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The New Jersey Council of the Blind
CHRONICLE
July, 2013

We thank Audiovision, the Radio Reading Service of the New Jersey State Library Talking Book and Braille Center for the use of their recording studio to produce the cassette and digital formats that are aired on Audiovision and our website www.njcounciloftheblind.org. For more information about Audiovision call 1-800-792-8322 or visit their website at www.audiovision-nj.org. The NJCB Chronicle is also available on Newsline. The Chronicle is read by Bob Lucas. The New Jersey Council of the Blind's mission is to strive for the betterment of the blind and visually impaired community. The purpose of this publication is to provide a forum for the free exchange of ideas, opinions and information that concern blind and visually impaired people.

The New Jersey Council of the Blind (NJCB) is a 501 (c) 3 corporation and all gifts are tax deductible. Tax deductible donations should be sent to the Treasurer of NJCB.

Four quarterly newsletters are sent to members free of charge in either large print, audio cassette or E-mail. Non-members may request the NJCB Chronicle by E-mail and for an annual donation of $5.00 may receive copies in large print or on cassette.

In order to make the Chronicle better, we need and appreciate information from our chapters, from individuals and from agencies and other outside groups and organizations which serve the blind and visually impaired. Articles to be included in the NJCB Chronicle, requests for copies of the newsletter or membership information should be sent to NJCB, 520 Ewingville Road, Ewing, NJ 08638. They may also be e-mailed to njcounciloftheblind@verizon.net or phoned to (609) 882-2446. All information must be received by September 1st to be included in the next issue of the Chronicle.

You may obtain the current and back issues of the Chronicle and other information from our web site at www.njcounciloftheblind.org

The NJCB officers are: President, Larry Morgan 53 Pollman Ave., Hamilton, NJ , 08619, (609) 588-5012; First Vice President Frank Schack (973) 595-0116; Second Vice President Joyce Sowa (732) 596-9675; Secretary Ottilie Lucas (609) 882-2446 and Treasurer Bob Lucas (609) 882-2446, 520 Ewingville Road, Ewing, NJ 08638.

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MEETING NOTICE

The next quarterly meeting of NJCB will be hosted by The New Jersey Blind Citizens' Association (BCA) at Camp Happiness at 18 Burlington Ave., Leonardo, NJ 07737 on Saturday, July 27, 2013. A picnic lunch will be served at 12 Noon for a cost of $5.00; the meeting will begin at 1 PM and will be over at about 4 PM. In order for them to prepare enough food call the BCA office at (732) 291-0878 by July 17th to let them know that you are coming. One person from each organization can call with a group count. We are looking forward to seeing you there.

Directions:

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President's Message

Hello everyone. I hope everyone has had an enjoyable spring. That being said, however, I'm ready to jump right into summer with barbeques, baseball and family fun at the shore becoming a number one priority. What I am really, really looking forward to this summer, though, is my first ACB National Convention that is being held in Columbus, Ohio this year. Networking with people from other states should be quite an education for me and I will be looking for ideas to bring back to our New Jersey membership.

This summer I am also taking a trip to Niagara Falls and will be staying on the Canadian side. I am very interested in seeing how Canada treats their disabled and am anxious to see what, if anything, they are doing that we here in the United States might be able to borrow and implement.

I recently had the opportunity to speak with New Jersey State Senator Linda Greenstein (Democrat - 14th Legislative District) and found that her husband is president of a blind organization in New York. We exchanged phone numbers and e-mail addresses in hopes of further discussions and yes, we did talk about the transportation problems so many in the blindness community experience. I'm not sure what will come from this meeting, but if enough of us share our concerns and issues with the various legislators, we might see some progress in this difficult area.

In early May, a small group of NJCB officers met with a support group in Ocean County who were interested in the workings of the Council. As a result of that meeting we now have some new at large members with the prospect of even more people joining.

I'd like to commend all of you who attended the April meeting. We had a great discussion at the end of the meeting about the ways in which each of us do our grocery shopping. From my standpoint, it was very instructive. Some people have told me that they are already having success doing some of the things they heard for the first time at that meeting. Again, thank you all.

My very best to all of you and I'm looking forward to seeing you at the July meeting at Camp Happiness in Leonardo.

Larry Morgan, President, NJCB

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2013 Events for TBBC

The New Jersey State Library Talking Book and Braille Center (TBBC) has been and is busy planning 3 events in 2013. First, on June 1, 2013 the Talking Book and Braille Center dedicated their new Donor Wall giving recognition to those who have made and will make significant donations to TBBC. The Friends of the Library for the Blind and Handicapped was honored for their significant contribution to this project. The press was invited to add to the celebration.

On June 4, 2013, TBBC had their Second Annual Golf Outing.

The Fall Book Festival will be held at the Grounds for Sculpture in Hamilton Township on October 12, 2013. More details will be available in future issues of the NJCB Chronicle.

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Music Association for the Visually Impaired Students of NJ
(MAVIS)
PO BOX 173, Woodbridge, NJ 07095-0173
732-826-8216 e-mail: mavisnj@optonline.net

Did you ever want to play the piano, guitar, drums, or some other instrument just for your own enjoyment? Throughout the past 35 years, we have provided our services to many persons with visual impairments who wished to play an instrument. MAVIS of NJ is a volunteer organization dedicated to promoting "joy and confidence through music" by providing individual, specialized musical instruction and instruments to persons who are legally blind in the state of NJ.

Many individuals are no longer able to participate in activities such as baseball, basketball, etc., including video games requiring good vision to view the screen. You may spend time on the computer or reading a good audio book. Learning to play an instrument provides you with an additional way to spend your time. We welcome persons with multiple disabilities to learn to play an instrument; however, loss of vision must be the primary disability.

