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New HorizonsWinter 2021Volume 26Number 1
PresidentAlfred Sonnenstrahlpresident@deafseniors.usVice PresidentPhil Aiellovicepresident@deafseniors.usSecretaryEllen Scheppachsecretary@deafseniors.usTreasurerMichael Lockharttreasurer@deafseniors.usPast PresidentNancy Rarusnbrarus@gmail.comBoard MemberRenwick Daytonren_beth@comcast.netBoard MemberSheryl Emerysherylem@gmail.comBoard MemberLance Fischerdsalance@gmail.comBoard MemberRaymond Kilthauraymond@kilthau.usBoard MemberElaine Navratilelaine.navratil@gmail.comEditorial StaEditorMuriel Strasslermurielstrassler@gmail.comAssistant EditorHarriet Loebloebhw@gmail.comIn MemoriamShirley PlattLouis SchwarzProofreaderIrene W. LeighDesign/LayoutNancy BlochNew Horizons is theofcial publication of theDeaf Seniors of America, Inc.Winter 2021 IssueVolume 26, Number 1Table of ContentsDSA Board of Directors2Sonny’s Musings ..............................................................................................3Editor’s Corner .................................................................................................5Sorenson Wavello – Continuing the Connection! .............................................6Letters from Our Readers.................................................................................7COVID-19 & Vaccine Webinar..........................................................................8Book Review: Controlling Our Destiny ...........................................................10A Spoonful of Flavor .......................................................................................12Libraries and You............................................................................................13Paul Taylor: Our Unsung Visionary.................................................................14Kramer Wealth Managers: How Will Your Finances be Impacted? ................16Thank You for Your Donations........................................................................17Report from the Law Committee ....................................................................18New DSA Website ..........................................................................................18Happy New Year 2021 from MDSC!...............................................................20In Memoriam ..................................................................................................23Living through the Pandemic..........................................................................24DSA 2021 Pittsburgh ......................................................................................26
Alfred SonnenstrahlPresident3Happy New Year!With President Joe Biden’s encouragement to usemasks, practice social distancing and effectivelydistribute vaccines – let’s hope we are able to getvaccinated and get out of our homes more often inthe future.DSA Pittsburgh Conference UpdateSpeaking of getting out of our homes, the DSA2021Pittsburgh committee, despite being quarantined,has been taking advantage of Zoom to continuewithout interruption to make sure the upcomingconference will be entertaining and educating for usseniors. The conference is planned for August 28 toSeptember 2, 2021. Check their website forupdates, www.dsa2021pittsburgh.org.If you have questions related to the conference,contact the co-chairs at dsa2021chair@gmail.com.Proposed Bylaws RevisionsDeadlineAccording to our current bylaws, any proposedchanges to the bylaws must be shared withmembers at least 120 days before a scheduledmeeting. Since the scheduled meeting will be heldon Thursday, September 2, 2021, the deadline willbe May 2, 2021.Please review the current bylaws on our website,www.deafseniors.us/bylaws, and share yourthoughts, if any, with Harold Mowl, BylawsCommittee Chair, via email by April 1, 2021 atharoldandmarymowl@gmail.com,COVID and Vaccine WebinarDSA hosted its rst webinar in ASL on January 21,2021. The topic was “COVID-19, Vaccines & YourHealth.” Three medical doctors, Dr. Carl Mirus IV, Dr.Jason Rotoli and Dr. Shazia Siddiqi, all of who areeither deaf or CODA, represented Partners in DeafHealth. They covered a variety of issues including adescription of COVID-19; COVID-19 risks; how tominimize the risks, production and effectiveness ofvaccines; distribution of vaccines, and whether or notvaccines are a cure (they are not, but act to lowerrisks). The program was recorded and is posted onboth our DSA Facebook page and the DSA website,www.deafseniors.us/covidandvaccinewebinar.Without the background support of Phil Aiello, KenBrown, Raymond Kilthau, and Susan Sien, the workleading up to the webinar would not have beenaccomplished. Equally as important, the webinarwas also made possible by the generous support ofseveral sponsors. A big thank you to all involved!Visit pages 8-9 to learn more about the webinar.Website UpdateAnthony Mowl of CHILMARKeting has spent thelast few months redesigning our website,www.deafseniors.us, to make it more user-friendlyand resourceful. If you have any comments, whetherpositive or negative, please share your commentswith us at webcontentadministrator@deafseniors.us.Be safe! Stay well!Sonny’s Musings
5Editor’s CornerI want a house with a crowded tableAnd a place by the re for everyoneLet us take on the world whilewe’re young and ableAnd bring us back togetherwhen the day is done.—The HighwomenHow long has it been since you’ve had a crowdedtable? If you’re like me, it’s been almost a year. Wehave our “pods”—the people we live with in the samehousehold. We socialize in person only with peoplewe know follow the same kind of health practices wedo.Some of us do things with others outside: the beach,boating, golng, going out in RVs, hiking, biking,walking, and other activities that allow us to safelydistance ourselves. Perhaps even eating at arestaurant if there is a well-spaced outdoor eatingarea. Or we do things in Zoom gatherings: cards,family meetings, etc. We adapt, we survive.We can’t wait for the day when things will get back to“normal.” But the facts are slowly becoming moreand more clear. We are in a worldwide transition,which is likely to continue for years to come.Many of us (denitely me!) need to reexamine ourlives and our plans.It’s time to re-prioritize our goals, and to implementthe changes needed to help us not only survive, butthrive in the new normal.As well, it’s a good time to think about others whoare having trouble adjusting to what’s happening nowand what will happen in the next few years. Arethere ways we can reach out? Are there waysorganizations like DSA can help?This will be an exciting challenge for DSA and otherdeaf organizations.Be safe!“Muriel StrasslerNew Horizons EditorIf you want to send an article to New Horizons, the next deadline is April 12.In a Laundromat: Automaticwashing machines. Pleaseremove all your clothes when thelight goes out.In an ofce: Would the personwho took the stepladderyesterday please bring it back orfurther steps will be taken.Seen during a conference:For anyone who has childrenand doesn’t know it, there is aday care on the rst oor.In a London department store:Bargain basement upstairs!Notice in a health food shopwindow: Closed due to illness.Notice in a farmer’s eld: Thefarmer allows walkers to crossthe eld, but the bull charges.Message on a leaet: If youcannot read, this leaet willtell you how to get lessons.On a repair shop door: We canrepair anything. Please knockhard on the door - the belldoesn’t work.Spotted in a safari park:(I sure hope so): Elephants,please stay in your car.Thanks to DSA PresidentAl Sonnenstrahl for thesefunnies.Did I Read That Sign Right?
6Do you know about Sorenson Wavello? Thisrevolutionary feature from SorensonCommunications allows a Deaf person, a hearingperson, and an interpreter to see each othersimultaneously on a Video Relay Service (VRS) callvia Sorenson Relay.Deaf callers do not need to download Wavello – thisfeature is already built into ntouch® for you.A hearing person uses Wavello by rst downloadingthe Sorenson Wavello app from the Apple App Store(iOS) or Google Play store (Android). The hearingperson then uses the Wavello app to register theirvoice phone number and enter the conrmation codethey receive when prompted. The hearing person isnow ready to receive a Wavello invitation during aSorenson Relay call.How does it work for Deaf callers? To initiate aWavello call, a Sorenson Relay call must be madebetween a Deaf person and a hearing person. Whilein the call, Deaf callers can see if the hearing personthey want to talk with has their phone numberregistered with Wavello. If so, the Deaf person caninvite the hearing person to join the Wavello videocall. At that point, the hearing person will receive anotication on the mobile device they used todownload Wavello and register their phone number.This notication invites the hearing person to join thecall and, once the Wavello invitation is accepted, allthree parties – the Deaf person, the hearing person,and the interpreter – can be seen!Sorenson Wavello – Because Relationships areEverything!Continuing theConnection!The old lady handed her bankcard to a bank teller and said,“I would like to withdraw $500.”The teller told her, “Forwithdrawals less than $2,000,please use the ATM.” The oldlady wanted to know why?The teller returned her bankcardand irritably told her, “These arethe rules. Please leave if thereis no other matter. There is a linebehind you.”The old lady remained silent fora few seconds, then handed thecard back to the teller and said,“Please help me withdraw all themoney I have.” The teller wasastonished when she checkedthe account balance. Shenodded her head, leaned downand respectfully told her, “Myapologies Ma’am, you have $5million dollars in your accountand our bank doesn’t have somuch cash currently. Could youmake an appointment and comeagain tomorrow?”The old lady then asked howmuch she could withdrawimmediately. The teller told herany amount up to $250,000.“Well, please let me have$250,000 now,” she requested.The teller did so quickly, thenhanded it very respectfully to herelderly client. The old lady put$500 in her bag and told theteller to deposit the balance of$249,500 back into her account.Don’t be difcult with old people;they spent a lifetime learningskills.Thanks to DSA Vice PresidentPhil Aiello for nding this for us.Don’t Mess With Old People!
