Is there someone who has influenced you as a professional?  Is there someone you know whose work has significantly affected the lives of blind persons? Is there someone in your chapter or division who deserves special recognition for their contributions to the field?  If so, please take time today to consider those who have influenced you, added value to the blindness field, or affected the lives of blindness professionals and blind persons in an outstanding way.  The 2006-2008 AER Awards Committee strongly encourages you to nominate them for one of AER's prestigious awards.  Nominations are being accepted through February 15, 2008.

The highest recognition that AER gives to outstanding blindness professionals are the Allen, Bauman, McAulay and Shotwell awards. Each of these awards honors a different aspect of service to the field.

Use the Awards Application to nominate a distinguished professional for one of these prestigious awards.

Sara Sellers at the AER Central office can answer your questions about the awards' procedures and process (877-492-2708 ext. 202). 

In addition, consider submitting a nomination for the C. Warren Bledsoe Award, which honors a noteworthy piece of literature contributing to the field of blindness

Or, the Douglas C. MacFarland Award, which was established to honor an individual who has provided leadership in the field of blindness and visual impairment and is now retired from the field. 

The Douglas C. MacFarland Stipend is a stipend presented to selected current AER members to defray the expense of attending the AER International Conference.  The 2008 MacFarland Stipend Applications are now being accepted.  The deadline for submitting an application is February 15, 2008.

So please take a  few minutes to nominate someone and give recognition to a person who has given so much to our field. The awards will be presented at the 2008 International Conference in Chicago, Illinois, July 22-27, 2008. 

Sincerely,

M. Cay Holbrook, Chair
AER Awards Committee

P.S. - Remember, nominations are due by February 15, 2008!