The
UCB Buzz
A publication of
Utah
Council of the Blind
Spring
2026
For the latest news updates, check out the website
at utahblind.org, follow us on Facebook, and/or join our email list.
Contact Information:
E-mail us at utahblind@gmail.com
Call our business office at 801-245-9264
Mailing address:
Utah Council of the Blind
PO Box 1415
Bountiful UT 84011-1415
The UCB Buzz is available in large print, Braille,
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We always
appreciate hearing from our readers and receiving your contributions. Please
send them to us via the contact information above.
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
Legacy West Pioneers Beeping
Easter Egg Hunt and Luncheon
Meet and Greet in Ephraim
Utah
Save the Date: Utah Council
of the Blind Announces 2024 State Training Conference
Registering for the
Conference
UCB Easter Basket Fundraiser! It's bigger and better with many really
nice items donated. Order your basket by Monday, March 23rd, and pick up
Saturday, March 28th at the Blind Center.
Small baskets are $15.00, Large
baskets are $35.00 (one person) and Deluxe baskets (good for 1-2 people) are
$70. Our baskets beat the store baskets out of the park. Plus 100% of the
proceeds go to direct services for the blind. Tell your family, neighbors,
co-workers. The baskets will be available for pick up at the UCB and Legacy
West Pioneers Beeping Easter Egg Hunt and Luncheon on Saturday, March 28th,
from 10:00 am Ð 1:00 pm. Or delivery available in Provo or at the Roy Hope
Center on Friday March 27th.
Please specify if the basket will be
for a toddler, child, teen, or adult, and the gender. We have items to fill the
baskets for everyone. On behalf of the UCB and all the wonderful donations from
local stores, corporations, and individuals, we thank you. So don't hesitate to support this awesome fundraising event.
Call the office at 801-245-9264 to
order yours.
These are a few testimonials from
people who purchased the baskets in previous years.
ÒI love my basket! It was such a
surprise when I looked into it. Such wonders of things
like candy, a drink, chip cookies and I got a necklace
and a darling keychain. These are so much better than the baskets I saw at the
store. Keep it going and I will keep buying them.Ó
ÒWow, what a baskets!
I give them out to my older people in our family. They just love the items that
are put in them! Yummy candies,
always a juice or soda pop or those little milks. Plus, they are pretty!Ó
ÒThank you, UCB for my cute basket! I
asked my Mom to write this. I got a coloring book and
coloring crayons, I got a chocolate bunny in mine, and it was so good!Ó
ÒI donÕt
usually thank people for things I buy, however, these
baskets are great! I got a tool in mine and a flashlight with gloves. Of course,
the candy and drinks were great also.Ó
ÒI gave one to my grandparents and
they were like kids when they looked inside the basket! Their faces were like
kids opening up a gift at Christmas. I donÕt think there was anything there they didnÕt
like and kept saying to each other ÔOh, look at this!ÕÓ
Please join us for our annual Easter
Egg Hunt put on by the Legacy West Pioneers.
Saturday, March 28th, from 10 am-1 pm,
rain or shine at the Blind Center, 250 North 1950 West, SLC FREE for the whole
family.
Those who are sighted may join in the
fun searching for beeping eggs blindfolded.
After the egg hunt, a hotdog lunch
will be served.
The UCB will also have a few Easter Baskets
for purchase as well as a Spring boutique to shop for Easter and Mother's Day
items.
Also included in that dayÕs
festivities will be a drawing for those who are blind or visually impaired,
Tickets to the Hale Center Theater, good for any performance. If you would like
an audio description, please call ahead of the performance. Must be present to
win, fill out a ticket at the event. Also available for silent auction is a
soft insulated cooler gift basket from Cane's Chicken which includes meal
tickets, a Cane's hat, and a Cane's T-Shirt.
Please call the office at 801-245-9264
to RSVP.
by Sandy Ruconich
Smart glasses seem to be everywhere these days. Mainstream companies like Meta, the Facebook people, are producing them. Companies like Humanware are developing blindness specific add-ons like the ability to follow a person ahead of you with the glasses, and other companies that make blindness products are also getting into the act.
Have you ever wondered what smart glasses are, how expensive they are, or whether they would help you do something more easily or hands-free more and more quickly? Then you can do it right now. Well, on Saturday April 18th from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. I'll demonstrate some of the things I've been able to do with smart glasses and some of the things that don't work as well. I'll be discussing the Meta smart glasses, the Solos smart glasses from Envision, and what I know about the AGIGA EchoVision smart glasses Ð I've ordered a pair, but don't have them yet; the company has encountered some issues during development.
WeÕll compare and contrast what various glasses can do in terms of reading things like menus, can labels and currency, identify colors and reading signs among other things. Then there will be time for questions and for others to share their experiences with and thoughts about smart glasses. I look forward to seeing many of you on April 18th as we talk about this exciting expanding technology. The Zoom webinar is free. Links will be emailed to participants during the week of April 13th. Call Kate at the UCB office 801-245-9264 to sign up.
Join us for a special meet and greet
in Ephraim Utah.
WeÕre excited to invite you to a Meet and
Greet event for the Blind and Visually impaired community. This special event
will take place on Saturday May 9th from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM at the Community Center
located at 42 North 100 West , Ephraim Utah.
This is a wonderful opportunity to
connect, share experiences, and build a supportive network. Whether you are
looking to make new friends or simply enjoy a welcoming space, we hope youÕll join us. A light lunch will be served.
