[Colorado-talk] Testing, Testing!
Maurice Mines
maurice at mauricemines.org
Mon May 20 16:34:20 UTC 2019
As we say in the ham world, Qsl Keven got loud and clear.
Sincerely Maurice Mines.
Amateur station callsign kd0iko.
VP national Federation of the blind of California Bakersfield chapter.
On 20 May 2019, at 9:14, Kevan Worley via Colorado-Talk wrote:
> Greetings, some of you have read this, some of you have not. Curtis
> Chong is
> working with us on formatting. Thanks Curtis. Y'all can read May's
> blog
> again if you wish. Lots of good info.
>
>
>
>
>
> Up there on top is the NFB of Colorado Logo followed by "Live the life
> you
> want."
>
>
>
> Blind Coloradoan Blog May 2019
>
> Writer, aggregator Kevan Worley. Contributing editor Dan Burke.
>
> Here is what you need to know.
>
>
>
> This May Issue is Dedicated to the Mothers of the Movement. The modern
> holiday of Mother's Day was first celebrated in 1908, when Anna Jarvis
> held
> a memorial for her mother at St Andrew's Methodist Church in Grafton,
> West
> Virginia. St Andrew's Methodist Church now holds the International
> Mother's
> Day Shrine. Her campaign to make Mother's Day a recognized holiday in
> the
> United States began in 1905, the year her mother, Ann Reeves Jarvis,
> died.
> Ann Jarvis had been a peace activist who cared for wounded soldiers on
> both
> sides of the American Civil War and created Mother's Day Work Clubs to
> address public health issues. Anna Jarvis wanted to honor her mother
> by
> continuing the work she started and to set aside a day to honor all
> mothers
> because she believed a mother is "the person who has done more for you
> than
> anyone in the world", from Wikipedia. There have been so many strong
> women
> who have made our movement what it is. We could not list them all but
> the
> one who raised up many of us in Colorado is Diane McGeorge. Happy
> Mother's
> Day Diane. This issue is dedicated to you.
>
>
>
> This issue is in appreciation of our friends at Southern Foodservice
> Management, Inc. and Philadelphia Insurance Companies. Southern
> returns as a
> Gold Sponsor of our second NFBCO 6 Dot Dash 5k. Philadelphia Insurance
> is a
> Gold Sponsor for their first time. Philadelphia Insurance is the
> chosen
> insurance carrier for our Colorado Center for the Blind. If it is good
> enough for CCB it is great enough for me!
> <https://www.phly.com/Campaign/thinkphly.aspx> ThinkPHLY.com.
> Southern
> Foodservice Management, Inc. has provided support and consulting
> services
> for a number of blind food service operators, including here in
> Colorado. No
> one in the foodservice industry cares more about making your day than
> the
> people at Southern. "We love food, and we love people. We even have a
> special philosophy that directs everything we do. We're Southern at
> heart,
> so when you eat with us, you'll experience first-hand what southern
> hospitality is all about." We also appreciate our other great
> sponsors. You
> will read more about each of them in upcoming issues of this blog.
> Please
> express your appreciation to each of our NFBCO 6 Dot Dash 5k sponsors
> whenever you do business with them.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> #ComeRunWithUs
>
>
>
> Saturday, June 29th 9:00AM-1:00PM
>
> Colorado Center for the Blind
>
> 2233 W. Shepperd Ave, Littleton, CO 80120
>
>
>
> Join the National Federation of the Blind of Colorado and the Colorado
> Center for the Blind for a 5k run/walk and Blind Beer Tasting to raise
> awareness and funds for Braille Literacy. For more information visit
> us
> online at <http://www.6dotdashco.com> www.6dotdashco.com
>
>
>
>
> THIS EVENT OFFERS FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY!
>
> T-shirts Finishers Medal Chip Time Huge Expo
>
> Kids Fun Run Harley's Hot Dogs Bounce House
>
> Face Painting Kona Ice
>
>
>
> Like Us on Facebook
>
> @6DotDashCO
>
> <https://register.chronotrack.com/r/48889> SIGN UP TODAY!
