Vision Support Group continues work in county

By Ken Steadman / Sun contributor

March 26, 2008 05:47 pm

— Margaret Shroyer, Jean Southard and Susie Walker started the Cumberland County Vision Support Group in January 2006. They began with a small group of visually impaired persons and their caregivers to share experiences and problems. The group kept growing. Speakers were invited to present programs about blindness and low vision solutions. Dreams began to form about ways to help other Cumberland County citizens who had a sight disability.
The group had grown to about 25 persons by December 2007 and interest was expressed to form a nonprofit service corporation. The name was changed to Visually Impaired Support Group of Cumberland County, Tennessee. It was agreed to reduce the name to “VIS Group” to shorten a very lengthy corporate name. Hopefully, over time, this is how the group will be known.
Corporation papers have now been approved by the state and they are officially registered as the Visually Impaired Support Group of Cumberland County, TN Inc., as a nonprofit public service corporation. Application has been made for a 501-C3 nonprofit status.
Officers have been elected and a board of directors has agreed to serve. Jerry Hearndon will serve as president and chairman of the board, Joyce Lignar as vice president, Margery Finch as secretary, and Barbara Dorgelo as treasurer. Additional volunteer board members are Tom Amann, Tom Bristow, Glenn Davenport, Ron Likens, Ken Steadman, Donna Taylor, and Jan Waldrop.
The mission of the VIS Group is to help improve the lives of the blind and visually impaired in Cumberland County through:
• Education — monthly speakers will appear at meetings to inform members of new and improved assistance, produce pamphlets, and educate city, county, and state officials about the needs of blind and visually impaired persons.
• Communication — opening a two-way conversation with other groups, city, county, and state leaders, and businesses.
• Transportation — assist members with transportation through a new “hands on” approach.
• CCTVs — purchase when possible closed circuit television units to place in the homes of members to aide in reading newspapers, mail, and other material.
• Support group meetings — schedule one a month for two hours. First hour will be used for business, discussions, Q&A time, etc. The second hour is set-aside for guest speakers.
• Socializing — recognize and greet new members, attend functions other than VIS Group meetings, go to lunch at least once a year, and hold an annual picnic.
Monthly meetings are held the second Thursday of each month at the First United Methodist Church in Crossville starting at 9:30 a.m. Please use the Webb Street entrance to the church.
An important goal for the VIS Group is to be able to obtain CCTV units for their members. These units can change the life of a visually impaired person by giving them a feeling of welcome independence. They urge anyone who is no longer using one of these closed circuit televisions to donate it to someone in need. Please call Jerry Hearndon at 484-2237 and arrangements will be made to pick it up.
Please contact any person you know who is visually impaired and tell them about the VIS Group. It is estimated that there are over 250 visually impaired persons in Cumberland County. Jerry Hearndon commented, “With strength in numbers we can obtain grants to bring comfort and aide to our sight impaired citizens in Cumberland County. We will also be able to make our county, city, and state officials aware of our needs to improve our lives.”
Please call Jerry Hearndon at the above number or Joyce Lignar at 788-6955 if you have any questions or need additional information. If transportation is a problem please call and they will try to answer your transportation problem to attend meetings.

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