Editor's Note President's Message Affiliate Reports Committee Reports Member of the Month Member Spotlight MCB's Holiday 50/50 Raffle Blind Pension Info Exclusive Access: Be in the Know Hilton Hotels In the Kitchen Recipes Tech Tidbits Inspiration For the Holiday Season MCB Board Minutes--Condensed MISSOURI COUNCIL OF THE BLIND # # # EDITOR'S NOTE I enjoyed seeing many of you at the recent MCB annual convention. I felt that it was very successful! Congratulations to the new officers: Gregg Hollins, President; Tracy Anderson, Vice President; William Hawkins, continuing as Treasurer, and Robyn Wallen as Secretary. By the time you read this issue, it will be December. I would like to be one of the first to wish you a merry Christmas and a happy new year. My wife and I will be taking a Caribbean cruise this month, so we will send you good holiday vibes from Turks and Caicos! It seems we just barely have time to turn around before a year passes! Before we realize it, it will be the fourth of July again, lol. I am considering sponsoring another essay contest for young people to discover what they feel about equal opportunities for the blind and other disabled. I felt like the response we got last year demonstrated that even elementary students are cognizant of the need to work toward even better accessibility for the disabled community. More on this later. Thanks to all of you who provided reports and articles for this issue. It is important for all of us to know what good things are happening in our affiliates and committees. Learning from others can only make out organization stronger. Thanks again for your participation! # # # PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE Dear MCB members, I want to thank you for being an MCB member. Your membership to this organization is extremely important. As the new President of the Missouri Council of The Blind (MCB), I have the task ahead of me of taking this organization in a new direction. I encourage your ideas and participation as we develop new strategies and work towards accomplishing our goals from our strategic plan. I invite you to join in as we work toward shaping the future of MCB. I have been a member of MCB for over 40 years, beginning in my teens as a junior member in the late 1970s. I made it a point to become involved in all parts of the organization as well as our parent organization American Council of The Blind (ACB). I have served numerous terms on the MCB Board of Directors as well as extensively being involved over the past 40 years nationally on advocacy committees such as resolutions, legislation, not to mention my involvement with special interest groups. I stress that involvement is key in making this organization the best it could be. Embracing a vision for MCB: 1. We will work tirelessly to address the needs of our members by opening the channels of communication to receive direct feedback as to what we do well and what we need to work on. 2. We will work to increase our exposure to the blind and visually-impaired of Missouri as we work towards the growth of the organization. 3. We will make this organization a fine example among our counterparts in other states and bridge the gap with our parent organization ACB. 4. We will focus heavily on increasing our revenue potential over the next five years. Please check the committee list in the MCB directory in this issue. If you are interested in learning more or being a part of the committees, feel free to contact the committee chair or me directly. You may also contact our vice president, Tracy Anderson, if you have concerns or questions. Again, I look forward to serving MCB and working with you towards our common goals. Consider joining our MCB chat list and MCB list to stay informed; call in every Friday to our Friday afternoon Board Office Hours at 2 PM on phone number 206-806-9756 or participate in our monthly Town Hall every fourth Tuesday via Zoom or phone. Contact the MCB office for more information, 314-832-7172. Together we will make MCB the best organization for the blind and visually-impaired in Missouri. Join me in embracing our future! Sincerely yours, Gregg Hollins MCB President (816) 812-0129 gregghollins@icloud.com Tracy Anderson MCB Vice President (314) 283-8556 Tracyam30@gmail.com # # # AFFILIATE REPORTS 4-Rivers Council of the Blind submitted by Cyndy Stacker We are proud and excited to be one of the new MCB affiliates voted in at the MCB Convention in October. Our affiliate started to form in March of 2024. We are now 15 members strong. Our motto is Educate, Advocate, Liberate. Our officers are: Denny Huff, President, Kim Reece, Vice President, Johanna Jeremiah, Secretary, Mike Hopper, Treasurer. Mike is also our fundraising chairperson. Cyndy Stacker is our public-relations chairperson. Helen Bowen is our membership chairperson. Our monthly Zoom business meetings are held the first Tuesday of the month at 7 PM. We have quickly become a very active affiliate. In March and April, Kim and Johanna both gave testimony to legislators in Jefferson City regarding accessible prescription labels and removing the requirement that notification from the blind pension fund be sent by certified mail. The latter could save Missouri tax payers up to $100,000 annually. Also in May, seven members did a white cane walkathon led by Mike Hopper to raise awareness of the blind and low vision community. We received generous donations from family, friends and businesses. We achieved our fundraising goals which were to walk ten miles a day for five consecutive days and to raise enough money to apply for our not-for-profit status, with funds left over to start helping the blind community. We had our first annual picnic and BBQ at Quail Ridge Park on a gorgeous day in September. It was very well attended, and the food was scrumptious. It was also the first in-person gathering for our group. Our next fundraiser was a billiards tournament held on November 10th at Teacher's Billiards in Lake Saint Louis. First and second-place trophies were awarded. There were also several opportunities for raffles and auction items. Our Christmas party was held on December 3rd at Stef's Pizzeria in St. Peters. We enjoyed the in-person fellowship, great pizza, a gift exchange, and games. Our member, Karen Gaglio has been instrumental in developing the logo for our brochure, letterhead, business cards and shirts. You can follow us on Facebook at 4-Rivers Council of the Blind Here's a poem by Denny Huff and AI celebrating the 4-Rivers Council of the Blind and their unity, friendship, and advocacy: 4-Rivers Council of the Blind In fields where autumn whispers through the trees, Gather friends, bound by heart, with aims that please. Some see the world in shadows, dim yet bright, While others walk with eyes, guiding through the night. They meet as one, sighted, blind, and all between, Each a spark, forming a radiant scene. Through laughter and stories, joys shared and learned, In their circle, love and warmth are earned. They stand for each other, a hand or a word, In silence or speech, their voices are heard. To lift one another, their spirits entwine, In 4-Rivers' heart, a family divine. They fight for rights, for justice to defend, For voices silent, their own they'll lend. With strength, they walk the path of the bold, Together they rise, their stories told. Encouragement flows like rivers deep and wide, In friendship and strength, they are unified. For each step taken, though trials may come, In the 4-Rivers Council, they are never alone. Delta Area Council of the Blind by Belinda Turner Season's greetings to everyone from Delta Area Blind. Once again it is that time of year...time for all Christmas events. We as an affiliate have been doing well. Our monthly meetings are good and interesting. We had our yearly elections in October. One of our affiliate members, Craig Ancell, is doing well working on his Master's degree. He is doing some counseling now. We are so proud of him. We plan to have our annual Christmas get-together this year on November 19. Sounds a little early, but that's fine. Everyone is booked up with Christmas celebrations in December. We look forward to the fellowship, food, and games we participate in. Our next official Delta Area Blind meeting will be in January. Starting a new year, we will look forward to seeing how well things will go. Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Heritage Council of the Blind by Wilma Chestnut-House Well, we are official! As of October 4, 2024, Heritage Council was voted in as one of the three new MCB affiliates. Congratulations to Denny and Debbie for their new affiliates. Our information about Heritage is now on the MCB web site, thanks to Tobie and Debbie Sanders. We will be starting 2025 with our first program. It is a Black history program entitled, "The History of the Chitlin' Circuit and Juke Joints." I will be posting more about that later. We have several projects that we are working on. Tiffany Dennis is starting a peer support group every third Wednesday evening at 5 pm. The Zoom number to join us is 954-852-7132. There is no code. Congratulations to our new officers of MCB. I feel that President Gregg and Vice-President Tracy will be a breath of fresh air. Southwest Missouri Vision Connections by Debbie Platner We officially became an affiliate as of October 2024. The new affiliate was formed in Joplin, Missouri. We are very grateful to the Joplin Independent Living Center for partnering with the blind community to make this possible. They have provided a venue and transportation for the affiliate meetings and events. We are also grateful to MLV Foundation (My Limitless Vision); we have partnered with them for some of our upcoming affiliate events. Our first meeting had eleven people in attendance; the initial goal was to become an affiliate of MCB. We discussed the formation of this group and what we wanted in our bylaws, as well as meeting dues, times, and location. Our elected officers are as follows: Debbie Platner: President; Chip Hailey: Vice President; Daryl McLaughlin: Treasurer; Sandee Able: Secretary. The name of Southwest Missouri Visual Connections was voted on and accepted, also to be known as SWMOVC. The group decided that the meetings would be held on the first Tuesday of the month. Our first meeting had 11 members; now we have 15, and we are confident it will just keep growing. We had an ice cream social for our first meeting. Several members are joining MLV for Bowling. We are in the process of planning future fundraiser and events. Braille Revival League of Missouri by Donna Siren At our last meeting, it was brought up that the bank has us listed as Braille Revival League of Missouri, so we will be known by that name, since that would be easier than to change the information with the bank. We haven't done much this year, due to illness and personal problems. Kerry Smith resigned as president, so I am finishing her term. At our meeting earlier this month, we elected Rhonda Jones as Vice President. I'm happy to report that we will be donating $200 to the Braille Challenge which will be in February. I would like to invite anyone who is interested in promoting the use of braille to join our affiliate. To join, call the MCB office at (314) 832-7172. Donna Siren 7559 Harlan Walk Affton, Mo 63123-2840 Phone: (314) 899-0310 Email: dsiren1955@gmail.com Missouri Council for Citizens with Low Vision by Brian Wekamp The Missouri Council of Citizens with Low Vision group meets the first Thursday of every month at 7 p.m. We discuss a variety of topics dealing with living with low vision. The dial-in number is 206 806 9756. We look forward seeing you each month. # # # COMMITTEE REPORTS Membership Committee by Debbie Platner The membership committee has been hard at work strategizing ways to reach both new and existing members. We have created a survey to help with this process. I encourage all members to complete it. If you haven't received the survey or are unable to locate it in your email, please let me know and I will make sure you get one. At the convention this year, I had a great time with our first timers! I'm happy to say that all of them have been active and participating in various committees and affiliates. I would again like to thank them: Carrie Bennett From Bolivar, MO Troy Cleveland From St. Louis, MO Felishya Booker From Kansas City, MO Jennifer Moats From Jefferson City, MO You are a great group of members, and we're so very happy to have you in MCB!! MCB has been averaging 5 to 8 new members at large per month. We were averaging 5, but it has gone up over the last 3 months; so that is encouraging. And finally, I would like to welcome Felishya Booker as our new Membership Chair! She has been actively engaged with this committee and will assume the role of chair on November 1st. I am confident she will do a great job, and we are so grateful to her for taking this position. MEMBER OF THE MONTH by Wanda Matlock Hello to everyone from the Member-of-the-Month Committee! I want to say congratulations to all of the Member-of-the-Month recipients for the fiscal year 2023-2024. A special congratulations goes out to the 2024 Member of the Year, Carrie Bennett! The Member-of-the-Month Committee received many great nomination letters this past year and are looking forward to receiving many more this next year. We are blessed in our organization to have several platforms in which we can share our Member-of-the-Month Recipients, including our different MCB Lists and the MCB Chronicle. Please find below the MCB recipient letters for the Months of August, September, and October 2024. By the time you receive this issue of the MCB Chronicle, we will already be accepting letters for this next fiscal year. Please start sending in your nomination letters ASAP. As always, if you need help or have questions about this program, please contact one of the committee members listed below: Nancy Hodson (417) 569-0802 Bob Jaco (314) 989-9196 Wanda Matlock (573) 379-3880 wmatlock561@gmail.com Happy Holidays from the Member of the Month Committee! August On behalf of River City Workers of the Blind, we would like to nominate Jeff Lohrstorfer for Member of the Month. He joined River City Workers of the Blind on December 12th, 2019, as a sighted member. Jeff was elected treasurer of our affiliate in June of 2021, serves as unofficial parliamentarian at our meetings, and is our affiliate Chaplin. Jeff is pastor of Emerald Street Church of God, volunteers at Cape Girardeau City Food Pantry, and helps anyone who seeks spiritual guidance. In May of 2024, he received his Masters of Theology degree. He is an excellent steward of the finances for River City Workers of the Blind. He is pleasant to work with and always willing to help on any projects that we may have. With Jeff's qualifications, we believe he is worthy to be the next Member-of-the-Month Recipient. Thank you for your consideration. Respectfully submitted, River City Workers of the Blind September I would like to nominate April Gray for member of the month. April is a member of the Adaptive Technology, Inc. special-interest affiliate. I have known April for many years. I first met April when she came to MCB functions with her mother, Mary Pendleton. Both of these dynamic ladies are a great asset to MCB. I have had a chance to get to know April and her husband Justin at Cobblestone. They both are so very interesting to engage in any topic of conversation. When I asked April if she would be the editor of the A.T.I. newsletter, she did not hesitate to accept. I have always been able to count on April. She is overdue to be acknowledged as Member of the Month. Thank you, April. Submitted by Beverly Kaskadden October Good morning, St. Louis Northern Lights Council would like to nominate Theresa Moore for member of the month. Theresa has been a member with us since the inception of Northern Lights. Her positive attitude and loving nature have made a great impact on all of us. No matter what life throws her way, she always has a smile and a kind word for everyone she meets. Her laugh is contagious. She has served on our Board and has done an excellent job. She is an asset, a ray of sunshine to all who meet her. Submitted by St. Louis Northern Lights Council Sports and Recreation by Wilma Chestnut-House We have had a great year for Sports and Recreation. We had a fun time at the BINGO event and great prizes. Service Club always comes through with fantastic prizes through donations. They gave us three sweatshirts with the Kansas City Chiefs' logo. The good thing is that we had from sizes Large thru 4X. We had a ball on our first float trip. We all went under, one at a time. We had some good laughs and great stories to tell. We are going to try a new location in "25." Another success was our camping trip where we had a blast! We did knife and ax throwing and even had a tug of war in inches-deep mud. We tried the obstacle course, and we also learned how to use a compound bow along with a cross bow. We can thank Carl Tieman for that. As usual, everybody chipped in and helped in the kitchen. We will be going there again and again. We had a