THE WHITE CANE BULLETIN Florida Council of The Blind, Inc. May – June 2018 Articles for the White Cane Bulletin must be submitted to Greg Lindberg no later than the 15th of the month before it is published. Greg’s email is: glindberg@gmail.com 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 can not find a way to submit your article, call Greg and he 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, Linda Jacobson, at 2915 Circle Ridge Drive, Orange Park, FL 32065. 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) 877-1512 or E-mail: salbenjamin@comcast.net TABLE OF CONTENTS President’s Message by James Kracht………………………………………………….4 Duties of FCB State Officers by Greg Lindberg………………………………..………...7 FCB President Candidate Letter by Sheila Young……………………………...………..8 FCB First Vice President Candidate Letter by Mikey Wiseman………………..……..10 FCB Second Vice President Candidate Letter by Cassandra Jessie………..…….…10 FCB Second Vice President Candidate Letter by Shelley Sawyer……………………11 FCB Recording Secretary Candidate Letter by Mary Tyson……………………….......12 FCB Membership Secretary Candidate Letter by Sally Benjamin…………..………..13 FCB Treasurer Candidate Letter by Mark Lear……………………………….………...14 GDUF Fundraiser by Kathleen Trutschel…………………………………………….......14 GOCB Update by Martha James………………………………………….……………....16 SSCCB Happenings by Tom Hanson…………………………………………………….17 Sarasota Council Updates by Karen Christie………………………………………...….18 Mumbles from Miami by Paul Edwards…………………………………………………..20 PCB’s New Vision Support Group by Barb Jachim……………………………………..21 Disney’s Dreamers and Doers Essay by Jackson Kracht………………………………22 Tech Corner by David Goldfield…………………………………………………………...23 Please Don’t Point by Jerry Rosenberg…………………………………………………..25 Poetry Corner by Shelley Sawyer…………………………………………………………25 FCB Officers, 2016 – 2018…………………………………………………………………27 Chapter and Special Affiliate Officer Liaisons…………………………………...………28 Handy Telephone Number References………………………………………………......30 *** President’s Message May-June 2018 By James Kracht It's Farewell, But It Will Never Be Goodbye! Six years ago, the retirement program that I was a part of capped out, and my 37-year career as an Assistant County Attorney was over. How would I fill my time and what on earth would I do to keep busy? Would I become a total couch potato and drive my wife crazy, always being underfoot in a house that had been hers during the daytime hours of my working career? For years, I had wanted to get more involved with the governance of the Florida Council of the Blind. My job, in all honesty, had prevented me from doing so. Fear of conflicts and ethical crossovers would make my ability to maintain complete independence impossible. I also knew that I would be unable to give FCB my undivided attention while working. Consequently, I abstained from a true leadership role with FCB during my working years. As FCB's First Vice President, I became convinced that it was my time to step up to the plate and help out. In 2014, I was unanimously elected as FCB's President. When running for my first term as President, I was awestruck by the quality, caliber, dedication, and commitment of our former leaders, e.g. Carl McCoy, Paul Edwards, Debbie Grubb, and Robert Miller. They each had their own individual style of governing, but together, they are all giants in the chronicles of our history. They worked to make FCB bigger, better, and stronger. As 2014 approached and my decision to run was made, could I even come close to living up to the high standards which individually and collectively they had set for FCB? Throughout my career, I had always tried to help, attended ACB and FCB conventions, held offices and board positions in local chapters and affiliates, but none was as big, as demanding, or carried as much responsibility as being president of FCB. Now, the election was over. It was time for me to give an acceptance speech, lead my first board meeting, and return home to write my first President's column for the White Cane Bulletin. What do I do, and how do I do it? It’s been full bore ahead ever since that train pulled out of the station, and I have never looked back. I have never questioned my decision to run and to serve, and I have always tried to do the best that I could do. I've totally enjoyed the legislative and advocacy challenges, answering questions raised by members, and leading an organization that is thriving with energy and inspiration. It needs all its members' continued energy, dedication, and hard work. The challenges of full-scale advocacy or intervention to help in resolving a member's particular needs were most rewarding. I will not bore you with an endless list of the projects, tasks, and work that filled my last 4 years. But, wow! We had meetings with Florida's Director of Elections early in my presidency. Last summer, we obtained an audience with Florida's Secretary of Education and DBS Director Robert Doyle. As a result, we finally obtained the long-awaited response to our continuing plea for better salaries for DBS counselors and supervisors. We maintained an ongoing dialog with voting officials at the state and local levels, and with the Division of Blind Services all with the objective of making things better for Florida's blind citizens. We kept our face in front of the Florida Legislature, although there is certainly room for more hands-on advocacy and work to be done with the legislature in the coming months. I wish I could report that the bill which would permit all voters to use the same voting equipment had passed this session, but I can't. However, I truly believe that before the tragedy at Parkland and ensuing dialogue over gun control at the close of the 2018 session of the legislature, this time we would have been successful. The fight was big! We were there! we were involved! We truly did make a difference. State advocacy is not inexpensive; thus, we have continued to work on projects that increase the availability of FCB'S revenue. I took a significant and active role in fundraising. Each of us must take an increased and more active role in fundraising. We can all give, and maybe we are giving to our maximum, but then we need to start asking for Walkathon donations, raffle ticket purchases, or regular MMS contributions. Addressing the individual needs of members, facilitating the functioning and progress of committees and keeping the membership informed through writings in the White Cane Bulletin have all kept me and my officers busy during the last 4 years. At times, the work has seemed demanding and exhausting, but at the end of the day, it has all been personally rewarding and extremely gratifying. I never could have succeeded without the assistance and help from my incredible