From dandrews at visi.com Wed May 26 19:25:12 2010 From: dandrews at visi.com (David Andrews) Date: Wed, 26 May 2010 14:25:12 -0500 Subject: [Nfb-dc] Test Message-ID: Gail: If you get this -- your list is up and running. Dave David Andrews and long white cane Harry, dandrews at visi.com Follow me on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/dandrews920 From JHartle at nfb.org Thu May 27 02:48:00 2010 From: JHartle at nfb.org (Hartle, Jesse) Date: Wed, 26 May 2010 21:48:00 -0500 Subject: [Nfb-dc] Legislative Alert - Motor Vehicle Safety Act Message-ID: Dear Fellow Federationists: I am writing to report that all of our hard work on the issue of silent cars is paying off. Language that will protect the blind and others from the danger posed by silent hybrid and electric vehicles has been favorably reported to the United States House of Representatives by the Committee on Energy and Commerce as part of the Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 2010 (H.R. 5381). This legislation, which is a comprehensive bill to address numerous vehicle safety issues raised by the recent Toyota recalls, now includes language agreed to by the National Federation of the Blind, the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, and the Association of International Automobile Manufacturers. If passed by the House of Representatives and adopted by the Senate, this language will require the Department of Transportation to issue regulations requiring a minimum sound standard for hybrid and electric automobiles. This victory is a product of our hard work and the cooperation of the automobile industry, but we will need to remain vigilant to make sure this bill becomes law. We will keep you apprised of developments and let you know if action needs to be taken to secure this victory. Thank you again for all you do. Sincerely, Jesse M. Hartle Government Programs Specialist NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND Telephone: (410) 659-9314, extension 2233 E-mail: jhartle at nfb.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: Legislative Alert 05-26-2010-.doc Type: application/msword Size: 25600 bytes Desc: not available URL: From MisterAdvocate at aol.com Fri May 28 01:47:50 2010 From: MisterAdvocate at aol.com (by way of David Andrews ) Date: Thu, 27 May 2010 20:47:50 -0500 Subject: [Nfb-dc] National Association of Blind Veterans Meeting at National Convention Message-ID: Attention All Blind Veterans and Interested Parties: The National Association of Blind Veterans will hold it's annual meeting in Dallas, Texas at the Anatole Hilton Hotel during the National Convention of the NFB on July 4th at 7PM or 1900 hours. This will be our time to reflect on last year , prepare for the coming year, discuss the national raffle going on, and what we will be doing for our annual 4th of July Celebration. Dues will be collected and new members signed up. I look forward to seeing all those interested veterans and the existing members there for a great meeting. The room has not been assigned as of yet, so watch your agenda that Mrs. Jernigan says will be out in June. Best Regards, Dwight Sayer President, The National Association of blind Veterans -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From braille at nbpcb.org Fri May 28 02:22:20 2010 From: braille at nbpcb.org (Louise Walch) Date: Thu, 27 May 2010 21:22:20 -0500 Subject: [Nfb-dc] Braille Testing at NFB National Convention Message-ID: A reminder to all: Testing for National Certification in Literary Braille (NCLB). will be held at this year's NFB National Convention in Dallas this July. Date: Sunday and Monday, July 4-5, 2010 Time: 1-5pm on both days Location: Hilton Anatole Hotel 2201 Stemmons Freeway Dallas, Texas 75207 Cost: $250 (or $75 per single section) Application deadline: Sunday, June 13, 2010 *Unless otherwise notified, candidates must be present for all four sections. Sections one and two will be offered on Sunday, July 4, and sections three and four will be offered on Monday, July 5. Alternative testing may be available on a very limited basis. To apply online go to: https://nbpcb.org/members/login.php?r=/members/er.php?eid=41 For further information please contact Louise Walch, NCLB coordinator at braille at nbpcb.org or call 318-257-4554. Thanks, Louise Louise Walch NCLB Braille Exam Coordinator braille at nbpcb.org www.nbpcb.org Louise G. Walch NBPCB Coordinator braille at nbpcb.org www.nbpcb.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: NCLB General Announcement 2010.doc Type: application/msword Size: 25088 bytes Desc: not available URL: From dandrews at visi.com Mon May 31 22:42:14 2010 From: dandrews at visi.com (David Andrews) Date: Mon, 31 May 2010 17:42:14 -0500 Subject: [Nfb-dc] Cardtronics Settlement Message-ID: I have been asked to circulate the materials below. David Andrews The Proposed Remediation Plan provides as follows: (1) All Cardtronics-owned ATMs in Massachusetts will be Voice-guided no later than June 30, 2010. (2) By December 31, 2010, at least ninety percent (90%) of all transactions at covered ATMs occurring within the borders of Massachusetts will occur on ATMs that are Voice-guided. (3) All Cardtronics-owned ATMs nationally will be Voice-guided no later than December 31, 2010, with the exception of Cardtronics-owned ATMs located in 7-Eleven stores which will be Voice-guided no later than March 31, 2011. (4) By March 31, 2011, at least ninety percent (90%) of all transactions at covered ATMs nationally will occur on ATMs that are Voice-guided. (5) With the assistance of the NFB, Cardtronics has developed enhanced scripts for the great majority of the ATMs it owns. With the exception of Cardtronics-owned ATMs located in 7-Eleven stores, on or before December 31, 2010 Cardtronics will install enhanced scripts on all Cardtronics-owned ATMs, except where it is not technologically feasible to do so, in which cases, on or before December 31, 2010, Cardtronics shall either (i) replace such ATMs with ATMs on which an enhanced script can and will be installed, or (ii) remove such ATMs from the Cardtronics-owned fleet. Cardtronics-owned ATMs located in 7-Eleven stores will be Voice-guided no later than March 31, 2011. Any script on any Cardtronics-owned ATM, including the enhanced scripts, shall meet the requirements set forth in the definition of ?Voice-guided? and ?Voice-Guidance? set forth in the Final Order[1] and as supplemented in paragraph 6 of this Order. (6) With the exception of Cardtronics-owned ATMs located in 7-Eleven stores, by December 31, 2010, all Cardtronics-owned Voice-guided ATMs and those merchant-owned, Voice-guided ATMs that Cardtronics designates as making up a portion of the ninety percent (90%) transaction requirements of paragraphs 2 and 4 above, will have tactilely discernible controls, that is, operating mechanisms used in conjunction with speech output that can be located and operated by feel. When a numeric keypad is part of the tactilely discernible controls, all function keys will be mapped to the numeric keypad and, except for those remaining Wincor ATMs installed in Target stores prior to June 2007, the numeric keypad will have an ?echo? effect such that the user?s numeric entries (other than the entry of a personal identification number) are repeated in voice form. All tactilely discernible controls will otherwise comply with applicable regulations. All Cardtronics-owned ATMs located in 7-Eleven stores will meet these requirements no later than March 31, 2011. (7) With the exception of Cardtronics-owned ATMs located in 7-Eleven stores, by December 31, 2010, all Cardtronics-owned ATMs will have appropriate signage as identified in the Final Order Ex. 1.[2] All Cardtronics-owned ATMs located in 7-Eleven stores will meet these requirements no later than March 31, 2011. By December 31, 2010, Cardtronics will send such signage to each of its Merchant-owned customers that operate a Voice-guided ATM (with the exception of those customers for whom Cardtronics physically placed Braille signage on each of the customer?s Voice-guided ATMs after April 9, 2007) requesting that those customers install such signage on their Voice-guided ATMs. Cardtronics will include a letter from the NFB describing the importance of such signage with its request. On or before February 1, 2011, Cardtronics will provide the NFB with the approximate date on which it placed signage on each of the Merchant-owned Voice-guided ATMs or sent the appropriate signage by mail. (8) By December 31, 2012, Cardtronics will cause to have inspected all Cardtronics-owned, non-branded ATMs to ensure that the Voice-guided features of these ATMs are in working condition. Approximately 10,000 of these inspections shall take place in calendar years 2010 and 2011, with the balance taking place in calendar year 2012. To the extent Cardtronics can demonstrate to Class counsel that within the first two years of conducting such inspections the Voice-guided features are in compliance with the definition of Voice-guidance, the parties shall meet to discuss the results of these inspections and may agree in writing that Cardtronics shall cause to have inspected a minimum of 1,000 Cardtronics-owned, non-branded ATMs each year for the remainder of the term of the Agreement. These inspections will be documented in a manner showing that the person conducting the inspection used headphones to listen to the voice script on the ATM. Similarly, in the course of conducting its routine inspections of Cardtronics-owned, branded ATMs, such inspections shall be documented in a manner showing that the person conducting the inspection used headphones to listen to the voice script on the ATM. On a monthly basis, Cardtronics shall report the results of all inspections required by this paragraph to Class counsel. (9) In addition to the reporting requirements identified in the Final Order,[3] Cardtronics will report monthly between June 1, 2010 and December 31, 2011. For the period between June 1, 2010 and December 31, 2011, Cardtronics will add to the information it is currently reporting for each Cardtronics-owned ATM whether the enhanced script has been installed on the ATM, as well as the month and year of such installation. No later than October 31, 2010, for each Cardtronics-owned ATM on which it is not technologically feasible to install an enhanced script, Cardtronics will indicate whether it will replace such ATM with a Voice-guided ATM or remove the ATM from the fleet. (10) Cardtronics will keep its ATM locator on its website up to date as to whether a covered ATM is equipped with Voice-guidance. (11) Notice of the Proposed Remediation Plan will be provided to the Class in the manner described below. (12) In addition to the testing costs set forth in Final Order Ex. 1, Cardtronics will pay $60,000 to the NFB to be used for interim testing and other compliance monitoring by the NFB taking place in 2010 and the first quarter of 2011. The NFB shall provide Cardtronics with invoices as testing is completed, to be payable by Cardtronics within 30 days of receipt of each invoice. (13) Cardtronics will pay the NFB $145,000 for the reasonable fees and costs incurred by the NFB as a result of Cardtronics? failure to comply with the Final Order. This amount includes attorneys? fees and testing costs that the NFB incurred due to the failure of Cardtronics to comply with the Final Order and shall be paid in two equal installments of $72,500, one upon the effective date of this Court?s final approval of the Proposed Remediation Plan and the second 60 days thereafter. (14) The requirements set forth in Final Order Ex. 1 shall remain in effect, in whole or in part, for eight years from the date of this Court?s final approval of the Proposed Remediation Plan. The Parties may agree in writing to extend the requirements of Final Order Ex. 1 further or the Court may so order in connection with paragraph 13.3. Notwithstanding any expiration of Final Order Ex. 1, paragraphs 6, 7 and 13 of Final Order Ex. 1 shall continue to remain in effect in perpetuity. (15) To the extent that the requirements set forth herein are inconsistent with any provision of Final Order Ex. 1, this Order controls. All other terms and requirements of the Final Order, including Final Order Ex. 1, will remain in full force and effect. [1] Final Order Ex. 1 at 4. [2] See Final Order Ex. 1 at ? 4.2. [3] See id. at ? 