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The White Cane Bulletin March - April 2025
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. If you have a new email address, please let me know that as well. 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: editor@fcb.org
TABLE OF CONTENTS
President’s Message by: Mikey Wiseman
FCB Convention 2025 by Kati Lear
The Florida Council of the Blind 2025 State, Chapter, & Special Interest Affiliate Awards
FCB Auction 2025 by: Leslie Spoone
Activities Committee Events at the FCB Convention by: Greg Lindberg
Jottings from Jacksonville by: Paul Edwards
Chapter Revenue Tickets
2025 Trivia Night Submitted by: Leslie Spoone
Recipe Corner Submitted by: Sheila Young
Finding Forever in Florida by: Anthony Corona
Chapter News
GOCB Update by Martha James
Tech Tips by John Richards: for the Technology Committee
Book Corner Submitted by: Sheila Young
Poetry Corner Submitted by: Shelly Sawyer
FCB OFFICERS, 2024 – 2026
2024-2026 CHAPTER & SPECIAL AFFILIATE OFFICER LIAISONS
Handy Telephone Number References
***
President’s Message by: Mikey Wiseman
Spring is approaching, and plans are being made!
FCB as a whole has been hard at work both at the executive committee level and at the individual committee levels with a goal of engaging and developing programs and activities for all of you.
As many of you know, the ACB DC leadership conference is fast approaching, and we have an amazing team put together of individuals from around the state being led by Debbie Grubb. Organizationally, we should be very proud of the many first timers that are venturing up to DC to experience the excitement and the exhaustion of the DC leadership conference.
At this point… All the FCB convention program write-ups should have been turned into Kati, and the convention committee is looking forward to putting together an amazing and somewhat different program this year. I would kindly ask that all of you stay tuned as we are looking at embracing some variations in our format that should provide more opportunities for members to engage with each other.
Florida Council of the Blind has once again participated in the Tallahassee Day and is being well represented by some of our members. Apart from the standard talking points and the information drop off that was scheduled, an additional letter which was sent from myself as president of the Florida Council of the Blind to the governor of Florida as well as the Attorney General was placed in the envelopes. We felt that this letter was important to at least be on the record requesting that Florida reconsider its involvement in the Texas case dealing with 504.
A few quick, helpful hints:
For those of you who garden or tend to your flowers or trees it is a good time to prune them back as spring is fast approaching, although for us here in Miami it feels like it’s already summer.
My latest book read was a very interesting historical account of interesting facts related to native individuals in North America. The book is called Native Ingenuity and is available on BARD. It’s one of those books that is full of interesting facts and would probably make you a better jeopardy player.
That’s about all I got for now… As always, should anyone have any questions or suggestions I would encourage you to reach out to me directly at my email address which is:
President@fcb.org.
All the best,
Mikey.
***
FCB Convention 2025 by Kati Lear
Our annual state 72nd FCB Convention will be here before we know it. It will be in Jacksonville at the same hotel, the Southbank Riverwalk at 1515 Prudential Drive. Our room rates will be the same, $109 per night plus tax. The dates are Thursday, May 15 through Sunday May 18, 2025. Please make your plans and join us.
To make reservations call 904-396-5100, or online
Book your group rate for Florida Council of the Blind.
By now the program suggestions and write ups have been submitted. Thank you for your program entrees. They are interesting and diverse which will make for a great convention.
Registration is open for exhibitors to pay for their tables. According to FCB bylaws, the convention Call must be sent out 60 days before the convention. Look for it on our website by the middle of March. You will be able to read convention information and the program. If you would like a large print copy, please let me know. Online registration will be open in early April. I will send an email to the FCB list when it is open. The convention will be hybrid which means you can attend in person or on Zoom.
If you have questions, please email me at floridacouncil@comcast.net or call 386-763-3836. Looking forward to seeing you in Jacksonville.
***
Hi FCB chapter and affiliate presidents:
It’s that time of year to recognize deserving members of our community. Please see below for information on the awards, their origin and criteria for nominees. I look forward to hearing from you.
The Florida Council of the Blind 2025 State, Chapter, & Special Interest Affiliate Awards
The FCB Awards Committee is excited to honor all members who truly are deserving of recognition for their unwavering devotion to improving the lives of the blind and visually impaired community. As always, the Florida Council of the Blind is honored to receive nominations for our State, Chapter, and Special Interest Affiliate Awards. This is a wonderful opportunity for you to recognize those individuals who make an impact in our community!
