WISCONSIN COUNCIL OF THE BLIND & VISUALLY IMPAIRED, INC.
Incorporated under laws of Wisconsin in November 1952, the Council is directed by 19 volunteer delegates: ten are appointed by four organizations representing people who are blind; nine delegates at large elected by blind people throughout the state.
The Council is a strong voice for blind citizens of Wisconsin. Its mission is to promote the dignity and independence of people in Wisconsin who are blind and visually impaired by providing services, advocating legislation and educating the general public. The Council is funded through proceeds of endowments established through bequest grants, private gifts from individuals and corporations, and the White Cane Fund campaign. No government funding is received.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
FROM THE PRESIDENT NEW EMPLOYEE IS "TOP" NOTCH
AGING GROUPS COME TOGETHER FOR COMMON GOALS
BLIND DRIVER HELPS TRAPPED CORNELL WOMAN
I'D INVITE YOU TO REMEBER "FLIFF"
FROM THE PRESIDENT NEW EMPLOYEE IS "TOP" NOTCH
By: Bruce Parkinson
The Wisconsin Council of the Blind is pleased to introduce its newest employee, Vorakiat Tampivieat. Don’t worry, you can call him by his “adopted middle name,” Top. In fact, even his mother calls him that. Top will handle inventory for the Council store and will serve customers who need help with assistive devices.
Top was born in Bangkok, Thailand. He came to the United States as a high school exchange student graduating from Marinette High School in 1995. He stayed in Wisconsin to attend the University in Madison where he earned both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree. His Master’s degree is in Industrial Engineering with an emphasis in human factors. As a graduate student he researched disability design at the Trace Research Center at the University.
Top is 27 years old. He and his wife Elly live in Middleton, a west suburb of Madison. His hobbies include gardening, cooking, and tinkering with his Harley, (he does live in Wisconsin).
Prior to coming to the Council Top worked as an engineer at America International Machinery in Milwaukee. As a student, he served as a volunteer at the Council.
When asked about coming to work here, Top said that the job fits with what he wants to do in life and he views the Council as a “neat organization.”
We welcome him to the staff and it is our hope that he will have a long and productive time with us.
AGING GROUPS COME TOGETHER FOR COMMON GOALS
By: Richard Pomo
For the past several years, the Wisconsin Council of the Blind has had the pleasure of participating in the annual Coalition of Wisconsin Aging Group’s (CWAG) annual convention. We have taken advantage of this experience in order to present information relevant to the needs of persons with visual impairments through several workshops. For the past two years, the Council has had a booth in which we share information about our services to interested folks from all over the state.
This year I had the opportunity to share in a presentation designed to assist folks in understanding their Medicare benefits, including their right to privacy and their ability to understand fraud. Also discussed was how to make materials accessible to individuals with disabilities. The Council provided assistance in helping folks understand how important it is to make materials available in large print, braille, tapes and electronic formats in order to reach a wide range of individuals.
Like me, many of you have joined the growing population of what is known as the older generation, or to our kids, “the-over-the-hill generation.” While our bodies often rebel when we ask them to do certain things, our mind and heart remain strong in our resolve that we are entitled to continue to be useful members of society. The experience of joining with hundreds of folks who have the determination and fortitude to fight for the rights of older individuals is uplifting. Too often we look to our individual groups with a narrow focus and do not realize that most issues concerning our generation are common issues for all. Although the mission of the Wisconsin Council of the Blind is to ensure that individuals who are blind or visually impaired have the opportunity to live independently, this does not differ from so many other groups who are striving to ensure those who are growing older receive the benefits that allow them to remain as independent as possible.
What does this have to do with you? Well, very simply, you can make a difference! Remember several years ago when there was a possibility that services from the Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped services might be cut? Many of you made over 10,000 calls to state officials. Many of them called us and asked what was going on. We responded that democracy was at work! People have a voice and a vote and officials should listen. We still have library services for those persons who need it.
During the CWAG convention, I noticed very few individuals with visual impairments. I want you to think about how you can become involved.
Support Groups for the blind and visually impaired are wonderful, but we need to expand our involvement. Look in to joining other groups and getting involved in aging networks in your area. There is no question that we will face tough times in the future. Whether it be the issue of high drug costs, accessible transportation or affordable housing, unless we let our voices be heard older people will suffer. We need to continue to identify common issues and common goals.
