Annual Conference and Convention



California Council of the Blind

Annual

Conference and Convention

Program

April 10 - 13, 2014

"Celebrating 80 Years of Achievement, Advocacy and Accessibility"

Donna Pomerantz, President

Hosted By

California Council of the Blind

1303 J Street, Suite 400

Sacramento, CA 95814-2900

916-441-2100

800-221-6359

Local Conference and Convention Host

ACB Capitol Chapter, Sacramento, CA

Sacramento Arden West Hilton Hotel

2200 Harvard Street, Sacramento, CA 95815

Reservations: 800-445-8667

Local Number: 916-922-4700

With Sincere Thank You’s to

Our Silver Sponsors!

CCB Family and Friends,

Please join me in a heartfelt thank you to our

Silver Sponsors, Linda Dardarian and Lainey Feingold. It is truly an honor having you celebrate 80 Years of Achievement, Advocacy and Accessibility in

partnership with us through your continued active support!

Donna Pomerantz, President

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"Linda and Lainey congratulate the California Council of the Blind on 80 years of service and leadership in the blind community in California and beyond.  It has been our privilege to work with CCB and its members for the past twenty years."

 

Linda Dardarian

Goldstein, Borgen, Dardarian & Ho

info@

800-822-5000

 

Lainey Feingold

Law Office of Lainey Feingold



Table of Contents

General Information 2

Hotel Information and Amenities 3

Calendar of Events 6

Conference and Convention Program 10

Exhibitor List 29

Advertisement 32

CCB Officers, Directors and Committees 33

Hotel Description and Information. 38

Hotel Emergency Evacuation Procedures 45

General Information

If you require an assistive listening device for the general sessions or other special accommodations, please contact the CCB Registration Table.

Please wear your badge at all times during the Conference and Convention (badge with orange dot required for voting).

Donations of door prizes to be given throughout the Conference and Convention should be brought to the CCB Registration Table in the Lobby.

If your chapter plans to make a contribution to our scholarship or general fund during the Conference and Convention, you are urged to have a representative from your chapter present it at the Banquet.

If you would like to pay your member-at-large dues for 2014 or pay CCB Life Member dues, you may do so at the CCB Registration Table.

You may also sign up for the ACB Monthly Monetary Support Fund, from which, through automatic deductions, you can give CCB up to 50% of your monthly donation. If you are already an MMS contributor, you may also modify your existing MMS donation.

Hotel Information and Amenities

Hotel check in time is 3:00 PM. Check out time is 12 Noon. Later check out time is subject to hotel availability. Please inquire at the front desk.

Each guest room contains one bottle of shampoo, conditioner, lotion, mouthwash and a bar of facial soap located on the bathroom counter to the right of the sink. A bar of bath soap is located on the lip of the bathtub. Non-slip bathmats are available upon request, placed in each tub or on top of the commode (toilet).

Each room has a coffee maker located on the bathroom counter to the right of the sink or on a small half round table just before the T.V. Two coffee cups, pre-filtered coffee packets, sugar and creamer are also located near the coffee maker. All rooms have two bottles of water on a table next to the T.V. to the left of the TV stand. Bottled water is $6.00 plus tax for all guests. Bottled water complimentary for Hilton Honors Members.

Refrigerators are available upon request.

Each room has a hair dryer located in a cubby hole under the bathroom counter to the right, left of the sink. Iron and ironing boards in all guest rooms are located in the closet on the right hand side.

Guest room clock radios have preprogrammed buttons for local stations located in a semi circle on top of the clock radio. Moving clockwise, (left to right) they are Pop, Country, Jazz and News.

Hotel telephone instructions:

For your convenience what is to follow are instructions for reaching various departments within the Arden West Hilton.

The telephone on guest room night stands does not have pre-programmed buttons. Please dial “0" for the hotel operator, who can help CCB convention attendees with most anything in the hotel by contacting a specific department. Requests for items such as extra towels, toiletries, etc. can be handled through the Hotel Operator instead of contacting the Housekeeping Department.

To check Voicemail in your guest room: Dial “61” to retrieve your voicemail messages. Also, the telephone located on the desk has two rows of 5 buttons each located horizontally below the standard keypad. On the row that is directly under the keypad, the Voicemail Retrieval button is the farthest button on the right. Once this button is pressed, the computer voice will alert you to any voicemail messages you might have. If you do have a message, the computer voice will guide you through the process of what numbers to press to retrieve your messages.

To dial another guest room in the hotel: for guest rooms on floors 2 through 9, press 7 and the room number, for guest rooms on floors 10, 11 or 12, just dial the four digit room number.

Hotel Telephone Directory:

Housekeeping: 1607

Engineering Team: 1307

Engineering Chief: 1408

Front Desk: 1300

Bell Stand: 1303

Room Service: 1406

Harvard Street Grill Restaurant: 1404

Cameo Lounge: 1314

CCB Registration Table: 1708

CCB Volunteer Table: 1981

Hotel Transportation:

The Sacramento Arden West Hilton provides complimentary van transportation to the Arden Fair Mall on the top of the hour every hour the Mall is open.

Other Hotel Services:

The hotel has an outdoor pool, sauna, Jacuzzi Hot-tub and fitness facility as well as a self service business center and same day dry cleaning service. Please check with the front desk or front office manager or call the hotel operator for hours of operation and details about these and other hotel services.

Guest Room Internet:

The wired USB Cable for the internet is located on the desk. The price per connection is $9.95 per day.

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Calendar of Events

Wednesday, April 9, 2014

10:30 AM to 4 PM CCB Capitol Day.

Thursday, April 10, 2014

9:00 AM CCB Registration Table opens in the Lobby. Registration Table Phone: 1708

Volunteer Table Phone: 1981

12 Noon CCB Board Luncheon/Meeting. Tahoe/Shasta

2:30 PM Rehabilitation Committee Program. Brandywine

3:00 PM Welcome to Sacramento Party!