The deadline to submit nominations for all FCB awards is Saturday, March 15th, 2025.
The state awards are as follows:
R. Henry P. Johnson, Dolly Gamble, W. A. Ouzts, William (Bill) Ferrell (Just Bill), Legislative, President’s Award, Outstanding High School Senior, and Mobility Award.
Chapters and Special Interest Affiliates wishing to recognize a member, must send that person’s name to the Awards Committee with a nomination letter by March 15th, 2025. Please note that any individual member may submit a nomination to the committee.
Please send the nominations to:
Maryt5558@gmail.com
Award History and Criteria:
R. HENRY P. JOHNSON AWARD
The person that this award was named after trained as a lawyer. He had very little formal training when it was necessary for him to adjust to substantial visual impairment. Nevertheless, he remained active in his community and constantly sought to extend the boundaries of activities that he and other blind persons could become involved in.
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
This award was named for a lady who, by her actions and example, was able to establish a climate in which the Miami Lighthouse could be started. Throughout her adult life, Ms. Gamble worked tirelessly to promote the betterment of blind people in her community, state, and the nation.
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
William Alfred Ouzts, known as W. A., was a member of FCB from 1971 until the time of his death in 1992. He held state office for 20 of those years, including 12 as treasurer and 4 years as president. For many years, he had the White Cane Bulletin printed, prepared and mailed. whatever his official status, W. A. was always quietly working and networking with other members behind the scenes. Officer, consultant, advisor, supporter, worker, whatever his role, W. A. never sought recognition for what he did.
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
Bill Ferrell worked at the Tennessee Agency for the Blind for many years. He was first employed there as a counselor, and proceeded up the ladder to hold the position of Director.
Retiring did not mean stopping for Bill. He helped to organize the Brevard chapter in 1981. Although he was a simple man in his estimation, he had a huge impact on the forming and continuation of FCB.
Bill was involved in visual impairment issues for much of his life. He was a Project Insight peer advisor since that program's inception. He worked endlessly both locally, in Brevard County and at the state level, serving as a member of several vital FCB committees and representing his chapter on the FCB Board of Directors for many years.
Bill was a calm, introspective man, yet nothing got by him without thorough examination. If the need arose, he would give his view of an issue with an informed politeness and in a politically correct manner.
When addressed as Mr. Ferrell, he would invariably respond, "I'm just Bill." So, Bill, our tribute to you is to try to be more like you. "We will communicate, educate, facilitate and update to ensure equality, independence and dignity for all! Bill, we will always love and respect you!"
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
This award is intended to honor a legally blind high school senior in Florida, who in academics, school and community has performed better than all his/her peers. The award may consist of a plaque. At the time of graduation, the student will be presented the plaque. Should the student choose to attend FCB's Annual Convention FCB will offer to pay the student's transportation expenses.
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
This award is intended to honor a high school senior at the Florida School for the Deaf & Blind who has demonstrated the most improvement in orientation and mobility while at the school. Two nominations will be solicited from the head of the mobility department.
The FCB Awards Committee will make the final selection. The award consists of a plaque to be presented to the student at graduation. FCB shall pay the student's transportation expenses if the student chooses to attend FCB's Annual Convention.
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.
Information regarding the current price of plaques, as well as the deadline for ordering plaques, will be sent to each chapter/special interest affiliate.
All awards will be presented during FCB’s Convention in Jacksonville, Florida during the Awards Banquet to take place on Friday, May 16, 2025.
For additional questions or for assistance in submitting any nomination(s), please contact Mary Tyson, Awards Committee Chair at:
Maryt5558@gmail.com
Phone: 386-212-9496
***
FCB Auction 2025 by: Leslie Spoone
Hello FCB Family,
Come and enjoy our annual virtual auction for The Florida Council of the Blind. We will have lots of exciting items including gift cards, jewelry, crafts and homemade goodies to share with someone special or just keep them for yourself. The annual auction will be on Monday, May 12 starting at 7:00pm ET on Zoom and on ACB Media. we will also be Having our live auction on Saturday, May17 at the Banquet. So, get ready for a bidding frenzy. We look forward to hearing you and seeing you at our annual FCB Auction this year.
