Legislative Hotlines, current issues for blind persons:
CALIFORNIA CONNECTION: 800-221-6359, after 5 PM and weekends
WASHINGTON CONNECTION: 800-424-8666, 3–9 PM and weekends
DISCLAIMER: This publication contains announcements from the Silicon Valley Council of the Blind and is also a forum for opinions relating to blindness issues. Signed articles reflect the views, and research, of their authors.
STATUS: SVCB is a 501(c)3 non-profit, tax-exempt organization under the California Council of the Blind.
Monthly meetings are held at the Santa Clara Valley Blind Center (Vista Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired San Jose). Meetings run 9:30 AM to 1 PM the third Saturday of the month and are open to all.
You have probably heard the old expression "the dog days of summer." The phrase is a reference to the fact that, during this time, the Sun occupies the same region of the sky as Sirius, the brightest star visible from any part of Earth, and part of the constellation Canis Major, the Greater Dog. It has come to mean the exhausting summer grind, especially for athletes who have to play their sports outdoors. Well, that's the way I've been feeling this past week or so. Between COVID-19, the last heat wave, and now the smoky air, it has been difficult for me to stay motivated. Thankfully it's cooling off a bit this week, and I'm starting to rebound from my funk.
Our parent organization, the California Council of the Blind, will hold an online auction using Zoom. It's a worthy cause, and I urge you to participate if at all possible. It starts at 3 PM Sunday September 20. The meeting information is as follows:
The California Council of the Blind is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom auction.
Topic: CCB annual auction
Sunday September 20, starting at 3 PM
Call in number: 408-638-0968
Meeting ID: 876 5837 8200
Passcode: 222638
When prompted for a participant code, press the Pound key.
The SVCB Fund-Raising Committee, now chaired by Carol, will discuss alternatives to our in-person meeting fundraisers at our upcoming meeting. If you have suggestions, please let us know. We still don't know when we will be able to meet in person again, so our September membership meeting will once again be virtual. I look forward to speaking with you then.
We are pleased to announce that at our September 19 SVCB virtual meeting, Mr. Pete Stahl from the Education Branch of the League of Women Voters will address our chapter about all state measures appearing on our ballots, and on which we will vote in November. Mr. Stahl has spoken to our chapter before, and his remarks are always thorough and informative. So please join us.
Lots is happening. For one thing, King has got a bunch of friends helping put out the fires around the Bay Area. They just go where Calfire tells them, and pee on them.
"Yah, it's real hard work, but I've saved a few redwood forests where flames were just too intense. Sorry about the smoke. And I've learned to sneeze just so, to keep fires from jumping roads. I can tell you that it's harder than guiding, but I've met some nice people, all the way from Australia!" Wow!
You've probably heard that Tamara Kearney passed away after being hit in the crosswalk by a truck. Tamara was an involved SVCB member, and you can hear a presentation she made to the chapter at the June 2014 meeting. Access http://svcb.cc/psaudio/14/ps0614.mp3 and sit back to hear a genuine, in-person meeting, such meetings being rare events these days.
We didn't have an SVCB picnic this year, but the San Francisco chapter had a virtual picnic. It wasn't the in-person experience, but I'm betting interesting creations will come of it. The Matter Transmitter System King hoped to have working didn't, so we all went to In and Out Burger for picnic food.
We expect to hear from the League of Women Voters during our September virtual membership meeting. Among other things, there will be a proposition mandating that rideshare drivers working for Uber and Lyft will be employees rather than contractors, an action that has caused both companies to threaten to suspend operations in California. "That gives Gydedogs time to form. That's the upcoming service where you're driven around the county by dogs who only want some kibble." Hmmm!
Happy September birthdays to Mike Keithley and Donald Reelfs. "And don't forget about me! I love singing Happy Birthday to myself, and to Master to if he can stand it." Big deal!
