July Meeting at Lighthouse Senior Center

On Saturday, July 17, the Low Vision Club will NOT meet at the usual location.  Instead, the LVC has been invited to visit the new San Antonio Lighthouse Senior Center at 2300 Roosevelt Avenue (across the street from the San Antonio Lighthouse main facility).

This will be an “open house” type of event beginning at 9:30 a.m. with a meeting and refreshments.  You may then tour the facility at your leisure and leave when you have finished.  Tours must be completed by 11:30 a.m.  Items from the Lighthouse store will be available for purchase if you so desire.

The Lighthouse’s Senior Center is designed for individuals over the age of 55 who are visually impaired.  Activities are scheduled there Monday through Thursday mornings each week.  All services are free.

VIA Trans passengers should notify VIA Trans that drop off and pickup is at the Seniors Center at 2300 Roosevelt, not the main facility.  There is a marked VIA drop off area on the south side of the Senior Center.  Parking for cars is prohibited in this area.

There is a large parking area for cars on the north side of the Senior Center.  Access to this parking lot is located further north on Roosevelt Avenue.  The entrance for this parking lot will be marked.  Only limited parking is available in front of the building.

If you have questions about this visit, please contact the Lighthouse at 533-5195, extension 2810.

Limited help with transportation will be available by calling LVC member Eileen Foley at 494-1096 by Saturday, July 10.  Leave a message of her recorder.  We will help if we can.

Other Upcoming Programs

Saturday, August 21

Our annual LVC Talent Show.  See and hear the best of our club’s talents as they perform while you enjoy snacks and refreshments.

This event will be staged by our Special Events Committee headed by Josefina Miller.  If you are interested in performing, call Josefina at 690-4772 but only between the hours of 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.

“Tips for Gaining Independence” - Helpful suggestions to make life easier and more enjoyable.  An opportunity for you to share your ideas, too.

Memorials for LVC Members

The Low Vision Club was blessed recently by many memorial donations in the names of Margaret Fees and Lucretia Thole.  We regret their passing, but deeply appreciate their thoughtfulness to the club.  We miss them very much.  If you wish to help the club with a donation, please mail your check to the Low Vision Club at 11510 Sandman Drive, San Antonio, TX 78216.

Owl Radio Moves To Expanded Quarters

Our radio reading service telephone number remains the same, and Owl Radio is still located in the North Frost Center at 1250 N.E. Loop 410, but our suite number has changed to Suite 525.

The staff and volunteers at Owl Radio now enjoy greatly expanded quarters in which to operate.  This is especially important in view of the expanded local programming added several months ago, and the growth of volunteer activities.  The necessary new equipment and furniture items were funded by grants from the Marcia & Otto Koehler Foundation and City Council District 9 Human Development Services.

Volunteers are still needed to help deliver radios to applicants.  If you can help or know someone who will, call Judy Adams at Owl Radio 829-4223, and she will tell you what is involved.  Thanks in advance for your help.

Did You Know?

(A sample of facts from the 2004 Low Vision Club Resource Guide)

• Proper lighting is very important. Adjust the light according to the activity you are doing. Sometimes you will need more or less light than at other times. Use natural daylight when available.
• Color contrast can make many tasks easier. Use light objects against dark backgrounds and dark objects against light backgrounds. Use the colors you see best.

The LVC Resource Guide contains 17 household hints for the kitchen… 3 tips for eating… 3 tips for the bathroom… 5 safety tips for around the home… plus tips on identifying money… how to do laundry when visually impaired… how to handle correspondence.

Also in the Resource Guide are listing of low vision clinics, local resource and service organizations, a rundown on popular low vision aids, a list of helpful national associations, and a list of computer websites for further information.

Printed copies of the complete LVC Resource Guide are available from the club for a small donation.  Call Bonnie Truax at 344-1479 or check at the registration table at regular club meetings.  Or you may click here to view the latest resource guide here on our web site and produce a copy with your own printer if needed.

Need Music Lessons?

Mary Kay Archuleta specializes in music lessons for handicapped individuals, including visually impaired.  She teaches piano, keyboard, and woodwinds.  Call her at 210-771-5809 if you are interested.

Protect Your Eyes From The Sun

(Excerpted from “Your Retirement Newsletter”)

Summer is here and everyone needs to protect his or her eyes from damage by the sun.  You should wear sunglasses every day, even if it’s cloudy.  The sun’s damaging rays can pass through thin clouds and haze.

Choose sunglasses that guarantee to block 99% to 100% of Ultra Violet rays.  (The darkness of the lens is no indication of the amount of UV protection provided by sunglasses.)  Your sunglasses also should wrap to the side of your face to protect your eyes from all angles.

“Blue-blocking” lenses make distant objects appear more distant.  These lens usually appear amber and make your surroundings look yellow or orange.  And even if you wear contact lenses that have UV protection, you still should wear sunglasses to make sure your eyes are fully protected.

LVC Items and Tapes

Don’t forget the LVC has many helpful items in the lobby of the Children’s Cancer Research Center at our monthly meetings.

Cindy Garcia, our club’s volunteer information resource specialist, has a number of free items on display, and club member Ed Brown has cataloged our Library of 341 Taped Books which play on regular cassettes.  Stop by his table and he will go over the list with you.