Happy Bidding!
Leslie Spoone
FCB Auction Chair
***
Activities Committee Events at the FCB Convention by: Greg Lindberg
The FCB Activities Committee is excited to announce a lineup of events for the upcoming 72nd FCB state convention in Jacksonville, FL from May 15 to May 18, 2025. Below is an overview of these events.
Thursday Night Carnival
Starting at 7 PM, this year’s Thursday night event will feature a Convention Carnival planned with you in mind. Step right up and join us for a fun night for all. We’ll enjoy FCB’s Got Talent Karaoke in which you’ll have a chance to sing your favorite tunes to everyone. We’ll also host a carnival complete with games like our Boozie Ring Toss, Basket Toss, Kisses Game of Chance (no actual kissing, please!), and Bowling, to name a few.
Plus, boxed meals will be available to enjoy at the event. Check the convention registration form to make your selection. The cost for this event is $20.
Friday Night Happy Hour
On Friday night following the FCB Awards Banquet, it will be time to put your thinking cap on for some entertainment trivia.
Blood drive
Once again, we are excited to host OneBlood for a blood drive at the hotel on Saturday from 12 to 3 PM.
Saturday Night Happy Hour
On Saturday night, we’ll continue our new Happy Hour tradition after the FCB Banquet. We’ll plan to play Battle of the Sexes, so get ready for some fun and laughs!
We Want to Hear from You!
As always, please submit any upcoming events to the FCB Activities Committee to be included in future communications to activities@fcb.org. Please submit them by the 5th of each month. 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)
***
Jottings from Jacksonville by: Paul Edwards
Getting old or something else!
By the time this year ends I will be eighty. That is a fairly scary statistic! It is even more frightening when you compare life expectancy as it operates today with how long we could expect to live in 1900.
Though it has been slightly impacted by Covid, life expectancy in the United States is currently a little over 87 years. At most life expectancy in 1900 was 68 years. What do we get with the extra twenty years of life we have managed to acquire in the last 125 years. In a sense, it depends on how you look at it!
One view says you get more diseases and more and more of your organs fail the longer you live. I have said and continue to say that the older people get the more likely they are to become blind. For many folks that is a catastrophe that fundamentally alters how much life is worth living! Other elements change too. Perhaps there are heart issues. Maybe diabetes happens. Knees or hips need to be replaced. Any number of bad things can occur the older we get. Beyond the physical issues, there are others. Your kids have moved away and don't have time for you! The income you have is insufficient to support you. You are more and more depressed over just how alone you are now that your spouse has died!
I think you get the picture! Getting old may be inevitable but it isn't necessarily fun. Whether we like to admit it or not there are probably lots of older people who have retired who would just as soon have life end rather than continue the way things are!
As a part of the negative notion of living longer it's worth noting that younger people resent having to pay for those of us who have the bad grace not to die young. Very few older people have all the money that complex medical services will cost. Medicare helps but the truth is that dementia or other diseases may well require people to move into facilities that are expensive and that get paid for by somebody else. Even if you stay pretty healthy, meals on wheels, senior centers and other aging-related services add up. We are told often that social security is getting close to going bust and that Medicare and Medicaid for the elderly both are hemorrhaging money.
Many younger folks are actually having to expend substantial dollars to meet the needs of aging parents. Instead of being able to put funds aside for their retirement sons and daughters have to do two or three jobs to be able to afford to subsidize their parents' lives.
And yet that is only a part of the picture. The poverty rate for seniors over 55 in 2022 according to the census bureau was 10.9 percent. For the population aged 18 to 54 the rate was slightly higher at 11.7 percent. For those younger than 18 the poverty rate was a staggering 16.3 percent.
When I worked as a rehabilitation teacher in the late 1970s I was appalled by how some of my newly-blinded clients were forced to live. I was supposed to get income information and was shocked at how little many had to live on. Some folks were literally eating dog food because that was what they could afford. It is no Exaggeration to suggest that perhaps the most amazing accomplishment of government in the twentieth century has been the virtual eradication of poverty for older people. In addition to public welfare improvements, we created a society where pensions and saving for retirement were the norm rather than the exception.
