Newsletter July 2004
1 877 578-6212
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 are held quarterly and are
open to the public.
OUR
NEXT CONVENTION
September 17, 18 & 19
Recorded Details of this
Newsletter
Recorded
sections of this newsletter are accessible by calling The Older Blind
Information Line 1 800 829-3255
President's Message
Well, we’re
rapidly approaching that time again when we come together at our annual OCB
convention. I’ve been looking back over
this year and reflecting on what we’ve accomplished. While it hasn’t been as dramatic as the
preceding year, it has held good things.
We’ve picked up several new
members who have brought new knowledge and expertise to our organization. To those new members, I say welcome. I look forward to working with you and
encourage you to jump in where ever you’d like to join us.
We’ve brought some members
back who haven’t been very active in some time.
To those members I say thank you for getting more involved. Our resources seem to be getting fewer and fewer,
which means we need all the knowledge, and experience we have. I hope you’ll remain active and work toward a
goal of making OCB even better than it is today.
We’ve brought some of our
new members into positions of leadership and I think they’ve done a great
job. To those new members I say keep it
up. Your work is appreciated and any
time your unsure of something, just ask.
Any one who has been around a while will be glad to assist you. Your ideas and suggestions are appreciated
and will help to move our organization forward into the future.
I also want to say thank you
to the board and those who have participated in our board meetings. We’ve had good, open, and frank discussion in
our board meetings as well as a free flow of ideas. This is a sign of a healthy organization and
we must do everything we can to make sure this continues and grows in the
future.
I look forward to seeing as
many of you as possible at the convention in September. It will be a good and informative weekend so
save those pennies (OK, in today’s economy dollars) and plan on coming to
Randy Howard
Your OCB Board Members
ð
President…………………………Randy
Howard
ð
First
Vice-President……………..Joe Fallin
ð
Second
Vice-President…………..Vicky Golightly
ð
Secretary…………………………Elaine
Boykin
ð
Treasurer…………………………Paul
Miller
ð
Public Relations
Director………..Judy Hansen
Members-At-Large
ð
Tommy Robertson
ð
Jeanne Meyer
ð
Julie Brantley
Current OCB Fund Raising
Activity
The ad below
is currently 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 Registration
Information
WHO? You.
WHAT? 2004 Annual Convention of the
WHEN?
WHERE? Crowne Plaza Hotel 100 E. 2nd
918-582-9000
1 800-444-2326
WHY? To learn, connect, and have fun!
Rights and
Responsibilities
It’s that time
again!!! This year’s convention features
something special for everyone! Come
prepared to learn about: Rights and Responsibilities, Relax, Rest, Recover from lots of Recreation, Receive information on self-defense and enjoy good Repasts!
Weekend activities include:
ð
A wide variety of exhibits
on Saturday featuring high-tech computers and CCTVs, low-tech independent
living aids, cooking techniques, makeup and self-image enhancement and much
more;
ð
The opportunity to update
your knowledge on local and national issues such as the Americans With
Disabilities Act, housing discrimination, current trends in education, voting
legislation and independent voting procedures, Braille textbook production,
etc.
ð
Special Awards;
ð
History and Overview of the
ð
A Visual Services update;
ð
A chance to add your input
to important OCB resolutions and Constitution and Bylaws changes;
ð
Renewing old and making new
friends at the Friday night hospitality/social;
ð
Participatory entertainment
activities on Saturday night complete with music and a DJ;
ð
A silent auction with a
wealth of surprises you can’t live without;
ð
Informative presentation on
rights and responsibilities and legal issues by Linda LePak, an attorney for
Legal Aid Services of
ð
A peek into the life of an
E-Commerce student, Cammi Vloeden, and her special internship at the United
States Department of Agriculture;
ð
A chance to learn about
self-defense and personal safety from Don Roberts, a renowned self-defense
teacher;
ð
Presentations on key issues
affecting all of us by Joy Relton from the American Foundation of the Blind;
ð
Keynote banquet presentation
by Charles Ely, anchor for
ð
A chance to see and touch a
fire engine;
ð
A variety of afternoon
breakout sessions including self-defense, square dancing, how to effectively
advocate for what you want, Braille textbook production, etc.;
ð
A non-denominational church
service on Sunday morning, and
ð
Our Annual Business Meeting
including the opportunity to elect your future Board of Directors.
