News
- Outward Bound group
- World Blind Union essay competition
- Site for Sore Eyes
- VisionConnection
- Wellington Braille club winds up
- 2004 Governance timetable
- Community Committee Annual Public Meetings
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Outward Bound group
On 2 March, 12 Foundation members, Foundation staff and volunteer Nicki Trevathan, travelled to Outward Bound in Anakiwa, thanks to donations made by customers of a South Island company, CallSouth.
Throughout the eight days, the group christened "Cookwatch" experienced challenges such as team building exercises, tramping, camping, rock climbing, raft building, and yachting, to name just a few of the activities. Everyone in the group overcame great mental and physical challenges, and the changes in confidence amongst everyone in the group, and the increased positive attitudes were amazing. All the group members personally recommend this course for anyone!
This is the third course designed specifically for a group of blind and vision-impaired people, held at Outward Bound.
World Blind Union essay competition
WBU Asia-Pacific and "The Braille Mainichi" newspaper have announced the 2nd Onkyo Braille Essay Award for vision-impaired people in the Asia Pacific Region. The essay topic is: How braille literacy has changed my life.
Essays must be between 750 and 1000 words, written in braille, and be received by Allen Little, 7 Earl St, Levin by 30 June 2004. For more information contact Allen Little at: ph 06 368 8484 or email: vision@inspire.net.nz
Site for Sore Eyes
The "Site for Sore Eyes" is an audio news tape website where the editor, Ken Matthews, offers news and an editorial audio column on life in Mid-Fife, Scotland. The URL is: http://www.kenmatthews.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/
VisionConnection
VisionConnection is an accessible and interactive internet portal founded by Lighthouse International, and the Royal National Institute of the Blind. Described as the "Yahoo!" for people who are blind and visually impaired, it connects people, services, and resources around the world.
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VisionConnection's front page is designed to be an "online home", and is customisable to users' information needs. VisionConnection can be found at www.visionconnection.org
Wellington Braille club winds up
The Wellington Braille club, founded in 1930, has, after much soul searching, decided to wind up its activities. However, some of the transcribers will continue to produce braille.
The news the club is winding up is very sad for lifelong Foundation members who have borrowed from the Parnell and Homai libraries and attended the Kelburn Visual Resource Centre.
The Foundation is working with the club to complete the writing of its history so that we can celebrate with the transcribers their outstanding contribution to literacy through braille.
2004 Governance timetable
The 2004 governance timetable was approved at the February board meeting.
The key dates, including the Election of Directors, are below:
Feb 27 ... Board appointed Geoff Warne as Returning Officer
Aug 3 ... Call for nominations for Directors
Sept 2 ... Nominations for Directors close
Sept 23 ... Voting papers for Directors sent to governing members
Sept 30 ... Notice of AGM sent to governing members
Oct 21 ... Closing date of ballot for Directors
Oct 29 ... Annual General Meeting, new Directors announced, retirement
of outgoing Directors
If you would like more information, please call Geoff Warne on 09 355 6869 or 0800 24 33 33 if out of Auckland. You can also write to the Returning Officer, Private Bag 99941, Newmarket, Auckland.
Community Committee Annual Public Meetings
Over the next six weeks or so, each of the Foundation's 42 Community Committees will be holding their annual public meetings. These meetings give members, associate members and supporters of the Foundation a chance to meet, elect new committee members and contribute to local social and support activities. Everyone is welcome to attend. The time commitment for those elected to committees is not too great, and so a wide range of people find they are able to get involved. If you would like to attend your local committee's annual public meeting, the list of dates, times and venues for each committee is on page 6.