      



                         THE BLIND CALIFORNIAN



                      Quarterly Magazine of the 

                    CALIFORNIA COUNCIL OF THE BLIND



Spring, 2004, Volume 48, No. 2



      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 Winifred Downing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

PRESIDENT'S PAGE: PERSONAL REFLECTIONS,
      by Jeff Thom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

HOME INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM, 
      submitted by Roger Petersen  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

CAREER CONNECTIONS, by Catherine Schmitt Whitaker  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

THE ORANGE COUNTY CHAPTER SAYS GOODBYE TO A MUCH 
      LOVED MEMBER, by Bonnie Rennie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

EXPANDING THE WORLD OF GAMES FOR THE BLIND,
      by Andrea E. Pitsenbarger. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

DON'T TAKE MY SIGHT FOR GRANTED, by Betty Dukes  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

MINUTES OF TELECONFERENCE BOARD MEETINGS, 
      by Ardis Bazyn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

DAISY, DAISY, GIVE ME YOUR ANSWER TRUE, by Ken Stewart . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

JUST LIKE ANY OTHER CITIZEN, by Melita Waters  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

CHURCH LADIES WITH TYPEWRITERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

HONDURAS: AN EDUCATIONAL/CULTURAL EXCHANGE, Part 1,
      by Denise Vancil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

SKIING WITH LILY, by Deborah Allen Grantham  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

IMAGINE! by Carl Jarvis  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24

BULLETIN BOARD, compiled by Keith Black 26

CCB OFFICERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28

CCB bOARD OF dIRECTORS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29

PUBLICATIONS COMMITTEE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29


 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

      Most of you know that Joann Wilson, who is the national
director of our rehabilitation programs, has fostered the NFB
philosophy by ruling that no placement of a person in a workshop
designed for blind or visually impaired individuals can be
regarded as a viable employment opportunity.  Persons seeking
work cannot obtain assistance in learning of such jobs, mobility
help to find the way to the workplace, training in braille to
read any necessary materials, or aid of any kind in securing a
workshop position.  With a nationally recognized unemployment
rate of 70% for blind persons, one asks where Ms. Wilson's
priorities are.          
      I wonder how many blind and visually impaired adults of my
generation had their first jobs in workshops.  I did.  
      It was during the war and summer between years of college,
and everyone was working.  Even my younger sister had a full-time
job.  I just could not sit on the porch reading books when
everybody was busy.  The employment rate even for blind  people
was very high so workshops were eager to hire, and I had no
trouble getting a job.  
      The shop was located in a seedy part of Chicago that I
reached by taking two streetcars.  I had to walk two blocks on
crowded Maxwell Street well known for its clutter of sidewalk
vendors hawking, even at 8 in the morning,  all sorts of trinkets
and gadgets or cooking strange foods over small open fires for
people to eat on the street.  A single young girl appropriately
dressed must have been unusual there.
      The shop was a large open room with lines of tables.  My job
was to thread a string with a bead at the end through the nose of
a toy helicopter, measure the appropriate length of string, cut
it off, and line up the pieces along one end of the table.  I
knew well how little the occupation contributed to the employment
shortage and the war effort but convinced myself that I was at
least working.  The shop was hot; we ate our lunches on the same
dusty tables where we worked, and the bathroom lacked soap,
towels, and tissue; but most of all, it was the repetitive and
inane nature of the work itself that got to me.  I spent part of
every night weeping because I feared this was the only kind of
employment that I as a blind person might expect all my life. 
Few blind people went to college or obtained good jobs, and I
knew no adult blind persons.
      My parents always let me do whatever I thought I could do. 
They had never visited Maxwell Street and knew nothing about the
shop; and in those days, we didn't speak much about our feelings
so no one knew how utterly miserable I was.  
      After two weeks, I quit the job with a lecture from the
personnel director about how unrealistic I was if I thought I was
going to get work better than what I had.  From that experience,
I learned how destructive and demeaning a job can be, but I also
learned that the most important task of my life was to prepare
for and obtain rewarding employment.  I got my first real job
while I was still in graduate school and was never unemployed for
even one day until I retired at 65.  In those early years, "burn-
out" was an unknown concept, and no one left a job without having
another in place.  I was always pleased and grateful for my work.
      Workshops now are far different.   They pay minimum wage,
have acceptable working conditions, and usually have a program to
help those who wish to leave to grow toward other jobs.  Far from
being discontinued, I believe that such shops will be more
important in years to come because so many of the blind and
visually impaired persons growing up have additional handicaps
that limit their opportunities for competitive employment.  In
spite of my difficult experience with my first job, I insist on
the importance of workshops and plead for a more enlightened
attitude by the Department of Rehabilitation.  
      The deadline for the summer issue of The Blind Californian
is June 1.         


                      PRESIDENT'S PAGE: PERSONAL REFLECTIONS

                                   by Jeff Thom

      I am writing this article with great trepidation.  An
article that revolves around oneself runs a very high risk of
being egocentric or at least demonstrating that the author is
incredibly self-absorbed.  Nonetheless, I have read many fine
examples of such articles, including ones written by presidents
of the American Council of the Blind, so here goes.
      As many of you know, on January 27, I joined the ranks of
the ever-growing portion of the blind and visually impaired
population who have been struck by vehicles.  Fortunately, my
injuries were far less severe than is often the case; and,
although I still have some foot damage with which to contend, I
am back at work.  At the outset, let me say how gratifying it was
to receive well-wishes from so many members.  It is that loving
spirit that makes CCB so special and strong.  I would also like
to acknowledge the help of my CCB staff who made my life more
bearable and enabled me to carry out some of my functions during
my confinement to a wheelchair.
      My purpose in writing this article is to reflect upon some
of the lessons that I learned as a result of this accident or
that were reinforced.  I hope that my ramblings strike some
chords or are at least thought-provoking.
      Lesson 1.  Accessible Pedestrian Signals:  For those of you
who know downtown Sacramento, I was crossing L Street at 5th.  It
was a rainy, somewhat breezy night.  The traffic on L was, as
usual, heavy; and the traffic along 5th was rather light.  The
duration of the light for crossing L is quite short, and I am
told that most folks stopped on L are more concerned with how
quickly they can access the nearby freeway than with any
pedestrians that might be walking along.  Finally, L Street is
very wide.
      Because of the sparse traffic on 5th and perhaps the stormy
environment as well, it was very hard to gage exactly when my
green light began.  That's why I am told that the light changed
about the time I made it out to the third lane, and the motorist
just started up and hit me.  There is no question in my mind that
an accessible pedestrian signal (whether it is a birdsong or a
talking unit) would have given me sufficient time to avoid the
accident.  Yet, the leadership and a portion of the membership of
the National Federation of the Blind contends that these signals
are a waste of money, that with sufficient training they are not
needed, and that their primary result is to give sighted people
the belief that we are not capable individuals.  I don't consider
myself the best blind traveler on the planet, but I do cross
streets on a daily basis, and my experience certainly gives me an
edge over most of the population that has suffered recent vision
loss, even those who have had some training.  
      First, I've never met a sighted person who has said that
these signals indicate our inferiority.  Second, get a grip on
reality, and don't increase the safety risk for others just
because your philosophy and preferences dictate to the contrary. 
I am proud that CCB members at the local, state, and national
levels have worked diligently for the installation of these
signals.  However, as has been suggested to me, we probably need
to be doing far more.  The public needs to know of the dangers we
face on a daily basis, and the means by which they can be 
minimized.  Enough on that soapbox, let's go on.
      Lesson 2. Empathy:  I am one of the lucky ones.  Having been
employed continuously since my graduation from law school, the
knowledge that I am one of the fortunate minority of our
population to be working has been one of the reasons I feel
compelled to give something back to the blind and visually
impaired community; but knowing this intellectually did not
prepare me for the frustration of not being able to work for a
month,  even though I knew that at some point my injuries would
heal sufficiently to allow me to return to work.  I still can't
imagine the frustration of the long-term unemployment that many
of our members must learn to live with, but I have acquired a far
greater emotional sensitivity to it.  Do I have any new answers
to that ongoing issue of how we find a way to drastically reduce
the unemployment of people who are blind or visually impaired? Of
course not, but I have a deeper drive to continue the efforts of
this organization to work on this issue.  This is one lesson that
I hope I don't ever forget.  
Lesson 3.  Depression:  I am not by nature a person afflicted
with depression.  Moreover, although I have a reasonably good
intellectual understanding of it, I don't cope well with those
suffering from this very destructive disease.  
      Without going into maudlin details that I neither want to
recount nor that you may not care to read, I showed the classic
signs of depression during the aftermath of my accident, until
such time as it became relatively clear that the end of my
confinement to a wheelchair was near.  If my inside look at what
it's like to feel that kind of depression doesn't make me react
more appropriately and empathize more completely with those
suffering from depression, then I am probably a lost cause in
this regard.  
      Lesson 4.  Respect for those in wheelchairs: It was
incredibly frustrating to try to get around some of those narrow
corners in my house and end up crashing into one wall or another. 
I can't tell you how much respect I have gained for people like
Cathie Skivers and others who must deal with either the use of a
wheelchair or serious mobility limitations.  Even my perspective
on those persons with mobility limitations, but who have no
visual impairments, has somewhat changed.  I believe I am more
receptive to the needs of this group than I have ever been.
      Lesson 5: Patience:  This is a lesson I should have learned,
and my wife kept trying to drill it into me; but I can't honestly
say I did a very good job in this regard.  Coping with
limitations one is not accustomed to takes a real effort of will. 
Most of us need to do this as we get older, so it would have been
a nice time to start traveling this road.  Well, better luck next
time.
      In conclusion, while I am still attempting to deal with the
pain of the accident, I am really working at putting into
practice that old saying "If life gives you a lemon, make 
lemonade."  This is not always an easy proverb to implement, but
it is certainly one worth striving to achieve.  Moreover, my life
is, in many ways, far richer than ever before since I know that I
was quite lucky not to have been injured more severely and that I
have friends and loved ones to turn to.  Also, I have come to
some realizations that I clearly might not have otherwise
achieved.  


