                            THE NFBT NEWS
 
Volume 2,  Number 1                                       June, 1993
Tommy Craig, Editor
---------------------------------------

NFBT NEWS UPDATE

     Its been a long time since our last issue of the NFBT NEWS. 
There have been a lot of changes concerning  the newsletter. 

     The most significant change is that Zena Pearcy who served as
Editor of the newsletter for many years has moved to Louisiana. 
Zena accepted a job at the Louisiana Center for the Blind. Although
we all miss her, and the rest of the Pearcy family,  we wish them
the best of luck in their new endeavor. 

     With the loss of our Editor, we have had to make some changes
in our volunteer staff. The biggest change is that Tommy Craig of
Austin is our new editor. In addition we have added new technology
that will help us get the NFBT News to you on a more regular basis. 

     Finally, Our mailing address has changed. The New address is:

NFBT NEWS 
6909 Rufus Drive
Austin, TX. 78752-3123

Please let us know if we need to update your mailing address. Also
we would love to know what you think of the newsletter. If you have
comments or suggestions for future articles please let us know. 

                        NFBT 1993 convention

     The 1993 convention of the National Federation of the Blind of
Texas was held March 5th through 7th. This year we met at the Romada
Inn Northwest Crossing in Houston. Over 200 people attended this
years convention and took part in a full weekend of exciting
activities. 

     Activities started early Friday afternoon with registration and
a seminar for parents of blind children. The parents who attended
this seminar enjoyed presentations on a wide range of subject. Some
of the presentations were, orientation and mobility, parental rights
under the Education of Handicapped Children Act, the Texas Braille
Literacy Act and much more. The parents also met and talked with
successful blind adults who proved  that blindness doesn't keep a
person from living a full and independent life. 

     Friday evening kicked off with a hospitality room full of food,
drink and companionship. Everyone had a chance to meet new friends
and to renew old acquaintances. 

     The evening continued with meetings of many of the Federations
committees and divisions. Among these were the Resolutions
committee, the Blind Industrial Workers of Texas, the Dog Guide
Committee and the Committee to Promote the Use of Braille. 

     The general session of the convention began on Saturday
morning. The audience heard a wide range of speakers. They included:
Allen Harris, Treasurer of the National Federation of the Blind, Ken
Miller, Director of School and Student Services Texas School for the
Blind, and Sy Smeltzer, Texas Commission for the Blind. The general
session concluded with the Presidential report by state President
Glenn Crosby. 

     The annual banquet of the NFB of Texas was Saturday evening.
Highlights of the banquet included the awarding of scholarships and
the keynote address by Allen Harris.  This years scholarship winners
are:  Kimberly Cole from Austin, Cynthia Thomas from Dickinson, Jay
Wolf from Wichata Falls and Jenifer Parrish from Houston. Our
congratulations go to all the winners.  

     We also awarded a charter of affiliation to our new Arlington
chapter. The evening concluded with a dance which everyone enjoyed.

     The Sunday morning session included,  election of officers, the
Secretary's and Treasurer's reports and consideration of
resolutions. Election results were as follows. 

Doris Henderson of Dallas, First Vice-President
Tommy Craig of Austin, Secretary
Lola Pace of Wichita Falls, Board Member
Raul Rayas of McAllen Board Member

     For the first time, a Spanish translation service was 
available for those who requested it. This service   worked very
well and it will be available at future conventions. The convention
adjourned promptly at Noon. 

                         LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

     On Monday May 23, 1993 the Texas Legislature passed SB-183.
This bill proposed by the National Federation of the Blind of Texas,
amends the tuition exemption law. With the passage of this amendment
blind students only have to provide proof of blindness once instead
of every semester.  This means that it is now much easier for blind
students to attend state supported colleges and Universities.  This
change should not only make life easier for blind students but it
should also reduce  the amount of paperwork for state agencies.
Senator Gonzalo Barrientos of Austin introduced this legislation.
Representative Elliott Naishtatt of Austin sponsored it in the
House.  

     We would like to  thank them and their staff for all the hard
work they did to pass SB-183. If you have questions about this
legislation, contact the NFBT at 1800 662-2866.
 

