COVER: AERizona View September 2014 Celebrating 50 Years Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired ARIZONA CHAPTER “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” Helen Keller Register now for the AZ AER Fall Conference 2014 Thursday and Friday, November 13-14 Sedona, Arizona AZ AER LOGO: Black Cactus silhouette against a circle and the words Arizona AER Page Two Table of Contents: AZ AER Celebrates 50 years p. 3 President’s Message p. 5 The Bluhm Project p. 10 Frances Mary D’Andrea p. 11 Duane Geruschat: Keynote p. 14 AFB Leadership Conference p. 16 Students win Braille Challenge p. 19 What’s Up at the U of A? p. 21 We Want You! p. 26
Transcript
COVER:
AERizona ViewSeptember 2014Celebrating 50 YearsAssociation for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired ARIZONA CHAPTER
“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” Helen Keller
Register now for the AZ AER Fall Conference 2014Thursday and Friday, November 13-14Sedona, Arizona
AZ AER LOGO: Black Cactus silhouette against a circle and the words Arizona AER
Page Two
Table of Contents:
AZ AER Celebrates 50 years p. 3President’s Message p. 5The Bluhm Project p. 10Frances Mary D’Andrea p. 11Duane Geruschat: Keynote p. 14 AFB Leadership Conference p. 16Students win Braille Challenge p. 19What’s Up at the U of A? p. 21We Want You! p. 26
The AERizona View is the official publication of the Arizona Chapter of the Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (AZ AER). Editor: Diane ShifflettContributors: Tamara Bishop-Amavilah, Jane “Not Really Here” Erin, Sunggye Hong, Amanda Kolling, Diana McElmury,
Anna Miller, Rajiv Panikkar, L. Penny Rosenblum, Irene Topor, Diane Shifflett, Pam de Steiger, Rita WeatherholtNewsletter comments, suggestions, advertising and submissions:[email protected] To join the AZ AER member listserv, send an email message with “Subscribe AZAER” to: [email protected]
Copyright 2014Tucson, Arizona
AZ AER Board of Directors
President: Sandra StirnweisVice President: Tamara Bishop-AmavilahSecretary: Diane ShifflettTreasurer: Jenny WheelerPast President: Rajiv PanikkarBoard Members at Large: Becky Hole, Anna Miller, Ruth Parsons
Page 3 From the Archives:
50 Years of Service to the Blind and Visually Impaired in Arizona
By Sandra StirnweisWhile it is true that AER as a national organization is not 50 years old, we here in AZ had a professional organization long before the establishment of AER. In the same way that Arizona was a leader in providing services to children in public school long before is was required by federal law, so to, it's professionals knew the value of coming together to share ideas, promote awareness, and advocate long before we were awarded our state chapter affiliation in 1984. In preparation for our 25th anniversary, a resolution was passed authorizing the written history of the chapter over its first 25 years. This information was shared with all members
at that anniversary conference and placed in the archives. Here is an excerpt from that document:
The scene was Phoenix, Arizona, the time was early 1965. As in most metropolitan communities around the country, there existed a large number of agencies, institutions, and organization interested in services and education for persons who were blind and visually impaired. But most of them knew surprisingly little about the others. In fact, many were not even aware of the existence of some of the others,
During 1965 several people began to look for ways to overcome this lack of information and coordination. Representative of about a dozen groups decided that some kind of communication medium was urgently needed. A general exploratory meeting was set for October 1965 and invitations were sent to interested parties. At that time, this included 50 individuals representing about 30 groups. Over 60 persons attended that first meeting convened by Frank Kells and held at the Center for the Blind.
When the group met again on January 12, 1966, they decided to create a new inter-communication structure named "Committee on Coordinated Services to Visually Impaired Persons". Very soon a shorter nickname was adopted, "The V.I.P Network". On June 8, 1966 "The V.I.P. Network" presented a one-day institute "Coordinating Resources: Our Joint Responsibility" at the Safari Hotel in Scottsdale.
