The RT News
Newsletter of Division 11
June 2008
Message from the Chair:
Election Results: I may be getting tired of all the national campaigning, but I’m very happy to report that the VRT Division election results are in. One year ago I wrote the following in my newsletter message:
“I have a dream that our next election will have at least two candidates for each of the offices (Chair-elect and Secretary-Treasurer) and that we will have candidates who represent a wide geographical area.”Part one of that dream came true. We had four excellent candidates for the two open positions. Admittedly they were all from the Great Lakes states, so part two of my dream will have to wait until 2010.
With 143 members submitting ballots, Deanna Austin has been chosen as Chair-elect and Susan Dalton was re-elected for another term as Secretary-Treasurer. Congratulations to both! I’d like to thank Jennifer Ottowitz and Polly Abbott for accepting nominations as well.
John McMahon will be the Chair of the VRT Division Board for the 2008-2010 Biennium, and I will move into the position of Immediate Past Chair. The new Board takes over immediately following the Division Meeting at the Conference.
International Conference:
We are again combining our Division Day program (Wednesday, July 23) with our colleagues in the Division on Aging. For the first part of the day, the Psycho-Social Division membership will also join us for a panel discussion on “Vision Loss - What Does It Mean to the Rest of the Family?” I hope many of you will be able to attend.
We have had several nominations for our new Division Publication Award. All of our Division Award winners will be honored at the conference, including the Division’s highest honor--the Bruce McKenzie Award.
Transitions:
Nancy Paskin (a previous McKenzie Award winner) will be leaving the VRT Division Board after six years of service. Please take the opportunity to join me in expressing appreciation and thanks for her wisdom, advocacy, dedication, and plain old hard work. I’m sure she will be happy to pass the newsletter torch to me, just as I will be pleased to pass the Chair torch to John. Nancy, you’ll be missed! (Now you can really enjoy retirement.)
See you in Chicago!
Mary Beth Harrison, CVRT, CLVT
Your Executive Team: 2006-2008
Mary Beth Harrison, Chair: marybeth.harrison@med.va.govJohn McMahon, Chair-elect: john.m.mcmahon@wmich.edu
Susan M. Dalton, Secretary/Treasurer: smdtvp@joltmail.net
Voting Results
ALL WINNERS You Should Be Proud. Ballots sent out: 426
Ballots received back: 143
Deanna Austin: 75
Jennifer Ottowitz: 68
Susan Dalton: 98
Polly Abbott: 45
Thank you to everyone who exercised their right to vote. This is the BEST return we have had in a very long time. Thank you, one and all.
Ode to Sam:
I want to thank and introduce you to my “production staff” – my husband, Sam. Sam has stood in lines to buy stamps and to mail the newsletters. He has hauled the Hammermill boxes full of newsletters up and down stairs in our house and in and out of the car. He has helped me fold newsletters, stick on labels, stamps and tabs and collate them into manageable batches. Every newsletter is touched at least three times to get it ready for mailing. The foreign newsletters get extra TLC as they also need envelopes and return stickers and mailing tape in addition to the prep of the US and Canadian ones. Sam and I form a 2-person assembly line and cheer every time we have the job completed. We averaged 400 newsletters per run. THANK YOU, SAM. What I have enjoyed in doing the newsletter is that I get to say “Hi” to the names of friends and colleagues I recognize as I stick the name & address labels on each newsletter. Alice, Kay, Fran, Lynne, Betsy, Joan, Lisa, Maureen, El, Alvin, Don, Paul, etc, etc, etc whether former student, intern supervisor, committee member, or just ole friend, you get a little extra touch from me and a thought for how and what you are doing...
I have worked on the newsletter for 4 years….twice as long as any one else in recent memory. Why? It came about because officers, at the time, down stepping down or out and I became the last officer. We have been more fortunate in recent years, but we do need to be aware that we always need leaders. We will always need someone to step up….it isn’t that hard, maybe initially scary, but it is NECESSARY. Volunteer. Be an officer. … its good for recertification! and good for the Division.
