Don Grimm is in the process of updating RCRV bylaws.

UPS in Des Moines has expressed interest in establishing a group similar to RCRV. Hotchkiss and McDonough to meet with them. Christy Vilsack has requested that the Iowa Commission on Volunteer Service send out a letter to industries in the state regarding RCRV’s willingness to help them get started in a similar program.

Jack Rector is getting the Physics Hotline going.

Faye Birky reported that in 2000 a total of 4328 RCRV hours were reported to RSVP

Linda Bigley stated that the Bridge Kits constructed by RCRV were being used by Extension.

The RCRV Web site is in the process of being moved.

There was considerable discussion about proposed bylaws changes.

Jack Rector reported the Physics Hotline is going well.

John McDonough reported the wiring project at the Margaret Bock Housing Unit entailed about 300 hours of labor and 20,000 feet of cable.

March 21, 2001

Marian Thomson reported that a list of new retirees has been added the RCRV database. Means of adding material to the data base were discussed.

The RCRV Web site has been moved to the Collins Clubs site, http://www.collinsclubs.com/rcrv

The revised bylaws were approved.

Chairman Hotchkiss is working to get RCRV incorporated with the State of Iowa in order to limit liability.

Jack Rector stated that the Physics Hotline activity has declined; he is investigating new school participation.

John McDonough reported receipt of two more awards for the Assistive Technology program.

Welcome to RCRV Assistive Technology Team’s progress report for the last quarter. We, again, have done well helping the physically and mentally challenged people of the area. We have also provided assistance to the local school systems as well as to such places as 4 Oaks Bridge and the Margaret Bock Apartments.

We continue to meet every Thursday at 10:00 either at the IBEW1362 Hall, or Building 126 in the Northern Iowa Conference Room. New retirees are welcome to stop in and see what we are doing. If interested, we will welcome your services.

During the past period, we have provided over 300 hours of service to the Margaret Bock Housing Authority wiring the Margaret Bock Apartments with cable TV service, telephone service and an intercom service. The intercom is located at the front door such that visitors can now contact the person they are interested in seeing. The 6^th Judicial Correctional Facility provided assistance for the wiring project. Since we completed the wiring, several of the residents have signed up for each of the services. The companies waived some of the initial hookup charges if services were signed up for within a specified time frame. This is by far, the largest project that we have done for non-profit agencies in the area.

We presented our capabilities to the State AEA Assistive Technology folks in Des Moines in January. We did this in conjunction with Grant Wood AEA. Response indicates it was well received. Grant Wood AEA also has a catalog of the devices that they have available for students in this area. Most of the devices are ones that we have designed and built at least one copy of.

A number of other projects and relationships continue, including:

• We continue to repair electronic devices for local non-profit agencies.
• We continue to monitor the computer equipments that were installed in the Moundview Manor Assisted Living facility. Kirkwood retirees have assisted RCRV with this project and have helped the residents learn how to use the computers.
• We have a web page at http://www.collinsclubs.com/rcrv. Many items designed by RCRV can be found on the web page.
• We are building a display board, which will be located at Pierce School to demonstrate to the students the various principles of engineering. Hopefully, it will help students make up their minds at an early age to get into the engineering field.
• We delivered two bridge kits to the Iowa Extension Service in Marion per their request. The bridge spans a length of about 6 feet and has enough strength that students can walk on it after it is built. This will be used in our local schools to teach students about bridge stresses.
• We are working on designing a device which will turn off a TV if the student stops exercising. The student likes to watch TV while exercising but soon stops exercising when the show gets interesting. The device will encourage the student to continue exercising in order to keep the movie playing.

If you can dream it, we can do it.

John McDonough

Living at the Margaret Bock Housing unit is now a little more comfortable and secure for 30 residents. There was no cable to the rooms for TV, there was no intercom and there was no security system. With a grant from the city and 250 hours donated by 12 Rockwell Collins Retiree Volunteers (RCRV) the Margaret Bock Housing Unit, which is part of the Ecumenical Center, is much more livable.

With the intercom someone doesn't have to stand at the door waiting for visitors.

Visitors don't have to knock on windows to get some one’s attention, and residents and their visitors can now relax with being able to watch TV.

