The Promoter – May 2025

Official Publication of the 

North Dakota Association of the Blind

Available in four formats: 

large print, email, braille and cartridge

Editor: Emily Stenberg Brown promoter@ndab.org

Not they who lack sight,
but they who lack vision are blind.

Persons with vision loss will live
a successful, productive life.

“We strive to enhance the way of life for people

Who are blind or visually impaired,

To encourage employment opportunities,

And to educate the public about sight loss.”

TABLE of CONTENTS

From the President

Calendar for 2025

NDAB Monthly Book Club

Welcome to Our New Members!

Save the Date: NDAB Summer Camp August 10-17, 2025

Be Aware! 2025 Call to Convention

Nominations Committee Report 2025

Sports & Rec Roundup

Summer Adventures Using Orientation and Mobility Skills

Summer Reading Courtesy of the NDVS/SB VRC

Williston Wanderings Spring 2025 by Janelle F. Olson

Bismarck & Other News from Robert Westermeyer

Spotlight on NDAB Member: Susan Jorgenson

Spotlight on NDAB Member: Carol Marshall

Spotlight on NDAB Member: Tim Kachel

Development Report, Spring 2025

Legislative & Advocacy Report, Spring 2025

Donations January – March 2025

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

Leadership Roster

Committee Chairpersons

Local News Reporters

Communication Connections

From the President

Dear NDAB Family,

Greetings to you from your president! I am looking forward to seeing you at our NDAB State Convention in Bismarck. As a member, it is our duty to conduct the business of our organization. Much work has been done this past year in all of our committees, and you will have a chance to hear about it at our convention.

I heard some very happy robins singing in my back yard the other day, which was a sure sign of spring, even though we got some snow a few days later. It seems like it has been a long time coming but the calendar tells us that summer is approaching. I have also heard some flocks of geese flying north. We can learn a lot from geese as stated in the article below.

Lessons from Geese

Geese flying in a V formation have always been a welcome sign of spring as well as a sign that heralds the coming of winter. Not only is this a marvelous sight, but there are some remarkable lessons that we can learn from the flight of geese, because all that they do has significance —

• As each goose flaps its wings, it creates an uplift for others behind it. There is 71 percent more flying range in V-formation than flying alone.

Lesson: People who share common direction and sense of purpose can get there more quickly.

• Whenever a goose flies out of formation, it feels drag and tries to get back into formation.

Lesson: It is harder to do something alone than together.

• When the lead goose gets tired, it rotates back into formation and another goose flies ahead.

Lesson: Shared leadership and interdependence give us each a chance to lead as well as an opportunity to rest.

• The geese flying in the rear of the formation honk to encourage those up front to keep up their speed.

Lesson: Encouragement is motivating. We need to make sure our “honking” is encouraging and not discouraging.

• When a goose gets sick or wounded and falls, two geese fall out and stay with it until it revives or dies. Then they catch up or join another flock.

Lesson: We may all need help from time to time. We should stand by our colleagues in difficult times.

See you in Bismarck June 6-8!

Loris Van Berkom
NDAB President

Calendar for 2025

June 6 – 8, 2025 – NDAB Convention, Bismarck, ND

August 10 – 17, 2025 – NDAB Summer Camp at Elks Camp Grassick

September 19 – 21, 2025 – Sports & Rec Retreat, Location TBD

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

NDAB Monthly Book Club

Submitted by Mary Lou Stip

NDAB’s Book of the Month Club meets the first Wednesday of the month at 10 AM and 7 PM on Zoom.

Here is the list of books for the summer and beyond!

May 7th: An Untamed Land (Book 1 of the Red River of the North series) by Lauraine Snelling.  DB: 67616. Led by Christina Powell.

June 4th: Son of the Wilderness: The Life of John Muir by Linnie Marsh Wolf. DB: 58081. Led by Carol Marshall.

July 2nd: The Best of Me by Nicholas Sparks. DB 73766. Led by Mary Lou Stip.

August 6th: Cold Earth by Ann Cleeves. DB 87922. Led by Susan Dahl.

September 3rd: Grave Sight (first book in the Harper Connelly series) by Charlaine Harris. DB 84829. Led by Paula Anundson.

October 1: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Herman Melville. DB 57349. Led by Michele Willman from the Vision Resource Center at NDVS/SB.

November 5: Devotions: The Selected Poems of Mary Oliver by Mary Oliver. DB 94183. Led by Emily Brown.

December 3rd: Tears of the Giraffe (Book 2 of the Number 1 Ladies Detective Agency Series) by Alexander McCall Smith. DB: 57445. Led by Candy Lien.

If anyone is interested in leading a book discussion for a particular month, please let me know by emailing maryloustip@midco.net. Thank you, and happy reading!

Welcome to Our New Members!

Donna Hepper of Bismarck (returning member)

Dondi Sovololik of Rugby (returning member)

Save the Date: NDAB Summer Camp August 10-17, 2025

Submitted by Missy Miller

The NDAB Camp Committee invites you to “Run for the Roses” as we celebrate our 54th annual summer camp at Elks Camp Grassick August 10-17, 2025. I’m sure we all think of the Kentucky Derby when we hear “Run for the Roses”; the phrase however, has a much deeper meaning. According to the dictionary, it refers to a hard-fought or demanding challenge of any kind. This certainly applies to the way we live our lives with sight loss. This is why we are so thrilled Bob Westermeyer and friends have chosen this to be our banquet theme. We invite all to dress up nice as if attending the Derby, fancy hats and all. Or perhaps you’d like to be a horse, a jockey or even a mint julep drink! Whatever you feel comfortable with is fine but do come prepared to have fun!

