Vol. 30, No. 1
JANUARY 2005
THE MID-FLORIDA VOICE
A publication of Mid-Florida Council of the Blind
TABLE OF CONTENTS
MESSAGE FROM MFCB PRESIDENT RACHEL BADER
NEXT MFCB GENERAL MEETING
ANNUAL HOLIDAY LUNCHEON REVIEW
THE MID-FLORIDA VOICE BRANCHES OUT
LYNX PROPOSED FARE INCREASES A CONCERN
FCB HAS A DISCUSSION LIST!
MFCB ON THE WORLD WIDE WEB
FCB RAFFLE TICKETS HELP MFCB
BOWLERS AND LIBRARY PATRONS, NEWS FOR YOU
MEMBERSHIP - from Jay Bader
BIRTHDAY PEOPLE
MESSAGE FROM MFCB PRESIDENT RACHEL BADER
As I write this message, the holiday season is in full swing. As is typical over the holidays, there is a lot going on with holiday
preparations and time spent with family and friends. But I want to take this opportunity to reflect on the year 2004 for MFCB.
A big thanks goes to all of you, the Members of Mid-Florida Council of the Blind, for your friendship and for all that you do on behalf of this
organization and blind and vision-impaired people in general. We've had a great 2004 filled with a number of accomplishments and I
look forward to an even more promising 2005.
All the best and we'll see many of you at the January General Meeting!
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NEXT MFCB GENERAL MEETING
The next General Meeting of MFCB will be at Booth Towers, 633 Lake Dot Circle, Orlando, FL, 32801, on Saturday, January 8th, 2005, from
1:00 PM to 3:00 PM. The phone number at Booth Towers is (407) 843-5533. It is highly recommended that if anyone uses paratransit,
please plan your rides accordingly.
President Rachel Bader will call a Board Meeting at 12:30 PM.
As of this issue going to press, it is not known whether or not there will be a guest speaker for this General Meeting. However,
Committee chairs and members will be selected during this first General Meeting of 2005.
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ANNUAL HOLIDAY LUNCHEON REVIEW
24 members and guests attended the MFCB Annual Holiday Luncheon, held December 4th at Logan's Roadhouse on Sand Lake Road
in southwest Orlando. President Rachel Bader began the Luncheon by thanking previous Vice Presidents Betty Sparrow and Jackie
Gideons for their help in arranging the event. The Annual Love Offering was done during the Luncheon and raised $100.00 for Betty
Sparrow's Support Group.
After everyone was finished with their meals, Michael Collins informed all that the local chapter of the American Blind Bowlers
Association (ABBA) is looking for those who are interested in bowling with them (Details later in this issue.). Jackie Gideons also
reminded everyone about the importance of the hearings being held in the tri-county area regarding the proposed Lynx Fare Increases
and that as many members attend these as possible, especially with two hearings taking place the same day at the Lynx Central Station
on Tuesday, December 14th.
Food and fun was had by all who attended, and Rachel wished everyone a Happy Holiday Season.
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THE MID-FLORIDA VOICE BRANCHES OUT
As Mid-Florida Council of the Blind begins 2005, it is an opportunity for not only those in MFCB to have a voice for other MFCB Members,
but it is also an opportunity to have that voice be heard by other organizations and elected officials in the Metro Orlando area. Beginning
with this issue, THE MID-FLORIDA VOICE is reaching out to many of our friendly organizations in the blindness community as well as
many of our local legislators. So to those who are reading this for the first time, both new MFCB Members and all others, we appreciate
you reading this newsletter of the Mid-Florida Council of the Blind.
With many more important people reading THE MID-FLORIDA VOICE, MFCB moves forward with confidence and an open line of
communication to all. It is encouraged that those outside this organization communicate with MFCB and provide feedback about what
issues are presented here. If anyone has further comments, questions or concerns, contact Jay Bader at (407) 658-2479 or e-mail
mfcbinfo@bellsouth.net.
Thanks again to all who are reading this for the first time, and MFCB looks forward to providing many more issues of THE MID-FLORIDA
VOICE for years to come.
