



                         THE BLIND CALIFORNIAN



                      Quarterly Magazine of the 

                    CALIFORNIA COUNCIL OF THE BLIND



Winter, 2004, Volume 48, No. 1



      Published in Braille, Cassette, Diskette, online, and Large
Print 




                     Jeff Thom, President 
                          7414 Mooncrest Way 
                           Sacramento, CA 95831
                           916-429-8201 res.
                           jsthom@attbi.com 

                           Executive Office:
                             578 B Street
                           Hayward, CA 94541
                             800-221-6359
                             510-537-7877
                            ccotb@earthlink.net
                           Fax: 510-537-7830
                           www.ccbnet.org



                 Los Angeles Area Office, Mitch Pomerantz 
             1115 Cordova Street 
             Pasadena, CA 91106
             626-844-4388                             
             mpomerantz@mailbox.lacity.org

                   Sacramento Area Office, 
                   Dan Kysor
                   225 15th St. 
                   West Sacramento, CA 95691
                   916-371-1514
                   Fax 916-371-7630
                   dan@ccbnet.org 


Please send all address changes to the Executive Office in
Hayward




                       Editor: Winifred Downing
                      1587 38th Avenue
                      San Francisco, CA 94122
                     415-564-5798
                     wmdowning@mindspring.com




Call the CALIFORNIA CONNECTION at 800-221-6359 for an update on
legislation and CCB events Monday through Friday after 4 p.m. and
all day on weekends.  At these times it is available also in
Spanish.



Nonmembers are requested and members are invited to pay a yearly
subscription fee of $10 toward the printing of THE BLIND
CALIFORNIAN. 





If you or a friend would like to remember the California Council
of the
Blind in your will, you can do so by employing the following
language: 

"I give, devise, and bequeath unto the California Council of the
Blind,
a nonprofit charitable organization in California, the sum of
$---- (or
----) to be used for its worthy purposes on behalf of blind
persons."

If your wishes are more complex, you may have your attorney 
communicate with the Hayward office for other suggested forms.
Thank
you.

                           TABLE OF CONTENTS

From the  Editor, by Winifreed Downing . . . . . . . . . . . . .1

President's Page: Why Join the CCB, by Jeff Thom . . . . . . . .1

A New Approach by RFB&D, by Christopher Gray . . . . . . . . . 4 

Summary of the Fall, 2003, Convention Resolutions, 
     by Peggy Martinez . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

Career Voyages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

Career Connections, by Catherine Schmitt Whitaker  . . . . . . .7

Recipes for Independent Living: aT
hanksgiving 
     Perspective, by Louis Preston . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

Where in the World Is Fremont? by Roger Petersen . . . . . . . .9

2003 Final Legislative Repport, by Dan Kysor . . . . . . . . .10 

Profile: Frank Welte, by Brian Hall  . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Awards Nominations Solicited, by Roger Petersen  . . . . . . . 14

Outreach, Visibility, Acceptance, by Bonnie Rennie . . . . . . 16

Convention Report, Fall, 2003, by Keith and Joan Black . . . . 17

From the Back of the Class . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Blind Boys Play Baseball, by Domenic Martinelli  . . . . . . . 22

Top Gunn and Associates, by Sheila Gunn  . . . . . . . . . . . 24

The New Blind Field Services, a Living Reality, 
     by Richard Rueda  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Safety Tip: Microwaving Water  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Bulletin Board, compiled by Keith Black  . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Summary of Board Minutes, June-October, 2003, 
     by Ardis Bazyn  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

To See or Not to See, by Cecile Betz . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

CCB Offficers  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

CCB Board of Directors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

Publications Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39


 In accepting material for THE BLIND CALIFORNIAN, priority will
be
given to articles concerning the activities and  policies of the
California Council of the Blind and to the experiences and
concerns of blind persons.  Recommended length is under 3 pages;
if space constraints make it necessary to divide an article,
every effort will be made to discuss the matter with the author
before publication. 

                         FROM THE EDITOR

                       by Winifred Downing

     We are closing another year of working together in the
California Council of the  Blind.  Our new president has had a
year to become adjusted to his office, we have all grown in our
admiration of his skill, and we are anticipating increased
membership and active involvement in a new year.
     I am grateful for the many people who have contributed
articles of their own to The Blind Californian and to those who
have sent appropriate items from the Internet that they knew
would interest our members. I do, though, have some
considerations to lay before you.  
     After the Table of Contents in each issue of the magazine,
there is a statement about the policies governing the magazine
and the acceptable length for documents, between 2 and 3 pages. 
For this Winter issue of the BC, I received two articles of 7
pages each and one of 8.  Those 22 pages in ordinary print would
mean 33 pages in large print and 44 in braille, so of course size
reduction or division between two issues was an absolute
necessity.  All three of these articles reached me on the
deadline date or afterward.  I remind you that the deadline means
the final date on which articles should be submitted, though many
people regard it as the first date of their submissions.  One of
the contributors reduced the article successfully; the second
shortened it by one page, hardly an improvement; and the third I
am dividing in two parts, though I am not absolutely sure that
the printer can accommodate even the first part.  The total
length of the magazine cannot exceed 120 braille pages.  All
these space difficulties, the many phone calls required, and the
numerous e-mail messages that were necessary vastly increased the
amount of time and work to produce the issue.  
     I expect to examine articles submitted for necessary
corrections in punctuation, spelling, and grammar; but I assume
that the author has checked the spelling of proper names used in
the article and of facts presented.  There is no way that I can
accept responsibility in these matters; and yet in the articles 
sent this month, there were misspellings of proper names that I
recognized, and corrected, leaving me with the strong suspicion
that other proper names were also misspelled but that I could not
verify.  I realize that it takes time to do the research to learn
the spelling of cities and individuals referenced, but printing
errors in such details discredit our publication, several
thousand copies of which are circulated throughout this state and
elsewhere in the country.  Ours is regarded as one of the leading
news letters in the blindness field, and we want to guard that
reputation.  Please help me to do so.
     Though I write this on December 10, the Holidays will be
over when you receive your printed copies.  May you be blessed in
this beautiful season and throughout 2004!  The next deadline is
March 1, 2004.  


                        PRESIDENT'S PAGE
                        WHY JOIN THE CCB

                          by Jeff Thom

     Before we get started on this journey, let me answer two
questions that might have occurred to you.  Why am I writing this
article, and why should you read it?  Not only do I hope to
persuade the many readers of this magazine who are not involved
in CCB of the need to join us, but it is also important that
those of us who know why we need this organization understand how
important it is to increase our membership.
     In recent years, the growth of consumer organizations for
the blind and visually impaired both in California and throughout
the country has slowed.  This trend may well involve a number of
factors.  For a variety of reasons, the extent to which Americans
show a willingness to join groups, from unions to the PTA, to
fraternal organizations, has diminished.  An analysis of this
trend is not of utmost importance in this discussion except to
note that one of the hurdles that must be overcome in order to
convince people to join organizations is the necessity to squeeze
one more commitment into their already busy lives.
     However, there are factors specific to our community that
also affect the lack of willingness of persons with visual
impairments to join consumer organizations.  First, the dramatic
increase over the last 30 years in the percentage of blind and
low vision students who are taught in a mainstream setting has
had both positive and negative consequences.  Arguably, one of
the negative consequences is that the absence of more than
occasional interaction with a peer group of persons who are blind
or visually impaired makes it far more difficult to realize the
commonality of interest with other blind or visually impaired
individuals and the need to join organizations to advocate for
solutions to common problems.  Despite the unemployment rate of
somewhere around 75%, students often live under the illusion that
the world has changed to the point where they will have no
difficulty finding a job upon graduation, an illusion that, more
often than not, is quickly shattered.
     The Internet itself with all its benefits may be a two-edged
sword for organizations of the blind or visually impaired.  Many
in our population, like the public at large, obtain such
fulfillment from their time on the Internet that it often
preempts any desire to use their spare time for other
undertakings, such as participation in volunteer organizations.  
     Attracting seniors, the largest segment of our population,
poses yet another set of problems.  These individuals, most of
whom are coping with recent vision loss, find it hard to
understand that they need not live a shut-in existence.  In
addition, however, it is often difficult to show them not only
that they share a common bond with those of us in the blindness
movement but also that we have something to offer them and they,
us.  
     Finally, even among those who have roots in the blind
community, the cry is often "We have SSI, Medi-Cal, the
Department of Rehabilitation, and a whole host of other
government programs.  Maybe they aren't all that great, but we
get by, and what good can you folks in CCB do?"
     So how do we overcome these stumbling blocks on the road to
increased membership?  Part of the solution lies in outreach, but
that discussion is for another time.  The other part of the
solution is the answer to the question "why join CCB?"
     We can help people who are blind or visually impaired,
through support, information and referral services,  advocacy,
and other forms of assistance.  Of no less importance, however,
we offer anyone who is blind or low vision an opportunity to make
this state and nation better for those with visual impairments
and in doing so, to increase self-esteem and dignity through
their accomplishments.
     Whether it's participating in local support groups, talking
to blind or visually impaired children, serving as mentors by
example at the local chapter level or at CCB conventions, or
working one-on-one with others with visual impairments, CCB
members provide the support and encouragement people need.  In my
view, CCB members provide excellent mentoring and support because
they don't sugarcoat or ignore the frustrations of being blind,
from transportation, to dealing with mail, to the fear of
isolation and the inability to do those things taken for granted
before the onset of vision loss.  It is tantamount to hiding
under a rock to pretend that with a little training and some
information, we become super-blind and these problems just
vanish.  Instead, we provide support, information, and advocacy,
and of course living proof that will enable blind and visually
impaired persons to understand that these problems need not
dominate their lives and that a life of fulfillment is within
their grasp.  
     Both the business conducted at local chapter meetings, and
the purely social time that local chapters have can provide a
much-needed education for those either suffering recent vision
loss or those who do not understand the need to be CCB members. 
Our incredible diversity is also an important factor in  this
equation, as people who face problems in addition to their visual
impairment can find others that face such problems within CCB to
share their concerns.  
     Moreover, the local advocacy efforts of CCB are unparalleled
when it comes to fighting for what most blind and low vision
people want.  It is often said that "all politics are local," and
that truism applies to assisting members or nonmembers to get
accessible pedestrian signals installed, ensuring that detectable
warnings are placed on transit platforms or curb ramps, serving 
on all manner of local advisory committees, or advocating for
video-described motion pictures or theater productions.  These
are the types of projects that our local affiliates undertake. 
Chapters don't need to be told by a state or national hierarchy
what they should be doing; they know far more about what is
important in their localities than anyone else.  
     Likewise, CCB members work both in California and, through
the American Council of the Blind, on a national level for the
betterment of all who have visual impairments.  Whenever
possible, we work in concert with other organizations of blind
persons or persons with disabilities, but we will never shy from
engaging in a struggle on our own or with only a few allies when
necessary.  Examples of such struggles include the efforts of the
American Council of the Blind to ensure true consumer choice for
those in rehabilitation programs and the need for the
rehabilitation system to give equal treatment to those who may
seek jobs in sheltered workshops for pay at or above minimum wage
as opposed to other types of employment.
     Although I could expound at length on the points that I have
already made, I will conclude with one further problem that cries
out for the type of concerted action that only an organization
like CCB can undertake.  Whether or not the economy is turning
around, we are still struggling through difficult economic times. 
At a minimum it will be several years before things improve in
California.  Even more worrisome is the possibility that, for the
foreseeable future, the federal government will be far more
concerned with foreign affairs and internal security than with
the programs that we, as people with visual impairments, hold
dear.  This is not a judgmental statement but merely one of fact. 
     Finally, as our society ages, it is possible that there will
be ever increasing demands upon government and a shrinking
taxpayer base to pay for those demands.   Given all these
factors, we face the reality that it will be more difficult than
ever not only to obtain funding for additional services for our
population but even to maintain our current service levels.  If
CCB is not leading the way in the fight to ensure that government
is responsive to our needs, I have little doubt that the degree
to which the concerns of our population are met will seriously
diminish.   
     In a nutshell, therefore, people who are blind or visually
impaired and their families and friends should join CCB because
we provide the best means of ensuring that the needs of our
population are met.  For those of you who have not done so, give
us a try.  For those of you who are CCB members, the challenge is
up to us to convince others that not only does CCB have so much
to offer them but that they have so much to offer CCB.   


