[Nfb-editors] Idaho's Newsletter- "Gem State Milestones"

[Robert Leslie Newman]

Here is a copy of the most current newsletter from Idaho (I got it from
their Website). It is 13 pages and 4,793 words. 

 

 

GEM STATE MILESTONES
WINTER 2010
A Publication of the
NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND OF IDAHO

Dana Ard, Editor
301 Bruce Ave. 
Boise, ID 83712 
E-mail:  <mailto:danalynard at msn.com> danalynard at msn.com
208-345-3906

Elsie Dickerson, President
211 N 70 E
Malad City, ID 83252 
E-mail:  <mailto:elsiedickerson at ymail.com> elsiedickerson at ymail.com
208-766-2266

Available in large print, email, Braille, Newsline
or on our website: www.nfbidaho.org

Description: person at a computer 

A Message From The President

By Elsie Lamp

My fellow Idahoans and friends in the Federation, the holidays are upon us
again, and it is time to send a most joyous greeting to all of you for a
delightful holiday season.  The weather has been keeping us very busy!
Larry and I have just had a new outdoor furnace installed.  It burns wood
that provides heat and hot water for our home.  It has been incredibly
efficient and warm, and lots of hot water!  We just had a semi-truck load of
firewood delivered in forty foot lengths, so the chain saw and Larry will be
getting a work out!

The NFB-ID members have been busy since our last newsletter.  A team went to
Twin Falls and organized the Central Idaho Chapter with Glade Whiting as the
President.  He has a great outgoing personality and a great sense of humor.
He and his wife Jacque and their team of officers and members are actively
participating in the work we are involved in.  

The Governor and his aids are working to resolve a dispute about the
percentage split of federal funds sent to Idaho for Rehabilitation.  Most
states our size are about 17 percent for the Blind agency and 83 percent for
the general agency.  Some states are more and some slightly less.  Idaho has
the dismal formula of 12 percent to the ICBVI and 88 percent to the IDVR.
Michael Graham, the administrator of IDVR, has had too much money to spend
over the past five years to the tune of seven MILLION dollars in overages he
held past the end of the fiscal year in an increasing amount annually. Plus
he sent back three point three million to the federal government in the past
12 months to be redistributed to other states.

The Governor’s office has met with us several times on the issue, and report
that they are doing their best to gather all the data necessary to make “the
right decision.”  Our members have been great to send letters to the
Governor.  The new Twin Falls Chapter sent two full pages of petition
signatures.  Good Work.  Please contact your individual legislators and
others if you can to let them know of this issue.  We will be addressing
this at our Legislative Dinner which will be held on February 21, 2011 at
6:30 in the Gallery room of the Owyhee Plaza Hotel, 1109 Main Street, Boise.
Let’s get the job done before the new session of the Legislature convenes.

Be sure to mark your calendars for our State Convention which will be held
on April 8, 9, and 10 at the Owyhee Plaza Hotel, 1109 Main Street, Boise ID
83702, (208) 343-4611.  The price for rooms will be $65.00 + tax per night.
We have many exciting plans and will keep you posted.
Elsie H. Dickerson. 

Rebuilding a Chapter in Twin Falls
By Noel Newhouse

In June, Shelley and I, along with President Elsie Dickerson and her husband
Larry Dickerson, went to Twin Falls to begin the process of chapter
development. We talked to prospective members, including Glade Whiting, who
we felt might be interested in the position of chapter president. On Friday
of that week, five potential members held a discussion about developing a
chapter, but no action was taken to actually elect officers.

In July, we returned to Twin Falls, where Elsie Dickerson spoke to the
support group there.  Following that meeting, we met with Glade Whiting and
Ruth Blickenstaff and answered their questions about the NFB.

On September 20, a meeting was held to form the chapter. Officers are Glade
Whiting, President, Ruth Blickenstaff, Vice President, Jolene Crook,
Secretary, Dan Crook, Treasurer, and Jacque Whiting, Board Member.  The name
of the chapter is the Central Idaho Chapter.

