[il-talk] {Spam?} Fwd: ICBV Office Update February 1, 2016
Denise Avant
davant1958 at gmail.com
Wed Feb 17 11:45:57 UTC 2016
Denise R. Avant
President, National Federation Of The Blind Of Illinois
Live the life you want
> Begin forwarded message:
>
> From: Kathy Ungaro <icbv at sbcglobal.net>
> Subject: ICBV Office Update February 1, 2016
> Date: February 16, 2016 at 10:05:51 PM CST
> To: Kathy Ungaro <icbv at sbcglobal.net>
> Reply-To: Kathy Ungaro <icbv at sbcglobal.net>
>
>
> <applewebdata://526C1178-5319-4574-8755-4598866F69C0>ICBV Office Update
> February 16, 2016
>
> <applewebdata://526C1178-5319-4574-8755-4598866F69C0>So, I just noticed that the content links on the attached Word document had been broken and not directing the reader to the related article within update when clicked on. I am not sure how long it has been broken, no one told me. But I fixed them. If you prefer to read the Office Update in Word format with the ability to use links to jump around the update, they are now working and fixed. Please feel free to e-mail me if issues arise, or if you have content you would like to share, and as always if you would like someone added to the Office Update just send me their e-mail address and I will be happy to add them. If you change your e-mail address and wish to continue to receive the Office Update please remember to e-mail me your new e-mail address. Have a great week.
> <applewebdata://526C1178-5319-4574-8755-4598866F69C0>
> *1) Calendar of Events
> *2) HB5807 Service Dog License
> *3) Blind Man Finds Independence in Google Car’s Driver Seat
> *4) Matching Blind Runners and Sighted Guides
> *5) Hadley School for the Blind
> Balancing Act: Fall Pevention for Older adults with Vision Impairments
> Tips on Using Accessibility Features in iOS
> Past Seminars
> *6) RapID Eliminates Need for Passwords on Mobile Devices
> *7) NFB Applauds Transmission of Marrakesh Treaty for Ratification
> *8) NFB and Disability Advocates Charge Federal Health Agency with Civil Rights Violations
> *9) Braille Book Fair 2016- Calling all Braille Readers, Teachers, and Parents
> *10) NFBEI – Call to Action
> *11) Vending Industry Mentioned in Chairman’s Opening Statement in Congress
> *12) Selection, Display and Rotation Can Stimulate Micromarket Sales
> *13) Maryland Lawmaker Introduces ‘Healthy’ Vending Bill
> *14) Distributor News
> Vistar
> CVS
> *15) Broker News
> Burdette Beckman
> Patterson, Inc
> PUSH Beverages
> *16) RSA Buying Group Information
>
> <applewebdata://526C1178-5319-4574-8755-4598866F69C0>**1 Calendar of Events
> Wednesday, February 24, 2016 10:00 a.m.
> From Dan Brander Chicago Vendors Supply - Training at ICRE
> Good Morning All, The date has been set for ICBV training. It will be on Wednesday, 2/24/16 at 10 am. The location will be the training facility on Wood Street at Roosevelt (Illinois Center for rehabilitation Education1151 S. Wood, Chicago IL). Chicago Vendor Supply will train any ICBV members on how to use our Vendchannel website. There will also be an Office Coffee Service (OCS) presentation from White Bear Coffee. It will train members to make their OCS business more profitable.
>
> CVS website training 10:00-11:00
> White Bear OCS. 11:15- 12:15
> Questions / Wrap up 12:15 - 1:00
>
> May 17 -20, 2016
> From the National Association of Blind Merchants -
> Registration is open for the Windy City BLAST. Our training conference will be held May 17-20, 2016, at the Loews Chicago O’Hare Airport Hotel in Rosemont, Illinois. Exciting things are being planned and we hope you will plan on joining us for this premiere training opportunity. Visit www.blindmerchants.org <http://www.blindmerchants.org/> to register now and book your hotel room.
>
> The most exciting thing is we have signed a deal with Disney to do a one-day pre-conference training. The training is entitled “The Disney Approach to Business Excellence” and will be held on Tuesday, May 17th from 8:00 – 4:00. This training is outstanding.
>
> To All Illinois Members and Trainees:
> Disney Training - ICBV will cover $50 of the $100.00 cost to attend for Illinois members and trainees. Your $50.00 deposit is due in the ICBV office by March 1, 2016. The check is to be made payable to ICBV and mailed to 53 West Jackson, Suite 502, Chicago, IL 60604. If a manager would like to bring a guest to the Disney Training, the full $100.00 for the guest is also due in the office by March 1st.
>
> So mark your calendar and (those in Illinois) please contact Letia Gossard at 217-558-2321 by February 11, 2016 to express your interest in attending "Windy City BLAST" as well as the Disney Training. It is imperative that we get a head count as soon as possible.
>
> Also please note that anyone bringing a guest to BLAST in order for your guest to attend general sessions and planned meals they will also have to be registered for BLAST at NABM at www.blindmerchants.org <http://www.blindmerchants.org/>
>
> <applewebdata://526C1178-5319-4574-8755-4598866F69C0>**2 Shared by Cullen & Associates, Tom Cullen
> Bill Status of HB5807 99th General Assembly
> Short Description: SERVICE DOG LICENSE
> House Sponsors Rep. Natalie A. Manley
> Last Action 2/11/2016 House Filed with the Clerk by Rep. Natalie A. Manley
> Statutes Amended In Order of Appearance
> 20 ILCS 2105/2105-15
> http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/fulltext.asp?DocName=002021050K2105-15 <http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/fulltext.asp?DocName=002021050K2105-15>
> Synopsis As Introduced
> Amends the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Requires the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation to establish a service dog license program under which a dog acting as a service dog shall be licensed. Requires the Department to establish rules, and provides requirements for those rules. Effective immediately.
>
> <applewebdata://526C1178-5319-4574-8755-4598866F69C0>**3 Shared by ABC news
> Blind Man Finds Independence in Google Car's Driver Seat
> By Alyssa Newcomb Feb 11, 2016, 12:51 PM ET
> The ride Steve Mahan took in one of Google's self-driving cars is one he will never forget.
>
> Mahan, who is blind, had the chance to sit in the driver's seat when he and a licensed driver took a ride in one of the vehicles nearly four years ago, but his dream of being able to have more mobility is one step closer to becoming a reality after a federal ruling re-defined what can be classified as a driver.
>
> U.S. officials will now allow the artificial intelligence system responsible for piloting self-driving cars to be considered the driver, according to a letter dated from last week from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
>
> Google: What It Learned From 1.7 Million Miles on the Road
> Google's fleet of self-driving cars have traveled more than 1.7 million miles, collecting data about performance and sharing the road with manual drivers.
>
> Along the way, they've also racked up a few dings -- but by no fault of their own, according to the company.
