News
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Blind Week Appeal 2008 - Volunteers needed!
The RNZFB Blind Week Appeal is our big chance every year to make a difference for all our 11,700 members. Our aim is to raise $1.1 million-plus.
But we need your help! We're looking for over 6,500 volunteers throughout the country during the week of 28 October to 3 November.
To find out how you and your friends can help by donating a few hours in your area call 0508 BLIND WEEK (0508 254 6395) to speak to your local Regional Fundraising Manager about becoming a volunteer. You can also register online at www.blindweek.org.nz
Contact us now to 'See The Difference You Make'.
Board elections 2008
This year, the terms of service for three RNZFB Board Directors – Neville Bennett, Jonathan Godfrey and Jason Hollingworth – come to an end. Full Foundation members have the right to nominate and elect people to fill these general seats. A letter calling for nominations was distributed to all members at the beginning of August and members can expect to receive voting packs during the first week of October. The names of the newly elected Directors will be announced at the AGM on 8 November. If you have any questions about the elections or the voting process, call Gary Williamson, Member Liaison Officer, on 0800 24 33 33, Option 0.
Foundation welcomes new Executive Directors
On Thursday 8 May 2008, Chief Executive Sandra Budd announced a consultation process with Foundation staff on a proposed restructure of senior management. The aim of the restructure was to build a team to deliver the Foundation's future direction and sustainability.
On 27 May, Sandra Budd announced the final executive structure and work began on recruiting a team of Executive Directors (EDs).
As a result of this process, the Foundation is pleased to welcome five new Executive Directors: Neil Jarvis, ED Access, Innovation and Enterprise, Alison Wheatley, ED Marketing and Fundraising, Paulette Cotter, ED People and Culture, Sara Peary, ED Stakeholder Relations, Gerard Rahman, ED Strategy, Improvement and Performance.
Neil and Gerard, who members will know from previous roles within the Foundation, took up their new roles on 21 July. Paulette, Alison and Sara joined us on 1 September.
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The initial recruitment round did not result in an appointment to the Direct Client Contact Services position. However vital work has already started around the integrated journey for members. To assist with this work and lead the team until the new ED is on board, experienced senior executive, Gary Henry, joined us on 1 August as Acting ED Direct Client Contact Services.
Full profiles and interviews with the new EDs will be included in December's Outlook. Meanwhile, you can find further information on the restructure at www.rnzfb.org.nz/executive_restructure or at TIS Option 348. Updates are also being distributed on the General Announcements list (see page 7).
Digital talking books update
In recent months, planning and preparation for the transition to digital talking books has continued and good progress has been made in several areas.
Working with blindness organisations in Australia and the UK, as well as manufacturers, the required features of the players have been finalised. Work to grow the Foundation's digital library also continues, with 3,000 titles now stored in digital format.
In July, the Board received an independent readiness report into digital talking books. The report's findings have been accepted and are being used to inform the preparation work around the transition.
FAQs have been developed, giving more detail on the project. These can be accessed via the Foundation's website at www.rnzfb.org.nz/dtbfaqs and through TIS at Option 18.
Farewell Mary
In August the Foundation farewelled Mary Schnackenberg. Born blind, Mary worked at the Foundation for more than three decades.
Mary completed a BA in History at the University of Auckland in 1973. From then until her appointment as Divisional Manager, Adaptive Support in 1999, Mary worked as a librarian, Manager Braille Services, and then as Library Services Manager at the Foundation.
Within the Foundation, Mary's many achievements include overseeing the delivery of more than 8,000 talking books and magazines to members each week, and pioneering the tape magazine service and the Telephone Information Service. More recently, Mary initiated the Foundation's innovative digital talking book project.
Mary's influence will continue to be far-reaching. Her innovation and
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drive has knocked down numerous barriers to blind New Zealanders and she has persistently lobbied for access to information for blind people. She is a strong advocate for braille use and awareness and in April was elected President of the International Council on English Braille. This is testimony to her world reputation in this field.
Mary has been an active member of the Association of Blind Citizens of New Zealand since the early 1970s and has also served on the Auckland Regional Land Transport Committee.
Mary was the first blind New Zealander to earn an MBA and in 2006 was awarded a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (CNZM) for her services to the vision-impaired community.
Chairman Don McKenzie says, "Mary is a passionate advocate for the rights of blind and partially-sighted people both within and outside of the Foundation and is tireless in her work. There are few who have done so much to advance the lives of blind, deafblind and vision-impaired New Zealanders. We thank her for her extraordinary personal contribution to the blindness community and wish her all the very best for the future."
Members meet Insight challenge
In May, 12 members took part in an Insight Course, a joint venture between the RNZFB's Recreation Services and the Outward Bound Trust.
Held in Queen Charlotte Sound, members participated in a range of outdoor activities including sailing, tramping, and even swimming with jellyfish!
Member Katrina Harrison says everyone should give it a go. "Don't think about it, just do it. You have no idea how it will change your life."
The course gave members the opportunity to challenge themselves and build self-confidence.
