October / November 2020

TSB Members are meeting by phone on Tuesday mornings from 10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m. The free phone call number is: 605-468-8020 access code 969009 # (pound sign).

OCTOBER

1st: Thursday, Oct 1, CCC Evening Podcast Discussion Group: 6:30 p.m.- 8:00 p.m., “The Blind Soprano,” from “Eyes on Success” Podcast. This discussion group is a fun way to share ideas, stories, and feelings about vision loss.

6th: Van Fowler, Western Historian, will speak about “Levine Manning of Canoa Ranch”

9th: TSB Board Meeting on phone from 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m.

13th: Claire Stanley, American Council of the Blind, National Advocate Specialist, Star of Disney Movie, “Pick of the Litter”

20th: Jordon Lopuszanski, Mental Health Therapist, Board Member of Tucson Chapter of the American Council of the Blind, “ Staying Tough during the Covid-19 outbreak,”

27th: Bring a tip to share and a funny story about vision loss, podcast, “Sightseeing without Sight”

 

NOVEMBER

3rd: AZ Banjo Blasters, Lunch on the church Patio, see details below in Announcements.

5th: Evening Podcast Discussion Group on phone 6:30-8:00 p.m. We will listen to and discuss, “Becoming Socially Competent and Improving Self Confidence After Vision Loss,” A Hadley Presents Interview by Ricky Enger.

10th: TSB Annual Meeting on phone, Election of Board of Directors, Annual President and Treasurer’s Report including Proposed Budget for 2021, See additional details below in Announcements.

13th: TSB Board Meeting on phone from 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m.

17th: Thanksgiving Lunch on Patio at Church; See details below in Announcements.

24th: Vacation: No TSB meeting

December 1, Holiday Pizza Party & Music at church. Details to be arranged.

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

November 3, from 9:30 a.m.-12 p.m., Please let barb know if you are coming by Tuesday, October 27, so Barb can order enough food. Everyone needs to wear a mask except when eating. The tables and chairs will be spread apart according to social distancing. The hospitality Committee will serve coffee and doughnuts, as well as lunch. Arizona Banjo Blasters, all 12 of them including Sue with her washboard, will be set up on the grass and will play from 10:15-11:00 a.m. The Band plays wonderful country and folk music and are a lot of fun to listen to. Vicki will be selling large print 2021 calendars for $8.00 so bring your money. Lunch Menu: Chick-Fil-A Chicken Nuggets with dipping sauce, Potato Salad, Baked Beans, Baby Carrots, Strawberries, and Cookies for desserts. TSB will be passing the coffee jar around encouraging a donation of $5 each if possible. It will be fun to see and hear everyone.

November 10 Annual Meeting on Phone. We will be voting on four TSB Members running for the board: Barbara Macpherson, Gina Cline, Ralph Lueders, and Linda Lueders. There are two openings on the board. To run for the Board, you must be a TSB member who attends the Tuesday meetings regularly, pay your dues, and be in good standing. You must get the approval of the TSB Board to run for the Board of Directors. Please let President Barbara Macpherson know before October 8 if you would like to run for the TSB Board. No nominations will be accepted from the floor on November 10 according to the bylaws.

On Tuesday, November 10th TSB Members will hear the Annual President’s and Treasurer’s Reports. TSB members will be able to address the board with comments, questions, or suggestions. So we need all TSB members to be on the phone that day.

November 17th, Annual Thanksgiving Lunch on Church patio, from 9:30 a.m.-12 p.m. Volunteers will serve coffee and doughnuts as well as a delicious lunch catered by Tony’s Italian Deli on 22nd St. and Wilmot. Menu: Roasted turkey and gravy, stuffing, mashed potatoes, vegetables, cranberry sauce, and apple or pumpkin pie for dessert. Masks need to be worn when not eating. TSB will pass the coffee jar around, encouraging a $5 donation each if possible.

President’s Message by Barbara Macpherson
Welcome to Fall! Your TSB Board is busy planning our fun events in November. Our Annual TSB Meeting will be on the phone on Tuesday, November 10. We need all TSB Members to attend to elect the 4 Board Members and hear the President and Treasurer’s Reports. Also TSB members will enjoy two lunches on the church’s patio on November 3 and November 17. The Tuesday phone calls have been going well, so please join us. TSB members will have the opportunity to join us on October 1 for an evening podcast discussion group to discuss our feelings about losing vision. We are still selling Jim Click Raffle tickets: $25 each or 5 for $100. If interested in supporting TSB, please give Tom a call to purchase tickets, 721-1029. A big thank you to those who have already purchased tickets or made a donation to TSB. Be sure to read Annie’s article on voting, including how to vote early using an accessible voting machine. Also we included pumpkin jokes to get you in the Halloween spirit.

