[Ohio-talk] Fw: 2009 Convention Roundup
Dr. Smith
jwsmithnfb at verizon.net
Tue Dec 22 02:15:45 UTC 2009
Dr. J. Webster Smith
President National Federation of the Blind of Ohio
P.O.BOX 458 Athens, Ohio, 45701-0458
Phone Number - 740-592-6326
"Changing What it Means to be Blind"
----- Original Message -----
From: Barbara Pierce
To: Fohl, Barbara ; 'Albers, Sheri' ; Anderson, Annette ; 'Beth Debus' ; Booth Rebekah ; Bruce Peters ; Burghardt, Eric ; Crystal and Mark McClain ; Cynthia Conley ; dkkendrick at earthlink.net ; 'Debra Baker' ; 'Dr. John Webster Smith' ; Eric Duffy ; kwh7047661 at aol.com ; Marble Anne ; 'Mary-Anne Joseph' ; 'paul Dressell' ; 'Richard Payne' ; Ruth Sherry ; 'Wanda Sloan' ; 'William Turner'
Sent: Monday, December 21, 2009 12:49 PM
Subject: 2009 Convention Roundup
December 2009
Buckeye Bulletin
A publication of the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio
Barbara Pierce, Editor
237 Oak Street, Oberlin, OH 44074, bbpierce at pobox.com
<http://www.nfbohio.org> (440) 775-2216
Sylvia Cooley, Production Editor
Dr. J. Webster Smith, President
(800) 396-6326; (NFBO Office)
<jwsmithnfb at verizon.net>
P.O. Box 458, Athens, OH 45701-0458
Voice of the Nation's Blind
NFB-NEWSLINE local phone numbers:
330-247-1241 (Akron)
330-409-1900 (Canton)
513-297-1521 (Cincinnati)
216-453-2090 (Cleveland)
614-448-1673 (Columbus)
Contents
Editor's Note
by Barbara Pierce
Convention Roundup
by Deborah Kendrick
Report of the Resolutions Committee
by Paul Dressell
NFBO Combined List of Presidents and Board Members as of December 3, 2009
------------
Editor's Note
by Barbara Pierce
This is an unusual publication for the NFB of Ohio. It is being sent by email only. President Smith decided that the decision to reduce our regular newsletter schedule to two publications a year would force everyone who did not attend the state convention to wait a long time-until the late winter newsletter-to hear about what happened in Columbus the first weekend of November. He asked me to pull together the information about the convention and circulate it to everyone we could find with an email address. This is what we have now done.
We urge you to share the contents of this newsletter with everyone in your chapter who does not have email. This electronic publication is not a very satisfactory solution, but our financial situation is such that we do not have much choice. Please help us to spread the news.
------------
Convention Roundup
by Deborah Kendrick
Editor's note: Deborah Kendrick is the secretary of the NFB of Ohio. Here is her report of the affiliate's 2009 convention:
Everyone warms to the idea of taking a good thing and making it even better, and that is unarguably what the planners of the sixty-third annual convention of the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio managed to do October 30-November 1 at the Ramada Plaza and Conference Hotel in Columbus. "The Nature of Independence" was the theme of our convention this year, taken from the title of Dr. Kenneth Jernigan's address of the same name, and its philosophy echoed through every activity and conversation of the weekend.
A packed Friday agenda set the tone with such spirited meetings as the NFB-O board of directors meeting, a lively membership seminar, a thought-provoking blindness philosophy discussion, and a crowded student seminar and pizza party Friday night.
The convention session began Saturday morning with a welcome to the city by Eric Duffy, president of the revitalized Capitol Chapter and first vice president of the NFB of Ohio. President J.W. Smith then took the podium, introducing our national representative, Dan Frye, who is an attorney working at the National Center for the Blind as associate editor of the Braille Monitor. Along with his greetings from President Maurer and others of the 100-plus staff of the National Center, Dan provided a rich narrative, outlining programs being undertaken by the National Federation of the Blind. The theme underlying every NFB program, he said, the unquantifiable gift that we offer everyone we touch, is hope.