                       HOME INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM 

                            submitted by Roger Petersen

      During the past eleven years, HUD allocated more than $15
billion HUD funds to the HOME program.  The disability community
should know how the HOME program works, who benefits and what
advocates can do to make it more disability focused so that we
increase "Affordable, Accessible  and Integrated" housing.
      How does the HOME program work? HOME funds are allocated by
formula; 40% of the funds go to state housing agencies (for
redistrubution to small and rural communities) and 60% to your
larger city and county housing agencies.  Because your state and
local agencies have discretion in how they use these funds, your
input in holding them accountable is critical.  Their
Consolidated Plans must describe how their HOME funds will be
allocated.
      HOME funds can be used for any of the following activities:
1. new construction; 2. rehabilitation; 3. acquisition; or 4.
Tenant Based Rental Assistance (TBRA), (aka, rental housing
vouchers).  It can be for rental of new construction,
rehabilitation or acquisition or for home ownership.  Your state
and local housing people decide.
      Who has benefitted in the past? Of the $15 billion, more
than half went either to construct rental units or to individuals
who could use the TBRA as vouchers (with the other half going to
homeowners or home buyers).  These funds produced nearly 329,701
new rental units with another 96,948 TBRA vouchers.
      57% of the rental units were used by low-income persons
whose income was 0-30 % of median income (SSI levels) and another
31% by persons with 30 to 50% of median income.
      Why do we need to know about HOME? Knowing where HOME rental
funds are being used is important for two reasons:
     1. The HOME rental units must accept Section 8, mainstream
or other federal housing vouchers as rental payment.  With a
voucher, the tenant pays only about a third of her/his income. 
These rental units cannot legally deny a person because he has a
voucher.
     2. The HOME funds are "federal financial assistance," and
the new construction, rehabilitation and acquisition must comply
with Section 504 and have at least 5% of the units fully
accessible for persons with disabilities.
      What should advocates do?  You can find out for each state
the total amount of HOME funds your State received.  See
www.hud.gov/offices/cpd/about/budget/budget03/index.cfm   But to
learn how these funds were actually spent in your state and your
local areas, you will have to read your State and local
Consolidated Plans for the past years.  
      How these funds will be used in the future (rental versus
home ownership, or construction versus TRBA) depends on what your
state and local housing officials write in their Consolidated
Plans.  You must have input into this decision making.  If you do
not make sure the funds are allocated to benefit the disability
community, then probably they will not be.   Specifically: 
      1. Learn how HOME funds were actually spent both by your
state and local housing agencies by reviewing their Consolidated
Plans.  These are public documents and must be available to you.
      2. Decide how your disability community wants these funds to
be allocated in the future (e.g., what percentage to construct
rental units, home ownership or rental vouchers, etc.).
      3. Find out when and where the state and local housing
agencies will hold public hearings regarding their Consolidated
Plans for the next year.  You have to use the Consolidated Plan
as one political pressure point in the struggle for "Affordable,
Accessible and Integrated" housing.
      4. Pressure your state and local agencies to spend the HOME
funds to benefit people with disabilities.  These decisions are
part of the political process and subject to your political
pressures.


                                CAREER CONNECTIONS

                           by Catherine Schmitt Whitaker

      This quarter's column is short, yet thought provoking.  As a
community, the blind and visually impaired appear to concentrate
on the technical skills required for a specific profession.  In
reality, high level thinking skills will be the most important
characteristics in the workforce within the next ten years.
Employee characteristics is a term that captures the personal
attributes and professional skills that present and future
employees possess.  The level of importance placed on specific
employee characteristics has changed over time.  In the
twenty-first century, workers are expected to use high level
thinking skills to a larger degree than physical labor.  Physical
labor skills dominated the employee characteristics in previous
centuries.  Thornburg (2002) asserts that "the real value workers
bring to their jobs lies in their knowledge and creativity." 
      A review of five hundred job descriptions from across
industry by Thornburg resulted in the identification of the top
common employee characteristics for present and future jobs. 
Technological fluency leads the list as a requirement for 80% of
the positions.  Communication skills are specified in 75% of the
position descriptions.  Teamwork is stated as an important skill
in 36% of the descriptions and implied in a larger number. 
Leadership is the fourth most sought skill at every level of the
company.  Rounding out the list are problem solving and
creativity.  
      It is important for individuals to develop the
aforementioned skills in addition to profession-specific
technical skills to succeed in the workforce of the future. 
Additionally, agencies of and for the blind and visually impaired
must shift their paradigms of instruction and service to keep
pace with the future workforce needs. 
For further exploration about the workforce of the future,
consider reading The New Basic Education and the Future of Work
in the Telematic Age, by David D. Thornburg.  The book is
published by the Association for Supervision and Curriculum
Development and is available through RFB&D.  


                      THE ORANGE COUNTY CHAPTER SAYS GOODBYE 
                              TO A MUCH LOVED  MEMBER

                                 by Bonnie Rennie 

      Gilbert Davis, February 20, 1923-December 6, 2003. 
      On a dreary December morning, we huddled on cold metal
chairs, the lush lawn muffling the sounds of the solemn ceremony. 
This dignified graveside service, accorded to military veterans,
was a fitting way to bid a fond farewell to our friend. 
      After a very long illness, Gilbert had passed away quietly
at home, just as he wanted.  Sitting there in the cemetery, we
thought of how he had reluctantly left his beloved wife, Coletta,
behind.  They would have been married eighteen years at the end
of December.  We also pondered the rich legacy he left behind; a
multitude of friends; more than one career of service to his
country (in the military, then in law enforcement); a technical
job in the aerospace industry; and finally in retirement as a
volunteer. 
      When I first joined the Orange County Chapter in the late
eighties, our meetings were held in Coletta and Gilbert's home. 
The warm and relaxed atmosphere kept people coming back.  In his
quiet way, Gilbert would greet people and help out.  Some of you
may remember him as a volunteer assisting on tours at the ACB
national conventions.  He also volunteered at the local Braille
Institute Neighborhood Walk classes. 
      Many events from Gilbert's younger days translated into what
most would call an adventurous life, packed with stories.  I
heard only bits and pieces of a few, but they made me want to
hear more.  
      Gilbert grew up both in Los Angeles and New Mexico.  When he
first started school, he spoke only Spanish.  At age seventeen,
he joined the Navy, seeing action in the Second World War.  In
his military career, he was also in the Marines and retired from
the Army.  No wonder Gilbert was so active in several local
veterans organizations!  
      His next career was with the Orange County Sheriff's
Department.  Again, more amazing stories.  Not that he talked too
much, for he was always the soul of discretion. 
      A 1977 gunshot injury on the job spelled the end of
Gilbert's career on the front-lines; but instead of taking it
easy in retirement, he chose to go back to school.  He eventually
earned three advanced degrees, leading  to his last paid
employment in the aerospace-defense industry. 
      Now we come to the juicy part and the reason we have the
good fortune to have Mrs. Coletta Davis in our CCB midst.  It all
happened in 1985 because Gilbert had a lot of vacation time, and
a mutual friend invited him on a little expedition to Las Vegas. 
The ACB National Convention was being held there, so of course, a
certain lady from Hawaii named Coletta was there too.  This
friend facilitated a meeting over breakfast.  We don't know how
breakfast was; but we do know the admiration was mutual, the
chemistry was almost instant, and the rest was, you know! 
      Now you also know why Gilbert and Coletta always liked to go
to Las Vegas so much.  This may also serve as a good
recommendation for the singles among us to attend those national
conventions.  There happens to be one coming up soon, isn't
there? 
      One might say that Gilbert Davis was in certain ways a lot
like some of us in CCB.  He liked good music and attending plays
though in later years, he focused more on football and PBS
television.  Also, like many in CCB, he experienced many 
successes in life because of the persistence and courage he
showed.  Perhaps unlike some of us, his persistence and courage
were called upon in other arenas.  
      What can we say about the life of our friend Gilbert?  He
gave a great deal of service to our country, deeply loved and
adored our Coletta, and by extension, cared about blind and
visually impaired people.  He will be greatly missed, and he will
live on in memory.



