News You Can Actually Use
Brought to you by
The American Council of the Blind
of Oregon (ACBO)
1st Quarter Newsletter
The Stylus
June 2020
******* Presidents Message
Our Crazy, Mixed Up World
By Carrie Muth, ACBO President
Our world is a great deal different than it was 3 months ago. This is a difficult time to be visually impaired as we navigate our world via touch. I hope you are all staying safe, healthy, & enjoying the ACB Community Calls & the new sense of community with ACB & ACB of Oregon. I am very fortunate that I have an amazing support system & transportation options that I feel safe with. If you need to hear a friendly voice or just want to feel less isolated, please reach out to fellow ACBO members & call into our Together Calls.
A huge thanks to Teresa Christian & Pat Wallace for co-hosting our “Together Calls”. In the beginning, several Oregon members were calling in (and still do) on a regular basis. In May we opened it up to the ACB National list & have been enjoying getting to know fellow ACBers. On May 25th people called in from Hawaii & Canada along with many other states. It is interesting to hear how the pandemic is affecting other areas of our country &sharing ideas on many topics. Pat & Teresa are doing an excellent job; several callers have mentioned that the ACBO calls are their favorite. If you haven’t joined us yet, plan to soon.
Plans for the ACB National Convention are moving along. As most of you know, it is a virtual convention this year with several ways to access sessions: ACB Radio & Zoom meetings that can be accessed with a computer or traditional phone. Personally, I was very sad when they made the decision to move the convention virtual as I was looking forward to attending my 1st National Convention; however, we all have an amazing opportunity this year to attend. The registration fee is $25 & provides you access to all of the info to participate. Please reach out to your President, District Rep, or myself if you have questions on how you can take part in the convention July 3-10. I would love to hear that all of our members joined in.
What about our convention in October? I’m sure this is a burning question for many. We continue making plans to hold it in Cottage Grove; however, the ACBO Board will need to make a decision to hold it in-person or move to a virtual format during our July 18, 2020 Board Meeting. This will not be an easy decision, but the health & safety of our membership is extremely important. Guests are always welcome during our Board Meetings & are allowed comments at the beginning & end of each meeting. Please reach out if you need information to join in the meeting; it will be held via Zoom with the same information as our Together Calls.
I have enjoyed calling into chapter meetings around the state as most chapters are holding their meetings via Zoom or phone. Each chapter is unique & fills a need for the members of it. I look forward to meeting you in-person when our crazy world opens up again, but until then, I hope to hear you around.
Take care & stay safe,
Carrie Muth
~~~
Meet Jenks, at four inches tall he can do serious damage to even a human sized creature with his rapier or tongue. His wife creates for him colorful, silk garments that allow for perfect wing dexterity and compliment his black hair and green eyes. With his moth colored wings that are almost as big as he is, it’s surprising to see various colors of pixy dust wafting from his wings depending on his mood. Today his wife Madalina has dressed him in a black silk jacket with a dark red sash. In Pixy culture wearing red means you have no intent to invade or harm another Pixy’s family territory.
******* ACB and AIRA Have Partnered Up
to Save You Money
Submitted by your Happy Editor☺
The American Council of the Blind is proud to partner with Aira to make visual interpreting services available to more people. To encourage ACB members
to try their service, Aira is extending special ACB Membership pricing from June 1 through December 31, 2020.
ACB Member Intro Plan
• Minutes: 30 per month
• Price: $20.00 per month
• Plan Share: no additional users
ACB Member Enhanced Plan
• Minutes: 140 per month
• Price: $99.99 per month
• Plan Share: up to two additional users
Plans are only available through the Aira Customer Care Team. To qualify for these plans, one must be a member in good standing of the American Council
of the Blind or its affiliates or chapters for the current membership year. Membership will be verified through the Aira Customer Care Team.
Aira provides visual information through their smartphone app and trained agents, 24/7, 365 days per year. Agents are screened and adhere to strict security
protocols. The app uses the camera of your smartphone plus GPS and other powerful tools to give you the visual information you need, on your terms.
To learn more about Aira, visit their website at
or call their Customer Care Team at 1 (800) 835-1934.
~~~
When we catch up with Jenks, he is bobbing in front of Teresa, (our Happy Editor) dusting her desk with glittering gold pixy dust as he gesticulates his misadventures in trying to locate the second quarter edition of the Stylus’ contest winner.
