







         The NFBF OUTREACH 



         The Official News Magazine of the 
         National Federation of the Blind 
         of Florida


          ISSUE #3  --  SPRING, 1993    



         President                        Editor 
                                
         Wayne Davis                       Dan Hicks
         1949 Marseille Drive              4608 West Longfellow Avenue
         Apartment 2                       Tampa, FL  33629
         Miami Beach, FL  33141            (813)837-4831      
         (305) 861-8425                                                

         ___________________________________________________________________ 
         
         TABLE OF CONTENTS 
         ___________________________________________________________________ 

         FROM THE PRESIDENT                 Wayne Davis           Page 3
      
         MIAMI LOST                         Wayne Davis           Page 5 

         1992 STATE CONVENTION IN ORLANDO   Dan Hicks             Page 11
         
         J O B / MORE GOING INTO BUSINESS   Gloria Mills          Page 17 

         ASSOCIATES UPDATE                  Janet Caron           Page 18

         PAC PLAN UPDATE                    Jeffrey Harmon        Page 19
         
         CHAPTER NEWS                                             Page 20

         WHAT DOES A STATE PRESIDENT DO?    Wayne Davis           Page 24 

         IN HARNESS                         Marion Gwizdala       Page 27
         
         OUTREACH MICROS                                          Page 32
         
         OUT OF CONTEXT                                           Page 34
         
         WHAT'S COOKIN'?                                          Page 36 
         
         SMILES                                                   Page 37
         
         EDITORIAL MATTERS                  Dan Hicks             Page 38
3
        ___________________________________________________________________ 
        
         FROM THE PRESIDENT                                 Wayne Davis 
         ___________________________________________________________________ 

              Our Leadership Camp is coming up soon.  All you chapter 
         presidents should make sure your people are registered early.  The 
         cost is only $65.00 per person for the entire weekend.  This cost 
         includes meals and lodging in air-conditioned cabins.  Our 
         national representative this year is Ramona Walhof, national 
         secretary of the NFB.  This weekend seminar is scheduled for May 
         7, 8, and 9, 1993, at the Florida Lions Camp, 2819 Tiger Lake 
         Road, Lake Wales, Florida 33853.  I am sure that those of you who 
         have attended past Leadership Camps will not want to miss this 
         one.  And if this is your first, well you have something to look 
         forward to.  If you cannot pre-register, please bring your money 
         with you.  For more information, please contact your chapter 
         president, or call me at (305)861-8425. 
             
              My thanks go out to Melody Lindsey and Marion Gwizdala for 
         all of their hard work in getting our Braille Bill and Guide Dog 
         Bill passed by both houses of the Florida Legislature.  The Guide 
         Dog Bill has now taken effect and is now part of the law of the 
         land.  The Braille Bill will be soon.  
              Melody, besides being a full-time student at FSU and 
         President of our Student Division, is our Legislative Chairperson. 
         Marion is Chairman of the state's Guide Dog Committee.  
         
              I want to thank the following people who took part in this 
         year's Washington Seminar.  Those present were: Janet Caron, Carmen 
         Davis, Betty English, David Evans, Dan Hicks, Melody Lindsey, Kannie 
         Loomis, Debby McGlaughlin, Jay Naiman, Joe Naulty, Alan Preston, Randi 
         Rabner, Tom Ryan, and myself.  We addressed three important 
         issues: modifying or eliminating the limitation on earnings 
         imposed by the Social Security Administration; including people 
         with disabilities among those covered by the Small Business Act; 
         and preserving the bulk-rate mailing privilege for nonprofit 
         organizations, such as NFB.  Our group was very successful in our 
4
         meetings with Florida's representatives.  See the March and April, 
         1993 issues of the Braille Monitor for more information on the 
         issues discussed and a report on our results on a national level. 

              In the months ahead, we will be starting two new 
         chapters.  There will be a new chapter in Lakeland, which will 
         hold its organizing meeting on April 24.  And there will be one in 
         Daytona Beach, coming soon. 

              I am sure that you know that Carl McCoy has retired from his 
         position as Director of the Florida Division of Blind Services.  
         The position has been advertised throughout Florida and around the 
         country.  Acting as I was directed by Resolution 93-04, which was 
         adopted by the 1992 Convention of the National Federation of the 
         Blind of Florida, I have made it very clear to Commissioner of 
         Education Betty Castor, that we, the members of this organization, 
         feel that the director of DBS should be a qualified blind person.
         I will continue to work towards this goal until a director is 
         named.  I also pledge to use any influence that goes along with 
         the office I held to try to get a director appointed who will 
         support the policies of our movement.  
              
              We hope to see all of you at our national convention in 
         Dallas, Texas, July 3 through 9, at the Hyat-Regency DFW.  Call 
         the hotel directly to make reservations at (214)453-1234.  Do not 
         call Hyat's toll-free number to make your reservations.  If you 
         use the toll-free number, your reservations will not be valid, and 
         you will not get our un-heard-of low convention rates.  Ask your 
         chapter president for more information or see the December, 1992 
         Braille Monitor for full details.  Or, call me at (305))861-8425. 
         
              We are planning to award two scholarships to deserving blind 
         people at our 1993 State Convention in Boca Raton, in October.  
         So, get in touch with the chapter president in your area for an 
         application, or contact Student Division Chairperson Melody 
         Lindsey at (904)853-2360, or write to her at Florida State 
         University, Box 60382, Tallahassee, FL  32313.  Or call me at at 
         (305)861-8425.  
             
5
              The Florida Affiliate has been getting a lot of good press in 
         the Braille Monitor, over the past few months.  Besides that, Mr. 
         David Evans, who is a state board member and president of the Palm 
         Beach Chapter, recently attended a National Leadership Seminar in 
         Baltimore.  First Vice President Dan Hicks and Board Member Gloria 
         Mills, who is also our JOB Chairperson, are scheduled to attend a 
         future national seminar, to be held later this year. 
              Janet Caron is amung the leaders in the contest to bring in 
         the most Associate members.  See her column in this issue of the 
         OUTREACH (page 18).  Janet is a state board member and vice 
         president of the Pompano Beach Chapter.  
              As always, my thanks go out to Theresa and LeRoy Schaffer.  
         As you know, Theresa is our state treasurer, and LeRoy is our 
         state secretary.  They really work hard for the Federation, and I 
         can't thank them enough.   
              Way to go, people.  You make us look good! 
                

         ___________________________________________________________________ 
        
         MIAMI LOST                                         Wayne Davis 
         ___________________________________________________________________ 
         
