THE BRAILLE FORUM Volume XLIV June 2006 No. 9 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 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 That All May Read ... Except Those Who Read Braille, by Christopher Gray Speaking of Convention ..., by Melanie Brunson In Memoriam: Rob Hubbard, by Earlene Hughes Last-Minute Convention Details, by Carla Ruschival Hospitality Committee Seeks Your Assistance ACB Constitution and Bylaws Amendments Reminder, by Ray Campbell Employment Issues Committee to Focus on What Employers Look For in Applicants, by Mitch Pomerantz CCLVI Offers Stimulating Convention Program Coming Attractions in Jacksonville IVIE Update, by Ardis Bazyn The LUA Perspective, by Barry Levine NABT Convention 2006, by Carla Hayes Guide Dogs for the Blind Lets You Test Drive a Guide Dog Skip the Soda and Buy a Life Membership Instead!, by Charles S.P. Hodge Making Tomorrow Look Brighter Today in ACB! Featuring Frank Welte, by Ronald E. Milliman Membership Focus, compiled by Ardis Bazyn Here and There, by Susan Lichtenfels 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. CORRECTION Due to an editing error, the paragraphs concerning dog food orders ("Guide Dog Users, Inc. National Convention 2006 -- Ready or Not!," May 2006) were out of order. They should have read as follows: For convention attendees who wish to order dog food in Jacksonville, there are two suppliers. If you are a Petsmart shopper, GDUI has made arrangements with a local branch where you may order your food. Petsmart asks that orders be placed no later than June 8 to insure that your brand of food will be in stock. Phone (904) 997-1335 and ask for Heather. Pet Supplies sells holistic natural foods such as Innova, Wellness, California Natural, Solid Gold, Pinnacle, Natural Life, Chicken Soup, and Natural Balance. Orders must be placed no later than June 20. Call (904) 262-8111 and ask for Dick or Dave. All dog food orders should be made using a credit card, and you must identify your order as being a part of the guide dog users group order. Dog food can be picked up in the GDUI suite between noon and 4 p.m. on Sunday, July 9. ***** THAT ALL MAY READ ... EXCEPT THOSE WHO READ BRAILLE by Christopher Gray In 1998, the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS) made its collection of braille books in electronic format available to eligible borrowers over the Internet through a program called Web-Braille. Blind and visually impaired people could browse among thousands of titles and download books to their braille-aware devices such as BrailleNotes, PAC Mates and Braille Senses, or emboss them and read them in hard copy. Beginning in 2004, Web-Braille was used to make large numbers of braille music titles similarly available. This was a great service to library patrons and we in the ACB, individually and collectively, applauded NLS for their accomplishment. On May 11, NLS announced on the Web-Braille web site that "Because of technical and security difficulties, Web-Braille will be unavailable in the near future. NLS regrets the inconvenience and will provide further information as soon as possible." While the nature of the "technical and security difficulties" has yet to be officially explained, it is clear that the leadership at NLS is concerned about possible violations of "fair use" in the Chaffee Amendments of the U.S. copyright laws. Web-Braille files are prepared in a special braille format called "BRF" files, fully translated into contracted braille and formatted in the same way they appear in NLS hard copy braille titles or as embossed on braille paper. These files can only be downloaded by registered eligible users who have been issued the proper username and password by a cooperating NLS network library. Each day that Web-Braille is down, blind children are being denied access to braille books that are in limited supply; those who are deaf-blind are restricted from accessing a primary source of reading material; and libraries are being forced to engage in additional shipping of hard copy braille books, adding to their operational expenses. While we understand that NLS must be responsible when it comes to complying with copyright law, we believe that they have taken precipitous and unwarranted action in restricting access to Web-Braille, and have taken an extremely narrow interpretation of "fair use," thus negatively impacting the patrons they are pledged to serve in accessing reading materials. As a longtime devotee of audio recordings (in both analog and digital environments) and having worked in both the mainstream and adaptive technology fields, I know that any individual, whether sighted or blind, can easily acquire and use the technology necessary to convert files from one format to another, including from BRF e-text files to MP3 audio files. The world relies on the good will of end users not to abuse this ability. Certainly, users of Web-Braille have honored that commitment for the past eight years. We will not stand by and see our access to information denied on the basis of "it might be done someday." ACB calls on NLS to reinstate Web-Braille immediately while continuing to work on acceptable procedures that are not burdensome to borrowers, while assuring compliance with copyright law. To our knowledge, Web-Braille has not been abused by those who it is intended to serve, and registered borrowers and the blindness community as a whole should not be punished as if they have violated the law. I ask all ACB members to contact their elected representatives in Congress today in Washington, D.C. and ask them to use their influence with NLS and its director Frank Kurt Cylke to urge the immediate restoration of Web-Braille access to registered users. Congress should also take this opportunity to clarify and assure that "fair use" for blind and visually impaired citizens includes Web-Braille and similar projects. In addition, feel free to express your concerns to NLS Director Frank Kurt Cylke at fcyl@loc.gov or at 1-800-424-8567. Let me assure you that this narrow interpretation of the law can endanger other services being provided by both public and private organizations wishing only to bring the joy of reading to all of us. The pressure you can bring on NLS and Congress is all that stands between you and restored equal access to the written word. ***** SPEAKING OF CONVENTION ... by Melanie Brunson For some time now, you have been reading articles in "The Braille Forum" about tours and other activities that will take place during ACB's upcoming convention. There are indeed some exciting opportunities in store for those who will be joining us in Jacksonville. However, I don't think much attention has been given to the business meetings that will take place on Monday through Friday mornings of convention week. So I decided to provide a little of that attention in my article here. Now, please don't flip to the next article, or fast-forward your tape just yet! My reason for bringing up the subject of business meetings is so that you will know about some of the fun and practical things we are planning for the morning sessions and plan to attend those sessions. For example, one of the people who will be speaking to us this year is Michael Mellor, author of "Louis Braille, A Touch of Genius." He will have a lot of interesting information to share with us about the life and work of Louis Braille, as well as his own work in compiling