THE WHITE CANE BULLETIN
Florida Council of The Blind, Inc.
March - April, 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)
Email:
jesusgar@bellsouth.net
Second Vice President:
Patti Davis
528 Orange Drive Unit 11
Altamonte Springs, FL 32701
(407) 767-8616
E-mail:
PDavis25@concentric.net
Treasurer:
James R. Warth, Jr.
1548 Corydon Avenue
Spring Hill, FL 34609
(352) 686-9300
E-mail:
FcbCFO@tampabay.rr.com
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
2001 FCB Convention Update:
1. Overview, Barbara L. Brown
2. Convention Travel Information, Richard Giombetti
3. Are you a survivor? FCCLV Activities, Rosanna Lippen
4. Shop 'til you drop, Sharon Youngs
5. Project Insight training planned, Rosanna Lippen
The generous gift, Dina Doris
Upper Pinellas and St. Petersburg Chapters merge, Sharon Youngs
Poet's corner, Revolution, Elizabeth Fiore
National Church Conference of the Blind
Governor Bush proposes initiatives to create an elder-friendly
Florida
FCB Chapters: join the web. Lee Stallworth
"Could I please vote now? An open letter to Governor Jeb Bush,
James K. Kracht
Watch your Thoughts
Brothers enjoy fishing trip for disabled, Karen E. Olson
Tallahassee Democrat
Smile Awhile
Chapter News,
1. Tallahassee Chapter, Barbara Lineberry
2. Brevard Chapter, William J. Pearson
3. Jacksonville Chapter, Barbara L. Bush
Chapter Liaisons
*** Quotes to Ponder ***
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
By: Robert Miller
I would like to thank all the Board Reps who attended the Winter Board
Meeting in Orlando.
We had a very productive meeting and covered a lot of
ground. According to the many topics we discussed in our general business
meeting we are certainly going to be busy this year.
Some of the highlights were as follows: The Legislative or Public
Education Committee has several issues to deal with on the state and federal
levels. On the State level, there are House and Senate bills that propose an
increase in funding for the Transportation Disadvantaged Program.
On the federal level, the main issues are:
ensuring blind voters access to an
independent, secret and verifiable ballot; increased funding for
rehabilitation programs to benefit the older blind; expanding Medicare
coverage to include rehabilitation services, and durable medical equipment
for blind beneficiaries; and insuring an appropriate definition of "legal
blindness" in the statute for evaluating claims for Social Security
Disability benefits based on vision loss. We are sending six people to
Washington to participate in the Legislative Seminar. The access Committee
is still dealing with the Talking A.T.Ms and the Governors Task Force on Voting
Reform in Florida.
The Technology Committee recommended that we purchase a
new computer for Project Insight. This recommendation was approved by the
Board and will be purchased with Project Insight funds.
As I anticipated in my last message, Craig Kiser was appointed as the new
Director of The Division of Blind Services and assumed his new position on
February 1. The position of Bureau Chief of Business Enterprises will be
filled on March 1 by Stephanie Wilson. In addition to her duties as Bureau
Chief, she will also be responsible for public awareness. These added duties
will include increasing public awareness of the agency through brochures and
public service announcements to make Florida citizens aware of the services
provided by the agency. She will also be responsible for working with
consumer groups such as FCB, NFB and other rehabilitation agencies. Mr.
Kiser also advised me that The "Blind Baby Program" was cut by $200,000.00
and the funds were moved to the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind who's
budget was also cut by one million dollars. This cut should not have a major
affect on the "Blind Baby Program" since only $60,000.00 has been spent so
far this year. Mr. Kiser is also interested in making changes to the agency
's web site and would appreciate any suggestions any of you may have. DBS
will also be getting 275 new computers soon and Mr. Kiser hopes to make some
of the old ones available to visually impaired citizens of Florida. All the
details haven't been worked
out but I will keep you all posted as I learn more.
As many of you know, Florida has been moving toward privatization
of certain services that are currently delivered by state agencies and I
feel that The Division will also move in this direction. A couple of areas
that are being looked at are Adaptive Technology training and possibly some
aspects of Business Enterprises. As far as Adaptive Training, this could
mean a major expansion of service delivery, since most of the Adaptive
training is centered around a single location in Daytona. One of the most
requested services for the elderly blind was adaptive training and
contracting out this service may be the best way to go.
