Tuesday Topics

This week we will get a chance to review the year that was and look forward to the year that is ahead with Eric Bridges who is Executive Director of the American Council of the Blind. With Eric will be Clark Rachfal who leads our legislative effort at the capitol. This is Clark's first appearance on Tuesday Topics so we will find out some about his background. He is an avid fitness person so I suspect we will hear something about ACB'S efforts to make more equipment used for exercise accessible to our members.

You will, of course, have a chance to ask Questions and to raise issues. What do Eric and Clark think the major accomplishments of ACB were last year. What about 2022? Are there big plans for this year? What are they? How do we accomplish change at a time of political gridlock? Can we get more done at the state and local level? Has the pandemic left unmet needs? Does the new work environment favor or hinder people who are blind? How will the post-covid political environment affect people who are blind? These are, of course, just some of the questions we will probably discuss during our state of the council review!

Find out more at https://acb-tuesday-topics.pinecast.co

Meet some of the members of the ACB awards committees; award recipients; and learn about the people for whom some of the awards are named. How are winners chosen? How can you become involved in the awards process? Recipients must be nominated to receive an award. Thus, you are an invaluable part of the awards process.

Find out more at https://acb-tuesday-topics.pinecast.co

Last week we talked about some of the characteristics of last year. However, we did not come close to discussing all the elements of last year. 2020 seemed like a year when race relations took some steps forward. How was 2021? What did ACB accomplish in 2021? How has service delivery to newly blinded people changed with COVID? What about school for children who are blind? We heard nothing about music from last year! We didn't hear much about movies or television! Are there cool examples you can share? In your states have there been good or bad things that made 2021 stand out? How about in your towns or cities? Is there something that happened to you that made 2021 special. I almost died and that does a lot to change the perspective that one brings to the rest of one's life!

I suppose it may seem that we are looking into the immediate past too much but, for me, examining and understanding what has gone before is the only way to be able to appropriately guess at what is to come. So, as well, we may want to ask what 2021 has left behind for us! Please be a part of Tuesday Topics tonight! I will be very lonely without you!

Find out more at https://acb-tuesday-topics.pinecast.co

This is a reminder for you not to miss being a part of evaluating 2021 now that it's gone! Tuesday Topics will happen for the first time in 2022 on January 4 from 7 to 9 PM. It will in fact be our third attempt to talk about the year that will be was by the time we do the program. Without my knowledge, the Tuesday Topics folks and other friends of mine decided that it would be nice to do an issue of Tuesday Topics consisting of recollections from friends of mine surrounding my birthday. Today I turned 76 so it was a celebration that occurred on my birthday eve. It was wonderful to see how many folks turned up and how many who couldn't be there who sent good wishes. There are lots of heartwarming greetings and stories during the show last night and, while it may seem a little egoistic, I commend it to your attention. I was very surprised and amazed by how many folks came to the birthday bash! Thanks everyone!

On Tuesday January 4 2022 Tuesday Topics will ask all of you to turn up to talk about 2021. 2021 has been quite a year! We have had lots of events occur! There were lots of things we can be proud about and perhaps some things that we would like to have changed. I thought it might be fun to do a really wide-ranging program on the best and the worst. Perhaps it will become the first of an annual happening! What was the best song you heard? What song absolutely drove you crazy it was so bad? What about books? Was there a particularly cool book you read in 2021 which you would like to share? It doesn't have to have been published this year though it would be cool if it was. What about the best television show? What even happened for people who are blind that was cool this year? Was there a big visually impaired bust you'd like to share with us and I am not referring here either to breasts or statues! Did you discover a new app this year that is really cool? Did you find a new store you think we should know about? Did you meet someone you think was cool you'd like to tell us about?

If it seems to you that this show is wide open, you are a discerning participant. Every year has a character all its own! 2021 is no different! If you had to think of a single word for this year, what would it be? Our Tuesday Topic this week is everything 2021! We need you to share your 2021 with us and to comment on our 2021 highlights. Was it a "very good year" or can we hardly wait till it fades into yesterday on January the first!

Find out more at https://acb-tuesday-topics.pinecast.co

This week, many friends of Paul Edwards gather to wish him a happy 76th birthday. This was a big surprise to Paul and it turned out to be a wonderful and memorable 2 hours.

Find out more at https://acb-tuesday-topics.pinecast.co

tonight, then, will be New Year's Resolutions! What can we do in advance to make it more likely we can actually make them more than remembrances of things past was March? What are good resolutions? Have you made some resolutions which you have kept religiously or which you have spectacularly failed to keep? We want to hear about your Resolutions History!

If we exhaust this topic, I thought it might be fun to do a first pass concerning climate change! Is it real? Does it have special consequences for people who are blind? Should ACB be doing anything about it? If so, what? If not, why not?

Find out more at https://acb-tuesday-topics.pinecast.co

I thought it might be fun to see if folks have run across particularly cool presents for blind people this year. I will talk about a few but would welcome calls from sellers of products or folks who have thought of or bought cool presents.

Find out more at https://acb-tuesday-topics.pinecast.co

First, welcome back to the co-chairs of the Audio Description Project Committee, Kim Charlson and Carl Richardson. They have both been guests in the past and have kept you informed of what the ADP Committee is up to at various points over the last year. Paul also welcomes Barry Cronin, who will be playing a major role in the gala. These three folks know more between them about audio description than most of the rest of us put together.

You can support the AD Awards Gala and ACB’s Audio Description Project by donating here or call 1-888-444-8320 to make your donation by phone.

Find out more at https://acb-tuesday-topics.pinecast.co

Get your holiday shopping done. Hear about current ACB affiliate fundraisers and from Leslie Spoone about the upcoming holiday auction.

Find out more at https://acb-tuesday-topics.pinecast.co

All of our discussions will center around holidays! How do blind people feel about Halloween? How do blind parents handle the holiday? What about blind children? What was your experience as a child with Halloween? Did you like it? Were you nervous about it? Did you like parties better than trick or treating?

And then there are other holidays! Thanksgiving! Christmas! Easter! Valentine's day! How are those holidays for people who are blind? How were they for you when you were a child? How about now that you are an adult? Are holidays worse or better for people who are blind nowadays? Join us as we explore celebrating Halloween and other holidays! Perhaps celebration is not the right word!

Find out more at https://acb-tuesday-topics.pinecast.co