THE WHITE CANE BULLETIN
Florida Council of The Blind, Inc.
January - February, 2001
FCB OFFICERS, 2000- 2002
President:
Robert Miller
4128 Kreisch Way
Tallahassee, FL 32310
(850) 942-9821
E-mail:
EasyTalk@concentric.net
First Vice President:
Jesus Garcia
5955 W. 16th Lane
Hialeah, FL. 33012
(305) 471-0441 EXT (444)
E-mail:
JesusGar@BellSouth.net
Second Vice President:
Patti Davis
528 Orange Drive Unit 11
Altamonte Springs, FL 32701
(407) 767-8616
Treasurer:
James R. Warth, Jr.
1859 N. Washington Avenue
Clearwater, FL 34615
(727) 461 - 1219
E-mail:
jrw@ij.net
Membership Secretary:
Nancy Folsom
6500 Montrose Trail
Tallahassee, FL 32308
(850) 893-8650
E-mail:
Insight@Nettally.com
Recording Secretary:
Sharon Youngs
237 Maple Avenue
Palm Harbor, FL 34684
(727) 937-8631
E-mail:
sky11@tampabay.rr.com
Editors of White Cane Bulletin
Bill and Bobbie Probst
11721 Dunes Way Dr., N.
Jacksonville, FL 32225-1888
(904) 641-0709
FAX (904) 998-9012
E-mail:
Wantom@aol.com
and
BobbieHP@aol.com
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
President's Message, Robert Miller
Editors Notes
News Notes from the National Office, Charles Crawford
1. ACB scholarship applications available
2. ACB to research accessible voting machines and tools
New Year's Resolutions??? Benjamin Franklin
Survivor - FCCLV, Rosanna M. Lippen
Talking ATM's arrive in Florida, Scott G. Grimes
Winter 2001 Board Meeting Announced
Unique no risk fund raiser for chapters
Viewing local chapters from afar, Ron Brooks
In memory of Gibson, Robert Miller
The top ten most potent food disease fighters
Does sound improves sight?
William Ferrell Wins Award
Words of wisdom, Mother Teresa
Websites to try
FCB on the internet, Robert Miller
Meetings around the state
Goodies from members' kitchens
Chapter liaisons
+++ Inserted jokes +++
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
By Robert Miller
I hope that all of you had a safe and wonderful holiday season and have plenty of energy for the coming year. Now that we have
gotten past the dimpled and pregnant chads, it is time to focus on what we will be facing in 2001. Personally, I think we will see many changes for the
betterment of the visually impaired in
Florida.
A lot of times when there is change, most people are skeptical, but we should keep an open mind and make sure we are
there to be heard when it is most important.
The first issue we will deal with in 2001 is the transition of the Division of Blind Services from Department of Labor to the Department of Education which
will occur on January 2. I spoke to Randy Touchton earlier this month and he assured me that both departments have been working together for a smooth
transition. I have recently learned that the Department of Education will advertise the position for the director of The Division of Blind services on
January 2.
Some of you may have heard rumors that Craig Kiser was considering and being considered for this position, Well, this is true! I have known Craig for about
10 years and think he would be an excellent choice to head the Division. Craig is totally blind and has been very active in advocating for the visually
impaired.
For most of Craig's life he used a cane for travel, but a couple of years ago got his first dog guide. He is very knowledgeable in adaptive
technology since he used it in his private law practice and as Chief Deputy Comptroller for the Department of Banking and Finance where he is currently
employed. Mr. Kiser has also served on the Federal Access Board. As you can tell, Mr. Kiser knows the needs and concerns we face every day. He will
be interviewed on January 2 by Robin Safely. If you would like to show your support for Mr. Kiser you can reach Robin's secretary at (850) 487-2447.
Another issue we will most likely face in the near future is a
result of the voting dilemma in Florida. I immediately received
inquiries regarding accessibility of voting precincts In Florida
from ACB. ACB will be participating in a Civil Rights committee
hearing here in Tallahassee on January 11 to testify about the
absence of secret ballots for the visually impaired.
I think this is a golden opportunity for us to deal with an important issue that has been on the burner for about three years.
