Vol. 32, No. 9
NOVEMBER 2007
THE MID-FLORIDA VOICE
A publication of Mid-Florida Council of the Blind
TABLE OF CONTENTS
MESSAGE FROM MFCB PRESIDENT SHELLEY JUSTICE
NEXT MFCB GENERAL MEETING
MFCB OCTOBER GENERAL MEETING REVIEW
2007 FCB MID-YEAR BOARD MEETING RETURNING TO MFCB COUNTRY
WHITE CANE DAY 2007 A SUCCESS
FCB E-MAIL DISCUSSION LIST AND VOICE CHAT ROOMS
MFCB ON THE WORLD WIDE WEB
METROPLAN REQUESTS GRANT APPLICATIONS
SPECIAL MESSAGE FROM MFCB IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT
MEMBERSHIP - from Jay Bader
BIRTHDAY PEOPLE
MESSAGE FROM MFCB PRESIDENT SHELLEY JUSTICE
Greetings, MFCB Members and Friends,
Isn’t it amazing how fast time flies? Once again, it is time for our Annual MFCB Election of Officers, and I find myself amazed at how the
past year flew by. I look back on my year as your president, and I see areas of accomplishment, as well as areas that need work. If
re-elected, I have some plans for the coming year, primarily in the area of membership.
Having said that, I urge all of you to attend the November General Meeting on November 10th, 2007. This is the time when we will hold
our Annual Election of Officers. This organization is for all of us who are Members, for all of those who may be future members and for all
blind and visually-impaired persons, present and future, who may be helped by us. All of us who are Members have the right, as well as
the responsibility to cast a vote for those who hold office in the organization. The proposed slate of Officers submitted by the Nominating
Committee will be noted later in this issue.
As you know, you can vote for the proposed slate as is, or you can make a nomination from the floor. If you wish, you can have someone
place your name in nomination from the floor and you can run for an office yourself. Of course, as a Member, you know all of this. This is
just a reminder. I am also reminding you that you can do nothing if you are not there.
Please come join us at the November General Meeting. Help support your chapter and your organization. Please come and choose your
chapter leadership for the coming year. I hope to see all of you there.
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NEXT MFCB GENERAL MEETING
The next General Meeting of MFCB will be at William Booth Tower, 633 Lake Dot Circle, Orlando, FL, 32801, on Saturday, November 10th,
and Saturday, September 8th, 2007, from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM. The phone number at William Booth Tower is (407)
843-5533. It is highly recommended that if anyone uses paratransit, please plan your rides accordingly.
As of the time this issue went to press, there is no Guest Speaker scheduled for the November General Meeting. However, there may be
some discussion that could take place that could be of interest to many Members. For more information, please contact 1st Vice
President Jack Jordan at (407) 895-7352.
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MFCB OCTOBER GENERAL MEETING REVIEW
22 Members and Guests attended the MFCB October General Meeting, held on October 6th at William Booth Tower in downtown
Orlando. After the Pledge of Allegiance, MFCB President Shelley Justice had those in attendance introduce themselves.
Then after the Secretary's and Treasurer’s Reports were read and approved (with a motion made and approved that the August General
Meeting Minutes would be filed without being read), Shelley opened the floor for committees to report. For the Membership/Telephone
Committee, Membership Secretary Jay Bader reported that the Annual Membership Drive is nearing its final month and a half, adding as
in the previous General Meeting that any Members who wish to renew their membership can do so after the General Meeting or at the
November one. He reminded those in attendance that the deadline is November 15th.
For the Transportation Committee, Shelley announced, on behalf of Nicole Hugues who was unable to attend due to prior commitments,
the next meetings for the Transportation Disadvantaged, which would take place on October 11th, as well as the next quarterly meeting in
late November. Also, for the Activities Committee, Patti Land said that there is nothing final as of yet for where the Annual Holiday
Luncheon would be held in December.
2nd Vice President Bill Freeman then made the report for the Nominating Committee, as 1st Vice President Jack Jordan was unable to
attend this General Meeting. Here are the slate of MFCB Officers for the Annual Elections in November (all of which were unanimous
choices by the Nominating Committee, unless otherwise noted):
President - Shelley Justice
1st Vice President - Sheila Young (by majority choice)
2nd Vice President - Bill Freeman
Recording Secretary - Larry Turnbull
Treasurer - Dan Spoone
Membership Secretary - Jay Bader
Shelley added that anyone who is an MFCB Member can nominate any other Member to run for office during the Annual Elections.