Page 4 In July 1967 the membership of the American Association of Workers for the Blind approved a major reorganization plan authorizing the establishment of state chapters of the Association. On July 7, 1969 a request was sent to the board of Directors of AAWB for a charter to form an Arizona Chapter of AAWB. The Arizona Chapter would be named Arizona Association of Workers with the Blind. Arizona had 30 paid AAWB members which was the minimum for forming a chapter. At the July 29, 1969 AAWB Board of Directors
meeting held in Chicago, Arizona was given chapter status. The First Annual Meeting of the Arizona Association of Workers with the Blind was held on October 8, 1969. In 1972 a Regional AAWB Award was established to be given to the person "whose leadership and service has exerted influence on a regional or state scale. The recommendation from the AZ awards committee was to establish an Arizona annual award, in the form of a plaque, for the person who contributed the most to the advancement of work for the blind. This person would be Arizona's nominee for the Regional Award. Margaret Bluhm was presented with the first Arizona Worker of the Year Award. In 1974 AEVH (Association of Educators of the Visually Handicapped) for a Western Region. In 1976, concern was expressed regarding the U of A preparation program for teachers of the visually handicapped. Letters were written requesting a full-time coordinator for the program. Hugh Pace was hired later that year. In 1977 a proposed AEVH Arizona Chapter was submitted and granted. AEVH Arizona membership numbered 41. The AEVH Arizona Chapter published a newsletter in October 1977. In 1978 Margaret Bluhm was appointed to the AEVH-AAWB Committee, discussing a merger of the two organizations. I 1980 Chapter Presidents of AAWB ad AEVH served as ex-officio members on each other's Boards. During this year, the AEVH Arizona Chapter announced that its archives would be housed at the University of Arizona. All of these records have been lost. In 1981 AAWB/AEVH officers and staff met to prepare the document titled AAWB/AEVH Alliance Statement. The formation of an AAWB/AEVH Alliance officially occurred March 1, 1981. On November 4, 1983 the membership voted to dissolve the Arizona Chapters of AEVH and AAWB and passed the Alliance constitution and By-Laws. In 1984, the Alliance officially became the Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually
Impaired (AER). The Arizona Chapter received its official AER charter in Nashville on June 24, 1984.
Page 5President’s MessageFrom Sandra Stirnweis
In most places, people think of spring as a time of new beginnings. Here in Arizona we think of the fall -- when teachers go back to school -- as the start of our "new beginning." Of course, if you work with adults, you have to choose your own new beginning since you teach 12 months of the year. (Perhaps coming back from your two-week vacation is your "new beginning") With new beginnings come new possibilities. "What will the year hold?" "What will my new students/clients be like?" "Will I be creative in my teaching so they stay excited about learning?"
Our AZAER Fall Conference is my "new beginning." Going to the conference opens up a new realm of possibilities; new teaching techniques and equipment that I can envision using with my clients, along with renewed enthusiasm for teaching simply because I talked with other excited teachers.
It's also a time to think about the possibilities for our organization. We will elect new leaders in our Officers and Directors. We will be celebrating the past 50 years as a professional organization and looking towards the possibilities our next 50 years could bring. We will be co-hosting a very prestigious conference with the American Foundation for the Blind - the AFB Leadership Conference. The AFB Leadership Conference is a time for us to shine, as a chapter and a state. We have the opportunity to share our expertise (and yes you all have some) with the rest of the country. We are being asked to offer at least 20 presentations from Arizona to potentially be a part of the program.
Page 6Presidents Message Continued
While I love hearing about the latest technology and research, my favorite sessions are those that are put on by practitioners, like you, who just want to share an idea that was useful for them. I strongly encourage all of you to contact anyone on the board if you have a presentation idea or even an idea of an idea. You don't have to do it alone. You can present as a group, host a round-table discussion, or do something hands-on. The possibilities are endless. Perhaps someone will see a presentation conducted by one of you and be inspired to not only apply your idea but also present something in their own area. Maybe they will decide that working in Arizona would be a great thing and join our professional community.
