoping that registrations for lots of children will be coming in shortly. She recommended that people use a credit card, not a debit card, when registering for your hotel room. Our banquet speaker will be Judge David S. Tatel, who served as a United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit from 1994 until 2023. He is blind, and the author of the book, "Vision, A Memoir of Blindness and Justice." After Janet's report, Patrick Sheehan and Jeff Thom, co-chairs of the ACB Voting Task Force, presented proposed standing rules for the 2024 ACB convention to the board for their consideration and favorable recommendation. Koni Sims read the proposed rules aloud, while Jeff summarized recommended procedural changes included in the rules proposed for 2024. After discussion, the board voted to send the standing rules to the membership with a favorable recommendation for their adoption. The final agenda item, which invited directors to update the board on their involvement with specific committees, gave Koni Sims an opportunity to describe her participation on the International Code Council 117.1 American National Standards Institute (ANSI) International Building Code (IBC) subcommittee, which investigates and ultimately approves regulations which will make various aspects of construction and the built environment more accessible to people with low vision. Koni was recently invited by other subcommittee members to share her expertise as a person with low vision. She was the only person on the subcommittee representing a blindness organization, and of the five recommendations which she presented on behalf of ACB, four were adopted. The meeting adjourned at 9:48 p.m. Eastern. ***** ** Focus Call Tips and Information Compiled by Ardis Bazyn, ACB Membership Chair The January 28 focus call topic was “How your affiliate can handle social media.” Speakers were Katie Frederick, ACB of Ohio; Jeff Bishop, Blind Information Technology Specialists; Anthony Corona, Blind Pride International; Belinda Collins, ACB Community; and Dianna Leonard, Bay State Council of the Blind. Some tips presented are below. - Have your mission in mind when posting. - Decide which media sites to use (consider your readers). - Post consistently. - Link social media to your website. - Find volunteers who can post relevant info. The February 25 focus call topic was "How to apply and update an affiliate's 501(c)(3)." Speakers were Nancy Becker, ACB CFO; Lisa George, Washington Council of the Blind; and Marie Brinas, ACB of Virginia. Valuable points mentioned are below. - Documents needed to file for 501(c)(3) are financial reports, list of officers, affiliate constitution, and sometimes meeting minutes. When you go to IRS.gov, look for the 1023 form; what you need will be highlighted. - Once established, make sure the nonprofit form is filed annually. Most affiliates can use the EZ form. - If any affiliate wants to get a 501(c)(3), contact Nancy Becker in the Minneapolis office at (612) 332-4232. The March 24 topic was “How to leverage membership in organizations supporting the blind.” Allan Peterson, North Dakota Association of the Blind, talked about how NDAB worked with the Lions Clubs in North Dakota. They asked Lions for grants to support their summer camp. The Lions Club assisted them with transportation to the summer camp, as well as other support. Bill Scholl and Andy Arvidson, Washington Council of the Blind, explained their efforts with the Knights of the Blind affiliated with Lions Clubs. They used a book called "Grandpa's White Cane" to talk to students about blindness and what techniques blind people use. Cassie Trosper, Veterans of ACB, spoke of her contacts with the Blinded Veterans Association. She let them know the affiliate would assist any veterans who had recently lost their sight. Cassandra Jessie, Florida Council of the Blind, identified some blind sports organizations where members might participate and share membership benefits about their ACB affiliate. Some sports mentioned were beep baseball, Blind Golfers Association, American Blind Bowling Association, and blind soccer. The April 28 topic was "Starting, maintaining, and expanding your state or special-interest affiliate." Speakers were Frank Welte, president, California Alliance on Aging and Vision Loss, on starting an affiliate; Danette Dixon, president, Washington Diabetics in Action, on maintaining an affiliate; and Doug Powell, president, Alliance on Aging and Vision Loss, on expanding an affiliate. Frank Welte outlined the steps for starting an affiliate. First, find enough potential members for the proposed chapter or affiliate. Research constitutions of the affiliates you wish to join to learn what requirements these affiliates have for affiliation. Once you have more than the minimum number of people interested, appoint a