by Charles S.P. Hodge
During its 42nd annual national convention in Pittsburgh, Pa., the American Council of the Blind was pleased to honor and welcome a dozen new ACB life members. First among these dedicated stalwarts is M.J. Schmitt of Forest Park, Ill., who is ACB’s current national second vice president. Others joining Schmitt included: Sine Darlow of Jacksonville, Fla.; Carolyn Hathaway of Canton, Ohio; Susan Thompson of Glebe, New South Wales, Australia; Donald G. Morrow of Chicago, Ill.; Nigel B. Ricards of Boca Raton, Fla., and Leland Kent Wimmer of Salt Lake City, Utah. In addition, several state affiliates honored devoted members of their organizations with ACB life memberships. For example, the Washington Council of the Blind so honored Jan Ames of Seattle, as did the Badger Association of the Blind for its current president, Kathleen Brockman of Milwaukee, Wis. The Mississippi Council of the Blind honored Fannie Benson of Hazlehurst; the American Council of the Blind of Colorado honored Sandy McAviney of Longmont; and the Missouri Council of the Blind honored Bessie Reece of St. Louis.
ACB thanks all of these affiliated organizations and individuals for their steadfast dedication to ACB’s goals and objectives, and for their willingness to step forward and participate in ACB’s life membership program. ACB’s life membership roll has now grown to 197, tantalizingly close to the milestone of 200! We encourage like-minded individuals and affiliates to seriously consider becoming ACB life members or honoring your own deserving members through the program. For further information about ACB’s life membership program, contact ACB’s chief financial officer, Jim Olsen, at (612) 332-3242.