BOARD OF DIRECTORS

As President I combine all my skills and my own journey of vision impairment I am honored and passionate to serve Marin‘s vision impaired community. I am a third generation native of San Rafael. My husband and I have been married since 1980 and raised our three children in the Terra Linda area of San Rafael.

Vision Impaired of Marin is a small non-profit organization. As President I oversee operations, activities and programs. I work with our virtual assistant to send out all communications, quarterly newsletters, fundraising campaigns, and update website content. I respond to emails and phone inquiries. 

I am a Zoom Support Group Facilitator and Luncheon Coordinator. I also give Free Discovery Sessions by phone to vision impaired people - loved ones who have questions or need resources and information. I am involved in outreach and am invited to speak to other organizations.

I have been with Vision Impaired of Marin since 2018. Volunteer for Marin Village. Volunteer at Enchanted Hills Camp, (run by Lighthouse For The Blind) for developmentally disabled adults. Worked as hospice volunteer with patients at end of life for 6 years with Hospice by the Bay now By the Bay Health and named Volunteer of the Year for the Spirit of Intuition in 2017. During the time of raising my children: Cub Scout Leader, Marin Girls Club Leader, Dixie Soccer and Novato Soccer Team Mom and Fundraising. Dixie - Terra Linda Little League Board Member/Volunteer Coordinator and named Volunteer of the year.

Education: Lighthouse for the Blind Changing Vision Changing Lives for vision rehabilitation training (orientation, mobility, life skills, technology, and advocacy). Spirit Coach Training: Certified Sprit Coach and Group Facilitator. Foundation for Spiritual Development and Oneness University/O&O Academy: Personal and Spiritual Development. EFT International: Advanced Certified EFT Practitioner. School for Self-Healing: Certified Self-Healing Practitioner trained in Natural Vision Improvement, Bodywork and Kinesthetic Awareness. San Rafael High School: Class of 1973.

Professional Experience: Founder and Content Creator of Living with Macular Degeneration, a free world-wide support group on Facebook. Transformational Coach using a variety of methods I am certified in. I worked in downtown San Francisco as an Executive Secretary and Administrative Assistant.

VIM Board Member Previously CEO of Earl Baum Center of the Blind and Major Gift Officer for Guide Dogs for the Blind. I bring 30+ years of experience as a fundraising CEO, development and advancement department lead, and as a business finance and estate planning professional. I have strong sales and solicitation experience and equally strong knowledge of business operations and nonprofit services. I hold a history of driving top line revenue growth, a bottom line orientation and expanded services to constituents and customers. I have experience in managing budgets of $2m to $30m.

CRA, COMT, ROUB, CDOS has been an ophthalmic imager/ technologist for 43 years.   

I recently retired as the Technical Director of the Sutter Health/ CPMC Department of Ophthalmology, Ophthalmic Diagnostic Services after a 30 year career there.  

I am the past President of the Ophthalmic Photographers' Society and recipient of the prestigious "Outstanding Contributions to Ophthalmic Photography".  

I have a BA from San Jose State University.

Deputy Director Marin Center for Independent Living

Education and Work Experience

AA College of San Mateo, Medical Secretary. 

University of California San Francisco, and Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired.

Organizations 

Board Facilitator for Vision Impaired of Marin including zoom support group, and art class.

Facilitated Spanish Support Group for San Francisco Lighthouse for the Blind

Glaucoma Research Foundation spokesperson for the Bay Area Hispanic Community

Marin Villages Novato Chapter member and volunteer

Hobbies: I paint with water colors poured method, ceramics, textiles using the loom. I also write poetry and children’s stories. I love talking books, string art, and above all, I love to dance! 

Retired: Formally Directed the Low Vision service at California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco for 25 years as a Ophthalmologist who specialized in Vision Rehabilitation. 

I always promoted the need for interprofessional cooperation between eye doctors, who can address the causes of eye problems, and rehabilitation workers, who can address the consequences of vision loss.  

In the 1970’s I coordinated the revision of the vision chapter of the International Classification of Diseases of the World Health Organization. That revision for the first time introduced the term Low Vision as a distinct condition between normal sight and total blindness. 

I have served on many local, national and international committees, including those from the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the International Council of Ophthalmology.  

The International Society for Low Vision Research and Rehabilitation recently endowed him with an award for Lifetime Achievements in vision rehabilitation. 

Rose Mendonca brings a strong background in operations management, communications, and nonprofit leadership. She currently serves as Operations Manager at Energy Wise America, where she works closely with executive leadership to manage complex administrative processes and support community-focused initiatives. 

Rose is also the Founder and Executive Director of Pieces People Productions, an independent media organization dedicated to storytelling, creativity, and inclusive representation. 

With experience in digital marketing, project management, and board service, she is passionate about supporting mission-driven organizations and helping individuals and communities thrive through connection, access to resources, and thoughtful leadership.