[NFBofSC] Updated Agenda for the NFB of SC State Convention!

Wed Aug 18 10:01:16 UTC 2021

Turning Obstacles into Opportunities

65th Annual State Convention

National Federation of the Blind of South Carolina

Jennifer Bazer, President

North Charleston Marriott

4770 Goer Drive

North Charleston, SC 29406

+1 843-747-1900

Friday, August 20 - Sunday, August 22, 2021

Convention Notes

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.

NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND ONE MINUTE MESSAGE

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.

Integrity and Respect

As with all NFB of SC functions, our members are held to the highest
standards of decorum outlined in the National Federation of the Blind of
South Carolina's Code of Conduct.  To allow all attendees the chance to
benefit from all aspects of the convention, we are committed to providing a
harassment-free environment for everyone. We appreciate your assistance in
cultivating an atmosphere in which participants from diverse backgrounds may
learn, network, and share with each other in an environment of mutual
respect. Thank you for doing your part to contribute to our community and
the high expectations we strive to maintain.

We welcome Scott LaBarre as our national representative to the NFB of SC
65th annual state convention!

Scott C. LaBarre, Esq. 

LaBarre Law Offices P.C.

Denver, Colorado

Scott C. LaBarre owns and operates LaBarre Law Offices P.C., (LLO).  LLO
specializes in employment law, disability rights, Randolph-Sheppard Act
cases, and some international policy work particularly in the area of
copyright law.  Additionally, through his law practice, LaBarre is now
serving as General Counsel to the National Federation of the Blind where he
helps manage a multi-million dollar legal advocacy program as well as
advising the organization on a variety of legal issues faced by a nonprofit.
Mr. LaBarre has appeared in federal and state courts throughout the United
States securing many important victories for his clients such as Enyart v.
National Conference of Bar Examiners, 630 F.3d 1153 (9th Cir. 2011)(securing
the right for blind students to use assistive technology as an accommodation
on the multistate bar exam) and Cannon v. Palmer College of Chiropractic,
850 N.W.2d 326 (Iowa 2014)(securing the right of a blind student to pursue a
doctor of chiropractic degree with his requested accommodations).  He is
permanently admitted before the Supreme Court of the United States, the
United States Courts of Appeals for the Second, Seventh, Eighth, Ninth,
Tenth and DC Circuits, the United States District Court for the District of
Colorado, the Supreme Court of Colorado, and the Maryland Court of Appeals
(Maryland's highest court).  LaBarre has been named one of Colorado's Super
Lawyers and Best Lawyers, distinctions recognizing the top five percent of
Colorado attorneys. 

Prior to launching his own firm in July of 1998, Mr. LaBarre acted as
general counsel for the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) of Colorado,
where he specialized in laws affecting the blind and disabled, serving in
that capacity for over four years.  Even after establishing LLO, he has
remained very active in the NFB through his volunteer service in many
leadership roles.  In October of 2005, members of the NFB of Colorado
elected LaBarre their President.  He also serves as Chairman of the
Preauthorized Contributions Committee, one of the Federation's major
national fundraisers.  Additionally, he is President of the National
Association of Blind Lawyers and serves as Vice Chairman of the Board of
Directors for the Colorado Center for the Blind.  The Federation has
presented LaBarre with the Raymond W. McGeorge Award in 2010 for his work on
behalf of the blind in Colorado and the Dr. Jacob Bolotin Award in 2014 for
his efforts to achieve successful adoption of the Marrakesh Treaty to
Facilitate Access to Published Works for Individuals Who Are Blind, Visually
Impaired, and Otherwise Print Disabled.  

Since 2010, LaBarre has acted as the NFB's lead delegate to the World
Intellectual Property Organization's (WIPO's) Standing Committee on
Copyright and Related Rights to work on an international treaty to create
the international exchange of published works in accessible formats for the
blind and print disabled leading to the adoption of the Marrakesh Treaty in
June of 2013.  This work has led to his election to the Accessible Books
Consortium Board, a body sponsored by WIPO and designed to serve as an
entity implementing the Marrakesh Treaty on a practical level, promote
cross-border exchange of accessible books for the print disabled, and to
encourage inclusive publishing.

