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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Convention Bulletin 2023<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Hilton Americas-Houston Convention Center Hotel<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>There are plenty of reasons one might travel to Houston, Texas, the fourth most populous city in the United States. One might visit for the nearly three-week-long<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. The city’s vibrant arts scene boasts the largest concentration of theater seats outside of New York City. And no Houston<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>resident would let a visitor forget that the city is home to the 2022 World Series Champion Houston Astros. There is little question that Houston has a<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>great deal going for it. The city’s real draw, however, is that it will play host to the National Federation of the Blind’s 2023 National Convention.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>It has now been more than fifty years since the largest gathering of the organized blind last convened in Houston, Texas, and our return in 2023 will be<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>an event not to be missed. The Hilton Americas-Houston hotel (1600 Lamar Street, Houston, TX 77010) will serve as our convention headquarters hotel. Situated<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>in the heart of downtown Houston across the street from the beautiful twelve-acre Discovery Green Park, the Hilton Americas is an ideal location for our<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>annual event. Ballrooms, breakout space, and sleeping rooms are all stacked in the same tower housed on a single city block, simplifying navigation and<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>minimizing travel distances. In-room internet is complimentary to all attendees as is access to the health club and swimming pool on the 22nd floor. There<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>are several dining options on the hotel’s lobby level (including a Starbucks for those of you requiring a caffeine fix) and many more choices within easy<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>walking distance from the Hilton’s front door.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The nightly rate at the Hilton Americas-Houston is $105 for singles, doubles, triples, and quads. In addition, the sales tax rate is 8.25 percent, and<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>the hotel occupancy tax rate is 17 percent. To book your room for the 2023 convention, call 1-800-236-2905 after January 1 and ask for the “NFB Convention”<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>block. For each room, the hotel will take a deposit of the first night’s room rate and taxes and will require a credit card or a personal check. If you<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>use a credit card, the deposit will be charged against your card immediately. If a reservation is cancelled before Monday, June 1, 2023, half of the deposit<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>will be returned. Otherwise refunds will not be made.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>We have also secured overflow space at the wonderful Marriott Marquis Houston. The Marriott is only a three-block walk directly across Discovery Green,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>or attendees can walk entirely indoors through the George R. Brown convention center, connecting both hotels on the second level. You will find many of<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>the same amenities at the Marriott as well as a Texas-shaped lazy river pool. The room rate at the Marriott Marquis is a slightly higher $119 per night<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>for singles, doubles, triples, and quads. To book a room, call 1-877-622-3056 after January 1. Again, ask for the “NFB Convention” block. Similarly, the<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>same deposit and cancellation policies apply.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The 2023 convention of the National Federation of the Blind will be a truly exciting and memorable event, with an unparalleled program and rededication<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>to the goals and work of our movement. A wide range of seminars for parents of blind children, technology enthusiasts, job seekers, and other groups will<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>kick the week off on Saturday, July 1. Convention registration and registration packet pick-up will also open on Saturday. Breakout sessions continue on<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Sunday along with committee meetings. Monday, July 3, will kick off with the annual meeting, open to all, of the Board of Directors of the National Federation<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>of the Blind. National division meetings will follow the board meeting that afternoon and evening. General convention sessions will begin on Tuesday, July<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>4, and continue through the afternoon of Thursday, July 6. Convention ends on a high note with the banquet Thursday evening so be sure to pack your fancy<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>clothes. The fall of the gavel at the close of banquet will signal convention’s adjournment.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Remember that as usual we need door prizes from state affiliates, local chapters, and individuals. Once again prizes should be small in size but large<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>in value. Cash, of course, is always appropriate and welcome. As a rule, we ask that prizes of all kinds have a value of at least $25 and not include alcohol.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Drawings will occur steadily throughout the convention sessions, and you can anticipate a Texas-sized grand prize to be drawn at the banquet. You may bring<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>door prizes with you to convention or send them in advance to the National Federation of the Blind of Texas at 1600 E Highway 6, Suite 215, Alvin, TX 77511.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The best collection of exhibits featuring new technology; meetings of our special interest groups, committees, and divisions; the most stimulating and<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>provocative program items of any meeting of the blind in the world; the chance to renew friendships in our Federation family; and the unparalleled opportunity<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>to be where the real action is and where decisions are being made—all of these mean you will not want to miss being a part of the 2023 National Convention.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>To assure yourself a room in the headquarters hotel at convention rates, make your reservations early. We plan to see you in Houston in July.<o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>