[Home-on-the-range] Remembering

[Cindy Ray]

Hi to all,

Well, here I am remembering. It seems strange to be on the list, yet not really a part of it. I lived in Kansas from 1982 until 1998, and I raised my daughter in Lawrence. When I moved to Kansas, we had been through the Iowa split, one that still seriously dogs the state today. In those days I had decided not to be a part of any consumer organization anymore. It was summer though, and when I had been there a while I became bored. The NFB was all I had known, having joined in 1964 while a student at the then Iowa Commission for the Blind, so I decided to visit. I did so, and I began participating. Of course I met Chuck Hallenbeck there, and that's a whole other story. Eventually because I was so mouthy, it seemed good for me to consider joining the chapter in Lawrence, then the Douglas County Chapter, and I served as its president until we dissolved it because of lack of interest. That was hard, so it is good to see the chapter and the state affiliate doing so well now.

I think it is important to always be able to tell our story. Dick Edlund was a mighty force in the Federation, not only building the state affiliate as he did, but working on the lines trying to get sheltered shops in line with human wages, and dealing with small business issues. Even while he was in the state legislature, he worked tirelessly for the rights of the blind in the state and in the country. Dean and Susie were right there with him, traveling about the state trying to get chapters up and running, selling nuts, and arranging for nut sales. I think Iowa uses the same company. (Susan, I'll get that information for you today or tomorrow.) They worked with us to fight the legislature when that august body tried to pass a law that would exempt zoos from allowing dog guides in them. I thought fondly of that issue as I traveled about the Louisville Zoo in June with my daughter. The Stanzels butted heads with the Feds with regard to blindness issues, and Susie has told you of that. The Federation was their family. Eileen Edlund continued working in the Federation until her cancer made it impossible for her to continue on. Dick cared for her and continued working to it respectbable to be blind in Kansas. All of them sacrificed themselves and their family sacred time to make the lives of us all just a little better, along with Martha and Jack Kelly, Beth and Ray Graber, and countless others. Martha and Beth were both willing to drive folks to affiliate and chapter events, and Martha served for years and years as the trusted treasurer of the affiliate. It is beautiful to see what is happening there in Kansas, and I am proud of all of you. Keep on with this hard work, and I will hope to see many of you soon.
Cindy Lou Ray