The UCB Buzz
A publication of
Utah Council of the Blind
January 2024
For the latest news updates, check out the website at utahblind.org
E-mail us at utahblind@gmail.com
For credit card payments, to make reservations, or for other business,
call the business office at 801-245-9264.
Disclaimer
Articles and announcements included in this publication
are presented for your information and interest. They reflect the opinions of
the respective authors and are not necessarily endorsed by the UCB.
In This Issue
Thanks
to Program Sponsors and Donors
Kudos
for a Great Winter Wonderland Holiday Celebration
Executive
Director Passes the Baton
Appreciation
for the Service of Out-Going Board Members
Meet
Our Newest Board Member – David Jordan
Grounding
Into the Present Moment
Board
of Directors and Management
Upcoming
Meeting Schedule and Calendar
Dear Members of the Utah Council of the Blind,
If you know me at all, you know I thrive on working together. I love hard work, but I hate doing it alone. As we step into the new year, I am looking forward to working alongside many of you as we embrace unity and empowerment together.
I want to emphasize that the Utah Council of the Blind is about so much more than existing. It’s about thriving, growing and making a meaningful impact on the lives we serve. We are capable of achieving greatness, pursuing our passions, and contributing to our personal lives and our communities. In the Utah Council of the Blind, as we do more than exist, we can focus on our individual strengths and bring to the council positive energy and fresh ideas. We can excel, inspire and create a brighter future for ourselves and our upcoming generations.
This newsletter is a great platform for some of you to start. By sharing your talents, you can impower and unite each other through positive stories, uplifting experiences or even a shout out to someone who you think is inspiring. As we move forward together let our actions reflect our commitment to the Utah Council of the Blind.
Wishing you a year filled with determination, resilience, and boundless opportunities.
Anna Jeffery, President
For nearly five years, I have served as editor of the UCB’s newsletter, which we renamed The Buzz. However, I have been asked by the Church to which I belong to undertake a large monthly assignment which would interfere with editing The Buzz, and so I must resign as editor.
It’s a shame, because a year or so ago I got a new computer, and I’m just starting to figure out some of the more advanced features of Word using JAWS, and now I won’t need to use them as much. But that’s the way life often goes.
It’s been my goal as editor to bring you a magazine that is informative, entertaining, and useful to you. I’ve also tried to stay away from material that might be controversial or offensive. Some may feel that I have been perhaps over-conscious of these things, but I’ve tried to follow my conscience.
I think the only thing I feel really bad about is that I have been unable to get much material from the readers of the magazine. I’ve felt very badly that more readers haven’t participated, but we have had some wonderful articles, such as the ones from the late Scott Stanger, John Jeppesen, and Cheryl Outsen Heyborne. I hope our new editor will be able to spark more participation.
As of this writing, we don’t know who the new editor will be. Whoever it is will have his/her ideas on what the newsletter should have, and that will be good. Be sure to look at the UCB Information section at the back of the magazine so you know where you can send in any articles you may wish to write. And maybe every once-in-a-while, I’ll stick in an article or book review or something, just to keep my hand in at writing. I also need to thank Vicki Flake, who doesn’t care for much notice, but she has been in charge of doing the final copying, printing, Brailling, and distribution of the magazine in all its formats. And those are all big jobs. And she’s had to put up with me all these years, and that’s another big job. So, thanks, Vicki.
So please keep reading and enjoying The Buzz as I hope you have done during these past years. And good luck and much joy to all of you!
Tom Mitchell
By Kate Balzly
The UCB Board and members want to express our heartfelt gratitude to the generous grants from American Express Community for the Skills Development Program and the Braille Transcription Program, R. Harold Burton Foundation for the grant towards the Subsidized Transportation Program, and the Jesse and Marilyn Peck Foundation towards UCB Programs. These wonderful foundations should be commended for their support in helping the blind and visually impaired residents of Utah.
Congratulations to Mindi Larson, chair of the Holiday Celebration Committee, and her committee members, Anna Jeffery and Shelly Hendriksen for organizing a wonderful holiday celebration! Anyone who missed it should definitely plan to attend this year’s event. It is always held on the first Saturday in December, so mark your calendars now.
