Welcome to the California connection for February 23.

CCB Office Hours:

Beginning on Monday, February 26, 2018, the CCB office will return to normal office hours of 9AM-4PM to accommodate all of your convention support needs.

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.

Convention Hotel Information:

A Reservation Specialist has been made available by the hotel to serve the needs of CCB Members desiring to make hotel reservations. If you would like to make a hotel reservation at the Sacramento Marriott Rancho Cordova for the 2018 Convention please contact Whitney Ferrell directly and she will see to your individual needs. We only have until March 1, 2018 to complete reservations and are currently far below our minimum room counts. If we do not fill these rooms, we still need to pay for them as per our contract with the hotel.
Please make your reservations today. We are looking forward to seeing you all for a very exciting convention week in Sacramento.

Whitney.ferrell@marriottranchocordova.com (916) 861- 2211

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.

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.

We have limited amounts of signed cookbooks from Christine Ha and limited numbers of CCB hooded sweatshirts available so please be sure to purchase them when registering for the convention if at all possible.

Financial Literacy Workshop:

· Which do you enjoy more: saving money or spending it?
· Do you pay bills online, or are you still writing paper checks?
· Are you seeking employment and wondering what will happen to your SSI/SSDI when you start your new job?
· Did you know that SSI recipients now have an option for saving money?
· Are you wondering how to help your student, who is maxing out their credit cards?

Please join us as we discuss the answers to these questions and more during our Financial Literacy workshop! Participate in particular modules, or stay for the entire thing!

Wednesday, March 21
2 to 6 p.m.
Sacramento Marriott Rancho Cordova
Contact Karen Shrawder to RSVP at k.shrawder@comcast.net or call (760) 604-3735

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 to 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.

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.

Hospitality Suite:

The ACB Capital Chapter, California Council of the Blind, is looking forward to being your host at the 2018 CCB conference and convention! You have never entered into a hospitality suite like the one we are planning for you! Each night will have a different theme, including a talent night and a game night. We will have snacks galore! Come enjoy some fun with friends, new and old on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights! More details coming soon!

Roommate Request:

From John Vandervort:
I am looking for a roommate for the CCB convention. I plan to arrive on Thursday and leave on Sunday. I have a guide dog. If interested please call me at (408)269-2295.

Bylaws Draft:

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

Thank you for reading or listening