I appreciate the hard work of Elsie and Larry Dickerson, Jan and Harry
Gawith, my wife Shelley, and her mother, Dorothy James, who participated in
the meeting.  I especially wish to thank Shelley’s mother for her warm
hospitality and housing during the building of this chapter.

In October, the Central Idaho Chapter held its first meeting at Idaho Pizza.
Three new members joined at that time.  State president, Elsie Dickerson,
along with six chapter members from the Treasure Valley chapter also
participated. Glade Whiting did a commendable job as president.  

The Central Idaho Chapter will meet on the fourth Monday of the month at
Idaho Pizza on Kimberley Road at 5:00 P.M. If you are in the area, the
Central Idaho Chapter welcomes you to their meetings.  
 

Description: light bulb


Spotlight on Careers
B.E.P. or Bust!
By Bill Morgan

Fifty years ago I walked in to Industries for the Blind, the sheltered
workshop for the blind and visually impaired at the Oregon Commission for
the Blind in Portland Oregon. I had just gotten my first job that would be a
real pay check and regular hours. I was thrilled!

My starting wage was the state minimum wage at the time, fifty cents an
hour, forty hours a week. I was fifteen years old, but they thought I was
sixteen, because I told them I was. It was unlawful to hire under the age of
sixteen. In those days we made brooms, mops and brushes, as well as assembly
of everything from bamboo rakes, to complex glass fireplace glass door
systems including frames. We made wooden baskets out of pine, that people
put plants in and hung the baskets on there patios. We had to take these
baskets and dip them in redwood stain. I would dip about six hundred a day.
I would have my arms in stain past my elbows all day five days a week.

This was before OSHA. In those days you also could buy a harness which could
hold around fifteen different items for selling door to door. I took my turn
at selling brooms and other related items when work was slow or not
happening at the shop because of lack of orders. Eventually the door to door
selling was stopped. 

Time went on, and at age twenty five I was told by my boss, Dean Hunter that
I would have to go to the training center for the blind in Salem, Oregon for
blindness skills training, because I had so little sight that I was going to
get hurt or hurt someone else. The problem was that training usually took
nine months, and Dean could only give me six weeks since I was now shop
foreman, supervising up to fifty people and managing up to ten projects at
once. I did it in six weeks, I did it all: typing, Braille, cooking, abacus,
cane travel, and anything else that needed doing.

I continued to work at the shop off and on depending on projects until I was
thirty. I then worked many different jobs, everything from parting out old
Studebakers to worm farming. I worked as a ranch hand, bought, broke and
sold horses, and worked with my family cutting and selling firewood, as well
as many other jobs.

During 1980-83 I became the first and still only blind person to train to
walk across America with the purpose to educate the world that we the blind
could do much more then the sighted believed we could do. I was accompanied
by my wife, Lynda driving a small motor home and my three children. I walked
using my Yellow Lab guide dog, Hart and my long white cane depending on
conditions. I was sponsored by Christian Record Braille Foundation, The
National Federation of the Blind, and other sponsors to numerous to mention
and caring individuals. I trained for a year and a half walking 2500 miles.
Plus I swam 300 miles in our public pool. We took our children out of school
for a year to do this.
They did written reports on all historical sites we came to. I walked
following The Oregon Trail and The Lewis & Clark Trail from Astoria Oregon
at the mouth of the Columbia River to the Chesapeake Bay at Baltimore MD. I
finished by walking to the headquarters building of the NFB accompanied by
about two hundred blind and visually impaired people. I walked 3615 miles.
We were out 18 days. We met eleven state governors and hundreds of other
people. My wife Lynda and I, plus the leaders of the NFB met President
Reagan in the Oval Office on October 23, 1983 for the recognition of my
world setting record of being the first and still only blind person to walk
across America from coast to coast.

After my walk was over, I came back to Boise and started volunteering in a
residential treatment center for alcoholism and drug addiction. It was
called “NEW HOPE CENTER, near the corner of first and main. The building was
a beautiful late 1800 mansion. After being there a few months I decided I
would become an addiction counselor. I am a recovered alcoholic with
thirty-four years sobriety. I had to do 2000 hours of practicum, to gain
experience. I also had to take two semesters at B.S.U. I was a one to one
counselor, group facilitator, interventionist, and suicide crises
specialist. I did very well at my job and was greatly respected by my peers.

