Welcome to the 57th annual convention of the Florida Council of the Blind at the Crowne Plaza Jacksonville Airport Hotel 14670 Duval Road Jacksonville, FL 32218 May 20 – 23, 2010 Dedicated to the memory of those members and friends of the Florida Council of the Blind who are departed but not forgotten. FCB Officers Debbie Grubb, President Bradenton, FL Robert Miller, First Vice-President Tallahassee, FL John Richards, Second Vice-President Cordele, GA Patti Land, Treasurer Orlando, FL Sharon Youngs, Recording Secretary Palm Harbor, FL Sally Benjamin, Membership Secretary Tallahassee, FL Paul Edwards, Immediate Past President Miami, FL FCB gratefully acknowledges the generosity of the Florida Association of Agencies Serving the Blind, (FAASB) for underwriting the cost of Brailling our 2010 Convention Program. Convention Registration Times Thursday, May 20th, 2010 – 3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. This registration period will only be for those who will be attending the dinner cruise this evening. Friday, May 21st, 2010 – 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Saturday, May 22nd, 2010 – 8:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Room: Lobby Area Thursday, May 20th, 2010 5:30 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. – Dinner Cruise aboard the Annabelle Lee You must be pre-registered to attend. Bus departs from the hotel lobby at 5:30 p.m. and returns at approximately 10:00 p.m. Friday, May 21st, 2010 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. – Convention Registration Room: Lobby Area 8:45 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. – Guide Dog Users of Florida Meeting and Luncheon Join special interest affiliate, Guide Dog Users of Florida (GDUF) for their annual meeting and lunch. Following the meeting Jay Stiteley from The Seeing Eye will host an exciting and informative 2-part workshop for anyone who wants to enhance their ability to travel independently. Veni, Non-vidi, Vici – Effective independent travel is greatly enhanced through the development of mental mapping skills. This 60 minute workshop focuses on developing a strategy for organizing information and building mental maps, thereby strengthening independent travel skills. Small group exercises help detail the progression from concept to daily application. The Independent Airport Traveler – The airport can be a challenging travel environment for a person who is blind or visually impaired. This 60 minute workshop addresses skills and techniques important to the orientation and navigation of the airport environment. This workshop focuses on techniques for soliciting information, locating security checkpoints, specific departure gates, restaurants, washrooms and ground transportation. Although this program option is a part of the Convention of Guide Dog Users of Florida, a special interest affiliate of FCB, all convention attendees are welcome to participate in this exciting program. (You must be pre-registered to receive the boxed lunch.) Room: Garden and Azalea Rooms 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. – Exhibits Open A visit to the Exhibit Hall is a must for attendees as it presents lots of educational, challenging, fun and new gadgets, technology devices and much, much more. Room: Garden Ballroom Foyer and Fern Room 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. – Technology One on One FCB's Technology Committee will again be offering personal assistance and instruction. Come visit them for one on one assistance with your specific technology needs and questions. Sign up is on a first come, first served basis. Room: Montgomery Room (near hospitality suite) Additional Technology Time Slots Friday Afternoon: 1:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Saturday Morning: 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Saturday Afternoon: 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. – Resolutions Committee Meeting: Jesus Garcia, Chairman Room: Columbia Room 1:00 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. – 2 Workshop Choices   FCB Annual Legislative Seminar Those interested in the state and national legislative agenda will enjoy participating in the annual Legislative Seminar hosted by Paul Edwards, FCB's Immediate past president, with special guest, Senator Stephen Wise from Jacksonville. Room: Garden and Azalea Rooms OR 2010 Employment Workshop Those searching for employment opportunities will hear from Suzy Hipple, Chair of the Employment Committee and enjoy participating in an informative and open forum. You will have the opportunity to learn about and discuss such topics as; employment statistics among the visually impaired population, networking, putting potential employers at ease, preparing for the job interview, internet resources and participant questions. We invite both working and non-working attendees to come and share ideas. Room: Camellia Room 1:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. – Technology One on