The UCB Buzz

A publication of

Utah Council of the Blind

Summer 2025

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

Tactile Maps, Falling Ice, and a Drawer Full of Poop – Why You Need to Get Outside. 3

UCB Annual Business Meeting. 6

Call for Nominations. 7

Save the Date – Statewide Training Conference. 10

Planning Ahead. 10

In Loving Memory – Anne Omer 11

Bratten’s Boston Clam Chowder 13

Activities Calendar 14

Board of Directors Meetings. 15

UCB Board and Management 16

Tactile Maps, Falling Ice, and a Drawer Full of Poop – Why You Need to Get Outside

There’s something remarkable that happens when you step into nature. I had the opportunity to visit Yosemite National Park with my family this past spring, I challenged myself to look for opportunities that would enhance my experience as a blind visitor. This well-known national park did not disappoint.

While enjoying the sounds of the springtime birds, feeling the rain on my face while walking on paths lightly packed with snow, and listening to my family members talk about how beautiful every turn was, I discovered something I’d never seen before: tactile maps. These are specially designed maps you can feel – raised topography, Braille labels, and textures that bring the landscape to life through your hands. Standing there tracing the granite ridges and valleys with my fingertips, I felt more connected to the park than ever. It was like Yosemite wasn’t just a place to look at, but a place to touch and truly experience.

As my family was visually taking in the vastness of Yosemite Falls and contemplating on how they could see a break right in the middle of the falls as if somehow there was a giant hole in the rock for it to pass through before you could see it again, I stood nearby marveling at the detailed tactile map that was available for any visitor to explore. Its detailed features of the waterfall showed me that the fall started at the top, falling from a large cliff and narrowing into a river winding its way down to another cliff where it would then gather and fall from a lower cliff. Because my family could not visually see the river, they did not have the full picture. I took the liberty of sharing with them what I had learned so they, too, could marvel at the most beautiful sight of nature.

The real adventure began when we decided to hike to the bottom of El Capitan. It was springtime, and though the sun was warm on our backs, snow still clung to the top of the massive rockface. As we stood in awe of its towering presence, we suddenly heard a thunderous crack – ice was breaking off the summit and falling, crashing somewhere much too close for comfort. It was terrifying for a moment … and then exhilarating. We felt alive. We’d done something hard. And it was fun. That’s the kind of moment you can’t capture in a photo or a post. You have to be there.

Later, in the Yosemite Visitor Center, we explored another hidden gem: a display with over 40 drawers that you can actually open and touch. There were textures of bark, feathers, rocks, pinecones – and yes, even an entire drawer filled with different types of animal poop, each made of a rubbery substance clearly resembling the size and shape of each animal scat. It was gross. It was awesome. It was real.

So, here’s my message to you:

Get outside. Go beyond the screens and routines. Touch the world. Feel the bark of a tree, the chill of mountain air, the thrill of stepping into something bigger than yourself. You don’t have to start with El Capitan. Start with a trail near home. Just start. Because nature isn’t just something to see. It’s something to live and experience. Now go get a little dirt on your shoes.

Anna Jeffery,
President

UCB Annual Business Meeting

The Annual Business Meeting of the Utah Council of the Blind will be held by Zoom at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 20, 2025. 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, September18th.

Watch future issues of The UCB Buzz for information regarding participation by Zoom and voting procedures.

Call for Nominations

During this year's Annual Business Meeting we will be electing the vice president (currently Donni Mitchell), treasurer (currently Vicki Flake), and two directors (positions currently held by Kira Larkin and Shelly Hendriksen).

As specified in the UCB Bylaws: "Section 3.2. … 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.

“Section 4.1. … 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. … 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 individual… No nominations from the floor or write-in candidates will be allowed…

"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 office…

"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.”

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 Anna Jeffery. Her committee members are Dennie Clark and Jenny Thompson.

Nomination statements must be submitted to the Election Committee by email to:

utahblind@gmail.com

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, 2025, in order to be processed and published in the newsletter.

Save the Date – Statewide Training Conference

Get ready and mark your calendars for this year’s training conference. This year's theme is “Being Empowered by Creating Your Own Happiness.” It will be held on November 7-8 at the Embassy Suites in South Jordan, Utah. We will have awesome speakers and fun activities. Plan to join us for this exciting event!

Planning Ahead

The Stocking were hung by the Chimney with care.

