I am so excited about our newest addition to the UCB. Well maybe it is not so new, but it is definitely new and improved. It is our website. Yes that is right; the UCB has an amazing and continuing to be amazing website. You can check it out utahcounciloftheblind.org. We hope this will help you stay connected with us. You will be able to view our newsletter, make payments, read articles that relate to blindness, and much, much more. Also, be sure to add us to your Facebook and twitter. Wow, look at us go!! Before you know it we will be teleporting to our favorite restaurant. LOL.

Until next time,
Anna Jeffery, President

UCB Annual Business Meeting

The Annual Business Meeting of the Utah Council of the Blind will be held at the Division of Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired, 250 N 1950 W, Salt Lake City, UT at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 17, 2016. Reservations are required so that we can have enough food for everyone. Please call the Utah Connection or email ucb.board@gmail.com with your name, the names of others in your party, and your telephone number no later than Monday, September 12th. When you make your reservation, please indicate whether or not each person in your party is a member of the UCB, whether you use large print or braille, any dietary restrictions you or a member of your party may have, and if you will need a listening device or any other accommodation.

Membership Verification: In order to vote at the annual business meeting a member’s dues for 2016 must be paid no later than September 10, 2016. If you have any questions about your membership status, please contact our Membership Chair, Aunilie Hathaway at (801) 244-5505 or via e-mail at ucb.board@gmail.com.

Call For Nominations

During this year’s annual business meeting, we will be electing a vice president, a treasurer, and two 2-year board members. As specified in the UCB Bylaws: "Any qualified member of the organization wishing to run for a position on the Board of Directors may notify a member of the Committee by submitting an approximately 200‑word written statement concerning his/her qualifications and vision for the future of the organization, which will be distributed to the membership." Please note that it is the intent of this bylaw that the statement is from the nominee; it is not intended to be an expression of anyone else’s opinion of the candidate. (200 words are approximately two medium paragraphs.) " In order to be eligible for election to an officer position a person must have been a member of the organization for not less than six months and served on a committee. In order to be elected to a board position a person must have been a member of the organization for not less than three months." In addition, the president and vice president must be legally blind.

Nominating Committee: We are pleased to announce that the Nominating Committee chair for this year is Leslie Gertsch; her committee members are Aunilie Hathaway, and Cordie Weed. Anyone who wishes to run for one of the open positions, please send your statement to:

Utah Council of the Blind
Nominating Committee
PO Box 1415
Bountiful UT 84011-1415
or by e-mail to nominations@utahcounciloftheblind.org.

Your statements of intent to run must be received on or before July 28, 2016 in order to allow time for the statements to be prepared to be printed in the September newsletter. If you have any questions, please feel free to call Leslie at (801) 292-1156.

Bylaws Amendments

Proposed Bylaws amendments must be submitted to:

Utah Council of the Blind
Secretary
PO Box 1415
Bountiful UT 84011-1415
or by e-mail to bylaws@utahcounciloftheblind.org.

Proposals must be received on or before July 28, 2016 in order for them to be prepared to be published in the September newsletter.

Note to UCB Activity Attendees

It is important for those who attend our activities to avoid wearing fragrances. We have several members who are extremely allergic to fragrances of all kinds. For this reason, we ask that you be careful to come fragrance-free when joining us at our activities. This will save persons with such allergies from hours or even days of illness.

A second reminder: to those using dog guides, when we rent vehicles to transport people, it would be very thoughtful of you to brush your dog before riding in the vehicle. As a person who often offers people rides to and from events, I appreciate it when I do not have to clean my auto because of huge amounts of dog hair. Some people carry a large garbage bag which they lay down for their dog to rest upon. This controls much of the hair loss. Thank you for thinking of us who have to do the car cleaning.

Updated 2016 Calendar

Please note that the date for Cove Fort has been put back a week. It is now on the 13th of August.

Mail checks or money orders for any activities to UCB, PO Box 1415, Bountiful, UT 84011-1415. They need to reach us by dates given!

· Friday, July 15, 2016: Utah Voices Concert in the Bountiful Park. Includes singers Maurice and Rosanne Bowman as well as Steve Yancey. The concert is free. Transportation is on your own.

