Newsletter August 2003
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. There are NO membership fees. Board meetings, which are open to the public,
will be held on a quarterly basis on the following dates. This will finish our 2003-year:
September 26, 27 & 28 (Convention)
Recorded Details of this
Newsletter
Recorded sections of this newsletter can be accessed by
calling The Older Blind Information Line 1 800 829-3255
1
877 578-6212
President's Message
BUSY, BUSY, BUSY…………
While this has been a
familiar theme for a long time in OCB, it has never been truer than during the
past several months. This has truly been
our busiest year in OCB for many years and it doesn’t seem to be slowing down. Just as our monumental task of salvaging
funding for DRS and services for the blind seemed to close with the end of the
legislative session, other things at the federal level such as the threat to
Randolph-Sheppard vendors and highway vending routes came on the radar scope. Our attention to this federal legislation is
necessary and yet we’ve got to find some time to take care of OCB
business. That is, the
planning/organization of the annual OCB convention and the producing of the
first OCB newsletter for several years.
I bring up the points above
on purpose. That is to say that if
anyone feels that OCB isn’t doing anything, they haven’t been watching this
year. There has (and still is) a
tremendous amount of activity and work going on. To those who have participated/lead all the
various efforts to date and those that will complete in the next 6 or 8 weeks,
I want to say GOOD JOB…. Your work has
been noted and is very much appreciated by all.
We’ve had several members who have given many hours and continue to do
so whom I wanted to make sure understand that while we may not always be good
at letting you know what we think, your work is truly moving OCB and the
blind/visually impaired of Oklahoma forward.
Now to say that I hope as
many as possible are planning on attending the convention this year. It promises to be a full informative
weekend. There has been a lot of
thought/planning put into all the various activities and I think we’ve got
something for anyone. Bring those family
members and if they don’t necessarily want to attend every single meeting, I’m
sure they’ll find something to do while your attending those meetings. I look forward to seeing many of you at some
point during the convention.
Let me list the committees
that will be meeting at the convention:
CONSTITUTION/BYLAWS:
Vicky Golightly
If you have any suggested
changes to the constitution/bylaws, pass that along to Vicky and if she needs
assistance in crafting changes, I’m sure she’ll be shot gunning some into
assisting her.
RESOLUTIONS:
Jean Jones
Again, if you have suggested
resolutions, get those to Jean as soon as possible. Also, if you’d be interested in assisting
with crafting final wording of resolutions, let Jean know.
NOMINATING:
Tommy Robertson, Marilyn
Sanders, and Ray Jones
If you’re interested in
running for any of the positions on the OCB board of directors, contact 1 of
these people.
Look forward to meeting and
visiting with as many of you as possible at the convention.
Randy Howard, OCB President
Your OCB Board Members
Randy Howard, President
Joe Fallin, 1st
Vice-President
Vickey Golightly, 2nd
Vice-President
Paul Miller, Treasurer
Elaine Boykin, Secretary
Judy Pool-Hansen, Public
Information Officer
Members At Large
Tommy Robertson, Jeanne
Meyer and Julie Brantley
Current OCB Fund Raising
Activity
The ad below currently is
seen in the Sunday Oklahoman.
DONATE THAT CAR!!!! Running or not, FREE pick up, tax deduction (fair market
value per IRS) We do all paper work. Will accept real estate, lots, boats, RV’s
and more!
Call 1 (800) 565-0626
Convention!! Convention!!
Convention!!
Convention Registration Form
Come Join Us
At The
2003 Annual
Convention
Location:
(405) 685-4000
C Communication
A Access
T Technology
This year’s convention
features something special for everyone!
Come prepared for an action-packed weekend!