              I fancy myself to be a writer, so I thought this article 
         would just flow out of my mind into my computer like water out of 
         a pitcher, but how does one realy discribe the hell that they 
         named Andrew? 
              The feeling and spirit that was Miami left with the storm 
         that history books will refer to as the hurricane of 92, leaving 
         little behind that is as it was before in the southern half of 
         Dade County whitch was hit the hardest by winds gusting to over 
         160 miles per hour.   
             In the aftemath of the storm, the sound of Spanish music was 
         replaced by the growl of national guard trucks, and fine res-
         taurants that offered a wide range of international foods had been 
         replaced by army field kitchens whose staff members did their best 
         to provide enough hot meals to keep Andrew's victoms alive for yet 
         another day.  Where stately trees once shaded avenues of well 
6
         cared for lawns and beautiful homes, there were streets blocked 
         with fallen trees and broken sidewalks, and far to many of the 
         homes had been reduced to little more then piles of rubbish.     
              People who, just a week before, laughed and played in the sun 
         were walking through what looked like a scene from a war movie 
         with confusion and fear in their eyes.  
              I am sure you have heard all kinds of stories about the 
         damage and hardships suffered in Dade County because of the storm.  
         I won't go back over all the things that were shown repeatedly on 
         television.  What I'd like to do is convey a little of what it was 
         like to live through the storm, and to live in Dade County in the 
         weeks and months that followed that terrible event.  
              The day before the storm hit, we, like most Miami residents, 
         were busy stocking up on things like flashlight batteries and 
         making sure the windows were covered with wood.  We live on an 
         islend, Normandy Isle, which is part of the city of Miami Beach.  
         We had to evacuate the island because authorities were expecting 
         excessive flood damage.  I remember, as we left, wondering if 
         there would be anything to return to.  In truth, we have lived on 
         the beach for almost sixteen years.  Several times hurricane 
         warnings have been issued, and several times, the storms have just 
         passed us by.  I knew there was a good chance that Andrew would do 
         the same.  Another part of me, realizing that I had never been 
         through a hurricane before, was a little excited, as though we 
         were all going to have a great adventure! 
              We went to the West Hialeah home of one of my wife's cousins, 
         to ride out the storm.   We arrived there late in the afternoon of 
         Sunday, August 23. 1992.  Everybody was busy putting the final 
         touches on storm preparations.  Other family members were staying 
         there for the duration, and there was something of a party mood to 
         the group.  I was recovering from some heavy oral surgery that I 
         had undergone just two days before, so I wasn't feeling all that 
         great, but spirits were high, for the most part.  
              Carmen and I went to bed shortly after midnight, and fell 
         asleep right away.  The hurricane hit in the small hours of the 
         morning.  
              No movie producer or fiction writer ever came close to 
         capturing the force of that monster of nature they named Andrew.  
7
         We lost power almost at once and the house was in total darkness 
         until someone lit a candle.  Of course the entire metropolitan 
         area lost electricity, so the only light that could be seen 
         outside was that created by lightning flashes.  The wood that 
         covered the windows was sucked in and out, as thought it was 
         cardboard.  The plywood was ripped right off of one window and the 
         glass was smashed.  All we could do was keep the door to that room 
         tightly closed.  Strange as it may seem, every wall inside the 
         house was soaked.  I still cannot explain how that happened.  
              I recall wondering if I would die.  I also remember praying.  
              I remember laying on the bed in the dark, listening to the 
         storm.  It sounded like some gigantic wild animal that was trying 
         to get inside and get at us.  
              When the storm finally passed on to the West and daylight 
         finally came, people began to move around.  I walked in the front 
         hallway of the house.  The floors were wet and cold and the front 
         door was open.  The other family members were outside in the yard, 
         just looking around at all the changes Andrew had made.  I went 
         out to join them.  
              Trees and wires were down everywhere.  Much of the seawall 
         around the lake in back of the house was destroyed.  The winds had 
         thrown concrete blocks around like paper boxes.  
              Carmen got on the phone right away and started trying to 
         contact our members.  Many of the phone lines were down, but she 
         was able to reach several members of the Greater Miami Chapter who 
         lived in the north end of the county.  All of the people she 
         talked to were all right, but meny of them had a great deal of 
         property damage.  The thing that bothered me was all those members 
         we could not reach by phone.  Battery operated radios told us that 
         the south end of the county was all but destroyed.   
              Carmen and I wanted to get back to the beach so that we could 
         see how much damage our place had received.  At first the 
         authorities had ordered that nobody drive their cars.  Because 
         traffic lights were out, only fire trucks and medical vans were 
         on the streets.  
              By late afternoon, we finally got to our home.  We were the 
         first people back to our block.  There wasn't much damage done to 
         our place, but all over our block and the area around us, trees 
8
         had falllen and crushed cars and sidewalks were ripped up.  The 
         power was off all over the county and you couldn't drink the 
         water.   But the really heavy damage was to the south of us.  
              We couldn't take the plywood off our windows because all of 
         the tools were in the trunk our son David's car, and he had gone 
         to Tampa to take his girlfriend Ana back to school.  We couldn't 
         open the windows and the place was as hot as the pits of you-know-
         where.  It was too hot to sleep.  
              That night, Carmen and I sat out on our back porch.  I 
         remember sitting there with a flashlight and a pistol at three in 
         the morning, watching a raccoon walk down the sidewalk.  It was so 
         spooky.  With no power available, there were still no lights at 
         all, no air conditioners, no other electric motors running.  We 
         felt like we were miles away from civilization.  We heard a boat 
         whistle from the ocean, some two miles away.  
               It is often said that every cloud has a silver lining, and I 
         guess this one does too. Two days after the hurricane passed 
         through here, Carmen and I took our white canes in hand and 
         ventured out to a conveniance store that we heard was open for a 
         couple of hours. Of course all the traffic lights were either 
         distroyed by the storm, or were out due to the lack of 
         electricity.  I don't  mind telling you that I was concerned as to 
         how we would get accross the two major streets we would have to 
         cross to get to that store.    To my total suprize, people stopped 
         their cars and told us to go on and cross the street. One man even 
         stopped his car and got out to make certain that we got across a 
         street safely.  
              All things considered, we were pretty lucky.  
              Ralph and Mary Mormon were valued members of our chapter.  
         Both Ralph and Mary were diabetic.  Ralph had lost a leg to the 
         disease just weeks before.  Carmen, after many, many phone calls, 
         was finally able to contact them, two days after the storm.  
         Before the storm, a county nurse been coming every day to change 
         the dressing on the amputated stump of Ralph's leg.  But because 
         of blocked roads and other emergencies, nobody had been coming to 
         help them.  They existed for days on warm soda and potato chips.  
         These are the last things that diabetics need to eat.  All of 
         their clothes and their bed was soaked.  Agencies kept promising 
9
         to send them food and insulin  For one reason or another, nobody 
         showed up for over a week.  Carmen was able to find a nice Spanish 
         lady whose family operated a glass company.  You can imagine how 
         busy they were following the damage caused by the storm.  But that 
         lady, who had never met us or the Mormons, left her business, 
         fought her way through heavy traffic to her home, prepared her own 
         food, and then battled traffic and blocked roads, deep into South 
         Dade to take Ralph and Mary much needed food.  The ordeal was just 
         too much for Ralph Mormon.  He never regained his strength.  He 
         died in October, a victim of Andrew.   We will treasure his memory 
         and recall his courage every time we think about Hurricane Andrew.  
              At least one other blind person died as a direct result of 
         the storm.  He was a Spanish gentleman, and not a member of NFB.  
         He walked out on his sixth floor balcony after the storm had 
         passed.  The concrete was wet from the rain, and he had not taken 
         his cane, so he did not know the storm had torn away the safety 
         rail.  He slipped and fell to his death.  
              John Allen, who is a past board member of the Greater Miami 
         Chapter, along with Patricia Fain and their one-yesr-old son 
         Robby, ran from one room to another as the walls in John's parents 
         home collapsed.  At last, the whole family huddled behind a 
         matress in the laundry room, trying to protect themselves from 
         flying glass and other debris.  
              Long time NFB member Larna Gray's home was heavily damaged.  
         It was weeks before we were able to contact her.  
              Carmen worked with the Red Cross and the local transportation 
         office to provide help for members of the disabled comminity 
         throughout South Florida.  
              To live without refrigeration for a few days on a cmping trip 
         can be fun, but in the aftermath of Andrew, the heat added to the 
         wide-spread depression.  Small bags of ice sold for as much as 
         five dollars, if you could find them.  Nearly everything was 
         closed for the first week after the storm.   
              The normally blue skies of South Florida were filled with 
         military aircraft, and the thump-thump-thump of helecopter rotors 
         could be heard at almost anytime.   
              Everyone was trying to find something that was a part of 
         their lives before Andrew came to hang on to.   They lived in 
10
         houses with no roofs.  We know personally of nine people, two 
         cats, and two dogss all living in one room.  These people had no 
         extra clothing, so each night each of them washed his or her own 
         clothes  so they could have something clean to ware the next day.  
              Andrew was not the first major storm to hit our coast line, 
         and it will not be the last one to do so.  With the help of God, 
         and all of our friends in the NFB, I am sure that the members of 
         the Greater Miami Chapter of the NFBF will work hard in a joint 
         effort with other organizations here in Dade County to help do all 
         we can to get Miami back on her feet.  It won't be easy, but then 
         the NFB is an old hand at taking on big jobs and solving big 
         problems for blind people. 
              The love and concern that were shown to our family by the 
         members of the National Federation of the Blind, both here and 
         throughout the nation, were all that kept Carmen and me going, 
         through that terrible time.  Many of our NFBF chapter presidents 
         offered us the chance to share their homes.  President Maurer and 
         Dr. Jernigan called several times to see what they could do to 
         help us and other members of the blind community in South Florida.  
         Dr. Jernigan arranged for money to be sent to blind people who 
         were victims of the storm.  These funds have helped many blind 
         people and families put their homes and lives back together.  
              Is Miami recovering?  The answer is yes, but it will take 
         years.  
              I lost my job as a result of the storm and have not yet been 
         able to get back to work.  I know I am just one of many. There are 
         still thousands of homeless people, people that lost everything 
         but their dreams to Andrew.  
             In the begining of this article I said that I did not know the 
         words to discribe the hell they called Andrew.  That is still 
         true, but it is past.  Now it is time for the citizens of Dade 
         County Florida,to look forward to a better day. A day that, with 
         the help of God, will wipe the shadow of fear left behind by 
         Andrew off the faces of our children.   
              A strange thing has happened in Miami since the storm.  
         People of different racial and ethnic backgrounds, who once 
         resented each other, are now bound together by the hard times 
         caused us all by the hurricane.  They are working together to help 
11
         each other rebuild their dreams along with the city.  When all of 
         the fallen trees have been taken away and all the businesses and 
         homes have been rebuilt, we might just find that what Miami lost 
         was racial prejudice and mistrust of people who might speak 
         another lanuagae.  People now take the time to smile and say 
         hello, and to offer a helping hand to each other.  It just might 
         be that, along with everything else that Hurricane Andrew blew 
         away, went some of our hate and fear of those a little different 
         from us.  If this is true, historians might cite Hurricane Andrew 
         as the glue that helped to bind different factions together to 
         make Miami a better city than it was before.  
              Miami lost...  Maybe not. 

