You can now receive the Blindfold by email instead of snail mail by sending an email to vision@blindandlowvision.org with Blindfold in the subject line. This is terrific alternative for people who use screen readers or software magnification programs and also saves the BVIC postage and time.
Our appreciation to all our donors:
We are pleased to announce our 2006 Board of Directors
Victoria Carns, Florence Cogan, Shirley Doolittle, Lee Gardner, Russ Hatch, Rosemary Heisinger, Sonja Jackson, Tom Linker, David Lloyd, John McEwen, Esther Merrell, Joanne Scherner, Steve Thigpen, and honorary board member, Betty Hendricks.
Newly elected officers are:
Thanks to all who have responded to our 2006 Membership Drive. This ongoing fundraiser is the perfect time to show your support of the work done by the BVIC. Not only does it help others, but it’s a great way of letting us know that you believe in what we do.
Gallatin’s Construction is doing a great job with our New Low Vision Clinic remodel. The project is running smoothly and we are on target for the June 30th completion date. We appreciate your patience during this undertaking and can’t wait to share the new & improved BVIC with you complete with a New Low Vision Clinic and Health Library. Please keep in mind that even though the office has been closed our specialists are still seeing clients by appointment. We are doing our very best to continue to provide services to our clients during this exciting renovation. Messages may be left on our answering machine at 649-3505.
Great things are happening at the BVIC. We will begin a renovation of our Multi-Purpose Building following the completion of our New Low Vision Clinic project. The Multi-purpose Building will serve as our new meeting place as well as the home of our Tuesday Program and Low Vision Support Group. New furnishings, fresh paint, and a revamping of the floor will not only modernize the building, but will also provide a safe and functional area for meetings, classes and gatherings.
THANK YOU once again to Randy Henson for letting us use his garage for our packing projects. For the last 6 months Randy has allowed us to invade his garage, for a week at a time, while we do the packing of cards and goodies to send to our Troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.
We would also like to thank the BVIC for letting us put a collection box in the lobby! Every few weeks we come by and pick up cards, socks, beef jerky, candy, donations for postage and other items for our troops.
And of course, we would like to THANK YOU, the readers of the Blindfold, for YOUR donations! We get such wonderful letters back from the troops that we would be glad to share via email. Call me at 373-7362 or email jc_bodt@pacbell.net for more information about our projects. Sincerely, Cindy Stanley and Jerry English, Cards and Cocoa for the Troops Organizers.
Used CCTV -$300 – Good condition, but needs a TV Screen (about $150 to purchase).
To donate a vehicle in good running order or for info call Russ-659-5360.
16’ Hobie Cat w/trailer, 1980- Riggings & Sails Complete - $1,650 Or Best Offer
Low Vision Support Group
At the BVIC-
The 2nd Monday of the month, 5:00 to 6:30. For info or to confirm date call Jeannie.
At the Carmel Foundation- May 5th, Friday, 1:00 to 2:00 Banchard A Building located on the corner of Eighth and Dolores.
Make a pledge for your favorite walker, collect pledges for the BVIC, or do both. Call the BVIC if you’d like to participate in this event.
Mr. & Mrs. Ward honored the BVIC with a beautiful gift, a letter written by Helen Keller. The typed letter was signed by Helen Keller with her distinctive printed pencil signature. Dated August 8, 1960 it was addressed to a Miss Hull requesting support of the American Foundation for the Blind. Excerpts from the letter …”Earnestly I believe that God uses each one of us to carry out His Divine purpose. That is why I strive to live for the good of the sightless….Our bequests are the extending expression of our concerns for others. Such gifts, wisely chosen, go on giving for years ahead, to the happy perpetuation of memories…” We thank Mr. & Mrs. Ward for the beautiful treasure and Helen Keller’s inspirational words.
At our last Board Meeting, Russ Hatch explained that Helen Keller was the motivating force who inspired the Lions Clubs to help the blind. In 1925 she challenged the Lions to become “Knights of the Blind”. It follows suit that Lions Building for the Blind, Old Capitol Lions, Lighthouse Lions, Carmel Host Lions, Freedom Lions, Seaside Lions, Marina Luz Vi Minda Lions, the Leos, Salinas Host Lions, and Monterey Peninsula Host Lions have been long time supportive Knights of the BVIC. The Lions assistance has been wonderful, making up about 5 % of our income last year. LBFB provides our home for only a dollar a year rent and helps maintain our facility! Bud Westcott, LBFB President, invites other Lions to join LBFB. Call Lion Bud at 626-4034.
August 19, 2006 – Save the Date!!
Technology can convert text to speech for people with severe vision loss. A machine made with this kind of technology is simply called a reading machine. When magnifiers and video magnifiers (CCTVs) are no longer helpful to you, a reading machine might be a good tool. It is as basic as placing a piece of printed material on it, pressing one or two buttons and waiting for the printed matter to be read aloud. Not everybody will like the synthesized voice, but with proper training and adaptation, a reading machine could help maintain independence. It makes it possible to read letters (except hand-written), important notices from banks and companies, and books that are not available on recordings without other people's help. For a limited time, the BVIC has 2 reading machines (used, but like-new condition), available for our clients to borrow and use for an extended time. If suitable, they could even be purchased at a great discount.
A brief excerpt from an excellent article, Dry, Age-Related Macular Degeneration: Genetics, the Environment, and Supplements, by the Retinal Diagnostic Center
“The US twin study of WWII veterans shows that macular degeneration is mostly an inherited condition. However, environmental factors can alter the progression or development of the macular degeneration by as much as 40%. Notably factors such as cigarette smoking, nutrition, and other factors that usually seem to be related to cardiovascular disease, can exacerbate the progression of macular degeneration…”
Copies of the complete article can be ordered by calling the BVIC. We thank the Retinal Diagnostic Center for their consideration.
Happy Birthday to BVIC Staff !!!
Robin, Moonset, (April birthdays)
Rena & Cheri (May birthdays)