Bay State Council of the Blind Fall Conference Agenda, November 18, 2023

Morning Session

– Welcoming Remarks, David Kingsbury, BSCB President

– The Disability Tech Space, Sandy Lacey, Executive Director, Howe Innovation Center, Perkins School for the Blind

• Attendee introductions

– Overview of MCB Happenings, John Oliveira, Commissioner, Massachusetts Commission for the Blind

• 3-D Printing: A Viable Hobby for Blind and Low Vision Persons, Judy Dixon, author; Erin Fragola, Outreach Coordinator, Perkins Braille & Talking Book Library

• Get Up and Move, Door prizes, Jeanette Kutash with Leslie Spoone: Elizabeth Ann Johnson with door prizes,

Afternoon Session

• Deciphering What Sighted People Are Trying to Say with Body Language, Judy Dixon, author, Brian Charlson

• The New BSCB Code of Conduct Policy, Jennifer Harnish, Board Director

• Be My AI, Brian Charlson, BSCB Past President and Tech Guru

• A Sampling of ACB Special Interest Affiliates, Jeff Thom - Alliance on Aging and Vision Loss (AAVL); Paul Edwards, Past President, Library Users of America (LUA), Larry Gassman, Vice President, Diabetics in Action

• Get Up and Move Continued! Jeanette Kutash and Leslie Spoone

• A Little Afternoon Diversion

• Closing Remarks

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20230520-3 Bay State Council of the Blind-2023 Spring Conference and Convention 20230520-3 Evening

• BSCB Auction o Brian Charlson o Jeanette Kutash o Nona Haroyan

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20230520-2 Bay State Council of the Blind-2023 Spring Conference and Convention 20230520-2 Afternoon Session

• Announcement of Election Results o David Kingsbury o Short comments by newly elected directors

• Debate and Adoption of Proposed Resolutions o Brian Charlson

• Role of the ACB Board Liaison o Rachel Schroeder

• Announcement of BSCB Awards o Kim Charlson

• Telehealth Experiences o Clark Rachfal o Jeanette Kutash

• Overview of Recent Perkins Library Activities o Kim Charlson

• Bringing Alt Text to a Whole New level: The NASA Webb Telescope o Dr. Kelly Lepo-Education and Outreach Scientist o Office of Public Outreach, Space Telescope Science Institute

• New Frontiers of Artificial Intelligence o Brian Charlson

• First Day Wrap Up o David Kingsbury

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20230520-1 Morning Session

• Welcome and BSCB President’s Update o David Kingsbury

• Overview of Massachusetts Commission for the Blind Activities o John Oliveira , Acting Commissioner, MCB

• Advocacy Update o Nona Haroyan o Kim Charlson o Jim Badger o Myra Ross o David Kingsbury

• First Reading of Proposed BSCB Resolutions o Brian Charlson

• Election of BSCB Directors o Brian Charlson (to explain voting procedures) o Cindy Wentz (to announce slate of nominees recommended by the Nominations Committee) o David Kingsbury (to chair elections

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20230415-2 American Council of the Blind of Nebraska 20230415-2 Afternoon Sessions

• ACB Reports o An Update on ACB National Happenings — Ray Campbell, ACB 1st Vice-President, Glen Ellen, IL

• Outlook Enrichment Update o Paulette Monthei, Omaha NE-Outlook Enrichment Coordinator

• Team Building Exercise

• “Walking for ACB” o Amber Steet, Omaha, NE

• ACBN Annual Business Meeting & Election of Officers

• Adjourn

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20230415-1 American Council of the Blind of Nebraska 20230415-1 Morning Sessions and Keynote Address

• Conference Welcome o Pledge o logistics.

