March 2007 Courier

WISCONSIN COUNCIL OF THE BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED

Council Courier

Nona Graves, Editor
Kate Hollander, Managing Editor
Virginia DeBlaey, Copyeditor
Kathy Brockman & Karen Perzentka, Proofreaders
Ann Schroeder, Braille & Cassette Coordinator

Newsletter Committee

Sarah Heesen
Bruce Parkinson
Rhonda Staats
Amy Snow
Becky Williams

Editor’s Note: Have you missed an issue of the Courier? If you did not receive your November 2006 issue of our newsletter, please let us know! Call Kate at (608) 273-8109 and we will get one out to you as soon as possible. Please specify your preferred medium: large print, Braille, cassette or e-mail.

If your media preference has changed and you wish to receive future issues of the Courier in a different format, please use the form on the back of this newsletter.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

A Message from the President

A Message from the Director

WCB&VI Begins Another Year

Legislatively Speaking

Philanthropy Day: May 18, 2007

Symposium on Macular Degeneration

Goalball

Two Easy Ways to Support the Council

Meet Gary Traynor

Meet Sarah Heesen

Meet Dan Sippl

Meet Neil Ford

Featured Support Groups

Announcing the Sharper Vision Store Online

2006 Annual Report Preview

Council Art Exhibit

Calendar of Events

Free White Canes

 

A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

By Chris Zenchenko

The year 2006 was a year of major changes for the Wisconsin Council of the Blind & Visually Impaired. It is hard to believe our new executive director already has a full year of experience and challenges behind her. Under her direction and that of the Council, we reached more people throughout the state than any year in recent memory. The pace of this progress is only going to increase as we move into 2007. The Council has planned events in the southeast and northern parts of Wisconsin along with many other locations. As you read this issue of the Courier, some of the details will be mentioned.

Some of the current changes are to the Council itself. We are proud to include four newly seated members who joined us at our January 2007 meeting. You will be introduced to each of them as you read these pages. Three of the new members are from outside the Madison area and two from the northwestern part of the state. As a truly statewide organization, it is important to serve people and have representatives from all over Wisconsin.

Along with changes on the Council, our staff has been busy in the office. Our special Council DVD was launched at our November awards banquet, and copies will be shared for viewing at many events throughout the year. With the resignation of our rehabilitation teacher, David Ballmann, who has moved on to a new position at the Center in Janesville, we have begun recruiting for a replacement.

In the meantime, our website got its first major facelift in several years, and our online store and donation systems have been upgraded and improved. People now have the option to look online for new items from our Sharper Vision Store, and even purchase them via the web. They can also donate to the Council through online giving. Arnold Tucker’s article.

Technology is an important tool for reaching out to people all over the state. We will be looking for new ways to use the web, e-mail, conferencing software, and listservs to help us do an even better job. By the time you read this, we will have held our first Council member and staff retreat to bring us all together to consider new and better ways of serving people who are blind and visually impaired. Other plans include strengthening existing partnerships and building new ones.

The direction for 2007 is set, and following a year filled with changes, this year we will build on our successes and cement good relationships with our partners, friends, and the people we serve. These are exciting times for the Council, and I am honored to serve as president of such a dynamic and useful organization. The Council has no rival when it comes to the dedication of its members and staff to serving the blind and low vision people of our state.

 

A MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

By Karen V. Majkrzak

As you will see from the variety of topics in this issue of the Courier, we are looking forward to a very exciting and challenging year as we celebrate the 55th Anniversary of the Council! We’re particularly pleased to introduce four new members of the Council and offer a glimpse of the variety of experiences and skills these individuals bring to WCB&VI. We are fortunate to continue to have such a dedicated and hard working group to lead our organization. I welcome our new Council members and thank the entire Council and all our staff members for their leadership and willingness to serve.

In past issues, I have asked for your suggestions and feedback. I encourage you again to contact me directly if you have questions, recommendations or ideas. You can e-mail me at karen@wcblind.org or call me directly at 608-237-8103.

