• Newspapers over the telephone: NFB-NEWSLINE. Anyone who cannot read printed newspapers due to vision loss, dyslexia or a physical disability is eligible to receive NFB-NEWSLINE. Register by calling the National Federation of the Blind toll-free at 1 (866) 504-7300 to request an application. You may also download an application to register. After your registration is processed, you'll receive a letter containing your activation codes and instructions on how to begin reading the newspaper with NFB-NEWSLINE®.
• Information over the phone. Dial 800-555-8355, speak a key word into the phone (i.e. sports, stocks, businesses), continue speaking words to narrow the field and listen to the results. For more information, visit Tellme.com
Monday, March 31, 2008
TIPS FOR EATING
• Think of your plate as the face of a clock. If possible, have someone tell you the location of the items on your plate using the clock numbers, i.e. your meat is at 6 o’clock, your peas are at 12 o’clock, and so on.
• You can also think of your place setting in the same way. Your water glass might be at 1 o’clock, your napkin at 9 o’clock.
• You can explore your place and the items there by slowly moving your hand from the edge of the table toward the middle. Keep your fingers curled and move gently. That way if you come in contact with something, you won’t hurt yourself and you won’t knock it over.
• Use a pusher to help guide foods onto your fork or spoon. This can be a roll, a piece of bread, or a stationary item like mashed potatoes. You may be able to tell if food is on your fork by feeling the weight.
• Lean forward slightly to meet your fork.
• In a restaurant it is acceptable to ask them to cut your meat in the kitchen.
• When using salt and pepper or other spices, shake them into your hand first, then onto your food.
• Use contrast if possible. Place light plates on dark placemats or vice versa. Use a white cup if pouring coffee or other dark liquid.
• You can also think of your place setting in the same way. Your water glass might be at 1 o’clock, your napkin at 9 o’clock.
• You can explore your place and the items there by slowly moving your hand from the edge of the table toward the middle. Keep your fingers curled and move gently. That way if you come in contact with something, you won’t hurt yourself and you won’t knock it over.
• Use a pusher to help guide foods onto your fork or spoon. This can be a roll, a piece of bread, or a stationary item like mashed potatoes. You may be able to tell if food is on your fork by feeling the weight.
• Lean forward slightly to meet your fork.
• In a restaurant it is acceptable to ask them to cut your meat in the kitchen.
• When using salt and pepper or other spices, shake them into your hand first, then onto your food.
• Use contrast if possible. Place light plates on dark placemats or vice versa. Use a white cup if pouring coffee or other dark liquid.
TIPS FOR LABELING
• The best system is the simplest. You may need to have someone help you identify items and apply the labels. Be organized. For example, keep all canned vegetables on one shelf or one section of a shelf, all fruits on another.
• Different labeling ideas: rubber bands, tactile letters made with puff paint (available in craft stores), Braille, large print labels taped onto canned goods or held on with rubber bands.
• Magnetic letters are good for labeling cans.
• For labeling clothing: Braille clothing labels, safety pins, sock tuckers, drawer dividers.
• Place matching outfits on the same hanger.
• Different labeling ideas: rubber bands, tactile letters made with puff paint (available in craft stores), Braille, large print labels taped onto canned goods or held on with rubber bands.
• Magnetic letters are good for labeling cans.
• For labeling clothing: Braille clothing labels, safety pins, sock tuckers, drawer dividers.
• Place matching outfits on the same hanger.
ABOUT
History
The Michigan Foundation for the Blind and Visually Impaired was started in 1984 by Donald Blasch, an internationally known leader in the development of services for the blind and the first Director of what is now the Department of Blindness and Low Vision Studies at Western Michigan University.
Mission Statement
Our purpose is to maximize independence through the use of accepted professional practices to empower individuals who are visually impaired, primarily in the Kalamazoo area, to achieve their desired level of independence through the provision of habilitation and rehabilitation services.
Methodology
The Michigan Foundation for the Blind and Visually Impaired serves anyone who has a visual impairment that prevents that person from functioning normally in day-to-day activities. We provide opportunities to individuals irrespective of race, creed, sex, religion or economic status.
Rehabilitation Services
Adjustment training helps participants learn skills and acquire knowledge to enable them to live independently, safely, and confidently. Each person has the opportunity to learn basic kitchen and cooking skills, keyboarding, Braille, money handling, writing guides, orientation and mobility, and other daily living skills.
The Michigan Foundation for the Blind and Visually Impaired was started in 1984 by Donald Blasch, an internationally known leader in the development of services for the blind and the first Director of what is now the Department of Blindness and Low Vision Studies at Western Michigan University.
Mission Statement
Our purpose is to maximize independence through the use of accepted professional practices to empower individuals who are visually impaired, primarily in the Kalamazoo area, to achieve their desired level of independence through the provision of habilitation and rehabilitation services.
Methodology
The Michigan Foundation for the Blind and Visually Impaired serves anyone who has a visual impairment that prevents that person from functioning normally in day-to-day activities. We provide opportunities to individuals irrespective of race, creed, sex, religion or economic status.
Rehabilitation Services
Adjustment training helps participants learn skills and acquire knowledge to enable them to live independently, safely, and confidently. Each person has the opportunity to learn basic kitchen and cooking skills, keyboarding, Braille, money handling, writing guides, orientation and mobility, and other daily living skills.
PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPACT
Everyone responds differently. The aging person may have the problem compounded by physical as well as other losses he/she may be experiencing. He/she may feel useless, anxious, fearful, helpless, and angry as a reaction to the visual loss. The person experiencing a sudden vision loss may be in a state of shock and unable to respond or function in his/her usual manner. He/she may be depressed. Depression is a normal and necessary part of adjustment to a visual loss. Support and encouragement are important for this person.
