KTDY: Brain Buster

National Geographics Marriage Quiz

Remembering Nader

De... B
c/o Development Department
Guide Dogs for the Blind
PO BOX 151200
San Rafael, CA 94915

Dear Mrs. B...:

I am writing pursuant to our conversation of Tuesday February 24, 1998. You mentioned that there were several funds I might choose to donate to, or I could decide on how I'd like the money I plan to give used.

Well, I have decided.

I am sending $800 and would like it spent this way.

Puppy Raiser Fund: $44.48

Gidget Fund: $44.48

I would like the remaining $711.04 to be used as we had discussed. It represents $88.88 dollars for each year I had Nader, 8 years in all. I want it used by Sue Solivan for students who might have unexpected expenses while at Guide Dogs, Inc. Perhaps, a piece of luggage got lost or delayed by the airlines and clothes or personal or toilet articles are needed. I have discussed with Mary D... the idea of having this fund named The Nader Fund. I have friends who want to contribute to it. People may already have sent money to Guide Dogs as I got several address requests. I was hesitant to ask them to donate to the fund but hope if money comes in on behalf of Nader, you will consider using it in this manner. I further added to Ms. D... that the Graduate Advisory Board possibly consider recommending that the fund be kept in place as long as donations are forthcoming. I do not want students who use it to feel constrained to repay the money. but if they can at some point and wish to repay any or all of the money used, they should feel free to do so. I also expressed the hope that other guide dog users who have lost or retired a dog might be allowed to make a contribution to The Nader Fund should they wish to honor a dog in this way. An announcement could be placed in Guide Dog News as follows:

In Memorium

Mr./Mrs. Blank wishes to make a contribution to The Nader Fund in memory of his/her dog, Blank--xx/xx/xxxx-xx/xx/xxxx.

Thank you for your attention and consideration. Do keep me informed as to whether this idea will work.

Sincerely,


David Faucheux




Date: 07 Aug 01 20:23 CDT
From: De... B... > INTERNET:DBxxxx@guidedogs.com
Subj: RE: Information needed
To: "'David F'" <104356.2172@compuserve.com>
Date: Tue, 7 Aug 2001 18:21:41 0700
MIME Version: 1.0
X Mailer: Internet Mail Service (5.5.2650.21)
Content Type: text/plain;
charset="iso 8859 1"


Hello David.

Of course I remember you and your donation memorializing Nader in 1998. You will be pleased to know that we did indeed expend all the funds for the purposes intended. It did not last too long as you might imagine with 350 students a year; only 18 months. Actually there was mention of it made in an Alumni Newsletter. We did not get many more donations and we left it open for a while to see.

But hopefully you will find great satisfaction in knowing that with the donations we did receive, many students were made comfortable during their training. This ranged from folks who forgot small things like toothpaste, a sweater for cold training nights, or bedclothes as well as to folks whose lost luggage never turned up and they needed the basics to continue training. A couple of t shirts, pants and tennis shoes. Thank you for making sure others were able to continue their training without interruption. As you know, timing is everything here in class.

As we approach our 60th anniversary we are thinking about how we can create named endowment funds that will be ear marked toward certain programs. So your idea was a good one we want to expand upon. However, our Accounting Department tells us that it is a major administrative and accounting undertaking to set these funds up and manage them, to the satisfaction of the auditors, IRS etc. So we are not going to do it unless we have a significant major gift in hand. We are trying to figure out what "significant" means in terms of dollars and how quickly a fund would get expended. We are working on it.

Stay tuned for more info in 2002.

Hope all is well with you!

Original Message
From: David F [mailto:104356.2172@compuserve.com]
Sent: Tuesday, August 07, 2001 4:06 PM

Dear Mrs. B...:

Perhaps, you will remember my letter of March 1998. I was the guy who had Nader. Nader died due to cancer while I was obtaining an MLIS degree. It was horrible. I donated approx. $800 to a fund to be used for small purchases if a student forgot something at home. I think several friends may have donated too. Just wondered how that went.