this new book about the individual whose life has had a significant impact on the lives of so many of us today. I spoke with Mellor by phone and think he will be a very exciting speaker. I imagine he will also provide an opportunity for people to get their books autographed, too. His presentation to the convention will be on Wednesday morning, but he will also be participating in an award presentation on Sunday evening. Tuesday's program will feature our 2006 scholarship winners. Afterward, there will be a panel on emergency preparedness which will update us on what is being done to make emergency warnings on TV accessible, as well as very practical information about dealing with disasters. Have any of you ever asked your local government to install an accessible traffic signal, or make improvements to public transit or paratransit service? Well, if so, then Thursday's general session is one you won't want to miss! We hope to give you the scoop on federal funding that is available for such projects through the New Freedom Initiative and answer questions such as what these funds can be used for, who is eligible for them and how to get access to them. There are a variety of other presentations in the planning stages as I write. One of our goals is to cover topics that appeal to a wide variety of interests, so that there will be something for everybody in attendance. I hope you will stick around for the convention business that will be conducted on Thursday and Friday. We will be holding elections for a number of positions on both the ACB board and the board of publications, and it is crucial that you exercise your right to choose the people who fill these positions. There will be other opportunities for you to influence the activities of both the elected leadership and the ACB staff through action on resolutions and amendments to the ACB constitution and bylaws, too. Those of you who have attended conventions in the past know this well, but some who are reading this may not have experienced this part of convention yet. For those of you who have not, I urge you to make it a point to do so this year. It can be both educational and fun. For those who are old hands at this process, I hope you will approach it with a fresh perspective this time around. Your voice can only count if it is heard and we need to hear from the largest cross-section of our membership as possible as we consider issues that are vital to our ability to carry out our mission, both within ACB and society at large. On a somewhat related note, when you read your convention materials, you will also discover that the legislative seminar will be earlier than usual this year. It is being held on Sunday, July 9, in an effort to involve more people. I know that Day has some great plans for the seminar that should make it stimulating and informative, so I encourage you to attend it as well. We face a lot of challenges in our quest to improve the quality of life and equality of opportunity for all people who are blind and visually impaired. However, I truly believe that within our ranks we have the resources with which to meet those challenges successfully. I hope that all of you will join us in July, roll up your sleeves and help us go to work on removing the obstacles, dispelling the myths about blindness and promoting positive opportunity. I look forward to the unique ideas, skills and abilities each of you has to contribute to that process and the interesting things we can make happen when we put them together! ***** IN MEMORIAM: ROB HUBBARD by Earlene Hughes William Robert "Rob" Hubbard died on March 15, 2006, near Springfield, Mo. He was born Dec. 18, 1961, in Russellville, Ark. Survivors include his wife Nany Ann Hubbard; daughter Josie Hubbard; mother and stepfather Mona and Roy Ross; father Rob Hubbard; three brothers, Mark Ross, Ray Ross, Jeff Hubbard; and two sisters, Linda Brandon and Alice Weissman. Rob was the newly elected president of Blind Information Technology Specialists and a certified trainer with the state of Texas. He also did private contract work all over the United States. He liked radio, reading fiction and non-fiction, sports and politics. He was a Christian and lived life to the fullest. When I joined BITS in 1999, I honestly couldn't figure out which Rob was which. There was Robert Jones, who many of you know as Bob Jones. Then there was Robert Rogers, and there was Rob Hubbard. I think it took me a year to figure out who was who! I finally figured out that Robert Jones and Bob Jones are the same person, and that Robert Rogers was the vice president. And then there was this other Rob, who was quiet and shy if you didn't know him yet. I really got to know Rob Hubbard when I became secretary in 2001. He was the newsletter editor and he had the recording of the convention session from the previous year which I needed in order to write the minutes. We spent hours talking on the phone debating about sports, politics, technology, and our plans for BITS. It was fun! I will truly miss him. I pray for Nany and Josie. They have lost a wonderful person. The only way I know of to honor my friend is to keep working. I also know that when the sun shines each day, Rob is looking down at us. I do not want to disappoint him. I will do my best to carry on with the things that we were working on. I hope he knows how much we will miss him, and that we will do our very best to continue the work that was so much a part of his life. Rob Hubbard, you will always be with us. Memories from BITS members and others Oh, no, no, no, it cannot be. I am sitting here in total shock. I just talked to Rob a couple of days ago!! He was truly one of the really wonderful guys!! -- Ron Milliman, Bowling Green, Ky. Oh, this can't be true!!! I feel so sad and sorry for Rob's wife and little girl. Why do things like this happen to such nice people? I can hardly believe this. Sorry, Earlene, that you had to bring us this absolutely terrible news. -- Ray Campbell, Glen Ellyn, Ill. Oh, I can't imagine this! He was so dedicated and oh my -- his poor wife and baby, oh my -- I am just shocked beyond belief! This is so terrible. -- Barbara Lombardi, Shelton, Ct. My condolences to Rob's wife and daughter. I am still in shock over this one. He was too young and had everything going for him. Oh, God, what a shock! I couldn't believe it when I read it. -- Karyn Campbell, Glen Ellyn, Ill. My recollections of ACB conventions for most of the last decade are filled with memories of shared meals, shared meetings, social activities and almost constant laughs shared with my friend, Rob Hubbard. He has been my roommate at nearly every ACB convention since 1997. I believe the only exception during that span of years was in 2003 when his wife came to the Pittsburgh convention. Rob has been a great friend to me, and he has also been an inspiration. As most of you know, he is a man of great religious faith who not only talked the talk, but he also walked the walk. Rob is the kind of person who has always been willing to share his many gifts with others, whether that meant providing sound computer training and support, serving BITS during conventions or as newsletter editor and finally as BITS president, or by being that listening ear and provider of wise counsel to a troubled friend. He has set an example, both in his contributions to BITS and in his personal life, and we can best honor his memory