[NFBP-Brandywine] Federation Focus: No Coffee Wednesday, But Caucus on Sunday

Mon Jun 29 19:49:28 UTC 2026

Hey there, PA Federation Family and Friends,

It looks like whether you're going to Austin or staying put here in 
Pennsylvania, it is going to be hot this week!

It's convention week, and Federation Focus [1] for June 29, 2026, has 
everything you need to know before the National Federation of the Blind 
National Convention in Austin. David Goldstein shares an important 
reminder that there will be no Coffee with the President this month, 
then gives details about the NFB of Pennsylvania caucus on Sunday, July 
5, at 5:00 PM Central in Room 305 at the JW Marriott, with Zoom access 
planned at 6:00 PM Eastern through NFBofPA.org/Austin.

This week's update also includes fundraisers from the Greater Lehigh 
Valley and Greater Philadelphia chapters, the Coast to Coast Movement 
Challenge, Philadelphia Marathon opportunities, and virtual registration 
for National Convention. Stick around after the update for Convention 
101, a special PABS webinar with Noor Khraisat, Leen Khraisat, Daud 
Yasar, Lynn Heitz, David Goldstein, and Harriet Danner.

Scroll down for all the links!

Meetings

Sunday, July 5, 2026, at 6:00 PM EDT (5:00 PM CDT - Austin)
Affiliate Caucus at National Convention
https://nfb-org.zoom.us/j/96349504843?pwd=Tk5zL3RRRnd4QjRiRzl2ODM0bEJmQT09
One tap mobile
+16469313860,,96349504843#

Fundraisers

AbsentTea

Support the National Federation of the Blind of Pennsylvania without 
ever leaving your home through the AbsentTea--the most charming event 
you'll never attend. This unique fundraiser celebrates all the elegance 
of a traditional tea party without the travel, crowds, or scheduling 
stress. Your participation helps older adults experiencing vision loss 
across Pennsylvania gain access to mentoring, resources, independence 
training, and opportunities to remain active and engaged in their 
communities. Join the AbsentTea by October 15, 2026, and make a 
meaningful difference for blind Pennsylvanians while enjoying the 
easiest event you'll never attend. Give at 
https://www.nfbofpa.org/absenttea and read more at 
https://nfbofpa.org/blog/most-charming-event-youll-never-attend

Coast-to-Coast Movement Challenge

Join the 2026 Coast-to-Coast Movement Challenge--a nationwide effort for 
NFB chapters and affiliates to raise awareness, deepen connections, and 
generate support for our mission. Learn more at https://nfb.org/movers.

Support both the Keystone Chapter and the Greater Philadelphia Chapter 
by going to https://nfb.org/contribute/C2C and making a donation. At the 
bottom of the form, there is a field called notes. Enter either NFB of 
PA Keystone Chapter or NFB of PA Greater Philadelphia Chapter in the 
field so the chapter gets credit for your donation. If you want to 
support both chapters, you must make two donations.

Philadelphia Marathon

For the first time, the NFB is a Silver charity partner of the 
Philadelphia Marathon, with marathon, half-marathon, and 8K races. Join 
Team NFB Dreamers and run in support of the NFB. To get involved, 
contact Rachel Held at rheld at nfb.org  or 410-659-9314, ext. 2423.

Dancing in the Dark to be Dancing in the Light

The Greater Lehigh Valley Chapter is holding its annual event at the 
Northampton Country Club in Easton on October 10, 2026. Contact Jemmie 
Jones at pidgeon1212 at gmail.com for more information.

Greater Philadelphia Chapter Cabaret Fundraiser

Join the Greater Philadelphia Chapter for a night of music, fun, and 
community at our Cabaret Fundraiser on Friday, October 30, from 7:00 to 
11:00 PM at 800 W. Albany Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19120. Tickets are $40, 
and this 21-and-over event is BYOB. No coolers or ice, please, but a 
setup with an ice bucket and cups will be available for purchase. Enjoy 
raffles, door prizes, limited food, and the option to bring your own 
food. Tickets are available only through Greater Philadelphia Chapter 
members, so connect with a member today to reserve your spot.

National Convention Virtually

If you can't be in Austin for the 2026 National Convention, you can 
still participate! Learn more at 
https://nfb.org/get-involved/national-convention/national-convention-virtual-experience. 
Register at https://nfb.org/civicrm/event/register?id=640&reset=1 [2].

