The
UCB Buzz
A publication of
Utah
Council of the Blind
June-July
2026
For the latest news updates, check out the website
at utahblind.org, follow us on Facebook, and/or join our email list.
Contact Information:
E-mail us at utahblind@gmail.com
Call our business office at 801-245-9264
Mailing address:
Utah Council of the Blind
PO Box 1415
Bountiful UT 84011-1415
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 (or an additional format), please call or email and let us
know.
We always
appreciate hearing from our readers and receiving your contributions. Please
send them to us via the contact information above.
Disclaimer
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.
In This Issue
Accessibility at Lake City
African American Heritage Trail
In Memoriam Ð Dr. Lee
Robinson
Save the Date: Utah Council
of the Blind 2026 State Training Conference
Registering for the
Conference
Meet Board Member Mindi
Larson
UCB Expands Transportation
Services in Cedar City
The Annual Business Meeting of the Utah Council of the Blind will be held by Zoom at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 19, 2026. Reservations are required so that we can assure you have the appropriate Zoom connection information. 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 and email address, no later than Thursday, September 17th.
Watch future issues of The UCB Buzz for information regarding participation by Zoom and voting procedures.
During this year's Annual Business Meeting we will be electing the president (currently Anna Jeffery), secretary (currently Jeana Nielsen), and three directors (positions currently held by Sandy England, Dennie Clark, and Mindi Larson).
As specified in the UCB Bylaws: "Section 3.2. É 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 more than two members of the Board of Directors may be close family members, i.e. spouse, child, grandchild, sibling, aunt, uncle, first cousin, etc., and no more than one family member may hold an officer position.
ÒSection 4.1. É In order to be eligible for election to an officer position a person must have been a member of the organization for not less than one year and served on a committee. In order to be elected to a board position a person must have been a member of the organization for not less than six months.
"Section 4.2. É No member who agrees to serve on the Election Committee may run for office in the current election. Any member of the organization may nominate themself or another qualified member by submitting a written statement of not more than one page concerning the qualifications of the nominee. Should more than one statement be received for an individual, the Election Committee shall determine which one statement to publish, giving priority to one personally written by the individualÉ No nominations from the floor or write-in candidates will be allowedÉ
"Section 4.3. Officers and Directors elected at the annual business meeting are expected to attend meetings of the Board of Directors and training activities held between the time of their election and the date they take officeÉ
"Section 4.4. The regular term of office for each Officer and Director shall commence January 1st and be two years or until a successor is elected or appointed as outlined in these Bylaws.Ó
In addition to the above requirements, please be aware that by far most board meetings are held via Zoom, correspondence between meetings among board members is conducted via group text messages and email, and most of the informational materials to be utilized and considered by board members and in board discussions are presented in electronic formats such as Word documents, Excel workbooks, and pdf documents. For this reason, it is fairly important that board members have access to and be capable of utilizing technology effectively.
Election Committee: The Election Committee chair for this year is Vicki Flake. Her committee members are Aunilie Hathaway and Adra Menasian.
Nomination statements must be submitted to the Election Committee by email to:
or by standard mail to:
UCB Election Committee
PO Box 1415
Bountiful UT 84011-1415
Nomination statements must be received no later than July 15, 2026, in order to be processed and published in the newsletter.
Proposed Bylaws amendments may be
submitted to:
Utah Council of the Blind
Secretary
PO Box 1415
Bountiful UT 84011-1415
or by e-mail to:
Proposals must be received on or before July 15, 2026, in order for them to be prepared for publication in the newsletter.
Saint
Teresa Community Outreach and Empowerment (STCOE), based in Lake City, South
Carolina, is currently developing accessible heritage materials connected to
the Lake City African American Heritage Trail. As part of this effort, we
recently produced Braille editions of our ÒAfrican American Historic Site Tour:
Lake City, South CarolinaÓ brochure in partnership with Clovernook Center for
the Blind and Visually Impaired. The project is part of a broader pilot
initiative exploring how local African American history can be made more
accessible to blind and visually impaired audiences through Braille materials,
audio interpretation, and inclusive educational outreach.
