Raleigh Lions Clinic for the Blind, Inc.

May 2000

Ann Smith and Odiss McGee in the lobby of the Raleigh Lions Clinic

Odiss McGee

Odiss McGee was truly surprised when recognized as the 2000 Russell G. Broaddus Peter J. Salmon manufacturing employee of the year. He replied that it was "one of the greatest feelings to be recognized for your efforts". Even though Odiss had several job opportunities prior to beginning employment with the Raleigh Lions Clinic seventeen years ago, "this has been the place" where he has felt the most comfortable.

Odiss, a native of Baltimore, MD., relocated near Zebulon when he was 12 years old. Odiss remarked that he was the first one in his family to graduate from high school. Attending public school throughout his life, Odiss never had the opportunity to meet other visually impaired persons like himself until a summer program at the rehabilitation center for the blind. This was the first step in "accepting his vision for what it was", Odiss added.

This well-mannered gentleman attributes many of his successes in life not only to his mother, but also to his sister, Mary who had been like a second mother to him until her death. She was always there to give him advice.

Odiss is the proud father of Alonzo, (also a Smithfield-Selma alumnus who began working for the Raleigh Lions Clinic in November); Renee (age 16) and Thomasine (age 9), who both attend school nearby in Selma. Odiss truly enjoys his children, friends and life.

Over the years, Odiss feels he has learned responsibility and self-confidence in accomplishing new things. Odiss has truly been an asset to the commercial/military assembly department. Our congratulations go out to Odiss on this well-deserved award!

On the day Ann smith was awarded the 2000 Russell G. Broaddus (sighted) employee of the year award, she was totally speechless. It was not as much from this overwhelming and unexpected recognition, Ann later admits, but from several days of laryngitis. Ann first telephoned her daughter, Kim, as soon as she was able.

Ann recalls that her daughter was in first grade when beginning employment with the Raleigh Lions Clinic. Her daughter is now with the corporate tax division in the NC Department of Revenue. "I am extremely proud of her. Being a single parent has been the hardest job I ever had, but by the grace of God, I made it through!"

How did Ann first hear about the Raleigh Lions Clinic? It was through a friend that she learned about available sewing positions while working for another textile manufacturer. Less than two years after her employment began with us, Ann was promoted from sewing machine operator to assistant sewing supervisor. She later assumed the position of supervisor over the kit bag department until her promotion to departmental supervisor.

Dan McAlister, Director of Manufacturing, has supervised Ann for a number of years. "Ann is highly dependable and hardworking. She is always concerned about the department and pushes a team approach", Dan McAlister added.

Ann is also in the part-time sewing business in her time away from the Raleigh Lions Clinic. She makes gift items from lace handkerchiefs to embroidered pillows and crafts. "One day, I would love to open a gift shop," Ann confesses. Being an avid shopper, Ann takes in flea markets and garage sales. Movies (both romantic and action films), fishing and the beach are also some of her favorites.

Ann Smith’s leadership has been invaluable to the Raleigh Lions Clinic over the years and we extend our best wishes to her in this nomination.

As you may know, the Peter J. Salmon award was established in 1968 by the board of directors of national industries for the blind (NIB) in cooperation with the General Council of Industries for the Blind (GCIB). This award was named after the late Dr. Peter J. Salmon, an advocate for the blind, who was instrumental in the passage of the Wagner-O’Day act in 1938, and who served on NIB’s board of directors. As an NIB associated agency, we have the opportunity to select blind individuals for consideration in national awards, presented annually in these categories:

This year, the Raleigh Lions Clinic nominated, in addition to the manufacturing employee of the year (Odiss McGee), candidates for both the service employee of the year and the Milton J. Samuelson career achievement award.

Marie Atkins

The Raleigh Lions Clinic’s 2000 Russell G. Broaddus Peter J. Salmon service employee of the year award went to Marie Atkins from our RLCB Eagle Mart. Fort Campbell, KY is home to our RLCB Eagle Mart. Marie and other store employees sell blind-made products from (RLCB) file folders and paper towels to military camouflage paint.

As a cashier at our military base supply store, Marie begins her day at 7:30 a.m. preparing for the 8:00 a.m. store opening. Stocking and getting the store in top condition for customers is a team approach.

Marie Atkins checking out a customer at the RLCB Eagle Mart.

A Tennessee vocational rehabilitation counselor first alerted Marie to the cashier opening. Marie commented that "this has been a great experience" for her and she "loves everything she does!" It has enabled her to use her math skills in a way she always wanted and created a job opportunity that would have not been available otherwise. Marie added that "this area does not have a lot of places for people with visual impairments to work". The store is equipped with an extra large display screen on the cash register which enables Marie to use the point-of-sale system.

