Vol. 30, No. 5
MAY 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
APRIL GENERAL MEETING REVIEW
2005 FCB CONVENTION AROUND THE CORNER
MOVEMENT WITH MV TRANSPORTATION AND ACCESS LYNX
FCB HAS A DISCUSSION LIST AND NEW VOICE CHAT ROOMS
MFCB ON THE WORLD WIDE WEB
STILL TIME TO SELL FCB RAFFLE TICKETS THAT HELP MFCB
OCLS HAS GUEST AUTHORS IN MAY AND IMPORTANT NEWS
MEMBERSHIP - from Jay Bader
BIRTHDAY PEOPLE
MESSAGE FROM MFCB PRESIDENT RACHEL BADER
Dear MFCB Members and Friends,
I want to start off by informing you of the latest with regard to accessible voting in the tri-county area. In a conversation with Orange County
Supervisor of Elections Bill Cowles on April 18th, I was informed that the blind and visually-impaired are getting closer to being able to
cast an independent secret ballot for the first time in Central Florida. Orange County has the money set aside and is now just down to
going through the process of a meeting with the respective machine vendors at the end of April, and selecting the system which will be
recommended for purchase to meet the July 1st deadline to comply with the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) for voting accessibility
throughout Florida's 67 counties.
We've been assured though that with the next scheduled election after July 1st, accessible voting will be a reality in our tri-county area.
Mike Ertel, Seminole County Supervisor of Elections, says that they are on track to have accessible voting machines purchased by the
end of May and in place for the September elections in Oviedo. In Osceola County, Supervisor of Elections Donna Bryant has informed
me that accessible voting machines will be on the agenda of that county's upcoming Commissioners Meeting on May 2nd, along with a
proposal for funding a touch-screen voting system.
Speaking of accessibility, I've also been working with Access Lynx to help design an accessible version of their application and renewal
form for paratransit services. No details yet as to when this will be available or how to receive or return it but we're hoping this can be yet
another option for all of us to choose when applying for services or going through recertification. We'll keep you posted here in THE
MID-FLORIDA VOICE.
As I write this message, Jay and I have just returned home from Miami, where we attended a very moving and uplifting memorial service
for Gayle Krause-Edwards. As many of you will know by the time you receive this, Gayle passed away Saturday, April 16th, due to a short,
unexpected illness. Those of you who knew Gayle, knew that among the many projects she worked on in the interest of people with
disabilities, she worked tirelessly as a member of both the Florida Council of the Blind (FCB) and American Council of the Blind (ACB) to
expand library access and educational opportunities for people who are blind and visually-impaired.
We will truly miss Gayle but are blessed to have had her in our organization and in our lives. Our thoughts and prayers are with the
Krause and Edwards families as they move through the difficult days ahead.
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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, May 7th, 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.
If you are using paratransit to get to the MFCB General Meeting, please contact Nicole Hugues at (407) 207-7974. She needs to be made
aware of the fact that if you ever use paratransit to get to the Meeting, a list can be maintained as to who uses the service at any given time
when trips are scheduled for the day of the Meeting.
The May General Meeting, as you know, will be May 7th, the day before Mother's Day. Therefore, in recognition of this day and mothers
everywhere, our program will be "Memories and Mothers." Anyone who wishes to do so may read, or recite, or reminisce, about mothers,
in general or in particular. Tell us about your mama, granny, stepmother, (wicked or otherwise), your own experiences as a mother.
So bring your anecdotes and your memories, funny, touching, whatever they may be, and share with your friends. Men, this means you
too! We know for a fact that all of you have a mother!
Also, in conjunction with our Bake Sale, we invite all of you to participate in a recipe swap. Bring in your favorite recipes for baked goods
or otherwise to share with the group. See you there!
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APRIL GENERAL MEETING REVIEW
26 Members and guests attended the MFCB General Meeting on April 2nd at Booth Towers in downtown Orlando. President Rachel
Bader began the meeting with leading the Members in attendance with the Pledge of Allegiance, then gave those in the room the chance
to introduce themselves and then reminded Members that FCB Raffle Tickets are still available, which benefit both the Florida Council of
the Blind (FCB) and MFCB.
After the Secretary's and Treasurer's reports were read and approved, Rachel began a brief discussion on where MFCB should hold its
Annual June Awards Luncheon. Because of other commitments the first Saturday in June, the date of Saturday, June 11th was proposed
for the Luncheon, which was unanimously approved. Two places suggested for the Annual June Awards Luncheon were Logan's
Roadhouse on Sand Lake Road in southwest Orlando, and Buttermilk's on 17-92 in Fern Park. 1st Vice President Patti Land mentioned
that even with the short notice given for the March MFCB Activity, which was a Lunch at Buttermilk's, everyone who attended was very
pleased with the food selection and service there. She said she and 2nd Vice President Bill Freeman would look into the places further
and give a final recommendation at the May General Meeting.
On behalf of the Fundraising Committee, Betty Sparrow announced that for May, MFCB would have a Bake Sale. It would be held outside
the Meeting Room at Booth Towers during the May General Meeting. Betty recommends that Members bring plastic bags to the Sale.
