THE WHITE CANE BULLETIN July - Auguest


Florida Council of The Blind, Inc.
July-August, 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
E-mail:
PDavis@concentric.net

Treasurer:
James R. Warth, Jr.
1548 Corydon Avenue
Spring Hill, FL 34609
(352) 686-9300
E-mail:
jrw@tampabay.rr.com

Membership Secretary:
Nancy Folsom
6500 Montrose Trail
Tallahassee, FL 32308
1-800-267-4448 (Note New Number)
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



PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
By Robert Miller

I would like to start by thanking everyone who made our 48th annual convention a huge success! We had a wonderful convention which produced a lot of great ideas and provided us with valuable information that will direct our actions during the upcoming year.

As a result of the hard work of the Resolutions Committee a resolution was passed that directed me to take certain actions to insure that visually impaired citizens of Florida will have access to the voting polls of Florida and the right to cast a secret ballot. I have sent copies of the resolution to all Supervisors of Election and to your chapter representatives. I encourage all chapter reps to work with their chapter on this issue. Please remember, we need your hard work and dedication in your local area to make this happen.

Carl McCoy and I had a meeting with Clay Roberts, the Director of The State Division of Elections along with two other officials from that department. On June 13, Jim Kracht, Debbie Grubb, Bill and Bobbie Probst, Craig Kiser and I met with Secretary of State, Katherine Harris. The outcome of both these meetings was very positive. Secretary Harris has posted a notice in the state registry that will develop the addition of a rule to the voting standards of Florida that should insure our civil rights regarding voting. I'm not going to go into all the details in my message as Jim Kracht has written an excellent article in this issue of the WCB explaining the sequence of events up to now.

I was very impressed with Secretary Harris's attitude and sincerity to our cause.

Craig Kiser is working with the Secretary of State's office on a project to make The San Louis Mission here in Tallahassee accessible. This museum houses both the Indians and Spanish starting back in the 1500's. The plans are to make replicas of artifacts that are too fragile to be handled along with many other accessibility features. The Secretary also hopes to establish a grant program so that other museums throughout Florida will be able to follow this example. Secretary Harris has also mandated that the Florida Division of Corporations send out a copy of the ADA law and a guideline for complying with the ADA to all corporations in the state of Florida.

I think we can safely say that we have set a precedent in Florida. This is the first time we have state government, the Division of Blind Services and consumer groups for the disabled working in harmony. There are a lot of issues pertaining to voting that will need to be worked out between now and the 2002 elections but I feel confident that we have the right ingredients to make it a success. People working together to reach a common goal.

Now, for my usual house keeping. I would like to thank all the chapters that have submitted their assessments and who are working on completing the reports required by the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. As an organization that Is growing, our needs are changing.

At our convention in Ft. Lauderdale I asked First Vice President, Jesus Garcia to develop an office animation and policy program in hopes of streamlining and making more efficient our ability to conduct business. As this program develops through the Executive Committee we will keep you posted.

Hope to see a lot of you in Iowa.


Table of Contents
Back to WCB maine page
FCB Home Page

Breaking news:

UPDATE ON ACCESSIBLE VOTING MACHINES
They're getting closer

By Nancy Cook Lauer, Tallahassee Democrat Capital Bureau Chief, June 21, 2001

One week after meeting with a group of disabled Floridians, Secretary of State Katherine Harris on Wednesday formed a task force to ensure their ballot access. "Our celebration next month of the 11th anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act and of the difference it has made in the lives of persons with disabilities reminds us that we are not finished with election reform," Harris said in a statement. Harris said the Select Task Force on Voting Accessibility in Florida will work with the disabled, the state's 67 supervisors of elections and Florida's high-tech industries to make sure that the state's disabled voters have the same access to the polls as other Florida voters. The state has about 524,000 blind and almost 100,000 mobility-impaired residents.

The disabled and their advocates greeted the news with enthusiasm. They call access to a secret ballot a fundamental civil right. The disabled have become more involved in recommending voting equipment and are starting to sue elections officials in other jurisdictions for ballot access. Such a lawsuit isn't ruled out in Florida, they say.

"Overall it will take a lot of hard work to get it in place by 2002, and we're willing to help," said Tallahassee resident Robert Miller, president of the Florida Council of the Blind. "We definitely don't want to file a suit. But we will if it's necessary."Miller and Deborah and Frela Grubb of Manatee County, advocates for the blind, were among those who met with Harris last week. The Grubbs were featured testing voting equipment at a supervisors of elections conference near Tampa in a June 10 Tallahassee Democrat article about ballot access.

