Welcome to the California connection for July 1.
CCB Office Closure
The CCB office will be closed on Monday, July 4 in observance of Independence Day.
From Your New President
Well the first initial is the same; and the first name even still has four letters, but the president is new!
In my first official message to CCB members and friends, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the outgoing officers and board members.
Thank you to Jeff Thom for your years of leadership with this organization and for having been willing to step up one more time in this last term; to Gene Lozano and Donna Pomerantz for your years of selfless service. Thank you to Vince Calderon, especially in the areas of budget and finance, and to Leena Bandy who is also leaving the board.
I hope you will remain engaged in the work of the Council, for your skills and experience are invaluable. Let no one ever doubt that the time you have invested, the work you have done and the knowledge you have accumulated are unappreciated or no longer needed.
Our officers this year are President Judy Wilkinson, 1st VP Frank Welte, 2nd VP Gabe Griffith, Secretary Ardis Bazyn, and Treasurer Peter Pardini.
New Directors on the board are Gail Crossen, Sharlene Ornelas, Rob Turner, and Vivian Younger. They join directors Steve Fort, Joseph Lopez, Pam Metz, Paul Patche and Robert Wendt.
We are all ready to continue the work of this great organization. But we can only achieve success with your help and dedication. And for those becoming more active or active for the first time, everyone has something important to do; everyone has a place on this team.
At the upcoming ACB convention, Jeff will be the California delegate and I will be the alternate. To contact me at any time, phone or text my cell phone at 510-388-5079 or by email at president@ccbnet.org.
Please note that the first board meeting to which all are cordially invited is Tuesday July 12 at 7 PM. Look for details in The Connection next week and on our presidents and general lists.
From Jeff Thom
As I prepare to leave for the ACB Conference and Convention and turn over the helm to our new president Judy Wilkinson, I want to say how honored I have been to be the leader of this fine organization. Our core mission is advocacy and the fact that two bills, AB1824 and SB1331, relating to guide dogs, both look like they will be sent to the Governor within a couple of months.
Whether its voting rights, education, rehabilitation, transportation, architectural barriers, health and social services programs, or any other area of import to us as PERSONS who ARE BLIND OR HAVE LOW VISION, WE CAN CELEBRATE THE WORK WE DO. We can BE PROUD NOT ONLY OF OUR SUCCESSES, BUT OF THE WORK THAT REMAINS UNDONE AND I THANK you for giving me the opportunity to lead that effort.
Fund Raising Opportunity
Looking for an easy opportunity to raise money for CCB?
New CCB president Judy Wilkinson and myself have created a team, the California Colossals, for the Brenda Dillon ACB Memorial Walk, to be held on Sunday, July 3, at the 2016 ACB Conference and Convention in Minneapolis. One-half of the funds raised for our team will be going to CCB.
If you are walking in that event, I urge you to join our team. If not, I hope that you will consider sponsoring Judy or myself. Remember, you can walk as a virtual walker, even if you are not at the convention.
You can register online at http://acb.donorpages.com/2016ACBWalk/
or by calling Nancy Becker in the Minneapolis office at (612) 332-3242.
Finally, you may sponsor me online at my page.
Executive Director Recruitment
The California Council of the Blind is seeking applicants for the position of executive director.
You may read or download a copy of the recruitment announcement at:
http://www.ccbnet.org/execdirtr.htm
or find a link to the material on the CCB home page at: http://www.ccbnet.org.
In addition, you may obtain a copy of the recruitment announcement by calling the CCB office at 800-221-6359 or by email ccotb@ccbnet.org
San Gabriel Valley Chapter Event
The San Gabriel Valley Chapter invites you to our Summer Social, on Saturday July 16 from 11:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. at Alex Di Peppe's Italian Restaurant, in Arcadia.
Everyone will be ordering from a modified menu, with separate checks.
We will have the restaurant to ourselves, with a 50 person limit, so RSVPs will be accepted in the order received, through July 12th.
For more information, or to RSVP, please contact:
Steve Aminoff
Phone: 626-445-6727
Email: s_aminoff@sbcglobal.net
Our chapter looks forward to seeing you on July 16.
"People With Disabilities And Employment Law: Recent Developments, Emerging Issues, And What They Mean In Everyday Life" By Steven Mendelsohn
An excerpt appeared in the Spring BC, and Part Two will be published in a future issue. Meanwhile, you can obtain the entire, 21-chapter Kindle eBook for $9.99 from Amazon or through my website www.disabilityrightslawanalysis.com.
In clear, narrative language, topical issues of concern to workers with disabilities are discussed and explained.
Subjects of particular concern to people with visual impairments include enforceability of driving requirements and new options for sheltered workshop employees.
Thank you for reading, Have a nice day
