Committees of CCB

Advocacy Committee:

Steven Mendelsohn, Chair
Phone: 510-357-1844
Advocacy Committee Chair

Andy Baracco
Gail Crossen
Warren Cushman
Gabe Griffith
Karen Memmer
Jordan Mirander
Sharlene ornelas
Pete Romero
Loreen Theveny
Jeff Thom
Alice Turner
Frank Welte
Judy Wilkinson
Vivian Younger

The CCB Advocacy Committee:
works to incorporate CCB'S views into the deliberations surrounding the development of state regulations in areas of concern to our members;
works with pro bono counsel to identify and support, including by entry into cases as a plaintiff, impact litigation likely to expand or preserve our civil rights;
endeavors to find information or assistance in response to individual members' requests for help.

Auction Committee:

Andrea DeKlotz, Co-Chair
Phone: 714;-921-0289
Larry Gassman, Co-Chair
Phone: 562-706-7710

Bob Acosta
Gabe Griffith
Linda Porelle
Jeff Thom
Judy Wilkinson

The CCB auction committee coordinates and executes all facets of the annual auction, including publicity, item procurement and event logistics. The committee works cooperatively with the President, the board, the Council office, and the technical operations group to coordinate these activities.

Awards Committee:

Sharlene Ornelas, Chair
Phone: 619-339-6043
Awards Committee Chair

Gabe Griffith
Anthony Signorello
Frank Welte

The CCB Awards Committee solicits nominations and selects recipients of the general awards given by CCB. We induct people into the CCB Hall of Fame and present the Distinguished Service, Community Service, Humanitarian and Merit Awards, as well as the Legislator of the Year Award.

Bylaws Committee:

David Jackson, Co-Chair
Phone: 415-613-6817
Bylaws Committee Co-Chair
Sarah Harris, Co-Chair
Phone: 559-816-1507
Bylaws Committee Co-Chair

Gabe Griffith
Steven Mendelsohn
Frank Welte

The CCB Bylaws Committee is available to any member who wishes to propose amendments. It is responsible for sending notices of pending amendments and changes adopted to voting members. It initiates changes that it believes will make the Council more democratic and effective. The committee is also available to any chapter or affiliate who would like consultation with their constitution or bylaws.

Committee on Access and Transportation:

Eugene Lozano, Jr., Chair
Phone: 916 485-8307
Committee on Access and Transportation Chair

Warren Cushman
Gabe Griffith

The CCB Committee on Access and Transportation (CAT) promotes equality for people who are blind or have low vision through: leadership in accessible design for the built environment, transit vehicles, and transportation systems; the development and introduction of accessibility regulations, standards, and guidelines; hosting education presentations and forums; providing technical assistance and advisement; and acting as a subject matter resource. The CAT is structured to function as a coordinating body on accessibility and transportation issues among CCB lists, chapters, and other committees, as well as to directly represent the interests of people with visual impairments on matters pertaining to accessible design.

Conference and Convention Committee:

Jeff Thom, Chair
Phone: 916 995-3967
Conference and Convention Committee Chair

Jamie Gibson-Barrows
Gabe Griffith
Sarah harris
Eugene Lozano Jr.
Peter Pardini
guillermo Robles
Alice Turner
Rob Turner
Judy Wilkinson
Vivian Younger

The CCB Convention Committee is charged with the entire convention planning process. This includes working on hotel bids for future conventions, as well as arrangements for current conventions. The committee plans convention agendas, including inviting speakers, works with convention hotels on convention arrangements, prepares documents that include event forms, announcements and programs, and convention surveys and engages in meal planning.

Credentials Committee:

Frank Welte, Chair
Phone: 510-541-1442
Credentials Committee Chair

Steve Aminoff
William Elliott
Gabe Griffith

The CCB Credentials Committee reviews the credentials forms from all chapters and affiliates and verifies that the information is correct, complete and submitted by the deadline. This criteria is necessary in order for chapters and state affiliates to be considered in good standing with the Council. The Credentials Committee Chair reports the status of chapters and affiliates to the CCB Conference and Convention body and presides over the Nominating Committee session.

Crisis Committee:

Christy Crespin, Chair
Phone: 909-800-7189
Crisis Committee Chair

Gail Crossen
Gabe Griffith
Martin Jones
Leslie Thom

The CCB Crisis Committee (when the budget permits) offers emergency grants to CCB members on a one-time basis. Members fill out an application for submission, and all funds are paid directly to vendors.

Devotional Services Committee:

Debra Thompson, Chair
Phone: 916-715-2407
Devotional Services Committee Chair

Gabe Griffith
Olivia Ostergaard
Peter Pardini

The devotional services committee arranges for a Sunday morning worship service at the annual CCB Conference and Convention.

Finance and Budget Committee:

Judy Wilkinson, Chair
Phone: 510 388-5079
Finance and Budget Committee Chair
Lisa Thomas, vice-chair
Phone: 559-250-6760
Finance and Budget Committee Vice-Chair

Kevin Berkery
Gabe Griffith
Rex Ransom
Jeff Thom

The CCB Finance and Budget Committee arranges for an annual audit and conducts an annual review of the Council's Books. We also present a summary of the Council's financial position and provide an annual budget to the Board of Directors for adoption.

