Sierra Services for the Blind, Administation

SSB Logo Sierra Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired offers full services, at no charge, to clients in the foothill communities of Nevada and Placer Counties and beyond.

We help blind and visually impaired individuals stay in their homes and out of institutions.

Like most non-profit organizations Sierra Services for the Blind is managed by a Board of Directors. It differs in that there is a voting membership, which has the power of approval over the actions of that Board of Directors. Structured similar to stockholders, there is in the by-laws a provision which requires an Annual Meeting of the Membership. At this meeting the Board of Directors must place before the membership any changes they recommend for the by-laws. The Membership then votes if he change is acceptable to them, or not. Should the Board of Directors mismanage the organization, the Membership has the right to vote out the Board of Directors entirely or in part. It can then replace them with an election at the meeting. This system, and the fact that most members are also clients, assures the agency remains committed to the original purpose, to serve the needs of the blind and visually impaired of our service area.

The Board meets monthly on the second Tuesday. Like all boards of directors they are responsible for setting policy and directing fund raising activities. They set the budget, accept and oversee accounting and other management functions, and manage personnel issues. Presently over half are also clients.

The Executive Director is responsible for the daily management of the organization, staff and all programs. He is also the manager for fund raising event promotion and development. He is also responsible for the development and management of grants, and the development of the budget and oversees all expenditures. The present Executive Director has been with the agency for over 18 years.

Working under the Executive Director is a staff who has proven their dedication to the individual for over 22 years. The Program/Counseling/Transportation Coordinator has been with the agency for 17 years. As the most critical ability the blind lose is the ability to drive, and thus access not only the community and critical medical needs, but the program itself, the transportation side of her job is the most critical to the rest of the program. Trips to counseling and other agency programs, medical appointments, and vision related medical appointments out of town are the backbone of her day. She also serves as a one-on-one counselor, and works with the Program Specialist to develop a program most suitable to the individual client.

The Program Specialist is primarily the peer counselor. The position requires the individual to be blind or visually impaired. They are also responsible for the development of the program for the individual, including individual counseling, placement in peer and other groups or programs, and work with the family to develop understanding for the unique needs of the client.

The Office Coordinator holds the responsibility for the management of the office and all client records. This person is responsible for developing reporting information for grants, file management on each client, and correspondence for tax deductible donations, newsletters, and the original intake and recording of all incoming funds.

Particularly in the case of transportation, but also in the fund raising area, volunteers make the difference between success and failure of the program. This requires volunteers, who often find the return for service on a human level far exceeds mileage paid by the organization.