Membership Meeting
The November meeting will be an in-person and virtual event at the San Jose Vista Center for the Blind on Saturday, November 15, from 9:30 AM to 1 PM.
Lunches will be available from Subway with the usual menu.
Program
Our program speakers this month will be our own Debee Armstrong and Susan Glass. They will introduce us to various forms of advocacy in which we can participate, including ACB's Speak4 Campaigns, a platform that enables users to easily contact their Congress members about timely issues and pending legislation. When a person visits the Speak4 link, they will read about the issue. They then have the opportunity to enter their contact information, which will, in turn, enable them to send a prewritten message to their Congress member on the issue or bill. We will also discuss state and local advocacy opportunities.
Zoom
You are invited to a Silicon Valley Council of the Blind Zoom meeting.
Topic: membership meeting
Saturday November 15
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
Holiday Party Preview and 2026 Dues Reminder
Do not give up on 2025 yet. There remains so much to do. Meetings, quarterly reviews, Christmas, Kwanzaa and Hannukah shopping. Then there is our October meeting, immediately followed by the Old-Time Radio Show. That Turkey thing, and all of that eating. Oops, forgot Halloween. I think I gained five pounds writing that sentence. But I digress.
On Saturday, December 13, we will have our holiday party at Vista Center San José, 101 North Bascom Avenue, from 11 AM through 2:30 PM. We will be offering a simpler menu and a less expensive ticket price. We will have holiday entertainment, family-friendly beverages, snacks, pizza, salad, and dessert. We are estimating that the cost per member will be $15, and $20 for non-members. All these details are to be confirmed except the date which is set. Payment for the holiday party can be made at the same time as your membership dues or separately. See below for ways to make payments.
2026 membership dues are required to be paid by the end of this year. Annual dues for regular members are $20, and $10 for ACB lifetime members. If you joined the chapter this year, you are already paid up through 2026 and do not owe anything. If you are unsure whether you paid or how to pay, please call or email me, David Hoffman: cell phone 408-316-4155, or email me at davidhoffman1965@gmail.com.
You can pay either me or Victor in person by cash or check. You can mail your check into the P.O. Box listed at the top of this newsletter, and you can pay through PayPal at
SVCB@SVCB.CC.
VTA Access
Please schedule your VTA ride from Vista San Jose for no later than 1 PM.
Raffle
The following items will be provided, so be prepared to buy your tickets
BOTANY 500 HANDKERCHIEFS Donated by Victor Clifford New package of (12) 100% cotton handkerchiefs
BRACELET Donated by Carol Silveria Bracelet of silver and red garnet
BRAILLE PLAYING CARDS Donated by David Hoffman 1 deck of Braille Playing cards in a red cardboard storage box.
DOG COMB & PEDI PAWS Donated by David Hoffman The dog comb has metal teeth The Pedi Paws is a battery-operated grinder for dogs’ toenails
GIFT BASKET OF HANDY KITCHEN TOOLS Donated by Grace Mata An assortment of kitchen tools in a shallow brown wicker basket. The 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 tied with bright pink curling ribbon
HEARTH & HAND KIDS TWIN SHEET SET Donated by Grace Mata The print is small dark pink dots and small light pink dots arranged in a pattern on a very pale pink background. Includes flat sheet: 68-inches x 101-inches, Fitted sheet: 39-inches x 80-inches x 14-inches 1 standard pillowcase: 20-inches x 30-inches Comes in a drawstring cloth bag in the same pattern 100% cotton, machine wash, tumble dry 220 thread count, brushed for softness Fits mattresses up to 16 inches deep
HIS & HERS QUARTZ WATCHES Donated by Kathy Iwanaga, a friend of Carol Silveria These watches were gifts from CHUKCHANSI GOLD Resort and Casino
IKEA + SOMMAR 2019 PLANT POTS I think they were donated by Naomi Grubb 2 metal pots designed to hold plants 1 x 12cm (4¾ inches) 1 x 10.5cm (4¼ inches)
LARGE 1 WEEK MORNING/NIGHT MEDICATION HOLDER Donated by Bev Clifford There are 2 compartments per day for 1 week
PLASTIC EARRING STORAGE CONTAINER Donated by Bev Clifford This container is made of clear plastic with three drawers for holding earrings
TACTILE TIC-TAC-TOE GAME Donated by David Hoffman White tactile Tic-Tac-Toe board with 9 squares. Each square has a hole that fits a peg. There are 4 black square pegs and 5 red round pegs. The pegs are in a clear plastic pouch All the parts fit in a white square cardboard box.
VINYL TABLECOTH Donated by Grace Mata New item This tablecloth has a crocheted look 100% soft vinyl, it can easily be wiped clean. Beige in color The dimensions are 60 inches x 90 inches
ZIPIT TOTE BAG Donated by Victor Clifford One long continuous zipper that turns into a bag when zipped