Another participant, David Piper, says, "Each challenge was there to be beaten – through this I learned nothing is impossible."
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Ophthalmologists see it our way
For the first time in 32 years, a group of 26 ophthalmologists and registrars visited Awhina House on 10 March.
They came to check out the gadgets that RNZFB members use to stay connected, like TALKS software on cell phones and screen-reading software on computers.
Chris Orr, Manager Community Education and Awareness says, "The visit was a great way to raise awareness and we hope to repeat it around the country."
Paralympians head for Beijing
Three Foundation members will be competing in the Beijing Paralympics, held 6-17 September.
Young swimmer Daniel Sharp will be competing in the 50m and 100m freestyle, as well as the 100m breaststroke; cyclist Jayne Parsons will be racing in the 3000m event, a 1000m sprint and a road-based time trial; and UK-based member Tim Prendergast will be taking on the 1500m and 5000m events.
Good luck team!
Nelson members rock the boat
Nelson members Pam Mahuika and Kaye Halkett became the first blind New Zealanders to take part in the Masters Rowing Championships in June.
Pam and Kaye, along with member Mike Stevens, have rowed with the Nelson Rowing Club since 2005.
Kaye says, "It is satisfying to know that, as visually impaired people, we can take part in a sport, with a little adaptation, and be in the same boat with our fully sighted peers."
A mighty kauri has fallen
Harry Wilkinson, Queen's Service Medal recipient and RNZFB
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member, passed away on 26 May 2008. Born in Petone on 24 October 1924, Harry dedicated his life to helping others. He worked for the Foundation in Wellington as a Welfare Officer from 1957 to 1984. His role covered many tasks, from home visits, to teaching members how to get around safely, to raising awareness about the needs of blind people with the community and government. Harry will be greatly missed.
A tribute to Gwen Nagel by Don McKenzie
In July, Gwen Nagel, Principal of the Blind and Low Vision Education Network NZ (BLENNZ), retired after 25 years of dedicated service to the education of the blind. Gwen is a pioneering teacher of which there is no equal in this country.
For 118 years the Foundation of the Blind has been a national centre to which blind and partially sighted people come to learn to adjust to sight loss. The lives of blind New Zealanders have been shaped by great teachers such as John Tighe, the Foundation's founding blind Director, Jane Collier and Mary Blythe Law. Gwen Nagel will take her place amongst these as the teacher who led blindness education into the 21st Century.
In 2000 the State took over schooling from the Foundation. BLENNZ was formed in 2005, bringing together Homai College and the country's 12 visual resource centres. This was a milestone for New Zealand special education. Its success has been largely due to Gwen.
Gwen began teaching at Homai College for the Blind in 1983. Already an innovative and creative leader, Gwen completed the Diploma in Blindness Education at Auckland College of Education in 1985. She lectured in that programme from 1994 to 1999, when she was appointed Chief Executive of the Vision Education Agency.
As Principal of BLENNZ, Gwen has transformed blindness education from a confusion of local interpretations of policy and practice into a cohesive team of highly trained specialist teachers and support staff, catering for over 1,400 students. This has been achieved through Gwen's commitment to the highest professional standards; a remarkable ability to inspire
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staff and build relationships; the adherence to consummate ethical standards; a profound belief in the right of her students to have and achieve the best; and a belief that even the most intractable educational challenge can be offset by good teaching that unleashes human potential.
BLENNZ stands as a tribute to Gwen who, through her belief in the ability of her students, has created a service that will go on shaping the lives of young blind learners for generations to come.
Budget funds more specialist teachers
In May's Budget, the Government announced an extra $6.1m for specialist staff to support blind, deafblind and vision-impaired school students.
The money will be paid over the next four years to the Blind and Low Vision Education Network New Zealand (BLENNZ). It will fund an extra 15 Resource Teachers Vision, who work with students and their educators to ensure learning programmes are tailored to suit blind and low-vision learners.
The Budget announcement came after years of lobbying by the Foundation, BLENNZ, Parents of Vision Impaired, Association of Blind Citizens NZ, Ngāti Kāpo and others in the united blindness community.
Christmas gifts that keep on giving
With Christmas just around the corner, we have produced a 2009 calendar and a pack of six identical Christmas cards. These items usually sell out - so get in quick!
The calendars have a different photo for each month and, like the cards, star our very own guide dogs and guide dog puppies.
We also have a range of gifts that make great presents at any time of year, like t-shirts, mouse pads, bandanas, necklaces and silver charm bracelets featuring Foundation-inspired charms.
All proceeds go to the Foundation.
For a gift catalogue, contact Julie McMeeken, National Appeals Advisor. Email jmcmeeken or phone 04 380 2120.
Staying in the email loop
The Foundation hosts several email lists, one of which is General Announcements. Joining this list means you'll get information about what's happening in the NZ blindness community, plus news from the Board and Chief Executive. Membership is open to all. To join, send an email to announce-join@lists.rnzfb.org.nz.You'll receive a reply asking you to confirm that you want to be added. Simply reply to this without changing the subject heading, or click on the link within that email.