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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>First Timer's Guide<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Throughout the week, you will have amazing opportunities to network with thousands of competent, blind role models employed in exciting careers, attend<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>presentations on a wide variety of empowering topics, view the latest in technology, and network with dynamic leaders in the field of blindness.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>A lot happens at each convention, so this guide is intended to give you an overview of what you will experience at your first convention. It is available<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>in Braille, in large print, and on our website at www.nfb.org.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>For many, attendance at that very first convention has become a life-changing experience. Many hear for the very first time that it is respectable to be<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>blind, that carrying a cane is useful and is nothing to be ashamed of, that Braille is a valuable tool after all, and that much progress is being made<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>in adaptive technology. Attendees also learn that they are not alone, that there are others who are facing the same problems they are, and that an active<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>and normal life is possible and within their reach.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>For more specific details about this year's convention, consult the convention agenda, the <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Braille Monitor,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>and the NFB's convention webpage.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>For a more personal introduction to your first convention, plan to attend the Rookie Roundup, usually held in the evening of the very first day of the<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>gathering. There you will meet your fellow rookies, be welcomed by Federation leaders (including the President), and get some advice on what to do and<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>when to do it from convention veterans. The convention is full of opportunities to learn, work, play, and network (both formally and informally). The only<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>thing you won't get much of at a National Federation of the Blind convention is sleep!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>From the President<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>block quote<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I am delighted to welcome you to your very first national convention of the National Federation of the Blind. These pages are a brief overview of our conventions<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>and the unique role that they play in the life of our movement. Your presence at convention is important! Being here means that you are a part of the largest<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>gathering of blind people held anywhere in the world. I believe that you can and will benefit from the strength and knowledge that you will gain from the<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>many blind people you will meet at the convention, and the National Federation of the Blind certainly needs your ideas and your voice. I hope you come<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>to feel the love, the power, and the unity of purpose this convention brings to blind people and their families who choose to attend. — NFB President Mark<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>A. Riccobono<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>block quote end<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Community and Conduct at Convention<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>To allow all attendees the chance to benefit from all aspects of the convention, the National Federation of the Blind is committed to providing a harassment-free<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>environment for everyone. We appreciate your assistance in cultivating an atmosphere in which participants from diverse backgrounds may learn, network,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>and share with each other in an environment of mutual respect. Our organization is deeply committed to diversity as well as <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>integrity and respect.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Please contact the Information Desk or notify your state affiliate president if you need assistance or have questions/concerns. Thank you for doing your<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>part to contribute to our community and the high expectations we strive to maintain.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Some Notes about the National Federation of the Blind<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>A Brief Organizational History<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The National Federation of the Blind was established in 1940. Representatives from seven states gathered in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania, for the founding<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>convention. Those seven states were: California, Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The founder and first President of the NFB was Dr. Jacobus tenBroek, a blind lawyer born in Canada but raised primarily in California. While attending<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>the California School for the Blind, Dr. tenBroek was taught and mentored by Dr. Newel Perry. Dr. Perry believed that the only way that the blind would<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>improve their situation, which back then was usually one of poverty and misery, was to come together in organizations and engage in collective action.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>In the early part of the twentieth century, Dr. Perry himself had organized the alumni of the California School for the Blind in order to—as he put it—"escape<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>defeatism and to achieve normal membership in society."<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Dr. tenBroek spent most of his working life in Berkeley teaching at the University of California. However, in his early career, during a short teaching<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>stint at the University of Chicago School of Law, he founded the National Federation of the Blind.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Today, the National Federation of the Blind has fifty-two affiliates: one in each of the fifty states, plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Federation Philosophy<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>You will probably hear conventioneers discussing what they call "Federation Philosophy." What they are talking about is the Federation's positive belief<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>system about blindness. Members of the Federation realized the simple truth many years ago that blind people are just people who cannot see—we are not<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>broken sighted people. Blind people are as different as sighted people are; that is, we are a cross-section of the broader society and, therefore, are<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>not all alike as some assume. Blindness is a physical characteristic, but it is not the characteristic that defines us or our future. It is low expectations<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>and misconceptions, not blindness itself, that stand between blind people and our dreams.