Now for some very important house cleaning. Since we receive funds
through the License Renewal Program, we must comply with annual audits and
certain registration requirements mandated by The Florida Department of
Agriculture and Consumer Services. This means that not only the state but
each chapter and all special interest affiliates must be registered in order
to conduct fund raising activities in the state of Florida. This also means
that FCB, on the state level must submit an annual report detailing what
monies were made through fund raising and contributions, both on a state and
local level. We have a mechanism to deal with this issue. It is called
Article 5 of our Constitution and Article 3 Sections E and F of our Bylaws.
We have already filled out the Registration applications but many chapters do
not adhere to the above mentioned Articles of our Constitution and By-laws.
Article 5 of our By-laws governs how we deal with chapters and members who
violate the Constitution and By-laws. I know this sounds harsh but we stand
to lose a lot and in order to continue receiving these funds, we must comply
with the State requirements. If your chapter has not submitted their annual
report along with any monies due, please do so immediately. The reports
should be sent to Jim Warth. If we have not received your report by March
15, I will be contacting your chapter. Again, I apologize for sounding so
harsh, but this is very important.
I look forward to seeing all of you at our state convention in May and
hope you can come and enjoy it. The convention program will be a little
different than in the past but we have a lot of
interesting things to do and topics to discuss. Looking forward to seeing
all of you there.
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CONVENTION 2001 - FORT LAUDERDALE
Sheraton Fort Lauderdale Airport Hotel
1825 Griffin Road
Fort Lauderdale (Dania), FL 33004
Telephone: (954) 920-3500
May 17, 18, and 19, 2001
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-OVERVIEW-
By: Barbara L. Brown, Convention Committee Chairperson
It's not too early. NOW is the right time to begin making plans to attend
The Florida Council of the Blind's annual state convention and everyone is
cordially invited.
Room rate is $60.00 plus 11.5% tax and that rate is good three nights
before and three nights after the convention dates.
Some changes have been made in this year's convention agenda. The first
change is that it will be held in May (for the second year) instead of
September (hurricanes are rare in May).
Come early and enjoy yourself. A tentative cruise is being planed for
Thursday the 16th but is not yet confirmed. We will have this finalized
before the Convention Call goes out.
Friday will be a day of fun but will include some activities. From 8:00
A.M. until 12:0 Noon a Project Insight training session will be held for
seasoned and new volunteers. Don't eat early, though, because breakfast will
be served to PI volunteers. Also during the morning hours, a trip to
Burdine's to "shop 'til you drop" will be offered with a discount on
purchases to those attending the convention.
There will be a number of workshops including our annual Legislative
Seminar hosted by Carl McCoy. Another of the changes will be the annual
awards presentation. Traditionally, we have held a Saturday Noon luncheon.
Instead, there will be a Friday evening Awards Dinner from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M.
Yes, the annual Host Chapter Party will be on Friday evening, as usual,
beginning from 9:30 to 11:30 P.M. When the day ends is up to you.
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CONVENTION TRAVEL INFORMATION
By: Richard Giombetti
There are several transportation options to and from the Convention hotel
available to those who plan to use some form of public transportation to
reach Fort Lauderdale. They are listed below for your convenience.
The convention hotel, the Fort Lauderdale Airport Sheraton, is located at
1825 Griffin Road,
Dania, FL 33004.
The phone number is (954) 920-3500.
The fax number is
(954) 920-3571.
The hotel provides free airport shuttle service to and from the airport
only. You will need to call for a shuttle when you get to the airport. There
is a free telephone directly to the hotel (no dialing) in the baggage area.
The hotel is located east of Highway I-95. If you are driving from the
north, exit the highway at the Griffin Road exit #26, cross over I-95 and
take the first right to the hotel.
Paratransit: If you wish to use Broward County Paratransit and if you are
already receiving Paratransit services in your home area, you must contact
your Paratransit provider and request that a copy of your letter of approval
or certificate of eligibility be faxed to the provider in Broward County.
The required paperwork must be faxed to the attention of Larry at TOPS Mass
Transit,
(954) 978-0795.