bowling event at Epiphany Bowling two weeks after the camping trip. We had great fun and good food. Once again, I am asking that each affiliate choose one person in their group to communicate with me so that we can do some things in your area. I would still like to have a domino challenge with a person from each affiliate. Get with me if you think you got it! We have a tentative date of January 26, 2025, for skiing at Hidden Valley Ski resort. This all depends on the weather. I will also let you know the price later. # # # MEMBER SPOTLIGHT For each issue of the Chronicle, I like to recognize a member who contributes greatly to the organization but who may not be well-known by all members. This issue the spotlight is on Kim Reese, our 24-25 Education and Advocacy Chair. Following is her bio: My name is Kim Reese. I grew up in South County with 3 sisters and 2 brothers. We had a very lively household. I have always had a strong bond with my parents, making us extremely close. They all continue to have an important part in my life. I met my husband Robert Reese in high school on a blind date. At that time, he just did not know he was really getting a good one. We married in 1991. Robert is a retired air traffic controller. The only children we have are the 4-legged kind: 4 cats. People like to call me the crazy cat lady, but actually, I brought home only one of the four. For 20 years, I worked in a nursing home, primarily in the purchasing department where I was responsible for ordering vital medical supplies. I also supported the billing department to ensure accurate records. When I was 7, I developed Stephen Johnson Syndrome which left lasting effects. When I was 12, the disease resulted in vision loss in my left eye. In 2016, as I struggled with declining vision loss in my right eye, I reached out to Rehab Services for the Blind. Through them, I was connected to Denny Huff. He played a significant role in my becoming part of MCB. Denny not only taught me essential computer skills that made a world of difference but also invited me to attend a meeting. At first, I, was reluctant to join an organization. It did not seem like that would be my thing. But I decided to give it a try. That was my first introduction to Missouri Council of the Blind. Little did I know how much it would impact my life. Denny also encouraged me to become the chair for education and advocacy. When I became the chair, Chip Hailey was a great mentor in helping me learn about advocating for MCB. I have really enjoyed the challenges and duties of this position. I am also part of a new affiliate, 4-Rivers Council of the Blind. Our affiliate just became part of MCB at the 2024 convention. We are all excited to be a part of MCB. I am currently the Vice President of this new affiliate. MCB has been a vital support in helping me navigate vision loss with new skills and technology. Through my connections with Missouri Council of the Blind, I have learned much about adaptive technology and tools that make life with vision loss more manageable. These resources have not only allowed me to stay connected and independent, but they have empowered me to explore new ways of engaging with the world. Each step with MCB has introduced me to skills I never thought I would need. I also have met some wonderful people with MCB. I am so grateful for these new relationships and friendships that have developed. I cannot imagine not being part of this significant organization. # # # MCB's Holiday 50/50 Raffle A Chance to Win While Supporting Our Mission submitted by Carl Chappell This holiday season, spread cheer and support the vital work of the Missouri Council of the Blind by participating in our festive 50/50 raffle! One lucky winner will receive half of all proceeds, making this Christmas extra special while helping fund our essential programs and services. Participating is easier than ever - simply visit www.moblind.org to purchase your tickets on the Donation page. Tickets are just $1.00 each, and every ticket purchased increases your chances of winning while supporting our mission to enhance the quality of life for Missourians who are blind or visually impaired. The grand drawing will take place at noon on Christmas Eve, offering the perfect opportunity to receive an unexpected holiday gift. Imagine starting your Christmas celebration with an exciting win that also helps our organization and the blind community! Don't miss out on this opportunity to make a difference while potentially winning a wonderful holiday surprise. Visit www.moblind.org today to secure your tickets at just $1.00 each. Join us in making this holiday season brighter for everyone in our community. Remember--when we come together, everyone wins! # # # Honor Your Angels: MCB Launches Digital Tribute Wall submitted by Carl Chappell The Missouri Council of the Blind is proud to announce our new Angel Wall, a digital tribute celebrating those who have made a lasting impact on our community. This meaningful initiative allows family and friends to honor loved ones while supporting MCB's vital mission. Located on our website at moblind.org, the Angel Wall serves as a permanent testament to those who have contributed to Missouri's blind community through their service, support, or inspiration. When cumulative donations in honor of an individual reach $100 or more, their name will be featured on this special memorial wall. Creating a tribute is simple. Visit moblind.org to make your donation in honor of someone special. Multiple donations can be combined to reach the $100 threshold - whether it's family members contributing together or donations made over time. Each tribute includes the honoree's name and a short, personal message sharing their legacy. This is a beautiful way to remember those who have touched our lives while supporting MCB's ongoing work. Your tribute donations help fund essential services and programs that enhance the quality of life for blind and visually impaired Missourians across the state. Honor your angel today by visiting moblind.org. Together, we can celebrate those who have made a difference while ensuring their legacy continues through MCB's important work. # # # BLIND PENSION INFO submitted by Denny Huff It has been brought to my attention that notification for the blind pension recertification will once again be by certified mail. This was suspended by executive order during Covid but will be reimplemented in 30 to 45 days. Certified mail means that you will need to sign for verification of delivery of the documents. This not only creates a hardship for some blind pension recipients but unnecessarily costs the state over $100,000 each year. This is something that MCB has advocated against for the past several years and I assume will once again next year. Starting in July, the new amount for the blind pension will be $917 per month. # # # EXCLUSIVE ACCESS: BE IN THE KNOW Emergency Preparedness submitted by April Gray When we think of winter, we usually envision ice storms with power outages. In reality, a winter emergency can present itself in many ways. Slick sidewalks can increase a chance at a fall, someone you're riding with can have car problems, you can have carbon monoxide leaks from problems with a furnace or someone warming up a vehicle in an open garage. I'm going to give some tips at dealing with the challenges that can come up in the winter. Preparing your home for winter and winter emergencies is essential. Plastic on your windows can hold in heat and keep out cold wind. Make sure your carbon monoxide detectors are working. Outages can sometimes affect the pilot light on some gas furnaces so having an alert to that is important. Leave cabinet doors open when it's cold so pipes won't freeze. Your emergency kit will come in handy here too. If your electricity goes out for a few days, or your pipes freeze, you will need emergency water, and easy-to- use foods like protein bars and things that don't need heated. Extra blankets or a sleeping bag that goes down to 30 degrees is good to have and easy to store. Remember power banks too, and keep phones charged. "Hot hands" are great to keep on hand this time of year. You can store them for a long time and they are easy to activate. You simply shake them vigorously; then they will provide heat for hours. They are small so you can slip them in gloves, or shoes. I keep some in the car, and some in my purse in case I'm riding with someone else. You can purchase them at Walmart, or online. Another good cheap investment is cleats for your shoes. They slip on over your shoes and can