Welcome to the California connection for February 16.
CCB Board Of Directors Elections:
At the 2018 Convention in March, CCB will be electing president, 1st vice-president, treasurer and four members to its board of directors.
Prospective candidates are invited to provide information on their qualifications for, and ideas about serving on, the CCB board. We will again have a candidates page on our website. For those who cannot access information through our website or are not comfortable doing so, statements will be placed in the special announcements box of the phone system. It is our goal to have this webpage up by March 1.
Guidelines for submissions can be found in earlier editions of the connection.
It's CCB Awards Time:
As our 2018 CCB Conference and Convention is less than two months away, it is time for individual members, chapters and/or affiliates to give input to the 2017 awards which will be given out at the banquet on Saturday evening, March 24.
Recipients for the Hall of Fame, Community Service, CCB Distinguished Service, Legislator of the Year and Merit awards may be nominated by any member, chapter or affiliate.
Descriptions of the awards may be found in earlier editions of the connection.
If you want to nominate someone but are not sure which award category to choose, write a nomination letter anyway. Mail your letter for award nominations to Ken Metz: kenmetz1946@gmail.com no later than Thursday, February 15, 2018.
Call him with questions at (818)882-3610or cell 323-793-1805.
Therefore Be It Resolved:
It's time to submit those resolutions. If you have an issue that you think is important for CCB to get involved with we urge you to submit it to us as a resolution. You can send it to this year's chair Gabe Griffith at gabrielgriffith@gmail.com or call him at (925)768-8195.
Convention Announcement And Pre-registration Form:
The CCB Conference/Convention Announcement and pre-registration form are now live on our website. Those needing assistance should call the office though we may take your name and call back to complete the form.
Don’t Forget New Special Convention Events:
Fun Free River Walk
Thanks to those who have signed up for the Riverwalk. We now have the minimum so the event will happen; however,we can accommodate more.
This sign up is separate from the preregistration form. Here is the direct link:
http://ccbnet.org/drupal7/riverwalk
Planting In The Dark $53 on Tuesday March 20
We hope to have at least 32 folks for this event and currently have about 10.
Gong Bath Friday Morning 10:00 Am $15.
This is a new convention offering.
Both events are on the preregistration form.
Braille Preconvention Announcement SNAFU:
The group we thought would complete preparing the braille version of our preconvention announcement has been unable to finish in a timely manner. We are truly sorry for this unfortunate circumstance.
Convention Hotel Information:
Rooms at the Marriott for Wednesday and Sunday nights are sold out! Plenty of rooms are still available for Thursday—Saturday. If you wish a room for Wednesday or Sunday, call the office for overflow hotel information.
Reservations: (1) Can be made by calling 1-800-228-9290, or 916-638-1100 (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.
Ground Transportation To The Convention:
Paratransit:
Fax eligibility to Paratransit directly from your Paratransit to 916 429 2415. Call to follow-up about 1 hour after faxing to confirm receipt at 916 429 2744. This is also the number to make your reservations. This process should be done no closer than three weeks prior to traveling. You can make your reservations up to two days in advance. The cost from the airport is $10 each way and from the train and other points of transportation is $5. The airport is more because it is outside of the service areas.
Uber and Lyft:
From SMF Airport to hotel: Uber ranges from $29 to $39, and Lyft is $32 to $39.
From Greyhound to hotel: Uber and Lyft are both $22 to $27.
From Mega bus to hotel: Uber is $13 to $19, and Lyft is $14 to $19.
From Amtrak hotel: Uber is $19 to $25, and Lyft is $22 to $25.
Shuttles:
Super Shuttle from the Airport to Hotel: One way fare costs $43, and round trip is $84 (Note: if you download the Super Shuttle App on your smartphone and reserve your ride from the app, put in the Code App10 to save 10%).
Sunset Shuttle from the airport to hotel:
This requires full payment in advance. They do groups of 9 passengers, which is $92 dollars per van. The group rate must be arranged in advanced to reserve the nine passenger van.
Mega bus: If you use Mega bus, it will drop you at the 65th Street Light Rail station. It is highly recommended you use Uber or Lyft from here. You can transfer to Light Rail, however, this station has no personnel for assistance. If you elect to take Light Rail from 65th Street, please board from the platforms for people with disabilities so that you can connect with the train operator. As explained below regarding Light Rail from Amtrak, please follow the same procedures.
From Amtrak to Light Rail to hotel:
To use Light Rail if you are coming from the Bay Area, I believe you can still get a transfer to Light Rail. I do not know about other trains. When you board the train, let the conductor know that you will need assistance to Light Rail. If you need to purchase a ticket, the Amtrak personal will help you as they escort you to the Light Rail. The ticket is $1.35 each way . They usually use a cart so that they can transport several at a time. The transfer is about one block to the Light Rail ramp, and it has ramps for passengers with disabilities, which I highly recommend you use. This is the only way you will connect with the Light Rail operator. When boarding Light Rail, let the operator know that you want off at the Sunrise stop, and ask the operator what time the train will arrive. You will then need to call the CCB Volunteer desk to let them know what time you will arrive at Sunrise, and a volunteer will meet you. (The volunteer desk phone number will be forthcoming on the California Connection closer to convention.)
Taxies:
I do not recommend taxies from the airport as the fare will be around $90 one way.
I am unsure of the taxi from Amtrak, but I know that Uber and Lyft are much more inexpensive.
From The President:
Don’t forget I will be holding an office hour on Sunday, Feb. 18 at 4:00 PM.
Dial-in Number: (515)603-4905
Access Code: 680168
Bylaws Draft:
By now the latest draft of the proposed bylaws should be on the various CCB email lists. If you are not on one of them please contact your chapter or affiliate president. Call the office if you wish a braille or large print copy.
The meeting to discuss this draft has been postponed and will replace the presidents call on Monday, Feb. 26.
Time: 7:00 Pm.
Dial-in Number: (515)603-4905
Access Code: 680168
CCLVI Announces The Dr. Sam Genensky Video Magnifier Memorial Awards - Application Now Available:
The Council of Citizens with Low Vision International (CCLVI) announces the Dr. Sam Genensky Video Magnifier Memorial Awards. At least 3 video magnifiers will be awarded to children and adults in 2018.
To read the award guidelines and complete an on-line application, please visit
http://www.cclvi.org/dr-samuel-genensky
To submit an application, complete the following steps: 1) register,, 2) log in, and 3) complete the application. Links are available for each of these steps from the url above. Applications may be submitted through March 31, 2018 at 11:59 PM EST.
Student Education Access SEA Grant For 2018:
This Grant is available to a legally blind student between the ages of 8 to 18 who lives in Alameda, Contra Costa, Marín, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Solano, or Sonoma counties .
The San Francisco Chapter of CCB will give a Grant of up to $2500 to purchase accessible technology equipment to an applicant who meet the criteria listed above and can best demonstrate the need for this equipment to enhance their educational opportunities.
To request an application packet or for further details contact:
Charlie Dorris: 415-775-0487, tyreedorris@comcast.net (or)
Linda Porelle : 415-586-2622, lmporelle@gmail.com
Submit a completed application and other required documents by March 31, 2018
To: Charlie Dorris: tyreedorris@comcast.net
Thank you for reading and Have a nice day
