The Night Owls

 

ALUMNI NEWS

 

Topics

·        President’s Corner

·        Summary Notes of Business Meetings (Jan, Feb, Mar)

·        Retirement of Bob and Helen Daubenspeck

·        Blinded Veterans Advisory Board (BVAB)

•   Financial Report
•   We Have 2 Reunions a Year!
•   Mini Reunion
•   Annual Reunion
•   A Veteran’s Story
•   VisionWalk
•   Notes from the Editor

 

President’s Corner

John Sherrer……

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     I hope all of you are enjoying our warm weather, or at least the writing of this article, it is very warm.  I believe that North Carolina has the most beautiful spring that I have ever seen.

     We have started our Family Support Program.  In a later newsletter, we will tell you who they are so that you know who is in your area.  So far we have four veterans willing to help and I am working on three more.  I truly hope that we can make a difference in a veteran’s life.  We already have two stories and will publish them in future issues.

 

My Personal Struggle

     After I finished a nine week program at a BRC, I came home full of confidence.  Even though I was able to come home on weekends, my wife ran the house and was in charge of four children most of the time.  She could not adjust to my confidence and my leadership role in the home.

      So my wife became insecure in the change in me and opposed the confidence that the blind center gave me.

     I was acting a little crazy, taking walks at night with my cane when before I had a hard time getting from our door to our car at night.  Our church had two night services during the week, and I would walk while everyone else would take the car.

     We are both well adjusted now and have no problems with this issue.  We do sometimes have problems understanding each other.  We have been married 32 years and we still find situations where I do not understand her and she does not understand me.  I used to get offended when this happened and then caused a disagreement.  But when I try to understand that she does not understand me, it makes everything easier. 

     I was 31 years old when I first went to a BRC.  Ninety-five percent of the marriages in my age group fail when a spouse becomes blind.  Somehow we did survive those days and we are now having a great time. 

     This is another important aspect of the Family Support Program.  We need to be able to help the family adjust to the veteran and we need to help the veteran adjust to his/her family and home life.

     I have many more experiences that I will share about myself in future issues.  Do you have something to share with us?  If you do, send it to me at john@abrcaa.com or call me at 336-659-8476.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Retirement of

Bob and Helen Daubenspeck

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Hi Everyone,

    It is with much sadness and great thought that Bob and I have had to give up our positions with the ABRCAA.  We are not leaving the club, but merely taking a sabbatical from the positions as newsletter editor, treasurer and membership chairman.  We are leaving the jobs in very capable hands.  Cheryl Gajadhar will now be the newsletter editor and is a very capable editor.  She had the position before I started.  Max Hearn from the Summerville, SC area will be replacing Bob as treasurer, and Don Srail from the Charlotte, NC area will become the membership chairman.  We are stepping down due to not having enough time at present to do the jobs in the manner that they need to be done.  This organization has been our life for the last four or more years, but it is now well on its way to becoming the best alumni association on the system.  Your officers have many great plans for helping our blind and visually impaired veterans and supporting the Augusta Blind Rehabilitation Center, but as with everything else, they also need you.  Please step up and be counted among those who make a difference.  Together we can do anything we set out to do.  Thanks for the memories and hope to continue meeting many of you down the road somewhere.  Maybe at the Annual ABRCAA Reunion at Charleston, SC in November.  Come out and meet your friends.  If we can be of any help, please feel free to call or write.

 

 

Sincerely your friends,

 

Bob and Helen Daubenspeck

112 Redwater Way

Greer, SC  29651

(864)877-7745 this address and phone will be after our move in mid April 2007

 

Summary Notes of ABRCAA Business Meetings

(Jan, Feb, Mar)

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Family Support Program

We would give help or direct veteran to help according to his/her individual needs and situation. This would be done with a network of Christian Chaplains.  These Chaplains would be appointed by the President and Senior Chaplain, both must agree on each selected Chaplain.   The chaplains are volunteers.

No religious training or credentials is required to become a Chaplain.

Each Chaplain will be chosen from the following:

1.                 ABRCAA graduate.

2.                 If not available in area, then any veteran can be chosen.

3.                 If not available in area, then any suitable person.

Criteria for a veteran to get help;

    Must have an application submitted to be admitted to the Augusta BRC, or the veteran has finished a program at the Augusta BRC.

This program will start where we offer no financial help.  This will change when the board votes to change this rule.  We just cannot afford to do this now.

 

Fund Raising – Gathering of ABRCAA items for selling:

Hats and Tshirts.  Get completion of ABRCAA banner.