"This is the first time in any endeavor in Florida where we've been able to get a meeting with a state official, and in that meeting we laid out our concerns and had somebody tell us they will do something about it in a week," Miller said, praising Harris. (Ed. Also attending the meeting with the Secretary of State were Jim Kratch of Miami, Bill and Bobbie Probst of Jacksonville, and Division of Blind Services Director Craig Kiser, all of whom have been heavily involved in voting reform.)

Optical-scan equipment is of particular concern to advocates of the disabled. Electronic machines are much easier to adapt with headphones, touch-sensitive keypads and other aids that also are helpful to those who can't read. But the cost is much higher. Only one optical-scan card reader, at a cost of $6,000, is needed for each precinct.

One touch-screen voting booth, on the other hand, at a cost of $4,000 to $4,500, must be provided for every 200 to 250 voters.The Legislature has provided $32 million for new election equipment, a central voter registration database and voter education. It has mandated the new equipment be in place by the 2002 election. Harris has directed the task force to prepare a comprehensive ballot reform package in time for her to present it to the 2002 Legislature. The task force, which has yet to be named, will: Determine what problems the disabled face in voting. Implement solutions for overcoming those obstacles. Create a mandatory training program for poll workers that includes instruction from disabled people. Figure out how to pay for it.

"We cannot tolerate a system of voting which does not strive to guarantee a secret ballot to every person, nor can we permit any polling place or voting system to remain inaccessible," Harris said. "With the millions of dollars our society spends on campaigns, surely we can afford to do whatever it takes for persons with disabilities to enjoy the sanctity of the secret ballot and the civic majesty of going to the polls on Election Day."

NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT
DEPARTMENT: Department of State, Division of Elections RULE TITLE: RULE NO.: Voting System Equipment Regulations 1S-5.001

PURPOSE AND EFFECT: To establish standards for voting systems certification, in compliance with the requirements of section 6, of Chapter 2001-40, Laws of Florida, the "Florida Election Reform Act of 2001." SUBJECT AREA TO BE ADDRESSED: Procedures and standards for implementation of the provisions of section 6, of Chapter 2001-40, Laws of Florida to include:

procedural changes to allow new technologies to be examined in a timely manner; requirements for disclosure of file and interface specifications for system components; "User Standards" for the user interfaces of systems including minimum standards for accessibility by disabled voters; file specifications for electronic transfer of results on election night; procedures for determining the will of the public with respect to voting systems; and procedures for continuing review and revision of the Florida Voting Systems Standards.

SPECIFIC AUTHORITY: Section 101.015, as amended by section 6 of Chapter 2001-40, Laws of Florida. LAW IMPLEMENTED: Section 101.015, as amended by section 6 of Chapter 2001-40, Laws of Florida. IF REQUESTED IN WRITING AND NOT DEEMED UNNECESSARY BY THE AGENCY HEAD, RULE DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP WILL BE HELD AT THE TIME, DATE AND PLACE SHOWN BELOW: TIME AND DATE: 1:00 P.M. - 3:00 P.M., July 24, 2001
PLACE: Room 116, Knott Building 415 West St. Augustine Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399

THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT IS:
Paul Craft, Division of Elections, (850) 921-4110.
THE PRELIMINARY TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT IS Not available at this time.


Table of Contents
Back to WCB maine page
FCB Home Page

THE VOTING MARCH IS ON AND FLORIDA'S BLIND VOTERS MUST CONTINUE THEIR EFFORTS TO BE HEARD?
By James K. Kracht

Since I last wrote in The White Cane Bulletin, we, the Florida Council of The Blind, have been busy moving forward. We have talked with accessible voting machine vendors, met with state and local government officials, attended voting equipment demonstrations and exhibits and Supervisors of Election conferences. We have held workshops and adopted an FCB resolution emphasizing the right of blind and visually-impaired voters to independently cast secret ballots, and written letters and otherwise communicated our right to vote and our intentions with respect to securing and enforcing that right. And, in reality, our job, and the need for the involvement of our chapter representatives and members, is really just beginning.