>
> With more than 20 cars in its fleet constantly being tested with safety drivers in the front seat, Google said the cars have been involved in 11 minor accidents resulting in light damage and no injuries.
>
> "Not once was the self-driving car the cause of the accident," Chris Urmson, lead of Google's driverless car project, wrote in a Medium post today.
>
> The self-driving cars are driven a total of 10,000 miles per week, mostly on city streets.
>
> While software and sensors can help the cars take action faster than a human driver, Urmson wrote that "sometimes we won’t be able to overcome the realities of speed and distance; sometimes we’ll get hit just waiting for a light to change."
>
> With 360-degrees of awareness, the self-driving cars are gaining new insights into dangerous driving behaviors, including drifting lanes and red light running -- both of which can contribute to accidents.
>
> "We'll continue to drive thousands of miles so we can all better understand the all too common incidents that cause many of us to dislike day to day driving," Urmson wrote. "And we'll continue to work hard on developing a self-driving car that can shoulder this burden for us."
>
> No Driver, No Problem: How Google's Self-Driving Car Transforms Travel
> No driver, no brakes, no problem?
> Not so fast.
> Google's fully autonomous self-driving car could be sharing the road with human drivers in California within the next couple of years, according to a post on the company's blog.
>
> However, California's Department of Motor Vehicles must first write the rules of the road for driverless cars.
>
> "Because of what is potentially out there soon, we need to make sure that the regulations are in place that would keep the public safe but would not impede progress," Bernard Soriano, a spokesman for the DMV, told the Associated Press.
>
> While Google has been experimenting with self-driving cars for years, this vehicle is the first prototype they've unveiled that has been built from scratch -- and everything about is redefining what makes a car, a car.
>
> Travel
> Out with the old: steering wheels, brakes and gas pedals. Google's self-driving car will instead include buttons for stopping and going and a screen that shows the route. Speed for the first prototype is also capped at 25 mph, meaning travelers are going to have to have a little patience.
>
> Design
> The two-seater car includes couch-like seating, and an exterior that looks a lot like a cartoon talking car. Google said it won't be sold publicly, but hopes to have 100 prototypes on public roads in the next year.
>
> Chris Urmson, director of Google's self-driving car project, said in a blog post that the prototype has been designed for "learning, not luxury."
>
> Safety
> When man and machine take the road, side by side, the cars could potentially make the road even safer. The prototype boasts sensors that remove blind spots and are capable of detecting objects more than two football fields away in all directions. And like any other car, the prototype comes equipped with seat belts.
>
> "It was really cool. It was really like a space-age experience!" one woman said in a video posted on Google's blog.
>
> Another woman and her husband said they were impressed by how the car knew to slow down when taking curves.
>
> Who the Car Could Help
> Google emphasized its commitment to partnering with other firms when the prototype was unveiled, and it was unclear when, or if ever, they could hit the mass market or how much they would cost. However, the company points out that having a self-driving car could remove the burden of travel for many.
>
> No need to look for parking at a crowded shopping mall. Instead, users could let their self-driving cars drop them off to run a quick errand. A mother who took a test ride said in the a video that having the car would allow her more time to catch up with her son.
>
> The cars could also allow seniors who might not otherwise be able to drive the chance to enjoy mobility. And drunk driving? Not a problem when your car will drive itself.
>
> Blind Man Tests Google's Self-Driving Car
> http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/video/blind-man-tests-googles-driving-car-16033479 <http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/video/blind-man-tests-googles-driving-car-16033479>
>
> The Feb. 4 response from NHTSA gives Google and all other manufacturers approval to design and operate under the interpretation that their artificial intelligence systems qualify as the driver under federal law.
>
> It's something that could radically change everyday life for Mahan, who lives two miles from the nearest bus stop and relies on the VTA Paratransit Service when his family members are at work.
>
> "It's like riding with a fabulous driver," Mahan told ABC News owned station KGO-TV about his ride. "Anybody who spends five minutes out in that traffic will realize that the danger [is] the humans. Personally I can't wait for the robots to start driving."
>
> ABC News' Jeffrey Cook contributed to this report.
>
> <applewebdata://526C1178-5319-4574-8755-4598866F69C0>**4 This Week on Eyes on Success
> 1607 Matching Blind Runners and Sighted Guides (Feb. 10, 2016)
> If you enjoy running outdoors but your vision loss makes it unsafe to do so alone, now there's an easy way you can find somebody to guide you. Hosts
> Nancy and Peter Torpey speak with Kyle Robidoux from United In Stride which maintains an on-line database of blind or visually impaired runners and volunteer sighted guides all over North America.
>
> The audio and show notes for this episode can be found at:
> www.EyesOnSuccess.net <http://www.eyesonsuccess.net/>
>
> <applewebdata://526C1178-5319-4574-8755-4598866F69C0>**5 Hadley School for the Blind
> Seminars at Hadley Presents: Balancing Act: Fall Prevention for Older Adults with Vision Impairments
> Date: Thursday, February 18, 2016
> Time: 2:00 PM CST, 14:00 GMT
> Fall prevention is a critical concern for older adults, their families and caregivers. When vision loss occurs, falling risks often increase unless individuals adopt specific strategies to maintain safety and independence.
>
> Join Low Vision Focus @ Hadley as Anne Cowles, MPH, describes “Balancing Act,” an initiative devised to be a tool for fall prevention. Ms. Cowles is the fitness director with the New England College of Osteopathic Medicine’s U-ExCEL (Exercise & Conditioning for Easier Living) program, and has worked to develop comprehensive fall prevention training that is not only directed at the general population, but is designed to be accessible to those with low vision.
>
> Ed Haines, Instructor and member of the Seminars at Hadley team, will moderate this 60 minute seminar. A question and answer session will be included as part of the seminar.
>
> This seminar is an audio-only seminar. Space in this seminar is limited. Please only register if you are available to attend so that others are not closed out. Register Now for <http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=16457095&msgid=802269&act=3JPY&c=225701&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fhadley.edu%2FSeminarDetails.asp%3Fsid%3D303>Fall Prevention on February 18. <http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=16457095&msgid=802269&act=3JPY&c=225701&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fhadley.edu%2FSeminarDetails.asp%3Fsid%3D305>
>
> <applewebdata://526C1178-5319-4574-8755-4598866F69C0>Seminars at Hadley Presents: iFocus 13: Tips on Using the Acceessiblity Features in iOS
> Date: Wednesday, February 24, 2016
> Time: 11:00 AM CST, 11:00 GMT
> Attention all iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch owners! Seminars at Hadley is presenting the thirteenth in its quarterly series of seminars designed for you. Whether you are a beginner or an advanced user, you will not want to miss this latest installment.
>
> Join Seminars at Hadley as Hadley’s Access Technology Instruction Specialist and iDevice trainer Douglas Walker explores “Tips for Using the Vision Accessibility Features in iOS.”
