October 2002 Vol. 3 No. 8

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President's Message

by Frank Welte

On Tuesday, September 16, Bill Hobson, Phil Kutner, Dave Hunter, and I had the privilege of touring the Orientation Center for the Blind, a state-run residential rehabilitation center located in Albany, just north of Berkeley. The center provides training in blindness skills such as orientation and mobility, Braille reading and writing, using a computer, and household tasks such as cooking, cleaning, laundry, and personal finances. The center also offers students the option of taking classes either in sewing or in wood shop. During our visit to the OCB wood shop we met Michael Lee, one of our newest SMCB members, who is currently attending OCB. Hey, Mike, as long as you're in the wood shop how about making a nice gavel for the president? In order to insure that all students, regardless of their level of vision loss, gain confidence in their ability to perform tasks in a non-visual manner, all students wear blindfolds as part of their training regime. The value of the skills being taught at the center is emphasized by the fact that most of the instructors are also blind. If you are in the early stages of learning how to manage your vision loss OCB may be just what you've been looking for. The program is available free of charge to clients of the Department of Rehabilitation.

Andrea Giudice from Guide Dogs for the Blind will speak at our next meeting on Saturday, October 5. While we've certainly had presentations on guide dogs in the past it is good for us to keep current on developments in this area, especially since we have five chapter members who also use dog guides.

Our long-anticipated tenth anniversary banquet will take place on Sunday, October 13 from 12:30 PM to 5:00 PM in the French Room at the Villa Hotel located at 4000 South el Camino Real in San Mateo. Don't miss this opportunity to celebrate our chapter's past and look ahead to a bright future in the company of fellow members, friends, and special guests including SMCB founding president, Warren Cushman, CCB president, Catherine Skivers, and others. Tickets are going fast. Remember, the deadline to

purchase tickets is Monday, September 30. Call Frank Welte if you wish directions to the hotel.

If you missed our September meeting you missed a treat. David Tom and his associates from the San Mateo County Elections Division demonstrated a talking voting machine, and they reported on the county's plans to promote the use of these machines in future elections. Unfortunately, after our meeting it was determined that the county isn't quite ready to roll out the accessible voting machines for the November, 2002 election. However, Mr. Tom assures me that he is committed to bringing these machines online in the future. There is some good news on the immediate voting front. You can get a cassette recording of local voting information for the fall election from the Elections Division by calling (650) 312-5222. Also, the office of the California Secretary of State will, once again, provide a copy of the California voter information guide on cassette upon request. You can get your copy by calling (916) 657-2166 or (800) 345-8683.

Speaking of voting, there will be an election for CCB officers and directors at the fall convention being held at the Atrium Hotel in Irvine from October 31 to November 3. The following individuals have been nominated for statewide positions. President: Jeff Thom, First Vice President: Mitch Pomerantz, Treasurer: Peter Pardini, and Directors: Rhonda King, Ahmad Rahman, Barbara Rhodes, and Frank Welte. I have been notified that Rhonda King is also running for First Vice President. Please let me know how you would like me to cast our chapter's votes at the convention.

Our next bowling outing will be on Saturday, October 26 from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM at the AMF Redwood Lanes at 2580 El Camino Real in Redwood City. Call me if you plan to attend. There will be no bowling in September.

The San Mateo Council of the Blind holds our monthly meetings on the first Saturday of the month from 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM at the Bank of America located at El Camino Real and 3rd Avenue in downtown San Mateo. For further information call Frank Welte, SMCB President at (650) 508-8329, or send

E-mail to [email protected].

Tenth Anniversary Banquet Program

The program is set. It is called for 12:30 with introductions and greetings ending at 1pm. We shall start dining with a salad and rolls and butter. Then you have a choice of Chicken Jerusalem (a change), Poached Salmon and Pasta Primavera (sun-dried tomatoes and basil). Vegetables will be a baked potato and vegetable of the day. The dessert will be chocolate sundae and of our beverages will be coffee or tea. There also will be a no-host bar for your pleasure

After dining our founder, Warren Cushman will start, CCB President, Catherine Skivers will then give the First Volunteer of the Year Award and Frank Welte, our President, will report on the chapter’s future. Speeches and awards will take a half hour.

Our entertainment starts with our new member and blind accordionist, Larry Martin. Prof. Mel Zucker will be the disc jockey. He teaches at Skyline College.

Celebrate the Tenth Anniversary of

Our San Mateo Council of the Blind.

• Membership has tripled in the last 2 years.

• See our newsletter and our own web site.

• Hear Our Founder Recount the Early History.

• Hear our CCB State President Honor Us.

• Help Honor our First Volunteer Awardee.

• Enjoy Great Food and Hospitality at the Villa.

• Listen and Dance to Wonderful Music.

--Cut and send with check to SMCB by Sept. 30--

Name/s…………………………………………………

Phone #………..-………….-…………………………

Sponsors @$25 CCB Members & Guests @$15

Choices: Chicken Jerusalem…..

or Salmon Filet….

or Pasta Primavera….

A Visually Impaired & Blind Problem-Solving Group

A visually impaired and blind problem-solving group entitled "Finding Your Path" is seeking additional members. In a supportive environment, visually impaired and blind individuals share thoughts, feelings and provide feedback to each other about the impact of sight loss on their lives and develop strategies to help them live a life that they want to live.

The group meets each Thursdays from 11am to 1pm at the San Francisco Rose Resnick Lighthouse and is facilitated by Katrine Hughes, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, who is visually impaired.

If interested, telephone Katrine Hughes at (415) 648-0775 or at (510) 540-0775 or e-mail [email protected]

The Bulletin

Phil Kutner: Editor

1128 Tanglewood Way,

San Mateo, CA 94403

Tel. 650-349-6946