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The White Cane Bulletin January - February 2026
Articles for the White Cane Bulletin must be submitted to Sally Benjamin no later than the 15th of the month before it is published. Sally’s email is: editor@fcb.org.
If you do not have access to a computer and email, please find someone in your chapter to help you. We want to hear from anyone who wants to contribute to our newsletter, so if you cannot find a way to submit your article, call Sally and she will be glad to assist you.
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.
Those much-needed contributions, which are Tax-deductible, can be sent to the Florida Council of the Blind Treasurer, Mark Lear, at ***
P.O. BOX 214235
DAYTONA BEACH, FL 32121.
To remember the Florida Council of the Blind in your Last Will and Testament, you may include a special paragraph for that purpose in your Will or Trust. If your wishes are complex, please contact the FCB at
800-267-4448.
The FCB is a 501(c)(3) organization.
For other ways to support the Florida Council of the Blind, visit our Fundraising page found at www.fcb.org.
ARE YOU MOVING? – Sally Benjamin
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 who would like to receive the White Cane Bulletin and the Braille Forum, please contact me at: (850) 980-0205 or E-mail: membership@fcb.org
TABLE OF CONTENTS
FCB 73rd Annual Convention in Orlando by Kati Lear
2026 FCB Scholarship Information submitted by Sheila Young
Note from a Scholarship Winner
2026 FCB Award Nominations by Cachet Wells
Book Review submitted by Sheila Young
The Alliance on Aging and Vision Loss submitted by Anisio Correia
Jottings from Jacksonville by Paul Edwards Planning for Survival
Recipe Corner submitted by Sheila Young
On the Road Activities by Greg Lindberg
In the Spotlight: Miss Sally Benjamin by Alicia Eidson
Tech Tips by John Richards: for the Technology Committee
Chapter News
January-February GOCB Update by Martha James
Happy Holidays From The Pinellas Council of the Blind by Debbie Downey
Poetry Corner submitted by Shelley Sawyer
FCB OFFICERS, 2024 – 2026
2024-2026 Chapter & Special Affiliate Officer Liaisons
Handy Telephone Number References
***
FCB 73rd Annual Convention in Orlando by Kati Lear
I hope that each of you had a blessed and happy holiday season. May 2026 be filled with blessings, prosperity, happiness and wonderful memories for you.
Make plans to attend our FCB 73rd convention in Orlando, Florida Thursday, May 14 through Sunday, May 17, 2026. Our convention hotel is the Four Points by Sheraton at 5905 International Drive in Orlando, near Universal Studios. The room rates are $122 per night plus tax. The room block is not open yet and we will let you know when it is.
On Thursday evening, the activities Committee plans to host a talent show. The FCB banquet will move from Saturday night to Friday night at seven PM. The Education, Leadership and Scholarships Committee will present scholarships to deserving students. Our speaker will be Ted Henter and the FCB live auction will be open to bid on items. On Saturday there will be an Awards Luncheon for presentation of state and chapter awards. There will not be a banquet Saturday night. This will give you a chance to mingle and socialize with friends. The Activities Committee is planning a Dine Around Dinner. Stay tuned for more details for these evening activities.
It is early yet and the convention program is in its beginning stages. Debbie Grubb plans to moderate the Legislative Seminar and the opening ceremony. Chapter presidents and committee chairs please meet with your members and discuss ideas for your workshops. Program write ups are due on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2026. Once again we are looking for your convention theme ideas. Please submit them by Valentine’s Day, and the winner will receive a $25 Amazon gift card from FCB. The Convention Committee is looking forward to reading your write ups discussing your program plans. Please send them to me at floridacouncil@comcast.net.
We hope you plan to attend the 73rd FCB Convention. Information will be sent out on the FCB-L List group and in the March April White Cane Bulletin. This is your convention so please make it spectacular.
***
2026 FCB Scholarship Information submitted by Sheila Young
The scholarship opportunities are:
Gayle M. Krause-Edwards Scholarship: $2,000.00
Available to an eligible applicant who is enrolled full-time, and has completed one semester of college, in a course of study which will increase advancement potential in his/her chosen field
Nancy Burgess-Hall Advocacy Scholarship: $2,000.00
Awarded to a student who is enrolled in a Higher Education Institution and who has a proven record of engaging in disability-related advocacy (this is the only FCB Scholarship for which it is not required to be blind or visually impaired in order to be considered)
Teresa Blessing Scholarship: $1,500.00
Offered to an outstanding full-time college student
Timothy Turpin Scholarship: $1,000.00
Offered to a high school student graduating and exhibiting academic and leadership excellence planning to attend college full-time
Bobbie Probst Scholarship: $750.00
Awarded to an eligible applicant who is enrolled in a technical or vocational institute.
