THE WHITE CANE BULLETIN
FLORIDA COUNCIL OF THE BLIND, INC.
January - February 2006
FCB OFFICERS, 2004 - 2006
President:
Paul Edwards
20330 N. E. 20th Ct.
Miami, FL 33179
(305) 692-9206
E-mail: edwpaul@comcast.net
First Vice President:
Debbie Grubb
4215 17th Ave. W.
Bradenton, FL 34205-1418
(941) 749-6178
E-mail: debbiecg@verizon.net
Second Vice President:
James R. Warth, Jr.
1859 N. Washington Ave.
Clearwater, FL 33755
(727) 461-7067
E-mail: james.warth@verizon.net
Treasurer:
Patti Davis Land
6933 Alpert Dr.
Orlando, FL 32810
(407) 521-9047
E-mail: pattianne1@cfl.rr.com
Membership Secretary:
Linda Jacobson
2915 Circle Ridge Dr.
Orange Park, FL 32065
(904) 272-8405
E-mail: jacobsli@bellsouth.net
Recording Secretary:
Sharon Youngs
237 Maple Ave.
Palm Harbor, FL 34684
(727) 937-8631
E-mail: sky11@tampabay.rr.com
Immediate Past President:
Robert Miller
2201 Limerick Dr.
Tallahassee, FL 32309
(850) 906-9821
E-mail: easytalk@earthlink.net
Editor of White Cane Bulletin:
Sharon Youngs
237 Maple Ave.
Palm Harbor, FL 34684
(727) 937-8631
E-mail: sky11@tampabay.rr.com
Articles for the White Cane Bulletin must be submitted to Sally Benjamin no later than the 20th of the month before it is published.
Sally's E-mail is: salbenjamin@comcast.net. If you do not have access to a computer
and E-mail, please find someone in your chapter to help send it. We would like to hear from anyone who wants to contribute to our
newsletter.
Articles published in The White Cane Bulletin are in compliance with Public Law No. 104197, Copyright Law Amendment of 1996.
This law allows authorized entities to distribute copies of previously published non-dramatic literary works in specialized formats,
including Braille, audio or digital text that are exclusively for use by Blind people or those with disabilities. Any further distributing of such
articles in another than a specialized format is an infringement of copyright.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ARE YOU MOVING? - by Linda Jacobson
REMINDER
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE - by Paul Edwards
THE END IS NEAR - by Sharon Youngs
A SPECIAL EFFORT: STARBUCKS IS REACHING OUT TO PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES -- BOTH AS EMPLOYEES AND
AS CUSTOMERS (WALL STREET JOURNAL, NOVEMBER 14TH, 2005) - Submitted by Sally Benjamin
DINING IN THE DARK SOLD OUT - by Barbara Ross, FIRE Executive Director
THE WHITE CANE LAW AWARENESS ISSUE - Submitted By Jack Varnon
A TALE OF TCB'S TRAVEL TROUBLES - by Sila Miller
TECH TIPS - by John Richards for the FCB Technology Committee
WAL-MART INSTALLS NEW EQUIPMENT TO PROTECT FINANCIAL PRIVACY OF WAL-MART SHOPPERS WITH
VISUAL IMPAIRMENTS - Submitted by Sally Benjamin
CHAPTER NEWS - Clay Council of the Blind, Pinellas Council of the Blind, Port St. Lucie Council of the Blind,
Tallahassee Council of the Blind
RECIPE CORNER
FCB TRADING POST
HANDY TELEPHONE NUMBER REFERENCES
ARE YOU MOVING? - by Linda Jacobson
If you are moving, please notify me of your new address so you will continue to receive your White Cane Bulletin. Also, if you know of
anyone interested in joining FCB and would like to receive the White Cane Bulletin and the Braille Forum, please contact me at (904)
272-8405 or E-mail jacobsli@bellsouth.net.
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REMINDER
The Sheraton Safari Hotel is where we will be for our Annual Convention this year. The dates of the Convention are Thursday, May 11th,
to Sunday, May 14th, 2006.
The hotel is located at 12205 Apopka-Vineland Road in the Lake Buena Vista area of Orlando. The direct number to the hotel is (407)
239-0444 to make a reservation. Remember to state you are booking under our group's name.
Further convention information will follow in future White Cane Bulletins.
Prepare for ACB Convention 2006 – July 8th to July 17th, 2006, Hyatt Regency Hotel, Jacksonville
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PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE - by Paul Edwards
SOME QUESTIONS OF TIME
At the end of my last message, I promised that this message would be about JWOD. Time slipped away from me and I need to beg
your indulgence until February. In fact, part of what I want to talk about in this message is just how quickly time slips through our hands.
As all of you probably know, I have had a chance this year to get to know more than I ever wanted to about just how transitory life is and
how important it is to use time well.
A lot of the petty day-to-day minutia that clogs our lives needs somehow to be handled. And yet, we must also find some time to do the
things we don't do because of those very petty things. Spend time with grandchildren! Take a sunset walk with a person you care
about! Read a book you loved as a child! Spend some quality time examining where you are and where you are going!
I spent a lot of time this year looking at my use of time and what I found about my past and, to an extent about my present, was scary. It
was scary because my priorities were all wrong. I put the needs of others far ahead of the needs of my family members. I took all kinds
of things for granted about people I loved until they were gone!