Executive Committee. Every officer stepped up to the plate. I can't think of a single instance in the last 4 years that any of them told me “no.” They were an incredibly dedicated and giving group of officers for which you should all be thankful and appreciative. I certainly am. Significant challenges arose with the untimely passing of Patti Land, our longtime White Cane Bulletin editor, and the retirement of Sally Benjamin from her position as our administrative assistant. With perseverance and faith, we found and trained incredibly competent and dedicated successors. Both our administrative assistant, Kati Lear, and our WCB editor, Greg Lindberg, have been incredible givers and doers for FCB. Finding them was a challenge, but since coming on board, they have each been a positive inspirational part of our great team. We could not have found any better. Thank you, Kati and Greg. Also, I know that I never could have succeeded and been as productive in the 4 years of my presidency without the support, encouragement, and help from each and every one of you, our members, our wonderful strong and giving Florida Council of the Blind family. Thank you. If I have a hope as I leave this office, it is that we can grow even bigger and better, and work even harder to solve the problems and address more needs of our blindness community. You all know that I firmly believe that no man is an island, and that no man stands alone. It takes a village to raise a child, or in this instance a president, and it certainly took a village to make my presidency a success. You as FCB members, and you as my Executive Committee, our administrative assistants, and our White Cane Bulletin Editors have all been a part of that Village. But, before I ever undertook running for this office, I knew that I needed the support, the assistance, and the patience of my wife and our family. I am forever grateful to them for all that they did, all that they have given, and for the never-ending support and encouragement they have continually sent my way. It gave me great pleasure to say a special thank-you to my wife last year for being such a great support. Our son and daughter-in-law have helped FCB with needed legal services, and our daughter Jennifer has become a vital role in assisting with the detailed negotiation of hotel contracts for our next years' conventions. Finally, that we have made this a family presidency is best illustrated by our oldest Grandchild, Jackson. He has spent the last 2 conventions walking the floors, helping each and every one of us attendees in any way that he could. And then, he graciously gives us thanks in a written essay, which was entered into Disney's Dreamer and Doer contest. He won first place. I am so proud. I am so grateful. I am so lucky. Thank you, FCB. These past 4 years are a milestone in my life. I'm stepping down, but not away. I pledge to continue helping, assisting, and working with FCB and its members to advocate for, an improved quality of life for all Floridians. Thank you for all that you have done individually and collectively to make my Presidency a success. Respectfully, Jim Kracht, President Florida Council of the Blind *** Duties of FCB State Officers By Greg Lindberg It was suggested to me that as we’ve done before, we should reprint the duties of all FCB state officer positions since we’ll be electing several new officers at the convention in May. President -- The principal duties of this office are listed below. 1. Ensure that the Constitution and By-Laws of FCB are complied with. 2. Conduct the business meetings in an efficient and orderly manner. 3. Call meetings to order at the appointed time. 4. Announce the business of the assembly (agenda). 5. State and put to vote, all questions which legitimately come before the assembly in the form of motions and to announce the results. 6. Protect the assembly from obviously frivolous or dilatory motions by refusing to recognize them. 7. Enforce the rules relating to debate. 8. Expedite business while protecting the rights of members. 9. Decide all questions of order, unless, when in doubt to submit the question to the assembly for decision. 10. Respond to inquiries of members relating to parliamentary procedures. 11. To authenticate by signature when necessary all acts, orders and proceedings of the assembly. First Vice-President -- The principal duties of this office are as follows: 1. In the absence of the President, the First Vice-President shall preside in his/her stead. 2. In the event of the resignation, incapacity, or death of the President, the First Vice-President shall automatically become President for the unexpired term. 3. At the discretion of the President, the First Vice-President shall coordinate programs. Second Vice-President -- The principal duties of this office are as follows: 1. In the event of the resignation, incapacity, or death of the First Vice-President, the Second Vice-President shall automatically become First Vice-President for the unexpired term. If such occurs a new Second Vice-President shall be appointed for the unexpired term. 2. At the discretion of the President, the Second Vice-President shall serve on the Finance Committee. Secretary -- The duties and responsibilities of this office are as follows: 1. Maintain a record of all the proceedings of the organization (minutes). 2. Keep all committee reports on file. 3. Maintain records in which By-Laws, special rules of order, standing rolls, and minutes are entered with any amendments to these documents properly recorded and have current records on hand at every meeting. 4. Conduct the general correspondence of the organization. 5. Send a copy of the Board minutes to every Board member within sixty (60) days after the meeting. 6. In the absence of the President and Vice-Presidents, call the meeting to order and preside. Membership Secretary -- The duties and responsibilities of this office are as follows: 1. Keep the organization's official membership roster and call the roll when required. 2. Collect all chapter membership assessments and furnish, within proper time frame, to the FCB Treasurer. 3. Ensure that chapter delegates to the state convention have proper credentials. 4. Maintain the official membership roster and furnish in proper time frame to the American Council of the Blind. Treasurer -- The duties and responsibilities of this office are as follows: 1. Entrust with custody of the organization's funds. 2. Submit all required forms to the state and federal government as required by regulations. 3. Supply the required forms to the chapters for similar submission. 