_CONVENTION _1997:

                     __WE GO TO NEW _ORLEANS

                     _by _Kenneth _Jernigan

  The time has come to plan for the 1997 convention of the
National Federation of the Blind. As Federationists know, our
recent National Conventions in Chicago and Anaheim were
outstanding in every sense of the word--excellent programs, good
food and facilities, and wonderful hospitality. But New Orleans
in '97 promises to be the best we have ever had.
  And it also promises to be the biggest. Our last convention in
New Orleans was in 1991, and we had the biggest attendance in our
history--2,760 registered attendees, and the record still stands.
This time I hope we can break 3,000, and I believe we will.
  We are bigger and stronger than ever and ready for a wonderful
convention. President Joanne Wilson and the other leaders and
members of the NFB of Louisiana tell me that plans are going
forward for a spectacular meeting.
  We are returning to the Hyatt Regency New Orleans at 500
Poydras Plaza, New Orleans, Louisiana 70140. Those of you who
attended the 1991 convention know how good the Hyatt Regency New
Orleans is, and it has been remodeled and improved since we were
there. It is among the best hotels in the world.
  In recent years we have sometimes taken hotel reservations
through the National Office, and that is what we are going to do
this time. Call the National Center at (410) 659-9314 or write to
National Convention, National Federation of the Blind, 1800
Johnson Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21230. Reservations will be
taken on a first come, first serve basis, and no reservation will
be valid unless it has been made through the National Office of
the Federation. A few people have already called the Hyatt
Regency New Orleans and have apparently been told that their
reservations are confirmed. These reservations are _not valid and
will _not be honored. They should be re-made through the office
here at the National Center for the Blind. As has been the case
when we have followed this procedure in the past, Mr. Cobb will
take telephone calls and deal with letters.
  In order to confirm a reservation, you will need either to send
a check or money order for $40 as a deposit or give to Mr. Cobb a
credit card number. The credit card account will be charged
immediately. If a reservation is canceled prior to June 1, 1997,
half of the deposit will be returned. After that date deposits
will not be returned. Exceptions may be made in certain
demonstrated emergency situations.
  The reason for this policy concerning reservations is that we
have only 1,100 rooms in the Hyatt Regency. We believe we will
need 1,425 rooms, so after the 1,100 rooms are gone, the overflow
will be placed at another hotel. In order to make the situation
workable and to be certain that we get the maximum number of
rooms at the Hyatt Regency, we are handling reservations in the
National Office of the Federation. I emphasize that no
reservation will be valid unless it is made through our National
Office and that after 1,100 rooms are gone, an overflow hotel
will be used. Be warned, and behave accordingly. Those who do not
read the _Braille _Monitor or attend chapter meetings to hear
Presidential Releases have only themselves to blame.
  As is always the case, our hotel rates for 1997 will be the
envy of all who attend conventions. Here they are: one in a room,
$40 per night; two in a room, $42; three in a room, $44; four in
a room, $46. As you can see, these rates are better than the ones
we had in 1996 in California, which were better than the ones we
got in Chicago in 1995. In addition to the room rates, there will
be a tax. At the time Mrs. Jernigan and I made the arrangements
with the hotel, it was 11 percent plus $3 a night. There will be
no charge for children under 12 in a room with parents as long as
no extra bed is required. If you want to come a few days early or
stay a few days late, convention rates will apply.
  Here are the convention dates and schedule. Notice that we are
one day off from our usual schedule: Sunday, June 29--seminars
for parents of blind children, blind job seekers, and vendors and
merchants; several other workshops and meetings. Monday, June 30
--convention registration, first meeting of the Resolutions
Committee, other committees, and some of the divisions. Tuesday,
July 1--meeting of the Board of Directors (open to all), division
meetings, committee meetings, continuing registration. Wednesday,
July 2--opening general session, evening gala. Thursday, July
3--general sessions, tours (interesting ones throughout the New
Orleans area). Friday, July 4--general sessions, banquet.
Saturday, July 5--general sessions, adjournment.
  The elegant Hyatt Regency New Orleans is located just eight
blocks from the French Quarter. As those who were there in 1991
remember, it features two towers--Poydras, with 27 floors; and
Lenai, with 11 floors. In addition to a swimming pool on the
seventh floor, the Hyatt also features several restaurants,
cocktail lounges, and a large shopping mall.
  This shopping mall includes a Waldenbooks store, jewelry store,
souvenir store, Cafe du Monde, Frank and Stein--hot dogs and beer
--and many other fast food meals. In addition, Macy's Department
Store is adjacent to the Hyatt and is easily accessible. Passing
through Macy's will lead to the Super Dome, a colossal structure
that is home to the New Orleans Saints as well as many other gala
festivities. A shuttle service to and from the French Quarter
will be provided to hotel guests during the National Convention.
  The huge rooms on the third floor of the Poydras Tower will
easily accommodate both the general sessions and our exhibits, as
well as the banquet. The 1997 convention of the National
Federation of the Blind should offer enough variety and enough
space to make it the best ever.
  Remember that we need door prizes from state affiliates, local
chapters, and individuals. Prizes should be relatively small in
size and large in value. Cash is always popular. In any case, we
ask that no prize have a value of less than $25. Drawings will be
made steadily throughout the convention sessions. As usual the
grand prize at the banquet will be spectacular--worthy of the
occasion and the host affiliate. The 1996 grand prize in Anaheim
was a thousand dollars in cash. The 1997 grand prize will be at
least as good. Don't miss the fun! You may bring door prizes with
you or send them ahead of time to Don Banning, 663 Grove Avenue,
Harahan, Louisiana 70123-3840, telephone (504) 737-4955.
  The displays of new technology; the meetings of special
interest groups, committees, and divisions; the exciting tours;
the hospitality and renewed friendships; the solid program items;
and the exhilaration of being where the action is and where the
decisions are being made--all of these join together to call the
blind of the nation to the Hyatt Regency New Orleans Hotel in
July of 1997. Come and help make it happen! Meanwhile, read the
accompanying article by Jerry Whittle, and revel in anticipation.

[PHOTO/CAPTION: Jerry Whittle]

              __NEW ORLEANS--THE CITY WITH A _PAST

                       _by _Jerry _Whittle

  __From the Editor Emeritus: As Federationists know, Jerry
Whittle is the author of the plays that annually emanate from the
Louisiana Center for the Blind. In college he was an English
major, and he has never gotten over it. Hopefully he never will.
  He formerly lived in South Carolina. Now he is a fixture at the
Louisiana Center for the Blind (he and his wife Merilynn)--
writing plays, guiding students, and leading by example. As we
approach the 1997 convention in New Orleans, Jerry will be
writing a number of articles to persuade you to come. Here is the
_first:

  The National Federation of the Blind of Louisiana has the
pleasure of hosting the 1997 National Convention of the NFB in
the great city of New Orleans. Since our hotel--the luxurious
Hyatt Regency--is located just a few blocks from the French
Quarter, it is our purpose with this initial article about the
National Convention to entice all of you to visit one of the most
distinctive and picturesque cities in the world.
  Describing New Orleans and the French Quarter is a monumental
task. New Orleans pulsates with energy, and the French Quarter is
the heart. The twisting cobblestone streets open to all visitors
the enormous contrasts between the wild and raucous and the
exquisite beauty of the myriad architectural influences--Spanish,
French, Creole, Irish, Italian, and African. Each culture, for
good or bad, has left a brush stroke on the intricate tapestry
that is the Vieux Carre.
  The French Quarter, if you could use north, south, east, and
west (you cannot use cardinal directions in the Quarter because
the Mississippi River bends like a crescent moon around the city
and plays havoc with cardinal directions); but if you could use
compass points, Decatur Street would be the southern border of
the French Quarter; Esplanade would be the western border; North
Rampart would be the northern border; and wide and wonderful
Canal Street would be the eastern border. Let's pretend that
these directions are sufficient. Do you see why New Orleans is a
city of extremes--glaringly and intentionally indifferent about
where the sun goes and when it sets? Only in New Orleans would
the sun dare to rise on the West Bank. Only in New Orleans would
you find the majestic St. Louis Cathedral and the artistry of
Jackson Square placed almost flamboyantly as the gateway to
raucous and bawdy Bourbon Street, where the Big Easy is the
easiest.
  Over the past eleven years the students and staff of the
Louisiana Center for the Blind have ventured to New Orleans for
eleven Mardi Gras, for Jazz Festivals, for sports events at the
Super Dome, and for various state and National Conventions of the
NFB. During these visits we have experienced just about every
nuance of the French Quarter. Our memories are too numerous to
recount, but we are all veterans of the great city and have all
been captivated by its charm and sometimes embarrassed by its
audacity.



                        _Decatur _Street

  Decatur Street bends with the Mississippi River and is just a
jazz note away from the Old Man. One of the busiest streets in
the Vieux Carre, Decatur has ample shopping stalls lining its
sidewalks--French Market, Tower Records, the Riverwalk Mall, Jax
Brewery, book stalls, souvenir shops, and curiosity shops, to
name just a few.
  I can remember going to Sidney's on Decatur with two students
on a cane travel route during Mardi Gras. The sun was setting,
and we were after some Jamaica Rums--big cigars. We usually
wouldn't want to smoke a cigar, but something about the city made
us want suddenly to smoke one. We had no explanation--just three
men in search of the biggest cigar in the city.
  We wended our way through throngs of people. A sudden blast,
lingering and musical, from a tugboat blared--a calliope from one
of the paddle wheelers soon followed, not to be outdone. I walked
into the north end of a south-bound horse parked almost on the
sidewalk as its owner waited for customers to come for a horse-
drawn tour of the surroundings. We could smell crayfish boiling--
Old Bay seasoning--cayenne--potatoes and corn--as soon as we
passed Jackson Square. We ran into some barricades and worked our
way carefully along the perimeter of a new restaurant featuring
Aaron Neville that very evening. Across the street at the Cafe du
Monde, a Dixieland band struck up a lively tune. We were jostled
some; I felt like a salmon swimming upstream; but we made it to
Sidney's. "Hello, Baby," the woman behind the counter said. "What
can I get for you tonight?" She asked with that beautiful lilt of
the Cajun. We were fighting our way up the street again. I had
three big Jamaica Rums in a paper bag, and we were just past Jax
Brewery--a former brewery converted into a large shopping mall--
and a man yelled at me from across the way, "Hey, man, let me
have one of them big cigars."
  My first visit to New Orleans. I wanted to see the Mississippi,
up close and personal. Just between Cafe du Monde and Jax
Brewery, there is a little outdoor theater. Bands and all kinds
of street entertainers perform there. I saw a man tangle up a
bunch of balloons, create an audacious caricature of a poodle,
and give it to a wide-eyed child.
  If one climbs the steps of the outdoor theater and a few steps
down on the other side, one can walk down to the Mississippi and
get close enough to put a white cane in the water and feel the
power of its current as it rolls to the Gulf of Mexico. It was
almost dark as I started down the steps to the river, and just as
I reached the bottom step and could sense the majesty of the Old
Man, a man started wailing the blues on this trumpet--just
playing his heart out down there with the barges and the tugboats
and the paddle wheelers. I sat and listened to him until the sun
was completely down, wishing I had a Jamaica Rum. The Chamber of
Commerce couldn't have planned it any better. The city had
captivated me.



                        _Chartres _Street

  Just north of Decatur Street winds Chartres--probably the most
picturesque and charming street in the Quarter. Cafes, art shops,
book stalls, coffee shops, and bars line the irregular sidewalks.
A few years ago we wandered into a little restaurant called
Naspero's for breakfast. It was Sunday morning, and we had just
come from mass at the St. Louis Cathedral. The cathedral bells
were tolling.
  As we approached the restaurant, I heard a sudden burst of
staccato energy. A little boy bounced to his feet and started
tap-dancing. He was wearing tennis shoes with bottle caps
attached to the bottoms for taps. His flashing feet pounded the
old cobblestones. Seemingly from out of the shadows, a crowd
encircled him, clapping hands and shouting words of
encouragement. Quarters and other coins rained down at his
clicking tennis shoes. We stopped to listen and enjoy the energy
of his performance. The church bells tolled again, drowning out
the crowd and reminding us it was Sunday. As soon as the bells
subsided, the boisterous little crowd came back into our senses.
  In the restaurant I had dark roast coffee, biscuits, hot links,
and scrambled eggs--just an ordinary breakfast. My waitress
called me "hon" and filled my coffee cup several times. Food
tastes better in New Orleans than anywhere else in America.
Ordinary food becomes superb. It must be because the tolling bell
and the tapping feet and the architectural beauty and the
audacity of this city blend with the cuisine.