by continuing his fine work with BITS and by developing the character traits in ourselves that he modeled so well for all of us. I share in our collective shock at his sudden departure and in our sympathy and concern for his family. -- Frank Welte, San Carlos, Calif. Yes, this is such a loss! I got him interested in this organization when it was called VIDPI. He will be missed for a long time. He has done a wonderful job with the newsletter. I was editor before him and could never hold a candle in the production with all of Rob's technology experience. We'll all have to work harder and now is the time to band together and stride forward. -- Dick Cannon, Alpharetta, Ga. This is such sad news! It makes me so sad and angry that his family has to endure such a loss. I can't imagine the shock but I am all too familiar with the experience of loss. I've had a number of wonderful conversations with Rob over the last year and looked forward to getting to know him better. This is so unfair ... And none of us know why it has to happen. I know Rob was a man of great faith ... And probably his wife as well ... but still, this will be a tremendously difficult time for her and all his family, and, of course, friends. I send my heartfelt condolences and prayers. My heart just aches for all of them, knowing how awful the loss is to endure. I hope that Rob has found John and they are talking techie stuff. -- Laurie Mattioli, Arlington, Mass. I was shocked and very saddened to learn of Rob Hubbard's tragic death. I met him at the ACB meeting in Louisville in 2000. He was a hard worker and did a marvelous job on the newsletter, as well as everything else he took on in BITS. He will be remembered in all our prayers. -- Tom Lutes, Bardstown, Ky. ***** LAST-MINUTE CONVENTION DETAILS by Carla Ruschival By now you should have received your pre-registration materials and be well on your way to a wonderful ACB convention. Be sure to fill out your pre-registration form, or register on-line at www.acb.org. You must pre-register by June 23 to be assured of discounted prices. If you miss the deadline, you can register on-site when you arrive. Here are a few last-minute details that you may find helpful when you arrive. Airport to Hotel: Express Shuttle provides transportation between the airport and hotel. The fare is $24 each way for one person, $12 per person for two people, and $8 each way for three or more people. Taxi fare is about $30 each way for up to four people. Express Shuttle is the exclusive provider of transportation at the airport; they also own the cab companies, so you will easily find their representatives when you exit the airport. Remember to make reservations for your return trip to the airport 24 hours in advance if you plan to take the shuttle. Transportation at the Hotel: A free shuttle is available from the hotel to restaurants and other locations in the downtown area between the hours of 7 and 10 a.m., and between 5 and 8 p.m. Express Shuttle can also transport you and your friends to other locations, usually for a reasonable fare. To make arrangements for transportation, call them at (904) 353-8880. Paratransit: If you plan to use paratransit while in Jacksonville, you must establish your eligibility in advance. Contact Dan Masterson right away at (904) 265-8947 for more information. To schedule rides up to seven days in advance, call (904) 265-6999. Other Reminders: Remember to hang onto your Saturday convention newspaper; it will contain lots of phone and suite numbers that you will need throughout the week. Also watch the paper very carefully for news of focus groups on technology and other topics; many of those sessions are scheduled after the convention program goes to print. Speaking of the program, look it over as soon as you can. It contains lots of useful information. Don't wait until you get home to read it! To Make Reservations: Convention dates are July 8-15, and rates at the Hyatt Regency Riverfront are $79 per night plus tax. To make reservations, call 1-800-233-1234, or (904) 588-1234. See you in Jacksonville! ***** HOSPITALITY COMMITTEE SEEKS YOUR ASSISTANCE Can you remember your first ACB convention? What were your expectations? How anxious were you? Whom did you wish to meet? What did you want to accomplish? How much confidence did you gain? As you reflect on that adventure, ponder the feelings and emotions the two Durward K. McDaniel First-Timers may be experiencing as they prepare for seven days in sunny Jacksonville, Fla. Since you are an important part of ACB, we want the two first-timers to know you! Help us accomplish this goal by putting a welcome session on your to-do list. Plan to find them, introduce yourself and get to know them. May we help them fulfill their goals as we meet and greet them! We sincerely welcome them to the convention and the Sunshine State for a truly marvelous experience. ***** ACB CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS AMENDMENTS REMINDER by Ray Campbell As we move closer to the 2006 convention, July 8-15 in Jacksonville, Fla., our thoughts turn to many things. We are busy making final travel arrangements, deciding which meetings, mixers and tours we want to register for, and so much more. Don't forget that convention time is your chance to propose amendments to the ACB constitution and bylaws. All amendments must be submitted in writing to the constitution and bylaws committee. Amendments should include the current language and the amending language when submitted. You can either contact the ACB national office to request a copy of the constitution and bylaws, or access it from the ACB web site, www.acb.org. The deadline for amendments to be submitted will be Monday, July 10 at 5 p.m. You may either bring your proposed amendments to the convention, send them to the ACB national office, Attention Constitution and Bylaws Committee, 1155 15th Street NW, Suite 1004, Washington, DC 20005; or e-mail them to me at ray1530@comcast.net. I will have access to e-mail during the convention, so if you do not get your amendments to me prior to the start of the convention, you can still e-mail them to me, as long as I have them by the deadline of July 10 at 5 p.m. Thank you for your time, effort and interest in improving ACB's governing document. The meeting schedule for the constitution and bylaws committee during convention will be: Saturday, July 8, 2-4 p.m. Monday, July 10, 5-7 p.m. Tuesday, July 11, 5-8 p.m. Wednesday, July 12, 5-8 p.m. Consult your program when you arrive at convention for the exact meeting location. Please feel free to come to one or all of our meetings and learn about the committee's work and how we conduct our business. ***** EMPLOYMENT ISSUES COMMITTEE TO FOCUS ON WHAT EMPLOYERS LOOK FOR IN APPLICANTS by Mitch Pomerantz To paraphrase an old saying: "Everyone talks about the unemployment rate for blind people, but no one does anything about it." The Employment Issues Committee is going to make a sincere effort to do something about it, at least in terms of bringing human resource professionals to the ACB convention and giving you the opportunity to learn what they look for in, or consider to be, a qualified job candidate. Our sixth Employment Workshop will take place on Tuesday afternoon, July 11, from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Yes, we have moved it from Sunday morning so that you (and the members of the committee) can sleep