The information must include: your name, address,
date of birth, Social Security Number, the address of where you will be
staying while in the Broward area and if you use a wheelchair or a guide dog.
Once the registration process is complete, you will be eligible to receive
Paratransit service in Broward County for one year. Approximately two weeks
after the required paperwork has been submitted, please contact Larry in
order to receive your PIN number and transportation provider information.
The address and phone numbers for TOPS Mass Transit are:
TOPS Mass Transit
Attn. Larry
3201 West Copins Road
Suite 100
Pompano Beach, FL 33069.
Voice: (954) 357-8425
fax: (954) 978-0795
Tri-rail Service: A round trip ticket from either Miami or West Palm
Beach is $4.00. The Fort Lauderdale Airport Station is stop #8 from Miami
and stop #11 from West Palm Beach. The Fort Lauderdale Airport Station is
located at 500 Gulf Street Station.
Amtrack: The station address is
3001 Hollywood Boulevard.
The phone
number is:
(954) 921-4517. The station is approximately three miles from the
hotel. Cab service is readily available.
NOTE: Amtrick has a special until the middle of June. For three people
traveling together, the first ticket is full price, the second is half price
and the third is FREE, so this would be each for one-half the usual price.
There are requirements such as tickets must be booked at least 14 days before
departure date and the tickets must be picked up within three days after
making a reservation. You must call Amtrack at 1-800-872-7245 to check
whether the deal applies to your departure city.
Greyhound Bus: The Greyhound Bus Station address is:
1707 Tyler Street,
Hollywood, FL 33020.
The phone number is:
(954) 922-8228.
The station is
approximately 6 miles from the hotel. Cab service is readily available.
Cab Rates: The rate for the first mile is approximately $2.75. The rate
for subsequent miles is approximately $2.00.
We are looking forward to a wonderful convention and we hope that this
information will do much to make your travel experience a pleasant one.
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Are you a Survivor?
By: Rosanna M Lippen
Join FCCLV at this year's convention and find out! "Surviving Low Vision"
is our theme! In addition to our annual business meeting and elections of new
officers, Dr. Larry Halperin will speak on Surviving Macular Degeneration and
some new ventures on the medical forefront. Additionally, we will have
several Occupational Therapists on hand for a session on vision
rehabilitation and items now covered by Medicare and will conclude with a
panel of "survivors" who will share their strategies for success in every day
life. We will be giving away "Survival Kits" as well as exciting door prizes!
Come one, come all!
Any questions, please e-mail me at:
lippen@gate.net
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SHOP 'TIL YOU DROP AT CONVENTION
By: Sharon Youngs
As part of our 2001 Convention fun, we are planning a morning of shopping
sponsored by Burdine's! The event is planned for Friday, May 18. For those
who will be involved in the Project Insight Training program at that time and
those who may not be able to be in Ft. Lauderdale that early, Burdine's has
graciously offered us a discount of 11% on anything we buy, excluding
fragrances and cosmetics, from May 17 until the 20th. We have selected the
Galleria Burdine's, since it is nearest to our convention hotel.
The Galleria
mall contains many other retail stores, specialty shops and restaurants that
you might want to visit while you are there. This is a great opportunity to
purchase at a fine store those special items you have been wanting at a
discount. So come on down and join the fun!
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PROJECT INSIGHT PLANS MAY TRAINING SESSION
By Rosanna M. Lippen, Project Insight Co-Chairman
There is a training session scheduled for Friday May 17, 2001, at the Fort
Lauderdale Airport Sheraton Hotel from 8:00 A.M.-12.00 Noon.
Breakfast will
be included for all of you helpful volunteers as our way of showing our
thanks for lending your helping hands that are so needed to insure the
success of this wonderful service. For further information or to inquire
whether or not a volunteer is needed in your chapter area, please call Nancy
Folsom at 1-800-267-4448 as soon as possible so we can arrange appropriate
space.
We look forward to working with new volunteers and getting
reacquainted with those of you who have been involved in the past.