· Saturday, July 16, 2016: deadline for receipt of monies for Cove Fort activity.

· Friday, August 12, 2016: deadline to pay for dinner theater, Charlie's Aunt.

· Saturday, August 13, 2016: excursion to Cove Fort and also to Utah’s Territorial State House. See article for details.

· September, 2016: annual trip to the State Fair.

· Saturday, September 17, 2016: annual UCB business meeting with elections and bylaws.

· Friday, October 14, 2016: dinner and theater, the play is Charlie's Aunt, a comedy.

· Saturday, December 3, 2016: annual UCB Christmas party

Take Action by July 15

Dear Colleagues,

I am working at the Center for Patient Partnerships, a law clinic at the University of Wisconsin Law School, this summer. Part of my summer work includes a case-to-cause project. For my project, I am creating a self-advocacy resource database for individuals with various medical conditions and disabilities.

Alongside the resources, I am hoping to share some success stories of individuals who have found ways to advocate for themselves at school, at work, in social settings, in healthcare, or in any other situation. It's a fairly broad topic, simply because self-advocacy is very individualized.

Over the years, I have heard many great self-advocacy stories among our ACB members. If you and/or your affiliate members would take a few minutes to fill out a short survey to provide a success story that could be shared on the project website, I would be very grateful! The survey only takes a minute, so please share your story and pass along the link to others. I will accept stories until July 15. If you have any questions or experience any accessibility issues with the survey, please contact me at sarac@patientpartnerships.org.

Here is the link: http://goo.gl/forms/H6VMvj0vLKaxRS933

Thanks for your support. Together, we can continue to encourage each other to make a better world for all.

Sara

Quick Note to Utah Council of the Blind

by Ramona Rice

Thank you all for the opportunity to host Utah Council of the Blind Training Conference 2016 in Park City, Utah! It has been an amazing journey for all of us to enjoy a three days' event in Park City. Park City and its people have been so receptive not only to have us but to cherish the days with us, too!

I sincerely hope you enjoyed our amazing speakers including Park City Mayor, Mr. Jack Thomas and our Utah First Lady, Mrs. Jeanette Herbert. I am still hearing ongoing conversations about Personality Color Code, etc. Ms. Cindy Anderson did an amazing job describing our colors perfectly! It's up to you to recognize one's color but most importantly to respect and understand people's color in order to work well with them in a work place or at home.

Hyatt Place Hotel General Manager, Robert Hughes; Asst. General Manager, Tia; Sales Director, Sean Raynor; and Sales Associate, Abigail Freeouf shared that they never witnessed such a wonderful conference EVER! Because of you all being so gracious and respectful they are looking to invite more blind, deaf blind, and deaf organizations to their hotel.

I want to thank JD Seely for his Community Projects t-shirts contribution, and his fundraising skill to bring in donations; Cordie Weed for sending out "thank you" cards to our sponsors; Jenni Thompson for taking photos for our Facebook page and UCB website on top of assisting me for three days; Vicki Flake, Leslie Gertsch, and Aunilie Hathaway, as always, for their assistance; Anna Jeffery and her daughter, Angelyn for their superb support; my SSP, Ronda Wolf, for her hard work, long hours and dedication with this event during my illness for the past few months; Hyatt Place for assisting with technological issues, room set up, clean up, serving us lunch; and, last but not the least, our fabulous volunteers!

I hope you all walked away with a smile from this conference, meeting new people and speakers with helpful info, many resourceful materials, donated gifts and plentiful food! Every single volunteer also received their gift bags to show our appreciation of their volunteerism.

If I may send you off with this....thank you for being proud Utah Council of the Blind members!

If You Are Committed to the Civil Rights of People with Disabilities ...

Calling All Advocates for Described TV and Web Accessibility!

Mobilizing to Make Our Voices Heard

A Joint Teleconference of the American Foundation for the Blind and American Council of the Blind

Save the Date--July 13, 2016, 3pm Eastern Call-In Details to Follow

To read this announcement online, visit the following link: http://www.afb.org/community/announcements/calling-all-advocates-for-described-tv-and-web-accessibility/12

This year, on July 26, is the 26th anniversary of the signing of the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Each year, advocates look for ways in which to properly commemorate the ADA and to celebrate the promise of equal access that it represents. This year, we have a unique opportunity to raise our voices on behalf of equal access, and you are invited to be a part of this nationwide effort.