7Dear Editor:We always enjoy New Horizons.I read the nice article about Kathy Jankowski and hernew book. That makes me think…wow…and realizethat we now have four new deaf authors and booksin 2020. We are so proud of them!First Kathy Jankowski, with her book “Agatha TiegelHanson Our Places in the Sun”; then Jack RGannon, with “Get Your Elbow off the Horn”; thirdPhil Bravin, with “Controlling Our Destiny”; and fourthAlan Hurwitz, with “Let’s Go In.”Isn’t it wonderful?Rosalyn L. Gannon______________________________________Hi Muriel and Harriet,First of all, I enjoyed the recent issue, which issomewhat different than most issues in the past. I’dlike to share something with you.In Memoriam, page 10: Ewan, Ina P. attended NorthCarolina School for the Deaf, not Maryland Schoolfor the Deaf. I know this for a fact because myparents went to the same school with Ina.Rachel StoneThanks for writing, Rachel. You’re absolutely right.Ina Ewan attended NCAD…. MS______________________________________Hello, Alfred and Muriel:Just wanted to drop a line from Texas to say I reallyenjoyed your Winter 2020 New Horizons issue. I likeall the articles being shared with us on the differenttopics.In addition, Alfred, I appreciate you sharing yourthoughts and musings with the members of DSA andkeeping us in the loop via FB and email blasts.Mary LacySecretary and Newsletter EditorTravis Association of the Deaf Senior CitizensMuriel and Al,Wanted to let you know that I enjoyed the latestissue of New Horizons with its engaging articles.The addition of the cartoons and funny memes wasa nice touch of humor, which is needed during thistime while the rest of the world is going bananas.Great job!David H. Pierce______________________________________Good Morning Ladies!I would be remiss if I neglected to take my hat off toyou gals for the New Horizon face-lift.The contents are versatile with a wide range ofsubjects; the fonts are easy and uid to read - goodfor old eyes! In addition, the layouts are eye-catching; the bold colors get the reader’s attention,and much more. I even laughed hysterically (whichwas unusual as I laugh that hard only at comedicmovies) and some articles touched the marrow ofmy bones!Kudos to you both!Debbie Meranski______________________________________Dear Muriel:We just got our Summer 2020 DSA New Horizonsissue so I perused it with my morning tea. I chose toread it this morning, smile. It’s nice to see that youhave been able to recruit senior citizens to assist youand DSA in putting out New Horizons. Keep up thegood work!!Take care, just wanted to drop in to say hello andthank you and DSA for a well thought out issue.All for access,Sheila MentkowskiContinued on page 9Letters from Our Readers
8Deaf Seniors of America (DSA) hosted its rstwebinar, “COVID-19, Vaccines & Your Health,” viaZoom on January 21, 2021. Close to 400 viewersparticipated in the webinar. DSA President AlfredSonnenstrahl opened the webinar and thankedsponsors for their generous support:CHILMARKeting, Communication Service for theDeaf, Diglo (formerly Harris Communications), DSAPittsburgh, Partners in Deaf Health, SorensonCommunications, T-Mobile Accessibility (formerlySprint), Ultratec, and ZVRS/Purple.President Sonnenstrahl then introduced thepresenters, doctors from Partners in Deaf Health inRochester, NY: Dr. Shazia Siddiqi (deaf); Dr. CarlMirus, IV (CODA); and Dr. Jason Rotoli (deaf). Theyall signed uently.The rst hour of the two-hour program opened withan introduction of COVID-19 and its impact. Thethree doctors shared information on COVID researchand testing, and the production and distribution ofvaccines.Some people have COVID without knowing it. Theycan give it to others by coughing, sneezing or evenjust talking. It takes 2-14 days after being exposedto know if you have caught COVID-19.Symptoms can include a fever over 100.4, a coughor sore throat, a new shortness of breath, and chills,new loss of taste or smell, nausea/vomiting,diarrhea, new headache/excessive fatigue, andcongestion/running nose.Everyone is at risk for becoming infected withCOVID-19. The higher risk groups are people overthe age of 65 and people who live in nursing homesand long-term care facilities. People of all ages areat higher risk for COVID-19 if they have chronic lungdisease, moderate to severe asthma, serious heartconditions, cancer treatment, organ transplantation,immune deciencies, obesity, diabetes, chronickidney disease, or liver disease.Here’s how to help prevent the spread of COVID-19:● Stay at least six feet from other people;● Cover up your cough or sneeze with a tissue,then throw the tissue in the trash and washyour hands;● Wear a cloth face mask covering your noseand mouth;● Don’t touch your eyes, nose and mouth;● Use sanitizing wipes to clean objects andsurfaces;● Stay at home when you are sick; and● Wash your hands frequently with soap andwater for at least 20 seconds.If you do not feel well and go to the hospital, thedoctors will check your oxygen levels; listen to yourlungs; do a chest X-ray or CT scan; give you oxygenthrough your nostrils; or in serious cases, attach youto a ventilator; and administer IV uids.The two main COVID-19 tests are diagnostic (e.g.,swab test) and antibody (blood test).Right now, there are two different vaccines beingused – Pzer and Moderna. (The Johnson andJohnson vaccine may be available soon.) Both ofthese vaccines are 95% effective. With Pzer, youget two shots 21 days apart. Moderna requires twoshots 28 days apart.COVID-19, Vaccines & Your Health
Ruth P. Moore is a retiredteacher of the deaf (15 years)and regional coordinator andcommunication access trainingspecialist at MassachusettsCommission for the Deaf andHard of Hearing (14 years).She also taught as anadjunct assistant professor atHampshire College in Amherst.She resides in Hadley, MA.9You still need to continue to wear a mask aftervaccination. Vaccines do not guarantee completeimmunity.Common vaccine side effects are tiredness, pain orswelling at the injection site, fever, chills orheadache. These are normal. If redness ortenderness at the injection area increases after 24hours or your side effects are worrying you or do notseem to go away after a few days, contact yourdoctor.Vaccine distribution depends on each state. InMassachusetts, for example, seniors over the age of75 are the rst priority. Phase 2 will have vaccinessometime between February and April. Seniors overthe age of 65 are in this phase.During the last hour of the webinar, the doctors tooktime to respond to the many questions viewers had.The information they provided during thepresentation as well as the question and answerportion was very informative and useful. The webinarwill be available on the DSA website(www.deafseniors.us). It’s worth watching.Continued from page 7Muriel:I do like your rst issue as editor of the NewHorizons! A sharp and clean-looking magazine.You do have one goof, though and it’s on your frontcover — Winter 2020 is issue number 1, not 4. Theprevious Fall 2019 issue number was 4, although noone can see the issue number, since it was printedright on top of a lady’s black blouse...sigh.Background info: the former New Horizons editorErnie Hahn (before Susan Sien) showed it as“Winter 2012/2013 – Volume 17, Number 4” underthe masthead. Too confusing.I had Susan change it to the current format, startingthe year with the Winter issue as number 1 and soon, with the Fall issue becoming number 4.Tim JaechThanks, Tim! We xed that….MSNOTE: We enjoy receiving feedback from ourreaders. Let us know your thoughts, ideas, or if wemade a mistake. We like hearing from you!LettersMan Kills Self Before Shooting Wife andDaughter: It took two or three readings before theeditor realized that what he was seeing wasimpossible! They put in a correction the next day.Police Begin Campaign to Run Down JaywalkersNow that’s taking things a bit far!Miners Refuse to Work after Death: No-good-for-nothing’ lazy so-and-so’s!Red Tape Holds Up New Bridges: You meanthere’s something stronger than duct tape?Typhoon Rips Through Cemetery; HundredsDead: Did I read that right?Thanks to DSA President Al Sonnenstrahl forthese funnies.Headline Fails