Many in our chapter fondly remember Tamara: her warmth, sparkle, encouragement, and get-up-and-go attitude. Some of my special memories are of being in yoga class with Perla Kohs, Bev Clifford, Alice Turner, our teacher Nancy Jamello, and Tamara at the Saratoga Recreation Center. Our guide dogs were usually in class with us, and Rex and Zeus both had a habit of crowding us off our mats in an effort to cuddle. Both dogs were also noisy groaners at just the point in a class when we'd be struggling through a particularly challenging stretch. Tamara home schooled one of her sons, and I always enjoyed hearing her describe what she was teaching him. For that matter, it was fun any time she spoke about her kids. She guided several of us through a course in Unified English Braille (UEB), and was a welcome proofreader and presence at the Braille Transcription Project. Earlier this summer, she joined some of our Wednesday afternoon SVCB social hour calls. I will miss her laughter, her smarts, the timbre of her voice, her spirit. I'm sure that you all join me in sending our prayers, condolences, and support to Tamara's husband Greg, and to their entire extended family. Below, please find her obituary.
Tamara Kearney passed away on Saturday August 8, 2020 from injuries sustained in a pedestrian/car accident in Lawrence, Kansas. She was born October 5, 1958 in Rock Island, Illinois to Sandra Schmacht and Raymond Johnson. She was a 1976 graduate of Lawrence High School, and a graduate of the Challenger Institute of Technology in Fremantle, Western Australia.
Tamara was an active and engaged member of the community, employed by the Lawrence Recreation Department as a Yoga instructor and by San Francisco LightHouse for the Blind as a braille proofreader. She also ran her own business as a clinical massage therapist. Tamara was active in both the National Federation of the Blind and the American Council of the Blind, where she served as state president in Wyoming. During that time, she acted as a lobbyist for those organizations in Washington, DC. For several years she was the Children's Library Officer for the Association for the Blind of Western Australia in Perth, where she helped develop tactile early learning materials for blind children.
Tamara loved to travel and live in new and interesting places, and was an avid cyclist. She was always willing to help other blind and disabled people to better their lives.
Tamara is survived by her husband, Gregory Kearney of Lawrence, and by her three children, Shawn and Laura Kearny of Minneapolis, MN, Shannon and Aaron Kuluk of Nashville, TN, and Nathaniel Kearney of Lawrence, as well as five grandchildren. She is also survived by her father, Raymond Johnson and stepmother, Jan Johnson of Yuma, Arizona, and a stepfather, Courtney Hanson of Perry, Kansas. In addition, she is survived by her beloved guide dog Rex, her faithful companion and guide for eight years. She was preceded in death by her mother.
Tamara met every challenge in this life with grace, good humor, and courage. She never once let her blindness define or limit her, but rather used it to enlarge and improve the lives of all she came in contact with.
Services will be at a later date. The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to:
Tamara Kearney Technology Fund
Lawrence Lions Foundation
2101 E 29th St
Lawrence, KS 66046
Or may be sent in care of Warren-McElwain Mortuary, 120 W. 13th Street, Lawrence, KS 66044.
I'm not sure what happened to August: all I can say is it just zipped by and didn't give me a backward glance.
I scheduled a fund-raising meeting for Monday, August 24, 2020 and forgot to call in. I talked with Rob Turner on Tuesday evening when I remembered. He said that he and the other members of the committee agreed that as long as the Covid pandemic is with us we won't be able to meet, and as long as we are not able to meet we can't do much in the way of fund-raising, and I agree. If anyone has any ideas as to a way to fund-raise under these conditions, we are all ears.
I have sent all monies collected for the last of the inventory purchased, along with a list of what was sold and to whom, to our Treasurer, Victor Clifford.
We will keep you informed if the situation changes. For now, please stay safe and well!
Announcing New Accessible Pricing for 2020-21 Season
To make our programming more accessible to everyone, we at Tabard have decided to make a dramatic change to our pricing for the 2020-21 Season. As you know, we previously had two discounted price categories that required verification: Seniors (over 65), and Students (full or part time). Instead, Tabard will now be offering three tiers of pricing and leaving it up to you to choose what category matches your situation.
The lowest price, "Friend," is offered for anyone who needs a little help in order to afford a ticket, whether due to the Covid crisis or for any other reason. The middle price, "Member," is for those who are comfortable paying for a standard theatre ticket. And the highest price point, "Patron," will be for those who have the capacity to support access to the arts for themselves as well as someone else in need. These price options are available for subscription packages, as well as single tickets. Subscribers at every tier enjoy substantial savings over single ticket prices.