Applicants must have at least a 3.0 grade-point average (GPA) with the exception of the Gayle M. Krause-Edwards Scholarship.
The prestigious Gayle M. Krause-Edwards scholarship requires a 3.2 GPA and completion of one semester in a college or university. This scholarship is awarded to a student exhibiting outstanding academic and leadership achievements.
For the complete eligibility requirements and application, go to fcb.org.
If you have any questions about our Scholarship program, you may contact Sheila Young at FCB-scholarships@fcb.org or by phone at 407-425-9200.
Our deadline for applications is March 1, 2026, no later than 11:59 PM.
***
Note from a Scholarship Winner
I am so grateful to the scholarship committee for awarding me the FCB advocacy scholarship. Your support has made a real difference during my final semester of undergraduate school. With less financial stress, I’ve been able to focus completely on my coursework, and I’m proud to say that I’m on track to finish the semester with all A’s. I will be graduating on December 13, and I’m excited to share that I’ve already been accepted into an MBA program starting next year.
This scholarship hasn’t just helped me get through this semester it has given me the encouragement and momentum to continue my education and pursue my goals. I’m passionate about building a career in public policy and government affairs, and knowing that others believe in me makes me even more determined to succeed. Thank you so much for your generosity and for supporting me on this journey.
Sophia Mccall
Nancy Burgess-Hall Scholarship recipient
***
2026 FCB Award Nominations by Cachet Wells
FCB Awards Committee is now accepting nominations for its annual FCB Awards 2026. Nominations will open January 1, 2026 to March 2, 2026 deadline.
Nomination letters can be submitted to Cachet Wells, Chairperson at Activities@Fcb.org to tell us all about the deserving persons that you’d like to nominate. All awards will be presented at an awards luncheon on May 16, 2026 at our annual convention in Orlando, Florida.
Here’s an overview of each award:
R. HENRY P. JOHNSON AWARD
CRITERIA
The R. Henry P. Johnson Award will be presented to a legally blind person who has, through his or her work and through service to his or her community, demonstrated the kind of pioneering spirit and exemplary adjustment that Mr. Johnson demonstrated. Individuals who are likely to be considered for this award must succeed far beyond the average visually-impaired person.
DOLLY GAMBLE AWARD
CRITERIA
The recipient of the Dolly Gamble award must have demonstrated a commitment to and success with the extension of services for the blind and visually-impaired people of this state. The recipient may be blind or sighted, but should, in general, represent a high level of expertise and commitment to serving blind individuals.
WILLIAM ALFRED OUZTS AWARD
CRITERIA
While no one could replace W. A., a recipient of this award would display many of the superb qualities exhibited by W. A., including dedication to FCB, responsibility and effectiveness. The individual must have taken a leadership role in numerous FCB projects and actively participated in the organization for a minimum of 10 years. This award would only be given to an outstanding FCB member, an individual we would all wish to emulate.
WILLIAM (BILL) FERRELL "JUST BILL" HUMANITARIAN AWARD
CRITERIA
The recipient of this award may be blind or sighted but must have gone to great lengths to better the quality of life of people, be they sighted or not.
The recipient should have demonstrated a sincere concern for his/her fellow humans, just as Bill always did. A good candidate for this award would be one who has worked in the field of rehabilitation i.e. mobility instructors, teachers, or rehab councilors, for example. Membership in Florida Council of the Blind is not a prerequisite for this award. Anyone who, over the years, has contributed their time and caring for others, especially people who are blind or visually impaired, may be a candidate for this award.
Recipients of this award will be selected based upon their demonstration of humanitarian qualities, which emphasize efforts to improve the quality of life for others, having communicated, educated, facilitated and updated to ensure equality, independence and dignity for others.
LEGISLATIVE AWARD
The purpose of this award is to honor a Florida elected official who through his/her statewide and/or federal legislative efforts must have made a significant and positive impact on the welfare of blind and visually-impaired people in Florida.
COOK CHAPTER PRESIDENT'S AWARD
Each chapter may nominate a chapter president from the previous year to receive this award.
The following accomplishments will be considered when selecting a recipient for this award: regularity of meetings, effective programs, increases in membership, cooperation in local and state projects, participation in community organizations.
Overall leadership skills, including innovation and cooperation with neighboring chapters, as well as the state organization will be considered when assessing the performance of a nominee.