Different reactions to blindness may be:
• Denial. This person will not try to compensate for the loss by developing the remaining senses. It is preferable to avoid confronting this person. Caretakers should continue to give this person encouragement and in tactful ways show him/her ways to make tasks easier without letting him/her know that they are specifically techniques for blind individuals.
• Anger and Resentment. This person may complain about the food or caretakers. They may be helped by a concentration on what they have retained rather than what they have lost.
• Relief. This person may feel that now it is his/her turn to be taken care of. He/she may seem excessively dependent. One way of involving this type of individual is to encourage the person in a favorite activity that he/she has done well in the past.
Visually impaired persons usually go through a period of depression and reaction to the loss. Each individual responds in his/her own ways. A goal is to enable the individual to adjust to the loss as a reality and to be able to recognize his/her remaining interests and capabilities. Adjustment to blindness can be achieved as fears diminish through retraining and redeveloping the person’s remaining potentials.
Reference: “Caring for the Visually Impaired Older Person,” Minneapolis Society for the Blind, Inc., 1976.
Different reactions to blindness may be:
• Denial. This person will not try to compensate for the loss by developing the remaining senses. It is preferable to avoid confronting this person. Caretakers should continue to give this person encouragement and in tactful ways show him/her ways to make tasks easier without letting him/her know that they are specifically techniques for blind individuals.
• Anger and Resentment. This person may complain about the food or caretakers. They may be helped by a concentration on what they have retained rather than what they have lost.
• Relief. This person may feel that now it is his/her turn to be taken care of. He/she may seem excessively dependent. One way of involving this type of individual is to encourage the person in a favorite activity that he/she has done well in the past.
Visually impaired persons usually go through a period of depression and reaction to the loss. Each individual responds in his/her own ways. A goal is to enable the individual to adjust to the loss as a reality and to be able to recognize his/her remaining interests and capabilities. Adjustment to blindness can be achieved as fears diminish through retraining and redeveloping the person’s remaining potentials.
Reference: “Caring for the Visually Impaired Older Person,” Minneapolis Society for the Blind, Inc., 1976.
TIPS FOR WORKING IN THE KITCHEN
• Eliminate anything that sticks out or that you could slip on, i.e. cabinet doors, small rugs.
• Keep a flat-edged rubber mat on the floor by your sink to help prevent skidding if water should splash on the floor.
• Plan a specific place for everything, storing tools used at the same time in one place.
• Use drawer dividers.
• Use a safe holder for knives that covers the blades.
• Use a tray when cooking to keep all items in one place and to prevent them from falling on the floor.
• Pull-out shelves and drawers reduce hazards of reaching back into cupboards.
• Electric stoves are preferable to gas. But if you have a gas stove and it needs to be lighted, use long matches to keep your hands away from the flames.
• Use a timer.
• Cookbooks are available in Braille and large print.
• Use graduated measuring cups and spoons. Handles can be bent for dipping things that you need to measure.
• Keep vanilla and other extracts that you use in small amounts in the refrigerator. It is easier to feel them when they are cold.
• When, cutting, place item to be cut on a board, don’t hold it in your hand. A board with two stainless steel nails sticking up out of it is a good way to anchor the item to be cut.
• Adjustable knives are available for slicing bread or meat. (Magna Wonder Knife)
• Stoves, microwaves and toaster ovens can be marked with raised dots, textured tape or brightly colored tape on the temperature controls.
• If you have a hood over your range, rim it with brightly colored tape to avoid accidentally hitting it.
• Sitting while you work reduces fatigue in your legs and back and lessens stress on your joints. A high chair will keep you at counter level.
• Be sure to wear appropriate clothing when working in the kitchen. Long, loose sleeves are dangerous if they brush across a hot stove.
• Never leave sharp or hot things lying on the counter or in the sink.
• Always carry knives and other sharp or pointed items by the handle, by your side, with the point down.
• Always clean up spilled things right away to avoid accidents.
• Center the pan on the burner before turning the stove on and turn the handle to the left or right, away from the other burners and away from the front of the stove.
• Always make a place for the pan before taking it off the stove or out of the oven.
• Turn off the burner before taking if off the stove.
• Always use potholders.
• Never leave a fork or spoon in a pot or pan.
• Pouring liquids:
• Use a liquid level indicator.
• Place a small ping pong ball, cork or bobber in the cup and stop pouring when it comes to the top.
• Hook your finger over the lip of the cup and stop pouring when the liquid reaches your finger. This method is not recommended if the liquid is hot or if you have reduced sensitivity in your fingers.
• While holding the cup or glass, feel the temperature change as the liquid fills the container. Stop when it reaches the desired level. Again, not recommended for those with reduced sensitivity in their hands. It is a good idea to practice over a sink with cold water.
• You may also be able to judge the amount of liquid in a cup or glass by weight, or by listening as you pour. Again, this may take some practice over the sink.
•When pouring something into a saucepan or larger container, place a long wooden spoon (or chopstick) in the middle of the pan. Bring the edge of whatever you are pouring up until it touches the spoon, then pour.
• When measuring oil, pour it into a larger container and dip out the tablespoon or teaspoon that you need. Pour remaining oil back into bottle using a funnel.
• When pouring, if you can find a measuring cup with raised lines at the quarters and thirds, you can measure the amount you need by placing one finger inside and another outside with your fingertip just where you want the liquid to come.
• Keep a flat-edged rubber mat on the floor by your sink to help prevent skidding if water should splash on the floor.
• Plan a specific place for everything, storing tools used at the same time in one place.
