Annual Meeting Purpose and Past Meeting Highlights
Each year since 1879, Ex Officio Trustees of the American Printing House for the Blind have journeyed to Louisville, Kentucky for the APH Annual Meeting. At first by steam locomotive, steamboat, and buggy, later by car and airplane, Trustees have traveled to Louisville to share their knowledge and experience with APH and with each other.
Held in Louisville each fall, every Annual Meeting provides opportunities for Ex Officio Trustees to meet with APH staff, learn about new products, share input on upcoming products, help guide the direction of the APH (by participating on an Advisory Committee), and to meet other Trustees from across the U.S. We also encourage and appreciate the participation by our many "Special Guests" who include teachers, parents, consumers, university program personnel, and other important groups of service providers.
Annual Meeting Is Mandated by the Act
In 1879, the U.S. Congress passed the Act to Promote the Education of the Blind. This act created the Federal Quota system to provide educational materials for blind students and named the American Printing House for the Blind as the national source of these materials. Part of that system requires that the Federal Quota program administrators — the Ex Officio Trustees — meet every year.
The advice and counsel of Trustees is crucial to help APH meet the needs of blind students. Participation in this mandatory meeting is one of the main responsibilities of an Ex Officio Trustee.
Upcoming APH Annual Meeting Dates in Louisville:
- 2018: October 4–6, Hyatt Regency
- 2019: October 10–12, Hyatt Regency
Highlights of Annual Meeting
Annual Meetings typically include:
- Information on the latest APH products
- The President’s State of the Company Address
- Commendations and Recommendations of APH’s Ex Officio Trustee Advisory Committees
- Ability to see new products in development and provide valued input
- The APH InSights Art Banquet that honors artists who are blind or visually impaired
- The Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
- An Ex Officio Trustee Mentoring Program for new designees
- A required training session for all Ex Officio Trustees
- Updates on the upcoming Federal Quota census year
- The Formal Ex Officio Trustee luncheon
- A dozen or more related meetings hosted by other organizations/groups (i.e National Agenda, COSB, IRCBVI, etc).
- Social events that allow Trustees and Special Guests to get to know each other
Annual Meeting Photos and Recorded Sessions
Photo Albums
- 148th Annual Meeting, 2016
- 147th Annual Meeting, 2015
- 146th Annual Meeting, 2014
- 145th Annual Meeting, 2013
- 144th Annual Meeting, 2012
- 143nd Annual Meeting, 2011
- 142nd Annual Meeting, 2010
- 141st Annual Meeting, 2009
- 140th Annual Meeting, 2008
- 139th Annual Meeting, 2007
- 138th Annual Meeting, 2006
- 137th Annual Meeting, 2005
Audio and Video
- 148th Annual Meeting, 2016
- 147th Annual Meeting, 2015
- 146th Annual Meeting, 2014
- 145th Annual Meeting, 2013
- 143nd Annual Meeting, 2011
- 138th Annual Meeting, 2006
- 137th Annual Meeting, 2005
- 136th Annual Meeting, 2004 (Transcript available)
A related event is the induction ceremony for the Hall of Fame for the Leaders and Legends of the Blindness Field, a project of the entire field of blindness that is housed at APH. This Hall and the induction ceremony honor the heroes and pioneers of the blindness field who have built our profession and improved countless lives.
