The UCB
Buzz
A publication of
Utah Council
of the Blind
August
2022
For the latest news
updates, check out the website at utahblind.org
Mail correspondence
to:
UCB
PO Box 1415
Bountiful, UT 84011-1415
E-mail us at utahblind@gmail.com
For credit card payments,
to make reservations, or for other business, call the business office at 801-245-9264.
The UCB Buzz is available in large print, Braille,
audio CD, and by e-mail. If you would prefer to receive your newsletter in a different
format, please call the UCB business office at 801-245-9264 or send an e-mail to
utahblind@gmail.com and let us know.
In This Issue
Nomination
Statements for UCB Board of Directors
Accessible
COVID-19 Tests Available
UCB
Golden Anniversary Discount on Lifetime Memberships
Board
of Directors and Management
Articles and announcements included in this publication are presented for your information and interest. They reflect the opinions of the respective authors and are not necessarily endorsed by the UCB.
This is the most important issue of the UCB Buzz in every year. It contains: 1) the statements of the candidates running for positions for the UCB Board of Directors and 2) some proposed Bylaw changes. This year we have 7 candidates. These are the people who, for the next year and beyond, are going to choose what direction the organization will take. I believe that it’s very important that we choose the best candidates we can find who will take this organization into a direction that will help it grow and continue to promote and create programs that are most useful to its members.
However, we need more younger people to start getting involved with the UCB. You don’t have to be on the board to get involved, but you can join any of the committees that we have, and you can make your wants and wishes known to the Board of Directors. And then maybe next year, some of you younger folks can become board members and get rid of some of us old folks who’ve been around forever. And when you do that, then you can also start coming up with ideas that you think may modernize the UCB, because it’s very possible that we do need modernization. But, meanwhile, take a good look at the statements written by the candidates, and when it comes time to vote at the business meeting on September 17, vote for the candidates or Bylaw changes you want, either in person, or via Zoom. If you wish to use Zoom, please contact us at utahblind@gmail.com. We need your participation.
– Tom Mitchell
The Annual Business Meeting of the Utah Council of the Blind will be held at the Division of Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired, 250 N 1950 W, Salt Lake City, UT at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 17, 2022. Reservations are required so that we can have enough food for everyone. Please call the business office at 801-245-9264 or email utahblind@gmail.com with your name, the names of others in your party, and your telephone number no later than Friday, September 10th. When you make your reservation, please indicate whether or not each person in your party is a member of the UCB, whether you use large print or braille, any dietary restrictions you or a member of your party may have, and if you will need an asl interpreter, assistive listening device, or any other accommodation.
This year, for the first time, we will be making it possible to attend and participate in the Annual Meeting via Zoom. If you would like to participate in this manner, please make a reservation by calling the business office at 801-245-9264 and giving us an email address to send the Zoom link. When you make the reservation, be sure to let us know the names of all UCB members who will be in your group so that we can extend voting privileges.
You may also obtain an absentee ballot to cast your votes by mail. If you would like to receive an absentee ballot, please call the office and 801-245-9264 and let us know. In order to be counted, absentee ballots must be received back in our office by one week in advance of the meeting, so please be sure to allow plenty of time for the mailing process when requesting your ballot.
Membership Verification: In order to vote at the annual business meeting a member's dues for 2022 must be paid no later than September 10, 2022. If you have any questions about your membership status, please contact us at (801) 245-9264 or via e-mail at utahblind@gmail.com to check your status.
Following are the nomination statements of those who wish to be candidates for the UCB Board of Directors. They are listed in alphabetical order.
To whom it may concern,
My name is Dennie Clark, and I would like to be considered to be a board member for UCB.
I have been working for UCB for about 3 years in the Teacher Trainer Program, now called the Skills Development Program, which I'm the Asst. Supervisor over that. I have also been in retail management for 35+ years. I feel that being able to make decisions fast and knowing how to manage people can only help UCB and the board.
I have a compassion to help the blind and vision impaired be and do everything they would like to do or try. I would like to be on the board so I can help all parts of UCB be strong and keep doing what we all do very well. Help people.
Thank you for considering me to become a board member.