When inquiring about services for persons with visual impairments, Marie expressed that no public transportation or parks and recreation programs are readily available in her home town of Dover, Tennessee, which is approximately a 35 minute commute to the base. Dover is a close-knit farming community that she has always loved.

On weekends Marie and her husband travel to malls in nearby towns to shop, visit family, and play cards. They are also big braves fans and look forward to every baseball season.

The Raleigh Lions Clinic appreciates Marie's dedication and customer-friendly approach to work. She has played an integral part in getting the RLCB Eagle Mart off the ground to the success it is today.

Special footnote:

In April 2000, the RLCB Eagle Mart held its first "Customer Appreciation Day".  Our store personnel were very pleased with the phenomenal turn out for this special event.  Our Seymour Johnson Base Supply Stores are slated to hold a Customer Appreciation Day later this summer.

The Eagle Mart entrance on Customer Appreciation Day

As our nominee for the 2000 Russell G. Broaddus Milton J. Samuelson career achievement award, Cynthia Crutchfield is a shining example of what hard work and determination can achieve.

In November 1992, Cynthia Crutchfield was referred to the Raleigh Lions Clinic Supported Employment (RLC-SE) program after an earlier RLC evaluation and word processing training at the Rehabilitation Center for the Blind.

The RLC-SE program and Cynthia, after assessing her skills, decided that the Raleigh News and Observer had a perfect job-match in their classified advertising department. Cynthia accepted a part-time position in March 1993. Adaptive equipment was purchased by the News and Observer with training provided through our supported employment staff. Cynthia was later promoted to a full-time position in classifieds where she also served as back-up e-mail sales representative. The e-mail advertising mushroomed into a full-time position. In June 1998, Cynthia moved up to the position of e-mail inside sales reps team leader. With this exciting job, the N&O offered a first time opportunity for an inside sales representative to work from home.

Cynthia manages her day through use of her computer and a modem. She attends monthly team meetings and is in daily contact via e-mail with the team. As her supervisor at the N&O remarks, "e-mail comes to us all hours of the day, and Cindy's willingness to work from her home allows us to experiment with this work arrangement. Cindy’s employment at the newspaper has proved to be an ‘eye opener’ for the rest of us. She demonstrates courage, adaptability and innovation in her efforts to do her job effectively and efficiently for her benefit and ours".

On May 22, we will assume the operation of the individual equipment element (IEE) on Eielson air force base near Fairbanks, Alaska. It will be a similar operation to the IEE we operate at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in that we will provide equipment and clothing items for base personnel. Located approximately 20 miles from Fairbanks, Eielson is the home of the 354th fighter wing and the Alaska Air National Guard. We will begin with three employees, one of whom will be legally blind, and add others as necessary.

It will be named "RLCB Iceman Outfitters" which relates to their mascot, an iceman. The "iceman" comes, of course, from the fact that Eielson winter extremes reach -60 degrees. Everything freezes!

Eielson conducts regular training activities which include pilots and aircraft from Canada and Russia. As the crow flies, its not very far from the Russian border.

Also located near Fairbanks is Fort Wainwright army post. It is our intention to develop a base supply center on fort Wainwright when we have the Eielson operation running smoothly. Space is not available at the present time for a base supply center at Eielson, but hopefully will be in a few months. Eielson and fort Wainwright are only about 15 miles apart which will make the management of the two locations easier.

The Iceman logo at the RLCB Iceman Outfitters, Eielson AFB, Alaska

We’re excited about this opportunity and look forward to the opening. Incidentally, this will mean the Raleigh Lions Clinic will employ people who are blind in 4 states; North Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee and Alaska.

The board of directors approved the medical reimbursement program again for this fiscal year (July, 01, 1999 - June 30, 2000). The amount allocated is $200 for each eligible employee. For accounting purposes, please submit outstanding medical reimbursement claims by June 30th if possible. However, the plan allows a grace period of ninety days after the end of the fiscal year for claims from the prior plan year to be submitted for processing.

Look for employee years of service recognition to be posted in the lunchroom in large print and Braille each quarter of the year.

Our fiscal year is quickly coming to an end. Please be reminded that vacation leave must be used by the end of our fiscal year. For production and base supply (non-staff) employees, a maximum of 40 hours sick leave is permitted to be carried over to the next fiscal year. Please refer to your handbooks for specifics on these policies.