Now for some housekeeping:
I would like to remind all chapter representatives to report their new officers and board representatives so we can prepare for our board meeting on January
19. I am working on assigning committee chairs and the new chairs need to know who the new board representatives are so they can select members for their
committees.
Some of you already know that the new FCB website was posted on
December 15. It is looking and sounding good. We have a lot of
Work to do, but things are coming along nicely. On the website we have links for all chapters and affiliates. It is each chapter's responsibility to
provide the information they would like to post on the site.
Please send the information to the Webmaster link on the site. The URL is www.fcb.org. You
must type the WWW, since it is part of our registered domain name. Due to the hard work of John Richards, we also have a chat room for FCB. You can go
to the chat room by clicking on the chat link on our site. When you choose this link, it will take you to a site called for-the-people.com who generously
donated the chat room to FCB. Check for instructions on how to set up your computer and find the chat room in another article in this issue of the WCB.
JUMP TO THE ARTICLE, FCB on the internet
In closing, I would like to retract an announcement I made in the
last issue of WCB. It gives me great pleasure to tell you that
Bill and Bobbie Probst have agreed to continue as editors of The
White Cane Bulletin because of another changing direction their lives took. FCB has furnished them with its new computers and they are flying at warp
speed.
I look forward to seeing all the old and new board reps in
Orlando in January and am also looking forward to my first Presidents Meeting with ACB in Iowa on January 13.
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Editors Notes:
As Robert Miller mentioned we will continue our addiction to editing the White Cane Bulletin as our life has taken another sudden turn. We would like to
thank everyone for their continued support, comments, criticisms, and articles. Remember there is an interesting article hiding in each one of us, you
might like to share your experiences in this year 2001.
We wish everyone a very Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year, and look forward to seeing you
at the next meeting.
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NEWS NOTES FROM NATIONAL OFFICE
By Charles Crawford, ACB Executive Director
* ACB SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS NOW AVAILABLE.
Persons wishing to apply for an ACB scholarship and who have not already requested the application from the national office, should call the national
office at 800-424-8666 or write us at
1155 15th Street NW, Suite 1004, in Washington, DC 20005.
We anticipate that those interested will be able to apply
online at our web site
(WWW.ACB.org) within the next few days and send the documentation needed afterwards.
This year's applications will be due by February 1. So get them back to us soon and good luck in your academic pursuits!!!
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* ACB TO RESEARCH ACCESSIBLE VOTING MACHINES AND TOOLS.
With all the uproar around the Florida votes, there are
plenty of public officials and elected representatives discussing
the need to reform our national voting systems. We have
therefore begun a more extensive research project into accessible
voting machines, tools, procedures and equipment.
We are hopeful that we will be able to complete the task and share the
information gathered by the start of January. This will allow
affiliates and the national organization to take more of a
leadership and representative role for our community as the
action starts up in Congress and the state legislature.
+++ A man who does not lie to a woman has very little consideration for her feelings. +++
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NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS????
By Benjamin Franklin
Thinking about making some New Years Resolutions? If you haven't thought about it, Benjamin Franklin, one of the most respected founding father's of our
country, will lend a helping hand from his Autobiography. He reflected on his character and picked out 13 virtues in which he felt he needed to change
his habits to become perfect. These, along with his explanations, are:
1. Temperance: Eat not to dullness, drink not to elevation.
2. Silence: Speak not, but what may benefit others or yourself, avoid trifling conversations.
3. Order: Let all things have their places, let each part of your business have its time.
4. Resolution: Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve.
5. Frugality: Make no expense, but to do good to others or yourself, IE., waste nothing.
6. Industry: Lose no time; be always employed in something useful; cut off all unnecessary action.
7. Sincerity: Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly; and if you speak, speak accordingly.
8. Justice: Wrong none by doing injustice, or omitting the benefits that are your duty.
9. Moderation: Avoid extremes; do not resent injuries done to you, or at least limit them to what they deserve.
10. Cleanliness: Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, clothes or habitation.
11. Tranquility: Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable.
12. Chastity: (Did not elaborate.)
13. Humility: Imitate Jesus and Socrates.
If you have resolutions you would like to share, write to us and we will add them to Ben's in the next issue.
E-mail:
Wantom@aol.com
and
BobbieHP@aol.com
Editors resolution for you:
BE HAPPY, lighten up, have some fun and keep it simple.
