WCB 2005 Convention Program

WELCOME TO THE 2005 ANNUAL CONVENTION

OF THE WASHINGTON COUNCIL OF THE BLIND

October 27, 28, and 29

Hosted by: The United Blind of the Tri-Cities

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.

Thursday, October 27, 2005

4:00-7:00 p.m. Information desk open, extension 4614 (Olympic Foyer)

4:00-6:00 p.m. Pre-registration packets available, Registration Table (Olympic Foyer)

7:00 p.m. Pre-convention board meeting (silver-bronze)

7:00-9:00 p.m. Meet and greet: A time to make new acquaintances and rekindle old friendships, sponsored by Dr. Sung's office of Kennewick (Design)

9:30 p.m. Resolutions Committee meeting following the Board meeting (Spruce)

9:30 p.m. Hospitality, sponsored by Dr. Sung's office of Kennewick (Project)

Friday, October 28, 2005

7:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Information desk open, extension 4614 (Olympic Foyer)

7:30 a.m. General breakfast (Gold)

7:30 a.m. First-timer breakfast (Pine-Oak)

7:30 a.m. Presidents breakfast (Spruce)

8:30-10:00 a.m. Registration (Olympic Foyer)

9:00 a.m. Youth Conference (Design)

10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Exhibits (closed from noon to 1:00p.m.) (Olympic)

10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Touching Art Exhibit (closed from noon to 1:00p.m.) (Spruce)

9:00 a.m. - 11:55 a.m. General Session (Silver-Bronze)

9:00 a.m. Call to order: Cindy Burgett, President, Washington Council of the Blind; presentation of the colors: Cub Scout Pack 249, Blue Mountain Division, Cobra’s Webelos; Invocation: Pastor Ed Branham, West Highlands United Methodist Church; Welcome to Pasco: Mayor Michael Garrison, City of Pasco, and Bill Hoage, President, United Blind of the Tri-Cities.

9:15 a.m. President's report: Cindy Burgett, President, WCB

9:35 a.m. Nominating Committee report: Rhonda Nelson, Chair, WCB Nominating Committee

9:40 a.m. Constitution and Bylaws: Part I; Frank Cuta, WCB Constitution & Bylaws Committee Chair

10:00 a.m. Extra Help with Prescription Drug Coverage Under Medicare, Paula Jurich, Senior Regional Public Affairs Specialist, Social Security Administration

10:20 a.m. Break

10:35 a.m. Walking Tall: an honest look at the challenges facing us as blind pedestrians, Lukas Franck, COMS, Supervisor of Community Instruction from The Seeing Eye

10:55 a.m. Vision Not Required: What people are doing in their communities that is non-blindness related, facilitated by Debby Phillips, GDUWS Board Member. Panelists: Dan Tonge, Seattle; Joleen Ferguson, GDUWS President; and Gina Lewis, Seattle.

11:35 a.m. Constitution and Bylaws: Part II, Frank Cuta

12:00 p.m. Sit-down luncheon with entertainment by Neil Vosburgh (Gold)

1:15 p.m. Don't Be Scared, Get Prepared: Practical tips for Emergency Preparedness, facilitated by Cindy Burgett. Panelists: Day Al-Mohamed, ACB Director of Advocacy and Governmental Affairs; Frank Cuta, WCB Board Member; and a representative from the American Red Cross, Kennewick.

2:00 p.m. Break

2:15 p.m. Break out sessions:

Out of sight? Out of hope? There's light at the end of the tunnel: Sponsored by the Aging & Blindness Committee, facilitated by Carl Jarvis, Chair (Pine)

Podcasting: Learn what it is, and which I-pods are accessible, facilitated by Cheryl Stewart, Immediate Past President, North Central Washington Council of the Blind (Oak)

"Getting to Know You: Legislators and the Process They Use". This workshop will feature presentations along with interactive role play, facilitated by Denise Colley, First Vice President, WCB (Silver-Bronze)

Touching Art: a brief presentation about the Touching Art Exhibit and how to experience art, Mark Adreon, DSB (Spruce)

3:15 p.m. Break

3:30 p.m. Break-outs:

Treasurer's workshop, presented by Ardis Bazyn, Immediate Past Treasurer, ACB (Oak)

Accessible Cell Phones: Discussion and Product Demonstrations, facilitated by Rhonda Nelson, WCB Board Member. Panel: Marlaina Lieberg, Burien; Ann Mccay, Shoreline; Gloria Werstein, Lacey (Pine)

Audible Pedestrian Signals: learn how to get them installed at an intersection near you, Presenters: Lukas Franck, The Seeing Eye, and city employees from Kennewick and Walla Walla; sponsored by Guide Dog Users of Washington State (Silver-Bronze)

Touching Art: repeated (Spruce)

4:30 p.m. Adjourn

5:00 p.m. Bus leaves for Chinese Garden Restaurant, reservations required (meet in the lobby at 4:45 p.m.)

7:30 p.m. 2nd Annual WCB Talent show, Hostess, Meka White, Immediate Past President, Peninsula Council of the Blind (Silver-Bronze)

9:00 p.m. Bop-It Tournament (Design)

9:00 p.m. History Roundtable: Discussion of WCB history, facilitated by Becky Bell, Chair, WCB History Committee (Oak)

9:30 p.m. Hospitality (Project-Design)

Saturday, October 29, 2005

7:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. Information desk open, extension 4614 (Olympic Foyer)

7:00 a.m. Guide Dog Users of Washington State breakfast and business meeting (Pine-Oak)

7:30 a.m. General breakfast (Gold)

8:45 a.m. Youth Conference (Design)

8:45-11:50 a.m. General Session (Silver-Bronze)

8:45 a.m. Call to Order and Announcements

9:00 a.m. Report from the American Council of the Blind: Day Al-Mohamed, ACB Director of Advocacy and Governmental Affairs

9:20 a.m. There Is A Job In Your future; facilitated by Sue Ammeter, WCB board member. Panel: Laura Beigh, Independent Living Specialist for the Blind and Visually Impaired, Tacoma Area Coalition of Individuals with Disabilities, Tacoma; Kevin Jones, Machine Operator, Seattle Lighthouse for the Blind, Seattle; and Jeff Thom, Principal Deputy Legislative Counsel, California Legislative Counsel Bureau.

10:05 a.m. Break

10:25 a.m. Career Connect: learn about this vital nationwide program of the American Foundation for the Blind, Scott Truax, Career Connect

11:00 a.m. Updates in Programs for Blind and Visually Impaired Washingtonians. Presenters: Gloria Leonard, Director, Washington Talking Book and Braille Library; Lou Oma Durand, Director, Washington State Department of Services for the Blind; Dr. Dean O. Stenehjem, Superintendent, Washington State School for the Blind

11:50 a.m. Adjourn

12:00 p.m. General box lunch (Gold)

12:00 p.m. GDUWS box lunch and program (Spruce-Pine)

1:30 p.m. WCB business meeting: In memoriam; elections; budget; resolutions; constitutional amendments & bylaws; old business; new business (Silver-Bronze)

4:30 p.m. Adjourn

5:30 p.m. Scholarship reception: Come meet and hear from this year's scholarship winners (Spruce-Pine-Oak)

6:00 p.m. No host social hour (Olympic-Gold)

7:00 p.m. WCB annual banquet: Master of Ceremonies: Frank Cuta , Board Member, WCB; singing of our National Anthem: Neil Vosburgh; Invocation: Janice Squires, WCB Convention Coordinator; Scholarship presentations: Alan Bentson, Chair, WCB Scholarship Committee; Award presentations: Marlaina Lieberg, Chair, WCB Awards Committee; Banquet address: Day Al-Mohamed, ACB Director of Advocacy and Governmental Affairs (Olympic-Gold)

10:00 p.m. Hospitality (Project-Design)

Hotel Information:

Meeting rooms listed in this program are all on the first floor.

The WCB information desk and registration tables are located in the Olympic Foyer

Telephone Extensions:

Front desk: 0

Housekeeping: 4907

Retrieving Messages: 58, follow the prompts

Room service: 4944

Room to room: dial room number

WCB information desk: 4614

There is a fifty cent charge for any outside phone calls.