The Council’s mission is...to promote the dignity and independence of the people in Wisconsin who are blind and visually impaired by providing services, advocating legislation and educating the general public. In order to do this, we need each of you to participate! Each of us is a crucial puzzle piece, with unique strengths, experiences and skills. Viewed separately, pieces of a puzzle do not complete the big picture. When the pieces fit together, however, the result can be remarkable. And so it is when all of our strengths and skills fit together...when we work together, our mission and vision become clear and our organization becomes stronger than ever!

Please join us as we work to put our mission into action in new ways. The results will be incredible!

WCB&VI BEGINS ANOTHER YEAR

By Nona Graves, Council Member

The Wisconsin Council of the Blind & Visually Impaired met at its office in Madison on January 20, 2007, to elect officers and a Board of Directors, and to appoint committees.

Elected to the Board of Directors were Chris Zenchenko representing the Alumni Association of the Wisconsin School for the Visually Handicapped, Kathy Brockman representing the Badger Association of the Blind and Visually Impaired, Bruce Parkinson representing the Midwest Association for the Blind, and Rhonda Staats and Arnold Tucker who are both at-large delegates. The officers are: Chris Zenchenko, president; Bruce Parkinson, vice-president; Nona Graves, secretary; Arnold Tucker, treasurer.

For the first time, four of the Council members were appointed rather than being elected. The Council decided to do this in order to broaden the representation throughout the state and to add to the talent available. You will meet the new Council members in this issue of The Courier.

Much of the rest of the Council meeting was spent in hearing committee reports and planning for the coming year. We hope this will be a productive year for the Council as we try to help visually impaired persons live useful and independent lives.

 

LEGISLATIVELY SPEAKING

By Rhonda Staats, Council Member

The WCB&VI is planning a busy legislative agenda for 2007. I will again chair this committee, and we are glad to welcome two of our newest Council members to share the work and the fun. Committee members include: Gary Goyke, Karen Heesen, Richard Johnson, Bruce Parkinson, Katherine Schneider, Rhonda Staats, Gary Traynor, Dan Sippl, and Ed Weiss. The committee relies on Gary Goyke for guidance and unparalleled information and access to the Wisconsin legislature and its activities.

 The 2007 legislative season started with a big party! Several Council members attended Governor Doyle’s inauguration and related events beginning with the Governor’s dinner on January 2 and culminating with the inaugural ball on the evening of January 3. During breaks in the festivities, we visited 35 legislative offices to inform key legislators about WCB&VI’s legislative priorities.

Governor Doyle delivered his State of the State address on January 30, in which he indicated that there may be some organizational changes in key state agencies. One major change is that Kevin Hayden has been announced as the new Secretary of the Department of Health and Family Services. The governor presented his budget on February 13, and we continue to monitor its impact on programs and services important to people who are blind and visually impaired.

This year’s Legislative Day will be held on Tuesday, May 8, in the Capitol Rotunda. We are featuring a showcase event to include a wide representation of agencies and organizations serving Wisconsin citizens. We plan to invite all 133 legislators and office staff to the Rotunda to visit our tables.

In addition to our Legislative Day, the Legislative Committee will continue to advocate for our priorities during the 2007-08 legislative cycle. These include the following:

ID Parity. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation has inserted a provision in the budget that would make state ID cards valid for a duration equal to that of drivers’ licenses. If this recommendation is adopted by the full legislature, all licenses will be on an eight year cycle. There is likely to be an increase in fees commensurate with the longer life cycle of the ID cards. Additionally, the Council will continue to remain in close contact with the governor’s office and Department of Transportation to advocate for accessible, affordable transportation options for people who are blind or visually impaired.

AB 1142: Braille Bill. The Legislative Committee plans to be a key player in the re-introduction of a Braille Bill designed to make college texts available to postsecondary students in alternative formats. We will be seeking sponsors to move this initiative forward.

Regional Library. The Council continues its support and advocacy for the Wisconsin Regional Library Service. DPI Superintendent Burmaster has included an increase for Newsline funding in the governor’s budget. The change to digital talking books will occur during the next two years, and the Council will advocate for the library to ensure that digital books are available to the widest number of consumers. The Library Service enjoys overwhelming consumer support, and we may seek to mobilize it to ensure the continuation of current service levels.

