[nfbmi-talk] NFB of Virginia Convention

Fri Oct 4 12:36:59 UTC 2013

55th Annual Convention

NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND OF VIRGINIA

Voice of the Nation's Blind

Fredric Schroeder, President

Presidential Suite, Room 365

October 25 - 27, 2013

Fredericksburg Hospitality House

2801 Plank Road

Fredericksburg, Virginia 22401

(540) 786-8321

Hosted by the Fredericksburg Area Chapter of the National Federation
of the Blind of Virginia, Jessica Reed, President

THE FEDERATION PLEDGE

"I pledge to participate actively in the efforts of the National
Federation of the Blind to achieve equality, opportunity, and security
for the blind; to support the policies and programs of the Federation;
and to abide by its Constitution."

Convention Registration

Convention Registration will be located in Lobby 3 of the Conference
Center. Onsite registration is $25.00. Registration will be open on
Friday, October 25 from 9:00 A.M. to 11:00 A.M., 1:00 P.M. to 2:00
P.M. and from 5:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. Registration will also be open on
Saturday, October 26 from 8:00 A.M. to 10:00 A.M., 1:00 P.M. to 2:00
P.M. and from 5:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M. Door prizes and auction items can
be brought to the registration desk beginning Friday morning.

Meal Functions

Tickets for all meal functions are available at the registration desk.
Banquet tickets may be purchased onsite for $35.00. Banquet tickets
must be purchased by 10:00 A.M. on Saturday, October 26.

The cost of Box Lunch tickets for Saturday noon is $14.50 and are only
guaranteed for those who purchased them before October 14. A limited
number may be available for purchase at the registration desk.

Banquet Exchange

We will have reserved seating at the banquet. Each banquet table will
accommodate eight people. Those wishing to sit together at the banquet
should designate one person to collect banquet tickets from those
individuals wishing to sit together. Those tickets should be brought
to the registration table and exchanged for tickets designating a
table number. Banquet tickets must be exchanged no later than 2:00
P.M. on Saturday.

Note: For more information about registration, meal functions, or the
banquet exchange, please contact Michael Kasey, Chairperson,
Convention Organization and Arrangements, at (540) 760-3885.

Door Prizes

Door prizes will be drawn periodically throughout convention sessions
on Saturday and Sunday and at the banquet. To be eligible for door
prizes, you must be registered for the convention and present in the
room when your name is called. For more information contact Laurie
Wages at (540) 287-5446.

Action Auction

Throughout the convention, we will be holding an Action Auction to
raise money for the affiliate. The auction will be great fun with many
valuable items up for bid. For more information contact Jacki Brown,
Chairperson and Auctioneer.

Contact Table

If you are looking for assistance from the NFBV (such as assistance
for a blind student, pursuing vocational rehabilitation training,
advocating for yourself at work, or are seeking advice on a legal
matter), please submit your information and request at the Contact
Table. After the convention, a member of the NFBV will contact you. In
addition, if you are interested in receiving regular updates about our
programs and legislative efforts, please also visit the Contact Table.
The table will be open during the board meeting, after the opening
ceremonies on Saturday, at the end of the banquet, and all morning
Sunday. For more information, please contact Jessica Diaz at (772)
713-5375.

NFB-BELLx: Two Weeks in Two Days

For the first time, we're bringing our popular, two-week Braille
Enrichment for Literacy and Learning programs to state convention!
Even if your blind or low vision child doesn't read Braille, our "kids
only" sessions for elementary-aged kids will prove to be more than
childcare. Through a series of fun, engaging Braille games led by
blind adults and college students, we'll show how reading Braille can
be easy and rewarding. Youth will get the chance to interact with
other blind and low vision kids in their age group to talk about using
canes, having trouble seeing in class, and reading with large print or
Braille. Parents will learn how to reinforce high expectations and
social skills with their blind children.

The BELLx sessions will be held in the Governor Room on Saturday from
9:00 A.M. to noon and from 2:00 P.M. to 5:00 P.M. and on Sunday from
9:00 A.M to noon.

For more information, contact Briley O'Connor at (703) 380-8876 or by
email brileyoc at gmail.com

Childcare

Childcare is available for children of convention attendees in the
Executive Lounge on the 3rd Floor of the hotel. Our experienced
childcare workers will care for infants through fifth graders and will
have activities and games to entertain them. For more information
contact Kelly Valko, Childcare Coordinator at (540) 408-3312 or by
email at smell2490 at aol.com.

Assistive Listening Devices

Assistive listening devices are available during all convention
sessions and at the banquet. For an assistive listening device, please
go to the Convention Registration desk located in Lobby 3 of the
Conference Center.

