HOME PURPOSE ABOUT US CALENDAR NEWSLETTER
INTRODUCTION
SERVICES ADMINISTRATION
FUNDING OUR CLIENTS
MEMBERSHIP
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We help blind and visually
impaired individuals stay in their homes and out of institutions.
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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. |