I want to take this opportunity to thank the various authors who over the years have submitted articles ranging from product reviews, diabetes updates, opinions and fun projects. Keep it up. There actually would not be a newsletter without all of you contributing. Please continue to do so….it really helps and its so necessary.
MaryBeth becomes the new editor and I’m sure she will put her own stamp on it. Thank you for letting me serve. Bye Nancy Paskin
Change can be a Growth Experience
ACVREP Certificants: New and Renewed
Vision Rehabilitation Therapist Certification—New: Karen Alison; Nancy Bennett; Deborah Bower; Sarah Clark; Sarah Clarke; Rebecca Porter; Ian Shadrick; and Todd Steen
Vision Rehabilitation Therapist Recertification:
John Crawford; Carrie Freeman; Wendy Hill; Bayyinah Muhammad and Roberta O’ Rourke
Congratulations to one and all. Hope to see you in Chicago !!
Be Active. It makes us ALL stronger.
APH Ad:
Identify Your World IndependentlyThe Sherlock Talking Label Identifier
Distance Learning University Programs Funded and Looking for Applicants!
Hunter College is accepting applications for the Hybrid Distance Learning RT/O&M Master’s Degree (52-Credits) Program and 40 credit RT Master’s Degree. These distance learning programs lead to ACVREP certification in Vision Rehabilitation Therapy and/or Orientation and Mobility. Students complete all Fall and Spring courses through on-line multimedia format. Students meet on campus for 2 weeks each of 2 Summers to complete blindfold/low vision simulation labs. Low cost housing is provided.
Tuition support is available to qualified students who sign a Payback Agreement which states they will work as VRT/O&M professionals two years for each year of support provided.
Applicants must have a Bachelor’s Degree from an approved college and have grade point average 2.8 or better.
For Course Descriptions go to:
http://ww4.hunter.cuny.edu/school-of-education/programs
/programs-1/special-education/blind-and-visually-impaired/
rehabilitiation-teaching/course-of-study
For Graduate Admissions application:
http://admissions.hunter.cuny.edu/Graduate/
Graduate%20Degree%20Application%20Download.htm
Direct link to the Graduate Admissions Application as of 4/08
http://admissions.hunter.cuny.edu/Graduate/
GradWebFilingPackage.pdf
Contact Information:
Dr. Rosanne K. Silberman
Hunter College CUNY
Dept. of Special Education 909 W
695 Park Ave.
New York, NY 10065
(212) 772-4740
rsilberm@hunter.cuny.edu
Position Available: GEORGIA
Certified Vision Rehabilitation Therapist (CVRT) OR
Dually Certified CVRT and COMS Instructor
Blind & Low Vision Services of North Georgia (BLVS), seeks Certified Vision Rehabilitation Therapist (CVRT).
Located in one of metropolitan Atlanta’s most thriving small cities, BLVS has a community-based program, providing most of its services in the client’s home, school or workplace. Founded in 1983, the organization is positioning itself to meet the increasing demand for services in the north Georgia area.
During a recent peer review site visit for reaccreditation with the National Council of Agencies serving the blind and visually impaired (NAC), the organization was commended for its high caliber professional teaching staff.
The ideal candidate for this open position is a dually-certified COMS and CVRT as determined by the Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation and Education Professionals.
Please send resume to the attention of Nancy Parkin-Bashizi, Program Director, at nbashizi@blvsgeorgia.org or fax to 770-432-5457 or mail to 3830 South Cobb Drive, Suite 125, Smyrna, Georgia 30080.
About Your Newsletter:
Your Comments are also always welcomed. We want to improve the newsletter and make it work for you.
Send your comments and ideas and articles to the NEW editor, Mary Beth Harrison. We try to make it a quarterly newsletter, deadlines are the 25th of the preceding month. The next deadlines for this year will be August 25 and November 25. Thanks.
Chicago in July: DIVISION DAY, WED. 7/ 23.
Also, we have LOTS of session Presentations during regular Programming. Don’t miss it. See YOU There !!!