The MMS or Monthly Monetary Support Program is a way for each of us to financially support our organization to whatever amount we can afford on a regular, monthly bases. An amount we designate and completely control is automatically deducted from our bank, credit card or debit card account each month by the ACB and is used to fund the many critical needs of our organization. We completely control the amount that we give and from which account it is taken. It begins when we indicate we want it to start and ends when we let ACB headquarters know we want it to end. In the past, all amounts given to the ACB by participating in this funding program went entirely to support ACB national activities. However, the ACB Board very significantly changed the MMS Program, greatly improving it and making it even more attractive for each of us to participate.
Now, when you take part in the MMS Program, the funds are deducted from the account you designate, on a regular, monthly bases, as before, but with the change implemented by the ACB Board, you can designate to have all of the funds go to the national organization or you can, alternatively, designate an amount up to 50% of the net amount of your deduction to be given to an affiliate of your choice. This change allows you the choice of helping both the national organization and an affiliate of your choice at the same time. You can help two levels of our organization with one monthly deduction, thus, two-for-one! The affiliate you choose can be any of the state affiliates or any other ACB affiliate you wish.
At the national level, we need funds to support our many programs that help all of us. For an example, each issue of the Braille Forum requires several thousands of dollars to create, publish in the many alternative formats and distribute to our members and other persons who share common interests in blindness issues. Funds are needed to pay the salaries of our national staff that are so totally dedicated to our efforts and do such a yeoman's job with everything they do. Funds are needed to pay rents on the space for our offices and the related utility bills. Our staff is busy every minute of their working days fighting for our rights, fighting for new programs that will be in our best interest, fighting to maintain existing laws and programs that benefit blind people, to expand the use of audible traffic signals, to increase the use of descriptive audio for TV and movies, to at least maintain or increase our SSI and SSDI benefits, fighting to increase our employment opportunities, and fighting for many, many other issues and programs, far too many to list here. Without the diligence and never-ending efforts of the ACB staff, we would all be much worse off. The ACB staff is our voice on capital hill, and we need to support them by helping to fund their efforts.
In like manner, the various affiliates that make up the ACB also need funding to support their activities, such as on-going public education campaigns, scholarships, social events, defraying the costs associated with attending the state and national conventions, The Washington Seminar, etc. So, by participating in the ACB Monthly Monetary Support Program, you can split your contribution and support both the national organization and your favorite affiliate, both, at the same time, with a single contribution, two-for-one!
Some members can afford more or less than others, and we certainly realize and respect that. All we are asking is that you help fund your affiliate and our national programs with whatever monthly amount you can afford. We equally value everyone's contribution.
To get started, you can call the ACB financial office at (800) 866-3242 and have a form sent to you, or alternatively, you can access the forms on our ACB website at http://www.acb.org/mms.html. If you prefer, you can call Dr. Ronald E Milliman at (270 ) 782-9325, and he can help you fill them out over the phone and submit them to our business office for processing.
If you have any questions, you can call our ACB Executive Director, Melanie Brunson, at (800) 424-8666, or you can call Dr. Ronald E Milliman directly at (270) 782-9325 or e-mail him at rmilliman@sckcb.org and Melanie or Ron will answer your questions and assist you any way they can.