                      1993 National Convention 

     The 1993 convention of the National Federation of the Blind
will take place at the DFW Hyatt Regency July 3-10. If you haven't
already made your plans to be there, do so now. To make hotel
reservations contact the DFW Hyatt at: Hyatt Regency DFW, Post
Office Box 619014, International Parkway, Dallas-Fort Worth Airport,
Texas 75261. You can also call the Hyatt at (214) 453-1234. Room
rates this year are, $31 singles, $35 doubles and twins, $38 triples
and $40 quads. The sales tax added to  all room charges is %12. You
must register with the convention to receive these excellent room
rates. 

     As usual, this years convention will host one of the largest
displays of technology for the blind in the world. Exhibitors from
across the country and around the world will be present to show
their latest products. You will find everything from talking
computers to slates and sylusses in the exhibit room. The exhibit
hall will be open all week long and it may take you a week to see it
all. So come to the exhibit hall early and often. 

     A new feature to enrich the 1993 NFB National Convention will
be a display of the work of blind artists. The NFB Artists' Exhibit
will be  Wednesday afternoon and evening, July 7th. If you are an
artist interested in exhibiting your work, contact Mrs. Janet Bixby. 
You can reach her at 208 West Boscawen Street, Winchester, Virginia
22601 or call (703) 722-4712.

     As usual, child care will be available during the 1993
convention. The volunteer director of child-care services is Mary
Willows. Mrs. Willows is an experienced educator, the mother of two
children, and a long-time leader in the National Federation of the
Blind of California.

     Child care is provided during the parent seminar, the
convention sessions, the banquet, and other special meetings as
resources allow.
      We ask parents to make these donations for child care: $50 for
the week (including the banquet) for the first child and $25 for
each additional child. If you do not need the full week of day care,
we ask for a donation of $10 per child per day plus $10 for the
banquet.  Parents who cannot give the suggested donation should
contact Mary Willows to discuss what donation they can make. Mary
will be available in the child care room before and after sessions.

     On Saturday, July 3, there will be several seminars and
workshops of interest.  The Parents of Blind Children Division of
the NFB will sponsor a seminar for all parents and educators of
blind children.  The seminar will last from 9:00am-5:00pm, and you
can register with the seminar, beginning at 8:00am.

     There will also be a Braille 'n Speak seminar sponsored by
the NFB in Computer Science and conducted by Dean Blazie, President
of Blazie Engineering. The seminar will take place from 1:00-5:00pm.

     The 1993 JOB seminar will take place from 1:00-4:00pm.  We will
be hearing from several interesting presenters about the employment
of blind persons.  So, if you are an employer interested in hiring
the blind, or, if you're a blind person looking for work, come to
this popular seminar.

     The National Association of Guide Dog Users will hold its
annual meeting from 1:30pm until 5:00pm. The directors of the three
NFB supported rehabilitation centers will be present to discuss how
guide dog users can integrate into their programs.  So, come visit
this lively and informative meeting.

    If you lie awake at night wondering what ZMODEM is, if you don't
know what a QWK packet is, or if you just want to learn how to use
your modem to upload or download files, then come to the NFB NET
training seminar.  The seminar will be from 9:00 a.m. until noon and
from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m.  The morning session is for beginners, and
topics  covered will include the basics of telecommunications and
how to use NFB Net.  The afternoon session is for more advanced
users and those who attended the morning session. Topics covered
include sending  and receiving  files, locating files, changing your
parameters, using off-line readers, and more. 

     "The Organized Communicator: Your Best Defense Against Stress,"
is a seminar sponsored by the NFB Merchants Division.  It will run
from 9:30am-12:30pm, and the cost is $20.00 per person, payable at
the door.  This is a workshop emphasizing strategies for  dealing
with time, people, and problems.

     On Sunday, July 4, convention registration will begin.  The
exhibit hall will also be open.  Both will open at around  10:00am
and will be open throughout the day.  There will also be several
committee meetings, beginning on Sunday afternoon. 

     At 7:00pm on July 4, there will be a seminar on technology for
the deaf blind. This seminar is sponsored by the Committee on the
Concerns of the Deaf-Blind. We will provide the text of the
presentations in braille. If you will be needing interpreter or
other assistance during the convention please let us know at this
meeting. If you can't make it on Sunday evening but need help, you
should contact either Brenda Mueller or Connie Ryan with the
necessary information.  You can contact them by calling their rooms
at the Hyatt Regency.

