[Ohio-talk] Fw: BUCKEYE UPDATE for December 8, 2010

[Dr. JW Smith]

I just thought that I would send this out one more time just in case it had gotten lost in the Holiday shuffle.

jw

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: Dr. Smith 
To: 'Dr. JW Smith' 
Sent: Wednesday, December 08, 2010 2:20 PM
Subject: BUCKEYE UPDATE for December 8, 2010


If you've been outside lately in Ohio, it is clear that winter has come.  Unfortunately, it seems that next week could be one of the coldest we've had in some time.  Welcome to Ohio!  

 

Convention Musings 

I thought we had a good convention this year in Columbus and I can honestly say that the hotel finally got it right.  I guess there is something to be said for having our convention at the same place for consecutive years.  It is now time to turn our attention to the Holiday Inn near the mall in Dayton for the next four years.  I am looking forward to working with the Montgomery County Convention and Business Bureau in both some of the planning for and implementation of our convention in 2011 and beyond.  Remember that the dates for our 2011 convention will be November 4-6.  Also remember that we will all need to be mindful of the financial constraints and opportunities connected with the success of our state conventions.  One of the things I am thinking about in this regard is finding sponsors and investors for aspects of our convention (i.e. scholarships and perhaps the banquet as well) just to name a few.  I think it is interesting that the hotel is located on Prestige Avenue.  So here's hoping that our conventions from 2011-2014 will be as prestigious as possible! 

 

Washington Seminar Delegation

The 2011 Washington Seminar Delegation has been selected and although we will be a bit smaller this year I think we have put together a delegation that can provide maximum coverage of the state and will also allow us to operate within our current financial constraints.  I know some of you reading this will be disappointed that you were not selected, but I hope that this will not keep you from expressing your interest in the future.  It is always difficult to find the right composition for this very important endeavor, but please believe me when I say that we do the best we can to put together the most effective delegation possible.  Unfortunately, given our current and at least near future financial prospects, this task will only get more difficult, but we will continue to make it happen.  Even though you may not have been chosen, please be ready to assist us if necessary.  In fact, it has been our experience that sometimes our most rewarding experiences happen as a result of or in conjunction with someone working with us back in their home district.  As it stands now the delegation will be arriving in Washington DC on January 31st and heading back to Columbus on February 2nd.

 

The Miami Valley Banquet

It was a joy to attend the Miami Valley Chapter Holiday Banquet on December 4th.  They had a splendid program and meal and the tributes to Ron Williamitis were quite moving.  His wife, Debbie, seemed emboldened by it all and I was pleased to present her with one of our Louis Braille coins to go along with the plaques she received that evening.  I had the opportunity to spend some time with her after the banquet and she conveyed to me that the banquet was just what she needed and she knew that Ron would be pleased with it all.  I thought that Kelly Prescott was an excellent keynote speaker and Kyle Conley's violin renditions were mesmerizing.  

 

I would like to see more chapters have events like this even collaboratively if necessary.  Perhaps a breakfast or luncheon with a focused program say in the Cleveland or Cincinnati areas?  I know that the Miami Valley Chapter was fortunate to have a generous sponsor for its event, but I still think that this could be replicated and it was good to have members of the Cincinnati and Columbus Chapters present at the banquet.  No pressure here, but think about it.  I am really looking forward to working with the Miami Valley Chapter in conjunction with our state conventions in the coming years.

 

Winter Board Meeting

Our winter board meeting will be held on January 8th at the Maynard Avenue Methodist Church located at 2350 Indianola Avenue in Columbus.  Thanks again to the Columbus Chapter for hosting us and President Debus tells me that we will have pizza and perhaps salad, but in any case the idea for lunch will be to keep it as simple as possible.  I'm sure that the chapter will give us more details as we get closer to January 8th.  At that meeting however, you should come prepared to volunteer for committee assignments and help us determine our goals for the year.  

 

A 2011 Preview

Our spring board meeting will be hosted by our Stark County Chapter in Canton and will be held on April 30th.  I'm sure that Mary Pool will be giving us more details about that meeting.  Our fall board meeting will probably be held in September and I think we should have it in the Dayton area even at the convention hotel.  

 

Don't forget about my fundraiser here in Athens on May 22nd from 2-6 at the Athens Community Center and I'd like to have some kind of statewide legislative event perhaps in conjunction with our September board meeting.  

 

Finally, please try to stay warm and have a wonderful holiday season and when we turn the calendar on January 1st 2011 lets all be ready to do what we must do to have the most successful year we can have as an affiliate.