President: Catherine Horn Randall
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Contact Information
Presidential Note
Editor’s Note
Ferris Wheel Chapter
Blackhawk
Chapter
Chicago Chapter
Four Rivers Chapter
2003 State Convention
Daily Living with Diabetes
2003 National Convention
Meet A Fellow Federationist: Catherine Horn Randall
LEGISLATIVE OVERVIEW
NFBI CONVENTION ROUNDUP: Defining Our Future
Special Thanks
Publishing a regular issue of The Braille Examiner again is another milestone for our Illinois Affiliate. I wish to thank Newsletter Editor, Connie Davis and her staff for their hard work in getting this first issue of 2003 to press.
If you are not already a registered Newsline® user, please talk with your Chapter President to have an application filled out in order for you to register to use our newspaper by phone service or, you may call my office number and leave your name, address and phone number and I will see that your registration process is underway. It is essential that as many of our own members not only register for Newsline®, but really use it to help insure future funding.
Members of our N.F.B.I. Chapter Recruiting and Renewal Committee have held two meetings with former members of our Kankakee Heartland Chapter. Committee members will help with meeting arrangements and lead meetings as long as necessary to reorganize the Chapter.
Our collective action not only helped to save Newsline® funding through June 30 of 2004 but also insured the continuation of funding for the Illinois Instructional Materials Center which provides essential educational materials to over 3,000 blind and visually impaired children throughout Illinois.
Special thanks go to Illinois State Senators Vince DeMuzio and John Cullerton for helping the Federation salvage Newsline® funding. I have sent thank you letters to all those who contributed to pay for Newsline® service during March when service would have otherwise been suspended.
If you have questions, or comments please contact me directly as follows: phone--217-245-7722 or my e-mail address is chr47@mchsi.com.
Cordially yours,
Cathy Randall
At this time, we plan to publish this newsletter at least one more time this year. We invite anyone who wishes to, to write an article. We cannot promise that we will be able to publish everything, but we will try.
We welcome your feedback and hope that you will enjoy this publication.
Connie J. Davis, Editor
Our NFBI Ferris Wheel Chapter has applied for a Prairie Land United Way Grant to build Chapter membership within the four area counties served by the local United Way. This is a new adventure for us. Hopefully, the hard work that went into preparing the grant proposal will pay off in needed funding to help us bring new members into our Federation family.
Other community funds have enabled us to send an I.S.V.I. student to our 2002 State Convention and to enable another Chapter member to attend the 2003 Washington Seminar.
By Lois Montgomery
The NFBI
Blackhawk Chapter serves blind individuals throughout the Quad Cities and
outlying areas. Its membership currently stands at 51. Meetings are held the
second Saturday of each month at 1:30 p.m. in the South Moline Township Center
located at 637-17th Avenue, East Moline.
The chapter participated in a spring fundraiser March 1 at Younkers in
South Park Mall.
Efforts are being made to educate the public on blindness. Regular
visits to retirement facilities are held addressing issues relating to senior
vision loss. Presentations are also given at local schools, churches, and
nonprofit organizations through the aid of the Braille are Beautiful program.
Recognizing the importance of Braille literacy, the Blackhawk Chapter
offers instructional classes to those interested in learning to read and write
Braille.
Promotion of Newsline® has been in the spotlight.
Chapter members occasionally gather at Circa ‘21 (a local dinner/theater)
in which they not only enjoy a delicious meal but also an audio descriptive
performance, the most recent of which was, “Fiddler on the Roof” on April 25.
Upcoming events during the summer months include the chapter swim/pizza
party Saturday, July 19, at the Montgomery home located at 3527-12th
Avenue, Moline. All members in the Affiliate are invited. The chapter picnic
will be held on Saturday, August 16 at Millennium Park located at the corner
of 34th Avenue and Archer Drive in Moline. Again, the Affiliate is
invited to this event for fun, fellowship, and tasty foods prepared by
Blackhawk Chapter members.
