[NFBOK-Talk] NFBOK 2020 Convention
Jeannie Massay
jmassay1 at cox.net
Wed Mar 4 20:34:08 UTC 2020
National Federation of the Blind of Oklahoma
2020 State Convention
March 26-29, 2020
"We know who we are, do you"
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.
Our 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.
Embassy Suites Northwest
3233 Northwest Expressway
Oklahoma City, OK 73112
405-842-3152
Hotel reservations
Room reservations must be made by each participant by March 12, 2019. The
room rate for singles and doubles is $114.00 for a King Studio and $129.00
for a 2 room, 2 Queen bed suite + tax. For more than 2 guests there will be
an upcharge of $10 per evening. Embassy Suites offers a FREE full breakfast
with each overnight stay. You may book by calling the Embassy Suites
directly at the number listed above for reservations or by going directly to
this link:
https://secure3.hilton.com/en_US/es/reservation/book.htm?inputModule=HOTEL&c
tyhocn=OKCONES&spec_plan=CESNFB&arrival=20200324&departure=20200331&cid=OM,W
W,HILTONLINK,EN,DirectLink&fromId=HILTONLINKDIRECT
Convention Rates and Packages:
Convention Package - Saves you money!
Preregistration - $95.00 thru 5:00 PM, March 20, 2020. Includes
Registration, Friday Luncheon, Boxed lunch for Saturday, and 1 Banquet meal
for Saturday evening.
Ala Carte Pricing (Listed below are pre-registration rates. At the door add
$5 to each.)
Registration - $25.00
Friday Luncheon - $15
Saturday Boxed Lunch - $25
Saturday Banquet Meal - $45.00
*If you require specialized meal ACCOMODATIONS, please indicate so on your
registration. If you do not indicate a meal accommodation on your
registration we cannot guarantee that special requests can be honored.
You may pre-register and pay online using a Pay Pal account or credit card.
You may also register and pay at the door. The following link will take you
directly to the registration page on our website:
<http://nfbok.org/convention-registration/>
http://nfbok.org/convention-registration/
Should you have questions about convention registration please contact
Glenda Farnum by phone at 405-255-6482 or by e-mail at Gfarnum5474 at gmail.com
Should you have questions about the NFBOK 2020 convention, please contact
Audrey Farnum, 405-590-6110 or Glenda Farnum at405-255-6482. Audrey and
Glenda are serving as co-chairs for this year's Convention Arrangements
Committee.
This year's convention is shaping up nicely! We are happy to welcome our
national representative, Adelmo Vigil. Adelmo serves as President of the
National Federation of the Blind of New Mexico and on the Board of Directors
of the National Federation of the Blind. Adelmo has a lot of work
experience and years of experience in the National Federation of the Blind
to share with us. Please welcome Adelmo and his wife, Soledad, to our great
state! Adelmo will also lead several break-out sessions that you will not
want to miss.
Adelmo Vigil was born in the small community of Amalia, New Mexico, in 1951.
He was adopted as a baby by his aunt and uncle and raised as an only child
on their small ranch. Although it was clear very early that he did not have
normal vision, his parents expected him to handle his share of the chores,
which included caring for the horses, cows, sheep, and goats. At the age of
five Adelmo received the official diagnosis of retinitis pigmentosa. He
began his education in the local public school, but no one there had any
expertise in the needs of blind students. Adelmo was not taught Braille,
could not read the print that he was expected to use, and therefore did not
read or write well. In 1964 when he was thirteen, his parents decided to
enroll him in the New Mexico School for the Blind. Although the family did
not wish to be separated, it was their hope that Adelmo would receive a
better education at the residential school.
Adelmo's first two years at the school for the blind were no different from
his public school education--he was still encouraged to use his limited
vision. He remembers that each weekend he had to write an essay for his
English class to be submitted and read aloud on Monday. Adelmo would write
the piece and memorize it, because he could not read his own writing. But,
after two years of struggling, he went to an eye examination and was told by
the school nurse who had accompanied him to the appointment, "I have some
bad news for you. You're going to have to learn Braille." The relieved
Adelmo responded, "That is the best news I've ever heard. Maybe I'll learn
to read now."
