BLIND COMMUNITY CENTER
OF SAN DIEGO
1805 UPAS STREET
SAN DIEGO, CA 92103
Phone: (619) 298-5021 www.BCCSD.org
Business Hours:
9:00am to 1:00pm Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday
8:30am to 1:00pm Saturday
Closed Thursday, Friday, & Sunday
NOVEMBER 2015 NEWSLETTER
BCCSD IS CLOSED ON WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 11 TH AND
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 28 TH FOR VE TERAN’S DAY AND
THANKSGIVING
Celebrating 66 years!
BCCSD MISSION: To enrich the lives of blind and visually impaired adults and children, preparing them for a normal, active life in a society that is principally sighted.
Tuesday, November 24 th – Membership Meeting
1:30pm – 3:00pm, BCCSD Auditorium
Call 619-298-5021 x206 to attend. BCCSD membership meetings are held on the 4 th Tuesday of each month.
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IMPORTANT EXTENSIONS x204 Volunteer Coordinator, Volunteer and Membership
Information. x206 Program Coordinator, Activity Information and Reservations.
Kristynn Bennett, kbennett@bccsd.org x207 President , Board of Directors. Tamara Airhart x208 Executive Director, Barbara Runco, barbara@bccsd.org
2015 Gratitude Practice
This holiday season we challenge you to open your heart and take a moment to be present with yourself. Make a daily commitment to think about the people and things in your life that you are grateful for.
What is gratitude?
Gratitude is the quality of being thankful. It’s a readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness.
How do we practice gratitude?
In difficult moments, when obstacles and fears are looming, or when we feel stuck, it’s difficult to see the positive. Gratitude puts each situation into perspective. When we see the good as well as the bad, it becomes more difficult to complain and remain stuck in old thought patterns.
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Gratitude does not come naturally. It requires practice like any skill worth having. It is a habit just like brushing your teeth. Make a daily effort to be grateful. Although it seems impossible this is the perfect time.
How does gratitude improve our lives?
The benefits of practicing gratitude can be life-changing. It helps us realize what we have; it helps lessen those feelings of wanting more. Gratitude strengthens relationships, improves health, reduces stress, and in general, makes us happier.
Gratitude Practice Launch
The Gratitude Practice starts at the BCCSD Thanksgiving Dinner and continues through the holidays with the Gratitude Photo Booth at the BCCSD Holiday Party. This is an opportunity to reflect on the many blessings in your life and to share them with your friends and family at the Blind Community Center.
WEEKLY CLASSES
The following classes are closed during Thanksgiving week:
Craft Class – Monday 11/23/15 and Tuesday 11/24/15
Painting Class – Wednesday 11/25/15
Book Club – Wednesday 11/25/15
Martial Arts
– Wednesday 11/25/15 and Saturday 11/28/15
Theater Group – Wednesday 11/25/15
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Craft Class
BCCSD Multipurpose Room
Monday 9:00am
– 12:45pm
Tuesday 9:00am – 12:45pm
In this free class provided by Continuing Education and the
BCCSD, learn to knit, work with metal, beads, leather, and more!
Class does not require reservations. Lunch served to participants.
Cribbage
BCCSD Auditorium
Monday 11:00am – 1:00pm
Tuesday 11:00am – 1:00pm
Learn to play this trick-taking card game that uses a peg board to keep score. Build your strategy and participate in the biannual cribbage tournament. Classes are by appointment only. Call 619-
298-5021 x206 to reserve a game appointment with the instructor.
Painting Class
BCCSD Multipurpose Room
Wednesday 9:00am – 10:45am
Explore your talents and discover new ways of expressing yourself through this art class facilitated by Deaf-Blind board member and artist, David Hanlon. The group explores tactile art making
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techniques and discusses the progression of their work. Come and try out your artistic abilities. Call 619-298-5021 x206 to participate and reserve your art supplies.
Storytelling (a.k.a. Book Club)
BCCSD Conference Room
Wednesday 11:00am – 12:45pm
Storyteller Cara Wilson-Granat celebrates the art of storytelling by reading The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd to the group.
This is an interactive group full of exchanges about the story itself, how the story relates to each person’s life experience and to current events. Naturally it is difficult to catch up if you miss several classes so if you didn’t join the group in October please stay tuned for the next book club. Call 619-298-5021 x206 to add a book suggestion.
Martial Arts
BCCSD Auditorium
Wednesday 11:30am – 1:00pm, Self Defense
Saturday 8:30am – 10:00am, Self Defense
Saturday 10:00am – 11:00am, Jiu Jitsu
Classes do not require reservations.
Martial Arts will be held in the Youth Room on November 21 st .
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Theater Group
BCCSD Youth Room
Wednesday 1:00pm
– 3:00pm
This is an intensive acting class in which participants learn focusing, memorization, movement and vocal exercises that will prepare them to perform in front of an audience. Call 619-298-5021 x206 to participate.
Advocacy Training
The Access to Independence Advocacy Training is currently on hold. If you are a new student interested in attending this class in the future, please call 619-298-5021 x206.
SHORT-TERM FALL CLASSES
Holiday Choir
BCCSD Youth Room
Monday 1:45pm – 3:45pm
Anyone who can carry a tune is welcome to join the BCCSD choir for practice in the fall and performances in December. The group performs at senior living facilities, the BCCSD Thanksgiving Dinner, the BCCSD Holiday Party and December Nights in Balboa Park. All voice ranges are welcome. Last choir rehearsal is on November
30 th . Please call 619-298-5021 x206 to participate.
