BOLD welcomes persons 18 and older with all degrees of vision: blind, low vision, partially sighted and fully sighted.
September 2014 newsletter
BOLD Ventures (Blind Outdoor Leisure Development) September, 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: wpabold@yahoogroups.com (moderator must approve posts)
Update Line: 1-773-597-4222 (updates recorded each Friday)
END OF AUGUST EVENTS
On Sunday the 24th, Waterskiing will be held, with the Steel City Rowing Club Boathouse as the starting point: 100 Arch Street, Verona, PA 15147. Be at the boathouse by 8:30 AM to meet the Golden Triangle Waterskiing Club with sides to share at the picnic that will follow skiing. To ask what the main dish will be, phone Ed Reid: 443-994-3038,
E-mail happyhermit88@gmail.com, or call the Update Line.
Saturday the 30th is when the Gateway Clipper Cruise and picnic lunch will be held from 12 until 2, with boarding starting at 11. (As of this writing, 33 BOLD members and guests-32 adults and one child-have signed up.) Thanks to Penny Fleckenstein's hard work, we not only have a one blind to one sighted guide ratio but also extra helpers.
SENSATIONAL SEPTEMBER
BOLD'S Board meeting will be on Tuesday the 2nd from 6:30 to 8:30 at the Western Pennsylvania School for Blind Children (address in calendar). To let Tammi Swiantek know you plan to attend, 412-488-6298 by 10 PM Sunday, August 31st. (If your plans change, let Tammi know as soon as you can.)
On Saturday the 6th, Ray Jablonowski will host a party at his Greenfield home from 12:30 to 5 (address in calendar).
In addition to hoagies, pizza, and snacks, Ray and members of the Catholic Alumni Club will coordinate a bean bag toss and bocci ball. If weather is prohibitive, Ray has a talking Darts Board and Braille/Large Print cards in his spacious game room. To mark your place with Missy Folmer by 10 PM Wednesday, September 3rd: 412-726-3031. Thank you for understanding that Missy will take no sign-ups after the deadline.
Mall Walking will be on Wednesdays the 3rd and 17th, the deadlines with Joyce Driben being Thursday, August 28th and Thursday, September 11th, both by 9 PM. 412-521-4385.
Although this Editor currently has no Ice Skating dates for September, she will post them on the Update Line, 1-773-597-4222, when she gets them.
Yoga will continue, but the times may vary. So that Veronique Schreurs can tell the instructor how many to expect, phone 412-225-4038 by 9 PM the Tuesday before class. If we have less than four participants, the class may be cancelled. These classes, taught at Schoolhouse Yoga, 2217 Murray Ave. in Squirrel Hill, cost $15 per person payable the day of the class. (For more about yoga, see Personal Perspective).
On Saturday the 20th, a naturalist whom Dom Ceresa contacted will host an event at Boyce Park's Nature Center: 2364 Saunders Station Road, Monroeville. So that we can start promptly at 11, meet at the Nature Center between 10:30 and 10:45. Reservationist? Joyce Driben: 412-521-4385; deadline? Saturday, September 13th by 10 PM.
PAST EVENTS AND A REMINDER
You can be reimbursed half of what you spent on Rowing if you attended at least half of the sessions. Info? 412-488-6298. Feel free to ask Tammi if reimbursements also cover Dragon Boating.
To make a correction to August's newsletter, there were 33 people- 7 guests and 26 BOLD members-at the Gottschalk Swimpnic.
LOOKING AHEAD
October's Board meeting will be on Tuesday the 7th, with the November meeting date to be decided once we know if there will be an opera that evening (see October's BOLD Ventures for November's and December's meeting dates). The Sunday before each meeting by 10 PM is the deadline for calling Tammi Swiantek.
For information about the auction to be held on Sunday, October 12th, see Fundraising Facts.
ADMINISTRATIVE ADD-ON
The new Membership List in Braille will accompany October's newsletter, print and E-mail versions having already been sent. If you didn't receive an E-mail or print copy, though, phone 412-225-4038 or E-mail veronik43@gmail.com.
To change the format in which you receive BOLD information, use the info above to reach Veronique. Also be assured that your information is shared only with other BOLD members. If you still want to have your number unlisted, know that this will make it harder to get you rides for events.
PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE
At August's Board meeting, several people shared what a difference doing yoga has made in their physical strength and well-being.
"Richard, our instructor, shows so much care by how he accommodates everyone," Peggy Walsh began. Veronique Schreurs continued by saying: "Richard is really great at gearing his teaching to students of all experience levels and abilities." Tammi Swiantek concurred by adding how much she has benefitted from these classes.
Veronique concluded by sharing that Richard has mats, cushions, and blankets, so participants need bring nothing with them.
Because Richard's teaching methods are so blind- and vision-impaired friendly, some who have been taking his classes feel that their increased skills and comfort levels will enable them to transition to mainstream instruction. What a true testament to accommodation and flexibility that is, and GREAT JOB! to all who are reaping benefits from such individualized teaching, and to Richard for providing it.
(This Editor hopes to have another Yoga Personal Perspective in a future newsletter.)
To write or be interviewed for a Personal Perspective, use the contact info at the end of the newsletter to reach this Editor.
