Sprint CapTel Demo

This just in from Todd Bader at Sprint Relay/ CapTel:

A demo program has been added for Saturday from 3-3:45

What can you do with Sprint 4G?

Curious about America’s first Sprint 4G Phone, hearing aid compatibility and 3G/4G mobile broadband solutions? Join us and learn more about Sprint’s 3G and 4G mobile solutions. You will also learn how Sprint CapTel and Mobile Relay Conference Captioning will work wirelessly using 3G/4G mobile broadband solutions in different ways. See what you can do with Sprint 4G!

25 Conventions!

While I'd like you all to get acquainted with us newbies at the convention, I'd also like you to congratulate two members who have been here since the beginning. Say hello to Bob Branigin and Sue Miller. They have been attending HLAA's national conventions since 1984.


Sue Miller of Rochester, NY, is a former Board of Trustees member and a past president of HLAA. She provides an overview of the convention program, what you can learn, see and do at the Newcomer’s Orientation. Sue has been to every single convention since 1984, making Milwaukee her 25^th consecutive attendance!

Excerpt from Collection of Memories of Rocky Stone

My life is so rich because of my experiences with SHHH/HLAA. I’ve traveled to cities all across the country to attend the conventions...places I never would have seen. I’ve met wonderful people from all over the USA, again, because of SHHH/HLAA.

I can now hear when I go to places of worship, the theater, a court room, because of Rocky and his vision. My life has such meaning and purpose...all because of Rocky.

Bob Branigin of Seattle, WA is another long time HLAA member who also has been to every single convention from the first one in Chicago, Illinois in 1984!

Excerpt from Collection of Memories of Rocky Stone

My most cherished memory of Rocky is that he would make the time to have breakfast or lunch with me at every convention from his retirement up until his passing. He would tell me serious things and share his concern for SHHH/HLAA. He had a great sense of humor and would tell me jokes. He would joke with me about who will be the last person to break the record of attending every convention since the first one in Chicago. At the present time [February 2009] Sue Miller of Rochester, NY, and I are the only two people who have been to all of the conventions.

Program Changes

The convention is coming up fast! Leaving tomorrow!

FYI: There are a couple of things that need to be changed in the program book.

1)WORKSHOP CANCELED:

"Advocacy Through Social Networking"

Presenter: Teresa Burke

Scheduled for: Saturday from 12:45-2

The presenter broke her foot and cannot make it.

2) On the sponsor page of the program guide (p 35) Blackberry CTIA should be Blackberry RIM (Research In Motion)

That's it for now. More soon!

Have Fun! Make New Friends! Go to Milwaukee!

Hey, everybody. I hope you’re getting excited about the convention, because I sure am. I’ll be arriving in Milwaukee one week from now!

Convention 2010 promises to be an exciting event. There will be a ton of cool exhibits and speakers, but what I’m really looking forward to are the social activities. Meeting cool new people is a great reason to attend. You’re bound to make new friends with people from all over the country at fun-filled events like Oktoberfest in June and Rumble at the Harley Davidson Museum. Heck, you might even win free registration to next year’s convention at the Harley.

Thanks to a generous sponsorship from AT&T there will even be a special off-site event for young adults at Comedy Sportz Milwaukee! This is an improv comedy club, but there will be CART (realtime captioning). I’m interested to see how it goes. I recently attended a “comedy sportz high school league” show my brother performed in. I didn’t understand a thing, but my parents said I wasn’t the only one. I’m sure it will be a challenge for a brave captionist.

See the convention page for all the fun stuff to do at and around the convention!

If for some unfortunate reason you can’t join us this year, you should definitely go to convention 2011. If you're a first-timer, like me, you can even apply for a scholarship for next year. Half a dozen young adults - myself included - are going on scholarships this year generously sponsored by CTIA- The Wireless Association. Applications for scholarships to convention 2011 should be available at the beginning of the year and have a deadline at the end of March.

Have a great week and I hope to meet you - yes YOU - in Milwaukee!

Introduction

Hello, everyone. I’d just like to take a moment to introduce myself. My name is Rachel, and I’m so excited to be attending and blogging for this year’s HLAA national convention in Milwaukee! I’d like to thank my good friend Rhi Gutierrez (HLA-CA board member and cover girl for the current issue of The Hearing Loss Californian) for nominating me for a scholarship to the convention as well as mentioning my name when Nancy was looking for a blogger. I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for her! Also, thanks to Hamilton Cap Tel for sponsoring our official blog.

A little bit about me

Age: 23

Born and raised: Orange County, CA

Hearing loss: progressive, bilateral, sensorineural loss, severe to profound in left, profound in right ear

Education: BA in English literature, Chapman University, 2009

Current favorite hearing devices: Phonak Versata P and iCom with Bluetooth/audio input capabilities

Interests: writing, swing dancing, music, captioned movies, travel, volunteering, reading, technology, advocacy for young adults with hearing loss

Personal blog: http://youngandhoh.blogspot.com

That’s it for now. You’ll hear more from me later as I keep you up to date on all the exciting events going on at the convention! See you in Milwaukee!