[Missouri-l] Fw: [acbconvention] Wednesday's Cactus Courier

[Scott Dollar]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: Sharon Lovering 
To: acbconvention at acb.org 
Sent: Wednesday, July 14, 2010 2:50 AM
Subject: [acbconvention] Wednesday's Cactus Courier


THE CACTUS COURIER

Sponsored by

HumanWare

(HumanWare logo)

HumanWare -- Creating humanize solutions that truly make life easier and enhance the lives of people with visual impairments.

Vol. 1, No. 5               Wednesday, July 14, 2010





CAUCUSES



Today

3:30 p.m. – GDUI, VOS B

5:30 p.m. – Midwest, Encanto A

5:30 p.m. -- Mid-South, Encanto B

9:00 p.m. – New York (members only), 3128



Tomorrow

7:00 a.m. – Pennsylvania (members only), Camelback A

5:30 p.m. -- Bay State/Connecticut/Florida/Maryland, Encanto B

5:30 p.m. – Missouri, Encanto A



ANNOUNCEMENTS



Last Call for Thursday Tickets



If you haven't already bought your tickets for the following events, today is the day.  Ticket sales for the ACBGE and ACBL luncheons end at the close of registration today.



ACB-HSP Networking



This afternoon at 1:30 in Laveen B, ACB-HSP and AAVL are co-sponsoring a presentation on Keeping Young by Getting Involved.  Pam Shaw and Darian Slayton Fleming are the presenters.  At 5:30 p.m., we will host a networking social in 443 ($10, $15 at the door). 



Wednesday at the Café



There are two hot items at the Café today.  Stop in early for a breakfast burrito with bacon, and then again at lunch for hot dogs.



The Treasure Hunt Begins at 7:00 Tonight!



Valley of the Sun C is the place.  The auction preview begins at 6:00; at 7:00, the action starts, and you sure don’t want to miss out on all the fun!  State and special-interest affiliates, individuals and businesses have all come through with fabulous donations to tempt and tantalize any sports, music, jewelry, vacation, art, craft, technology, braille, food and wine enthusiast.  No need to eat ahead of time; food and beverages will be available for purchase.  Remember to bring your bidder number, or get one when you arrive.  Sit with friends and have fun at the biggest treasure hunt of convention and support the work of ACB at this year’s auction!



The Café Goes to the Auction



Don't miss a single great item at the ACB auction.  No need to be late just because you were trying to eat dinner.



The ACB Café puts in an encore appearance at the auction tonight.  You'll find all the usual items, PLUS a special dinner selection of pasta marinara with breadsticks.  Yum yum!



More Fun at the YAC



The Youth Activity Center is out and about all day today.  They'll be visiting the Cerreta Candy Company and making a candy pizza, then stopping for lunch on the way to the Stuffington Bear Factory.  After an afternoon snack they'll be winding up the day at the Hall of Flame Firefighters Museum.



Tomorrow YAC kids will have a karate lesson in the morning and lots more fun in the afternoon.  And Friday it's off to Sun Splash for a day of water fun.



Author Needs Your Input for Book on Blindness Education



Susan Schulter is a blind full-time English teacher at West Valley Community College in Saratoga, CA.  She’s writing a book about blind people's educational experiences and how these shaped their personal and professional lives. She would like the book to be a compilation of our stories told in our own voices. If you are interested in sharing your story, please contact Susan in room 2305, or via phone, (408) 429-9567, or e-mail susanschulter at att.net.



ACB Tote Bags



“Go the Extra Mile for ACB!” tote bags are $10 each.  The tactile scene on the front includes a blind man walking with a cane and a blind lady using a guide dog as they travel a long path with mountains in the background and cacti.  They are available at the MMS table between 11 a.m. and noon and 1 to 3 p.m. and from the ACB Store (booth 3).  You may also purchase them from Dan Dillon in room 2816 or in the Tennessee delegation.



Support the Forum – Buy a Raffle Ticket!



Support your favorite publication, “The Braille Forum,” by purchasing an ACB raffle ticket for $50.  Up to five people can contribute to a single ticket.  The drawing will be held at the banquet on Friday evening; you do not need to be present to win!  First prize will be $5,000; second prize, $1,000; and third prize, $500.  Tickets are available through registration, the ACB Store (booth 3 in the exhibit hall), and from Dan Dillon, Mike Godino, and Billie Jean Keith.



