[NFBofAlaska] Full Alaska NFB 2020 Convention Agenda: October 23 and 24

[Michael Lauf]

The National Federation of the Blind of Alaska
2020 State Convention
Friday & Saturday,
October 23 & 24, 2020
 
Calling all blind and visually impaired Alaskans from cities, towns, and villages in the great State of Alaska to come, join, and learn to...
“Live the Life You Want. Blindness is not what holds you back!”
 
THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND 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 programs and policies of the Federation and to abide by its constitution.
 
CONVENTION INFORMATION
·        Click here to attend all convention events using Zoom Conference
·        Meeting ID: 225 140 8820
To join by phone, 1 tap mobile
(669) 900-6833,,2251408820
·        All times are Alaska time, four hours earlier than Eastern time.
·        We will have our even year number election as required by our State Affiliate Constitution, to be conducted using the raising of hands on Zoom. You must be a dues-paying member to vote. Unsure about your membership status? Call 907-301-6808. 
·        You do not have to be a member to win a door prize, but you must be registered.
 
Special thanks to our exhibitors and sponsors:
 
·        Vanda Pharmaceuticals: $500 to begin our scholarship fund
·        Way Around: Door prizes
·        Elegant Insights: Door prizes
·        AIRA: Door prizes
·        Guiding Eyes: Door Prize - Michael Goehring 
·        Our Technology Team: Michael Lauf, web master (and owner of Laufware), Abby Fleenor, Brian Blair, Nate Kile, Candy Powell, Tony Gebhard
·        Most importantly, you —- our attendees and program presenters, for joining us as we come together to grow and learn how to “live the life we want.”
 
 
AGENDA
 
Friday, October 23:
 
9:00     Welcome, NFB Pledge, What is the NFB?
9:10    Anil Lewis, Executive Director for Blindness Initiative, National Federation of the Blind
9:40    Update on State of Alaska Website’s Accessibility
David Newman, Alaska State ADA Coordinator
10:00: National Library Service, Talking Book Library, continually evolving to meet the needs of the print disabled
Freya Anderson, Alaska State Librarian 
10:20  Update from Alaska’s Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
Duane Mayes, Director, DVR of Alaska
10:40  Words from Alaska’s blind DVR counselor
Megan Schiele, Director of Blind Services, Alaska DVR
11:10  NFB NEWS-LINE ®, What is it and how does it work? Demonstration, Q&A, personal experiences with the service.  
Scott White, Director of NFB NEWS-LINE
12:00   Lunch Break, Enjoy!
 
EXHIBITOR’s FORUM
1:00:   Vanda Pharmaceuticals - Information about non-24 condition
Shauna Jatho, Nurse Educator 
1:30    Way Around - Label anything so you “won’t be in the dark”
Jessica Hipp, 
1:50    AIRA - Use your phone and an agent to do more
Ryan Bishop, AIRA Customer Care Manager 
2:10    Elegant Insights - Braille Jewelry for Everyone
Laura Legendary, Blind Entrepreneur
2:30    Guiding Eyes - Serving several Alaskan Guide Dog teams
Michael Goehring
2:50    Break
3:10    Technology tips, tricks, questions answered and more
Panel to be announced
 
Saturday, October 24
 
9:00    Parents of Blind Children in Alaska, information for Alaska Parents of Blind Children (NOPBC), Q&A
Carlton Walker, President NOPBC, Division of the National Federation of the Blind
 
MAIN SESSION
 
10:00  Welcome - Bonnie Lucas 
Invocation - Brian Blair; 
Musical number “Beautiful Soul” - Tony Gebhard
10:10  National Presidential Report
Anil Lewis, National Representative, Baltimore, Maryland 
10:45  Annual Affiliate Report
Bonnie Lucas, President, NFB of Alaska
11:15  Alaska Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired - latest operations during a Pandemic, latest staff changes
Nate Kile, Program Director, Alaska Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired
12:00   Lunch break
1:00    Making Voting Accessible
Lou Ann Blake, Director of Research Programs, National Federation of the Blind
1:20    National Association of Blind Students
Robert Parsons
1:40    NFB Centers and how they work
Jennifer Wenzel, Director of Admissions, Blind Inc. 
2:00    Treasurer’s report - Carmen Jameson
2:05    Elections
3:00    Banquet Address by National Representative, Anil Lewis
3:45    Wrap-up - Bonnie Lucas
 


 
Meet Anil Lewis, NFB National Representative: 
 
Anil is currently employed as the executive director for Blindness Initiatives for the National Federation of the Blind, located in Baltimore, Maryland. He coordinates outreach, marketing, and fundraising activities for a national nonprofit organization. He leads a dynamic team of individuals responsible for the creation, development, implementation, and replication of innovative projects and programs throughout a nationwide network of affiliates that work to positively affect the education, employment, and quality of life of all blind people.
 
Lewis has dedicated his leadership skills to the development and growth of disability rights organizations that promote independence and improve quality of life. Lewis additionally volunteers as a teacher and mentor for blind kids, working with promising blind students who, because of limited resources and lack of trained professionals to teach them, are inappropriately encouraged to pursue special education diplomas. He wants blind students to set higher goals for themselves and to receive the training and tools they need to acquire the skills to reach their full potential.
 
Speaking of his personal life, Anil Lewis says that his proudest accomplishment is his bright, ambitious son Amari, born in 1997. Balancing his many civic responsibilities with his personal life as a father is undoubtedly his greatest challenge. His greatest success, he thinks, has been overcoming the temptation to subside into becoming an unmotivated, self-pitying person with a disability. He thinks his greatest contribution so far has been to encourage other people with disabilities to believe in themselves and to understand that they can make a difference.

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