In an exciting development, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is proposing to expand the number of hours of described television that will be required of the nation's top networks. It is critical that the FCC hear from as many of us as possible with our expressions of support for their proposal and to help build a strong record showing how important, useful and enjoyable described TV is for our community. Both AFB and ACB will be preparing formal comments to respond to this proposal, but we cannot do this work alone. Our community needs to make it crystal clear to the FCC, and to the broadcast and cable/satellite industries as well, that we are committed to seeing described TV become the rule and not the exception.

On a much less happy front, the Obama Administration has determined, yet again, to delay movement on the issuance of regulations clarifying the application of the ADA to online-only places of public accommodation. Most recently, the Administration scuttled a set of proposed federal regulations developed by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) which, once finalized, would have provided even greater clarity about the web accessibility obligations of state and local governments. Now, to try and pick up the pieces, the DOJ is asking advocates yet again to weigh in and share our views on the importance of web access to governmental programs and services.

On Wednesday afternoon, July 13, beginning at 3pm Eastern, you are invited to join a national teleconference jointly hosted by AFB and ACB to learn how you can, with a simple email, let policy makers know exactly how you feel about these two vital issues. While there are important legal and other substantive questions that both AFB and ACB will be providing written comment on for both the FCC and the DOJ, we cannot do this work alone. A strong showing by our community will be decisive in making any progress toward expanded described TV and web accessibility.

For now, please save the date for the July 13 teleconference, and please do pass the word to your personal and professional networks.

Additional details, including the dial-in instructions and a brief agenda, will be coming soon.

As always, thank you for your commitment to the civil rights of people with disabilities, especially those of us who are blind or visually impaired!

For Further information, contact:
Mark Richert, Esq.
Director, Public Policy, AFB
(202) 469-6833
MRichert@afb.net

Book Review

Book Review: Anonymous Sources by Mary Louise Kelly, DB83726
Reading time: 10 hours, 4 minutes.
Read by Catherine Byers.
Suspense and mystery.

Library annotation: When Thom Carlyle falls to his death from a Harvard tower, Chronicle reporter Alexandra James is nearby and offers to cover it. Did the son of the US president's attorney jump to his death? Or was he pushed? Some violence and some strong language. 2013.

Reader comments: The many plot twists and turns in this book kept me engaged and engrossed throughout. The plot is well-developed and the characters are multi-dimensional. Although the story is a little slower-paced in the beginning, listeners will have a hard time putting this audiobook down. especially for readers that like a little raunch-free spiciness and international intrigue. Recommended for fans of spies, mystery, and thrillers.

Technology, Accessibility and the Windows 10 Free Upgrade

May 6, 2016By Daniel Hubbell – MSFT

As you may have heard, the free Windows 10 upgrade offer for customers running Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 is set to end on July 29, but we want to clarify that that deadline will *not* apply to customers who use assistive technologies. We are continuing to deliver on our previously-shared vision for accessibility for Windows 10 and we are committed to ensuring that users of assistive technologies have the opportunity to upgrade to Windows 10 for free as we do so.

Stay tuned for more details on how you can take advantage of the free offer. In the meantime, you can read more about our accessibility roadmap for Windows 10 on the Microsoft on the Issues blog.

Information taken from https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/accessibility/2016/05/06/accessibility-and-the-windows-10-free-upgrade/

Toothpaste Dispenser

Many of you have tried the tooth paste dispenser developed by John Baca for those with missing limbs or weak hands. Mr. Baca brought an updated version to the UCB conference. This dispenser now clicks to indicate how much toothpaste is being released. He is ready to start tooling for production of this item. He would like to know if you would find this item useful. If so, please leave your name on the Utah Connection for us to get a feel for the interest. Thanks so much.