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Given proper training and opportunity, blind people can and do live the lives we want. It is respectable to be blind, and, with the right tools and techniques,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>blindness may be reduced to the level of a nuisance or inconvenience. To combat the low expectations, misconceptions, and stereotypes that are the true<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>barriers to achieving our dreams, the blind have organized for the same reasons other minorities have—to make positive social change through collective<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>action. The Federation philosophy provides an overall framework for thinking about blindness, what it means, and what it doesn't mean. However, it is not<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>intended to be rigid or dogmatic. As we just said, blind people are individuals, and we may disagree on any number of things, including how to handle a<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>given situation as blind people. What our philosophy does do is give us a positive way of thinking about our blindness, rather than the negative ways in<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>which we have often been conditioned to think about it by society. Rather than saying that we as blind people can't do something, we try to find ways that<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>we can, and to challenge each other, in a loving way, to always push the envelope and expand the limits of our independence. As you read further, you'll<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>discover that, to the extent we need to formulate specific positions about blindness and the policies related to it, we use a democratic process to arrive<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>at these positions.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The National Federation of the Blind also provides encouragement and support to families with blind children and to people who are losing vision or have<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>become blind later in life, by bringing them into a network of tens of thousands of blind people who are living full lives and who can serve as mentors<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>and role models. Together, with love, hope, and determination, the members of the National Federation of the Blind transform dreams into reality.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>What is the Function of the National Convention?<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The national convention is held once each year in a location chosen by the President based upon successful negotiations for the needed space. We are able<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>to negotiate outstanding room and meeting space rates at hotels with many dining options, comprehensive room amenities, and first-rate facilities. While<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>a lot happens at the convention, it's important to remember that its primary function is to serve as the governing body for the National Federation of<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>the Blind. So, while some of the details in the following pages may seem very technical, it's important for you to understand how the convention works<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>as a governing body so that you can fully participate in selecting the leadership and setting the policy of the organization. At the convention, national<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>officers and board members are elected by the general membership, decisions concerning the organization are made, and policies are set for the following<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>year or years.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>To quote briefly from the NFB Constitution (last revised in 2014):<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>"The Convention is the supreme authority of the Federation. It is the legislature of the Federation. As such, it has final authority with respect to all<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>issues of policy. Its decisions shall be made after opportunity has been afforded for full and fair discussion. Delegates and members in attendance may<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>participate in all convention discussions as a matter of right. Any member of the Federation may make or second motions, propose nominations, and serve<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>on committees; and is eligible for election to office except that only blind members may be elected to the National Board."<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The national convention also has some very practical benefits for attendees. Those who are new to blindness and parents and teachers of blind children<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>can meet and learn from successful role models and have their expectations raised. Friendships are made and renewed, the latest adaptive technology for<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>the blind is on display, tours of interesting places can be taken in your spare time (if you have any), and hope for the future is kindled. The convention<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>is, in a sense, a large family gathering, and has been described by one observer as being analogous to an annual meeting of the Scottish clans. This means,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>of course, in addition to the serious business of the convention, there are lots of opportunities to just have fun.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>How Big is the Convention?<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>NFB national conventions have experienced enormous growth through the years. There were sixteen representatives from the seven founding states at the 1940<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>meeting. Just two years later—at a 1942 Des Moines, Iowa, meeting—one hundred fifty representatives from fifteen state affiliates were on hand. The convention<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>first recorded more than one thousand attendees in 1971 in Houston, Texas. Attendance went over the two thousand mark for the first time in 1988 in Chicago.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>By the convention held in New Orleans in 1997, registration topped more than three thousand for the first time. Currently, between two thousand eight hundred<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>and three thousand three hundred attendees will be present.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The Facilities<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>As mentioned earlier, the National Federation of the Blind is usually able to negotiate space and outstanding room rates at top-notch convention hotels<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>and facilities. This means that you'll have access to a comfortable room (which you won't spend much time in), plenty of dining options, and amenities<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>like fitness centers, swimming pools, and the like. Because we have a big convention, we need a lot of space, and sometimes navigating it can be intimidating<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>at first. That's why your agenda will include a comprehensive description of the convention facilities and where they're located. In addition, both blind<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>and sighted volunteers will be present throughout the convention to provide direction and help you get where you're going, if needed. So grab your cane<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>or harness up your guide dog, and go out there and enjoy all the convention has to offer.