[Iabs-talk] final agenda

[Gregory Chang Patti]

NFBI State Convention 2014
“CREATE THE LIFE YOU WANT”


     




AGENDA
NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND 
OF ILLINOIS 
Annual Convention 
October 31, 2014 through Nov. 2, 2014

Naperville Marriott
1801 Naper Blvd
Naperville, IL 60563
630 505-4900

Members of NFBI wish to thank the following donors for their generous gifts: 

Advanced Group, Shared Services Department

The Biardi Foundation

The Community Foundation of the Quincy Area from the Arthur O. and Lela B. Lindsay Fund

Dr. and Mrs. Neal Hart of the Illinois Prairie Foundation

Mr. Harold W. Knapheide III, in honor of his mother, the late Mary MacDill Knapheide

Richard Lansden, trustee, The Leona Stanford Vollintine Charitable Trust

J. Milton Harris/and Alice Chenault

The Aileen S. Andrew Foundation

Elick and Charlotte Lindon Foundation

Ms. Abby Castle
Announcements that you wish to be made from the convention floor during sessions MUST be submitted to the information desk in the convention hall.  Roberta Reif is coordinating our information desk this year.   Patricia Olson is handling registration table at convention.  Denise Avant is running our door prize table.

If you wish to reach President Patti Gregory-Chang during sessions, please convey your requests to the information desk.

Braille, print, and recorded literature is available at tables in the convention hall.  Please take all you can carry and distribute our positive message of blindness far and wide!

Smoking is not permitted in convention sessions.

National Federation of the Blind of Illinois
Patti S. Gregory-Chang, President
6919 W. Berwyn Ave.
Chicago, IL 60656		(773) 307-6440
NFB of Illinois web site:  www.nfbofillinois.org


2014 Naperville Marriott Hotel/Convention Information
	This quick article explains the layout of the Naperville Marriott which is our convention hotel for 2014.  It also gives you basic information about the facilities and amenities.  

Address and Phone:
	The hotel is located at 1801 N. Naper Blvd Naperville, IL 60563.  The phone is: (630) 505-4900.

Sleeping Room Types:
	There are two types of rooms.  A Suite and a Standard Room.  The suites have a parlor with a sleeper sofa, two easy chairs, and a coffee table.  The room rate for standards is $89.  The rate for suites is $129.  All rooms have hair driers and coffee makers.  Connecting rooms are available upon request.

Keycards  and Electrical Power:
	This hotel is modernized.  You need to insert your keycard in a slot inside your room to the side of the door to turn your power on. Leave it in the slot until you exit your room.    When you remove it, the power goes off again.

Checkout:
	Check in time is 3:00 p.m.  Checkout time is 12:00 p.m.

Wi Fi:
	There is free Wi Fi in all lobby and common areas.  This includes our meeting rooms. 

Facilities:
	There is an indoor pool, fitness room, and Jacuzzi.  There is lots of parking especially by the side door. 

Shuttles:
	The hotel runs free shuttles within a five mile radius.  Since there are trains scheduled to leave at 12:30, 2:30,  and another at 4:30 headed for downtown Chicago, we will shorten our general sessions agenda on Sunday or we will start earlier.  
	The hotel also has a contract with a limo company which provides discounted service to and from each airport.  The cost is under $40 which compares favorably to a cab which would be $65 or so.  

Layout:
If you enter through the main doors, the layout is as follows:  The Starbucks is to the left.  You should walk ahead to where the tiled flooring forms a cross.  If you turn left at the “lobby cross” with the doors at your back, you can enter Starbucks by taking the first left.  If you take a right, you can go to the elevator bank.  If you pass the elevators, you head toward the meeting rooms.  
	From the front door, if you simply bypass the crossing of the tiled portions of the lobby and keep going straight, you will find our information desk on your left and the hotel desk on your right.  If you pass both, there is a restaurant directly ahead.  You can find the bar which also serves food from the restaurant by going left after passing the hotel desk.  The bar will be on your right although people can also sit on the left side at this point in the lobby.
	If you reorient to the lobby desk, at this point it is easier.  If you are standing facing the hotel front desk, the elevator bank is down the tiled hall to the right of the front desk.  There are three elevators on your left side down that hall a short way.  They are fast.   
	Our meeting rooms are laid out past the elevator bank.  Right after the elevators there is a cash machine on your left and restrooms on your right.  Past those, first you come to a hallway where conference rooms A, B, and C are on your left headed away from the lobby.  Conference rooms D, E, and F are on your right.  Past that Hall the hall divides at a Y.  There is another set of restrooms down by the other conference rooms near Bailey.  If you go left, you come to Bailey-Hobson and if you go right you will get to the Naper room.  We are in Naper 2 and 3 for general sessions.  Outside of the Naper room we will have exhibits and we will have our registration.  
	There is a dog relief area outside of the Naper room.  Exit and walk a short way, then take a  45 degree left turn.  There is a cement patio area on the left about 30 ft up.   At  the end of the patio, you will find a grassy area with trees which will work well for dog relief.   There is even a hydrant.

