[Iabs-talk] State of IABS Report

[Joe Orozco]

Dear Illinois,

    You know, every now and then our movement seems so overwhelming to me. 
I wonder if our work is enough, and then messages like the one from your 
Illinois president comes through and reminds us that every bit of our 
efforts is more than worth the sacrifice.  I met Christella a year and a 
half ago in Louisville, hospitable cocktail waitress and excellent student 
leader.  Dave Wright had the fortune, or misfortune, of sitting at our loud 
banquet table at this year's Texas convention, another soft-spoken and 
inspiring advocate.  Ronit will forever blow my mind with her highly 
educated genetic training, and then there's Ronza, whom I met for the first 
time in Dallas this past summer.  If her quick whit and warm demeanor are 
any indication, I'd say Illinois is in the best of hands.  Clearly, you guys 
are working alongside an enviable core of leaders, and I hope you will 
continue to do everything you do to keep spreading our philosophy.  Keep 
posting.  Keep showing us how it's done.  You have certainly caught the 
respect and admiration of at least one Lone Star resident and many more 
members around the country.

          Joe Orozco, Outgoing President
          Texas Association of Blind Students

"The more you sweat in training, the less you bleed in battle."--Military 
Basic Training
Subject: [Iabs-talk] State of IABS Report


Hi Everyone,

Below I've pasted in the Presidential Report I gave at the IABS Business
Meeting which took place during the National Federation of the Blind of 
Illinois
Convention this weekend.  It covers the State of the Illinois Association 
of
Blind Students.  Thank you to each of you for serving as motivation,
support, and strength for our movement.