                     A NEW APPROACH FOR RFB&
d 

                       by Christopher Gray

     It has come to my attention that RFB&D has adopted a new
policy that went into effect on Monday, October 27, 2003.  The
policy is of particular interest to those who borrow Daisy books
from RFB&D to play on the new CD-type book players.  I recognize
that only a small minority of blind persons is affected today,
but this group will grow over time, and perhaps we need to
consider the policy now.
     If you purchase your Daisy player from RFB&D directly, you
have no problems playing RFB&D books.  However, if you purchase
your player from any other source, Daisy books from RFB&D are not
playable on that machine.  Until October 27, you had to purchase
from RFB&D a special CD called a UAK, Universal Access Key; after
playing this disk on your player, it would be enabled from that
time forward to play Daisy books from RFB&D.  While a bit of a
nuisance and an additional expense, it seemed hard to complain
too much about this practice.  RFB&D requires this UAK approach
to honor commitments the organization maintains have been made to
all publishers of books produced in Daisy format.  RFB&D believes
it is a copyright issue.  

     As of this October 27, however, this policy has changed
considerably.  RFB&D will no longer provide the UAK on disk
arguing that people did not return the disks and thus exposed 
RFB&D to copyright liability and a possible lack of integrity in
the eyes of publishers.  One must now pay $10 and send the player
through the mail or other shipping means to RFB&D headquarters in
New Jersey.  The organization promises to turn the unit around in
24 working hours and return it to the sender.     Besides the $10
for the UAK, the patron is responsible for the shipping charges
to RFB&D.  I foresee several problems with this approach.  First,
in my mind it has an ominous ring of unfair competition with
other vendors of Daisy players.  Also, is it reasonable to ask
anybody, particularly a student, to live without a player for two
week or even longer while it is shipped to and from New Jersey? 
What is the potential for damage to a player during shipment, and
who is responsible for that and for the even longer time a person
will then be without a player?  Shipping with insurance can be
relatively expensive, and it's not necessarily the easiest thing
for blind persons to do.  
     Speaking strictly for myself, this seems like a pretty
misguided policy; But I need input from others.  What do you
think?  Perhaps the consensus will be that while this is a real
pain, it's ok in the end.  Let's have some discussion on the
matter.  I don't wish to ignore this issue until next summer's
convention if people believe it is a serious concern.


       SUMMARY OF THE FALL, 2003, CONVENTION, RESOLUTIONS

         by Peggy Martinez, Chair, Resolutions Committee

     Thanks to everyone who brought resolutions to the committee
and to the members of the committee for their hard work. 
Resolutions for the spring, 2004, convention should be sent to
the CCB office orto me at 2510 Cropley Way, Arcata, CA 95521, or
e-mail me at pegmar1@sbcglobal.net.
     Resolution 2003b-1: Seeks legislation to strengthen existing
laws to serve as more compelling deterrents to interference with
safe travel for blind or visually impaired people and their guide
dogs.
     Resolution 2003b-2: Seeks legislation to expand the Deaf and
Disabled Telecommunications Program to include the purchase of
accessible cellular phones.
     Resolution 2003b-3: Commends the Office of Services for the
Blind in the State Department of Social Services for its fine
work and calls upon the Governor, the Secretary of Health and
Human Services, and the legislature to allow the Office of
Services for the Blind to continue this work.
     Resolution 2003b-4: Strongly urges the Director of the
Department of Rehabilitation, the Administrator of the
Orientation Center for the Blind and the Blind Advisory Committee
to make cooking instruction a priority at the Orientation Center
for the Blind.  
     Resolutions 2003b-5 and 2003b-6 were withdrawn.  
     Resolution 2003b-7: Urges all healthcare providers to
require their participating pharmacies to make medication
identification accessible by labeling containers in sans serif 14
point print and some form of speech technology.  This resolution
is to be forwarded to the American Council of the Blind for
consideration at the 2004 annual convention.
     Resolution 2003b-8: Requires the California Department of
Rehabilitation to give priority to California vendors in the
bidding process unless the cost of equipment exceeds $1,000.00
per item.  Instructions for the bidding process should state
specifically that shipping, handling and sales tax are not part
of the bid price.
     Resolution 2003b-9: Urges Governor Schwarzenegger to retain
the services of Dr. Catherine Campisi as Director of the
Department of Rehabilitation.
     Resolution 2003b-10: Requests the Department of Motor
Vehicles to issue a directive to all local offices informing
staff of the need to provide appropriate services to blind or
visually impaired persons, including assistance in completing
forms.
     Resolution 2003b-11: Seeks state legislation to establish a
tax credit to reimburse employers for a portion of expenses
incurred for the salary and/or reasonable accommodation of blind
and vision-impaired individuals during their first two years on
the job.  This resolution is to be forwarded to appropriate state
officials. 
     Resolution 2003b-12: Urges that vacancies existing within
the California Department of Rehabilitation concerned with
services to blind and vision-impaired people be allocated the
necessary freeze exemptions so that these positions are quickly
filled to restore client services.
     Resolution 2003b-13 and 2003b-14: Expressed our sincere
appreciation to the 2003 convention volunteers and the Crowne
Plaza Hotel staff.  


                         CAREER VOYAGES

                  submitted by Mitch Pomerantz

     Department of Labor and Department of Education Launch
Career Voyages.  Career Voyages (www.careervoyages.gov) is an
effort by the Department of Labor and the Department of Education
to link the educational community with the world of work.
     Several interesting resources here.  You can "Chart Your
Course," choose an industry and see both the projected job growth
for a variety of careers in that industry and see the
median US wage for that industry over several different education
levels.  Click on a job title and you can get more detailed
information; after you click on a title, pick a state, and you'll
get information about the median wages for that job in that
state, a description of the job, and much more detailed job
growth statistics.  Click on the TV icon labeled "video voyage"
beside a job title to get a short video describing the job and
giving a little information on training.
     You can also see what's hot; either overall, jobs that don't
require a 4-year degree, or jobs that require a 4-year degree or
better.  Or if you want to concentrate on a state, you can get a
list of the hottest occupations by state (Wisconsin needs systems
analysts.)  Check out the menu on the right for answers to
frequently-asked career questions,
and check out the tools to use for a list of relevant education
and training links.



                       CAREER CONNECTIONS

                  by Catherine Schmitt Whitaker

     What does your voice mail message or e-mail address say
about you?  One may ask what this question has to do with
employment.  The answer is: a lot!  Yet, this detail is often
overlooked in the job search or professional networking process.
     Voice Mail Messages: An employer who dials a telephone
number listed on a resume or application expects to speak with a
person or hear an appropriate voice mail message, "Leave a
message," "Out on the town," or "Leave a message at the beep" are
not appropriate messages for potential employer ears.  Humor,
slang and cool phrases are fine for friends but not for potential
employers.  Tasteful humor or slang may be appropriate for
companies with a humorous or hip company image like Southwest
Airlines or Hot Topic.  The difficulty arises in identifying a
shared meaning for "tasteful."  Therefore, it is better to err
with a conservative, yet friendly message.  An appropriate voice
mail message will identify the person or telephone number dialed
and give a brief welcome, inviting the caller to leave a message. 
An appropriate message might be: "Hello, this is Cathy and I am
not able to take your call at this time.  Please leave your name
and phone number, and I will return your call as soon as I can."
Smile when you record the statement to add natural warmth to your
message.  
     If you leave a pager number as part of the message, be sure
to return the page.  I once left a page for an applicant; but
when the person telephoned, he began "you left me a page; who are
you?"  This approach does not demonstrate strong communication
skills.  My first impression was not positive. 
     A demonstration of positive communication skills for the 
 above applicant would be: "Hello, this is Jay Marsh.  I received
a page from this phone number; how may I help you?"  It is
important to remember that the employer may have made five
telephone calls since she left the message for you.  She may not
remember having left a page for you.  The more information you
can provide to trigger the employer's memory, the more positive
the conversation.
     E-mail Address: The impression an e-mail address gives is
just as important as the voice mail message.  The provider
"aol.com" or "hotmail.com" typically does not make a difference. 
The prefix you choose prior to the at sign does matter.  Your
choice of an address provides a clue to your personality and
decision making skills.  "boso555@aol.com" or
"squeky69@earthlink.net" are not appropriate addresses.  Such
addresses could be "michele.new@hotmail.com" or
"sperry5@aol.com".  Stay away from using the underscore key in
your address; the line can be lost if underline is used or
information is entered on an application form line.
     If an e-mail address is included on the resume or
application, make sure to check the e-mail box on a daily basis. 
The potential employer expects a quick response even if he took
two weeks to contact you.  If an employer e-mails you, he
probably e-mailed other applicants, too.  You do not want to be
the only person who fails to respond within a day.
     Pay attention to your voice mail message and e-mail address
during your job search and networking process.  Positive first
impressions will keep you in the minds of the people you want to
impress.



                RECIPES FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING: 
                   A THANKSGIVING PERSPECTIVE

                        by Louis Preston 

     Around this time of year, many of us reflect on how we are
able to accomplish our daily tasks and master new independent
living skills.
     In reading articles on the subject, interviewing several
persons, and considering implications from a morning TV news
program, I present the following ideas in the form of questions
that can be translated into everyday living activities.  This
article is the product of a creative look at just some of our
opportunities to gather independent living ideas from the world
around us including the people who help us every day. 
The above twenty questions can be a start to giving yourself
credit for your own creative approaches to independence. There
could be a few eye openers that give you ideas about areas that
you would like to develop or improve on for the upcoming year,
but most of all it could be a sort of summary of living
independent and free. Have fun, pass it on to a friend, and give
us a call with some of your own creative questions that should
have been on the list.
     1. How do you respond or react to changes in the weather and
reports of impending weather changes?  
     2. When home improvements are made, are vision
considerations in the forefront or just an afterthought? 
     3. How have you used your sense of smell as an asset to
independent living?  
     4. When you think of your romantic adventures, are you more
dependent than being in control? 
     5. Using the alphabet as a guide, make a list of common
tools that you use on a regular basis. 
     6. How do you use your sense of touch to make decisions? 
     7. Is the telephone used as a tool for gathering information
as well as communicating with others? 
     8. How is the computer an aid to your independence? 
     9. Do you keep a shoulda-woulda-coulda list of things that
can be helpful in making future decisions? 
     10. Do you have a handy travel-related list of names and
numbers that help give you quick alternative and options? 
     11. Are you skillful in the art of delegation? 
     12. What kind of hobbies do you have that you enjoy
comfortably? 
     13. Do you keep a list of high-tech tools that can be useful
in working on your projects? 
     14. Have you made your own personal directory of Web sites,
e-mail addresses and telephone numbers that can give you needed
information? 
     15. How many alarm type devices, such as timers, audible
signals, cell phone vibrators and other creative signals do you
use on a daily basis?
     16. Can you name ten different physical exercises that you
have done in the year 2003?  
     17. Name the articles, books, tapes, and videos you have
used to help motivate and inspire independence. 
     18. When attending events, do you have a system for helping
your friend or relative be good narrators in a way that helps you
enjoy experiences? 
     19. Have you read the California Connection lately? 
     20. Do you have assistance in checking cash register
receipts when shopping?
     The above twenty questions can be a start toward giving
yourself credit for your own creative approaches to independence. 
There could be a few eye-openers that give you ideas about areas
that you would like to develop or improve on for the upcoming
year; but most of all, it could be a sort of summary of living
independent and free.  Have fun, pass these ideas on to a friend,
and give us a call with some of your own creative questions that
should have been included on the list.