Weekend activities include:
· A dozen exhibits on Friday night and throughout the day on
Saturday. Exhibits include: high-tech computers and CCTVs, low-tech
independent living aids, the latest fashions, home decorating aids, makeup and
self-image enhancement and much more;
· An opportunity to vote independently using an accessible voting
machine;
· An address from State Election Board Secretary Michael Clingman about
new voter legislation and accessible voting plans;
· Special welcoming address;
· A Visual Services update;
· A chance to add your input to important OCB resolutions and
Constitution and Bylaws changes;
· Renewing old and making new friends at the Friday night
hospitality/social;
· Presentations by Billy Brookshire from the Texas Commission for the
Blind and Jay Stiteley from the American Foundation for the Blind on
communicating effectively and with power in a sighted world;
· Motivational presentations by Enjie Wu, a nationally recognized leader
in ACB’s student group;
· Panel discussions with local vendors on how popular products can be
adapted for use by blind people;
· Afternoon break-out sessions on accessible voting, computer training,
independent living, fashion and image enhancement, student involvement, etc.;
- A special banquet guest extraordinaire;
- Special entertainment featuring Dale Wehba
after the Saturday night banquet;
· A non-denominational church service on Sunday morning, and
· Our Annual Business Meeting including the opportunity to elect your
future Board of Directors.
Convention
registration includes:
· Quality speakers
· Varied exhibits
· Attendance at business and committee meetings
· Right to vote in elections
· Quality entertainment
·
· Educational and training opportunities
· Access to an accessible voting machine
· Door prizes galore
· Chance to wet your appetite with four excellent meals
· And much, much more!
Pre-registration for the
entire weekend is only $75, which includes three meals on Saturday and
breakfast on Sunday morning. To be
eligible for the $75 fee, registration forms must be received in the mail or
via e-mail by September 15th.
Registration after the pre-registration deadline or at the door is
$90. Make checks payable to the Oklahoma
Council of the Blind (OCB) and mail to:
Oklahoma Council of the Blind, P.O. Box 1476, Oklahoma City, OK 73101.
You can also E-mail registration forms to pnmiller1@earthlink.net.
Hotel
Accommodations
The
Holiday Inn Airport Hotel is offering the Council the special rate of $60 per
night for sleeping rooms with one to four occupancy. When contacting the hotel, let them know you
are with the
Calling all Sponsors!!!
Help
sponsor the convention with a small donation and we’ll list your name in our
convention program. Levels of
sponsorship are: Silver, $5; Gold, $10; Platinum,
$20; Business Card, $25; half Page, $75; Full Page, $100. Mail your check and camera-ready ad to the
OCB post office box by September 10th.
2003
Please
complete the form below and check applicable conference information so we are
aware of your needs
Name_____________________________________________
Address
__________________________________________
Work
Phone ( )___________________________________
Home
Phone (___)__________________________________
E-Mail
____________________________________________
____
Pre-registration by Sept. 15
(entire
conference) $
75.00
____
Registration after Sept. 15
(entire conference) $
90.00
____
One day Registration (Saturday,
Includes lunch) $
30.00
____
Extra Banquet Ticket $
20.00
____
Luncheon for Students $
15.00
____
I need a vegetarian meal at the banquet.
I
need my program in
____ Large Print ____ Braille
Other
Special Needs________________________________
For
more information, contact: Vicky
Golightly
Convention
Chairman, Home Phone: (405) 524-6227,
Work Phone: (405) 522-0526 or via e-mail
at vgolight@peoplepc.com.
Affiliates of OCB
Heartland Council of the
Blind (HCB) Affiliate of OCB
Meeting Information
The Heartland
Council of the Blind meets the first Saturday of each month. Meetings begin at
The chapter
has a guest speaker of interest every other month, and people from other
organizations. Call Chuck Brady 274-3524
to arrange transportation.
Meeting Information
The
February 17, 2004 Meeting
Meeting Information
The
Donations
Appreciated
Tax deductible
contributions, which are greatly appreciated and vital to the financial support
of this newsletter, may be sent to Paul Miller, Treasurer,
Address Changes Requested
Please keep us current on
your address especially if you plan to move. You can contact us by phone or in
writing. At this time you can also
e-mail Elaine Boykin, secretary at elaine18@cox.net if you have changes or
would like to receive this newsletter by e-mail.
Join The OCB List Serve
You can become an active OCB
member by joining our list serve and hearing the news and information hot off
the press. To join just go to
www.okcb.org and click on the “sign up for the OCB List Serve” link. This is a great spot to share ideas, find
people that you have lost contact with and hear the News Notes from