Welcome to the California connection for December 22.
Editor's Note
Due to the CCB office being closed next week there will be no Connection on December 29. the next connection will be on January 5, 2018. We wish everyone a happy and safe holiday season.
CCB Office Update
From Jan 1, 2018- March 31, 2018 we will have reduced office hours in order to spend every conceivable minute on the convention and fundraising efforts. Office hours for phone calls and membership support during this period will be 12PM-4PM
From The President
If your chapter has elected officers this fall, your chapter or affiliate needs to complete an officer information sheet. The good news is, you can now do this on line.
Constitution And Bylaws Update
We plan to have a draft of the new bylaws to start sharing in early January with full membership meetings to follow in late January and Early February. We plan to distribute the draft in multiple formats. Please stay tuned to the next California Connection for more details.
From President Judy Wilkinson And Governmental Affairs Chair Jeff Thom
The ACB Legislative Seminar is coming up soon. It will be taking place on Monday February 26 and Tuesday February 27. Every year CCB brings an incredible delegation to Capitol Hill and both individuals and chapters help to ensure that it happens. With our advocacy efforts being more important than ever, it is absolutely essential that we have a major presence with our Congressional delegation. If you intend to attend the Legislative Seminar or your chapter is sponsoring or assisting someone, please let Jeff Thom know either by telephone (916-995-3967) or via e-mail jsthom@comcast.net.
We begin preparing for our advocacy efforts in mid-January and it is important to obtain your airline reservations as far ahead as possible so that you can obtain reasonable fares. If you’ve never been on Capitol Hill representing CCB, you have an amazing treat in store and you will return home more of an advocate than you have ever been before. Also, you can fly in early and attend the ACB Board meeting on Saturday, February 24 and/or the ACB Presidents meeting on Sunday February 25, but these are completely optional.
You can make hotel reservations by contacting the Crowne Plaza Alexandria, 901 N. Fairfax St., Alexandria, VA, by calling (703) 683-6000 or on the web at Crowne Plaza Alexandria
We will also assist for those who desire roommates. Our thanks to all of you and your chapters for assisting on this project.
From Jeff Thom
CCB capitol day:
Thursday March 22 2017:
Participants will either meet at the Capitol or leave the hotel and take light rail directly to the Capitol. We will be there from 9 AM to 1 PM and with appointments that we will make ahead of time, we will demonstrate what amazing advocates CCB members can be. We will return by light rail so that we can get back to the hotel by 2 or 2:30.
I would like as many of you as possible to participate. We will have conference calls ahead of time to teach you about the topics selected for Capitol Day and the logistics. I would like to have our first call in late January, so I am asking those of you who think you will be able to participate in our Capitol Day effort to let me know by phone at (916)995-3967 or e-mail jsthom@comcast.net The more participants we have, the more legislators we can cover. We are hoping to have 25 members in our group so we can meet with all legislators. Remember, advocacy is the prime mission of CCB and your efforts will make us successful in improving the lives of persons with vision loss.
CCB 2018 Convention Room Information
2018 CCB Convention Hotel Information:
Sacramento Marriott Rancho Cordova
11211 Point East Way, Rancho Cordova, CA 95742
Phone: (916) 638-1100
Group Rates 3/21/18-3/26/2018:
Classic King - $89.00 per night
Classic Two Queens - $99.00 per night
**Hotel rooms are subject to state and local taxes which can change on an annual basis. Currently the tax rate is 12%. There is also a $1.50 assessment and a $.40 California tax which will be assessed at check out.
Reservations:
(1) Can be made by calling 1-800-228-9290, or 916-631-1100
(2) Can be made through the following custom URL
https://aws.passkey.com/event/49383087/owner/9323/home
** Group Reservation Rate cut off date is March 1, 2018.
Thank you for reading and Have a nice day