           CONVENTION: WHERE IN THE WORLD IS FREMONT?

                       by Roger Petersen 

     As we look forward to our spring 2004 CCB convention, I hear
voices, from southern California mainly, asking, "Where is
Fremont?"  Here is an attempt at an answer.
     I am indebted to the great Juliet Esterly for this
description of the Bay Area.  If you hold your right hand with
the thumb and index finger side up and bend your index finger to
touch the tip of your thumb, the space between your thumb and
your hand can be thought of as the San Francisco Bay.  The Golden
Gate is where your index finger meets your thumb.  Marin County
is your index finger tip and San Francisco is your thumbnail.  As
you go down the west side of the bay, your thumb, from San
Francisco, you encounter the San Francisco Airport near Millbrae,
San Mateo, Redwood City, Menlo Park, Palo Alto and eventually,
San Jose, down by the joint where your thumb meets your hand. 
Now if you cross over to your hand across from your thumb joint,
you come to Fremont on the East Bay side and, as you go up your
hand and index finger, you come to Union City, Hayward, San
Leandro, Oakland, Berkeley and Richmond.  Oakland is across from
your thumbnail, San Francisco.
     To reach Fremont, San Jose is the closest airport; but the
public transit is better from the Oakland Airport, which is
served by BART, the "subway."  You can take a shuttle bus (called
Amelia Airbart) from the airport to the Colessium BART Station,
then, BART to Fremont and call the hotel for a lift from the
Fremont BART station.  There isn't a direct public transit way
from the San Jose Airport; but you can take Super Shuttle or, if
you register as a guest, the Santa Clara County paratransit to
Fremont BART where the hotel will pick you up.
     There is also an AMTRAK station in Fremont.  I have not
heard for sure, but I think the hotel will pick passengers up
there, too.  The Capitol and San Joaquin trains as well as the
Coast Starlight stop there between Oakland and San Jose.
     So now that you know where it is, I expect to see you there.



                  2003 FINAL LEGISLATIVE REPORT

         by Dan Kysor, Director of Governmental Affairs

     It has been a most interesting year; and, now that the dust
is settling from the fall recall election and our legislature is
gearing up for the 2004 session, let's look back on our
accomplishments, failures, and emerging issues of concern to the
Council.
     One of our most important successes in 2003 was our victory
in the budget battle on several fronts.  A plan to cut funding by
30% to the Braille and Talking Book Library was thwarted mostly
by the advocacy of CCB members.  Services to blind and visually
impaired Californians were kept intact as Catherine Campisi,
Director of the State Department of Rehabilitation and I
testified before several budget committees in the Legislature.
     CCB introduced two bills before the 2003 Legislature, AB 662
by John Dutra and SB 302 by Sheila Kuehl.
     AB 662 would establish an advisory task force in the
Department of Education allowing teachers, parents, pupils and
other interested parties to identify many problems that exist in
programs and services to blind and visually impaired pupils.  The
bill also called on the California School for the Blind to give
technical assistance to districts that request such assistance. 
A requirement that testing materials be provided in accessible
format and that the legislature recognize the importance of
schools that provide "special settings" for their blind and
visually impaired pupils survived all committees but ran into
difficulties in the Senate Appropriations Committee.  The
committee would not approve any measures that utilize public
"task forces".  John Dutra postponed consideration of the the
bill until 2004 where it will be heard again in Senate
Appropriations.  
     SB 302 by Sheila Kuehl was signed into law by former
Governor Gray Davis.  The bill closes a loophole in the law which
exempted the California State University system from
accessibility requirements contained in Senate Bill 105 of 2002.
C.S.U. must now comply with the access requirements of 508
information technology regulations.  Our profound thanks to
Senator Kuehl for her continued support of civil rights for all
Californians with Disabilities and to the members of CCB who
wrote, called and personally attended these many hearings and
coalition meetings.  The bill is Chapter 784 of the Statutes of
2003 and originated from CCB Resolution 2002b-4, Access to Post
Secondary Education. 
     SB 842 by Senator Betty Karnette, Instructional Materials
Accessibility, Sponsored by the California Special Media and
Technology Center, the Department of Education, and the CCB
requires publishers to make basic instructional materials more
accessible to pupils with disabilities.  They are called upon to
facilitate access to Internet resources and digital multimedia
programs intended for use by the general population of pupils and
pupils with disabilities.  The bill was signed into law as
Chapter 800 of the Statutes of 2003.
     SB 262 by Sheila Kuehl, Buildings: Access:  Enforcement,
requires the State Architect to establish and publicize a program
for voluntary certification by the state for any
person who meets specified criteria to be classified as a
certified access specialist.  It authorizes the county council to
bring actions, if the district attorney does not do so, against
Title 24 or ADA violators.  The bill was signed into law as
Chapter 872 of the Statutes of 2003.
     In SB 964, Senator John Burton addressed High School Exit
Examination,  Chapter 803.  This bill required the 
Superintendent of Public Instruction to develop, and the State
Board of Education to approve, by January 31, 2004, a request for
proposal for an independent consultant to assess options and
provide recommendations for alternatives to the high school exit
examination for pupils with disabilities so that they would be
eligible for a high school diploma.  The bill requires the
independent consultant to be selected by a panel
established by the bill by April 30, 2004.  It was signed into
law by Governor Davis.
     AB 268 by Assembly Mullin requires all supervisors in the
state to be trained in employment law with respect to
disabilities.  The bill was signed as Chapter 165 of the Statutes
of 2003.
     AB 467 by John Dutra, Accessible Fair Machines, was
chaptered 14, 2003 Statutes, signifying that it was signed into
law.  It stipulates that on and after January 1, 2005, a transit
operator that improves or replaces a ticket vending machine to
include video instructionsmust also include audio instructions to
enable visually impaired persons to follow the visual prompts. 
The bill was sponsored by the NFBC and strongly supported by the
Council.
     AB 1400 by Lois Wolk dealt with Housing: accessibility,
Chapter 648.  It provides incentives to builders and home owners
to abide by accessible universal design features in new home
construction.
     Another triumph of the disability community last year was
the defeat in the Assembly Judiciary committee of AB 209 by Tim
Leslie.  It would have required a 60-day waiting period after
notifying a violator before an individual could file an ADA
complaint.  A similar bill to AB 209 was SB 69 by Rico Oller
which would establish a 90-day waiting period instead of Leslie's
60 days before filing an ADA complaint.  I met, along with other 
disability rights advocates, with Senator Oller where I asked him
to withdraw the bill and work with the disability community on a
substantive ADA reform act; but he didn't like that idea.  The
bill's future is uncertain and we'll let you know what happens in 2004.
     Bills that ran into difficulties besides our AB 662 were: SB
74 by Tom Torlakson to require that at least 50% of all products
available in vending machines on state property be "nutritious". 
CCB is opposed to this bill for several reasons. First, it further interferes
with the blind vendor's ability to compete with nearby
businesses.  Secondly, many vendors are utilizing products which
they consider nutritious and have balanced their product sales
with what the market will baarr.  Finally, many of the product
examples cited by the author are simply unavailable to most
purveyors.
 At this writing, we are not sure what will become of this bill
but we'll keep you informed.
     AB 1010 by Leland Yee would create loan forgiveness
incentives to students in the credential program who wish to
teach blind and visually impaired
pupils.  The author is looking for the funding; the bill has an
uncertain future.  CCB stongly supports this bill; its sponsor is
the National Federation of the Blind of California.
Governor Schwarzenegger has appointed Kimberly Belsh as
California's Secretary of the Health and Human Services Agency,
replacing Grantland Johnson.  She was the Department of Health
Services Director under Governor Wilson.
     As of this writing, we do not know if Catherine Campisi,
Director, Department of Rehabilitation will be re-instated. 
Listen to the California Connection or watch the CCB lists for
further
updates.  



                      PROFILE: FRANK WELTE

                          by Brian Hall

     Before Frank Welte was born, his parents couldn't decide
what to call their new son.  They had picked out three boys'
names and liked them all equally well.  Of course, Mr. and Mrs.
Welte expected only one baby, but when they had triplets, they
were able to use all three names:  Frank, Gary and Howard.  
     Frank Welte, a member of the California Council of the Blind
Board of Directors, is not only a triplet; he's also a triple
threat for the 21st century on the fronts of advocacy, technology
and leadership.
     "Fortunately, he's usually on the right side when it comes
to the important issues for blind people," said CCB member Roger
Petersen.  "He's a person who can talk about issues in a very
calm, matter-of-fact way without getting upset or excited." 
     Welte is just finishing his first year on the CCB Board.  An
ongoing concern, he commented, is the organization's advocacy in
an era of budget challenges.  He believes that it's more
important than ever to push for maintaining and bettering blind
services in the light of continuing budget constraints at the
federal, state and local levels.
     He sees membership growth as the major issue facing CCB.  "I
think the numbers are improving, and we're turning the corner on
that area," said Welte.  "I think membership growth takes basic
one-on-one outreach."  He feels that growth is reflected
positively in the numbers of convention attendees, such as the
approximately 285 registered for the fall statewide convention in
Los Angeles.
     Welte has done his part, too, at the local level.  He helped
take the San Mateo chapter from 10 to its current 75 members.  In
fact, the chapter outgrew its original meeting place and had to
find another.
     "He transformed the San Mateo Chapter from a reasonably
small one to about the largest chapter in the state," said CCB
President, Jeff Thom.  "He's very adept at bringing about
consensus.  I know I can always rely on him to follow through in
any situation and to do whatever he's asked.  Frank's mixture of
intelligence, compassion and level-headedness is almost unrivaled
in CCB."
     Welte encourages everyone to get involved with CCB at the
local chapter level.  Perhaps his philosophy of step-by-step
persistence shows up in his choice of sport, cross-country
skiing.  Thom, who has skied several times with Welte on Ski for
Light outings, described Welte as an avid and outstanding skier.
     Advocacy and technology overlap in the life and work of
Frank Welte.  He has long lobbied for equal access to information
for the blind and visually impaired as a past CCB Technology
Committee chair and now as a committee member.
     He recently began working for SSB Technologies, a small
company which serves as consultants and sells software in the
area of web site accessibility.  The company's mission is to test
and improve the Web sites of corporations and governmental
agencies to make sure they are user friendly to those employing
speech output programs such as JAWS and WindowEyes.  His current
contract is to work with Bank of America to allow the blind to
telebank, in other words, to pay bills and make other banking
transactions on-line just as sighted folks do.  Welte contends
that ATM and bank Web site accessibility go hand in hand.
     "Some companies and agencies are receptive to the project
while others are reluctant and do so only because the Americans
with Disabilities Act mandates the accessibility," Welte said;
but most of the corporate and governmental employees with whom he
comes in contact have a sincere interest in assuring
accessibility or they wouldn't be meeting with him.  "Often,"
Welte said, "making internal web sites user-friendly for
employees within government and corporate life is an issue that
must be addressed.
     "I'm not a super elite.  I just try to maintain friendships
and help people," Welte said.  
  


