GemState MilestonesA Publication of the
NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND OF IDAHO
Spring 2009
GemState Milestones
A Publication of the
NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND OF IDAHO
Spring 2009
Dana Ard, Editor
301 Bruce Ave.
Boise, ID 83712
e-mail: danalynard@msn.com
208-345-3906
Elsie Dickerson, President
211 N 70 E
Malad City, ID 83252
e-mail: elsielamp@yahoo.com
208-766-2266
Send requests for new subscriptions to:
National Federation of the Blind of Idaho (NFBI),
1301 S. Capitol Blvd., Suite C
Boise, ID 83706
208-343-1377
Available in large print, email, Braille, Newsline.. Please let us know of address changes.
Letter from the Presidency
By Dana Ard and Susan Bradley
As most of you probably know, our President, Elsie Lamp married Larry Dickerson on March 7, 2009. Many NFB members from around the State joined them for their joyful wedding. Elsie has had multiple challenges since the State Convention. Shortly after she returned home, Larry developed pneumonia and was hospitalized. If that wasn’t enough, Elsie was preparing her home for sale, and then she and Larry bought a home and have now moved to Malad City.
On March 27—29, 2009, the NFBI State Convention was held at the Owyhee Plaza Hotel in Boise. We had over 60 members in attendance. Friday featured a full day of activities beginning with the Board Meeting breakfast. Our scholarship winners, Mikaela Stevens, and Anile Nina, attended the board meeting and learned more about the workings of our NFB organization. A technology seminar, senior seminar, and student seminar occupied the remainder of the morning and the first part of the afternoon. It was highly informative to talk to the vendors about the technology they brought to demonstrate. The students listened to several presenters who emphasized the importance of being responsible for their own education. It seems that the more things change, the more they stay the same. Even though technology is revolutionizing the academic world, students still have to be their own self advocates. Prior to our Lewis Braille celebration which you will hear about in a later article, we had a Braille class. The most intriguing activity for me was trying to write words using bubble wrap. The bubbles weren’t quite straight, which created some very interesting Braille. The evening featured another fun round of the Jeopardy game and other social activities. On Saturday, attendees heard reports from Angela Jones, ICBVI Administrator, and Sue Walker from the Commission on Libraries talking book department, among others. The Banquet featured our National Representative, Parnell Diggs from South Carolina, who had a double treat for us. His banquet speech was moving. Later in the evening, he treated us to a wonderful vocal and guitar performance. He paid his way partially through college with his talents. All I can say is that he could come and sing under my window any time. We raised $1264 with our silent auction. Following the banquet, we helped celebrate Elsie and Larry’s marriage with delicious cake and the presentation of a money tree.
The highlight of the Sunday Business Meeting was the election. The following officers were elected for a two-year term: Elsie Dickerson, President; Susan Bradley, First Vice President; Dana Ard Second Vice President; Vicki Bateman, Secretary; Harry Gawith, Treasurer; Board Members: Mary Ellen Halverson, Ramona Walhof, and Gus Tropea. Serving with Board Members: Lynn Kneip, Larry Dickerson, and Russell Smith who were voted in last year.
The National Convention will be held in Detroit at the Marriott Renaissance Center from July 3—July 8, 2009. Ten members will be attending including our scholarship winner Mikaela Stevens.
Apart from the Convention, federationists closely followed Bill S-1074 which was passed by the legislature and created The Bureau of Educational Services for the Deaf and the Blind. I look forward to sharing the excitement of the National Convention in Detroit in our next newsletter. Have a great summer. Take time to relax, spend time with friends, and above all have fun.
My First NFB Convention
By Mikaela Stevens
My experience at the 2009 Idaho NFB convention is one I will always remember. The convention provided me with a wonderful opportunity to meet many awesome individuals and develop new friendships. The meetings and discussions I attended helped increase my understanding of resources available for the education of the blind community. During the weekend, I became aware of the student division and committed to get involved. I look forward to serving as the secretary/treasurer of this student organization and will contribute my time and efforts for its growth and success.
I would like to express appreciation to the scholarship committee for awarding me with a generous scholarship and thank those who donated the money to fund this award. The scholarship money will be used to further my education so that I can positively impact the NFB by speaking out for Braille literacy, encouraging higher education for other blind students, and increasing the awareness of blind people among the general public.
I am grateful to the NFB of Idaho for making it possible for me to participate in all the events at the convention. I anticipate attending future conventions and am excited to continue my involvement with the NFB.
