[il-talk] Hawk Talk Newsletter

[J Rauschenbach]

HAWK TALK
The monthly newsletter of the Blackhawk Chapter of the
National Federation of the Blind of Illinois

The monthly newsletter of the Blackhawk Chapter, National
Federation of the Blind of Illinois

Printing of this newsletter compliments of
Van Hoe Funeral Home, Ltd.
1500 - 6th Street
East Moline, IL 61244
(309)755-1414

November 1, 2012

Editor: Jean Rauschenbach

Contact info:
Lois Montgomery, President
3527 - 12th Avenue
Moline, IL 61265
(309)762-3414
Lmm3527 at aol.com

Hello everyone! The leaves are falling and there’s a chill
in the air. Don’t despair! Come join us – the company and
conversation will warm you up! Get the date marked on your
calendar and make plans to meet with your Federation
family – you’ll be glad you did!
 
THIS MONTH’S MEETING
Our next meeting will be held on Saturday, November 10th,
at 1:30 p.m., at the South Moline Township Center located
at 637 - 17th Avenue in East Moline.

For our program this month we will brainstorm. What
programs interest you? How and what can we do as a chapter
to increase membership? What activities would inspire you
to participate more? Come join us and let your voice be
heard!

Please bring your left-over Community Day booklets and the
money you have collected from the sales to the meeting.
Pat Olson will be collecting and tallying the numbers. She
must return any unsold booklets to the store.

Are you interested in serving on the Cane Bank Committee?
We will vote to fill the vacancy formerly held by the
president.

Elections were held at last month’s meeting. Results are
as follows:
President: Lois Montgomery
Vice-president: Patrick Olson
Treasurer: Jean Rauschenbach
Secretary: John Tebockhorst
Board members: Donna Miles, Bob Gardner, and Mark
Clayburne

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
Thank you for allowing me to serve as your president for
the upcoming year. As president, I would like to see our
chapter put a serious dent in the following goals:

1.	Forming a transition program for junior and senior
high school students.
 
2.	Recruiting new members.
3.	Getting more publicity throughout the QC and
outlying areas.
4.	Finding transportation for members who cannot
access public transportation to and from chapter meetings.

To do this we, as a chapter, must work together to
accomplish our goals. There’s plenty for each and everyone
of us to do, regardless of your interests or skills. I
look forward to working with you. Any concerns, comments,
and/or suggestions are welcome.

PEOPLE REPORT
In October Larry & Cindy Hines transplanted themselves in
Arizona for the winter months. Enjoy the warm temps! See
you in the spring.  

Jay Miller continues training at the Hines VA Hospital in
Chicago.

Don & Linda Carey have expanded their business “Bobbles &
Bears Sports” by opening a second store in Burlington,
Iowa. Visit their local store just outside of Northpark
Mall.

Recently Linda Carey had a second laser surgery for narrow
angle glaucoma.

MEMBERSHIP
It’s time to renew your membership for 2013. Not a member?
No problem! Bring $2 to a chapter meeting or email Jean
Rauschenbach at rauschjc at gmail.com for contact
information.

BIRTHDAY CORNER
 
The following members will celebrate birthdays during the
month of November:
15 Linda Carey
19 Kaitlyn Ryan
25 Jay Miller
28 Kevin Hildebrandt

FUND RAISING
Did you participate in “Birdies for Charity”? If so, be
sure to attend the meeting. Cash prizes will be awarded to
the person who collected the most dollar value of pledges
as well as the person who collected the most pledges.

UPCOMING EVENTS
November 4th – Daylight Savings Time ends. Fall back!
Remember to set your clocks back one hour.

November 6th – Election Day. Don’t forget to vote!

November 9 & 10 – Younker’s Community Day Sale. Use your
booklet to save on items throughout the store!

December 8th – Blackhawk Chapter Christmas Party at Christ
United Methodist Church located at 3801 - 7th Street in
East Moline. Be at the church by 5:30 p.m. Dinner will be
served at 6:00 p.m., and the party will end at
approximately 8:30 p.m. Reservations must be made in
advance – the last day to do so is December 1st.
Reservations may be made at the chapter meeting or by
contacting Lois Montgomery at 762-3414. Once again we will
be holding a “Silent Auction” so donations of homemade
goodies would be greatly appreciated. December 8th is just
around the corner! Please plan to come – guests and family
members are welcome. Come for an evening of fun,
fellowship, and great food.

 
POETRY
The following was written by Patrick Olson, vice-president
of the NFBI Blackhawk Chapter.

MISUNDERSTOOD
by Patrick Olson

Face the fury of haters,
They are the instigators,
Regardless what they say,
Be positive anyway,

So people believe you are unintelligent,
They are unknowing and ignorant,
Show them how you really are,
Being rude will not show your true caliber,

So the world thinks less of you,
No matter what, be you and stay true,
Being depressed or oppressed will make you lose sight,
Find strength and keep your might,

Whatever people say about you,
Reacting in the same manner is beneath you,
You are worthwhile,
So don’t ruin your personality or style,

Regardless how you have been mistreated,
Never decide to be defeated,
Expect more from who you are,
And you will go far,

Let go what other people think,
 
Their opinion shall not put you on the brink.
Do not start insults, violence, or frown,
Stay cool and calm down,

No matter race, class, gender, disability, sexuality,
situation, or neighborhood,
We have all been misunderstood,
It is important to build humanity,
Without it, we will live in a world of insanity.