Yours,
Ronza Othman
IABS President


Illinois Association of Blind  Students
Fall 2006
Presidential Report
Accepted November 11,  2006
The Illinois Association of Blind Students has been  actively engaged in
changing what it means to be blind in Illinois.  In the coming months, we
anticipate  facilitating activities, hosting events, and pursuing issues 
that assist
blind  students in receiving high-quality educations.  Our aim is to serve 
the
blind community  through advocacy, educational programming, leadership, and
empowerment.  Only through comradery, collaboration,  and commitment, can 
IABS
effectively serve its  membership.
Last summer, a number of Federationists began taking  steps toward the
reformation of a student division in Illinois.  They conducted research, 
sought
advice,  drafted document after document, and repeated this process over and 
over
again.  Thanks to the advice and  support of Patti Chang, Debbie Stein, 
Kelly
Doty, Bill Reif, Cathy Randall,  Carmen Dennis, Lois Montgomery, Russ
Montgomery, Brian Johnson, Steve Benson,  Ronit Ovadia, Ryan Strunk, Connie 
Davis,
Ronza Othman, Dave Wright, Lori Brown,  Jennifer Justice, David Harlow, 
Bruce
Paul, Christella Garcia, Tiffany Jolliff,  Megan Joost, Patrick Olson, Brad
Kuhn, Joe Hamilton, Nathanial Weills, Joe  Orozco, Bryan Bashin, Mary Anne 
Parks,
Rob Hobson, Jeff Thompson, Shawn Mayo,  and Stacy Survenka, IABS created a
Constitution.
In August, IABS held a General Business Meeting.  There, the members adopted
the  Constitution and elected officers.  The National Association of Blind
Students recognized IABS as a state  chapter.  The Board of the National
Federation of the Blind of Illinois ratified the Constitution in September 
and
generously pledged a charter grant of $1000 to help fund IABS programs and
activities.
In October, IABS, along with the Chicago Chapter of the  National Federation
of the Blind, collaborated to co-sponsor a Meet the Blind  Month event at 
the
University of Illinois at Chicago.  Members distributed literature and wrote
people’s names in Braille for them.  They also demonstrated technology and
equipment such as JAWS, a portable  CC-TV, a Braille Lite, and Braille 
watches
and compasses.  More than 200 people received literature  and interacted 
with
NFB members.  The event was so successful that the group ran out of 
literature.
Thanks to Steve Hastalis, Joe Monti,  Patricia Foxx, and Ronza Othman for
working this  event.
Two nights ago, IABS began what we hope will become an  annual tradition by
instituting the Fall IABS Outing.  Thirty-two Federationists and their
families and friends attended “Wicked, the Musical” in downtown Chicago. 
The
theater provided us with Braille and  large-print programs and audio 
captioning for
those who wanted it.  We enjoyed emersion in an experience of  psychosocial
consciousness at one of Chicago’s hottest attractions, and we did  so as a
Federation family.
Yesterday afternoon, IABS hosted an interactive  workshop.  NFB Family Feud
provided  Conventioneers with an avenue for discussing issues and 
stereotypes
associated  with blindness.  The Jernigan  Institute conducted a survey 
earlier
this year concerning ranging issues  involving blindness and compiled
responses in a game-like manner.  By encouraging participants to think 
about
questions such as what may be found in a blind child’s bookbag, or which 
jobs blind
people cannot perform, individuals can begin dispelling their own
misconceptions and better understand those held by others.  We must first 
understand our
own values  and potential before we can renew our commitment to spreading 
the
message to the  unenlightened.
Later today, IABS will be hosting the annual Student  Luncheon.  We will
discuss issues  relevant to blind and visually impaired students.  In 
addition,
this year’s scholarship and  internship winners will introduce themselves. 
We
will learn about the NABS scene.  Moreover, IABS will present Excellence  in
Teaching Blind Students Awards to two very deserving educators.  In order to
insure high-quality  education for the blind in this state, the organized 
blind
must collaborate with  educators and administrators.  Illinois boasts some 
of
the most talented and committed teachers in the  country.  It is time we
recognized  them for their dedication and skill.  Without them, none of us 
would be
here.
Effective programs require financing.  IABS has been very busy building a
sound  treasury.  Thanks to assistance from  Peggy Elliott, IABS has 
obtained a
Tax ID number and opened a banking  account.  Bob Gardner has generously 
agreed
to serve as our  authorized signatory from the NFBI Board.  We’re ready to
begin spending money on programs.  Now we just need money to  spend.
Last night, IABS hosted IABS Idol.  Members performed acts and songs before
a critical and honest panel of judges.  This event generated $210.
Congratulations to David Meyer on an award-winning performance.  Thank you 
to everyone
who  participated.  Special thanks to  Byron Lee and Blaire Alper for an
amazing job handling all our sound needs.  We’re also grateful to Jaelyn 
Leary for
working the music board and coordinating the  acts.
Currently, IABS is selling raffle tickets for $1 each and  6 for $5.  The
person who purchases  the winning ticket will receive one-half of the 
proceeds
from the raffle.  Good luck to everyone who  participates.
IABS is also selling shot glasses for $3 each or 2 for  $5.  These
collectibles are  square-shaped and boast a design by our resident artist, 
Jennifer
Justice.  The artwork consists of the Braille  letters “IL” with the print
letters “IABS” beneath them, all of which are  surrounded by the shape of 
the State
of Illinois.  The image is a reddish-orange  color.  The glasses can also
double  as stylus holders.  Please support  IABS by purchasing a shot glass 
or
two, or an entire set for your party  needs.
IABS is pleased to announce the launch of our  website.  Visitors can find
updated  information about events and activities as well as links to 
valuable
resources.  Special and infinite  thanks go out to Ruth Anne Wheeler for her
hard work in creating and maintaining  the site.
The Student Division will be very busy in the coming  months.  IABS plans to
be  well-represented at Washington Seminar in January.  Students are a
critical constituency,  and our issues matter.  We have an  obligation to 
promote
those issues to our legislators.  They can only create policy on our  behalf 
if
we demand to be heard.  We  will address Braille literacy, accessible
instructional materials at the  post-secondary level, and other issues of 
importance to
blind students.  We must demonstrate our personal  commitment to these 
issues
and convey our refusal to accept the mediocre and the  substandard.  We will
change what it  means to be blind at Washington Seminar.
Next March, IABS, along with the National Federation of  the Blind of
Illinois, will collaborate on a youth seminar.  “Opening Doors, Opening 
Minds” will
take  place the 30th and 31st of March at Saint Xavier  University in 
Chicago.
 The seminar  will emphasize self-advocacy and the role of technology in the
classroom.  Students will gain skills from  successful blind adults.  The
forum  will furnish an opportunity to discuss stereotypes and misconceptions 
about
 blindness.  The cost is $20 per  person, and space is limited. 
Applications
are available at the information table and will soon be  posted on the
website.
Mentorship is a cornerstone of the student division’s  work.  We plan to
implement a  mentoring program that includes this year’s scholarship and
internship  recipients as well as the spring seminar attendees.  Such 
interaction will
continue through  the coming year.  Mentors will  assist students with 
various
areas, including obtaining accessible textbooks,  creating education plans
with the Department of Rehabilitation Services, and  providing reminders 
about
NFB events, seminars, and conventions.  It is our duty and responsibility to
help those that succeed us, just as those who preceded us paved the  way.
Next summer, IABS will partake in the National Federation  of the Blind’s
most ambitious activity in history.  We will march alongside Federationists 
from
all over the country on the morning of July 4th in Atlanta.  Our March for
Independence will  demonstrate to the world, and to ourselves, that we are, 
as
Dr. Maurer reminded  us last summer, “on the move.”  We  are the organized
blind, and we will not be stopped, slowed, or thwarted.  IABS calls each of 
you
to join the march  for independence.  We encourage you  to begin seeking
pledges and sponsors now.  Marchers need to have raised $250 to participate. 
IABS
pledges to help spread the  message.  We will come to schools,  distribute
flyers, talk to relatives, and whatever else our members need to  raise 
enough
money to participate.  By marching for independence, we’re changing what it 
means
to be blind in  America.
The year 2006 has been very eventful for IABS, and 2007  promises to surpass
all expectations.  I, as your President, serve at the pleasure of the
membership.  I am grateful that you believe I can  lead this division, and I 
plan to
continue to serve you to the best of my  abilities.  I am privileged to 
serve
alongside some of the most talented and motivated people I’ve ever known. 
The
IABS Board of Directors works  diligently to design programs and events that
capture the interest of the  membership, while simultaneously pursuing the
goals of our organization.  Thank you to Dave Wright, Lori Brown,  Jennifer
Justice, David Harlow, Christella Garcia, and Bruce Paul.  Because of who 
you are
and what you do,  we are changing what it means to be blind in  Illinois.
I ask the membership to remember something a friend of  mine once said to
another state’s student division.
Please  remember that your value to our cause is not measured by whether or
not you hold  a position on our board.  The only thing that separates you 
from
the board  is responsibility.  History tells us that the most dedicated
advocates  understood that the message was more important than the title, 
and if
your heart  is true, you will discover that the latter is an empty glory 
without
the  former.  You should hold your board accountable, and you should be just
as  willing to allow the board to hold you responsible for the fulfillment 
of
their  mission that is impossible to implement without your  participation.
My  fellow IABS members, we are here because of the comradery we share, the
collaboration we exercise, and the commitment we foster.  May we continue to
prosper as a  division, as an affiliate, as an organization, and as a 
movement.
 We’re absolutely changing what it means  to be blind.  Thank  you.




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