committee or small group to take the next steps. Then, write a constitution. You can use the constitutions of affiliated chapters or affiliates. Find willing officers for the affiliate. Then, gather dues to send to the parent organization once you have the necessary documents. When you have all the paperwork and dues together, apply for affiliation with the parent organization(s). (See Frank's article in the May 2024 issue of the Forum.) Danette Dixon said affiliates and chapters should ask members what their interests are. Listen to members' ideas about activities they'd enjoy. You can recommend possible speakers of interest to the affiliate. She said it's important to follow the mission and create ongoing interest in the affiliate by having different activities and speakers. Doug Powell listed some ways to expand an affiliate. Listing the year’s goals helps the affiliate focus. He suggested inviting members to make contacts for reaching specific goals. Asking numerous people to work on specific projects helped keep members interested. Other tips mentioned were making all feel welcome, asking for ideas from members, allowing members to volunteer for projects but making sure they have the attributes needed for committees or project work. If a member volunteers for an inappropriate project, suggest another committee or project. All ACB Membership Committee "Membership Focus" calls are streamed and podcasted for listening later. Stay tuned for upcoming "Membership Focus" calls. If you have suggestions on topics, please send them to a member of the committee. ***** ** From Guide Dog Users, Inc.'s Advocacy Committee: Report those ads that encourage doting pet owners to break the law and identify untrained pets as service and guide dogs! by Penny Reeder We find the ads everywhere: on our favorite social media platforms; inside newspapers and magazines; scattered throughout online advertising circulars for big box stores, grocery chains, even Amazon.com! Which ads, you ask? The ads that sell a cape or a vest or some other piece of identification paraphernalia that gives pet owners the confidence to falsely claim their pets are service dogs. Once identified as service or guide dogs, those same treasured pets can become terrified or even aggressive when accompanying their owners in busy settings like airports, train stations, fast food establishments, the crowded aisles of grocery and other stores, or virtually any other unfamiliar environment. Nothing in the civil rights laws that allow us to bring our guide and service dogs into public settings requires our dogs to be certified in any way. It's our dogs' excellent training, along with the training we receive from experts and professionals in the field, and the specific tasks that our dogs are individually trained to perform for us, that qualify our dogs as guide and service dogs. There is neither a process nor any official evaluation that certifies a dog for guide or service work. Those fake certifications that advertisers offer to sell pet owners are meaningless. Untrained and unauthorized pets can -- and often do -- present real threats to the safety of guide dog users and our legitimately trained guide and service dogs. And, when a business owner or store manager has experienced a few unpleasant incidents caused by falsely identified service animals, those same owners and managers may be reluctant to welcome even well-behaved and much needed guide dogs into their establishments and inside public venues. Don't make it easy for pet owners to break the law -- and harder for guide and service dog users to travel independently and safely with our dogs. Report those ads every time you encounter them! Here’s how. When you encounter advertising for capes, vests, ID cards, or tags that make your pet appear to be certified as an emotional support animal or a service dog, report them to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The FTC has primary responsibility for determining whether specific advertising is false or misleading, and for taking action against the sponsors of these advertisements. To file a complaint with the FTC, go to ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Whether you are a guide or service dog user, Guide Dog Users, Inc. thanks you for your help. Please help us make the world a safer place for us and our guide dogs. ***** ** The Queen's Consort by Larry Johnson I really didn't think I needed another dog after the painfully sad experience of putting down Mara, a 15-year-old Rottweiler, in the spring of 2021. She was a great companion, a gentle giant. She accompanied me on my daily half-mile walks to the corner store to get my coffee and bear claw. Though there were no sidewalks in our subdivision, she guided me perfectly along the curb and across the residential streets, sticking close to my side, tethered