READERS ARE LEADERS
By Lois Montgomery
Illinois had two "2003
Readers are Leaders" winners this year and the Blackhawk Chapter is proud to
claim one! Shane Streitmatter, a 6th-grader at Wells School in East Moline,
received 4th place honors in his division reading over 6,000 pages.
Congratulations Shane and keep reading!
By Brian Johnson
The June meeting of the Chicago chapter will be held Saturday, June 14 at 226 S. Wabash, at the Exchequer Pub at 1:30. There will be a board meeting at 12:00, preceding the general meeting. A discussion of our upcoming national convention will be the program item.
Our membership is growing by the month. We have been getting more involved in activities here in Chicago, such as the City Council. LeAnne Mayne and Brian Johnson have attended two recent meetings.
The Chicago chapter, for the last several months, has been working with its members who want to learn Braille, in our Braille mentoring program.
By Brian Sumner
We have our meetings every other month at the Pie Pantry in Belleville at noon on the second Saturday. On the second Saturday of August we will have our picnic at Pleasant Ridge Park in Fairview Heights, which is very close to Belleville. If anyone is interested, you are welcome to come. All you need to do is let one of our chapter members know. No one will be disappointed with the good food and fellowship, which makes for a great day.
By Patti Chang
The 2003 convention of the National Federation of the Blind of Illinois will be held on November 21st, 22nd, and 23rd. Our host is the Clarion Barcelo Hotel, which is conveniently located at 5615 North Cumberland Ave. in Chicago. You may call the Clarion directly for reservations. Phone: 773/693-5800. Fax: 773/693-2408. Mark your calendars. President Randall is already planning the agenda. This should be an exciting and informative convention. Remember that we must utilize 40 rooms to have our meeting room space at no charge, so we need to support this important event by attending.
Essentials of diabetes:
The reality of daily living sets in. You may find yourself wondering,
what am I going to do? How am I going to manage? How can I support the
person I care about who has this disease?
The routine you establish for taking care of yourself every day will
include diet/nutrition, physical activity, blood glucose monitoring and, if
needed, medication. Each of these play an important role in making sure your
blood glucose levels are in control and you feel your best every day.
By Connie Davis
The 2003 National Convention will be held again in Louisville, Kentucky at the Galt House. Room rates will be $57 singles, doubles and triples and $63 for quads, including tax. You may call (502) 589-5200. However, please be aware that all rooms may be filled at this point. The overflow hotel will be the Hyatt Regency. You may make reservations there by calling (502) 587-3434.
Meet A Fellow Federationist: Catherine Horn Randall
By Deborah Kent Stein
On October 20, 2002, Cathy Randall was elected president of The National Federation of the Blind of Illinois. Cathy is also President of the NFBI’s Ferris Wheel Chapter, and is a prominent citizen of the city of Jacksonville.
Cathy was born three months ahead of schedule in Davenport, Iowa. A year later her family moved to Quincy, Illinois. Cathy’s parents soon realized that she had limited vision. Doctors found that she had no sight in her left eye and 20/200 vision in her right. When she was four, her parents took her for an evaluation at the Illinois School for the Blind in Jacksonville (now the Illinois School for the Visually Impaired, or ISVI). The school staff assured Cathy’s parents that she wouldn’t need to learn Braille; she had enough vision to read large print. Cathy attended public school in Quincy, using magnifiers to read her print textbooks. When she was in high school her father attached a draftsman’s lamp to her desk to provide the bright, focused light she needed. Even so, Cathy could only read for half an hour before she developed a severe eyestrain headache. Her parents read aloud to her for hours on end.
Though school was a struggle, Cathy feels she had a wonderful childhood. Her father was endlessly inventive in teaching her about the world. A noted architect who designed schools, churches and other public buildings, he loved to take Cathy to watch him work. Together they explored building sites in Illinois, Iowa, and Missouri. With patience and enthusiasm Cathy’s father taught her about foundations and beams, the properties of wood, concrete, and stone. He also showed her how to shoot baskets, and even baked cookies with her.