in a bit longer, not to mention the reality that employers are far more likely to attend a program during the week. This year's program is entitled: "What Do Employers Look For In An Applicant and Other Tips For Success In The Job Market" (a somewhat shortened title appears in the convention registration material and agenda). At this writing, we have firm commitments from at least two major employers and we anticipate having one or two additional participants. There will also be presentations from a well-known ACB member who is a successful entrepreneur on how to start and run your own business, as well as from National Industries for the Blind on its highly successful business leaders program. Please see your convention registration packets and be sure to join us for an informative session. With the right skills and knowledge -- plus some inside tips from the experts -- we can do something about that unemployment rate! ***** CCLVI OFFERS STIMULATING CONVENTION PROGRAM Here are some very good reasons to attend the programs offered by the Council of Citizens with Low Vision at the ACB convention. You will hear Dr. James Nolan, Director of Special Projects and Research for Envision, describe his comprehensive, current research on driving with bioptic lenses. He will tell us about legislative variations concerning driving with bioptic lenses in the 38 states that issue driver's licenses to individuals using these lenses. Dr. Nolan has low vision. Hear about the experiences of a panel of drivers who use bioptic lenses. Dr. Edwin Druding, psychologist, will lead panelists in a discussion of how they deal with having low vision and other identity issues. How are their experiences similar to or different from your own? Learn about preparing for emergencies with your low vision in mind. Day Al-Mohamed, ACB's Director of Advocacy and Governmental Affairs, and Don Hall, Senior Emergency Preparedness Planner for the Jacksonville Fire Department, will address this topic and answer your questions. How do changes in the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) affect issues that matter to people with low vision? Mitch Pomerantz, ADA Compliance Officer for the City of Los Angeles, will speak about this concern. Dr. Christian Guier, an optometrist from the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Fla., will speak about his practice and low vision and what the future may hold for people who have low vision. What new technology is on the horizon? Dr. Guier will bring low vision aids for us to see. Wouldn't we all like to learn more about getting the clutter out of our lives? Barbara Milleville, president of the National Capitol Citizens with Low Vision and CCLVI board member, has become an expert on this subject. She will share some tips with us. Joyce Kleiber, editor of "Vision Access," will invite people who attend her session to share their experiences of reaching out to people who are facing vision loss. And you don't want to miss CCLVI's mixer on Sunday afternoon and our dances on Sunday evening and Friday evening. On Wednesday evening our game night is an opportunity to participate in some of the game show formats you've enjoyed on TV. Come join us for a good time in Jacksonville! ***** COMING ATTRACTIONS IN JACKSONVILLE So ...what will I miss if I do not attend the ACB convention in Jacksonville from July 8-15? Quite apart from the panoply of activities related to the convention and the unique attractions of Jacksonville, you will miss a variety of Friends-in-Art-sponsored events. Saturday, July 8 7 to 9 p.m.: FIA board meeting. All are welcome! Sunday, July 9 4-5:45 p.m.: Mixer/Showcase Sign-up. Come meet old friends and make new ones while registering for a Showcase audition slot. Note that you must sign up for a slot if you wish to perform in the FIA Showcase. For additional details, please see "Some Words to Prospective Showcase Performers" at the end of this article. 5:45-6:45 p.m.: First chorus rehearsal. This year, Sara Alawami, who is a FIA-sponsored student, and Gordon Kent are creating the arrangements. Monday, July 10 1:30 to 3 p.m.: MIDI Workshop. This year, Gordon Kent and Mike Mandel will demonstrate techniques currently in use in rap, hip-hop, and other contemporary musical styles. Learn the features of two accessible off-the- shelf programs, Band in a Box and One Man Band. 3:30 to 6 p.m.: Audition/Rehearsal for Showcase. At scheduled times, performers rehearse their chosen material for length, polish, and appropriateness. 9 to 10:30 p.m.: Prose/Poetry Reading. Writers are invited to read their original works. Audience members are encouraged to interact with these presenters. 10 to 11 p.m.: Concluding chorus rehearsal, mandatory for participation in Showcase. Tuesday, July 11 12:30 to 2 p.m.: FIA luncheon and business meeting. Come and enjoy Southern-style fried chicken with all the trimmings, and meet others interested in the arts. Our luncheon speaker will be Hope McMath, who is in charge of the accessible exhibits at the Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens, one of the ACB-sponsored tours scheduled for Thursday. She will discuss what we will experience at the museum. When this exhibit was being planned, the excellent program at the Birmingham Museum of Art, which we visited two years ago, was used as a model. She will also tell us about Women of Vision, a museum-sponsored group of visually impaired artists. Election of officers and the conducting of other business will follow this brief presentation. Be present for your voice to be heard and your vote to count. 3 to 5 p.m.: Designer's Choice: Hands-On Flower Arranging. Come and create something beautiful to take home, while learning adaptive techniques from Elsie Monthei, one of our most talented artists. Class size is limited to 14. 8 to 10:30 p.m.: Friends-In-Art Showcase of the Performing Arts. For the price of a $10 ticket, you will enjoy top-quality entertainment from talented ACB members. This is one of the most popular events of the week, and somehow, it just gets better every year! Wednesday, July 12 1:30 to 4 p.m.: Advanced MIDI Workshop. Explore some exciting new breakthroughs in sampling and synthesis from the standpoint of creativity and accessibility. Presenters: Gordon Kent, Washington, D.C. and Mike Mandel, New York, N.Y. 3 to 5 p.m.: Writers' Workshop (in conjunction with NABT). Chopping Out The Chaff: Hone Your Editing Skills. Presenters: Sharon Lovering and Peter Altschul, Washington, D.C. 5 to 6:30 p.m.: Round and Harmony Sing. Come and sing those beautiful rounds and harmony songs we all know and love and learn some new ones. Presenter: Lynn Hedl. Thursday, July 13 7:30 to 8:30 a.m.: FIA board meeting. All are welcome! Don't forget the ACB-sponsored tour to the Cummer Museum and Gardens, scheduled for Thursday afternoon. We believe that this array of activities and opportunities to learn and perform will give you the chance to broaden your horizons in a relaxed, friendly atmosphere. We encourage performers to perform and audiences to enjoy! Some Words to Prospective Showcase Performers To increase your chances of performing in front of an adoring audience, here are a few points to consider when selecting your material. 1. Give serious consideration to upbeat material. We tend to have a shortage of up-tempo acts, as potential performers often bring more meditative selections to the microphone. If your preference is the latter, give some thought to preparing an upbeat backup. 