                         _Royal _Street

  Running parallel with Decatur and Chartres and just one street
below Bourbon, Royal is probably the most sophisticated street in
the Quarter. Lined with antique stores, art galleries, and fine
restaurants, it attracts those with the most discerning tastes.
Occasionally yuppie revellers suddenly bellow out barbaric yawps
or wild peals of laughter; but for the most part it is relatively
quiet and respectable.
  One of my great passions is collecting used books, and Royal
has plenty of used book stores scattered among the more wonderful
restaurants such as Mr. B's. I wandered into one of these stalls
once and met an aged man who proceeded to help me find the
authors I wanted. I started talking to him about Thomas Wolfe--
the great Southern writer who frequented New Orleans and Tony's
Spaghetti House on numerous occasions.
  "Wolfe used to come into this store," the owner said. "He was a
huge man, over six and a half feet tall and weighing almost three
hundred pounds."
  "You met him?" I asked in amazement.
  "He came in here often. A restless kind of man with a voracious
appetite for books. Faulkner and Sherwood Anderson lived just
down the street in Pirate's Alley. There's a book store there now
--the Faulkner House," the owner said.
  On another trip to New Orleans I shopped on Royal Street for a
photograph of William Faulkner. For years I had asked for his
photograph all over the country without any luck. I wandered into
a photography shop on Royal Street and asked the proprietor if he
had a photograph of William Faulkner, but I already had one foot
pointed toward the front door. To my amazement, the owner said,
"I sure do." He reached to the shelf and placed the coveted print
in my eager hands. I started reaching for my wallet to pay him.
  "This photo of Mr. Faulkner is quite rare. Only two prints have
ever been made of it. Faulkner is bouncing a ball for his dog to
catch," the owner said. "I am asking four thousand dollars for
it."
  I gently removed my hand from my wallet.


                        _Bourbon _Street

  Music blares--every kind of music imaginable--Cajun,
progressive jazz, rock and roll, country, gospel, and some
strains blasted in total improvisation. People do not talk on
Bourbon; they yell; they laugh; they scream, exuberant and
uninhibited. Bars beckon; women flaunt and taunt. Sirens roar
past on the boisterous street, and people grudgingly move out of
the way as if afraid to lose their niche, their observation post.
A woman, dressed outrageously, sways out onto the balcony over
the street. Men gather below to watch. She spins; she twirls and
grins down at them, flapping a pink scarf; then she disappears
into the darkness of a little alcove, and the men disperse and
find their observation posts.
  Tea rooms dot the street--palm readers and voodoo shops and
crazy souvenir shops nestle beneath small, but smart hotels.
Street dancers, street musicians, street evangelists, and street
singers stand intermittently and cajole and entertain. People
sometimes carry placards.
  Just across from Preservation Hall, where the old jazz
traditions are maintained, we heard an electric guitar. The door
to the little bar was open, and we could hear the man playing the
guitar, singing some Jimmy Buffet song. Some of us decided to
walk in for a few minutes to hear him and soak up some local
color. Several Harley-Davidsons were lined up in front of the
little bar. We found stools and plunked ourselves down. The man
playing the guitar was saying, "I need a tall, slender blonde to
come up here and hold my electric cord while I play."
  He repeated it more than once. Finally, he said, "I will buy a
tall, slender blonde a drink if she will come here and hold my
electric cord." It just so happened we had a tall, slender blonde
in our group; so she stepped forward and held the performer's
electric cord while he played "Wasting Away Again in
Margueritaville."
  On one of our visits to Mardi Gras a few years ago, I was
walking down Bourbon Street with two students, and we were
wearing masks. I was wearing an owl mask; one student was wearing
a flamingo mask; and the other student was wearing a witch doctor
mask. Our witch doctor was tall and slender himself, and the mask
was perfect for him. We had stopped to rest, leaning against a
wall, exhausted from the wild jaunts and shopping sprees all over
the Quarter. A man approached our witch doctor and stood before
him, staring for a long time. Finally the man said, "That has got
to be the most magnificent mask I have ever seen," and walked
away. Momentarily, a woman, painted completely blue and wearing
next to nothing, approached and tickled the witch doctor under
his bearded chin. "Nice," she said and sashayed down the street
toward Baby Doll's on Iberville. We laughed for a long time. The
outrageous city had just overwhelmed us.
  We haven't even begun to tell you about how wonderful the 1997
National Convention is going to be. Several more articles will
chronicle many other reasons why New Orleans is the place to be.
No one has to read about New Orleans. At the National Convention
of the NFB everybody can experience the Crescent City personally.
  With sumptuous accommodations like the Hyatt Regency Hotel just
a few short blocks from the French Quarter and with the wonderful
agenda of our convention, the 1997 National Convention should be
truly an unforgettable one. In future issues of the _Monitor, we
will be offering more information and more attractions. The
members of the National Federation of the Blind of Louisiana
cordially invite all of you to come to New Orleans and see
firsthand why it is truly one of the great cities of the world.
Laissez le bon temps roulet.

 HEAVEN IN '97--NEW ORLEANS--A MECCA FOR FINE _FOOD

                       _by _Jerry _Whittle

  __From the Editor: The Louisiana affiliate is already working
hard to ensure that the 1997 convention will be unforgettable.
Their efforts are, of course, ably reinforced by the incomparable
city of New Orleans itself. Here is Jerry Whittle's most recent
endeavor to tempt you to join us June 29 to July 6 in the Big
_Easy:

  New Orleans is considered one of the greatest cities in the
world for haute cuisine, and the members of the National
Federation of the Blind of Louisiana want to make sure that all
those who attend the 1997 National Convention have the
opportunity to take advantage of the hundreds of dining choices
available in the Crescent City. We have borrowed some
recommendations from a book entitled __New Orleans: the
Definitive Guide to Architectural and Cultural _Treasures by
Roulhac Toledano. His suggestions for many of the more famous
restaurants in New Orleans appear below. We hope that everyone
attending the National Convention will have the opportunity to
venture out and enjoy one of these wonderful places.

Acme Oyster and Seafood House, 724 Iberville Street, (504)
  522-5973. This establishment is accessible to both the French
  Quarter and the central business district. Stop shopping and
  relax with the best fried food and sandwiches you can find. Low
  to moderate prices.
Antoine's, 713 St. Louis Street, (504) 581-4422. Antoine
  Alciatore opened a small boarding house on St. Louis Street
  soon after his arrival in New Orleans from Marseille in 1840.
  Five generations of his children have run Antoine's, each
  generation returning to France to learn more about cuisine and
  the restaurant business. Restaurants worldwide know Antoine's,
  and so do all the provincials who recognize New Orleans as
  their mecca for special occasions. They come by private jet and
  by train. Some even take the Greyhound Bus, but there's always
  a meal at Antoine's.
    You can decide with the help of a waiter, but you can start
  with Oysters Ellis, after Dubonnet (red) with a twist of lemon.
  Despite the temptation of seafood, have a "nice tournedo."
  Souffle    potatoes are a must, and Antoine's is the only place
  where sauces are essential to the dining experience. Turtle
  soup and sweetbreads Financiere are the Proteus Day luncheon
  favorites on the Monday before Mardi Gras. High prices.
Bacco, 310 Chartres Street, (504) 522-2426. Located in the De La
  Poste Hotel, this restaurant has captured the imagination of
  French Quarter diners and was listed in the top twenty
  restaurants for 1993. High prices.
Bayona, 430 Dauphine Street, (504) 525-4455. This is the project
  of award-winning chef Susan Spicer. A tiny place, pleasant,
  very European, Bayona has lovely presentations of good food.
  Her garlic soup is a non pareil.
Bistro, 733 Toulouse Street, (504) 528-9206 is located at the
  Maison de Ville and is an alternative lunch and dinner place,
  quite intimate with beautifully presented French-style food.
Bon Ton Cafe, 401 Magazine Street, (504) 524-3386, Brick walls
  with wide folding doors and high ceilings envelop the guests.
  Crawfish bisque or etoufee, bread pudding, and whiskey sauce
  are essential parts of the casual dining scene for lunch or
  dinner.
Brennan's, 417 Royal Street, (504) 525-9711. The need for
  expansion of their popular restaurant business brought the
  Brennan family to this address in 1955. The family business has
  become history in New Orleans because of their efforts to
  create a distinctive cuisine and operation. Here is the New
  Orleans Irish success story, out of politics and architecture.
  High prices.
Brigsten's, 723 Dante Street, (504) 861-7610. Brigsten's is
  located in an old house near the levee. It was rated as one of
  the ten best restaurants in 1993. It also has a great uptown
  location among wonderful shops all in picturesque old cottages.
Brocato's, 537 St. Ann Street. Brocato's is Angelo Brocato's
  family pastry shop, a longtime Quarter institution. Try the
  granita: it's the real thing.
Cafe du Monde, 813 Decatur Street. Although the location had to
  change, as did the management during various French Market
  renovations, the Cafe du Monde has been packed with locals and
  tourists for generations twenty-four hours a day. Order cafe au
  lait and beignets since it's all you can get, except for orange
  juice, hot chocolate, and regular coffee for the unadventurous.
  Low prices.
Camellia Grill, 626 South Carrollton Avenue, (504) 866-9573.
  Where else can you eat at a counter and have big cotton
  napkins? Your hamburgers, omelettes, waffles, coffee, and mocha
  freezes are served by professional waiters in pressed white
  jackets.
Casamento's, 4330 Magazine Street, (504) 895-9761. Here the
  specialty is oysters. Some member of the Casamento family will
  serve you while you enjoy the shiny white walls, tile floor,
  and oyster stew. Even the sidewalk out front is covered in
  tile, and you'll see gunnysacks full of newly delivered oysters
  or oyster shells set out to haul away.
Christian's, 3835 Iberville Street, (504) 482-4924. This
  restaurant is beautifully situated in a former church but named
  after the owner, Chris Ansel of the Galatoire clan. He opted
  for his own restaurant after learning the business in France
  and at the family restaurant. They serve lunch Thursday and
  Friday and dinner Monday through Saturday.
Clancy's, 6100 Annunciation Street at Webster Street, (504)
  895-1111. Clancy's is located in one of those old-time frame
  cottages that has changed through the years from the old corner
  hangout to an upscale dining experience, reasonably priced.
Commander's Palace, 1403 Washington Ave., (504) 895-1111. Every
  neighborhood has its institutions and all the things that give
  it wholeness. In the Garden District it's all rolled up on
  Washington Avenue around Prytania Street with Lafayette
  Cemetery and Commander's Palace. Opened in 1880 by Emile
  Commander, the restaurant was bought by the Brennan family in
  1974. It works because of their flair for ingenuity and good
  food. Commander's is an occasion itself, but take time to walk
  around the neighborhood a bit. Look at the bollards, great cast
  iron standards sticking out of the brick pavement. They kept
  the carriages from going down into the deep granite drainage
  ditches, also worth a careful perusal. Look through the screens
  of shrubs to catch glimpses of architectural details in
  fairystyle settings, cast iron lyre pattern railings,
  Corinthian column caps, and entablatures, eyecatching because
  of their very misproportion. Imposing facades hide chaste gable
  sides, and the service wings are always longer than the houses.
  You'll see new combinations of classical decorative design. But
  it works, both individually and as a collective whole of
  Classical and Italianate motifs, jumbled and combined to create
  special houses in a special neighborhood, unique to the South.
  Here is a neighborhood that seemed to have been built almost
  entirely during the Civil War and the harsh days of
  Reconstruction. High prices.
Croissant d'Or, 617 Ursulines Street. This is the place for
  breakfast in the old Brocato's building. Look down and see the
  sign in the tile for the Ladies' entrance. Low prices.
Degas, 3127 Esplanade Avenue, (504) 945-5635. Degas is named
  because in 1872 Edgar Degas stayed at the Musson House across
  the street at 2306 Esplanade Avenue. Moderate prices.
Dooky Chase, 2301 Orleans Street. Dooky Chase is the most famous
  African-American restaurant in New Orleans, where Leah Chase
  and her husband Dooky have been preparing great lunches and
  dinners for decades. Moderate prices.
Emeril's, 800 Tchoupitoulas Street, (504) 528-9393. This
  restaurant is owned by the chef, Emeril Lagasse, who has won
  national awards.
Feelings, also known as Cafe d'Aunoy, 2600 Chartres Street. This
  restaurant has a residential setting with good food. Moderate
  prices.
Gabrielle, 3201 Esplanade Avenue, (504) 948-6233. This restaurant
  is where forty guests at a seating enjoy food cooked by the
  owner, who trained under Paul Prudhomme. Moderate prices.
Galatoire's, 209 Bourbon Street, doesn't take reservations. Line
  up with the locals at 11:30 every morning or try for the second
  seating. Lots of New Orleanians go straight to Galatoire's
  right after work. You should order Trout Almandine or get more
  adventurous with Crabmeat Ravigotte (you can't get that
  anywhere else). Ask for a demitasse of dark roast coffee if
  you're not brave enough for a cup of the bitter chicory. The
  waiters are an essential part of the Galatoire's experience, as
  are the mirror-covered walls reflecting the white tablecloths,
  waiters dressed in black and white, and the linen-clad
  Orleanians, the women with their pearls. High prices.
Gautreau's, 1728 Soniat Street, (504) 899-7397. Uptown eating
  means restaurants in little commercial buildings in residential
  areas, such as Gautreau's, a drugstore building with tin
  ceilings and an unglazed tile floor. This restaurant began as a
  project of Ann Avegno Russell, who began it despite the
  distraction of six children; it barrelled to international fame
  in a short time.
Gumbo Shop, 630 St. Peter Street, (504) 525-1486. The owners may
  change every lifetime or so, but the gumbo and the place remain
  just as much fun as they were in the 1950's, and the restaurant
  is located in a Spanish colonial building dating from 1795. Low
  to moderate prices.
K-Paul's Louisiana Kitchen, 416 Chartres Street. The waiters are
  mostly friends of the owners. Low to moderate prices.
La Madeleine, 547 St. Ann Street, (504) 568-9950, is in the Lower
  Pontalba apartments and is recent and owned by people from
  France: bread, coffee, and atmosphere with light meals, like
  the Caesar salad and the Croque Monsieur. Low prices.
Liuzza's Restaurant and Bar, 3635 Bienville Street and 234 North
  Telemachus Street, (504) 482-9120. It's worth the ride to
  experience lunches and dinners with beer in great cold stemmed
  glasses along with your po-boy.
Mandina's, 3800 Canal Street, (504) 482-9179, provides a similar
  experience. Only in New Orleans will you find Italian
  restaurants with "Wop-Salad" written on the menu.
Mother's, 401 Poydras Street, (504) 523-9656. This restaurant is
  a mainstay for everyone from business people to longshore
  workers, who stand in line to pick a po-boy or a hot lunch New
  Orleans style. Low prices.
Napoleon House, 500 Chartres Street, (504) 524-9752. This is not
  only a great setting (they haven't spent a cent on decor since
  1814) but has great muffelettas and offers small portions of
  all the great Creole and cajun specialties. It's been going
  strong since the 1930's, at least as a bar with food. Low to
  moderate prices.
Parasol's, 2533 Constance Street, (504) 897-5413. this is a bar
  and family restaurant in the heart of the Irish Channel, and
  it's an old-time substitute for the "club" for the Irish
  constituents.
Peristyle, 1041 Dumaine Street, (504) 593-9536. This is an
  important place to eat, and the setting, with murals of City
  Park, is very New Orleans.
Praline Connection, 542 Frenchmen Street, (504) 943-3934. The
  Praline Connection is open for three meals a day with late
  hours. This corner neighborhood restaurant concentrates on soul
  food and sweets from the adjacent sweetshop.
Tujague's, 823 Decatur Street, (504) 525-8676. Tujague's has been
  in business since 1856, presenting its brisket of beef in a
  six-course, prix fixe French-style presentation after shrimp
  remoulade. It's casual, but you don't order; they bring it, and
  it's just what you wanted even though you may not have known
  it.

