Happy 2026 and Happy Birthday, NDAB! We are 90 years old! I wonder if that young piano tuner, Melvin Eckberg, from Jamestown and Miss Bessie Brady, a staff member of the North Dakota School for the Blind at Bathgate, and nine other people had any idea that the organization they established August 23-24, 1936, in Jamestown, would still be going strong 90 years later. I wish I knew more about those eleven individuals. They lobbied the North Dakota legislature to accomplish changes that we still benefit from today.

In 1964, NDAB developed a six-week summer school which met in Fargo. I had just graduated from Williston High School and was very interested in learning braille. I don’t remember how I heard about the summer school, but I attended it. I had sewing, cooking, ceramics, mobility and braille. My braille instructor was a college student from Janesville, MN, and I talked to him at a couple of ACB conventions. It wasn’t until I attended my first NDAB State Convention that I learned that the school had been sponsored by NDAB. The one-week summer camp replaced the summer school in 1971, and the rest as they say is history.

I think about all of the people who came before me, and how they shaped and grew our organization. I am so thankful for their legacy. I challenge each and every one of you to get more involved either with your time and talents or your financial support. We must all work together to continue that legacy for future generations of individuals who are blind or visually impaired.

Loris Van Berkom
NDAB President

2026 Calendar

February 1 Membership Renewal Deadline

March 1 – 6 NDVS/SB Adult Training Week*

April 23 Dining in the Dark, Bismarck

April 24 & 25 Spring Sports & Rec Retreat, Bismarck

May 10 – 15 NDVS/SB Adult Training Week*

June 5 – 7 NDAB Convention at Spirit Lake Casino & Resort, St. Michael

Coffee Chat is held every Wednesday at 10 a.m. on Zoom.

*Contact Ken at NDVS/SB for more info on Adult Training Weeks at NDVS/SB (kdockter@nd.gov, (701) 795-2724)

NDAB Monthly Book Club

Submitted by Mary Lou Stip

Join us at NDAB Book Club on the first Wednesday of the month at 10:00 a.m. The list of books through our meeting in July is below. Happy reading!

February 4

Until I Find You by Rea Frey. DB 117468. Reading time: 9 hours, 39 minutes. Led by Ruth Phalen.

March 4

The Man Who Rode Midnight by Elmer Kelton. DB 27406. Reading time: 10 hours, 2 minutes. Led by Carol Marshall.

April 1

Calling Me Home by Julie Kibler. DB 76861. Reading time: 13 hours, 38 minutes. Led by Sue Dahl.

May 6

Crashing Through: A Story of Risk, Adventure, and the Man Who Dared to See by Robert Kurson. DB 63747. Reading time: 10 hours, 12 minutes. Led by Doug Stip.

June 3

Counting Miracles: A Novel by Nicholas Sparks. DB 124452. Reading time: 10 hours, 49 minutes. Led by Mary Lou Stip.

July 1

James by Percival Everett. DB 120063. Reading time: 7 hours, 52 minutes. Led by Michele Willman.

Welcome to Our New Members!

Marissa Chavez of Dickinson

Lillian Johnston of Bismarck

Joe Jordahl of Fargo

Membership Renewal Reminder

Submitted by Lexee Steffan, Vice President/Membership Chair

NDAB membership renewal forms were sent out near the end of December, so look for them in your email inbox or spam/junk folder, or if you do not have an email address, check your mailbox. If you received an email copy of the form, you can either fill out the Word document and email it back to me or fill out the form online. You may either pay your dues via PayPal online or by mailing a check to: NDAB, P.O. Box 824, West Fargo, ND 58078. If you do not have an email address, please send the completed form, along with dues, in the enclosed envelope to the above address. If you did not receive a form or need help filling it out, feel free to contact me at (701) 260-8914 or lexee@ndab.org as soon as possible. All forms and dues of $15 for adults and $3 for junior members are due no later than February 1^st, 2026. Lifetime members do not need to pay dues. New members, who joined NDAB in 2025, are also exempt from paying dues in 2026. However, if you are a lifetime or new member, and there are any changes in your information, please fill out the membership renewal form. Thank you for your continued membership!

Spring Sports & Rec Retreat Update

Submitted by Trampes Brown

The Sports and Rec Committee will be hosting a spring retreat in Bismarck April 24 & 25. On Saturday, we are planning to invite elementary and middle school students and their families to our activities in an effort to expand NDAB’s opportunities. Goalball, a trampoline park, socializing, and new experiences are just a few of the things we have on the agenda. Please watch your email for more information. You can also check the NDAB website for a registration link soon. Contact Trampes for more information at (701) 389-7982.

Save the Date: NDAB Summer Camp 2026

Submitted by Lexee Steffan

The 55th annual NDAB summer camp will be held at Elks Camp Grassick from August 16 – 23, 2026.The banquet theme will be “NDAB’s 90th Anniversary Celebration,” planned by Allan Peterson and Gerald Byron. Feel free to dress up nice, dress like it’s 1936, or just come as you are, for this momentous occasion! Camp packets will be sent out by June 1, so keep an eye out for them in your mailbox or email inbox. You will also be able to sign up at convention again this year. If you have any questions about camp, please contact Missy Miller at (701) 446-7125 or camp@ndab.org. See you at camp!

Caption: The Walking Group from 2025’s Summer Camp.

NDAB Turns 90 with a Little Help From Our Friends

Submitted by Allan Peterson, Development Director

“With a Little Help From Our Friends,” NDAB will celebrate our 90^th anniversary in 2026. The gifts of time, talent, and treasure from our friends and members continue to sustain the work of NDAB today. Presently the major way we maintain NDAB’s financial health is to participate in the Giving Hearts Day (GHD) appeal.

This year, 2026, will be the 10^th year that we have participated in this regionwide event. Know that it is through your Giving Hearts Day donations that we can continue to assure the viability of NDAB into the future.