• Use drawer dividers.
• Use a safe holder for knives that covers the blades.
• Use a tray when cooking to keep all items in one place and to prevent them from falling on the floor.
• Pull-out shelves and drawers reduce hazards of reaching back into cupboards.
• Electric stoves are preferable to gas. But if you have a gas stove and it needs to be lighted, use long matches to keep your hands away from the flames.
• Use a timer.
• Cookbooks are available in Braille and large print.
• Use graduated measuring cups and spoons. Handles can be bent for dipping things that you need to measure.
• Keep vanilla and other extracts that you use in small amounts in the refrigerator. It is easier to feel them when they are cold.
• When, cutting, place item to be cut on a board, don’t hold it in your hand. A board with two stainless steel nails sticking up out of it is a good way to anchor the item to be cut.
• Adjustable knives are available for slicing bread or meat. (Magna Wonder Knife)
• Stoves, microwaves and toaster ovens can be marked with raised dots, textured tape or brightly colored tape on the temperature controls.
• If you have a hood over your range, rim it with brightly colored tape to avoid accidentally hitting it.
• Sitting while you work reduces fatigue in your legs and back and lessens stress on your joints. A high chair will keep you at counter level.
• Be sure to wear appropriate clothing when working in the kitchen. Long, loose sleeves are dangerous if they brush across a hot stove.
• Never leave sharp or hot things lying on the counter or in the sink.
• Always carry knives and other sharp or pointed items by the handle, by your side, with the point down.
• Always clean up spilled things right away to avoid accidents.
• Center the pan on the burner before turning the stove on and turn the handle to the left or right, away from the other burners and away from the front of the stove.
• Always make a place for the pan before taking it off the stove or out of the oven.
• Turn off the burner before taking if off the stove.
• Always use potholders.
• Never leave a fork or spoon in a pot or pan.
• Pouring liquids:
• Use a liquid level indicator.
• Place a small ping pong ball, cork or bobber in the cup and stop pouring when it comes to the top.
• Hook your finger over the lip of the cup and stop pouring when the liquid reaches your finger. This method is not recommended if the liquid is hot or if you have reduced sensitivity in your fingers.
• While holding the cup or glass, feel the temperature change as the liquid fills the container. Stop when it reaches the desired level. Again, not recommended for those with reduced sensitivity in their hands. It is a good idea to practice over a sink with cold water.
• You may also be able to judge the amount of liquid in a cup or glass by weight, or by listening as you pour. Again, this may take some practice over the sink.
•When pouring something into a saucepan or larger container, place a long wooden spoon (or chopstick) in the middle of the pan. Bring the edge of whatever you are pouring up until it touches the spoon, then pour.
• When measuring oil, pour it into a larger container and dip out the tablespoon or teaspoon that you need. Pour remaining oil back into bottle using a funnel.
• When pouring, if you can find a measuring cup with raised lines at the quarters and thirds, you can measure the amount you need by placing one finger inside and another outside with your fingertip just where you want the liquid to come.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
GUIDELINES FOR MEETING OR WORKING WITH A BLIND OR VISUALLY IMPAIRED PERSON
• Most blind and visually impaired people have normal hearing. There is no need to shout.
Sometimes with elderly people there is a hearing problem, but don’t assume so.
• Speak directly to the blind person. There is no need for an interpreter.
• Feel free to use words like “look,” “see,” and “watch.”
• As you approach a person who is blind, identify yourself and let him/her take your arm.
• Never guide a blind person by pushing him/her in front of you or walking
backwards in front of him/her.
• When walking with a blind person, let him/her hold your arm just above the elbow. This
technique is called Sighted Guide. Relax. Walk one step in front of the person,
informing him/her of stairs, ramps, curbs, etc. When the person needs more
support, he/she might want to hold on to your forearm. A blind person who is
experienced with Sighted Guide will know to stay behind you and follow the
movements of your body.
• When seating a blind person, it is usually enough to put his/her hand on the back of the
chair and allow him/her to seat himself/herself.
• When you leave a blind person, let him/her know that you are leaving. Don’t leave
him/her there talking to himself/herself.
• When pushing a blind person in a wheelchair, always inform him/her that you are
ready to go. It can be a shock to be moved suddenly if you are not expecting it.
• When describing objects, be as specific as possible. Use the face of a clock to indicate
position. Try not to use phrases such as “over there,” “over here,” etc. Use left,
right, 12 inches high, for example.
• Allow blind people to touch objects as often as possible to get a better feel for them.
• At mealtime, use the face of the clock to tell the person the location of items on
his/her plate, i.e. “Your meat is at 6 o’clock, your peas are at 10 o’clock.”
• You can describe the place setting the same way. The water glass may be at 1 o’clock and
the napkin at 9 o’clock. Encourage the blind person to explore his/her place setting
by slowly moving his/her hand from the edge of the table toward the middle.
He/she should keep his/her fingers curled and move gently. That way, if he/she
comes into contact with something, he/she won’t hurt himself/herself and won’t
knock it over.
•Encourage the blind person to use a pusher to help guide foods onto his/her fork or
spoon. This can be a roll, a piece of bread, or a stationary item like mashed
potatoes. The person may be able to tell if food is on his/her fork by feeling the
weight.
• If necessary, it is acceptable for the blind person to lean forward slightly to meet his/her
fork or spoon.
• It is very helpful to have food cut up in the kitchen before it comes to the table. Be
certain that the meat is cut all the way through so the blind person doesn’t pick up a
string of four or five pieces still attached. This is also true for large noodles, such as
lasagna.