>
> This seminar will cover the following topics:
> The new selecting, copying and pasting text feature
> Navigating the notification center
> Searching in settings
> Using the stopwatch
>
> Larry Muffett, a member of Hadley’s Seminars Team, will moderate this 60-minute seminar. A question and answer session will be included as part of the seminar.
>
> This seminar is an audio-only seminar. Space in this seminar is limited. Please only register if you are available to attend so that others are not closed out. Register Now for <http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=16457095&msgid=802269&act=3JPY&c=225701&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fhadley.edu%2FSeminarDetails.asp%3Fsid%3D303>i <http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=16457095&msgid=802269&act=3JPY&c=225701&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fhadley.edu%2FSeminarDetails.asp%3Fsid%3D305>Focus 13 on February 24. <http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=16457095&msgid=802269&act=3JPY&c=225701&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fhadley.edu%2FSeminarDetails.asp%3Fsid%3D308>
>
> <applewebdata://526C1178-5319-4574-8755-4598866F69C0>Spend Your Long Weekend Catching Up on Seminars at Hadley!
> It's President's Day weekend - a perfect excuse to catch up on any recent Seminars at Hadley you may have missed. Catch up on the new LVF seminars or learn about Make-Ahead Dishes! Listen to all past seminars here: http://hadley.edu/PastSeminars.asp <http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=16457095&msgid=802269&act=3JPY&c=225701&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fhadley.edu%2FPastSeminars.asp>
>
> Learn more and subscribe to Seminars at Hadley Podcasts. <http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=16457095&msgid=802269&act=3JPY&c=225701&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fhadley.edu%2FPodcasts.asp>
>
> Did you receive this email as a forward? Sign up to receive eConnect <http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=16457095&msgid=802269&act=3JPY&c=225701&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fhadley.edu%2FeNewsletter.asp>.
>
> <applewebdata://526C1178-5319-4574-8755-4598866F69C0>**6 Shared by Vending Times via Joe Urbanek, SC
> Issue Date: Vol. 56, No. 3, March 2016, Posted On: 2/9/2016
> RapID Eliminates Need For Passwords On Mobile Devices
> Emily Jed
> RESTON, VA -- A new security solution from the Intercede Group delivers password- and token-free access to cloud services from mobile applications. Intercede said its RapID solution incorporates PKI-based authentication and encryption to provide "military-grade" security for business and consumer applications. It is designed to establish trusted relationships between end users and service providers using applications that involve sensitive data like transactions.
>
> "RapID kills the need for passwords, the authentication method responsible for more than half of all security breaches," said Intercede chief executive Richard Parris. "It incorporates standards-based strong encryption and it makes application services easier to access. That combination is a compelling proposition to build the trusted relationships between users and service providers that are essential in a digital economy."
>
> RapID is a cloud-based solution that can be easily integrated within new or existing mobile applications. Once incorporated, the user is guided through an initial identification and verification by the service provider and a unique digital credential is issued to the smartphone in question.
>
> After that initial enrollment, users simply access the application by PIN or fingerprint scan. No other user can access the relevant application account without being in possession of both the correct device and the relevant PIN or fingerprint.
>
> RapID is available for iOS and Android based phones and tablets and can be scaled to service millions of devices.
> - See more at: http://vendingtimes.com/ME2/dirmod.asp?sid=737C17AB0E09499F90660557C93983AD&nm=Articles&type=Publishing&mod=Publications%3A%3AArticle&mid=8F3A7027421841978F18BE895F87F791&tier=4&id=A048E9262BD44368BC75DB627ED129ED#sthash.j1HhWhxE.dpuf <http://vendingtimes.com/ME2/dirmod.asp?sid=737C17AB0E09499F90660557C93983AD&nm=Articles&type=Publishing&mod=Publications%3A%3AArticle&mid=8F3A7027421841978F18BE895F87F791&tier=4&id=A048E9262BD44368BC75DB627ED129ED#sthash.j1HhWhxE.dpuf>
>
> <applewebdata://526C1178-5319-4574-8755-4598866F69C0>**7 From Kristian Kuhnke via nfbnet
> FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
> CONTACT:
> Chris Danielsen
> Director of Public Relations
> National Federation of the Blind
> (410) 659-9314, extension 2330
> (410) 262-1281 (Cell)
> cdanielsen at nfb.org <mailto:cdanielsen at nfb.org>
>
> National Federation of the Blind Applauds Transmission of Marrakesh Treaty for Ratification
>
> Urges Senate to Ratify Treaty to End Book Famine Immediately
>
> Baltimore, Maryland (February 10, 2016): The National Federation of the Blind today applauded President Obama's transmission of the Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons Who Are Blind, Visually Impaired or Otherwise Print Disabled to the United States Senate for ratification, and urged the Senate to act immediately to ratify the treaty.
>
> Mark A. Riccobono, President of the National Federation of the Blind, said: "This crucial treaty will substantially ease the book famine that currently limits education and opportunity for the blind of this nation and the world. When it is fully in effect, it will give blind Americans the ability to access books in Braille, audio, and other alternative formats from across the globe, as well as provide more books to the blind of all nations. We strongly urge the United States Senate to ratify it without delay."
>
> The Marrakesh Treaty was officially proposed in 2009, successfully adopted in June 2013 by the World Intellectual Property Organization, and signed by the United States in October 2013. For more information on the treaty, please visit https://nfb.org/marrakeshfactsheet <https://nfb.org/marrakeshfactsheet> .
>
> About the National Federation of the Blind
> The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life you want; blindness is not what holds you back.
>
> <applewebdata://526C1178-5319-4574-8755-4598866F69C0>**8 From Kristian Kuhnke via nfbnet
> FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
> Press Contacts:
> Chris Danielsen
> Director of Public Relations
> National Federation of the Blind
> (410) 659-9314, extension 2330
> (410) 262-1281 (Cell)
> cdanielsen at nfb.org <mailto:cdanielsen at nfb.org>
>
> Silvia Yee
> Senior Staff Attorney
> Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund
> (510) 644-2555
> syee at dredf.org <mailto:syee at dredf.org>
>
> National Federation of the Blind and Disability Advocates Charge Federal Health Agency with Civil Rights Violations
>
> After forty years of the federal Rehabilitation Act and a new world of technology, blind people still forced to rely on others to read inaccessible materials
>
> Springfield, Massachusetts (February 10, 2016): The National Federation of the Blind (NFB) and individual plaintiffs Juan Figueroa, Derek Manners, and Martti Mallinen announced the filing of a major federal lawsuit today in US District Court, District of Massachusetts, Western Division. The lawsuit charges the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) through its sub-agency, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), and its CMS sub-contractors, with systemically violating the civil rights of blind Medicare recipients.
