The
UCB Buzz
A publication of
Utah
Council of the Blind
October-December
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:
Mailing address:
Utah Council of the Blind
PO Box 1415
Bountiful UT 84011-1415
E-mail us at utahblind@gmail.com
Call our business office at 801-245-9264
Office Hours: Monday, Wednesday, Friday
10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
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 (or an additional format), please call or email and let us
know.
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.
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
In This Issue
UCB Annual Holiday
Celebration Party
Holiday Celebration
Reservation Form
UCB Christmas Stocking Fundraiser!
Why Fundraising Matters to the
Utah Council of the Blind
Where Does the Money Come From?
UCB Management and Program
Updates for 2027
Great State Training
Conference!
From Kira Larkin
On Saturday, November 7, 2026, we will be holding a Craft Activity at DSBVI, 250 N 1950 W, Salt Lake City, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. You may come and make something to give as a gift or just as a keepsake for yourself. We will have items for you to paint and put together. You will need to pay for these items. You can pay at the activity or prior to it. We will need you to RSVP by November 4th, with the items you would like to create.
The list of items to create includes:
Ceramic items to paint, like vases, small statues, and salt and pepper shakers (ranging in price from $3 to $10).
Wood items to paint, like small boxes, wooden shapes such as animals, and/or wooden wall hangings ($3 each)
Candy bouquets Ð these are different candies on wooden sticks placed in a glass vase partially filled with colored rocks ($6.00 to $12.00 depending on the size of candy used)
Bracelets Ð bracelets will be premade in whatever color you have previously requested. Please pre-requisite the charm you would like so that it will be available that day. ($3 each)
Greeting cards Ð the cards will be pre-made as requested with either ÒHappy BirthdayÓ, ÒThank YouÓ, flowers, or baby items embossed on each one. You will be able to decorate each card with stickers. These must be pre-requested ($1.50 each)
We will be having lunch, which will be pizza. If you want to eat lunch, it will be $4.00 per person.
If
you are interested in coming, please call Kate Balzly
at 801-245-9264 by November 4th.
From Cordie Weed
Date: Saturday December 5, 2026
Time: 10:00 am
Location: Division of Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired (DSBVI) 250 N 1950 W, Salt Lake City, Utah
Cost: $7 per person, $5 for those who are 4-12 years old, 3 years and under are free
Theme: Polar Express
Entertainment: Polar Express story and singing time
Catered by IHOP
Since our theme is Polar Express, we encourage you to come in your pajamas. Sticking with the theme, we will enjoy breakfast and hot chocolate. Someone special will be visiting again this year for the children, young at heart and anyone who wants a picture with him! Money and RSVPÕs must be in no later than November 20th. Please call Kate with the UCB at 801-245-9264. Be prepared to tell Kate all your information. We hope you will all come and join us for this celebration!
Cost: $7 per person, $5 for those who are 4-12 years old, 3 years and under are free
Name:
Number in group:
Number of children 4-12 years old:
Number of children 3 or younger:
Please contact Kate with the UCB at 801-245-9264. Be prepared to tell her of any dietary restrictions.
Reservation must be in no later than November 20th.
From Sandy England
Make someoneÕs Christmas a little sweeter while supporting the Utah Council of the Blind!
Our Christmas stockings are only $18 each Ð and theyÕre filled to the brim! Each stocking is specially prepared for the recipient, so when you order, be sure to specify whether it is for a male or female, child, teen, or adult. We even have stockings specially made for your favorite dogs and cats!
We are excited to announce that Great Harvest has generously donated a gift basket valued at $50! The basket will be awarded to the person who sells or purchases the most Christmas stockings between now and December 1st.
So spread the word! Tell your family, friends, coworkers, neighbors, and anyone else who loves Christmas and wants to support a great cause. The more stockings you sell or purchase, the better your chance of taking home this wonderful gift basket!
Stockings will be available for pickup at the UCB Christmas Party on Saturday, December 5, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Every Stocking Makes a Difference
100% of the proceeds from this fundraiser go directly toward services for people who are blind or visually impaired. Your purchase helps the Utah Council of the Blind continue providing programs and services that promote independence, opportunity, and greater quality of life for people throughout Utah.
Order Yours Today!
Call the Utah Council of the Blind office at 801-245-9264 to place your order.