People with disabilities are the poorest demographic group in our society so it should not come as a surprise that older people who are blind are likely to be at the lower end of the income spectrum. No matter what level of unemployment you presume to be correct, substantially more than half of the blind population are not working and it is likely that a pretty substantial number of people who are blind have never worked.
Considerably more than half of the people who are blind in the United States are over the age of 55. While there is money available for people who are blind who want to go to work, there is very little funding that can be used to provide needed services to seniors who are blind or have low vision. At the Federal level 32 million dollars are allocated for all fifty states to serve older Americans who are blind. That funding level has remained the same for at least fifteen years.
In Florida it is clear that the proportion of older people who live here is higher than the national average. It is also clear that we are fortunate in the way our services are delivered. Many states do not have the range of local programs we have in Florida. There is not a single state that has as many programs as Florida does. Our state legislature provides substantial funding for serving older people who are blind. FCB has asked that the legislature permanently increase its allocation and last year they added half a million dollars which we think will be permanent.
Agencies throughout the state raise funds and receive some of the funds allocated by the legislature through the Division of Blind Services. All the local agencies must fund raise and still don't really have enough money to serve the unmet needs of older folks with vision loss.
ACB will continue to work with a whole host of organizations to seek to increase Federal funding for people who are older and blind. Both ACB and state and local chapters need to work on another issue.
Every five years Congress must reauthorize the "Older Americans Act". This bill allocates billions of dollars to states which funnels funds down to local "area agencies on aging" which exist in most communities. These funds support senior centers, meals on wheels and a whole host of other programs. ACB has been working with other groups to try to get blindness incorporated as a disability that must be served by such agencies. Despite their best efforts, the Older Americans Act was reauthorized in September without, the inclusion of specific blindness language.
ACB has a special interest affiliate that works specifically on issues relating to older people who are blind. Their current President is Doug Powell from Virginia and their web address is http://www.aavl-blind-seniors.org/. Florida has several active AAVL members and there is some talk of creating a state chapter. Check out their web site and, should you wish, join. They publish a good newsletter and hold lots of informative meetings.
Whether you join AAVL or not be aware that there is not nearly enough money to go around to serves seniors who are blind. Also be aware that, in spite of all the money they get, local area agencies are not doing a good job of including people who are blind at their centers. At the local level, I hope chapters will go to meetings and ask why there isn't more outreach to this growing and needy population. I also hope that more members who qualify will go to centers and demand that they organize programs that can and will include you.
So, what a contrast! Seniors have the lowest poverty figures but still are often unhappy. Seniors who are blind are clearly underserved and most of them are probably not helping the low poverty numbers. How do we approach this issue?
First we have to recognize that long life is a fact and everyone from gen z to those over a hundred have to recognize that lengthy living is the norm. It will happen to every young person living today. We have to recognize that we can no longer plan for just today but must recognize that tomorrow may stretch pretty far into the future. Every age group must begin to see their lives as a lengthy continuum that they must work on. Proper exercise, healthy eating, perhaps less alcohol and less smoking and more effort to plan ahead for retirement and getting older. One suggestion is that we begin to rethink aging and add a whole new life segment perhaps called "mature adult" that could well extend well into our seventies. During that time we might well still work and accrue dollars. We might also retire and begin a whole new set of activities based on our interests and abilities. Many people argue that the way we adjust to getting older has much to do with how we see ourselves.
We know that there are lots of older people who are members of FCB but that there are lots more older folks who have no idea we exist! Maybe every local chapter should go out and recruit more seniors to our chapters. There are lots more of them than there are young people who are blind. Regardless, there's a lot that we can do to make things better for older people who are blind. Become a leader in your chapter to get things started! AAVL is a great resource for helping you decide just what to do and how to get it done. Reach out to them! I have been a member though I think my membership may have lapsed. I will fix that, though. Half of the people who are blind in Florida are over 55! Shouldn't we be reaching out to them and helping them?
***
Chapter Revenue Tickets
Hello FCB Family,
Wow, it is time to get your Chapter Revenue Plan Tickets! This is a fantastic way for your chapter to fundraise and all of the proceeds go to your chapter. If, you would like tickets, please reach out to Leslie Spoone at lesliespoone@cfl.rr.com(link sends e-mail) with your chapter name and the amount and address where you want them shipped to. Good luck and look forward to seeing everyone in Jacksonville in May.