make walking on the ice much safer and easier and lessen the risk of falling. Keep a spare pair of gloves on you in case your main pair get wet. I keep the thin $1.00 pairs you can get at Walmart or the dollar store on hand. They take up little room in your pocket and are great in a pinch. Always have a hat with you even if you aren't wearing it to go out. I know some people don't want to mess their hair up, but if you're stranded and freezing, vanity should go out the window. Make sure you have ice melt before the storms come. Those with guide dogs can get pet-friendly ice melt. If your insurance allows it, fill your medications early so you don't run out if you get stuck in the house for a week or two. Make sure you have a supply of any cold medicine, cough drops, tissue, and other items you need when you get a winter cold. Stock up on essentials; also have easy-to prepare foods in case the electricity is out. Know the weather forecast before you head out and prepare accordingly. Dress in layers; it's better to be able to take off a layer than to freeze. Don't forget to carry water with you. It's easy to forget to keep hydrated when you are not sweating in the hot summer sun, but it's just as important in the dry winter air. Always have your phone on you when you go outside, even if it is only to take your dog out or get the mail. When temperatures drop, you can freeze quickly, especially if you fall. The quicker you can call for help the better; so, unless your guide dog carries a barrel of rum or whiskey around its neck in case you need rescued, then a phone is the best option. Even though we don't get a lot of extreme cold temperatures in Missouri, it can happen. Here are a few important things to focus on. Open cabinet doors under sinks that are on outer walls. Turn faucets to drip or a slow trickle. Have buckets of water ready to flush toilet or wash hands if water lines burst or there is otherwise no water. (Gathering snow in a bucket and allowing it to thaw inside also works.) Put blankets on your windows for extra insulation. If you have pets, make sure you have potty pads as they may not want to go out or stay out long enough to do their business. If you lose electricity, you can store food from fridge or freezer in your garage or in an enclosed container outside. Make sure animals cannot get into the container. Keep warm and stay safe. # # # HILTON HOTELS submitted by Deanna Noriega We are excited to share some incredible news! Be My Eyes has officially partnered with Hilton, a global leader in hospitality, to enhance accessibility across their hotels, ensuring a more inclusive experience for blind and low vision travelers in North America. What Does This Mean for You? Through this partnership, Hilton guests in the U.S. and Canada who are blind or have low vision can now access live voice assistance via Hilton Reservation and Customer Care agents or Be My AI, our innovative AI-powered visual assistant. Here's what you can expect: Live Video Assistance: Whether navigating hotel layouts, or identifying amenities, Hilton guests can now connect directly with Hilton's Reservations and Customer Care agents for real-time support. AI-Powered Support: Guests can also rely on "Be My AI," our virtual assistant, to receive visual guidance in a wide range of situations while staying at a participating brand within the Hilton portfolio of brands. Personalized Experience: Hilton guests will receive assistance tailored to their specific needs regarding their stay. Whether guests need help locating a room feature or navigating hotel spaces, both Hilton Reservations and Customer Care agents, and "Be My AI" will offer personalized support to make your stay as comfortable as possible. This partnership redefines accessibility in hospitality for blind and low vision guests to enjoy smoother, more comfortable stays, no matter where their travels take them. # # # IN THE KITCHEN From Scratch submitted by Wilma Chestnut-House On the first day, God made a meal plan. He finally had it all figured out, finally had a taste for something. On the second day, God made a grocery list. One of everything, God thought. On the third day, God planted a garden. God's own farmers' market. On the fourth day, God sharpened God's knives. God created iron and cast it into skillets. God preheated the oven and forgot about it. On the fifth day, God chopped, and God baked, and God braised, and God broiled, and God fried, and God grilled, and God roasted, and God poached, and God stewed. For hours, God stewed. On the sixth day, God opened all the pots, and a mist went up from the pots and watered the whole face of God and God sweat the vegetables. On the seventh day, God created company, and they came over and they ate with God and God looked around at God's kitchen, and they ended their work and they rested. This is the history of cooking not just by sight but smell and taste. This is the creation of the heavens and the earth and soul food before Tupperware, before any tin foil, before anyone said how they would have made it, God created satisfaction. Let us pray! Yes God, the perfect planter, the perfect picker, and the perfect pickler. You, who let creation stew on Sunday morning and ate gumbo, tomatoes, and corn and lima beans that afternoon. Let us pray for first and last suppers. This prayer whispered over everything and everyone. This blessing breathed over everything and everyone. This libation poured over everything and everyone and thus knowing that everyone gets fed. Thank you, my true vibe # # # RECIPES submitted by Robyn Wallen When I did an ancestry test about four years ago, I learned my father was from New Mexico. I wanted to learn about the culture and how to cook authentic New Mexico Cuisine. I thought I would share some tried-and-true recipes. You can get a big jar of roasted Hatch green chilies at Walmart or Sam's Club. You can get fresh ones at Dierbergs; you will have to roast them early, around August and September. Instant Pot Green Chili Stew 1 lb Pound Pork Shoulder cubed 1 lb beef chuck roast cubed. 1/4 Cup All-Purpose Flour 1 Tablespoon olive oil 1 large white onion chopped 3 cloves garlic 1 carton chicken broth 10-12 Hatch Chili Peppers roasted, peeled and chopped. or approx. 1 cup of chopped green chilis. (if you need to roast your peppers, put them under the broiler until the skins start to turn black. Remove them from the oven and cover with a damp cloth to let steam for about ten minutes. Then peel and chop the peppers.) 1 14 oz can diced tomatoes 2 medium potatoes peeled and cubed 1 tsp ground cumin 1 tsp dried oregano Salt and Pepper to taste Set Instant Pot to saut‚ and add olive oil. Saut‚ onions and garlic, coat pork and steak with flour, and add to pot. Cook until browned. Add 1 carton of chicken broth. Stir to make sure any stuck bits are off of the bottom, so you don't get a burn notice. Add the remaining ingredients and close the lid. Make sure the lid is in the locked position. Pressure-cook on high for 25 minutes. once cooking time is done, wait an additional 15 minutes before you slowly release the steam. Enjoy! Biscochitos (a holiday cookie tradition) 6 Cups all-purpose flour 1 tbsp baking powder 1/4 tsp salt 2 cups lard 1 1/2 cups white sugar 2 tsp anise seeds 2 large eggs 1/2 cup brandy (optional) 1/4 cup white sugar 1 tbsp ground cinnamon Preheat oven to 350øF. Sift flour, baking powder, and salt into a bowl and set it aside. Beat lard and sugar together until smooth, add anise seeds, and beat until fluffy. Stir in eggs one at a time and then slowly add in flour mixture to form a dough. Roll dough out to about 1/4-inch thickness on a floured pastry sheet. Cut with Fleur-De-Lis cookie cutters if you have them. You can also use a biscuit cutter. Mix together sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle over cookies. Bake for 10 minutes and put on rack to cool. One more recipe. This one isn't from New Mexico but is the viral butter beef all over TikTok. Instant Pot Viral Butter Beef 2 Tbsp Olive oil 2 pounds stew meat 1 yellow onion chopped 1 pound of small red or gold potatoes 1 pkg brown gravy mix 1 pkg Lipton onion soup 1 carton beef bone broth 1 stick unsalted butter cut into slices Set Instant Pot to saut‚ and cook onions in olive oil until soft. Stir in stew meat and cook until browned. Add remaining ingredients and stir. Close the lid and make sure it is in the locked position. Pressure-cook on high for one hour and 25 minutes. Serve. Margarita Short Bread with Tequila Lime Glaze submitted by Wilma Chestnut-House Ingredients Cookie Dough: 1 