This is Sandy England. I’ve been a member of this organization for about 35 years. I have been Vice-President, Chairperson of many committees and have served on many committees. I have done the convention, activities, fund raising (which I’m doing now) and have done many Christmas parties.
I would like to continue on the board to help our organization to grow and continue to offer programs like our Skill Development teams, our transportation program, etc. It would be my honor to do all I can to help our board to do all it can for the blind community. Being blind myself, I feel a kinship with all of you out there in the blind community. I love to fight for our rights, and I have done this for many years. I like to fund-raise for it helps all of us in many ways. I enjoy doing what I do and will appreciate your vote and support again this year.
Thank you,
Sandy England
Hello Utah Council of the Blind members and friends. As the
current president of this fine organization, I have enjoyed working with and
getting to know many of you. I strive to be a positive representative of the
Utah Council of the Blind within our community. As I meet with other consumer
groups in the state, I am proud to share with them our programs that we have to
offer blind and visually impaired residents of Utah. I ask for your vote as I
run for another term as the president. I will continue to improve our
organization’s programs, advocate for our members, and be a positive role
model.
Anna Jeffery
“Nothing is impossible, the word itself says ‘I’m possible’!”
– Audrey Hepburn
Dear Members of the Board,
My name is Mindi Larson and I am running for
the Board of Directors. I have been visually impaired for all of my life. I had
cataracts as a baby. I developed glaucoma at the age of twelve. I had my first retina detachment at the age of 16. At the age of 21 I went
through a series of retina surgeries that ended in blindness in my better eye.
Since then, my eyes have been stable.
I have been a stay-at-home mom for the past
22 years. I was recently divorced. I decided to go through the classes at the
blind center again. I mainly went for more technology training. I have been
working with the Skills Development Program for about a year. I haven’t had
much more work experience before that.
I would like to be on the Board of Directors
so that I can help others reach their potential. I feel that there are some
wonderful people on the board, from what I have seen so far. I would love to
plan activities where we can teach each other our different talents. I feel
that there are a lot of amazing people that we can learn different skills from.
I would like to see the blind community spend more time together and know that
they are not isolated and alone with their struggles. I know that when I am
validated with my feelings and worries, I feel so much better about myself. If
there isn’t already a book club, that might be fun. I have other ideas that I
want to be heard, but this is already too long.
Thank you for your time,
Mindi Larson
My name is Jeana Nielsen. I am running for Secretary of the Utah Council of the Blind. Last year I was elected to serve on the board as a Director starting in January of this year. At this time, the person serving as Secretary had to leave the board due to other obligations, and I was chosen to fill the position for the remainder of the term. I have enjoyed being Secretary and have chosen to run for the position in the upcoming elections. I believe that the work that the UCB does is vital, and I want to be involved in continuing and furthering this work. Thank you in advance for your vote.
I joined the UCB Board in 2015 and have been Executive Director since December 2019. My previous leadership experience includes having been president of two state chapters of AER (the organization for teachers and rehab professionals who work with visually impaired children and adults) as well as international president of that group (members come from both the U.S. and Canada). In addition, for five years I was a board member of the Braille Authority of North America (BANA) and served as vice-chair of that board for two years.
During my time as a UCB board member, but far more during my time as Executive Director, I have come to appreciate UCB's many programs and member benefits. I've especially begun to understand the importance of the grants UCB's Chief Financial Officer, Kate Balzly, writes and how much those grants mean to our ability to keep providing the services we make available to UCB members and friends.
What would I like to see UCB accomplish during the next few years? I hope we can attract more younger members, since many of us are getting older (whether we like it or not) and will have to step aside from our current duties in years to come. There are definitely younger people in our state who have great ideas (not to mention great energy) and can help us grow, both financially and in membership, so that the next 50 years can be as important to blind/visually impaired people in our state as the current 50 years have been. We will need everyone's help in order to invite these people to our conferences and activities, to make them feel welcome and included, and to show them the fellowship and freedom available in UCB.
To: Members of Utah Council of the Blind
Regarding: Board Member position
Date: June 2, 2022
Wow! UCB! 50 years old! Looking back at my personal history and involvement with UCB. I was encouraged to become a life-time member of UCB in 1989, by my dear friend, Pat Gann.
