The UCB
Buzz
A publication of
Utah Council
of the Blind
June 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
Utah
Council of the Blind Calling Committee Members Still Needed
Leslie
Gertsch Cooking with Family and Friends Cookbook Now 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 particular issue of the Buzz has some very important information regarding the upcoming Business Meeting on September 17. Since a number of officers on the UCB Board of Directors, and some new members for the board will be considered, I hope you will pay particular attention to the next article, concerning the Annual Business Meeting, because whether or not you choose to run for a position on the Board of Directors, you should be aware of how that works. Also, you should know how to submit changes to the Bylaws, so that if you wish to make a change in any of the bylaws by which our organization is governed, you may do so.
Remember that no candidate nominations from the floor, or write-in candidates can be considered under the new bylaws passed last September, so any candidate or bylaw changes have to be sent to the appropriate committees for inclusion in the August issue of this newsletter. So please be sure and read the next article carefully.
I also want you to know that you may submit articles for this newsletter anytime you want to, and not have to wait for the 15th of the month. I store them, and when it starts to get close to where I need to put a new issue together, I look and see what I have. So dont let the statement at the end of this magazine fool you into thinking that you have to wait till the 15th. You dont. Id like to hear from you anytime. But be sure if you want an event announced that occurs in a particular month, I must have the information by the 15th of the previous month. Thats the only time a time-limit comes up.
Im sorry that we dont have an article from anyone about someone who influenced them, but I hope we get more of those. The previous two that we have published have been very well received.
In the meantime, have a happy Spring and Summer.
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.
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.
During this year's Annual Business
Meeting we will be electing the president, secretary, and approximately half of
our directors. As specified in the UCB Bylaws: "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."
"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 ... No nominations from the floor or
write-in candidates will be allowed."
"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 office."
"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.
Election Committee: We are pleased
to announce that the Election
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. Committee chair for this year
is Shelly Hendricksen. Her committee members are Donni Mitchell and Vicki Flake.
If you are willing to run for one
of the open positions on the Board, you must submit your written statement to the
Nominating Committee by email to:
SingingShelly@gmail.com
or by standard mail to:
UCB Nominating Committee
PO Box 1415
Bountiful UT 84011-1415
The nomination statement must be
received no later than July 10, 2022, in order to be processed and published in
the August 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:
utahblind@gmail.com
Proposals must be received on or
before July 10, 2022, in order for them to be prepared for publication in the August
newsletter.
Want to go on a picnic? Who doesnt! The Utah Council of the Blind
is holding a summer picnic fund-raiser on Saturday, July 9th, 2022, from 11:30-2:00
pm at Liberty Park.
100% of proceeds will go to direct
services for the blind of Utah.
Lunch is served hot from 11:30-12:30
and includes delicious hot cheeseburgers, baked beans, salads, chips, water, and
dessert. Cost of the lunch is $15.00 per meal. (No substitutes, one size fits all.)
Discount entrance fees to Tracy
Aviary will be available on a limited first come first serve basis when reserving
your picnic.
Liberty Park is full of entertainment
and adventure with the Liberty Park swimming Pool, Seven Canyons water feature,
pedal boat rentals, rides and more. Tell your friends and neighbors to come out
and support the UCB and enjoy a delicious picnic in the park.
Reservations must be made in advance, and are due by July 1.
RSVP at the UCB office 801-245-9264.
By Monica Youngdell, Calling Committee Chair
Hello, everyone. I am so excited to start a calling committee for the Utah Council of the Blind. However, because of health issues and other commitment constraints with some of the members, it is very essential at this time that we expand our calling committee by adding new members. You are strongly encouraged to invite other people, sighted or blind, whoever you feel will be useful for our calling committee, to help us by attending conference calls as needed, making calls to people in the membership about our services and receiving and adding suggestions to a better quality of service to our organization and the blind community as a whole. Please respond to this article if you, or someone you know, can be of service to the committee to email: kitty1481@gmail.com or calling 801-364-2311. We need to expand and organize our committee so please lend a helping hand by joining today. Thank you so much for the people who are involved. We appreciate your time and effort.
The long-awaited Volume 1 of the Leslie Gertsch Cooking with Family and Friends braille recipe collection is finally available. It includes some of her favorite canning recipes, lots of sweet treats, and several other of her favorites. The collection is available in hard-copy braille or as a digital brf file which can be read on your electronic devices or the Victor Reader Stream. There is no cost for this book if you are a blind or visually impaired resident of Utah. To obtain your copy, contact our business office at 801-245-9264 or email utahblind@gmail.com and let us know which format you prefer.
by Kim Charlson
ICEB compiles adult braille instruction resources
from across English-Speaking countries.
The International Council on English Braille
(ICEB) recognizes that as the global population continues to age, there is a growing
prevalence of adults and older adults who experience vision loss later in life and
who would benefit from braille instruction. For almost 200 years, braille has continued
to level the playing field for blind people around the world. Adults use braille
for functional tasks such as labeling household items, writing phone numbers and
lists, personal record-keeping, engaging in leisure activities, reading elevators
and public signage. Braille is also vital for more extensive reading tasks in education
and employment. Braille provides blind adults with greater privacy, allowing them
to access personal information without the assistance of others. Adults can and
do learn braille, but there is a need to better understand the current state of
available resources for adult braille learners.