The Council is very fortunate to establish a positive relationship with CWAG, and will continue to work jointly to ensure that the concerns of individuals who are blind or visually impaired are not only recognized, but incorporated into the concerns of other members of aging networks.
WCB PLANS FOR THE FUTURE
By: Virginia DeBlaey
One of the items which has been on the Council’s agenda for the past year or so is the formulation of a long-range plan. Due to budgetary limitations, this process did not begin until Council members and staff met for a two-day session during the last weekend of March. Lori Silverman came to us with impressive credentials as a facilitator. She has worked with large corporations as well as non-profit organizations to formulate workable plans with achievable goals. As she directed our discussion and listened to our wishes, hopes and concerns, she helped us construct a plan which should improve and expand our programs and services.
Three work groups have been formed to complete specific tasks to implement the plan during the first year. The first will identify other groups who may partner with us, the second will study marketing and positioning while the third group will develop a model for service delivery.
The success of our long-range plan depends upon the efforts and cooperation of everyone involved and will mean many hours of extra work for Council members, staff and other volunteers. However, it should result in more meaningful services to a larger number of blind and visually impaired people throughout the state. We’ll keep you informed as we continue through this important process.
COUNCIL MEETING NOTES
By: Nona Graves
The Wisconsin Council of the Blind met at its office in Madison on May 22, 2004. Patty Slaby and Dick Waldburger were absent.
In his Executive Director’s report Dick Pomo said that he has hired a new Assistive Devices Specialist for the Council’s store. He also said that the architect’s plans for remodeling the store should be ready for the Council to review at the August meeting. It is hoped that the planned remodeling will make the store more user friendly for persons who are blind and visually impaired to browse.
Rhonda Staats reported that the Legislative Committee’s Legislative Day was a success. She said that on the state level, the Council needs to monitor the planned reorganization of the Division of Health and Family Services. On the federal level, the Defense Reauthorization Act is of concern because it may affect blind vendors who operate food service locations.
Becky Williams said that the Awards Committee is looking for nominees for the Louis Seidita Award and for the Employer of the Year award. If you have any suggestions, contact the Council office. The Awards Banquet is scheduled for October 29, 2004 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Madison.
The Loans Program will resume in January of 2005. The Loans Committee hopes to be more selective in granting loans to avoid losses. The Committee also hopes to streamline the application process with the use of E-mail and conference calls.
At this meeting allocations were made from White Cane Fund proceeds. A complete list of these allocations is available from the Council office.
The next meeting of the Council will be held on August 14, 2004 at its office in Madison.
BLIND DRIVER HELPS TRAPPED CORNELL WOMAN
Printed by Permission of Karl Blank, Jr.
It was a relatively warm day that Saturday, April 10, 2004 when Karl and Becky Blank were sitting at the dining room table taking it easy with all the windows open.
“You kind of hear things.” Karl said, “And then you think you hear kids playing. Then I said to Becky, “Does that sound like someone hollering help?” “I jumped up and ran out.”
“Running out” was not so easy for Karl as he is blind. He followed the sounds he heard to his driveway and turned left toward the cries for help. He went only about two houses from his home. For Karl, sounds take the place of sight.
“I don’t know how to explain this,” Karl said, “and there may not be any way to explain it, but if you are blind for a long time or blind from birth, like I am – it’s like I can tell where things are by hearing them. If there are five or six cars parked in the driveway, I can walk past them and hear where they are. Your footsteps bounce off the car. It’s like sonar.”
Karl continued running in the direction of the cries for help. “She was hollering ‘Help me, help me.’” Karl said. The woman’s words sounded as though she was in pain and when Karl came up to her he said “I’d like you to know before I do anything that I am totally blind.” She said “That’s OK, Karly”. Locals who know him often call him Karly.
She told him to get in the car – a full size Chevrolet Caprice which had jumped the curb – and step on the gas. The car was still running as Karl got in the car, stepped on the gas and the car went backward unexpectedly. No sound was made by the woman as the car backed up. Becky had come to see what was going on and picked up the woman’s shoe on the passenger side of the car. The woman was all right and stood up, taking the shoe and getting back into the car which she drove into her driveway.
