Spring 2003 Bulletin

ICUB BULLETIN

Published Quarterly by

IOWA COUNCIL OF THE UNITED BLIND

Affiliate of

THE AMERICAN COUNCIL OF THE BLIND

SPRING EDITION 2003

DONNA SELIGER, PRESIDENT

3912 SE 5th St.

Des Moines, Iowa 50315

(515) 284-0505

1-888-404-5562 (Toll Free)

E-mail: dseliger@worldnet.att.net

LINDA CURFMAN SLAYTON, EDITOR

3210 Aurora Avenue

Des Moines, Iowa 50310

(515) 274-8993

E-mail: LCurfman1@Yahoo.com

DICK NATALE, TREASURER

817 – 6th Street

West Des Moines, Iowa 50265

(515) 277-1167

E-mail: rnatale@earthlink.net

JO ANN SLAYTON, SECRETARY

4013 - 30th Street

Des Moines, Iowa 50310

(515) 279-4284

E-mail: slaytons@earthlink.net

ICUB OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS

President, Donna Seliger

Secretary, Jo Ann Slayton

Des Moines, 515/284-0505

Des Moines, IA 515/279-4284

1st V.P., Michael Hoenig

Treasurer, Dick Natale

Davenport, 319/344-8787

W. Des Moines, 515/277-1167

2nd V.P., Theresa Philpott

Des Moines, 515/284-8619

1 Year Directors

Muhammad Jihad

Sylvester Nemmers

Des Moines, 515/243-7528

Des Moines, 515/276-2729

Gloria O’Neal

Robert Nesler

Waterloo, 319/235-5687

Dubuque, 563/557-0987

2 Year Directors

Dee Clayton

Dorothy Janvrin

Des Moines, 515/282-1275

Fort Dodge, 515/573-6043

John Taylor

Shirley Wiggins

Des Moines, 515/279-2817

Cedar Rapids, 319/362-7138

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ICUB Officers and Directors

Notice to Readers 1

Editor’s Note 1

From the President’s Desk 2

Summer Reading Club 2003 3

Dorothy 4

Vehicle Donation Update 7

Let Iowans Sue Those Who Cheat Them 8

Money Needed to Implement Election Reforms 10

Helen Keller Quarter Coins a Breakthrough 12

Lorna Powers 13

Cedar Rapids Chapter Report 14

Des Moines Chapter 15

Dubuque News 16

North Central Chapter Report 16

Senior Citizen Humor 17

Talking ATM’s Near You 18

NOTICE TO READERS

If you or a friend would like to remember the Iowa Council of the United Blind in your will, you may do so by using the following language: “I grant, devise, or bequeath unto the Iowa Council of the United Blind, a non-profit charitable organization, the sum of ______ dollars, ____ percent of my net estate, or the following stocks and bonds (please list them) to be used for its worthy purposes on behalf of blind persons.” If your wishes are more complex, you may have your attorney call (515) 279-2817, or write Iowa Council of the United Blind, 3912 SE 5th Street, Des Moines, Iowa 50315.

Anyone who cannot read this print bulletin or finds it difficult to have it read may receive a cassette copy at no charge. Cassette readers are invited to return this Bulletin for re-use. Please help us keep you better informed.

DEADLINE FOR SUBMITTING MATERIAL

FOR THE NEXT ISSUE - ****July 1, 2003 ****

EDITOR’S NOTE

By John Taylor

The year 2003 has been most unusual for the Taylor family. I was diagnosed with acute leukemia with a projected life expectancy of six months to a year. Accordingly, this will be the final issue of the ICUB Bulletin which Teri and I will put out, and we want to thank all of those who have cooperated with us and made our task easier.

The new Bulletin Editor will be Linda Curfman Slayton, 3210 Aurora Ave., Des Moines, IA 50310. Her phone number is 515 274-8993. Her e-mail address is LCurfman1@Yahoo.com.

Teri and I are very grateful for the support we have received over the years in our efforts to produce the ICUB Bulletin. It is sometimes a time consuming task, but one with many rewards and strengthened friendships. The new Editor will need the support of all ICUB members, and she may wish to make some changes in the Bulletin and its operating procedures. If that is the case, let’s give her the benefit of the doubt.

Finally, our thanks and appreciation are extended to all of the ICUB friends and members.

FROM THE PRESIDENT’S DESK

by Donna Seliger

The sixteenth annual ICUB Convention is planned! Now, all that is needed is members, friends, family, and fun. This year our guest speaker will be Mr. Paul Edwards, immediate past president of the American Council of the Blind. Although Paul has been our guest in the past, we welcome him back to Iowa.

The convention will begin Friday, April 25, 2003, at the Ramada Inn North in Des Moines, and end Sunday, April 27. If you haven’t made your reservations yet, do so immediately. The room rate is $51 per night plus tax. You may call toll free at 1-800-643-1197.

The program promises to be very interesting thanks to those members who worked so hard putting it together. We will be electing four directors this year as well as the delegate and alternate to the ACB convention.

If you plan to attend the ICUB convention and didn’t pre-register, give Dick Natale, our treasurer, a call at 515-277-1167 to let him know you will be registering at the door. Everyone is welcome to attend the convention meetings. If you register with the treasurer, you will be eligible for the many door prizes that will be given away throughout the weekend.

The American Council of the Blind Convention will be held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania from July 5 through 12. For reservations, you may call the Westin Hotel at 412-281-3700 or the Hilton Towers at 412-391-4600. Room rates are $85 and $79 respectively.

I wish everyone a very happy Easter and an enjoyable spring. As I have mentioned in the past, please don’t hesitate to contact me with questions or comments. The toll free number is 888-404-5562.

SUMMER READING CLUB 2003

Each year the Iowa Department for the Blind sponsors a Summer Reading Club for children. We encourage anyone who is currently a library borrower and between the ages of 3-17 to join the fun. To be eligible, participants must be someone who is blind, physically handicapped, or learning disabled. Club dates are June 23 – August 1, 2003. Our theme, “Laugh It Up at Your Library,” is the same as that used throughout the state by public libraries.

Once the club is underway, several contests will be held. Incentives are given for time spent reading, and we offer free Adventureland tickets and Living History Farm tickets after reading just one hour!! In addition, there will be weekly drawings for prize packets, as well as registration prizes, contest prizes, grand prizes, and trophies to top readers.

This year’s corporate sponsors include Lions Clubs, Living History Farm, Adventureland, Coca Cola, Cosi Cucina, Wild Birds Unlimited, Woodlink, McDonald’s, Earl May Nursery, and Wal-Mart.