  Over the years the staff and students of the Louisiana Center
for the Blind have ventured to New Orleans on numerous occasions.
We have dined at many different restaurants and would like to
suggest some additional dining spots that we have enjoyed for
various reasons. For example, one of the most colorful
restaurants in New Orleans is a pink, stuccoed house known as
Petunia's. Located at 817 St. Louis, just off Bourbon in the
Quarter, Petunia's serves wonderful crees, quiches, and an
assortment of typical creole and cajun cuisine. We would highly
recommend it for brunch or dinner. For reservations call
522-6440.
  Maspero's on 601 Decatur Street is another popular, inexpensive
restaurant with an informal atmosphere. Maspero's offers local
beers on tap and muffelettas, gumbo, and other short order foods.
We find that we get our money's worth there, but we have often
waited in line for the privilege, since they take no
reservations.
  Richards, located at 3944 Chef Highway, is a hole-in-the-wall
place that has never closed in twenty-five years. From breakfast
to midnight snacks, Richards is open twenty-four hours a day. The
waitresses are gnarled veterans, but they sling some mean hash.
Hot links, grits, and eggs for breakfast and a po-boy at three in
the morning. It is outside of town, so a bus or cab will be
needed. No alcohol is served there--just simple food with a most
unusual array of locals and feisty waitresses.
  Finally, we would heartily recommend the House of Blues,
located at 225 Decatur. Featuring live entertainment from rhythm
and blues giants like the Neville Brothers and Clarence
"Gatemouth" Brown, the House of Blues offers some wonderful
cuisine, such as ribs and collard greens and cornbread and
jambalaya, in a boisterous and bluesy atmosphere. For
reservations call 529-2583.
  All the food in New Orleans is delicious. Even the fast food
restaurants in the Quarter, such as McDonald's and Popeye's, seem
to rise to the challenge and prepare their standard fare in
keeping with the great chefs of the Big Easy. Everyone will have
to come to New Orleans to experience the wonderful variety and
the ethnic restaurants of the great seaport city first-hand. The
Louisiana affiliate will offer restaurant guides in Braille and
print at the information desk during the National Convention. We
will also be on hand to make suggestions and help you decide just
which way to go for the best food in town. Get those hotel
reservations in to the National Center for the Blind as quickly
as possible. The rates are one in a room, $40 per night; two in a
room, $42; three in a room, $44; four in a room, $46.
  Written reservations should be addressed to Mr. Cobb's
attention. In order to confirm a reservation, you will need to
send either a check or money order for $40 as a deposit or give
Mr. Cobb a credit card number. The credit card account will be
charged immediately. If a reservation is canceled prior to June
1, 1997, half of the deposit will be returned. After that date
deposits will not be returned. Exceptions may be made in certain
demonstrated emergencies.
  Bon appetit and laissez le bon temps roulet.


: The paddlewheel steamer Natchez
PHOTO/CAPTION: New Orleans's French Market]
                  Lionizing Around New Orleans:
            Good Food, Good Times, and All That Jazz
                        by Jerry Whittle

     The National Federation of the Blind of Louisiana is pleased
to announce a wonderful array of tours for this year's national
convention in the great City of New Orleans. To millions of
tourists each year the Crescent City is world renowned for good
food, good times, and good music. This year's selection of tours
reflects the diversity and charm of the great American city at
the mouth of the mighty Mississippi. Federationists interested in
these tours will want to make reservations early. If you have not
yet made your room reservations for the convention, call the
National Center for the Blind and speak to Mr. Cobb. Our block of
rooms at the Hyatt is now full, but he can take your registration
information and make a reservation for you as soon as we have
worked out arrangements with other hotels.
     Even though the tours are fabulous and the Big Easy beckons,
the heart of the convention is reuniting with old friends, making
new ones, enjoying the hospitality of the host affiliate,
browsing through the expansive exhibit hall to view the latest
technology or purchase a new cane from the NFB store, hearing
wonderful and informative agenda items, winning door prizes, and
receiving inspiration at our annual banquet. With all of these
diversions, the days and nights won't be long enough; however,
one thing is certain--the National Federation of the Blind of
Louisiana will be working hard to help you have the most
wonderful week of your life. New Orleans is the place to be the
first week of July, 1997. Where else can you have so much fun
this inexpensively?
     All tours will be pre-sold. Tour spaces are limited, so book
early. The deadline to book tours is May 15, 1997. Tickets will
be mailed to you after May 15, but prior to the convention. To
make tour reservations, include the following information: name;
address; city; state; zip; phone; number of tickets, types
(adults or children two to twelve), and tour number for each
tour. Send this information with your check for the total amount
due made payable to The Life of the Cajun Tours, 4761 Hwy. 1,
Raceland, Louisiana 70394, or call (504) 537-3179. Please make
your reservations as soon as possible; space is limited on some
tours. We must have twenty-five or more people for each tour we
sponsor. The following is the complete list of tours:

                        Saturday, June 28
1. New Orleans Super City Tour. 2:30 to 4:30 p.m., $18 adults,
     $9.50 children.
2. N.O. City Tour & River Cruise. 12:00 noon to 4:30 p.m., $31
     adults, $15.25 children.
3. River Road Plantations (two homes including meal). 9:00 a.m.
     to 4:30 p.m., $54.50 adults, $35.50 children.
4. Oak Alley Plantation (no meal). 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., $29
     adults, $15 children.
5. Swamp Tour, Cajun Meal, Cemetery, City Tour of Thibodaux
     (working sugar cane plantation). 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., $49
     adults, $37 children.
6. Global Wildlife Center (with meal). 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.,
     $46 adults, $37 children.
7. Dinner Jazz Cruise & Transportation. 6:00 to 9:30 p.m., $49.75
     adults only (must be twenty-one or older).

                         Sunday, June 29
8. New Orleans Super City Tour. 2:30 to 4:30 p.m., $18 adults,
     $9.50 children.
9. N.O. City Tour & River Cruise. 12:00 noon to 4:30 p.m., $31
     adults, $15.25 children.
10. River Road Plantations (two homes with meal). 9:00 a.m. to
     4:00 p.m., $54.50 adults, $35.50 children.
11. Oak Alley Plantation (no meal). 1:00 to 5:00 p.m., $29
     adults, $15 children.
12. Swamp Tour, Cajun Meal, Cemetery, City Tour of Thibodaux
     (working sugar cane plantation). 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., $49
     adults, $37 children.
13. Global Wildlife Center (with meal). 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.,
     $46 adults, $37 children.

                        Thursday, July 3
14. New Orleans Super City Tour, 2:30 to 4:30 p.m., $18 adults,
     $9.50 children.
15. Oak Alley Plantation (no meal), 1:00 to 5:00 p.m., $29
     adults, $15 children.
16. Swamp Tour, Cajun Meal, 12:40 to 5:40 p.m., $44 adults, $33
     children.
17. Global Wildlife Center (no meal), 1:00 to 5:00 p.m., $27
     adults, $25 children.
18. Dinner Jazz Cruise & Transportation, 6:00 to 9:30 p.m.,
     $49.75 adults only.
19. Pete Fountain Jazz Club (with 1 drink, twenty-one and older),
     9:15 p.m. to 12:15 a.m., $33 adults only.
20. Night Life-Top of the Mart Lounge, Peter Fountain Jazz Club
     (with three drinks, twenty-one and older), 7:15 p.m. to
     12:15 a.m., $42 adults only.

                        Tour Descriptions

New Orleans Super City Tours, Tours 1, 8, & 14
     Travel through three centuries of history and romance as you
encounter "the city that care forgot." Absorb the sights and
sounds of the famous French Quarter and historic Jackson Square.
Your licensed guide presents the history, landmarks, legends, and
splendid architecture that made New Orleans famous. Walk through
one of our above-ground Cities of the Dead (cemeteries) and
marvel at stories of voodoo and piracy on Bayou St. John. Enjoy a
ride along Lake Pontchartrain's shore before traveling through
Mid-City en route to Uptown New Orleans. Follow the clickety-
clack of the St. Charles Avenue streetcars past universities;
Audubon Park; stately mansions; and the world-famous, exclusive
Garden District. Then follow New Orleans into the twenty-first
Century as you pass under the shadows of towering skyscrapers in
the Central Business District (CBD). Cost: $18 adults, $9.50
children. Includes bus transportation from the Hyatt for the
Super City Tour, 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., Tour 1, Saturday, June
28; Tour 8, Sunday, June 29; and Tour 14, Thursday, July 3.