My friend Jule was always seeing the possibilities. She was always gathering items that might help a child she might have one day in her classroom, or that some other teacher might be able to use at some point with a child she might have. If she found something that might be of interest to a friend she would gladly share it; always confident that the possibility of usefulness was just as important as the usefulness itself. Even in her passing the things she left behind will help others - people she didn't even know - see the possibilities in their future.
Don't be afraid to embrace the possibilities in your life. Share them freely, with your chapter, your work, your friends and even those you don't know. You never know how many possibilities you could create by your smallest contribution.
Sandra Stirnweis, President
Page 7
Consider serving on the AZ AER Board of Directors!
By Rajiv PanikkarAZ AER Nominations Committee
Would you like to serve on the Arizona AER Board of Directors?
Elections are held at the Fall Conference. Think about taking this opportunity to serve a term with your professional organization. Secretary, Treasurer and Board Member at Large will be on the ballot for two-year terms.
The Secretary maintains minutes from meetings,
sets up meeting times, maintains membership records, keeps track of activities and correspondence, serves on the Archives Committee, writes an annual report and keeps typos out of the bylaws!
The Treasurer handles money matters, keeps track of receipts, prepares a budget, and writes an annual financial report.
A Member-at-Large attends meetings and serves on committees, assists with conference planning and votes on all board decisions.
If you are interested in getting involved, contact Rajiv Panikkar, Chair of the Nominating Committee, at [email protected] or [email protected]
Page 8Register Today!
AZ AER FALL CONFERENCEThursday and Friday
November 14-15, 2014Sedona, Arizona
Two well-known professionals in the field of visual impairment will be presenting:
Frances Mary D’Andrea will give an all-day workshop
on the new Unified English Braille (UEB) code changes going into effect in January 2015.
The conference will be held in the beautiful red rock country of Sedona, Arizona at the Poco Diablo Resort.
Register Today!Educators can earn up to 8.0 professional development credits. To register: http://azaer.aerbvi.org/
Page 9ADVERTISEMENT Valley Gifts and AwardsPhoto of a round plaque with the words “Braille Awards The highest quality and most beautiful products from the leader in custom braille awards”Photo of a wooden box with braille lettering, photo of an iron-shaped award with print and braille, the front of a wooden box with the words “Live Laugh Love” in print and braille, photo of medals on a ribbon in print and braille, photo of a square plaque in print and braille, photo of a clear glass award in print and braille. “Valley Gifts and Awards presents Twin Vision Awards. They are the crown jewel of custom braille awards. Tactilely pleasing and beautifully crafted to make your presentation the memory of a lifetime. 405-238-7500 www.valleygiftsandawards.com
Page 10 Celebrating 50 years with The Bluhm Project
By Sandra Stirnweis, President Arizona AER One of the highlights of the annual AZ AER Fall
Conference is the awarding of the Margaret Bluhm Award for a professional who is a pioneer, advocate, leader and mentor in their service to individuals with visual impairment. The
Bluhm Project is the publication of a biography of each recipient. If you know any of the individuals listed, please write a short biography and include any photos. Send me an email [email protected] with the name(s) of the person(s) you plan to write about. Send contributions by January 2015. Thanks for helping; I’m really excited to see what you write!