The purpose of camp is three-fold:

1. To provide an opportunity for people who are visually impaired to connect with others with similar impairments.
2. To help in the process of adjusting to vision loss.
3. To provide an opportunity to learn new skills, techniques, and leisure-time activities to enhance the quality of life.

Eligibility requirements are as follows:

1. Must be at least 18 years of age with vision loss as the primary disability.
2. Must be capable of participating in the program setup for camp.
   •  Must be able to care for one’s personal needs including bathing, dressing, etc.
   • Must be physically able to get oneself around the campgrounds, with the exclusion of difficulty with mobility due to vision loss.
3. Must be cooperative and abide by camp rules.
   • Alcohol and illegal drugs are not allowed. Any violators will be promptly sent home at their own expense.
   • Campers must attend the entire week of camp unless other arrangements have been made with the co-camp directors, or a situation arises, such as an illness or family emergency.
   • Participants must notify one of the directors if leaving for any reason.

4. Respect and consideration must be given towards others.

Camp packets will be sent out June 9.

For more information, please contact camp@ndab.org or call Milissa Miller at (701) 298-8091 or Tim Kachel at (701) 320-3468.

Be Aware! 2025 Call to Convention

Submitted by 2025 Convention Planning Committee

The 2025 Convention Committee invites you to “Be Aware” at our 88th Annual Convention of the North Dakota Association of the Blind. The Convention will be held on Friday, June 6th through Sunday, June 8th at the Ramada Bismarck Hotel, 1400 East Interchange Ave, Bismarck, ND 58501.

A block of non-smoking rooms has been reserved for the price of $139.00 per night. A restaurant and bar, The 701@Ramada, is located at the hotel. The hotel also features a pool and hot tub and a fitness center. Reserve your room by May 23 by calling the hotel directly at 1-800-554-7077. Make sure you mention “ND Association of the Blind” when making reservations to ensure you are booking under the block of rooms.

The Ramada is conveniently located at the intersection of Interstate 94 and U.S. Hwy. 83.

Be Aware

Plan to attend the “Be Aware” Vision Open House on Friday from 3:30 – 6:30 PM at the Ramada. This event will be open to the public and feature vendors who will remind you to Be Aware … you are not alone … others care! There are …

• Others who are blind or low vision
• Organizations who advocate and educate
• Agencies dedicated to serving those with vision loss
• Companies and vendors making technology and aids available

Come and check out all that is available! If you would like more information about the vendor show, contact Zelda Gebhard at (701) 709-0262.

After the vendor show, we will enjoy dinner together right at the hotel.

On Saturday, the business meeting and banquet will be held at the Ramada in their meeting rooms. Both lunch and the banquet dinner will be catered by the restaurant at the Ramada. We will take a break from our business on Saturday morning to listen to local speaker Ryan Botner who promises to be engaging, inspiring, and motivating! During lunch on Saturday, Allan Peterson will lead a legislative luncheon where we can converse with our representatives and advocate for our needs. On Saturday evening, our banquet speaker will be Jason Romero, an author and long-distance runner who also happens to be legally blind. While he will be presenting virtually, we are promising that his story will not only captivate your ears but also perhaps inspire your feet to start running! We will also of course be honoring our award recipients and scholarship winners.

On Sunday morning, we will remember those we lost in the past year during the memorial service. Then we will go on to new business and elections and conclude the 2025 Convention.

Registration is open until May 26. We are asking everyone to register online this year. The link to register was emailed and/or mailed to you in early May. You will be able to pay online after submitting your registration. If you would like help registering online, please call a member of the Convention Planning Committee, and they will be happy to help you.

Please consider bringing a door prize with you to share. This could be something homemade, store-bought, thrifted, or found! We will be drawing door prizes throughout the weekend. If you bring something, please bring it to the registration table when you arrive on Friday.

We hope to see old and new friends make the trek to Bismarck this June! If you have any questions, please reach out to the Convention Planning Committee, which includes:

Brant Adams

Zelda Gebhard

Lexee Steffan

Emily Brown

Nominations Committee Report 2025 

Below are the candidates for the 2025 elections which reads as follows:

• Board Director for a 3-year term: Mary Lou Stip
• Development Director for a 2-year term: Allan Peterson
• Editor for a 1-year term: Emily Stenberg Brown
• Secretary for a 2-year term: Helen Baumgartner

The 2026 ACB Conference and Convention will be held in St. Louis, MO, from Friday, July 24th to Friday, July 31st. Vince Ulstad is on the slate to be our delegate. We will also need to select an alternate delegate. Our alternate delegate will serve as delegate if, for whatever reason, the elected delegate is unable to attend the national convention.

Nominations from the floor at our state convention are welcomed, but please remember only with the members’ prior consent. It is expected that the nominees are knowledgeable of the duties of the position which they seek to obtain. Please contact one of the members of the Nominations Committee (listed below) with any questions you may have, or to receive copies of appropriate manuals or guidelines.

Nominees must meet all of the following qualifications:

1. Have attained the age of 18 and paid annual dues.
2. All elected officers and directors must be a resident of ND during their term of office or a city sharing a common border with its sister city in ND.
3. To avoid conflict of interest, officers shall not hold office while serving as an officer in another consumer organization of the blind.
4. No more than one member from a household shall serve concurrent terms.

Thank you to the aforementioned who have agreed to serve NDAB in a leadership role.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the Nominations Committee – Missy Miller, Rick Feldman, and Janelle Olson

Sports & Rec Roundup

Submitted by Trampes Brown

A spring Sports & Rec Retreat was held in Minot April 4 and 5. Ten participants, 6 of whom are visually impaired, enjoyed a variety of social activities together. On Friday evening, the group met for pizza and games. On Saturday, the fun began with goalball in the new Minot North High School wrestling room. Goalball players were grateful for the mats in this room as it saved many knees from destruction! A big thank you to the Minot High School girl wrestlers who joined us to help navigate the building and played goalball with us! A few additional sighted friends from Minot also joined us and had a blast learning the sport.