4.4.1. UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF MASSACHUSETTS COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS, et al., Plaintiffs, v. CARDTRONICS, INC., et al., Defendants. ) Civil Action No. 03-11206-MEL ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) NOTICE OF PROPOSED REMEDIATION PLAN CONCERNING FINAL ORDER RELATING TO CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT AND HEARING TO BE HELD ON September 15, 2010 @ 2:30pm TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE NATIONWIDE CLASS CERTIFIED BY THIS COURT TO INCLUDE BLIND PATRONS OF AUTOMATED TELLER MACHINES (?ATMs?) OWNED OR OPERATED BY EITHER CARDTRONICS, INC. OR CARDTRONICS USA, INC. (collectively, ?Cardtronics?) On December 4, 2007, this Court granted final approval of a class action settlement agreement entered into between Plaintiffs, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the National Federation of the Blind (?NFB?), and several individual blind persons, and Defendants, Cardtronics, Inc. and Cardtronics, LP (now Cardtronics USA, Inc.) (collectively ?Cardtronics?) concerning, among other things, the accessibility of ATMs owned or operated by Cardtronics to blind patrons under the Americans with Disabilities Act (?ADA?) and Massachusetts state laws. DUE TO CARDTRONICS? INABILITY TO MEET A NUMBER OF IMPORTANT REQUIREMENTS OF THIS COURT?S FINAL ORDER OF DECEMBER 4, 2007, THE PARTIES HAVE REACHED AGREEMENT ON A PROPOSED REMEDIATION PLAN, SUBJECT TO APPROVAL BY THIS COURT, THAT REQUIRES CARDTRONICS TO MEET ALL OF THEIR PRIOR OBLIGATIONS WITH EXTENSIONS OF TIME TO DO SO, PLUS ADDITIONAL OBLIGATIONS INTENDED TO ENSURE THAT THE MEMBERS OF THE CLASS ENJOY THE BENEFITS SET FORTH IN THE ORIGINAL SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT AND FINAL COURT ORDER. Cardtronics has agreed to a remediation plan that includes, among other actions, ensuring that with the exception of Cardtronics-owned ATMs located in 7-Eleven stores, all ATMs owned by Cardtronics will offer voice guidance through a standard headphone jack located on the face of the ATM by no later than December 31, 2010; Cardtronics-owned ATMs located in 7-Eleven stores will offer voice guidance through a standard headphone jack located on the face of the ATM by no later than March 31, 2011, and that by March 31, 2011, at least ninety percent (90%) of all Transactions at Covered ATMs shall occur on ATMs that are Voice-guided or otherwise accessible to Blind people. Cardtronics has agreed to develop improved voice-guided scripts for all Cardtronics-owned ATMs to ensure that blind customers can easily access all ATM functions. Cardtronics has also agreed to institute an inspection program intended to ensure that voice-guided ATMs remain operational for blind customers. A full copy of the proposed remediation plan is available on the NFB?s website: www.nfb.org and on the Cardtronics? website: www.cardtronics.net/news/nfb_remediationplan.asp. The locations of the existing ATMs covered by the Final Order and by the proposed remediation plan, with designation of voice-guidance status, can be obtained through Cardtronics? ATM locator feature, available at www.cardtronics.net/about/atmlocator.asp. As part of the proposed remediation plan and subject to Court approval, Cardtronics has agreed to pay the amount of $145,000 in attorneys? fees to the attorneys representing the class. These amounts will not detract from Cardtronics duties to provide accessible ATMs to the class. The Court will conduct a hearing on the motion of class counsel for their attorneys? fees at the date and time set forth in the following paragraph. Cardtronics has also agreed to pay an additional $60,000 to the NFB for testing that the NFB will conduct to ensure compliance with the remediation plan requirements. YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED, pursuant to Rule 23 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and an Order of the Court dated May 18, 2010, and as thereafter amended that a Final Approval Hearing will be held on September 15, 2010, at 2:30pm, before that Court in the United States Courthouse, One Courthouse Way, Boston, Massachusetts 02210. The purpose of this Final Approval Hearing is to determine whether the proposed remediation plan should be approved by the Court as fair, reasonable and adequate and whether the application for award of attorneys? fees and reimbursement for expenses should be approved. Class Members who wish to object to the proposed settlement must provide notice of and explanation of their objection in writing to the Court at the address above, with copies to Counsel at the addresses provided below, no later than Monday, August 30, 2010. Only Class Members filing timely objections may request to present their objections at the Final Approval Hearing. Office of the Massachusetts Attorney General Attn: Maura Healey, Esq. 100 Cambridge Street 11TH floor Boston, MA 02108 Brown, Goldstein & Levy, LLP Attn: Sharon Krevor-Weisbaum, Esq. 120 E. Baltimore Street Suite 1700 Baltimore, MD 21202 Joseph Kociubes, Esq. Bingham McCutchen LLP 150 Federal Street Boston, MA 02110-1726 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, VISIT www.cardtronics.net/news/ OR CONTACT COUNSEL FOR THE PLAINTIFFS: Commonwealth of Massachusetts Office of Attorney General Disability Rights Project (617) 727-2200 www.mass.gov/ago OR Brown, Goldstein & Levy, LLP (410) 962-1030 www.browngold.com EXCEPT AS INSTRUCTED IN THE NOTICE, PLEASE DO NOT CONTACT THE COURT. Dated: May 18, 2010 By Order of the United States District Court For the District of Massachusetts UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF MASSACHUSETTS COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS, et al., Plaintiffs v. E*TRADE ACCESS, INC., et al., Defendants CIVIL ACTION NO. 03-11206-MEL FINAL ORDER AND JUDGMENT Plaintiffs, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, National Federation of the Blind, Inc. (?NFB?), Adrienne Asch, Jennifer Bose, Norma Crosby, Dwight Sayer, Robert Crowley, Jr., Raymond Wayne, Terri Uttermohlen, and Bryan Bashin, seek final approval of the class action settlement that was approved preliminarily by this Court on July 26, 2007. See Memorandum and Order Granting Unopposed Motion for Preliminary Approval of Class Action Settlement and for Fairness Hearing (?Preliminary Approval Order?). Specifically, Plaintiffs have moved the Court for an Order: (1) finding that the class action Settlement Agreement between Plaintiffs and Defendants, Cardtronics, LP, and Cardtronics, Inc. (collectively ?Cardtronics?), is a fair, reasonable and adequate settlement of all of the claims of the class against Defendants, overruling the single objection to the proposed settlement and finding that each class member shall be bound by the Settlement Agreement, including its release; (2) finding that the Notice published to the class satisfies the requirements of due process and Fed. R. Civ. P. 23; (3) approving an award of attorneys? fees and costs by Defendants to Plaintiff, NFB, in the amount of $900,000, as agreed to by the parties; (4) dismissing this lawsuit on the merits and with prejudice as to all claims in the lawsuit against all Defendants; (5) attaching and incorporating by reference the terms of the Settlement Agreement; and (6) retaining jurisdiction of all matters relating to the interpretation, administration, implementation, effectuation and enforcement of the Settlement Agreement. I. Background A. Plaintiffs? Claims Cardtronics currently owns and/or operates at least 23,300 ATMs throughout the United States, including approximately 15,000 ATMs formerly owned and/or operated by Defendant E*TRADE Access, Inc. (?Access?).[1] Approximately half of these ATMs are owned by independent merchants who are customers of Cardtronics (?Merchant-Owned ATMs?). This litigation concerns Plaintiffs? request that Cardtronics?s fleet of ATMs be made accessible to and independently useable by blind people through the use of voice-guidance technology. Some of the ATMs in the Cardtronics fleet already have voice guidance. Those ATMs that are not currently voice-guided vary in their capacity to be made voice-guided. Many newer machines have the capacity to be upgraded to provide voice-guidance through a straightforward retrofit process (?Upgradeable ATMs?). Other, older, machines are not able to be upgraded and must be replaced completely in order to make voice guidance available. Plaintiffs? Fourth Amended and Supplemental Class Action Complaint (?Fourth Amended Complaint?) alleges that Cardtronics has failed to make all of the ATMs it owns and/or operates accessible to blind individuals in violation of Title III of the ADA, 42 U.S.C. ?? 12181 et seq., and Section 4.34.5 of the Department of Justice Standards for Accessible Design, 28 C.F.R. pt. 36, app. A (?Standards?) (requiring that ATMs be ?accessible to and independently useable by persons with vision impairments?). Title III is enforceable through a private right of action for injunctive relief and prevailing plaintiffs are entitled to attorneys? fees. See 42 U.S.C. ?? 12188(a)(1), (2) and 12205. Plaintiffs have also alleged violations of the Massachusetts Public Accommodations Act (?MPAA?), Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 272, ?? 92A and 98, and the Massachusetts Equal Rights Act (?MERA?), Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 93, ? 103. Although numerous procedural and substantive disputes have arisen throughout this litigation, the case turns primarily on the vigorously contested issues of whether Defendants? ATMs are in violation of the Standards and, if they are, whether Plaintiffs are entitled to an injunction that would require Cardtronics to install voice-guidance capabilities on all ATMs it owns and/or operates, including Merchant-Owned ATMs. The lawsuit also includes claims against Defendant E*TRADE Bank, Inc. concerning its banking policies applicable to consumers? use of the Cardtronics ATMs. These claims are derivative of the claims addressing the accessibility of the Cardtronics ATMs. B. Pre-Filing Settlement Negotiations On June 9, 2003, after lengthy negotiations, the Commonwealth and the NFB entered into a Partial Settlement Agreement (?PSA?) with Defendants Access and E*TRADE Bank, Inc. (collectively ?E*TRADE?), pursuant to which Access agreed to equip the ATMs it owned with voice guidance over a period of two and one-half years. The parties were not able to reach agreement with respect to Merchant-Owned ATMs. C. Litigation On June 23, 2003, the Commonwealth and the NFB, along with several individual blind people and the NFB?s Massachusetts affiliate, filed the present suit against E*TRADE. From its inception, this litigation has been hard-fought. As fully detailed in the Preliminary Approval Order, this complex case involved numerous dispositive motions, voluminous document discovery and several significant discovery-related motions. II. Summary of the Settlement After an all-day mediation on April 9, 2007, and following further negotiations over the course of more than two months, the parties executed the Settlement Agreement on June 21, 2007. In summary, the settlement requires: All Cardtronics-Owned ATMs will be voice-guided by the end of this year, with two exceptions: a set of approximately 1,600 machines that already have voice-guidance, but do not have, as otherwise required by the Settlement Agreement, audible verification of all of the inputs by the ATM user; and a set of no more than 177 machines will be voice-guided by mid-2008. (Settlement Agreement, ? 3.1.) As of April 9, 2007 and going forward, Cardtronics will only install Cardtronics-Owned ATMs that are voice-guided. (Settlement Agreement, ? 3.1) As of April 9, 2007 and going forward, Cardtronics will only sell or make available to merchants ATMs that are voice-guided. (Settlement Agreement, ? 3.2.1.) Cardtronics will identify the smallest subset of Merchant-Owned ATMs without voice guidance that collectively account for 80% of transactions at Merchant-Owned ATMs (?High Volume Merchants?) and will, within ninety (90) days of approval, offer those merchants that have Upgradeable ATMs the opportunity to upgrade to add voice guidance at no cost, and will offer those merchants whose machines are not upgradeable the opportunity to purchase a voice-guided machine at Cardtronics?s wholesale cost. (Settlement Agreement, ? 3.2.2.) Regardless of the outcome of this marketing plan, Cardtronics will ensure that, by July 1, 2010, at least ninety (90) percent of all transactions on the ATMs covered by the settlement occur on voice-guided ATMs. (Settlement Agreement, ? 3.3.) After July 1, 2010, Cardtronics will not add or renew any merchant-owned ATMs that are not voice-guided, so that any remaining ATMs constituting less than 10% of transaction volume that are not yet voice-guided will either become so or be eliminated. (Settlement Agreement, ? 3.3.2.) Any additional functions that are added to ATMs covered by the settlement will be accessible to blind patrons within ninety (90) days unless Cardtronics believes doing so would not be technically feasible without causing undue burden or delay, in which case the parties are to meet and confer to attempt to eliminate the obstructions to adding such new functions. (Settlement Agreement, ? 3.7.) Cardtronics-owned ATMs acquired after final approval of the settlement agreement shall be voice-guided within two (2) years; after-acquired Merchant-owned ATMs that are Merchant-Owned by High Volume Merchants will receive the upgrade or replacement offers described above. (Settlement Agreement, ? 3.6.) Cardtronics will provide web-based information and signage to assist blind patrons in identifying which of its ATMs are voice-guided. (Settlement Agreement, ?? 4.1, 4.2.) Cardtronics will report to Class Counsel throughout the term of the Settlement Agreement concerning the number of voice-guided ATMs and the percentage of transactions occurring on such ATMs, and that progress will be verified by Cardtronics and monitored by the NFB. (Settlement Agreement, ? 4.4.) Cardtronics must comply with any future regulatory requirements that impose additional requirements, but if regulations require less than the Settlement Agreement, the Settlement Agreement controls. (Settlement Agreement ?5.1) Class members will release claims for injunctive relief and attorneys? fees under Title III of the ADA, the MPAA, the MERA, and any other claims held by the named plaintiffs to the extent such claims relate to the accessibility of ATMs to blind people. Class members also release claims for injunctive relief under state law to the extent it incorporates or is equivalent to Title III. (Settlement Agreement, ?? 7.1, 7.2.) Class members (excepting the named plaintiffs) do not release claims for damages. (Settlement Agreement, ? 7.1.3.) Cardtronics will pay $900,000 in attorneys? fees to the NFB and make a contribution of $100,000 to the local consumer aid fund of the Massachusetts Attorney General. (Settlement Agreement, ?? 9.1, 9.2.) Because the Settlement Agreement applies to all Cardtronics ATMs -- including former E*TRADE ATMs -- it supercedes the earlier PSA among E*TRADE, the Commonwealth, and the NFB. Although E*TRADE is not a party to the Settlement Agreement, that agreement concludes this litigation and calls for the dismissal with prejudice of all claims in this case against all Defendants. (Settlement Agreement, ? 2.7(c).) The implementation of voice guidance on the ATMs makes it unnecessary for E*TRADE Bank to change its policies as sought in the lawsuit. In the Settlement Agreement, the parties agreed that the Court should retain jurisdiction of this case for purposes of the interpretation, administration, implementation, effectuation, and enforcement of this Agreement. (Settlement Agreement, ? 