Page A6-The Chronicle, Thursday, February 9, 191
Close-Up
Out-of-Sighters
By AUDREY WILLIAMS
Chronicle Staff WritAr _
When 67-year-old Catherine Hines, a former catprer,
began losing her sight to glaucoma and cataracts last
year, baking a cake became impossible.
Since she's been a member of Out-of-Sighters, a social
interaction group formed two \ears ago for the visually
impaired, baking once again provides moments of joy
and accomplishment for her.
"After you've been able to see so many years and lose
your sight," Hines says, "it gets depressing. After joining
Out-of-Sighters and being with other people who are
also blind and seeing how well they managed, I was inspired."
Hines, who has learned to bake all over again, is now
enrolled in typing and crocheting classes.
And for the other 24 members of the Out-of-Sighters.,
which is an extension of Winston-Salem's Special
Populations Unit, learning to come to grips with their
visuaHmparrments^neHtvmg life as usual has been a^arr^
of the group's objective since it first began. Not only does
the group allow its members a means for social interaction
with other visually impaired persons, but members
say Out-of-Sighters has helped them gain a greater sense
of self-worth.
Francine Smith, 44, is president of the Out-of-Sighters.
She was born with visual problems, and her eyesight has
worsened in the last couple of years.
"Out-of-Sighters has really given me an incentive,"
says Smith. 4 * 11 is a social outlet, but we really like to
think of it in terms of helping other people."
As a part of their community service, the Out-ofSighters
donate food to the needy and make home and
H
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34
PEOPLE ' ?
boost spirits
hospital visits to the sick. p
"society has a way of thinking .that the blind ar<
always looking tor handouts," says Smith, "but we warn
to prose to societ\ that we are capable of helping
ourselves and others."
Before forming Out-of-Sighters, many of the group
members held membership in Abilities Unlimited (AU)
However, AU was an outlet to the physically impaired ir
general, and members of Out-of-Sighters say the pro
blems and needs they had to deal with as visually 1m
paired persons were different.
"They just began to realize that their numbers as wef
as their needs were increasing," says Jackie Miller, one ol
Out-of-Sighters' two advisors and a recreation leadei
with the City Recreation Department.
"The whole objective of Out-of-Sighters is to fine
others who have lost their sight," she says, "and help
them through their turmoil, with social interaction."
ft I/1I1 S~t m I * ! #/lxV /? ^ ^ ^ Lm. i m
jMtn u a/sir ncu gruiifj uj fJVUfJie uriu unnuness
isn 7 a major obstacle to them.
-- Jackie Miller
The Out-of-Sighters meet the first Tuesday of ^ver;
month at the Rupert Bell Recreation Center and ever
third Friday night of the month is fun night.
Charles Roane, who was instrumental in organizing th
club, is employed part time by the Recreation Depart
ment to serve as the second advisor for Out-of-Sighters
He also serves as team manager for the Winston-Salen
Progressive Blind Bowlers League and the Softball team
which the players have tagged beep ball. After attendinj
a blind bowlers match in New Jersey that his brothe
competed in, Roane urged the city to include athletics ii
the Out-of-Sighters activities, and he helped to brinj
about the club's new dimension.
"Anything involving the handicapped or visually im
paired, people don't know about," says Roane. "Th
blind bowl just like everybody else. The only difference i
the portable guide rail they use to follow them.
^ gr jtj
Following a brief address to the Hanes Advise
Hooks, national president of the NAACP, chatt
Hooks, sitting, and Paul Fulton, president of t
Temple, vice president of Hanes Group; El;
Hairston, former president of the local NAACP
and A1 Arrington, manager of personnel relat
presented Hooks with a check.