To prepare for GHD, participating organizations are required to create a Match Fund of at least $3,000. Match Fund donors are solicited in advance with the intent that their contributions will be used as an incentive for Giving Hearts Day donors. Simply put, money in the Match Fund is used to match dollar-for-dollar donations made by Giving Hearts Day donors.

It is our goal to create a Match Fund of $25,000, and to raise the $25,000 from our Giving Hearts Day donors to reach a grand total of $50,000 through our participation in Giving Hearts Day.

Donors have two basic ways to make a 2026 Giving Hearts Day donation:

Online: Giving Hearts Day donations can be made anytime between Monday, January 12 and Thursday, February 12, 2025. The focus date for Giving Hearts Day is February 12, 2026. The giving period will end at 11:59 P.M on that day. Donations received after this date will not be considered an eligible GHD donation. To make a secure online contribution, go to www.givingheartsday.org and click on the Giving Hearts Day Donate button and then select North Dakota Association of the Blind from among the listed charities. Donations can be made by credit or debit card. Donations must be at least $10 to qualify for the match. All donations are eligible for a tax deduction.
By check: Donations can also be made by check prior to February 12. Write “Giving Hearts” on the memo line, and mail to our treasurer, ATTN: Rebecca Anderson, NDAB, PO Box 824, West Fargo, ND 58078. Checks should be mailed before February 1 so they can be received and counted as a Giving Hearts Day donation.

Gratitude to our Giving Hearts Day Team:

Rebecca for her work to do the job of tracking our donations and sending the thank you notes to our donors. The thank you messages are an extremely important key in keeping donors acknowledged and appreciated. Her work on thank you notes never stops.

Michelle and Zelda for their time and diligence to do updates in our master donor list. This list is vital in that it is the primary tool we use to communicate with donors.

Kaity Young for her work and skills to make our website visually appealing. To Brant Adams for making our website accessible as updates continue to be made.

Emily Brown for the work to post messages to NDAB’s Facebook page about our participation in Giving Hearts Day plus her editing skills. Trampes, David Olson, and Zelda for their work to send messages via Mail Chimp. Mail Chimp has proven to be invaluable to monitor the interest of contacts from our master donor list.

Please note: Online donations can be made beginning on Monday, January 12, 2026. These donations are counted as if they were made on Giving Hearts Day itself and this option continues through Giving Hearts Day on February 12, 2026. So, a wonderful way to lower the stress of donating would be by making an online donation before February 12.

To help celebrate our Giving Hearts Day participation, we are hosting a “Turing 90 with a Little Help From Our Friends” event at the NDSU Crossroads Lutheran Center in Fargo from 4 to 6 PM on February 3. Invitations to participate in this event will be sent to local media, area Lions Clubs, NDAB members, and any others interested in attending this event.

Any questions or comments call or text me at (701) 429-7209 or email me at allan.c.peterson@gmail.com

Save the Date for NDAB State Convention

Submitted by Trampes Brown

Save the Date for NDAB’s 90th Anniversary Celebration and the 2026 State Convention June 5 – 7, 2026! The Spirit Lake Casino & Resort, 7889 ND-57, St. Michael, ND 58370 (near Devils Lake) will be our destination. A block of rooms has been reserved for us at a rate of $99 per night plus taxes and fees. Please call the hotel directly to book your room under the NDAB block at (701) 766-4888. Besides the usual convention business, we will be celebrating NDAB with a 90th birthday party during the weekend. Convention packets will be mailed in early May. If you have any questions about Convention, reach out to Trampes at (701) 389-7982.

Nominations Committee Announcement

Submitted by Janelle Olson, Chair of the Nominations Committee

It is once again time for NDAB to review and fill our leadership roster as we move forward. The slate of candidates must be complete and reported to the board at the spring board meeting and ready for publication by April 10 for the May Promoter in preparation for the election at our June convention.

The nominations committee is seeking candidates for the following positions:

A president to serve a 2-year term.
A vice president to serve a 2-year term.
A treasurer to serve a 2-year term.
A board director to serve a 3-year term.
An editor of The Promoter to serve a 1-year term.
A delegate and an alternate delegate to attend the 2027 ACB Conference and Convention in Jacksonville, Florida, held July 23 – 30. (The alternate delegate will attend the ACB Convention if for whatever reason the elected delegate is unable to attend.)

Anyone who is interested in more information about any of the aforementioned positions may call me at (701) 570-0801. I look forward to visiting with you.

Advocate of the Year Nominations Now Being Accepted

Submitted by Trampes Brown

The Advocate of the Year Award was designed to honor NDAB members who demonstrate NDAB’s mission of advocating for those with vision loss across the state and across the country. This could look like mentoring others with vision loss, speaking about vision loss locally or regionally, and sharing their experiences with others. Submissions should include activities from 2025. The award recipient will be acknowledged at the 2026 state convention. To nominate someone, send your letter of submission to my email, trampes@ndab.org. Please call me if you have any questions at (701) 389-7982.

In Sympathy

Submitted by Todd Fahlstrom

NDAB Family,

It is with heavy heart that I inform you of Mark Ketterling’s passing. Mark passed on December 22, which was actually the same day his father, Albert, passed away 16 years prior. He attended many NDAB camps, and back in 2014, I was able to attend with him as well. Mark’s obituary is reprinted below.

Mark Ketterling

April 16, 1958 – December 22, 2025

Mark Ketterling, 67, Jamestown, ND died Monday, December 22, 2025 at Sanford Hospital in Fargo.

Mark was born April 16, 1958 at Jamestown, ND the son of Albert and Esther (Payton) Ketterling. Mark received his education at Jamestown High School and continued his education in Devil’s Lake Trade School in carpentry.

He moved back to Jamestown where he began working at Western Gear (Collins Aerospace) and later Haybusters currently named Duratech. He enjoyed his carpentry skills, making cabinets and picture frames for family and friends.