We
are currently seeking feedback from individuals, educators, organizations, and
community members who may be interested in reviewing the Braille brochure,
sharing suggestions, or helping us explore future pilot and distribution
opportunities. We especially welcome insights from blind and visually impaired
readers regarding readability, usability, and overall visitor experience. Our
hope is that this project may serve as a model for making local heritage
interpretation more accessible and inclusive for all communities.
Thank
you again for helping us share this work with your members.
Sincerely,
Dr. Terrie Gaskins-Bryant
Saint Teresa Community Outreach and Empowerment (STCOE)
Lake City, South Carolina
843-598-0250
http://www.saintteresacoe.org/tour
Feb. 08, 1943 Ð May 04, 2026
It is an honor to celebrate the life of Lee Warren Robinson, who was born on February 8, 1943, in Idaho Falls, Idaho. He left this earth on May 4, 2026. If you'd ever had the pleasure of meeting Lee, you would have been considered a friend. He enjoyed visiting with others and had plenty of stories and jokes to share. He was an ambitious and educated man, who spent his life serving as an educator and administrator, most of his career was spent serving as Superintendent for the Utah Schools of the Deaf and Blind. Lee was passionate and shared his knowledge through his interactions with the Ogden Association of the Blind, The National Accreditation Council (NAC), and the Utah Council of the Blind. All are testaments to his dedication towards creating an inclusive world.
Lee was a family man through and through. He married his sweetheart, Keitha Sue Robinson, on October 12, 1967, in the Idaho Falls Temple after meeting her while attending Idaho State University. They had four children, Pat, James, Scott, and Jenny. They lived in Lava Hot Springs ID, American Fork UT, Gooding ID, Austin TX, Dallas TX, Waukegan IL, before finally settling in Pleasant View UT. He enjoyed family reunions, campouts at Stone Reservoir with his siblings, several Thomas holiday gatherings, and attending school and sporting events for his grandkids. He was a firm believer in the power of personal connections and took every opportunity to make people feel important. His teachings, wisdom, and life experiences were lessons for all those who had the good fortune of knowing him.
In his faith, Lee was a steadfast member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and held several callings over the years. His favorite included teaching the entire Gospel Doctrine. Lee served valiantly as a Melchizedek priesthood holder and was a living embodiment of this privilege.
Lee is survived by his wife Keitha, his children Pat, James (Jamie), Jenny, grandchildren Kirsten (Mike) Smith, Jacob (McKayla) Robinson, Brylee (Tanner) Robinson, one great-grandson Rusty Robinson, sister-in-law Floy Robinson Hodges, as well as several cousins, nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his son Scott Andrew Robinson, father Warren Robinson, mother Leone Robinson, and his siblings (Rayola (Gene) Hamilton, Clair Robinson, Dale Robinson, and Jean (Grant) Thomas.
We encourage you to share your favorite memories, stories, or photos of Lee on the online memorial page as we celebrate the life of this extraordinary man. His story is not just in the dates and facts but also in the lives he touched and the love he shared. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Ogden Association of Blind.
VISION BEYOND SIGHT: UNLOCKING YOUR POTENTIAL
By Anna Jeffery
The Utah Council of the Blind is excited to announce its upcoming State Training Conference, scheduled for September 11Ð12 in Logan, Utah. This yearÕs event will take place at the beautiful Riverwoods Conference Center, 635 Riverwood Parkway Logan, Utah.
The conference will include an informational update from the Utah State Library for the Blind, along with an entertaining author trivia game where attendees can compete for prizes.
Technology enthusiasts can look forward to a Resource and technology fair, complete with vendors and opportunities to explore new assistive tools and devices. Smart Glasses, how can they unlock your potential? Come and find out. A Humanware representative will provide a unique audible experience demonstrating The Meta Glasses as well as give you the opportunity to try them on and experience them for yourself.