Note from Bev: See the Notes section of the Event Calendar to find out how Tabard is presenting its plays in the era of COVID-19. Look below for a bit of information about their next show. I will add updates to the Event Calendar in future newsletters as upcoming shows are announced.
Arsenic and Old Lace, written by Joseph Kesselring and directed by Jerry Lloyd and Jonathan Rhys Williams, is a frightfully funny classic comedy full of mischief and mayhem that will be performed as a radio play by a reduced cast playing a host of zany characters. It will be presented as a high-quality, multi-camera, livestream performance.
As we all well know, sheltering in place has caused a lot of us to spend way more time with our family (some of us much more than they'd prefer!). But what if your family was the Brewsters? Mortimer is a theatre critic, his brother thinks he's Teddy Roosevelt, and his two Aunts, Abby and Martha, are killers? When Mortimer proposes to the pastor's daughter, he unwittingly opens the lid on buried family secrets. As strangers and cops keep calling, the Brewsters show that they will go to hilariously extreme lengths to protect the skeletons in the cellar, even while they themselves wrestle with their own identities.
Please note that this column is for information, and not medical advice. Please consult your physician in regards to information concerning personal medical conditions. If anyone has any areas of nutrition or types of recipes they want information on, feel free to email me and I will be happy to assist you.
Although it has been warm out, the days are beginning to get shorter, and the nights are cool. I usually make a large pot of soup that lasts me through the week, as well as being able to freeze some for times when I don't feel like cooking. For this month's column, I have chosen some easier soup recipes, as well as a couple of desserts. On some websites, the recipes are organized by Categories, Ingredients or Instructions, and on others by Chef Notes. For consistency, I have taken the liberty of using that organization for all of the recipes.
Another website with Vegan recipes is called Responsible Eating and Living (REAL). It states, "Responsible Eating And Living (REAL), a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation, was founded by cancer survivor and vegan activist, Caryn Hartglass, and Gary De Mattei."
Here are two soups from the web site, as well as one dessert listed later:
6 carrots, sliced in one-inch chunks (peel if not organic)
8 cups water
1 Tablespoon Herbes de Provence
Instructions:
Place all the ingredients in a large pot. Bring to a boil, then simmer over medium heat, covered, until lentils and vegetables are soft, about 30 minutes. Serve immediately. Makes about ten cups.
In a large soup pot, dry sauté onions and celery until soft, about 10 minutes. Stir occasionally, and add a few tablespoons of water if vegetables start to stick. Add in chickpeas, water, spices, dill and lemon juice. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes.
Makes about 5 servings (12 oz.), Ready in 25 to 75 min. Stores 1 week in fridge.
Ingredients:
1-1/2 cups green split peas, rinsed
6 cups low-sodium vegetable broth or water
1 large onion, diced
3 medium carrots, diced
1 tablespoon ground cumin
1 tablespoon ground coriander
1 tablespoon garlic granules
Directions:
In a large soup pot with a lid, bring split peas and water to a boil. Then reduce heat to medium-low so that it continues to lightly boil for 45 to 60 minutes. Stir occasionally.
In a sauté pan over medium heat, add the onions, carrots, and celery, and cover with a lid. Cook until onions become translucent, stirring occasionally to prevent the veggies from sticking. Add the spices, and toast them for a couple minutes, continuing to stir.
Add veggie-spice mix into the split peas. Let soup simmer on low heat until it has your desired consistency. Serve over whole grains, starchy vegetables, or leafy greens.
Chef's Notes:
This split pea soup is the perfect meal for a breezy autumn day. However, it's honestly so simple and delicious that it's one of my staple recipes. I like making this in big batches so I can enjoy it throughout the week, but also have enough to freeze.
The water amount depends on the cooking method, how long it cooks for, and how thick you like the soup. On the stovetop, I usually use 6 cups of water. In the pressure cooker, I only use 4 cups.