2.7(d).) In addition, Defendants have withdrawn their opposition to Plaintiffs? motion for leave to file a Fourth Amended Complaint (Settlement Agreement, ? 2.1) and the Court has granted the parties? joint motion for certification of a settlement class, which includes all persons who are Blind patrons of ATMs covered by the Settlement Agreement. III. Preliminary Approval As mentioned, on July 26, 2007, this Court granted Plaintiffs? Unopposed Motion for Preliminary Approval of Class Action Settlement and scheduled a Fairness Hearing on the proposed settlement for December 4, 2007. In the Preliminary Approval Order, the Court approved the parties? proposed plan for notifying class member of the settlement, as well as the form of the notice to be utilized for this purpose (?Notice?). IV. Notice to the Class The Court finds that the Notice approved in the Court?s Preliminary Approval Order was made available on Cardtronics?s website from approximately August 23, 2007 to November 1, 2007 and that a copy of the Notice was also available on the NFB?s website during that same period. The Court also finds that a copy of the Notice was mailed to a list of over 900 organizations, including a number composed of, and/or focused on the issues of, blind people. Of those mailings, 36 were returned due to incorrect addresses. The correct addresses were ascertained for 11 of those returned mailings and the Notice was then sent to those correct addresses. In addition, the Notice was emailed to 1,036 email addresses relating to the organizations referenced above, with a cover letter requesting that the recipient post and forward the Notice. Of those emails, 186 were returned as undeliverable. Fifteen organizations to whom the Notice was emailed notified class counsel that they had forwarded the Notice to other individuals or lists of individuals thought to be class members. Another ten organizations notified class counsel that they had posted the Notice on their websites. The NFB sent the Notice to over 50 email lists of blind individuals, including lists of blind lawyers, students, and travelers. In each of these paper and electronic mailings, counsel for the class offered to provide Braille versions of the Notice and/or the Settlement Agreement. Class counsel ultimately received and honored six requests for Braille documentation. The Court finds further that the Notice was published in the August/September edition of the Braille Monitor, which is the publication of the NFB and is regularly sent to its approximately 50,000 members, among others. The Notice was also published in the September, 2007, edition of the Braille Forum, as well as in the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, and USA Today on August 28, 2007. In addition, the Court finds that there has been only one objection to the proposed settlement. This objection purports to be on behalf of Mason P. James, of Loveland, Texas, and states only that ?[m]e wish to object to the proposed settlement.? See Objection by Mason P. James (Sept. 27, 2007, Paper No. 270). DISCUSSION I. The Settlement Agreement is Granted Final Approval. A court may approve the settlement of a class action only upon finding that it is ?fair, reasonable, and adequate.? Fed. R. Civ. P. 23(e)(1)(C); see also City P?ship Co. v. Atlantic Acquisition Ltd. P?ship, 100 F.3d 1041, 1043 (1st Cir. 1996) (same). The First Circuit has recognized a clear policy of encouraging settlements in class action cases, and has stated that ?[w]hen sufficient discovery has been provided and the parties have bargained at arms-length, there is a presumption in favor of the settlement.? City P?ship, 100 F.3d at 1043. In determining the fairness, reasonableness and adequacy of a proposed class action settlement, several courts in this district have looked to the following factors set forth in City of Detroit v. Grinnell Corp., 495 F.2d 448, 463 (2d Cir. 1974), overruled on other grounds by Missouri v. Jenkins, 491 U.S. 274 (1989): (1) the complexity, expense and likely duration of the litigation; (2) the reaction of the class to the settlement; (3) the stage of the proceedings and the amount of discovery completed; (4) the risks of establishing liability; (5) the risks of establishing damages; (6) the risks of maintaining the class action through the trial; (7) the ability of the defendants to withstand a greater judgment; (8) the range of reasonableness of the settlement fund in light of the best possible recovery; (9) the range of reasonableness of the settlement fund to a possible recovery in light of all the attendant risks of litigation. For all of the reasons set forth in the Court?s Preliminary Approval Order, an analysis of these factors strongly supports this Court?s final approval of the Settlement Agreement as fair, reasonable and adequate. In addition, this Court overrules the single objection to the proposed settlement, as no reasons were provided for that objection as required by the Notice approved by the Court. Therefore, this Court also finds that all class members are bound by the Settlement Agreement, including its release provisions. II. Notice to the Class Rule 23(e) states that ?notice of the proposed dismissal or compromise shall be given to all members of the class in such manner as the court directs.? The notice must satisfy Rule 23, as well as due process requirements. Cf. Besinga v. United States, 923 F.2d 133, 136-37 (9th Cir. 1991) (requirements of due process and Fed. R. Civ. P. 23(c)(2)(B) are similar). ??[I]t is the court?s duty to ensure that the notice ordered is reasonably calculated to reach the absent class members.? Reppert v. Marvin Lumber and Cedar Co., 359 F.3d 53, 56 (1st Cir. 2004) (citations omitted). ?When individual notice is infeasible, notice by publication in a newspaper of national circulation . . . is an acceptable substitute.? Mirfasihi v. Fleet Mortgage Corp., 356 F.3d 781, 786 (7th Cir. 2004). This Court finds that the notice program approved in its Preliminary Approval Order and now implemented by the parties was the best notice practicable under the circumstances and satisfied the requirements of due process and Fed. R. Civ. P. 23. The parties represented that there was no readily accessible list of the potential class members in this case and that such a list likely could not be created without enormous effort and expenditure. Notice here involved a combination of individual mailing -- through the Braille Monitor and Braille Forum to tens of thousands of blind people -- and publication in three newspapers of national circulation: The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and USA Today. Under these circumstances, individual notice was not required in order to satisfy the requirements of due process and Fed. R. Civ. P. 23. III. Attorneys? Fees and Costs Class counsel have submitted an Unopposed Petition for an Award of Attorneys? Fees and Costs, pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 23(h) and 54(d)(2). Specifically, class counsel request that the Court approve an award of attorneys? fees and costs by Defendants to the NFB in the amount of $900,000, the amount agreed to by the parties as part of the class action settlement. The ADA provides that courts may award the prevailing party its ?reasonable attorney?s fee, including litigation expenses, and costs.? 42 U.S.C. ? 12205. Rules 23(h)(1) and (2) require that notice and an opportunity to object be provided. In this case, the Notice sent pursuant to the Preliminary Approval Order included the amount of the fees and provided an opportunity to object and no class member has objected to the proposed fee award. In evaluating a fee petition in a case such as this, the Court is to consider ?the reasonableness of the hours spent and the hourly rate sought.? Weinberger v. Great Northern Nekoosa Corp., 925 F.2d 518, 529 (1st Cir. 1991) (quoting In re Spillance, 884 F.2d 642, 647 (1st Cir. 1989)). After due consideration of the filings of class counsel and the relevant case law cited therein, this Court finds that a fee award in the amount of $900,000 is well within the bounds of reasonableness under the circumstances of this case. The time spent by class counsel in litigating this complex case clearly was justified. In addition, the lodestar amount ? calculated by multiplying these hours by reasonable prevailing rates ? is almost twice the amount agreed upon in the settlement. The Court finds that the hourly rates charged by class counsel are commensurate with the rates charged by Boston attorneys of comparable experience in comparable matters and that the rates actually billed to the NFB were below those rates. In addition, the award sought is well below the actual amount of fees and costs paid by the NFB in connection with this litigation. For these reasons, the Court approves the fee award agreed to by the parties as part of the Settlement Agreement. IT IS HEREBY ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED THAT: 1. This Court has jurisdiction over the subject matter of this lawsuit and over all of the parties to the lawsuit, including the named Plaintiffs, all members of the class, and Defendants. 2. The Court adopts and incorporates the findings of the Preliminary Approval Order and hereby approves the Settlement Agreement as fair, reasonable and adequate in all respects. This is especially so in view of the complexity, expense and probable duration of further litigation, the risks of establishing liability, the intensive arm?s length negotiations of experienced counsel and the reasonableness of the relief obtained, considering the range of possible outcomes and the attendant risks of litigation. 3. The Court overrules the single objection to the settlement and finds that each class member is bound by the Settlement Agreement, including its release. 4. The Court finds that the Notice published to the class satisfies the requirements of due process and Fed. R. Civ. P. 23. 5. The Court finds that the attorneys? fees and costs sought by class counsel are reasonable and approves an award of fees and costs, in the amount of $900,000, as agreed to by the parties. 6. The Court dismisses this lawsuit on the merits and with prejudice as to all claims in the lawsuit against all Defendants. 7. The Court attaches hereto as Exhibit 1 and incorporates into this Final Order and Judgment the terms of the Settlement Agreement. 8. The Court retains jurisdiction of all matters relating to the interpretation, administration, implementation, effectuation and enforcement of the Settlement Agreement. It is so ordered. Dated: _________________________ U.S.D.J. 397837 [1] On or about June 2, 2004, Cardtronics LP acquired Access?s ATM business. David Andrews: dandrews at visi.com Follow me on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/dandrews920 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From dandrews at visi.com Mon May 31 23:12:32 2010 From: dandrews at visi.com (David Andrews) Date: Mon, 31 May 2010 18:12:32 -0500 Subject: [Nfb-dc] 2010 NFB Convention Agenda Now Available Message-ID: Below is the text of the agenda for the 2010 NFB national convention. You can also download a fully-formatted Word version from the link below. Dave http://www.nfb.org/nfb/National_Convention.asp THE MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND OF TEXAS WELCOME YOU TO THE 70th ANNUAL CONVENTION OF THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND Marc Maurer, President National Federation of the Blind 200 East Wells Street at Jernigan Place Baltimore, Maryland 21230 Mary Ellen Jernigan Executive Director for Operations and Chairwoman, Convention Organization and Activities Angela Wolf, President National Federation of the Blind of Texas 314 East Highland Mall Blvd., Suite 353 Austin, Texas 78752 Hilton Anatole Hotel 2201 Stemmons Freeway Dallas, Texas 75207 (214) 748-1200 The 70th annual convention of the National Federation of the Blind is being held in Dallas at the Hilton Anatole Hotel. As usual, our hotel rates are very good: singles and doubles are $62; triples and quads are $67. In addition to the room rates, there is a fifteen percent occupancy tax. There is no charge for children under sixteen in the room with parents as long as no extra bed is required. Proof of convention registration is necessary, including the showing of an NFB registration badge if requested. Otherwise, regular hotel rates must be paid. The Hilton Anatole is a non-smoking hotel; smoking is permitted only on the Gossip patio and fifteen feet from any outside entrance. HILTON ANATOLE GEOGRAPHY The Hilton Anatole consists of two main sections?the Atrium and the Tower. The Atrium section is further divided into Atrium I and Atrium II. At the lobby and mezzanine levels Atrium I, Atrium II, and the Tower are connected so that you can walk from Atrium I at the far east end of the hotel through Atrium II into the Tower at the far west end of the hotel as if it were one building. During the time of our convention the entire central area of Atrium II at the lobby level will be undergoing substantial renovation. This renovation will not impact our convention operation in any significant way since there will be a well-defined passageway linking Atrium I with the Tower. This passageway will run east and west along the south side of Atrium II at the lobby level. At levels above the mezzanine, Atrium I and Atrium II are contiguous with each other but not with the Tower?that is, to reach the sleeping rooms, you must use either the Atrium elevators or the Tower elevators, depending on which section your room is located in. The Tower sleeping room elevators do not stop at the mezzanine level. The Atrium sleeping room elevators stop at the mezzanine level, and you can reach the mezzanine level meeting rooms above the Atrium I lobby, the Atrium II lobby, and the Tower lobby. However, a flight of six or eight steps links the Atrium II mezzanine and the Tower mezzanine. If