*** Lots of people want to ride with you in the limo, but what you want is
someone who will take the bus with you when the limo breaks down. (Oprah
Winfrey) ***
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THE GENEROUS GIFT
by: Dina Doris
I was recently asked what I knew about one of our old members who very
generously left our chapter (Venice) a substantial amount of money. With fond
memories, I recalled Irma Rudolph and the day this sweet little lady in her
eighties joined our chapter some years ago. As Membership Secretary, I tried
to make her feel at home for I could see she not only was trying to accept
and cope with Macular Degeneration, as so many of our members were doing, but
there seemed to be a reticence about her. I later learned she was having
difficulty coming to the meetings because of her husband's lack of interest.
However, she did come - no matter what! In time, both she and her husband
became ill. After his death, her condition worsened, making it necessary to
have around the clock care at home. I kept in touch with her by telephone,
and one day she asked me to tell her the full name of our chapter because she
intended to remember us in her will. Some time later, after her death, our
chapter was notified how generously Irma had "remembered" us!
Irma Rudolph
had bequeathed $80,000 to the Council of the Blind. Inasmuch as she had not
specified the Venice Chapter of which she was a member, the total sum was
given to the Florida Council of the Blind. The Venice Chapter, in turn,
received 10% of the total plus interest for the period until the estate was
finalized.
This $8,000 plus the interest which the Chapter received has made a
tremendous difference to us. It has enabled us to attend national conventions
and do much that we had previously been unable to do for the welfare of our
members and the blind community. Previously we had very little money for even
the smallest things. We cannot do fund raising because our members are all
quite elderly. I am sure the large sum which the Florida Council of the
Blind received had an even greater impact upon the ability of the officers to
run this organization. We, in our chapter, are extremely grateful for this
former member's legacy to the blind and visually impaired which can be
extended even after we are gone. It is appropriate to show our gratitude for
this lovely lady's loving generosity.
We thank you so much, dear Irma.
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UPPER PINELLAS AND ST. PETERSBURG CHAPTERS MERGE
BY Sharon Youngs
History was made in St. Petersburg recently. In a regular meeting of the
St Petersburg Chapter on November 18, 2000, the members of the chapter voted
to merge with the Upper Pinellas Chapter. The St. Petersburg Chapter has
been struggling to survive and gain new members for some time. The members
of Upper Pinellas Chapter welcome them.
Although I am not the FCB liaison for that chapter,I live in the same
county; therefore, I can get transportation to the meetings. I have been
concerned that this chapter has had difficulty for some time. I obtained a
copy of that chapter's Constitution and By-laws. That document clearly
stated that elections must be held during the November meeting.
Unfortunately, there has been many illnesses etc., within that group and
no one felt able to fill the required offices. We felt that the best solution
was to merge the two chapters that meet in the county.
The St. Petersburg Chapter and the members were, at that time, the impetus
that made it possible for the Upper Pinellas Chapter to form many years ago.
The combined chapter met for the first time in December, 2000, and held
elections. One of the members from the St. Petersburg Chapter was elected as
the chapter's Membership Secretary for the combined chapter. We were all
together for the Christmas party held on December 11. We are still working on
a new Constitution and a new name for this chapter.
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POET'S CORNER
REVELATION
By Elizabeth Fiorite
Blindness,
the silent smothering of my visible world,
engulfs me.
In the twilight the shapeless cloud
Creeps like kudzu ever closer,
Shading, changing, shielding.
The fog advances, thickens, rolls and rears,
unyielding It's here, now there:
This soundless mockery confounds me.
"Now you see; now you don't."
This kind of unkind magic enkindles mystery.
Where do I turn? Who holds the key?
When the gentle dawn breaks,
When the sun-dappled trees take shape,
When revelation replaces frail human hope
Then my eyes will see,
will recognize
the One,
the Blest
In Whom all beauty, love and understanding rest.
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NATIONAL CHURCH CONFERENCE OF THE BLIND
The National Church Conference of the Blind will be having their annual
conference July 22 - 26,2001.
It will be held at the Holiday Inn
South/Convention Center,
6820 S. Cedar St.,
Lansing, MI 48911.
Phone number:
(800) 333-8123 or (517) 694-8123.
Make your own
reservations
and make sure you let them know you are with the NCCB conference.