Deaf/Blind Program

The UCB is assisting the Division of Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired to identify people with both hearing and sight loss. The general feeling is that there are not very many people with both of these sensory losses. We feel otherwise. Please let us know by calling the Utah Connection and leaving your name so we can tell them that there are many more than they thought. There are some really wonderful services available to these people, so do let us hear of your dual loss.

Newsletter Formats

The UCB is seeking a new source of recorded materials for those who cannot read print or braille. Cassettes are becoming a thing of the past, and so the UCB is looking for the means to serve you in another manner. Please let us know if you can listen to an audio CD. Can you use a thumb drive on your library machine? Can you receive e-mails? is it possible for you to use some other form of communication. We need your help to plan for the future. Leave your name and phone number on the Utah Connection so we can talk to you about your resources for accessing the newsletter.

Proposed National Legislation for Social Security Recipients

by Chris Green

Senator Elizabeth Warren, democrat for Massachusetts, has proposed Senate Bill 2251, which would give Social Security recipients a one-time payment of $581 in 2016. This act is intended to compensate for the fact that there was no increase in this year's Social Security benefits. The bill's counterpart in the house is HR4012. This little known bill is receiving very little support among senators and representatives, especially our Utah delegation. Please get this message to as many people as possible, and, hopefully, we can get this passed. Interestingly, we receive no increase in benefits due to the fact that the index used to determine cost-of-living adjustments showed zero inflation for 2016. I know my rent, my food bills, my utilities, my drug costs, and most of my other expenses increased, including increases in my insulin and anti-rejection drug costs of up to 160%. That seems to me like quite a bit more than 0% inflation. Under the same index of 0% inflation, government employees received 3.9% cost-of-living adjustments.

I know that fair is only a place where they give out ribbons to cows and pigs, but this seems very lopsided. Appreciate everyone's support in this.

Hadley Institute Announces New President

WINNETKA

Hadley Institute for the Blind and Visually Impaired elected Julie S. Tye as its next president, following the 10-year tenure of retiring President Charles E. Young. Hadley’s Board of Trustees retained Morris & Berger, a firm specializing in non-profit executive searches, to assist in recruitment. Tye was selected after a six-month national search.

Hadley Institute provides distance education for people who are blind or visually impaired.

Tye’s career began in hospital administration, but she spent the past 23 years serving as president and CEO of the Evanston-based adoption agency The Cradle. Like Hadley, The Cradle has a significant online education component. Through Adoption Learning Partners, 60 adoption courses and recorded webcasts are offered, reaching 8,000 to 10,000 people each year. This program was launched in 2000 and earned a Brandon Hall Award for distance learning. More than 100 adoption agencies throughout the country now require clients to complete The Cradle’s courses.

“Julie’s leadership experience in running an organization with a comparable number of students enrolled to Hadley, and the fact that she oversaw the development and implementation of a similarly sized distance education program to Hadley’s, elevated her above the other candidates,” said Dewey B. Crawford, chairperson of the Hadley Board of Trustees. “Julie’s extensive fundraising experience also weighed heavily in our decision.”

Fundraising is one of Tye’s many strong suits. While at The Cradle, she led a successful $15 million capital campaign, exceeding the agency’s goal by 18 percent. She also was responsible for a four-fold increase in annual public support, from $500,000 to $2 million, and a 250 percent increase in endowment funds.

Hadley Board of Trustees Search Committee Chairperson Terry M. Faulk said he was impressed with Tye’s nonprofit experience and comfort level working with a Board of Trustees. He added, “Among many positives, Julie’s experience and leadership qualities stood out.”

Tye was not seeking a job change when she first learned of Hadley’s available presidential position. However, it was Hadley’s reputation, coupled with the fit of the position description, which led her to apply.

“I have had the very good fortune of spending my career with human service providers that are considered best in class in their fields: Lutheran General, Parkside Medical Services and The Cradle. Hadley has a well-deserved standing as a similarly exceptional organization making a critical impact on the people it touches. Hadley’s brand promise of ‘Educating — For Life’ is extremely energizing, and playing a role in delivering on that promise will be so personally fulfilling,” Tye said.

