BLIND COMMUNITY CENTER OF SAN DIEGO
1805 UPAS STREET
SAN DIEGO, CA. 92103
Phone: (619) 298-5021 New and Improved Website:
Fax: (619) 298-1565 www.BCCSD.org
Business Hours: 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM, MONDAY – WEDNESDAY
CLOSED THURSDAY & FRIDAY
8:30AM TO 11:00AM SATURDAY
Why did the business hours change? Don’t worry. It’s temporary. See the President’s Message for more information.JUNE 2014 NEWSLETTER
Celebrating 65 years!
BCC MISSION: To enrich the lives of blind and visually impaired adults and children, preparing them for a normal, active life in a society that is principally sighted.
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE: LEAN IN
June is a great month for reflection on the current state of the Blind Community Center. June is the last month in our fiscal year, which means we can look at how we are doing financially, and make changes so that the Blind Community Center does not close. The first big change financially will be the reducing of our building hours. This will help reduce the costs of keeping the building open when it is not being used. As we develop new programs and activities, and receive more donations and grants we can gradually expand the building hours to fulfill our needs.
A second topic to reflect on is the Blind Community Center’s purpose. Why was this organization created? Who is the organization supposed to be helping? These are important questions as they guide the entire mission of the Blind Community Center. To fulfill our mission in supporting the blind community we must offer a place for ALL blind and visually impaired individuals in San Diego County to join activities. According to the 2010 US Census, there are roughly 50,000 blind and visually impaired individuals in San Diego. About 60 of them are members at the Blind Community Center. This means that less than 1% of the community we promise to serve in our mission are involved with the agency. Take a moment to ask yourself what you can do to reach out to the rest of the blind community.
Another topic to reflect on is your membership. What does being a member of the Blind Community Center mean? The Blind Community Center is currently a membership run organization, but at the May membership meeting, several individuals expressed dissatisfaction with some of the recent changes. It is your responsibility as a member to read the newsletter, to actively participate in member and board meetings, to speak with the board members who you elected, and to be involved in the changes that are happening.
Often times this process feels frustrating and it is natural to respond with anger and to speak loudly in order to be heard. Unfortunately this tactic does not usually work. When someone yells at you, do you respond well? Most of us miss the message when yelled at, or even when a loud and insistent voice is used. Consider taking a couple of deep breaths before speaking and think about the message you wish to be heard. It is more effective to use a calm low voice. In fact, when you do this, you can change the pace of the communication and gain a sense of control. Let’s work together towards a discussion format that serves everyone.
Lastly, let’s reflect on the change that is happening. Organizations and businesses that do not change with the times close down. It is as simple as that. Change is a part of life that sometimes occurs whether you want it or not, but in some cases, change is influenced by people. We have been encouraging members to step up and be part of the change so that the Blind Community Center survives. Several members who are not on the board attended the board meetings and are now on committees to help us figure out what change is needed to prevent us from closing. People who are involved will know what change is happening, and why. Do you show up to a job once every two months on the fourth Saturday, do some work, and expect everything will be fine for two months? No! We show up to work almost EVERY DAY and put a lot of effort into making sure that we are successful. If you are concerned about the change going on, speak with your board members in between meetings and ask questions. Call or email our Executive Director and ask questions. Come to the board meeting and ask questions. Join a committee and ask questions! Complaining about the change does not solve the issue that the Blind Community Center is running out of money and cannot sustain itself. We are going to close soon without change. Change is not bad, change is different. With change, the Blind Community Center can still be available to you. It can still be available to the blind community. But, change has to happen.
It’s time to lean in to the discomfort that is change. Please join me, embrace the change.
Gwen Edwards, President
Ext. 207
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE:
MOVING FORWARD TOGETHER
How wonderful to be a part of this great organization! Before we know it, the fiscal year will be over. As we prepare for the new fiscal year, there are lots of changes to report.
On a sad note, Lee Morton, Program Director and former Executive Director for twelve years retired in May. Being one of the few former Executive Director’s still involved with the BCC, I personally appreciate her help over the last eight months. She eased the transition and provided valuable agency history. But don’t worry; she plans to take some classes and direct the holiday singing group this year. Lee reports that she is looking forward to sleeping late and enjoying mornings at home. Please see her farewell message in the Program Director’s Corner.
I am actively seeking volunteer drivers—see the full job description and online application (www.BCCSD.org/jobs). I can’t wait to meet the candidates and provide training in June and July.
In June I will also roll out a new volunteer job description for the former volunteer receptionist position, set up interviews and provide training. Since this person creates a first impression for all those who enter the building, it is an important position for the BCC and the Lions Optometric Vision Clinic. In addition to telephone responsibilities and tracking visitors’ whereabouts, the volunteer will be responsible for educating callers about all services for blind children and adults in San Diego County. The training for this position is crucial and it will involve on-going trainings to ensure that the BCC has up to date information about all blind services. If you are interested in the position, please leave a message at extension 204 and include your contact information.
The agency is providing transportation for the June water skiing event. Thanks to Ron George, and other members of the Mission Bay Boat and Ski club, blind adults and children in San Diego Count have several opportunities to water ski every summer!
