2006 STATE CONVENTION
NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND OF ILLINOIS
“COMRADERY, COLLABORATION, & COMMITMENT”
2006 Presidential Report
Download the Presidential Report Microsoft Word Format
President’s Annual Report 2006
National Federation of the Blind of Illinois
Presented by: Patti S. Gregory-Chang, President
October 12th, 2006
Introduction
Over the past year, we as an affiliate of the National Federation of the Blind have accomplished so much. This report was difficult to compile because our accomplishments are
far-reaching and extensive.
Student Assistance
Firstly, the National Federation of the Blind of Illinois (“NFBI”) helped students in a myriad of ways. In December of 2005 we procured funding for a Braille Note M Power and gave it to a middle school student here in Illinois. For those who are unaware, a Braille Note is a small computer with Braille and Speech output. Early in 2006 we paid for refurbishment of Perkins Braille Writers and gave them to Chicago Public School children. Of course, we continued our scholarship program awarding six scholarships this year to assist blind college and graduate students. We gave more than money, however. We also brought those students to our convention along with a convention scholarship winner to spread our positive philosophy of blindness.
On an exciting new note, we sponsored two Summer interns to gain that first real job experience. Once again, we did not just give money. Our members mentored those students to help them negotiate the new work world. We assisted yet another student with a work study grant which helped to pay reader expenses. To my knowledge no other affiliate ever sponsored internships and/or work-study. This is a new and exciting way to assist blind people.
We plan to distribute 1500 scholarship applications and internship applications this Winter. Next year we are already committed to at least 5 scholarships and an internship. We will continue to assist students with equipment and mentoring.
Leadership and Member Development
We continue to develop our leadership. Lois Montgomery attended a leadership conference early this year. Our leadership conferences allow our National Office to provide weekend long seminars to help strengthen our affiliates by teaching and guiding new and emerging talent. We formally mentored our scholarship winners and we mentored our internship sponsorees for the first time this year.
We had 49 attendees at the National Convention of the National Federation of the Blind. At least 6 of them were first time attendees. We had two National Scholarship winners from our state. Our Chappel Awards assisted our members to attend National Convention and State Convention. We invested $3,000 in this endeavor. One of our members interned at NASA as part of a National Federation of the Blind Program.
As you know we have a new Kankakee Chapter President. He and I have already discussed his chapter and how the Board can help to develop it and to mentor him with regard to his new position of leadership. We just chartered the Illinois Association of Blind Students (“IABS”) which will assist us to cultivate our next generation of leaders.
One of the goals, I would like to see us set for next year, would be to send more Illinoisans to National Convention. We will, of course, recommend members to our National Office with respect to Leadership Seminars.
Advocacy
We took some of our biggest strides in Illinois in the area of Rehabilitation. Meetings occurred with high level officials from Illinois Rehabilitation. We met with Betty Odem-Davis, Rob Kilbury, and Derek Phillips to try to open the door to better communication between NFBI and rehabilitation services. We advocated with the Division of Rehabilitation Services to assist people in negotiating with the Department of Human Services Division of Rehabilitation Services to attend Rehabilitation Centers of their choice. At least six people have been assisted to attend the Center where they will best be served. Five of those chose to attend out-of-state National Federation of the Blind centers. We planned an Individualized Education Plan workshop for our convention to help people advocate for themselves with local school systems.
This is an ongoing area of need. We plan to continue to build relationships that allow us to assist people to attend rehabilitation centers of their choice. We will continue to be a resource for students and parents as well.
Legislative Action
On the legislative action front, thirteen of our members attended our Washington Seminar and met with our Senators and Congressmen. One of the issues discussed was the Louis Braille Commemorative Coin Bill. The other two issues discussed involved the Higher Education Textbook Access Act and the Blind Business Development and Employment Opportunities Act. In May two of our members traveled to Washington to talk with Senator Obama on the Louis Braille Commemorative Coin Bill. They also attended the Meet and Greet Breakfast held by Senators Obama and Durbin. I am happy to report that the Louis Braille Commemorative Coin Bill passed this year. That Bill is about more than commemorating a great man. It also provides funding to promote Braille Literacy amongst the Blind. Promotion of Braille and the tools of Blindness along with a positive attitude about Blindness is what NFBI is all about.
Next year we plan to legislate on the state level. We will send some of our members to Springfield.