• In the blind person’s room, always leave things in the same position. It can be
upsetting to expect something to be in a certain place and find that it isn’t there.
And it is disconcerting to find a piece of furniture or wastebasket where you
weren’t expecting it.
• Be careful to leave doors either all the way open or completely closed. Half-open
doors have caused many a bumped head.
• If a person is partially sighted, try not to seat him/her facing a light source, such as
a window. This can make it much harder for him/her to see.
• It is important that caretakers be careful of unknowingly encouraging dependency.
Visually impaired persons must be allowed to do things for themselves whenever
possible.
• The most important thing is to remember that a visually impaired individual is a
person first. He/she is a person with a vision problem, but he/she is the same
person he/she was before.
Sometimes with elderly people there is a hearing problem, but don’t assume so.
• Speak directly to the blind person. There is no need for an interpreter.
• Feel free to use words like “look,” “see,” and “watch.”
• As you approach a person who is blind, identify yourself and let him/her take your arm.
• Never guide a blind person by pushing him/her in front of you or walking
backwards in front of him/her.
• When walking with a blind person, let him/her hold your arm just above the elbow. This
technique is called Sighted Guide. Relax. Walk one step in front of the person,
informing him/her of stairs, ramps, curbs, etc. When the person needs more
support, he/she might want to hold on to your forearm. A blind person who is
experienced with Sighted Guide will know to stay behind you and follow the
movements of your body.
• When seating a blind person, it is usually enough to put his/her hand on the back of the
chair and allow him/her to seat himself/herself.
• When you leave a blind person, let him/her know that you are leaving. Don’t leave
him/her there talking to himself/herself.
• When pushing a blind person in a wheelchair, always inform him/her that you are
ready to go. It can be a shock to be moved suddenly if you are not expecting it.
• When describing objects, be as specific as possible. Use the face of a clock to indicate
position. Try not to use phrases such as “over there,” “over here,” etc. Use left,
right, 12 inches high, for example.
• Allow blind people to touch objects as often as possible to get a better feel for them.
• At mealtime, use the face of the clock to tell the person the location of items on
his/her plate, i.e. “Your meat is at 6 o’clock, your peas are at 10 o’clock.”
• You can describe the place setting the same way. The water glass may be at 1 o’clock and
the napkin at 9 o’clock. Encourage the blind person to explore his/her place setting
by slowly moving his/her hand from the edge of the table toward the middle.
He/she should keep his/her fingers curled and move gently. That way, if he/she
comes into contact with something, he/she won’t hurt himself/herself and won’t
knock it over.
•Encourage the blind person to use a pusher to help guide foods onto his/her fork or
spoon. This can be a roll, a piece of bread, or a stationary item like mashed
potatoes. The person may be able to tell if food is on his/her fork by feeling the
weight.
• If necessary, it is acceptable for the blind person to lean forward slightly to meet his/her
fork or spoon.
• It is very helpful to have food cut up in the kitchen before it comes to the table. Be
certain that the meat is cut all the way through so the blind person doesn’t pick up a
string of four or five pieces still attached. This is also true for large noodles, such as
lasagna.
• In the blind person’s room, always leave things in the same position. It can be
upsetting to expect something to be in a certain place and find that it isn’t there.
And it is disconcerting to find a piece of furniture or wastebasket where you
weren’t expecting it.
• Be careful to leave doors either all the way open or completely closed. Half-open
doors have caused many a bumped head.
• If a person is partially sighted, try not to seat him/her facing a light source, such as
a window. This can make it much harder for him/her to see.
• It is important that caretakers be careful of unknowingly encouraging dependency.
Visually impaired persons must be allowed to do things for themselves whenever
possible.
• The most important thing is to remember that a visually impaired individual is a
person first. He/she is a person with a vision problem, but he/she is the same
person he/she was before.
Tips and Info
Guidelines for Meeting or Working with a Blind or Visually Impaired Person
Psychological Impact of Visual Impairment
Tips for a Visually Impaired Person:
Traveling within the Home
Working in the Kitchen
Labeling
Eating
Using a Sighted Guide
Psychological Impact of Visual Impairment
Tips for a Visually Impaired Person:
Traveling within the Home
Working in the Kitchen
Labeling
Eating
Using a Sighted Guide
Services
Residential Services:
The Michigan Foundation for the Blind, through the services of therapist Gail Toda, provides direct service to individuals in the greater Kalamazoo area in Michigan.
Ms. Toda serves individuals and their families who are adjusting to low vision or blindness. Basic kitchen and cooking skills, keyboarding, Braille, money handling, writing guides, orientation and mobility are among the skills taught by Ms. Toda.
For more information about direct services, call (269) 341-4198.
Support Groups:
The Michigan Foundation for the Blind helps oversee Support Groups at residential facilities in the Kalamazoo area. Locations of current Support Groups are listed below. If you would like to start a Support Group in the Kalamazoo area, please call (269) 345-1913.
Coover Center
Crosstown Parkway Apartments
Hope Woods
The Michigan Foundation for the Blind, through the services of therapist Gail Toda, provides direct service to individuals in the greater Kalamazoo area in Michigan.
Ms. Toda serves individuals and their families who are adjusting to low vision or blindness. Basic kitchen and cooking skills, keyboarding, Braille, money handling, writing guides, orientation and mobility are among the skills taught by Ms. Toda.
For more information about direct services, call (269) 341-4198.
Support Groups:
The Michigan Foundation for the Blind helps oversee Support Groups at residential facilities in the Kalamazoo area. Locations of current Support Groups are listed below. If you would like to start a Support Group in the Kalamazoo area, please call (269) 345-1913.