PHILANTHROPY DAY: MAY 18, 2007

By Gary Goyke, Council Staff

We are hoping for a wonderful spring day to help us in welcoming all our friends and supporters to an educational seminar and an awards luncheon in beautiful Eagle River, Wisconsin.

Friday May 18, 2007 establishes our 5th Annual Northern Wisconsin Philanthropy Day. The Council has established a tradition of recognizing leaders and organizations who help provide the quality of life which makes our state such a great place to live. We will be meeting at the Eagle River Inn and Resort beginning with the educational seminar at 9:00 a.m. A luncheon will be served during the awards ceremony. A small fee is requested to help defray some of the expenses. The seminar will feature displays and demonstrations of adaptive equipment, presentations on coping with vision loss, and some excellent thoughts from the staff of the Marshfield Clinic in Woodruff, Wisconsin.

We will provide additional details in the coming weeks. For more information please contact Gary Goyke, Director of Public Relations and Marketing at 608-237-8108.

SYMPOSIUM ON MACULAR DEGENERATION

By Kate Hollander, Council Staff

Can the common fruit fly help us understand the causes of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a condition that affects thousands of people in Wisconsin? Nansi Colley, a UW professor and member of the UW Eye Research Institute, thinks so. She studies the genetics of retinal degeneration, using the fruit fly as her starting point. “Fruit flies provide a ‘small-scale’ model for clues about how the visual system works in health and disease,” explains Dr. Colley. “And because the genetic make-up of the fruit fly is well understood, it is simpler to look for genetic mutations that cause macular degeneration in the fly than in the human.” Then comes the leap from fly to human: “Once those fly mutations are identified,” says Colley, “I collaborate with researchers who work on the genetics of human macular degeneration to see which mutations in the fly correspond to those in humans.” This collaboration, which begins with that humble insect hovering over your fruit bowl, leads to a better understanding of why vision fails in older adults.

Dr. Colley is just one of more than a dozen researchers, clinicians, rehabilitation specialists, and other experts who will present at “Macular Degeneration: Progress in Sight VI,” a free, day-long symposium hosted jointly by the UW Medical School and the Wisconsin Council of the Blind and Visually Impaired on April 18, 2007. “These kinds of cooperative relationships are critical to the Council in fulfilling its mission,” says Gary Goyke. “It gives us great exposure in an arena where vision loss is taken very seriously.” Dr. Barbara Blodi, a co-coordinator of the symposium from the UW Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, agrees. “Through this joint effort, we are able to offer a free public seminar, reaching patients, family members and others throughout the state and region,” she says.

jLlike Dr. Colley’s is only one component of the symposium: presenters will speak on rehabilitation and political issues as well. This three-pronged approach is particularly important, says Marshall Flax, the Council’s low vision therapist. “For those who have vision impairment from AMD, the rehabilitation information may be useful,” he explains. “For those who may have the disease but not the vision impairment, the medical and scientific information may help them keep from losing vision, or as much vision.” And because “the funding for all of this [research] comes from the government, there is a lot of competition among groups for the ear of the Congress. Predictably, little will come our way unless we band together and organize!

Goyke would agree. A long-time advocate for people who are blind and visually impaired, Gary is familiar with the need for greater interaction between politicians and the public. “Spending priorities are determined by elected officials, and we’re very interested in making sure our concerns are discussed at the table where decisions are made,” he says. “Connecting politicians with a thousand people with AMD is a great way of bringing it home to them that this is a serious concern.” Of course, it’s a two-way street: not only does the symposium connect politicians with some of their constituents, it aims to familiarize consumers with the political side of research and rehabilitation issues.

Connecting consumers and patients with research is an important feature of the symposium as well. Dr. Ron Danis, for example, will discuss a clinical study which focuses on the impact of dietary nutrients on macular degeneration. He’ll talk about the nutrients and the trial, but also about how interested people can participate in the study. “The world of AMD is changing,” declares Blodi, citing some of the new treatments available. “We would like our patients to have the most up-to-date information on new studies, new treatments, and new technologies to help them take better care of themselves and their family members.”