Come and join us for great Bible teaching, workshops, tour, talent time,
wonderful fellowship and more. For more information, contact our
membership secretary, Rheba Dunn at:
NCCB, P. O. Box 196, Grover, CO 80729
Phone: (970) 895-2352.
Email:
radioman@oneimage.com
Hope to see you
there.
*** Nothing makes a person more productive than the last minute. ***
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GOVERNOR BUSH PROPOSES INITIATIVES
TO CREATE AN ELDER FRIENDLY FLORIDA
Dunedin is to become Florida's first "Elder-ready" community.
After a seven-month process of surveying the community's accessibility to
elders, city planners and volunteers will plan to improve Dunedin's
oriented atmosphere to make the community also elder-friendly.
On January 9, 2001, the city's Mayor Tom Anderson presented Governor Jeb
Bush, Lt. Governor Frank Brogan, Elder-Affairs Secretary Gema Hernandez and
other officials the city's report explaining the status as an elder-ready
community. Many were on hand in Dunedin's Pioneer Park when Mayor Anderson
presented the entourage with the report.
During a three-city tour on that date, Governor Bush unveiled a series of
elder-friendly initiatives to be included in his forthcoming budget
recommendations to Florida's Legislature.
"For the sake of our greatest generation, it is my hope that we can build
on our past successes and make this year's legislative session the most
elderly-friendly session ever," said Governor Bush. "At the very least, we
owe our elders two things. We must fight against loneliness for those elders
in the twilight of their lives and we must provide an energetic and
entrepreneurial Florida for those who are just entering their golden years."
During the tour, the Governor highlighted the administration's budget
proposal for next year that includes an additional $52.4 million to provide
expanded options for elders, an increase of 15% over last year's budget.
The budget includes $46 million to improve quality of care in nursing homes and
$30 million to provide prescription drugs to low income elders.
An "Elder Ready Community" celebrates positive aging, encourages
self-care and engages elders in a variety of activities. This initiative of
the Department of Elder Affairs encourages Florida's community leaders, local
organizations, faith-based organizations, businesses and government agencies
to plan and design communities that prepare for the future and allow elders
to remain in their homes with dignity, security, purpose and in an elder
friendly environment.
A typical elder-friendly community will include conveniently located
shopping and medical districts, accessible transportation, appropriate
leisure activities, and affordable housing, pedestrian-friendly crosswalks,
timing of traffic lights, and flexible land use and zoning laws to allow for
shared housing programs.
For more information, call Department of Elder Affairs at
(850) 414-2000.
To subscribe to the free Elder Update monthly publication, send request
to Elder Update,
P.O. Box 6750, Tallahassee, FL 32314-6750.
Tapes are
available. An interesting Newspaper.
Editor's note" We couldn't help noticing that the criteria for
elder-friendly communities would also make communities "blind-friendly".
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FCB CHAPTERS: JOIN THE WEB
By: Lee Stallworth, Publicity and Publications Committee Chairman
as you may remember, we have asked all chapters to place their chapter
information and contact person on our FCB web page (
www.fcb.org).
However, if
you do not have anyone in your chapter who has a computer, you may send your
information to Project Insight. They will get it to the proper place.
This
information is very important and will help to get people in your area
information about your
chapter, such as time and place of meetings, officer's names and whatever
else you want to say about the group. We also would like to invite your
chapter representative to visit our Publicity and Publications Committee
meetings at board meetings and conventions. There is much to be learned and
we welcome your ideas and comments.
*** Be the change you want to see in the world. (Ghandi) ***
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"GOVERNOR BUSH, MAY I PLEASE VOTE NOW?"
(An Open Letter to Florida's Governor Jeb Bush)
By James K. Kracht
How fundamental to the democratic principles of our country is the right
to vote? Is it so sacred a right that every voter in this country, including
its visually impaired and blind voters, should have that right -- the right
to independently cast a secret ballot? Is it now, as Florida's Governor and
legislature respond to last November's election crisis, receive
recommendations from the Governor's Select Task Force on election reform, and
take steps to acquire technology that will guarantee a uniform system of
voting on a statewide basis, that Florida's 250,000 visually impaired voters
must stand up and be heard, so that we, too, can be meaningful participants
in this new voting system? And, if now is the time, and I submit to you that
it is, then together we can, as we must, make ourselves heard and understood,
and then hopefully, we will finally have the right, the ability, and the
means to cast our ballots, both secretly and independently, just like the
rest of Florida's voters.