For the Fundraising Committee, Leslie Spoone announced that due to Betty Sparrow being unable to attend the Meeting, there would be
no fundraiser for October. She added that she is selling MFCB whistles at her gym, so if anyone is interested, contact Leslie or visit her
ym for more information.
Refreshments Coordinator Jackie Gideons then thanked those who provided refreshments for the October General Meeting: Scott Larson
with drinks, Machel Cooper with plates, Leslie with cookies, and Elizabeth Bouyer with the chips that Nicole would have brought if she
would have been able to attend the Meeting. Jackie reminded Members that for the November General Meeting, pizza will be served. She
added that Betty Sparrow's brother discovered he had colon cancer during a recent surgery and her sister passed away not too long ago.
Jackie wanted Betty and her family to be remembered in our thoughts during this time. She thanked all those who provided refreshments
during this year's General Meetings, and Shelley thanked Jackie for all her efforts in coordinating the refreshments as well.
For Old Business, talk continued to focus on White Cane Safety Day, as the Event will be held Monday, October 15th, from 10:30 AM to
1:30 PM at the intersection of Orange Avenue and Michigan Street in south Orlando. Patti had the plaque that would be presented by
Shelley on behalf of MFCB to MV Transportation and Access Lynx at the Event and read what it said to those in attendance. She thanked
her husband (and MFCB Member) David Land for his help in choosing the plaque itself.
Shelley expressed disappointment that not only were the T-shirts not yet ready for the White Cane Safety Event, but that with even 6
months of preparation, there were still things to take care of at the last minute She added that the T-shirts would be at the Event so
Members would have to be there to get them. It was also announced that the drop-off point for Members at the White Cane Safety Event
would be the Wachovia Bank at 2610 South Orange Avenue. Shelley encouraged Members to spread the word about it.
Shelley also said that there was supposed to be a group meeting at Lighthouse Central Florida to put the white candy canes together
that would be handed out during this Event, but as of the day of the October General Meeting, that had not happened. She will contact
Sherri Brun, President of the National Federation of the Blind-Greater Orlando Chapter (NFB-GOC), to follow-up on this, as Dwight Sayer
will not be able to attend the Event. Also, Bill said that he has tried to contact a possible new MFCB Member, Jessica Sears, who did
express interest in participating in the White Cane Safety Event. However, since she was not in attendance at the October General
Meeting, Jay said he would try and follow-up with her on that.
With no New Business brought forth, the Business part of the Meeting adjourned, and the following Door Prizes were awarded, all of
which included a 2-pack of Halloween-designed candy dishes:
6-pack of Orangeade, Glow-in-the-Dark Bracelet, Halloween Pen and Kitchen Whisker - Ruth Meddaugh
Yellow Canteen, Ball Gun Set, 4 Wooden Mixing Spoons, Blue Measuring Cups and 2 Tickets to the Miami Heat-Orlando Magic
preseason NBA game on Friday, October 12th - Larry Turnbull
4-pack of Camping Matches, Waterproof Container, Halloween items, Blue Spatula and Multi-Functional Whistle - Jim Lamb
Inflatable Beach Ball, Blue Rolling Pin, Decorator Set and 2 Stress Balls designed as Bloodshot Eyeballs - Bob Huntsman
Congratulations to all Door Prize Winners!
2nd Vice President Bill Freeman then began an impromptu presentation, telling those in attendance about Project Insight, which is part
of the Florida Council of the Blind to benefit those who are blind and visually-impaired who especially need someone to turn to for any
reason. He later turned things over to Pam Sogge, who runs the Orlando Subregional Talking Book Library, inside the Downtown
Orlando Public Library. She talked about the Talking Book Program and the upcoming transition to digital talking books, which will begin
to roll out to subscribers in late 2008. The presentation ended with Sheila Young telling those in attendance what happened with
Seminole County Commissioners deciding to continue in help funding Lighthouse Central Florida.
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2007 FCB MID-YEAR BOARD MEETING RETURNING TO MFCB COUNTRY
For the past four years, the Florida Council of the Blind (FCB) has been proud to hold its Mid-Year Board Meeting in the Orlando area. The
2007 FCB Mid-Year Board Meeting will take place for the fifth and last consecutive year at the Sheraton Safari in Lake Buena Vista, from
Friday, November 2nd, to Sunday, November 4th, 2007.
