Louisiana’s Capital City Chapter Has Successful White Cane Day
Success, success! Capital City Council of the Blind held its first White Cane Safety Day on Oct. 14, 2023 at the main library on Goodwood Boulevard in Baton Rouge, La.
There were white canes on display and many items on exhibit to assist visually impaired and blind people. In addition, hands-on information was also available. One highlight of the event was people being blindfolded and guided using the white cane.
The librarian had books on display written by blind authors. Many people were not aware of these books, which can also be found on audio/talking books.
As we deal with our challenges, we have taken lemons and made lemonade. We served cold lemonade to everyone who attended our White Cane Safety Day.
President: Doris Love Elbert
Vice President: Herbert Reado
Join a Great Affiliate, Get the Chance to Win $50!
For 2024, the Alliance on Aging and Vision Loss will be drawing for three prizes of $50 each. Any returning member or new member who joins and pays dues by February 1, 2024 will be in the drawing. If you win the drawing, you have the choice of cash or an Amazon gift card. AAVL board members are not eligible for the drawing.
Here’s how to get in on the action: Everything can be done on our website on the membership page. Visit https://www.aavl-blind-seniors.org/membership. You can call treasurer Kathy Gerhardt at (304) 283-7424 and she will be happy to help with your membership and dues. If you don’t get an answer, she’ll call you back.
You can send a check or money order payable to AAVL to Kathy Gerhardt, 2456 Edgewater Dr., Poland, OH 44514. We also have Zelle. If you have Zelle too, you can send your dues through Zelle to Alliance on Aging and Vision Loss, email [email protected], phone (304) 283-7424.
California residents should contact CAAVL treasurer Denise Weddle at [email protected] or (310) 306-8149. Oregon residents should contact OAAVL treasurer Leonard Kokel at [email protected] or (541) 888-0846, to become a member.
Through the generous donation of one current AAVL member, we have one dues scholarship of $15 available. If you know someone who wants to join but could use a little help, let AAVL know privately. First come, first served.
Dues are generally $15 for the calendar year, but are reduced if you are an ACB life member or an AAVL life member. AAVL life memberships are $200.
The best reason to join AAVL is the great benefits of membership and to support the many efforts of Alliance on Aging and Vision Loss. Here are a few of them.
- We have a call every week hosted by Sandy Troiano called “The Ins and Outs of Vision Loss Later in Life,” but the call is open to anyone whether older, younger, new to vision loss, blind since birth and anything in between.
- Once a month on the fourth Monday, Danette Dixon leads a community call with a speaker of interest to AAVL members and anyone else who wants to join in.
- Our monthly board meetings led by president Doug Powell are open to all AAVL members or potential members. They alternate between the first Sunday or the first Thursday of each month. Members are encouraged to contribute their opinions and ideas during the meetings.
- Every other month Sharon Strzalkowski holds a members-only casual chat call known as “We Could Write a Book.”
- Our advocacy team works on too many projects to list, including legislative initiatives that are important to our members and all older people experiencing vision loss or blindness.
- Each year at the ACB conference and convention we sponsor several activities and speakers. Those are open to all, and we make as many of them available on Zoom as possible.
- The AAVL business meeting happens annually and is open to all members. This is where elections, bylaw updates, and other important decisions occur.
- We have a Cares Committee for reaching out to members regarding their concerns. We also bring those folks into Zoom meetings who need assistance.
- Our website is chock full of information and resources.
- Our AAVL-L email list is public, and anyone can join us and keep up to date with all our activities.
- We publish our newsletter, “The Hourglass,” at least twice per year. It’s also on the website.
- In 2024, for the first time, we will have our Teddie-Joy Remhild Service Award presentation. Details are available on our website.
- On February 14, 2024 we will turn 25 YEARS OLD! To celebrate this milestone, we will hold a big anniversary party on February 10 with lots of festivities. More detailed information is available on the website.
- The reason we can have so many things going on at once is that we have a lot of committed members willing to jump in and participate in the things they enjoy doing. Come join us!
Thank you for considering joining AAVL. You only have to be 18 or older to join!