Reflections of a Scholarship Winner
By Anila Nina
My name is Anile Nina. I am a visually impaired student at Boise State University. I was a scholarship winner at the National Federation of the Blind of Idaho Convention for 2009. I am grateful for the scholarship as I was in need of financial support in my transition to graduate school. Besides being a scholarship winner, I was glad to be able to participate in the Convention. This was the third time that I have participated in the NFBI Convention, and I had a great experience. I got to meet new blind high school and college students who were very successful in their educational journey, as well as in their lives.
The NFBI Convention is always a great source of support for existing and continuing blind and visually impaired students. Listening to the great speeches from the National Representative who attended this Convention was fascinating. This gentleman, a blind attorney from back east, who spoke at the Convention, shed some true light on unlimited vocational possibilities for the blind. Also, it was very uplifting to hear from some of the most respected successful members of the National Federation of the Blind. These folks have fought really hard to enhance our way of life and education, and help us overcome the challenges of being blind. I felt really inspired with great desire to continue upward in preparing for my future.
The Convention is the place where one meets all of the icons in our community and gets to know their accomplishments. It is amazing that these wonderful people are tirelessly pursuing new agendas for the betterment of our community, and ease of access for all of us to all things possible to the sighted people. I was truly inspired by Elsie Lamp (Dickerson), Ramona Walhof, Dana Ard, Mary Ellen Halverson, Susan Bradley, and Jan Gawith. These women, among many others not in this list, have been present for the whole time that I been acquainted with the NFBI, and they have been true sources of inspiration in my life. I feel very selfish in my contributions so far as I try to compare to the contributions these wonderful women have made. I hope that now I can learn from all of them, and in the near future become one of them.
Perspective from a Coloradan
By Chris Foster
Recently, I was invited to attend the NFB of Idaho annual convention to give a presentation and to help out however else I could. I immediately jumped at the opportunity, both because I had never been to Idaho before and because I always enjoy visiting NFB conventions to see how other affiliates do things. I can say without reservation that I’m very glad I did so.
First, I can say that I learned a lot. For instance, I learned that Idaho has right around two million people. I learned that there are just over two hundred thousand people in the entire Boise Metro area. It was definitely different from Colorado where we have over five million people and two million of them are in the Denver area. Second, I learned about how spread out the population is. I learned that two of the NFB of Idaho local chapters are over 600 miles apart from each other. Wow! I learned that Idahoans are really nice people. From the airport, to the shuttle, to the front desk of the hotel, and into the convention hall, everyone was so welcoming.
On Friday, March 27, I arrived just in time for the celebration of the Louis Braille Commemorative Coin Launch. I wasn’t in the door 30 seconds when people were coming up to me and introducing themselves. This is a wonderful thing and everyone should make an effort to do.
Throughout the convention weekend, I observed time and again what a family the NFB of Idaho is. Everyone pitched in to help out whenever help was needed. From moving supplies and furniture, to mentoring new members and students, to just hanging out and talking, everyone was there to ensure that work got done and that everyone had a good time in the process.
On more than one occasion, people came up to me and said things like “it must be so nice to have so many members in Colorado.” Or, “your state services for the blind must be fantastic in Colorado.” I found myself telling people that just because something is bigger, it doesn’t necessarily mean it is overall better. Regarding state services for the blind, currently Colorado’s rehabilitation agency is experiencing horrible financial problems and numerous people who need services aren’t getting the things they need. When I listened to the Administrator of the Idaho commission for the blind speak to the convention on Saturday, it sounded as though Idaho was working very hard despite tough financial issues to make services as good as possible.
I learned that NFB of Idaho members are very passionate regarding the education of their blind children, specifically at the Idaho School for the Deaf and the Blind. There is apparently a lot of talk and discussion on various levels in state government about what may or may not happen to the students and/or the school in the coming years. The NFB of Idaho has been, is currently, and will continue to be a part of the discussions and decision-making process to insure that the best possible decision is made regarding the education of blind children throughout the State.
There is so much more I could say about my time at the convention, but there just isn’t room. The main thing that I took away with me from Idaho is that maintaining communication, talking about and advancing the Federation’s goals, and keeping alive the spirit of Federation family are key. This is what is happening in Idaho; no matter how small or big our NFB affiliates are, these things will help all of us to do the work that needs to be done to change the lives of blind people today and into the future.
Louis Braille Commemorative Coin
By Susan Bradley
The launch of the 2009 Louis Braille Bicentennial Silver Dollar took place on March 26, 2009, at the National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute in Baltimore, Maryland.