Providing the tools for better care and self-care is a major focus of the symposium, and the third prong, rehabilitation, may be the most vital in the day-to-day, minute-to-minute lives of people with AMD. “For a person with macular degeneration, rehabilitation is, simply, everything!” says Flax. “Rehabilitation is, literally, ‘to learn to live again.’” Flax stresses the importance of coming together with other people living with AMD and the value of hearing from experts in the field of rehabilitation.

He is particularly enthused about the inclusion of author Alberta Orr, MSW, in the symposium. She is “one of this country’s foremost researchers and writers on vision loss and aging,” says Flax. “But, unlike someone in a strictly educational setting who writes for a largely academic audience, and unlike a consumer with vision loss who may be limited to his or her own experiences, Ms. Orr writes about what we need to know—as rehabilitation practitioners, care providers, and as consumers with low vision—in very practical terms.”

In truth, much of what is presented at the symposium will be practical and applicable to people living with AMD, but some things—like new breakthroughs in understanding and treating the disease—remain stubbornly in the future. So what can a person living with macular degeneration expect to gain from attending Progress in Sight VI? “The sense of power that can come when you recognize that you’re not alone,” says Flax. “And to see some of the high tech equipment, learn about services and resources, and hear about some of the new sci-fi stuff that may become viable for persons with low vision.” Goyke echoes him: “The Council and the University teaming up together can provide medical information as well as skills for using the vision that remains.”

For more information, or to register, please call 1-800-783-5213 or Click Here to go to the online registration form.

GOALBALL

By Amy Snow, Council Member

Every now and again, people ask me what I do for a living. I explain my teaching position at WCBVI ( Wisconsin Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired) and mention that, aside from teaching, I enjoy coaching both Swim and Goalball. This often results in silence or the question: “What exactly is Goalball?” This article was written to answer that very question.

Goalball was invented after the Second World War as a way for blinded veterans to stay active and in shape. The sport increased in popularity as the years passed and eventually was introduced internationally at the 1976 Paralympic games. To this day, it is the only international sport for the visually impaired played there. Most recently, the game has become popular among schools for the blind as well as sports programs for the physically challenged in larger cities.

The game is very easy to understand and almost as easy to play. Two teams, each consisting of three players, roll a four-pound hollow ball filled with bells at the opposing team. The object of the game is to keep the ball from entering the goal area by blocking it. Since all the players are blindfolded, they must listen for the ball, then lay on their sides to prevent it from crossing the goal line. Players have the option to wear knee and elbow pads as well as chest protectors and hockey shorts (which serve the dual purpose of protecting the player’s hips as he or she hits the ground and allows the added advantage of being able to slide to better block the ball).

You may wonder how the players know where they are on the court if they are blindfolded. Raised lines allow the players to orient themselves. Obviously, this requires a great deal of practice and knowledge of the court, but most players become very proficient rather quickly.

As previously mentioned, three players make up one team. One player, the center, is positioned in the middle of the team area. Two wings, on either side of the center, are positioned slightly behind him or her. The idea is to cover as much of the goal area as possible to prevent the opposing team from scoring.

In Wisconsin, there have been efforts in Wausau, Madison, and other areas to organize teams. The Wisconsin School for the Visually Handicapped has a team that is fairly well-established and the season is barely underway. Their first home meet was held on February 10th, 2007.

These are only the basics of the game. If you are interested in more information about Goalball, there is some information on the Internet if you know where to look. You may wish to start with these websites: http://www.goalballnetwork.com/

http://www.goalball.biz/index.html

http://www.dhamilton.net/goalball/

TWO EASY WAYS TO SUPPORT THE COUCIL

By Kathy Lange-Novak, Council Staff

We have discovered two easy ways to increase corporate support for the Council, but we need your help. A few minutes of your time could result in thousands of dollars in corporate donations to the Council.

1. Pick ‘n Save’s “We Care” Program Turns Groceries into Donations

If you shop at Pick ‘n Save, just follow these simple steps and Pick ‘n Save will make a donation to the Council based on your purchases.

It’s as simple as that.

Each time you shop and use your Advantage Plus® Saver’s Card, the Council will receive a cash rebate which is distributed every three months. The amount of the rebate will be a percentage of the total amount of “We Care” dollars that Pick ’n Save® has contributed. The more you use your card, the larger percentage of total “We Care” contributions the Council will receive.

