California Council of the Blind Conference and Convention
"Our 2020 Vision for the Future"
President's Message
"It's an ill wind that blows no good," one of my favorite sayings, right up there with "When you have lemons, make lemonade." Well the winds are blowing and we at CCB are making that lemonade.
You are invited to the party: CCB's 86th and first-ever virtual conference and convention with our theme, "2020 vision for the future."
Lemons: hugs, camaraderie in the hospitality suite, screaming down the chair in friendly rivalry to get the floor!
Lemonade: Everyone can attend either by registering for a low $10 on our website or sharing the event with us on ACB Radio.
In essence we have been envisioning this virtual event ever since Gabe Griffith, First Vice President, and David Jackson proposed Resolution 2016 1, which was adopted by the membership to investigate other means of holding in-person conference and conventions. As an outcome of the resolution, Board Member Rob Turner spearheaded a committee for a couple of years which ultimately determined that technology wasn't quite yet ready for such an endeavor.
Well, welcome to the Zoom world which makes our conference and convention now possible. Thanks to our 2019 vision for the future, our bylaws allow registered CCB members to vote.
We are the only ACB affiliate that can conduct such business.
We look forward to those hugs, hospitality, and in-person floor debates next year at our 87th conference and convention. In the meantime, grab your phone and oh, don't forget that refreshing glass of lemonade.
Sponsors:
Vanda Pharmaceuticals
Partners:
OntheMuV
Calendar of Events
Pre-Conference and Convention Meetings and Important Dates
All preconference and convention special interest and affiliate meetings can be found on our website at: http://ccbnet.org/drupal7/node/656
June 1, First Timers Membership Meeting
7:00 PM PDT
Description: This interactive meeting is to help orient members who are attending a CCB Conference and Convention for the first time. Also, it's a good refresher for those who are returning after a hiatus. Come get your questions answered.
Contact: Guillermo Robles, Chair, g.robles1@me.com or 323-490-5753 if you are not on the membership list or want more information.
June 2, Resolutions Committee
7:30 PM PDT
Description: This will be the first meeting to discuss resolutions submitted for action at the 2020 CCB Conference and Convention. Additional Resolution Committee meetings will occur as needed.
Contact: Sarah Harris, Co-Chair, crazyblindlady@gmail.com or 559-816-1509 for more information.
June 3, Credentials Committee Meeting Conference Call
7:30 PM PDT
Description: If your delegate, alternate delegate, or representative to the Nominating Committee has not changed on your chapter’s and affiliate’s credentials information, which was to be submitted to the CCB office by May 19, your chapter or affiliate does not need to be on this call. (Call-in information will be provided to chapter and affiliate presidents.)
Contact: Frank Welte, Chair, frank.a.welte@gmail.com or 510-541-1442 for more information.
June 4, Bylaws Committee
7:30 PM PDT
Description: Meeting to discuss CCB bylaw changes and additions submitted for action at the 2020 CCB Conference and Convention.
Contact: Sarah Harris, Co-Chair, crazyblindlady@gmail.com or 559-559-816-1507 for more information.
June 10, Nominating Committee Meeting Conference Call
7:30 PM PDT
Description: This is a closed meeting and only the Nominating Committee representative from each chapter and affiliate is permitted to attend. (Each Nominating Committee representative will be provided with the call-in information.)
Contact: Frank Welte, Chair, frank.a.welte@gmail.com 510-541-1442 for more information.
June 11, CCB Pre-Conference and Convention Board of Directors Meeting
7 PM PDT
Description: This is an open meeting and all members and the public are invited to attend.
Contact: Judy Wilkinson, CCB President, president@ccbnet.org or 510-388-5079 for more information.
June 12, Final day to register for the CCB Conference and Convention
Description: You must register for the 2020 CCB Conference and Convention to receive Zoom information for calling into the convention. Only paid CCB members who have registered for the conference and convention can vote in elections and on other convention business. Register online at : http://ccbnet.org/drupal72/node/14 or phone the CCB office 800-221-6359 or 916-441-2100.
Regardless of whether you have registered, you may listen to the conference and convention live on ACB Radio.
CCB Virtual Conference and Convention, June 19-20
Note: All session times are in Pacific Daylight Savings Time (PDT).
Session 1: Friday June 19, 1 PM to 4 PM
- 1 PM Call to order, Judy Wilkinson, CCB President presiding.
- 1:05 PM Announcements and preliminary matters.
- 1:10 PM Invocation, Liv Presley, Fresno, CA.
- Pledge of Allegiance
- 1:15 PM Virtual Conference and Convention Etiquette, Rob Turner, Member, CCB Board of Directors.
- 1:20 PM Adoption of Conference and Convention Rules, Gabe Griffith, CCB First Vice President.
- 1:30 PM "Meeting the Unmet Need for Services to Seniors with Vision Loss", Panel Moderator, Jeff Thom, CCB Immediate Past President.