The group then headed to the Railroad Museum in downtown Minot where they ate lunch in a meeting room and talked through some issues they were facing. They then toured the exhibits before walking a block over to Escape Point. The group broke into two teams and tried to solve the puzzles in two different escape rooms. One team was successful and completed the challenge within the hour, while the other group had fun but did not finish the challenge in the hour allotted. For dinner, the group picked up subs before heading back to the Clarion Hotel, where the participants from out of the town were staying. This is also where the Saturday night fun happened. Community Rocks, a concert put on by the Minot Community Rocks Orchestra and other local musicians, had something for everyone in terms of music, and everyone enjoyed the rockin’ atmosphere!

We are already planning our fall retreat. It will be held the third weekend of September, the 19 – 21. Mark your calendars, and watch for more information this summer. We always hope more NDAB members can join us. This event is free to anyone who is visually impaired, and only $50 for a sighted plus-one.

Summer Adventures Using Orientation and Mobility Skills

Submitted by Margo Lentz, Orientation and Mobility Specialist, ND Vision Services/School for the Blind

Do you want to feel the warmth of sunshine on your face? Breathe in the fresh air? Enjoy the company of others? Then consider exploring hiking. Hiking is a relaxing activity that helps you slow down and appreciate the world around you. With proper equipment and preplanning, hiking with a visual impairment or blindness is entirely achievable. It offers a great way to explore nature, meet like-minded individuals, and get excellent exercise. Here are some important things to consider before taking that first step:

Planning and Preparation

Start Easy
Begin with shorter, accessible trails to build confidence and experience. Many trails in North Dakota (ND) are ideal for beginners. Consider Turtle River State Park, Lake Bronson State Park (in northwest Minnesota), Icelandic State Park, or Fort Lincoln State Park. If state parks aren’t your preference, the AllTrails app or the Official ND Tourism Guide website can help you discover additional trails across the state.

Emergency Preparedness
Carry a phone, water, first-aid supplies, and a compass. Staying hydrated is essential. A hydration backpack, which can hold up to three liters of water and allows hands-free drinking, is highly recommended.

Trekking Poles
These offer support and aid in navigating uneven terrain. Poles often come with interchangeable tips suited for various trail conditions.

Reflective Gear
Wearing reflective clothing increases visibility, especially in low-light conditions.

All-Terrain Cane
Consider using Awarewolf Gear’s All-Terrain Cane. It’s a rugged, durable mobility aid specifically designed for the blind and low vision community.

Hiking Boots
Invest in hiking boots that provide ankle support and protect against harsh terrain and weather.

Preplan Your Hike
Some trails offer audio descriptions or guided tours. Check out resources like DisabledHikers.com for audio and braille-enhanced trail experiences.

Human Guide
For more challenging trails, consider hiking with a guide. They can assist with navigation and obstacles.

Tips for Guides

Maintain Position: Stay slightly ahead and alert the hiker to hazards such as rocks, uneven ground, or elevation changes.

Describe the Surroundings: Help the hiker visualize the environment by describing key features and scenery.

Communicate Clearly: Use concise language to signal turns, stops, and direction changes.

Set a Comfortable Pace: Ensure the pace suits both of you.

Take Breaks: Allow time to rest and reorient along the trail.

Enjoy the Journey!

Additional Resources:

• Nature for All: Promotes nature access for people with disabilities.
• Braille Mountain Initiative: Provides backcountry adventures for the blind and visually impaired.
• United In Stride: Connects blind and low-vision individuals with sighted guides.
• Disabled Hikers: A nonprofit advocating for disability community and access in outdoor spaces.

Need a Little Inspiration?
Watch “Trail of Trust” on YouTube, which tells the story of Trevor Thomas, also known as “Zero”—a blind man who hiked the entire 2,190-mile Appalachian Trail. His journey is a powerful example of determination and trust.

For more information on hiking, or other O&M-related questions, reach out to Margo at mklentz@nd.gov or (701) 795-2723.

Summer Reading Courtesy of the NDVS/SB VRC
Submitted by Michele Willman, NDVS/SB Vision Resource Center Specialist

Are you looking ahead to warm weather, time at the lake or in the backyard, and summer reading? The Vision Resource Center (VRC) at NDVS/SB has recently added to its collection of large print books and we have many titles that would be great to indulge in on a relaxing afternoon.

Our new memoirs include Educated by Tara Westover, the story of a woman who leaves her survivalist family to get an education and change her life; A Girl Named Zippy: Growing up Small in Mooreland, Indiana, a story of small town American in the 1960s; and Julie and Julia by Julie Powell, the author’s story of cooking every one of Julia Child’s 524 recipes from Mastering the Art of French Cooking in a year.

If westerns are your guilty summer pleasure, we have plenty! Spur to the Smoke by Steve Frazee, Texas Rifles by Elmer Kelton, and The Adventures of Hawke Travis by Eli Colter are just a few of our new additions.

Our mystery collection may be calling to you too. Summer is a great time to indulge in those twists and turns of truth and some spine-tingling thrillers.  We don’t always have the most recent book in every popular series, but we have many books by long-time favorite authors including Lillian Jackson Braun, Mary Higgins Clark, and Anne Perry.

To check out these or any other titles, contact Michele Willman at NDVS/SB at 701-795-2781 or mwillman@nd.gov. Books and most other VRC materials can be sent and returned as Free Matter. You can search our collections by going to Vision Resource Center | North Dakota Vision Services and clicking on the “Search Catalog Now” button in the middle of the page.