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Colorado Blind Voters Prevail in Quest for Equality. Readers of this
> blog
> will know that Dan Burke is not only our intrepid contributing editor;
> Dan
> also serves as chairman of our NFBCO Governmental Affairs effort. Here
> is a
> note of celebration from Dan.
>
>
>
> Our voting rights for Voters with Disabilities bill, SB19-202, passed
> out of
> the Colorado House on Thursday. Because it was amended after leaving
> the
> Senate, it had to return there. April 27, the Senate voted to concur
> with
> the House amendments and passed it. That means the bill now goes to
> the
> Governor for his signature, making SB19-202 the law!
>
> We did it!
>
>
>
> Thanks, Dan! Thanks, team! Thanks to Senator Danielson and to the
> members of
> the Colorado General Assembly! It is likely that by the time you read
> this,
> the Governor will have already signed the bill. We know that he plans
> to
> sign it. And we know that it will occur well before Thanksgiving.
> Note, the
> governor must sign or veto legislation within 10 days after
> transmittal, or
> it becomes law without his/her signature. For bills transmitted after
> session adjournment, the governor must act within 30 days after the
> end of
> the session, or the legislation becomes law without being signed.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Happy Thanksgiving from the President of the National Federation of
> the
> Blind of Colorado, Scott C. LaBarre. It is great to have an item from
> Scott
> for this issue. As always, Scott is witty, perceptive, grateful, and
> compassionate. Here is what the big turkey says:
>
> HAPPY THANKSGIVING
>
>
>
> First, I want to wish everyone a Happy Spring!! However, as I write
> this
> (Tuesday morning, April 30), it is actually snowing outside. Ah,
> Spring
> time in Colorado.
>
>
>
> Speaking of Spring, many of us have recently celebrated the holidays
> of
> Easter and Passover. Nevertheless, my mind is being drawn to
> Thanksgiving.
> No, I am not craving turkey and all the wonderful holiday fixings but
> rather
> experiencing an immense sense of gratitude for my involvement in the
> National Federation of the Blind. This past weekend, I had the honor
> of
> representing Colorado on our national scholarship committee, and that
> experience reminded me of how my journey in our Federation began.
>
>
>
> In 1986, I won an NFB scholarship coming out of high school. As I
> reflected
> on this while reviewing hundreds of 2019 scholarship applications, I
> marveled at how significantly we have impacted the lives of blind
> people all
> over the world since then. I had the opportunity to participate on
> the
> Federation's Scholarship Committee early on in my involvement, and I
> am
> quite astounded by how much the landscape has changed for all of us.
>
>
>
> Over 30 years ago, the vast majority of individuals applying for one
> of our
> scholarships mostly had never heard of us and thus were not members.
> Now,
> the exact opposite is true. The vast majority of those applying for
> scholarships are active members of the Federation, and seemingly all
> applicants recognize the Federation's work to bring about substantial,
> societal change to improve our opportunities.
>
>
>
> It is also fair to say that thirty years ago, the breadth of careers
> and
> interests being pursued by scholarship applicants was much narrower.
> Now,
> it appears that our philosophy of living the life you want has taken
> root,
> and blind men and women are not letting their blindness limit pursuit
> of
> their dreams. Our applicants are seeking careers in every imaginable
> vocation from astrophysics to zoology. For example, whereas the idea
> of a
> blind person acquiring a medical degree was incredibly rare thirty
> years
> ago, now we find many in our applicant pool striving after a career in
> medicine.
>
>
>
> Beyond just academics and careers, the interests and hobbies of our
> applicants are also significantly more diverse. I smiled while
> reading the
> file of one applicant who is now active in a blacksmith club and was
> the
> first blind person to join. He remarked on the fact that he was one
> of the
> few who had not burned himself while practicing this ancient art.
>
>
>
> As I boarded the plane back to Denver, I was incredibly thankful for
> our
> ability to raise the expectations of the blind community making it
> possible
> for us to live without artificial limitations being placed upon us.
> We have
> not yet met the outer boundaries of what we can achieve. Because of
> our
> work, we share a future which is full of unlimited potential.