Remember “The sweetest surprises come in a stocking.” This year we will do our Christmas stocking fund raiser. These are improved, beautiful, soft, and fluffy. Red with white top or dark green with white tops. Full of wonderful surprises. These Fundraisers help the UCB and they are great gifts for all! We even do pet stockings! So, what are you waiting for? Yes, this is early, however, the early bird gets the worm, but you will get an awesome Christmas stocking. They are $16.00. Please call the UCB office with your order. Please let us know if it is for a child, young adult, or adult. If you don’t’ want a stocking, you can always donate by calling with your credit card.

Remember your neighbors, that special friend, a dear child, the postman, your grandma, mom or dad, husband or wife, etc. You can pick them up at the Christmas party.

In Loving Memory – Anne Omer

March 30, 1933 — April 21, 2025

On a beautiful spring day, April 21, 2025 while surrounded by her loving family, Amelia Anne Baker Omer passed peacefully and moved on to her next great adventure.

Anne was born in Lamar, Colorado on March 30, 1933 to Edwin Ellis and Stella Mae Baker, the 5th of 7 siblings. She was baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints on March 30, 1957.

Anne married the love of her life Donald Phillip Omer on February 2, 1952. They enjoyed 73 years together. They were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple on November 1, 1957. They raised 6 children in their home in Centerville Utah, Linda, Chris (Jerry), Ed (Lori), Beth, Gail (Mike) and Richard (Michelle).

She was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and spent many years in various church callings, including Relief Society and Primary presidencies and many other positions. She enjoyed 42 years sharing her love of the mountains with the young women in her ward/ stake. She enjoyed participating in the choir and sharing her beautiful voice.

Anne was a gifted artist. She loved and shared her talents through many mediums throughout her life. She volunteered over 25 years at Utah Center for the Blind. Sharing her time, teaching and helping them to paint ceramics. Anne had many passions, probably her favorite role was that of grandmother. She spent countless hours enjoying her grandchildren, playing games at home and sharing time in the mountains she loved. She taught them to paint ceramics and how to carve wood. She especially loved the private concerts they shared with her.

Anne lived a full life and was a loving influence, as a wife, mother, grandmother, aunt, teacher and friend to all of us fortunate enough to have shared in her life. She was a wonderful example of a life well lived.

Bratten’s Boston Clam Chowder

2-6 ½ oz cans minced clams

1 c onions, finely chopped

1 c celery, finely chopped

2 c potatoes finely diced

3/4 c butter or margarine

3/4 c flour

1 qt half & half or non dairy creamer

1 1/2 tsp salt

Few grains pepper

1/2 tsp sugar

Drain juice from clams and pour over vegetables in med saucepan. Add enough water to barely cover and simmer over med heat (covered) until potatoes are cooked and tender. In the meantime, melt butter. Add flour and blend and cook a minute or two. Add cream and cook and stir until smooth and thick. Using wire whisk to blend, add un-drained vegetables and clams and heat through. Season with salt, pepper and sugar to taste.

Activities Calendar

(Dates and details are subject to change, so be sure to watch your newsletters for updates. Also, we’re always looking for help, so if you’d like to volunteer to serve on any of the committees for these activities, please let us know.)

July 4-11, 2025, Dallas, TX, ACB National Convention – for more information check out https://acbconvention.org

September 8 and 10, Utah State Fair – watch for updates (Kate Balzly, chair)

September 20, 2025, 9:00 a.m., UCB Annual Business Meeting, Zoom

October 25, 2025, Time TBD, Spooktacular Halloween Party Fundraiser – watch for updates (Kate Balzly, chair)

November 7-8, 2025, “Living a Happy and Satisfying Life” Statewide Training Conference – watch for updates (Mindi Larson, chair)

November 26, 2025, History of the Blind – watch for updates (Kira Larkin, chair)

December 6, 2025, Holiday Celebration, DSBVI – watch for updates (Shelly Hendriksen, chair)

Board of Directors Meetings

Members are invited to attend meetings of the Board of Directors. Meetings will typically be held on the first Thursday of selected months at 4:45 p.m. via Zoom. To be placed on the agenda or attend a meeting, email utahblind@gmail.com or call 801-245-9264.

August 7, 2025, 4:45 p.m.

October 2, 2025, 4:45 p.m. – Budget and Planning Meeting (by invitation only)

January 8, 2026, 4:45 p.m.