Denise Colley
1401 Northwest Lane, SE
Lacey, Washington
Home: 360-438-5783
Cell: 360-280-0077
1. Introduce yourself and list the office for which you are planning to run. Explain why you wish to serve as an officer of the ACB.
My name is Denise Colley and I am running for the office of ACB secretary. I am currently serving as an ACB Board member since 2016 and as chair of the ACB Scholarship Committee for the past two years. I have also served on and chaired the ACB Board of Publications. In this capacity I had the opportunity to oversee all the ways in which ACB communicates, both internally and externally. I believe that the ways in which ACB communicates with our members plays a crucial part in what keeps us a vital, healthy organization, and I want to work to ensure those lines of communication are stronger and more transparent.
I wish to serve as secretary because I will have the privilege of being able to communicate and document the actions and work of the ACB Board of Directors through the preparation of minutes. I also feel that I am in a good position, with my years of experience to keep ACB moving forward. As an ACB Board member, I have been actively involved in the implementation of ACB’s Strategic Plan. If I am elected as ACB Secretary I will do all I can to ensure successful results.
2. Summarize any experience, knowledge, skills and/or abilities you have which qualify you to serve in the office for which you are seeking election.
I have served as secretary of my local ACB chapter, and am currently secretary of the library board for the retirement community where I live. I have also served as secretary of several different types of committees while I was employed with the State of Washington.
I served as president of the Washington Council of the Blind from 2008-2011, and am currently serving in that capacity again, having been re-elected in 2018. I also served as WCB First Vice President from 2004-2007, and have chaired my state’s scholarship committee and legislative committee. This has helped me understand legislation and governance, both of which are important strengths as an ACB officer.
I am organized and have a good command of the English language. I communicate well, both aurally and in writing.
3. What do you consider to be your strongest contribution to ACB at either the national, state, special-interest affiliate or local chapter level and why?
I think my greatest contribution on the national level has been the work I did with the Board of Publications. I was in the forefront of moving ACB to increasing the number of issues of the ACB Braille Forum that could be sent out each year with the implementation of the ACB E-Forum. While this initially started out as a budgetary solution, it has grown into something much greater. Instead of 4 to six issues, members now receive 12, along with a greater amount and quality of content.
On the state level I was instrumental in working on legislation that resulted in the passage of Washington State’s Braille Bill, as well as ensuring that our three state agencies serving the blind remained separate agencies and not swallowed up by larger programs. I was also active in Washington State voter access and ensuring private and independent voting in this state.
4. What do you consider to be the most important challenge facing ACB? How will you work to address it?
I believe that one of the greatest challenges ACB is currently facing is membership growth and retention. Every year during the roll call at the opening session of convention we hear that state and special interest affiliates are losing votes. We live in a society where people in general are not joiners. With the advent of texting and social media we have become isolated and don’t see the need to reach out and become a part of something. The new generation of blind people doesn’t understand the importance of advocacy and improving our civil rights.
Potential members need to be given reasons for joining and wanting to remain active. We need to find ways of helping our state, local and special interest affiliate leaders to generate the kinds of programs and activities that will result in enthusiasm and a reason to want to join or remain a member. We need to increase our marketing efforts and reach out to the growing population of younger blind adults and seniors. I am encouraged by the work that our Affiliates and Membership Strategic Plan subcommittee are working on, and I want to do anything I can to help them move forward. There was good discussion and ideas shared at this year’s presidents meeting, and we need to make sure we don’t lose that momentum.
I believe that it is also important that we as staff and the Board don’t fall into the pattern of working in a vacuum, and that transparency is there in everything we do. Members need to feel that they have a say and play a part to really feel invested.