these steps are a problem, you can take a separate, single elevator that goes from the Tower lobby to the Tower mezzanine level. This elevator is located just west of the business center in the Tower lobby. At the west end of the Tower mezzanine is a stairway that leads to the Tower lobby. When you come down this stairway, you are facing east, and the Chantilly Ballroom is slightly ahead and on your right. Atrium I is the farthest-east section of the hotel and sits slightly south of Atrium II. Think of the entire hotel as a high-top tennis shoe lying on its side with the sole running along the north side, the toe pointing west, and the open top to the south. The right angle formed where the back of the shoe meets the sole in the hotel?s architecture is actually cut on the diagonal so that, when entering the hotel on that diagonal, you are facing southwest. Atrium I is much shorter in its north-south dimension than are Atrium II and the Tower on the east-west axis. After you step into the main entrance, a left turn takes you towards the check-in desk and Atrium I. If you stand with your back to the check-in desk, you are facing west. Atrium I is on your left, and Atrium II is slightly to your right and straight ahead. The Atrium elevators and stairway and escalators to the mezzanine-level meeting rooms are located just across from the Atrium front desk and main entrance in the general area where the two Atria join. Access to the temporary passageway between Atrium I and the Tower will be located here also. The lobby level of Atrium I and the area south of the temporary Atrium II passageway contains several meeting rooms, a brand new restaurant called the Media Grill & Bar, and the Grand Ballroom, which is located on the south side of Atrium II. The Khmer Pavilion is located roughly above the Grand Ballroom. The point at which the Atrium II lobby joins the Tower lobby is located just beyond the west end of the Grand Ballroom foyer. The exact configuration of this juncture is unknown at the time of this writing because of the renovations in progress. If any steps still remain by the time we arrive, there will be a ramp in place for wheelchair access. HOTEL FOOD SERVICE Breakfast will be available from 6:00 to 11:00 am in three locations: Common Ground in Atrium 1, serving grab-and-go continental breakfasts and ala carte items including hot breakfast sandwiches; The Terrace in Atrium 1 serving full hot breakfasts; and Gossips (beginning at 6:30 am) in the Tower serving specialty coffees and ala carte items. Lunch will be available from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm in the Common Ground serving soups, salads, deli and hot sandwiches, quick grab-and-go bag lunches, and other ala carte items; in The Terrace from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm serving a quick hot ?blue plate? special each day; in Gossips from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm serving deli sandwiches and ala carte items; and in the Media Grill & Bar (located on the south side of Atrium II between the Atrium escalators and the Grand Ballroom) from 11:00 am to 10:00 pm offering a full-scale lunch and dinner menu. Dinner will be available in the Media Grill & Bar until 10:00 pm, with ?deep-night? bar and selected food service continuing until 2:00 am; in the Rathskeller (accessed from the Tower lobby across from the potpourri shop), serving a typical sports bar menu; and in Nana, the five-star restaurant located on the twenty-seventh floor of the Tower, from 6:30 to 10:30 pm. In addition, sushi will be available in Gossips until 2:00 am; a variety of hot and cold lite fare will be available in the bar at Nana from 4:30 pm to 12:30 am; and room service is available on a twenty-four-hour basis. TEXAS-STYLE BARBEQUE AND LIVE MUSIC IN ANATOLE PARK Continue the excitement of convention opening day by enjoying a delicious Texas-style barbeque with family and friends under the stars in Anatole Park. Listen to the great acoustical sounds of one of Texas? top performing singers and songwriters, Brian Burns, with friends Tommy Alverson and Davin James, who bring Texas and American country music back to the heart of the matter. All hosted by the NFB of Texas and all happening on Tuesday, July 6, starting at 6:00 pm. Tickets (while they last) are $45 per person and can be purchased in the registration area. ROOKIE ROUNDUP All first-time convention attendees are cordially invited to attend a reception from 8:00 to 10:00 pm on Saturday, July 3, in the Stemmons Auditorium, Atrium lobby. President Maurer and other Federation leaders will be on hand to welcome you to the convention and preview the week?s activities. Veteran conventioneers should urge all first-timers to attend this special event. Also, first-time rookies are invited to join an informal, fun gathering on Monday, July 5, from 12:00 noon to 2:00 pm in the Affiliate Action Suite 2372. REGISTRATION & PREREGISTRATION Registration activities take place in the upper Chantilly foyer, Tower lobby beginning at 9:00 am on Sunday, July 4; at 8:30 am on Monday, July 5; and at other times as listed throughout the week. The fee for registration at convention is $20 per person (if you preregistered before May 31, the fee was $15), and all those attending the convention (both local and outoftown people) are asked to register. Convention registration is a requirement for door prize eligibility and a number of other convention activities. We condition rates for hotel rooms on proof of registration, including the showing of an NFB registration badge if requested. Therefore, please register as soon as possible after arrival. EXHIBITS Exhibits (excluding the NFB Independence Market) are on display in the Khmer Pavilion, Atrium third level. Exhibit hall hours are: Sunday 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Monday 8:30 am to 5:00 pm Tuesday Noon to 1:45 pm; Sponsors only from 7:00-10:00 pm Wednesday Noon to 1:45 pm and 7:00 to 10:00 pm There is a special event for sponsor-level exhibitors only on Tuesday, July 6, from 7:00 to 10:00 pm (see ?Special Attention? section and agenda listing for more information). Sign up for NFB-NEWSLINE? at the NEWSLINE table. Any alterations in the general session schedule which may occur during the convention will result in conforming shifts in the exhibit schedule and will be announced in the exhibit areas. A number of affiliated NFB divisions and committees have tables. INDEPENDENCE MARKET & SHOWROOM OF INNOVATION The Independence Market and the Showroom of Innovation will be located in the Grand Ballroom, Atrium lobby. NFB publications, products, devices, canes, Louis Braille commemorative coins, jewelry, and other items will be available. Also in the Showroom of Innovation you can preview the nonvisual interface technology that might empower driving and other advanced applications. Put your hands on the wheel, touch the first generation blind driver challenge vehicle, and glimpse into the future. Be part of the revolution as we Race for Independence. Hours of operation for the Market and the Showroom are: Sunday 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Monday 8:30 am to 5:00 pm Tuesday Noon to 1:45 pm Wednesday Noon to 1:45 pm?Note: Final time slot to visit Independence Market and Showroom of Innovation. MEETINGS General sessions of the convention convene at 9:00 am in the Chantilly Ballroom, Tower lobby on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. The convention adjourns promptly at 5:00 pm on Thursday, July 8. Please note that all requests for announcements by Dr. Maurer during general sessions must be submitted in Braille. BANQUET AND BANQUET TICKET EXCHANGE The banquet is being held in the Chantilly Ballroom, Tower lobby at 7:00 pm, Thursday, July 8. Banquet tickets purchased at convention are $45.00 (the cost was $40 if purchased before May 31) and are on sale during registration on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday. Banquet tickets will not be available for purchase after Tuesday at 2:00 pm. It will be necessary to have your banquet ticket with you to attend the banquet; it will be collected at the banquet table. Arrangements should be made for reserved table assignments by taking the ticket(s) you purchase to the Banquet Exchange Table in the Chantilly lobby area, where you may exchange either an individual ticket or a group of tickets for reserved seating. Banquet tables seat ten people. RELIGIOUS SERVICES AND DEVOTIONS On Sunday, July 4, Fr. Gregory Paul, C.P., will celebrate a Roman Catholic Mass at 6:30 am in the Wedgwood Room, Tower lobby. Also on Sunday at 11:45 am services for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will be held in the Wedgwood Room, Tower lobby. Devotional services will be held in the Sapphire Room, Tower lobby at 8:00 am on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Services are nonsectarian and will end at least fifteen minutes prior to morning convention sessions. Coordinated by the National Association of the Blind in Communities of Faith Division; Tom Anderson, President. K-NFB?S BLIO READER MAKING BOOKS ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYONE! Printed books are becoming digital and accessible. Blio is free e-reader software designed for presentation of digital media. Developed and distributed by K-NFB Reading Technology, Inc., shop at the online Blio bookstore with access to over one million free books. Read wherever you are by syncing your digital library to your mobile device. To learn more, visit the demonstration sessions listed in the agenda on Saturday, Sunday, and Wednesday. SPECIAL ATTENTION IS CALLED TO THE FOLLOWING ITEMS ? A Federation Information Desk will be in the registration area from Sunday morning, July 4, through Thursday, July 8, if you have questions or need assistance. The Texas affiliate will also maintain a table near the hotel checkin desk in the main lobby to provide assistance and hospitality during much of the convention. ? When you register, you will be given a name badge. Please wear it at all times during the convention. ? The room number for the Presidential Suite is 2572. Someone will be on hand in the Presidential Suite throughout most of the convention to greet you and make appointments for you with the President or anyone else you wish to see. The Presidential Suite will not be open during the business sessions of the convention, the Monday morning Board of Directors meeting, or the Thursday evening banquet. Come to the Presidential Suite. You will be most welcome. ? The room number for Mary Ellen Jernigan, Chairwoman of Convention Organization and Activities, is 2472. Questions concerning hotel rooms, meeting rooms, banquet, scheduling, registration, and other matters dealing with convention arrangements should be referred to the Chairwoman of Convention Organization and Activities. ? Individuals needing to conduct business with the NFB Treasurer may do so by going to the Opal Room, Tower lobby on Tuesday, July 6, between 5:30 and 7:30 pm, or on Wednesday, July 7, between 12:00 noon and 2:00 pm. ? The Texas Suite (Angela Wolf, President) is 2272. ? The Affiliate Action and Rookie Activities Suite (Joanne Wilson and Pam Allen, Coordinators) is 2372. ? Child-care services for children between the ages of six weeks and ten years are available during convention sessions, most meetings, and the banquet. Preregistration and payment by June 15 were required for child-care. Child-care is organized and supervised by Carla McQuillan, the executive director of Main Street Montessori Association. Alison McQuillan serves as the activities and staff coordinator. Please note that child-care provides morning and afternoon snacks, but parents are required to provide lunch for their child(ren) every day. Times listed are the opening and closing times for child-care. A late fee of $10 per quarter-hour per child will be assessed for all late pickups. Child-care hours are: Saturday, 7/3 8:30 am to 12:30 pm and 1:30 to 5:30 pm Sunday, 7/4 Closed Monday, 7/5 8:30 am to 12:30 pm and 1:30 to 5:30 pm Tuesday, 7/6 9:30 am to 12:30 pm and 1:30 to 5:30 pm Wednesday, 7/7 8:30 am to 12:30 pm and 1:30 to 5:30 pm Thursday, 7/8 8:30 am to 12:30 pm and 1:30 to 5:30 pm Banquet 7/8 6:30 pm to 30 minutes after banquet ends ? A Special Evening for Sponsor-Level Exhibitors: Again this year, the exhibit hall will reopen from 7:00 to 10:00 pm on Tuesday, July 6, for a very special evening dedicated solely to Sponsor-Level Exhibitors. Come and bring a guest to say ?thank you? to our sponsors and to enjoy their interesting offers and demonstrations. ? The always popular Showcase of Talent is back again at 7:00 pm on Wednesday, July 7, presented by the Performing Arts Division. Admission price is $5.00. If you would like to participate in the Showcase, make sure to sign up early by contacting a Performing Arts Division board member at the convention. ? Raffle tickets will not be sold in the registration area, and no raffles or other such drawings will take place during convention sessions or at the banquet. The single exception to this rule will be that national divisions may (if they request it in advance) conduct such drawings during the convention or at the banquet. The Sapphire Room, Tower lobby will be set aside at 12:00 noon on Thursday, July 8, for all other drawings. Any group or affiliate wishing to conduct drawings at this time (or any person wishing to know the winners) may go at noon on Thursday to the Sapphire Room. AFFILIATED DIVISIONS, COMMITTEES, AND GROUPS The Federation carries on its business through divisions, committees, and groups. The meetings of some of these have been scheduled for particular times and are listed in the agenda. Others have not been formally scheduled but will meet at the call of their chairpersons or presidents. If you have matters that you would like to discuss with any of the following divisions, committees, or groups, you should contact: Divisions: ? Agriculture and Equestrian: Fred Chambers, President; ? Assistive Technology