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LYNX PROPOSED FARE INCREASES A CONCERN
For the past few weeks, Lynx, the Central Florida Public Bus Transportation provider, has held public hearings in Orange, Osceola and
Seminole counties concerning that organization's across-the-board proposed fare increases. The most concerning of those increases is
in regards to those fares for Access Lynx, the paratransit partnership with MV Transportation. MFCB Members attended each of these
meetings, some even going to every one of them, to express their disapproval of these increases; however, there is a possibility that
these proposed fares will be approved by Lynx without any changes.
MFCB encourages Members attend the next Lynx Board Meeting, where a final vote on the proposed fare increase is scheduled. Here's
that information:
Thursday, January 27th, at 1:30 PM
Lynx Central Station, Board Room, 2nd Floor
455 N. Garland Avenue
Orlando, FL 32801
(407) 841-5969
Cheryl Stone, who runs the Orlando Paratransit Resource website,
http://paratransitresource.com, compiled the following information so MFCB Members can
attend their respective County Commission meetings and contact their Commissioners. Let them know how the Lynx proposed fare
increases will affect you.
Please keep the following for future reference:
Contact Information for Orange, Osceola and Seminole Counties
ORANGE COUNTY
Website: http://www.orangecountyfl.net
Orange County's Board of County Commissioners meets on most Tuesdays beginning at 9:00 AM. The meetings are conducted in
Commission Chambers located on the first floor of the County Administrative Center at 201 S. Rosalind Avenue, Orlando, FL 32801.
ORANGE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Use the following address for all Orange County Commissioners:
201 S. Rosalind Ave., 5th Floor
Orlando, FL 32801
Orange County Chairman
Richard T. Crotty
Phone: (407) 836-7370
Fax: (407) 836-7360
E-mail: chairman@ocfl.net
Orange County District 1 Commissioner
Teresa Jacobs
Phone: (407) 836-7350
Fax: (407) 836-5879
E-mail: district1@ocfl.net
Orange County District 2 Commissioner
Robert B. "Bob" Sindler
Phone: (407) 836-7350
Fax: (407) 836-5879
E-mail: district2@ocfl.net
Orange County District 3 Commissioner
Mildred Fernandez
Phone: (407) 836-5309
Fax: (407) 836-7387
E-mail: district3@ocfl.net
Orange County District 4 Commissioner
Linda Stewart
Phone: (407) 836-7350
Fax: (407) 836-5935
E-mail: district4@ocfl.net
Orange County District 5 Commissioner
Bill Segal
Phone: (407) 836-7350
Fax: (407) 836-5879
E-mail: district5@ocfl.net
Orange County District 6 Commissioner
Homer L. Hartage
Phone: (407) 836-7350
Fax: (407) 836-5879
E-mail: district6@ocfl.net
OSCEOLA COUNTY
Website: http://www.osceola.org
The Osceola County Board of County Commissioners' regular Board Meetings are every Monday at 1:30 PM, except the second Monday
of each month, which is at 7:00 PM. The meetings are held at the Administration Building, 1 Courthouse Square, 4th Floor Commission
Chambers in Kissimmee. Meeting agendas are available on the Wednesday prior to the Monday meeting
Citizens are encouraged to speak at Board meetings under the Hear the Audience and during Public Hearings portions of the agenda. To
speak at a public meeting, fill out the "Request to Speak" form when you arrive at the meeting. These may be obtained from the
Commission Ambassadors at the rear of the Commission Chambers. At the appropriate time, the Chairman will then call the names of
individuals who wish to speak to step forward to the podium. Typically the Chairman allows three minutes per speaker.
OSCEOLA COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Use the following address and phone number for all Osceola County Commissioners:
Administration Bldg.
