News
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Red Puppy Appeal update
Red Puppy Appeal 2010 went off with a bark between 26 and 28 March.
The new theme of the appeal was 'Be My Eyes'. It involved a street collection, and nationwide direct marketing, public relations and advertising campaigns.
Thank you to the 6,000 volunteer collectors who gave their time to take part in the street collection, and to the generous New Zealand public. Because of everyone's support, we are well on the way to achieving our $1 million target, with donations still rolling in.
All proceeds go towards our amazing Guide Dog Services.
Photograph: A close-up of a guide dog puppy starring directly into the camera.
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Digital book worms
Calling all book lovers! The Digital Talking Book project is progressing steadily, and the group of 50 library borrowers involved in the pilot programme are now learning how to use the talking book player and CDs.
[Photograph: Ronald reading his favourite magazine on the new player]
Pilot programme participant Ronald Bruell says the new digital talking book player makes reading a very pleasurable experience.
"The player is a versatile machine that is easy to use. The sound quality is excellent, you can adjust the volume for different environments and you can swap from one book to another at the touch of a button," he says.
Ronald enjoys reading magazines and says the design of the new player has improved this experience immensely.
"When you're flicking through a magazine, you don't want to read every bit of text. With the old cassette player it used to take time to skip between sections, but now, you can skim over items more easily."
The player also allows users to bookmark sections and download stories on its internal memory.
Supporting the Digital Talking Book project is the Capital Campaign, which aims to raise funds for the costs associated with developing, implementing, and rolling out digital players to Foundation members. The Capital Campaign hopes to reach its target of $5.5 million over the next two years.
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Members' honourable mentions
Michele Leggott, one of three RNZFB members recognised for their significant contributions A host of Foundation members have recently been acknowledged for personal and professional contributions to their communities.
As part of the 2010 New Year Honours, Margaret Seabrook was awarded a Queen's Service Medal for her work for the blind community.
[Photograph: Michele Leggott, one of three RNZFB members recognised for their significant contributions]
Margaret is president of the Wanganui Branch of the Association of Blind Citizens and is Administration Assistant at the RNZFB's Wanganui Office.
She regularly visits rest homes in the area, and writes a column on blind issues in a local newspaper.
In February, award-winning poet Michele Leggott was promoted to the rank of Professor at The University of Auckland.
She was New Zealand's inaugural Poet Laureate from 2008-2009 and is coordinator of the New Zealand Electronic Poetry Centre, a gateway to poetry resources in the Pacific region.
Waipu personality and blind community worker George Phiskie received a High Achiever award at the New Zealander of the Year Awards, also in February.
George was a finalist for the Local Hero category for his service to the RNZFB, Scouts, St John Ambulance and many local school boards and committees.
Congratulations everyone, on your impressive achievements.
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Happy 120th birthday, RNZFB!
This year, the Foundation celebrates 120 years since its establishment in 1890. With such an iconic history, there have been several key milestones – here, we share a few.
1889. The Association of the Friends of the Blind was formed, and the first teacher, a blind man named John Tighe, was appointed.
1890. The Constitution of the Jubilee Institute for the Blind of New Zealand was formally adopted. It was called the Jubilee Institute to commemorate the Founding of the Colony of New Zealand in 1840.
1891. A temporary wooden school was established in Parnell, Auckland.
[Photograph: A member making a ship's buffer with rope]
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1908. Official opening of the Jubilee Building, which housed a library, school, dormitories, dining hall and kitchen.
1926. The Jubilee Institute for the Blind becomes national and is known as the New Zealand Institute for the Blind (NZIB).
1927. The NZIB Military Band was formed.
[Photograph: The 'Institute Band' prior to touring New Zealand in 1935. The bandmaster, George Bowes, is seated third from the left 1955. An Act of Parliament amended the New Zealand Institute for the Blind to the New Zealand Foundation for the Blind.]
1965. Homai College officially opened, with honourable guests in attendance, including the Queen.
1972. The prefix 'Royal' was added to the New Zealand Foundation for the Blind after the visit of Princess Alexandra.
1973. The RNZFB Guide Dog Centre opened.
1986. The annual Chairman's Award was established. It was – and still is – a large freestanding Maori carving.
[Photograph: Santa comes to town for the Christmas Party in 1914 1989. The RNZFB Talking Book of the Year award was inaugurated.]
2002. The Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind Act came into being. It meant that members could vote for their Board Directors, making the Foundation truly accountable to its people.
2005. The Blind and Low Vision Education Network NZ (BLENNZ) is formed, bringing together Homai College and the country's 12 visual resource centres.
2009. The Strategic Plan 2009-2015 was launched, representing historic change in the Foundation's direction.
2010. We are beginning to redesign our services to ensure we remain financially sustainable in the future.
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Homai reunion
Some former Homai students pose for a class photo Can you remember your school days? Former staff and students from Auckland's Homai College certainly can. They caught up at a much-anticipated reunion this January, forty-six years on from the school's 1964 opening.
A full and entertaining programme of activities was held on campus. There was a chance to swim in the pool and play favourite music and sports games. To everyone's delight, a formal dinner was also held in the old dining room.
It was an unforgettable weekend that gave old and new friends a chance to catch up and relive the memories.
[Photograph: Some former Homai students pose for a class photo.]
Round Table conference
The RNZFB was pleased to act as a key coordinator and contributor to this year's annual conference of the Round Table on Information Access for People with Print Disabilities.
Hosted in Auckland from 23-25 May, it was the first time that the conference has taken place in New Zealand.
Influential educators, librarians and accessible format producers came together to share knowledge relating to the conference theme, 'Think Globally, Act Locally'. They also went on a tour of the Foundation's accessible information services, showcasing our library, equipment services, adaptive technology and communications services.
The conference marked a significant step towards our shared goal: for all information to be accessible to everyone, all the time.
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