It all began last September, when our local chapter started discussing
problems that our members were having as we tried to vote under current rules
using the now famous punch card system. And at our meeting two days after
the November election, it was made even more clear, that blind voters in
Miami-Dade County simply could not, either with their own sighted assistant,
or with assistance provided by poll workers as required under current law, be
guaranteed that we could vote, let alone vote the way that we desired.
A meeting between a couple of chapter representatives and the county's
Supervisor of Elections in early January set the stage to begin informing and
educating about what was really happening to blind voters as they traveled to
their precincts and undertook the exercise of their constitutionally
guaranteed right to vote with ballots and on voting machines wholly
inaccessible to them. While it is really too early to tell for sure, it
appears that the meeting has achieved a commitment from our Election
Supervisor that the current system really isn't working, and that "we" as
blind voters need to participate in obtaining access to a system that
includes technology which permits us, like other voters, the ability to cast
an independent secret ballot.
Besides commencing a meaningful and informative dialog with the county's
election officials, this small informal January meeting among three concerned
people, became a real catalyst to start the advocacy ball rolling, as we
learned that there were three upcoming public hearings of the Governor's
Select Task Force on Election Procedures, Standards, and Technology scheduled
in Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, and Jacksonville. What better time and what
better audience than a Task force put together by the Governor in response to
last November's election debacle, for our situation and our needs to be made
known and addressed. And thus, while we were unable to testify at the first
hearing, three of us showed up and testified at the Fort Lauderdale hearing
and the Jacksonville FCB chapter came through in spades, sending its
President, our WCB editors, and several others to testify there, reinforcing
our South Florida effort. We were there, and we were heard.
We told them about our blind voter that was refused the right to use his
own sighted assistant three different times. We told them about the
embarrassment, humiliation and demeaning treatment members experienced when
asking to have their ballots read and marked, and the outright refusal of the
second witnessing poll worker to stay by the voting booth and observe whether
the ballot was being marked appropriately. We told them about the ongoing
obstacles that have contributed to such widespread frustration
that many blind voters have simply chosen to no longer vote.
We told
them that there are accessible and usable voting machines now on the market
that will allow blind voters the ability to independently cast secret
ballots. And we challenged Task Force Members to find out why vendors of
optical scanner technology have not provided accessible alternatives that
would enable us to vote.
We have begun the process of educating, informing, and demanding the
equality in voting that as American citizens we are entitled to. But, if we
are to succeed, we must continue, we must get involved, we must educate and
demand, -- in short -- we must communicate with the Governor and with our
legislators. And, I am satisfied that this is exactly what we will do,
because as Helen Keller herself once said "together, we can do so much."
I assert to you, as fellow FCB members, my profound disappointment that
the Governor's Task Force did not include a single member with a visual
disability. It was no wonder then, that Task Force Members informed me, as I
stood before them in Fort Lauderdale, that they had no idea of the
significance, seriousness, or even of the existence of our problems as
visually impaired voters. Besides not being represented on the Task Force,
The Collins Center for Public Policy which was responsible for providing
direction, assistance and staff support for the Task Force, never included
any presentation to Task Force members either on the inaccessibility of
currently used voting systems for blind voters or the availability of
accessible voting technology, or the need for fully enfranchising 250,000
visually impaired Floridians. Thus it was no wonder that Task Force members
complained about being unaware of our problems and only heard our testimony
after they had already adopted recommendations which include the leasing of
optical scanners on a statewide basis for the 2002 election. The problem
with optical scanner technology is that with its use of bubble-in paper
ballots, it does nothing to address the needs of, or problems faced by
visually impaired voters. While this writer is hopeful that the Task Force
recommendations will include a general directive to the Governor and
Legislature which will bring to the forefront an awareness of the needs of
blind voters, the Task Force is certainly not now prepared to recommend
action by the state which will guarantee our right as Florida citizens and
taxpayers who happen to be blind, to participate in the single statewide
uniform voting system which the Task Force feels is so essential to the
integrity of the voting process in Florida.