After graduation from high school Cathy enrolled at Mac Murray College in Jacksonville. At her admissions interview the dean told her, “We’ll do anything we can to help you, but we’re not going to do your work for you.” From that moment on, Cathy knew that Mac Murray was her top choice. During college she hired her own readers and arranged to have books recorded on tape. But without Braille she had no efficient way to take notes. She took only three courses a semester, and still spent most of her time studying. In an effort to keep up with her class, Cathy took courses for credit each summer. The summer after her junior year she went to France with a program called Classrooms Abroad. It was the experience of a lifetime. She lived with a French family in the ancient city of Rouen, where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake in 1431.
Despite all of her summer courses, Cathy still took four and a half years to finish college. It was painful to see her friends graduating ahead of her, knowing she still had a semester to go. “I worked very hard,” she recalls, “but I just couldn’t manage without the skills I needed.” While she was at Mac Murray Cathy met Terry Roltsch, a totally blind girl who was in the class behind her. Terry was a proficient Braille reader. Cathy was amazed to discover that Terry had no difficulty carrying a full academic load. How was it possible, she wondered? Maybe Braille made the difference.
In December 1969, Cathy graduated from Mac Murray and married Bob Randall, who had attended Illinois College in Jacksonville. She wanted to be a teacher, and began by substitute teaching in the Jacksonville school system. For one delightful semester she worked as a remedial reading teacher in the small town of White Hall. With no training or experience, she developed her own materials and figured out teaching methods to help each individual student. “I didn’t even have a classroom,” she says. “We worked in a converted teachers’ lounge. But the kids were so appreciative! They kept coming back, wanting to work some more.”
Over the next few years Cathy’s vision continued to decline. In October 1978, she became totally blind. She and Bob had just opened a tree nursery. Cathy realized she needed blindness skills if she was going to function at home and help in the business. To acquire those skills she enrolled at the Illinois Visually Handicapped Institute (IVHI) in Chicago. (IVHI is now the ICRE-Wood center.)
At IVHI she got a smattering of Braille and cane travel, but seldom went more than four blocks from the center. Students sat in the lounge for hours each day with nothing to do. “The despair was palpable,” Cathy says. “It oozed from every pore of that building!” The IVHI staff contended that the blind students were emotionally ill and needed psychological help. Cathy insisted that most of them simply needed better coping skills. She threw herself into advocacy, fighting with staff on behalf of her fellow students who were not getting the training they needed. At last that learning got underway in 1982, when Cathy discovered the National Federation of the Blind. “Actually the NFB discovered me,” Cathy explains. “I was making a dinner for ten when I got a call from Steve Benson!” Steve, Brian Johnson, and Mary Ellen Reihing (now Mary Ellen Gabias) were recruiting new members in the Jacksonville area. They put Cathy in touch with Jim Arnold President of Jacksonville’s Ferris Wheel NFBI chapter. Cathy attended her first state convention in Kankakee in 1982. “Within five minutes,” she says, “ knew these were my kind of people.” She went to her first national convention in 1984, the same year she became chapter president. She also became editor of the Month’s News (now the Braille Examiner), a position she held for nine years.
Cathy’s involvement in the Federation gave her self-confidence an enormous boost. When the mayor of Jacksonville encouraged her to run for City Council, she decided to give it a try. Cathy’s involvement in the Federation gave her self-confidence an enormous boost. When the mayor of Jacksonville encouraged her to run for the city council, she decided to give it a try. She became fascinated by the business of running a community. During her years in office, Jacksonville put in a new sewage plant. “I learned more about sludge than you could ever want to imagine, “ she says laughing. Nobody on the city council cared about blindness. They were all colleagues working together.
In 1983, Cathy was appointed to the Mac Murray board of Trustees. As a trustee she worked with a committee that chooses candidates to receive honorary degrees. She nominated Dr. Kenneth Jernigan, and helped convince the board to grant him an honorary degree in 1997. The weekend of the ceremony Dr. and Mrs. Jernigan stayed with the Randall’s. Cathy cherishes the memory of that wonderful visit, only a few months before Dr. Jernigan was diagnosed with terminal cancer.