                    EXPANDING THE WORLD OF GAMES FOR THE BLIND

                             by Andrea E. Pitsenbarger

      The first time I heard about AllInPlay, (then known as
Zform), was when I received, on one of the e-mail lists to which
I belong, an invitation to serve as a beta tester for their first
game, Five-Card Draw Poker, in the early part of 2002. Beta
testing refers to the period before a product is released when
people test it and report any bugs to the company so that they
can be corrected before the product is released to the general
market.  Since I love playing poker, I responded immediately and
filled out the request for some personal information.  Within two
weeks, I received an e-mail notice that the company was ready for
me to join, and I was directed to the Zform website.  I have to
say that I have been hooked ever since!
      According to the AllInPlay website, this phenomenon began
several years ago when three guys, Jeremy, Paul, and Tim, became
friends in the dorms at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. 
Through their friendship with Tim, who has been blind since
birth, Jeremy and Paul realized that there were activities that
they enjoyed but in which Tim could not participate. 
Particularly bothersome was the fact that there were no available
computer games which all three guys could play together, So they
decided to see what they could do to begin to remedy that
situation.  Almost two years later, they have two games and a
thriving community of hopelessly (and happily)addicted devotees. 
      Their first game, which became available to the general
public in the spring of 2002, is the classic card game of
five-card draw poker.  For those unfamiliar with the game, the
players, (up to five at a table are each dealt five cards per
hand.  The object is to try, by once discarding one or all of
their cards and receiving new ones from the dealer, to make the
best hand they can.  There is a hierarchy of hands that will beat
each other: for example, three of a kind will beat two pairs; a
strait, five consecutive cards, will beat three of a kind; and so
on.  The player with the winning hand receives the chips that are
in the pot.  The number of chips the player wins depends on the
particular table ante, that is, the number each player is
required to place in the pot at the beginning of each hand and
the number bet during the hand.  If, either before or after the
discard one of the players at the table raises the stakes, any of
the other players may fold, that is, drop out of the hand and
relinquish any chips bet during the hand.  
      A player usually folds because he doesn't feel that his hand
is worth the amount of the raise.  However, bluffing is a common
practice in this game, that is, players raise as if they have a
better hand than they actually do.  With this in mind, a player
must decide if the raise is worth it, in view of what is in
his/her hand.  This game is great fun, especially playing at a
full table, and there is lots of friendly competition to see who
can outbluff whom.  Several different speeds of tables and ante
amounts are provided as play choices.  When you log into a table,
you will be dealt into the next hand when it begins.  
      It is my suggestion that, for either Poker or Crazy Eights,
a new player review the list of hot keys provided on the site
before trying to play the game.  Lots of help is available
including a complete guide to how to play poker and a list of
what hands beat each other in hierarchial order.  There is also
an e-mail list so that players can ask questions or chat with
other players.  When you first start playing, you are given a 
thousand chips.  If you run out, two means are provided for you
to get more, either by playing the practice robots and beating
both of them or by guessing a number between 1 and 100, with the
number of chips awarded depending upon how many guesses it takes
to get the right number.  The game's  designers didn't want the
chips to be undervalued, thus both of these methods take some
work and time.
      In the summer of 2003, AllInPlay released its second game,
Crazy Eights.  This game, based on the popular card games Crazy
Eights and Uno, can involve up to eight players at a table. 
Players are each dealt five cards at the beginning of each round,
and the object is to be the first player to get rid of all the
cards.  Play starts when the computer turns over the first card
of the round, say, for example, a 4 of hearts.  The first person
must have a 4 of any suit or another heart to play or must draw a
card.  The one exception to this occurs when a player plays an 8. 
Eights are wild and allow the player to select the suit of his or
her choice, depending on the cards remaining in his or her hand,
until the suit is changed again by another player.  
      There are also skip cards which, when played, skip the turn
of the next player in line and reverse cards which, when played,
reverse the order of play.  Each suit also has draw-2 cards which
force the next player in line to draw two additional cards. 
Excluding the 8, all numbered cards are scored according to their
face value.  Eights are worth 50 points and skip, reverse and
draw-2's are worth 20 each.  When a player gets down to having
only one card left in his/her hand, all other players are
notified so that everyone is aware that someone might be about to
go out and thus win the round.  The first player to play all his
or her cards receives all points remaining in the hands of the
other players at the table.  By the same token, each losing
player has his or her points counted against him, as points given
up to other players.  The game can be quite intense with a full
table, and all the reverses, skips, and changes going on.  Of
course, the more players there are at a table, the less control
each individual player has over what suit is currently being
played.  If there are fewer than three players at a table, robots
will enter the game to make a minimum of three players. 
Therobots function like actual players; and, if you beat them,
you get the points in their hand.  If they win, they get your
points.   They aren't great players, but you have to watch them,
as they do win occasionally.  Unlike poker, which some may feel
is geared to adults, Crazy Eights is an excellent game for all
ages.  Here again, lots of help is available on the site, and
there is an e-mail list for Crazy Eights players.  A practice
table is also available, so you can hone your skills against the
robots before you try playing at one of the real tables.  
      My only negative comment concerning this game, and something
for new players to consider, is that, when you enter a table,
there is no way to tell if someone is about to win; and you may
end up getting stuck with a handful of points without having had
a chance to play even one turn.  I have heard many players
complain about this problem and hope that it will be rectified
soon.
      I must say that, in the main, I have very positive feelings
about this site.  Both poker and Crazy Eights have provided me
with many hours of enjoyment, certainly well worth the
subscription price at about $8 a month with substantial discounts
when you subscribe on a quarterly or annual basis.  A free
two-week trial with unlimited play privileges is also offered, so
you can see if you enjoy the games before you actually pay
anything.  One of the many great things about these games is that
they're basically "plug and play."  You simply download and
install the software,  and the game should come right up when you
log onto the site and click on the game you want.  The AllInPlay
website is really well thought-out with many nice features such
as the invitation for players to create a personal profile and
their contact information.  Another nice feature, available with
both games, is the ability to step away from the table for up to
five minutes without losing your seat.  This latter feature is a
direct example of the company's responsiveness to player input. 
Both games also have a handy chat feature: tabbing once from the
game window puts you into a chat window where you can talk with
other players while enjoying the game.   The games are designed
to function with both popular screen-reading applications, JAWS
and Window-Eyes.  They also include neat sound effects that you
can toggle on or off.  Sighted players may want to download
Microsoft's SAPI speech engine, if it isn't already on their
computers, so that they can have sound during play if they want.  
The screens for both games are also visually appealing,so that
sighted players have lots of neat and colorful graphics to look
at while they play.
      To my mind, however, the single greatest thing about
AllInPlay and its games is how it has brought people together. 
The company's motto:  "Together, Community, Experience," is truly
exemplified by the warm and friendly atmosphere that prevails at
the tables.  It is truly a thrill when you realize, for the first
time, that you're actually playing with someone from across the
world!  I have had the opportunity to meet in person a few of the
people I have encountered on the tables, and we continually
marvel over the friendships and relationships these games have
created!   These three guys have truly created an atmosphere
where all, both blind and sighted, can play!
      (Editor's note: In "Your ACB Board Storms Washington!: by
Mike Duke in the November issue of The  Braille Forum, the ACB
president reported that the AllInPlay ACB Poker Tournament, held
over Labor Day weekend, was great fun and that it drew
substantial online publicity for ACB.  It drew 225 participants
with as many as 70 players people playing at one time.  The
winners were from Singapore, the United States, and Scotland.) 