Williston Wanderings Spring 2025 by Janelle F. Olson

In this edition you will learn about our trips, hips and slips. Here we go:

After spending Christmas in Minnesota, Loris has been home the rest of the winter trying to keep warm. She attended the adult week at NDSV/SB the last week in March learning many new skills. She will be making two trips to the Orlando area for a college and then high school graduation, and to Fargo for another college graduation. All three events occur in May for three of her grandchildren. After the second Florida trip, she will fly to Palm Springs, California, to enjoy a few days in a time share with her friend Becky. June will find her in Bismarck for the NDAB convention, and Dallas will be her destination in July for the ACB convention. That trip will end in Minneapolis where she’ll attend a niece’s wedding before she finally arrives home. Her biggest stress in all of these trips is packing!

Susan and Glenn are back home from Arizona! If you remember when they returned last spring, they lived in their camper on the farm until October 4 as their son and daughter-in-law were living in Susan and Glenn’s house until their new home, which was being built, was finished. While Susan is not hunting for Easter eggs, she is looking to find her good dishes which she thinks may still be hiding in the camper. We wish you well. Upon their return home, they got in on just a bit of snow falling and Susan was reminded just how pretty the snow can be. They enjoyed reconnecting with family over pizza and playing a game called Hand and Foot. Susan said she will miss convention in Bismarck; a granddaughter chose June 7th for tying the knot. She looks forward to seeing us at camp.

Sheryl has been smack dab in the middle of horrific and constant rain storms in Kentucky. She has been notified numerous times of tornadoes in the area, and because she has no basement, takes shelter in a closet, bringing with her what matters: a Bible and her purse. They had 8.6 inches of rain in just a couple of days. She attends church with her son David and family who live about five miles away. She continues with exercises to get her legs stronger.

Carol and family went on a four-day trip to Washington, D.C., to visit Anna. They saw Arlington Cemetery, the Holocaust Museum and took a pasta making class. Anna is enjoying her job in Senator Hoeven’s office and was happy to see Allan and Zelda who attended the Legislative Forum.

Kathy and Stan enjoyed a fantastic “Larson Family Cruise” from Venice, Italy, to Athens, Greece. Five Larson brothers, the one and only sister, Joyce, some spouses, a niece, and a friend made up the party of fourteen. Joyce turned 70 on January 31, and she wanted to be on a ship with as many family members as possible to celebrate with her! Many miles were covered during the various tours, including climbing up the Acropolis in the center of Athens to see the Parthenon, one of the most famous structures on the hill. Kathy thinks that this hike may have made the final decision that a hip replacement would be taking place in her near future. She had surgery on March 3 and is recovering with weekly PT in Williston and daily exercises at home. It has been said that hip replacement is “a walk in the park,” but Kathy may beg to differ.

Brenda spent twice a week in January and February in PT for her knee. The next step was getting an injection. She says if you are ever told getting a shot in your knee feels just like having your blood drawn, don’t believe it. Ouch! She is hopeful that spring is on the way because she hears birds chirping outside her windows.

I spent the end of January and way into February under the weather with Influenza A, and who knows what else, with many trips to the doctor. I was very glad to have shaken it, being able to attend the adult week session the end of March at NDVS. A great big “thank you” to all of the staff who straightened up my computer, showed me new phone apps, taught me new skills and helped me brush up on old ones. Loris has been after me for years to learn braille, and I have to say it was thanks to Ken in the kitchen who nudged me over the line when he suggested that using braille to label spice bottles would be useful. Loris has signed the teaching contract. Getting back home to my own kitchen, I tried to cook a block of cheese that slipped into a 400-degree oven, landing on the bottom. Ya, not advised. No, I really can’t be too sure how it happened either. I had just finished shredding what I needed, using my box shredder, setting it on the stove, opening the door and there it went! As a P.S., I would like to tell you, “Should you slip using a box shredder, you will likely lose the top layer of skin.” So, what have you learned? Keep track of your good dishes, keep up with your exercises, keep the block of cheese out of the oven, be grateful for shelter out of a storm and birds heralding spring, and always hang on to your purse.

Bismarck & Other News from Robert Westermeyer

 

The Bismarck Supper Club met at China Star in February, Olive Garden in March, and Mayas in April.

A reminder that Sporting Chance, an organization that provides outdoor recreational opportunities for those who otherwise wouldn’t have the chance, will host a fishing event on June 7. The Geyger Fishing Event will take place at Grainer Bottoms near Mandan. A fish fry will follow. For more info, contact J.R. Casper at (701) 226-6578.

Bobby also wanted to share the following information about Spoken Rx again: If you’re like me, your medication list is growing longer. Spoken Rx is an audible service that will read your prescriptions for you. A sticker is placed on the bottom of your container, which is then set on a platform. Push the button with the raised dot and it will read the information out loud. For more information, contact the Bismarck CVS Pharmacy at (701) 255-1335, or your local pharmacy.

Spotlight on NDAB Member: Susan Jorgenson

Each month we profile an NDAB member. This month, meet Susan Jorgenson from Williston.

Tell us about yourself.
Hi, my name is Susan Jorgenson. I was born and raised in Williston, North Dakota. My husband, Glenn, and I met in high school and married between our junior and senior year of college. We were away for two years from the farm for his Army service.

We have four children and their spouses and 14 grandchildren. I am sighted and have been a helper since 2007 at summer camp at Lake Isabel. When first asked to help at camp in August of 2007, I thought it was a once in a lifetime experience. Why? Because a college student could not be found to fill the position. It was harvest on the farm; my husband and family gave the OK sign, and I have continued to attend for 16 years. My hobbies are attending church women meetings locally, in neighboring counties, and statewide.  I enjoy meeting people and making connections.

