American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults
Future Reflections Convention 2018 NOPBC CONFERENCE
2018 As The Twig Is Bent Awards
Presented by Jean Bening
Introduction by Kim Cunningham: Before Jean presents the Twig Is Bent Awards, I would like to introduce you to my good friend Ron Gardner. Ron has worked tirelessly for decades on behalf of blind children and adults in Utah and throughout our nation. He was awarded the Twig Is Bent Award last year, but he was unable to be here to receive that award in person. He would like to say a few words to all of you today. Ladies and gentlemen, here is Ron Gardner.
Ron Gardner: Thank you, my brothers and sisters in our Federation family. I was stunned last year when Joanne Wilson insistently and very persistently said, "Ron, you need to be in my room at six o'clock." I got to convention a day late last year due to some missionary work we were doing. Joanne didn't suggest, she commanded. I thought we were going to visit for a little while and then go to dinner. When I got to Joanne's room, I was really surprised to see Carol Castellano and her husband, Bill. I thought that was nice; I don't get many chances to spend time with Carol. But then Carol began reading about As the Twig Is Bent. Then it became clear that it was a citation, and I have to tell you, the tears started flowing.
Of all of the groups in the NFB, this group right here owns my heart, and it has owned my heart for decades. I remember the first time I met Dr. Ruby Ryles. She was talking to us about whether your child is age-appropriate. Dr. Ryles and that article really changed my life. I hope it will change the lives of your children.
I remember changing a tire, and helping your children learn to change a tire and to run a chainsaw. I remember camping and fishing on the Kenai River in Alaska with blind children. I remember doing so many things with children who are blind because they belong to the same family and the same organization and the same world that each of us belongs to.
Jan and I have been given an amazing gift that we cherish, and that is our love for your precious children. So I wanted to take a few moments to tell you how I was caught by surprise, and how really honored I was to listen to Carol last year as she presented me with what I believe is the highest award I can ever receive, a recognition from this organization. I truly thank you for including me these many years in your lives and in the lives of your children. As I call you my brothers and sisters in the Federation family, what I truly mean to say is that you are even higher and take a role much more significant than my brothers and my sisters. You take a role that I esteem as the highest role that we have in life, that of teachers and parents of our precious blind children.
Thank you very much for the recognition last year. Thank you very much for what you do to make dreams a reality. [Applause]
Jean Bening: “As the twig is bent, so is the tree inclined.” These words of Alexander Pope are the inspiration behind the title of our awards. The National Organization of Parents of Blind Children initiated the Twig Awards on our twenty-fifth anniversary in 2008 to honor those whose work has influenced the direction in which our children grow. The award is a medallion engraved with a tree and the words, "As the Twig Is Bent Award" and "NOPBC 1983," with the word "NOPBC" in Braille and print. On the back of the medallion is the recipient's name and the year.
This year we will be presenting three Twig Awards. The first recipients of the Twig Awards are members of the NFB whose commitment to parents of blind children, to their state POBC, and to the NOPBC is deeply rooted and unwavering. Parents who have served as officers or board members of the NOPBC or of their state POBC know how crucial it is to receive this kind of support from the leaders of their state NFB affiliate. Our recipients have advocated for families at IEP meetings to help blind children obtain the skills they need. Most of their work has been in the background, ensuring that their state affiliate provided financial assistance to families to attend the national convention and to make certain that the BELL Academy takes place each summer, and constantly building up and strengthening their chapter of the POBC. But perhaps the most important aspect of their support is the crucial encouragement, guidance, and friendship they have provided not just to one, but two NOPBC national presidents. I think I can say on behalf of our beloved president, Kim Cunningham, that without their love and daily support she never would have been able to accept and fulfill her role as NOPBC president.
Over the decades each of our recipients has served as president of the NFB of Texas and as a member of the NFB national board, receiving the NFB's Jacobus tenBroek Award in 2017. It doesn't matter who is in what office at any given time. These two work as a team with passion, commitment, joy, and humility. It is with great pleasure and gratitude that we present these Twig Awards to Norma and Glenn Crosby. [Applause]
Norma Crosby: When I got up here, Kim said, "Goats and hearts." People who know me know that when I send you a text, if it has hearts and goats on it, that means I love you. So goats and hearts to the whole NOPBC!
Glenn and I are honored to work on behalf of blind children. It's in our hearts, it's in our DNA, and it's in our blood to want the very best for our blind children throughout the country. Mostly we do our work in Texas, but we're always glad to do our work wherever we can. I can tell you that we wouldn't be nearly so successful in Texas if it weren't for the wonderful work of Kim Cunningham, our NOPBC president. We share this with her, and we love her as we love all of you. I'm astounded and honored, and I cannot thank you guys enough! [Applause]
Jean Bening: If you were in attendance at this meeting last year, you will know that the next award comes under the category of payback time. Personality, grace, poise, savvy, energy, integrity, insight, humor, humility, compassion—these are all great qualities in a leader, and our next recipient has all of these in abundance. These alone, however, are not enough to make a person an outstanding leader. There is an old adage about people who are so focused on detail that they can't see the forest for the trees. An outstanding leader is one who can attend to both the big picture and the details. It is not easy to keep these two things in balance. In an all-volunteer organization such as the NOPBC, it can sometimes seem an impossible task. Almost on a daily basis the NOPBC president must make decisions about what things get done and what has to wait and to make sure the organization is moving forward and accomplishing its goals. Her success comes from her capacity to keep this balance and to motivate and energize the leaders and volunteers around her. She is genuinely admired, respected, and loved because she values and respects the contributions of others. She is generous in helping others grow into leadership.
Our recipient was, in the beginning, a reluctant leader. She never sought the position or the recognition that came with it, nor would she expect this recognition today. However, when she was convinced by others that her talents and abilities were urgently needed, she stepped up to the plate and gave it her all. And this was all while remaining a leader in the POBC of her state, volunteering in the NFB BELL Academy, running statewide workshops, advocating for parents, advising about IEPs, and being a mother and grandmother. She interacts with the leaders of her state NFB almost on a daily basis, including inviting them to live at her house when a terrible storm inundated theirs. The NOPBC has thrived under her leadership, and the future is brighter for hundreds of blind children across the nation because of her efforts.
It is with heartfelt love and gratitude that we present this Twig Award to Kim Cunningham. [Applause]
Kim Cunningham: I am so incredibly honored! For you guys to give me this award, it just means everything to me! I'm so blessed to be here and be with this wonderful group. Thank you! [Applause]
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