American Council of the Blind of Indiana
39th State Convention
September 17 and 18, 2010
South Bend, IN
Minutes
The 39th annual convention of the American Council of the Blind of Indiana
was opened by President John Huffman, Friday evening September 17, 2010
at the Century Center in South Bend, IN. We began with the Pledge of
Allegiance followed by an invocation given by John Huffman.
Tom Price, Assistant to the Mayor of South Bend, welcomed us and read a
proclamation making September 17th, American Council of the Blind Day
2010.
There was a short business meeting. A roll call was done so all would know
who was in attendance.
Gerry Koors gave the nominating committee report as follows: Dolly
Sowder and Lynn Powers for a second 3 year term on the board and Sue
L’Esperance for a first 3 year term on the board.
Stu Betchell from the Lions club talked about building connections for
students who are blind or visually impaired. They want to do for ISBVI
students that neither the school nor the state can do such as making
connections with the local communities. He is very committed to keeping
the Lions involved at the school.
Our next speaker was Bob Roe from acessABILITY, Inc. He talked about
personal safety and what we can do to help keep ourselves and our homes
safe. He said that in the last 5 years crime against people with disabilities
has increased. He said that people with disabilities are now a target as well
as the elderly.
The evening closed with games and socializing with Deanna Austin.
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Registration began at 8:00 a.m. The meeting began at 9:00 a.m. with the
invocation given by Beverly Hunt. John reminded everyone about noon
checkout. He then announced that Dr. Mogk who was to speak in the
afternoon wouldn’t be with us because she was in the hospital with
appendicitis. Therefore the speaker for lunch would be moved to 2:00 p.m.
and the rest of the afternoon program would be moved up.
There was another roll call to learn who was there who were not on Friday.
Lynn Powers read the minutes from the 2009 convention because Edie
Huffman, secretary, could not be with us because of the illness of her
mother. A motion was made, seconded and past to accept the minutes as
read. Immediate Past President, Gerry Koors, volunteered to act as recorder
in Edie’s place.
Don Koors, treasurer, read the treasurer’s report which was for the calendar
year 2009. The balances as of December 31, 2009 are: Checking account
balance $3,602.11, savings account balance $3,885.66 and endowment
account balance $35,587.81 with a total in all 3 accounts of $43,075.58. A
motion was made, seconded and passed to accept the treasurer’s report. He
then gave the Hank Hofstetter report. There was $5,933.00 in the
scholarship account and $11,596.26 in the endowment account. The total in
both accounts was $17,529.27. Don explained about the Hofstetter
Scholarship and said he would be taking up a collection as we do each year
to put into the endowment portion of the account. He also reported that
there is $3,224.59 in the Ardis Dobson Scholarship account.
John Huffman talked about our new website that is now up and running.
New information can be added anytime. Edie Huffman is the web master.
http://www.acb-indiana.org.
Gerry Koors gave the nominating committee report with Dolly Sowder and
Lynn Powers both for their second 3 year term and Sue L’Esperance for her
first 3 year term. After asking if there were any other nominations, they
were voted in by unanimous vote. Thanks to Deanna Austin who will finish
serving six years on the board of directors.
Our morning speakers were a panel of 4 individuals talking about their
employment experiences each in a very different kind of job. They were:
Vivian Schmucker, payroll clerk for Elkhart Government; Mike Niedbalski
who has his own recruiting business in South Bend, IN: Morris Troyer who
worked as a dispatcher for a trucking company and Kane Brolin who started
in broadcasting, did business research and is now a financial planner.
John Huffman thanked the people from the Century Center who helped
make our convention work there. He also thanked Sandy Lingofelter and
Paul Filpus for their help.
Before breaking for viewing of exhibits and lunch the vendors introduced
themselves and what they brought to show us.
The afternoon session began with Mackenzie Colglazier, a middle school
student from ISBVI and a member of the Leo Club there, told us about the
Leo Club and the kinds of service the kids do.
Two awards were then given before the next speaker. The Hank Hofstetter
Award is given to a sighted person who has done much for the blind and
visually impaired. Julia Studebaker received this award. The Pat Price
Award is given to a blind or visually impaired person and it was presented to
John Huffman. Congratulations to both.
Our next speaker was Julia Studebaker who has been at The Association for
the Disabled of Elkhart County, (ADEC) in Elkhart, Indiana for 20 years.
She was director of the programs serving the blind and visually impaired.
She will still be working with people in various situations. Amy Shrock,
access computer leader at ADEC, also spoke. She said that technology is
becoming more portable. The longer adaptive technologies are on the
market the cost goes down.
Door prizes were given at various times till all were gone.
The last part of the day was a memorial service to remember those members who died
since last convention. There were 3 this year. Deanna Austin and Gerry Koors had the
service. The convention then adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Gerry Koors, Recorder