Best Regards,
Leslie Spoone
FCB Fundraising Committee
***
2025 Trivia Night Submitted by: Leslie Spoone
Think you’re smart? Prove it at Trivia Night!
All proceeds go to: Greater Orlando Council of the Blind
Test your Trivia Knowledge!
1st, 2nd and 3rd place Game prizes!
April 5th 2025 6:00 – 10:00 pm
At the VFW Post 4287
3500 S. Goldenrod Road, Orlando FL 32822
Goody bags! Silent Auction!
$25 per individual, $150 for Reserved 6 seat Team Table with Team Name Card!
One free bar Drink per ticket and Free Hot Hors d’oeuvres will be offered.
For tickets and info: Leslie Spoone
407-678-4163/407-929-9837
Email lesliespoone@cfl.rr.com
***
Recipe Corner Submitted by: Sheila Young
Authentic Cracker Barrel Hash Brown Casserole
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In large bowl combine:
1 can cream of chicken soup
8 oz. shredded Colby cheese
1 stick melted butter
1 small onion, minced
1 teaspoon salt and
1/2 teaspoon black pepper.
Gently fold in
1 bag, about 2 lb. shredded hash brown potatoes, thawed enough to be broken apart.
Spread evenly in greased 9-inch by 13-inch cake pan.
Bake about 40 minutes, or until heated through and brown on top.
***
Finding Forever in Florida by: Anthony Corona
A New York boy, city-born and raised, Fast-paced rhythms, skyline glazed. Through bustling streets and subway calls, The world would beckon—he’d chase it all. From Boston’s chill to Dallas’ sprawl, Atlanta nights, he’d seen them all. Yet always home, like birds in flight, Staten Island called each night. But fate’s a breeze, a whispered tune, That lifts you up beneath the moon. And somewhere south, where palm trees sway, A little birdie led the way. With love so bright, so strong, so free, He taught the flight path down to me. To Florida’s arms, both warm and wide, Sun-kissed shores and rolling tides. Now nesting here, our hearts take wing, In love, in work, in everything. Who’d have thought, nine or ten years past, That I’d have found my home at last? That losing sight would help me see, Forever home was meant to be.
Yours,
Anthony Corona
He/Him
Host and Producer of Sunday edition
sundayeditionac@gmail.com
***
Chapter News
GOCB Update by Martha James
Many of our members have been enjoying plays in the Orlando area with audio description.
In March, GOCB will, once again, participate in the D. C. Leadership conference. It will be held from March 14 to March 18. There will be three of our members going.
Trivia night will be April 5, from 6:00 to 10:00 at the VFW. Tables are $150 and individuals are $25. There will be one free drink and a silent auction with lots of goodies. GOCB invites everyone to come and enjoy an exciting and fun night.
The FCB convention will be held from May 15 to May 18. It will be in Jacksonville.
***
Tech Tips by John Richards: for the Technology Committee
AI Available in fast food drive-thrus
Have you driven through a Wendy's drive-thru lately? There is a good possibility an AI Bot will welcome you and prompt you for your order. Wendy's and Google Cloud have established a partnership to develop an industry-leading generative AI platform, called Wendy’s FreshAI™.
Wendy's claims that during the pilot, the accuracy of orders successfully handled by Wendy’s FreshAI without a restaurant team member intervention, averaged 86% and are expected to increase. In addition to accuracy, they contend that Speed and Efficiency of service increased 22 seconds faster above the current average in some test sites. In regard to Natural Interaction, Wendy's claims The AI is devised to comprehend random dialog, slang, and diversified ways customers might phrase their orders. In terms of quality, Wendy's stated, "By automating the ordering process, restaurant employees can focus more on preparing and completing orders, ensuring quality and speed."
In regard to other fast food chains utilizing AI as a part of their drive-thru service, McDonald's has ended its Automated Order Taker pilot, a test that deployed artificial intelligence to take drive-thru customer orders. They will possibly revisit this in the future.
In closing, several weeks ago I ordered from a Wendy's drive-thru in Cordele, Georgia. After the AI Bot welcomed me and asked me to place my order, I barely opened my mouth to speak when the Bot stated "would you like fries", I said no and proceeded to place my order. The individual at the window did have to intercede before the order was completed. Must have been my southern accent or something!
