DISCLAIMER: This publication contains announcements from the Silicon Valley Council of the Blind and is also a forum for opinions relating to blindness issues. Signed articles reflect the views, and research, of their authors.
STATUS: SVCB is a 501(c)3 non-profit, tax-exempt organization under the California Council of the Blind.
MEETING LOCATION: SVCB's monthly meetings are held in the dining room of the Monte Vista Terrace Apts. at 1101 Grant Road, Mountain View. Meetings run 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. the third Saturday of the month and are open to all. Monte Vista Terrace is one block from the intersection of Grant Road and El Camino Real and is accessible by bus #22.
Note: Local contact information is removed except when requested to remain. For local contact info, access www.svcb.cc.
Note: Local contact information is removed except when requested to remain. For local contact info, access http://www.svcb.cc.
Happy 4th of July to everyone! I hope that this hot weather hasn't been too much of a bother. Let's hope the winds will continue, making it tolerable.
I am writing my last President's Message, because as most of you now know, I have resigned my position due to family commitments. I will continue to support the organization by being Immediate Past President, to give Ms. Dawn Wilcox a break. I will also continue lending my support to Mike Keithley and anyone else who may need my assistance, opinion and/or comments on any issue. I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who helped me along the way. Without your help I would not have made it this far. Thanks!
I will also continue to try to attend meetings, and bring my homemade chili beans to our annual picnic. See you then! and take care.
Return to "In This Issue""Hello everyone," as Lupe used to say. She had to resign as President for family reasons, and I was elected to finish her term. Let's all wish Lupe the best!
I want to thank all of you who elected me, and I hope I'll live up to your expectations. Since I was Vice President before the election, that office was filled by John Glass; and since John had been a Director, that position was filled by Debee Norling Armstrong. So our roster after the musical chairs is:
Whew, that June meeting was some event, and we had a noteworthy program as well: Debee Norling Armstrong, who is Alternate Media Director at De Anza college, sketched her life for us and the things she does at De Anza that disabled students can make good use of. Want to hear it? Go to www.svcb.cc and navigate to the June program.
Another happening at this meeting was Dawn Wilcox's reading of a proposed change to our constitution, which you'll find below at the end of this newsletter. We'll be voting on this change soon so you should read it.
Our July meeting also promises to be busy. We'll begin plans for White Cane Safety Day and Employment of People with Disabilities Awareness Month and appoint the Holiday Party Chair. Unfortunately I'll not be at the meeting--I'll be in Orcas Island, Washington, for the second five-year family reunion. John Glass will preside.
Since there are only six months in my term, I think my presidency will be more stewardship than a time of change. But I do plan to talk to the Board and do some brainstorming on attracting young people and starting new activities. Remember that you are invited to Board meetings as visitors. The date, time, phone number, and ID code are all listed in the Event Calendar of this newsletter. Comments, suggestions and feedback are always welcomed. Call me at 650-386-6286 or email mkeithley@pobox.com.
Get ready for our picnic! It's in August in lieu of the meeting; and I'm sure you'll find it enjoyable, as I always have. Read about it in this newsletter; and contact Bev Clifford with your food contributions and Naomi Grubb with your raffle prize.
Victor Clifford is looking for someone to take over the job of taking lunch orders at meetings. Contact him if you'd like to try this.
Again, thank you all for electing me President.
Return to "In This Issue"At our July 21 meeting, thanks to John Glass, we will have as our speaker Tiffany Medina. She is an intern at Benetech, where John works, and he says that she is rather adventuresome, taking part in triathlon and other non-easy activities.
I am looking forward to getting to know Tiffany along with you, so see you there!
Return to "In This Issue"Silicon Valley Council of the Blind will be holding its annual picnic August 18, 2007, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Baylands Park, Sunnyvale, CA. Address is: 999 East Caribbean Drive, Sunnyvale--at the East end of the Lawrence Expressway. Our site is: Bay Breeze #1.
For those people coming by car, parking is $5 per vehicle. Outreach will have access to the park at no charge and can drop off and pick up rides directly at the site. Unfortunately, there is no VTA service on Saturdays to Baylands Park. We are attempting to arrange pick-up/delivery service at Caltrain and the nearest Light Rail station. We will be publishing more information about that as soon as it is available.
People planning to attend are asked to sign up by August 10, and they are expected to bring a potluck dish that will serve 5-6 people. Meat will be provided. If for some reason you are unable to bring a potluck dish, you may pay $5 per guest in your party. Bev Clifford will be handling the sign-up and potluck registration. She can be reached at 408-223-6444. Call her early so you can get your first choice in!