Coover Center
Crosstown Parkway Apartments
Hope Woods
Home Page
Welcome to MichiganVisionHelp.org, a service of the Michigan Foundation for the Blind and Visually Impaired.
Our purpose is to help maximize the independence of individuals who are blind and visually impaired. We provide personal services to individuals and families in Kalamazoo County, Michigan, USA. We also help oversee support groups at residential facilities in the Kalamazoo area.
The information on this website is intended to help people of all ages who are blind or visually impaired.
Our purpose is to help maximize the independence of individuals who are blind and visually impaired. We provide personal services to individuals and families in Kalamazoo County, Michigan, USA. We also help oversee support groups at residential facilities in the Kalamazoo area.
The information on this website is intended to help people of all ages who are blind or visually impaired.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
My Greatest Fear
If you really knew me and understood me, you’d note something beyond the smile and sunny disposition. Sure, I’m a positive person. I’m also organized and detail-oriented. I tend to be clever, creative, caring and independent. I respect and honor good communication, and to top it all off I floss daily. It would seem that I’ve got a lot going for me—at least that’s what my resume reflects.
But it seems that every other week I find myself in the comforting presence of my father, a man who seemingly knows my heart better than I and who believes in me more than I’m capable of believing in myself. As he wipes away my hot tears of frustration, sorrow and self-pity, he assures me that dawn is nearly here. According to my father, when daybreak comes, I will blossom into all the greatness that I aspire.
I inherited the tendency to dream from my father, who undoubtedly inherited this trait from his father. While everyone contemplates their desires in life, I can’t distinguish whether it’s a blessing or a curse to be born into a family of dreamers. The way I was wired to dream means more than determining which career I want or how many kids I’ll have. I was born to dream to outlandish and absurd degrees of greatness. As a result, my greatest fear is mediocrity.
Mediocrity. I fear it more than death. To be mediocre would be to extinguish a legacy and to fail my inherent potential. I hope for so many things that I question whether I’m being reasonable. I want adventure. I want passion. I want to win. I want to change lives—to be an example, a hero, and a genius. I want to be swept off my feet, because I’m almost ready to knock the socks off of Mr. Right. Is this too much to ask? My dad, my great encourager, doesn’t think so.
Several months ago I was lucky to run into Jim Long, one of Kalamazoo’s legendary track coaches and a personal mentor. I sat in his office on a particularly trying day, when mediocrity was grasping at my heels. Maybe fear was written on my face, because without any exchange of words, Coach Long gave me a piece of paper that read:
"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."
-This excerpt was written by Marianne Williamson and read by Nelson Mandela at his 1994 inauguration.
I read it and cried. It is okay to dream, as long as you have the courage to act, the faith in positive outcomes, and finally the patience to watch greatness unfold.
But it seems that every other week I find myself in the comforting presence of my father, a man who seemingly knows my heart better than I and who believes in me more than I’m capable of believing in myself. As he wipes away my hot tears of frustration, sorrow and self-pity, he assures me that dawn is nearly here. According to my father, when daybreak comes, I will blossom into all the greatness that I aspire.
I inherited the tendency to dream from my father, who undoubtedly inherited this trait from his father. While everyone contemplates their desires in life, I can’t distinguish whether it’s a blessing or a curse to be born into a family of dreamers. The way I was wired to dream means more than determining which career I want or how many kids I’ll have. I was born to dream to outlandish and absurd degrees of greatness. As a result, my greatest fear is mediocrity.
Mediocrity. I fear it more than death. To be mediocre would be to extinguish a legacy and to fail my inherent potential. I hope for so many things that I question whether I’m being reasonable. I want adventure. I want passion. I want to win. I want to change lives—to be an example, a hero, and a genius. I want to be swept off my feet, because I’m almost ready to knock the socks off of Mr. Right. Is this too much to ask? My dad, my great encourager, doesn’t think so.
Several months ago I was lucky to run into Jim Long, one of Kalamazoo’s legendary track coaches and a personal mentor. I sat in his office on a particularly trying day, when mediocrity was grasping at my heels. Maybe fear was written on my face, because without any exchange of words, Coach Long gave me a piece of paper that read:
"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."
-This excerpt was written by Marianne Williamson and read by Nelson Mandela at his 1994 inauguration.
I read it and cried. It is okay to dream, as long as you have the courage to act, the faith in positive outcomes, and finally the patience to watch greatness unfold.
Feaured Leader: Cliff Moshoginis
Cliff Moshoginis grew up near Detroit Metro and wiled away the hours on the pre-security-era "Observation Deck."The son of a soldier in the Air Guard, he long has been more than an observer in the world of aviation. After a stint with the airlines, he signed on with the Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport in 1993. When he took over as director in June of 2006, questions and a bit of uncertainty surrounded the future of the airport, but Moshoginis has never waivered in his vision of a prosperous, busy airport serving Kalamazoo and Calhoun counties and surrounding communities.
"It's going to happen," he told a business audience this winter of the terminal expansion that will serve passengers for the next quarter century. In fact, with the guidance of the business-based Kalamazoo County Aeronautics Board of Trustees and a supportive Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners, it's back to the drawing board -- literally -- to expand the facility.
"Look for construction in '09, possibly as early as later this year," says
Moshoginis, who will spend his share of time in Washington, D.C. making sure the funds keep flowing into this part of the state. Using his 28 years of industry experience, Moshoginis also fights for other Michigan airports as President of the Michigan Association of Airport Executives.
Meanwhile, airlines, too, are demonstrating their confidence in AZO. As it should be in air transportation, things are looking up. American is adding a fifth nonstop flight to Chicago, and Continental is due back in June.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Shh! Don't Tell Anyone . . .