4. Comply with the By-Laws and have the financial reports audited each fiscal year. The fiscal year for FCB is July 1st and the audit should be completed no later than September 30th of any year. *** FCB President Candidate Letter By Sheila Young Dear Members and Friends of FCB, and GOCB (my local chapter), After many hours and days of deep thought and contemplation, I have decided to throw my hat in the ring for the office of President of FCB. Many of you know me already, but there are many who do not, so here is a little bit of my story. I moved to Orlando in November of 2004 after living in Mississippi. I grew up in Virginia Beach, was married to a Navy man, and raised two sons there, who are now 40 and 37 years old.  They have blessed me with 3 grandchildren. I had served as PTA President for two years, as well as other positions, at the elementary school where they attended. My ex-husband and I owned a sports bar in Virginia Beach for three and a half years, after which I completed the Customer Service certification through the Richmond, Virginia Rehabilitation Center and the Business Enterprise Program certification through the Mississippi Rehabilitation Center, so I have acquired an intimate understanding of managing the workings and finances of a business. I see FCB as a member-service organization, but also as a business, even if it is a non-profit. While I was in Mississippi, I was a member of the Mississippi Council of the Blind of ACB, and after 27 years of marriage, I relocated to Orlando to start my life over after my divorce. I have now been a member of FCB for 13 years, and this will be the 14th state convention I have attended, never missing one! I joined the Greater Orlando Council of the Blind (GOCB), (which at that time was the Mid-Florida Council of the Blind) when I came to Florida in January 2005. I have served as a member of several different committees in the chapter, moving on to Vice President, and then President for four years. Most recently, I served in the role of Treasurer for the past three years and was voted in as President of the chapter for my second term in 2017. I was honored in 2013 with the Cook Chapter President's Award by my chapter. I have participated in many FCB committees and previously served as chair of the Employment Committee.  I currently chair the Education and Leadership Committee and have for the last several years. I am a full-time employee of Orange County Public Schools, working with blind and visually impaired children from three years old to fifth grade, and have been working as a paraprofessional in this role for 13 years. I also serve as the union representative for the paraprofessionals at our school. I am aware that this is a very uncertain time for FCB with many of our officers changing over. What I do know is that I am willing to learn and put forth my best effort in continuing to uphold the standards that have been formed by our predecessors. If I am nominated and elected, I can assure you that I will work diligently for all our members, in all our chapters, to put forth those standards and support our community.  I offer the promise that I will serve at my best for the entirety of the Florida Council of the Blind and its affiliates. Please remember that there are offices open, so if you feel you can benefit our state, consider running for one of the offices. Please think long and hard about our elections and the prospects for officers; this is one of the great privileges we have as members of this wonderful organization! Sincerely, Sheila Young *** FCB First Vice President Candidate Letter By Mikey Wiseman Hello FCB, My name is Michael Wiseman, and I have been a member of the Florida Council of the blind for about the last seven years. I have proudly served the organization as its convention hotel coordinator for the last few years. Under Jim Kracht’s term as president, I have represented the organization on the Rehabilitation Council. After much consideration, I have decided to run for the position of First Vice President of the Florida Council of the Blind. I believe that I can provide a valuable perspective, as well as continue the momentum and direction toward for filling the objectives and mission of FCB. If elected, I pledge to do my absolute best in respect to the membership, as well as the important tasks that the organization is responsible for. Thank you for your consideration. Mikey Wiseman *** FCB Second Vice President Candidate Letter By Cassandra Jessie Hello, My name is Cassandra Jessie. I am interested in running for the office of Second Vice President. In this position, I would welcome the opportunity to collaborate with people from all over the state and help bring about political, educational, social, and economic changes and raise the awareness of accessibility issues. I have been a member of the Florida Council of the Blind since 2002. I am the past President of the Halifax Council of the Blind in Daytona Beach, Florida, where I served two consecutive two-year terms (January 2014 through December 31, 2017). Since 2016, I have held the position of Membership Chair for the Florida Council of the Blind. Other positions that I have held in the Halifax Council of the Blind include 1st and 2nd Vice President, Bylaws Committee, Fundraising Committee, and the White Cane Committee. While residing in Tallahassee, I served as 1st and 2nd Vice President of the Tallahassee Council of the Blind. In addition to my involvement in the Halifax Council of the Blind, I am a member of the Daytona Area Lions Club, where I hold the office of Service Chair and Lion Tamer. While attending Florida State University, I served three years as president of ACCESS, an organization for disabled students at Florida State University. The role of ACCESS is to ensure accessibility for disabled students on the FSU campus. I am involved in my local church and am a member of the church choir. My interests include recreational reading, horseback riding, listening to music, spending time with children, and advocating for the disabled. I look forward to focusing my full attention and energy on learning different types of advocacy and leadership strategies to enhance my ability to promote positive change for individuals who are blind and visually impaired. In turn, I will contribute my many years of experience in various roles of advocacy. Thank you for your time and consideration. Respectfully, Cassandra Jessie cassandrajessie@gmail.com 850-980-0177 (cell) *** FCB Second Vice President Candidate Letter By Shelley Sawyer Greetings, FCB Members and Friends, My name is Shelley Sawyer. I currently live in Tallahassee with my Husband, Richard, my son, Bryan, and our dog, Marley. Some of you may know me as the “Poetry Lady” from the White Cane Bulletin. I am announcing my candidacy for the office of Second Vice President of FCB. I received my education at schools for the blind, both in Ohio and in Florida. I attended a small business college, where I received my training to be a medical transcriptionist. I am currently employed by the Lighthouse of Houston. I work at home, typing surgical and clinical notes for several VA facilities. Aside from that, the focus of my life has been more domestic and family-oriented, rather than on higher education. I enjoy reading novels, listening to music, swimming, and watching old movies, among other things. Lately, I have greatly enjoyed described video entertainment from the Sero Network on my computer and my phone.   