>
>
>
> I am also incredibly thankful for our, NFB of Colorado. There are
> scores of
> reasons why this is so, but our work over the last month on our voting
> rights legislation, S.B. 19-202, is a wonderful case in point. We
> have the
> organizational maturity and sophistication to recruit and sustain key
> legislative allies like Senator Jessie Danielson who has become a true
> champion of our causes. As you know, the Representative Danielson
> carried
> and passed our parental rights bill last year and, as a first year
> Senator,
> has shepherded S.B. 19-202 through the General Assembly with unanimous
> support.
>
>
>
> She was able to accomplish these feats because of her political talent
> but
> also because of the wonderful members of the NFB of Colorado who have
> traveled to the Capitol to support our bills and/or who have made the
> phone
> calls and sent the emails persuading our legislators. We have so many
> talented and dedicated members who make it far easier to bring our
> message
> forward. Take, for example, Jenny Callahan who testified before the
> Senate
> State, Veterans, and Military Affairs Committee on April 1st. She
> gave
> impassioned testimony about how, as a sighted person, she had always
> taken
> her right to vote for granted, and when she lost her vision, she felt
> that
> her human dignity had been stripped from her because she was forced to
> work
> with others to fill out her ballot, depriving her of the independence
> and
> privacy that everyone else enjoys as a matter of right. Because of
> Jenny's
> moving testimony and all of our work, S.B. 19-202 will soon become
> law, and
> all of us will be able to realize the same options of every Colorado
> voter,
> the option of either going to our polling places where accessible
> machines
> are present because of the previous work of the Federation or the
> ability to
> vote from the privacy and comfort of our homes.
>
>
>
> There are countless examples like our work on S.B. 19-202 of how the
> Federation has advanced and implemented our right to live in the
> world, and
> I am thankful for all of them!! However, we all know that we aren't
> done
> with our journey to full freedom, but as we continue to build the
> Federation, I know we will get there!! As we celebrate Thanksgiving,
> well,
> the Spring version thereof, I want to thank each and every one of you
> for
> helping us transform our dreams into reality!! Oh, and enjoy the
> snow.
>
>
>
> Scott adds, "Happy Mother's Day to the mothers of the movement. A big
> thank
> you to my strong and loving mom, Donna, and to the beautiful and
> talented
> mother of our children Alexander and Emily, Anahit. And to the mom who
> raised many of us in the National Federation of the Blind of Colorado,
> Diane
> McGeorge."
>
>
>
> Ever Wonder Why Your Picture is Not in The Blind Coloradoan? Probably
> not.
> But I have. Please, slide on some decent threads. Take a pic. Send it
> to me.
> We need your visage to brighten up our blog.
>
>
>
> Techy, Nerdy, Profitable? Probably all of the above if you read the
> Blind
> Institute of Technology newsletter. These guys get stuff done! Here is
> info
> about an upcoming BIT Seminar.
>
> BIT'S ACCESS SYMPOSIUM
>
> JUNE 12, DENVER, CO
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> We are thrilled to be hosting our second annual symposium, featuring a
> new
> name but an old theme - using technology to ACCESS the abilities of
> all
> users.
>
>
>
> BIT is all about getting. stuff. done, and the ACCESS Symposium is our
> way
> of bringing this spirit to a wider audience. ACCESS is completely
> focused on
> the 'how' of accessible technology. Whether you're struggling with
> implementing accessibility into your development cycle, wondering how
> to
> deal with third-party vendors, or interested in cold hard code, ACCESS
> has
> something for you!
>
>
>
> You can find more
> <https://blindinstituteoftechnology.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6f243
> e2d6868b7eb7e6ec39f3&id=16ddde2562&e=e4c8b179d0> event details here,
> and
> please feel free to reach out to us directly at
> <file:///C:/nfbco/blog/events@blindit.org> events at blindit.org.
>
>
>
> The May newsletter from BIT also highlighted the promotion of Ron
> Sorozan to
> Vice President of Technology for LCI. BIT was instrumental in that
> opportunity. Here is part of what Ron had to say, ".I strongly
> encourage
> anyone seeking their next career position to contact BIT as they will
> go out
> of their way to assist in finding and closing your next opportunity.