1972Margaret Bluhm1973 Frank Kells1974 Jim Kittrick1975 George Mayo1976 Ed House1977 Naomi Breedlove1978 Elaine Baldridge, Ken Gavitt1979 Linda Olsen1980 Peggy Hughes1981 Dolores Fricke1982 Ivan Terzieff1983 Ray Hislop 1984 Eileen Siffermann
1985 Bess Kaplan1986 Dave Beard1987 Michele Frazier1988 Linda Shanklin Adams1989 Pam Bates1990 Barry Griffing1991 Tom Brew1992 David Petrovay
1993 Ray Mungaray1994 Lynne Albright1995 Chris Thompkins1996 Julie Urban1997 Joan Ellis1998 Sandra Stirnweis1999 Jay Taska2000 Jane Erin2001 Irene Topor2002 Tom Perski2003 Kathy Carlise2004 Kartar Kaur Khalsa, Patty Arnold2005 L. Penny Rosenblum2006 Ken Kalina2007 Dorinda Rife2008 Ed Gervasoni2009 Jacki Daniels2010 Tamara Bishop-Amavilah2011 Deb Duby, Kerry Duncan2012 Susan Greer2013 Rajiv K. Panikkar
PAGE 11Workshop Presenter Dr. Frances Mary D’Andrea
PHOTO OF DR. FRANCES MARY D’ANDREA: White female wearing glasses, smiling, with a cat on her right shoulder. Frances Mary D’Andrea, Ph.D., is an instructor at the University of Pittsburgh and other universities, and an educational consultant specializing in literacy issues related to students with visual impairments. Dr. D’Andrea began as a teacher of students with visual impairments in 1982, and from 1995-2005 she worked at the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB), and helped establish their National Literacy Center. She is currently Chair of the Braille Authority of North America (BANA), and has served as AFB's representative to BANA since 1998. She is co-author of several textbooks including the recently published Ashcroft Programmed Instruction in Braille: Unified English Braille.
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Page 12
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Page 14
Keynote Speaker
Dr. Duane Geruschat
Photo of Dr. Duane Geruschat: White male wearing glasses with blond hair, white beard and mustache, smiling, wearing white button down shirt with dark colored tie.
Duane Geruschat Phd, COMS, CLVT Associate Professor, Salus University Research Associate, Johns Hopkins University Wilmer Eye Institute
Duane Geruschat Ph.D. is an Associate Professor at Salus University and a Research Associate in Ophthalmology at the Johns Hopkins University Wilmer Eye Institute. He is a Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist (COMS) and a Certified Low Vision Therapist
(CLVT). He has been involved in low vision mobility research for 35 years.
Dr. Geruschat served as the Editor-in-Chief of The Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness, the international journal of record, from 2005 – 2012. He is the recipient of the Kirchner Award for lifetime achievement in research from the American Foundation for the Blind and an award from the Low Vision Division of AER for contributions to low vision research literature.
Page 15
Abilities Optimist Club
Pima County
Nominations for Student of the Month
By Dr. L. Penny Rosenblum
Do you serve a student who is a leader, a good citizen, a child who completes work on time? If so, your student has one or more of the qualities that make him or her a good candidate for the Abilities Optimist Club of Tucson’s Student of the Month. The Abilities Optimist Club of Tucson promotes programs for youth in southern Arizona, specifically youth with visual impairments. Each month the organization honors a Pima County student who is visually impaired. Students can be nominated by their TVI or O&M specialist if they follow school expectations, demonstrate leadership skills, make academic progress, advocates for themselves and use vision specific tools (cane, low vision devices, assistive technology) to promote independence. In the 2014-2015 academic year, the Abilities Optimist Club of has events and fundraisers planned, including a Bike Rally in October. The club is always looking for new members.
Page 16American Foundation for the BlindAmerican Foundation for the Blind teams up with Arizona AER to host international conference in Phoenix
By Amanda Kolling Communications and Marketing Manager
American Foundation for the Blind
The American Foundation for the Blind’s 2015 Leadership Conference is being hosted jointly with Arizona AER at the Renaissance Phoenix Downtown, April 9-11, 2015. And you are invited!
The annual Leadership Conference covers the most pressing and relevant topics in the field of blindness and offers many opportunities to learn from the best and brightest minds in our field, make new connections, and reunite with old friends while earning ACVREP and CRC CEUs.
The conference attracts established and emerging leaders in the blindness field, technology experts, corporate representatives, university professors, teachers of students with visual impairments, orientation and mobility instructors, rehabilitation professionals, and parents. They come from diverse organizations and institutions spanning the public and private sectors, including school districts, schools for the blind, Veterans Administrations, hospitals, private agencies, and universities.
The 2014 conference attracted over 440 attendees from 39 states and 8 countries. Plan to join us for another unforgettable conference as we celebrate Arizona AER’s 50th anniversary! Registration will be open soon; sponsorships and advertising/exhibiting opportunities are available.