OUTSTANDING HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR AWARD
CRITERIA
The name and address of the school, as well as the names of the principal and teachers must accompany the narrative nomination. Evidence of superior scores on the SAT, ACT, College Boards or an equivalent instrument shall be presented with the nomination. The narrative should include details of the student's involvement in extra-curricular activities, student government and community service. Supporting letters from teachers, employers, etc. would be helpful.
MOBILITY AWARD
CRITERIA
This award is intended to honor the Florida School for the Deaf & Blind senior who has made the most improvement and succeeded in overcoming greater than usual barriers to effective mobility. The mobility department should consider such factors as multiple impairments, perseverance and attitude as well as excellence of orientation and mobility skills.
CHAPTER/SPECIAL INTEREST AFFILIATE AWARD
Each chapter or special interest affiliate may submit the name(s) of local recipient(s) they wish to honor. The criteria for the selection is up to the chapter/special interest affiliate. All that is required by FCB's Awards Committee is the name of the recipient, as the chapter/special interest affiliate wishes it to be printed, and the name of the chapter/special interest affiliate submitting the name. Each chapter/special interest affiliate shall pay for each plaque they desire to present.
Visit www.FCB.org for full Awards Criteria description and details.
***
Book Review submitted by Sheila Young
Sing for the Red Dress
DB 129050
Joseph Marshall
Narrator: Mark Ashby
11 hours 42 minutes
Mystery and Detective, Native American
"This book is both a love story between university professor Dr. Gavin Lone Wolf and Washington DC lawyer Katherine Hill and a haunting narrative of the ongoing problem on Indian reservations of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW). An issue that has been neglected for years in real life by both the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the FBI, partly due to jurisdictional conflicts, the fictional Smokey River Tribal Police Force decides to make a difference when they find the names of twelve Native girls who are thought to have been abducted for sex trafficking to oil field workers. Risking their own lives to rescue the girls, when the tribal police and others, including Gavin Lone Wolf and Katherine Hill, infiltrate the oil camps and dig deeper they uncover a cultured but ruthless villain who will stop at nothing to maintain his power."-- Provided by publisher. Strong language and some violence.
***
The Alliance on Aging and Vision Loss submitted by Anisio Correia
Dear ACB State Affiliates, Chapter Leaders and Special Interest Affiliates,
The Alliance on Aging and Vision Loss (AAVL) encourages each of you to reach out and build connections with your local Area Agency on Aging (AAA), your State Office on Aging, or your local senior center. This is a wonderful opportunity for us to make a meaningful difference in the lives of older adults who are losing and/or have lost their vision.
Developing a working relationship with your AAA and other local aging network service providers can be mutually beneficial. A partnership will help ACB members learn more about valuable community services available through these agencies—such as transportation, nutrition assistance, caregiver support, falls prevention, and more. At the same time, we can educate AAA or senior center staff about the needs of seniors experiencing vision loss, increasing awareness and accessibility within their programs.
Here are a few simple steps to get started:
-
Locate your AAA: Go to the Eldercare Locator at:
https://eldercare.acl.gov
In the first edit field, enter your zip code and press enter;
Typically, the first heading contains the listing for your local Area Agency on Aging; if not, go to the next heading until you find the listing for your AAA and/or State Office on Aging. Your AAA can also provide you with contact information for the senior center in your area or you can use google or other search engine for that information. - Reach out and introduce yourself: Invite an AAA or senior center representative to give a presentation to your local ACB chapter about the services they provide.
- After the presentation to your Chapter, encourage a couple of your fellow members to reach out and find out more about the organization and its services.
- Offer to educate their staff: You can share information about ACB, demonstrate how to use sighted guide techniques, and provide a resource list of local and state agencies serving people who are blind or visually impaired.
- Get involved: Ask if someone from your chapter or affiliate could serve on the AAA’s Advisory Council. This is a great way to ensure that the needs of older blind individuals are represented in local planning and decision-making.
- If you have already reached out to your local AAA, senior center or other aging-related organization, please let us know at
advocacy@aavl-blind-seniors.org
Together, we can build strong, lasting partnerships that expand opportunities and improve the quality of life for our older blind population. Your outreach can make a real difference—one conversation at a time.
For more information—or to connect with an AAVL member who can walk you through the process and help you get started, send an email to
advocacy@aavl-blind-seniors.org
Also, stay tune for an upcoming Community Call in mid-January where some of our members will describe their successes in reaching out to their local aging networks.
We want to help and are committed to your success in developing this partnership.
