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- General Session Agenda
American Council of the Blind
51st Annual Conference and Convention
Theme: ACB Full Steam Ahead
Audio/ Visual Services Sponsored by Google
Sunday, July 8 - Grand Ballroom
6:30 PM
- Entertainment: Barbara Henning and Adelle LeJeune, violin and piano, Louisville, KY
7:00 PM
- Call to Order - Mitch Pomerantz, President, American Council of the Blind, Pasadena, CA
- Invocation - Ben Cross, Minister, Southeast Christian Church, Louisville, KY
- Presentation of Colors
- Pledge of Allegiance - Donald Franklin, ACB Life Member and Chair, 1980 ACB Convention Local Host Committee, Louisville, KY
- "The Star-Spangled Banner" and "My Old Kentucky Home" - Bradley Mann, Louisville, KY
- Welcome to Kentucky - Bill Deatherage, Chair, Kentucky Host Committee Chairperson and President, Kentucky Council of the Blind, Louisville, KY; Kevin Minor, President, Bluegrass Council of the Blind, Lexington, KY
7:20 PM
- President's Report - Mitch Pomerantz
7:50 PM
- Welcome to Louisville - Greg Fischer, Mayor, Metro Louisville
8:00 PM
- Keynote Address: Reading the River - Dr. Tuck Tinsley, III, President, American Printing House for the Blind, Louisville, KY
8:20 PM
- ACB First-Timers - Allen Casey, Chair, DKM Committee, Graham, NC
8:30 PM
- Access to Major League Baseball - Michael Hoffman, Vice President, Front End Development, MLB, New York, NY
8:45 PM
- Life Membership Presentations - Mitch Pomerantz
9:00 PM
- Presentation of New Charters of Affiliation (ACB Students, Blind LGBT Pride International, ACB Families) - Mitch Pomerantz
9:10 PM
- First Credentials Report - Jean Mann, Chair, Credentials Committee, Guilderland, NY
9:15 PM
- Roll Call of Affiliates - Marlaina Lieberg, ACB Secretary, Burien, WA
Monday, July 9 - Grand Ballroom
8:00 AM
- Entertainment - Deanna Scoggins, piano, Louisville, KY
8:30 AM
- Pledge of Allegiance - David Trott, Member, ACB Board of Directors, Talladega, AL
- Invocation - Rabbi Avrohoom Litvin, Anshe Sfard Synagogue, Louisville, KY
8:35 AM
- ACB Business
- ACB Sponsors - Margarine Beaman, Advertising and Sponsorship Coordinator, Austin, TX
- Emerald Sponsor Presentation: Google
- Final Credentials Report - Jean Mann
- Adoption of Standing Rules and Adoption of Program - Mitch Pomerantz
- Constitution and Bylaws - John Huffman, Co-chair, Indianapolis, IN
- Presiding Officer - Kim Charlson, ACB First Vice President, Watertown, MA
9:15 AM
- Presentation of Affiliate Membership Growth Award and Robert S. Bray Award - Chelle Hart, Member, Awards Committee, Sioux Falls, SD
- Presentation of Ned E. Freeman, and Vernon Henley Awards- Paul Edwards, Chair, ACB Board of Publications, Miami, FL
9:40 AM
- A Driverless Car in Your Future - Naomi Black, Engineering Program Manager, Accessibility, and Laura Palmaro, Accessibility Specialist, Google, Mountain View, CA
10:05 AM
- Blind People in Norway and the World - Arnt Holte, First Vice President, World Blind Union and Assistant General Secretary, Norwegian Association of the Blind and Partially Sighted, Oslo, Norway
10:30 AM
10:45 AM
- Hearing From the New NLS Chief - Karen Keninger, Director, National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Washington, DC
11:15 AM
- Progress Toward Providing Sound for Quiet Cars - David L. Strickland, Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Washington, DC
11:45 AM
- ACB Recreation Zone - Oral Miller, Former ACB President, Washington, DC
11:55 AM
Tuesday, July 10 - Grand Ballroom
8:00 AM
- Entertainment - Kathy and Tom Arnold, folk singers, Louisville, KY
8:30 AM
- Pledge of Allegiance - Visually Impaired Veterans of America
- Invocation - Dr. Lee Bond, Minister, Baregrass Christian Church
8:35 AM
- ACB Business
- ACB Sponsors - Margarine Beaman
- Ruby Sponsor Presentation: HumanWare
- Nominating Committee Report - Patrick Sheehan, Chair, Silver Spring, MD
- Constitution and Bylaws - John Huffman
- Resolutions - Judy Jackson, Chair, Resolutions Committee, Austin, TX
- Presiding Officer - Brenda Dillon, ACB Second Vice President, Hermitage, TN
9:15 AM
- 2012 ACB Scholarship Presentations - Patty Slaby, Chair, Scholarship Committee, Winona, MN
10:30 AM
10:45 AM
- River City History - Allan M. Steinberg, former Executive Director, Kentucky School for the Blind Charitable Foundation, Louisville, KY
11:10 AM
- Update on Developing Regulations Following Passage of the Communications and Video Accessibility Act - Mark Richert, Panel Moderator, Director of Public Policy, American Foundation for the Blind, Washington, DC; Melanie Brunson, ACB Executive Director, Arlington, VA; Brian Charlson, Director of Technology, Carroll Center for the Blind, Watertown, MA; Paul Schroeder, Vice President, Programs and Policy, American Foundation for the Blind, Washington, DC
11:55 AM
Wednesday, July 11 - Grand Ballroom
8:00 AM
- Entertainment - Mike Tindell, country and gospel, Prattville, AL
8:30 AM
- Pledge of Allegiance - Ken Stewart, ACB Board of Publications, Warwick, NY
- Invocation - Alta Burnett, Unity Minister, Louisville, KY
8:35 AM
- ACB Business
- ACB Sponsors - Margarine Beaman
- Ruby Sponsor Presentation: Verizon Wireless
- Constitution and Bylaws, Resolutions.