Page 17RSASummer programs create opportunities for teenagers with sensory impairments By Diane McElmury
Visually Impaired and Deaf Operations Manager Arizona Rehabilitation Services Agency
(RSA) Services for the BlindServices for Blind, Visually Impaired and Deaf (SBVID) recognized the need for students with sensory impairments to receive comprehensive services at an earlier age to become successful. The summer program started in 2008 for students who were age 14 and completed the 9th grade. Comprehensive services are provided to increase skills in Orientation and Adjustment to Disability; Orientation and Mobility Skills, Assistive Technology; Self-Advocacy; Communication; Daily Living Skills, Career Exploration and real work experiences. Colorado Center for the Blind (CCB), Foundation for Blind Children (FBC), Southern Arizona Association for Visually Impaired (SAAVI) and World Services for the Blind (WSB) provided the opportunities for Arizona students. Overall, the response from students and families has been very positive and they are looking forward to another great year in 2015.At all the programs, students received instruction in core areas and enjoyed numerous social and recreational activities and all students at both Colorado Center for the Blind and the SAAVI summer program attended the National Federation of the Blind’s annual conference in Orlando, Florida!
Page 18
REHABILITATION SERVICES ADMINISTRATION STATISTICS FOR 2014 SUMMER PROGRAMS:6 workshops conducted throughout Arizona62 students referred to summer programs54 accepted to summer programs2 students attended adult college prep programs31 attended Southern Arizona Association for the Visually Impaired (SAAVI) summer camp (Tucson)7 attended Foundation for Blind Children summer camp (Phoenix)16 students attended the Colorado Center for the Blind summer program4 Not accepted2 decided not to participate
Recognizing Abilities, Creating Opportunities for Students with Blindness or Vision Impairment
LOGO: Rehabilitation Services Administration Letters RSA with the A crossed with an arrow pointing right
Page 19
Two Arizona students win big at National Braille Challenge
By Diane Shifflett Teacher of the Visually Impaired
Two students from the Arizona State Schools for the Deaf and Blind (ASDB) competed against the top 60 braille students in North America in June and came home with a first place and second place medal. Both students qualified for the National Braille Challenge Finals based on their success at the Arizona Regional Braille Challenge held at the ASDB campus in March. They are the first two Arizona students to compete nationally. Ciara Peterson, third grade, won first place in the Apprentice
category. Peterson receives braille instruction at her public school from an ASDB Co-Op teacher of the visually impaired, Yaju Feinberg. Joey Parra, fifth grade, took second place competing in the Freshman category against third and fourth graders from all over the United States and Canada. Parra attends classes at the Tucson campus of the Arizona School for the Blind. “Joey is a fantastic Braille reader and can’t get enough books to read,” said his teacher, Dr. Lisa Serino. “He’s worked really hard in school and even reads extra during the summer,” she said. “His whole class is really proud of him.”The Braille Institute of America sponsors the regional and national events to highlight the importance of braille reading and writing for individuals who are visually impaired. Advances in technology have not replaced the need for braille literacy. Studies show a strong correlation between braille literacy and successful employment for adults who are blind. Join the 2015 Arizona Regional Braille Challenge committee! Contact Deb Hartz at [email protected]
Page 20Arizona Blind and Deaf Chlldren’s Foundation
Photo of art teacher and student working on a pottery wheel
Sights & Sounds Fall Fundraising Event:
Friday, November 21
6pm at the Historic Arizona Inn 2200 E. Elm Street Tucson, Arizona
Cocktail reception, silent auction, brief program honoring programs and special supporters
Tickets: $100
RSVP: (520) 577-3700 or www.azblinddeafchildren.org
With programming spanning art, fitness, literacy and life skills, Arizona Blind and Deaf Children’s Foundation will have the programs on display at Tucson Federal Credit Union, 3801 E. Speedway Blvd. The public can vote with their dollars for the best program display. Winners will be announced at the Sights and Sounds reception on Nov. 21.
