With the approaching 125^th birthday of the Western Pennsylvania School for Blind Children in January, 2012, we at school are very interested in your memories and thoughts at this very significant time in our long history.

Just as I did when I wrote about my memories for you a while ago, we know that your special memories could fill a book, let alone, a column.  Our ultimate goal is to publish a column during 2012 which will be placed on the   website of the school,   for the readers who are unfamiliar with WPSBC. To get an idea of what the various time periods were like in which you attended.

Once you’ve gotten your memories written down, please send them via email to: prittsj@wpsbc.org or you can mail them to

Jillian M. Pritts, Institutional Advancement Manager
Western Pennsylvania School for Blind Children
201 N. Bellefield Avenue
Pittsburgh, Pa.   15213

We sincerely thank you in advance.

Ellen Goldfon,
Class of 1974

WPSBC Superintendant Todd Reeves along with Jillian Pritts WPSBC Director of Public Relations are requesting members to share their thoughts and memories of time spent receiving education at the school.  They request it be brief and concise.   Below is an email from Jillian Pritts.  Examples to think about may include a favorite class, specific recreational activity or field trips that stood out for you individually.  Please share this with other Alumni that do not have the use of email.  If interested the school appreciates your input and would like responses sent over the next month
or so.  Send thoughts and memories to prittsj@wpsbc.org.

Sincerely,
President Ted Crum

From: Pritts, Jillian [prittsj@wpsbc.org]
Sent: Friday, September 30, 2011 10:30 AM
To: Crum, Ted; ELLEN GOLDFON
Subject: Thoughts and Thanks for WPSBC

Hi Ellen and Ted!

Wondering if you might be interested in helping me.  I’m getting up some new info on the School’s website regarding the 125^th anniversary and one of the new sections is called “Thoughts and Thanks” where we want to elicit some well wishes/memories regarding the School.

I need to get it up and running and I’m hoping you might be willing to submit something.  Not really looking for anything long or in-depth or extensive, just a personal reflection or perspective.

If yes, would you email it to me?

Ted – wondering if you might be willing to share this with our alumni?  You can either just forward this email to the members or you can send me their addresses and I (or Todd) can send something out on behalf of the School?  Your call on what might be most effective.

In fact, if there is anyone else you might want to share this opportunity with, please do.  Once I get maybe one or two up (hopefully your thoughts and thanks) you can always direct them to our website or give them my email address for more info.

Let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

Thanks  so much,

Jillian  — prittsj@wpsbc.org

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION OF

THE WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA SCHOOL FOR BLIND CHILDREN

As Amended through September 22nd, 2011

ARTICLE I. Name

The name of this organization shall be the Alumni Association of
the Western Pennsylvania School for Blind Children.

ARTICLE II. PURPOSE

The purposes of this organization are:

(1) To furnish its Alma Mater with observations, experiences and
accomplishments that may be of practical and educational value;

(2) To promote a spirit of cooperation between the School and its
graduates;

(3) To foster good fellowship and create unity of purpose among
the graduates.

ARTICLE III. MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. Candidates for membership in this Association shall be
recommended to the Convention by the Membership Committee.

Section 2. Candidates for membership shall be of good moral
character and of respectable standing. They shall either have graduated from
the Western Pennsylvania School for Blind Children or shall have completed four
and one-half years of elementary education or two and one-half years of high
school at the School.

Section 3. If spouses of Alumni members who are not themselves
members wish to join the Alumni Association, they must communicate their
request, orally or in writing, to the Membership Committee. Acceptance into the
Association will entitle them to the right to debate and vote at all meetings,
but they may not hold any elective office.

Section 4. In order to have the right to debate and vote at
meetings of this Association, members must be officially registered. To be
officially registered requires paying membership dues, unless such payment has
been waived in particular cases by the Board. .

Section 5. The dues for this Association shall be determined by
the membership from time to time and shall be payable before the first session
of any regular or special convention of the Association.