Presidential Parlor 12th Floor

4:00 PM CCCLV Program. Napa

5:30 PM Technology Committee Program. Tahoe/Shasta

7:30 PM Credentials Committee. Cabernet

9:00 PM Nominating Committee. Cabernet

Hospitality will be open from the close of the evening session to 1:00 AM.

1214 Presidential Parlor 12th Floor

Friday, April 11, 2014

7:00 AM CCB Women's Breakfast. Cabernet

8:00 AM CCB Resolutions Committee. Eureka

9:00 AM CCB Registration Table open. Lobby

9:00 AM BRLC Business Meeting. Eagle

9:00 AM CAT and CCCLV Joint Session. Tahoe/Shasta

9:00 AM - 4:30 PM Exhibits on display. Atrium

9:45 AM BRLC Speaker Meeting. Eagle

10:45 AM CLUA Business Meeting. Eagle

12:00 Noon BRLC/CLUA Luncheon. Eagle

1:30 PM First CCB General Session. Tahoe/Shasta

4:15 PM CCB Constitution and By-Laws Committee. Sierra

4:15 PM First Timer's Seminar. Tahoe/Shasta

4:15 PM CAT Business Session. Zinfandel

4:15 PM Publications Committee. Cabernet

5:15 PM Presidents’ Dinner. Eagle

7:00 PM Second CCB General Session. Tahoe/Shasta

9:40 PM Elections. Tahoe/Shasta

Hospitality open from the close of the General Session to 1:00 AM.

1214 Presidential Parlor 12th Floor

Resolutions Committee (if needed). Eureka

Saturday, April 12, 2014

7:00 AM CCB Membership Seminar Breakfast. Napa

8:00 AM GDUC Business Meeting. Sonoma

9:15 AM CCBS Business Meeting. Cabernet

9:00 AM Seniors with Vision Loss Committee Program. Chardonnay

10:00 AM GDUC Workshop. Sonoma

10:30 AM CCBS Workshop. Cabernet

10:30 AM CCCLV Program. Chardonnay

11:00 AM OCBA Business Meeting. Napa

12 Noon GDUC Luncheon. Sonoma

12 Noon OCBA Luncheon. Napa

1:30 PM Break Out Sessions/Tracks.

Track 1: Leadership. Tahoe/Shasta

Track 2: Employment and Leisure. Cabernet

4:30 PM Fundraising Committee. Chardonnay

4:30 PM Governmental Affairs Committee. Sonoma

4:30 PM Hearing and Vision Impaired Committee. Zinfandel

6:00 PM No Host "Attitude Adjustment Hour". Atrium

7:00 PM The CCB Banquet. Tahoe/Shasta

If needed, the CCB Resolutions Committee will meet directly after the Banquet. Eureka

Hospitality will be open from the close of the Banquet to 1:00 AM.

1214 Presidential Parlor 12th Floor

Sunday, April 13, 2014

7:30 AM Devotional Services. Tahoe/Shasta

8:30 AM CCB Business Session. Tahoe/Shasta

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Conference and Convention Program

Wednesday, April 9, 2014

10:30 AM Capitol Day.

Thursday, April 10, 2014

Pre-registration packets can be picked up at the CCB Registration Table in the Lobby from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

12 Noon California Council of the Blind Board Luncheon/Meeting. Tahoe/Shasta

Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend.

The purchase of lunch - for this meeting only - is optional. If you wish to partake of the luncheon please pre-register as you would for our other plated meals such as the Statewide Affiliate Lunches, Banquet and Breakfasts.

2:30 PM Rehabilitation Committee Program. Brandywine

Ed Crespin, Chair. "How to Get and Keep a Job".

Robert Schulenburg, Program Manager, Transition & Rehabilitation programs, Junior Blind of America, north.

Mr. Robert Schulenburg works with youth in transition in the areas of job skills acquisition and employment opportunities.

Mr. Schulenburg will discuss the importance of utilizing “soft skills” in becoming and remaining employed, staying successful in employment, and maintaining professionalism.

Richard Rueda, MA, Transition Specialist, Junior Blind of America, north Mr. Rueda has worked as a vocational rehabilitation counselor and specialized in the Summer Transition Employment Preparation program with the California School for the Blind, Fremont, CA. He has been instrumental in the development of the youth transition program for the Junior Blind of America, both in the Los Angeles and San Francisco areas. Richard Rueda will address some mistakes that interviewees and employees make, problems and issues that may arise, and how to overcome them.

Nellie Emerson, MA, Staff Services Manager I, Department of Rehabilitation, Riverside, CA.

Ms. Emerson has been employed in the Department of Rehabilitation as a counselor-teacher for the blind, a vocational counselor, and as a supervisor, currently managing under Blind Field Services Unit 9 in the Inland Empire. Nellie Emerson will address obstacles that get in the way of prospective employees and their abilities to be hired and remain employed.

Christy Crespin, LCSW, Vocational Services, Department of State Hospitals - Patton. Ms. Crespin has worked as a vocational rehabilitation counselor and currently works to assist patients in Patton State Hospital to obtain "soft skills" to allow them to both become gainfully employed and transition into a community setting. Christy Crespin will address reasons employees are not hired and/or are not able to remain employed, and what they can do to strengthen their “soft skills”.

Edward Crespin, MA, Qualified Rehabilitation Professional, Department of Rehabilitation, Blind Field Services, Unit 9. Mr. Crespin has worked as a counselor-teacher for the blind, and as a qualified rehabilitation professional with the Department of Rehabilitation in the Inland Empire. Ed Crespin will address the value of learning, utilizing, and maintaining “soft skills” as a part of working through the client-counselor relationship from application to case closure.

3:00 PM Welcome to Sacramento Party!

1214 Presidential Parlor 12th Floor

Hosted by ACB Capitol Chapter.

4:00 PM - 5:30 PM CCCLV Napa

Bernice Kandarian, President, Mountain View, CA. HIMS, Inc. James McCarthy President, Austin, TX. Introducing the E-Bot that adds a distance vision feature and OCR (reading aloud.)

Freedomvision Debby McCarthy, Mountain View, CA. A demonstration of the ever expanding selection of hand-held video magnifiers and other low vision devices.

