[Nfbv-announce] State Convention Agenda

[Fredric Schroeder]

53rd ANNUAL CONVENTION

NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND OF VIRGINIA
Voice of the Nation's Blind


Fredric Schroeder, President
Presidential Suite, Room 728

November 4 - 6, 2011


Wyndham Virginia Beach Oceanfront hotel,
5700 Atlantic Avenue
Virginia Beach, Virginia 23451
(757) 428-7025 or (800) 365-3032


Hosted by the Chesapeake Bay Chapter of the 
National Federation of the Blind of Virginia 
Mary Durbin, President


THE FEDERATION 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 policies and programs of the Federation; and to abide by its
Constitution."

 
Convention Registration 
Convention Registration will be located in the Atlantic Foyer. The cost of
registration is $15.00. Registration will be open on Friday, November 4,
from 12:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M. and on Saturday, November 5, from 8:00 A.M. to
10:00 A.M. and from 1:00 P.M. to 2:00 P.M. Door prizes and auction items can
be brought to the registration desk beginning Friday morning. 

Meal Functions 
Tickets for all meal functions are available at the registration desk. 

Banquet: Banquet tickets are $30.00.

Box Lunch: Box Lunch tickets for Saturday noon are $15.00 and are only
guaranteed if purchased in advance on the convention pre-registration form.
A limited number will be available for purchase at the convention. Banquet
and Box Lunch Tickets must be purchased by 10:00 A.M. on Saturday, November
5. 

Banquet Ticket Exchange
We will have reserved seating for the banquet. Those wishing to sit together
at the banquet should designate one person to collect banquet tickets from
those individuals. All tickets should be brought to the registration table
no later than 2:00 P.M. on Saturday and exchanged for tickets with a
designated table number.

Note: For more information about registration, meal functions, or the
banquet ticket exchange, please contact Michael Kasey at (540) 760-3885.

Door Prizes
Door prizes will be drawn periodically throughout convention sessions on
Saturday and Sunday and at the Banquet. To be eligible for door prizes, you
must be registered for the convention and present in the room when your name
is called.

Action Auction
Throughout the day on Saturday, we will be holding an Action Auction to
raise money for the affiliate. The auction will be great fun with many
valuable items up for bid. You will have a chance to preview auction items
on Friday afternoon in the exhibit area. For more information contact Jacki
Brown, Chairperson and Auctioneer.

Contact Table
If you are looking for assistance from the NFBV (such as assistance for a
blind student, pursuing vocational rehabilitation training, advocating for
yourself at work, or a legal matter), please submit your information and
request at the Contact Table. After the convention, a member of the NFBV
will contact you. In addition, if you are interested in receiving regular
updates about our programs and legislative efforts, please also visit the
Contact Table. The table will be open during the board meeting, after the
opening ceremonies on Saturday, at the end of the banquet, and all morning
Sunday. For more information, please contact Corbb O'Connor at (202)
684-6130.

Youth Track
This year we are offering special programming for students in grades 6
through 12. Youth Track activities begin Friday evening with an informal
get-together with a career professional focus and will continue throughout
the weekend.

Childcare
Childcare is available for children of convention attendees in Room 201 of
the hotel. Our experienced childcare workers will care for infants through
fifth graders and will have activities and games to entertain them. For more
information contact Becky Slater, Childcare Coordinator. 

Assistive Listening Devices
A limited number of assistive listening devices are available during all
convention sessions and at the banquet. Please contact the registration
desk, located in the Atlantic Foyer, for an assistive listening device.
 
Friday, November 4, 2011

9:00 A.M. - 11:30 A.M. NFBV Board of Directors Meeting (Open to All):
Rappahannock Room 

12:00 P.M. - 9:00 P.M. Registration: Atlantic Foyer

12:00 P.M. - 5:00 P.M. Exhibits: Atlantic Foyer

1:00 P.M. - 2:15 P.M. Schedule A Hiring Authority: James Room
Take the mystery out of Schedule A, the Government's disability preference
program. Join Elena Boyer from the Department of Rehabilitative Services as
she explains how to use Schedule A to reach a positive employment outcome in
Government service. You will learn how to use the Schedule A program, and
you will learn what hiring authorities are looking for and how to market
yourself so that you don't miss out on this opportunity to ensure people
with disabilities are represented in our federal government.

2:30 P.M. - 3:30 P.M. Social Security Work Incentives: James Room
Take the fear away from going back to work! Many people are scared that when
they go to work, their Social Security benefits and insurance will
disappear. Learn about the impact of work on your Social Security benefits
and how work incentives may assist you to keep benefits or work your way off
of those benefits as Social Security has put incentives in place so that
returning to the workforce won't be so difficult. Join Frances Durham, a
certified Benefits Counselor as she discusses how work incentives can assist
you to take the next step towards improving the quality of your life through
meaningful work. Nikki Jeffords from DBVI will also provide some tips on how
the Vocational Rehabilitation Program can assist in enticing employers to
give you the opportunity to show your worth by changing their attitudes
about what it means to be blind.