We had a wonderful celebration here in Idaho launching the Louis Braille Commemorative Coin. We were able to connect our celebration to our 2009 NFB of Idaho Convention. Tammy Perkins from the Governors office brought a proclamation from the Governor and read it. We also had a proclamation from the Mayor of Boise Idaho that was read. Our National Representative, Parnell Diggs, from South Carolina read a resolution. We had two members of the media there representing KTVB Channel 7 and NPR KBSU radio. Our President, Elsie Dickerson and I were both interviewed. We unveiled the coin and everyone applauded. We had several speakers talk about what Braille means to them in their lives, Marshall Bautista, the coordinator of the Braille transcription program at the Idaho Correctional Center spoke and we wrapped it up with singing Happy Birthday Louis Braille and Ode to the Code. We served cookies and punch and coffee. All in all it was a wonderful afternoon. The announcement was on the 10:00 pm news and then replayed all night on the digital Channel 7.2. The interview was played on Wednesday, April 01, 2009 on the local NPR KBSU.
The 2009 Louis Braille Bicentennial Silver Dollar commemorates the 200th anniversary of the birth of Louis Braille, inventor of the Braille system, which is still used by the blind to read and write.
Louis Braille was born in Coupvray, France, near Paris, on January 4, 1809. At the age of three, he lost the sight in his left eye as the result of an accident in his father’s workshop. An infection spread to his right eye and he became completely blind by the age of four. At the age of 10, Braille received a scholarship to attend the Royal Institute for Blind Children in Paris, where he became the youngest student. At the school, most instruction was oral, but Braille read books for the blind, which had large letters embossed on the pages.
In 1821, a captain in Napoleon’s army, Charles Barbier de la Serre, visited Braille’s school and introduced a system he had invented called “night writing.” This was a method for communicating on the battlefield at night without having to talk or light a match, which could alert the enemy. It consisted of 12 raised dots, which could be combined to represent words by sounds rather than letters. Over the next few months, Braille experimented with different configurations until he found a simpler one using just six dots.
By the age of 15, using a blunt awl (the same type of tool that had injured his left eye 12 years earlier) to punch holes in paper to represent letters, Braille had developed the code that is essentially what we know today as modern Braille. It uses no more than six dots in a “cell” of two columns of up to three dots each to represent letters and contains a system of punctuation and “contractions” to speed reading and writing. It is read by passing the fingers over the raised dots.
Today, Braille has been adapted to almost every known language and is used everywhere from bus stops and maps to music notation and textbooks. In his native France, Louis Braille’s achievement was recognized in 1952 – the 100th anniversary of his death – when his body was moved to Paris and interred in the Pantheon.
Now, for the first time in history, a United States coin features readable Braille. It is available in both proof and uncirculated versions. The obverse (heads) features a portrait of Louis Braille designed by United States Mint Artistic Infusion Program (AIP) Master Designer Joel Iskowitz and sculpted by United States Mint Sculptor/Engraver Phebe Hemphill. It is also inscribed with LIBERTY, IN GOD WE TRUST, LOUIS BRAILLE, 1809 and 2009. The reverse (tails), showing a child reading a book in Braille, was designed by United States Mint AIP Master Designer Susan Gamble and sculpted by United States Mint Sculptor/Engraver Joseph Menna. The word Braille (abbreviated Brl in Braille code) is depicted in the upper field. The word INDEPENDENCE is featured on a bookshelf behind the child, in addition to the inscriptions UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ONE DOLLAR and E PLURIBUS UNUM.
The Louis Braille Commemorative Coin can be purchased from the US Mint at www.usmint.gov or by calling 1-800-USA-MINT and the prices are as follows: Proof $41.95, Uncirculated $33.95, Uncirculated in an Easy-Open Capsule $33.95
The difference between the proof and uncirculated is that the proof is double stamped and the image will be sharper and shinier. The coins that we showed at the celebration were the uncirculated. A percentage of the funds raised through the sale of these coins will go to the NFB to develop Braille programs. At the end of the year, all remaining coins will be melted down, so, support Braille and our NFB by buying some of these once in a lifetime coins. Remember, they make great gifts.
Bright Ideas
“Money Matters”
By Mary Ellen Halverson
I was talking with our Editor Dana one day and I mentioned one of my techniques for handling coins. To my surprise, this was a new idea for Dana. I am thinking that we all have helpful hints regarding money management and other areas of our lives. We may not mention them because we think others have thought of them too. Dana was searching for some coins in her change purse, and I happened to say that I keep my pennies in a separate little coin purse, thus speeding up coin searching. This is especially handy when you are in a hurry at the checkout counter and are trying to find pennies for the tax, etc. Quarters, nickels and dimes are easy to grab when you don't have pennies in the way. Dana liked my idea and said she thought she would start using that simple technique, and then she asked me to write this little article. Maybe she will give me a penny for my thoughts, smile!