For more than twenty years Cathy has been active in a women’s literary discussion group called the History Class. The History Class is one of several literary societies in Jacksonville, most of them dating back to the 1880s. In the past, Cathy has also been a member of the American Association of University Women (AAUW).
Since becoming NFBI president, Cathy’s Federation responsibilities
have increased exponentially.
Thinking about her long-range goals she says, “I want to see us strengthen our smaller chapters and re-start some of our chapters that have become inactive. Now that we’ve saved Newsline®, we have to quadruple the number of users. We have to develop a stronger voice in the state legislature, and we’ve got to do a lot more fund-raising! “Most of all,” Cathy sums it up, “We need to reach out more and more to blind people all over the state.”
by Stephen M. Handschu
Newsline
In January Illinois Library for the Blind, the state sponsor for Newsline®, said that they would no longer fund it, when the one-year national grant, which NFB had obtained to cover the state’s portion of its cost, ended on February 29th. Sighting the state’s financial crises they said NFBNewsline® was “under-used” and that they had already removed the $40,000 state portion of the cost from the budget.
On February 17th Senator Vince Demuzio arranged a conference call meeting with Ms. Jean Wilkins, Director of the Illinois State Library; NFBNEWSLINE® from April 1st 2003 to June 30th 2004.
We have every right to be proud that we have been able to convince the Illinois Library for the Blind to do this. It took all of us, not giving up, for three months, calling and writing to every legislator and state official we could find. Many blind people who are not in the Federation wrote letters and made phone calls because they use newsline and it is important to them. Ray Campbell, President of the Illinois Council of the Blind, expressed their support, thank you Ray. We dipped into our hard earned treasury and reached out to newsline users many of whom contributed to the “emergency newsline fund” which paid for Newsline® during March. We all knew we couldn’t afford to keep funding newsline® ourselves for long. We just had to keep it alive long enough to save it.
The only thing that is harder than getting an organization the size of State Government to do something is getting it to change its mind about what it has already done. We couldn’t have done it without the help of several senior staff in the office of Secretary of State Jessie White, where the Illinois State Library is located and all the legislators who helped; particularly Senator Demuzio. We need to recognize Ms ‘Wilkins and Ms. Ruda who kept listening and thinking. I am not just being polite; it is no small thing to change your mind, especially when it is in public, you are being attacked, there is money involved and the ink is already dry. We all have the opportunity to create a productive working relationship thanks to their willingness to try. It is up to us to use this opportunity wisely.
In order to continue to keep NEWSLINE® operational:
1 We need to get legislation passed, which will fund nfbnewsline® outside of the annual budget process.
2 We need to help the Library teach blind people how to use it.
3 We need to help register new users.
4. We have to help the library increase newsline® usage in any and every way we can think of. In her letter Ms. Wilkins hopes for a “4 fold increase of consistent users”.
As we go to press we are working with several legislators, looking for ways to get our model newsline® legislation appended onto another piece of legislation.
Ms. Freidman, NFB Newsline® ®coordinator at the National center for the blind, recently met with Sharon Ruda, and reports that the library is ready to move forward, with us, to build the NEWSLINE® program in a productive and cooperative manner.
ILLINOIS MATERIALS CENTER FOR VISUALLY IMPAIRED STUDENTS
The state planned to cut funding for textbook purchases. We first heard about this from Mark Riccobono President of the Wisconsin affiliate. His e-mail reached us hours before word came from within the state. Once again we were on the telephone, sending e-mails and sending letters to the Governor urging him to restore funding for the Center. We also contacted legislators to get their help.
His staff explained that they didn’t understand what the Center did and thought that the Center was part of the general program.