Eye Talk by Annie Schlesinger
What I learned about voting from Pima County Recorder’s office 520-724-4330

1. Ballots will be mailed October 7, 2020. When I receive mine I intend to mark it and mail it the next day. Drop off boxes will be available. Then after a week I will check to make sure the ballot has been received.

2. A signature is required on mail-in envelope. As some blind folks’ writing deteriorates over time, your signature may not match your registration signature. As you sign the envelope be sure to fill out your phone number. If the signature is different, the recorder’s office will call you.

3. On October 7, 2020, Monday-Friday, 8a.m. to 5p.m., three early voting sites will open.

1. Recorder’s Main Office, 240 N. Stone;
2. Recorder’s Eastside Annex, 6920 E. Broadway;
3. Recorder’s Ballot Processing Center, 6550 S. Country Club Road. All three sites have one accessible voting machine with headphone. On October 26, 2020, all voting sites will be open for early voting. All will have an accessible machine.

4. After a week of the Recorder’s office receiving the ballot, this can be checked at recorder.pima.gov . Go to the right and select election information, then enter your name and date of birth in the next to last entry and then tap search.

News You Can Use by Barbara Macpherson
Visually impaired seniors can now get free training on independent living skills, white cane training, and assistive technology training at Tucson SAAVI,
520-795-1331.

I recently bought a battery powered WaterPik, oral teeth flosser from Amazon. It took a while to aim the tip in my mouth in the right place but it sure does the trick. WaterPik Cordless Water Flosser, Battery Operated & Portable for Travel & Home, ADA Accepted Cordless Express, White WF-02 $35.99.

I ordered four red trays from Maxi Aids at about $8 including shipping and taxes. I like to use trays, 14” by 18”, when cooking and pouring liquids. There are smaller trays, 10” by 14 “ and 11” by 14” for $4.95 plus shipping, Maxi Aids 800-522-6294, 631-752-0521.

There is a local independent radio station for adults over 45, KDRI, called Drive on 830d 101.7 FM. I just ask Alexa to play that station. They play songs from the 50’s, 60’s, and 70’s music.

I recently attended an outdoor concert at the Gaslight Theater on Broadway and Kolb. Catt and I sat in lounge chairs and had a blast listening to the “Super Songs of the 60’s. Go to www.gaslighttheatre.org or call 520-886-9428 to check on Monday night concerts and other performances.

Gina Cline recently purchased a Galanz Oven for around $100 from Walmart. She marked the oven with bump dots. This oven is a convention oven, air fryer as well as a microwave. You can buy the Talking Smart Oven at Amazon for about $240, so this Galanz is a real bargain. The oven model number is: Oven. Galanz from Walmart, Gsww09S1.A09A.

Gain knowledge by taking a Great Course
Maggie Hagan, a TSB Member enjoys listening to college courses offered by Great Courses. These courses are fun to listen to and there is no homework involved. She gets them in DVD format, or you can download to a computer, tablet or iPhone. Each course is twelve – 30 minute lectures, a total of six hours. She uses the DVD format which she can see on her TV screen. She has listened to: Secret Societies, The history of WWII, and the Ancient History of Greece and Rome. The website is www.thegreatcourses.com. Hunter and I found a filter on the site from 0-$40 and found 77 choices of courses. Maggie says the customer service is also very helpful and it is a good way to keep her mind sharp and learn new things.
Great courses 4840 West Field Blvd. Suite 500 Chantilly, VA 20151 – 2299,
phone 1-800-832-2412, 703-378-3819.

Using Way Around Stickers and the Pen Friend For Labeling
Way Around Stickers can be used to label food items, clothing, and papers. These stickers can be used with the free app, Way Around which can be downloaded from the app store on your iPhone 7 and above. You touch the sticker with the iPhone to record and read messages. To label clothing you have to sew on a special button. Stickers are about $1 each, $25 and $40 for the laundry packet. These stickers can really help you get organized and label many items you can’t see. To order go to www.wayaround.com. You can also purchase stickers packages at LS & S.

