She’s Sighted and a Fine Federationist

By Joyce Scanlan, President

As I reflect on more than sixteen years during which I served as executive director of Blindness:  Learning in New Dimensions (BLIND), Inc. and the countless decisions involved in carrying out the responsibilities of such a job, I am often shocked almost to disbelief at the success of the program founded by Federationists with a dream that we could create something of value to improve the lives of our blind brothers and sisters. 

Many people fully expected us to fail.  We never considered anything but absolute success as the outcome of our brave venture.  It’s impossible to list all individuals or entities deserving credit for our success; however, there is no doubt that a certain staff person in the home management department merits high praise for her dedicated service and numerous contributions in the building of our program.  That is Betty Bishman.

Betty joined the staff of BLIND, Inc. in the summer of 1989, our second year of operation.  She had excellent credentials as a professional home economist with a B.S. degree in home economics/education, certification by the American Association for Family and Consumer Science, and several years of experience in the county home-extension service of Minnesota.  At the time of her application, Betty was also a novice nun with temporary vows in the Order of St. Benedict.  As she applied for the position, we were all impressed with her outstanding home management credentials, but a nun in our midst!  How would she fit into our unusual group?  We never know what combinations of personalities and behavior will come together in our students.  How would a nun handle the anger, possible swearing, passive-aggressive behavior, etc., etc., etc. of our students?  Our staff also represented a broad cross section of society; some might imbibe alcohol; some might use “raw” language; some might eat way too much.  Could a nun be comfortable working in our bizarre environment as we worked with students to free them from the stereotypes and misconceptions of blindness?  Would she join and appreciate the National Federation of the Blind as much as a blind person would?  We needed to determine the answers as we came to know Betty.  Her interview had to provide help.

It was essential that Betty meet Mark during her interview.  He was a young man who had lost his eyesight as he worked as a bouncer at a university fraternity party.  He had been a star hockey player.   Mark loved every person around, especially women, and he demonstrated it by throwing his arms around everyone in a warm cuddly hug.  How would a nun handle this?  Would she slap him?  Would she push him away?  Would she leave on the spot in anger never to return?  Would she scold him, hug him back?  What would she do?  Betty’s reaction to Mark’s behavior was her supreme test.  It would let us know many things about Betty, and how she might fit into our group.

Well, Betty passed the test by taking the whole incident in stride.

And that was the beginning of a very warm and friendly relationship between Betty and the students and staff of BLIND, Inc. and the National Federation of the Blind.   She had many initiation experiences to learn about blindness, the alternative techniques we use, and about the Federation.  She accompanied us to our national convention in Denver that first year and to all subsequent state and national conventions.

Soon after Betty came to BLIND, Inc., we made one of our traditional camping trips.  Betty is a very sincere, deep-thinking, straightforward person.  I can remember only one incident in which I detected some “plastic” or somewhat phoniness in her spoken words.  On our first camping trip, as we were all crawling into our sleeping bags that first night, I heard her say with a definite smile in her voice, “Don’t you just love camping?”  Camping may not have been her favorite program activity.  She was more comfortable in her kitchens or our home building than out in the wilds of a campground where we carried our water for cooking and washing.  Betty was a hound about cleanliness and clearing the environment of any germs whatsoever.  Everything had to be “convent clean.”  On every camping trip she would hang up a bar of soap wrapped in a nylon stocking on a string right next to the water faucet so we’d all faithfully wash our hands before meals or any activity around food.  Betty was a real planner about meals, cleaning the stove, or making sure everyone lived in a germ-free environment.

She had a way with students that never caused them to be angry.  In fact, I know of no other instructor who over the years never had a student in the director’s office complaining about something said or done.  Other staff might say to a student, “Go wash your hands.”  Betty would say, “We’ll first give you an opportunity to wash your hands.”  Everyone loved Betty.  Moreover, during Betty’s tenure as home management instructor, BLIND, Inc. never had a single case of food poisoning or any such gruesome thing.  Betty’s techniques paid off.  One of her favorite tools was the paper towel or “family napkin,” as she termed it; Betty confessed that because of her reliance on the “family napkin,” she would never have made it as a pioneer woman.

It is only a guess, but I always had the impression that the Minnesota State Fair was Betty’s favorite activity.  She was brought up in the 4H program and had spent many weeks on the fairgrounds entering food and craft competitions.  She knew the layout of the area better than anyone else and could instruct us on key locations to gather at specific times during our day at the fair.  It was where she had some of her roots as a home economist.  All students in Betty’s group had a special opportunity to benefit from her profound love and enjoyment of the state fair.

Students from all cultural backgrounds came to our program.  Many from other countries had arrived convinced that only women cooked or should do anything in the kitchen.  It may have been an agonizing process, but absolutely everyone came out of home management with adequate food-preparation skills to ensure survival in any environment.  If Betty wasn’t sure how a blind person would accomplish a certain task, she would seek out a live blind person to inquire, or she would don the sleepshades and figure it out on her own.  She could devise a nonvisual technique so that students could accomplish any task in cooking, sewing, shopping, cleaning, or whatever.  No excuses accepted.  And students did accomplish all their personal goals in home management—some they were compelled by the program curriculum to meet, and some personal goals they chose.

As a new program, we experienced many ups and downs.  We all came to know that we could always count on Betty for so many important tasks around the Center.  She always worked at least thirty-six hours per day making certain we had safe, clean, and germ-free surroundings.  Her expectations and standards for students were always high; she could give corrections always in the most non-threatening style.  Several times other staff people would say to me, ”You shouldn’t make Betty work so hard.”  My problem was how to stop her.  Betty was always in charge.  I frequently tried to send her home soon after the end of the day; she usually wouldn’t leave.  And if she did leave, she would return later to clean up the kitchen or check on some unfinished task.  Betty never complained.

Betty made sure all birthdays of staff and students were properly recognized and celebrated with the individual’s favorite cake.  Everyone was given the opportunity to light the candles and cut the cake using alternative techniques.  Betty set a fine example by lighting her candles and cutting her cake on her birthday, February 7; she faithfully wore sleepshades, too.

Betty’s commitment to projects and goals also included activities of the Federation.  She contributed to our fundraisers, supervised our holiday dinners and summer picnics, and reached out to blind people in the community she met on the bus or in the grocery store.  She was always quietly present and offered a helpful hand in countless ways.  Her style of persistent tenacity worked with students who needed an extra push to realize that the Federation had something important to offer them.

It would be impossible to list all Betty’s outstanding qualities; however, if I had to give the one I appreciated the most, it would probably be her abiding loyalty to BLIND, Inc., its students and staff, including the director, and to the entire blind community.  In so many ways, she was the ideal working partner and dear friend.  If anyone wanted to know the picture of a “perfect employee,”  Betty was as close as anyone could find.

Well, after more than seventeen years of worthy service, Betty retired at the end of 2006.  Betty, I can’t tell you how much all of us appreciate everything you have done throughout your time with us.  You’ve taught us all so much.  Your giving spirit will long live in the BLIND, Inc. kitchens, which you managed with such loving care, and throughout our BLIND, Inc. programs.  You are truly one of the primary builders of this program.  Enjoy your retirement with some fun activities.  I know it would be pointless to say you should take some time for rest.  I’ll say just try.  I will say, “Keep busy and stay healthy.”  We’ll all miss you terribly at the Center.  You will, however, remain a dedicated and active member of our Federation, so we expect to see you at NFB conventions and all other gatherings.