Jenks mumbles loudly, “I deserve hazard pay for this ‘easy’ errand”
Teresa’s eyebrows raise in surprise, “Oh, what happened?”
******* ACB Of O Has a New Website Woohoo!
By Marty Sobo,
Chair of the Techy Trio Committee
The website is brand new; it has been rebuilt from the ground up.
There is a new look as well as all new content; the site is accessible for all. For the cited it has
an easy to navigate clean look. For the low vision people it has A menu so that you can change the color text size and all
that good stuff to suit your needs. For the non-sided it has great speech to text technology built in so it works with all screen Readers on all platforms. Take a moment to check it out. If you have any comments, thoughts or ideas for the website that are not currently there, please feel free to reach out anytime.
Marty Sobo, msobo@mac.com
******* Is your battery functioning correctly?
By Desiree Christian
Finding it harder and harder to wake up in the “morning”? Feeling extra groggy when trying to wake up? Weighing the pros and cons of procrastinating or not? Might even be procrastinating tasks such as laundry or preparing food for yourself or whether or not to shower now or shower later.
You may be feeling the effects of the often overused, seriously misunderstood, and still stigmatized D word. Depression. To be clear, I’m talking about feeling overwhelmed, uninterested, never quite rested on a full night’s sleep feeling, you may be experiencing. I’m talking about that insidiously little (your personal choice of a bad name here) of a mental and physiological thing called clinical depression.
Did you know you can still feel happiness, still laugh and have a decent time while being clinically depressed?
Did you know that one of the symptoms of clinical depression is being unaware you have it, or in my case how bad it currently is at the moment?
Did you know that you don’t have to be suicidal to be clinically depressed?
Did you also know for most people it isn’t chronic?
This social distancing (really, it’s isolating) may be causing a flair up for those of you, like me, who have been diagnosed or for others it could be their first time experiencing clinical depression symptoms and not know it.
In either case, (written in large friendly letters) “Don’t Panic”. Seriously, don’t. Worrying about whether or not you have it or whether or not you are having a flare up with just exacerbate your symptoms. The trouble you have falling asleep or staying asleep will increase. The junk food cravings will be nye impossible to resist, the watching just one more episode of your favorite binge watch will be all the more tempting.
Living with clinical depression is like living with a malfunctioning battery. Sometimes it works just fine as per normal expectations, sometimes it takes extra-long to charge up, sometimes it just doesn’t get a good charge. Unlike batteries that you can replace when they malfunction, you are irreplaceable.
I’m not here to lecture you or get on a pulpit about what you need to do to mitigate your symptoms, ask me about guide dogs vs. service dogs vs. companion animals and yeah pulpit time. I’m here to encourage you to have patients with yourself. Be kind to yourself. Sometimes being kind to yourself is watching one more episode or listening to an extra chapter in a book. Sometimes being kind to yourself is saying “screw it” for the rest of the day. The extra time being “Lazy” is just you taking the time needed to recharge that malfunctioning battery of yours.
If you would like more information on recommended strategies of coping with clinical depression, google it, ask one of your smart devices and if all else fails call your doctor.
~~~
Teresa relaxes back into her desk chair awaiting the telling of today’s mishaps.
Jenks, “Sweet mother of Tink!” (as in Tinkerbell) “On my way over to the Max light rail station some Tink Loving hippies decided it was a grand idea to share their purchases from a certain herbal pharmacy just down the block. It seems as though they don’t think there could possibly be another life form breathing the same air as them.” Teresa listens to Jenks pull in a long breath before continuing the details of his ‘easy’ errand.
******* Home Alone? Here is Another Option
Submitted by your Happy Editor☺
Soon after the pandemic hit, both ACBO and ACB national responded with having a huge variety of what they call “community calls.” This not only has offered people stuck at home a lot of options of things to do but has also connected folks from across the country to meet and make new friends. Unless you get involved in a national affiliate or go to a national convention, you probably would never connect with people from such a wide area. This is just one good thing to come out of the virus.
They put out an email every weekday morning with a list of the calls happening that day.
If you have not already, come check out this fun resource for connecting without the hassles of transportation or other expenses.
ACBO began the Sheltering in Place Together calls or The Together calls. Soon this evolved from a state wide cal into a nation wide call and was included in the daily emails that ACB national sends out.