A raffle will be conducted by Naomi Grubb, and she is looking for raffle prizes. Tickets will be $1 each, or 6 for $5. Please bring your contribution to the picnic, and if you have any questions about what to donate, you can reach Naomi at: 408-281-3631. It's a good opportunity to share those unwanted items that would be appreciated by others and help make some money for SVCB!
If you have any questions about the picnic, feel free to call Victor Clifford at 408-223-6444.
Return to "In This Issue"Welcome to new member Norma Torres, and happy July birthdays to Jim Brown, Rose Deterding, Barbara Dickinson, Greg Fowler, Kathy Hoag, Susan Hyatt, Ernie Molina, Joanne Molina, and Carol Silveria!
This month I have the honor of telling you about another recipient of a special award during the CCB banquet in April. Elmer Chapson was inducted into the CCB Hall of Fame.
Elmer was born a few years ago in Pagosa Springs, Colorado. He said that then it was just a "cow town," but now it is "a place to go" because of the hot springs that have made it a "spa town." He was born totally blind with congenital cataracts. However, after seven operations, he regained some sight and is now considered legally blind with a visual acuity of 20/200. He had one sister, who passed away at age 61.
He left Colorado at age two and a half when his grandparents brought him to Santa Rosa to live after his mother passed away. Although his last operation was in 1932, he did not enter school until 1935, when he was ten, because school officials in Sonoma County did not know what to do with a visually impaired child. He went to the California School for the Blind (CSB), which, at the time, was located in Berkeley and now is in Fremont. He said that while he was in school, up until college, all of his classwork was done in Braille. In college, he used the services of a personal reader.
In 1945, Elmer entered the University of California in Berkeley where, in 1950, he received his degree in Spanish and Latin American History.
After graduation, he worked for two years at odd jobs, such as in a packing house and as a supervisor in the farm worker/ Bracero program. He said that this was where being fluent in Spanish was very beneficial.
In 1952, Elmer began working for the California Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) where he remained until his retirement in 1987. His position was that of counselor/teacher. He was one of the first bilingual counselors for DOR. From 1952 until 1968, he worked at the Oakland office and then was in on the ground floor when the new School for the Blind opened in Fremont.
>From 1955 until 1975, Elmer Served blind inmates in the California prison system, the California Men's Colony at San Luis Obispo, San Quentin, and the federal prison in Pleasanton. He helped develop parole plans for blind inmates and served as a counselor as well as teaching Braille and mobility.
After he retired from DOR, Elmer worked from 1988 to 1991 at the Lions Blind Center in Oakland as a mobility teacher for senior citizens. Since 1991, Elmer has continued to do volunteer and contract work as a mobility instructor. He said that he gets many of his clients through referrals from students he has taught over the last 30 years. He said, "I do not know what I will do when I grow up."
In 1959, Elmer married Lois. They lived in Los Gatos until her death in 2004. He said that they both enjoyed traveling, especially to Sweden where Lois' family was from.
Elmer said that his hobbies include lots of walking and traveling. He really enjoyed his trip to Ireland, where he was able to indulge in some of his favorite activities: string music, beer, and ice cream.
CCB:
Connecting Through Dance provides ballroom dance classes for the blind and visually impaired. We are about to have our Lucky 7 Ball! A great way to see old friends and make new ones, and have fun learning to dance. Beginners are welcome, no partner needed, many volunteer guide dancers will be on hand. All proceeds go to support the CTD VIP (Visually Impaired Partner) Dance Program for the Blind and Visually Impaired. The event starts at 7 p.m. with a dance lesson, then dancing until 11 p.m. There will also be a dessert buffet, and fantastic raffle prizes.
When: Saturday, 07/07/2007, 7-11 p.m. What: Lucky 7 Ball, $25 in advance, $30 at the door Who: Connecting Through Dance Where: Lake Merritt Dance Center, 200 Grand Avenue, Oakland, CA More info: www.connectingthroughdance.com. 510-501-4713
Return to "In This Issue"Santa Clara Bowling Group: Every Saturday at Moonlight Lanes in Santa Clara, info@visionbeyondsight.org.
Jul 6, 10 a.m.-noon: SAF lab tour. Call 408-245-7330 for reservations.
Jul 7, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.: SMCB meeting. Contact
Jul 7, 7-11pm, Lucky 7 Ball, Oakland (see previous article).