Several weeks later the Governor restored funding for the Materials Center for the Visually Impaired. With the budget crisis as deep as it is, restoring this program is a real victory for our blind children but it is hard to celebrate while any child’s books are cut, no matter how small that cut is said to be.
On October 29th 2002 the Congress passed the Help America Vote Act (HAVA). HAVA is a major overhaul of the way we will all vote in the future and the way in which our votes will be counted. Of most immediate concern to blind people; HAVA requires that there be at least one voting machine, which is “accessible” to voters with disabilities including blind and visually impaired voters, at every polling place by the election of 2006. HAVA does not define accessibility, so we have drafted model legislation, which states concretely what an accessible voting machine, is for a blind person.
HAVA requires states to assemble a committee to assist them in creating the state plan for its implementation. Steve Benson and I met with staff of the Illinois Election Commission to discuss our draft bill almost a year ago. Based on that meeting NFBI was asked to serve on this committee. At President Randall’s request, I am representing us. The recommendations, at this point, are broader than our style; but they are entirely consistent with our goals and needs.
At the New Year there were more voting bills in the Illinois General Assembly than we, or most of the legislators could track. We started contacting bill sponsors trying to get our language put in one of them as an amendment. At this time most of those bills seem to have died or been rolled into Senate Bill (SB)428. This bill had passed out of the Senate and was being considered by the House before we caught up with it. Working with election officials and legislative staff, we have reworked our language many times. As recently as two weeks ago we were told, politely but firmly, that this train had all but left the station.
Last Thursday, due to our efforts, two substantive points were introduced into Amendment 5 of SB428.
“Public comment. Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, the State Board of Elections in evaluating the feasibility of any new voting system, shall seek and accept Public comment from persons of the disabled community, including but not limited to organizations of the blind.”
“The system shall be fully accessible so as to permit blind or visually impaired voters, as well as physically disabled voters, to exercise their right to vote in private and without assistance.”
This language is a real step forward for us. It is not the language we need, but it does express the two central points in our model bill.
While writing this report, I received word that this bill is expected to pass this session, because HAVA requires a number of things to be in place for states to get the money to implement it. But everyone understands that there are things that need to be fixed, particularly in regard to the disability community who are entirely left out with regard to architectural barriers. The House and Senate are planning joint hearings on SB428 to consider changes during the veto session. We can and will be there.
The Rehabilitation Act is up for reauthorization this year. It is part of The Workforce Reinvestment and Adult Education Act HR1261, as passed in the House; this bill has two provisions that we simply can’t afford to allow to pass in the Senate.
The first would demote the Commissioner of Rehabilitation from being a Presidential appointee, to a Director, appointed by the Secretary of Education. This change would demote the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) from a highly visible largely autonomous agency to a minor department in the Department of Education. (RSA) is the federal watchdog agency that tracks the federal funds allocated for rehabilitation.
The second would allow every state Governor to use rehabilitation funds to cover shortfalls in the monster “one stop employment and human service agencies” that are standing ready to gobble up rehabilitation in general.
We can’t let these provisions stand as they are. If they pass in the Senate they will be the law and we will be the worse for it. Start calling your Senators now.
The Senate and House have both passed different versions of the Defense Authorization Act. The Senate bill, S. 1050, Section 368 favors “sheltered workshop” agencies, covered under the Javits-Wagner-O’Day-Act (JWOD), over blind vendors, covered under the Randolph-Sheppard Act, in the awarding of military troop dining contracts. The House passed no such provision. This is important. JWOD agencies are run by and benefit “able bodied” managers while their disabled employees are often underpaid and have little chance of advancement. Vendors covered under the Randolph-Sheppard Act are blind individuals who are given the opportunity to manage federal vending and food service facilities. This is not one group against another. It is the cynical exploitation of disabled people, by able-bodied managers, on behalf of the government, trying to take competitive jobs from blind people. The Conference Committee needs to hear from us now.