ARTICLE IV. OFFICERS AND THEIR ELECTION

Section 1. The officers of this Association shall be President,
Vice-President, Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary, Treasurer, and
Parliamentarian. In addition to the aforementioned officers, there shall be an
Archivist who shall be appointed by the President.  As of September, 2011, the slate of officers
is as follows:

• President: Ted Crum
• Vice President: Ed Facemeyer
• Recording Secretary: Bonnie Newland
• Corresponding Secretary: Ellen Goldfon
• Treasurer: Tom Hesley
• Parliamentarian: Al Petrilongo

Section 2. Election of officers shall be held at biennial
conventions of the Association, and voting shall be by standing vote, unless
otherwise agreed upon by an affirmative vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the members
present at such meeting.

Section 3. The elected officers shall hold office for a period of
four (4) years, until their successors are elected and duly sworn in, except
for the Treasurer, whose term shall expire when the receipts from the
convention have been properly allocated and entered into the books of the
Association.

Section 4. Each officer may succeed him/herself in the same office
for only one additional consecutive four-year term. The Parliamentarian may not
succeed him/herself in that office, but may run for any other elective office
during the election which takes place immediately following the expiration of
his/her term. The Archivist shall hold office for an indefinite term at the
discretion of the Board. During his/her tenure in office, he/she shall not be
excluded from holding any elective office in this Association.

ARTICLE V. DUTIES OF OFFICERS

Section 1. The duties of the President shall be:

(1) To preside at all regular and special meetings of the
Association and of the Board;

(2) To call all special meetings of the Board;

(3) To keep informed of all committee work and of all activities
of the Association;

(4) To appoint members to serve on all functioning standing
committees and to establish other committees, whenever necessary, to help to
study or resolve particular problems or matters of interest and concern to this
Association;

(5) To serve ex officio as a member of all committees with the
right to vote;

(6) To countersign, with the Treasurer, whenever required, all
checks drawn on funds of the Association in the transaction of official
business of the Association.

Section 2. The Vice-President shall assist the President in any
way requested by him/her, and shall assume the duties of the President in
his/her absence.

Section 3. The duties of the Recording Secretary shall be:

(1) To keep an accurate roll of the membership of the Association;

(2) To keep accurate records of all convention proceedings and
meetings of the Board;

(3) To have charge of all official papers and other property of
the Association, excluding the documents and material in the custody of the
Treasurer.

Section 4. The duties of the Corresponding Secretary shall be:

(1) To receive and file all correspondence addressed to the
Association, after it has been made known to the addressee or to the Board;

(2) To be responsible for all out-going correspondence of the
Association;

(3) To countersign with the Treasurer, whenever necessary, all
checks drawn on funds of the Association in the transaction of official
business of the Association.

Section 5. The duties of the Treasurer shall be:

(1) To have charge of all monies belonging to the Association, and
to deposit same promptly in bank accounts designated by the Board;

(2) To collect all dues and all fees or charges imposed upon
members at the direction of the Board;

(3) To pay promptly by check all bills incurred by the Association
upon approval of the Board;

(4) To sign, with the President or the Corresponding Secretary,
all checks drawn on accounts of the Association for the payment of bills/debts
incurred by the Association.

(5) To keep accurate books and records of the financial affairs of
this Association.

Section 6. The Parliamentarian shall have the duty of deciding all
questions of parliamentary procedure during meetings of the Association and of
the Board. His/her authorities, the bases for his/her decisions, shall be
“Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised” and the Bylaws of this Association.
When necessary, he/she may employ an assistant, appointed by him/her, who will
provide whatever aid the Parliamentarian requires. The Parliamentarian shall also
serve as the Chair of the Bylaws Committee.

Section 7. The duties of the Archivist shall be:

(1) To assess and identify the documents and materials to be found
in the archives of the Association;

(2) To organize and catalogue said documents and maintain them in
a secure location;

(3) to take charge of any material given to him/her by the Board,
to dispose of unwanted materials with the approval of the Board, and to give
custody of materials to any member of the Board or to any other person(s)
connected with this Association as authorized by the Board;

(4) To keep the membership informed as to the nature, extent and
disposition of the archives of the Association.

ARTICLE VI. The BOARD

Section 1. The Board shall consist of the officers of this
Association and three (3) Directors elected by and from the membership at
biennial conventions of the Association.

Section 2. The Board shall formulate and execute the policies and
procedures of the Association with a view to promoting greater efficiency in
accomplishing the purposes and goals of the Association.