Anisio Correia, Chair
***
Jottings from Jacksonville by Paul Edwards
Planning for Survival
Those of us with vision loss are in a funny position! Many, if not most of us live on our own and have developed approaches that allow us to be pretty self-sufficient. What happens if a disaster threatens? Do we know what to do and how to get it done? How many of us stay in our homes because there is no alternative rather than because it's what we really want to do? How capable are public officials of understanding our special needs?
In 2025 there was not a single hurricane that visited Florida. That was amazing as it was rare and we have no right to expect that we will be as lucky in 2026! So it seems to me that it's appropriate to spend a little time exploring options.
Things Everybody Should Do
Later in this article I will explore some options from which you can choose. In this segment I want to list a few things that everybody who lives in Florida whether blind or sighted should do!
- Gather together all your important documents and make them the first component of a getaway bag! Place the documents in an air-tight plastic bag and seal it before adding it to your stash! Papers should include insurance policies, identification cards, medicare or social security cards and identifying documents for everyone in your household including animals.
- It's a good idea to speak with your doctor at the start of hurricane season to see if you can get an extra prescription refill. Hurricanes have a habit of turning up just when you're running out of the medications you need! You should, of course, add your meds and those of others to your getaway bag! Include some over-the-counter drugs as well such as Tylenol and any vitamins you usually take.
-
If you have animals who depend on you, make arrangements to have what they will need in your get away bag!
You should probably plan to have supplies you will need for at least ten days! - Be sure to have a radio and spare batteries! It's likely that power will go away and you need to be aware of what's going on! If you can manage it, acquire a "weather" radio that will work with batteries or with a built in generator you can wind up to create power!
- Your land line phone these days is likely to be a part of your computer and internet system. When the power goes that phone will too! That means you will need to depend on a cell phone! It's possible that cell towers will also go away but they tend to be restored pretty quickly. It's crucial that you acquire a couple of extra power banks that will extend cell phone function after your phone's battery has died! Use your phone sparingly! It will probably be the only way to communicate with others!
- This suggestion may seem out of place but I can tell you from personal experience just how important it is! No matter where you live in Florida you should acquire flood insurance! I know that hurricane insurance is prohibitively expensive and some of us can't afford it and that's all there is to it! Flood insurance, on the other hand, is subsidized by the government and generally doesn't cost more than five or six hundred dollars. Unlike its "hurricane" cousin flood insurance simply speaks to water in your house and is much more likely to get reimbursed than some of the insurance policies in other categories. I know this is an expense and often gets you nothing but, when there's an issue, you will be glad to have it!
- Create a plan! All of us have family members or friends who want to know that we are safe! If there are several people in the household, you will want to know where and how they are too! Get together with those who matter and create a clear, concrete plan for communication in the event of a disaster. While much of this document may seem to focus on hurricanes, a disaster can happen at any time, any where and from a whole host of causes!
It is likely that there are other elements I should have included on this list. Write an article for the White Cane Bulletin telling me what I left off! Now it's time to step back and look at the bigger picture!
Who you “Gonna” Call
The current administration is talking about abolishing the Federal Emergency Management Agency. I hope they don't do that because it's a valuable resource before a disaster and does amazing work after an emergency is over! For now, know that you can use their toll free numbers as a starting point to acquire more information than this article contains about getting ready for a range of disasters. A place to start is www.fema.gov which has access to lots of information including local resources.
The state of Florida also has an emergency management department and it's useful to have their information. In particular, they have lists of all the various county emergency preparedness departments and this is truly where the rubber meets the road.
Every county has a department and every county has a disability register. This allows every person with a disability to register with the county. Even if you intend to remain at home in place during a disaster, it is a good idea to get on the disability Register. This will give you the opportunity to be evacuated to a shelter should you choose to do this. It also puts you on a list that will make folks aware that you exist, where you are and what you choose to do in terms of evacuation.
There are certainly pros and cons in terms of evacuation. In some counties you will automatically be sent to a "disability" shelter. These tend to be more restrictive and it is likely you will have to operate with more rules. Some shelters have a low opinion of the ability of people with disabilities and will want to be more "supervisory" with you. They may want to take your medications and may make handling your dog, if you have one, a little more problematic. This is where you will have to practice your advocacy skills to develop a relationship you can handle. You, through your local chapter, can have an impact on how emergency management is arranged.
I think it is crucial for every local chapter to make contact with emergency management at the local level. Encourage them to come to one of your meetings and present. Perhaps more important is your asking to become involved with advisory committees which exist in most, if not all, counties.
