1. Class Reunion During
DSA 2005 in
Luncheon was held at
Lori's Diner,
1 Adkins, Barbara
2 Adkins, Larry*
3 Aiello, Myrna
4 Aiello, Phil*
5 Ainbender, Hilary*
6 Bangs, Don*
7 Bass, Barbara
8 Bass, Fred*
9 Borggaard, Virginia*
10 Bourne, Francis*
11 Bourne, Jenny Sue
12 Byington, Ron*
13 Carter, Mel*
14 Couthen, Al*
15 Fidler, Coletta
16 Fowler, Kay Miracle*
17 Fraenkel, Allan*
18 Garner, Glenna*
19 Gilliam, Buford*
20 Gilliam, Judith
21 Gray, Elaine Voegele*
22 Harvey, Joan Somers*
23 Herbold, Bob
24 Herbold, Pat Leon*
25 Hill, Dick*
26 Ingraham, Don*
27 Ingraham, Joyce Harvey*
28 Jones, Sandra Shenehon*
29 Koch, Harriet
30 Koch, Richard*
31 Lambert, Jea Wolohan*
32 Lambert, Jea's guest- Allen Sussman
33 Larson, Harry
34 Larson, Joy Davis*
35 Levenson, Leslie
36 Levenson, Paul*
37 Logan, Janice*
38 Marchica, Charles
39 Marchica, Eileen Goldfarb*
40 Mathis, Bob*
41 Mathis, Peggy
42 McGann, Ed
43 McGann, Lois Ann Johnston*
44 Miller, Carolyn Baughman*
45 Nichols, Jerry*
46 Reineck, Jim*
47 Reineck, Lulu
48 Revell, Jim*
49 Revell, Joan
50 Shickel, Jeanie Ginsburg*
51 Shickel, Johnny
52 Smrz, Nancy Bergman*
53 Smrz, Richard
54 Stecker, Etta Smith*
55 Stecker, Rusty
56 Walker, Carol Shelton*
Joyce Ingraham was on SF committee collected all information including
reports from various committees for us all.
Greeting from Joyce: “This opening part is the longest of about a dozen
reports on the DSA Conference in
·
The 8th biennial Conference of Deaf Seniors of America
(DSA) was held at the 1,900-room Hilton San Francisco on August 31 through
September 4, 2005. It was a smashing unprecedented success with its registration
of 2,739 setting a new all-time record! Here are the conference program accomplishments:
o
o
GOLF: 17 played golf at Presidio Golf Course near
o
REGISTRATION: Even with the huge attendance, there were virtually
no long waiting lines at on-site registration booths during the entire conference
duration due to the efficient guidance of Julian Singleton.
o
PROGRAM
BOOKS: Julian Singleton developed 100-page program books in
full colors with valuable advice and expert assistance by Freddie Stocksick, Robert Strohmeier, and
Ronald Hirano. Photos were credited to Roland James, Robert Strohmeier and Ronald Hirano.
o
PROMOTIONAL
PRODUCTS: Bernadette Attletweed and
Elizabeth Kolombatovic labored on the purchase and distribution of promotional
products.
o
BOOSTERS: The successful recruit of boosters was indebted to Bernice
Singleton.
o
SEE'S CANDIES: Mary Munoz and Pat Zinkovich
worked on the fundraising sale of See's Candies.
o
BART DISCOUNT
TICKETS: Richard Amundsen sold BART discount tickets to conferees.
o
CROWD CONTROL: Every conferee was kept in line and under control during
the whole conference under the command of Windall and Sarah Wildmon.
o
VOLUNTEERING: Judy Ford and Carolyn Miller dauntlessly surpassed an
unprecedented challenge of assigning and scheduling volunteers to their conference
duties.
o
INTERPRETING: Under the sponsorship by Hands On
Services, a large pool of interpreters covered every program under the direction
of Julie Franklin.
