BOLD VENTURES
December 2022
Western Pennsylvania Blind Outdoor Leisure Development
PO Box 9101
Pittsburgh, PA 15224
Editors: Debby Hill and team
Email: boldwpa@gmail.com
Website: www.wpabold.blogspot.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/wpabold
It’s a BOLD Holiday Rhyme
Yes, it’s the holiday season!
A very special time of year!
And whichever one you celebrate
May it bring you peace and cheer!
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
IMPORTANT NOTICE
BOLD will be holding a general membership meeting on Tuesday, December 13, 2022, at 7 pm on the conference line. This meeting will be for the election of these board members: Second Vice-President, Carol Lubecki; Treasurer, Ryan Leverett; Recording Secretary, Karen Seligman. This will also be an opportunity to ask questions of the Board and voice your opinions about BOLD. Please get comfortable and join us for this important meeting.
BOLD Membership Directory and Dues, Updated
BOLD will put out a new Membership Directory based on dues paid for 2023. The last directory was sent out in 2020. To be included in the directory and get the Newsletter in print or braille, you must now pay your $12 dues for 2023. For membership purposes we need your name, address, email address, home phone, cell phone, and birthdate. We also need your vision status: sighted, partial, or blind, and your newsletter preference: email, print, large print, or braille. If anything has changed since 2020 email your updated membership information to Ryan at ryanjleverett1@gmail.com. If you haven’t paid 2023 dues make checks payable to WPA BOLD and send them along with your membership information to the new address for BOLD listed at the beginning of the Newsletter. The Membership Directory will contain the following information for each member: Name, email address, Zip Code, Home phone, cell phone, and vision status: sighted, partial, or blind. You can request not to be listed in the Membership Directory; however, we do need you to send us your information for our records. Thank you for your cooperation. When the conference line is mentioned in this newsletter, the number to call is 385-799-9487. There is no passcode.
NEWSLETTER RECORDING: Anyone can hear a recording of the newsletter, call 401-252-0029 Access Code: 265365#.
COVID-19: The board decided that for our in-person activities all participants are to be fully vaccinated (on the honor system) and follow government guidelines about masks.
Downhill Skiing News: Here are the dates that BOLD’s Director of downhill skiing, Scotto Gray, has chosen for this year’s ski season at Seven Springs. However, Seven Springs has new owners this year, and they aren’t sharing with Scotto or the employees of Seven Springs what their relationship is going to be with BOLD. This is what we are hoping our downhill ski season will be. Sunday 12/11 guide training starting at 9 at Seven Springs, contact Scotto by Thursday 12/8 to sign up and get more information at scottog@yahoo.com. The proposed dates for actual skiing are 1/22, 2/5, 2/26, and 3/12. Stay tuned to January’s BOLD Ventures for more information about downhill skiing.
CALENDAR
December
Every Thursday, from 2:45 to 3:45 pm, Yoga by phone with Richard, to participate call the conference line. Cost is $10 per session. You will be billed approximately every two months. If you have any questions, please contact Maggi at 412-613-8592 or mio528@comcast.net.
Saturday, December 3rd, from 4 to 7 pm, Pittsburgh Lutheran Center for the blind
December Dinner, First Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, 535 N. Neville Street. Note, this is just a reminder of the date and time for BOLD folks who have signed up for the dinner.
Tuesday, December 6th, from 6 to 8 pm, Board Meeting in-person at Human Services, 1 Smithfield St, downtown. Any non-board Members who want to attend must call Nancy at 412-561-3972 by December 4th.
Sunday, December 11th, 9 am, training for ski guides at Seven Springs. See “Downhill Skiing News” above for more information.
Sunday, December 11th, 1:30 to 2:45 pm, Docent-Guided Tour of the Heinz History Center, 1212 Smallman Street, Pittsburgh, PA, 15222. There is no charge for this event. The time listed is for the Docent-guided tour. You may wish to allow additional time to explore on your own. A note from the history center staff, “There are lots of pieces in the exhibits that are available to touch!” Reserve by Tuesday December 6th, 8 pm, with Jeff at 412-487-9469 or going4walk@duck.com
Tuesday, December 13th at 7 pm, WPA BOLD General Meeting on the conference line. See the “Important Notice” at the beginning of this newsletter.