                    
         ___________________________________________________________________ 
        
         1992 STATE CONVENTION IN ORLANDO                     Dan Hicks   
         ___________________________________________________________________ 

              The 1992 Convention of the National Federation of the Blind 
         of Florida was one of our largest ever, and one of the best.  It 
         was held in Orlando, at the Howard Johnson's Executive Center, 
         over the weekend of October 16, 17, and 18.  Highlights included 
         our annual Hospitality and Talent Show on Friday night, and a 
         Saturday filled with panel discussions, speeches, and seminars.  
         The banquet was held Saturday evening, and featured a more than 
         interesting banquet address by our national representative, NFB 
         National Secretary Ramona Walhof.  At the banquet our first 
         attendance award was presented to David Evans, president of the 
         Palm Beach Chapter.  This chapter had the most people at the 
         convention.  We're not going to tell you what the award trophy 
         was, or even what it is called; you'll have to attend the next 
         state convention in Boca Raton to find outand to see who takes 
         it home this year!
              After the banquet, we held our traditional auction, hosted by 
         Carl Miller, and enjoyed a very well-attended pary, hosted by 
         Henter-Joyce, Inc., of St. Petursburg.  I don't really remember 
         when this party ended, but most of us were there, ready to go, for 
12
         the Sunday morning session.  
              Elections were held, and two board positions were filled by 
         David Evans of Boca Raton and Ken Rollman of Gainesville.  
         Congratulations to these two new board members.  
              Chapter Reports were given.  It is really amazing to see the 
         kind of progress we are making all over the state.  
              The 1992 Resolutions Committee had stayed up late into the 
         night Friday evening, and their five resolutions were presented to 
         the body of the convention for consideration, as the last major 
         item of business on Sunday morning.  I cannot remember a time when 
         the NFB of Florida has passed so many resolutions.  Here they are 
         as passed into policy by the 1992 Convention:     
          
                                
                               RESOLUTION 92-01 

      WHEREAS the right to travel freely and independently is a fundamental 
           right of all persons, including the blind; and 

      WHEREAS Florida Statute 413.08(1)a provides that the blind are 
           entitled to full and equal access to any place the general public 
           is invited; and 

      WHEREAS Florida Statute 413.08(1)b provides that a blind person may be 
           accompanied by a dog guide in any place the general public is 
           invited; and 

      WHEREAS Florida Statute 413.08(1)d permits businesses which "keep and 
           display live animals" to refuse entry to a blind person who 
           chooses to use a dog guide; and 

      WHEREAS the claim by Dr. Branson W. Ritchie, of the University of 
           Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine that: "Wildlife animals may 
           suffer physiological and psychological stress when" dog guides 
           "are present" resulting in "infertility problems, embreonic 
           mortality, and skin and feather disorders" is completely 
           unfounded; and  
           
13
      WHEREAS the testimony of several blind persons who have visited 
           places where animals are kept, acompanied by their dog guides, 
           reveal no adverse situations which would compromise the safety 
           and/or health of either the dog guide or the displayed anumals; 
           and 
           
      WHEREAS blind people using guide dogs have not been given full and 
           equal access to certain places of business where the public is 
           invited:  Now, therefore,  

      BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind of Florida, 
           in convention assembled this 18th day of October, 1992, in the 
           city of Orlando, Florida, that this organization opposes FSS 
           413.08(1)d; and 

      BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National Federation of the Blind 
           believes the statute is arbitrary and unnecessary since there is 
           no objective evidence indicating need for such a statute; and 

      BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National Federation of the Blind of 
           Florida will oppose any legislation which would alter the legal 
           status of the blind in the state of Florida without the direct 
           input of the National Federation of the Blind of Florida; and 

      BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National Federation of the Blind of 
           Florida opposes Florida State Statute 413.08(1)d, and will work 
           diligently to remove it from the law of the land in the State of 
           Florida.            


                              RESOLUTION 92-02 
           
      WHEREAS, our democracy is based on the freedom of choice and the 
           uncoerced private vote, made in the privacy of the voting booth,  
           a privilege taken for granted by sighted persons, but one that  
           is unavailable to those who are blind; and 
               
      WHEREAS, a person without sight must depend on one with sight to read 
14
           and assist in marking the ballot, whether at the polls or by 
           absentee ballot, which denies that person's right to privacy; and 

      WHEREAS, persons with many disabilities other than blindness are 
           presently unable to use the ballots available without assistance; 
           and

      WHEREAS, the law states that our civil liberties cannot be denied 
           because of disability; and 
           
      WHEREAS, the most comprehensive and cost effective method of enabling 
           blind and other disabled persons to vote privately would be by 
           electronic ballot to be accessed by telephone, either at the poll 
           or other location:  Now, therefore, 
            
      BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind of Florida, in 
           Convention assembled this 18th day of October, 1992, in the city 
           of Orlando, Florida, that we as an organization recommend that 
           state and local laws be modified to allow electronic voting by 
           touch-tone telephone by those who require and desire it; and 
           
      BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be sent to each 
           member of the Florida Senate Executive Business Ethics and 
           Elections Committee and the Florida House Ethics and Elections 
           Committee and to each county's Supervisor of Elections.    