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The Schedule<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The NFB national convention packs an unbelievable number of activities into six days. Day one includes the parents' seminar, a national orientation and<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>mobility conference, several technology seminars, and other special meetings and events as well as the Rookie Roundup. On day two, registration begins<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>in the morning and the Resolutions Committee convenes in the afternoon. The agenda also lists other special meetings. On day three, the national board<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>of directors meeting, which is open to all, occurs in the morning and various committees, groups, and divisions gather in the afternoon and evening. Day<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>four brings the opening of the formal convention, with the roll call of states in the morning and the Presidential Report and other program items in the<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>afternoon. There are more committee and divisional meetings on the evening of day four. On day five, general convention sessions are held in both the morning<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>and the afternoon. Elections are scheduled on this day, as well. Day six is the last day of convention; the morning and afternoon general sessions are<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>followed by the annual evening banquet, a convention highlight.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Convention Agenda<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The convention agenda is available at registration and can also be obtained at a number of other locations at the convention site. Moreover, it can be<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>found on the NFB website at www.nfb.org as soon as it is final, which is usually about a month before the convention begins. The agenda gives general information<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>about the convention, hotel rates, and other hotel information, and it shows the times and locations of the various meetings and general sessions.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The Presidential Report<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>One of the major presentations each year is a report delivered by the national President to the entire convention on the Federation's activities and progress<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>during the previous year. All attendees are urged to be present for this major event, which is usually the first item on the afternoon agenda on day four.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The President will tell you and your fellow conventioneers about the legal victories we have won when blind people faced discrimination, the new programs<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>and initiatives we've started to help blind people achieve success in all aspects of life, the ways in which we're making technology more accessible to<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>the blind, and more. You'll also hear the stories of individual members who are living the lives they want.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The Banquet<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The annual banquet is the highlight of each convention. It is held on the final night of the convention.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The banquet features several national award presentations, the scholarship winners, and a major address by the national President, focusing on our philosophy<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>of blindness and designed to inspire us to continue to build the Federation.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Committees, Groups, and Divisions<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>In addition to the three days of general convention sessions, many smaller groups affiliated with the NFB hold their annual meetings during the national<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>convention. These are groups such as blind students, blind lawyers, parents and teachers of blind children, blind secretaries, blind businessmen and women,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>blind teachers, blind guide-dog users, blind computer users, blind rehabilitation professionals, blind seniors, and blind diabetics. These meetings are<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>open to all, and you will want to look at the agenda to select those which might be of interest to you. Attendees are encouraged to attend more than one<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>division meeting if they have interest in more than one area. Some of these committees or divisions collect dues, and some do not.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Registration and Banquet Ticket Purchase <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>For those who have not pre-registered online, registration starts on day two. All attendees are requested to register and the outstanding hotel group rates<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>are not available to those who do not. In addition, to be eligible for door prizes you must be registered. An official badge is issued to each registrant<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>and should be worn throughout convention week. Banquet tickets for the banquet held on the final night of convention week are available for purchase when<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>you register. Banquet tickets should be purchased as early in the convention as possible and are not available for purchase after the lunch break on day<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>four.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The Banquet Ticket Exchange<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>All convention attendees are encouraged to attend the banquet. When the convention and banquets were smaller, attendees simply went to the banquet hall,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>waited in line to enter, and found a seat once inside. Now, because more than two thousand people will be present, a system for reserved seating has been<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>developed. Purchase your banquet ticket at the time of registration. Then you can turn in that ticket to whoever is assigned to get reserved seats for<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>your affiliate or you can pool your ticket with a group of friends so that you can all sit together. Your group designee will hand in the tickets at banquet<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>exchange, and in return will get the same number of tickets, but now with an assigned table number. You should get your new ticket from the banquet exchange<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>designee and present it at the banquet. If needed, volunteers will help you find your table, and you can then enjoy the banquet with your Federation family.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>State Delegations in the General Sessions <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>During the three days of general convention sessions, the meeting hall will be set up with flags indicating the location of each of the state affiliates.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The number of seats per delegation is based upon the registration figures. It's a good idea to sit with your affiliate's delegation. In this way, people<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>can be located easily if they are needed. Moreover, official voting delegates have the membership at hand if they wish to poll the delegation on voting<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>issues or if they wish to determine the consensus of their affiliate's representatives.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>How is the Convention Run?