“Dots and Dashes” is a short newsletter featuring a variety of topics and ACB stories. This issue features information about ACB’s scholarship deadline, tips for scheduling your meetings on Capitol Hill during the 2020 Leadership Meetings, the newest Advocacy Updates, ACB Next Generation forming an affiliate, and RSVA’s Sagebrush Conference.
Scholarship Deadline Approaches
To learn how to apply, visit www.acb.org/scholarships.
It’s not too late to apply for a scholarship, but the deadline is coming up soon – February 14th. ACB has partnered with the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) to offer educational scholarships ranging from $2,000 to $7,500 for those attending a technical college or as an entering freshman, undergraduate or a graduate student.
To be eligible for a scholarship, applicants need to be legally blind, maintain a 3.0 GPA to be eligible for most scholarships, be a full-time student (as well as students who work 32 or more hours per week and attend college part-time), and be involved in their school/local community.
Applications for the 2020-2021 school year can be submitted online now through Friday, February 14, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. Central time. All interested candidates must register for a new ACB account prior to submitting a scholarship application online. Visit https://members.acb.org/ to register. Candidates should receive an email containing a link to complete the scholarship application after their account request has been approved. Please note that the approval process could take up to three business days.
For more information, please contact Nancy Feela at (612) 332-3242 or (800) 866-3242.
Tips for Scheduling Hill Meetings
To read this article in its entirety, visit https://acb.org/2020-leg-seminar-scheduling-hill-meetings.
As part of the 2020 D.C. Leadership Meetings, we will conduct a Legislative Seminar on Monday, Feb. 24, and meet with our elected officials on Tuesday, Feb. 25. We recommend that all attendees coordinate with their affiliate leadership to schedule meetings on Capitol Hill beginning in early February. To schedule meetings with your representatives and senators, we recommend calling your member’s Washington, D.C. office, or sending them an email. Some offices request constituents send meeting requests via a form on their website. Below are links to contact information for the U.S. House and Senate, as well as a call script and email form to get you started. Send your complete list of meetings to [email protected].
U.S. Capitol Switchboard – (202) 224-3121
Call this number and request to be connected with your representative’s or senator’s office.
U.S. House of Representatives Contact Information – https://www.house.gov/representatives
U.S. Senate Contact Information - https://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
Advocacy Updates
In this week’s episode of the Advocacy Update, Cindy Van Winkle discusses how to prepare for the legislative seminar with Clark Rachfal. Listen via your favorite podcast player, or online at http://acbradio.org/content/legislative-seminar-preparation.
On the January 23rd episode of the ACB Advocacy Update, Claire and Clark discuss the ACB Legislative Seminar and the three legislative imperatives for 2020. Listen via your favorite podcast player, or online at http://acbradio.org/acb-advocacy-update-1-23-20. To learn more about the 2020 D.C. Leadership Meetings and Legislative Seminar, including how to register, visit https://acb.org/2020-DC-leadership-meetings.
The January 16th episode of ACB’s Advocacy Update features Heidi Simon from America Walks. She discusses with Clark and Claire the overlapping missions of our two organizations, and how we’re working together to make our neighborhoods and cities more pedestrian-friendly. Listen to this podcast via your favorite podcast player, or online at http://acbradio.org/acb-advocacy-update-1-16-20. To learn more about America Walks, visit www.americawalks.org. A transcript of this podcast is available at www.acb.org/ACB-advocacy-update-1-16-20-transcript.
ACB Next Generation Forming an Affiliate
ACB Next Generation’s membership application is now available!
For many years, younger adults within the American Council of the Blind have been seeking an affiliate within the organization in which they can truly relate to and connect with fellow members of their age group. That time has finally arrived. ACB Next Generation has been a committee within ACB for nearly a year and a half. Now, we are looking forward to becoming an actual affiliate.
To do this, we need your help. Please complete the membership application at https://forms.gle/Rc3qk6jadjfifWbP7. After completing the application, you will receive an invoice for $15 via email. You may pay via credit or debit card. This amount will cover your dues for the 2020 calendar year. We look forward to creating a formal organization for ACB members who are 40 years old and younger.
Sagebrush 2020 Conference
It's not too late to register for the RSVA® Sagebrush 2020 National BEP Training Conference. This year, Robert Humphreys, Esq., RSVA® long-time attorney, will be attending. As a past RSA Commissioner and author of the 1974 amendments to the Rehab Act, he is the foremost expert on the Randolph-Sheppard Act. This year’s theme is “Randolph-Sheppard: Learning, Leading, and Living with a 2020 Perspective.”
The conference begins on Monday, February 10th and ends on Friday, February 14th. It will be held at the Golden Nugget Hotel in downtown Las Vegas. To reserve a room, call 1-800-331-5731 or visit www.goldennugget.com.
For more information on Sagebrush, visit https://www.randolph-sheppard.org, or send email to [email protected].