Membership Meeting
The meeting will be an in-person and virtual event at the San Jose Vista Center for the Blind on Saturday, August 16, from 9:30 AM to 1 PM.
Lunches will be available from Subway with the usual menu.
Program
Come and hear from our own Abby Tamara about Teams Radiant Rollers, HydraHold, IP68, Simple Stash, Paw Patrol, WANI, DUG, Abby's Assistants, Buckle Up, Lapradors, Banana Slugs, and Tech on the Go. Experience audience participation as some team's work will be passed around. The discussion will address challenges for teams designing Assistive Technology.
Zoom
You are invited to a Silicon Valley Council of the Blind Zoom meeting.
Topic: membership meeting
Saturday August 16
Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83009196598?pwd=fO7Vjnv4nHCKyxRXdKTyfAkZpGRbIo.1
If prompted the passcode is: 222638
One tap mobile
+14086380968,,83009196598#
Call in number: 408-638-0968
Meeting ID: 830 0919 6598
VTA Access
Please schedule your VTA ride from Vista San Jose for no later than 1 PM.
From the Picnic Committee
We are just a little bit over a month away from the SVCB annual picnic being held on Saturday September 20, 2025 from 11 am until 2 pm . Time flies so please sign up early. Deadline to sign up is Friday September 12.
There will be a 50/50 raffle as well so bring your cash and appetites. There will be hamburgers, hot dogs and veggie burgers, side salads, snacks to start things off and cold sodas as well as water. Bathrooms are close to the site and there is a children’s play area close by as well.
The cost of the picnic is $20 for SVCB members and $25 for non-members.
Anyone who is currently not a member but joins between now and the picnic will get the following advantages: their membership will be paid until the end of 2026 plus they will get the member price for the picnic. Membership costs $20.
All payments, picnic and membership can be made to either Victor Clifford or David Hoffman as follows: at the SVCB general membership meeting in August, as always the 3rd Saturday in each month.
Payment at the meeting can be made in cash or check, make checks payable to SVCB and put a note on the check what it is for, picnic and/or membership.
You can also pay through PayPal or by sending a check as follows: PayPal address is SVCB@SVCB.cc
Please put a note on the PayPal payment to tell us what the payment is for, picnic, membership or both.
Our mailing address for checks is: Silicon Valley Council of the Blind (SVCB), P.O. Box 4116, San Jose, CA 95125
Deadline for signups and making payments is Friday September 12. When you make your payment please let Victor or I know how many hamburgers, hot dogs and veggie burgers you want and how many will be attending.
The picnic is at the same park as the last years–Marshall Cottle Park–however at a different picnic site.
Attached to this email you will find a map of the park for those driving there. We will inform Access Paratransit about the event so they have supervisors on site. The picnic site is the Edward Cottle site. One of our members has driven there and provided the following simple driving directions:
Once you enter the park, after leaving the guard station instead of turning left for the old picnic site, go straight until you get to a dead end, turn left and there are clear signs to the Edward Cottle site including parking. Handicap placards are best.
From the Fundraising Committee
The following items, gifted to SVCB, will be auctioned at our August meeting.
25 Foot Cable for Twin Coil Ferrite AM Antenna
Donated by John Vandervort’s estate
Starting bid?
C. Crane CC Solar Observer AC/DC Adapter
Donated by John Vandervort’s estate
Not been used, still in original box
Worth $15.00
Starting bid $5.00
Cal-Craft Peppermill Set
Wooden peppermill with matching saltshaker. Freshly ground pepper as you use it.
Starting bid $5.00
GEEMARC AMPLI500 Premium Amplified Telephone
Donated by John Vandervort’s estate
Never used, in original box
This is a land line telephone.
Features: Hearing aid compatible, Volume up to 50db, Receiving tone gain +/- 4db, 8 direct memories, 3 emergency memories
Starting bid $5.00
Gift Basket of Handy Kitchen Tools
Donated by Grace Mata
An assortment of kitchen tools in a shallow brown wicker basket. Contents of the basket are nestled in bright pink paper grass, they include: 2 Miniature ceramic black dogs. 2pk Good Cook brushes with pink handles for cleaning pots, pans and glasses. Good Cook Wire Whisk with a pink handle. Perfect Bacon Bowl, safety instructions included. Purple Tupperware Mini Rice Maker, instructions included. The basket is wrapped in a clear cellophane bag and tied with bright pink curling ribbon.
Starting bid $5.00
MEMOREX Wireless Speaker
Donated by Naomi Grubb
In original box
Blue Tooth Wireless Technology
If purchased from the internet it would cost $20.00
Starting bid $5.00
PHIVE LED Desk Lamp
I think this was donated by Victor Clifford
Through Amazon it would cost $42.99
Functions: Stepless Dimming, Diffusion Panel, Adjustable Swing Arm, Touch-Sensitive Control, Provide Good Eye-Sight Care, No Flicker & No UV in All Levels.
Product Parameters: Power: 10W, LED: 90 x 0.2W High Power LED Bulbs, Lifespan: 50000H, Voltage: AC 100-240V / DC 12V=1A,
CCT: 5000K, Operate Temperature: -10C – 40C, CRI: 85Ra, Luminous: 40cm distance >1100Lux, Material: Aluminum + Zinc Alloy, Double Arm: 415mm + 415mm, Lampshade: 345 x 43mm
Starting bid $10.00
SERVAPPETIT Set of 4 Salad Plates
Donated by Kathy Iwanaga, a friend of Carol Silveria
4 salad plates in the color taupe
Never been used, still in original box
Found on eBay for $25.00
Starting bid $10.00
Set of Two New Modern Table Lamps
Donated by Rachel Silveria
Never been used, in original box
Product Specifications: Voltage: 110V, Bulb Base: E26, Bulb Wattage: Max 60W, Plug Format: US Plug, Material: Silver Fabric lamp shades & Silver Metal Lamp Base, Style: Modern, Switch Type: On/Off Switch, Touching the Lamp
How to use: When plugging the table lamp in and turn on the line switch, then you can turn the lamp on/off by touching the body of the lamp. Three different brightness will be controlled through touching the lamp, so you can enjoy your own adjustable light.
Easy assembly instructions are included for installing the lamp shades.
Starting bid $10.00
Sunbeam Imperial Plush Heated Throw
Donated by Bill & Kathy Tipton
Ultra soft imperial plush
Sunbeam exclusive wiring system senses and adjusts heat throughout the throw for the highest peace of mind.
3 heat settings and 3 hours auto-off.
Machine wash and dry
Starting bid $10.00
Tee Shirt with Monarch Butterfly on it
Donated by Alice Turner
Size large, Lilac color.
Starting Bid?
WATERPIK Water Flosser
Donated by Bill & Kathy Tipton
Never used, in original box
This item would cost $52.00 if purchased from the internet
Starting bid $10.00