[NFBofAlaska] Agenda for the 2022 Alaska NFB Annual State Convention

[lucas.bonnie at gmail.com]

NFB OF ALASKA STATE CONVENTION

November 4th and 5th, 2021

UNITING THE BLIND OF ALASKA

ALWAYS BETTER TOGETHER

 


National Federation of the Blind of Alaska Annual Convention


 

Bonnie Lucas, President

Pam Van Hoozer, First vice President

William Craig, Second vice president

Carmen Jameson, Treasurer

Brian Blair, Secretary

Candy Powell, Board Member

Katie Lester, Board Member

 


Our 2022 convention will be held at 


the 


 <https://www.millenniumhotels.com/en/anchorage/the-lakefront-anchorage/>
Lakefront Hotel (4800 Spenard Road) Anchorage, 907-243-2300. 


The room rate is $109 plus 15 percent tax. for singles and doubles. Children
under thirteen are free.

To receive our event rate, ask for the NFB of Alaska room rate. 

Set on the shore of Lake Spenard next to Lake Hood and close to the Ted
Stevens International Airport, the Lakefront is the only Anchorage hotel
located on a lake. Amenities include 24-hour free shuttle to the airport,
along with places to eat and relax. Enjoy the warmth of the fireplace in the
hotel lobby. 

 

Register and make reservations now to attend the NFB of Alaska annual
convention, the largest gathering of blind people in Alaska.

The cost is $55 which includes registration and food for the convention.
Membership will be valid until the end of 2023. 

 


The National Federation of the Blind of Alaska is committed to 


 

promoting equity and inclusion of a 

diverse global community. Our diverse community includes, but is not limited
to, the intersectionality of ability, age, religion, race, ethnicity,
culture, gender identity or expression, and sexual orientation.

We are committed to honoring the lived experiences of those with congenital
and acquired blindness; those with different geographic backgrounds,
different languages, labor and socioeconomic status in the exchange of
ideas, opinions, and actions. Through advocacy, awareness, and educational
activities, we strive to advance policies and practices that cultivate a
climate of awareness and understanding; acceptance and opportunities for
advancement; and respect for the dignity of all people.

Vision Statement

 

Our vision is to broaden the scope of awareness and understanding of the
definition of full inclusion;

to explore and expand on the cultural makeup of the organization, providing
education and training, guidance and advocacy where needed. Our goal is to
cultivate a federation that is diverse, equitable, and inclusive.

The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the
characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the
expectations of blind people because low expectations create obstacles
between blind people and our dreams. Live the life you want! Blindness is
not what holds you back!

 

NFB 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 policies and programs of the Federation; and to abide by its
constitution.

 


Friday November 4:


 

1:00PM: Welcome, Bonnie Lucas, President

Treasurer's Report, Carmen Jameson

 

1:15 PM:  David Newman-Alaska State ADA Coordinator
<https://doa.alaska.gov/ada/> , Appointed in 2018, he has worked to increase
the rights of the blind in Alaska, (from state websites to NewsLine)

1:35PM: Jesse Shirek-NFB-NEWSLINE
<https://nfb.org/programs-services/nfb-newsline> R

NFB NewsLine Making NewsLine a reality for all print disabled Alaskans)

2:00 PM: Robert Corvisier-Alaska Human Rights Commission
<https://humanrights.alaska.gov/> , (He cares about people with disabilities
who may be discriminated against)

2:20 PM: Jocelyn Bucaro-Tusk Philanthropies
<https://tuskphilanthropies.org/> , (Accessible ballots from your home)

2:40PM, Freya Anderson-Talking Books of Alaska <https://lam.alaska.gov/tbc>
, (ever changing to serve the print and physically disabled)


3:00 PM: Break


 

3:10 PM: Jeff Dick-Challenge Alaska <https://www.challengealaska.org/> ,
(Community recreation for Alaskans with disabilities),

3:30PM: Tyler Merren-ReVision Fitness App <https://revisionfitnessapp.com/>
, Bringing all aspects of fitness to you in an accessible format.

3:50 PM panel of blind Alaskans participating and living the fit life they
want!