By working with these you can shape the procedures so that the needs of people who are blind or have low vision are made a part of the rules that are adopted.
If we don't advocate for what we need we should not be surprised if the systems that get put in place are inappropriate.
The question of whether you evacuate or shelter in place is a complex one. How you answer it must depend on how you feel about your ability to handle what could be very serious consequences. Your home may be damaged or flooded. Even if there is no apparent damage, if you have no vision, you will not be able to assess what may have happened just outside your door. There may be downed power lines. You may be isolated when trees fall! You may find yourself stranded alone with little access to food or water!
I sheltered in place several times and evacuated once.
Emergency preparedness is an extremely complex topic. There are no simple answers and your situation and competence must guide what you choose to do. If you decide to stay home, set up communications with people who are near you and with those folks you know who are far from the disaster. Those close can come and see what your situation is as soon as it is safe. Those far from the disaster can contact authorities if you can't.
I would recommend that each chapter set up a phone tree for all its members. Check in with folks every day to see if there are emergencies you can help handle. If you can't get hold of somebody you will need to decide when you need to contact authorities. I would suggest you ask each member to provide a number for a family member or friend that you can add to your phone tree so you can check with them if you can't find the member!
Recognize that a disaster can happen any time! You should have your ready bag prepared at all times.
Far too many people who are blind suffer unnecessarily during disasters because they haven't planned in advance. There are lots more elements that could have been included in this article but my hope is that this will persuade every person who reads this to implement the suggestions it contains. Your local chapter and our state affiliate have work to do to make officials aware of our needs and our expectations! We have work to do but together we can make emergencies easier for people who are blind or who have low vision easier to survive!
Paul Edwards
***
Recipe Corner submitted by Sheila Young
Mayonnaise & Chicken
Place chicken in zip lock bag with mayonnaise and refrigerate overnight.
Crush crackers, or use bread crumbs and roll chicken in them
Put on baking sheet with parchment paper.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Bake for 40-50 minutes.
I have made this in the Air Fryer.
350 for 15 – 20 minutes
Bake until chicken reaches 165 degrees with a meat thermometer
***
On the Road Activities by Greg Lindberg
With so many great things happening around the Sunshine State, we don’t want you to miss out on any of them. No matter if it's to celebrate a special cause, gather to honor White Cane Day, or a fundraising event, we want to help provide an avenue to advertise to a wider audience of members to increase engagement in your planned events.
The Florida Council of the Blind Activities Committee invites you to share your upcoming Chapter and Special Interest Affiliate events with us that are being held throughout the month. This allows members to review and plan ahead to attend other local area events. We want to help you by supporting and promoting your efforts to raise awareness about what you're doing and maximize participation.
For each event, please provide the following:
- A detailed summary of the event (who, what, when, where, and cost)
- Contact information for the event (contact person’s name, phone number and/or email address)
The deadline to submit this information is the 5th of each month by sending to Activities@fcb.org to have it included in the FCB Activities Committee communications channels.
Thank you, and we look forward to helping support your activities!
The FCB Activities Committee
***
In the Spotlight: Miss Sally Benjamin by Alicia Eidson
Today, In the Spotlight features Miss Sally Benjamin—a woman whose life story reflects resilience, service, humor, and quiet leadership. Spending time with Sally was both enlightening and a genuine pleasure. Though I did not know her well prior to this conversation, the interview provided a remarkable opportunity to learn about her life and legacy. She is down-to-earth, approachable, and truly lovely.
Early Life and Family
Sally Benjamin was born and raised in Tallahassee, Florida, where she has spent most of her life and where she plans to remain. Family has always been central to her story. Sally is the youngest of four sisters, with age gaps of sixteen, thirteen, and ten years between them. She recalls being deeply loved and well cared for by her sisters throughout her childhood.
Her father, surrounded by “five women in the house,” often found refuge at the horse barn. During times when Sally’s mother was working or hospitalized due to illness, her oldest sister, Sylvia, frequently cared for her. Sylvia had five children of her own, and since her oldest son was only three years younger than Sally, Sally spent much of her early childhood alongside her nieces and nephews.
While she shared a room for a time with another sister with whom she did not feel especially close, but realized later in life that sister loved her very much. Sally speaks with particular gratitude about her sister Shirley. Shirley has consistently been a source of unwavering support. Sally shared a deeply meaningful memory from a time when she traveled out of state for a second opinion regarding her eyesight. When insurance refused to cover the expense, Shirley immediately paid the cost without hesitation and never asked to be reimbursed. Shirley, now eighty-three, continues to help Sally in any way she can and will always be remembered fondly.