>
> The action seeks to require HHS to provide blind individuals meaningful and equally effective access to their Medicare information, as required by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. § 794 (Section 504). CMS, a sub-agency of HHS, is the largest single payer for health care in the United States, providing health care coverage to nearly ninety million Americans through Medicare, Medicaid, and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program.
>
> CMS regularly communicates information to blind persons via inaccessible print and electronic formats which they cannot read. Mr. Figueroa, Mr. Manners, Mr. Mallinen, and many other NFB members have thus faced or been at risk for loss of benefits and healthcare disruption. For example, Mr. Mallinen has received information about denial of benefits and his right to appeal said denial that he could not read, potentially adversely affecting his appeal rights.
>
> Mark A. Riccobono, President of the National Federation of the Blind, said: "We are outraged that blind people do not have access to their personal Medicare and Medicaid information forty years after the passage of the Rehabilitation act and almost a year after CMS promised to implement a plan for equal access. Today blind people readily access information in more ways than ever before but even large print access, the simplest possible solution for those with sufficient residual vision, is not made available. This continued disregard for the privacy and civil rights of the blind is inexcusable, and blind Americans will not tolerate it."
>
> At a time when smart technology is presumed to be improving the lives of people with a variety of disabilities, blind Americans who rely on healthcare services provided through Medicare and Medicare contractors are forced to divulge personal and financial data to a sighted third-party when responding to CMS. Electronic and online materials may not be any more accessible than printed ones. As a result, blind Medicare beneficiaries are often unnecessarily prevented from independently reading, filling out, signing and submitting online forms.
>
> Appropriate auxiliary aids and services for blind individuals may include providing documents in alternative formats such as Braille, large print, audio CD, and digital navigable formats supported by computers and digital talking-book players, transmitted through data CD, e-mail, or other requested media.
>
> The filing follows an investigation launched by Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund (DREDF) to establish that there were widespread incidences of communication access barriers in CMS systems. In August 2014, in response to complaints filed with the HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR) in 2011 and 2012 under Section 504, CMS entered into an agreement with OCR. The complaints were filed on behalf of blind Medicare beneficiaries, and those similarly situated, who were not provided with notice of their rights or with effective communication under Section 504. The agreement signed by CMS and OCR, entitled the “Commitment to Action to Resolve DREDF Section 504 Complaints” (Commitment to Action), established a timeframe within which CMS would take specified actions to ensure the agency’s compliance with Section 504 in the areas raised in OCR’s investigation of the complaints, found at http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/civilrights/activities/agreements/cms.html <http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/civilrights/activities/agreements/cms.html> .
>
> DREDF Senior Attorney, Silvia Yee, said, “CMS was required to complete a ‘Long-Term Action Plan’ by April 2015 that would ensure effective cross-disability communication access, as well as the timely provision of auxiliary aids and services to CMS beneficiaries and consumers. To date, we have not seen a Plan. People with disabilities have not been notified of any such plan. As a public entity that deals every day with people with disabilities and older Americans, CMS should lead the way to ensure compliance with disability civil rights laws, not lag behind by four decades."
>
> Plaintiffs are represented by DREDF; Brown, Goldstein & Levy; and Sugarman, Rogers, Barshak & Cohen (SRBC).
>
> The National Federation of the Blind
> The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life you want; blindness is not what holds you back. https://nfb.org
>
> Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund
> Founded in 1979 by people with disabilities and parents of children with disabilities, the Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund (DREDF) is a national law and policy center based in Berkeley, CA and is dedicated to protecting and advancing the civil rights of people with disabilities. www.dredf.org <http://www.dredf.org/> .
>
> <applewebdata://526C1178-5319-4574-8755-4598866F69C0>**9 Shared by David Andrews via nfbnet
> Braille Book Fair 2016 - Calling all Braille readers, teachers, and parents!
> It’s that time again: Time to sort through all those boxes of Braille books and donate those gently used but no longer needed Braille books to the 2016 Braille Book Fair sponsored by the National Organization of Parents of Blind Children.
>
> Our primary goal is to get more Braille books into the hands of children, youth, and beginning adult readers, so here’s what we need most:
>
> PRINT/BRAILLE STORY BOOKS (AKA TWIN VISION)
> BOOKS IN GOOD CONDITION
> LEISURE READING (FICTION OR NONFICTION) BOOKS
> COOKBOOKS AND POETRY
>
> Children are so hungry for their very own books that every year, despite generous donations of books, most of our books for young children are gone in less than an hour. So, begin your search through the boxes in your basement and spare room and get those books shipped to:
>
> 2016 Braille Book Fair
> National Federation of the Blind
> 200 East Wells Street at Jernigan Place
> Baltimore, MD 21230
>
> Please note that you are shipping the books FREE MATTER FOR THE BLIND; you do not need to pay shipping cost for braille items. Hand write, stamp or affix a label to the upper right hand corner of the box stating: FREE MATTER FOR THE BLIND.
>
> Take your package(s) to your local Post Office. There is no shipping fee for Free Matter for the Blind when mailed through the Post Office.
>
> From: Krystal Guillory kguillory at louisianacenter.org <mailto:kguillory at louisianacenter.org>
> David Andrews and long white cane Harry.
> E-Mail: dandrews at visi.com or david.andrews at nfbnet.org <mailto:david.andrews at nfbnet.org>
>
> <applewebdata://526C1178-5319-4574-8755-4598866F69C0>**10 From Terry Smith, NFBEI
> Please see letter from NABM President Nicky Gacos below. Our annual report is attached in case you missed it.
>
> Dear Blind Entrepreneur:
> As an active blind entrepreneur, I am confident that you are aware of the contributions to the Randolph-Sheppard community by the NFB Blind Entrepreneurs Initiative. If not, I’d encourage you to review the NFBEI Annual Report which is attached (It was in last week’s Office Update). After reading it, I’m confident that you will be impressed by all that we were able to accomplish in 2015. After only four years, we have been successful beyond anyone’s imagination.
>
> What we accomplished last year is a source of pride but more important is what we need to do in 2016. Troop dining opportunities are being threatened by regulations being drafted by the Department of Defense and the Army’s possible effort to consolidate 11 Randolph-Sheppard contracts into one national contract. The actions of the General Services Administration threaten current and future opportunities in federal buildings. The Veteran’s Administration continues to blatantly violate the law. State Little Randolph-Sheppard Acts are vulnerable. And there will certainly be more challenges in 2016.
>
> But we need your help. The state agencies, through our subscription service, help offset our costs for providing training and technical assistance but we rely on the generosity of our blind entrepreneurs and other stakeholders to fund our advocacy efforts. We hope you will help us promote and protect the program that has been so good to you and other blind people. If you believe in the work we are collectively doing with the NFBEI, then please donate to our cause. You can do so by sending a check made out to the National Association of Blind Merchants and note in the memo portion of the check that it is for the NFBEI. Send your check to:
>
> National Association of Blind Merchants
> 7450 Chapman Highway, Box 319
> Knoxville, TN 37920
>
> Once we receive your donation, we will immediately send you a letter verifying the tax-deductible donation for your records. Your support is truly appreciated no matter how large or how small.
