Podcasts about florida council

We'll be talking to ACB's Florida affiliate: The Florida Council of the Blind (FCB). Joining us to speak out and talk about FCB will be Mikey Wiseman, the Florida Council of the Blind's President.   For more info related to this week's show, go to: https://speakingoutfortheblind.weebly.com/list-of-episodes-and-show-news/for-more-information-episode-363-fcb Ways to Connect to Speaking Out for the Blind Amazon Alexa enabled device (RECOMMENDED) “Alexa, Ask ACB Media to play Media 1”. (1 = stream number).   PC / browser access (RECOMMENDED): Visit acbmedia.org at http://www.acbmedia.org/1 (1 = stream number). The site has a built-in media player and there is no need to install or use a media player on your device. Hit the play button and the stream will begin playing immediately. Smart device Access (RECOMMENDED): Download “ACB Link” from your app store. Find “Radio” along the bottom of the screen, then “Menu” in the top left corner. Select “Live Streams” and then choose “ACB Media 1 - Mainstream.” Double tap the play button. Victor Reader Stream Access: Navigate to “Internet radio library” in the “online bookshelf”. Locate the Humanware playlist. From the playlist, select ACB Media 1 (1 = stream number) and hit play.   Alternate Dial-In access Dial 1 (518) 906-1820. Listen to the menu prompts and press 1. IMPORTANT NOTE The ACB Radio Tuner is no longer supported. If you used the tuner in the past, you may access all ACB Media streams from acbmedia.org (see above) If you are using alternate ways to access ACB Media streams than those above (such as Tune In or Winamp using acbradio.org URL's, we kindly ask that you use one of the methods above.   Facebook page is at Speaking Out for the Blind and X (formerly Twitter) page is at SpeakOutfortheBlind (you may also access this at SpeakOutBlind).

The Reverend Dr. Russell L. Meyer, Pastor at St. John's Lutheran Church in Jacksonville/Florida, graduated from Yale Divinity School in 1981 and was ordained in 1984. Russell has served congregations in Florida, South Carolina, Maryland and New York. He received a Doctorate of Ministry in 2013 from Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington DC, with a Certificate in Christian-Muslim Relations from the Washington Theological Consortium.Russell is a social justice pastor. He serves as Executive Director for the Florida Council of Churches. He is also the current president of the European Descent Lutheran Association for Racial Justice and chairs the Local and Regional Ecumenism Committee of the National Council of Churches.

We dive into the world of one of ACB's fiercest, brightest, and most dynamic Next Generation leaders!  MOe Carpenter is a force to be reckoned with. Since 2020, she's been lighting up the blind community with her passion, drive, and relentless advocacy. We'll also hear from the movers and shakers of CALM (Chapter at Large Members of the Florida Council of the Blind). They've been making waves with impressive fundraising, reinventing what membership looks like, and more. Sunday Edition has been amplifying your voices for five years, and we want to hear from you!   Email Sunday Edition

In the Spring of 2014, Nancy Harvey, M.Ed, made the difficult decision to resign from her position as a traditional 4th-grade teacher. She was convinced that there had to be a better way to teach, especially for those students who learned differently. After much research the answer presented itself; The Harvey Homeschool.At this tutoring center, she was able to create a concierge approach to teaching by devising individual education plans, thereby accommodating the different learning styles of each student. Word spread, praising her work, and her classroom grew and grew until she decided to establish The Harvey Academy in 2018. By becoming a school recognized by the state of Florida, Harvey Academy could now offer all state-funded scholarships.As this private school grew, Nancy and her staff took on the challenging task of pursuing accreditation with the Florida Council of Independent Schools, (FCIS). In the Fall of 2023, they succeeded in attaining this prestigious status.Nancy's current pursuit is a partnership with Dr. Nora Wall and EduCalc Learning. This endeavor offers online courses designed for students with the diagnosis of dyscalculia or dyslexia. These courses will be offered nationwide to students who attend a school or homeschool situation that cannot accommodate their neuro-diverse learning style. Nancy and Nora look forward to helping as many students as possible who need to be recognized for their atypical ability to learn and not just their diagnostic label. Learn more at TheHarveyAcademy.com. Connect with Nancy on LinkedIn.

I'm putting a meme in the show notes. It's my second meme ever, so I'm clearly on a roll. As you can see, it's a picture of two kids taking a test; and the one kid is cheating off the other kid. It's a How to Do Spread Pricing test, and the kid with carrier has his eyes all over the PBM kid's test. For a full transcript of this episode, click here. If you enjoy this podcast, be sure to subscribe to the free weekly newsletter to be a member of the Relentless Tribe. Look, this is a thing now, medical spread. And similar to how PBM spreads adds up to millions, billions of dollars, medical spread is not change in the couch cushions. Did you see the lawsuit against Cigna? Cynthia Fisher mentions it in the conversation that follows. Spoiler alert, here's the numbers: Self-insured employer paid $4 million for a claim. In this case, there's a slide on this Cynthia Fisher gave me, by the way, if you want to see all this written out. So, the employer pays $4 million. The provider was paid—drumroll, please—$876,000. I'm pausing so that sinks in: $4 million paid by the employer; $876,000 of that makes it across the trench to the provider. What happened, you may be wondering, to the $3.2 million in the middle there that the self-insured employer wrote a check to their carrier for? If I'm the employer, I think I would sort of want to know where the $3.2 million went, because … yeah. I think anyone would be hard-pressed to explain how a prudent fiduciary is managing to pay millions of dollars of its plan members' money for services that actually cost a fraction of that. And this is just one claim. But you came here for a show about transparency. Why, you may be wondering, am I talking about medical spread pricing? It's not a super far leap, so many of you are probably there already; but let me quote Chris Deacon. She wrote, “As these conglomerates expand control over healthcare delivery and administration, radical transparency is our only bulwark. Patients and employers deserve to know exactly what they're paying for, without hidden fees disguised as care costs.” I don't think anyone would say that transparency alone is sufficient to transform healthcare, but it's definitely a start for sure. So, yeah … transparency. The reason why lawsuits about overpayments, big ones—and there's a bunch of them afoot right now, not just that Cigna one—but the reason that these are going down in the first place is because hospital prices and carrier prices are now somewhat available. And we have some plan sponsors—the ones who are worried about fiduciary duty, at least—these plan sponsors are able to cobble together the math to catch a glimpse of how much money is vanishing. Dollars they and their members are paying for medical claims that never make it to the care team providing the care. And who is shocked? Are you shocked? I'm not shocked. Let me read a sentence from a carrier contract that Justin Leader sent me the other day. Section 6.3: “Claim administrator's compensation for its services under the agreement shall include the difference between the net claim payments reimbursed to the claim administrator by the employer and the net amounts paid to providers by the claim administrator.” Translation: We are allowed to add spread pricing. We are able to arbitrage. We are able to mark up (or whatever you want to call it) by any amount we want, and you, plan sponsor, just signed up to pay for it. So, that happened. Listen to episode 433 with Justin Leader, by the way. The show is called “The Mystery of the Weekly Claims Wire,” otherwise known as the Not Transparent Weekly Claims Wire. So, look … transparency: We can talk about it in terms of medical prices. We can talk about transparency in terms of contracts. And actually also in terms of quality, but we don't get into that today. Bottom line, plan sponsors need enough access to billing data and hospital prices to calculate how much the middle folks are taking in spread, which is, as aforementioned, quite a thing. For more actual data on the magnitude of spread pricing goings-on, ask Dan Ross. That's my suggestion. He's got spreadsheets he can show you of how much plan sponsors are paying and how much providers are charging and how much is going missing in the middle. For even more on this, read the recent Owens & Minor lawsuit that just got filed, which is just a case study in how hard some of these middlemen/carrier entities are working to obscure and hide what they are doing. Because, yeah, sunshine is a great disinfectant, and that's what transparency is. Sunshine. Here's another interesting link from Chris Deacon. I say all this to say, this is the kind of transparency that Cynthia Fisher and I talk about in the show today: contract transparency, bill charges transparency, and hospital or medical price transparency for plan sponsors. We do not get into today consumers or patients using price information to shop, just FYI. We also do not get into, really, price convergence, which is what happens when hospital and carrier prices become available in a market and is often brought up on or about conversations about transparency. Okay, I will say just one thing about price convergence. There was some chatter in anti-transparency press releases from parties mostly that didn't want to be transparent at all, no way no how. But there was some talk a couple of years ago that if contracted prices became transparent, the healthcare industry would raise their prices to match the highest in the market and the result would be rising healthcare prices and greater total costs. That turns out, it seems, to be false. There's a study that shows that the bottom of the market (those with the cheapest prices) do, in fact, raise their prices but not as much as the top of the market lowers theirs. So, there is actually net savings. Read about the Turquoise Health study and an article that Forrest Xiao and team posted that shows this, and it's the first study of its kind, at least that I have seen. Okay, so contract transparency, data transparency, that's what's on deck to discuss today with Cynthia Fisher, as I have mentioned several times already, who has a long history as an entrepreneur in the healthcare space. So, Cynthia Fisher gets U.S. healthcare, and she gets being a plan sponsor and a fiduciary. She is founder and chairman of PatientRightsAdvocate.org, as well as Power to the Patients. Her focus is on ensuring that all healthcare shows prices up front so that we can have accountability and integrity in billing and at any point of care. Cynthia has said early and often that transparency protects the ultimate purchasers of healthcare—meaning plan sponsors, plan members, and patients—from overcharges, spread pricing, or otherwise. Where there's mystery, there is margin, as Anthony Ciaccia has said often. Cynthia's call to action is as follows, but listen to the show to hear her say it more eloquently. C-suites, CFOs, in-house counsel use purchasing discipline that your company probably uses elsewhere in the procurement of health benefits.  Cynthia Fisher also says as part of the call to action, refuse to sign blank checks to the healthcare industry and refuse anti-audit provisions. She also has a call to action for the accounting industry to stop ignoring auditing the health plans. And this matters just given the bald-faced fact right now that overcharges are party sized. Let me wrap up with this: There's a lot of brute force tactics out there being deployed by some plan sponsors that effectively keep plan members from getting the care they need because they are functionally uninsured. I've done multiple shows on this, and I link to some of them below. I just can't help to think, some of this brute force, you know, high-deductible health plans and some pretty savage cost containment strategies, might be unnecessary if middleman excess profits were eliminated. Well, I say this with some evidence, actually. Andreas Mang (EP419) was on the pod. He talked about saving 15% or more by being smart about contracts and plan assets at the financial and purchasing level. Brian Uhlig … was talking to him the other day. He was telling me he saved $80 million just doing contracts right. Also Claire Brockbank (EP453) talks about this; Cora Opsahl (EP452), too, from 32BJ. Those are two recent shows, again, about how much money can be saved by only signing contracts that ensure transparency. Also mentioned in this episode are Patient Rights Advocate, Chris Deacon, Justin Leader, Dan Ross, Forrest Xiao, Anthony Ciaccia, Andreas Mang, Brian Uhlig, Claire Brockbank, Cora Opsahl, Mark Cuban, and Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Company.   You can learn more at PatientRightsAdvocate.org.    Cynthia A. Fisher is founder and chairman of PatientRightsAdvocate.org, a nonprofit organization seeking healthcare price transparency, giving power to American consumers—patients, employers, and unions—to lower their costs of care and coverage through a functional marketplace and choice. Cynthia is best known for her pioneering work as founder and CEO of ViaCord, Inc., a leading price-transparent umbilical cord blood stem cell banking company which she started in 1993. In 2000, she co-founded and was president of the cellular medicines company ViaCell, Inc., of which ViaCord became a division. ViaCell went public in 2005, was acquired by PerkinElmer, and exists today under the ViaCord brand. Cynthia also serves on the public company boards of the Boston Beer Company, Inc. and Easterly Government Properties, Inc. She serves on the Florida Council of 100 and the board of the National Park Foundation, and she previously served on the board of directors of Water.org. Cynthia holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a bachelor's and honorary Doctorate of Science degree from Ursinus College.   09:03 What is the goal of PatientRightsAdvocate.org? 10:28 Is American competitiveness being affected by healthcare spend? 13:47 Why is transparency a root cause to healthcare costs? 15:11 What's going on across the country to empower transparency in healthcare? 19:31 “I think people are fed up.” 21:22 The Cigna lawsuit in California. 26:36 How do employers navigate contracts against anti-steering? 28:54 EP419 with Andreas Mang. 29:33 EP452 with Cora Opsahl and EP453 with Claire Brockbank. 29:45 EP433 with Justin Leader.   You can learn more at PatientRightsAdvocate.org.   Cynthia A. Fisher of @PtRightsAdvoc discusses #medicalspreadpricing and #contracttransparency on our #healthcarepodcast. #healthcare #podcast #pharma #healthcareleadership #healthcaretransformation #healthcareinnovation   Recent past interviews: Click a guest's name for their latest RHV episode! Stacey Richter (INBW40), Mark Cuban and Ferrin Williams (Encore! EP418), Rob Andrews (Encore! EP415), Brian Reid, Dr Beau Raymond, Brendan Keeler, Claire Brockbank, Cora Opsahl, Dan Nardi, Dr Spencer Dorn (EP451)  

Welcome to the  Personal Development Trailblazers Podcast! In this episode, we'll explore recognizing when it's time to make a grit move, tapping into your inner strength, and pushing forward. Dr. India White is a TEDx speaker, national educational consultant, author of 60+ books, and co-author for Savvas Learning. India is a 3-time graduate of the University of Florida, majoring in math, educational leadership and educational leadership and administration. White has held positions as a math teacher, math coach, Assistant Principal, and a National Ed Consultant. India's mission is to find out how to use equitable practices while developing grit in students to bridge the achievement gap.  Dr. White has presented on Equity and Culture at the 2023 MACUL Conference in Michigan, Equitable Math Practices at the 2024 Hawaii International Education Conference, The Power of Grit at the 2023 NCTM Annual Conference, and on Equity at the 2023 NCSM Virtual Conference. She has presented at the 2023 FCTM Annual Math Conference and gave a keynote at the 2023 CMC-South Math conference for teachers in Palm Springs, California. India is a member of the National School Board Association, the Superintendent's Association, National Alliance of Black School Educators, Black Women in Education, Benjamin Banneker Association, and National Council of Supervisors in Mathematics and National Council of Teachers in Mathematics.  As a member of these organizations, India has been privileged to work with various leaders in legislation, department of education and throughout various organizations that speak to equity, diversity and inclusion.  She currently serves as the Equity and Access Chair for the Florida Council of Teachers in Mathematics, where she will be presenting on equity in math this summer and working with leaders in Florida to help serve all learners.  India spoke for CMC Central in California in March 2024 and was a Keynote Speaker at the Wisconsin Math Council's Math Conference in May 2024 and was a featured speaker for CAMT in July 2024.  Connect with Dr. India here: Twitter - https://x.com/Indispeaknteach LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/in/theindiawhite/ Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/msindiawhite TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drindiawhite Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/indi238/ YOUTUBE: Indiawhite123 Website: www.india-white.com Grab the freebie here: Success for All Ebook: https://www.amazon.com/Success-All-Dr-India-White-ebook/dp/B0BTCJQ3H3/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr= =================================== If you enjoyed this episode, remember to hit the like button and subscribe. Then share this episode with your friends. Thanks for watching the Personal Development Trailblazers Podcast. This podcast is part of the Digital Trailblazer family of podcasts. To learn more about Digital Trailblazer and what we do to help entrepreneurs, go to DigitalTrailblazer.com. Are you a coach, consultant, expert, or online course creator? Then we'd love to invite you to our FREE Facebook Group where you can learn the best strategies to land more high-ticket clients and customers.  Request to join here:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/profitablecoursecreators QUICK LINKS:  APPLY TO BE FEATURED: https://app.digitaltrailblazer.com/podcast-guest-application GET MORE CLIENTS: https://app.digitaltrailblazer.com/client-acquisition-accelerator-pdf DIGITAL TRAILBLAZER: https://digitaltrailblazer.com/ JOIN OUR FREE FACEBOOK GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/profitablecoursecreators

20240818 ACB Membership Focus Call–All About ACB Originally Broadcasted August 18, 2024, on ACB Media 6   Our membership focus call was on “Questions ACB convention participants might have about ACB.” The focus explained what ACB all is about especially to first timers or new participants. Speakers included Sheila Young, past president of the Florida Council of the Blind, Janet Dickelman, ACB of Minnesota, and Cassie Trosper, Veterans of ACB president.   Sponsored by: ACB Membership Committee

This week's topics:Faith Leaders on Politics and ReligionWith guests:Rev. J.C. Pritchett II, President, Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance of Florida (IMA)Bill Bunkley, Host, Faith Talk 570 & 910, Salem RadioReverend Kim Wells, Lakewood United Church of Christ, St. PetersburgRev. Dr. Russell Meyer, Executive Director, Florida Council of ChurchesRev. Andy Oliver, Pastor, Allendale United Methodist, St. Petersburg

ACB Conference and Convention General Session Sunday, July 7, 2024 Call to Order – Deb Cook Lewis, ACB President, Clarkston, WA Moment of reflection Presentation of Colors: Naval Station Mayport Color Guard National Anthem – Brian O'Connell, National Sergeant-at-Arms, Blinded Veterans Association, Greenville, SC Welcome to Convention – Sheila Young, Immediate past president, Orlando, FL; Mikey Wiseman, President, Florida Council of the Blind, Miami, FL ACB President's Report – Deb Cook Lewis, Clarkston, WA Executive Director's Report – Dan Spoone, Scott Thornhill, Alexandria, VA Sponsor Presentation: Diamond Sponsor; Vanda: Non-24-Hour Sleep-Wake Disorder (Non-24) Life Member Presentations – Deb Cook Lewis, Clarkston, WA; Nancy Marks Becker, ACB Chief Financial Officer, Brooklyn Center, MN ACB First Timers – Zelda Gebhard, Co-Chair; Durward K. McDaniel, First Timers Committee JPMorgan Chase Leadership Fellows – Scott Thornhill, Alexandria, VA Nominating Committee Report – Brian Charlson, Watertown, MA Roll Call of Affiliates – Denise Colley, ACB Secretary, Richmond, TX ACB Elections The full video of the July 7 Opening Session can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EE6bCU_NO4&list=PL8lZLvTN7ZUhCTZJok4LfxN7WqcpBev8j&index=5&t=238s Edited by Dennis Becker Find out more at https://acb-convention.pinecast.co