In 1990, I was elected to serve on the board of Directors. I served for many years in various capacities, including: President, Secretary and Board member.
I held my young nephews as I conducted business meetings and attended activities. Many years have flown by; now, my nephews are ages 14 and 19.
I have been asked by the Nominating Committee to run for a Board member position. I have a lot of catch up and a lot to learn. I am honored to serve as a member of the Board of Directors if the membership elects me to fill this position.
Thank you,
Cindi Vega
General Membership Meeting
September 17, 2022
Section 3.2. The minimum Board of Directors shall consist of a President, who must be legally blind (central visual acuity does not exceed 20/200 in the better eye with correcting lenses or the field of vision in the better eye subtends an angle of no greater than 20 degrees); a Secretary; and a Treasurer. As numbers allow, the board shall also include a Vice President, who must be legally blind; and up to eleven additional Directors, the exact number of which may be set by action of the board of directors or the membership from time to time. Any vacancy created by an increase in the number of Directors shall be filled following the election procedures outlined in these Bylaws. All Officers and Directors must be paid-up members of the UCB, at least 18 years of age, and support its purposes. A majority of the Board of Directors must be legally blind.
Suggested: The minimum Board of Directors shall consist of a President, who must be legally blind (central visual acuity does not exceed 20/200 in the better eye with correcting lenses or the field of vision in the better eye subtends an angle of no greater than 20 degrees); a Secretary; and a Treasurer. As numbers allow, the board shall also include a Vice President, who must be legally blind; and up to eleven additional Directors, the exact number of which may be set by action of the membership from time to time. Any vacancy created by an increase in the number of Directors shall be filled following the election procedures outlined in these Bylaws. All Officers and Directors must be paid-up members of the UCB, at least 18 years of age, and support its purposes. A majority of the Board of Directors must be legally blind. No two members of the Board of Directors may be close family members, i.e. spouse, child, grandchild, sibling, aunt, uncle, first cousin, etc.
Section 3.3. The Board of Directors shall have the general management of the affairs, funds and records of the organization with the right to form and establish policy and hire and fire employees as it deems necessary for accomplishment of the purposes and goals of the UCB. It is the responsibility of the Board of Directors to carry out the will of the membership as indicated by the motions and resolutions passed in its meetings to the extent that such actions are lawful and practicable.
Suggested: The Board of Directors shall have the general management of the affairs, funds and records of the organization with the right to form and establish policy and hire and fire employees and contractors as it deems necessary for accomplishment of the purposes and goals of the UCB. It is the responsibility of the Board of Directors to carry out the will of the membership as indicated by the motions and resolutions passed in its meetings to the extent that such actions are lawful and practicable.
Section 4.2. Not less than six months prior to the annual business meeting the Board of Directors shall appoint an Election Committee consisting of at least three members. Not less than three months prior to the annual business meeting the names of the Committee members shall be announced to the membership either in written form or through the use of other media such as the Utah Connection. The Election Committee, in conjunction with the Membership Committee, shall have responsibility for verifying the qualifications of members wishing to have their names placed in nomination for available positions on the Board of Directors. No member who agrees to serve on the Election Committee may run for office in the current election. Any qualified member of the organization wishing to run for a position on the Board of Directors may notify a member of the Committee by submitting a short (one page or less) written statement concerning his/her qualifications and vision for the future of the organization, which will be distributed to the membership at least 30 days prior to the annual business meeting. The Election Committee shall formally present all of the candidates and supervise the carrying out of the voting process. No nominations from the floor or write-in candidates will be allowed. The Election Committee shall have responsibility for providing a means whereby the members can cast ballots for the candidates of their choice and shall have responsibility for the tallying of the votes. There may be absentee voting, but no proxy voting. Any absentee ballots must be returned to the Election Committee no later than one week before the business meeting. The Officers shall be voted on individually, and the successful candidates must be elected by an absolute majority (they must receive over 50% of the total votes cast). Unsuccessful candidate(s) for any officer position will be included in the director balloting. Balloting for all director positions will take place simultaneously, with each member casting ranked votes for the candidates. Each director must be elected by an absolute majority (as defined above). Full-term positions will be filled by those receiving the highest number of votes, with partial terms filled by those with fewer votes. If there are no qualified candidates for an open officer position, the board members, at their first meeting after January 1st, shall elect from their number a qualified member to fill the position. If there are not enough qualified candidates to fill all open director positions, all qualified candidates who receive at least 10 votes each shall be declared elected, and the number of directors shall be reduced by the number of deficiencies.