An army of volunteers worked on set-up, decorating, serving meals, acting as ushers, take-down, and clean-up. These included Mindi Larson and her family, David and Lynette Shook, Anna Jeffery and her family, Shelly Hendriksen and her family, Kate Balzly and her family, Cobble Creek 1st Ward youth and leaders, Fire Fighter-sponsored Boy Scout Troop 111 from Magna and their leaders. Thanks to all these folks for making this such an enjoyable party for all of us!
Monica Youngdell and Sandy Ruconich serenaded us with Christmas music as we arrived, registered, shopped the Holiday Boutique, found our places at the beautifully decorated tables, and visited. Jim’s Family Restaurant prepared a tasty meatloaf dinner. Special thanks to Sandy Ruconich for leading a spontaneous sing-a-long following lunch. We all enjoyed a great fun performance by the Mountain Ridge High School Madrigals. And, of course, let’s not forget to thank Santa Claus for dropping by and visiting with the youngsters among us.
Thanks to sponsors Leatherby’s and Black Bear Diner for their donation of teddy bears and gift certificates for raffle prizes.
Thanks, also, to those who participated in the annual Holiday Boutique:
Ray Wright with his beautiful wood items (ball point pens and key chains)
Kira Larkin with her wonderful scrubbies and her pretty bracelets
Mindy Larson with her table of fudge
Sandy England’s table with delicious jams, colorful beaded plant stakes, etc.
Ceramics and Craft Class displayed and sold items from wood projects to beautiful ceramics (this was their first time)
Karl Smith with some of his great items such as Hable Bluetooth keyboard, Victor Stream 3 with special pricing and more.
Sarah Erb with Braille machine covers (these were great!)
I would like to thank everyone who came out and supported our Holiday Celebration this year. We had awesome volunteers who helped to set up, serve the food, and clean up afterwards. The entertainment was amazing, Sandy is an amazing pianist, and I am so grateful for her both playing the prelude music and playing for a sing-a-long on the spot. I absolutely loved the Madrigals. I hope that everyone was able to imagine the elegant decorations. I also hope that you all liked your snowman. I feel like the boutique went very well. Thank you for shopping and helping to support each other. I want to say thank you so very, very much to Anna and Kate. I love your wisdom, advice, and help.
Mindi Larson
By Kate Balzly
Legacy Pioneers and the Utah Council of the Blind will be hosting our annual beeping Easter Egg Hunt and luncheon on Saturday, March 16th, from 10 am-2 pm All ages are welcome to join in on the fun. Treats from the Easter Bunny and a FREE lunch. Rain or shine, held at the DSBVI, 250 North 1950 West, Salt Lake City. Reservations are requested. Call 801-245-9264 or email utahblind@gmail.com.
By Kate Balzly
This year the UCB will be offering Easter baskets in various parts of the state. You may order your basket by calling the UCB office at 801-245-9264. Easter basket orders will be delivered to a designated UCB member's home for you to pick up on a specific day and time. Locations will be in Logan, Ogden, Orem, Ephraim, and St. George. Pick-up dates will be March 9th and 16th depending on the location. For those living along the Wasatch Front, Easter baskets will be available for pick-up at the Annual Easter Egg Luncheon on March 16th. Baskets are $15.00 for small 10-inch and $30 for large 18-inch. Toddler, child, teen, and adult baskets are available. Please specify the age and gender when ordering. Donations for the baskets are always welcome. Get your reservations in early. Call 801-245-9264 or email utahblind@gmail.com.
With the passing of Leslie Gertsch over four years ago, we were scrambling to fill a large hole in our management team. Dr. Sandy Ruconich, a long-time leader in several national organizations of and for the blind, stepped forward and volunteered to act as our executive director at no cost to us. She has graciously and effectively filled the position since that time.
As situations evolve, it has become desirable to pass the baton, and the decision has been made to advance Kate Balzly from the position of chief operating officer to that of executive director.
At this time, we wish to express our sincere appreciation to Sandy for her years of service in the position of executive director and congratulate Kate on her advancement to that position. Sandy has agreed to continue sharing her experience and expertise with us as a member of the Board of Directors.
