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LightHouse News: Quarterly Edition
Clicking on any of the article titles in the table of contents will take you directly to the article you choose.
 LightHouse News Table of Contents:Sidebar Items:
-Adaptations Store Clearance Items-Truce: A Solo Show by Marilee Talkington
-Swap Shop-Marin and North Coast Locations
Please let us know what you think! To submit
feedback about this newsletter, please send an email to publications@lighthouse-sf.org.
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LightHouse
Names Bryan Bashin as New Executive Director/CEO
On April 1, the LightHouse
will welcome new Executive Director/CEO, Bryan Bashin. Bashin's extensive
background in private and public executive leadership, consulting and community
service make him an ideal fit for the helm of Northern California's largest and
most established agency serving the blind community. Bashin has been blind
since his college days at UC Berkeley, and since then he has dedicated a
substantial part of his career to advocating for equality, access, training and
mentorship for individuals who are blind or visually impaired.
"I believe in treating individuals as individuals, in
meeting them where they begin their blindness journey and providing
state-of-the-art services that best address their personalized needs," Bashin
said. "I'm honored to step into the chief leadership role at the LightHouse and
look forward to continuing the work that I have been passionate about
throughout my career - promoting equality and full community participation for
people who are blind or visually impaired."
Bashin joins the LightHouse with strong support from various
sectors of the community the LightHouse touches. LightHouse donor, former Board
Vice President and subject of the book Crashing Through: From Blindness to Sight,
Mike May, says that under Bashin's leadership, the LightHouse will not only be
able to maintain its distinction as a leading service provider and advocate of
the blind community, but also be "infused with innovation."
"I got to know Bryan
when I joined the Board of the Society for the Blind [in Sacramento,
where Bryan served as Executive
Director]. He did amazing things with the Society both in terms of building the
organization [and] in terms of the attitudes and participatory techniques he
implemented. He demonstrated skills as a strong manager of people and money,"
said May.
Bashin brings to the LightHouse a unique blend of
professional experiences that include Executive Editor for the Center for
Science and Reporting, Assistant Regional
Commissioner for the United States Department of Education - Rehabilitation
Services, Expert Witness on rehabilitation and economic aspects of employment
of the blind and Executive Director of Society for the Blind in Sacramento.
At the Society, fundraising income grew by 300
percent over four years under Bashin's leadership. Additionally,
he spearheaded technological and access enhancements that bolstered programs
and created employment opportunities for blind and visually impaired
professionals. In joining the LightHouse team, Bashin follows in the footsteps
of Anita Shafer Aaron
who served as CEO for nearly 20 years. Bashin will continue Aaron's
strong programmatic focus and advocacy for the rights of persons who are blind
or visually impaired.
Long-time consumer and LightHouse Board member Margie
Donovan believes that Bashin will continue to strengthen the
role of the LightHouse in serving the blind community in Northern
California and beyond. "Bryan
will be a welcomed leader, forging new pathways in services to LightHouse
clients," said Donovan.
Currently, the LightHouse serves thousands of individuals
annually through a combination of vision rehabilitation, education, recreation
and employment services. Further, our accessible web-site and on-line networks
serve as a critical resource for blind and visually impaired individuals across
the region and beyond. Our advocacy on behalf of individuals with vision loss
in areas of employment, transportation, healthcare and technology has an
immeasurable reach across the state, touching the lives of not just the blind
community, but the community as a whole as we promote equality and
accessibility. We welcome Bryan Bashin as he joins us in strengthening who we
are today and helping us define the future of the LightHouse.
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Enchanted Hills Camp Celebrates 60 Years!
Founded in 1950 by Rose Resnick, this year Enchanted Hills
Camp (EHC) celebrates 60 years of bringing a traditional camp experience to
hundreds of blind and visually impaired campers. Located on 311 acres on Mount
Veeder, just 10 miles west of Napa,
California, EHC's beautiful setting and
unique approach have enhanced the lives of blind and visually impaired campers
for over five decades.
A key component of the EHC
experience is its sports and recreation program. Campers physically challenge
themselves and sometimes experience sports for the first time, through EHC's
full curriculum of thoroughly fun outdoor activities such as hiking, swimming,
horseback riding and more. Campers are able to try on a number of outdoor
activities "for size", finding the ones that suit them best.