Friday, October 25, 2013

9:00 A.M. - 11:00 A.M. Registration: Lobby 3, Conference Center

9:00 A.M. - 11:30 A.M. NFBV Board of Directors Meeting (Open to All):

Fredericksburg Ballroom (3rd Floor above Lobby of Hotel Front Desk)

1:00 P.M. - 2:00 P.M. Registration: Lobby 3, Conference Center

1:00 P.M. - 5:00 P.M. Exhibits: Lobby 3, Conference Center

1:00 P.M. - 3:00 P.M. Trolley Tour of Historic Fredericksburg
(Advanced Reservations Required): Trolley leaves from the Conference
Center Entrance Number 5, 2nd floor, above Lobby 3

1:00 P.M. - 4:00 P.M. Work Smart and Get Promoted: Advanced Skills to
Land, Keep, and Enjoy Your Perfect Job: Madison Room

Corbb O’Connor, Seminar Facilitator, Business Growth & Communications
Consultant, O'Consulting Group

Far from any stereotypical employment seminar, this interactive
session will have you laughing with, learning from, and linking with
other blind people who are already working their dream jobs. Everybody
knows that you need a winning resume and cover letter, but you'll
learn the two, never-discussed elements of an application and
interview that are virtually guaranteed to separate you from your
competition (and, no, it's not a "thank you" note). You'll want to
send a thank-you to our facilitators, though, who will explain why you
should apply to fewer jobs and go to lunch more often. These
entrepreneurs, managers, and professionals will save you embarrassment
and frustration at work as they share lessons learned about explaining
their blindness with sighted colleagues and managers. We'll also hear
from the world's best networker, who is blind, about how to navigate a
cocktail party or reception so that you'll know who's in the room,
where your friends are seated, and how to be remembered by everyone
you meet. And we'll try to answer that age-old question: when do you
ask for a promotion and how do you do it? This seminar will help you
find the next, right step for your career.

4:00 P.M. - 5:00 P.M. Tactile Graphics for Everyone: The New Freedom
to Draw Your Own Diagrams and Sketches: Governor Room

Dr. Al Maneki, Chairman Board of Advisors, E.A.S.Y. LLC

Come to our Workshop! Try our inTACT SketchPad for yourself! Draw
anything! Erase your mistakes! Make changes to your sketches! Transmit
your sketches anywhere over the internet for collaboration and
distance learning!

4:00 P.M. - 5:00 P.M. Vocational Rehabilitation: Basic Concepts and
Discussion Of Issues: Jefferson Room

Stewart Prost, Chairperson, NFBV Vocational Rehabilitation Advocate

The seminar will begin with a brief presentation on key concepts that
govern the provision of vocational rehabilitation services, including
a discussion of the goal of the program, who is eligible, what
services are reasonable to expect, and what recourse do individuals
have if they feel they are not being treated fairly. The seminar will
be interactive with the majority of the time devoted to questions from
the audience.

5:00 P.M. - 7:00 P.M. Registration: Lobby 3, Conference Center

5:00 P.M. - 6:00 P.M. Public Meeting on Rehabilitation Services: Madison Room

Raymond Hopkins, Commissioner, Rick Mitchel, Deputy Commissioner for
Services and Susan Payne, VR Director, Virginia Department for the
Blind and Vision Impaired

6:00 P.M. - 7:00 P.M. At-Large Chapter Reception: Presidential Suite, Room 365

Rick Holly, At-Large Coordinator

6:15 P.M. - 8:15 P.M. Bring It On: A Thought Provoking Discussion for
Teens and Young Adults: Madison Room

Nikki Jeffords and Tracy Soforenko, Coordinators

7:00 P.M. - 10:00 P.M. Hospitality: Monroe Room

Hosted by the Fredericksburg Area Chapter

7:00 P.M. - 8:30 P.M. Braille Carnival: Governor Room

Nancy Yeager, Braille Carnival Coordinator

8:30 P.M. - 9:30 P.M. Resolutions Committee: Madison Room

C. J. Fish, Chairperson

9:00 P.M. - 10:00 P.M. Virginia Association to Promote the Use of
Braille: Governor Room

Sandy Halverson, President

Saturday, October 26, 2013

8:00 A.M. - 10:00 A.M. Registration: Lobby 3, Conference Center

9:00 A.M. - 12:00 P.M. BELLx: Governor Room

Briley O’Connor, Coordinator

Morning General Session: Washington-Jefferson-Madison Rooms

9:00 A.M. - 9:30 A.M. Opening Ceremonies

Call to Order: Fredric Schroeder, NFBV President

Invocation: Dr. Don C. Forrester, President, Virginia Baptist College

Presentation of the Colors: Rappahannock Assembly, Knights of Columbus

Pledge of Allegiance: Hannah Wages, Four-time BELL Program Participant

Federation Pledge: Kim Valko, Member of the board of Directors,
Fredericksburg Area Chapter

