Kentucky Cardinal
A Publication of the
National Federation of the Blind
of Kentucky
Betty J. Niceley President
SPRING 1998
A TRIBUTE TO EMERSON FOULKE Ph.D
1929-1997
By Betty Niceley
On the journey through life, few men are able to choose as many roads and make as many contributions along the way as did Dr. Emerson Foulke. He was a distinguished university professor, a recognized researcher, and a well-knwon author of numerous materials dealing with braille, mobility and other tactile matters. Emerson was a world traveler, a sought after speaker with a quick wit that endured him to everyone; and he was the epitome of integrity. I have never known anyone who had so many friends from so many totally different walks of life, and he treasured each and every one of them.
It will come as no suprise that my fondest memories of Emerson involve his deep commitment and endless energy which he devoted to the National Federation of the Blind. In the early eighties I asked him to chair a Braille Action Committee for our Kentucky affiliate, and he accepted the challenge. This led to the 1986 opening of the Braille Service Center, which he directed for the eight years the project was in existence. He was one of the pioneers of the National Association to Promote the Use of Braille (NAPUB) which was organized in 1984, and he served for a number of years, first as its treasure and the as its second vice-president. When Kentucky organized a division of NAPUB in 1986, Emerson was its first president, a position he held until 1994.
For many years, Emerson had dreamed that one day there would be a facility dedicated to braille research, and his dream was finally realized in 1992 when he was a co-founder of the Braille Research Center which had its beginning at the American Printing House for the Blind. Emerson served as consultant for the Center until it moved from APH to the National Center for the Blind in Baltimore and opened there on June 1, 1995. He then served as Associate Director and later Director of the Braille Research Center until January of 1997. He continued in the role of consultant, as well as a moving inspiration for the BRC until his death.
In 1987 the NFB of Kentucky presented Emerson with the Susan B. Rarick Award for unselfish dedication to the work of the Federation . He received in 1993 the Distinguished Blind Educator of the Year Award from the National Federation of the Blind.
The Louis Braille Memorial Award for significant contributions to braille or tactile communication research was established in 1997 by the Board of Directors of the Braille Research Center. Nominations for this award were solicted from all over the world, and the selection was made by the Center's Council of research Fellows. No one was suprised when this most prestigious award was presented to Emerson Foulke on July 3, 1997.
The National Federation of the Blind of Kentucky celebrated its fiftieth anniversary in 1997 and initiated a scholarship program to commemorate the occasion. The affiliate felt it most approprate to name the mew project the Emerson Foulke Scholarship Program. By so doing, Kentuckians could honor a true scholar and an outstanding Federationist.
SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION
The National Federation of the Blind of Kentucky is looking forward to once again presenting the Emerson Foulke Memorial Scholarship at its 1998 state convention in September. This scholarship, in the amount of $1,000, will be presented to a blind college student from Kentucky. Anyone who wishes to know more about applying thr this scholarship should contact Lora Felty, Scholarship Committee Chairperson. Please send your name, address, and telephone number, along with a brief mote indicating your interest in receiving scholarship information , to Lora Felty, 2500 McGurk St. Apt. 2, Ashland KY. 41102. Also, our Henderson Chapter will be providing a one time $500 scholarship in memory of Dorthy Steel, a long time member of that chapter. All scholarship applicants will have a chance to win one of these two scholarships.
PRESIDENT'S CORNER
It is that time of year when our thoughts are turned toward the annual get togather of those intersted in learning about the latest pappenings in the file of blindness. The 1998 convention of the National Federation of the Blind will be held in Dallas, Texas the week of July 4 through 11, Headquarters for all activities will be the Hyatt Regerny Hotel near the Dallas Fort Worth Airport. From past experiance, we know this is a grand hotel with superb accommodations. Room rates are; $41.00 for singles, $43.00 for doubles and twins, $45.00 for triples, and $47.00 for quads. Reservations should be made right away, and a fifty dollar deposit will be required. Room reservations for the convention sill be guaranteed only if the gotel is called directly at (972) 453-1234.
In the next issue of this newsletter, we shall be giving complete details about our 1998 state convention which will be held the weekend of September 11, 12, and 13 at the Executive Inn in Owensboro, Kentucky. It is shaping up to be a great one.