2. Let Us Know Who Your Employer Is

Many businesses like to support organizations that their employees support. If you or your spouse is working, please give Kathy Lange-Novak a call at 800-783-5213 or send her an email at kathyln@wcblind.org to let us know the name of your employer.

We can find out whether your employer has what is called a “matching gift” program. With a matching gift program, your employer will match whatever gift you give to the Council, usually up to a certain limit. For example, if you donate $50 to the Council each year, your employer will also donate $50 to the Council.

The employee usually has to fill out some paperwork for the matching gift, but by spending just a few minutes, you could double your gift to the Council!

Please contact Kathy Lange-Novak at kathyln@wcblind.org or call 800-783-5213 if you have any questions about corporate donations or the Pick ‘n Save “We Care” program. Thank you!

 

MEET GARY TRAYNOR

By Rhonda Staats, Council Member

Gary Traynor began serving a three-year term as a delegate-at-large in January 2007. He and his family live in Eau Claire where he was born and raised. He and his wife, Sharon, have been married for 25 years, and have three daughters, Jennifer, Laura, and Michelle. Gary joined the United States Air Force in 1983, and served for more than seventeen years until he developed a rare eye disease called rod-cone dystrophy. Gradual loss of vision resulted in Gary’s early retirement, just when he believed he was at the pinnacle of his career. He spent the last ten years of his military duty at Hickam Air Force Base in Hawaii, and left the Air Force as a Squadron Fabrication Flight Chief.

After leaving the military, Gary and his family returned to Eau Claire. He gave up driving, and soon lost the ability to recognize faces. He experienced feelings of loss, frustration, and confusion. But he learned to graciously ask and receive assistance from others, and to do old things in new ways. He attended the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, and received a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work with a minor in Religious Studies. Gary was instrumental in improving accessibility services for students who are visually impaired at UW-Eau Claire where he was selected to serve on the College Disability Committee. He continued to work toward developing self-advocacy skills in others during his internship at the Independent Living Center of Western Wisconsin in Menominee.

Gary comes to the Council with a strong desire for systems advocacy for people who are blind and visually impaired, and is particularly concerned with the lack of resources and employment opportunities. He will be serving on the Legislative Committee and the newly established Research and Products Committee designed to support the Sharper Vision Store.

 

MEET SARAH HEESEN

By Becky Williams, Council Member

Although she currently lives in Milwaukee, Sarah Heesen grew up in Janesville, Wisconsin, where she became a proud graduate of the Wisconsin School for the Visually Handicapped class of 2000. Throughout her early educational years, which also included work at Oakhill Christian School and Parker High School, she excelled in drama, swimming, forensics, and music. She gave many flute and vocal performances. One of my favorites was her rendition of "Blue Skies," which had me humming the tune for weeks.

After high school, Sarah attended Maranatha Baptist Bible College in Watertown, WI where she majored in church ministries. "I liked the way the people there were really concerned for students and wanted to help them succeed," she comments. During this time, Sarah continued to shine musically as she toured the New England states and Washington, D.C. with her college madrigal choir.

When she completed her college studies, Sarah became an e-commerce specialist in customer service for Industries for the Blind in Milwaukee. She was elected to serve on the Council as a delegate from the Alumni Association of the Wisconsin School for the Visually Handicapped. "I am impressed with the direction the Council is taking now," she said. "It seems it's really becoming a voice to speak on behalf of the blindness community and a go-to place for services.” Since she has always wanted to become involved in helping this community, Sarah is excited about serving on the Council. Her dedication and talents will surely prove to be an asset to its work. She is currently serving on the Newsletter, New Products and Research, and Technology Committees.

Sarah enjoys spending her free time reading, being active in her church choir and worship team, blogging, sound engineering, and hanging out with friends and family, especially her dog guide, Chutney. Welcome to the Council, Sarah!

 

MEET DAN SIPPL

By Amy Snow, Council Member

 

Dan Sippl comes to us from Eau Claire with a great deal of knowledge about WCB&VI. He has known about the Council for many years and recognizes it as a great cause in which to devote his time. Dan hopes that by joining the Council, he can give something back for the help he received when he most needed it.

