Tuesday, February 14
Fr. John leaves for Rome
Saturday, February 18
Elevation of Archbishop Dolan as a Cardinal of the Church
Wednesday, February 29
Fr. John speaks at the Yorktown Rotary Club
April 9 - May 4
Online Auction is live and anyone can bid!
SAVE THE DATE!
Monday, May 14
Reception and Silent Auction at the New York Athletic Club
All the time, CDs to buy and plush owls to “adopt”—click to find out more.
Librarian of Congress James H. Billington today announced the appointment of Karen A. Keninger as director of the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS), effective March 26, 2012. Keninger succeeds Frank Kurt Cylke, who retired from federal service on February 28, 2011.
“Ms. Keninger’s qualifications and experience are superb for this position,” said Billington in announcing the appointment. “She has demonstrated leadership and strategic thinking throughout her career.” Since 2008, Keninger has been the director of the Iowa Department for the Blind, a leading provider in the United States of vocational rehabilitation and independent-living programs and library services for blind and visually impaired individuals. Keninger was selected from an impressive pool of candidates following an extensive search process that began last year.
“Keninger is no stranger to the NLS program,” Billington noted. “She is a highly respected administrator and a leader in the NLS library network.” As director of the Iowa Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped for eight years, from 2000-2008, Keninger managed the statewide library program, the machine-lending agency, instructional materials center, braille production, and audio production units. Keninger’s initiatives included the planning and implementation of a new, in-house digital recording program with a state-of-the-art recording studio and a corps of volunteers to expand and transform the state’s audio-production program.
“Keninger has a proven track record of collaboration and innovation,” said Billington. She served on the Digital Long-Term Planning Group established by NLS in 2001 to guide planning for the now successfully completed digital talking book transition, and on the successor Digital Transition Advisory Committee. She led the transition in Iowa from analog to digital talking books and players and was successful in securing funds for the digital conversion of locally-produced talking books. She is a daily user of the full range of information technologies for the blind and visually impaired, including Web-Braille, digital talking book machines and books, and online download services.
Throughout her career, Keninger has established and maintained effective working relationships with a broad range of individuals and organizations at the national, state, and local levels. Keninger was elected 2012 president of the National Council of State Agencies for the Blind. From 2002-2008, she served as chair of the Consortium of User Libraries.
Keninger holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Drake University in Iowa and a master’s degree in English, business and technical writing from Iowa State University. She completed graduate courses in library and information science at the University of Iowa.
Karen Keninger was born and raised in Vinton, Iowa, the third of seven children in a happy and lively farming family. When she was 16 months old her parents discovered that she could not see very well, and she was later diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa. Although she had some vision as a child, she was completely blind by the age of 20. She attended school at the Iowa Braille and Sight Saving School in Vinton, graduating in 1970. In 1973 she graduated from Drake University with a B.A. in Journalism.
In 1987, after many years as a full-time homemaker and mother, she established a freelance writing service in Newton, Iowa. As part of this effort, Keninger went back to school and graduated in 1991 with a masters degree in English with an emphasis in business and technical writing from Iowa State University. She continued her freelance work until 1995 when she accepted the position of Rehabilitation Consultant with the Iowa Department for the Blind.
In 2000 she was promoted to Program Administrator for the Iowa Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped. After eight years in that position, she was appointed by the Iowa Commission for the Blind to the position of Director of the Iowa Department for the Blind.
As director, Keninger oversees 90 staff members working in six major program areas. She is responsible for developing and upholding the Department’s mission of creating opportunities for independence for all blind and visually impaired Iowans.
During her 14 years of work with the Department for the Blind, Keninger has been involved in initiating many new programs for various sectors of the Department and for the Department as a whole. These initiatives included:
list of 4 items
• The introduction of digital talking books to the Iowa Library for the Blind & Physically Handicapped
• Implementation of an in-house, state-of-the-art digital recording program and a new set of volunteers to expand and transform the audio production program
at the library
• Establishment of the Friends for the Library group, which has raised tens of thousands of dollars for the library
• Initiation and implementation of an internationally recognized computer training project, which was funded through a $1 million grant
list end
Keninger also serves on several professional boards, including the National Council of State Agencies for the Blind and the Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation.
