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AUGUST, 1981
VOLUME V, NUMBER 3
THE BRAILLE SPECTATOR
NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND OF MARYLAND, INC.
MARY FREEMAN, Editor
P.O. Box 4422
Baltimore, Maryland 21223
(301)298-4234
ASSOCIATE EDITORS:
Marc Maurer
Willard Freeeman
READER (cassette Version): Connie McCraw
ORGANIZATIONAL OFFICERS:
WILLIE THOMPSON, President
3435 Lynne Haven Drive, Baltimore, Maryland. 21207
(301) 521-3107
JIM OMVIG, First Vice President
TED MCKEAN, Second Vice President
LLOYD RASMUSSEN, Secretary
AL MANEKI, Treasurer
9736 Basketring Road
Columbia, Maryland 21045
THE BRAILLE SPECTATOR is published quarterly as a newsletter to members of the NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND OF MARYLAND and others who share an interest in the work of this organization. The recorded edition, available on cassettes, can be obtained from the editor upon request.
Changes of address and additions to the circulation list should be sent to the editor. Address all news items, articles and letters to the editor.
FROM THE PRESIDENT’S DESK
Willie Thompson
Since my last report to you in this newsletter, we have all been busy raising money and working hard to make this year’s National Convention the best ever. It was, indeed, the best convention ever.
At this point, I would like to thank all of you Marylanders who participated in our National Convention, and especially those of you who worked so very hard making it an enjoyable and meaningful week for our out-of-state conventioneers. But, the work is not over. We have many upcoming events in the next few months, and we need your continued participation and hard work.
On August 29, there will be a State Board Meeting. The meeting will be held in Salisbury. We will begin the meeting at one o’clock, and for those of you who might be hungry, we will have a luncheon at twelve o'clock.
As I said earlier, our work is not over. We will be discussing the State Convention and NAC-Tracking among other business items at this Board Meeting. It is important that as many of you as possible attend and give your input on the topics of discussion. It would be helpful if I could have an estimate of the number of persons coming from each chapter so that we can reserve a sufficiently large room. I hope to see many of you there.
Our State Convention this year will be held in Cumberland during the weekend of October 23-25. As usual, we will hold the State Board Meeting on Friday night, October 23, with hospitality afterward. I am sure there will be a number of interesting and important issues to be talked about during our general session on Saturday. And, of course, Sunday will be left for dealing with affiliate business, elections, chapter reports, fund raising, and other matters.
Just a few short weeks following our convention, we will be going to Atlanta, Georgia. NAC will be holding its Fall meeting at the Americana Hotel, and we will be holding our Fall meeting of the Committee on Standards and Accreditation outside this fine hotel at the same time. At this point there is some talk of chartering a bus with other nearby affiliates so that more folks can afford to attend this important meeting and continue our work in improving the lives of blind people. The bus would begin the trip early Friday morning, November 13, and stop at major points to pick up attendees. It is estimated that the trip should take approximately twelve hours. We would be returning Sunday, November 15, after our meeting. The same stops would be made on the return trip.
Further information about this function will be available at the State Board Meeting, August 29. ·Please start thinking about whether you will be able to go with us, so that by the time of the State Convention we can have.an idea of the number from our state and their transportation wants.
All of us must be forever more aware of our financial needs on both the state and national levels and constantly be working on ways to finance much needed projects in our Movement. · The time will never come when we don't need money and lots of it, and I am sure that all of our chapters are alert to this fact.
The Baltimore Chapter will be having its third annual Walk-A-Thon in October and it is hoped that several of you from throughout the state will participate in this event. It has been a successful project in the past and will be even better this year. Come and walk, or work, or pledge for a walker.
As you can see from my report, there is always work needed to be done and always energetic bodies wanting to do the work. Please, don't any of you ever feel left out--there is always something just for you. I hope to see many of you in the near future.
BIGGEST AND BEST CONVENTION EVER
Willard Freeman
The National Federation of the Blind of Maryland, as we did in 1978, had the privilege of hosting our National Convention in Baltimore in July of 1981.
Although the Convention didn't officially open until Tuesday, July 7, the Convention began for most Federationists on the 4th of July as hundreds of conventioneers toured our National Center for the Blind.