First: we lend the person an instrument of their choice, if they do not have one of their own. This instrument is yours to use as long as you use it for lessons, practice, or until you obtain one of your own. We will provide you an instrument in working order. If you have your own piano to use, we will have it initially tuned.

Second: we partner with the student locating an instructor in their area. The instructor is provided with several resources to assist with carrying out lessons.

Third: we subsidize the individual with funds to pay for a substantial portion of the lessons. This amount is twenty dollars per weekly lesson. If the instructor charges more than the amount, the student is responsible for the existing balance.

Eligibility for becoming a student of MAVIS

  1. No income requirement or age will limit you from obtaining services from us.
  2. You must be classified as legally blind by being a client of CBVI, or a note from an Optometrist, Low Vision Specialist, or medical doctor stating your visual condition.

Each year on the third Sunday in October we hold our annual spaghetti dinner and recital in a location in Middlesex County. This event is held each year to show our funding providers what we do and the public is encouraged to attend to learn about us, our program, and our students. More information will be made available. You can come perform and show us your progress and talent. This invitation includes current and former students.

Several of the students we have assisted have gone on to major in music. Others have performed in local bands, weddings, parties, senior citizen establishments, Lions club events, as soloists, in duets, and in many other venues. We are a state wide Lions project. It is a good feeling to know we have touched so many lives in a positive way. We take pride in our student's accomplishments and have enjoyed seeing them progress in music and mature as individuals.

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Come to the MCAB Picnic

The Mercer County Association of the Blind's picnic will be at the Trenton Elks on Saturday, August 3, 2013. There is always lots of homemade food and great fellowship. Let Bob or Ottilie know if you would like to come. Call (609) 882-2446 or e-mail Ottilie@verizon.net before July 15th.

Date: Saturday, August 3, 2013.
Time: 12 PM to about 4 PM.

Cost: Free to MCAB members and $5.00 for all others.

Place: Trenton Elks Lodge, 42 Decou Ave. in West Trenton (the cross street is Parkway Ave.) 609-638-4232 (Bob Lucas' Cell Phone)

Directions:

From the North:

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From the East:

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From the South:

Have a safe trip and we hope to see you there.

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CHAPTER REPORTS

Garden State Guide Dog Users. Hello Everyone. Happy spring to all. We will be having our face to face meeting on Saturday morning June 8, 2013 from 10:00 AM until 12 noon at Bob and Ottilie Lucas's home followed by a picnic celebration of the Mercer County Association of the Blind summer birthdays.

Everyone is invited to stay after the meeting and join the picnic celebration. Anyone needing directions to the Lucas home please call Ottilie at (609) 882-2446. Lauren Casey, GSGDUI president.

Mercer County Association of the Blind. Hi All. We have been busy and have lots of fun events scheduled. Our members have enjoyed informational meetings with presentations on emergency preparedness by Len and Joan Pope and accessible aids and appliances that help us to learn how to be more independent in our daily lives. Our trip to Hunterdon Hills Playhouse was fantastic. We enjoyed both our winter birthday dinner and the pizza donated annually by the Bumberas at our May meeting. Several of our members were in attendance at the TBBC meeting with the Friends and the dedication of the Donor Wall. One of our members was honored for his generous donation. We will celebrate with our members who are having birthdays during May, June, July and August. Many of us are going to a night with The Trenton Thunder at Arm & Hammer Park, formerly Waterfront Park, on July 18, 2013. Larry Morgan and the Lucases will be representing NJCB at the ACB Conference and Convention in Columbus, Ohio in July. We are looking forward to the NJCB quarterly meeting at Camp Happiness. This is always a fun day. We invite everyone to our annual picnic at the Trenton Elks on August 3, 2013. Details are in a previous article. As you can tell, we keep very busy. We are looking forward to the activities in the fall. We will share more about them in our next issue.

Have a great and safe summer.

New Jersey Blind Citizens Association. (Excerpts from May, 2013 BCA newsletter) Now that spring is finally here in full bloom, we are looking forward to the many projects that have been and will be happening here at Camp Happiness: Our new roof and gutters has been installed. It is beautiful, and we have received many compliments from the neighbors and visitors to the camp. Over the next few weeks and months, we will be making many small improvements to the camp that include replacement of damaged fencing, removal of several dead/damaged trees and new picnic tables for all to enjoy. On May 7th Bernice Berger came to help celebrate Cinco de Mayo. Mexican food was on the menu and Bernice provided the history behind the holiday. The Thrift Shop always has wonderful sales and specials. Please look on our Facebook page, New Jersey Blind Citizens Association or Camp Happiness Thrift Shop, for updated information on daily and weekly specials. Also, if you click "like" on our Facebook page for daily updates on happenings, you will be automatically be advised of any updates from the Thrift Shop and the Camp.

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MARK YOUR CALENDAR

Thursday, July 18, 2013, Covering the Bases with the Trenton Thunder will be held at the Arm and Hammer Park at 6 PM.

Saturday, July 27, 2013, The quarterly meeting of NJCB will be held at Camp Happiness in Leonardo, NJ hosted by NJ Blind Citizens Association. More details are in the Meeting Notice.

Saturday, August 3, 2013: The summer picnic for Mercer County Association of the Blind. Check prior article for more details.

Saturday, October 12, 2013: The Fall Book Festival will be held at the Grounds for Sculpture in Hamilton. Watch for more details in future issues.

Saturday, October 26, 2013: The quarterly meeting of NJCB will be held at Grace Lutheran Church in Perth Amboy hosted by the Members at Large. More details and directions will be in the October issue of the NJCB Chronicle.

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NOTE: Disclaimer. The views and opinions expressed in this newsletter are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and views of the New Jersey Council of the Blind officers and/or members. The editor reserves the right to edit articles submitted for both space and content.

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