I have been a member of FCB since 2000. During my younger adult years, I lived in communities where there was no FCB chapter. I always felt that something was missing from my life. When I joined FCB, I realized that interaction with other blind and visually-impaired folks was the thing that had been missing. While I was a member of what is now GOCB, I served as recording secretary, vice president and president. Now, as a member of the chapter here in Tallahassee, I have served as second vice president, and I am now recording secretary. I am recording secretary for the Florida School for the Blind Alumni Association. I am a member of the Board of Trusties for the Friends of Library Access. I also submit the Poetry Corner for the White Cane Bulletin.   I truly believe that FCB will be changing and growing. I would welcome the opportunity to assist in those endeavors. I will also admit that I believe I personally need to broaden my own horizon a bit. There is much hard work ahead for FCB, and there will certainly be plenty to do for everyone. I would welcome the opportunity to be part of the FCB leadership team, and I thank you all in advance for considering me for the office of second vice president.   Sincerely, Shelley Sawyer    *** FCB Recording Secretary Candidate Letter By Mary Tyson Hello FCB Members and Friends, My name is Mary Tyson, and I am interested in running for the office of FCB recording secretary.  I have been a member of the Halifax Council of the Blind since 2005.   This year, I was elected President of our chapter, and I have served as chapter membership secretary for the past eight years.   I retired from Volusia County in June of 2016 after 38 years of service at the Daytona Beach International Airport.  Some of my duties included taking minutes in meetings for a wide variety of groups and committees.  Some of those groups are:  - Airport Land Development Committee  - Airline Security/Managers        Committee  - Ponce de Leon Inlet and Port District Advisory Board  - Volusia/Flagler Police Chiefs Association   My main duties consisted of coordinating meetings and working with various airport tenants and passengers, and I thoroughly enjoyed my years in the Airport Administration and Operations divisions. I am currently working with my third guide dog, Charlie, and am a member of Guide Dog Users of Florida.  I enjoy bowling, traveling, going to the beach, and am an avid sports fan.  I am also a charter member of the Daytona Halifax Area Lions Club.   I would very much like to serve as recording secretary for FCB and would strive to provide accurate and timely minutes of any and all meetings as required. Thank you for your consideration. Mary Tyson *** FCB Membership Secretary Candidate Letter By Sally Benjamin Hello FCB,   After a lot of thinking and praying, I am announcing my Candidacy for FCB Membership Secretary. I know I said I was done, but some things in my life have made me change my mind. I hope that someone will step up to the plate in the next two years and take my place. I hope you will vote for me for this position.   Thank you for your time and have a blessed day.   Sally Benjamin   *** FCB Treasurer Candidate Letter By Mark Lear Hi. My name is Mark Lear, and I’m interested in serving in the office of Treasurer for the Florida Council of the Blind. Currently, I’m the treasurer for our Daytona Beach Blind Bowlers, as well as for the Halifax Council of the Blind. I have served as the treasurer for the Daytona Beach Blind Bowlers since 1999 and for the Halifax Council of the Blind since 2008. I keep accurate and detailed records for these organizations. I recently retired from the Division of Blind Services in November of 2017. I worked there for 33 years and enjoyed teaching, providing assistance for the Help Desk for people who had questions about computer access software or needed BARD support. Prior to working for Blind Services, I taught for six years as a vision teacher for Volusia County Schools and worked for seven years at the Conklin Center for Multihandicapped Blind adults. I have been married to my wife, our FCB Administrative Assistant, Kati, for nearly 37 years. We enjoy taking vacations together, and we have attended many FCB and ACB Conventions. My recreational interests include spending time on my computer looking up information, walking, bowling, swimming, listening to music, and watching TV. I am very interested in serving as FCB’s Treasurer. If elected, I will keep accurate records and write detailed reports. If you have any questions, please contact me by phone at (386) 788-0463 or by email at marklear@bellsouth.net. Thank you very much for your consideration. *** GDUF Fundraiser By Kathleen Trutschel GDUF is having a fundraiser. It will be online soon, so you can purchase one or more raffle tickets for the item you would like to win. We are raffling off two baskets.  One is a Father’s Day basket and the other one is a Romance basket. We also are having the FCB tickets for $1.00 each. The baskets are $5 for 1 ticket or $10 for 3 tickets. The drawing will be held on May 19, 2018 at the FCB state convention. Be on the lookout for a message on the FCB list with a link to purchase GDUF raffle tickets online. Here are the items for each basket and also FCB tickets: Romance Basket:  Olive Garden coupon value $5 Bahama Breeze Island Grille, coupon value $5 Outback Steak House coupon, 1 free Bloomin Onion Outback Steak House, gift card $20 750 Mil. California Red Wine 2015.  Folie Deux 2-Tropical Wine Glasses Tropical Serving tray Milk Jar Vase 3 PK Flowers Candle Jar, Sounds like wood crackling A CD by Pentatonix.  Deluxe Edition Grammy Award-winner Pentatonix. Movie called Safe Haven, Blu-Ray, DVD Butter Lovers Popcorn Cashews Box of chocolates, Valentine Red Foil Hart 14 Oz. Hart Bath, Beautyaccef, Fit Flsh Dmple, Blanket Mini Wind Chimes String Lights Banner with harts& X’s & O’s   Father’s Day Basket: Bahama Breeze Island Grille, coupon value $5 Olive Garden coupon value $5 Outback Steak House, gift card $10 Outback Steak House coupon, 1 free Bloomin Onion Cracker Barrel, dinner for 2 Fifth of Jack Daniels Old # 7, Tennessee Sour Mash Whiskey, with celebration drinking glass. 