June 2014 newsletter

BOLD Ventures (Blind Outdoor Leisure Development)
June 2014
BOLD welcomes persons 18 and older with all degrees of vision: blind, low vision, partially sighted, and fully sighted
PO Box 8114 Pittsburgh, PA 15217
Terri Winaught, Editor
Email: boldwpa@gmail.com
Website: www.wpabold.blogspot.com
Yahoo Group: www.wpabold@yahoogroups.com (moderator must approve posts)
Update Line: 1-773-597-4222 (updates recorded each Friday)


JUBILANT ABOUT JUNE

Reservationists, numbers, and deadlines: Board meetings the Sunday before by 10 p.m., Tammi Swiantek: 412-488-6298; Ice Skating the Tuesday before by 10 p.m., Mark Senk: 412-386-6513; Mall Walking the Thursday before by 9 p.m., Joyce Driben: 412-521-4385; Pittsburgh Symphony tickets, Joyce Driben; and yoga, Veronique Schreurs: 412-225-4038.

Since we are trying a different format as shown above, info won't be repeated in the same issue. To give feedback on this change or anything else about the newsletter, call Terri Winaught: 412-263-2022, or email t.winaught@verizon.net.

For June info, see calendar.


PAST EVENTS

As an Indoor Games host, Penny Fleckenstein did her always wonderful job showing hospitality at her Bellevue home. Although 14 signed up, only 10 actually attended.

Having a tour of the Children's Museum as a first-time event was super successful, with 9 BOLD attendees.

"The docent just couldn't have been nicer and she showed such warmth," Peggy Walsh shared.

Kudos to Joyce Driben for working so hard to make this event possible.

"The guide we had was really comfortable working with blind people because her father was blind," Joyce said.

Some of the exhibits Peggy, Joyce, and Tammi enjoyed were a music table with instruments; shapes that could be traced; and silk screening that could be done tactually.

All agreed that it was "fun for us as adults just to be able to play."

Joyce concluded by stating that museum staff invited us back any time.

On Friday April 25th, four BOLD members attended a yoga class in Squirrel Hill. Many thanks to Veronique Schreurs for coordinating yoga instruction and choosing a teacher whose methods were vision impaired friendly.

When the same person had a class on May 2nd, there were five attendees. Additional yoga instruction will cost $15 per class with BOLD paying the rest.

The May 9th through 11th Camp Kon-o-Kwee weekend had the best attendance in years, with 26 campers enjoying many activities. First-time campers were Ernie College, Marcy Loughner, Dave Popaleo, and Diane Popaleo. Campers who returned after long absences were: Mark Grasak who last camped there in '993; Jim Musto, who hadn't been to Kon-o-Kwee for 11 years, and Debi Sterling, whose last time camping was several years ago.

This Editor can't thank Joyce Driben enough for the excellent job she has done for years performing the complex tasks of coordinating this outing. In addition to taking reservations, Joyce also arranges bus transportation to and from camp with Moorhead Towers as the departure and return point; lets camp staff know how many people there will be; how many first-time campers; and what special needs people have.



LOOKING AHEAD

June's Board meeting will be on Tuesday the 3rd at the Western Pennsylvania School for Blind Children (See calendar). July's meeting will be on Tuesday the 8th, and August's will be on Tuesday the 5th. (The School for the Blind will be the permanent venue.)

When rowing starts on Thursday, June 5th, the location will be Washington's Landing: 300 Waterfront Drive, Pittsburgh, 15222. The time will be 6 to 8 p.m., and the person to contact is Joy Nix: 412-298-2315. Joy can also answer questions about Dragon Boating which will start on Saturday the 7th. The location will be the Millvale Boathouse: 90 Riverfront Drive, Pittsburgh, 15209, and the time will be 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Individuals interested in competing have the option of rowing at least two, and maybe three times a week. Anyone who needs help paying for rowing is asked to call Tammi Swiantek.

Saturday the 14th is when Ray Jablonowski and the Catholic Alumni Club will host a picnic and tandem biking at Highland Park's Sycamore Grove. Additional activities will be determined by interest and number of guides.

As a reminder, sighted volunteers are expected to help with guiding, cooking, serving, and cleaning up as abilities permit.

Persons with partial sight are asked to make helpers aware of their visual abilities and limitations, including traveling with mobility aides, if possible. (Doing this should keep helpers from assuming that someone has no vision limitations when he or she actually does.)

If you are able to serve yourself or help others, you are encouraged to offer assistance as your partial vision allows. Also, ask guides to seat you where the lighting is good since that can make the difference between being able or unable to navigate successfully.

Picnic attendees who are blind are expected to ask if everyone, especially the cooks and servers, have had first helpings before requesting seconds. If told that not everyone has eaten yet, please wait patiently until volunteers announce that everyone has.

Finally, if you must move the items of someone with partial vision, tell the person whose belongings you have moved where they are.

Thank you in advance for enabling things to go smoothly by working together. (Directions, reservationist, and sign-up deadline in calendar.)

On the 3rd Thursday in June and throughout July, Ice Skating will be held from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.

Other changes: The skating that would normally have been on July 3rd will be on the 10th due to the July 4th holiday, and this event will not be held in August because the rink will be closed.

Regarding Mall Walking, check with Joyce Driben since dates could be canceled if a lot of guides are on vacation.