New Orleans City Tour and River Cruise, Tours 2 & 9
     This tour combines the steamboat Natchez Cruise (paddle
wheel) plus the Super City Tour. After your exciting motorcoach
tour through New Orleans, you'll have a few minutes to rest or
snack before boarding the historic riverboat Natchez to the
delightful tunes of the steam calliope. Experience the sights and
sounds of river life that enchanted characters of history and
literature like Mark Twain's Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer. View the
ever-changing skyline of the Crescent City from the sunny decks
and climate-controlled comfort of the majestic Steamer Natchez.
Cruise past the Chalmette Battlefield where the legendary Jean
LaFitte and his buccaneers joined forces with Andrew Jackson to
defend our city against the British in the Battle of New Orleans.
Cost: $31 adults, $15.25 children. Includes bus pick-up at the
Hyatt, City Tour, and Steamboat Cruise, 12:00 noon to 4:30 p.m.;
Tour 2, Saturday, June 28; and Tour 9, Sunday, June 29.

River Road Plantations, Tours 3 & 10
     Travel back in time to Nottoway and Oak Alley, Antebellum
mansions nestled along the banks of the Mississippi River. Leave
the modern skyline of cosmopolitan New Orleans behind as you
enjoy the panoramic view of Lake Pontchartrain and travel over
the Bonnet Carre Spillway. Your narrated motorcoach tour takes
you past six Antebellum plantation homes surrounded by massive
oaks, sugar cane fields, pecan groves, and Louisiana countryside.
Walk through two of these beautifully restored homes while
resident guides, many in period costumes, tell the history of the
homes and elegant lifestyles of wealthy plantation families.
Enjoy an authentic Cajun country lunch complete with charming
southern hospitality. Cost: $54.50 adults, $35.50 children;
includes bus transportation from the Hyatt, tour of two homes,
and meal. 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Tour 3, Saturday, June 28; and
Tour 10, Sunday, June 29.

Oak Alley Plantation, Tours 4, 11, & 15
     Feel the gentle breeze of southern hospitality on a tour
that takes you back to the glory of the Old South. Experience a
bygone era in one of the South's most beautiful settings--Oak
Alley Plantation, built in 1839. Marvel at the unbelievable view
of a quarter-mile-long alley of twenty-eight magnificent oak
trees, each over 250 years old. Along the way view the majestic
cypress trees in the swamps bordering the Mississippi River.
Travel past three other plantation homes, legacies from the past
grandeur of historic River Road, from your luxury motorcoach.
Cost: $29 adults, $15 children. Includes bus transportation from
the Hyatt and tour of plantation homes (no meal), 1:00 p.m. to
5:00 p.m.; Tour 4, Saturday, June 28; Tour 11, Sunday, June 29;
and Tour 15, Thursday, July 3.

Swamp Tour, Cajun Buffet, City Tour of Thibodaux, Cemetery &
Working Sugar Cane Plantation, Tours 5 & 12
     Cajun tour guide will bring you to beautiful Bayou Bouef
where you will enjoy a leisurely boat ride into the beauty and
serenity of Louisiana's most picturesque regions. You will see
alligators, nutria, birds, moss-laden oak trees, and much more.
Those who dare can hold a live alligator in their hands and pet
the silky nutria. Following the boat ride and history of the
region, you will be treated to a Cajun buffet, including gumbo,
alligator, and other wonderful dishes. You can visit the Trading
Post with a large selection of gifts and crafts. We travel to
Thibodaux for a city tour and walk through a cemetery known as
the "Cities of the Dead" and visit a working sugar cane
plantation, the store museum, and craft shop. The day will be
filled with the history, culture, and heritage of the Cajuns.
Cost: $49 adults, $37 children; includes bus transportation from
the Hyatt; Cajun tour guide; boat ride; buffet; tours of
Thibodaux, Cemetery, and sugar cane plantation, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00
p.m.; Tour 5, Saturday, June 28; Tour 12, Sunday, June 29.

Swamp Tour & Cajun Buffet, Tour 16
     This tour is like the previous one except that there is no
tour of a sugar cane plantation. Cost: $44, adults; $33 children;
includes bus transportation from the Hyatt, Cajun tour guide,
boat ride, and buffet; 12:40 to 5:40 p.m.; Tour 16, Thursday,
July 3.

Global Wildlife Center, Tours 6 & 13
     Ride across Lake Pontchartrain on the world's longest bridge
and take a guided wagon tour of a 900-acre home to many rare,
endangered, and extinct-in-the-wild animals from all over the
world. Custom-built covered wagons pulled by tractors offer
comfortable seating with no obstruction of the scenic view. When
the wagons stop, animals will approach to be fed. Come eye to eye
with a buffalo and feed a family of giraffe. The group will enjoy
a meal at a local restaurant. Cost: $46 adults; $37 children.
Includes bus transportation from the Hyatt, wagon ride, and meal.
9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; Tour 6, Saturday, June 28; Tour 13,
Sunday, June 29.

Global Wildlife Center, Tour 17
     This tour is like the previous one except that no meal is
included. Cost is $27 adults, $25 children; includes bus
transportation from the Hyatt and wagon ride. 1:00 p.m. to 5:00
p.m.; Tour 17, Thursday, July 3.

Dinner Jazz Cruise, Tours 7 & 18
     When night falls, we board a riverboat and cruise on a jazz-
filled adventure. The sounds of a dixieland jazz band fill the
air as diners enjoy a lavish creole meal. Cost: $49.75 adults
only (must be twenty-one or older); includes bus transportation
from the Hyatt, dinner, and jazz cruise. 6:00 to 9:30 p.m.; Tour
7, Saturday, June 28; Tour 18, Thursday, July 3.

Pete Fountain's Jazz Club, Tour 19
     On this unique tour you'll experience New Orleans nightlife
as a native would. You'll see and hear one of the great New
Orleans jazz musicians, Pete Fountain. Enjoy one complimentary
drink while he performs. Cost: $33, adults only; includes bus
transportation from the Hyatt, Pete Fountain's Club cover charge,
and one drink; 9:15 p.m. to 12:15 a.m.; Tour 19, Thursday, July
3.

Nightlife--Top of the Mart Lounge--Pete Fountain's Jazz Club,
Tour 20
     From cool to red hot jazz and everywhere in between--on this
unique tour you'll experience New Orleans nightlife as a native
would. Your evening begins at the Top of the Mart, where you'll
relax with two complimentary drinks as you enjoy the revolving
cityscape. From there you're off to see a New Orleans
institution--Pete Fountain. Enjoy one complimentary drink while
he performs. Cost: $42, adults only; includes bus transportation
from the Hyatt to the Top of the Mart and Pete Fountain's Club,
and three drinks; 7:15 p.m. to 12:15 a.m.; Tour 20, Thursday July
3.

Y'all come.


 people are seated at tables under a canopy at a
sidewalk cafe. CAPTION: Louisiana Center students enjoy coffee and beignets at
the Cafe du Monde in the New Orleans French Quarter.]
               New Orleans--Something for Everyone
                        by Jerry Whittle

     From the Editor: In about two months the largest gathering
of blind people to take place in 1997 will be about to begin. You
still have time to arrange to be a part of the fifty-seventh
convention of the National Federation of the Blind, but you had
better hurry. Call Mr. Cobb at the National Center for the Blind
today to make your room reservation. The telephone number is
(410) 659-9314. Meantime, to whet your appetite for what you will
find in New Orleans, here is Jerry Whittle's latest evocation of
the Crescent City:

     As most Federationists already know, New Orleans is one of
the most popular convention cities in the world. Noted for its
myriad of so-called adult attractions, New Orleans also affords
ample wholesome entertainment for the entire family.
     This year's National Convention also offers one of the most
spacious and elegant hotels in the Crescent City as our
headquarters--the Hyatt Regency--just a few blocks from the
French Quarter. Connected to the Superdome and a massive shopping
complex, the Hyatt-Regency usually serves as the main hotel for
major sports events, such as the Super Bowl. Here is a brief
description of the Hyatt Regency--just one more reason why this
year's Convention of the National Federation of the Blind, June
29 through July 5, is the place to be.

Hyatt Regency New Orleans:
     Discover a city known the world over for its soulful jazz
and its Creole cuisine. Located in the heart of downtown just
minutes from the historic French Quarter and the scenic
riverfront, Hyatt Regency New Orleans captures the flavor of the
Crescent City with rich mahogany, beautifully appointed guest
rooms, and wrought iron grillwork crafted by talented artisans.
     Savor famous New Orleans cuisine in its three restaurants
and lounges, serving such regional dishes as muffalettas,
Crawfish Etoufee, and other tantalizing Cajun creations. Relax in
the whirlpool spa, take a dip in the heated pool, or work out in
the fully equipped health club.
     Experience the magic of the Big Easy as only the people of
Hyatt can deliver.
     * Thirty-two-story atrium hotel, including 1,084 guest
     rooms, 100 suites, and exclusive Regency Club accommodations
     * Twenty minutes from New Orleans International Airport
     * Complimentary Hyatt Express shuttle to the French Quarter,
     Mississippi Riverfront
     * Heated rooftop pool, whirlpool and fully equipped health
     club
     * Business center on site
     * Connected to the Louisiana Superdome and New Orleans
     Centre Shopping Mall, featuring Macy's, Lord & Taylor, and
     more
     The Courtyard Restaurant: located on the third floor, is
     open seven days a week serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
     Top of the Dome Steakhouse: Enjoy a fantastic view from New
     Orleans's only revolving rooftop restaurant, located on the
     thirty-second floor. Menu suggestions include filet mignon,
     New York Strip, and T-Bone, Smokehouse Ribs and much more.
     Chocoholic bar and cocktail specials are featured nightly.
     Hyttops: Located on the third floor, Hyttops Sports Bar
     offers casual fare and friendly competition with tables,
     video games, pool, and more.
     Fitness Room/Swimming Pool: The fitness room, accessible
     from the fifth floor of the main tower or seventh floor of
     the Lanai tower, is adjacent to the pool and jacuzzi.

     A magnificent hotel is only the beginning. New Orleans is
dotted with hundreds of interesting shops of every description,
and men, women, and children should have few problems finding
that special shop of their dreams. In addition to a variety of
quaint shops, New Orleans also offers plenty of family
entertainment. Enumerated below is a partial list of the places
that help to make the Crescent City one of the most popular
convention sites in the world.

Southern Fossil & Mineral Exchanges
     A Natural History Gallery, 2045 Magazine Street
     The South's first gallery to showcase artifacts of nature.
     In addition to spectacular displays of fossils and minerals,
     insects, butterflies, meteorites, shells, and skulls are
     featured.

Children's Hour Book Emporium
     3308 Magazine Street
     "One of the best new bookstores of '94," according to the
     Times-Picayune. New and classic titles, audio and video
     cassettes, software, compact discs, and artwork by young
     artists.

All That Jazz
     829 Decatur Street
     An impressive selection of CD's, records, and tapes.

Art to Wear
     910 Decatur Street
     Hand-painted and appliqued women's and children's wear and
     accessories are sold at this family-run shop.

Lazybug
     600 Royal Street and Riverwalk at Poydras
     Women's contemporary clothing and the store's signature line
     of wearable art.

Payless Souvenirs
     New Orleans Centre
     Shopping for Super Bowl souvenirs? Payless is one place not
     to be missed.

Jackson Brewery
     600-621 Decatur Street
     It's jewelry and fashions. It's spicy shrimp and Creole
     cuisine. It's fireworks and festivals--a unique collection
     of shops, restaurants, stores, and boutiques.

Louisiana Music Factory
     210 Decatur Street
     Offers both new and used music products, giving shoppers a
     larger selection of rare tunes on both vinyls and CD's.

Audubon Zoo
     6500 Magazine Street
     See more than 1,800 endangered or rare animals, including
     the exotic white alligators.

City Park:
     City Park Ave.
     City Park has something for the whole family. It features a
     world class botanical garden, storyland (a children's
     wonderland of rides), the Carousel Gardens, paddle-boat
     rentals for two, horseback riding, and the New Orleans
     Museum of Art.

Louisiana Children's Museum:
     420 Julia Street
     Features two floors of colorful, educational, and
     imaginative hands-on exhibits.

Louisiana State Museum:
     701 Chartres Street
     Five important historic properties make up this expansive
     complex in New Orleans: The Cabildo, Presbytere, Arsenal,
     and 1850 House on Jackson Square plus the old U.S. Mint on
     Esplanade Avenue.

Louisiana Superdome:
     Connected to the Hyatt Regency
     Tour one of America's largest and finest domed stadiums.

Nottoway Plantation:
     White Castle, Louisiana (a one-hour drive from New Orleans)
     Experience and savor the aristocratic splendor that was the
     Old South. Nottoway is the ultimate in Southern grandeur,
     Southern hospitality at its finest.

