Issue 3 - January 2005

Introduction

Once again I have great pleasure to welcome you to the 3^rd Guernsey Blind Association Newsletter.

We have continued to be very busy during the latter part of 2004.  We were very pleased to be visited by Deputy Peter Roffey who was shown around our resource centre and met with some of our members from our Thursday Afternoon Social Group.

Also in June we all enjoyed our annual Summer outing.  St Andrew's Primary School have produced a wonderful sensory garden which our members have enjoyed and we were invited to it's official opening which went very well.  The Donkey Derby stall which was held in August was very popular this year as was our annual Autumn Fayre and raffle held at Le Four Cabot Centre.

Finally and more recently we had a good turn out for our Christmas lunch at Les Cotils and both our members and helpers enjoyed the good food and the entertainment provided.

As well as all the events above the audio news team have continued to provide their usual efficient service to their very grateful listeners.  The Social and handcraft groups are still very well attended and the Forsight Group Meetings are proving very productive and are now being held every two months.

I do hope you enjoy this Newsletter as it explains to you in more detail some of the events I have only touched on.

Many thanks once again for all the help and support you are continuing to give to our local charity.

Sandy Mauger

Corporate Friends of
The Guernsey Blind Association

N.M. Rothchild
Belle Fleur Nursery
Fuel Supplies
Medical Specialist Group
Schroders
Zouche Group Limited
Kingston Management
Moores Hotel Limited
Long Port Properties Limited
NRG International Limited
Kraken Financial Group Limited
Mercator Trust Company
JLT Risk Solutions Limited
Royal Bank of Canada

Guernsey Audio News

So we had to turn our attention to replacement equipment and a brief foray into cassette duplication equipment revealed just what a dinosaur our good old faithful, fourteen year old machine had become! It was, like the dinosaurs, extinct. Digital copiers and the in-evitable computer were now destined to be the workhorse of our studio.

Telex, the makers of our machine had advanced with the times and we duly ordered two Telex X-Gen copy units (see photo below left) and the EDAT Digital Master System. which consists of a card to plug into a computer and an interface box and cables to connect it to the X-Gen copy Units.

Technology doesn't come cheaply these days and even with a good trade-in offer it has cost in excess of £6,200. Fortunately a suitable computer system was already available without further expense and was soon pressed into service in anticipation of the arrival of the new equipment.

After a few trial runs it soon became apparent that this was a much superior process than recording onto tape and then copying with electro-mechanical equipment.  The two main recordings, one for each thirty minute side of the final cassette are now made directly onto the computer hard disk using special recording software. 

With a few sweeps of the mouse, and clicks of the mouse buttons we can stop and start in case of errors, and can edit with much more accuracy than when using a Chinagraph marker and recording tape.  Timing is measured to the nearest milli-second which is 1/1000 of a second.

The "Welcome to Guernsey Audio News" picture at the top of the page is what we see on the screen after recording.  This was Brian Garner reading part of the introduction recently.  The red arrows and lettering have been added to make it easier to see the start points of each syllable of the words which are shown below the picture.  Near the bottom right hand corner you can see that it took 2.188seconds for him to say these five words.

From these two recordings, the EDAT software creates a master file which can then be transferred directly from the hard disk to the Copy Units to make eight copies.  Repeat this process a few times and, Hey Presto, another edition of Guernsey Audio News is ready to be despatched to our listeners.

David Eaton.

St. Andrew's PrimarySchool

In July 2003 St Andrew's School won the schools section in Floral Guernsey 2003 and collected a prize of £200.  The pupils used their prize money to create a sensory garden for the Guernsey Blind Association.

The children visited Le Four Cabot Centre to meet with some of the Guernsey Blind Association's visually impaired members to ask them questions to help with ideas for the garden.  The visit was a great success.

The pupils realised then that more funding would be required to raise enough money to incorporate a water feature and started some serious fund raising.  Specsavers gave a generous donation towards the project and the children then drew some fabulous plans for their sensory garden using the information they had pooled from visiting the GBA.  The Guernsey Blind Association also made a donation to this very worthwhile project.