Our state convention on May 17 - 20, kept the heat going and focused on voting issues as convention attendees participated in the 2001 Legislative Seminar on Friday afternoon. Thanks to the excellent planning of Program Chair Debbie Grubb, the seminar focused on a workshop which discussed many critical issues relating to the rights and needs of visually-impaired voters. Three voting system vendors were present at the workshop, and they discussed direct recording electronic voting devices, including touch screen systems and a telephone-based direct-entry voting system which is being developed by a division of Lucent Technologies. The presenters showed an overall genuine commitment to meeting the challenge of providing independent secret ballots for visually-impaired and blind voters. FCB members fully participated in a meaningful dialogue about issues related to their voting experiences and needs.

Sunday morning at the business session of the convention, members unanimously adopted Resolution #0101. This resolution: (1) directed the President of FCB and his designees to immediately take steps to meet with officials in the Executive Branch of Florida's government to discuss the rights and needs of Florida's blind and visually-impaired voters and the state's responsibility and commitment to meeting those needs; (2) emphasized a commitment by the Florida Council of The Blind to do all things necessary to ensure that state and county officials only purchase new voting systems that are fully accessible to and usable by visually-impaired voters; and (3) directed dissemination of copies of the resolution along with a commitment of the assistance of FCB to each County Supervisor of Elections in order to accomplish accessible voting by all county voters.

This resolution and its call for action has been distributed to the Florida Division of Elections, Florida's Secretary of State, and to all 67 Florida County Supervisors of Elections. The Election Supervisors have heard a presentation emphasizing the problems faced by and the needs of blind and visually-impaired voters at their Spring Conference held at Florida's Saddlebrook Resort. Our President and Immediate Past President were successful in arranging a meeting with the Director and staff of the Florida Division of Elections two weeks ago. Last week, the continued exhaustive efforts of our President culminated with several of us being fortunate and privileged to travel to Tallahassee to discuss our issues directly with Florida's Secretary of State, Ms. Katherine Harris. The Secretary is interested in, has expressed concern about our problems and needs as visually-impaired voters, and, as a result of our meeting, she has already undertaken steps to publish a notice of intention to commence administrative proceedings for the development of a Florida Administrative Rule on standards for the interface of voting systems to render them accessible to blind voters.

County governments are moving forward ? considering, reviewing, and even awarding contracts to purchase new voting systems. Some of us have already established meaningful dialogue with our involved county officials. This dialogue is necessary, and must continue, and be expanded. Our members need to get involved, talk to their elected officials and County Commissioners, and make sure that each Florida county considers the needs of its visually-impaired voters, as it reviews and acquires new voting systems.

The job is not easy. The challenge is monumental. But the civil right behind it all ? the right to independently cast a secret ballot ? is so fundamental, so basic, and so implanted in the birth and history of our nation that we must stand up and be heard. And if we are going to receive the equality of treatment that we rightfully deserve, the time to be heard is now. We can make a difference, and together, as blind and visually-impaired voters and members of The Florida Council of The Blind, we will be heard and ? WE WILL MAKE THAT DIFFERENCE.

James K. Kracht
9901 S.W. 13th Street Miami, Florida 33176
Home (305) 251-6983
Office (305) 375-3720
e-mail:
JKK@co.miami-dade.fl.us

Editors' Note: We attended a number of conferences and meetings about this voting issue both in Jacksonville and in Tallahassee. Included were, at which Bobbie testified, the Governor's Task Force on Election Reform and, by invitation, the Mayor of Jacksonville's Task Force, as well as a Florida Senate conference to demonstrate the only voting machine which has been certified by the state, an optical scanner that is of no practical use to improve blind voter's ability to cast an independent vote. On May 16, we received a letter from the Chairman of the Mayor's task force with a copy of the official report. The letter stated that, since needs of blind voters were made known to them, they have recommended that accessible voting machines be made available in Duval County elections.

** Don't cry because its over; smile because it happened **


Table of Contents
Back to WCB maine page
FCB Home Page

ATTITUDE IS EVERYTHING!!
ITZHAK PERLMAN IMPROVISES
By Jack Riemer, Houston Chronicle, February 10, 2001
Contributed By: Carl McCoy