Does that mean that I am advocating lessening your commitment to FCB? Of course it doesn't. It does mean being conscious of how
precious time is. It also means that I am here to thank all of you who share some of your most valuable commodity with FCB: your
time.
And, of course, there is an obvious corollary to what I just said. FCB has an obligation to deserve your time. I am convinced that we do!
I am also convinced that many of you don't know how or why FCB is important to your lives. So, as part of my time management plan, I
offer these resolutions.
Next year, I will be available in our FCB Chat Room once a month with one or more of our officers to talk about a specific issue with you. I
will also do a better job of getting the word out through our FCB List about what is happening with FCB and ACB. Our officers have
already been assigned specific chapters for which each of us will be responsible. That means that each and every chapter of FCB will
be visited at least once this year by one of our officers.
Our specific plans are still being worked on. We officers will be undergoing some training from the Membership Chair of another ACB
affiliate that, unlike Florida, is growing. What we know now is that our visits will be to meet and talk with chapter members and to take a
look with each chapter at how each chapter is put together and how we, at the state level, can make things better for local or Special
Interest affiliates.
We must also be sure that it is not just our members who know what FCB is doing. People in Florida need to know what the needs of
people who are blind are. We must do a better job of communicating with our legislators, our state officials and local county
governments. We must also somehow let the public, in general, know more about the needs of people who are blind. This can only be
done by persuading newspapers and other elements of the media to write about what we are doing and why.
What we do in FCB is important! The time you and I devote to making things better for blind people is crucial and necessary. The
question is how we optimize the use of our time so that we get the most out of the time we have. Each of us has to answer this question
for him or herself. For me, the key is a balance. I am determined to find the time to make things better for others. I am also determined
to create some quality personal opportunities that will make certain that I never again have to regret that I did not have enough time for
friends or family because other things were more important.
So, at the end of a year, when all of us are making resolutions for ways to make ourselves better in the new year, I would urge each of
you to spend a little of your resolution making thinking about how you spend each moment of your life. They are precious and, every
second that goes by, will not come again! Use each moment wisely! Give time to us in FCB and give time to yourselves and those you
love! At this time of giving, it is the most precious gift you can give to anyone!
There is a folk singer from North Carolina named David Lamotte who I had the pleasure of seeing live in concert earlier this year. He
sums up what I am trying to say. In one of his songs he says: "There is no time like the present, and no present like time!" Remember
it!
Below is a list of the duties for chapter liaisons and their assignments.
1. The officer liaison assigned to the FCB chapters must visit that chapter at least once a year.
2. After their visit, the officer will write up an analysis of the visit and publish this analysis to the execs E-mail list.
Some things to look for during the visit:
A. Indicate who the leaders are in the group and if these people are blind or sighted.
B. What do they think FCB should be doing for them? How can we help?
C. What kind of members and what do they want from their chapter?
D. What are some suggestions for helping FCB and their chapter grow?
Alachua: Patti Land
Brevard: Paul Edwards
Clay: Patti Land
Greater Miami: Linda Jacobson
Halifax: Paul Edwards
Inter-County: Debbie Grubb
Jacksonville: Jim Warth
Miami Metro: Jim Warth
Mid-Florida: Robert Miller
Palm Beach: Linda Jacobson
Pensacola: Jim Warth
Pinellas: Robert Miller
PSLCB: Sharon Youngs
Sarasota: Linda Jacobson
Tallahassee: Sharon Youngs
Tampa: Debbie Grubb
Venice: Paul Edwards
The following special interest chapters only meet during Convention:
CCTB (Coalition for the Concerns of the Totally Blind), Patti Land
FCBS (Florida Coalition of Blind Students), Jesus Garcia
FCCLV (Florida Council of Citizens with Low Vision), Robert Miller
RSVF (Randolf Shepherd Vendors of Florida), Paul Edwards
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THE END IS NEAR - by Sharon Youngs
I don’t want to alarm you but if you are anything like me you’ve put it off just about as long as you can. The time limit for submitting
nominations for the different FCB Awards is January 31st, 2006.
The last two issues of the White Cane Bulletin have contained the criteria for the different awards. The Awards Committee met in the
Chat Room on the 21st of December to review the nominations so far. But we would like to see more nominations from you. FCB is a
membership organization made up of many very deserving people. We need to know about the ones you think are the most
deserving.
You may submit your nominations to me. But please do so at once. My E-mail address and postal address are both included in the
list of officers. It will be easier for me if you make the title line "Awards Nomination." So, remember, you only have until January 31st to
get your nominations to me.
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A SPECIAL EFFORT: STARBUCKS IS REACHING OUT TO PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES -- BOTH AS EMPLOYEES
AND AS CUSTOMERS (WALL STREET JOURNAL, NOVEMBER 14TH, 2005) - Submitted by Sally Benjamin
(This article was written by Michael Corkery of The Wall Street Journal. Mr. Corkery is a staff reporter in The Wall Street Journal's New
York bureau.)
If Starbucks has its way, its future work force will look more like Michelle Penman.
Thirty-six-year-old Ms. Penman, who has cerebral palsy, spends three hours getting ready for work every morning. Because she has
trouble speaking and has limited mobility, customers must write down their orders and place them on her wheelchair. She returns with
their coffee and food on a tray or in a backpack affixed to her motorized wheelchair.
