BOLD VENTURES May 2023
Western Pennsylvania Blind Outdoor Leisure Development"Tra la! It's May! The lusty month of May!"
Can you name what musical that's from?
Have fun, and enjoy May!
BOLD News!
Yay! We can now donate to BOLD or pay dues online!If you receive the email version of BOLD Ventures, last month you might have noticed in the Contact US section that there was a link that said "donate." If you follow that link, you are now able to use either PayPal or a credit card to make a donation to BOLD, pay for an event or pay dues. The website for making your payment is accessible to screenreaders and fairly easy to use. It is quite simple if you have a PayPal account. If you don't have a PayPal account you will have to put in a lot more information. It will really help our treasurer if you also include a note in the space provided to tell him what the payment is for—donation, event charge, dues or all of the above. Also, PayPal charges BOLD 77 cents for each transaction, so it would really help BOLD get the full benefit from your donation/dues if you can add 77 cents. For instance, if you donate $20 to BOLD, to cover the PayPal transaction cost you would make your payment $20.77. If you get your BOLD Ventures either in print or braille only, you can still use the online payment system. Just go to our website at www.wpabold.blogspot.com and toward the bottom of the page, you will find a button that says "donate with PayPal button." Finally, for JAWS users in general on the PayPal page, if you read down the page the labels are below the fields. You might want to go into forms mode and tab around the page. In forms mode the labels are read correctly for the fields. If you have any questions about all of this contact Debby at 412-742-4288 or dm-hill@comcast.net.
Bold Notes
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#.
CALENDAR
May
Tuesday, May 2nd, 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 April 30th.Every Thursday, from May 4th through June 8th, from noon to 1:30, Ice Skating at the Mount Lebanon ice Center, 900 Cedar Blvd., Pittsburgh, PA 15228. Cost is $5 for visually impaired skaters and free for sighted guides. You can take the 36 Banksville bus from downtown which will get you close to the rink. When you sign-up be sure to tell Nancy you are taking the bus, and someone will meet you and walk with you the short distance to the rink. We will have exclusive use of the ice. We need sighted ice skaters to be guides on and off the ice. Guides and skaters be sure to sign-up for the Thursday you want to skate by 8 pm on the Monday before. For example, the sign-up due date for May 4th skating is Monday, May 1st. Sign-up with Nancy at 412-561-3972 or nancy.leverett1@verizon.net.
Every Friday from 2:30 to 3:30 pm, Yoga by phone with Richard, to participate call the conference line. Cost is $10. 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, May 6th, from 9:30 am to 1:30 pm Tandem Biking on the Panhandle Trail: our meeting point will be at the Panhandle Trailhead and Walkers Mill Road off I-79 and Noblestown Road, Carnegie PA 15106. Cost is free for the ride and a pizza lunch. This is the same nice ride and delicious pizza as last September only now there will be spring wild flowers and bird song. We will ride from the Panhandle Trailhead to the trail shelter and indoor restrooms at Sturgeon, and at noon we will have a pizza picnic. After lunch we will ride back to the Panhandle Trailhead. We will need some sighted folks to captain the tandem bikes, and provide rides to and from the trailhead. Scotto will be there early to give some tips and instructions for being a tandem captain and pair up captains and stokers. We will provide the tandems. However, if you know of a tandem we can use, please let us know about it. If you are a willing captain contact Scotto at scottog@yahoo.com. For directions and to reserve as a visually impaired stoker contact Maggi by 9 pm Sunday, April 30th at 412-613-8592 or mio528@comcast.net.
Wednesdays, May 10th and 24th, 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/88378103701 Or use your landline or smartphone to join by your phone's long-Distance plan: 646-876-9923, enter the Meeting ID 883 7811 0370, 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!
Saturday, May 20th, from 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM, Nature Walk lead by Allegheny County Park Rangers and parks Foundation staff. Meet at the South Park Ice Rink parking lot, 30 Corrigan Drive, South Park township, PA 15102. No charge for the walk; the cost of lunch is not included. The nature walk is about a mile with stops along the way to learn about plants and animals from the park rangers, and it is expected to last about 90 minutes, finishing about noon. The Bethel Park Farmers Market, with food and music will open up at noon. There will be tables and chairs that we can use to enjoy lunch. Please let Jeff know if you are available to guide or to share a ride to South Park. Reserve your spot by Monday May 15th at 8:00 pm with jeff at 412-487-9469 or going4walk@duck.com.