When I tell people that I run, I recognize the initial shock and horror on their faces. And while it’s never been clinically documented, I’ve been told many times that I’m crazy for jogging in the heat, rain and snow. Running is my little secret.
Sometimes, I get up before the sun to start my jog. I can get several miles in before the watchful eyes of the world open to start their day. I even sleep to run. My dreams are bombarded with 5Ks and impromptu track meets. In some dreams I disguise myself as a high school student and run relays and win meets. In others I’m lost on a 5K course and my legs are stuck in slow motion.
When I go to the gym, I’m obsessed with passing the other runners on the indoor track. In my mind, every runner is a bull’s eye before me and a cloud of dust behind me. At this point I’m no longer human. I’m Gail Devers clearing the last hurdle, or Sly Stallone punching the air as he climbs to the top of the steps in Rocky. Then Michael Jackson hiccups in my ear and eggs me on as he sings “Bad” through my headphones…
Is this normal?
Probably not. I’ve heard of runner’s high, but question its existence. Besides the obvious health benefits, I run to feed my competitive spirit. I was in need of a place to vent my running—a place where I knew I would get support from those with the same diagnosis. Luckily I’ve discovered the competition and camaraderie through local running clubs and races hosted by Gazelle Sports, Borgess Medical Center and Kalamazoo Area Runners.
A good friend and fellow runner was asked why she chose to run as a hobby. Her blunt response humored me but held some truth: “Because there’s nothing else to do in this town.” As single, twenty-something’s stuck in Kalamazoo, we may have discovered the healthiest way to conquer redundancy. So, the secret’s out.
**If running is your little secret, or if you’re interested in meeting new people and getting fit, consider running or walking on April 25 and 26 at the Borgess Run for the Health of it.
Sometimes, I get up before the sun to start my jog. I can get several miles in before the watchful eyes of the world open to start their day. I even sleep to run. My dreams are bombarded with 5Ks and impromptu track meets. In some dreams I disguise myself as a high school student and run relays and win meets. In others I’m lost on a 5K course and my legs are stuck in slow motion.
When I go to the gym, I’m obsessed with passing the other runners on the indoor track. In my mind, every runner is a bull’s eye before me and a cloud of dust behind me. At this point I’m no longer human. I’m Gail Devers clearing the last hurdle, or Sly Stallone punching the air as he climbs to the top of the steps in Rocky. Then Michael Jackson hiccups in my ear and eggs me on as he sings “Bad” through my headphones…
Is this normal?
Probably not. I’ve heard of runner’s high, but question its existence. Besides the obvious health benefits, I run to feed my competitive spirit. I was in need of a place to vent my running—a place where I knew I would get support from those with the same diagnosis. Luckily I’ve discovered the competition and camaraderie through local running clubs and races hosted by Gazelle Sports, Borgess Medical Center and Kalamazoo Area Runners.
A good friend and fellow runner was asked why she chose to run as a hobby. Her blunt response humored me but held some truth: “Because there’s nothing else to do in this town.” As single, twenty-something’s stuck in Kalamazoo, we may have discovered the healthiest way to conquer redundancy. So, the secret’s out.
**If running is your little secret, or if you’re interested in meeting new people and getting fit, consider running or walking on April 25 and 26 at the Borgess Run for the Health of it.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
How to Treat Spring Fever
Whether you're a snowbird who is just returning or someone who toughed it out all winter, rest assured Spring weather is . . . not quite around the corner. But there's lots to do. Try these:
Take part in Grape Expectations on March 21 from 7 p.m. – 10 p.m. at the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts. The evening will consist of wine-tasting, amazing food and live jazz. The wine list will feature delicate whites, full-bodied reds, Sherries and the Sparkling White Cava from Spain. To complement the wine, food will be prepared by over a dozen of the area’s finest chefs. The cost is $45 per person. To learn more or to order tickets, call 269.382.8350.
The Annex at Wings Stadium will hold a Curling Open House on March 21 from 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. and on March 22 from 5 p.m. – 9 p.m. Some of the best curlers in the world, including Canada’s Shorty Jenkins, will be available to teach and introduce the sport of curling. Well known for his trademark pink cowboy hat, pink jacket and pink cowboy boots, ice technician Jenkins is one of the best-known figures in the sport of curling. The cost is $10 per person per session. For more information or to sign up, call 269.345.2277 or visit Wings Stadium.
Head to Raddisson Plaza Hotel on March 25 for the Baker’s Dozen. This Annual Girl Scout Benefit is from 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Thirteen areas chefs from the area’s finest restaurants will compete to create the best dessert made from Girl Scout cookies. Guests are invited to sample desserts, vote for the favorites and participate in a live and silent auction. The cost of the benefit is $35 per person or $60 for two people. For more information, call 269.343.1516.
On March 26 the Epic Bistro will host the Second Annual Millennium Showcase. The showcase highlights a meal prepared every Millennium Chef. Chef Armand of Fieldstone Grill will prepare the first appetizer. Chef Ed of Black Swan will prepare the second appetizer. Chef Encarnacion of Epic Bistro will present the salad course. Chef Eric of the Union will prepare the Entrée and Chef Trent of Martell’s will serve dessert. Each Chef will be available to visit and answer questions. To reserve your spot at Epic Bistro, call 269.342.1300.
Celebrate spring at the Spring Blast on March 29 from 1p.m – 7 p.m. at Lawson Ice Arena and Gabel Natatorium. Lawson Ice Arena will host a skating exhibition, broomball tournament and open skate session. Gabel Natatorium will host an inner tube water polo tournament, a showing of “Dive In,” the Spongebob Squarepants movie and an open swim. The cost is $5 per person for a full day of fun. Participants must pre-register for the broomball tournament by calling 269.387.3076 and for the inner tube water polo tournament by calling 269.387.2550. Lawson Ice Arena and Gabel Natatorium are located on Western Michigan University’s main campus.