After the center closed, in 1986, I came to the Commission for the blind
trying to figure out what I was going to do next. I didn’t want to be
involved in treatment counseling any longer. At the Commission, I met the
director of the Business Enterprise Program, Scott Fenwick. I learned from
Scott what the Business Enterprise program was, and what it took to become
qualified to become Idaho multi-level licensed. At this time I decided to
enter the training center at the commission for refresher training in
blindness skills. Even though we lived in Boise, I decided I would be able
to concentrate fully on my training if I stayed upstairs as a live in
student rather then going home every night. While there I trained for the
Business Enterprise licensing process. This meant I had to pass a tasks list
that was working with all aspects required in cafeteria management,
operating snack bars, and understanding vending machines. Since I was living
in the building I decided to use that time well. My wife Lynda was home
caring for our children and home. I thought the least I could do was make my
time count while living apart from my family.

I started at once on learning what the written licensing criteria was. I
then had to go to work and produce my packet in print. This was before
computers were widely used. I had to learn and understand all aspects of
what it takes for the running, care and feeding of a business that I would
be responsible for operating and running successfully. My packet consisted
of my year’s business plan that was flexible enough to cover these three
types of businesses; cafeterias, snack bars, and vending.  I won’t tell you
it wasn’t difficult, it was, but worth every minute of struggle. I set a
record by having all the tasks and written portion completed in six weeks
flat! I as well produced at the same time the one and only written Braille
two volume criteria. To give you an idea of my commitment most people when
doing the written criteria one-year business multi-level plan take several
months or up to a year to complete the process. I received my first B.E.P.
location in March of 1987. In my twenty-four years of being an operator, I
have had locations in Lewiston, and Idaho Falls as well as a 650-mile
highway/freeway vending route. My current vending route of 825 miles is the
longest such route in the U.S. Business Enterprise Program.

One of the main reasons I decided to become a B.E.P. operator was, I
couldn’t believe that this program supplied a turnkey business including the
first week’s inventory as a loan to get started. You pay back the start up
cost of the first week’s inventory before or when leaving the program.
That’s it. Everything else is furnished. Amazing! I couldn’t believe my
ears. So why wouldn’t I want to get in on this absolutely unbelievable deal?
The only real money it costs the operators is that we pay a ten percent fee
on our gross profit, which goes right back in to our program for repairs and
equipment replacement. Sweet huh! I have been earning a living for
twenty-three and a half years now.

Please after reading this, take some time and consider if you think you have
the right stuff to run your own business. If so, contact me if you have
questions.
My email is,  <mailto:billmorgan124 at cableone.net>
billmorgan124 at cableone.net.
Phone is, 208-377-3916 home and business.

Summer Camp
By Ramona Walhof

Blind children in Idaho want and need more contact with one another.  High
school students very much enjoy the Winter Camp held in Central Idaho in
February or March each year.  This camp is managed by the Wood River Lions
Club and the Idaho School for the Deaf and Blind.  In 2010 it almost did not
occur.  Partly, this had to do with changes at IESDB, and partly, it had to
do with a need for some additional funds.  More detail is perhaps not
necessary.  In February of 2010, Lions realized that emergency steps would
be necessary to prevent the cancellation of this camp, and these measures
were taken.  The camp occurred, and the teenagers who attended enjoyed it as
much as always.  Lions throughout District 39W have made a commitment to see
that this camp is continued.  This means that clubs beyond the Wood River
Valley Club in Central Idaho will help when necessary, but Walt Cochran will
continue to lead and coordinate the effort.  Parents of blind children,
blind kids, and blind adults owe appreciation to the Lions for their work in
making this camp happen.