The tour of our National Center was such a success that, because of popular demand, a. second tour was scheduled for Tuesday evening for those who didn't get the chance to tour Saturday.
It is hard to pick the highlights of a Convention as superb as this one, but surely two agenda items would qualify as such.
The first occurred Wednesday, July 8, as the Convention moved to our nation’s Capitol for the day. We marched from Senate Park to the west steps of the Capitol and heard our President, Dr. Jernigan, give an overview of our legislative priorities. We heard from the Vice President of the United States, George Bush, as well as numerous Congressional Leaders.
Republicans and Democrats, Conservatives and Liberals, the Congress was there, to hear our concerns and to go on record as being friends of the National Federation of the Blind.
Despite the staggering heat and blistering sun, Federationists spent the remainder of the afternoon visiting Congress to insure that the 1981 Congress knows who we are.
The second highlight, of course, was the Thursday night banquet held at Baltimore's new Convention Center.
Close to 2,000 Federationists, scores of Maryland Legislators, staff members from Congressional offices, and other dignitaries attended the banquet and heard an inspiring address by Dr. Jernigan, entitled "Blindness: The Corner of Time."
Federationists left the banquet knowing the battles we have won and with a renewed spirit to continue the battle to insure our rightful place in society.
At the beginning of the Convention, Marylanders were giving $2,065.50 per month on the PAC Plan. We were in first place with Iowa right behind us giving $1,309.50.
By the end of July, Maryland was still in first place, giving $2,294.50 per month with Iowa again right behind us at $1,403.50.
Nationwide we started the Convention with $14,777.66 per month or $177,331.92 per year. We ended July at $16,160.66 per month or $193,927.92 on a projected annual basis.
If we are to get to the $200,000.00 per year level, it is imperative that we remain on the PAC Plan and make increases whenever we are able.
Maryland was second in the country, behind Alaska, in associates, with 40 members recruiting 329 associates and raising $8,154.50.
The winner of the Maryland associate contest was Trish Miller in first place, who recruited 37 associates and raised $566.. 00. Trish won $100.00 for her efforts.
Second place and $50.00 went to Don Morris who recruited 35 associates and raised $415.00.
Maryland's registration count at the end of the convention was 200.
It is impossible to report all of the Convention activities here. Future issues of the Monitor will carry much more detailed information
It seems obvious to everyone who attended that the Convention was, by far, our biggest and best.
TRAVEL PLANS?
Have you heard how you can win an all-expense-paid trip to the 1983 National Convention and help the Jacobus tenBroek Fund at the same time?
The tenBroek Fund now holds stock in the Empress Travel Agency. This is a new business and it is to our benefit to see it thrive.
Empress is sponsoring a drawing in which one name will be chosen and that person will have an all-expense-paid trip to the 1983 National Convention. There are three ways in which your name can be entered in the drawing.
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Your name will be entered when you make travel arrangements for the 1982 National Convention in Minneapolis with Empress Travel.
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Plan your vacation travel with Empress and your name will be entered again.
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Refer a friend to Empress and you have one more chance of winning. This friend must not be a Federationist. If you have lots of friends who travel then you can have lots of chances.
Judy Sanders is our Empress Travel Agent. You may contact her by calling 644-9294 or 752-3100. If this is long-distance for you or a friend of yours, call collect. Judy is not permitted· to accept collect calls, but she will return your call as soon as possible.
Come try your luck at winning and help the tenBroek Fund and Empress grow.
AFFILIATE FUNDING: MUCH DONE, MUCH TO DO
A. P. Maneki
We, of the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland, have been engaged in some rather substantial fund raising activities during the past twelve months. These include the 50/50 raffle conducted directly by the state wide fund-raising committee along with specific projects of some of our chapters with profits marked for either the affiliate or national treasuries.
These efforts, together with the pledges made by individual members at our last state convention, have been responsible for the N.F.B. of Maryland's favorable financial position up to this time. We have been able to fund major activities this year such as our Day in Annapolis and the hosting of our National Convention in Baltimore in July.