 

$50 Donation for Plasma TV –  For Winston Salem outpatient clinic.  This would put our name on a plaque of organizations that gave for the large Plasma screen TV.  

 

Transportation for Events –  Ongoing….

The motion was made to accept funds to be earmarked for transportation to and from mini/annual reunion and was seconded/approved.

 

Supporting Member Fee – Needed changes to the membership letter, add to newsletter and Constitution/Bylaws:

Reads:   

Supporting Member – Any individual or business that has a vested interest in supporting the blind or low vision veteran.  This can be a spouse, child, relative or friend of a blind or low vision veteran or also a blind or low vision veteran who has not gone ore is not able to go to the Augusta Blind Rehabilitation Center.  This membership is obtained by filling out an application and paying a $5.00 fee per year.  A supporting membership does not have voting status or is not eligible to hold office.

Changed to Read:

Supporting Member – Any individual or business that has a vested interest in supporting the blind or low vision veteran.  This can be a spouse, child, relative or friend of a blind or low vision veteran or also a blind or low vision veteran who has not gone ore is not able to go to the Augusta Blind Rehabilitation Center.  This membership is obtained by filling out an application and paying a $5.00 fee per year or may become a lifetime member by filling out an application and paying a one time fee according to age.  The rates are as follows:

Age 65 and over               $30.00

Age 50 to 64                     $40.00

Age 49 and under              $50.00

A supporting membership does not have voting status or is not eligible to hold office.

 

Blinded Veterans Advisory Board (BVAB)

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Duties/Responsibilities – BVAB is a group that was formed to provide advice and recommendations to the Augusta Blind Rehabilitation Center.  The group is comprised of blinded veterans, such as yourself, who reside in the primary Augusta service area (Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina).  The BVAB will provide ABRC with a consumer viewpoint on what veterans expect the VA should be doing to keep and maintain quality management/health services for the blinded veteran at the ABRC, Augusta, GA.  The BVAB member is responsible for attending meetings, disseminating updated news from these meetings to the blinded veterans in their prospective areas either by (VIST) support groups or newsletters.  Your suggestions and recommendations are always welcome.  Until a Chairperson is elected or volunteers, Mr. Paul Whitten will conduct these meetings:

Business Meeting Notes

January 16, 2007

ATTENDEES

Cheryl Gajadhar; John Sherrer

Joe McNeil; Clifford Jones; Don Srail; Glenn Shirey; Charles Hensley; Paul Whitten

ANNOUCEMENTS

    The Augusta VAMC has a new Associate Medical Center Director, John Goldman, who has also been designated the Acting Medical Center Director while the selection process takes past in the next couple of months.

    The ABRC has two new student interns that will receive clinical training for the next 15 weeks. One will receive training in Living Skills and the other in Orientation and Mobility.

     The ABRC is approaching its next CARF Survey scheduled for August 2007. The Chief, ABRC recently became a CARF Surveyor and looks forward to this opportunity.

     The ABRC is currently recruiting for a new Polytrauma BROS to provide visual impairment services for Augusta’s Polytrauma Network program. This program provides treatment for active duty injured soldiers.

     The BR/VIST subcouncil for VISN 7 has submitted a proposal that will address the Visual Impairment Continuum of Care. Within this proposal there are requested resources (i.e. BROS, Eye Care Providers, etc.) to assist enhancing our efforts in providing more access to visual impairment care. This proposal will be presented at the upcoming VISN 7, Health Systems Council (HSC) meeting at the end of January.

     The BVA/BRC/VIST/BROS National Conference is scheduled in August 2007 in New Mexico. Further details about this event will be forth coming.

     The Augusta VAMC, Uptown Division recently acquired a wireless internet computer system. It is being called the VA Internet Café. This service can also be utilized by our ABRC veterans that may have a lap top computer and have a need to conduct some personal business.

 

OTHER BUSINESS

     The ABRC continues to have between 40-50 applications on its waiting list for the past 12 months. The waiting time to get into the program is ranging between 70-90 days which is under the 120 day recommended level.

     The ABRC recently submitted a request for funding to support training the staff on the GPS, Trekker system. This particular devise has been adopted by other BRC’s within VHA.

     The ABRC is in the process of requesting support to obtain some of the new updated technologies (i.e. portable magnifiers, etc.).

     The ABRCAA will be conducting a mini-reunion at the ABRC on April 27, 2007. Additional information will be forthcoming. Ms. Gadjahar asked if the ABRC would have new technologies available for display during this event. Mr. Whitten stated they would make every effort to have some devices available for this event.