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SURVIVOR
By Rosanna M. LIPPEN, FCCLV President
A theme for FCCLV's May 19, 2001, Convention in
the Fort Lauderdale Airport Hilton Hotel might be "Survivor."
Is it a game show with a million dollar prize? Not quite. But prizes will be abundant in the Florida Council of Low Vision's session entitled "Surviving
Low Vision". For those who pre-register, we are attempting to create survival kits with fun and adaptive items that will help make your life a bit easier
and more productive. And our workshops will include items to help deal with everyday life situations faced by the partially sighted and tips
to help make living a bit easier.
Stay tuned. More information will follow, and get ready to learn how to get the most out of the remaining vision you have. Dr. Marc J. Gannon will again
be our keynote speaker, but we are looking for other special interests for
our members. Any suggestions?
Drop me a line at:
lippen@gate.net!
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TALKING ATMS HAVE ARRIVED IN FLORIDA!
By: Scott G. Grimes
Senior Paralegal, Saperstein, Goldstein, Demchak & Baller
On December 4, 2000, Bank of America announced that it has installed Florida's first talking ATMs in nine cities across the state. The Florida cities to
receive these first talking ATMs are Cocoa Beach, Coconut Creek, Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Miami, Ocala, Orlando, St. Petersburg and Tampa (Exact
locations are listed below).
It is important that these machines get lots of use by the blind community. Please use them whenever you can and pass this message on to your friends! Hundreds more talking ATMs will be installed in Florida by Bank of America over the next two years.
Talking ATMs provide audible instructions privately through an earphone plugged into a standard 3.5 mm audio-jack in the machine. Earphones will be provided
by the bank. These machines will make it easier for blind users to withdraw cash, deposit money and perform other ATM transactions.
Doug Hall, Chair of the Access Committee of
the Florida Council of the Blind, praised the Bank's announcement. "We are thrilled that Bank of America has taken this important step in providing independent
access to banking services in our state. We applaud Bank of
America and urge other banks in Florida to follow the example of Bank of America."
As a result of negotiations with the attorneys for the California Council of the Blind and several blind individuals, Bank of America announced earlier
this year that it would install more than 2,500 talking ATMs in California and Florida - its two biggest markets - over a three-year period.
Talking ATMs were first introduced in California in May of this year, and there are currently 45 Bank of America talking ATMs in California. (There are also over
175 talking ATMs operated by Wells Fargo and Citibank in California.) "The Talking ATMs have been very well received by our customers in California", said
Bill Raymond, senior vice president and manager of Bank of
America's ATM program. According to Lainey Feingold and Linda Dardarian, lawyers for the California Council of the Blind who negotiated with Bank of America,
the California machines "have been a great success and have placed Bank of America in the forefront of financial institutions in providing
access to the blind community."
Plans to install the ATMs in other states where Bank of America operates will be worked out early next year. Attorneys Feingold
and Dardardian strongly urge everyone who is blind or visually impaired, and everyone else who would benefit from audible instructions on an ATM, to use
the machines. Earphones can be obtained by visiting the customer service representatives at the branches listed below,
or by calling Bank of America's toll-free customer service telephone line,
1-800-299-2265.
Using these machines will send a message to banks across the country about the importance of talking ATMs. Attorneys Feingold and Dardarian are also interested
in receiving feedback- both positive and negative - from those who use the machines, as well as suggestions for future Talking ATMs locations. Comments
can be submitted the CCB Talking ATM Team by email at:
bank@sgdbLaw.com
or by calling 1-888-316-8870.
Bank of America Talking ATM Locations in Florida:
55 W Church Street
Fashion Square, 3117 E Colonial Drive
For further information, contact Doug Hall at:
1-226-6570, Ext. 6040.
+++ A woman wrote to a daily paper from a very lonely rural spot as follows:
"My sister and I are not exactly lonely out here. We have got each other to
speak to, but we need another woman to talk about. +++
WINTER 2001 BOARD MEETING ANNOUNCED
The location is the Rosen Plaza Hotel located at 9700 International Drive, Orlando, FL 32819.
Reservations can be made by calling 1-800-627-8258 or 407-996-1733
The dates are from January 19, 2001, starting at 4:00 p.m. with an Executive Board meeting and continuing until Saturday evening January 20, 2001.