The woman had tried to stop the car after backing out of her driveway and stopping at the mailbox to get her mail. Somehow, the car jumped into reverse when she thought it was in park. The car backed up and ran her over. She only ended up with a broken toe, although she had tread marks on her leg but she refused to call an ambulance.
Although he is totally blind, Karl grew up on a farm and driven some machinery so he knew where things were when he got into the car that day.
Karl is being called a hero, but he says “I don’t feel like a hero. I just did what had to be done. I also give that woman a lot of credit: who would let a blind man drive your car, especially when you’re underneath it?”
THE COUNCIL AT THE CAPITOL
By: Rhonda Staats
Once again, the Council held a Legislative Day in 2004. On April 21, members of the WCB Legislative Committee, along with friends of the Council, took this opportunity to advocate for programs and services important to blind and visually impaired people in the state of Wisconsin. Those who attended were: Bruce Parkinson, Dick Pomo, Gary Goyke, Dean Winger, Chris Zenchenko, Teresa Uecker, Rhonda and Edward Staats. Sally Zenchenko from the Randolph-Sheppard Vendors of Wisconsin, and Jacob Hall from the Badger Association of the Blind and Visually Impaired also participated. Gordon Anderson volunteered his time as a guide and driver.
We began our day at the Council office at 9:30 AM, from which we all traveled to Governor Doyle’s office where we met with his Chief Legislative Assistant, Donna Wang. We discussed equal access to electronic information on state web sites, and pedestrian white cane safety. We described the Business Enterprise Program as an $8 million industry with priority siting in state facilities, and its significance to blind vendors as independent business owners.
Immediately following our appointment with the Governor’s office, we split into two groups to make our time more productive. Our plan was to meet with all departments which have jurisdiction over programs and service delivery to people who are visually impaired. One group met with Joanna Richard, Administrative Assistant to Secretary Roberta Gassman of the Department of Workforce Development (DWD). (The Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) is located in DWD). This meeting focused on employment concerns. The second group met with officials from the Department of Public Instruction (DPI), including Secretary Elizabeth Burmaster. The education of blind and visually impaired children and the Wisconsin Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired were the topics at this meeting. Center Director Sue Enoch explained her goals.
After lunch at Stephanie’s Kitchen, a cafeteria operated by Tom Jeray as part of the Business Enterprise Program, we again split up for our afternoon appointments. One group traveled to the Department of Transportation (DOT), where they met with Dave Collins from the State Patrol, and Tom Huber and John Swissler regarding pedestrian safety. At this meeting, possible partnerships and activities with the Department of Transportation and our Council were discussed to promote public awareness, increase compliance, and enforcement of the White Cane Safety Law. These efforts are critical to maintain safe and independent travel by White Cane users and dog guide users.
The second group met with officials from the Department of Corrections (DOC), including Secretary Matt Frank. The DOC operates a braille transcribing service from the Oshkosh State Correctional Institution. Inmates who have received certification from the Library of Congress prepare textbooks and other materials. Blind children in school districts throughout Wisconsin clearly benefit from this service. In addition, several Wisconsin BEP vendors operate snack machine businesses in state correctional facilities. The Council felt that it was important to meet with DOC personnel to establish and maintain positive relationships.
Our appointment with the Department of Health and Family Services was canceled. Consequently, both groups met with Alicia Sidman from the Wisconsin Coalition for Advocacy to discuss accessible voting and the implementation of the Help America Vote Act of 2002. This law mandates that each polling site have at least one accessible voting booth by 2006. For voters who are blind or visually impaired, this may mean Braille or large print ballots, or voting machines that talk using synthesized speech. This act will allow people who are blind or visually impaired to vote independently without sighted assistance, and will restore the “secret” component to the secret ballot.
Our last formal appointments of the day focused on the Wisconsin Legislature Leadership. One group met with the chief aide to Senate Majority Leader, Republican Mary Panzer. The Council was invited back to her office in August to outline its legislative priorities for the 2005-2006 sessions. The second group met with Assembly Minority Leader, Democrat Jim Kreuser for a similar discussion. The Council works effectively to maintain and promote relationships with legislators from both parties to bring forward legislation benefiting people who are visually impaired.