Below are three links, the first is to the source of this article; Two are Youtube Links to a news story on Ai for Wendy's and McDonald's.
https://www.wendys.com/blog/drive-thru-innovation-wendys-freshai
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=osvVHE9l_IE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=el_f82ZXGME
***
Book Corner Submitted by: Sheila Young
The Beantown Girls
By Jane Healey
DBC11621
Reading time 11 hours 15 minutes
Historical fiction, war stories
Determined to discover what happened to her fiancé after he was shot down by the Nazis, Fiona volunteers to work on a Red Cross Club Mobile -- a social club on wheels -- and recruits two friends from Boston to join her in Europe.
Seattle : Lake Union Publishing, [2019]
***
Poetry Corner Submitted by: Shelly Sawyer
Greetings, Dear Readers:
First, I wish to take a moment to express my deepest appreciation to all of FCB for your thoughts, prayers and calls since the passing of my husband, Richard. This will be a tough river to cross, but you are all helping me to build the bridge across; and I thank you from my heart.
The following poem is an 18th Century Irish ballad that I found in the book I am currently reading. Doesn’t everybody love a love song? Incidentally, the book is one of the Outlander series. It’s An Echo in the Bone by Diana Gabaldon, and it is on BARD. It is #7 in the series.
The Rose of Tralee
18th Century Irish Song.
The pale moon was rising above the green mountain,
The sun was declining beneath the blue sea;
When I strayed with my love to the pure crystal fountain,
That stands in the beautiful vale of Tralee.
The cool shades of evening their mantle were spreading,
And Mary all smiling was listening to me;
The moon through the valley her pale rays was shedding,
When I won the heart of the Rose of Tralee.
Though lovely and fair as the rose of the summer,
Yet, 'twas not her beauty alone that won me;
Oh no! 'Twas the truth in her eye ever beaming,
That made me love Mary, the Rose of Tralee.
***
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(link sends e-mail)
(305) 331-4870
Greater Orlando Council of the Blind: Mark Lear
treasurer@fcb.org(link sends e-mail)
(386) 788-0463
Halifax Council of the Blind: Sheila Young
sheilayoung125@att.net(link sends e-mail)
(407) 425-9200
Jacksonville Council of the Blind: Cassandra Jessie
vp1@fcb.org(link sends e-mail)
(850) 567-4288
Manatee County Council of the Blind: Sally Benjamin
membership@fcb.org(link sends e-mail)
(850) 980-0205
Miami Metro Council of the Blind: Mikey Wiseman
president@fcb.org(link sends e-mail)
(305) 331-4870
Northwest Florida Chapter of the Florida Council of the Blind: Elizabeth Bowden
recordingsec@fcb.org(link sends e-mail)
(850) 345-0822
Palm Beach Council of the Blind: Cassandra Jesse
vp1@fcb.org(link sends e-mail)
(850) 567-4288
Pinellas Council of the Blind: Sheila Young
sheilayoung125@att.net(link sends e-mail)
(407) 425-9200
Sarasota Council of the Blind: Shelley Sawyer
vp2@fcb.org(link sends e-mail)
(407) 403-2099
Southwest Florida Council of the Blind: Elizabeth Bowden
recordingsec@fcb.org(link sends e-mail)
(850) 345-0822
Tallahassee Council of the Blind: Sheila Young
sheilayoung125@att.net(link sends e-mail)
(407) 425-9200
Tampa Council of the Blind: Cassandra Jessie
vp1@fcb.org(link sends e-mail)
(850) 567-4288
Braille Revival League of Florida: Shelley Sawyer
vp2@fcb.org(link sends e-mail)
(407) 403-2099
Coalition for the Concerns of the Totally Blind: Elizabeth Bowden
recordingsec@fcb.org(link sends e-mail)
(850) 567-4288
Florida Council of Citizens with Low Vision: Cassandra Jessie
vp1@fcb.org(link sends e-mail)
(850) 567-4288
Guide Dog Users of Florida: Shelley Sawyer
vp2@fcb.org(link sends e-mail)
(407) 403-2099
***
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 Mon - Fri 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 accessibility)