Practitioners in English-speaking countries
are developing and using innovative tools to support adult braille learners and
it is important that we share this with others, explains Dr. Natalie Martiniello,
Chair of the ICEB Research Committee. There are also gaps in adult braille learning
that need to be addressed as we prepare for the future. The first step is compiling
what is already available. ICEB is committed to facilitating this process alongside
others from around the English-speaking world.
A list of available curricula and learning resources
for adults will be compiled and made publicly available on the ICEB website. ICEB
invites both individuals and organizations to share information about the learning
tools being used to teach braille reading and writing to adults in their respective
countries. This includes:
names
of organizations that provide adult braille instruction in different
English-speaking countries
information about
textbooks for adult braille learners and/or available
self-paced curricula
adult braille assessment guidelines and resources
available websites,
games and other strategies used to teach braille
to adults
information about
workshops and courses on teaching braille to adults
designed for practitioners
peer-support programs for adult braille learners in English-speaking countries
If you have information or items to contribute to this list, or to learn more, please write to info@iceb.org
The International Council on English Braille (ICEB) was formed in 1991 and provides a forum for international cooperation among those countries that use English-language braille by assisting countries to establish standard-setting bodies in relation to braille codes and practices; working towards the development and adoption of international minimum standards for the production and teaching of braille; and facilitating the exchange of braille materials between member countries. Its members currently include braille authorities from Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States. To learn more about ICEB, visit http://www.iceb.org or write to info@iceb.org.
"I love to be social and go hang out with friends. But it's difficult to do that if it's at a large social event or party since I cannot just look around for any friends I know. Either I go with a friend who promises to stick by me the whole time or I don't go at all. I don't want to be a burden and force them to chaperone me the entire time."
Jacob, Provo Utah
Finding a familiar voice in a large crowd can be challenging! It's difficult to feel independent in a social setting if you don't know who's around you.
Jacob along with many others' similar experiences inspired a new app for the blind and their sighted friends: FriendSurround.
FriendSurround's goal is to blur the lines between blind and sighted individuals in a social setting. FriendSurround notifies you when your friends are close to you. The app provides a quick way to see who's around and text or call them directly from the app. The app is accessible with VoiceOver and large text sizes.
The app was created by four college students for their capstone project at BYU and is in the Beta phase. It's completely free and they plan to keep it that way.
The link below takes you to an article about how FriendSurround began and instructions on how to download the app:
https://medium.com/@friendsurround/1dd75d807fa0
Delivering Faith and Inspiration in Braille and
Digital Talking Book.
We would like to make you aware of some of the newest braille and audio additions to our library available free of charge to blind and visually impaired people throughout the United States. Please help us spread the word!
New in digital talking books:
The Ear of the Heart: An Actress' Journey from Hollywood to Holy
Vows by Mother Dolores Hart
Invitation to Love: The Way of Christian Contemplation - 20th Anniversary
Edition by Thomas Keating
Beyond the Mirror: Reflections on Death and Life by Henri J.M.
Nouwen
Daniel Rudd: Calling a Church to Justice by Gary B. Agee
Rejoice! Advent Meditations with Mary by Father Mark Toups
Sacred Strangers: What the Bible's Outsiders Can Teach Christians
by Nancy Haught
New in braille:
Voyage of Mercy: The USS Jamestown, the Irish Famine and the Remarkable
Story of America's First Humanitarian Mission by Stephen Puleo
Two Days and One Suitcase: The True Story of One Family's Choice
of Friendship and Goodwill During WWII by Anne Neuberger
With God in America: The Spiritual Legacy of an Unlikely Jesuit
by Walter J. Ciszek, SJ
The Miracle of Father Kapaun: Priest,
Soldier and Korean War Hero by Roy Wenzl and Travis Heying
A Pilgrimage to Eternity: From Canterbury to Rome - In Search of
a Faith by Timothy Egan
The Stranger in the Lifeboat by Mitch Albom
Since 1900, Xavier Society for the Blind has been providing braille and audio materials to blind and visually impaired people worldwide. Our books are mainly spiritual and inspirational and are provided free of charge to patrons of all faiths and ages.
We are committed to serving many more people in new and innovative ways. For more information, to register, and/or to request titles, you can get in touch with us in a number of ways:
Visit our website xaviersocietyfortheblind.org
Call 800-637-9193 or 212-473-7800
E-mail us at info@xaviersocietyfortheblind.org
Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook @XavierSociety
By Dianne Brown
I have a 1st Generation 40 cell Brailliant Braille display in
excellent condition for sale, $500. Contact me at:
Dianne Brown
Phone: (801) 243-9545
Email: dianne.brown4350@comcast.net
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, June 2, 4:45 p.m.
Thursday, July 7, 4:45 p.m.
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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MATTER
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THE BLIND
Bountiful UT 84011-1415 AND
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