10Book Review: Controlling Our DestinyWriting this book review brought back memories for me. I was a staff attorney at the National Center for Lawand the Deaf on the Gallaudet University campus during the 1980s and I was at work during the week of theDeaf President Now (DPN) movement in 1988. There are so many different perspectives on the DPN,depending on one’s role at the time; whether a Board member, protestor, member of the media, staff, student,faculty, or a deaf person.Controlling Our Destiny is written from the perspective of aGallaudet University board member, Philip W. Bravin, 30years after DPN. Bravin’s service to Gallaudet began withhis appointment to the Board of Fellows and he was soonafter appointed to the Board of Trustees (BOT). At the ageof 36, he became one of only three deaf BOT members.He explains the role and function of the BOT and how therecruitment and hiring process works at the board level.The foreword by former Gallaudet President I. KingJordan describes the this process as very condentialwith no leaks that he could detect. Jordan also notedthat much of what he read in the book was new to him.There is an overview of the recruitment process: from87 applications received, the candidates werenarrowed down to three nalists, two deaf and onehearing. During the process, there was heavypressure from the deaf community and from thecongressional members on the BOT to considerappointing a deaf candidate to be the nextpresident of Gallaudet.But in the end, the BOT voted to hire ElizabethAnn Zinser, a hearing woman who had nobackground or experience working with deafpeople. The selection was made over aweekend. The students shut the campus downMonday, March 7, 1988, when they learnedwho was selected.The deaf community was ready for thispossibility. Gallaudet students, faculty, andstaff members as well as alumni and othersupporters immediately sprang into action,developing a game plan, putting forth four demands, reaching outto the media, and calling in an impressive lineup of supporters. Bravin describeshow the DPN was metamorphosing from a protest into a genuine civil rights movement. He alsodiscusses how the students and their supporters reframed the issues in ways that even people who had neverheard of Gallaudet could relate to and support.
11The BOT would not budge from its decision and neither would the protestors with their four demands, resultingin a stalemate. Meanwhile, as the faculty voted 147-5 to support the students, the BOT instructed JaneBassett Spilman, chair of the BOT, to stay with the decision.The protestors continued to shut down the campus all week. The media was focused on the protest and onthe campus. Bravin describes in fast paced, fascinating detail, the meetings held by the BOT as it tried toregain control of the campus, and the support for the DPN movement from the three congressional memberson the BOT.On Sunday, March 13, the BOT was nally awarethat this was more than a protest; it was a social andcivil rights movement. They formally acceptedZinser’s resignation. Dr. I. King Jordan was offeredthe position of president of Gallaudet.The book has photos throughout, depicting theDPN events, articles from The Washington Poston the protest, and other documents from deafpeople about the situation. There aresupplemental materials at the end of the book.Particularly fascinating are the letters fromDr. Edward C. Merrill, Jr., with his thoughts ona deaf person as president of the University.Controlling Our Destiny is a fast-paced, wellresearched, and balanced book. It providesa board member’s perspective of the search,recruitment, and nal hiring of a deafpresident for Gallaudet.Controlling Our Destiny: A Board Member’sView of Deaf President NowBy Philip W. BravinPaperback: ISBN 978-1-944838-71-3256 pages, 32 photographs, $27.95E-Book: ISBN 978-1-944838-73-7, $27.95Available from Gallaudet University Pressand Amazon.Sheila Conlon Mentkowski, J.D.,is a retired attorney who enjoystraveling with her husband, Tom.
Eric Scheir lives in Seattle, WA with his husband,Adam Novsam. He currently works as a Deafinterpreter and as a tour guide for Heart Cruises, LLC.And, of course, he loves to cook!12A Spoonful of FlavorFresh Flavors & Tasty AdventuresBest Healthy Turkey ChiliThis healthy turkey chili recipe is a classic recipemade with ground turkey and fresh ingredients. Theentire family will love this recipe!Chili is the best comfort food. It’s hearty anddelicious. This recipe comes together easily andleftovers taste great. It is the best recipe because itpacks plenty of protein and vegetables and can beeasily adapted to t your needs. I use all organicproducts.IngredientsTwo pound package of lean turkey ground meat (cansubstitute vegan or ground beef)Four 14.5 ounce cans of Italian plum tomatoesTwo 28 ounce cans of dark red kidney beans(drain liquid)1 large yellow onion (diced)1 sweet red pepper (diced)1 sweet yellow pepper (diced)1/2 cup tomato paste1 teaspoon chili akes1/4 cup chili powder1 tablespoon olive oil1/2 tablespoon black pepper1/2 tablespoon oregano1 teaspoon cinnamon1 tablespoon cumin1/2 cup red winePreparation InstructionsCook and drain meat. Mix all the ingredients in alarge pot. Cook slowly on medium and stiroccasionally for one hour.* Serve in sourdoughbread which has been carved into bowl.Cook time: After cooking the chili for one hour, allowit to simmer for at least 45 minutes. The longer yousimmer, the more avor.Additional InformationLeftovers: Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up tothree days. Reheat prior to serving.Freezing: Allow the chili to cool. Store the chili in azipped top freezer safe bag or storage container withas much of the air pressed out as possible. Thisrecipe is large so you might need a few bags orcontainers. Store in the freezer for up to four months.Thaw and reheat in the microwave or on thestovetop prior to serving.* Note: You can also use a slow cooker. If so, cookon medium for two hours.
13Throughout the year, there are many food relatedholidays!Food marketers, journalists, and retailers use theseholidays to upsell their products and bring people torestaurants. Bookstores feature the food bookselections on various tables. Libraries include foodrelated literature in book displays.Some food holidays are also the result ofproclamations. According to a 2016 article in theTampa Bay Times (Ever wonder where all thenational food holidays come from?), former PresidentRonald Reagan signed a proclamation (# 5119) onJuly 9, 1984, to declare National Ice Cream Day, andice cream as a “nutritious and wholesome food.” Itfalls on the third Sunday in July every year.For some fun, here are a few winter related foodholidays listed on Foodimentary.com (a food lover’swebsite) that stand out:● National Chili Day – Feb. 25● National Peanut Butter Lover’s Day – Mar. 1● National Meatball Day – Mar. 9● National Crunchy Taco Day – Mar. 21● National Sourdough Bread Day – Apr. 1During the pandemic, I turn to food to experimentand for comfort. At your library, you have a choice ofborrowing print foodie novels or downloading foodieebooks and emagazines.Since my “rewirement,” I have been experimentingwith some delicacies to surprise my husband, who isthe main cook of the house! Although, some foodwebsites do yield fairly good results, I have foundsome nice online gems from the library!Many libraries subscribe to emagazine databases,such as Flipster, RB Digital and Press Reader. Inorder to access the three databases, you rst needto go to your library website to set up a free account,login, and then download for free! For example,Cooking Light, Eating Well, Food & Wine, SouthernLiving, Diabetic Living, Gourmet, Epicure, Delicious,Taste of Home and others can be downloaded fromany of the three emagazine databases.There are some foodie novels, which feature recipes,to tantalize your taste buds. Check with your libraryfor print copies for curbside pick-up or download anebook copy through the Libby app, powered byfor print copies for curbside pick-up or download anebook copy through the Libby app, powered byOverDrive.Here are a few websites that offer suggestions offoodie novels to help spice up your imagination.● GoodReads lists Foodie Fiction Books toconsider (https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/foodie-ction)● Never Enough Novels lists the best FictionBooks for Foodies (https://neverenoughnovels.com/2020/02/13/ction-books-for-foodies/)● Off the Shelf features 11 Delicious FoodNovels to Savor (https://offtheshelf.com/2015/10/11-delicious-food-novels-to-savor/)● Modern Mrs. Darcy shares an article featuringa list of Twenty Fantastic and Flavorful FoodFiction Reads (https://modernmrsdarcy.com/fantastic-avorful-food-ction-book-list/)If you need suggestions or guidance, you can checkwith your library system by email, chat or call themthrough the relay service.For a little added bonus, we have listed here a fewYouTube videos on Deaf Chefs for you to enjoy:● Deaf Chef Josh in Las Vegas, Nevada (https://www.joelbarish.com/videos/nb-theamericas/nb-usa/deaf-chef-josh/)● The Tomato Chef: Deaf Chef Jeff, producedby Maryland Governor’s Ofce for the Deafand Hard of Hearing (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i83IndO42rM)● Zetta Marie Patisserie: The Story ofSuccessful Deaf Pastry Chef, produced byLibraries and YouSusan F. Cohen has recentlyretired from Montgomery CountyPublic Libraries and Maryland DeafCulture Digital Library after 36years of service, where she servedboth as the Head of Adult Servicesand Coordinator, respectively. Shecontinues to enjoy connecting theDeaf community with libraries inher “rewirement.”
