Vol. 28, No. 7
SEPTEMBER 2003
MUMBLES
A publication of the Mid-Florida Council of the Blind
MESSAGE FROM MFCB PRESIDENT RACHEL BADER
I hope all of you had a great summer. With September fast approaching, it's time to get back into our usual monthly meeting schedule. At September's meeting, we'll be discussing future events and activities for our chapter to focus on, one of these being White Cane Safety Day coming up in October. I sincerely hope that all of you who are able, will attend.
NEXT GENERAL MEETING
The next General Meeting of MFCB will be at Booth Towers, 633 Lake Dot Circle, Orlando, FL, 32801, on Saturday, September 6, 2003, at 1:00 PM.
President Rachel Bader will call a Board Meeting at 12:30 PM.
There will be no guest speaker for this meeting as we will be planning for activities during "White Cane Safety Day" in October.
JUNE MEETING REVIEW
At the Annual Awards Luncheon June 7 at Red Lobster in Orlando, 44 members were present to enjoy good food and hear Ann Valentini be presented with the "Meritorious Service with Local Chapter" award for MFCB that was announced at the Florida Council of the Blind State Convention May 16th. Also, the Joe Minich Award for MFCB was presented to Pat Spoone for her contributions to the organization, and Scholarship and Awards Committee chairperson Patti Davis presented a Scholarship from MFCB to Claudia Castiblanco Rodrigues, who is attending Valencia Community College, and hopes to work as an interpreter in some capacity, or in the field of languages. She speaks three languages already!
Congratulations to Ann, Pat and Claudia!
MOPIX SERVICE IN CENTRAL FLORIDA
The MoPix technology is now in Central Florida! The capability to show movies with closed-captioning for the hearing-impaired and DVS for visually-impaired is at the new AMC Altamonte Mall 18, located 433 E. Altamonte Dr., Altamonte Springs, FL 32714. If you would like more information about how you can use MoPix, their phone number is 407-551-2262, which is an actual voice line, not a recorded message. The AMC Altamonte Mall 18 has shown such films as "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen," "Bad Boys 2" and "Seabiscuit" in MoPix.
This theater is the only commercial one in the state of Florida with the MoPix system. Let's show our appreciation for having it available to us and check out a movie there soon. There may even be a chance for a group of MFCB members to go to the AMC Altamonte Mall 18 in the near future. Details will be announced in a future issue of MUMBLES.
WHITE CANE SAFETY DAY IS COMING!
October 15, 2003, is an important day for the visually-impaired nationwide. It is the annual "White Cane Safety Day," a day to educate people about the laws that protect the blind when it comes to walking the streets. MFCB is participating with activities during White Cane Safety Day and will be presenting those initial plans at the September General Meeting.
One of those ideas is to hold a "White Cane Bus Ride," which will gather MFCB members onto a bus to go to some shopping malls in the area and make people aware of the importance of the White Cane laws and telling people what MFCB is all about. Another idea is walk around neighborhood malls, giving people copies of the White Cane laws as well as information about MFCB. We would like to know what you think we can do during "White Cane Safety Day," so if you cannot attend the September General Meeting, please contact President Rachel Bader at 407-658- 2479, or e-mail us at mfcbinfo@bellsouth.net with your suggestions before September 6, 2003.
NEW CHAIRPERSON FOR SUNSHINE
It was announced at the Annual June Awards Luncheon that Nicole Hugues is the new Chairperson for the Sunshine Committee. Nicole will be the one sending out birthday and "Get Well" cards to MFCB members as well as making us all feel good to be part of a tremendous organization. Congratulations, Nicole! We know you will do a great job!
BOWLING LEAGUE FOR THE BLIND STARTING SOON
The Family Carter Bowling League, which will include bowlers who are blind, is getting ready to begin. This league bowling starts Friday, September 5, 2003, and will take place every Friday at Carter Family Bowling, 715 S Dillard St., Winter Garden, FL 34787. Cost is $10.00 per person, which covers bowling fees and dues.
The Family Carter Bowling League will take place every Friday from 6:30 pm to 9 pm and last 30 weeks. If you need more information about this new bowling league for the blind, contact Chuck Graham at 407-239-6875.
Chuck would also like MFCB Members to know that during the Memorial Day Weekend, the ABBA (American Blind Bowlers Association) held its annual tournament in Orlando. The Orlando ABBA group finished in Second Place, behind the First Place group by less than 10 pins. Congratulations to all who participated with Chuck in that event!
MEMBERSHIP
Notes from Jay: The MFCB Annual Membership Drive is about to begin. As we have done in the past, the Talking Book Library service will be sending out to its subscribers in Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties information about MFCB and how to become a member of our organization. In addition, we are asking you, the current members, that if you know anyone who would be interested in becoming a member of MFCB, have them contact me at 407-658-2479 or e-mail mfcbinfo@bellsouth.net and I will follow-up with what information is needed to become a part of MFCB.
Also, we will begin to take renewals on current memberships. With the decision at the FCB State Convention not to increase state dues, the cost for MFCB Membership will continue to be $10.00 for the year. You can renew beginning at the September General Meeting and pay by cash, check or money order. If you plan to write a check or money order, make it payable to MFCB.
And a reminder that I am accepting any submissions to MUMBLES. All submissions must arrive by regular mail or e-mail to me by the 15th of the month as issues are prepared shortly after that. I will make sure you are credited with the submission. If you have any further questions, please call me at 407-658-2479 or e-mail at mfcbinfo@bellsouth.net.
I hope everyone has enjoyed their Summer break. Looking forward to seeing most of you at the September General Meeting.
BIRTHDAY PEOPLE
AUGUST
11 - Charles Prizmonte
16 - Scott Larson
20 - Shelley Justice (the former Shelley Bell)
24 - Elaine Sanders
31 - Rev. A.E. Heumann
SEPTEMBER
1 - Marlene Moore
6 - Nicole Hugues
8 - Larry Edgecombe
10 - Mary Gates
13 - Jay Bader
14 - Marion Eiermann
24 - Alvaro DeLugo
26 - George Bachman
27 - Dan Spoone