> I
> equally, though, recommend that any organization seeking highly
> motivated
> and talented people to also reach out to BIT as their mission to
> educate
> around improving accessibility in the workplace and to place those who
> are
> disabled into meaningful positions will be rewarding for all
> involved."
>
> Will You Please Help. Help us make certain that no blind or visually
> impaired child is left out. We don't know where all the blind kiddos
> and
> their families are across our great state. Help us find them. The
> NFBCO
> Confidence Camp and BELL Academies combine to bring Summer fun and
> instruction in a day-camp like setting. This is what children's Summer
> memories are made of. Program dates and locations are Littleton June
> 10-21,
> Westminster June 24-28, and Grand Junction July 15-19. For
> information,
> please reach out to Michelle Chacon 303-507-6291. You can register
> your
> child at <http://www.nfb.org/bell-academy> www.nfb.org/bell-academy.
> The
> last time I volunteered at a BELL program there was everything from
> Play-Doh
> and Legos to swimming and pizza making. I am sure there will be song
> singing
> and general merriment.
>
>
>
> This Is a Big Deal! Graduating from the Independence Training Program
> at the
> Colorado Center for the Blind is a big deal. Recently, Dan Burke
> posted the
> following on the CCB Facebook page. The responses from this particular
> post
> have been many and amazing.
>
>
>
> It was a big day, an emotional day for Omar Santana, one that would
> make his
> Sicilian mother proud as he served Italian sausage alfredo to 60
> people last
> Wednesday.
>
> "I didn't really believe I could do all the (cane) travel," he said
> before
> his graduation. "I didn't believe I could learn Braille."
>
> He says these things with a tone of awe and pride that he has, indeed,
> mastered these and other blindness skills.
>
> Admittedly, Omar just wasn't quite ready for training when he first
> came
> last year. He struggled with the idea of being a blind person. When
> last
> summer rolled around, he decided to spend it with his 11-year-old
> daughter
> out of state. "I wasn't coming back," he says now, "but Julie wouldn't
> leave
> me alone - Julie and Vicki and fellow students kept after me. I
> wouldn't be
> here without them."
>
> Omar will be traveling to Europe in a couple of months, resuming his
> career
> as a popular DJ for Electronic Dance Music. Before his vision
> deteriorated
> significantly, he DJed regularly in Europe and all over the U.S.
>
> And how does Omar feel about traveling to Amsterdam now?
>
> "No problem," he said without hesitation. "I've got my cane."
>
> Yes, Omar can go around the world again with his white cane, his
> training at
> the Colorado Center for the Blind, and the confidence and pride he has
> as a
> blind person.
>
>
>
> Graduate Omar Santana and Executive Director CCB Julie Deden
>
> When it Comes to Fake Service Animals, I Get Very Dogmatic. Since
> receiving
> my guide dog Onyx, the Wonder Shepherd from Fidelco Guide Dog
> Foundation,
> some 30 months ago I have been following with great interest and given
> a
> great deal of thought to the issues surrounding dogs of all kinds in
> public
> places. Guide dogs, service dogs, emotional support animals, and pets.
> Sometimes you can't tell the difference. The Colorado Springs Center
> for
> Independence reports on their advocacy and the media coverage it
> created. I
> saw the item on News 5 when it first ran. My wife Bridget told me that
> our
> good friend City Councilwoman Yolanda Avila would be in an upcoming
> story
> about fake service animals. Here is a note about the matter we
> received from
> the Independence Center.
>
>
>
> Last month, Advocacy held an Assistance Animal Open House. Eric Ross
> from
> KOAA attended and interviewed Becca Michael and Pat Going. Eric took
> this
> story and ran with it, investigating how people who misrepresent their
> pets
> (and doctors who write "prescriptions" for emotional support animals
> without
> an actual exam) make it more difficult for the people with
> disabilities who
> rely on service animals. He also interviewed Councilwoman Yolanda
> Avila, who
> has a service dog named Puma.