*         Kevin Whitley

Nate Kile

*         Charlie Rogge

Tom Class

4:30PM: CB Brady-Executive Director, Alaska Center for the Blind and
Visually Impaired <https://www.alaskabvi.org/> 

4:45: Digication.com <https://www.digication.com/> 


5:00 PM: Meet and greet to include


*          

Appetizers/finger foods

*         Accessible games

Using the voting machine

*         Braille corner

Questions about cane travel

*         Guide dog stories

 


Saturday November 5


 

9:00 AM: Welcome, Musical Number featuring Ileina Milos

9:10 AM: Patti Chang--President's report-Learn about ground-breaking
initiatives of the National Federation of the Blind and more

9:50 AM: President, Bonnie Lucas, the affiliate president's annual report
and future projections

1015 AM: Michael Lauf-Accessible Windows Software and iPhone Apps, All in
One Place! <https://laufware.com> 

10:35 AM: Raul Gallegos- (President National Association of Guide Dog users
<https://nagdu.org/> 

1055 AM: Debbie Wunder- (President, NFB Diabetes Action- Network
<https://nfb.org/about-us/divisions-committees-and-groups/divisions/diabetes
-action-network> 

11:15 AM: Glenn Crosby-President, NFB Seniors Division
<https://seniors.nfb.org/> 

You don't have to be a senior to belong to the seniors division.

11:35 AM: Chancey Fleet-New York Public Library Accessibility
<https://www.nypl.org/accessibility> , (more than a talking book library)


11:55AM: Break for lunch


1:15PM: Gary Wunder-editor NFB Braille Monitor
<https://nfb.org/resources/publications-and-media/braille-monitor> ,
(flagship publication of the National Federation of the Blind

1:35PM: Emily Schlenker-pharmacology student, University of Kansas, (high
expectations and full participation)

2:00 PM: Tom Class, Forever Alaskan, (A blind Alaskan living his life as a
home owner and fulltime employee)

2:15PM: Dan Bigley-His life "Beyond the Bear," (husband, father and director
of social service agency)  

2:40 PM: Katie Lester-National Federation of the Blind, ($8 thousand
Scholarship Winner)

3:10 PM: Q&A on any technology or blindness topic!


4:00 PM: Elections-All dues payers are welcome to vote. 


 

 


4:45 PM: Break while hotel staff prepare room for Banquet


 

 

6:00 PM: Banquet to include Guest speaker, Patti Chang and her personal
story, importance of fund raising, Etc.

 


Patti Gregory-Chang,


Development Director, Attorney, Advocate, Mother


After graduating from Harbor Springs High School in 1981, Patti planned to
attend school with hopes of becoming a teacher of the visually impaired.
After earning her teaching certificate at Michigan State University, she
discovered a passion for law and enrolled in the University of Chicago Law
School. 

Patti graduated from law school in 1988 and worked in the City of Chicago
Law Department for twenty-eight years. She began her tenure in the Traffic
Division and worked her way up to Assistant Corporation Counsel. In this
position she prosecuted housing court matters in the Circuit Court of Cook
County and handled collection matters for the Building and Land Use
Litigation Division of the City of Chicago Law Department.

Patti became Senior Assistant Corporation Counsel for the City of Chicago
Law Department in 1998. In this role she prosecuted cases, supervised
attorneys prosecuting cases, coordinated law clerks and externs, and served
on various committees and task forces. She belongs to several professional
associations including the National Association of Blind Lawyers, the
Association of Fundraising Professionals, and the Illinois State Bar
Association. Patti currently serves as Vice Chair of the Disability Law
Committee of the Illinois State Bar Association and as a member of the
Administrative Law Section Council of the Illinois State Bar Association. 

In 2016 Patti embarked on a second career, accepting the position of
Director of Outreach for the National Federation of the Blind, the largest
organization of blind people in the world. 

In fact, Patti has devoted much of her free time to the National Federation
of the Blind since joining in 1981. Patti currently serves as the 2nd Vice
President of the Illinois affiliate of the NFB and has served on its
National Board of Directors as well as working as national scholarship
committee chair for some years.

Patti lives in Chicago. In her spare time, Patti and her husband love
travel, dancing, and enjoy spending time with family and friends. They boast
of two successful adult children, Johnathon and Julia, and a wonderful
grandchild, Kayla Ma Chang. 

 

 

 

Bonnie Lucas
President
National Federation of the Blind of Alaska
Cell: 907-301-6808

Email: lucas.bonnie at gmail.com <mailto:lucas.bonnie at gmail.com> 



Web: alaskanfb.org <https://alaskanfb.org/> 
The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the
characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the
expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles
between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life you want;
blindness is not what holds you back.

 

[Delegate-BML]

 

 

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