<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>As mentioned earlier, the national convention is the supreme governing authority of the National Federation of the Blind. Consequently, important business<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>must be done at the convention in an orderly and democratic manner. The following information describes how the convention is run, including how votes<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>are taken, how resolutions are considered, and more.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>General Sessions<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The general sessions consist of program items, reports, panel discussions, elections, and official votes on policy issues. General convention sessions<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>customarily are chaired by the Federation President. Floor microphones are available for comments and questions from the audience when time permits.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Official Voting<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Usually, on votes for elections, motions, or for the adoption of resolutions (see below), the President will call for voice votes. In such cases, it is<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>usually clear that a vast majority has voted one way or another. However, if the outcome of a particular vote is not absolutely clear, then the President<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>will ask for a roll call vote. In the event of a roll call vote, only official delegates of the affiliates may vote.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>In order to be as democratic as it can be in its decision making, the Federation has decided that each state affiliate will have one vote during a roll<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>call vote. At the opening general session, each affiliate names its official voting delegate and an alternate or alternates in the event that the official<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>delegate is absent at the time of a given vote. Then, when a roll call vote is taken, only the official voting delegates may cast votes. Therefore, a maximum<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>of fifty-two official votes may be cast. The secretary keeps the official tally and announces votes once decisions have been made. The official delegate<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>may poll his or her delegation on the question or motion being considered, which is one reason why it's a good idea to sit with your affiliate's delegation.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Some have asked why the Federation has not adopted a "one person, one vote" policy. The concern with this method is that a very few large state affiliates<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>could control the outcome on every issue. Therefore, the Federation has opted to give each state equal representation, as the United States Constitution<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>does with respect to the US Senate.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Elections<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The Federation has a national board consisting of President, First Vice-President, Second Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and twelve additional board<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>members, each of whom serve for terms of two years. The five constitutional officers and six of the twelve board members are elected during national conventions<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>in even-numbered years, and the remaining six board members are elected at conventions during odd-numbered years.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>At the roll call of states held on the morning of the first general session, each affiliate announces its appointee to the Nominating Committee. The President<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>then designates one of these nominees to be Chairperson of the Nominating Committee. This committee then develops its slate of candidates during a private<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>meeting, which is closed to the general membership so that free and frank discussions may be held. Note: This is the only closed Federation meeting at<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>the national convention.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The actual elections are then held during a designated general session, usually on the morning of day five. The candidate offered for each position by<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>the Nominating Committee is first placed in nomination. The chairperson then calls for other nominations from the floor. In order to be completely open<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>and democratic, the Federation has a long-standing policy of calling for other nominations three times before a motion to close nominations will be accepted<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>by the chairperson. In this way, it can never be alleged that a quick vote has been pushed through without time for other nominations. If no other nominations<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>are made, then typically a motion to close nominations and elect the nominating committee's candidate by acclamation is offered. If other nominations are<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>made, then an election is held among the candidates nominated. The chairperson will usually try to conduct the election by voice vote of the entire convention,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>but in the event that no candidate has a clear majority, then the chairperson will conduct a roll call vote, in which only the official delegate for each<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>affiliate will participate.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>It is also long-standing policy that an individual will not stand for election unless he or she has agreed to run. This policy avoids the problem of electing<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>unwilling candidates.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Resolutions<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Resolutions are the official policy statements of the organization. Anyone may offer a resolution. The customary method is to submit a proposed resolution<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>to the Chairman of the Resolutions Committee at least two weeks before the convention. The Resolutions Committee—appointed by the President—holds a public<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>meeting on the afternoon of day two of the convention. The resolutions that have been submitted to the committee chairperson are then considered one at<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>a time. Typically the committee will allow the proponent of a resolution to speak in support of it; otherwise, although the meeting is public in order<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>to maintain full transparency, only members of the committee speak during deliberations.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>After full discussion of each resolution in turn, the committee votes either to pass or not pass. If the committee passes a particular resolution, then<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>it comes before the full convention in general session for final action. This means that there will be several days in which to debate contentious issues<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>and to try to politic for favorable votes before final convention action is taken.