2. Variety is key to achieving a successful show. Therefore, we usually judge within genre: that is, voice accompanied by piano performances will be compared to each other, while dramatic readings will be judged against other dramatic readings. Although music is the most popular mode of entertainment, all performing arts media are welcome, and we especially encourage new talent to audition. 3. Language in Showcase presentations should respect the presence of both children and adults. The FIA Showcase is considered family entertainment. The prose/poetry event encourages freedom of expression. Please keep in mind the difference between these venues. 4. Come well prepared. Polish and flair will capture the attention of the audience, and go a long way toward ensuring your place in the show. 5. Please note that previous experience has shown that 23 acts, with each act in the spotlight for no more than five minutes, makes for a well- balanced evening. 6. Let us know what you need in advance. Piano accompaniment: A sighted accompanist is usually not available to play from a printed musical score; however, several talented people are able to improvise accompaniments to show tunes, jazz standards, gospel hymns, and a limited repertoire of classical music. Specific accompaniments can be learned if provided in advance. Please contact Peter Altschul at atschu@erols.com with questions. Using a pre-recorded track: To those considering performing with the assistance of a pre-recorded accompaniment, please bring a copy, not the original, to the mixer on Sunday, July 9. Our best efforts at returning materials have sometimes gone awry. Please affix your name to the CD or cassette (we prefer CDs). Note that since your five minutes in the limelight are best spent displaying your own talent and style, overly lengthy instrumental interludes are strongly discouraged. Fronting the band: To those considering using our "house band," please alert us to the title of the song you wish to sing as soon as possible, as we will back only 10 acts this year; priority will be given to those who alert us early of their chosen song. We are particularly adept at playing swing, pop, and R&B standards. You'll need to schedule some time to rehearse with the band during the mornings of either Monday, July 10 or Tuesday, July 11. Join the chorus: To those interested in singing in our chorus, and who have not previously received a rehearsal CD, please e-mail me your name and street address ASAP, as the CDs will be mailed in early June. Let me know if you wish to be sent the lyrics in braille or large print. Please be prepared to attend both rehearsals mentioned above. Audition procedures: Everyone, including those who have alerted us previously of their interest to audition, must sign up for a rehearsal time slot during our mixer on Sunday, July 9. We'll need your name, the title of the selection you are planning to perform, and your hotel room number. While getting in touch with one another is always difficult at conventions, we plan to inform all performers of audition outcomes between 10 p.m. and midnight on Monday, July 10. If this article has not addressed what you need to know, please feel free to request further help. You may e-mail information and/or questions to Peter Altschul at atschu@erols.com. ***** IVIE UPDATE by Ardis Bazyn The Independent Visually Impaired Enterprisers has purchased a booth from ACB for the duration of the convention. This allows IVIE members and friends with small businesses to exhibit for a short amount of time during the convention. The hours available are: Saturday, July 8, from 1-5 p.m.; Sunday, July 9, from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Monday, July 10, from 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; Tuesday, July 11, from 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; Wednesday, July 12, from 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; and Thursday, July 13, from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. We are charging $10 per hour for IVIE members and $15 per hour for non-members regardless of the amount of time requested. If you need electricity, the cost will be $20 per hour for members ($25 per hour for non-members) for blocks of four hours, and $25 per hour for members ($30 per hour for non-members) if you want electricity for less than a four-hour block. Please send your check stating the hours you wish to purchase to Sila Miller, 2201 Limerick Dr., Tallahassee, FL 32309. Your requests will be granted in the order checks are received. If your requested time is not available, you will be contacted about other options. Why not send your dues payment ($15) in with your check for the exhibit time? Remember, dues are payable July 1. We look forward to seeing many of you at our Monday breakfast, Monday afternoon program sessions, and Tuesday afternoon joint business card exchange/anniversary reception with RSVA. Check out our new IVIE website at www.ivie-acb.org. ***** THE LUA PERSPECTIVE by Barry Levine Today's Library Users of America (LUA) finds itself tackling the complexities of the contemporary library environment. The question has to be addressed: "What is the work of LUA?" Our mission has changed. Once upon a time, the work of LUA was essentially concerned with what was going on with NLS and its regional libraries. Certainly, NLS remains the centerpiece of recreational reading for the population of print-impaired people. However, this era of electronic information processing in which we are now living has changed the landscape of library service. As LUA's current president, I have found it difficult to reinvigorate LUA or organize it to confront today's advocacy issues with regard to the printed word and library access. I am no different from most who are involved with the new industry of library. I, too, am confused about the diverse and complex directions the field has taken. We seem to be struggling with the transition from an almost exclusive focus on NLS and analog issues to digitized access to libraries, their materials and programs. Our scope of interest and attention has been inflated to a bewildering extent. Even five years ago, who would have thought about access to the burgeoning world of voice-over-Internet protocol (VOIP) virtual reference? Who could have known the shape of the battlefields on which we fight for accessible textbooks for our students? Who envisioned our access to digitized reading materials from commercial publishers? The one constant is access to braille library materials, and even that landscape seems to be changing with services such as Web-Braille. In short, the entire industry of libraries has been turned on its ear (no pun intended), and LUA cannot define its place in this environment without your input. I implore everyone to do what you can to attend convention this year, and come to LUA's program sessions. Or, even better, join LUA; dues are $12 per year. We must have access to your thoughts on LUA's place in the world of 21st century library service for print-impaired people. For additional information about LUA, contact Pat Price, treasurer, 5707 Brockton Drive #302, Indianapolis, IN 46220-5481; phone (317) 254-1185; e-mail pat@patprice.org. ***** NABT CONVENTION 2006 by Carla Hayes I hope you are all planning to come to Jacksonville, Fla., from