The Third Annual Kalamazoo Fretboard Festival will be held on March 29 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. and March 30 from 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. at the Kalamazoo Valley Museum. The festival celebrates Kalamazoo’s legacy of stringed instrument design, manufacture and performance. The event will highlight presentations and displays from local guitar makers and craftspeople. Stringed-instrument enthusiasts and musicians of all skill levels will enjoy performances by area musicians and various instruments. This event is free to the public. For more information, call 269.373.7965 or visit the Kalamazoo Valley Museum.
The Kalamazoo Nature Center will host the Signs of Spring Hike on Sunday, March 23 at 2 p.m. Guided by naturalist Kara Haas, hikers will learn to spot the first signs of spring in nature. This event is free and open to families and participants of all ages. For more information, visit the Kalamazoo Nature Center.
Attend the Flying Hunters of the Night presentation at the WK Kellogg Bird Sanctuary to learn about Michigan’s owls and what makes them successful hunters at night. The presentation is March 28 at 7 p.m. An optional nighttime hike will follow the presentation at 8:30 p.m. The program is $3 for members, $5 for non-members and $2 for children. To learn more call 269.671.2510 or visit the WK Kellogg Bird Sanctuary.
The Wolf Lake State Fish Hatchery Visitor Center will host the Spring Gardening Spectacular on March 29. The two-part program will help participants identify the plants growing on their property and will cover many aspects of gardening and landscaping. The first part of the workshop begins at 10 a.m. and will feature a presentation on trees and shrubs given by Mary Ann Menck of Mary Ann’s Michigan Trees and Shrubs. The second half of the workshop will start at 12 p.m. as Victoria Larke of Glorious Gardens discusses flowers and herbs. Both programs are free to public and are open to participants of all ages. For more information, call 269.668.2876 or visit the Wolf Lake Sate Fish Hatchery Visitor Center.
Take part in Grape Expectations on March 21 from 7 p.m. – 10 p.m. at the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts. The evening will consist of wine-tasting, amazing food and live jazz. The wine list will feature delicate whites, full-bodied reds, Sherries and the Sparkling White Cava from Spain. To complement the wine, food will be prepared by over a dozen of the area’s finest chefs. The cost is $45 per person. To learn more or to order tickets, call 269.382.8350.
The Annex at Wings Stadium will hold a Curling Open House on March 21 from 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. and on March 22 from 5 p.m. – 9 p.m. Some of the best curlers in the world, including Canada’s Shorty Jenkins, will be available to teach and introduce the sport of curling. Well known for his trademark pink cowboy hat, pink jacket and pink cowboy boots, ice technician Jenkins is one of the best-known figures in the sport of curling. The cost is $10 per person per session. For more information or to sign up, call 269.345.2277 or visit Wings Stadium.
Head to Raddisson Plaza Hotel on March 25 for the Baker’s Dozen. This Annual Girl Scout Benefit is from 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Thirteen areas chefs from the area’s finest restaurants will compete to create the best dessert made from Girl Scout cookies. Guests are invited to sample desserts, vote for the favorites and participate in a live and silent auction. The cost of the benefit is $35 per person or $60 for two people. For more information, call 269.343.1516.
On March 26 the Epic Bistro will host the Second Annual Millennium Showcase. The showcase highlights a meal prepared every Millennium Chef. Chef Armand of Fieldstone Grill will prepare the first appetizer. Chef Ed of Black Swan will prepare the second appetizer. Chef Encarnacion of Epic Bistro will present the salad course. Chef Eric of the Union will prepare the Entrée and Chef Trent of Martell’s will serve dessert. Each Chef will be available to visit and answer questions. To reserve your spot at Epic Bistro, call 269.342.1300.
Celebrate spring at the Spring Blast on March 29 from 1p.m – 7 p.m. at Lawson Ice Arena and Gabel Natatorium. Lawson Ice Arena will host a skating exhibition, broomball tournament and open skate session. Gabel Natatorium will host an inner tube water polo tournament, a showing of “Dive In,” the Spongebob Squarepants movie and an open swim. The cost is $5 per person for a full day of fun. Participants must pre-register for the broomball tournament by calling 269.387.3076 and for the inner tube water polo tournament by calling 269.387.2550. Lawson Ice Arena and Gabel Natatorium are located on Western Michigan University’s main campus.
The Third Annual Kalamazoo Fretboard Festival will be held on March 29 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. and March 30 from 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. at the Kalamazoo Valley Museum. The festival celebrates Kalamazoo’s legacy of stringed instrument design, manufacture and performance. The event will highlight presentations and displays from local guitar makers and craftspeople. Stringed-instrument enthusiasts and musicians of all skill levels will enjoy performances by area musicians and various instruments. This event is free to the public. For more information, call 269.373.7965 or visit the Kalamazoo Valley Museum.
The Kalamazoo Nature Center will host the Signs of Spring Hike on Sunday, March 23 at 2 p.m. Guided by naturalist Kara Haas, hikers will learn to spot the first signs of spring in nature. This event is free and open to families and participants of all ages. For more information, visit the Kalamazoo Nature Center.
Attend the Flying Hunters of the Night presentation at the WK Kellogg Bird Sanctuary to learn about Michigan’s owls and what makes them successful hunters at night. The presentation is March 28 at 7 p.m. An optional nighttime hike will follow the presentation at 8:30 p.m. The program is $3 for members, $5 for non-members and $2 for children. To learn more call 269.671.2510 or visit the WK Kellogg Bird Sanctuary.
