The American Council of the Blind of Nebraska, Lincoln Chapter is a local organization of persons, who seek to promote the interests of blind or visually impaired persons. This organization is a chapter of the American Council of the Blind of Nebraska, which is an affiliate of the national organization known as the American Council of the Blind, with offices in Washington, DC. The membership of the chapter is residents of our capitol city, Lincoln, Nebraska.
A major project of our chapter is a transportation subsidy program, Give-A-Lift, which has been in place since, 1987. The subsidy program permits persons to purchase tickets, at a reduced rate, which tickets then can be used to supplement their cab costs with the local cab company. The subsidy amounts to a fifty percent rate reduction. Also included in this subsidy is Transport Plus.
The chapter meets every other month at the Bennett Martin Library at 14 & N. Street on the third Saturday of the month at 10:30A.M. The months of the meetings are: January, March, May, July, September, and November. Meetings are occasionally changed for various reasons, for example football Saturdays. Each meeting has both socialization and a business meeting, where projects are planned etc.
President: Terry Brennfoerder - Terry Brennfoerder - Terry was born in Davenport, Nebraska. He has lived in Nelson, Edgar, Nebraska City and Lincoln. Terry graduated from the Nebraska School for the Visually Handicapped. He spent one year at Kearney State College, attended Lincoln School of Commerce for an accounting degree, and worked five years with Belmont Construction Company. Terry has 25 years of service with the Lincoln Telephone Company where he became the first blind or visually impaired person to do 100% of long distance operations. In addition to working 3 years at Bristol Window Company, he currently sells card games and crafts along with Braille and large print greeting cards. Terry is a long time ACB member with a wife, 3 children and 9 grandchildren.
Vice President: Don Pohlmann - Don Pohlmann grew up in Deshler, Nebraska. He attended the Nebraska School for the Blind in Nebraska City from 1936-1948. Don worked as an independent piano tuner in the Deshler and south central area for 19 years. Following his marriage to Vivian Steinbrenner, he settled in Hastings where he lived for 39-years. Besides tuning pianos in homes, Don also tuned for Hastings College, Hastings public schools and Concordia University in Seward for 58-years. In addition to being a member of the Hastings noon lions club, he was also a member of the Hastings chapter of ACBN prior to moving to Lincoln August 1, 2006.
Secretary: Janet Doulas -
Treasurer: Sharon Brennfoerder - Sharon was born in Seward, Nebraska and graduated from Lincoln Pius in 1968. She and Terry have three children, Chris, Tina and Scott, and 9 grandchildren. In addition to doing craft shows, Sharon sells Avon and works at McDonald's. As well as her membership in the American Council of the blind of Nebraska, she is active on church boards and other organizations.
Persons wishing to contact the Lincoln chapter may do so by calling 441-9566, where a voice message may be left. Our postal address is:
American Council of the Blind - Lincoln Chapter
PO Box 94763
Lincoln NE 68509-4763
To contact us by E-mail please do so at acbn@inebraska.com.