June
Saturday, June 10th, noon to 5 pm, Picnic in Schenley Park, at the Anderson Playground Shelter, Panther Hollow Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, near the Panther Hollow Bridge. There is no charge. The picnic will be hosted by Ray Jablonowski and friends from the Catholic Alumni Club. The picnic will include games, hiking, and of course plenty of food. To Sign up for the fun call Peggy by 8 pm Tuesday, June 6th at 412-683-6070.UPCOMING EVENTS
The Highland Park Tennis Club of Pittsburgh invites you to participate in their blind tennis program. They coach folks who play occasionally up to those who compete. They are temporarily holding practice sessions at the tennis courts next to the fire station on Penn Circle in East Liberty (149 North Euclid Ave, 15206). Is transportation a challenge? Get in touch with them to find out if one of their volunteers can give you a ride. If you'd like to try tennis, please email Jen Roth jkroth@carlow.edu. She will ask you some questions about availability, interest level, etc., then make a schedule for you to start learning the game or to get back into the swing of things!More tandem biking fun: Additional dates have been scheduled for tandem biking. They are Saturday June 24th and Sunday August 20th. Watch for the location of the rides and other details in future BOLD Ventures.
BOLD BITS
MY BOLD TAKE: The BOLD Star Party by Alycia BarrasAs I perused last month's BOLD newsletter, I thought about the party and its details. The more I thought about it, the more I began to question my possible dilemmas. My anxiety began to kick in. I was thinking, I don't know many people, and, as a Deaf-Blind person, I am not able to recognize voices anymore. I have embarrassed myself enough to have adjusted and resigned myself to this fact. I wondered how I would find people, locate and obtain refreshments, and how I would then find a table in a noisy, crowded room. I remembered, from that same letter, the phrase, "Let your BOLD star shine." Fore we are nothing if not BOLD, right? After reflecting on the definition of the word, I signed up. I am SO glad I did! Upon my arrival, my trepidations and anxiety were immediately assuaged. Not only were there awesome, WONDERFUL people, but the understanding of my communications needs was refreshing!! People just GET it. I would like to thank all of the wonderful volunteers and BOLD members for making the party possible, as well as for the good food. I would also like to give a shout-out to the awesome people who assisted us personally with some, if not all, of the aforementioned challenges. In addition to the good food and great company, we were also treated to a couple of learning opportunities. Individuals gave short presentations about Adaptive Rowing and tennis for people who are blind or visually impaired. I would absolutely encourage EVERYONE to be BOLD and come socialize, meet new people, and possibly learn something!
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The Golden Triangle Council of the Blind (GTCB) is holding a fundraiser, the Bill Newland Memorial Bowl-A-Thon on June 3rd, from 1 to 5 pm, at Spins Bowl Pittsburgh, 5840 Buttermilk Hollow Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15207. Cost is $20 to register, and there are prizes to win. For more information contact Michael at 412-655-1234.
Send positive energy and prayers to Linda Davis as she recovers from an illness.
Send many good wishes to Veronique Schreurs, who is recovering from a medical procedure she had in March.
Many get well wishes go to Jim Winaught who was hospitalized with pneumonia. He is home now!
Linda Augustine is living at Concordia Monroeville. She would like to hear from folks she knows in BOLD. Her number is 412-380-9475.
The BOLD Ventures team has learned that Richard "Dick" Hopkins passed away on March 27th. In past years, he taught BOLD skiers and helped with other BOLD outdoor activities. Our condolences to his family.
Happy May Birthday to: Bruce Leverett, Joyce Mulkern, Erin Wagoner and anyone else celebrating a May birthday!
Contact Us
WPA BOLDPO Box 9101
Pittsburgh, PA 15224
Editors: Debby Hill and team
Donate
Email: boldwpa@gmail.com
Website: www.wpabold.blogspot.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/wpabold