5:30 PM - 7:30 PM Technology Committee. Tahoe/Shasta

Louis Herrera, Chair and Roger Petersen, Vice Chair. Technology Program. "Technology Session Accessing Off the Shelf Resources"

Speaker 1: Kimberly Cline, Regional Channel Manager, AI Squared, Las Vegas, Nevada.

Kimberly Cline will demonstrate the latest ZoomText functions and features using Microsoft Windows 8.1 and ZoomText Mac running on Mavericks. She will also demonstrate Image Reader, a complimentary OCR solution that is quite powerful and easy to use.

Fixing QuickBooks - Updating Legacy Software

Albert J. Rizzi, M.Ed. Founder and CEO, My Blind Spot Inc., Steve Clark, Principal, Adaptive Technology Svcs, John Martyn, Principal, Do It Blind. Updating mature software requires special attention to details. Discover how Intuit and My Blind Spot teamed up to make QuickBooks for Windows accessible, including QA, JAWS scripting, and many more discoveries.

If there are 30 people in attendance, there will be a drawing for ZoomText MAC; if there are 50 people in attendance, there will be a drawing for ZoomReader for IOS devices. You must be present to win. Drawing to be held immediately before the close of the Technology Committee Session.

7:30 PM - 8:30 PM Credentials Committee Meeting. Cabernet

Pamela Polagi, Chair.

9:00 PM Nominating Committee Meeting. Cabernet

Pamela Polagi, Chair.

Hospitality. 1214 Presidential Parlor 12th Floor

Hosted by ACB Capitol Chapter will be open from the close of the Nominations Committee meeting to 1:00 AM.

Friday, April 11, 2014

The CCB Registration Table in the Lobby, will be open from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM on Friday and 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM Saturday. Name badges are available at the Registration Table. Please wear your badge at all times during the Conference and Convention (badge with Orange Dot required for voting).

7:00 AM - 8:00 AM CCB Women's Breakfast. Cabernet

What could be better than starting your convention Friday with imagination, inspiration, innovation and insight? Join your women friends for an unforgettable breakfast. Women will be sharing their personal writings and favorite readings.

Exhibits will be on display in the Atrium from 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM, Friday and 9:00 AM to 2:30 PM, Saturday. Obbie Schoeman and Peter Pardini, Co-Chairs.

8:00 AM CCB Resolutions Committee. Eureka

Jeff Thom, Chair.

9:00 AM Braille Revival League of California (BRLC) Business Meeting. Eagle

Steve Fort, President.

9:00 AM Committee on Access and Transportation (CAT) and California Council of Citizens with Low Vision (CCCLV) Joint Session. Tahoe/Shasta

Eugene Lozano, Jr., Chair, CAT; Bernice Kandarian, President, CCCLV. "Accessible Transportation Resources: An Overview of Paratransit and Fixed-Route Services in Urban and Rural Settings".

Kristi McLaughlin, Training and Technical Assistance Specialist II, Easter Seals Project ACTION, Washington D.C. Kristi McLaughlin leads a number of training initiatives for Easter Seals Project ACTION. Kristi is an experienced trainer with extensive knowledge of the transportation provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Her background includes travel training, coordination planning, writing training curriculum and providing technical assistance regarding accessible transportation. Kristi began her career in transportation as a scheduling clerk at Bloomington Transit in Bloomington, Indiana. She has since worked as manager of the paratransit system in Bloomington and as general manager of the Niles Dial-A-Ride in Niles, Michigan. Kristi has a B.A. in Philosophy and a M.S. in Applied Health Science. A host of topics on accessible transportation will be discussed in this hands-on workshop. Learn about the paratransit eligibility process and operations, fixed-route transportation options, transit in rural areas, and other information on the transportation provisions of the ADA and the state of accessible transportation in our nation.

10:00 AM Braille Revival League of California (BRLC) Speaker’s Meeting. Eagle

Steve Fort, President.

BookShare Update Rob Turner. Rob Turner, President, Silicon Valley Council of the Blind Chapter, Sunnyvale, CA. Originally from Southern California, Rob Turner has been successfully employed as a computer programmer and is a longtime CCB member. Find out what new and innovative changes are occurring at Book Share along with programs old and new.

Braille Bee, Leena Dawes, Braille Instructor, Society for the Blind, Sacramento, CA. Leena Dawes is a member of CCB board of directors, board member and past president of California Council of Blind Students as well as a longtime CCB member. Also originally from Southern California, Leena currently teaches braille at the Society for the Blind in Sacramento. Join in the fun, testing your knowledge of contracted braille, Unified English Braille and how it all works.

10:45 AM California Library Users of America (CLUA) Business Meeting. Eagle

Judy Wilkinson, President. Mary Jane Kayes, Librarian, Braille and Talking Book Library, California State Library, Sacramento, CA, will give us the latest news from the BTBL.

12:00 Noon BRLC/CLUA Luncheon. Eagle

Judy Wilkinson, President, CLUA; Steve Fort, President, BRLC. Blind Californian Fun And Games! We'll conduct a brief survey about the BC. Don't worry if you've completed it elsewhere; your input still counts! But look for a few fun questions and yes, prizes. Also on the menu, Rob Turner will give us a brief BookShare update. Plenty of time for visiting with friends.

1:30 PM First CCB General Session. Tahoe/Shasta

Donna Pomerantz, CCB President presiding.

Invocation.

Pledge of Allegiance.

1:40 PM Welcome to Sacramento.

1:50 PM “Protect Yourself From Financial Fraud” Mark Leyes, Director of Communications, California Department of Business Oversight, Sacramento, CA. The California Department of Business Oversight’s Education & Outreach office alerts and educates Californians about financial and investment fraud, scams, and unscrupulous sales practices. The Department seeks to empower Californians by providing valuable information and resources so they can make well-informed financial decisions.

