Mark Your Calendar!

What:  SDAB Annual Convention

When:  October 10-11, 2008

Where:  Governor's Inn in Pierre, 605-224-4200 ($65+tax for 2-4 in a room – will honor State Rates)

Theme: “Learning As We Go”

Agenda: will include sessions on:

$  Learning about Social Security Benefits;

$  Learning how to make Survival Kits;

$  Learning about what is new in the Game,

         Fish, & Parks Department;

$  Learning from members (panel) about helpful

         ideas to increase our independence;

$  Learning about options for descriptive

         television for the blind & visually impaired; and

$  Learning from our legislators.

Banquet: The highlight for the end of our first day will be the annual banquet where scholarship winner and other awards will be presented. 

Auction: Steve Kelsey has once again agreed to be the Auctioneer. We all hope he can beat his award winning performance of last year.  He feels he can sell anything with the help of his trusted sidekicks, but he will need our great stuff.  Let’s put him to the test, start gathering your auction items. One of his sidekicks will be Steve Hart, who is also anxious to show off their talents again.  Word has it that the siren will once again be in attendance.  Start gathering your fun and useful treasures to bring to the auction.

Sunset Cruise: To close out the Convention on Saturday night (5:00 pm) a 2-hour cruise is being planned on the Capital City Queen, a Coastguard certified vessel that runs up and down the Missouri River. The ride will be narrated by Bill Stevens who provides information about the Lewis and Clark Expedition, early Native American life, and wildlife on the river. It will be very relaxing and a great way to conclude the Convention. The more people who go on the cruise, the cheaper it will be for all participants so an exact cost is not yet known. The boat is accessible so if you are in a wheelchair we will just need to know that when you register. An early registration form is enclosed so if interested just check the Capital City Queen Cruise!  Following the cruise will be a hospitality room, including pizza, hosted by the Sioux Land Chapter.

Attention: If you bring a non-SDAB member to the convention who then joins the SDAB, your membership could be free (2 for the price of 1).

All people who pre-register by October 1st will have their names put in a drawing for the following prizes:

$   Capital City Queen Cruise ticket (2)

$   SDAB Banquet ticket (1)

If you have any other suggestions or ideas for activities, please share them with Linda Biffert at 605-627-5608 or lbiffert@msn.com      

Why make dollar bills accessible?

By Frank Strong Jr; Des Moines, Iowa

Can you imagine a country printing blank currency which the sighted folks could not readily identify?  Can you imagine receiving a blank piece of paper in exchange for your hard work? Well, as far as blind citizens are concerned, this is reality.  The paper currency may as well be blank as blind people cannot identify it anyway.  All U.S. currency has the same outside dimensions and bills do not have tactile markings. And without any tactile markings, blind people cannot identify a one dollar bill from a hundred dollar bill.

The American Council of the Blind is to be commended for advocating for accessible U.S. currency.  Most countries outside of the U.S. have accessible currency for their blind and visually impaired citizens.  The U.S. has always assumed that blind folks probably didn’t have any money anyway, so why make it accessible to them?  But times have changed; there are many blind people in jobs and running businesses.  We blind folks need the ability to independently identify paper currency every day.  Accessibility and identification of cash is as important to blind people as it is for sighted folks. 

For decades the United States has never “put their money where their mouth is” on this important accessibility issue.  Now, due to recent appellate court decisions, it appears that the U.S. Treasury will be required to change the U.S. currency for ALL Americans to use equally. Congratulations American Council of the Blind!

There has been a lot of fussing and hand wringing about how to make the U.S. currency accessible.  Do we change the size of the bills; do we add braille to each bill; do we make our currency with different edges?  Other countries have used various techniques to make their currency accessible.  But how about a different approach?  How about installing strategically placed holes in the currency? The holes would be used much as we use braille.  Use of the six dot cell would be applicable in this situation. A one dot cell would indicate a one dollar bill, a one and a two dot cell would indicate a two dollar bill and a one and four dot cell would indicate a five dollar bill.  A similar pattern for the ten, twenty, fifty, and one hundred dollar bills would be used.  These holes would be relatively easy to detect and could be inserted using

the same or similar technique used by the U.S. Treasury to keep the edges of the bills intact and keep the bills from fraying.

The insertion of “braille” holes in U.S. currency would be readily accessible for our present currency printing system. “Braille” holes would probably not require the dollar bill slots in vending machines or in cash registers to be modified.  In addition, this technique would not require massive alternations of dollar bill reading equipment.