Section 3. The Board shall conduct the business of the Association
between conventions and shall hold three (3) meetings annually at a time and
place determined by the Board.

Section 4. One of the Directors shall be elected for a two-year
term; the second for a four-year term; and the third Director for a six-year
term. Thereafter, one (1) director shall be elected for a six-year term at each
biennial convention, and no Director may succeed him/herself in that office.

Section 5. Vacancies on the Board shall be filled by a majority
vote of the remaining members of that Board. Notice of such election shall be
given to the membership by an announcement in the Alumni Bulletin.

ARTICLE VII. MEETINGS

Section 1. This Association shall meet biennially in convention at
the Western Pennsylvania School for Blind Children unless otherwise provided by
an affirmative vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the Board.

Section 2. In order for a convention of the Association to be
valid, at least thirty (30) members must have been officially registered.

Section 3. At least fifty percent plus one (50% plus 1) of those
members officially registered for a convention must be present at any business
meeting in order to transact the official business of the Association.

Section 4. Special meetings of the Association may be called by
the Board whenever necessary for specified purposes. However, such meetings may
transact only such business as was specified in the call to convention, and
such business may not supersede action taken by the regular convention.

ARTICLE VIII. PUBLIC ACTION

No member of the Association shall represent the Association
either in correspondence, publicity, or in person without the expressed
authority of the Association or the Board.

ARTICLE IX. STANDING COMMITTEES

Section 1. The Standing Committees of this Association shall be
the Arrangements Committee, the Audit Committee, the Bylaws Committee, the
Membership Committee, the Necrology Committee, the Nominating Committee, the Program
Committee, the Publicity Committee, the Ways and Means Committee, and the
Welfare Committee.

Section 2. The Arrangements Committee shall take charge of all
physical arrangements necessary to insure the comfort of all in attendance at
biennial and special conventions of the Association and at all events,
activities or meetings of the Association which are held in addition to such
biennial and special conventions.

Section 3. The Audit Committee shall examine the books of accounts
and financial records of the Association which are kept by the Treasurer.

Section 4. The Bylaws Committee shall make recommendations to the
Association from time to time for changes to be made to its Bylaws. Any member
desiring to submit to the membership a proposed amendment to the Bylaws shall
do so through the Bylaws Committee.

Section 5. The Membership Committee shall process all applications
for membership in this Association and shall introduce prospective members to
the Association prior to their being accepted as new members.

Section 6. The Necrology Committee shall compile a list of the
deceased members of the Association and represent the Association in conveying
appropriate sentiments to Alumni members or their families in times of illness
or death.

Section 7. The Nominating Committee shall prepare a list of
candidates to fill all open elective positions on the Board.

Section 8. The Program Committee shall have charge of the actual
programming of biennial and special conventions of the Association and the
programming of any events, activities or meetings of the Association which are
held in addition to such biennial or special conventions.

Section 9. The Publicity Committee shall have the task of
publicizing judiciously, accurately and adequately all projects and activities
of the Association.

Section 10. The Resolutions Committee shall submit to the
Association for consideration recommendations and resolutions which will
expedite meetings or promote the interests and general welfare of the
Association.

Section 11. The Ways and Means Committee shall plan organize and
promote fund-raising activities in behalf of the Association, with the approval
of the Board.

Section 12. The Welfare Committee shall work with the School’s
social services personnel for the purpose of promoting the comfort and the
welfare of needy children at the School. The committee shall also perform acts
of kindness for Alumni members in times of distress in order to promote their
welfare and comfort.

ARTICLE X. AMENDMENTS

These Bylaws may be amended at any regular or special meeting of
the Association by an affirmative vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the members
present, provided that written notice of the proposed amendment(s) shall have
been sent to the membership at least thirty (30) days prior to said regular or
special meeting.

ARTICLE XI. DISSOLUTION

Section 1. If in the opinion of the majority of the members of the
Board the Alumni Association of the Western Pennsylvania School for Blind
Children no longer serves the purposes for which it was intended, the
dissolution of the organization may be considered. The date, place, and purpose
of the meeting at which this matter will be acted upon shall be communicated to
as many Alumni members as possible at least thirty (30) days in advance. Upon
the affirmative vote of three-quarters (3/4) of the members present at this
special meeting, the Board shall proceed with the dissolution of the
Association in accordance with applicable laws of the Commonwealth.