     Mr. Whitten explained the VHA is currently under a continuing resolution that has been extended until February. The VHA budget has to be approved before this status will change.

     The ABRC has recently made some internal space utilization moves to enhance overall operations.

     Mr. Whitten answered some questions relating to the VISN, Visual Impairment Continuum of Care proposal, final summary reports that go to the VIST upon discharge and the application process.

ADJOURNMENT

The next BVAB Conference Call is scheduled for Tuesday, April 17, 2007, at 10a.m. (EST). The call in number is 1-800-767-1750, Access # 48544. Mr. Whitten requested the members to solicit for new members. There are 16 lines available to call in for these calls and the first 16 that call in will be able to participate. We will need to select a veteran to be the Chairperson of this group in the next couple of months.

 

Financial Report – Tentatively today we have approximately $1826.16

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We have 2 Reunions a Year!

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ABRCAA sponsors two reunion’s a year. 

The Mini Reunion is usually in late April, early May timeframe.  It takes place at the Augusta Blind Rehabilitation Center in Augusta, Georgia.  This mini reunion lasts for one day of activity.  The purpose of the mini reunion is to:

(1) update the veteran on upcoming programs and visual devices presented by the Chief and staff of the blind center (vision fair); (2) meet the supporting ABRCAA alumni;

(3) enjoy a “FREE LUNCH”; (4) tour at your leasure, the Blind Rehabilitation Center.

The Annual Reunion is usually in early November.  The place usually rotates between the three states the Blind Rehabilitation Center services – North and South Carolina, and Georgia.  The reunion usually lasts for about 3 days of activities – Thursday thru Saturday.  The first night is usually the President’s Night when you meet and greet the President of ABRCAA along with other veterans and we fellowship and have free hors d’oeuvres and late registration will be available.  The second day is a business meeting and elections of officers followed by a day of suggested activities in the area/place.  The third day is fancy banquet/program.  Any veteran can attend either of these reunions and can also bring their family/friends/care takers.  Come and enjoy!

  

 

 

 

MINI REUNION

27 April 2007

(Main Day of Activities)

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Thursday 26 April 2007

(early arrivers)

Where  – America’s Best Value Inn, 3023 Washington Road, Augusta, GA

Time    - before 6:00 pm

Call directly to the Hotel for reservations in order to receive price of $35.00 plus tax

(706-736-2595)  

Friday 27 April 2007

Where          Uptown VAMC

                     Augusta Blind Rehabilitation Center

3d Floor - Auditorium

Time             0930 - 1230

Day of Activities-  After a  complimentary breakfast for those who stayed over at the America’s Best Value Inn, the bus will depart at 0915 to go to the Uptown VAMC, Augusta Blind Rehabilitation Center for a quick program, Vision Fair, and Vendor Display of items. 

 

 

“Quick Look” – Just imagine needing no assistance reading your restaurant menu.

New Devices

Name of Product/Vendor

• Quick Look/Visual Enhancements
• GPS/Trekker/ Humanware
• ClearView + - Optelec
• Acrobat – Enhanced Vision
• Amigo – Enhanced Vision
• Liberty Prisma CCTV
• Power Mag - Optelec

For those who are not Members, it’s a great opportunity to join a support group. 

Time  -  1230 – 1400

FREE CATERED HOT LUNCH

Menu

(planned for over 100 veterans)

Baked Chicken Breast or Barbeque Pork

French Cut Green Beans

Red Potatoes

Toss Salad

Dinner Roll

Variety of Desserts

Coffee, Tea and Water

 

All questions, comments and lunch reservations can be made directly to Cheryl Gajadhar, Mini Reunion Chairperson – (803) 754-6764 or mail to 3830 Davies Drive, Columbia, SC  29223.

 

Annual Reunion

Charleston in November

(The Beginning of an Adventure)

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     Many of the blinded vets down in lower South Carolina are starting to ask about what the “rumblings” are all about.  They hear others talking about the Augusta Blind Rehabilitation Center Alumni Association (ABRCAA) Reunion in Charlotte last November and want the story.  That’s a good opportunity to tell them about the ABRCAA and the fun we all had visiting and jawing about the rehab center, staff, classmates and families. 