Trainers: Michael Barber, President; ? Classics, Antiques, and Rods or Special Interest Vehicles (CARS): Joseph B. Naulty, President; ? Deaf-Blind: Burnell Brown, President; ? Diabetes Action Network for the Blind: Michael Freeman, President; ? Human Services: David Stayer, President; ? National Association of the Blind in Communities of Faith: Tom Anderson, President; ? National Association of Blind Entrepreneurs: James R. Bonerbo, President; ? National Association of Blind Lawyers: Scott LaBarre, President; ? National Association of Blind Merchants: Kevan Worley, President; ? National Association of Blind Office Professionals: Lisa Hall, President; ? National Association of Blind Piano Technicians: Don Mitchell, President; ? National Association of Blind Rehabilitation Professionals: Melody Lindsey, President; ? National Association of Blind Students: Arielle Silverman, President; ? National Association of Blind Veterans: Dwight Sayer, President; ? National Association of Guide Dog Users: Marion Gwizdala, President; ? National Association to Promote the Use of Braille (NAPUB): Nadine Jacobson, President; Divisions, Continued: ? National Federation of the Blind in Computer Science: Curtis Chong, President; ? National Federation of the Blind Krafters: Joyce Kane, President; ? National Federation of the Blind Seniors: Judy Sanders, President; ? National Organization of Blind Educators: Sheila Koenig, President; ? National Organization of Parents of Blind Children (NOPBC): Carol Castellano, President; ? Performing Arts: Dennis H.R. Sumlin, President; ? Public Employees: Ivan Weich, President; ? Science and Engineering: John Miller, President; ? Sports and Recreation: Lisamaria Martinez, President; ? Travel and Tourism: Don Gillmore, President; ? Writers: Robert Leslie Newman, President. Committees: ? Ambassadors: Angela Wolf, Chairperson; ? Blind Educator of the Year Award: David Ticchi, Chairperson; ? Committee on Assistive Technology (COAT): Curtis Chong, Chairperson; ? Committee on Automobile and Pedestrian Safety (CAPS): Deborah Kent Stein, Chairperson; ? Committee to Empower Underserved Populations (CEUP): Ron Brown, Chairperson; ? Cultural Exchange and International Program: Diane McGeorge, Chairperson; ? Distinguished Educator of Blind Children Award: Cathy Jackson, Chairperson; ? Employment: Buna Dahal, Chairperson; ? Genetic Education: Barbara Pierce, Chairperson; ? Imagination Fund: Parnell Diggs, Chairperson; ? Jacobus tenBroek Award: Ramona Walhof, Chairperson; ? Jacobus tenBroek Memorial Fund: Tami Jones, Chairperson; ? Kenneth Jernigan Fund: Allen Harris, Chairperson; ? Library Services: David Hyde, Chairperson; ? Loan Fund: Donald C. Capps, Chairperson; ? Membership: Ron Gardner, Chairperson; ? Newel Perry Award: Allen Harris, Chairperson; ? Newsletter Publications: Norma Crosby, Chairperson; ? NFB-NEWSLINE? Steering: David DeNotaris, Chairperson; ? PAC Plan: Scott LaBarre, Chairperson; ? Planned Giving: John Halverson, Chairperson; ? Promotion, Evaluation, and Advancement of Technology: Gary Wunder, Chairperson; Committees, Continued: ? Public Relations: Christopher Danielsen, Chairperson; ? Research and Development: Curtis Chong, Chairperson; ? Resolutions: Sharon Maneki, Chairperson; ? Scholarship: Anil Lewis, Chairperson; ? Shares Unlimited in NFB (SUN): Sandy Halverson, Chairperson; ? Spanish Translation: Norman Gardner, Chairperson; ? White Cane and Affiliate Finance: Alpidio Rol?n, Chairperson. Groups: ? Blind Musicians: Linda Mentink, Chairperson; ? Blind Parents: Deborah Kent Stein, Chairperson; ? Blind Professional Journalists: Elizabeth Campbell and Bryan Bashin, Co-Chairpersons; ? Educators of Blind Children: Gail Wagner, Chairperson; ? Geordi's Engineers: Lorraine Rovig, Chairperson; ? Legislative Initiatives Discussion: Don Burns, Coordinator; ? Living History: Michael Freholm, Chairperson; ? NFB Ham Radio: D. Curtis Willoughby, Chairperson; ? NFB in Judaism: David Stayer, Chairperson; ? NFB Lions: Ramona Walhof and Milton Ota, Co-Chairpersons; ? Orientation and Mobility: Edward C. Bell, Chairperson; ? Professionals in Blindness Education: Heather Field, Chairperson ? Webmasters: Gary Wunder, Chairperson. CONVENTION AGENDA SATURDAY, JULY 3, 2010 7:30 - 8:45 am?HAM RADIO GROUP EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS Milan Room, Tower mezzanine Discuss convention frequencies, hotel architectural features, and distributing special FM receivers for the hearing-impaired and Spanish-speaking attendees. D. Curtis Willoughby (ka0vba), Chairperson 7:30 am - 6:30 pm?EDUCATION: TOP DOWN AND BOTTOM UP Parent, Teacher, Rehabilitation, and Orientation & Mobility Joint Conference for Families and Rehabilitation Professionals (7:30 to 8:45 am?Registration; 12:00 noon - 2:00 pm?NBPCB Awards Luncheon in Morocco Room) Stemmons Auditorium, Atrium lobby NOPBC Fees: Adults $30; Youth (13-18) $20; Children (5-12) $10 NBPCB Fees (includes lunch): Students $75; Professionals $100 Note: Conference admission included with either registration above. Sponsors: National Organization of Parents of Blind Children (NOPBC); National Blindness Professional Certification Board (NBPCB); National Association of Blind Rehabilitation Professionals (NABRP); and the Professional Development & Research Institute on Blindness (PDRIB) at the Louisiana Tech University. Chairpersons: Carol Castellano and Edward Bell 8:30 am?CHILD-CARE (Preregistration by June 15 was required) Batik A & B and Cardinal A & B Rooms, Atrium Mezzanine Please see ?Special Attention? section of agenda for further information. 8:30 - 11:30 am?WHAT?S NEW IN JAWS 11 AND A FIRST LOOK AT JAWS 12?FREEDOM SCIENTIFIC, INC. Senators Lecture Hall, Tower lobby Join Eric Damery, JAWS Product Manager, for an exciting and informative session covering the new details surrounding JAWS development during the past year. In addition to many demonstrations of JAWS 11 with Research It, this will also be the first look at JAWS 12 scheduled for public beta in August 2010. 9:00 am - 12:00 noon?GW MICRO: SENSE NOTETAKER AND BOOKSENSE TRAINING (Registration: $10; refreshments provided) Fleur-de-Lis A Room, Atrium mezzanine The Braille Sense Plus and other Sense notetakers are exciting devices in Braille notetaker technology. Learn new features, including the GW Sense Navigation GPS. See the BookSense in action; play your books and audio files with ease. Raul Gallegos and Jeremy Curry. To register, call 260-489-3671. SATURDAY, JULY 3, Continued 9:00 am - 5:00 pm?NFB JERNIGAN INSTITUTE?S ACCESS TECHNOLOGY SEMINARS Governors Lecture Hall, Tower lobby 9:00 - 11:30 am?Apple?s Mac system, iPod series, iPhone, and iPad 1:00 - 2:00 pm?Ebay?s accessibility improvements 2:15 - 3:30 pm?Blackboard Learn, the online platform for education 3:45 - 5:00 pm?Accessing e-Books rapidly expanding market 9:00 am - 5:00 pm?EMPLOYMENT COMMITTEE SEMINAR Rosetta Room, Atrium mezzanine 9:00 am?Registration; 9:30 am?Seminar begins Staying on the cutting edge?what does it take? If you are seeking a job or focused on career advancement, don't miss this excellent opportunity to explore the building blocks of evolutionary employment. Buna Dahal, Chairperson 9:30 am - 2:30 pm?SENIORS SEMINAR: INTRO TO BLINDNESS SKILLS Sapphire Room, Tower lobby Please note?attendance is limited to around thirty-five people, so arrive promptly. Blind instructors introduce seniors to basic blindness skills: Braille, use of the long white cane, games, etc. Co-chaired by Ruth Sager and Ramona Walhof; Judy Sanders, President, NFB Seniors Division 10:30 am - 12:00 noon??WHERE PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE COME TOGETHER??NFB YOUTH TRACK (AGES 11 TO 18) Wyeth Room, Atrium mezzanine Kick off this year?s Youth Track activities with fun icebreakers and meet new friends. This is also a time for youth to debate the age-old issues of blindness while putting a fresh new spin on them for today. All Youth Track activities are sponsored by the NFB Jernigan Institute; Mary Jo Hartle, Coordinator 12:45 - 1:45 pm?WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? NFB JERNIGAN INSTITUTE DISCUSSIONS?SESSION ONE (Session Two: Sunday at 5:30 pm; Session Three: Monday at 7:30 pm) Wyeth Room, Atrium mezzanine Session One covers research, history, and our literature. Moderated by Mark A. Riccobono, Executive Director, NFB Jernigan Institute SATURDAY, JULY 3, Continued 1:00 - 3:00 pm?FREEDOM SCIENTIFIC; OPENBOOK 9 AND PEARL PORTABLE READING SOLUTION Senators Lecture Hall, Tower lobby Have lightning fast OCR with OpenBook in a portable solution that folds up. Connect via a USB port and scan documents. Have them read aloud using Eloquence voices or any of Real Speak Solo Direct human-sounding voices now available on OpenBook. Magnify work, write under the camera, and reformat text. 1:00 - 5:00 pm?HUMANWARE PRODUCT SHOWCASE AND USER GROUPS Obelisk A Room, Atrium mezzanine Sessions: 1:00 Breeze; 2:00 Portable Devices; 3:00 Stream; 4:00 BrailleNote Join HumanWare to learn about recent updates and share product tips. Give us your suggestions or ask questions about your favorite HumanWare product. Door Prizes for every session! 1:00 - 6:00 pm?KRAFTERS DIVISION CRAFT SHOW Topaz Room, Tower lobby If you are interested in crafts and appreciate hand-made items, this is the place to be! Come and meet some very talented Federation crafters and purchase their beautiful items for sale. Joyce Kane, President 1:30 - 2:45 pm?EXPERIENCE THE BLIO READER: MAKING THE WORLD?S BOOKS ENJOYABLE, USABLE, AND ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYONE! Peridot Room, Atrium mezzanine Presented by James Gashel. 2:00 - 3:00 pm?NOPBC CONCURRENT SESSIONS FOR PARENTS The Conquest of Independence Edelweiss Room, Atrium mezzanine Helpful strategies for raising and working with a young blind child. Instructor: Carla McQuillan The Blind Student in Science Class Dardenelles Room, Atrium mezzanine Tools and techniques to include blind students in all aspects of science. Instructors: Cary Supalo, Dr. Lillian Rankel, Marilyn Winograd, and Dr. Andrew Greenberg SATURDAY, JULY 3, Continued NOPBC CONCURRENT SESSIONS FOR PARENTS, Cont?d. Braille Reading Rates Inverness Room, Atrium mezzanine Your child can become a Braille-reading speed demon! Instructors: Jerry Whittle and Dr. Eric Vasiliauskas Let Your Child Grow Up! Fleur-de-Lis B Room, Atrium mezzanine When is the right time to begin stepping back as a parent? Instructors: Rosy Carranza and Andrea Beasley 2:00 - 5:00 pm?GOAL BALL; SPORTS & REC DIVISION Gym, Verandah area Lisamaria Martinez, President 2:00 - 5:00 pm?GW MICRO: WINDOW-EYES TRAINING (Registration: $10; refreshments provided) Fleur-de-Lis A Room, Atrium mezzanine Explore the power of Window-Eyes with advanced scripting support, Office 2010, Windows 7, and much more. Come to see support for the Internet and scripting provided by a screen reader. Presenters: Jeremy Curry and Raul Gallegos. To register, call 260-489-3671. 2:00 - 5:00 pm?YOUTH TRACK CONCURRENT WORKSHOP SESSIONS Preparing for the Future: Wyeth Room, Atrium mezzanine 2:00 - 3:30 pm?High School Readiness (ages 11-14) 3:30 - 5:00 pm?College Readiness (ages 14-18) Working Out Workouts: Travertine Room, Atrium mezzanine 2:00 - 3:30 pm?For ages 14-18 3:30 - 5:00 pm?For ages 11-14 Looking Good without Looking: Steuben Room, Atrium mezzanine 2:00 - 3:30 pm?For ages 14-18 3:30 - 5:00 pm?For ages 11-14 SATURDAY, JULY 3, Continued 3:00 - 4:30 pm?TEACHER RECRUITMENT INITIATIVE Affiliate Action Suite 2372 If you are interested in improving the education of blind students, please join us. Learn how to contact universities in your area, put on recruitment presentations, and spread the word about this rewarding career. Hosted by the NFB Affiliate Action Team 3:00 - 4:45 pm?EXPERIENCE THE BLIO READER: MAKING THE WORLD?S BOOKS ENJOYABLE, USABLE, AND ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYONE! Peridot Room, Atrium mezzanine Presented by James Gashel. 3:15 - 4:15 pm?NOPBC CONCURRENT SESSIONS FOR PARENTS ABC and 1, 2, 3 Edelweiss Room, Atrium mezzanine Early literacy and number understanding at home and at school. Instructors: Heather Field and Stephanie Kieszak-Holloway I Survived Math Class Dardenelles Room, Atrium mezzanine Tips to ensure your child understands, keeps up with, and even learns to love math. Social Skills Inverness Room, Atrium mezzanine Strategies for fostering the development of age-appropriate social skills. Instructors: Denise Mackenstadt and Angela Frederick Low Vision: Focus on Success Fleur-de-Lis B Room, Atrium mezzanine Prepare your low vision child for success in school, at home, and in social life. Instructors: Marla Palmer and Mark Riccobono 4:30 - 5:30 pm?NOPBC CONCURRENT SESSIONS FOR PARENTS Get Your Child Going! Inverness Room, Atrium mezzanine Enhance and promote independent movement in the young or delayed child. Instructor: Denise Mackenstadt SATURDAY, JULY 3, Continued NOPBC CONCURRENT SESSIONS FOR PARENTS, Cont?d. Technology Dardenelles Room, Atrium mezzanine Available technology; hear from students on how they employ it. Instructors: Richard Holloway and blind students Behavior: From Control to Support in Five Easy Lessons Edelweiss Room, Atrium mezzanine Steps to turn problem behavior into positive behavior. Instructor: Dr. Jerry Petroff Is Your Child Job Ready? Fleur-de-Lis B Room, Atrium mezzanine Learn how your child can gain experience and skills. 