Honoring Catherine Skivers
By Judy Wilkinson
On the early morning of December 12, 2019, Catherine Skivers passed away. The last few months of her life were increasingly difficult for Cathie and her family. She had to leave her beloved home to be cared for in a rehab facility and finally in a hospice setting. The blindness community lost a giant that day.
But up until a few days before the end, she was taking calls from her friends from around the country. And being Cathie, she was still concerned about the day-to-day doings of The California Council of the Blind. In her last call with me she gave input on various budget matters which the board was considering. She wanted to make sure her concerns were known. Isn't that just Cathie?
Usually, in the issues of The Blind Californian immediately following the death of such an important personage as Cathie, we would publish remembrances and tributes. But we have lots more plans to remember her which are laid out below. We will be honoring Cathie over the next year. All the contact information and instructions are summarized in the final section of this article.
Memorial Service
A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, May 2, (Cathie's 95th birthday) from 1 PM to 4 PM at the San Francisco Lighthouse. Lighthouse CEO Brian Bashin has generously donated the space for this event. Seating is limited to 110 people, but we will be broadcasting over ACB Radio so that folks around the world can share in remembering Cathie. The Lighthouse has a state-of-the-art sound system so those wishing to be on the speakers' list can participate in person or by phone. You should sign up for the speakers' list to ensure inclusion. While there may be time for spontaneous remarks, the speakers who sign up will present first. Also, we must account for every person in the building, so we need those planning to attend in person to sign up was well.
Light refreshments will conclude the event.
Catherine Skivers: An ACB Angel
Bayview Chapter got the ball rolling and through a motion plus additional donations, the amount guaranteeing her angel status was reached at the chapter's January meeting. The CCB board voted to donate $500 as well. You can donate to Cathie's Angel status by calling the Minneapolis office. A presentation will occur during ACB's convention some time between July 4-9
Memorial Issue of The Blind Californian
The Publications Committee has taken on a major project to honor Cathie. We will publish a special issue of the BC in print, audio and braille at $20, as well as our current email and web formats. We hope to publish this issue in late fall. We plan to gather a number of Cathie's writings, but here is where you come in. We will publish memories and tributes from anyone wishing to remember Cathie. Pieces may be edited because of space concerns. Please send all submissions to Blind Californian Editor, Mike Keithley by September 1 2020: editor@ccbnet.org. The web and email versions will be distributed at no cost, but we are asking for a $20 donation for those wishing a keepsake print or braille version.
Catherine Skivers Contingency Fund
In carrying out these various plans to memorialize Cathie, the Council may incur unforeseen costs. Funds which are not used in support of the various events will be put into CCB's Crisis Fund.
Historic Recordings
In 2018 Steve Mendelsohn, a member of CCB's History Committee worked with Cathie to create some historic recordings. He submitted questions which she answered. These are old-fashioned 2-track cassette recordings which we plan to digitize and make available both on our website and the San Francisco Lighthouse archives. We have no planned completion date for this project. Steve has several hours of precious material. When digitized, this material will be available to all free of charge. This is a magnificent treasure trove in Cathie's own voice!
Next Steps
As you can see, we have lots of ways we will be honoring Catherine Skivers, this ACB and CCB amazing leader.
What You Can Do
Memorial Service:
May 2, 2020
1 PM to 4 PM
San Francisco Lighthouse
1155 Market Street
San Francisco (10th floor)
To be placed on the speakers' list in person or by phone or to get your name on the in-person seating list:
Call Bayview Chapter member Connie Skeen
Phone: 510-532-7687 (leave a message and if necessary, Connie will return your call. She does not identify herself by name.)
Email: conske@pacbell.net
ACB Angel
To donate to the Catherine Skivers ACB Angel Fund:
Call the Minneapolis office: 612-332-3242 (using a credit card)
Checks: Send checks to ACB with a note in the memo line that it is for the Catherine Skivers Angel Fund
6300 Shingle Creek Pkwy, STE 195
Brooklyn Center, MN 55430
Blind Californian Special Issue or Catherine Skivers Contingency Fund
To be placed on the print or braille list for the special BC issue, or to donate to the Contingency Fund:
Call CCB Operations Manager Nicole Pacheco
916-441-2100 or toll free 800-221-6359.
Send checks payable to Skivers Contingency Fund; if for BC, in the memo state whether for braille or print. ($20 per copy) If for the contingency fund, put "donation" in the memo.