>
>
>
> Watch the captioned video and read the associated article
> <https://koaa.com/news/news5-investigates/2019/04/25/news-5-investigates-air
> lines-and-businesses-see-spike-in-fake-service-animals> here.
>
>
>
> We Salute the Business Enterprise Program for Colorado. Creating jobs
> with
> high earnings potential through self-employment. Unlike many similar
> programs operated under terms of the Randolph-Sheppard Act Colorado's
> continues to grow. For information about training and business
> opportunities
> contact Dan Whalen, Manager, 303-866-3425. Or our Trainer and Chief,
> Ellie
> Karre, 303-866-3429. We thank BEP for being a Silver Sponsor at the
> NFBCO 6
> Dot Dash 5k. #comerunwithus.
>
>
>
> Potlucks, Advocacy, and a Meet Up at the Saloon. Springs Chapter
> President
> Jeanette Fortin says that they will hold a potluck at the next
> scheduled
> monthly meeting. This chapter knows how to eat well! For the info
> contact
> Jeanette, <mailto:nettiecosp at icloud.com> nettiecosp at icloud.com. I
> will be
> there 9:30 a.m. Saturday May 11 at the Garden Ranch YMCA. I think I am
> baking a cake if I know you are coming.
>
>
>
> Good times had by all at our second city blind meet up downtown at
> Springs
> Orleans. Great to have folks from Independence Center, City
> Councilwoman
> Yolanda Avila, and new Springs family Jessie Lorenz and her daughter,
> along
> with blind entrepreneur Brian Smith and NFB chapter president Jeanette
> Fortin at the meet up. We are finding this to be a great way to engage
> our
> community in an informal setting. The next one will be perfect for
> you. Join
> the crowd, Tuesday May 21 at <http://www.springsorleans.com/> Springs
> Orleans anytime between 5 and 7. Note, when you sit at the bar happy
> hour
> appetizers are two for one!
>
>
>
> Greeley Group Does NFB NewslineR Training. Using the instructive
> material
> easily available at <https://nfb.org/programs-services/nfb-newsline>
> https://nfb.org/programs-services/nfb-newsline, the Greeley chapter
> plans to
> get folks signed up, oriented, and trained to maximize all the
> benefits of
> NFB NewslineR. Great idea Greeley! And, to other chapters from
> Mountains and
> Plains to Mile High all the news about NFB NewslineR is laid out for
> us on
> the website. Great chapter activity. And, hey! Sign up today!
>
>
>
> Here is an Item That Your Aggregator and Contributing Editor Know
> Little
> About. Ok, nothing about. But Jessica Beecham and Maureen Nietfeld do.
> Here
> is what Jessica Beecham reports. Colorado Center for the Blind board
> member
> Maureen Nietfeld facilitated a class with blind teens Yesbi, Deya, and
> Alma,
> how to apply makeup. As a blind person, the process of uptime on
> makeup can
> feel a bit daunting but Maureen came prepared with tips and tricks
> that made
> it a snap!
>
>
>
> The girls started with eye makeup, moved to Foundation and blush, and
> finished off with the lips! The girls learned about when certain color
> combinations work best and how to find out what colors work best for
> them.
> From all of the giggles and smiles it was clear that everyone had a
> blast
> and came away feeling more confident!
>
>
>
> Alma
>
>
>
> Yesbi, Deya
>
>
>
> Extra, Extra! Read All About It! The Colorado Springs Gazette is back.
> For a
> time, NFB NewslineR was having difficulty getting the feed from the
> Gazette
> newspaper. Our Baltimore team worked closely with the IT mavens at the
> Gazette. It's back! And the likelihood is that NFB Newsline will soon
> be
> able to carry the weekly Gazette community papers as well. Special
> thanks to
> Derek Marlowe at the Gazette.
>
>
>
> Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind is Celebrating Its 145th Year.
> They
> have certainly had some wonderful dorm mothers over the years. The
> 2019
> graduation takes place on Friday, May 31th. For more info, call the
> school,
> 719-578-2100.