He was an avid fisherman and hunter, enjoying camping and riding his motorcycles. He loved fishing with his dad.

His pride and joy was his leader dog, Watson, of 16 years.

He lived his life to the fullest with no boundaries. He was a member of the Church of the Nazarene, Jamestown.

He is survived by his three sisters, Debbie (Ralph) Weber; Juli (Chris) Cottrell; Marcy (Ron) Harvala and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents and 1 sister Diane.

No services are scheduled.

G.R.A.C.E.
Submitted by Amy L. Brunner Osvold, MSW

I was asked to write an article for this issue of the Promoter on coping skills for the new year. I started thinking about that and one of the things that I often tell people is “give yourself grace.” Then I started to think, “Well, what does that mean to someone who has lost vision?”

Webster’s Dictionary defines grace as favor, kindness, or goodwill. Well, isn’t that just some vague fortune cookie- type advice and not the type of reassurance you might have been searching for when dealing with vision loss.

So, I have taken the word grace and created an acronym for words that you as the person with vision loss, your family, friends, and other support people can use as a guide for coping with vision loss.

G – Gentleness. There is a tendency for a person with vision loss to try and hold themselves to the same standard as their sighted peers/colleagues or someone who has had vision loss for years or even decades. This is not a fair comparison. This comparison often leads to the person feeling like a failure and further complicates the grieving process. By being gentle with yourself and taking the small wins along with the big wins, you can help build your self-esteem and confidence. This is also true for individuals who have had vision loss for some time and have lost more vision or whose life circumstances have changed.

R – Respect. Respect starts within. This means we must respect ourselves first. One part of us may have changed – our vision – but that is it. We are still worthy of respect. If we do not respect ourselves first, no one else will either. This includes how you talk to yourself, those conversations you have with yourself either silently or out loud (come on, we all talk to ourselves). Those conversations can have a huge impact on our self-esteem and whether or not we respect ourselves.

It is often easier to feel like we deserve respect from strangers than from family, friends, or other support people. “Boundaries” has become a buzz word for anything that annoys us. Think of boundaries more like a loss of respect. For example, I do not feel respected when the obstacles are not cleared off of the floor. This is not something that annoys me. It is something that could be a danger and because I have spoken about this several times, I do not feel respected.

A – Authentic. By this I mean that every person with low vision or blindness should be their own person. There have been many, many times throughout my life as a person with low vision and as a professional where someone has told me that I need to do/learn something “because that’s what blind people do.” Clients have told me they here this as well. The fact is, there is no wrong or right way to be low vision or blind. I once had a client tell me that I would be so disappointed with them because they are only using their smartphone to text and call rather than all of the things that I use it for. This is not the case at all. What I strive for as a professional is to help North Dakota residents with low vision or blindness achieve their goals, not mine. If a goal is not yours, chances are you are not going to practice the skill. If you don’t practice, you will not retain it. When considering learning something, ask yourself, “Do I not want to learn this because I absolutely do not have any interest or do I not think I can do it?” Those are two very different answers. Being your authentic self is coming up with goals that are meaningful to you and not someone else.

C – Courage. I have told people for years, and I truly mean it, low vision and blindness is not for the faint of heart. It is 24/7. From the minute you get up in the morning to the minute you go to sleep at night, chances are you are using some adaptive skill. Just think about the skills it takes to get ready in the morning. Now add in the normal hustle and bustle of everyday life. It takes courage to get through it all. Furthermore, it takes even more courage to learn a new skill or come to NDVS/SB for an entire week. That is part of the reason we have a Courage Ceremony at the end of every week. Be proud of what you have done and where you are going. When you stumble, look back on where you were and where you are now. Never let anyone take that from you.

E – Encouragement. I wanted to end this one because there are always times when we tell ourselves we can’t do something or someone tells us we can’t/shouldn’t/don’t need to do something. As stated above, if it is something you really do not want to do, and for medical or other reasons you don’t have to do it, don’t. When you feel yourself slipping into that negative self-talk, STOP! Think about or say out loud one thing you have accomplished that you did not think you could. If someone is being negative and not supporting you, set respectful boundaries with them. If that is not possible, try and find positive people to surround yourself with. If you cannot completely avoid negative people, you can limit the time you spend with them or the topics that are discussed.

I hope that G.R.A.C.E. is helpful. As always, I am here if you would like individual peer-to-peer Adjustment to Vision Loss Services that are offered over the phone. I also have small (max 5 people) telephone support groups that meet twice per month. I have a few spaces open in the Men’s, Women’s, and Moms with Vision Loss groups. If you are interested, please contact me as soon as possible at (701) 340-9226 or abrunner@nd.gov.

Fargo-Moorhead-Valley City Member News from Doug & Mary Lou Stip

Hope everybody had a blessed Christmas. Wishing you all a Happy New Year!

November’s coffee time was at the Caribou in West Fargo. A lot of chatter and a good turnout! In December a group of us met at Joe Jordahl’s house for an early Christmas potluck. Great fellowship and lots of good food. The plan for January is to meet at the Caribou in Family Fare.

Paula Anundson from Valley City got a surprise phone call from Tom Capes from Texas.

Not much news from the F-M area as some of them had the flu over the holidays.

Mary and I were busy in December buying and wrapping gifts for kids through Thrivent Action Teams. With the help of our Gateway Lions Club, these gifts were distributed to the Emergency Food Pantry. This is the second year we’ve done this project. A lot of work but very satisfying when it’s all done.

On December 21st, we had a gathering with Mary’s niece and her family, her son Chad and his wife Steph. A lot of chatter, good eating, and of course watching the Vikings game!

I had to work on Christmas Eve day, so Mary went up to Grand Forks with her son to see her granddaugher, Ava, who is attending UND. It was a very enjoyable day for her.

