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<DIV> Mike Peterson here.<BR> I tried
to check in before but it didn't take so hopefully I'm doing
this<BR> right.<BR> Many of you haven't met
me before because it's been a while since I attended<BR> an
NFB convention but I and my wife Terra are going to try to attend
this<BR> one. Many of the old timers will remember me
but for those who don't I was<BR> active prodominantly in the
70's and 80's and when Sharon Gold began as<BR> president I
held offices in the San Fernando Valley and was for a time
prior<BR> to Michael Bayliff, president of the Student
division of the NFBC.<BR> Not bragging but actually just want
those who don't know me to know I have a<BR> good working
knowledge of and believe in the NFB philosophy. I also at
one<BR> point had an article in one of the Kernel books I
think it's out of print<BR> now.<BR>
Currently I'm pursuing a masters degree in vocational rehabilitation and
my<BR> wife Terra is trying to obtain training as an access
technology instructor<BR> when Rehab gets it set
up.<BR> so we will in the next couple years be back in
the city Thank God.<BR> Hopefully I will renew old
acquaintances and both Terra and I will make lots<BR> of new
ones.<BR> We put our reservations in today and it looks like
we're going to come in on<BR> AMtrak.<BR> We
did find some really great rates for flying though about $106 a
person<BR> from Burbank on Southwest I think.<BR>-
Ignored:<BR> I can send the info Terra found if anyone's
interested.<BR> Looking forward to meeting all of you and
Terra is really excited because<BR> she's never been to an NFB
convention. She grew up in Ralston PA than moved<BR> to
Nashville TN I met her there.<BR> She has no real involvement
with the organized blind and so far we haven't<BR> been able
to round up enough folks out this way to start a chapter.<BR>
We live in Rosamond, CA which is just across the Kern county
line.<BR> Terra did try to get a guide dog from San Raphael as
did I last year. In<BR> her case they thought her vision
is to good in mine my mobility isn't as<BR> good in the rural
setting as it was in the city. Actually in part what<BR>
messed me up it was a little windy on the day the lady came out and we
have<BR> trains that come by fairly often, I have a 50%
hearing loss and use hearing<BR> aids so that affected my
street crossings, I guess I didn't wait as long as<BR> she
thought I should have to make sure traffic wasn't
coming.<BR> We might try again at some point at another
guide dog school. Terra's<BR> phipheral vision has
seemed to be getting worse lately so her time may come<BR>
sooner than later I can use a cane still so I might let her pursue her
dog<BR> first. She also uses a cane but I don't know how much
of it was with a<BR> qualified mobility
instructor.<BR> We look forward to doing what we can to assist
with your project.<BR> and Sorry that last message went to the
wrong list I didn't pay attention to<BR> the headers and
subject line as well as I should.<BR> God
Bless:<BR> Mike</DIV></BODY></HTML>