The Seattle-based coffee giant has already turned Ms. Penman into something of a company icon. The Starbucks CEO mentions her in
his speeches as an example of the devotion of the company's work force, and says he keeps her picture in his office.
Now Starbucks Corp. wants to make Ms. Penman a literal model employee. As the company expands its outlets, it is trying to tap into
the growing pool of job seekers with disabilities. The goal: to make its stores more inviting to customers with disabilities, as well as
their caretakers, family members and friends.
"This is a group that most businesses have not addressed," says May Snowden, Starbucks' vice president, global diversity. "As I look at
changes in demographics, it is one of the groups that are very important."
Indeed, people with disabilities have discretionary spending power of $220 billion annually, according to the American Association of
People With Disabilities. Of the 70 million families in the U.S., more than 20 million have at least one member with a disability,
according to the association.
For Starbucks, the equation is simple. "Customers tend to patronize a business that is like them," says Jim Donald, president and
chief executive officer.
A WAKE-UP CALL
The Starbucks effort, which is still in its early stages, is proceeding on a couple of fronts. The company recently hired Marthalee Galeota,
who worked with Seattle-area non-profits on disability matters, as senior diversity specialist in charge of disability issues. The job goes
beyond making sure Starbucks complies with the Americans With Disabilities Act, the law that mandates equal access to jobs and
services for the disabled. Ms. Galeota focuses on establishing a company-wide etiquette for a range of issues.
For instance, she has changed the labels on tables designated for wheelchair users to read, "For a customer with a disability," instead
of "Disabled customers."
The company also has designed its counters at a height that is easily reached by customers in wheelchairs, and the majority of its
roughly 10,000 stores around the world have at least one handicapped-accessible entrance.
In addition, Ms. Galeota is working to incorporate disability etiquette into employee training. For example, employees should ask a
customer with a disability if he or she would like help, rather than automatically lending a hand; they should also refrain from petting a
working service dog for the blind. Then there are day-to-day matters. Ms. Galeota fields calls from employees with disabilities as well
as store managers to give advice about potentially tricky situations -- for instance, what a manager should do if an employee goes
deaf.
In terms of recruiting, the company has joined the National Business Disability Council, which provides a national database of resumes
of people with disabilities. "We have to make sure we are sourcing at every source that is available," Ms. Snowden says. On average,
the company hires 200 to 300 people overall every day.
Exactly how much progress Starbucks is making in hiring people with disabilities is difficult to measure. The company doesn't keep
statistics on how many employees with disabilities it hires because employees are not required to record that information on an
application.
BEYOND THE COFFEE LINE
The Starbucks effort comes as a number of other large employers are reaching out to disabled workers. International Business
Machines Corp. offers internships for students with disabilities and runs sessions for managers to meet potential hires with
disabilities. It also has put together a video for hiring managers that addresses questions they might be afraid to ask, such as how
much it will cost to accommodate these employees and how they can ensure that these employees will be able to do their jobs
properly. "It's sending a message that we are a company that wants the best talent and we are inclusive of everyone," says Millie
DesBiens, an IBM program manager who focuses on disability issues.
Verizon Corp., meanwhile, sends employees to conferences and conventions hosted by non-profit groups working with the disability
community. It also informs disability advocates about certain job openings, says Jeff Kramer, Venison’s director of public policy and
strategic alliances.
But Starbucks faces a higher hurdle than most companies when it comes to recruiting people with disabilities. Its workers are
constantly interacting with the public in its fast-paced, high-volume stores. Some Starbucks employees with disabilities acknowledge
the challenges -- but also the rewards.
Since she started at Starbucks in 1998, Cindy Rogers, 50, has lost much of her vision. She uses special tactile pads on the cash
register and takes her guide dog along to work. She can no longer do much work behind the fast-paced espresso bar, so she focuses
on the pastry case and register.
Sometimes, she means to take a credit card and instead grabs the customer's hand. She once called out to say she could help the
next person in line only to be told by a colleague that there was no line.
At times, "customers are not the nicest they could be," Ms. Rogers says. "Customers will say, 'Isn't that nice that Starbucks will let
people like you work there. "One man, commenting on her antiglare glasses, said, "Cool, I'll put on my sunglasses so we can
communicate," she recalls. But she says her co-workers at the Mesa, Ariz., outlet have been extremely supportive. "I am sure they get
frustrated," she says. "I try to use humor, and if I didn't laugh I would cry." And she says many customers are tactful and kind. She's
gotten to know the regulars by the sound of their voices and knows exactly what they are going to order. On her days off, she runs a
Braille reading group at the store for local children and their parents.
Corey Lindberg, a deaf 46-year-old senior business systems analyst working at Starbucks headquarters in Seattle, says he's less
prone to distraction around the office. If he needs to concentrate, he can just close his eyes. In some ways, he says, his hearing
impairment -- which he developed later in life -- makes him work harder.
He relies on instant-messaging software and writing notes on paper to communicate, and the company supplies a sign-language
interpreter when he attends meetings. When he speaks on the phone, he uses a device that captions the conversation on a computer
screen or a video conferencing service with an interpreter.