Why did you become a member of NDAB?
I became a member to help neighbors who were visually impaired.  I held the position of Secretary two years with Michelle Zentz.

What are some of your favorite memories from NDAB events?
One of my favorite memories is of Elsie, from Mandan, at camp.  She was sitting on her bed in deep thought. “Elsie, are you doing all right?” I asked. She shared of this place, Camp Grassick, never having been with others with sight loss. Elsie had been impaired visually for 65 or more years.

I also remember the fun we had putting together a calendar for our 75th year.  Elsie held the cake; it was her 75th year of birth. Thank you, Becky Monroe, for that project!!

Why should someone join NDAB?
I love the camp experience for NDAB members. It is the hardest week for them to attend. Pack and leave surroundings you know for 8 days (Sunday to Sunday). Rise and shine at 7 A.M. and go all day til 9 P.M. Oh, you get a nice nap time from 12:30 to 1:30 P.M. Monday-Friday! There are activities each afternoon and evening, and lots of fun and laughter. The meals: oh my!  We eat at 8, 10:30, noon, 2:30, 6:00, and 8:30.

We attend five classes Monday-Friday, with quite a choice of classes! First is 8:40-9:30, 9:40-10:30, 11:00-11:50. Afternoon 1:40-2:30, 3:00-3:50. 4:00-6:00 is free time and swimming.

The cost of camp is something! Can you guess? Free due to past fundraising and love and care. Membership cost is only $15 a year.

Have you received any awards from NDAB
In 2023, the Ed Christianson award was given to me in Fargo at the Convention. Ed did things for NDAB friends. I never met Ed, but I can say we have done what we do because we can, and we love our friends. NDAB has been a blessing to me.

NDAB’s theme this year is “Be Aware.” What do you think the general public should “be aware” of regarding vision loss or blindness? 
“Be aware” that vision loss or blindness can occur in our lives. There are people to visit, to share, to grow from.  Back in 1975 a neighbor asked me if I could read a daily paper to Delphine Sulsky. I said yes. Del and I would talk on phone; she wanted a friend. I rarely touched the paper news; instead we shared our lives. She was blind due to a tumor from childhood.

Anything else you want to share?
My NDAB friends are very talented. I am thankful they appreciate rides and visits. I enjoy calling Carol while walking outside; she loves hearing the birds singing. It reminds me to listen also.

Spotlight on NDAB Member: Carol Marshall
Each month we profile an NDAB member. This month, meet Carol Marshall from Emerado.

Tell us about yourself.
My name is Carol Marshall-Stottrup. I live about 12-13 miles west of Grand Forks, by Emerado. My husband recently died, last July 7, from open heart surgery. I find myself here as a widow. I am visually impaired. I think my eyes are getting worse. I’ve never been diagnosed with anything, but my retinas have large masses of scar tissue on them. I don’t think I’ll go blind in my lifetime, but some days are worse than others with my vision.

I have two older dogs, border collies, that were my husband’s, that are going to be 15 years old in June. I have four geese, and about 20 chickens, and cats. That’s my agenda every day on the farm – taking care of the animals, rain or shine. I have a garden each summer. I do different things to help me in my garden because of my eye sight. I mark each row with white string and plant directly beneath that string.

What are some of your hobbies?

I love animals. I make sure they’re taken care of. I love to read audio books from BARD and magazines. I like to go on NDAB’s Coffee Chats and keep track of people on there.

Why did you become a member of NDAB?

I became a member during COVID, in 2020. I was enjoying visiting with all the people during NDAB’s calls during COVID. There were two calls a week, Tech Tuesday and a Thursday call. And I really enjoyed book club, meeting with the people on there. I guess it was Shereen who told me I was a member now! So I appreciated that. I loved Shereen and Mickey, and all of the people on there. They were wonderful to be with on a weekly basis.

I learned a lot about technology on those calls, and I am using the knowledge in my everyday life. I never met Mickey in person, but he helped me set up my Victor Stream over the phone. Amy has helped me, and Tracy of course.

What do you consider NDAB’s greatest accomplishment?

I think one of the best things is that they try to get us socially together because that’s where you get your encouragement, when you meet with other people with the same problems.

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

There are a lot of members of NDAB but not many make themselves available during Zoom meetings. There used to be a lot more during COVID. It’d be nice if more people would join the calls.

Why should someone join NDAB?

Sometimes with our disability, we feel isolated because not that many people have these problems. Meeting with people who have these same problems makes you feel encouraged.

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

Just because our eyes are bad, we’re not helpless people. That’s just one aspect of our life. We are people, and we can do a lot of things that you would be surprised at. They just need to credit us with that and allow us to be as independent as we need to be. When someone is helping us, make sure it’s something we need help with, not something we can do on our own. We like to be independent when we can.

Is there anything else you want to share?

I’ve gotten to know a few people pretty well who are on the Zoom meetings. They are good examples to follow, and they are encouraging. I know there are a lot of people out there who I’d like to get know better, so please join those calls.

Spotlight on NDAB Member: Tim Kachel

Each month we profile an NDAB member. This month, meet Tim Kachel from Jamestown.

Tell us about yourself.

Greetings! I am Tim Kachel. I live in Jamestown with my wife, Carol, of 44 years. We have 3 children and 6 grandchildren and are blessed that they all live in the area. My vision loss occurred in 2009 as a result of medicine I was prescribed. I struggled with the loss and adjustment for many years before I found out about NDAB and all of the wonderful people involved with this organization.

What are some of your hobbies?

