by Janet Dickelman

 
As I write this message, members of the convention committee and ACB board members are getting ready to visit St. Louis, Mo. and the Union Station Hotel.  Margarine and Vicky will be working on the hotel orientation guide. There is no hotel remodeling planned, so we’ll have the guide available well before the convention. Sally Benjamin will be meeting with several groups discussing volunteering at the convention, and Michael is busy working on the exhibit hall.
 
Rhonda Trott has done a superb job of planning some great tour site visits. It looks like once again this year we’ll have an outstanding tour lineup! Spoiler alert: we will attend a St. Louis Cardinals-Atlanta Braves game Friday evening, June 29th. Be sure to read the January 2018 issue of the Forum for a listing of our 2018 tours. 
 
As you read this article, you will be preparing for the holiday season. I’ll be getting ready for Christmas. Whether you celebrate Christmas or one of the many other holidays this time of year, a very Merry Christmas or happy holidays from my house to yours.
 

Convention Dates


 
Our first tours and the ACB board meeting will be on Friday, June 29th. Affiliates, committees and our business partners will begin programming on Saturday, June 30th; that is also the day the exhibit hall will open and general sessions begin. Our concluding general session and the banquet will be on Thursday, July 5th, with final tours on Friday, July 6th.
 

Hotel Details


 
Room rates at Union Station are $89 per night, plus tax; this rate applies for up to 2 people in a king room and up to 4 guests in a room with two queen beds.  Room tax is currently 16.92%. Make telephone reservations by calling (314) 231-1234, and be sure to mention you are with the American Council of the Blind to obtain the conference room rate. To make reservations online, visit www.acb.org and follow the 2018 convention link.
 

Staying in Touch


 
The convention announce list will be filled with information regarding the 2018 convention. You can subscribe to the list today by sending a blank e-mail to [email protected]. If you received updates for the 2017 convention, you do not need to subscribe again.
 
Convention Contacts
 
2018 exhibit information: Michael Smitherman, (601) 331-7740,[email protected]
 
2018 advertising and sponsorships: Margarine Beaman, (512) 921-1625, [email protected]
 
For any other convention-related questions, contact Janet Dickelman, convention chair, at (651) 428-5059, or via email,[email protected].