Convention registration
includes:
ð
Quality speakers
ð
Varied exhibits
ð
Attendance at business and
committee meetings
ð
Quality entertainment
ð
ð
Educational and training
opportunities
ð
Door prizes galore
ð
Chance to whet 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 August 15th.
Make checks payable to the
Hotel Accommodations
The convention
will be held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, 100 E. 2nd,
Calling
All Sponsors
We all like to
see our name “in lights” and consider it a privilege to help defray the
expenses of printing the convention program!
If you would like to place an ad about your business or service, send a
note to that special someone or you just want to share something you’ve always
wanted to tell the world, send your checks to the OCB post office box by
September 1st along with your camera-ready ad.
Levels of
sponsorship are:
Silver…………………...$5.00
Gold…………………...$10.00
Platinum……………....$20.00
Business
Card………...$25.00
Half
page……………...$75.00
Full
page…………….$100.00
For
more information, contact Jeri Cooper, Convention Chairman at (918)
832-7035. E-Mail Jeri at
jcooper@tulsaconnect.com.
Affiliates of OCB
Heartland Council of the
Blind (HCB)
The Heartland
Council of the Blind meets the first Saturday of each month at 2:00 P.M. at the
Oklahoma Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, 300 N.E. 18th
St., in Oklahoma City. Activities
include special speakers, workshops and advocacy efforts affecting blind
people. Contact Jason Boston, President,
(405) 720-5966.
Muskogee Council of the
Blind (MCB)\
The Muskogee
Council of the Blind meets the third Tuesday of each month. Meetings begin at 7:00 p.m. and are held at
the Muskogee Public Library, 801 West
Okmulgee
Avenue, with the exception of the Annual Picnic in April.
Tulsa Council of the Blind
(TCB)
The Tulsa
Council of the Blind meets the first Tuesday of each month. Meetings begin at
6:00 p.m. and are held at a location TBA.
Special guest are frequently featured.
For information, call Perry Sanders, 918 488-0845.
At a recent
Board meeting, TCB allocated funds to pay for the registration of seven new
members or first-time convention attendees.
If you are interested, please contact Perry Sanders, TCB President,
(918) 488-0845.
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,
P.O. Box 1476, Oklahoma City, OK 73101.
You may wish to contribute in memory of a loved one, to honor a living
relative or friend, or by designating the Oklahoma Council of the Blind as a
recipient in your last will and testament.
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 Washington,
put out weekly by the American Council of the Blind.
Oklahoma Council of the Blind is an affiliate of the American Council
of the Blind.
Please detach the
registration form, (the last page of this newsletter) check the appropriate
boxes on the form fill in all information, enter total where indicated and mail
the completed form with your check or money order to:
Oklahoma
Council of the Blind
P.
O. Box 1476
Oklahoma
City, OK 73101
Pre registration must be
received by August 15 2004 to receive the convention discount. Don’t forget to make your reservations with
the hotel early so you will have a good room, and be sure to mention OCB when
you make your hotel reservations to get their discount.
2004 Oklahoma
Council of the Blind Convention Registration Form
Please complete the form
below and check applicable conference information so we are aware of your needs
Name______________________________________________
Address____________________________________________
City______________________________State_____________
Zip__________________
Work Phone (_____)________________________
Home Phone
(_____)________________________
E-Mail
___________________________________
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Please check the box that applies and add total. |
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Pre-registration by August
15 |
$75.00 |
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Registration after August
15 |
$90.00 |
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Registration for students |
$50.00 |
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One day Registration
(Saturday, Includes lunch) |
$30.00 |
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Extra Banquet Ticket |
$25.00 |
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Luncheon for Students |
$20.00 |
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Total |
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I need a vegetarian meal
at the banquet. |
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I need my program in |
Braille |
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Large Print |
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Other Special Needs__________________________________
For more information,
contact: Jeri Cooper, Convention
Chairman, (918) 832-7035, E-Mail:
jcooper@tulsaconnect.com.