Before Michelle Penman joined Starbucks, she worked at a restaurant where the owner insisted that she sit out of sight of customers,
according to her mother, Renee.
"He made her sit back behind the kitchen where she would not be in anyone's way," Renee Penman wrote in an E-mail. "Sometimes
she sat there for four hours without anyone even speaking to her. I talked with the owner several times about finding another place for
her to sit while she waited for an order to come in, and he would not budge."
At Starbucks, the younger Ms. Penman sits in the front of the store, and "there are times when customers have to go around her to get in
the coffee line," her mother says. But the manager has never suggested that Ms. Penman move out of the way, according to her mother.
When Ms. Penman is out sick, customers ask where she is.
Mr. Donald, the CEO, attended her 10th anniversary party at the store. Michelle has been the subject of a local newspaper story and
television news spot, her mother says.
"People talk about Starbucks in such a positive way, they say, “That's where Michelle works," Renee Penman says. She says she
knows her daughter is giving the company a wealth of positive press, but she doesn't mind. "If they want to be selfish and do it for them,
that is OK. The person with the disability is winning, too."
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DINING IN THE DARK SOLD OUT - by Barbara Ross, FIRE Executive Director
The 1st Annual Paula Bailey Dining in the Dark event held in October 2005 was an incredible evening for the 250 participants that filled
the ballroom of the University Center Club. After a short orientation on how to walk and eat in the dark, diners entered a "light lock"
meant to block light out of the dining room. Groups were then guided by a blind volunteer to their table. I’m happy to say everyone did
extremely well and made it through the dark without any mishaps other than a few groups getting slightly lost for a minute or two.
Kept a mystery until that evening, guests started their dinner with a spring salad and fresh rolls. The main course was filet mignon and
grilled salmon with au gratin potatoes and asparagus. Dinner concluded with chocolate mousse for dessert. I personally almost put the
microphone in my salad dressing, but for the most part, guests seemed to partake of their meal in the darkness with much less trouble
than anticipated. We learned, as our blind guests already knew, that you can have an enjoyable meal without vision!
After the wonderful jazz provided by Charles Atkins, accompanied by Dale Robinson on drums, Representative Curtis Richardson gave
a short address, highlighting the importance of the evening. FIRE Board Member and client Barbara Kiger later gave a moving talk about
her experience of losing her sight, how she regained her independence and has gone on to realize her dream of becoming a published
author. She ended with a tribute to Paula Bailey. Barbara shared with us, "When I had my first speech to give after I lost my sight, I
thought, ‘This will be a piece of cake – since I can’t see anyone, I won’t have any stage fright.’ But I am here to tell you that is not true –
stage fright must be something that happens between your ears and not your eyes."
After dessert the lights were turned up, and the evening culminated in the presentation of the Paula Bailey "Inspirational Community
Member" Award. A three-member Board committee evaluated the ten nominations. They had a difficult decision, as the award could
have easily gone to any of the nominees. They were: Charles Atkins, Adam Gaffney, Arline Hertz, Lynda Jones, Linda Mathis, Carlos
Montas, Dexter "Chip" Orange, Evelyn Sewell, Joe Strechay, and Delores Wussler. Ranking the nomination materials submitted on a
scale from 1-10, Dexter "Chip" Orange won the award this year by 2/10 of a point. As you can see it was a close competition, and we
only wish we could have given an award to each and every one of those nominated, as they certainly all deserved it. It is amazing to have
so many inspirational community members doing such good work in the community. Thank you to those that made the nominations, as
it was clear each was heartfelt and took time and effort to submit.
On behalf of the FIRE Board and Staff, our sincere appreciation goes to everyone that contributed either time and energy, money, or
both. We are delighted to announce that FIRE received over $18,500 in contributions. A special thank you goes out to our sponsors:
Hebrock, Steiner & McLaughlin, Nature Coast Eye Care Institute, Rigel Optics, Southern Vitreoretinal Associates, Tallahassee
Community College, and the University Center Club.
We hope that by continuing to work together, next year will be even better. See you at the 2nd Annual Dining in the Dark in October
2006!
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THE WHITE CANE LAW AWARENESS ISSUE - Submitted By Jack Varnon
Carl McCoy's article on the White Cane Law as described in the Florida Statutes 413.0 and 316.0301; is also described on page 39 of
the Florida Driver's Manual.
The reality remains that large numbers of Florida vehicle operators do not know this law.
In 1988, I was struck by a car which resulted in the need for surgical repair to my knee. When the driver appeared in the traffic court for
her violations penalties, the traffic court judge had to reschedule the appearance in order to give him (the judge) time to bone up on the
White Cane Law. I was astonished! Over the years, it has been my observation that many traffic safety officers do not appreciate the
importance of the White Cane Law.
As an advocate organization, it's our responsibility to encourage compliance to the law through education of the public and various
government agencies.
I suggest the following five strategies for FCB and all chapter affiliates to consider.
1.The Florida Driver’s Manual Written Examination Process: Currently, only one out of three test questionnaires have a question
on the White Cane Law. Even if the applicant fails to give the correct answer to the question on the White Cane Law, he can still pass
the written examination. The process should be changed to the following guideline.
Any and all vehicle operator license examinations should have at least two questions about the White Cane Law. If the applicant fails to
answer them correctly, it is an automatic failure regardless how correct they are on the rest of the exam. Logically, every applicant
realizing they must understand the White Cane Law to even begin to pass the written exam will probably study page 39 carefully.
