Presentation of the Jacobus tenBroek Awards

PAM ALLEN: It is now my pleasure to make a special presentation. Jacobus tenBroek was one of the most influential minds in the field of civil rights. He was a staunch advocate and respected attorney and legal scholar whose legacy continues even fifty-four years after his death. His writings and teachings on equality were pivotal to the landmark case Brown v. Board of Education, the Supreme Court decision that desegregated schools in America.

He founded the National Federation of the Blind and served as our first president. His work in the blindness field, shattered stereotypes and revolutionized how the blind live in the world. His contributions to society are so immense and lasting that we hold an annual disability law conference which carries his name.

The National Federation of the Blind awards the Jacobus tenBroek Award periodically, and 2022 is one such year. As an organization, this award is the highest overall honor that we bestow, and we only award it when we feel someone exemplifies the characteristics that are synonymous with Dr. Jacobus tenBroek himself, including an unwavering commitment to civil rights and the work that results in meaningful change for all blind people. I'm honored to present this award tonight.

In 1970 this individual joined the National Federation of the Blind and attended their first convention in 1971 in Houston, Texas. They have been involved in organizing many different state affiliates. In every state in which they have lived, they have given generously, lovingly, and freely of their time and energy to the National Federation of the Blind—sometimes as a leader in their chapter or on state boards, many times behind the scenes, but always giving. They have worked on national and state legislation and have been a mentor to thousands of future and current Federationists. This individual has worked in many different fields and has been a trailblazer as a teacher in a western state. In 1982 this individual began coordinating the information desk outside of the convention hall at our national conventions. This individual was also once arrested on a plane for sitting in an exit row. Maybe you can guess who this individual is.

Judy Sanders grew up in Boston [cheers and applause] and Denver, and graduated from the University of Colorado, where she studied to be a teacher of public speaking and social studies. Judy experienced a rude awakening when the Denver public schools would not hire anyone with less than 20/40 vision in the better eye. It was because of this problem that she discovered the National Federation of the Blind. Through her connection with the National Federation of the Blind, she obtained a position as a substitute teacher. Some other careers in which she has been involved include serving as the director of the Minnesota Office of Congressman Gerry Sikorski and working with blind children and adults through BLIND, Incorporated and with state services for the blind. I remember meeting Judy when I first joined the National Federation of the Blind and traveled to Minnesota for an organizing trip, and she had lots of great advice. Though Judy is retired, she is never not busy and continues to volunteer in so many ways and to serve in her state by working, advocating, speaking, sharing her voice, and making sure that the message of the National Federation of the Blind is heard. She serves on the Independent Living Council and the State Rehabilitation Council. She has been a champion for seniors and has also served as president of our Senior Division most recently.
 
Some adjectives that have been used to describe Judy when talking to people include "wise, generous, opinionated [laughter], tenacious, self-sacrificing, and caring. I understand that she has been known to share the cost of big-ticket items at convention auctions with others so that they can partake and raise money for the National Federation of the Blind. You may have seen her this week at the NFB information desk outside the ballroom. Judy works hard every day in all she does to share our message, not only through her words but through her example and purposeful actions. Judy, you have touched my life and the lives of so many and helped us collectively transform our dreams into reality. It is now my pleasure to present to you this 2022 Jacobus tenBroek Award. [applause]

As Judy is making her way up, I'm going to hold this plaque up just for a moment. It's a big room, so make your way up. [audience members chanting "Judy"] The text on the award reads: Jacobus tenBroek Award presented to Judy Sanders for your dedication, sacrifice, and commitment on behalf of the blind of this nation. Your contribution is measured not in steps but in miles, not by individual experiences but by your impact on the lives of the blind of the nation. Whenever we have asked, you have answered. We call you our colleague with respect. We call you our friend with love. July 10th, 2022. Judy: [cheers and applause]

JUDY SANDERS: I want to thank you. I'm not sure what to be most proud of—that I have been given this award or that I made it to the stage twice. [laughing]

All the things that Pam just mentioned cause me to think about when I first started to get involved in the NFB. It was actually for very selfish reasons. I wanted to teach, I knew I could, and I was convinced that I would be so good that they would hire me and change their policies. Well, I was so good, and they didn't. [chuckling]

So that's how I got involved in the NFB. I remember when I finally got a job as a substitute teacher, the first person to be employed as a fulltime teacher was not a member of the NFB. She was a member of something else that didn't lend any help to what we did. She called me to thank me, and I said, "I'm not the one you have to thank. You have to thank the National Federation of the Blind for three reasons. One is I wouldn't have had the know-how about where to begin to solve this problem. Number two, I wouldn't have had the money to do it.” So, thank you, seniors, for those extra donations. “And number three, I wouldn't have had the nerve. It was much easier to say the National Federation of the Blind did this, and then go from there. It wasn't me."

So as I went through all my time in the NFB, it's always been like that. When I got my job with Congressman Gerry Sikorski, he was the first member of Congress to employ a blind person fulltime. That was to his credit, not mine. I was the lucky one who benefitted from it. I want to thank you for putting all these things together in one place, because it took a long time for all this to happen. I thank you, and I will continue to do what I have been doing. Thank you. [applause]

PAM ALLEN: Congratulations, Judy. Thank you so much for your service and your leadership.

I would now like to introduce Mrs. Jernigan for a special presentation.

MARY ELLEN JERNIGAN: First I want to congratulate Judy Sanders on her well-deserved award. [applause] Day in and day out I have watched her serve this organization with steadfast love, self sacrifice, and more for more than four decades.