Enjoying these activities, regardless of their vision, helps
a child to say yes to other opportunities in life that might seem challenging.
It can change the life of a blind or visually impaired person by giving them
the confidence they need to participate fully and equally in life. Eventually,
that child will grow into a confident and independent adult who might be a
successful lawyer, teacher or even gold medalist!
We can tell by the many smiles we see how much our campers
love being at EHC. Statistics also show us that EHC has a significant impact on
our young campers' academic, psychological, and social development: Of parents
whose children attended EHC in 2009, 86% noticed an improvement in self-esteem,
75% noticed an improvement in independence, 67% noticed an improvement in
social skills, and 50% noticed an improvement in leadership skills.
As we prepare to celebrate
EHC's 60th anniversary this summer we remain grateful to its visionary founder,
Rose Resnick. We look forward to making a difference in the lives of blind and
visually impaired youth, adults, seniors and families in 2010, and for many years
to come.
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Special Session Encores at Enchanted Hills Camp 2010
We're excited to present another summer of rich EHC
programming, including an encore of our Blind Babies Foundation session. This
session specifically serves families with children between ages 3 and 7 who are
blind or visually impaired. This session includes an educational component to
give parents a better understanding of what their children's specific needs are
and how to accommodate them.
If you are interested in donating to support the Blind
Babies Foundation session, please contact us at 415-431-1481. If you would like
to attend an EHC camp session, contact Rich Russo at 415-694-7352.
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Connections: The LightHouse and the Paralympics
In March,
Vancouver hosted the 2010 Winter Paralympics, the second largest sporting event
in the world-second only to the Olympics. Paralympic athletes include people
with physical disabilities such as those who are blind or visually impaired,
amputees, people who have cerebral palsy, people who use wheelchairs and people
with dwarfism.
This winter's Paralympics included events such as alpine skiing, biathlon,
wheelchair curling, ice sledge hockey and cross country skiing. The LightHouse
is very proud of its connections with two Paralympic athletes, Mike May and Jessie Lorenz. Here are some personal
reflections:
Mike May
As reported in the February e-edition
of the LightHouse News, LightHouse Honorary Board member Mike May joined the US
Delegation to the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver. He attended the Opening Ceremony,
met with U.S. athletes, attended events and met
with other dignitaries and leaders from around the world.
Mike May has been connected to the LightHouse for years, both as a participant
at EHC and as a LightHouse Honorary Board member. Blinded at age 3, Mike has
competed in a variety of sports throughout his life, and is an Alpine Skier who won three gold
medals in the first winter games for the disabled in Switzerland in 1982 and three bronze medals in Austria in 1984.
"As a child, my teachers sometimes
offered me study hall rather than PE. Had I not been crazy about chasing a ball
around, I might have taken the easy road. It is so very important for all the
obvious reasons that blind people participate in sports recreationally or
competitively. I am a huge believer that good mobility is key to success for
blind and visually impaired individuals in all walks of life and that sports
contribute to good mobility. There is nothing better than having fun and
learning a skill in the process."
In addition to his numerous gold medals, in the late 80's, Mike set the
downhill speed skiing record for a totally blind person, skiing at 65 mph. Mike
is a leader in the field of advancing technology and mobility for the
independence of the visually impaired and blind. Subject of the compelling
book, Robert Kurson's "Crashing Through", he is an active proponent
of sports and recreation for people who are blind. You can read more about Mike
here: http://www.senderogroup.com/about/MayBio.htm
Jessie
Lorenz
Jessie
Lorenz,
former Director of Public Policy at the LightHouse, had her first Paralympic
experience in 2004 as part of the United States Women's Goalball team. During
the 2008 Summer Paralympics in Beijing, Jessie and her teammates achieved
the dream that all athletes strive for - the opportunity to hear their
country's national anthem being played while standing on the podium proudly
wearing a gold medal.
Now the Associate Director at Independent
Living Resource Center of San Francisco and a LightHouse donor, playing
Goalball taught her how to dream big and how to work hard. "I pushed
myself in ways I never had to in order to get to Beijing and come home with the
medal..." said Jessie. "Preparing for the Paralympics taught me how
to be part of a team and how to play well with others. I learned how to get
comfortable with making mistakes, which was important to becoming comfortable
with being "the best in the world at something."
