Thursday, September 5, 2019

DSA Northwest Daily News

Thursday, September 5, 2019 -- Issue #4

Interpreter Provided in Sheraton Lobby 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM & Starbucks 7:00 - 9:00 AM

 

Thursday's Highlights - September 5

• Conference Registration Open 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
• HOT Tours: 8:00 AM  - Boeing Factory Tour, 9:00 AM - Snoqualmie Falls & Winery Tour, 1:30 PM - Starbucks Headquarters Tour. (Must buy tickets online.)
• Exhibits & Trade Show  9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
• Silent Auction 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
• Fair Housing Rights 1:00 - 3:00 PM
• Various Workshops 9:00 - 11:45 AM and 1:30 - 2:45 PM
• SEAGO! Game Night (buy admission tickets at Registration) sponsored by Vancouver, B.C.'s Happy Hands Club - 7:00 - 9:00 PM
• Chat - Willow Room, 2nd Floor 8:00 - 11:00 PM (Conference registrants only)

Thursday's Weather Forecast 

Partly cloudy, high of 77'F

Announcements & Housekeeping

• CHANGE OF VENUE/TIME! Due to high demand, Dr. James Wilson's Presentation titled "Dementia and High Risks" will be repeated this Friday, September 6th at 11:45 AM. It will be held in the much larger Grand Ballroom A/B on the 2nd floor (not the Ravenna Room). Please note the time change: 11:45 AM.
• DSA Conference Registration is in the Spruce Room on the 2nd floor. Ride up the escalator  one flight from the lobby and turn around the corner on the left.
• If you have any questions regarding your hotel bill, please stop by the front desk Wednesday - Saturday between 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM to straighten things out. The Sheraton is trying to avoid a huge rush of people on Sunday when everyone is trying to check out and catch planes, etc.
• DSA NEEDS YOU! New DSA Officers and Board members sought. Elections are at the end of the week. Please pick up a nomination form in Exhibit Hall at the DSA Booth if you would like to part of DSA's leadership team.
• ASL interpreted AA meetings will be held this Thursday and Friday from 7:00 - 8:00 AM at the Denny Park Lutheran Church, about a 15 minute walk from the Sheraton Hotel. The address is:  766 John Street, Seattle. Questions: Please contact Laurel at  VP 206-452-0186.
• HEADS UP: Gallaudet President Roberta Cordano will be speaking at DSA tomorrow Friday, September 6th at 6:00 PM in the Grand Ballroom. You won't want to miss the "Sweet Re-Treat."

Don't Forget:  We Want Your Conference Photos!
     Since arriving at the DSA Conference, have you taken some fun photos you would like to share with the rest of us? Please email your best photos with captions to DSA NW Daily News at sarageballe@gmail.com. We will do our best to include as many as we can.

HOT Tours Today
(See Monday NW Daily News for full HOT Tours schedule)
Meet at Starbucks in hotel lobby 15 minutes before departure!

8:00 AM Boeing Factory Tour - with DAN
9:00 AM Snoqualmie Falls & Winery Tour - with DARREN, LARRY & RUSTY

9:00 AM Starbucks Headquarters Tour - with PATTY 

Photos from Wednesday's HOT Tours

Pike Place Market Tour (photo by Valdies)

Can you spot the whale? (Photo by Patty)

Christina and Pam whale watching (photo by Patty)

Vicky and Rod (photo by Patty)

Whale watching group (photo by Patty)

Tuesday's Seattle City Tour (photo by Dan)

Boeing Factory Tour (photos by Darren)

DSA Exhibit Hall Opened Wednesday. Take a Look at Some of the Great Booths!
Photos by RaeVern DuMond
     The Exhibit Hall will be open all week. So many good organizations and businesses to support. Be sure to drop by. These are just some of the many friendly vendors you'll meet!

And Don't Forget to Place Your Bids at the Silent Auction in the Exhibit Hall
     Huge thanks to John Taft for getting so many donations from so many people and businesses for the DSA Seattle Silent Auction. Bidding for the Silent Auction is open until Friday at 3:00 PM. (Photos by RaeVern DuMond.)

Red Hat Luncheon 
Article by Cindy McNeely
Photos by Mirna Castrejon

     Committee Chair Connie Gough opened the festivities by welcoming at least 85 Red Hat Society Ladies! She introduced three Northwest Deaf Red Hat Society women who each explained about their respective local chapters and their activities. 

Red Hat Society Planning Committee

     They were: Hester Hussey from Vancouver, British Columbia representing the “Red Hat Orcas,” Mary Shaw from Seattle, representing “Joyful Hands.” And Sally Taylor from Portland, Oregon representing the “Columbia River Deaf Dames.” The fourth speaker was Julie Crossen who talked about her experience trying to set up Deaf Red Hat Society in San Francisco.