1 Courthouse Square, Suite 4700
Kissimmee, FL 34721
(407) 343-2200
Osceola County District 1 Commissioner and Chairman
Paul Owen
E-mail: powe@osceola.org
Osceola County District 2 Commissioner
Atlee Mercer
E-mail: amer@osceola.org
Osceola County District 3 and Vice-Chair
Ken Shipley
E-mail: kshi@osceola.org
Osceola County District 4
Ken Smith
E-mail: ken.smith@osceola.org
Osceola County District 5
Bill Lane
E-mail: blan@osceola.org
SEMINOLE COUNTY
Website: http://www.seminolecountyfl.gov
The Board meets at the Seminole County Services Building, 1101 East First Street in Sanford, FL 32771 on the second and fourth
Tuesday of each month, at 9:30 AM, 1:30 PM and at 7:00 PM, to take official action. In addition, the Board meets whenever necessary in
work sessions to discuss matters of general importance. No official action is taken at work sessions.
SEMINOLE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Use the following address for all Seminole County Commissioners:
1101 East First Street
Sanford, FL 32771
Seminole County Commissioner District 1
Bob Dallari
Phone: (407) 665-7215
Fax: (407) 665-7958
E-mail: dmerkt@seminolecountyfl.gov
Seminole County Commissioner District 2
Randall C. Morris
Phone: (407) 665-7205
Fax: (407) 665-7958
E-mail: fnewborg@seminolecountyfl.gov
Seminole County Commissioner District 3
Dick Van Der Weide
Phone: (407) 665-7207
Fax: (407) 665-7958
E-mail to: deswine@seminolecountyfl.gov
Seminole County Commissioner District 4
Carlton D. Henley
Phone: (407) 665-7201
Fax: (407) 665-7958
E-mail to: gvenn@seminolecountyfl.gov
Seminole County Commissioner District 5
Brenda Carey
Phone: (407) 665-7209
Fax: (407) 665-7958
E-mail to: alockhart@seminolecountyfl.gov
And remember, it is important that you do voice your concern if you feel these fare increases should not occur. Now is the opportunity to
make your voice heard. More on this in the next issue of THE MID-FLORIDA VOICE.
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FCB HAS A DISCUSSION LIST!
Florida Council of the Blind (FCB) is proud to have its members throughout the state participate in its E-mail Discussion List. The FCB
E-mail Discussion List is a way for members, locally and statewide, to express themselves freely on a variety of issues. These can range
from those on a local level to issues on a state or even national platform.
MFCB encourages all Members with E-mail and Internet access to sign up and participate in the various discussions as well as maybe even
starting a few. To sign up for the FCB E-mail Discussion List, and for more information about the List, go to the FCB website at
http://www.fcb.org and go to the link for “FCB E-mail Discussion List Information and Instructions.”
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MFCB ON THE WORLD WIDE WEB
Mid-Florida Council of the Blind has a presence on the World Wide Web. Through the Florida Council of the Blind web site,
http://www.fcb.org, there is information available on the Internet about MFCB, especially the
newly-approved MFCB By-Laws, as well as current and some past issues of the MFCB Newsletter, both in the previous name of
MUMBLES and the newer name of THE MID-FLORIDA VOICE. This is only the beginning as another option has been made available for
people to find out what is going on with our organization.
To specifically get to the MFCB section of the FCB website, go to http://www.fcb.org/mfcb.htm.
Feedback is strongly encouraged as to the accessibility and content of the website, so if you have any questions or suggestions, e-mail
webmaster@fcb.org. With your suggestions, changes can be made that will better what we
have on the Web.
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FCB RAFFLE TICKETS HELP MFCB
It's not too early to help raise money for the Florida Council of the Blind. FCB has made its raffle tickets available to its chapters
throughout the state. MFCB has many available and would like all Members help out in the sale of these tickets.
Every year, FCB holds a raffle during the Annual FCB Convention, with the 2005 Convention taking place at the Sheraton Ft. Lauderdale
Airport from May 12th through 15th. There are many prizes awarded during the raffle, from $1000.00 to gift certificates. In addition, there
are additional prizes made available that are not announced in advance, and the best part is anyone who purchases raffle tickets need
not be at the FCB Convention to win.
