Hello, AEBC!

The summer is half over and we're marching steadily toward the fall, and much has been going on.

Of significance to the AEBC is that the strategic planning initiative is moving forward and you will have a number of opportunities in the next month or two to contribute your input into where you think AEBC is, should be, and how we should get there.

Please remember that if you, your chapter, or your committee has a news item or announcement or resource of interest, please send it to me (tibbs@blindcanadians.ca) for inclusion in my next report.

This is not intended to be a one-way communication. I want, we want, your feedback.

If we do not like our work, and do not try to get happiness out of it, we are a menace to our profession as well as to ourselves.

-- Helen Keller, "Know Thyself," The Home Magazine, September 1930

Hello, AEBC community members!

The time has finally come to get this show on the road. At the annual general meeting this past April, I was elected as your President. I then headed off into the sunset to get married and have a honeymoon. That is in part why this first update is so long in coming!

I intend to use these President's Reports to provide a global update on the AEBC's activities, and my own thoughts on these issues.

A few weeks ago, CNIB released a document which marked the beginning of a consultative strategic planning initiative taking place within CNIB. Entitled, "Your CNIB. Your future. Hearing your views on the future direction of CNIB," this document (which has been posted on the AEBC web site already) outlines what CNIB is planning on doing, how and why they are soliciting opinions from the community as to their future direction.

Since the advent of the internet, at least three chat sites designed specifically for people who are blind or partially sighted have been established. I refer to: http://www.for-the-people.com, http://www.vipconduit.com, and http://www.out-of-sight-net.

These sites are each divided into several rooms. There are rooms where you can play games, and others where you can play music for one another. There are rooms for people with diabetes, and others for those who are newly blind. There are also rooms specifically dedicated to musicians, piano tuners, handymen, and other occupations or professions.

While it’s true that anyone worldwide is welcome on any of these sites, it is also true that most of the participants are from the United States.

Dear fellow AEBC members: 

I hope that this blog finds everyone well.

As our 2013 AGM fast approaches, I thought that the time would be now for me to tell you that I will not be running for a second term as president of the AEBC.  With attending Law School, running my own business, and other family commitments, time would not permit me to give enough commitment and effort to the AEBC.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who took the time and made the commitment to help me over the last two years and I thank the AEBC members for having given me the opportunity to be your president.  It has been a privilege and a great learning experience for me and I wish each and everyone of you the very best in your future endeavours.

Dear fellow AEBC members:  Ah yes!  November is quickly fading away and in a moment's time December will be saying a huge hello to us all!  Are you ready to welcome in the holiday season?  Have you told Santa already what you would like for Christmas?  I am going to go out on a limb and say that all
of you AEBcers have been nice rather than naughty so please Santa!  Let's
have a great December for us all and for the AEBC!

I thank those of you who have taken the time to drop by with your feedback
and encourage you to keep doing so.  My quotation for this month is as
follows:

"If I feel depressed I will sing. If I feel sad I will laugh. If I feel ill