by Judy Wilkinson
News Flash! We learned at the convention that our cassette duplicator has died. We are asking all interested recipients of the cassette version of the
BC to participate in a conference call on November 11. Check the connection or the CCB listserv for call-in information. In the meantime, for the next
two issues cassette users will receive the magazine on CD.
What Jeff says in his article wonderfully dovetails with my message to BC readers.
As a member of ACB’s Board of Publications, I am privileged to help select ACB’s writing and newsletter awards. At this year’s ACB convention, I had a
secret to keep and a job to do: make sure a certain person was in the room during the awards presentations during the Monday morning session. Imagine my
nervousness when minutes before Board of Publications
Chair Denise Colley would announce the name, I couldn’t ascertain her presence. Finally I just had to hope.
Sure enough, when the winner of ACB’s top writing award, the Ned E. Freeman award for the best single article of the year was announced, our own very surprised
Susan Glass made her way from the far back of the room to the podium to cheers and applause, lots of which came from the California delegation. She spoke
of the honor of sharing with and contributing to our community. Read “Best Audio Holiday Season Ever” in The Braille Forum, March, 2015.
Since Susan has taken on the role of BC Associate Editor, she has contributed articles to each issue, especially those chapter profiles. This issue is
no exception. Speaking of awards, by the time you read this, the Blind Californian awards for 2014 will have been announced at the CCB convention: more
about those in the Winter issue.
But there has been a scarcity of articles submitted by members in 2015. The Publications Committee will have slim pickings in considering writing awards
for 2015. But while awards are nice, what we really are missing is the vital input of articles from BC readers. As Jeff reminds us in his column, we all
live interesting lives and could inspire others by sharing our experiences.
In fact I’ve heard from several BC readers about our nonagenarians and octogenarians. Someone tapped me on the shoulder at the ACB convention and my dear
friend Obie Schoeman (whom I can always count on to tease me mercilessly in our exhibit hall which he cochairs) hissed, “What am I, chopped liver?” I promised
I had been saving him for an interview article. (Winter is coming!) Charlotte Criddell from my own Bay View Chapter shyly asked me if I would add her to
the list. You bet Charlotte: 89 this past August 19, with 4 children, five grandchildren (one each passed away) and count them, six greatgrandchildren!
Charlotte reminded me of other Bay Viewers. Connie Gil: I mentioned Al in the last issue but forgot Connie, who you may remember paid her back BC dues
at $10 an issue, a mighty $500. Katrina McCurdy (who can forget that fudge), and Carrie Carter, just 80 last April.
I know lots of other “nonas” and “octos” are lurking so make yourselves known! In the upcoming Winter issue, long-time contributor to the BC Sylvia (Sugar)
Lopez returns with an article about her Fresno Chapter’s Dining in the Dark fundraiser. (You’ll remember her yummy recipes.) I hope you’ll join Sylvia
contributing material in 2016 as the BC celebrates its 60th year of publication. Remember the “Californian” in our publication title means not only Susan
and me as editors, but you, and you and you.