However, funding continues to pose a problem in the sense that there still are many other things we have not been able to do, primarily because of insufficient funds. Membership drives, the formation of new chapters, additional legislative work, and public education campaigns all cost money. So the challenge for us continues - to find effective ways of raising more dollars with the personnel and resources available to us.
A review of recent fund-raising activities follows:
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N.F.B. of Maryland 50/50 cash raffle held May-June. Our first statewide fund-raising event of recent times. Its success is due to the assistance of many of our members. Special thanks should be extended to members of the Hagerstown and Baltimore chapters. This type of raffle should be considered again for 1982.
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Sligo Creek chapter projects. Proceeds from 1980 summer swim-a thon and 1981 spring nuts sale were divided between the Maryland affiliate and national treasuries.
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Baltimore chapter projects. All of proceeds from 1980 Walk-athon were donated to the tenBroek Memorial Fund. Half of the proceeds from the 1981 fashion show went to the N.F.B. of Maryland.
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The students chapter sold greeting cards in 1981. From their growing treasury, they donated $150.00 to the affiliate treasury this year.
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Vendors chapter 50/50 raffle held spring 1981. Proceeds used for Vendor's hospitality functions at national convention.
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Arm bands. The Maryland affiliate sold armbands ($3.50 each) at the National Convention. These armbands, bearing the NFB logo, were designed to match the huge banner which led the March on Washington on Wednesday of convention week. This project is not yet complete. We intend to sell the remaining armbands at the Baltimore Chapter Walk-a-thon in October and at NAC-Track in Atlanta.
The evidence is overwhelming; the verdict is in! Beyond any reasonable doubt, we of the N.F.B. can fund our own state and national organizations through our own efforts. The affiliates should continue to hold state-wide funding drives, especially aimed at parts of the state where no local chapters exist. Each chapter should hold special projects specifically for the affiliate and national treasuries. The state-wide fund-raising committee is most willing to provide advice and guidance to local chapters to assist them in their fund raising activities.
And while we are on the subject of fund-raising, let us not forget the PAC Plan and the Associates program. How many of us in Maryland are not yet on PAC? How many of us in Maryland have yet to enroll our first associate member? Why? If we as individuals do not believe in our movement enough to do these things, how can we expect those outside our movement to buy that special item we might be selling, or to make a Walk-a-thon pledge?
We leave this subject for the moment with our sincerest gratitude to each chapter and to each member for all fund-raising activities carried out to this date. But remember, there is still much left to do, for the work of the N.F.B. is far from finished.
NEWS FROM SLIGO CREEK
Lloyd Rasmussen
We have been busy working on a number of projects in the Washington suburbs. We’ve been raising money, building membership and working hard on getting better services for the blind in our area. Although the projects already mentioned take a lot of time and hard work, we still have some time for socializing as a group.
Raising money is always an on-going project for our organization, and the Sligo Creek Chapter has been busy doing its share of fundraising. During the spring we had quite a successful nut sale. There was almost $2,000.00 raised, and we will probably have another nut sale in the future. We donated the profits from this sale to both the State and National treasuries--$900.00 going to the State and $600.00 to the National.
Membership enrollment in our Chapter has been steadily increasing these past few months. We now have better than 30 members and intend to keep working hard in this area.
We recently held elections for Chapter officers and board members. We elected the following persons: Steve Machalow - President, Lloyd Rasmussen Vice-President, Debbie Robinson - Secretary, Al Saile - Treasurer and board members Cherry King, Clara Sisselman and Mark Plantz. This is an excellent group of officers and I am sure they can fulfill their duties well.
As I mentioned earlier, we do have time for some socializing. I would like to invite all of you to our summer picnic, August 8th beginning at 1:00. We will be getting together at the residence of Mark Plantz, 10800 Inwood Avenue, Silver Spring. We hope to see some of you there, and more of you at our upcoming State Convention.
FROM THE VENDORS
Raymond Lowder
The Vendors' Chapter has been about the business of raising money and keeping tabs on Federal legislation which may affect the Vending Stand Program directly or indirectly. Also, we have been helping in the preparations for the National Convention.
In June we held the drawing for the fifty-fifty raffle that has been going on since February. The winner received $200 and a black and white television. The remainder of the monies from this raffle were used to donate $100 for door prizes at the Convention and to help in the cost of the Vendors' suite.