If you recall, the Rosen Plaza was formally the Clarion, where FCB and ACB both held annual meetings in 1998. It is a wonderful location with dozens of
eating establishments and other entertainment within walking distance.
The hotel rate will be $86 a night. This location is ideal for a great mixture of business and pleasure, so you may wish to extend your stay and take advantage
of the area and attractions before or after our business meeting. The rate is good for three days before and three days after our session. But we need
all board representatives and committee chairpersons present to conduct a productive and successful board meeting in preparation for our Annual Convention
in May at the Fort Lauderdale Airport Sheraton Hotel.
We'll see you there.
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UNIQUE NO RISK FUND RAISER FOR CHAPTERS
The Watkins Corporation, a well established, well known company started in 1868, is now offering, for a limited time, to nonprofit organizations with 501c3
status, an opportunity to establish a free website, free membership and free web maintenance.
This start-up, turnkey fund raising opportunity would have a value of $238.99, with a monthly ongoing web maintenance fee of $19.00 and an annual fee of
$228.00, but at this time is free with no hidden gimmicks.
The Watkins product line is very extensive and includes gourmet foods, and beverages, remedies for aches and pains, quality home and pet care products,
dietary supplements, pure aromatherapy and many unique quality products used everyday by householders.
The products can be purchased by members and friends
and Watkins will pay the chapter between 19% and 25% commission.
To find out how your chapter can take advantage of this unusual opportunity and generate consistent revenue, please contact Barbara Brown, Jacksonville
Chapter president for complete details.
Phone: 904-725-9773E-mail: watkins-jcb@mediaone.net.
Linda Ward is an alternate contact at: Phone 904-721-7166
email: thewatkinslady@mediaone.net
Meanwhile, if you would like to try the products, call the company directly at 1-800-247-5907,
or order on the website at:
"www.watkinsonline.com/jcb".
Be sure to use the identification number which is 321562, for both ways of ordering.
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VIEWING LOCAL CHAPTERS FROM AFAR
By Ron Brooks
When my wife Lisa and I boarded the plane in Palm Beach for the two and a half hour flight to Dallas and the continuing hour and a half flight to Albuquerque,
we knew that we would miss a lot about Florida.
We knew, for example, that we would miss friends with whom we had spent the last four years getting to
know. We knew we would especially miss people whom we would be unable to visit except for an occasional phone call and/or infrequent email message.
We also figured that we'd miss the weather, or at
least the winter weather. Albuquerque, in fact, is known for exceptionally good weather, but take it from me; there's nothing like the winters in Palm
Beach County. It's almost always sunny, and unlike some parts of Florida,
the temperature almost always hits 70, even in the dead of January.
One thing which we had thought about missing some but only in a vague sort of way, was the FCB itself. AT the time of our departure to New Mexico, Lisa
and I were members of the Palm Beach County Chapter, where we were both very active, having edited our chapter newsletter, served on committees, served
on the Board, planned and helped with fundraisers, and generally helped to
do whatever needed doing. Further, I was also quite involved in the state organization; I had planned three state convention programs, and I had served
on a number of statewide committees, such as Resolutions, Constitution and Bylaws, and of course, Convention.
Consequently, we sort of figured that we
would miss the organization.
On the other hand, we were moving to a new city and state, and we would be swamped with new activities, finding a home, paying for it, learning our new
neighborhood, meeting and making new friends, and so much more. We sort of
figured that we wouldn't really miss the FCB for at least a few months. This was, in fact, a good thing because New Mexico does not have an ACB affiliate,
nor does it have local chapters. In the "Land of Enchantment", (as New Mexico is called), blind people can join the NFB, or they can sit at
home.
As it turns out, I for one (and I believe that Lisa shares my feelings to some extent) miss the organized blind movement, as embodied by the ACB and its
state and local chapters) very much. I have found that there is a hole
in my life, which is not easily filled, despite the fact that my schedule is quite intense. It is for this reason that I decided to write this article.
Think of my writings as the thoughts of an emigrate, who has left Florida and the land of the FCB chapter, and who can now share (from first-hand experience)
exactly what it's like to not have a local chapter to visit and support.
