** Oregon Convention at Oral Hull Park
The Oregon Council of the Blind will hold its convention at Oral Hull Park Oct. 16-18. Two hotels nearby will put members up for prices ranging from $58 up to $78 plus tax, two people per room. If you opt to stay at the Oral Hull dormitory, the cost for lodging, plus meals and a banquet, will be $75. Registration forms will be out in August and are due back by Sept. 1.
There will be two buses to service Highway 101 and two buses to pick up people along the I-5 corridor and over to Klamath Falls. If enough of you use the buses, we can keep the round-trip cost to about $50 each. Do the math again and now you are looking at a potential cost of $125 for the whole convention.
On the first night, there will be a movie appropriate to the occasion and a board meeting. And at some point you will have an opportunity to meet ACB president Mitch Pomerantz up close and personal. It may be around a campfire, or at a wine-tasting event, or maybe even at the hot tub. If any of you play an instrument and want to entertain us around the campfire, bring it along, if it doesnt take up too much room on the bus.
There may even be a DJ on site, an open bar, a fantastic Elton John impersonator, and an outstanding choir on Saturday. We are working on holding a three-person panel to give you a real learning experience that may solve a lot of your future challenges related to disabilities. We are trying to get some excellent vendors to offer you the very latest gadgets, too.
The best news is that this convention will only cost you $75 for all of your lodging, five meals and a banquet dinner. Yes, thats right, a total of $75 for those who stay at Oral Hull dormitory and a little more who spoil themselves at the hotel or in a trailer at the park. Call us and make your reservations before you spend that stimulus check.
Invite your friends, too! If they're not currently ACB members, tell them that paying a $10 membership fee before September will get them in for the same prices. Otherwise, their cost is $40 more. Register early to get the best prices! Call Gregg Welch at (503) 408-1419 if you want more information, or e-mail him, [email protected].
** 'Walk-a-Mile-in-My-Shoes' Walkathon in Denver
Save the date! On Oct. 18, ACB of Colorado is planning on joining in with the Denver Marathon again. As part of that event ACBCO will host its annual Walk-A-Thonin honor of White Cane Day.
ACBCO has been one of the official charities of the Denver Marathon since its inception in 2006. The vision of the Denver Marathon is to produce an annual marathon and half-marathon running event that highlights Denver while bringing great economic and social impact to Denver and a world-class running experience to the community. Funds raised by our participation are specifically allocated to the community outreach and development of a peer-to-peer mentoring program.
** Ohio Celebrating Thirty Years
ACB of Ohio is shaking things up this year with a new hotel and a lot of fun. The theme for this year is THIRTY -- The Holiday Inns Rockin This Year! The committee is looking into getting some speakers from the national office, eye doctors, and a state official. Possible workshops being considered include: working with tools, self-defense, a diabetic workshop, wine tasting, friends & family discussion group, adjusting to low vision panel, an eye doctor panel, water aerobics, and Ohio transportation. We will also have some of our old favorites like: the first-timers meeting; our basket auction and guide dogs group on Friday; and Mike Horn spinning your favorite music on Saturday evening. The first-timers' meeting will be important to everyone, since we are at a new hotel. Well have a tour of the facilities and other information to pass along. There will be more on that as the convention gets closer.
We want to honor our 30-year members, so if you are a 30-year member, we want to hear from you so you can be recognized during the convention.
The important information about date and place: Nov. 6-8 at the Holiday Inn Worthington, 7007 N. High St., Worthington, OH 43085; phone (614) 436-0700. The room rate is $89 plus tax. Convention registration costs $70.
If you have any questions, e-mail Lynn Wachtell, [email protected], or contact American Council of the Blind of Ohio, Inc., P.O. Box 307128, Gahanna, OH 43230; phone (800) 835-2226.
** Pennsylvania Convention in the Poconos
The 74th annual state convention and conference of the Pennsylvania Council of the Blind will be held Nov. 6-8 in the Poconos at the Chateau in Monroe County. The room rate is $89 plus tax for up to four people per room. For more information, contact the Pennsylvania office at 1-877-617-7407 (locally, (717) 920-9999).