by Christopher Gray
The hot sun, the rustling corn, some of the best beef and finest hospitality this country has to offer have now been left behind as we return home from the 40th annual ACB convention in Des Moines, Iowa. Take a moment with me and consider this picture of ACB: 40 tumultuous, growth-filled, democratic years, filled with festivity and much hard work for an expanding, strengthening organization. From a handful of so-called “rabble-rousing dissidents,” to the largest, most democratic and representative organization of blind people ever known in the Western hemisphere, ACB celebrates this year a major milestone in the history of people who are blind: its 40th birthday. Heralded in Des Moines by singing DECtalks, a rousing banquet, stimulating elections, and the sharing of knowledge and ideas, we emerge from Des Moines strong and proud of who and what we are!
I come to you at the close of the Des Moines convention as ACB’s ninth president. It is a humbling experience to accept the trust of the organization and take up the responsibilities that accompany the potentials and possibilities of leadership. Being human, I am sure my service to ACB in this role will not be without the occasional glitch or mistake. Please bring your patience and understanding as well as your constructive ideas and assessments to me and all the members of ACB’s leadership in the months and years to come. I assure you that winning an election doesn’t carry with it a special gift of clairvoyance or sudden understanding of the whole membership of the organization. I must rely on each of you to help with these things. I want you to feel empowered and encouraged to contribute your ideas, your energy and your commitment in whatever way feels right to you in furthering ACB’s growth and activities.
In addition, it is important to point out as we embark on this 41st year, that we must not lose sight of the many accomplishments and contributions of those who helped us get to the place we are today. Without the leadership of Paul Edwards, Brian Charlson and so many others brought by their example into the leadership of ACB, we would not be today the strong, proactive organization that we are known to be by Congress, the federal sector more generally, and decision-makers in areas related to blind people and issues surrounding blindness in the United States and abroad. I am quite confident that we can rely on these and other former officers of the organization and all ACB members who have been active in the past to continue the excellent work and commitment they have brought to our organization.
As announced at the end of the 2001 convention, two new members have been appointed to the ACB board of publications. Kathleen Megivern is the new chairperson of the board of publications. Kathy is well-known to ACB members and friends, and certainly to readers of “The Braille Forum.” She will be joined by Adrian De Blaey of Milwaukee, Wis. who is also a longtime ACB member.
In addition, I have moved quickly to appoint Sandy Sanderson chairman of the ACB resource development committee and Pamela Shaw as chairperson of the ACB membership committee. A more exhaustive list will be forthcoming both in these pages and from our staff in the national office.
As we leave behind the wonderfully democratic process of our elections and decision-making by the membership, let us be sure to come away with the sense of family and comradeship that permeates to the very core of what ACB is and will continue to be. We come together to share and accomplish common goals and to further collective ideals in support of one another and for all blind people. If we are true to these ideals and stay focused on shared goals, there is nothing we in ACB cannot accomplish in the next 10, 40, or 50 years. Let us step now onto that pathway of accomplishment as a common force for positive change in all those areas affecting us as blind Americans.