cup unsalted butter (8 ounces), softened 2/3 cup granulated sugar 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice (from 1 lime) 2 tablespoons agave nectar 2 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour (about 10 5/8 ounces) Tequila-Lime Glaze 3 cups powdered sugar (about 12 ounces) 2 1/2 tablespoons (1 1/4 ounces) tequila reposado 1 1/2 teaspoons grated lime zest plus 3 1/2 tablespoons fresh lime juice (from 2 limes) Additional Ingredients Flaky sea salt, white sparkling sugar, and lime zest, for garnish (optional) Directions Make the cookie dough: Beat butter, sugar, salt, and cream of tartar with a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment on medium speed until light and fluffy, 1 to 2 minutes. Add lime juice and agave; beat on low speed until just combined, about 15 seconds, stopping to scrape down sides of bowl as needed. Add flour; beat on low speed until evenly incorporated, about 15 seconds. Divide dough in half. Shape each half into a smooth log (about 9 inches long). Wrap logs individually in plastic wrap. Chill in refrigerator until firm, at least 2 hours or up to 2 days. Preheat oven to 350øF with racks in upper third and lower third positions. Line 4 baking sheets with parchment paper; set aside. Unwrap 1 dough log on a clean work surface (keeping remaining log chilled), and cut crosswise into 1/4-inch slices (about 36 cookies per log). Arrange cookies 1 inch apart on 2 prepared baking sheets. Transfer to freezer; chill 15 minutes. Bake in preheated oven until edges are just beginning to brown, 14 to 16 minutes, rotating baking sheets between top and bottom racks after 7 minutes of baking time. Remove from oven. Let cookies cool completely on baking sheet, about 30 minutes. While cookies bake and cool, repeat cutting, freezing, and baking process with remaining dough log and remaining prepared baking sheets. Make the tequila-lime glaze: Whisk together powdered sugar, tequila, and lime zest and juice in a medium bowl until smooth and thick. (Don't be tempted to add any more liquid; the glaze will be very thick, but that's the perfect consistency.) Scoop tequila-lime glaze evenly on centers of cookies (about 3/4 teaspoon per cookie). Using the back of a spoon, spread glaze over cookies, leaving a 1/4-inch border around cookie edge. Garnish edges with lightly flaky sea salt to taste, if desired. Let cookies stand until glaze hardens, about 30 minutes. Garnish whole cookie with more flaky sea salt, sparkling sugar, and lime zest, if desired. # # # TECH TIDBITS Best Free OCR Software Adobe Scan Adobe Scan pros: Up to 25 pages for free It automatically detects phone numbers and URLs Adobe Scan cons: Some accuracy hiccups Adobe Scan offers several modes for scanning, including books, documents, business cards, ID cards, and even whiteboards. I started by scanning the receipt and was pleasantly surprised to discover that the app not only can detect phone numbers and URLs but also makes the number or URL clickable. This should be useful, especially if you're on the go and don't have time to jot down a number or website-you can just take a pic and easily access that information later. As far as digitizing, it had some hiccups with accuracy, but not too shabby overall. The prices on the receipt-which other apps had pulled just fine-were incorrect here. On the other hand, the certificate fared a lot better, with Adobe catching most of the text except for the "Certificate" title at the top. What's interesting is that the book wound up being the most accurate: there were a handful of errors with some of the words, but for the most part, the text was correct enough to decipher. Overall, Adobe Scan is a solid option for anyone looking for a free OCR app. It comes with basic file management and editing capabilities, which makes it edge out Microsoft Lens for a free option. And for those looking for a few more features, like the ability to export to Word, compress and combine PDFs, protect PDFs with a password, or digitize up to 100 pages, there's a premium plan available. Adobe Scan price: Free; $9.99/month or $69.99/year for premium features. INSPIRATION We all face hardship, but for many, the thought of losing our sight is a horrifying prospect. Despite facing immense difficulties as a result of vision loss, there are some truly amazing people in the world who have overcome their disability to achieve amazing things. Here is one: Daniel Kish "When you actually adapt to blindness, you pretty much eradicate fear from your life in a way that most sighted people haven't"- Daniel Kish, Success Magazine Daniel was born with Retinoblastoma, an aggressive form of cancer that attacks the retinas, leading to vision loss. By the time he was 13 months old, Daniel had both of his eyes removed in a lifesaving operation. Although this is not a highly unusual scenario, what sets Daniel apart from other blind people is his ability to see the world around him using a technique called echolocation. This technique involves generating a sound - typically a click of the tongue - then listening to the echoes of sound that bounce off the surrounding objects, allowing Daniel to paint a picture of the world around him. Although Daniel was not the first person to use this technique, he has now become an expert in human echolocation, and has begun training other blind people to use this technique through his non-profit charity World Access for the Blind. As of 2015, Kish's leadership had already enabled the charity to introduce more than 500 students to echolocation. From the age of 18, Kish opted out of a relying on a caregiver, instead practicing complete independence, to the point that he's even rejected the use of his cane, choosing to rely solely upon his perfected click and echolocation. For this reason, he is a divisive figure in the blind community. Many have great respect for him, but some regard him with disdain for using behavior that could be deemed as abnormal. Despite his polarizing nature, Daniel Kish is freeing many blind people from the constraints society place upon blind people. His hopes for the future lie in a handheld sonic device that can enable every blind person to use echolocation and lead a fuller life. # # # FOR THE HOLIDAY SEASON What is it Like to Be Blind at Christmas? by Tamara Gaudet Christmas is my absolute, hands down favorite time of year. Has been ever since I was a little girl. I would wait for Santa and hope he heard my Christmas wish. Then, growing up, Christmas traditions continued and my love for this holiday deepened further. And now as a 44-year-old, I'm a proud, but pitiful knock-off for Mrs. Clause. Usually, by December 1st, our home is all decked out. I put up the outdoor lights, although I don't use a staple gun anymore. I decorate our tree, walls and windows. Hang pictures and hang stockings. But, with this year being such a tumultuous one for many of us, I'm a little behind. In fact, my Christmas Spirit itself missed the first train...maybe even the second. But then I realized we NEED the joy. We need the love. WE NEED CHRISTMAS! So, that means I was not going to miss the next train! Christmas time is so beautiful. With all the sparkling lights, shiny bows, gift wrap and exquisite Christmas trees. It's hard not to be in awe of it all. So, when I was asked the question "How does a blind person enjoy Christmas?", it made me think for a moment. This Is How... Do you hear what I hear? Close your eyes and imagine for a moment nothing but the distant ring of winter bells. Maybe in a song or in the streets. I hear Angels. Truly listen when you hear a Christmas choir or when children sing. I hear happiness. Or how about when a gift is given? A gift of a smile, a hug, something desired from Santa or a hot plate of food. I hear gratitude. Do you see what I see? With just 1.5% vision, I am able to see the flickering of Christmas lights up close. The darker the room and brighter the lights, the happier I feel. I also see my friends, family and community coming together to celebrate the holidays and each other. To share memories and make new ones. To give and to love and to "be." But most of all, what I see and hear at Christmas is the most beautiful thing of all. Love. It's kind, generous and all forgiving. It's honest and compassionate. It knows no limits and knows no fears. So, how does a blind person enjoy Christmas? I actually hear, see and feel a lot during this magical time of year. And, I didn't even mention the delicious and festive food that makes its way out and on to my hips. I hope you will allow the love and the joy