Passionate about mentoring and teaching young people, Adelmo pursued a
degree in elementary education at Western New Mexico University. There he
met his wife Soledad, who was also pursuing a teaching career; they were
married in 1975. When he began to seek employment in the Silver City area,
where he had been a successful student teacher, Adelmo encountered
discrimination for the first time. None of the local schools could hire him,
because his name was not on the list of teachers available for hiring
provided by the district administration, even though he had completed his
student teaching at one of the district schools. Fortunately, his student
teaching supervisor, Travis Columbus, believed in Adelmo's capabilities and
helped him file a complaint against the district with the New Mexico Human
Rights Commission. Ultimately, in 1977 Adelmo applied for a position in
Shiprock, New Mexico, and began his teaching career. The principal at
Adelmo's first school in Shiprock would not assign him to some of the
routine responsibilities expected of other teachers, such as supervising
students during recess, but when Adelmo transferred to a different school,
the principal there was eager to have him not only assume all the duties of
other teachers, but to serve on the curriculum committee and in various
other roles. Adelmo gained a reputation of being gifted with difficult
students, and parents were asking for their children to be in his classes.
He also coached junior high and high school wrestling.
Adelmo's experiences teaching sighted students and combatting discrimination
earned him an invitation to speak at the 1982 convention of the
<https://www.nfb.org/about-us/state-affiliates/new-mexico> National
Federation of the Blind of New Mexico in Albuquerque. That convention and
his first national convention a year later were revelations to Adelmo. "I
realized that I was not alone in facing challenges and discrimination and
that I had the Federation family behind me. I also learned that the progress
I had been able to make and that other blind people were making was due to
the work that the National Federation of the blind had been doing since its
inception," he says. Adelmo immediately became involved in the affiliate and
has served in various roles since that time, culminating in his election as
affiliate president in 2012.
Adelmo's passion for helping his blind brothers and sisters also led to his
second career. In 1989 he was appointed to the Board of Regents of the New
Mexico School for the Blind, a position from which he helped engineer the
school's dropping of its NAC accreditation. In 1993 he moved to Alamogordo
to take a position as director of the New Mexico Commission for the Blind's
orientation and adjustment to blindness center. In 1997 he became deputy
director of the Commission and continued to serve in various roles there for
the next ten years. He was particularly passionate about working with young
adults in the commission's summer programs. He retired in 2007 but jokes
that he has retired three additional times since then. In 2009 he received
training as an orientation and mobility instructor through Louisiana Tech
and has received the National Orientation and Mobility Certification (NOMC)
from the National Blindness Professional Certification Board. He went on to
supervise and mentor other blind travel instructors.
Adelmo was elected to the NFB Board of Directors in 2016. He says, "I am
honored and humbled to serve on the board and to give back the
encouragement, support, and love that I have received from my Federation
family. I remain passionate about helping the blind live the lives they
want, particularly young people, and will do my utmost to build the National
Federation of the Blind and to advance our goals."
Adelmo and Soledad live in Alamogordo. They have two sons, Adrian and
Gabriel, and six grandchildren so far.
We are also happy to welcome Carlton Anne Cook Walker to our convention this
year. Carlton serves as President of the National Organization of Parents of
Blind Children (NOPBC), a proud division of the National Federation of the
Blind. She is also an Attorney at Law and Principal of BEAR (Blindness
Education and Advocacy Resources)
Carlton Anne Cook Walker is an attorney in solo practice in Carlisle,
Pennsylvania. She also heads BEAR (Blindness Education and Advocacy
Resources), an education consultancy business. Ms. Cook Walker also serves
as the President of the National Organization of Parents of Blind Children,
the parent division of the National Federation of the Blind.
For more than a decade, Ms. Cook Walker has provided advocacy for families
of blind and low vision children, and she has spoken on legal topics related
to blindness to attorneys, state agencies, education professionals,
advocates, and parents throughout the nation. In addition, Ms. Cook Walker
is a certified teacher of students with blindness and visual and multiple
impairments. She worked as an itinerant teacher of blind and low-vision
students in South Central Pennsylvania for more than six years and then as
Manager of Braille Education Programs for the National Federation of the
Blind.
Ms. Cook Walker is a graduate of North Carolina State University (B.A.,
B.S., and B.S,) in Raleigh, NC, of the University of North Carolina at
Greensboro (M.B.A.), Wake Forest University School of Law (J.D.) in
Winston-Salem, NC, and Salus University in Elkins Park, PA (M.Ed.).
Hotel Description
A description of the hotel can be found at the end of the agenda.
Registration
Registration on Thursday March 26 will be from 5:00 - 7:00 outside of the
"Welcome to Convention" reception located to the
Registration on Friday, March 27, will be from 7:30 - 8:45 AM in the
Registration on Saturday, March 28, will be from 7:30 - 8:45 AM in the
If you have not registered by Sunday, March 29, please locate Glenda Farnum
at the head table to register.
Exhibit Hall
The Exhibit Hall will be open for our members on Friday, March 27 from 1:00
to 7:00 PM and on Saturday, March 28 from 8:30 to 12:30. To register for
Exhibitor door prizes you must visit the exhibit hall and get your exhibit
hall card stamped by each participating exhibitor. Drawings will be held at
the banquet on the evening of March 28. You must be present to win.