Aquarium of the Americas:
     1 Canal Street
     Explore underwater worlds teeming with exotic marine life.

Entergy Imax Theatre Film Special Effects:
     1 Canal Street
     A behind-the-scenes-look at Hollywood magic. Come experience
     the magic of illusion on a screen ten times bigger than a
     traditional movie screen.

Riverwalk:
     On the Mississippi River at Poydras Street
     This unique center features 140 stores and restaurants
     stretching a half mile along the Mississippi riverfront.

     The Big Easy truly aims to please everyone, but the real
entertainment will be the opportunity to attend the largest
gathering of blind people in the world. Despite all the
distractions of the Crescent City, the major focus will still be
the wonderful general sessions, the informative speakers, the
division meetings, and the banquet. New Orleans truly teems with
life, but above all this is our chance to work together for a
brighter future for all blind people. Take advantage of this
opportunity to make new friendships and renew old acquaintances
in a wonderful spirit of camaraderie. Laissez le bon temps
roulet!

[PHOTO: Two little girls sit holding a toy together. CAPTION: Macy and
Madison McLean from Ohio. PHOTO: A small blind boy is sitting on the floor
fitting a shape into a shape-sorter toy. CAPTION: Bryan Hergert of Washington
state plays in NFB camp.
PHOTO: A woman standing with a guide dog talks to her interpreter by signing
into her hand. A man looks on. CAPTION: Kathleen Spear (right) talks through
her interpreter (center) to Bob Eschbach (left).]
                   1997 Convention Attractions

     From the Editor: Every year's National Convention is an
absolutely unique event. The agenda items, the exhibits, the new
friends and business acquaintances: all these give each
convention its own character and significance. Some activities
lend a luster to the convention in part because they do take
place every year and provide helpful fixed points in the whirl of
events. In this category are the meetings of the Resolutions
Committee and the Board of Directors, the annual banquet, and the
many seminars and workshops of the various divisions and
committees. Here is a partial list of activities being planned by
a number of Federation groups during the 1997 Convention, June 29
through July 5. Presidents of divisions, committee chairpeople,
and event presenters have provided the information. The pre-
convention agenda will list the locations of all events taking
place before convention registration on Monday, June 30. The
convention agenda will contain listings of all events taking
place after that time.

               Blind Industrial Workers of America

     BIWA President Primo Foianini announces that the division
will conduct a split cash drawing at this year's convention. The
group will gather on Tuesday afternoon, July 1, for its annual
meeting.

              Blind Professional Journalists Group

     If you are studying journalism, are working in this exciting
field, or are interested in doing either, the NFB Blind
Professional Journalists meeting is the place for you to be
Sunday, June 29, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Please see the pre-
convention agenda for the meeting location. The Blind
Professional Journalists group, which organized last summer
during the convention in Anaheim, is here to help everyone
exchange ideas and answer questions about working for newspapers
and magazines and in broadcasting.
     If you have questions about BPJ, contact Elizabeth Campbell
evenings at (817) 738-0350 or e-mail, Liz@dfw.net or Bryan Bashin
at (916)441-4096 or e-mail, bashin@calweb.com

                     Child Care Information

     Throughout our National Convention NFB Camp provides
activities and programs for children under twelve years of age.
Although it is generally referred to as "child care," the
participants in NFB Camp will tell you otherwise. It is a
tremendous opportunity to instill Federation philosophy in the
camp counselors, the parents, and the children (blind and sighted
alike). Advanced registration is required to ensure that the
number of camp counselors is sufficient for the safety and
happiness of the children. Blind and sighted children will enjoy
the action-packed schedule awaiting them in New Orleans this
summer. Call or write to register today.
     NFB Camp is under the direction of Carla McQuillan, the
owner and operator of Children's Choice Montessori School and
Child Care Center in Springfield, Oregon. With seventeen years of
teaching experience in early childhood education, Mrs. McQuillan
received the Blind Educator of the Year Award presented by the
National Federation of the Blind at our 1996 convention in
Anaheim. Carla is also the mother of two children and the
President of the National Federation of the Blind of Oregon.
     The team supervisor and activities director are employees of
Children's Choice Montessori School. Both have extensive
experience planning and expediting programs for children. Once
again we are recruiting Head Start teachers from the local area
to serve as our camp counselors. All of these individuals have
CPR and First Aid certification, criminal record checks, and the
education and experience to handle large groups of children with
ease. In addition to the contracted staff, the Federation youth
who participate in our CPR/First Aid baby-sitting class on
Sunday, June 29, will be paired up with NFB camp counselors
throughout the week for hands-on child care experience.
     This year's convention setting offers a wide range of
opportunities to explore areas outside the hotel. The children
will be practicing their independence skills as they take various
walking tours of the city, engage in scavenger hunts in the mall
beneath the Hyatt, and challenge each other to water-pistol
fights. There will be guest appearances by storytellers,
musicians, magicians, and artists. We will be conducting
philosophy discussions to complement the skills training that
will be taking place daily. Each day, during general sessions,
children will be encouraged to participate in a variety of
activities both inside the hotel and out in the community. A
schedule of NFB Camp activities will be available at the
information table at convention.
     NFB Camp will be open one half hour before the beginning of
sessions and one half hour after sessions recess. Children must
be picked up during lunch breaks. The schedule follows:
     Sunday, June 29, during the seminar for Parents of Blind
Children
     Tuesday, July 1, during the Board meeting and afternoon
committee meetings
     Wednesday, July 2, during both general sessions
     Thursday, July 3, during the morning general session, not
tours
     Friday, July 4, during both general sessions and the banquet
     Saturday, July 5, during both general sessions
     We will not serve dinner during the banquet. A late fee of
$10 per child will be strongly enforced if children are not
picked up from camp on time.
     Registration fee schedule: full time (all hours of operation
except banquet) first child in the family, $60, each additional
child, $40; banquet, $10 per child; daily rates, $15 per child.
     Registration for NFB Camp will be handled through the state
office of the National Federation of the Blind of Oregon. If you
are registering by telephone and you would like to speak to a
live human instead of an answering machine, call between the
hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time. If you
mail your registration or leave a message on the answering
machine, please be sure to include the following registration
information: child's name; age; special needs, if any, such as
blind or in wheelchair; parent's name, home address, and phone.
Please list the days you will need child care and whether you
need services during the banquet. Please call or mail the
information to NFB of Oregon, Attention NFB Camp, P.O. Box 320,
Thurston, Oregon 97482, (541) 726-2654. Complete information
packets and medical releases will be mailed approximately two to
three weeks after Mrs. McQuillan receives initial registration
information.

    Field Trips and Special Activities for Children and Youth
     New Orleans Children's Museum, ages four to twelve; cost,
$10 per child (includes lunch); check-in, 8:30-9:00 a.m.
     This June 29 trip begins with a brief orientation to the
hotel and adjacent mall, featuring a stop in the food court for
lunch. Children will divide into small groups for this activity.
They will be paired with capable travelers selected from the
membership and from National Federation of the Blind training
centers. The children will have the experience of selecting and
purchasing their own lunches. After lunch we will board a bus to
the Children's Museum, which invites children and their adult
friends to discover and learn in a hands-on environment. All
exhibits are designed to encourage children to touch, explore,
and get involved while having fun together. Children may be
picked up at 3 p.m. when they return from the museum or stay in
the NFB Camp room until the parents seminar adjourns.
     Red Cross Baby-sitting Course, ages twelve and up, cost, $20
including lunch. Check-in, 8:00 to 8:30 a.m.
     This is an opportunity for our youth to acquire valuable
skills that will lead to year-round employment. Upon completion
of the June 29 course, participants will receive Red Cross First
Aid and Infant/Child CPR certification. The course will also
include important tips and guidelines for the young baby-sitter,
including songs, games, crafts, and other fun activities for
children of various ages. Course graduates will be encouraged to
participate in our Mentoring Program, where they will develop
child care skills under the guidance of NFB Camp Counselors.
Certification of child care course completion and internship will
be awarded, and the list of graduates will be made available to
convention attendees as a resource list for evening baby-sitters.
Don't miss this unique opportunity! Space will be limited, so be
sure to register early. The course will last approximately seven
hours.
     You may call or mail in registration for either activity.
Please include the following information: child's name, age, home
address, home phone, and special needs. Please designate whether
each registrant will be attending the children's museum ($10) or
the baby-sitting course ($20). Please send registration and
payment no later than June 1, 1997, to reserve your spot. Mail to
National Federation of the Blind of Oregon, P.O. Box 320,
Thurston, Oregon 97482, or call (541) 726-6924, between 8:00 a.m.
and 5:00 p.m. (Pacific Daylight Time), Monday through Friday.
     We are planning a number of additional activities to take
place throughout the week, such as a dance instruction session, a
pre-banquet pizza party, tours of the hotel kitchen and the
Superdome, tournament games, and an ice cream party. A schedule
of activities for the week will be available at the information
table at convention.

                     Committee on Associates

     The Committee on Associates will meet in New Orleans on
Tuesday evening. In addition, final standings will be announced
at the National Board Meeting that morning. We look forward to a
brisk final segment of the 1997 enrollment year and to some
surprises in the top finishers. At the meeting we will discuss
several items and plan to have the national treasurer as our
guest. We will also hand out contest results and standings by
state and enjoy other activities.
     The enrolling of Associate members is a highly productive
activity. It educates people to the positive aspects of blindness
and should help them come to understand blindness as a
characteristic. This program is severely under-used, and we need
to think of ways to help our members understand how much of an
impact they can have on family, friends, and community with
Associates. As chairman of the Committee on Associates I extend
my sincere appreciation to all Associate recruiters. You can
contact me, Tom Stevens, at (573) 445-6091.

                       Deaf-Blind Division

     The Deaf-Blind Division will host three seminars at the
National Convention in New Orleans, each to begin at 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, June 29, location to be announced. We will try to have
guest speakers from deaf-blind agencies in Louisiana.
     Tuesday, July 1: Speakers from Louisiana's Helen Keller
Regional Office and NFB representatives. Also Dean Blazie from
Blazie Engineering will update us on its various portable note
taker/data managers.
     Thursday, July 3, Board Meeting: Members of the Deaf-Blind
Division Board will give reports. We will have literature
available from various groups and organizations who work within
the deaf-blind community.
     By the time you read this, Joe and Arlene Naulty will have
moved fifty miles north. Their new address is 11943 Suellen
Circle, Wellington, Florida 33414, (561) 753-4700. Please
remember that we are now a division. Dues are $5 per person for
the 1997 year and should be remitted to Treasurer Arlene Naulty
at her new address. The Deaf-Blind Division Board officers are
Joseph B. Naulty, President; Richard J. Edlund, (913) 296-7648,
First Vice President, Topeka, Kansas; Burnell E. Brown, (202)
396-7370, Second Vice President, Washington, D.C.; John J. Salka,
(914) 496-7186, Secretary, Monroe, New York; Arlene Naulty,
Treasurer; and Board members Robert S. Jaquiss, (503) 626-7174,
Beaverton, Oregon, and Dawn Salka, (914) 496-7186, Monroe, New
York. We'll be needing volunteers and interpreters, so, if any of
you can help out, please contact Joe Naulty or any other Board
member.
     I'm looking forward to seeing you in New Orleans. Please
come; we need your support. We're going to have a great
convention.

                   The Diabetes Action Network

     The Diabetes Action Network of the National Federation of
the Blind has been busy making plans for several months for the
1997 annual convention in New Orleans. Each year thousands of
diabetics lose vision or become blind from complications of the
disease. The Diabetes Action Network has the knowledge and
experience to guide diabetics with vision loss back to a state of
independent self-management of the disease.
     The Diabetes Action Network will first host an open forum on
diabetes and the associated complications of the disease. A panel
of experts will assemble to answer questions on all aspects of
diabetes and techniques for managing the disease after vision
loss or other complications. In addition, a discussion of the new
generation of fast-acting humalog insulins will be held. The
forum will occur on Monday afternoon, June 30, from 2:00 to 4:00,
room to be announced. Get your questions ready because this forum
is not to be missed.
     Then, on Tuesday evening, July 1, from 6:30 until 9:00, the
Diabetes Action Network will host the annual diabetes seminar and
division business meeting, room to be announced. The subject for
the keynote address will be the new system of counting
carbohydrates and doing meal planning. For those unfamiliar with
this new system, it introduces many simplifying techniques for
planning meals. Come join the membership of the division and help
plan the events of the upcoming year; review the accomplishments
of the past year; discuss diabetes with experts; and enjoy the
lively, spirited crowd. Remember, brush up on all of those
diabetes facts to see how much money you can make the president
pay. See you in New Orleans!