No Chapter Meeting
The most obvious change in my life since coming to the land of no FCB is the lack of a monthly chapter meeting. Now, I remember Saturday mornings in Palm
Beach County, when the absolute last thing I wanted to do was to get out of bed, dress, walk the eight tenths of a mile to the bus stop, ride the bus for
twenty minutes, and walk the remaining half mile to a chapter meeting. After all, the chapter meetings consisted mostly of a couple of
doughnuts, a cup or two of coffee, a fifty/fifty raffle, a business meeting, sometimes a program, and a whole lot of talking. As it turns out, I miss these
meetings tremendously. I miss the greetings. I miss the environment where we blind people can simply drop our guard and hang out, if only for two hours.
I miss the reports on people, and guide dogs who have been sick, and I miss the competition of voices, all calling for the floor to debate
some issue, which may or may not have much to do with the advancement of the cause of blindness. Heck, I even miss the singing for the month's "birthday
victims." I guess that what I miss is the organizational culture of a local affiliate. There are some who feel that this monthly meeting is of only nominal
value. I do not agree. I think that the monthly chapter meeting gives us all an opportunity to forge and reinforce our unity as an organization, and
it gives us all (and especially new members) a place to be ourselves, a place where it's okay to be blind and to not be inspirational.
The Chapter Business
There were so many times when I sat in chapter meetings, listening to (and often participating in) chapter motions, friendly and not-so-friendly amendments
to motions, substitute motions and motions to table. Well, this, too,I have come to miss. Why, I can barely remember if we used Robert's Rules or Robert's
Rules Revised or maybe it was Robert's Rules Newly Revised. Anyway, I have come to realize that all of the political and pseudo-political machinations
of a local chapter meeting were not only funny; they were fun. Moreover, on many occasions, they were the best guarantee of democracy, especially when
feelings ran high on a particular issue. It is precisely this process of motions and amendments and calling for the question, which
gets the work done, and what great work we did! I mean, we not only planned great holiday parties, we wrote resolutions about audible pedestrian signals,
and we developed positions on issues which affected our daily lives. My Palm Beach County chapter wasn't a perfect chapter, but it tried as hard as any
chapter to figure out what mattered in its community, and it worked on those issues. I miss this civic spirit, and I miss it a lot.
The Program
One year while in Palm Beach County, I served as the Program Coordinator for our chapter. I remember that finding guest speakers was fairly difficult,
and sometimes, the programs weren't the greatest. However, I think I miss having a program almost as much as I miss having a chapter. Our local chapters
and their monthly meetings and programs are still the best way to create an opportunity to educate ourselves and others on issues facing people who are
blind and/or on new developments in technology, changes in legislation, upcoming community events, etc. Having a vital program every month (or at
least on a frequent basis) is one of the most critical things we can do, and it's one of the reasons new guests join us.
Conclusion
I'm guessing that some of you are wondering why I wrote this article in the first place. I can assure you that my intent was not to decry our loss of a
local chapter in Albuquerque. In fact, we love Albuquerque, and we'll probably stay here a long time. My reason for writing the article was to congratulate
those of you, who have and participate in strong local
chapters, and to urge the rest of you to see the local chapter for the great and powerful tool that it can be, and then to encourage you to pick up that
tool and to wield it powerfully. There are so many things you can accomplish with your strong local chapters, and there are so many issues which need
your attention. Please don't let your Saturdays (or Thursdays
or whatever) pass you by. And if you find yourself in a community without a chapter, start one. That's what I hope to do.
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IN MEMORY OF GIBSON
By Robert Miller
As many of you who were at the fall board meeting know, I had a new Leader Dog named Harley who is a beautiful German Shepherd. For as long as all of you
have known me I had a wonderful friend Gibson who was retired on September 10, 2000, after eleven and a half years of service. Due to deteriorating health,
on December 4, I had to make one of the hardest decisions of my life and have him put to sleep. Gibson lived a wonderful life of thirteen years and two
months. I
would like to submit the following poem that was sent to me on e-mail in his memory.
Rainbow Bridge
Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge. When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone
here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.
When an animal dies that has been There, there are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so
they can run and play together.
There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are
warm and comfortable.
All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health
and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are
happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.
They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers.
Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and
faster.
