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The New Jersey Council of the Blind
CHRONICLE
October, 2016

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 NJCB Chronicle is also available on Newsline. If you do not have a Newsline subscription, contact Reader Services at the New Jersey Talking Book and Braille Center at (800) 792-8322 to get signed up for a Newsline subscription. Four quarterly newsletters are sent to members free of charge by E-mail. You may obtain the current and back issues of the Chronicle and other information from our web site www.njcounciloftheblind.org. Feel free to write us at njcounciloftheblind@gmail.com.

The New Jersey Council of the Blind (NJCB) is a 501 (c) 3 corporation. Much appreciated tax deductible donations may be sent to the Treasurer of NJCB.

The NJCB officers are: President, Frank Schack (973) 595-0116; Vice President, Joyce Sowa (732) 596-9675; Treasurer, Bernie Zuckerman of 32 Judson Street, Unit 7B, Edison, NJ 08837, and (732) 221-5362

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President’s Message by Frank Schack

I hope that you are enjoying the beautiful fall weather. As the seasons change it is also time to think about the quarterly meeting of the New Jersey Council of the Blind. The meeting will be held on Saturday, October 29th, 2016 at the Joseph Kohn Training Center.

Our guest speaker, Annette Carter, will join us by conference call. Annette is from the national ACB office regarding visual and hearing impairment issues.

This is an important meeting because we will have the election of new officers for the 2017-2018 term. As a reminder, nominations can be made from the floor.

We hope to see you on October 29th.

Frank Schack, Interim President

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Meeting Notice

The next quarterly meeting of NJCB will be held at the Joseph Kohn Training Center (JKTC) at 130 Livingston Ave. in New Brunswick, NJ 08901 on Saturday, October 29, 2016. A pizza 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 us to order enough food call (973) 595-0116 by October 21st to let us know that you will be attending and want lunch. One person from each organization can call with a group count. We are looking forward to seeing you there. Can’t make it in person? Call in by our conference number. The call in number is: (712) 432-0180. Participant Access Code: 425 373#. Please note this is a toll call.

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Directions to the Joseph Kohn Training Center (JKTC)

Address:

JKTC

130 Livingston Avenue

New Brunswick, NJ 08901-2421

Cross Street: Seaman Street

From the North

Proceed south on Route 1 to Route 18 toward New Brunswick.

Get off Route 18 at the New Street ramp.

Turn slight right onto New Street/ NJ 26.

Take the 2nd left onto Livingston Avenue/NJ 26.

Turn left onto Seaman Street and left into the JKTC parking lot.

From the South

Proceed north on Route 1 to the Livingston Avenue/NJ 26 exit toward New Brunswick.

Turn right onto Seaman Street and left into the JKTC parking lot

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2017 Dues Are Due

It is that time again for payment of our annual dues. The cost remains at $6.50 for each chapter voting member. Members at Large dues are $10.00. A membership form is attached. Please submit your chapter membership lists including members' names, addresses, phone numbers, vision status (fully sighted, vision impaired, legally blind or totally blind),format for ACB Braille Forum (E-mail, Braille, half speed 4 track cassette, CD, LP or none), NJCB Chronicle format (E-mail, or none). The newsletters as well as a great deal of other information are available on their web sites. www.acb.org and www.njcounciloftheblind.org All checks for 2017 dues with above information to be sent to our present Treasurer, Bernie Zuckerman at 32 Judson Street, Unit 7B, Edison, NJ 08837. The E-mail format is very much appreciated by both ACB and NJCB since it is the most cost efficient form of publication. Consider Newsline for another format since it is accessible by the phone for those who no longer have cassette players and for those who do not have computers and cannot access the web or E-mail. If you do not have a Newsline subscription, contact Reader Services at the New Jersey Talking Book and Braille Center at 1-800-792-8322 to get signed up for a Newsline subscription

Thank you,

Bernie Zuckerman, Treasurer, NJCB

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Our Guest Speaker
Annette Carter

Since the year 2000 Annette Carter has worked and volunteered in the field of disability, advocacy and accessibility. In 2001 she started volunteering at Deaf and Hard of Hearing Service Center working with the Deaf-Blind group as a volunteer SSP, Support Service Provider, learning American Sign Language from colleagues and friends. Despite how her own vision loss presents a challenge to interact in a community that communicates with a non-verbal language, she felt it necessary to equip the agency for the deaf and hard of hearing to understand the vision loss element in those with dual sensory loss. In 2002 she attended college to learn ASL (American Sign Language) and subsequently tactile ASL. She was asked to be on the board of directors of the agency for the deaf and hard of hearing then subsequently to take a staff position as Empowerment Coach, equipping the deaf, hard of hearing and deaf-blind communities to advocate for themselves regarding equal access. Annette attended Northern Illinois University for certification in deaf-blindness. Annette’s experience as SSP developed her “eyes of recognition” of unmet needs and SSP work grew into care-giving work where needed. She now is a full-time, live-in care giver for 2 senior adults communicating strictly in tactile sign language. Annette is also an assessor and a trainer for the NDBEDP, National Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution Program. She also moderate’s a monthly nationwide resource conference call focusing on those who are blind or have low vision dealing with hearing loss.

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Nominating Committee Report

Our nominating committee members are Jean Canella and Marie Sawyer. At Camp Happiness on July 23rd, Marie announced the slate of proposed officers for the 2017-2018 term. The election of officers will be during the meeting on October 29th.

The slate is as follows:

President - Lauren Casey

First Vice President - Frank Schack

2nd Vice President - Joyce Sowa

Treasurer - Bernie Zuckerman

Secretary - Joyce Schack

The three board Members at Large will be appointed by the newly elected president and announced in the January issue of the NJCB Chronicle.

Nominations may be made from the floor at the time of the election.

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Chapter Reports

Blind Citizens Association of New Jersey (BCA).

The Dining in the Dark fundraiser held on September 23rd was a huge success. Sighted attendees were given the choice to wear a blindfold to experience the world of visual impairment.

On Saturday, October 15th from 4:00 - 7:00 the Ladies Auxiliary of the NJ BCA will hold their semi-annual spaghetti dinner fundraiser. The cost is $10 which includes all you can eat salad, spaghetti, meatballs, sausage, bread, dessert and beverage. For more information or reservations call the BCA office at 732 291-0878.

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Mercer County Association of the Blind

No report available.

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For Sale: Perkins Braille Writer with case – contact Frank for more information

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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.

New Jersey Council of the Blind
An affiliate of
American Council of the Blind
MEMBERSHIP AT LARGE
APPLICATION

Name: ______________________________________________________

Street: ______________________________________________________

City: ________________________________________________________

State: ______________________Zip: _____________________________

 

Phone Number: _______________________________________________

E-Mail Address: ______________________________________________

 

Legally Blind: ____ Visually Impaired: ____ Fully Sighted: ____

Format for Braille Forum (ACB National's Newsletter): LP __ Half Speed Cassette __ Braille __ E-mail __

Format for NJCB Chronicle: E-Mail _____Online _____

Annual Dues: $10.00 due in January

Make check payable to NJCB and send to:
Treasurer- Bernie Zuckerman
32 Judson St. Unit 7-B
Edison, NJ 08837
(732) 221-5362

President- Frank Schack
schackfrank@yahoo.com