Dan worked for the government for many years before being forced to change jobs due to vision loss. Eventually, he found the Business Enterprise Program (BEP) and feels this has been his best employment experience to date. Dan feels that losing his eyesight has opened a lot of doors to experiences he may not otherwise have had, and has allowed him to do a job he enjoys.

One of the things Dan looks forward to most about serving on the Council is the opportunity to talk to others about the capabilities of visually impaired individuals. He says the visually impaired might well be out of sight, but the Council can make sure that they are not out of mind, and he hopes to continue that important work. Dan would like to become more involved in the blindness community as well as educate sighted people about how to cope with vision loss. He hopes to prove to sighted people that just because he has trouble seeing, it doesn’t mean that he can’t do many things they can do, including earn a living. Dan’s family consists of his wife and three daughters, of whom he is very proud. Welcome Dan, we all look forward to working with you!

MEET NEIL FORD

By Virginia DeBlaey, Council Staff

Neil Ford was born and raised in Illinois. He earned his undergraduate degree from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale and a PhD in business from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana. He began teaching at the UW Business School in the fall of 1966. During his 30-year career as a professor, he taught courses at all levels; during his last ten years of teaching he chose to focus on undergraduate courses in sales management, marketing strategy and business-to-business marketing. After his retirement from teaching in 1996, he served as Chairman of the Marketing Department for three years and taught in London on two separate occasions. He became active in county government and is in his third full term as a supervisor in Columbia County.

Dr. Ford began losing vision due to wet macular degeneration in March of 2001. Like many others, he found being unable to drive one of the most challenging adjustments to his loss of vision. He hopes to start a support group for visually impaired residents of Columbia County in the very near future. He is also an active member of the Lake Wisconsin Lions’ Club. In addition, he is the father of three adult children and a proud grandfather of one. He enjoys bowling and shares the hobby of finding and purchasing antiques/collectables with his wife.

As you can see from this brief introduction, Neil Ford will be a valuable member of the WCB&VI and we welcome him to our team. His knowledge of business and marketing strategies will be invaluable as we meet the challenges of the future.

FEATURED SUPPORT GROUPS

By Kate Hollander, Council Staff

Being blind or visually impaired isn’t always easy! Support from and problem-solving with peers can sometimes make all the difference. Please note our featured support groups:

A new support group for younger adults with vision loss has been meeting for about a year in Appleton. They meet the second Monday of each month from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. at the Harmony Café, which is located at 124 N. Oneida St. in Appleton. The group is member-run and welcomes as new members younger adults who are out of high school but not yet retirement age, and who are experiencing vision loss. Please contact Denise at (920) 830-8818 for more information.

A support group for older adults with vision loss meets the third Thursday of every month at the North/Eastside Senior Coalition in Madison (located at 1625 Northport Drive, #125 in Madison). The group meets from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. and focuses on information, sharing, and advocacy. It also often features speakers—Marshall Flax, the Council’s low vision therapist, spoke earlier this month!—and also welcomes those affected by a group member’s vision loss, such as a son, daughter, or spouse. Please call (608) 243-5252 for more information.

 

ANNOUNCING THE SHARPER VISION STORE ONLINE

By Betsy Gruba, Council Staff

The Shaper Vision Store is now available in cyberspace! You can look at and purchase items online. Just go to our homepage at www.wcblind.org and follow the link to the Sharper Vision Store. Once you’re on the store page, choose a category—“clocks & watches,” for example, or “medical.” You can click on the product you’d like to view. You can even pay for the items online with your credit card, and they will be shipped to you. The process is safe, fast, accessible, and secure.

We have more than a thousand products available in our store in Madison, and not all of them are available online yet. But keep watching the website, more and more are available each week! In the future, we will also have paintings by legally-blind artist Albert Schmiege available for purchase in an online gallery. You can also donate online to the Council using the same secure system.

 Note: In our bricks-and-mortar store, the staff has had success in securing new low prices on many of our products. However, a few other prices have gone up because of manufacturer price increases. Please contact the Council by phone, mail or e-mail for an updated price list.