Mary would like to include some recipes in this article:

Cabbage Hot Dish from Camp Grassick

1 lb. hamburger
1 medium onion
Salt and pepper, to taste
1 large bag of shredded cabbage, (or 1/2 head of cabbage)
2 cans tomato soup

Fry hamburger with onion, salt and pepper. Add the cabbage and tomato soup. Mix together, cover and bake at 350 degrees for one hour. Then uncover and bake an additional 15 minutes.

Sausage Cheese Bake

5 eggs, beaten
1 package pork sausage crumbles (or 1 lb cooked Jimmy Dean roll sausage)
1 cup cottage cheese
1 cup Swiss cheese
1 cup cheddar cheese
1/4 cup flour
1/2 tsp. baking powder

Mix together and put in an 8-by-8-inch square pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes.

Barbeque Meatballs

3 lbs. ground beef
1 12-ounce can evaporated milk
2 cups oatmeal
1/2 tsp. chili powder
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
2 tsps. salt or grilled steak or hamburger seasoning
2 eggs
1 cup chopped onion

Combine all ingredients and shape into meatballs. Pan fry until browned or bake in a Corningware dish at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. Drain off excess grease, pour barbecue sauce mixture (see ingredients below) over top and bake an additional 25 minutes, or cook in a crockpot for 1 and 1/2 to 2 hours until hot and onions are done.

Barbeque Sauce

2 cups ketchup
1/2 cup chopped onion
3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 tsp. garlic powder

Inside Out Chocolate Cake

1 box devils food or fudge cake mix
1 3 ounce package instant chocolate pudding mix
2 eggs
1 and 3/4 cup milk
12 once package chocolate chips.

Mix ingredients well by hand. Pour into well-greased Bundt or angel food cake pan. Bake at 350 degrees for approximately one hour. Allow cake to cool for 15 minutes and invert onto plate. Enjoy!

Bismarck & Other News from Robert Westermeyer

The Bismarck Supper Club had their meeting at the Olive Garden in November. December’s meeting is on hold for now due to health and other factors in the group.

Sporting Chance, an organization that provides outdoor activities for those who otherwise would not have a chance has two main events this summer.

Fishing – The Adam Geyger Fishing Event is scheduled for Sat, June 6 from 8 – 12 noon at Grainer Bottoms near Mandan. A fish fry will follow. For more information call JR Casper at 226-6578.
Water skiing – Escape to the Lake, an adapted water-skiing event is scheduled for Saturday, June 20, at Nelson Lake near Center, ND. For more information contact NDAD at 701-775-5577.

Spoken Rx – If you’re like me, your medication list is growing. Spoken Rx, a service through CVS Pharmacy, is an audible system that reads your prescription labels. A sticker is placed on the bottom of your container which is set on a platform. Press the button with the raised dot, and it’ll read the information out loud for you. For more information, contact the Bismarck CVS Pharmacy at (701) 255-1335 or your local pharmacy.

Williston Wanderings

Submitted by Janelle F. Olson

We were off the grid for a bit, but we are back to let you know what we have been up to.

Loris was on the move again when she flew to the San Antonio area to visit her friend Sharon, who used to live in Williston. Sharon bakes ten loaves of starter dough wheat bread every week and shares it with all of her neighbors. Besides shopping and eating, Sharon read Because We Must to Loris. This book was written by Elias Youngblom’s mother, Tracy, which tells the story of her son’s 10-year journey following a head-on crash in 2015 on I-94 by a drunk driver resulting in Elias losing his sight. Loris’s daughter and family visited for Thanksgiving. For Christmas, she traveled by train to St. Cloud to spend several days with her kids and grandkids. She enjoyed attending the movie “Song Sung Blue” sitting in a very plush theater with audio description, something Williston doesn’t have.

In September, Susan and Glenn flew to London. They walked to Buckingham Palace and saw Big Ben. They traveled to Paris by train, going under the English Channel. They saw the Eiffel Tower and also went to Normandy where they attended a ceremony at the American Cemetery, walking among the white crosses looking at names of soldiers and their home states. Susan is glad Glenn was able to be where his uncles had been. They headed back to Arizona on October 27. Their first snowbird stay down south was in December of 2020. She says there is a bit of an adjustment time for her as they travel back and forth. After arriving in AZ this time, she eventually got back into the swing of things with stretching and walking groups and a Bible study on Elijah. Their son Keith was married in ND on New Year’s Eve, a special day for the family as this was also the date her parents were married 79 years earlier. Susan’s aunt had hosted her parents’ wedding reception, serving open-faced peanut butter sandwiches topped with sliced bananas. My, how times have changed! Susan says what seems to have remained the same and what we should celebrate are the ordinary happenings like vacuuming the floors, returning what is used to its rightful place and remembering we are getting just a little older, and hopefully wiser, each day. Susan challenges each of us to step forward in 2026 with smiles and joy, love and kindness for others and ourselves.

Since we last checked in with Brenda, she, too, has been traveling. Her first trip was in October to Henderson, Nevada, for a lovely visit with her cousin. In November, she flew to Colorado with family to help an aunt celebrate her 90^th birthday. She and her siblings were together at the farm for Christmas. This was their second year without their mother who always made the ribs for their Christmas Eve meal. This year the task was in Brenda’s capable hands. She said the ribs did get a little dry, but my guess is they were likely still delicious. Brenda’s travel also includes continued trips to physical therapy and thankfully, she said her leg appears to be getting better. Maybe her next trip will be to the skating rink?

Kathy and Stan enjoyed a beautiful Christmas season, and Kathy says it is her favorite time of the year. Music of the season, lights, decorations and candlelight service at their church on Christmas Eve with kids and grandkids make it all special. Kathy especially enjoys some of the Norwegian goodies that are prepared for the holiday. She makes many loaves of julekake, a delicious Norwegian Christmas bread; cardamom is the secret to its yummy taste. Growing up, it was traditional in Stan’s family to have fruit soup (søt suppe) for dessert on Christmas Eve, so that too became tradition for the Larson family. Lutefisk was always made for the Christmas Eve meal when Kathy and Stan’s children were small, but that changed a bit when a new daughter-in-law joined the family. Swedish meatballs became the main menu. Kathy still prepares lutefisk for Stan, but she’s never learned to eat it, even though she is 100% Norwegian. Stan and Kathy send you best wishes for a wonderful 2026.

