Hello fellow MCB members. Earlier this spring, friends talked with me about running for the public relations chair position on the MCB board. I now realize that I have a lot of support within the organization, and would like to be a part of MCB as we navigate these trying times. I am therefore declaring my intent to run for the public relations chair position this October.
For those who are not familiar with my background, I am totally blind and a graduate of the Georgia Academy for the Blind.I have a B.A. degree in English from Mercer University with a minor in psychology and a concentration in sociology. I served an internship with the Savannah, Georgia subregional state library for the blind and physically handicapped in 1975. My husband, Rick, who is also blind, and I were married in November, 1976 and, of course, this necessitated a move from Macon, Georgia, to St. Louis, where I have lived ever since. In the late '70's, I volunteered to teach English to foreigners at the International Institute here in St. Louis. Then, for two years, I contracted as a consultant with Bi-State Development (now Metro) here in St. Louis. My job duties included providing training for employees on how to interact with disabled and elderly customers and preparing publications. I left this position in 1981 when my first child was born. In 1985, I began work at ABLE, a rehabilitation facility here in St. Louis, where I taught daily living skills, typing, and Optacon to clients. I continued working there until 1989, when I was employed by Missouri Rehabilitation Services for the Blind as a rehabilitation teacher, a position which I still hold. I became a member of United Workers for the Blind in 1998. Currently, I hold a member-at-large position on UWB's board. I was elected to the position of secretary for Missouri Guide Dog Users last October, and have been serving as secretary for the Braille Revival League for two years. I submit articles to the Missouri Chronicle for BRL and MGDU, and I edit the MGDU newsletter, Tails across Missouri. If I am elected to the position of public relations chair, I pledge to do all I can to promote MCB and to help further the goals of our organization. Judy Burch _______________________________________________ ATI (Adaptive Technology Inc.) A special interest affiliate of the Missouri Council of the Blind http://moblind.org/membership/affiliates/adaptive_technology
