BOLD VENTURES
January 2023
Western Pennsylvania Blind Outdoor Leisure Development
HAPPY NEW YEAR
May 2023 be good, prosperous and of course BOLD
BOLD Reminder: Membership Directory and Dues
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 end 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#.
Chat Session News: There will be a chat session on Tuesday December 27th at 7 pm on the conference line. Joyce will be the host. For the time being this will be the last chat. Even though COVID still rears its head, BOLD members are out and about more and are able to be in contact regularly with friends and family. Therefore, we have decided to stop the chats for now. Be sure that if the need arises, we will arrange for the chats to restarted, and we will be right there on the conference line with you.
Fishing for Feedback: No this is not the PH bad type of fishing.
We are looking for ideas and comments from you the BOLD members. If you have any ideas for events, items you would like to see in BOLD Ventures, feedback about the Tuesday evening chats or anything else. Contact Nancy at 412-561-3972 Or email her at nancy.leverett1@verizon.net.
CALENDAR
January
Tuesday January 3rd 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 January 1st.
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.
Saturdays January 7th through February 11th, from 11:45 am to 12:45 pm, Blind and Visually Impaired Winter Tennis Clinic, Sharpsburg Recreation Center 205 N. Canal Street Sharpsburg, Pa 15215. There is no cost. Our host is the Highland Park Tennis Club (HPTC). Instructors will guide athletes through step-by-step verbal instruction on how to play Blind/VI tennis. All equipment will be provided. Blind tennis is played with softball-size foam balls that have a ping pong ball in the middle that makes sound. To register please complete the form at https://forms.gle/1in9sVRXMJS6MWHX8. For more information contact Dana at danajoy216@hotmail.com or 412-576-4103.
Wednesdays, January 11th and 25th, 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. GOOD LUCK AND HAVE FUN
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
Sunday January 22nd and Sunday February 5th from 9 am to 3 pm, downhill skiing at Seven Springs Resort. No cost for ski equipment and lift tickets thanks to the continuing generosity of the management of Seven Springs. Everyone is responsible for their own lunch. Make your reservation by 9 pm January 19th with Nancy at 412-561-3972. When you make your reservation be sure to tell Nancy either that you are a visually impaired skier who needs a ride or that you can provide transportation. Sighted skiers who can guide for these ski days should contact Scotto Gray <scottog@yahoo.com>.
Friday January 27 Belly Dancing 4:30 to 6 pm, at The Western PA School for Blind Children (WPSBC), 201 N Bellefield Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15213. Cost is $10. Join us for a new experience with our instructor jannine. Class will focus on increasing body awareness through belly dance technique, conditioning, and combinations. Class will begin with a warm-up and stretching. Students will then be led through head-to-toe technique and conditioning. The head-to-toe technique will be incorporated into one or two short combinations. Explanation of genre and its cultural/historical roots will also be explored. For more information and to sign up call Carol at 484-318-9145 by Tuesday, January 24th at 8 pm. Be sure to let Carol know if you will need someone to give you one-on-one help with learning the movements.
Tuesday January 31st at 7 pm, Joint call with SE Wisconsin BOLD, on our conference line. Nancy will be the host. Join the call to greet old friends and meet new ones.
February
Saturday February 11th, 10:30 to 11:30 am, indoor ice skating at the Hunt Armory Ice Rink, 324 Emerson St, Pittsburgh, PA 15206. There is no charge for ice time or skate rentals thanks to sponsorship by the Penguins Foundation. Actual ice time is one hour starting at 10:30. We’re asking participants to arrive early to sign a release, get skates, and pair up with guides. 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. Reserve by Monday, February 6th by 8:00 pm with Tammi at 412-951-6528 by text or voicemail or tswiantek@comcast.net.
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.
Thursday, January 19th, 1 to 2 pm, Book Club by Library for Accessible Media. Join in-person, by zoom or phone. January book: Circe by Madeline Miller (DB90711). At the beginning of January, reserve your spot by calling 800-242-0586 or emailing info@mylamp.org.
BOLD BITS
Good Family News: Nancy Leverett’s grandson, Calvin James Davin was born at 7:29 pm on November 21st, weighing 8 lbs 4 oz. Calvin and his family are doing fine. We are very happy to report that Veronique Schreurs was at the LAMP holiday party on December 13th and attended the BOLD general meeting. She is getting better but keep those prayers and positive thoughts flowing to her as she continues her recovery.
A Sad Note: The BOLD Team has found out recently that Charles (Chuck) Buzon passed away on October 25th. Some will remember him being at ice skating events.
CORRECTION
Last month we reported that Kimberly Smythe has a job working at Tabes. Well, we made an oops! Kimberly works at Gabe’s and loves the job and the people with whom she works.
Happy January Birthday to:
Joyce Driben, Penny Fleckenstein, Nancy Kreuzer, Nancy Leverett, Cindy Perseo, Dave Popoleo, Sam Wagner, Tobi T Williams and anyone else celebrating a January birthday!
MY BOLD TAKE By Terri Winaught
On Saturday, December 3rd, the Lutheran Center for the Blind hosted an uplifting holiday party. During a bountiful and delicious dinner, a choir entertained us with carols and Hanukkah songs. Many of the people who attended the festivities were BOLD members. Tons of thanks go out to Lutheran Center Sherri Crum, the choir director, choir members and the many dedicated volunteers without whom this inclusive celebration couldn’t have happened.
Contact us:
WPA BOLD
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