Suggested: Not less than six months prior to the annual business meeting the Board of Directors shall appoint an Election Committee consisting of at least three members. Not less than three months prior to the annual business meeting the names of the Committee members shall be announced to the membership either in written form or through the use of other media. The Election Committee, in conjunction with the Membership Committee, shall have responsibility for verifying the qualifications of members wishing to have their names placed in nomination for available positions on the Board of Directors. No member who agrees to serve on the Election Committee may run for office in the current election. Any qualified member of the organization wishing to run for a position on the Board of Directors may notify a member of the Committee by submitting a short (one page or less) written statement concerning his/her qualifications and vision for the future of the organization, which will be distributed to the membership at least 30 days prior to the annual business meeting. The Election Committee shall formally present all of the candidates and supervise the carrying out of the voting process. No nominations from the floor or write-in candidates will be allowed. The Election Committee shall have responsibility for providing a means whereby the members can cast ballots for the candidates of their choice and shall have responsibility for the tallying of the votes. There may be absentee voting, but no proxy voting. Any absentee ballots must be returned to UCB no later than two days before the business meeting. The Officers shall be voted on individually, and the successful candidates must be elected by an absolute majority (they must receive over 50% of the total votes cast). Unsuccessful candidate(s) for any officer position will be included in the director balloting. Balloting for all director positions will take place simultaneously. Each director must be elected by an absolute majority (as defined above). Full-term positions will be filled by those receiving the highest number of votes, with partial terms filled by those with fewer votes. If there are no qualified candidates for an open officer position, the board members, at their first meeting after January 1st, shall elect from their number a qualified member to fill the position. If there are not enough qualified candidates to fill all open director positions, all qualified candidates who receive at least 10 votes each shall be declared elected, and the number of directors shall be reduced by the number of deficiencies.
Section 4.5. Resignation of any member of the Board of Directors shall be submitted in writing or verbally to the Board. If any Director shall be absent from over 25% of regular or special meetings in any calendar year it shall be recognized as an automatic resignation, and the number on the Board shall be reduced by one unless there are only three members on the Board, in which case the remaining two members shall select a third qualified member to serve until the next meeting of the general membership. Participation in a meeting via conference call is counted as attendance.
Suggested: Resignation of any member of the Board of Directors may be submitted in writing or verbally to the Board. If any Director shall be absent from over 25% of regular or special meetings in any calendar year it shall be recognized as an automatic resignation, and the number on the Board shall be reduced by one unless there are only three members on the Board, in which case the remaining two members shall select a third qualified member to serve until the next meeting of the general membership.
Section 5.6. Any Officer or Director who resigns or is terminated from the Board of Directors must, within two business days, place all records, supplies, keys, or any other UCB items in their possession in the UCB office at the Division of Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired or deliver or mail them to the main office or the post office box of the organization.
Suggested: Any Officer or Director who resigns or is terminated from the Board of Directors must, within ten business days, return all records, supplies, keys, or any other UCB items in their possession in the UCB.
Section 8.1. Notice of meetings of the membership or the Board of Directors shall be by personal contact, in writing, or by notice on the informational phone line to run not less than ten days prior to the date of the proposed meeting if by first class mail, thirty days if by other means. In emergency situations the Board of Directors may be called to meet on shorter notice provided a quorum can be convened and at least two-thirds of the Directors can be notified. Responsibility for proper notification rests with the Secretary, the members calling the meeting, or as the Board of Directors shall direct.
Suggested: Notice of meetings of the membership or the Board of Directors shall be by personal contact or in writing not less than ten days prior to the date of the proposed meeting if by first class mail, thirty days if by other means. In emergency situations the Board of Directors may be called to meet on shorter notice provided a quorum can be convened and at least two-thirds of the Directors can be notified. Responsibility for proper notification rests with the Secretary, the members calling the meeting, or as the Board of Directors shall direct.