This accessibility system also promotes an increased awareness of the power of braille in liberating blind and visually impaired folks.  Braille has stood the test of time. Braille has helped blind people become more independent with its versatility and adaptability. 

This blindness advocacy issue is an exciting opportunity.  We are making our country more accessible for blind folks.  The accessibility of currency enables blind people to improve their money management skills.  This accessibility issue will help blind people take another step toward achieving first class citizenship in the United States of America.

Focus on Success III

When:   Sept 30 – Oct 2, 2008

Where:  Best Western Ramkota Hotel, Sioux Falls, SD

Who:   Everyone is welcome but individuals who are blind or visually impaired, parents, family members, students, teachers, professionals in education, rehabilitation and independent living are encouraged to attend. The program will address options for education, vocational rehabilitation, and adult services for individuals who are blind or visually impaired.

Featured Speakers and Topics

Ø Olegario D. Cantos VII - US Depart. of Justice;

Ø Ardis Bazyn – Bazyn Communications;

Ø Dan Roberts - Age-related Macular

      Degeneration;

Ø Karen Gerety - Keys to Success at College; and

Ø Priscilla Rogers- American Foundation for the

     Blind (AFB)

Topics

Age-related Macular Degeneration, Assistive Technology Solutions, AFB Resources for All Ages, Low Vision Options, Career Exploration, College Preparation, Parenting a Child with Vision Loss, Orientation and Mobility, Deaf-Blindness, Overcoming Adversity, Vendor Exhibits and many other topics

Continuing Education credits will be available.

Questions or for more information contact:

$ Service to the Blind and Visually Impaired @ 605-773-4644 or 1-800-265-9684; at:  http://dhs.sd.gov/sbvi/fos2008.aspx

$ SD School for the Blind and Visually Impaired @ 605-626-2580 or 1-888-275-3816

$ Braille and Talking Book Library @ 605-773-3131 or 1-800-423-6665

Additional details and registration information will be sent out and will also be available on the Division of Service to the Blind and Visually Impaired website at:  http://dhs.sd.gov/sbvi/fos2008.aspx

ADA celebration

By Chelle Hart

An ADA celebration will be held again this year with free food (limited to 500 people) award recognition and entertainment with music provided by Mr. Doowaps from Music Unlimited.  It will be held at Sertoma Park here in Sioux Falls from 12:00 to 4:30 p.m. on July 26th which will be the 18^th anniversary of the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act.  All are welcome! 

SBVI Update

By Sandy Neyhart

SBVI’s newest Rehabilitation Teacher Erin Swenson, is originally from Minnesota and graduated from Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall with an Environmental Science degree.  Her previous work experience includes providing direct support services to individuals while employed at Habilitative Services, Inc. and REM Minnesota.  Since completing her orientation training at SDRC, Erin has been working with the individuals on her caseload in the southeast 10 counties of the state.  Erin sums up her experiences as a Rehabilitation Teacher; “I saw the job description for Rehabilitation Teacher; I knew it would be something that I would love doing!  It's almost been three months and I truly love meeting all the people on my caseload and find it a blessing that I can help them adjust to their new vision loss.  It's going to be a great journey for me!” Erin and her husband are still newlyweds looking for their dream home in Sioux Falls.  

Updates from the Center

By Dawn Backer

Ione Carlson and Lori Smith were hired to provide clerical support at SD Rehabilitation Center for the Blind.  They both have experience in the private sector with various organizations and are doing an excellent job supporting staff by performing a variety of duties.  We appreciate having them on board. Ron Gehrts, former employment consultant, became the home management instructor with Taryn Sietsema’s resignation.  The Rehabilitation Counselor position vacated by Bob Smith will be announced soon, so hopefully we will have a full staff again. Transition week is July 27- August 1, 2008 at SDRC. Currently we have 10 students attending the week long vocational training program.  Tours of local businesses and evening activities are planned to create a fun and educational experience for these high school students. 

SDRC is hosting a beep ball game and picnic Thursday evening, July 31st starting at 5:00 pm so anyone interested in playing beep ball or watching the game is welcome.  We will be playing at the field on the west side of SDRC so if you come by taxi after 4:30 have them drop you off on the west side of the building.  If you would like to play beep ball please RSVP to 367-5260 by Friday July 25th. 