Luncheon speakers:  Hester Hussey, Mary Shaw & Sally Taylor (not pictured Julie Crossen)

     There were a number of lovely door prizes and it was fun seeing who the winners would be. The prizes included: a handmade quilt with a Red Hat design donated by the Virginia School for the Deaf Museum; a wooden artwork panel with the words “Live, Love, Laugh” carved into it; handsewn quilt table centerpieces with white glass candles, and a beautiful stained glass hat figurine.

85-year-old Barbara Van Hook from Charlotte, NC in her lovely 1920's dress.

     The “Live, Love, Laugh” wood panel was created by Liz Elliot, the daughter of Red Hat Orcas member Patti Dobie. A big heartfelt thanks to Liz for her generous contribution. What a fun and pleasant lunch!

 

After lunch sharing the elevator together (photo by Linda Reaves-Randall)

A Few Wise Words from Three Deaf Presenters at Tuesday’s Opening Ceremony

By Rosemary DiSiervi

     Deborah O’Willow, Director of Washington State Office of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (ODHH) shared with the audience how Donna DiMarco asked her fill in for her to get the DSA 2019 Seattle Conference started. (Donna couldn’t make it to Seattle due to a family emergency.) Making a conference successful, Deborah said, "Takes planning that requires a lot of time and effort, a lot of thought, a lot of blood, sweat, and tears, and laughter. You will bring home with you a wealth of knowledge that you gained from this DSA 2019 Conference.” She reminded us that aging is a natural process.  We need to see a brighter future.  We must work together to break down all the barriers for all of us.

     Next, Master of Ceremonies Rusty Wales emphasized how technology has progressed very quickly and how the technological revolution is leaving many Deaf elders behind. 

     Karl Ewan, Branch Manager for Accessibility and Marketing with Sprint, opened with this quotation from Abraham Lincoln: “Add life to your years, not years to your life!” Karl shared a bit about the digital age we now all live in. Two Sprint workers will give a workshop on Thursday on digital communication.  Be sure to check your program book for the time and location of this workshop.

Rusty's Wine Workshop

Rusty Wales really gets into character for his wine workshop. Here he is as the Roman God of Wine, Bacchus! 
(Please read Rusty's article below about how he got interested in wine.)

Seniors Discuss: Hot Button Issues Forum
By Rosemary DiSiervi
Photos by Nikki Ekle

     Sherri Collins, Executive Director of the Arizona State Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and President of the National Association of State Agencies for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (NASADHH) led this forum. Also, presenting was Kim Bianco-Majeri, NAD's State Legislative Affairs Coordinator.

     NAD and DSA are now working jointly to study the needs of Deaf Seniors. One important question is: Where are the resources for Deaf Seniors? Also, what are their specific needs? One focus is helping seniors develop checklists for themselves and their family members to prepare for what is going to happen in the future. 
     The NAD-DSA Taskforce has developed a survey for you to fill out. Please go to the NAD booth in the Exhibit Hall to pick up a copy and fill it out. Please hand it in any time between now until the end of the Conference. The purpose of NAD and DSA working together is to improve the quality of life of Deaf Seniors.  

NASADHH President Sherri Collins

Audience member Guy Vollman from Indiana

Wednesday's World Debut/Art Unveiling/Artist Nancy Rourke
Photos by Mirna Casterjon and Susan Sien

Deaf painter Nancy Rourke speaks at the world debut unveiling of her work titled Socialization:Missing. 

ODHH Hosts "Munch & Mingle"

Photos by RaeVern DuMond & Mirna Castrejon
     First it was time to meet our various Washington State agencies and the people who work at them servicing our local Deaf Community.

Deborah O'Willow, Director of ODHH

Angelina  Theriault

        Then it was time to munch and mingle...

John Taft with Melissa Mira Yingst

Extra Surprise! ASL Performance by ASL Cart

Photos by RaeVern DuMond

Sampling of Thursday's Workshops... 
(Be sure to review your Conference Program Book for a complete listing of all workshops.)

Planned Giving and Your Legacy                               Ravenna Room AB at 9:00 AM

     Join Jonathan Cetrano and Stephen Hilbok and learn about how to planning for your legacy. You will become aware of tax rules and different ways to leave your money for causes you believe in without worrying about running out of money while you are still alive. Jonathan works in Gallaudet University’s Development Office and Stephen works at Merrill Lynch.

Senior Companion Service                                        Ravenna Room AB at 10:00 AM

     Learn about how to create a companionship program for Deaf seniors who live alone and do not have easy access to the Deaf community. Deborah O’Willow and Claudia Foy from the Washington State Office of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (ODHH) will share the success of the Senior Companion Service Model they have created in Washington State by partnering with other organizations, especially the Aging Long-Term Support Administration.