                                  
                              RESOLUTION 92-03 

      WHEREAS, transportation, the getting to and from places, is a barrier 
           to the independence of blind people; and  

      WHEREAS, many places have poor or nonexisting fixed route or door to 
           door transit systems; and 

      WHEREAS, the Americans with Disabilities Act mandates access to mass 
           transportation,  but makes no allowance for appropriating funds to 
           implament changes; and 
           
15
      WHEREAS, funding for paratransit systems often must be taken from 
           existing fixed-route transit systems, creating hardships for 
           county and local governments and for the people who use these 
           systems:  Now, therefore, 

      BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind of Florida in 
           Convention assembled this 18th day of October, 1992, in the city 
           of Orlando, Florida, that we, as an organization, call upon our 
           legislators to appropriate the necessary funds to implement these 
           systems so that it will not be a burden to county and local 
           governments.   
                                  

                               RESOLUTION 92-04

      WHEREAS, it had been announced that the director of the Florida 
           Division of Blind Services will be retiring soon; and 
           
      WHEREAS, blind staff members have been passed over for promotion on 
           numerous occasions; and 
           
      WHEREAS, the National Federation of the Blind of Florida represents 
           more blind people in this state than any other organization or 
           group; and 
           
      WHEREAS, it would be best for blind persons to be role models and 
           spokesmen for the Division of Blind Services, whenever and 
           wherever possible:  Now, therefore, 
           
      BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind of Florida, in 
           Convention assembled, this 18th day of October, 1992, in the city 
           or Orlando, Florida, that we call upon the Department of 
           Education and the Division of Blind Services to put in place 
           policies and procedures to promote qualified blind people, without 
           regard to the degree of vision, to all positions, including 
           director; and 
           
      BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National Federation of the Blind of 
16
           Florida should play an active role in the selection and hiring 
           process for the new director. 
                                  

                               RESOLUTION 92-05 

      WHEREAS, assaults on police dogs and other police anumals are treated 
           the same as assaults on police officers; and  
           
      WHEREAS, blind people who work with guide dogs are at least as much a 
           unit as police officers and their animals; and 

      WHEREAS, traveling with a guide dog is the preferred method of mobility 
           for many blind people in the state of Florida; and 
           
      WHEREAS, there are many members of this organization who use guide dogs 
           as a means to be mobile; and 
           
      WHEREAS, the training of a unit, which is composed of a guide dog and 
           its owner, takes time, training, effort, and considerable expens:  
           Now, therefore, 
           
      BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind of Florida, in 
           Convention assembled, this 18th day of October, 1992, in the city 
           or Orlando, Florida, that we call upon the state of Florida to 
           create a policy that any person who causes or permits physical 
           injury or emotional damage resulting from physical injury to a 
           guide dog, whether the dog is on or off duty, shall be found 
           guilty of a felony.  If such injury is caused by a child or an 
           animal, the appropriate guardian or owner shall be found guilty.  
           Said guilty party shall be assessed costs for treatment and/or 
           replacement of the guide dog. 
   
        

17
         ___________________________________________________________________ 
        
         J O B NEWS                                        Gloria Mills
         ___________________________________________________________________ 

         Gloria Mills is JOB Chairperson for the Florida Affiliate.  
         
         MORE ABOUT GOING INTO BUSINESS 

              Last time we talked about two very successful blind people 
         who had gone into business, an employment alternative.  There are 
         many successful businesses which can be run out of a person's 
         home.  Here are some steps that a person would want to take to 
         start a business.  
              (1) Set some goals.  Set goals regarding the activity you 
         plan on engaging in, either providing a service or selling a 
         product.  
              (2) Planning and Organizing.  Plan the space you are going to 
         use and the materials you will need.  The act of planning will 
         help you to get organized.  
              (3) Researching and Marketing.  You 'll want to do some 
         research regarding how likely it is that your service or product 
         will sell in your area.  Also you will need to find out if there 
         are others doing the same thing.  Maybe there is a glut of persons 
         in your area doing the same thing.  Still, you may be able to do 
         it cheaper and better.  All of these things need to be carefully 
         thought out before spending the first dime.  
              (4) Resources.  There are two types of resources, material 
         and human.  Will you need expensive equipment?  How feasible will 
         it be to get a loan?  Or can you interest DBS in purchasing it?  
         Perhaps you already have some of the equipment that you will need.  
              Will you need the help of others to produce, sell, and 
         deliver your product or service?  For example, let's say you have 
         decided to establish a piano tuning business from your home.  How 
         will you transport your equipment to the various places where you 
         will be doing the piano tuning?  Don't expect people to bring 
         their pianos to you!  
              (5) Managing.  Remember you will be the manager as well as 
18
         the worker in your business.  You will need to be a good allocator 
         of resources, time, and others' skills.  
              (6) Record keeping.  You will need to keep either paper or 
         computer records of your income and expenses and other 
         transactions.  This will be necessary to plot future growth and to 
         prepare tax returns.  
              Now, just to give you the idea of the various activities you 
         could engage in, let's just use the alphabet:  
              Answering service, bookkeeping, childcare, database 
         management, envelope stuffing, flea markets, grant writing, 
         handicrafts, inventing gadgets, jewelry making, knitting afgans, 
         letter writing, mail order, note-taking for students, orchid 
         growing, piano tuning, quilting, raising pupples, etc.; sculpting; 
         typing; umbrella repair; vase decorating; writing; X-Mas cards; 
         yard cleaning; and zero-cupon bonds.  As you can see, it was dif-
         ficult to come up with items for some of these letters.  
              I am convinced that a blind person can do any of these jobs, 
         and more.  If you need help with ideas, cal me at (813)837-4831, 
         and remember the JOB hotline is 1-800-638-7518.  
         
                                       
         ___________________________________________________________________ 
        
         ASSOCIATES UPDATE                                    Janet Caron 
         ___________________________________________________________________ 
.S:6

         Janet Caron is Associates Chairperson for the Florida Affiliate, 
         and is ahead of everyone else in the state in terms of Associates 
         gathered! 
.S:4

              Florida has come a long way in the past few years towards 
         making us known within the Associates program.  Moving steadily 
         upwards from number 48 in the nation to number 18, represents a 
         lot of hard work and perseverence on the part of participants in 
         this very vital and important NFB program.  
              As Associates Program Chairperson for the State of Florida 
         over the past two years, I have become aware of the necessity of 
         funding our movement.  By asking people to become Associates, we 
         give them the opportunity to participate with us in the NFB 
19
         movement, which comprises a large part of our lives.  
              I would like all chapter presidents to urge their members to 
         become enthusiastically involved in making our Associates Program 
         even more successful in the future.  
              Let's put Florida in the Top Ten! 


         ___________________________________________________________________ 
        
         PAC PLAN UPDATE                                  Jeffrey Harmon 
         ___________________________________________________________________ 

         Jeff Harmon is PAC Chairperson for the Florida Affiliate. 
         
         Dear Fellow Federationists,
              I would like to thank all the chapters that joined the PAC 
         Plan since our last State Convention.  This time, I would like to 
         appeal to each of you individually to consider giving to our NFB 
         every month, through the PAC Plan.  You can give as little as 
         $2.50 per month, or as much as you can afford to give.  
              PAC stands for Pre-Authorized check Plan.  Once you sign up, 
         your contribution is withdrawn from your checking account, on the 
         same day of each month, and you pick that day.  You can increase 
         or decrease the amount or cancel at any time.  This is money that 
         the National Federation depends on to find our organization's 
         programs and functions.  
              For those of you who would like to help support our movement 
         through PAC, write to me, and I'll send you PAC forms.  My ddress 
         is:            806 Central Parkway 
                        Unit #1
                        Stuart, FL  34994-3945 
         My phone number is (407)221-7269.  
              Please give contributing through the PAC plan your careful 
         consideratin     
20
         ___________________________________________________________________ 

         CHAPTER NEWS
         ___________________________________________________________________ 

         From Wayne Davis, President, Greater Miami Chapter...