Another event of interest coming in July is the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Picnic Celebration on Saturday July 26, 2008. This free picnic is being held to celebrate the passage of the ADA. It will be held at Sertoma Park (

Free Directory Assistance!

By Frank Strong Jr; Des Moines, Iowa

New telephone directory assistance for business is now available and is as close as your nearest telephone.  The directory service is funded by Google and you can access this service by calling the following toll-free number: 800-466-4411

After you dial the toll-free number, your call will be answered by a voice recognition system.  The next step is for you to give the name of the city and state of the number you desire.  You will then be asked for the business name.  You give the business name and the directory assistance system will search its data base and give you a series of choices.  You press the number of the selection which appears to be the one you are seeking. 

The business phone number will then be called. This service has at least two advantages over conventional directory assistance.  One is speed.  The Google system is very fast.  Secondly, the Google system is portable.  You do not need to request a directory assistance waiver to take advantage of this free service. 

Try Google directory assistance and see if you like it.  You can’t beat the price! By the way, this service is national so you can use it when you travel or when you are doing out of state business.

The Real Gus Zachte

By Robert Zachte

Gus and Agnes Zachte were my Uncle and Aunt, Gus being my father's brother. We are honored that the Gus Zachte award continues to keep his memory alive. I thought you might enjoy some anecdotes about Gus. Gus and another individual were blinded in the 1930's when an early refrigeration compressor filled with acid, exploded in their faces. The other individual regained his vision. Gus did not.

Gus always wore cotton balls over his eyes, covered with black welder’s goggles. Gus loved to hunt and fish. When goose hunting, we would position Gus in a "goose pit" and when we saw a flight coming toward us we would face Gus toward the flight and he would kneel with a double barrel ten gauge shotgun on his knee, like a mortar. He would "lead" the wing-beat by sound and fire both barrels of the ten gauge shotgun. Occasionally he would score a hit and his picture would be published in the Argus Leader, holding his goose. On one occasion, Gus and dozens of other hunters all fired at the same time and Gus turned his shotgun around like a baseball bat and threatened to clobber anyone that attempted to take "his goose". Whether the goose was his or not remained to be seen. So many guys hit it that the goose was just feathers.

Gus loved to drive when we went "road hunting" for pheasants. Yes, I said drive!   Agnes would sit in the passenger’s seat directing Gus "right", "left" and so forth. I would be in the back seat of their two-door car. A couple of times Agnes spotted a bird and jumped out to shoot. You just can't imagine the thrill of being trapped in the back seat of a two-door car with a blind man at the wheel, running off into a ditch! Being a twelve or thirteen year old kid I loved to pull pranks on Gus and he pulled pranks on me.

When we would go fishing, Gus would ask if there were any other boats around and I would tell him "no". Of course there were; because boats always congregate where fish are biting. Gus carried a two pound coffee can and a world war one great coat that he got in CC camp before he lost his sight. He would stand up in the boat, wrap the coat around himself and hold the coffee can underneath to pee in. At one point, being a kid, I just couldn't contain myself - and cut the bottom out of his can. I believe that Gus spent his remaining years trying to get even with me for that one! Just prior to his death, Gus started to regain vision in one eye. He took off the cotton balls and goggles took one look at my Aunt Agnes and put them back on. I had the greatest respect for my Uncle Gus. He had a great sense of humor, did not let his visual impairment hold him down and was FUN.  I never forgot him and never will forget him.     

Parent Conference

Parents often wonder how they can become more involved in their children’s schooling. A FREE conference slated for Aug. 15-16, 2008 in Sioux Falls will help them find meaningful ways to do just that. The conference is hosted by the Department of Education and South Dakota Parent Information and Resource Center. It will be held at the Downtown Holiday Inn. The conference theme is “Partnerships with Families Create Success: Make This the Best School Year Ever!” Karen Mapp, author of “Beyond the Bake Sale,” will offer a keynote presentation. South Dakota’s Secretary of Education Rick Melmer also will address the group. School leaders are asked to share this information with parent-teacher groups, school boards and interested parents. For information about the conference contact Dawn Smith, Depart of Education, (605) 773-2535, or http://doe.sd.gov/oess/title/PFCS/index.asp.