>
> If you have questions or want to learn more about the NFBEI, you can visit our website at www.blindmerchants.org <http://www.blindmerchants.org/> and click on the NFBI icon or feel free to call Terry Smith at 865-599-7148 or email him at terrysmith at epbfi.com <mailto:terrysmith at epbfi.com> you may also feel free to call me.
>
> Thank you for your support!
> Nicky Gacos, President
> National Association of Blind Merchants
> Email: nickycolorado at netscape.net <mailto:nickycolorado at netscape.net>
> Tel: 201-653-1777
>
> <applewebdata://526C1178-5319-4574-8755-4598866F69C0>**11 Shared by Nicky Gacos, NABM President
> Government Affairs Committee Member,
> I’m very excited to learn that the DOE’s regulatory proposal on the vending machine energy conservation standard, that we were able to fight back with the assistance of the industry, was mentioned in the Chairman’s opening statement today at a Congressional hearing on the Executive Branch’s regulatory overreach. Science Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (TX) listed vending machines as one of the DOE’s areas of overreach and costly regulations. It is truly incredible to have the industry mentioned by the Chairman of a Congressional Committee in an opening statement. The link to the Chairman’s opening statement is: https://science.house.gov/legislation/hearings/full-committee-hearing-midnight-regulations-examining-executive-branch <https://science.house.gov/legislation/hearings/full-committee-hearing-midnight-regulations-examining-executive-branch> . You will find the mention of vending machines at about 10:40. This is another example of your good work through events like the fly-in that is getting NAMA and the industry recognized at the highest levels in Washington, DC. The increased presence of industry leaders, NAMA members and our advocacy efforts in Washington, DC are being noticed and that protects our business owners, their customers and the entire refreshment services channel.
>
> These type of recognitions are a direct result of NAMA member participation in advocacy efforts and the annual fly-in. You are making it happen! I can’t tell you how much our team appreciates your support and how gratifying it is when it is recognized.
>
> Thanks,
> Eric
>
> W. Eric Dell, Esquire
> Senior Vice President, Government Affairs
> NAMA
> 1600 Wilson Blvd., Suite 650
> Arlington, VA 22209
>
> <applewebdata://526C1178-5319-4574-8755-4598866F69C0>**12 From Vending Times
> Selection, Display And Rotation Can Stimulate Micromarket Sales: Part 2, Product by Tim Sanford and Emily Jed -
> MYRTLE BEACH, SC -- The fast-growing micromarket business was the subject of a special three-hour forum at the 61st presentation of the Atlantic Coast Exposition. Held on the afternoon before the formal opening of the 2015 convention, the add-on educational program was moderated by Scott Halloran, Trolley House Refreshment Services (Richmond, VA). Panelists were Randy Peak, Canteen (Winston-Salem, NC); James Bourne, Trolley House; Erich Markee, A+B Vending (Middleton, NH); and Ben White, Vending Insights (Sykesville, MD). White is a veteran of Monumental Vending (Baltimore, MD) and was instrumental in implementing its launch as an operation based on the latest information technology. Halloran, an early adopter of micromarkets who reported that Trolley House had 55 of them in the field at the time of the session, led off by reporting that operators spearheading the adoption of the popular self-service retail stores have identified "four Ps" that, if addressed from the outset, will minimize friction and wasted effort, while maximizing the chances for early and consistent success. They are People, Product, Process and (of course) Profit. Leading the discussion of the first P, People, was Canteen's Peak. He pointed out that it is difficult to implement a novel business model with a staff that is thoroughly accustomed to the present one. "Vending guys will make vending decisions," he warned. "We found that out with coffee service." The solution, he said, is to assemble a new staff that can be trained from the start in the skills required to merchandise a micromarket installation (see VT, December 2015). The process starts with retaining a "market manager," someone with a background in merchandising a wide variety of products that are not protected by being displayed behind glass. It extends to new route drivers who have not learned vending habits, and may include warehouse personnel. "How do I find all these people with all those skill sets?" an audience member asked. "You start by wearing a lot of hats," Peak replied. "And you implement a lot of internal change," Halloran added. "There's a new technology component to micromarkets; you have to pre-kit your route orders, whether or not you're doing that in your vending business."
>
> Bourne, who led the discussion of Products (the second P) noted that he brought a background in direct store distribution of packaged goods to his new post at Trolley House. "You'll need lots of different new products for micromarkets," he emphasized. "You need your distributors to understand that." Thus, supplier management is an essential component of successful micromarket operations. Consumer demand for "healthier" alternative snacks is increasing, Bourne observed; these range from baked and low-carbohydrate selections through gluten-free and organic to all-natural. In response, distributors have been working to bring these "specialty" items into the vending channel -- which includes micromarkets -- but certain products may be available through an operator's present supplier only in particular regions. Operators can do their homework to compile market information that can persuade a distributor to stock desirable new items, he added. Consumer snacking remains a prevalent behavior, and it continues to evolve. Brands matter, just as they do in vending. Published market analyses show that snacking has increased across all dayparts from 2010 at least through 2013. It does not seem to be slowing down, but it is changing; 62% of consumers at present say they want lower-fat snacks, compared with 32% in 2011. And 61% consider their brand of choice to be an important attribute of a snack; 73% of consumers look for a favorite brand when choosing a snack. Salty Snacks Surge Among snack categories, salty is the driver of growth in convenience stores. Studies by IRI for calendar years 2011 through 2014 showed that, while candy represented 33% of sales, the candy category grew at a 20% rate. Salty snacks, at 32% of sales, saw an increase of 26%. Pastry, at 16% of total c-store sales, grew at a 12% rate; meat snacks, at 13%, exhibited growth of 9%; and nuts and seeds, at 9% of the total, grew at a 6% rate. Bourne emphasized that precise inventory control is essential to micromarket operations. Each market should be inventoried at least monthly, and drivers should carry tablet computers with scanners for best speed and accuracy. Each inventory visit should be followed by preparation of a "no scan items" report, which helps to identify slow-moving items -- 15% of market inventory. "Watch this," he warned. "Don't let your markets get sparse; they can't look unattended." Survey data can help persuade a distributor to add items for which demand is demonstrably increasing. Planograms are as essential in micromarkets as they are in vending, and require close attention to location sales and consumer trends. There is no one right approach to planogramming, Bourne said, and present software tools are limited. The object of planogramming is to apportion space to a product category on the basis of its sales volume. The place to start, Bourne explained, is to determine what products the operator wants to carry, using market data; vending sales are a good starting-point. "Be sure to carry strong local and regional brands, as well as the national best-sellers," he added. In the Carolinas, for example, the beverage menu should include Cheerwine. "Consumers will search for these items," he pointed out. The placement of products in display cases also is important, Bourne said. "You should place your top sellers on the bottom shelves," he instanced, evoking memories of the product-placement discussions caused by the advent of glassfront snack machines four decades ago. "Place impulse, discontinued and high gross-profit items on the top shelves; and put new items at eye level, ideally in the 'first' position -- closest to the door handle -- because that's where the customer looks first." Planograms should be refreshed quarterly, or semiannually at the least. "Our goal when we do this is to eliminate 10 to 15 items, and introduce 10 to 15 new ones," Bourne pointed out. It also is important to make use of promotions to boost sales and invite market patronage.