                  AWARDS NOMINATIONS SOLICITED

            by Roger Petersen, Awards Committee Chair

     It's time again for me to remind you that CCB presents
awards to people for their contributions to our organization and
community.  Please examine the list of awards which follows and
see if any names come to mind.  Award recipients will be
recognized at the banquet of the spring, 2004 convention.  Come
on, now, I know you have people worthy of recognition.  The
committee shouldn't have to think up all the awards.  We're
supposed to select from among the ones that you nominate.
     Candidates for the CCB Hall of Fame, the Community Service
Award, the CCB Distinguished Service Award, Legislator of the
Year, Humanitarian Award and Merit Award may be nominated by any
member, chapter or affiliate.  Nominations must be sent in letter
form to the CCB office to the attention of the Awards Committee
by February 15, 2004.  The recipients of Publications Awards are
selected by the Publications Committee, and the Chapter of the
Year is selected by the Membership Committee.
     CCB Hall of Fame: Up to five persons per year who have made
significant contributions and sustained effort to the goals of
CCB.
     CCB Community Service Award: To be presented annually to a
blind or visually impaired individual who, through his/her
association and activities, has demonstrated his/her integration
into and interaction with the life of the community.
     CCB Distinguished Service Award: To be presented
periodically to an outstanding blind or visually impaired person
who has contributed significantly to the betterment of blind
people in general.  The recipient of this award need not be a
member of CCB.
     CCB Publications Awards: To be given to the person who has
prepared the best article of the year appearing in the "Blind
Californian or in newspapers or periodicals in each of two
categories: issue-oriented and lifestyle.  These awards will be
based on determinations made by the Publications Committee.
     CCB Legislator of the Year Award: To be given periodically
to a California State or Federal legislator who has introduced
and successfully brought about enactment of legislation in behalf
of persons who are blind or visually impaired.
     Humanitarian Award: To be presented to an individual or
organization that has assisted blind people in general or CCB and
its affiliates in particular to an extraordinary degree.
     CCB Merit Award, formerly the Certificate of Merit: To be
given to any individual who provides outstanding volunteer
service to CCB, its chapters or affiliates.
     Chapter of the Year Award: to a CCB chapter for a group
effort to make a significant difference in the life of an
individual and/or the local community.
     For your information, current members of the CCB Hall of
Fame are: Dr. Newel L. Perry, Dr. Jacobus tenBroek, Robert
Campbell, Perry Sundquist, Ernest Crowley, Anthony Mannino,
George Fogarty, Dorothy Glass, Juliet Esterly, Dr. Isabel L. D.
Grant, Allen Jenkins, Ysidro Urena, Ferne Fitzpatrick, Raymond
Henderson, Irene McConnell, Henry Bindt, John Hebner, Harriet
Fielding, Judge Donald Wilkinson, Norma Schecter, Ione Miller,
Byrdyna Goodart, Margaret Noah Nickerson, Leslie Schlingheide,
Mack Riley, Manuel Urena, John di Francesco, Catherine Skivers.
     Humanitarian Awards have been presented to: Robin Burris;
East Los Angeles Lions Club; City of Compton, California;
Department of Parks and Recreation, Dollar-Hide Community Center
the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 2070 of Monrovia, California;
Ellannie Wong; John Learned and Peter Palmer; Rose Resnick
Lighthouse; Dr. Joy Efron; Ann Gelles; Maryann McBee; Obbie
Schoeman; George S. Camacho; Department of Veterans Affairs, San
Francisco Medical Center.
     CCB Merit Awards have been awarded to: Harry Parker, Darryl
Skivers, Robert B. Carter, Vickie Solis, Virginia and Phillip
Garcia, Larry Seiber, Dorothy Vallerga, Larry DiPeppe, Joan
Sikkens, Connie Schoeman, Eric Skivers, Keith and Joan Black,
Mary Lou Ruiz, Socorro "Pinky" Corral.
     Community Service Awards have been presented to: Eleanor
Lun, Betsy Rowell, Ahmad Rahman, Rhonda King, Beryl Brown.
     Distinguished Service Awards have been presented to: Joyce
Streff, Dr. Martin Jones, Holly Johnson, Eugene Lozano Jr.,
Donald Queen, Al Gil, Winifred Downing, Carl R. Augusto.
     Legislator of the Year Awards has been presented to: Senator
John Burton, Assembly member John Dutra.  
     CCB Awards Committee: Roger Petersen, Chair, Mountain View;
Bernice Kandarian, Mountain View; John Lopez, Los Angeles; Gussie
Morgan, Compton; Cathie Skivers, Hayward; Joe Smith, Sacramento.


                OUTREACH, VISIBILITY, ACCEPTANCE

                     by Bonnie Rennie, Chair
                     Senior Blind Committee

     Seniors with vision loss are busy finding ever more ways to
enhance their quality of life and shape their social destiny. 
This sentiment has been mirrored by recent activities of the
Senior Blind Committee.
     During our fall convention program, we enjoyed a
presentation by our own Dr. Flora Beck and her  partner in a
travel agency.  They spoke on the latest trends and tips for
having a successful cruise experience.  Attendees added
informative and entertaining anecdotes about their adventures on
the high seas.  
     We also heard a description of one in-home teaching program
which prepares seniors with vision problems to live more
independently.  The presentation also served as an opportunity to
educate the program presenters on the positive role CCB could
play in the lives of their clients.
     One of the goals this committee early set for itself was to
do something constructive, not just to talk about it, and so we
have, with the publication and distribution of our booklet,
"Failing Sight and the Family Plight."  Previous BC articles have
provided background on how this booklet was planned and
developed.  It's our belief that one good way to get our message
across is through placing appropriate literature in the hands of
the public.
     I acknowledge the efforts of many CCB members and chapters
for taking our booklets to senior citizens' centers and other
places where seniors gather.  The Greater L.A. chapter has, for
example, distributed 200 booklets, and the Compton chapter, 50 of
them.  Likewise, members in northern California are bringing the
literature to seminars and health fairs they attend. We are
especially happy to announce that the Spanish language version
will soon be available on cassette.  We look forward to working
with the Association  on Multicultural Concerns on new, creative
ways to get the word out to more people.
     Finally, I invite readers who are seniors, to start thinking
about something which could be quality of life issue to bring to
our attention.  What is your relationship with your local senior
citizens' center?  Is it all you would like it to be?  If it
provides a happy relationship, to what do you attribute your
success?  If, instead, it is a poor or little used resource for
you, what do you believe are the reasons or barriers?  What do
you think could be done to address these barriers?

Local senior centers and similar programs are increasingly
utilized for a wide variety of free or low-cost opportunities. 
There are life-time learning programs on a host of fun and
practical subjects.  Many centers include information and
referral services, day field trips, nutrition sites, hobby and
other special-interest clubs.  Perhaps most significant are
social contacts.  With all that a center can offer, even an
already socially engaged senior might want to participate, and
what a place to be a visible role model, capable and interesting,
who happens to be blind or visually impaired, but remains
involved in the life of the community.
     But what do you think?  If you're so inclined, why not give
this matter some thought, or you might go exploring, if you're
not already acquainted with your local center.  Next year,
provided there is sufficient interest, we just might revisit this
issue.  



                   CONVENTION REPORT, FALL 2003

                  by Keith and Joan Black

     The fall Convention of the California Council of the Blind
was held at the Crowne Plaza Airport Hotel in Los Angeles from
October 16-19, 2003. 
     The meeting of the Board of Directors took place on Thursday
evening, and the first general session occurred on Friday
afternoon.  We heard welcoming remarks by Sharon Morris,
Executive Director of the Department on Disabilities, City of Los
Angeles.  After that presentation, entertainment was provided by
Kaleidoscope, the outstanding vocal group from Braille Institute,
introduced by David Simpson, the Music Director.
     Following the musical performance, Anthony Donaldson,
Director of ADA compliance for Kaiser Permanente Hospitals in the
southern California area, discussed the steps which Kaiser is
taking to make both its buildings and informational materials
more accessible.  He also discussed efforts to place prescription
information on a talking strip affixed to the container.  It
would include instructions about dosage and other essential
information.
     Karen Wolff from Braille Institute spoke next, discussing a
class in art history which she teaches to blind and visually
impaired individuals.  She explained how the various features in
art works convey meaning and emotion in addition to the physical
experience of viewing them.
 For her students, she has created a vast collection of
raised-line graphics to represent paintings and sculptures.  The
class can be taken for college credit.  For information about the
course, contact the Braille institute and Mrs, Wolff.
     The next segment was conducted by Lucy Greco Chair, of the
Sports and Recreation Committee, who introduced Lars Focke a
fitness consultant.  He spoke about the benefits of exercise in
controlling weight, relieving stress and maintaining physical
fitness.  He also described some of the equipment that is used
with blind participants.  Listening to music makes exercise more
fun, and another good thing is that it isn't necessary to be able
to see the instructor to take part in exercise classes.
     On Friday evening, the Credentials Committee report was
given by Chairman Frank Welte.  He listed 26 chapters and 8
special interest groups.
     In his address, CCB President Jeff Thom said that the year
has been busy but very rewarding.  He recognized his wife Leslie
for her help and patience.  He  also saluted other outstanding
individuals and chapters including Winifred Downing, who received
the George Card Award at the ACB national convention.  He thanked
Catherine Skivers for her guidance and encouragement and also
expressed gratitude to the CCB officers and the to the office
staff, including Dan Kysor, who is in charge of governmental 
affairs for the organization.  He must make sure that the new
governor gets our resolutions, especially the one that urges the
retention of Dr. Catherine Campisi as Director of the California
Department of Rehabilitation.  There was also praise for the
brochure written by Bonnie Rennie and intended for use by older
people who are experiencing vision loss as well as for their
families, medical practitioners and care-givers.  
     Jeff hailed CCB's successes during the past year in the
areas of special education and advocacy on accessible pedestrian
signals.  He called for member support in protecting blind
services from budget cuts.  Also, he emphasized the need for
accessible cell phones and for more tax credits for blind and
visually impaired people in the purchase of adaptive technology. 
Finally, Jeff called for formation of a new CCB committee on
housing to cooperate with the State Department of Social Services
to assure that blind and visually impaired people can receive
adequate services at homeless shelters. 
     Berl Colley, President of the Washington state Council of
the Blind, presented an interesting history of the blind movement
in his state. The Washington Council was founded in the 1920's
with the chapters located in the larger cities.  The organization
was part of NFB and remained so until it was expelled in 1979.  

