[Nfbmt] Convention update from the September 5th planning committee

[Dan Burke]

Greetings all!

It looks like the convention is coming together nicely.  I think the
room rates are great, and I just made a reservation for myself and
Jublie. Can't wait to see all of you in Billings!

Dan


Dan Burke - Sent from iPhone

On Sep 12, 2013, at 2:08 AM, James Aldrich <jkaldrich at samobile.net> wrote:

> Hello Fellow Federationist throughout Montana and beyond,
>
> This is a reminder that our Convention planning call will take place on September 12, 6 PM, MDT, or 8 PM EDT.  I normally send this to committee members only but much has happened since this last meeting. As many of you know, I am now President of this affiliate due to Travis Moses's resignation.  He will be greatly missed by all of us! He will certainly be in our thoughts and prayers! We wish him a speedy recovery! I think Dan Burke said it well in an earlier post on this list!
>
> This Saturday, September 14th at 10 AM, we will have our Treasure State At large meeting!  I understand Sheila Leigland will preside at this meeting due to other commitments with Bruce Breslauer. I always look forward to these at large phone conference meetings. You can participate in this meeting as well as the convention planning meeting by calling our conference number:
> (605) 475-4000.  The pass code is 948731 number sign or pound.
>
> Ted Robbins informed me that we need to have our hotel reservations in by October first.  This is to reserve one of the rooms which are set aside in our block of rooms at this hotel.  If you do not reserve a room by the first of October, you will stay in a room anywhere in the hotel if space is available.  You will need to phone the hotel desk and leave them a credit card number.  I understand one can cancel this three days before the event begins!  Here is the convention hotel information!
>
> Holiday Inn Grand Montana Hotel
> 5500 Midland Road
> Billings  MT 59101
> phone: (406) 248-7701
> http://www.higrandmt.com
>
> A number of you have asked that there be a convention planning update report for the general membership! This last meeting will be for everyone as well as all committee members.
>
> Then First Vice-President James Aldrich called the planning committee meeting to order soon after 6 PM. Rik and Karen James, Linda Hurlock, Bruce Breslauer and myself were present at this meeting.
>
> I reported I had heard from Beverly Berg of Blind And Low Vision Services who would be happy to speak to us at  our convention! Christy Briggs of the Montana State Library will also speak to us at this   convention!
>
> Ted Robbins is working through the Holiday Inn Credit Application.  We hope to know more during next week's convention planning meeting.
>
> Our convention theme for this year is, "We are changing what it means to be blind".  This convention theme was agreed on unanimously by the convention committee!
>
> So far, the tentative agenda is starting to come together.  Convention activities begin on Friday Evening at 7 PM with a social event where we meet and greet one another.  This could be a working activity where we may look into where we are now, how will we find  new members, what will some of our goals and objectives be for the coming year!
>
> After 9 PM, the resolutions committee will meet.
>
> Saturday morning, we will have a Board Meeting.  The starting time hasn't been determined yet!  After the Board meeting, Beverly Berg and Christy Briggs will make their presentations.  This could start midmorning or in the afternoon depending on how long the board meeting lasts. Our National Representative, Mark Rickabono will bring us up to date with our national movement.  A technology session may follow where one can discuss any new technology which was recently purchased as the newer Victor Stream, the ID Mate Quest or any other technology which was recently purchased.
>
> Saturday Evening will be our annual banquet.  This schedule hasn't been discussed at this time.
>
> Sunday morning will be set aside for unfinished business.
>
> The committee strongly feels there needs to be a registration table available for those who are late for a variety of reasons!  We certainly don't wish to turn people wishing to attend away from this event!
>
> Other matters came up during our discussion!  I was asked to describe my new ID Mate Quest I recently purchased while at the NFB Convention.
>
> Bruce Breslauer informed us that  The August September Braille Monitor is now available!  This is the convention issue! We discussed how we were reading it!
>
> A fifty fifty ticket raffle is considered to be the best idea for a raffle.
>
> Linda Hurlock is in charge of door prizes. She will write an insert to go into the registration packet.
>
> The registration fee is $50.  Room rates are $85 a night plus tax.  I understand our registration and rooms won't be much different from what is being charged at the MAB Convention. This was pointed out during another one of our meetings. All registration packets must be sent in by October 20th.
>
>  The meeting adjourned after 50 minutes.
>
> Dennis Boehler pronounced Bailer will handle the incoming registration packets.  We hope to get these out shortly! I will have more information in another post.
>
> James Aldrich President,
> National Federation Of The Blind Of Montana
> (406) 698-3729
> jkaldrich at samobile.net
>
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