Section 2. Upon dissolution, the funds of the Association shall be
disbursed in accordance with a plan which must be approved by a two-thirds
(2/3) vote of the members voting at a meeting held for that purpose. In
formulating this plan the membership shall consider that one (1) purpose of the
Association has been to provide financial support for programs and services to
children at the Western Pennsylvania School for Blind Children.

Please Help Support the Western Pennsylvania School for Blind Children on “Day of Giving” 10/13/2010

Want to help provide an education that lasts a lifetime for boys and girls who are visually impaired? Make your gift go even further on October 13, 2010!
On Wednesday, October 13, 2010 from 12:00:00 A.M. Midnight until 11:59:59 P.M please visit http://www.pittsburghgives.com/ and contribute to the Western Pennsylvania School for Blind Children.   A total of $500,000 in matching funds will be available through this Pittsburgh Foundation initiative called a “Day of Giving”. All credit card gifts made to the School via this website will be matched with a prorated share of the available Foundation funds. Everyone who gives will cause a portion ofthe matching funds to be directed to our School.
For complete information on the “Day of Giving”, including rules and regulations, please visit: http://www.pittsburghgives.com/

Questions? Contact the Office of Institutional Advancement at 412-621-0100 or email: prittsj@wpsbc.org
Thank you in advance for your support of our special school.  http://www.wpsbc.org/

Jillian Pritts 

This fall the Employment Opportunities Project at Blind & Vision Rehabilitation Services of Pittsburgh is launching the Insights Mentoring Program. The purpose of this pilot program is to match young people ages 14-21 who are blind or visually impaired with a successful and confident adult who also experiences limited vision. Since visual impairment can be such an isolating and low incidence disability, we want to offer young people a friend/advisor who has faced and overcome similar challenges. Some of the areas where these mentors will be able to provide guidance will include: dealing with attitudes about blindness, becoming an active member of the community, identifying resources for assistance, offering tips and tricks for living independently, and enhancing job exploration through valuable insight.

BVRS is seeking successful, confident adults who are blind or visually impaired to become volunteer mentors for this exciting new program. Applicants will go through an interview process and be required to undergo a background check and attend a mentor training session. At the time of the match, both the mentor and mentee must attend a program orientation. Please see below for additional details about the mentor position.

Your Commitment:

• Enter into a mentoring relationship for a minimum of 1 year.
• Attend all relationship building activities offered by BVRS.
• Meet in person at least once each month with your mentee.
• Stay in contact with your mentee at least once a week by phone or email.
• Provide BVRS with monthly feedback on your relationship.

Your Role:

• Provide advice/guidance on a variety of topics
• Share learning/skill building experiences
• Connect the mentee to other resources/services
• Help the mentee develop positive self-image and realistic goals

Individuals interested in becoming a mentor should complete the attached Mentor Application and submit it along with a 1-page bio to Sue Lichtenfels via email: slichtenfels@pghvis.org. Once your application is reviewed, Sue will call to schedule your interview. If you have any questions about the Insights Mentoring Program, please contact Sue Lichtenfels at (412) 368-4400 x3472 or (412) 965-4779.

Susan Lichtenfels
Transition Specialist
Employment Opportunities Project
Blind & Vision Rehabilitation Services of Pittsburgh
1800 West St.
Homestead, PA 15120

(412) 368-4400 x3472
(412) 965-4779 (M)

Nancy Goldfon is my southern sister in-law, and she makes the worlds best coleslaw.  

Ingredients

• One head cabbage, shredded
• Or two bags slaw mix
• One onion grated

Dressing Ingredients  

• Four tablespoons real mayonnaise
• A few good squirts of bottled Italian dressing, approximately one quarter cup.  

Directions

Mix the mayo and Italian dressing together and pour over the greens.  Stir continuously until the mixture is entirely covered.  Refrigerate overnight and lick your lips and enjoy.  This is the stuff dreams are made of.

