The Show(case) Will Go On
Yes, Friends-in-Art Showcase of the Performing Arts will again be a highlight of ACB’s 2020 conference and convention. Interested in being included? Send material you want to be included in the Showcase to [email protected]. Materials might include:
- Music: Any music style; original material especially welcomed.
- Prose/poetry: Original works preferred, especially if read by the author.
Your selection may either be sent as an email attachment, or you may send us a link from which the piece can be uploaded. Please accompany your musical selection or prose/poetry with your name, city/state, email address, and a brief description of the piece that you are sending (to be used to introduce the piece).
Deadline: June 1, 2020
In order to make it more likely that your selection will be included in the Showcase, please note:
- Each selection should not exceed five minutes, including the description of the work you are asking us to consider.
- We will consider including two contrasting short works if together they do not exceed five minutes.
- We prefer up-tempo to slow, but we will consider anything.
- This is family entertainment; no profanity, please.
- We aim for a show of around 20 selections of varying styles; originality, professionalism, and flair count.
- Please note that the ACB Radio production team reserves the right to do editing or audio processing at their discretion in order to assure that the audience will get a high-quality broadcast.
If you need assistance recording your work, we might be able to assist. Please email us as soon as possible at [email protected].
The Showcase is scheduled to air on Friday, July 3, at 8 p.m. Eastern. We will contact you well before then to let you know if you will be included in the show and/or if we need additional information.
Questions? Please email us at [email protected].
MCAC Holding Book Discussion
The Multicultural Affairs Committee (MCAC) is holding a discussion of the book “The Color of Christ: The Son of God and the Saga of Race in America,” by Edward J. Blum and Paul Harvey.
In “The Color of Christ,” the authors weave a tapestry of American dreams and visions —from witch hunts to web pages, Harlem to Hollywood, slave cabins to South Park, Mormon revelations to Indian reservations — to show how Americans remade the Son of God visually time and again into a sacred symbol of their greatest aspirations, deepest terrors, and mightiest strivings for racial power and justice. The book can be ordered from your talking book library on cartridge, DB76479, or downloaded on BARD, and is also available from Audible.
The discussion is scheduled for Thursday, June 18th at 7:30 p.m. Central time via the Zoom platform. We look forward to you joining the discussion and sharing your thoughts and experiences!
2020 Membership Seminar
ACB’s Membership Seminar will be held on Wednesday, July 8, 2020, beginning at 3 p.m. and ending at 4:15. This year we will hold a “Special-Interest Affiliate Showcase.” Each special-interest affiliate will be given 2-3 minutes to share information about their affiliate. By learning more about special-interest affiliates, state and special-interest affiliates can collaborate more easily to grow membership. Hand-outs will be sent via email to those who register.
An Outline of AABT's Online 2020 Convention Program
It has been said that education begins at home. This year, the American Association of Blind Teachers (AABT) is taking this saying literally as we deliver our exciting convention program offerings to you in the comfort of your own home! Read on for an outline of what’s online for AABT during convention week.
You may not be able to go to Schaumburg, but you can visit Chicago from your armchair if you join us on Saturday, July 4th at 10 a.m. when Richie Zie, a Chicago historian and author, will tell entertaining stories about Chicago history. If you would like to learn more about Richie Zie and enjoy some of his stories and presentations in advance, visit his website, www.richiezie.com.
We have two events scheduled for Monday, July 6th. Our first workshop, “Getting In Line with What’s Online: An Open Discussion” will take place from 1:30 to 2:45 p.m. Teachers and students will come together to discuss popular online learning platforms, options, resources and techniques for coping with teaching and learning online. This is a timely topic with all the closures of schools and universities due to the coronavirus, which has necessitated classes being offered online. Whether you are a student or a teacher, please register for this workshop so that you can come and have your questions answered and share your experiences. Immediately afterward, join us for the FIA Writers’ Workshop, which AABT and FIA are co-sponsoring, from 3:00 to 4:15 p.m. The topic of this workshop will be “Creating Poetry.” Plump up that manuscript with easy-to-follow verse forms. This workshop will explain the acrostic poem, a versatile, simple and enjoyable verse form. Ann Chiappetta, an author from New Rochelle, N.Y., will provide instruction and examples of acrostic poems and guide participants through the experience of writing poetry. You will have the opportunity to share your poem(s) with the group. Bring your writing materials and imagination to this workshop, and be prepared to have fun!