Our day ended with a small, informal reception for Representative Luther Olsen, Republican of Berlin. The Council has a special relationship with Mr. Olsen. He worked hard to assist us in saving the Wisconsin School for the Visually Handicapped in Janesville, and he continues to support our legislative initiatives.
As you can see, the Wisconsin Council of the Blind had an extremely successful and productive Legislative Day.
BLINDSKILLS AND YOU
Reprinted by Permission of Blindskills, Inc.
A young mother has just learned that her baby has an eye disease that will ultimately result in blindness. She has heard about Blindskills, calls and requests information on how-to techniques and available resources.
Elsewhere, a computer programmer’s aging mother was diagnosed with macular degeneration. He began searching the Web for information regarding the various facets of the disease and the possibility of assistive devices. He found the Blindskills web site and contacted them.
Do you have questions about sight loss? Are you confused about the assistive technology options that seem to abound? If so, Blindskills can help you find answers to many of your questions.
For those who are losing their sight, or recently lost their sight, Blindskills offers a free cassette entitled “Where Do I Go From Here?” This tape details experiences of actual individuals with varying degrees of sight loss who have made adjustments in their daily living methods. “Promises to Keep”, the accompanying brochure, is directed toward the family and friends of a person with vision impairment. It contains helpful guidelines on how to be of assistance.
Connie’s Kitchen, a cookbook published by Blindskills, includes recipes and tips designed to help visually impaired cooks regain and maintain independence in the kitchen.
Blindskills also publishes a quarterly magazine entitled DIALOGUE, written by blind or visually impaired authors, who bring their unique perspectives and experiences to the publication.
A book newly published is Job Hunting Resources for People with Vision Impairments. This definitive contemporary career guide for blind and visually impaired people focuses on topics other career books do not address, putting emphasis on social and communications skills as they apply to visually impaired job hunters.
For information on any of the above, contact Blindskills, PO Box 5181, Salem OR 97304-0181, phone 800-860-4224 or www.blindskills.com.
SUPPORT GROUP NEWS
By: Sue Barker
Support Groups for the blind and visually impaired can be found throughout Wisconsin by county. These groups meet monthly - usually timed around a meal - at Senior Centers, senior residences and conveniently located spots in the local city. Speakers at meetings give presentations on any subject of interest to seniors; sometimes members just discuss how they cope with their sight loss. Occasionally the group will go on a special outing or field trip. Many groups take the summer off except for their annual picnic. A facilitator leads the group and is the contact for new members. Because of small attendance or health reasons, a group may disband or temporarily be on hold.
Groups are small and some have many long time members. Good friendships have been established between members and their families. If you are interested in finding the Visually Impaired Support Group in your area contact us at the Council office.
Several groups have had changes take place in the last few months. In Door County the new facilitator is Patty Ligman who may be contacted at 920/743-3972.
The Sheboygan County Insight group is now a telephone support group. You can contact Shirley Schilling at 920/458-3673 or Carolyn at 920/564-2668 with any questions.
There is a new group in Waukesha County. In Oconomowoc, Evelyn Siebrecht Mangan is starting a group that will meet at the Senior Center. She may be contacted at 262/567-5024.
Contact person for the Appleton Visually Impaired People’s Support Group is now Pat Valentyn at 920/733-2869, ext. 11.
At the Westside Coalition Low Vision Support Group in Dane County, Candace Pantoga is the new facilitator who can be reached at 608/238-7368.
In Eau Claire County, the Chippewa Valley Low Vision Support Group is facilitated by Al Thompson at 715/836-6772.
Marathon County’s Aging VIP Support Group has a new contact person, Georgianna Heisel at 715/261-6078.
In Racine County, the Pleasure Club for the Visually Impaired may be contacted by calling Richard Krekling at 262/886-4552.
Last but not least, Molly Butz is the facilitator at Winnebago County’s Oshkosh Visually Impaired Persons Group. Her number is 920/232-5308.
TECH TALK
By: Betsy Gruba
In the last issue of Tech Talk (March 2004) I talked about the Distance Learning Classes we offer. The following article has additional information on the cost and a better description of the classes. This program is being sponsored by the Public Service Commission through a generous grant. The classes are free of charge to residents of Wisconsin who are blind or visually impaired. This is a statewide program.
