~~An Evening With ACB: Panel on Increasing Financial Literacy: Financial issues touch every aspect of our lives. The more we can learn about successfully navigating this whole area of interest, the more successful we can become in handling various financial matters that contribute to our independence. Although we could never hope to fully handle this subject in one panel session, we presented a sampling of topics we believe will be of interest and assistance to convention attendees. Panelists: ♦ Brian Charlson, Watertown, MA, an expert in the area of credit through his work on the Structured Negotiation on Credit Report Accessibility, shared this expertise with us and presented a discussion of the importance of knowing your credit status, and how to obtain and utilize your free and accessible credit reports from the three major credit bureaus. All financial literacy starts with credit, and Brian will tell us just what we need to know about it to make it work for us. ♦ Judy Dixon, Arlington VA, our resident expert in iOS-related photography, stretched our comfort zones by demonstrating the techniques she uses to allow a totally blind person to deposit a check into her bank account using only her iPhone. ♦ Kelly Ford, a brilliant trainer, answer man, and problem solver from Microsoft's Enterprise Disability Answer Desk, Madison, WI, is adept at all things Excel. Kelly shared information on pivot tables and data types, two awesome and exciting features that are accessible and will allow us to track our expenses and get stock-related information using some cool Excel techniques.

• Recorded during the 2021 ACB National Convention on July 21~~

~~An Evening with ACB: Audio Description and Olympics Opening Ceremony Extravaganza: Pre-Show Olympic coverage which spotlighted the process of providing audio description for the Olympics through interviews with NBC personnel responsible for delivering television coverage of the event, profiles of the audio describers, interviews with present and past Paralympians, the members of the U.S. Goalball team, and much more.

• Recorded during the 2021 ACB National Convention on July 22~~

~~ACB Banquet: Banquet Emcee: Dan Spoone, ACB President, Orlando, FL ♠ Moment of reflection ♠ God Bless America, Anthony Corona, BPI member and host of Sunday Edition, Miami, FL ♠ Keynote Speaker: Peter Sagal Best known as the host of the Peabody Award-winning NPR news quiz “Wait Wait...Don’t Tell Me!” One of the most popular shows on public radio. In addition, he is, has been, and perhaps someday will be again, a husband, father, playwright, screenwriter, author, journalist, columnist, marathoner, Jeopardy contestant, dramaturg, podcast host, documentary host, foreign correspondent, wedding officiant, and magician’s assistant. He is the author of “The Book of Vice” and “The Incomplete Book of Running”, a memoir about the 2013 Boston Marathon Bombing and other adventures while running long distances. During the infamous Boston Marathon bombing incident, Peter was guiding a blind runner through his first Boston marathon. They finished just five minutes before the bombing occurred. The difference between running the last mile or taking a walking break was a literal life or death situation for the duo.

• Recorded during the 2021 ACB National Convention on July 22~~

~~An Evening with ACB: Audio Description and Streaming Services: This industry panel featured representatives from major streaming services to discuss their product’s, programming, services, and offerings. Moderator: Carl Richardson, Co-Chair, ACB Audio Description Project, Brighton, MA Panelists: ♣ Melanie Goodman, Lead Digital Supply Chain Specialist, HULU, Agoura Hills, CA ♣ Martha Heller, Vice President, Government Relations and Regulatory Counsel, Viacom CBS, Paramount+ Washington, DC ♣ Sarah Herrlinger, Director, Global Accessibility Policy & Initiatives, Apple, Cupertino, CA ♣ Daniel Kocmarek, Sr., Manager, Prime Video, Seattle, WA ♣ Mirka Pavlikova, Manager, Technical Production, Walt Disney Studios, Burbank, CA ♣ Allison Smith, Globalization Innovation Manager, Netflix, Los Gatos, CA ♣ Andy Larkin, Senior Manager, Accessibility, HBO Max, Chicago, IL ♣ Peacock with Thomas Wlodkowski, Vice President, Accessibility, Comcast, Philadelphia, PA

• Recorded during the 2021 ACB National Convention on July 19~~

~~Get ready for another outstanding panoply of performances from musicians, poets, and others. The pinnacle of diversity, creativity, and professionalism.

• Recorded during the 2021 ACB National Convention on July 16~~

~~Attendees joined ACB Leaders and our Health Hero partners as we officially kicked off the Get Up and Get Moving Campaign. The campaign raises awareness on the critical issues for people who are blind and visually impaired seeking to take back their health as we all come out of the pandemic. Attendees learned how they can be a part of this three-year campaign and take the Get Up and Get Moving Challenge.

