These are the focus topics presented at the 2000 board of commissioners meetings. As always, your comments are welcomed and encouraged by sending email to your board of commissioners.

Business Enterprise Program - (November 3, 2000)

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1. There will be no public comments outside of public comment time. If a Commissioner or the Executive Director has a question about the current topic and someone in attendance can answer it, that person may be called on for information. However the person may only speak to the question at hand and must be called on to speak.
2. Names will be taken at the beginning of the public comment time.  Those individuals will get a turn to speak in the order the names were received. At the end of that series of speakers, names will again be asked of those wishing to speak. This process will continue until the public comment time has elapsed.
3. Persons who raise their hand to speak will not be recognized.  Names should be given verbally. 
4. Only the recognized person may speak. The speaker will address the commissioners from the podium or table designated for this purpose.
5. If the Executive Director or Commissioners have questions for the recognized speaker, discussion may proceed with only that speaker.  No one else from the public may make comments at this time.
6. If individuals from the public attending the meeting insist on speaking during a time when they are not recognized after being warned, they will be asked to leave.   Likewise if there is any other behavior the Chairperson deems inappropriate, i.e. excessive shouting, threats, obscenities etc. that person will be asked to leave.

PUBLIC NOTICE

Notice of Meeting

The Board of Commissioners to the Nebraska Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired will meet Saturday, November 7, 2020, beginning at 9:00 A.M.  The Focus Topic will be Surviving COVID-19 – What NCBVI has learned and what they will carry forward. 

The meeting will be held via video conferencing at the Omaha State Office Building, 1313 Farnam Street, Room 227, Omaha, Nebraska and the NCBVI Lincoln Office, 4600 Valley Road, Lincoln District Conference Room, Lincoln, Nebraska.  Everyone attending at the Omaha location must enter the building from the east doors (13^th Street). 

If reasonable accommodations are needed, please contact NCBVI at 402-471-8101 as soon as possible.  Every effort will be made to arrange the needed accommodation.  An agenda can be obtained by calling 877-809-2419 during regular business hours.

Mission Statement of the NCBVI Board of Commissioners:

Empowering blind individuals, promoting opportunities, and building belief in the blind.

Commissioners shall:

1. Employ an Executive Director who is the administrative officer of NCBVI and who shall serve at the pleasure of the Board.
2. Annually evaluate the Executive Director using a specified performance tool created by the Board and approved by State Personnel under the Department of Administrative Services.
3. Provide guidance to the Executive Director in carrying out the mission of NCBVI.
4. Seek input from both consumers and staff through public meetings, correspondence, surveys, etc.
5. Approve rules, regulations and policies adopted and promulgated by NCBVI.
6. Have a working knowledge of the Rehabilitation Act (WIOA), rules and regulations, and other materials necessary for the operation of NCBVI.
7. Serve as a liaison between the public and NCBVI.
8. Annually elect a Chairperson, a Vice-Chairperson and an Executive Secretary.
9. Attend and participate in NCBVI functions whenever possible, meeting with the entire staff as often as feasible.
10. Receive, read and respond in a timely manner to materials from the Executive Director, NCBVI staff, consumers and fellow Commissioners, asking for follow-up materials and/or clarification as needed.
11. Receive both written and in-person agency reports from NCBVI staff, asking for follow-up materials and/or clarification as needed.
12. Receive and read NCBVI budgetary information and monitor that process, asking for follow-up materials and/or clarification as needed.
13. Answer questions from consumers, NCBVI employees and the general public about NCBVI programs, processes, policies and procedures, seeking input from appropriate staff in order to provide accurate and up-to-date information.
14. Receive, only for purposes of her/his evaluation and guidance, reports from the Executive Director on unresolved personnel matters, including a description of the situation, a synopsis of progress toward resolution, and a summary of any policy changes implemented to address the problem, only when such matters reach a level requiring her/his intervention. The Board will not intervene in personnel issues, recognizing that there is a labor dispute process for State employees in place in the State of Nebraska.
15. Make suggestions and recommendations to NCBVI that will improve its operation and that will lead to better services to its consumers.
16. Communicate as a body only after reaching a consensus and only over the signature of the Chairperson.
17. When Communicating as an individual Board Member, a Board Member should use good judgment and discretion, and with a clear indication that they are speaking for himself/herself rather than as a spokesperson for the Board.
18. Develop and maintain a Commissioner Information Packet that will facilitate training of new Board Members.
19. See that new Commissioners become familiar with the materials in the Commissioner Information Packet, that they become familiar with the programs and office locations of the Commission, and review Commission Reports and Board motions involving NCBVI operations.