As an original and current member of the Steering Committee, LaBarre helped
to establish the Federation's Jacobus tenBroek Disability Law Symposium
which gathers leaders from all sectors in the arena of disability law to
discuss the current status of the law and to plan needed reform.  LaBarre
has presented at the Symposium on several occasions.

He is active in national, state and local bar associations through his
service in many roles.  LaBarre is a founding member of the Disability
Rights Bar Association and serves on its Executive Board as Vice Chair.  In
August of 2019, LaBarre completed a three-year term on the American Bar
Association's Board of Governors where he chaired the Member Services
Committee and served on the Board's Executive Committee during his last
year.  He has also been a Commissioner on the ABA's Commission on Disability
Rights and served as its Chair from 2004-2007.  Mr. LaBarre is also very
active in the ABA's Solo, Small Firm, and General Practice Division and
reassumed a position on its governing council starting in August of 2013,
previously serving on the Division's Council from 2005 through 2009.  He
currently serves as the Division's Chair Elect and will become Chair of the
Division in 2022.  ABA President Reginald Turner has asked LaBarre to serve
on the ABA's Standing Committee on Meetings and Travel and the Steering
Committee of ABA's Practice Forward, a committee appointed to examine the
effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the practice of law.  LaBarre represents
the Denver Bar Association as a Delegate to the ABA's House of Delegates
where he serves on the House's Working Group on Operations.  In the last two
decades plus, he has also taken on the roles of a Director on the ABA's
Young Lawyers Division's governing council, Vice Chairman and a member of
the ABA-YLD Bar Leadership Team, YLD Liaison to the ABA Commission on Mental
and Physical Disability Law, a member of the Colorado Bar Association Board
of Governors, and Treasurer and a member of the Executive Council of the
Denver Bar Association's Young Lawyers.  

Mr. LaBarre received his Juris Doctor from the University of Minnesota in
1993 and his Bachelor of Arts from St. John's University in Collegeville,
Minnesota in 1990.  He left Minnesota in 1993 to work at the National
Headquarters of the National Federation of the Blind then moving to Colorado
in 1994.  He is married to a wonderful woman who originally hales from
Armenia, Anahit Galechyan.  Anahit and Scott have two children, Alexander
(born October 2002) and Emily (born December 2004).  The LaBarres welcomed
Moka, a vivacious and effervescent    Labradoodle, into their family in May
of 2019. 

Door Prizes

During the General Sessions and Banquet door prizes will be drawn
periodically on Saturday and Sunday. You must be registered for the
convention and present to win! If your name is drawn, raise your hand and
we'll acknowledge your receipt of a prize. To raise your hand: if dialed in,
press *9; if on a windows computer, press ALT + Y; or, if on a Mac, press
Option + Y. Door prizes will be mailed at the conclusion of the convention
if you are attending through zoom.

**About Us

The National Federation of the Blind Of south Carolina 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.

For more information about the National Federation of the Blind of South
Carolina, visit our website at

www.nfbofsc.org <http://www.nfbofsc.org> 

or call us at 803-960-9977 or email 

Jennifer.H.Bazer at gmail.com** <mailto:Jennifer.H.Bazer at gmail.com**> 

Welcome

We welcome you to the North Charleston Marriott for our 65th annual state
convention of the National Federation of the Blind of South Carolina, NFB of
SC and on zoom for our hybrid convention. The North Charleston Marriott has
an outside pool, state of the art 24/7 fitness center, free high-speed
internet, and an airport shuttle. 

Dog relief area

For those with dog guides, there is a specific dog relief area. A trash
recepticle has been placed there for convenience and tidiness.  Please ask
the front desk for the location of this area. 