So order one, order several, and help us fill Utah with Christmas cheer! DonÕt forget to tell all your friends, family, etc. and have them mention your name so you will get the credit. Any question, please call Sandy England at 801-634-8002 or the UCB office at 801-245-9264.
To Donate to the UCB: Click Here
From Sandy England
You
may have wondered, ÒWhy does the Utah
Council of the Blind need to fundraise?Ó
The
answer is simple: because our programs
cost money, and we depend on the generosity of others to keep those programs
going.
The Utah Council of the Blind (UCB) is a nonprofit, volunteer-based organization. The people who keep our organization running give their time because they believe in our mission and want to make a difference in the lives of people who are blind or visually impaired.
But
while our volunteers donate their time, the programs
themselves still have expenses.
UCB provides services that help people who are blind or visually impaired become more independent, stay connected to their communities, learn new skills, get where they need to go, and live fuller, more self-sufficient lives.
Our programs are funded through grants from foundations and corporations, donations from individuals, and our own fundraising efforts. Every source of funding is important. But grants are competitive, donations can vary, and there is no guarantee that we will receive enough grant money each year to cover everything our programs need.
That is why fundraising matters.
Throughout the year, UCB offers several ways for people to support our organization while getting something in return. These include our Christmas Stocking Fundraiser, Easter Basket Fundraiser, and Pop-Up Boutiques, where you can purchase fun and useful items while helping support services for people who are blind or visually impaired.
When
you buy a Christmas stocking, purchase an Easter basket, shop at one of our
Pop-Up Boutiques, participate in another UCB fundraiser, or simply make a
donation, you are helping provide the money we need
to continue our programs.
Every Dollar Helps
Think about it this way:
Our volunteers give their time. Our donors give their
money. Together, those gifts make our programs possible.
Even a small contribution matters. Five dollars matters. Ten dollars matters. Twenty dollars matters. When many people give a little, it adds up to something much bigger.
You may think, ÒItÕs only $18 for the Christmas Stocking.Ó
However, that $18 becomes part of the funding that allows UCB to provide services to people who are blind throughout Utah.
And fundraising isn't just about raising money. It is about raising awareness. Every time you tell a friend about a UCB fundraiser, share a Facebook post, purchase an item, or encourage someone else to participate, you are helping more people learn about what UCB does and why our services are important.
You Can Help!
The
next time you see a UCB fundraiser, please participate
if you can.
Buy a Christmas stocking.
Purchase an Easter basket.
Shop at one of our Pop-Up Boutiques.
Make a donation.
Tell your family and friends about UCB.
You
don't have to make a large donation to make a difference. Every purchase, every dollar, and every person who spreads
the word helps.
Remember that when you donate or purchase something from the Utah Council of the Blind, you are getting the benefits also. Hope this has helped to educate us on why we do fund raising.
To
Donate to the UCB: Click Here
The Utah Council of the Blind held its annual business meeting on Saturday, September 19, 2026, via Zoom. At the meeting Anna Jeffery presented a presidentÕs report; the minutes of last yearÕs meeting as prepared and submitted by Jeana Nielsen were read and approved; Vicki Flake presented a treasurerÕs report; and the Election Committee reported that Anna Jeffery was elected as president, Jeana Nielsen was elected as secretary, and Dennie Clark and Mindi Larson were elected as directors; a short discussion followed; after which, the meeting was adjourned.
The members of the UCB Board of Directors held their annual budget and planning meeting on October 1, 2026. As you are aware, the board has had issues to face the past several years and the board has had tough decisions to make. During that time demand for our programs has grown by leaps and bounds, but unfortunately, funding has not grown at the same rate. For the past few years, we have chosen to operate at a deficit and use some of our invested capital to continue to meet the demand. The problem with continuing to do this, however, is that the organization will quickly disintegrate, and there will be no programs at all. After much hard deliberation, it was decided that we must do everything in our power to keep the Utah Council of the Blind solvent, requiring us to make the following adjustments to our programs and services effective January 1, 2027.
Driver/guide services that have previously been included as a part of the Subsidized Transportation Program will be discontinued after December 31, 2026.
The Personal Braille Program will be discontinued after December 31, 2026.