The legislature has appropriated funds to the School for the Deaf and Blind
for summer camps in years when funds were not too limited.  It goes without
saying that this has not been true during the last few years.  Still, blind
children need and want the contact with each other.  Further, they need
recreational experiences that are often denied them in other groups.  This
is true, not because anyone wants to limit them, but because so many people
do not know what is reasonable for blind children to attempt and what
techniques work best for some of these activities.  Horseback riding, roller
skating, playing and swimming at Roaring Springs Water Park, rock climbing,
white water rafting, and a track meet are some examples of these activities.
Further, camp with other blind students presents an opportunity for children
to receive some exposure to skills that only blind people use--independent
travel, activities of daily living, using accessible computers, crafts,
sports, Braille, and more.

When Ron Gill, President of the Sight and Hearing Foundation in District 39W
began talking about a camp for blind children in Idaho, I encouraged him and
helped him contact the administration at the School for the Deaf and Blind.

Acting Superintendent, Aylee Schaefer visited a meeting of the Board of the
Idaho’s Eastern Oregon Sight and Hearing Foundation, and arrangements began
to move forward to hold the summer camp for children from 7 to 13 for the
first time in three or four years.  This camp has been held at the IESDB
facility in Gooding, and the Lions were eager to make use of both the
facility and some of the staff at the School.  Nancy Luthy was hired to
direct the camp, and teachers from the IESDB staff and the staff of the
Idaho Commission for the Blind were contracted to make the camp happen.  In
addition, Ron Gill invited Lions to volunteer to help with the camp.  The
Lions committed to raise $10,000, but the cost of the camp could have been
$16,000 or more.  Therefore, volunteer Lions and staff members on loan from
the Commission for the Blind would help balance the books.

Sunday, June 13, the first camper arrived at 9:00 am, hours before any
children or staff members were expected.  The second camper arrived at 11:00
am.  Fortunately, Lions were there finishing a meeting of the Sight and
Hearing Foundation held at the School that weekend.  Twenty-nine children
participated in the camp, with a few others who came in for just one or two
activities.

Blind children have personalities as diverse and interesting as any
children.  They are smart, naughty, confident, scared, gutsy, active,
inactive, well mannered, neat, happy, sad, inconsiderate, and all the things
we can expect of any group of children.  Some of them formed friendships
that will last for many years.  It was an opportunity for some Lions to meet
these normal children.  Not only did some Lions and family members
participate in the camp at Gooding, but also other Lions provided dinner
after some of the afternoon activities.  The Twin Falls Lions Club and the
Boise Bench Lions Club provided excellent dinners Wednesday and Thursday
evenings.

Two camp staff members hired by the School were legally blind.  Then there
was Fred Riggers and I.  Ron Gill assigned Lions as volunteers where he and
Nancy thought there would be a need for us.  But some things are hard to
plan.  We Lions learned to circulate and watch for spots where we should
pitch in.  We were warned not to monopolize the kids' time.  They needed to
learn from each other.  

On Monday evening, there was a campfire and s’mores.  Nancy Luthy asked me
to read a story in Braille.  I did, and the kids seemed to enjoy it.

The computer teacher, Jeanmarie Copecky, asked me to demonstrate the Braille
Note.  I did, and the kids were interested.  But none of them had any idea
how they could ever afford something like it.  Then she asked me to
demonstrate the Victor Stream.  The reaction was similar: interest, but it
seemed out of their reach.  But the kids were also curious about me.  They
had very little experience with blind adults.  It occurred to me that NFB
News line is free.  I had no idea that there were kids' magazines on the
service, but I was about to find out, and so were the kids.  Friday
Jeanmarie arranged a telephone for me to use, and I demonstrated NFB News
line for each of the kids individually.  We discovered that there were 26
magazines on the service and that several: Smithsonian, Popular Science,
some fashion magazines, and some kids’ news magazines were very interesting
to the kids.  Many were eager to sign up.

I also had some very interesting and unforgettable conversations with
several campers.  These were personal, but they showed me and others that
these children are in need of contact with blind adults.  Almost any time I
meet with blind children, this is communicated to me again.  We can never
tell what will be meaningful to a person near us.  We just have to go about
our business doing the best we can with what we do.  There are times when we
can arrange to be in the right place.  I definitely believe I was in the
right place last summer at camp.  Not surprisingly, I learned that 66 is
very old to go to a kids camp.  But I was very glad I was there.