Greetings from Our Host Chapter: Jessica Reed, President,
Fredericksburg Area Chapter

Welcome to the Most Historic City in America: Heidi Stello,
Researcher, University of Mary Washington, James Monroe Papers Project

Convention Arrangements: Michael Kasey, Chairperson, Convention
Organization and Arrangements

9:30 A.M. - 9:45 A.M. A Friend in Congress

The Honorable Robert (Rob) Wittman, Member of the U.S. House of
Representatives, 1st Congressional District of Virginia - America's
First District

9:45 A.M. - 10:30 A.M. National Report

Jeannie Massay, President, NFB of Oklahoma and Member of the Board of
Directors, National Federation of the Blind

10:30 A.M. – 10:35 A.M. Action Auction

10:35 A.M. – 10:50 A.M. Virginia BELL: A Lifetime of Literacy

Sandy Halverson, BELL Program Coordinator

10:50 A.M. - 10:55 A.M. Vehicle Donation Program

Mark Roane, NFBV Treasurer

10:55 A.M. - 11:15 A.M. Vocational Rehabilitation Services for the
Blind in Virginia

Raymond Hopkins, Commissioner, Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired

11:15 A.M. - 11:20 A.M. Action Auction

11:20 A.M. – 11:40 A.M. “Can You Hear Me Now?” Understanding Hearing Loss

Valerie Luther, President, NFBV Dual Sensory Impairment Division and
Consumer Outreach Specialist, Virginia Deaf-Blind Project, Partnership
for People with Disabilities

11:40 A.M. – 12:00 P.M. Aging With Vision Loss

Arthur Schreiber, President Emeritus, NFB of New Mexico; Chairman, New
Mexico Commission for the Blind; and 2013 Winner, National Federation
of the Blind Jacobus tenBroek Award

12:00 P.M. Adjourn Morning General Session

12:15 P.M. - 1:45 P.M. Lunch Discussion for Sighted Spouses: Monroe Room

Daniel Ashman, Discussion Facilitator (Box Lunch - $14.50)

12:15 P.M. - 1:45 P.M. Lunch Discussion on Creating a Seniors
Division: Commonwealth Room (Second Floor Conference Center)

Nancy Yeager, Discussion Facilitator (Box Lunch - $14.50)

12:15 P.M. - 1:45 P.M. Virginia Association of Blind Students Luncheon
and Business Meeting: Governor Room

Briley O’Connor, President (Box Lunch - $14.50)

12:15 P.M. - 1:45 P.M. Virginia Parents of Blind Children Luncheon and
Business Meeting: Palm Room (Near Front Lobby)

Zina Lewis, President and Sandy Halverson, NFBV Parent Liaison (Box
lunch - $14.50)

1:00 P.M. - 2:00 P.M. Registration: Lobby 3, Conference Center

2:00 P.M. - 5:00 P.M. BELLx: Governor Room

Briley O’Connor, Coordinator

Afternoon General Session: Washington-Jefferson-Madison Rooms

2:00 P.M. - 2:20 P.M. Why I Am a Federationist

Jennifer Kennedy, President, Richmond Chapter

2:20 P.M. - 2:45 P.M. My First National Convention: Reflections from
Our 2013 McDonald Fellows

Corbb O’Connor, Chairperson, McDonald Fellowship Committee

2:45 P.M. - 2:50 P.M. Action Auction

2:50 P.M. - 3:15 P.M. Blind Parents Raising Children

C. J. Fish, Member, Richmond chapter and Angie Mattney, Member,
Fredericksburg Area Chapter and Associate, Hirschler Fleischer P.c.

3:15 P.M. – 3:25 P.M. Blind Ambition: How I Became A Woman's
Bodybuilding Champion

Carolena Garrison, Member, Fairfax Chapter

3:25 P.M. – 3:30 P.M. Supporting Our Affiliate through NFBV PAD

Mark Roane, NFBV Treasurer

3:30 P.M. - 3:45 P.M. Join Us on the Journey to Excellence: A
Presentation from VRCBVI

Melody Roane, Director; Amy Phelps, assistant director of Instruction;
and students, Virginia Rehabilitation Center for the Blind and Vision
Impaired

3:45 P.M. - 3:50 P.M. Action Auction

3:50 P.M. - 4:15 P.M. Small Business: Three Models for Success

Moderator: Tracy Soforenko, Second Vice President, NFB of Virginia

Panelists: Lorraine Magnussen, Randolph-Sheppard Entrepreneur; Corbb
O'Connor, Business Growth & Communications Consultant, O'Consulting
Group; and Jack Wood, Partner in wintech and President of Unbridled
Joy Foundation

4:15 P.M. - 4:30 P.M. The Colorado Center for the Blind: 25 Years of
Changing What It Means To Be Blind

