by Carl McCoy
Meetings and seminars on fascinating topics, social gatherings, tours, and all-around good fellowship are components of the national convention of the American Council of the Blind. The 2004 national convention will take place in Birmingham, Ala., from July 3 through 10. The Durward K. McDaniel Committee offers you an opportunity to throw your name into the hat, from which two lucky winners will be selected to receive an all-expense-paid trip to the ACB convention in Birmingham this summer.
For those of you who are newcomers to ACB, Durward McDaniel was the driving force who held this organization together during its formative years. He worked tirelessly, 24-7, for the council, and his forte was membership development. Durward believed in bringing people together!
Each year the committee named in his honor conducts a fund-raising event or two, to raise money to honor Durward’s memory. Since he always said that people are our greatest resource, we decided to sponsor the McDaniel First-Timers’ Contest, which brings two new people, one from each side of the Mississippi, to each national convention — where their leadership skills will have a chance to sharpen and grow. If you’re interested, read on!
If you have been active in your state or local organization, send us a biographical sketch, so that we will know something about you. Then, approach your state affiliate president and ask him or her to write a letter of recommendation for you. Send your documentation to the Durward K. McDaniel Committee, in care of the ACB national office, 1155 15th Street NW, Suite 1004, Washington, DC 20005. Be sure to get all your documentation in by April 15, 2004. Letters carrying a later postmark will be ignored.
If you are genuinely interested in the American Council of the Blind and you want our organization to occupy a prominent place in your life, take a chance and put your name in the hat! We look forward to seeing you in July.