I thank the Lions for their generosity and commitment to help bring this
opportunity to blind children in this State.  I congratulate the staff who
helped with this camp!  I will do what I can to keep it happening, whether I
am there or not.

 

The I-Bill Currency Reader

By Bill Morgan

 

Hello to all.  Dana Ard asked me if I would write about what I thought of
the new I-Bill, the smallest bill identifier made right here in the good old
USA. 

 

When I first heard about this little bill reader, it was on a webanar at
www.accessibleworld.org. This site is a great place to check out all kinds
of information related to blindness issues. Their archive is great with
numerous topics and downloads mp3 formats.

 

I had a very hard time getting the I-Bill because it was being sold like
hotcakes everywhere. I had my name out on several blind guy lists that
provide products for the blind and visually impaired. It took six months
before I was able to get my order in, so I bought two of them, just in case.

 

I don’t know about you, but bill readers were way too much money to even
think about buying, plus they were big and clumsy.  My Open Book program
that was supposed to read bills often got them wrong after the changes that
have been made in some of the bills in the last few years.  I wasn’t going
to spend from $500 to $800 for a currency reader no matter what!

 

Not being able to read my currency independently has always bugged me big
time. I didn’t care if it was my wife; I always felt a sense of personal
violation when I had to ask her what bills I had.  I have always hated
having to ask anyone to identify my paper currency.  Maybe I am weird, but I
believe I should be the only one that knows what amount of money I have.

 

The cost of this reader, $120.00 delivered, will surprise you greatly I
couldn’t believe it.  Amazing I say!  It is so easy to use.  It’s only about
3.5 inches long, by 2 inches wide, and a .5 inch thick and will fit easily
in a pocket or purse. It resembles a cigarette pack cut in half lengthwise.
It only takes one AAA battery to run. 

There are three different ways to read your bills; through voice, through
vibrations, or with beeps.  Using the unit is easy, you insert the bill to
be read into the slot and push the button.  Usually within a second, unless
the bill is wrinkled or worn, you get the reading.  I use my I-Bill
Identifier all the time, and it’s great! Well worth the money.  There is
talk about adding a USB port fitting to the reader so that when currency
changes instead of having to send your unit to be upgraded with new
software, you could plug it in to your computer USB port, and download the
new upgrade yourself.

 

If you would like a copy of the users guide by email or have questions, 

Email me and I will email the guide to you.  My email address is
<mailto:billmorgan124 at cableone.net> billmorgan124 at cableone.net .  The I-Bill
has given me back my privacy with paper currency. It’s by far the best
$120.00 I have spent in a long time.

 

Holiday Recipes

Editor’s Note
I don’t know about anyone else, but in this busy holiday season, I like to
have a few simple, fast, recipes that I can whip up in a hurry.  The four
recipes that I offer in this column call for few ingredients. You can keep
them on hand to make that emergency recipe when the need arises.  The three
salad recipes are from the “Easy Cooking Without Looking” cookbook that is
available from the NFB Snake River Chapter.  The last recipe is a very
simple peanut butter cookie recipe that my father-in-law loves, and for
which you almost always have the ingredients available. Enjoy!  Happy
holidays

 

Red Cinnamon Jell-O Salad
½ cup red cinnamon candies, cooked in 1 cup water (low heat) 
Take out hard candies if they don’t dissolve.
Add 1 pkg cherry Jell-O, then add 1 cup water. Cool slightly and add 1-cup
applesauce and 1 T. Knox gelatin (helps set better)

 

Jell-O with blueberry pie filling
1 lg. Pkg. Jell-O (black cherry, blackberry, black raspberry, or grape)
Dissolve into two cups of boiling water.  Add 1 med. can crushed pineapple
undrained. Add one can of blueberry pie filling. Stir and chill. When salad
is set, top with whipped topping. You may sprinkle crushed nuts over
topping.
Vickie Bateman

 

Jell-O with Cherry Pie Filling
One large pkg. Cherry Jell-O, dissolved in two cups boiling water. Add one
cup cherry pie filling. You can top with Cool Whip if you want.
Heidi Kneip

 

I Can’t Believe It’s Peanut butter Cookies
1-cup chunky peanut butter
1-cup sugar
1 egg, beaten
1 t. vanilla
Combine. Chill for 2 hours. Drop by teaspoon on baking sheet, or cover the
baking sheet with foil. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes. Cool before
removing from sheet.
 

