Many of us will recall the familiar parable of the candle hidden under a basket, a light obviously not visible to anyone. The message, of course, is the importance of letting others see one’s abilities and potential. We may apply a similar standard to the cultivation of new leadership in ACB and its affiliates.
Critical to this process is the recognition of these talents and abilities accompanied by the opportunity and encouragement to apply them. ACB’s Durward K. McDaniel First-Timers program fulfills this role. Each year the DKM committee selects two ACB members — one from east and one from west of the Mississippi — to attend the national conference and convention. DKM first-timers must meet each of the following criteria:
- Age 18 or older
- Blind or visually impaired
- Member in good standing of ACB
- Never attended a previous national conference and convention
Reasonable round-trip travel, hotel accommodation (double occupancy), per diem allowance and convention registration fee are provided.
Applications — a letter from the applicant and a letter from the applicant’s ACB state or special-interest affiliate president — will be accepted in the national office between Jan. 1 and April 1, 2015. The formal invitation for DKM applications will be published in the January “ACB Braille Forum.”
State and special-interest affiliate presidents: Identify that potential leader among your members, make that person aware of the leadership opportunities available through ACB, and encourage him or her to apply for the 2015 DKM First-Timers award.
— Allen Casey