My check-in call to Sheryl found her in the kitchen cleaning her knife drawer. Sheryl, do you hire out? Christmas was spent with her son David and family where they shared Mexican Soup, their traditional Christmas Eve meal. Her daughter, who lives in Williston, is dealing with health concerns, and Sheryl asks for our prayers. Once again, she said if she had known moving to Kentucky was going to be as cold as it is, she would have stayed in ND. We say you can come back anytime and be cold here with your NDAB friends.

Carol and family, including Anna who was home from Washington D.C., enjoyed crab legs for their Christmas Eve meal prepared by Jim and Anna. Carol and Minerva have been attending exercise classes held at the Heritage Center. Minerva has also been baking. For Christmas, Carol gifted her father a batch of Minerva’s gingersnap cookies. Another one of Minerva’s specialties is carrot cake, which her six-year-old grandson loves. She has recently traveled to both coasts to visit family and friends.

I have not contributed a “Williston Wanderings” for the past two issues. In July, I attended the ACB Convention as a delegate. My stay in Texas was shortened to quickly return home to be with my husband who became hospitalized in Williston for two overnight stays. A few short days later, we were airflighted to a Bismarck hospital where he stayed for a week. Matthew flew from California and joined us. Hospice arrangements were made to make it possible for Jeff to return home. After nearly three and a half years dealing with health issues, he passed away on July 29, two days short of our 49^th wedding anniversary. While Jeff’s time on this earth had come to an end, we were not yet ready to say goodbye. The grief journey continues with the loving support of family and friends. I daily ask for God’s guidance to keep stepping forward. I spent Christmas and New Years with Matthew and Daniel in Los Angeles. No, it wasn’t sunny, and yes, it rained about 90% of the time. Thankfully, on one of the sunny days, we visited Disneyland, Jeff’s favorite place. We also sat curbside arriving at 6 a.m. on January 1 in Pasadena, for over four hours, in the mostly pouring rain, to watch the Rosebowl Parade, something Jeff had always wanted to do. I will write more about this in a later issue. Minus getting soaked right down to the underwear and socks, it truly was an amazing experience. Matt managed to find a coffee vender while we waited for the parade to begin. I think it was the best cup of coffee I have ever had!

We have shared with you what we have had on our “plates” as the year closed. May we celebrate each sunrise in 2026, and…each day enjoy the best cup of coffee ever!

Spotlight on NDAB Member: Ryan and Jessica Wollan

Each month we profile an NDAB member. This month, meet Ryan and Jessica Wollan from Fargo.

Tell us about yourself.

We are Ryan & Jessica Wollan and we have two boys, Trenton (12) and Titus (10). We live in West Fargo. Our son, Titus is fully blind with no light perception due to a stroke when he was 18 months old.

What are some of your hobbies?

Our family enjoys traveling, often in search of adventures that offer a full sensory experience! We enjoy spending our summer days swimming in the pool or at a beach. The boys love playing and watching sports and you will often find us at Newman Outdoor Field cheering for the FM Redhawks. If the weather forces us inside, you will most likely hear music playing either through the house speakers or live with Titus sitting behind his drum kit.

How long have you been a member of NDAB?

About 2 ½ years.

Why did you become a member?

We wanted to support the blind community in North Dakota. We know that Titus is going to need the community as he grows so it’s important to us to start that connection early.

What is your favorite memory from NDAB events?

We participated in the Bowling While Blind event last winter and had a lot of fun visiting with everyone and nervously trying to bowl with a blindfold on.

What do you consider NDAB’s greatest accomplishment?

We are so new to the organization that it’s probably unfair for us to say what their greatest accomplishment is, but we are really appreciative of the awareness they attempt to spread along with the advocacy they fight for. We’re especially grateful for the wonderful work they did for the blind community and our son out in Bismarck this past legislative session.

Is there anything you think NDAB should add or do differently?

We would love to see a youth sports and rec camp start. One of the biggest challenges we face with Titus is finding an accessible camp and adaptable physical activities he can participate in.

Why should someone join NDAB?

We would encourage people to join NDAB because it is an affordable resource for you or your family member. You can help support an organization whose purpose is to: “Enhance the way of life for people who are blind or visually impaired, to live fulfilling, independent lives.” It is a way for you to stay in-the-know, have a voice and strengthen the community.

NDAB’s theme this year for Giving Hearts Day and the Convention was “Be Aware.” What do you think the general public should “be aware” of regarding vision loss or blindness?

We hope that someday the general public is aware that we are all just people with our own unique challenges in life. Our son is blind and, to him, that’s just part of his life. It doesn’t define who he is. He’s fully capable of doing amazing things in life because of who he is as a person, rather than the old saying of, “That’s really good for someone who is blind.” Titus reads, writes, plays catch with his dad and brother, hits baseballs off a tee, throws darts, uses a pocket knife, shoots archery and bb guns. He is in Cub Scouts, does chores, plays the drums and video games. He does all this because those in his life are aware that he is capable and allow him and encourage him to do so.

Is there anything else you want to share?

There’s a phrase we heard once, “Sight can be a distraction”! With so much going on around us, this is certainly true. Titus has taught us to slow down and pay attention to the world around us, seeing it in a different way. Through him we have learned to get off the sidelines and say “yes” to the opportunities when presented, even when they can be scary or inconvenient. We will encourage all members of NDAB to be active in the community. You never know who or what opportunity might present itself if you are present.

Caption: Jessica, Trenton, Ryan, and Titus pose for a selfie in front of a waterfall and bridge.