to carry you through your holidays this year and every year to come. If you do, I promise it will be a beautiful gift for you and the people that surround you this Christmas. Feel the magic. See the miracles. Bring the joy. A Guide Dog's Lament by Flynn, a yellow Labrador retriever, graduate of The Seeing Eye Inc., with editorial assistance from DeAnna Noriega Christmas is such a confusing time, All the everyday rules seem to change. A tree is not for the kitty to climb, Or where to leave your mark, it's strange. Mistress covers it up with lights on a cord, In which it is easy to tangle your paws. And she spends more money than she can afford. But woe to the dog who breaks any laws. Don't chase the kitty up into the tree! Don't help yourself to the snacks on the table! Even a ball is not what it should be, And you must rush around as long as your able. Hurry everywhere with no time for stopping. There are so many people that you don't know, And mistress spends all her time shopping. Or she packs for a trip--will you get to go? If you love your dog, then take my advice. Make time for a game or a pat on the head. A new toy or dog treat would also be nice. Your dog loves you best, when all has been said. He doesn't ask much for all that he gives, His friendship, his caring, his joy in his work. Taking care of you is for what he lives So, remember his needs, and don't be a jerk! (Okay, so its doggerel at its worst, but what do you expect from an overworked guide dog?) Cookie Trays by DeAnna Quietwater Noriega Plates of cookies make the perfect thank-you gift for the people who help you get things done, read your mail, or give you a lift to meetings or activities. I like to buy decorative plates, mugs, tins, baskets and trays in the after-Christmas sales. That way the recipients of my kitchen creations will have a useful keepsake after the largesse has been eaten. However, you can find paper products printed with holiday themes if you don't have any of the above items around. If you are trying to fill out a large tray or basket, start with a loaf of banana bread or half dozen muffins, bottle of apple cider, or box of hot chocolate mix. Then fill in around this, starting with heavy cookies like oatmeal cookies, individually wrapped fudge squares or brownies. Then add the more delicate things like spritz cookies or frosted ones. Top this with a couple of candy canes or a handful of red and white peppermints. Wrap the whole in plastic wrap and top with a bright bow. I sometimes decorate my cookie trays with what my family call church mice. These are little mice made out of felt with a candy cane for a tail. A Christmas ornament or Christmas doily or napkin can also add a festive touch. Description of Church mice: cut an oval out of white or gray felt the size you want for the mouse body. Cut another narrower oval out of red or pink felt about a third the length of the body. Sew or glue a bead at the end of the body oval for a nose and also two beads or small buttons or plastic eyes to make a mouse face. Just behind the face, cut two small slits parallel to the length of the body. At the opposite end of the body from the face, cut a small slit for the tail. Fold the narrow red oval in half and feed it through the slits at the face end of the mouse. This will form ears. Then slide the long shank of the candy cane down through the slit you have cut for the tail and slip it along the underside of the mouse and fit it through the underside of the ear piece and you are done. These mice make great party table favors, or easy-to-make gifts for children to give to teachers and friends. # # # MCB BOARD MINUTES--CONDENSED submitted by Tracy Anderson, condensed by the editor July 25, 2024 Call to Order--Chip Hailey, President Prayer--Beverly Kaskadden, Director Pledge of Allegiance--Jeff Creech, Representative Roll Call - Tracy Anderson, MCB Secretary The following Board Members were present: --President Chip Hailey --Vice President Linda Gerken, Blind of Central Missouri --Secretary Tracy Anderson, AGAPE Council --Treasurer William Hawkins, Allied Workers --Rob Albro, Southeast Missouri --Jeff Creech, Northern Lights --Sabrina Fowler, River City Workers --Public Relations Director Roger Jewell, Lake Stockton --Director Beverly Kaskadden, St. Charles County Council --Director Wanda Matlock --Director, Anna Schell Not present: --Craig Ancell, Delta Area Welcome by Chip Hailey of special guest and online listeners Approval of agenda --motion by Linda to approve the agenda with a few changes: remove from the agenda Kim Reece, who was not present; reflect in the minutes the resignation letter received from committee chair Erica Wolf; add the strategic plan report under new business; and set a meeting date to discuss the details. Seconded. Passed. Approval of June 27, 2024, MCB Board meeting minutes Motion by Linda to approve the June meeting minutes with a correction to the wording of the transportation committee budget line request to state "the Budget and Finance Committee would recommend for next year's budget." Seconded. Passed. President's Remarks, Chip Hailey President --Meet the People of MCB will resume after Labor Day due to scheduling conflicts and a short break. --appreciation to Debbie and Tobie Sanders who worked on setting up the new database for the office. --the Candidates' Forum will be in September; first one for President on September 6th during the Board Office Hours; Vice President on the 13th; Secretary's on the 20th. Wanda requested those dates be sent to the MCB List. --appreciation to everyone who attended the town hall on the Tuesday before the Board meeting. It is available on the MCB Information Line 773-572- 6387; press option 3 for the calendar of events. --a brief update from Kim Reese about the amendment 1 discussion in the town hall; if passed, she and others including the National Federation rep would meet with Kim Evans from the Department of Social Services to develop a strategy on how to address our state legislators to protect the blind pension. Treasurer's report --William Hawkins, MCB treasurer, --noted the new proposed budget for 2024 - 2025 was sent out to all the Board members. --plans to set up meetings with each committee chair. --noted that the budget was compiled by members of the Budget and Finance Committee: Jerry, John, Carl, Tracy and William --suggested the Board review the proposal prior to the next meeting to shorten the approval process. --noted that as of the close of business July 25, 2024, the investment account balance was $3,373,023.23. --stated that he will speak with the foundation regarding a request to renew the $2.8 million investment. --stated that MCB has 1 million in cash to spend, but that amount depends on the fluctuation of the stock market. --stated an adjustment will be made to add an overlooked donation back into the member-of-the-month budget account. John Jordan from the MCB office presented the GMS proposal summary. --It is the recommendation of the Budget and Finance Committee to employ GMS as the service provider for HR support and payroll processing. Seconded. Passed. --Tracy Anderson MCB Office Personnel Committee Chair Tracy presented a proposed lease-purchase agreement to replace the office copier. It would extend for 36 months at a cost of $129 per month. At the end of the 36-month lease, the machine would be owned, or the lease could be continued. The Personnel Committee recommended to accept the copier lease proposal from Sumner One. Seconded. Passed. --update on proposed bylaw amendment to hold hybrid conventions --Tracy Anderson MCB Secretary An amendment sponsored by the Board of Directors was drafted and presented to the Bylaws Committee before the July 15 deadline. A motion was made by Anna to allow Jenelle Edwards and Chris Dickey to rework the wording of the amendment. Seconded. Passed. --update on MCB office building repairs--Tracy gave the update in Robert Vaughn's absence. The Board had previously approved Jorge Bucio to do the repairs on the building. Bucio indicated he would forward his liability insurance to the office. Tracy stated she would post it to the Board list. --discussion on summer camp membership payments--William Hawkins, Treasurer William indicated that the summer camp program had been as high as $80,000 in the past. He reviewed the prices for each type of applicant. The summer camp contract for July requires that MCB pay for a minimum of 50 people. MCB received a $25,000 grant from the Lighthouse to be used for summer camp. --Beverly stated the amount for adults is discounted to last