Hello VIBUG Community,
Thanks to all of those who attended the class and/or the demonstration
today!!!  It is wonderful to see such an active and attentive group of
members and friends.  I wanted to fill you in some upcoming events which we
have planned for VIBUG!!!

Beginning this Thursday at 8:00 P.M., we will be holding a voice chat on
the VIBUG web page. We are starting this weekly chat both to introduce you
to this new technology and to keep in touch between meetings.  Please go to
the VIBUG chat center,
http://www.vibug.org/center.html
and download the free plug-in which is needed to chat.  You will find
instructions on the page for using the software.  If you have any
questions, please feel free to call me at (781) 740-8786.

One of the agenda items today concerned a proposal by the officers about a
recommended change in the VIBUG bylaws to include the webmaster as an
officer in the organization.  You will receive a copy of these proposed
amendments along with the announcement of the May meeting.  We will be
voting on these amendments at the May meeting.  The current bylaws as well
as the proposed amendments will be available for your review on our web
page. Please come and vote on this issue.  Remember that only those who
have paid their dues for the 2000 calendar year are eligible to vote.

Speaking of membership news, I am happy to report that we now have 45 paid
members for FY2000.  For those who have not yet paid their dues but would
like to join, please send your checks for $20 to Jim Roberts, 20 Mt. Vernon
St., Boston, MA  02108.  Thank you for your support.
We are in the process of selecting members for the Nominating Committee.
October elections are just around the corner and we want to ensure that the
committee has sufficient time to identify potential candidates for elective
offices and submit a slate for the membership's consideration.  If you
would like to be considered for a position on the
Nominating Committee, please contact any of the officers:
Amy Ruell, Phone: (781) 740-8786,
 [log in to unmask],
Jeffrey Turner, Phone: (617) 522-5202.
e-mail: [log in to unmask],
Jeanette Kutash, Phone:  (617) 376-6341,
[log in to unmask],
Or Jim Roberts, phone:  (617) 723-3364
[log in to unmask]
Members Pauline Downing and Ginny Alverson are interested in creating a
cookbook which can be sold to raise funds for VIBUG. They are collecting
recipes for this
 publication, which will be produced on disk and will be available for
purchase.  Please send them your favorite old family recipes, (no recipes
from published cookbooks without written permission to avoid copyright
infractions, please.)
You may submit recipes in Braille, on tape, by phone, or by e-mail.  Send to:
Pauline Downing and Virginia Alverson
25 highland avenue
Apt. 1004
Somerville  MA  02143
Home phone: (617) 776-9706
e-mail [log in to unmask]

We are excited to have new members and participants in VIBUG.  In order to
better integrate newcomers into the community, we would like to form a
welcoming committee.  If interested in helping with this activity, please
contact Jeffrey Turner via the contact information listed above.
Please feel free to contact me with any suggestions or questions.  Looking
forward to hearing you on the VIBUG Chat, Thursday, 8:00 P.M.


Amy Ruell, VIBUG President


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