WRAD, Inc. welcomes you to DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING NIGHT
AT MONTE CARLO'S RESTAURANT IN BURBANK

Tuesday, February 28, 2006
Monte Carlo's Restaurant
3103 West Magnolia Blvd.
Burbank, California 91505

We will have dinner at this great Italian restaurant called Monte Carlo's Pinocchio Restaurant on Tuesday night February 28th as prices are very reasonable around $6 to $15. A fundraiser for the WRAD organization and please tell the cashier you are with WRAD or bring the flyer for WRAD to get a 15% donation from Monte Carlo's.

Bruce Gross, Gino Giudice, and Carlos Greenham already been to that restaurant and loved it. Lets go there as a group on February 28th. Free parking. See you there as everyone is welcome. For more information, contact brucegross@aol.com or by VP at 661-943-8879.



Have you ever wanted to travel and explore the unknown and try diving, but have been unable to take that giant leap because of your hearing loss? Do you find it hard to understand diving instructors in big classes? FRUSTRATED???

Not anymore. Welcome aboard to the Sampai Jumpa where your travel and diving worries will disappear.

Frank van der Linde and Naomi Hayim have taught many D/deaf and hard of hearing people. Whether you want to learn to dive, or be gently guided around the beautiful sights of the underwater world, let us take you by the hand. Together, we can teach you scuba diving with confidence and ease.

As soon as you jump on the boat, you can relax completely. We will put you in an environment that caters for your needs without you having to feel different from the group.

Following the successes of our previous trips where we had many D/deaf and hard of hearing people join us from the United States, Europe and Australia, please find dates for the next trips starting from early 2006. We look forward to welcoming you!

Dates for 2006 and 2007.

2/13/06 – 2/20/06 – Similan & Surin Islands

4/10/06 – 4/17/06 – Similan & Surin Islands

4/19/06 – 4/27/06 – Burma Banks & Mergui Archipelago

3/08/07 – 3/16/07 – 10-day Manta Ray & Whaleshark Sighting Galore Trip

3/18/07 – 3/25/07 – 8-day Similan & Surin Islands Trip

3/28/07 – 4/17/07 – 3-week Andaman Trip


3/7/06 – 3/28/06 – Andaman Islands — A very special 3-week trip to the unique Andaman Islands. This special trip is open to everyone and is highly recommended as it is one of the last places to see the almost extinct Dugongs (Sea Cows).

The aim of delegating the above trips is for D/deaf/hard of hearing divers to meet one another.

If you wish to come at other times not specified above, you are most welcome to book any trips you wish. Naomi will be on board at all times from October 2005. We use a wide range of communication methods, to ensure that everyone can understand and participate, these being BSL, ASL, lip speaking, gestures and fingerspelling. We aim to accommodate everyone, whatever their communication needs are.

All our trips will be a mix of D/deaf, hard of hearing and hearing people. If you have any specific requests, contact Naomidana via her email address: naomi@worldwidediveandsail.com and she will provide you with any information you require.

“... the fact that communication was not an issue, was the ultimate for me, especially when I compare it to diving in this country and other places, where I have missed out on the dive briefings etc. I also learnt a lot about my diving and hope I have improved. Also, it was so much fun and there were some wonderful people on the trip.”
Shirley Wilson, London, UK

“I loved the diving so much that I have been thinking about whether I want to do graphic design as my career or to go into scuba diving!! Even my parents have noticed the change in me from when I first went travelling to now!! I'm more positive and more like the person I used to be 3 years ago, so you know for sure that I must have had a cracking time!!”
Deniece Wheatley, Bristol, UK

We look forward to welcoming you on the Sampai Jumpa for diving, sailing and travel fun!

For more information check out their website at: www.worldwidediveandsail.com.
Click here to read an article about Naomi's unique service.




Day After Paddy's Day
OTL (Over the Line - 3 on 3 Beach Softball)
Saturday, March 18, 2006
Mission Bay in San Diego

Click here to see their flyer. For more information, contact Paul Stuessy, Farwest Softball Association of the Deaf




About 50 deaf and hard of hearing people came to El Guapo Mexican Cantina, a beautiful sports bar, in the heart of Hollywood, California for the Super Bowl to see the Pittsburgh Steelers win against the Seattle Seahawks.

There were many television sets at the bar and we had the reserved area with some closed captioning television sets to watch the football game.

The manager, Chad knew sign language, and a graduate of University of California at Berkeley. He was very nice and made sure that we had a good time at the sports bar. He is a musician and enjoyed meeting our group as most of us communicated in sign language.