- Presiding Officer - Marlaina Lieberg, ACB Secretary, Burien, WA
9:15 AM
- Keeping It in the Family - Jack and Jill Fox, Talking Book Narrators, American Printing House for the Blind, Louisville, KY
9:45 AM
- ACB in the Regulatory Trenches - Eric Bridges, ACB Director of Advocacy and Governmental Affairs, Arlington, VA
10:15 AM
10:30 AM
- Accessible TV Within Our Reach
- Richard Orme, Head of Accessibility, Royal National Institute of Blind People, Birmingham, England
11:00 AM
- The Video Description Research Center - Josh Miele, Smith Kettlewell Institute, Inc., San Francisco, CA
11:30 AM
- Update on ACB's Audio Description Project - Joel Snyder, President, Audio Description Associates, Takoma Park, MD
11:55 AM
Thursday, July 12 - Grand Ballroom
8:00 AM
- Entertainment - Dave Trevino, guitar and trumpet, Louisville, KY
8:30 AM
- Pledge of Allegiance - Cindy LaBon, DKM First-Timer, Gaithersburg, MD
- Invocation - Father John Sheehan, Jesuit Priest, Xavier Society for the Blind, New York, NY
8:35 AM
- ACB Business
- ACB Sponsors - Margarine Beaman
- Ruby Sponsor Presentation - Vanda Pharmaceuticals
- Constitution and Bylaws, Resolutions
- Presiding Officer - Carla Ruschival, ACB Treasurer, Louisville, KY
9:15 AM
- Executive Director's Report - Melanie Brunson, Arlington, VA
9:45 AM
- National Conference/Convention Report - Janet Dickelman, Chair, ACB Convention Committee, St. Paul, MN
10:15 AM
10:30 AM
- Treasurer's Report - Carla Ruschival, Louisville, KY
10:50 AM
- ACBES Report - Michael Garrett, Chair, ACB Enterprises and Services, Missouri City, TX
11:10 AM
- ACB Walk and ACB Auction Reports - Dan Dillon, Co-chair, Resource Development Committee, Hermitage, TN; Marsha Farrow, Chair, ACB Auction Subcommittee, Summerville, GA
11:25 AM
11:55 AM
Friday, July 13 - Grand Ballroom
8:00 AM
- Entertainment - Bradley Mann, piano and vocals, Louisville, KY
8:30 AM
- Pledge of Allegiance - Adam Ruschival, ACB Life Member, Louisville, KY
- Invocation - David Wright, Minister, Meighs Avenue Church of Christ, Jeffersonville, IN
- ACB Sponsors - Margarine Beaman
9:00 AM
- ACB Business - Resolutions
10:00 AM
10:30 AM
10:45 AM
12:00 PM
1:15 PM
2:45 PM
3:00 PM
5:00 PM
5:30 PM
- ACB Life Member Reception – Nunn
- Sponsored by Vehicle Donation Processing Center
6:30 PM
- Pre-banquet entertainment - Archibald
7:00 PM
- ACB Banquet - $32 ($35) - Archibald
- Master of Ceremonies - David Trott
- Invocation - Deb Trevino, Master of Divinity Graduate, Presbyterian Theological Seminary, Louisville, KY
- What Thou Liv'st, Live Well - a one-man play performed by Micheal Hudson, Director, APH Callahan Museum, Louisville, KY
- Presentation of Durward K. McDaniel Ambassador, Olsen Distinguished Service and George Card Awards - Cindy Van Winkle, Bremerton, WA
