Current AER Board
Members:
President: Rachel Buchanan
rbuchanan@wasblind.org
President Elect: Lis Geoghegan
Lis.geoghegan@asb.k12.ar.us
Secretary: Nancy Elmore
Nancy.elmore@va.gov
Arkansas - AER
Spring 2016
Newsletter
Treasurer: Stephanie Smith
Stephanie.Smith@asb.k12.ar.us
Past President: Bill Jacobson
whjacobson@ualr.edu
Editor Tiffany Moore
Debbie Adams
debeadams@yahoo.com
Melanie Birthright
melanie.birthright@swaec.org
Carolyn Hogue
Dean Ingalls
dingalls@lwsb.lind.org
Ebony Kelly
ebony.kelly@dhs.arkansas.gov
Dr. John McAllister
jwmcallister@ualr.edu
Tiffany Moore
tiff0200@yahoo.com
From the President
I hope everyone is ready to enter spring season. Your
chapter has been in preparation for a great annual
conference in November, as well as a (April) fundraiser
and a (May) Spring Fling Social; we hope you will plan
on attending. Things are in full swing here at World
Services for the Blind. Our Vocational Programs are
thriving and we have added a Call Center Specialist
program recently. Looking forward to seeing you at our
conference and hope you have a wonderful rest of this
year.
Sharon Niemczyk
Sharon.niemczyk@lrsd.org
Rachel Buchanan
Sharon Giovinazzo
sgiovinazzo@wsblind.org
Arkansas AER now has a Facebook page! Go to
https://www.facebook.com/arkansasaer and “Like” it so
you can get Facebook updates through the year of the
latest AER news.
Sandee Pinkstaff
Sandee.pinkstaff@arkansas.gov
2016 AR-AER Spring Newsletter
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Arkansas-AER Annual Conference
November 7-8, 2016
Wyndham Riverfront
2 Riverfront Place
North Little Rock, Arkansas 72214
Amazing training opportunities will be provided at our
AR-AER annual conference. Your board and
conference committee are working diligently to provide
meaningful, inspiring content for all related disciplines.
This is a conference you will not want to miss.
Registration and conference agenda will soon be
available. Please look for updates concerning our
annual conference on our aerbvi.org (Arkansas
chapter) webpage, our Facebook page, and via email.
This conference offers chances to network with other
professionals, to explore newly available assistive
technology, and to learn from our premier, engaging
speakers.
2016 AR-AER Spring Newsletter
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2016 AR-AER FUNDRAISING EVENT
Arkansas Association for the Education and
Rehabilitation of the blind and visually
impaired
AR-AER
o Providing Resources
o Providing Training
o Providing Services
Come and Join Us at the Flying Saucer! Bring
your friends and colleagues!
Bring your friends’ friends!
Bring your family!
Help by hanging out with us at the Flying Saucer in
Downtown Little Rock on Thursday, April 14, 2016 at
5:00 pm.
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 Bring cash for $2 raffle tickets to win amazing
prizes.
 Two rare beers from local breweries will be
tapped, Lost 40 and Stones throw. $1 from
each beer sold will be donated to AR-AER.
Come on down to the Flying Saucer and
hang out with AR-AER.
2016 AR-AER Spring Fling Social
Date: Saturday, May 7, 2016
Time: 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Location: Lisa Reynolds’s House
7025 Beck Rd. LR AR 72223
Please RSVP by 4/29/16
Sharon.niemczyk@lrsd.org
lreynolds@wsblind.org
All AR-AER members, friends, families and prospective members are invited.
AR-AER will provide lunchmeat, bread, and cheese. AER members are asked to bring something
that compliments sandwiches.
AR-AER will provide water, tea and lemonade. You are welcome to bring your preferred drink.
Please bring chairs.
Lisa has a pond for fishing. A few poles will be provided, however, we could always use a few
2016 AR-AER Spring Newsletter
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more.
There will be a few bikes to ride, but you may also bring your own and don’t forget a helmet.
Our past president, Dr. Bill Jacobson, and his wife, Bonnie, will be attending the party. It will be
their last event with AR-AER, as they will be moving to AR-izona the following week. Come and
wish them well.
In the event of unfavorable
weather, the Spring Fling Social
will continue at World Services for
the Blind (auditorium).
2016 AWARDS AND NOMINATIONS
We have amazingly talented individuals within AR-AER. The
Arkansas AER Awards Committee presents on an annual basis to
recognize outstanding professionals and advocates within the field
of blindness and visual impairment. The Awards will be presented
at the annual conference banquet on November 7th.