The longer the soup cooks, the more the split peas break down and the creamier the soup becomes. I used to cook the split peas for 1 and 1/2 hours to make them very creamy. Now I use an electric pressure cooker, which cuts the cooking time by a third. Another option is to use an immersion blender to help break up the split peas faster.
To cook this soup in an electric pressure cooker, add all ingredients to the pressure cooker with only 4 cups of water. Set it to soup mode with a 22-minute cook time. When the timer goes off, manually release the pressure knob. When pressure is released, remove lid and serve.
In addition to the above 3 soups, I am adding two creamy soups. Some Vegan soups that are creamy use raw Cashew nuts at the end of the cooking process. The nuts are put in a blender with a portion of the soup, blended, and then returned to the soup. Some people use an Immersion blender, and although I have never tried it that way myself, I am noting it for those of you that may want to try.
In soups that don't use any greens, I usually add cut up baby kale or spinach after the soup has cooked, or in individual portions. Greens are the super foods, and increasing the density of nutrients in one's diet always increases one's health. Spinach wilts from the heat of the soup when stirred in at the end of cooking. Kale may take a few more minutes of cooking at the end of the recipe. Another option is to serve the soup over a bed of greens.
Dr. Joel Fuhrman's website, drfuhrman.com, has extensive recipe collections. He organizes the recipes by Categories (ex. "Breakfast, Burgers, Pizza, Wraps, and Chips"), by Recipe Collections (ex. "Fast Weeknight Dinners, Super Foods for Super Immunity: Cruciferous Vegetables, Seasonal, Cuisines"), and by Meal Plans (ex. "Cariovascular Reversal Meal Plan, Diabetes Reversal Meal Plan, Autoimmune Reversal Meal Plan, Athletic/Higher Calorie Meal Plan, Aggressive Weight Loss Meal Plan").
In the recipes from his website, I will add any classifications that he uses on the individual recipes.
1/4 cup unsalted, unsulfured dried tomatoes, chopped
2 celery stalks, chopped
1 small onion, chopped
1 leek, chopped
1 large shallot, chopped
3 cloves garlic, chopped
2 tablespoons Dr. Fuhrman's MatoZest or other no-salt seasoning blend, adjusted to taste
1 teaspoon dried thyme, crumbled
1 small bay leaf
1/2 cup raw cashews
2 tablespoons hemp seeds
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
5 ounces spinach or baby kale
Instructions:
In a large saucepan, add all ingredients except the cashews, hemp seeds, basil, and spinach or kale. Simmer for 30 minutes. Discard the bay leaf.
Remove 2 cups of the vegetables with a slotted spoon and set aside. Puree the remaining soup with the cashews and hemp seeds in a high-powered blender until smooth. Return the pureed soup along with the reserved vegetables to the pot. Stir in the basil and spinach or kale, and heat until wilted.
Per Serving: CALORIES 333, PROTEIN 13g, CARBOHYDRATES 53g, SUGARS 18g, TOTAL FAT 11.7g, SATURATED FAT 1.9g, SODIUM 191mg, FIBER 10.3g, BETA-CAROTENE 20644ug, VITAMIN C 83mg, CALCIUM 308mg, IRON 15mg, FOLATE 109ug, MAGNESIUM 191, POTASSIUM 1612mg, ZINC 3mg, SELENIUM 6.5ug.
4 cups no-salt-added or low sodium vegetable broth
1 cup red lentils, rinsed and drained
3/4 teaspoon ground coriander
1 teaspoon ground cumin
3 tablespoons raw cashews, or 1 1/2 tablespoons raw cashew butter
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice (about 2 small lemons)
1 head baby bok choy, chopped (could substitute 2 cups chopped greens, such as kale or spinach)
2 tablespoons chopped parsley
black pepper to taste
Instructions:
Place carrots, celery, vegetable broth, lentils, coriander and cumin in a pot and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for forty minutes, or until lentils and vegetables are tender.
In a blender or food processor, blend 1 cup of the soup with cashews and lemon juice. Return to pot along with bok choy or greens, and heat until greens are wilted. Stir in parsley, and season with pepper.
