Attending the VisionServe Alliance meeting at Lighthouse International, are (l to r) Bill Badger, president/CEO, Guiding Eyes for the Blind; Mark Ackermann, president and CEO of Lighthouse International; Bernadette Kappen, executive director, NY Institute for Special Educations; U.S. Congresswoman Nan Hayworth, MD; Nancy Miller, executive director/CEO, Vision Services for the Blind & Visually Impaired; Carl Augusto, president/CEO, American Foundation for the Blind; and Gidget Hopf, president/CEO, ABVI-Goodwill.
NEW YORK—Seventy-five executive directors, CEOs and leaders of nonprofit vision rehabilitation organizations from across the country attended the annual VisionServe Alliance meeting at Lighthouse International, 111 East 59th Street from Oct. 27 to 29.

The event provided an opportunity for the leaders to share information, learn the latest developments and best practices in the field and improve the effectiveness of their organizations. Topics ranged from the need for health care reform to cover people who are blind and visually impaired to fundraising techniques and the latest in technology. Guest speakers included U.S. member of Congress Nan Hayworth, MD who discussed a range of issues affecting nonprofits including the impact aging baby boomers will have on legislation.

According to Mark G. Ackermann, president and CEO of Lighthouse International, a 106 year-old nonprofit organization fighting vision loss, “We were very pleased to host our colleagues for this important annual meeting. We had productive and fruitful sessions on how we can better serve our clients and improve our efficiency in challenging economic times.”

The 100 organizations in the VisionServe Alliance serve people who are blind and visually impaired through a variety of programs from education and rehabilitation to advocacy. ■