Teresa Christian and Pat Wallace are hosting the calls and
they happen on Tuesday evenings from 7PM to 8:30PM. The Friday call is from 10AM to 11:30AM It is on a drop in basis so you need not stay for the entire 90 minutes. Come check it out, get to know some of your fellow Oregonians and meet some folks from all across the country.
Keep reading to find out how to connect
Upcoming ACB Community Events by Conference Call
At a time when our country is in a state of social distancing, your ACB family has opportunities for you to connect with others from the comfort of your
home.
These calls are open to everyone. Membership in ACB is not required.
To ensure the security of our calls,
link, meeting ID, and password for each meeting will not be
available on the web page.
To receive up-to-date info on how to join our events, please subscribe to our ACB Community Events email list in one of two ways:
• Fill out the subscription form:
or
• Send an email to:
acb-community-events-subscribe@acblists.org
You will receive an email asking you to confirm your subscription by replying to that email. This is an announce only list. Each morning, an email will
be sent out with that day’s schedule. We will only post additionally emails if there’s time sensitive information to convey. For those without email, or
who need to receive the phone, meeting ID, and password for a given call over the phone, please call 800-424-8666 and press 1017?
for the schedule without connection information visit www.acb.org/acb-community-conference-calls
To listen to live and replays of community events on the new Community channel on ACB Radio:
Or listen using your favorite Alexa device by asking her to “Open the ACB Radio Community skill.
Thanks for being a part of the ACB Community!
community@acb.org
Join our Community Events email list for a morning email with that day’s schedule:
******* How to Get a Zoom Tutorial for Free
Submitted by Desiree Christian
This is an email Jonathan Mosen sent out in April.
He has generously offered his Zoom tutorial at no charge since April.
Kia ora everyone,
from a beautiful Wellington New Zealand.
As many of you know, I’m now CEO of a national organization here in
New Zealand. I’m no longer developing Mosen Consulting projects, but I
keep titles
available as long as they remain relevant. Occasionally, I check in to
see what we have sold through our automated system.
Having just done this, I have noticed a sharp increase in the number
of people buying my audiobook on Zoom Cloud Meetings, “Meet Me
Accessibly”, which
is a three-hour description of how to use Zoom on a range of platforms
with a screen reader. There has been a very sharp spike in sales in
just the last
few days.
Clearly, this is because more people are already working from home or
are preparing to do so.
I do not feel comfortable profiting from a need people have during a
crisis that is unprecedented in living memory. If people need access
to the material
at a time like this, I can afford to give it away especially since Mosen Consulting is no longer my primary means of making a living.
I have therefore refunded in full everyone who has purchased “Meet Me Accessibly” during March, and made it free on the website. You are welcome to download it free and distribute it anywhere you want. The only thing I ask is that you please not change any of the files and that it be distributed in full.
Download it free from http://mosen.org/zoom
I hope this helps in some small way during a very tough time for many.
There is no sugar coating the fact that we are living through a very difficult period in history. But if we follow quality advice including regular handwashing and levels of isolation appropriate for the degree of outbreak in our country, we’ll get through it.
Let’s all do our best to stay safe, be mindful of the safety of others, and be kind.
Take care.
Jonathan
~~~
“When I arrived at the MAX station, I attempted to perch up under the roof of the shelter far enough away from a nesting Rock Dove that the bird shouldn’t have gotten it’s feathers ruffled in a bunch. But nooooo, the three musketeers of teenaged boys had been reaching up with a stick and poking at them. I spent the next several minutes avoiding those darn doves along with those Disney loving teenaged boys that I nearly missed the train’s closing doors.”
Teresa’s eyebrows reverse direction in a frown of sympathy.
******* How prepared are you now?
By Desiree Christian,
Chair of the Disaster Preparedness Committee
Yeah, we know about the basics of have enough food, water, medications and have an evacuation plan if necessary. We have been around long enough to learn about the horrible aftermath of other places after they have experienced tornados, hurricanes, earthquakes or tsunamis. We here about what a nightmare FEMA is to deal with. We hear about the Red Cross and other agencies doing their best at the frontline of a disaster but still needing more resources.
COVID and social distancing has given us a mild experience of what it will be like if you happened to still be in Oregon when the Cascadia Subduction Zone shakes. It’s much easier to imagine what it will be like when you can’t get
food, medications or Toilet Paper when you need it. It doesn’t feel so nebulous a future when basic services are hard to come by.
