The Fourth General Assembly of the International Council on English Braille (ICEB) will be held in Melbourne, Australia from 6 to 10 April 2008. Details of venue, registration, accommodation and related information follow.
Sunday 6 April to Thursday 10 April 2008 (inclusive).
There will be a meeting of the outgoing ICEB Executive Committee on Saturday 5 April and a meeting of the incoming ICEB Executive Committee on Friday 11 April.
Saville on Russell Hotel
222 Russell Street
Melbourne, Victoria
Australia
Telephone: 613 9915 2500
Email: russell.info@savillehotelgroup.com
All the meetings will be held in the hotel. The meeting rooms are smoke-free.
Saville on Russell is located in the heart of Melbourne city and is close to numerous restaurants, cafes and Melbourne’s extensive shopping precinct. The building carries a touch of Art Deco architecture complimented by contemporary interiors. The hotel has 221 one and two bedroom apartments, a restaurant and bar, indoor heated pool, spa and sauna, full gymnasium and conference facilities for up to 200 delegates.
Each member nation of ICEB may send a delegation of up to four members, at least 50% of whom must be blind. Each delegate should be regarded by his/her standard setting body as knowledgeable of English language Braille. Serious consideration should be given to selecting delegates who can represent the interests of blind consumers.
Each delegation of a member nation of ICEB shall have one vote.
Each member nation of ICEB should send a list of the names and addresses of the members of its delegation to Jean Obi, ICEB Secretary, at least sixty days prior to the commencement of the General Assembly (i.e. by 5th February 2008).
Email: jeaneobi@yahoo.com
Interested observers, both individual and organizational representatives, are welcome to attend the General Assembly. Observers will have opportunities to speak at the General Assembly, but do not have the right to vote.
Observers are requested to notify the Secretary of their attendance, with their name and address details, at least sixty days before the General Assembly (see contact details above).
There will be no registration fee for delegates or observers. Attendees will however be responsible for their accommodation and meal costs except for lunches on the days of the General Assembly.
Once delegates and observers are notified to the ICEB Secretary they will be asked by the Local Organising Committee to provide registration and travel details.
Rooms have been reserved at the Saville on Russell Hotel (contact details as above).
The hotel is offering the following rates for those attending the ICEB General Assembly and associated meetings:
· Studio Apartments; AUD $167.00 per night
· One Bedroom Apartments; AUD $188.00 per night
· A limited number of two bedroom apartments are also available, price on application.
These prices include Goods and Services Tax (GST). The rate is for the room whether occupied by one or two people.
Breakfast will be available to those attending the General Assembly at the discounted rate of AUD $20.00 per person.
At the time of writing, early October 2007, the Australian Dollar is relatively high but fluctuating, closer to 90 than 85 US Cents to the Australian Dollar.
Hotel reservations must be made directly with the Hotel, not through ICEB. Bookings should be made by email or telephone. It is essential that you quote booking reference number 401268 and refer to the “International Braille Conference” when contacting the Hotel.
The hotel accepts all major credit cards.
Participants should not use an online booking service as this is likely to preclude them from accessing the favourable rates negotiated for this conference.
The electricity standard in Australia is 240 volts AC, using a different plug from that used in North America or Europe.
Broadband Internet access is available in guest rooms and a wireless system operates throughout the hotel.
A sky-bus service operates between Melbourne Airport and the centre of Melbourne, with a shuttle service to the Saville and nearby hotels.
Taxis are available from Melbourne Airport at a cost of around AUD $50.00.
Assistance will be provided for delegates who require it. Details will follow closer to the General Assembly date.
The Round Table on Information Access for People with a Print Disability will conduct its annual conference at the Saville on Russell from Friday 11 to Monday 14 April.
This conference will include the Annual Meeting of the Australian Braille Authority, to be held on Friday 11 April 2008.
The Round Table Conference brings together organisations and people with an involvement with the production, distribution and use of alternative format materials. Attendees represent the Disability, Education, Library and Information Access Sectors, as well as those who are direct users of Braille audio, large print and electronic media.
The theme for the 2008 Conference is:
“The Power of Cross Sector Collaboration: Investigating working relationships across the private, public, government and not-for-profit sectors.”
The Round Table on Information Access has recently issued a Call for Papers for its 2008 Conference and delegates and observers to the ICEB General Assembly are invited to attend and present at the Conference. The Call for Papers and other conference details are available from the Round Table web site www.e-bility.com.au/roundtable/
or by contacting:
Di Francis
Convenor, 2008 Round Table National Conference
Telephone 618 8223 6222
Email dfrancis@rsb.org.au
For further information regarding local arrangements for the ICEB General Assembly please contact:
John Simpson
Email: jas.infoalt@bigpond.com
Telephone 614 0730 8706
For information regarding the conduct of the ICEB General Assembly contact the ICEB Secretary.
Jean Obi
Email: jeaneobi@yahoo.com