He talked specifically about many programs, all of which highlight the manner in which the Federation is reaching out to young people and advancing opportunity and literacy. Some of the programs he highlighted for us were:
--Youth Slam, where 175 young people participated in eleven tracks of learning and concluded with a march to the capitol;
--The Junior Science Academy, in which elementary-school-age blind children and their parents are exposed to opportunities in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields of interest;
--A scholarship alumni program, in which NFB national scholarship winners are sponsored for a second year to attend the NFB national convention and to participate in the Washington Seminar;
--And leadership programs that assist scholarship applicants who were not winners as well as parent leaders to attend national conventions.
Dan shared news of a number of initiatives advancing Braille literacy as well and told us about the hope being extended by the Federation to blind veterans with the offer of tuition-free training for blind veterans at any of the three NFB training centers. Dan had high praise for the NFB of Ohio in his report, too. Ohio ranks extremely high among affiliates in all of the NFB's major fundraising campaigns-PAC, SUN, and the Jernigan Fund-and received kudos for leading participation with its mentoring program and NEWSLINE coordination.
There was considerable news on the publication front. Dan reminded us of the many flexible ways in which the over 300 publications available through NFB NEWSLINE can now be accessed (on the phone, via computer download, or transferred to handheld players.) He reminded participants that everyone receiving print, cassette, or Braille editions of the Braille Monitor will cease receiving them at the end of 2009 unless recipients have indicated their desire to continue receiving a hard copy. For all those who do not indicate a wish to continue receiving a hard copy through the mail, the Braille Monitor will now be accessed by email or by downloading the Microsoft Word or recorded MP3 versions from www.nfb.org.
Following Dan's compelling address was the report from the Ohio Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped. Will Reed, then acting director of the library and now duly appointed, brought us farewell greetings from longtime head librarian and NFB-O friend, Barbara Mates, who has taken her well-deserved retirement. Will provided information about the distribution of the new digital Talking Book players, reminding patrons that the priority list (including veterans, people 100 years of age or older, and students under eighteen) along with requests is anticipated to be filled by the end of 2009. Eventually all patrons will receive the new players. New digital books are each contained on a single cartridge, and the library has also obtained funding for blank cartridges to build the collection in Ohio more quickly. A player was available for attendees to inspect following Will's presentation.
Delegates unanimously passed a resolution honoring Barbara Mates following this presentation. Mike Hanes, director of the Bureau of Services for the Blind, stressed that the operative word describing the status at BSVI was "change. (This was underscored a few days later when Mr. Hanes resigned his position.) Despite a decrease in funding and the number of counselors, however, he emphasized the agency's continued commitment to service and outlined a number of partnerships with other agencies and organizations, including BSVI's support of the NFB of Ohio's mentoring program and NFB NEWSLINE.
State librarian Jo Budler reiterated the optimistic outlook for the new reorganization of library services to blind Ohioans, and stated that, in this era of technology, "libraries should not be segregated." She also said that an online service, called Know It Now, is now completely accessible to blind computer users. (Visit www.knowitnow.org.) After a lunch break during which meetings were held by students, parents, guide dog users, and seniors, the afternoon session commenced with Eric Duffy introducing our president, Dr. J.W. Smith for his annual report. Our charismatic president began by expressing deep gratitude for President Emerita Barbara Pierce, his board of directors, and the many members who have supported and assisted his transition into the presidency with such aplomb. He said that it has been hard work but has been made easy by the outpouring of support he has received.
Barbara Pierce, president emerita of the NFB of Ohio and twenty-one-year editor of the Braille Monitor, then delivered a memorable address on her work with the publication, including compelling reasons for everyone to make reading the Monitor a priority as Federationists. With regard to reading about other blind people's achieving great things, she said: "You have to read about other blind people doing things and how they did them.. Then you say to yourself that you can do these things, too. After you say it, you begin to believe it, and, when you believe it, you can do it."
Jacob King, a blind teacher who has studied martial arts for nine years, talked about the training he has received, focusing on responding to touch in the same way that sighted martial arts students respond to sight. Beth Debus, one of our two scholarship winners, stepped up when he asked for a volunteer, and with her cooperation Jacob demonstrated the power an individual can have in self-defense by "reading" the physical aggression of another through tactile information.