Contact Us

Federation Center of the Blind

119 S. Kilbourne Rd.

Columbia, SC 29205

(803) 254-3777

www.nfbofsc.org <http://www.nfbofsc.org> 

Jennifer Bazer, President

Jennifer.h.bazer at gmail.com <mailto:Jennifer.h.bazer at gmail.com> 

(803) 960-9977

Other Noteworthy Items

All general sessions and the Saturday evening banquet will be held in the
Compass Ballroom. Exhibit will be held in Reflections and the hours are:

Friday, August 20: 10:00 A.M.-6:00 PM

Saturday, August 21: 7:00-8:45 A.M., 12:15-1:45 PM; 5:15-6:45 PM

Sunday, August 22: 7:00-8:30 A.M.

Door Prize chairperson, Steve Cook

Exhibit Hall Chairperson, David Houck

Registration Chairperson, Darlene Houck

Schedule

Friday, August 20, 2021

8:00 A.M. - 6:00 PM: Registration, Outside of Compass Ballroom

9:00-11:00 AM.: Blind Merchants pre-convention meeting, DISCOVER

10:00 A.M. - 6:00PM: Exhibit Hall open, Reflections

3:00-3:50 PM: NFB of SC Board meeting all are welcome, Momentum

4:00-4:50 PM: Senior Division, Shelley Coppel, President, Explorer

4:00-4:50 PM: Computer Science and Technology Division CSTD, Thom Spittle,
President, Innovator

5:00-5:50 PM: Merchants division, Belinda Banks, President, Explorer

5:00-5:50 PM: Resolutions, Valerie Warrington, Chairperson, Innovator

6:00-6:50 PM: Sports and Rec Division, David Rebocho, President, Innovator

7:00-10:00 PM: Reception, Compass Ballroom

10:00 PM - Midnight: SC Association of Blind Students Division, Derique
Simon, President, Innovator

Saturday, August 21, 2021

7:00-8:45 A.M.: Registration, Outside of Compass Ballroom

7:00-8:45 A.M.: Exhibit Hall open, Reflections

7:00-8:45 A.M.: boxed breakfast in the back of Compass Ballroom

7:30-8:30 A.M.: At Large Chapter Meeting, Ed Bible, President, Innovator

Morning General Session, Compass Ballroom

9:00-9:15 A.M.: Welcome, Jennifer Bazer, President

9:15-9:30 A.M.: Welcome to the city of North Charleston and reading of
proclamation, Ron Brinson, Member North Charleston City Council, Chair of
Finance Committee and Mayor ProTempore

9:30-9:55 A.M.: National Report, Scott LaBarre, President, National
Federation of the Blind of Colorado

10:00-10:20 A.M.: South Carolina Commission for the Blind, Darline Graham,
Commissioner

10:20-10:30 A.M.: Fit break, David Rebocho, President, Sports and Rec
Division

10:30-10:50 A.M.: Turning Obstacles into Opportunities, Kayleigh Joiner,
Assistant Program Coordinator, National Federation of the Blind of Texas 

10:50-11:10 A.M.: South Carolina Talking Book Services, Kristin White,
Director of Talking Books Services 

11:10-11:30 A.M.: Simple and Smart Independence, SuperSense App has You
Covered, Shane Lowe, SuperSense Community Manager

11:30-noon: Presidential Report, Jennifer Bazer, President, National
Federation of the Blind of South Carolina

Noon: Adjourn

Lunch Break

12:15-1:45 PM.: Registration, Outside of Compass Ballroom

12:15-1:45 PM: Exhibit Hall open, Reflections

Afternoon General Session, Compass Ballroom

Opening with a large Door Prize,Don't Be Late!

2:00-2:30 PM: Road Blocks or Stepping Stones, Regina Mitchell, NFB of Nevada
board member and scholarship chair

2:30-3:00 PM: Diversity and Inclusion, Derique Simon, Board Member NFB of SC
and President, SC Association of Blind Students

3:00-3:20 PM: 10 Essential Tips for Blind & Socially Savvy Networkers,
Eileen Rivera Ley, Master Trainer, Blind Savvy, USA Baltimore, MD

3:20-3:30 PM: Fit Break, David Rebocho, President, Sports and Rec Division

3:30-3:50 PM: Launch Your Way to Success, Summer Teen Report, Student, Staff
and Intern Presentation 

