ACB Board of Directors Moves Forward with Remote Voting for 2021 Convention
The ACB board of Directors voted during its Feb. 20th meeting to move forward with an outside vendor who will provide remote voting for the 2021 National Conference and Convention. The decision comes after a Voting Taskforce provided recommendations on how to conduct voting during a virtual convention. The decision was necessary under ACB’s governing rules filed in the District of Columbia, which previously required in-person voting of officers, but has allowed for a waiver for remote voting as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to the pandemic, ACB was unable to hold officer elections during an in-person convention this past year. Visit https://acb.org/voting-task-force-recommendations-2-20-21 to read the Taskforce’s recommendations. Further details on the virtual voting process will be forthcoming as they become available.
ACB DC Leadership Conference Now Online
Were you able to attend the 2021 virtual ACB Leadership Conference last week? Help us improve future conferences and events by taking time to complete the conference survey. We appreciate your feedback. You can access the survey here by visiting: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2021-Leadership-Conference. And please let us know if you have any technical issues with the survey by emailing [email protected].
Get to Know Our Special Affiliates!
At 9pm Eastern, Monday through Thursday, March 8-11, ACB’s Membership Committee invites you to take part in a series of community calls. Are you new to ACB? Have you been lurking, wanting to know more, wondering where you might fit in? Are you currently a member of a state affiliate or member at large of ACB and wish you knew more about our special interest affiliates? Well, here’s your chance to get up and personal with some of them. Come ready to learn, ask questions, and maybe find your next connection within ACB. To receive up-to-date info on how to join these calls, please subscribe to our ACB Community Events email list by filling out the subscription form at: https://acblists.org/g/ACB-Community-Events. Read below for the full schedule:
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Monday: Alliance on Aging and Vision Loss, ACB Families, American Council of Blind Lions, Blind LGBT Pride International, and Visually Impaired Veterans of America
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Tuesday: ACB Government Employees, American Association of Blind Teachers, American Association of Visually Impaired Attorneys, Independent Visually Impaired Entrepreneurs, and Randolph Shepherd Vendors of America
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Wednesday: Blind Information Technology Specialists, Braille Revival League, Council of Citizens with Low Vision International, Guide Dog Users Inc., and Library Users of America
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Thursday: ACB Diabetics In Action, ACB Next Generation, ACB Students, ACB Radio Amateurs, and Friends In Art.
ACB Next Gen Turns 1!
On this week’s episode of the ACB Advocacy Update, ACB’s Director of Advocacy and Governmental Affairs, Clark Rachfal, celebrates the one year anniversary of our ACB Next Generation affiliate. Clark is joined by President Amanda Selm, Second Vice President Steven Salas, and Secretary Greg Lindberg for a conversation about the founding of ACB Next Generation, the work they are doing to engage new members, advocacy issues important to the affiliate, and where they go from here. Listen online by visiting: https://acb-advocacy-update.pinecast.co/episode/78269530/acb-next-gen-turns-1-. To learn more about ACB Next Generation, visit: https://acb.org/acb-next-generation or connect with them on Facebook: http://facebook.com/acbnextgen or Twitter: https://twitter.com/ACBNextGen.
JPMC Leadership Fellows
Join us as we engage in rhythms of leadership! Apply to Become a member of the 2021 Class of ACB/JPMorgan Chase Leadership Fellows. For the sixth consecutive year, JPMorgan Chase will provide full access to the ACB conference and convention for 5 ACB members who have demonstrated leadership abilities. This year’s recipients will enjoy the ACB conference and convention in a virtual setting and will join us in person for 2022 in Omaha, Nebraska. Read more about criteria and how to apply by visiting: https://acb.org/2021-leadership-fellows.
Aira Plans for ACB Members
Aira is a service that connects blind and low vision people to highly trained, remotely-located agents. Through an app on your smartphone, Aira delivers instant access to visual information at the touch of a button – enhancing everyday efficiency, engagement, and independence. Aira offers two special pricing plans for ACB members. The Intro Power Plan includes 30 minutes per month for $20.00, and the Standard Power Plan includes 140 minutes per month for $99.00. These plans are available for ACB members in good standing who sign up through December 31, 2021. Please contact Customer Care at (800) 835-1934 for more information and to confirm your status to purchase a plan.
NRTC 5-Year Study
The National Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision at Mississippi State University (NRTC) is recruiting people with blindness or low vision (age 21+) who are working or are interested in working to be part of a multi-year study about technology in the workplace. Participants will complete multiple surveys over time so they can learn about changes in access technology use. Participants will receive a small gift card after completing each survey. The NRTC will share our findings with you and their technology company partners. They’ll also make recommendations for access technology users, VR professionals, access technology specialists, and employers. Would you like to help with their 5-year study? Complete their pre-screening survey by visiting https://tinyurl.com/ju7utju6 or call 662-325-2001 to schedule an appointment for a telephone screening.