Though Sally has family members scattered elsewhere—including a niece in London—most of her family remains nearby in Tallahassee, reinforcing her desire to stay where she feels most comfortable and connected.
Parents, Business, and Early Support
Sally’s father worked for a wholesale electrical company, and when Sally was around five years old, her mother encouraged him to start his own business. The family-owned company was successful, allowing them to provide well for their household, and it was eventually sold around 1990.
Her parents were especially supportive regarding her blindness. Her mother helped her with homework and spent time reading to her—efforts that left a lasting impression.
Vision Loss and Determination
When asked whether she was born blind, Sally explained, “Yes, my mother had German measles while she was pregnant with me so I was a rubella baby. When I was sixteen, I got glaucoma and I lost all the sight in my left eye.”
Today, Sally retains minimal vision in her right eye. Doctors often say she can count fingers at ten feet, though she notes that this varies greatly depending on lighting and contrast. She has noticed a gradual decline in recent years, making reading more difficult and limiting her use of a magnifying glass. As she put it, “I just don’t see as good as I used to could. I memorize what people are wearing so if I have to find them in a crowd, I can find them later.”
Education, Marriage, and Love
Sally attended the school for the blind during her tenth, eleventh, and twelfth grade years. Reflecting honestly, she shared, “I went to the school for the blind and in the tenth, eleventh and twelfth grades and decided I did not want anything to do with people who are blind so I stopped hanging out with them. I got married very young.”
She married Richard for the first time at age twenty. “I was twenty. At that time my parents had to give permission because I wasn’t twenty-one yet. That was an interesting situation.” That marriage lasted seven years.
After being divorced for twenty-one years, Sally met William. They lived together in Washington State for two years and later spent twenty years together in Tallahassee as a married couple. Together they shared a love of walking, watching television, listening to music, and traveling. William’s multi-CD stereo system became a centerpiece of their evenings, and music filled their home.
Their travels included Jamaica and three cruises—two of which were taken with couples they met through ACB. Through this organization, Sally formed many meaningful friendships.
Sally met William at an ACB convention in Orlando during a tour of the Kennedy Space Center. Their connection began simply, with William asking to sit next to her on the bus. Later, when guides were needed, he asked to walk with her during the tour. That evening, he invited her to dinner, and soon they were talking on the phone late into the night. Sally knew immediately that he was different.
She remembers William with deep affection, describing him as kind, gentle, hardworking, and respectful. “I don’t know how else to put it, he was a hard worker and just a wonderful person. He never talked bad about anyone. He and I had some ups and downs but overall we had a wonderful relationship.”
Though Sally never had children and believes endometriosis may have prevented pregnancy, her life has been rich with relationships and love.
Leadership and Advocacy
Sally’s involvement with the Florida Council of the Blind began after being invited to a meeting by Sila Miller. She quickly became active and was elected President of the Tallahassee chapter in 1999. Although she served only three months before moving to Washington State, her leadership journey continued.
In Washington, she became involved with local chapters and learned from respected leaders Berl and Denise Colley, attending her first leadership conference alongside them. She later served as President of the Vancouver Council of the Blind and credits that experience with shaping her understanding of leadership and service. Sally remained friends with Berl and Denise even after moving back to Florida from Washington State. She credits them for learning and growing within the organization.
Returning to Florida, Sally has served as membership secretary for the state for many years—so long, she jokes, that it feels like forever. She has also served multiple terms as President of the Tallahassee chapter and once held a statewide position now occupied by Kati.
Reflecting on that role, she said, “It required many extra hours that you end up volunteering for to get the work done. I used to put the White Cane Bulletin together and print it. and we would have others come to my house to work on it together and I would feed them a meal. We had fun together but we got it done.”
When asked about her many contributions, Sally replied humbly, “I’ve just done whatever needs to be done.”
She has adapted to major changes in recordkeeping, transitioning from paper files to computer databases, and now manages records for more than seven hundred members across Florida. Despite challenges, she remains dedicated and meticulous.
Health, Fitness, and Resilience
Sally is proud to have reached seventy-two years of age. “When I was young, I didn’t think I would make it to forty, but here I am.” Doctors once predicted she would need a wheelchair by age forty due to scoliosis and leg issues. Her response? “I just jumped out of the trees like everyone else did! I stayed active. I rode my bike and did whatever I wanted to do. I was determined to not be in a wheelchair.”
She continues to stay active, recently sharing, “Just this morning I got on a machine in our exercise room for ten minutes and went two miles! That’s pretty good for me!”