This year was the first time that the Merchants' Division had a suite at the National Convention. The suite was in the Lord Baltimore Hotel and was used for socializing and to have a place to talk with persons interested in the Vending Stand Program. It was a great success and we hope to have a suite at future conventions.
I am sure that our state convention of the N.F.B. of Maryland is mentioned elsewhere in this newsletter, and I would like to invite all vendors throughout the state to come and join with us. There will be a Vendors' Luncheon at which we will conduct elections and other pertinent business. We hope to see a good number of you there and look forward to having you work with us.
STUDENTS ON THE MOVE
Brenda Williams
The National Federation of the Blind of Maryland Student Division is continuing to visit colleges and recruit new members.
On June 20, 1981, the Student Division met at the National Center for the Blind, 1800 Johnson Street. We met to make enthusiastic plans for National Convention. These plans included the donation of 2500 plates and cups, five pounds of tea, 20 pounds of sugar and other food items to the Maryland Hospitality Suite. A contribution of $25.00 and a plant hanging lamp were given for door prizes. The lamp was made by Mrs. Rosalee Gossard, Secretary of Student Division.
During the fall we plan to sell chocolate candy as a fund raising project. The money will be used to send two students to the NAC-Demonstration held in November and help support the State Convention held in October. Our next meeting will be held in September. We need you to help us make plans for the State Convention.
For further information about the next meeting, please contact President Brenda Williams 523-8069 after 6:00 p.m. or Secretary - Rosalee Gossard 789-2067.
DIVISION OF VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH FEDERAL LAW
We, the blind of Maryland, have been saying for some years that the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation does not provide rehabilitation services to the blind. It is, therefore, not surprising that a report from the Attorney General released in July found that the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation is not meeting its statutory duty under the Vocational Rehabilitation Act to serve the most severely disabled. Dr. David Hornbeck did not disagree with the finding of the report that the severely disabled are not being served as a priority.
These criticisms come in the midst of a major shake-up in the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation. Approximately 21 percent of the budget for vocational rehabilitation is being cut. What this means for the blind is not yet clear. The Division of Vocational Rehabilitation was providing a little over one million dollars for service to the blind. Very little of this one million dollars actually reached blind people in the form of service. The Attorney General's report (which says that the most severely disabled do not receive service) bears out the experience of blind Marylanders. The Vocational Rehabilitation Act defines the blind as among the most severely disabled and requires the Vocational Rehabilitation Agencies to serve the most severely disabled first. Our experience, however, is that the blind of Maryland do not get served.
The overall budget of the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation was just over twenty-two million dollars. This has been cut to seventeen and one-half million dollars. Before the cut, the blind were receiving between five and six percent of the Vocational Rehabilitation budget. If this percentage remains the same, the budget for services for the blind will be between eight hundred and eighty thousand and one million dollars. In one sense, it does not matter how much money is available for services to the blind. Blind people are not now receiving services. In another sense, however, the money available for services to the blind does matter very much. If the program of services for the blind were managed properly, much of the money available for services would actually get to the blind. If there is less available for this purpose, there is a smaller and smaller possibility that any of it will trickle out of the greedy rehabilitation system and find its way into actual services for the blind.
There is one sidelight to this budget cutting and finding of non-compliance with federal law. The Director of the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, John M. Cobun, has resigned. As you see not all the news from the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation is bad. John Cobun was never a friend to the blind, and was often arrogant and discourteous. The new Director of the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation is Richard Batterton. In his new job directing the Rehabilitation Program he is not yet familiar to us. We hope, and we trust we will be able to work with Mr. Batterton to improve services for the blind.
COME! TAKE A WALK WITH THE BLIND!
Ramona Walhof
Members of the Baltimore Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind are planning our third annual Walk-a-thon on October 11. We are inviting everyone to join us for this event. There is something for everyone to do. Most people will enjoy the challenge and the fun of walking the twenty kilometers (twelve miles). Others may prefer to work at check points and cheer the walkers on.
