The UCB
Flier
A publication of
Utah Council
of the Blind
March
2017
For the latest news
updates call the Utah Connection 801-299-0670 or 1‑800-273-4569. (You may
also leave a message at the end of the announcement.)
Mail
correspondence to: UCB, PO Box 1415, Bountiful, UT 84011-1415. E-mail us at ucb.board@gmail.com.
In This
Issue
President's Message.................................................................................. 1
Here's Your
Chance: Help the UCB!.......................................................... 2
Easter Egg
Hunt......................................................................................... 3
Remember
April 29! Technology for Everybody......................................... 3
Change to UCB
Board Meetings................................................................ 4
2017 ACB's
National Conference and Convention..................................... 4
Apply Now for
a UCB Scholarship.............................................................. 4
UCB Seeking
Award Nominations.............................................................. 5
Latest
Calendar with Updates.................................................................... 5
Salt Lake
City Launches Grant Program to Help Seniors and Those with Disabilities Make
Home Repairs................................................................. 6
Book Review:
Innocent by David Baldacci................................................. 7
General UCB
Information........................................................................... 9
Upcoming Board Meetings...................................................................... 9
Membership
Drive.................................................................................... 10
Greetings UCB Members and Friends,
We had a great turnout for our January activity. Colene Wahl, daughter of the original Cavanaugh's, was fabulous and so were her samples. Thank you to Maurice Bowman and all those who helped make a successful activity.
Be sure to mark your calendars for April 29 to attend a spectacular technology fair. This event will surely be worth your time. In this Flier you will find more information. I hope to see many of you there.
A friend of mine posted on social media a quote that I have been thinking a lot about lately. The quote is, "Remember it's better to look up." A kindergarten student once said, "Teacher, remember to look up or you might miss the rainbow." Now, you all know that physically looking up does not do me a whole lot of good. So, let's think about it differently. I have made a conscious effort lately to look up, and I have noticed by just doing this I have been able to put a positive step in my day. By remembering to look up I can see more positive outcomes, avoid let downs, and I feel less overwhelmed. So, I am encouraging you all to just try it.
"Remember, it's better to look up."
Let us know how it goes. You can post a comment on our Facebook or send us an email.
Until next time
Anna Jeffery, President
During the month of March, a special fundraiser is run in our state which is called "Love Utah, Give Utah." It is our chance to ask members of the Utah Council of the Blind as well as their friends and families to support the UCB's programs by making a donation. Of course, you can mail your donation to the UCB at PO Box 1415, Bountiful, UT 84011-1415. If you are good at the computer, you can go to the link at the end of this article to make your donation. You can also send a copy of this link to all the people in your e-mail contacts list! So, let's work together and make March a real gift to the UCB! Here is the online link if your choice is to make your donation online: https://www.razoo.com/story/Utah-Council-Of-The-Blind! If you want to pay by credit card, but are not able to utilize the link, just give us a call, and we will be happy to help you.
Remember to set your calendar for the annual Easter Egg Hunt to be held on April 1, at the Division of Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired at 250 N 1950 W, Salt Lake City. We want to thank the Pioneers for helping to host the event again this year.
The egg hunting will begin at 11:00 a.m., followed by hot dogs and drinks. We will wrap up by 1:00 p.m.
Please bring the little ones to hunt for beeping eggs. There will be candy for them, along with the lunch. It is a great experience for sighted family members to hunt beeping eggs with a blindfold. It gives them an idea of what it is like to use sound instead of sight to find something.
There is no charge for this activity, but please leave your reservation on the Utah Connection at least one week in advance, and be sure to tell us how many people are coming with you, so we can plan for food. The entire family is invited.
Also, feel free to share this invitation with other people who are blind or visually impaired.
On Saturday, April 29, we have a really interesting day for learning more about technology that could help you with some of those things which are a little more challenging for people who are blind or visually impaired.
We will be looking at the ways in which technology impacts the lives of all of us, including seminars and hands-on experimentation with adjustable flashlights, extra bright lighting, electronic magnification, Braille, note takers, CCTVs, two-way radio, comparisons of reading apps for your cell phone, and much more. It should be fun and informative. We will also be holding our annual awards luncheon where we will be presenting awards and scholarships. The cost for this amazing day is only $12! Pretty good, huh?
Registrations are due by April 15th, so watch for the registration form coming later.
At the last UCB
Board Meeting, the regular monthly board meetings were changed to the fourth
Monday of each month at 3:15 p.m. They will be held in the DSBVI Board Room
just north of the director's office when it is available. Since there are a few
exceptions, please check the calendar for specific dates.
The ACB Conference and Convention will run this year from Friday, June 30 to Friday, July 7, 2017. It will be held in Sparks, Nevada, at the Nugget Casino Resort. Room rates are $89 (single or double) with an additional $10.00 per person for up to four guests per room.