Favorites, Hobbies, and Joys
Sally’s favorite food is no secret: “French fries!” She fondly recalls childhood indulgences and late-night potato frying adventures. She also loves ice cream, chocolate in moderation, and cherishes memories of sharing ice cream with her father.
Her favorite color is yellow, which she associates with happiness and sunshine. Music from the 1940s through the 1960s fills her heart, with Johnny Cash, Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton, and Dick Van Dyke among her favorites.
She enjoys action movies like Speed, mystery shows such as Law and Order, Dateline, and 20/20, and reading mysteries—especially J.D. Robb’s In Death series.
She loves games, puzzles, and cards, and plays Quiddler regularly with friends in their nineties. She used to do one thousand piece puzzles on her own but now since her vision has diminished, she is doing three to five hundred piece puzzles. Keep it up Sally!
Friendship, Loss, and Gratitude
Sally treasures deep friendships, particularly with her best friend Nancy Folsom and her church friend Debbie, whose kindness and reliability have left a lasting mark.
One of the most difficult moments of Sally’s life was losing William. Though doctors expected him to live longer, Parkinson’s disease and complications from COVID ultimately took his life. Sally continues forward with grace and strength.
She considers herself healthy, takes her vitamins, and remains grateful for all she has experienced, because she believes there is good and bad in everything.
Conclusion
Sally Benjamin was a wonderful interviewee, and spending time with her was truly special. If you do not know her, you should. And if you do know her well, I might just be a little jealous because our time together was nothing short of spectacular.
***
Tech Tips by John Richards: for the Technology Committee
What Is Tap To Pay? Is There Unsuspecting Danger involved in using This Process?
Tap To Pay is a touchless method by which Customers may tap their cards, smartphones, or compatible wearable devices, contrary to swiping or inserting a card in to a payment terminal at a retail location.
Although this method of payment is fast and convenient, intelligent thieves can use a method of stealing referred to as Ghost Tapping which occurs when attempts to initiate a tap-to-pay transaction without your approval.
These thieves use a contactless device utilizing Near Field Communication (NFC) to charge your tap enabled credit card or phone by bumping you in crowded places to start the transaction.
I don't use my phone for NFC transactions; however, I have used tap to pay while using a tap enabled credit card. Here lately, I have been inserting the credit card into the payment terminal instead of using the tap to pay method.
According to Tap to pay FAQ on the Shopify web site, In general, tap to pay is secure because it uses tokenization, which replaces sensitive card info with a unique identifier. Transactions also require biometric authentication or a PIN, so they're even more secure than traditional card payments.
If you wish to use tap to pay when using a tap enabled card, use a credit card instead of a debit card. In the U.S., credit cards offer you extra protection that debit cards don’t. This is stated in the Fair Credit Billing Act (FCBA). It limits your liability to $50 for fraudulent charges on a credit card if you report the loss to your issuer within 60 days.
Contactless payments are responsible for over 50% of global in-person transactions. Almost $10 trillion in contactless payments are projected to be processed by 2027.
Portions of this article were derived from the Shopify article entitled: "What Is Tap To Pay? How It Works & Ways To Accept It"
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Chapter News
January-February GOCB Update by Martha James
In November, we held our elections for officers for the coming year. They are as follows: Sheila Young for president, Alicia Eidson for first vice president, Dan Spoone for second vice president, Asli Goncer for membership secretary, Martha James for recording secretary, and Rick Eidson for treasurer. Congratulations to all the officers. We also want to say thank you to Marcia Bukala for her work as treasurer.
In January, we will have a Christmas/holiday party at the home of Alicia and Rick Eidson. It will be held on January 17.
GOCB wants to wish everyone a safe and happy holiday.
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Happy Holidays From The Pinellas Council of the Blind by Debbie Downey
PCB held its annual Holiday Luncheon on Saturday, December 6 at the Countryside Country Club in Clearwater, Florida. Eighty-three of our members and their guests enjoyed delicious food along with lots of socializing and door prize gifts.
One of the highlights of the event was our fifth annual Toy Drive where we collect lots of toys and financial gifts from our members to donate to the Pinellas County Marine Corps Toys for Tots program. Major ed Zaleski, the coordinator of the local program, came by to pick up the truckload of toys and checks. This toy drive is done in memory of our member, Karin Kava, who had the idea but unfortunately didn’t live to see it come to fruition. I’m sure she is proud!
Everyone had a great time at this year’s gathering. Thanks to our Social Coordinator, Sarah Markofski, and the numerous members who helped to make this a wonderful event! We will now be working on next year’s party!