Braille is Beautiful – Saturday
	Braille is Beautiful will take place on Saturday rather than Sunday.  Please feel free to reach out to Debbie Stein if you wish to participate.  	

Meeting Room Assignments:
Both breakfasts are planned for A during convention as is our Parents meeting.  Our lunch will be in Naper 2 and 3.  Hospitality before and after the banquet is in the banquet rooms, Naper 2 and 3.  Significant Others, and Teen Scene will be in C.  Kids Camp is planned for F.   Scholarship dinner is in E.  Idol, General Sessions, and banquet will be in Naper 2 and 3.  Registration is outside of Naper 2 and 3.

Set-up for Naper 2 and 3:
	When you enter the Naper Room it is wider left to right and shorter going ahead from the doors.  You enter at the back of the room.  We will have info, sales,  and IABS in the back of the room and head table/stage wil be furthest from the doors by the windows.  If you face the head table, audio will be on your right and door prizes on the left.  


Have a great convention, everyone!

IABS, INFORMATION, AND SALES TABLES
The information desk will be in the hotel main lobby on Friday Oct. 31 from 2:00 P.m. to 4:30, and in our general session room during general sessions.  Registration will be in the hallway outside of the Naper room on Friday from 4:00 through 7:30 as well as on Saturday from 8:00 to 9:00 a.m.   Sales tables for NFBI and IABS will be in the back during general sessions.    Exhibitors will be outside of our general sessions room.

Announcement:
You can help build a future of opportunity for the blind by becoming a member of the Jacobus tenBroek Legacy Society.  Your legacy gift to the National Federation of the Blind or the National Federation of the Blind of Illinois can be made in the form of a will, or living trust, an income generating gift, or by naming us as the beneficiary of a life insurance policy.  For additional information, please contact LuAnne Blake at our national office.  Please consider helping us to continue to change what it means to be blind. 

Welcome to our 2014 State Convention of the National Federation of the Blind of Illinois!!!

IABS – Working for Tips
The Illinois Association of Blind Students will be providing assistance throughout this year’s convention.  Volunteers can be found at our Information and Registration tables and will be available to help serve food, provide drinks, carry luggage, and perform various other tasks.  All donations to these students will go to IABS. Please be generous and know that IABS is here to help with whatever you need.   Jimmy Dickman and Nick Gamino are coordinating this effort. 

 Friday, October 31st, Afternoon 

2:00 – 3:00		Let’s Go Build the Federation
			Ever Lee Hairston, Member NFB Board
			Naper 2 and 3

2:00 – 4:30		Information Table 
			Roberta Reif, coordinator
			Hotel Lobby

4:00– 7:30 		Registration 
 			Pat Olson, Registration Coordinator
			Hallway outside Naper Room

3:30– 5:00		Resolutions 
			Chris Jeckel, Chair  NFBI Resolutions Committee
			Naper 2 and 3
Friday, October 31st, Evening 

4:00 – 7:30 		Registration 
 			Pat Olson, Registration Coordinator
			Hallway outside of Naper

4:00 – 7:30		Exhibits 
			Hallway Outside of Naper

			Center for Sight and Hearing 
			Chicago Lighthouse for The Blind-Braille Greeting Cards
			Em Vitu Inc., Ed Vitu
			NFB Newsline,  Dave Meyer 

5:00 – 6:00		Join Our At-Large Chapter for A Get-To-Know You Dinner
			Room TBA 

5:00 – 7:00	 	Scholarship Dinner (Winners and Committee)
			Conference Room E
			 
7:00 – 11:00		IABS IDOL – Admission $5 includes your first performance
			Julia Chang, IABS Secretary 
Join us for the Illinois Association of Blind Students annual IABS Idol.  Based on the popular TV show American Idol, IABS Idol invites everyone to participate as a soloist  or a group in performing a song of their choice.  We encourage the wearing of costumes and bringing of instruments.  

Each performance is $5 per person.  In addition, this year we will be charging a $5 admission fee which includes 1 free performance so get up and sing your favorites.  Also, don’t forget our “Battle of the Chapters.”  This year’s theme is “Spooky Songs.”