     Melanie Brunson, Governmental Affairs Director for ACB, then 
spoke of progress in federal legislation and what she is trying
to accomplish. She is concerned with video and audible
messages on the TV screen and Medicare approval for the use of
the drug Visudyne and laser therapy for the treatment of the wet
form of macular degeneration.
     CCB elections were then held.  Two officers, Second Vice
President Ken Metz and Secretary Ardis Bazon, were nominated and
re-elected. Board members Al Biegler, Eugene Lozano, Richard
Rueda, and Jane Kardas were reelected, and Jerry Arakawa was the
new member chosen to fill the seat vacated by Dr. Martin Jones
who completed his allowed number of terms.  
     At the Saturday session, the first speaker was Carol McCarl,
editor of Dialogue Magazine.  She spoke of the history of
Blindskills Inc. and Dialogue which she took on after years of
working as an itinerant teacher in special education.  She took
over Dialogue, a quarterly magazine, that had been published
since 1962 by Don Nold.  Now Blindskills has a Web site for
information and resources.  Also, the organization produces many
recorded articles and print brochures to help newly-blinded
people and their families and provides a toll-free information
line along with in-person services.
     The second speaker was Dr. Catherine Campisi, Director of
the California Department of Rehabilitation.  She reported on the
budget situation and the possibility of a 10 to 15 percent
reduction in funding.  She described three directives that had
been issued regarding blind and visually impaired consumers.  The
first was guidelines on in-state and out-of-state residential
training; second, guidelines on accessibility of field offices;
and third, guidelines on provision of technology in placement,
without requiring employers to declare that they can't provide
such equipment.
     All the department's  computer-generated forms
are now accessible.  The department has  worked closely with the
Blind Advisory Committee to get these and other improvements
implemented.  Catherine hailed passage of AB268 which provides 
for training of Rehabilitation supervisors and new managers in
sensory disability issues, and AB302 that requires State Colleges
to provide adaptive technology and information services in the
same way as in the Community Colleges.
     Then she introduced Lynda Bardas, Deputy Director for Blind
Services who described the challenge of bringing together a
Division of Field Services for the Blind established by SB105. 
She praised Jim Armstrong, Program Manager, as a valuable part of
the team.  The Division will have nine supervisory units
statewide with 70 counselors--RCB's and CT's.  Seven supervisors
have already been chosen specifically for their ability and
interest in blind clients.  Finally, Lynda emphasized the
responsibility of consumers in the rehabilitation process.
     The third presentation was a panel on Some Innovative
Approaches in Ophthalmology.  It included Brian  Mecke, an
engineer and Director of Business Development at Second Sight
Laboratories, a medical device company, and CCB member Connie
Schoeman.  Mr. Mecke described the implantable device for retinal
stimulation for patients with retinitis pigmentosa and other
retinal diseases.  The device was implanted in Connie's eye by
surgeons at Doheny Eye Institute of USC; the procedure took 5-7
hours.  After surgery and recovery, tests were done to get the
patient's reaction to light stimuli.  Then came trials at
identifying objects and colors.  Some remarkable results have
been achieved even with this first limited device.  The next 
device will be more complex and should give recognition of faces
and many other objects and may be good enough to be marketed.
     Melanie Brunson, spoke again, this time on accessible
cruises.  She serves on an advisory committee for ACB to help the
Federal Access Board make regulations for cruise lines.
     Roger Petersen, chair of the Constitution and Bylaws
Committee, next gave the first reading of a proposed amendment to
Section 8.3; it concerned chapter privileges and would deny a
chapter its right to vote at a convention if it has failed to
keep at least 10 members for the preceding two years and would
allow the CCB Board to revoke the chapter's charter.
     Saturday night at the banquet, Jeff Thom reported that
banquet attendance was 198; and convention registration was 284. 
M.C. Ken Metz introduced Chris Gray, ACB President, who announced
the resignation of Charles Crawford, Executive Director of ACB. 
Chris remains optimistic about the organization's future.
     Ed Branch, CCB Office Manager, listed recent chapter
donations to the general fund and the scholarship fund for a
total of $2050.
     Colletta Davis, Co-chair of the Scholarship Committee,  said
there were 32 applications for scholarships and a total of
$37,750 was awarded to 24 winners this year.  This was the
largest number of scholarships ever awarded at a CCB convention. 
Recipients ranged from freshmen to doctoral candidates.
     Guest Speaker Lynn Manning, a blind playwright and actor
told about his youth as an artist/painter and neighborhood dandy
and how his involvement in a barroom fight led to his being shot
resulting in his becoming totally blind.  He described his
initial reactions and early efforts at adjustment with the help
of Braille Institute.
     The Sunday session began with the presentation of a 25-year
membership pin to Ethel Kurtley.  Then came the second reading of
the constitutional amendment which was passed after some changes
of wording. 
     The Treasurer's report was given by Peter Pardini.  A
complete report is available from the CCB office.
     The Resolutions Committee report was given by Peggy
Martinez.  All resolutions submitted were approved by voice vote. 
A summary apppears later in this issue of The Blind Californian
where there is also a legislative report for 2003 by Dan Kysor.
     The Committee on Access and Transportation, Eugene Lozano
Chair, has been attending hearings on the Segway Transporter,
testifying on accessible signage and detectable warnings, and
providing input in some legal cases on access issues and
pedestrian signals.  Some general discussion about the Segway
followed, and Mitch Pomeranz pointed out the need for letters and
phone calls in opposition to the device in various cities.
     The Convention adjourned with the invitation for all members
to be present in Fremont at the spring convention.  



                   FROM THE BACK OF THE CLASS

     (Taken from The Blind Teacher Newsletter, published by the
National Association of  Blind Teachers, a special interest
affiliate of the American Council of the Blind.  Anyone
interested in becoming a member of this fine organization should
contact the president, Granger Ricks, 1699 Oxford Drive, Morrow,
GA 30260.)
     It was the second grade teacher's birthday so every child in
the class was giving her a special gift.  Anna's mother owned a
flower shop, so Anna gave the teacher some beautiful flowers. 
Robert's parents owned a candy shop; Robert gave the teacher a
wonderful box of assorted candies.
     Then it was little Mary's turn. Mary's dad owned a liquor
store so Mary brought a big box for her teacher.  When little
Mary handed the box to her teacher, the teacher noticed that the
bottom of the box was wet so she put her finger on it and tasted.
     "Is it wine?" the teacher asked.
     "No, it's not wine," Mary replied.  The teacher tasted it
again. "Hmm. is it some kind of liquor?"
     "Nope, it's not liquor!" said Mary.     
     The  teacher tasted it again and was puzzled. "Well, Mary, I
give up.  What is it?"
     Mary was excited.  "It's a puppy," she said. 

     Below are some memorable lines that have appeared in student
reports and essays.  Typos are left as they were written.  
     There are many orgasms in a pond.
     Our new teacher told us all about fossils.  Before she came
to our class, I didn't know what a fossil looked like.
     One  horse power is the amount of energy it takes to drag a
horse 500 feet in one second. 
     We get our temperature in three different ways.  Either
fasirinheit, cellcius, or centipede.
     A city purifies its water supply by filtering the water and
forcing it through an aviator.
     Pavlov studied the salvation of dogs.
     My aunt won't be having any more kids because her tubes are
tired.
     A molecule is so small that it can't be seen by the naked
observer.
     A permanent set of teeth consists of 8 canines, 2 molars,
and 8 cuspidors.
     In biology today we digested a frog. 
     To prevent headcolds, use an agonizer to spray into you nose
until it drops down into you throat.
     The big artery in your neck is called the jocular vein.

     A young boy was assigned a paper on childbirth and asked his
parents, "How was I born?" 
     "Well,  Honey," said his slightly prudish mother, "the stork
brought you to us."
     "Oh," said the boy. "Well, how did you and Daddy get born?"
     "Oh, the stork brought us, too."
     "Well, how were Grandpa and Grandma born?" he persisted. 
     "Well, Darling, the stork brought them too," said the
mother, by now starting to squirm a little. 
     Several days later, the boy handed in his paper to the
teacher who read with confusion the opening sentence: "This
report has been very difficult to write because there hasn't been
a natural childbirth in my family for three generations."

     A freshman general science student, who was pregnant
herself, went to get a makeup assignment from her teacher who was
conducting a chemistry class.   As it happened, the girl had a 
cousin in common with one of the chemistry students.  The
chemistry student asked if the cousin had had her baby yet.  The
general science student said, "No, but she's dilated to 9
meters." 
     As the teacher said later, "It's hard to visualize that." 
(Note: In case  you've forgotten your metric measurements, a
meter is slightly longer than a yard.)  
     
     A second grader came home from school and said to her
mother, "Mom, guess what? We learned how to make babies  today.
     The mother, more than little surprised, tried to keep her
cool.  "That's interesting.  How do you make babies?"
     "It's simple," replied the girl.  "You just change the 'y'
to 'i' and add 'es'." 



                    BLIND BOYS PLAY BASEBALL

                    by Domenic C. Martinelli

     (Note from Domenic: "Recently I read this story from which 
others of our blind community might receive inspiration and
motivation.")
     During the 1930's when I was a boy of 13 living in our small
town, there was a Catholic school for blind boys.  It was not far
from our house, and the nuns often  passed by as they went about
their errands.  The nuns struck my mind as vaguely mysterious and
remote from the town around them.  I was very surprised,
therefore, one spring day in  1935 when a nun approached me as I
sat on the steps of our front porch. 
     She introduced herself and asked my name.  Surprisingly, she
asked if I liked baseball.
     Assured that baseball was my favorite sport, Sister invited
me to visit the school on the following Saturday afternoon to
watch the boys play baseball.  I asked how blind boys could play
baseball, and Sister smiled and replied, "You might say they can
see with their ears."
     On Saturday, Sister introduced me to the ball players, boys
about my own age.  Usually at a loss for words during
introductions, I was especially ill at ease wondering how to
respond to blind boys.   One of the boys solved my problem when
he asked my permission to touch my face to see   "what you look
like."  His hilariously exaggerated description of my rather
prominent nose soon had me laughing along with the others.
     Soon there were impatient cries of "Let's play ball!" There
was much  youthful boasting about how many runs the winning team
would make as we proceeded to the ball field.  The sand lot
diamond at the school had no sandbag bases.  To the left of home
plate was a low post.  A rope connected the post to the only
"base," another post at the conventional location of first base.
The ball was a regulation softball, and the bat was a flat board
with a rounded handle.
     Each team had six players: a pitcher, catcher, baseman, and
three fielders.  
     Sister cautioned me to remain silent when the ball was in
play.  She positioned herself behind the catcher; being the only
sighted person, she was the umpire.  
     At Sister's "Batter up," the catcher dropped into his
crouch, clapped his hands, and called "Put it here; put it here;
here, Bobby."  The pitcher wound up and sent the ball spinning
toward the audible target on the ground.  The batter listened for
the sound of the ball rustling through the grass.  He swung with
a golf-style stroke and missed.  "Strike  one," announced Sister.
     When the next pitch was hit to left field, Sister called,
"Fair ball," and the batter ran toward the base post, guiding
himself by trailing a hand along the rope.  The left fielder was
shouting, "I hear it," then, "I have it!" A moment later, he
bowled  the ball toward the baseman's "Here! Here, quick!" 
     But he was too late.  "Safe at base," called 
Sister.  Two strike-outs later and the runner still at base, a
batter hit the ball to center field.  He started for the base
post as the runner started for home.  Would they collide?  No. 
The baseman released the rope and stepped aside for an instant to
permit his team mate to pass, their choreography timed perfectly. 
The center fielder had retrieved the ball, and ball and runner
were both racing toward home plate.  The ball won.  
     The catcher scooped it up and neatly touched the plate and
grinned as Sister called, "Out at home."  
     That's how the boys played baseball.  There were brilliant
fielding plays and a few chance-taking home runs; and many times
when I found it difficult to stifle a yell.  I was positively
amazed at the players' ability to locate the ball even when it
came to rest some distance from them.  They really did seem to
"see with their ears."  
     Talking with my new friends, I discovered that their goals
and interests were very much like my own.  Their spirits remained
undaunted by the blindness they seemed to treat as an
inconvenience rather than a handicap.
     The school did not reopen that fall, and I never saw the
boys again.  Watching the school games at age 13, I saw only
sports contests, boys meeting in friendly combat on the playing
field.  Later in life, I realized that I had seen a more dramatic
contest.  I had seen boys meeting the challenge of adversity with
their battle cry, "Let's play ball!"