by just a short leash. I missed her. So, when the local AARP sponsored a webinar about a program called "Silver Paws, Senior Hearts," in the spring of 2022, I was intrigued. The director of Charming Pet Rescue, a local pet rescue organization, explained that the purpose of the program is to match senior dogs with older adults wanting companionship. The program, financed by donations and grants, provides the dog free of charge, pays for all its medical expenses for life and even offers to provide the animal's food. Well, it sounded too good to be true. So, I thought, what the heck, I'll apply. And, by golly, I received an email the very next day telling me that I qualified and to come out to the facility to check out a couple of dogs that they had available. I went with my daughter. The first was a 9-year-old Rottweiler named Dolly. She had been seriously abused. She had burn scars all down her back, and feeling her neck, I could tell that she had been mercilessly chained as there was a huge scar all the way around her neck. It made me feel sick and angry that someone could mistreat a dog so brutally. I couldn't take her. I knew I would constantly be thinking about the cruelty of her previous owners. The other dog they showed me was a Great Pyrenees/yellow lab mix, creamy white with yellow on the bridge of her nose and the ridge of her back. They told me her name was Callie. She was found wandering around a park in Kerrville, picked up by animal control, and had been scheduled to be euthanized, when the people from Charming Pet Rescue picked her up and decided to try and find her a home. So, I squatted down to meet Callie. She immediately sat and gave me her paw. They handed me her leash and suggested that I try walking with her. She stuck right by my side, and we walked a hundred feet or so. That did it. I decided to bring her home. What I didn't know then, and the folks at the rescue facility probably didn't either, is that Callie suffered from separation anxiety. The first day I left her alone in the house to go to a meeting, she bolted through a venetian blind and window and raced around the neighborhood looking for me. A friendly neighbor took her in and returned her to me. She had suffered a few cuts on her paws going through the window but was generally OK. So I got a kennel. The next time I left, I put her in the kennel and thought I had secured it well. But no. When I returned, she was standing at my front door, having again jumped out the same window and again cut up her paws. I have tried a number of medications recommended to calm her anxiety, but so far none of them work. I am very careful now about securing the latches on her kennel. Callie had a confrontation early on with one of my granddaughters' young golden retrievers. He got too personal with her, and she laid him on his back and took hold of his ear. He whimpered in surrender. It was then I decided to change her name to Queenie. She definitely has the royal bearing and is the dominant alpha dog within our canine family. Queenie rules me, too. She lets me know when it's her breakfast and dinner time, when it's time to go for a walk, when she wants to go out and when she wants some ear scratching and neck rubbing. Like Mara, Queenie is a great walker. Tethered with just a short leash, sensing I suppose that I am blind, she easily guides me around parked cars, garbage cans and recycle bins. Mostly she will ignore other dogs as well as the wild ducks which roam our neighborhood. But besides her anxiety at being left alone, she has one other annoying characteristic. She has a voracious appetite, and will eat anything that is within reach. She has swiped a loaf of rye bread off the kitchen table, chewed up two leather leashes, devoured a bottle half-full of Dasuquin tablets (which she managed to unscrew the top, empty out the contents and eat all 50 remaining tablets, thankfully with no ill effects). But her greatest feat, however, was to lift a pan of soup off the stove, carry it apparently by the handle into the living room without spilling a drop, set it on the floor, and slurp up all the chicken noodle soup. Her buddy is my daughter's 29-pound, tri-color, Pembroke Welsh Corgi named Lorcan. It is absolutely hilarious to watch them wrestle and chase each other around the dining-room table. Three times his size and weight, Queenie plays with him with such gentleness while emitting a serious of ferocious growls. Lorcan has no fear of Queenie and totally loves his playmate. There is nothing like a dog to give you joy, companionship and love. If you, or someone you know, is a senior and in need of a little companionship, I encourage you to find out if a "Silver Paws, Senior Hearts" program is available in your area. ***** ** It's Just a Prick of a Finger, Please Sign Here by Ann Chiappetta (Reprinted from