Per Serving: CALORIES 301, PROTEIN 22g, CARBOHYDRATES 45g, SUGARS 7g, TOTAL FAT 5.5g, SATURATED FAT 1.1g, SODIUM 268mg, FIBER 19g, BETA-CAROTENE 9787ug, VITAMIN C 109mg, CALCIUM 296mg, IRON 7mg, FOLATE 394ug, MAGNESIUM 133mg, POTASSIUM 1495mg, ZINC 3.5mg, SELENIUM 6.6ug.
I made the following recipe for the first time last night. I soaked the cut-up dates in hot water while I was getting the other ingredients ready. Soaking the dates softens them, and makes them easier to mix with the other ingredients. At the end of making the recipe in a food processor, the batter was thick, and I wasn't able to finish mixing it in the food processor. I put it in a bowl to finish the mixing. For chocolate lovers, this is an easy recipe that tastes quite good, with limited ingredients. You can purchase Medjool dates that already have the pits removed at Sprouts. I don't know about other grocery stores.
Ingredients:
1/2 cup raw almonds
1/2 cup raw cashews
1/4 cup hemp seeds
3/4 cup walnuts, divided
3 cups Medjool dates, pitted
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/3 cup natural, no-salt-added peanut butter
4 tablespoons cocoa nibs
Instructions:
Line an 8 by 8-inch square pan with parchment paper.
Place the almonds, cashews, hemp seeds, and 1/2 cup of the walnuts in a food processor. Process until finely ground. Add the dates, and process until mixture is paste-like and begins to form a ball. Add the cocoa powder, peanut butter, and cocoa nibs, and process until well-combined.
Press mixture evenly into pan. Coarsely chop the remaining 1/4 cup of walnuts. Sprinkle on top of the brownies.
Refrigerate for 1 hour. Cut into 16 pieces.
Per Serving: CALORIES 189, PROTEIN 5g, CARBOHYDRATES 20g, SUGARS 12g, TOTAL FAT 11.9g, SATURATED FAT 1.8g, SODIUM 2mg, FIBER 3.9g, BETA-CAROTENE 2ug, CALCIUM 33mg, IRON 1.5mg, FOLATE 22ug, MAGNESIUM 80mg, POTASSIUM 306mg, ZINC 1.2mg, SELENIUM 2.5ug.
I have not tried the following recipe, and I have included it because it is similar to the No Bake Brownies, and shows variations that are possible.
Ingredients:
1 cup raisins (or other sweet dried fruit like dates or figs)
1/2 cup walnuts, 1/4 cup almonds, 1/4 cup pumpkin seeds (or any combination of nuts and seeds)
1/4 cup shredded coconut
2 tablespoons cocoa
3 teaspoons vanilla
Optional Topping Variations:
1-2 tablespoons unsweetened shredded coconut
1-2 tablespoons raw sesame seeds
1-2 tablespoons cocoa powder or raw cacao powder
Instructions:
In a food processor, pulse raisins, walnuts, almonds, pumpkin seeds, and coconut until coarsely blended. Add in cocoa powder and vanilla. Then process continuously until mixture forms a "dough" and starts to clump together. Remove, and form into 1-inch diameter balls. If desired, on a small plate sprinkle your topping of choice. Roll each ball in the topping. Place on a serving dish, or chill until ready to serve. Makes about 20 balls.
(This was distributed by Ardis Bazyn on the CCB mailing lists. Entries are added here.)
Wow! There is a lot going on right now, and it's easy to start to feel overwhelmed. The COVID-19 pandemic and the social isolation/uncertainty related to it, recent fires, threat of earthquakes, social justice protests and riots, election news, the impending heat wave across the state, and MORE, are impacting all of us. You may feel anxious, stressed, worried, sad, bored, depressed, lonely, or frustrated in these circumstances.
To make sure that you have all of the resources available to you to help you deal with recent events, here is a helpful list.
Call 911 if you or the person you are helping is in immediate danger.
24-hour Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-799-7233 or log onto www.thehotline.org, and click "Chat Now."
Disaster Distress Helpline: Call 800-985-5990 (TTY 800-846-8517), or text TalkWithUs to 66746 for 24/7 support.