ACB Conference and Convention ACB Banquet Thursday, July 11, 2024 ACB Banquet, Banquet Emcee: Sheila Young, Immediate Past President, Florida Council of the Blind, Orlando, FL Moment of Reflection Presentation of BOP Awards: Ned E. Freeman Excellence in Writing, Vernon Henley Media, and Hollis Liggett Braille Free Press Awards Presentation of ACB Awards: Koni Sims, Awards Committee Co-chair, Sioux Falls, SD; Carrie Muth, Awards Committee Co-chair, Coos Bay, OR Keynote Speaker - Judge David S. Tatel, Author of “Vision: A Memoir of Blindness and Justice” ACB Braille Forum Raffle Drawing – Michael Garrett, ACB Treasurer, Missouri City, TX; and Nancy Marks-Becker, ACB CFO, Brooklyn Center, MN The full video of the July 11 General Session can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13y8mKoYO6k&list=PL8lZLvTN7ZUhCTZJok4LfxN7WqcpBev8j&index=1&t=10s Edited by Dennis Becker

Local 10 News This Week In South Florida Anchor Glenna Milberg interviews Lisa Burgess, of the Florida Council on Arts and Culture; Jose Javier Rodriguez, the U.S. Department of Labor Assistant Secretary for the Employment and Training Administration; and Emilio Gonzalez, a former U.S. intelligence officer. Political Reporters Max Greenwood, of The Miami Herald; Anthony Man, of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel; and Jesse Scheckner, of Florida Politics, joined the TWISF Roundtable. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2024 ACB Summer Auction Saturday, June 22 at 6:00pm ET Broadcast on ACB Media One Shipping Donors Thanks to the Bay State Council of the Blind ($250), Veterans of ACB ($150), California Council of the Blind ($100), Council of Citizens with Low Vision International ($100), ACB Families ($100), ACB Teachers ($100), Illinois Council of the Blind($100), North Dakota Association of the Blind ($100), VisAbilities Show ($100), Terry Pacheco )$100), Merrilee Hill-Kennedy ($100), Pat Tusing ($80) ACB Next Generation ($75), Natalie Couch ($50), Angelo Lanier ($50), David Trott ($50), Chris Bell ($50), and Agnes Ferris ($10) for their generous donations for shipping. Segment One - Cindy Hollis and Deb Cook Lewis 100 $50 Gift Card to The Southern Grill donated by ACB Board of Publications Director Cachet Wells The Southern Grill, a local restaurant, has been serving hearty home cooked southern meals in Jacksonville since 1998. Besides serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner with dishes such as BBQ, sandwiches/wraps, Greek platters, vegetarian options and more, along with beer and wine there is something for everyone in the family to enjoy. Located within 15 minutes and approximately 0.7 miles from the Hyatt Regency Hotel. The Southern Grill promotes local musicians that have become a favorite part of their dining experience with Open Jams and live band music several nights a week. 101 A Set of 5 Holiday Ornaments Handmade and donated by Jamaica Miller You will receive one ornament of each color: red, green, gold, blue and white. They are adorned with pins and beads in various bright colors, and each will have a tag of your choosing. You can have any combination of messages, or they can all be the same. The choices are: "Merry Christmas", "Happy Holidays", "Peace on Earth", or "Joy to the World". The tags feature Braille as well as printed text. The ornaments will be packaged in a decorative tin. 102A Two-pound Box of Ghirardelli dark chocolate Fudge donated by Marvelena Quesada You will receive a 2-pound box of Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate Fudge, made from San Francisco's own 100-year-old chocolatier's intense 72% Cacao Dark chocolate. She has crafted this rich, delicious fudge for family and friends for years. While it is especially wonderful around the holiday season, it works throughout the year for the chocolate lovers among us. Enjoy this delicacy with a morning cup of coffee or as an after-dinner treat. 102B Two-pound Box of Ghirardelli dark chocolate fudge donated by Marvelena Quezada You will receive a 2-pound box of rich Ghirardelli dark chocolate fudge, made from San Francisco's own 100-year-old chocolatier's intense 72% Cacao Dark chocolate. She has crafted this rich, delicious fudge for family and friends for years. While it is especially wonderful around the holiday season, it works throughout the year for the chocolate lovers among us. Enjoy this delicacy with a morning cup of coffee or as an after-dinner treat. 103 $50 Olive Garden Gift Card donated by ACB of Connecticut Do you ever get hungry for Italian food? Well, here's something just for you, a $50 gift card to Olive Garden. Hurry up and bid so you can get those wonderful bread sticks, salads, and delicious dinners. Braille menus available upon request. 104 Braille Read Necklace donated by Dorlyn Catron This necklace has a bright copper pendant with the word "read" written in contracted braille and features a tactile image of an open book. The pendant measures approximately 1.5 inches long by half an inch wide. Originally sold by National Braille Press, but there are no more left. Wow, this truly is an exquisite necklace to have either for yourself or someone special! 105 Snakeskin Printed Purse Created by Keri Bishop This purse had its start as a white, black, and gray pair of jeans in a rattlesnake skin printed design. Keri fell in love with this pair of jeans when she saw them at a local thrift shop. Soon the jeans were home and cut, sewn, and reconstructed into this lovely snakeskin printed purse. The words I (heart) ACB across the front in black glitter iron on vinyl. The medium sized purse makes use of the pockets in the jeans repurposed as the pockets for the purse. The shoulder strap is adjustable. 106 Amazon Echo Pop 5th Generation Speaker donated by Cheryl McNeil Fisher You will enjoy owning this ECHO POP compact smart speaker with Alexa. The speaker features full sound that's great for bedrooms and small spaces and is small enough to blend in and mighty enough to stand out. It controls music WITH YOUR VOICE, and you can Ask Alexa to play music, audiobooks, and podcasts from your favorite providers like Amazon Music, Apple Music, Spotify, Pandora, Sirius XM and more. Connect via Bluetooth to stream throughout your space. 107 Celebrate the State of Washington with Chukar Cherries donated by Washington Council of the Blind The recipient will enjoy the no-sugar-added Organic Rainier Cherries, a delicious variety of chocolate covered cherries, Cherry Apple Crisps, Pickled Asparagus, Smoked Salmon, and more. A great gift for anyone missing the Pacific Northwest—send a taste of our beautiful region to friends and loved ones. Arrives in a keepsake metal hamper with an oversized Seattle souvenir mug. What's inside this basket: Organic Rainier Cherries: This prized Northwest cherry is organically grown and picked fresh, then gently air dried with no added sugar or preservatives. Amaretto Rainiers: Honey-sweet, dried Rainier cherries are layered with luscious dark chocolate and almond essence. A unique treat from Washington State. Cherry Quartet: An assortment of four best-selling milk and dark confections, including Cabernet, Amaretto Rainiers, Cherry Bings, and Classic Milk. Cherry Apple Crisps: Healthy and addictive! Fresh Washington state apple slices are infused with cherry juice and cinnamon, then dehydrated to a delightfully crisp texture. Cherry Caramel Twists: Luscious caramels studded with dried cherry bits and almond essence. Gift box of individually wrapped pieces. Souvenir Mug: An oversized mug is adorned with famous Northwest landmarks. Lead safe. Dishwasher safe. Washington State Pickled Asparagus: Fresh Yakima Valley asparagus is pickled with garlic and red chilies for a zesty appetizer or cocktail garnish. Smoked Salmon: Tender, lightly flaked, boneless, skinless salmon in a Seattle-themed gift box. A choice gift for any salmon fan. 108 Two Hand-Crafted Pottery Chili Bowls donated by Mucie Allred Two hand-crafted pottery pieces shaped into unique “Chili” bowls. On each side of the bowl is a curved area to hold your crackers. A beautiful blue swirl color has been added. They are designed by Marcia Springston of Wake Robin Gallery. Don't restrict them to only chili because these one-of-a-kind bowls would be beautiful to display candy or nuts on your table as well. 109 West Virginia Gift Card Bundle donated by ACB Board Director Donna Brown Planning for your upcoming vacation has just gotten easier. This black and blue neck wallet is perfect to carry your necessities wherever you go. It is big enough for your cell phone, keys, credit cards, etc., but small enough to carry easily. Written on the neck wallet is: Wild and Wonderful, Almost Heaven, West Virginia. Plus, a $25 Texas Roadhouse and a $25 Cheesecake Factory gift card and they fit nicely in the wallet. What a fantastic gift for yourself or someone special. 110 Sweet and Savory Treats of North Carolina donated by North Carolina Council of the Blind Enjoy the following fine North Carolina goodies: Red Bird Hand-crafted Soft Puff Peppermint Candy from Lexington; Grammy's Gourmet Pretzels from Raleigh; Chad's Carolina Popcorn from Greensboro; Memaw's Country Cookies from Raleigh; Salem Baking Moravian Thin Cookies from Winston-Salem; Baker's Peanuts from Roxobel; Dark Chocolate/Pecan Toffee from Chapel Hill. You will savor these wonderful treats and treasure the North Carolina Ornament also included. 111 BITS- Blind Information Technology Specialists, full zip, black tote bag from Blind Girl Designs donated by Tricia Waechter on behalf of BITS. Blind Girl Designs has created a complete collection for BITS. We are proudly donating a 15 by 18-inch full-zip black tote bag on their behalf. The print is very circular. The center of the print is an image of the globe with the continents inverted vibrant green and the ocean in blue with North America facing front. Surrounding the globe on either side are hands holding the globe. The hands are created by drawing thin lines, all around the sides and the bottom of the globe. Overarching the globe and the hands in a half circle are the words “blind technology information specialists” with those words in braille underneath. There is a fold in the bottom of the bag to easily allow it to sit upright. It has a full zip across the top as well as a zippered inside pocket. It's a classic from Blind Girl Designs! 112 A Four Mini Loaves of Homemade Banana Bread donated by Kaila Allen You will enjoy four mini loaves of this mouthwatering banana bread made just the way you like it. Choose one of the following add ins: peanut butter chips, chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, walnuts, or pecans. What a fantastic treat to either have for yourself or share with friends! 112 B Four Mini Loaves of Homemade Banana Bread donated by Kaila Allen You will enjoy four mini loaves of this mouthwatering banana bread made just the way you like it. Choose one of the following add ins: peanut butter chips, chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, walnuts, or pecans. What a fantastic treat to either have for yourself or share with friends! 113 Movie Extravaganza Package donated by ACB Associate Director of Development Jo Lynn Bailey-Page Enjoy using this $50 Regal Cinemas gift card to watch the latest audio described movies with some friends or family. Plus, you will love adding some goodies to go along with your movie. 114 Ruby Heart Jewelry Set made and donated by Charlotte lang This lovely set features July's birthstone ruby in 1/2 inch puffed hearts. Each earring features a heart dangling from sterling silver hooks. The bracelet stretches easily on and off the wrist. The 20-inch necklace closes with a matching silver heart-shaped toggle clasp. The hearts on the necklace are separated by silver links. Wow, this would make a lovely gift for that someone special in your life! 115 Two Companion Framed Floral Collages donated by ACB Advocacy Director Claire Stanley The two decoupage style pieces include yellow, brown, and green flowers. The flowers have six petals each and overlap each other across the canvass. The pieces are finished with a gloss which gives off a shiny glare. The two canvasses have been framed in wooden, 10 by 10 picture frames. Wow, what a fantastic gift to have either for yourself or to give to someone special! 116 JBL Portable Bluetooth Speaker donated by Florida Council of Citizens with Low Vision This ultra-portable, waterproof Bluetooth speaker is small in size but with a surprisingly big sound. The JBL Clip 3 features a built-in rechargeable Li-ion battery with up to 10 hours of battery life plus a metal carabiner so you can easily hook it to your clothes, backpack, or belt loop. This portable speaker has noise cancelling and wireless streaming from your smartphone or tablet. Plus, take crystal-clear calls from your speaker with the touch of a button, thanks to the noise and echo-cancelling speakerphone. JBL Clip 3 is completely waterproof, and you can even immerse it in water. Plus, the improved, durable fabric material and rugged rubber housing protects it during all your outdoor adventures. 117 Kentucky Derby Pie donated by Kentucky Council of the Blind Kern's Kitchen Kentucky Derby Pie®! Kern's Kitchen crafts each pie, one at a time, according to a legendary secret recipe. Premium chocolate and choice walnuts are folded into a decadent filling, then baked in a delicate crust. Delicious when eaten at room temperature; incredibly heavenly when eaten all warm and gooey and topped with either whipped cream or ice cream. This 9-inch, 1-pound-4-oz. pie stays fresh for about 14 days. Ready to warm and serve or freeze for later use. Serves 8 to 10. 118 Enjoy A Game Night donated by Connie and Pete Jacomini and Lisa and Ron Brooks Be the host with the most! You have everything you need included in this package for a wonderful game night. All decks of cards are print/braille and dice are tactile. Card games include Classic Playing Cards, UNO, SKIP-PO, PINOCHLE, PHASE 10, ROOK, and MILLE BORNES. Lisa Brooks personally Brailed MILLE BORNES for this package. Also included are a pair of large tactile dice, LEFT RIGHT CENTER and LEFT RIGHT CENTER WILD dice games. You will also get a wood card holder and card shuffler. 119 $100 A T Guys Gift Certificate donated by Diane Scalzi A T Guys provides affordable technology solutions for consumers, businesses, and educational customers. Our product line includes mobile phone software and accessories, portable electronics, screen readers, braille translation software and accessible games. With over 30 years of combined technology experience, our trainers offer customized instruction both in-person or via phone or online voice chat on a wide array of assistive technologies including screen readers, braille displays, embossers, the iPhone and iPad, Android phones, and general accessibility consulting. 120 Welcome to Jacksonville donated by Florida Council of the Blind Are you coming to the ACB convention in Jacksonville? Enjoy one night at the hotel and a$50 Starbucks gift card and a $50 VISA gift card to use while you are at convention! 121 A Song from the Smitherman's donated by Michael and Alison Smitherman If you enjoy listening to country or Gospel music, for your summertime listening enjoyment, Michael and Alison would like to record a song for you. You choose the song from either of these genres, and we will sing it for you. The song will be sent to you in an mp3 file. What a treat for you or someone special to enjoy! 122 A Two Dozen Homemade Shortbread Cookies donated by Deb Trevino and Delaware Council of the Blind and Visually Impaired We are pleased to offer two dozen fresh-baked mouth-watering authentic shortbread cookies guaranteed to explode on your palate with luscious buttery goodness. These are great with milk, coffee, or your favorite tea. Next to Walker's, these are the best I've ever tasted. If you plan to give a tasty treat to someone you love, don't miss this opportunity! 122 B Two Dozen Homemade Shortbread Cookies donated by Deb Trevino and Delaware Council of the Blind and Visually Impaired We are pleased to offer two dozen fresh-baked mouth-watering authentic shortbread cookies guaranteed to explode on your palate with luscious buttery goodness. These are great with milk, coffee, or your favorite tea. Next to Walker's, these are the best I've ever tasted. If you plan to give a tasty treat to someone you love, don't miss this opportunity! 122 C Two Dozen Homemade Shortbread Cookies donated by Deb Trevino and Delaware Council of the Blind and Visually Impaired We are pleased to offer two dozen fresh-baked mouth-watering authentic shortbread cookies guaranteed to explode on your palate with luscious buttery goodness. These are great with milk, coffee, or your favorite tea. Next to Walker's, these are the best I've ever tasted. If you plan to give a tasty treat to someone you love, don't miss this opportunity! Segment Two- Dan Spoone and Kim Charlson 123 Holy Cow Baraboo Chocolate donated by ACB of Wisconsin Chocolaty goodness in every box! This yummy package includes: • 1-Milk Chocolate Cow Pie • 1-Dark Chocolate Cow Pie • 1-Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter Cow Pie • 1-Milk Chocolate Moo Chews • 1-Milk Chocolate Udderfingers • 1-Milk Chocolate Green Bay Puddles • 1-Milk Chocolate Horse Apples • 10-Individually Wrapped Chocolates including mini Cow Pies and assorted Homer's Meltys. plus TWO SURPRISE BONUS ITEMS. This item will ship in September or October once the weather permits. 124 Black Pearl Necklace and Bracelet Set donated by Cindy Hollis This lovely set features a 20-inch necklace and stretch bracelet in naturally shaped black pearls. They are 7 to 8 millimeter in size. The necklace is hand knotted between for added security and elegance. It closes with a lobster claw clasp. Wow, what a wonderful set to have either for yourself or someone special in your life! 125 Get Moving with Couch to Active donated by ACB President Deb Cook Lewis This online fitness program specializes in helping people who have chronic conditions or physical limitations that impact their ability to participate in standard fitness programs. More recently, they have expanded to make sure all their instructional resources and classes are accessible to people who are blind or have low vision. You may choose between: • The 6-pack: Six classes over the next year. This is ideal if you want to have instruction once a month or once a week. • All In! Up to nine sessions per week for one month. These include Pilates, yoga, strength, mobility/stability, dance /movement, and cardio. 126 Accessible Digital Portable Recorder donated by Kim Charlson You will love having this Zoom H1 essential Stereo Handy Recorder with 32-Bit Float, Accessibility, X/Y Microphones, Record to SD Card, USB Microphone, Portable, for Musicians, Podcasters, Filmmakers, & Content Creators. The hottest accessible digital portable recorder on the market. All menus talk, and it comes with accessible documentation. Stereo 32-bit float recording - perfect audio with no need to set gain, High-Quality X/Y Mics capture clean audio up to 120 dB SPL, Records up to 96kHZ sample rate to SD card, USB Microphone for PC, Mac, iOS, or Android using the USB-C Port, Accessibility - Audio guidance function for the visually impaired. 127 Megan's Famous Chocolate Chip Cookies donated by Megan Sullivan Enjoy sharing three dozen homemade Megan's chocolate chip cookies either with family or friends with that favorite beverage. These cookies will melt in your mouth. 128 Bradford Exchange Music Box donated by ACB LIONS We all admire the quality products from the Bradford Exchange. This limited-edition handcrafted heirloom porcelain egg-shaped music box features a hand-enameled red Cardinal on light pink flowers inside the open egg mounted on a base. It is inspired by Peter Carl Faberge's prized eggs and is adorned with 22K Gold accents. It is beautifully hand glazed in a soft blue hue with more than 80 hand-set jewels. It plays, “Always in My Heart.” The abundance of handcrafted details makes each egg a one-of-a-kind treasure. 129 $100 VISA Gift Card donated by Mississippi Council of The Blind Use this card anytime while dining or doing some shopping for yourself or someone special in your life! 130 Lunch with the ACB Board of Director Koni Sims donated by ACB Board Director Koni Sims Enjoy one-on-one time with ACB Bord of Director Koni Sims over lunch in Jacksonville, Florida in 2024 to be determined by the winner and Koni. 131 ACBDA Sugar Warriors Tote Bag from Blind Girl Designs donated by Tricia Waechter on behalf of ACBDA This ACBDA tote bag features on the front a 12 by 12-inch colorful print to celebrate ACBDA! Across the top reads "SUGAR WARRIORS" which is printed in a velvety 3-D puff ink in both letters and Braille. Both sets of letters are a deep orange color and are very tactile. Beneath the words is a drawing of a fist with prominent knuckles, which is holding a 12-inch white cane diagonally across the bag, smashing through cubes of sugar. The white sugar cubes are flying through the air, struck by the mighty force of the white cane. To further emphasize the force, the words, “pow” and “bam” are colorfully included in yellow and red. The bottom of the print is in deep orange, the words “KNUCKLING DOWN ON DIABETES!” fill the entire length of the print. On the back of this classic navy-blue zippered tote bag, there is a white print in the center of the bag reading “ACB Diabetics in Action.” This deep navy-blue canvas tote is 15 by 20-inch full zip, canvas bag with a folded bottom so it can sit upright and a zip pocket on the inside as well! It has a generous strap so you can swing it over your shoulder. 