Bio

I moved to Nebraska in 1993. I spent a few years working in various jobs, nurse aid, housekeeper and dishwasher before deciding to pursue a college degree. I attended McCook Community College, graduating in 1997 with an Associate of Art degree in Sociology. I then attended the University of Nebraska at Kearney, where I graduated in 1999 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology.

I then relocated to Lincoln where I attended the Nebraska Center for the Blind and later worked there as the Apartment resource Counselor. In 2002 I left that position to attend graduate school at Doane College.

In 2004 I left Lincoln to live in York, where I still live with my husband and family. I enjoy reading, crocheting, sewing, traveling, my dogs and spending time with my family. I am the Juvenile Diversion Services Coordinator for York County. I also own my own business, providing products and information to blind people.

Julie Johnson

Bio

My name is Jim Jirak.  I was born early spring in the early hours of the morning.

Having been born with both cataracts and glaucoma, I was mainstreamed in the public school system and provided the necessary equipment to successfully complete my high school education.

During my high school tenure, I became actively involved in vocal music and drama.  Being cast in numerous theatrical productions ranging from Godspell my sophomore year to Annie my senior year and several other plays in between, I also took part in the All State choir.  Additionally, I performed solos in the All State District Music Contest.  I also was a member of the Ambassadors, our high school swing choir.  

Graduating with scholarship in hand and a predetermined major in radio broadcasting; I attended college for three months then dropped out.  It was my realization that college wasn't for me.  Not only does high school not teach you how to study, but going to college for everyone else but yourself is the wrong reason to attend.  

In April 1989, I began my employment with a major hotel chain, where I made reservations for potential hotel guests.  After 10½ years, I, in September of 1999, was then promoted to the customer service department.  Then in October 2002, I returned to the entry level position of confirming reservations then left the company in January 2014.  

I was referred to the Nebraska Commission for the Blind & Visually Impaired when the agency was known as the Services for the Visually Impaired.  Receiving a telephone call from a rehabilitation counselor, I was explained the reason for the call and suggested I develop the skills necessary to deal with my blindness.  Dan Hill was my initial rehab counselor with George Binder my orientation and mobility counselor.

During the summer of 1985, I took part in Project Independence.  As a participant, I remember loathing the mandatory use of sleep shades as Nancy's spaghetti sauce stained never worn again white dress can attest.

In the fall of 2004, I was approached by Nancy about the possibility of maintaining NCBVI's Website.  Having been given proper training, I re-designed the site making it more user friendly for JAWS users.  I served as volunteer Webmaster from October 2004 to February 2007 when it became obvious that the pending re-design requested was too much for one person to handle.  However, because of this developed skill, I have maintained several Websites, including the American Council of the Blind of Nebraska's.

I became involved with the American Council of the Blind of Nebraska, (ACBN), in May of 1989.  I had been approached by a member about the idea of a cab subsidy program that was talked about in earlier years but never acted upon.  It was the intention of the member to meet to not only discuss the feasibility of a program but to get the concept launched.  As a result, my first ACBN meeting was at the League of Human Dignity Saturday, May 20, 1989 where it was decided surveys should be conducted to gage consumer participation.  We discussed potential funding and grant opportunities.  The cab subsidy kicked-off June 14, 1995.  I currently serve as vice-chair of this now established not-for-profit.

