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<DIV dir=ltr class=OutlookMessageHeader align=left><FONT size=2
face=Tahoma>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B>
nfbnet-members-list-bounces@nfbnet.org
[mailto:nfbnet-members-list-bounces@nfbnet.org]<B>On Behalf Of </B>David
Andrews<BR><B>Sent:</B> Thursday, October 21, 2010 6:42 PM<BR><B>To:</B>
nfbnet-members-list@nfbnet.org<BR><B>Subject:</B> [Nfbnet-members-list] Start
Your Engines at the Rolex 24 at Daytona!<BR><BR></FONT></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE class=cite cite="" type="cite"><FONT
face="Times New Roman, Times"><BR></FONT><FONT size=2
face="Book Antiqua, Bookman">The National Federation of the Blind will soon
hold the first public demonstration of work conducted under our Blind Driver
Challenge initiative! In a few short months, we will debut our prototype
nonvisual interface that will empower a blind person to drive a car without
sighted assistance in front of tens of thousands of fans before the start of
the Rolex 24 at Daytona! We hope you'll join us at the Daytona
International Speedway on January 29, 2011, for this historic occasion for the
Federation!<BR> <BR>The Rolex weekend generates a lot of traffic in
Daytona Beach. In order to make it possible for our members to attend,
we have negotiated special hotel rates and secured discounted ticket prices
for the race. Information regarding the hotel, event tickets,
transportation, and more is
below.<BR> <BR><B><U>Lodging:<BR></U></B> <BR>Discounted lodging has
been negotiated at three adjacent hotel properties. A minimum stay of
two nights for January 28-30, 2011 is required to take advantage of the
discounted rate. Prices listed are available as long as rooms are
available under our block. <BR> <BR>1.
Plaza Ocean Club Hotel (640 North Atlantic Avenue, Daytona Beach): Rooms
are available at a cost of $103 and $149 for ocean front rooms. This
will be the central location of activity; it is between the two hotels listed
below, which are a quick walk away). Meetings throughout the weekend
will take place in the ballroom of this hotel. To make a reservation,
please call (386) 239-9800 and ask for the National Federation of the Blind
pricing.<BR> <BR>2. Plaza Resort and Spa
(</FONT>600 North Atlantic Avenue Daytona Beach): Rooms are available at
a cost of $129 and $169 for ocean front rooms. This is an upscale hotel
and there is an additional $12 resort fee for those who stay at this
hotel. To make a reservation, please call (386) 255-4471 and ask for the
National Federation of the Blind pricing.<BR><FONT size=2
face="Book Antiqua, Bookman"> <BR>3. Conch House
(</FONT>700 North Atlantic Avenue, Daytona Beach): Rooms are available
at a cost of $49 and $59 for ocean front rooms. We negotiated this
less-expensive option for those who are working on a tight budget.
Please note that there is an additional $3.00-plus-tax per-day parking fee on
this property. To make a reservation, please call (386) 255-3411 and ask
for the National Federation of the Blind pricing.<BR><FONT size=2
face="Book Antiqua, Bookman"> <BR></FONT><FONT size=2
face="Courier New, Courier">o</FONT> <FONT size=1
face="Times New Roman, Times">
</FONT>All rates are based on single/double/tri/quad occupancy. The
additional guest charge is $10.00 for the fifth guest.<BR><FONT size=2
face="Courier New, Courier">o</FONT> <FONT size=1
face="Times New Roman, Times">
</FONT>Rollaways are available for a fee of $10.00-plus-tax per
night.<BR><FONT size=2 face="Courier New, Courier">o</FONT> <FONT size=1
face="Times New Roman, Times">
</FONT>Bellman gratuities are $2.00 per person or $4.00 per room. Guests
must request this service at the time of reservation.<BR><FONT size=2
face="Courier New, Courier">o</FONT> <FONT size=1
face="Times New Roman, Times">
</FONT>In-room safes are available for use at $1.50 per night, plus
tax.<BR><FONT size=2 face="Courier New, Courier">o</FONT> <FONT size=1
face="Times New Roman, Times">
</FONT>Local and 800 calls are $1.00.<BR><FONT size=2
face="Courier New, Courier">o</FONT> <FONT size=1
face="Times New Roman, Times">
</FONT>The present room tax rate is 12.5%. <BR><FONT size=2
face="Courier New, Courier">o</FONT> <FONT size=1
face="Times New Roman, Times">
</FONT>Reservations require an advance deposit equal to the first night's room
and tax, and can be paid by check or credit card. Please note that
checks must include the individual's birth date, driver's
license/identification state, and license/identification number. Please
note that personal checks may only be submitted as payment prior to December
29, 2010, and will not be accepted at checkout. American Express,
MasterCard, Visa, Diners Club, Discover, traveler’s checks, and cash are
accepted at checkout.<BR><FONT size=2 face="Courier New, Courier">o</FONT>
<FONT size=1
face="Times New Roman, Times">
</FONT>Cancellations less than seven days prior to the arrival date, or those
who do not check in before midnight on the first day, will forfeit their first
night's room and tax, and the room will be released. <BR><FONT size=2
face="Courier New, Courier">o</FONT> <FONT size=1
face="Times New Roman, Times">
</FONT>Please make your reservations by December 29, 2010.<BR><FONT size=2
face="Book Antiqua, Bookman"> <BR><B><U>Race
Tickets:<BR></U></B> <BR>Race Rewards Package ($30 per person):
<BR>Tickets can be purchased by calling 1-800-PITSHOP (1-800-748-7467) by
January 23, 2011.<BR>Includes infield and general admission for January 29-30,
Rolex Series garage access, and $10 in Daytona Dollars (which are redeemable
at any Daytona International Speedway concession stand). This does not
include infield parking. Transportation for our members from the hotel,
to the track, and back will be provided for Saturday, January 29.
