Executive View
Page 6
Notes from the Chair
RECOGNITION.
I would like to salute two very talented people who have made enormous contributions to the Foundation and to the blindness community– Paula Daye and Mary Schnackenberg – and to mention a recent UN resolution.
You may know that Paula has resigned from the Foundation after providing outstanding leadership and care since 1999, including over four years as CEO (see page 8 for a full story). And Mary was recognised in the New Year's Honours list.
Paula will continue to lead the Foundation until at least the end of April, as the Board strives to attract the right person to succeed Paula and build on her many successes. Paula's amazing ability as a communicator, her belief in blind people and her incredible energy and commitment to consultation was essential to the evolution of the Foundation. Working with Paula has been a pleasure and an honour for me as Chairman and as a blind person. Thank you Paula for everything!
I'd now like to congratulate Mary, our Divisional Manager Adaptive Support, who in January was awarded Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (CNZM). Mary's far-sighted innovation and persistence have knocked down information barriers to blind New Zealanders. Together with Clive Lansink, Mary pioneered the tape magazine service, the Telephone Information Service, and is now heading a world-leading pilot for distributing talking books via the internet. Mary also has an MBA and is a Fellow of the Library & Information Association of New Zealand Aotearoa.
In December 2006, the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The Convention recognises the necessity to blind people of braille, large print, access to information technology, the right to full, lifelong education, peer support, rehabilitation and vocational training. The thrust is on empowering people to have life choices equal to the rest of the community. The diversity of people with disabilities is accepted, as is the contribution they can make to their communities. Interestingly, the Convention's principles are a useful yardstick for measuring the Foundation's services. And we are measuring up fairly well.
You can contact Don on 09 372 6929 or email him at dmckenzie@clear.net.nz
Page 7
Paula Daye, Chief Executive
Many Outlook readers have been involved with the development of our new draft Strategic Plan (2007-2010), either by making submissions, attending consultation forums, or commenting through consumer organisations. I'd like to thank everyone who participated in this "work in progress". After further refinement, and following Board approval, the new Strategic Plan will be distributed to consumer organisations and Community Committees. It will also be available through the Telephone Information Service (TIS), our website and library, or via email. Members can request a personal copy in their preferred format by ringing 0800 24 33 33.
We are nearing the end of the exciting trial of an internet capable talking book player and will be making a final report to the Board about whether to use the internet or continue with postal delivery in future. Pending the Board's decision later this year, a new library service could be introduced between December 2008 and June 2010 (see page 27). The Service Delivery Pilots are also being evaluated (see page 25), with recommendations to the Board on the future of the Foundation's service delivery expected in the near future.
Our Chairman has paid a lovely tribute to Mary Schnackenberg, who was recognised in the New Year's Honours, and I second that! Well done Mary!
I'd also like to welcome Gerard Rahman as our Chief Financial Officer. His enormous financial skills and experience will be a real asset to the Foundation.
Finally, after eight amazing years at the Foundation, I have decided that it is time to dedicate more time to my family and those activities I've wanted to do for a long while. It certainly has not been an easy decision to leave an organisation I love, whose members and staff have both inspired and motivated me. It has been a privilege to lead this wonderful organisation as it evolved from "For the Blind" to "Of the Blind." I know this evolution will continue under my successor, whom I feel will be very fortunate to be part of this organisation.
Page 8
Farewell to Paula Daye
In her eight years at the Foundation, four as CEO and four as Divisional Manager Adaptive Living, Paula Daye made quite a mark. She is stepping down at approximately the end of April "to devote time to my family and personal things that you can never get to when you are a CEO of such a dynamic organisation."
The Foundation's Board has launched a comprehensive search to find the right successor to Paula, who joined the Foundation in 1999 after a career in health that began in nursing and progressed to her being Chief Executive of Coast HealthCare Ltd in the South Island.
According to Chairman Don McKenzie: "We were fortunate to attract Paula's considerable professional expertise and outstanding personal attributes at a time when the RNZFB was transitioning from a volunteer governed entity to a member-driven organisation. Paula's inspirational leadership and ability to gather about her other talented people as managers is another gift of which there is no measure.
"Paula is leaving the Foundation with a 'can do' legacy and the expectation that blind, deafblind and low-vision New Zealanders will achieve the same citizenship opportunities and responsibilities as any other Kiwi. Paula has shown society the benefits that can be expected with a little investment in the right kind of education, training, rehabilitation, and accommodation of blind people's needs."
Adds Paula: "I dearly love working with people in the blindness community, and in the disability sector. I've been inspired and motivated by many blind people, and I've learnt so much from our staff right throughout the country. This is a truly amazing organisation, and what I take away is priceless. Although I'll miss the Foundation terribly, I really look forward to having more time for myself and my family - and to finally getting round to some personal things that have been on my list for several years!"