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MARCH 2002

VOLUME 9 NO 2

EDITOR: LARRY FROHMAN                        PUBLISHER: JOHN BYLIN

(712)258-8151                                                   (712)239-8680

SIGB INFO PHONE(712)266-8926                 SIGB FAX(712)258-8514

SIGB TRANSPORTATION – CALL HEIDI 258-4682

NEXT MEETING:  MARCH 13, 2002

MEETING PLACE: LOWER LEVEL, ST LUKES HOSPITAL MEETING ROOMS.  TIME: 2-5PM.  SEE YOU THERE!

OUR SELECTED COMMITTEE IS IN THE PROCESS OF CREATING A NEW GRANT REQUEST FROM MRHD.  (MISSOURI RIVER HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT INC.)  THESE ARE FUNDS THAT ARE GENERATED BY THE BELLE OF SIOUX CITY THAT ARE GIVEN TO THIS ORGANIZATION TO DISTRIBUTE FUNDS TO NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS IN THE SIOUXLAND AREA.  WE APPLIED FOR A GRANT TWO YEARS AGO AND RECEIVED IT.  FROM THIS GRANT WE WERE ABLE TO HAVE A DEDICATED PHONE WITH ANSWERING MACHINE WITH CAPABILITIES OF ACTUALLY READING OUR NEWSLETTER TO THOSE THAT ARE BLIND.  THERE IS NO CHARGE FOR THIS AND IS PREPARED BY OUR SECRETARY.  WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CONTINUE WITH OUR “FREE BUS PICKUP AND DELIVERY” – DOOR TO DOOR SERVICE FOR ALL OUR “MONTHLY MEETING GOERS” IN SIOUX CITY AREA.  SOON PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS (PSA’S) WILL BE ON THE LOCAL RADIO STATIONS.  THEY WILL BE PLAYED AT THEIR SELECTED TIME SLOTS, SO THEY MAY BE HEARD AT ODD TIMES OF THE DAY, I.E.  VERY LATE NIGHTS. AND VERY EARLY MORNINGS, RADIO STATIONS USE PSA’S AS FILL IN FOR UNPAID ADVERTISEMENTS.  OUR GOAL IS TO REACH ANY PERSON THAT IS BLIND, LEGALLY OR TOTALLY, OR VISION IMPAIRED TO ANY EXTENT.  WE ASK THEM TO JOIN US IN OUR MONTHLY MEETINGS.  WE OFFER SUPPORT AND FRIENDSHIP TO ALL WHO COME.  MANY NEWLY VISUAL IMPAIRED FIND COMFORT WITH OTHERS IN THE SAME WAY AS THEY HAVE FOUND THEMSELVES.  WE MUST REMEMBER THAT BLINDNESS IS AN INCONVENIENCE – AND THERE ARE WAYS TO DEAL WITH THIS.  WE OFFER BRAILLE CLASSES THAT HAVE JUST BEEN STARTED.  ALTHOUGH IT IS A CHALLENGE, WE HELP EACH OTHER IN A POSITIVE WAY THAT MAKES IT FUN. 

     OUR GOALS FOR THE GRANT REQUEST THIS TIME WILL BE A REAL CHALLENGE, BUT WELL WORTH THE EFFORT.  THERE ARE MANY ORGANIZATIONS APPLYING FOR GRANTS THIS TIME AND WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO GET ONE.  BUT OUR GOALS ARE TOO IMPORTANT FOR US TO NOT APPLY.  ONE OF THE ITEMS WE WANT TO TRY TO GET IS SOFTWARE FOR COMPUTERS THAT “READ” THE TOTAL SCREEN TO THOSE THAT ARE BLIND.  WE WILL OFFER TRAINING TO THOSE THAT WILL RECEIVE THE SOLFWARE WITH DONATED COMPUTERS. IT WILL BE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR THOSE OF US THAT ARE TOTALLY BLIND AND DO NOT QUALIFY FOR ASSISTANCE BY THE IOWA DEPT FOR THE BLIND.   THE SIOUX CITY AREA DOES NOT HAVE A FULL TIME PERSON SERVING THIS AREA AND RECENT BUDGET CUTS APPEAR THAT THE TEMPORARY PERSONNEL ARE IN JEOPARDY DUE TO BUDGET CUTBACKS.

     ONE FINAL NOTE,  ONE OF OUR MEMBERS THAT HAS MACULAR DEGENERATION CALLED IN TO EXPRESS HER HAPPINESS IN FINDING OUT THAT MEDICARE DOES COVER HER OFFICE VISIT TO A PEDIATRIS TO HAVE HER TOENAILS CUT.  FOR THOSE THAT DIDN’T KNOW, THIS IS GREAT NEWS, ESPECIALLY IF THEY HAPPEN TO HAVE DIABETES. 

     HOPE TO SEE  YOU AT OUR NEXT MEETING ON MARCH 13^TH, 2-5PM.  AGAIN IF YOU NEED A RIDE AND LIVE IN SIOUX CITY, JOIN OUR HAPPY GROUP AND CALL HEIDI FOR A RIDE TO AND For  THE MEETING. PHONE: 258-4682 

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