One Room: Montgomery Room (near hospitality suites) 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. – Registration Room: Lobby Area 2:45 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. – Break 3:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. – Constitution & Bylaws Committee Jim Kracht, Chair Each chapter with a Constitution or Bylaws being considered by the committee must send a representative to this meeting. Room: Camellia Room 3:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. – Credentials Committee Sally Benjamin, Chair Each chapter must send a representative to this meeting. This is where each chapters’ delegates will be determined and any questions may be answered regarding voting and seating etc. Room: Garden and Azalea Rooms 3:45 p.m. – 4:45 p.m. – First-Timers Workshop Is this your first convention? WELCOME! We are tickled to have you here and look forward to meeting you! We have a meeting especially for you on Friday, hosted by long-timers, Patti Land, FCB Treasurer, and Paul Edwards, FCB Immediate Past President. This workshop will explain who the FCB is, its mission and history, as well as answer questions that you have about the FCB or the convention. All first timers’ must attend with their chapter representative. Room: Garden and Azalea Rooms 5:00 p.m. – 5:45 p.m. – Pre-Convention Board Meeting This is a meeting of the FCB Board of Directors that all are invited to attend. Get ready for the business meeting by having a better idea of issues being considered by the Board. All Board Representatives must attend this meeting. Room: Garden and Azalea Rooms 6:00 p.m. – 6:15 p.m. Nominating Committee – Chair to be elected at Pre Convention Board Meeting. Each chapter must designate one representative who will serve on this committee, and all representatives must attend this meeting. The meeting is closed to non-committee members, and the doors will be closed at 6:00. Room: Camellia Room 6:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. – Awards and Scholarship Dinner Hosted by Linda Jacobson, FCB’s Awards Committee Chair and Sunshine its self, Linda and her committee will bring fun and suspense to this meal while presenting honored awards to deserving recipients. Barbara Grill, Chair of the Scholarship committee will also announce and present scholarship winners from both FCB and FCCLV. Room: Garden Ballroom 9:30 – 11:30 p.m. – Welcome to Jax Party The good times don’t stop at dinner. Join us at the Welcome to Jacksonville party hosted by the Jacksonville and Clay County Council chapters. Meet, greet and be seen. This is an excellent event to end a busy day and a must for those who love spending time with friends, making new ones and who just want to have a great time and party down in Jax! Room: Atlanta Room (hospitality suite) Saturday, May 22nd, 2010 8:15 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. – 57th Annual State Convention Opening Ceremonies Saturday morning’s short business meeting will formally open our Convention. Directly following, special guest, Dianne Ketts, an O&M Specialist with Lighthouse Central Florida will present an interesting and informative workshop on all aspects of community access. She will discuss the latest trends in intersection design and accessible pedestrian signals. Helpful information regarding working with municipal officials will be offered as well as hints for moving about independently with cane or guide dog. Room: Garden and Azalea Rooms 8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. – Exhibits Open Room: Garden Ballroom Foyer and Fern Room 8:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. – Convention Registration Room: Lobby Area 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. – Technology One on One Room: Montgomery Room (near hospitality suite) 10:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. – Break 10:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. – 4 Workshop Choices Library Users Workshop Jane Karp from the Bureau of Braille and Talking Book Library Services will bring you the latest news from the Library that so enriches all of our lives. You will hear about the current status of the digital book program and receive hands-on tutoring on downloading books from the digital book website. Room: Columbia Room OR Grant Writing, Publicity, Outreach and More Workshop Barbara Ross, Executive Director of Lighthouse of the Big Bend, experienced grant writer and volunteer recruiter, and Jeff Thom, President of the California Council of the Blind, with much expertise in grant writing and resource development in terms of funding and in-kind services and volunteer recruitment, will teach you about grant writing, volunteer recruitment, publicity, local advocacy and outreach opportunities. Room: Garden and Azalea Rooms OR Exercise Made Fun Workshop If you would like to exercise but hate the idea of visiting a gym, visit Leslie Spoone. Leslie, the ultimate motivator will teach you a fun, simple but effective program