• Life After the Pandemic - “Getting Back to Normal” o Tracy L. Grothe, Omaha NE-Counselor, MEd, EdS, LIMHP, LPC-S

• NCBVI News & Notes o Carlos Servan, Lincoln NE-Executive Director Nebraska Commission for the Blind & Visually Impaired

• Commission Board Update o Mark Bulger, Omaha NE-ACBN’s Gubernatorial Appointed Designee

• “No One Can Do It Alone” o Nancy Flearl, Omaha, NE-Retired Omaha District Supervisor Nebraska Commission f/t Blind

• Newsline Update o Kimberley Scherbarth, Kearney NE- NFB Newsline Coordinator

• Keynote Address “Power of Commitment” Darrel Draper, Omaha NE-Historical Re-enactor & Motivational Speaker

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20230414 2023 Arizona Council of the Blind Conference 20230414 Game Night

This year’s theme was “Care, Connect and Create,” and each of our sessions and speakers focused on how we can come together to offer friendship and support within our local chapters, through our state organization and through our national parent organization, the American Council of the Blind.

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20230415-3 2023 Arizona Council of the Blind Conference 20230415-3 Lunch and Learn 

This year’s theme was “Care, Connect and Create,” and each of our sessions and speakers focused on how we can come together to offer friendship and support within our local chapters, through our state organization and through our national parent organization, the American Council of the Blind.

• Lunch and Learn: o Arizona Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA): Brian Dulude

• Arizona Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired (ACBVI): Steve Tepper o Foundation for Blind Children (FBC): Julie Oliver o The Southern Arizona Association for the Visually Impaired (Saavi): Rachel Kuntz o Arizona Talking Book Library: Elizabeth Thompson o Arizona Industries for the Blind (AIB): David Steinmetz o SunSounds: Mares Wright

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20230415-2 2023 Arizona Council of the Blind Conference 20230415-2 Sessions 3 and 4

This year’s theme was “Care, Connect and Create,” and each of our sessions and speakers focused on how we can come together to offer friendship and support within our local chapters, through our state organization and through our national parent organization, the American Council of the Blind.

• Session 3 – Care, Connect, Create at the Local Level o Participants joined Central Arizona chapter members Lisa Brooks and Ted Chittenden, and Southern Arizona chapter members Jordan Lopuszanski and Lupita Hernandez as they shared the value their local affiliate has made in their lives and how they and their affiliates give back to their local community.

• Session 4 – Care, Connect, Create at the Member Level o Participants joined four AzCB members, Lily Bogan, Ron Brooks, Karen Hughes, and Melanie Sinohui and learn about what brought them to ACB and what keeps them coming back .

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20230415-1 2023 Arizona Council of the Blind Conference 20230415-1 Sessions 1 and 2

This year’s theme was “Care, Connect and Create,” and each of our sessions and speakers focused on how we can come together to offer friendship and support within our local chapters, through our state organization and through our national parent organization, the American Council of the Blind.

• Opening o President’s Welcome o Meet the AzCB Board of Directors o Meet the AzCB Convention Committee

• Session 1 – Care, Connect, Create at the National Level o Kenneth and Jeff are two members of ACB’s national board and have held leadership positions for many years within ACB. Both led us through a discussion focusing on the most important principles of ACB’s core values, which being our people and our affiliates.

• It starts with caring. We as a national organization are here for each one of you, no matter what your position is within your affiliate. We are truly a family, and we need each of you to be supported and for you to support us. It takes all of us to achieve more!

• It’s about connections. We as people thrive on connecting with one another and we discussed the tools, strategies, and opportunities that the national organization provides to connect you locally, nationally, and dare we say it, even internationally with blind people no matter where they are. We discussed the programs and services that the national organization provides to empower you in your journey with ACB and how we could also use your help to empower others.

• It is about creating or empowering you to achieve more. How can you help grow your affiliate or chapter? What about advocacy? What about community, technology, health care? All of these are crucial aspects as individuals, and you play a part in driving change in and outside of the organization. o We are a family, and all the members of that family are crucial for a healthy and thriving organization at all levels. Participants learned how they fit into the organization, how they can contribute back to the organization and how they can shape the direction at every level of ACB in the work that they do to achieve more!

• Session 2 – Care, Connect, Create at the State Level o Panelists:

• Ron Brooks

• Kaila Allen
• Michael Godino
• Sarah Harris
• Lori Scharff o They shared the role that a strong state affiliate can play in helping to support local chapters and members so that our overall organization, our mission, and our members are supported and able to  succeed.

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