The address at the Sheraton Safari Hotel is 12205 Apopka-Vineland Road, Orlando, FL 32836. If you have never taken the time and
advantage to mix FCB business with a bit of Disney magic, this hotel gives you that opportunity. See the hotel's 79-foot Python,
spectacular pool area plus hundreds of restaurants in all price ranges within walking distance make this a fun-filled opportunity. The
group rate is good three days before and after our Meeting.
This is an opportunity for everyone throughout the state to see how the various committees within FCB operate, as well as get an idea of
the direction the organization is headed for the next six months. As we get closer to the Mid-Year Board Meeting, MFCB invites all
Members to spend at least one day, either the day of the Business Meeting on the 3rd or the Leadership Seminar on the 4th, to sit in and
check out our state affiliate's activities.
For those with a computer, the Agenda for the 2007 FCB Mid-Year Board Meeting is available for download in various formats. To access
these, go to the FCB News and Events page at the Florida Council of the Blind website,
http://www.fcb.org. MFCB looks forward to having our state affiliate in our area for this important
gathering.
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WHITE CANE DAY 2007 A SUCCESS
MFCB was proud to take part in the White Cane Safety Event for 2007, held on White Cane Awareness Day itself, October 15th, at the
intersection of Orange Avenue and Michigan Street in south Orlando. There were other blindness organizations involved in this as well
(the National Federation of the Blind-Greater Orlando Chapter, Blinded Veterans Association, Lighthouse Central Florida, and the
Division of Blind Services), and this was primarily planned through the work of Central Florida Advocates for Accessible Public
Rights-of-Way (CFA). MFCB President Shelley Justice said that while the months of planning that had gone into the White Cane Event
this year did not all happen as expected, it still was a successful Event and a good time had by the Members of the organization who
were able to participate.
Those sentiments were echoed by Sherri Brun, President of NFB-GOC and Secretary of CFA, especially with a message she to the NFB
of Florida Listserv, portions of which follow. This is all reprinted with Sherri's permission.
"I want to thank all who attended our White Cane Awareness Day event. For those who were not there, it was quite a success. We got
lots of TV and newspaper coverage. Channels 6, 9 and 13 were there."
"We crossed the very busy intersections at Orange Ave. and Michigan St. in Orlando. Before we started the street crossings,
Commissioner Mildred Fernandez and Captain O'Dell from the (Orlando) police department presented the Orange County and City
proclamations. Commissioner Linda Stewart, whose district we were in, also attended. She stayed quite a while and we were honored
to have her. Shelley Justice and the MFCB presented the drivers and dispatchers at Access Lynx a plaque for their invaluable service
getting us from place to place. Hector, the representative for the drivers, was very surprised. He also stayed through the whole event."
"Both our commissioners crossed the street under blindfold with the assistance of the instructors from Lighthouse. The media
interviewed me as well as several others who attended."
"Many of us crossed the challenging intersections. We also had the participation of the Community Traffic Safety Team who handed out
citations and taught people about the White Cane law. We also handed out white candy-canes with the law attached. This year, we even
had T-shirts to commemorate the day and call attention to the White Cane Law. Several businesses and organizations donated the
funds for the shirts and I want to thank all who were so generous."
"In my opinion, this is among the most successful White Cane Events we have had. My sincere thanks to all who took part."
MFCB again thanks all Members and friends of the organization who participated in this year's White Cane Safety Event. As we continue
sto work with Orlando area disability organizations, we hope to have even more success with next year's White Cane Safety Event!
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FCB E-MAIL DISCUSSION LIST AND 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 FCB has 2 improved voice 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 these 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 website,
http://www.fcb.org, there is information available on the Internet about MFCB, especially the MFCB
By-Laws, as well as current and past issues of the MFCB Newsletter, both in the previous name of MUMBLES and the newer name of
THE MID-FLORIDA VOICE. MFCB is proud to have people find out what is going on with our organization in this global
manner.
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 better what we have
on the Web.
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METROPLAN REQUESTS GRANT APPLICATIONS
(Editor's Note: Thanks for MFCB Member Lisa Lawson for submitting the following information.)
METROPLAN Orlando is requesting proposals from eligible applicants for projects to be funded under the Federal Transit
Administration’s Job Access and Reverse Commute (JARC) program to improve transportation services to employment and related
activities for welfare recipients and other low-income individuals and to increase access by all residents to suburban employment
opportunities; and New Freedom Program (NFP) for new public transportation alternatives beyond those required by the Americans with
Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) designed to assist individuals with disabilities with accessing transportation services.
