[il-talk] Hawk Talk Newsletter

Fri Nov 2 17:00:22 UTC 2012

Jean, good job!!!!!

Connie 

-----Original Message-----
From: il-talk [mailto:il-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of J
Rauschenbach
Sent: Friday, November 02, 2012 11:57 AM
To: 'NFB of Illinois Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [il-talk] Hawk Talk Newsletter

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!

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