Thanks to Esther Mesa-Jones for suggesting the audio format for the membership handbook! The audio versions of the membership handbook and volunteer handbook will be available via CD in June. Audio versions of the monthly newsletter are now available on our website. Please visit bccsd.org/newsletters to download the newsletter as an mp3 file.
The building hours are changing temporarily due to the loss of one of two staff members. I am hoping to expand hours soon. However during this time of the solo staff member, please utilize the building for scheduled activities and meetings.
To sign member documents, please meet our volunteer Jessica in the office on Mondays and Wednesdays from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
The next membership year is on hold while the membership committee works out the incentives and cost of membership. The committee includes four blind members and one sighted board member. Stay tuned for information on the next membership enrollment period in the July newsletter. In the meantime, enjoy your membership which will include a very reasonable grace period during the 2014-2015 enrollment period.
Thank you for your patience during the staff and programming transition. It is helpful to limit activities and spend time to develop a strong agency that is ready to bring back the good old favorites and new activities with increased paid and volunteer staff, funding and administrative organization, the spine of a non-profit. That way, when we expand, we are prepared, excited, motivated and ready to invite the new!
Barbara E. Runco, Executive Director
Ext. 208, Email:
BLIND COMMUNITY CENTER COMMUNITY: NEWS
Building Hours
The building hours are changing due to staff changes and short-term administrative needs. Please honor the hours of operation while the agency is in transition. In the month of June there are five events and programs that occur after the building is closed in order to honor commitments to the organizers and facilitators while they adjust to the change in hours.
New Audio Files
Audio versions of the monthly newsletter are now available on our website. Please visit bccsd.org/newsletters to download the newsletter as an mp3 file.
New Website
Check out the new website at our normal address: www.BCCSD.org
We want your story.
With the launch of our new website we are seeking stories from our membership to post on the website. Your stories can help make the difference to a potential member, donor, or volunteer by sharing how the Blind Community Center has impacted your life. Please consider writing your story:
· How the BCC has impacted your life?
· How has the BCC life and story intertwined with yours over the past 65 years?
· Tell us about your experience in a current activity or class.
Please email your stories to . You can also write (or have a friend or family member transcribe) your story and give it to Barbara.Important Extensions
204 Volunteer and Membership Information and Questions
206 Gwen Edwards, Executive Board President
207 Activity Questions and Reservations
208 Barbara Runco, Executive Director
MEMBER PERSPECTIVE: Why Am I A Member Of The BCC?
By Claude Edwards
I became a member of the Blind community Center (BCC) late in 2013 at the recommendation of teachers and counselors at the San Diego Center for the Blind (SDCB), where I am almost done with my studies. I have glaucoma and was forced to give up driving at the end of 2010. I have since further lost my ability to read regular print such as magazines and restaurant menus, or to see peoples’ faces and watch TV. It has been a tough time. But during the past year I received encouragement from SDCB teachers and fellow students to be more self-confident and self-reliant, to make new friends and form a ‘family’ of others who are blind and sight-impaired. I learned to develop new goals and plans, and to live and adapt to my vision loss. So now, the BCC is the next step in my continuing process. Being a member of the Blind Community Center means different things to me. I have met new people there with different levels of vision loss and life experiences. The BCC is a new place I can go to enjoy new activities, which I have done, such as the App Parties. I have also attended recent Membership and Board Meetings and learn what the organization has planned for the near future. Being a BCC member is part of a new puzzle I am creating for my life.
JUNE BIRTHDAYS
This month we wish a very happy birthday to Esther Meza-Jones (3), Lucy Dolan (10), Carmelita Mays (17)
and Sharlene Ornelas (28).
PROGRAM DIRECTOR'S CORNER
By the time you receive this newsletter in your preferred format, I will be retired. I want to sincerely thank you if you volunteered, drove, or participated in a BCC program over the years. I have offered a variety of activities. Some of your old stand-bys such as the craft class have been and will always be a part of the mix. I’ve added Self-Defense, CD Parties, Cribbage, field trips, and concerts. Our field trips included Borrego, the Cabrillo Monument, the Ruben H. Fleet Science Museum, the Museum of Man, and the San Diego Maritime Museum.
Who could ever forget the llama that got on the BCC’s bus to kiss George Drane at the Chula Vista Nature Reserve? I have a fond memory of Vicki and Victor Newman dressed as babies for a Halloween party. Typically quiet and calm Victor was in costume and crying like a baby—hysterical.
I also have a feeling that the ranger at Borrego was sorry he asked our Braille readers to proof his Braille captions. Five of us found about twelve errors. I would hope he would think we performed a service. Some of the guide dogs contributed to fun moments. Ed was close to the fountain and decided to jump into it on a tour of Balboa Park. I will cherish all of these memories for the rest of my life.
I will remember some of the Summer Pops concerts—especially Winona Judd. All of us attending that concert were thinking she’d perform her solo hits and her songs with her mother. Instead, she sung standard ballads. All of us were totally blown away by her talent. Who could forget Neil Sadaka, Marvin Hamlish, Amy Grant and more?
I always feel a strong sense of pride when I remember our Martial Arts class giving out its first black belts. The students in the Martial Arts class have represented the BCC well at service organizations, other agencies serving the disabled community, and martial arts tournaments.