[Missouri-l] About the Convention

[Denny Huff]

THE MISSOURI COUNCIL OF THE BLIND

2009 ANNUAL CONVENTION

OCTOBER 9, 10 AND 11

 

HILTON GARDEN INN

19677 E. JACKSON DR.

INDEPENDENCE, MO

FOR RESERVATIONS CALL: 816-350-3000

 

Greetings To All!

 

                We are fast approaching our annual state convention and I am
really looking forward to it as I hope you are also.  This will be my first
convention to preside over and frankly I am somewhat nervous about it.  I do
know however; that with your help and the help of all of the people that
have key roles at the convention, that it will be as good of a convention
that it can possibly be.

 

                If I started naming names of everybody that is working
together to make this convention a success I undoubtedly will leave someone
out.  I do want to mention our convention coordinator, Eldon Cox and our
host affiliates, Allied Workers for the Blind and the Progressive Council of
the Blind.  They have put a lot of work into assembling one of the best
conventions we can possibly have and my hat is off to all of them.

 

                I also want to say a huge thanks to all of our sighted
members that have worked so hard to make everything happen.  I sometimes
think that we don't give enough credit to our sighted members for all of the
work they do.  Without them we simply couldn't do what we do.  I encourage
you to go out of your way to say thank you to each one of them.  They
certainly deserve it!

 

                I of course can't leave out our office staff.  Betsy and
Eleanor have done a tremendous job in getting everything together for this
convention.  I know they started preparations in June to insure all of the
bases were covered.  Thanks Betsy and Eleanor for all you do!

 

                Our special ACB guest this year will be Ardis Bazyn.  Ardis
hails from California and we will be using her several times during our
convention.  Not only will she be speaking to us during our general
assembly, I also have her doing one of the breakaway sessions and speaking
during the president's luncheon.  You can read more about Ardis here:
http://www.moblind.org/convention/Ardis-Bazyn.shtml

 

                Speaking of the breakaway sessions, along with Ardis we will
have DeAnna Quietwater Noriega speaking about how to promote your local
affiliate in your community.  There are many ways to promote your affiliate
and it doesn't have to be special events that you promote.  DeAnna will be
going over what you can report about and where you can advertise at no
charge.  I really encourage at least one representative from each affiliate
to attend this session.  

 

                We will also be offering a special session from the Red
Cross.  Bunny Maginnis has been working diligently to put together a very
informative session about emergency preparedness.  This session will not
only be about the typical information on tornados, ice and snow,
earthquakes, floods and other natural disasters we normally associate with
emergency preparedness, but will also include several other emergency
topics.

 

                This year is the year for electing a treasurer, three board
members and a public relations person.  Let me say here that as most of you
already know, Franklin Johnson has resigned from the second vice president
position due to health reasons.  I truly appreciate everything Franklin has
done while serving in that position and I know it will be very difficult to
fill his shoes.  This means also that we will be electing a new second vice
president at the convention this year.  The nominations will take place on
Saturday with the elections on Sunday.

 

                As you know, we have lost some of the financial support from
our thrift stores.  Michael Keller and I have been working to find out what
the possibility of opening our own thrift store is.  It is my intention to
have a proposal of some sort ready to present to the board during our
pre-board convention meeting and then to present that proposal to the
general membership at the convention.

 

                Along with many of our previous vendors, we will be seeing
some new faces in the Adaptive Technology Exhibit room this year.  I hope
that you will take the time to visit the exhibit room and take a look at
what these vendors have to offer.  To encourage more visitors to the exhibit
room the Adaptive Technology special interest affiliate will be giving away
a very nice prize to someone that registers during their visit to the
vendors.

 

                Speaking of the Adaptive Technology special interest
affiliate, their meeting will be on Friday at 5:00 PM.  As usual they will
be giving away some very nice door prizes.  They will also be electing a
treasurer and a vice president this year.  Their special guest speaker will
be Vince from Nanopac.