o
FIRST AID
STATION: As a registered nurse, Father Thomas Coughlin administered
a first aid station and managed all timely emergencies.
o
HOSPITALITY: Dan and Joyce Lynch cheerfully assisted and guided lost
and confused registrants resulting their happy and relieved faces!
o
SPECIAL
NEEDS: Blind and physically disabled conferees were provided
all essentials they requested under the chairship of Edna Shipley-Conner.
o
SOCIAL CLUB: Our newest conference feature of Social Club was designed
to discourage crowds from loitering in the hotel lobby.
o
CYBER CAFE: Located in the corner of the Social Club, Cyber Cafe
was sponsored by Hands On Video Relay Services (HOVRS) and provided VP's and laptops
for video communication and e-mailing respectively.
o
SILENT AUCTION: 33 quilts sewn by local ladies were sold at silent auctions.
A silent auction for a 3-day lodging at a Palm Spring residence was offered.
o
HOTEL GUEST
ROOM TV: For a first time in DSA conference history, daily conference
events were aired at all Hilton guest room TVs. That production was credited
to Wayne Betts of HOVRS.
o
WORKSHOPS: 96 senior citizen-oriented workshops spread over 3-1/2
days were offered. The workshop topic of 31 Flavors of Sex presented by Phil
Rubin was so popular that its workshop room was relocated to another larger
room on short notice. Even so, it still overflowed. The quick, smooth coordination
was credited to Co-Chairpersons Rob Roth and Jim Brune.
o
EXHIBITS: Under the direction of Larry Obray,
the 3-1/2 days of exhibits opened in an elegant hotel setup. Attendees were
welcomed through an attractive entrance unit. Exhibits varied from technology,
and showcased the rapidly expanding accessibility for keeping in touch through
the internet, to providers for various services such as financial, advocacy,
educational, travel, apparel, art and senior homes. There were 36 corporations
and organizations manning 62 booths which included eight sponsors of the Conference.
o
DEAFWAX
EXHIBIT: Don Baer exhibited his wax model works featuring the
following famous deaf persons: Laura Bridgman: A Pioneer in Deaf/Blind Education
Laurent Clerc: First Deaf Teacher in America Alice Cogswell: America's First Deaf Pupil Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet:
Founder of American School for the Deaf William "Dummy" Hoy: First
Deaf Major League Baseball Player Juliette Gordon Low: Founder, Girl Scouts
of the USA Frederick Schreiber: Deaf Rights Advocate and Activist Laura Redden
Searing: Deaf Literary Journalist
o
AARP DRIVER
SAFETY PROGRAM: 69 participants enrolled in AARP Driver Safety Program
classes under the aegis of Dominick and Helene Bonura of
o
CLUB SKIT
CONTESTS: Stan and Marie Smith chaired and emceed club skit contests
sponsored by Hamilton Relay Service. Five deaf senior groups performed. The
following winners were:
§
1st:
§
2nd:
§
3rd:
§
4th:
§
5th: California Home for the Adult Deaf
o
CARD GAMES: Stan Smith chaired various card games. The Dingo attendance
was 248. Bunko: 88; Bridge: 60; Total: 444. During game breaks, delicious
snacks, drinks and ice cream were served. For the first time ever, the bridge
was played during this conference under the direction of Don and Lois Bullock.
Time and space were the factors in determining how best to use one-evening,
four-hour spot in one room. Partners were grouped by eight players in different
skill levels so everyone has a chance, win or lose.
o
CHESS: Eight players competed under the direction of Francis
Huffman of
o
RECEPTION: Emcee Melvin Carter introduced DSA President Gertrude
Galloway who officially opened the San Francisco 2005 DSA Conference. BACDSC
President Dan Lynch, General Chairperson Ronald Hirano and HOVRS CEO Ronald
Obray gave brief welcome speeches. A Filipino folk troupe
called Likha Pilipino Folk Ensemble and Chinese Red Panda Acrobats
were featured exotic shows.