                          DON'T TAKE MY SIGHT FOR GRANTED

                                  by Betty Dukes 

      I am a student volunteer for Gussie Morgan and the Compton
Chapter, and I am the delegate for the chapter.  Gussie asked me
to send this poem to THE BLIND CALIFORNIAN.
 
Some people see me walking along,
They think I'm not blind at all,
But what if I was to fall?
I carry my white cane and wear my dark glasses,
'Cause I used to fall in the holes and the bumps in the grasses
I fell up the curb, down the curb. 
I even fell over my son's motorcycle.  
I still read, but take heed
I have less than 3% center  vision and so,
If I happen to be walkin' along tryin' to see where to go,
Up or down, left or right, everything else is out of sight.
Even then things aren't all that clear,
If it's far or real real near.
Unless it's a contrast, I'll miss it fast. 
So I pour my milk in a dark glass, and my coffee in a light cup.
I put a bright colored rug on the steps 
Leading down to the den, if not I wouldn't see when
The way was level or going down again.
Now I wear my dark glasses, 
So the rays from the skies, don't hurt my eyes.
And I see better the traces and 
Contours of all the beautiful and handsome faces.
Now some don't like using a white cane,
If they have any little sight at all. 
I heard someone say. "I'd rather crawl".
What? Is it a disgrace?  Do you feel out of place?
At first I did too, but I got tired of being black and blue. 
So if you see me walking along, 
And you think I'm not blind, you'd be wrong.
Don't feel bad, my own grandson said that, that's a fact.
He said, "Grandma, You can see.  You don't need that cane."
Like it was a shame.
He didn't know, it's OK, he has to grow.
And though my eyesight is thus,
By myself with my dark glasses and my white cane,
I fly on the airplanes and ride the bus.
If I bump someone, as I accidentally  sometimes do,
I apologize.  They understand and won't blow a fuse.
So if you see me walking along,
And you think I'm not blind,  You'd be wrong.  


                     MINUTES OF TELECONFERENCE BOARD MEETING 
                                 December 9, 2003

                           BY Ardis Bazyn, CCB Secretary

(Editor's note: The minutes are produced here as received    from
the secretary.) 
      Jeff Thom called the conference call board meeting to order
at 8:05 P.M.  Ardis Bazyn called the roll and recorded Barbara
Rhodes and Al Biegler absent.  Jeff read the agenda and asked for
any additions.
      Jeff explained that the Public Relations Committee had
ranked the 5 video proposals and that Chrysalis and Olive Tree
were both ranked the highest on the list.  A motion was made and
seconded to engage Chrysalis.  The motion failed with one
abstention.  A motion was then made and seconded to accept Olive
Tree's proposal.  It passed with one abstention.  Another motion
asked that the board receive a copy of the audio.  This motion
was seconded and passed with one abstention.
      The Bogen phone replacement was discussed.  A web-based
company offered one for $4083.  Peter has one more company to
contact so the board decided to wait on approving any company for
the present time.  A motion was then made, seconded, and passed
for the board to move into an executive session.  Personnel
matters were discussed.  A motion was made, seconded, and passed
to leave the executive session and to reconvene the board
meeting.
      Jeff and others on the board recommended that new
fundraising be encouraged.  Peter gave an update of the treasury. 
The revenue minus expenses is $40999 as of November 30, 2004. 
CCB currently owns 12 shares of stock valued at $2.92 per share. 
It was moved, seconded, and passed for Peter to sell these
shares.
      A motion was made, seconded, and passed for CCB to allow
participants at the spring convention to pay only $70 per room
per night and for CCB to cover the additional expenses.  Another
motion was made, seconded, and passed to donate $5000 to ACB.  A
motion to approve expenses for 8 CCB members to participate in
the ACB legislative seminar in March was seconded, and passed.  A
motion to approve the payment of Winifred Downing's expenses to
the ACB midyear meetings was seconded and passed.
      The Bay Area Women Against Rape sent a letter requesting a
donation.  It was moved, seconded, and carried that the Domestic
Violence Committee contact this organization to determine if they
have areas where we can work together, specifically brailling and
circulating their materials.  Recommendations from this committee
should be given to Jeff.
       A motion to purchase a music box to be donated for a raffle
for the ACB Governmental Employees affiliate was seconded and
passed.  A motion to donate $1000 to the Braille Reading Task
Force was seconded and passed.  A motion was made, seconded, and
passed to donate funds to the CSB for their senior trip.
      Gilbert Davis passed away and the funeral will be December
13th.  The board by consensus approved sending a gift.  Barbara
Rhodes is doing well after her heart attack.
      The Whittier Chapter donated $500 to Braille Writers and
will be sending the rest of their funds to CCB since it
disbanded.  A motion to adjourn was seconded and passed.  The
time was 9:35 P.M.



                     MINUTES OF TELECONFERENCE BOARD MEETING 
                                 February 9, 2004

                                  by Ardis Bazyn 

      Jeff called the meeting to order at 7:40 P.M.  Al Biegler
was the only board member not in attendance.  No additions were
made to the agenda.
      It was moved, seconded, and passed to go into executive
session.  Sensitive legal issues were discussed.  A motion to
adjourn the executive session and to reconvene the board meeting
was seconded and passed.
      Mitch made some comments regarding the legislative seminar. 
A membership report was given.  A proposal for a 3-year lease
with a rate of $1775 was discussed.  Our current rate is $1718. 
The agreement would allow a yearly CPI.  This was seconded and
passed.
      The El Dorado Chapter along with local businesses has raised
enough money to start a center for the Blind.  A motion was made
for CCB to donate $1000 to this cause.  The motion was seconded
and passed.  This gift will be presented when the chapter makes
their presentation at convention.
      The CCB Video Script ad hoc committee will meet on February
28, and the Budget and Finance Committee will meet on the 29th. 
The Convention Committee is trying to get talking signs for the
exhibit hall.  A motion was made to give them a free exhibit
table and time on the agenda in exchange.  The motion was
seconded and passed.  It was suggested that Braille labels be
placed on a corner of each table as well.  The fall convention
will be held from October 28-31, 2004.
      Discussion about a donation to the ACB Durward McDaniel
Committee was tabled for now.  A motion to adjourn was seconded
and passed.  The time was 9:40 P.M.


           DAISY, DAISY, GIVE ME YOUR ANSWER TRUE

                       by Ken Stewart

     The winter issue of the BC carried a fascinating article by
Chris Gray discussing the new Daisy technology which is the
latest improvement in talking book electronics. Chris offered
valuable information and also intended to stimulate discussion
particularly about the approach being taken by Recording for the
Blind and Dyslexic (RFB&D).  The article both informed me and
stimulated me to respond with my perspective on the concerns
identified by Chris.
     For those who utilize a talking book player purchased from
RFB&D, there is no concern; but readers who wish to use a machine
purchased elsewhere are required to ship the machine to that
organization to get access software installed.  As a published
writer myself, I am sympathetic with RFB&D's insistence on
controlling the access to this enabling "Universal Access Key". 
Actually I believe it is in the interests of not only those whose
proprietary rights are thus protected but also of every
print-handicapped person, that copyright law is respected.  The
law's waiver for us must be respected or it may be lost.  
      The BC article also expressed concerns over cost and time
lost in shipping a personal reading machine to RFB&D and the risk
of damage in transit.  My own experiences with the U.S. Postal
Service put me at ease with these aspects of the RFB&D routine. 
Over many
years, I have often shipped devices by mail, and they have always
been accepted as free matter and seem to have traveled with the
speed of First Class mail.  The mail carrier even picks the item
up from my rural delivery mail box, obviating any need for a trip
to the post office.  Never once has any damage been inflicted on
the contents.  I even moved a big heavy
CCTV from coast to coast that way.
     The Blind Californian article raised questions regarding the
possible unfair competition to other vendors of reading machines. 
I have no firm position on that point, but the alternative would
seem to be a loss of control over the readership benefiting from
the copyright law waiver.  I am comfortable, I guess, with that
organization gaining a sales advantage because I think of the
increased sales as accruing value to the clients of that
not-for-profit agency rather than to company stockholders.
      In the interests of full disclosure, too, I admit to a long
time bond with RFB&D.  Way back when it was only RFB, I once
appeared on a network television quiz show for it.  All my
winnings from answering all the questions correctly, went to the
organization.
      I said that was "way back", though.  The total proceeds
would sound like "chump change" in 2004 dollars!  RFB was also
instrumental in my academic successes which included Phi Beta
Kappa and other academic honors, and two graduate degrees.  More
recently, a thank you letter from me appeared on the front page
of their newsletter.  I credited their volunteer-read text books
for playing a significant role in my placement on every
competitive promotional civil service exam I ever took while a
New York State employee, ranked number one statewide.