 2006 ANNUAL REPORT PREVIEW

By Gary Goyke, Council Staff

The Council is proud to enter our 55th year of operation on very sound financial footings. Below you’ll find an excerpt from our soon-to-be-published Annual Report with important information from the 2006 fiscal year. You’ll also find a by-the-numbers list of some of 2006’s accomplishments:

41: the number of newspaper, radio, and TV interviews given by Council members and staff on the subject of blindness and vision loss

55: the number of groups with whom we collaborated to ensure quality services to people who are blind and visually impaired

131: the number of presentations made at schools, hospitals, independent living centers, civic groups, clubs, symposia and corporations

152: the number of low vision evaluations

247: the number of in-home living skills visits

813: the number of white canes provided to state residents at no charge

866: the number of people statewide who attended seminars put on by WCB&VI

910: the number of professional technology consultations

3,528: the number of transactions in our Sharper Vision Store

12,500: the amount, in dollars, of scholarships provided to college, technical and business enterprise program students

69,000: the number of miles logged on Wisconsin roads by WCB&VI staff, Council members, and volunteers

146,000: the amount, in dollars, of assistive devices and adaptive technology provided to Wisconsin residents who are blind and visually impaired

1,073,119: the number of hits on our website

  WCB&VI Summary Balance Sheet,
as of December 31, 2006

ASSETS

Current Assets

Checking/Savings $756,045.60

Money Market/Bequests $409, 921.91

Accounts Receivable $17,903.36

Other Current Assets $176,514.76

Total Current Assets $1,360,385.67

Fixed Assets $1,468,042.27

Other Assets $5,819,094.68

TOTAL ASSETS $8,647,522.62

LIABILITIES & EQUITY

Current Liabilities

Accounts Payable $-2,100.87

Other Current Liabilities $19,894.57

Total Current Liabilities $17,793.70

Total Liabilities $17,793.70

Equity $8,629,728.92

TOTAL LIABILITIES & EQUITY $8,647,522.62

COUNCIL ART EXHIBIT

By Kathy Lange-Novak, Council Staff

It’s not too late to visit the Council offices and enjoy our art exhibit! Since early December, we have hosted an exhibit of art made by and for people who are blind and visually impaired.

The exhibit is free and open to the public from 8am to 4:30pm Monday through Friday. Some of the artwork will soon be posted on our website, www.wcblind.org. Paintings are for sale with 20% of the purchase going to the Council to help fund programs and services for people who are blind and visually impaired.

Oil paintings by Albert Schmeige, “touchable” paintings by Jamie Landolt, and collages by Mary Mesman are featured.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

April 18 Macular Degeneration: Progress in Sight VI:
Alliant Energy Center , Madison Wisconsin

May 8 Legislative Day
State Capitol Rotunda,
Madison , WI , 10:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

May 11 Community Education and Awareness Seminar, Best Western Harbor Inn, Kenosha, WI

 

May 17 & 18 5th Annual Philanthropy Day
Eagle River Inn and Resort,
Eagle River , Wisconsin

 

Sept. 17 O’Connor Golf Outing and Fundraiser
Bishops Bay Country Club,
Middleton, Wisconsin

 

Sept. 22 3rd Annual Blind Euchre Tournament
Culver’s Restaurant,
Edgerton, WI 10 a.m.— 2 p.m.

October 12 2nd Community Education and Awareness Seminar Eau Claire, Wisconsin

October 15 White Cane Safety Day

December 7 WCB&VI Community Open House,
Council Offices, Madison WI, 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Please call our offices or check our website for more details on upcoming events!

 

FREE WHITE CANES

By Ann Schroeder, Council Staff

You are entitled to one free white cane per year from the Council. There are several kinds of canes to choose from. You may request a support cane that you lean on as you walk. An ID cane is a short cane that you hold out while traveling so others know you have a vision problem. We also have mobility canes that you move in front of you as you walk along—remember that using these requires some training. All canes are available, rigid or folding, so they may be tucked away.

Call Ann at 800-783-5213 Ext. 211, if your vision is 20/70 or less and you have never had a white cane, or want to replace a cane that you have had for more than a year.

Subscribe or Change your Subscription method by e-mailing Kate Hollander.