4 little alcohol nips of Jim Beam 30 oz. Stainless Steel Vacuum Insulated Cup Calvin Klein, Leather Billfold Multi Tool Flashlight Bandanas Charcoal Grill Flame disk for grill BQ Lighter Hot Pad Jack Daniels. BQ Sauce Little plates Basket Liners Little box of individuals Folgers Instant Coffee Box of Flavored Teas 2 little bags of chips/ Doritos & Kettle Cooked Kiprd Snacks, Herring Fillets, seafood snacks Vienna Sausage. Little can of Salted Peanuts Little individual packages of Salted Peanuts Mixed Nuts Pop Corn, Ptry Kcrn   FCB Tickets: 1st Prize: $1000 2nd Prize: $100 3rd Prize: $100 4th Prize: $100 5th Prize: $100 6th Prize: $100 And other valuable prizes. Do not need to be present to win! *** GOCB Update By Martha James Thanks to everyone who participated in the Site and Soul Walk to raise money for Lighthouse of Central Florida. This year, the GOCB’s team Forever Young raised 1,565 dollars, the most ever raised by the chapter. On March 21, the chapter participated in another Dine and Donate at Tijuana Flats. The Jane Gang’s music kept everyone in a festive mood, despite the cold weather. On April 21, the GOCB will again host a fun night of trivia. Everyone will receive a free drink, and the VFW women’s auxiliary once again is graciously providing food. The silent auction will feature at least 50 items to bid on. Thanks go out to Leslie Spoone for her tireless efforts in organizing this event and collecting the auction items and prizes. Thanks also to everyone who plans to participate in making this an evening to remember. The annual FCB state convention will be held from May 17 to May 20. This year, it is being held in Jacksonville. Members of the chapter will join members of the Miami chapter on the bus to Jacksonville. On June 2, the chapter’s annual award and scholarship luncheon will be held at Olive garden. In addition, for those with computer access, GOCB is on Facebook. You can find us on Facebook by typing in “GOCB” in the search box. *** SSCCB Happenings By Tom Hanson What, you are probably asking, is a SSCCB? We’re glad you asked. By the time you read this article our chapter will officially be known as the South Sarasota County Council of the Blind, formerly the Venice Chapter of the Blind. We have expanded our name to better reflect the composition of our membership and to help more blind and visually impaired residents of our area feel like we are their hometown organization—no matter where their home is in Sarasota County south of the city of Sarasota. We have now finished closing out the Venice Chapter and implemented all necessary documents for our new chapter name. We have also had to make several changes in our officers due to the resignation of our Treasurer, Joan SanLwin. The board appointed Mary Casterlin to fill out the term of Treasurer. Upon this appointment she resigned her previous position of Membership Secretary. This meant the board had to appoint a new Membership Secretary, and selected Gary Casterlin to fill out the term for this position. Our first major project under our new name is developing a program to help those with vision loss to purchase equipment through interest-free loans. We are in the midst of seeking a grant to start an Equipment Loan Fund (ELF). More about this adventure in the next issue. At least I hope there will be more, but that will depend upon receipt of the grant. On a sad note, I need to report the passing of Joel Bauer, who died March 29 at the age of 74 after a long and difficult illness. Joel served as our President for two four-year stints. When not serving as President he was serving as our vice-president or Past President. Joel is survived by his four children. Joel lost his vision in a home invasion when he was shot in his eye. Upon completion of the invasion, the shooter came back and shot Joel a second time because he did not find anything of value. These gun shots left Joel blind and confined to a wheelchair. He joined the Venice Chapter in the mid-1990s. He came to a chapter meeting and was asked if he needed assistance. His reply was that all he needed was transportation and straight sidewalks. Joel did agree to go to the training program at the Lighthouse of Manasota. After completing his training, he became instrumental in organizing a support group which met monthly at various restaurants. In addition to the support group, Joel was a strong advocate for the blind in Venice. He led the efforts to make sure curb cuts are in line from corner to corner and to have the chirping signals installed at several intersections. He spent many Christmas seasons ringing the kettle bell for the Salvation Army in North Port. He will be missed by many FCB friends. Stayed tuned for the next chapter in the story of the re-named South Sarasota County Council of the Blind. *** Sarasota Council Updates March-April 2018 By Karen Christie Our March meeting was held on Saturday, the 10th at Denny’s restaurant. Following the readings of both the minutes from February, and the Treasurer’s report, our group had a discussion concerned with where we’d want to have our meetings. We are not sure, but we think it’s possible some members don’t attend our meetings as often due to the price increasing for the meal at Denny’s. Suggestions for other places to meet included renting a room at the library or going to the senior friendship center. As far as I know, everyone is still okay with keeping Denny’s as our place to meet once a month, but these suggestions were brought up in case members might have another preference. Since there was not a speaker for this meeting, Lynn and Merritt led the discussion regarding members’ disappointment with the bus services. President Randy Reed did bring up the fact that it’s important to consider that even though members may have complaints, there are those who ride the bus that may require more attention than we do. For instance, we’re individuals who are blind, but there may be so There were a few services which were suggested for helping the visually impaired, which included FISH and ITN. FISH is a service that will bring people to and from their doctor’s appointments. ITN is a transportation service for those sixty and older, or for those who are visually impaired. Not only will they pick you up and drop you off at the door, but they will also help with actually leading your arm-in-arm to where you need to go. Our meeting ended a little early that day, but there will be a speaker from ITN at April’s meeting, so I’ll be interested to hear more about that service. Our April meeting was held on the 14th at Denny’s. Following the Treasurer’s report, our guest speaker came to talk to our Council. Arthur