On Nov. 18, 1995, Itzhak Perlman, the violinist, came on stage to give a concert at Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center in New York City. If you have ever been to a Perlman concert, you know that getting on stage is no small achievement for him. He was stricken with polio as a child, and so he has braces on both legs and walks with the aid of two crutches. To see him walk across the stage one step at a time, painfully and slowly, is an awesome sight. He walks painfully, yet majestically, until he reaches his chair. Then he sits down, slowly, puts his crutches on the floor, undoes the clasps on his legs, tucks one foot back and extends the other foot forward. Then he bends down and picks up the violin, puts it under his chin, nods to the conductor and proceeds to play. By now, the audience is used to this ritual. They sit quietly while he makes his way across the stage to his chair. They remain reverently silent while he undoes the clasps on his legs. They wait until he is ready to play. But this time, something went wrong. Just as he finished the first few bars, one of the strings on his violin broke. You could hear it snap - it went off like gunfire across the room. There was no mistaking what that sound meant. There was no mistaking what he had to do. People who were there that night said later, "We figured he would have to get up, put on the clasps again, pick up the crutches and limp his way off stage - to either find another violin or else find another string for this one." But he didn't. Instead, he waited a moment, closed his eyes and then signaled the conductor to begin again.

The orchestra began, and he played from where he had left off. And he played with such passion and such power and such purity as they had never heard before. Of course, anyone knows that it is impossible to play a symphonic work with just three strings. I know that and you know that, but that night Itzhak Perlman refused to know that. You could see him modulating, changing, recomposing the piece in his head. At one point, it sounded like he was de-tuning the strings to get new sounds from them that they had never made before.

When he finished, there was an awed silence in the room. And then people rose and cheered. There was an extraordinary outburst of applause from every corner of the auditorium. We were all on our feet, screaming and cheering, doing everything we could to show how much we appreciated what he had done.

He smiled, wiped the sweat from his brow, raised his bow to quiet us and then he said - not boastfully, but in a quiet, pensive, reverent tone, "You know, sometimes it is the artist's task to find out how much music you can still make with what you have left." What a powerful line that is. It has stayed in my mind ever since I heard it. And who knows? Perhaps that is the definition of life - not just for artists but for all of us. Here is a man who has prepared all his life to make music on a violin of four strings, who, all of a sudden, in the middle of a concert, finds himself with only three strings; so he makes music with three strings, and the music he made that night with just three strings was more beautiful, more sacred, more memorable than any he had ever made before, when he had four strings. So, perhaps our task in this shaky, fast-changing, bewildering world in which we live is to make music, at first with all that we have, and then, when that is no longer possible, to make music with what we have left.

Table of Contents
Back to WCB main page
FCB Home Page

HIGHLIGHTS OF 2001 CONVENTION RAFFLE

RAFFLE PRIZE WINNERS

By James R. Warth, Jr.

Donated By FCB
Prize: $1,000.00 Winner, ALBERT WEST Miami, FL

$500.00 FCB TERRY AMATO
ORANGE PARK, FL

$400.00 FCB MARY DAVIS
ENGLEWOOD, FL

$300.00 FCB HELEN POLLACK
SARASOTA, FL

$200.00 FCB TREVOR MCMANUS
TALLAHASSEE, FL

$100.00 FCB EILEEN MCMANUS
WEST PALM BEACH, FL

$50.00 TALLAHASSEE B & K CASTELLANO
ENGLEWOOD, FL

$25.00 BSD EVELYN EVERETT
CORYVILLE, FL

$25.00 PALM BEACH GWENDOLYN ROLLINS
DAYTONA BEACH, FL

SEIKO BRAILLE WATCH LILLIAN REILY EARL JONES
TALLAHASSEE, FL

SEIKO BRAILLE WATCH LILLIAN REILY BRETT O_BRIEN
TALLAHASSEE, FL

2 DAYS/1 NIGHT UP-FCB BOBBIE ALFORD
TALLAHASSEE, FL

$50 WAL-MART UP-FCB MARGARET FUENTE
GIFT CARD TAMPA, FL

Congratulations to all these lucky winners

** If ignorance is bliss, why aren't more people happy? **

Table of Contents
Back to WCB main page
FCB Home Page

AND THE AWARD WINNERS ARE...
BY Rosanna M. Lippen, Awards Chairperson

This year?s Convention Award?s Dinner winners and guests were honored by Craig Kaiser, the new Director of the Division of Blind Services, who spoke, enlightened, and encouraged us with many wonderful things on the horizon.

Honored, but unable to attend, was Outstanding High School senior Dana Andrew Helton nominated by Gerald W. Stewart Principle of the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind in St. Augustine.
They will present his award at a school graduation ceremony.

The Cooke President?s award recipient was the lovely Sila Miller nominated by the Tallahassee chapter and presented by their current President Delores Wussler.