Door prizes& Action Auction items
Please bring door prizes and Action Auction items to the Registration table.
Action Auction items will be on display during the hours that the Exhibit
Hall is open. Similar to a Silent Auction, bid sheets will be placed for
each item with the last bid being taken when the Exhibit Hall doors close.
The Action Auction will occur throughout General Session on Saturday
afternoon. The live Action Auction bidding begins where the silent bids
ended. All proceeds go to the Live the Life You Want fund established in
2016. The Live the Life YOU Want fund is the Member Development fund of the
National Federation of the Blind of Oklahoma. The fund provides assistance
to members in the form of scholarships to attend state and national
conventions, Washington Seminar and to further educational opportunities.
Thursday March 26
7:00 - 10:00 Welcome to Convention" reception-.)
If this is your first time to the NFB of Oklahoma convention or if this is
your 45th convention, this session is for you! It is for everyone!! Meet up
with old friends and make new ones. Learn about what your convention
experience can be and meet many leaders and long term Federationists who
will show you the ropes and lead you in navigating convention. All are
welcome.
Light hors d'oeuvres will be available along with a cash bar.
Friday, March 27
7:30-8:50 Registration -
9:00 - 12:15 General Session -
9:00 - 9:05 Welcome- Jeannie Massay, President, NFBOK
9:05 - 9:10 Convention Arrangements & Announcements - Glenda
Farnum
9:10 - 9:40 NFB Membership Pledge
9:40 - 10:30 National Report -Adelmo Vigil, Board member,
National Federation of the Blind, President, National Federation of the
Blind of New Mexico
10:30 - 11:00 Learning the Skills of Blindness
11:00- 11:15 News from the U.S. Census Bureau - Nyree
Cunningham-Pulllen, Partnership Specialist, U.S. Census Bureau
11:15 - 11:30 Oklahoma Election board
11:30 - 11:45 Carlton Walker - National Organization of Parents of
Blind Children, President
11:45 - 12:00 News from the Department of Special Education - Todd
Loftin, Executive director, Oklahoma Department of Education, Special
Education Services (unconfirmed on time)
12:15 - 1:45 Luncheon hosted by NFB Newsline
Newsline presentation, Audrey Farnum, 1st Vice President, Mike Floyd, 2nd
Vice President and Steve Shelton, Board Member, NFBOK
2:00 - 3:30 Round 1 Break - out sessions
2:00 - 3:30 Navigating your child's/ teen's IEP - Do you have
questions about what your rights are regarding the IEP process, how to
determine and get what your child /teen needs to become a confident
traveler, a good technology user and a great braille reader? Come to this
session! Presentation and discussion about everything a blind youth will
need to become an independent , confident adult.
Carlton Ann Cook Walker, Mother of a blind teen, Teacher of Blind Students
and Attorney.
2:00 - 3:30 Finding peace in your daily life - Introduction to
meditation and breathing to regulate emotion and start your days off from a
great perspective.
Jeannie Massay, President NFBOK and Licensed Professional Counselor
2:00 - 3:30 Blind people do what? Row, bike, ski and more!
Learn more about all of these activities and how you can make them a part of
your life.
Audrey Farnum, 1st Vice President, NFBOK, President, Central Oklahoma
Chapter
3:45 - 5:15 Round 2 Break - out sessions
3:45 - 5:15 Helping our clients find their path to living the
lives they want: Effective, ethical and successful work with blind clients
in Rehabilitation. The model for the best outcomes.
Adelmo Vigil
3:45 - 5:15 Self-Advocacy: Your Rights and Responsibilities
Are you confused by the Rehabilitation process? Learn about what your
responsibilities are as a client and what your rights are according to the
Rehabilitation Act.
Glenda Farnum and Fatos Floyd
3:45 - 5:15 Accessibility at work and in the classroom -
Discussion about accessibility at school and work. What you need to know to
be an effective, efficient and productive student or employee.
Audrey Farnum and Brayan Zamarripa
5:15 - 7:30 Dinner on your own!, There are a number of
restaurants in the general vicinity of the hotel Most are a short Uber, Lyft
or Cab ride away.
7:45 - 9:30 Resolutions Committee -
Steve Shelton, Chair
Any member may submit, at least 1 week in advance of the convention, a
resolution which may be considered by the Committee. All members are
encouraged to attend as this is where you will learn about the resolutions
for this year. Resolutions which pass the committee will then be voted on by
the membership at our annual business meeting on Sunday, April 15th.
Resolutions are the birth place of what becomes the policy and action of our
affiliate.