We were kept well informed about the progress, and a scrapbook was kept and shown to us along with great enthusiasm.

The day for the opening ceremony dawned to which the Social Thursday Group was invited.  We all arrived and were ferried to the school in relays of helpers cars.  Here I would like to thank the helpers for their continued help on these Thursday afternoons.  The weather was kind to us, although not as hot as it had been.

The children escorted our members to their seats describing the paths and surroundings as they passed.  We were treated to songs and a very big welcome.  We felt like visiting royalty.  

We returned to the centre and had out tea and everyone was very grateful for the great attention and thought that was displayed.  The children were so polite and helpful; it will remain in our memories.

Sandy Mauger

Disability Awareness for Line Managers 29th October

This workshop was organized for line managers of the Civil Service and facilitated by the Learning Company.

The G.B.A.  were invited along with the Information Exchange, Commerce & Employment and Health & Social Services to make a representation for employment of people with a disability.

Twenty line managers were present.  The morning began with an introduction by Kathy Tracey of the Learning Company.  Ann Mauger a representative from the Information Exchange spoke on disabilities in general.  Jean Le Huray, of the G.B.A.  then gave a talk about sensory impairment and how to overcome the problems caused by this disability.  Colin Melville, Physical & Sensory Disability Officer for Health & Social Services spoke of the Equality of Service and the business benefits of employing the disabled.  Mike Mahy of Commerce & Employment covered legislation in Guernsey concerning working conditions for people with a disability.

The delegates were then split into groups and each had to decide how they could accommodate a person with a disability in their workplace.  What improvements or equipment would they require?  At this time they were made to use a wheelchair or wear simulated spectacles.

It was interesting to note at the conclusion of the group discussion that those who had sat in a wheelchair, once they had negotiated getting to their group, felt included and were able to take part in the discussion.  Whilst those who had been wearing the simulated spectacles had listened so intently to the discussion realized at the end that they had not really taken an active part and felt left out.

It was pointed out to the groups that this indeed was a lesson to be learnt and that they should at all times make a person with a disability feel included.

Jean le Huray

Alderney Visit

I was delighted as secretary of the Guernsey Blind Association to be offered the chance to accompany Mrs Le Huray on her annual expedition to visit some visually impaired people in Alderney.  We flew out on the early bird flight on Friday 1^st October, hired a car and set off with four homes and the hospital to visit during the day.

In the morning our first visit involved collecting some equipment that had been loaned by the GBA but was no longer in use.  Next followed three visits where Mrs Jean Le Huray gave much welcomed advice to ladies on visual aides and other services available to them such as talking books.

Lunchtime was thoroughly enjoyed at the Gannets in Victoria Street. 

Finally we called into the Mignot Hospital to visit a lovely lady who expressed her gratitude for the Audio News Tapes she received.

I found the whole trip very enjoyable as it was a great opportunity to put faces to the voices I had come across throughout the year.  It was also great to see Alderney residents benefiting from the services our Association provides.

Caroline Maynard

Tea at La Trelade Hotel

The Summer outing on Friday 25^th June was a great success this year.  We gathered at La Trelade Hotel, and I've got some photographs to prove it was a sunny afternoon; so we were able to wait in the garden for the coach to arrive.  It seemed a particularly large coach, and in his anxiety to collect us the driver managed to reverse into a bush, did this augur well for the trip ahead?

Now, getting all those who wanted to go on the drive into this huge vehicle with its high steps is always a challenge.  Someone must help the less mobile or more visually impaired by encouraging them up - it must seem like mountaineering to some - and another person must receive them at the summit.  When all were eventually seated we were treated to a wonderful coastal drive.  Those like me, with good sight, don't often see Guernsey from such a height and I can assure you, visitors to our island will not be disappointed on a sunny day.  Our coast and lanes are better than anyone elses.  Judging by the volume of chatter this journey was being enjoyed in many different ways.