>
>
>
> Look Ma! No Hands! The Blind Coloradoan wants to hear from you. If you
> grew
> up blind, what activities drove your mom crazy? My mom was great with
> camping, running, jumping, riding bikes, playing hide and seek,
> football,
> etc. I was lucky. Some blind kids don't get that kind of support and
> independence. I will say that trying to shoot bottle rockets out of an
> air
> rifle wasn't one of her favorites. Can you say, "you'll shoot your eye
> out!"
>
>
>
> We Have Another Mother. The Blind Parents of Colorado are lucky to
> have
> President Nate Trela and his wife Showe Trela. Nate writes, "Here she
> is ...
> Suana Nicole Trela. She checked in at 7 pounds, 10 oz, and 19.5
> inches.
> Sounds like she's a cute blend of Showe and me. Can't believe she is
> here!"
>
>
>
>
>
> Blind Moms and Dads. This is for You. The Blind Parents Connection
> Podcast
> is a Blind Parent Education Initiative supported by the Gibney Family
> Foundation and brought to you by National Federation of the Blind. We
> are
> excited to bring you eleven episodes, so stay tuned for more.
> Subscribe and
> listen by searching for "Nation's Blind Podcast" in your podcast
> client.
> Listen to Episode 1 of the Blind Parents Connection:
> <https://www.nfb.org/images/nfb/audio/podcast/nations-blind/bpc_resources_1.
> mp3> Resources.
>
>
>
> Did you read this important Notice in Our Last Blog? If so, try
> reading it
> again. If Not, try reading it now.
>
> Try It. You Might Like It. In recent years, one of the more successful
> workshops hosted by the Colorado Center for the Blind has been the
> NFBCO
> Sports and Rec Division's Try It seminars. Colorado is known as a "get
> out
> there and do it" state. The rate of obesity among Colorado citizens
> continues to be the lowest in the nation. Colorado is home to the
> United
> States Olympic Training Center. Our Sports and Rec Division encourages
> the
> blind of Colorado to "get out there and do it." You can Try It first
> on
> Saturday May 11 from 1 until 4. Try Beep ball, yoga, martial arts, and
> much
> more. This seminar is perfect for you. Ages from 2 to 92 are welcome
> to Try
> It! Sometimes, blind folks are not as active because we have not been
> encouraged or shown how to participate in exercise and recreation.
> This is
> your opportunity to Try It! Note, Colorado is also home to the
> <https://www.usaba.org/> United States Association of Blind Athletes,
> USABA.
>
>
>
> Egg-straordinary! May is for Mother's Day. April was Easter. Here is
> what
> Rob Harris, Treasurer of our Grand Valley chapter, says about the
> Beeping
> Easter Egg Hunt. "I am reminded to share that the beeping egg hunt was
> held
> at Colorado Discover Ability and it was awesome! In attendance were 4
> blind
> and low vision kiddos from ages 1 to 13 searching for the eggs to
> trade them
> in for treats of all sorts, mostly candy. Our members baked items,
> stuffed
> eggs, setup the location, advertised and put this together in 3 weeks!
> We
> hope for another event next year."
>
>
>
> MAKING CONNECTIONS THAT WORK FOR YOU. 3rd Annual Career and College
> Seminar
> Wednesday, May 8, 2019. Learn from inspiring speakers. Practice your
> interviewing skills. Consider your future career. Find out what it
> takes to
> be successful in college. Network with other seminar participants!
> 9:00 to
> 3:00 p.m. Colorado Center for the Blind 2233 West Shepperd Avenue,
> Littleton. Lunch is provided but you must register by May 6th. Keynote
> Speakers are Petr Kucheryavyy and Cody Bair.
>
>
>
> Petr works as the Senior Manager for Accessibility with Spectrum
> Communications. An engaging speaker, Petr was born in the Ukraine and
> gradually lost his vision even as his family emigrated to the U.S.
>
>
>
> Blind since birth, Cody grew up on the eastern plains of Colorado and
> now
> lives in Denver. Cody is a Certified Public Accountant and is employed
> as a
> Business Tax Services Senior Associate for KPMG LLP. His dedicated
> pursuit
> of attaining his dream in a highly-demanding profession will inspire.
