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Washington Council of the Blind

2012 Convention Program
November 1, 2 and 3, 2012
Hilton Vancouver and Conference Center

Hosted by
The United Blind of Southwest Washington (UBSWW)

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.

Thursday, November 1, 2012

3:00 PM-4:30 PM Information/Registration desk open, pre-registration only (Conference Center foyer)

3:00 PM-4:30 PM WCB Welcome Lounge: Here’s your opportunity to go over the program, buddy up with a new friend or meet up with an old one, and maybe even find a partner for dinner. - hosted by the Membership Committee (Heritage C)

7:00 PM Pre-convention Board meeting (Heritage A-B)

9:30 PM Resolutions Committee meeting, following the Board meeting – Facilitator: Denise Colley, Chair, Resolutions Committee (Heritage D)

9:30 PM Constitution & Bylaws Committee meeting, following the Board meeting – Facilitator: Frank Cuta, Chair, Constitution & Bylaws Committee (Heritage A-B)

10:00 PM Hospitality: Come socialize with other conventioneers over a drink, snack and good conversation. - Sponsored by: Peninsula Council of the Blind (Hemlock-Oak)

Friday, November 2, 2012

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, for Presidents only! (Heritage D)

8:00-10:00 AM Exhibits set up, vendors only (Discovery)

10:00 AM - 4:00 PM Exhibits: No need for a catalog or online order when you can peruse the many products and services presented here. (Discovery)

10:00 AM - 4:00 PM Silent Auction Open: Bid on some great items and help raise funds for WCB! (Discovery)

10:00 AM-4:00 pm One-on-One Computer Training, Al Yardley, Reservations Required (check in at Registration/Information desk)

9:15 am Tour: Wake Up and Smell the Coffee; please meet in the Conference Center Foyer 5 minutes ahead of your scheduled tour time. (reservations required).

8:45-11:55 AM General Session (Heritage A-B)

8:45 AM Call to order – Cindy Van Winkle, President, Washington Council of the Blind; Presentation of the Colors: Army Reserve Unit 872 maintenance company; Invocation: Rev. Shelly Fayette, the Church of the Good Shepherd Vancouver; Welcome to Vancouver: Larry Smith, Mayor pro-tem, City of Vancouver; Welcome from the host chapter: Beth Manning, Vice-President, United Blind of Southwest Washington.

9:00 AM President's report – Cindy Van Winkle, President, Washington Council of the Blind.

9:20 AM Nominating Committee report-Glenn McCully, Chair, WCB Nominating Committee.

9:30 AM Constitution and Bylaws Committee report - Frank Cuta, Chair, WCB Constitution & Bylaws Committee.

9:45 AM I Can Drive: using visual aids and a limited license –Michael Byington; Immediate Past President, Kansas Association of the Blind and Visually Impaired.

10:00 am Voting, our rights to accessible and independent voting: What's already being done, and what more can we do? - Greg Kimsey, Clark County Auditor and Shawn Devine, Kitsap County Elections, Communications Coordinator.

10:30 am Break

10:45 AM to 11:40 am Special guest speaker, Ken Scholes, a fantasy writer from St. Helen's Oregon, Author of the Psalms of Isaak trilogy.

11:40 am A Step Back In Time: Taken a glimpse of the education of blind students in the '50's and '60's. - Presented by the WCB History Committee.

11:55 AM Break

12:00 PM Awards Luncheon – MC: Lori Allison, Chair, WCB Convention Committee; presentation of internal WCB Awards: Julie Brannon, Chair, WCB Awards Committee. (Heritage E-F)

1:30 pm Tour: Lions Tigers and Bears, Wow! Please meet in the Conference Center Foyer 5 minutes ahead of your scheduled tour time (reservations required).

1:30 PM 3 concurrent break out sessions:

Living while blind, is there a ”right way”? Aging is a time of challenge and change.  What are some of the special skills and techniques needed for this adventure? Come participate in a group discussion regarding some of the major issues facing blind and low vision seniors. - Presenters:  Dr. Curt l. Johnson, Professor, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine and Director, Center on Technology and Disability Studies at the University of Washington and Debbie Cook, Program Manager, independent living – older blind, center on Technology and Disability Studies, University of Washington. Sponsored by: WCB Aging and Blindness Committee (Heritage D)

Craft and Hobby Shop: Come check out what blind people are creating through this hands-on display, and possibly meet the people connected to the hands that made them. (Heritage C)

iPhone 101: This class is for beginning iPhone users or those interested in one. You'll learn about gestures and utilities that will make your iPhone work for you. - Presenter: Zack Hurtz, Member, Capital City Council of the Blind. Sponsored by: Capital City Council of the Blind (Heritage A-B)

