A SUCCESSFUL YEAR

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 128, 23 February 1939, Page 4

A SUCCESSFUL YEAR

Wellington Braille Club's Annual Meeting The annual meeting of the Wellington Braille Club was held yesterday in ' the Red Cross rooms. Mrs. Gordon, acting president, was in tin’s chair. - She gave a cordial, welcome to Mrs. Israel and Miss Rui van Staveren and welcomed the new members. The report on the work of the past year was adopted. The office-bearers were re-elected. Miss Hetherington was re-elected vice-presi-dent after her retirement a year ago. Mrs. Duff proposed a vote of thanks to Mrs. Gordon for carrying on the work so efficiently in Mrs. Israel’s absence, this being carried by acclamation. Mrs. Israel took the chair. She paid a tribute to the work of Mrs. Gordon and Mrs. Boyd during the year, and expressed the hope that the club would continue to be as successful as it had been in the past, and that the same harmonious element would persist among members. Mrs. Israel spoke on transcription work, and the numbering of Braille volumes. The necessity for continual study of the manual was stressed. The date of the annual bridge party was fixed for April 26. Membership of the club had reached the satisfactory figure of 62, the eighth annual report revealed. Nine new students had passed tests during the year and had become certificated members of the club, two of these being blind. Classes were held each Monday afternoon in the Red Cross rooms, Dixon, Street, where Braille reading and writ-’ trig were taught to blind anti sighted students. The roll totalled 24. The transcription ,of volumes by certificated members went on steadily throughout the year,' 55 volumes being completed. Much arduous labour had gone to the proof reading of these volumes, and all helpers were thanked for their assistance in this (matter. The only work done outside the club was the actual putting on of outside covers.

The annual bridge party held in May was generously supported and many subscriptions were received. The total amount handed to the civilian blind fund of the Red Cross Society was £74 1/6. This was the largest amount ever raised by this effort. Thanks were extended to the Red Cross Society for its courtesy and cooperation in giving the use of its rooms and for continued help In the work of the chib. Thanks were also given to Mr. Cervantes Bell. The correspondence section of the club is one of deep interest to members and students, an increasing number of whom now correspond with blind folk In New Zealand, Australia, England, Egypt and Africa.