The Council Courier

The Council Courier

JULY 2016

VOLUME 29, NUMBER 2

WISCONSIN COUNCIL OF THE BLIND

& VISUALLY IMPAIRED, INC.

Contact information

754 Williamson Street - Madison, Wisconsin, 53703

800-783-5213 (Outside Madison)

608-255-1166 (Madison area)

608-237-8100 Direct Line, Sharper Vision Store

FAX: 608-255-3301

www.wcblind.org

The Council is a strong voice for Wisconsin residents who are blind and visually impaired. Its mission is to promote the dignity and independence of people in Wisconsin who are blind and visually impaired by providing services, advocating legislation and educating the general public. The Council is funded through proceeds of endowments established through bequests, grants, private gifts from individuals and corporations, and the White Cane Fund campaign.

Council Courier

Editor: Gale Hellpap

Contributing Writers: Kevin Damask and Lori Werbeckes

Braille Proofreader and Transcriber: Judith Rasmussen

CD Duplicator: Chad Nelson

Audio Version Narrator: Monica Wahlberg

Editor’s note: Are you receiving multiple copies of the Courier unnecessarily? If so, please let us know. Call Ray Cubberly at 608-237-8109, and we’ll make sure you get only one copy. We invite you to send us story ideas for future issues of this newsletter. Contact Gale Hellpap at or by phone at 608-237-8113.

White Cane Policy

Any Wisconsin resident who is blind or visually impaired may be eligible for one free white cane every 24 months. If you are a first-time cane user and not listed in our database, you are eligible to receive an additional back-up cane within the first two years of receiving your first one at half the retail cost. Available canes include the Ambutech adjustable support cane, Ambutech folding mobility cane and Ambutech folding ID cane.

You may be eligible if your vision is less than 20/70. According to Wisconsin State Statute 47.01 and the United States Code, 42 USC 1382 c(a)(2), legal blindness is defined as central visual acuity not greater than 20/200 in the better eye with correcting lenses or a visual field that subtends an angle no greater than 20 degrees. Call 1-800-783-5213 or 608-255-1166 to learn more.

2016 Council Officers

President: Chris Richmond
1st Vice President: Steve Johnson
2nd Vice President: Nona Graves
Secretary: Rhonda Staats
Treasurer: Kathleen Brockman

The officers were elected in November 2015 and assumed their positions as of 2016. They facilitated the second board meeting of the year on May 21.

Himmelsbach Reflects Upon Time Leading Council

By Kevin Damask

Loretta Himmelsbach has mixed emotions when she talks about retiring after her six years as the Council’s Executive Director.

“It’s been a terrific ride but it’s going to be sad to leave,” Himmelsbach said. “The people I’ve worked with side by side are wonderful human beings, many of whom I call friends.”

Himmelsbach has spent 40 years in non-profit management, having also worked as Chief Executive Officer for the Girls Scouts of Black Hawk Council before finding a home at the Wisconsin Council of the Blind & Visually Impaired.

When the Council was looking for a new Executive Director in 2010, Himmelsbach was recommended for the job and, having experienced retinal eye disease and macular degeneration in her family, felt it was the ideal fit for her.

After beginning her term as Executive Director, Himmelsbach’s biggest goal was to expand the organization’s statewide presence and community partners. But, after diving in, Himmelsbach realized there were other priorities which needed to be tackled first, such as the Council’s infrastructure.

“One of the first things I did was improve the financial reports, produce an effective and comprehensive chart of accounts, and create an efficient and accountable budgeting process utilizing fund accounting,” Himmelsbach said. “We also reviewed and created a Council policies document, employee handbook, competitive salary structure and revised the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws. Having a solid infrastructure for the next director is an excellent way to leave an agency.”

Through technology, the Council was able to extend its statewide outreach, especially through webinars, electronic newsletters and its social media presence. The organization’s fund development goals have also been a main priority during Himmelsbach’s tenure.

For Himmelsbach, the past six years have gone by quickly, but she admits working with the Council has changed her personally.