The Dolly Gamble Award was presented to Joann Block, who has done so much to help the visually impaired community of Broward County.

Barbara Brown was nominated by the Jacksonville Chapter and received the R. Henry P. Johnson award this year for her dedication and service. It was presented by June Kinard.

The prestigious W. A. Outzs Award went to James R. Warth Jr. who does so much for the FCB, and was for the first time speechless!

President Robert Miller established and presented special awards this year to Winson Knutsen, honored for his many years of service and help with awards. An award was issued in the memory of Mr. Thomas Blue Sr. who passed away last year, but will never be forgotten for his work in development of the Metro Miami Chapter and throughout the state.

Additional Chapter Recognition awards presented were as follows:

FCCLV, James R Warth Jr. and Lesa B. Kretschmer;
Tallahassee: Elizabeth Bowden;
Venice, Viola Soroka;
Jacksonville, (1) Anna R. Kelly, (2) B. D. Brown, Jr;
Halifax, Nancy Burgess Hall;
Broward, James L. Dailing;
Clay, Pat and Woody Cooper.

Thank you one and all for your nominations, attendance and participation in this event. Please start thinking ahead for next year and refer to the constitution for policy and procedure and full explanations of each award and the criteria.

I now turn the awards committee over to a wonderful lady who has served FCB for many years and will lead this committee in the dynamic way she leads her life, Ms. June Kinard.

Table of Contents
Back to WCB main page
FCB Home Page

THANKS FOR THE SCHOLARSHIP

Dana Andrew Helton, a graduating high school student at the Florida School for The Deaf and The Blind in St. Augustine received an FCB award at our annual convention.

We received the following letter from the school in acknowledgement and, wish Andrew all the best in his college career and in achieving his life goals. Congratulations, Andrew.


Dear Florida Council of The Blind,

Thank you for recognizing Dana Andrew Helton. He is a fine young man who is goal oriented, disciplined, very mature and has a firm moral foundation. He is good natured and has a wonderful sense of humor.



Andrew was a vital member of the FSDB jazz ensemble for four years and served as vice President of the Student Council during his junior year. He reached the level of Lieutenant in the Putnam County Sheriff's Explorers.  He has been active in his church and occasionally is asked to preach.  He will be moving, with his wife of 17 months, to Tennessee this summer where he will enter Middle Tennessee State University. His career goals include being a pastor, counselor or a social worker.



We expect Andrew to be very successful in achieving his career goals and expect him to make a positive impact on the lives that he touches in the future. 



Again, we thank you for recognizing Andrew.

Sincerely.

Joan a. Knorr,  Guidance Counselor

Florida School for The Deaf and Blind St. Augustine, FL


** I have noticed that the people who are late are often so much jollier than the people who have to wait for them **

Table of Contents
Back to WCB main page
FCB Home Page

REPORT ON PROJECT INSIGHT TRAINING
By Rosanna M. Lippen, Project Insight Co-chairperson

On Friday morning, May 18, a group of enthusiastic new and experienced peer counselors gathered, eager to learn from our eloquent trainers and one another what we can do to make Project Insight even better!

The training session was led by Paul Edwards, Doug Hall and Jesus Garcia who referred to themselves as the "Bobbsy triplets". From their wealth of experience, the three professional counselors shared many aspects of effective listening and communication skills, and how to help establish local references to add to those statewide which are listed in the Project Insight training manual.

For anyone who was not able to attend this session, it was recorded, so cassette copies can be provided. Additionally, taped, Braille, large print and computerized versions of the newly-revised Project Insight manual are available to those who did not get one. If you need one, just contact Nancy Folsom on the insight line at 1-800-26- SIGHT (1-800-267-4448).

Thanks to everyone who made this event possible! We feel that the session was very productive and will lead Project Insight to achieving even greater goals.

If you want to make comments or suggestions, e-mail me at: lippen@gate.net

Table of Contents
Back to WCB main page
FCB Home Page

FCCLV SURVIVES!
By Rosanna M. Lippen, FCCLV President

On a warm and sunny Saturday afternoon, FCCLV held it's annual meeting and program in conjunction with the Florida Council of the Blind's annual state convention in Fort Lauderdale.

Our theme, Surviving Low Vision, was addressed by speakers and survival kits were given to attendees. Door prizes, donated by Freedom Scientific, Florida Reading, Vision Technology, Burdines, Publix and others were awarded.