>
> Larger markets in particular will require the operation to have more stock-keeping units in inventory, the speaker said. These will include fresh food and refrigerated and frozen snacks, stocked in reach-in coolers and freezers, as well as larger "sharing" sizes. This need must be met by increasing the size of walk-in coolers, making better use of warehouse space through added racks, and implementing or expanding a route-order "prekitting" system. It can be greatly expedited by speeding and simplifying the order-picking process with LightSpeed's warehouse automation technology, adding refrigerated vehicles and making sure that the warehouse manager understands the new requirements. The question of using customer surveys to help in category planning, planogramming and discussing new product opportunities with distributors led an audience member to ask, "How do you go about conducting a survey?" Bourne replied the process can be as simple as maintaining a "comments box" or as sophisticated as an online program using an interactive tool like Survey Monkey (surveymonkey.com). "If you do surveys, try giving people an incentive for participating," another audience member suggested. The speaker agreed, suggesting the micromarket operator reward participants with a sandwich. Bourne emphasized that a good fresh-food program can be essential in realizing the full earnings potential of a micromarket. "Fresh food represents 30% of overall sales," he reported. "It draws consumers in and increases the value of the average purchase." For best results (as with fresh-food vending), it's important to rotate menu options, slot in seasonal and holiday-themed selections and feature regional favorites, when possible. Operators unfamiliar with commissary operations should start off on the right foot by making sure everyone involved in food preparation and transport is certified under the National Restaurant Association's ServSafe food safety training program for food handlers (servsafe.com). This brought up the traditional vending question of whether it is possible to make money selling fresh food; and, if it isn't, whether the food component can be provided at cost, more or less, while getting the operator into locations that generate profitable snack and beverage sales. In reply to these questions, centered on food waste, Bourne said that fresh food has a short shelf-life -- and, as in vending, this reality must be dealt with by rigorous management and attention to detail. An advantage micromarket operators have is that targeted price changes can be made in real time. "Anything that sells for $3 or more and has a 'sell-by' date of today can be discounted to $1.99, for example. If people wait for that discount before they buy, that's fine with us. You could offer 10% off all sandwich sales on Friday," Bourne instanced. Stocking the food cooler to optimize sales also can improve matters, he added. A workable display plan might arrange fresh, premium and "better-for-you" items on the top shelf. Visible at a distance, these attract customers to come and take a closer look. Suitable selections include salads with a protein component, hummus, premium yogurts and parfaits. Shelves in the middle of the cooler, at eye level, should be stocked with higher-price, higher-margin items, Bourne continued. These may include breakfast items (a category with growth potential), with five or six selections on a shelf. He has found that breakfast sandwiches sell best; sausage-and-biscuit is the top seller. The middle of the display also can include heat-and-eat lunch sandwiches in "fresh appeal" packaging: hamburgers -- a cheeseburger at the minimum; bacon cheeseburgers also sell well; and a breaded chicken sandwich. These premium heat-and-eat sandwiches warrant one or two shelves, in typical locations. They should be complemented by cold deli, upscale and "healthier" (but generously sized) sandwiches, which also have eye-appeal. The basics are turkey and cheese, ham and cheese, Italian meat combinations, and flatbread or wrap sandwiches. This arrangement leaves the lower shelves available for lower-value and commodity items, as well as snacks; one or two shelves can be devoted to these. Examples of suitable products are cheese sticks, hard-boiled eggs, cheese-and-cracker combos, milk, premade fruit cups and vegetables. A freezer case can be stocked along similar lines. The top shelf might display "trending" foods and ethnic favorites such as premium Asian selections, wraps and specialty items. Again, these are visible at a distance and will attract patrons' attention. Some judgement is required in finding trendy items that are, nonetheless, mainstream; and it's important to keep reheating times in mind when choosing products for this position. The eye-level middle shelves receive premium protein items, specialty appetizers and finger foods; pizzas (pepperoni has proven a top seller for Trolley House); paninis and entrees. Mainstream favorites like pasta dishes, chicken and rice, lasagna and similar staples should be chosen. Dessert items with higher price-points also do well on the middle shelves of a reach-in freezer, Bourne added. He noted that it's best to offer desserts that don't closely resemble mass-market frozen items available in supermarkets, to avoid comparison shopping. This leaves the lower shelves, which Bourne said can represent 40% or more of the freezer, for ice cream novelties: "drumsticks," ice cream sandwiches, Snickers and Twix bars and other ice cream bars. He recommends displaying these in baskets to maintain a neat assortment and minimize damage; six to nine baskets can work well. Destination Grouping Considering product variety overall, Bourne said, the operator should design a micromarket installation with "destination zones" in mind. Thus, a "breakfast zone" might position the coffee brewer in proximity to a display containing pastry, and an "impulse zone" near the checkout kiosk can feature gum and mint selections. He reported that Trolley House presently is experimenting with "vertical planograms" to make these destination zones easier to implement. In essence, a vertical planogram arranges items in a category within its own vertical shelf array, rather than spreading them out horizontally on as much linear shelf-space as required by their popularity. The vertical groupings may be easier for patrons to navigate. For purposes of positioning and promotion, it can be useful to remember that the "dayparts" of a typical micromarket operation are breakfast, a morning snack (9 a.m. to 11 a.m.), lunch, an afternoon snack (2 p.m. to 4 p.m.) and dinner/ride home. "Do you run a commissary?" a seminar participant asked. "Yes," Halloran replied. "We have a commissary because of our micromarkets." In his experience, the food waste in micromarkets runs from a low of 3% to a high of 9%. "We try to control it," he said. "This is the hardest thing to do." "I'm losing on fresh food," an audience member said. "But I think that, without a commissary, you can hope to break even -- even make a buck, but not lose -- while you get the drink and snack sales." Halloran noted that food obtained from an outside supplier has a margin averaging 35%; commissary food has a 55% margin. Still, it's possible to lose money on it. Bourne added that using allocation sheets to keep track of daily returns can help in keeping waste to a minimum. "Remember that, with perishable product, a fast nickel is better than a slow dime," he said. "Do you get people who ask for smaller portion sizes?" another participant inquired. "Local delis don't think that way; to them, bigger is better." Bourne agreed, and said that working diligently to find satisfactory suppliers is about the only remedy. Halloran added that, in his view, "The micromarket business is a single-serving industry like vending. I don't want extra-large bags; if you're in an office, what do you want to eat? You're not at home in front of the TV set, where no one is watching! Think 'single serving'; people don't stash a large package in their desks and eat it all day long." "And look at the location demographic," Bourne recommended. "Males tend to want large sandwiches; women often want smaller ones. We have 17 items on our menu, and we try to provide something for everyone." "What percentage of your products come back as stales?" an audience member asked. "Nearly all our stales are fresh food," Bourne replied. "And that's the way it should be. You shouldn't have snacks or beverages going stale." The consensus appears to be that between 30% and 35% of fresh food will come back. An operator in the audience suggested that having a conversation with the account can be very valuable: "You say you want wider variety, and we're happy to provide it; but look at this spreadsheet. Are you willing to help us by offsetting the expense of food waste?" Bourne concluded by pointing out that the snacks, food and beverages sold by convenience stores address an audience not dissimilar to the one that patronizes micromarkets. Both rely very largely on preportioned single-serving products (as does vending), and he suggested that a solid starting-point for thinking about the expanded variety of items needed to keep a micromarket interesting to patrons is to study the data on c-store performance and sales trends published by market research organizations. With the issues of appropriate staffing, product selection and menu development understood, the operator's next step is to design and implement the processes required for smooth functioning and close management oversight. Process thus is the third P, and will be the focus of our next exciting episode!
