[Gabs] NABS Special Convention Bulletin!

Sat Jun 4 19:46:06 UTC 2011

National Association of Blind Students
>From the Desk of the President
June 4, 2011
Special Bulletin: NFB Convention Highlights
	Beginning Sunday July 3, members of the National Federation of the
Blind will gather in Orlando for the 62nd NFB national convention. The
convention promises to be a fun and enriching experience for
first-time attendees and veteran members alike. Come to reconnect with
old friends and make new ones, to learn about the latest in blindness
programs and technology, and to be part of the process of changing
what it means to be blind!
	Attached please find the full schedule of convention activities (the
convention agenda). In this bulletin I have included information about
NABS activities and a summary of other convention events. Please
consult the attached agenda for information about activities not
listed here in the bulletin. At the very end of the agenda is some
useful information about the layout of our convention hotel and dining
options within the hotel and convention center. Our convention hotel,
the Rosen Shingle Creek Resort, is located at 9939 Universal
Boulevard, Orlando, FL 32819.
Hotel phone: (866) 996-9939
       Taxi and shuttle service is available to travel between the
Orlando airport and the convention hotel. For more information, go to
http://www.nfb.org/nfb/National_Convention.asp
There you will also find some good general information about the
convention, including a guide for first-time attendees.
If you have won an NFB scholarship or other convention award, you may
be required or invited to attend events not listed here; you will be
notified individually about these additional events.
	At this time the convention hotel rooms are all reserved. If you
still need a room, contact your affiliate president to find out if
anyone going from your state has a space in their room. If not, then
contact me at Nabs.president at gmail.com
I look forward to seeing all of you in Orlando!
Schedule of Highlighted Convention Activities
Sunday July 3, 2011
Sunday features several technology seminars, an art workshop, and an
opportunity to test the nonvisual interface of the car being developed
in the Blind Driver project. Consult the agenda for details and room
locations. There will also be organized games and activities for
middle and high school students on Sunday throughout the day. Exact
times for these and other teen sessions are listed in the agenda.
Finally, there will be an employment seminar from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00
p.m. on Sunday.
On Sunday evening from 9:00 to midnight, NABS will be hosting a
Student Hospitality Night in the Affiliate Action Suite, Room
14230.	Drop in for snacks, games, and the chance to meet and mingle
with other blind high school, college, graduate and nontraditional
students. Feel free to drop in and out while also enjoying karaoke, or
the Rookie Roundup, a gathering for first-time convention attendees.
Monday July 4, 2011
On Monday both the exhibit hall and the NFB Independence Market will
open. Come to the Exhibit Hall to browse information and products from
leading assistive technology vendors and to learn about our NFB
training centers. Come to the Independence Market to buy canes,
watches, and other blindness products and to pick up NFB literature.
Both the exhibit hall and the Independence Market will be open on
Monday and Tuesday all day and on Wednesday and Thursday during the
lunch break. The exhibit hall will also be open Wednesday and Thursday
evenings. NABS will have a table in the exhibit hall where we will be
selling coffee mugs and raffle tickets, and passing out student
information packets. Come see us!
Monday is also a good time to pick up your registration materials if
you pre-registered, or to purchase them if you didn't. The
registration desk will also be open on Tuesday and on Wednesday,
Thursday, and Friday mornings before the general session.
Check the agenda for programs on Monday including the meeting of the
Resolutions Committee and the Mock Trial, where the National
Association of Blind Lawyers will provide a comical reenactment of a
serious legal case involving discrimination against the blind. There
will also be a writing workshop for youth ages 11 to 19.
On Monday evening from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. NABS will have its
annual business meeting. Come early to register with us, or register
online now by going to
www.nabslink.org
Annual NABS dues, which you will need to pay in order to vote in the
elections, are $5. At our meeting we will hear about exciting new
developments regarding access to E-textbooks, and we will also hear
from a young woman who is a blind electrical engineer. We will also be
holding elections. Join our business meeting to learn the latest about
issues affecting us as blind students, and become a part of our
organization.
Tuesday July 5, 2011
	On Tuesday morning we will have the national NFB Board of Directors
meeting, an open meeting where a variety of announcements about the
convention and other general NFB matters will be given. On Tuesday
afternoon and evening, a variety of NFB divisions will hold their
annual meetings. Many NFB divisions are organized by shared
professional interests, such as the National Association of Blind
Lawyers, the National Association of Blind Educators, the Science and
Engineering Division, and the Human Services Division. Check the
agenda to find the division meeting(s) you want to attend. This is a
great opportunity to meet blind people working in your field of study
and to learn about the latest developments in techniques that can be
useful to you in your career.
Finally, on Tuesday evening, check out salsa dancing, the indoor
rowing workshop and the annual play performed by students at the
Louisiana Center for the Blind. All proceeds from the play support the
teen summer program at the LCB!

Wednesday July 6, 2011
	Wednesday is the first of three days of general sessions. A highlight
of the Wednesday session is the presidential report, when Dr. Maurer
updates us on what the NFB has been doing over the past year and what
work is still ahead of us. Check the agenda for a detailed description
of the General Session program for Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.
On Wednesday evening, the NFB of Florida is hosting a beach-themed
dance party. At the same time, there will be a swimming activity for
teens ages 11-18. Check the agenda for room locations. Finally, the
Colorado Center for the Blind will have an open house where you can go
to learn more about their training programs.

Thursday July 7, 2011
	On Thursday we have more general sessions in the morning and
afternoon. On Thursday night NABS will be holding our annual Monte
Carlo Night fund-raiser. Pay $10 to purchase chips and play
casino-style card games; whoever has the most chips at the end of the
night will win a cash prize. The Performing Arts Division is also
hosting their annual Showcase of Talent on Wednesday night, and the
exhibit hall will be open for the last time.
Finally, from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Pearson products will be
demonstrating some new products to mae math content more accessible.
They’re looking for students to come test the products and give them
feedback. Please consider helping out with this initiative. Check the
agenda for room location.

Friday July 8, 2011
	On Friday we will have one final day of general sessions, followed by
the banquet in the evening. If you didn’t pre-register for the
convention, you can purchase your banquet ticket for $60 during
registration. I personally find the banquet and especially Dr.
Maurer’s presidential address to be one of the most fun and inspiring
parts of the convention. It reminds us of where we the blind of this
country have come from, where we are going and that we are all united
in the business of changing what it means to be blind.


-- 
Arielle Silverman
President, National Association of Blind Students
Phone:  602-502-2255
Email:
nabs.president at gmail.com
Website:
www.nabslink.org
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