20240405-1 Illinois Council of the Blind 20240405-1 Business Meeting

• ICB Business: o Credentials Report o First Reading of Nominations o Nominations from the Floor o First Reading of Constitution and Bylaws Amendments

• Blind Mice Mart: o Dale Campbell

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20240224-3 Auction

Explore Today, Discover Tomorrow

• ACBM Auction. Join in our lively auction, a fun-filled convention conclusion to support ACBM o Facilitator: Gary Legates o Auctioneer: Rev. Ray Raysor

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20240224-2 American Council of the Blind of Maryland (ACBM) 20240224-2 Banquet

Explore Today, Discover Tomorrow

• Banquet o Facilitator: Gary Legates o Banquet Speaker: Tom Kaufman, Musician and native-born Marylander

• More Door Prizes! o Sandra Sermons

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20240224-1 American Council of the Blind of Maryland (ACBM) 20240224-1 Daily Session

Explore Today, Discover Tomorrow

• Welcome and Attendee Introductions o Facilitator: Susan Crawford, Convention Planning Chair o Presenter: Sandra Sermons, ACBM President

• What's New at Maryland's Office of Blindness and Visual Impairment Services (OBVS) o Facilitator: Penny Reeder o Presenters:

• Tony March, Director of OBVS

• Tandra Hunter-Payne, Program Manager, Division of Rehabilitation Services

• Assistive Technology Services in Maryland o Facilitator: Ninette Legates o Presenter: Nora Walker, Maryland Technical Assistance Project (MD TAP)

• An Update from the ACB National Office in the Advocacy World. o Facilitator: Liz Bottner o Presenter: Claire Stanley, ACB Director of Advocacy and Governmental Affairs

• Door Prizes:

• Sandra Sermons, Chair, Door Prizes

• ACBM Leadership Reports o Facilitator: Peggy Ann Clark, ACBM Second Vice-President

• President's Report: Sandra Sermons o Chapter Reports:

• Cindy LaBon, President, Capital Area Guide Dog Users

• Steve Hairsine, President, Central Maryland Council of the Blind
• Penny Reeder, President, National Capital Area Chapter of ACB

• Library Services and Resources o Facilitator: Francie Gilman o Presenters:

• Jerry Price, Assistive Technology Education Program Coordinator Maryland State Library for the Blind and Print Disabled

• "Online Books, Music, Movies and More at your Library: Libby and Hoopla." Erin Kelly Accessibility Coordinator, Office of Equity and Fair Practice, Enoch Pratt Free Library, Baltimore

• Are you Game for Games? Maryland Fun Facts Trivia o Facilitator: Liz Bottner

• Door Prizes o Sandra Sermons

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20240215-1 RANDOLPH-SHEPPARD VENDORS OF AMERICA(r) 20240215-1 Morning Sessions

CELEBRATING OVER FIFTY YEARS OF ACHIEVEMENT AND ADVOCACY Teaming up to Tackle the ins and outs of Randolph-Sheppard business

Moderator: Jerry House (TX), OIT Limited, Sagebrush Committee Member

• iPhone Updates and Apps: o Brad Snyder (TX), Vice-President, Blind Information Technology Specialist: Sandhya Rao (TX), Vice-President, iBugToday

• Questions and Answers

• Different ways to implement Chat GPT 4 into everyday business practices: o Enrique Mejia (IA), Rehabilitation Technology Specialist, Iowa Department for the Blind o Robert Serian, Head of Business Development & Territory Management- North America, Envision Technologies B.V. Participants learned how to use AI to enhance their business. Attendees also heard about a feature called "Ask Envision" which uses Chat GPT and AI technology to guide the user.

• Questions and Answers

• How to reach students and newly blind persons to enter the RS Program: o Bill Findley (FL), Bureau Chief Business Enterprise, FLDOE/Division of Blind Services. o Maureen Fink (FL), Operations Manager Business Enterprise, FLDOE/Division of Blind Services o Randall Crosby (FL), Crosby's Café, Sagebrush committee

• Questions and Answers

• Experiences with theft in the facility and ways to prevent it: o Round Table Discussion

• Social Security and Medicare Questions Answered: o Annie Walters (NV), SSA Public Affairs Specialist Participants learned about the latest updates and changes in Social Security and Medicare. Attendees also learned how vendors can use deductions differently for SSA. Get information on retirement.