                     TOP GUNN AND ASSOCIATES

                         by Sheila Gunn

     Top Gunn is a fledgling business whose purpose is to teach
blind/visually impaired people how to use computers with screen
access software.  The approach is one of using windows keystrokes
and menus to achieve operation and manipulation of common
programs.
     This list includes, but is not limited to: Eudora, Outlook
Express, Windows 98/2000/XP, Internet Explorer, Open Book, Word
and other programs.  Currently, we support JAWS for windows from
Freedom Scientific, Window-Eyes from GW Micro, and basic braille
displays.  We are in the process of adding support for the
BrailleNote and VoiceNote products from Pulse Data Inc.  Our
philosophy is to open the world of computing to users who need
these vital skills to become employable and show them the fun of
it in the process.  We hope to encourage learning in such a way
that knowledge is addictive and the computer is no longer feared
nor frustrating but an invaluable tool useful in countless ways.
     We operate on a sliding scale, ($10.00 per hour minimum). 
     Top Gunn & Associates has contracted with IRTI (Innovative
Rehabilitation Technologies Inc.) to help them with a new
product.  IRTI has recently become a national distributer for the
Plextalk Portable Talking Book Recorder (PTR1) made by Plextor
Corp.  This little technowonder has so many features that the
manual is 5 hours long, so in addition to helping IRTI find
buyers for the machine, Top Gunn has created a quick start guide
to make it easy to readily begin utilizing all its many
advantaages. 
     The PTR1 will play and record DAISY books, music CD's, and
MP3 CD's, has a notepad for reminders complete with alarms, a
calculator, a clock, an on timer, a sleep timer, and it allows
full editing of material being recorded. If that isn't enough,
you can use the accompanying software to import text files and
turn them into audio using the text-to-speech engine.  
     If this interests you even a little, READ ON!  IRTI has
written "A Day In the Life," a story inclluded in the company's
newsletter, showing the possibilities in this machine. And here's
our explanation of what DAISY is and some of its potential
applications.
     What's all the hubbub about Daisy?  What is Daisy, anyway? 
AISY is an acronym for Digital Accessible Information System.  It
uses XML (similar to HyperText Markup Language) to index audio
talking books, and allows one to quickly navigate a book by
chapter, section, subsection, page and bookmark.  Picture an
outline with a first level and five sublevels (6 in all), and you
can see how deep DAISY goes.  With the PTR1, you can read digital
talking books from RFB&D (though you will need a key to do this)
or pull them down off Book Share and project Gutenberg and record
them yourself using the text import feature of the PC software. 
By extension, if you have the software to scan print books and
convert them to text files, your library can be infinite.  
     With this machine in your backpack and one or two CD's for
each schoolbook, you need no longer dread the open book tests
because of frustration finding important information.  Being able
to study in class just became possible, and if the book isn't
available, you can just create it!  GONE are the days of hunting
for one little tidbit of information on a long tape!  You can add
headings and pages as you go so that setting up the level
hierarchy is a snap.  Record classes and lectures, and each time
a new topic is discussed, make a heading.  Use page numbers as
dates such as 325 for March 25th.  Catalog broadcasts of favorite
radio shows; or, if you're a DJ, record and catalog your air
checks.  Want to archive issues of an audio magazine?  The PTR1
supports multiple titles per CD.  Infinite audio data bases with
a myriad of uses are only an idea away; And remember, should you
decide to get a PTR1, tell IRTI Top Gunn& Associates senT you!

Top Gunn & Associates, 2445 Wyda Way, #3 Sacramento, CA
95825-1126;  916-488-5125; sheela@topgunn.biz



         THE NEW BLIND FIELD SERVICES: A LIVING REALITY

                        by Richard Rueda
           Rehabilitation Counselor, San Mateo County

     Winds of Change: On July 1st 2003, history was made when the
long-sought Division for the Blind and Visually Impaired and Deaf
and Hard of Hearing became a reality within the state of
California's Department of Rehabilitation.  For the past several
years, the California Council of the Blind, along with a
coalition of agencies serving the blind in California, had
lobbied hard for this much needed change in rehabilitation
service.  Over the course of the next several months, transition
to the full and compliant implementation of the Division will be
finalized in filling existing staff vacancies and providing to
the public literature that outlines improved service delivery.
     Having been termed "Blind Field Services", the way in which
professional business in providing quality and meaningful
rehabilitation to blind consumers is about to change for the
better.  This past July, vocational counselors and counselor
teachers who were then serving blind consumers were invited to
join the newly established Blind Field Services under the direct
management of Jim (James) Armstrong, Program Manager,  and Lynda
Bardis, Deputy Director of Specialized Services.
     Behind the Scenes and the Roll Out: It is important to
remember that for almost a year leading up to the July 1, 2003,
implementation, the then Services for the Blind administration
and a steering committee of DOR administrators in the central
office had been working diligently to launch this program
mandated by SB105.  Additionally, several work groups consisting
of DOR staff from all job classifications were consulted to
address various aspects of the building of a new district to
cover critical areas embracing labor management issues, computer
access and regional counselor and supervisor issues.  Dubbed
internally as the "virtual district" because of Blind Field
Services being the first state-wide district, it has brought to
the forefront a collaborative spirit of sharing community
resources as well as increasing professional development of
counseling and supervisorial staff.  Through virtual means, BFS
counseling staff, administration and clerical support assistants
are relying more on the efficient use of the computer to complete
case work, schedule appointments, correspond via e-mail to
community agency staff, and get work done from virtually anywhere
there is internet access.  Ultimately, these "virtual"
flexibilities will likely increase the availability of counselors
to their community, in turn allowing for increased and improved
rehabilitation.
     Hiring Freeze Impact: It is no secret that Blind Field
Services has its shortcomings with respect to being under-
staffed.  The Department has been vigilant in securing exemptions
to the state-wide hiring freeze to acquire qualified staff to
fill vacant counseling positions.  To date within BFS, there are
seven state-wide vacancies in the new district consisting of two
rehabilitation supervisors and five counseling staff positions. 
The urgency to fill such vacancies is echoed in the existing
sixteen regionally based districts as well;  however, the
administration within Blind Field Services will need to continue
to publicize aggressively by being creative, highly visible and
persuasive to the Department of Finance for approval of such
staff exemptions.  It is probably of the utmost importance for
BFS to search for exemptions as a top priority since this
district is brand new and seeks to fill an under-served need to
the blindness community that has lasted 40 years.  Additionally,
counselors serving the blind caseload are often responsible for
an entire county or region whereas generalist counselors
typically serve part of a county or a city.  An existing RCB/CT
vacancy should, therefore, draw immediate attention to a large,
under-served region.
     Consumer: "Given To Fly": Blind consumers can expect much
improved services from Blind Field Services.  With its start,
consumers who were not previously paired with a counselor working
the blind caseload were offered to work with them beginning in
July.  On the other hand, those blind persons in a rehabilitation
plan who were working with a generalist counselor, not scheduled
to be a part of the new district were able to stay paired with
their counselor so that a positive working relationship would not
be disrupted.  Consumers now working with a counselor for the
blind in a vocational and/or homemaker rehabilitation plan should
soon see an improved and expeditious quality of service from
their local department of rehabilitation office and counselor. 
Consumer choice does exist, and
one can not only dream about, but truly achieve, just about
anything.  With the nutrition of counselor guidance, dispensing
of appropriate rehabilitation technology and allocation of
realistic community-based training, you the consumer are Given To
Fly.
     "What You Give" Accountability: The five plus years that the
Blind Alliance for Rehabilitation Change (BARC) campaigned for a
new and professional blind rehabilitation service required no
small investment for all persons involved.  Blind Field Services
administration, counselors, teachers, job placement staff, and
the BARC agencies are more responsible than ever for greatly
reducing employers' silent discrimination and the unemployment of
California's working-aged blind adults.  Consumer groups,
chapters and special interest alliances need also to take to
heart the employment needs of their own consumers in local
neighborhood communities.  The key is networking and that begins
with requesting the presence of the rehabilitation counselor for
the blind in your city or county to attend your group's meeting
to speak about the unique circumstances for blind consumers in
that region.  Knowing who those counselors and their supervisors
are as well as the employment resources of your region is
critical evidence that you and your group  are keenly
aware of employment issues, And that is only the beginning.  The
success or failure of DOR's Blind Field Services ultimately lies
within each and every one of us.  If the battle of the past five
years is taken for granted, if the BFS administration isn't asked
the tough questions, if employers aren't contacted and needs are
not being met, the diversity of specialized services we fought
for so hard will soon vanish.



                  SAFETY TIP: MICROWAVING WATER

                 submitted by Mostafa Nasserara 

     An e-mail message told the following story: A 26-year old
man decided to have a cup of coffee. He took a cup of water and
put it in the microwave to heat it up (something that he had done
numerous times before).  How much time he allowed to pass is
unknown, but he wanted to bring the water to a boil.  When the
timer shut the oven off, he removed the cup.  As he looked into
the cup, he noticed that the water was not boiling, but suddenly
the water in the cup "blew up" into his face.  The cup remained
intact until he threw it from his hand, but all the water had
exploded into his face because of the build-up of energy.  His
whole face was blistered and he had 1st and 2nd degree burns
which may leave scarring.  He also may lose sight in his left
eye.
     While he was at the hospital, the doctor who was attending
to him stated that this is a fairly common occurrence.  Water
(alone) should never be heated in a microwave oven.  If it is
heated in this manner, something should be placed in the cup to
diffuse the energy such as a wooden stir stick, tea bag, etc.
(nothing metal).  It is, however, a much safer choice to boil the
water in a tea kettle.
     General Electric's Response: 
     "Thanks for contacting us; I will be happy to assist you. 
The e-mail that you received is correct.  Microwaved water and
other liquids do not always bubble when they reach the boiling
point.  They can actually get superheated and not bubble at all. 
The superheated liquid will bubble up out of the cup when it is
moved or when something like a spoon or tea bag is put into it. 
To prevent this from happening and causing injury, do not heat
any liquid for more than two minutes per cup.  After heating, let
the cup stand in the microwave for thirty seconds before moving
it or adding anything to it."
     Here is what our local science teacher had to say on the
matter: "Thanks for the microwave warning.  I have seen this
happen before.  It is caused by a phenomenon known as super
heating.  It can occur any time water is heated and will
particularly occur if the vessel that the water is heated in is
new, or when heating a small amount of water (less than half a
cup).  What happens is that the water heats faster than the vapor
bubbles can form. If the cup is very new then it is unlikely to
have small surface scratches inside it that provide a place for
the bubbles to form.  As the bubbles cannot form and release some
of the heat that has built up, the liquid does not boil, and the
liquid continues to heat up well past its boiling point.  What
then usually happens is that the liquid is bumped or jarred,
which is just enough of a shock to cause the bubbles to rapidly
form and expel the hot liquid.  The rapid formation of bubbles is
also why a carbonated beverage spews when opened after having
been shaken."
     If you pass this on, you could very well save someone from a
lot of pain and suffering.



                         BULLETIN BOARD

                    compiled by Keith Black       

     Each section of "Bulletin Board" will be terminated by a
line of asterisks.  After the first item from a magazine is
listed, subsequent items will be marked with a single asterisk at
the beginning of the paragraph.
     Do you have a disability?  Are  you in need of a free
computer?  The Jim Mullen Foundation is proud to provide free
computers for people who have a disability.
     We specialize in providing computers for anybody especially
for those individuals who think that they are unable to use one. 
Just click on the link below and print our official Computer
Give-a-way Application.  Tell us who you are.  Tell us the nature
of your disability (along with verification from your doctor),
and we will provide you with a free computer, and we will attempt
to provide you with the necessary adaptive hardware and software
so that you will be most productive with your new computer.
  >http://www.jimmullen.com/ZoomSeq.asp?id=7948

     The Jim Mullen Foundation, 350 W. Ontario, Suite 4E,
Chicago, IL 60610-4040; 312-440-4251. 

*****          *****          *****          *****
     Our Favorite Recipes: A collection of over 200 mouth-
watering recipes has been compiled by the members of the East Bay
Center for the Blind, a nonprofit organization in Berkeley, CA. 
The book is available in Braille (2 volumes with easy wipe-off
covers) or large print for a donation of $25.00 plus $3.00
shipping and handling.  To order a copy, please send check or
money order for $28.00 to East Bay Center for the Blind, inc.,
2928 Adeline St.,  Berkeley, CA 94703.  For additional
information, call 510-843-6935.


*****          *****          *****          *****          
     Shoes That See for the Blind: Blind people may soon have a
new aid to help them make their way in the world, seeing eye
shoes.  The fancy footwear contains infrared sensors that detect
objects up to three feet away.  As the wearer approaches
something, part of the sole vibrates.  As he walks closer, the
vibrations increase.  Different parts of the shoes vibrate in
various intensities, depending on the size and location of an
object.  
     "When you get used to it, you can feel what is around you,"
says Richard Castle, who invented the shoes last year as a senior
class project for his engineering studies at the University of
Massachusetts in Lowell.  "You can tell when you're closer to
something or farther away."  Castle came up with the idea while
studying a system for quadriplegics that used sensors in the
walls of a house to warn if a wheelchair got too close.  He then
adapted the concept to shoes.
     "It's so simple," he says modestly. "I can't believe someone
hasn't thought of it before."   With a provisional patent already
in hand, Castle is now working on a waterproof pair of "seeing
eye shoes" as well as more sophisticated sensors to help a blind
person walk down stairs.