2:45 PM Break

3:00 PM 3 concurrent breakout sessions:

Health and Wellness: Come learn about preventative care, including tests you should have (when and why), and learn some basics around nutrition, including how to read food labels. - Presenter: Dr. Chris Cooke, ND, Portland, OR. (Heritage D)

Craft and Hobby Shop: Come check out what blind people are creating through this hands-on display, and possibly meet the people connected to the hands that made them. (Heritage C)

iPhone 201: Build upon the foundation laid in 101. Learn about favorite apps, tips and techniques for everyday and troubleshooting in a fun and relaxed environment. - Presenter: Deb Lewis, Technical Assistance Coordinator, Washington Assistive Technology Act Program. Sponsored by: South Kitsap Council of the Blind (Heritage A-B)

7:30 PM Annual WCB Showcase of Talent: come and enjoy the talents of many of our conventioneers. – Host: Alan Bentson, Vice President, Capital City Council of the Blind. Sponsored by: Capital City Council of the Blind (Heritage A-B)

9:00 pm Good Ol Fashion Sing-Along, directly following the Showcase of Talent. (heritage A-B)
9:00 PM Life Member’s Reception: Come enjoy special refreshments - for all WCB Life Members only. Hosted by: the WCB President. (Suite 339)
9:00 PM Hospitality: Come socialize with other conventioneers over a drink, snack and good conversation. - sponsored by: Pierce County Association of the Blind (Hemlock-Oak)

Saturday, November 3, 2012

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)

8:45-11:50 AM General Session (Heritage A-B)
8:45 AM Call to Order and Announcements - Cindy Van Winkle, President Washington Council of the Blind.

9:00 AM ACB Connection: learn what’s happening on a national level with the American Council of the Blind. - Presenter: Marlaina Lieberg, Secretary, American Council of the Blind.

9:30 AM The Jobs People Do: a panel discussion – Facilitator: Sue Ammeter, Board Member, Washington Council of the Blind; Panelists: Michael Byington, Certified Orientation and Mobility Instructor, Envision Inc., Topeka, KS; Brooke Richardson, Teacher of the Visually Impaired, Washington State School for the Blind, Vancouver, WA; Sharon Schauer, Quality Improvement Assistant, Amazon.com, Seattle, WA.

10:20 AM Break

10:35 AM Serving Those That Served: What rehabilitation services are being provided to blinded veterans? - Presenters: Paul Thomas, Blind Rehabilitation Outpatient Specialist, covering Southwestern Washington and Northwestern Oregon, Veterans Administration and Frank Johnson, WCB member, a blinded veteran who has received services from the American Lake Blind Rehab Center.

10:55 AM State of the State: Hear what’s happening with our three state agencies serving the blind. – Presenters: Danielle Miller, Program Manager/Librarian, Washington Talking Book & Braille Library (WTBBL); Dean O. Stenehjem, Superintendent, Washington State School for the Blind (WSSB); Lou Oma Durand, Director, Department of Services for the Blind (DSB).

11:55 AM Break

12:00 PM General Lunch (Heritage E-F)
12:00 PM GDUWS lunch and program: Come hear about life with a guide dog in China. - Speaker: Qin Lain. (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 2012 scholarship winners and enjoy light refreshments. Sponsored by: WCB Scholarship Committee (Heritage C)

6:00 PM No host social hour and WCB Silent Auction (Heritage A-B)

7:00 PM WCB annual banquet - Mistress of Ceremonies: Barb Crowley, President, United Blind of Whatcom County; Invocation: Meka White 2nd Vice President, Washington Council of the Blind; Scholarship presentations: Tim McCorcle, Chair, WCB Scholarship Committee; Awards presentations: Julie Brannon, Chair, WCB Awards Committee; Banquet address: Michael Byington, Immediate Past President, Kansas Association of the Blind and Visually Impaired (Heritage A-B)

10:00 PM Hospitality: Come socialize with other conventioneers over a drink, snack and good conversation. - Sponsored by: Capital City Council of the Blind (Hemlock-Oak)

SUNDAY November 4, 2012

8:30 AM Box lunches will be ready for pick up, pre-orders only (Conference Center Foyer)

8:45 AM The Return Bus will be leaving the Hilton at 9:00 AM. Please be ready 15 minutes ahead of time for boarding. (Conference Center Foyer)

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 2012 Convention Committee who spent countless hours putting the program together, our host chapter the United Blind of Southwest Washington, Rick and Deb Lewis and ACB Radio 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, Exhibits Coordinator Kim Moberg and the vendors who came to share their products and services with us, and to each and every conventioneer who shared in this special weekend with us.