[Nfb-krafters-korner] thoughts from convention

[Ramona Walhof]

Jill, all of these are great ideas.  This year we had enough members of
Crafters Division to have done more, but not always.  Terry P and you did
great work to be ready.  This is also wonderful.  

During the year we need to help those who have not been to a convention
learn what there is there that can bennefit everyone.  It is exhausting just
to get to the places you want to go, but you can't do it any other way than
being there and going.  

Ann Cunningham and Debbie Stein and others who work on the art exhibit and
the make and take are not looking for competition, but it would be great to
do something similar, probably somewhat different.  When we had make and
take at the Crafters Market place, it was popular.  But we just about killed
off those who had to fill in for those who were not there. To make our
activities at convention work, we must have reliable people to lead them and
participate.   
 We don't want to overwhelm the list with other NFB information, but we need
enough to help people know what goes on in the rest of the organization.
How about one chat per month on other NFB stuff.  Say different Braille
displays available; job fair info; pioneering work in fields unusual for the
blind; schollarrship students; etc.  You get the picture.  If there are ways
to help those who were at convention, but not at Crafters meeting to get to
it, that would also help. 
We could have other events, such as demonstration of an embroidery machine
or pottery techniques. Jim James sat at our business meeting and made an
elaborate origami octoheedron (can't remember the entire name or spell it.
We could have a craft extravaganza with several short projects as an agenda
item, but somebody has to bring materials, plan it, etc.  It works for the
sports and rec division.  They have several things every day, good ones;
well attended.  

This is the first year we had plenty of people to work in the exhibit room.
We could have done more at our table if we had been sure everyone would be
there.  

So chew on ideas.  We have a year to plan!  
 Takes planning and advanced preparation and clean-up. Convention will not
conflict with Independence day.  Often there are pretty good air fairs to
Vegas. Maybe I am still wound up from convention. But I know how it works
and what it takes.      

Ramona

-----Original Message-----
From: Nfb-krafters-korner [mailto:nfb-krafters-korner-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of jill rossiter via Nfb-krafters-korner
Sent: Sunday, July 08, 2018 3:13 PM
To: Nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org
Cc: jill rossiter <jillbilly4 at comcast.net>
Subject: [Nfb-krafters-korner] thoughts from convention

Dear Krafters Division Members:

 

I wanted to take this time to reaffirm my commitment to the NFB Krafters
Division.  I am excited to begin my term as first vice president.  I hope to
be able to serve the division and membership well.  I am sure that once
Tammy returns we will be hearing from her.  I am so glad that Joyce is
remaining on the board to serve as second vice president.  I feel that her
mentorship to our newly elected board will prove to be extremely helpful.  I
would like to give my honest opinion regarding the NFB Krafters Division as
it relates to the convention as a whole.  This being my first time to
convention, I was in awe of the activities and meetings available to attend.
I think that the NFB Marketplace could potentially be a great out reach to
loads of exhibiters prior to the exhibit hall opening.  There were a number
of businesses and affiliates selling t-shirts with braille on them.  I
believe if planning begins now as to contacting and recruiting venders we
could have a room full of venders rather than a small number that
participated this year.  I believe that we missed an opportunity to fund
raise in the exhibit hall.  My experience was that convention attendees
wanted to find items to buy.  They were not very interested in the table
unless there was something to buy.  I would suggest to network more with the
parents of blind children and the artists division.  The drop in art
experience was really great and a way to get to know people and experience
several types of art.  I think that we would benefit from membership if a
drop in crafting session was scheduled.  These are just a few ideas and
observations from a newby to convention.

Jill Rossiter

 

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