The route will begin at the Inner Harbor anytime from 8:00 to 11:00 a.m. Walkers will go east on Pratt Street to Broadway, north to Fayette, and west again to Calvert. Then the route goes north on Calvert to North Avenue and swings two blocks west to Charles. Walkers continue north on Charles to 25th Street, and we will go east on 25th Street all the way to Harford Road. We will go north on Harford Road to Gino's where we will turn around and retrace our steps back to 25th Street and St. Paul. Walkers will go south on St. Paul to Monument, west on Monument to Howard, south on Howard to Baltimore, east on Baltimore to Hopkins, south on Hopkins to Pratt, and back to the Inner Harbor. Check points will be at Gino's restaurants: 1501 E. Fayette, 101 E. North Avenue, 2914 Harford Road, 101 E. North Avenue, and 216 W. Baltimore Street. Free beverages will be supplied by Gino's at check points.
We have already begun the distribution of brochures. It is time to recruit walkers; and it is time for walkers to set about getting pledges. You should be seeing posters about our Walk a-thon by Labor Day. Mr. Orlinsky has pledged to walk the entire route as he did last year. The Maryland Jaycees have taken on our Walk-a-than as a special state-wide project and will give a plaque to the Jaycees chapter that raises the most. Gino's is encouraging employees to walk with us. We are encouraging businesses to send teams of walkers to participate in the Walk-a-thon. The Baltimore Colts are helping us plan this Walk-a-thon.
We urge all readers of the SPECTATOR to arrange to have Walk-a-thon posters exhibited on Bulletin boards wherever possible. If you belong to an organization or church that publishes a newsletter, ask them to include a notice about the Walk-a-thon. Get a supply of Walk-a-thon brochures for distribution to your friends and neighbors, and encourage them to walk and get pledges. Questions may be directed to any member of the Walk-a-thon Committee by phone, or mailed to Ramona Walhof, 502 Westgate Road, Baltimore, Maryland 21229.
If we do our work right, we can make this Walk-a-thon far larger and more successful than those we held in the past. We are proud of our past walka-thons, but we know we can do even better this year, and that is what we intend to do. Come! Take a walk with the Blind!
COME JOIN WITH US
Debbi Koester
During the past several months, there have been a number of new faces at the meetings of the Greater Baltimore Chapter. Some of these faces are those of members who have not attended for a while and others are those of new members. As Chairperson of the Membership Committee, I would like to say that I am pleased to see so many old members coming back and so many new persons joining our cause. I extend my sincere welcome to all of you and hope to see you at future meetings.
The Membership Committee in Baltimore has begun a series of seminars for new members. The second of these seminars was held prior to the May chapter meeting. Discussions about National offices and officers, PAC, Associates' Program and literature were part of this seminar as well as questions from the participants.
The participants of the two seminars held thus far agree that these less informal get-togethers have been helpful to them in understanding what the Federation is all about and in making them feel more a part of our organization. We would like to welcome any of you to attend upcoming seminars, and we can also use your input as to substance of these seminars.
If you have questions, suggestions or just simply want to chat, please don't hesitate to contact me, Debbi Koester, 377-1162 or Althea Pittman, President, 325-4763.
I would further like to thank those of you who have assisted me in organizing these seminars and look forward to working with more of the members in the future.
FASHIONABLE IS FUND RAISING
Azalee Thompson
On Sunday, April 26, 1981, 268 guests were entertained by the exciting Mr. Travis Winkey and his sensational models. Included with these models was our own, Sylvia Matthews, who incidentally, did a tremendous job. We were also treated to "the Travis Winkey Collections" designed by Mr. Winkey.
After enjoying a sumptuous meal, meeting and greeting friends and having fun, it was agreed by the majority present that the NFB had again given a successful fashion show. Not only did we have an afternoon of entertainment, we were also able to enrich the coffers of the chapter by the sum of $2,512.00.
BISM REPORT
Jean Agin
BISM's year-end report for fiscal 1981 demonstrates growth within each division.
Because of an increase in federal paper orders, BISM's paper department produced 45% of its 1981 production in the last quarter of the year. Sales for the statewide Industries Program reached a record mark of $5,881,637 for fiscal 1981. This figure represents a 22% increase over last year's sales of $4,809,215.