14Paul Taylor, the “Father of Relay Services,” passedaway peacefully on the morning of January 11, 2021,with his wife, Sally, and his three children, David,Lucy and Irene, at his bedside. He was the last ofthe TTY (teletypewriter)pioneers for deaf people.When I got my rst TTY in1968, there were only threeTTYs in the DC area. TheSt. Louis Metro area hadthe largest number of TTYs,45 to be exact. One yearlater, the number of TTYs inthe DC Metro areaincreased to 10. St. Louishad over 100. I got curiousand checked further.I learned that the St. LouisTTY network was led byPaul Taylor. I wasfascinated and followed himand his visionary ideas andactual development ofvarious TTY-relatedactivities, including TTYnetworks, TTY answeringservices that eventuallybecame relay services, andTTY news. In 1986, whenhe moved to Rochester, NY,to teach at the National Technical Institute for theDeaf (NTID), he convinced the State of New York toprovide 24/7 TTY relay services.Alan Hurwitz, retired president of GallaudetUniversity and lifelong friend:“Long before TTYs became a reality for the Deafcommunity, Paul worked with a friend at a theatre todevelop captions so that Deaf people could enjoywatching movies. He was also in the process ofdeveloping a mechanism to enable a Deaf person touse a telephone when he became acquainted withthe three men - Jim Marsters, Bob Weitbrecht andAndy Saks (the three “fathers of TTY”). He learnedabout Bob’s passion for ham radio and his recentinvention of a coupler modem for TTY use over atelephone line. Paul became excited and offered towork with Bob, Jim and Andy to spread the newsabout the coupler. He then worked with his wifeSally’s father to make contact with Western Union inSt. Louis to donate obsolete TTYs to the Deafcommunity. Paul rounded up his friends to help himhaul TTYs to his garage and trained us to reconditionthe machines.In addition, he wanted to setup an answering service forTTY users so they could calltheir hearing counterpartsthrough a third person online - this became aforerunner of relay servicesincluding video relayservices. Paul wasconcerned about the lack ofinformation sharing of newswith the Deaf communityTTYs, so he and Sallydeveloped a long loop ofnews typed on telegramtape hanging around in theirbasement. The news wasupdated frequently. Paulalso worked with TDI todevelop a Red Book on howto recondition TTYs anddistributed copies tointerested maintenanceteams throughout thenation.”At the end of the 1987 Telecommunications for theDeaf, Inc. conference, where I (Sonny) participatedas the executive director, Paul approached me andsaid he would like to get involved in creating anationwide TTY relay services network.At that time, Dr. Bill Castle, Dean of NTID, whobelieved that TTY relay services would create manyjob opportunities for deaf people, gave Paul anAmerican Express card that allowed him to y toWashington, DC several times each week toadvocate for these services along with myself, KarenPeltz-Strauss, then of the Gallaudet Center for Lawand the Deaf; and Judy Harkins of the GallaudetTechnology Access Program. As a result, Title IV,requiring all 50 states to have telecommunicationsrelay services (TRS), was inserted in the 1990Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).Paul Taylor: Our Unsung Visionary
15Judy Harkins, retired director of the GallaudetTechnology Access Program:“I rst got to know Paul when he was the keynotespeaker at a conference I hosted in 1988 on relayservices. His remarks were very important becausethis was the rst time we had telephone companiesin the audience, and we needed for them tounderstand relay services. Paul did a magnicentand comprehensive job of explaining the rationale,history, funding, intra-state and inter-state issues,and legislative attempts. He really did set the “keynote” at an important time, before the ADA had comeinto being.“Relay service users were fortunate that he lateragreed to work at the FCC on implementing Title IV.I recall that, during that time, he stayed with Sonny inMaryland, and he was stunned at what it felt like togo backwards. In hishome state of NewYork, he already hada Title IV relayservice, whileMaryland was laggingand he could notfreely make phonecalls to hearingbusinesses andfriends.“On top of all of Paul’sknowledge,commitment, andcontributions, was hiswonderful personality.Paul was one of thenicest people you willever meet. I lovedtalking shop with him.And a bonus of knowing Paul was that I got to knowSally as well, the light of his life and a witty andbright presence in so many people’s lives. My deepcondolences to the family and to all of Paul’s manyfriends and colleagues.”Karen Peltz-Strauss, former lawyer at the GallaudetCenter for Law and the Deaf, retired Director of theFCC Disability Rights Ofce, and author of A NewCivil Right: Telecommunications Equality for Deafand Hard of Hearing Americans:“Paul Taylor was one of a kind. In the late 1980s, Ihad the honor of working with him on a legislativemandate for nationwide relay services. His work wastrailblazing. After the ADA mandate became law, theFederal Communications Commission hired Paul tohelp write the TRS regulations. Paul’sgroundbreaking work has since ensured telephoneaccess for millions of Americans who are Deaf, hardof hearing, and speech disabled. Paul was not onlybrilliant; he was the most kind and gentle personanyone could ever know. I will sorely miss him, andnever forget him.”After the signing of the ADA by President GeorgeH.W. Bush, Title IV was assigned to the FederalCommunications Commission (FCC) to develop TRSspecications. After several negotiations, Dr. Castleagreed to loan Paul to the FCC so that theirpersonnel couldbecome familiar withdeaf communityneeds and thereforebetter able to developeffective and realisticTRS regulations.Linda Dubroof,retired FCCadministrator:“We lost a wonderful,innovative engineer.A man I was proud tocall my colleague andfriend. A true publicservant who helpedus in the FCCimplement theTelecom provisions ofthe ADA. He dubbedme the “mother of all relays” but he was the father ofassistive technology. He taught me so much aboutthe hearing disabled community, technology and life.Paul Taylor, we will miss you.”After completing his work at the FCC, Paul returnedto NTID to spend time with his family and students.Harry Lang, a retired professor and researchassociate at NTID, observed Paul’s work andauthored the book: A Phone of Our Own.Continued on page 17
16With Democrats now in control of Congress, manyare wondering what impact the new administrationwill have on their nances.There’s talk that Biden will raise taxes. Who will - andwon’t - be affected?For individuals, Biden has said he will increase taxesonly on those earning $400,000 or more. For thosewho earn more than $1 million per year, they wouldno longer get special tax treatment for long-termcapital gains on investments.But for those in the middle class or with low income,he has actually proposed some other tax credits thatwould reduce taxes. Examples are tax credits forhealth insurance premiums, childcare, and long-termcare insurance premiums.For individuals, only about 1.8% of the entire USpopulation will see a rise in their taxes under theproposed plan. However, he has also proposed toincrease taxes on corporations from 21% to 28%.Remember, this is just a “wish list.” What actuallygets passed into law is usually very different.What Biden policies will affect my nances?Aside from taxes, the Biden administration is lookingto expand on the Affordable Care Act, including anoption for a public health insurance that would worksimilar to Medicare. He also wants to expand the taxcredits available to help make insurance premiumsmore affordable.Biden has proposed lowering the cost of highereducation by making community college free for upto two years and expanding the expenses that PellGrants can be used for.Biden has proposed big changes to retirement:● Increase the income cap for social securitytaxes so that higher earners will pay moreinto the social security system;● Lower the Medicare age from 65 to 60;● Provide tax credits to people who providelong-term care to their parents or spouses;● Add automatic enrollment in workplaceretirement accounts; and● Change the tax deduction for retirementsavings to a at rate of 26% rather than haveit be based on your personal income taxbracket. This would benet lower andmiddle-income retirement savers and wouldmean less tax savings for those in the highesttax brackets (married couples earning morethan $326,000).Again, these are just his proposals brought up duringthe campaign. Campaign proposals are usuallymore aggressive than what actually gets passedthrough Congress.Any time a new law is passed that could affect yournances, you should look to your nancial advisorand/or tax advisor for guidance.Securities and Investment Advisory Services offeredthrough FSC Securities Corporation, memberFINRA/SIPC. Traditional/Fixed insurance offeredthrough Kramer Wealth Managers, which is notafliated with FSC Securities Corporation. Branchofce: 9099 Ridgeeld Drive, Suite 101, Frederick,MD 21701. PH: 240.379.6929 V. 240.439.6889 VP.Neither Kramer Wealth Managers nor FSC SecuritiesCorporation provides tax advice.How Will Your Financesbe Impacted?