BOOK REVIEW
“The Walk” is the first book in a series written by
Richard Paul Evans. It is followed by “More Miles” and
“The Road to Grace”.  I found this adventure quite
interesting. Richard Paul Evans is a well-known author of
many bestsellers.

Seattle advertising executive Allen Christoffersen has
everything–until his beloved wife dies, his business
partner steals their clients, and his house is
repossessed. Allen decides to walk across America to Key
West, Florida, in search of new meaning while keeping a
journal and befriending people along the way. – BARD
annotation

RECIPE CORNER
This month’s recipe comes from Jean Rauschenbach. She got
it from a Swedish friend in Chicago.

RICE PUDDING
Preparation Time:  2 hours

Ingredients:
1 quart whole milk
½ cup sugar
 
½ cup white rice
- - - - - 
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
- - - - -
1 teaspoon cinnamon
½ cup raisins

1.	Start by bringing water in the bottom of a double
boiler to a boil.
2.	Add milk, sugar and rice.
3.	Cover and bring these to a boil and lower to a
simmer for 2 hours, stirring occasionally.
4.	After 2 hours, remove from heat and stir in 2
slightly beaten eggs and 2 teaspoons vanilla.

Optional ingredients:
If you don’t like cinnamon and raisins, you can stop here
and enjoy.

Otherwise you might add:
1 scant teaspoon cinnamon
½ cup raisins (more if you really like them)

With or without cinnamon and/or raisins serve warm or
cold.
Yummy!

MEMBERSHIP PROFILE
JEAN RAUSCHENBACH

Jean is relatively new to the chapter but certainly not to
the Federation. She relocated to Moline from Minneapolis
in early August. Jean currently serves as treasurer for
the Blackhawk Chapter.

 
Jean is originally from Connecticut where she was raised
and received her high school education. She has a younger
sister and an older half- brother, both residing on the
East Coast. Jean has always been legally blind. She was
born with congenital cataracts and developed glaucoma in
her 20s. 
 
Upon graduation from high school she attended Manchester
School of Cosmetology. “In those days it was almost
impossible for a legally blind person to get a job in
hairdressing even though I passed the state boards and
received my license.” When this didn’t work, she turned to
the Vending Program at a small shop in the Aetna Building.
This she did for three years before returning to school at
Manchester Community College where she received an
Associate in Early Childhood Education. Again she faced
the fear of hiring a blind person. She worked in day care
centers but “I couldn’t keep up with the kids and I did
not know Braille so I could not read to the kids. This
made me feel very inadequate.”

Many of her friends had and were attending Pinecrest Bible
School in Salisbury Center, New York. So she decided to
follow in their footsteps. “These were some of the most
eye-opening years of my spiritual life.” After attending
the three year program, she taught kindergarten at the
elementary school on campus. That position lasted one
year. “I wasn’t cut out to be a kindergarten teacher. I am
not the typical teacher-type they were looking for.”

She then moved on to a position as a nurse’s aide in a
small nursing home in Avoca, NY. “The work was very
rewarding.”

 
In the late 1980s computers were becoming more prolific
and Jean wanted to be a part of this action. “I tried to
get some computer training, but in those days assistive
technology was prohibitively priced for most people. Her
counselor steered her to Lion’s World in Arkansas where
she received the necessary training to land a job with the
IRS in Chicago. This job lasted thirteen years. “I was
fairly satisfied so of course, it ended through a layoff
of my entire work unit.”

With much time on her hands, Jean felt this was the ideal
time to get blindness training skills. Through BLIND,
Inc., in Minneapolis, Jean was taught the proper use of
the long white cane and Braille. She was taught JAWS and
other assistive technology. She uses a Braille Note,
Victor Stream, and a CCTV.

After nine months of training, Jean enrolled in college to
receive her Bachelor’s degree in Children and Family
Ministries. Having no luck in her job search in
Minneapolis, Jean relocated to Moline. She is in the
hiring process and will soon become a CMS (contract
management specialist) at the Rock Island Arsenal.

Hobbies include reading (audio and Braille), swimming, and
traveling. Photography has always been something for her
to enjoy when she finds interesting subject matter.
Previously she developed her own black and white
photographs but her loss of vision has prevented her from
continuing. “It was a sad day when I had to sell my dark
room equipment.” Jean has photos framed and hanging on the
wall of her apartment that she has taken in other
countries. Check it out! Her photos have placed in
competition. 

 
Travels have taken Jean to Ireland to seek out her roots.
Another trip found her visiting Germany, Austria,
Switzerland, and Liechtenstein.  The goal of this European
trip was to see the Passion play in Oberammergau, Germany
that is performed only once every ten years. She has also
taken several mission trips: one to Jamaica, two to
Africa--one to South Africa, Malawi and Zimbabwe; the
other, a few years later, to Kenya. Ask her about the
mission trips – she has lots of stories and photos. Most
recently she participated in a mission trip to Mexico.

As you can see, Jean has led a rather interesting life.
The Blackhawk Chapter welcomes Jean aboard!