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Poetry Corner submitted by Shelley Sawyer
The Nightingale
Written by Jude Johnstone
Performed by Trisha Yearwood
Yesterday I thought that I walked alone,
And that love was just a memory;
But a nightingale followed me back home,
And my love was waiting there for me.
I had lost my faith as lovers often do,
When the storm clouds gather overhead;
But the nightingale sang a note so true,
That I knew I'd lost my fear instead.
And to think that I said love was for fools,
And that time would never heal these old wounds;
But the nightingale saved a prayer for me,
In the twilight he played a faithful tune.
I have heard the lark over in the vale,
And I've heard the lonesome whippoorwill;
But the sweetest song is the nightingale's,
And I know I'll never get my fill...
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FCB OFFICERS, 2024 – 2026
President, Mikey Wiseman
Miami, president@fcb.org (305) 331-4870
1st Vice-President, Cassandra Jessie
Tallahassee, vp1@fcb.org (850) 567-4288
2nd Vice President, Shelley Sawyer
Tallahassee, vp2@fcb.org (407) 403-2099
Treasurer, Mark Lear
P.O. BOX 214235
DAYTONA BEACH, FL 32121
treasurer@fcb.org (386) 788-0463
Membership Secretary, and White Cane Bulletin Editor, Sally Benjamin
Tallahassee, (850) 980-0205
Membership Email: membership@fcb.org
White Cane Bulletin Email: editor@fcb.org
Recording Secretary, Elizabeth Bowden
Tallahassee, recordingsec@fcb.org (850) 345-0822
Immediate Past President, Sheila Young
Orlando, sheilayoung125@att.net (407) 425-9200
FCB Administrative Assistant, Kati Lear
(800) 267-4448 (386) 763-3836 floridacouncil@comcast.net
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2024-2026 Chapter & Special Affiliate Officer Liaisons
Please contact your officer liaison if we can be of assistance or if you need anything from the Executive Committee.
CALM (Chapter At Large Members): Mikey Wiseman
president@fcb.org
(305) 331-4870
Greater Orlando Council of the Blind: Mark Lear
treasurer@fcb.org
(386) 788-0463
Halifax Council of the Blind: Sheila Young
sheilayoung125@att.net
(407) 425-9200
Jacksonville Council of the Blind: Cassandra Jessie
vp1@fcb.org
(850) 567-4288
Manatee County Council of the Blind: Sally Benjamin
membership@fcb.org
(850) 980-0205
Miami Metro Council of the Blind: Mikey Wiseman
president@fcb.org
(305) 331-4870
Northwest Florida Chapter of the Florida Council of the Blind: Elizabeth Bowden
recordingsec@fcb.org
(850) 345-0822
Palm Beach Council of the Blind: Cassandra Jessie
vp1@fcb.org
(850) 567-4288
Pinellas Council of the Blind: Sheila Young
sheilayoung125@att.net
(407) 425-9200
Sarasota Council of the Blind: Shelley Sawyer
vp2@fcb.org
(407) 403-2099
Southwest Florida Council of the Blind: Elizabeth Bowden
recordingsec@fcb.org
(850) 345-0822
Tallahassee Council of the Blind: Sheila Young
sheilayoung125@att.net
(407) 425-9200
Tampa Council of the Blind: Cassandra Jessie
vp1@fcb.org
(850) 567-4288
Braille Revival League of Florida: Shelley Sawyer
vp2@fcb.org
(407) 403-2099
Coalition for the Concerns of the Totally Blind: Elizabeth Bowden
recordingsec@fcb.org
(850) 345-0822
Florida Council of Citizens with Low Vision: Cassandra Jessie
vp1@fcb.org
(850) 567-4288
Guide Dog Users of Florida: Shelley Sawyer
vp2@fcb.org
(407) 403-2099
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Handy Telephone Number References
Project Insight: (800) 267-4448
Bureau of Braille & Talking Book Library: (800) 226-6075
Division of Blind Services, State Office: (800) 342-1828
American Council of The Blind: (800) 424-8666
(Available 3:00 to 5:30 P.M. EST Monday-Friday only)
ACB Legislative Hotline: (800) 424-8666
(Available evenings 8:00 P.M. to 12:00 Midnight EST and weekends 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. only)
AT&T Disability Services: (800) 872-3883
Press 00 and speak with your long-distance carrier, or Florida only: (800)982-2891
BellSouth Disability Services: (800) 982-2891
(From anywhere)
Social Security: (800) 772-1213
(24-hour voice and touch tone accessible)