A representative of Guide Dogs for the Blind will give an update including more information about their new facility and how they are adding orientation and mobility to their training repertoire. Along with this report will be a chance to meet other guide dog users and ask questions.
In an exciting new partnership, the conference will feature activities led by Common Ground Outdoor Adventures, an accessible outdoor adventure program. Participants will have the opportunity to try out archery as well as one additional hands-on activity that will be announced soon.
Looking for an exciting encounter? Scales And Tails, a local reptile zoo, will be sure to provide a safe, educational and interactive presentation.
Staying Friday night? Get ready to kick back and have a blast with accessible games, great company and a chance to win awesome prizes. Of course, donÕt forget the ice cream!
SpringHill suites has available rooms blocked at a special rate for attendees at a rate of $179 per night plus tax. Hotel rooms must be booked before August 14th. Any rooms booked and needing to be canceled must be canceled before August 4th or you will be charged the full room price.
All suite accommodations include:
In-suite microwave and a mini fridge
Complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi and smart TVs
Complimentary daily hot breakfast
Complimentary parking and zero resort fees
Outdoor patio attached to indoor swimming pool
Indoor heated swimming pool and hot tub
Fully equipped fitness center
To book your room you may select the following link, which will take you to an accessible web page where you can choose the exact dates, how many guests will be staying in a room and pay for your stay.
Book your group rate for Utah Council of the Blind (https://app.marriott.com/reslink?id=1772497085597&key=GRP&app=resvlink)
You may also call the hotel sales coordinator, Abby, at her direct line 435-750-9395. She is happy to help you with booking a room or answer any questions you might have. Be sure to tell her you are with the Utah Council of the Blind, so she can be sure to get you the discounted price.
Upon request the Utah Council of the Blind will provide transportation from the Blind Center to the conference. This service will be provided each day of the conference and there will be a $5.00 charge per person each way.
Registration for the conference is $60, and there will be no partial registration options. The fee includes:
Conference admission
Two box lunches
One evening reception
One banquet meal
Registration
and transportation for the conference can be made by following this link UCB Statewide Conference 2026 (https://www.utahblind.org/ucbconference.html)
Or
calling our office 801-245-9264 Monday Ð Friday 10:00 a.m. Ð 5:00 p.m.
More details, including the final activity lineup, will be shared soon. Attendees are encouraged to mark their calendars and prepare for two days of learning, connection, technology exploration, and fun.
EditorÕs note: In order to let you get better acquainted with our management team, in each newsletter, we are planning to include an article or two from members of the team. We hope you find this useful and enjoyable.
I was born in Little Rock, Arkansas. I am the youngest of 4 children, by 14 years. As a newborn, I was under bilirubin lights for a month. They did not cover my eyes. I got cataracts from that. It began my journey with blindness. Since then, I have had glaucoma, retina detachments, and a couple of cornea transplants.
As a child, I took ten years of dance, as well as 3 years of singing, and I was the captain of my junior high drill team, When I was 15, we moved to Utah. In high school, I danced more, I sang more, and I was on a senior leadership team.
A year after graduating high school, I got married. I had 4 kidsÉ Libby, Eli, Heather, and 7 years later Zoe. In 2019 I filed for divorce. It was an agonizing two-year process. After I filed for divorce, I began working on myself. I started singing again. I learned to paint from my perception. I went through TAS again. I went back to college. I got involved with the UCB. I now go to places on my own using Uber. I have a dancing family, so of course I will always dance. My divorce forced me to become independent enough for both myself and a husband as well. I do just about everything in my life without sighted assistance. Years ago, I was bitten by a spider while pulling weeds, and it made me sick. So, I will not pull weeds.
I became very sick at the beginning of this year with cellulitis in my face. Morphine didnÕt help with the pain. I stopped everything in my life to concentrate on just getting better. My vision and hearing suffered. After several weeks, what vision and hearing that I had came back again. I am still sick, but not in that terrible kind of pain. It altered me in the way that I will never see life the same again.