>
>
>
> Rehab counselors, blind students, and job seekers have all indicated
> how
> much they have gained from the two previous events.
> <https://cocenter.org/wp-content/plugins/civicrm/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=44
> 3&qid=24829> Register for Making Connections Now!
>
>
>
> The Builders. True stories from the history of the Rocky Mountain
> blind by
> Peggy Chong, The History Lady. Note, typically, this column features
> people
> who are blind from Colorado. However, this is a special May Mother's
> Day
> issue. We are carrying a longer piece from the History Lady to
> celebrate
> motherhood.
>
> Happy Spring to my Blind History Lady fans;
>
>
>
> May is a month full of so many things to celebrate. This May I want to
> acknowledge Mother's Day. This mother is one I have been researching
> for
> more than six years. She did not leave a big paper trail. What she did
> leave
> is a family who loves her still and are willing to share her story.
> She was
> a blind mother who gave all for her family and gave us a song she
> wrote and
> published to remember her by.
>
> (From the cover of the sheet music)
>
> Springtime
>
> Words and Music by
>
> Helen Dobbins Brown
>
> Published by
>
> Helen Dobbins Brown
>
> Marshfield, MO
>
> Copywrite 1937
>
> Price 25 cents
>
>
>
> Tis Springtime, sweet Springtime there's joy ev'ry where;
>
> The birds with their war-blings are teeming the air.
>
> The flowers are blooming, in vale and on hill.
>
> While hearts with dreams of rapture thrill.
>
>
>
> O Springtime, tis springtime, with in ev'ry heart;
>
> When love is awakened by Cupid's true dart;
>
> And yielding to kisses and armes that entwine,
>
> Is rapt in ecstasy divine.
>
>
>
> When Springtime is faded and summer is gone,
>
> And Autumn has followed, the winter passed on;
>
> Then lonely we linger, and wait but in vain,
>
> For springtime flow'rs and songs again.
>
>
>
> This was written by Helen Dobbins-Brown when her youngest was 17 and
> she was
> 57.
>
> Helen Elizabeth Dobbins, born in 1880, attended the Iowa College for
> the
> Blind and then Oberlin College. She married a sighted man who fell in
> love
> with her voice before he even seen her. Sounds like a fairy tale and
> Helen
> may have even agreed that in many ways her life was a fairy tale. But,
> as
> all good fairy tales, there need to be struggles to overcome before
> the
> happy ending. Helen had struggles in spades.
>
>
>
> Helen married Eugene Brown, the man who had to find the woman that the
> beautiful voice belonged to. In nine years, the couple had eight
> children,
> Helen being over thirty when her first child was born. For a time,
> they
> homesteaded land in South Dakota, living in a sod house. A short stay
> in
> Montana and then they moved on. There were no complaints from Helen.
>
>
>
> Although the South Dakota prairie had few close neighbors, she kept in
> touch
> with family and friends. Her blind school chums had a circulating
> braille
> letter. One would start the letter in braille, mail it to the next
> blind
> friend on the list who read the letter, wrote one of their own, sent
> both
> letters to the next friend on the list. The round robin would come
> back to
> the original friend, who read all the rest, took his original letter
> out,
> inserted a new one and sent the whole bunch on the way to the next.
>
>
>
> Soon the Browns moved near Marshfield Missouri to farm land where they
> had
> to once again, build a home, barns and wooden walkways to minimize the
> mud
> and farm animal droppings from their shoes. This all took time. Helen
> cared
> for her many children, cooked, washed clothes, cared for the chickens,
> gathered eggs, tended a garden, put up produce for the winter, milked
> and
> kept up the house.
>
> A farm wife back then was said not to be employed. REALLY!
>
>
>
> Just as their house was almost finished, Eugene passed away in 1926,
> leaving
> Helen with eight children to raise. They continued on as they knew
> Gene
> would have wanted. Not once did she think of giving up her land or
> sending
> any of her children off to live with relatives or become live in help
> for
> neighboring farmers as many families with both sighted parents were
> forced
> to do as the depression grew in the country. Helen had paid off the
> land and
> homestead. They grew their own food and could live modestly and happy.
