The following candidate statements were received for the 2025 office and board election at this year’s virtual Conference and Convention.
The Candidates Forum will take place Saturday, April 12 at 4PM Pacific time.
Candidates are responding to the following question:
The theme of our convention this year is "Revitalize, aspire to Inspire."
Please provide 3 specific steps you would propose to revitalize CCB and how would you inspire others to join with you?
List of Candidates for Officer Positions
First Vice-President, Guillermo Robles
List of Candidates for Board Positions
Board of Directors, Christopher Gray
Board of Directors, Pamela Hill Metz
Officers:
First Vice-President, Guillermo Robles
My name is Guillermo Robles, and I am running for the position of 1st Vice President of the California Counsel of the blind,
First off, I find the theme of this year’s convention, Revitalize: Aspire to inspire to be very appropriate in these times. As most of our membership continues to see a decline, here is what I hope we can do to revitalize CCB in the retention of members, and bring us into a better and stronger future.
First, there has always been a strong sentiment that we need to bring a more younger group of people to help in our advocacy efforts and bring a more fresher approach to CCB’s work. It is imperative that we work with our student affiliate both statewide and nationally to come up with ways to recruit and maintain this vital demographic of members Offering workshops, services and other programs that would best meet those needs.
Secondly, given that we have a plethora of years of experience, huge amounts of areas of expertise, and an amazing amount of talents within the organization, it is time to spread the wealth and keep a historical record if at all possible. I feel that in order for us to survive, we can expand on our knowledge and pass this on to those that will come after us. Drawing from the success in mentoring programs that ACB has put in place in the past year or so, I would like to see us come up with ways in which we can harness the abilities of our members and pair them with qualified mentor that will support individuals In all levels of membership in CCB.
Lastly, most of us, are always looking for tangible services. I would love for CCB to be a place of resource and collaboration. I would like us to become a solid place where one can come and get referral for services around the state in areas such as housing, finance, medical, emergency preparedness, and even accessible entertainment. I’d also like collaborating with our partners like the Department of Rehabilitation and other Centers for Independent Living and other external partners in providing training and referral, and other tangible services.
I feel that these are ways that we can bring our organization forward and breathe new life into CCB. I thank you in advance for your vote.
Return to the Officer Candidate List
Return to the beginning of the Candidate List
Hello, I’m Steve Bauer, seeking a second term as your secretary.
Since the late 1980s, I have been a member of CCB. Currently I’m president of the greater Los Angeles chapter, and chair the CCB bylaws committee. I serv on the technical operations group, which operates our web site as well as the resolutions, publications and convention planning committees.
Over the next two years my first priority is the reinstatement of our non-profit status, no surprise there! After all these years, how do we proceed? Do we seek assistance from legislators or advice from our parent organization, or from the many other non-profits facing a similar predicament, or from legal council. I don’t claim to have the answer to this crisis, but I’m heartened by our president’s appointment of a committee to study various possibilities. I pledge to work with my fellow board members to carefully consider all ideas from the committee as well as our members.
Next I prioritize Advocacy. CCB is on track to have more legislative success in Sacramento thanks to our governmental affairs team. The board must support their efforts by encouraging members to write letters when necessary. CCB must also take any opportunity to further the goals of past resolutions by giving input to relevant officials when appropriate. We must also take full advantage of past hard-won successes, such as our prescription labeling bill, by encouraging members to fully utilize this legislation.
Third, our CCB web site is long overdue for a major upgrade. I look forward to working with the board and the technical operations group to hire a qualified web developer and then to update the resources provided to our members on our web site.
Of course, many other questions will come before the board over the next two years. I welcome input from members when considering all things CCB.
I pledge to continue generating a complete and accurate account of actions taken by the board, and I again ask for your vote for secretary at convention this year.
Return to the Officer Candidate List
Return to the beginning of the Candidate List
Board of Directors:
Board of Directors, Christopher Gray
Campaign Statement: Christopher Gray
The following are three steps I propose to revive, inspire and revitalize the California Council of the Blind. First, the key to revitalizing CCB is to
improve our financial situation. The key to this is getting our 501(C)3 status reinstated by the IRS. Before and during the pandemic, I successfully
submitted the necessary documentation as Executive Director of the Missouri Council of the Blind for 8 chapters and all were reinstated within 6 months.
My offers to do this on behalf of CCB have been ignored even though I know how to do this and live in Nancy Pelosi's congressional district. We must
be able to raise money that is tax deductible if we are to improve our financial future.
Second, it is critical to be in touch with our 90-year history as an organization. I spearheaded CCB's 90th birthday party in Fresno, CA this past October
without costing CCB a dime. Over that weekend we heard from our founders through historic recorded speeches and through remembrances of key figures throughout
the decades of our existence. A key component of this was gathering people together, educating and inspiring one another. We must do more of this kind
of outreach in the coming years.