As you can see, AABT has some fun and informative programming planned for you! We hope that you will invite us into your home and plan to participate. You don’t even have to clean up the house or prepare a meal for us!
Special Delivery from IVIE
During these times of coronavirus quarantine, you are doubtless receiving your share of home deliveries: groceries, meals and items from Amazon. If you want, you can also receive a very special delivery right to your home from the Independent Visually Impaired Entrepreneurs (IVIE) on July 7, 2020. Read on to find out more.
Even though we will not be having an in-person convention this year, one thing that hasn’t changed is that Tuesday will still be IVIE Day. We have planned two timely and informative seminars for Tuesday, July 7th. Our first one, “The Coronavirus Conundrum: Strategies for Keeping Your Business Open When You Are Told to Keep It Closed,” will take place from 1:30 to 2:45 p.m. Entrepreneurs will conduct an open discussion about how they are dealing with the hardships brought about by the coronavirus pandemic. They will share strategies, resources, and coping techniques that can help business owners to get through this and future national emergencies. Come and share your experiences and exchange ideas and encouragement with fellow business owners.
Perhaps you are now unemployed due to the business layoffs and closures due to the pandemic, and you are thinking about starting your own business. If so, plan to join us from 3:00 to 4:15 for our second workshop, “Entrepreneurship: Questions and Answers.” This will be an open discussion in which business owners who are blind or visually impaired answer participants’ questions about business ownership and what it takes to be an entrepreneur. It will be moderated by IVIE president Ardis Bazyn from Burbank, Calif., and co-sponsored by ACB Students. Come and find out if entrepreneurship is for you!
If you would like to find out more about IVIE or pay your $15 annual dues, which are due by July 1st, visit ivie-acb.org. Meanwhile, don’t forget to arrange for your special delivery from IVIE by registering for the virtual convention and signing up for IVIE’s two workshops on Tuesday, July 7th. We’ll meet you in cyberspace!
RSVA Convention Details
The RSVA® conference registration is $40, and your name will be placed into a drawing happening on Friday, July 10.
On Saturday, July 4, RSVA will hold four different sessions on Zoom. All sessions will be recorded for those who cannot attend during these times. All times listed are Central time.
The first session will be held from 1:00 to 2:15 p.m.: “Building business and personal relationships in a changing world.” The speaker will be Mark Richert, ACB First Vice President, Arlington, Va. There will be time for audience questions afterward. With his style of humor, Mark will share his experiences in several nonprofit organizations and some positive outcomes due to his ever-expanding business and professional relationships.
The second session will be held from 2:30 to 3:45 p.m.: “A Legal Update on RS Vendor Cases.” Speakers will be Chris Prentice, Austin, Tex. and Jeff Thom, Sacramento, Calif. This session is co-sponsored by the American Association of Visually Impaired Attorneys. You will learn about the most recent happenings in the ever-changing legal landscape of cases involving Randolph-Sheppard vendors.
The third session will be held from 4:00 to 5:15 p.m. Part 1 will consist of a panel on the impact of COVID-19 on Randolph-Sheppard vendors. Part 2 will highlight “Another Alternative – Three Square Market” with speaker Kurk Johnson, Vice President of Sales, River Falls, Wis.
Session four will be held from 5:30 to 6:45 p.m. Part 1 will focus on “Tips and tricks on vending.” The moderator will be Scott Eggen, SVS Vending, Lino Lakes, Minn. Vendors can send questions in advance and receive answers. Part 2 will answer the question “Randolph-Sheppard Program – What Is It?” RSVA board members will field questions about how to become a vendor and what managing a facility requires. Please send any questions you’d like answered to [email protected].