2015 Program
Where the Stars Shine Bright
You can show your support for ACB in several ways:
Convention Sponsorships: Stop by ACB / Verizon Registration in Austin Ballroom 3 and become an individual or corporate ACB Convention Sponsor. Individual sponsorships are bronze ($25), silver ($50), gold ($100), platinum ($250), and titanium ($500); sponsors receive special ribbons to wear on their convention badges, and are recognized both in general session and in the newspaper.
President: Kim Charlson, Watertown, MA
First Vice President: Jeff Thom, Sacramento, CA
Second Vice President: Marlaina Lieberg, Burien, WA
Secretary: Ray Campbell, Glen Ellyn, IL
Treasurer: Carla Ruschival, Louisville, KY
Immediate Past President: Mitch Pomerantz, Pasadena, CA
5:45 PM: California Caucus, City View 6
5:45 PM: Four Corners Caucus, (Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah), State Room 1
2:45 PM: GDUI Caucus, San Antonio Ballroom A
4:15 PM: Midsouth Caucus, City View 7
5:45 PM: New England, Maryland, Florida Caucus, City View 8
5:45 PM: Midwest Caucus, City View 7
7:00 AM: Washington State Breakfast (WCB members only), City View 7
5:45 PM: Missouri Caucus, City View 6
Denise Colley, Chair, Lacey, WA
Ron Brooks, Phoenix, AZ
Tom Mitchell, Salt Lake City, UT
Doug Powell, Falls Church, VA
Judy Wilkinson, San Leandro, CA
Below are the links to the available formats for downloading.
The text to all the ads is in the MS Word .doc format; the color photo ads are in the .pdf format.
MS Word large print .doc 2015 Conference and Convention Program
5:00 PM: Roman Catholic Mass, State Room 4
Priest TBA
9:00 AM: Jewish Service, City View 1
Rabbi Sherri Stohl, Dallas, TX
0:00 AM: Interdenominational Service, State Room 4
Pastor Chuck Hubbard, Gloria Day Lutheran Church, Garland, TX
11:00 AM: LDS Sacrament Service, City View 1
Bishop Zachary Lind, Dallas, TX
7:00 PM: Gospel Sing
Michael Garrett, Chair, Missouri City, TX
Mike Godino, Malverne, NY
George Holliday, Philadelphia, PA
Carla Ruschival, Louisville, KY
Dan Spoone, Orlando, FL
Jeff Thom, Sacramento, CA
David Trott, Talladega, AL
Many, many thanks to our 2015 corporate sponsors. Their continued generous support of the American Council of the Blind and our conference and convention is sincerely appreciated.
Look for the 2015 corporate sponsors on www.acb.org, in the conference and convention program and newspaper, on ACB Radio, on the convention T-shirt, and throughout the week. Be sure to thank them personally for their generous support.
Double Diamond Sponsor:
Thanks to a generous donation from MD Support and their partner MD Foundation, indoor navigation technology will be available for the first time to attendees at this year's ACB conference and convention in Dallas. The guidance system works by sending audible instructions and location descriptions to iDevices (iPhone 4S or later and iPad 4 or later). The information is electronically transmitted by beacons placed at meeting rooms, restrooms, elevators, and other venues.
Melanie Brunson, Executive Director
Eric Bridges, Director of External Relations and Policy
Kelly Gasque, Executive Assistant
Sharon Lovering, Editor, ACB Braille Forum
Tom Tobin, Director of Development
Dear Conventioneers:
Adopted by the ACB Board of Directors, May 2009
Janet Dickelman, Chair, St. Paul, MN
Margarine Beaman, Austin, TX
Sally Benjamin, Tallahassee, FL
Michael Fulghum, Hermitage, TN
Vicky Prahin, Columbus, OH
Bruce Radtke, Bellingham, WA
Michael Smitherman, Jackson, MS
Carla Ruschival, Officer Liaison, Louisville, KY
Lane Waters, Staff Liaison, Minneapolis, MN
6:30 PM: Entertainment: Jan Gray, Saginaw, TX
Kim Charlson, Chair, Watertown, MA
Becky Collier, Garland, TX
Janet Dickelman, St. Paul, MN
Marlaina Lieberg, Burien, WA
Jeff Thom, Sacramento, CA
Cindy Van Winkle, Bremerton, WA
Melanie Brunson, Staff Liaison, Arlington, VA
Lane Waters, Controller
Lori Sarff, Administrator
Nancy Becker, Administrator
Dee Theien, Reception/Administration
Dear Conventioneers:
I want to welcome everyone to the 53rd annual conference and convention of the American Council of the Blind here in exciting Las Vegas, Nevada. I am looking forward to presiding over my first convention as president of ACB, and to talking with so many members and guests from across the country and, in fact, from around the world.