3:50-4:10 PM: Students Staying Strong Together, Logan Stenzel, Board Member,
National Association of Blind Students and Treasurer | Minnesota Association
of Blind Students

4:10-4:30 PM: Blessings from Adversity, Creating a Successful Future,
Svetlana Ehlers, Student and Member NFB of Missouri

4:30-4:40 PM: Update from the SC Department of Education Office of Special
Education Services

Marty R. McKenzie, Statewide Vision Consultant

4:40-4:50 PM: Introducing the Scholarship Class, Shannon Cook, Secretary NFB
of SC and Chairperson Scholarship Committee

5:00 PM: Adjourn

Evening Break

5:15-6:45 PM: Registration, Outside of Compass Ballroom

5:15-6:45 PM: Exhibits Open, Reflections

Convention Banquet, Compass Ballroom

7:00-9:30 PM

Welcome, Jennifer Bazer, President

Invocation, J.W. Smith, President, Greenville chapter, Board Member, NFB of
SC

Keynote Address, Scott LaBarre, National Rep and President, NFB of Colorado

Presentation of Scholarships, Shannon Cook, Scholarship Committee
Chairperson

Presentation of Sponsors

Bighan Foundation, Carolyn Jackson, Platinum Level Sponsor

Vanda Pharmaceuticals, Non-24, Inc., Vicki Preddy, MSN, RN, Nurse Educator,
Gold Level Sponsor 

HumanWare, Samuel Adler, Regional Account Manager, Silver Level Sponsor

Vispero, Jeff Bazer, Regional Sales Manager, Silver Level Sponsor

Farmers' Telephone Cooperative, Silver Level Sponsor

Educator of the Year: Marty McKenzie, Chairperson

Donald C. Capps Award: David Houck, chairperson

Banquet Fundraiser 

Our annual banquet fundraiser is an opportunity for individuals, chapters,
divisions, and business partners to contribute to the NFB of SC to further
programs, services, and policies of the Palmetto affiliate.

Donations can e made through Pay Pal on

www.nfbofsc.org <http://www.nfbofsc.org> 

Cash or writing a check made to the NFB of SC and mailed to FCB, 119
Kilbourne Road, Columbia, SC 29205.

9:30 PM: Adjourn

For Night Owls

10:00-Midnight: Game Night  Fundraiser by the SC Association of Blind
Students, $5 entry fee, Compass Ballroom

Sunday, August 22, 2021

7:00-8:30 A.M.: Registration, Outside of Compass Ballroom

7:00-8:30 A.M.: boxed breakfast in the back of Compass Ballroom

7:00-8:30 A.M.: Nominating Committee, Innovator

Morning General Session, Compass Ballroom

8:45-9:00 A.M.: Remembering Those Who Went Before Us, A Memorial, Dorothy
Barksdale, Board Member Columbia Chapter, We Care Committee Chair

9:00-9:30 A.M.: NFB of SC Elections

9:30-10:00 A.M.: Rocky Bottom and NFB of SC Treasurers' Report, Valerie
Warrington, Treasurer NFB of SC and Rocky Bottom

10:00-10:20 A.M.: Resolutions, Valerie Warrington, chairperson, Resolutions'
Committee

10:20-10:30 A.M.: Fit Break, David Rebocho, President, Sports and Rec
Division

10:30-10:50 A.M.: 2021-2022 Committees: Jennifer Bazer, President, NFB of SC

10:50-11:10 A.M.: Rocky Bottom Report

Thom Spittle, chairperson

Shelley Coppel and Shannon Cook, Co-Directors, South Carolina Senior Camp

Jennifer Bazer, Director, children's Camp

11:10-11:30 A.M.: Federation Center of the Blind FCB  Report, David Houck,
Executive Director, Federation Center of the Blind and Ed Bible,
Chairperson, Federation Center Board

11:30:11:40 A.M.: Update on SUN, PAC, Dream Circle, Frank Coppel,
chairperson, Doing Our Fair Share Committee

11:40-Noon: Chapter, Committee, and Division Drawings

12:00 PM: Adjourn

Thank you to Our 2021 Sponsors!

