Current AER Board Members: President: Rachel Buchanan rbuchanan@wasblind.org President Elect: Lis Geoghegan Lis.geoghegan@asb.k12.ar.us Secretary: Nancy Elmore Nancy.elmore@va.gov Treasurer: Stephanie Smith Stephanie.Smith@asb.k12.ar.us Past President: Bill Jacobson whjacobson@ualr.edu Debbie Adams debeadams@yahoo.com Melanie Birthright melanie.birthright@swaec.org Carolyn Hogue Dean Ingalls dingalls@lwsb.lind.org Ebony Kelly ebony.kelly@dhs.arkansas.gov Dr. John McAllister jwmcallister@ualr.edu Tiffany Moore tiff0200@yahoo.com Sharon Niemczyk Sharon.niemczyk@lrsd.org Sharon Giovinazzo sgiovinazzo@wsblind.org Sandee Pinkstaff Sandee.pinkstaff@arkansas.gov Editor Tiffany Moore From the President Our past annual conference was much anticipated and a success. Thank you to all of our members, attendees, presenters, and planners. I hope everyone is enjoying our new spring weather, as well as looking forward to our Arkansas-AER spring events. Your chapter has been in preparation for a great annual conference in November, as well as a(n) (April) fundraiser and a (May) Spring Fling Social; we hope you will plan to attend. World Services for the Blind and our vocational programs are continuing to thrive. Looking forward to seeing you at our upcoming events! Rachel Buchanan Arkansas - AER Spring 2016 Newsletter Arkansas AER now has a Facebook page! Go to https://www.facebook.com/arkansasaer and Like it so you can get Facebook updates through the year of the latest AER news. 2016 AR-AER Spring Newsletter 1
Arkansas-AER Annual Conference November 7-8, 2016 Wyndham Riverfront 2 Riverfront Place North Little Rock, Arkansas 72214 Amazing training opportunities will be provided at our AR-AER annual conference. Your board and conference committee are working diligently to provide meaningful, inspiring content for all related disciplines. This is a conference you will not want to miss. Registration and conference agenda will soon be available. Please look for updates concerning our annual conference on our ar.aerbvi.org (Arkansas chapter) webpage, our Facebook page, and via email. This conference offers chances to network with other professionals, to explore newly available assistive technology, and to learn from our premier, engaging speakers. 2016 AR-AER Spring Newsletter 2
2016 AR-AER FUNDRAISING EVENT Arkansas Association for the Education and Rehabilitation of the blind and visually impaired AR-AER o Providing Resources o Providing Training o Providing Services Come and Join Us at the Flying Saucer! Bring your friends and colleagues! Bring your friends friends! Bring your family! Help by hanging out with us at the Flying Saucer in Downtown Little Rock on Thursday, April 14, 2016 at 5:00 pm. v Bring cash for $2 raffle tickets to win amazing prizes. v Two rare beers from local breweries will be tapped, Lost 40 and Stones throw. $1 from each beer sold will be donated to AR-AER. Also, our past president, Dr. Bill Jacobson, and his wife, Bonnie, will be attending this fundraising/social event. This will be their last AR- AER event as they are moving to AR-izona. Please come and wish them well. Come on down to the Flying Saucer and hang out with AR-AER. 2016 AR-AER Spring Newsletter 3
2016 AR-AER Spring Fling Social Date: Saturday, May 7, 2016 Time: 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Location: Lisa Reynolds s House 7025 Beck Rd. LR AR 72223 Please RSVP by 4/29/16 Sharon.niemczyk@lrsd.org lreynolds@wsblind.org All AR-AER members, friends, families and prospective members are invited. AR-AER will provide lunchmeat, bread, and cheese. AER members are asked to bring something that compliments sandwiches. AR-AER will provide water, tea and lemonade. You are welcome to bring your preferred drink. Please bring chairs. Lisa has a pond for fishing. A few poles will be provided, however, we could always use a few more. There will be a few bikes to ride, but you may also bring your own and don t forget a helmet. In the event of unfavorable weather, the Spring Fling Social will continue at World Services for the Blind (auditorium). 2016 AR-AER Spring Newsletter 4
2016 AWARDS AND NOMINATIONS We have amazingly talented individuals within AR-AER. The Arkansas AER Awards Committee presents on an annual basis to recognize outstanding professionals and advocates within the field of blindness and visual impairment. The Awards will be presented at the annual conference banquet on November 7 th. Nominations for each of the following awards are considered: Wall of Tribute, J. Max Woolly Award, Joyce Ogburn Award, Tom Phifer Award, Arkansas Distinguished Advocate Awards, and Bill Tomlin Scholarship. *NOTE: Bill Tomlin scholarship has a deadline application date of 4/18/16. The Awards Committee will announce the Deadline for Nominations and support letters by May 2016. Be thinking about your outstanding colleagues and whom you will nominate. Correspondence methods include the following: Debeadams@yahoo.com Or Submit Application and Materials to: Debbie Adams AR-AER Awards Committee Chair 4207 Park Avenue Hot Springs, AR 71901 Criterion for the awards mentioned above can be located at the following link: http://ar.aerbvi.org/awards.htm 2016 AR-AER Spring Newsletter 5
