[Home-on-the-range] Remembering

[David Andrews]

I agree with Cindy -- I lived in Lawrence between 1980 and 1982 and 
1987 to 1989.  I will always have good memories of Dick and Eileen, 
Cindy and Chuck, Suzie and Dean, and many others!

Dave

At 10:05 AM 7/14/2010, you wrote:
>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

                         David Andrews:  dandrews at visi.com
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