Cast Your Vote: Anne Murphy for Board of Directors
At the annual convention in Joplin this year there will be three board of director's positions available for you to vote for on Sunday. I am seriously asking you to cast one of your three votes for me for board of directors. Below are two MCB Declaration of Candidacy forms which outline my qualifications and biographic information. Please know you can always contact me at Home: 314-434-4051 Cell: 314-708-1619 Email: [email protected] I am eager to make a difference on the MCB board by working in coordination with the other members and bringing about productive financial outcomes as well as bringing about a higher profile for MCB. Thank you for considering me for this position. I look forward to talking to each of you at the convention. Sincerely, Anne Murphy Anne Murphy Declaration of candidacy for Board of Directors Position I am submitting my candidacy for the position of Director of the Board of Missouri Council of the Blind, for the 2011-13 term. I know that I have the experience and qualifications for this position as well as a high level of energy to get the job done in a timely and efficient manner. Even though my time with MCB has been relatively short in comparison to some candidates I have a reputation of being determined, and representing individual's needs and ideas. I became a member of MCB in the Fall of 2008 and since then have been the Secretary for the St. Charles County Council Affiliate for two years and then have become the First Vice president. I currently hold the position ofMCB's Special Services Chairperson in which I am able to use my master of social work degree to determine people's needs and am able to give them some financial relief in this economic crisis we are all experiencing. I have compiled the 2011 Adaptive Technology Messager newsletter and write the newsletters each month and the Chronicle articles for the St. Charles County Council of the Blind. I write the Chronicle report for the Special Services committee as well. I am eager to work on MCB's state level to assist in finding an executive director who works well in representing our organization, as well as working out the challenges with the Thrift stores and to make sure we are in line with ACB's regulations to stay in favor with them. I am also eager to make sure state programs are funded and individuals with visual impairments throughout the state are heard and their ideas and needs are voiced to the entire board. Biographical Information: I am a native born St. Louisan. I went to JFK High School....a St. Louis question.LOL. I attended Rockhurst College in KC and received a BA in 1986. I worked part time as a social worker with the developmentally disabled while earning my master of social work degree from Saint Louis University. My most recent job was a Manager of the Assessment Department at BJC Behavioral Health. This was an outpatient Mental Health facility for chronically mentally ill adults. We did assessments, crisis intervention and case management. In addition, I was involved in budgeting and supervising of staff. I was born with congenital glaucoma but in 1964 they did not catch it until, thanks to my parents, they caught it at age 4 or 5. My parents took me three times to a pediatric ophthalmologist in Washington DC where he was unable to save the vision in my right eye but saved it in my left eye. I had vision of 20/30 with constant monitoring of the glaucoma pressure. So I went to regular school, drove a car, traveled independently etc. It was quite a shock as it is to all of us who have lost our vision later in life to not have that same amount of independence. To those born with blindness I didn't have to face the challenges they have but still have not decided who had or ever had it easier. None of us...i think. Unfortunately, at age 35 the glaucoma caught up with me and it affected my cornea. So I have a double edge sword. I had three unsuccessful cornea transplants. I slowly began losing my vision about 13 years ago and stopped working about 9 years ago. RSB did all they could but my boss was not helpful at all. It was a slow death of the vision and now i see only barely light. We all have our own different stories and some are more horrific I am sure but that is mine. I have been married for 13 years to Jim. I have a son Sam who is 8. He is adopted from Guatemala. I did get to see him. I am eager to represent the members of MCB to deal with the internal challenges of fundraising we face with the thrift stores, finding an executive director and getting our name out there to have as many people who are visually impaired join. AS a chairperson of special services I am more fully aware of how visually impaired people are not aware of MCB and all we do and offer. In my dealings with sighted people at my church, son's school and even with relatives I am constantly educating people on MCB. On an external level I want to work in coordination with RSB to get more blind individuals employed, work on legislative matters that affect us i.e. blind pension lawsuit, and just educating the corporate community. I am not afraid to stand up for what I think is the right thing to do and only want MCB to be the best it can be. I will strive to represent all members throughout the state and not just in St. Louis. I have a close connection to KC but am willing to hear from other members from other cities as well. Thank you for your consideration in this matter. Anne Murphy 314-434-4051 home 314-708-1619 cell
_______________________________________________ ATI (Adaptive Technology Inc.) A special interest affiliate of the Missouri Council of the Blind http://moblind.org/membership/affiliates/adaptive_technology