5:00 - 7:00 pm?SPANISH SEMINAR Peridot Room, Atrium mezzanine Blindness is blindness, no matter what the language. Meet new and old friends; learn about Federation philosophy and the truth about blindness?in Spanish. Moderator: Alpidio Rol?n 5:00 - 8:00 pm?MIX-AND-MINGLE RECEPTION FOR PARENTS AND REHABILITATION PROFESSIONALS Morocco Room, Tower mezzanine 6:00 - 10:00 pm?NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF GUIDE DOG USERS (NAGDU) BUSINESS MEETING Emerald Room, Tower lobby 6:00 pm?Registration; 7:00 pm?Meeting begins Find out about legal cases that NAGDU and NFB are involved in; learn about the work and development of affiliate divisions; celebrate the launch of the NAGDU Education and Advocacy Hotline; elect your division leaders. Marion Gwizdala, President SATURDAY, JULY 3, Continued 6:30 - 10:00 pm?NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BLIND OFFICE PROFESSIONALS Dardenelles Room, Atrium mezzanine 6:30 pm?Registration; 7:00 pm?Meeting begins Learn about new technology and how blind telephone operators, receptionists, customer service reps, Braille transcribers and proofreaders, and other office workers solve problems and challenges in the office setting. Lisa Hall, President 7:00 - 8:30 pm?LIVING HISTORY GROUP Edelweiss Room, Atrium mezzanine Dedicated to recording, preserving, and appreciating Federation history. Michael Freholm, Chairperson 7:00 - 9:00 pm?NOPBC FAMILY HOSPITALITY NIGHT Miro Room, Tower mezzanine Relax and chat in an informal atmosphere. This is a great opportunity for new families to meet and connect with others. Veteran parents will be on hand to welcome and provide information. 7:00 - 10:00 pm?INDEPENDENCE SCIENCE, LLC FOCUS GROUP ONE Fleur-de-Lis B Room, Atrium mezzanine (Preregistration by May 15 was required to attend.) Independence Science LLC, in collaboration with Purdue University researchers, is collecting feedback on a new portable handheld data collection device for blind students to use in high school science laboratories. (Focus Group Two meets Monday at 7:00 pm) 7:30 - 9:00 pm?knfbReader MOBILE USERS MEETING Fleur-de-Lis A Room, Atrium mezzanine Conducted by Michael Hingson 7:30 - 11:00 pm?SALSA DANCE LESSIONS AND LATIN DANCE PARTY Metropolitan Ballroom, Tower mezzanine Get into the ?rhythm? of the convention?learn the salsa! Group and individual instructions provided at any level of proficiency. Fee of $5.00 benefits the NFB Spanish Translation Committee. Add salsa dancing to your repertoire; people will be impressed. SATURDAY, JULY 3, Continued 8:00 - 9:00 pm?WHITE CANE AND AFFILIATE FINANCE COMMITTEE Peridot Room, Atrium mezzanine Alpidio Rol?n, Chairperson 8:00 - 10:00 pm?NFB LIONS GROUP Inverness Room, Atrium mezzanine NFB members who would like to join a Lions Club or are already Lions are urged to meet to share ideas and experiences. Please wear your shirts or vests for a photo. Co-Chairpersons: Ramona Walhof and Milton Ota 8:00 - 10:00 pm?ROOKIE ROUNDUP RECEPTION Stemmons Auditorium, Atrium lobby First-time convention attendees?don?t miss this event! President Maurer and former rookies will be on hand to welcome you and answer questions about the week?s activities. Casual dress. Coordinator: Pam Allen, Director of the Louisiana Center for the Blind and President of the NFB of Louisiana 8:00 pm - midnight?KARAOKE NIGHT?? (Admission: $5.00) Peacock Terrace, West Wing Enjoy music, door prizes, and a cash bar; meet BLIND, Incorporated?s students and alumni and share their experiences from training. Here?s your chance to sing like a rock star; Braille song lists are available. Hosted by BLIND, Inc. 9:00 - 10:00 pm?NFB AMBASSADORS COMMITTEE MEETING Lalique Room, Atrium mezzanine Angela Wolf, Chairperson SUNDAY, JULY 4, 2010 6:30 - 7:30 am?ROMAN CATHOLIC MASS Wedgwood Room, Tower lobby Father Gregory Paul, C.P., Celebrant 9:00 am - 5:00 pm?REGISTRATION ($20); BANQUET AND BARBEQUE TICKET SALES ($45 EACH); Chantilly Foyer Area, Tower lobby 9:00 am - 5:00 pm?INDEPENDENCE MARKET AND SHOWROOM OF INNOVATION?Grand Ballroom, Atrium lobby 9:00 am 5:00 pm?EXHIBITS?Khmer Pavilion, Atrium, third level 11:45 am - 1:15 pm?CHURCH SERVICES FOR THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS Wedgwood Room, Tower lobby 1:00 - 2:00 pm?BLIND MUSICIANS GROUP Dardenelles Room, Atrium mezzanine Share ideas and tips and network with other blind musicians. Linda Mentink, Chairperson 1:00 - 5:00 pm?SELF-DEFENSE CLASS; SPORTS & REC DIVISION De Soto A & B Rooms, West Wing Lisamaria Martinez, President 1:00 - 5:00 pm?AUTO SHOW (CLASSICS, ANTIQUES, AND SPECIAL INTEREST VEHICLES) Clock Tower Parking Lot Presented by the NFB CARS Division; Joe Naulty, President 1:00 - 5:00 pm?NATIONAL CERTIFICATION IN LITERARY BRAILLE (NCLB) OFFICIAL EXAMINATION?SECTIONS ONE AND TWO Governors Lecture Hall, Tower lobby Participants must have preregistered. Exam sections three and four are on Monday at 1:00 pm. Sponsored by the National Blindness Professional Certification Board SUNDAY, JULY 4, Continued 1:00 - 6:30 pm?PROFESSIONALS IN BLINDNESS EDUCATION Edelweiss Room, Atrium mezzanine Heather Field, Chairperson 1:30 pm?RESOLUTIONS COMMITTEE Coronado Ballroom, West Wing Sharon Maneki, Chairperson 1:30 - 2:45 pm?EXPERIENCE THE BLIO READER: MAKING THE WORLD?S BOOKS ENJOYABLE, USABLE, AND ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYONE! Peridot Room, Atrium mezzanine Presented by James Gashel 2:00 - 4:30 pm?OPEN BRAILLE INITIATIVE Obelisk A Room, Atrium mezzanine To make access to Braille easier, a group of prominent Braille device manufacturers have come together to develop and maintain an Open Standard for communications between screen readers and Braille displays. Do you want to know more? Join us for the OpenBraille initiative presentation. 2:30 - 5:30 pm?TRAVEL AND TOURISM DIVISION Milan Room, Tower mezzanine Don Gillmore, President 3:00 - 4:45 pm?EXPERIENCE THE BLIO READER: MAKING THE WORLD?S BOOKS ENJOYABLE, USABLE, AND ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYONE! Peridot Room, Atrium mezzanine Presented by James Gashel 3:00 - 5:00 pm?WHAT?S NEW WITH NFB-NEWSLINE? Lalique Room, Atrium mezzanine Learn about the NFB?s free audible newspaper service for the blind and visually impaired. Topics cover Podable News, the new voices, the new on-demand article request feature, and more. Sign up for NFB-NEWSLINE? at its exhibit hall table. 4:00 - 5:30 pm?SLATE MATES?NFB YOUTH TRACK (Ages 11-18) Dardenelles Room, Atrium mezzanine Pair up with members of the NFB Writers Division to learn the tricks of the trade to become a good writer. Bring your questions, and put your interests to work. SUNDAY, JULY 4, Continued 4:00 - 6:00 pm?FEDERATION REGENERATION Fleur-de-Lis A Room, Atrium mezzanine Learn how to develop quality programs for youth in your state while regenerating your Federation spirit. Presented by the NFB Jernigan Institute Education Team 4:30 - 6:00 pm?THIRTEENTH ANNUAL MOCK TRIAL?National Association of Blind Lawyers; Scott LaBarre, President Stemmons Auditorium, Atrium lobby Admission: $5.00. Federation lawyers are pitted against each other reenacting an old Federation case with the audience serving as the jury. Although the subject matter is very serious, the courtroom portrayers are very entertaining. 5:30 - 6:30 pm?WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? NFB JERNIGAN INSTITUTE DISCUSSIONS?SESSION TWO (Session Three: Monday at 7:30) Fleur-de-Lis B Room, Atrium mezzanine Session Two covers access technology and product development. Moderated by Mark A. Riccobono, Executive Director, NFB Jernigan Institute 5:30 - 8:00 pm?NEWSLETTER PUBLICATIONS COMMITTEE Inverness Room, Atrium mezzanine Annual meeting and workshop for affiliate newsletter editors. Norma Crosby, Chairperson 6:00 - 8:00 pm?STORY TIME IDOL?NFB WRITERS DIVISION Dardenelles Room, Atrium mezzanine Tell and/or listen to tall and scary stories. Cost is $5.00 at the door and $1.00 to tell a story. Idol winners share in the take! Robert Leslie Newman, President 6:00 - 10:00 pm?NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BLIND STUDENTS (NABS) Wedgwood Room, Tower lobby 6:00 pm?Registration ($5.00); 7:00 pm?Meeting Students, young professionals, parents, teachers, and anyone interested in learning about issues affecting blind students are welcome to attend. Arielle Silverman, President SUNDAY, JULY 4, Continued 6:30 - 8:00 pm?NFB AFFILIATE PRESIDENTS AND TREASURERS SEMINAR Rosetta Room, Atrium mezzanine All affiliate presidents and treasurers are asked to attend this session. Topics include internal controls, state charitable registrations, end-of-year preparations, and discussing individual state issues with facilitators Charlie Brown, Ron Gardner, Bridgid Burke, and Nick Lambright 7:00 - 8:30 pm?MEET THE BLIND MONTH ACTIVITIES AND OTHER SPECIAL EVENTS SEMINAR: PLANS AND ACTION EQUAL SUCCESS Manchester Room, Tower mezzanine October is ?Meet the Blind Month.? Come and brainstorm with us as we look for fresh ideas for Meet the Blind Month! Learn new fundraising ideas, and get your chapter ready to change public perceptions of blindness. Karen Zakhnini, NFB Jernigan Institute 7:00 - 8:30 pm?PUBLIC EMPLOYEES DIVISION Edelweiss Room, Atrium mezzanine Ivan Weich, President 7:00 - 10:00 pm?NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BLIND VETERANS Steuben Room, Atrium mezzanine Discussing plans to increase our division membership in the coming year and holding elections. Dwight Sayer, President 7:30 - 9:30 pm?MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE: FINDING, ATTRACTING, AND KEEPING NEW MEMBERS IN OUR CHAPTERS AND AFFILIATES Fleur-de-Lis A Room, Atrium mezzanine Success only comes before work in the dictionary. Let?s discuss creative ideas to increase our membership. Ron Gardner, Chairperson 7:30 - 9:30 pm?LIBRARY SERVICES COMMITTEE Milan Room, Tower mezzanine David Hyde, Chairperson 7:30 - 9:30 pm?BLIND PARENTS GROUP Travertine Room, Atrium mezzanine Deborah Kent Stein, Chairperson SUNDAY, JULY 4, Continued 8:00 - 9:00 pm?JUDAISM MEETING Lalique Room, Atrium mezzanine David Stayer, Chairperson, NFB in Judaism Group 8:00 - 9:30 pm?WEBMASTERS MEETING Fleur-de-Lis B Room, Atrium mezzanine A meeting for all NFB affiliate and division Webmasters to discuss the importance of an informative, accessible, and visually attractive Website. Gary Wunder, Chairperson, Webmasters Group 9:00 - 10:00 pm?SPANISH TRANSLATION COMMITTEE Dardenelles Room, Atrium mezzanine Norman Gardner, Chairperson MONDAY, JULY 5, 2010 8:30 am - 5:00 pm?INDEPENDENCE MARKET AND SHOWCASE OF INNOVATION?Grand Ballroom, Atrium lobby 8:30 am 5:00 pm?EXHIBITS?Khmer Pavilion, Atrium, third level 8:30 am - 5:00 pm?REGISTRATION ($20); BANQUET AND BARBEQUE TICKET SALES ($45 EACH); Chantilly Foyer Area, Tower lobby 9:00 11:30 am?NFB BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING (Open to all) Chantilly Ballroom, Tower lobby 12:00 noon - 1:15 pm?THE DIVISION FOR ME?NFB YOUTH TRACK Lalique Room, Atrium mezzanine Meet-and-greet with division representatives to discover the NFB?s dynamic and diverse divisions. Chat with knowledgeable reps about what?s happening now in their divisions and what?s in the works for the future. Our divisions are progressive?join up and join in the fun. 12:00 noon - 2:00 pm?FIRST-TIME NFB CONVENTION ATTENDEES Affiliate Action Suite 2372 Is this your first National Federation of the Blind convention? If so, please bring your own lunch and participate in a fun gathering; meet some friendly people and have your convention questions answered by experienced Federationists. 12:30 - 5:00 pm?DIABETES ACTION NETWORK (DAN) SEMINAR Edelweiss Room, Atrium mezzanine 12:30 pm?Registration; 1:00 pm?Meeting begins Learn about research updates on the use of insulin pens by Dr. Ann Williams, strategies to get medical insurance providers to cover diabetes management equipment accessible to the blind, and more. Mike Freeman, President 12:30 - 5:00 pm?NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BLIND LAWYERS (NABL) L?Entrecote Room, Atrium lobby 12:30 pm - Registration; 1:00 pm - Meeting begins Examine laws affecting blind people and others with disabilities; address ongoing struggles to gain equal access to Web sites, employment, legal texts and exams. Scott LaBarre, President MONDAY, JULY 5, Continued 12:30 - 5:00 pm?NFB IN COMPUTER SCIENCE Rosetta Room, Atrium mezzanine 12:30 pm?Registration; 1:00 pm?Meeting begins Some of the topics include: the Macintosh as a productivity tool for the blind; Solona, a CAPTCHA-solving service; Association of Information Technology Professionals presentation; accessibility to Microsoft?s products by its director of accessibility, Rob Sinclair; elections; and much more. Curtis Chong, President 12:30 - 5:00 pm?NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF THE BLIND IN COMMUNITIES OF FAITH Dardenelles Room, Atrium mezzanine 12:30 pm?Registration; 1:00 pm?Meeting begins The theme is ?Meeting Challenges: Gaining Opportunities.? Speakers tell how their faith has helped them face and overcome challenges; also hear representatives from various faith-based libraries and publishing houses describe what their organizations do. Tom Anderson, President 12:30 - 5:00 pm?SPORTS AND RECREATION DIVISION ANNUAL MEETING Coronado Ballroom, West Wing 12:30 pm?Registration; 1:00 pm?Meeting begins Wear your sweats and come ready for hands-on presentations, audible darts, and more! Lisamaria Martinez, President 1:00 3:00 pm?PUBLIC RELATIONS COMMITTEE MEETING & SEMINAR Steuben Room, Atrium mezzanine Don't wait for the media to discover you?come and share ideas and strategies on how to harness the power of the media! Topics: crafting press releases, pitching stories, and giving informative interviews. Chris Danielsen, Chairperson 1:00 - 4:00 pm?PERFORMING ARTS DIVISION Travertine Room, Atrium mezzanine General meeting with elections, an introduction to our new state divisions, and speakers. Dennis H.R. Sumlin, President 1:00 - 4:15 pm?NOPBC DIVISION ANNUAL MEETING: ISSUES AND ADVANCES IN EDUCATION Sapphire Room, Tower lobby Carol Castellano, President MONDAY, JULY 5, Continued 1:00 - 4:30 pm?NOPBC ACTIVITIES FOR MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLERS 1:00 - 2:30 pm?Diggin? Into Science (ages 11-14) Miro Room, Tower mezzanine Hands-on science fun with instant snow, magnets, volcanoes, etc. Instructors: Dr. Lillian A. Rankel and Marilyn Winograd, with assistance from chemists Cary Supalo and Dr. Andrew Greenberg 3:00 - 4:30 pm?Peer-to-Peer Technology (ages 11-18) Milan Room, Tower mezzanine Calling all geeks to expound on technology you love and love to hate. Moderators: Jeremiah Beasley and John Fritz 3:00 - 4:30 pm?The Future Is Here in Science (ages 14-18) Miro Room, Tower