Crisis Counseling Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 for 24/7 crisis support via text messaging.
Disaster Distress Helpline: Call 800-985-5990 (TTY 800-846-8517), or text TalkWithUs to 66746 for 24/7 support.
Crisis Counseling Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 for 24/7 crisis support via text messaging.
California Suicide and Crisis Hotlines: Find phone numbers and links to all the suicide and crisis hotlines by county in California: www.sprc.org/states/california
CalHOPE Peer-Run Warm Line: Call 833-317-HOPE (4673) Monday – Friday from 7 AM to 11 PM for Covid-19 specific non-emergency support. calhope.dhcs.ca.gov.
California Warm Peer Line: Call 855-845-7415 for 24/7 for non-emergency support to talk to a peer counselor with lived experience.
Covid-19 hotline: 833-422-4255 Monday through Friday 8 AM-8 PM, Saturday and Sunday 8 AM-5 PM.
Teen line. Teens helping teens: Call 310-855-4673 or text "TEEN" to 839863 teenlineonline.org
With most of the state expecting higher than normal temperatures over the next week, remember that if you must be outdoors in hot weather, take steps to stay cool and healthy.
Cut down on exercise and other hard tasks.
Drink two to four glasses of cool, non-alcoholic fluids every hour.
Rest often in shady areas.
Wear light clothing, and protect yourself from the sun with a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen (SPF 15 or higher).
Wildfire smoke can irritate your lungs, cause inflammation, affect your immune system, and make you more prone to lung infections, including SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, preparing for wildfires might be a little different this year. Know how wildfire smoke can affect you and your loved ones during the COVID-19 pandemic, and what you can do to protect yourselves. Visit www.cdc.gov/disasters/covid-19/wildfire_smoke_covid-19.html
If you've been exposed to someone who has COVID-19, you may get a call from a contact tracer.
What to know about contact tracing
If you've been in close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19, you may be contacted by a contact tracer or public health worker from your state or local health department in an effort to help slow the spread of the disease. Here's what to know if you get a call:
A contact tracer may call to let you know you may have been exposed to someone with COVID-19. All information you share with a contact tracer, like who you've been in contact with and your recent whereabouts, is confidential.
You may be asked to self-quarantine for 14 days. This means staying home, monitoring your health, and maintaining social distance from others at all times.
You may be asked to monitor your health and watch for symptoms of COVID-19. Notify your doctor if you develop symptoms, and seek medical care if your symptoms worsen or become severe.
Be aware of scammers pretending to be COVID-19 contact tracers. Legitimate contact tracers will never ask for your Medicare Number or financial information. If someone calls and asks for personal information, like your Medicare Number, hang up and report it to us at 1-800-MEDICARE.
Morning Exercise Classes
From Janet Dickelman and the ACB Leadership List
Bill is on the board of 1touch self defense, we worked together setting up their session for the ACB Convention. He asked me to post the following information which is not related to 1touch.
What is blindcafe.net: It is a chat community with several special interest groups, and lots of games and activities. They also have dozens of audio-described movies and TV shows, as well as a huge library of old radio programs.
What does it cost: The blindcafe is a not-for-profit organization, and provides all its many services totally free to its members.
Does it cost anything to join: No
Who teaches the class: My name is Bill Kociaba, and I have been in the fitness industry for over 40 years. I hold multiple fitness, strength training, and kettlebell certifications, as well as being a licensed massage therapist in the state of Florida. I have been teaching group fitness classes to the visually impaired (as well as individuals with multiple disabilities) for the past 7 years.
Who is it for: Anyone of any age and level of fitness. I provide easier and more difficult versions of most exercises, so no matter your current level of fitness, you will be able to participate.
How do I join: Go to blindcafe.net, click on the "team talk" download, and save to your computer. Hit enter on the "join here" link, and fill out the "sign up form". You will receive an email from the site within a few days with a link that needs to be saved to your desk top.
I am not very good on the computer; will I be able to do it: The Café has a fantastic tech support guy named MJ, who will email or call you (whichever you are more comfortable with), and will guide you through the whole process. If you really just can't do it and are a JAWS user (with your permission, of course), MJ can remotely log on to your computer and do it all for you.
