BLIND COMMUNITY CENTER
OF SAN DIEGO
1805 UPAS STREET
SAN DIEGO, CA 92103
www.BCCSD.org
Phone: (619) 298-5021
Fax: (619) 298-1565
Business Hours:
9:00am to 1:00pm Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday
8:30am to 1:00pm Saturday
Closed Thursday, Friday, & Sunday
AUGUST 2015 NEWSLETTER
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.
Membership Meeting Update:
A vote was held on June 30th to decide a permanent day for
Membership Meetings. Meetings will now be held on the 4th
Tuesday of each month.
Tuesday, August 25th – Membership Meeting
1:30pm – 3:00pm, BCCSD Auditorium
Call 619-298-5021 x206 to attend.
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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
WEEKLY CLASSES
Craft Class
Craft Class is closed July 27th through September 7th.
In this free class provided by Continuing Education and the
BCCSD, learn to knit, work with metal, beads, leather, and more!
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 next month. Classes are by appointment only.
Call 619-298-5021 x206 to reserve a game appointment with the
instructor.
Advocacy Training
This is a weekly workshop designed to teach you how to become a
self-advocate. A new workshop will begin in the fall.
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Painting Class
BCCSD Multipurpose Room
Wednesday 9:00am – 11:00am
Want to have fun and learn how to watercolor? Come to the
BCCSD Painting Class on Wednesdays from 9:00am to 11:00am.
Class starts on August 12th. David Hanlon, BCCSD Board Member,
will conduct painting classes that will teach you how to watercolor.
Each month will have a theme for the subject matter. The theme for
August is ocean and sunset. Come and try out your artistic abilities.
Please call 619-298-5021 x206 to participate.
Book Club
BCCSD Conference Room
Wednesday 11:00am – 12:45pm
Interested participants are invited to listen to and discuss engaging
book favorites. To RSVP please call 619-298-5021 x206.
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.
Reader’s Theater
Reader’s Theater is on hold for program development.
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SHORT-TERM FALL CLASSES
December Nights Craft Class
BCCSD Multipurpose Room
Monday 9:00am – 12:00pm
Tuesday 9:00am – 12:00pm
Class will take place from August 3rd through September 1st. Create
crafts in a group setting for the December Nights event in Balboa
Park. No craft skills needed. Light lunch provided to participants.
Call 619-298-5021 x206 to participate.
Holiday Choir
BCCSD Youth Room
Monday 1:45pm – 3:45pm
Choir rehearsal will take place from August 10th – November 30th.
Anyone who can carry a tune is welcome to join the BCCSD choir
for practice in the fall and performances in December. All voice
ranges are welcome. Please call 619-298-5021 x206 to participate.
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MONTHLY ACTIVITIES
For beach activities please bring the following:
Hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, water, and a towel.
Monday, August 3rd – December Nights Craft Class
First day of December Nights Craft Class. Please see “Short-term
Fall Classes” for more information.
Monday, August 10th – Holiday Choir
First day of Holiday Choir. Please see “Short-term Fall Classes” for
more information.
Wednesday, August 12th – Painting Class
First day of Painting Class. Please see “Weekly Classes” for more
information.
Saturday, August 15th – Blind Water Ski Clinic
8:30am – 2:00pm, Fiesta Island & Mission Bay, San Diego
Beginners and experts alike are invited to enjoy the activities.
Come water ski, slalom ski, take a ride on the boat, or sit on a
water chair while being towed by a ski club member. Lunch is
included. Thanks to the San Diego Mission Bay Boat and Ski Club
for hosting this and the previous summer ski events. Limited
transportation is available from the BCCSD to the event and then
home. For participants taking BCCSD transportation, please be at
the BCCSD at 8:30am. Transportation will leave at exactly 8:45am.
Please call 619-298-5021 x206 to reserve a seat. Getting a ride
from a friend? Call the same number for directions.
Sign up deadline is Saturday, August 1st.
