Newsletter of the
Volume 26, Issue 1 Summer, 2010
Well-Deserved Thanks and
the Path Forward By Ron Brooks
Dear AzCB Members, Friends
and Readers,
Within
the first hour of my tenure as the newly elected President of AzCB, Dan
Martinez, the Foresight Editor, reminded me that I need to write a column for
this quarterly newsletter. Unfortunately, he did not give me a page limit—he
may not have known that part of my professional responsibilities include
writing business proposals which can be several hundred pages in length. In future editions of Foresight, I’m sure the
Editor will help me to be briefer in my comments, but for now, I have thrown
caution to the wind in order to share my personal vision for the AzCB as well
as the steps I intend to take to help AzCB move forward.
Before discussing the future, I want to take some time
acknowledging the work and contributions of former President Barbara
McDonald. Barbara served as President
from May of 2007 through April of 2010, and during her tenure, she gave
tirelessly of her time, energy and expertise.
One example of Barbara’s dedication to the organization was her
willingness to work with absolutely every committee to make sure assigned tasks
were completed. In fact, Barbara personally attended every committee meeting
and conference call that her schedule permitted, and with about ten committees
working at any one time, this meant that Barbara was probably working in excess
of 20 hours a week on AzCB business. In
addition to her willingness to give so much of her time, Barbara sought always
to hear all sides and to make decisions that addressed the concerns of as many
people as possible. This consensus-based
leadership style is time-consuming and difficult to manage, but Barbara was committed to it, and her approach meant that we heard more
concerns from more members, and ultimately, it meant that we became more
democratic as a result of Barbara’s leadership.
Finally, Barbara not only gave to us as a leader, but also as an
advocate.
In
addition to leading the AzCB, Barbara served on the Governor’s Council for the
Blind and Visually Impaired, and she actively monitored, communicated and
advocated on a number of national, state and local issues. One last contribution I’d like to acknowledge
is Barbara’s leadership of our state’s efforts to host the upcoming American
Council of the Blind Conference and Convention to be held in
Although Barbara’s leadership will be a tough act to follow,
I have spent three years on the AzCB Board of Directors as well as many years
leading local chapters, state affiliates, and a variety of committees at the
local, state and national ACB levels. I
have also worked in management roles within the transit industry for more than
fifteen years. All of this experience
has helped me to develop my own approach to leadership, and I think I am up to
the challenge of working with the Board, our committees, local chapters,
special interest affiliates and others to help move the AzCB forward. Therefore, I want to spend the balance of
this article sharing my vision for the AzCB as well as a bit of the managerial
approach I will strive to use as we move forward.
Growing
our Grass Roots – We all live in communities, and each community is
different. Therefore, if we are going to
be effective at resolving the issues which are most important to us and the
blind people in our communities, we have to have a strong local presence. For years, the AzCB has talked about
increasing the number of local chapters, but we have found it difficult to get
beyond
Growing our Diversity – We all talk about celebrating
diversity, yet our membership is primarily white, primarily straight and
primarily over forty. My goal is to work
with the Membership Committee to reach into diverse communities all across
Growing our Influence – The AzCB has so much to offer, but
our ability to make a real difference depends on our ability to get our message
out to the community at large. My goal
will be to work with our PR Committee to strengthen every avenue of outreach we
have (including our website, this newsletter and, all publications and even the
way we conduct public outreach at community events) and then to increase the
number of opportunities we have to reach out.
Ideally, these efforts will lead to more interest in the organization,
more media coverage of our events and lots of new members from across the
state. I also want to improve the
quality and timeliness of the information and communication we share with each
other because a well-informed membership is critical for helping us to reach
out to our community.
Growing our Funds – Increasing the size and effectiveness of
our organization will take money. My
goal is to work with the Budget and Finance Committee to streamline the ways we
spend money and with the Fundraising Committee to expand the diversity and
effectiveness of our fundraising efforts.