2:35 PM “The Quest for QuickBooks: How a small nonprofit and a corporate giant joined forces for greater accessibility” Albert Rizzi, Founder and CEO, My Blind Spot Inc., and Lori Samuels, Accessibility Program Manager, Intuit Inc., New York, NY. This presentation explores how My Blind Spot teamed up with Intuit, Inc., to ensure greater accessibility to QuickBooks. This collaboration succeeded in making QuickBooks compatible with screen reading technologies, significantly expanding career options in bookkeeping, accounting, etc., for the visually impaired. The presentation includes a demonstration of the accessible QuickBooks for Windows and a discussion of future accessibility initiatives.

3:20 PM “Covered California 101” Lindsay Petersen, Policy Analyst, External Affairs Group, Covered California, Sacramento, CA. The presentation will discuss affordable healthcare options available through Covered California and Medi-Cal, eligibility for financial assistance, health plan types, rates and subsidies, how to enroll, enrollment windows, and resources. It will also discuss efforts to make the Covered California website compatible with screen reading and magnification software.

4:05 PM Adjournment

4:15 PM CCB Constitution and By-Laws Committee. Sierra

Gabe Griffith, Chair.

4:15 PM First Timer's Seminar. Tahoe/Shasta

Ardis Bazyn, Chair. We invite all first timers or those who have not attended for some time to attend this session to learn about the California Council of the Blind and ask questions about us.

Speaker 1: Ardis Bazyn, Burbank, CA; First-timers Committee Chair and CCB Board Member.

Speaker 2: Mitch Pomerantz, Pasadena, CA; Committee Member and past CCB President.

4:15 PM Committee on Access and Transportation (CAT) Business Session. Zinfandel

Eugene Lozano, Chair Committee on Access and Transportation. An overview of architectural and transportation issues affecting persons with vision impairments. Also an opportunity for attendees to have an open discussion on architectural and transportation barrier issues of concern to them.

4:15 PM Publications Committee Meeting. Cabernet

5:15 PM Presidents’ Dinner. Eagle

We welcome all members to attend. You do not have to be a chapter or statewide affiliate president to attend our second Candidates' Forum. Please pre-register as the Presidents" dinner went over capacity at our last Conference and Convention.

7:00 PM Second CCB General Session. Tahoe/Shasta

Eugene Lozano, Jr., CCB First Vice President presiding.

7:05 PM Remembrance of CCB members who have passed away since the Fall 2013 Conference and Convention.

7:15 PM Credentials Committee Report, Pamela Polagi, Credentials Committee, Temple City, CA.

7:40 PM “Non-24 Hour Sleep-Wake Disorder: Overview of the Disorder and Treatment in People with No Light Perception”, Melissa Olivadoti, PhD, Medical Science Liaison, Vanda Pharmaceuticals, Washington DC.

Non-24 Hour Sleep-Wake Disorder (Non-24) may affect the majority of people without light perception. The body clock of people with Non-24 does not synchronize with the 24 hour day, leading to disrupted night time sleep and a drive for daytime sleep. This presentation will discuss Non-24 and new treatments available.

8:10 PM CCB Legislative Report, Jeff Thom, Chair, Governmental Affairs Committee, Sacramento, CA

8:40 PM American Council of the Blind Report, Ron Brooks, Member, Board of Publications, American Council of the Blind, Phoenix, Arizona.

9:10 PM President’s Report, Donna Pomerantz, President, California Council of the Blind, Pasadena, CA.

9:40 PM Elections. Tahoe/Shasta

The Resolutions Committee will meet at the close of the General Session. Eureka

Hospitality. 1214 Presidential Parlor 12th Floor

Hosted by the ACB Capitol Chapter will be open from the close of the General Session to 1:00 AM.

Saturday, April 12, 2014

7:00 AM CCB Membership Seminar Breakfast. Napa

Ardis Bazyn, CCB Membership Chair, Burbank, CA. David Jackson, CCB Membership Vice Chair, San Francisco, CA. "How do you promote your chapter to others?" Participants will share strategies they have used to get new members- flyers, brochures, visiting other groups, etc.

8:00 AM Guide Dog Users of California (GDUC) Business Meeting. Sonoma

Frank Welte, President

9:00 AM Seniors with Vision Loss Committee Program. Chardonnay

Vickie Parker, Chair. Navigate the path to benefits:

In Home Support Services for Seniors with Vision Loss. The program will contain a panel discussion from professionals and consumers which will provide an understanding and overview of IHSS. Teddie-Joy Remhild and Frances Smith, Executive Director, Yolo County Public Authority for IHSS will begin the program. Jeff Thom will provide a legislative update. Jane Kardas will discuss IHSS from a consumers point of view.

9:15 AM California Council of Blind Students (CCBS) Business Meeting. Cabernet

Leena Dawes, President. Come and be involved in our growing student affiliate. We will be discussing a social planned for this year, amendments to the Constitution, and we will be holding elections for a vice-president and a treasurer.

10:00 AM – 11:45 AM Guide Dog Users of California (GDUC) Workshop. Sonoma

“Pamper Your Pooch”, Dog Massage Techniques Workshop – Carla Campbell, EBW ESMT, Professional Canine and Equine Body worker. Come join us for this hands-on workshop to learn the techniques of providing your guide dog with a relaxing massage. Carla demonstrates and explains how to complete a massage from nose to tail. Participants will be working with their dogs on the floor. Carla will also be available for private dog massage sessions. Call (650) 678-0884.

10:30 AM – 12 Noon California Council of Blind Students (CCBS) Workshop. Cabernet

Leena Dawes, President. Notetakers vs Apple products: Are Notetakers on Their Way Out? Leena Dawes is a Communications Instructor at Society for the Blind. She is a Braille Sense user and an iPhone user.

Lisa Cushman, Board Member, California Council of Blind Students, San Leandro, CA. Lisa is currently a counselor at the Orientation Center for the Blind. She too is a user of both the iPhone and a notetaker (a BrailleNote in this case).

Have you been wondering what would be the fate of the Braille notetakers with the rise of technology such as the iPhone and iPad? We all have different opinions. Come weigh in as two of our board members, experienced technology users, debate this important question.