You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend
finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be
parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands
again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the
trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.
Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....
Author unknown
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THE TOP TEN MOST POTENT FOOD DISEASE FIGHTERS
According to Peter Jaret writing in Nov - Dec Health Magazine, after extensive research, has come up with the following list of the top ten anti-cancer
foods that will help fight disease and build the immune system:
Spinach and Beans (all varieties).
Eat healthy, feel better, live longer and enjoy your food.
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CAN SOUND IMPROVE SIGHT?
By: Cathryn Conroy
Want to SEE Better? Do This...
...Listen! It sounds weird, but sounds can actually enhance a person's ability to see things more clearly. How? The two senses are more closely linked than
previously thought. "We found that what people hear significantly influences what they see," said John McDonald, who led a team of researchers at the University
of California, San Diego School of Medicine that investigated the connection between seeing and hearing. This much was known: The brain deals with information
from multiple stimuli by filtering out non-essential data. McDonald's team has shown how the brain also uses one sense to enhance another. "Our results
suggest that you will see an object or event more clearly if it makes a sound before you see it," said Steven Hillyard, who contributed to the study. They
tested it by asking 33 volunteers to indicate when a dim light appeared after they had heard a sound. They presented the light and sound on the same and
different sides of the volunteers. When the light and sound came from the same direction the light was detected more accurately. "We found that paying
attention to a sudden sound enhances our ability to see visual stimuli that appear at the same location," McDonald explained. The findings may also shed
light on mental illness, brain disorders, and attention problems. "As we continue to learn how individuals perceive the multiple stimuli taking place around
them, we'll have data from normal brain function to compare with and help us understand abnormal conditions such as attention deficit disorder," McDonald
said.
+++ A philosopher is one who always knows what to do until it happens to him. +++
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WORDS OF WISDOM
By Mother Teresa
People are often unreasonable, illogical,
and self centered; Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you
of being selfish with ulterior motives: Be kind
anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some
false friends and some true enemies;
Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and frank, people may
cheat you; Be honest and frank anyway.
What you spend years building, someone
could destroy overnight; Build anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, they
may be jealous; Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, will often
be forgotten tomorrow: Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have, and it
may never be enough; Give the world the
best you have anyway.
You see, in the final analysis, it is
between you and God: It was never
between you and "them" anyway.
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WEBSITES TO TRY
Florida Council of the Blind:
www.fcb.org (include www)
American Council of the Blind:
ACB.org
American Foundation for the Blind:
AFB.org
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FCB ON THE INTERNET
By Robert Miller, President
For those with technology capability and interest in talking with other members on the FCB chat room.
John Richards of the Inter-County Chapter (Ocala) who is on the Technology Committee accepted the responsibility of
checking into the possibility and cost of adding a chat room to
the under-development FCB web site. Well it paid off and there was
no cost. We had our first chat room during the middle of December. Although there were not many in attendance, everything went well and we could communicate
as clearly as a bell.
"For The People" has agreed to provide a 20-user chat room to FCB and asks that we support their site. We are currently working out some of the moderator
and technical details but as of today the chat room is up and running.
In order to use the chat room you need to do the following.
http://www.audio-tips.com
and choose the test voice chat link. After choosing this link you will be prompted to type in a user
name; do so then press "enter"; then wait, your system will prompt you to download the Lipstream chat software. Initiate the
download by choosing "yes". This process will take about 3 to 4 minutes and will automatically install the necessary software on your
computer.
You will then be prompted to accept the user
license agreement; do so by clicking on the "I accept "button.
After the software is installed you will be prompted to test the installation by pressing "ctrl" and speaking in to your microphone. After
a second or so, you should hear what you spoke in to the microphone. If this happens then you should be ready to chat.
Eventually, we will have a direct link on our web site but for now the link is:
http://www.for-the-people.com/members/mem-users.htm
(please note the dashes) then, click on the link "Affiliate rooms - members
only, when the page loads, click on the link "Florida ACB". At
that point, you will be prompted to type in a user name, do so and press "enter". The lipstream chat software will then launch and you will be logged in
to the room.
The way We will set up the chat room is as follows, I think, unless there is a committee meeting on the chat room. It will be open for who ever wants to
hang out and chat.