>
> SEE ALSO: Early Adopters Share Wisdom On Four Ps Of Micromarkets: Part 1, People – http://www.vendingtimes.com/ME2/dirmod.asp?sid=&nm=Vending+Features&type=Publishing&mod=Publications%3A%3AArticle&mid=8F3A7027421841978F18BE895F87F791&tier=4&id=B2482BC89704465E9F55DF9D7D81E9CF <http://www.vendingtimes.com/ME2/dirmod.asp?sid=&nm=Vending+Features&type=Publishing&mod=Publications%3A%3AArticle&mid=8F3A7027421841978F18BE895F87F791&tier=4&id=B2482BC89704465E9F55DF9D7D81E9CF>
>
> See more at: http://vendingtimes.com/ME2/dirmod.asp?sid=737C17AB0E09499F90660557C93983AD&nm=Articles&type=Publishing&mod=Publications%3A%3AArticle&mid=8F3A7027421841978F18BE895F87F791&tier=4&id=6327A733F4DF4E99855216F3DC47BB2B#sthash.TAbrTTaQ.dpuf <http://vendingtimes.com/ME2/dirmod.asp?sid=737C17AB0E09499F90660557C93983AD&nm=Articles&type=Publishing&mod=Publications%3A%3AArticle&mid=8F3A7027421841978F18BE895F87F791&tier=4&id=6327A733F4DF4E99855216F3DC47BB2B#sthash.TAbrTTaQ.dpuf>
>
> <applewebdata://526C1178-5319-4574-8755-4598866F69C0>**13 From Vending Times
> Issue Date: Vol. 56, No. 3, March 2016, Posted On: 2/12/2016
> Maryland Lawmaker Introduces 'Healthy' Vending Bill
> Emily Jed Emily at vendingtimes.net <mailto:Emily at vendingtimes.net>
> ANNAPOLIS, MD -- Vending machines on Maryland state property would have to offer mostly "healthy" snacks under a proposal from state Sen. Joan Carter Conway (D-Baltimore). Conway introduced a measure on Feb. 4 that would require 75% of the food and drinks in vending machines that are located on state property to meet strict standards for sugar, sodium and trans-fat content.
>
> Sugar Free Kids, a statewide coalition of health organizations devoted to fighting childhood obesity and teenage diabetes said it would be proposing the "Maryland Healthy Vending Act" during the 2016 state legislative session and is one of the driving forces behind Conway's legislation. | READ MORE <http://www.vendingtimes.com/me2/dirmod.asp?sid=&nm=Vending+Features&type=Publishing&mod=Publications%3A%3AArticle&mid=&tier=4&id=3F4BFCDD6BB9474AB5C13D791CF814A6#sthash.QkGYhXrz.dpuf>
>
> Vending machines in public buildings would also have to display better-for-you items in slots that have the highest selling potential and in a way that clearly distinguishes them from those that don't meet the new criteria. Machines would also have to include calorie labels and sell bottled water if they offer drinks.
>
> Maryland's Howard County implemented similar rules last summer. | SEE STORY <http://www.vendingtimes.com/ME2/dirmod.asp?sid=754303A430C54C2AA236B18E2C06AB17&nm=Vending+Features&type=Publishing&mod=Publications%3A%3AArticle&mid=8F3A7027421841978F18BE895F87F791&tier=4&id=AD30D06FFB964CA49A84964FB0A06366>
>
> Supporters of Conway's legislation gathered in Annapolis on Feb. 4 to hand out samples of snacks, including fruit bars and applesauce, that would meet the proposed standards. They also displayed the sugar content for many popular drinks to show that some far exceed the Agriculture Department's recommended daily limit.
>
> Washington state and Chicago, among other municipalities across the country, have implemented similar standards.
> At the federal level, the USDA implemented Smart Snacks in School guidelines in 2013 that limit fat, salt and sugar in items sold in school vending machines and snack bars. The rules also require foods to contain at least 50% whole grains or have a fruit, vegetable, dairy or protein as the first ingredient. | READ MORE <http://www.vendingtimes.com/ME2/dirmod.asp?nm=Vending+Features&type=Publishing&mod=Publications%3A%3AArticle&tier=4&id=E502629EA2DE4DE8A10810FC42421DE9>
>
> - See more at: http://vendingtimes.com/ME2/dirmod.asp?sid=737C17AB0E09499F90660557C93983AD&nm=Articles&type=Publishing&mod=Publications%3A%3AArticle&mid=8F3A7027421841978F18BE895F87F791&tier=4&id=8BCE5C40BB574E04A5D561E6CD48E737#sthash.dfSdTydf.dpuf <http://vendingtimes.com/ME2/dirmod.asp?sid=737C17AB0E09499F90660557C93983AD&nm=Articles&type=Publishing&mod=Publications%3A%3AArticle&mid=8F3A7027421841978F18BE895F87F791&tier=4&id=8BCE5C40BB574E04A5D561E6CD48E737#sthash.dfSdTydf.dpuf>
>
> <applewebdata://526C1178-5319-4574-8755-4598866F69C0>**14 Distributor News –
> Vistar
> Get In The Game!
