Welcome to the California connection for March 25.
From The President: - CCB Board Of Directors Conference Call
The CCB board of directors will have an open conference call meeting on Thursday, March 31 at 7 PM.
The call-in number will be 712-432-3066 and the access code will be 840878.
From The President
Due to medical reasons, there may be occasions during the period prior to convention when the office will be closed, and you may experience delays in the return of telephone messages or emails. However, rest assured that convention-related items, including pre-registration and other items will be handled in a timely manner.
We thank you in advance for your patience in this matter.
One way in which you can save time for the office is to send your pre-registration information via email.
In order to submit your registration to the office by email, download or save to your computer the convention announcement from the website and cut and paste the appropriate registration information into an email. It will help to identify your registration if you use the subject line "convention registration" and send it to ccotb@ccbnet.org.
If you don't wish to include your credit card information, you may still call that into the office.
Convention Transportation
Transportation between the hotel and San Diego International Airport, San Diego downtown Amtrak Station as well as San Diego downtown Greyhound Depot can be provided through the hotel discounted shuttle service, Uber, and Lyft.
Information regarding these transportation options will be found in the 2016 Annual Conference and Convention preregistration announcement.
In a separate conference and convention preview, information will be provided about the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) ADA paratransit services.
Please share this information with chapters and other interested parties.
Conference and Convention Preview:
San Diego Paratransit Service For The 2016 Annual California Council of the Blind Conference and Convention:
(February 23, 2016)
To become visitor-certified for San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) ADA paratransit services, passengers are asked to complete the attached form and fax it to ADARIDE.COM at (310) 410-0239.
The information requested on this form will help MTS Access best serve you while visiting San Diego.
You can also call ADARide offices toll-free 1-877-232-7433 (TTY/TDD: 1-310-410-0985) if you need help to complete the visitor form over the phone.
Visitor status will be provided to any individual who is currently ADA-certified by their hometown Paratransit provider for up to 21 days in any 12-month period. Your local ADA paratransit provider can fax confirmation of your registration to ADARide securely at (310) 410-0239. Please have them indicate the need for MTS ACCESS specifically. Hopefully their confirmation will include vital information like mobility device used, service animal, contact phone, PCA status, etc. Ideally, the local provider can complete the visitor request form and fax it to ADARide at the number provided above.
You may reserve a ride after you have been visitor-certified as ADA eligible.
To obtain more information about ADARide.com, go to: www.adaride.com
On MTS Access, children five years of age or younger may ride free with a fare-paying adult. While a Personal Care Attendant (PCA) may travel without paying a fare, at least one passenger must always pay a full fare of $4.50 for a single ride. A fare must be paid when an adult or guardian is travelling as the non-paying child's PCA. Likewise, two passengers cannot claim each other as PCAs to avoid fare payment.
Given the large size of the MTS ADA service area, it is divided into four zones.
Passengers may be required to transfer to another vehicle for interzonal travel just as they would likely transfer between the MTS bus and trolley network of services. For example, if you are at the San Diego International Airport, San Diego Greyhound depot, or San Diego Amtrak station you would likely board a paratransit vehicle in Zone 1, and transfer to another paratransit vehicle to complete your trip to Alpine/Viejas Casino and Resort (Zone 3). You are considered receiving a single ride even with an interzonal transfer. Paratransit drivers will accept the fare in cash if paid in exact change. The drivers do not have the ability to make change for passengers.
Please share this information with chapters and other interested parties.
The CCB looks forward to welcoming you at the Viejas Casino and Resort.
Editor's note: If you need assistance completing the paratransit temporary eligibility form you can either call the number provided or call Ed Branch in the CCB office at 800-221-6359.
Conference and Convention preview
Banquet entertainment information for the 2016 Annual California Council of the Blind Conference and Convention
The CCB is excited to announce during the April 9th Saturday evening banquet Vocalist Laurie Beebe Lewis will be performing musical selections from her vast musical career. Also, she will be sharing stories about her experiences in writing music, performing, recording, and producing vocals during her life.
For those who are unfamiliar with Ms. Lewis, what is to follow is her artist bio:
Vocalist Laurie Beebe Lewis is diverse in style.