 

                All of the other special interest affiliates will have their
meetings again this year.  The Guide Dog Users and the Library Users will
have their breakfasts on Friday and Saturday respectively.  The Braille
Revival League will be meeting on Friday evening after the hospitality.  Let
me say a special thanks to the officers of the Braille Revival League for
the work they have done this past year in reviving this special interest
affiliate.  They have really worked hard to get the affiliate back into full
swing.

 

                We will of course have our Friday night hospitality again
this year.  This seems to grow in popularity each year and it is a great
time for people to just relax and to get to know some of the other members.
I have invited Lee Layton Jr. the owner of the Cobblestone Camp to speak to
us about the summer camp program that MCB has.  Lee is a great guy and I
know you will find what he has to say very informative.  Don't worry, he
won't take a lot of time speaking and there will be plenty of time for
socializing during the hospitality.

 

                There will also be youth hospitality again this year.  Linda
Gerken and James Hollins will undoubtedly have another great program for the
youth.  Lee Layton Jr. will also be speaking briefly to those in attendance
about Cobblestone Camp and what it offers to the youth of MCB.

 

                While I am talking about youth services, they will once
again be sponsoring the Kids Club.  If you have a youngster up to the age of
12, you are welcome to let them join the Kids Club on Saturday from 9:00 AM
to 5:00 PM.  You will need to have your reservation for your child to join
the Kids Club in by October 1.

 

                The Education and Welfare committee will be meeting on
Friday morning.  Chip Hailey will be conducting this meeting.  This is the
year to elect the committee chair so I hope that all of the affiliate
legislative representatives will attend this meeting.There will be a special
guest in the name of Representative Jeff Grisamore, from the 47th District
in Lee Summit, Mo.

 

                John Weidlich, as the chair of the Resolutions and By-laws
committee will be presiding over that meeting on Friday morning this year.
There have been eight amendments submitted to the committee for
recommendation.  Those will then be presented to the entire membership for
approval.

 

                We will once again have our craft room open on Thursday,
Friday and Saturday.  Luretta Welch is in charge of the craft room again
this year and if you have something to sell or display, please contact her.
Each person is responsible for their own items and will need to be in the
craft room to do the transactions for the items they have to offer.

 

                One of the highlights of the convention is the Saturday
night banquet.  Along with a great meal and the presentation of awards, our
host affiliates have put together a great program.  The Master Of Ceremonies
will be Pastor Luke Weese and he will also be providing the entertainment
after the banquet.  The guest speaker is Phil Ledgerwood, motivational
speaker.  Let me encourage each one of you to attend the banquet and show
your support for all of those that will be involved in the evening.

 

                As usual, there will be both a protestant and catholic
service on Sunday morning.  Both of these will start at 7:00 AM with Charles
Dewberry conducting the protestant service and the guest for the catholic
service will be announced later.

 

                Transportation will be provided to several of the area
restaurants.  Look for the restaurant names and times of services in your
registration packet.

 

                All in all it proves to be a great convention this year.  If
you haven't registered to attend I hope you will do so soon.  An on-line
application can be found on our web site, http://www.moblind.org/convention.
If you are not able to attend the convention but would still like to hear
most of what is going on, Beau Barnhart from Look Media will once again be
streaming the convention over the Internet.  There will be a link on our web
page for listening.

 

                Again, my thanks to each and every one that will make the
2009 MCB Convention a great success!

 

Denny Huff

President

 

Missouri Council of the Blind

5453 Chippewa

St. Louis, MO  63109

 

Phone: (636) 262-1383

Toll Free: (888) 362-1383

Phonecast: (816) 298-8969

FAX: (636) 629-1710

 

DHuff at MoBlind.Org

www.moblind.org

 

MCB - A GREAT PLACE TO BE!

Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/MissouriCouncil

 

The purpose of Missouri Council of the Blind shall be to promote the general
well-being of our members and legally blind people in Missouri, and to
support or participate in other programs promoting the best interests of
legally blind people everywhere.

 

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