by Janet Dickelman
Yes, in 2023 ACB will be in Schaumburg, Ill. I love looking up state facts (see below), but as someone who grew up in Illinois, the most important Illinois fact I want to share with you is that the “S” in “Illinois” is silent!
As this issue goes to print, the convention committee will have just wrapped up its fall visit to Schaumburg. During that time, we will meet with the local host committee, talk with hotel staff, contact volunteer groups and visit potential tour venues.
In-person convention dates are June 30 through July 7th. The opening general session will be Saturday evening, July 1; the exhibit hall will be open Saturday through Wednesday (7/1 through 7/5); our banquet will be Thursday evening, the 6th.
Tours will run from June 30 through July 7. ACB committees, special-interest affiliates and business partners will hold programming during the in-person convention as well as via Zoom. Stay tuned for more information on how the 2023 convention will be configured.
Now for some fun Illinois information!
Illinois is the Prairie State and, as mentioned earlier, the Land of Lincoln.
State amphibian – Eastern tiger salamander
State animal – white-tailed deer
State artifact – Pirogue (which is a canoe made by hollowing out a tree trunk)
State bird – Northern cardinal
State dance – square dance
State exercise – cycling
State fish – bluegill
State flower – violet
State fruit – goldrush apple
State grain – corn
State insect – monarch butterfly
State plant – milkweed
State tree – white oak
And my two personal favorites: the state pie is pumpkin and Illinois’ state snack food is popcorn!
Staying in Touch
The conference and convention announce list will be filled with information. To subscribe, send a blank e-mail to [email protected]. If you received updates for the 2022 convention, you do not need to subscribe to the list.
Hotel Details
Room rates at the Renaissance are $98 per night double occupancy (with an additional $10 charge for up to four people), plus tax, which is currently 15%. To make reservations online, visit https://book.passkey.com/go/AmericanCounciloftheBlind2023.
For telephone reservations, call 1-800-468-3571. This is a central reservations number, so please indicate you are with the American Council of the Blind 2023 conference and convention at the Renaissance Hotel in Schaumburg, Ill.
Rooms must be reserved by June 8, 2023, to guarantee the convention rate.
For any convention-related questions, please contact Janet Dickelman, convention chair, (651) 428-5059 or via e-mail, [email protected].