Spotlight on NDAB Member: Greg Otis

Each month we profile an NDAB meeting. This month, meet Greg Otis of West Fargo.

Tell us about yourself.

My name is Greg Otis. I live in West Fargo. I’m 72 years old. I’m a veteran. I have 3 adult children and 4 grandchildren. I’ve been retired for the last 11 years. My last job was as the general manager at the Governors Inn in Casselton. On my last day there I was picking up some banquet garbage bags and was carrying them out to the dumpsters. All of a sudden, I had floaters and hemorrhaged in both of my eyes. That was the last day I worked and last day I drove. I went to doctors and had many appointments and surgeries, but I had lost my vision due to a combination of glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy. I am a Type 2 diabetic. I can detect a little bit of hand movement out of a corner of my right eye, so I figure a sliver of my optic nerve must still be functioning. Now, for the past 11 years, I have been living quietly in a townhouse in West Fargo. I have a great group of friends. We eat out and go to movies and attend musicals and plays. We are blessed with Karla Pederson who provides audio description locally for theatre performances. With all the colleges and universities and high schools in the F-M area, as well as the Hjemkomst Center, there are always musicals and plays going on. I also belong to two different vision support groups, one led by the famous Allan Peterson, and the other led by Vince Ulstad, who is also pretty famous. When you get to the end of the road you just have to deal with it – vision loss – and I’ve been dealing with it for 11 years. And I consider myself lucky to have gone blind in the 21st century when we have so much technology to help us in our lives.

What are some of your hobbies?

Music is my fallback and reading books. I loved both of those when I had vision and I’ve fallen back on them now to kill time. I’m blessed to have my entertainment system where I can use audio to run everything. I use a Google device to run my TV, and all my music is run through YouTube. My cable is YouTube TV. I use my voice to run all these devices.

How long have you been a member of NDAB?

8 – 9 years. I’m pretty sure I joined when Todd was running the F-M Vision group.

Why did you become a member?

I’m a joiner. I believe there is strength through numbers. When you’re going to yell from the mountaintop it’s always better to have a choir with you. Always join people like you, that’s what I always say. I’m a big fan of advocacy. When you’ve got a problem, you better start yelling about it because no one else is going to.

Why should someone join NDAB?

Because there is strength in numbers and the education component. When we have our support groups here in town, we usually try to get a speaker that has some relevant educational value so that we can all learn something new.

Is there anything you think NDAB should add or do differently?

I think we should hit the road and visit some of these smaller towns in North Dakota. To me it’s all about education. Go where the people are to raise awareness and raise membership.

Caption: Wearing a brown sweater, Greg sits in a living room with a Christmas tree behind him.

Spotlight on NDAB Member: Shirley Tomlinson

Each month we profile an NDAB member. This month, meet Shirley Tomlinson from Moorhead, MN.

Tell us about yourself.

I’m Shirley Tomlinson. I was born in Detroit Lakes in 1971. I went to public school most of my life. I did have a few helping hands at the School for the Blind but not much. I moved to Moorhead when I was 14. I’ve been living there ever since and getting to know how things work in a bigger town. I joined NDAB about 9 years ago. I was interested in camp and thought I should join. I have a brother and a sister. My brother’s here in Moorhead and my sister lives out in the sticks, about 75 miles away.

What are some of your hobbies?

I love to listen to music. I play a few games on my Echo Dot. I like to go to Ski for Light, which I’m doing again this year. I’ve been going since 2018. First time I went to Ski for Light, I got on the bus, and I couldn’t believe it. I didn’t know whether I should be nervous or what. It was worth it! I also really enjoy the summer camp activities. I’ve been trying to find different activities to do there. I’ve always found things that are fun to do, different things that’ll spark my interest. Boredom is not my middle name.

What is your favorite memory from NDAB events?

I think my favorite NDAB memory is when we had the convention in Fargo, and I decided to stay over at the hotel and help some of the people who lived out of town who didn’t know where to find things. That way they could find out what’s available. I almost felt obligated to since we were hosting it. I really enjoyed being able to help out. I like to assign myself things to do to help out. Don’t wait until someone asks you to do something, just find something that you can help out with.

What do you consider NDAB’s greatest accomplishment?

Being able to get to where we are now and being able to be a helping organization. I think that’s one of the biggest accomplishments – being helpful and being kind to others. I got noticed in one of the Promoters because I was being decent and helped someone in Minot. Not because I had to but because I wanted to.

Why should someone join NDAB?

Because there’s so many interesting things to do. NDAB isn’t just an organization; it’s like a family. We’re a group of friends who help each other. There’s always someone willing to help out.

NDAB’s theme this year for Giving Hearts Day and the Convention is “Getting by with a little help.” Who or what helps you live an independent life as a person with a visual impairment?

I have a few helpers that come to mind. But I also think of NDAB and the help you can receive from each other. If you don’t have any ideas, you can get ideas from others. Like at camp, we’ve been helping each other with our iPhones. We ask, “What is it that you’re trying to do or what is it that you’re trying to accomplish?” and then we work together on it.

Anything else you want to share?

NDAB has been like a second family to me. And I wish I could do more for them.

Caption: Shirley wears a cowboy hat with a red rose tucked into it at the 2025 Summer Camp banquet.

Development Director’s Report, Winter 2026

Submitted by Allan Peterson, Development Director

A total of $23,847.52 has been generated from four NDAB fundraising streams for the seven months that began with the initiation of our current fiscal year June 1, 2025, through the end of December 2025. Totals for these streams are as follows:

Charitable Gaming = $9,250.00
ND Lions Clubs = $2868.00
Walk For Vision = $3,153.59
Individual, business, & other donations = $8,575.57

Notes:

Walk for Vision was held in conjunction with observance of White Cane Awareness Day on October 15, 2025. Letters to help sponsor this event were sent to potential sponsors.

