Highlights 2006-2007
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70 years of talking books!
The Foundation's library lends more than 400,000 talking books and magazines annually, with some readers devouring a dozen a week. Foundation members, staff, narrators and VIPs celebrated the 70th anniversary of talking books in NZ. This photo shows Prime Minister Helen Clark, RNZFB Divisional Manager Mary Schnackenberg, RNZFB Chief Executive Paula Daye, and Minister Responsible for the National Library Judith Tizard.
Sir Ed and Yanche
Sir Edmund Hillary has supported Guide Dog Services for years, providing sketches and autographing $5 notes. These always bring high bids at auctions from Kiwis wanting to own a bit of history and support a great cause. Sir Ed was recently photographed with guide dog puppy Yanche (pronounced yun-gee, which is a common female Sherpa name). Sir Ed and Lady Hillary named this very special puppy.
TALKS and mobiles
Mobile phones are everywhere. And thanks to our partnership with Vodafone more than 75 RNZFB members were supplied with phones equipped with TALKS technology this year. TALKS software lets you text or even surf the internet over your mobile without needing to see the screen. Funding from the Vodafone New Zealand Foundation enabled our Adaptive Technology staff to provide training on how to use the TALKS enabled phones.
Blind Sport teens bring home the medals
Five blind and vision-impaired teens, all aged 13-14 years, were hugely successful at the Rocky Mountain State Games in Colorado in August 2006. They competed against more than 6,000 of their sighted peers in swimming and athletics and brought home one gold, four silver and four bronze medals! Blind Sport New Zealand is one of eight Consumer Organisations funded by RNZFB. From left are Daniel Holt, Hamish Tahana, Lucy McLeod, Cameron Laken and Mary Fisher.
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'Red Puppies' light up NZ
Guide dog puppy Stella had a million-dollar smile and big brown eyes to die for. Stella and the first Red Puppy Appeal raised a record $1.1m in March/April. The Fundraising Department's clever multi-media campaign to attract new puppy sponsors was also a huge success. More than 3,800 new puppy sponsors had signed up by 30 June... and the sponsorships just kept rolling in!
College completes Parnell site build-out
In 1890, when the Foundation opened for business, it was located in the "wop-wops". Today, this piece of prime real estate, nestled between Parnell and Newmarket, is in effect "the family silver." It is also a source of significant annual rental income. This year's opening of ACG Parnell College completed development of the Foundation's Parnell site.
Three cheers for volunteers!
Volunteers are critical to the Foundation. The implementation plan for a review of Volunteer Services, approved by the Board in principle, will help us continue to attract dedicated volunteers like Katy Kapadia. She and sons Denzel and Cameron helped Foundation members John and Konini Glen with shopping and appointments. Mr Glen died in 2007 but Katy continues to help Mrs Glen.
Changing CEs
Chief Executive Paula Daye (at far right) resigned in January, after eight years with the Foundation, the last four as CE. Paula continued to lead the organisation throughout the fiscal year and provided a smooth transition to new CE Sandra Budd. Sandra, who started at the Foundation on 16 July, has an impressive 35-year career in health, both in New Zealand and Australia.
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Big on braille
Not every blind, deafblind or vision-impaired person reads braille. In fact, only a small percentage do, since blindness frequently accompanies old age, and old fingertips might not be as sensitive as you'd like. But because braille can be hugely important to members, the Foundation is actively promoting a range of new braille resources and raising public awareness. We produced or duplicated over 120,000 braille pages this year.
Website award
The Foundation's website won the Best Subscriber/Special Interest award at the Qantas Media Awards. The judge said our website (www.rnzfb.org.nz) sums up the potency of the new digital age: access to all, information that everybody - literally everybody - can use. The Foundation's website is "our window to the world" and equally accessible to blind, deafblind, vision-impaired and sighted users.
Fighting unemployment
Unemployment runs at over 60 percent for Foundation members of working age, but we are getting more runs on the board. Employment Services helped 49 members into new work placements and supported another 140 members so they could remain in their jobs despite failing eyesight. In all, 468 members received some sort of vocational assistance. Thomas Bryan is Manager of Employment Services.
Going digital ... soon!
Out with the postman and in with the internet... At least that's the plan. In a world first, the Foundation and HumanWare successfully trialled a digital talking book (DTB) player designed for seniors and featuring internet delivery. The Foundation's Board has approved, in principle, transitioning from our 20-year-old tape players to digital ones. The project will take several years and cost millions. Mary Schnackenberg shows new Chief Executive Sandra Budd a DTB player.
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Great Barrier getaway
Six adult Foundation members and two Recreation Services staff soaked up Great Barrier Island life during a week-long adventure in April. The group spent a week at the Sir Edmund Hillary Outdoor Pursuits Centre kayaking, sailing, rock climbing and taking bush walks. The adventure, teamwork and Great Barrier's beautiful marine setting made for what some members called a "magical" and "inspiring" experience.
Pearson Fund
This was a record year for the Sir Arthur Pearson Memorial Fund. Some 137 new leases were approved for Closed Circuit Televisions alone. The Pearson Fund also leases adaptive software, braille devices and a few tandem bicycles. The fund is helping more than 600 Foundation members who have no other means of assistance. The average equipment lease is for about $3,000, but top-end technology can cost over $10,000! The fund was established in 1923 and is operated by the RNZFB.
Kudos from Reader's Digest
Reader's Digest has once again named the Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind as one of the most trusted charities in New Zealand. In fact we were the third most trusted charity. This award puts the Foundation in the "elite company" of the nation's most trusted charities, individuals like Sir Edmund Hillary, Margaret Mahy and Dr Peter Snell, and most trusted professions of firefighters, ambulance officers and pilots. The Foundation has moved up two places since Reader's Digest ran its most trusted list in 2004. "Without this high level of trust, there is no way we could raise the huge amount required every year to provide services to our members," says Chief Executive Paula Daye.
Accessible Annual Report
This print copy is just one version of the Foundation's Annual Report. We also produce our Annual Report in braille, audio, large print and electronic text. In this way, everyone has access to the report, whether they are blind, deafblind, vision-impaired or fully sighted. Our Annual Report is also available on our website as a PDF, Word document, in large print, and as full-text Digital Accessible Information System (DAISY) and braille files.