2026 NFB of PA State Convention Registration is Open

Register now for our annual State Convention in Hershey from November 5 
- 8. Register at https://www.nfbofpa.org/register.  Learn more about it 
at https://www.nfbofpa.org/state-convention.

State Convention Hotel Room Block

Secure your stay for the National Federation of the Blind of 
Pennsylvania State Convention at the Hershey Lodge! Guest rooms are 
available from November 4-9, 2026, at a special rate of $149 per night 
(plus taxes and fees). To book online, please copy and paste 
https://book.rguest.com/wbe/group/1294/Hersheylodge/auth [3] into your 
browser; enter Group ID: 10524996 and Passcode: NFBLODGE26 (both are 
case-sensitive). If you prefer to speak with a representative, call 
855-729-3108 between 8 AM and 8 PM and mention the National Federation 
of the Blind room block. Since this is a new booking system, ensure you 
search for your specific dates to see accurate availability.

White Canes Connect

In this episode, the Pennsylvania Association of Blind Students leads a 
Convention 101 conversation for anyone preparing to attend the NFB 
National Convention in Austin. The questions come from students and 
first-time attendees, while the answers come from leaders who have 
learned how to navigate the week through experience. Read the article at 
https://www.whitecanesconnect.com/155 for more resources, travel tips 
and Austin restaurant suggestions.

Listen on your favorite podcast player or at:

Apple Podcasts

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rookie-roundup-to-banquet-a-first-timers-guide-to/id1592248709?i=1000774590917

Spotify

https://open.spotify.com/episode/5hWJkv2KCP0F6sSXX6m64Y

YouTube (audio only)
https://youtu.be/TrX0IqdBL0Q?si=2DSSDFNWWfJQjMEE

Website
https://www.whitecanesconnect.com/155/

White Canes Connect is on Two Best Visually Impaired Podcast Lists

FeedSpot: https://podcast.feedspot.com/visually_impaired_podcasts/.

Million Podcasts: 
https://www.millionpodcasts.com/visually-impaired-podcasts/?utm_source=smtp&utm_medium=F1_email&utm_content=template_b 
[4]

NFB-NEWSLINE(R)

Learn more about NFB-NEWSLINE(R) at https://nfbofpa.org/nfb-newsline. 
Want to subscribe? Call (866)504-7300.

Braille Monitor

The Braille Monitor is the NFB's flagship publication. Learn more about 
it at https://nfb.org/resources/publications-and-media/braille-monitor.

Independence Market Online

The Independence Market is available online! Explore their product 
offerings and make a purchase at https://catalog.nfb.org/.

I can't wait to see you in Austin!

Regards,

David

-- 
David B. Goldstein
david at iCantCU.com
   (610) 715-5020 mobile
www.iCantCU.com [5]
iCantCU Podcast
Apple Podcasts [6] | Spotify [7] | Watch on YouTube [8]
Support The Podcast When You Shop
Amazon [9]
Connect with me:
Twitter [10] | Instagram [11] | LinkedIn [12] | Facebook [13]
My Other Show: White Canes Connect
Apple Podcasts [14] | Spotify [15] | YouTube [16]

Links:
------
[1] https://youtu.be/66VuDOkcYtE
[2] https://nfb.org/civicrm/event/register?id=640&reset=1
[3] https://book.rguest.com/wbe/group/1294/Hersheylodge/auth
[4] 
https://www.millionpodcasts.com/visually-impaired-podcasts/?utm_source=smtp&utm_medium=F1_email&utm_content=template_b
[5] http://www.iCantCU.com
[6] https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/icantcu-podcast/id1445801370
[7] https://open.spotify.com/show/3nck2D5HgD9ckSaUQaWwW2
[8] https://www.youtube.com/@icantcu/
[9] https://www.icantcu.com/amazon
[10] https://twitter.com/davidbenj
[11] https://www.instagram.com/davidbenj/
[12] https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidbenj
[13] https://www.facebook.com/davidbenj
[14] 
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/white-canes-connect/id1592248709
[15] https://open.spotify.com/show/1YDQSJqpoteGb1UMPwRSuI
[16] https://www.youtube.com/@pablindpodcast
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