     The reunion attendees voted to come to Charleston in 2007. Well, here are a few more tidbits you can add in anticipation of this November in Charleston.  There were five of the lower state veterans attending the reunion last year.  They were Milton Ackerman, Floyd Stukes, Gary Rice, Joe Bischoff and Max Hearn.  Those vets got together with their wives and Robbie Roberson to form a committee.  This committee will work to gather information and organize some of the basic elements of the reunion, which will be approved by the ABRCAA Officers and Board Members.  You know, someone has to keep the “Geechies” and “Gullahs” in line; else you will have shrimp and grits three meals a day!

     All kidding aside, we have located a nice place to stay, the Radisson at Rivers Avenue in North Charleston.  It has an indoor, heated pool and sauna.  The restaurant and bar on premises have an extensive menu of food and beverages.  Shuttle services are provided.  Shopping Malls are near-by, including the new Tangar Outlet Mall.   

     Downtown Historic Charleston is only ten minutes away.  Patriots Point Naval and Military Museum is 10 minutes down the interstate and just across the new Ravenel Bridge in Mount Pleasant.

     We “shopped” the Motels and Hotels until price, décor and cleanliness made us arrive at the Radisson.  All rooms (a block of 40 rooms on the first floor) have a new “Sleep Number Mattress” on the beds.  The meeting rooms, restaurant and bar are at the end of the first floor.  The banquet food is good.  We sampled some salads, pork loin and chicken with sides.   

     Everyone liked the food.

The cost per room per night was negotiated down to $89 dollars.  Reservations for that special price must be made by the end of September.

     Otherwise the price goes back to normal.  Reservations are made by calling the hotel directly.  Be sure to mention you are in the group of the ABRCAA reunion.  There will be more about reservations in the next installment of the great adventure.

     Speaking of food, that is the next step, to select a theme for the banquet and pick the menu.  That will be taking place this week.

     I’ll sign off now and leave you with a website that you can get a view and description of the Radisson.

http://www.radisson.com/

 

Milton Ackerman, Annual Reunion Chairperson

 

 

 

 

A Veteran’s Story

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Zeke – Ambassador Extraordinary

 

I’m sure poor Zeke did not know what he was getting hooked up with when he was assigned to me at The Seeing Eye in New Jersey last September. We have been on the road more then we have been home during these last intervening months. North Carolina Lion’s Club sponsors a fishing tournament each year in October at the Outer Banks around Kitty Hawk. Zeke was thrust into the struggle of some 500 hungry blind North Carolinas gathering for supper in the Lion’s huge gymnasium converted to a cafeteria. He was a gentleman all the way. He remembered where we were sitting, and could find our row and seat every time we returned after surveying the vendor’s tables. We were served popcorn during the program after the meal, and Zeke for the first time was introduced to heaven. Not one popcorn crumb was left on the floor in the immediate area for anyone to clean. The next day Zeke found the best spot on the pier for fishing, and then turned on the charm for every passing girl. His specialty is children, and I learned to just drop the harness when they approach. He sits stoically while they pet and hug him. Then, quick as a wink he steals a kiss with that slobbery tongue of his. He does the same to all the pretty girls.

     We just returned from a tour of Israel and Egypt. Zeke outdid himself as Ambassador Extraordinary. He won the hearts of all the airline stewardesses on El Al. That translates into making my flight as a blind person the very best experience 14 straight hours in the air could ever be. Zeke will only go “park” on command, and though I knew he was uncomfortable toward the end, he never failed to maintain the dignity of an Ambassador.

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     Israel was great. I am a retired pastor and missionary. Zeke and I were able to stand in front of the Eastern Gate of

Old Jerusalem looking across the Kidron Valley to the Mount of Olives. The Bible tells me Christ is going to come again. His foot is going to touch down on the Mount of Olives on the very spot where He last touched it when He went up to heaven Acts 1:11. What a thrill it was to stand on that sacred pathway knowing my Savior is going to pass that way when He comes to establish His perfect Kingdom. The day the lion shall lie down with the lamb and a little child shall lead them. I could feel the pride Zeke had in my faith as we contemplated such great thoughts at that very special place. We traveled literally from Dan to Beer Shiva and beyond. Zeke won his way through all obstacles of prejudice  as we toured Caesarea on the Mediterranean coast, through our boat ride on the Sea of Galilee, and then on to our hiking all over Massada by the Dead Sea.  Most of the time we did not understand the language of all the fans Zeke found, but love is universal. That, we certainly experienced throughout Israel. Only twice did I have to leave Zeke in the care of our tour bus driver. He was put at “rest” on the bus until I returned. Once was when we went on top of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, and the other time was when we toured under the Western Wall of Herod’s Temple Mount. It was religious prejudice that I’m convinced needs to be changed. I suppose I would bump into the same attitudes here in the US if I tried entering some of those sites signified as being too holy for a dog to enter? What were only a few exceptions in Israel ended up being the rule in Egypt!