Meet Bill Kociaba, the World's Only Blind Certified Kettlebell Instructor
Mentor Helps the Blind Exercise: "Building Better Bodies Since 1981"
UEB Workshops Sponsored by BRLC
Are you still grappling with all of the new Unified English braille (UEB) punctuations? Is there still some confusion as to when certain contractions should be used? Why are we no longer using certain contractions like ation, tion and com?
Join Karen Shrawder and Frank Welte for this Braille Revival League of California (BRLC) sponsored UEB workshop to learn the essentials of UEB and ask your questions. Every other week for an hour through the fall 2020 semester, Karen and Frank will focus on a different UEB topic. The first half hour will introduce the topic and provide you with the contractions and nuances. The second half hour will be discussing your experiences and answering questions.
This workshop will take place every other Tuesday evening from September 8 through December 15 at 7:00 PM. Resources will be suggested for your reading and learning pleasure.
The dates are as follows:
September 8 and 22.
October 6 and 20.
November 3 and 17.
December 1 and 15.
You do not need to be a BRLC member to attend this workshop. However, if you are interested in joining BRLC, the dues are $20, and your membership will be active through December 2021.
For questions and to register, please contact Vita Zavoli at VZavoli@gmail.com, or call 510-846-4080.
Karen Shrawder has been using Braille since first grade, and it is her primary mode for written communication whenever possible. She has taught Braille in past jobs to adults and children. She is currently enrolled in a UEB course to obtain a transcriber certification.
Frank Welte is a certified UEB transcriber and is currently enrolled in a course to obtain the UEB proofreader certification. He has been using braille for over 50 years.
Due to the pandemic, Tabard Theatre is closed to patrons, and is currently operating as a broadcast studio only. However, future shows will be presented as livestream performances that you can watch at home on your PC, MAC, or other iOS or Android mobile device.
To purchase tickets, to subscribe, or to get answers to any questions you may have, call the Tabard box office at 408-679-2330 and speak to Marilyn Watts, or visit tabardtheatre.org. SVCB members and Blind Center clients should use Discount Code BC27 when ordering.
SVCB Social Hour
A weekly SVCB Social Hour is scheduled for 4 PM every Wednesday afternoon until sheltering at home has ended.
Call in number: 408-638-0968
Meeting ID: 739825688
Passcode: 222638
When prompted for a participant code, press the Pound key.
If you want to participate in these conferences, visit ltlv.cclvi.org.
Bay Area Association of Disabled Sailors
Departs every Sunday at noon from Pier 40 in San Francisco. Call 415-281-0212 for information and reservations, or visit www.baads.org.
Bay Area Outreach and Recreation Program (BORP)
BORP believes that everyone should have access to the unique challenges that outdoor recreation provides, and makes every effort to accommodate each person's needs, including providing transportation and volunteer support. For event listings, call Lori Gray at 510-843-4398, or visit www.borp.org.
Calendar
September 3, 7 to 9 PM: SVCB Board meeting; call 800-662-6992, with ID 1184109. If you're not on the Board but wish to attend this meeting, contact Rob Turner.
September 15: Let's Talk Low Vision; Advances in Medical Treatments. See notes.
September 18 through October 4: Tabard Theatre presents ARSENIC and OLD LACE; see extensive note above.
September 19, 10 AM: SVCB virtual monthly meeting. Program: League of Women voters. Announce Nominating Committee, begin planning for Braille Literacy Month, remind members to acquire prizes for holiday party.
September 25, noon: October newsletter deadline.
October: Employment of People with Disabilities Awareness Month.
October 1, 7 to 9 PM: SVCB Board meeting.
October 6, 5:30 to 7 PM: Breast Cancer Support Group; call-in: 605-715-4920; ID: 2776167. For questions, call Lori Scharff at 516-887-1336, or lorischarff@gmail.com.
October 15: White Cane Safety Day.
October 17, 10 AM: Virtual SVCB membership meeting. See notes.
October 20: Let's Talk Low Vision conference, AIRA, see notes.
October 23, noon: November SVCB newsletter deadline. Publish fall membership list.