While Keninger has achieved much throughout the span of her career, she has done it while balancing the needs of her family. Keninger has six grown children, one daughter and five sons. Five have established professional careers in management positions in various fields, including computer software, public accounting, banking and insurance. Her youngest is currently completing a masters degree in forestry at Iowa State University. Keninger has seven grandchildren.
Keninger lives on an acreage southwest of Newton in a home she built in 2003. Her interests include national and international travel, as well as reading, writing, tandem biking and community theater.
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced the launch of TSA Cares today, a new helpline number designed to assist travelers with disabilities and medical conditions, prior to getting to the airport. Travelers may call TSA Cares toll free at 1-855-787 2227 prior to traveling with questions about screening policies, procedures and what to expect at the security checkpoint.
All travelers can contact TSA using Talk To TSA, a web-based tool that allows passengers to reach out to an airport Customer Service Manager directly, and the TSA Contact Center, 1 866-289-9673 and .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), where travelers can ask questions, provide suggestions and file complaints.
Travelers who are deaf or hard of hearing can use a relay service to contact TSA Cares or can e-mail .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
For more information:
http://www.tsa.gov/press/releases/2011/1222.shtm
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/disabilityandmedicalneeds/tsa_cares.shtm
In today’s tight economy, fewer companies are providing free calendars. The Xavier Society for the Blind has an attractive and useful 2012 calendar ready to give to you. There is space each day to write your appointments or reminders, and lots of interesting information about what we do and who some of our clients and programs are. Contact us by phone, by email, or by clicking on the link below and we will send you a calendar right away.
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Wounded Warrior to Win Free Trip
to the National Federation of the Blind Convention
October 25, 2011 (Winter Garden, Florida): The National Association of Blind Veterans, a division of the National Federation of the Blind (NFB), today announced a free lottery for wounded warriors who have lost their sight during Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom. The winner will receive a free trip to Dallas, Texas, to attend the national convention of the NFB, which will take place from June 30–July 5, 2012.
Dwight Sayer, president of the NABV, explained that the contest was designed to help introduce more people to the National Association of Blind Veterans and the NFB.
He said: “All too often, blind veterans, and wounded warriors who have remained on active duty receive some physical assistance when they return, but there is a great need for basic mobility training, experiential and vocational advice, and the realization that they are not alone. At the NFB convention, there are around three thousand people, most of them blind or with low vision, and many with tremendous success stories to help encourage someone who is coming to grips with his or her blindness. We also have a group of blind veterans, who understand in a special way both where the vet is coming from and what he or she is going through.”
The first prize will include airfare to the convention for the winner and a companion, hotel accommodations, the convention registration fee and a banquet ticket, and the opportunity to meet and spend time with a whole organization of blind veterans. Entry to the contest is available on the National Association of Blind Veterans Web site and there is no charge to enter. Only one entry per person is permitted.
For more information about the contest or the National Association of Blind Veterans, please visit http://www.nabv.org or call Dwight Sayer at (407) 877-8668.
About the National Association of Blind Veterans
The National Association of Blind Veterans is a group of blind veterans, service connected and not service connected, who are concerned about the welfare and well being of fellow blind veterans. They are dedicated to making sure they all have the benefit and resources that are offered by the National Federation of the Blind. These resources can mean the difference between successfully navigating the many agencies charged with assisting blind veterans and being stuck in the quagmire of red tape that can stifle and stall even the most highly motivated.
About the National Federation of the Blind
With more than 50,000 members, the National Federation of the Blind is the largest and most influential membership organization of blind people in the United States. The NFB improves blind people’s lives through advocacy, education, research, technology, and programs encouraging independence and self-confidence. It is the leading force in the blindness field today and the voice of the nation’s blind. In January 2004 the NFB opened the National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute, the first research and training center in the United States for the blind led by the blind.