One cannot fit this artist into one singular category from her vast music history.
As a young musician, Laurie frequently toured with Dick Wagner & The Frost, Bob Seger, Alice Cooper and Ted Neugent in the early 1970's with her band "Pitche Blende".
Laurie moved to Chicago engaging in live performances with Big Band leader Les Elgart, B.B King, The Spinners and joined Chicago based group "The Buckinghams" in 1983 as vocalist and backing keyboards. They were featured on the 1985 'Happy Together Tour' with The Turtles. Laurie moved to San Diego, CA. in 1986 and joined "The Monroes, recorded with Gary Puckett on his first debut album since the 70's and then became a member of "The New Mamas and the Papas†in 1986 and toured with them both nationally and internationally with original Papas John Phillips & Denny Doherty along with Spanky McFarlane.
Laurie continues to write music, perform, record and produce vocals for many projects in Southern California and was recently featured on Dick Wagner's song and video "If I had the Time, I Could Change the World".
Don't delay in preregistering by April 4th for the Conference and Convention.
In the preregistration announcement, prices for all plated meals including the banquet will be listed.
We look forward to seeing you at the banquet.
Hotel Orientation
The 2016 annual Conference and Convention program will not contain a written narrative description of the hotel layout. However, you can obtain a set of audio files in MP3 format that contains hotel orientation information.
You may obtain this information in several ways.
- You can download it from the CCB website at
http://www.ccbnet.org/conventions/upcomingConvene.htm - You can obtain a CD ahead of time by calling Ed Branch at 800-221-6359 and it will be mailed to you if you let us know by Friday April 1.
- Finally, you can obtain a CD, SD card, or thumb-drive of this information at the Conference and Convention Registration desk.
Candidate statements
The spring California Council of the Blind 2016 Board candidate statements are now on the CCB website.
http://www.ccbnet.org/candidates_2016.htm
Get to know who is running and what their future plans are for CCB!
You may also call the CCB office and request they be sent to you in your preferred reading format.
Seeking A Roommate For CCB 2016 Conference and Convention
From John Vandervort:
I will be arriving April 7th . leaving on April 10th. I have a guide dog.
Seeking a non-smoking male roommate, with a guide dog is okay.
Please contact me at (408) 269-2295 between 7 AM to 9 PM.
Seeking A Roommate For CCB 2016 Conference and Convention
From Eric Calhoun:
I will be arriving April 7th . leaving on April 10th.
Seeking a non-smoking male roommate, with a guide dog is okay.Please contact me at (323) 514-0766 text me or leave a voicemail message.
Proposed Resolutions and Constitutional Amendments
From Gabe Griffith
It is that time again to start thinking of those resolutions and constitution and bylaws (C&B) proposals. I am still serving as C&B chair and am back as resolutions chair.
For those proposed C&B amendments the deadline is April 1. Please note that this is the week before convention. This is so the committee can discuss them and prepare them for presentation to the members for a first reading on Friday night April 8.
The resolutions deadline will be noon on Friday April 8.
You can submit either resolutions or C&B proposed amendments to me or any member of the relevant committee.
My contact information for these purposes is gabrielgriffith@gmail.com or (925)768-8195.
I will have access to phone or email constantly in the weeks leading up to convention and during convention so please don't be late. Late submissions will not be accepted.
The committees thank you in advance for your cooperation and consideration.
GDUC Program Information
The April CCB conference is fast approaching and The Guide Dog Users of California (GDUC) Program committee wants to share a description of the great programs awaiting all guide dog handlers attending the conference.
Saturday, April 9, 10:15 am to 11:45 am
Title: Accessibility...How to Deal with the Uninformed Business Owner
Join us to learn about the ADA laws pertaining to access for service dogs in public places in this interactive workshop presented by Deborah Sands, Owner/Founder, DJS Consultant Services. Debbie will speak about access issues and and our rights.
Special focus will be placed on problems we all face due to "fake service dogs".
The participants will have the opportunity to practice how to handle access issues using case studies based on our own experiences.