I also want to work hard at getting our scholarship and Blindness-Related
Intervention Expense Fund (BRIEF) efforts to be self-funded—meaning that both
programs will serve their intended beneficiaries without impacting our annual
operating budget. I would also like to
see us use corporate sponsorships and other new revenue streams to pay down the
cost of our annual conventions.
One last issue that is critical for us to address is our
approach for the day-to-day management of the organization. Former President Barbara McDonald did a lot
to encourage openness between the Board, committees and membership, but there
is more that needs to be done. We will
continue to increase the amount of openness with which we conduct our
business. In addition, I will be working
with our Board and committees to develop written policies and procedures which
we will follow for such critical tasks as budget development, dispersal of
funds, reimbursement of expenses, selection of convention hotel sites, awarding
of scholarships and management of membership and financial records. These procedures will be made available to
the general membership so that you can see how we plan to run our business and
so that there is accountability.
The AzCB is only as strong as those members who get
involved. With this in mind, I have made
several appeals through our AzCB email lists for you to get more
involved—either by starting or joining a local chapter or by letting me know of your interest in serving on a committee. Thankfully, I have heard from several of you,
and I will be putting many of you to work for the betterment of the AzCB. Nevertheless, there are many more of you who
have not stepped forward. … I realize that time is precious, and the AzCB is
one of many priorities which we all must balance. However, if we are going to achieve the goals
I have identified in this article, I need as many of you as possible to join
with me and to get involved. Please
think about things you’re good at or things you would like to do. Then, drop me an email or give me a call. I promise that if you have something to
offer, I’ll find a way to take advantage of your generosity.
Have
a great summer. Please visit the ACB
National Conference and Convention.
Please get involved in AzCB. It’s
your organization. Ron Brooks AzCB President Ron.brooks@azcb.org
(602) 616-1171
The
49th annual conference and convention of the American Council of the Blind will
be held in
Join your fellow AzCB members at the beautiful new Downtown
Sheraton Hotel in
There will be tons of activities and information that will
help you in your career, social and personal life. You will gain and share
knowledge and insights on the most important issues affecting people who are
blind. At convention you will learn more about new adaptive technology, devices
and techniques that will be powerful tools that you can adopt and use in your
own life. Take time and explore which of these new tools will work best for
you. Collect and save materials to take home to review at your leisure or to
share with others in your office or organization.
Bring the kids for a great week of tours and fun in the Youth
Activity Center (YAC). YAC trips and activities happen each day, Monday through
Friday. YAC opens at 8:15 a.m. Light breakfast, lunch and snacks are provided,
and every day includes at least one visit to a local attraction. A super YAC
party with games, prizes and surprises is planned during the ACB banquet on
Friday evening. Purchase daily YAC tickets on the pre-registration form. YAC
activities are planned for children 6 years old and up. Each child in the YAC
must register and pay the convention administrative fee.
YAC registration is also required before children can
participate in any events. Important: Parents MUST accompany children to the
YAC the first time to sign permission forms. Necessary medications must be
supplied each day. Parents will be required to remove children who exhibit
uncontrollable or highly inappropriate behaviors. The YAC cannot accept
medically fragile children.
Have questions? Contact Carla Ruschival, ACB Convention
Chair, at (502) 897-1472.
This year ACB will not be sending paper registration forms
out to the membership. Register on-line at www.acb.org, by phone at
800-866-3242 or on paper by using a separate form for each person. Make copies
if necessary, or request extra forms by calling the national office at (800)
424-8666.
