OCB Convention Information

 

United We Stand for Specialized Services

 

It’s time for the membership of the Oklahoma Council of the Blind to come together for the 2011 Convention and Conference of the Oklahoma Council of the Blind.  We must boldly proclaim we are United for Specialized Services, the conference theme, because separate and distinct services for the blind and visually impaired are not a guarantee in this rapidly changing world!  In fact, specialized services in some states have perished.

 The convention and conference will be held at the Wyndham Gardens Hotel in Oklahoma City, 2101 S. Meridian on September 23-25.  You can reserve your sleeping room for $79.00 plus taxes per night by calling the hotel at (405) 685-4000.  Sleeping room rates are for one to four occupancy.  Please remember to tell the hotel you are with the Oklahoma Council of the Blind to insure this special rate.

Registration for five meals will remain at $80.00.  The Heartland Council of the Blind has generously agreed to sponsor one of these meals on Friday night.  With increasing cost of all goods and services, we still want to keep the price the same as in previous years because money is tight for everyone.

 Convention Highlights

·       American Council of the Blind (ACB) President Mitch Pomerantz and his wife Donna will be the featured speakers.

·       New Oklahoma School for the Blind Superintendent James Adams will talk about the latest at the Oklahoma School for the Blind (OSB).

·       Special panels and role-playing scenarios will encourage interactive discussions.

·       Susan Hawkins or the new Visual Services Administrator will let us know what is going on with special services for blind and visually impaired Oklahomans.

·       Friday night will begin with a welcome from OCB President Doudna and chapter updates, along with a special night of round-robin games.  You won’t want to miss this fun time!

·       Come prepared to visit a lot of exhibitors in the exhibit room on Saturday.  We’ve reserved hall space for even more exhibitors because we want to “wow” everyone with loads of options!

·       Special entertainment is planned for Saturday night after the banquet, including the traditional oral auction by auctioneer extraordinaire Pat Kelly.

·       A nondenominational service will precede the Council’s annual business meeting on Sunday.

Look for more information in future postings about advertising opportunities and convention sponsorship options.

For more information contact Convention Chair Vicky Golightly at (405) 740-6227 or e-mail vgolight@yahoo.com or contact President Jay Doudna at (405) 942-3413 or e-mail him at jaydoudna@cox.net.

 From Vicky Golightly

 

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Now, tell me, what do these two have in common?
First of all, I hope everyone has a great and safe Fourth of July holiday!
Be careful and remember what the main purpose of it is for. Which brings me
to the OCB convention.

Do you see any common ground here? Let me help you a little. Where would
blind folks be today if it weren't for the heroes of ACB and OCB past
individuals who stood up for the rights of individuals who are blind and
visually impaired? Exactly! So, show your appreciation by coming out to the
OCB convention in OKC in September and seeing all the exhibitors!

We'll have exhibitors ranging from personal items to big techie stuff! Smell
good stuff and pretty danglies! Adaptive equipment to non-adaptive
equipment. Resources to information to education to everyday needs! It's all
going to be there waiting for you at this year's OCB convention!

Remember, OCB is only as good as its members so come out and support the
best organization so we can continue the independence of those individuals
who are blind and visually impaired! ... Jeri Cooper

 

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This year's OCB convention and conference looks like it will be among one of the best

 conventions we have
held in recent years. 

We are pleased to be welcoming Mitch Pomerantz, ACB President and his wife
Donna, the Current President of the California Council of the Blind.  Also,
the New superintendent of the Oklahoma School for the Blind will be meeting
with us.  There is a new accessible voting machine  that will be introduced
in the upcoming elections and we will have one with us on display for all of
us to try. 

If you have not been with us in recent years, I hope you will seriously
consider joining us.  There are many more reasons why it is beneficial and
important for you to attend and if you want to talk about them, call me or
send me an email message.,

We are meeting at the Wyndham Garden Airport in Oklahoma City.  The dates
are September 23, 24 and 25.  It is now more important than ever that you
make every effort to attend.

The convention issue of "the Blind Spot" our newsletter will be in the mail
to you in the next few weeks.  When you get it, please read over the details
and information and then fill out the registration  form and send it in, we
really need you to be with us.

I want to thank all the members of the 2010 Convention committee for all
their work.  Now all we need is you.

Jay Doudna
President
Oklahoma Council of the Blind

 

First-Time Conference and Convention Scholarships Available

The 2011 Conference and Convention of the Oklahoma Council of the Blind is September 23-25 at the Wyndham Gardens Hotel, 2101 S. Meridian, in Oklahoma City.  For more information, visit OCB’s website at www.okcb.org and click on convention.

Our theme is United We Stand for Specialized Services---we have to protect services like the Oklahoma Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Visual Services, the Business Enterprise program, etc. or there may be nothing to protect.

The OCB is offering 10 scholarships for first-time conventioneers.  The scholarships are for $80, which covers registration and four meals:  breakfast on Saturday and Sunday, lunch and banquet on Saturday and even a fifth meal, a special catered supper on Friday night sponsored by the Heartland Council of the Blind.

If you wish to apply for a scholarship, write a letter to Convention Chairman Vicky Golightly at 425 N.W. 27th, Oklahoma City, OK, 73103 or e-mail her at vgolight@yahoo.com.  State why you would like to attend the Conference and Convention.

Please review the convention scholarship criteria listed below.

·       Scholarship applicants must be visually impaired or blind.

 

·       One person per household is eligible to apply for a scholarship.

 

·       Applicants must write a letter either by e-mail or by postal mail to OCB Convention Chairman Vicky Golightly, 425 N.W. 27th Street, Oklahoma City, OK  73103 or e-mail her at vgolight@yahoo.com explaining why they wish to attend the convention. 

 

·       Scholarship requests must be submitted by August 31.

 

·       Scholarship applicants will be notified as to whether they received a scholarship before September 1.

 

·       Individuals granted scholarships must attend all general sessions.

 

·       Scholarship recipients shall write a one-page report summarizing their convention experience.

 

·       Scholarships for first-timers attending the 2011 Conference and Convention of the Oklahoma Council of the Blind will be issued on a first-come, first served basis!

 

 

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The Oklahoma Council of the Blind is an affiliate of the American Council of the Blind.  OCB encourages interested individuals, blind, visually impaired, or sighted to join the organization.  Membership applications are available upon request or on our web site www.okcb.org.  Contact us at 877-578-6212.  There are NO membership fees.  Board meetings, which are open to the public, will be held on a quarterly basis. 

 

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