year's rate and is $570 per person instead of $584. The other rates were correct according to her. She said she would look into other weeks that would not require a minimum. MCB Sports & Recreation Committee Chair Wilma Chestnut-House asked the Board for additional funds to be added to her S&P budget that would cover two events (bowling and camping) plus food she had planned. She noted that she has received $2250 from MCB in November and $2000 from the Lighthouse for the Blind in April. The recommendation from Wilma and the Sports & Recreation Committee was to credit back $2100 to the S&P budget. Seconded. In the discussion, William added clarification on the MCB accounting procedures and what is allowed by the state for 501(c)(3). He explained how MCB income and expenses are calculated as well as how the programs are subsidized by income received. He stated Wilma spent all of the budgeted amount except for $138. Motion to extend the time 10 minutes. Seconded. Passed. Sabrina requested to withdraw her second to the S&P recommendation. A motion was made by Roger to approve an additional $1000 for Sports & Recreation camping and bowling. Seconded. Passed. New Business Erica Wolf resigned as chair of Special Services. A motion was made by Linda to accept Erica Wolf's resignation. Seconded. Passed. The president will fill in until a new chair can be appointed. Linda made a motion to meet on August 29 at 7 PM to review the new strategic plan. Seconded. Passed. Announcements --Beverly indicated she noticed errors on the MCB website and will contact Debbie Sanders for corrections. --Jeff announced that the Northern Lights affiliate will have its first annual trivia night fundraiser October 19th at James Eagan Center in Florissant. If anyone wants to participate, donate raffle baskets or get tickets, contact Jeff Creech. Tables of eight are $200 or $25 per seat. --Wanda's reminded that the member-of-the-month submissions are due. She wanted July's nominations to be included in the Chronicle. --The MCB Town Hall will be Tuesday, August 20th at 7 PM. --Date & Time of next MCB Board Teleconference August 22, 2024, at 7 PM. Motion to begin closed session. Seconded. Passed. Closed session began 11 board members were present. --A motion was made by Linda to approve the closed- session minutes. Seconded. Passed. Motion to end closed session. Seconded. Passed. Closed session ended. Motion to adjourn. Seconded. Passed. Adjourned. August 22, 2024 Call to order--Chip Hailey, president Prayer--Roger Jewell, MCB Public Relations Director Pledge of Allegiance--Bev Kaskadden, Director Roll call--Tracy Anderson, MCB secretary The following Board Members were present: --President Chip Hailey --Vice President Linda Gerken, Blind of Central Missouri --Secretary Tracy Anderson, AGAPE Council --Treasurer William Hawkins, Allied Workers --Jeff Creech, Northern Lights --Sabrina Fowler, River City Workers --Roger Jewell, Lake Stockton --Beverly Kaskadden, St. Charles County Council --Wanda Matlock --Anna Schell, United Workers --Donna Weidlich, Delta Area Note: A replacement for Rob Albro from Southeast Area Blind had not been named prior to the meeting. Welcome of special guest and online listeners-Chip Hailey, president Approval of agenda A motion was made by Sabrina to set another date to approve the 2024-25 proposed budget because several Board members had not received copies. William stated that a copy had been sent to all members on August 19 after he had met with the committee chairs. Beverly asked for a side-by-side comparison report of last year's budget with the proposed 2024-25 budget. William stated that everyone should already have the current reports. William asked for a detailed report on summer camp attendance and payments. Sabrina's motion was seconded and passed. Sabrina made a second motion to move the MCB Board. Teleconference meeting from September 26 to September 28 at 1pm. Seconded. Passed. A motion was made by Linda to approve the agenda with a few changes--set a date in September to discuss the new budget; remove Hunter Martiniere from the agenda; move the Bowman Foundation letter discussion to open session; and add Frank and Mary 's Navi Lens proposal for the convention to new business. Seconded. Passed. Approval of July 25, 2024, MCB Board meeting minutes A motion was made by Linda to approve the minutes as written. Second. Passed. Treasurer's report--William Hawkins --the MCB investment accounts are up 8.79 % or $339,000. The market has been outstanding, he said, considering we came into the year with a negative $249,000. William said the real number, including all the income, will not be known until October 31. --the negative operating budget has come down. We were able to save $57,787 without cuts to any of the programs. He said he was able to cut some overpriced services or services we were no longer using. --in the new budget there was an increase to scholarships to $41,000, due to receiving $25,000 from a law firm to grant scholarships to Blind students in Missouri attending law school. --the Youth Services budget was increased to $10,000 to expand their footprint in various parts of the state including Kansas City, St. Louis and Joplin. --the situation with the Ballman Foundation has been resolved and the accountant has corrected prior year tax returns to 2017 and sent the requested information to the foundation. He said he received confirmation that MCB is back in good standing with the foundation Discussion and approval of the 24-25 MCB Budget-- William Hawkins. The budget discussion was moved to Saturday, September 28, 2024, at 1 PM. New Business Roger read the proposal from Frank and Mary to install Navi Lens at the convention in the hotel. It is designed to help the blind or visually impaired navigate their surroundings with specially coded tags that are placed in a room or area that translate visual signage into audio messages. They will provide 30 pre-programmed codes for $90 and 10 complementary programmable codes that will be unique to the MCB convention. The consulting and set-up fee is $200. The total cost will be $290. They requested a vendor table to display and demonstrate the product in the marketplace. A motion was made by Jeff to forego the 10-day standing rule and decide on Navi Lens at the meeting. Second. Linda amended the motion to include approving the installation of Navi Lens. Passed. Announcements We will cover the proposed bylaw amendments on the Board Office Hours with Jenelle Edwards. The white cane safety walk will be Saturday morning at 8 am during the convention. The strategic plan meeting will be a special closed Board meeting. There was a reminder to everyone to get member-of-the-month letters and auction items in for the convention. Date & time of the next MCB Board Teleconference--Saturday, September 28, 2024, at 1 PM. September 28, 2024 Call to order--Chip Hailey president Prayer--Sabrina Fowler, Board Representative Pledge of Allegiance--Anna Schell Director Roll call--Tracy Anderson MCB Secretary The following Board Members were present: --President Chip Hailey --Vice President Linda Gerken, Blind of Central Missouri --Secretary Tracy Anderson, AGAPE Council --Treasurer William Hawkins, Allied Workers --Sabrina Fowler, River City Workers --Director Beverly Kaskadden, St. Charles County Council --Director Anna Schell, United Workers --Donna Weidlich, Delta Area --Jeff Creech, Northern Lights Not present: --Public Relations Director Roger Jewell, Tri-Lakes Council --James Lashley, Southeast Missouri --Director Wanda Matlock Approval of agenda--Chip Hailey MCB President A motion was made by Linda to approve the agenda. Seconded. Passed Approval of the August 22, 2024, MCB Board Teleconference meeting minutes. A motion was made by Linda to approve the minutes as written. Seconded. Passed. The August 29, 2024, MCB Special Strategic Planning Committee meeting minutes. A motion was made by Linda to approve the minutes as written. Seconded. Passed. Approval of the September 10, 2024, Special MCB Board Teleconference meeting minutes. A motion was made by Linda to approve the minutes as written. Seconded. Passed. Proposed 2024-2025 budget--William Hawkins MCB Treasurer The President announced that he had asked Tammy to read the budget report and asked if it was OK with everyone. William objected and stated he preferred that John read the report since he helped work on it and is part of the Budget and Finance Committee. The President asked if there were any objections to John reading the report. Linda stated Tammy read the report on Tuesday