10:30 – 12 Noon California Council of Citizens with Low Vision (CCCLV) Chardonnay

Bernice Kandarian, President. The Future of Braille, Large Print and Audio Publications

Facilitator: Annette Carter, Member, CCB Publications Committee, Clovis, CA

Ron Brooks, Member, ACB Board of Publications, Phoenix, AZ

Susan Glass, Editor, SVCB In Touch, Saratoga, CA

Roger Petersen, Second Vice President, CCB, Mountain View, CA

A round table discussion about making publications accessible for everyone. Cost of Braille and large print; pending disappearance of cassettes; computer users and non-computer users.

11:00 AM Orientation Center for the Blind Alumni (OCBA) Business Meeting. Napa

Judy Wilkinson, President. All OCB Alumni and friends of OCB are invited. We will elect officers, discuss the constitution and have good news from the Treasurer.

12 Noon GDUC Luncheon. Sonoma

Come join us for lunch and hear updates from the various California guide dog schools.

12 Noon Orientation Center for the Blind Alumni (OCBA) Luncheon. Napa

Rosa Gomez, Administrator, Orientation Center for the Blind, Albany, CA.

All OCB Alumni and friends of OCB are invited. Rosa Gomez, OCB administrator will once again talk with us about the doings at the Center.

You won't want to miss this charming, dynamic presenter.

1:30 PM 3rd General Session

In the attempt to address the changing program needs of the attendees, the 3rd General Session has been canceled for this Conference and Convention.

The 3rd General Session is being replaced by offering two concurrent Tracks addressing employment and leadership development.

After the 2014 Conference and Convention, a decision will be made whether to resume having the traditional 3rd General Session or permanently replacing this portion of the program with a variety of Tracks. What is to follow is information regarding the two Track offerings.

1:30 PM – 4 PM

Leadership Track One: Tahoe/Shasta

Tools and Tips for Leadership Success

Moderator: Jeff Thom, Immediate Past President, California Council of the Blind, Sacramento, CA

Presenters:

1. Communication Workshop: Leena Dawes, Member, Board of Directors; President, Butte County Chapter, California Council of the Blind, Sacramento, CA

2. Leadership Responsibilities Workshop: Ardis Bazyn, Member, Board of Directors; President, Glendale-Burbank Area Chapter, California Council of the Blind, Burbank, CA

Peter Pardini, Treasurer, California Council of the Blind, Mill Valley, CA

Mitch Pomerantz, Immediate Past President, American Council of the Blind, Pasadena, CA

Frank Welte, President, San Francisco Chapter, California Council of the Blind, San Leandro, CA

Participants will learn about improving communication in their organizations, the responsibilities of each chapter and statewide affiliate officer and board member, and the skills required for statewide leaders. Registration limit: 36 participants.

1:30 PM – 4 PM

Employment Track Two: Cabernet

Information About Work and Play

Presenters:

Dan Smith, CCB Representative, Conference and Convention Committee California Council of the Blind, San Lorenzo, CA

Janice Walth, Competitive Archer, Adaptive Technology Trainer/Instructor, Lodi, CA

Other presenters to be announced

A panel presentation of the employment trends for persons with visual impairments who may also have other disabilities. Followed by a presentation on the pros and cons of disclosing one’s visual impairment during the job and volunteer seeking process. The track will end with a presentation regarding related leisure activities for the blind and visually impaired.

4:30 PM Fundraising Committee. Chardonnay

John Ross, Chair and Ken Metz, Vice-Chair.

4:30 PM Governmental Affairs Committee. Sonoma

Jeff Thom, Chair.

4:30 PM Hearing and Vision Impaired Committee. Zinfandel

David Hanlon, Chair. Meeting chaired by Committee member, Roger Petersen.

6:00 PM No Host "Attitude Adjustment Hour". Atrium

7:00 PM The CCB Banquet. Tahoe/Shasta

Banquet Emcee, Ron Brooks, American Council of the Blind, Board of Publications Member, Phoenix, AZ. Invocation, Pastor Reverend Don Lee, First United Methodist Church, Sacramento, CA. Guest speaker: Albert J. Rizzi, Founder and CEO, My Blind Spot Inc. An Inspirational Journey: Moving Through Uncertainty While Overcoming Barriers!

Join us as we celebrate a chapter charter, hear from some of our life members, celebrate those we honor with awards, raffles, prizes, and you never know what other surprises are in store.

If needed, the CCB Resolutions Committee will meet directly after the Banquet. Eureka

Hospitality will be open from the close of the Banquet to 1:00 AM.

1214 Presidential Parlor 12th Floor

Sunday, April 13, 2014

7:30 AM Devotional Services. Tahoe/Shasta

8:30 AM CCB Business Session. Tahoe/Shasta

This final session will include:

CCB Treasurer's Report and reports from the Constitution and By-Laws Committee, Resolutions Committee, as well as reports from other CCB Committees as time permits. The meeting and the Conference and Convention will adjourn at 12:00 Noon.

Exhibitor List

ACB Capitol Chapter, CCB

Access Ingenuity, Santa Rosa, CA.

Adaptive Tech Services, San Francisco, CA.

Baum Retec, Inc. Methun, MA.

Braille Revival League of California.

California Council of the Blind

California Library Users.

CA Telephone Access Program, Sacramento, CA.

Empco-Lite, Elgin, IL.

Enabling Technologies, Jensen Beach, FL.

En-Vision America, Inc, Elgin, IL.

Glendale Burbank Chapter, CCB

Greater Long Beach Chapter, CCB

Guide Dog Users of California

Guide Dogs for the Blind, San Rafael, CA.

Guiding Eyes for the Blind, Yorktown Hts., NY.

Guide Lights & Gadgets, Boston, MA.

Hamilton Relay, Sacramento, CA.

HIMS, Inc., Austin, TX.

Humanware USA. Champlain, NY.

Mary Kay, Mirada, CA.

San Francisco Corner Store

Society for the Blind, Sacramento, CA.

