[NFBNJ] NFBNJ Convention Announcements

Wed Oct 23 10:00:00 UTC 2024

Announcements Exhibit Hall

*Talmadge Ballroom*

Visit our array of vendors and outreach resources on Friday, October 25
from 8 AM to Noon. Be sure to thank them for participating in our
convention.

Become a Convention Sponsor

Companies and individuals can support the programs and projects of the NFB
of NJ by becoming a convention sponsor. There are four levels of
sponsorship. Get details by clicking the link below. You can use PayPal or
a credit/debit card online or write a check to NFB of NJ and mail to
Affiliate Treasurer at NFB of NJ, PO Box 2202 Vincentown, NJ 08088. Please
write “Convention Sponsor” in the memo section.

https://nfbnj.org/state-convention/sponsor-registration

Affiliate Membership

*Studio Ballroom *Room Change**

Would you like to become a member of a committee, group, program, or
project but are not yet a member of a chapter? Then come pay your dues and
become a member of the affiliate on Friday, October 26 from 8:00 to 8:25
AM. Annual dues are $10. You can also join by clicking on the link below
and use PayPal or a credit/debit card online or write a check to NFB of NJ
and mail to Affiliate Treasurer at NFB of NJ, PO Box 2202 Vincentown, NJ
08088. Please write “NFB of NJ dues” in the memo section.

https://www.nfbnj.org/nfbnj-affiliate-membership-form

Affiliâte Auction—New Day & Time!

*Talmadge Ballroom*

Our annual auction, which raises funds for the work we do as an affiliate,
is set for a single time block on Friday, October 25 from 7:00 to 8:30 PM,
following our Federation Family Dinner. Bring your cash, checkbook, or
credit card to bid on items of varying values. Everyone, budget-conscious
or not, is bound to find a treasure to take home! Donated auction items are
welcome and can be dropped off in the Studio Room when it is open for
registration and packet pick-up (see below).
Affiliate 50/50 Raffle

Support the affiliate by purchasing 50/50 raffle tickets, 1 for $10; 3 for
$20. Watch for opportunities to purchase during the convention or look for
Linda DeBerardinis, Chair, Raffle Committee.
 Door Prizes

Door prizes will be drawn for pre-registered conventioneers and announced
throughout the technology seminar, general sessions, and banquet. You must
be inside the room when your name is called in order to claim your prize.
Donated door prizes are welcome and can be dropped off in the Studio Room
when it is open for registration and packet pick-up (see below).

Host Chapter

We are pleased to announce this year’s host chapter is the Central Jersey
Chapter whose members have aided with our Exhibit Hall and various
convention activities. Only a host chapter is permitted to fundraise during
the convention. Please support them
 Pre-Registration Pick-Up and On-Site Registration

*Studio Room*

Wed., Oct. 23—7:30 to 8:00 PM Pre-Registration pick-up only

Thursday, Oct. 24—10:00 AM to 12:30 PM

Thursday, Oct. 24—6:30 to 7:00 PM

Fri., Oct. 25—6:00-6:30 AM Pre-Registration pick-up only

Friday, Oct. 25—8:00 AM to 2:00 PM

Sat., Oct. 26—7:30 AM to 2:00 PM
 Convention Meals

All convention meals must be pre-purchased during the pre-registration
period. No meals will be sold onsite. Pre-purchased meals include Thursday
through Sunday Breakfast Buffet, Friday and Saturday Boxed Lunches, Friday
Federation Family Meal, and Saturday Banquet. Aides, PCAs, or SSPs may join
you at meals; however, if they want to eat a meal, one must be
pre-purchased for them. Lost tickets will not be replaced. For lost and
found meal tickets, please see Annemarie Cooke, Chair, Convention Hotel
Food Services.
Pre-Purchased Breakfast Buffet

You will receive your pre-purchased breakfast buffet tickets when you pick
up your pre-registration packet. Tickets will display valid dates. Buffet
will be served in convention space by hotel staff. Check the agenda for
each day’s location. Bring the correct day’s ticket with you to exchange
for a buffet bracelet. Service will be provided only to individuals wearing
bracelets. Again, lost tickets will not be replaced. For lost and found
meal tickets, please see Annemarie Cooke.
 Pre-Purchased Boxed Lunch

*Garden Ballroom*

Your pre-purchased lunch tickets will be in your pre-registration packet.
Lunch tickets will be marked for Friday or Saturday and will indicate which
meal you ordered. Pre-purchased boxed lunches will be available beginning
at noon in the Garden Room. Bring the correct day’s ticket with you to
exchange for your meal. Lost tickets will not be replaced. For lost and
found meal tickets, please see Annemarie Cooke.
 Pre-Purchased Friday Federation Family Meal & Saturday Banquet

*Talmadge Ballroom*

Bring your pre-purchased ticket with you and enjoy these meals with our
Federation family. You must have a pre-purchased ticket or be an aide, PCA,
or SSP accompanying a person with a pre-purchased ticket to be seated.
Aides, PCAs, SSPs who would like to eat will need a pre-purchased meal
ticket.
 Pre-Purchased Saturday Banquet Ticket Exchange