                 Entrepreneurial Interest Group

     Tuesday evening, July 1, 1997, from 7 to 9:30 p.m., we will
conduct a meeting for blind individuals interested in being part
of a division whose focus will be entrepeneurialism. Assuming
sufficient interest, we plan to adopt a constitution, elect
officers, and establish widespread communication of ideas. If you
are a business owner or if you wish to know more about owning
your own business, this group could be a vital link. From the
development of a business plan to the networking achievements of
others, this formation meeting has plans for tomorrow, and it
will be enhanced by your participation.
     If you plan to be in Louisiana for the 1997 convention and
intend to join us, please call Connie Leblond at (207) 772-7305.
We know there is tremendous interest in this meeting, and we
would like to get an approximate count of attendees. See you in
New Orleans.


              Bringing NEWSLINE to Your Community:
     How Foundations and Corporate Giving Programs Can Help

             Sunday June 29, 1997, 1:00 to 4:30 P.M.

     Securing funding from foundations and corporate giving
programs is challenging, but certainly all of us can learn how to
write clear, targeted proposals and master the research
techniques that can find the right grantor for our projects. Many
local chapters and state affiliates are eager to pursue local
foundations and corporate-giving programs to establish and
continue funding to bring NEWSLINE (tm) to their communities
permanently. Although only 12 percent of the charitable
contributions made in this country come from foundations and
corporations, many of us can be successful funding NEWSLINE (tm)
and other projects once we learn the basics.
     Dr. Betsy Zaborowski, NFB Director of Special Programs, and
several NFB members who themselves have been successful at
raising funds will share their strategies for identifying
appropriate foundations and corporate giving programs, writing
proposals, and selling a project once an interview has been
arranged. Workshop participants will learn the ten basic steps
for good proposal writing, print and on-line resources for
researching funding sources, and communication techniques to use
once you get to promote your project in person. Participants will
be given some helpful materials and time to discuss problems they
have had in the fund-raising arena. All are welcome; however,
this workshop is recommended for those who will be actively
working on funding projects such as NEWSLINE(tm).

                     Human Services Division

     The keynote speaker this year at the meeting of the Human
Services Division of the National Federation of the Blind will be
NFB Treasurer and Michigan affiliate President Allen Harris, who
will kick off a dynamic program by talking about skills needed to
complete your education, get a job, and keep it. The Division
will meet from 1:15 to 5:00 p.m. on the afternoon of the NFB
Board meeting (Tuesday, July 1, 1997) at the NFB National
Convention in New Orleans. Ask yourself: did or will your rehab
program give you the skills needed by blind people? This question
will be answered by a panel of our experts. Here are some other
questions: How do I get a job? How do I keep it? Who else is
working in my professional field? How can I network with these
people on the Internet? All these questions and more will be
answered at this year's divisional meeting. Don't miss it. Come
early and stay late to network with fellow professionals. We'll
see you in New Orleans. And laissez les bon temps rouler at the
Human Services Division this year.

                 An Introduction to the Internet

     Are you tired of hearing about the Internet without knowing
how to take advantage of its many features? What do they mean
when they say "surf the Web"? What is "Real Audio"? What is e-
mail?
     The Internet is one of the most exciting and informative
ways to use the power of your computer. With a knowledge of the
Internet you can send and receive messages from people throughout
the world and have access to libraries and online books from
colleges and universities as well as newspapers from cities all
over the U.S. You can even listen to radio broadcasts, music, and
sporting events.
     Want to know how? Make plans to attend "An Introduction to
the Internet" on Sunday, June 29, at the NFB convention. We'll
give you the information you need to get started on a journey
that never has to end.

              Job Opportunities for the Blind (JOB)

     Someone out there knows the answers to your questions about
employment. Your best chance to find that person will be among
the thousands of people attending the largest convention of blind
Americans to take place in 1997. JOB helps people locate each
other at convention. Ask us.

     The 1997 National JOB Seminar
     June 29, (Sunday) 1 to 4 p.m.
     For three hours competent blind Americans tell you about
their jobs and answer your questions. They got the jobs they
wanted; why not grab their good ideas for yourself? This annual,
lively, fact-filled, practical national job seminar has the most
interesting mix of speakers! Here are just three of the agenda
items for 1997: "How to Find, Train, and Fire Readers and
Drivers"; "How to Start Hearing Windows"; and a panel
presentation with a blind teacher sharing recommended blind
techniques; Dr. Ralph Bartley, Superintendent of the Kentucky
School for the Blind, who will tell us what he looks for when
hiring teachers and other staff members; and William Gibson,
Director of the Utah Division of Services for the Visually
Impaired.

     Have you refused to consider jobs outside your home
territory because you wondered how to find a new apartment, make
travel arrangements, and such? In addition to a seminar
presentation titled "New Job in a New Place: Self-taught
Orientation, Part 1," a sign-up sheet will be available at the
JOB seminar for "New Job in a New Place, Part 2: A JOB Walking
Workshop." The day after the seminar (Monday), Russell Anderson
and Ron Bergese, professional cane travel instructors at BLIND,
Inc., will lead a walking tour which supposes that you live in
Minneapolis and have been hired by the Hotel Hyatt Regency in New
Orleans. They will literally walk participants through some
excellent methods for figuring out a new workplace and a new
community. This JOB workshop is limited to the first twenty
people to sign up at the Seminar, and you must be independently
mobile in your home community.

                    JOB Networking Breakfasts

     All week long you are invited to attend the daily (7:00
a.m.- 8:00 a.m.) JOB Networking Breakfasts, either those with a
particular job topic or the generic breakfasts that cover
whatever the individuals at the table have found of concern. BYOB
(Buy Your Own Breakfast) is the rule. People are seated family
style with a coordinator who is an expert in the topic.
     So far twenty-one breakfasts are planned. The full list of
breakfast topics will be posted during convention on the NFB
Information Table in both Braille and print. You will notice that
some of the breakfasts have a specific topic and some are
generic. These latter are an open forum and networking
opportunity for solving any problem related to employment and
blindness. For the breakfasts with a specified topic, both those
currently in the field and those who would like to be are invited
to network. Please help spread the word to everyone you know with
a special interest in one of these topics.
     We are attracting such numbers to the JOB Networking
Breakfasts that this year we have to begin something new--
excluding folks. If you are not personally involved in the topic
for the specific breakfast, please eat at some other table with
some other friends. These are working breakfasts.
     Yes, you may decide at the last minute to show up. JOB Net-
working Breakfasts start promptly at seven each morning. We will
be seating attendees between 6:45 and 7:00 a.m.; after that we'll
be networking too. Reservations are helpful but not required.
Here is the 1997 list of topics along with the table
coordinators:

SUNDAY, JUNE 29: (convention set-up day)
1    The Sunday first-timers breakfast
     Never been to a full NFB National Convention before? We'll
     help you get the most out of this full week of activities--
     the seminars, introductions to specific people, and the one-
     of-a-kind events that will help you reach your employment
     goals. Wayne and Carmen Davis, Florida

MONDAY, JUNE 30: (registration day)
2    The Monday First-timers Breakfast
     (A second chance for first-timers) Marianne and Buck
     Saunders, West Virginia; Connie and Seth Leblond, Maine; and
     David and Mariann De Notaris, New Jersey
3    Monday's Generic Breakfast for Job Seekers
     What problem are you running into in your job search?
     Brain-storming is our specialty at each generic
     breakfast. Loraine and David Stayer, New York
4    JOB's Third Networking Breakfast for Travel Instructors
     Blind teachers share NFB-teaching techniques for long canes.
     Louisiana Center for the Blind instructors
5    Emergency Dispatchers Networking Breakfast
     New! Brad Greenspan, New York

TUESDAY, JULY 1 (Board meeting day)
6    Tuesday's Generic Breakfast for Job Seekers
     Greg Trapp, JOB's ADA consultant, and Tonia Balletta, New
     Mexico
7    The Annual Breakfast for Blind Scientists and Engineers
     Ask John Miller, California, President of this NFB division
     for details. Home phone, (619) 587-3975, e-mail,
     <miller@isl.stanford.edu>
8    JOB's Fourth Annual Breakfast for Blind People in Medical
     Fields
     David Stayer, New York (MSW), JOB consultant in medical
     fields
9    JOB's Fifth Annual Breakfast for Braille Proofreaders and
     Transcribers
     Mary Donahue, Texas
10   JOB's Eighth Annual Networking Breakfast for Blind Lawyers
     Coordinated by Povinelli and Kay (DC law firm), and the NABL
11   I Do Windows: The Second Annual JOB Networking Breakfast
     Steve Shelton, Oklahoma; Michael and Fatos Floyd, Nebraska;
     (3 Windows users) and Jim Watson of Henter-Joyce, Inc.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 2: (first general session)
12   Wednesday's Generic Breakfast for Job Seekers
     William Ritchhart, Indiana
13   The Sixth Annual Blind Artists Breakfast
     Money-making ideas and resources, Janet Caron, Florida
     (artist and JOB consultant on art)
14   A Networking Breakfast for Customer Service Representatives
     Chris Flory, Colorado Center for the Blind CTR Program; Mary
     Donahue, US Long Distance employee

THURSDAY, JULY 3 (tour afternoon and evening)
15   Thursday's Generic Breakfast for Job Seekers
     Peggy and Curtis Chong, Minnesota
16   Writing for Money, a New Job Networking Breakfast
     Loraine Stayer, New York; Sharon Maneki, Maryland
17   The Job Coordinators Brainstorming Breakfast
     New! for JOB Field Service Network Volunteers, Diane
     Domingue, California
18   The Green Thumb Careers Breakfast, Pete Donahue, Texas

FRIDAY, JULY 4: (banquet day)
19   JOB's Last-Chance Generic Breakfast for Job Seekers
     Whom do you need to find? What do you need to know to help
     you get a job? Bring the problem up at this breakfast before
     convention ends this year and you go home leaving its rich
     resources behind you. Lorraine Rovig, JOB Director
20   JOB'S Networking Breakfast for Computer-Access Teachers
     Are you teaching the use of computers adapted for blind
     students or adults; would you like to? Come on over and have
     a byte with us. Colorado Center for the Blind teachers

SATURDAY, JULY 5: (closing general session of convention)
21   JOB's Breakfast for Employment Professionals by Invitation
     Only
     Sharing the best ideas of the past year. Lorraine Rovig,
     Director, JOB

     What is holding you back? Is it lack of opportunity where
you live or lack of training in competitive-level blind
techniques or in a job skill? At the NFB annual convention you
can do research in all these areas with people who speak from
experience.
     It's not in any store; it's priceless; and it's free--but
you have to go that extra mile to make it happen. You have to be
ready to speak up, ready to seize the opportunity. Helping people
locate good contacts at convention is one of my jobs. If you'd
like some introductions to get you started, call me, Lorraine
Rovig, now or talk to me at convention.
     Job Opportunities for the Blind is a free, nationwide
program, sponsored by the National Federation of the Blind in
partnership with the U.S. Department of Labor. Call (800) 638-
7518 (12:30 to 5:00 p.m. EST), or write JOB/NFB, 1800 Johnson
Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21230.

                     The Merchants Division

     The NFB Merchants Division will offer a variety of items of
interest to Federationists. Do you need to get up and get out?
Don Bell, long a familiar face at our conventions, will present a
seminar entitled "A Positive View for a Positive You" at 9:00
a.m. on Sunday, June 29, at the Hyatt Regency. When Don,
President of Management Management, Des Moines, Iowa, spoke at a
past convention, there was standing room only. Tickets are $20
and will go on sale at 8:30 a.m. Let's get energized and have
some fun.
     The Merchants Division will again sell snack packs for $5.
If you want to win $1,000 for an investment of only $1, buy one
of our raffle tickets. The drawing will take place at the
convention banquet. We plan to sell corsages (new and improved)
for the banquet and give away free soft drinks. See you at our
booth.