The Wolf Lake State Fish Hatchery Visitor Center will host the Spring Gardening Spectacular on March 29. The two-part program will help participants identify the plants growing on their property and will cover many aspects of gardening and landscaping. The first part of the workshop begins at 10 a.m. and will feature a presentation on trees and shrubs given by Mary Ann Menck of Mary Ann’s Michigan Trees and Shrubs. The second half of the workshop will start at 12 p.m. as Victoria Larke of Glorious Gardens discusses flowers and herbs. Both programs are free to public and are open to participants of all ages. For more information, call 269.668.2876 or visit the Wolf Lake Sate Fish Hatchery Visitor Center.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
The Devil Made Me Do It
I remember sitting wide-eyed on the floor as a child, a little girl engaged by animation and the screen of a big television. Twenty years later, an array of educational television programs and networks are produced for children. I like to think that although I wasn’t learning Spanish or sign language, the occasional cartoon indulged my imagination and perhaps developed within me a slight sense of humor…and just a hint of dignity.
A particularly vivid cartoon concept remains with me today. It’s not the dropping of an anvil or the endless chase scene. It’s the fork in road—the definitive moment when the character must turn right or left and choose between right and wrong. But my favorite part about the fork in the road was that it was never a hasty decision. It was thoroughly considered with the help of two characters, a devil hovering above the right shoulder and an angel strumming its harp over the left.
With college behind me, and the possibility of new careers, love interests and advanced degrees before me, I sometimes feel like every other step brings me to the inevitable fork in the road. And so often when I can’t decide which turn to take, which career to choose and whom to love—I consult the white-winged and haloed version of myself. Why? Because while the path to success may be lined in accolades, it’s the figurative high road that will truly set me apart.
When “doing the right thing” makes national headlines, I realize the high road is less traveled. But the character that fuels that path is honorable and respectable – and will prepare me for life’s next big intersection. A young child watching cartoons, I was captivated by the morals, the ethics or maybe even the spiritual conviction introduced at the fork in the road. Today, when everything is sensational, dramatic and complicated, I am even more fascinated by making the right turn.
Disclaimer: To claim to be purely angelic would be to vastly exceed the parameters of the little white lie. With a sly smile I’ll admit I often acknowledge and consider the hot pokes and prods of my own pitchfork. Even the high road has potholes.
03-12-08
A particularly vivid cartoon concept remains with me today. It’s not the dropping of an anvil or the endless chase scene. It’s the fork in road—the definitive moment when the character must turn right or left and choose between right and wrong. But my favorite part about the fork in the road was that it was never a hasty decision. It was thoroughly considered with the help of two characters, a devil hovering above the right shoulder and an angel strumming its harp over the left.
With college behind me, and the possibility of new careers, love interests and advanced degrees before me, I sometimes feel like every other step brings me to the inevitable fork in the road. And so often when I can’t decide which turn to take, which career to choose and whom to love—I consult the white-winged and haloed version of myself. Why? Because while the path to success may be lined in accolades, it’s the figurative high road that will truly set me apart.
When “doing the right thing” makes national headlines, I realize the high road is less traveled. But the character that fuels that path is honorable and respectable – and will prepare me for life’s next big intersection. A young child watching cartoons, I was captivated by the morals, the ethics or maybe even the spiritual conviction introduced at the fork in the road. Today, when everything is sensational, dramatic and complicated, I am even more fascinated by making the right turn.
Disclaimer: To claim to be purely angelic would be to vastly exceed the parameters of the little white lie. With a sly smile I’ll admit I often acknowledge and consider the hot pokes and prods of my own pitchfork. Even the high road has potholes.
03-12-08
Monday, March 10, 2008
The Luck of the Irish finds Downtown Kalamazoo
St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Kick off St. Patrick’s Day in downtown Kalamazoo with the 7th annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Saturday, March 15. The parade starts at 11 a.m. at the corner of South Burdick St. and Michigan Ave. The route runs down South Burdick before turning west on Cedar St. and ending at the Knights of Columbus. Last year over 70 organizations participated in the parade, with highlights from the Western Michigan ROTC, television and radio personalities and the Kalamazoo Pipe Band. The Irish American Club of Kalamazoo organizes the Kalamazoo St. Patrick’s Day Parade. For more information, visit the Irish American Club of Kalamazoo.
The Union Cabaret And Grille: Celtic Entertainment March 13-15
St. Patty’s Day festivities will continue after the parade at the Union Cabaret and Grill, located on the Kalamazoo Mall. The Union will host Celtic entertainment by Harvest Home at noon and 9 p.m. on Saturday, March 15,
The Laughing Post: 1st Annual St. Patrick’s Day Party
Help start a St. Patrick’s Day tradition at The Laughing Post! On Monday, March 17, The Laughing Post will kick off their 1st Annual St. Patrick’s Day Party with a “Top of the Morning Breakfast” of green eggs and ham from 7 a.m. until 11 a.m. for only $2. The Laughing Post will feature entertainment, green drink specials and “Luck of the Irish” raffles every hour. There is no cover charge for this event. For more information, visit The Laughing Post.
Irish American Club Meeting: March 17
The Irish American Club will host a St. Patrick’s Day program at the Sports Forum on Monday, March 17. Dinner begins at 6 p.m. followed by a meeting at 7 p.m. A special program consisting of Irish music, dancing and comedy routines by the Prime Time Players begins at 7:30 p.m. The Sports Forum is located at 803 W. Mosel in Kalamazoo.
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