• Questions and Answers

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20240214-2 RANDOLPH-SHEPPARD VENDORS OF AMERICA(r) 20240214-2 Afternoon Sessions

CELEBRATING OVER FIFTY YEARS OF ACHIEVEMENT AND ADVOCACY Teaming up to Tackle the ins and outs of Randolph-Sheppard business

• Luncheon speaker - Teaming up to Tackle the ins and outs of Randolph-Sheppard business: o Dan Spoone (FL), Executive Director, American Council of the Blind

• Presenting Terry Camardelle and Charlie Carroll Advocacy Scholarship Award: and Warren Toyama and George Arsnow Scholarship Award: o Scott Eggen (MN), RSVA(r) President

• American Council of the Blind Updates and activities: o Dan Spoone (FL), ACB Executive Director ACB programs and services were shared and conference information for upcoming conferences. Educational opportunities were also explained.

• Questions and Answers

• When and how to advocate about the Randolph-Sheppard Program?: o Jeff Thom (CA), RSVA(r) Advocate and retired attorney o Randall Crosby (FL), Crosby's Café, Sagebrush committee member o Paul Patche (CA), PT Foods Participants learned the best ways to share experiences about the importance of the program, the necessity of working together to foster change, and when and how to move issues forward.

• Questions and Answers

• What's happening with food trucks?: o Jim Hemmen (WA), Business Enterprise Program Manager, WA State Department of Services for the Blind o Ben Ploch (MI), Michigan EOC Chair Attendees heard updates on the progress with food trucks collaborating with local vendor managers and starting food trucks for vendors.

• Questions and answers

• Sagebrush Auction

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20240214-1 RANDOLPH-SHEPPARD VENDORS OF AMERICA(r) 20240214-1 Morning Sessions

CELEBRATING OVER FIFTY YEARS OF ACHIEVEMENT AND ADVOCACY Teaming up to Tackle the ins and outs of Randolph-Sheppard business

Moderator: Ardis Bazyn (CO), Bazyn Communications, RSVA(r) First Vice President, Sagebrush Committee

• Technologies benefiting BEP operators and VI staff: o Michael Babcock (OR) Payown Media, LLC. o Jessica Hipp (NH), Chief Operating Officer, Way Around Technology o Ladesa Santos (FL), National Account Executive, Patriot Vision Industries o Waseem Salamah, Key Account Manager, AVS Connect o Bob Roehm (TX), Sales Manager, Envision Technologies BV Many technologies assist vendors while they are managing a facility. These speakers highlighted how their products/service will improve the business owner's abilities to manage the business.

• Questions and answers

• What's new in using the backend for Micro Markets and Vending Management: o Waseem Salamah, Key Account Manager, AVS Connect. *** ZEBRA SPONSOR*** Participants learned about back-end services in vending and micro market management including credit card processing.

• Questions and Answers

• Advantages of Teaming Partners: o Alton Palmore (FL) o Jerry R. Gann (CA), OIC Limited o Walt Berry, Southern Food Management. Vendor managers and teaming partners highlight how they work together to enhance their business.

• Questions and Answers

• What can you learn from Blind Abilities podcasts?: o Jeff Thomson (MN), Blind Abilities

• Questions and Answers

• Pan Optyc for Micro Markets: o Patrick Martin (FL), Live Better Inc. Participants discovered a camera system for micro markets. It has some built-in AI features.

