[Blindtlk] Independence Market at the convention

Thu Jun 23 16:23:27 UTC 2011

Dear Penny,

You are in for a treat and a challenge.  Think about the busiest shopping 
mall you have ever been to and this will be close, but most of the people 
there will be Blind.  The Independence Market Place, I.e. the NFB Store, has 
just about everything you can think of and what they don't, the other 
vendors such as Independent Living Aids, APH and others will have it.
There will be Divisions, Committees, State Affiliates and Chapters selling 
candy, snacks, drinks and all kinds of raffle tickets for cash or trips and 
technology.  Some things will have Convention only prices and deals too.
You will need to be registered to have your names in the drawings for door 
prizes at the General Sessions and the Banquet.  You must be in the room or 
on Convention business to get the prizes and even if your name is drawn, 
your name stays in the pot and can be called again.  I know people who have 
had their name called as many as 6 times in one convention.  They always 
give a nice door prize at the beginning and end of each General session , it 
pays to be on time and not to leave early, and the prizes sometimes really 
get large toward the end of the week as people go home early and the winners 
can not be found.  They add to the prizes both cash and merchandise.
The merchants Division usually sells large bags with all kinds of snack 
foods in it for $5 as a fund raiser from the Merchants Division table in the 
Exhibition Hall and the Student's Division is everywhere selling Candy so 
you can always get something to eat.
Many of the State Affiliates and Division/Committee s have tables in the 
Hall selling all kinds of things as fund raisers.  I picked up a really cool 
digital recorder for $15 from the Utah affiliate a few years ago.
I have also picked up some really cool items that I use to show people how 
Braille works.  I got two key flobs from (APH) American Printing House in 
the form of a little Rubik cube that can form all of the Brail signs and a 
small refreshable slate and stylist that lets me write and read up to 6 
Braille letterers and show how a slate works by popping the little pins up 
and reading them before erasing them and writing something else.  It 
certainly shows the concept of Braille and how it works to just about 
anyone.
Something that allot of members do not know, is that the NFB usually puts a 
clause in all of their hotel contracts that extends the Convention room 
rates 3 days before and 3 days after a convention so that any member can 
stay, or come in early and enjoy the attractions and sites of the host city 
at a reduced room rate.  You might want to take advantage of this to visit 
the theme parks.  If you are Para-transit qualified, you can even use 
Orlando's Access Links service to take you places 24 hours a day.    How 
about a visit to Disney Village?  Church Street Station or Old town, 
Ripley's Believe it or Not?.  Whatever you miss this time you can catch at 
one of the other 3 National Conventions planned for Orlando in coming years. 
Remember that on July 8, the last Space Shuttle is going up from the Cape 
and you can see it from anywhere in the Orlando area or you could plan a 
visit to the Kennedy Space Center as a day trip.  If you can not find 
something interesting and exciting to do in Orlando, you better take your 
pulse and see if you are dead.
The Florida State Affiliate is here to help you enjoy your stay with us more 
and if we can be a help just ask.

David Evans, NFBF and GD Jack.
"Orange you glad you are in Florida?"

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Hyde, David W. (ESC)" <david.hyde at wcbvi.k12.wi.us>
To: "'Blind Talk Mailing List'" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, June 23, 2011 9:03 AM
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Independence Market at the convention

> Penny, of course there will be canes, as everyone has said. There will be 
> a lot of other things too. It seems that everyone who wants to sell 
> something to blind people is there. As far as activities, be sure to get 
> to the Rookie Roundup for an overview of the convention. I don't know how 
> old your daughter is, but I know there will be plenty of children there 
> her age, no matter what it is. If you have problems or questions, please 
> ask someone. The Presidential Suite is a good place to get information 
> that you can't find in the agenda. It is open to everyone at the times 
> shown in the agenda, and everyone is welcome to stop in.
>
> I have been attending these for more years than I can count, but I believe 
> this will be my thirty-fourth. There are some who have been attending 
> longer. We are all happy to help.
>
> I look forward to seeing both of you at convention. I'll be the one 
> carrying a white cane.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On 
> Behalf Of Penny Duffy
> Sent: Wednesday, June 22, 2011 9:58 PM
> To: Blind Talk Mailing List
> Subject: [Blindtlk] Independence Market at the convention
>
> I know Independence Market will be at the convention.  My daughter really
> wants to try a NFB straight over the folding  heavy aluminum cane her O&M
> instructor gave her. Does anyone know if they normally have a good
> selection? I keep telling her we will get her a new one at convention and
> now I am concerned there isn't going to be any there.  Its our first
> convention and we are very excited
>
> -- 
> --Penny
> ----------
> Adventures with Abby - visionfora.blogspot.com
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