FIGHTING FOR BLIND SOCIAL SECURITY DISSABILITY INCOME RECIPIENTS
The Blind empowerment Act of 2003 HR173 introduced in the House by Representative Reynolds and S750 introduced in the Senate by Senator McCain would raise the earning limit for blind SSDI recipients to $3000 annually over 5 years. Getting this legislation passed would give over 100,000 blind SSDI recipients a powerful work incentive. We are on the way but still far short of having the number of cosponsors we need to get this bill passed. We need to contact our congressmen and representatives now.
For several years we have supported legislation entitled THE INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS ACCESSIBILITY ACT (IMAA). It would require that one standard electronic format, which is readily translatable into Braille; be established, that at least one copy of every textbook published or used, in the US, be produced in that format and establish a central repository for all of these specially formatted textbooks.
This year many of the central ideas in IMMA are contained in the reauthorization of THE INDIVIDUALS WITH DISSABILITIES EDUCATION ACT (IDEA). Although the repository we want and need is not in the IDEA language and IDEA as a whole is much weaker as currently written, than the original law was; in terms of IMAA we have made progress. We expect the senate version of IMAA to be introduced shortly; perhaps by the time you read this.
There is no common procedure for schools to find; to create; or to purchase Braille, recorded, electronic, and large print textbooks. IMAA would help to rectify this tragic situation. All of the concerned parties would like to see this happen. We will have to work to accomplish this. That means getting all of IMAA passed in the senate, so that we can get the repository, which is missing from IDEA, back in conference. It is not too soon to start calling our Senators.
NFBI CONVENTION ROUNDUP: Defining Our Future
By Bill Reif
For the second consecutive year, Illinois Federationists gathered for an exciting, informative and inspirational convention at the Clarion Barcelo Hotel.
The convention began Friday afternoon with several simultaneous seminars. While Kate Mayer facilitated an Independent Travel seminar in which participants got some travel training and experience, Patti Chang and Pam Provost facilitated a discussion of various access technologies that make it possible for blind people to be competitively employed and to live independently. In a seminar entitled Advocacy: Principles, Strategies, IEP’S, and IPE’s, Steve Handschu (now a co-chair of our Advocacy Committee) moderated a discussion of the process by which we hope to streamline and effectively focus our advocacy efforts. Friday evening featured a Resolutions Committee meeting, chaired by Steve Handshcu, at which six resolutions were considered and discussed. Their sponsors withdrew two of these resolutions, with the other four being recommended, “do pass” to the Convention.
Allen Harris presented the National Report.
We reviewed our recently produced video, Meet the Blind Month, which chronicles our progress as a movement.
Pat Quinn appeared on behalf of Governor Blagojevich. He promised to work with us on passing accessible voting legislation, and to work on continued Newsline® funding.
Jim Pletz, who formerly headed the Illinois Library’s Talking Book Program, now the Officer of ADA Compliance at main libraries, spoke of using library as a place. He spoke of blind people being able to participate in community book clubs, and urged us to request appropriate access to the services those libraries offer.
At the Student Luncheon, the following officers were elected:
Patrick Olson, President
Laura Martinez, Vice President
Courtney Hummel, Treasurer
Cherranne Verduine, Secretary
Daryl Washington, Board Member.
The Student Chapter voted Brad Kuhn, an ex officio member, as an advisor to the Board. There was a Student Luncheon Panel presentation regarding the unwritten rules of rehabilitation.
Meanwhile, diabetics attended a luncheon, at which National Diabetics Division President Ed Bryant described the Division, briefly summarized its history, and provided positive information regarding the prospect of successfully living with the disease.
The Saturday afternoon session featured a presentation entitled “Defining Our Future in the Rehabilitation System”. ORS Director Charlie Martin indicated that 661 persons had been placed in competitive employment as of October, and that over 2000 elderly-blind persons have been served to help them stay in their homes. Over $900,000 state and federal funding is now available for that purpose. He stated that the coming year may put some budget pressure on state-funded programs such as Home Services, which has tripled the number served during the past 10 years; but that ORS funding, which is 80 percent federal match, is secure. Rehab teachers are now providing some home services due to inadequate Home Services staffing. There have been changes to the proposed Increased Cost rule. These changes will clarify that those who own homes will still be able to receive assistance in paying for housing necessitated through their participation in school or training.