Governmental Affairs Committee:

Alice Turner, Co-Chair
Phone: 650-388-0095
Ardis Bazyn, Co-Chair
Phone: 818-238-9321
Governmental Affairs Committee Co-Chair

Jeff Thom, Director Governmental Affairs
Regina Brink, Deputy Director Governmental Affairs
Stephanie Watts, Deputy Director Governmental Affairs

Andy Baracco
Margie Donovan
Chris Fendrick
Gabe Griffith
Steven Mendelsohn
Dirk Neyhart
Joshua Saunders
Robert Wendt

The CCB Governmental Affairs Committee examines legislative and regulatory issues of concern to the California Council of the Blind. The committee, subject to resolutions adopted by the membership or any action taken by the board of directors, determines positions that the organization will take on state legislative proposals. The committee also disseminates information to the chapters about positions that the organization will be taking and issues on which we require members to advocate.

Hearing and Vision Impaired Committee:

Mike Keithley, Chair
Hearing and Vision Impaired Committee Chair

Gabe Griffith
Roger Petersen
Donna Sanchez

The CCB Hearing and Vision Impaired Committee strives to help those who have both a hearing and vision impairment to function effectively in venues like the annual CCB convention. It wants to make available the equipment needed for assistive listening devices in meeting rooms of all sizes.
The committee also sponsors conferences on hearing impairment and blindness, with the goal of addressing accessibility problems in each.

History Committee:

Steven Mendelsohn, Chair
Phone: 510-357-1844
History Committee Chair

Gabe Griffith
Bernice Kandarian

The CCB history committee works to gather written and oral remembrances of our past in order to preserve those memories for future members. We work to get those memories in to a format that can be shared with all members.

Membership Committee:

Joe Green, Chair
Phone: 916-317-7957
Membership Committee Chair

Ardis Bazyn
Christy Crespin
Lorise Diamond
Dharini Dobbins
Gabe Griffith
Jessica Marquez
Jo Smith
Vivian Younger

The mission of the CCB Membership Committee is to encourage and assist CCB chapters and affiliates in increasing and maintaining membership by planning programs and projects, as well as visiting affiliates with specific membership issues. The educational seminars, membership discussion list, and helpful materials developed by the Membership Committee guide chapters and affiliates in their own membership development initiatives, which can include starting a new chapter or affiliate.

This Committee also selects the Chapter of the Year Award winner, hosts the First Timer’s Seminar and recognizes Incentive Growth Award winners at the annual CCB Convention.

Nominating Committee:

Frank Welte, Chair
Phone: 510-541-1442
Nominating Committee Chair
(Members are chosen by the chapters and statewide special interest affiliates)

The Nominating Committee consists of one member from each chapter and statewide affiliate in good standing. Each member is responsible for nominating candidates for positions on the Board of Directors as well as representing their chapter and/or affiliate during voting at the CCB Conference and Convention.

Publications Committee:

Linda Porelle, Chair
Phone: 415-577-8437
Publications Committee Chair
Mike Keithley, Editor
Susan Glass, Co-Editor

Gabe Griffith
Sarah Harris
Lynn Nishihara
Roger Petersen
Bonnie Rennie
Judy Wilkinson

The Publications Committee is responsible for Council publications distributed in Braille, recorded or print format both within and outside the organization, including: The Blind Californian, the Council's quarterly magazine, as well as brochures, pamphlets, speeches, articles, position papers, and any special publications.

Resolutions Committee:

Jeff Thom, Co-Chair
Phone: 916-995-3967
Resolutions Committee Co-Chair
Sarah Harris, Co-Chair
Phone: 559-816-1507
Resolutions Committee Co-Chair

Steve Bauer
Gabe Griffith
Eugene Lozano, Jr.
Dirk Neyhart
Linda Porelle
Robert Wendt

The CCB Resolutions Committee is responsible for the process by which resolutions come to the floor of the annual CCB Conference and Convention. Resolutions may be drafted by the committee or the committee may assist CCB members to draft resolutions for presentation to the committee. Any CCB member may present a resolution. The committee holds hearings at which resolutions presented to it are modified both substantively, if agreed to by the author, and by making technical language and grammar changes. The committee makes recommendations to the membership concerning passage or other action to be taken on resolutions.

Scholarship Committee:

Christy Crespin, Chair
Phone: 909-800-7189
Scholarship Committee Chair

Nelly Emerson
Gabe Griffith
Jessica Marquez
Linda Porelle
Guillermo Robles
Leslie Thom
Rob Turner
Robert Wendt

The CCB Scholarship Committee is responsible for advertising to full-time students who are legally blind residents of California regarding the annual CCB scholarships offered to qualified applicants. Duties include: preparing the application, submitting it to the TOG for placement online from February 1 through May 15. Committee members review the applications and documentation, communicate with the applicants, interview the applicants in the summer, and award applicants according to the data collected. This is a busy committee from May through January, deals with technical information, and is active throughout the year.

Technical Operations Group:

Vita Zavoli, Co-Chair
Phone: 510-846-4080
Technical Operations Group Chair
Phill Obregon, Co-Chair
Phone: 909-675-7415
Technical Operations Group Co-Chair

Steve Aminoff
Steve Bauer
Andrea DeKlotz
Gabe Griffith
Jeremy Johansen
Mike Keithley
Paul Patche Jr
Rob Turner

The CCB Technical Operations Group (TOG) is responsible for the overall maintenance of the CCB website, mailing lists, email accounts; and providing technical advice and suggestions to the CCB office as requested.

Technology Committee:

Andrea DeKlotz, Co-Chair
Phone: 714 921-0289
Technology Committee Co-Chair
Rob Turner, Co-Chair
Phone: 408-203-9300
Technology Committee Co-Chair

Steve Aminoff
John Glass
Gabe Griffith

The CCB technology committee plans and organizes informational technology sessions and workshops. The technology sessions address various aspects of assistive technology needs and concerns for individuals with various degrees of visual impairment. The overall objective is to Educate, inform and work with developers and manufacturers to introduce the latest technology to the blind community.