Ellen Goldfon

Related Posts

• Jenny Kaywood’s Broiled Bananas

Ingredients

• Four bananas sliced in rounds
• One cup powdered sugar
• One cup crushed cornflakes or cornflake crumbs
• One half cup lemon juice
• Butter

Directions

In three separate bowls, place powdered sugar, corn flake crumbs, and lemon juice.  Dip each banana round in lemon juice, powdered sugar, and end with the corn flake crumbs.  Place in a heavy duty piece of aluminum foil and dot with butter.  Broil for two minutes in your broiler, or place on your grill for a real treat. These are delicious.

Ellen Goldfon

Related Posts

• Cooking Under Fire
• Nancy Goldfon’s Super Coleslaw

What comes to mind when you think about home economics teachers?  Usually, they are old fashioned, kindly, and efficient ladies, who cheerfully dispense the basics of cooking and homemaking.  Demurely, the teacher of the fifties and sixties would waltz around the classroom, checking on each of the two stoves (one gas and the other, electric) to see that nobody unwittingly scorched white sauce or sunk a cake.  That was the usual.  God love them all.         

We began our foray into the home ec. Kitchen being taught by a screaming mee mee, Mrs. Jenny Kaywood.  To say that Mrs. Kaywood had a short fuse would be a major understatement.  She had the temperament of my Nana, absolutely.  A tireless taskmaster and a staunch perfectionist, no pan was out of place, no dish was unwashed and every young lady knew her job and her place.             

How many toasted cheese sandwiches were dropped onto the tile floor when a girl would hear the familiar shriek, turn it over, turn it over right now, she would holler.  Spring time would find us scrubbing the chairs and the sofa in the adjoining parlor.  It could never be too clean or too orderly.     

Thus, after school, mingling in the dorms, we would imitate Mrs. Jenny.  Genevieve Kaywood became Jenny Bee.  Our classic imitation phrase would be, girls, we are going to make pear salad.  God only knows why we chose pear salad, probably the sound of that phrase in a rich Kentucky accent titillated us.       

We only had Mrs Kaywood for one year.  Thank goodness, otherwise, we might not have withstood the other gentler souls who taught home economics.  I am the good cook I am because of Mrs. Jenny Bee Kaywood. She didn’t tolerate slackers, and she would work with a student until it was just right.  

Ellen Goldfon

Related Posts

• Jenny Kaywood’s Broiled Bananas

She could be very, very funny.  Her name for Jell-o was, nervous pudding.  I still get a real kick out of that one.  And she could be both gentle and sweet.  Night time would find her giving us hard candies and letting us have a spritz of the myriad colognes she kept in a row above the sink in the bathroom.  My favorite was Evening In Paris. 

One really vivid memory I have of the three housemothers was of the three of them, sitting in chairs, watching over us while John Glenn and his Mercury space ship splash landed in the Atlantic off the Florida coast.  They had sonar vision, being able to watch us kindergarteners play while watching the making of history on television.

Tree.  My third grade year saw many of us leaving our kindergarten building and moving into the Main Building.  This is what it was called back then.  Today, it is known as the Mary Schenley building.  But back then, it was a very large, majestic,  mansion, where at one time, our benefactress, Mary Schenley, presided.  More about Mary in a future article.  The Monday afternoon of my arrival in September of 1964, I met my new, and quite tall housemother.  Hello, Ellen, child.  I’m Tree.  My name is really Mrs. Frohoff, but you girls must call me, Tree.  Well, readers, this was, indeed, a major perplexity.  It ranked right up there with my swimming molasses.  I was informed that this name was given to Tree because she was so tall.

Tree never actually treated us to anything, but her television was our major delight.  She, too, introduced us to Billy Graham and his Crusades, and, in an effort to identify with her young female charges, let us watch every Ed Sullivan show and our beloved Beatles.  Beatle mania ran rampant amongst the teens at that time, and Tree would provide us with a minute by minute description of the antics of the besotted Beatle fans. 

The really power television times were Thursday nights.  Lost in Space and the antics of the mad scientist, Dr. Zachary Smith, kept us glued to the tube each and every week.  Then, it was on to the adventures of Batman and his sidekick, Robin.  We would forego dinner Thursday nights and munch on five cent candy bars from the snack bar.  Two of my absolute favorites were M & Ms and little pretzels in the box.

Ellen Goldfon

Related Posts

• Memories of School Days Past
• The Milk Wagon
• School Days Articles

Tom Hesley