Highlights included a wonderful presentation on retina issues and low vision by Lawrence S. Halperin, M.D., F.A.C.S. Dr. Halperin is an associate of the Retina Vitreous Consultants of South Florida with offices in Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade.
He spoke on cutting edge issues such as chip implants, Visudyne therapy, and stem cell research. He answered numerous questions and enlightened all who attended.

Next, we entered the world of practical adaptations led by Leah Natochy, an Occupational Therapist who specializes in Low Vision . She covered important issues like contrast and items a person can obtain at the Dollar Store to make low vision life a bit easier. She also discussed therapy now covered by Medicare.
Wrapping up the session was a command performance by Dr. Marc Gannon, Director of the Low Vision Institute of Fort Lauderdale. Dr. Gannon is a leader in the field of Low Vision and Macular Degeneration. He shared methods he has developed and uses in helping his patients lead more enriched lives, despite the obstacle of vision loss.

The Florida Council of Citizens with Low Vision thanks one and all for attending this session and gives a huge round of applause to our speakers and sponsors.

** Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once **

Table of Contents
Back to WCB main page
FCB Home Page

FCB CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAW CHANGES
By Linda Jacobson, Constitution and By-Laws Committee chairperson:

Below are the FCB By-Law changes made at the past convention.

By-Laws Article II: Voting
Rewording the entire section to say:
A. A Chapter or special interest affiliate shall count (only) a maximum of 250 members for voting purposes. The Chapter or special interest affiliate will be required to pay dues to FCB only for up to 250 members. The entire membership of the Chapter or special interest affiliate will be entitled to full services of the organization after having submitted a complete roster to the State Membership Secretary at the appointed time.

What this section means is that even if a chapter has more than 250 members that chapter is entitled to only up to 250 votes at an FCB convention. If a chapter has more than the 250 members these individuals are still eligible for the White Cane Bulletin and the Braille Forum.

B. An individual may be a delegate or Board representative for only one Chapter or special interest affiliate during a convention. An officer may vote as an officer or as a delegate but not both.

adding section E to Article I: Membership
E. Any eligible individual of more than one Chapter may only be registered (this includes payment of FCB and ACB dues) and be counted once with their primary Chapter on the FCB membership roster. An FCB officer is also entitled to one vote on FCB issues either as an officer or as a member of their primary Chapter. A primary Chapter is the only Chapter that can count an individual as a vote on FCB issues.

What this section does is allow one person only one vote. A person may pay dues to as many chapters as they wish, but they must choose one and only one chapter as their primary chapter.
Their primary chapter is the only chapter that is responsible for sending dues to the FCB Membership Secretary and this is the only chapter that can count that persons vote during a Convention. The individual chapters must not send information to the FCB Membership Secretary about secondary members. Each chapter will keep their own records regarding secondary members.
ONLY PRIMARY members of a chapter pay dues to FCB and ACB and vote at Conventions.

Under Article VI: Officers Adding the last sentence to section E. it will now read:
E. The Secretary of FCB in addition to the usual duties of such office, shall furnish each Board member a summary of all official actions taken at each convention or meeting of the Board of Directors within 60 days after the close of each meeting. The FCB Secretary shall also receive a copy of all Chapter minutes and Treasurers' reports in September, December, March and June. This addition requires each Chapter to send the FCB secretary a copy of their minutes and Treasurers reports for all meetings four times a year.

Article IX Expenditures and Reimbursements

A. The FCB is responsible for the reasonable and actual expenses of FCB Officers, White Cane Bulletin editors), committee chairs (if not a Board representative) and non-Board member committee persons with prior approval of the FCB President attending FCB Board of Directors meetings, special committee meetings and conventions on the following basis; true lodging paid, $.25 per mile, or actual transportation expenses, as well as per diem of $6.00 for breakfast, $7.00 for lunch, and $12.00 for dinner. Travel by plane must have prior approval of the President.
All out of state travel must be approved by the Executive committee.

B. The State will pay each Chapter representative's bus, or train, plus local taxi fare to and from airport, bus or train station or mileage, plus $25.00 as per FCB rate, to help defray some of the expenses. Each person receiving this allocation will be expected to attend all Board meetings and committee meetings to which they are assigned and be on time.

Table of Contents
Back to WCB main page
FCB Home Page

GET WELL WISHES TO FLOYD KNUTSEN

Floyd Knutsen has been diagnosed with bladder cancer. He and his parents, Donnagene (Jean) and Winson, have been very active in FCB and the Clay County Chapter for many years. Floyd has always been busy during conventions and board meetings helping members in any way possible. We have not seen much of him, or of his parents, for the past year since they retired and became less active.