Julie Deden, Executive Director, Colorado Center for the Blind

4:30 P.M. - 5:00 P.M. Presidential Report

Fredric Schroeder, President, NFB of Virginia

5:00 P.M. Adjourn Afternoon General Session

6:00 P.M. - 7:00 P.M. Pre-Banquet Reception: Presidential Foyer

(Cash Bar)

7:00 P.M. - 10:00 P.M. 2013 Convention Banquet:
Washington-Jefferson-Madison Rooms

Master of Ceremonies: Charles Brown, Immediate Past President, NFB of Virginia

Invocation: Dr. Don C. Forrester, President, Virginia Baptist College

2013 James F. Nelson Scholarship Awards Presentation: Jennifer
Kennedy, Chairperson, NFBV Scholarship Committee

Banquet Address: Jeannie Massay, President, NFB of Oklahoma and Member
of the Board of Directors, National Federation of the Blind

Action Auction: Jacki Brown Chairperson and Auctioneer

Sunday, October 27, 2013

8:00 A.M. - 8:50 A.M. Devotions: Governor Room

9:00 A.M. - 12:00 P.M. BELLx: Governor Room

Briley O’Connor, Coordinator

Morning General Session: Washington-Jefferson-Madison Rooms

9:00 A.M. - 9:05 A.M. Invocation

Tracy Soforenko, Second Vice President, NFB of Virginia

9:05 A.M. - 9:20 A.M. Reviewing Our Affiliate’s History

Nancy Yeager, Member of the Potomac Chapter, NFB of Virginia

9:20 A.M. - 9:40 A.M. Our History through Song

Sandy Halverson, Member of the Potomac chapter, NFB of Virginia

9:40 A.M. – 10:50 A.M. What’s New With Newsline®?

John Halverson, Newsline® coordinator

9:50 A.M. – 10:00 A.M. tenBroek Legacy Society

Lou Ann Blake, J.D., HAVA Project Manager and Law Symposium
Coordinator, Jernigan Institute, National Federation of the Blind

10:00 A.M. - 12:00 P.M. Business Session

Audit Committee Report: Michael Kasey, Chairperson

Treasurer's Report: Mark Roane, Treasurer

Virginia Pre-Authorized Draft (VPAD) Program: Mark Roane, Chairperson

Fund Raising Committee Report: Mary Durbin, Chairperson

SUN Committee Report: Sandy Halverson, Chairperson

Membership Committee Report: Briley O’Connor, Chairperson

2013 and 2014 Richmond Seminar Reports: Michael Kasey and Tracy
Soforenko, co-chairpersons

Plans for the 2014 National Convention

Resolutions: C. J. Fish, Chairperson

Report of the Nominating Committee: Charles Brown, Chairperson

Old and New Business

12:00 P.M. Adjourn

Thank you to our Fredericksburg Area Chapter for hosting the 2013 NFBV
State Convention. Your hard work and hospitality made this year's
convention one of the best ever.

2013 Convention Sponsors

Platinum: $1000.00

Gold: $750.00

Silver: $500.00

Bronze: $250.00

Jacobus tenBroek Legacy Society

Help build a future full of opportunity for the blind by becoming a
member of the Jacobus tenBroek Legacy Society. Your legacy gift to the
National Federation of the Blind can be made in the form of a will or
living trust, an income-generating gift, or by naming the NFB as a
beneficiary of a retirement plan or life insurance policy. You can
also become a member of the Jacobus tenBroek Legacy Society by making
a legacy gift to your state affiliate. By committing to support an NFB
affiliate, your gift will benefit both local and national programs as
all bequests made to affiliates are split evenly with the NFB national
treasury. In addition to having the satisfaction of contributing to
the future success of the NFB's mission, tenBroek legacy society
members will also receive a specially designed thank you gift and
other benefits. For additional information about the Jacobus tenBroek
Legacy Society, please contact Lou Ann Blake at the NFB Jernigan
Institute by e-mail at lblake at nfb.org, or by telephone at
410-659-9314, extension 2221.

How can I financially support the efforts of the National Federation
of the Blind of Virginia (NFBV)?

The NFBV PAD plan is based on the increasingly popular online banking
technology and here is how anyone can participate. Anyone wishing to
make regular monthly donations simply needs to go to their financial
institutions online bill pay platform and set up a recurring monthly
payment using the following information:

NFBV PAD

3230 Grove Avenue

Richmond, VA 23221

(804) 262-7057

Participants may specify donations in any amount and may specify them
to reoccur on any day of each month that they choose. With this plan,
individual participants, not the NFBV, initiate and control all
aspects of their donation. Also, with this plan, there are no
operational fees. 100% of each donation goes directly to financially
support the efforts of our organization.

After enrolling, each participant should send their phone number and
email address to mwroane at mindspring.com.