Two new plant managers have been named in Cumberland and Salisbury. Miles G. Thompson of LaVale became plant manager in Cumberland on May 1, and Mina Gunter, who has been with BISM since 1978, became manager of Salisbury's manufacturing center on May 18.
BISM's Vending Division has shown steady growth with the opening of five new vending locations. In March, a card and gift store opened in the Herbert R. O'Connor Building at 201 W. Preston Street. During March a full service cafeteria in the employee-owned Aspens Systems Co., in Rockville opened, and the cafeteria in the Naval Intelligence Complex in Suitland reopened. During the year, cafeterias were established in the Howard county School Administration Building arid in the Metro West Building in the Woodlawn Social Security Complex. Vending director, Weldon F. Nix received congratulations from Governor Hughes on his 21 years of work in the division.
The Governor also wished Mr. Nix a speedy recovery from an illness he suffered in March.
The Rehabilitation Division served more than 680 persons in a wide range of services during 1981.
Ralph Sanders has been appointed to the Governor's Task Force on Independent Living, Chaired by Phillip Holms, Director of the Maryland State Planning Council on Developmental Disabilities. The Task Force will endeavor to gain federal funds to improve the state's training programs for independent living.
Anyone wishing to receive a copy of the latest issue of the White Cane or BISM's Annual Report should contact Jean Agin.
"POET'S CORNER"
EDITOR'S NOTE
The contributor of the poem for this issue is Mr. James Omvig. Mr. Omvig, our First Vice President, is a lawyer presently working as the Acting Handicapped Employee Manager of the office for Civil Rights in the Social Security Administration.
THE BLIND WILL LEAD THE BLIND
Before the Rehab came to town,
the blind were poor and hungry. Then the counselor came down;
the blind were poor and hungry.
They said they would teach us something new;
we sought to learn arightly.
They gave us busy work to do;
we worked and waited rightly.
Benignity and wisdom were
the traits they claimed as motive.
A governmental sinecure
was most of their incentive.
We waited still another year
and hoped for something offered.
The training that we thought was near
Remained a hope deferred.
They said that research was the thing
to sooth our disappointment;
Ten million words went scurrying
to staunch our discontentment.
The seasons turned, and waiting still,
we found there was no basis,
no effort was there to fulfill
the wicked empty promise.
The heat of anger truth defined,
with joy and peace we knew our mind,
the rehab would be left behind
we the blind would lead the blind.
-James Omvig-
NEWS BRIEFS
Governor Harry Hughes, on July 1, appointed Connie Mccraw to the Board of Blind Industries and Services of Maryland. Connie will be filling out the third year of a three-year term vacated by one of the Board Members. We congratulate her on this appointment and are pleased to have her on the board of an agency where the main concern is that of serving its consumers in the way they want and need services.
We are sad to report to you the recent death of Jim Fox. Jim was counselor in the Vending Stand Program, but more importantly, he was a quiet but strong member of our affiliate. There is no doubt but that Jim will be missed sorely by all of us. Our condolences go to his wife, Dorothy, and his family.
These past few months have brought happiness to some proud parents and a couple of new members for our affiliate. Arlene and Jim Gashel were blessed with a baby girl on April 22. Her name is Valerie Christine. On June 26 Bernice and Raymond Lowder became parents of a baby boy, named Ryan Martin. At last report all are doing well and are happy.
Al Maneki, who has been running for the past 16 years, and who has run in two other races this year, has been diligently training all summer for a 26-mile marathon. Al will be participating in the sixth annual Marine Corps Marathon on November 1 in Washington, D.C. It is his hope to finish this race in 4 1/2 hours. We all wish you luck Al and are sure you can achieve your goal--just keep practicing.
We are happy to announce the marriage of Judy Vandervinne and Lloyd Rasmussen, both from our Sligo Creek Chapter. The wedding will take place on August 22 in Fullton, Illinois. They realize that this is quite some distance to go but would like to extend an open invitation to all Federationists. Best wishes Judy and congratulations to you Lloyd.
On June 12 Allegany Community College held a dance review to help raise funds for the Cumberland Chapter. The program "On The Radio" was open to the public, and tickets were sold at the door. All profits from this event went to the Cumberland Chapter and will be used to assist persons in attending National and State conventions.