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</font><font face="Book Antiqua, Bookman" size=2>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 face="Book Antiqua, Bookman" size=2> <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 face="Book Antiqua, Bookman" size=2> <br>
</font><font face="Courier New, Courier" size=2>o</font>
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</font>All rates are based on
single/double/tri/quad occupancy. The additional guest charge is
$10.00 for the fifth guest.<br>
<font face="Courier New, Courier" size=2>o</font>
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</font>Rollaways are available
for a fee of $10.00-plus-tax per night.<br>
<font face="Courier New, Courier" size=2>o</font>
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</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 face="Courier New, Courier" size=2>o</font>
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</font>In-room safes are
available for use at $1.50 per night, plus tax.<br>
<font face="Courier New, Courier" size=2>o</font>
<font face="Times New Roman, Times" size=1>
</font>Local and 800 calls are
$1.00.<br>
<font face="Courier New, Courier" size=2>o</font>
<font face="Times New Roman, Times" size=1>
</font>The present room tax
rate is 12.5%. <br>
<font face="Courier New, Courier" size=2>o</font>
<font face="Times New Roman, Times" size=1>
</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>
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</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 face="Courier New, Courier" size=2>o</font>
<font face="Times New Roman, Times" size=1>
</font>Please make your
reservations by December 29, 2010.<br>
<font face="Book Antiqua, Bookman" size=2> <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 face="Book Antiqua, Bookman" size=2 color="#0000FF"><b><u>
<br>
</font><font face="Book Antiqua, Bookman" size=2>Transportation:<br>
</u></b> <br>
<b><i>Airport:<br>
</i></b> <br>
</font><font face="Courier New, Courier" size=2>o</font>
<font face="Times New Roman, Times" size=1>
</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 face="Courier New, Courier" size=2>o</font>
<font face="Times New Roman, Times" size=1>
</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 face="Book Antiqua, Bookman" size=2> <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 face="Book Antiqua, Bookman" size=2 color="#0000FF">
<a href="mailto:blinddriverchallenge@nfb.org">
blinddriverchallenge@nfb.org</a>.<br>
</font><font face="Book Antiqua, Bookman" size=2> <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>
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</x-tab>David
Andrews: dandrews@visi.com<br>
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