The main prize was the $2,000 plasma TV won by
a hearing person. We had our own football pools
and here are our winners:

  1. 1st Quarter winner- Rick Reiss, $25.00 who then donated the prize to purchase beer for the WRAD group.
  2. 2nd Quarter winner- Jeff Lubman- $25.00
  3. 3rd Quarter winner- Jo Reins- $25.00
  4. 4th Quarter winner- Reynaldo Llarena- $25.00 who donated to WRAD.
  5. The Grand Prize Winner was Mark Brudney who won a prize of $100.00

Our group had 2 tables and each table had a drawing for $100 prize and we were shocked when both of our tables won $100 each ($200 total) so people split the winning money. We had very good luck.

Many of us had a good time chatting and watching the football game on television. Some people were very kind to treat others to appetizers and beer to make our group like one large family.

Click here to view more Super Bowl Party pictures - 162kb

It was a successful event and we are thinking about hosting another Super Bowl party again next year.

Thanks to the following committee members who made the event possible- Bruce Gross, Chair, Mark Brudney, Assistant to Bruce, and Reynaldo Llarena who was the photographer for the WRAD website and helped coordinate the football pools for cash prizes. Bruce Gross also took pictures of the party.

 


A message from the President...



WRAD, Inc. presents A Pizza Fundraiser at


19755 Rinaldi Street Porter Ranch, California 91326

3rd Friday of the month 4:00pm - 10:00pm

Our third event is Friday, March 17, 2006

Next door to the Porter Ranch STARBUCKS where deaf and hard of hearing people gather every 3rd Friday of the month.

Tell the cashier you are deaf or hard of hearing or a friend in the deaf and hard of hearing community for us to get a 15% benefit for the WRAD organization.

Your support and help is greatly appreciated......

Mark your calendar for the following dates in 2006 of Porter Ranch Pizza Cafe fundraising nights:

Months 2006

January 20
February 17
March 17
April 21
May 19
June 16
July 21
August 18
September 15
October 20
November 17
December 15

See you all at Porter Ranch Pizza Cafe and Porter Ranch Starbucks on the 3rd Friday of the month.


WRAD BIKE DAY- SATURDAY MARCH 18, 2006
SANTA MONICA TO HERMOSA BEACH AND BACK

WRAD is happy to present a 30-mile round trip bike day along the beach from Santa Monica to Hermosa Beach round trip !!!!!!

All day Saturday
March 18th, 2006
10:00am to 4:00pm.

The bicycle path along 15 miles from Santa Monica to Hermosa Beach takes you through some of the most colorful beach towns anywhere. We will stop for lunch at the Hermosa Beach courtyard around noon. Food there is fabulous and affordable. You may shop, eat, rest, and entertain other friends at the courtyard. Everyone is welcome. This is going to be a fun day to meet new and old friends. Also, it is a very good exercise for your body and strengthen your muscle legs to have 30 miles round trip on the bicycle. You will have a good night sleep after you are exhausted from riding all day. This is a fun ride for everyone. We are not racing against Lance Armstrong.

Meet us at the Santa Monica Pier parking lot betweeen 9:30am and 9:45am prior to our departure at 10:00am SHARP!!!!!!    (The event will be cancelled if rain or heavy fog)

Click here to get a map and directions. If you don't have a bike , you can rent them near the pier. Come early to get good bikes at the rental shop. Parking fee is $7.00 for the day. The weather for this time of the year would be cool and breezy so you may want to bring a light sweater just in case.

Reynaldo Llarena, WRAD 1st Vice President and Coordinator of DHH Bike Day at the Beach. For more information, contact Reynaldo Llarena at wradvicepresident@yahoo.com



  <a href="http://sprintrelay.quarry.com/sweepstakes/"><img alt="Sprint Sweepstakes" src="images/SprintContext.gif" /></a>