17Thank You for Your DonationsDuring 2020, DSA received over $1,500 in donationsfrom the following:Donalda Ammons, CA*Lioubov Averianova-Olsen, FLGerald Cohen, PAFaye Edwards, GABarbara Fairwood, IL**Nicholas & Elizabeth Fazzolari, PAKerstin Fox, FLGrace Gallaway, AZDonald & Stella Gilliland, TXJoanne Jauregui, CADavid Leonard, MIIrene Leigh, MDOlin & Sanremi Miers, MDRosemary Mikos & Marie Dykes, FLCaroline Miller, CABetty Moers, COFrank Nemshick, Jr., PALarry Ottem, AZDara Overmoyer, FLNancy Rarus, VAKelly Stack, CA* In memory of Ina Ewan**In memory of Van ScheppachDSA is a 501c3 organization and all donations aretax-exempt to the extent allowed by law. If you wishto make a donation, checks can be made payable toDSA and sent to:Mike Lockhart, DSA Treasurer5619 Ainsley CourtBoynton Beach, FL 33437Donations can be made by credit cards and areaccepted through the DSA website at:deafseniors.us/donate. All donations areappreciated and acknowledged.Mike LockhartTreasurerHarry Lang, author of A Phone of Our Own:“Paul was a dedicated pioneer in bringing telephonecommunication to the Deaf community. He set up therst two TTYs in St. Louis, worked with WesternUnion to acquire many more for other deaf people,helped establish a severe weather warning systemfor the Deaf community using the Phonetypeacoustic coupler, developed the electronic C-Phone,and advocated vigorously for telephone relayservices, especially in advancing employmentopportunities. As I wrote in my book A Phone of OurOwn, in January 1988, Paul argued that ‘The soonerthe relay services become unconditionallyaccessible, the much greater the number of jobs willbecome available for the graduates now that thetelephone barriers have come down.’ I share thesorrow of many in the Deaf community over the lossof our friend and advocate.”Thank you, Paul Taylor, for creating opportunities forall deaf people. Videos about Paul and his work:● DSA Lifeline for Deaf People: https://deafseniors.us/lifeline-for-deaf-people-by-al-sonnenstrahl/● MCDHH Show Me Deaf Spotlight - https://bit.ly/3u1YEIvTaylor: Unsung VisionaryContinued from page 15Alfred SonnenstrahlPresident
18Happy New Year! I write to you with three goals inmind:1. Provide an update on the DSA Bylaws,2. Solicit proposed amendments to the Bylaws,and3. Invite members to serve on the BylawsCommittee.In reference to #1 above:● The current Bylaws were amended andapproved during the 2019 DSA Conference inSeattle. They are posted on the DSA website(www.deafseniors.us/dsa-bylaws).● In follow up to a suggestion made at the DSAgeneral meeting on September 7, 2019, adenition for “deaf and hard of hearing” wasinserted in the Bylaws. It can be found underArticle I.● In the general meeting on September 7,2019, the membership agreed to proceedwith the DSA Restructuring Committee’srecommendation to set up “OrganizationalAfliates,” with the understanding that thisnew program may lead to changes andamendments to the Bylaws.In reference to #2:● The Bylaws require proposed amendments inwriting at least 120 days before the next DSAConference.● The next DSA conference, to be held inPittsburgh, will begin on August 28, 2021.● The deadline for proposed Bylawsamendments is May 2, 2021, which is120 days before August 28.● Proposed amendments should be sent tothe DSA Law Committee (c/o, Harold Mowlat haroldandmarymowl@gmail.com)before May 2, 2021.● The Bylaws also require that the proposedamendments be approved by the BylawsCommittee and then made public throughNew Horizons or other social media priorto the next DSA conference.In reference to #3:● Harvey Corson, Andy Lange and I aremembers of the Law Committee. I would liketo add 2 or 3 more people to the committee.● If you are interested in serving on thecommittee, please let me know atharoldandmarymowl@gmail.com.Thank you very much, and I look forward to amost successful DSA conference in Pittsburgh!Report from the Law CommitteeHarold MowlChair, Bylaws CommitteeNew DSA Website
19Recognized as Top SalesAgent in 2020Call Kelly for a free15 minute consultationWant to be in the sunand/or work from home?ASL Realtor | www.kelly.97park.comThinking about whereto retire?Kelly Stephens LangeVP: 904-834-4518Text: 904-315-5922FIND YOURHOME INFLORIDA!AmazonSmile as the same products,prices, and shopping features asAmazon.com.Here’s how you can support DSAat no extra cost:● Go to https://smile.amazon.com● Sign in to your Amazon account orset up a new account● Search for and select Deaf Seniorsof America as your charity● Shop away! Amazon will donate0.5% of your eligible AmazonSmilepurchases to DSADSA Website
202020 was indeed a year of challenges! In spite of thechallenges we faced, we are proud of what we haveaccomplished. The last time the MDSCers gatheredin person at the Senior Center was in February 2020.We are truly grateful to Alfred Sonnenstrahl,President of Deaf Seniors of America (DSA) forsharing their Zoom link with us so that we could meetvirtually. Being an afliate of DSA certainly has itsadvantages! The MDSC Board voted to purchase itsown Zoom account last July 2020 so that we areable to share relevant information of interest to 200+members.The MDSC Board ofcers meet every 3rd Monday ofthe month to plan for the event every 3rd Thursday ofthe month. Then the general board members meetevery 4th Wednesday after the event. We voted toextend our 2019-2020 membership to summer 2021due to the COVID-19 pandemic.Highlights of MDSC HappeningsPresident Leslie Zinza has worked diligently to keepMDSC running. She created a new board positionthis year - a Volunteer Coordinator. She hopes wecan host our very rst in-person gathering at a parktentatively planned for this summer 2021. At ourDecember 2020 event, she presented thePresident’s awards to four members for theirdedicated and signicant contributions to MDSC inrecent years:● Scarlett Joy Larson for her hard work on theSunshine Club for members who celebrate aspecial milestone and for those of us who lost ourloved ones.● Jacqueline “Jackie” Mann for her “behind thescene volunteer work” to make sure there arewarm welcomes when we arrive at the center.● William “Bill” Tipton who served as VicePresident for planning a variety of special eventsand fun activities for two terms.● Janet S. Weinstock for her multiple contributionsas secretary since 2018.Leslie thanked the following MDSCers for their hardwork to make MDSC a resounding success:● Cynthia Pettie who diligently served as Treasurerfrom 2018-2020.● Stephen Brenner who passed away last March23, 2020 on his 83rd birthday for his contributionsto our vast photo and video collections for somany years. Amazingly, MDSC is not the ONLYorganization he kept records of!● Holly Macfadden for coordinating severalsuccessful Holiday Luncheon events. She andher husband Jim moved to The Villages, FLrecently.● Charm Smith for coordinating the DeafBlindinterpreting support so ensure that our DeafBlindmembers have equal access to information.Denitely not an easy task!● Linda C. Tom for her graphic design work on ourmonthly yers for at least four years. We shallmiss her spark of creativity. We wish her and herGallaudet College Class of ‘71 the best reunionwhen they celebrate their 50th anniversary duringthe 2021 Gallaudet Homecoming weekend. Itcame to no surprise to us that she is responsiblefor her class memory book!Vice President Thelma Schroeder, who isresponsible for planning our monthly events,recommended that we purchase our own Zoomaccount so that we can meet virtually anytime wewant. We also are able to access the cool featuresthat Zoom has to offer. Examples include hosting,spotlighting, and splitting screens. Thelma provideda series of training to our members on how to usethe Zoom features – FOR FREE!Secretary Janet Weinstock keeps track of MDSCdocuments via MDSC gmail, updates members, andanswers each email. She keeps a record of MDSCmeeting minutes, yers, etc. in Google drive which isaccessible to the MDSC Board. She also drafted andsent letters to different individuals, agencies, andorganizations on our behalf. She provides assistanceto other board members when needed.Treasurer Cathy Thompson made good use of theremaining restaurant gift cards by coordinating thedrawing and sending the cards to the winners. Thewinners were asked to take a picture of themselvesholding the card to be posted on the MDSC website.Treasurer Cathy drafted a pandemic membershipform with a $20.00 fee for those who wanted to joinMDSC and sent a youtube explaining the interimHappy New Year 2021 from MDSC!