Jul 11, 7-9 p.m.: SVCB Board meeting; Meeting Place, 650-260-9029 ID 7822222.
Jul 18, 6:30-8 p.m.: ACB Open Forum; 800-633-8638, ID 53878255 (let's talk).
Jul 21 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m.: SVCB membership meeting; dining room, Monte Vista Terrace Apartments, 1101 Grant Road, Mountain View; Outreach reference: 650-940-9769. Lunch orders must be made by 9:45. 9:30: Coffee and conversation, 10: Program, 11: Business, 12: lunch. Program: Tiffany Medina. Business: Begin plans for White Cane Safety Day and Employment of People with Disabilities Awareness Month, appoint Holiday Party Chair, vote on proposed Constitutional Amendment.
Jul 27, noon: SVCB In Touch newsletter deadline.
Jul 28: SMCB bowling.
Jul 29, 1:30-3:30: Ye Olde Towne Band free concert; Shoup Park; 390 University Ave.; Los Altos.
Aug 3, 10 a.m-noon SAF lab tour.
Aug 5, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.: SMCB meeting.
Aug 8, 7-9 p.m.: SVCB board meeting.
Aug 15, 6:30-8 p.m.: ACB open forum.
Aug 18, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.: SVCB picnic at Baylands Park, Sunnyvale. Check newsletters and PhoneTree updates.
Aug 24, noon: September In Touch newsletter deadline.
Aug 25, SMCB bowling.
Aug 26, 1:30-3 p.m.: Ye Olde Towne Band free concert.
Sep 5, 7-9 p.m.: SVCB Board meeting.
Sep 15, 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m.: SVCB Monthly meeting: elect delegates for CCB Fall Convention, discuss resolutions for same, announce Nominating Committee, begin planning for Braille Literacy Month, and remind members to acquire door prizes for Holiday Party.
Sep 19, 6:30-8 p.m.: ACB Open Forum.
Sep 21: Send current number of members to CCB.
Sep 28, noon: October newsletter deadline.
Sep 30, 1:30-3 p.m.: Ye Olde Towne Band free concert.
Return to "In This Issue"(Action scheduled for July 21 regular meeting.)
Section 4.5 June 15, 2007 [first reading, general meeting, June 16, 2007]
CURRENT VERSION [from SVCB Constitution, June 19, 2004]
ARTICLE IV. OFFICERS AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section 4.5. When any vacancy occurs on the Board of Directors it shall be filled by election at the next regular meeting of the membership. The person elected to fill the vacancy shall serve for the remainder of the term created by the vacancy. This partial term shall not be counted toward the maximum number of terms he/she may serve.
DRAFT VERSION
[June 9, 2007; enclosed in brackets] [Section 4.5. In case of the illness, death or resignation of the president, the vice president becomes president for the unexpired term. This partial term shall not be counted toward the maximum number of terms he/she may serve. Any vacancy created by such succession or election can be filled at the same meeting.
When any other vacancy occurs on the Board of Directors it shall be filled by election at the next regular meeting of the membership. The person elected to fill the vacancy shall serve for the remainder of the term created by the vacancy. This partial term shall not be counted toward the maximum number of terms he/she may serve.]
Reviewed and approved by Roger D. Petersen, June 15, 2007
Background Resources:
1. Roberts Rules 1915 X 58. Additional Duties of the President of a Society, and the Vice Presidents. In addition to his duties as presiding officer, in many societies the president has duties as an administrative or executive officer. Where this is desired, the by-laws should clearly set forth these duties, as they are outside of his duties as presiding officer of the assembly, and do not come within the scope of parliamentary law. The same is true of vice presidents. Sometimes they have charge of different departments of work and they should be chosen with those duties in view as prescribed by the by-laws.
*It must not be forgotten that in the case of the absence of the president the first vice president must preside, and in case of the illness or resignation or death of the president that the first vice president becomes president for the unexpired term, unless the rules specify how vacancies shall be filled. In such case the second vice president becomes the first, and so on. It is a mistake to elect a vice president who is not competent to perform the duties of president.
2. CCB Constitution 2003 Section 10.7. If a vacancy occurs in the office of President during the period between regular Conventions the First and Second Vice Presidents shall serve as President and Vice President respectively until the next regularly scheduled Convention at which time the office of President shall be filled by election. After the election the First and Second Vice Presidents shall resume their respective duties as First and Second Vice Presidents except in the event that one or the other should be elected President. In that case the vacated position shall be filled by election at the same Convention.
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