The UCB has set
aside money to provide some assistance to Utah members to attend this
conference. If you are interested, leave your name and phone number on the Utah
Connection.
It is that time of the year, again, the time to apply for UCB's scholarships. Students can receive an application by mail or e-mail by calling the Utah Connection or by contacting the committee at 801-292-1156. Students must be attending a university, college or applied technology center in Utah. Other schools may qualify, so ask if you are uncertain. Scholarships may be used to help offset the cost of undergraduate or graduate studies. Your application will need to include a current official transcript of grades, a brief autobiography, and an outline of what you plan to do with your education. Extracurricular activities are important to mention. Students applying must have at least a 3.0 grade average. All Application materials must be submitted by April 12 so that scholarships can be awarded on April 29. Good luck, and thanks for applying.
The Awards Committee is seeking nominations for outstanding volunteers you may know who have been especially helpful to people with sight loss. The UCB gives three levels of awards, from recognition for a year to a lifetime of service. It is our greatest pleasure to express our appreciation to those exceptional people who go the extra mile to be of assistance to people who are blind or visually impaired. If you can recommend someone, please leave your name and contact information on the Connection and someone will call you back and learn about your outstanding volunteer. Awards will be presented at the UCB April conference. It is necessary to make a nomination by April 12 so that awards can be prepared in a timely manner.
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. Unless otherwise noted, classes and activities listed below are held at the Division of Services for the Blind, 250 N 1950 W, Salt Lake City.
· Monday, March 27, 3:15 p.m.: UCB Board meeting, DSBVI Board Room
· Saturday, April 1, 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.: Easter Egg Hunt, DSBVI
· Monday, April 24, 3:15 p.m.: UCB Board meeting, DSBVI Board Room
·
Saturday, April 29: UCB Training Conference,
focus on technology
·
Monday, May 22, 3:15 p.m.: UCB Board meeting,
DSBVI Board Room
Mayor Jackie Biskupski and representatives from Housing and Neighborhood Development (HAND) have launch an expansion of the City’s Handyman Program; a program specifically designed to preserve housing in Salt Lake City for homeowners aging in place and people with disabilities. This program, for residents of Salt Lake City, is a grant-funded program (maximum of $500 per year) aimed at preventing deterioration to homes by making repairs early and often. This critical program is key to the preservation of households and is targeted to those making less than 80% area median income ($59,050 for a household of 4).
“For the past year my administration has been working to identify opportunities—both large and small—which will create and preserve long-term housing affordability,” said Mayor Jackie Biskupski. “The Handyman Program helps create opportunity for seniors and people with disabilities. Creating areas of opportunity that are safe, secure, and enrich communities is at the heart of the affordable housing plan—the City’s first since 2000—which my administration is in the process of completing.”
Under the program, a rehabilitation specialist is assigned to oversee the work and to ensure it is completed correctly and to the homeowner’s satisfaction.
“This program is critical in serving those residents who need some assistance in maintaining their home but often face financial burdens,” said Mike Akerlow, Director of Housing and Neighborhood Development. “This small investment will go a long way in maintaining Salt Lake City’s housing stock and the homeowners who care for it.”
In order to qualify for the program each applicant must own their home, make less than 80% area median income and qualify as a person over the age of 62 or be recognized under federal guidelines as having a disability. The following types of repairs are included in the program:
1. Start-up/shut-down swamp cooler
2. Install motion activated outdoor lights.
3. Install dead bolts
4. Install window locks
5. Install smoke or CO detectors
6. Correct toilet leaks
7. Replace broken or damaged toilet or sink with similar
8. Install or repair faucets, including replacement cartridges
9. Un-clog or repair drains
10. Install grab bars
11. Install threshold
12. Install new door knobs
13. Re-Caulk bathtubs
14. Re-Caulk or weather strip windows
15. Weather strip doors
16. Re-glaze windows
17. Clean rain gutters
18. Repair rain gutters
19. Electrical such as outlet/switch or fixture replacement. Must be like for like.
20. Check fuse or breaker
21. Tree and brush trimming
Some of our members are already receiving help with repairs. If you need help and qualify, check into it and see if you can receive help.
For those of you who enjoy David Baldacci's books, you should find this one particularly gripping. Its mad twists and turns keep you on the edge of your seat. As in many of his books Baldacci makes information about the US government and its security departments available with a little extra thrown in.
In this book, government assassin Will, finds the tables reversed when he becomes the hunted rather than the hunter. In avoiding his own death, he manages to rescue a fourteen-year-old girl who has witnessed the murder of her own parents. As the action escalates, there are explosions, more shootings, and people disappearing. Will is asked to work with the FBI and Homeland Security to solve the murders. Will works with his bright fourteen-year-old companion and an honest FBI agent to dodge death while they seek to solve the mystery. Repeatedly, Will finds he cannot trust people who he thought were on the good side. As the action increases, the president's life is threatened and his partners are kidnapped. It takes Will risking his own life to save all three. It is truly amazing how all of the seemingly disconnected deaths tie together. I recommend this book highly--it is really gripping if you like fast action and a intense mystery. David Baldacci's books are, for the most part, equally full of authentic information combined with action packed mysteries.
