[idaho-connection] Topics to explore for Focus Call

[Darrin Cheney]

Hi everyone --

Our next focus call is Sunday night (6/5) at 7:00p. Here are some thoughts Michael Graham put together as a starting point for our discussion. I would also like to add that we create a resource list of where to go for assistance. I spoke with someone last night who was forwarded to me from the National ACB office. It would be nice to have a roadmap of resources to share. I look forward to your participation on Sunday.

Darrin Cheney
President, Idaho Council of the Blind

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Here are a few comments regarding efforts to begin projects and directions for possible funding options. Any ideas here are not truly original as they were taken from bits and pieces of conversations among the new ACB members.
 
Communications:
Some discussion oriented around communications and assisting meeting attendance from across the state. Consequently a project in need of some funding will set up a communication system using web based technology to ling ACB members for regular communications and for broadcasting meetings that are not easily attended by members in distant locations in the state.
 
Board meeting may use some form of skipe. Todd and Darrin may have appropriate technology recommendations for a system. IS the best option point-to-point communications over the internet? Is there a call in center function from a website?
 
Computer Class:
At the March ACB meeting there was an offer from Mac Life to provide Mac classes if a number of blind individuals begin using the their products. The funding need will likely be in transportation to and from classes. Communications challenges may be a part of this project in order for some individuals to participate in classes from a distance or on line. This project like all projects with more than a few details will require that someone be appointed to take the lead in organization.
 
Technology Funding:
It appears that an ongoing challenge for blind people is to pay for the technology that brings the best access. In some other states there are simpler funding mechanisms than there is in Idaho. Here we have access to a loan program with the interest to be a little higher than the Prime Rate. The program was funded originally from the Assistive Technology program at the University of Idaho and from Rehabilitation Services Administration funds.
 
Montana has a similar loan program with no interest charged to the borrower. It is sponsored by the Montana Association of the Blind. Wyoming has a grant program originally set up by the estate of a wealthy rancher who died in the 1940s. A more accessible program for Idaho will need some funding probably best accomplished with grants.
 
Funding Ideas:
The Idaho Community Foundation, (ICF) is a collection of many foundations and Trusts under one administration, located in Boise. Proposals for projects can be submitted at several different months of the year. There is a submission deadline for the state as a whole, one for eastern Idaho, one for Northern Idaho, and one for Southwestern Idaho. My past experience that is about 10 years old suggested proposals were most favorable between $1000 and $5000 in size. If a proposal is recommended for funding, a short five minute presentation to the ICF may be required. Once approval for funding is accomplished several of the other participating foundations typically also send funding without a separate proposal submitted to them.
 
The Gibnny Foundation, not sure of the spelling provides funding specifically for the blind and visually impaired. There is a family member living in the Boise area. This foundation may be a funding option.
 
There is associated with the local library a grants center. It contains a lot of resources regarding foundations particular to geographic areas and specific interests of the given foundations. A worth while project would be four a couple of our ACB members to visit the grant's center to conduct some research for possible funding options. I'll volunteer once I've finished getting the boot from IDVR.
 
Hope this starts some ideas. We can at least talk about some next steps. Let me know if further information on these areas will be helpful. Thanks. 
 
michael



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