2. Drivers Education Programs: The Department of Education should be convinced to require the instructors to emphasize the
White Cane Law described in the Florida Driver's Manual. Also, the local private driver's training schools should be encouraged to
emphasize the spirit and intent of the White Cane Law to their clients.
3. Signs: I suggest it's important to remind drivers about the White Cane Law. The local governments and agencies should be
persuaded to have a "White Cane Law Strictly Enforced" sign as part of all traffic control signs. Recently, the Braille Forum had an article
about how Kay Whitehead of Marion, Ohio was able to persuade that city to put up White Cane symbols on the traffic signs throughout
the city.
4. Community Traffic Safety Teams; sometimes identified as Traffic Safety Bureau: Every county in the state of Florida is
supposed to have a traffic safety unit where local city, county and state police officers meet to discuss traffic safety problems. The
affiliate chapter members can seek out when and where their meetings are held and attend these meetings to express their feelings
about the White Cane Law. Also, identify intersections that need audio signals, longer stop light time and tactile ridge across the street
to the Traffic Safety Team. A pro-active participation with local traffic control agencies and committees is something chapter members
should be doing to bring about removal of these hazards.
5. Public Education: Several years ago, Carol Massey, president of the Alachua County Council of the Blind, initiated a "White
Cane Safety Awareness Demonstration Walk" in the city of Gainesville. Later the demonstration walk was expanded and held in the city
of Alachua. Both walks occur on different Saturdays in October. ACCB arranges for proclamations to be issued by the local
governments, banners to be displayed on heavily-traveled streets, posters placed on public buildings bulletin boards and, where
possible, secure public service announcements over the radio networks and local TV channels about the White Cane Law.
Here is the bottom line. What are you doing to encourage compliance to the spirit and intent of the white cane law?
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A TALE OF TCB'S TRAVEL TROUBLES - by Sila Miller
As many of you know, several members of the Tallahassee Council of the Blind (TCB) recently went to Orlando to attend FCB's Fall
Board Meeting. Before I go any further, let me say unequivocally, our travel troubles bear no reflection on the Board Meeting, which went
quite smoothly.
Our tale of woe began with check in at the beautiful Sheraton Safari Hotel where we stayed. As is customary, Robert was asked to leave
a credit card for incidentals. Reaching into his back pocket for his wallet, he discovered he’d left it in the cab whose driver was long
gone by now. While he frantically dialed if not smiled, I dealt with check-in, luggage delivery and tips. After calling the wrong company,
much muttering, self recrimination and basic bitching, we decided we’d probably never see that ill-fated little Italian wallet, much less
those credit cards and cash ever again, and may as well go eat.
Just before leaving for a late lunch, Robert got the bright idea to ask me if the driver had remembered to give me the receipt we’d
requested. Wow, what a thought! Yes, indeed the taxi driver had. OK, So I didn’t have two brain cells to rub together? So, I’m
blonde.
We called him, and of course, got no answer so we left a message. The genuinely nice and helpful bellman, Virgil from the Safari,
cajoled us into leaving the information with him and going to lunch, saying he’d take care of it. By the time we got back, Virgil had not
only talked to the taxi driver but had his promise to bring Robert’s wallet back with every cent in it. I couldn’t get on the phone to the hotel
manager to sing Virgil’s praises fast enough and of course, the taxi driver received a pretty sizable tip and a great big thank you as well.
Talk about a guardian Angel watching out for you…
Well, things went along pretty smoothly until Sunday morning, when we were ready to roll for home. Getting ourselves, our luggage and
big Mr. Harley, Robert’s 123-pound guide dog, into that same taxi bound for the Orlando Greyhound bus station was quite a chore and
somehow, poor Harley’s tail got slammed in the door. Sally went scrambling for the handle, Harley growled and wined and I sat there in
the corner, unable to do a thing. The driver by now was most probably wishing he’d never laid eyes on the lot of us. After much
apologizing to Harley and assuring ourselves he was OK, we started off.
Well, we got to the bus station without incident but Lord, the fun was just about to begin. Now, I’ve neglected to mention that I was
stricken with the good old flu, complete with a pretty high fever and that on Friday, when coming into Orlando, the baggage handler had
taken my ticket with the baggage claim and not given either back. So, through the check-in line we all filed. Me, holding my purse,
Braille Sense, backpack and my poor aching head; Liz, with a suitcase which was missing one wheel; Robert with poor, sore-tailed
Harley; William, who was calm and as always, polite; and little Sally trying to watch out for all of us. After many questions and much
paperwork, Robert and I were issued a complimentary ticket, minus any baggage claim material, and sent to a door with the assurance
someone would come assist us to pre-board the correct bus. Being asleep at the wheel as it were, I went in search of somewhere to
lien, in sight of the others, while we waited and waited and waited.
Knowing the bus was to leave at 12:01, and with no assistance in sight, Sal, God love her, and I started looking around. About that time,
our bus was announced, the gate was opened and people started to pour through but, not where we were, next line over. Now, for
those of you who don’t have the good fortune of knowing Sally Benjamin, she’s a little thing, about 5 feet tall with a heart of gold, but this
day, she took on the stature of a giant, pushing and shoving and pulling us through and onto that Talley-bound bus.