Big Brothers-Big Sisters
February 12-18 has been your Big know how mu
named Big Brothers-Big you appreciate them. V
Sisters Week. The main would like to hear from yi
event during this apprecia- Bigs what your Littles <
tion week will be the "Ap- this week to say "thanks
preciation Dinner" on Feb. Please call the office
17 from 6:30-8 p.m. in let us know how many w
Reynolds High School be attending so we can pi
cafeteria. ahead with the eaten
Big Brothers-Big Sisters Friends, spouses, famil
~ r? - -ii 1 T*
TTwtiv is a spcviai nine tor cit., <ue an welcome. 1
the Littles and parents to let meal will be $3 per perso
Tiny Indians Football C
Ike Howard was recently tative, boys; Bobby Li
elected president of the ville, assistant represe
Tiny Indians Football Club tative, boys; ShirL
Inc. for 1984. Gooden, league represe
tative, girls, Patsy Bmto
Other officers are Hobart assistant representativ
Jones, vice president; Dot girls; Pat Higgins, gi:
Thomas, secretary; Norma coordinator; Lin<
Woodruff, assistant Samuels, concessit
secretary; Roscoe Pouncey, manager, Beverly Linvil]
treasurer; Melvin assistant concessions; ai
Woodruff, league represen- Mr. and Mrs. Eddie Ree!
t
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\
-Up Calendar Community News
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Out-of-slghters Connell Walker and Osceola Hoo
(photo by James Parker).
*
y "Everybody has to have some kind of social or recreay
tional outlet," he says, "because if you didn't, you
would just sit home and grow old."
e Miller says she saw working with the visually impaired
at first as a challenge because she had the wrong idea
about them.
n "At first," she says, "I didn't know how to lead them
, around, but they showed me.
g "I love the Out-of-Sighters," Miller says, "because
r they are such a spirited group of people and their blindn
ness isn't a major obstacle to them."
g Tuesday, club members met at the Red Cross Building
on Coliseum Drive for cardiopulmonary resuscitation
training. Some of their other activities have included bake
ing classes, arts and crafts instruction and an occasional
s game of cards. During the spring, they prepare lunches
and thpv all opt tn opt. trtoof hor fnr
? ?... e?. evi lugvi IIVI IUI |JIVI1IV.3. O W llllllllllg 15
:* M ' ' "
v* ;? \?\" \S< \T .? .
ivf ^^HSI 'iH
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_JU ^^VfJU^Hj jfl
)ry Council on Social Responsibility, Dr. Benjamin
ed with personnel off the Hanes Group. Pictured are
he Hanes Group; standing, lefft to right, are Phillip
ynor Williams, director off corporate affffairs; Pat
; Carolyn Coleman, regional director off the NAACP,
ions ffor Hanes Group. During the meeting, Fulton
sponsors Dinner
ch Dave Plyler, vice presi- you.
Ve dent of radio station On March 3, Big Brother
du W'l'UB, will be the guest Big Sisters will hold its anio
speaker. nual fund-raiser, "Bowl for
Kids' Sake." The local
to ' As usual, awards will be organization is looking for
ill presented at the banquet. 600 bowlers or challenges
an To nominate your Big, call from businesses, companies
sr. the office or write a letter or offices. Pfizes will be
ly, saying why your Big awarded. Those interested
he deserves this award and in participating should call
n. what he or she has meant to the office on Fayette Street.
lub elects officers
n- publicity-program. as committee members,
n- The members ot the Other officers are James
ey fund-raising committee are Chalmars, field manager;
n- Roscoe Pouncey, chairman, Robert Jones, assistant
n, Mildreth Griffin, Bertha field manager; Ulysses
e, Parks and Bunson King. Hunter, equipment
r's manager; Andy Barber,
la Pminr^v alert cprupc ac
in chairman'of the "develop- assistant equipment
le, ment committee, with Joe manager;'Jerry Gilmore III,
nd Williams, Walter Marshall, chaplain; and Robert Eiles,
;e, Pat Reid and Hobart Jones assistant chaplain.
w-- -%^jgM mm
v
^?:?'^^'";'fv?^:' v
d play tic-tac-toe on a specially designed board
also a recreation group members say they've come to enjoy
since becoming Out-of-Sighters. /
"Since I've been in Out-of-Sighters," says Hines,
"I've become much more mobile. I can't see my fellow
members, but we've all come to know each and love each. ?
other, /
"We just have so much fun and togetherness just doing
the same things other people do who have their sight,"
she says,
Adds Smith: "I guess the name, Out-of-Sighters, is
sort of comical, but after all that's said and done, we
don't have our sight, but we have each other."