                            JUST LIKE ANY OTHER CITIZEN

                                 by Melita Waters

      Tuesday, March 2, 2004.  I woke up this morning, had my
morning coffee and got myself ready to go to the poll to cast my
vote, just like many other citizens in my precinct.
      There was, though, one major difference for me.  It was the
first time in my entire life (I am reluctant to admit it I am a
Senior Citizen) that I have been privileged to cast my vote
completely independently.
      Just like everyone else, I walked into my polling place,
signed in, got my access number and entered a booth where I set
about casting my vote for the Democratic candidate of my choice,
the candidates for State and Federal Legislators, the individuals
for the Democratic Committee and the proposed measures.
      This may sound like such a simple thing, but it was my first
crack at being just another citizen.  Orange County has set in
place a most attractive and usable system for the disabled
citizen as well as for those with language difficulties.  I am an
Orange County resident which have chosen a system called DAU
(Disabled Access Unit) to be the answer to the accessability
issue.  It is easy to use, has clear instructions and really
impressed me.  It is not a touch screen system.  
      As is always the case when you are working with speech, it
took me just a bit longer to work my way through the ballot, but
not much longer.  When I pressed the CAST Ballot button, I felt
like a million dollars.  Since the machine was so easy to use,
the poll staff didn't even have to have any training.  All they
really needed to know was that they had the unit, where it was
and how to direct a voter to it.
      The DAU is small, compact, clearly marked in braille and
large print, has access jacks to plug in headphones or a SIP &
PUFF system.  It can even have its legs folded up so it can be
carried to someone who cannot actually enter the voting place for
some reason.
      Always in the past I have either had to have the help of an
assistant at the polling place or cast an absentee ballot.  This
time I was pleased to cast my vote just like any other
first-class citizen.
      Below is the text of the brochure that touts the system we
use.

                ORANGE COUNTY'S NEW VOTING SYSTEM

      The new voting system can be learned in a couple of minutes
and requires no special knowledge.  You just turn a wheel to
highlight your selection and press the ENTER button to mark your
choice.  You will also see a Ballot Summary that shows how you
marked your ballot.  If you see something on the summary you want
to change, go ahead.  You can change your mind without worrying
about ruining your ballot or selecting more choices than allowed.
      And a HELP button is built in should you need it, bringing
printed instruction to the screen or notifying a poll worker you
have a question.
      1.  After signing in as always, you'll be given a
four-number code.  This code ONLY tells the system your precinct
number and which ballot has the correct set of candidates and
propositions for your particular precinct.  The code cannot be
linked to you.  The system is completely private.
      2.   Using the SELECT wheel, highlight the language in which
you would like to read the ballot, English, Spanish, Vietnamese,
Chinese, or Korean.  Then press the large button labeled ENTER.
      3. Next, the system will prompt you to enter the four-number
code you received when checking in.  Turn the wheel to the first
digit and press ENTER.  Repeat for the remaining numbers,
pressing the ENTER button after each selection.  As soon as
you've finished, your ballot will appear on the screen.
      4. Turn the wheel to move the highlight bar through the
ballot.  Once the highlight bar is on your desired choice, simply
press ENTER.
      5. Your choice will appear in boldface type, while all the
other candidates or propositions fade into the background.  The
box beside your choice will turn red, making it easy to visually
confirm how you voted.  Remember, you can change your mind or
correct a mistake by simply turning the wheel to another choice
and pressing ENTER.
      6. After you have voted the last contest on the ballot, a
Ballot Summary screen will appear listing all the choices you
have made, letting you know if you missed voting in any race. 
From this screen you can still make changes or corrections, if
needed.  This review helps you be sure your votes are counted the
way you want them to be.
      When you have completed your review, press the BALLOT button
at the far left to finish putting your ballot into the electronic
ballot box.  You will see an American flag waving on the screen,
indicating you have finished voting.
      An accessible voting system for all  The Orange County Slate
Voting System has features that allow all voters to cast their
votes privately, securely, and without assistance.
      Voters who are visually impaired or blind may use headphones
to hear the ballot, making their selections on the same voting
system as all other voters.  Voters who have difficulty reading
can also use the headphones.  People who have limited upper-body
movement or control may wish to use special switches or their own
"sip and puff" device (allowing voters with severe physical
limitations to cast their ballot using only their breath).
County of Orange
Registrar of Voters


                          CHURCH LADIES WITH TYPEWRITERS

      These announcements are taken from church bulletins.

      1.  Bertha Belch, a missionary from Africa, will be speaking
tonight at Calvary Methodist Church; Belch all the way from
Africa.
      2. The sermon this morning: "Jesus Walks on the Water".  The
sermon tonight "Searching for Jesus." 
      3. Our youth basketball team is back in action Wednesday at
8 PM in the recreation hall.  Come out and watch us kill Christ
the King.
      4. "Ladies, dont forget the rummage sale.  Its a chance to
get rid of those things not worth keeping around the house. 
Don't forget your husbands".
      5.  Don't let worry kill you off; let the Church help.
      6.  For those of you have children and don't know it, we
have a nursery downstairs.
      7.  Barbara remains in the hospital and needs blood donors
for more transfusions.  She is also having trouble sleeping and
requests tapes of Pastor Jack's sermons.
      8.  The Rector will preach his farewell message, after which
the choir will sing "Break Forth in Joy."
      9.  A bean supper will be held on Tuesday evening in the 
church hall. Music will follow.
      10  Please place your donation in the envelope along with
the deceased person you want remembered.
      11.  The church will host an evening of fine dining, superb
entertainment, and gracious hostility.
      12.  The ladies of the Church have cast off clothing of
every kind.  They may be seen in the basement on Friday
afternoon.
      13.  Ladies Bible Study will be held Thursday morning at 10. 
All ladies are invited to lunch in the Fellowship Hall after the
B.S. is done
      14.  The pastor would appreciate it if the ladies of the
congregation would lend him electric girdles for the pancake
breakfast next Sunday.
      15.    Weight watchers will meet at 7 PM at the First
Presbyterian Church.  Please use large double door at the side
entrance.
,

