Date of Meeting: February 8, 2003

The meeting was called to order at 1:05 p.m. by President Maria Reuters. Following introductions, the minutes were read and approved as written.

Maria read the treasurer's report. We took in $986.40 in income. We spent $456.42. We began the year with $2986.80; after adding the income we ended the year with $3516.78.

Maria told all present that the officers had decided to send Jim Anliot a $75 gift for his support, and assistance throughout Amy's tenure as President. Jim sent Maria and VIBUG a letter of thanks which she read to all present.

On March 8, 2003 our meeting will be held in the media studio, located on the ground floor of the library. Dave Bradburn from Kurzweil will be demonstrating Kurzweil 1000's latest version.

During the month of April, the meeting room we use is only available during our regularly scheduled meeting time on April 26, 2003. Following a discussion about the pros and cons of meeting on this date, a motion was made that we not meet in April. This motion passed unanimously.

Those interested in having a Braillenote workshop should contact Amy Ruell at aruell@attbi.com. She is hoping to hold this workshop on April 26, 2003 in our usual meeting room in the library.

In May Joanne Becker will be showing the Focus Braille Display and the VT Player, (a tactile mouse).

Maria Rueters will demonstrate MIDI in June

Betty Davidson from the Museum of Science would like a group of us to evaluate a project. They have a tactile map which has squares you can press to obtain valuable information about an exhibit. She would like people to come in groups. If interested, please contact Maria Rueters at mrueters@rcn.com, or by leaving a message in the VIBUG mailbox at (617) 266-6160, ext. 48.

Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic (RFB&D) will be coming out with a digital player which can be purchased in March. There will also be a desktop software version of a player which can be purchased and downloaded to a computer. Contact them at their 800 number, or locally through the Cambridge office for more details.

Bill Kilroy announced that on Thursday February 13, 2003, the Carroll Center will be hoasting Freedom Scientific Personnel to demonstrate the Packmate as well as using Jaws with Windows CE. To reserve space for this event, contact Bill Kilroy at billk@freedomscientific.com or Brian Charlson at bcharlson@carroll.org. Bill also stated that he anticipated that within the next eight months the authorization process currently used to verify ownership of copies of Jaws will be replaced by a new system which will not require the use of floppy disks.

John stated that he had been beta testing the upgrade of Jaws, and it was quite stable.

Following our question and answer period, Bill Kilroy demonstrated Packmate, and the meeting was adjourned at 4:00 p.m.

Respectfully Submitted,

Jeanette Kutash

Clerk