mezzanine Hands-on chemistry activities; understanding chemical phenomena. Instructors: Dr. Lillian A. Rankel, Marilyn Winograd, Cary Supalo, and Dr. Andrew Greenberg 1:00 - 4:30 pm?NATIONAL ORGANIZATION OF BLIND EDUCATORS Fleur-de-Lis A Room, Atrium mezzanine 1:00 pm?Registration; 1:30 pm?Meeting begins Blind teachers discuss techniques they use in their classrooms; participants also meet in groups specific to grade level and content areas of interest to create a network of mentors. If you teach or are considering a career in teaching at any level, please join us. Sheila Koenig, President 1:00 5:00 pm?NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BLIND MERCHANTS REVOLUTIONIZING RANDOLPH-SHEPPARD: CREATING NEW, ROBUST, AND DIVERSE SMALL BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE BLIND De La Salle Room, West Wing 1:00 pm?Registration; 1:30 pm?Meeting begins The title says it all. Let?s continue to protect and defend the Randolph-Sheppard Program. The need to expand business opportunities and to develop new business initiatives for the blind of America is pressing. At Your Service, Kevan Worley, President MONDAY, JULY 5, Continued 1:00 - 5:00 pm?NATIONAL CERTIFICATION IN LITERARY BRAILLE (NCLB) OFFICIAL EXAMINATION?SECTIONS THREE AND FOUR Governors Lecture Hall, Tower lobby Participants must have preregistered. Sponsored by the National Blindness Professional Certification Board 1:00 - 5:00 pm?NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BLIND REHABILITATION PROFESSIONALS Madrid Room, Tower mezzanine 1:00 pm?Registration; 2:00 pm?Meeting begins Network, share mutual interests, find placement strategies, and examine and discuss concerns and current issues. Melody Lindsey, President 1:00 - 5:00 pm??SENIORS IN CHARGE??NFB SENIORS DIVISION MEETING AND (SOMEWHAT) SILENT AUCTION Obelisk A Room, Atrium mezzanine Join us to hear enthusiastic seniors share ideas about what they are doing; find out ways to spread our message of hope to seniors who have recently become blind. And then, of course, we are also having our very popular not-so-silent auction. Judy Sanders, President 1:00 - 6:00 pm?HUMAN SERVICES DIVISION Inverness Room, Atrium mezzanine 1:00?Registration; 2:00?Meeting begins; 5:00?Mingle and network Psychologists; social workers; counselors; and music, art, or dance therapists meet to discuss topics and network. David Stayer, President 1:30 3:00 pm?CULTURAL EXCHANGE AND INTERNATIONAL PROGRAM COMMITTEE Lalique Room, Atrium mezzanine Diane McGeorge, Chairperson 1:30 - 4:30 pm?WRITERS DIVISION BUSINESS MEETING Peridot Room, Atrium mezzanine Update members on division business, announce the 2010 winners of the youth and adult writing contests, visit with a published author and member of the NFB, and plan for the future. Robert Leslie Newman, President MONDAY, JULY 5, Continued 3:00 - 5:00 pm?NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BLIND PIANO TECHNICIANS Wedgwood Room, Tower lobby Piano tuning has long been considered one of the stereotypical career choices for the blind. Is this true? What can we do about it? Don Mitchell, President 5:00 - 6:30 pm?NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BLIND LAWYERS (NABL) RECEPTION L?Entrecote Room, Atrium lobby For NABL members and seminar participants only to promote networking and fellowship within our membership. Hors d'oeuvres and cash bar available. Scott LaBarre, President 5:00 - 7:00 pm?BRAILLE BOOK FLEA MARKET De Soto A & B Rooms, West Wing A book lover?s dream! Browse tables of new and used Braille and print/Braille books. UPS volunteers will ship the books to your home free of charge. Donations requested to support the Braille Readers are Leaders program. Cosponsored by NOPBC and NAPUB. Coordinator: Peggy Chong 5:30 - 7:00 pm?KURZWEIL 1000 USERS? CONTINGENT Steuben Room, Atrium mezzanine Join the Kurzweil 1000 Users? Contingent! Meet with Steve Baum, Vice President of Engineering, and share some Kurzweil 1000 experiences. Kurzweil 1000 is our state-of-the-art, text-to-speech and life navigation software for blind and visually impaired readers. 6:00 - 9:00 pm?INDOOR ROWING; SPORTS & REC DIVISION Coronado Ballroom, West Wing Lisamaria Martinez, President 6:00 - 10:00 pm?BACK TO BASICS: FOUNDATIONS IN MEMBERSHIP AND CHAPTER DEVELOPMENT Sapphire Room, Tower lobby Topics: running a purposeful chapter meeting, building membership, community projects and chapter fundraising, working with youth, and weaving Federation philosophy into local meetings. Presented by the NFB Affiliate Action Team MONDAY, JULY 5, Continued 6:00 - 10:00 pm?NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF GUIDE DOG USERS (NAGDU) SILVER ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION AND SEMINAR Emerald Room, Tower lobby 6:00 pm?Registration; 7:00 pm?Seminar begins Join us in celebrating twenty-five years of education and advocacy on behalf of guide dog users, recognize our founders and past leaders, initiate future projects, and ?test drive? a guide dog! Marion Gwizdala, President 6:30 - 9:30 pm?SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING DIVISION Wyeth Room, Atrium mezzanine 6:30 pm?Registration; 7:00 pm?Meeting begins John Miller, President 6:30 - 10:00 pm?ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY TRAINERS DIVISION Manchester Room, Tower mezzanine 6:30 pm?Registration; 7:00 pm?Meeting begins Topics: determining the right note taker for your student; plunging without fear into Windows 7 with Cathyanne Murtha of Access Technology Institute; Jsay Pro; and teaching the Mac. Michael Barber, President 7:00 - 8:30 pm??BROKEN-HEARTED RIVER TO FREEDOM? a play by Jerry Whittle (Admission: $5.00; Second Performance is at 9:00 pm) Stemmons Auditorium, Atrium lobby A man loses his sight during the Civil War, returns home, and learns to deal with his blindness and family. The play is performed by the Louisiana Center for the Blind Players; proceeds go to the Louisiana Center for the Blind?s summer training program for blind children. 7:00 - 9:00 pm?CLASSICS, ANTIQUES, AND RODS (CARS) DIVISION SEMINAR AND BUSINESS MEETING Obelisk B Room, Atrium mezzanine Come and hear speakers from automobile clubs talk about their activities and participate in the division business meeting. Joseph B. Naulty, President 7:00 - 9:00 pm?COMMITTEE TO EMPOWER UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS Obelisk A Room, Atrium mezzanine Ron Brown, Chairperson MONDAY, JULY 5, Continued 7:00 - 9:00 pm?NATIONAL ASSOCIATION TO PROMOTE THE USE OF BRAILLE (NAPUB) SEMINAR Fleur-de-Lis A Room, Atrium mezzanine Hear about the remaining commemorative Louis Braille silver dollars and how to get one, NFB Share Braille Website, and more. Nadine Jacobson, President 7:00 - 10:00 pm?INDEPENDENCE SCIENCE FOCUS GROUP TWO Fleur-de-Lis B Room, Atrium mezzanine (Preregistration by May 15 was required to attend.) Independence Science LLC, in collaboration with Purdue University researchers, is collecting feedback on a new portable handheld data collection device for blind students to use in high school science laboratories. 7:30 - 8:30 pm?ME AND THE GOSSIP GIRLS?NFB YOUTH TRACK Dardenelles Room, Atrium mezzanine?Ages 11-14 Inverness Room, Atrium mezzanine?Ages 14-18 Girls?bring your questions and thoughts about makeup, dating, or how to get more involved in your school. Discussions will be led by blind mentors. Parents, please respect this is for teens only! 7:30 - 8:30 pm? ME AND THE GUYS?NFB YOUTH TRACK Edelweiss Room, Atrium mezzanine?Ages 11-14 Peridot Room, Atrium mezzanine?Ages 14-18 Guys?talk about cars, dating, school, or how to nail that perfect job to make a little extra money. Discussions will be led by blind mentors. Parents, please respect this is for teens only! 7:30 - 8:45 pm?WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? NFB JERNIGAN INSTITUTE DISCUSSIONS?SESSION THREE Steuben Room, Atrium mezzanine Session Three covers education programs. Moderated by Mark A. Riccobono, Executive Director, NFB Jernigan Institute 7:30 - 10:00 pm?COMMITTEE FOR THE PROMOTION, EVALUATION, AND ADVANCEMENT OF TECHNOLOGY Travertine Room, Atrium mezzanine Hear exhibitors explain briefly what they are exhibiting and where they are located in the exhibit hall. We will also evaluate the effectiveness of what our Committee is doing now and consider programs for the coming year. Gary Wunder, Chairperson MONDAY, JULY 5, Continued 8:00 - 9:00 pm?FRIENDS OF RECOVERY MEETING Library Room, Tower mezzanine All convention delegates involved in or interested in twelve-step recovery programs are invited to attend. A second Friends of Recovery meeting will be on Wednesday at 8:00 pm. Coordinator: Gary Ray 9:00 - 10:30 pm??BROKEN-HEARTED RIVER TO FREEDOM? a play by Jerry Whittle (Admission: $5.00) Stemmons Auditorium, Atrium lobby A man loses his sight during the Civil War, returns home, and learns to deal with his blindness and family. The play is performed by the Louisiana Center for the Blind Players; proceeds go to the Louisiana Center for the Blind?s summer training program for blind children. TUESDAY, JULY 6, 2010 8:00 - 8:45 am?DEVOTIONS Sapphire Room, Tower lobby 8:15 8:45 am?REGISTRATION ($20); BANQUET AND BARBEQUE TICKET SALES ($45 EACH)?Chantilly Foyer Area, Tower lobby OPENING GENERAL SESSION 9:00 am INVOCATION 9:35 am WELCOMING CEREMONIES 9:55 am CELEBRATION OF FREEDOM: VETERANS RECOGNIZED Dwight Sayer, President, National Association of Blind Veterans, National Federation of the Blind; Winter Gardens, Florida 10:05 am A DEFENSE DEPARTMENT PRIORITY FOR BLIND WOUNDED WARRIORS Colonel Donald Gagliano, M.D., Executive Director, Department of Defense/Department of Veterans Affairs Vision Center of Excellence; Washington, D.C. 10:20 am ROLL CALL OF STATES AND APPOINTMENT OF NOMINATING COMMITTEE 11:45 am REPORTS AND RESOLUTIONS 12:00 pm ADJOURN 12:00 noon 12:30 pm and 1:30 - 2:00 pm?REGISTRATION ($20); FINAL BANQUET TICKET SALES ($45)?Chantilly Foyer Area, Tower lobby 12:00 noon - 1:45 pm?INDEPENDENCE MARKET AND SHOWROOM OF INNOVATION?Grand Ballroom, Atrium lobby TUESDAY, JULY 6, Continued 12:00 noon 1:45 pm?EXHIBITS?Khmer Pavilion, Atrium, third level 12:15 - 1:45 pm?LOUISIANA CENTER FOR THE BLIND ALUMNI LUNCHEON; Pam Allen, Director Peacock Terrace, West Wing GENERAL SESSION 2:00 pm CALL TO ORDER 2:05 pm PRESIDENTIAL REPORT, Marc Maurer 3:00 pm THE FEDERATION IN THE WORLD FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE BLIND CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER AND SENATOR IN THAILAND Monthian Buntan, Senator; Bangkok, Thailand 3:20 pm THE BLIND DRIVER OPERATING A VEHICLE AT SPEED: CREATING THE TECHNOLOGY THAT PUTS THE CONTROLS UNDER OUR HANDS Parnell Diggs, Esq., Coordinator, Race for Independence; President, National Federation of the Blind of South Carolina; Garden City, South Carolina 3:35 pm SWEP AND THE BARS OF OUR PRISON Scott LaBarre, Esq., LaBarre Law Offices; President, National Federation of the Blind of Colorado; Denver, Colorado 3:50 pm THE XAVIER SOCIETY FOR THE BLIND: SERVING THE BLIND SINCE 1900 Father John R. Sheehan, S.J., Chairman, Board of Directors, Xavier Society for the Blind; New York, New York 4:05 pm ONE MILLION BOOKS FOR THE PRINT DISABLED AND MORE TO COME Brewster Kahle, Digital Librarian; San Francisco, California TUESDAY, JULY 6, Continued 4:20 pm NOT JUST SURVIVING THE DISASTER OF SEPTEMBER 11 BUT PROVIDING LEADERSHIP IN A DEADLY EMERGENCY Michael Hingson, President, Michael Hingson Group; Novato, California 4:35 pm REPORTS AND RESOLUTIONS 5:00 pm ADJOURN 5:30 - 6:30 pm?NOMINATING COMMITTEE De La Salle Room, West Wing 5:30 - 6:30 pm?NFB-LINK, OUR ONLINE MENTORING PROGRAM Affiliate Action Suite 2372 Come help us honor the over 250 mentors that are a part of NFB-LINK and learn how you can become a mentor, too. NFB-LINK is our online mentoring program, and by becoming a mentor, you will see how a little time on the computer can make a huge difference. Current and future mentors, please attend! 6:00 pm?NFB OF TEXAS BARBEQUE AND LIVE MUSIC Anatole Park Enjoy eating a delicious Texas-style barbeque with all of the trimmings while listening to the music of singer/songwriter/guitarist Brian Burns, with friends Tommy Alverson and Davin James. 