Please RSVP by April 20th by
contacting Dennie Clark 435-340-1730 or dennieclark57@gmail.com We look forward
to seeing you there!!
The Utah Council of the
Blind is excited to offer a unique, hands-on learning opportunity for our
members! Local beekeeper, Derk Phelps, will be joining us on May
30, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. for an engaging and educational
presentation all about the incredible world of bees.
Derk will explain the benefits bees
bring to our environment, the remarkable process behind honey production, and
what goes into maintaining healthy beehives. His presentation will be
accessible, fun, and filled with fascinating insights.
The activity will be held at DSBVI, Training
Center East and West, 250 N. 1950 W., Salt Lake City, UT
This activity is free of charge, but
space is limited, so please be sure to register before May 23rd to
reserve your spot.
Whether youÕre
curious about beekeeping or simply love honey, this is an activity you wonÕt want to miss!
VISION
BEYOND SIGHT: UNLOCKING YOUR POTENTIAL
The Utah Council of the Blind is
excited to announce its upcoming State Training Conference, scheduled for
September 11Ð12 in Logan, Utah. This yearÕs event will take place at the
Beautiful Riverwoods Conference Center, 635 Riverwood Parkway Logan Utah.
The conference will include an
informational update from the Utah State Library for the Blind, along with an
entertaining author trivia game where attendees can compete for prizes.
Technology enthusiasts can look
forward to a technology fair, complete with vendors and opportunities to
explore new assistive tools and devices.
A representative of Guide Dogs For the Blind will give an update including more information
about their new facility and how they are adding orientation and mobility to their
training repertoire. Along with this report will be a chance to meet other
guide dog users and ask questions.
In an exciting new partnership, the
conference will feature activities led by Common Ground Outdoor Adventures, an
accessible outdoor adventure program. Participants will have the opportunity to
try out archery as well as one additional hands-on activity that will be
announced soon.
Registration for the conference is
$60, and there will be no partial registration options. The fee includes:
Conference admission
Two box lunches
One evening reception
One banquet meal
SpringHill suites has available rooms
blocked at a special rate for attendees at a rate of $179 per night plus tax.
Hotel rooms must be booked before
August 14th. Any rooms booked and needing to be canceled must be canceled
before August 4th or you will be charged the full room price.
All suite accommodations include:
In-suite microwave and a mini fridge
Complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi and smart TVs
Complimentary daily hot breakfast
Complimentary parking and zero resort fees
Outdoor patio attached to indoor swimming pool
Indoor heated swimming pool and hot tub
Fully equipped fitness center
To book your room you may select the
following link, which will take you to an accessible web page where you can
choose the exact dates, how many guests will be staying in a room and pay for
your stay.
Book your
group rate for Utah Council of the Blind (https://app.marriott.com/reslink?id=1772497085597&key=GRP&app=resvlink)
You may also call the hotel sales
coordinator, Abby, at her direct line (435) 750-9395. She is happy to help you
with booking a room or answer any questions you might have. Be sure to tell her
you are with the Utah Council of the Blind, so she can be sure to get you the
discounted price.
More details, including the final
activity lineup, will be shared soon. Attendees are encouraged to mark their
calendars and prepare for two days of learning, connection, technology
exploration, and fun.
March 23, 2026 Ð deadline for ordering Easter Baskets
March 28, 2026, 10:00 am-1:00 pm Ð Legacy West Pioneers Easter Egg Hunt and Luncheon (In conjunction with Easter basket fundraiser and Easter boutique) Ð DSBVI Ð (Legacy West Pioneers, Kate Balzly and Sandy England)
April 18, 2026, 1:00-2:30 p.m. Smart Glasses Activity Ð Zoom Ð Watch for updates (Sandy Ruconich)
April 20, 2026 Ð deadline for reservations for Meet and Greet in Ephraim
May 9, 2026, 12:00-2:00 p.m., Meet and Greet in Ephraim Ð Community Center, 42 N 100 W, Ephraim (Dennie Clark)
May 23, 2026 Ð deadline for reservations for The Buzz on Bees
May 30, 2026, 11:00 am-1:00 pm Ð The Buzz on Bees Ð DSBVI (Anna Jeffery)
July 24-31, 2026, American Council of the Blind Convention, St. Louis, Missouri
September 14 and 16, 2026, Utah State Fair Ð Fairpark Ð Watch for updates (Kate Balzly)
September 11-12, 2026 Ð Statewide Training Conference, Logan Ð Watch for updates (Juanita Gentry and Anna Jeffery)
September 19, 2026, Annual Business Meeting Ð Watch for updates
November 7, 2026, Craft Day Ð DSBVI Ð Watch for updates (Kira Larkin)
December 5, 2026 Ð Holiday Celebration ÒPolar ExpressÓ Ð
DSBVI (Cordie Weed)
Christmas Boutique and Bake Sale Ð UCB Only (Kate Balzly
and Sandy England)
Members are
invited to attend meetings of the Board of Directors. Meetings are held via
Zoom. To be placed on the agenda or attend a meeting,
email utahblind@gmail.com or call 801-245-9264.
April 9, 2026, 4:45 p.m.
June 4, 2026, 4:45 p.m.
October 1, 2026, 4:45 p.m., attendance by invitation only
January 7, 2027, 4:45 p.m.
Anna Jeffery, President
Sandy Ruconich, Vice President
Jeana Nielsen, Secretary
Vicki Flake, Treasurer
Sandy England
Dennie Clark
Shelly Hendriksen
Mindi Larson
Adra Menasian
Kate Balzly, Executive Director
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