              As most of you know, I wear two hats.  Besides serving as 
         state president, I am also a chapter president.  
              I mentioned in the last issue that we were putting on a 
         series of television shows.  We did twelve in all; they dealt with 
         all aspects of blindness.  I want to thank the following chapter 
         members for their hard work in making this TV series a reality.
              Charles King, our chapter treasurer, deserves thanks for 
         producing all twelve shows and appearing on several of them.  Otto 
         Zamora, vice president, came up with the idea in the first place, 
         and took part in many of the programs.  Leah Howard, the secretary 
         of the chapter, took part in many of the shows and was featured in 
         her job as an English professor.  Jesus Garcia, chairperson of our 
         fundraising committee, was taped at work and helped me co-host 
         mano of the programs.  Board member Henry Alexander appeared on 
         one of the programs from his office as a director for Social 
         Security.  Fred Hains represented the Division of Blind Services o 
         one of our programs.  Fred is a DBS counselor, but he saw the 
         light a year or so ago and joined the chapter.  Board member Brian 
         Sweeton allowed our camera into his shop, where he demonstrated 
         how a blind person can run all sorts of power tools.  Brian makes 
         his living with those tools, and, yes, he has all of his fingers! 
              Our thanks go out to all the other chapter members who were 
         interviewed on camera.  I also want to thank the staff of WLRN TV 
         Cable Tap for making these programs possible.  And thanks to the 
         people from the county and the contractor for our special 
         transportation service who took the heat and appeared on our 
         program.  My thanks also to William Berry, director of the DBS 
         office in Miami for coming on our show and giving straight answers 
         and Bob Joice and Paul Edwards for representing Dade County 
         Community College's Disabled Students Department on our program.  
              Special thanks to Ms. Lisa King for her fine art work.  This 
21
         art work will be used again in the programs that the Tampa Bay 
         Chapter is getting ready to produce. This kind of activity can go 
         a long way toward educating the public about blindness, and about 
         the NFB.  If any other chapter presidents out there want to know 
         about putting on your own television program, give me a call! 
              We have several other projects on the fire, but more about 
         them in the next issue.  
              (PS:  If I left your name out of the above Thank-You list, it 
         doesn't mean that I am not grateful.  It just means that I am 
         forgetful.)   


         From Jeffrey Harmon, President, Martin Chapter... 

              In January, 1993, we held our annual electi0ns.  The results 
         were: Jeffrey Harmon, President; Peter Russilo, Vice President; 
         Loni Russilo, Secretary; Fanny Moore, Treasurer; Erlinda Harmon, 
         Board Member.  
              At the end of last year we met a young man by the name of 
         Bill Ritter, who is a diabetic.  He had some vision when we first 
         met him.  He wanted to know if there was anything available to him 
         as far as a job is concerned.  We got in contact with our State 
         President, Wayne Davis, to assist us in making arrangements with 
         the Division of Blind Services to have him placed at the Daytona 
         Rehabilitation Center for job training.  He lost his sight 
         completely during the Christmas holidays and got very depressed.  
         But he decided to go back to the Center for further training, with 
         a positive attitude, so he will be able to go on with his life.  
         The last report we heard was that things were going well.  
              Last year, we filled out grant applications from local banks 
         for financial support.  We have gotten a response form one of the 
         banks.  We hope for a contribution to help us with our upcoming 
         projects.  
              One of our members, Christine Crosby, died of cancer on 
         February 25, of this year.  She is missed by all of the members.  
              I will not be able to make it to the Leadership camp this 
         year, because my wife Erlinda will be having our first baby at 
         about that time.  I will be sending a representative from our 
22
         chapter to to bring back a report.  I hope all of you will attend 
         the Leadership Camp.  I look forward to seeing all of you this 
         Fall, at our state convention in Boca Raton.  

         
         From Gloria Mills, President, Tampa Bay Chapter...

              The Tampa Bay Chapter is alive and well.  Many exciting things 
         are happening.  
              Going back to last fall, we had twelve persons go to our 
         State Convention in Orlando.  A good time was had by all.  Henter-
         Joyce hosted a party, at which our resident musician Marion 
         Gwizdala played his guitar.  
              In November, our Chapter held elections.  Gloria Mills was 
         re-elected as President; Marion Gwizdala was elected Vice-
         president; Sherrill O'Brien was elected as Secretary; Frank 
         Pisacane was re-elected as Treasurer; our new board members are 
         John Christianson, Lloyd Matthews, and Dan Hicks.  Our officers 
         were installed at our Christmas Party, which had a record 
         attendance.  For the fifth year, it was held at CDBs Uptown.  
              In January, we set goals for the year.  It was decided to 
         have as many members as we could train to produce a program on 
         public access cable TV.  Our aim is to produce thirteen programs 
         dealing with verious topics of interest to the blind and 
         information about the National Federation of the Blind.  The 
         training was attended by six of our members.  
              One of our other projects was to contact as many parents of 
         visually impaired children as possible by having the school system 
         send an invitation to a meeting that we held in February.  A 
         lively discussion of the Braille Bill insued.  
              Our Chapter has also participated on legislative issues:  On 
         January 30 through February 3, Dan Hicks, one of our Board Members 
         as well as State First Vice President participated in the 
         Washington Seminar.  Marion Gwizdala, our Vice President, also 
         went to Tallahasse in February to promote the Guide Dog Bill, 
         which we are happy to announce passed unanimously in both the 
         Senate and the House.  
              In March, we enjoyed a guest speaker from Radio Reading 
23
         Services and the beginning of taping for our public access program.  
         In summing up I would like to say we have had new members join in 
         all of the last six meetings.  Go, Tampa Bay! 


         CHAPTER UPDATES

         From Wayne Davis, President, NFBF... 

              Hazel Patterson is no longer president of the Citrus Chapter.   
         She has moved to Colorado.  Florida's Loss is certainly Colorado's 
         gain.  Hazel has always been a lady in the truest sense of the 
         word.  I will miss working with her, but look forward to seeing 
         her at our national conventions.  
              The new president in Citrus County is Mrs. Teri Gayton.  
         Hazel sure left the Citrus Chapter in good hands with Teri.  She 
         is full of energy and has a lot of good ideas.  Be sure and look 
         her up at the Leadership Camp or a convention and and welcome her  
         as the new president of the Citrus Chapter.   
         
              Dorothy Melchy has stepped down from her office position as 
         president of our Pasco Chapter, but she and her husband Slim plan 
         to remain active in the Federation.   I want to say thank you to 
         Dorothy for a job well done. 
              The new president in Pasco County is Don Mejewsky.  Don is no 
         stranger to NFB; he has been a chapter president in the past.  I 
         look forward to working with you again, Don.
         
              Barney Mae Herndon is no longer president of the Saint Lucy 
         Chapter.  She will remain active in the chapter, however, and 
         plans to work hard for the blind people in her community, and for 
         all of us.  
              Carl Miller is the new chapter president.  Carl and his wife 
         Charlotte are both long-time valued members of the Federation.  
         Carl, Saint Lucy is lucky to have such a fine example to follow. 
              Carl is a extraordinary auctioneer.  Many of you remember his 
         conducting the auctions at our past few State Conventions.  
         Welcome to the circle of chapter presidents, carl! 


24
         ___________________________________________________________________ 

         WHAT DOES A STATE PRESIDENT DO?                     Wayne Davis
         ___________________________________________________________________ 