During my tenure as a member of ACBN, I have held numerous positions both on the local and state levels.  I've held the position of local chapter as well as state treasurer, local and state secretary, local and state vice-president, local president and my current position as state president.

I have attended countless national conventions of the American Council of the Blind, (ACB,) since 1990.  Serving as our delegate for many of those years, I, in 2000, with thanks to the coordinated efforts of our then vice-president, oversaw the ACBN sponsored first combined caucus for smaller state affiliates.  Now several ACB affiliates have adopted this practice.  I am also a life member of the Council of Citizens with Low Vision International, (CCLVI), and served as its nominating committee chair at our 2007 national convention.  And at the 2008 ACB national convention, I was elected to its board for a 3-year term.  Choosing not to seek another term, in 2011, I relinquished my board position and then served as chair of the constitution and by-laws committee before being elected president for a one-year term in July 2012.  I am now both its convention and membership chair for the 2014/2015 calendar year.

Other organizations I still affiliate with, or have in the past, include the Fraternal Order of the Eagles, the Nebraska Association of the Blind, (NAB), where I served one term as secretary and the Omaha Association of the Blind, (OAB), where I served two terms on its board from 2012-2014.  I also served one term on the Radio Talking Book, (RTB), Board and did some volunteer work for them during the summer of 1987.  Additionally, I held the positions of treasurer and secretary for the Nebraska Council of Organizations for the Visually Impaired, (NCOVI).

My hobbies include listening to light rock from the 70's, 80's, 90's and today, spending time at our cabin, discussing politics with those having differing points of view than I, socializing with friends and college football, with special emphasis on the Cornhuskers.  I also enjoy Nebraska baseball, too.

I am pleased to have been appointed to serve as the ACBN representative to the NCBVI Board of Commissioners.  It is my goal to make myself available to listen to the concerns of staff, clients and consumers alike by fulfilling our organizational motto "people first - causes second."  It is important to remember that I can't address any concern not raised.  I look forward to the opportunity in assisting in any way I'm able.

Jim Jirak

Bio

Senator Jim Jensen
Chair, Health and Human Services Committee
Room 1402
State Capitol
Lincoln, NE 68509

Dear Senator Jensen:

I submit this letter to you and the Health and Human Services Committee on behalf of Dorothy Westin-Yockey. Governor Mike Johanns has appointed Mrs. Westin-Yockey as Commissioner for the Commission on the Blind. I have met Mrs. Westin-Yockey on several occasions, and it is with great pleasure that I submit this letter in support of her confirmation.

Mrs. Westin-Yockey is more than qualified to serve on the Commission on the Blind. She was appointed to the Commission for Handicapped Accessibility by Governor Nelson in 1992 and 1996 and by Governor Johanns in 2000. She has previously been a client of the Commission on the Blind. She earned her Master's degree in Social Work from the University of Nebraska-Omaha in 1984. She has served on numerous boards in the South Sioux City area, including the Board of Directors for South Sioux Community Center and the Counsel on Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence. She has made quite a career for herself, and her employment history includes working at the First Norfolk Regional Center and Marian Health Center. Currently she is employed by Siouxland Mental Health as a clinical social worker.

Mrs. Westin-Yockey firmly believes that her role as a Commissioner is to ensure that blind Nebraskans have access to the best services available. She views her role as that of a policy-maker and a watchdog. She is very proud of the work of the Commission, and she feels that the Commission is in the best position to provide quality services to the blind. Blind people make up a very small group in Nebraska, and she feels that they would be easily overlooked if they did not have the Commission protecting their interests.

Mrs. Westin-Yockey does not believe that she would face a conflict of interest by serving on the Commission. She does not have any family members working for the Commission.

In conclusion, I believe Mrs. Westin-Yockey is highly qualified and would serve as an excellent asset to the Commission and to the State of Nebraska. I ask the Committee to confirm the appointment of Dorothy Westin-Yockey as Commissioner for the Commission on the Blind. Thank you.

Sincerely,
Senator Pat Engel
District #17
LPE/ikd