[nfbmi-talk] long but important info re rs program

Thu May 13 18:18:17 UTC 2010

As this invitation states, each state receives 2 stipends, intended for use
by the agency's BEP director and the Chair of the elected committee.
Unfortunately, it was announced at the BEP training on Saturday May 3, that
Michigan intended to send the director and assistant director of the BEP
instead.  

Remember, there may be additional stipends available from RSA, as some
states and territories are unable to attend.  
James Cheney and others should contact RSA and ask to be considered for any
available stipends.  

This should be an excellent conference, providing wonderful opportunities
for networking and gaining knowledge and insight into the current position
of the BEP nationally.  

Michigan is encouraged to participate as fully as possible in this
conference.  

Christine

The agency

-----Original Message-----
From: nfbmi-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfbmi-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org]
On Behalf Of joe harcz Comcast
Sent: Thursday, May 13, 2010 1:58 PM
To: nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org
Subject: [nfbmi-talk] long but important info re rs program

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

OFFICE OF SPECIAL EDUCATION AND REHABILITATIVE SERVICES

REHABILITATION SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

WASHINGTON, DC 20202-2800

INFORMATION MEMORANDUM

RSA-IM-10-02

DATE:  March 2, 2010

ADDRESSEES:         STATE VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION AGENCIES STATE ELECTED
COMMITTEES OF BLIND VENDORS

TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND CONTINUING EDUCATION CENTERS

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BLIND MERCHANTS

RANDOLPH-SHEPPARD VENDORS OF AMERICA

BLIND ENTREPRENEURS ALLIANCE

SUBJECT:                 Announcement of the Rehabilitation Services
Administration's 2010 Randolph-Sheppard National Training and Leadership
Conference

CONTENT:                The purpose of this information memorandum is to
provide details regarding the 2010 Randolph-Sheppard National Training and
Leadership Conference sponsored by the Rehabilitation Services
Administration (RSA) and scheduled for June 9 - 12, 2010, at the Hyatt
Regency Hotel Crystal City, located at 2799 Jefferson Davis Highway in
Arlington, Virginia.  Joining RSA in the planning and implementation of the
national Randolph-Sheppard conference are representatives from the Blind
Entrepreneurs' Alliance, the National Association of Blind Merchants, the
National Council of State Agencies for the Blind, the Randolph-Sheppard
Vendors of America and the George Washington University Center for
Rehabilitation Counseling Research and Education (GWU/CRCRE), which is
serving as the conference coordinator.

It has been a decade since the last national Randolph-Sheppard training
conference, which was held in New Orleans, Louisiana, and there have been
many significant program developments as well as turnovers in state
licensing agency staff and elected committee representatives.  In addition,
the federal landscape has changed with the infusion of several new property
managing officials and the introduction of challenging and far-reaching
initiatives.  The purpose of this conference is to bring Randolph-Sheppard
stakeholders together with a goal of developing leadership skills, educating
participants on promising practices and creating an environment for the
exchange of ideas that will help shape the future of the Randolph-Sheppard
program.  

Anticipated outcomes include:

1.      Participants will gain a full understanding of the Randolph-Sheppard
Act and corresponding regulations and the complexities of effectively
administering the program at the state and federal levels.

2.      State licensing agencies and blind vendors will learn about
promising practices leading to successful outcomes that can be replicated in
their own programs and businesses.

3.      Participants will have an opportunity to view and learn about new
products, technology and equipment that can improve their sales and
operation in their Randolph-Sheppard vending facilities.

4.      Management and leadership techniques and skills will be enhanced,
resulting in benefits to state programs on multiple levels.

5.      Federal property managing officials and state licensing agency
personnel will develop a better understanding of each others' roles and
responsibilities and how best to meet their respective needs while
maintaining the integrity of the Randolph-Sheppard Act.

6.      RSA will benefit from dialogue with all stakeholders, including
blind vendors, state agencies, federal property managing officials,
suppliers and others.

7.      Work groups will generate specific recommendations and action steps
designed to guide and transform the Randolph-Sheppard program as it moves
forward in the future.

I am pleased to announce that RSA will provide stipend support
(transportation, lodging and registration) for a minimum of two participants
from each state licensing agency, including the District of Columbia and
Puerto Rico.  The stipends will support the state administrator for the
Randolph-Sheppard program and the chairperson of the Elected Committee of
Blind Vendors for the state.  The state vocational rehabilitation (VR)
agency director will be responsible for determining stipend recipients or
alternate designees.  A letter will be forthcoming from GWU to state VR
directors with instructions for submitting and registering the stipend
nominees.

All other participants will be charged a registration fee of $125 if
registration is completed by May 1, 2010, and $175 if registration is
completed after May 1, 2010.  Registration information and conference
updates are available at http://www.regonline.com/randolphsheppard, or you
may call Lindsay Hill at 202-973-1550 or e-mail her at lmhill at gwmail.gwu.edu
if you require additional information or assistance.  The hotel room rates
are $149 per night plus tax, and reservations should be made by May 18,
2010, directly with the hotel by calling 402-592-6464 or 1-888-421-1442.
Please specify that you are making room reservations for the national
Randolph-Sheppard conference. 

The 2010 National Randolph-Sheppard Training and Leadership Conference
promises to be an exceptional training experience that will appeal to a
diverse audience of stakeholders.  In addition to pre-conference workshops,
general and break-out sessions, a women's breakfast, dynamic speakers, and a
reception, there will be an industry trade show sponsored by the National
Association of Blind Merchants.  I invite you to be a part of this
outstanding opportunity to learn and contribute to the future success of the
Randolph-Sheppard program nationwide.  Please reserve the dates of June 9 -
12, 2010, on your calendar today.  Together we can change the employment
outlook for blind entrepreneurs across our nation.

If you have comments or suggestions that you would like to share with RSA or
need additional information about the 2010 Randolph-Sheppard National
Training and Leadership Conference, please contact Suzanne Mitchell on my
staff at 202-245-7454 or suzanne.mitchell at ed.gov.

Lynnae M. Ruttledge

Commissioner

Rehabilitation Services Administration

cc:     Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation

         National Council of State Agencies for the Blind

FILE  

COPY           

      OFF.

      NAME

     DATE
     OFF.
     NAME
     DATE

      EHRV
     S. MITCHELL
     /   /
     EHRV
     T. FINCH
     /   /

     /   /
     EHR
     L. RUTTLEDGE
     /   /

     /   /

     /   /

_______________________________________________
nfbmi-talk mailing list
nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbmi-talk_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
nfbmi-talk:
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbmi-talk_nfbnet.org/christine_boone%
40comcast.net