For more information: www.azblinddeafchildren.org
Page 21 What’s New at the University of Arizona
Fall is in the air in southern Arizona, if you have experience with our hot summers. We've welcomed four new on-campus students who might disagree as they come from cooler places like Flagstaff and the Bay Area. Photo of Dr. Sunggye Hong
Speaking of the Bay Area, Dr. Sunggye Hong has left the land of the Golden Gate Bridge and now is officially in the position of Coordinator of the Programs in Visual Impairment. Dr. Hong will teach two on-campus courses along with advising federal grant students and handling paperwork and budgets for the program
Recently we were at a faculty and staff retreat and Dr. Erin wasn't with us. She sent us a photo of her practicing retirement by hiking at Sabino Canyon. Though Jane is still working a small percent this fall, we are all happy she is very close to lots more hiking and camping trips than federal paperwork and budgets! We are also pleased she allowed us to honor her with a stone on the Wall of Tribute housed at APH. Many of you were at the spring AER meeting when we honored Jane. Her stone says "Jane N. Erin, teacher,
advocate, professor, author, friend; Walk quietly to hear the footsteps of others."
Page 22Photo of four women, second woman holding a plaque. Caption: From Left to Right: University of Arizona vision professors Dr. L. Penny Rosenblum, Dr. Jane Erin, Dr. Irene Topor and administrative assistant Pam de Steiger show off Dr. Erin’s stone for the Wall of Tribute at the American Printing House for the Blind in Louisville, Kentucky at the Spring AZ AER meeting. Facebook LogoThe U of A Vision Program is on FaceBook!https://www.facebook.com/viuofa.
Page 23University of Arizona Logo of Animal Watch App: A green fish with 4 square bubbles of plus, minus, divide and multiply signs.
We're in Year 3 of our federal research grant to design an iPad app that focuses on building the math word problem skills of youth with visual impairments. In Spring 2014, 19 Arizona teachers and 29 of their students participated in our feasibility study for the AnimalWatch Vi Suite project. They were all phenomenal and we can't thank them enough for being part of the study. Drs. Rosenblum and Erin hope to share more about the project at the 2014 AZAER conference in November. Currently we are recruiting a national sample for our intervention study that will begin in October. We've had over 85 contacts from around the country and will be mailing out our first round of consent packets September 2. We'd love to have some Arizona representation in our national sample. You can learn more about the requirements, and the teacher stipend at www.awvis.org by clicking on the "For Teachers" link. We'll take teachers and their students throughout the fall and we have permission from ASDB already, so why not consider being on the cutting edge?
Bravo and applauseWe have to give a big "Bravo!" to the many people who have worked with our faculty and students in the past year. First and foremost are Drs. Christina Schoch and Lisa Serino, both of whom have taught courses for us during our transition time. We've had Dr. Kathy Huebner, Dr. Charles Farnsworth and DeEtte Snyder supervise interns for us. And, we've had many of you who have been intern or O&P cooperating teachers, guest lecturers, panel members, mentors, and more. Without the support of the community
Page 24we couldn't do what we do here at U of A. Many of you are already scheduled to serve in a variety of roles this fall and we thank you ahead of time for your continued support of the program.
Have a great fall!Sunggye, Irene, Penny, Pam, and Jane (Though Jane would say, ‘I'm not really here!’)
Photo of Dr. Erin and Ken Kalina standing on a dirt path with his right arm over her shoulders and his left arm resting on a trailhead sign. Caption: Dr. Jane Erin and Dr. Ken Kalina enjoy “practicing retirement” at Sabino Canyon. U of A logo of a letter A in red, white and blue
Page 25How to contact your AZ AER Board of Directors:
SANDRA STIRNWEIS, PresidentCurrent Agency: Southern Arizona Association for the Blind and Visually ImpairedCONTACT Sandra: [email protected]
TAMARA BISHOP-AMAVILAH, Vice PresidentCurrent Agency: Foundation for Blind Children
JENNY WHEELER, Treasurer Current Agency: ASDB: Desert Valley Regional Cooperative CONTACT Jenny: [email protected]
RAJIV K. PANIKKAR, Past PresidentCurrent Agency: Arizona State Schools for the Deaf and the Blind CONTACT Rajiv: [email protected][email protected] RUTH PARSONS, Member at LargeCurrent Agency: ASDB Eastern Highlands Regional CooperativeCONTACT Ruth: [email protected]
ANNA MILLER, Member at Large Current Agency: Rehabilitation Services Administration CONTACT Anna: [email protected]
Clip Art: Three white aliens with large heads and large eyes pointing. Caption: We Want You!