Moving Forward On Your Own:                                  Ravenna Room AB at 1:30 PM

A Workshop for Widows, Widowers, Wives, and Friends     

     Kathleen M. Rehl is a widow herself and a Certified Financial Planner. This workshop will open your eyes to the shocking statistics on how grief can sabotage your thinking and decision-making abilities. You will learn how to avoid common money pitfalls, and how to prepare yourself in advance for the possibility of losing a spouse. This workshop is being sponsored by Kramer Wealth Managers. Kathleen is the author of the book, Moving Forward on Your Own: A Financial Guidebook for Widows. 

Fair Housing Rights for Deaf Seniors                         Kirkland Room at 1:30 PM                                                                                                 [ASL Interpreted + CART]

      Presenters Craig Waletzko and Anna Ditencourt will discuss the issues and challenges facing Deaf seniors, especially those living in assisted living and nursing homes. They will explore the potential for discrimination, such as being excluded from housing opportunities or being denied reasonable accommodations. This workshop will focus on learning your rights under the Fair Housing Laws, and how to seek remedies if you are the victim of discrimination. Craig works for the Fair Housing Justice Center, Inc. under the auspices of NAD. Anna is an NAD staff attorney.
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Why I Love Wine

By Rusty Wales (“The Deaf Prince of Wales” aka "Deaf Dionysis")

     My interest in wine began in 1976 during a wine tour in Santa Barbara with friends during my summer vacation from teaching at the California School for the Deaf in Riverside. Since then taking wine touring had become one of my favorite pastimes.  Visiting wineries and vineyards in Napa Valley has especially enriched my experience.

     After 1976 I started learning more and more about wine, bit by bit. Whenever I tasted a wine I thought was really good, I made notes.

     Then in 1986 when my wife Karen and I bought our first house in Denver, we found we had an over-abundance of Concord grapes growing in our backyard. There were more grapes than we and our friends could ever consume by ourselves. So instead of making jams and jellies (we already had received plenty of jars of preserves as gifts from friends), I decided to try making wine. My very first bottle was bleah! But as time went by, I shifted from using our Concord grapes to using true wine grapes, like Syrah and Merlot. I also learned some tricks of the winemaking trade.

     These days I produce one or two cases of wine each year under my "Deaf Prince of Wales" label. I don’t sell my wine because I want to remain a wine hobbyist. I consume wine with our house guests and donate bottles to others for fundraising purposes. I'd like to point out that it does not take ears to make or appreciate a fine wine. However, it does take the other four senses. 

     My pride and joy as a winemaker is my “Super Tuscan” bottled in 2010 under my "The Three Deaf Musketeers" label. It was my best wine ever.  With that wine I received national recognition in Winemakers Magazine.  

     FYI, “Super Tuscan” will be available for you to bid on at the DSA Live Auction on Friday, September 6. Don't miss out!

NOTE:  Rusty is leading today's HOT Tour to Chateau Ste. Michelle and Columbia Winery.

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 SEAGO Game Night Tonight @ 7:00 PM
Hosted by Vancouver, BC's Happy Hands Club
     Join your friends tonight in the Grand Ballroom with a fun evening of "SEAGO" (similar to Bingo). You must buy your tickets in advance at the DSA Registration Table. The deadline for buying tickets is today, Thursday, September 5 at 12:00 noon. The cost is $10.00/person for four (4) games. There is room for a maximum of 240 players. Cash prizes will be awarded!

Alumni Are Meeting!

Gally Alums from Class of '71 met on Monday night. 
Front Row (L to R): Nancy (Thayer) Daniels, Tanya (Fain) Mills, Connie (Greenlee) Gough, Wendy Bachman, Connie (McGee) Clark, Cindy (Cox) McNeely, Linda Tom, Karyl (Meadows) Hummel, Mike Hummel and Leslie (Milam) Zinza

Back Row (L to R): Tom Dowling, Dave Fontana, Evie (Graf) Harris, Jane Kuzoian, Barbara (Hong) Richardson and Mike Boyd. (Photo from Karyl Hummel).

Some Fun Photos from Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday...

 

Your DSA Northwest Daily News Staff
We are located in the Ballard Room on the 3rd floor of the Sheraton. Drop by and see us!

Editor: Sara Geballe, sarageballe@gmail.com 

Contributors:  Mirna Castrejon, Rosemary DiSiervi, RaeVern DuMond, Nikki Ekle, Cindy Cox McNeely, Linda Reaves-Randall, Van Scheppach, Susan Sien, John Taft, Sally Taylor and Rusty Wales.