Section 8.3. No meeting or portion of a meeting of the Board of Directors may be closed to members of the UCB unless by 2/3 majority vote the Board passes a motion to go into executive session for the purpose(s) of discussing personnel issues, determining disciplinary action against an officer, director, or other member or volunteer, or discussing pending contractual agreements, bids or contracts for services that would be adversely affected by public knowledge. The motion for a closed session must state the purpose requiring closure, and a motion to return to open meeting must be approved by the Board immediately upon completion of the business requiring the closed session. Upon returning to open session, any actions taken during the closed session must be reported and entered into the minutes as appropriate. All regular meetings of the Board of Directors must be announced in the newsletter and/or the Utah Connection. All special meetings shall be announced in the newsletter when practical and shall always be announced on the Utah Connection. No special meeting may be held without at least two days notice. The meeting announcement must include the date, time, and location of the meeting; in the case of a special meeting, it must also include the reason for the meeting.
Suggested: No meeting or portion of a meeting of the Board of Directors may be closed to members of the UCB unless by 2/3 majority vote the Board passes a motion to go into executive session for the purpose(s) of discussing personnel issues, determining disciplinary action against an officer, director, or other member or volunteer, or discussing pending contractual agreements, bids or contracts for services that would be adversely affected by public knowledge. The motion for a closed session must state the purpose requiring closure, and a motion to return to open meeting must be approved by the Board immediately upon completion of the business requiring the closed session. All regular meetings of the Board of Directors must be announced in the newsletter. Special meetings shall be announced in the newsletter when practical. The meeting announcement must include the date, time, and location of the meeting; in the case of a special meeting, it must also include the reason for the meeting.
ACB and the Department of Health and Human Services Announce That More Accessible COVID-19 At-Home Tests Are Now Available
On June 22, 2022, the federal government announced a new initiative to expand the availability of testing options that are more accessible for people who are blind or low vision and who use a smartphone. Now, people who are blind or low vision may order more accessible COVID-19 at-home tests. When connected to a smartphone application, these tests are capable of providing audible testing instructions and results to make the COVID-19 testing process more private and independent for people who are blind or low vision.
“ACB and our members have long fought for accessibility improvements to our nation’s healthcare system, including accessible home diagnostic tests and durable medical equipment”, said ACB President Dan Spoone. “This announcement and program marks an important first step to provide more accessible COVID-19 at-home tests for people who are blind or low vision.”
“Similar to other aspects of our lives and advocacy work, we realize that the accessibility of at-home medical testing is a journey, not a destination, and that these improved offerings from the federal COVID-19 at-home testing service will reduce but not eliminate accessibility barriers for people who are blind or low vision, especially for ACB members and the broader community of people who do not use a smartphone and who do not have access to broadband services”, said ACB Executive Director Eric Bridges. “ACB remains resolute in our advocacy efforts to make all forms of at-home medical testing, remote monitoring, and diagnostic equipment and services independently and privately accessible for people who are blind or low vision.”
To receive the more accessible COVID-19 at-home tests from the federal government, consumers may visit https://special.usps.com/testkits/accessible or call 1-800-232-0233. Each order will include two rapid-antigen tests that are more accessible for people who are blind or low vision. Orders will ship free, while supplies last. The tests work with the free Ellume COVID-19 Home Test app for Apple or Android smartphones to provide users with audible instructions and test results. For additional information regarding this more accessible at-home testing option, including additional resources from the Department of Health and Human Services, please visit: https://acb.org/accessible-COVID-tests.
If these more accessible tests will not meet your at-home testing needs, please contact the Disability Information and Access Line of the Administration on Community Living for additional COVID-19 testing resources: 1-888-677-1199.
By Cheryl Outsen Heyborne
I have been legally blind since birth. I attended the Utah School for the Blind from kindergarten through ninth grade and was mainstreamed as a sophomore in high school. My family lived equally close to East High and Judge Memorial High School so we had to decide which one I would attend. My parents and I chose Judge, mainly because it was one-fourth the size of East. Since Judge was a private school, I didn’t qualify for the assistance of a special-education teacher but still received state-provided reader service.