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Tuesday, August 18th – 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.
Saturday, August 22nd – Membership Signups
9:30am – 11:00am, BCCSD Youth Room
BCCSD staff will be available in the Youth Room for 2015-2016
membership signups and renewals. Call 619-298-5021 x206 to
RSVP.
Saturday, August 22nd – BINGO
11:30am – 2:30pm, 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 by Saturday, August 15th.
Tuesday, August 25th – Membership Signups
9:30am – 11:00am, BCCSD Youth Room
BCCSD staff will be available in the Youth Room for 2015-2016
membership signups and renewals. Call 619-298-5021 x206 to
RSVP.
Tuesday, August 25th – Membership Meeting
1:30pm – 3:00pm, BCCSD Auditorium
Call 619-298-5021 x206 to attend. BCCSD staff will be available in
the Auditorium for membership signups for 30 minutes before and
after the membership meeting.
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Saturday, August 29th – Summer BBQ
12:00pm – 2:30pm, BCCSD Youth Room and Patio
Join the BCCSD and our community partner, National Charity
League, for a fun summer BBQ. This is an opportunity to enjoy a
great lunch while playing games, making crafts, and hanging out
with friends. Please call 619-298-5021 x206 to sign up for this
event. Signup deadline is Saturday, August 15th.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Last date for the Blind Water Ski Clinic!
The last Blind Water Ski Clinic will be held on Saturday, September
26th. RSVP now at 619-298-5021 x206.
Blind Surfing Clinic
The annual Blind Surfing Clinic will be held on Sunday, September
20th.
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BCCSD NEWS
BCCSD MEMBERSHIP 2015-2016
BCCSD Membership signup will take place from July 1st, 2015 to
August 31st, 2015. The membership fee is $30.00.
BCCSD staff will be available for signups in the Youth Room from
9:30am – 11:00am on the following days:
Saturday, August 22nd
Tuesday, August 25th
If none of these dates work for you, please call 619-298-5021, x206
to make an appointment.
Membership is critical!
As a member of the blind and visually impaired community, you
have the power to help create a fun, safe place for you to learn,
laugh, grow, try new activities, and stretch your emotional and
physical limits. Membership also comes with perks like free,
members only events; discounts on certain events; and first
recipients of community donations (such as San Diego County Fair
and San Diego Symphony tickets).
There are different types of membership:
Blind Member – Visually impaired member with voting rights. Fee
for 2015-2016 is $30.00.
Associate Member – Sighted member with no voting rights. Fee for
2015-2016: $30.00
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OTHER AGENCY ANNOUNCEMENTS:
California Council of the Blind, San Diego Chapter
Tuesday, August 4th, 2:30pm – 3:30pm
Location: San Diego Center for the Blind, 5922 El Cajon Blvd, San
Diego, CA 92115
The monthly meeting of the California Council of the Blind, San
Diego Chapter is held on the first Tuesday of the month from
2:30pm to 3:30pm. The meeting is held in Room C at the San
Diego Center for the Blind, location listed above. Please call David
Hanlon, CCB, SD President, at 858-610-0825 with any questions.
National Federation of the Blind, San Diego Chapter
Tuesday, August 11th, 6:00pm – 8:00pm
The National Federation of the Blind, San Diego Chapter invite you
to join us the second Tuesday of each month, from 6 PM to 8 PM.
We are an education and advocacy organization that promotes a
quality opportunity and security for all blind individuals and their
families. We meet at 2717 University Ave, San Diego, CA 92104.
For additional information please email us at:
nfbcaliforniasd@gmail.com or call 619-884-0189. You can live the
life you want; blindness is not what holds you back!
AUGUST BIRTHDAYS
Happy birthday to all the August babies. Have a good one!
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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
OF SAN DIEGO
1805 UPAS STREET
SAN DIEGO, CA. 92103- 5298
FREE MATTER FOR THE BLIND
AND PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED
POSTAL MANUAL 138
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