Well, while we get on, find seats and settle down a bit, Robert, bound and determined to insure our suitcase, is beneath the bus. An
agent was summonsed and was trying to help us get it all sorted out when the driver proceeded to take off. The agent screams, "Hold
on, hold on, I’m not goin’ to Tallahassee!” The driver, taken aback immediately slams on breaks, just about throwing her down. Well,
now, the shook-up agent gets the story and gets off the bus to confer with her cohorts about what's to be done.
Meanwhile, Miss Firebrand Sally gets off the bus and somehow manages to crawl into the luggage compartment underneath, trying to
locate our suitcase. And, locate it she did, and not only mine but Debbie Grubb's as well. Now, as you may know, Debbie lives in
Bradenton, totally different direction, totally different bus. In the meanwhile, another Greyhound employee happens by where our little
Sal Gal is plundering around in the bowels of the bus and proceeds to lecture her about how she's not allowed in that compartment.
Let’s just say that our sweet, little Miss Project Insight took on a different personality once again and that our luggage got tagged,
Debbie's suitcase made it onto her bus and all was made right before that bus left Orlando.
Well, here we go rolling along, if not singing a song bound for good old Talley-town from where the crystal footballs are now gone.
When all of a sudden, the lady sitting behind us who’d been feeding Robert’s fire about how bad Greyhound is, spilled her whole drink
onto the floor, the floor where my poor Harley was so patiently laying. My husband, that timid little mouse, began hollering about how
he's gonna have the driver pull this blankedy-blank bus over and clean up this blankedy-blank mess off the floor. The good lady finally
says, "It's just a little water," as if that matters to sodden, sore-tailed Harley, who hasn't made a peep.
Rolling into rainy and cold but oh, so beautiful Tallahassee that evening, we split up, Sally and I to claim that damn luggage, and the
others to flag down taxis. Waiting at the taxi pickup area, Liz, William and Robert encountered a lady who when asked where she was
coming from, replied, “Hell.” She told of how the wheel had come off their bus somewhere in Alabama and how they'd had to go tell the
driver who was apparently unaware. Guess it could always be worse?
If this tale sounds like a trip down memory lane it sure is. I gotta tell ya, like Charlie Daniels says, "I think I'm gonna reroute my trip. I
wonder if anybody'd think I flipped if I went to Orlando via Miami?"
Go Greyhound! Go right on without me!
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TECH TIPS - by John Richards for the FCB Technology Committee
(The following was taken from http://www.wisegeek.com.)
The Thumb Drive, A Suitable Replacement for the Floppy Diskette
Computer users have long complained that 3-inch floppy disks are too unstable, the ZIP drive not practical and CD-Rs not portable
enough for data storage. The technology geeks solved this problem in ingenious fashion: the thumb drive. IBM came out with thumb
drives in 1998, as a solution for replacing the less stable floppy disks. Their use caught on quickly, and as portable data storage has
become more of an issue, thumb drives or flash drives skyrocketed in popularity. They can now be seen hanging on lanyards around
the necks of computer users everywhere.
A thumb drive is portable memory storage. It is re-writeable and holds its memory without a power supply, unlike RAM. Thumb drives
will fit into any USB port on a computer. They will also “hot swap,” which means a user can plug the drive into a computer and will not
have to restart it to access the thumb drive. The drives are small, about the size of a human thumb -- hence, their name -- and are very
stable memory storage devices.
Thumb drive is your digital lockbox, storing your personal records, digital photos and music. Imagine a USB floppy drive and disk
integrated, only more secure, more durable, and at less than one tenth in physical size, packing up to 350 times in capacity. Because
the thumb drive does not have any moving parts, it is extremely resistant to vibrations and shocks. The thumb drive acts just like your
hard drive. You can drag and drop files onto it, create, edit, delete files, even formatting it.
Some users see their lack of compatibility with Windows 98 as a drawback of thumb drives, since so many users are still running the
operating system. However, most thumb drives come equipped with software that will install a Win98 driver on the computer, enabling
the user to connect a thumb drive. Installing the software takes about 60 seconds. Thumb drives also pose security threats, since they
are easily concealed. Users could copy proprietary information to them, or upload hacking software from them, all undetected by the
system administrator.
However, system administrators can also upload anti-virus software to an infected computer from a thumb drive, for instance, without
risking the system servers. Their write speeds and read speeds only really come into play when users are running large applications
from them. When the user is saving text documents or photos, for instance, these speeds are not nearly as important. Most thumb
drives also have millions of re-write cycles and will store data for ten years before they need replacing.
The thumb drive is available in storage sizes of up to 8 gigabytes. Most people, however, will find that sizes of 256 megabytes to 512
MB will do nicely. If the person is storing mostly text, with few images, then an even smaller thumb drive may meet the need.
A thumb drive is available anywhere computer supplies are sold. They range in price from about US$15 to $200 or so for a
large-capacity drive. They are stable, versatile, durable and portable data storage devices. As such they are ideal for almost any
computer user who wants safe, long-term storage for a low price.
The FCB Technology Committee hosts a Tech Talk session in the FCB General Chat Room on the first Monday of each month at 8:00
PM. Please take advantage of this free tech support session. Have you paid for tech support lately? If so, then you're aware of the
cost.