Third, we must revitalize our membership, strengthen our chapters and increase our number of chapters throughout California. Without a strong membership
base, CCB cannot hope to thrive. A strong membership, supporting one another, is the bedrock of an effective organization of the blind.
Finally, let me emphasize the lifelong experience I can bring as a Board member to CCB. I have been a Board member, First Vice-President of CCB and the
organizational Treasurer. I have been the President of our parent organization for 6 years between 2001-2007. Before that time, I served as President
of three special-interest affiliates and Chair of ACB's Board of Publications. I served over ten years as Executive Director of the Missouri Council of
the Blind and during that time increased their financial resources to well over $3 million even during the pandemic. I have the proven ability not only
to administer but also to lead an organization into prosperity and growth.
It would be my honor to serve CCB in the coming years. I look forward to assisting the organization as already outlined and as requested and assigned
by the Board of Directors.
Your vote will allow me to move us forward and do good things for CCB.
Thank you for considering me.
Return to the Board of Directors Candidate List
Return to the beginning of the Candidate List
My name is Joe Green, and I am a current board member of the California Council of the Blind (CCB) running to serve you one more time. I would like to share my vision for revitalizing CCB and the steps I believe are crucial to achieving this goal.
First, I propose we develop a clear and compelling messaging strategy that effectively communicates what CCB stands for, the resources we offer, and the impact we can have on individuals and communities. Our messaging should highlight how joining CCB can benefit not only our members but also the people they care about most. By clarifying our purpose and the value we provide, we can increase awareness and foster stronger connections with potential members.
In addition, we need to create a culture within the organization where people feel welcomed, valued, and motivated to invite others to join our mission. This can be achieved by fostering an inclusive and supportive environment where members feel empowered to contribute and share their talents and treasure. When individuals are excited and proud to be part of CCB, they will naturally want to spread the word and invite others to become involved.
Another key initiative is to offer more local programs and projects that align with our mission and core values, concentrating on empowerment and advocacy. These programs will provide tangible opportunities for engagement and help us connect more deeply with the blind and low vision community. By having a stronger presence at the local level, we can raise awareness of CCB and the valuable opportunities we provide, making it easier for people to get involved and benefit from our collective resources and advocacy.
The CCB board can offer guidance to its committees and mentor leaders of local Chapters and Special Interest affiliates to embrace these ideas. Board members can also attend seminars through ACB and other organizations to increase their knowledge and innovative approaches to these goals.
In summary, revitalizing the CCB requires a strategic approach to messaging, a focus on fostering an inviting and inclusive organizational culture, and an emphasis on offering more local programs and projects. By taking these steps, we can strengthen our outreach, engage more people, and ultimately create a lasting impact on the lives of those for whom we advocate.
Return to the Board of Directors Candidate List
Return to the beginning of the Candidate List
Board of Directors, Pamela Hill Metz
Pamela Hill Metz Candidate Statement
“Revitalize, aspire to inspire.
My name is Pamela Metz and I’m running for my second term on the California Council of the Blind (CCB) board of directors. I have been a proud member of CCB for over 20 years and I believe in what this organization has to offer. I have seen this organization overcome difficult situations and I have seen many accomplishments in terms of advocacy achieved by the Council. I believe that, in order to grow the membership, we need to find a way to reengage the longtime members as well as finding and engaging new members. We need to revitalize historic programs that worked and start a few new programs. We need to reintroduce the successful committees from the past as well as start a few new ones.
I will be working with Nellie Emerson to start a new Health Care Resource committee that we hope to have up and running soon. I know that CCB is working on the web-site and I hope that we are really focused on our social media presence so that more blind and low vision individuals will discover CCB and want to work within the organization. As president of CLUA, (California Library Users of America), I’m working on engaging members of CCB to use BARD, introducing some authors who are blind or have low vision, and inviting some sighted authors as well. We started a list of books from BART to share with CLUA members to get them interested in the service. I am showing our members how to connect to their regional libraries to find out what they are doing to keep their patrons engaged in their local libraries. I’m proud to serve on the membership committee and help them to engage new membership in CCB. I’m
grateful to serve on the convention planning committee to help plan a fantastic preconvention as well as a great convention for everybody to enjoy and
learn. I’m vice president of IDC (Inclusive Diversity of California), and I believe that all persons have the right to good Medical care, mental healthcare,
and other programs that are available to the blind and low vision people of California, who are often overlooked or forgotten.
I hope that I can continue to inspire others to be a part of CCB in a chapter, in an affiliate, or on a committee to continue this important work. I will
do my best to inspire our members to come and join us, reach our goals, and make it the powerhouse the Council used to be in California.
Return to the Board of Directors Candidate List
Return to the beginning of the Candidate List