July 8-15, 2006 because the National Association of Blind Teachers has an exciting convention planned for you. On Sunday, July 9, from 8-9:30 a.m., we will be having our annual breakfast and program. After a sumptuous breakfast and the opportunity to socialize with old and new friends, join us for a program entitled, "Don't Sit! Be Fit! How to Exercise When You Can't Use Your Eyes." Program presenters will be Oral Miller, president of the D.C. Council of the Blind and a member of the executive committee of the International Blind Sports Association, and Gerry Koors, a certified water aerobics instructor from Indianapolis, Ind. From 9:30 to 9:45, there will be a short break. Following the break, from 9:45 to 10:30, NABT will hold its annual business meeting. Come and help us make important decisions and plan our future. Finally, from 10:30 to 11:00, we will have our board meeting. Everyone is welcome. On Monday, July 10, at 1:30 p.m., LUA and NABT will have a joint program dealing with the issue of accessible textbooks. As of this writing, further details about this program were not available. Look in your convention program for more information. Tuesday, July 11, will be a very busy day for NABT! From 1:30 to 3 p.m., NABT and NABS will be co-sponsoring a program entitled, "Education Can Be Successful At Any Age." The speakers will include Dr. Ronald E. Milliman, professor of marketing, Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, Ky.; Rebecca Hodson, NABS president, Arlington, Va.; and Lisa Boettcher, doctoral student, Columbia, Mo. In this program, panelists will present tips and suggestions on how to be successful students in higher education. Following the 3 p.m. break, Brian Charlson, Vice President of Technology Services, Carroll Center for the Blind, Newton, Mass., will give an informative presentation on "Harnessing the Power of PowerPoint with Access Technology." This will run from 3:15 to 4:30 p.m. On Wednesday, July 12, at 3 p.m., we will be joining with FIA and co-sponsoring the annual writers' workshop. This year's topic is "Editing Your Own Writing: Chopping Out The Chaff." One of the presenters will be "Braille Forum" editor Sharon Lovering. We feel that this topic should be of great interest to teachers on all levels who must do a lot of writing and help their students edit their own work. This year's NABT convention program offers a wide variety of topics which should be of interest to all teachers. We hope that you will join us during convention week! ***** GUIDE DOGS FOR THE BLIND LETS YOU TEST DRIVE A GUIDE DOG Have you ever imagined what it might be like to have a guide dog? Visit the Guide Dogs for the Blind booth and take a test drive! The booth is a great place to connect with GDB staff and graduates, learn the basics of working with a guide dog, and actually have the chance to take a walk with a trained guide dog. GDB alums can get the inside scoop on clicker training and the details about this convention's alumni reunion at GDB's convention booth. Clicker training is a form of operant conditioning using a clicking noise to mark a desired behavior in the dog and reinforcing that behavior with a food reward. GDB's Director of Training, Terry Barrett, and Director of Research and Development, Michele Pouliot, will be conducting classes on clicker training for GDB alumni and their guide dogs throughout the course of the convention. The classes will discuss the theory of clicker training and then provide you the opportunity to introduce your guide to clicker work and complete a clicker exercise. Alumni and people considering the guide dog lifestyle are invited to join us on Tuesday, July 11 from 7-8:30 a.m. for a yummy breakfast. Visit our booth in the exhibit hall for location and details. After the breakfast, please plan to attend the convention awards ceremony where the 2006 recipient of the Guide Dogs for the Blind Dorthea and Roland Bohde Scholastic Achievement Scholarship will be announced. Finally, throughout the convention, Guide Dogs' human resources staff will be on hand to conduct brief informational interviews for those interested in employment opportunities with Guide Dogs for the Blind. Sign up for interview times at the booth. ***** SKIP THE SODA AND BUY A LIFE MEMBERSHIP INSTEAD! by Charles S.P. Hodge I'm writing this article to encourage and challenge dedicated individuals who believe in ACB's purposes and objectives. I would like these individuals to step forward and become ACB life members. In addition, I would also challenge ACB state and special-interest affiliates as well as local chapters to consider honoring a dedicated member of theirs by making him or her an ACB life member. ACB life membership dues are not inexpensive; in fact, the life membership dues of $1,000 may seem a bit daunting. These dues, however, may be paid in up to five annual installments of $200 apiece, which over a year is approximately 55 cents a day, less than a can of your favorite soft drink purchased from a vending machine. Viewed in such a light, ACB life membership dues should be manageable for most members and friends. Individuals who are considering joining the growing honor roll of ACB life members should contact ACB controller Don Gardner at our Minneapolis office, 1-800-866-3242, during normal business hours. As indicated above, I am also challenging state and special-interest affiliates as well as local chapters to consider honoring a dedicated ACB member who has demonstrated over many years the kind of leadership in your group to merit being made an ACB life member by your affiliate or chapter. This recognition will be an honor to one of your members and will ensure the legacy of such dedicated leadership. There will be a life membership reception in the president's suite at the upcoming national convention in Jacksonville, to which you as a new ACB life member will be invited and to which you may bring one guest. I would not ask others to do something I have not done myself, so I wish to assure you that I have been for many years a fully paid-up ACB life member. I am looking forward to welcoming a bumper crop of new life members to our growing honor roll in Jacksonville in mid-July. ***** MAKING TOMORROW LOOK BRIGHTER TODAY IN ACB! FEATURING FRANK WELTE by Ronald E. Milliman Why participate in the Monthly Monetary Support Program? ACB member Frank Welte, of San Carlos, Calif., has a number of reasons. "As I considered the controversies and challenges that our organization has gone through in the last few years, I came to believe that most of our problems were ultimately caused by disagreements over the allocation of scarce financial resources," he stated. "The key to overcoming these challenges is to provide the organization with sufficient funding to fully implement the projects that we, the membership, have delegated to it. Because ACB is a membership organization of blind people, I think all of us are responsible for the health of ACB. That means each of us needs to do his or her fair share to help support the organization financially. "That's why I participate in the ACB Monthly Monetary Support program. It's my way of showing my support for the American blind community in a way that really counts: with my dollars. If each of us gave as little as $5 or $10 each month, ACB would have over $2 million in annual membership contributions, more than enough money to fully fund all of ACB's