For Refreshments at the May General Meeting, Jim Lamb offered that he would buy pizza. Bo and Recording Secretary Shelley Justice
volunteered to bring drinks. Refreshments Coordinator Matt Roberts also requested volunteers to serve the refreshments. Matt thanked
those who have made and served refreshments at the MFCB General Meetings since he began as Refreshments Coordinator at the
beginning of this year.
On behalf of the Transportation Committee, Nicole Hugues talked about how the MV Transportation tour went on Friday, April 1st (More on
that later in this issue.). She also reminded the Members about giving feedback to both MV and Access Lynx about the current state of
paratransit service. Nicole also added that Access Lynx pre-paid tickets are available for purchase through the Lynx website and can be
picked up at Lynx Central Station and agencies such as DBS. There is also a good chance that these tickets would be available by
phone (More on this also later in this issue.).
Patti announced for the Activities Committee that the April MFCB Activity would be a tour of the Orlando Ripley's Believe It or Not museum
on Saturday, April 23rd. The cost is $12.95 and there is no tax included. She followed-up by saying that there is a possibility of touring an
area fire station in future.
As there was no Old Business to discuss, Nicole said that she has been attending recent Orange County Library System (OCLS) Board
of Trustees Meetings and urges all Members in attendance to be at the next meeting, which will be held at the Edgewater Branch Library.
It would be on Thursday, April 14th, from 7 to 9 PM. The Edgewater location is being discussed for possible closure so any participation
by MFCB would be appreciated (Results of this are printed later in this issue.).
Matt urged that MFCB Members need to encourage both Lynx bus drivers and paratransit drivers to be educated about the White Cane
Law. He has copies available by request. Matt also recommended that everyone get to know their local fire station personnel, especially
with the experience Matt had from his recent car accident. And he reminded Members about the Health Fair being held at the Bahia
Shrine on Sunday, April 3rd, as even though MFCB will not have a separate table there, the organization will have some representation at
this event.
The fundraiser for the April General Meeting was, like at the March one, a 50/50 Raffle, which raised $38.00. $19.00 of that money was
won by Dan Spoone, who donated $18.00 of his winnings back to MFCB.
Then the following Door Prizes were picked, based on the winners who chose them:
Shaeffer Pencil Set - Dan Spoone
Rosebud Candle - Nicole Hugues
Bookmark - Patti Land
Father and Son Figurine - Larry Turnbull
Wall-Mountable White Candle Holder - Betty Sparrow
Congratulations to all the Door Prize winners!
After the meeting adjourned, the April Guest Speakers, MFCB Treasurer Dan Spoone and Immediate Past President Leslie Spoone,
talked about running an aerobics business. Leslie first discussed what she encountered as she pursued a career as an aerobics
instructor. Then Dan went into the details of getting paperwork done to open the gym. And both gave the Members in attendance an
insight on getting the facility ready as well as the equipment needed for it.
Leslie ended the presentation by inviting female MFCB Members to join her gym, Git Fit. It is a monthly membership to join there.
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2005 FCB CONVENTION AROUND THE CORNER
The 2005 Convention of the Florida Council of the Blind (FCB) is fast approaching. This year's FCB Convention will take place at the
Sheraton Ft. Lauderdale Airport Hotel, located at 1825 Griffin Road, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33004. It will run from Thursday night, May 12th,
through Sunday morning, May 15th, which are the Thursday through Sunday after the MFCB May General Meeting.
Reservations can still be made through Central Reservations at 1-800-325-3535 or the direct number to the hotel is (954) 920-3500. The
2005 FCB Convention Call has been mailed out and is also listed on the FCB website,
http://www.fcb.org. Since it is in large print, if you have any questions, please contact Project Insight at
1-800-267-4448.
We understand many Members of MFCB may not be able to make the trip to South Florida. So remember, the 2006 FCB Convention will
be in our area at the Sheraton Safari in Lake Buena Vista. Hope to see those who can make it to Ft. Lauderdale in a few weeks!
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MOVEMENT WITH MV TRANSPORTATION AND ACCESS LYNX
Members of Mid-Florida Council of the Blind participated in a discussion at the MV Transportation Orlando facility on April 1st. It was not
an April Fool's joke that day as MFCB President Rachel Bader, 2nd Vice President Bill Freeman, Recording Secretary Shelley Justice,
Membership Secretary Jay Bader and Michael Collins, Nicole Hugues, Lisa Lawson and Matt Roberts, along with others in the local
disabled community talked extensively with new General Manager Mark Elias about the current situation at MV. The members were also
given a brief tour of the reservations and dispatch centers to get an idea of the daily operations there.
It was a worthwhile experience for both MFCB and MV Transportation. It was agreed that an open line of communication will be kept as
Mr. Elias encourages the disabled community to let MV know the good and bad things about the entire paratransit process, from the
scheduling of trips to the experience with the respective MV drivers and everything in-between. If you have any concerns about your
paratransit, please contact MV Transportation's Orlando operations at (407) 851-8201 and ask for Mark Elias, General Manager.