CULTURAL CONNECTIONS
To learn when audio-described City Theatre plays and Pittsburgh Opera performances will be, see future newsletters. Upcoming issues of BOLD Ventures will also have dates of Chamber Music concerts; Pittsburgh Symphony performances; and Speaker Series presentations. One Chamber Music date this Editor already has is Monday, September 29th at 7:30 PM in Oakland's Carnegie Music Hall: 4400 Forbes Ave., Pittsburgh, 15213. To request free tickets on a first-come, first-served basis, phone Joyce Driben: 412-521-4385. Because the Chamber Music Society gives us a limited number of tickets and tracks their usage, anyone who consistently fails to use tickets or pass them on will be put on the bottom of Joyce's waiting list.
FUNDRAISING FACTS
When an auction is held on Sunday, October 12th from 2 to 5 PM, it will be combined with Indoor Games and free refreshments. The venue will be the Human Services Building: 1 Smithfield Street, Downtown Pittsburgh, 15222. (Regarding refreshments, building management permits no alcohol.)
Terri Winaught, 412-263-2022, will be the reservationist; and the deadline will be Thursday, October 9th by 10 PM.
BOLD BITS
Monthly meals at the Pittsburgh Lutheran Center for the Blind will resume on Saturday, September 27th at 5 PM. To sign up with Sherri Crum by 6 PM on Thursday the 25th, phone 412-682-1800.
Warm Wishes for a continued rapid recovery to Bruce Leverett who is back home after hospitalization and rehab.
Welcome to new BOLD member Karen Seligman, and Happy Birthday to Ceinwen King-Smith, Tracy O’Neill, Stu Weissmann, and anyone else with a September birthday.
If you have a BOLD Bit, bring it to a Board meeting; phone 412-263-2022; or email t.winaught@verizon.net. Also feel free to use this information to give newsletter feedback.
AUGUST CALENDAR
Sunday the 17th: 10 PM Waterskiing sign-up deadline with Ed Reid: 443-994-3038; happyhermit88@gmail.com.
Tuesday the 19th is the 9 PM deadline for letting Veronique Schreurs know you want to do yoga. 412-225-4038. (10 PM is always the sign-up deadline.)
Wednesday the 20th: Mall Walking at Monroeville Mall, starting at 9 AM and meeting at the food court entrance. (Starting time and meeting place are always the same.)
Thursday the 21st: Rowing at Washington's Landing: 300 Waterfront Drive, Pittsburgh, 15222, from 6 to 8 PM.
Saturday the 23rd: Dragon Boating from 11 AM to 1:30 PM at the Millvale Boathouse: 90 Riverfront Drive, Pittsburgh, 15209.
Sunday the 24th: Waterskiing with an 8:30 AM meeting time at the Steel City Rowing Club Boathouse: 100 Arch Street, Verona, 15147. The Golden Triangle Waterskiing Club will host this event and provide a main dish for a picnic that will follow skiing.
Tuesday the 26th: Deadline to reserve with Veronique for yoga. 412-225-4038.
Thursday the 28th: Rowing from 6 to 8 at Washington's Landing: (end of Summer Rowing Program)
Thursday the 28th is also the deadline to sign up with Joyce for Mall Walking: 412-521-4385.
Saturday the 30th: Gateway Clipper cruise and buffet picnic lunch from noon to 2, with boarding starting at 11 AM.
Saturday the 30th is also when Dragon Boating will be held from 11 AM to 1:30 PM at the Millvale Boathouse. (end of Dragon Boating season)
Sunday the 31st: 10 PM deadline to let Tammi know you plan to attend September's Board meeting: 412-488-6298. (If your plans change, let Tammi know ASAP.)
SEPTEMBER CALENDAR
Tuesday the 2nd: Board meeting at the Western Pennsylvania School for Blind Children: 201 North Bellefield Ave., Oakland, Pittsburgh, 15213. 6:30 to 8:30 (all are welcomed).
Tuesday the 2rd is the yoga sign-up deadline with Veronique: 412-225-4038.
Wednesday the 3rd: Mall Walking at Monroeville Mall.
Wednesday the 3rd 10 PM is also the reservation deadline with Missy Folmer for Ray's party: 412-726-3031. (Missy will take no sign-ups after this deadline.).
Saturday the 6th: Party at Ray Jablonowski's home: 4551 Parade Street, Greenfield, Pittsburgh, 15207. 12:30 to 5.
Tuesday the 9th: Deadline to mark your place with Veronique for yoga: 412-225-4038.
Thursday the 11th: Mall Walking deadline with Joyce: 412-521-4385.
Saturday the 13th: 10 PM sign-up deadline with Joyce, 412-521-4385, for presentation at Boyce Park.
Tuesday the 16th is the deadline to sign up for yoga with Veronique: 412-225-4038.
Wednesday the 17th: Mall Walking at Monroeville Mall.
Saturday the 20th: Naturalist presentation at Monroeville's Boyce Park Nature Center: 2364 Saunders Station Road, Monroeville, 15146. Meet between 10:30 and 10:45 so that we can start promptly at 11.
Tuesday the 23th: Deadline to sign up with Veronique, 412-225-4038, for yoga.
Thursday the 25th: Reservation deadline with Joyce for Mall Walking: 412-521-4385.
Monday the 29th: 7:30 PM Chamber music concert at the Carnegie Music Hall: 4400 Forbes Ave., Oakland, Pittsburgh, 15213.
Thanks to Marty Mathews, Veronique Schreurs, and the Braille Outreach team led by Tina Wassermann for their commitment to making BOLD Ventures accessible.
THE END