North Carolina Convention a Success
The annual state convention of the North Carolina Council of the Blind (NCCB) was held September 28th through September 30th at the Holiday Inn in Burlington, NC. The convention was well attended by members from all over the state, with the Alamance Council of the Blind as host. Guest speakers included Sen. Philip E. Berger from Eden, Rep. W.B. Teague, Jr. from Liberty, and Paul Edwards, past president of ACB from Miami, Fla. Art Stevenson from Salem, Ore. spoke about the Randolph-Sheppard Vendors of America, John Gordon from Chicago discussed Social Security issues, Dr. Michael W. Brennen, a Burlington ophthalmologist, reported on prevention of blindness for young birth mothers. Other speakers included John DeLuca, Director of the Division of Services for the Blind; Clay Pope, Chief of the Business Enterprise Program; Linda Sparks, president of the board of directors of the new radio reading service in Winston-Salem; Johnna Simmons from the Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped; Cora Carter from the Blind Center, Washington, NC; Cynthia Speight, Independent Living; Jim Ervin, and Richard Carlton, attorney for NCCB.
The highlight of the Saturday evening banquet was Paul Edwards’ keynote speech, which garnered him a standing ovation. The Sunday morning business session included the passage of two resolutions regarding left turn on red and maintaining a separate agency for the blind.
The business meeting concluded by electing officers for the upcoming year. The nominating committee recommended keeping the current officers in place for the next two years. Officers are Wayne Yelton, president; Ron Eller, first vice president; Rosie Bethea, second vice president; Pat Yelton, secretary; and Bill Hooper, treasurer. Board members-at-large are Theodore Bryant and Mary K. Jones. The convention was a huge success! The NC Council of the Blind will continue to educate the public on blindness and issues that affect the everyday lives of blind and visually impaired people. Anyone wishing more information should contact Wayne Yelton at (800) 344-7113.
Visually Impaired Data Processors International Seeks New Members
If you work in the field of data processing, or if you work with computers in virtually any way, then there’s a place for you in VIDPI. Our members range from those who use the computer for data entry or word processing right on up to those in applications development.
Each year at the ACB national convention, we hold seminars and forums on topics pertinent to computers, computing, software, and adaptations for blind people who work in the field. We are looking forward to an especially good program in 2002 at the ACB national convention in Houston.
We host a weekly chat room session on Sunday evenings at 8 p.m. Eastern time on www.for-the-people.com. To participate, go to that site and sign up for membership.
VIDPI also produces an informative newsletter that comes several times per year. Dues are $10 for associate membership and $20 for full (voting) membership. We want hard-working members with ideas to help us achieve our goals.
For more information, or to join, contact me, Robert R. Rogers, rrrogers@one.net, or (513) 762-4022 office, (513) 921- 3186 home; or contact Mary Abramson, membership secretary, (630) 231-5332, mmba@interaccess.com.
News from New York
ACB of New York held its annual convention during the weekend of Friday, October 12th through Sunday, October 14th, 2001, at the Vernon Country Suites Hotel, in Vernon, N.Y., right next to the Vernon Downs Race Track.
Along with making amendments to our chapter’s constitution, the chapter authorized its board of directors to make a donation, on behalf of our chapter, to benefit the victims and families of victims of the World Trade Center disaster.
Friday evening was a very proud time for our chapter when second vice president John Farina presented the winning trophy in the sixth race at Vernon Downs to the jockey riding the winning horse. We extend our most sincere thanks to Fred Scheigert, one of the members of the Capital District ACB chapter who owns some race horses, for arranging the trophy presentation in the sixth race.
There were 57 members in attendance at our New York State ACB convention.
Old Dominion Council of the Blind and Visually Impaired State Convention Summary
by Linda Broady-Myers
The ODCBVI board of directors meeting was held on October 19 in the conference room of the Commonwealth of Virginia Library in Richmond. All 12 board members and our parliamentarian were in attendance. In addition to the board members, there were also six ODCBVI members, three visitors and one volunteer in attendance.
Special thanks go to Mr. Jacobi, the parliamentarian, who volunteers his time, knowledge and expertise to ODCBVI and the Commonwealth Council. Mr. Jacobi is a practicing parliamentarian and a parliamentary law instructor.
Scott White resigned as newsletter editor due to a lack of interest from the membership to supply articles. The board has agreed to discontinue the position of newsletter editor for now. The board was also informed of the resignation of immediate past president Dennis Helms.
The convention program and annual meeting was held on Saturday, October 20, at the Virginia Rehabilitation Center for the Blind and Vision Impaired (VRCBVI) in Richmond. Roughly 35 members and visitors were in attendance.
Assistant Director of Administrative Services for the center, Marnie Tidd, welcomed us to VRCBVI.
She showed the Customer Service Video to all in attendance and shared information concerning the Customer Service Training Program, Saturday computer training classes, and plans for renovations.
Mary Ellen Caldwell, a public affairs specialist for the Social Security Administration, shared important information concerning Work Incentives - Impairment Related Work Expenses (Blind Expenses) and Ticket to Work & Work Incentive Improvement Act (TWIIA). After her presentation, she responded to several questions. Unfortunately, there were more questions than time.
Dr. Roy Grizzard, commissioner of the Department of the Blind and Vision Impaired, gave an update on DBVI. He also informed the attendees of the effects of the events of September 11 on Randolph-Sheppard vendors and DBVI, and responded to a number of questions.
Jim Taylor, vocational rehabilitation program director for Virginia Department of the Blind and Vision Impaired, conducted the public meeting. There were about 55 individuals present. A number of individuals from the deaf-blind community as well as VRCBVI students also attended.
Melanie Brunson, director of advocacy and governmental affairs for the American Council of the Blind (ACB), shared information on legislative issues, fund raising and gave an overall update on ACB.
Each chapter presented a report. Then the following ODCBVI members received Meritorious Service Awards: Ruth Arvin, Randy French, Charlie Hodge, Milly Lillibridge, Samantha Schmucker, and Scott White.
Scott White shared information about the Commonwealth Council of the Blind (CCB) and the ODCBVI Listserv that he has developed, as well as information about ACB Radio, vendors of accessible computer software, CCB and Virginia Association of the Blind (VAB) Computer Giveaway Program and much more. The ODCBVI elections followed.
Congratulations to the new officers: Pat Beattie, secretary; Bobby Burke, treasurer; and Scott White, director. The membership passed a resolution to support the Pedestrian Safety Model State Law from ACB. The membership approved an increase of ODCBVI dues by $3, effective January 1, 2002. Local chapters will pay $11 to ODCBVI per member.
The membership also approved the purchase of a $100 raffle ticket from the Northern Virginia Council of the Blind (NOVA) local chapter. All monies from the sale of the tickets will go to the ACB scholarship fund. First prize is $10,000! If you would like to purchase a ticket, contact Billie Jean Keith.