advocacy, education and outreach programs, even before we saw our first dollar of thrift store earnings. If we all participate in the MMS program, we will see ACB greatly expand its ability to advocate on our behalf with government and with industry. ACB will also be able to expand the information and outreach provided through 'The Braille Forum,' ACB Radio and its other programs." If you are not already a participant in the MMS Program, the MMS Program Committee urges you to become a contributor right away. Make the monthly contribution that is comfortable for you personally. Help fund our national programs and your affiliate with whatever monthly amount you can afford. To get started, call the ACB financial office at 1-800- 866-3242 and have a form sent to you, or access the forms on the web site, www.acb.org/mms.html. If you have any questions about the MMS Program, you can reach me via e-mail, rmilliman@sckcb.org, or call me at (270) 782-9325. ***** MEMBERSHIP FOCUS Compiled by Ardis Bazyn On this quarter's membership focus call, Sue Ammeter kicked off the discussion by asking, "What kinds of incentives do you recommend to other affiliates to get more members to attend their conventions?" Keeping the cost of attendance low seemed to be the primary focus. Of course, for the national convention, there is a special fund for first-timers, the Durward McDaniel Fund, which allows two people to attend the convention with airfare and room paid. For the national convention, members looking for roommates can give a note to their president to post on the ACB leadership list. Include such details as whether you have a guide dog and want to room with a guide dog user, whether you smoke or want to room with a smoker, and which days you wish to attend. For state conventions, members can let the chapter president know about their need for a roommate. If there is a statewide e- mail list, this request can be posted there. Smaller states may be able to house members and hold their meetings at local schools for the blind, churches, or colleges. They can possibly bus the members to a church for a free or inexpensive dinner. Of course, most of these facilities will not allow alcoholic beverages on the premises, so members appreciate knowing about local restaurants if they choose to go elsewhere in the evening. If a facility is only available in one city, having a state convention coordinating committee make most of the arrangements would alleviate the burden on the local chapter. The Kentucky Council uses the school for the blind and offers a hotel as an alternative for those who don't feel comfortable staying there. Transportation is provided back and forth between the two facilities. Camps are also an alternative place to have a convention. Chapters can ask that the camp's kitchen staff cook the meals for your conference. Boxed lunches are also handy. You might be able to find local businesses to sponsor a specific lunch. They would have relatively inexpensive advertising while supporting a good cause because you would acknowledge their donation in your program and convention announcements. Smaller hotels without a restaurant might be another option, provided they have conference rooms. You could then get lunches brought in or have members bring in food. Local blind vendors might be willing to donate supplies or sell them at cost to your group. Some states have planned one-day conventions where no housing is required unless members come from a greater distance. If you plan to do this, you might consider doing more than one a year in different areas of the state to allow more participation. Here again, if you can get a facility for free and bring in low-cost lunches, you can encourage more local participation. Bus transportation between cities is becoming harder to find, so consider having your affiliate charter buses to conventions. Charging a small fee for each rider or covering the cost for participants might be a way to encourage more attendance. Check out various bus rental companies to get the cheapest rates. They charge much less for drop-off and pick-up service than for being available the whole weekend. For people outside of the more populated areas, you could give members an option to be brought to a central point or pay them a stipend to get to convention. Or chapters could arrange for a van or bus to bring their members to the convention. Whether you opt for a charter bus or rent a van, members will need to commit to attending a convention farther ahead of time. Lead time is required to rent or charter vehicles in advance. If you rent them, you will need to find your own drivers. Your chapters could hold fund- raisers in their local communities for this purpose. Your affiliate could consider a subsidy for some convention expenses. The Washington Council gives a major discount to members who pre-register by a specific date. For example, the cost for all meals would be $40 instead of $100. California Council pays all hotel costs for rooms above $80 a night the last few conventions and has paid costs above $15 for luncheons and $30 for the banquet. Mississippi Council charges $40 for four meal functions and registration. You may want to choose a convention hotel where you can bring food and snacks into a hospitality room. A catering company may be able to do a banquet cheaper if you have a hotel suite large enough. If you can't do this, you might ask if smaller portions could be made to lower the costs of lunches or dinners. Ask if the restaurant would be willing to offer a couple of specials for a discounted price. Tell them that most members stay in the hotel and that doing this might alleviate congestion in the restaurant. Chapters could also hold a 50/50 drawing at each convention, with the fund going to room subsidy. The fund could be divided so each participant would get a cheaper rate. You could choose not to use the fund until it reached a specific amount. And don't forget the idea of holding an annual auction, with the funds being targeted toward convention expenses. You could host an employment fair in conjunction with your convention, charging a fee to employers or asking them for a grant toward expenses. This fair might elicit more attendance and allow you to give cheaper rates. You could apply for grants from local or statewide organizations, or go to stores and ask for donations or gift certificates, and acknowledge their donations on your programs and pre-convention announcements. Outreach is often a difficult thing. Many members attend a variety of other meetings, such as book clubs, supper clubs, or support groups. This can be an excellent way to meet possible convention or chapter meeting speakers. Senior centers, doctors' offices, ophthalmologists' offices, hospitals, libraries, churches, and other public facilities are also good places to leave your brochures and information about local chapters. If you find bulletin boards at these facilities or your local market, you could hang a postcard or flyer about upcoming meetings or events. Simple flyers work well as long as you give a list of benefits and include a way for readers to request more information, such as a local phone number, state organization, and web site. Business cards can be printed out to hand to new people. Sending simple newsletters to everyone you meet or know might also help attendance. Send them on tape, e-mail, or print to non- members. Radio