Please Note and Reply:
What we would like to have from you:
In order to make the program as relevant as possible to your needs, please send to Alice McGrath at amcgrath@vistacenter.org, your experiences with denied access for you and your guide dog.
What was the situation and how did you handle it?
You may also send examples of issues you have faced due to "fake" service dogs.
Deborah Sands Bio
DJS Consultant Services Simi Valley, CA 93065
Debbie has spent over 20 years in the service animal business starting with 16 years as Director of Public Relations & Development for Guide Dogs of America.
From her years extensively traveling across the country, as a guest speaker, Debbie continually witnessed the business missteps when interacting with someone with a service dog and felt it was time to develop an educational training program for businesses.
Her company, DJS Consultant Services, founded in 2011, specializes in service animal access education.
Her ideal clients are restaurants, museums, entertainment venues, libraries, hotels, etc. Debbie covers technical issues from the tasks service dogs are trained to do to the proper etiquette of welcoming someone who has a service dog.
GDUC Lunch Program at Noon on Saturday, April 9
Come and join your fellow guide dog handlers for a fun and informative luncheon.
We will have reports from the guide dog schools and also a speaker from Canine Companions.
Our speaker is a graduate of Canine Companions and he will be bringing his service dog.
We will learn about the training and matching of service dogs and how the dogs assist the handlers.
Glendale-Burbank Area Chapter Event
Please join the Glendale-Burbank Area chapter Thursday, March 31, 2016 from 4:00PM - 10:00PM at the Acapulco - Glendale restaurant at 722 N. Pacific Avenue, Glendale, CA 91203.
They will donate 20% of the total food sales if you show a flyer.
Please contact Ardis Bazyn or Anthony Signoriello for a flyer: abazyn@bazyncommunications.com or blinddude1@gmail.com
Glendale Burbank Chapter Meeting
On April 2 at the Glendale Burbank chapter meeting at the Pioneer Café in Glendale, neurosurgeon Nader Pouratian, MD, PhD, at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA will tell about an IRB approved study being conducted to better understand how the brain processes visual information in the blind.
The study is being sponsored by Second Sight who will also speak about their retinal prosthesis.
For more details contact Ardis Bazyn 818-238-9321.
Thanks.
San Gabriel Valley Chapter meeting
From Pam Polagi: President San Gabriel Valley Chapter
I'd like to invite anyone in the Los Angeles area to attend our chapter meeting, April 02.
In attendance will be Jorge Marquez and Joe Dimas from Marquez Products for Independent Living.
They will bring many of their items to show and sell. Jorge and Joe are willing to bring specific products upon your request.
Please call (818) 605-8783.
Our April 02 meeting is from 11:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. at Denny's Restaurant 546 West Baseline Road Glendora, CA 91740 Cross Street, Grand Ave.
I hope to see many of you there.
ACB Roommate Request
Frank Welte is looking for a male, nonsmoker to share a hotel room at the 2016 ACB Conference and Convention in Minneapolis.
If interested, send Email to Frank.A.Welte@gmail.com, or call (510) 541-1442.
Disability Rights Museum On Wheels
Please join us when America's First Disability Rights Museum on Wheels comes to the Bay Area March 31 and April 1
Wells Fargo and Kaiser Permanente are partnering with the US Business Leadership Network to bring America's Disability Rights Museum on Wheels to the Ed Roberts Campus, conveniently located at the Ashby BART Station, 3075 Adeline Street, in Berkeley, California.
Come celebrate and learn about the inspiring journey and road to inclusion for people with disabilities.
The Disability Rights Museum on Wheels is an accessible self-contained motor vehicle that invites the visitor to participate in hands-on learning about the disability civil rights movement and the technological innovations now available to all as a result of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Everyone is welcome to participate in the following activities at no cost.
Thursday March 31, 2016
- 1:00 Disability Rights Museum opening ceremony
- 1:30 - 4:30 pm Disability Community Expo
- 1:30 - 5:00 pm Museum open to the public
- 5:00 pm Disability Rights Museum ribbon cutting and reception
Friday April 1, 2016
- 10:00 am - 2:00 pm Museum open to the public.
Thank you for reading, Have a nice day