Calling All Radio Amateurs



Meet fellow hams throughout convention week on 147.480 simplex.  Come join ACB Radio Amateurs tomorrow afternoon for our annual meeting at 1:30 in North Mountain, located on the second floor.  In addition to our program and business meeting, we will hold a raffle open to licensed hams for a Woxoun dual-band hand-held transceiver with speech output.  Tickets are $5 apiece, and will be sold at the door.  The drawing will be held at the end of the meeting.  73, and see you on the air or at the meeting!



Changing Careers, or Need a Job?



Looking to make a career change, or for that first job?  The Employment Committee and NABS invite you to attend our job fair tomorrow from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. in Maryvale.  Confirmed employers include: National Industries for the Blind, CSAVR, Western Area Power, Maxi-Aids, the IRS, the Department of Justice, RFB&D, the Veterans Administration, and the USDA Forest Service.  Please bring multiple copies of your resume or business cards, professional business attire, something on which to take notes, your "elevator speech,” a listening ear, and a positive attitude.  Contact Rebecca Bridges for additional information at (703) 655-2474.



Prickly Pear and Saguaro Activities



Get your ticket and join the DKM First-Timers Committee for its reception on Thursday at 5 p.m.!  Come and greet the two first-timers, Tony Ferrita and Kenneth Semien.  The committee will be raffling off two state quarter books (which include the 6 territories), a saguaro cactus walking stick with a dog’s head carved on top (hand-carved locally), and prickly pear jam, honey, jelly and marmalade.  Tickets are $1 each, or 6 for $5, and go to support the committee’s activities.  See Carol Ewing, Ed Bradley, Allen Casey, Carol Edwards, Mike Hoenig, or Dewayne Hodges for your ticket.



We Want to Give You a Brand-New BookSense!  



New participants in the Monthly Monetary Support Program, and all current participants who increase their contributions by $5 or more per month, will be entered in a drawing for a BookSense.  All new participants will also receive a free FM Scanner radio.  Just go to the MMS desk next to the information desk, which will be staffed each day from 11 a.m. to noon and 1 to 3 p.m.  If you have questions, call Ron Milliman at (270) 996-7356.  We can even arrange to meet you at your convenience. 



FROM OUR SPONSORS



Pearl Sponsor



Employment Choices for People Who Are Blind



Every day, National Industries for the Blind's associated agencies located across the country are training and employing people who are blind or visually impaired in a wide variety of careers including:



- Contract Management Support (CMS) Services

- Knowledge-based computer jobs

- Professional and managerial positions



For tomorrow's leaders, NIB's Business Leaders Program provides on-the-job experience, training, and professional development opportunities.



For more information about opportunities in your area, visit www.nib.org.



Newspaper Sponsor



The communication center is grateful to Star Continuous Cards for its donation of braille paper.  Star has supplied the paper for the convention newspaper for many years, and is a great resource for continuous braille paper. The company has manufacturing facilities near Philadelphia to produce its paper, and can supply your braille paper needs. White paper is available, as are pink (cherry), green, yellow (canary), blue, manila, and orange (salmon) papers.  Sizes include 8 ½ by 11, 11 by 11 ½, and you can choose unpunched, 19-hole punched (for GBC binding), or 3-hole punched.  Star can ship your braille paper order as free matter for the blind or via UPS.  For more information, visit www.braillepaper.com or phone 1-800-458-1413.



CONVENTION SPONSORS



Titanium Sponsors



Evelyn Hildebrand

Fred Scheigert



Platinum Sponsors



David Altstatt

David Altstatt Jr.

Janet Dickelman

James Kracht

Marcy Scott



Gold Sponsors



Jean Ackerman

Dennis Ameden

Jo Lynn Bailey-Page

Amelia Bloomfield

Melanie Brunson

John Burt

Terry Camardelle

Penny Crane

Betsey Doane

Jay Doudna

Marcia Dresser

Michael Fulghum

Nona Graves

High Desert Chapter of the California Council of the Blind

Cynthia Hirakawa

Don Horn

John Horst

Gary Lieberg

Marlaina Lieberg

Kathy Lyons

Jean Mann

Danny Matte

Glenn McCully

Ursula McCully

Pratik Patel

Donna Pomerantz

Mitch Pomerantz

James Poppe

Linda Porelle

Herbert Reado

Margaret Ricciardi

Carla Ruschival

Yvonne Schnitzler

Ida Scotti

Douglas Slotten

Joel Snyder

Steve Speicher

Otis Stephens

Ken Stewart

Larry Turnbull

Kim Venable

Tom Venable



ADVERTISEMENTS



Internet Radio: The Next Generation 



Bay Area Digital is introducing a new, talking Internet radio at this convention.  This evening, we will demonstrate the next generation of this medium: DAISY reading on the air. We'll also discuss the models of the radio and show it to all interested attendees. 



