Dates to Remember

Sat. Oct. 11, 2008 — White Cane Day Run/Walk.  We all can participate in this, even if we only walk part way behind our big Low Vision Club Resource Center banner, carried by club volunteers.  And it’s no cost to club members if you registered at our Sept. 20 LVC Meeting to walk, or if you call Bonnie at 344-1479 to register in advance.  You’ll get a free T-shirt, too.  Come to Comanche Lookout Park, 16000 Nacogdoches (just south of Loop 1604 E) by 8 a.m. when activities get started.  A little exercise is good for us all.

Tues, Oct. 14, 2008 — Discovery Walk conducted by the Alamo Council of the Blind and the San Antonio City Council beginning at 11 a.m. in front of city hall.  The route will include several intersections where there are functioning audible pedestrian signals.  For information, call Larry Johnson at 590-6777.

Sat. Oct. 18, 2008 — Our annual Medical Panel with top specialists discussing the latest research and treatments for various eye problems including macular degeneration.  It’s also your once-a-year chance to ask medical questions, as well as learn from the experts.  This year we’re bringing back one of our all time favorites, retinal specialist Dr. Calvin Mein, plus Dr. Carlos Rosende, head of the ophthalmology department at the UT Health Science Center, to fill us in on what is happening there.  The meeting will be held at the Warm Springs Resource Center, 5101 Medical Drive, beginning with a Social Hour at 9 a.m. followed by the program at 10.

Sat. Nov. 15, 2008 — Another medical briefing at Warm Springs Resource Center with a new twist.  Optometrist Dr. Sandra Fox will describe what a low vision exam can do for you… and how low vision specialists help you work with what vision you have left to live a fuller life.  The meeting also is your chance to register for this year’s new style Christmas luncheon and purchase quilt raffle tickets.

Sat. Dec. 6, 2008 — A New Type Christmas Dinner — What’s New?

New Place:  Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church Gymnasium, 6914 Wurzbach Road (about ½ mile west of Babcock).

New Time:  Program begins at 11 a,m. Traditional Christmas Dinner at noon catered by Bill Miller, served by LVC volunteers.  Program ends at 2 p.m.  Volunteers to cleanup welcomed.

Dinner Sponsor:  Care Improvement Plus

No Cost to members but CAPACITY LIMITED.  Advance reservations must be made with LVC Special Events Chairperson Dana Schilling at the LVC Nov. 15th meeting.  Reservations also may be made after the Nov. 15 LVC meeting if any space remains, by leaving a message on a cell phone to be specified in the December LVC meeting flier.  Members are limited to two reservations per family.

We are indebted to Care Improvement Plus for enabling our club to hold a Christmas Dinner at their expense, and to the Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church for providing quarters at no cost to the club.

Don’t Miss This Valuable Resource

LVC member Ed Brown, has spent many hours cataloging the vast collection of Books on Tape donated to the club.  There are many new titles, and Ed is prepared to assist you in selecting one or more that will be of interest to you.  Stop at Ed’s table at the club meetings.  Each book is loaned without charge for a limited time, and will play on a regular cassette tape machine.

We Need New Leadership For Our Activities

Both the art class and the craft class have stopped meeting at Warm Springs Resource Center on Saturdays other than our regular meeting day, because each has “lost” its teacher.  Are you talented in either area and would like to share your knowledge?  If so, call Bonnie at 344-1479 for more details.

We Need Bowlers, Too

Also, we need bowlers.  This group has been meeting the 1st and 3rd Monday of every month (except during the summers) at Wonder Bowl on Austin Highway.  If you’re a bowler and would like to join in, call Pat Sutton at 655-4708.

Changed Your Telephone Number?

If so, please call 344-1479 and let us know your new number.  Every month volunteers attempt to make reminder telephone calls to members about upcoming meetings, but many calls can’t be completed because of wrong numbers.  Please help us keep you informed by telling us when you change your number.  And if you’d like to be a caller each month yourself, let us know that, too.  We need lots of help making this club go, and appreciate the help we get.

Foods For Good Eye Health
(Copied from the PRISM, published by CSBPS in Seattle)

• Fish and Shellfish
• Fruits such as apples, apricots, blueberries, cherries, grapefruit,
  peaches, strawberries, raspberries, tangerines
• Beans and legumes (fresh cooked) such as black-eyed peas, butter beans, chick peas, green beans, lentils, lima beans, kidney beans, navy beans
• Breads & Pastas such as high fiber wheat, pumpernickel, whole wheat pasta (and other whole grain breads and pastas)
• Non-Starchy Vegetables such as asparagus, bok choy, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, collard greens, cucumbers, greens, lettuce, mushrooms, okra, onions, peppers, snow peas, spinach, summer squash, sweet potatoes, tomatoes
• Grains such as barley, bulghur, rye, wild rice
• Nuts and Oils such as almonds, peanuts, sunflower seeds, hazelnuts, pecans, walnuts, oils that are liquid at room temperature
• Dairy such as skim milk, low fat cheese, low fat yogurt
• Poultry and Meat such as lean beef, skinless chicken and turkey

Be Ready for Disasters — Preparatory Measures

• Get a battery-operated radio and have a back-up battery.  Being informed is essential in an emergency situation.
• Have back-ups of eye glasses, magnifiers, and canes.
• Circular convex stick-‘em-up battery operated lamps for auxiliary lighting in places like closets and stairwells.
• A large, powerful flashlight with backup batteries.  The LED type throws and especially bright beam.
• Candles, but because of safety issues, they should be of the right type.  The Jewish memorial candle is ideal.  It is a large version of a votive candle, a glass filled with wax and a wick that burns up to 36 hours and gives off lots of light.  Another choice would be a squat, wide decorative candle.  They have a low center of gravity and are not likely to tip over.  Store them in the refrigerator; cold wax melts more slowly.