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.

Find out more at https://acb-events.pinecast.co