2010 Convention Program
November 11, 12 and 13, 2010
Hilton Vancouver and Conference Center
Hosted by
The Riverside Association of the Blind (RAB), and
The Capital City Council of the Blind (CCCB).
All WCB meetings are open to members and non-members alike. The WCB is pleased to offer this program to assist you in locating all activities of this convention along with times and room assignments. Throughout the general sessions, the Friday luncheon, business meeting and banquet, door prizes will be given out to those registered for the convention and in attendance at the time their name is drawn, unless working directly on behalf of the convention.
This year, all convention related events will take place in the Conference Center, excluding hospitality.
4:00-5:00 PM Information/Registration desk open, pre-registration only (Conference Center foyer)
4:00 PM-5:00 PM WCB Welcome Lounge, buddy up with a new friend or meet with an old friend for dinner - hosted by the First timers Committee (Heritage C)
7:00 PM Pre-convention Board meeting (Heritage A-B)
9:30 PM Resolutions Committee meeting, following the Board meeting – Facilitator: Carl Jarvis, Chair, Resolutions Committee (Heritage D)
9:30 PM Constitution & Bylaws Committee meeting, following the Board meeting – Facilitator: Frank Cuta, Chair, Constitution & Bylaws Committee (Heritage C)
10:00 PM Hospitality - sponsored by the Oasis Café, Tacoma (Hemlock-Oak)
7:00 AM - 5:00 PM Information/Registration desk open (Conference Center foyer)
7:30 AM General breakfast (Heritage E-F)
7:30 AM First-timer breakfast (Heritage C)
7:30 AM Presidents breakfast (Heritage D)
Tours of the Washington State School for the Blind will be taking place throughout the day. Please meet in the Conference Center Foyer 5 minutes ahead of your scheduled tour time (reservations required).
8:00-10:00 AM Exhibits set up, vendors only (Discovery)
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM Exhibits (Discovery)
9:00 AM Youth Conference (Heritage D)
9:30 AM WSSB Tour (returning around 11:30 AM)
8:45-11:55 AM General Session (Heritage A-B)
8:45 AM Call to order – Denise Colley, President, Washington Council of the Blind; presentation of The Colors: Gary Lieberg, retired Lieutenant Colonel, United States Air Force; Invocation: John McConnell, President, South King Council of the Blind; Welcome to Vancouver: Mayor Tim Leavitt, City of Vancouver; welcome from the host chapters: Jim Eccles, President, Riverside Association of the Blind, and Kevin LaRose, Vice President, Capital City Council of the Blind.
9:00 AM President's report – Denise Colley, President, Washington Council of the Blind
9:20 AM Nominating Committee report – Eric Hunter, Chair, WCB Nominating Committee
9:30 AM Constitution and Bylaws Committee report - Frank Cuta, Chair, WCB Constitution & Bylaws Committee
9:45 AM Your Right To Privacy and Your Health, Bennett Prows, Health Privacy Program Specialist, Office for Civil Rights, Seattle, WA.
10:25 AM Break
10:40 AM The WCB Challenge - sponsored by the History Committee
10:45 AM Legislative Strategies from the Grassroots Perspective – Facilitator: Gaylen Floy, WCB Legislative Committee; Panel: Andrea Damitio, Carrol Gray, Peggy Martinez, Joleen Ferguson, Mark Landreneau, and Eric Bridges.
11:25 AM Training Opportunities for the Blind - Len Leger, Executive Director, School of Piano Technology for the blind; Kirk Adams, Executive Director, Seattle Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc.; and Jim Sutherland, Program Specialist, Business Enterprise Program, Department of Services for the Blind.