*****         *****          *****           *****
     Announcement by Dan Kysor: 
     you will find attached the first ever master index of
articles contained in our quarterly publication from winter, 
1985-86, to the present.  This index begins with the famous
re-unification issue.  This index is useful in two areas-
compiling the CCB history and re-printing historical articles. 
enjoy!  I will keep this updated.  Access the index as follows:
bc master index as of summer 2003.doc 
 *****          *****          *****          *****
     Diabetes Information:  There is a listserv for information
and networking pertaining to diabetes on the American Council of
the Blind server.  To subscribe, go to the Web page
www.acb.org/acb-diabetics-signup.html
and fill out a very simple form.
     Another resource is an informal research list about diabetes
maintained by Dawn Wilcox RN, where she sends out articles by e-
mail about new research findings.  To subscribe to this one,
write to Dawn at
dewilcox@pacbell.net
and ask to be put on her diabetic research list.

*****          *****          *****          *****     
     Guideposts Magazine was founded in 1945 by the renowned Dr.
Norman Vincent Peale and his wife, Ruth Stafford Peale.  The
organization is unified around this mission, Guideposts helps
people from all walks of life achieve their maximum personal and
spiritual potential. 
     Although it has been available in regular and large print
type, the braille edition was discontinued several years ago. 
Responding to the overwhelming cry from readers, the braille
edition is again available.  Cost:  $7 per issue.  Contact
Clovernook, 7000 Hamilton Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45231-5297; 888-
234-7156. 
clovernook@clovernook.org

*****          *****          *****          *****
     From The Matilda Ziegler Magazine, September, 2003:
Shortwave Radio.  Hams now can listen to "The World Of Radio"
shortwave program, produced by Glenn Hauser, over the telephone
in its entirety, at any time of day, by dialing 206-333-5096. 
This popular weekly program has been on the air for more than 20
years. 
 *****          *****          *****          *****

     From The Matilda Ziegler Magazine, October, 2003: USDA
Employment Opportunities.  The U.S. Department of Agriculture
plans to hire 9,000 people with disabilities by September 30,
2005.  Reasonable accommodation is provided to all applicants and
employees.  USDA also participates in the Workforce Recruitment
Program for college students with disabilities, offering paid
internships for current students and recent graduates.  Visit
www.usda.gov or contact Bill Haig, the Department's disability
employment program manager, at 202-720-0516 or
william.haig@usda.gov.  

     *Technology Careers.  Bender Consulting Services specializes
in finding employment for people with disabilities who are
trained in technology.  The company places people in competitive
positions at major corporations.  Joyce Bender, founder and CEO,
is herself disabled, and her mission is to provide superior
technology consulting services to companies while creating career
opportunities, independence and freedom for people with
disabilities.  This rapidly growing, for-profit company is based
in Pittsburgh, with expansion offices throughout the United
States.  Visit www.benderconsult.com or write to Penn Center West
III, Suite 223, Pittsburgh, PA 15276; 412-787-8567. 

     *Electronic Books.  Original novels are now available on PC-
formatted diskette at prices much lower than books.  They can
easily be read with a synthesizer.  To get a current, growing
list with a description of each book, send E-mail to
tfb@panix.com.  

*****          *****          *****           *****
     From Dialogue Magazine, Fall, 2003: If you're in the habit
of falling asleep while listening to cassette books, you're
probably also familiar with the frustration of winding the tape
back to the point you remember reading last.  The Talking Book
Marker, invented by Jim Daily, a Montana-based talking book
reader, is a handheld switch that plugs into the remote jack on
your NLS cassette player.  As long as your hand applies even a
small amount of pressure to the switch by holding it, the player
will play.  When you drop off to sleep, the pressure on the
switch eases, and the machine stops.  To order the switch,
contact Jim Daily, 835 Emma Street, Butte, MT 59750.  The switch
can also be ordered from Independent Living Aids, 800-537-2118,
item number 757804.  Independent Living Aids charges $19.95;
Daily's price is $15.95.  

     *The I.D. Mate II is a bar code reader that provides
information about nearly any item that has a bar code.  This
portable electronic tool can identify items in the home or at the
store by scanning its bar code or Universal Product Code.  A
database of 500,000 North American UPC's ensures that the unit
can identify products.  In some cases, it can give additional
information about a product that does not occur in the bar code,
such as instructions from the package label.  

     It features a high-output battery pack that powers the unit
for up to 200 bar codes scans.  The user can also record messages
associated with bar codes to create his or her own user database. 
I.D. Mate II uses an omni-directional scanner, so there's no need
to locate the bar code before scanning.  For more information,
contact En-Vision America, www.envisionamerica.com, or by phone
at 800-890-1180 or 309-452-3088.  

     *AI Squared has released ZoomText 8.0.  The new version now
both magnifies and reads aloud everything on the screen.  A free
trial can be downloaded from www.aisquared.com.  The program
without screen reader costs $395; those upgrading from version 7
may do so for $149.  If the screen reader is included, the
program costs $595; the upgrade price is $199.  (Prices are U.S.
and Canadian only).  International readers should visit the Web
site for additional pricing information.  

     *An E-mail group has been set up by a blind math teacher in
the U.S. to dispel some of the myths about math and blindness. 
The BlindMath list will help members share information about
accessible texts, tactile and sonic graphing programs, and
techniques for blind teachers.  To sign up, visit
www.smartgroups.com/groups/blindmath on the Internet.  

     *Sendero Group is now among the distributors of
Pulsedata/Humanware's Braille Note, Voice Note, and GPS Version 2
with street maps.  For an Internet price of $995, Sendero offers
a free upgrade to the more accurate GPS receiver and a 1-GB
Compact Flash memory card.  For more information, visit
www.senderogroup.com.  

*****          *****          *****          *****
     The Braille Authority of North America (BANA) has announced
that English Braille American Edition 1994, Revised 2002, is now
available in braille (order number 5-35932-00) and in print
(order number 7-35932-00) for $20.00 US from the American
Printing House for the Blind, 1839 Frankfort Avenue, Louisville,
KY 40206-0085.  English Braille American Edition is the code book
which gives the rules for contracted braille.  A compendium of
the changes to English Braille American Edition 1994 from
1995-2002 is available for downloading in braille and print
formats on the BANA website at
www.brailleauthority.org/downloads.html. For those unable to
access the website, braille and print copies may be obtained
without charge by writing to: Eileen Curran, c/o National Braille
Press, 88 St. Stephen Street, Boston, MA 02115, phone:
617-266-6160 x17 or 888-965-8965
x17, e-mail: ecurran@nbp.org.

*****          *****          *****          *****
     Used cassettes are needed by L. U. Lejeune, Care Ministry
Drive, Starkville, MS 39759-2956.



   SUMMARY OF MINUTES FROM BOARD MEETINGS, June-October, 2003

      SUMMARY OF THE CONFERENCE CALL MINUTES, June 10, 2003

                   by Ardis Bazyn, Secretary 

     After Jeff brought the CCB board conference call to order on
June 10, 2003, it was noted that Al Beigler, Ken Metz, and Martin
Jones were absent.  Peter P. gave a financial update.  Revenues
are on schedule.  Car donations are down, but we've received
bequests of $18,000. Another $11,000 is expected.  Currently,
there is $33,000 more in revenues than expenses.  We also
received an additional $7,000 from the Esterly estate.
     Jeff reported that the Bogen system is no longer available. 
He also updated the board on the video project, and Mitch asked
to be on the committee.  The Senior brochure is ready to be
printed.  There was consensus from board members present that
more 25-year and 50-year pins be purchased.  It was decided to
table the issue of other pins until the membership subcommittee
has met.
     A motion was made for CCB to donate $1000 to sponsor the
Disability Leadership Forum in October for training advocates. 
The resolution CCB passed on Hallmark cards will be brought to
ACB without any changes.
     The Sanderson group donation percentage of 14.5 was
discussed. The only suggestion made was to research other
fundraisers who might have better results.  The current lease for
the Xerox machine is $195.50.  A new contract on this machine
would be $152 for 33 months.  A motion was passed to take this
contract on the one we have.
     A motion for CCB to donate $500 for a fall CCB raffle was
adopted.  An online application for a Verizon grant could not be
sent through the Internet, and it was not determined why it was
not accepted.  Some recent negative press about the vending
program was also discussed.  The Earl Balm Center is having a
Dog-a-thon in October.
     Jeff has sent a letter to all the California chapter
presidents regarding the DOD issue and he is requesting members
to sign petitions for Duncan Hunter.  A final motion was adopted
to adjourn.  Jane seconded the motion and it passed.  The time
was 8:58 P.M.

   SUMMARY OF THE BOARD CONFERENCE CALL MINUTES, July 30, 2003

     After Jeff called the board conference call to order, he
read the agenda, which was accepted by consensus.  Peter gave a
brief treasurer's report.  On July 30, revenue was $256,964 and
expenses were $202,317.  Last month's car donations were
$24,823.91.  The report was accepted.  A motion was passed to
donate $500 to Blind Ambitionwith the request that we be listed
as sponsors in the program.
     A motion was passed to send up to two representatives to the
DREDF fundraising dinner on August 12th.  A motion was adopted to
send Jeff and Mitch to the Respectability conference, the
statewide disability conference in L.A.  on the 3rd and 4th of
October.  The board went into executive session to discuss
personnel matters.  Afterwards, a motion was adopted which allows
Jeff to attend the California Mobility Training Conference in
Monterey.
     An option for replacement of the Bogen system is to rent one
instead of buying it.  A motion was passed for Jeff, Ed, Peter,
and Cathie to make a report to the board about proposals.
     There was consensus from the board that minutes should be
taken at the convention business meeting, elections, and the
nominating committee.  The bid for brailing of The Blind
Californian should be out by the October meeting.  It was
recommended that the cost for labels for Braille and large print
versions and for cassettes should be checked.  A motion was made
for the Publications Committee to research the best time for a
writer's workshop to be held at the convention in order to
demonstrate there would be adequate attendance.  Another motion
was adopted for CCB to donate $500 for the Earl Balm Dog-a-thon. 
A final motion asked for the conference call meeting to be
adjourned.