              Many times since I took office in 1990, I have been asked 
         what a state president does, when he's not chairing the state 
         convention or attending the national convention and the Washington 
         Seminar.  Of course, I do all of these things, but they are only 
         the beginning.  
              My day starts about eight in the morning.  There are always 
         several phone calls to return.  I might need to call the Division of 
         Blind Services on behalf of people who may be having problems with 
         their services from DBS.  Sometimes I have to call a congressman 
         about a blind person in his district who is having a problem or 
         has just gone blind.  
              There are always letters to be answered, so I spend a great 
         deal of time in front of my computer.  I also have to write 
         letters to members of the state legislature or members of Congress 
         to recommend passage or blockage of one bill or another.  There 
         are also letters that need to be written for students who wish to 
         apply for NFB scholarships.  
              I am often asked to speak at a meeting, appear on a radio or 
         television program, or attend a chapter function.  The research 
         needed to prepare myself to properly represent the Federation 
         takes a great deal of time.  It also takes time to write a speech, 
         if I am called upon to give one.  
              There are always problems that need solving.  They might be 
         in Pensacola or Palm Beach.  I have to get the name of the proper 
         government official and then track him or her down and try to get 
         him or her to do what needs to be done.  Then I have to get back 
         in touch with the person who had the problem in the first place.  
              There are state board meetings to arrange, and it goes 
         without saying that I have to have all of my ducks in a row before 
         the meeting starts.  
              There is a great deal of paperwork that goes along with being 
         state president.   There are authorizations for payments to write.  
         We have to fill out a lot of forms to keep the state and federal 
25
         governments happy.  Our national leaders send me a lot of material 
         that needs to be read and acted on. 
              The phone never stops ringing.  I might get a call from a 
         lady in Chicago whose parents are in their eighties and have just 
         moved to Florida.  One of them may have just gone blind, and she 
         wants to know about the National Federation of the Blind and what 
         services are available for her parents.  I then have to call the 
         lady's blind parents and find out what help they want and need.  
         Then I can call the Division of Blind Services in their part of 
         the state on their behalf and start the process that gets these 
         people the help they need. 
              Sometimes I have to call various agencies and organizations 
         where a person lives in order to get that person help with housing 
         or medical care or help with possible discrimination in employ-
         ment.  And, of course, I have to keep in contact with the person 
         who asked for the assistance.  
              I receive a lot of phone calls from people living in other 
         states who are thinking of moving to Florida.  Often I refer  
         these to the chapter president in the area where the person is 
         planning to relocate.  Or I call the appropriate agency or office 
         in that county and call the questioner back.  All of this means 
         a lot of necessary long distance calls.  
              Let's get back to the state convention for a moment.  I 
         started working on the 1993 state convention at the end of of 
         1992.  I had to travel to Boca Raton to meet with the hotel 
         management and start ironing out the details.  Our conventions are 
         getting larger and more complexthat's a good thingbut it means 
         more and more details to be worked out.  Of course I have help 
         from members of the state board, but as state president, the 
         ultimate responsibility rests on my shoulders.  I have talked with 
         the hotel people by phone many times and will need to do so again 
         before the convention actually happens.  There are always things 
         that need to be worked out.   
              The same is true for the Washington Seminar and the 
         Leadership Camp.  Hours and hours and hard work go into these 
         functions, and all the while I am getting more and more calls from 
         people who really need our help.  
              I get a great deal of satisfaction from being able to make a 
26
         difference in someone's life, whether it means helping to solve a 
         problem, providing information, or putting someone in touch with 
         somebody who can do one of those things.  
              I don't always know what to do about a problem.  Sometimes I 
         call President Maurer or Dr. Jernigan to ask for advice or 
         information.  I have always found them willing to help.  Sometimes 
         I contact another state president to get her or his thoughts on 
         how to get something done.  Of course I very often turn to our own 
         chapter presidents and state officers and board members.  They are 
         always there for me, ready and willing to do whatever they can to 
         help blind people.  
              Most of all, I turn to my wife, Carmen.  Her judgement is 
         always sound and she can come up with some really good ideas.  
         Many times in a day, she takes a call for me or does a thousand 
         and one things that really need to be done.  If I am an effective 
         state president, it is due largely to the help and support I get 
         from Carmen.  When I need to make a decision, I make it, but it is 
         great to have her here beside me, helping to carry the load.  
              The National Federation of the Blind takes up ninety percent 
         of my waking hours.  We both enjoy the work, though, and do our 
         very best. 
              I enjoy being state president, but it is an eighteen hour a 
         day job.  Many nights I am sitting at my computer at one in the 
         morning.   
              There are a lot more things I could tell you about if I had 
         the time, but I am working against a deadline given to me by our 
         editor and first vice president Dan Hicks.  Besides that, the 
         phone is ringing...      
27
         ___________________________________________________________________ 

         IN HARNESS                                      Marion Gwizdala     
         ___________________________________________________________________ 

         Marion Gwizdala is chairman of our Guide Dog Users Committee. 