When I sat down to write this article, I thought I would be reiterating the importance of disaster preparedness basics. However, It dawned on me just like someone personally affected by a major disaster, a person who has lost everything and has to rebuild from scratch, this pandemic just keeps going on and will continue to for several months if not a couple of years.
With City, State, and Federal agencies ill equipped to cope, it got me thinking about how I might prepare long term when the big one shakes our state. What will I do for housing, for clothing, for transportation? Will I need to permanently relocate? How will I pay for that? What can I do now to prepare for not just the immediate aftermath of a natural disaster, but also for the long term?
I have some vague idea’s that I’m confidant will solidify into plans, but in the meantime I thought I’d share my thoughts here in hopes to inspire dialogue in our blind community.
If you are prepared, if you are disaster ready, the ACBO disaster Preparedness Committee would love to hear from you.
• What have you done to prepare that is above and beyond the regular items?
• What additional items do you have in your Go Bag related to being a visually impaired person.
• Are there extra skills or ideas or plans you have made due to your blindness?
Please contact me, Desiree Christian, Chair of the ACBO Disaster Preparedness Committee at
******* Hull Park Wednesday Support Groups Via Phone
By JeanneMarie Moore
Hull Park Board, ACBO Representative
The topic is current events and whatever is on people’s minds.
• The first Wednesday of the month is at 1PM.
• The third Wednesday of the month is at 10AM.
anyone is welcome to join.
To get the call-in info
Call Hull Park: 503-668-6195
or send an email to: info@hullparkfortheblind.org
Hope to see you on the calls!
~~~
“All was fine, all was great until we pulled into the Rose Quarter MAX station. Once again, the signal on the Steel Bridge had gone out again and Trimet was shuttling people into downtown. The new pixy clan at Rose Quarter is not from around here. Tink’s contractual Hell! I’m wearing red! Their women tried to haul me away”
“Since you are here those ladies must have given up.” Teresa replies mildly.
“Tink’s little red shoes! I had the attention of a four-legged golden fluff ball in a harness. Said golden locked fluff ball was butt wagging at me and was attached to a human.”
******* Get Ready to Go Solo
Are you prepared for a solo hospital visit?
By Joan Hill
In our current situation, visits to the hospital, even for things like getting blood test can change very rapidly. You need to be prepared in case you have to go in alone without sighted assistance.
Some things I have discovered on recent hospital trips, will hopefully help you plan.
First, plan ahead on transportation, as it can be very challenging. Public transportation may not be an option, as treatment times can vary greatly, and most waiting rooms are closed. Have the phone number of someone who can arrange your ride and be available in a window of at least 2 hours from what is normal hospital time.
Second, use your white cane, even if you are in a wheelchair and have an assistant, as it lets everyone know from the front door on, that you are blind. People will be meeting you at the front door taking your temperature and asking questions even before admissions. They need to know you may need assistance.
Even if someone is with you at the front door of the hospital, they may not be let into the hospital, depending on the policy at the particular moment that you arrive.
Finally, have a hospital “go bag” ready with key information and items you might need. Again, this is to insure you have everything you need if an assistant is not let into the hospital. I use a 1 gallon zip lock bag for this. I switched these items from my waist pack, to a bag, as during my last hospital stay, they sent my pack home with family so there were no valuables in my room.
My bag includes the following:
• A personal information list which includes: My name with full address, 3 contacts with cellphone numbers of family and friends, blood type, allergies, insurance companies but not numbers, Doctor’s names and phone numbers, current medical treatment, prescription and non-prescription medicines and where I buy prescriptions.
• The medicine list includes not only the dosage, but also when and how I take it. You should include medicines you take “as needed”, such as head ache and allergy remedies.
• Adapt what else to keep in the bag based on your personal needs. Some suggestions are,
• folding indoor white cane
• hearing aid batteries
• index card with name and phone of transportation, • charger for cell phone
• alcohol sterile wipes
• bump dots to mark bed remotes. Each hospital bed has had different buttons, so I mark the bed up and the power button. Normally the nurse’s call button has been Brailed with the letter “N”.
• Another useful thing, is a braille watch that has dots for time, as it is much quieter in a hospital situation and doesn’t interfere with hospital equipment like a phone can do.