How These Classes Work
Classes are held over the phone with up to 8 students per class. The classes are scheduled for two hours each session and courses range from 2 to 4 sessions. If you sign up for an Internet or e-mail class it is recommended that you have a second line in your house so you can be on the Internet and the phone at the same time. To sign up for any of these classes please contact me at 608-255-1166 or via e-mail at betsy@wcblind.org. What follows is a list and description of the classes offered. If there is a class you would like and don’t see on the list please let me know. I am taking names for additional classes as well.
How to Buy a Computer
Have you ever wondered what the difference between a gigabyte and a megabyte are? What is the difference between a flat panel monitor and a crt monitor, and what the heck is a “Burner”? This class is for you. We will take the confusion out of all the terms in a computer ad. This course runs a total of 4 hours.
Introduction to Computers
Basic computer components such as processors and memory will be discussed along with terms found in a computer ad. Software will be discussed, what the basic Windows environment looks like, and how to work in it. This course runs a total of 8 hours.
JAWS Help feature
JAWS, a screen reader program, has a very extensive help feature. This course will teach the user how to navigate through it and find information. You must be using JAWS and be at least a basic user. This course runs 4 hours.
New Features in JAWS 5.0
This course is for those who have upgraded to JAWS 5.0 from a previous JAWS version. We will go over new key commands and new navigation features in the program. The student needs to have JAWS installed on the computer and be proficient with it.
What is Assistive Technology for the visually impaired?
This course explains what screen readers, screen magnification programs, scan and read programs, and voice activation are. The student does not need to have a computer in order to take this class, but it would be helpful. This course runs a total of 8 hours.
Outlook Express for a Screen Reader
Using the popular e-mail program that comes with the Windows operating system, the student will learn how to send, receive, filter, organize, and do much more using a screen-reader. This course assumes that you are quite familiar with JAWS or Window-Eyes. The course runs 8 hours.
Introduction to Word 97/2000 for a Screen Reader
This course is designed to teach the fundamentals of Microsoft Word. Topics include entering and editing text, and formatting of text. File management will also be taught. This course assumes that you are quite familiar with either JAWS or Window-Eyes. The course runs 8 hours.
Introduction to Word 97/2000 for the Partially Sighted
This course is designed to teach the fundamentals of Microsoft Word. Topics include entering and editing text, and formatting of text. File management will also be taught. In this class you can use the screen with an enlargement program or if you desire, you can use the screen without magnification. This course runs 8 hours.
Introduction to Word XP/2003 for a Screen Reader
See the description for Introduction to Word 97/2000 for a Screen Reader above.
Introduction to Word XP/2003 for the Partially Sighted
See the description for Introduction to Word 97/2000 for the Partially Sighted above.
Internet for a Screen Reader
This course will cover using the Internet with a Screen Reader. Using links, filling out forms and finding items of interest will be covered. This course assumes that you are quite familiar with either JAWS or Window-Eyes. Please note that this class will be for the latest version of JAWS and WindowEyes. If you are using an older version this class may not be applicable to you. This course runs 8 hours.
Internet for the Partially Sighted
This course will cover all aspects of the Internet. Using links, filling out forms and finding items of interest will be covered. In this class you can use the screen with an enlargement program or if you desire you can use the screen without one. This course runs 8 hours.
Remember, all courses are free to those who meet eligibility requirements. In the next issue of Tech Talk we will be talking about the new PacMate by Freedom Scientific.
WCB LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
By: Gary R. Goyke
With the end of the 2004 legislative session and the beginning of the general election season, we have to say farewell to a number of legislators. There has never been a time when so many legislators who have been instrumental to programs for the blind and visually impaired have announced their intentions to retire or pursue other endeavors.
We want to say a very big “Thank You” to them for their public service to the citizens of their districts and of Wisconsin. Many of these men and women sponsored and supported legislative issues for which we advocated. If you meet these legislators, please let them know we always appreciated their willingness to listen to our concerns.
Rep. Wayne Wood of Janesville is one of the longest serving members of the Legislature. He is retiring after 28 years in the State Assembly. Rep. Wood worked aggressively to keep the Wisconsin School for the Visually Handicapped in Janesville open.
Rep. Luther Olsen of Berlin will be leaving the Assembly to run for the State Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Bob Welch. He has served ten years in the Assembly. Rep. Olsen chairs the Committee on Education and has been an advocate for us during his entire time in the Legislature.