>
>
>
> The depression affected Helen along with her neighbors. Helen
> re-invented
> her land to support the family. She built cabins along the road
> bordering
> their farm for travelers heading west for a better life. The road now
> was
> called route 66. She built a gas station. Inside the station she sold
> ice
> cream. During the migration west, Helen and the kids made a
> comfortable
> living.
>
>
>
> The farm got electricity before the depression, another expense. But
> it was
> necessary to operate the radio and hear the news. When the new talking
> book
> player came to Missouri, Helen was glad to get hers and enjoy the many
> books
> now on record that were not in braille.
>
>
>
> The Brown home was filled with music. They had a piano that Helen
> loved to
> play and sing along with. The children enjoyed when Mom played. They
> often
> sang along with her the old favorites, hymns and popular music. She
> sang in
> the choir of her Methodist church.
>
>
>
> All of her children finished high school. Several joined the military
> in the
> mid 1930's before the second world war. At least one son made the
> military
> his career. Some became nurses, all lived very successful lives,
> thanks to
> their mom. Each child loved Mom and appreciated all that she had done
> for
> them. When it was time to leave the nest, each knew that Mom wanted
> them to
> spread their wings just as the birds in the spring. Helen did not
> expect any
> of her children to sacrifice themselves to stay with their "blind"
> mom.
>
> After the children left the home, Helen remained on the farm for
> almost two
> decades by herself. She still grew her garden and canned for the
> winter. One
> of her daughters came out once a week on the Greyhound to bring
> groceries
> from town. As she grew older, her closest daughter asked Helen to come
> live
> with her and her daughter in Springfield. Finally, Helen did move into
> Springfield with her daughter. She found an organization of other
> blind
> persons where she attended monthly meetings. Through the meetings she
> met
> good friends who also enjoyed music and would get together to play and
> sing.
>
>
>
>
> This brief sketch of Helen highlights just the love of family that she
> had
> to her parents, her husband, and children. I hope you also get the
> impression that Helen's love was an example and lesson that was
> learned and
> passed on generation to generation. Although she has been gone more
> than
> fifty years, her descendants remember her warmly today.
>
> You can read more of my Books at <https://www.smashwords.com>
> https://www.smashwords.com.
>
>
>
> Still time to join us at
> <https://www.nfb.org/get-involved/national-convention> NFB National
> Convention at the Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas, July 7-12.
>
>
>
> Dear reader, if you know of a company or an organization that you
> think
> would like to be a part of our 6 Dot Dash 5k please put us in touch
> with
> them. Sponsorships are still available. Volunteers are more than
> welcome.
> There are still a few spaces for exhibitors, and, please encourage
> everyone
> to register today for the June 29 event in Littleton!
>
>
>
> Hey, Blind CO Fans! We will continue to publish this blog on a regular
> basis. Typically, each month. But we will also be adding additional
> content
> more frequently. Also, our regular monthly Blind Coloradoan issues
> will
> begin to contain less text and more links to our blog posts. This will
> allow
> you, dear reader, to more easily read the NFBCO news and views you
> want. So,
> check out this blog space more frequently. Remember, all of this
> content can
> be found on NFB NewslineR.
>
>
>
> Submit items to be considered for June Blind Coloradoan Blog by May
> 25.
>
> Did Not See Your Item in This Issue? Be a contributor! Send
> announcements,
> ideas, articles, and observations to either <mailto:kevan at nfbco.org>
> myself
> or <mailto:dburke at cocenter.org> Dan Burke. Enjoy this blog on NFB
> Newsline
> or read it at <https://theblindcoloradan.blogspot.com> blog spot.
>
> Forward, Always Forward!
>
> "Live the Life You Want."
>
> At Your Service,
>
>
>
> Kevan Worley
>
> Manager, NFBCO Project Literacy
>
> Cell: (303)929-2369
>
> <http://www.nfbco.org/> www.nfbco.org
> _______________________________________________
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