Each ticket is $1.00, with 65 percent of the monies raised by each chapter going back to that chapter. It is the biggest fundraiser every
year so if you would like raffle tickets to sell, they are available at the MFCB General Meeting, or if you cannot attend the General Meeting,
contact Jay and Rachel Bader at (407) 658-2479 or Patti Land at (407) 521-9047 and arrangements can be made to acquire them. Help
FCB and, in turn, MFCB through selling these raffle tickets.
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BOWLERS AND LIBRARY PATRONS, NEWS FOR YOU
The American Blind Bowlers Association (ABBA) is looking for those in the Metro Orlando area interested in knocking down some pins
and have a good time doing it. ABBA gets together every Thursday from 4 to 6 PM at Carter Family Bowling, 715 S Dillard St., Winter
Garden, FL 34786. The number at Carter Family Bowling is (407) 656-2000.
If you would like more information about ABBA, contact MFCB Member and local ABBA Representative Chuck Graham at (407)
239-6875.
And Library patrons in Orange County have additional accessible services for the disabled. The Orange County Library System (OCLS)
has announced that JAWS, MAGic, and OpenBook software are now available on various computers at all OCLS locations. JAWS is a
screen reader that makes information on a computer screen audibly accessible for those who are unable to visually read the screen;
MAGic magnifies onscreen information for those with Low Vision; and OpenBook works with many scanners so text on paper can be
scanned and read back through synthesized speech to those who have difficulty with or are unable to read printed text.
MFCB thanks OCLS for taking these steps forward for the disabled. If any Members have not done so already, go to your local Library
and sign up for a Library Card. The card is available free of charge and let the staff at your Library know what they are doing well and can
do better to service the disabled.
If you have any further questions regarding services at any OCLS Library, contact Marcia Bruton, Manager, Reference Central and Talking
Books, at the Main Library in Downtown Orlando, at (407) 835-7323.
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MEMBERSHIP - from Jay Bader
Notes from Jay: With the holidays, the final weeks are here in the Annual Membership Drive. Those mailers, in cooperation with the
Bureau of Braille and Talking Book Library Services in Daytona Beach, have been sent with the hope that there are those who receive it
interested in becoming Members of MFCB.
There are those who received this mailing that are already Members but please keep in mind that these were sent to Talking Book
subscribers in Orange, Osceola or Seminole County. So if you know someone who you think may be interested in becoming a Member
of MFCB, or if they would like to donate to our organization, pass it along. Just as they do on the state level, donations are always gladly
accepted.
Dues are being accepted for new Members as well as renewals. For those who have already done so, thank you for your payment.
Please note that the dues for 2005 increase to $12.00, as approved in the revised MFCB By-Laws.
With the date of the next MFCB General Meeting, there are two ways to pay these dues. If you attend the upcoming General Meeting on
January 8th, dues will be accepted at the Meeting by cash, check or money order; otherwise, please send your dues by check or money
order to the following address:
MFCB Membership Secretary
5611 Pecos St.
Orlando, FL 32807
Make your check or money order payable to MFCB. The deadline for dues by mail is Friday, January 7th, 2005. This date is for when I
have to receive them, not for the last date for them to be postmarked. If you cannot attend the next MFCB General Meeting on January
8th, please make sure to send your check or money order in the mail by Monday, January 3rd, so as to allow ample time for it to be
delivered.
Please make note of the following Member's Phone Number change:
MATT ROBERTS (contact him on his new cell number)
(321) 279-7060
And I always accept submissions to THE MID-FLORIDA VOICE. All submissions must arrive by regular mail or e-mail to me by the 15th
of the month as issues are prepared shortly after that. You will be properly credited with the submission.
If you have any further questions, please call me at (407) 658-2479 or e-mail at
mfcbinfo@bellsouth.net. Looking forward to seeing many of you at the January General
Meeting, and Happy Holidays!
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BIRTHDAY PEOPLE
JANUARY
5 - Lisa Lawson
14 - Bob Huntsman
17 - Ron Phinney
19 - Jeannette Rhodes
24 - Linda Lynch
27 - Trudy Brumfield
31 - Daniel Weiner
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