FROM THE NFBK HISTORY BOOK
Romance has always had its place in history. This is no less true with the National Federation of the Blind of Kentucky. During this your three couples who met at Federation related acitivities will be celebrating their fiftieth anniversary. Congratulations to Jessie and Pat Allen, Tim and Thelma Cranmer, and Charles and Marie McCullough.
FRONT AND CENTER
Certainly, there is nothing new or suprising about Federationists appearing in magazines, newspapers and even on national television. However, we in Kentuckky are pleased to acknowledge our acquaintance with a celebrity who has done it all. Dr. T. V. (Tim) Cranmer has been the subject of numerous magazine and newspaper articels because of his inventive leadership in the feild of assistive technology for the blind. The Louisville Courier Journal recently carried a rather lengthy account of his accomplishments in this area. He has to his credit the formulative work which he did to make possible the Cranmer Abacus for the blind., which is on display in the museum at the American Printing House for the Blind. He gave the blind their first look at the computerized braille embosser when he presented them with the Craner modified Perkins Brailler. Tim also initiated the use of specialized technology for the Kentucky Modified Perkins Braille Writer that led to the Pocket Braille, a small computerized machine equipped with a speech synthesizer. This technology was the forerunner of the popular Braille 'n Speak which is now produced is now produced by Blazie Engineering.
Right on the heels of the newspaper artical came his appearance on the national television show, Sixty Minutes. Those of us who know Tim would gladly vote for him to receive an Oscar for that permormance. He was careful to point out the importance of low tech items such as the Say When, a liquid level indicator which buzzes to let its blind user know his cup or glass is full. This item is also a brainchild of Tim's.
Tim has been called by some the Thomas Edison of the blind world, but we are pleased simply to call him our friend in Federationist.
COMPUTER USERS DIVISION UPDATE
by Jenny Tyree
I am proud to announce that the computer Users Division (CUD) of the National Federation of the Blind of Kentucky has estaplished a web site dedicated to assistive technology. I would like to give a great big thanks to all of my board members; David Raynes, John Glisson, Bill Clouse and Bobby Rolph. David single handedly created the web page. after working all day , he still found enough energy to spend many hours in building this site. the site has been fully functional since February
There have been as many as 225 web page hits in one day. This lets us know how much the page is being utilized. We have the potential to offer many nice features. David and I are always looking for new links, or other interesting info to add to this page. There are many links which will give the user easy access to numerous well known web sites.
On behalf of the Computer Users Division , I welcome you to this new level of communication. Computers are here to stay, and members of our Computer Users Division hope you will join us in planning to enjoy the changing faces of technology. We welcome any comments or suggestions, so feel free to contact draynes@bellsouth.net or jmtyree@aol.com.
BLIND STUDENTS DIVISION UPDATE
by Tonia Boyd
NFBK college students have been up to more than their usual writing term papers, studying for exams, and occasionally partying just a little.
We've also been raising money for our new division so we can contuibute to such projects as the NFBK Scholarship Fund, and to the sending of students to the Washington Seminars and National Convention.
Noverber was an especially busy time for students around the state. At the University of Louisville, student division members, Roger Abercrombie, Eric Ament, Aaron Howell, Glen White, Nancy Williams and I held a Walk-a-thon on the Saturday before Thanksgiving.
Also in November, Murray State students Melanie Crowe and Anthony Cole held a bake sale on their university campus.
In December and January, students from all over the state helped to sell print /braille calendars from the American Printing House for the Blind.
Fund raising isn't all we've been up to, though. During our Christmas break, several students from the Louisville area got togather at State President Betty Niceley's house for fun and fellowship. This proved to be a great opportunity for all of us to learn more about NFB.
In early February, Michelle Lauer and I were honored to be apart of the Kentucky delegation attending the Washington Seminar. We both found this to be a most memorable experiance.
In March while Nhu Nguyen of Vanderbelt was back at home in Louisville on Spring Break; she joind Roger Abercrombie, Blen White, and me in speaking with blind and visually impared high school students about college.
Now that it is April, we are anxiously preparing for finals. However, we are planning one more fund raising event in May or June. We are also all eager to plan a weekend to get together an catch upwith all of the friends we made at last year's State Convention.