JOIN A COMMITTEE! AZ AER needs you! Consider joining one of the committees listed here. Your participation will make AZAER an even stronger organization!
ARCHIVES COMMITTEEContact: Sandra Stirnweis ([email protected])Members procure and collect materials and information relating to the business of Arizona AER and its precursor organizations; plan activities to commemorate important dates in the Chapter history (such as the 50th Anniversary and the Bluhm Project!) and disseminate information to the membership about Chapter history through the newsletter, programs and special events.FINANCE COMMITTEEContact: Jenny Wheeler ([email protected])
Members prepare an annual budget, meet at least two times per year to review the financial status of the Chapter; review the audit report sent to AER International; make recommendations to the Board of Directors regarding the level of existing balances, investments, and expenditures. MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE Contact: Kartar Khalsa ([email protected]) Members maintain Chapter records on membership and provide written reports to the Board of Directors and membership at meetings; develop annual plan of activities for recruitment of new members; contact lapsed members; develop a welcome packet for new members; write newsletter articles on new members.
Page 27
NOMINATIONS COMMITTEE Contact: Rajiv Panikkar [email protected] or [email protected] Members coordinate and procure nominations for officer and director positions for the Annual Meeting elections; present the slate to the membership at the first business meeting at the Annual Meeting; accept nominations from the floor; conduct the election, count ballots and present the results of the election to the membership during the second business meeting at the annual meeting.
Contacts: Sandra Stirnweis ([email protected]) and Tamara Bishop-Amavilah ([email protected])Members plan two conferences annually – a one-day conference and an Annual Meeting/Conference for 1½ to 2 days planned in conjunction with business meetings; submit budget requests to Board of Directors for approval; coordinate all aspects of the program and facilities before and during the programs; evaluate programs and develop recommendations for future programs.
SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE Contact: Diane Shifflett ([email protected])Members maintain records and solicit applications for annual Student Merit Scholarship and professional scholarships; select recipients; present recipients to Board of Directors for vote of approval; notify recipient(s) of award; request funds from Treasurer for disbursement. Members will also revise grant and scholarship applications as needed and make recommendations as to procedural changes for grants and scholarships.
Bottom of page: Facebook Logo: The white letter f in a blue square.
Like us on Facebook! AZ AERhttps://www.facebook.com/pages/Arizona-AER/205280156158525
Page 28
Vision Rehabilitation andAssistive Technology
Expo (VRATE)Friday, November 7, 2014
9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.Phoenix Convention Center South Complex
VRATE is the premiere expo in the southwest that focuses on the specific needs of people who are blind or who have combined vision and hearing loss. Connect with the specialized services, assistive devices and adaptive technology that will make a positive difference in your life. Technology venders, service providers, consumer organizations, advisory groups and doctors will be there for you. Employment related resources, tools and techniques for living more independently, recreational activities and networking opportunities can be found at VRATE.
Attendance is Free!The Phoenix Convention Center is easy to get to by bus, light rail or Dial-a-Ride
AZ AER SCHOLARSHIPS AND GRANTSAPPLY FOR A GRANT!
Student Merit Scholarship – up to $500 for an outstanding student with a visual impairment, ages 4-22, to attend programs offered outside their current educational settingConsumer Grant –Up to $200 for a consumer with a visual impairment to use in an activity or event that enhances the individual's quality of life (e.g. workshop, class, training, trip, product, technological equipment)
APPLY TODAY! Applications available on the AZ AER website: http://azaer.aerbvi.org/scholarships.htmFor more information, contact Diane Shifflett ([email protected])