If a committee wants to have a meeting, they will have to let me know and set up a time and have a pass-word to get in to the meeting.
These meetings will be closed to everyone except the authorized committee members. So for now, get that software downloaded and let me know if you want
to participate in this exciting adventure.
MEETINGS AROUND THE STATE
BOYNTON BEACH:
The Macular Disease Association of Boynton Beach meets the third Tuesday of each month at 3:00 P.M. At Bethesda Health City Hagen Arch Road
at Boynton Beach Blvd inn west Boynton Beach. We offer services to people who are visually impaired from Deerfield Beach to Jupiter and can be reached
by phone at:
(561) 375-8956 or by e-mail:
jeractor@aol.com
ST. AUGUSTINE:
V.I.P. Group meets once a month on the 3rd Thursday at Trinity Episcopal Church at 2 p.m. The church is located at the corner of King and
St. George Streets at the City Plaza. The group has been in existence for some years but recently had a turnover of leadership and some new members. We
are trying to focus on technological and health issues as well as independent living and fellowship.
Jim Donnelly conducts the meetings. For information you may call him at (904) 829-2150 or
Marilyn Wright at (904) 797-3387.
We are a small group who want to reach out to others with similar needs in our community. I am sure if you come to a meeting it will be worth your while
and our pleasure to welcome you.
+++ "Socialized medicine is when women get together at a tea party to tell each other about their operations. +++
GOODIES FROM MEMBERS' KITCHENS
Chocolate Cheerio Bars, By Jean Knutsen
1/2 c white corn syrup
1 6-ox pkg semi-sweet chocolate pieces
1tsp vanilla
4 c Cheerio cereal
Butter a square 9X9 pan.
In a sauce pan, heat syrup to boiling point. Remove from heat and add chocolate pieces and vanilla, stirring until chocolate
pieces are melted.
Add cereal. Stir until well coated. Spread the mixture in buttered pan, spreading with the back of a buttered spoon. Cool one hour
then cut into squares. Makes about 3 dozen.
Banana-Cranberry Holiday Bread, from the Internet
Yields: 2 loaves (12 servings each)
Total Time: 2 hours
4 tbls margarine (1/2 stick)
1 oz bag cranberries (about 3 cups)
2/3 c. walnuts, finely chopped
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 large orange
1 medium-size lemon
2 c. mashed ripe banana (about 5 medium-size bananas)
3/4 c. packed brown sugar
1/4 c. sugar
3 large egg whites
1 large egg
2 c. all-purpose flour
2 c. whole-wheat flour
4 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
In a 12-inch skillet over medium heat, in hot margarine, cook cranberries, chopped walnuts, and cinnamon about 10 minutes or until cranberries pop, stirring
mixture frequently. Remove skillet from heat. In the meanwhile, grate peel from orange and lemon.
Squeeze juice from orange (about 1/3 cup) and lemon (about
2 tablespoons). In large bowl, stir together orange and lemon peels and juice, mashed banana, brown sugar, sugar, egg whites, and egg. Preheat oven to
350 degrees F.
Grease two 9" by 5" loaf pans. In medium bowl, stir together all-purpose flour, whole-wheat flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt;
add to egg mixture, stirring to blend. Stir in cranberry mixture just until mixed. Spoon batter into loaf pans.
Bake loaves 50 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean. Cool loaves in pans on wire rack 10 minutes. Remove from pans; cool.
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NEW CHAPTER LIAISONS
Official Chapters
Patti Davis:
Mid-Florida, Tampa, RSVF (407) 767-8616
Carl McCoy:
Brevard, Palm Beach County, Polk (850) 553-9490
Bobbie Probst:
Clay, Alachua, Halifax, PSLCB (904) 641-0709
Robert Miller:
Tallahassee, Upper Pinellas, St. Petersburg (904) 942-9821
Lee Stallworth:
Pensacola, Port Charlotte, FABS (904) 433-5663
Nancy Folsom:
Ocala, Greater Tampa, FCCLV (850) 893-8650
Sharon Youngs:
Plant City, Sarasota, Venice, Englewood (727) 937-8631
Jesus Garcia:
Miami Metro, Broward (305) 654-8329
Jim Warth:
Greater Miami, Jacksonville (727) 443-1040
- The End -
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