General UCB Information

We are always looking for articles or interesting tidbits of information from our readers or other interested persons. The deadline for submitting items for publication is the 1st of the month, e.g. the deadline for the March newsletter is February 1st. You may e-mail any articles you wish to submit for our newsletter to our newsletter editor at newsletter@utahcounciloftheblind.org, or send Braille or large print to UCB Newsletter, PO Box 1415, Bountiful, UT 84011-1415; please allow extra time for processing when using this method.

All members are invited and encouraged to attend meetings of the Board of Directors. The meetings are at 3:45 p.m. at DSBVI, 250 N 1950 W, Ste B, Conference Room R, Salt Lake City, UT. Upcoming meetings are:

· Friday, July 29, 2016

· Friday, August 26, 2016

· Friday, September 23, 2016

If you have questions or concerns for any board member or to be placed on the agenda of a board meeting, e-mail info@utahcounciloftheblind.org, and you will receive a timely reply.

A volunteer mans the UCB Office at DSBVI, 250 N 1950 W, Salt Lake City, UT, from 12:00 to 3:30 p.m. on Wednesdays. You can give her a call at 801-520-3766 or visit to purchase cab coupons, t-shirts, screwdriver/hammers, 20/20 pens, signature guides, or measuring cups and spoons.

The UCB maintains a listserv to keep our computer users up-to-date on interesting information as it comes along and to help facilitate an open dialogue between our members. To join the UCB Listserv, send a blank email message to ucb-talk-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. You will receive a request to verify your wish to subscribe. Just reply without changing or adding to the message.

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.

The UCB Flier is available in large print, Braille (please note the transition to UEB format), audio cassette tape, audio CD, as a Microsoft Word and a plain text file on CD, and by e-mail. If you would prefer to receive your newsletter in a different format, please call the Utah Connection or send an e-mail to info@utahcounciloftheblind.org and let us know.

Ways to Support the UCB at No Cost to You

Remember UCB in Your Will

Make a bequest to the Utah Council of the Blind in your will or trust. The executor will need to know that we are a non-profit charitable institution under IRS 501(c)(3) and that checks should be sent to:

Utah Council of the Blind
PO Box 1415
Bountiful, UT 84011-1415

Amazon.com

If you shop at amazon.com, just use the smile.amazon.com web address, where you have the opportunity to select a charity to support with your purchases. Amazon then contributes a small percentage of most of your purchase to the charity of your choice. The easiest way to set the UCB as your charity of choice is as follows:

· Go to www.smile.amazon.com and login as you normally would.
Activate the “Your Account” link

· Arrow down or use a links list to find “Change Your Charity”

· Go down to the form field (just before the search button) and type in “Utah Council of the Blind”

· Tab to the “Search” button and press the spacebar

· In the Results you will see “Utah Council of the Blind”, tab to the “Select” button immediately following it and press the spacebar.

· A pop-up window opens telling you that your purchases will now support “Utah Council of the Blind”

· Whenever you shop at Amazon, use the smile.amazon.com site, and it will remember your selected charity.

Smith’s Rewards

First, you must have a Smith’s rewards card. If you do not have this card, ask for one at a checkout or service desk when you are at Smith’s. For those of you who use your rewards cards to earn gasoline discounts, be aware that the Community Rewards do not affect those discounts at all. You will still be able to accumulate fuel points as before.

Second, you must have registered the card online. To do this, go to www.smithsfoodanddrug.com, follow the link to register and fill out the form with your email address, a password you create, your home store, etc.

To assign the UCB as your charitable organization:

· Sign in to your Smith’s account

· Open the “My Account” page if it does not take you there automatically

· Look for “Community Rewards” near the end of the page, find “Edit” below it, and activate that

· On the search page that opens, below “Find your Organization” you can type either our number, which is “32989”, or “Utah Council of the Blind”

· Tab to “Search” and activate that

· Go down to the results, find the checkbox in front of “Utah Council of the Blind”, and press the spacebar

· Tab to “Enroll” and activate that

· You will be taken back to your “My Account” page where you can see that you have set “Utah Council of the Blind” as your selected organization.

Utah Council of the Blind FREE MATTER

1301 W 500 S FOR THE BLIND

Woods Cross UT 84087-2224 AND DISABLED