A CALL TO OUR COMMUNITY: THE CENTER IS OURS!
Imagine a club house, a hangout, an intellectual center for active wondering — you must be thinking of the East Bay Center For The Blind, a blind owned and operated facility, and a welcoming place to be. Now put your imagining aside and come join us in Berkeley, make the place work for us, the blind community. Bring your ideas and your energy.
BLENDING CULTURES, ALWAYS A GOOD THING
By Maureen Schulz
Mike Gorman and I, together with our friend Karen, recently participated in a Passover celebration and Seder open to all, Jews and non-Jews alike. In spite of the sadness, the mourning for Israelis and Palestinians causing us deep pain, there was a feeling of solidarity this night, there was joy and there was healing coming through. We felt inspired and included, part of the group. There were songs, poetry, Passover food shared. As someone from Germany, I cannot help but feel, culturally if not personally, responsible when looking at the horrific historic situation repeating and repeating itself, all the more to appreciate the spirit of community I witnessed that night. The Seder tradition is ancient, the story is relived of the Jews and their exodus out of Egypt. We felt honored to participate.
We brought friendship and we receive it back. May we all enjoy each other and learn more about the greatness of friendship.
ABOUT OUR BOOKS
The East Bay Center is full of Braille books, floor to ceiling, and every shelf is crammed to bursting. Braille books take on a special value for many of us who have always enjoyed reading them. However, Braille availability has changed. Braille on demand exists now, call up and order a book to be embossed and it will come to you. Twenty-cell E-Braille displays are being distributed for those who want them through NLS BARD and our state libraries.
Our collection is good, but much of it is old, even very old with “grade one and a half” and books that feel like they were originally embossed using board slates. Some of those books need to be retired to make way for newer and more relevant books like reference books with modern content, books that teach technology, popular materials prepared in the last decade, not to mention graphics that have come a long way toward being useful for us. Toward that end, Dr. Josh Miele chairs our library committee. We will carefully determine which books need to go. Honestly, it won’t be all that painful. Many books are missing volumes or they are in bad physical shape. In no way do we want to give up on having Braille in abundance, but it’s time to update and recycle. Stay tuned, because we will offer books to people before they really go away. Check out your shelf space, you just might want to start your own collection.
Agencies with Braille collections face an inevitable set of difficult decisions today. The East Bay Center will try to get it right.
JOIN US AS A MEMBER
If you are a long-time member, but your membership has lapsed, there is half a year left. Pay your dues and enjoy voting and running for office yourself in 2024. Dues help the Center financially, but participation is just as important. Remember, you don’t have to be a member to fully participate in all Center activities. The more the merrier though!
THE CENTER IS BUSY
Our instructional program is quite possibly for you, and it’s free! Technology with Fran Franks, Braille with Vileen Shah, book club, writer and story tellers, our support group and bingo! Berkeley adult education classes, Ceramics and Exercise are quite popular. Events like parties, barbecues, speaker series, with meaningful opportunities to give input and share your story, it’s all here. Go to our website, eastbaycenterfortheblind.org and join us. Call to be sponsored. Membership dues are $20.00 per year.
WHY BINGO?
We play Bingo at the Center, twice a month in person. Sharon Knox has her board memorized. The person who calls the game can do it with style, a little self-expression. What else? Bingo is an accessible game. It’s a simple game; it provides opportunities for kidding and congratulations, you can head home with nested cereal bowls, new pot holders, a lovely set of kitchen towels, or a bag of pretzels. Our fun is so infectious we had a Para-Transit Driver sit down with a board; his vehicle would just have to wait. Bingo is a social matter, in braille and enlarged print; we don’t play the way the pros do; our competition is driven by love and mutual support. Board members Connie Thomas and Lenon Humphrey inspire the joy, volunteers Pete Goldstein, Alan Wick, and Gwen Graham call games, each with his or her personalities showing. We have also had guest calls from Nicki Noyse, and Vicky Kuo. We need to work up a feasible way for a blind caller. Any ideas?
OUR “LEARN-AT-HOME” BRAILLE PROJECT STRIDES ON WITH CONFIDENCE
The East Bay Center for the Blind is proud to announce the launching of Braille 102 starting June 1, 2024. This course, in the braille series of four, teaches reading contracted braille. Braille 103, now in the pipeline, will teach you how to write in braille using a slate and stylus or a braille writer. These courses are available at no cost for any persons willing to learn braille anywhere in the United States. We have designed these courses keeping blind and visually impaired individuals in mind. Our audio instructions are geared to helping our blind and visually impaired friends learn braille sitting at home. Potential learners can fill out our online application for enrollment. The application has been designed to be user-friendly and as simple as possible.
Consider contributing to the East Bay Center for the Blind. Our very survival depends on your tax-deductible generosity.
COLLABORATION MAKES US STRONGER
On August 10th, members of the East Bay Center for the Blind community gathered with members of the Bayview Chapter of the California Council Of The Blind in a celebration of summer together.
A STRONG WOMAN
East Bay Center member and former Rehabilitation counselor, Peggy Washington, has left us after a battle to squeeze every bit of enjoyment from the life she had left to her. Former President Dorothy Donaville said, Peggy was a very strong woman. She was a positive force, a kind person who always saw the good in people. She taught us the power of friendship where every person matters. Peggy’s cancer progressed relentlessly; her prognosis was clear. She spoke with our support group frankly and without fear, her voice mail box was full from all those wishing to wish her well. We couldn’t speak with Peggy that one last time, but many of us did keep her close to our heart, kept her in prayers and thoughts, and she wished us well. Peggy lived in many places sharing humor wherever she went, encouraging others, she loved reading and intellectual give and take. She was a peace maker, one for whom the glass was always half full. She set an example for us all, one of many gifts she bequeathed to those who loved her. Rest in peace dear Peggy, you have more than done your share.
OUR BOARD; OUR MEMBERS
Eleven members of our organization are officers and board members of the East Bay Center For the Blind. The membership is at 66. The board meets every month on the third Saturday. The membership also has a town hall “Business Meeting” each quarter. We are a participatory kind of organization, welcoming input and support by members and non-members alike. Help us by letting friends and family know about the Center. Anyone who would like to remember the Center in their will is most welcome. Our legal name is:
East Bay Center For The Blind, Inc.
EAST BAY CENTER FOR THE BLIND
2928 Adeline Street
Berkeley, CA 94703