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>If a resolution is not passed by the committee, it can still be considered by the convention if its proponent can gather support according to the following<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>procedure: if he or she is able to enlist five state affiliates to request that the resolution be heard, then it will be considered by the entire convention<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>on the final meeting day.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Although it is somewhat rare, a resolution may also be brought to the full convention through the national board of directors. A majority of the directors<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>must support the resolution in order to bring it to the floor in this manner.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Other Things to Know<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>National Scholarships<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The Federation has an outstanding college scholarship program; it awards thirty national scholarships at each national convention, ranging in value from<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>$3,000 to $12,000. Applications close on March 31 of each year.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>As many as five hundred to seven hundred individuals apply for these scholarships annually. Each spring, the Scholarship Committee meets in Baltimore,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>evaluates the applicants, and offers scholarships to the top thirty candidates. These thirty scholars attend the national convention, with assistance from<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>the NFB. They spend each day with designated mentors.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>When the students arrive, they know that they are one of the select thirty. It is not decided until a meeting of the Scholarship Committee the night before<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>the banquet who will receive which of the scholarships.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Generally the students will all receive a scholarship; the only question is who will receive which scholarship. The winner of the top scholarship is offered<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>the opportunity to speak briefly at the banquet.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>All blind students residing and attending school in the fifty states, the District of Columbia, or Puerto Rico are invited to apply for National Federation<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>of the Blind scholarships, even if they have previously won. Those who win a second or subsequent scholarship are called tenBroek Fellows, in honor of<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>NFB founder Jacobus tenBroek.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Exhibits<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>There is a major exhibit area at each national convention. This gives convention goers the opportunity to look over all of the latest adaptive technology,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>to talk with officials from such agencies as the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped or the American Printing House for the<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Blind, and to buy items from exhibitors. Convention attendees are also invited to browse the NFB’s extensive free literature collection on display as well<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>as to examine and purchase items from the NFB store, known as the Independence Market. Because the NFB convention is the largest gathering of blind people<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>anywhere in the world, many technology companies and others who provide products and services to the blind launch new products at our convention, so you<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>will probably want to visit the exhibit space and find out what's new and noteworthy. Near the entrance of the exhibit area, you'll find an information<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>table where you can get a print or Braille map of the exhibit hall and a list of all the exhibitors and their locations.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Exhibits are open during various times throughout much of the convention, but they are closed for the general convention sessions because all conventioneers<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>are encouraged to attend these meetings.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>As with other areas of the convention, the growth in the number of exhibitors through the years has been gratifying. In Atlanta in 2004, the number of<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>exhibitors topped one hundred for the first time.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Door Prizes<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Significant door prizes are drawn throughout general convention sessions and at the banquet. To be eligible to win, you must be registered and present<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>at the meeting where the prize is drawn. Each morning session begins on time with a drawing for a $100 bill. Similar drawings occur periodically throughout<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>general sessions and at the banquet. The grand prize drawn at the banquet is much larger than the others.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Convention Fundraising<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Six different types of fundraising will be discussed during the convention. These are:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>list of 6 items<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• The White Cane Fund: A time will be set aside during the Convention when buckets will be passed through the audience to receive cash donations for the<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>White Cane Fund. Affiliates will also make gifts or pledges to this fund. These dollars go directly to the general treasury of the Federation.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• The Jacobus tenBroek Fund: Donations will also be made to this fund for the maintenance and upkeep of the NFB Jernigan Institute property. This property<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>houses the operations of the NFB and other entities.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• The Kenneth Jernigan Fund: The proceeds from this fund are used to bring a number of attendees to their first national convention. It is named for Dr.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Jernigan who planned our conventions for more than forty years and who did so much to make them what they are today.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• The Pre-Authorized Contribution (PAC) Plan: This giving opportunity enables individuals to make regular financial contributions to support the programs<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>and activities of the Federation. The PAC Plan has insured a consistent flow of monthly income to fund some of the Federation's work. By signing up for<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>the PAC Plan, a donor agrees to make an automatic monthly contribution to the Federation; the donation is withdrawn directly from a checking account or<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>charged to a credit card. The individual designates how much he or she wants to contribute each month and specifies a day of the month on which the money<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>should be withdrawn from the account. To participate in the PAC Plan, the donor must have a checking account or credit card, complete a PAC Plan card,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>sign and turn over a voided check (if the contribution is to be withdrawn from a checking account), and begin with a monthly donation of at least $5.00.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Supporters of the Federation contribute between $350,000 and $400,000 each year through this giving opportunity.