The following link will take you to the sign in screen:
http://www.fcb.org/FCBGenRSigIn.htm.
At that point, type your name in to the edit field and press the enter key. Give the chat program time to load to your system. After the chat
client has loaded, press the Ctrl key to talk and release to listen. If people are already talking, you will hear them when you enter the
room.
I will be glad to help anyone if you are having difficulty getting into the chat room. You can e-mail me at:
jsrj@allvantage.com.
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WAL-MART INSTALLS NEW EQUIPMENT TO PROTECT FINANCIAL PRIVACY OF WAL-MART SHOPPERS WITH
VISUAL IMPAIRMENTS - Submitted by Sally Benjamin
Blind Community Leaders Praise Wal-Mart's Actions
Bentonville, AR, November 7th, 2005: In a move applauded by members of the blind community nationwide, Wal-Mart today announced
that it has begun installing state-of-the art point of sale devices to protect the privacy and security of Wal-Mart shoppers with visual
impairments. The new devices have tactile keys arranged like a standard telephone keypad and will allow Wal-Mart shoppers who
have difficulty reading information on a touchscreen to privately and independently enter their PIN and other confidential information.
Today’s announcement is the result of collaboration between Wal-Mart and major blind organizations including the American Council of
the Blind and the California Council of the Blind. Speaking for the two organizations, Melanie Brunson of the American Council of the
Blind and Jeff Thom of the California Council of the Blind commended Wal-Mart’s actions: "Wal-Mart has taken a leadership role in
ensuring that persons with visual impairments do not have to disclose confidential information when purchasing products and
services."
According to the website of the American Foundation for the Blind, there are approximately 10 million blind and visually impaired people
in the United States.
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CHAPTER NEWS - Clay Council of the Blind, Pinellas Council of the Blind, Port St. Lucie Council of the Blind,
Tallahassee Council of the Blind
Clay Council of the Blind - by Mike Taylor
In late November, the members of the Clay Chapter enjoyed a tour of a unique and interesting display of artistic forms at the Cummer
Museum of Art and Gardens. Works of J. Stewart Johnson entitled, "Art beyond the frame, Impressionism revisited" were on temporary
display. This massive display of fifteen instillations of art objects required seven trailers to transport, and three weeks for a crew to set
up.
Stewart Johnson has taken the paintings of some of the masters of the Impressionist school, Monet, Manet, Van Goth, Renoir and
others and made their images life size, and in three dimensions. After sculpting the images in clay, Johnson caste them in aluminum,
and then painted them. He has created artistic images that one can move into, and you are encouraged to touch. The instillations
contain furniture, sculptures, plants, carpets and more. Think about a painting recreated in life-size and three-dimensional. The artist
has created instillations of objects that provide room to walk through every part of the exhibit. This art exhibit was a unique experience
for me.
Our tour guide, Chysr Yates, was excellent at describing the exhibit to our group. While most of these images are familiar to those of us
who sat through Humanities courses, Stewart Johnson has taken some "artistic license." Our guide called our attention to details such
as a young lady playing "footsie" under the table with her male companion.
A favorite with the males in the group was Johnson's re-casting of Monet's "Olympia". Monet shocked the art world of the 1880's with
his depiction of not just a nude, but also a temptress. As one passes through a beaded curtain into this installation, you can move
about and touch the black cat, the flowers that the maid is bringing in, and even Olympia herself as she reclines on her chaise
lounge.
Some of our group thought "Olympia" was hard and cold, but we all enjoyed this outing. It truly is a wonderful display.
The Cummer has reached out to the blind community in the Northeast Florida area. For the past couple of years, The Cummer has
conducted a program for blind women. This program is called, "Women of Vision." The staff of The Cummer Museum, as well as
these blind ladies, have all learned to appreciate art without sight together.
Clay Council Installs New Officers
The Clay Council held a double celebration. The officers for the next two years were installed at our Christmas luncheon. We have
every confidence that our chapter is in good hands and that we will expand in numbers and effectiveness under these new leaders. Our
new President is Debbie Drylie. Paul Kaminsky was installed as our new First Vice President. Our Second Vice President is Fran
Bingen. Our other officers back for a return engagement include Linda Jacobson and Elaine Kiethan. We feel very privileged to have
these wonderful officers serving us.
Pinellas Council of the Blind - by Debbie Potocki
We're Busy in Pinellas
On Saturday, October 15th, 7 members of the Pinellas chapter joined forces with the Lighthouse of Pinellas to celebrate White Cane
Safety Day. We met on the front steps of the Pinellas County Courthouse in downtown Clearwater, where Mayor Frank Hibbard gave us a
warm welcome and County Commissioner Karen Seel read a proclamation in honor of White Cane Safety Day. We then proceeded to
walk about 6 blocks to the new library. Although we were escorted by the Clearwater Police Department, we had to cross several
intersections with our guide dogs and canes.
On October 29th, we were on the road again, this time in St. Petersburg to take part in Circus Mcgurkis, "a celebration of community,
love and non-violence to change the world," sponsored by the St. Petersburg Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends and the Tampa
Bay Peace Education Program. Three chapter members, along with the help of our sighted friends from the St. Petersburg Lions Club,
set up a booth, where we got the word out about the White Cane Safety Law in Florida as well as our chapter and the FCB. We Brailled
people's names and had lots of information from various agencies who provide services for the blind and visually impaired of our
community. It was a great success and a lot of fun too!