of exercises that you can do in the privacy of your own home. If you're interested in yoga or pilates, she can assist you with those as well. You’ll leave with an exercise band and other little goody bag surprises as well as a new way to look at the “E” word. Room: Atlanta Room OR Guide Dog Users Workshop There will be a special program presented by Lukas Franck from the Seeing Eye during which you will have the opportunity to learn about and discuss many aspects of working a guide dog. Some of the issues to be covered in this presentation are: reading your dog, responding to what your dog is telling you, habits that long time guide dog users discover they've gotten into once they return to guide dog school, signs that retirement of a beloved guide dog is in your future and working with your successor dog. There will be plenty of opportunity for discussion and questions. Room: Camellia Room 12:20 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. – Lunch on your own 1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. – Annual Town Hall Meeting After lunch, meet Joyce Hildreth, Director of the Division of Blind Services (DBS) and key members of her staff. This meeting will give you the opportunity to have meaningful dialogue with the Director and staff of DBS as we in FCB strive to work together with the Division of Blind Services to provide the best rehabilitation services possible to Florida’s citizens who are blind and visually impaired. Room: Garden and Azalea Rooms 3:15 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. – Technology One on One Room: Montgomery Room (near hospitality suite) 3:15 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. – Special Interest Affiliates Meetings Florida Council of Citizens with Low Vision (FCCLV) Come have fun after the seriousness of the morning sessions with a trivia contest with “wacky” prizes. Don’t miss out on FCCLV’s raffle of some very nice donated devices. See a FCCLV member to purchase your tickets throughout the convention for $1 each. The drawing will be held during the FCB business meeting on Sunday. Room: Garden and Azalea Rooms Coalition for the Concerns of the Totally Blind (CCTB) Join CCTB for their annual business meeting and keynote speaker, Paul Kurtz who will speak about challenges, employment, retirement, and other aspects of daily life as a totally blind person. Room: Camellia Room 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. – Pre-Banquet Cocktail Party Cash bar will be available Room: Garden Ballroom Foyer 7:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. – FCB Banquet The annual FCB banquet will be hosted by Paul Edwards, FCB Immediate Past President. Jeff Thom, President of the California Council of the Blind will deliver the keynote speech. He will talk to us about where he thinks we as people who are blind and visually impaired will be in thirty years. Room: Garden Ballroom 9:30 p.m. – 10:30 p.m. – Special Event Concert After dinner, don’t wander far away as you won’t want to miss Class Act, Jacksonville's best 6-piece jazz and easy listening band. The band will blow you away with their renditions of numbers like Margeritaville, In the Mood, It Had to be You, Lay Down Sally, and Campton. Best of all, one of our own, Paul Kurtz is one of the band’s members. Come and enjoy. Room: Garden Ballroom 10:30 p.m. – FCB’s Annual Raffle Drawing Wait! It doesn’t stop there, during intermission; we will hold our annual FCB raffle drawing for money and other exciting prizes. After a full day like this, you’ll sleep like a baby if you’re not up spending all the raffle prize money you win! You don’t need to be present to win but what a fine nightcap! Room: Garden Ballroom Sunday, May 23rd, 2010 7:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. Breakfast on your own 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. – 2010 FCB Annual Membership Business Meeting On Sunday morning, FCB members will have the opportunity to participate in the organization's annual business meeting; elect officers who will lead us for the next 2 years and help make important decisions that affect us all. Room: Garden Ballroom Agenda Call To Order: Debbie Grubb, President Invocation: Sila Miller Pledge of Allegiance: John Richards Roll Call: Sally Benjamin, Minutes: Sharon Youngs Treasurer’s Report: Patti Land President’s Report: Debbie Grubb Awards Committee: Linda Jacobson Constitution & By-Laws: James Kracht Resolutions Committee: Jesus Garcia Scholarships Recipients: Barbara Grill Raffle Winners and Info: Bill Freeman Other Committee Reports: (as needed) Unfinished Business: New Business: Announcements: Adjournment: 12:15 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. – Post Convention Board Meeting Room: Garden Ballroom Exhibitor’s List Atlanta Brailler Repair & Service, Rita & Frank Levine  770- 739-4617 RII329@bellsouth.net Avon, Alysha Harris 904 361-8113  Aharr74@hotmail.com Blind Services Foundation of Florida, Craig Kiser 850 345-9122 