Speed Dots, Sacramento, CA

Sterling Adaptives, Novato, CA.

Western Pacific Signal, San Leandro, CA.

GUIDE DOGS CRUISE CALIFORNIA COAST

7 Nights - Star Princess®

Roundtrip San Francisco

October 11-18, 2014

You are invited to bring your guide dog, friends and

family on a 7-day voyage along the California Coast

& Mexico aboard the Star Princess®. There will be four ports to visit and two sea days for relaxing and shipboard fun.

The ship offers deluxe staterooms, fine dining, bars, swimming pools, spa & fitness center, casino and exciting entertainment.

Experienced escort Andi Cercos will host the cruise. There will be a private safety drill, ship orientation tour, pet lifejackets, reserved theatre seating, relieving area for the dogs and play time space. PDF menus are available with advance request.

ITINERARY: San Francisco, At Sea, Ensenada

(Mexico), Long Beach, San Diego, Santa Barbara,

At Sea and San Francisco.

CRUISE RATES: From $799*per person!

Andi Cercos at DIMENSIONS IN TRAVEL

350 Ignacio Blvd., Suite 201, Novato, CA 94949

800-828-2962 or 415-883-3245

andi@

*Fare is cruise-only, per person, for a Category ID inside stateroom, based on double occupancy, capacity controlled and subject to availability. Airfare, government fees/taxes of $135 and pier transfers are additional. Ship registry: Bermuda. CST#1001493-10

CCB Officers, Directors and Committees

CCB Officers

Donna Pomerantz, President

Eugene Lozano Jr., 1st Vice President

Roger Petersen, 2nd Vice President

Judy Wilkinson, Secretary

Peter Pardini, Treasurer

Jeff Thom, Immediate Past President

Directors

Ardis Bazyn

Vincent Calderon

Leena Dawes

David Hanlon

David Jackson

Linda Porelle

John Ross

Robert Wendt

Vita Zavoli

CCB Committees

Advocacy Committee:

Don Roberts, Pete Romero, Dan Smith, Bernice Kandarian.

Awards Committee:

Roger Petersen, Chair; Susan Hyatt, Mary Beth Randall, Michael Williams.

Committee on Access and Transportation:

Eugene Lozano, Jr., Chair; Warren Cushman, David Jackson.

Committee on Employment Assistance:

Mitch Pomerantz, Chair; Andy Baracco, Patricia Leetz, Sharlene Ornelas, Don Queen.

Conference and Convention Committee:

Eugene Lozano, Jr., Chair; Margie Donovan, Peter Pardini, Paul Patche Jr., Dan Smith, Jeff Thom.

Constitution and By-laws Committee:

Gabe Griffith, Chair; David Jackson, Dr. Gerald Konsler, Charles Nabarrete, Roger Petersen, Mary Beth Randall.

Credentials Committee:

Pamela Polagi, Chair; Steve Fort.

Crisis Committee:

Lee Morton, Chair; Christy Crespin, Leslie Thom.

Devotional Services Committee:

Gussie Morgan, Chair; Brad Hogarty, Dr. Martin Jones, Obbie Schoeman, Debra Thompson, Michael Williams.

Domestic Violence & Hate Crimes Committee:

Pam Metz, Chair; Nellie Emerson, Jane Kardas, Debbie Kessler, Mike Keithley, Andrea Pitsenbarger, Linda Samulski.

Education Committee:

Joni Patche, Chair; Leena Dawes, Vice Chair;

Connie Bateman, Warren Cushman, Lisa Cushman, Keith Johnson, Erik Smiley, Leslie Thom.

Finance & Budget Committee:

Vincent Calderon, Chair; Kevin Berkery, Charles Dorris, Charles Nabarrete, Peter Pardini, Rex Ransom, Jeff Thom.

First Timer's Committee:

Ardis Bazyn, Chair; Eric Calhoun, Leena Dawes, Debra Thompson.

Fund Raising Committee:

John Ross, Chair; Ken Metz, Vice-Chair;

Steve Fort, Sharlene Ornelas, Peter Pardini, Obbie Schoeman, Elena Thomason.

Governmental Affairs Committee:

Jeff Thom, Chair; Andy Baracco, Ardis Bazyn, Warren Cushman, Leena Dawes, Steve Fort, Roy Harmon, Louis Herrera, Jane Kardas, Steven Mendelsohn, Charles Nabarrete, Dirk Neyhart, Allen Ramos, Teddie-Joy Remhild, Robert Wendt.

Hearing and Vision Impaired Committee:

David Hanlon, Chair; Jeana Hanlon, Hazel Harmon, Roy Harmon, Mike Keithley, Cathy Kirscher, Roger Petersen, Donna Sanchez.

History Committee:

Catherine Skivers, Chair; Al Gil, Chris Gray, Bernice Kandarian, Gussie Morgan, Don Queen, Joe Smith.

Investment Committee:

(Undergoing reorganization).

Membership Committee:

Ardis Bazyn, Chair; David Jackson, Vice Chair;

Mike Keithley, Silvia Lopez, Ken Metz, Vita Zavoli.

Nominating Committee:

Pamela Polagi, Chair; Members are chosen by the Chapters and Statewide Special Interest Affiliates.

Personnel Committee:

Jeff Thom, Co-Chair; Eugene Lozano Jr., Co-Chair; Jerry Arakawa, Dr. Martin Jones, Peter Pardini, Mitch Pomerantz.

Public Relations Committee: (Undergoing Reorganization) Leena Dawes, Charles Nabarrete.

Publications Committee:

Linda Porelle, Chair; Judy Wilkinson, Editor.

Annette Carter, Susan Glass, Mike Keithley, Roger Petersen, Bonnie Rennie, Donna Sanchez, Dr. Catherine Schmitt Whitaker.

Rehabilitation Services Committee:

Ed Crespin, Chair; Elmer Chapson, Casey Cook, Nellie Emerson, Therese Gardener, Patricia Leetz, Alice McGrath, Ken Metz, Charles Nabarrete, Don Queen, Richard Rueda.