• Questions and Answers

• RSVA(r) Sagebrush Awards luncheon: Sponsor: AVS Connect (AVS Companies)

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20240213-2 RANDOLPH-SHEPPARD VENDORS OF AMERICA(r) 20240213-2 Afternoon Sessions

CELEBRATING OVER FIFTY YEARS OF ACHIEVEMENT AND ADVOCACY Teaming up to Tackle the ins and outs of Randolph-Sheppard business

Moderator: Jim Jirak (NE), Jirak Enterprises, RSVA(r) Board Member

• Are you listening to your machines?: o Kieth Severson (MN), Vending Technician Minnesota This session discussed how vendors can know when a machine isn't acting correctly and how to fix and repair it. Also, participants learned how the machine will alert you when you need to call an expert.

• Questions and Answers

• Are you up to date on the IRS requirements for payroll documents? What are ABLE accounts and how can they be part of your financial plan?: o Chris Peterson AFC (MN), President and CEO, Penny Forward o Kane Brolin, CFP(r) ChSNC(r)MBA (IN) CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER(tm) o Cody Bair (CO), CPA Participants learned about updates to IRS tax forms for your business and what forms have changed. Attendees also learned about other financial considerations as well as using ABLE accounts.

• Questions and Answers

• What new products have you tried in your facility?: o Round Table discussion

• Questions and Answers

• Breakout Session 1: State Administrators: o Co-Moderators

• John Hulet (MN), Director Minnesota BEP Program

• Jim Hemmen (WA), Business Enterprise Program Manager, WA State Department of Services for the Blind

• Breakout Session 2: o State Committee Chairperson Meeting Co-Moderators:

• Randall Crosby (FL), Crosby's Café, Sagebrush Committee member

• Jerry House (TX), OIT Limited, Sagebrush Committee Member

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20240213-1 RANDOLPH-SHEPPARD VENDORS OF AMERICA(r) 20240213-1 Morning Sessions

CELEBRATING OVER FIFTY YEARS OF ACHIEVEMENT AND ADVOCACY Teaming up to Tackle the ins and outs of Randolph-Sheppard business

Moderator: Randal Crosby (FL), Crosby's Café, Inc., Sagebrush Committee Member, RSVA(r) Board

• Welcome to Sagebrush: o Scott Eggen (MN), SVS Vending, RSVA(r) President o Samantha Hadden, General Manager, National Vending gave a short presentation.

• Welcome from Nevada: o Ryan Barnard (NV), Business Enterprise Officer, Business Enterprises of Nevada o Trudy Boissonneau (NV), President, Nevada Council of the Blind o Ivan Delgado (NV), Nevada State Committee of Blind Vendors

• Introductions: o Scott Eggen (MN), RSVA(r) President

• NAMA News and Trends in the Industry: o Robert Jackson, Director Government Affairs, National Automatic Merchandising Association Participants found out news and laws affecting vending managers and learned about the ongoing training offered by NAMA including the healthy vending program.

• Questions and Answers

• Southern Teaming Partners Update: o Walt Berry (AL), President Southern Teaming Partners LEOPARD SPONSOR

• Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) News and Updates: o Christine Grassman (DC), Service Programs Unit, Rehabilitation Services Administration o James McCarthy (DC), Arbitration Coordinator, Rehabilitation Services Administration o Jesse Hartle (DC), Specialist, Rehabilitation Services Administration Participants learned about the conflict resolution process, tips for successful outcomes for complaints, and updates to RSA circulars. They received tips on how vendors and staff can find the information they need.

• Questions and Answers

• Report from the National Council of State Agencies for the Blind and Randolph-Sheppard: o Catriona Macdonald (DC), President Linchpin Strategies, LLC. and NCSAB Policy Advisor for Randolph-Sheppard Participants learned about new strategies in the Randolph-Sheppard Program. They received updates on NCSAB activities and the latest NCSAB news on Randolph-Sheppard. Attendees also received updates on legislation and regulations affecting the RS Program.

• Questions and Answers

• What's the latest in Intuit's Products?: o Theodore C. Drake (CA), Global Accessibility Leader, Intuit Inc. ZEBRA SPONSOR

• Questions and Answers

NOTE: Jeff Thom (CA), RSVA(r) retired attorney and advocate was available all afternoon for one-on-one Randolph-Sheppard questions.

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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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