132 Enstrom Milk Chocolate Almond Toffee Two- Pound Box donated by ACB Media and IT Manager Rick Morin This all-natural traditional almond toffee is handcrafted. It is the perfect blend of almonds, butter, and pure cane sugar, covered in a generous layer of milk chocolate and sprinkled with crushed almonds, creates a buttery toffee with a delicate crunch. Enstrom's Almond Toffee is lovingly handcrafted in small batches with a family recipe passed down through four generations. Includes simple ingredients like fresh California almonds, sweet cream butter, pure cane sugar and 36% milk chocolate. Enstrom's Almond Toffee is certified gluten free, kosher dairy and 100% preservative free. We will contact the winner to arrange shipment to consider options to avoid heat damage during shipping. 133 $200 Target Gift Card donated by Beth Corley and Dan Dillon Here's a $200 Target gift card for you to use in store or online. Enjoy this either for yourself or someone special in your life! 134 Jade 14K Gold Earrings donated by The Literacy Project You will love having these authentic small Jade earrings with gold trim. The earrings are oval and are on posts. Wow, these will dress up any outfit for a romantic outing! 135 Honoring our Heroes Patriotic Package donated by the Georgia Council of the Blind, Marsha Farrow and Blind Girl Designs This package comes in a red Blind Girl Designs bag with white lettering of the Braille alphabet in the shape of a heart. The bag contains a yard flag depicting a red truck with three labradors (yellow, black, and chocolate) flying an American flag. This package also contains a Christmas ornament with an angel holding a folded American flag, a beverage cup with the words “Fear not” on the background of the outline of the American flag, and an American flag pillow. Finally, a paper Braille American flag tactile graphic measuring 7.5 inches by 9.5 inches from the American Braille Flag project completes this gift package. 136 Phoenix Braille Embosser donated by HumanWare The Phoenix is our ninth generation of braille embossing technology that combines our durable and legendary Romeo Braille dot with a proprietary 25 DPI tactile graphics embossing system. All-in-one embosser! There is no longer a need to settle for poor-quality braille text to achieve high-definition tactile graphics. Imagine the ability to scan your pictures, graphs, and charts into your computer and with a few clicks of the mouse, emboss those images in high-definition tactile graphics without compromising the quality of your braille text. Phoenix includes the capabilities to emboss single-sided braille text and high-resolution graphics up to 25 DPI, in a simple to use format. The newly designed Phoenix is smaller and lighter, with an auto-install feature to make setup even easier. The Firebird Software Suite, included with the Phoenix, is a comprehensive set of productivity tools that powers the Phoenix Embosser. The Firebird Software Suite includes the Firebird Graphics Editor that provides you with a list of automatic tools to effortlessly create tactile graphic images. Phoenix is also compatible with your existing braille translator. 137A Homemade Triple Play Oversized Cookies donated by Brian Charlson Here we go again; it's time for Brian's triple play oversized cookies. Those who have won this item in the past will attest to the flavor, size, and overall quality of this perennial auction favorite. This year Brian is offering 1 dozen classic chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin and lemon shortbread. They are packaged individually. Feel free to offer them up as additions to gift baskets or pop them in the freezer to savor them over a few months or weeks. 137B Homemade Triple Play Oversized Cookies donated by Brian Charlson Here we go again; it's time for Brian's triple play oversized cookies. Those who have won this item in the past will attest to the flavor, size, and overall quality of this perennial auction favorite. This year Brian is offering 1 dozen classic chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin and lemon shortbread. They are packaged individually. Feel free to offer them up as additions to gift baskets or pop them in the freezer to savor them over a few months or weeks. 137 C Homemade Triple Play Oversized Cookies donated by Brian Charlson Here we go again; it's time for Brian's triple play oversized cookies. Those who have won this item in the past will attest to the flavor, size, and overall quality of this perennial auction favorite. This year Brian is offering 1 dozen classic chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin and lemon shortbread. They are packaged individually. Feel free to offer them up as additions to gift baskets or pop them in the freezer to savor them over a few months or weeks. 138 IROBOT Roomba 677 robot vacuum donated by Connie Jacomini For effortlessly clean floors, the Roomba® 677 Series Robot Vacuum learns your cleaning habits to suggest personalized schedules that take care of daily dirt, dust, and debris. Effective cleaning is part of the 3-Stage Cleaning System's design. Dual Multi-Surface Brushes grab dirt from carpets and hard floors, while an Edge-Sweeping Brush takes care of corners and edges. 139 $500 Coupon to HumanWare donated by HumanWare Details for this Coupon: Coupon is valid until June 30, 2025, and may be applied to any HumanWare product sold by HumanWare USA Inc. 2. Coupon is transferrable. Winning auction bidder for this coupon need only send an email to David Bradburn, HumanWare's Vice President Global Sales at david.bradburn@humanware.com providing the name and contact information of the person who will be redeeming the coupon. The coupon has no cash value. 140 Fun in the Sun! A week at the Wyndham Ocean Walk Resort at Daytona Beach donated by Tim Paul Must be used August 18-August 25, 2024. This unit is a two bedroom, two bath, fully equipped kitchen, with washer/dryer, and all the amenities of home. The resort offers activities for family members of all ages: indoor and outdoor swimming pools, outdoor hot tub, beach, lazy river water, exercise equipment, bar and grill, live entertainment and more. 141 A Song with Kolby donated by ACB Development Officer Kolby Garrison Kolby will sing a song of your choice acapella. The file will be sent to you in mp3 format. What a treat to listen to with friends. 142 A Kermit's Key Lime Pie Duo Donated by Dan Spoone Direct from Kermit's Key Lime Shop, the winner will receive two 9-inch Key Lime Pies. The pies that started it all named “the best taste Key Lime Pie” by Food Network's Keith Famie's Adventures. Kermit's Key Lime Pie is baked fresh daily. True tart Key Lime flavor in a delicious graham cracker crust and topped with fluffy whipped cream. This Key West delicacy will arrive at your door just waiting to be shared with the people you love the most. 142 B Kermit's Key Lime Pie Duo donated by Dan Spoone Direct from Kermit's Key Lime Shop, the winner will receive two 9-inch Key Lime Pies. The pies that started it all named “the best taste Key Lime Pie” by Food Network's Keith Famie's Adventures. Kermit's Key Lime Pie is baked fresh daily. True tart Key Lime flavor in a delicious graham cracker crust and topped with fluffy whipped cream. This Key West delicacy will arrive at your door just waiting to be shared with the people you love the most. 143 $500 Gift Certificate to Jack Stack's BBQ donated by Melvin Smith Your Package Includes: Pulled Pork 2 Pounds. Pork Spareribs 1 Full Slab Beef Burnt Ends 1 Pound. Lamb Ribs 2 Racks Hickory Pit Beans 1 Quart Cheesy Corn Bake 1 Quart KC Original BBQ Sauce One 18.6 Ounce bottle KC Spicy BBQ Sauce One 18.6 Ounce bottle KC Hot BBQ Sauce One 18.6 Ounce bottle Pulled Pork – Pulled pork might be a Carolina staple, but Jack Stack's is deliciously unforgettable. Our BBQ Pulled Pork is perfect for sandwiches. Pork Spare Ribs – Our Pork Spare Ribs are expertly seasoned, slow-roasted to perfection over hickory logs, and a delicious choice. Beef Burnt Ends – When it comes to classic Kansas City barbecue, Jack Stack's Beef Burnt Ends are second to none. Meaty, juicy, and tender on the inside - with the smokey edges you could only get from double-smoking them over hickory. Hickory-Roasted Lamb Ribs – Tender, savory and hickory roasted, Denver-cut lamb ribs are a uniquely treasured culinary find. Hickory Pit Beans – Beans may be standard barbecue fare, but there is nothing typical about these Hickory Pit Beans. Thick, slow-cooked, and loaded with chunks of our hickory-smoked brisket. Cheesy Corn Bake – It doesn't get more craveable than this: Jack Stack's Cheesy Corn Bake is bubbly, velvety, and unforgettable. Four gourmet cheeses are blended with whole-kernel corn and slivers of our hickory-smoked ham. 144 Black Hills Gold Heart shaped Pendant necklace donated by South Dakota Association of the Blind Enjoy this beautiful and delicate 10KT yellow, Black Hills Gold heart shaped pendant with .02ct round brilliant diamond in the center. It has an 18-inch gold chain. This will dress up a casual outfit or look stunning in a formal setting. What a fantastic gift either for yourself or someone special in your life! 145 Aromatherapy Bundle donated by Seth and Koni Sims, ACB Board of Director This aromatherapy bundle will give you a variety of ways to take care of yourself and your best furry friend. You will find something to help sore achy muscles and joints and headaches. These products are by Wyndmere Naturals. Included in this bundle: Lava Bead Necklace – Aura, Lavender oil 10 ml bottle, Aches & Pains Cream 4 ounce, Detoxification Aide Bath Salts 24 ounce, Citrus Delight Body & Air Mist 4 fluid ounce, Sleepy Time inhalation Patch, Breathe Blend inhaler, Head Aide Roll on 8 ml, Less Stress Pet Mist 4 fluid ounce. Wow, you, and your pooch will really feel relaxed and pampered with all these wonderful items! 146 A DaVinci Pro CCTV donated by Kim Charlson DaVinci Pro is a high-performance desktop video magnifier, featuring a Full HD 1080p 3-in-1 camera and full-page Text-to-Speech (OCR). DaVinci Pro's OCR allows it to easily read your favorite article or book aloud. DaVinci Pro's 3-in-1 Full HD camera allows you to see near, far or a mirror image. It is great for applying make-up, shaving, reading, writing, viewing presentations and whiteboards and so much more! 24” high resolution HD LCD, Auto focus 3-in-1, Magnification up to 77x, Computer compatible, Save documents, pictures or books and export files to your PC. It is a higher end CCTV. 146 B DaVinci CCTV donated by Kim Charlson DaVinci Pro is a high-performance desktop video magnifier, featuring a Full HD 1080p 3-in-1 camera and full-page Text-to-Speech (OCR). DaVinci Pro's OCR allows it to easily read your favorite article or book aloud. DaVinci Pro's 3-in-1 Full HD camera allows you to see near, far or a mirror image. It is great for applying make-up, shaving, reading, writing, viewing presentations and whiteboards and so much more! 24” high resolution HD LCD, Auto focus 3-in-1, Magnification up to 77x, Computer compatible, Save documents, pictures or books and export files to your PC. It is a higher end CCTV. Segment Three- Michael Garrett and Zelda Gebhard 147 Power Tower Donated by ACB of Minnesota This multiple outlet power strip tower has twelve grounded 3-prong AC outlets spaced out to accommodate different size plugs. The five high speed USB charging ports will meet your electronic charging needs. Charge your iPhone, iPad, tablet, or other devices. The 16-foot heavy duty cord ensures high conductivity and safety. The 45dg low profile flat plug and the vertical design makes this tower more space-saving than a traditional power strip. 148 The Pocket Bible donated by Rev. Ray Raysor, President DC Council of the Blind The Pocket Bible is a self-contained digital device that contains the entire bible. It is about the size of the old cassette tapes and has navigation buttons that allow forward and backward movement by both book and chapter. It has no moving parts and is rugged and water resistant. The Pocket Bible has both an internal speaker and an earphone jack. Available in your choice of English Standard Version, King James Version, New King James Version, New American Standard Bible, New International Version NIV, New Living Translation ®. Audio Bibles in Spanish also are available. 149 The Bring it Home $300 Bundle donated by Arizona Council of the Blind Enjoy a $100 Gift Card to Door Dash, $100 Gift Card to Instacart and $100 Shipt gift card. You will welcome the handpicked groceries delivered from your favorite local stores along with your favorite fresh produce from the comfort of your own home. Enjoy On-Demand Delivery from Instacart. Order and have your favorite meals at your door in minutes with DoorDash. Like your avocados a little firm? Shoppers with Shipt go the extra mile to ensure you get the things you want, exactly how you like them. Local stores and national chains you know and love, delivered directly to you same day. Your shopper will keep you updated every step of the way. From special requests to last-minute changes, they are here to help. You will enjoy these three $100 gift cards to shop, shop and shop some more! 150 Lunch with the ACB President donated by ACB Enjoy one-on-one time with ACB President, Deb Cook Lewis, over lunch in Jacksonville, Florida in 2024 to be determined by the winner and Deb. 151 RSVA navy crewneck sweatshirt from Blind Girl Designs donated by Tricia Waechter on behalf of RSVA Come and support the Brenda Dillon Memorial Walk and the RSVA walk team! The print on this sweatshirt is 3-D tactile white puff ink mixed with red, slightly tactile ink. The words “at your service” are arched over the top of the print. Under the three-dimensional words there is matching three-dimensional braille. In the center of the print, there are three shields: a large center shield and smaller shields on either side. In the center of the big shield is a red checkmark and the side shields have red stars. At the bottom in 3-D tactile ink are the letters RSVA with braille underneath. Available in sizes small through five XL. You pick! The sweatshirt is cotton/poly blend and will not shrink. 152 Maker's Mark Bourbon Balls Donated by Greater Louisville Council of the Blind This is an elegant gift for family, friends, and business associates or a fantastic treat for yourself. Fine, handcrafted chocolates made from an old family recipe; laced with a generous touch of Maker's Mark Bourbon Whiskey. The one-pound gift box contains 32 delicious pieces. Shipped directly to the winning bidder. Shipping is not available to Hawaii or Alaska. 153 $150 Amazon Gift Card donated by ACB of Indiana It is time to treat yourself to something special and here's a gift card to help you do it. $150 in spending at Amazon! 154 Shell Hematite and Rose Quartz Jewelry Set made and donated by Keri Bishop The 21-inch necklace is made of alternating chips of hematite shell and rose quartz. The shell chips are spiral slices of shell. The bracelet is elastic with two row shell and hematite beads every six shells bead is double wide with two drilled holes going across both rows. This beautiful handmade jewelry set would make a fantastic gift for that someone special in your life! 155 Ferris wheel Music Box donated by Patty Slaby The Ferris Wheel carries bears as the music plays Night In the Sky, The key to wind it is on the motor. There are more bears standing in line at the bottom. The music box is 6 inches tall and about 4 inches wide. What a fantastic gift to have yourself or to give to someone special! 156 Explore 12 donated by HumanWare Explore is an easy-to-use, portable electronic magnifier that offers HD image quality for improved near and distance viewing. As the largest portable magnifier in our Explore series, its 12-inch touchscreen is perfect for anyone desiring a larger interface, plus it has the added benefit of a foldable stand enabling easy use for reading, writing, and other manual tasks. 157A Homemade Scotchies Cookies donated by CCLVI President Patti Cox These soft and chewy Oatmeal Scotchies are sweetened with brown sugar, packed with oats, and loaded with butterscotch chips. They have crisp edges and chewy centers. Every bite is buttery delicious and packed with flavor. What a delicious treat to enjoy yourself or share with friends! 157B Homemade Scotchies Cookies donated by CCLVI President Patti Cox These soft and chewy Oatmeal Scotchies are sweetened with brown sugar, packed with oats, and loaded with butterscotch chips. They have crisp edges and chewy centers. Every bite is buttery delicious and packed with flavor. What a delicious treat to enjoy yourself or share with friends! 158 Coffee, Coffee, and More Coffee donated by ACB of Minnesota If you have a Keurig coffee maker, this is a must bid for you. You can choose from a box of 100 pods of multiple flavors or of the same flavor. What a fantastic treat for you or the coffee lover in your life. 159 Big Texas Spending Bundle donated by ACB of Texas Enjoy lots of shopping or dining with these gift cards which include: a $50 certificate to the Berdoll Candy and Pecan farm, a $50 gift card to the Container Store, a $50 gift card to Sweet Taste of Texas, and a $50 VISA gift card and others to come! 160 Mantis ™ Q40 donated by American Printing House Keep braille at your fingertips anytime, anywhere, with the Mantis™ Q40: a Bluetooth® keyboard and 40-cell refreshable braille display. Users of the Mantis Q40 no longer need to choose between a keyboard or a braille device. A student or professional typing on the Mantis has a multimodal option of refreshable braille below the keyboard making it easier to participate in, and succeed at, school or work. Contains the following built-in applications: Basic editor to function as a user's pen and paper, book reader to download and read books in braille, calculator to perform basic mathematical calculations, clock to check the date and time, file manager to organize one's work, HumanWare signature thumb keys and home button, 15 hours of battery life with rechargeable, removable batteries and 16 GB of internal storage, SD card slot and USB host port for flash drives. 161 A Song with Lucy Arguijo donated by Lucy Arguijo Lucy will sing a song of your choice. The file will be sent to you in mp3 format. What a treat to listen to with friends. 162 Homemade Peanut Delights donated by Zelda Gebhard If you like salted nut rolls, you will love these! This delightfully delicious candy is all marshmallowy and nutty throughout. There are two pounds of individually wrapped pieces so there is plenty to enjoy and to share of this salty and sweet treat made by Zelda. 163 $150 Braille Superstore Gift Certificate donated by Braille Revival League “Come browse with us and shop to your hearts' content at the Braille Superstore. Check out their great selection of accessible games, toys, signature guides, braille and talking watches, braille card games, educational items for preschool and K-12 students, adapted timers and cooking instruments, tactile labeling items, talking calculators, thermometers, scales, MP3 players, audio Bibles, and braille books, just to wet your appetite.” 164 Purple Pearl Necklace donated by Cindy Hollis This lovely necklace features 7-to-8-millimeter naturally shaped purple pearls. They are hand knotted between for added security and elegance. The 20-inch necklace closes with a lobster claw clasp. This beautiful necklace will dress up any ensemble! 165 Summer Vacation Bundle donated by GDUI Yippee! Another GDUI Sweet Summer Vacation bundle! Rating: 4 paws! GDUI-branded harness pouch where you can store a roll of pick-up bags, keys, and cash/credit card; a gray collapsible bowl with carabiner clip which holds 36 ounces; a Nerf Collapsible 2-in-1 Agility Tunnel and Target Dog Game! Also included is a large, Invincible Triple Chain dog toy and a cute 29-inch plush carrot squeaky toy by Petlou; a package of five reusable Scrubby instant, waterless bath mitts; a large 56 by 28 inch pink microfiber dog bath towel with two white embroidered bones in one corner by Frisco; a blue Coleman roll-up 24 by 36 by 2 inch travel pet bed with a durable water-resistant nylon top, a waterproof PVC base and polyester fill. It folds in half lengthwise to roll up and fasten with two sturdy buckles. Machine wash and line dry. It's time to snuggle up and dream of another fun-filled, splendid sunny summer day tomorrow! (yawn) 166 Echo Show5th Generation donated by Library Users of America The latest and greatest Alexa Echo Show is now available for you to enjoy. The 5.5-inch screen can display the time, a calendar, the weather, photos, video calls, podcasts, read audio books, plus stream your favorite music, tv shows, and podcasts, all controlled with your voice. With the built-in camera, you may check in on children and pets, or drop in on your home when you are away. When not in use, you can set the background to a slideshow of your favorite photos. Prime members also get unlimited cloud storage. There are multiple layers of privacy controls including a mic/camera OFF button and encrypted Ring videos. The Echo Show now has 2 times the bass and a clearer sound for your enjoyment. 167 Joann's Fudge (6 slices) donated by Michigan Council of the Blind and Visually Impaired Joan and Frank Nephew opened the first Joann's Fudge Store on Mackinac (pronounced Mackinaw) Island. Today, Joann's Fudge is a third-generation family business that continues Joan and Frank's commitment to providing high quality products. Each slice is ½ pound for a total of three pounds. You can order six slices of one flavor or mix and match from the list below. Flavors: Butter Pecan, Chocolate, Chocolate Cherry, Chocolate Cookie Crunch, Chocolate Peanut Butter, Chocolate Pecan, Chocolate Toffee, Chocolate Turtle, Chocolate Walnut, Double Dark Chocolate, Double Dark Chocolate Cherry Walnut, Double Dark Chocolate Espresso, Double Dark Chocolate Mint, Double Dark Salted Caramel, German Chocolate, Maple Walnut, Peanut Butter, Pumpkin Pie, Raspberry Truffle, Rocky Road, and Vanilla Salted Caramel. 