In a panel discussion entitled “Defining Independence Training from the NFB’S Perspective”, Kimberley Johnson, Student Services Coordinator at the Colorado Center for the Blind, indicated that people coming to the Center are looking for a change and are no longer content just to “get by”. High expectations begin when students encounter a competent blind staff. The low expectations of society, often taught in traditional rehab, are replaced with a winning attitude. Shawn Mayo, Assistant Director of Outreach and Marketing at Blind Inc., described her personal journey from student through her attendance at Blind Inc. The instructor’s use of sleep shades inspires confidence in their understanding and use of alternative techniques. Allen Harris described his duties as head of the Iowa Commission for the Visually Impaired, and the investment in time and money necessary to train quality teachers.
In our traditional “Fifteen for Funds” drive, in which members are given approximately 15 minutes to contribute or pledge toward the support of the Affiliate, we received $1,448 in contributions and $1,280 in pledges.
Saturday afternoon concluded with a panel discussion entitled “Defining Our Future; First Hand Experience, Illinois students from all three NFB centers described the programs in which they were then enrolled and gave powerful testimony how the NFB, and its philosophy, have changed their lives.
The Annual Banquet, in addition to an excellent steak dinner, featured the following presentations: a presentation of a charter to our new Ferris Wheel Chapter in Jacksonville, of which Cathy Randall is President; Distinguished Scholarship award of $1,250 to Nichole Gleason, seeking her Masters in Christian Ethics at Loyola University; Kenneth Jernigan Award of $1,250 to Janvier Jones, who is seeking her Masters in Early Childhood Education at the Erickson Institute in Chicago and Peter Grunwald Award of $1,500 to David Waters, a Junior at the University of Illinois in Champaign majoring in Kinesiology who plans to be an Athletic Trainer.
The Student Division auction raised $800, $200 of which was contributed to the National student organization.
Sunday Morning was the traditional “business session”, during which affiliate reports are presented and resolutions and other business considered. Steve Benson gave the presidential report. Pam Provost reported that our treasury balance had dropped from $22,315.30 12-01 to $15,811.04 at the time of the convention. Our next item of business was the election. An Election Committee had fashioned a process by which members could cast a private ballot for their respective candidates. Allen Harris presided. Cathy Randall was elected President. Lois Montgomery was elected First Vice President; Patti Chang as Second Vice President, Debbie Stein as Secretary, Kelly Doty as Treasurer, after Pam Provost declined to seek an additional term, and Steve Handschu and Carmen Dennis as Board Members. Cathy Randall was elected National delegate, Lois Montgomery First Delegate, and Steve Handschu as alternate delegate.
The Convention approved two resolutions opposing Access Board requirements that audible traffic signals and detectable warning strips be indiscriminately installed at virtually all intersections. Resolution 2002-03 supported adoption of the Instructional Materials Accessibility Act, modifying an agreement with book publishers agree to make their publications electronically so they can be quickly produced in accessible format for the blind as needed. Resolution 2002-04 urged continued legislative support of local, regional and inner city mass transit.
The convention concluded with several Federationists thanking Mr. Benson for his years of service and instruction, and expressing support and optimism regarding President Randall.
Special thanks go to Kelly Doty for her assistance in editing this newsletter, to Carmen Dennis and LeAnne Mayne for copying, collating and mailing and to Debbie Stein for typing the labels.
Also thank you to Cathy Randall, Lois Montgomery, Brian Johnson, Brian Sumner, Patti Chang, LeAnne Mayne, Debbie Stein, Steve Handschu and Bill Reif for their articles.
Notice:
If you would like to receive this newsletter vie e-mail, please notify Connie Davis. If you are receiving electronic, as well as print copy, please also advise Connie of this, as well. See contact information on the first page of this publication.
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