              In the last issue of the OUTREACH, I told you about 
         413.08(1)d F.S. which states "Any place...which keeps or displays 
         live animals...may refuse to allow a person to be accompanied by a 
         guide dog".  This law was enacted by unanimous approval of our 
         Florida legislature based upon a statement made by Dr. Branson W. 
         Ritchie of the University of Georgia's College of Veterinarian 
         Medicine.  This is a follow-up of that article. 
              At our 1992 State Convention in Orlando, Resolution 92-01, 
         which called for the repeal of this statute was passed 
         unanimously.  Copies of this resolution were sent to several of 
         our legislators and sparked a great deal of enthusiasm and 
         concern.  Two of the calls I received were from Rep. Victor Crist 
         and Sen. Don Sullivan.  In January these Congressional leaders 
         introduce HB 579 and SB 496, respectively. 
              On Friday, February 12, I received a telephone call from Amy 
         Rabeck, Rep. Crist's Legislative Assistant.  The message on my 
         answering machine was simple.  "The bill will be heard in the 
         Inter-governmental Affairs Subcommittee of the House Community 
         Affairs Committee on Monday morning.  We want you here to testify 
         on behalf of the National Federation of the Blind.  Please meet 
         Rep. Crist and Sen. Sullivan at Lowry Park Zoo tomorrow morning at 
         11:00." 
              The meeting at the zoo had been pre-arranged.  We were to 
         meet Mr. Edmund Gerstein, a research biologist and animal 
         behaviour specialist, who would give us a tour of the facility and 
         observe the interaction of Diamond and the other animals in the 
         zoo.  Armed with NFB literature, a 35mm camera, and a camcorder, 
         Frank and Frances Pisacane, my wife, Jan, and I met the 
         Representative, Senator, and the biologist at the gate. 
              For more than two hours we toured the zoo.  The congressmen 
         and the biologist observed me working with Diamond while Frances 
28
         and Jan taped the visit.  Our first stop was the aviary.  There 
         were no distress calls inside the large enclosed confine.  On the 
         contrary, several flighted birds chose to come to the ground for a 
         better look at this strange new visitor, coming within three or 
         four feet from my labrador retriever.  Diamond paid no attention 
         to the feathered inquirers.  It wasn't until a six-year-old ran 
         after them that the birds decided it was time to seek safety in 
         the branches. 
              We then visited the petting zoo. Enticed by a handful of 
         food, several of the animals came to the fence.  Two little goats 
         stuck their heads through the split rails to get a better look.  
         Deeper within the zoo, a baboon climbed to the top of his perch to 
         get a better look as this four-legged animal and his strange 
         bearded companion. 
             A community of Colubus monkeys was our next stop.  A female 
         was watching her young playing on the island.  She noticed us 
         approaching and Ed pointed that out to the party. "You see that 
         she is aware of the presence of the dog, yet she is completely 
         unconcerned," he told us.  "She doesn't feel at all threatened by 
         his presence and has taken no measure to protect her young.  
         Obviously, she feels no concern as to his being here." 
             This is how the balance of the visit went.  From the bald 
         eagle to the large cats to the flock of pink flamingos, each and 
         every animal showed no signs of stress or any level of concern 
         over the presence of a canin. 
             After our tour of the zoo, I sat down to speak with Mr. 
         Gerstein.  Since we didn't have time to get a written document 
         from him, we decided to tape his testimony for the benefit of the 
         Legislature.  "None of the animals," he said, "showed any adverse 
         reactions to the presence of Diamond.  In fact, there were 
         positive interactions.  Some detractors of zoos complain about the 
         boredom these animals face while in captivity.  In some of the 
         more cognitive animals, such as the primates, their curiosity was 
         stimulated as they investigated something new.  But it was just 
         thatsomething new.  It wasn't threatening or stressful to them.  
         As far as this animal causing stress which leads to infertility, 
         embryonic mortality, and skin and feather disorders, this is 
         completely unfounded.  There is no objective statistical evidence 
29
         that such a thing occurs.  In fact, the only common denominator of 
         all the various species in this setting is that man is their 
         natural enemy.  A six-year-old who laughs, yells, claps, points, 
         and runs after the animaland other gestures directed toward the 
         animalcauses more stress than this animal would." 
              One of our concerns was that Sunken Gardens, which has an 
         extensive display of exotic birds, would mount a campaign to kill 
         our bill.  They were a primary proponent of the 1990 legislation.  
         Since Lowry Park had limited collection of psittasins (parrot-like 
         birds), we had arranged to visit Petland, a large pet store in 
         Tampa.  It was there we met Baby, an eight-month-old white 
         Cockatoo.  After Diamond and Baby met, we got them nose to nose.  
         She sat on Diamonds harness and climbed atop his head.  We taped 
         this and took some still shots, as well. 
              That evening, Jan and I compressed the two hours of videotape 
         into a five minute presentation.  It was direct and to the point.  
         We knew, after viewing the final product, that this would an 
         unshakeable argument in support of our bill. 
              Jan and I met Rep. Crist, Amy Rabeck, and Kurt Ponchek at the 
         Representative's Tallahassee apartment.  I had been referred to 
         Kurt by Mike Sergeant at Southeastern Guide Dogs. Kurt is a law 
         student at FSU.  We watched the videotape and went over our 
         testimony for the morning committee hearing and our game plan for 
         the week.  Simply put, s. 413.08(1)d was in direct violation of 
         the ADA.  The bill brought State Statutes in concurrence with the 
         ADA, which, according to Title III governs "zoos, parks, and other 
         recreational Facilities". Furthermore, Section 501d states, 
         "Nothing shall be construed to require any disabled individual to 
         accept any accommodation, aid, or service when the individual 
         wishes to refuse it."  Allowing a company to force us to surrender 
         our mobility of choice and accept the services of a sighted guide 
         violates our right to refuse such an accommodation. 
              At 8:00 in the morning, Kurt and I stopped in to see each 
         member of the Inter-governmental Affairs Subcommittee, which would 
         hear this bill.  We met five minutes before the hearing in Rep. 
         Crist's office and felt we had a unanimously favourable vote.  
         However, when Rep. Crist began his presentation, before the tape 
         was played, and before Kurt and I had a chance to speak, a vote 
30
         was called.  Rep. Lee Constantine, a co-sponsor said, "It's 
         unusual for me to vote against a bill I have co-sponsored, but I 
         have to vote `No'." Six other members of the committee voted 
         against the bill. Only one voted in favour of passage.  After 
         seeing the disappointed look on the face of Mr. Crist, Constantine 
         requested reconsideration.  This time the measure passed 
         unanimously.  Rep. Crist is a Freshman member of the House. This 
         was his very first bill and, just like in college, freshman are 
         subjected to all sorts of hazing. 
              The measure passed in sub-committee, it now went to the full 
         committee of the House Community affairs Committee.  We met in 
         Rep. Crist's office and divided up the list.  I was to speak to 
         each member of the committee and gain their co-sponsorship, while 
         Kurt sought co-sponsorship from other members of the House.  
         Throughout the rest of Monday, all of Tuesday, and Wednesday 
         morning, we saw every member of the Florida House of 
         Representatives.  Everyone was interested and asked lots of 
         questions.  Not only were they educated by talking to us in their 
         offices, but by watching us work with our dogs in the crowded 
         halls of the Capitol.  We met our legislators in the halls, 
         elevators, cafeterias, and even in the bathrooms, never passing up 
         an opportunity to gain support.  And we prevailed, passing the 
         full committee unanimously on Wednesday. 
              So far we hadn't met any opposition.  To openly  oppose this  
         bill would be political suicide.  Any opposition would be behind 
         the scenes.  It is the responsibility of the Rules and Calendar 
         Committee to schedule bills to be heard on the floor.  The Rules 
         Committee could simply stall an item.  If it's not heard by the 
         end of session in April, it dies.  Following the Community Affairs 
         Committee approval, Kurt and I started securing so-sponsors in 
         Rules and Calendar.  We gained full support of the Rules Committee 
         and it was placed on the agenda to be heard on the floor of the 
         House on February 23. 
              In the Senate, all agenda items, both in committee and on the 
         floor, are set by the Rules and Calendar Committee. On Thursday 
         morning I met with Senator Jennings, who chairs this committee.  
         By this time the Senate version of the Braille Literacy Bill had 
         been numbered.  Senator Jennings agreed to co-sponsor both bills 
31
         and assured me both would be heard in committee.  In the next two 
         days I had an opportunity to speak with every Senator or his or 
         her Legislative Assistant, with favorable results. 
              On March 2, and with unanimous approval, the Florida House 
         voted to restore the right of full and equal access to guide dog 
         users.  The Senate passed the bill on March 24.  Immediately upon 
         the signature of the Governor, the bill became law and 413.08(1)d 
         was stricken from the books. 
              It goes without saying that the National Federation of the 
         Blind is the driving force in the affairs of the blind in the 
         State.  The name of the NFB is known by every single legislator in 
         Tallahassee.  All 120 members of the House of Representatives and 
         40 members of the Senate have been given the pamphlet "What is the 
         National Federation of the Blind". We have powerful allies in the 
         Capitol who know who we are and are willing to listen to our 
         concerns.  We must nurture these alliances.  This year it was full 
         and equal access and Braille literacy.  Next year...well, come to 
         the leadership conference and talk about next year. 
              Let me close by publicly thanking those persons, groups and 
         organizations who joined with us in supporting this bill:            
         Rep. Victor Crist; Amy Rabeck, Legislative Assistant; Sen. Don 
         Sullivan; David Winialski, Legislative Assistant; Edmund Gerstein, 
         Research Biologist; Michael Sergeant, Southeastern Guide Dogs, 
         Inc.; David Loux, The Seeing Eye; The Lowry Park Zoo; Petland of 
         Tampa; Whitt Springfield, Florida Division of Blind Services; and     
         the Florida Veterinarian Medical Association (FVMA). 
              I want to thank NFBF President Wayne Davis, Tampa Bay Chapter 
         President and State Board Member Gloria Mills, Frank and Frances 
         Pisacane, and NFBF Legislative Chairperson Melody Lindsey for all 
         of their help and support, and the National Federation of the 
         Blind of Florida for helping to fund my trip to Tallahassee.   
              Most of all I want to acknowledge my wife, Jan.  Her valuable 
         input and invaluable support of my work and our cause often goes 
         unnoticed and unrecognized.  She does more by working behind the 
         scenes than anyone knows.  Her sacrifice of time foregone with me 
         during numerous telephone calls, meetings, and time away from home 
         can never be compensated.  Thank you, Jan! 
32
         __________________________________________________________________ 

         OUTREACH MICROS 
         __________________________________________________________________ 
          
         
              BABY BOOM 

              Very soon, maybe by the time you read this, Second Vice 
         President Jeffrey Harmon and his wife Erlinda will be parents.  
         They already knowit's a girl!  We wish all three of the Harmons 
         the very best! 


              STATE LIBRARY HAS NEW PHONE NUMBER 

              The Bureau of Library Services has a new toll-free number for 
         calls from all over the state.  That number is: 1-800-226-6075. 
         

         The following two items are from: 
                Braille International, Inc. 
                3142 SE Jay Street 
                Stuart, FL  34997 
                1-800-336-3142  
              

              BRAILLE PROOFREADERS SOUGHT 

              Are you looking for a new start with a new job in a warm, 
         sunny climate?  If you're a proficient braille reader, Braille 
         International, Inc. may be the answer.  
              Braille International, Inc., a non-profit organization, 
         located in Stuart, Florida, is looking for two braille 
         proofreaders to join its growing staff.  Applicants must be fluent 
         in grade 2 braille, with strong grammar skills and good English 
         speaking abilities.  Preference will be given to applicants who 
         are NLS certified, but certification can be completed later.  
33
         Proofreaders work in teams, so the ability to work closely with 
         others is important.  
              Braille International is the nation's largest literary 
         publisher of braille materials, and the largest provider of 
         braille to the Library of Congress.  
              For more information, call Sandi Lindsey, production manager, 
         between 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. weekdays. 
            