Glossary
Goalball: A game played by two teams of three blindfolded people, each
who compete to score goals by throwing a ball with bells in it that emits
audible sound when in motion.
Mobility: The ability to travel independently using a white cane.
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Profiles of our Supporters
Walter
& Elise Haas Fund
Mea
culpa! In our last quarterly issue, we inadvertently left the Walter &
Elise Haas Fund off the list of Insights 2009 sponsors. This is the second year
in a row that the Haas Foundation has sponsored Insights and we want to take
the opportunity now to thank them for their generosity and support. The Walter
and Elise Haas Fund was established in 1952 by Mr. and Mrs. Haas as an enduring
expression of their philanthropic commitment to San Francisco. The mission of the Walter & Elise Haas Fund is to help build a
healthy, just, and vibrant society in which people feel connected to and
responsible for their community. To learn more, go to http://www.haassr.org.
Diane
Bright, Personal Services Volunteer
"I
wanted to let you know that I am very much staying active with LightHouse and
my client Virginia, who I see once a week for an hour and a half. Working with
her is a dream!" Personal Services Volunteer Diane Bright emailed us this note
and her enthusiasm prompted us to ask her why she volunteers with the
LightHouse.
After
retiring from a career teaching kindergarten, Diane looked for ways to
meaningfully fill her time. She decided to work with a completely different age
group, the elderly, and asked if we knew of anyone who could use some help with
reading. We matched her with LightHouse client, Virginia, who had lost vision
due to macular degeneration and needed someone to read paperwork with her. A
beautiful friendship developed as Diane "became Virginia's eyes" each week.
"Virginia is such a kind and supportive person. I truly look forward to seeing
her, and miss her when we can't meet." This positive experience has spurred
Diane to volunteer for three other organizations, all of whom serve seniors.
Diane, we salute you for your generous spirit!
Teresa
Vega, Client Turned Volunteer
When
Theresa Vega started losing her vision she didn't know how to cope with this
dramatic change in her life. Finally she heard about the LightHouse and quickly
took advantage of what we have to offer, including taking our Living with
Vision Loss, Braille and Technology classes. And, in 2008 she was the recipient
of the LightHouse's Frances Miller Equipment Scholarship which allowed her to
purchase a computer and screen reading software. Grateful for the services and
opportunities we have provided, Teresa has found a way of returning the favor.
Teresa,
whose first language is Spanish, says "I got a lot of help from the LightHouse
when I lost my vision and I want to give back!" Teresa has volunteered to
co-facilitate the upcoming Living with Vision Loss class for Spanish speakers
that will be held by phone. "When I lost vision, it was difficult at first to
know who to turn to. I want to help make sure that others get help and the
telephone is the perfect way to reach people who may not be able to get out of
the house." Teresa, thank you, we are so glad you have become part of the
LightHouse team!
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Thank You to SFO Airport Charity Golf Tournament
Last year
the LightHouse received a very unexpected and much appreciated gift of $18,000,
part of the proceeds from the 2009 San Francisco International Airport Charity
Golf Tournament. The tournament features players from the San Francisco Police
and Fire departments. Though many helped put the Tournament on, the man who
recommended the LightHouse as a recipient deserves special recognition.
In
1985, San Francisco Airport police officer Tim McGuire took up the cause of
fundraising. "At the time, we didn't have life insurance as a benefit. I wanted
to help provide life insurance policies for me and my colleagues." He founded
the Tournament which almost immediately sold out and then nurtured it over the
years as it became more and more successful. Eventually he passed the torch to
others who with his help have brought it to the level of success it is at
today.
These
days the money raised by the Tournament goes to two charities serving the San
Francisco and San Mateo areas, one serving adults and one serving children.
Last year's Tournament raised an impressive $36,000, half of which went to Holy
Family Day Home, a charity that provides educational development for young
children while nurturing positive interaction with their families, while the
other half went to the LightHouse, as an agency that serves adults who are
blind or visually impaired, helping them continue to lead independent lives,
despite their vision loss.