“It has really broadened my experiences of people with disabilities. I have never worked in such a respectable workplace and for such a respectful board of directors,” Himmelsbach said. “That has just changed me to become a better person. This board has worked with me. While I know I report to the board, it has been very collegial; we’re all working on moving the Council forward, together. I have developed a strong affinity for many people here and I feel very connected to the cause.”

At age 22, when she first embarked on her dream of leading a non-profit organization, Himmelsbach sat in front of a typewriter and listed the overarching goals she wished to attain in her career. As she prepares for retirement, she has the same sense of preparation in mind. “There are four avenues that I want to be involved in: service, learning, recreation and leadership,” Himmelsbach said. “Those are my predominant plans which will be accomplished through many venues—one of which will be to volunteer with the Council. That would be great to keep in touch and still see people I really care about.”

As Board president, Chris Richmond stated, “Loretta has been an outstanding leader, manager and ambassador for the Council. Her strong and positive leadership will be greatly missed. We are fortunate she will remain in the area so we can tap into her volunteer service.”

The Council extends its best wishes to Himmelsbach as she begins this next chapter in her life at the end of September.

WCBVI Looking for Board Members to Serve in 2017

The Council has four vacancies for Board of Directors’ terms beginning in January 2017. All board terms run for three years, ending on December 31, 2019. As a member of the Council Board of Directors, you will participate in setting the direction and policies for a premier agency serving Wisconsin residents who are blind and visually impaired.

All applicants must be residents of Wisconsin and have a central visual acuity not exceeding 20/70 in the better eye, with best correction. They must be able to attend four quarterly, face-to-face Council meetings each year, plus additional conference calls or in-person meetings. Board members must also serve on at least one Council committee. All committee work and meetings are in addition to the Council’s quarterly meetings.

Applicants must have reliable access to a computer and an email address, be able to open and read MS Word and Excel attachments, and be able to reply to electronic communications.

While a board position is a volunteer service, it also requires a special kind of commitment. It is important that applicants understand that they must respond to or follow through with requests from fellow board members, the Executive Director, or Council staff, since this is how the Council conducts business.

Candidates will be asked why they wish to serve the Council and to list their skill sets as they relate to the Council’s mission and strategic priorities. Candidates should be able to discuss what the Council’s mission means to them and share perceptions regarding the service needs and concerns of people who are blind or visually impaired. Candidates should list their education, work experience, skills and other abilities relative to the Council’s programs and services. Community outreach is important to being a Council Board member, so, if you enjoy meeting new people, presenting to groups and promoting the Council by telling our story, please apply.

WCBVI encourages anyone to complete the board application process if he or she has the skills and desire to advocate, as well as direct policy and activities for the Council. You will find the board application packet on our website. The application deadline is Monday, September 12, 2016.

2016 Awards and Scholarships Presented at Annual Luncheon

WCBVI celebrated the achievements of hardworking students and honored individuals who have supported the Council in a variety of ways during the annual awards and scholarship luncheon on Saturday, May 21 at the Radisson Hotel in Madison.

Three awards were distributed including the Community Giving Award to Sargento Foods, Inc.; the Community Partnership Award to the Delta Gamma Fraternity and the Outstanding Public Service award to the Accessibility Task Force of the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board.

Through its scholarship program, the Council presented six students working toward post-secondary degrees each with $2,000. This year’s recipients included Bailey Hart, freshman, UW-Whitewater; Sajid Jaber, senior, UW-Whitewater; Alexander Kloety, senior, Moraine Park Technical College; Kaitlyn Siekert, junior, Edgewood College and William Zulegar, freshman, Ripon College. Marquette University senior Ian Kloehn was unable to attend but will accept his award at the Council board meeting in July.

Scholarship Recipient Develops Sports Camp for Blind and Visually Impaired Children

By Kevin Damask

Ian Kloehn, an incoming senior at Marquette University and four-time Council scholarship recipient, is working on completing a degree in Biomedical Sciences. After earning his undergraduate degree, Kloehn plans to attend medical school. When he’s not busy studying, Kloehn devotes time to his other passion: helping run a youth sports camp at Marquette for blind and visually impaired kids.