Wednesday, December 14th, from 7 to 9:30 pm SE Wisconsin virtual bingo, via Zoom or phone. Join Zoom Meeting with the Zoom App on your computer or smart device. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81466070331. Or use your landline or smartphone to join by your phone's long-Distance plan: 929-205-6099, enter the Meeting ID 814 6607 0331, then press the pound key (#) and wait to be let in. To sign-up to play, contact Lion Ray Tweedale at (262) 224-5517 and provide the numbers of your bingo card. Only one card can be played per person, and your card must be registered with Ray. If WPA BOLD members win any of the cash prizes, the funds will go to WPA BOLD as a donation. Ray will be on early at 6:30 pm Eastern for anyone that wants to be sure they can get in or would like to provide the numbers for their card. HAVE FUN AND GOOD LUCK!
Chat Sessions: BOLD holds one-hour chat sessions on some Tuesday evenings where our members can ask for help or just connect with each other. The conversation doesn’t have to be BOLD related. Call the conference line to join. The chats begin at 7 pm. For December the date is the 27th and the moderator is Joyce.
Wednesday, December 28th, from 7 to 9:30 pm SE Wisconsin virtual Family Feud Night, via Zoom or phone. See the details for joining the fun in the listing for bingo on December 14th. ENJOY!
January
Thursday, January 12th, from 4 to 6 pm, outdoor ice skating at the Schenley Park Skating Rink, Overlook Dr & Greenfield Rd, 10341 Overlook Drive, 15213. Cost is $10 which includes ice time, skate rental, food & beverage. Food will likely be pizza. BOLD has reserved the Schenley ice rink for two hours, so we’ll be able to skate without a crowd. We need sighted guides to make our skating event a success. When signing up, please indicate if you are willing to guide a skater. Also let us know if you are a visually impaired skater who wishes to be paired with a guide. When leaving a message please provide a return phone number. Bus service to the Schenley Rink is limited. Offers to share a ride are appreciated. Reserve by Sunday January 8th at 8 pm, with Jeff at 412-487-9469 or going4walk@duck.com
CULTURAL ACTIVITIES:
Anyone interested in finding out what tickets are available for cultural events such as symphony concerts or operas, please call Joyce at 412-521-4385.
Friday, December 2nd, at 8 pm, Play: A Christmas Story with live audio description, O’Reilly Theatre, 621 Penn Avenue, 15222, presented by Pittsburgh Public Theater, cost is discounted to $15 + applicable fees if you request audio description equipment. Play continues through December 18 with possible pre-recorded audio description. To buy tickets and get more information call 412-316-1600 or go to the website www.ppt.org and use the promo code PPAD to get the discount.
Thursday, December 15th, 1 to 2 pm, Book Club by Library for Accessible Media. Join in-person, by zoom or phone. December book: Invisible child: Poverty, Survival, and Hope in an American City, by Andrea Elliott (DB107536). At the beginning of December, reserve your spot by calling 800-242-0586 or emailing info@mylamp.org.
BOLD BITS
Many, many get-well wishes and prayers for Veronique Schreurs as she continues to recover from a hospital and rehab stay.
Good News: Jim Winaught’s eye infection has healed so successfully that he will undergo
cataract surgery on Wednesday, November 30th. Please send positive thoughts that Jim will have a successful outcome that will also enable him to have the cataract removed from his other eye.
Kimberly Smythe would like us to know that she is working at Tabe’s and “loving it.” She reports, “I do everything but work the cash register, and they love me!” Also, Kimberly worked hard to ensure there were hot Thanksgiving meals at Christ the King, the Church where she worships. On a different note, Kimberly seeks prayers for the surgery she will soon need on one of her hands.
Natasha Kinder needs our positive thoughts and get-well wishes for three upcoming surgeries.
Grove City Shopping Trip:
The weather was amazingly warm and sunny. The 18 BOLD members and friends on the trip found bargains, chocolate goodies and presents for themselves and others. Those who needed it were guided and assisted with shopping by Slippery Rock University Students. Thank you to BOLD members Bill and Peggy and Dr. Bright of Slipper Rock University for organizing this trip, and let’s do it again next year! Nancy Leverett
Happy December Birthday to: Ernie College, Celeste Compomizzi, Karen Seligman and anyone else celebrating a December birthday!
THE END