By Mary Hartle-Smith

(Editor’s Note:  Mary Hartle was the first president of our student division, and Joyce Scanlan was its first secretary.  After graduating from college and working in Minnesota, Mary moved to Iowa where she met and married Mike Smith.  They now live in Mesa, Arizona, and Mary serves on the board of directors of the NFB of Arizona.)

Joyce Scanlan, our long-time leader of the NFB of Minnesota is stepping down from the presidency.  Whether we are veteran Federationists or newcomers, Joyce has touched us all with her unwavering support of blind persons and strong philosophy of blindness.  

I first met Joyce in August of 1970.  This occurred after the National Convention of the NFB held in Minneapolis in July, which I unfortunately missed and that Joyce attended.  We started discussions about forming a student division of the Minnesota Organization of the Blind (MOB).  We met at 1605 Eustis in St. Paul, the MOB’s building.  Joyce and I became good “telephone friends” and began working together to improve public attitudes about blindness.  In November 1970, we officially organized the “Student Division” of the MOB. 

The MOB was working to pass legislation to create a commission for the blind to consolidate services for the blind in the state.  We worked together at the State Capitol, checking on new bills; talking with legislators; attending hearings; etc.  Joyce was, and still is, very astute about politics and political strategy.  We learned about legislative process from other leaders in the affiliate. 

In September 1972, after over a year of fruitless negotiation, seven individuals filed a lawsuit against the Minneapolis Society for the Blind, for expelling blind persons from its membership. Joyce was a steadfast force behind the lawsuit and testified in open court, as did Dr. Kenneth Jernigan, then president of the National Federation of the Blind.

In 1973, Joyce assumed the presidency of the re-named NFB of Minnesota.  In 1974, she also became a member of the National NFB Board of Directors.  Joyce developed strong leadership skills over the next several years.  She spearheaded the transformation of the affiliate into a modern organization.  In 1980, the NFB of Minnesota moved into new headquarters in the Chamber of Commerce building in downtown Minneapolis.

In 1979, the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled that the Minneapolis Society for the Blind (MSB, now VLR) had discriminated against NFB members, must open its membership to blind persons, and allow blind persons to vote for candidates for its Board of Directors.  Preparing for a special election on November 14, 1979, Joyce spun into action organizing a national effort to gather proxy votes.  MSB held its own national campaign in alliance with the American Foundation for the Blind, the National Accreditation Council for Agencies Serving the Blind and Visually Handicapped (NAC), and the American Council of the Blind, spending far more money than did the NFB of Minnesota.  In the final tally, eight Federationists were elected to the MSB board of directors on that fateful November day.  Joyce not only worked tirelessly to gather as many votes as possible; she endured threatening phone calls and verbal attacks from those outside of the NFB who were afraid of the organized blind movement gaining in-roads into the governance of MSB.

In 1985, Joyce provided personal support and organizational leadership of the NFB of Minnesota to me to pursue a lawsuit against the Minnesota Department of Human Rights, charging the agency responsible for preserving our rights with employment discrimination.  We won the case, gaining thousands of dollars to compensate for lost wages and to help pay part of the legal fees incurred.  Also, a memo containing false accusations of poor performance was expunged from my personnel file.

With planning having been initiated long before, Joyce spearheaded the effort to open an NFB training center called Blindness: Learning in New Dimensions (BLIND), Inc. in January 1988.  Starting with just a few staff, two students, and operating out of a two-bedroom apartment as office and classroom, Joyce launched a new rehabilitation program employing the positive attitudes toward blindness that is the hallmark of the NFB.  This organizational development necessitated establishing a new non-profit corporation; locating and remodeling classroom and office space; acquiring an establishment grant from State Services for the Blind; hiring and training new staff; and conducting outreach to the blind community. The search for permanent space culminated in the purchase and renovation of the former Pillsbury Mansion in south Minneapolis.  Today, BLIND, Inc. attracts national reorganization as a leader in rehabilitation services and draws students from everywhere.

Joyce’s constant perseverance and very hard work paid off as BLIND, Inc. developed into a very successful center to provide new opportunities for blind persons wishing to expand their horizons. 

Joyce retired from BLIND, Inc. in 2003.   But she did not retire from the Federation.  She continued as the affiliate’s president, strengthening membership and maintaining her vigilance for the rights of blind persons to obtain education, rehabilitation, and employment.

For over 37 years, Joyce has served as a stalwart Federationist—being a friend, a mentor, and a leader to thousands of blind Minnesotans.    

Joyce’s accomplishments have always been supported by Tom Scanlan, a leader in his own right, who serves as Treasurer of the state affiliate.  He has stood with Joyce through thick and thin, giving encouragement and advice.

While Joyce remains on the Board of Directors of both the NFB of Minnesota and BLIND, Inc., it is now time to turn the helm over to other leaders and support their efforts to carry on the advocacy work of the Federation.  Congratulations to our new president, Jennifer Dunnam, who will continue to spread the Federation philosophy of blindness to all corners of the state.