*Windsor Ballroom*

For a smooth seating process, we use a “Banquet Ticket Exchange.” Bring
your pre-purchased ticket to the ticket exchange table, (see agenda for
exchange hours) where you will trade it in for a ticket with a table
number. If you would like to sit with friends, gather all tickets and
exchange them together (you must have everyone’s ticket when you go to the
exchange). Let them know at the exchange table if you are bringing an aide,
PCA, or SSP, so seating can be arranged. If you do not exchange your
ticket, you will be seated where space is available. Open seating will
begin promptly at 7:45 PM, no holding of seats permitted!
Identifying Pre-Purchased Meal Tickets

Meal tickets will have Braille on them. This request can be done during the
pre-registration or by sending an email with the subject line Braille My
Meal Tickets to

nfbnj.convention at gmail.com.

Breakfast Buffet Tickets will be 3 by 5 size and colored in the blue
family. Lunch Tickets will be 4 by 6 size and colored in the green family.
Family Federation Meal and Banquet tickets will be 5 by7 size and white.
Friday meal tickets will have no hole punch, Saturday meal tickets will
have one hole punched in the upper left-hand corner. Sunday breakfast
buffet tickets will have two holes punched in the upper left-hand corner.
 Membership Friendship Appreciation Pizza Party

*Talmadge Ballroom*

Registered conventioneers join us for an appreciation pizza party sponsored
by the NFB of NJ on Thursday, October 24 at 5:00 PM.
 American Printing House (“APH”) Abacus Bee

APH Abacus Bee is a fun and engaging competition designed to ignite a
passion for mathematics in students who are blind or have low vision. By
allowing the use of various formats like print, braille, UEB math, or
Nemeth code, the competition ensures that participants can use methods that
suit their individual learning styles. The Abacus Bee encourages the use of
mental math and abacus skills, unlocking students’ full mathematical
potential. The NFB of NJ is partnering with VISTAS Education Partners to
provide this event, and it will be held on Sunday, October 27 as one of our
2024 community service programs
 Kustom Canes “You Cane Give” Program

*Studio Room*

Kustom Canes, founded and operated by a blind entrepreneur, uses spare cane
parts to create new mobility canes for free distribution in countries where
obtaining such a cane is difficult or impossible. You can help drop off
your old cane parts in the collection box in the Studio Room when you come
in to pick up your pre-registration packet or register. This collection has
become a regular part of our state convention and helps spread the gift of
independent mobility outside the US.

Guide Dog Relief Instructions

The guide dog relief area can be found in the courtyard at the back of the
hotel. Beginning from the front desk, face away from the desk and take a
left to walk toward the double doors to get outside. You will be walking on
tile; when you reach a carpeted texture again, you are at the outside doors.

Please note that if you tell your dog to target the door to the outside,
there is another set of double doors directly across the lobby leading to
the front exit that your dog may try to find. The front exit has a large
covering over it, so if you see this covering or cars, you are on the wrong
side of the hotel.

When exiting the hotel on the courtyard side, you will encounter two sets
of doors to get outside. Both sets are double doors, so you do not have to
switch sides with your dog unless you want to. When you are heading out of
these doors to go outside, the elevators to get to your room are on your
left side, while the entrance to the Exhibit Hall is on your right side.
Once exiting the doors, one of three trash cans can be found immediately to
your right. If you keep walking straight, you will feel a brick pathway
under your feet. When you feel the brick change to a flat surface, it is
time to take a left to find the grass. This is located approximately 40
steps away from the doors. If the flat concrete turns back into a brick
texture, you missed your left and have gone too far.

After taking a left onto the sidewalk, take about 32 steps and you will
reach a large grassy area. The courtyard is shaped like a diamond, and
there are bushes around the perimeter. There will be a light post with a
trash can on either end of this grassy courtyard.

Once you are finished relieving your dog, if you tell your dog to target
the door inside, the double doors are the only option available. When
heading back inside, if you did not locate either trash can by a light
post, there will be a final trash can directly on your left before entering
the hotel again.

Portrait Studio

5:30- to 7:00 PM

*Lincoln Room*

Come and have your picture taken in your Banquet finery.

Pictures and Recording

We will be taking pictures throughout the convention and recording
convention segments, which will be available on the website.

Streaming

We will also be streaming the Thursday, October 24 Resolutions Committee
Meeting at 7:00 PM, Friday, October 25 Afternoon General Session, Saturday
Morning General Session and evening Banquet. Participation details are
listed below.

https://zoom.us/j/6477660103?pwd=MUl1dnZQU1JxMkhUemdCSHZUM21H
<https://zoom.us/j/6477660103?pwd=MUl1dnZQU1JxMkhUemdCSHZUM21HUT09> UT09
<https://zoom.us/j/6477660103?pwd=MUl1dnZQU1JxMkhUemdCSHZUM21HUT09>

One tap mobile

+16468769923,,6477660103#,,,,*460994# US (New York)

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Meeting ID: 647 766 0103

Passcode: 460994
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