> You could win the chance to see the biggest collegiate basketball games of the year with your qualified purchases of Reese’s & Hershey products now through March 18, 2016.
> The BIG Tournament Promotion
> Take advantage of this limited time offer and stock up on these essential items for your vend/micro markets. Orders must be shipped and received by March 18, 2016 to qualify for a ticket package to the BIGGEST Tournament Semi-final and Championship games in Houston, Texas. Customers will be entered into a drawing for each qualifying purchase of 5 or more cases of the Vistar items below, mix ‘n match. Earn 2 ENTRIES if your order contains the NEW Reese’s or Hershey Snack Mix. Winners will be announced March 21 to attend the April 2-4 tournament. Awards include (1) Grand Prize Ticket Package, (2) Entertainment Packages and (1) Media Bonus. See back page for details.
>
> NEW Reese’s Snack Mix Assorted Tube 2 oz HEC02107 6/10
> NEW Hershey Snack Mix Assorted Tube 2 oz HEC21072 6/10
> KRAVE Sweet Chipotle 1.5 oz KPF00317 18
> Reese’s KS 2.8 oz HEC48000 6/24
> Kit Kat KS 3 oz HEC22600 6/24
> Brookside Blueberry Acai Fruit & Nut Bar 1.4 oz HEC91207 8/12
> Brookside Blueberry Acai Peg Bag 3 oz HEC91127 8/10
> Brookside Pomegranate Peg Bag 3 oz HEC91126 8/10
> Reese’s Pieces Peg Bag 6 oz HEC11601 12
> Jolly Rancher Peg Bag 7 oz LEA70230 12
> Strawberry Twizzler 7 oz HEC54402 12
> Ice Breakers Cool Mints 1.5 oz HEC72060 24/8
>
> Ask your order taker at Vistar or e-mail Laura Hogan @ lhogan at pfgc.com <mailto:lhogan at pfgc.com> to participate in this offer.
>
> Chicago Vendors Supply
> CVS has PUSH Beverage products in stock now!! Remember the 24-20oz PUSH 2 O Purified Water. The water has an opportunity to generate a donation to the NATIONAL FEDERATION of the BLIND with every case sold. If you would like samples or machine clings with benefits of their products highlighted let me know and I can get it for you. Remember these products have the lowest levels of sugar and sodium than any other beverage on the market they have an eight month shelf life on carbonated and 12 months on non-carbonated and are kosher, Tribe Tea is made with pure cane sugar no preservatives and real brewed.
>
> <applewebdata://526C1178-5319-4574-8755-4598866F69C0>**15 Broker News:
> Burdette Beckman, Ray Salvador
> CVS has extra stock of Shamrock Chocolate Milk, while supplies last receive .04 per unit. Dated March 15th Shamrock Farms also has a rebate program with USG.
>
> Welch’s has a USG rebate on 17oz Essence Sparkling Water, 5.5oz Fruit Shots, 5.5oz mini cans, 8oz Refreshingly Simple, 10oz Plastic, 11.5oz cans, 12oz and 20oz Welch’s sodas, 18oz Welch’s Grape Jelly & Jam, 20oz Squeeze Jelly, Jam and Spreads. All other Welch’s items will have periodic Purchase Power deals posted.
>
> Herr’s has some new micromarket items available at CVS. 2oz – 3.5oz. They also have a new item called Waffle Works, looks like two waffles with cheddar cheese in the middle. There is cheddar cheese and horseradish, they are LSS pricing.
>
> General Mills has off invoice deals in your distributor book on items like Oatmeal Bar, Chex Mix Simply Cheddar, Gardettos, Fiber One, and Nature Valley products. Also General Mills is a rebate partner. The USG general program requires that you keep 3 General Mills items on your plan-o-gram.
>
> Snyder’s/Lance has RSA members as an Elite member in USG. The total rebate earned is based on prior year purchases as a group. The percent of rebate earned is based on doing at least 95% and up to 109.9% of prior year. Snyder’s has the following items on Purchase Power in the 1st quarter: Item #104334 120ct 1.5 oz Cheese on Whole Grain Sandwich Crackers, Item # 106537 144ct 1.75 oz Hot & Spicy Peanuts, Item # 25182 48ct 2.25oz Nibbler Pretzels, and Item # 27342 48ct 2.5oz Sourdough Hard Pretzel.
>
> Snyder’s has additional off invoice promotions through March: Item # 802007 Lance Peanut Bar, Item # 106724 Lance Sweet & Spicy Bar both $2.52 off invoice. Item # 107554 2oz Sweet & Salty S’mores Pretzel Pieces $1.20 off invoice, Item # 107641 .92oz Snyder’s of Hanover Wholegrain Mini Pretzel $.88 off invoice, and Item # 107574 2oz Snyder’s of Hanover Cheddar Cheese Mini Pretzel $1.20 off invoice.
>
> Jay’s will have a .02 cent off invoice deal on the following 1oz items throughout 2016: Item # 96440 Jays Original Potato Chip, Item # 96430 Jay’s BBQ Potato Chips, Item # 96420 Jays Hot Stuff Potato Chips, and Item # 96450 Jays Sour Cream & Onion Ridges Potato Chips.
>
> Patterson, Inc., Cathy Aldrich
> Cheesewich, a USG rebate partner that has the 2.5oz vacuum packed cheese and meat product is introducing Provolone with Salami to their lineup which includes, Colby Jack with Salami, Cheddar with Salami, and Pepper Jack with Salami. These have a six month refrigerated shelf life date. It is not recommended to freeze these ever as the cheese becomes crumbly. These would be a great item for both restareas and correctional facilities. They are available at CVS and Vistar.
>
> Karr’s is introducing a new Sriracha Peanuts 3.5oz while discontinuing the 1.5oz Hot & Spicy peanuts.
>
> TGIF is introducing a new item: Item # 50179 1oz Nathan’s Beer Battered Onion Ring (I tried them, they are tasty). And Boulder Canyon has a new item: Item # 12294 Coconut Oil Sea Salt.
>
> <applewebdata://526C1178-5319-4574-8755-4598866F69C0>**16 RSA Buying Group Information
> Q116 Frito-Lay News Item
> LSS Kettle Cooked Wasabi Ginger
> and/or
> LSS Kettle Cooked 40% Less Fat Jalapeno Cheddar
> Everyone is required to purchase at least “1” case of one of the above during1st Quarter 2016 to qualify for the Frito-Lay Rebate.
>
> Thank you,
> Kathy Ungaro
> ICBV, Business Manager
> (630)234-4444
>
> Illinois Committee of Blind Vendors
> 53 W. Jackson Blvd. Suite 502
> Chicago, IL 60604
> (312)663-3007
>
> This message (including attachments) is privileged and confidential. If you are not the intended recipient, please delete it without further distribution and reply to the sender that you have received the message in error.
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