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MONTHLY ACTIVITIES
Saturday, November 7 th – Martial Arts Anniversary Party
8:45am
– 12:00pm, BCCSD Auditorium
This is the 10 year anniversary of our Martial Arts Program. We would love to show appreciation to those involved in teaching and all of our current and past students, as well as to welcome new potential students that are curious about what we do. We will feature established instructors from the Martial Arts Community and showcase our group’s potential. There will be a potluck after the demonstrations with a wide variety of food items to enjoy. Feel free bring your own treat to share! Call 619-298-5021 x206 to attend.
Saturday, November 14 th – BINGO
11:00am – 2:00pm, BCCSD Multipurpose Room
Join your friends at the BCCSD for Bingo and lunch. The cost of this event is $5.00 per person. Please call 619-298-5021 x206 to
RSVP. Signup deadline is Tuesday, November 10 th .
Tuesday, November 17 th – Board of Directors Meeting
6:30pm – 8:15pm, BCCSD Conference Room
If you wish to address the Board of Directors, you must contact the
President (ext. 207) 24 hours prior to the meeting and provide the content of your comment.
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Saturday, November 21 st – Thanksgiving Dinner
11:00am – 2:00pm, BCCSD Multipurpose Room & Auditorium
Happy Thanksgiving! Join us at the BCCSD for the launch of the annual Gratitude Practice and a Thanksgiving dinner with all the trimmings. See pages 2-3 for more info on the Gratitude Practice.
Thank you to Christie Greene for preparing this amazing dinner.
Signup deadline is Saturday, November 7 th .
Tuesday, November 24 th – Membership Meeting
1:30pm – 3:00pm, BCCSD Auditorium
Disability Services Librarian, Matthew Nye, from the San Diego
Public Library’s I CAN Center, will talk about the new Downtown
Central Library, with an emphasis on the services provided for people with disabilities. There is a lot offered; come and find out what you might be missing! Call 619-298-5021 x206 to attend.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Monday, December 7 th – Annual Free Hair Cut Program
10:00am – 12:45pm, BCCSD Auditorium
Thank you to Sharon Barnet, hair stylist and volunteer coordinator for the free haircut program every December. Come with your hair already washed and get a free cut by Sharon or one of her colleagues. Signup deadline is Tuesday, December 2 nd .
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Wednesday, December 16 th – BCCSD Holiday Party
This is an opportunity for the visually impaired community, as well as their friends and family, to come together to celebrate the holidays. Join the BCCSD for a traditional holiday meal, opportunity drawing, special musical performances, and the Gratitude Practice photo booth.
BCCSD NEWS
See’s Candy Sale
Happy Holidays! It is once again time for the See’s Candy fundraiser. The candy sale will start immediately and end on
November 30 th , 2015. The cost of the candy this year is $18.50 per pound, with other candy items varying in price. Make checks payable to the Blind Community Center of San Diego. Fliers are available upon request in Braille or print. Contact Gwendolyn
Edwards to place candy orders at 619-322-8128. Remember that we must sell 50 pounds of candy in order to receive free shipping.
Thank you very much for your participation and cooperation in this fundraising effort.
Holiday Party Gift Card Request
Each year 80-100 blind adults and children enjoy a catered holiday dinner with live entertainment and an opportunity drawing.
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Understandably, the opportunity drawing is the highlight of the event for our community members who typically live on a fixed income of $600-$1,000.
How to Donate
Help us provide meaningful and fun prizes for the opportunity drawing. Donate a grocery or drug store gift card in person or by mailing it to BCCSD, 1805 Upas St, San Diego, CA 92103. Please include your name and return address to receive a receipt.
For more information contact Barbara Runco, Executive
Director (Barbara@bccsd.org, 619-298-5021 x208)
OTHER AGENCY ANNOUNCEMENTS:
California Council of the Blind, San Diego Chapter Meeting
Tuesday, November 3 rd , 2:30pm – 3:30pm
Location: San Diego Center for the Blind, 5922 El Cajon Blvd,
San Diego, CA 92115, Room C
Contact: David Hanlon, CCB, SD President: 858-610-0825
National Federation of the Blind, 75 th Birthday Bash
Saturday, November 21 st , 10:00am – 12:00pm
For location and more information contact Lisa Irving at
619-884-0189 or send an email to nfbcaliforniasd@gmail.com.
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NOVEMBER BIRTHDAYS
Happy birthday to all the November babies. Have a good one!
Board of Directors
President : Tamara Airhart, Blind BCCSD Member
Vice President : Malina Gomez, Blind BCCSD Member
Treasurer : Ted Kay, San Diego Host Lions Club
Secretary : David Hanlon, Blind BCCSD Member
Past President : Gwendolyn Edwards, Blind BCCSD Member
Director : George Rivas, Blind BCCSD Member
Director : Debbie Jackson, Blind BCCSD Member
Director : Lyn Gwizdak, Blind BCCSD Member
Director : Nicole Bissett, Blind BCCSD Member
Youth Advocate : VACANT
Community Representative : VACANT
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HOW CAN YOU HELP?
Donate: The Blind Community Center operates using private donations from community members and groups. Your donation today can help provide classes and programs, and help us keep our building open.
Volunteer: Do you have the skills or knowledge to teach a class?
Do you have experience in nonprofit management, office work, or other abilities? Become a volunteer!
Be a Part of the Community: Are you or someone you know blind or visually impaired? Are you interested in participating, donating, or volunteering? Do you want to learn more? Come join our community!
Visit our website for more information on donating, volunteering, or being a part of the community: www.bccsd.org.
BLIND COMMUNITY CENTER FREE MATTER FOR THE BLIND
OF SAN DIEGO AND PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED
1805 UPAS STREET
SAN DIEGO, CA. 92103- 5298
POSTAL MANUAL 138
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