Spring 2011 Bulletin

ICUB BULLETIN

SPRING 2011

Published by

IOWA COUNCIL OF THE UNITED BLIND

Web Site: www.acb.org/iowa

Affiliate of the American Council of the Blind

Robert Spangler, President

1505 W. 4th St.

Vinton, IA 52349

(319) 472-4843

E-MAIL: Ka0wjz@q.com

Mike Hoenig, Editor

3119 Spring St.

Davenport, IA 52807

563-344-8787

E-Mail: mhoenig@q.com

Jo Ann Slayton, Secretary

4013 30th St.

Des Moines, IA 50310

(515) 279-4284 – home

(515) 710-7875 – cell

E-Mail: slayton4284@gmail.com

Ruth E. Hamdorf, Treasurer

439 Lindale Drive, #218

Marion, IA 52302

(319) 373-8608 – Home

E-Mail: elliewag@q.com

ICUB OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS

Robert Spangler, President - Vinton, (319) 472-4843

Donna Seliger, Immediate Past President - Des Moines,

(515) 284-0505

Creig Slayton, First Vice President – Des Moines, (515) 279-4284

Mike Hoenig, Second Vice-President - Davenport, (563) 344-8787

Jo Ann Slayton, Secretary - Des Moines, (515) 279-4284

Ruth Hamdorf, Treasurer - Marion, (319) 373-8608

Joyce Davis, Director - Fort Dodge, (515) 955-1634

Rose Stratton, Director - Maquoketa, (563) 652-2546

Shirley Wiggins, Director - Cedar Rapids, (319) 550-6096

Stephanie Hunolt, Director – Kirksville, (660) 665-2404

Elsie Monthei, Director –Des Moines, (515) 277-0442

Gary Patterson, Director –Des Moines, (515) 278-2686

Dove Tanner, Director – Cedar Rapids, (319) 364-7128

Frank Strong, Director –Des Moines, (515) 285-7254

CHANGE OF FORMAT OR RETURNING CASSETTES

Anyone who cannot read this print bulletin, finds it difficult to have it read or wishes an e-mail or cassette may receive a copy at no charge. Please contact Jo Slayton at (515) 279-4284 to request an alternative format. Cassette readers are always invited to keep their copy of the Bulletin. However, if you would like to return cassettes when you are finished with them, please place in a NEW standard mailing envelope, write “Free Matter For the Blind” in the upper right hand corner, and return to the editor using the address on the front of this Bulletin. Also, please remember to contact the editor if your address changes. The Post Office rarely provides us with a new address when someone moves. We want to make sure that anyone who wants to receive a Bulletin gets one!

SELECTING ICUB AS A BENEFICIARY

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) 279-4284, or write Iowa Council of the United Blind, 4013 30TH Street, Des Moines, Iowa 50310.

DONATING YOUR VEHICLE TO BENEFIT ICUB

Are you trying to decide how to dispose of a used vehicle? ICUB's Used Vehicle Donation Program offers the perfect solution. Your vehicle will be picked up from your home and sold at auction, with a portion of the proceeds going directly to ICUB. You claim a tax deduction equal to the dollar value of the vehicle. To donate or to learn more, call 800-899-4925.

LIST OF TOPICS

Editor's Line 3

2011 ICUB Resolutions 6

History of Blindness in Iowa 6

Eye-Opening Experience 8

Review of New Logan Braille Coach 10

In Memoriam

Dave Scurr 11

Terry Hayes Sales 12

Priscilla McKinley 13

Ruth Ball 15

George Shearing, "Lullaby of Birdland" 16

Jazz Virtuoso, Dies at 91

BRL Books 20

Long-Time NLS Director Retires 21

Cedar Rapids Chapter Update 22

Dubuque Association of the Blind Update 22

How Do You Spell It 22

Recipe Corner 23

EDITOR’S LINE

By Mike Hoenig

Spring is in the air! That means it's time to make plans for the 2011 ICUB State Convention.