-------------------

PLATINUM LEVEL SPONSOR

THE BIGNON FAMILY FOUNDATION

Edward and Vicki Bignon

"Being a part of a REAL solution

is an honor and a great way to live your life."

May 2022 bring you good health and many blessings.

Eddie Bignon

------------------ 

GOLD LEVEL SPONSOR:

 <https://non-24.com/> 

Gold Sponsor

          Vanda Pharmaceuticals is a global biopharmaceutical company based
in Washington, DC. Vanda works to develop new medicines to address unmet
medical needs and to improve the lives of patients

          As a proud sponsor of the NFB of South Carolina, Vanda seeks to
raise awareness and provide educational resources about Non-24-Hour
Sleep-Wake Disorder, or Non-24 for short. 

          Non-24 is a serious circadian rhythm disorder common in people who
are totally blind. It causes nighttime sleep problems and a wide range of
daytime difficulties that can affect one's ability to do every-day tasks or
activities. Many people with Non-24 report having an overwhelming urge to
sleep during the day as well as an overwhelming urge to stay awake at night.

          To learn more about Non-24, contact Vanda's Nurse Educator Vicki
Preddy by calling 202-578-9060.  

Silver Level Sponsor

Vispero

Vispero is the home of the JAWS for Windows screen reader, as well as
ZoomText and Fusion software.  In addition, our family includes three of the
largest low vision hardware manufacturers:  Freedom Scientific, Optelec and
Enhanced Vision.  For product questions, contact Jerry Marindin, Regional
Sales Director.

Email:  jmarindin at vispero.com <mailto:jmarindin at vispero.com> 

SILVER LEVEL SPONSOR      

BrailliantTM BI 20X

Brailliant BI

Featuring excellent, sharp and crisp braille cell technology, the new and
portable Brailliant BI 20X refreshable braille display is the perfect
companion to any mobile device that makes reading enjoyable while keeping
you connected on the go. Customize your braille experience through an
intuitive user interface and onboard smart applications including the Victor
Reader library. Brailliant BI 20X expands what braille displays can do in
today's connected world.

1 800 722-3393 | humanware.com                                             

SILVER LEVEL SPONSOR

Farmers Telephone Cooperative - Sumter, SC

 <https://www.ftc.net/services/wireless> 

Internet - Wireless - Voice - Security - and Digital TV

BRONZE LEVEL SPONSOR:

District 32-S

South Carolina

"When it comes to meeting challenges.

Our response is simple, We Serve"

WHITE CANE LEVEL SPONSORS:

Carolyn Phillips

Carolyn Jackson

Jan Shaw Personal Training

Lee & Laura James

Trinity Missionary Baptist Church, Sumter

Larry C. Weston, Pastor

Barney Gadson for the M. H. Newton Family Life Center

Sumter Chapter

Jennifer Bazer, President, NFB of SC

Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation

Carrie Montgomery

NFB Muslims

Steve Cook

District 2 State Board Member of the National Federation of the Blind of SC

President of the Columbia chapter of the National Federation of the Blind of
SC

1st Vice President of the Computer Science & Technology Division of the
National Federation of the Blind of SC

The National Federation of the Blind of SC owns and operates Rocky Bottom
Retreat & Conference Center.  Below is a link to read more about Rocky
Bottom and to make a reservation for a mountain retreat!

 <http://rockybottomofsc.com/> Rocky Bottom Retreat & Conference Center

Please join the National Federation of the Blind of SC on Face Book at any
of the below links!

 <https://m.facebook.com/NatFedofSouthCarolina/> National Federation of the
Blind of SC on Face Book

<https://m.facebook.com/Computer-Science-Technology-Division-of-the-NFB-of-S
C-343263089815304/> Computer Science & Technology Division of the National
Federation of the Blind of SC

 <https://m.facebook.com/RockyBottomofSC/> Rocky Bottom Retreat & Conference
Center 

South Carolina Association of Blind Students

 <https://m.facebook.com/groups/375092969314880?_rdr> South Carolina Parents
of Blind Children

You can live the life you want; blindness is not what holds you back.

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.

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