I believe we all have our own money folding technique. There is no one right way, just be sure your method works for you so you do not get your paper money mixed up. If I am traveling, I keep extra travel money in a separate envelope elsewhere in my purse. Of course I always know what all of these bills are too. Common "cents"--take the time to get your money organized either at the bank or when you get change at a store. This little bit of time is worth its weight in gold as far as your independence and privacy go. You will have the freedom to spend without needing to ask for information about your own money.
A common question for those of us who are blind is, have you ever been ripped off when someone gives you change back? In my many years of engaging in one of my favorite sports, shopping, I don't believe I have ever been cheated. I give the clerk as close to the right amount of the purchase as possible. I immediately fold a five, ten or one as it is handed to me. Often there are other customers around or other clerks observing the transaction, which would also discourage dishonesty when giving change. Our Treasure Valley Chapter sold cinnamon rolls at the Western Idaho Fair for many years and there was a few times I wondered about the bill handed to me, especially late at night. Fortunately there was always someone in the booth I could discretely double check with to verify the bill. Never once was I given the wrong denomination. I do know that there are dishonest people abroad in the land, so be smart and be careful. Money talks. Or does it? Perhaps it does, but only if you have a talking money identifier. Most of us do not have such a device unless we use one in a business.
In closing, I am excited to report that my husband and I have ordered our Louis Braille silver dollar coins from the U. S. Mint. You can read about these Braille coins elsewhere in this newsletter.
Spotlight on Careers
My experience in the work place
By Leon Allgire
In my 54 years of life, I have experienced many jobs, some rewarding, and some not so rewarding. During the first part of my job life, I was a high partial with 20/200 vision. Later in life I became a low partial, so I have experienced both worlds. In my younger days, when not using a cane, I was honest with employers and told them up front that I had a visual impairment. When the subject of what I could and couldn’t see came up, I found it easier to tell the employer “I will tell you if there is an issue with my vision”, and I would never put myself or the company in danger.” For the most part, this stopped the questions about what I could and couldn’t see. There were times when upper management was more at ease than lower management.
An example was when I was hired by a large audio/video tape manufacturing company. Upper management was quite excited about having a visually impaired person on the staff, but I always got the impression that my direct supervisor was uncomfortable. After a month of working there, I went to work one night and while I was working at my machine, a co-worker brought to my attention that two gentlemen in suits, with clipboards were watching every move I made from across the room. The next morning I was called to the main bosses’ office, and the boss looked up at me and said, “I am sorry Leon, but we are going to have to let you go.” I asked why, and he said “we think you are going to get hurt down there.” At first I was shocked, and very hurt and angry. At this point let me take two steps backward. Around three years before this, I had ended a two and a half year wrestling career due to an injury. During this time, I suffered a broken nose twice, a cracked sternum, broken fingers, and a broken hip, and was stabbed by an irritated fan. Not once did the promoter say “we are scared that you are going to get hurt.” So I wondered why a little machine with a guard on it was going to hurt me. I asked the boss if my work was up to par, and he said, “yes your work is fine, and the quality control people are happy with your work, but with your vision, our insurance is probably going to go up.” I reminded him that I had been truthful about my vision, and he had known about it when he hired me. It was no secret. I looked at him and said, “Is there a way we can work this out?” He said “no.” I said, “Okay, you are a very big company with government contracts, so maybe I will go to the labor board.” Later that morning I got a phone call letting me know that I could come to work that night, but when I got there, my job had changed. I had been assigned to the shipping and receiving department. My entire job consisted of assembling boxes for the shipping department for the next day. The first night all I could think of was did I really win the battle? I still had a job, but it felt like a sheltered workshop. So I stayed there for a few months until I found a better job.
Another time, I worked for a print shop. I did everything from collating pages for books to working on machines and running the mail service. After working there for six months, I was able to bring in some other visually impaired people I knew, and by the end of two years, they had five more visually impaired people at the print shop. The work environment was excellent, and the job lasted until the owner closed the business for his retirement.
My next work adventure was answering an ad in the paper for a marine supply manufacturing plant, asking for disabled people. When I got there, the man who interviewed me was a wheelchair user, and he said he wanted to give disabled people a chance. After going through an interview, he hired me on the spot. We worked together quite well for several years but there was always some confusion on his part as to what I could see and what I couldn’t. One day he saw me pick up a quarter off the floor in the office. He came up to me and said, “you see what you want to see, don’t you.” (I hate that statement!) I then explained to him that the carpet was dark blue, and the quarter was shiny and bright. I wasn’t sure what was on the floor until I was holding it. It could have been a nickel or a quarter or a piece of aluminum foil. I then told him that if the carpet was beige, there could have been one hundred quarters on the floor, and I would have walked over them.