Back at La Trelade Hotel in time for tea.  Sandwiches, scones, cakes - all in abundance - and I even met up with someone who recalled my mother and her family.  We are just so blessed in Guernsey, not only lovely surroundings but a sense of belonging too.

Special thanks to those like Jean and Caroline who beaver away in the background to make Committee ideas become a reality.

Catherine Lenfestey

The GBA Autumn Fayre and Donkey Derby 2004

Our Autumn Fayre took place at Le Four Cabot on Saturday 16^th October.  In addition to the usual Coffee, Books, Cakes, Bric A Brac and plant stalls we devoted one to selling toys and ran a highly successful Bottle Tombola.  The Grand Raffle first prize was kindly donated by Condor Ferries Ltd.  and a member of their staff kindly drew the winning tickets.  By holding the draw just fifteen minutes before the event closed, we sold a record number of tickets on that morning.  Our thanks to all our supporters and helpers, especially non-trustees.  Next year we hope to have more unwanted gifts and good quality Bric A Brac to sell and your support in this would be most welcome.

The GBA ran a charity stall at the Lions Donkey Derby in August.  We offered information about our work, and distributed advertising material.  We held a Toy Tombola which was so popular we had run out of prizes by mid afternoon.  Our thanks once again to all those who helped..

Margaret Moffatt

Drivers and Helpers United

I’m John Hughes, one amongst many of the Volunteer Drivers and Helpers for the Guernsey Blind Association.

In 1983 whilst having my own Taxi business, I was asked to do a small amount of taxi work for the GBA, mainly taking people to bowls on Mondays and trips to the Doctors, etc.

When I retired from taxis in 1996, I said that I would continue to be a Driver and Helper.  This has now blossomed out to bowls on Mondays and taking members,.to phoning on a Wednesday (previously done by Marion Dorey and Caroline Maynard) to the members to find who is coming to the Thursday Social Group and then phoning around the Drivers to ask for their help (always forthcoming) to bring the members to the Centre and return them home afterwards.  If I have time on Wednesday morning I also lay out the tables and chairs and set out the cups and saucers for Thursday afternoons. 

Our Thursdays alternate between Handicrafts and Social afternoons, interspersed with occasional Musical entertainment.

Being a Helper and Driver is a very rewarding pastime.  Our team of Volunteers are all very helpful and considerate to our members.

Finally, I would like to thank all of the people who light up my life on a Thursday; I would certainly miss it after twenty-one years of their company.

If any of you good folks out there are reasonable drivers with some spare time, why not give Caroline a call on Tel 236933 you may be able to help.

Why not pop in and see us.  You will find it worthwhile and be surprised at the range of aids we have for the visually impaired.

Bye-bye till the next time, if there is one after this effort!!

John Hughes

Officers and Committee

President                                                MRS SANDRA MAUGER

Honorary Treasurer                              MR BERNARD SAUNDERS

Advisor to the Visually Impaired          MRS JEAN LE HURAY

Secretary                                                MRS CAROLINE MAYNARD

Handycraft                                             MRS MARION DOREY & MRS DOREEN HURFORD

COMMITTEE OF TRUSTEES

MRS MARGARET CLEREY                  (GBA Listening for Pleasure Tape Library)

DR DAVID DE LISLE

MR DAVID EATON                                 (Audio News Co-ordinator & Technician)

MR GORDON FOWLER                         (Collection Boxes)

MRS CATHERINE LENFESTEY           (Thursday Afternoon Helper)

MR TONY MAHY

MRS MARGARET MOFFATT               (Friends of the GBA)

MR CHRIS RICHARDSON                    (GBA Property Manager)

ADVOCATE JESSICA ROLAND           (GBA Legal Advisor)

MRS VIV WEBBER                                 (Audio News Editor)

TEL 236933         FAX 236932

E-MAIL  gba@guernsey.net

WEBSITE  www.guernsey.net/~gba/