ATI About the Convention

Fri Jul 31 16:29:47 CDT 2009

 hey denny  I look forward to attending this year looks like great stuff is being planned  and  it is round the corner from my place.... smile Christine
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Denny Huff 
  To: 'Missouri Chat' 
  Cc: 'A private list for MCB board members.' ; 'Adaptive technology information and support.' ; Missouri-L 
  Sent: Friday, July 31, 2009 2:20 PM
  Subject: ATI About the Convention

  THE MISSOURI COUNCIL OF THE BLIND

  2009 ANNUAL CONVENTION

  OCTOBER 9, 10 AND 11

  HILTON GARDEN INN

  19677 E. JACKSON DR.

  INDEPENDENCE, MO

  FOR RESERVATIONS CALL: 816-350-3000

  Greetings To All!

                  We are fast approaching our annual state convention and I am really looking forward to it as I hope you are also.  This will be my first convention to preside over and frankly I am somewhat nervous about it.  I do know however; that with your help and the help of all of the people that have key roles at the convention, that it will be as good of a convention that it can possibly be.

                  If I started naming names of everybody that is working together to make this convention a success I undoubtedly will leave someone out.  I do want to mention our convention coordinator, Eldon Cox and our host affiliates, Allied Workers for the Blind and the Progressive Council of the Blind.  They have put a lot of work into assembling one of the best conventions we can possibly have and my hat is off to all of them.

                  I also want to say a huge thanks to all of our sighted members that have worked so hard to make everything happen.  I sometimes think that we don't give enough credit to our sighted members for all of the work they do.  Without them we simply couldn't do what we do.  I encourage you to go out of your way to say thank you to each one of them.  They certainly deserve it!

                  I of course can't leave out our office staff.  Betsy and Eleanor have done a tremendous job in getting everything together for this convention.  I know they started preparations in June to insure all of the bases were covered.  Thanks Betsy and Eleanor for all you do!

                  Our special ACB guest this year will be Ardis Bazyn.  Ardis hails from California and we will be using her several times during our convention.  Not only will she be speaking to us during our general assembly, I also have her doing one of the breakaway sessions and speaking during the president's luncheon.  You can read more about Ardis here: http://www.moblind.org/convention/Ardis-Bazyn.shtml

                  Speaking of the breakaway sessions, along with Ardis we will have DeAnna Quietwater Noriega speaking about how to promote your local affiliate in your community.  There are many ways to promote your affiliate and it doesn't have to be special events that you promote.  DeAnna will be going over what you can report about and where you can advertise at no charge.  I really encourage at least one representative from each affiliate to attend this session.  

                  We will also be offering a special session from the Red Cross.  Bunny Maginnis has been working diligently to put together a very informative session about emergency preparedness.  This session will not only be about the typical information on tornados, ice and snow, earthquakes, floods and other natural disasters we normally associate with emergency preparedness, but will also include several other emergency topics.

                  This year is the year for electing a treasurer, three board members and a public relations person.  Let me say here that as most of you already know, Franklin Johnson has resigned from the second vice president position due to health reasons.  I truly appreciate everything Franklin has done while serving in that position and I know it will be very difficult to fill his shoes.  This means also that we will be electing a new second vice president at the convention this year.  The nominations will take place on Saturday with the elections on Sunday.

                  As you know, we have lost some of the financial support from our thrift stores.  Michael Keller and I have been working to find out what the possibility of opening our own thrift store is.  It is my intention to have a proposal of some sort ready to present to the board during our pre-board convention meeting and then to present that proposal to the general membership at the convention.

                  Along with many of our previous vendors, we will be seeing some new faces in the Adaptive Technology Exhibit room this year.  I hope that you will take the time to visit the exhibit room and take a look at what these vendors have to offer.  To encourage more visitors to the exhibit room the Adaptive Technology special interest affiliate will be giving away a very nice prize to someone that registers during their visit to the vendors.