Our annual holiday party was held on Saturday, December 3rd, at the Olive Garden in Largo. Thirty chapter members and their guests
enjoyed a wonderful lunch and then we played a game that I'll call "Name That Holiday Song," with Sharon Youngs as the emcee. We
held a 50/50 drawing and 1 of our guests walked away with $23.50. It was great fun and "a wonderful time was had by all!"
Port St. Lucie Council of the Blind - by Jackie Hull
PSCLB Field Trip
Members from PSLCB "got a clue" and had a fabulous evening at Sleuth's Mystery Dinner Show in Orlando. Member George Stokes
was selected to play a cameo role as the sommelier, as others in the party had the opportunity to laugh and otherwise enjoy the show.
Sleuth's is a favorite entertainment venue of PSLCB president, Gary Metzler. It provides an evening of comedy, mystery and a
scrumptious dinner without relying on visuals for entertainment.
There is much audience participation and interaction with the cast. Dinner choices include lasagna, cornish hen and prime rib (for a
$3.00 surcharge) and includes your beverage, salad, cheese tray and dessert. Everyone left the show with a full tummy and a smile on
their face.
Tallahassee Council of the Blind - by Sally Benjamin
On October 22nd, our chapter participated in our Down Town Market Place event where there are many different types of vendors who
sell a wide variety of things. Of course, there is always lots of food. We had many different things to demonstrate how blind people live
their lives independently. Several people took brochures so it was a great outreach opportunity as well.
In December, we had our annual Christmas party at the Benjamin home. There was lots of good food and fun. We played the "Dirty
Santa" game. A couple of items, such as a throw and a vibrating pillow, were the most popular. But everyone had a gift to take home.
Then William played the piano and guitar while we sang. Everyone who attended had a great time.
Now we are getting ready for the New Year. Stay tuned to see what we decide to do for outreach in 2006.
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RECIPE CORNER
Here are some meals to keep you warm during the winter months.
Crock pot Chicken Creole
3 pounds chicken thighs, skinned
1 red bell pepper sliced
1 onion sliced
1 can tomatoes with juice
1/2 tsp paprika
Louisiana hot sauce to taste
1 cup celery diced
1 green bell pepper sliced
1 can sliced mushrooms
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp Cajun seasoning
Salt and pepper to taste
2 cups cooked favorite rice
Place chicken in bottom of crock pot. Combine remaining ingredients (except rice) and add to crock pot. Cook on high 4 to 5 hours or on
low 7 to 8 hours. Cook rice according to package directions. Spoon Creole mixture over hot cooked rice and serve.
All-American Chili
1 lb. lean ground beef or ground turkey
1 can (15 oz.) red kidney beans, undrained
1 can (8 oz.) tomato sauce
1 tablespoon white vinegar
2 tablespoons McCormick Chili Powder
2 tablespoons McCormick Instant Minced Onion
1 teaspoon sugar (optional)
1/4 teaspoon McCormick Garlic Salt
Sliced scallions and dairy sour cream to serve, if desired. Shredded Cheddar Cheese to garnish
Cook meat in 3-quart saucepan over medium-high heat 4 to 5 minutes or until no longer pink, stirring constantly. Drain off excess fat.
Stir in beans, tomato sauce, vinegar, chili powder, minced onion, sugar if using, and garlic salt. Heat just to boil, reduce heat
immediately, cover, and simmer 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Serve topped with sliced scallions and dairy sour cream. Garnish with shredded Cheddar cheese. Makes 4 servings, 1 cup each
Spaghetti Sauce - by Sally Benjamin
1 lb. ground beef
1 pkg Italian Sausage (link)
2-20 oz. cans tomato sauce
1 small can tomato paste
1 clove Garlic
Mushrooms
In crock pot, put tomato sauce, tomato paste. Brown ground beef and drain. Cut up sausage and brown, then drain. Cut Garlic into
small pieces and add to crock pot. Put lots of mushrooms in and cook for 2 to 3 hours. Makes enough for 6 to 8.
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FCB TRADING POST
We now are in a new year so we wanted to add something different. If you have items for sale, you can place them here. But they must
only be personal things and no business ads will be accepted. The editors of the White Cane Bulletin are not responsible for anything
advertised in this section.
For Sale
Voice Mate that has been upgraded. $50.
Call (850) 877-1512 or E-mail salbenjamin@comcast.net
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HANDY TELEPHONE NUMBER REFERENCES
Project Insight: 1-800-267-4448
Bureau of Braille and Talking Book Library Services: 1-800-226-6075
Division of Blind Services (Tallahassee State Headquarters): 1-800-342-1828
American Council of The Blind: 1-800-424-8666
(available only 3:00 to 5:30 PM EST Monday-Friday)
ACB Legislative Hotline: 1-800-424-8666
(Evenings 8:00 PM - 12:00 Midnight EST
Weekends 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM only)
A T & T Disability Services: 1-800-872-3883
Press 00 and speak with your long distance carrier
BellSouth Disability Services: 780-2273 from anywhere
Social Security: 1-800-772-1213
24-hour voice and touch tone accessible
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