Dates for this year's convention are May 20, 21 and 22. Our convention home is the Holiday Inn Northwest, 4800 Merle Hay Road, Des Moines. Room rates are $79, single through quad. Make your reservation today by calling the Holiday Inn at 515-278-4755. You will need to indicate that you are with ICUB in order to take advantage of this very special rate.

You should have received, or soon be receiving, your convention pre-registration packet. We think you'll be pleased with this year's food choices. Luncheon options include a pulled pork sandwich or a vegetarian Mediterranean wrap, both accompanied by coleslaw and house made potato chips. The pot roast so popular at the 2009 banquet is back, along with a pasta primavera with asiago cheese. I don't know about you, but I'm going to see if they'll let me order both! Full convention registration, including both meals, is $50. Individual luncheon tickets may be purchased for $20, while banquet tickets cost $25. WE HIGHLY ENCOURAGE you to pre-register, especially if you plan to join us for meal functions. The hotel requires us to provide a final, guaranteed number of meals on the Wednesday prior to convention. We will likely not be able to honor meal requests after that date.

Registration will begin at 3 PM on Friday. At 7, you'll get the chance to show off your musical knowledge in what's sure to be a fun game of "Name That Tune." You'll want to stay for Friday night's Opening Session, which will feature an ACB update from First Vice-President Kim Charlson. Wind down afterward at Hospitality, hosted again this year by Arlo and Elsie Monthei.

Do you want to learn more about health care reform and understand how it might affect you? Learn how to do low impact exercises and participate in a line dance? Check out the new IRIS digital receiver? Tell fellow conventioneers about your favorite gadget and learn about theirs? Then you won't want to miss Saturday's program. Many of you have told us that you'd like more time to visit the exhibit hall, and we've listened. The program will recess at 11, giving you an hour to explore the hall or just take a break. This year's exhibitors include: Allied Technologies, featuring low vision products such as CCTV's, magnifiers, and computer information access; Low Vision Helpers, another provider of low vision equipment; BRL books, a company which transcribes children's books into braille, and Envision America, offering products which provide access to encoded food, medical and pharmaceutical information. Your tour through the exhibit hall is sure to help you work up an appetite for the delicious luncheon, where you'll have time to visit with friends and meet this year's Brailler Award winner, a kindergartner from Truro. Recognizing that some of you are unable to stay until Sunday, we've asked President Spangler to kick off the afternoon session with a brief ICUB status report. Elections and the balance of Saturday's program will follow.

The no-host social hour will begin at 6, followed by the banquet at 7. This banquet will be a first for ICUB in that it will feature "dueling emcees." Catherine and Jim Witte will no doubt keep us on our toes with their--dare I say it--witticisms. Other banquet highlights will include a keynote by ACB First Vice-President Kim Charlson, presentation of the Linda Dietrich Volunteer Award, and of course those nut cups (let's hope for M&M's this year) ably assembled by Rose Stratton and Jo Slayton.

We will begin Sunday with our traditional memorial service, honoring those who have passed since last convention. Shirley does such a good job of helping us to remember those who have gone before us and to celebrate their lives. Please make it a point to come. Our business meeting will immediately follow. We hope that you will arrange your schedule such that you can stay. This is our one chance during the year to come together as a group to discuss issues of importance and to revitalize ICUB. It is an excellent time for you to volunteer for a committee, or even suggest a new one! Thanks to the Cedar Rapids, Dubuque, Des Moines and Cedar Valley chapters, we will once again draw for a $100 door prize as the final order of business. You must be present to win.

On February 12, Gary Patterson, Jo Slayton and I scored tests for the Iowa Braille Challenge. Sixteen students from grades k-8 participated in this year's event. Though we spent most of the day behind the scenes, we delighted in seeing students interacting with their peers. One remarked, "I'm not ready to leave!"