In closing, I have found all the hospital personnel gracious and helpful, once they realized I was blind, including the bed transporters, who let me know they were laying oxygen tanks on the bed, so I could move my arm. I have been fortunate that my hospital has allowed my daughter to come in with me, but it has been a relief to know I am prepared to go solo if needed.
******* Ice Cream
By Carrie Muth, President
I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream for Ice Cream; Especially with homemade chocolate or caramel sauce, Yum, Yum
Char Cook is a Rehabilitation Teacher at the Oregon Commission for the Blind. She recently sent me the following recipes. They sound amazing, especially
over ice cream.
Best Chocolate Sauce Ever!!
Ingredients:
(remember to add them to your shopping list)
1/3 cup butter softened
2 and ½ cups powdered sugar
2/3 cups evaporated milk
4 oz. unsweetened chocolate squares
1 tsp. vanilla
Directions:
1. Place all ingredients in top of double boiler. Don’t stir, just place the ingredients in a pan.
2. Cook over simmering water for 30 minutes. Do not peek or stir while cooking.
3. Remove from heat and whisk till smooth. It will turn from weird to smooth and rich before your eyes!
Serve over ice cream, brownies or just eat with a spoon!!
Delicious Caramel Sauce
Ingredients:
(More things to add to that shopping list)
½ cups butter (one cube)
1 and ¼ cups packed brown sugar
2 Tablespoons light corn syrup
½ cup heavy cream not whipped.
Directions:
1. In medium sauce pan melt butter over medium heat
2. Stir in brown sugar and corn syrup. Bring to a boil and cook till sugar is dissolved about one minute. Whisking constantly
3. Remove from heat and add cream all at once and immediately Return to heat and bring back to a boil, still whisking.
4. As soon as caramel is bubbling nicely Remove from heat instantly. Stir and serve!
Serve over warm ginger bread or ice cream. It is delicious.
Remember to add the ice cream to that shopping list.
Enjoy with friends & family
~~~
Jenks’ Flash Back
‘wow, that guide dog user actually gave her dog a leash correction.’
“Need a little help pixy man?” the visually impaired woman inquires.” I’m Juliet and this excitable creature is Honey.”
An eyebrow raised, “What did you have in mind?”
“Hop a lift on my right shoulder until we are across the river?”
As Jenks settles on to Juliet’s shoulder the lady pixies hover a distance away.
******* A Walk-A-Thon by Phone?
Talk about Getting Creative!
By JeanneMarie Moore
Hull Park Board, ACBO Representative
Hull Park began a virtual walk -a -thon, on May 7th, to raise funds and awareness of what Hull Foundation offers and in an effort to keep our guests active during this odd time in our lives.
How it works
It began on May 7th. For every twenty minutes of activity: walking, cleaning your house, pursuing a hobby etc. it all counts. Twenty minutes of any physical activity counts for a mile.
Julie, the amazing O&M instructor at Hull Park, writes descriptive narratives so well, it seems as if people are actually walking from Lincoln City to Cape Cod. She does such a great job, at first, I was confused thinking it was a real, in person walk-a-thon.
Day 1 May 7, 2020
Well, Good morning to you all on this 7th day of May!
We all had a great time as we gathered this chilly morning on Siletz Bay for some clam digging to initiate our journey. The cold 50 degree ocean water woke us right up as it lapped around our ankles. Those that chose to dig for clams got a beautiful bounty of purple varnish clams. The families of those who delivered us to the bay took them home for good cooking later as we all set out on our mission to Cape Cod. There was laughter and hugs as we all became giddy to get started and the sun greeted our happy faces. Off we went, passing Merle’s house and hollering to the ocean, see you later Pacific!!
We’ll say ‘Hello” to your sister, “Atlantic” for you!”
10 miles later, we stopped at the Otis Cafe, in Otis. Julie told us she trained a sweet, long-legged yellow guide dog named Otis. We had a huge, down home, fully delicious breakfast for travelers. It consisted of black molasses bread, German potatoes, buttermilk waffles, crispy bacon, and whatever else you ordered. We are ready to roll!
Now we are on our 12th mile into our trip, walking along the southern bank of the Salmon River as it flows parallel to Highway 18. We just past the Salmon River Hatchery. With food in our bellies and sun in our hearts, someone begins to sing a favorite song.