We are very grateful for the years of service of the two out-going board members, Monica Youngdell and Cindi Vega. These two ladies have been tireless workers for the Utah Council of the Blind for many years. Each has served on many committees and volunteered hours upon hours, serving in a variety of capacities. And, just because they no longer serve as board members, doesn’t mean we will not utilize their many talents in other capacities, so watch for their helpful friendly faces as you participate in activities and training offered by the UCB. Thank you, thank you, ladies.
Thanks to David Jordan for providing this information.
I appreciate my friends’ expressions of confidence in me as they encourage me to greater involvement with the Utah Council of the blind.
To introduce myself, I enclose two documents. One, titled A Glimpse at David, describes my involvement with braille. The other, titled David at UCB, explains how I joined the organization.
I am a firm advocate for braille as a written medium, for its inclusion as part of the curriculum for blind students, and for the benefit of both reading and mathematics in the development of blind youth and adults.
I look forward to serving the Utah Council of the Blind.
David Jordan became involved with braille to help Bill Miller, a blind friend, in a college math course.
To prepare for Bill’s course, David visited a course in Nemeth code at the University of Utah during Spring Quarter 1997. The course, Special Education 577, was required of graduate students in the College of Education who were seeking their endorsement as teachers of the visually impaired.
The following quarter (Summer Quarter 1997) David’s friend registered for Math 101 (intermediate algebra) at the Utah State University extension in Tooele. Bill and David sat side by side in Bill’s algebra class, where David took notes. Then Bill and David went to David’s house, where they talked about the lecture, worked Bill’s math problems in braille, and graphed equations on a peg board using golf tees and string. David didn’t know literary braille, so he told Bill he was being tutored in college math by a man who could neither read nor write.
David’s input for Bill was to transcribe his math homework in braille. Bill worked the problems in braille, double spacing because that was the way David had learned to do it in his Nemeth class. Then David interlined Bill’s homework – wrote ink print above each line of braille – and Bill handed it in. On exam day, the professor provided David a copy of the test. David transcribed it; Bill took the test; David interlined Bill’s work; Bill turned in his exam. Bill received a B for the course. He said he should have studied harder.
After Bill’s course, David visited the Blind Center in Salt Lake City to report his success with Bill. At the Blind Center, David’s mentor, Scott Stanger, introduced him to Susie Skiby, who was seeing Scott for advice about taking math classes at Salt Lake Community College. Would David help Susie? Yes. David helped Susie in introductory algebra and intermediate algebra and was involved with transcribing her textbook for college algebra, math 105. Susie’s 4.0 GPA drew compliments both at college and at home.
David studied literary braille by taking the braille transcriber’s course offered by the National Federation of the Blind. He received his certificate as a braille transcriber from the Library of Congress on March 23, 2012.
David and Susie commenced their partnership as mathematicians and educational theorists in 2010. They obtained copyright in 2013 on a short work in braille, Doing Addition on the Perkins Brailler, to secure ownership of their thesis as intellectual property. The Power of One: Evolution in Math, copyright 2020, is their first published work.
David Jordan joined the Utah Council of the Blind at the invitation of Monica Youngdell.
During a pre-COVID December, David attended a Christmas choir concert at the Joseph Smith Building in Salt Lake City. George and Monica Youngdell were also in attendance.
David introduced himself as a braillist. Monica told him he needed to be a member of UCB.
Monica asked for contact information. David apologized for not bringing his equipment, and borrowed Monica’s slate and stylus. Then David apologized for not having any paper, so Monica handed him an old grocery list. David knelt and used the tile floor to rub the dots down with his fingernail. Then he wrote his name and telephone number on the old list. Monica said she could read what he wrote, but David doesn’t recommend writing on used paper.
Later that evening Monica called David and invited him to a UCB board meeting.
When David attended the board meeting, he thought he would be in a room full of stuffed shirts. Instead, when he walked in he recognized several people as his mentors who had advised him as he helped Bill Miller and Susie Skiby in their college math classes.