   
Saturday, November 1st,  Breakouts

8:45 - 5:15		NFBI Kid Kamp – Happy Halloween
			Francisco Chang and Janna Stein, Directors
			Conference Room F

	8:45 – 9:00		Registration  - $10 per child includes lunch.
	9:00 – 9:30		Introductions and Ice Breaker
	9:30 – 10:30		Halloween Crafts and snack
	10:30 – 11:00	Stories
	11:00 – 12:00 	Halloween Treasure Hunt 
	12:00 – 1:00		Lunch
	1:00 – 2:00		Movie Time 
	2:00 – 3:15		Goalball
	3:30 – 4:00		Free Playtime
	4:00 – 4:45		Sing Along with Dave and Cathy
	4:45 – 5:00		Wrap Up and Clean Up 

9:00 – 3:30		Teen Scene 
			Chris Jeckel Coordinator
			Conference Room C  

	9:00 – 9:45		Ice Breaker
				Chris Jeckel
	9:45 – 10:15		NFB Centers
				Louisiana Center for the Blind Representative
	10:15 – 10:45	National Association of Blind Students and My Life 
				Sean Whalen, NABS President
	10:45 – 11:15	Thought Provoker 
				Ever Lee Hairston
	11:30 – 1:30		Teen Scene to Join Student Luncheon
	2:00 – 3:15		Goal Ball 
				Greg Pavesich

4:00 - 5:00		Significant Others Breakout
All who have a significant other: spouse, sibling, child, parent, etc. are encouraged to attend 
Francisco Chang, Moderator 
			Conference Room C 

Come meet the special ladies who started our Significant Others Group.  Hear Ever Lee Hairston who will share how her spouse responded to her loss of vision.  Talk with others who are impacted by sharing their lives with someone who is visually impaired.

Note:  Luncheons are listed later in this agenda.
Saturday,November 1st, Morning

7:00 - 8:30 		Parents of Blind Children Breakfast 
			Open to all who are interested.
			Debbie Stein, NFBI Board Member
			Master of Ceremony  
			Conference Room A 

	7:20 -7:30		2014 BELL Program
				Amy Lund, Coordinating Teacher and BELL Participants
	7:30 – 8:00		Speaking of Technology 
				Deja Powell, LCB Representative
	8:00 – 8:30		Growing Up with Low Vision 
				Sean Whalen, NABS President
	
8:00 - 9:00 		Registration
			Pat Olson, Registration Coordinator  
			Outside of Naper Room

			Later registration– see Glenn Moore in General Sessions

	8:00 – 9:00	Exhibits 
			Outside of Naper Room

9:00 - 11:00	General Session 
			Patti Chang, Esq., NFBI President
			Naper 2 and 3
						
	9:00 – 9:10			Call to Order & Welcome
Moment of Silence  - We wish to remember those who have passed in the previous year.  
Blackhawk: George Sowers 
Chicago: Allen Glickman
	9:10 – 9:15 		First Reading of Constitutional Amendment to Expand the Board of Directors.
	9:15 – 9:45		National Report 
				Ever Lee Hairston, NFB Board Member 
	9:45 – 10:20		Volunteerism and Socialization 
				Bruce Paul, Volunteer Chicago Children’s Museum
				Robert Hansen, Volunteer NIU Radio
10:20 – 10:40	Hadley Happenings
	Colleen Wunderlich, Director, Forsythe Center for Employment and Entrepreneurship  
10:40 – 11:00	 Lighthouse Initiatives – Tollway – CTA Guide
			Janet Szlyk, Director, Chicago Lighthouse for the Blind
11:00			Announcements and adjournment for lunch

Saturday, November 1st, Luncheons

11:30 - 1:30 		Illinois Association of Blind Students (IABS) Luncheon
Anyone interested in students issues is welcome
Naper 2 and 3

			Competing in Judo, Sara Luna
			Scholarship Winners 2014
The National Association of Blind Students, Sean Whalen, NABS President 
			Internship Opportunities, Adrienne Falconer and Jacob Ayers
The Internship Experience, Katie Leinum, Moderator, IABS Board Member
Adrienne Falconer, Jacob Eyers, Rose Sloan, and Sean Whalen
			
11:30 – 1:00		Parents will Join our Students Luncheon
			Naper 2 and 3

1:00 - 3:00		Parents Seminar 
			Anyone interested in parent issues is welcome.
			Conference Room A 

1:00 -1:30	How to Win Friends and Influence People – Socialization for Blind Children and Teens
				Chris Jeckel, Esq.
				Sara Luna, Freedom Link Participant
	1:30 – 1:40		All I wanted was a Brailler
				Jake and Cynthia Steimle
	1:40 – 2:10		Dozing with the Dinos
				Jake Ayers, Intern Field Museum
				Dr. Matt Maurer, Butler University
2:10 – 2:45	Getting to Know You – Who We Are and Why We Are Here