https://www.thought-wheel.com/its-just-a-prick-of-a-finger-please-sign-here-%f0%9f%8f%a1/.) It was going to happen, not sure when; we waited for paperwork, online access, more of both, until we wanted to scream. Why did our 30 years of labor and dedication and Social Security credits seem like it did not matter? We invested in our future, our property, our nest egg. It did not crack. We held it up, a gilded goose egg birthed with sweat equity. It was a proud moment, being assured we would be able to trade it for a more temperate and quieter climate. We filled the dumpsters with the past, packed our bags with hope, stepped to the curb and trusted the vehicle barreling down the street would stop; we flagged it down, climbed aboard. We flashed our senior passes, panting and massaging our aging and preapproved home buyer mortgage application. Portable document formats and printers held us hostage. Sign, initial, drip your blood here, swab your cheek and attest to your identity. OMG, will the world disintegrate after we retire to our residence of final destination? We made it, the golden egg house proof the dream is still achievable. As long as we have food to grow, personal care products and filtered water, we will fade away together, holding hands, serving up reduced sodium meals. We will add chopped micro herbs into the container garden grown vegetables and locally sourced animal flesh. Wine will do. The twilight years, to us, means the years we will enjoy sitting together on the patio of our dreams and absorb the natural and sometimes discordant symphony of the American Dream. ***** ** Here and There edited by Cynthia G. Hawkins 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 ACB 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 slovering@acb.org, or phone the national office at 1-800-424-8666, and leave a message in Sharon Lovering's mailbox. Information must be received at least two months ahead of publication date. * ACB Member's Book Available "I Did It Without Looking: A Blind Man's Recovery from Addiction"by Michael Moran is now available as an e-book, as well as in paperback and hardcover formats. It is available from Amazon (all three formats), Smashwords (e-book only), Barnes and Noble (online orders only, not in stores), and the Apple iStore. * Journey with Your Ears Through live-streamed, professionally guided, audio-described tours, you can explore hidden gems and iconic landmarks in real-time. The company "Discover Live" brings together people from around the world to virtually experience over 200 fascinating destinations across six continents. For more information, go to https://www.discover.live/audiodescribedtours. * Be My Eyes App for Windows Be My Eyes recently launched its groundbreaking Be My Eyes App on Windows desktop, with immediate availability in the Microsoft Store. Developed in partnership with Microsoft, this collaboration marks a significant milestone in Be My Eyes' mission to make the world more accessible for the 340 million people who are blind or have low vision. The Be My Eyes App offers a comprehensive suite of features designed to provide rich visual descriptions to users who are blind or have low vision. From photos and graphs to screenshots and web pages, the app delivers detailed descriptions in real-time, enhancing the way individuals interact with their personal computers. Key features of the Be My Eyes for Windows App include: - Describe Your Screen: Gain detailed descriptions of application interfaces and web page layouts with ease. - Describe Local Images: Receive comprehensive descriptions of family photos, documents, and more by simply uploading images to the Be My Eyes app. - Describe Online Images: Seamlessly access descriptions of images encountered while browsing the web, ensuring no visual content goes unnoticed. - Help Get Ready for Video Calls: Prepare for video calls with detailed descriptions of visual aspects, enhancing communication experiences. The Be My Eyes App also includes an interactive chatbot feature, allowing users to ask follow-up questions and delve deeper into the content being described. This interactive feature enhances engagement and fosters a more enriching user experience for people who are blind or have low vision. The app is available for free on the Microsoft Store. For more information, visit https://apps.microsoft.com/detail/9msw46ltdwgf?rtc=1&hl=en-us&gl=US. * Introducing the BT Speak Pocket Computer The BT Speak from Blazie Technologies is a compact computer with an eight-dot Braille keyboard and speech output. The BT Speak has numerous features, including pre-installed PC-style apps. For more information, call (772) 214-1616, or visit www.blazietech.com. * Lighthouse Guild President Wins Award Dr. Calvin W. Roberts, President and CEO of Lighthouse Guild, has been named the distinguished lecturer