Sckiser55@earthlink.net Bureau of Braille and Talking Book Library, Jane Karp 1-800-265-7065 jane.karp@dbs.fldoe.org Chair Massage and Products with Debbie Hazelton, Debbie Hazelton 407 281-4277 Healinghands4u@debbiehazelton.com Division of Blind Services, Joyce Hildreth 850 245-0300, 1-800-342-1828 joyce.hildreth@dbs.fldoe.org Emerald Coast vision Aids, Mike Hage 1-877-473-8081 mhage@aol.com Florida Reading & Technology, Lesa Kretschmer 954 648-7757 lesa@floridareading.com Freedom Scientific, Bob Hopton 1-800-444-4443 www.freedomscientific.com Guide Dog Users of Florida, Patricia Lipovsky 386 255-0488 plipovsky@cfl.rr.com Guiding Eyes for the Blind, Becky Barnes 914 243-2252 bgunther@guidingeyes.org G. W. Micro, Marc Solomon 260 489-3671 marc@gwmicro.com Insight Low Vision Products, Inc., America Gordon 352 262-7095 insightlvp@hotmail.com Low Vision Aids, Inc. dba The Magnifying Center of America, John Palmer 1-800-364-1610 jpalmer@magnifyingcenter.com Mid Florida Council of the Blind, Shelley Justice 407 668-4745 Seabell013@att.net Pampered chef, Wendy Hoss 904 477-8149 Wendy.hoss@att.net Paul Odham’s Opals and Gems, Paul Odham 407 497-9646 odhamp@msn.com Southeastern Guide Dogs, Rita Princivalli 1-800-944-3647, 941 729-5665 Rita.princivalli@guidedogs.org The Seeing Eye, Inc., Jay Stiteley, Outreach Specialist 973 539-4425 www.seeingeye.org Value Medical, Anita Miller 904 610-2279 amiller@valuemedical.com Visual Innovations and Solutions, Suzy Hipple and Sandy Baker 386 405 0911 Hipple@earthlink.net Guide Dog Relief Area: As you exit the elevators on the 1st floor, turn right and then make another immediate right just past the elevators into a small corridor. Exit the hotel at the end of the hall. Bear right down the ramp and continue down to the bottom of the slope. Turn right onto the sidewalk. The grassy dog relief area is on the right. Description of Lobby and Meeting Room Area Welcome to the Crowne Plaza Jacksonville Airport Hotel! We are glad you are here and hope you are ready for a fun filled and educational weekend. The lobby of the hotel is beautiful with an indoor/outdoor pool, a cyber café where Seattle's Best coffee is served along with some quick grab meals for breakfast and lunch. A lounge is directly in the middle with some sofas and tables. The hotel's main restaurant and our registration area, exhibit hall, and the majority of the meeting rooms as well as the banquet ballroom are right off the lobby to the left. When you enter the hotel, there are two ramps. Right will bring you to the front desk for check in and left will bring you to our meeting space. In between you will find registration. There are four meeting rooms to the far left with a foyer. The first room is the Fern room which will house some of our exhibits. The remainder will be in the foyer outside the main ballroom for easy access. Another set of doors is located to the front for a guide dog relief area. This will serve as the main area for guide dog relief during meetings and gatherings. The next three rooms compose the Garden Ballroom. When divided, you will find the Camellia room followed by the Garden Room and lastly the Azalea Room. Our seating setup for meetings will be the same as we have done for the past two years, using round tables with chairs arranged to face the front of the room. Restrooms are on the right side of this area for your convenience. At the end of this section is the main hotel dining room. Convention attendees will receive a discount with their badges at all food facilities within the hotel. Gratuity will be added to all meals. To the right of the main entrance, you will be met by bell staff to help anyone to the front desk and to various elevators taking you to one area of sleeping rooms. Around the corner from this section is another tiled hallway. At the end is another elevator bank. If you turn right you will find the Montgomery Room and the Columbia Room. Both will serve as meeting rooms. . Additionally this hallway houses our hospitality suite, the Atlanta Room where fun and relaxation can be shared along with a small snack. More sleeping rooms are down this hallway with doors at either end for additional guide dog relief. Nearby trash cans are available for your convenience. We will have hotel staff and volunteers for anyone needing a little extra assistance with navigation. Again, welcome! We are glad you are here! Description of Dog Walk Area Near Hotel The primary dog walk area will be out the doors by the meeting rooms and exhibits and to the left. There will also be an area set near the hospitality suite where doors are at both ends of the hallway. Beyond the Hotel… There is a plaza the hotel shuttle will take you to, based on availability, for a fee of $3.00 per person. Following is a list of some of the places you will find: Bed, Bath and Beyond Best Buy Chili’s Cracker Barrel Layne Bryant Office Max Pet Smart Ross Starbucks Smokey Bones Wal-Mart Waffle House, Subway, Dunkin Donuts and Denny’s are all within walking distance.