          SUMMARY OF THE MINUTES FOR THE PRECONVENTION 
                    MEETING, October 16, 2003

     Jeff called the preconvention board meeting to order. After
the roll call, he asked for any changes in, or additions to, the
agenda.  He also recognized visitors from out of state: Melanie
Brunson and Berl and Denise Collie.  He asked Paul Meritt for an
update on the coming Internet broadcasting of the convention.
     The preconvention minutes of April 10, 2003, were accepted
with a request to include the names of the trustees of the Newell
Perry Trust.  A motion was passed to ask the Advocacy and Crisis
committees to write a job description and mission statement. 
     Jeff read the June 10th minutes which were accepted with the
correction that Rhonda was not present.  Mitch read the minutes
from July 29, 2003, which were accepted with the deletion of the
motions made during the executive session.  It was understood
that this would be the policy in the future.
     Jeff agreed that the video script would be shown to the
board.  Nora Suva, marketing director of the car donation
program, gave a brief presentation explaining how marketing could
be increased for the program.  She handed each board member
posters and counter displays to use for promotions.  She said the
program accepts about 90 percent of the cars offered.
     Peter gave the treasurer's report.  He then gave the budget
report.  Next he read the statement of revenue and expenses. 
Revenue is $273,362 and expenses are $200,149.  Cathie asked that
persons' names be deleted from reports in the future.  A motion
was adopted to accept all these financial reports as read.
     Peter gave a report on a replacement for the Bogen system. 
He recommended that we rent a telephone system that would be able
to handle all our requirements.  He went over the costs of the
system.  A motion to refer the matter to the committee was passed 
with an amendment calling for the president to get professional
assistance.  Jeff talked about some fund-raising efforts.  The
thrift store is not costing us anything and is bringing in some
funds.  We have received two more legal settlement payments.  The
car donation program has generated $142,000 through August of
this year.
     Cathie asked Jeff to find someone else to prepare the
California Connection.  Currently The Blind Californian is
published as follows: 2430 large print issues, 970 braille
issues, 205 cassette issues, and 348 issues on disk for a total
of 5753 this year.  This does not include the 52 sent by e-mail. 
Bernice received bids for the braille edition.  The Braille
Institute was the lowest bid with $4.68 per issue.  Jeff asked if
any change in our choice should be made.  Winifred had previously
sent a letter asking for more timely preparation of the magazine
and she complimented the Institute on the excellent work
performed. 
     A motion was passed to make brochures for families of those
with vision loss available in Spanish.  Bernice suggested 250 be
available in large print and 250 on cassette.  Cathie had
assigned a committee to work on a new CCB brochure, and Jeff read
the one written.  Bernice gave a report on the photographer
contacted and the amount of the bid.  A motion was adopted to
accept the contract with an amendment to include the travel
component.  Jeff gave an update on the video project.
     Cathie reported on the Newell Perry Trust fund.  The
trustees are Richard Rueda, Cathie Skivers, and Pat LaFrance
Wolf.  They dispersed $10,000 mostly for employment-related
requests.  The fund currently has $137,353.  The Ellen Murphy
Trust fund for women over 50 currently has the following
trustees: Teddie Joy Remhild, Pat LaFrance Wolf, and Cathie
Skivers.  This fund totals $329,618.13.
     The next convention will be held beginning April 15-18,
2004,  in Fremont.  Convention bids for the fall of 2004 were
discussed.  The Doubletree in Ontario gave a bid of $79.  Both
the Marriott and Weston hotels gave bids for $84.  The Marriott
has more experience with disabled persons.  A motion was passed
to accept the Marriott bid from October 27-31, 2004.  Several
seconded the motion, and it passed.  
     Jane asked for ideas for the Advocacy Committee.  She
mentioned one case of a grandmother trying to get custody and an
employment discrimination case.  Jeff thanked Martin for his
terms on the board.  Cathie asked if a portion of the convention
program could be used to explain CCB.  Ardis mentioned she had
MMS signups for anyone interested and Mitch mentioned the
scholarship fund raffle.  A motion was accepted for CCB to
purchase 5 tickets for the scholarship fund for ACB.  A motion
was passed to adjourn for executive session.  Personnel matters
were discussed.  A motion to adjourn the executive session was
passed which included adjourning the board meeting itself.



                      TO SEE OR NOT TO SEE

                        by Cecile Betts 

     In October, 1999, shortly before my 82nd birthday,  I drove
to the DMV office, passed the written exam but failed the vision
test.  "See your ophthalmologist, then return for a road test,"
the clerk advised.
     Armed with a report from my doctor stating that my vision
was 50/200, I went back to the DMV a month later, passed the road
test and received a 2-year license.  
     A week afterward, I drove to an appointment with the Visual
Aids Representative from the Braille Institute.  Jamie tested me
with various strengths of hand-held magnifiers.  "I'm not a
doctor," Jamie said, "but I doubt if your vision is 50/200 today. 
See your doctor as soon as possible."
     On December 6th, Dr. Lean, a retina specialist, examined my
eyes.  "I am so sorry," he said.  "There is nothing I can do to
improve your sight or to keep it from getting worse.  Six months
ago when you first came to me with wet type, age-related macular
degeneration, I gave you a laser treatment which greatly improved
your vision for several months;  but, if I used laser now, it
might do more harm than good."
     "What is my visual acuity today?" I asked.
     "It is 20/200 or less in each eye." 
     "But that's legally blind,"  I gasped.
     "Yes, I know.  I'll give you a letter to help you obtain
some benefits," he replied as he closed my file.       
     I left his office in a daze.  With my eyes still dilated by
the drops used before the examination, I could hardly see the
sidewalk.  I must cross busy, 8-lane Avenida de Valencia.
Standing at the corner, I listened intently to the sound of cars
speeding by.  I couldn't see the traffic light.  Did it change? 
     I stepped off the curb, then jumped  back with my heart
pounding as an oncoming car blared its horn at me.  A good
Samaritan across the street saw my dilemma and called out a
minute later, "It's safe to cross now; traffic is stopped."
     When I arrived home, I collapsed in my recliner in my
darkened room and burst into tears.  "I think I can cope with
almost any disability," I often told my friends, "except losing
my sight."
     My thoughts tumbled in confusion as I tried to picture how
being blind would change my life.  How would I travel to my
medical appointments and other activities without driving?  How
would I manage to keep house, use my computer, finish revising
and editing my book?  Was God punishing me for past sins?  I
wanted to bargain with God, but God does not negotiate.  I
thought of the many wonderful people I met during ten years as a
volunteer with the Braille Institute Outreach Program in San
Clemente.  Most of them, my age or older, lived alone and managed
their lives with dignity.  If they wept for their lost sight,
they did it in private.  Could I do less?
     I knew the agencies and programs which could help me.  The
next morning, after a sleepless night, I called the California
Department of Rehabilitation, Division for the Blind.  Ms.
Emerson came to see me accompanied by her seeing eye dog and her
driver.  She evaluated my degree of disability.
     "I'll refer you to a low vision optometrist who can
prescribe some special devices.  These will assist you with
shopping, reading, and your other activities.  I will also give
you a referral to the Salvation Army Rehab in Santa Ana to see if
a closed circuit TV would benefit you.  We might be able to
obtain some of these things for you if you meet certain financial
guidelines."
     "Thank you," I responded.  "I'll try anything and everything
that might help."  I sent the Braille Institute a copy of Dr.
Lean's letter and enrolled in their 12-week course held in
Leisure World.  When the new trimester started in the  spring, I
also signed up for two classes at the Anaheim location.  One,
Living With Vision Loss, allowed our group to share feelings and
coping strategies.  The other class taught me how to use the Zoom
Text program for the computer.  The California Department of
Rehabilitation furnished 16 hours of one-on-one instruction at my
home.     
     There are many new things to remember.  I have a table model 
closed circuit TV as well as a portable one.  I have a 19-inch
monitor, a talking watch, and a hand-held lighted magnifier.  I
also have Zoom Text, a software program that enlarges everything
on the monitor and reads documents and e-mail aloud.  The Bell
Telephone Company furnishes a special phone with large numbers.
     The Braille Institute, under contract with the Library of
Congress, has 22 miles of shelving containing talking books.  The
library also furnishes the special tape player for these 4-track
tapes, and both the machine and the tapes are free.
     My support cane wrapped in white tape signifies that I am
blind.  Some people who see it think I am also retarded or
stupid, while others don't realize my limitations.   
     I had enrolled in an experimental program at the Doheny Eye
Clinic in Los Angeles but was devastated when the clinic dropped
me from the program because my sight deteriorated so much in six
months.  Again, I must choose: I could sit home, do nothing, cry,
and feel sorry for myself--a slow, living-death--or I could
continue with my activities.  I realized that when one hits
bottom, there is no way to go but up.  I chose life.



                            CCB OFFICERS

       Editor's note: We are indebted to Bernice Kandarian who
updates and corrects the list of CCB officers and board members,
including the number of the term each is presently serving, the
year elected to that term and the year next up for election. 
Terms begin on January 1 following election.  We shall publish
the list this way at least in issues just preceding and following
elections and routinely if members wish.  The presence of an
asterisk means that the individual served a partial term before
the first full term.)

President, Jeff Thom (02-04, 1st term)
     7414 Mooncrest Way
     Sacramento, CA 95831
     916 995-3967 c
     <jsthom@comcast.net>
1st Vice President, Mitch Pomerantz (02-04, 1st term)
     1115 Cordova Street, #402
     Pasadena, CA 91106
     626 844-4388 H
     213 847-9124 W
     <MPomerantz@mailbox.lacity.org>
2nd Vice President, Ken Metz (03-05, 2nd term)
    1965 South Sherbourne Drive, #1
     Los Angeles, CA 90034
     310 559-0170 H
     323 295-4555 ext 255 W
     <kenmetz@comcast.net>
Secretary, Ardis Bazyn (03-05, 2nd term)
     500 South 3rd Street, # H
     Burbank, CA 91502
     818 238-9321
     <abazyn@earthlink.net>
Treasurer, Peter Pardini (*02-04, 2nd term)
     267 Cardinal Road
     Mill Valley, CA 94941-3618
     415 381-9211 H
     <peterpar@pacbell.net>
Immediate Past President, Catherine Skivers (2002-??)
     836 Resota Street
     Hayward, CA 94545
     510 357-1986 H
     <ccotb@earthlink.net>

                             BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Jerry Arakawa (03-05, 1st term)
     11180 Orville St.
     Culver City, CA  90230
     310 398-7004 h
     <jarakawa@comcast.net>
Al Biegler (03-05, 3rd term)
     819 Colusa Street
     Chico, CA 95928-4116
     530 893-8840 H
    <aljobiegler@juno.com>
Jane Kardas (*03-05, 33rd term)
     810 Maple Avenue
     Ukiah, CA 95482
     707 468-5510 H/Fax
     <janecalvert35@yahoo.com>
Rhonda King (02-04, 3rd term)
     4541 Cyclamen Way
     Sacramento, CA 95841
     916 349-9960 H
     <imjoking@earthlink.net>
Eugene Lozano, Jr. (03-05, 4th term)
     4537 Sycamore Avenue
     Sacramento, CA 95841
     916 485-8307 H
     916 278-6988 W
     <lozanoe@csus.edu>
Ahmad Rahman (02-04, 3rd term)
     19616 Leapwood Avenue
     Carson, CA 90746
     310 327-0463 H
Barbara Rhodes (02-04, 2nd term)
     6396 Tamalpais Avenue
     San Jose, CA 95120
     408 268-2110 H
     <brhodes@pacbell.net>
Richard Rueda (03-05, 2nd term)
     1501 Decoto Road, #169
     Union  City, CA 94587
     510 324-0418 H
     <richr@surfside.net>
Frank Welte (02-04, 1st term)
     1432 San Carlos Avenue, #6
     San Carlos, CA 94070
       650 508-8329 H
     <fwelte@sbcglobal.net>

                           PUBLICATIONS COMMITTEE

Bernice Kandarian, Chair
       2211 Latham Street #120
       Mountain View, CA 94040
       650 969-3155
       bernice@tsoft.nett
Winifred Downing, Editor
       1587 38th Avenue
       San Francisco, CA 94122
       415 564-5798
       wmdowning@mindspring.com
Joan Black
       4925 Coke Ave.
       Lakewood, CA 90712
       562 630-2304
       kvblack@ix.netcom.com
Brian Hall
       5722 Abraham Avenue
       Westminster, CA 92683
       714 894-3497
       brianlhall@earthlink.net
Charles Nabarrete
       239 North Walnuthaven Drive
       West Covina, CA 91790
       626 338-8106
       charlesn@cuiab.ca.gov
Patty Nash
       901 Central Avenue, #C
       Alameda, CA 94501
       510 521-2042
       p.a.nsah@att.net
Louis Preston
     17129 Antonio Avenue
     Cerritos, CA 90703
     562 404-7935
     lpreston@csulb.edu
Bonnie Rennie
     1719 West Olive Avenue
     Fullerton, CA 92833
     714 870-9135
     eal727200@aol.com
Richard Rueda, CCB-L and BC Email Edition
       1501 Decoto Road, #169
       Union City, CA  94587-3548
       510 324-0418
       richr@surfside.net
Catherine Schmitt Whitaker
       604 Camaritas Drive
       Diamond Bar, CA 91765
       909 861-2931
       clschmitt@csupomona.edu
Dan Kysor, Webmaster
       225 15th Street
       West Sacramento, CA 95691
       916 372-9869
       dan@kysor.net