night and made a motion that Tammy read the report again during the Board meeting. William stated the Budget and Finance Committee was not consulted on who would read the report. Linda's motion was seconded. During the discussion there was still objection by William of how his proposed budget would be presented. Roll-call vote: Linda, yes; Tracy, no; William, no; Jeff, yes; Sabrina, no; Beverly, yes; Anna, yes; Donna, no. There were 4 yes and 4 no votes. The President was the tiebreaker and cast a yes vote. William went on to explain the budget and how it is that MCB operates with a negative budget. He stated he reviewed budgets going back to 2003 to the present budget and all of the programs sometimes operate in the negative because they do not generate enough income to cover expenses. There were no cuts to any of the programs. In the proposed budget, all of the program amounts remained the same, except for two that had increases. William explained the increases and went on to explain the programs and the problems including those with the summer camp program. He explained the inaccuracies in the summer camp program reports. There was interruption, and the President halted the discussion and warned against future interruptions. The meeting was adjourned by President Hailey. The next Board meeting is Thursday, October 3, 2024, at 7 pm. # # # MISSOURI COUNCIL OF THE BLIND 5453 Chippewa St Saint Louis, MO 63109 Phone: (314) 832-7172 or Toll-free: (800) 342-5632 Fax: (314) 832-7796 E-mail: moblind@moblind.org OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS President, Gregg Hollins 4638 N. Holly Ct., Kansas City, MO 64116 Phone: (816) 812-0129 E-mail: gregghollins@icloud.com president@moblind.org Vice-President, Tracy Anderson 12499 Lyric Ct Apt 105, Saint Louis MO 63146-2837 Phone: (314) 283-8556 E-mail: Tracyam30@gmail.com Secretary, Robyn Wallen 921 Tempo Drive, Saint Louis, Missouri 63146 Phone: (314) 878-3389 E-mail: robynwallen@gmail.com Treasurer, William Hawkins 1601 E 18th St Ste 361, Kansas City MO 64108 Phone: (816) 844-2020 E-mail: hawkinsfinancialservicekc@gmail.com Director, Anna Schell 3911 Jamieson Apt 1E, Saint Louis, MO 63109 Phone: (314) 647-7166 E-mail: aschell59@gmail.com Director, Wanda Matlock #11 Five O Dr, Portageville, MO 63873 Phone: (573) 379-3880 E-mail: wmatlock561@gmail.com Director, Beverly Kaskadden 646 Woodchuck Ln, Lake Saint Louis, MO 63367 Phone: (636) 561-6947 E-mail: bkaskadden@gmail.com COMMITTEE CHAIRS Adaptive Technology: Joe Morgan 4158 Bingham, Saint Louis, MO 63116-2520 Phone: (314) 333-4272 E-mail: joe.morgan1955@gmail.com Blind Pension: Denny Huff P O Box 515, St. Clair, MO 63077 Phone: (636) 428-1500 E-mail: denny@gatewayfortheblind.com Blind Task Force: June Lenk 6347 Mardel Ave, Saint Louis, MO 63109 Phone: (314) 351-2814 E-mail: junelenk@charter.net Budget and Finance: William Hawkins 1601 E 18th St Ste 361, Kansas City MO 64108 Phone: (816) 844-2020 E-mail: hawkinsfinancialservicekc@gmail.com Building Committee: John Jordan 8331 Duryea Avenue, Saint Louis, MO 63136 Phone: (314) 600-6183 E-mail: info@moblind.org Bylaws/Resolutions: Janelle Edwards 4638 North Holly Court, Kansas City, MO 64116 Phone: (816) 698-2699 E-mail: jedwards9994@sbcglobal.net Convention Coordinator: Brandi Jones 21309 E. Third St. Drive South, Independence, MO 64056 Phone: (816) 665-0369 E-mail: brandiJones77@sbcglobal.net Credentials: Susan Sanderson 1720 South Stewart, Sedalia, Missouri 65301 Phone: (660) 287-3539 E-mail: clown_4@hotmail.com Dual-Sensory - Pending Education & Advocacy: Kim Reese 134 Bear Claw Dr, Wentzville, MO 63385 Phone: (636) 856-8130 E-mail: kreese7034@gmail.com Emergency Preparedness: April Gray 105 North Ingles St, Lawson, MO 64062 Phone: (816) 499-2626 E-mail: aknoch74@gmail.com Fundraising: Carl Chappell 1430 Arlington Drive, Florissant, MO 63033 Phone: (314) 795-0271 E-mail: frelynchappell@gmail.com Health Benefits: Alicia Starner 1202 South Sneed Ave, Sedalia, MO 65301 Phone: (660) 473-0468 E-mail: astarner@live.com Member of the Month: Wanda Matlock #11 Five O Dr, Portageville, MO 63873 Phone: (573) 379-3880 E-mail: wmatlock561@gmail.com Membership: Felishya Booker 4831 NE 47th Street, Kansas City, MO 64117 Phone: (816) (598)-3479 E-mail: fbooker5377@gmail.com Missouri Chronicle Editor: Bob Collier 1002 Copper Oaks Dr, Carl Junction, MO 64834 Phone: (417) 529-2972 E-mail: mcbchronicle@gmail.com Multimedia Committee: Debbie and Tobie Sanders 756 Orbit Lane, Carthage, MO 64836 Phone: Debbie (405) 550-3508 Tobie (405) 317-0481 E-mail: multimedia@moblind.org Personnel: Tracy Anderson 12499 Lyric Ct Apt 105, Saint Louis MO 63146-2837 Phone: 314 283-8556 E-mail: tracyam30@gmail.com Public Relations: Debbie Platner 842 S. Hall St, Webb City, Missouri 64870 Phone: (417) 529-3668 E-mail: pr@moblind.org Scholarships: Carl Tiemann 1577 Ville Maura Ln, Hazelwood, MO 63042 Phone: (314) 323-2229 E-mail: tiemann3@msn.com Special Services: Melvin Smith 9918 Holly St, Kansas City, MO 64144 Phone: (816) 898-8050 E-mail: dadeville0000@gmail.com Sports and Recreation: Wilma Chestnut-House 8659 Moran Pl, St. Louis, Mo 63114-4436 Phone (314) 873-9022 E-mail: wilmachouse@gmail.com State Rehabilitation Council: Brian Wekamp 1105 Linden Court, Jefferson City, MO 65109 Phone: (573) 291-7495 E-mail: b_wekamp@mediacombb.net Strategic Planning: Janelle Morris 1602 Foxrun Drive, Columbia, MO 65202 Phone: (573) 355-3381 E-mail: Jannelmorris0@gmail.com Summer Camp: Beverly Kaskadden 646 Woodchuck Ln, Lake St. Louis, MO 63367 Phone: (636) 561-6947 E-mail: bkaskadden@gmail.com Transportation: Robyn Wallen 921 Tempo Drive, Saint Louis, Missouri 63146 Phone: (314) 878-3389 E-mail: robynwallen@gmail.com Wolfner Advisory: Naomi Soule 7211 Heege Rd., St. Louis, MO 63123-2323 Phone: (314) 374-6083 E-mail: naomisoule2@gmail.com Youth Camp: Linda Gerken 203 Hopkins, Hughesville, MO 65334 Phone: (660) 826-1690 E-mail: lindagerken4@gmail.com Youth Services: Linda Gerken 203 Hopkins, Hughesville, MO 65334 Phone: (660) 826-1690 E-mail: lindagerken4@gmail.com MCB AFFILIATES 4-Rivers Council of the Blind President: Denny Huff P O Box 515, St. Clair, MO 63077 Phone: (636) 428-1500 E-mail: denny@gatewayfortheblind.com Agape Council of the Blind President: Patrick Patton 4446 Floriss Pl., Apt. A, Saint Louis, MO 63115 Phone: (314) 780-3332 E-mail: patrickpattonpp@gmail.com Allied Workers for the Blind President: Gregg Hollins 4638 N. Holly Ct., Kansas City, MO 64116 Phone: (816) 812-0129 E-mail: gregghollins@icloud.com Blind of Central Missouri President: Alicia Starner 1202 S Sneed Ave., Sedalia, MO 65301 Phone: (660) 473-0468 E-mail: astarner@live.com Delta Area Blind President: Belinda Turner 804 A Woodruff Ave., Sikeston, MO 63801-3311 Phone: (573) 481-0044 E-mail: bmtvip@charter.net Heritage Council of the Blind President: Wilma Chestnut-House 8659 Moran Pl. St. Louis, MO 63114-4436 Phone: (314) 873-9022 E-mail: wilmachouse@gmail.com Tri-Lakes Council President: Beverly Robertson 903 W. Hughes, Bolivar, MO 65613 Phone: (417) 326-9870 E-mail: b1946m1968bjr@hotmail.com River City Workers of the Blind President: Sabrina Fowler 657 Napa Circle, Cape Girardeau, MO 63703 Phone: (573) 332-1759 St. Charles County Council of the Blind President: Bev Kaskadden 646 Woodchuck Ln, Lake Saint Louis, MO 63367 Phone: (636) 561-6947 E-mail: bkaskadden@gmail.com Saint Louis Northern Lights Council President: Jeff Creech 23 Brooker Ct, St. Peters, MO 63376 Phone: (636) 385-2085 E-mail: jeff.creech1002@gmail.com Southeast Missouri United Blind President: James Lashley 135 County Road 4762, Poplar Bluff, Missouri 63901 Phone: (573) 429-9865 Email: jlashley@boycomonline.com Southwest Missouri Vision Connection President: Debbie Platner 842 S. Hall St, Webb City, Missouri 64870 Phone: (417) 529-3668 E-mail: debplatner1@yahoo.com United Workers for the Blind President: Kay Malmquist 6908 Bancroft Ave, St. Louis, Mo 63109 Phone: (314) 436-2610 E-mail: kay.malmquist@gmail.com MCB SPECIAL-INTEREST AFFILIATES Adaptive Technology, Inc. President: April Gray 105 North Ingles St, Lawson, Missouri 64062 Phone: (816) 499-2626 E-mail: aknoch74@gmail.com ? Braille Revival League of Missouri President: Donna Siren Phone: (314) 899-0310 E-mail: dsiren1955@gmail.com Library Users of Missouri President: Rhonda Jones Phone: (314) 222-8133 E-mail: rhonda.dycus1950@gmail.com Missouri Council of Citizens with Low Vision President: Brian Wekamp 1105 Linden Court, Jefferson City, MO 65109 Phone: (573) 635-6943 E-mail: b_wekamp@mediacombb.net Missouri Guide Dog Users Pending End of Missouri Chronicle - 12/24