Why the
LightHouse? Well, McGuire has kept us in mind for many years. He began losing
his vision to diabetic retinopathy in the 80's. During this time, he contacted
the LightHouse with questions about how he could maintain his ability to get
around safely. He worked with a LightHouse affiliated instructor, who taught
him white cane skills. His gratitude for the help and training he received has
stuck with him ever since. He retired from the police force in 1994 but remains
active with the Golf Tournament as an advising member. "I've always kept the
LightHouse in mind for the Tournament." In December, 2009 we reaped the
benefits of his recommendation.
Tim, we
salute you and thank you for helping to make this gift a reality. We send our
heartfelt appreciation to all those who participated in the 2009 San Francisco
International Airport Charity Golf Tournament.
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Congratulations to our Insights 2009 Drawing Winners!
In
addition to exhibiting interesting and beautiful painting, touchable sculpture,
photography and even audio by blind and visually impaired artists, Insights
2009 also offered two lucky visitors the opportunity to win Drawing prizes.
Congratulations go to Claire
Johnson, who won a gift certificate
for a four course lunch or dinner for two (drinks and gratuity not included) at
Fior d'Italia restaurant, and Nate
Miller, who won an iPod Shuffle.
Thank you both for participating in our Drawing!
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Berkeley Art Museum Offers Two for One Admission for LightHouse Community
LightHouse staff and
LightHouse News subscribers are eligible for 2 for 1 admission to a career-spanning retrospective
of the celebrated self-taught artist James Castle at the BerkeleyArt Museum (through April 25).*
Born
profoundly deaf, James Castle (1899-1977) was a prodigious artist who, without
formal training, created a remarkable and vast body of work over the course of
his life in rural Idaho. His drawings, cardboard
constructions, paintings, and, even books of drawn text became his chief means
of communicating with the world. Despite the barrenness of Castle's
surroundings and the solitary quality of his life, his works lack any sense of
loneliness, pain, or worry. On the contrary, making art for Castle was clearly
an act of confident pleasure and curiosity, an act in which he immersed his
full awareness. This retrospective is the first comprehensive museum exhibition
of his drawings, books, and paper constructions. For more about the exhibition
visit: http://www.bampfa.berkeley.edu/exhibition/castle
*Staff and
Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired e-news subscribers should
identify themselves at the BAM/PFA admissions desk (2626 Bancroft Way) to obtain 2 for 1 admission
through April 25.
Admission is $8 adults (18-64); $5 for seniors, disabled persons, and
young adults, and non-UC Berkeley students; and free for children (12
and under), BAM/PFA members, and UC Berkeley students, staff, and faculty.
Upcoming
Public Programs (free with gallery admission):
Thursday,
March 18, noon*
Gallery
Talk: Jacqueline Crist and Ann Percy
Two of the
foremost experts on the art and life of James Castle join forces to offer their
insights on selected works in the exhibition, and the stories behind them.
Sunday, April 18, 3 p.m.*
Gallery
Talk: Constructing Castle with Brenda Brueggemann and Katherine Sherwood
Bringing
together two educator-practitioners who have long focused on James Castle, this
program will highlight visual and linguistic elements in his work that
contribute to a deeper understanding of his artistic output as a whole.
*Sign
language interpretation will be provided by Patricia Lessard.
For
general information about BAM/PFA
including access and house visit: http://www.bampfa.berkeley.edu/visit
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April
2010 LightHouse Calendar
Education and Recreation Program: For prerecorded monthly information on the Education and Recreation
Program, call 415-694-7325 or email mpearson@lighthouse-sf.org. For
reservations, call Molly Irish at 415-694-7320.
Classes Begin January 4
Town Hall
April 7: 2:00-3:00 p.m.
Dinner and Bingo
April 16: 5:00-8:00 p.m. ($5.00)
Adult Weekend and Evening Program: Contact Philip Kum at 415-694-7372 or email pkum@lighthouse-sf.org.
Peer-to-Peer Support Group
April 10 and 24: 1:00-3:00 p.m.
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May
2010 LightHouse Calendar
Education and Recreation Program: For prerecorded monthly information on the Education and Recreation
Program, call 415-694-7325 or email mpearson@lighthouse-sf.org. For
reservations, call Molly Irish at 415-694-7320.
