- The ARC - California Edition -

Get Jazzed About The Arc

It has been 25 years since we last were there, but this year, the Arc-US has again chosen to go to New Orleans, Louisiana in order to make its 52nd annual convention a great event. The date has been set – October 18 though 20, 2001, but you must recognize that in some cities, there is more than just attending your organization’s convention. In fact, my wife and I have already decided to fly in early on Tuesday, October 16, and to fly back home late on Sunday, October 21. 

What is the draw? Actually it is many things. As part of the Arc convention program, there will be a number of featured speakers, one of whom will be Michael Smull who will be communicating to us about the gap between “Best practices” and “Typical practices”. Mike is very interested in getting us to understand that “self-advocates” and “their families” are extremely important when it comes to making some rapid changes.

Another featured speaker will be a fellow Californian. Dan Sorensen is very involved in studying the impact of crime on people with mental retardation and developmental disabilities. You don’t think there is much impact? Well, I suggest that you allocate a little of your time getting some insight from Dan about “what is justice” and “what is protection” for people with physical and mental disabilities. Sorensen is the boss man for the “Crime Victims with Disabilities Initiative”, which is part of the California Department of Mental Health.

Those sessions are part of the plenaries for the main convention. Now let us talk about workshops – smaller groups. The topics will include Prevention, School-To-Work Transition, Health Care, Communications, Unlocking the Waiting List, and others.

But also of importance to our type of organization is CAN I GET A TINY BIT OF TIME TO SEE THE CITY. Well, it does seem that the New Orleans convention planning committee has at least noted the fact that members who attended past Arc conventions do get teed off when they find out at the last minute that there were not enough people signed up for their tour, so “the convention planning committee” decided to cancel the tour”. 

Oh, thanks. I took an extra day off so I could fly in early, and now I find out that the tour has been cancelled. So I get my money back, but where do I put that day! File it where?

Certainly all of us attend this 52nd annual Arc convention for “business reasons”. In front of us is a new Blueprint for The Arc that we now must define how to implement. We need practical, useful tools that will help us improve community life for all, regardless of disability. But in the cool of the evening when discussion has slowed, we often want to enjoy!

We certainly do want “A Taste of Mardi Gras” if we are going to visit New Orleans. You know – Zydeco music, and that savory flavor of authentic jamba-laya, prepared by a real New Orleans cook. And photo ops. 

It looks good. The advanced material about the New Orleans convention contains many of these features, and it still retains that impact of that big event. The convention will be topped off with delicious food, live music and the company of good friends. 

The Saturday night final banquet has it all. They are not just talking about sitting and listening to a band. You will be learning how to dance. Yes, I know I am 70 years old. But it is going to be exciting. Come and join us there.

The convention headquarters will be at the Sheraton New Orleans Hotel. To make reservations, call 1-800-253-6136. For airline reservations, call 1-800-866-4691.