o
AUDIO VISUALS: William Baim and Gene Duve
overcame difficult audio visual tasks to meet the visual needs of the audience
of over 2,100. Their patience and persistence paid off!
o
GENERAL
MEETING AND ELECTION: In bidding competition to host the 2009 DSA conference,
§
President: Robert Cook, AZ (E)
§
Vice President: Richard Bonheyo,
CA (E)
§
Secretary: Nancy Rarus, MD
(R)
§
Treasurer: Joseph Rose, MD (R)
§
Board Member: Ronald Nomeland,
MD (T)
§
Board Member: James Potter, MN (T)
§
Board Member: Barbara Schmidt, MN (E)
·
(E) = Elected;
·
(R) = Re-elected;
·
(T) = Remaining term
o
MEALS: The skillful arrangement of snacks for reception and
card games, and meals for luncheon and banquet were done by Betty Ann Prinz and Jeanne Loustalot.
o
BANQUET
RESERVATIONS: Norbert Enos successfully
completed the difficult banquet reservations task without help.
o
BANQUET: Emcee Gertrude Galloway introduced Frank Turk representing
CSD and Keynoter Herb Larson.
o
DAILY NEWSLETTERS: Dennis Crowley and Joyce Ingraham
edited, published and distributed daily newsletters in both regular and large-print
editions under the sponsorship by Sprint.
o
SIGNAGE: Conference informational and directional signs were
professionally designed by Thomas Ahern.
In conclusion, I want
to express my sincere and heartfelt thanks to our committee and the Hilton
staff for their hard-working teamwork and efficient coordination.
--Ronald Hirano, General Chairperson
3. Firsts
of San Francisco 2005 DSA Conference
1.
Quarterly conference newsletters Deaf Senior Update mailed
to registrants
2.
Red carpet welcome and pickup at airport for DSA President
Gertrude Galloway by Hilton San Francisco
3.
Tours to a brand-new retirement complex
4.
Social club
5.
Video relay service (VPS) cyber café
6.
Art exhibit of DeafWax
7.
Hilton San Francisco guest room in-house TV airing daily
conference activities
8.
Daily large print conference newsletters for sight-impaired
attendees
9.
Red/Purple Hatters luncheon gathering
4. Richard
Bonheyo Earns Prestigious Award
We do things first
class in
The Red Hat Society was founded as a haven
for silliness and unfettered happiness among women of a certain age. The ladies,
50 and older, wear red hats and those younger wear pink hats.
Golden Gateway to Tomorrow,
a comedy skit at Friday's luncheon and The Big Three production and Max-i-mime performance on Saturday evening were an enchanting
After the luncheon
comedy skit, Dr. Mervin Garretson assumed a surprising ceremony. He introduced
Beth Schreiber who unveiled the wax figure of National Association of the
Deaf (NAD) leader, Frederick Schreiber, father of Beth.
Garretson was deemed the most fitting person to lead the ceremony.
He was a close friend of Frederick Schreiber and he signed the moving poem
"The Frederick Schreiber" which he composed 26 years ago.
Four years in the making and the Eighth Biennial Conference
of Deaf Seniors of America is now a thing of the past. With an idea borne
six years ago, Ron Hirano planted the seeds of a conference which would ultimately
take place in
After four years, the
day we were really looking forward to was not just the DSA opening conference
in San Francisco but more elatedly to the one after the
One by one, each committee
person remarked on the various reports. Most of them dealt with belt-tightening
and the use of good common sense business approaches.
But the report that
brought everyone to the edge of their seats was Treasurer Richard Bonheyo's. For many months, doomsayers have been prophesizing
that our committees will be once again be called upon to raise funds to get us out of the "red".
He might have mortgaged
his old homestead to purchase it. At any rate, the Lexus broke the ice and
the serious business of getting down to "how did we do?" came up.
One by one, Bon showed in vivid and explicit detail on the big screen what
money came in and what money went out.
:-)