168 Braille American Wall Flag donated by Veterans of ACB This beautiful flag is designed from very durable polymer and is recommended for permanent indoor display only. The flag measures 15 by 19 inches and weighs approximately 5 lbs. It has a brass-colored frame, mounting hardware and instructions included at no additional cost. Be proud and display your patriotism with this attractive flag. Segment Four- Jeff Thom and Terri-Lynn Higashi 169 $250 Pet Package donated by Tim and Maria Stone of Scoop Masters You will enjoy splurging on your pet and yourself with all the wonderful gift cards included: A $100 Chewy gift card, a $75 Amazon gift card, a $50 Cheesecake Factory gift card and a $25 Starbucks gift card. 170 Lunch with the ACB Executive Director donated by ACB Enjoy one-on-one time with ACB Executive Director, Scott Thornhill, over lunch in Jacksonville, FL in 2024 to be determined by the winner and Scott. 171 Canvas Tote Bag from Blind Girl Designs donated by Tricia Waechter on behalf of AAVL Join us in celebrating the AAVL with this beautiful canvas 15 by18-inch full-zip tote bag. The 12 by 12-inch print explodes with color. The top of the print has the words CELEBRATE in teal, EXPERIENCE in pink AND WISDOM in orange. The words are in a graceful arch. Beneath the words in the center of the print is a dynamic colorful fireworks display. The bottom of the print in 3D yellow puff ink are the letters AAVL and below that are the letters in tactile, readable braille. There is a fold in the bottom of the bag so that the bag can sit upright. It has a full zip across the top as well as a zippered inside pocket. It's a Blind Girl Designs classic! 172 Delicious Homemade Cookies from Patty's Kitchen donated by Patty Slaby Let your imagination guide your taste buds selecting 3 dozen of the same choice or 3 dozen of three 1 dozen choices. Choices include: peanut butter, oatmeal, molasses-ginger, snickerdoodles, chocolate chip, or anything you can imagine, even lemon. Very popular! Yum, Yum! 173 $100 Honey-Baked Ham Gift Card donated by Leslie and Jeff Thom You will enjoy having this $100 gift card for Honey-Baked Ham plus scrumptious sides from the Honey-Baked Ham Store. Enjoy this delicious feist with family or friends anytime over the summer or during the holidays! 174 Touch of Hawaiian Beauty Earring and Necklace Set donated by Hawaii Association of The Blind You will dazzle in this pair of earrings that feature a shiny ball on the top with tiny white seashell hanging from the ball. The seashell has delicate lines within it. It comes with an 18-inch necklace and a basket charm. Within the basket there are 3 delicate white stones similar to the shiny balls of earrings. It also comes with some surprise treats such as chocolate, and coffee. 175 Two Bottles of Wine donated by the Oklahoma Council of the Blind 1 bottle of Sunset Bliss and 1 bottle of Sex-In-The-Vineyard Wines. Wakefield's Winery is in the rolling hills of central Oklahoma. They produce some of the best kept secrets of delicious award-winning wines in the state for the most discriminating tastes! "SUNSET BLISS", is a tropical fruit Riesling sweet white table wine with hints of kiwi, pineapple and mango is an Oklahoma State Fair Silver Medal winner. “SEX-IN-THE-VINEYARD” is a Black Cherry Pinot Noir. This sweet wine is an “Oklahoma State Fair Bronze Medal” winner and the “People's Choice Award” winner. If you like sexy wine, this is the wine for you! Wakefield's Winery does not ship to the following states: Alabama, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi, New Jersey, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, and Virginia. 176 Explore 8 Magnifier donated by HumanWare Magnification up to 30X with HD stunning image quality, fully customizable functions, touchscreen to navigate easily through menus, twin Ultra HD cameras for desktop or distance viewing, large physical buttons to adjust magnification and contrast, can be connected easily to a large screen TV, battery life of 4.5 hours. 177 Two Pounds of Homemade Fudge donated by ACB Board Director Cecily Laney Nipper Indulge your sweet tooth. Enjoy two pounds of homemade fudge. Choose from flavors such as double chocolate, peanut butter, and coffee; with two pounds of the same flavor or one pound each of two different flavors. You will be contacted to customize this rich tasty treat. Enjoy yourself or share with friends or family! This will be shipped in September. 178 Fun Time in Hawaii donated by Hawaii Association of The Blind A porcelain Shaka wall hook by Hawaiian artist Jason Dow; Enamel mug with a design that says Hawaii in colorful letters below 3 pineapples; Hawaiian Harmony from Big Island Roasters 100% Kona coffee beans 7 ounces; Yellow Hau flower enamel key chain from Paradise Now Hawaii - made on Maui; Lucky Fortune Cat 3-D shaped sponge from Fred. Enamel flair pin shaped like a bowl of ramen noodle soup from Moxhi Kids; Vinyl sticker sheet with Hawaii's favorite smiling foods and 2 larger vinyl stickers shaped like spam musubi and Boba tea from Mochi Kids. These can be placed on water bottles, phone or iPad cases. Bid and enjoy all these fun items from Hawaii. 179 $100 Gift Card to Omaha Steaks donated by AAVIA Everyone loves a good steak! Omaha Steaks offers a wide selection of high-quality meats that are delivered to your doorstep. Yum, yum. 180 Handmade Story Book Quilt made and donated by Margarine Beaman You will love having this story book quilt with each page sporting a different color. The size of this quilt is 45 by 51-inches. This beautiful quilt is great for a young child to look at as they are going to bed. “My grandkids love to lay on top of their bed and look at the colors and animals.” Wow, what an entertaining quilt for that special person in your life! 181 “The Tom Kaufman Make Believe Hillbilly Band” Bundle donated by Tom Kaufman Come and bid on Tom Kaufman's choices from his Make Believe Hillbilly Band showcased during ACB Community Karaoke! You will be able to choose a song or some of Tom's exciting genres from Tom's Band. Tom will send you an mp3 file with your choices. Enjoy this amazing selection repeatedly by yourself or with some friends! 182 A Tony's Energy Bar and Banana Bread Delight donated by Anthony Akamine and Terri Lynn Higashi Akamine, members of Hawaii Association of the Blind Summer days are here again! Yummy for the tummy. Need some treats to kick your summer into high gear? Back by popular demand for the auction. One loaf of chocolate banana bread full of chocolate, bananas, and nuts. If you don't like bananas, we can do mangos. Also, Anthony is perfecting his mom's energy bar treats. Get a bag of these yummy treats packed with Rice Krispies, oatmeal, raisins, peanut butter, and nuts. If you don't like peanuts, we can throw out the nuts. Made by Anthony and his mom's creation. Perfect for those summer days. And the box may even come with a few extra goodies. 182 B Tony's Energy Bar and Banana Bread Delight donated by Anthony Akamine and Terri Lynn Higashi Akamine, members of Hawaii Association of the Blind Summer days are here again! Yummy for the tummy. Need some treats to kick your summer into high gear? Back by popular demand for the auction. One loaf of chocolate banana bread full of chocolate, bananas, and nuts. If you don't like bananas, we can do mangos. Also, Anthony is perfecting his mom's energy bar treats. Get a bag of these yummy treats packed with Rice Krispies, oatmeal, raisins, peanut butter, and nuts. If you don't like peanuts, we can throw out the nuts. Made by Anthony and his mom's creation. Perfect for those summer days. And the box may even come with a few extra goodies. 183 $100 Bloomin' Brands Gift Card donated by AAVL Bloomin' Brands gift cards are the freshest way to see for yourself how one card can offer so many appetizing choices from steak, seafood to classic Italian. Our card can be redeemed at any of the following restaurants: Outback Steakhouse, Carrabba's Italian Grill, Bonefish Grill and Fleming's Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar. What a wonderful way to enjoy a night out with family or friends! 184 Versa Slate Paperless Erasable Braille Slate and Stylus donated by Lucy Edmonds The Versa Slate is a braille slate that is paperless and erasable. It works just like a regular slate and stylus, but without paper. It features four rows of 20 cells each, and a magnetic stylus that is built into the side of the unit for easy storage. 185 Himalayan Salt Lamp donated by Jeff and Keri Bishop of Tucson, AZ You will love using this Himalayan Salt Lamp. It is 9 inches high, 4 inches wide with a 7W night light bulb inside. This lamp glows a lovely pink that shows all the different variations of color in the large salt crystal. It is a spectacular piece of decor that would look great on any mantel or end table. 186 Podcasting Bundle with Accessible Tools donated by BITS This package contains all you need to conduct the interview of your dreams! You will be able to record high quality music or just capture life as it happens. The Zoom H4essentials is an accessible digital voice recorder. The first thing you hear when you turn it on is it prompting you to enable speech and beeps providing independent navigation of most system options. The Zoom H4essentials has a built-in stereo microphone, with dual XLR connections available as well and it supports up to one terabyte micro SD card, and is powered by USB-C or AAA batteries, not included. The Samson Q2U microphone is a versatile handheld dynamic mic. This microphone allows you to connect via XLR into an audio interface, such as the Zoom H4essentials, or directly to your computer via an included USB cable. Great for rejecting off access noise, these microphones are ideal for interviewing individuals in an environment that might not be the most conducive for podcast interviews. Bid today on the great podcasting bundle including one Zoom H4essentials field recorder, 2 Samson Q2U mic's, 2 XLR cables, and 1 128 GB microSD card. 187 A Home Baked Cookies from Andrea Conner's Kitchen donated by Andrea Conner These delicious cookies melt in your mouth! The light, buttery goodness of a crescent formed into a ball, loaded with chopped pecans, flavored with a hint of vanilla, then dusted in powdered sugar. One dozen with almond flavor and one dozen cocoa flavor. They're sure to satisfy your cookie craving! Enjoy these scrumptious cookies yourself or share with friends or family. 187 B Home Baked Cookies from Andrea Conner's Kitchen donated by Andrea Conner These delicious cookies melt in your mouth! The light, buttery goodness of a crescent formed into a ball loaded with chopped pecans, flavored with a hint of vanilla, then dusted in powdered sugar. One dozen with almond flavor and one dozen cocoa flavor. They are sure to satisfy your cookie craving! Enjoy these scrumptious cookies yourself or share with friends or family. 188 One-on-One In-Person or Phone Conversation with Our Talking Book Narrator Donated by ACB Enjoy chatting with our talking book narrator, Mare Trevathan. Here's your chance for a one-on-one, behind the scenes conversation with a talking book narrator. The winner could either use this in person in Jacksonville or be contacted after the convention to make arrangements for a phone conversation. 189 $50 Amazon Gift Card donated by Delaware Council of the Blind and Visually Impaired It is time to treat yourself to something special and here's a gift card to help you do it. $50 in spending at Amazon! 190 One-hour Business Coaching Session and $25 Gift Card to Pete's Coffee donated by Ardis Bazyn Enjoy this one-hour business coaching session with Ardis Bazyn. Ardis coaches on positive image building, secrets for coping with challenges and change, creating a plan for professional/business success, speaking skills, writing skills, advocacy skills and inexpensive marketing/public relations initiatives. Also included is a $25 Pete's Coffee gift card to enjoy with some friends or family! Expiration Date: June 30, 2025. 191 Nebraska Black Tote Bag from Blind Girl Designs donated by Tricia Waechter on behalf of Nebraska The delightful Nebraska tote bag has white vinyl ink printed on a black canvas, full-zip 15 by 18-inch tote bag with an interior zipper pocket. The top of the 9 by 13-inch print starts boldly with the state name NEBRASKA and underneath it is spelled also in braille. Underneath the word NEBRASKA is the entire state outline of Nebraska exactly like a map. The only difference from a map is on the left side of the state there's a white cane instead of a straight line and on the northwestern border there is another white cane instead of a line. At the end of the strap of the white cane, the map continues along the river as it naturally would. The river continues all the way down to the southeast border of the state. In the middle of the west side of the state are the historic rolling sand hills, which are covered by prairie grasses. These sand hills are replicated by small wavy tactile hills as a nod to this critical and historic portion of the state, which supports the cattle industry. Starting in the middle to the right side of the print are three huge stalks of corn. There's a reason this is proudly called the Cornhusker state! 192 Berkey Creamery Bundle Package donated by Pennsylvania Council of The Blind One thing that most Pennsylvanians agree on is “Ice cream is good, and the Penn State Creamery makes some of the best.” We love ice cream, but we love the science behind it even more. By supporting the Berkey Creamery, you also are supporting food science, the dairy industry and agriculture across Pennsylvania and beyond. The PCB Package includes six pints of ice cream: Peachy Paterno; Cookies-n-Cream; Bittersweet Mint; Death by Chocolate; Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough and Vanilla Bean (BASED ON INGREDIENT AVAILABILITY). Enjoy this Penn State Creamery 100% cotton t-Shirt with color options of blue or white, sizes small up to 3XL. We've got some fashion for your sweet tooth! Simply stated, all roads lead to the Creamery! Also, enjoy the 21oz travel mug which is a stainless steel beverage container with the Penn State Berkey Creamery emblem on it. Segment Five- Kolby Garrison and Mary Haupt 193 $50 Amazon Gift Card donated by New Jersey Council of The Blind It is time to treat yourself to something special and here's a gift card to help you do it. $50 in spending at Amazon! 194 Doggie Gift Basket donated by Jeff and Keri Bishop This doggie gift bag comes with lots of goodies for your guide dog. This set includes: Two jumbo collapsible dog dishes for travel, A hard rubber giggle ball, a nylon dual length leash in bright safety green It's the same size and length as standard guide dog leashes, hillside farms chicken jerky for dogs, hillside farms jerky twist (dried chicken and sweet potato), a velour kennel blanket. A back seat cover or hammock (covers the entire seat and floor by putting 2 handles on the head rest in the back or a hammock by putting the second set of handles over the all 4 heads rest of the front and back), a dog safety seatbelt, a tug of war nylon bone, doggy poo bags, a grooming kit (has right and left grooming mittens, a comb and a grooming brush the straps around your hand. This gift set comes in a reusable shopping bag that has been sewn from a recycled dog food bag. 195 Disney 100 Years of Wonder Mickey Watch and Minnie Mouse Watch donated by Connie Jacomini You will love having these enchanting Mickey and Minnie Mouse watches that feature a detailed 3-layer dial with a laser-cut silhouette of your favorite character alongside the Disney 100 logo. Plus, it arrives beautifully packaged and ready for gift giving. Wow, what a fantastic gift either for yourself or someone special in your life! 196 Dry Aged Steaks for a Summertime Grill donated by ACB Development Director Bill Reeder Enjoy four luxury steakhouse prime grade ribeye steaks, dry aged for 45 days and hand cut two inches thick. Grill ready and perfect for a fancy summer BBQ. They are accompanied by two bottles of fine wine (red or white) and Kosmos famous BBQ steak rub. What a treat to have for a summer meal with friends or family! 197 Pat's Beef Jerky Gift Box donated by Kansas Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired This fantastic beef jerky is from A Land of Kansas Company. The box features four different flavors of beef jerky made from Kansas beef, and two packages of beef stick. Enjoy this delicious treat yourself or share with friends. 198 A Gift Box of Fragrance donated by Barry Carver of Mountain Crafted A box of sulfate-free fragrance available in Cactus Flower or Jade. You may request braille labels on all your items. This bundle includes: 8 ounces shampoo, 8 ounces hair conditioner, 8 ounces shower gel, 4 ounces moisturizing cream, 1 ounce body mist, 1 ounce room spray. A little dab goes a long way. 199 $100 VISA Gift Card donated by Mississippi Council of The Blind You can use this $100 VISA gift card any time for dining or doing some shopping for yourself or someone special! 200 a Maryland box of Goodies donated by ACB of Maryland Bid and enjoy this box of goodies from Maryland. It includes: Old Bay Fisher's Popcorn, Jeppi Nuts, Chocolate Crabs dusted with Old Bay, Hot Sauce, Crab Cake Mix, Old Bay Seasoning, and some Chesapeake Mouth Party Caramels! Special Add Ons: "Home is Where the Old Bay Is" 5 by 7 print, Bigs Old Bay Sunflower Seeds, Crab Towel, and an Old Bay Insulated Tumbler. 201 Hills of Purple Heather donated and performed by Jeanette Kutash The lucky winner will enjoy sharing this piano piece performed by Jeanette. As you hear this beautiful melody, imagine yourself walking through the hills with the purple heather, a beautiful flower which represents healing and quieting of the mind. The hills and the heather invite those who walk through them to revel in a feeling of confidence to pursue living life to the fullest with those you love. As the music increases and decreases in volume, we find gradual healing, calmness, and the feeling that we can get through all storms ahead with grace and tranquility. The piece culminates with a final chord which represents that feeling of being whole from the heather's qualities. 202 $100 Honey Baked Ham Gift Card donated by ACB Media Coordinator Larry Gassman Whether you're celebrating a loved one, marking a special occasion, or simply wanting to surprise a friend, show you care with a Honey Baked Ham. Enjoy this delicious treat with friends or family. 203 Baby Afghan in White, Yellow, and Green donated by Keri Bishop Enjoy this baby Afghan crocheted like a jumbo granny square or continuous granny square. The center is white bordered by a pastel green then white and trimmed in pastel yellow. Afghan measures 42 by 42 inches. Wow, what a beautiful Afghan to give as a gift for that someone special! 204 $100 Gift Card to Walmart Donated by Mary Haupt Fill your basket with treats for your family and friends. The $100 gift card offers a wonderful opportunity for you to treat yourself or to please and surprise others. 205 Four Bags of Healthy Dog Treats donated by ACB of Connecticut Here's something for the canines in your life. You will receive 4 bags of healthy dog treats baked, packed, and shipped by special needs students at Bellcate School in Vermont. They are freshly baked upon order and contain no preservatives. The flavors are Peanut Butter Pumpkin, Calming Chamomile and Honey Maple Mousse with the maple coming from the farm on the school property and Apple, Oatmeal and Cheese. They are truly making a difference for our dogs! 206 2012 Read Easy Move Scanning Device donated by Roberta McCall You can use this freestanding scanning device which will read out all printed text to users to assist you with everyday life. It includes headphones so you can hear what the scanner is reading to you. It has a custom carrying case, clear voices, Keypad Feature Pack For users requiring additional features such as multi-page documents, WIFI navigation control, saving, loading, importing, and exporting documents! Low Vision Pack that connects your Move to television or computer screen. Let's you view your documents in large print, (up to 2x newspaper headline size on a 22” screen), as well as listen to them. 207A Loaf of Homemade Pumpkin Bread Donated by Terri Nettles Perfect for breakfast, dessert, or a party, this bread will delight all who love pumpkin any time of day. Enjoy this pumpkin bread either plain or with chocolate chips yourself or share with friends or family. It is delicious. 207B Loaf of Homemade Pumpkin Bread Donated by Terri Nettles Perfect for breakfast, dessert, or a party, this bread will delight all who love pumpkin any time of day. Enjoy this pumpkin bread either plain or with chocolate chips yourself or share with friends or family. It is delicious! 208 Handmade Pottery Snack Tray and Butter Dish donated by Patty Fletcher You will enjoy this lovely snack tray which is a rectangular shaped plate with rounded edges. The edges and sides of this piece are textured. It is a marigold color with a glossy finish. Also enjoy the accompanying butter dish which is an oblong shaped plate. It is marigold with a glossy finish. These one-of-a-kind handmade pottery pieces are both useful and lovely. 209 $50 Amazon Gift Card donated by Friends in Art It is time to treat yourself to something special and here's a gift card to help you do it. $50 in spending at Amazon! 210 Four-piece Amalia Serving Set donated by Becky Gleason Enjoy having this four-piece set of elegant flatware. It will add sparkle to any table setting. Made from high-quality 18/10 Stainless Steel, each piece is beautiful, durable and dishwasher safe. The serving utensils feature a unique vine design and rope detail. This set includes a Serving Spoon, Slotted Spoon, Serving Fork, and Serving Spatula. Use this serving set yourself or make someone incredibly happy by making them the recipient of this useful and classy gift. 211 $50 Starbucks Gift Card donated by Merrilee Hill-Kennedy Everyone loves a good cup of coffee. It's even better with some friends or family members over some laughs! As an extra bonus, Starbucks also has goodies to eat. Bid so you can enjoy all the delicious choices from a great coffee establishment. 212 Two Dozen Homemade Cookies donated by Mary Cook of Outta Sight Sweets LLC Your choice of either snickerdoodle or triple chocolate chip cookies. The snickerdoodle is an old-fashioned d