                HONDURAS: AN EDUCATIONAL/CULTURAL EXCHANGE, Part 1

                                 by Denise Vancil

      I was contacted by a blind friend of mine named Betty della
Santina.  She explained that her sister-in-law, Barbara,  was in
the Peace Corps in Honduras.  Upon Betty's request, Barbara
visited an adult center for the blind in Santa Lucia (a small
town just outside Tegucigalpa, the capital of Honduras)
and found that there was a great need of basic supplies for the
blind.  Betty then contacted me and requested my help in
gathering things to be sent to the students at the center. 
      I contacted some of my blind friends, students and
associates at the Earle Baum Center, where I am a rehabilitation
teacher and dance instructor, to donate items that could be used
at the Honduran center.  While enumerating with Betty items to be
sent, we discussed my love of travel, interest in working with
the blind, and then the possibility of my visiting Honduras to
see for myself the facilities and situation in the area.  Betty
gave me the e-mail address of her sister-in-law, and we began
communicating.  After our discussion, Barbara took the
opportunity to speak with Irma, the director of the center, about
the possibility of my coming for a visit.  Irma, her two staff
members, and the students of the center were excited and
anxiously awaited my arrival.
      I began checking into airline costs, figuring out my
vacation time, and making plans.  
      Once dates were set and it looked like all would work out, I
again began the campaign for needed supplies to bring to the
center and its students.  I wrote e-mail messages, called
friends, and sent an appeal letter that got placed on the
American Council of the Blind's website.  I quickly started to
receive e-mails and phone calls with words of encouragement and
requests for a mailing address for things to be sent.  It warmed
my heart to talk with and receive messages from members of the
blind community and other instructors from all over the country.
      Gathering the donations and purchases that I and others had
made, I was able to bring 2 Perkins braille writers, 15 slates
and styli, a dymo-tape labeler, a metal dymo-tape holder, dymo
tape, 4 braille watches, 2 large print watches, 12 Spanish
talking watches, braille paper, bold-lined paper, pens, Braille
playing cards, index cards and rubber bands, writing guides, a
four-track tape recorder, tapes, several folding canes, a variety
of cane tips, magnifiers, a few monoculars, a double spatula,
homemade versions of liquid identifiers, labeling sticky dots, a
laptop computer with the screen reader JAWS, some used children's
clothing and toys, and a variety of candy, along with  balloons,
and other miscellaneous items.   
       I then had most things sent to my work address to begin the
long journey to Honduras.  I started loading them into the para-
transit bus that picked me up at work, planning to take them to
my house to be packed for the trip.  Once off the bus, I carried
them down the 80 stairs and dirt pathway to the small cabin-like
place that I call home.  At one point, I had to laugh and wonder
what I had gotten myself into.  
      One day, I had an ingenious idea to avoid having to lug more
of the items back and forth up the many stairs;  and so my mother
and I sat in the gravel parking area just off the road above my
house and sorted through clothes and other items.  At times Mom
also served as my taxi service, helping me to collect goods from
various people in the Bay Area who did not have transportation
available to deliver things to me.  
      With the laborious task of packing nearly complete, I
contacted the airline and told the people there my reason for
traveling to Honduras and how I would be bringing several items
to donate to the blind.  I was hoping to be allowed a third
check-in suitcase or at least relaxation   on the weight
restrictions on my two pieces of checked luggage.  Unfortunately,
the airlines held strictly to the 2-bag, 70-pound weight limit. 
Having worked so hard collecting important supplies, I didn't
want to leave anything behind.  Would I have to pay $100 for
overweight luggage?  Just the- as luck would have it--I learned
that a friend of a friend named Lori, who was living and working
in Honduras, was back in San Francisco for her vacation.  I
contacted her and explained my situation and she was happy
to take a suitcase as one of her pieces of luggage.  I was
thrilled!  Once again, Mom and her taxi service assisted me by
gathering and packing things in another suitcase, and driving
into San Francisco to deliver the third suitcase to Lori. 
With all packing and last-minute details finally done, I was
exhausted but also excited thinking about the adventure
just beginning.   
      I left on a late night flight.  No one challenged the fact
that my bag was a little more than a pound over the weight limit. 
After a transfer of planes and a 4-hour layover in Houston, I was
finally on a flight heading to Tegucigalpa.  I used the time to
read and listen to some of my favorite salsa music.  
      When the plane landed, a metal staircase was pushed up
against the plane, and I was met with a sudden rush of hot humid
air.  I immediately started peeling off clothes and
double-checked to make sure that I had my daypack and all other
personal belongings.   Walking off the paved runway strip into
the air-conditioned airport, I was grasping for my passport,
immigration papers, and luggage tags when I heard a woman's voice
say in Spanish "Estoy aqui esperando a ella"-- "I'm here waiting
for her."  It was Irma, the director of the center.  We greeted
each other with a kiss on the cheek and she started helping an
airport worker locate my luggage.  I was a little worried about
going through customs with all the things I had brought; but with
Irma there, it was a breeze.  
      Just out of the airport, Barbara, Betty's sister-in-law; 
Alberto, Irma's husband;  and Ronny, an administrator at the
center, were all there to greet me.  We loaded a pickup truck,
and one of the guys rode in the back to protect against theft. 
Although I was tired, it was pleasant to hear the truck filled
with chatter--all in Spanish.  The group were impressed with my
Spanish and my good accent.  I hoped I could live up to their
expectations and was thinking just how much there still was to
learn.  
      With Barbara; I exchanged some dollars for lempiras, and we
discussed our plans.  We left Barbara at Peace Corps headquarters
and continued with various errands.  As it turned out, there was
that night at the center a sort of graduation ceremony/party for
teachers and other directors of centers for the blind from all
over Central America and a welcoming party for me.   Therefore,
acquiring kegs of Honduran beer and other items had to take place
before returning to Santa Lucia.  After finishing our party
errands, we went to the center, and I was introduced to staff
members and some students.  Then we went to Irma's house, where I
would be staying, for just long enough to meet her scarlet Macaw
parrot, change clothes, and freshen up for the evening's
festivities.   
      Although I was tired from all the preparations, travel time,
and lack of sleep the night I arrived, I was filled with
questions.  Over the time I was there, I learned that the most
common causes of blindness in Honduras are diabetes, glaucoma,
and the results of venereal diseases.  I also met several blind
persons who had lost their sight from extreme cases of
conjunctivitis and other infections that had gone untreated.  In
addition, there were people with other physical problems like
cleft palate, fish skin, etc.  I found that most blind people
never go to school or get the opportunity to attend a specialized
training program; however, those who are fortunate enough to
learn of these programs and who have an open mind toward changing
their lives greatly benefit from the independent living skills
introduced to them.  
      The systems for the blind in Honduras include four centers. 
There is one residential school for children named after its
founder, the Pilar Salinas Escuela para Ciegos, located in the
capital of Tegucigalpa.  Pilar Salinas, a 90-year-old blind
woman, still does some work at the school she founded.  A
Honduran postage stamp bearing a picture of Pilar Salinas
commemorates her work with the blind.  At the school, there are
approximately 60 children ranging in age from 6 to 18.  They take
classes through the sixth grade, to about age 12.  Afterward, if
they have "an aptitude for learning," they continue to live at
the residential school but during the day attend a private high
school called San Francisco.  Although this school is for sighted
children, accommodations are made with some materials in braille
and exams given orally for blind students.  The tuition for these
students is paid by Franciscan Fathers from Boston, MA, USA.
      After completion of their studies at the school, some
students  continue their training at one of the adult centers for
the blind while others return home to their families and still
others beg on the streets or try to find other means to make
money since there is no governmental financial support for people
with disabilities.  A very few blind people (approximately five
out of a thousand) go on to university and study subjects such as
journalism, education, law, languages, social work, or child
development.   
      There are three programs for blind adults in Honduras, two
of which are community-based.  The other is residential.  I spent
most of my time observing and teaching at the only residential
center, called Centro de Artesanias Industriales para Ciegos
(CAIPAC).  CAIPAC is located in a small quaint mountainous town
called Santa Lucia just outside the capital, Tegucigalpa.  The
center was built in this town because the town was named after
the Catholic patron Saint Lucia, who watches over and protects
the blind.  The facility is on the only paved street among the
very hilly cobblestone roads of the town.  While the town is
mainly residential, it has a small hotel, a few restaurants,
several convenience stores, and a small scenic lagoon.  The bus
stop, where there are frequent buses going to and from
Tegucigalpa, is right in front of the CAIPAC center.  
      The center itself is fairly large, having an office, main
room, and areas set aside for carpentry, a garden, ceramics,
braille instruction, massage, kitchen, outdoor cooking, and
store/handicraft.    
      CAIPAC was opened in 1986.  In spite of its lack of adequate
and dependable funding, the director strives to provide an
enriching educational and vocational program for the residents. 
Students normally stay at CAIPAC for two years, although some
leave sooner; and in rare cases, students can stay longer.  The
government of Honduras gives a U.S.  equivalent of $42,000 per
year to CAIPAC, which must cover not only operational costs and
instructor salaries but also supplies for classes, food,
clothing, and personal items for residents.  Although there is
space available to accommodate more students, there were only 13
there at the time because that was the maximum that the center
could afford to have.  
      The living quarters consist of two simple rooms that are
separated by a divider.  One is for females and the other for
males.  The beds in each room are side by side with a shower
stall in each room and bathrooms down the hall.  Irma asks for 
donations throughout the community of basic staple foods like
flour, sugar, rice, beans, etc.  The center also has an
agricultural program, which supplements the food served with
lettuce, corn, zucchini, potatoes, squash, etc.  Rabbits and
chickens are also raised for food for the center or for selling,
and the droppings are used for fertilizer.   
      (Part 2 of this article, which details characteristics of
the program and Denise's exposure to the teaching methods used,
will appear in the summer issue of THE BLIND CALIFORNIAN.) 


