WCB 2007 Convention Program

WELCOME TO THE 2007 ANNUAL CONVENTION

OF THE WASHINGTON COUNCIL OF THE BLIND

November 1, 2, and 3, 2007

Hosted by: The United Blind of Spokane

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.

This year the volunteer desk will be located in the main lobby between the Bellman’s station and the front desk, the Information Desk will be just inside the Grand Ballroom Foyer across from Salon I, and the Registration Desk will be located in the Grand Ballroom across from Salon III.

Thursday, November 1, 2007

3:30-6:00 p.m. WCB Lounge open: Drop by for a soft drink and to meet old and new friends – hosted by the WCB Membership Committee (Suites A and B)

4:00-6:30 p.m. Registration packets available (Registration Desk across from Salon III)

4:00-7:00 p.m. Information desk open (across from Salon I)

7:00 p.m. Pre-convention board meeting (Salon V)

7:00-9:00 p.m. Meet and greet: A time to make new acquaintances and rekindle old friendships – hosted by the WCB First Timers Committee (Suites A and B)

9:30 p.m. Resolutions Committee meeting following the Board meeting – Facilitator: Rhonda Nelson, Chair, Resolutions Committee (Parkside 1, 3^rd Floor)

9:30 p.m. Constitution & Bylaws Committee meeting, following the Board meeting – Facilitator: Frank Cuta, Chair, Constitution & Bylaws Committee (Parkside 2, 3^rd Floor)

9:30 p.m. Hospitality, sponsored by the United Blind of Spokane (Suites A and B)

Friday, November 2, 2007

7:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Information/volunteer desks open

8:00-10:00 a.m. Registration (across from Salon III)

7:30 a.m. General breakfast (Salons I-IV)

7:30 a.m. First-timer breakfast (Suites C and D)

7:30 a.m. Presidents breakfast (Shades Room)

8:00-10:00 a.m. Exhibits set up, vendors only (Suites A and B)

10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Exhibits (Suites A and B)

10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Youth Conference (Parkside, 3^rd floor)

8:45-11:55 a.m. General Session (Salon V)

8:45 a.m. Call to order - Cindy Van Winkle, President, Washington Council of the Blind; presentation of the colors: Pines Boy Scout Troop #426, Spokane Valley; Invocation: Bishop Jeffery Guy, Pines Ward of Latter Day Saints; Welcome to Spokane - Joe Shogan, Spokane City Council President; welcome from the host chapter - Debby Philips, President, United Blind of Spokane.

9:00 a.m. President's report - Cindy Van Winkle, President, WCB

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

9:30 a.m. Constitution and Bylaws - Frank Cuta, Chair, WCB Constitution & Bylaws Committee

9:40 a.m. Mr. Bill Goes to Washington - Presented by the WCB Legislative Committee

10:10 a.m. Break

10:30 a.m. Update on plans for transitioning of the Washington Talking Book and Braille Library - Cathy Turk, Transition Coordinator, Washington State Library

10:50 a.m. What’s up with the Access to Currency Issue; How Far Have We Come? - Jonathan Simeone, Attorney

11:20 a.m. What does the help Desk at the Chicago Lighthouse for the Blind do and can I use it? - Ray Campbell, Board Member, American Council of the Blind

11:30 a.m. What’s happening at the Seattle Lighthouse for the Blind - Kirk Addams, President-Elect, Seattle Lighthouse for the Blind

11:40 a.m. News from the School of Piano Technology for the Blind - Len Leger, Director, School of Piano Technology for the Blind

11:50 a.m. Break

12:00 p.m. Sit-down Luncheon, enjoy food and fellowship and Celebrate WCB internal awards – Presenter: Julie Brannon, Chair, Awards Committee (Salons I-IV)

1:30 p.m. The Jobs People Do; Employment panel - facilitator: Sue Ammeter, board member, WCB; presenters: Denise Colley, Program Coordinator 3, Employment Security Department, Olympia; Frank Cuta, Development Engineer, Battelle Pacific Northwest Labs, Richland; Dr. Brian Flake, Flake Chiropractic, Spokane. (Salon V)

2:30 p.m. Break

2:45 p.m. 3 concurrent break out sessions:

Overview of Global Positioning Systems and Products; a joint activity with the Wa. Conference for Blind Youth – Facilitator: Kevin Nathan, Child & Family Consultant, Dept. of Services for the Blind (Salon V)

The Big Three; Then and Now - sponsored by the WCB History Committee - presenters: the members of the History Committee (Suite D)

How can I be my best advocate in getting what I need in public transportation – Ray Campbell, Board Member, American Council of the Blind (Suite C)

4:00 p.m. Adjourn

7:30 p.m. 4th^th Annual WCB Talent show; come and enjoy the musical talents of many of our conventioneers - co-hosts: Julie and Nathan Brannon, United Blind of Seattle (Salon V)

9:00 p.m. Hospitality, sponsored by the United Blind of Spokane (Suites A and B)

Saturday, November 3, 2007

7:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Information/volunteer desks open

7:00 a.m. Guide Dog Users of Washington State breakfast/business meeting (Spencer’s)

7:30 a.m. General breakfast (Salons I-IV)

8:00-9:00 a.m. Registration (across from Salon III)

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

8:45-11:50 a.m. General Session (Salon V)

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

9:00 a.m. Report from the American Council of the Blind - Ray Campbell, Board member, American Council of the Blind

9:30 a.m. What are our young people about these days; hear from three high schoolers who aren’t letting their blindness slow them down – Facilitator: Vivian Conger, Chair, Families with Blind Children Committee; Presenters: Brandon Bigs, Sophomore, Walla Walla High School, Walla Walla; Lily Clifton, Junior, Nathan Hale High School, Seattle; Nicole Torcolini, Senior, Central Kitsap High School, Silverdale.

10:20 a.m. Break

10:40 a.m. Updates in Programs for Blind and Visually Impaired Washingtonians; learn the special things happening within these three state agencies for the blind – Facilitator: Glenn McCully, 2nd Vice President, WCB; presenters Gloria Leonard, Director & Craig Johnson, Lead Broadcaster, Evergreen Radio Reading Service, Washington Talking Book and Braille Library; Alan Garrels, Child and Family Services--Independent Living Program Manager & Mark Adreon, Employer Relations and Communications Manager, Washington State Department of Services for the Blind; Dr; Dean O. Stenehjem, Superintendent & Craig Meador, Principal, Washington State School for the Blind.

11:50 a.m. Break

12:00 p.m. General lunch and presentation from WCB Membership Committee – Facilitator: Marlaina Lieberg, Chair, Membership Committee (Salons I-IV)

12:00 p.m. GDUWS lunch and program (Spencer’s)

1:30 p.m. WCB business meeting: In memoriam; elections; adoption of WCB budget; resolutions; constitutional amendments & bylaws; old business; new business (Salon V)

4:30 p.m. Adjourn

5:30-6:30 p.m. Scholarship reception: Come meet and hear from this year's scholarship winners – facilitator:Chris Coulter, WCB Scholarship Committee (Suites A and B)

6:00 p.m. No host social hour – piano serenade by Ann Jacobson (Salons I-V)

7:00 p.m. WCB annual banquet: Master of Ceremonies - Berl Colley, Immediate Past President, WCB; Invocation - Debby Phillips, President, United Blind of Spokane; Scholarship presentations - Alan Bentson, Chair, WCB Scholarship Committee; Awards presentations - Julie Brannon, Chair, WCB Awards Committee; Banquet address - Ray Campbell, Board Member, American Council of the Blind (Salons I-V)

10:00 p.m. Hospitality, sponsored by the United Blind of Spokane (Suites A and B)

A special thank you goes to the following for helping this convention be a success! Denise Colley and the members of the convention committee; Chris Roemeling and are special volunteers; the members of the United Blind of Spokane; Debby Philips and our exhibitors; Meka White and those who helped at information & Bruce Radtke and his registration team; Frank Cuta for providing excellent audio and recording of the numerous presentations, Viola Cruz for providing the streaming and Rhonda Nelson for recording the taped version of our convention program; Sue Ammeter and others who assisted in hospitality; all those who worked on the Youth Conference; scholarship escorts and the many presenters who contributed to our program.