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• SUN (Shares Unlimited in NFB) Shares: Supporters of the Federation are also able to make either monthly or annual donations for SUN Shares. These funds<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>are being set aside in the event that they are needed to support the Federation during difficult times.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>• The Imagination Fund: In January of 2004, the Federation held the grand opening for the first and only research and training center run by the blind,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>for the blind. Our National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute, named after our long-time president, Dr. Kenneth Jernigan, develops and implements<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>innovative programs and services that help to transform the dreams of blind people into reality. The Imagination Fund has been established to support the<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>work of the Jernigan Institute. Members and friends of the organization are asked to participate in this annual campaign by requesting contributions from<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>friends and colleagues and by providing names and addresses of individuals who may be receptive to Imagination Fund solicitations. All funds raised will<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>be used to support the research and training programs of the Jernigan Institute and our state affiliates. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>list end<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Guide Dog Relief Area<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>In order to accommodate blind guide-dog users at the national convention, arrangements are made each year to construct a special facility where the dogs<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>may be taken to relieve themselves. This special area is refreshed several times each day.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Representatives of the Guide Dog Committee are available to show first-time convention goers where to take their animals and to assist in learning individual<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>clean-up practices. Dog users are expected to use these special facilities rather than to permit their animals to relieve themselves in the streets or<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>on other hotel property.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Services for Spanish Speaking Individuals<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>All the general sessions and the banquet proceedings are translated by volunteers for attendees who speak Spanish. Small receivers may be borrowed to listen<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>to the audio transmission. A Hispanic Seminar and a Spanish Translation Committee meeting also take place during convention.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Requests for Accommodations Based on Disability<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The convention of the National Federation of the Blind is designed and implemented to be accessible especially to blind people in that materials are offered<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>in accessible formats and other nonvisual aids are provided (therefore special requests for these items are not required). If you require specific accommodations<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>based on your disability other than the blindness-related accommodations mentioned above in order to participate fully and equally in the Convention, we<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>urge you to let us know as soon as possible. Specific accommodations for which requests are required include requests for deaf or deaf-blind interpreters.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Due to the size and complexity of this convention, as well as the need to appropriately plan for additional human and other resources, requests for specific<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>accommodations must be submitted to jerniganinstitute@nfb.org no later than May 31, of the convention year.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Small receivers are available for the hearing impaired to receive direct transmissions from the public address system. For those who may be totally deaf<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>and use a deaf-blind communication device for interpreting, volunteers are present to translate the general session and the banquet proceedings. The Deaf-Blind<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Division also holds a seminar and a business meeting during convention.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Who Attends the Convention?<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Attendees may be long-time convention goers, the newly blinded, parents and teachers of blind children, blindness professionals who are interested in becoming<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>more knowledgeable about blindness, adaptive-technology providers, and family members of people who are blind. Most attendees are from the United States,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>although each year there are foreign visitors from as many as twenty other countries.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>A Life-Changing Experience<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>For many, attendance at that very first convention has become a life-changing experience. Many hear for the very first time that it is respectable to be<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>blind, that carrying a cane is useful and is nothing to be ashamed of, that Braille is a valuable tool after all, and that much progress is being made<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>in adaptive technology. Attendees also learn that they are not alone, that there are others who are facing the same problems they are, and that an active<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>and normal life is possible and within their reach. Some learn for the first time that there are orientation and adjustment centers where blind people<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>can be sent by their rehabilitation counselors to learn the skills of blindness and the positive attitudes which lead to personal empowerment. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>We hope that by attending our convention your expectations of yourself are raised, so that blindness is no longer the characteristic that defines you or<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>your future, and that low expectations no longer stand between you and your dreams. We want you to become empowered to live the life you want.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The President's Wrap-Up<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>block quote<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I hope this information has been helpful to you and that it has given you a sense of the significant role the national convention plays in the life of<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>the NFB. I also hope your interest has been piqued and that you will continue to be an active member of our movement via your local chapter and state affiliate.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Let this convention experience mark the first of many others in your life. We need your voice and your talents. Working together, with love, hope, and<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>determination, we will continue to make a difference in the lives of blind people everywhere and transform our dreams into reality. — NFB President Mark<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>A. Riccobono<o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>