The Pen Friend is a hand held device for labeling that comes with different kinds of stickers for labeling. You touch the tip of the Pen Friend to the label to record labels. You need to buy special labels, about $35, for labeling clothes that are machine washable. These stickers stick on the clothing and need to sit five days before washing. I have labeled all my shirts and this system works well. You can also get magnets and stick stickers on top of a can. Magnets or magnetic strips can be purchased at Michael’s. A Pen Friend costs about $150 and can be purchased at Independent Living Aids and Maxi Aids.
Wayaround Customer Service 833-857-7760, connect@wayaround.com
Free catalogs for low vision aids:
• Independent Living Aids 800-537-2118
• LS&S 800-468-4789
• Maxi Aids 800-522-6294, 631-752-0521

Sign up with Go Go Grandparents to receive Services
Service: 855-754-5328
Sign up with Go Go on a land line or any cell phone. For a small fee, they connect you with live operator to Uber or Lyft for a ride to medical appointments or where ever you want to go. Now Go Go has added three new services:
1. Go Go Groceries: You can order with live operator from Fry’s, Safeway, Albertson, Sprouts, and Costco. Minimum order is $35, up to 50 items, two hour delivery window, delivery fee $13, does not include driver’s tip.
2. Go Go Gourmet: $6.50 delivery fee per order or $30 a month charge. Again call a live operator to order and there are 32 restaurants to choose from.
3. Go Go Prescription: delivery charge $13 to pick up prescription from CVS pharmacy.
Go Go Grandparent is a wonderful service for those who do not drive and Those who are not computer savvy. It is awesome to talk to a live operator. You pay extra for the service, but it is worth it especially in the time of the corona virus where seniors do not want to go out to shop for groceries. This service is available seven days a week. You have to sign up with Go Go ahead of time to set up profile and give them a credit card. I have found the operators to be helpful.

Notes from recent Guest Speakers
Marc Arneson from Hadley spoke on Sept 8. His email address is marc@hadley.edu or arneson@hadley.edu. You have to sign in and set up a password to use the Hadley website, www.hadley.edu for free. There are many instructional videos on the Hadley website including, daily living and adjustments to vision loss. Under technology, you will find a series of videos on how to use the iPhone using voice over and how to use Windows 10. There are two discussion group podcasts that I enjoy, “Tech It Out” and “Travel Talk.” You can also find past discussions and resources with links connecting to the products mentioned in the podcast. Hadley Institute for Blind & Visually Impaired, 1-800-323-4238, Mon-Fri,  8 a.m. – 6 p.m. central or call us at 847-784-2815., tech@hadley.edu. Audio copies of workshops will soon be available on Talking Book Cartridges, which can be played on the Arizona Talking Book Player Machine.

Dan Roberts told of his personal story of quitting his position as music teacher as blindness set in, and the desperate search to find information on Macular Degeneration. He founded the non-profit, MD Support and now serves over 20,000 visually impaired adults.

Dan Roberts: Macular Degeneration Telephone Support Group for Low Vision, meets the third Thursday of the month for 45 minutes. For an informative newsletter call 888-866-6148. His website is www.mdsupport.org. You can listen to previous audio presentations under the Audio Visual Library. Dan is also the editor of the latest research on AMD about preventing blindness, www.preventblindness.org, 800-331-2020, press 3 for Beverly. Dan has written four free large print books in the Guide Me series for the newly diagnosed blind. The last book is called, “Through Our Eyes,” a collection written by folks experiencing AMD. To order any of the large print books, call the Prevent Blindness number above and leave a message for Beverly. She will call back to get your address. I have included the link to download “Through Our Eyes on the computer in PDF format, http://www.mdsupport.org/thrueyes.pdf. His book is on BARD under Daniel Roberts. “The first year: age-related macular degeneration: an essential guide for the newly diagnosed.”

Dumb Arizona Laws
• Hunting camels is prohibited.
• Any misdemeanor committed while wearing a red mask is considered a felony. This goes back in the days of the Wild West.
• There is a possible 25 years in prison for cutting down a cactus.
• Donkeys cannot sleep in bathtubs.
• When being attacked by a criminal or burglar, you may only protect yourself with the same weapon that the other person possesses.
• It is unlawful to refuse a person a glass of water.

Halloween Jokes

What did one jack o’ lantern say to another?
Cut it out.

Who was the most famous French skeleton?
Napoleon bone a part

Who won the skeleton beauty contest?
No body

Why do Jack o’ Lanterns have stupid smiles on their faces?
You’d have a stupid face too, if you just had your brains scooped out.

What is the pumpkin’s favorite sport?
Squash

What do you get when you cross a vampire and snowman?
frostbite

What is black, white, and orange and waddles?
a penguin carrying a jack o’ lantern

A man was telling his neighbor, “I just bought a new hearing aid. It cost me four thousand dollars, but it’s state of the art. It’s perfect.”        
“Really,” answered the neighbor. “What kind is it?”        
“Twelve thirty.”