Sen. Chuck Chvala of Madison was a major sponsor of our sales tax bill and a strong backer of DVR and employment programs. He was also the Senate majority leader for several years.
Rep. Mark Miller of Madison will be leaving the Assembly to run for the State Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Chvala. He has served six years in the Assembly. Rep. Miller has championed rights for our dog guide users and Randolph Sheppard Vendors.
Sen. Bob Welch of Redgranite is leaving the state Senate to run for the U.S. Senate. He is completing his ninth year in the Senate, after having served eight years in the Assembly.
Sen. Gwen Moore of Milwaukee, who is leaving the Senate to run for the 4th Congressional District seat, has served there for fourteen years and also served four years in the State Assembly.
Sen. Mark Meyer of La Crosse, is another Senator who previously served in the State Assembly. He is completing his fourth year in the Senate and was in the Assembly for eight years before that.
Rep. DuWayne Johnsrud of Eastman is completing his twentieth year in the State Assembly.
Rep. Steve (“Mickey”) Foti of Oconomowoc, who served in the State Assembly for 22 years, has been the Assembly majority leader for the last eight years.
Rep. Lorraine Seratti of Spread Eagle, who championed health insurance reform, is leaving the Assembly after having served for twelve years.
Rep. Shirley Krug of Milwaukee, served as Assembly minority leader in the late 1990s and is now completing her twentieth year in the state Assembly. She is leaving the Assembly to run for the 4th Congressional District seat.
Rep. Mike Powers of Albany is completing his tenth year in the Assembly.
Rep. Larry Balow of Eau Claire has served six years in the Assembly.
Rep. Johnnie Morris of Milwaukee will be leaving the Assembly to run for the State Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Gwen Moore. She is completing her twelfth year in the Assembly.
Rep. Tom Hebl of Sun Prairie will be leaving the Assembly to run for the State Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Chuck Chvala. He has served eight years in the Assembly.
Rep. Dan Schoof of Beloit is leaving the Assembly next month to head the Division of Energy within the Department of Administration. He served only six years but this year was a member of the influential Joint Committee on Finance.
Rep. Bonnie Ladwig of Racine is a former assistant majority leader of the State Assembly. She succeeded her husband in the 63rd Assembly district seat; together they held the seat for 25 years.
This group of legislators who are retiring or moving on to other political endeavors are an incredibly diverse group. They are a cross-section of Wisconsin’s population – some young and some older; farmers, lawyers, business owners and other occupations; liberals and conservatives; Republicans and Democrats. Yet they have one important trait in common: A strong desire to serve their constituents and the state of Wisconsin. Their collective experience represents many decades of public service. For that, we all owe them a big “Thank You!”
STAY TUNED
By: Chris Zenchenko
This morning I noticed on one of our local stations a quick remote broadcast. The news and other usual morning information items were there and mixed in was a quick switch to the remote site. Hearing how easy it was for them to patch in the remote announcer got me thinking about remote broadcasts during the ‘30's and ‘40's. News reporting is the most obvious example and the one that provides us with most of the remaining audio clips. Today we are truly live from just about anywhere.
Back then “live” might just mean “almost live”, because getting audio back to the station was far from easy. Many examples I have heard that were remote broadcasts actually were records cut on a portable cutter and rushed back to the station. I am sure with all of the news surrounding the recent death of Ronald Regan there have been articles and comments about his early days in broadcasting when he and others recreated baseball and football games in the studio because they had no good way to get game audio to the station.
A few months ago I was digging through a box of home cut 16 inch transcription disks, and found a set of recordings from a high school basketball game. The announcer was clearly pointing out the spots on the disk where the station should take breaks and what sections could be skipped when playing the recording. It could have sounded live, but it was not. During the closing days of the Second World War CBS and NBC assembled large remote transmitters which were located in vans. Signals were sent from these vans to the network. One of the best known examples of this equipment in use was the "VJ" (Victory in Japan) Day celebrations. During one of the broadcasts people were actually climbing on top of the van containing the remote transmitter, and the news reporter talks about the crowd and their activities.
Phone lines were also used for live remotes, but audio quality was poor and there was a good chance that no lines would be near the location. As time went on technology got better and remote links got smaller. Still, stations and networks preferred to work with recordings.