Eric Duffy then introduced three dynamic panelists to share their stories demonstrating the position of blind people in the workforce. Richard Payne, NFBO board member and president of the Miami Valley chapter, shared his riveting tale of self-motivation. He left a long-time job in pursuit of something new and, through sheer perseverance and determination, landed his dream job. Dessie Page, owner and president of Universal Low Vision Aids, inspired us all with his story of success in building a company that every blind Ohioan has come to know and respect. His message, loud and clear, was that, when someone helps you on the path to your dream, it is essential to pay it forward and offer assistance to others. Judy Knisely rounded out the panel by reminding us that there is no one-size-fits-all job for any blind person.
Finally, we heard from Michael Rench, newly appointed administrator of the Ohio Rehabilitation Services Commission. In an engaging address that incorporated personal stories, Michael emphasized that, while change is undeniably occurring statewide with regard to staffing and funding, he will continue RSC's long-standing commitment to maintaining two separate bureaus in Ohio-one specifically for individuals who are blind or visually impaired. He doesn't care so much about the number of closures, he said, as he does about the quality of interactions between counselors and consumers.
Saturday evening's banquet continued the march of excellence and independence that so clearly defined the entire convention. Board member Bruce Peters, who served as master of ceremonies, did so with warmth, good humor, and efficiency. National representative Dan Frye delivered a moving address, incorporating much of his personal life struggle, his ultimate success, and the significance of the National Federation of the Blind and his connection with it in achieving that success.
Barbara Pierce, chair of the scholarship committee, made presentations to our two truly delightful 2009 scholarship winners. Robert Campbell, a first-year law student at the University of Akron, received the $1500 scholarship, and Beth Debus, a long-time Federationist who has recently moved to Ohio to do graduate work at the Ohio State University (and is now vice president of the Capital Chapter) received our $1000 NFB of Ohio scholarship. Both easily won the hearts of all in attendance throughout the weekend with their intelligence, insight, and affability.
Two charters were presented to the newly formed Springfield chapter and the recently reorganized Greater Toledo chapter. The Gavel Award was presented, for the third consecutive year, to the Cincinnati chapter, and the Chapter on the Move Award was presented to the Greater Toledo Chapter. This year we presented the Ruth Garwood Award, which goes to the outstanding sighted person of the year. It took great ingenuity and team work to keep it a secret. It was presented to Barbara Pierce's longtime assistant, Sylvia Cooley. Here is the text of the nomination letter Barbara wrote to the awards committee:
Dear Awards Committee:
This letter is my nomination of Sylvia Cooley to receive the 2009 Ruth Garwood Award as the sighted person of the year. Syl has worked as my secretary for twenty years. Putting up with me and the demands of editing a magazine as well as meeting the needs of an active affiliate are in themselves grounds for an award. But Syl has done far more than fulfill the demands of a wide-ranging job.
When I hired her, she could enter documents using a word-processing program and read aloud. She could drive and follow a map. She could even decipher my husband's handwriting-most of the time. What more could I ask for? Those were the requirements of the job, and in addition she was pleasant and flexible. She got the job.
To my intense pleasure I soon learned that Sylvia was artistic. We needed to develop brochures and produce a newsletter that we could be proud of. I was delighted when Sylvia began designing materials using the resources of the computer program we were using. Soon she was researching the computer programs Quark, Illustrator, and Photoshop. She was willing to attend seminars and even courses to learn these programs and develop her skills. Then we bought a digital camera, and she put her talent as a photographer to work taking photos for the affiliate.
In recent months she has tackled Web design so that she can become the affiliate's Webmaster. This is a huge project to tackle, but she is determined to master the body of knowledge.
Looking back over the twenty years of Syl's affiliation with the NFB and the NFB of Ohio, Eric Duffy and then J.W. Smith have joined me as statewide spokespeople for the affiliate. But when I think of our public image as represented by printed material, the person who has established us as an organization with style and flair is Sylvia Cooley. The state brochure, the bequest brochure, the brochure for lawyers, NEWSLINE cards and brochures, posters, bookmarks, countless fliers, twenty years of newsletters, even the Cincinnati Braille coin key chain-the designs for all these and more have taken shape in Sylvia's talented hands and creative imagination.