Technology Development
We assisted our National office in developing and promoting technological advances. Lois Montgomery in March traveled to Baltimore to attend a training seminar for the K-NFB reader. The K-NFB Reader is a hand-held scanning device that turns printed words into spoken speech. Lois served as ambassador for Illinois in this endeavor. Nine of our members beta tested the device and reported to National regarding pros and cons. We have also demonstrated the K-NFB reader at chapter meetings, to supervisors with the Department of Human Services, Northern Illinois University, ISVI, and Government employees at the James R. Thompson Center. In fact, David Wright has been exhibiting it right here at our convention.
Our web page continues to grow. There were more than 6,000 hits to the front page of the site. There are - including the new IABS site - 44 individual pages on the site itself. There are 35 downloadable documents at this time as well as the convention sound files. Our State Newsletter, The Braille Examiner, which we published four editions of last year, is on the website. We are streaming our 2006 convention as we speak and we were one of the first affiliates to do so. For those who aren’t aware streaming is a way to send out sound over the internet. So, if someone logs into the web page, they can listen to our convention as it occurs.
We will continue developing our web pages. We will accept applications electronically for the first time as well.
Special Events
Our convention for next year is in the planning phase. It will be held in Rock Island at the Four Points. We are planning a Spring Student Seminar which will focus on blind students who want to learn to cope with blindness in college. This will be held at Xavier University which is South of Chicago. We know already that the Illinois School for the Visually Impaired wants to send a van to transport students to this event. We have already negotiated the contract for this overnight seminar.
Fund Raising and Development
Of course, we need money to do all of the above. On the fund-raising and development fronts we have done much. In December – we received an Imagination Fund Grant of $2,000 which we plan to utilize to present our Spring Student Seminar in March of 2007. The Imagination Fund provides assistance to State Affiliates for special projects. We also obtained a grant of $7,000 from Leona Stanford Vollintine Charitable Trust for Scholarship, Internship, and Conference use for students as well as a $2,000 grant from the Aileen S. Andrew Foundation. For the second year of a five year, $25,000.00 scholarship program, we had the privilege of giving academic scholarship awards donated by Harold W. Knapheide III in memory of Mr. Knapheide's Mother, Mary McDill Knapheide.
Ifby-Phone provided a $1,000 sponsorship for our annual convention. Humanware sponsored us at a $50 level.
By way of long range fund raising, we mailed letters to all estates attorneys in Illinois asking them to recommend us as residual beneficiaries. We continued our Annual Appeal Mailing to friends and relatives of our own members.
Our own members contribute to our funding on a regular basis and through our Fifteen for Funds program. This fast paced and fun fund raiser occurs at our State Convention. Dr. Kenneth Jernigan, one of our founders, began this auction-like fund-raiser years ago. Last year we received $5,400 in pledges. Our return was a nice round 100%. We all truly believe in this organization and we put our own money behind our belief.
Our fund-raising maestros tirelessly work on our certificate program. This program purchases gift certificates at a discounted rate and sells them at face value. NFBI keeps the difference. We held our Octoberfest party to raise money and more than 40 of our own members came from throughout Illinois. Carson days continues to bring in regular funds to the affiliate as well. Carson Days allow us to raise funds by selling coupon books. Equally importantly we spread our message and literature at Carson stores.
Next year, we will continue to pursue all avenues for fund raising. More and more of our members need to participate in these endeavors.
Participation
One of the most positive developments of the last year is our over-all participation of members in our events. We have 95 overall rooms booked for our State Convention. All five of our Chapters are well represented. We had 40 members attend Octoberfest in the Fall. Our regular Board meetings have more and more participants. Our Board set a primary goal last year before our convention. That goal was to develop our Youth. We now have an active Illinois Association of Blind Students and young people who want to work hard and continue to spread our positive attitude about blindness.
We will send Board Members out to chapters on a regular basis. We will mentor new people to encourage them to actively participate in our functions, chapter meetings, and conventions.
Conclusion
This affiliate continues its good work. We are fiscally sound and strong in member resources. The National Federation of the Blind of Illinois continues to advocate, assist, and legislate. We speak for the blind of Illinois. We are changing what it means to be blind in Illinois.
National Federation of the Blind Of Illinois
President Patti S. Gregory-Chang
6919 W. Berwyn Ave.
Chicago, IL 60656
pattisgregory@comcast.net
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