Colorado Backpacking - Deaf and Hard of Hearing Women

The experiential nature of the Outward Bound curriculum provides hands-on opportunities to explore risk-taking, change, challenge, problem solving and self-direction. This course is instructed by women, designed to stimulate your creativity, help you change direction and address balance in your life and career. Through success-oriented challenges requiring teamwork and personal effort, the Adult Renewal course enhances self-confidence, motivates compassion and enriches personal experience. This course illuminates the importance of support systems by offering an opportunity to be in the mountains for 7 days with all Deaf/HOH women. The first three days of the course are run out of our Leadville Mountain Center where you will participate in activities such as rock climbing and rappelling, as well as spending some time on the ropes course. During this section, you will sleep in our cabins or on tent platforms and our base camp cook will prepare delicious meals for you. The last four days will take place in a wilderness setting tackling rapids as a team on inflatable rafts on the Arkansas River, participating in a backcountry expedition that includes a peak ascent and rounding out your wilderness experience with a solo. Your solo will give you time alone to reflect upon the activities, challenges and lessons you have learned. In the backcountry you will sleep in sleeping bags on the ground under the stars and cook your own meals (as a group) over backcountry stoves. Successful completion of your course demands mastery of skills, trust, fitness, confidence, tenacity, leadership, initiative and compassion. The promotion of these qualities, and the discovery of what's in you, is the purpose of Outward Bound.

  COURSE AREA
The Rocky Mountains, one of the most famous mountain ranges in the world, stretch 3,000 miles from Alaska to New Mexico. They have provided the inspiration for legend and have had a profound influence on the development of the continental United States. It is in and around these majestic mountains that your Outward Bound West course will take place. This course will occur in the Rocky Mountain' San Juan Range, which is often compared to the Swiss Alps. This range contains more land above 10,000 feet than any other place in the United States. It has always presented a formidable challenge for explorers. The area is home to many abandoned mining towns whose rather checkered pasts lend credence to Colorado's Wild West reputation. Here, too, did the infamous Alfred Packer perform his dastardly deed near San Luis Peak on Cannibal Flats.

Outward Bound is offering 3 wilderness courses for Deaf/HOH and Signing individuals in the Spring/ Summer, 2006. All courses are instructed in PSE/ASL and require that students be at least 18 years of age. Full and partial scholarships are available for students in need. Last year more than $20,000 in scholarship money was awarded to these programs, averaging nearly $1,500 per person. Applications are due at least 30 days before the course start.

Colorado Mountaineering 10-day Technical Training for Deaf/HOH/Signing CMI630
May 27-June 5, 2006
Course Cost: $1,795; Age: 21+

This course will provide a hands-on approach to learning technical outdoor skills necessary for safe mountaineering. The curriculum will include both learning the actual skills as well as "how to instruct the skill" for those preparing to work as future outdoor instructors.

Colorado 7-day Backpacking for Deaf/HOH/Signing -Women's Adult Renewal CBT620
June 19-25, 2006
Course Cost: $1,295; Age: 30+

This course is meant to be a crossroads experience for women, instructed by women, designed to stimulate your creativity, help you change direction and address balance in your life and career. It moves from base camp activities to rafting to rock climbing and backpacking.

Colorado 14-day Mountaineering for Deaf/HOH/Signing LMO649
July 31- August 13, 2006
Course Cost: $2,495; Age: 18+

Learn basic backpacking and mountaineering skills, spend a day or two rock climbing, camp under the stars and climb beautiful alpine peaks. This course will be at your pace, with plenty of time to learn the lessons of the backcountry with experienced Outward Bound staff.

"This opportunity to gain new insights and skills, problem-solving approaches, coping strategies, and new -found appreciation for nature and own inner resources proved invaluable. I have learned many tools and risen to physical and psychological challenges that can be applied to other areas in my life." --Outward Bound Student July, 2004

For more information check out their website at:www.outwardboundwilderness.org.

For specific questions, please contact: Cara Branesky at cbranesky@outwardbound.org
TTY: 720-497-2485
Toll Free: 888-837-5211 ext 4
Local: 720-497-2360


Free Admission for Exhibitions, Workshops and Entertainment!
Pomona, CA - Saturday, April 29, 2006

Location:
Fairplex, Building 8
1101 West McKinley Ave.
Pomona, California 91768
www.fairplex.com

Exhibit Hours: 9 am to 6 pm
Parking:  Gate 9 off of White Avenue (general)
Hotel Lot off of McKinley Avenue (preferred)
Cost: FREE ADMISSION

The event includes:
-
Exhibitions (FREE)
- Entertainment (FREE)
- Seminars & Workshops (FREE)

- Children's Activities (FREE)

WRAD will have a booth. <a href="http://sprintrelay.quarry.com/sweepstakes/"><img alt="Sprint Sweepstakes" src="images/SprintContext.gif" /></a>