6:00 - 8:00 pm?AMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR THE BLIND INTRODUCES AccessWorld EVERY MONTH AND NEW ONLINE COMMUNITY RESOURCES Peacock Terrace, West Wing You are invited to our informational reception. Announcing AFB AccessWorld, every month?more authors, more information, more often. CareerConnect, FamilyConnect, and SeniorSite offer newly-expanded opportunities. Network with families, seniors, and successful mentors. We look forward to meeting you. TUESDAY, JULY 6, Continued 6:00 - 9:00 pm?DEAFBLIND DIVISION BUSINESS MEETING & ELECTIONS Obelisk B Room, Atrium mezzanine 6:00 pm?Registration; 7:00 pm?Meeting begins Burnell Brown, President 6:30 - 8:00 pm?MUSIC TECH WORKSHOP Fleur-de-Lis A Room, Atrium mezzanine Conducted by Cameron Strife; presented by the NFB Performing Arts Division 6:30 - 9:00 pm?COLORADO CENTER FOR THE BLIND OPEN HOUSE Topaz Room, Tower lobby Discover how good training can change your life. Julie Deden, Director 7:00 - 8:00 pm?ASTRONOMY AT YOUR FINGERTIPS (Ages 6-14) Morocco Room, Tower mezzanine Fun-filled astronomy-related activities in an out-of-this-world workshop! Instructor: Noreen Grice 7:00 - 8:30 pm?BOOKSHARE AT NFB MEMBER PARTY Lalique Room, Atrium mezzanine Enjoy snacks and refreshments while meeting the Bookshare staff. This is your opportunity to talk with us and share your ideas; we?re here to listen. Plan to have fun with contests, drawings, and interacting with your fellow members. We look forward to seeing you. 7:00 - 8:30 pm?NOPBC CONCURRENT SESSIONS FOR PARENTS IEP Workshop for Beginners Madrid Room, Tower mezzanine Focusing on evaluations, goals, strategies, and the law. Instructor: Carlton Walker Getting to Yes Manchester Room, Tower mezzanine Getting the team to work together so that it benefits your child. Instructor: Dan Frye Tactile Maps and the Development of Spatial Awareness Milan Room, Tower mezzanine Exploring ways to promote the development of spatial awareness. Instructor: Debbie Kent Stein TUESDAY, JULY 6, Continued 7:00 - 9:00 pm?NFB KRAFTERS DIVISION BUSINESS MEETING Fleur-de-lis B Room, Atrium mezzanine Unveiling new craft initiatives, including discussion on classes available via telephone conference and information on our Monday night nationwide chats. We are seeking teachers and students for crafting classes. Joyce Kane, President 7:00 - 9:00 pm?LEGISLATIVE STRATEGIES SEMINAR: MOVING LEGISLATION ON THE STATE AND NATIONAL LEVEL Obelisk A Room, Atrium mezzanine Each affiliate should send one representative. Learn the best methods of increasing support for our legislative priorities. Changing lives through laws is our business. Led by Jesse Hartle, Lauren McLarney, and Ronza Othman 7:00 - 10:00 pm?A SPECIAL EVENING FOR SPONSOR-LEVEL EXHIBITORS Khmer Pavilion, Atrium, Third Level The exhibit hall reopens for an evening dedicated solely to sponsor-level exhibitors. Come and bring a guest to say ?thank you? to our sponsors and to enjoy their interesting offers and demonstrations. Our convention sponsors are: Title: Deque Systems, Inc.; Platinum: HumanWare and UPS; Gold: Freedom Scientific and Oracle; Silver: Adobe; Bronze: National Industries for the Blind (NIB); and Exhibit Hall: En-Vision America, GW Micro, Inc., Independence Science, LLC, Independent Living Aids (ILA), Intel Corporation, Olympus, Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic (RFB&D), Sendero Group, and Vanda Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 7:00 - 10:00 pm?THE BEST THROWBACK PARTY AND DANCE EVER! NFB YOUTH TRACK (Ages 14-18) Metropolitan Ballroom, Tower mezzanine Choose your favorite decade and come dressed in your best digs. Compete in hula hoop contests, learn the ?YMCA,? or show us your best moon walk while dressed as the late Michael Jackson in the 80?s. Prizes will be given to the best-dressed or most creative throwback participants. 8:00 - 9:00 pm?BEP: U.S. CURRENCY IDENTIFICATION FOCUS GROUP Steuben Room, Atrium mezzanine Representatives of the U.S. Dept. of the Treasury?s Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) and the Office of Product Development provide an update on BEP?s progress to provide blind individuals with access to U.S. currency and discuss concepts it is currently testing. (Session Two: Wednesday at 7:00 pm.) TUESDAY, JULY 6, Continued 8:00 - 9:00 pm?PERFORMING ARTS DIVISION SEMINAR Fleur-de-Lis A Room, Atrium mezzanine A seminar on division development; discuss the future of the Performing Arts Division and ways to make it even better. Conducted by division board member, Jordy Stringer. Dennis H.R. Sumlin, President 8:30 - 9:30 pm?HOW TO HOLD A VOTER REGISTRATION DRIVE IN SIX EASY STEPS Edelweiss Room, Atrium mezzanine Learn how to plan and host a voter registration drive that will attract new members to your chapter and serve your local community. Coordinator: Lou Ann Blake, NFB Jernigan Institute 8:30 - 10:00 pm?NOPBC CONCURRENT SESSIONS FOR PARENTS IEP Workshop for Veteran Parents Madrid Room, Tower mezzanine Instructor: Carlton Walker Testing and Accommodations Manchester Room, Tower mezzanine Instructors: Barbara Mathews and a representative of the College Board Adapting and Creating Useable Materials for Students Milan Room, Tower mezzanine Instructor: Pat Renfranz WEDNESDAY, JULY 7, 2010 8:00 - 8:45 am?DEVOTIONS Sapphire Room, Tower lobby 8:15 8:45 am?REGISTRATION ($20)?Chantilly Foyer Area, Tower lobby GENERAL SESSION 9:00 am INVOCATION 9:05 am ELECTIONS 9:50 am THE APEX AND OTHER DEVELOPMENTS AT HUMANWARE Gilles Pepin, Chief Executive Officer, HumanWare; Drummondville, Canada 10:10 am THE FAILURE OF THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM IN MEETING THE NEEDS OF THE BLIND MARK RICCOBONO, Moderator; Executive Director, National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute; Baltimore, Maryland SHEILA AMATO, Ed.D., University Teacher Trainer; Massapequa Park, New York NOREEN GRICE, Founder and President of You Can Do Astronomy, LLC; New Britain, Connecticut LAURA WEBBER, Secretary, National Organization of Parents of Blind Children; Houston, Texas ERIC VASILIAUSKAS, M.D., parent and advocate; Los Angeles, California 11:10 am ASSURING INTERNET ACCESSIBILITY Preety Kumar, Chief Executive Officer, Deque Systems, Inc.; Reston, Virginia WEDNESDAY, JULY 7, Continued 11:30 am REPORTS AND RESOLUTIONS 12:00 pm ADJOURN 12:00 noon 12:30 pm and 1:30 - 2:00 pm?REGISTRATION ($20) Chantilly Foyer Area, Tower lobby 12:00 noon - 1:45 pm?INDEPENDENCE MARKET AND SHOWROOM OF INNOVATION (Final time period to be open)?Grand Ballroom, Atrium lobby 12:00 noon 1:45 pm?EXHIBITS?Khmer Pavilion, Atrium, third level GENERAL SESSION 2:00 pm CALL TO ORDER 2:05 pm FINANCIAL REPORT 3:05 pm STRATEGIC INITIATIVES REPORT John Par?, Executive Director for Strategic Initiatives, National Federation of the Blind; Baltimore, Maryland Jesse Hartle, Governmental Affairs Specialist, National Federation of the Blind; Baltimore, Maryland Lauren McLarney, Governmental Affairs Specialist, National Federation of the Blind; Baltimore, Maryland 3:35 pm REPORTS, RESOLUTIONS, AND OTHER BUSINESS 5:00 pm ADJOURN WEDNESDAY, JULY 7, Continued 7:00 - 8:00 pm?BEP: U.S. CURRENCY IDENTIFICATION FOCUS GROUP Steuben Room, Atrium mezzanine Representatives of the U.S. Dept. of the Treasury?s Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) and the Office of Product Development provide an update on BEP?s progress to provide blind individuals with access to U.S. currency and discuss concepts it is currently testing. 7:00 - 8:15 pm?EXPERIENCE THE BLIO READER: MAKING THE WORLD?S BOOKS ENJOYABLE, USABLE, AND ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYONE! Peridot Room, Atrium mezzanine Presented by James Gashel 7:00 - 8:30 pm?NFB IMAGINATION FUND GRANT-WRITING SEMINAR Fleur-de-Lis B Room, Atrium mezzanine Each affiliate should send at least one representative to this seminar. Learn to plan, write, and submit a strong grant application; discover key points and strategies about how to identify appropriate funders and submit a winning proposal. Mark A. Riccobono, Executive Director, NFB Jernigan Institute 7:00 - 9:00 pm?WHAT?S NEW WITH NFB-NEWSLINE? Lalique Room, Atrium mezzanine Learn about the NFB?s free audible newspaper service for the blind and visually impaired. Topics cover Podable News, the new voices, the new on-demand article request feature, and more. Sign up for NFB-NEWSLINE? at its exhibit hall table. 7:00 9:00 pm??SOCIAL SECURITY AND SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME: WHAT APPLICANTS, ADVOCATES, AND RECIPIENTS SHOULD KNOW? SEMINAR Sapphire Room, Tower lobby Topics: Social Security and SSI benefits, including eligibility criteria, the application process, reporting obligations, and appeals process. Also get information on the Medicare prescription drug benefit income subsidy program. Presenter: Ronza Othman WEDNESDAY, JULY 7, Continued 7:00 10:00 pm?EXHIBITS?Khmer Pavilion, Atrium third level 7:00 - 11:00 pm?TENTH ANNUAL SHOWCASE OF TALENT?Fee: $5.00 Stemmons Auditorium, Atrium lobby Register early by contacting Performing Arts Division leaders at the convention by Tuesday. Proceeds benefit the division?s scholarship program and other programs. Sponsored by the Performing Arts Division; Dennis H.R. Sumlin, President 7:00 - 11:00 pm?NON 24-HOUR SLEEP WAKE DISORDER SEMINAR Obelisk A Room, Atrium mezzanine Circadian rhythm sleep disorders in totally blind people. Total loss of light perception prevents synchronization of circadian body clock rhythms to the 24-hour day, leading to cyclic insomnia and daytime napping. The causes of this sleep disorder and possible treatment options will be presented and discussed. 7:30 - 9:00 pm?INTRODUCTION TO ORACLE SIEBEL CALL CENTER Obelisk B Room, Atrium mezzanine Don Mauck, Accessibility Evangelist at Oracle, will demonstrate the accessibility features built into the Oracle Siebel Call Center. Oracle CRM products are used by more than 4,000 enterprises and more than 4.6 million business users; these enterprises represent potential employment opportunities for the blind. 8:00 - 9:00 pm?FRIENDS OF RECOVERY MEETING Library Room, Tower mezzanine All convention delegates involved in or interested in twelve-step recovery programs are invited to attend. Gary Ray, Coordinator 8:00 - 10:00 pm?COMMITTEE ON AUTOMOBILE AND PEDESTRIAN SAFETY (CAPS); Deborah Kent Stein, Chairperson Fleur-de-Lis A Room, Atrium mezzanine 8:00 - 10:00 pm?COMMITTEE ON RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT Rosetta Room, Atrium mezzanine For the most part, technological developments tend to exclude blind people. Developers must change the ways future technologies are designed. Join us?perhaps you can suggest a technology or approach that nobody else has considered. Curtis Chong, Chairperson WEDNESDAY, JULY 7, Continued 8:00 - 11:30 pm?MONTE CARLO NIGHT Metropolitan Ballroom, Tower mezzanine Try your luck at any of the usual card games found on a casino floor. Sponsored by the National Association of Blind Students 8:30 - 9:45 pm?EXPERIENCE THE BLIO READER: MAKING THE WORLD?S BOOKS ENJOYABLE, USABLE, AND ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYONE! Peridot Room, Atrium mezzanine Presented by James Gashel THURSDAY, JULY 8, 2010 8:00 - 8:45 am?DEVOTIONS Sapphire Room, Tower lobby 8:15 8:45 am?REGISTRATION ($20)?Final opportunity to register. Chantilly Foyer Area, Tower lobby GENERAL SESSION 9:00 am INVOCATION 9:05 am BUYING AND SELLING ONLINE: EBAY BUILDS ACCESSIBILITY FOR THE BLIND INTO ITS PLATFORM Dane Glasgow, Vice President, Buyer Experience Product Management, Ebay, Inc.; San Jose, California 9:20 am BRAILLE IS LITERACY Deane Blazie, Inventor; Hobe Sound, Florida 9:35 am EIGHTY-FOUR LANGUAGES AND GROWING Frank Kurt Cylke, Director, National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress; Washington, D.C. David Fernandez-Barrial, Foreign Language Librarian, National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress; Washington, D.C. 9:55 am QUESTIONS AND DISCUSSION 10:00 am EDUCATING BLIND CHILDREN: CHANGING THE PARADIGM Fredric K. Schroeder, Ph.D.; Research Professor; San Diego State University; Vienna, Virginia 10:20 am TOWARD FULL EMPLOYMENT FOR BLIND AMERICANS Lynnae Ruttledge, Commissioner, Rehabilitation Services Administration, United States Department of Education; Washington, D.C. THURSDAY, JULY 8, Continued 10:35 am ACCESSIBLE EDUCATION FOR ALL, INCLUDING THE BLIND: MEETING THE STANDARD Jessica Finnefrock, Senior Vice President, Product Development, Blackboard; Washington, D.C. 10:50 am ACCESSIBLE DESIGN, A MODEL FOR THE FUTURE Steve Eastman, President, Target.com; Minneapolis, Minnesota 11:05 am LOCATION-BASED SERVICES USING BUS STOP AND GEOCODED MEDIA CONTENT Mike May, Chief Executive Officer, Sendero Group; Davis, California 11:20 am BLIND CAR BUILDER? WE?RE HERE TO TELL YOU! Marcus Simmons, Chief Executive Officer, Simmons BOSS CREATIONS; Southfield, Michigan 11:35 am REPORTS AND RESOLUTIONS 12:00 pm ADJOURN 12:00 noon - 1:45 pm?HAM RADIO GROUP BUSINESS MEETING Milan Room, Tower mezzanine D. Curtis Willoughby (ka0vba), Chairperson 12:00 noon - 1:45 pm?RAFFLES AND DRAWINGS Sapphire Room, Tower lobby 12:15 - 1:45 pm?EVERYTHING YOU'VE EVER WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT THE NLS Obelisk A Room, Atrium mezzanine A question-and-answer session with Frank Kurt Cylke, Director, and staff of the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress. THURSDAY, JULY 8, Continued GENERAL SESSION 2:00 pm CALL TO ORDER 2:05 pm COPYRIGHT AND THE RIGHT TO READ Marybeth Peters, Esq., Register of Copyrights, Library of Congress, Copyright Office; Washington, D.C. 2:20 pm THE FUTURE OF BOOKS AND BEYOND Ray Kurzweil, President and Chief Executive Officer, K-NFB Reading Technology, Inc.; Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts 2:40 pm CALLING ALL DRIVERS: ADVANCING LEADERSHIP, COLLECTIVE ACTION, AND THE BOUNDARIES OF INDEPENDENCE Mark Riccobono, Executive Director, National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute; Baltimore, Maryland 3:00 pm THE INTERFACE THAT TOUCHES THE MIND: ADVANCING BEYOND AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES Dennis Hong, Ph.D., Director, Robotics and Mechanisms Laboratory, Virginia Polytechnic Institute; Blacksburg, Virginia 3:15 pm A PRACTICING BLIND PHYSICIAN Timothy Cordes M.D./Ph.D., Resident in Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics; Madison, Wisconsin 3:30 pm DR. JACOB BOLOTIN AWARD Gary Wunder, Chairperson, Dr. Jacob Bolotin Award Committee, and Secretary, National Federation of the Blind; Columbia, Missouri 4:10 pm DISABILITY POLICY FROM THE WHITE HOUSE Kareem Dale, Special Assistant to the President on Disability Policy; Washington, D.C. 4:25 pm REPORTS AND RESOLUTIONS THURSDAY, JULY 8, Continued 5:00 pm ADJOURN 7:00 pm?BANQUET Chantilly Ballroom, Tower lobby INVOCATION MASTER OF CEREMONIES: Fredric K. Schroeder INTRODUCTIONS AND PRESENTATIONS BANQUET ADDRESS: Marc Maurer SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS 11:00 pm?SCIENCE FICTION MEETING All persons interested in science fiction and fantasy are welcome to join in an open discussion. Please contact Ed Meskys for room location. Thank You... The National Federation of the Blind acknowledges with gratitude our Title, Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze, and Exhibit Hall Convention Sponsors below. Their messages follow. Title Sponsor: Deque Systems, Inc. Platinum Sponsors: HumanWare UPS Gold Sponsors: Freedom Scientific Oracle Silver Sponsor: Adobe Bronze Sponsor: National Industries for the Blind (NIB) Exhibit Hall Sponsors: En-Vision America GW Micro, Inc. Independence Science, LLC Independent Living Aids (ILA) Intel Corporation Olympus Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic (RFB&D) Sendero Group Vanda Pharmaceuticals, Inc. David Andrews: dandrews at visi.com Follow me on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/dandrews920