[Nfbmo] 2014 Convention Announcement

[Gene Coulter]

Hi everyone,

As you all know I expressed some concern at the board meeting at State 
Convention about next year’s convention which was supposed to be in 
Columbia. My worst fears came to pass as right after convention Gary Wunder 
and I met with the Quality Inn and we mutually decided to seek a different 
location for our 2014 convention. Over the past month it seemed like a full 
time job trying to seek any location. About a week ago I even seriously 
considered getting the state board together to see what direction to go 
perhaps skipping Columbia. I had received only two bids one from Rolla and 
one from the Capitol Plaza in Jefferson City.

I had the Columbia Convention and Visitor’s Bureau working with me pleading 
to local hotels not to let our business go. I had one hotel that refused to 
bid until September which is totally not acceptable. So, I was relentless in 
my pursuit of the three remaining possibilities. This week I finally got the 
word I had been waiting for. The long and short of it is that is as follows:

Announcing the 52nd Annual Convention of the National Federation of the 
Blind of Missouri in Columbia at the Holiday Inn Select at 2200 I70 Drive 
SW. The convention will run from Thursday March 27

 Through Sunday March 30. Room rates are $84.95 for singles, doubles, 
triples and quads. No more than four people in a room. Tax is 11.975% making 
the total cost  about $97.00 a night or about $6.50 more than in 2013. I 
called to make a reservation for these dates and was quoted a cheapest price 
of $124.00 a night for these dates. Reservation deadline is March 4, 2014. 
All planned meals remain at the same price as 2013. The hotel has two 
restaurants. For breakfast, lunch and dinner there is the ESPN Sports zone 
and for dinner only is the four star high priced Churchills. There is also a 
small atrium  watering hole that also provides light breakfast items. The 
hotel has the largest fitness center of any hotel in the Midwest and an 
indoor pool. Wi-Fi is available in all public areas.

Important notes: Check out is 11:00 am and is not movable. Late checkout 
will be assessed an additional half day’s room rate. Exhibitor will need to 
make their desires known several weeks in advance as the contract states we 
will provide  a list of all exhibitors to the hotel well in advance.