AR-AER BILL TOMLIN SCHOLARSHIP AWARD This Arkansas Chapter of the Association for Rehabilitation and Education of the Blind and Visually Impaired (AR-AER) established this award to honor the memory of long time AR-AER member and past-president, Bill Tomlin. A monetary award will be made each year to any individual who is blind or visually impaired and who will be enrolled in a post-secondary educational or vocational training program for the 2016-2017 school year. This award is open to high school seniors as well as any other individual enrolled in a postsecondary educational or vocational training program. Funds will be awarded for the purchase of textbooks, specialized materials or adaptive equipment. The award this year will be in the amount of $1,000. Please see the application for Eligibility Criteria and Required Documentation. The updated application will be added to the ar.aerbvi.org webpage. Please be advised, that as of recent it has taken extended periods of time to update our chapter webpage. Application has been made available to AR-AER members via email. Please distribute the application to your students or clients. Application deadline is April 18, 2016 Submit Application and Materials to: Debbie Adams AR-AER Awards Committee Chair 4207 Park Avenue Hot Springs, AR 71901 Or debeadams@yahoo.com 2016 AR-AER Spring Newsletter 6
AER INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE SAVE THE DATE AER International Conference is this summer in Jacksonville, Florida. July 20-24, 2016 International Conference is a great opportunity to experience and learn the vast progress in our field. Early Bird Registration is $399 per person. AR-AER will be providing Scholarships to Eligible Applicants for AER International Early Bird Conference Registration. AR-AER board created a total scholarship pool of $2000. It will be divided evenly among the number of eligible applicants, but will not exceed the amount of early bird registration ($399). Eligible candidates must be: 1) an AR-AER member in good standing for five consecutive years, 2) not exceed more than one AR-AER scholarship every 2 years. Send receipt of payment/registration to Stephanie Smith at arkansasaer@gmail.com. DEADLINE TO SEND RECEIPT OF PAYMENT: APRIL 7, 2016. EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION DEADLINE: APRIL 14, 2016. 2016 AR-AER Spring Newsletter 7
SUMMARY Please mark your calendars and keep yourself advised for the 2016 upcoming events. You board and committees are dedicated to providing meaningful and engaging opportunities, which include the following: Fundraiser and Social o Thursday, April 14 th at 5:00 pm o Flying Saucer in downtown Little Rock Spring Fling Social o Saturday, May 11 th at 11:00 am o Lisa Reynolds home in Little Rock o Last AR-AER event with Dr. Bill Jacobson AR-AER Annual Conference o Monday and Tuesday, 11/7 11/8 o 2-day schedule o Wyndham Hotel in downtown NLR Also, we have so many hard-working, dedicated, talented professionals in our very own state. Please take some time and nominate an outstanding individual for an award and recognition. Send your nominations to Debbie Adams, debeadams@yahoo.com. Also, please distribute the Bill Tomlin Scholarship to deserving candidates. If you are interested in making an impact in AR-AER by serving on the board or a committee, please contact Melanie Birthright, Melanie.birthright@swaec.org. Keep in mind: 1) Board members International AER conference registration expense is reimbursed by AER, 2) President and President-elect receives registration, travel, and room expenses reimbursed by AER. 2016 AR-AER Spring Newsletter 8
SUMMARY Continued There are several committees that make so much of what we provide as a chapter possible. Your input is valuable, therefore, if you are interested in being involved we welcome you to contact or email the appropriate committee chair: Social Committee - Sharon Niemczyk, chair: sharon.niemczyk@lrsd.org Fundraising Committee - Luanne Blaylock & Tiffany Moore, co-chairs: leblaylock@yahoo.com, tiff0200@yahoo.com Nominations Committee - Melanie Birthright, chair: melanie.birthright@swaec.org Political Action Committee - Sharon Giovinazzo, chair: sgiovinazzo@wsblind.org Conference Committee - Lis Geoghegan, chair: Lis.geoghegan@asb.k12.ar.us Media Committee - Tiffany Moore, chair: tiff0200@yahoo.com Awards Committee - Debbie Adams, chair: debeadams@yahoo.com Professional Development Sandee Pinkstaff, chair: Sandee.pinkstaff@arkansas.gov Membership Committee Dean Reynolds, chair: dingalls@lwsb.lind.org Chapter updates are regularly posted on our Arkansas AER Facebook page. Please Like and Follow us on Facebook for the most up-to-date information. https://www.facebook.com/arkansasaer/ Consider attending AER International Conference and review the AR-AER registration scholarship. Most importantly, the Arkansas chapter always appreciates your AER membership and your continuing commitment to your students/clients. 2016 AR-AER Spring Newsletter 9