Episode 49 of the LEO First Podcast features Mike Schentrup, a seasoned law enforcement officer with 25 years of service at Gainesville PD. As a dedicated father and husband of nearly three decades, Schentrup shares insights from his personal and professional journey. Amidst personal losses, including the passing of his wife's parents and brother due to COVID-19, Schentrup maintains a resilient, "glass half full" perspective on life. He emphasizes the importance of celebrating success and fostering a competitive spirit. Schentrup's dedication extends beyond policing; he actively engages in community work, including his involvement with the Florida Council for Sexual Violence. With a commitment to trauma-informed response and the "Start by Believing" campaign, Schentrup demonstrates his passion for making a positive impact. As a lifelong learner, he recommends essential reads like "7 Habits of Highly Effective People" and "How to Win Friends and Influence People." In his final words, Schentrup encourages generosity and offers valuable advice for those looking to start a business, advocating for proactive networking on platforms like LinkedIn. #PersonalGrowth #LEOFirstPodcast #Resilience #PersonalGrowth #developthepolice

Welcome to the official YouTube channel of "Inspiring Voices from the Classroom"! Join us as we delve into the world of mathematics education, highlighting the voices of passionate teachers and exploring the latest trends and innovations in the field. In this episode, we are thrilled to have Carrie Denotes, a seasoned educator and the current president of the Florida Council of Teachers of Mathematics (FCTM), as our special guest.Discover the challenges and promising developments in mathematics education in Florida as Carrie shares her insights and experiences. From shifting towards problem-based and conversation-based teaching to the impact of FCTM's annual conferences, Carrie offers valuable perspectives on transforming the math classroom. Whether you're a teacher seeking inspiration or an education enthusiast eager to stay updated on the latest practices, this episode is packed with engaging discussions and practical tips that will resonate with educators nationwide.Subscribe to our channel to catch more episodes of "Inspiring Voices from the Classroom" and join the conversation surrounding mathematics education. Get ready to be inspired, gain valuable insights, and discover innovative approaches that will help shape the future of math classrooms.

Bishop William J. Barber, II of Repairers of the Breach, Bishop Frank Madison Reid, III of the 11th Episcopal District of the AME Church, The Very Rev. Kate Moorehead Carroll of St. John Episcopal Church of Florida, the Rev. Dr. James T. Morris, President of the Florida Council of Churches, Bishop Rudolph W. McKissick, Jr., Senior Pastor of the Bethel Church and the Rev. Alvin Jackson and others lead a March to Jacksonville City Hall in memory of Angela Carr, A.J. Laguerre and Jerald Gallion on September 16, 2023. The three were victims of a racist hate killing at a Jacksonville Dollar General Store on August 26, 2023.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

HAROLD MILLS is the CEO of VMD Ventures focused on investing in entrepreneurs in a variety of technology and service industries. Mills is also former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of ZeroChaos,a leading global workforce management company. Mills is attributed with building ZeroChaos from inception to a multi-billion-dollar company with operations in over 56 countries. Prior to ZeroChaos, Mr. Mills held various executive positions in general management and corporate development with leading solutions companies, including, HR technology companies and telecom companies, including AT&T. Mills began his career holding several management positions at GE as a member of one of its fast-track management programs. He serves on the boards of Guidewell/Florida Blue, Nemours Children's Hospital, Conversus, a Stepstone Company, Orlando Economic Partnership and LIFT Orlando, among others. He is a former director withVisit Orlando, the Florida Council of 100, Florida A&M University, and past board chair for the Jacksonville Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta and Florida Citrus Sports. A Henry Crown Fellow and member of the Aspen Institute, Mr. Mills has been honored with many awards including the EY Entrepreneur of the Year; the Peter Yessne Industry Innovator of the Year; HRO Association's Thought Leader of the Year; Orlando's Entrepreneur of the Year, and many others. He has been featured in many industry and trade magazines, business journals and other business and trade outlets. Mr. Mills earned a bachelor's degree from Purdue University and an MBA from Harvard Business School. He resides in Orlando with his wife and three children.   It's Easy Son airs on Wednesdays and can be viewed on HBCU Smart TV , LinkedIn (@TheHBCUNation)

20230520 FCB presents ACB Voting, Resolutions, & Constitution Updates for 2023 Originally Broadcasted May 20, 2023, on ACB Media 5 Participants joined the Florida Council of the Blind, along with Koni Sims, Pat Sheehan, Jeff Thom, and John McCann to hear and learn what is happening with voting, resolutions, and constitution and bylaws at convention this year. This was a good opportunity to ask these committee members questions you may have. Sponsored by: Florida Council of the Blind

Of all the education legislation passed this session, HB 1, the Universal Voucher bill, is likely to have the greatest long-term impact. In this episode of Educating from the Heart, we are joined by Norin Dollard, PhD, of the Florida Policy Institute and Rev. Dr. Russel Meyer, Executive Director of the Florida Council of Churches. Together, we discuss both the financial and the moral implications of Florida becoming the latest state to offer universal vouchers. Episode 23 Show Notes: Guests Show Resources Transcript Guests Norín Dollard, PhD, Florida Policy Institute, Senior Policy Analyst Rev. Dr. Russell Meyer, Executive Director Florida Council of Churches  Resources Educating from the Heart Episode 7: Vouchers for All, Buyer Beware--In this episode you'll hear why some Florida parents regret pulling their child out of public schools for a chance to grab a private school voucher. Universal Vouchers in the News Florida Won't Tell you What's Wrong at its Voucher Schools -- Unless we Pay $10,413 (April 26, 2023) Arkansas Becomes Fifth State with Universal Education Opportunity. Which State Will be Next? (March 8, 2023): Arizona: Half of Arizona Empowerment Scholarship Account students left public schools, latest data show (Feb 13, 2023) What Sweden's Teacher Shortage Says About Privatizing Education. (Dec. 19, 2022) Sweden: Is Sweden proof that school choice doesn't improve education? (Feb 28, 2018) Billionaires v Teachers: the Koch Brothers' plan to starve public education (Sept. 07, 2018) Milton Friedman on Vouchers (2003) Transcript Andrew Spar, FEA President: Hi, this is FEA President Andrew Spar. To stay on top of all the latest news and issues impacting our public schools, be sure to follow FEA on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. For more information on this podcast, visit www.feaweb.org/podcast. Announcer: Sharon: You're listening to Educating from the Heart. Thank you for joining our lively conversations with teachers, support professionals, parents, and students as they share issues that matter most in our public schools. Here are your hosts, Tina Dunbar and Luke Flint. Tina, Host: Welcome back to another episode of Educating from the Heart. I'd like to open up with a quote from Mark Twain. No man's life, liberty, or property are safe while the legislature is in session. I don't know if you've noticed it in the news, but Florida lawmakers have been busy at the state capitol because the legislative session is in full swing and public education has taken center stage. We are moving into the second half of session and look, I bet the majority of the proposals under consideration are related to education. I don't know if you've seen the press or heard people talking about that massive Ed bill that state leaders are calling transformational. So, in this episode we're talking about Education Savings Accounts or ESAs. State leaders have renamed them now calling them Empowerment Savings Accounts available to all Florida K through 12 students eligible to attend public schools. But some parents are now asking, where is the promise of education freedom for their child? Luke, Host: You know, Tina, if it walks like a voucher and talks like a voucher and quacks like a voucher, it's a voucher. I don't care what the state of Florida calls it. Here's the thing. Every child in the state of Florida deserves to have an education that challenges them to grow and learn beyond their wildest dreams. Right now, 70% of children are already eligible for vouchers, and they reject them because they know the best place to live their dream is in Florida's public schools. What this bill does is it gives an $8,000 coupon to the folk who are already sending their children to the elite private schools where tuition is $25-$30,000 a year. So, taxpayers will now be funding for Tiger Woods children, and Donald Trump's children and all the other children...

Florida Director on Compulsive Gambling Jennifer Kruse Talks about Resources, Gamblers and Support.If you live in Florida contact, The Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling (gamblinghelp.org)Call -   888-ADMIT-IT    (888-236-4848)LinkedIn:  Jennifer Kruse - "jennifer kruse" | Search | LinkedInRecovery Growth Scorecard   (Using Metrics to Grow Your Recovery)Freewww.lifeiswonderful.loveOrEmail me    hugov@lifeiswonderful.loveSupport the showRecovery is Beautiful. Go Live Your Best Life!!Life Is Wonderful.Lovewww.lifeiswonderful.loveYour EQ is Your IQRecovery Freedom CircleThe System That Understands Recovery, Builds Character and Helps People Have Better Relationships.A Life Changing Solutionhttps://lifeiswonderful-love.mykajabi.com/storeFacebook Group - Recovery Freedom Circle | FacebookYouTube - Life Is Wonderful Hugo VInstagram - Lifeiswonderful.LoveTikTok - Lifeiswonderful.LovePinterest - Lifeiswonderful.LoveTwitter - LifeWonderLoveLinkedIn - Hugo Vrsalovic Life Is Wonderful.Love

20230315 Untangling Transportation - Magical Advocacy in the Magic City Originally Broadcasted March 15, 2023, on ACB Media 6 Untangling Transportation turned one in March, and we celebrated with a magic show. Sunday Edition's own, Anthony Corona, joined us to discuss the work that two Florida Council of the Blind local chapters and others in the Miami disability community have been doing to advocate for improvements to the region's paratransit services. Joining Anthony was Justin Acoino, a student at Miami Dade Community College, and the catalyst for an investigative report by a Miami Herald reporter, which helped fuel local efforts to address paratransit challenges in the Magic City. Listeners heard Anthony's and Justin's story, and get ready to learn how you can take on these challenges at home. Sponsored by Accessible Avenue

20230128 Florida Council of the Blind Community Call Originally Aired January 28, 2023, on ACB Media 5 Our presenter at our January meeting was James Rosa. He provide a general overview on the Lions Eye Institute (the Eye Bank) and all the efforts being made to help visually impaired individuals in both the transplant and research fields. This would include the cornea transplant surgery, as well as different ocular research developments that this organization has participated in. He is familiar with organ and tissue donation and touched on this subject as well. Sponsored by Florida Council of the Blind

Twenty years ago, a rare disease rendered David New deaf, blind, and paralyzed from the waist down. Rejecting his doctors' terminal diagnosis, defying all odds, David learned to walk again and gradually regained his hearing, though he did not regain his sight.Multi-talented, he has since become a steadfast advocate for people with disabilities, creates glass sculptures, founded several companies and non-profits, and has embarked on an exciting venture, the South Beach Jazz Festival, www.sobejazzfestival.com.David was born and raised in Philadelphia and began his university studies at the Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University. He continued his education at the Tyler School of Art, Temple University, the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City and the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale. An artist at heart, David worked in his family's furniture business while creating his own interior design firm, R. David New Interior Design. He relocated to South Florida in 2000 and continued pursuing his passion for art and design.“As a visual artist my whole life, I was missing a component. I had to rethink everything. I got more involved in the community. I started new organizations and non-profits,” adds David.David works tirelessly to break down barriers and to educate people about living and working with people with disabilities.  In addition to serving as president of Power Access Inc. and Ability Explosion®, he was chairman of the Miami Beach Disability Access Committee for six years until January 2016, where he is still instilled as a member. David was the founder of the Miami Beach Council of the Blind, an affiliate of the Florida Council and the American Council of the Blind.  In 2012, he took over Access Now Inc., which is an advocacy organization for enforcement of the Americans with Disabilities Act. With Access Now, David is working to build the first fully accessible art museum in the world located in Philadelphia Pennsylvania.Through Power Access and Access Now, his two non-profit organizations, David provides programs and produces experiential events centered around building awareness of the challenges faced by people with disabilities, including Dining in the Dark, Disability Awareness Day and the South Beach Jazz Festival.David recently reignited his lifelong passion for creating art when he learned about a new 3-D laser technology for creating laser-etched glass sculptures, a perfect medium for his visionary mind and imagination. He was introduced to the machinery, serendipitously located in Miami - the only one of its kind in the country. He designs the concept, the imagery, dimensions, and presentations, as well as the polished stainless-steel bases and glass specifications. David's work has been exhibited in art galleries, at Art Basel Miami and he has plans to open a gallery on Miami Beach.