When Sylvia came to us, she knew nothing about blindness or the abilities of blind people. Today she is an ambassador for the NFB and a conduit for our literature as she meets people and spreads the good news that blindness need not be a tragedy. Coming to work for the Federation has opened lots of professional doors for Sylvia. She would be the first to give us credit for enabling her to acquire training that she puts to use for her church, her family, and her friends in addition to her job. But she has made all the difference to us and to our print presence in Ohio. I hope you will agree with me that Sylvia Cooley is a fitting recipient of the Ruth Garwood Award.
Finally, special recognition was given to Paul Dressell, president of the Cincinnati chapter, for his remarkably long and faithful dedication to the Federation. He has recently decided to step down. Here is the text of the certificate he received:
Certificate of Appreciation
Awarded by the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio
To Paul Dressell
For forty-nine years of participation as a member
And thirty-three years as an officer of this affiliate,
We commend you for your faithful service
And offer our gratitude
For your hard work, humor, and historical perspective.
You continue to inspire us,
And we continue to depend upon your wisdom, integrity, and fidelity.
October 31, 2009
Following the banquet, entertainment was provided by our long-time friend and amazingly versatile musician, Don Haines. The party atmosphere was both festive and easy-going as conventioneers relaxed in the glow of music and fellowship. Special treats were songs performed by our own Dr. J.W. Smith and Macy McClain.
The nature of independence and of every convention is always to honor the past and be in the present, but also to commit time to looking forward. That was the purpose of the Sunday morning leadership breakfast, in which board members and chapter leaders gathered for an energizing discussion of three essential components of our leadership outlined by our president: Meetings, Money, and the Message.
When the entire convention reassembled for the Sunday morning session, the first order of business, as always, was a brief memorial for those who are no longer with us. Colleen Roth of the Greater Toledo chapter then delivered a moving explanation of "Why I'm Still a Federationist."
Elections were held. Eric Duffy, who chairs the nominating committee, presented the proposed slate of candidates, which included Sheri Albers, Annette Anderson, Debbie Baker, Richard Payne, Mary Pool, and William Turner. The slate was unanimously accepted. Elections were held, and each of the above candidates was unanimously elected.
The financial report for 2008 was read and accepted. Final door prizes were awarded, and the convention adjourned with all members renewed and looking forward to another year.
---------
Report of the Resolutions Committee
by Paul Dressell
Editor's note: Paul Dressell chairs the resolutions committee.
This year we considered only one resolution. The committee recommended do pass to the Convention, and it was read and voted on Saturday morning. The resolution is self-explanatory. Here it is:
Resolution 2009-01
Honoring Barbara Mates
WHEREAS, For approximately a quarter of a century, Barbara Mates has effectively served as librarian of the Cleveland Regional Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped-now the Ohio Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped--and has been recognized for her outstanding achievements as the recipient of the Francis Joseph Campbell Award; and
WHEREAS, she has demonstrated creativity and dedication as shown by her promotion of Louis Braille activities by enlisting the services of an actor who portrayed the inventor of our system of reading; and
WHEREAS, she has invited well-known Cleveland authors such as Les Roberts to meet patrons; and
WHEREAS, she has supported NFB philosophy by promoting NFB-NEWSLINE® through mailing informational material to eligible patrons; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio in Convention assembled this 31st day of October, 2009, in the city of Columbus, Ohio, that we wholeheartedly commend Barbara Mates for her years of faithful and loyal services to the residents of Ohio; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the citizens of Ohio be encouraged to remember her example and use it as a benchmark for future librarians.