<BR> <BR>Speed Insider Package ($119 per person):<BR>Tickets can be
purchased by calling 1-800-PITSHOP (1-800-748-7467) by January 23,
2011.<BR>Includes single admission Pit Road Patio Access providing admission
into the Speed Pit Road Patios overlooking Pit Road for January 29-30, general
admission access throughout the infield grandstands, Rolex Series garage
access, Rolex 24 at Daytona hat, and lunch on Saturday. Infield parking
is available (one pass for every four tickets purchased).<BR> <BR>Please
note that a $14 processing fee will be added to your order, so attendees can
reduce costs by ordering tickets in groups. Also please be aware that,
while there is a will-call option, race day will be quite busy, and since the
price is the same to have tickets shipped, we urge attendees to have their
tickets mailed to them. Attendees can also purchase with their order a
Daytona International Speedway Cap, a Daytona International Speedway
Credential Holder, and the Café 24 Breakfast Garage tickets (note that we will
not be providing transportation to this accommodate this
option).<BR></FONT><FONT color=#0000ff size=2
face="Book Antiqua, Bookman"><B><U> <BR></FONT><FONT size=2
face="Book Antiqua, Bookman">Transportation:<BR></U></B> <BR><B><I>Airport:<BR></I></B> <BR></FONT><FONT
size=2 face="Courier New, Courier">o</FONT> <FONT size=1
face="Times New Roman, Times">
</FONT>Those traveling out of the Daytona Beach International Airport have a
number of taxi and shuttle services to choose from. For more
information, please go to <A
href="http://www.flydaytonafirst.com/default.htm"><FONT
color=#0000ff>www.flydaytonafirst.com/default.htm</A></FONT> and search for
taxis and/or shuttles.<BR><FONT size=2 face="Courier New, Courier">o</FONT>
<FONT size=1
face="Times New Roman, Times">
</FONT>We recommend those traveling out of the Orlando International Airport
use DoShuttle, which travels between the Daytona Beach and Orlando
airports. Rates are $32 one way and $59 round trip per person. The
extra fee for door-to-door service to our hotels is $10 each way per
group. Shuttles depart the airport every two hours. For more
information and reservations, please call (866) 947-9947 or visit <A
href="http://www.doshuttle.com/"><FONT
color=#0000ff>www.doshuttle.com</A></FONT>.<BR><FONT size=2
face="Book Antiqua, Bookman"> <BR><B><I>Race
Day:<BR></I></B> <BR>Pick-up for attendees wanting transportation to
Daytona International Speedway on Saturday, January 29, will be at the Plaza
Ocean Club Hotel. Buses will arrive at the track two hours prior to the
scheduled time of the demonstration (which is yet to be determined). The
buses will return to the hotel after the conclusion of the
demonstration. Some buses will leave the track two hours after the event
and others will leave the track four hours after the event.
<BR><B><U> <BR>Gatherings:<BR></U></B> <BR>On the evening before the
race, members are invited to gather in the ballroom of the Plaza Ocean Club
Hotel for an update on organizational matters. Topics of discussion will
be the logistics for the Blind Driver Challenge demonstration, the Imagination
Fund campaign, and the Text2Give program. The race environment will be
quite thrilling, but very busy, so we encourage all race attendees to come to
this session.<BR> <BR>A Member Activity Area at the Daytona Speedway will
be open on Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and
Sunday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. The second Blind Driver Challenge vehicle
will be on display in this area, as well as information on Text2Give, bumper
sticker and keychain giveaways, and other fun surprises!<BR> <BR>A press
conference will be held immediately after the track demonstration of the Blind
Driver Challenge vehicle, which we would like for all members to attend.
More information regarding this part of the event will be distributed at the
meeting on Friday evening.<BR> <BR>Finally, another gathering will take
place on Saturday evening in the ballroom of the Plaza Ocean Club Hotel to
celebrate the events of the day!<BR> <BR> <BR>Stay tuned for more
updates as we approach the Rolex 24 at Daytona! We hope to see you there
in January!<BR> <BR>For more information on logistics for the Rolex 24 at
Daytona, please contact Kristian Kuhnke at (410) 659-9314, extension 2219, or
<A href="mailto:bdc@nfb.org">bdc@nfb.org</A>.<BR>For more information about
the NFB Blind Driver Challenge visit our website at</FONT><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face="Book Antiqua, Bookman"> <A
href="mailto:blinddriverchallenge@nfb.org">blinddriverchallenge@nfb.org</A>.<BR></FONT><FONT
size=2
face="Book Antiqua, Bookman"> <BR>Sincerely,<BR> <BR>John<BR> <BR>John
G. Paré Jr. <BR>Executive Director for Strategic Initiatives<BR>NATIONAL
FEDERATION OF THE BLIND<BR>200 East Wells Street<BR>Baltimore, Maryland
21230<BR>Telephone: (410) 659-9314, ext. 2227<BR>Cell phone: (410)
917-1965<BR>Fax: (410) 685-5653<BR>Email: <A
href="blocked::mailto:jpare@nfb.org">jpare@nfb.org</A>
<BR> <BR></FONT></BLOCKQUOTE><X-SIGSEP>
<P></X-SIGSEP><X-TAB> </X-TAB><X-TAB>
</X-TAB><X-TAB>
</X-TAB>David Andrews:
dandrews@visi.com<BR>Follow me on Twitter: <A
href="http://www.twitter.com/dandrews920"
eudora="autourl">http://www.twitter.com/dandrews920<BR></A></P></BODY></HTML>