(video length: 5 mins)

We’re here at the Sheraton Hotel in downtown Chicago for the Rainbow Alliance of the Deaf ‘s (RAD) biennial conference.  The views from the hotel are breathtaking and the weather has been fantastic.  It’s been fun bumping into old friends and meeting new ones.

The day began with a RAD board meeting, followed by a delegate orientation which included a workshop on Parliamentary Procedure by Libby Pollard.  The evening concluded with a President’s Reception which included Chicago-styled pizza.

So far, about 100 people have registered.  At least 200 more are expected.

If you have a Twitter account, follow us on Twitter @deafqueer for more frequent updates regarding the conference.

By the way, it’s not too late to attend!  The week is just getting started.  Come join us if you can!

If you’re not interested in the combo, you can always purchase the Individual tickets! They are now available to be individually purchased at http://wcrad.org/rad2009_individualtickets_registration.htm.  A one-time registration fee of $20.00 is required prior to purchasing any individual ticket. Please be aware that tickets for Opening Ceremony, Closing Ceremony, and RAD Pageant Dinner CAN NOT be purchased at door. They must be purchased by June 17th. Both Combo and Individual tickets can be purchased via PayPal.

For more information, please visit http://www.wcrad.org.  The RAD 2009 Host Committee, WCRAD, and the entire LGBT community of Chicago hope you will join us for what will be the biggest and best RAD conference yet!

Windy City Rainbow Alliance of the Deaf, a Chicagoland area non-profit, 501(c)3 organization, provides its members and supporters with opportunities to network, defend Deaf LGBT rights, and advance the interests of Deaf LGBT citizens. The WCRAD promotes educational, economic, and social programs with its members and supporters.

###

Rainbow Alliance of the Deaf (RAD) Vice President Mich Gerson and Treasurer Frank Folino have resigned from their positions with the Rainbow Alliance of the Deaf.

According to a press release distributed by RAD, the resignations were due to personal reasons.

David O’Toole from Denver, Colorado has been selected to take on the Treasurer duties for the organization.  President Larry Pike and Secretary Steven Schumacher will assume the Vice President duties until new officers are elected at the next RAD conference in Chicago next summer.

Pumphrey and Gerson. (Photo credit: Drago)

The Rainbow Alliance of the Deaf (RAD) will host two open forums, a youth show and a party from April 11 to 13, 2008 on the NTID/RIT campus in Rochester, New York. The activities are being led by RAD Youth Coordinator Kriston Pumphrey and RAD Vice President Mich Gerson, both of whom are RIT students.

“RAD recognizes the importance of our future generation and the need to preserve, nurture, invest and encourage the youth within the Deaf GLBTIQ community,” wrote Kriston Pumphrey of the events.

A RAD board meeting is also taking place that weekend.

All events and meetings are open to to the public. For more information, visit the RAD website at http://www.rad.org.

###

Vicki Kirkpatrick, RAD 2009 Co-Chair
(video length: 01:46)

The next Rainbow Alliance of the Deaf conference is being hosted by the Windy City Rainbow Alliance of the Deaf (WCRAD) and is scheduled to take place June 30 – July 4, 2009 in Chicago Illinois. The planning committee is hoping to attract 1,000 participants.

This is definitely one RAD conference you won’t want to miss!

For more information, visit http://www.wcrad.org/rad2009.htm

You can also view this video on YouTube.