$1,750 was received from the Barry Foundation. Two philanthropic youth groups in the Fargo area nominated NDAB to be the recipient of grants of $1,000 and $750.

NDAB is participating in Giving Hearts Day in 2026. An article about our involvement in Giving Hearts Day 2026 appears elsewhere in this newsletter.

Many thank you acknowledgements to NDAB Treasurer Rebecca Anderson for her work compiling these figures! Her work is an NDAB asset that doesn’t appear in our financial records.

Legislative & Advocacy Report, Winter 2026

Submitted by Allan Peterson and Zelda Gebhard

Happy New Year, NDAB friends! Hopefully this finds that you have made a resolution to advocate for blindness related issues in the new year. If you did, thank you. If you didn’t, it’s not too late!

It is challenging to advocate for issues that affect people with disabilities without appearing to be partisan. Our advocacy cannot express political bias; blindness affects people of all political persuasions, and we are on safe ground if our advocacy does not stray from that focus.

There is no state legislative session this year, but legislators are being called into a short special session in January to determine how to allocate $100 million or more from the federal government for rural health care in North Dakota. It will be interesting to witness how allocations are made and whether these decisions may influence how healthcare is provided for people with disabilities in North Dakota.

The previous legislative and advocacy report was written last fall while Congress was in its longest shutdown ever. The shutdown ended when a short-term agreement was reached to keep the federal government funded until an upcoming pending deadline on January 30, when a decision on federal government spending was to be reached without having to go into another shutdown. The concern expressed here is that the funding decisions in any budget resolution may be very detrimental to health care that is provided to patients with disabilities including people with loss of eyesight.

For better or worse, it is time for another nationwide election in 2026. In preparation for this reality, political parties in North Dakota presently are in the process of seeking and endorsing their candidates for office and soon will hold district and statewide political conventions in preparation for the state primary election that will happen on Tuesday, June 9, 2026. Much more to come about what is included in the primary ballot when it comes into focus closer to the June election.

It cannot be emphasized enough: our advocacy matters, which includes our advocacy that we do in conjunction with the American Council of the Blind (ACB). ACB will hold its Washington, D.C. Leadership Conference including its Legislative Seminar March 6 – 10 at the Sheraton Pentagon City Hotel in Arlington, VA.

ACB’s stated priorities for the 2026 Legislative Seminar are: (1) The Medical Device Nonvisual Accessibility Act, (2) Website and Software Applications Accessibility Act, and (3) Communications, Video, and Technology Act. These priorities are holdovers from previous years; each addresses our need for access to critical visual information. We have passed resolutions in support of all 3 priorities during our 2023 NDAB Convention.

We believe the most important part of the ACB Legislative Seminar is the visits we make to Capitol Hill to visit with our North Dakota congressional delegation. This is important for no other reason than it reminds them of who we are and who we represent among their constituents.

Reminder: NDAB members are also members of ACB. As ACB members you can register for the March ACB Leadership Conference which is being held as a hybrid event. Directions on how to register should have been sent to NDAB members who have an email address.

We neglect to advocate at our own peril. Remember, your advocacy matters, so please do so.

Donations October to December 2025

Submitted by Rebecca Anderson, Treasurer/Registered Agent

Total $13,754.64

Lions $2,668.00

Bismarck North Star Lions

Bowman Lions

Fargo Gateway Lions

Grand Forks South Forks Lions

Jamestown Lions

Lake Metigoshe Lions

West Fargo Lions

Williston Korner Lions

Charitable Gaming $950.00

Edgeley American Legion

Langdon Eagles

Napoleon American Legion

Walk for Vision $3,153.55

Cary Anderson

Doris Anderson

Jane Anderson

James Bloom

Mark Brodshaug

Jacqueline Brodshaug

Jane M Cumber

Gini Duval

AM and JG Dye

John and Carol Fjelstad

Bruce and Lorraine Furness

Marilyn Goos

Lonnie Hass

Loralee and Kenneth Heiser

Danielle Hillebrand

Hometown Credit Union

Irvin Houkom

Thomas Kenville

Judy Lee

Jon and Elaine Lindgren

Christopher Messer

Bruce Nelson MD

Karna and Carolyn Nelson

Carl Oberholtzer

Ruth Phalen

Jane Pittinger

John Postovit

Pat Prindiville

Brian and Evelyn Quigley

Amy Rand

Thomas Saddler Jr

Lori Scheel

Douglas Schindler

Melissa Snyder

Squints LLP- Eyes on Burdick

Gene Taylor

Taylor Lions Club

Chad and Kristen Wolsky

Other Donations $6,825.57

Anonymous

Neil and Nancy Jordheim

Denise Karalis and John Weiss

ACB Quarterly Donation/Walk

State Bank of Kenmare $1,000.00

Thrivent $100.00

Memorials $157.52

Marilyn Hughes in memory of Leonard Iten

Janelle Olson and Loris Van Berkom in memory of Stan Moser

Denis Richardson in memory of Nelson Richardson

North Dakota Association of the Blind, Inc. Board of Directors Meeting Minutes

January 14, 2026

BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Loris Van Berkom, Lexee Steffan, Rebecca Anderson, Helen Baumgartner, Janelle Olson, Elias Youngblom, Mary Stip, Allan Peterson and Trampes Brown

GUESTS: Michelle Zentz, Gerald Byron, Doug Puetz, and Tracy Wicken

CALL TO ORDER: Loris called the meeting to order at 7:32 pm via Zoom. Roll call was taken.

REGULAR AGENDA: Loris read the agenda. Lexee made a motion to accept the agenda as read, seconded by Allan. MC

PUBLIC COMMENT: None

BUSINESS AGENDA:

Secretary: On October 22nd, Allan made a motion, seconded by Mary to approve the October 21st board minutes. MC On November 11th, Lexee made a motion to approve the corrected VP manual, seconded by Mary. MC On November 21st, Janelle made a motion to approve the updated Awards Manual, seconded by Rebecca. MC

On January 5th, a sympathy card was sent to Todd Fahlstrom for the passing of his uncle, Mark Ketterling.