Resolutions Committee:

Jeff Thom, Chair; Leena Dawes, Vice Chair;

Gabe Griffith, Eugene Lozano, Jr., Dirk Neyhart, Linda Porelle, Dan Smith, Robert Wendt.

Scholarship Committee:

Robert Wendt, Chair; Vincent Calderon, Christy Crespin, Leena Dawes, Dr. Martin Jones, Dr. Gerry Konsler.

Seniors with Vision Loss Committee:

Vickie Parker, Chair; Bonnie Rennie, Jean Ackerman, Janet Carmichael, Charlotte Criddell, Jane Kardas, Gussie Morgan, Linda Porelle.

Technical Operations Group:

Vita Zavoli, Chair; Steven Aminoff, Greg Fowler, Jeremy Johansen, Mike Keithley, Phil Obregon, Paul Patche Jr.

Technology Committee:

Louis Herrera, Chair; Roger Petersen, Vice Chair; Vince Calderon, Mike Keithley, Andrea Pitsenbarger, Stephanie Rood, Robert Wendt.

Hotel Description and Information.

Hotel Information

The hotel facilities consist of the main hotel building, the swimming pool area, and the former health club building. These buildings and spaces are positioned in an in-line pattern with a west to east orientation in the order that they are listed. The hotel building complex is completely encircled by its parking lots and there is no direct or easy access to the public street by pedestrians.

Main Hotel Building

General

The building is a rectangular structure consisting of a single story (general circulation area) with a 12-story tower on the south side of the structure. The generally rectangle shaped first floor has its short sides in an east-west orientation and its long sides in a north-south orientation.

All of the hotel rooms, restrooms, exits, and spaces have tactile signs with raised print and Braille. Breakout rooms have tactile signs with a digital reader board display component. A digital reader board visually provides information as to the times and functions that will occur in these rooms each day.

Primary Front Entrance

The primary front entrance is on the west side of the building. It opens onto a raised sidewalk with one curb ramp that is aligned with the doors. To enter or exit the hotel's front entry, you must walk through a vestibule with 2 non-automatic single doors and an automatic double door between them at each end of the vestibule.

First Floor Description

The first floor can be subdivided into three rectangles lying side-by-side with their long ends running in a west to east direction. From outside, facing the west side or front of the building, going left to right, the first rectangle consists of meeting rooms and the restaurant, which open into the middle rectangle. The middle rectangle can be subdivided horizontally into two squares. The first square is the lobby and bar in the front of the hotel and the second square is the Atrium/Solarium, which is in the rear of the building. The third and right-most rectangle consists of meeting rooms, hotel offices, hallways, and elevators that go to the 12-story tower.

In Depth Description of First Floor

When you enter the western or front entrance of the hotel, you are in the lobby with its marbled floor looking toward the rear of the building. From where you are standing, you are given two routes for accessing most of the hotel. The path of travel through the lobby is shaped like the print letter "U", with the front door at the bottom of the "U." The two upper ends lead to the entryways to the Atrium/Solarium at the rear of the building. A few feet in front of you, in the inner portion of the "U", you will find a carpeted seating area with chairs, tables, and a fireplace, which faces the front door. Behind the fireplace is the Cameo Bar. It is on a raised platform that can be accessed by stairs or a ramp (north side of bar).

From the west entrance, as you walk to the rear of the lobby, along the north wall you will find the following: Harvard Street Grill entrance, Business Center; then a SKIDATA parking lot ticket payment vending machine; Brandywine Room (one entrance); Women's and

Men’s Restrooms, and double doors leading into an employees’ only area. At this point, if you continue walking, you will leave the lobby and enter the Atrium/Solarium, which will be described in more detail later.

Back at the front entrance of the hotel, if you turn right you will encounter the Bellmen's desk and will have to make a left turn to walk parallel with the south wall of the lobby. Along the south wall of the lobby you will find the following: a hallway leading to two (2) glass elevators to the tower rooms, front registration desk, gift shop, Hilton Fitness Center exit (no signage) and a hallway leading to the first floor of the tower (a.k.a. the third rectangle). At this point, if you continue toward the rear of the hotel, you will leave the lobby and enter the Atrium/Solarium area.

When you enter the Atrium/Solarium, you will find yourself in an approximately square shaped room that is carpeted. The Atrium/Solarium has exit doors at the east or rear side of the building, which open onto the swimming pool area. As you enter the Atrium/Solarium from the lobby area, the following rooms can be found on the north or left side: Shasta (one entrance), Tahoe (one entrance), Berryessa (one entrance) and Eagle (one entrance). You will find a tactile sign/digital reader board on the left side of each of the double door entrances of these rooms.

When all the room dividers are retracted from these four rooms they are then considered the Grand Ballroom. On the south or right wall running from the common wall between the lobby and the Atrium/Solarium to the swimming pool area, the following meeting rooms can be found: Chardonnay (2 entrances), Cabernet (2 entrances) and Zinfandel (2 entrances). There is a single tactile sign/digital reader board for each room that is placed between the two entrances. As you pass the Zinfandel Room and walk through a set of glass double doors and walk toward the exit that takes you to the swimming pool area, you will find a partial wall to your left that separates you from the remainder of the Atrium/Solarium. On your right-hand side is the opening to a hallway that leads to the east or rear elevators, and the first floor of the tower or the third rectangle.

Starting again at the front entrance and turning right, walk past the Bellman's desk and you will enter the third rectangle (a.k.a. the first floor of the tower). Immediately upon entering the west front elevator hallway you will pass the following on your right hand side: two glass elevators, a staircase, and a secondary front entry door. On the left side, across from the elevators, you will find a talking ATM machine.