and recipient of The John Milton McLean Medal for 2024. The prize is given by the Weill Cornell Medicine Department of Ophthalmology in honor of Dr. McLean, chairman of the department from 1939 to 1968. * DryEye Rescue Sole Distributor for InflammaDry DryEye Rescue was recently selected as the sole distributor for InflammaDry in the United States. This strategic partnership marks a significant milestone in the distribution and accessibility of InflammaDry, a leading diagnostic tool for dry eye disease. InflammaDry is the only rapid, in-office CLIA-waived test that detects elevated levels of MMP-9, an inflammatory marker consistently found in the tears of patients with dry eye disease. This test allows eye care professionals to accurately identify ocular surface disease, leading to optimal treatment pathways. * New from National Braille Press Brand-new from National Braille Press is the Braille Word Builder Game. It comes with 25 regular boards for uncontracted braille and 5 challenge boards containing contractions. Each game board has 5 copies (4 cards in simbraille and embossed braille, and 1 card in simbraille & large print), so up to 5 people can play at once. Supply is limited! Does your preteen love science? Check out "The Big Book of Braille Science Puzzles: Fun Science-Themed Puzzles to Help You Master Braille." It comes in braille as well as large print, for ages 10 and up. Calling all puzzle enthusiasts! Also new is "The Big Book of Braille Puzzles: 50 Searches, Anagrams, and Ladders To Help You Master Braille." It, too, is available in braille and large print, for ages 10 and up. Now available is "The Proudest Blue: A Story of Hijab and Family," by Ibtihaj Muhammad. It comes in contracted braille (UEB), for ages 3 to 8. With her new backpack and light-up shoes, Faizah knows the first day of school is going to be special. It's the start of a brand-new year, and it's her older sister Asiya's first day wearing a hijab of beautiful blue fabric, like the ocean waving to the sky. But not everyone sees hijab as beautiful. Faizah finds new ways to be strong in the face of hurtful words. Another new book is "Sometimes I Am Furious," by Timothy Knapman and Joe Berger. It comes in UEB, and is for ages 3 to 5. If you have a toddler or preschooler who has big feelings, you definitely want to check out this book! Also available is "Play Ball! My First Baseball Game," by Tanner Ryan. Take me out to the ball game! This print-and-braille board book for ages 3 and up features a full nine-inning ball game between the cows and the bears. Who wins? You'll have to read and find out! For more information, visit shop.nbp.org, or call (617) 266-6160 ext. 520. ***** ** High Tech Swap Shop * For Sale: Perkins Braille writer in working condition. Asking $150. Also a CCTV in working condition for $200. For more information, contact Vileen Shah at (510) 244-7755 (landline). * Looking For: I am looking for a boombox recorder that can record voices, so that I can record scriptures for a friend. Contact Tonya Smith by text at (269) 221-3769. ***** ** ACB Officers * President Deb Cook Lewis (1st term, 2025) 1131 Liberty Dr. Clarkston, WA 99403 * First Vice President David Trott (1st term, 2025) 1018 East St. S. Talladega, AL 35160 * Second Vice President Ray Campbell (1st term, 2025) 216 Prestwick Rd. Springfield, IL 62702-3330 * Secretary Denise Colley (final term, 2025) 26131 Travis Brook Dr. Richmond, TX 77406-3990 * Treasurer Michael Garrett (1st term, 2025) 7806 Chaseway Dr. Missouri City, TX 77489-2333 * Immediate Past President Kim Charlson 57 Grandview Ave. Watertown, MA 02472 ** ACB Board of Directors Christopher Bell, Pittsboro, NC (1st term, 2024) Donna Brown, Romney, WV (1st term, 2024) Gabriel Lopez Kafati, Miami Lakes, FL (1st term, 2026) Cecily Laney Nipper, Covington, GA (partial term, 2024) Terry Pacheco, Silver Spring, MD (1st term, 2026) Doug Powell, Falls Church, VA (2nd term, 2024) Rachel Schroeder, Springfield, IL (1st term, 2026) Kenneth Semien Sr., Beaumont, TX (1st term, 2024) Koni Sims, Sioux Falls, SD (1st term, 2026) Jeff Thom, Sacramento, CA (2nd term, 2026) ** ACB Board of Publications Penny Reeder, Chair, Montgomery Village, MD (3rd term, 2025) Jeff Bishop, Tucson, AZ (partial term, 2024) Cheryl Cumings, Seattle, WA (2nd term, 2025) Zelda Gebhard, Edgeley, ND (2nd term, 2024) Cachet Wells, Jacksonville, FL (1st term, 2024) ***** ** Accessing Your ACB Braille Forums The ACB Braille Forum is available by mail in braille, large print, NLS-style digital cartridge, and via email. To subscribe to the email version, contact Sharon Lovering, slovering@acb.org. It is also available on ACB’s web page, and by phone, (518) 906-1820. Subscribe to the podcast versions from your 2nd generation Victor Reader Stream or from https://pinecast.com/feed/acb-braille-forum-and-e-forum. ###