The detailed solicitation notice is available at
www.metroplanorlando.com. Seven copies of the proposal are to be sent or hand
delivered to: Director of Finance and Administration, METROPLAN Orlando, Landmark 1 Building, 315 E. Robinson St., Suite 355,
Orlando FL 32801-1949. Proposals must be received no later than 2:00 PM on Monday, November 19th, 2007.
If you have any questions about these grant applications, please contact Jason S. Loschiavo, Accounting Specialist/Computer Support Analyst at
METROPLAN Orlando, at (407) 481-5672, extension 310.
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SPECIAL MESSAGE FROM MFCB IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT
MFCB Immediate Past President Rachel Bader wanted Members to know about an upcoming change in her life. This change will mean
she will be leaving the Orlando area but also preparing for an opportunity she never expected. Here is Rachel in her own words:
(Editor's Note: You will be sadly missed here locally, Rachel, but you will be an asset to those who will be touched by you where you're
going.)
Dear Members and Friends of Mid-Florida Council of the Blind,
This is probably one of the most difficult messages I’ve ever written here in these pages. If you had asked me a year ago or even several
weeks ago, I would never have figured to be writing it at all. As many of you have heard by now, in just a couple short weeks, I will be
embarking on a new adventure in both my personal and professional life. I have very recently and very quickly, been offered and
accepted a position in Springfield, Illinois, working as an Assistive Technology Specialist for the Illinois Assistive Technology program.
This opportunity brings with it exciting challenges and new experiences for guide dog Kelly and me, not the least of which will be braving
a Midwestern Winter for the first time in my native Floridian life.
I find myself happy and excited about the new career opportunity, overwhelmed sometimes at the move and all that needs to be done
before I leave, and a little sad too that I’m moving away from Florida and people I’ve been around all my life. My involvement in
Mid-Florida Council of the Blind has been a big part of that as I’ve made many lifelong friends in this organization and am proud of the
work we’ve been able to accomplish while I’ve been a Member.
Although I absolutely intend to maintain my Membership in MFCB and hope to be back for the occasional meeting or activity, I obviously
won’t be able to participate regularly in MFCB events. But you can’t take the Floridian out of me so easily with just a move to Illinois. I’ll
be keeping in touch with many of you personally and will be interested to stay up to date on all that is happening in our chapter.
My thoughts and well wishes for a bright future will always be with you and this organization, as you continue to make a difference for so
many blind and vision-impaired individuals in this community. Keep up the good work, and I will talk to you all again soon from the cold
Midwest.
All the best,
Rachel
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MEMBERSHIP - from Jay Bader
The Annual MFCB Membership Drive is in its final weeks. Many thanks to those who responded during this year's campaign. Done in
cooperation with the Bureau of Braille and Talking Book Library Services in Daytona Beach, those mailers were sent with the hope that
there are those who receive it interested in becoming Members of MFCB.
There have been those who got this mailing that are already Members but please keep in mind that if you are a Talking Book subscriber
in Orange, Osceola or Seminole County, this would have arrived. 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.
Renewals on current MFCB Memberships are being accepted as well. These dues are $12.00 and payable by cash, check or money
order, with the deadline for new Memberships or renewals on November 15th, 2007. If you cannot attend a General Meeting, or know
someone who wants to join MFCB, checks and money orders can be sent to the following address:
MFCB MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY
5611 Pecos St.
Orlando, FL 32807
Welcome to the following New Members of MFCB (out of the respect of those who wish not to have their information made public, only
their names are listed):
Gay Elliott
Leonard Gobel
Gertrude Greene
Joseph Lentz
Ruth Meddaugh
Charles Prizmonte (who decided to return to MFCB after a long absence)
Lutisha Thompson
We are proud to have them as part of our organization, and appreciate their decision to join the local Orlando area chapter of the
American Council of the Blind.
For those who have the cassette issue, there is a noticeable change. As of the October 2007 issue, I am no longer reading THE
MID-FLORIDA VOICE due to my other commitments. However, what you are hearing is a RealSpeak voice. This took some time to find
the best suitable one, so please contact me with your comments on the new reader of the MFCB Newsletter.
And I always accept submissions to THE MID-FLORIDA VOICE. All submissions for the December 2007 issue must arrive by regular
mail or e-mail to me by the 15th of November as it will be 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
mfcbinfo@bellsouth.net. Looking forward to seeing many of you at the MFCB General
Meeting in November and help elect the next MFCB Officers for 2008!
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BIRTHDAY PEOPLE
NOVEMBER
12 - Craig Marquis
17 - Margot Sussell
22 - Paulette Gordon
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