Two shows from the 50's used tape recordings made from the back
seat of a traveling police car. One was called Unit 99; more famous was Night Watch. Unit 99 was done in 1957. This show followed the activities of the San Francisco PD as a roving officer/reporter went on his rounds. Tape and the delay gave time for editing, but hearing the show you might think it was live.
Small local stations also had need of remote broadcasts just as the big network operations did, but they couldn't afford the large expensive equipment. County fairs, local farm auctions, and of course breaking local news events all called for remote audio hook-ups. If no phone lines were available, the station staff had to get inventive. I have read stories of local stations teaming up in informal relay deals where the closest station to the audio would broadcast it. The station in the next town down the line would just rebroadcast the "over the air" audio from the neighboring station.
Long delays and technical problems regularly made carrying remote broadcasts an adventure. Many newscasts and local programs were filled with breaks in audio and announcements to stand by. I have disks with war news that contain 5 to 10 minutes of dead air as the cutter ran and the station waited for a shortwave or phone line broadcast from Europe or elsewhere overseas. Today a remote might be as simple as shouting into a cell phone. That's what they did this morning. No vans or huge shortwave transmitters- just a phone the size of a deck of cards and we're live from the parking lot of a local bank.
I'D INVITE YOU TO REMEMBER "FLIFF"
By: Gary R. Goyke
This is the story of Floyd “Fliff” Dahmer. After Fliff died in February, 2002, his family and friends wanted to commemorate his love of the game of golf and his dedication to bringing people of all ages to the game.
Cousins of Fliff’s, the “Oehlberg girls” – Mary, Chris and Sarah – organized the first “Friends of Fliff” golf tournament in 2002 at the Autumn Ridge Golf Course at Pigeon Lake. In 2003 the family of Fred and Ilona Fisher, more particularly John and Julie Rader, continued the tournament, when it was staged at New Berlin Hills Golf Club. The common theme of these outings was bringing family and friends of Fliff together to remember his life and enjoy a day of playing golf in the spirit he would have intended. The tournament was played for the benefit of the American Heart Association.
This year Fliff’s wife, Judy, and his children, Woody, Maria and John, decided to honor another cousin, Bob Hueller, by designating the Wisconsin Council of the Blind as the charity to receive the proceeds of this year’s golf tournament. The family said it was particularly impressed by blind golfer, Dick Pomo, the Council’s Executive Director, who demonstrates that the joys of the game are not limited to those with sight.
Floyd “Fliff” Dahmer caddied as a young boy at Pine Hills Country Club in Sheboygan and was an avid player, competitor and promoter of golf over the last 50 years of his life. While living in Kiel, he was a member and played most of his golf at Quit Qui Oc Golf club in Elkhart Lake. He was the club champion in 1987, at the age of 62. It is most fitting that this year’s tournament in honor of Fliff will be played at Quit Qui Oc. The event will be held on Saturday, August 7, 2004.
Fliff never hesitated to take time with anyone who expressed even a mild desire to play golf, and he will be remembered as a great competitor who also showed the highest level of sportsmanship. To Fliff, golf was always a combination of a sporting competition and social experience. He particularly enjoyed opportunities to bring young kids to the game, and to teach them what he could about its fundamentals, discipline, history and etiquette. He helped them develop an appreciation for the game.
Please help us keep his spirit alive by supporting this annual tournament. If you would like to donate a financial gift or help us with prizes for the tournament, please give me a call. This event will benefit our Capacity Campaign and help us provide programs and services throughout our state. A very big thank you to the entire Dahmer family and a special thank you to Bob and Liz Hueller for their assistance in organizing this golf tournament to honor Fliff’s memory.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
August 7
Badger Association of the Blind Meeting
Milwaukee
August 14
WCB Council Meeting
Council Offices, Madison
August 21
Midwest Association Meeting
Manitowoc
September 11
Badger Association of the Blind and Picnic
Milwaukee
September 15 & 16
La Crosse Seminar and Fundraiser
Radisson Center
La Crosse
October 3
Badger Association of the Blind Meeting
Milwaukee
October 17
Midwest Association Meeting
Brookfield
October 29
WCB Awards Banquet
Crowne Plaza Hotel
Madison
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