Greetings from the Chair of the 2006 Convention! First, I would like to thank you for giving me this wonderful opportunity to serve in the role of Chairperson of the 2006 U.S. Deaf Ski and SnowboardAssociation (USDSSA) convention. It is great to be chosen as Chair, especially given that the location of the convention will be Telluride. It is a town full of world class ski slopes and is located in San Juan Mountains in Southwestern Colorado. The town is on the edge of paradise a place filled with the awesome force of natures artistry, the mountains, people filled with gentle spirits, great lifestyle with warm hearts. Telluride, once earned its livelihood as a base for mining and is now a recreation mecca filled with wintertime adventure. It is a major ski resort and in the evenings you will be able to stroll through a charming Victorian town filled with examples of its fascinating past and modernistic ammenities that actually dip into the future. I can say this because I was there and its simply a wonderfully appealing site for our ski convention. It is not too early to consider serving on the committee as it will be a great group of people working together.

Please feel free to email me at StephenHlibok@usdssa.org if you are interested in being part of this positive process and event. More details will be announced during the 2004 convention in Salt Lake City, Utah. Meanwhile, why not insert www.tellurideskiresort.com as a favorite bookmark. Afterall, it is not too early for me to say "Welcome to the Telluride, 2006 USDSSA Convention!" For more information, Click here

Courtesy by: Stephen Hilbok, Chairperson 2004 USDSSA.


The National Racquetball Association of the Deaf

21st National Racquetball Tournament
April 28-30, 2006



1535 Deerpark Drive
Fullerton, California 92831



Please visit their website at www.nrad.org if you want to register to play in the tournament. Fans are also welcome to visit.

The Fullerton Marriott is the racquetball tournament headquarters. The address of the hotel is 2701 East Nutwood Avenue, Fullerton, California 92831. Click here to get a map and directions. It is only $86 per night for up to 4 people staying in the room during the tournament weekend. Call at this number 800-228-9290 this to make a hotel reservation by April 6th.

April 6, 2006 is the deadline to reserve at this special rate.

WRAD hosted the past National Racquetball Tournament in the 1980s in the San Fernando Valley, California with over 100 players and it was really fun. We are glad to see the National Racquetball Tournament coming back to Southern California in Fullerton, Orange County, and hope for a great turnout of players.


Courtesy by: Ken Clark, Chairperson 2006 NRAD.


Call to the 48th Biennial NAD Conference

June 29-July 3, 2006 Desert Springs JW Marriott Resort-Palm Desert, California

Andrew J. Lange, president of the National Association of the Deaf (NAD) has officially issued a Call to the Conference. The 48th Biennial Conference of the National Association of the Deaf will be held at the Desert Springs JW Marriott Resort in Palm Desert, California (Palm Springs area) beginning on June 29, 2006 and ending on July 3, 2006. The theme of this year's conference is, "Change Today for Tomorrow."

Important Note:

2006 NAD Conference information will be updated as it becomes available. Please check this website often - check the links to the left for information on specific conference events and activities.

What's on the Conference Agenda?

Key activities during the conference week are as follows: Opening Ceremonies, Exhibits, Workshops, Forums, College Bowl Finals, Miss Deaf America Finals, 125th Anniversary/Closing Banquet, Council of Representatives Meetings, Tribute to ASL and Deaf Culture, Recognition Award Presentations, Order of Georges/ettes Breakfast, Senior Citizens Section Luncheon, and Youth Luncheon.

Important NAD Conference Deadlines
Here is a quick look at the conference deadlines.
  1. Early Bird Conference Registration - April 10, 2006
  2. Pre-Conference Registration - June 1, 2006
  3. Accessibility Requests - June 1, 2006
  4. After June 1, 2006, registration will be on-site and only Non-Combo tickets will be sold.
Biennial NAD Conferences

Rotated annually among the four regions of the United States, Biennial NAD Conferences, held in the even numbered years, traditionally bring together more than 2,500 deaf, hard of hearing, late-deafened, deaf-blind and hearing consumers, parents, youth, professionals, educators, organizational and corporate representatives for five days of professional development, enrichment, training, networking, governance meetings, receptions and related evening events.

Who attends NAD Conferences?

NAD Biennial Conferences are open to everyone: Parents and family members; retirees; federal employees; youth; administrators, educators, support providers and product/service providers. NAD members receive reduced registration rates, as do NAD members who are senior citizens and students.