Someone asked, “Who just came in?” David identified himself and explained that he was trying to sneak in while no one was looking. It is to the credit of the Board that they tolerated his humor.
David is now a life member of the Utah Council of the Blind.
By Mindi Larson
Roxanne Dault, a French-Canadian mindfulness teacher based in Montreal, said that nature can be our greatest teacher.
In fact, research from March 2022Trusted Source shows that time spent in the great outdoors was associated with significantly less anxiety and depression during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Grounding can have a stabilizing effect on the body and mind. Dault says that grounding practices provide a space where we can see more clearly what it means to be human.
And grounding can be especially beneficial when practiced in nature. In fact, a 2020 research review shows that “earthing,” a practice of walking barefoot outdoors, may come with a host of health and healing benefits, including:
reduced inflammation
less pain
lower stress
improved circulation
better sleep
improved vitality
Grounding helps us reconnect to nature while also facilitating a meditative experience.
“When there’s a lot of agitation in the mind, I’ve always found that just connecting with the body, with your feet touching the Earth, can create a space where there’s less thoughts,” Dault said.
(For myself, Mindi Larson, I practiced grounding during the time with the most anxiety of my life. My sister-in-law and I would take off our shoes and socks and pace back-and-forth in the grass. We would meditate while doing so. It is one of the many mindfulness practices that I would use to calm myself.)
The UCB Buzz is
available in large print, Braille, audio CD, and by e-mail. If you would prefer
to receive your newsletter in a different format, please call the UCB business
office at 801-245-9264 or send an e-mail to utahblind@gmail.com and let us
know.
We are always looking for
articles, book reviews, or interesting tidbits of information from our readers
or other interested persons. You may e-mail any articles you wish to submit to utahblind@gmail.com;
send Braille, print, or audio to UCB Buzz, PO Box 1415, Bountiful, UT
84011-1415. Please allow extra time for processing Braille, print, or audio.
Anna Jeffery, President, Skills Development Program Supervisor
Donni Mitchell, Vice President
Jeana Nielsen, Secretary
Vicki Flake, Treasurer
Sandy Ruconich, Director
Sandy England, Director
Kira Larkin, Director
Shelly Hendriksen, Director
Dennie Clark, Director, Skills Development Program Assistant Supervisor
Mindi Larson, Director
David Jordan, Director
Kate
Balzly, Executive Director
Members are invited and
encouraged to attend meetings of the Board of Directors. Meetings will
typically be held on Thursday of selected months at 4:45 p.m. via Zoom. To be
placed on the agenda or attend a meeting,
e-mail utahblind@gmail.com or call 801-245-9264.
Thursday, January 4, 2024, 4:45 p.m. – Board Meeting
Thursday, March 7, 2024, 4:45 p.m. – Board Meeting
Saturday, March 16, 2024, 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m., DSBVI – Annual Legacy
Pioneers Easter Egg Hunt
Saturday, May 4, 2024 – U of U Sunshine Symposium – watch for updates
Saturday, May 11, 2024, tentative – Art Stroll – watch for updates
Thursday, June 6, 2024, 4:45 p.m. – Board Meeting
Saturday, June 8, 2024 – Games Activity – watch for updates
July 5-12, 2024, Jacksonville, Florida – American Council of the Blind
Annual Conference and Convention
Thursday, August 1, 2024, 4:45 p.m. – Board Meeting
Saturday, August 10, 2024, tentative – Seaquest
Aquarium Activity – watch for updates
Monday, September 9, and Wednesday, September 11, 2024, tentative –
Utah State Fair – watch for updates
Saturday, September 21, 2024, 10:00 a.m., DSBVI – Annual Business
Meeting
Saturday, October 12, 2024, 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. – Budget and Training
Meeting (by invitation only)
Saturday, October 19, 2024, tentative – Halloween Spooktacular – watch
for updates
Friday-Saturday, November 1-2, 2024, Davis Conference Center –
Statewide Training Conference – watch for updates
Saturday, December 7, 2024, 11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m., DSBVI, tentative –
Holiday Celebration – watch for updates
Thursday, January 2, 2025, 4:45 p.m. – Board Meeting
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