[il-talk] Blackhawk Chapter Newsletter: September

Fri Sep 4 00:34:46 UTC 2009

HAWK TALK

The monthly newsletter of the Blackhawk Chapter,

National Federation of the Blind of Illinois

September 3, 2009

Editor:  Nancy Gardner

Contact Info:  Robert Gardner, President

 (309) 755-8085

 rngard1061 at mchsi.com      

It's September.  Time to get back in the groove - back to school, back to a more regular schedule, and back to regular monthly Blackhawk Chapter meetings.

THIS MONTH'S MEETING

Our next chapter meeting will be held on Saturday, September 12, at 1:30 PM, at the South Moline Township Center - 637 17th Avenue in East Moline. 

At this meeting, we are pleased to have Linda Gimble, a local woman who trains puppies to become guide dogs.  Linda will talk about what she does, her experiences, and give useful information for those considering the use of a guide dog.  Besides being an entertaining program, be sure to invite anyone you know who might be interested in guide dogs.  

LAST MONTH IN REVIEW

Rather than having a regular chapter meeting in August, we had a special get-together to practice our mobility skills.  We met at Lois's house, then practiced crossing busy intersections, walking along busy streets, and riding city buses.  We had one guide dog user and four white cane users.  Our travel journey went as far as Whitey's on 41st Street where we enjoyed ice cream.  We returned to the Montgomery house by crossing Avenue of the Cities (yes, that's a very busy intersection but we did it), then walked the length of 41st Street back to 12th Avenue.  

LOUIS BRAILLE COIN RAFFLE

In 2009, the U.S. Mint is issuing a commemorative Louis Braille silver dollar.  The coin, issued as a collector's item, celebrates the 200th anniversary of the birth of Louis Braille, the inventor of the Braille code, the method used by the blind to read and write print copy.  

An uncirculated Louis Braille silver dollar can be purchased for $33.95 by going to the website, www.usmint.gov.  $10 of that purchase price will go to the National Federation of the Blind to promote Braille literacy.  

However, you have another option to obtain a Louis Braille commemorative silver dollar.  Our chapter is raffling off two of the coins as a fundraiser.  One chance costs $1 or, you can buy 6 chances for $5.  

The drawing for the first coin was held at our swim party in July, and the winner was Kathy Abbott.  But you still have another chance!  The drawing for the second coin will be held at our Christmas Party.  See Lois Montgomery to purchase chances.  

UPCOMING EVENTS

September 12:  This will be a regular Saturday meeting of the Blackhawk Chapter, back again at our regular meeting place, the South Moline Township Center in East Moline.  

October  9-11:  NFB of Illinois state convention in Chicago.  Please consider going to this great NFB event.  Contact Bob Gardner for more details, or go to the website, www.nfbofillinois.org.

December 12 : Blackhawk Chapter Christmas party.

FUND RAISING

BIRDIES FOR CHARITY . . . 

 Don't forget to send in your pledge when you get it in the mail!  A prize will be given at our September chapter meeting to the top pledge-getter.

YOUNKER'S COMMUNITY DAY . . .

Coming in November - more info later. Coupon booklets will be available at the September meeting.

MEMBER HAPPENINGS

During the summer season, our members have been keeping busy.  Read on to find out what some of them have been up to -

.  The Gardners' attended the National Convention in Detroit.  A total of 85 people were registered from Illinois.  

.  Bob Gardner won second  place in the fiction writing contest put on by the Writers' Division at National Convention.  He was also elected to the board of the Writers' Division.  

.  Jana Hergert was selected to receive an internship from the NFB of Illinois.  Jana also worked as a volunteer teacher's aid at Roosevelt School in Moline.

·       Patrick Olson moved into his own apartment in Moline, and also started attending Western Illinois University.  

.  The ABLE Group (Access to Braille Literacy for Everyone) took a break from its weekly Braille studies to become a mobility class for the summer.  Those in the group met to ride various buses and walk around downtown city streets.  The group also enjoyed having lunch at different restaurants.  

·       Lois and Bob wrote a grant to fund the ABLE Group session starting this fall.  A grant of $600 was received from the Day Foundation.

.  A swim party at the Montgomerys' in July was enjoyed by all.

BIRTHDAY CORNER 

  September   3    Alma Sowers

9                             Bob Gardner

              11   Don Olson

19                      Larry Hines

20                      Lois Montgomery

   October    (There are no October birthdays.)

RECIPE CORNER

Please submit your favorite recipes. You can give written recipes to me at the chapter meetings, send them email (address in letterhead), or mail them to me at: P.O. Box 191, Hampton, IL 61256. Thanks! Nancy

Pat Olson sent in this recipe for Rhubarb Cake - she brought it to the last chapter meeting.  It was very moist and very delicious.  The fresh rhubarb is still good, so why don't you try out this recipe!

RHUBARB CAKE

1 ½ cups brown sugar

½ cup oleo

1 egg

1 cup sour milk ( add 1 tablespoon vinegar to regular milk to make the it sour)

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

½ teaspoon salt

1 ½ cups diced rhubarb

Mix dry ingredients - flour, soda, and salt.  Set aside.  Cream the oleo and brown sugar.  Then add the egg and vanilla. Alternately add dry ingredients mixture and sour milk to the creamed mixture.  Add the rhubarb in last.  Mix.  Place in a 9 by 13 inch greased pan.  Top with ¼ cup sugar mixed with 1 teaspoon of cinnamon.  Bake at 350º for about 50 minutes.  Cool and enjoy.  