by Janet Dickelman
By the time you read this, there will be a little over a month until the start of the 53rd annual conference and convention. Are you ready for the glitz and excitement of Las Vegas?
Have you made your reservations at the Riviera, the home of the 2014 convention?
Room Rates at the Riviera
ACB will be using two towers, the Monaco and Monte Carlo. Rooms in the Monaco tower are $87; rates in Monte Carlo are $63 per night. The Monaco is a non-smoking tower. It was remodeled in 2008. All rooms have refrigerators. The Monte Carlo tower has smoking and non-smoking floors. It was last remodeled in 1998. The rooms are older and do not have refrigerators.
Convention Registration
There are three ways to register for the convention. The fastest way is to visit our web site, www.acb.org. Just follow the link for 2014 conference and convention registration. You can also register by phone; call 1-800-866-3242 and leave a message with your name, phone number, time zone and best time to reach you. One of our registration gurus will call you back to complete your registration form. You can also request a paper copy of the registration form.
Kids’ Explorers Club
Attention children ages 6 through 12: the Kids’ Explorers Club is where you'll want to be! We have lots of fun activities planned for you! By popular request, the Kids’ Club will open Sunday evening at 6:30 p.m. While mom and dad attend the opening session, come to Kids’ Explorers Club. You can get to know our coordinators Miss Suzanne and Mr. Andrew, meet friends from your last visit to an ACB convention, and make new friends. Visit the arcade and have snacks.
Monday through Friday we'll have breakfast and lunch, take a swim, do a craft project and have the tour of the day. Although the tour schedule isn't totally worked out as of yet, plans include: Monday, the Discovery Children's Museum, which has more than 100 hands-on exhibits; Tuesday, Shark Reef, where you’ll get to meet a variety of sharks in a “touch tank”; Wednesday, Pump It Up, featuring bounce houses and tons of safe indoor fun; Thursday, Red Rock Bowling, where you’ll get to bowl 2 games (shoes included); and Friday, Adventuredome, an indoor theme park beneath a glass dome. Located at Circus Circus, the Adventuredome features roller coasters, premium rides, large rides, junior rides, a climbing wall, mini golf, free clown shows and an arcade.
Kids’ Club hours are Sunday 6:30 to 9 p.m.; Monday through Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Friday, 8:30 a.m. until 9 p.m.
Evening Fun for All
Want to take a break after a full day of outstanding speakers at our general sessions, and our informative and educational afternoon workshops and seminars? Below is a snapshot of our evening events.
Saturday, July 12th
5:00 PM USS Moontype Star Trek Sci-fi Fan Club
8:00 PM ACB Students Welcome Party
8:00 PM “Sin City Sock Hop,” Nevada host committee welcome party
9:00 PM ACB Lions Milly’s Place
Sunday, July 13th
3:30 PM Newsreelers get-together
BPI, FIA, CCLVI and RSVA/IVIE mixers
Monday, July 14th
7:00 PM Gospel Sing
Join Alison and Michael Smitherman in singing all your favorite gospel songs!
7:30 PM Viva Las Vegas
Listen to RSVA's special Elvis Presley entertainer and have your picture taken with the king!
8:00 PM CCLVI Game Night
Be a contestant or a member of the audience and play "The Newlywed Game" and "Family Feud"
8:00 and 8:30 Join SASI and BITS for their mixers
9:00 PM FIA Prose and Poetry reading
9:00 PM Viva Las Vegas
Our DJ will be spinning records; come dance with RSVA.
Tuesday, July 15th
7:00 PM ACB Families Bingo
Fun for all ages; see how many ways there are to get bingo on your card and win a prize!
8:00 PM FIA Performing Arts Showcase
Enjoy performances by your favorite artists, as well as new talent; cash bar available.
8:00 PM RSVA Slot Tournament
Try your hand at slot machines and win cash prizes!
Wednesday, July 16th
4:15 PM AAVL musical mixer
6:00 PM Let's Make A Deal Auction
You'll find bargains galore. Bid, buy and have a blast and support the American Council of the Blind at the same time! Auction preview begins at 6:00 PM; the bidding begins at 7:00.
7:00 PM BPI Wednesday Night at the Movies, audio-described
“Behind the Candelabra: The Tempestuous life of Liberace.” Filmed at the Riviera Hotel, this drama re-creates the glittering private world of Liberace (Michael Douglas), the flamboyant, phenomenally successful entertainer whose extravagant costumes, trademark candelabra, and elaborate stage shows made him the most bankable entertainer of his time.
Thursday, July 17th
5:00 PM DKM reception
Meet the 2014 DKM first-timers and share memories of ACB pioneer Durward K. McDaniel
7:00 PM ACB Movie Night, “12 Years a Slave,” audio-described
“12 Years a Slave” won the 2014 Academy Award for Best Film. Starring Brad Pitt, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Lupita Nyong'o. In the pre-Civil War United States, Solomon Northup, a free black man from upstate New York, is abducted and sold into slavery. Facing cruelty at the hands of a malevolent slave owner, as well as unexpected kindnesses, Solomon struggles not only to stay alive, but to retain his dignity. In the twelfth year of his unforgettable odyssey, Solomon's chance meeting with a Canadian abolitionist will forever alter his life.
9:00 PM ACB Students Comedy Night
9:00 PM ACB Diabetics mixer
Friday, July 18th
ACB banquet, dinner, banquet speaker and presentation of awards.
10:00 PM BPI farewell party
Evening Tech Sessions
Monday, July 14th
5:45 PM HumanWare Make Travel a Breeze!
5:45 PM BookShare members gathering
7:15 PM Independence Science workshop
7:15 PM Piano technology workshop
Tuesday, July 15th
5:45 PM HumanWare
iConnect your BrailleNote Apex or the portable HumanWare Brailliant displays to iPhones, iPads, and PC's with your favorite screen reader.
Wednesday, July 16th
5:45 PM HumanWare
Why I love my new Victor Stream
Reservation Details
Room taxes are currently 12 percent. You will be charged for one night’s stay when you make your reservation. Make telephone reservations by calling 1-800-634-6753, or online by visiting the ACB web site at www.acb.org and following the 2014 conference and convention link.
Convention contacts
Stay in touch by joining the ACB convention e-mail list! Send a blank e-mail to [email protected].
2014 Exhibit information
Michael Smitherman, (601) 331-7740, [email protected]
2014 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 e-mail, [email protected].