Day 2, May 8, 2020
Ah, what a way to start a beautiful sunny day. It’s so nice to be sitting with you all at the beautiful stone and wood Maysara Winery with our feet up and our drinks in hand. I’m not quite sure how Wes found the hot chocolate at a winery but it smells wonderful. We all seem to be in a peaceful state of mind after traveling 36.5 more miles yesterday. Of course, I can’t tell if it’s a beautiful morning, birds are singing their sweet melodies and keeping us in this meditative and peaceful state, or if it’s the fact that we were wild and crazy fun-loving money spending crazies at the Spirit Mountain Casino 22 miles ago. I have to say, I think that place wore us out. I have never heard such a ruckus in all my life! Hearing the hoopla from Merle and Kat at the blackjack table was something to behold! I think we finally found Sharon’s shoe in the arcade and Clark talking it up with the dealer at the poker table. You know, I don’t think he even laid a single bet, but he had some great stories that kept a big group of us laughing up a storm! Remember when he said he spotted a leopard once? You would have thought he knew they were born like that! Ha ha, pun intended, I tell you, what an adventure! I’m so glad LaNeil was able to pull us out of there when he did, a few more minutes and we all would have had to be committed to the Funny Farm.
So now, let us just take a few minutes to soak in our morning sun, stretch and yawn to the warmth of the breeze and begin our journey once again. No more casinos! Blue skies from here on out. If we keep going like we are, we just may make it to Portland today!
By the way, when we got to Salem, the capital of Oregon, Governor Brown came out to cheer us on and noted that we were great Oregonians because we all had our masks on!
Days 3, 4 & 5 May 11, 2020
What an amazing weekend we had! Another 92 miles on our journey!
We are still talking about our travels through Portland. Especially, those Shanghai Tunnels! Who would’ve thought there was an underground ghostly world
of history beneath such a great city. We can’t get over our tour in these tunnels found in the Old Town Chinatown districts where we walked an underground
labyrinth of interconnected basements, makeshift rooms and low-ceilinged tunnels that ran from the riverfront to the inner stores. It was crazy to learn
how in the 1850s trapdoors from bars and other businesses dropped into these tunnels which were used to store kidnapped grown men and women and eventually
transport them to ships for slave labor. The tunnels were also used for smuggling illegal goods, brothels, opium dens, and gambling houses. What a history!
Thank goodness many of these tunnels have been filled and the rest are used for tours now. Yes, the underworld sins have been shut down but what ghosts
remain is still debatable.
Thank goodness we have finally passed through the city. Now, we can enjoy the peace and freeing wonder that the Gorge brings. We are 9 miles west of
Cascade Locks, Oregon. When we get there, Rebecca said she is going to treat us all to ice cream at the Eastwind Drive-In, a retro diner along the Columbia
River. Then Kris has surprised us all with tickets aboard the Portland Spirit, the Columbia Gorge Sternwheeler! Oh what a feast we will have as we rest
our weary bodies and learn about this gorgeous river. Let’s get those 9 more miles!!
We have a matching challenge! Sharon Elder has stated “I will match up to $500 in sponsorship total. Game on? Who is going to join me? That is an easy
$1000 for the Hull Foundation! So donate now, $5 or more and walk on. See you on the other side of the country, at the Atlantic that is.
Folks, We need More people to join us. Pant, pant, I just spent 90 minutes working in my garden.
Note from your happy editor.
There were two more weeks of entries and they were both colorful and interesting!
For more info about this or other questions you can call the Hull Park at 503-668-6195.
Updates from Around the State
******* Update from the Klamath Chapter
By Jackie Reed
Don Poulter, President of the Klamath chapter, wanted to let folks know that they had their first ACB Klamath chapter meeting by conference call in May.
They had good attendance and everyone is excited that they will continue with that as an option even when they can meet in person again. They were also invited to join
Rogue Valley’s meeting by conference call in May which was fun and informative!
******* Update from the Rogue Valley Chapter
By Mona Huntley, Chapter President
We had our first telephone conference call for our last meeting. It went really well, had nine people attend, including two from the Klamath Falls Chapter and Carrie our state President.
We decided to purchase some blank cartridges and USB devices so we could make recordings for those members who are not able to download books from BARD. We also approved speakers for the first three meetings in the fall. We still do not know what is going to happen to our picnic in July but we are hopeful.