The Adaptive Technology Program will be restricted to utilizing only funding granted and received for the current year. This will mean that action on applications for help with purchasing technology may need to be delayed until funds are actually received.
Ceramics classes will be limited to utilizing only funding granted and received for the current year.
The Subsidized Transportation Program will be limited to utilizing only funding granted and received for the current year. This will mean that in any given month, transportation coupons or gift cards will be issued on a first come, first served basis until that monthÕs allotment has been distributed, at which time program participants will be informed that no further coupons or gift cards are available until the following month.
The Skills Development Program funding will be severely limited. Program management will be making decisions as to the exact restrictions which will be necessary in order to work within the much smaller budget.
Effective immediately, the UCB business office will be open only three days a week Ñ Monday, Wednesday, and Friday Ñ from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. It will be closed on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday. It will also be closed on all state and federal holidays and occasionally on other days to allow time for personal leave for our contractors.
Effective January 1, 2027, annual membership dues for the Utah Council of the Blind will increase to $15.00; junior memberships for those age 17 and younger will be $10.00. Memberships paid prior to the end of this year will receive the lower rate, so it is to your advantage to pay your dues early for next year. Lifetime memberships are still available at a rate of $250 for those under age 50, $200 for those 50-59, $150 for those 60-69, $100 for those 70-79, and $50 for those 80 and older. Watch for membership drive materials to arrive in your mail soon.
Kudos to Anna Jeffery and Juanita Gentry for presenting a wonderful State Training Conference, ÒVision Beyond Sight: Unlocking Your PotentialÓ. Conference presenters provided a great variety of information on a wide variety of topics. Throughout the conference there were a wide range of activities from archery and bike riding to exploring interesting animals to participating in games and, of course, a standout ice cream social for those staying on Friday evening. If you were unable to attend, you missed a grand experience!
WeÕd like to express our thanks to Sandy England for her many years of service to the Utah Council of the Blind. Over the years she has participated on many committees, presented training conferences, carried out special fund raising events, planned and managed many holiday parties and other social and educational activities, and served on the Board of Directors. Although she is leaving the board at the end of the year, you are sure to see her continued leadership in some of our most effective fund raising activities such as Easter basket and Christmas stocking sales. Thanks, Sandy, for all you do to help keep our organization strong!
Thanks to Kira Larkin for serving as the chair of the Personal Braille Program Committee for many years. Although that program has had to be discontinued, we will still see Kira as a leader in other activities and programs of the UCB. Thank you, Kira, for you service!
2 very ripe medium bananas, peeled, cut in 1-inch pieces
1/2 cup butter, chilled, cut in 6 pieces
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup sugar
2 eggs
1/4 cup milk
2 teaspoons lemon juice or vinegar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup walnuts or pecans (optional)
Preheat oven to 350¡F. Position knife blade in bowl. Add bananas and butter; process until finely chopped, about 20 seconds.
Add remaining ingredients except nuts; process 10 seconds. Turn off
Scrape down sides of bowl with rubber spatula. Add nuts, if desired. Process 2 to 3 seconds longer.
Do not overprocess, this will make bread coarse. Turn into greased 9 by 5-inch loaf pan. Bake until bread springs back when touched lightly in center, about 55-60 minutes. Cool before removing from pan.
November 7, 2026, 10:00 am-1:00 pm Ð Craft Day Ð DSBVI
December 5, 2026, 10:00 am-2:00 pm Ð Holiday Celebration ÒPolar ExpressÓ including a Christmas Boutique and Bake Sale Ð DSBVI
March 20, 2027 Ð Easter Egg Hunt including an Easter Boutique Ð Watch for updates
September 18, 2027, 10:00 am Ð Annual Business Meeting Ð DSBVI
November 6, 2027 Ð State Training Conference Ð Watch for updates
December 4, 2027 Ð Holiday Celebration including a Christmas boutique and bake sale Ð DSBVI
Unless
otherwise noted, members are invited to attend meetings of the Board of
Directors, which are held via Zoom. To be placed on the agenda or attend a
meeting, email utahblind@gmail.com or call 801-245-9264.
January 7, 2027, 4:45 pm
April 1, 2027, 4:45 pm
June 3, 2027, 4:45 pm
October 7, 2027, 4:45 pm Ð Budget and Planning Meeting Ð Closed Session
January 6, 2027, 4:45 pm
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