I have enjoyed many outdoor activities such as hunting, fishing, camping and hiking and skiing. Reading was also a favorite of mine. I also enjoy helping others with their projects, tinkering on craft projects, and helping Carol with all of her gardening projects.

Why did you become a member?

I became a member of NDAB because of the wonderful camaraderie of the members and the feeling of acceptance and understanding. Access to all of the wonderful knowledge of the members is wonderful too. It is an amazing feeling to know that you are not alone in your struggles and that there are others who get what you are going through.

What is your favorite memory from NDAB events?

My first experience was at the NDAB convention in Jamestown. I was amazed at the warm welcome I received! It felt like a door to new possibilities was opened to me. From there, I learned about adult weeks at North Dakota Vision Services in Grand Forks, which I attended a couple of times. I then went to summer camp and to Ski for Light a few years. Summer camp was a wonderful, liberating experience! To be in an environment where you are one-of-many, as opposed to feeling isolated, was awesome! I feel that was truly my start of my new outlook on life. I discovered that vision loss comes in many forms, with many types of grieving for loss and that I was blessed by having some residual vision.

What positions have you served on the NDAB board or helping on certain committees?

I am the co-chair of summer camp with Missy Miller (and Lexee and Allan and Helen). In reality, they do the vast majority of the work, and I do more of the manual work during the week of camp.

What do you consider NDAB’s greatest accomplishment?

In my mind, I see NDAB as filling a much-needed role in the health, happiness and independence of the needs of visually impaired persons in North Dakota. The sharing of personal experiences, contacts for additional help, concern, compassion, and energy is priceless.

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

The main thing I can think of is to do a better job of marketing ourselves across the state. There are many wonderful activities like Dining in the Dark, White Cane Day, and such, but we need to get the information to others who can share it. Perhaps my case is unusual – my vision loss occurred “overnight,” or the fact that I still can be mostly self-sufficient but struggling with life’s everyday tasks and having to quit my work since I couldn’t continue even though “I could still see.” The therapists I worked with after my vision loss either didn’t know about NDAB, or didn’t understand the significance their role plays in the mental health of someone struggling with vision loss. Along with the vast resources of information available to people, we need to get the word out to others.

Why should someone join NDAB?

Well, if you can’t already tell, there are MANY wonderful people, experiences and resources available to members. We are all unique in our journey to an independent, fulfilled life. You can’t tell what is going on inside a person by just looking at them. Being presented with an organization like NDAB, that can support you in so many different ways, is a true blessing!

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

We all need to “Be Aware” of our hidden blessings, the hidden needs of others even if we are struggling, all of the opportunities available to us, all of the wonderful people we have around us, and that we may need to educate others (advocate for ourselves) in ways to help us.

Is there anything else you want to share?

Don’t be afraid! Join NDAB and the wonderful people of North Dakota. Your life will be so much richer!

Development Report, Spring 2025

Submitted by Allan Peterson

A very appreciative THANK YOU to all that helped and/or donated to our 2025 Giving Hearts Day appeal. The income we need to meet our expenses is highly dependent on our ability to fundraise, and Giving Hearts Day has become our primary tool in which we achieve this goal. Our goal annually is always to meet the projected budget that is adopted at NDAB’s Convention in June. Thankfully, the income we need for expenses has continued to meet that side of the ledger.

Accentuating the 2025 Giving Hearts Day (GHD) highlights:

• This year in 2025, GHD was held on February 13 – it was NDAB’s 9th anniversary of our participation in this appeal.
• This year, NDAB raised $25,412.20 from 148 donors that made their donations either online or sent a check that was uploaded into our GHD account on or before February 13, 2025.
• NDAB established a Match Fund account of $20,018 from 34 donors in advance of GHD. Funds in this account are used to match GHD donations dollar-for-dollar up to this total. GHD donations exceeded the Match we set by 114.7%.
• Our GHD total was given a big boost by a $10,000 donation from the Horace Lions Club. Donations from several Lions Clubs contributed significantly to our success.
• 21 donations totaling $2,590 meant for GHD was received after the February 13 GHD cut-off and became what we call “bonus bucks.”
• When the bonus bucks are added to the amount that we received from GHD itself, the grand total is $28,002.57.
• 148 GHD donors + 21 GHD bonus donors = a total of 169 individual GHD donors. Approximately 35 donors that gave in 2024 did not do so in 2025, but we did have a few new donors.
• The GHD January mailer included 3,024 individual names. The cost was $2,995, approximately $0.99 per piece.

A very grateful and appreciative thank you is extended to all who continue to serve on the NDAB Giving Hearts Day Committee and played a pivotal role in our success this year. Special thanks to:

• Rebecca Anderson for her work maintaining the donation records and sending individual thank you messages.
• Michelle Zentz and Zelda Gebhard for all their work to update the donor list.
• Katie Young for her work to prepare the NDAB website for Giving Hearts Day.
• Lilly Dunrud & Emily Brown for their editing and graphic design work.
• Emily Brown for creating messages posted on our Facebook page.
• David Olson and Trampes Brown for their work on the Mail Chimp email messages.
• Brant Adams for maintaining the NDAB website.
• An appreciative thank you to those who joined with me to make the calls to thank donors on Giving Hearts Day: Missy Miller, Emily Brown, Zelda Gebhard, and Lilly Dunrud.
• And THANK YOU to anyone else who I may have missed who helped in any way with this effort.

The total volunteer hours that are devoted to our involvement in Giving Hearts Day is impressive. I cannot thank the Committee members enough for their dedication to this effort!