In Florida, as a part of the the Florida Council of the Blind, we have a special interest affiliate called the Council for the Concerns of the Totally Blind. In Florida and, of course, throughout the country there are chapters of and a national organization championing the issues of people with low vision. This organization is, of course, Council of Citizens with Low Vision (CCLVI). Do we need an organization like CCTB or CCLVI. If so, why? If not, why? Do we need one more than the other? What does creating organizations for people with particular issues do to our organization as a whole? We hope that many of you will take part in this discussion that will explore together the things that bring us together and the things that divide us! This is another of those situations where we don't think there may be right answers. We do think it's important for us to think about the implications that our actions include! Find out more at https://acb-tuesday-topics.pinecast.co

About the Podcast The Stevens Group has been presenting the PR Masters Series Podcast for  more than two years now.  This series is part of the ongoing partnership between The Stevens Group and CommPRO to bring to PR, digital/interactive and marketing communications agencies the wisdom of those who have reached the top of the PR profession.  Today's special guest is Robert L. Dilenschneider, Founder and Principal of The Dilenschneider Group.     About Our Guest Robert L. Dilenschneider formed The Dilenschneider Group in October, 1991. Headquartered in New York and Chicago, the Firm provides strategic advice and counsel to Fortune 500 companies and leading families and individuals around the world, with experience in fields ranging from mergers and acquisitions and crisis communications to marketing, government affairs and international media. Prior to forming his own firm, Mr. Dilenschneider served as president and chief executive officer of Hill and Knowlton, Inc. from 1986 to 1991, tripling that Firm's revenues to nearly $200 million and delivering more than $30 million in profit. Mr. Dilenschneider was with that organization for nearly 25 years. Mr. Dilenschneider started in public relations in 1967 in New York, shortly after receiving an M.A. in journalism from Ohio State University, and a B.A. from the University of Notre Dame. Experienced in a number of communications disciplines, Mr. Dilenschneider is frequently called upon by the media to provide commentary and strategic public relations insights on major news stories. He has counseled major corporations, professional groups, trade associations and educational institutions, and has assisted clients in dealings with regulatory agencies, labor unions, and consumer groups, among others. In 2001 he established The Borromean Lecture at St. Charles Preparatory School of Columbus, Ohio. The annual event attracts a nationally renowned speaker to talk on the topic of morals and ethics in business and government. In 2012 The Dilenschneider Group established the Civility in America Lecture Series, which features many of the nation's leading thinkers from a wide variety of professions and provides a perspective on what must be done to restore civility in our Country. Mr. Dilenschneider serves as a Trustee of the Institute of International Education and is a member of the North American Advisory Board of The Michael Smurfit School of University College Dublin. He serves as a judge for The Olin Award, a program of the Olin School of Business at Washington University in St. Louis. A member of the Council on Foreign Relations and the Economic Clubs of New York and Chicago, Mr. Dilenschneider has also served on numerous corporate boards. A former member of the Board of Governors of the American Red Cross, Mr. Dilenschneider also served on the advisory board of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, the Board of Governors of the New York Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, and The Bretton Woods Committee. He is a former member of the U.S. Japan Business Council and the Florida Council of 100. In 2001, he received an honorary Doctorate of Public Service degree from Muskingum College, and in 2012 he received an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from the University of New Haven. Mr. Dilenschneider is a Knight of Malta. Mr. Dilenschneider has been called the “Dean of American Public Relations Executives” and is widely published, having authored 18 books, including Power & Influence, A Briefing for Leaders, On Power, The Critical 14 Years of Your Professional Life, Moses: C.E.O, The Critical 2nd Phase of your Professional Life, 50 Plus!—Critical Career Decisions for the Rest of Your Life, A Time for Heroes, Power and Influence: The Rules Have Changed, The AMA Handbook of Public Relations, Decisions, Nailing It:  How History's Awesome Twentysomethings Got It Together, and the Fifth Edition of The Public Relations Handbook.     He has lectured before scores of professional organizations and colleges, including the University of Notre Dame, Ohio State University, New York University and The Harvard Business School.

About the Podcast The Stevens Group has been presenting the PR Masters Series Podcast for  more than two years now.  This series is part of the ongoing partnership between The Stevens Group and CommPRO to bring to PR, digital/interactive and marketing communications agencies the wisdom of those who have reached the top of the PR profession.  Today's special guest is Robert L. Dilenschneider, Founder and Principal of The Dilenschneider Group.     About Our Guest Robert L. Dilenschneider formed The Dilenschneider Group in October, 1991. Headquartered in New York and Chicago, the Firm provides strategic advice and counsel to Fortune 500 companies and leading families and individuals around the world, with experience in fields ranging from mergers and acquisitions and crisis communications to marketing, government affairs and international media. Prior to forming his own firm, Mr. Dilenschneider served as president and chief executive officer of Hill and Knowlton, Inc. from 1986 to 1991, tripling that Firm's revenues to nearly $200 million and delivering more than $30 million in profit. Mr. Dilenschneider was with that organization for nearly 25 years. Mr. Dilenschneider started in public relations in 1967 in New York, shortly after receiving an M.A. in journalism from Ohio State University, and a B.A. from the University of Notre Dame. Experienced in a number of communications disciplines, Mr. Dilenschneider is frequently called upon by the media to provide commentary and strategic public relations insights on major news stories. He has counseled major corporations, professional groups, trade associations and educational institutions, and has assisted clients in dealings with regulatory agencies, labor unions, and consumer groups, among others. In 2001 he established The Borromean Lecture at St. Charles Preparatory School of Columbus, Ohio. The annual event attracts a nationally renowned speaker to talk on the topic of morals and ethics in business and government. In 2012 The Dilenschneider Group established the Civility in America Lecture Series, which features many of the nation's leading thinkers from a wide variety of professions and provides a perspective on what must be done to restore civility in our Country. Mr. Dilenschneider serves as a Trustee of the Institute of International Education and is a member of the North American Advisory Board of The Michael Smurfit School of University College Dublin. He serves as a judge for The Olin Award, a program of the Olin School of Business at Washington University in St. Louis. A member of the Council on Foreign Relations and the Economic Clubs of New York and Chicago, Mr. Dilenschneider has also served on numerous corporate boards. A former member of the Board of Governors of the American Red Cross, Mr. Dilenschneider also served on the advisory board of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, the Board of Governors of the New York Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, and The Bretton Woods Committee. He is a former member of the U.S. Japan Business Council and the Florida Council of 100. In 2001, he received an honorary Doctorate of Public Service degree from Muskingum College, and in 2012 he received an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from the University of New Haven. Mr. Dilenschneider is a Knight of Malta. Mr. Dilenschneider has been called the “Dean of American Public Relations Executives” and is widely published, having authored 18 books, including Power & Influence, A Briefing for Leaders, On Power, The Critical 14 Years of Your Professional Life, Moses: C.E.O, The Critical 2nd Phase of your Professional Life, 50 Plus!—Critical Career Decisions for the Rest of Your Life, A Time for Heroes, Power and Influence: The Rules Have Changed, The AMA Handbook of Public Relations, Decisions, Nailing It:  How History's Awesome Twentysomethings Got It Together, and the Fifth Edition of The Public Relations Handbook.

Margaret Lynn Duggar, President of the Florida Council on Aging, joins Scott to talk about everything from advocacy to long term planning and workforce issues to developmental disabilities. Fascinating show with lots of good information.

20220827 Democracy Live Demonstration Originally Aired August 27, 2022, on ACB Media 5 Listeners joined Anthony Corona and Cassandra Jessie for an informative demonstration of the Omni Ballot and heard how Democracy Live works in the State of Florida for accessible balloting options as well as what else they are doing around the country. Sponsored by Florida Council of the Blind

20220605 Florida Council of the Blind (FCB) 20220605 FCB Annual Business Meeting   Welcome to the 69th Annual Convention of the FLORIDA COUNCIL OF THE BLIND (FCB).  We are FCB STRONG AND WE BELIEVE IN EMPOWERMENT!!!   FCB Annual Business Meeting Bright and early on Sunday morning, participants claimed their right and responsibility as an FCB member by participating in the organization's annual business meeting. They heard from leaders about progress made and work yet needing to be done and discovered what important roles they can play in advocacy. This is an election year, and all state officer positions are up for election.   Business Meeting Outline Call To Order:                            Sheila Young, President Roll Call:                                    Sally Benjamin Minutes:                                     Mary Tyson Treasurer's Report:                   Mark Lear President's Report:                    Sheila Young Awards Committee:                   Barbara Brown   Constitution & By-Laws: Cynthia Hawkins Convention:                                         Kati Lear Resolutions Committee: Paul Edwards Scholarship Recipients:  Gabriel Lopez-Kafati Other Committee Reports: (as needed) Unfinished Business: New Business: Announcements:   Find out more at https://acb-events.pinecast.co

20220604-1 Florida Council of the Blind (FCB) 20220604-1 Opening Ceremonies   Welcome to the 69th Annual Convention of the FLORIDA COUNCIL OF THE BLIND (FCB).  We are FCB STRONG AND WE BELIEVE IN EMPOWERMENT!!!   69th Annual State Convention Opening Ceremony Empowerment, the path to power and progress: a necessary life journey that we each must take in our own unique way, stepping out in faith in the truth that we matter that leads us to the liberating assurance that sears into our very souls the absolute certainty that we matter and that we each have the ability to make a difference where we are using the knowledge and gifts that we each have, joining with others and adding our voices to theirs as we strive for true inclusion, recognition of diversity and joining the cause of equal opportunity for all. Presenters: Pam Shaw, Certified Life Coach, and  Joy Restoration Specialist Cheryl Cumings, Chair, ACB Multicultural Affairs Committee Cachet Wells, FCB Member, and ACB Board of Publications Kenneth Semien, Sr., Chair, Durward K. McDaniel Fund Committee, and/or Member, ACB Board of Directors Anthony Corona, Co-Chair FCB Governmental Affairs Committee, host of Sunday Edition on ACB Media. Participants learned from these individuals who have exemplified personal empowerment as they shared with us their own personal journeys to empowerment, what it means to them, how they each live the empowered life, and how and why it is necessary for each of us to gain this freeing state of mind and heart.   FCB Electric Youth: Identifying, Engaging, and Retaining the Next Generation  “The Future only belongs to the future itself, and the future is Electric Youth!” ~Debbie Gibson  While we at FCB are strong in Leadership and in member-engagement, we still have room for growth- engaging more young members and getting them involved. This session was dedicated to strategies focused around engaging and retaining younger members. From our communities, High Schools, and Higher Education Institutions to specific-driven outreach we brainstormed how to capture the attention of the generations that will continue FCB long past us all. We heard from ACB Students and ACB Next Generation. They shared some of their strategies and how they can support our outreach efforts here in Florida. Gabriel Lopez Kafati has the experience and position to lead us through College and High School outreach. Anthony Corona and Terry Suarez talked about how CALM can support and mentor our newly found Electric Youth. ACB's Cindy Hollis, Manager of Membership Engagement, talked about the importance of membership in the state and special interest affiliates.  President Sheila Young talked about the importance of succession-planning and how the Leadership of FCB is ready to renew our efforts to embrace the younger members of our community who do not experience the benefits of being part of the FCB Family yet. FCB Technology Committee Program Participants were invited to join our FCB Technology Committee program during our upcoming state convention to explore and learn about participating in Clubhouse. This is a great place to join others virtually from wherever you may be, sharing a variety of topics: music, sports, exercise, and fitness, and so many, many more! Gather with community in virtual venues discussing current events, nutrition, and well-being. Form a discussion group focusing upon conversation with those interested in specific genre of music or literature. Drop into a virtual audio room as a listener to one of many fascinating conversations or start such a group of your own design and host yet another great group of people! Reach out to our community from your home or office, or from almost anywhere via mobile app. Meet with new friends as well as those you know. Endless possibilities expand our horizons! From the Clubhouse virtual hallway explore variety of conversations happening in many different audio rooms. Search a plethora of topics to find those of special interest for you including social justice, urban planning, and environmental science. Develop your personal profile as you wish. Be a listener in specific meetings or raise your hand to share thoughts with others… the choice is yours! Discussion groups may be open to all or available exclusively for invited guests. Find out more at https://acb-events.pinecast.co

20220604-2 Florida Council of the Blind (FCB) 20220604-2 Townhall Meeting   Welcome to the 69th Annual Convention of the FLORIDA COUNCIL OF THE BLIND (FCB).  We are FCB STRONG AND WE BELIEVE IN EMPOWERMENT!!!   FCB Annual Town Hall Meeting Participants attended this exciting and informative meeting moderated by President Sheila Young.  Attendees heard from the Director of the Division of Blind Services, (DBS) Robert Doyle, regarding the status of the goals and mission of the agency including specific news that he wished to bring to us.  After Mr. Doyle's formal presentation, questions were entertained by the audience.   Coalition for the Concerns of the Totally Blind (CCTB) Program Andy Burstein from Accessible Pharmacy Services for the Blind described their services: drug labels in accessible formats, coordination with the doctor to make sure the patient has the correct drugs, assist in locating a pharmacy if the patient is out of town and needs prescriptions, provide information about diabetes, cancer and other conditions to the patient and their families, and podcasts are available for medical information.  He answered our questions and introduced us to our Florida Representative Maryann Grignon. Find out more at https://acb-events.pinecast.co

20220604-3 Florida Council of the Blind (FCB) 20220604-3 Silent Auction and Banquet   Welcome to the 69th Annual Convention of the FLORIDA COUNCIL OF THE BLIND (FCB).  We are FCB STRONG AND WE BELIEVE IN EMPOWERMENT!!!   Silent Auction and Annual Banquet Participants attended FCB'S Annual Banquet: hosted by FCB President, Sheila Young. FCB's Banquet speaker was Pamela Shaw. She is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Joy Filled Life. This coaching company specializes in empowering women to live the life of their dreams by integrating faith, personal development, and professional goals.  She has more than 40 years of professional social work experience contributing to the development of policy and practice in the fields of homelessness, community mental health, deinstitutionalization, child welfare, family services and disability rights. Pam is an active member in the Pennsylvania Council of the Blind and serves as an associate minister at Vision of Hope Baptist Church in Jenkintown, Pennsylvania.   Bid on silent auction items and purchase 50-50 tickets. Find out more at https://acb-events.pinecast.co

20220603-2 Florida Council of the Blind (FCB) 20220603-2 Guide Dog Users of Florida   Welcome to the 69th Annual Convention of the FLORIDA COUNCIL OF THE BLIND (FCB).  We are FCB STRONG AND WE BELIEVE IN EMPOWERMENT!!!   Guide Dog Users of Florida (GDUF) Our annual program was entitled “You and Your New Guide”. This program discussed how the application process is used to make a match, are “middle-aged” dogs considered as possible matches?  What happens to these dogs when the original owner is not able to continue using them as a guide?  What tips are there for the in-home adjustments for the new guide with family members and the guide that has just retired and other pets?  How do you, as the handler, take care of two dogs?  Should a family member handle the retired guide? This was an interesting and enlightening program that facilitated a new and strong bond between the handler and the new guide. Find out more at https://acb-events.pinecast.co

20220603-5 Florida Council of the Blind (FCB) 20220603-5 Awards and Scholarship Banquet   Welcome to the 69th Annual Convention of the FLORIDA COUNCIL OF THE BLIND (FCB).  We are FCB STRONG AND WE BELIEVE IN EMPOWERMENT!!!   Awards and Scholarship Banquet Participants joined us on Friday evening to celebrate and recognize FCB leaders and deserving students at a special dinner hosted in their honor by Barbara Brown and Gabriel Lopez Kafati, the committee chairs of the Awards and Education and Leadership Committees. Select advocates and leaders were recognized with prestigious awards and deserving students were presented with valuable scholarships. Find out more at https://acb-events.pinecast.co

20220603-4 Florida Council of the Blind (FCB) 20220603-4 Legislative Seminar   Welcome to the 69th Annual Convention of the FLORIDA COUNCIL OF THE BLIND (FCB).  We are FCB STRONG AND WE BELIEVE IN EMPOWERMENT!!!   FCB Annual Legislative Seminar Participants joined us for the 2022 FCB Legislative Seminar.  Our keynote speaker was Charlie Crist, member of the Florida Congressional Delegation representing Congressional District 13, including the city of St. Petersburg, and former Governor of the State of Florida. The special guest speaker for this year's event was Pam Shaw, Certified Life Coach and Joy Restoration Specialist Cheryl Cumings, Chair, ACB Multicultural Affairs Committee Cachet Wells, FCB Member, and ACB Board of Publications Kenneth Semien, Sr., Chair, Durward K. McDaniel Fund Committee, Member, ACB Board of Directors Anthony Corona, Co-Chair FCB Governmental Affairs As the longtime Chair of the FCB Governmental Affairs Committee, it was my privilege to formally introduce to all the next Chair of this committee, Anthony Corona.  Once again, the FCB legislative team plans on bringing interesting, informative, and insightful thoughts regarding the reception by the Florida Congressional delegation of the 2022 legislative agenda set forth by ACB.  These perceptive thoughts will serve us well as we continue to strive for true inclusion and equality of opportunity for all in our state and nation. Get Up and Get Moving!! American Council of the Blind Get Up and Get Moving campaign. Moving & Groovin' An hour with Leslie and Terry Participants enjoyed a workout with Leslie and dancing with Terry. We got you up and moving! You don't need to be an experienced exerciser, just come, and have some laughs with us. Happy exercising! Pre-Convention Board Meeting Find out more at https://acb-events.pinecast.co

20220603-3 Florida Council of the Blind (FCB) 20220603-3 Democracy Live   Welcome to the 69th Annual Convention of the FLORIDA COUNCIL OF THE BLIND (FCB).  We are FCB STRONG AND WE BELIEVE IN EMPOWERMENT!!!   Democracy Live   An update about the emerging technology of electronic ballot delivery and ballot returns with exciting new efforts for addressing and meeting the challenges of related security concerns. Find out more at https://acb-events.pinecast.co

 20220603-1 Florida Council of the Blind (FCB) 20220603-1 Election of Board Members and Braille Revival League of Florida (BRLF)   Welcome to the 69th Annual Convention of the FLORIDA COUNCIL OF THE BLIND (FCB).  We are FCB STRONG AND WE BELIEVE IN EMPOWERMENT!!!   The Braille Revival League of Florida (BRLF) Our speaker was Paul Edwards.  He talked about the history of the Braille Revival League of Florida, and its parent organization the Braille Revival league. Before his presentation, we had a short business meeting and elected three board positions.   Find out more at https://acb-events.pinecast.co

20220531 Florida Council of the Blind (FCB) 20220531Auction   Welcome to the 69th Annual Convention of the FLORIDA COUNCIL OF THE BLIND (FCB).  We are FCB STRONG AND WE BELIEVE IN EMPOWERMENT!!!   FCB Auction   Find out more at https://acb-events.pinecast.co