------------
NFBO Combined List of Presidents and Board Members as of December 3, 2009
Albers, Sheri, 513-886-8697 (c)
salbers1 at cinci.rr.com
3041 E. U. S. 22&3 Morrow Ohio, 45152
Board member
Anderson, Annette, 216-381-1735 (h)
afanderson at pobox.com
1623 Maple Rd., Cleveland Hts., OH 44121-1731
Board member; President, NFB of Cuyahoga County;
NAPUB of Ohio
Anderson, Tom, 330-270-9860 (h)
2220 Canfield Rd., Apt. 1, Youngstown, OH 44511
President, At-Large Chapter
Baker, Debra, 937-206-2935 (c)
lahm at pobox.com
1107 Burt St, Springfield, OH 45505-3222
Board member, President NFB of Springfield
Booth, Rebekah, 740-479-0830 (c)
bbooth112 at gmail.com
711 Etna St., Apt. 1, Ironton, OH 45638
President, Ohio River Valley chapter
Burghardt, Eric, 419-655-2402
sinat1 at embarqmail.com
7412 Mears Rd., Sygnet, OH 43413
President, Greater Toledo chapter
Conley, Cindy, 513-887-2583 (h), 513-608-1399 (c)
cconley at fuse.net
7309 Dixon Dr., Hamilton, OH 45011
Parents Division President
Debus, Beth, 586-876-4259
mbdebus at yahoo.com
61 Fitz-Henry Blvd., Columbus, OH 43214
President, Student Division
Dressell, Paul, 513-481-7662 (h)
pmd at pobox.com
2714 Ruberg Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45211-8118
President, NFB of Cincinnati
Duffy, Eric, 614-562-5524 (c)
eduffy at pobox.com
2543 Deming Ave, Columbus, OH 43202
NFBO 1st Vice President; President, Capital Chapter
Fohl, Barbara, 440-964-7824 (h), 440-812-8594 (c)
1116 Thayer Ave, Ashtabula, OH 44004
NFBO 2nd Vice President; President, Ohio Organization of
Blind Seniors
Joseph, Mary-Anne M., 704-287-0935 (c)
mj210407 at ohio.edu
24 Home St., Apt. 603, Athens, OH 45701
President, Southeast Chapter
Kendrick, Deborah, 513-321-2232 (w), 513-673-4474 (c)
dkkendrick at earthlink.net
2819 Victoria Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45208
NFBO Secretary
Marble, Anne V., 440-205-8805
annevmarble at yahoo.com
7982 B. Colonial Dr., Mentor, OH 44060
President, NFB of Lake County
McClain, Crystal, 937-935-6188 (c)
1070 Twp Rd 181, Bellefontaine, OH 43311
mcmcclain at charter.net
Board member
McConnell, Richard, 740-452-9187
392 Bailey St, Zanesville, OH 43701
President, Muskingum County chapter
Payne, Richard, 937-298-6677 (h), 937-829-3368 (c)
rchpay7 at sbcglobal.net
1019 Wilmington Ave., Apt.43, Kettering, OH 45420
Board member; President, Miami Valley chapter
Peters, Bruce, 330-865-8477 (h)
bruce.peters at med.va.gov
1670 Liberty Dr., Akron, OH 44313
Board member; President, Greater Summit County chapter
Pierce, Barbara, 440-775-2216 (w), 440-935-4511 (c)
bbpierce at pobox.com
237 Oak St., Oberlin, OH 44074-1517
NFBO President Emerita
Pool, Mary, 330-455-2831 (h), 330-033-1830 (c)
131 5th St, N.E, Apt 315, Canton, OH 44702
Board member; President, Stark County chapter
Ruth, Sherry, 440-324-4218 (h), 440-281-6959 (c)
babyruth2 at windstream.net
6922 Murray Ridge, Elyria, OH 44035
NFBO Treasurer; President, Lorain County chapter
Sloan, Wanda, 937-222-0394 (h), 937-580-1792 (c)
wsloan4 at woh.rr.com
1465 West Third St, Dayton, OH 45402
President, Diabetic Action Network of Ohio
Smith, Dr. J.W., 740-592-6326, 800-396-6326 (NFBO office); 740-707-5114 (c)
jwsmithnfb at verizon.net
P.O. Box 458, Athens, OH 45701-0458
NFBO President
Turner, William, 216-355-4577
william.h.turner at ssa.gov
1064 E. 167th St., Cleveland, OH 44110-1523
President, Cleveland chapter: Board member
Vincke, Steve, 937-882-9219 (h)
kwh7047661 at aol.com
8642 Milton-Carlisle Rd., New Carlisle, OH 45344
President, Ohio Association of Blind Merchants
Barbara Pierce
Braille Monitor
237 Oak Street
Oberlin, OH 44074
Phone/fax: 440-775-2216
bpierce at nfb.org
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