stations or newspapers will allow you to put meetings on their calendar of events, particularly in smaller communities. If you have a local radio reading service, it might also publicize your meetings and other events. Have a "friend day" and encourage members to bring at least one friend. We look forward to seeing many of you at our membership seminar at the upcoming ACB convention on Thursday afternoon. We would like to have at least one member from each affiliate attend the seminar. We would also like to invite you to attend our next membership focus call, to be held Aug. 21 at 6 p.m. Pacific. The call-in number is 1-866-633-8638 and the passcode is the date, 082106. ***** 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. PURDUE NEEDS YOUR HELP The Social Research Institute at Purdue University is conducting a survey on visually impaired customers' perceptions and uses of the Internet. We are interested in talking with visually impaired people who access the Internet. To participate in the survey, call 1-800-699-0175. The survey will take about 20 minutes. Once you have completed the survey, you will be entered into a drawing with a chance to win one of three cash awards ranging from $25 to $100. CHILDREN'S SLEEP STUDY SEEKS PARTICIPANTS The Sleep and Mood Disorders Laboratory at Oregon Health & Science University is seeking blind children and teenagers ages 3 to 20 who have little or no light perception to screen for participation in our research study. The study's goal is to investigate the hormone melatonin and its role in the nighttime sleep difficulties and daytime attention problems frequently experienced by blind individuals. Participation in the study requires the consent of the parent(s) or guardian(s). The study will involve saliva collection over 4 to 25 hours on at least three occasions, spaced approximately two weeks apart. Saliva collection will take place at home. Saliva collection periods will be shorter and less frequent, as necessary, to accommodate the participants and/or their parents. Although no specific time commitment will be required, we hope that participants will continue saliva sample collections for at least four months. All tests are performed at no charge to the participants. For information, please call Jeannie Songer at (503) 418-4144, or e-mail her, songerj@ohsu.edu. MIAMI'S BLIND LEADERS The Miami Lighthouse for the Blind is celebrating its 75th anniversary with the election of two totally blind leaders. James Kracht has been installed as the chairman of the board of directors, and Virginia Jacko was appointed president and CEO. SEEING IT OUR WAY AT HORIZONS "Seeing It Our Way" is the monthly publication of Horizons for the Blind. It includes craft patterns, recipes, puzzles and poems, and more. The magazine is available in both braille and large print. To subscribe for one year, make your check or money order for $30 payable to Horizons for the Blind, 2 N. Williams St., Crystal Lake, IL 60014 or phone (815) 444-8800. Free product catalogs are available in braille, large print and audiocassette. BOSTON DIABETES SOCIETY JOINS GUILD The Greater Boston Diabetes Society recently joined the Greater Boston Guild for the Blind as a subsidiary. It will continue its mission to raise awareness of diabetes prevention as well as educating those who already have diabetes on how to manage the disease. However, the society is relocating its offices to the guild's in West Roxbury. The guild will assume responsibility for the society's daily operations, program development and management. FREE DIRECTORY ASSISTANCE There are three numbers available for free directory assistance. They are: 1-800-373-3411, 1-800-411-6387, and 1-800-411-7283. You can use them anywhere, and it's free for everyone to use. The 373 number will not work from a pay phone; the other two will. Give them a try! FREE ITEM EXCHANGE The SightExchange e-mail group allows subscribers to offer unwanted items and search for items that serve the needs of people who are visually impaired. The goal is to recycle these often expensive items by passing them on once they are no longer needed. Subscribe to this list by sending an e- mail to sightexchange-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. WRITERS' PROGRAM The National Theatre Workshop of the Handicapped is launching a new program, the Writers' Program for Wounded Warriors, at its school in Belfast, Maine. It begins in June, and is designed to help disabled soldiers learn to express themselves and communicate their experiences through writing scenes and plays for dramatic monologue. In addition to writing workshops, these veterans will have the opportunity to live with other members of the disabled community, participate in outdoor activities and relationship-building activities to help them reduce the isolation and loss that often accompany disability. For more information, call (207) 338- 6894. GOT A SWEET TOOTH? Sweet Tooth has chocolate braille candy bars for sale. Each bar measures 4 by 6 1/2 by 1/4 inches and weighs 4 ounces. They come in 6 different sayings: Happy Birthday, Love You, Thank You, Have a Nice Day, Merry Christmas, and Happy Holidays. Each bar has a saying in braille, with the greeting written in cursive above it. Chocolate selection includes white, milk, and dark. Plain bars cost $2.25 each; bars with rice crisps or nuts cost $2.50 each. Shipping and handling costs are $6.95 for one to six candy bars, $11.95 for seven to 12 bars. Contact Sweet Tooth, 32 Vinton Road, Rochester, NY 14622, phone (585) 544-1853, e-mail judydavis12@rochester.rr.com. Checks or money orders only. Please note that these chocolate bars cannot be sent in the summer months (June through August) due to the heat. BRAILLE ENTHUSIASTS DICTIONARY The braille edition of "The Braille Enthusiast's Dictionary," compiled and edited by Alan J. Koenig and M. Cay Holbrook, is now available. It contains the braille transcriptions of almost 30,000 common and not-so-common words in the English language. The cost for individuals paying with their own funds is $424; all others will pay $1,045. This 10-volume book will be sent free matter for the blind. For the braille edition, contact the National Braille Association, 3 Townline Circle, Rochester, NY 14623, phone (585) 427-8260. The print edition of "The Braille Enthusiast's Dictionary" is available from SCALARS Publishing, phone (901) 737-0001. FREE BRAILLE TRANSLATOR Rod Pierce has developed a free braille translator. It prepares braille as selectable text dots (for inserting in e-mails, forums, etc.) and as images. The images can also be saved as JPEG files. It translates to contracted braille with better than 98 percent accuracy. Find this braille translator at www.mathsisfun.com/braille-translation.html. 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 Alan Beatty, Fort Collins, CO Ed Bradley, Houston, TX Brian Charlson, Watertown, MA Carol Ewing, Las Vegas, NV Billie Jean Keith, Arlington, VA Oral Miller, Washington, DC Carla Ruschival, Louisville, KY Patrick Sheehan, Silver Spring, MD Naomi Soule, St. Louis, MO David Trott, Talladega, AL Ex Officio: DeAnna Noriega, Colorado Springs, CO BOARD OF PUBLICATIONS Mike Duke, Chairman, Jackson, MS Cindy Burgett, Bremerton, WA Rochelle Hart, Sioux Falls, SD Charles Hodge, Arlington, VA DeAnna Noriega, Colorado Springs, CO Ex Officios: Ralph Sanders, Las Vegas, NV Janelle Edwards, Springfield, MO