Description: minigem

Minigems
By Ramona Walhof 

Elections: Treasure Valley Chapter decided to expand its Board so that more
relatively new members could serve.  Its election was held in October, and
the new officers and Board members are as follows: Dana Ard, President;
Susan Bradley, First Vice President; Lisa Baker, Second Vice President;
Ramona Walhof, Secretary; Mike Gibson, Treasurer; Board Members: Jan Gawith,
Vel Slotten, Paul Brickey, Krystal White, and Thomas Atkins.

Snake River Valley Chapter: This chapter election also occurred in October.
Vickie Bateman, President; Wanda Jolley, First Vice President; Lynn Kneip,
Second Vice President; Heidi Kneip, Secretary;  Sylvia Bernert, Treasurer;
Board Members, Jason Bernert and David Jolley.

Educating people about blindness: The Snake River Valley chapter members
answered questions about blindness and demonstrated techniques used by the
blind at Barnes and Noble on November 13.

Members lost: Several chapters have experienced the loss of valued members
because of death.  Gateway Chapter lost Connie Talbott of Pocatello after a
prolonged illness.  Panhandle Chapter lost Greg Davis who had experienced
some health problems, but was able to ride in the Cycle for Independence in
May.  His death was a shock.  Treasure Valley Chapter lost Brett Winchester,
a member for more than 30 years and a past president.  Brett also worked for
more than 20 years for the Idaho Commission for the Blind coordinating the
taping program and the radio reading program.  He and his wife Marie and
their two daughters worked long hours and many days at our cinnamon roll
booth at the Western Idaho Fair as long as we kept it open.  Although we
knew Brett had some health problems, no one dreamed his death could be so
soon.  All these members will be missed by the NFBI, and we extend our
sympathy to their families.

 

Dairyman’s Student Award (DSA): This award is given weekly to one
outstanding high school senior.  Recently, McKenzie Stevens was honored in
this way.  Congratulations are due to this outstanding blind student.

Senior Division: The Senior Division held a picnic in June in Twin Falls in
conjunction with one of the meetings of the new chapter there; joined with
the Treasure Valley chapter for an ice cream social in September; and joined
together in a luncheon at the Mandarin Palace in October.  Larry Sebranek
reported on his visit to the Middle East, and Noel Newhouse reported on the
chapter work in Central Idaho.

Message to the Governor: Members of the NFBI and others are writing letters
to the Governor regarding keeping federal money in Idaho.  Rehabilitation
money is currently split between the Commission for the Blind and Visually
Impaired and the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation in a proportion of
88/12.  This money must be matched with state dollars.  In part because of
inadequate match, DVR has been sending funds back to the federal government
for several years, (more than 3 million was returned this year).  If some of
this money can be transferred to the ICBVI, it can provide needed services
to blind Idahoans and, thus be used in this State.  If the two department
heads cannot agree to do this, the Governor must make the final decision.
The blind of the State are very anxious for our Governor to do this before
the next funding cycle.  We know the unmet needs of the blind.  At this time
of inadequate funding for many things, we are reluctant to ask for
increases.  However, since there are unmet needs, we are very unhappy to
have money that could be used here revert back to the federal government.

Christmas parties: Most chapters are holding Christmas parties for members
and guests in December.  We wish you all good parties, Merry Christmas, and
Happy New Year!!!

If you have information to share with fellow members and friends in our next
issue of the Milestones, please contact Ramona Walhof at
<mailto:rwnfbi at q.com> rwnfbi at q.com.

 

THE END

 

 

 

Robert Leslie Newman

President, Omaha Chapter NFB

President, NFB Writers' Division

Division Website

 <http://www.nfb-writers-division.org> http://www.nfb-writers-division.org

Personal Website-

 <http://www.thoughtprovoker.info> http://www.thoughtprovoker.info

 

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