Accessible Pharmacy Services for the Blind is a comprehensive, home-delivery pharmacy service specializing in the needs of the blind, deaf blind, and low vision community. They are the only provider of its kind and the largest blind-owned healthcare company in the United States. We were joined by the Director of Business Development for Florida, Mary Ann Grignon and, one of the co-founders of the company, Andy Burstein. Sponsored by Florida Council of the Blind

The Florida Council of the Blind was pleased to welcome Irene De Jesus, Esq., De Jesus Law Group, LLC, Elder Law, Estate and Business. She Planned on discussing the differences between • A living will and a will • The different power of attorneys • What is an executor and their responsibilities? • and much more There was time for questions. Sponsored by Florida Council of the Blind

The Podcast is back in Florida to visit with a "Friend of the Show" - Casey Rudzinski who is a veteran Florida AD that also serves on the Florida Council of Independent Schools committee for their annual conference. Casey has also listened to every episode of The Educational AD Podcast and today he shares his story along with some Best Practices! THIS is the Educational AD Podcast! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/educational-ad-podcast/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/educational-ad-podcast/support

Steve Weaver Vistage Chair13848 E CarruthersVail, AZ  85641520-302-8300steven.weaver@vistagechair.comhttp://vistage.com/chairs/steven.weaverwww.linkedin.com/in/smweaver/Steve's career path in the U.S. and abroad has including working for public, private, and family-owned companies as well as running his own business. Much of his success is attributed to being a member of a Vistage group. “Myperformance and results became significantly better because of the executive coaching, wisdom, guidance, and support that I received from my peers,” he said. “Now it's my turn to give back.” “I am most proud of a wide network of people I've coached and mentored who are now living happy, fulfilled lives doing what they love.”A media executive for many years, Steve was a member of the innovative team that took the first newspaper in the country online, launched the first Hispanic and Vietnamese newspapers in a major U. S. market, and was the first American newspaper publisher to address European Parliament. He was part of the founding team that launched a number of large online businesses such as cars.com, Career Builder, and realtor.com among others.He founded a digital marketing company that served the U.S. and Caribbean markets and also ran a global sales team in the podcast sector. His career has taken him around the nation, where served as a member of the Florida Council of 100, The World Association of Newspapers, and many nonprofit Boards.Away from work, Steve and his wife Holly enjoy wine tastings, supporting live music, hiking and playing with their two French Bulldogs, Hula and Tater Tot. He also finds playing guitar is a great way to relieve stress.About the BusinessSteve's goal as a Vistage Chair and leadership coach is to help people become the very best they can be. This has a ripple effect, improving businesses as well as personal lives.Steve leads an exclusive group of CEOs, business owners, and key executives who collaborate to help each other develop leadership skills and grow their businesses. It's a safe place to solve difficult challenges that leaders cannot discuss with their board, management team, or employees. Topics include driving growth, hiring and retaining talent, COVID response, expanding operations, coping with stress, preparing an exit plan, and many other subjects.

In this episode, Mark Baratto sits down with Stephen Kitsakos, Opera creator, stage director and Artist Advisory Council for The Studios of Key West. We talk about his career in NYC and how he made it down to Key West. More on Stephen Kitsakos STEPHEN KITSAKOS is an opera librettist and stage director. With the American composer, Sheila Silver, he wrote libretti for The Wooden Sword, winner of the Sackler Prize for Composition (World Premiere 2009), The White Rooster for the Smithsonian Institution (World Premiere 2010), and A Thousand Splendid Suns, adapted from the international bestselling novel by Khaled Hosseini, commissioned by the Seattle Opera (World Premiere scheduled 2022, previously presented by the National Opera Center New Works Forum). With the composer Martin Hennessy he wrote the opera-theatre one-act operas, An Incident in Sutton Place & The Woman in Penthouse A (World Premiere 2020) & the upcoming  The Pleasing Recollection (2021) and A Fairy Tale (2021). Other opera & music projects include The Other Voice with Robert Starer & Gail Godwin, Ashokan with Greg Allen & The Woodstock Cycle. Kitsakos is the recipient of grants or commissions from the National Endowment for the Arts, the New York State Commission on the Arts, the Florida Council on the Arts, the Catskill Watershed Commission, the Episcopal Diocese of New York, the Community Foundation of the Florida Keys, the Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art, NYFA and American Opera Projects. His work as a stage director concentrates on new works with established and emerging playwrights and includes Smithtown by Drew Larimore starring Michael Urie, Ann Harada, Colby Lewis & Constance Shulman, The Thing About Pipecleaner People by Drew Larimore with Constance Shulman, Anne by Adi Eshman, Red Masquerade by Jack Wade, and Here's Your Hat, What's Your Hurry? by Eric Weinberger. Since 2018, he has focused on both directing and engaging in scholarly research for the lesser, unknown and experimental one-act plays of Tennessee Williams including Lifeboat Drill, Kingdom of Earth, Green Eyes & The Traveling Companion as an Artistic Associate of the Tennessee Williams Key West Museum.  A graduate of New York University and the BMI Musical Theater Workshop, between 1999 & 2013 he was a member of the Theatre Arts Faculty at SUNY New Paltz in New York's Hudson Valley teaching courses in theatre studies, musical theater and performance as well as at Shantigar,the spiritual retreat of playwright Jean-Claude van Italie, and at Kripalu. During that time he was a contributing writer for The Sondheim Review and ABC-CLIO's Music in American Life. Professional affiliations include a librettist member of Opera America, the Dramatists Guild, and a writer member of ASCAP. His experience as an opera-theatre writer has informed his approach to directing and his approach to directing has informed his writing libretti for the opera stage.

The regular meeting of the Florida Council of the blind board of directors, which takes place before start of the convention. Find out more at https://acb-events.pinecast.co This podcast is powered by Pinecast. Try Pinecast for free, forever, no credit card required. If you decide to upgrade, use coupon code r-af0929 for 40% off for 4 months, and support ACB Events.

The Senate has begun debate on a bill cracking down on protesters. Also, on today's Sunrise: — As Senators debated the right to protest, the House was voting to ban transgender athletes from playing on the girl's team. — The House also approves a bill to try to limit foreign influence at Florida colleges and universities. — The head of the Florida Council of Churches says the Legislature is behaving in a most ungodly way this year. The Rev. Dr. Russell Meyers tells Sunrise that the Legislature's actions are all about White supremacy. — And finally, a Florida Woman is working as a judge — but only when she feels like it. She could face sanctions after accusations of neglecting her full-time job.

Florida is lucky to have such a passionate advocate for gambling related harm. Jennifer Kruse is the Executive Director of the Florida Council On Compulsive Gambling. She joins the show to talk about the tools Florida has available to help problem gambling, the tools they have to help a diverse population, PGAM2021, and much more! For those in Florida in need of help call 888-236-4848 Please listen and learn from those who know. A better life without gambling. Join for an episode or simply say hello! - leestreetpod@gmail.com Please leave us a rating or review wherever you get your podcasts. It helps those still struggling to find us! Please support our sponsor Gamban and if you are in California, North Carolina, Minnesota, New Jersey, or Illinois, click the link to obtain Gamban at no cost through their services respectively. In the U.K. use #talkbanstop Please support our sponsor - EPIC Risk Management Please support our sponsor - Kindbridge Music by T. Vance New Jersey Gambling Court Initiative

Part of the extended program for "Left Futures" hosted by Bas Fisher Invitational, Jan. 28th - Mar. 12 of 2021, in Miami, FL. "After Geoengineering: Climate Tragedy, Repair and Restoration" by Holly Jean Buck. Verso, 2019 Music by: "Starseed Junglist Anthem" by DJ Umberto Ecco 2k Left Futures is a part of WATERPROOF MIAMI in partnership with the Bridge Initiative, check basfisherinvitational.com, waterproofMIA.com or bridgeinitiative.org for more info. The exhibition and conversation is generously supported in part by a Knight Arts Challenge grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, and with the support of the Andy Warhol Foundation, the Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs, the Florida Council of Arts and Culture and the State of Florida, The Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council, the Miami-Dade County Mayor and Board of County Commissioners, and the Cowles Charitable Trust. Our exhibition space has been made possible with the generous support of Miami Design District.

Educating our membership regarding the nuts and bolts of publicizing our issues; making appointments; presenting issues in writing and in conversation to local, state and national leaders. Come join us. Mutual learning and sharing always make a difference. Sponsored by Florida Council of the Blind

Description On this episode of the ACB Advocacy Update, ACB Director of Advocacy & Governmental Affairs, Clark Rachfal, and ACB’s Membership Services Coordinator, Cindy Hollis, speak about the ACB Community. They discuss the logistics of facilitating and growing the ACB community, and how the ACB community is meeting the social and mental health needs of our members and the broader community. Clark and Cindy are joined by Sheila Young, President, Florida Council of the Blind, and Matthew Vollbrecht, Founder, The Tech Juggernaut, and Certified Apple Trainer.  To learn more and become involved with the ACB Community, visit: https://acb.org/acb-community-events.

Dr. Kelly J. Grillo, is an award-winning educator who has served Special Education and Educational Justice for over two decades. Currently, Dr. Grillo is a coordinator of Special Education Services for Cooperative School Services. Dr. Grillo has served as a member of the AIM-AT-UDL Florida State oversight Committee, on the Florida Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) State board for and as the Education Director of Mills Aviation Charities. Dr. Grillo is on the Leadership Development Committee for the International Council for Exceptional Children and newly announced board members on the Indiana Branch of the International Dyslexia Association, and IN*SOURCE Parent Resource Network. Most recently, Dr. Grillo is the International CEC Teacher of the Year 2020. She holds other esteemed awards including, 2019 International Division of Learning Disabilities Teacher of the Year and in 2018 she was named the Florida CEC Teacher of Year. Having been a student with a significant learning difference, Dr. Grillo expresses that a highlight to her career is being a nominee in Washington as a STEM Champion for Change in 2010. Dr. Grillo has numerous publications, conference presentations, and awards. Dr. Grillo is a national advocate for persons with Learning Disabilities so that she herself can accept her own disability and champion the success of others despite her Dyslexic mother, Gloria J. Grillo, never having learned to read. Follow her on Twitter @kellygrillo. .

Episode Notes Ninety miles off the coast of the United States is the island of Cuba. 11.3 million people, according to 2020 figures, live on an island which, since the early 1960s, has had a communist government. Paul's guests on this episode of Tuesday Topics grew up there and give us a glimpse of what life was like for people who are blind in Cuba. Roberto and Danays Perez now live in Miami. Roberto has become quite a tech star here and his wife, Danays, had an amazing musical career in Europe. Paul had the honor of attending their wedding. Roberto is currently treasurer of the Miami Beach chapter of the Florida Council of the Blind. Both Roberto and Danays are thoughtful and caring people who are blind with a compelling story. Adjusting to a new country, a new style of government and a whole new set of expectations is not easy! An incredible story of triumph and a touching love story! Find out more at https://acb-tuesday-topics.pinecast.co

Join Billy "BJ" Jones for a conversation with Dr. Robert Morris on Thursday, 11/12/20, from 5-6 p.m. EST. Join BJ and Dr. Morris for a discussion about mentoring, social justice, and minority male achievement.  Dr. Morris is founder and President of South Florida Village Inc., a non-profit organization that strives to improve the quality of South Florida families by providing support, mentoring, educational direction, professional training, and social consulting services.  Dr. Morris serves on several local, state and national organizations including the National Association for the Advanced of Colored People (NAACP), Color of Change, Campaign for Black Male Achievement, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc., Florida Council for Social Studies, League of Women Voters of Broward County, National Council on Educating Black Children, Southern Historical Association and a host of others. Dr. Morris is college professor, eminent scholar, and community activist. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in History and African/Latin American Studies in 1995.  He remained at Colgate University to earn his Masters of Arts in Teaching in Secondary School Social Studies in 1997.   His Masters Thesis was entitled--Multicultural Schooling: An Agenda for Educating Black Students.   He also earned a Masters in Business Administration from American Intercontinental University, and Doctorate in Leadership and Education with a specialization in Exceptional Student Education from Barry University.  His dissertation was Special and General Education Teachers’ Preparation and Attitudes Toward Culturally Responsive Teaching of Black Students.   To reach BJ or Dr. Morris during the live podcast, call 347-539-5372 or email everydayfolkslisten@gmail.com. 

Episode Notes As the Florida Council of the Blind takes the bold, first step on the Path to the Future, Sunday Edition presents: A round-up roundtable discussion with Movers & Shakers from both, FCB and ACB leadership. Additionally, we will be joined by members of the ACB Radio team, who will give us insight into the”behind the scenes” workings of putting on the first virtual State Convention. We will discuss highlights of FCB's Convention and what has been learned and will be applied to ACB's National Path to the Future in July. Callers with comments or questions are welcome. In our second hour, we will be joined by Joel Snyder of the Audio-description Project to chat about his life and his passion project. Please join us with your comments and questions. Joel is the leading expert in all things audio-described, and this will be a fun and very informative conversation. If you have any questions about how to access or use Zoom for the show, we can be reached at: celebrationac@aol.com

Episode Notes Sunday Edition With Anthony Introducing Sunday Edition, a brand new ACB Radio Mainstream weekly magazine; all about the movers and shakers of our beloved organization. Part human-interest, part interview and discussion, and part news that impact our community. This show will be fun and informative! Every week we will strive to bring a lively conversation with persons who are making an impact within the ACB Family as well as round table discussions about the news and topics that affect our community. Sunday Edition strives to be the show that presents the ideas and topics that are on the forefront of all of our minds and in the spirit of the ACB Family. This will be an open and interactive show that will include all members of our ACB Family. Ideas, comments, and especially, guest panelists are welcome~! Please email the show at: CELEBRATIONAC@aol.com We look forward to your feedback and ideas. Please listen to our inaugural episode this Sunday at 1 PM on ACB Radio Mainstream. The show will include a fun “Movers and Shakers” segment with DEBBIe And Jason, who are leading and shaping ACB Radio; an “On the Spotlight” segment with Sheila Young, esteemed president of the Florida Council of the Blind..; and an enlightening “News and Happenings” segment with Jenine Stanley about the current state and the future of AIRA. So let's make a standing date for brunch this and every Sunday at 1 PM!! Looking forward to your impressions, feedback, and ideas for future shows! If there is an ACB mover and shaker you want to know more about, let us know as well as any news or situations affecting our community you would like to see us cover. Anthony Corona

This week on Tuesday Topics I am deeply honored to have as my guest, Carl McCoy. On May 16th Carl turned 93. I have known him since 1977 and he was the person, for better or for worse, who introduced me to both the Florida Council of the Blind and the American Council of the Blind. He has been a member of FCB longer than anyone else; served his time on the Board of the American Council of the Blind; has been Executive Director of the Florida Division of Blind Services but, more than all of there things, he has been a wise and compassionate friend.

Today, I am joined by three amazing individuals, Tiffany Lawrence, LMFT, Damas Cher-Frere, and Erica M. Ricketts, MBA.  Tiffany is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in Florida who has been working in the behavioral health field for 7 years. She works at Broward Behavioral Health Coalition as the Project Director for Broward County's One Community Partnership 3 System of Care SAMHSA grant. Her expertise is in assisting communities to develop programs that promote success for transition-age youth with behavioral health needs.   Damas is a self-taught artist who was born in Haiti and has lived in South Florida for over 20 years. He graduated from Boyd H Anderson High School. Damas is a motivated young man who does not let his mental illness stop him from being productive. Through his work as an artist and illustrator, he shows others that strength lies in pushing forward and doing what you love, despite what obstacles may stand in your way.   Erica Ricketts, a native of Jamaica and has resided in South Florida for almost 3 decades. She is the mother of 2 adult sons, Kadeem – 28, and Kahlil, 24. Ms. Ricketts joined Henderson Behavioral Health in 1993 and has been the Chief Financial Officer since 1995. As CFO, Ms. Ricketts's duties include the day-to-day supervision of all accounting functions. She oversees Henderson's investment portfolio, manages the organization's budget, and is involved in contract negotiations with federal, state, county, and other funding sources. Ms. Ricketts currently serves as the Chair of the Florida Council for Behavioral Health CFO Workgroup and was one of the recipients of the Mental Health Association of Southeast Florida's Epic Award in 2018. She is a Nationally Certified Adult & Youth Mental Health First Aid Trainer. Additionally, Mrs. Ricketts serves on the Board of Directors for the Lighthouse of Broward and is a Charter Member of the Women of Color Empowerment Institute, at which she also serves as a Mentor for Professional Women in Broward County. In this episode, we get the opportunity to hear both professional and personal perspectives on the topic of the impact of racial injustice on the provision of behavioral health services in Broward County, Florida. Guests on this episode include a mother of two adult sons, a young man who has experience with the mental health system, and a mental health services provider.  This podcast episode is sponsored by Broward Behavioral Health Coalition: In 2011, the State of Florida's Department of Children and Families designated the Broward Behavioral Health Coalition, Inc. (BBHC) as Broward's local Managing Entity. BBHC is responsible for the contracting, monitoring, clinical quality oversight and performance improvement of the DCF/State funded behavioral health services. BBHC provides a comprehensive system of care for substance use, mental health, and co-occurring disorders for individuals in Broward County. As a non-profit organization, BBHC also manages local and national grants to develop evidence-based practices and practice improvement for providers and persons served. One Community Partnership is a SAMHSA system of care grant contracted through the Broward County government to BBHC. This podcast is brought to you through these grant dollars. What You'll Learn The impact of racial injustice on the provision of behavioral health services in Broward County, Florida. The effects of racism and racial injustice on the mental health of black people.  A profound understanding of racism and racial injustice based on the personal experience of the guests.  And much more! Favorite Quote "I think the system needs to first work with engagement. You're not going to be able to engage people who don't trust you in the same way you could engage someone who trusts you." - Tiffany Lawrence   Organizational Resources https://bbhcflorida.org/ (Broward Behavioral Health Care Coalition)...

Join us for a conversation with Kevin Plummer. Kevin became the seventh Head of Tampa Preparatory School in July 2007. Kevin is deeply committed to independent schools and serves as Vice President of the Florida Council of Independent Schools, is a member of the Bay Area Association of Independent Schools, and served as their President in 2009-2010, and of course as board chair of EMA's Board of Trustee. We were also lucky enough to have Kevin join our online Heads Institute as a cohort leader. We've invited Kevin to speak with us today as a part of our series exploring how schools are planning to reopen in the fall.