                         Music Division

     The Music Division will meet Monday, June 30, 1997.
Registration for membership and for the Showcase of Talent will
begin at 6:30 p.m. outside our meeting room. The meeting itself
begins at 7:00 p.m.
     If you have agenda requests, please contact Linda Mentink,
1737 Tamarack Lane, Janesville, Wisconsin 53545, (608) 752-8749.
Division membership dues are $5. If you'd like to join or renew
your membership before the convention, please send a check,
payable to the Music Division, to Ben Snow, 358 Orange Street,
Apt. 4091, New Haven, Connecticut 06511.
     Again this year the Showcase of Talent will not be a contest
with prizes, so there will be no fee for participants. However,
since it is our only fund raiser, we will pass the hat so that
those who wish to can make a free-will offering. We will need
accompanists for performers who do not have tapes. If you are
willing and available to accompany, please contact Linda Mentink.
     If you would like to participate in the Showcase, here are
the guidelines: 1) Sign up no later than noon, Wednesday, July 2.
2) Perform only one number, taking no more than four minutes to
perform. 3) If you are using a taped accompaniment, be sure that
the tape is cued up properly. Do not sing along with a vocal
artist; you will be stopped immediately. 4) If you need live
accompaniment, make your arrangements before the Showcase begins.
     Children who plan to participate will be invited to perform
first. The Showcase will be limited to two hours, about twenty-
four performers. Come help us enjoy music.
     We are also planning to have a lunch for musicians, open to
anyone who would like more information about the Music Division
or would just like to talk about music. Listen for the
announcement of time and place during the general session.

             National Association of Blind Educators

     From 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 1, the National
Association of Blind Educators will hold its annual meeting as a
part of the National Federation of the Blind Convention.
Attending this meeting gives prospective job seekers valuable
information about the variety of job opportunities and the
knowledge to procure jobs by listening to and talking with
working blind educators. Those who are already employed learn new
and refined teaching techniques unique to blind educators. In
these shaky economic times, we discuss how to use our talents to
the best of our abilities, how to remain sane in an unstable
environment, and generally how to enter and retire from the
profession the way we had planned.
     We commence our meeting with group discussions. These groups
are chaired by successful blind educators. Some of the topics are
preschool, elementary, secondary, and university teaching;
student teaching; teacher's aides; special education; and school
administration. We will then have speakers on learning the
necessary skills of blindness at NFB training centers, finding
and keeping jobs, and getting along with principals and others
with whom we must work.
     We will conclude the seminar with our annual business
meeting. While this annual gathering is our chance to meet in
person, we have a mentoring program through which blind educators
are matched with other blind educators. We are the experts, so we
know best what our needs and problems are. Our work is never-
ending, and the National Association of Blind Educators has been
very successful, judging by the number of happy, successful blind
educators we have, so come and join us in New Orleans for the
entire Convention.
     For further information about the Division or details about
the meeting or the field of education, please call Pat Munson at
(510) 526-1668. If you would like to join the Division or
continue membership, send a check for $20 for employed educators
or $10 for others to the Treasurer, Patti Harmon, 1315 Desert Eye
Drive, Alamogordo, New Mexico 88310. Make the check payable to
the National Association of Blind Educators. Come join us in New
Orleans. It's great to be a part of the Educators Division and
the Federation and to be employed.

              National Association of Blind Lawyers

     Come and join the largest organization of blind lawyers in
the country. The National Association of Blind Lawyers (NABL)
will meet on Tuesday, July 1, from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. as part
of the fifty-seventh annual convention of the National Federation
of the Blind.
     We will be discussing many exciting topics on that
afternoon. Speaking from their areas of expertise, lawyers will
give us updates on the current status of laws affecting the
blind. We will hear about various advocacy matters in which the
Federation has been involved in the last year. Officials of the
American Bar Association and the Louisiana Bar Association will
address the group. Experienced practitioners will offer
strategies on how best to conduct various types of cases. Hear
about the publication of our law journal.
     This and much more will all take place at the NABL meeting.
Everyone in the legal profession, law students, and others
interested in the law are welcome. Remember that you may be able
to receive up to four continuing legal-education credits for this
meeting. Come and help us continue to build the Federation
through the Lawyers' Division.

   National Association of Blind Secretaries and Transcribers

     The National Association of Blind Secretaries and
Transcribers is proud to announce its annual meeting to be held
on Sunday, June 29, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in New Orleans,
Louisiana.
     Who will want to attend this meeting? Secretaries and
transcribers at all levels, including medical and paralegal,
office workers, customer-service personnel, and many other
fields. Those providing training programs to prepare blind people
for this kind of office work are also welcome.
     Registration for the Division meeting will begin at 6:30
p.m. The meeting will begin promptly at 7:00 p.m. Dues are $3 per
year.
     Plenty of topics will be discussed and maybe a few
surprises. Anyone who wishes to become a member of this Division
can send name, address, telephone number, e-mail address if any,
and preferred newsletter format (print, Braille, audio tape, 3.5
or 5.25 computer diskette).
     Those wishing to pay dues in advance should make checks
payable to N.A.B.S.T. and send them to Lisa Hall, President,
National Association of Blind Secretaries and Transcribers, 9110
Broadway, Apartment J103, San Antonio, Texas 78217; e-mail:
lisahall@texas.net, phone, (210) 829-4571.
     NABST officers are Lisa Hall, President, San Antonio, Texas;
Janet Triplett, Vice President, Tulsa, Oklahoma; Mary Donahue,
Secretary, San Antonio, Texas; and Carol Clark, Treasurer, Kansas
City, Kansas. See you in New Orleans.

             National Association of Blind Students

     This year's student seminar promises to be the best ever.
The Student Division will celebrate its thirtieth anniversary. We
will conduct our traditional student seminar on Monday, June 30,
from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. Several national leaders will talk to us
about blindness issues important to college students. On Thursday
night we will again sponsor our Monte Carlo Night with games,
refreshments, and fun.

             National Association of Guide Dog Users

     The annual meeting of the National Association of Guide Dog
Users will be held on Sunday, June 29, from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m.
Registration will begin at 1:00 p.m., and the meeting will start
at 1:45 p.m. The seminar, "A Guide Dog in Your Life," will be
held on Monday, June 30, from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m.
     The Division meeting will open with a panel presentation
entitled, "Why I am a Federationist Who Uses a Guide Dog." Given
factors such as maintenance costs in time and money associated
with feeding, relieving, veterinary care, grooming, and flea and
tick control; eventual retirement, the need for retraining,
access and travel restrictions abroad, and the necessity of
relief accommodations when large numbers of guide dog users
gather in large downtown hotels, this is a topic which needs
discussion. The panel presenters will be the board members of the
National Association of Guide Dog Users. These are Paul Gabias,
President; Rick Fox, Vice President; Mark Noble, Secretary; and
Priscilla Ferris, Treasurer. There will be plenty of time for
comments from the audience.
     The Division will also feature another panel presentation
entitled, "What the Federation Has to Offer the Guide Dog
Schools." The panel presenters will be Rick Fox, Priscilla
Ferris, and Paul Gabias. There will also be time for comments
from the audience. Following this presentation we will discuss
the formation of a committee of volunteers to speak to graduating
classes at the guide dog schools about the benefits of joining
the National Federation of the Blind and the National Association
of Guide Dog Users. Fund raising for the Division will also be
discussed, as well as state division concerns.
     At the seminar, "A Guide Dog in Your Life," the guide dog
schools will be invited to tell us how they believe they can
profit from a working relationship with the National Federation
of the Blind and the National Association of Guide Dog Users.
Mark Noble will discuss flea and tick prevention and control.
Rick Fox will discuss the role of the white cane in a guide dog
user's life. There will be an update on efforts to abolish the
Hawaii quarantine. Paul Gabias will discuss the importance of
global commands such as "inside," "outside," "upstairs,"
"downstairs," and "elevator," in the context of Peggy Elliott's
comments about the importance of orientation and mobility at the
1996 Division meeting of the National Association of Guide Dog
Users.
     The National Office and the NFB of Louisiana are working
hard to provide the best possible relief accommodations for guide
dogs at the convention. Of course, the relief facilities will
have to be kept clean. Instead of relying on hotel personnel to
maintain the facilities, we will hire outside workers to do the
job. This should result in more pleasant surroundings for owners
and dogs alike.
     In 1993 the Division voted to ask each guide dog handler to
pay $25 for use of the relief facilities throughout the week. We
encourage all guide dog handlers to help cover the maintenance
costs of relief areas, if at all possible. Contributions should
be made at Division activities early in the week. Owners who miss
these opportunities for any reason and who wish to help can pay
Priscilla Ferris, Division Treasurer and President of the NFB of
Massachusetts, later in the week. She can be found at convention
sessions in the Massachusetts delegation.
     Questions about the relief arrangements or other guide dog
matters can be directed to Paul Gabias at 475 Fleming Road,
Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada, VIX 3Z4, (800) 714-4774.

       National Association to Promote the Use of Braille
                 Time to Sing "Ode to the Code"

     Celebrating victories and planning for the future are
elements which add excitement to any meeting of the National
Association to Promote the Use of Braille. New Orleans will
certainly be no exception to the rule. But something new is being
added to the New Orleans get-together, and you do not want to
miss any of it. Attendees at this year's NAPUB meeting will
benefit from some serious moments and will be delighted with some
fun and surprises. Take a look at this:

     It's off to the Pub we go--"NA-PUB," that is. Have the time
of your life, and at the same time give your support to the
National Association to Promote the Use of Braille (NAPUB). Take
a look at the extraordinary drink list at the "NA-PUB" in New
Orleans. Lift your spirits with such drinks as a "tenBroek Tonic"
or a "Maurer's Marc." We trust that's just enough information to
pique your interest. More details will be forthcoming. Meet me,
Betty Niceley, at this special pub and share a "Rusty Stylus."

      National Federation of the Blind in Computer Science

     Come and talk about computers and computer-related
technology at the 1997 annual meeting of the National Federation
of the Blind in Computer Science. The meeting will take place on
Tuesday, July 1, at the National Federation of the Blind
convention in New Orleans, Louisiana. Registration for the
meeting will begin at 12:30 p.m. Membership in the NFB in
Computer Science costs $5 a year. For specific meeting room
information, refer to your convention agenda. At this early stage
of planning for our annual meeting, we can say these things:
     We will hear from Dr. Gregg Vanderheiden of the Trace
Research Center. Dr. Vanderheiden has done much pioneering work
to make public electronic information kiosks accessible to the
blind. A direct result of Dr. Vanderheiden's work can be seen in
the accessible information kiosk at the Mall of America in
Bloomington, Minnesota.
     As in the past we will devote a number of program items to
the graphical user interface. We will hear from Microsoft about
the work it is doing to increase our ability to use its graphical
applications and operating systems. We hope to hear from IBM
about its most recent efforts to increase the ability of the
blind to use its graphical applications.Finally, we will try to
put together a panel of experienced blind computer professionals
and users who can talk knowledgeably and understandably about the
tricks and techniques they have used to survive in the GUI world.
If we get lucky, we may be able to discuss the Windows/NT access
problem. Many people are asking me if there is any screen reader
for Windows/NT. All I can say in response is that there is one
program we know about and that program costs approximately
$2,500, a price tag that is about three times higher than that of
a conventional screen reading package.
     Come to the 1997 meeting of the NFB in Computer Science and
discuss computer access issues with other blind people. Learn how
others are adjusting to the rapid pace of technology, and maybe
share a few of your own experiences. For further information
about the meeting and other computer-related matters, contact
Curtis Chong, President, National Federation of the Blind in
Computer Science, 20 Northeast 2nd Street, Apartment 908,
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55413-2265, evening phone: (612) 379-3493,
Internet: chong99@cris.com

       National Organization of Parents of Blind Children

     On Sunday, June 29, the National Organization of Parents of
Blind Children (NOPBC) will sponsor its annual seminar for
parents and educators of blind children titled, "An Education for
a Full Life." Registration will take place from 8:00 to 9:00 a.m.
Registration is $5.
     The morning session begins at 9:00 a.m. and ends at noon and
includes the following agenda items:
    Blindness, Childhood Experiences, and My Life Today
     presented by a panel of blind adults
    Around the Block, to the Mall, and Beyond presented by a
     panel of blind children & youth
    Music Education--Beyond the Stereotypes
    Life Is like a Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich, presented
     by representatives from NFB programs for blind children and
     youth
    Instructional Assistants (Classroom Aides): Are They a Help
     or a Hindrance?
    Creative Solutions to Impossible Educational Situations,
     presented by a panel of parents
    Access to Technology: When Computer Games Become Serious
     Business
     After lunch concurrent workshops begin at 2:00 p.m. and end
at 5:00.
2:00 to 5:00 p.m., Beginning Braille for Parents
2:00 to 4:00 p.m., Resources and Strategies for Blind/Multiply
     Handicapped Children, featuring displays and demonstrations
     of equipment and materials developed by Dr. Lilli Nielsen
     (inventor of the "Little Room") and marketed by Lilliput
     L.L.C. Special door prize: a "Little Room" donated by
     Lilliput L.L.C. (worth over $700!)
2:00 to 3:00 p.m., Social Skills and Blindisms
2:00 to 3:00 p.m., Access to Technology
3:00 to 4:00 p.m., Music Education for Blind Children
3:00 to 4:00 p.m., Social Skills and Blindisms
4:00 to 5:00 p.m., How to Organize a Braille Storybook Hour
4:00 to 5:00 p.m., Resources and Strategies for Deaf-Blind
     Children
4:00 to 5:00 p.m., Education of the Partially Sighted
     From 7:00 to 10:00 p.m., NOPBC will sponsor Family
Hospitality Night, an informal time to relax and get to know one
another. Everyone welcome, kids too.
     Also from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m., Youth Only are invited to "Get
to Know Your NFB Hotel Home," convention orientation for youth.
This activity for blind and sighted teens gives them a chance to
become familiar with the hotel, meet other teens, and learn more
about the NFB and the NFB Convention experience.