When I moved to Oregon, I went into teaching independent living skills to people with traumatic brain injuries. Of course, I was given the blind clients immediately, which I was very happy about. This was a residential facility that was across the street from the fairgrounds in Eugene. One day I noticed a big sign that said, “wrestling every other Friday night”. I called the promoter, and it turned out to be a man whose father I had worked for twenty years earlier. We talked about old times, his father and the business, and the next thing I knew, I had set up a free activity. Every other Friday the residents could go there and meet the boys and have a good evening. It was a warm rewarding experience and reached the clients on many levels.
Now I am living in Idaho, and after spending over a year looking for work, I have opened by own Internet business” Leon’s Cool Stuff.” I am taking the knowledge of collectables, which I have gained throughout my life, and made it the basis for this business. As a person with low vision, I have always had to be adaptable. As my vision has decreased, I have continued to adapt. As we navigate these tough economic times, we need to be sure we have good blindness skills. We need to evaluate our strengths, and create our own opportunities.
Minigems
By Ramona Walhof
Convention: Treasure Valley Chapter hosted the NFBI Convention March 27—29, 2009. There was good attendance from, all chapters: 6 from Snake River Valley Chapter; 6 from Gateway Chapter; 4 from Panhandle Chapter; and 4 from Elmore County Chapter. At least 35 members from Southwest Idaho participated in most of the Convention, and many more came for certain activities. The first day featured a senior get-together, Braille for beginners, the Braille Coin Launch, a meeting of college students, the Resolutions Committee, as well as hospitality and trivia in the evening. Saturday featured a variety of speakers covering new developments in Idaho in work for the blind and Parnell Diggs, blind attorney from South Carolina, representing our National President.
Cycle for Independence: The Treasure Valley Chapter had a highly successful Cycle for Independence bike ride in May. Despite the economic downturn we had almost as high a ridership as we did last year. Thanks to Ramona Walhof, Chairman for all her work and hours spent on it.
Back to Magic Valley: Chris and Judy Jones lived and worked in the Magic Valley for several years during the 1990's, and then they moved to Tacoma, Washington. While there, they were active in the NFB, and Judy was President of the chapter. Recently, they returned to Twin Falls. Chris is Assistant Pastor of a church there. We are glad to have them back!
Wedding Bells: NFBI President, Elsie, was married to Larry Dickerson, President of the Gateway Chapter on March 8. Reports are that it was a beautiful ceremony with many friends in attendance. Elsie made her own beautiful flowers, and Lynn and Heidi Kneip handled the food. We all wish Elsie and Larry many years of happiness together!
Other Wedding Bells: Two weddings took place last fall that will interest Milestones readers, but were, unfortunately, not reported. Jenny Honeycutt married Shane Facer. Brenda Ford married Stacy Axmaker. Both couples are living "happily ever after" in Boise. We hope and believe this will continue for many years to come.
Sad News: We missed Vickie and Larry Bateman from Snake River Valley Chapter at our recent State Convention. They went to Utah to attend funeral services for Vickie's father.
Legislation Passed: S1074 was introduced into the Senate Education Committee and passed both the Idaho Senate and the House. It will bring about the creation of a Bureau for the Education of the Deaf and Blind to manage education of deaf and blind children throughout the State. The governor will appoint a board of eight members to work under the Board of Education. We hope this will be a positive improvement.
More remodeling: Headquarters of the Idaho Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired is again under construction. Plumbing and elevator need substantial work. Although inconvenient, this work should finish the remodeling of the sturdy old building located at 341 W. Washington that houses this agency.
Braille Writers on Loan: The Treasure Valley Chapter is gathering Braille writers for a loan program. Anyone with a Braille writer you are no longer using should contact Noel Newhouse at 208-377-0063. If you are unable to purchase Braille writer and need one, you should also contact Noel.
Bus Schedules: Valley ride, the Boise bus company, has long planned to make bus schedules available in alternative formats. Large print schedules are now ready. Schedules are also on the NFB NEWSLINE (newspapers on the telephone) service. The very last corrections are being made on Braille schedules. They will soon be ready for distribution.
Gold Miner's Daughter: When Superintendent, Mary Dunne, of the Idaho School for the Deaf and Blind spoke at the NFBI Convention, she invited members to help mentor the students enrolled on the ISDB Campus and to attend the play being produced. Five people from Boise were able to drive to Gooding for the play April 14. The melodrama, the Gold Miner's Daughter, was presented three times and was informal and fun. All enjoyed the play and meeting the 20 students and the staff who work so hard. We are looking forward to a productive relationship with ISDB and the students.
THE END