I enjoy working with the UCB. I love to learn anything that I can. I make a lot of mistakes, but I need to just get up and keep going. Which is an important part of life.
Thanks, Mindi
By Kate Balzly
The Utah Council of the Blind (UCB) is pleased to announce a new partnership with Soul Taxi to expand accessible transportation options for individuals who are blind or visually impaired in Southern Utah.
Through this partnership, Soul Taxi will now accept UCB cab coupons as payment for rides, making it easier for participants in the Subsidized Transportation Program to travel to work, medical appointments, school, and community activities. This addition strengthens UCBÕs ongoing commitment to increasing independence and mobility for its members across the state.
Cedar City and surrounding rural areas often have limited transportation options, making reliable and affordable services especially critical. By working with Soul Taxi, UCB continues to bridge that gap and ensure participants have access to safe and dependable transportation.
To schedule a ride with Soul Taxi, please call 435-267-4866.
UCB encourages all eligible participants in the Cedar City area to take advantage of this new service. For more information about the Subsidized Transportation Program or to obtain cab coupons, please contact the Utah Council of the Blind office at 801-245-9264 Monday-Friday 10 am-5 pm.
By Sandy England
When the early bird catches the worm, he is happy!
Ok, we are not talking about worms, but we are talking about Christmas Stockings and Easter Baskets. So, you can be HAPPY like the birds Ð why not order early and get those items for whom you need gifts during these two holidays? Call Kate at the UCB office and give your credit card now and then you donÕt have to think about it again. Those who wait too long might not get a stocking or Easter basket, for we might run out. So, pick up the phone and call Kate to reserve yours today!!! Please, we have a request this year: Tell your friends and family about what we do in the Utah Council of the Blind. Let them know about our activities and our wonderful Christmas Stockings and Easter Baskets.
From Leslie Gertsch
2 c. chopped chicken, turkey or fried ground beef
1 5-oz. can chow mein noodles
2 pkgs. ramen noodles, broken and without the flavoring
2 cans mushroom soup
2 1/2 cans water
1 onion, chopped
2 stalks celery, chopped
SautŽ onion and celery just until translucent. Mix well with other ingredients and bake in covered casserole dish for 45 minutes at 350 degrees.
July 24-31, 2026, American Council of the Blind Convention, St. Louis, Missouri
August 14, 2026, deadline for hotel reservations for State Training Conference
September 14 and 16, 2026, Utah State Fair Ð Fairpark Ð Watch for updates (Kate Balzly)
September 11-12, 2026 Ð State Training Conference, Logan Ð Watch for updates (Juanita Gentry and Anna Jeffery)
September 19, 2026, 10:00 a.m. Ð Annual Business Meeting Ð Zoom
November 7, 2026, Craft Day Ð DSBVI Ð Watch for updates (Kira Larkin)
December 5, 2026 Ð
Holiday Celebration ÒPolar ExpressÓ Ð DSBVI (Cordie Weed)
Christmas Boutique and Bake Sale Ð UCB Only (Kate Balzly and Sandy England)
Anna Jeffery, President
Sandy Ruconich, Vice President
Jeana Nielsen, Secretary
Vicki Flake, Treasurer
Sandy England
Dennie Clark
Shelly Hendriksen
Mindi Larson
Adra Menasian
Kate Balzly, Executive Director
Unless
otherwise noted, members are invited to attend meetings of the Board of
Directors, which are held via Zoom. To be placed on the agenda or attend a
meeting, email utahblind@gmail.com or call 801-245-9264.
June 4, 2026, 4:45 pm Ð Board Meeting
October 1, 2026, 4:45 pm Ð Budget and
Planning Meeting Ð by invitation only
January 7, 2027, 4:45 pm Ð Board
Meeting and Leadership Training
Sign up for newsletter:
https://www.utahblind.org/chimp.html
Donate to the UCB
https://www.utahblind.org/donate.html
Address:
Utah Council of the Blind
PO Box 1415
Bountiful UT 84011-1415