To help you locate this book, the BARD annotation is as follows:
The innocent
DB74709
Baldacci, David. Reading time: 14 hours, 50 minutes
Read by Ray Childs
Suspense Fiction
Bestsellers
U.S. government assassin Will Robie becomes a hunted man after refusing to shoot a young mother and her toddler. Robie crosses paths with a fourteen-year-old runaway who has witnessed her parents' murder, and the two join forces. Violence, strong language, and some descriptions of sex. Bestseller. 2012.
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 May newsletter is April 1st. You may e-mail any articles you wish to submit for our newsletter to our editor, TerriLynne Pomeroy, at tl1@ml1.net, or send Braille or large print to UCB Newsletter, PO Box 1415, Bountiful, UT 84011-1415; please allow extra time for processing Braille or large print.
Members are invited and encouraged to attend meetings of the Board of Directors. These are typically held the fourth Monday of each month at 3:15 p.m. in the DSBVI Board Room (in the southeast corner of the building).
· Monday, March 27, 2017
· Monday, April 24, 2017
· Monday, May 22, 2017
· Monday, June 26, 2017
· Monday, July 31, 2017
· Monday, August 28, 2017
The UCB Flier is available in large print, Braille, 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 ucb.board@gmail.com and let us know.
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.
Past UCB Fliers:
http://www.utahcounciloftheblind.org/newsletterlist.html
NOTICE TO OUR LIFETIME MEMBERS
It is that time of year, again, when we are doing our membership drive. Because we use an agency mailing list, you may receive one of these membership drive packets. Be assured that we have your membership recorded, and you do not have to pay dues for the upcoming year. However, we ask that you verify that we have your correct contact information and preferred newsletter format. If any of the information that we have is incorrect, simply call our office at 801-292-1156 or return the form with any corrections noted.
**FOR ALL OTHER MEMBERS**
It is Membership Renewal Time
As the grace period for membership renewal nears its end, we would like to remind you to renew your annual membership with the Utah Council of the Blind if you have not already done so. We have included a membership form at the end of this newsletter. Please also be aware that we have sent out membership packets via an agency mailing list, therefore, you may receive more than one membership drive packet. In the event that you receive duplicate packets, feel free to share the extras with a friend or acquaintance.
Annual dues are $10 per person, and lifetime membership dues are $250 per person. You may pay your dues by sending a check to UCB, PO Box 1415, Bountiful, UT 84011-1415, or you may pay by credit card at the following link: https://gateway.itransact.com/h/cp/public/payments/hBnJv8wZBOIAb6xKq4v. You may also request a link to be sent to you via e-mail to pay for dues by sending an e-mail to ucb.board@gmail.com or by calling us at 801-292-1156 and providing your name, e-mail address, and what you wish to pay for. You will then receive a return e-mail that has a link to pay with your credit card.
UTAH COUNCIL OF THE BLIND
Membership
Application
To help further the work of the Utah Council of the Blind and
enjoy the privileges of membership, please complete the following application
and return it with your membership dues to: UCB, PO Box 1415, Bountiful, Utah
84011-1415.
Name:_______________________________________________________
Address:_____________________________________________________
City,
State, Zip:________________________________________________
Phones
Home: ______________________ Cell:______________________
Date of Birth:____________________________
E-mail:_______________________________________________________
I am
(Please check one):
____Totally
Blind
____Legally
Blind (Visual acuity no more than 20/200 or visual field subtends an angle no
more than 20̊ in best eye with best correction)
____Visually
Impaired (Visual acuity no more than 20/70 or visual field subtends an angle no
more than 20̊ in best eye with best correction)
____Sighted
I prefer
to receive UCB correspondence in:
Print______ Braille_____ Cassette_____
Print
Document on CD_____ Audio CD_____ E-mail______
I prefer
to receive the Braille Forum (ACB
national publication) in: Print______
Braille_____ Cassette _____ E-mail_____
None_____
Enclosed
is my check or money order for:
_____$10.00
Adult Membership _____$5.00
Jr. Membership (Under 18)
_____$250.00
Lifetime Membership $____________Additional
Donation
Total
Enclosed: $___________________
If you
would like to pay by credit card, please visit our website at www.utahcounciloftheblind.org or call 801-292-1156 for
more information.
Utah Council of the Blind FREE
MATTER
1301 W 500 S FOR
THE BLIND
Woods Cross UT 84087-2224 AND
DISABLED