« July 2022

Graphic image for the month of July.Welcome to the ACB Maine newsletter for July 2022.


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President's Message

Well, here we are flying through the month of July! Summer in Maine goes by way too fast! I hope you all have enjoyed the early part of your summer and made the most of it!

ACB of Maine has accomplished much this year and hopes to do so much more!

First, Steve Sawczyn’s "Tech Talk” has been very successful! Unfortunately, July was his last scheduled session. However, Steve thought he had two more sessions and would like to do sessions in August and September, pro bono! If anyone is interested, you can contact Steve or myself by email, and I will leave our email addresses at the end of this message. Thank you Steve!!!

Second, The Pine Tree Guide Dog Users is joining ACB of Maine for our fall convention on November 4th and 5th in Portland! The two convention committees are working together to make this the most exciting, entertaining and educational convention ever! Please, plan to attend!

Both organizations are offering scholarships for those in need to attend the convention. Please take advantage of these opportunities. You can contact me for the Pine Tree Guide Dog Users Pat Ellis Memorial scholarship or for the ACB of Maine convention scholarship. My email will be at the end of this message. There will be more updates in the next couple of months. Stay tuned for the Registration forms!

Third, ACB of Maine has been able to make some contributions to other nonprofit organizations this year. It would be nice if we could do more. However, as you know, the price of everything has gone up and the cost of conference is more also. Too, unfortunately, we could not plan a summer retreat this year but we hope to plan one next year.

Remember, this is your organization and it is because of all of you that ACB of Maine exists today! Do your part to keep it going for the future of the blind citizens of Maine. Our committees are listed on our website: ACBMaine.org

Steve Sawczyn: steve@sawczyn.com

Best,
Leona McKenna, President ACB of Maine


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Save the Date

ACB of Maine Annual Conference

When: Nov. 4th and 5th 2022
Where: Embassy Suites by Hilton – Portland, ME

The 2022 convention will be a joint convention with Pine Tree Guide Dog Users and will include dynamic speakers and exciting  entertainment!

One feature of the weekend will be a fun-filled auction.  If you have any items you would like to donate, contact Mary Ellen Frost or Leona McKenna, whose email addresses are as follows:


More information will follow in the upcoming months so stay tuned!

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Tech Update

by Steve Sawczyn


I have some exciting news to share; at long last, recordings for previous editions of Tech Talk are now available to listen to on-demand.  OK, they’re not technically all available yet as I’m still in the process of uploading them, but I should be done with this process shortly.  IF you visit the following page, you will find the recaps for each edition of Tech Talk followed by a player which will let you play that particular edition.  Now I know, some of the recaps have not been sent out yet and for that, I can only apologize.  I’ll send out the missing recaps over the next few days or so and as I send them out, know that the recordings will also be posted to the web site.
 
To listen to any of the previous Tech Talk recordings, please visit this page:


https://steves.life/acb-of-maine-tech-talk-archive/
 
Thanks again and as always, please reach out with any questions. 
 


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Quarterly Newsletter


We will soon be moving our newsletter to a quarterly schedule.  It makes sense, and it gives us time to plan for better publications.


Here's the schedule


January

April

July

October


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Creative Content Providers


That's YOU!  We would like to hear from our members and participants.  If you have news or items of interest, please forward them along.  Send them to rfuller@mainenet.org


We are also looking for a "regular" content provider, someone who can scan the news and send along items to us.  Think of this as being a reporter - always on the lookout for the newsworthy items. 


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White Cane Awareness Walk for Independence 2022


Save the date! The Iris Network has invited PTGDU to be the Grand Marshall for this year’s White Cane Safety Walk for Independence. The event will take place in Portland on Saturday, October 8th from 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM. Food trucks will be available for lunch after the walk.


Save the Date. PTGDU is teaming up with ACB Maine for our annual convention this fall. The event will take place on Saturday, November 5, 2022 at The Embassy Suites by Hilton in Portland, Maine. Please send us a message if you would like to help out with the event.


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Scholarship Progam


The American Council of the Blind of Maine (ACBME) is excited to announce the opening of its 2022 Scholarship program.

A scholarship or scholarships with a combined total not to exceed $1500.00 (one thousand five hundred) may be awarded to one or more blind or visually impaired residents of the state of Maine who is/are currently enrolled in a post-secondary education program.

We are asking for your assistance in sharing this to your clients, students, friends, or family who could benefit from the scholarship.

Scholarship applicants must complete the attached application,  which can also be found on the ACBME website (http://www.acbmaine.org/) and email the completed application to the ACBME Board of Directors at acbmaine64@gmail.com

Recipients of the scholarship(s) will be announced during the annual conference and convention in November (exact dates to be announced), and payment of the scholarship(s) will be sent to the winner(s) within 10 (ten) days following the announcement.

All applications must be received not later than midnight, August 1, 2022, in order to be considered. 

If you have questions, please contact Lynn Merrill, ACB of Maine Scholarship Committee Assistant, ACBME, at 207 458 1362.

 

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ACB OF MAINE

SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION

 

Name:

Mailing Address:

Phone number:

Email address:

 

What is your visual status?

Which university are you attending?

What year are you/how many credits have you earned?

What is your major/degree program?

Anticipated date of graduation:

 

Please compose an Autobiographical sketch: an essay of at least 300 words to share with the Scholarship Committee, who you are and what your long term goals are. Describe for us what you are studying, what inspired you to seek higher education, and what your plans are with your degree. What sort of positive change do you hope to impart on your community, and how will this degree help you do that?


Please email the completed application and essay to the Board of Directors of the American Council of the Blind of Maine at acbmaine64@gmail.com. 


Applications are due no later than midnight, August 1, 2022.


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