Lerman is the executive director of ITN Sun Coast. This is a transportation service that takes people sixty years and older anywhere they want to go. Those who are visually impaired can also take advantage of this service. Children who are visually impaired cannot call to ask for rides, but younger and older adults who have vision problems can contact ITN anytime of the day or night. When making arrangements for a ride, it is important to call one day in advance, and they prefer that you call before 1 p.m. in order to guarantee you’ll get a driver. Otherwise, they’ll do their best to find someone to get you where you need to go. The driver you will have will call the night before, and when they arrive, they will knock on your door as opposed to honking the horn. Drivers use their own vehicles for transportation, but ITN does background checks, and they will also inspect the drivers’ cars often to be sure that riders will get to their destinations safely. This service has a “Let’s go Places” program where no more than two or three people are in a car. They go places such as the Ringling Museum where it’s free on Mondays. These are trips where people not only get to meet others who may be close to their age, but it’s also a great opportunity for them to get out of the house, hence the name “Let’s go Places.” ITN will bring people to doctor’s appointments, and they offer other programs that seniors and visually- impaired people can take advantage of. This was an informative meeting, and we appreciate Mr. Lerman coming to talk with our group. During the meeting, Second Vice President Melissa Weis did tell us that one of our members, Ginny Rempelakis, had to have open heart surgery recently. From what Melissa said, it sounds like she’s doing better, and we wish Ginny a speedy recovery. The meeting was adjourned after our speaker finished with talking to us, and May will be our last business meeting. The summer luncheons will then take place. We will resume regular meetings in September. *** Mumbles from Miami What have we forgotten? By Paul Edwards At our Board meeting last November, I promised to write some articles for the White Cane Bulletin. Greg Lindberg is doing an amazing job as our editor. I hope that I will persuade others to write more. Perhaps people will disagree so violently with what I say that they will want to respond. I hope so! Over the past few months, I have, for a variety of reasons, had the chance to make some presentations in South Florida. Last Summer, I did two sessions on advocacy for the Broward Lighthouse and have recently done two presentations on the Americans with Disabilities Act. I was surprised how little people seemed to know about this landmark legislation, which is, whether we like it or not, the closest thing we have to a civil rights law for people with disabilities. I found that many folks know it passed, but very few could tell me what it did! During my advocacy session, I was surprised by how many people seemed unclear about how to organize taking action on an issue of concern or on how to protest if their rights were being abridged. If true, what do these findings tell us? I think that we get preoccupied with the present and forget what happened in the past. I also think that our chapters get so caught up in the day-to-day management of the group and lose sight of why FCB exists! I would urge chapters to think about getting somebody to provide their members with training about the ADA. It is still the law that guarantees our protection as people with disabilities. Try getting in touch with your local Independent Living Center or your local government disability rights commission if you have one. They can perhaps provide you with a trainer. You can also ask somebody from the Division of Blind Services in your area to come and talk about the rights of clients and, of course, their responsibilities. Be sure to ask them to include the Client Assistance Program. I also encourage each group to look at finding an advocacy goal the chapter can work on. Maybe it could be to become more involved with your local transportation situation. Maybe you want more accessible pedestrian signals. Perhaps you want libraries to do more than they do. Whatever issue you decide to work on, spend some time talking about how best you can accomplish your goal. You should have a plan that starts with deciding what you want and then setting out specific steps you will take to get there. These should be clearly articulated, and you should create a time line as well. So, you should say your first step should be completed in a month, and your next step should take two months. Keep track of the time line and if you start slipping, you will have a chance to get back on track and explore why your time line isn't working. The National Federation of the Blind was started in 1940, and the American Council of the Blind was started in 1961 because people knew that there were lots of ways that people with vision impairments were being mistreated by our society. Those who started these organizations believed that the people who ought to fix the problems were people who are blind. We haven't even come close to being finished, folks! The unemployment rate for blind people remains at seventy percent! More and more kids are not learning braille when they should! Older blind people are not receiving the services they need because there just aren't enough resources allocated at the Federal, state, or local levels to solve a problem that is getting more and more urgent because of the huge growth in the population of older folks with vision loss. These are just some examples of things that still need to be done! Blind people have made a huge difference in the past, but have we forgotten how to demand change? Are we satisfied that all the work has been done? I hope not! Each chapter should be looking at what needs fixing at the local level and how the chapter can work together to fix what's wrong. That's what FCB is all about! *** PCB’s New Vision Support Group By Barb Jachim A few years ago, the New Vision Support Group was started within the Pinellas Council of the Blind, but it had a hard time finding a solid location and leadership. When we saw the group in trouble of disbanding, Carol Osmar and I chose to give it a better future. Now, we have more participants every month, with, in large part, because we are consistent in our location, with the kind efforts of the Talking Book Library in Clearwater providing space for us to meet. We have had many speakers, such as the Clearwater Police and Fire Departments, Waste Management Recycling, a “chair yoga” class, and many others. We meet on the second Thursday of the month at 10 a.m. until noon. We are now trying