Contact us:
Renita Ritchie
Rowan County Parks and Recreation Department
3541 Old Mocksville Road, Salisbury, NC. 28144
Phone: 704-216-7780
E-Mail ritchier@co.rowan.nc.us
Requirements:
Visual Impairment covers a wide variety of conditions. You do not need to be legally blind!
You must live within Rowan County for free transportation, but all are welcome from outside the county.
Sighted Helpers:
We have some of the prettiest co-eds from Catawba College that do their internship with us, and yes ladies the fellows are handsome brutes.
We also have a professional staff that work with the Rowan County Parks and Recreation Department who provide the tender care we just relish.
Our group has sighted family members who also often attend.
The "Rowan Ramblers" is part of the Rowan County Parks and Recreation Department.
We go somewhere almost every Wednesday afternoon.
We have a planning meeting once every four months to plan the activities for the next four months.
Our activities vary stirred often by the challenge "blind people can't do that."
Putt-putt golf, bowling with rails for some, fishing, eating out, plays, tours, boat rides, eating, trolley rides, musicals, eating BBQ, and we are recently talking about forming our own Lacrosse team. Next winter it may be hockey? Some of us think we are getting very proficient with our canes. Come, and watch the more daring make good on their braggadocio.
It is almost all free with door to door transportation provided through the Rowan County Parks and Recreation Department for those who live in Rowan County.
Coming Events for the Rowan Ramblers:
RAMBLERS SUMMER SCHEDULE 2007
July
Wednesday July 11, noon - 5PM
Eat at Logan's Roadhouse - Shopping at Sam's Club
Wednesday July 18, 2PM - 4PM
Watermelon/Cantaloupe feed - Dan Nicholas Park
Tuesday July 24, 7PM - 10PM
Play at Meroney - "Crimes of the Heart"
August
Wednesday August 1, 3PM - 5PM
Bowling
Wednesday August 8, 4PM-6PM
Out to Eat
Wednesday August 15, 1PM - 4PM
Pool Party
Wednesday August 22, 2PM - 4PM
Schedule Review
Wednesday August 29,
No Meeting
Courtesy Rules of Blindness
When you meet me do not be ill at ease. It will help both of us if you remember these simple points of courtesy.
1. I’m an ordinary person, just blind. You don’t need raise your voice, or address me as a child. Don’t ask the person I’m sitting with what I want - “cream in coffee?” - Ask me!
2. If I’m walking with you, don’t grab my arm, let me take yours. I’ll keep a half-step behind to anticipate curbs and steps. Don’t pull! Should you lose me, it is up to you to find me. I’ll stop, and back up to a wall where I’ll wait.
3. I want to know who is in the room with me. Speak when you enter, introduce me to the others. Include children especially rug-rats, and let me know of any cats or dogs. Guide my hand to a chair.
4. The door to a room, cabinet, or to a car, left partly open is a hazard to me.
5. At dinner, I will not have trouble with ordinary table skills.
6. Don’t avoid words like “see.” I use them too! “Glad to see you.”
7. I don’t want pity! Don’t talk about the wonderful compensations of blindness. My sense of smell, touch, or hearing did not improve when I became blind. I rely on them more, and therefore may get more information through those senses then you do - that’s all.
8. If I’m your houseguest, show me the bathroom, dresser, closet, window, and light switch too. I like to know if the lights are on?
9. I’ll discuss blindness with you if your curious, but it’s an old story to me. I have as many other interests as you. There are lots of subjects to talk about.
10. Don’t think of me as a blind person. I’m just a person who happen to be blind.
In all 50 states the law requires drivers to yield the right of way when they see my extended white cane. Only the blind may carry white canes.
Isaiah 42:16
וְהוֹלַכְתִּי עִוְרִים בְּדֶרֶךְ לֹא יָדָעוּ בִּנְתִיבוֹת לֹא־יָדְעוּ אַדְרִיכֵם אָשִׂים מַחְשָׁךְ לִפְנֵיהֶם לָאוֹר וּמַעֲקַשִּׁים לְמִישׁוֹר אֵלֶּה הַדְּבָרִים עֲשִׂיתִם וְלֹא עֲזַבְתִּים׃
And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not;
I will lead them in paths that they have not known:
I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight.
These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them
KJV