Panelists:
Joe Xavier, Director, Department of Rehabilitation, Sacramento, CA;
Shari Roeseler, Executive Director, Sacramento Society for the Blind, Sacramento, CA; Ken Warkentin, Executive Director, Valley Center for the Blind, Fresno, CA;
Claire M. Ramsey, Senior Staff Attorney, Justice in Aging, Berkeley, CA.The panel will discuss various issues surrounding trends in services to seniors, with emphasis on ways of filling the ever-expanding gap in services available to seniors who are blind or have low vision.
- 2:15 PM "Voting Matters", Paul R. Spenser, Staff Attorney, Disability Rights California, Voting Rights Unit, San Diego, CA.
Mr. Spenser will discuss the importance of exercising our right to vote privately and independently as well as the challenges and opportunities for the November election, in light of the COVID-19 virus pandemic. On behalf of Disability Rights California, Mr. Spenser will seek feedback on the accessibility of the Remote Accessible Vote-by-Mail process, the new accessible voting machines in use statewide, and electronic poll books.
- 2:45 PM "An Update on Legal Cases Impacting People who are Blind or Have Low Vision", Sean Betouliere, Staff Attorney, Disability Rights Advocates, Berkeley, CA.
Disability Rights Advocates, one of the nation’s leading legal civil rights advocacy organizations for people with disabilities, has worked closely with the California Council of the Blind for more than two decades. Mr. Betouliere will provide an update on some of the important legal work being done on behalf of people who are blind or have low vision.
- 3:15 PM First Reading of Bylaws Amendments, Sarah Harris and David Jackson, Co-Chairs, CCB Bylaws Committee.
- 3:40 PM Credentials and Nominating Reports, Frank Welte, Chair, CCB Credentials and Nominating Committees.
4 PM Final Announcements, Judy Wilkinson, CCB President.
Session 2: Friday June 19, 6 PM to 9 PM
- 6 PM Call to order, Gabe Griffith, First Vice-President presiding.
- 6:05 PM "The Building Blocks for a Strong Chapter, Member Recruitment and Retention", Cindy Van Winkle, American Council of the Blind, Membership Services Coordinator, Minneapolis, MN.
Ms. Van Winkle will provide a dynamic approach to building up our membership and retaining that growth.
- 6:40 PM Remembrances.
This is a time when we can share our thoughts about our brothers and sisters in the CCB family who have passed on during the last year, including Cathie Skivers, one of the greatest leaders the organized blindness movement has ever had.
- 7:40 PM Remarks from Judy Wilkinson, CCB President.
- 8:15 PM Legislative Report, Jeff Thom, CCB Governmental Affairs Director.
- 8:45 PM Final Announcements.
Session 3: Saturday June 20, 9 AM to 12 PM
- 9 AM Call to order, announcement and preliminary matters, Judy Wilkinson, CCB President, presiding.
- 9:05 Vanda Pharmaceuticals Presentation: Leslie O’Neil
- 9:25 AM Explanation of Voting process, Jeff Thom, CCB Chair, Conference and Convention Committee.
- 9:45 AM Elections.
The offices of president, first vice president, second vice president, treasurer and four director positions will be up for election. (Remember, to be eligible to vote you must be a paid CCB member and have registered for the conference and convention by the closing deadline of June 12.)
During the voting process, Jamie Gibson-Barrows will be seeking your favorite kitchen tips, gadgets, and short recipes.
- We will begin some of our afternoon business prior to the noon recess if the elections end before 12 PM
Session 4, Saturday June 20, 1 PM to 4 PM
- 1 PM Call to order and announcements, Judy Wilkinson, CCB President, presiding.
- 1:05 PM Launch of the CCB’s OntheMuV partnership: Patrick Netter OntheMuV CEO and Steve Bauer, CCB Board member.
- 1:20 PM Reading and Approval of the 2019 Conference and Convention Minutes, Linda Porelle, CCB Secretary.
- 1:30 PM Treasurer’s Report, Lisa Thomas, CCB Treasurer.
- 1:35 PM Second Reading of, and Voting on, Bylaws Amendments, Sarah Harris and David Jackson, Co-Chairs, CCB Bylaws Committee.
- 2:15 PM Resolutions, Sarah Harris and Jeff Thom, Co-Chairs, CCB Resolutions Committee.
- 2:30 PM "Affiliates in Action".
Special interest affiliate presidents and, time permitting, CCB committee chairs, will talk about the activities of their affiliate or committee.
- 3 PM Virtual Awards Banquet, Larry Gassman, Master of Ceremonies.
Get yourself a mid-afternoon snack and be prepared for the presentation of CCB awards.
Scholarship Awards, Christy Crespin, CCB Chair, Scholarship Committee;
Membership Committee Awards, Guillermo Robles, CCB Chair, Membership Committee;
Publications Awards, Linda Porelle, CCB Chair, Publications Committee;
CCB Awards, Charlene Ornelas, CCB Chair, Awards Committee. - 4 PM Adjournment.
