OCB Newsletter July 2005

Oklahoma Council of the Blind

P. O. Box 1476

Oklahoma City, OK 73101

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.

September 9, 10, 11, 2005

Convention Details Inside

Recorded Details of this Newsletter

Recorded sections of this newsletter can be accessed by calling The Older Blind Information Line 1 800 829-3255

It’s Convention Time Again!!!!

Can you believe it’s once again time for the Oklahoma Council of the Blind Annual Convention? During this special time blind and sighted OCBers assemble en masse to light a torch for the myriad of causes we fight for every day, renew old friendships and explore new relationships with like-minded people.

The 2005 Oklahoma Council of the Blind Convention in Oklahoma City on September 9-11, 2005, promises to be exciting, entertaining, and educational! The theme is Safety, Opportunity and Security (SOS). The convention logo is a Lighthouse, symbolizing OCB as the lighthouse in the darkness of blindness. In her decorator extraordinaire mode, Jeanne Meyer has graciously agreed to create an awesome atmosphere for us to enjoy throughout the weekend.

The Convention will take place at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, formerly the Hilton Inn Northwest located at 2945 Northwest Expressway in Oklahoma City. Sleeping room rates are only $66.00 plus tax per night for up to four people per room. Contact the hotel at (405) 848-4811 and make your reservations by September 3^rd. When talking to hotel staff, remember to mention you are with the Council to guarantee this special rate.

Registration for the entire weekend is $75.00, which includes four food functions (breakfast on Saturday and Sunday, lunch Saturday and the banquet Saturday night.) Register before August 15^th if you wish to receive this phenomenal rate or pay $90.00 after this date. Registration for Saturday only will be $30.00 and will include lunch, but not the banquet. Extra banquet tickets are priced at $25.00 and Student luncheon tickets are only $15.00.

Make checks payable to the Oklahoma Council of the Blind (OCB) and mail to:

Oklahoma Council of the Blind (OCB)

P.O. Box 1476

Oklahoma City, OK 73101

At this writing, there are four stipends in the amount of $75.00 available to pay convention registration for first-time convention attendees. Contact Teresa Kruta or Vicky Golightly if you know of someone who would like to attend the convention.

Activities during the weekend include:

· The knowledge, experience and dynamism of Melanie Brunson, Executive Director of the American Council of the Blind (ACB), who will WOW conventioneers throughout the weekend;

· A hospitality on Friday night, complete with games-and who knows what else;

· Informative and vital Resolutions and Constitution Committee meetings on Friday night;

· An inspiring Saturday night banquet speech by Tulsa’s Channel 6 anchor, Craig Day;

· Valuable tips about airline security by Oklahoma City’s Channel 5 reporter, Kevin Tomich;

· A discussion of Social Security issues such as disability and retirement by Larry Jones, Public Relations Director;

· A variety of exhibits all day Saturday including the latest adaptive technology, low-tech merchandise, a voting machine, Tupperware, Mary Kay, Cingular talking software-just to name a few!

· A special fun-filled, thinking-cap-time, mystery event all weekend, which will require everyone to communicate, circulate and cogitate;

· Four fabulous, flavorful feasts;

· Special luncheon entertainment by 10-year-old musician Ashley Mandanis;

· Facts about wills and trusts by Lisa Hawes;

· Information on how to obtain a free smoke detector from Able Tech and how to create a safe home exit plan in case of fire;

· Door prizes and more door prizes;

· A silent auction containing a bevy of treasures;

· An oral auction on Saturday night with sought-after delightful acquisitions. The auction will be conducted by Pat Kelly, a blind auctioneer, and worked by blind personnel;

· A special nondenominational church service on Sunday morning;

· A chance to elect YOUR officers for next year at the Annual Business Meeting on Sunday; and,

· An opportunity to make your wishes known by participating in a verbal and written evaluation of the 2005 convention.

You can help defray convention expenses and see your name in the convention program by becoming a Special Sponsor at the following levels: Silver, $5.00; Gold, $10; and platinum, $20. If you wish to place an advertisement in the convention program, rates are: business card-size, $25.00; half page, $75.00; and a full page, $100.00.

This convention promises to be exciting, challenging, enlightening and a vehicle where old friendships are rekindled and new friendships light up lives.

For more information, contact: Teresa Kruta, Convention Chairman, (405) 522-0892, E-Mail: tkruta@drs.state.ok.us or Vicky Golightly, Home: (405) 524-6227, Work: (405) 522-0526, E-Mail: vgolight@sbcglobal.net

Come and enjoy the fun, flavorful food, fabulous speakers, fascinating exhibits, fine treasures and formulate fond memories!

Your OCB Board Members

Officers

Randy Howard, President

Joe Fallin, First Vice-President

Julie Brantley, Second Vice-President

Elaine Boykin, Secretary

Paul Miller, Treasurer

Vicky Golightly, Public Relations Director

Members-At-Large

Judy Hansen

Jeanne Meyer

Jeri Cooper

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

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.

Newsletter Editor: Vicky Golightly,

(405) 524-6227; e-mail: vgolight@sbc.global.net

Website: www.okcb.org

Oklahoma Council of the Blind is an affiliate of the American Council of the Blind.

2005 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. Mail forms and checks to: Oklahoma Council of the Blind, P.O. Box 1476, Oklahoma City, OK 73101.

Name_____________________________________

Address ___________________________________

City _______________ State ______Zip _________

Work Phone ( ) ___________________________

Home Phone (___)___________________________

E-Mail _____________________________________

_______ Pre-registration by August 15

(entire

conference)…………………. $75.00

_______Registration after August 15

(entire

conference)…………………. $90.00

_______Registration for students

(Entire

conference)…………………. $50.00

_______One day Registration (Saturday,

Includes lunch) …………………………………. $30.00

_______Extra Banquet

Ticket………………………….. $25.00

_______Lunch only

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, (405) 522-0526 or e-mail at vgolight@sbcglobal.net or Convention Chairman Teresa Kruta, (405) 522-0982 or e-mail at tkruta@drs.state.ok.us

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