The demonstration and hands-on will take place at 5:30 p.m. in Awhatukee on the 2nd floor of the hotel.  



How does the brain do that?



The Saxe Library at MIT is studying how the brain develops in children who are sighted and blind.  We are recruiting totally blind children ages 4-14.  During the study, children will play games and listen to stories, while we take pictures of their brains with MRI, which uses a magnet to record brain activity.



Children who participate will learn about neuroscience, and receive gift certificates and other small prizes.  We will reimburse travel expenses for children and families to and from MIT.  To be eligible, children must be totally blind and have no neurological conditions.  Contact Marina Bedny via e-mail, mbedny at mit.edu, or phone (617) 286-2341.



CarrollTech.org



Learn computer applications without leaving your desk. Learning on-line through carrolltech.org is the easiest way for computer users who are blind to learn Microsoft applications with assistive technology. Ideal for students, professionals, teachers and/or family members. Beginner and advanced courses offered. Courses combine text, videos and assignments for real hands-on instruction. Take the first 2 lessons of any course for free! Most courses are $150 or less. Try our FREE Online Public Access Catalog in use at more than 50 percent of the nation's Braille and Talking Book libraries. Visit www.carrolltech.org and sign up today!


Take a Cruise with ACB!



Oct. 17-24: the Carnival Splendor to the Mexican Riviera.  Depart from Long Beach, CA and travel to Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan, and Cabo San Lucas.  Cabin with private balcony, $1,049 per person.



May 7-15, 2011: the Carnival Freedom to the Panama Canal.  Depart from Ft. Lauderdale, FL and travel to Cozumel, Limon (Costa Rica) and Colon (Panama).  Inside cabin, $1,067; ocean view, $1,187; private balcony, $1,357.



All rates are per person based on double occupancy and include port charges, taxes, and gratuities.  Rates subject to change without notice and are subject to availability.  For reservations, call Dave Kronk at (618) 409-0143, or e-mail dkronk at htc.net.  Stop by booth 4 for more information.  Hope to see you on one of our cruises!



NIB is giving away your choice of an iPad, iPhone or iBill. Register at booth 23 in the exhibit hall.



Handmade Lap Quilt



The Alamo Chapter of Texas is raffling off a handmade lap quilt.  Tickets cost $1 each, or $5 for 6 tickets.  Call (210) 884-7778 for more information.



Used Computers Can Be Valuable Tools



"Windows to the World" is what Lee Hansen calls his one-man operation of restoring used computers and donating them to blind people. 



He removes unnecessary programs and any remaining personal information from the computers, then installs JAWS and makes an audio instruction CD.  He delivers these computers to needy recipients in his local area, and is seeking funding to ship them to others.  He estimates the cost to ship one computer is about $30; he challenges all attendees to donate $1 to further this work.



To donate computers, arrange for a delivery, or to become a sponsor, contact Mr. Hansen at (909) 717-1959 or e-mail windowstotheworldcharity at yahoo.com.



Jennco Productions

Home of Quality Braille



We sell:

Braille Quick Reference Guide: $10

XM Channel List, one-year subscription: $25 (convention price)



Brailling available on request.  Please call us in room 2829, or visit us at the IVIE Expo on Tuesday between 4 and 7 p.m.  After the convention, call (781) 254-9829, or e-mail us at jennco.productions at verizon.net.  Convention prices good through the end of July.  



In Dog We Trust



Guide Dog Users of California is proud to be back with our “In Dog We Trust” T-shirts.  They are white with blue lettering and have a pocket on the front.  There is a paw print just above the pocket that has GDUC written on the paw.  Sizes are limited, so get them fast!  Shirts are $10 each. Call Mary Beth Randall in room 2314, or at (559) 224-7999 after convention to order shirts.



Find Your Vision At Wikiscribe It!



Wikiscribe It! introduces a new online community where sighted people share their vision with blind people.  Founded by Will Grignon, a blind lawyer-professor, Wikiscribe It! is located at www.wikiscribeit.com.  Wikiscribe It! is a free repository of detailed descriptions in accessible text -- everything from the international space station to a Dallas cheerleader, from Bigfoot to Botticelli’s Birth of Venus.  We invite sighted people to post their descriptions and blind people to check us out at www.wikiscribeit.com, where you can also leave comments and participate in discussions.  Or send us an e-mail at admin at wikiscribeit.com.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


_______________________________________________
acbconvention mailing list
acbconvention at acb.org
http://www.acb.org/mailman/listinfo/acbconvention
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://moblind.org/pipermail/missouri-l_moblind.org/attachments/20100714/29591198/attachment-0001.html>