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MCB OFFICE NEWS
MCB OFFICE NEWS
January, 2007
I guess it’s back to work as usual for most people by now. I can say that is certainly true for us here in the MCB office.
Our phones have been very, very busy. All sorts of matters were addressed. Our Legislative Days, both at the state level and also in Washington, DC, are
very much on our minds. The period for blind students to apply for scholarships is now at hand. Updated affiliate membership lists are due. Summer camp
materials will also be going out the end of February. Oh yes, there is that updated MCB Membership List that must be prepared and sent to the ACB office
by March 15.
2007 Calendars: The office has exhausted its supply of the 2007 calendars. We have sent out some orders of large quantities. Of course, by doing this
it doesn´t take long to deplete our supply.
Some suggestions our affiliates might consider are: if a nursing home or assisted living center needs 25 or more, it would be well for them to call Bev
Kaskadden with their request and have the calendars "e;drop shipped"e; to the nursing home/assisted living center. The office purchases mailing tubes in which
we mail the calendars. There is a two-inch size, in which at the most three calendars will fit; and a three-inch size in which five calendars will fit.
These mailing tubes can be purchased at an office supply place. The smaller tubes at about $1.70 each, and the larger tubes are about $2.30 for each.
Also, any individuals who want 25 or more need to let Bev Kaskadden know so they can be "drop shipped" directly to you. When the office has to send an
entire roll of calendars, we have to have them sent by UPS and this is an additional cost for us.
Bev will be placing the order for the 2008 calendars in February or early March, so it is not too early to let her know how many your affiliate and nursing
homes etc. in your area will need.
Legislative Days: MCB´s Legislative Days here in Missouri will be February 20-21. We will be staying at the Hotel DeVille in Jefferson City. There will
be a briefing session on Tuesday afternoon and the affiliate legislative reps and other interested members will be visiting their legislators on Wednesday.
I do not know the issues we are going to advocate for at this time.
The Legislative Seminar in Washington, DC will be February 25-27. MCB will have eight people attending.
Presidents´ Mid-winter meeting: Due to Kathey´s illness, Phyllis Lovett may attend in her stead. The Presidents’ Mid-winter Meeting is "piggy-backed"
on the Legislative Seminar in Washington, being held February 24-25.
Scholarships: The office has prepared the labels and materials for the Scholarship Program and sent them to Jarrell Holt for his committee to collate and
mail. It is no longer necessary for hard copies of the Guidelines and Application to be sent to the colleges and high schools since we have our web site
from which they can be downloaded.
Updated Affiliate Membership Lists: Don´t forget! Those updated membership lists must be received in our office on or before February 1. This is in accordance
with our MCB Bylaws.
Blind Pension Lawsuit: The trial for the blind pension has been rescheduled. It was previously set for January 22. It has now been rescheduled for March
15.
The case had previously been assigned to Judge Tom Brown. Judge Brown lost in the November election, so our case had to be reassigned to another judge.
Our attorneys have not been notified or able to learn who the new judge will be.
Board Meeting: As most of you know, the December 2 Board meeting was cancelled due to the big ice storm. It has now been rescheduled for January 27.
The Board meeting will be held at the Holiday Inn, Forest Park in St. Louis. It will begin at nine a.m.
Spring Board Meeting: Our Spring Board meeting will be held at the Holiday Inn in Joplin April 13-14. The Board meeting will take place on the 14th.
Upcoming Events: There are two upcoming events that many of you may be interested in. The Children´s Vision Summit has not been scheduled as yet. However,
from past years this Summit appears to be a very worthwhile thing for meeting visually-impaired children, their parents and teachers and paraprofessionals.
I have heard raving reports on this event.
The Power Up Conference is scheduled for April 23-24 at the Holiday Inn Select in Columbia, Mo. The MCB Board has voted to sponsor the Power Up Conference.
This conference, too, has been touted as very worthwhile.
Reminder: The MCB office will be closed on January 15 in observance of Martin Luther King Jr.´s birthday.
Building use: Mind´s Eye, who has been holding their Board meetings here in our building, has changed their meeting dates to the third Thursday evening
of the odd-numbered months.
Affiliates are scheduling activities for February – RITE will be holing a chili supper on February 17 to recruit new members for their affiliate, and the
St. Louis Council of the Blind will be holding a bingo on February 24.
I have been asked where one might obtain free Braille playing cards. If any of you know, please give me a call or email me at
execdir@moblind.org.
In closing I would like to share a nice story. It is important that we are a connectional organization. A mother in Jeff City called me back in December
regarding her 21-year old son who was diagnosed as being legally blind last July. First, dealing with the reality of the diagnosis, he has now returned
to college in Memphis, Tennessee. They had been in touch with Rehab Services and did receive some help; however, he is now in need of other services and
adaptive equipment. There is also another son who is in the military. "Mom" has tried very hard to provide for the son who is blind, but resources go
only so far.
I contacted the Blind of Central Missouri (Linda Gerken) and asked her to contact "mom". BCM is the closest affiliate geographically to Jeff City. Linda
did contact her. She has also sent the son a number of helpful items such as a talking alarm clock, 20/20 pens, and a Braille monopoly game. The young
man was delighted.
“Mom” is going to attend BCM´s meeting this coming Friday, Jan. 12.
Another service the young man can avail himself of is our Scholarship program.
When the mother called me, she said she had made contact with another consumer organization last summer but no follow through was done.
Folks, this is what we are all about!
Bev Armstrong
Executive Director
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