Fishing will be held on Nancy Leverett's mother's property in Armstrong County on Sunday, July 13th. Nancy will be the reservationist with a deadline of Tuesday, July 8th by 10 p.m. 412-561-3972. The cost will be $5 per person, with attendees also being asked to bring sides to share.

Other events being planned are: a weekday afternoon Pirates game; Kennywood; and an activity led by a naturalist.

Kennywood will be a BOLD event only if four or more people call Tammi to express interest. If Kennywood becomes a BOLD activity, attendees will be required to go on the day of the outing, and reminded that only one qualified guide per person can be subsidized. If someone wants to bring more than one guide, that individual will be asked to help another rider who is blind, or pay Kennywood's regular price.

Waterskiing will be held on Sunday, August 24, with skiing club members providing main dishes, and BOLD skiers being asked to bring sides (more in next newsletter).



CULTURAL CONNECTIONS

Joyce Driben will continue distributing free Pittsburgh Symphony tickets on a first come, first served basis. When accepting tickets, remember that failure to use them or let Joyce know that you can't will result in BOLD receiving fewer tickets next year and the probability that you will be moved to the bottom of lists Joyce keeps when taking these requests.

To ask about Tuesday Music Club concerts during the summer, phone 412-682-0439, a number answered part-time, or visit www.tuesdaymusicalclub.org.



FUNDRAISING FACTS

See calendar about June 7th auction and pizza social.

The Day of Giving generated for $1,229 for BOLD. $1,070 was contributed by our members and friends, and the foundation matched 17%, minus a small fee, adding $159 to our contributions. Terri Winaught owes extra thanks to Nancy Leverett and Veronique Schreurs for their invaluable help with Day of Giving E-mails, and Tammi Swiantek for helping people navigate a difficult website. The Board and the Fundraising Chair thank everyone who donated on the Day of Giving.



BOLD BITS

Get Well wishes to Carol Platt who was recently hospitalized at UPMC Shadyside, and Jim Winaught, who also spent time at Shadyside.

Congratulations to Ryan Leverett, Nancy and Bruce's son, on his high school graduation in June, and Penny Fleckenstein for completing Guide Dog training in April. The dog's name is Bryanna, and Freedom Guide Dogs is the school that provided the home-based training. Congrats also to Dave and Diane Popaleo on the birth in May of their first granddaughter and fifth grandchild.

WAY TO GO! Jim Musto who shot a four-point basket from 20 feet away at Camp Kon-o-Kwee.

Happy Birthday to Linda Davis, Cindy Groome, Peggy Walsh, and anyone else with a June birthday.

To give Terri a BOLD Bit, bring it to a Board meeting, phone her, or send an email using the newsletter contact info.



MAY CALENDAR

Thursday the 22nd: 9 p.m. Mall Walking sign-up deadline with Joyce Driben.

Wednesday the 28th: Mall Walking at the Monroeville Mall with a 9 a.m. start time and the food court entrance as the meeting place.

Saturday the 31st: 10 p.m. deadline to mark your place with Terri Winaught, 412-263-2022, for the June 7th live auction and pizza social. Let Terri know what you will donate to the auction.



JUNE CALENDAR

Sunday the 1st: 10 p.m. deadline to let Tammi Swiantek know you will be at June's Board meeting.

Tuesday the 3rd: Board meeting from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Western Pennsylvania School for Blind Children: 201 North Bellefield Street, Oakland, Pittsburgh, 15213. (All welcomed,)

Tuesday the 3rd: 10 p.m. Ice Skating sign-up deadline with Mark Senk.

Thursday the 5th: Ice Skating from 2 to 3 p.m. at the Mount Lebanon Recreation Center: 900 Cedar Boulevard, Mount Lebanon, Pittsburgh, 15228, and Rowing from 6 to 8 p.m. at Washington's Landing. This is also when your payment is due, the amount depending on the number of times a week you plan to row.

Thursday the 5th: 9 p.m. Mall Walking reservation deadline with Joyce Driben.

Saturday the 7th: Dragon Boating at the Millvale Boathouse from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and the live auction from 1 to 4 p.m. at One Smithfield Street, Liberty Room, lower level, Downtown Pittsburgh, 15222. Parking in the rear lot and pizza are free. (Thank you for donating, and also for understanding that building policy prohibits alcoholic beverages.)

Wednesday the 11th: Mall Walking, and 10 p.m. deadline to mark your place with Peggy Walsh for the Highland Park picnic: 412-683-6070.

Thursday the 12th: Rowing at Washington's Landing.

Saturday the 14th: Dragon Boating at the Millvale Boathouse, and Highland Park picnic from 12 to 5.

Directions: From Downtown Pittsburgh or Oakland, travel East on 5th Ave. until it intersects with South Highland Ave. Turn right onto South Highland and stay on that street until you reach the entrance to Highland Park. After entering the park, go straight until you see a sign for Sycamore Grove. Then turn right into the grove which is across from a filtration plant.

Tuesday the 17th: 10 p.m. Ice Skating sign-up deadline with Mark Senk.

Thursday the 19th: Ice Skating at the Mount Lebanon Recreation Center from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m., and Rowing at Washington's Landing.

Saturday the 21st: Dragon Boating.

Thursday the 26th: Rowing from 6 to 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. sign-up deadline for Mall Walking.

Saturday the 28th: Dragon Boating.

For listings of the above events closer to their respective dates, phone 1-773-597-4222.

Tons of thanks to everyone whose hard work makes this newsletter accessible.

THE END