     Also, at 7:00pm., the National Association of Blind Students
will conduct its annual seminar.  The agenda is packed, and all high
school  and college students should  attend.  The registration lines
for this seminar are usually long.  So, come early.

       On Monday, July 5, our Board of Directors will hold its
annual meeting, and we encourage everyone to attend.  Several issues
will be discussed.  Since we will discuss some of these issues later
in the week, it's a good idea to be there so you'll know what's
going on. The board meeting will take place from about 9:00-11:30am.

     Then, on the afternoon of July 5, many division meetings will
be held.  They include:  Blind Industrial Workers of America,
National Association of Blind Lawyers, National Association of Blind
Educators,  NFB in Computer Science, Parents of Blind Children, 
Public Employees Division and more.  These meetings will all begin
at  1:00pm.  You can get exact meeting times and places from your
agenda, once you have registered.

      On Monday evening, there will also be several division
meetings.  The NFB Diabetics Division will meet at 7:00pm and the
National Association to Promote the Use of Braille at 8:00pm.

       On Tuesday, July 6, we will begin our general sessions. 
General sessions will be all day Tuesday, until noon on Wednesday,
and all day Thursday and Friday.  All general sessions will be in
the East Tower of the Hyatt Regency.  Many of the smaller seminars
will be in the East Tower, as well. You should consult your agenda
carefully, as a few of our meetings will take place in meeting rooms
located in the hotel's West Tower.

     On Wednesday afternoon, July 7, there will be an outreach
seminar on Social Security and Supplemental Security Income: What
Applicants, Advocates, and Recipients Should Know. This seminar is
conducted jointly by the National Federation of the Blind and the
Social Security Administration.  It will provide information on
Social Security and Supplemental Security Income benefits for the
blind.  Presenters will be Sharon Gold, President of the NFB of
California, and J. Kenneth McGill, Special Assistant to the
Associate Commissioner for Disability, Office of Disability, Social
Security Administration.

     July 7 is also tour day, and the NFB of Texas has arranged for
lots of  good tours.  If you want to purchase tour tickets, you may
do so at the convention.  A tour desk will be available for those
who have not been able to purchase tickets in advance.  You can get 
information about the tour desk at our NFB of Texas information
tables located in the lobby of the East and West Towers.  You may
also call the NFB of Texas Suite.  Just dial 1015 inside the hotel.
 
    As you can see, we have an outstanding convention planned, and
we have only scratched the surface. So come join us in Dallas. You
don't have to be a member to attend.  Federation meetings are open
to the public. If you need additional information about the
convention consult your April Braille Monitor, Or call 1-800-662-
2866.

Cassette version read by Gary Ketler.
Spanish version read by Mary Ward. 
                         Chapter Presidents
                  National Federation of the Blind
                              of Texas

Amarillo
Eura Mae Harmon
1418 South Eastern
Amarillo, Tx 79104
(806) 376-8454

Arlington
Ruth Fabel
2611 Lynwood #131
Arlington, TX. 76013
(817) 861-8304

Austin
Tommy Craig 
6909 Rufus Drive  
Austin, TX 78752-3123 
(512) 451-1717

Brownsville 
Mario Medellin 
P.O. Box 1864 
Brownsville, TX. 78522

Dallas
Doris Henderson
505 Heyser Dr.
Dallas, TX 75224-1907
(214) 942-2612

Fort Worth 
Elizabeth Campbell
3840 Tulsa Way
Fort Worth, TX. 76107
(817) 738-0350

Galveston County 
William Harmon, JR. 
1919 13th Avenue North #246 
Texas City, TX. 77590 
(409) 948-6825 Houston

Norma Crosby
1403 Cheshire Lane
Houston, TX 77018
(713) 956-4909

McAllen
Raoul Reyes 
RT. 2 Box 938
Edinburg, TX. 78539 
(210) 783-5070

Permiam Basin 
Connie Eckard 
4100 North Golder #38
Odessa, TX. 79764
(915) 368-564666

San Antonio
Martha Laque
130 Camino De Oro #408 
San Antonio, TX 78224
(210) 921-2530

Wichita Falls
Lola Pace
1310 Westridge
Iowa Park, TX 76367-1130 
(817) 592-5757  
