[Nfbc-info] Convention ideas for the fall

[Michael Peterson]

    Hi Mary.  I think we need something big as a people draw. A couple 
posabilities.
How about a literacy rally or literacy march similar to the National one on 
Friday morning between 9:00 a.m and 12:00 or maybe 1:00Or if not on literacy 
generally how about a rally concerning the Kindell reader after all Northern 
CA is known for high tech so it could be a good backdrop for a loud public 
statement and this could excite the general membership making them want to 
come and participate.Who knows it might even atract non NFB blind people who 
have joined the reading coalition.

 if we could get a celebrity like Stevie Wonder to attend even better.
Especially if we could incorporate a mini performance in to the program we 
atract the blind and we atract media attention.
Another posability is my 2-day seminar workshop for students or in lue of 
that how about a training workshop on technology where vendors wouldn't just 
have booths but would offer mini classes such as in Window-eyes which is 
shortly coming out with 7.1
with jaws,
access to go
and humanware products.
To try and increase attendance we could try to get reservations for the 
training courses in advance.
The technology set up in Sacramento worked really well when it had limited 
competition so why not set up the technology exhibit in the same area as the 
talent show and allow exhibitors to donate prizes or sponsor entrants.
Not sure exactly how to make this idea fly but I think with proper nuturing 
it could work.
Here's another idea get merchants in the area to provide outfits and during 
the technology exhibit sponsor a beauty peagant or a fashion show you might 
even get a company to sponsor the fashion show who sells various fashions at 
reasonable prices.  A portion of the sells revenue could be donated to the 
affiliate and the winner could get an outfit or participants could get a 
discount.  We could have the anouncers describe the various outfits and the 
fashion designer could have a booth where buyers could order and see outfits 
they would have available on the racks not on the models of course.

I saw something today on the NFB twitter about engineers designing a car 
blind people can drive can we get a speaker about this and promote it?  I 
don't know if they have a model in production yet but that would be a draw 
for the blind and the press.
How about a pannel on technology called astounding wonders the blind meet 
the future through equal access in technology.

These are just off the top of my head.
Mike Peterson

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mary Willows" <mwillows at sbcglobal.net>
To: "NFB of California List" <nfbc-info at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, May 07, 2009 10:46 PM
Subject: [Nfbc-info] Convention ideas for the fall


> Hello all!
> I am hereby appointing all who receive this message to serve on the 
> convention planning committee.  We need ideas.  Lots of them.  I want this 
> convention to be fun.  If you have any ideas please write to me.  We want 
> to bring back the hospitality suite, welcoming committee and maybe a 
> talent show.
> Bring it on!
>
> Mary Willows, President
> National Federation of the Blind of California
> mwillows at sbcglobal.net
>
>
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