out a second monthly meeting for socialization, and perhaps Trivia games, or just getting a chance to know each other better. That session started on April 3 at the same time. In 2017, our group arranged a trip and took a bus to the Tarpon Springs Sponge Docks for a seafood lunch. This year, we are looking to take a short cruise on the Anclote River, leaving out of Tarpon Springs, probably sometime in May. Socializing when you are blind or visually impaired can be a real challenge. The New Vision Support Group tries to keep us informed, as well as offering an opportunity to spend a little time with people who are resourceful and always willing to share knowledge and information. Come join us as we always look forward to meeting new people with fresh, new ideas. *** Disney’s Dreamers and Doers Essay By Jackson Kracht(?) The following essay was written by Jackson Kracht, grandson of FCB president James Kracht. It was submitted for Disney’s Dreamers and Doers competition, which recognizes students who have made a special impact on their community. Jackson’s essay won first place. My grandfather has been blind since birth. However, this has not stopped  him from becoming a lawyer, a graduate of Harvard University and Harvard School  of Law, and president of the Florida Council of the Blind (FCB). Seeing his  struggles, but also admiring his perseverance, has inspired me to devote my  time toward assisting the blind community. This past year, I served as a guide at FCB's annual convention in Jacksonville, Florida. FCB is an organization that  works to make life easier for the visually impaired through education, legislative action, and by providing referrals for services. At the convention this past June, members of FCB met to discuss the many  achievements and challenges the organization has faced over the past year.  Many, if not most, of the members of FCB (and all of the Board members) are visually impaired. Therefore, as a volunteer at this 4-day event, I was  instrumental in ensuring that all attendees could participate fully in the convention. Upon arrival at the hotel, I acted as a guide to lead people from the lobby to their rooms and oriented them to their surroundings, so they would  feel more comfortable. Each morning, I guided some of the guests to the  restaurant for breakfast while showing others to the meeting rooms. Throughout the day, I continued to guide guests to and from meetings and other locations throughout the hotel, including an outdoor dog-walking area. Last but not  least, I was able to assist in the many technical aspects of the convention such as counting tickets for banquet attendees and counting money for companies in the exhibit hall that were selling technology to assist the visually  impaired. By volunteering with FCB, I have learned a lot about the challenges faced by  the visually impaired community. By sharing that knowledge with others, I am  hopeful that we can come together to improve the quality of life for the  visually impaired. For example, by volunteering and sharing my experience with  others, I am helping to raise awareness for the blind community. I have given  school reports on FCB and their mission, as well as raising awareness through  social media and by encouraging others to volunteer. It is important to  remember that people with impairments are equally entitled to the privileges we all enjoy, but it is up to all of us to ensure this happens. *** Tech Corner How to Install the Google Play Store on An Amazon Fire Tablet By David Goldfield As my wife recently bought an Amazon HD 10, I have now acquired her sixth-generation HD 8. These are nice tablets, but Amazon does not, by default, have the Google Play store installed, instead preferring users to download apps directly from their own app store. This would be fine, except that Amazon’s app store doesn’t offer all of the apps available from the Google Play store, which I find annoying. There are a few methods for installing the Google Play store on a Fire tablet, but I’ve found a rather simple method for doing this, which just involves a tiny bit of preparation beforehand on the tablet. What follows is a message I posted to the Visually Impaired Kindle discussion list about how to do this. First, a few warnings. Amazon offers no support for any of this. Don’t think about calling them if you run into any issues or if you have questions. There is no guarantee that all apps from the Google Play Store will function properly on your Fire tablet, although most of them should. Finally, it’s possible that doing this could void your tablet’s warranty. There are a few methods for installing the Google Play Store on a Fire tablet. The way that I’ve done this in the past was to run a file which, essentially, installs all 4 files at once, without the user needing to download and install each file one at a time. This tool has worked for me in the past, but it did not work reliably on my HD 8 with Fire OS 5.6.0.0. However, after doing some searching I, found a similar tool from the same source, which worked. First, here is a link to the instructions for how to do this. https://fire.gadgethacks.com/how-to/install-google-play-store-your-kindle-fire-without-rooting-0177098/ Although the article advises that you extract the zip file into a specific folder, this is not necessary for just installing the Play Store. The only preparation you need to do for your tablet is to enable a few settings in Developer Options within Settings/Device Options. However, if you go into Device Options, you’ll see that Developer Options is not shown, as it’s hidden, by default. To unhide Developer Options, go into Settings/Device Options. Look for the serial number. You’re supposed to tap it 7 times, which means that VoiceView users need to double-tap it seven times. Once you do this, you should see a new tenth option called Developer Options. If this still isn’t showing and if you only see nine options in Device Options, try double-tapping Serial Number 7 or more times again. Eventually, you’ll see Developer Options. Double-tap Developer Options and look for the option USB Computer Connection. Double-tap this and set this for Camera, ptp. Go back to the previous screen. Next, look for Enable ADB, which will be off, by default. Double-tap to turn it on. Next, run the tool. Here’s a direct link to it. http://www.rootjunkysdl.com/files/SuperTool/AmazonFire5thGenSuperTool.zip Extract the zip file to a place where you can easily find it. Open the folder containing the files, and you will see two folders. The first folder is for the Mac, which you can ignore if you’re using Windows. The second folder is the Supertool folder, which is what you want to open. Even though it has the phrase "fifth gen" in