21form until a new membership form isready this summer 2021.Parliamentarian Mike Moore led theprocess of going through each section ofthe bylaws amendments which werepassed with some minor changes. Weused the google form to vote on thebylaws amendments. Mike chairs theInvestment Committee (IMC) which consists of 5members.Volunteer Coordinator Bev Boateng is now in theprocess of designing and ordering a MDSC Boardapparel so that the members can identify us and askus for our assistance during events.Media Coordinator/Photographer Andriana Canninghas been working with our MDSC webmaster MuiJade on updating our website at mddeafseniors.org.Keep an eye out for our new and improved websitein the middle of 2021.Mary Lynn Lally, our liaison between MDSC andthe Maryland Association of the Deaf (MDAD),represented us well on the Maryland AdvisoryCouncil on Deaf and Hard of Hearing (MACDHH).Her term ended recently. She has been serving onthe DSA & NAD Task Force on Aging. She was keyin ensuring that Deaf Senior concerns and needs areone of the ve top priorities: Eliminating Barriers toQuality Care for Senior Citizens at the virtual NADconference last October 2020.We donated to two worthy causes: Visionaries of theCreative Arts, Inc. (VOCA) led by Michelle Banks,CEO, Artistic Director, and President of the Board ofDirectors (visionariesofthecreativearts.org) andDAWN, led by Executive Director Najma Johnsonwho gave a presentation on Elder Abuse inNovember. (deafdawn.org).Monthly GatheringsEvery other month we hosted a members only poll-chat-draw event with a special presentation ofinterest to Deaf Seniors:February: Dr. Carolyn McCaskill gave a fascinatingpresentation on Black ASL and a panel of MDSCersshared their experiences and feelings aboutsegregation in Deaf Schools. We wore our favoriteValentine apparel with colors that symbolize love.Some of us donated home baked goods and winnersof the top three dessert items received agift card.March: Cancelled due to the COVID-19pandemic.April: No gathering due to COVID-19.May: Special Meeting - updates on thebylaws, dues, election of ofcers (we willvote for President/Secretary on odd years and VicePresident / Treasurer on even years.)June: Members Only Chat via Zoom. We electedThelma Schroeder as Vice President and CathyThompson to be our Treasurer.July: Preparing For Your Golden Years with KimBianco Majeri, NAD State Legislative AffairsCoordinator.August: Enlightening Democracy in Deaf Americapresentation with Dr. Brendan Stern, who teachesGovernment at Gallaudet University.September: We met twice in September! At the poll-chat-draw event, the members were quizzed aboutthe state of Maryland and MDSC. Two weeks later,Parliamentarian Mike led the discussion andanswered questions about the Bylaws amendmentsbefore the members voted on them.October: Community Support During COVID-19 withTraciAnn Hoglind, Policy and CommunicationsManager and Jacob Salem, Policy Manager of theMaryland Governor’s Ofce of the Deaf & Hard ofHearing (ODHH). MDSCers learned about how thestate of Maryland can support us and what we cando for others during the pandemic.November: Elder Abuse: What Is It? with NajmaJohnson, Executive Director of DAWN. We learnedthat there are different types of abuse and weremade aware what the warning signs are. Werecognize that we can play an important role inassisting those who are at risk. We receivedrelevant information about the available resourcesin the metro DC area.December: At the Holiday Celebration and Traditionsevent, we donned our favorite festive holiday appareland shared cherished holiday items such as dreidel,menorah, Christmas tree, and wood carved reindeer.Continued on page 23
23Bonura, Dominic V.Date of Death - 9 Oct 2020 (age 84)Big Spring, TXSt. Joseph’s School for the Deaf and FanwoodGallaudet University, Keene State College, andCalifornia State University at NorthridgeEducator, administrator and community advocateMcMahon, Robert PeterDate of Death - 13 Oct 2020 (age 72)Boynton Beach, FLBoston School for the Deaf, Horace Mann School,American School for the DeafWorked for the US Postal Service for 33 yearsActive in Palm Beach County Association of the DeafLentz, Maryellen OstoichDate of Death -10 Jun 2020 (age 96)Hayward, CACalifornia School for the Deaf-BerkeleySchoolteacherCommunity advocateStover, Jacalyn “Jackie” LouDate of Death - 5 Jan 2021 (age 80)Star City, ARAlexander Graham Bell SchoolGallaudet University, Western Maryland College(McDaniel University)Social Security AdministrationTeacher and community advocateIn MemoriamWhat’s Next for Us?On Thursday, January 21, 2021, Dr. Jaime Wilsonpresented on dementia. The event was open tomembers rst and then nonmembers.To celebrate love, self love, and connection, our VPThelma has been planning a variety of excitingactivities for us on Thursday, February 18, 2021.MDSC will sponsor a trip to DSA 2021 Pittsburghnext August 28-September 2, 2021. Check https://www.dsa2021pittsburgh.org for updates.Leslie Zinza is the chair of the Dingo fundraisingevent on Saturday, October 1, 2021. Keep an eyeout for the yer.Our ever popular annual Holiday Luncheon will beheld at Martin’s Crosswinds in Greenbelt, MD onThursday, December 16, 2021 with Barbara Williganas the event coordinator.MDSC Board Members for 2020-2021Ofcers:● President - Leslie Zinza● Vice President - Thelma Schroeder● Secretary - Janet Weinstock● Treasurer - Cathy ThompsonBoard Members:● Volunteer Coordinator - Bev Boateng● Media Coordinator - Andriana Canning● Food Coordinator - Jeff Dunefsky● Trip Coordinator - Barry Harlan● MDAD & MDSC Liaison - Mary Lynn Lally● Parliamentarian/MC - Chair Mike MooreNon-Board Members:● Webmaster - Mui Jade● Sunshine Club Coordinator - Kathleen Todd● Holiday Luncheon Coordinator - BarbaraWilliganMaryland Deaf Senior CitizensContinued from page 21Janet S. WeinstockMDSC SecretaryShirley Platt and Louis Schwarz
24Zoom ChatZoom TalkZoom DemoZoom BingoZoom PokerVP PinochleWhat are those?Those are whatkeep the 80 Deafresidents in SunCity Grand (SCG),a Surprise, Arizonaneighborhood, busyin spite of thepandemic! There isno week without a Zoom “get-together” – we haveone almost every day. We play Poker through Zoom,using Poker Star online, and Pinochle throughVideophones, using the Trickster app online. Twicea month, we play Bingo on Zoom. There is alwayssomething to do, something to talk about, andsomething to share with each other.The COVID-19 pandemic has not stopped usfrom ‘getting together’ through Zoom, VP andFaceTime, and groups of men and women alsoparticipate in outdoor activities such as bikingaround SCG and trails outside of Surprise atleast three times a week. Many others takeleisurely walks on SCG’s walkways and trails.Some play pickleball and others meet at the twoswimming pools, the gyms and on the golfcourses.Three times a month Zoom Chats, run byvolunteers, are held in place of our socialgatherings at one of two SCG RecreationCenters. Thanks go to one of our volunteerswho regularly emails news, activities, andreminders.Once a month Zoom Talks involvepresentations from SCG residents such as:● Most Embarrassing Moments;● 1950’s and 60’s;● Organizing Important Documents;● House One and First Ladies ofGallaudet;● Unforgettable Events;● Identity (ID) Theft and Scams;● Ladies Only: Metabolism; and● My Father I Never Knew: MyUnforgettable Discovery.We had a special speaker fromFlorida on “Life Planning forSeniors.” We also played “Triviaabout SCG” on Kahoot! on Zoom.One Sunday a month, we hold Zoom demonstrationson “Canning Jams” and “Show and Tell,” duringwhich we demonstrate what we worked on since thepandemic started. Examples include 3D printerproducts (e.g., an 18-wheel truck), stained glass,Living through the Pandemic