                                 SKIING WITH LILY

                             by Deborah Allen-Grantham

      Alternating kicking out with my legs and pushing with my
arms, I slowly make my way up a hill.  My skis swish, sounding
like a cloth being rhythmically rubbed across a rough surface,
and my hands absorb the grasp of the snow bracing and releasing
the tips of my poles.  Although I can't see her, I know Lily is
near, black coat standing out against the white snow, tail
wagging, ears flopping, face smiling, and prancing at a fast
trot.  
      My breath is labored, and my face is wet with sweat. 
Finally reaching the top of the hill is a relief.  Starting the
descent on the other side, I slightly bend my knees, hold my
poles angled off the ground behind me, and hope my skis stay in
the tracks.  It feels like the ground is giving way beneath me. 
I squelch a small quiver of fear, preferring not to think about
the possibility of plastering myself into an obstacle at a high
rate of speed.  Instead, I focus on how exhilarating it feels to
be effortlessly gliding, pretending to myself I am skiing on
clouds.  
      Cross-country skiing with Lily, my female black Labrador
guide dog, provides pleasure and exercise for both of us.  We
have been skiing together for three seasons now.  Although I am
by no means a proficient skier nor am I a dog trainer, I want to
share some of what I have learned about skiing with my guide dog. 
This is not intended to be a training manual for those who want
to ski with a guide dog. 
      I strongly recommend not taking a guide skiing unless you
know how to ski first.  I recommend that anyone who wants to ski
with a guide start by skiing on trails where dogs are normally
allowed.  The other skiers on these trails expect to encounter
dogs, which makes them a little more cautious.  Of course, you
must be willing to put up with having other dogs distracting your
guide.
      During the early days of learning, I couldn't keep my
balance in the ski tracks.  I had to rely on following Lily, and
I stayed out of the tracks.  Lily wore a ski-joring harness,
which attached to a belt by a long ski-joring rope.  The rope has
a quick-release snap where it attaches to the belt.  At first, I
skied with one pole, alternating between hands to feel the
tension on the rope; but later, I learned how to hold the unused
ski pole in the hand that was feeling the rope, allowing for
quicker and easier switching of poling sides.  
      Lily ran ahead of me, putting tension on the rope but not
pulling me.  In the beginning, I had her follow my husband.  He
had to encourage her and even used a squeaky toy to get her
attention and keep Lily following him.  When the tension stopped,
I stopped.  I just followed the tension.  As Lily pulled, I
praised her and told her "pull!" which is my command for leading
me on skis.  This wasn't an easy process, as Lily kept wanting to
move back by my side.  Getting her to stay in front of me took
time and patience and having a person to follow really helped.  

      Another difficulty arose because of my initial fear of even
the tiniest hill.  I fell on every hill.  Lily quickly figured
out that hills were not good for me, and she refused to lead me
down hills as a result.  I solved the problem by stepping back
and doing what I should have done in the first place.  I started
letting Lily run off leash with one of my pet dogs while I
learned how to ski in the track.  I was fortunate that where I
skied with Lily was a place where people could ski with their
dogs off leash.  Eventually, I became comfortable with skiing in
the track and down hills, but I must admit that to this day, I
still won't ski down a hill without a track.  I ski at an
intermediate level on trails with tracks, but it took more than
one season of skiing for me to get to that point.
      Since those early days of learning, Lily and I have
developed techniques for skiing on groomed trails, on ungroomed
trails, alone, and with a sighted person.  Skiing on an ungroomed
trail is tricky.  When I ski on an ungroomed trail, Lily wears
her ski-joring harness, and I use the belt with the rope.  I give
her the command to "pull," and she runs ahead of me.  I follow
the tension on the rope.  If a trail has many downhill sections,
I won't go on it because I just don't feel safe doing hills
without tracks.
      When I ski on a groomed trail, I have two different
approaches, depending on whether or not dogs are allowed on the
trail.  If dogs are normally allowed on the trail, I carry all of
Lily's equipment in a backpack, in case the tracks disappear, or
I need her to guide me for some other reason, and I let her run
loose.  However, if dogs are not normally allowed on the trail,
Lily wears her ski-joring harness, which I attach to a
retractable leash that I hold in my left hand with the pole.  In
this case, Lily runs alongside on my left, slightly ahead and to
the left of her normal guiding position, and I keep the
retractable leash locked fairly short.  
      When I first started skiing this way, I didn't pole with the
left hand.  I just held the pole off the ground, moving it as if
I was poling with it.  I wanted to make sure I wasn't going to
stick one of Lily's paws with it before I started using it.  It
didn't take her long to find a safe place to run by my side,
which was away from the poles, the skis, and the other skiers.  I
release the lock on the retractable leash when I go down hills. 
I must release the lock because Lily usually ends up falling
behind me on hills, but she stays on the left side of the track 
where she runs when she is by my side.  
      In contrast to how it was during those early days of skiing,
Lily now loves running after me down hills.  I think her attitude
about hills changed because my attitude change.  I whoop and
holler down most hills.  Perhaps I will feel like doing that on
ungroomed hills some day, but that hasn't happened yet.
      When I first started bringing Lily on trails where dogs are
not normally allowed, I was worried that she could harm the
track.  However, I was told that her paws did less damage than
the ski poles.  She runs where people usually pole.  I am careful
not to let her run where the skate-skiers ski, and she doesn't
get obnoxious on the leash.  I wouldn't bring Lily with me if she
posed any danger to herself or others.  Safety is a high
priority.  If she caused an accident, I would be liable.  
      Even though I mainly rely on the tracks to guide me on
groomed trails, I still need Lily around for backup.  When I am
skiing with the retractable leash, I can release it to its
longest length and give Lily the "pull" command to guide me
through areas where the tracks disappear.  Melting snow, careless
skate-skiers, and other unpredictable things happen to obliterate
the tracks.  Having Lily available for these times is helpful. 
It is also reassuring to have her available if an emergency
occurs, making it necessary for me to walk out.  I always carry
her guiding harness in a pack.  Lily works me to and from ski
trails, wearing her guiding harness.  Once we get to the trail, I
change her to the ski-joring harness, or I let her run loose,
depending on where we are.  I use it rather than a guiding
harness or a pet harness because the ski-joring harness is
designed to distribute tension and reduces the possibility for
orthopedic stress.  Although Lily doesn't pull me, she does keep
considerable tension on the rope or the retractable leash when I
give the "pull" command for her to show me the way.  
      A ski-joring harness is difficult to describe.  Mine is made
of nylon webbing, and it has an attachment for the rope or leash
on the back end, near the base of Lily's tail.  The harness
doesn't have snaps or buckles.  It is stitched together and goes
on without being taken apart in any way. 
      I always carry a backpack when I ski.  In addition to
holding a blanket and other survival items, I carry water for
Lily and me to drink on the trail, and all of the gear that I am
not using on Lily at the time.  Since Lily doesn't wear her
collar or leash when she wears her ski-joring harness, they go in
the pack, too.
      My favorite way to ski is on a groomed trail, with Lily
wearing the ski-joring harness attached to the retractable leash. 
I have also tried skiing with Lily wearing a short or a long
leash attached to her collar, but I prefer the ski-joring
harness.  During those times when I need her to guide me through
an area, she can't put the kind of tension on her collar that she
can put on  the harness.  Although Lily has never needed
protection on her paws, some dogs require a spray-on paw
protector applied or boots to wear in the snow, as they get
bleeding, cracked pads from the snow and ice.  Another potential
danger to dogs' paws is metal edges on skis.  If you plan to ski
with your guide, avoid metal edges, and ask those who accompany
you to avoid them, too. Be sure to relieve your guide before
going on the trail, and give your guide opportunities to relieve
off the trail while skiing. 
       Before anyone takes a guide skiing, be sure your guide is
well behaved and under control.  Even if the guide is present for
backup and not to guide, the dog must not pose a danger, and the
dog must not damage the trail.  Many people who have wonderfully
well-behaved guides choose to ski, leaving their guides behind,
and  I fully support this choice.  No matter how you choose to
ski, be safe, do no harm, and have fun!    