                  Speaking of the Adaptive Technology special interest affiliate, their meeting will be on Friday at 5:00 PM.  As usual they will be giving away some very nice door prizes.  They will also be electing a treasurer and a vice president this year.  Their special guest speaker will be Vince from Nanopac.

                  All of the other special interest affiliates will have their meetings again this year.  The Guide Dog Users and the Library Users will have their breakfasts on Friday and Saturday respectively.  The Braille Revival League will be meeting on Friday evening after the hospitality.  Let me say a special thanks to the officers of the Braille Revival League for the work they have done this past year in reviving this special interest affiliate.  They have really worked hard to get the affiliate back into full swing.

                  We will of course have our Friday night hospitality again this year.  This seems to grow in popularity each year and it is a great time for people to just relax and to get to know some of the other members.  I have invited Lee Layton Jr. the owner of the Cobblestone Camp to speak to us about the summer camp program that MCB has.  Lee is a great guy and I know you will find what he has to say very informative.  Don't worry, he won't take a lot of time speaking and there will be plenty of time for socializing during the hospitality.

                  There will also be youth hospitality again this year.  Linda Gerken and James Hollins will undoubtedly have another great program for the youth.  Lee Layton Jr. will also be speaking briefly to those in attendance about Cobblestone Camp and what it offers to the youth of MCB.

                  While I am talking about youth services, they will once again be sponsoring the Kids Club.  If you have a youngster up to the age of 12, you are welcome to let them join the Kids Club on Saturday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.  You will need to have your reservation for your child to join the Kids Club in by October 1.

                  The Education and Welfare committee will be meeting on Friday morning.  Chip Hailey will be conducting this meeting.  This is the year to elect the committee chair so I hope that all of the affiliate legislative representatives will attend this meeting.There will be a special guest in the name of Representative Jeff Grisamore, from the 47th District in Lee Summit, Mo.

                  John Weidlich, as the chair of the Resolutions and By-laws committee will be presiding over that meeting on Friday morning this year.  There have been eight amendments submitted to the committee for recommendation.  Those will then be presented to the entire membership for approval.

                  We will once again have our craft room open on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.  Luretta Welch is in charge of the craft room again this year and if you have something to sell or display, please contact her.  Each person is responsible for their own items and will need to be in the craft room to do the transactions for the items they have to offer.

                  One of the highlights of the convention is the Saturday night banquet.  Along with a great meal and the presentation of awards, our host affiliates have put together a great program.  The Master Of Ceremonies will be Pastor Luke Weese and he will also be providing the entertainment after the banquet.  The guest speaker is Phil Ledgerwood, motivational speaker.  Let me encourage each one of you to attend the banquet and show your support for all of those that will be involved in the evening.

                  As usual, there will be both a protestant and catholic service on Sunday morning.  Both of these will start at 7:00 AM with Charles Dewberry conducting the protestant service and the guest for the catholic service will be announced later.

                  Transportation will be provided to several of the area restaurants.  Look for the restaurant names and times of services in your registration packet.

                  All in all it proves to be a great convention this year.  If you haven't registered to attend I hope you will do so soon.  An on-line application can be found on our web site, http://www.moblind.org/convention.  If you are not able to attend the convention but would still like to hear most of what is going on, Beau Barnhart from Look Media will once again be streaming the convention over the Internet.  There will be a link on our web page for listening.

                  Again, my thanks to each and every one that will make the 2009 MCB Convention a great success!

  Denny Huff

  President

  Missouri Council of the Blind

  5453 Chippewa

  St. Louis, MO  63109

  Phone: (636) 262-1383

  Toll Free: (888) 362-1383

  Phonecast: (816) 298-8969

  FAX: (636) 629-1710

  DHuff at MoBlind.Org

  www.moblind.org

  MCB - A GREAT PLACE TO BE!

  Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/MissouriCouncil

  The purpose of Missouri Council of the Blind shall be to promote the general well-being of our members and legally blind people in Missouri, and to support or participate in other programs promoting the best interests of legally blind people everywhere.

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