With my luck, it might have fizzled. I tried. I even sent a bit to the Chicken Soup for the ... Soul people--hoping for a page in one of the many books they produce. No go.

Anyway, do please let me know how long it lasted. Maybe if I ever hit it big I can donate and do it right and the fund wil last.

Thanks for your time and consideration.

I remain

Yours,
David ...

Mardi Gras

Young adult books and blogging: Two chatcasts on the way

From Tom Peters' publicity about the chatcasts:

Of note are two upcoming programs that will be hosted by David Faucheux, a librarian from Louisiana who happens to be blind:

Monday, February 21, 2005 beginning at 8:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, 7:00 Central, 6:00 Mountain, and 5:00 Pacific:

Young Adults
An introduction to the genres which comprise their literature. Includes an annotated bibliography based on the NLS publications Talking Book Topics and Braille Book Review from January-February 2002 to the present. If you think YA fiction is boring, simplistic, or too cute--think again! There is something for every taste--even adults may find something of interest--perhaps, to share with a child, grandchild, nephew or neice or young friend or as a shorter read and change of pace. Facilitated by David Faucheux.

Tuesday, March 1, 2005 beginning at 8:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, 7:00 Central, 6:00 Mountain, and 5:00 Pacific:

Blogs
On Friday, December 31, 2004, ABC World News Tonight chose bloggers as one of their people of the year. They profiled an 11-year-old video blogger and mentioned the influence of bloggers on the presidential election. I have maintained an audio blog since May 9, 2004 and shall discuss how I got started, why I blog, and where my ideas come from. I shall also play a sample of two of what I think were some of my best items. Come join me and maybe you'll want to start your own blog. Facilitated by David Faucheux.

Audio Navigator: A Review

For further information visit
www.audio-read.com.au

Disability book discussed in 'Meting' chatcast this Wednesday

From Tom Peters, moderator of the Meting of the Minds chatcasts sponsored by the Mid-Illinois Talking Books Center:

Wednesday, February 16, 2005 beginning at 8:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, 7:00 Central, 6:00 Mountain, and 5:00 Pacific:

The Meting of the Minds Online Book Discussion Group will be discussing the nonfiction work The Difference that Disability Makes by Rod Michalko. A blind Canadian professor articulates the way society perceives people with handicaps and usually associates impairment with suffering. The author explores why disabled persons are either feared or considered useless, illustrating with anecdotes from his own experience. Some strong language. RC 56208, 2 cassettes. Read by Brian Conn.

You can access the chatcast by using Internet Explorer and going to the following Web address: http://www.tcconference.com/lib/?auditorium&nopass_field=1

iVocalize software will download automatically and not leave any spyware.

To speak your questions, you'll need a microphone. To hear you'll need a soundcard. You can also ask questions by typing.

The chatcasts are open to disabled and nondisabled people alike.

Cummings interview: Part 3

Cummings interview: Part 2

Interview with YA author: Priscilla Cummings, Part 1

I never know when I send an email out into the cyber-ether, what might transpire. I recently emailed author, Priscilla Cummings; I had read/heard her YA book, A Face First (see annotation below) and wanted to learn more about her and if there would be a sequel. I had located her email address with some assistance from www.infoeyes.org librarians. We exchanged several emails; I learned she had no immediate plans for a sequel but was very interested in doing an interview.

A Face First.

RC 56357.

by Priscilla Cummings.

read by Carolyn Hecker.

1 cassette.

After sixth‑grader Kelley suffers severe face and body burns in a car accident, she doesn't want any contact with her friends or classmates, believing she will never look "normal" again. But her big sister, her mother, and a caring community help Kelley overcome her fears and isolation. For grades 5‑8. 2001.

Memoir-writing

Book: To Our Children's Children: Preserving Family Histories for Generations to Come, by Bob Greene and D.G. Fulford RC 41038

Book: Black Sheep and Kissing Cousins: How Our Family Stories Shape Us, by Elizabeth Stone RC 27654

Web sites:

http://www.iprimus.ca/~pjduane/JournalMemoirWriting.htm

www.tstar.net/~china/Nonfiction/

http://www.storycircle.org/owlcircle/