Nominations for each of the following awards are considered:
Wall of Tribute, J. Max Woolly Award, Joyce Ogburn Award, Tom
Phifer Award, Arkansas Distinguished Advocate Awards, and Bill
Tomlin Scholarship.
*NOTE: Bill Tomlin scholarship has a deadline application date of 4/18/16.
Nominations and support letters will be accepted and must be
postmarked no later than September 28, 2016. You may also
email nominations and support letters no later than October 3,
2016.
Correspondence methods include the following:
Debeadams@yahoo.com
Or
Submit Application and Materials to:
Debbie Adams
2016 AR-AER Spring Newsletter
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AR-AER Awards Committee Chair
4207 Park Avenue
Hot Springs, AR 71901
Criterion for the awards mentioned above can be located at the
following link: http://ar.aerbvi.org/awards.htm
2016 AR-AER Spring Newsletter
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AR-AER BILL TOMLIN SCHOLARSHIP AWARD
This Arkansas Chapter of the Association for Rehabilitation and
Education of the Blind and Visually Impaired (AR-AER) established
this award to honor the memory of long time AR-AER member and
past-president, Bill Tomlin.
A monetary award will be made each year to any individual who is blind or
visually impaired and who will be enrolled in a post-secondary educational or
vocational training program for the 2016-2017 school year. This award is open
to high school seniors as well as any other individual enrolled in a postsecondary educational or vocational training program. Funds will be awarded
for the purchase of textbooks, specialized materials or adaptive equipment. The
award this year will be in the amount of $1,000.
Please see the application for Eligibility Criteria and Required Documentation.
The updated application will be added to the ar.aerbvi.org webpage. Please be
advised, that as of recent it has taken extended periods of time to update our
chapter webpage.
Application has been made available to AER members via email.
Please distribute the application to your students or clients.
Application deadline is April 18, 2016
Submit Application and Materials to:
Debbie Adams
AR-AER Awards Committee Chair
4207 Park Avenue
Hot Springs, AR 71901
Or
debeadams@yahoo.com
2016 AR-AER Spring Newsletter
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AER INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE
SAVE THE DATE
AER International Conference is this summer in Jacksonville, Florida.
July 20-24, 2016
International Conference is a great opportunity to experience and learn the vast
progress in our field.
Early Bird Registration is $399 per person.
AR-AER will be providing Scholarships to members for AER International
Conference Registration.
AR-AER board created a total scholarship pool of $2000. It will be divided
evenly among the number of eligible applicants, but will not exceed the amount
of early bird registration ($399).
Eligible candidates must be: 1) an AER member in good standing for five
consecutive years, 2) not exceed more than one AER scholarship every 2 years.
Send receipt of payment to Stephanie Smith at arkansasaer@gmail.com.
DEADLINE TO SEND RECEIPT OF PAYMENT: APRIL 7, 2016.
EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION DEADLINE: APRIL 14, 2016.
2016 AR-AER Spring Newsletter
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SUMMARY
Please mark your calendars and keep yourself advised for the 2016 upcoming events.
You board and committees are dedicated to providing meaningful and engaging
opportunities, which include the following:
 Fundraiser and Social
o Thursday, April 14th at 5:00 pm
o Flying Saucer in downtown Little Rock
 Spring Fling Social
o Saturday, May 11th at 11:00 am
o Lisa Reynolds’ home in Little Rock
o Last AR-AER event with Dr. Bill Jacobson
 AR-AER Annual Conference
o Monday and Tuesday, 11/7 – 11/8
o 2-day schedule
o Wyndham Hotel in downtown NLR
Also, we have so many hard-working, dedicated, talented professionals in our very
own state. Please take some time and nominate an outstanding individual for an
award and recognition. Send your nominations to Debbie Adams,
debeadams@yahoo.com.
Also, please distribute the Bill Tomlin Scholarship to deserving candidates.
If you are interested in making an impact in AR-AER by serving on the board or a
committee, please contact Melanie Birthright, Melanie.birthright@swaec.org. Keep
in mind: 1) Board members’ International AER conference registration expense is
reimbursed by AER, 2) President and President-elect receives registration, travel,
and room expenses reimbursed by AER.
Chapter updates are regularly posted on our Arkansas AER Facebook page. Please
Like and Follow us on Facebook for the most up-to-date information.
Consider attending AER International Conference and review the AR-AER
scholarship.
Most importantly, the Arkansas chapter always appreciates your AER membership
and your commitment to your students/clients.
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