11:50 AM The WCB Challenge - sponsored by the History Committee
11:55 AM Break
12:00 PM Awards Luncheon – MC: Cindy Van Winkle, Chair, Convention Committee; presentation of internal WCB Awards: Alco Canfield, Chair, WCB Awards Committee. (Heritage E-F)
1:00 PM Youth Conference (Heritage D)
1:30 PM WSSB Tour (returning around 3:30 PM)
1:30-4:15 PM Dog Guide Test Drive: (by appointment only) Schedule a time to work with a dog guide under the supervision of a Trainer/Instructor, appointments may be made in Exhibits at the GDUWS Booth – sponsored by Guide Dog Users of Washington State
1:30 PM 2 concurrent break out sessions:
Cookin’ Without Lookin’: Learn tips and tricks in the kitchen from a blind professional chef – Jackie Cabrera, See What’s Cookin’ Catering. (Heritage C)
Technology Update: Learn the latest concerning Digital Players, accessible cell phones and much more. – Denise Colley, WCB President, Debbie Cook-Lewis, Washington Assistive Technology Program, and Frances Pennell, Washington Access Fund. (Heritage A-B)
2:45 PM Break
3:00 PM 2 concurrent break out sessions:
Cookin’ Without Lookin’ (repeat): Learn tips and tricks in the kitchen from a blind professional chef – Jackie Cabrera, See What’s Cookin’ Catering. (Heritage C)
Social Networking: Get a glimpse of FaceBook and Twitter and learn why these social networking sites have become so popular and how to access them with screen reading technology or via the phone. – Cindy Van Winkle, WCB Immediate Past President and Debbie Cook-Lewis, Washington Assistive Technology Program. (Heritage A-B)
7:30 PM 7th Annual WCB Talent show: come and enjoy the talents of many of our conventioneers – Host, Meka White, 2010 Western Regional Champion, Karaoke World Championship (Heritage A-B)
9:00 PM Hospitality - sponsored by the Oasis Café, Tacoma (Hemlock-Oak)
Saturday, November 13, 2010
7:00 AM - 12:00 PM Registration/Information desk open (Conference Center foyer)
7:00 AM Guide Dog Users of Washington State breakfast/business meeting (Heritage C)
7:30 AM General breakfast (Heritage E-F)
8:45 AM Youth Conference (Heritage D)
8:45-11:50 AM General Session (Heritage A-B)
8:45 AM Call to Order and Announcements
9:00 AM ACB Connection: learn what’s happening on a national level with the American Council of the Blind – Eric Bridges, Director of Advocacy and Governmental Affairs, American Council of the Blind.
9:30 AM The Jobs People Do: a panel discussion - Moderator: Sue Ammeter, First Vice President, WCB; Presenters: Nathan Brannon, Contract Administrator, Seattle Lighthouse for the Blind, Seattle, WA; Kevin Malcolm, Program Director, Haystack Broadcasting, The Dalles, OR; Beth Manning, PBX Operator, Hilton Hotel, Vancouver, WA.
10:20 AM Break
10:35 AM The WCB Challenge - sponsored by the History Committee
10:40 AM My Story on the Mission field: Stretching oneself and helping others in another country in the process – Joleen Ferguson, President, United Blind of Walla Walla.
10:55 AM State of the State, hear what’s happening with our three state agencies serving the blind – Lou Oma Durand, Director, Department of Services for the Blind (DSB); Danielle Miller, Program Manager/Librarian, Washington Talking Book & Braille Library (WTBBL); Dean O. Stenehjem, Superintendent, Washington State School for the Blind (WSSB).
11:50 AM The WCB Challenge - sponsored by the History Committee
11:55 AM Break
12:00 PM General lunch (Heritage E-F)
12:00 PM GDUWS lunch and program (Heritage C)
1:30 PM WCB business meeting: In memoriam; elections; adoption of WCB budget; resolutions; constitutional amendments & bylaws; old business; new business (Heritage A-B)
4:30 PM Adjourn
5:30 PM Scholarship Reception: Come meet the 2010 scholarship winners and enjoy light refreshments – sponsored by the Inland Northwest Lighthouse for the Blind, Spokane (Heritage C-D)
6:00 PM No host social hour and WCB Silent Auction (Heritage E-F)
7:00 PM WCB annual banquet: Mistress of Ceremonies – Sue Ammeter, Past President, Washington Council of the Blind; Singing of “God Bless America,” Meka White, WCB Board member; Invocation – John Common, President, Greater Everett Area Council of the Blind; Scholarship presentations – Julie Brannon, Chair, WCB Scholarship Committee; Awards presentations – Alco Canfield, Chair, WCB Awards Committee; Banquet address – Eric Bridges, Director of Advocacy and Governmental Affairs, American Council of the Blind (Heritage E-F)
10:00 PM Hospitality – sponsored by the Oasis Café, Tacoma (Hemlock-Oak)
The Washington Council of the Blind extends a heartfelt thank you to the following groups and individuals who helped make this annual convention a success: the 2010 Convention Committee who spent countless hours putting the program together, our 2 host chapters and 2 business sponsors, Rick and Deb Lewis and ACBRadio for streaming the convention over the internet, Frank Cuta for his work with the sound system and recording, all of the many presenters who made our program complete, each and every volunteer who gave of their time and kindness, those who assisted with hospitality, the welcome lounge, registration and door prizes, the chapters, businesses and individuals who contributed to the door prize pool and silent auction, the 29 vendors who came to share their products and services with us, Department of Services for the Blind for partnering with us again on the Youth Conference, and to each and every conventioneer who shared in this special weekend with us.
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