If you make a left turn and walk eastward, you will find the following on the left hand side of the hallway: one unmarked locked door, front office, another unmarked door, entrance to the Hilton Fitness Center, Women’s and Men’s Restrooms, the second hallway from the lobby, the Chardonnay Room (one entrance), Cabernet Room (one entrance), Zinfandel Room (one entrance) and the east rear elevator hallway. The Chardonnay, Cabernet and Zinfandel Rooms have a tactile sign/digital reader board on the left side of each of the double door entrances. If you start down the hallway from the front of the hotel and walk eastward, you will find the following on the right side of the hallway: Executive Office (which is locked), Sales and Catering, hallway to south side exit, Sonoma (1 entrance), Napa (1 entrance), Merlot (1 entrance), Board Room (1 entrance), stairwell, and exit to delivery dock. The Sonoma, Napa, Merlot and Board Rooms have a tactile sign/digital reader board on the left side of each of the double door entrances. At this point, if you make a left turn, you will enter the east or rear elevator hallway that also leads to the Atrium/Solarium. This completes the description of the first floor plan.

Tower

Unlike the first floor, which was described in the preceding paragraph, the second through the 12th floors have one corridor that is intersected at both ends by a short dead-end corridor. This is where the west or front and the east or rear elevators are contained with their accompanying stairwells. On the second through 12th floors are guest rooms and ice machine rooms. Vending machine rooms are located on odd floors only. Vending machine rooms (located at the end of the main hallway near the rear elevators).

In addition, on the second and 12th floors you will find more meeting rooms. The second floor has three meeting rooms, the Eureka 219, Natomas 221, and Sierra 229. There are no public restrooms on the Second Floor.

On the 12th floor, walking from the front of the tower to the rear, the first room on the right hand side is the Concierge Lounge Room 1204. Immediately to the left of Room 1204 is a unisex bathroom. Turning to your left and then right down the corridor on the right is the Presidential Parlor, room 1214, This is where the CCB Hospitality suite is located.

This is the end of the description of the main hotel building.

Other Hotel Facilities

By using the exterior exit doors Atrium/Solarium, or hallway to rear/east elevators you can access the swimming pool area, unmarked storage facility health club building, and dog relieving area, which are east of the main hotel building.

Swimming Pool Area:

The swimming area is a large concrete rectangular patio with an hourglass shaped swimming pool in its center and an in-ground Jacuzzi to the left. Warning: There is no fencing encircling either the pool or Jacuzzi. When you are standing with your back to the main hotel building, the north or left side of the patio is bordered with a fence and a wood gate leading to a parking lot. On the south or right side of the pool is a non-functioning pay telephone on a wall and a flower bed. Directly in front of you on the opposite side of the swimming pool are the entrances into the various rooms making up the former health club building which is now a storage facility not open to the public. However, the men’s and women’s restrooms that are part of this building are available to the public.

Guide Dog Relieving Area:

Exit the rear of the main hotel building, find the south or right side of the swimming pool area, and walk toward and beyond the building through the wood gate. NOTE: You will need your hotel room key to re-enter the pool area between 11:00 pm and 6:00 am. Also, the gate is very heavy. After passing the building you will find the dog relieving area to the right. NOTE: The grassy area to the left is not to be used as a relieving area. Also, there is no fence separating the relieving area and the parking lot. There will be a large trash can and plastic bags doggie deposit station at the corner of this area. If you continue down the sidewalk another 40 yards you come to the asphalt parking area with a guide dog relief area to the right once you step off the curb. There is a trash can and waste bags there also.

Disclaimer:

The above narrative description of the Sacramento Arden West Hilton Hotel is to be considered only as a general overview and not an exhaustive in-depth description of the facilities.

Hotel Emergency Evacuation Procedures

Fire Exits:

For your personal safety, please note where each exit is located upon arrival. All floors/rooms are equipped with diagrams/locations of various fire exits, which are located at the end of each hallway. Each exit is labeled with a raised print and Braille sign. The two stairways are located on the East and West end of each hotel floor. The emergency exit on the east end of the hallways (higher room numbers) leads onto a small balcony. The staircase entrance is to the right of the Exit door. Both stairways exit outside the building on the main grounds. There are two (2) fire extinguishers located in each hallway. They are in white metal cabinets. All cabinets are located on the north-side (odd room numbers side) of the hallways. They are mounted on the wall to the right side of the 07 and 25 room entrances on each floor. The cabinet door handle is 40 inches above the floor on the right side of the cabinet opening towards the left. There are two (2) fire alarm manual pull stations, which are red in color, with the center point of the device mounted 52 inches above the carpeted floor; one (1) at each end of the hallway to the right of the stairway exit door.

Our Banquet rooms are located on the main level floor. The fire exits are located at each end and in the middle of the hallway that runs between the small meeting room entrances and hotel offices on the south side of the building, as well as at the back of the main ball room on the east side of the building and in front of the restaurant on the west side of the building. All exits are marked with illuminated green Exit Signs throughout the hotel. Each exit is also labeled with a raised print and Braille sign.

Alarm/Evacuation Procedures:

Our fire alarm makes a high-pitched sound. The elevators will not be in working order once the alarm is activated. If the alarm is activated, we recommend that you stay in your guestroom or in the meeting room. Our hotel staff will investigate right away the cause of the fire alarm. Our hotel staff will determine if it is a false alarm or if evacuation is necessary and will advise hotel guests accordingly through the PA system.

If evacuation is necessary, every attempt will be made for a member of our staff to assist you in exiting the hotel. All hotel guests with visual impairments will be noted by the front desk, and special assistance would immediately be deployed to their hotel room or meeting rooms.

If you detect fire or smoke, notify the operator by dialing “0”, or pull the nearest fire alarm manual pull station.

If you must leave the room, feel the door to see if it is hot. If it is not hot, open the door slightly to look and listen to determine if you can make it to the stairways. Stay low to the floor and take your room key. Do not use the elevator. Proceed to the nearest stairway and exit on the ground floor. Then proceed to the meeting area in the front of the hotel. If unable to exit your room because of fire or smoke: (a) Close the door and seal it with a wet towel (b) Notify the operator by dialing “0”. (c) Stay near the window until help arrives but do not open the window.

We ask that our guests assemble in front of the hotel in the parking lot facing the main entrance. There will be members of our staff at this location to account for all guests and to inform our guests when it is safe to re-enter the hotel.

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