In the convention hall each affiliate will have an assigned
seating location. When you enter the convention room look for the
ACB 49th Annual Conference
and Convention Exhibit Hall Schedule
Saturday, July 10, 1:00 -
5:00 PM, Exhibits open;
Sunday, July 11, 9:00 AM -
5:00 PM
Monday, July 12, 11:00 AM -
5:00 PM
Tuesday, July 13, 11:00 AM -
5:00 PM
Wednesday, July 14, 11:00 AM
- 5:00 PM
Thursday, July 15, 9:00 AM -
1:00 PM
Visit the AzCB Booth
At our Phoenix Chapter March meeting we shared tips about
products and services our members have found useful. We also voted to participate in the
Diamondbacks 2nd annual Vision Impairment Awareness event, Labor Day afternoon
- Monday, September 6 at 1:10, against the Giants. Tickets cost $13 (normally $15), for bleacher
seats. In addition to being a fundraiser, this is an opportunity to represent
the blindness community. (See order form.)
The
Phoenix Chapter will take a break from business meetings until September
28. We will have a get-together in August
- an ice-cream social and DVS movie.
www.phoenixazcb.org (602-337-8190)
TAKE ME OUT TO THE
DIAMONDBACKS GAME!!!!
WHAT:
WHEN: September 6, Labor Day
WHERE: Chase Field
TIME: 1:10 P.M.
COST: $13 (NORMALLY $15 BUT
YOU SAVE $2!!!)
Come and enjoy hot dogs,
fellowship with friends, and a great baseball game against the Giants!!!
Visit WWW.AZCB.ORG for more
info
Let Me Introduce Myself By David Steinmetz
I am David Steinmetz and I am the newest member of the AzCB
Board of Directors. I am extremely fortunate in having been able to achieve
personal and professional success and I believe in giving back to my community
so that others will have opportunities to create their own successes. That is
why I belong to the AzCB.
I am a long time member of the Guide Dog Users of Arizona
(GDUA), I am a past Board of Directors member of Guide Dogs of the Desert and a
founding member of Guide Dogs of the Desert of Arizona (Hot Paws), a local
group devoted to providing educational awareness of guide dogs and doing
fundraising activity for Guide Dogs of the Desert. I am currently a committee member of the Arizona
Governors Council on Blindness and Visual Impairments, where we provide public
education on blindness related issues.
As Administration Manager for Arizona Industries for the
Blind, Distribution Services Unit, I lead a team of professionals who are
responsible for collecting, analyzing and reporting contract compliance data,
providing quality customer service, and recommending continuous improvement
opportunities to senior level management.
I
received a Bachelors degree from
My Appreciation By Barbara McDonald
I wish to thank all the members of the Arizona Council of the
Blind for giving me the privilege of being the AzCB President for the past two
years.
It was a remarkable experience and presented me many
opportunities that I would have not had otherwise. I learned about the American Council of the
Blind, and how they advocate for people who are blind or visually impaired at
the national level. I communicated with
many members throughout the
Of course, I could not have accomplished anything without the
help of the other officers, directors, committee chairs, and members. To all of you; my sincere
appreciation for your support for the last two years. I am sure you will continue to support our
new president, Ron Brooks in the way you supported me.
Maybe,
tucked in your closet is something new, (not clothes) which you are never going
to use. The local host committee for the
ACB National Convention is still looking for items to be donated.
Door
prizes should have a value of $20 to $25.
Auction items should be new or considered a collectible with a value of
$25 or more.
Please contact Barbara McDonald at 602-285-0269 or Arie
Levels-Newsom at 602-647-0411.
Stagnation By Sharon Booker, Membership
Chairman
Leave a plant in a pot of stagnant water and it will
die. Leave a fish in a stagnant pond and
it too will perish. Leave an
organization; no matter how strong it seems now, without new membership growth
and it will also pass away. Without organizational growth, present members grow
tired of filling the same chairs and shouldering all the responsibilities. So either they quit or if they don’t quit they will eventually all die off.
Our local Southern Arizona Chapter (SAC) was started because
dedicated old timers like Frank and Janet Kells wanted to see a chapter
encompassing
Without growth and member participation, the life waters of
he Arizona Council of the Blind could stagnate. We have many dedicated persons
who give many hours in every week to the furtherance of our Council’s
goals. Now we need to reach out and
become more all-inclusive. We need young
members with new ideas and enthusiasm to step up to the plate. We need members of diverse culture and
lifestyles to join our organization and bring new perspectives.
