Berl Colley for ACB Board of Directors

 1. Introduce yourself and talk about your experience within ACB and other organizations.

     My name is Berl Colley
     I live at 2305 Maxine ST. se,
     Lacey, WA 98503
     Phone:  (360) 438-0072
     e-mail  [email protected]
 
I was born in Walla Walla Washington.  I attended college at Washington State University.

After obtaining my certificate in Data Processing, I worked for over 30 years as a computer programmer, and retired as a software developer in 2003.  During the late 1970s I was director of a Client Assistance Project serving the Washington and Oregon commissions for the blind.

I have been a member of the American Council of the Blind since 1988 when my wife and I joined at the national convention in Little Rock Arkansas.  I served as the President of the Washington Council of the Blind 2000 through 2003.  I have chaired WCB's Finance committee, History committee and Investment committee.

In ACB I have chaired the Daisy Conversion committee, the Idaho organizing task force, the Leadership Institute committee.  I have served on ACB's budget committee for 3 years, on the RDC as co-chair for several years and co-chaired the Health concerns committee.  I have been on the Technology Resources Management committee and the Walk-a-Thon committee.  I also serve on the Amtrak Customer Advisory Committee, (ACAC).  I am running for a second term on ACB's board of directors. 

I have been married for 31 years, have 3 daughters, 7 grand kits and 2 great grand kits.
 
 
 2. If you could change one thing about ACB, what would it be and why?

As much as I care about ACB there are things that we can improve on.  Such as, letting the membership know more about what the ACB officers and board members are doing on a regular basis.

We need to look at ways that we can assist our affiliates to become more knowledgeable about ACB.

We need to be looking at ways that we can take some of the work load in our Virginia and Minnesota offices and maybe automate, or streamline there activities.

We need to review ACB's historical documents and records with an eye to making them automated and available to ACB members.
 
 
3. List three issues you plan to work on should you be elected and how you plan to effect change in those three areas.

I plan to continue working on ACB Leadership Training activities.  The mission is to develop leaders with in ACB, its affiliates, local chapters and for the communities out side of the Council. 

I plan to continue being interested in ACB's budget and finances, including investments.  We have done a good job developing ACB's budget and staying with in its guidelines.  However making the board of directors a where of adopted policies and monitoring them can use some tweaking. 

I will continue to be involved in developing ACB's historical presents.  This means continuing to work on ACB's oral history project, looking at initiating a new history committee to update the People of Vision, to reflect the last decade.  Also, getting an ACB history show on ACB radio.