2:00 - 5:00 		General Session 
			Naper 2 and 3

2:00			Call to order and announcements
2:00 – 2:45		Washington Seminar and Beyond
			Annette Grove, IL Washington Seminar Coordinator
			Rose Sloan, Governmental Affairs Specialist
2:45 – 3:00	I-Pad Raffle, Denise Avant, NFBI 1st Vice President
			Amazon Smiles, Patti Gregory-Chang, NFBI President
Shopping Certificates, Dave Meyer, Chicago Chapter President 
3:00 – 3:30		Study Abroad – My Trip to Tunisia 
			Brianna Lillyman, IABS President
 3:30 – 4:15		Approaching Employment From a Creative Perspective
			Andrew Webb, Equip for Equality
			Leslie Hamric, Private Teacher and Mary Kay Consultant
			Cary Allen Supalo, Chemistry Professor
4:15 – 5:00		Braille is Beautiful – A Dramatic Reading
			Debbie Stein, Author and NFBI Board Member
	5:00			Announcements and Adjournment

Saturday, November 1st, Evening 
 
5:00 – 6:30		Scholarship Committee Meeting 
			Room TBA  

6:00 - 7:00 		Hospitality 
			Naper 2 and 3

7:00 - 10:00	Annual Banquet
			M.C. Denise Avant, Esq., NFBI 1st Vice President
					Naper 2 and 3 
 
					Welcome and Invocation 
					Dave Meyer, Chicago Chapter President

					Advocacy – I Want Equal Opportunities
					Alex Gamino, Student 
					Nelly Gamino, Parent 	

					IABS Raffle Drawing

				IABS Awards to Outstanding Educators
				Brianna Lillyman, IABS President

					I-BRAL contest
					Debbie Stein, NFBI Parent Coordinator
					Hanza Khirani, I-BRAL Contestant
					Valerie Williams, I-BRAL Contestant 

					15 for Funds 
				Cathy Randall, NFBI Development Committee Chair

				Ilene O’Brien Award
				Patti S. Gregory-Chang, NFBI President 
				Janet Sherburn, Recipient

					Banquet Keynote Address
				Ever Lee Hairston, NFB Board Member 

				Scholarship Awards
				Debbie Stein, Scholarship Committee Chair

10:00 – 12:00	Hospitality   
			Naper 2 and 3  
Sunday, November 2nd, Morning

7:00 - 8:30 		Student Breakfast and IABS Business Meeting 
			Brianna Lillyman, IABS President
			Conference Room A 

Note:  All are welcome who are interested in student issues but please note that only those who have paid IABS dues may vote in elections. Please see Glenn Moore or any IABS Board Member to pay dues.  We will be collecting money at the registration table and at the IABS table during convention. 

President’s, Treasurer’s, and Secretary’s Reports
Committee Reports
Old Business
New Business

9:00 - 12:00 	General Session 
			Naper 2 and 3  
					
	9:00 – 9:05		Call to Order and Announcements 
	9:05 – 9:10 			2nd Reading of Proposed Amendment
				Vote on Proposed Amendment
	9:15 – 9:45		Treasurer and President’s Reports
				Treasurer’s Report, Glenn Moore, NFBI Treasurer
				President’s Report, Patti Gregory-Chang, NFBI President
	9:45 – 10:15		NFB Rehabilitation the Right Way 
	10:15 – 11:00 	Chapter Reports
				At-Large: Leslie Hamric
				Blackhawk: Jay Blanchard
				Bloomington: Modesto Favela
				Chicago: Dave Meyer
				Ferris Wheel: Bill Reif
				Four Rivers:  Brian Sumner
				IABS: Brianna Lillyman
				IABM: Ed Birmingham  
	11:00 – 11:30	Resolutions
Chris Jeckel, Chair NFBI Resolutions Committee	
	11:30 – 12:00		Elections
				Election of Officers
				Election of two members of the Board of 
				directors to fill seats currently held by Brian Sumner and Mary Lou Grunewald
				Election of two new board members to fill expanded Board seats.  

				Election of Delegate and Alternates to 2015 
				National Convention
	12:00			Adjournment

Thanks to the Special Events Committee and all others who have served on committees, worked registration and information tables, secured door prizes, and appeared on the agenda.  You have helped make this convention a tremendous success.


NFB of Illinois
President: Patti S. Gregory-Chang, Esq.

NFB PLEDGE

I pledge to participate actively in the effort of the National Federation of the Blind to achieve equality, opportunity, and security for the blind; to support the policies and programs of the Federation; and to abide by its constitution.		



"Every day we raise the expectations of blind people in the National Federation of the Blind.  Live the Life You Want."

Patti Gregory Chang
National Federation of the Blind of Illinois, President
NFB Scholarship Committee Chair 
pattischang at gmail.com
www.nfbofillinois.org