25rock painting, quilting, alcohol ink,diamond painting with beads, puzzles,creating cards and more.In addition to the above Zoom gatherings,we text, email, videophone, and FaceTimeeach other. Many of us visit our familiesthroughout the country through Zoom,Videophone and FaceTime. Since wehaven’t been able to travel much during thepandemic, using Zoom connects us withothers much more than in the past.We participate in workshops, webinars,memorial and religious services, meetings andmore, thanks to Zoom.The newest addition to our postings is a onceweekly “Get to Know Us Series” whichspotlights each SCG Deaf resident interviewedby two “roving reporters.” Before the pandemic, newresidents would be introduced during gatherings, butnow we can know more about the residents throughthese spotlights. These proles willbe preserved for years to come!Thanks go to the SCG Deaf AccessCommittee of volunteers who helpedset up interpreting and captioningservices of SCG Board and committeemeetings on Zoom, in addition tovideos and classes/lectures/workshops.And thanks to today’s phenomenaltechnology, we can stay in touch withmore people and stay inspired, activeand talented.Sincere thanks to those who sent mephotos and extra special thanks go toSusie Gruhner Tighe for preparing thecollages of photos included with thisarticle.Vicki T. Hurwitz is retired and livesin Surprise, AZ with her husband Alan.(vthurwitz@gmail.com)
DSA 2021 Pittsburgh for New Horizons ReadersBy the time you receive your winter issue of New Horizons, the year 2021 willhave arrived. Happy New Year everyone. If you are considering attending the16th Biennial DSA Conference in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania from August 28 toSeptember 2, 2021 at the Wyndham Grand Hotel downtown, you may want tograb the early bird combo of $290.00 right now.The cut-off date for conference registration at that rate was December 31, 2020.The DSA Pittsburgh committee decided to extended our early bird comborate of $290.00 until May 31, 2021. By the time June 1 arrives, the ratebecomes $340.00. On July 1, the rate will increase to $390. A considerabledifference of $50.00 saved would most denitely help towards hotel costs.To register for the conference before May 31, 2021, use the registration form found elsewhere in the NewHorizons edition or simply search for it on www.dsa2021pittsburgh.org. This form needs to be printed out rst,lled out with your participant information, a check or money order enclosed, and mailed to PADSC/DSA 2021Pittsburgh, PO Box 314, Ebensburg, PA 15931. Another option is that you can also pay online with a servicecharge of $10.00.Remember that hotel booking at the Wyndham Grand Downtown Hotel is now open for reservations. Ourwebsite www.dsa2021pittsburgh.org will have a well-detailed web-link with the hotel so you can begin bookingyour rooms at our conference rate of $155.00 per night. Be sure to mention that you are attending our DSAconference. There are plenty of hotel rooms available.We now have 454 registrants! Our goal is to register 1000 attendees. We are hoping to attract many from theEast coast. We have less than eight MONTHS left to reach our goal.We are still working on the tours and banquet. Due to COVID-19, tours are still closed. We hope the tours willopen soon. Please keep a lookout for tour prices and information. Please be patient with us during COVID-19.Our DSA 2021 Pittsburgh committee is working very hard to make this successful. We still have our committeemeetings either twice a month or monthly.Workshops and ExhibitsAre you interested in presenting a workshop or reserving your space as an exhibitor? The application formsfor that can be found in our website under the Workshop and Exhibitor link on our website,www.dsa2021pittsburgh.org. If you have questions regarding the workshop or exhibitor applications, contactthe chairs of respective venues directly:Workshops Chair: Debra Hast – dsa2021workshop@gmail.comExhibits Chair: Kathy Betz – dsa2021exhibit@gmail.comFor those who want to subscribe to the New Horizons magazine, you can send your payment to DSATreasurer Michael Lockhart at mrlockhart@gmail.com. The subscription is $20.00 for two years untilPittsburgh DSA 2021.Cheers from DSA 2021 Pittsburgh Co-Chairs,Jeffrey Janaszek and James C. Noschese
Bridging Deaf Seniors Together Pittsburgh Association of the Deaf Senior Citizens Proudly host the 16th Biennial Deaf Seniors of America conference August 28 to September 2, 2021 For more information, about DSA 2021 Pittsburgh Go to our website www.dsa2021pittsburgh.org Wyndham Grand Hotel Downtown Pittsburgh, PA 600 Commonwealth Pl. Pittsburgh, PA 15222 (Group rates is $155 plus $35 per day parking optional, plus tax 14%) Available NOW!! Suggest park at Airport. Only cost $8.00/day. Use public transportation to hotel. Sight Seeing Tours in Pittsburgh Flight 93 Memorial Frank Lloyd Wright Fallingwater NFL Hall of Fame in Canton Oh The National Aviary in Pittsburgh Phipps Conservatory Heinz History Center Andy Warhol Museum Museum of Natural History Pittsburgh Zoo The Gateway Clipper Boat Carnegie Science Center Rivers Casino
Participant Information Please print—Limit one per registrant Name _______________________________________Email Address_____________________________________________ Address ____________________________ City __________________ State______ Zip_______ (Circle one) VP or Text_______________ I give DSA 2021 Pittsburgh conference committee permission to list my name on the website. YES [ ] NO [ ] For more information, email: DSA2021Reg@gmail.com Registration Information: Conference Combo Fees & Cancellation Refund Formula (All combo rates include $30 DSA Membership dues (non-refundable) for 2021-2023) Date: Cashier/Personal or Money Order Combo Ticket Priced at: Credit Card $10.00 Service Charge Cancellation Deducted by June 30, 2021 After July 1, 2021 Paid: Now - May 31, 2021 $290.00 $300.00 $100.00 No Refund June 1, 2021 – June 30, 2021 $340.00 $350.00 $100.00 No Refund July 1, 2021 – at the door $390.00 $400.00 $100.00 No Refund Two Methods of Payments: Payment must accompany registration form or it will be returned to you. [ ] Cashier’s check or Check, Money order payable to: PADSC/DSA 2021 Pittsburgh [ ] Online payment is available at www.dsa2021pittsburgh.org DO NOT SEND CASH!! Mail to: DSA 2021 Pittsburgh PO Box 314, Ebensburg, PA 15931 TERMS & CONDITIONS: Please read the following information carefully before signing. CONFIRMATION: A confirmation letter with ID number assigned to you will be emailed/mailed after a payment received. Please indicate your ID Number in all correspondence with Registration Coordinator. Driver’s license or personal identification card must be present at the conference registration booth. RETURNED (BOUNCED) CHECKS: Service Fee $50.00. Your registration will be processed after payment has been satisfied CANCELLATION AND REFUNDS: Registration form is non-refundable after June 30, 2021. Hospitalization & medical document will be required after June 30. 2021. Death—100% refund will be mailed after we receive a copy of obituary notice or death certificate. NON-TRANSFERABLE: Registration form is not transferable. If it is sold or exchanged by any unauthorized parties to or during the conference, it will not be honored. LOST BADGES: Processing fee for lost badges is $50. This fee is not refundable if the lost badge is found. Participant with SPECIAL NEEDS & REQUESTS: NO______ YES ______ Use a separate form. SPECIAL NEEDS REQUESTS: These are limited to authorized conference activities inside the hotel premises; however, you may be responsible to arrange special needs outside authorized conference activities at your own expense. Certain requests may be made by referring to the Special Needs & Request Form. By my signature, I have agreed to abide by Conference rules/ Regulations. I understand that PADSC & DSA are not responsible for safekeeping of, damage to, or loss of any personal property under my control. I have read and understand the terms and conditions of this form. SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICES!! Your Signature____________________________________________________________ Date___________________________ Office use ONLY: Registration ID_______ Date Rec’D__________ Payment Method______ Amount Rec’D______ Deposit Date ________