     On Monday, June 30, two one-hour Cane Walks for Blind
Children and youth will take place from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. and
10:30 to 11:30 a.m., location to be announced at the Parents
Seminar on Sunday. This activity is an introduction to the use of
the cane for blind children and youth (toddlers to teens) who
have never used a cane or are just beginning to use one.
Instructors Joe Cutter and Arlene Hill (and other volunteer
Federation instructors under their supervision) will give hands-
on demonstration of basic cane techniques and then take the group
on a Cane Walk through the hotel. Canes and sleepshades will be
provided. There is no fee, but participants are urged to
preregister for the Cane Walk. You may do so on Sunday, June 29,
at Parents Seminar registration, 8:00 to 9:00 a.m., or at the
noon recess. Please remember that this is not for experienced
cane travelers, and it is only for blind children, youth, and
their parents.
     From 2:00 to 6:00 p.m., youth can drop in and get to know
who's here. adults will be on hand throughout the afternoon to
orient newly arrived youth to the hotel, the NFB, and the NFB
Convention. Supervision will also be provided for youth who want
to meet other youth and hang-out together.

     From 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 1, the National
Organization of Parents of Blind Children will conduct its annual
meeting.

     On Wednesday, July 2 from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m., Ruby Ryles and
Ron Gardner will conduct an IEP Workshop.

     Thursday,July 3, from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. will be "Kids and
Canes," a drop-in-anytime discussion group and slide/video
presentation, conducted by Joe Cutter.

          The National Organization of the Senior Blind

     The National Organization of the Senior Blind, a division of
the National Federation of the Blind, was formed at the National
Convention in Anaheim, California, last summer.
     The elected officers are Christine Hall, President; Ray
McGeorge, First Vice President; Kathy Randall, Second Vice
President; Paul Dressell, Secretary; and Don Pruitt, Treasurer.
If you have ideas, suggestions, or comments regarding the
division meeting to be held in New Orleans this summer or on
networking throughout the nation, please send them to Christine
Hall, 3404 C. Indian School Road, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87106,
or call (505) 268-3895.

                    NFB NET Training Seminar

     No matter where you turn today, you are likely to hear
references to the information superhighway. With all this
interest many blind people feel the need to get and use a modem
so that they aren't left out.
     In the National Federation of the Blind we have had our own
information superhighway since June 1, 1991, in the form of NFB
NET, our computer bulletin board service (BBS). That was the date
when NFB NET officially went online. In addition, we connected
our information superhighway to the other one this year when we
made the resources of NFB NET available through the Internet.
     Once again this year we will conduct a training session for
NFB NET users. The session, which will be held on Sunday, June
29, from 9:00 a.m. until noon, is designed for new modem users,
for people who haven't accessed NFB NET before, for people who
want to learn how to connect to NFB NET through the Internet, and
for people who want to learn more about the capabilities of our
BBS.
     Topics will include telecommunications basics, using your
modem and communications software, connecting using Telnet and
the Internet, registering for NFB NET, navigating around, reading
and entering messages, downloading the Braille Monitor and other
files, finding files, setting up off-line reading facilities, and
more. David Andrews, Systems Operator (SysOp) of NFB NET, will
also answer your questions.
     If you don't know what that paragraph means and you would
like to, perhaps you had better attend the annual NFB NET
training session on Sunday, June 29, starting at 9:00 a.m. Check
the pre-convention agenda once you are in New Orleans for the
location. See you online.

                    Public Employees Division

     The Public Employees Division of the National Federation of
the Blind will meet during this year's National Convention. We
plan to meet at 1:00 p.m., Tuesday, July 1. The division will
have a briefing from the Office of Personnel Management on
changes in federal hiring and retention practices as well as the
new electronic means of finding federal job opportunities. We
will also discuss the increasing use of alternative dispute
resolution techniques to solve disputes. Finally, several blind
public employees will discuss their jobs.
     Times of change are times in which those who are prepared
can take advantage of changes and improve themselves. What skills
will be in demand in the next few years in federal, state, or
local government? As down-sizing takes place, inevitably scarce
job categories begin to appear. How can we learn of these and
take advantage of the knowledge? As usual, we will have three
people discuss their public sector jobs.
     If you have questions or suggestions for additional
speakers, please contact John Halverson, President, National
Federation of the Blind, Public Employees Division, 403 West 62nd
Terrace, Kansas City, Missouri 64113, telephone (816) 426-7278
work, (816) 361-7813 home, e-mail johnhal@cris.net or
johnhal@concentric.com

                     Social Security Seminar

     An outreach seminar (Social Security and Supplemental
Security Income: What Applicants, Advocates, and Recipients
Should Know) will take place on Thursday afternoon, July 3. The
purpose of this seminar, which will be conducted jointly by the
National Federation of the Blind and the Social Security
Administration, is to provide information on Social Security and
Supplemental Security Income benefits for the blind. Seminar
presenters will be Jim Gashel, Director of Governmental Affairs
for the National Federation of the Blind, and Tom Gloss, Special
Assistant to the Associate Commissioner for Disability, Office of
Disability, Social Security Administration.

                        Writers' Division

     The Writers' Division of the NFB will hold its division
meeting and program on Tuesday afternoon at the National
Convention in New Orleans. We plan a highly interesting and
productive program and have several copies of our exciting new
book, Summit, available for purchase in large print, tape, or
Braille. We have a great record of outstanding presentations, and
the 1997 meeting should be no exception; we will cover poetry,
short story fiction, and other areas of interest. Expect some
time to be set aside for poetry reading--contact Tom Stevens to
get your bid in for time on the agenda. Winners of the 1997
Poetry and Short Story Fiction Contests will also be announced.
     The Division will also conduct a workshop on the Sunday
morning following the convention. Topics scheduled for
presentation include short story fiction, poetry, and blindness-
related issues in the media. Attendance at this workshop will
cost $5, while Division dues are $5 for new members and $10 for
renewals. Benefits include the quarterly magazine, Slate and
Style, plus notification of poetry and fiction contests. Contact
Tom Stevens, (573) 445-6091.

                   Speaking About New Orleans
                        by Jerry Whittle

     From the Editor: This is the final pre-convention article
about New Orleans and the 1997 Convention of the National
Federation of the Blind. Begin getting ready for the experience
of a lifetime by learning what the locals are talking about.
Here's what Jerry Whittle has to say:

     New Orleans has many features that set it apart from all
other American cities. One of the most distinctive differences is
the colorful street jargon. When visiting the Crescent City,
perhaps it would be helpful to know these unique terms. After
all, Federationists should find the time to visit the French
Quarter since it is only a few short blocks from the Hyatt-
Regency Hotel.
     Banquette: A term meaning sidewalk, derived from a time when
the walks were made of wood.
     Batture: The land between a levee and the river. It is often
covered by the river's high water from late winter through
spring.
     Bayou: A marshy, sluggish tributary of a river or lake.
     Beignet: A hole-less French doughnut sprinkled with powdered
sugar. A local tradition, beignets are generally served with cafe
au lait.
     Cajun: One who descends from the Acadians. French people who
were exiled from Nova Scotia and who settled in southern
Louisiana in the 1760's. The word applies to the people, a form
of French dialect spoken by these people, and the food and music
they popularized.
     Chicory: A root roasted and ground to flavor Louisiana
coffee. It is said to counteract the bitter taste often imparted
by pure java.
     Crawfish: Sometimes spelled crayfish, but never by locals,
and nicknamed mudbugs, crawfish are common, edible freshwater
crustaceans.
     Etoufee: A savory concoction of Creole origin with a roux
(flour and butter) base; the holy trinity (celery, onions, and
green peppers); plenty of spices; and either crawfish or shrimp.
Considered an elegant dish, etoufee is traditionally served over
rice.
     Flambeaux: Before the advent of electricity and automotive
transportation, men carrying large frames of lighted torches
called "flambeaux" once illuminated the way for horse- or mule-
drawn vehicles. Carnival organizations still feature flambeaux in
their evening parades.
     Go-Cups: Plastic cups into which a bar's patrons may pour
unfinished portions of their beverages before heading for the
streets. You can take liquor almost anywhere in New Orleans, but
not in anything glass.
     Gumbo: A soup, thickened by either okra or fil`e. It usually
includes everything but the kitchen sink. Staples include shrimp,
crab, oysters, fish, chicken, and sausage. All New Orleanians
argue that their grandmother makes the best.
     Hurricane: An alcoholic beverage concocted of rum, fruit
juice, and sugar. Its original home was Pat O'Brien's bar in the
french Quarter.
     Jambalaya: A rice version of "the kitchen sink," this local
dish always starts with rice and includes various meats, seafood,
and seasonings.
     King Cake: Traditionally served during Carnival, this cake
resembles a large sweet roll and is decorated with purple, green,
and gold sugars and white icing. Hidden inside is a small,
plastic doll. The recipient of the doll is supposed to host the
next king cake party.
     Lagniappe: A little something extra, like a "baker's dozen."
     Laissez Les Bons Temps Rouler: "Let the good times roll," a
popular expression among Cajuns.
     Mint Julep: An alcoholic beverage of crushed mint leaves,
mixed with sugar, laced heavily with bourbon, and finished with a
little water.
     Muffaletta: born in the French Quarter's Italian markets as
a hearty meal for seamen, this large, round sandwich features a
variety of meats and cheeses and is dressed with olive salad on
soft, seeded Italian bread.
     Nutria: A beaver-like, fur-covered rodent that's eating the
marshes and levees of Louisiana's swamps. Many have migrated into
the city through the canals and bayous. They look like giant rats
with long, orange teeth. You should avoid them, but some locals
cook them.
     Picayune: Once a common Spanish coin in New Orleans, the
picayune was worth 6.25 cents. It was originally the cost of a
daily newspaper now called the Times-Picayune.
     Pirogue: A small, flat-bottomed boat invented by Cajuns for
maneuvering through shallow water.
     Po-Boy: Originally filled with inexpensive, filling fare
(such as French fries) and served on long loaves of French bread,
this sandwich was first offered to the poor by local merchants
either free or at a very low cost. Now it is a delicacy
overflowing with meats, seafood, and more.
     Praline: A disc-shaped candy traditionally made of pecans,
vanilla, butter, cream, and sugar. The creation has evolved to
include several versions, including chocolate and chewy.
     Sazerac: This cocktail was make famous at the turn of the
century. It incorporated rye whiskey, Angostura and Peychaud
bitters, and sugar. This mixture is strained over ice and served
with a twist of lemon. It's not for the weak-hearted.
     Shotgun: A common architectural style of small, linear,
wood-frame houses on narrow lots in old neighborhoods--so named
because most consist of two parallel sides with consecutive
rooms, arranged like the barrels of a shotgun.
     Veranda: A balcony usually covered and often surrounded by
ornate wrought iron or cast iron railings--the perfect place to
consume a mint julep.
     Vieux Carre: The original city, now called the French
Quarter, was first dubbed Vieux Carre, which literally means "Old
Square" and was so named because the city was initially laid out
in a perfect square.
     Where Y'at: Direct translation, "Where are you at?" is a
typical New Orleans neighborhood greeting. It means the same
thing as, "How are you?"
     Zydeco: The dance music of southwestern Louisiana's black,
French-speaking Creoles. The music is produced with a variety of
instruments, including washboards, spoons, accordions,
harmonicas, washtubs, and floor boards.