• Recorded during the 2021 ACB National Convention on July 17~~

"• Call to Order: Dan Spoone, President, American Council of the Blind, Orlando, FL • Moment of reflection • Presentation of Colors National Anthem: Matthew H. Shifrin, Auburndale, MA • Welcome to Convention: Janet Dickelman, convention coordinator, Saint Paul, MN • ACB Highlight Video • ACB President's and ACB Director's Report: ◘  President's Report: Dan Spoone, Orlando, FL ◘ Executive Director's Report: Eric Bridges, ACB Executive Director, Alexandria, VA • Sponsor Presentation: Jeff Petty, Principal Program Manager for Windows Accessibility, Microsoft, Seattle, WA Credentials Committee Report: Ralph Smitherman, Jackson, MS Convention Standing Rules and Nominating Committee Report: Brian Charlson, Watertown, MA • Life Member Presentations: Dan Spoone, ACB President, Orlando, FL; and Nancy Becker, ACB Chief Financial Officer, Brooklyn Center, MN • ACB Angels Presentations: Tony Stephens, ACB Director of Development, Alexandria, VA; and Dan Dillon, ACB Board Member, Hermitage, TN ◘  ACB Angel Presentations: Charlie Crawford (1947-2020), Maryland ◘  Berl Colley (1942-2020), Washington • “Special Thank You Tribute” • ACB First Timers: Kenneth Semien Sr., Chair, Durward K. McDaniel First Timers Committee, Beaumont, TX • ACB JPMorgan Chase Leadership Fellows: Eric Bridges, ACB Executive Director, Alexandria, VA • Roll Call of Affiliates: Denise Colley, ACB Secretary, Lacey, WA • ACB Elections

• Recorded during the 2021 ACB National Convention on July 18"

As members of the American Council of the Blind, we are responsible for electing a slate of individuals who will provide leadership in our organization as officers, members of the ACB Board of Directors, and members of the ACB Board of Publications, in coming months and years. Because ACB was unable to conduct elections at our virtual convention in 2020, we will be electing all five ACB officers, five members of the ACB Board of Directors and all three elected members of the Board of Publications at this year’s ACB convention. With so many elections underway during the week of convention, there are likely to be a few vacated positions up for grabs, as well. Meet the Candidates at ACB Candidates’ Forums This year, because we have 15 announced candidates for 13 positions, the Board of Publications will host two official Candidates’ Forums. All candidates who posted information to the ACB Candidates’ Web Page participated in one of two ACB Candidates’ Forums June 29 and 30 at 9:00 PM ET (6:00 PM PT) via Zoom, ACB Radio, YouTube, and Facebook Live.

This podcast is the recording of the second BOP Candidates' Forum held on June 30, 2021.

As members of the American Council of the Blind, we are responsible for electing a slate of individuals who will provide leadership in our organization as officers, members of the ACB Board of Directors, and members of the ACB Board of Publications, in coming months and years. Because ACB was unable to conduct elections at our virtual convention in 2020, we will be electing all five ACB officers, five members of the ACB Board of Directors and all three elected members of the Board of Publications at this year’s ACB convention. With so many elections underway during the week of convention, there are likely to be a few vacated positions up for grabs, as well. Meet the Candidates at ACB Candidates’ Forums This year, because we have 15 announced candidates for 13 positions, the Board of Publications will host two official Candidates’ Forums. All candidates who posted information to the ACB Candidates’ Web Page participated in one of two ACB Candidates’ Forums to be held June 29 and 30 at 9:00 PM ET (6:00 PM PT) via Zoom, ACB Radio, YouTube, and Facebook Live.

This podcast is the recording of the BOP Candidates' Forum held on June 29, 2021.

The ACB Election process has joined the convention in the digital world and as a result this may be the most involved Election in ACB History. With 13 open seats there is a a lot of ground to cover for all members who wish to know the platforms and views of candidates. GDUI and BPI have traditionally held both singular and joint candidate forums and this year we are teaming up again to offer our members and the general ACB Membership a set of forums from the Special Interest Affiliate perspective.

Some key topics we wish to address include but are not limited to: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion; The role of ACB Leadership in Special Interest Membership generation and retainment; How can the Affiliate and Parent relationship be symbiotic; How does the ACB Leadership plan to address mentorship of current members, new leadership and how ACB Leadership can support the ivtersectionalities of our specific affiliates and all affiliates and committees.

This podcast is the recording of the Executive Board Seat Candidates Forum held on Thursday June 17, 2021 Candidate Forum.