Bridging Deaf Seniors Together Pittsburgh Association of the Deaf Senior Citizens Proudly host the Opening Ceremony and closing ceremony entertainments Opening Ceremony on Sunday, august 29, 2021 J.J. Mime Artists – JJ started as professional mime artist in 1977. His performances are top-notch, He performs skits to music that are enjoyed by deaf and hearing alike. His varying pieces are funny as well as informative about the history of deaf culture. He also incorporates street mime, improvisation and audience participation to create a fun and wonderful show that is not forgotten. Closing Ceremony on Thursday, September 2, 2021 The Flipside Show – Brett Shaffer is a man of several talents; one of his favorites is being a comedian! Born and raised in Erie, Pennsylvania, Brett attended and graduated Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf (WPSD) in Pittsburgh. Brett graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree with honors at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) in Rochester, New York, where he also studied filmmaking. He is happily married and have three beautiful children. He was inspired by his longtime favorite Canadian actor, Jim Carrey. From a young age, Brett enjoyed making people laugh so he established “The Flipside Show” on Facebook in 2017.
30Deaf Seniors of America membership is $20.00 per person, good until the 2021 DSA Conference in Pittsburgh,PA. Membership includes the DSA magazine, New Horizons, which is published four times each year (oneissue per household).If you are a current member and you plan to move or have recently moved, please use this form to send inyour new address.Use one form per person; make a copy for each additional person.PRINT CLEARLYFirst Name: _________________________ Last Name: __________________________________________Street Address: ___________________________________________________________________________City / State / ZIP Code: _____________________________________________________________________Email Address: __________________________________ VP: ________________ Text: ________________Make check payable to Deaf Seniors of America and mail it with this form to: Michael Lockhart, DSA Treasurer,5619 Ainsley Court, Boynton Beach, FL 33437-1503.AdvertisementsMembership / Change of AddressDSA welcomes advertisements from interested companies and nonprot organizations. New Horizons ispublished quarterly (deadlines January 15, April 15, July 15 and October 15) and distributed to over 2,000members with a readership of about 5,000; with an additional 20,000 readers via the DSA website. Advertiserswho purchase four insertions at a time will have their logos featured on the DSA website at no additional cost.Nonprot organizations receive a ten percent (10%) discount on the advertising rates below. Advertisementsmust be in color, press-ready (300 dpi or greater) and delivered in PDF format. Custom ad design is availablefor an additional cost. For more information, contact murielstrassler@gmail.com.Ad Placement Dimensions 1 Issue 4 IssuesCenterfold Double Page 17.0” wide x 11.0” high $1,200.00 $5,000.00Inside Front Cover – Full Page 8.5” wide x 11.0” high $700.00 $2,500.00Inside Back Cover – Full Page 8.5” wide x 11.0” high $650.00 $2,300.00Inside Full Page 8.5” wide x 11.0” high $500.00 $1,800.00Outside Back Cover – Half Page 8.5” wide x 5.5” high $500.00 $1,800.00Inside Half Page (two options) 8.5” wide x 5.5” high $400.00 $1,400.004.25” wide x 11” highQuarter Page 4.25” wide x 5.5” high $250.00 $800.00
Experience the best possible VRS with easy-to-use, cutting-edge technology. Connect Life through the clearest video, greatest features, and highest-quality Sorenson Relay interpreters available!Sign up today at svrs.com/apply or download our app at© 2020 Sorenson Communications, LLC. If you choose Sorenson as your default provider, you can port your existing 10-digit number to Sorenson from another provider or Sorenson can provide you with one for the geographic area where you live or work. If you later change your default provider, you can port your number to that provider. When selecting Sorenson, you must provide to Sorenson the physical address (i.e., the Registered Location) from which you are placing the call, so that Sorenson can properly route any 911 calls you may make. If you move or change your location, you must notify Sorenson immediately. You can update your Registered Location from your Sorenson videophone by calling 800-659-4810 or by visiting www.svrs.com/moving. Sorenson will confirm receipt of your Registered Location information. Emergency calls made via internet-based TRS may not function the same as traditional E911 service. For example, you may not be able to dial 911 if there is an internet-service failure or if you lose electrical power, and your 911 call may not be routed correctly if you have not updated your Registered Location. For more information on the process of obtaining 10-digit numbers and the limitations and risks associated with using Sorenson’s VRS to place a 911 call, please visit Sorenson’s website: www.sorenson.com/disclaimer. For more information on toll-free numbering, please visit www.svrs.com/tollfree.ConnectingLife
RETURN TO:Michael Lockhart, Treasurer5619 Ainsley CourtBoynton Beach, FL 33437-1503Important Links - 2021 DSA ConferenceVisit the DSA2021 Pittsburgh website: https://www.dsa2021pittsburgh.orgRegister for the DSA 2021 conference: https://www.dsa2021pittsburgh.org/registration/Make a reservation at the Wyndham Grand Hotel: https://www.dsa2021pittsburgh.org/lodging/Learn about places in Pittsburgh to visit: https://www.dsa2021pittsburgh.org/tours/attractions-and-tours/Learn about bus tours: https://www.dsa2021pittsburgh.org/tours/butours/Sign up for tours: https://www.dsa2021pittsburgh.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/DSA-2021-Pittsburgh-Tours-Forms.pdfLearn more about DSA 2021 conference entertainment: https://www.dsa2021pittsburgh.org/entertainment/Workshop request form: https://www.dsa2021pittsburgh.org/registration/workshops/Exhibitor request form: https://www.dsa2021pittsburgh.org/registration/exhibitors/Information on Pittsburgh tours: https://www.dsa2021pittsburgh.org/tours/Advertising information: https://www.dsa2021pittsburgh.org/registration/advertisement-form/Submit an advertisement: https://www.dsa2021pittsburgh.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/DSA-Pittsburgh-ProgramBookAdvertisementForm.pdfFor more information about the DSA2021 Pittsburgh conference, contact: DSA2021Reg@gmail.com________________________________________________________________________________