the title, I can tell you this worked on my sixth generation tablet. Within this folder, look for the file called 1-Amazon-Fire-5th-gen.bat, which is what you want to run. Make sure the tablet is connected to your PC before you run this file. Choose option 2 by pressing the number 2, followed by enter, which should, if all goes well, install the Google Play Store. During the installation process, you may hear VoiceView say "Google Play Services error" several times, but just ignore this. Once the files are installed, it is recommended that you completely power off your tablet. Once it’s powered back on, Google Play Store should appear in what is called the app grid (the list of apps) on your home screen. At some point while downloading your first app, you will likely be prompted to update your Google Play Services, which you can safely do. At this point, I would go back to Settings/Device Options/Developer Options and turn off ADB Debugging. I would also recommend going into Developer Options and setting the USB connection to Media Device. I hope this method will be of some help. David Goldfield, Assistive Technology Specialist WWW.David-Goldfield.Com ** Please Don’t Point By Jerry Rosenberg It seems whenever I enter a retail store, Bedecked with dark glasses and cane. Or even without, it stays the same, As soon as I ask a clerk for help, They always point to some faraway shelf, At Lowes one day, I even felt, being turned around to face a shelf, I stopped from hitting him below the belt, “Can I ask for a simple task,” I said, Can you find it for me, because my eyes are dead?” “Don’t you think if I could see, I wouldn’t ask you to get it for me?” But to my dismay, They shrug their shoulders and walk away. Now, forget about help in the new retail world, You’ll be dealing with robots and androids, no pretty girls, Try talking to them in language they know, like Cybernetics, I’m told, Oh, never mind, I’m just too old. I’ll shop from home, by computer of course, I see it coming, like the auto replacing the horse. *** Poetry Corner By Shelley Sawyer Greetings to you, Dear Readers: In a way, the selection for this issue is my way of recommending a book. I recently read Deep Water by Pamela Jekel, and the following poem was in the book. Without taking up too much time and space, I will just say that if you enjoy historical fiction concerning early America, this one is for you. Ms. Jekel tells the story of several generations of women in a family in the Carolina colony from the early 1700s to after the Civil War. The following was actually a popular song around the time of the Revolutionary War. Ms. Jekel begins one of the chapters in the book with this little poem, and I found it humorous. I hope you will, too. I have no information on the history of the tune or words except that they are anonymous. The lyrics rose out of the increasing Colonial resentment to British attempts to tax the colonies and the culmination of that sentiment in the Boston Tea Party. Pamela Jekel’s books can be found on the BARD web site. The Rich Lady Over the Sea There was a rich lady lived over the sea, And she was an island queen, Her daughter lived off in the new country, With an ocean of water between. The old lady's pockets were filled with gold, Yet never contented was she, So she ordered her daughter to pay her a tax, Of 3 pence a pound on the tea. “Oh mother, dear mother”, the daughter replied, “I'll not do the thing that you ask, I'm willing to pay fair price on the tea, But never the 3 penney tax.” “You shall,” cried the mother, and reddened with rage, “For you're my own daughter, you see, And it's only proper that a daughter should pay Her mother's tax on the tea.” She ordered her servant to come up to her, And to wrap up a package of tea. And eager for 3 pence a pound she put in Enough for a large family. The tea was conveyed to her daughter's own door, All down by the oceanside, But the bouncing girl poured out every pound On the dark and the boiling tide. And then she called out to the island queen, “Oh mother, dear mother,” called she, “Your tea you may have when 'tis steeped enough, But never a tax from me!” *** FCB OFFICERS, 2016 – 2018 President, James Kracht 9901 SW 138th Street, Miami, FL 33176 jkk48@bellsouth.net (305) 251-6983 or 407-378-3477 1st Vice-President, Dan Spoone 3924 Lake Mirage Blvd., Orlando, FL 32817 danspoone@cfl.rr.com (407) 678-0075 2nd Vice President, Doug Hall 1405 Edgewater Road, Daytona Beach, FL 32114-5859 dhall318@cfl.rr.com (386) 255-0377 Treasurer, Linda Jacobson 2915 Circle Ridge Dr., Orange Park, FL 32065 lfjacobson@gmail.com (904) 272-8405 Membership Secretary, Sally Benjamin 1531 Dempsey Mayo Road, Tallahassee, FL 32308 salbenjamin@comcast.net 850-877-1512 Recording Secretary, Debbie Drylie 1544 Walnut Creek Dr., Flemming Island, FL 32003 debbiedrylie@gmail.com (904) 228-7102 Immediate Past President, Paul Edwards 20330 N.E. 20th Ct., Miami, FL 33179 edwards.paul955@gmail.com (305) 692-9206 Editor of White Cane Bulletin, Greg Lindberg 3145 Meadow View Ln., Palm Harbor, FL  34683 glindberg@gmail.com (727) 543-9807 *** Chapter and Special Affiliate Officer Liaisons "Please contact your officer liaison if we can be of assistance or if you need anything from the Executive Committee." Broward- Paul Edwards edwards.paul955@gmail.com (305) 692-9206 Clay- Dan Spoone danspoone@cfl.rr.com (407) 678-0075 Greater Miami- Debbie Drylie debbiedrylie@gmail.com (904) 228-7102 Greater Orlando- Doug Hall dhall318@cfl.rr.com (386) 255-0377 Halifax- Linda Jacobson lfjacobson@gmail.com (904) 272-8405 Jacksonville- Linda Jacobson lfjacobson@gmail.com (904) 272-8405 Manatee- Dan Spoone danspoone@cfl.rr.com (407) 678-0075 Miami Beach- Paul Edwards edwards.paul955@gmail.com (305) 692-9206 Miami Metro- Paul Edwards edwards.paul@gmail.com (305) 692-9206 Palm Beach- Jim Kracht jkk48@bellsouth.net (305) 251-6983 or 407-378-3477 Pensacola- Sally Benjamin salbenjamin@comcast.net 850-877-1512 Pinellas- Doug Hall dhall318@cfl.rr.com (386) 255-0377 Sarasota- Dan Spoone danspoone@cfl.rr.com (407) 678-0075 Southwest- Sally Benjamin salbenjamin@comcast.net 850-877-1512 Tallahassee- Debbie Drylie debbiedrylie@gmail.com (904) 228-7102 Tampa- Sally Benjamin salbenjamin@comcast.net 850-877-1512 Venice- Dan Spoone danspoone@cfl.rr.com (407) 678-0075 BRLF- Dan Spoone danspoone@cfl.rr.com (407) 678-0075 CCTB- Debbie Drylie debbiedrylie@gmail.com (904) 228-7102 FCCLV- Doug Hall dhall318@cfl.rr.com (386) 255-0377 GDUF- Linda Jacobson lfjacobson@gmail.com (904) 272-8405 RSVF- Jim Kracht jkk48@bellsouth.net (305) 251-6983 or 407-378-3477 *** 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 - THE END- FLORIDA COUNCIL OF THE BLIND 1531 Dempsey Mayo Road Tallahassee, FL 32308 21 22