Town Hall
May 5: 2:00-3:00
p.m.
Pier 39
May 7:
11:00 a.m. -3:00 p.m.
Dinner and Bingo
May 21: 5:00-8:00 p.m. ($5.00)
Last Day of the Semester
May 21
Semester Break
May 24-28
Closed for Memorial Day
May 31
Adult Weekend and Evening Program: Contact Philip Kum at 415-694-7372 or email pkum@lighthouse-sf.org.
Peer-to-Peer Support Group
May 8 and 22: 1:00-3:00 p.m.
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June
2010 LightHouse Calendar
Education and Recreation Program: For prerecorded monthly information on the Education and Recreation
Program, call 415-694-7325 or email mpearson@lighthouse-sf.org. For
reservations, call Molly Irish at 415-694-7320.
New Semester
June 1 ($10.00 semester fee is due)
Dinner Dance
June 4, 5:00-8:00 p.m. ($5.00)
Town Hall
June 9, 2:00-3:00 p.m.
Dinner and Bingo
June 18, 5:00-8:00 p.m. ($5.00)
Adult Weekend and Evening Program: Contact Philip Kum at 415-694-7372 or email pkum@lighthouse-sf.org.
Peer-to-Peer Support Group
June 12 and 26, 1:00-3:00 p.m.
Vision Loss Resource Center: To
RSVP for programs or for additional information, please call 888-400-8933 or
email info@lighthouse-sf.org.
Accessible Cell Phone Seminar
June 11, 1:00-3:00 p.m.
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Rehabilitation
Services
Spring/Summer 2010
Schedule
To Register for
Instruction and Training:
-For San Francisco, EastBay and the Greater Bay Area,
contact Linda Porelle, Social Worker, at 415-694-7315.
-For San Rafael and Marin area, contact Jeff Carlson, Social Worker, at 415-258-8496, ext. 1.
Living with Vision
Loss Class
In SF: Tuesdays, July
6-September 21, 2010 (12 weeks), 9:00 a.m.-noon
Beginning Cooking
Class
In San Francisco: Thursdays, April 29-May 27, 2010 (5 weeks), 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
In San Francisco: Thursdays, July
1-July 29, 2010
(5 weeks),
10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
Practical Tips for Men Adjusting to Vision Loss
In San Rafael: 1st Tuesday of each month, 10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m.
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Quarterly Edition
March 2010
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The LightHouse relies on the support of donors to make a difference
in the lives of thousands of blind, deaf-blind and visually impaired
individuals each year. Please donate now.
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Adaptations, the
LightHouse Store
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Magnifiers, Sunglasses, Watches, Oh My!
Find the perfect gift for that Spring birthday boy or girl! Adaptations, the LightHouse Store will have these items on sale throughout April to June. Continue to visit the Adaptations website at www.adaptationsonline.com for specific details on sale items and discounts. Items on sale will change and may only be available while supplies last.
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Truce: a solo show by Marilee Talkington
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 TRUCE, a solo theatrical show by former Insights artist Marilee
Talkington, is the inspiring true story of one woman's battle
to make sense of her impending blindness.
At once empowering, hysterical, honest
and heart-wrenching, award-winning actress Marilee Talkington
takes you on an unforgettable and experiential journey. (Rated 'R')
TRUCE
March 17-April
3, 2010
Noh Space
2840 Mariposa
San Francisco, CA
94110
Group rates, as well as senior, student and other discounts available. Wed, March 17, 8pm
Preview Night (pay what you can)
1st Week: $12-15
2nd Week: $17-20
3rd Week: $22-25
Click here for tickets and more information.
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For Sale:
Brand new Clearview reader.
$3000 value ~ hardly used. Asking $1750, or best offer.
Call Kevin @ 415-606-5307.
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Marin and North Coast Locations
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LightHouse of Marin
at the Whistlestop Senior Center
930 Tamalpais Ave.
San Rafael, CA 94901
415-258-8496
415-431-4572 TTY
LightHouse of the North Coast
at the Humboldt Senior Resource
Center
1910 California Street, Third Floor
Eureka, CA 95501
707-268-5646
707-268-5655 TTY
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