To attract media and the public’s attention for our participation in Giving Hearts Day this year, we hosted “Bowling While Blind” at Sunset Lanes in Moorhead on January 30, 2025. Approximately 35 guests were present. Most gratifying about the event was the presence of children who are blind together with their parents and to realize they had fun being there. Sighted guests were asked to wear a mask to bowl while bowling without eyesight. They also had the option of wearing masks that simulated eye conditions such as diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, etc. It was held during the early evening, so arrangements were made for pizza and soda for those that wished to dine. A grateful, appreciative thank you to Trampes and Emily for their leadership to help conduct this event. And an appreciative thank you too to Eric Falde for taking videos and conducting interviews to prepare a promotional video we can use as an awareness builder in the future. WDAY-TV and the local Fox-TV channel came to do human interest stories about our event that was shown on their news shows that evening. Many who witnessed this coverage commented on how well this story was presented to the viewing audience. With all that as a takeaway, we can deem the event to have been a highly successful educational and awareness-building opportunity.

Income from donations and fundraising events from Jun 1, 2024 to February 28, 2025 by category:

Walk For Vision $2,955.00

ND Lions Clubs $3,100.00

ND Charitable Gaming Sites $6,850.00

Unclassified Donations $5,441.98 (Individuals & Business Donors)

Giving Hearts Day $28,002.57

Note: The Match Fund was generated from Donors in categories including Lions, Charitable Gaming, unclassified donations, and Walk for Vision.

Challenge to you: Have positive thoughts about fundraising!

Legislative & Advocacy Report, Spring 2025

Submitted by Allan Peterson and Zelda Gebhard

Given that the 69th session of the State Legislature and the 119th session of Congress both convened early in January, we have quite a bit of advocacy activity to report. For better or worse, media coverage of politicians and policy decrees has been unrelenting since last fall’s election. Critics of the political process sometimes say people get the government they deserve – a viewpoint likely based upon whether citizens choose to educate themselves about the issues or whether they even choose to vote.

One of the functions that NDAB can legitimately claim is their right is to advocate for policies that will help people deal with loss of eyesight. Our advocacy work, on behalf of NDAB during this session of the State Legislature and Congress, is based upon the resolutions that we adopted at state convention last summer in Regent.

A brief summary of our advocacy work thus far during this session of the state legislature:

• In accordance with the NDAB resolution made to support the appropriation for North Dakota Vision Services/School for the Blind, we have given both written and oral testimony to support their budget request for the next biennium and supported their request for an additional position in assistive technology instruction.
• In accordance with the resolution to support the appropriation for the Talking Book Program at the State Library, we gave both written and oral testimony to maintain and strengthen the library’s services.
• In accordance with the resolution adopted for the appropriation for the Older Individuals who are Blind (OIB) Program that is administered through the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, we gave written and oral testimony to support their budget request and further made the case that this program is in need of supplemental funding, as this program has not had an increase in financial support since its inception in 1987.

The outcome of these appropriation bills will not be known in full until the end of the state legislative session when the Governor puts his signature on the dotted line.

On January 29, three of us, Zelda and Steven Gebhard, and Allan, represented NDAB at Disability Awareness Day at the State Capitol in Bismarck. This event is routinely hosted by the North Dakota Disabilities Advocacy Consortium and is held sometime while the state legislature is in session. As has been the case in the past, this event proved to be an excellent opportunity in which to connect with legislators and other organizations that represent people with disabilities. The opportunity to witness a floor session in either the House or Senate chamber or a committee hearing is an invaluable lesson on how legislation makes its way to become a law.

Each session of the U.S. Congress runs over a two-year cycle. In conjunction with this cycle, all 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives are up for election every two years. The number of seats in the U.S. House are based upon state population size which accounts for North Dakota’s single seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. In last fall’s election, Julie Fedorchak was elected to this seat, which Kelly Armstrong had vacated to run to be North Dakota’s Governor. Each state in the nation has two U.S. Senators, elected to serve a six-year term. In last fall’s election, Senator Cramer won his election to his second six-year term in the U.S. Senate; Senator Hoeven’s seat was not up for election last fall.

On March 18, Zelda and Allan made visits to the Capitol Hill offices of our North Dakota congressional delegation to advocate for three priorities that would facilitate our access to electronic information. A fourth priority clarified our support for existing services and laws that help and protect people with sight loss and others with disabilities. Our visits were made in conjunction with the American Council of the Blind’s Leadership meetings, which are held annually in the D.C. area sometime in February or March.

Briefly, the four priorities that we brought to the attention of staff in our North Dakota congressional offices were:

• The Medical Device Non-Visual Accessibility Act to ensure that medical equipment that has visual information on a digital display is accessible to people with sight loss.
• The Websites and Software Applications Accessibility Act would establish clear and enforceable accessibility standards for websites and software applications so they could be accessed by people who are blind or have low vision.
• The Communications, Video, and Technology Accessibility Act (CVTA) to update existing requirements for accessible media and video conferencing services.

At last summer’s NDAB Convention, we adopted resolutions in support of each of these three priorities. Although all three were introduced during the last (118th) session of Congress, but, unfortunately, were not acted upon. To be considered by the current 119th session of Congress, they will need to be reintroduced as bills with an appropriate congressional committee.

The fourth priority that we brought to the attention of D.C. staff during our visits was to ask that services and rights that people with sight loss and other disabilities rely on to help them maintain their independence and wellbeing be sustained in the face of projected cutbacks in the federal budget. Primary among these programs are Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security.

Our visits were made with staff members in each of the three North Dakota congressional offices – Senators Hoeven and Cramer and Congresswoman Fedorchak. Although we did not have scheduled visits to the offices of the Wyoming and Montana congressional delegations, we did stop and leave literature about our advocacy goals with these Capitol Hill offices.

