Hello ICB Members and Friends,
Spring is here bringing us sunshine and warmer temps. The coming of spring also means ICB excitement and preparation as we look forward to our upcoming ICB Conference and Convention. On behalf of the ICB Convention Committee and Board of Directors, we hope you will join us as we gather together for fun, fellowship, informative sessions and conducting the important business of ICB. The convention will take place Friday, April 28th through Sunday, April 30th at the Crowne Plaza Lombard Downers Grove located at 1250 Roosevelt Road, Glen Ellyn, IL. The room rate is $115.00 a night, plus tax and includes breakfast. You can book your room by calling 630-629-6000 and let them know you're with the Illinois Council of the Blind. The cutoff date to make a reservation is April 7th, so do not wait, BOOK NOW! If they have rooms available after April 7th then you can still book, but there is no guarantee rooms will be available.
I want to address the concern about having a state convention in this year when Illinois will host the ACB Conference and Convention.
First of all, you the ICB Membership asked us to hold a convention and approved a bid. Second, we feel there is still value in holding a state convention and we hope you'll find it exciting and worth your time and money to attend.
The ICB Convention Committee has put together an exciting, fun and informative program for you to enjoy. Come meet our honored guest, current ACB President and soon to be ACB Interim Executive Director Dan Spoone. Meet someone who teaches people who are blind to play Jazz piano virtually. Excited about the new 3rd Generation Victor Stream? Humanware will join us to demonstrate this exciting new device and answer your questions. We will also have the library and BBS state agency updates and much more.
We are still working hard to get vendors for the exhibit hall on Saturday, but we can tell you you'll be able to test a new app which could revolutionize how people vote remotely. Also on Saturday, we have our banquet dinner, after which you'll get to enjoy the sights and sounds from ACB's Accessible Currency rally held March 10 in Washington, DC.
As always, on Sunday morning, we will take care of the business of ICB, electing 2023 ACB Convention Delegates and alternates.
There will be a candidate’s forum on Saturday to give you the chance to get to know and ask questions of individuals who wish to serve in these roles. If you have anyone in mind for any of these positions, please contact the ICB office by phone or email with your nominations before April 12th.
Next, Resolutions are an important part of any convention, as they convey policy positions of ICB to local, state and national leaders. If you have either draft resolutions or ideas for resolutions, please contact the ICB office as soon as possible to give the resolutions committee time to assist you in putting them together in time to discuss and vote on them at convention.
At the writing of this letter, there are no specific COVID protocols for the convention. Be assured we will keep on top of things and work with the hotel to do everything we can to keep all our attendees healthy and safe. We also ask that if you feel at all sick, please be considerate of the health of your fellow ICB members and other hotel guests and do not attend the convention in person. Anyone attending in person who chooses to wear a mask for any reason is encouraged to do so.
Of course we hope you will join us in Glen Ellyn. However, if for any reason you can’t, again this year we will have most of our programming available via Zoom. We will also be streaming on ACB Media.
You can register for the convention by phone at 217-523-4967, Email, regular mail or go the ICB website www.icbonline.org/convention-registration. The form is also below this letter. While registering using the online form, please consider being a convention Seed, Tassel or Stalk sponsor. These sponsorships help defray some of the convention costs.
As the days grow warmer, the anticipation intensifies as we look forward to the ICB Conference and Convention just around the corner. We look forward to welcoming you hopefully in person, but if not then virtually. We hope you will enjoy the exciting program we have put together. Thank you in advance for joining us.
Ray Campbell, President
Maggie A. Mogged, ICB Office Manager
2022 Convention Committee Members