Attending NAD Biennial Conferences, for some, is a tradition... yet everyone who attends does so for different reasons:

  1. Speak out, provide feedback and make recommendations
  2. Enhance your professional and career skills
  3. Improve your personal skills and knowledge.
  4. Learn more about the newest gadgets, products and services
  5. Catch up with old friends and make new ones
  6. Cheer for your favorite College Bowl team
  7. Witness the crowning of the new Miss Deaf America
  8. Celebrate ASL and Deaf Culture
  9. Commit to the future of the NAD
  10. Explore the Palm Springs, CA area! <a href="http://sprintrelay.quarry.com/sweepstakes/"><img alt="Sprint Sweepstakes" src="images/SprintContext.gif" /></a>

Courtesy by: NAD Website.


Convention of the Alexander Graham Bell Association for the
Deaf and Hard of Hearing in Pittsburgh, PA   June 23-27, 2006

Build your bridge to the 2006 Convention with a presentation proposal designed to inform education and hearing health professionals, parents and adults with hearing loss about trends and current practices in the field of deafness and spoken language.

Convention Registration
Convention registration begins February 1, 2006. Look for the registration brochure in the 2006 January/February issue of Volta Voices or plan to register online.

Educational Sessions
Educational sessions include a variety of short courses, concurrent sessions and poster presentations designed for parents, professionals and adults who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Topics include:
  1. Accessibility
  2. Acoustics
  3. Advocacy and Policy
  4. Amplification
  5. Assessment Strategies
  6. Children with Multiple Needs
  7. Cochlear Implants and Related Technologies
  1. Collaborative Relationships and Programs
  2. Early Intervention
  3. Education
  4. Family-Related Issues
  5. Mainstreaming
  6. Social/Emotional Issues
  7. Teaching/Therapy Techniques
For more information, Click here


Greetings fellow members of the DEAFLYMPICS family, The 2007 Deaflympics Organizing Committee has been very busy this year. With all the support we now have, the 2007 Deaflympic Winter Games should become one of the very best ever staged!

I want to share with you what our committee has accomplished so far:

  1. The 2007 Deaflympics headquarters hotel will be Little America Hotel in Salt Lake City, an 880 room hotel which also was used for the 2002 Olympic Winter Games. We have a great deal with the hotel, which includes unlimited gourmet buffet breakfasts and dinners. Little America Hotel will be an "Olympic Village" where athletes can meet, relax, and socialize. Teams staying at Little America Hotel will be provided with free bus transportation to the competition venues and ceremonies. More information on Little America Hotel and the costs, which include meals, is available in our website, 2007 Deaflympics
  2. The Opening Ceremony and Closing Ceremony will be at the 2002 Olympic Cauldron Park, 5 minutes from Little America Hotel. This will be a gala event with lighting of the Deaflympic flame on the 2002 Olympics cauldron.
  3. The alpine skiing and snowboarding competition will be at Park City Mountain Resort, and most of the competition events will be held on the same courses used during the 2002 Olympic Winter Games. Park City is a 25 minute ride from Little America Hotel.
  4. The Nordic skiing competition will be at Soldier Hollow Nordic Center, and will use the same courses used in the 2002 Olympics. Soldier Hollow is a 45 minute drive from Little America Hotel.
  5. The ice hockey and curling competition will be at Steiner's Ice Arena in Salt Lake City, which is a 5 minute ride from Little America Hotel.
  6. Several entertaining arts and culture events will be held in Salt Lake City during the Deaflympics week; art shows, International Deaf Club, International Deaf Coffeehouse, Deaf theatre, and more. All arts and culture events will be held either in Little America Hotel or within a short walk of the hotel.
  7. After the Closing Ceremony, there will be a gala closing banquet followed with a closing party at the Salt Lake City Convention Center, a few blocks from Little America Hotel.

Little America Hotel is now accepting room reservations from both teams and fans, and room reservations may be booked. Because Little America Hotel is in the center of most 2007 Deaflympics activities and will provide teams staying at the hotel with free transportation to competition venues, I strongly encourage teams to make their reservations at Little America Hotel as soon as they can, before the hotel releases rooms not reserved to Deaflympic Games fans and other visitors to Salt Lake City. I look forward to seeing you all in Salt Lake City USA February 1-10, 2007!

Courtesy by: Dwight Benedict, Chairperson 2007 Deaflympic Winter Games Organizing Committee.



Madrid, Spain, July 13-22, 2007

This World Congress will include many different programs, ranging from presentations, special interest groups, workshops and training, cultural and theatre presentations, exhibits and related events for people of any ages from all over the world. For more information, Click here


Taipei, Taiwan, September 5-15, 2009

For more information, Click here


Largest Deaf Singles Club - the best and largest club for deaf, ASL and HOH singles and friends looking for love, romance, and even marriages.



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