Let me state clearly; Egypt was not ready for Zeke or me!  My un-Ambassador ways got us on the flight to Cairo. The pilot refused us entry after our tour agent had cleared everything with that Egyptian airline. While the pilot, the tour agent, and a security guard argued at the entrance to the plane, I just walked on. The pilot came back, and ordered me off the plane. I pretended not to understand his broken English. He made it very clear to the pastor heading up our tour group who then tried to persuade me that jail was not a pleasant place to tour around now. I told everyone Zeke and I were on, and we were not going to get off. I guess they all figured it would be more trouble getting me off then just flying on to Cairo, and that is what happened. The hotel folks did their best, but Zeke was clearly not welcome. He continued to make friends among the international guests, and especially the children. One little guy who was as tall as Zeke when he is sitting just broke away from his parents and gave Zeke a big hug. He just would not let go, and Zeke was in his best Ambassadorial roll as he returned the love he was receiving. The hotel staff started treating us much better after that.  We were still refused at every hotel restaurant. Each time the manager had to be called personally to tell them to feed me. They would sit us in some far corner, and Zeke was not allowed to go into the serving line with me. They rather asked what I wanted, and brought it to me. Zeke would always lie at my feet while I ate. Never did he bark or growl even when he knew I was getting upset. We managed to tour the Great Pyramids and the Sphinx which made the trip worth while from my perspective, but Zeke was not allowed in any of the Cairo Museums. Egyptian Airlines flat refused Zeke and I entry on our scheduled flight to Luxor. We stayed in Cairo two days while the rest of the tour group flew to Luxor and back. I ate my one meal a day in the room because I felt too intimidated in the restaurants. I had to pay the extra expenses out of my own pocket for those two days in Cairo.  It was not pleasant! We drove back to Israel the 10 hours through the Sinai Desert. We had an armed guard in the bus, and four armed guards in a car behind. That was not a pleasant feeling though it was for our safety. Work needs to be done in Egypt. Attitudes need to be changed. Zeke did his best as the Ambassador Extraordinary that I now know he is. The battles here in the US with “unclean dogs not allowed” have for the most part been won. The law is on our side. The rest of the world now needs to follow. Zeke kept me safe in every situation we faced as world travelers. No blind stick could ever do what Zeke does. He loves me most of all, and I have learned that is why I can trust him. We are ready to take on the world if need be. Zeke and I are a team ready to demonstrate the power of unconditional love that opens the doors of blinded eyes that would prevent the blind from reaching their full potential only because of a bias attitude. What a pair we have become in such a short time. What an Ambassador Extraordinary has Zeke proven himself to be.

 

Story by

Don D. Srail

 

VisionWalk

A Cure is in Sight!

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  VISIONWALK is a walk-a-thon style fundraising program of the Foundation Fighting Blindness (FFB).  Last year FFB raised over $1.3 million to fund sight-saving research through VISIONWALK.

     As promising treatments move into critical human studies, the need for research funding is greater than ever before.

Join the thousands of people who have taken important steps towards a cure by participating in VISIONWALK.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Walk Information

Date: Saturday, June 2nd 2007
Location: Lake Lynn  
                7921 Ray Road

                Raleigh, NC 27613
Registration: 9:00 a.m.
Walk Start: 10:00 a.m.

Event Chairs:
James and Reston Mattox

Honorary Chair:
Dr. Scott Cousins, Director of the Duke Center for Macular Diseases

For more information please contact:
Michelle Shaljian, Events Manager
(919) 781-804 mshaljian@blindness.org

For more information – go to the visionwalk website –

www.visionwalk.org

Register, donate, join, and walk for sight…

 

Roque and Peggy Reyna

Fundraising Chairperson

 

Notes from the Editor…

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Hi everyone!  I am Cheryl Gajadhar, a veteran, female and always in trouble!  I use to be Newsletter Editor about 3 years ago and now I am back.  I hope to see you all at the mini reunion in April and the annual reunion in November.  I hope this newsletter was informative, and most importantly – you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed creating it. Your next newsletter will be out in August 2007. 

NOTE:  Starting immediately, all articles need to be less than one page at 16 font size, send a copy of a picture (if desired) and sent to the below address or email the article no later than 1 July 2007.

 

Cheryl Gajadhar

3830 Davies Drive

Columbia, SC  29223

(803) 754 6764

clgajadhar@aol.com