Because the Jacobus tenBroek Award holds such significance, one might almost say "sacred significance" to us in this organization, we deliberately chose not to present the award in 2020 or 2021. And I'm glad we didn't. It would not have seemed right for us not to be together as a family to express our love, respect, and gratitude for Judy as we have just done. Don't you think it's such a joyful thing to do? [applause] Yeah, I agree. So you know what? We're going to do it again, right now.

First I need to tell you, I'm just the setup person for the second tenBroek Award we're about to present, a role it gives me great joy to have been assigned this evening. Because, again, I have seen firsthand, up close, and for many decades the selfless service that occasions the presentation of this second award tonight. Speaking of roles, I want to talk a little bit about the roles members of the Federation are called to fill. They are many in number, diverse in skills required, and complex in nature. Some are so highly visible that it would be virtually impossible not to know who is performing that role, as well as having a fair bit of knowledge about what the task entails. Take the national President or your state affiliate, or local chapter president, for instance. You know precisely who these people are, and you see what they do. But take something like our national convention. Ever wonder about the literally thousands of specific individual details involved in planning and then bringing off an event as complex as this one? Well, obviously, you know, I have. [laughter] You saw me, and now you see John Berggren. But what about all those people you don't see working just as hard, taking incredible responsibilities, performing the hidden tasks that you never even thought about? These are tasks you would become acutely and painfully aware of the instant someone was not taking care of them. I use the national convention because the convention is a common experience that all of us here can relate to. But what about the rest of the year? What are the other things being done day by day, year after year, by someone—someone we do not see and may not even know.

But back to the tenBroek Award, and you see where I'm going.

This award is going to two individuals. They are a couple. Added together, they have a combined seventy-three years of experience to this organization. [applause] Some of you know them; many of you won't. One of them has been a bit more visible than the other. Both have served in roles critical to the essential day-to-day operation of the Federation. One has let us know that it is time for us to find another way to accomplish his tasks. The other has not—not yet at least.

At this point in my remarks, I had intended to say, lest I exceed my assigned role, I'm going to stop here and turn the mic over to Dr. Maurer. However, he and Mrs. Maurer found it necessary earlier today to begin quarantining in their room. [sorrow and concern from the audience] So I will share with you some of the things I know he would have said.

I think the first thing he would have said would be to ask Joe and Pat Miller to join me on the podium. [cheers and applause] And then he would have said, "Come on, you two... get up here!" [continuing applause]

MARY ELLEN JERNIGAN: As they are coming, then he would have said, "The two people being recognized for their extraordinary service tonight are the longest serving fulltime staff of our organization." [applause] And the Federation would not be as responsive or as capable as it is without them.

Mrs. Miller, Pat, has served in many capacities in the Federation, more often than not in a supporting role to an executive at our headquarters. Now, this is Dr. Maurer speaking directly:

"My favorite of her positions is as primary assistant to me. I have dictated tens of thousands of pages of documents to her. I have asked her tens of thousands of questions. I have expected her to find for me facts from legal cases, from census figures, from organizations of the blind anywhere in the world, from government archives, or from business. She has never been dismayed by these requests, and she has often made suggestions that enhance the research. I have asked her to tour sheltered workshops and to notice what I might want to know. I have asked her to travel with me early and late, although she was raising a family.”

Mr. Miller, Joe, has also served in many capacities. These days he is probably best known for his mastery of our computer systems that are the heart of the public information campaigns that we conduct. Millions of letters are sent each year to give people information about the correct understanding of blindness and to enlist the support of such recipients who believe learning the truth about blindness can help build a better society for the blind and for the sighted as well. However, Mr. Miller has undertaken many other roles. He has been our truck driver for the tons of material we need at convention. He has helped organize computer systems to conduct convention activities. And he has been available when extraordinary services have been needed. At one time he created all the print masters for every publication we needed to print. At one time he was our entire Information Technology Department [chuckles] and was a master at creating and using databases before most of us knew what that term meant or what they could do. Just give him an assignment, and he did it.

Eighteen months ago Mr. Miller gave us notice that he was ready to retire. We asked him to wait until we could find a way to reassign everything he was doing. Only now, as this convention ends this evening, we have told him that he is going to be permitted to retire. [applause]

Mr. and Mrs. Miller met at the Federation and were married a couple of years later. They have given of themselves without reserve for the work of our organization, even while raising their two girls. I, who have had a demanding part in the Federation, know that to do this is no easy task. It requires a belief that balancing home life with work life will require understanding from all family members. The pressures are great, and doing both at the same time demands not just talent but genuine commitment as well. That commitment, that spirit of giving, that faith in the certainty that we can build a brighter tomorrow is the very essence of all that we know Patricia and Joseph Miller to be. [applause]

So, now, on behalf of this organization, I present to the two of you this plaque, which reads... "National Federation of the Blind Jacobus tenBroek Award presented to Patricia and Joe Miller for your dedication, sacrifice, and commitment on behalf of the blind of this nation. Your contribution is measured not in steps but in miles, not by individual experiences but by your impact on the lives of the blind of the nation. Whenever we have asked, you have answered. We call you our colleague with respect. We call you our friend with love. July 10, 2022." [applause]

MARY ELLEN JERNIGAN: And Mr. Miller is asking, are you to say something? You got it. Of course we're asking you to say something.

JOSEPH MILLER: I am stunned. The NFB gave me a job, a career, and a family. And I will always be grateful. Thank you. [applause]

PATRICIA MILLER: Thank you, my family. It's impossible to know what to say right now. It's such a great honor that I never would have expected, and I love all of you. It's a pleasure to serve. [applause]

PAM ALLEN: Congratulations to our tenBroek winners. Let's give them a round of applause. [applause]

I want to thank Ron Brown, Norma Crosby, Dr. Maurer, and Barbara Loos for serving on our tenBroek Committee.