The time is now, as Florida's governing officials move forward and review
technology and consider major expenditures to implement new voting technology
on a statewide level, that we stand up and be heard on our right to be able
to finally participate in this basic and fundamental process.
Testifying FCB members saw products from two touch screen vendors that
are accessible to blind voters and would enable us to independently cast a
secret ballot. We have talked to three others who claim that their systems
are accessible to the visually impaired. Thus, the technology exists, and in
fact it is already being used in a few jurisdictions around the country.
What is clear, is that the optical scanners and bubble in paper ballots
now used in some Florida counties and likely to be recommended by the Task
Force, and possibly urged by the Governor, and the Legislature because of its
significantly lower cost than other newer and accessible technology, is no
better for us as blind voters than the punch card system many Florida
counties now use. Neither voting system protects or ensures our right or our
ability to independently cast a secret ballot. And that, my friends, is a
fundamental right so basic to our system of democracy that we as visually
impaired members of our democratic nation must finally demand the full
recognition and protection of that right.
Together, as we have in the past, we can and we will make a difference.
I look forward to the day, -- a day not too far in the future -- when each of
us can independently cast a secret ballot.
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WATCH YOUR THOUGHTS
by: Frank Outlaw
Watch your thoughts; they become words.
Watch your words; they become actions.
Watch your actions; they become habits.
Watch your habits; they become character.
Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.
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BROTHERS ENJOY FISHING
TRIP FOR THE DISABLED
By: Karen E. Olson, Tallahassee Democrat
Calvert Durden didn't worry about a monster shark at "Hands Helping
Anglers" fishing exhibition for people with disabilities. If it had happened,
it wasn't his first encounter with a fearsome beast.
He once dodged a rat on a Tallahassee bus. He rode an elephant at the San
Diego Zoo. And at age 6 or 7, despite failing vision, he could hunt the
delectable gopher tortoise. Years before the burrowing reptile became an
endangered species, Calvert knew how to snag his dinner with an old
bedspring. In the process, he had to dislodge any rattlesnakes sharing the
turtle's den. Siblings with keener sight never blinked at the danger. "I
guess the ones who had better vision looked out for us who had less, but it
wasn't very obvious," said Durden, 44, who's active in many advocacy groups.
"Sometimes we'd walk for miles. We'd get our uncles' mule and wagon to go get
firewood for the winter. I'd chop trees and load them with the wood. I'd go
out and pick blackberries, blueberries and huckleberries."
Of the eight surviving children in his family, three brothers inherited
his eye disorder.
Between summers on their Caryville farm, all three attended the Florida
School for the Deaf and Blind in St. Augustine. All eventually moved to
Tallahassee, and all were on board for the Rotarians' annual fishing trip.
"It's something I always look forward to in June," said Kenny Durden, 36, who
runs a vending machine business. "Even if I don't catch anything, I enjoy
being out there - just feeling the air and the heat and the atmosphere."
Like his older brother, he grew up roaming the great outdoors. "One time my
grandmother said she had seen rattlesnakes in the grass and told me to stay
out of the grass. Like any child, that was a signal for me to try it. I was
more interested in the fun I was having with my cousins."
" The youngest of the trio Governor Staten, is a ham radio enthusiast
and history student. He has traveled widely, hitting the ski slopes in
Colorado, space camp in Huntsville, AL, and workshops in Washington, DC.
Because he just moved back home, this will be his first outing with the
Rotarians. "If you catch a shark, you're probably very lucky or very
unfortunate -depending on what happens to you." Governor joked "I've heard
enough stories that, if somebody catches a shark, you can cut the line. No
sense in trying to reel in a great white shark."
Calvert is still celebrating the four pound bass he landed about 10 years
ago. As the newly elected president of the Florida Christian Fellowship of
the Blind, he'd like to introduce fishing to pals in that group.
"It's relaxing, it's refreshing," he said. "And if I manage to catch
something, I'll have a good meal."
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SMILE AWHILE
A smile is the lighting system of the face, the cooking system of the
head and the heating system of the heart.
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contents
STATE LIAISON PERSON FOR LOCAL CHAPTERS
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
-END-
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