              BRAILLE BOOKSTORE CELEBRATES FIRST ANNIVERSARY 

              Braille International operates the William A. Thomas Braille 
         Bookstore, the only all-braille retail store in the nation.  
         By visiting this bookstore, braille readers have immediate access 
         to approximately 250 fiction, non-fiction, and children'S titles 
         on a variety of subjects, such as business, computers, cooking, 
         sports, romance, and science fiction, plus research materials.  
              The store serves a dual purpose.  First, blind individuals 
         are able to shop independently.  Second, it helps educate the 
         local community on blindness, as many area school children visit 
         Braille International on class field trips.  
              The store is named for William A. Thomas, the founder and 
         board chairman of Braille INternational. 
              "We've wanted to do this for a long time," says Steven L. 
         Brubaker, president of Braille International.  "Mr. Thomas has 
         long been in untiring supporter of braille literacy.  We saw this 
         as a wonderful way to recognize all his efforts to see that those 
         who are denied sight are not denied knowledge."
              The store plans to add approximately 100 new titles to its 
         shelves each year.  The books, which are sold at cost, are priced 
         from 72 cents to more than three hundred dollars.  Catalogues are 
         available in print and braille.  Contact Braille International for 
         more information.  

34
         __________________________________________________________________ 

         OUT OF CONTEXT
         __________________________________________________________________

         
              "Not to know something and to admit it is like an invitation 
         to the ball.  It means we can go on to explore perhaps wonderful 
         new things.  Nothing could possibly be duller than knowing it all.  
         Fortunately that is not a threat we have to deal with.  It is not 
         scheduled to happen soon." 
                                 Roger A. Caras 
                                   A Cat is Watching, Simon & Schuster
          
                             
         "The best mind-altering substance is truth." 
                                 Lily Tomlin 


         "...there is always the chance that students won't use the 
         techniques they have learned, that they won't work, or that they 
         will fail.  But blind students have a right to fail and a right to 
         learn and a right to become fully functioning blind citizens of 
         the twenty-first century." 
                                 Marci Page
                                   "What Disabled Students' Services 
                                    Are and What They Should Be", 
                                    The Braille Monitor, January, 1993
         
         "The idea is like grass.  It craves light, likes crowds, thrives     
         on cross-breeding, grows better for being stepped on."

                                  Ursula K. Le Guin
                                    The Disposessed, Harper & Row    

        "I can't overemphasize the importance of independence when it comes 
         to having a positive self-concept.  Whether that independence is 
         used to go down to the store to get a loaf of bread or whether it 
35
         lets you do something as trivial as getting up and walking off in 
         a huff when you're having an argument, the ability to be mobile is 
         terribly important."
                                  Gary Wunder
                                    "Mobility: Whose Responsibility is it?"
                                     The Braille Monitor, March, 1993 


         "Never trust a country that doesn't allow poultry to ride on its 
          busses."
                                 Tom Robins 
                                  Skinny Legs and All, Bantam 


         On public speaking... 

              "I simply refuse to believe the public has nothing better to do 
         than come out on a cold night to hear me read a paper that could 
         have been slipped under the door when the morning milk was 
         delivered.  The whole point to being live and in person is that 
         you bring a live person." 
                                Nikki Giovanni 
                                 Sacred Cows...and Other Edibles, Morrow
         


         From Gloria Mills of Tampa...

         "Life is what happens to you while you're making other plans."
                               quoted by John Lennon


         From Marion Gwizdala of Tampa... 

         "It is not what someone calls you that's important, but what you
         answer to."            
                               African Proverb
         
                                
36
         __________________________________________________________________ 

         WHAT'S COOKIN'? 
         __________________________________________________________________ 

         This issue's recipes are from Carmen Davis of the Greater Miami 
         Chapter...
         
         TEXAS JACK 
           
         This one is to get you in the mood for the NFB convention in 
         Dallis, this summer.

         4 slices bacon                   1 8-oz. can tomato sauce               
         1 medium onion, diced            dash of pepper                         
         1 medium green pepper, diced     5 hot dogs, sliced                     
         1 tablespoon chili powder        1/2 pound cheddar cheese, shredded     
         2 15-1/4 oz. cans red kidney     6 hamburger buns or English muffins    
              beans, undrained            pinch of sugar, optional               

         In large skillet, cook bacon, over medium heat, until crisp.  
         Remove with spatula and drain on paper towel.  To drippings add 
         onion, pepper, and chili powder.  Saute.  Stir in beans, tomato 
         sauce and crumbled bacon.  Bring to a boil.  Reduce heat and 
         simmer 5 minutes.  Stir in hot dogs and heat through.  Reduce heat 
         and stir in cheese.  Add the sugar if desired.   Serve on 
         hamburger buns or english muffins.   


         PIZZA LOAF
                                                                        
         1 loaf French bread              1/8 teaspoon pepper           
         Soft butter or marjerine         1 tablespon minced onion      
         1 pound ground beef              3 oz. tomato sauce            
         1/2 cup parmesan cheese          1/4 cup sliced black olives   
         1/2 teaspoon oregeno             2 ripe tomatoes, thinly sliced
         1 teaspoon salt                  8 slices cheese               

37
         Cut bread in half legnthwise and spread with butter.  Brown ground 
         beef and add parmesan cheese, seasonings, onions, tomato sauce, 
         and spread mixture evenly on bread.  Place loaf on cookie sheet.  
         Top with tomato slices.  Bake 20 minutes at 350 degrees F..  Remove 
         from oven and top with cheese slices and olives.  Return to oven 
         for about 5 minutes or until cheese is melted.  
                

         __________________________________________________________________ 

         SMILES  
         __________________________________________________________________ 

         
         Shopper:  This is supposed to be a full-service grocery store.  
                   But I ordered a dozen oranges and you only delivered 
                   ten!
          Grocer:  That's part of our service.  Two of the oranges were 
                   rotten, so we threw them away for you.
                          
           Diner:  Waiter, I'd like some lobster tails, please.
          Waiter:  Certainly, sir.  Once upon a time there were three 
                   lobsters...

           Judge:  Have you any prior convictions?
       Defendant:  Well, I used to believe that honesty was the best policy.
                                                                 

          Mother:  Freddie, it's not nice to take the biggest piece of 
                   cake.  To be polite, I would take the smallest piece for 
                   myself. 
         Freddie:  What's the problem?  You've got it.

            John:  I'm so proud of myself.  I finished this jigsaw puzzle in 
                   only eighteen months.
            Jane:  Why are you proud of that?  Eighteen months is a long 
                   time.
            John:  Yeah, but the box says "three to five years"! 


38
         From President Wayne Davis of Miami...
         
         Q. How many psychiatrists does it take to change a light bulb?
         A. It only takes one, but the light bulb has to want to change.
                

         ___________________________________________________________________ 

         EDITORIAL MATTERS                                     Dan Hicks
         ___________________________________________________________________ 
    
              Once again, this is the largest issue of OUTREACH, so far.
              Please remember to write with your comments, suggestions, and 
         submissions for SMILES, WHAT'S COOKIN'?, OUT OF CONTEXT, etc..  We 
         want to hear from you.  There are chapters that have never sent 
         us an item for CHAPTER REPORTS.  Come on folks, there are seventeen 
         chapters out there.  Let's hear from all of you!  
              If you are not a member of the National Federation of the 
         Blind, consider joining.  Call President Wayne Davis to find out 
         if there is a chapter in your ares.  Chances are there is, but 
         if there isn't, perhaps you can help us start one!
              We wish to thank those of you who donated boxes of cassettes 
         to recycle into copies of OUTREACH.  A few of you didn't identify 
         yourselves, and we do thank you, but those we can thank by name 
         are:  Theresa Schaffer of Lakeland, Carl R. Flior of Deltona, Leah 
         Howard and Otto Zamora of Miami. Sherrill O'Brien of Tampa, Gloria 
         and Kathy Mills of Tampa, and Carmen and Wayne Davis of Miami.   
         Please keep the tapes coming init helps us to keep our costs 
         down.  
              Thanks to all of you who submitted articles.  Special thanks 
         also to Wayne and Carmen Davis, Jeffrey and Erlinda Harmon, and 
         Gloria Mills.   If I named all the reasons, this column would be 
         much too long.  
              And thank you for reading OUTREACH!  