As the new chairman of the Membership Committee, I will present
some new ways to both stimulate the enthusiastic participation of our present
members and encourage the formation of new AzCB chapters throughout the state.
I need your suggestions for growth as well.
So, will you please join me? My
committee and I look forward to your participation in making the AzCB chapter
of ACB a vibrant and viable force for the good of blind and partially sighted
individuals and their families in our state.
Sharon.Booker@AZCB.ORG (520)399-9326,
if no answer, leave message.
Volunteers are still in need for the 49th ACB National
Conference and Convention which is going to be held at the Sheraton Phoenix
Downtown Hotel from July 8 to 18, 2010.
Volunteers can welcome guests at the airport, act as guides
on tours, guide people to meetings and the booths in the exhibit hall, read and
complete forms, and help with child care.
Please inform the members of your church or groups about
this. I am sure they will find it a
rewarding experience.
There are three ways to register to volunteer: You can register on the ACB website, which is
www.acb.org, or you can contact Sally Benjamin, the volunteer coordinator at
volunteer@acb.org or call her at 877-268-3664.
Register now, and don't forget to mark your calendar.
CCLVI is the Council of Citizens with Low Vision
International (CCLVI). We are thirty-one years strong within ACB and we would
love to have any and all visually impaired folks from the
Our program will be posted soon at www.cclvi.org and on
acb.org. We have a thriving Facebook page and monthly discussions led by Dr.
Bill Takeshita, blind himself, talking about issues
facing persons with low vision. We are strong and want new and curious members.
Richard
Rueda 1st Vice President Council of Citizens with Low Vision International
Bobbing Along With Bob By Robert L. Williams Sr..
The American Council of the Blind is an organization rich in it’s diversity. We are diverse in color, gender,
backgrounds, ideas, thoughts, and experiences. The ACB Multicultural Affairs
Committee promotes and celebrates diversity in ways that stimulates
understanding, appreciation and respect for one another’s differences. Through
respect and understanding the ACB is an inclusive organization strong in unity
and able to speak on subjects of common concern with a united voice.
Membership on the ACB Multicultural Affairs Committee is made
up of about twelve Persons from seven states including Faye and me from
The luncheon speaker will be our own Daniel M. Martinez. The luncheon runs from 12:30 to 1:30 P.M. and
will be followed immediately starting at 1:30 P.M. by a panel on diversity with
Dan as moderator and featuring three Native American employees from Arizona Industries
for the Blind who are themselves blind and representing three different Arizona
tribes. “While most people think of the
American Indian as homogenous or one-dimensional, there are well over 100
separate and distinct tribes with a wide range of cultural value system
differences. I have spoken to three
co-workers from three different tribes who are willing to speak to the
group. Each story will be distinctive
because of the cultural context in which it was experienced,” says Dan.
Admission is free for the panel program. There is a charge for the luncheon. Representatives from the City of
The
Arizona Council Of The Blind works to enhance the
independence, equality of opportunity, and to improve the quality of life for
all blind and visually impaired people in
Foresight
is available in Braille, large print and audiocassette, half-speed. Publication is Quarterly with free
subscription to members of AZCB.
Subscription requests, address changes and items intended for
publication should be sent by e-mail to the newsletter editor, Dan Martinez.
AZCB is the statewide affiliate of the American Council Of The
Blind based in
AZCB staff and governing board are all volunteers and perform
their duties without pay.
Those
much-needed tax-deductible contributions should be sent to the Arizona Council
of the Blind at the office mail address below.
All contributions are gratefully acknowledged in writing in a timely
manner. If you wish to remember AZCB in
your will or if your contribution involves complex issues, please call our
Office
Mail: 3124 East Roosevelt,
Ron
Brooks, President 602-616-1171 E-mail: ron.brooks@azcb.org
Daniel
M. Martinez, Editor 623-873-1378 dmmar@qwest.net