"Two roads diverged in the woods and I took the one less traveled; and that has made all the difference." Tune in to hear why Florida State Representative (District 80) Byron Donalds, self-proclaims to be a proud "pro-Trump, pro-2nd Amendment, pro-life" Black man, what inspired him to run for Congress, police brutality, his thoughts on the relationship between the Republican party and the Black community, education, criminal justice, and immigration reform, draining the swamp, and much more! Donald's Background/Platform (courtesy of his campaign website): Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Byron Donalds is the product of a single-parent household. Throughout his life, his mother made every sacrifice possible in order to give him the best opportunity at the American Dream. That philosophy his mother taught him, striving to leave future generations better than the current, is what leads him in his work, his home life, and as a state legislator. Byron attended Florida State University and graduated in 2002 with bachelor of arts degrees in finance and marketing. Byron’s career path has included working in the finance, insurance, and banking industries in Southwest Florida. Elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 2016, Byron currently sits on five committees and honorably serves as the chairman of the Insurance and Banking Subcommittee. He was named a Champion of Economic Freedom for his A+ rating for the 2017 Legislative Session by Americans for Prosperity. For the 2018 Legislative Session, he was the recipient of the Award for Conservative Excellence by the American Conservative Union Foundation. In 2018, Byron was honored by the Florida Council on Aging for his work in preventing elder abuses in financial transactions. During his time in the Florida House, Byron has primarily focused on elder affairs, criminal justice reform, and striving to make sure each child in Florida has access to a world-class education. He has been a featured speaker and panelist discussing policy and politics on national and statewide stages. Byron has been a guest host and commentator on Daybreak with Drew Steele, on 92.5 Fox News FM; the Bob Harden Show; the Joe Whitehead Show, on 98.9 WGUF; Pundits on the Porch, a podcast by the James Madison Institute; and as a featured speaker at the Republican Party of Florida’s Sunshine Summit this past summer. Having served the community in a multitude of ways since he moved to Collier County in 2003, Byron was previously appointed by Governor Rick Scott to the board of trustees for Florida Southwestern State College. From 2004 to 2016, Byron served as a youth leader in his church where he mentored middle school and high school students. In his spare time, he enjoys volunteering as a coach in youth football and basketball leagues. Byron Donalds lives in Naples, Florida, with his wife, Erika, and their three sons, Damon, Darin, and Mason. Having spent his adult life in business, service, and leadership in his community, he will continue leading a prosperous and conservative Southwest Florida and fight for those same values in Washington, DC.

This segment contains the following: 2:30-3:00 PM: Break 3:00-4:00 PM: Audio Description and Museums 4:00-5:00 PM Break 5:00-7:00 PM: FCB Awards Ceremony — Speeches from Silver Convention Sponsors, Award Presentations for State, Chapter and Affiliate Awards, and Presentation of Scholarships

This segment contains the following: 1:00-1:30 PM: Break

This segment contains the following: 1:30-2:30 PM: Annual Legislative Seminar

This segment contains the following: 11:30-12:00 PM: Break 12:00-1:00 PM: Inherited Retinal Disease (IRD)

This segment contains the following: 8:00-8:30 AM: Welcome by FCB's President Sheila Young, and Speeches from Our Platinum FCB Convention Sponsors 8:30-9:30 AM: Conversation with ACB Presidents Past and Present 9:30-10:30 AM: The ACB National Office, What Happens There

This segment includes the following: 10:30-11:00 AM: Break 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM: Membership, Outreach and Retention 12:00-1:00 PM: Break 1:00-2:00 PM: FCB Annual Town Hall Meeting 2:00-2:30 PM: Break 2:30-3:30 PM: Coalition for the Concerns of the Totally Blind (CCTB) 3:30-4:30 PM: Florida Council of Citizens with Low Vision (FCCLV) 4:30-5:00 PM: Break

This segment includes the following: 5:00-7:00 PM: Convention Information from ACB President Dan Spoone, and Our Keynote Speaker, Claire Stanley, Hosted by FCB President Sheila Young

Welcome to the 2020 Annual Florida Council of the Blind Convention! This segment contains the following: 8:00-9:00 AM: Braille Revival League of Florida (BRLF) 9:00-10:00 AM: Guide Dog Users of Florida (GDUF) 10:00-10:30 AM: Break 10:30-11:30 AM: Technology Committee

Elliott & Randy talk about the newly released iPhone SE. Then move on to talking about the new Google Assistant sensitivity settings. Google Reserve, formally called Google Duplex. We move on to talk about the latest shows on AppleTV+ & Disney+ and how accessible both platforms are. Elliott again bugs Randy to start watching the Marvel movies. The newly discovered iOS mail vulnerability is no big deal. Then we talk about Audio Books from the library now being available on Sonos and talk about some of the accessibility conventions. Florida Council of the Blind American Council of the Blind National Federation of the Blind National Convention

Bill Harper began his career as an abstract painter, but in the early 1960s switched to enameling to achieve more intense colors. Fascinated by the supernatural aura of ritual objects, such as amulets, charms and tribal power figures, he began to produce brightly enameled necklaces and brooches in gold, silver and gemstones, as well as nonprecious and found objects that evoke a similar and mysterious power. Many of his recent pieces are mythical and ironic self-portraits that suggest intense introspection. A dedicated educator, Bill taught at Florida State University from 1973 to 1992, and published “Step-by-Step Enameling: a Complete Introduction to the Craft of Enameling” in 1973. Bill’s work has been widely exhibited, including a one-person exhibition in 1977 at the Renwick Gallery of Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington, D.C., and an internationally traveling retrospective in 1989. His work has been featured in collections of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Philadelphia Museum of Art and Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, among many others in the United States and Europe. Bill’s most recent solo exhibit, “The Beautiful & The Grotesque,” closed in June 2019 at the Cleveland Institute of Arts’s Reinberger Gallery. Bill was awarded a National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) fellowship in 1978 and NEA grants in 1979 and 1980. In 1980 and 1985 he received fellowships from the Florida Council on Arts and Culture. What you’ll learn in this episode: How Bill became a self-taught artist. Why Bill doesn’t identify as a jeweler. Bill’s creative process for creating art jewelry. How dichotomy influences Bill’s work and creates stimulation of the senses. What design concepts Bill has in the works. Additional resources: Website The Beautiful & The Grotesque Catalog

Join Claire and Clark on this edition of the ACB Advocacy Update as they discuss the importance of audio description. They are also joined by Sheila Young, president of the Florida Council of the Blind, who talks about her experience submitting comments regarding audio description with the Federal Communications Commission.

Join Claire and Clark on this edition of the ACB Advocacy Update as they discuss the importance of audio description. They are also joined by Sheila Young, president of the Florida Council of the Blind, who talks about her experience submitting comments regarding audio description with the Federal Communications Commission.

Join Claire and Clark on this edition of the ACB Advocacy Update as they discuss the importance of audio description. They are also joined by Sheila Young, president of the Florida Council of the Blind, who talks about her experience submitting comments regarding audio description with the Federal Communications Commission.

Join Claire and Clark on this edition of the ACB Advocacy Update as they discuss the importance of audio description. They are also joined by Sheila Young, president of the Florida Council of the Blind, who talks about her experience submitting comments regarding audio description with the Federal Communications Commission.

On today's episode of Loud & Clear, Brian Becker and John Kiriakou are joined by Jim Kavanagh, founder of thepolemicist.net, whose most recent article is “The Siege of Venezuela and The Travails of Empire,” and Sputnik News analyst and producer Walter Smolarek.Friday is Loud & Clear’s weekly hour-long segment The Week in Review, about the week in politics, policy, and international affairs. Today they focus on the ongoing situation in Venezuela, the power of labor and teachers recent successes, and the new announcement that 200 “peacekeeping” troops will now stay in Syria. As the US effort to overthrow the Venezuelan government has run into obstacles within Venezuela, there appears to be a growing danger of a US orchestrated military intervention in alliance between the Pentagon and the right-wing governments of Colombia and Brazil. US-corporate owned media today were dominated by headlines related to an incident at the Venezuela-Brazil border. The New York Times headline for instance reads, “Deadly Violence Erupts on Brazil Border in Venezuela Aid Showdown: Venezuelan security forces fired on those protesting the government’s determination to block aid.” Meanwhile, competing concerts are still scheduled to take place today and tomorrow on both sides of the Venezuelan-Colombian border. Paul Dobson, a writer for VenezuelAnalysis.com, joins the show. A court in North Carolina has ordered a rerun of the congressional election in the state’s 9th district. A firm hired by Republican candidate Mark Harris was found to have committed egregious election irregularities, invalidating the result. Ted Rall, an award-winning editorial cartoonist and columnist, whose work is at www.rall.com, joins the show. Hoda Muthana is an American woman. She was born in the United States, the daughter of a former Yemeni diplomat and she went to college in Alabama. But in 2014 she told her parents that she was going to attend a university event. Instead, she went to Syria and joined the Islamic State. Now she wants to come home. But President Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo won’t allow her. Indeed, Pompeo says she isn’t even really a US citizen. Brian and John speak with Hassan Shibly, the Muthana family attorney and the Executive Director of the Florida Council of American Islamic Relations at Tampa. The Australian Ministry of Foreign Affairs acknowledged yesterday that it had issued a passport to Wikileaks co-founder Julian Assange in September 2018 as a result of extended negotiations. It is not clear what Assange would be able to do with the passport. He has sought asylum in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London and would likely be extradited to the United States if he leaves. Kevin Gosztola, a writer for Shadowproof.com and co-host of the podcast Unauthorized Disclosure, joins Brian and John. It’s Friday! So it’s time for the week’s worst and most misleading headlines. Brian and John speak with Steve Patt, an independent journalist whose critiques of the mainstream media have been a feature of his site Left I on the News and on twitter @leftiblog, and Sputnik producer Nicole Roussell.

FCB 2018: A Tour Around The Convention’s Exhibitors and More! Again this year, blind Abilities was present at the Florida Council for the Blind Annual Convention, FCB 2018. Join Pete Lane as he grabs some interviews with vendors and participants at the convention. The vendors include: * Emerald Coast Vision Aids, located in Pensacola, Florida. Mike Hage speaks about his products: a variety of low vision and blindness devices and equipment available through numerous well-known national vendors, You can check out their web site at: emeraldcoastvisionaids.com Or give Mike a call at: 850-473-8081 * Florida School for the Deaf and Blind (FSDB), located in St. Augustine, Florida. Justin Keller chats about the various programs and courses offered to both Florida residents and nonresidents in this respected state school in beautiful old-city St. Augustine, Florida. www.fsdb.k12.fl.us/ * Cheryl Spencer joins the team with an interview with Barry Scheuer of Guidelights and Gadgets, who provides unique, hard to find merchandise for the blind. Listen to examples of the products that Barry brings to as many as twelve blindness conventions each year. Check out his web site: www.guidelightsandgadgets.us * Paul Odem’s Opals and Gems, owned and run by Paul and Patty Odem, offers fine gems, mostly opals, along with unusual pieces purchased from Estate sales and the like. They attend various blindness conventions and you can give them a call to chat about what inventory they have: 407-497-9938 * Join Pete as he chats again this year with Doug towns, with Votec Corp, makers of voting and voter-registration technology. Doug was in Jacksonville last year touting a survey for blind and visually impaired voters, the results of which have facilitated the development of the current voter technology that Doug brought to the convention. Listen to a sample of the speech output and capabilities of this technology, check out Votec and indicate where you live and would like to see it adopted in your polling place, on their web site: www.votecd4a.com Pete spent some time with the local Jacksonville, Florida chapter of the ACB who hosted the state convention. They provided a nice lunch and plenty of hospitality! Listen as Pete chats with several members and as they give a loud “Hello” to blind Abilities! Thank you for listening! You can follow us on Twitter @BlindAbilities On the web at www.BlindAbilities.com Send us an email Get the Free Blind Abilities App on the App Store. Get the Free blind Abilities App on the Google Play Store.

Dedication: Retired Air Force Lt. Col. Leo K. Thorsness, was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during a dogfight over North Vietnam and spent six years in the enemy prison camp known as the Hanoi Hilton, died May 2 in Jacksonville, Fla. He was 85. Corey "Charismatic" Duncan, Our Mad Black Man from Baltimore, joins us to discuss issues from the inner city and why Democrats keep screwing the Black community.  He is a frequent guest on "The Real Side Radio Show with Joe Messina.  Facebook: corey.p.duncan Clarence V. McKee has an extensive background in law, media, corporate, government, legislative, international and political affairs. He is particularly skilled in the effective use of electronic and print media. His political commentary has appeared in national publications. He is a commissioner on the North Broward Hospital District, serving the northern two thirds of Broward County Florida and has been a member of the Florida Council of 100 and Associated Industries of Florida.  He's column: "The Silent Minority" on NewsMax.com Bobby Lawrence: ProtectYourVoteUSA.org Southern Sense is conservative talk with Annie "The Radio Chick" Ubelis, as host and "CS" Bennett, co-host.  Informative, fun, irreverent and politically incorrect, you never know where we'll go, but you'll love the journey!  Southern-Sense.com

Dedication: Retired Air Force Lt. Col. Leo K. Thorsness, was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during a dogfight over North Vietnam and spent six years in the enemy prison camp known as the Hanoi Hilton, died May 2 in Jacksonville, Fla. He was 85.Corey "Charismatic" Duncan, Our Mad Black Man from Baltimore, joins us to discuss issues from the inner city and why Democrats keep screwing the Black community. He is a frequent guest on "The Real Side Radio Show with Joe Messina. Facebook: corey.p.duncanClarence V. McKee has an extensive background in law, media, corporate, government, legislative, international and political affairs. He is particularly skilled in the effective use of electronic and print media.His political commentary has appeared in national publications. He is a commissioner on the North Broward Hospital District, serving the northern two thirds of Broward County Florida and has been a member of the Florida Council of 100 and Associated Industries of Florida. He's column: "The Silent Monority" on NewsMax.comBobby Lawrence: ProtectYourVoteUSA.orgSouthern Sense is conservative talk with Annie "The Radio Chick" Ubelis, as host and "CS" Bennett, co-host. Informative, fun, irreverent and politically incorrect, you never know where we'll go, but you'll love the journey! Southern-Sense.com

Dedication: Retired Air Force Lt. Col. Leo K. Thorsness, was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during a dogfight over North Vietnam and spent six years in the enemy prison camp known as the Hanoi Hilton, died May 2 in Jacksonville, Fla. He was 85.Corey "Charismatic" Duncan, Our Mad Black Man from Baltimore, joins us to discuss issues from the inner city and why Democrats keep screwing the Black community. He is a frequent guest on "The Real Side Radio Show with Joe Messina. Facebook: corey.p.duncanClarence V. McKee has an extensive background in law, media, corporate, government, legislative, international and political affairs. He is particularly skilled in the effective use of electronic and print media.His political commentary has appeared in national publications. He is a commissioner on the North Broward Hospital District, serving the northern two thirds of Broward County Florida and has been a member of the Florida Council of 100 and Associated Industries of Florida. He's column: "The Silent Monority" on NewsMax.comBobby Lawrence: ProtectYourVoteUSA.orgSouthern Sense is conservative talk with Annie "The Radio Chick" Ubelis, as host and "CS" Bennett, co-host. Informative, fun, irreverent and politically incorrect, you never know where we'll go, but you'll love the journey! Southern-Sense.com

Dedication: Retired Air Force Lt. Col. Leo K. Thorsness, was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during a dogfight over North Vietnam and spent six years in the enemy prison camp known as the Hanoi Hilton, died May 2 in Jacksonville, Fla. He was 85.Corey "Charismatic" Duncan, Our Mad Black Man from Baltimore, joins us to discuss issues from the inner city and why Democrats keep screwing the Black community.  He is a frequent guest on "The Real Side Radio Show with Joe Messina.  Facebook: corey.p.duncanClarence V. McKee has an extensive background in law, media, corporate, government, legislative, international and political affairs. He is particularly skilled in the effective use of electronic and print media.His political commentary has appeared in national publications. He is a commissioner on the North Broward Hospital District, serving the northern two thirds of Broward County Florida and has been a member of the Florida Council of 100 and Associated Industries of Florida.  He's column: "The Silent Minority" on NewsMax.comBobby Lawrence: ProtectYourVoteUSA.orgSouthern Sense is conservative talk with Annie "The Radio Chick" Ubelis, as host and "CS" Bennett, co-host.  Informative, fun, irreverent and politically incorrect, you never know where we'll go, but you'll love the journey!  Southern-Sense.com

The Orange County Library System brought author Sharon M. Draper to read from and discuss her book Stella by Starlight on January 26, 2017. Draper is a five-time winner of the Coretta Scott King Literary Award and the New York Times best-selling author of Out of My Mind. The event  was sponsored in part by the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs and the Florida Council on Arts and Culture.

Sharon M. Draper read from and discussed Out of My Mind, the Sunshine State Young Readers Award winner for 2011 for both elementary and middle grades on January 26, 2017. On the New York Times bestseller list for two years, Out of My Mind is the story of brilliant and witty 10-year old Melody Brooks who can't speak or walk due to severe cerebral palsy. Draper has won numerous awards for her children's and teen fiction; she is a five-time winner of the Coretta Scott King Literary Awards, has been the National Teacher of the Year, and received the Margaret Edwards Award for lifetime literary achievement from the American Library Association. The event was sponsored in part by the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs and the Florida Council on Arts and Culture.

The Awards Dinner aired on Friday May 13, 2016.

The FCB Banquet took place on Saturday May 14, 2016.

The FCB 2016 Business meeting took place on Sunday May 15, 2016.

The GDUF workshop took place on Friday May 13, 2016.

The FCB Legislative Workshop took place on Friday May 13, 2016.

The FCB Convention Opening Ceremonies took place on Saturday May 14, 2016.

The FCB Convention Technology Workshop took place on Saturday May 14, 2016.

The FCB 2016 DBS Town Hall Meeting took place on Saturday May 14, 2016.

The FCB 2016 Convention CCTB workshop took place on Saturday May 14, 2016..

The FCB Employment Workshop aired on Friday May 13, 2016.

Diabetics in Action and the Florida Council of the Blind are featured in this episode of Affiliates in Action.

Diabetics in Action and the Florida Council of the Blind are featured in this episode of Affiliates in Action.