                                      IMAGINE

                                  by Carl Jarvis 

      Imagine: you've just entered your office on what may well be
the most hectic, stressful day of your life.  Suddenly you
realize all of your reference books, piles of paper-work and
notes are covered with little bumps.  In fact, you discover there
is not one single printed word to be found.  Every scrap of
information necessary to do your job is now in braille.  
      Imagine: you rush back out of your office, wildly looking
about, peering into offices, staring over the shoulders of
clerks.  Everybody is calmly doing their job, using braille. 
Mysteriously they have learned the language overnight.  Only you,
it seems, were overlooked.  For some unknown reason, you are
permanently and totally braille challenged.
      Imagine: you dash for the door hoping the rest of the world
has not gone mad.  It has.  In the elevator, you're not sure
which button to press for the lobby.  Someone has to help you. 
They stare at you as if you are stupid.  Pausing at the news
stand, you are unable to tell one magazine from another.  You
can't stand it, you need to go home and collect your thoughts.
But at the bus stop, there's no way of telling which coach is
yours.  You back away, not wanting anyone to know, and you decide
you'll call a cab.  Of course, you only brought bus fare and
lunch money, not nearly enough for the taxi.  Remembering your
bank card, you pull it out as you run back into the lobby. 
There, at the access machine, you stop short.  The card has
turned to braille and so have all of the instructions on the
machine.  You'll have to call home and ask for help.  Funny, you
never paid much attention to the telephone dial and now, in your
growing state of confusion, you don't recall which number goes
where.  You are so alone, so frightened, you actually begin to
weep.
      Imagine: you have always seen yourself as a leader, a
visionary, a problem-solver.  You will not run from this
challenge.  You shall succeed.  You have a large mortgage.  Once
you have recovered from the great shock, you begin looking for
ways to survive.
      Imagine: you have finally made arrangements, through your
employer, to hire a braille reader, a process so complex and
painful you plan to patent it and use it to torture terrorists. 
Now you sit in your chair going quietly mad listening to the
drone of your reader's voice, taking hours of time to cover what
you once scanned in minutes, while others whip about you
efficiently communicating among themselves via braille-FAX and
E-B-mail.  You begin to feel the "ice" in isolation.
      Imagine: you learn you are not alone.  You are a member of a
very small minority of braille-challenged people.  There is, in
fact, a brailleless culture, a history far too long and complex
to discuss here.  So, you become a member of the Brailleless
Association of America (BAA).   At the BAA meetings you find out
about a number of small companies manufacturing adaptive
equipment which enables brailleless persons to access all the
braille computers, FAX machines, braille scanners and braillers.
      The expense is far more than you can afford, so you seek
assistance from your employer.  Your request is turned down. 
There are no requirements that your employer accommodate your
disability.
      Imagine: BAA, along with many other disability groups,
battle in Congress for the passage of a bill guaranteeing you
equal treatment under the law.  The bill passes and, despite
subtle messages from your fiscal officer, money is, "found" for
your accommodation.  After considerable time and
effort, the technician from the Department of Services for the
Brailleless has you on-line.  Now you are able to scan braille
text and convert the little dots into letters; and through a very
complex process, the braille display on your computer is
transformed into print.  Finally, you are again up to speed,
being your old efficient self, feeling good about your work.
      Imagine: you are humming and smiling and cranking along in
high gear.  Suddenly, a message flashes on your screen and drives
terror through your heart.  New breakthroughs in technology have
produced equipment so superior to the ancient junk--at least four
years old--presently in use, that your organization is upgrading
the entire communications system.  The BAA technicians have
already informed you that your adaptive equipment is not
compatible with it.  You go to the, "Powers-That-Be" in your
organization and request a meeting to discuss this concern.  You
are told that your fears are groundless.  You will not be
forgotten.  Following this meeting, a rumor goes around hinting
that you are trying to sabotage the new system, and your
associates begin to whisper behind your back.  They want the new
system.  It's far superior, more compact, ten times faster, and
it's cool looking.  They are sick of your "whining and constant
complaining".  You feel the "ice" settling in again.
      Imagine: you have been forgotten.  The new system is in
place.  Everybody loves it.  You've been told not to worry,
someone will be around to do what is necessary to put you back
on-line.  The "someone" they had in mind is the same technician
who told you the system would not work.  Despite your concerns,
no one bothered to investigate before the equipment was
installed.  Once again you sit, going quietly mad while your
reader plows line by line through the piles of braille.  
      Imagine: you know you are close to losing your mind or your
job--probably both.  You must find other employment, but you do
not want your associates to know you are finally beaten.  You try
to figure out a way to do a quiet job search when all information
is only accessible in braille.  
      One day you hear that your state has developed a central
information center, called a "kiosk".  These information centers
are being set up in easily accessible locations.  The plan is for
these kiosks to make government information and services
available quickly and conveniently, to the public.  Sort of a
"one stop shopping center".  You learn that lists of job openings
are among the many services offered.  This is perfect.  This is
exactly what you need.  you discover your town recently placed a
kiosk in the mall.  You go there on Saturday afternoon.  There it
stands, costing the tax payers hundreds of thousands of dollars
to create, but well worth it.  In its ultimate form, the kiosks
will bring virtually all state services right into your local
neighborhood.  You are thrilled as you step up to the controls. 
An automated voice welcomes you and brags about the wonders of
this system.  Breathlessly, you wait for your instructions. Then,
the braille display appears.
      Imagine: they are dragging you away, shrieking at the top of
your voice.  Onlookers are amazed.  They do not know how you
managed to rip the iron bench from the floor of the mall.  None
of them dared to try to stop you as you swung it over your head,
again and again, smashing the kiosk into pieces of broken
plastic, glass and twisted metal.  None of them understand why
you kept screaming the same words over and over.
      "I pay taxes, too! I pay taxes, too! I pay taxes,
too!......." 
Imagine!


                                  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.
      From Matilda Ziegler Magazine, December, 2003: Guide dog
news.  Guide Dog Users Inc. has introduced "GDUI Gazette", a
recorded message that will keep listeners informed about issues
and events concerning guide dogs and their human partners. 
Product reviews from GDUI's catalog also will be included.  The
service began Nov. 1, 2003, and is updated on the first day of
each month.  To access the "Gazette", call 206-333-3598; for
questions about the "Gazette" or GDUI, call 888-858-1008.  
      *New Magazine.  "Blind World" is a new online magazine,
featuring up-to-date coverage of research into blindness;
national and international news; human-interest articles; guide
dog news and puppy-raiser stories; and blind sports and
recreation.  In addition, a Resource Center provides valuable
information.  
      "Blind World" is the brainchild of Ziegler reader George
Cassell, a Californian who became blind through retinitis
pigmentosa.  He launched the magazine on July 4, 2003, to express
the right of blind people to independence.  Visit
www.blindworld.net.  
*****          *****          *****          *****
      From Matilda Ziegler Magazine, February, 2004: Maps.  The
Princeton Braillists announce a new tactile publication, "Outline
Maps of the World".  The book contains 33 maps that show
political boundaries, capital cities, and bodies of water.  Some
of the maps appeared in earlier publications and have been
reworked.  Maps of the Arctic regions, Antarctica, Africa,
Southeast Asia, Indonesia, Australia and New Zealand are new. 
The volume costs $19, with shipping by Free Matter.  Send check
or purchase order to The Princeton Braillists, 76 Leabrook Lane,
Princeton, NJ 08540; call 215-357-7715 or 609-924-5207.  Allow
four weeks for delivery.  
*****          *****          *****          *****
      From Dialogue Magazine, Winter 2003: California Canes
announces its Sidewalker line of folding and rigid canes. The
Sidewalker features a lustrous finish done with an epoxy paint
rather than the usual tape.  The paint ensures greater visibility
at night.  The cane incorporates computer design, which results
in smoother joints and less damage to the cane's elastic center. 
The elastic is also thicker than that found in most folding
canes.  For information on this and the other models in its
product line, contact California Canes, 16263 Walnut Street,
Hisperia, CA 92345; 866-332-4883 or 760-956-5265; E-mail,
californiacanes@charter.net. 
      *Opportunities for the Blind assists legally blind, working
age USA individuals.  Funding is available for scholarships and
training, self-employment projects, special equipment, and job-
related services.  All prospective applicants must first submit
an eligibility form or call 800-884-1990 between 9:00 A.M. and
5:00 P.M. eastern time to schedule an eligibility interview.  If
you are eligible for assistance, a short application form, plus
attachments must be completed and returned.  All completed
applications are considered.  However, due to limited resources,
not all requests are funded.  Application deadlines are: 
February 15, May 15, August 15, and November 1.  Contact
Opportunities for the Blind, Inc., p.o. box 98, Fairplay, MD
21733; 240-420-7500; E-mail, oppblblind@yahoo.com; Web site,
www.opportunitiesfortheblind.com.  
      *SeeTV is a new set-top box that includes a hand-held
remote, which enables low-vision television viewers to magnify
areas of the screen for more enjoyable viewing.  SeeTV magnifies
between 1.5x and 4x.  Use the remote to zoom in on maps, weather
reports, and more.  It connects to any TV set, DVD player, or
VCR.  Using SeeTV, you can freeze-frame and scroll across the
screen at a leisurely pace--good for reading news headlines,
stock tickers, or other text.  For additional information, call
800-804-8004 and ask for operator 3 to learn more or schedule a
demonstration.  
      *Premier Assistive Technology has available the Ultimate
Talking Dictionary, a PC-based dictionary and thesaurus that
reads definitions as well as the word itself.  The dictionary
contains more than 250,000 words, including people, places, slang
and common phrases.  It also includes a spelling feature, a
"power search" feature, a thesaurus, hot-key word look-up, and
word histories.  It offers a "zoom" feature, which allows users
to enlarge the print, and it works with screen readers and
magnifiers.  The Ultimate Talking Dictionary is available for
$29.95.  Call 815-722-5961.  It may be purchased online at
www.readingmadeeasy.com.  

 
                                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