The staff members we met with in Hoeven’s and Cramer’s offices were familiar with us because we had met with them in the past and they were familiar with the issues we were promoting. All our visits went well. It bears repeating, we do not have the power to pass legislation ourselves; we must convince our political representatives about the merits of our issues, and most often that takes a lot of time and effort!

The highlight of our Capitol Hill visits was the opportunity we had to visit with Anna Scallon, Carol Scallon’s daughter, who is working as a receptionist in Senator Hoeven’s office and was at the front desk when we entered Hoeven’s office. It was a very, very pleasant surprise!

Hope you read to the end of the report, otherwise you will have missed the very positive surprise we experienced!

Donations January – March 2025 

Submitted by Rebecca Anderson, Treasurer/Registered Agent

Giving Hearts Day (GHD) was supported by many, many generous donors. GHD Bonus includes donations intended for GHD by check or through PayPal but may have arrived after February 13.

Total $33,505.57

GHD $25,412.20

GHD Bonus $5,040.37

Lions $1,200.00

Bowdon Lions Club

Braddock Lions

Halliday Lions

Charitable Gaming $700.00

Bismarck American Legion

Souris Rural Fire Department

Velva Volunteer Fire Department

Other Donations $1,153.00

Anonymous

Thrivent

Anonymous

Jane Cumber

State Bank & Trust of Kenmare

Thrivent

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

March 24, 2025

BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Loris VanBerkom, Lexee Steffan, Rebecca Anderson, Helen Baumgartner, Gerald Byron, Janelle Olson, Elias Youngblom, Allan Peterson and Trampes Brown

GUESTS: Missy Miller, Brant Adams, Mary Stip, Amy Osvold and Michelle Zentz

CALL TO ORDER: Loris called the meeting to order at 7:30 pm via Zoom. Roll call was taken.

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

PUBLIC COMMENT: None

BUSINESS AGENDA:

Secretary: On January 16th, a motion was made by Janelle, seconded by Gerald, to approve the January 13th minutes. MC On Feb 6th, the board was polled to determine support of a request from Morton County Emergency Management for NDAB to purchase safety books in the amount of $16/each for each family in Mandan. The board declined supporting this project.

Treasurer: A motion was made by Allan, seconded by Gerald to accept the January and February Treasurer’s reports. MC One of the CDs at First International Bank was rolled over for 7 months at 4.05% with maturity on 9/25/25.

Finance: Allan reported the income from June 1, 2024 to February 28, 2025 totals $46,349.55. The awareness event at the Bowling Alley was successful.

Membership: Lexee made a motion to approve two returning members: Donna Hepper, VI from Bismarck and Dondi Sobolik, VI from Rugby, seconded by Allan. MC

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

Awards: Mary reported the Ed Christensen Award will be the only award presented this year. The Friend of NDAB will be decided by the Convention Comm.

Dining in the Dark: Janelle reported the next event will be in Bismarck on October 2, 2025.

Family Adjustment Seminar: Janelle updated the board on the history of the Family Adjustment Seminar and why it was stopped. Amy Osvold and Janelle discussed starting the seminar up again via a Zoom format. Over the years, Amy has heard visually impaired people requesting services to assist with family adjustment issues. There would be little financial cost via Zoom. There would be six sessions done over a period of time. Each session would have a different topic. NDAB members would provide the instruction. The person presenting would have to know how to operate Zoom. Amy would serve as a moderator and be the bridge to get people NDVS/SB and DVR work with to possibly attend these sessions. Trampes made a motion to setup a Family Adjustment Seminar Committee, seconded by Elias. MC Amy foresees starting this up in the fall. She will be able to start working on starting the planning for the seminar in late April.

Legislative: Allan & Zelda were in D.C. March 14 – 18. They went to the ND delegation offices to promote the 3 resolutions passed at the 2024 convention and the proposed cuts to Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security. Testimony was given to the ND Legislator in support of funding for NDVS/SB, the OIB Program and the Talking Book Program.

Nominations: The Nominations Committee consists of Janelle, Rick Feldman and Missy Miller. A slate of officers has not been finalized at this time.

Sports & Rec: Elias reported on the Spring Retreat on April 4 – 6. There are currently 8 confirmed registered attendees. Plans are being made for the fall retreat to determine the location.

Camp: Camp will be August 10 – 17, with a theme of Run for the Roses, hosted by Bobby Westermeyer and friends. Classes and instructors are lined up. The list of classes was read.

2025 Convention: The committee is working on contacting vendors. There is a need for someone to lead the Memorial Service.  

UNFINISHED BUSINESS:

Archiving Talent Shows: No report

Storing Manuals: The manuals will be sent to Brant to upload to the website.

Grandpa’s White Cane: The committee has not gotten into any of the schools as of this time. Gerald has been in 4 schools and is waiting on 2 other schools.

NEW BUSINESS:

None

Public Comment: Public comment was opened to guests. Michelle reported the last Family Seminar was in 2011. The committee consisted of the board members and their partners.

NEXT MEETING: June 2, 2025 at 7:30 pm

ADJOURN: Allan made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Lexee.  MC The meeting adjourned at 8:51 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

Past President: Trampes Brown

Legislative Liaison: Zelda Gebhard

Director: Elias Youngblom

Director: Janelle Olson

Director: Gerald Byron

Development Director/Leg. Liaison: Allan Peterson

Historian: Open

Webmaster: Brant Adams

Promoter Editor: Emily Stenberg 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: Elias Youngblom

Public Relations: Zelda Gebhard

Nominations: Janelle Olson

Local News Reporters:  

Bismarck: Robert Westermeyer

Lake Region: Carol Schmitt

Minot: Dianne Giessinger

Williston: Janelle Olson

Fargo: Mary Lou Stip

Grand Forks: Ruth Phalen

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.