******* Update from the Southwestern Chapter
By Carrie Muth, Chapter President
The Southwestern Chapter has been holding their meetings via phone since March. We do not hold meetings June through September, so our next meeting will be in September. During our May meeting, we decided to change our meetings to the 2nd Monday of the month at 6:30 pm. This is a big change as the Southwestern chapter has held their meetings on the 2nd Saturday of the month since I became involved in 1994.
We hope to still have our summer picnic on August 15th. Of course, this will depend on restrictions for gatherings. We usually have less than 25 people, so truly hope to gather in-person.
We hope you all have a good summer & stay safe & healthy.
~~~
Jenks stands on Teresa’s desk hands on hips. “Man, she gave me a short break. As soon as I got off the bus downtown, What in Tink’s knickers did I behold? A flock of extra friendly pesky pigeons tailing my tail end the few blocks it took to fly to the Apple Store. The even tailed me under the awnings of the store fronts.”
Teresa, “Oh dear, you have had a rough trip.”
******* There’s a work from home tsunami coming. Are you ready for it?
When the Coronavirus first drove us out of office buildings and into our homes, many of us assumed it would only be a temporary solution until the worst
of the virus had passed and we were given the all clear to resume business as usual. With events unfolding the way they are, however, it’s starting to
look like the status quo of employer-provided office space is in danger of becoming extinct.
To Read the rest of this article go to the ACB of Oregon website at
Acboforegon.org
******* ACBO Board Meeting Summary
April 18, 2020
By Bobi Earp, ACBO Secretary
To obtain a complete copy of the board minutes contact Bobi Earp, ACBO Secretary, bobiearp@gmail.com,.
503-317-4529
To obtain a complete copy of the treasurer’s report contact Sue Schwab
503-871-6175
For the first time, this meeting took place on the Zoom platform.
District Reports:
District 1, Teresa Christian
The Pioneer Chapter has suspended chapter meetings for the duration.
The Columbia chapter has dissolved.
The Willamette Chapter is experimenting with phone meetings and they had one person who got COVID19.
Metro PDX Chapter has been doing phone meetings since March. In May they will start using the ACBO Zoom line.
They are doing a role playing game on Saturday nights using the ACBO Zoom line, along with other game nights.
Teresa assigned each of the chapter board members to check on five chapter members on an ongoing basis while the pandemic is happening.
She thanked Michael for his assistance with using and learning Zoom.
District 2, Michael Babcock
Dunes Chapter has dissolved.
South Western now has 40 members and they had a chapter meeting via the phone.
Coos Bay has only had one case of COVID19 so far.
District 3, Mona Huntly
She hopes to have a meeting in May, perhaps by phone, she will be using her own conference call line. Will be adding Klamath on the phone.
Klamath is struggling, learning how to do phone meetings. They meet on the third
Tuesday of each month.
So far no one has COVID19.
Committee Reports
Oregon Commission for the Blind (OCB) Report, Michael Babcock
The commission will provide three months of financial assistance to the vendors because of losses from COVID19. This has greatly impacted their businesses. It is expected that client needs will increase after the shelter in place. The
Commission is open by appointment, and is developing online courses.
If you would like a more detailed report, contact Bobi Earp and she will provide the written report Michael submitted.
Talking Book and Braille Library Report. JeanneMarie Moore
It is difficult for those without a computer to have access. The TB library is no longer mailing
books, you must download them.
There was some discussion about methods to mitigate this for low tech folks.
Hull Park Report, Jeannemarie Moore
They have lost at least $100,000 from sight reservation cancellations due to the pandemic.
It would be extremely helpful for the park’s survival if folks would consider becoming a member at $40/yr. Mary Lee Turner said Hull Park is committed to be available to folks with sight loss.
Offering 2 call chats per month. Contact the Hull Park for more details.
503-668-6195
Stylus Report, Teresa Christian
She is disinfecting the cartridges as they come back in.
The story bread crumbs sprinkled through out the Stylus that leads to revealing the winner of the submission contest is back.
The Stylus is now available on the website in print and audio files.
At ACBOfOregon.org
Pedestrian Safety , Marylee Turner
It started with the Metro PDX chapter and has now expanded to be state wide. They have met once and are writing PSA to get the word out. Because of COVID19 they are not sure when things will open back up and they can resume in person meetings.
Convention Committee , President Carrie Muth
They are making plans for the October convention hoping we will be able to meet in person.
The national convention will be done virtually this year. They are encouraging states to have back up plans in case they need to have a virtual convention as well.