Treasurer: The annual report has been sent for review. Allan made a motion to approve the Treasurer’s Report for October, November and December, seconded by Janelle. MC

Finance: Fundraising since June 1st totals over $24,000. The goal match for GHD is $25,000. The goal donations for this year are $25,000. The theme is “Turning 90 With a Little Help from our Friends”. An email will be sent out soon and a letter will be sent in the mail next week. The total goal fund raising for this event is $50,000. A “Turning 90 With a Little Help from our Friends” event will be held at the NDSU Lutheran Center on February 3rd. This event is open to the public.

Membership: Lexee made a motion to approve three new members: Marissa Chavez, Dickinson, VI; Lillian Johnston, Bismarck, VI; and Joe Jordahl, Fargo, VI, seconded by Trampes. MC

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

Camp Report: The 55th Annual Summer Camp will be held August 16th – 23rd. The banquet will be planned by Allan and Gerald. The theme will be “Our 90th Birthday Celebration”. Camp packets will be sent out by June 1st.

Dining in the Dark: The Bismarck Lions Club is planning a DITD in Bismarck on April 23. A Zoom meeting may be scheduled for the 21st or 22nd of January with the Club President to discuss details. The Radisson in Bismarck is the proposed hotel. The goal is to have 70 – 80 guests, not including table hosts and drivers. Further details will be shared at the next board meeting.

Sports & Rec: A Spring Retreat will be held the Friday and Saturday following DITD in April. The hotel has not been finalized. Registration will be available soon. The Retreat will start Friday night and end Saturday afternoon. Saturday’s events will be opened up to children under 14 who are visually impaired and interested in participating in that day’s scheduled activities.

2026 Convention: Hotel rooms will be $99/night. NDAB’s 90th birthday will be celebrated at the banquet and the focus for the weekend. Other details are being finalized.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS:

Archiving Talent Shows: No report

Grandpa’s White Cane: Mary reported she visited the Wing School and the book was left. A meeting will be scheduled to determine which schools have been contacted.

Updating Manuals: Lexee made a motion to approve the corrected Scholarship Manual, seconded by Janelle. MC Allan made a motion to approve the ACB Delegate Manual, seconded by Mary. MC The Sports & Rec Committee will be working on a Sports & Rec Manual. Janelle will work on the DITD Manual.

Ski For Light Transportation: Four participants will be attending this year; each having paid the $30 transportation fee. Lexee will be contacting the driver next week to set up a schedule to pick up the riders. The $30 paid by the 4 riders will be compensation to the driver for taking the riders to SFL. The event will be held January 25th – 30th.

NEW BUSINESS:

Public Comment: None

NEXT MEETING: March 30, 2026 at 7:30

ADJOURN: Allan made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Lexee. MC The meeting adjourned at 8:38 pm.

Respectfully Submitted, Helen Baumgartner, NDAB Secretary

Leadership Roster

President: Loris Van Berkom

Membership Chairperson/VP: Lexee Steffan

Secretary: Helen Baumgartner

Treasurer/Registered Agent: Rebecca Anderson

Development Director/Leg. Liaison: Allan Peterson

Past President: Trampes Brown

Legislative Liaison: Zelda Gebhard

Director: Elias Youngblom

Director: Janelle Olson

Director: Mary Lou Stip

Historian: Open

Webmaster: Brant Adams

Promoter Editor: Emily Brown

Camp Committee Chair: Missy Miller

Committee Chairpersons:

Awards: Mary Lou Stip

Communications: Trampes Brown

Dining in the Dark: Janelle Olson

Finance: Rebecca Anderson

Scholarship: Tracy Wicken

Sports and Recreation: Trampes Brown

Education and Awareness: Zelda Gebhard

Nominations: Janelle Olson

Local News Reporters:

Bismarck: Robert Westermeyer

Lake Region: Open

Minot: Open

Williston: Janelle Olson

Fargo: Mary Lou Stip

Grand Forks: Open

Communication Connections:

Website: www.ndab.org

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NoDakAB/

Communication submissions: comms@ndab.org

Address: NDAB, PO Box 824, West Fargo, ND 58078

All members are encouraged to submit items of interest to the editor at promoter@ndab.org for publication. Deadline is the 10th of the month prior to quarterly publications of February, May, August, and November.

NDAB is a nonprofit organization which promotes the interest of ND residents who are blind and visually impaired. As a nonprofit organization, we welcome donations to help in advancing the cause of persons who are blind and visually impaired. For more information about NDAB, visit www.ndab.org.

From the President

2026 Calendar

NDAB Monthly Book Club

Welcome to Our New Members!

Membership Renewal Reminder

Spring Sports & Rec Retreat Update

Save the Date: NDAB Summer Camp 2026

NDAB Turns 90 with a Little Help From Our Friends

Save the Date for NDAB State Convention

Nominations Committee Announcement

Advocate of the Year Nominations Now Being Accepted

In Sympathy

G.R.A.C.E.Submitted by Amy L. Brunner Osvold, MSW

Fargo-Moorhead-Valley City Member News from Doug & Mary Lou Stip

Bismarck & Other News from Robert Westermeyer

Williston Wanderings

Spotlight on NDAB Member: Ryan and Jessica Wollan

Spotlight on NDAB Member: Greg Otis

Spotlight on NDAB Member: Shirley Tomlinson

Development Director’s Report, Winter 2026

Legislative & Advocacy Report, Winter 2026

Donations October to December 2025

North Dakota Association of the Blind, Inc. Board of Directors Meeting Minutes

Leadership Roster

Committee Chairpersons:

Local News Reporters:

Communication Connections:

G.R.A.C.E.
Submitted by Amy L. Brunner Osvold, MSW