This is another example of not letting life long skills get rusty when there are so many projects like this one utilize the knowledge and improve the quality of living.

Pat Marshall

RCRV is attempting to respond to a need of certain disabled amateur radio operators or others who know Morse code for an inexpensive device allowing them to transmit and receive Morse code signals by a method known as "Puff & Sip" keying. These operators are unable to use their hands, but with a small tube-like drinking straw can use mouth actions for keying.

The project is being directed by Jim Spencer, who with other RCRV members and a representative of Options of Linn County recently visited Dr. Thomas King, professor at the University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire, an expert in the use of Morse code applications in assistive technology. The next step was to contact the American Radio Relay League, the national organization for amateur radio operators, which referred him to Handi-Hams, an international group supporting amateur radio for adults and children with disabilities.

A working breadboard is now completed which uses a new integrated pressure switch along with a micro-processor controlled keyer. This is now being packaged into a compact unit. Delivery of the first unit to Handi-Hams for evaluation by some expert puff and sip operators is planned for May. Some of the really proficient can send Morse at 25 words per minute making high speed communication a reality. This same puff and sip pressure switch might be used in other RCRV projects where control of lighting, computers or almost anything else is possible.

The RCRV site on the World Wide Web has been moved to provide more consolidated access to it and other Collins organizations of interest.

http://www.collinsclubs.com/rcrv

RCRV has been asked if any Rockwell Collins retirees would be willing to assist as volunteers with the Greater Cedar Rapids Open golf meet to be held June 8, 9 & 10 at Hunters Ridge Golf Course. A major beneficiary of proceeds from the event will be the Boys and Girls Clubs of Cedar Rapids. Retirees interested may contact the RCRV office at 319-295-4925 or call Rod Thorpe, 319-362-4344 by May 10.

A carousel device built by Jack Murphy of RCRV Assistive Technology enables a severely disabled worker at Options of Linn County to efficiently sort various sizes and quantities of writing pens for packaging, one of the projects performed for clients by Options. The device is shown in the figure below.

Carousel Pen Holder

A small girl, 4, unable to speak or carry a computerized vocalizer called a DynaMyte now has a mobile cart to hold and move the device without adult assistance. It is a shock-mounted container consisting of frame, wheels and handle, designed by RCRV Assistive Technology Engineers Richard Kittrell and Leonard Sholes. The DynaMyte displays icons which the child can press to make her wishes known.

The DynaMyte and cart is shown in the following illustration.

DynaMyte and Cart

RCRV has entered its third year of operation and we are now beginning to settle into some sort of routine operation. While we do need to have something of a day in and day out prospect for whatever it is each of us does, let's not become complacent about our mission. The first moment we accept that as a way of life or operational mode is the moment we begin to lose sight of why we exist.

When our steering committee began to launch the group of dedicated people we now call Rockwell Collins Retiree Volunteers almost four years ago, we envisioned being a 'broker' of volunteer services to those agencies in our community needing volunteer help. In addition, we did envision that a major activity would be our now highly successful Assistive Technology contributions. RCRV has now evolved into merely recruiting RC retirees for general community service, administered by the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) but focusing our most direct contributions on Assistive Technology.

Sound business advice is that any company or organization should stick with what it knows best. We've all seen successful companies attempt to branch out into unrelated business ventures by acquiring another company, only to fail miserably. Technology is what Collins is famous for and has been highly successful. Even though we can be a significant force in our community through general volunteering activities, our brightest future for solid accomplishment is by avid support of Assistive Technology. RCRV is blessed with some of the best technical people in the world! It is so invigorating to observe these very talented engineers in action.

That brings us to the subject of 'vision'. What I envision for RCRV's future is an ever expanding opportunity for serving those who have special needs. We can lead efforts unique to our talent base capabilities that are pursued by several service clubs. International-based service clubs with a worldwide outreach on behalf of those with special needs include Kiwanis, Civitan, Rotary and Lions among many others. Each has its own niche but with a definite focus. Our focus is the application of technology toward serving those needs, which is unique to RCRV.

Perhaps some day there will be a worldwide organization focusing on technology solutions that was started right here by dedicated retirees of Rockwell Collins!

Jack Hotchkiss, Chairman, RCRV