Fund Raising, Darian Slayton Fleming
Darian is working on finding sponsors for the convention.
Pam de Young is educating them on grant writing.
Legislative, Art Stevenson
already reported on being proactive, not much being done at Federal level. State budget option packages are going to be put forth for Oregon Commission for the Blind.
He said that if ACB wants any bills proposed, now is the time to get them written.
Membership, Pat Wallace
Darian Slayton Fleming had stats: membership report 140 members, 4 junior, 3 at large 44 sighted, and 96 are blind.
The membership committee is comprised of Pat Wallace the chair and all chapter presidents.
Natural Disaster Preparedness, Desiree Christian
They plan to put an article in each issue of the Stylus about disaster preparedness.
Website, Marty Sobo
The Techy Trio wiped out the site and started from scratch, building from the ground up.
Phase 1 of new website is accessible for blind and low vision.
Acboforegon.org
Oregon School for the Blind,
Darian Slayton Fleming
Historic information was given to Pat Schwab to collect, he is generating a narrative. To add to the website. Metro PDX has most of this info available on their website.
Metropdx.org
Unfinished Business
Revision of grant application form will be revisited in July
Will revisit in July the idea of purchasing bingo game supplies.
New Business:
Web Master, Marty Sobo asked if we could pay Michael Babcock for some of his hard work, since he does this professionally. It was moved, seconded and passed to pay Michael’s business $400 for his web services.
Michael abstained from the vote.
The next day, Michael submitted a letter of refusal to the Board, stating that Marty and Aaron were also team members, but he would like to purchase software that would allow the building of forms for the website.
The Columbia chapter submitted a letter of dissolution and returned their funds. The board sadly accepted its dissolution.
The Together Calls are going well; they have had 3 calls so far and a good turn out with 8 to 18 folks on the call. The format is Open Door, come and stay as short or long as you like.
Teresa loves the Zoom platform because it fits everyone’s dialing needs.
Carrie thanked Teresa and Pat for stepping up to the plate and doing these Zoom Together calls.
Pat asked the chapter Presidents to notify their members that do not have emails this is happening.
Oregon Foundation Book: Book of Grants resource $250 year, lists all grants
available, and who provided it. Book is good for about 2 years. It was moved, seconded and passed to purchase the book for $250.
Dunes Chapter submitted a Letter of dissolution, they had no members, no meetings and no interest. James was saddened.
Student scholarship
Sue Schwab said we have $2000 in the budget for this.
Carrie was contacted by National Scholarship about having part-time students.
It was moved, seconded and past to approve the national’s recommendation.
Desiree Christian announced she is running a game night on Saturday nights. This is comprised of a combination of board game and story telling. Anyone is welcome to join, contact Desiree at
Blue.rock.girl@gmail.com or 503-750-0413.
Executive Session approved grant application.
Adjourned at 1:35pm
~~~
Jenks’ Flash Back
“Hey Marty.”
“Yeah little winged man?” surprised he turns to Jenks.
“You’ve got to contact Teresa.” Jenks informs him.
“The funny one?” Marty inquires.
“Is there any other? She said you won the Stylus article contest, she asked me to remined you that you need to contact her by the end of June in order to get the $25 green ones.”
The submission contest now has a deadline.
You will have till the end of the month of which the current issue is published, to contact me to let me know you discovered your name as the winner of this quarters contest.
As you all know by now, every Stylus issue has a contest for submitting items that will potentially go in the Stylus.
One name will be selected, and that lucky person will receive a check for $25. The winner must call or email me by the end of the month this newsletter came out to let me know they discovered their name as being the winner for this issue. Your $25 check will be released after you contact me.
Keep those submissions coming and good luck!!
Thanks for reading this issue of the Stylus!
May you always have enough!
In love and light
Your Happy Editor
Teresa Christian
Email: acbo.stylus@gmail.com
Phone: 971-322-8462
The Stylus is the official quarterly publication of the American Council of the Blind of Oregon.
To change your address, request alternative formats for ACB publications, or request financial documents, contact our State Treasurer Sue Schwab.
Email: sueschwab00@hotmail.com
Cell: 503-871-6175
For more information about the American Council of the Blind of Oregon, go to our web page at:
President ACB of O Carrie Muth,
Phone: (541) 297-8309
Email: carrie.muth.acbo@gmail.com