Geometry was required of all sophomores at Judge, and I was a little concerned about the subject being too visual. Miss Murphy, a young, first-year teacher, announced at the first class that we would have a test every Friday. On the first test I only finished half, all definitions. Monday morning Miss Murphy announced that she would hand the tests back according to grade. Since I thought my grade would be only 50% at most, my score would be the lowest. At that point I wished a huge hole would magically appear and swallow me up right then since I wanted so badly to show the other students that blind people can compete satisfactorily with their sighted peers. To my shock she handed my test back first since I got 100% on what I had finished. This was an unfair accommodation, but I knew I had to work faster and never had that problem again.
Since math had always been my favorite subject, I decided to pursue it until I flunked out. Again, I was concerned about trigonometry my senior year with all of those “smart boys” in the class. In those days few girls took advanced math or science courses. Again, I survived the class
Next I took the entrance math exam at the University of Utah which only required first-year algebra to pass. I flunked it and was assigned to remedial math. My counselor said that didn’t make sense and arranged for me to retake the test. This time I scored where I should have given my high-school background. My first test had been corrected with the wrong key.
I majored in math, never flunked out, and graduated from the U. with a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics and a minor in computer science, I worked for three years as a computer programmer in scientific applications and systems programming. But how different my future might have been if I had been discouraged about my math ability by that first geometry test. Thank you for your wisdom, Miss Murphy!
By Tom Mitchell
I’ve always had a really hard time filling ice trays from the kitchen sink. If I get them filled from the tap, then I lose half the water getting to the counter or fridge. Then, just a little over a week ago I discovered a way to reduce the spillage.
Take an empty water bottle and fill it. Then, carefully tipping the bottle over the ice tray so that the bottle goes along the length of the tray, and keeping the other hand near the top of the bottle, poor a small stream of water into the ice tray, making sure that your finger can feel which cube container of the tray the water is going into. One 16-ounce bottle will nearly fill up a standard tray. I did have a little spillage, but not nearly so much as using the kitchen tap. I haven’t practiced it a lot, but I believe with a little more practice, it’s an idea that really will work.
In honor of the 50th anniversary of the UCB we are offering lifetime memberships at a $50.00 discount anytime during 2022. This means that you can purchase a lifetime membership for $200 rather than the usual $250. We encourage all members to take advantage of this opportunity. To pay by debit or credit card, contact Kate at 801-245-9264. To pay by check, mail your check to: UCB Membership, PO Box 1415, Bountiful, UT 84011-1415.
Donni Mitchell, our vice president, volunteers in the UCB Office at DSBVI, 250 N 1950 W, Salt Lake City, UT, from 12:30 to 3:30 pm on Wednesdays. She is happy to answer questions, help with purchases, visit with you on topics of interest, and make referrals when appropriate.
We are always looking for articles, book reviews, or interesting tidbits of information from our readers or other interested persons. The deadline for submitting items for publication is the 15th of the month. You may e-mail any articles you wish to submit to tommit60@gmail.com; send Braille, print, or audio to UCB Buzz, PO Box 1415, Bountiful, UT 84011-1415; or drop them off to Donni at the DSBVI office. Please allow extra time for processing Braille, print, or audio.
Members are invited and encouraged to attend meetings of the Board of Directors. Meetings will typically be held the first Thursday of each month at 4:45 p.m. via Zoom.
If you have questions or concerns for any board member, to be placed on the agenda of a board meeting, or just to attend a meeting, e-mail utahblind@gmail.com or call 801-245-9264.
Anna Jeffery, President
Donni Mitchell, Vice President
Jeana Nielsen, Secretary
Vicki Flake, Treasurer
Sandy Ruconich, Executive Director
Aunilie Hathaway
Monica Youngdell
Sandy England
Kira Larkin
Shelly Hendricksen
Kate Balzly, Chief Operating Officer
Thursday, August 4, 4:45 p.m.
Thursday, September 1, 4:45 p.m.
Annual Business Meeting, Saturday, September 17, 10:00 a.m. (for all members)
Thursday, October 6, 4:45 p.m.
Budget and Training Meeting, Saturday, October 15, 9:00 a.m.
Thursday, November 3, 4:45 p.m.
Thursday, December 1, 4:45 p.m.
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