On the Access Lynx side, a follow-up to what was reported in the April 2005 issue of THE MID-FLORIDA VOICE. Access Lynx pre-paid
tickets are now available by phone, in addition to the previously announced ways, which are online at
http://www.golynx.com and at participating local agencies for the disabled in the greater Orlando
area.
Tickets are in denominations of 50 cents and $1.00 and are sold at a 10 percent discount for those who buy books of $20.00 (cost is
$18.00) or $50.00 (cost is $45.00). To assist the visually impaired, the $1.00 ticket is yellow and notched in the upper right-hand corner;
the 50-cent ticket is blue and not notched.
If you want to order Access Lynx pre-paid tickets by phone, call (407) 841-2279 and ask for Keith Atkins. There are many disabled patrons
of Access Lynx in the tri-county area who do not have Internet access and do not carry much change for their trips. These are the people
who especially would be interested in these pre-paid tickets and now have a way to purchase them.
Again, that number to order Access Lynx pre-paid tickets is (407) 841-2279 and ask for Keith Atkins. MFCB encourages Members to
provide feedback to Access Lynx about this process.
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FCB HAS A DISCUSSION LIST AND NEW VOICE CHAT ROOMS
Florida Council of the Blind (FCB) is proud to have its members throughout the state participate in a couple of ways on the Internet. 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."
And as of April 15th, 2005, FCB has opened up 2 new chat rooms for members of the organization. One of these is for general chat, the
other is for the FCB Board and its respective committees to meet. Everyone is invited to sit in on these chats, especially to participate
with those in the general chat room.
For more information about the new FCB chat rooms, especially if you want to know how you can join in on the chats, click on the link
"Voice Chat for FCB" at http://www.fcb.org.
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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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STILL TIME TO SELL FCB RAFFLE TICKETS THAT HELP MFCB
Many members of Mid-Florida Council of the Blind have helped raise money for the Florida Council of the Blind. FCB made its raffle
tickets available to its chapters throughout the state. MFCB still has tickets available but time is running out for you to help sell them.
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 have sold FCB raffle tickets, please turn in your completed section of the tickets as well as the money collected at the MFCB
May General Meeting. 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 get them.
Thanks for helping FCB and, in turn, MFCB through selling these raffle tickets.
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OCLS HAS GUEST AUTHORS IN MAY & IMPORTANT NEWS
In addition to the improved services available for the blind, visually-impaired and print-disabled at all branch libraries, OCLS (Orange
County Library System) has scheduled the following authors and artists to visit various branches during the month of May:
Meet Richard S. Lowry, an accomplished military historian and author of "The Gulf War Chronicles," an accurate account of each battle of
the first war with Iraq at the Orlando Public Library on Saturday, May 7th, at 3:30 PM.
"The Gulf War Chronicles" provides a detailed minute-by-minute historical account of Operation Desert Storm and has been published in
Military Magazine and the Marine Corps Gazette. Lowry is also a senior contributor of contemporary military history for The History Project
at the University of Salford, England. A book sale and signing will follow the program.
And Mark Sternal performs original music and Rock favorites from his new CD "Fretboards and Microphones" on Thursday, May 12th, at
2:30 PM at the Orlando Public Library. Sternal is also promoting his new book "Guitar: Total Scales Techniques and Applications." The
book signing will feature a free Guitar Clinic, for beginners and masters, and offers a world of insight to both musicians and
non-musicians alike.
For more information about these events, call OCLS at (407) 835-7481.
Also, at the meeting of the OCLS Board of Trustees on Thursday, April 14th, it was decided to keep the Edgewater Branch Library open. It
was facing the possibility of being closed down. Thanks to those MFCB Members who participated in this and previous OCLS Board of
Trustees Meetings to keep a branch operating close to where some MFCB Members reside.
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MEMBERSHIP - from Jay Bader
Notes from Jay: The MFCB Phone Roster for 2005 is still available in Print, Cassette, Braille and E-mail formats. They can be picked up
at the May General Meeting. If you are not able to attend the General Meeting and are interested in a copy of the Phone Roster in any
format, please contact me by phone or e-mail so arrangements can be made.
Since the Braille version of the 2005 Phone Roster was prepared before all other ones, there are 3 corrections to be noted if you do want
that version. Scott Larson has changed his phone number and Sheila Young's one was listed incorrectly:
SCOTT LARSON
(386) 257-7779
SHEILA YOUNG
(407) 422-3587
And on the Committees page, for the Sunshine Committee, Nicole Hugues can be contacted on her cell number, (321) 663-2007, which
is correctly listed in the Main section of the Phone Roster.
Also, note the following Members' change of address and phone number:
CHUCK & ARLINE GRAHAM
1624 Spring Ridge Circle
Winter Garden, FL 34787
(407) 654-6199
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 May General
Meeting!
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BIRTHDAY PEOPLE
MAY
6 - Lois Huddle
13 - Bill Spoone
17 - Rebecca Letzkus
19 - Jim Lamb
20 - Denyse Eddy
21 - Eddie Lee
28 - Florence Anderson
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