A NEW YEAR--EXCITING PROGRAMS

LVC members and their guests enjoyed a fabulous Christmas party, thanks to Josefina Miller and her hard-working Special Events Committee. We also owe a huge round of applause to Bob Hobson (who did a little bit of everything), and all those who volunteered at the last minute to help serve the 192 people in attendance. Great! Now we begin our 7th year.

Sat. Jan. 25, 2003 (One week later than usual)

Our club’s annual meeting with the LVC’s Board of Directors.

Those board members who represent agencies and low vision clinics will make presentations about the services they provide, followed by a question & answer period.

Sat. Feb. 15, 2002--Volunteer Recognition Day

Our more than 200 volunteers serving on LVC committees will be honored during a special Volunteer Recognition Day program. This event will be followed by a box lunch and live background music from “Diamonds in the Rough”.

Sat. March 8, 2002 (One week earlier than usual)

EXPO 2003--Our Fifth Annual Low Vision EXPO. Your annual opportunity to see the latest in low vision aids and explore community resources. Hours are from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Once again, this year’s EXPO will be so large it will be held in two buildings next to each other…the Allied Health Building and the McDermott Building, both at 8403 Floyd Curl Drive.

***This is the same location as last year’s EXPO.***

Vendors will display all types of low vision aids including magnifiers, closed circuit TV’s, and computers that speak to you. The equipment will be available for “hands on” experience. Agencies dealing with visually impaired people will have representatives there to answer questions.

Sat. April 26, 2003-One week later because of Easter weekend

Our annual “Spring Fling”--More details to come.

TLC Caregiver’s Book

Leslie Hoy’s TLC for Caregivers book introduced at our November club meeting will be available at future meetings and the EXPO. The price to LVC members is $10.

RRS Fund Raising Drive Underway

The Kronkosky Foundation has awarded the club’s Radio Reading Service a grant to be paid over the next two years, if matching funds are raised by the club on a 2 for 1 basis. Letters requesting support have been sent to the LVC Board, LVC members, local ophthalmologists, RRS committee and volunteers, and subscribers to the Radio Reading Service.

We will appreciate any support you can give.

Equipment Purchased to Record Programs & Seminars

In order to meet requests, the club has purchased special equipment to record selected LVC programs and seminars on cassette tapes. If interested, call Ed Brown at 735-1802.

Can You Play Golf Again?

Low Vision Club member Bruce Hooper is sure that you can, and wants to help all visually impaired former golfers return to the game. He also welcomes new golfers. Call him at

(210) 822-6366 or (210) 771-4684. He’s serious.

Co-Ops can be helpful

Although all of San Antonio is not covered, there are 4 helpful co-ops operating in the city. Mainly, they try to provide rides for medical appointments, shopping and other services. Each co-op is slightly different, but they all are faith based for support, and provide service to seniors and the disabled. Some charge for their services, so it is important you get all the details. Here is a list:

GRASP 658-6351--Covers extreme Northeast San Antonio (Randolph AFB) as far as Schertz and Converse.

JEFFERSON 734-5016--Covers West Central San Antonio (west side of Highway 281) but are expanding North.

NESA 967-6372--Covers corridor starting in Fort Sam area North, but they are expanding to the South.

SCOOP 359-6678 Covers area of Southeast San Antonio adjacent to Brooks AFB.

Transportation for a fee

If you need transportation and are willing to pay a fee, call Kathy Valesquez at Heavenly Wheels Transport Service, 543-7144.

Memorials and Donations

Donations were received by press time this quarter from Larry Roser, Betty Baldwin, Doe Holliman, Louise Sayger, Leasie Wilson, Jackie Williams, Jan Wolf, Paul Hanley, Larry Johnson, Elmer Freed, Leslie Hoy, Sally Wiskemann, Crystal Darby and Bonnie Truax. Thanks, all!

Library of Taped Books

Our club has a collection of some 78 books on cassette tapes which play on regular cassettes. See Ed Brown sitting at a table near the registration check-in at our club meetings for further information, or call him at 735-1802. He also is the one to call if you wish to receive this newsletter on cassette tape rather than in large print.

Research Trial Implantable Miniature Telescope

Dr. Steven J. Fisher of Medical Center Ophthalmology Associates of San Antonio will participate in a nationwide trial of an implantable miniature telescope. Patients must have a bilateral stable untreatable central vision disorder (AMD--geographic atrophy or disciform scar;Stargardt’s disease), be 55 or older, best corrected visual acuity no better than 20/80 but no worse than 20/630 in both eyes, have evidence of a cataract, and an anterior chamber depth greater than 2.5mm.The telescope is surgically implanted in one eye to magnify images on the retina. The study will involve multiple examinations over a 2-year period. For additional information, call Robin Hartman, research coordinator, at 697-2206.