Reaching Our Horizons
Come one, come all to the ACBM state convention! We’ll kick off the convention with our virtual auction on Sunday evening, January 22nd. We will also hold a virtual exhibitor open house on Thursday, January 26th at 7 p.m.
Join us in person January 27th through 29th at the Country Inn and Suites in Woodbury, Minn., or join us via Zoom. Room rates at Country Inn and Suites are $91 per night plus tax. To make your room reservations, call (651) 739-7300; use group code American Council of the Blind of Minnesota.
In-person registration, including all meals, is $65. If you plan to join us via Zoom, registration is $20; you will receive all convention Zoom links.
We are currently working on our Friday afternoon programming. We do know that after a taco dinner, Minnesota’s own Earle Harrison will perform for us with guitar and vocals.
On Saturday, there will be a panel on advocacy, led by Denise Just, CEO, Wisconsin Council of the Blind and Visually Impaired; a segment on fall prevention and safety from motivational speaker and author Larry Johnson, Houston, Tex., plus ACB’s first vice president, Deb Cook Lewis, Clarkston, Wash. And you won’t want to miss updates from the Minnesota State Academy for the Blind, Minnesota Braille and Talking Book Library, and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development-State Services for the Blind.
Saturday evening, join us for our banquet featuring Minnesota storyteller Chad Filley. On Sunday, our convention will culminate with our membership meeting.
ACB Next Generation Cookbook Now Available
ACB Next Generation has pulled together a cookbook! This cookbook is jam-packed with more than 100 tried-and-true recipes from our members and friends, from breakfasts to sides, main dishes to desserts. And you can get your hands on one for just $20. Each recipe is complete with step-by-step directions. Visit https://www.acbnextgeneration.org/2022cookbook/ for more information.
New Educational Series Features Guide Dogs in Action
Maine’s Pine Tree Guide Dog Users recently launched a free educational series for students and others that provides information and materials about how blind people and guide dogs work together as a team, and how guide dogs use a variety of skills to safely guide their partners. All materials are available free from the Educational Corner at www.PineTreeGuideDogUsers.org.
The series includes a supplemental document for teachers and other presenters; a professionally designed poster and handout of a guide dog team using five different skills; and a two-module lesson plan and worksheet for grades 2-3.
Nevada, Utah Celebrate Their 50th Anniversaries
Nevada Council of the Blind celebrated its 50th anniversary with a potluck party in Pahrump. The chapter recognized Rick Kuhlmey and Marilyn Hadden, and presented a certificate of appreciation to Rick’s sister for his many years of service to the blind community in Nevada.
The Utah Council of the Blind celebrated its 50th anniversary in December. It featured information, reminiscences, entertainment, gifts, keynote speaker Corinna Tanner, and a traditional holiday turkey dinner.
South Dakota Convention News
by Lerae Olesen
The South Dakota Association of the Blind (SDAB) held its in-person convention Oct. 28 and 29 at the Country Inn & Suites in Sioux Falls. This was our first in-person meeting since 2019. The convention theme was “Imagine.” We had a good program and a great time visiting with everyone in attendance. We heard two motivating speeches from ACB’s second vice president, Ray Campbell, who joined us via Zoom. One of the speakers, Deb Ver Steeg, gave us a lot to imagine when she talked about her trip to Florida with her sister and friends to participate with Dolphins Plus, which gives experiences free to cancer patients.
The pizza on Friday evening was very good, and the meal at noon on Saturday was filling and delicious. This year, the Gus Zachte Memorial Award, given in honor of an early member of SDAB, was presented to Jane Mundschenk for her dedicated work as a teacher of the blind and visually impaired and her involvement in AER and the Aberdeen Lioness Club. Congratulations, Jane!
At the business meeting, we decided that SDAB will spearhead a White Cane Safety Day Event in 2023. Activities will be planned for Sioux Falls, and hopefully other cities also. We also elected five officers and three board members. They are: president, Lerae Olesen; first vice president, Koni Sims; second vice president, Virginia Miller; secretary, Cherie Gerry; treasurer, Seth Sims; three-year board positions, Amy Scepaniak and Dave Miller; one-year position, Jackie Shepherd.
Thank you to Virginia Miller and the program/social committee and to Koni Sims for making all the plans and arrangements for this year’s convention.