Blind Man gets Killed in Biker Bar

A blind man wanders into an all Girl’s Biker Bar by mistake. He finds his way to a bar stool and orders some coffee. After sitting there for awhile, he yells to the waiter, “Hey, you want to hear a blonde joke?” 
The bar immediately falls absolutely silent. In a very deep, husky voice, the woman next to him says, before you tell that joke, sir, I think it's only fair, given that you're blind, that you should know five things:  

1) The bartender is a blonde girl with a baseball bat.
2) The bouncer is a blonde girl.
3) I'm a 6 foot tall, 175 lb. blonde woman with a black belt in karate.
4) The woman sitting next to me is blonde and a professional weightlifter.
5) The girl to your right is blonde and a professional wrestler.  Now, think about it seriously mister, do you still want to tell that joke?  The blind man thinks for a second, shakes his head, and mutters, “No, not if I'm gonna have to explain it five times.”

Membership

We realize how IMPORTANT our supporters are, and would like to recognize the following that have graciously contributed to our organization since the last newsletter was published.

Regular Members:

Rolland Wieczorek               Beverly Krietlow        

Julia Kleinschmit                   Ed/LeeAnn Pinkman           

Amy Scepaniak                     Terri Jordan  

Dorothea Peterson               Keith Bundy  

Peg Bundy                             Clifford Foley

Donna Puetz

Associated Members: $10 - $24

Timothy Minton, MD            

Robert Nixon, MD     

Monte Dirks, MD

Peter G Weber, OD 

Daniel J. Hafner, MD                       

Bert Corwin, OD

Elizabeth Ellender, OD

Sustaining Members: $25 - $99

Aberdeen Lions Convention   Melanie Weiss, OD          

Memorials for Bill Bundy - Keith/Peg Bundy

2008 SDAB Convention Registration Form

We are asking as many people as possible to pre-register by sending or emailing this form or just the information to the address below by October 1. You can pay at the convention. To help get an accurate meal count we are asking as many people as possible to pre-register.  Please remember everyone is WELCOME to attend the convention, so if you have not pre-registered join us anyway!

NAME: _______________________________________________________________________________________________

ADDRESS: ___________________________________________________________________________________________

CITY/STATE/ZIP: ___________________________________________ PHONE #: ____________________________

EMAIL ADDRESS: ___________________________________________________________________________________

 Vegetarian meals are available.  Please indicate which meals? _________________

Mailing address:

SOUTH DAKOTA ASSOCIATION OF THE BLIND

PO Box 1622

Website: http://sdab.club.officelive.com

Co Presidents: 

Chelle Hart:

Keith Bundy:

Madison SD 57042

605-256-5215

Past-President:

Linda Biffert

605-627-5608

1st Vice President:

Linda Biffert

605-627-5608

2nd V-Pres:

Virginia Miller

Dell Rapids SD 57022

605-428-3651

Secretary:

Lerae Olesen

Treasurer:

Steve Hart, Treasurer

605-332-6059

Newsletter:

Dawn LaMee

605-226-3211

Gadgetry Program:

Brenda Fish

1101 N. Garfield

Sioux Falls SD  57104

605-336-9534

888-584-7440

Board of Directors

Ed Pinkman

(2008)  605-225-0940

Mary Sjerven

Pierre SD  57501

(2008)  605-224-4183

Jack Hogarth

(2009)  303-832-1156

Sharleen Meyers

(2009)  605-359-2388

Deb VerSteeg

(2010)  605-331-2131

James Madsen

(2010)  605-332-3541   

Committees  

Amendments/By-Laws/Resolutions:  Lerae Olesen (Chair), Keith Bundy,

Sharlene Meyers, Leighton Meyers, Deb Ver Steeg

Membership:  Dawn LaMee (Chair), Marge Kaiser, Dawn Srstka

Nominations:  Keith Bundy (Chair), Dawn Brush, Linda Biffert, Chelle Hart

Fund Raising:  Virginia Miller (Chair), Mary Sjerven, Jim Madsen, Jack Hogarth

Scholarship:  Dawn Brush (Chair), Keith Bundy, Lerae Olesen

Gadgetry:  Chelle Hart (Chair), Dawn Brush, Sharlene Meyers, Brenda Fish

Finance & Budget: Steve Hart (chair), Keith Bundy, Linda Biffert, Deb Ver Steeg

Legislative:  Linda Biffert (Chair), Chelle Hart, Keith Bundy, Marge Kaiser

Program/Social:  Linda Biffert (Chair), Mary Sjerven, Dawn Brush

Awards:  Lerae Olesen (Chair), Andrea Barker, Virginia Miller, Deb Ver Steeg