Floyd is feeling pretty well and will be returning to work within a few days. We are sure that he would love to receive cards from his friends. His address is:
Floyd Knutsen
3920 Everington Road
Green Cove Springs, FL 32043
His phone number is (904)284-9508.

We all send Floyd, Jean and Winson our love and best wishes for Floyd's speedy recovery.

Table of Contents
Back to WCB main page
FCB Home Page

CHAPTER NEWS

Broward Chapter, By Rosanna M. Lippen

On Friday, June 8th, many members of the Broward Chapter met for a lovely luncheon outing at the Flaming Pit. Fun, laughter and friendship were shared by all who attended.
Door prizes were distributed. Many thanks to Richard Giombetti and Annette Zolla for their hard work in organizing this function.

Mid-Florida Chapter
By Patti Davis

The chapter held its annual Awards Luncheon on Saturday, June 2, at Red Lobster. There were some 50 members and friends in attendance. The Mid-Florida Chapter, while eagerly looking to the future, possesses a rich and colorful history. As we recruit and welcome new members we also treasure our unforgettable original members, our founding fathers (and mothers ), and we love our traditions. This event presents an opportunity to bring it all together.

The Joe Minich Award named for a man who worked tirelessly for MFCB and the ?blindness community? as a whole, is presented each year to someone who has done an outstanding job for the chapter. This year, we were proud to recognize Linda Jones, who definitely fits that description, having served as Vice President, chaired numerous committees, served on others, and generally made herself indispensable.

The Connie Rotter Scholarships are presented to legally blind students in the Central Florida area and are named in honor of a lady whose bright, down-to-earth, beautiful spirit is an integral part of MFCB. This year, the recipients were Thomas Davis, who will be completing his education at Valencia Community College and attending the University of Central Florida; and Rafaela Echevarria, who attends Valencia Community College, as well as working in the Disabled Student Department.
Congratulations!!

CLAY COUNTY ESTABLISHES DISABLED COUNCIL
By Linda Jacobson

On June 12 at the Clay County Commissioners meeting, the disabled took a giant step forward. After many years of work, the County Commissioners approved a Disability Council. This Council will consist of seven members and four local groups with ex-officio members. Of the seven members four people were appointed that day. Clay Council of the Blind's current President, Linda Jacobson, was one of those four people appointed. Clay Council of the Blind is one of the ex-officio groups, so the blind will be well represented.

This is truly a victory for the disabled in Clay County. It is especially a victory for Clay Council of the Blind to be noticed and respected by the policy makers. Hard work and persistence does pay off.

Table of Contents
Back to WCB main page
FCB Home Page

LIBRARY HONORS By Doug Hall


The Bureau of Braille and Talking Book Library Services (BBTBLS) held a Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon on April 19 at the Daytona Beach Hilton Hotel. Hosted by library staff and underwritten by a customer bequest, the luncheon attracted 150 volunteers and guests to celebrate the more than 200 volunteers who contributed time and effort toward serving 43,000 talking book customers in Florida.
A delicious lunch was followed by presentation of award plaques and certificates to some of the Library's outstanding Volunteer staff.

Two couples received "Volunteers of the Year" plaques. The first, Shirley and Iv Symonds, contribute three days per week in Braille Production and Cassette Inspection respectively. The second, Kay and Jim Bonneville, work in Cassette Inspection and Machine Repair respectively. Egil Skogstrom received a certificate for 15 years of service in the Recording program, while Ed and Bea Beckenback were honored for 15 years of work in Machine Repair, Recording and Braille Production. Harriet Nace was recognized for her efforts in organizing and publicizing the Library's 50th Anniversary activities and Maria Luz received thanks for her efforts in developing the Library's Spanish Recording program.

It is estimated that more than 100,000 hours of volunteer work have been contributed in the past year: putting books and magazines into Braille and on cassette; repairing playback machines; sorting and inspecting returned materials; pulling and mailing requested books and re-shelving them when returned; providing data entry, clerical and support services and performing many other tasks. Because of the dedicated efforts of the Library's volunteers, its relatively small career staff is better able to serve patron needs.

Table of Contents
Back to WCB maine page
FCB Home Page

FCB 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, Pinellas County (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


Table of Contents
Back to WCB main page
FCB Home Page