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<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><a name="OLE_LINK3"></a><a
name="OLE_LINK4"><o:p> </o:p></a></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'>THE MISSOURI COUNCIL
OF THE BLIND<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'>2009 ANNUAL
CONVENTION<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'>OCTOBER 9, 10 AND 11<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>HILTON GARDEN INN<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>19677 E. JACKSON DR.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>INDEPENDENCE, MO<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>FOR RESERVATIONS CALL: 816-350-3000<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Greetings To All!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal> 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.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal> 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.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal> 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!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal> 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!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal> 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<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal> 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. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><a name="OLE_LINK1"></a><a name="OLE_LINK2"> 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.</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal> 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.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal> 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.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal> 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.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal> 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.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal> 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.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal> 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.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal> 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.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal> 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.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal> 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 <span style='font-size:10.0pt'>Representative Jeff
Grisamore, from the 47th District in Lee Summit, Mo.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal> 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.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal> 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.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal> 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.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal> 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.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal> Transportation will be provided to several
of the area restaurants. Look for the restaurant names and times of services
in your registration packet.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal> 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.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal> Again, my thanks to each and every one that
will make the 2009 MCB Convention a great success!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Denny Huff<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>President<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Missouri Council of the Blind<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>5453 Chippewa<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>St. Louis, MO 63109<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Phone: (636) 262-1383<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Toll Free: (888) 362-1383<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Phonecast: (816) 298-8969<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>FAX: (636) 629-1710<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>DHuff@MoBlind.Org<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>www.moblind.org<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>MCB - A GREAT PLACE TO BE!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/MissouriCouncil<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>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.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
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