Resolutions for consideration may be sent to Steve Shelton at
steve at sbshelton.com <mailto:steve at sbshelton.com>
Saturday, March 28
8:15 - 9:00 Walk this Way!
Come join in an interactive cane walk. Learn tips and techniques to use the
long white cane and dispel the misperceptions about why we use long white
canes. Meet in the
9:15 - 10:45 Round 1 Break - out sessions
9:15 - 10:45 Living the Good Life: Independent home skills: Tips
and tricks for non-visual techniques at home Do you have questions about
doing any of the things necessary to run your home?. Questions will be
answered by the experts!
Glenda Farnum & Fatos Floyd
9:15 - 10:45 Learning the skills of blindness: Do I need them? A
discussion of training centers, what you can expect and what they can give
you if you put the effort in.
Adelmo Vigil
9:15 - 10:45 What is the National Federation of the Blind? -
Join long-time Federationists and those who are new to the Federation to
learn about who we are, what we do and how you can become a part of living
the life you want and helping others to do the same
Jeannie Massay and Mike Floyd
11:00 - 12:15 Round 2 Break - out sessions
11:00 - 12:15 Structured Discovery: What is it really -
Do you know what structured discovery is? Never heard of it or think you
know? Learn exactly what it is and what we mean when we talk about it.
Adelmo Vigil
11:00 - 12:15 Legislative Seminar: Our current legislative
priorities in Oklahoma and the nation
Steve Shelton, Brayan Zammarippa, rilee Sloan and Jenna Adair
11:00 - 12:15 Learning to be an advocate for others. Want to learn
how to be an effective advocate for yourself and others? This is the place
for you!
Carlton Ann Cook Walker
12:15 - 2:15 Lunch!
Grab your Boxed Lunch () and find a Division of the NFBOK you may be
interested in: OABM (Oklahoma Association of Blind Merchants(, Oklahoma
Blind Students group, or Parents of Blind Children. If you are not
specifically a member of any of the above but have interest in helping out
please join in wherever you feel that you fit best!
Oklahoma Blind Students Group -
Oklahoma Association of Blind Merchants-
Parents of Blind children -
2:15 - 5:15 General Session
2:15 - 2:25 Action Auction
2:25 - 2:45 Advocating for my child: my family's journey
Carlton Ann Cook Walker
2:45 - 2:55 Action Auction
2:55 - 3:25 Blind students: Making our way at university -
Brayan Zamarripa , Jenna Adair and Rilee Sloan
3:25 - 3:35 Action Auction!
3:35 - 4:05 NFBOK President's Report, Jeannie Massay
4:05 - 4:15 Action Auction
4:15 - 4:30 Hitting the slopes; Blind people ski!
Audrey Farnum
4:30 - 4:40 Action Auction
4:40 - 4:50 PAC & other funds update, Glenda Farnum
4:50 - 5:00 Action Auction
5:00 Adjourn
5:15 Nominating Committee - TBD
Meeting closed to all but those serving on the Nominating Committee
6:00 Pre-banquet reception (Cash bar available
7:00 - 10:00 Banquet
Keynote address: Adelmo Vigil , President, National Federation of the Blind
of New Mexico , Board member. National Federation of the Blind, and, most
importantly, member, National Federation of the Blind!
Sunday, March 29, 2019
9:30 - 10:30 NFBOK Board Meeting (all are invited to attend)
Secretary's Report -Brayan Zammarippa, Secretary
Treasurer's Report - Glenda Farnum, Treasurer, NFBOK
10:30 - 10:50 Resolutions Committee Report to the Membership
followed by a vote of the dues paying members present.
10:50- 10:55 Nominating Committee Report
10:55 - 11:10 Elections
11:10 - 11:55 Doing the work of the Federation: Committee check-in
meetings
11:55 - 12:00 Closing remarks - the President
12:00 Adjourn
** Remember to sign up for committees that you may be interested in helping
out with! See Jeannie at any time during convention.
Sponsors & Exhibitors
We would like to take a special opportunity to thank our Sponsors and
Exhibitors. Our convention would not be the same without you! We appreciate
your sponsorship and donations along with those of you who chose to exhibit
with us this year.
Bronze Level Sponsors:
Sponsors:
NFB Newsline
National Federation of the blind of Oklahoma
Exhibitors:
Hotel description
Have a great time during convention!
For everyone who took the time to come to our convention, we thank you for
the opportunity you have given us to let you get to know us and for us to
get to know you. We have local chapter meetings in Oklahoma City, Lawton
and Tulsa and are geared to charter a chapter in Norman. We invite you to
attend a meeting and welcome you to do so. For information on our chapters
please go to www.nfbok.org <http://www.nfbok.org>
. If you are interested in organizing a chapter in your city or town please
let us know and we will help you do so.
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