Members of the Out-of-Sighters are now solicitinc 1/
^ - - - *C7
community support to charter a bus to the three-day na- -
tional blind bowlers competition in Detroit, Mich., on
Memorial Day. For more information, contact the City >n
Recreation Department.
Social Notes
4 -.
1 i U
Local women honored
. ' ... - *- **
Fourteen local womeftr^their hdmes, their1 profe^
have been selected as sions and their com-1^
Outstanding Young munities. fJ
Women of America for The women listed, along:;
1983. with approximately 23,000
Chosen for the honors other women from across
were Jennifer Casey, the United States, will be
I l.? t c - * *
juytctyii juuuisc aummey, preseniea in me prestigious "
Renita O. Thompkins, Ber- annual awards volume. In - %
tha Boggan Bohannon, addition, they are now be- '
Willette R. Thompson, ing considered for one of
Patricia D. Sawyer, Denise the 50 state awards and one
M. Welch, Cynthia D. one from Washington,' \
Perry, Mable L. Millner, D.C., to be presented to
Clementine Vaughn those women who have'':
Mauney, Sylvia Areater made the most noteworthy
Mason, Veronica C. Black, contributions in their in-;;
Marcella Oglesby and Jac- dividual states. From these
queline C. Hill. 51 winners, the 10 outstan-:
The Outstanding Young ding young women of
Women of America Pro- America will be chosen. ' ,
gram is designed to honor The 10 national winners will ?
and encourage exceptional then be honored at the an- ;
young women between the nual awards luncheon to be :::
ages of 21 and 36 who have held this fall in :*
distinguished themselves in Washington.
*
Squad holds workshops
The Southeast Winston CPR demonstration to the
Rescue Squad Inc. recently Paisley High School ROTC
conducted public service program last Monday and
workshops at three local Tuesday. ;,T1
schools. All workshops Staff Sgt George :
were requested by the par- Crawford, who has advanc- ticipating
classes. ed training in emergency
Sgt. Billy Glenn, the medical technician pro-_
squad s field training of- cedurC) conducted a class in 1
ficer, and Officer Derwin basic fim aid Qn Feb 3 tQ \
Flinchum demonstrated the Judy Coffin>s sixth gradcrs
basics of CPR (car- at East0n Elementary
diopulmonary resuscita- School Crawford gave thc
tion) to Coach Alfred Poe's . . >
v.iaa& 115 nuruauciory lesson
eight- and ninth-grade to a pianned unjt on first
physical education ajd ajSQ conducted " '
students. The demonstra- simjiar classes with John/!;tions
were given on Jan. 30 Bailey.s and Cynthia
at Carver High School. Samuel's students in
The squad members used January> Crawford is a
mannequins to show and 10-year veteran of rescue
explain to the students the d work
"ABC's" of CPR, which
are airway, breathing and Any group or organizacirculation.
CPR is an ar- tion interested in a CPR
tificial method of restoring demonstration or learning ''
breathing and blood cir- the basics of first aid may
culation in victims of contact Lt. O.B. McManus, ro
respiratory and cardiac ar- the squad's public relations m
rest. Scott Hartman, the officer, at 722-9414. ?q
squad's lieutenant of opera- The Southeast Winston tiq
tions, also participated in Rescus Squad Inc. is a totalthe
demonstrations. The ly not-for-profit volunteer
squad also conducted a organization. ,-j