Kloehn has always had an interest in sports and recreation. In his childhood, Kloehn attended a summer sports program run by an organization for blind athletes. Kloehn was disappointed when, in 2009, the camp was discontinued.

“That camp played a big role in my life because it taught me that I could still play sports even though I had a disability and I couldn’t see,” Kloehn said. “That allowed me to believe that I could overcome any obstacle. In high school, I played varsity select soccer; I was in downhill skiing and I recently got into running. I’m going to be running the Boston Marathon next year. I attribute all of this to the camp.”

The camp featured adaptive sports for visually impaired youth to play that are not usually taught in schools. Kloehn missed the camp throughout high school and was discouraged that other kids wouldn’t be able to experience all the fun he had.

Before his freshman year at Marquette, Kloehn met with past organizers to find ways to restart the camp. While he faced a daunting task, Kloehn never doubted his ability to revive the camp. Kloehn knew he couldn’t restart it on his own so he teamed up with Vision Forward in Milwaukee.

In the summer of 2015, Kloehn’s dedication finally paid off. Kids had fun playing soccer, running, and trying beep baseball, among other activities. Parents who were afraid to let their child play sports could smile knowing activities were adapted for kids with visual impairments.

“Other kids have taken what they’ve learned from playing beep baseball and brought it back to their gym teachers where they then teach it to the whole school,” Kloehn said.

Kloehn was born with optic nerve atrophy. His optic nerve never fully developed and his vision is 20/200. Through his experience with a visual impairment and helping kids, Kloehn has found his future career path.

“Eventually I would like to go into pediatrics; either working with little babies, being a cancer doctor for little kids or a neuro doctor for kids,” Kloehn said.

Medical school will take up much of his time, but Kloehn would like to keep the youth camp going for years to come.

“I don’t know if I will continue to be the coordinator of it, but I would love to be a part of it somehow,” Kloehn said. “Especially if I attend med school in the (Milwaukee) area.”

Legislative Day has Strong Turnout and Informative Sessions

Council staff, board members and friends met with state legislators and state agency representatives at the annual Legislative Day on March 30 at the State Capitol in Madison.

Council board member Rhonda Staats, who also chairs the Legislative Committee, said one of the day’s biggest highlights was meeting new Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) Administrator Delora Newton. DVR conducts programs created to obtain, maintain, and improve employment for people with disabilities by working with Vocational Rehabilitation consumers, employers, and other partners.

“DVR is such an important agency in the lives of people who are blind and visually impaired in terms of seeking employment,” Staats said. “It was really important to meet Delora and make that initial connection.”

Staats was also pleased to see a high-level of interest from legislators on important issues affecting people with visual impairments. In addition, representatives from other service organizations across the state joined the Council in promoting advocacy on Legislative Day.

“I was happy to see that so many colleagues from other agencies were present,” Staats said. “To have good representation like that is always gratifying.”

Staats believes the impact of Legislative Day cannot be overlooked.

“Legislative advocacy for people who are blind and visually impaired was one of the main reasons why the Council was formed,” Staats said.

Several speakers were available, including State Representative John Macco, discussing ABLE accounts, a tax-advantage savings account available for qualifying persons with disabilities.

Council Program Assistant Tim Davis helped organize the event and made sure the important day went as planned.

“We had a few state senators and representatives talk about education, transportation and veteran’s affairs,” Davis said. “The other big topics included the Randolph-Sheppard Act, which focuses on allowing people with visual impairments to operate vending machines in state buildings or on state owned property and progress that’s been made with that.”

Davis said it took the dedicated work of Council staff to help make Legislative Day a success, along with help from members of the Delta Gamma Fraternity at UW-Madison.

“Overall, it was one of the most well-attended Legislative Days that we’ve had,” Davis said.

Several Key Topics Discussed at Low Vision Forum in Green Bay

The Council’s first Low Vision Forum in Green Bay offered a full day of sharing and learning on April 19.

Disability rights advocate Jessica Nell’s keynote presentation provided the distinction between self-advocacy and self-determination. Council Education and Vision Services Director Jean Kalscheur said Nell was informative and inspirational.