3:45 P.M. - 4:45 P.M. I Phone App Seminar: James Room
Mary Durbin, Corresponding Secretary NFB of Virginia and President,
Chesapeake Bay Chapter, Chairperson 

5:00 P.M. - 6:00 P.M. Public Meeting on Rehabilitation Services: James Room
Susan Payne, VR Director, Virginia Department for the Blind and Vision
Impaired

6:30 P.M. - 7:30 P.M. Rookie Round-Up Reception: James Room
John Bailey, Membership Committee Chairperson

7:00 P.M. - 10:00 P.M. Hospitality: Cape Charles A
Hosted by the Chesapeake Bay Chapter

7:00 P.M. - 10:00 P.M. Student Hospitality and Apprentice: York Room
Tracy Soforenko and Corbbmacc O'Connor, Coordinators

7:00 P.M. - 8:30 P.M. Braille Carnival: Rappahannock Room
Zina Lewis and Theresa Willis, Coordinators

8:00 P.M. - 9:00 P.M. Resolutions Committee: James Room
C. J. Fish, Chairperson

9:00 P.M. - 10:00 P.M. Virginia Association to Promote the Use of Braille:
James Room
Sandy Halverson, President

 
Saturday, November 5, 2011

8:00 A.M. - 10:00 A.M. Registration: Atlantic Foyer

General Session: Rappahannock & James Rooms

9:00 A.M. - 9:30 A.M. Opening Ceremonies

Call to Order

Invocation:

Presentation of the Colors:

National Anthem: C. J. Fish, Assistant Treasurer, Potomac Chapter

Federation Pledge: Brittany Savage, President, Virginia Association of Blind
Students

Greetings from Our Host Chapter: Mary Durbin, President, Chesapeake Bay
Chapter

Welcome to Virginia Beach: The Honorable Rosemary Wilson, Council woman,
Virginia Beach

Convention Arrangements: Michael Kasey, Chairperson, Convention Organization
and Arrangements

9:30 A.M. - 10:15 A.M. National Report
Mark Riccobono, Executive Director, National Federation of the Blind,
Jernigan Institute

10:15 A.M. - 10:30 A.M. A Friend In Washington
The Honorable Scott Rigell, United States House of Representatives, Second
Congressional District of Virginia

10:30 A.M. - 12:00 P.M. Youth Track: York Room
Tracy Soforenko and Corbbmacc O'Connor, Coordinators

10:30 A.M. - 10:35 A.M. Action Auction

10:35 A.M. - 10:55 A.M. Vocational Rehabilitation Services For The Blind In
Virginia
Raymond Hopkins, Commissioner, Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired

10:55 A.M. - 11:15 A.M. Preparing for Work, Preparing for Life
Melody Roane, Director, Virginia Rehabilitation Center for the Blind and
Vision Impaired

11:15 A.M. - 11:20 A.M. Action Auction

 11:20 A.M. - 11:50 A.M. BELL: Early Literacy, A Lifetime Of Possibilities
Sandy Halverson, BELL Program Coordinator

11:50 A.M. - 12:00 P.M. Opening Museums To Blind People
Wyatt Booth, Eagle Scout and Freshman, Hampton High School

12:00 P.M. Noon Recess

12:05 P.M. - 12:15 P.M. Box Lunch Pickup: Atlantic Foyer

12:15 P.M. - 1:45 P.M. NFBV Diabetics Division Luncheon and Business
Meeting: Cape Henry C
Patricia Droppers, Chairperson (Box Lunch - $15.00)

12:15 P.M. - 1:45 P.M. Virginia Association of Blind Merchants Luncheon and
Business Meeting: Mariner B
John Jones, President (Box Lunch - $15.00)

12:15 P.M. - 1:45 P.M. Virginia Association of Blind Students Luncheon and
Business Meeting: York Room
Brittany Savage, President (Box Lunch - $15.00) 

12:15 P.M. - 1:45 P.M. Virginia Parents of Blind Children Luncheon and
Business Meeting: Mariner A
Zina Lewis, President and Sandy Halverson, NFBV Parent Liaison (Box lunch -
$15.00)

1:00 P.M. - 2:00 P.M. Registration: Atlantic Foyer

Afternoon General Session: Rappahannock & James Rooms

2:00 P.M. - 2:20 P.M. Why I Am A Federationist
Althea Pittman, Second Vice President, NFB of Virginia

2:20 P.M. - 2:50 P.M. My First National Convention: Reflections from Our
2011 McDonald Fellows and Kenneth Jernigan Convention Scholarship Fund
Winners
Tracy Soforenko, Chairperson, McDonald Fellowship and Kenneth Jernigan
Convention Scholarship Fund Committees
Leon Anderson, Norfolk
Carolena Garrison, Fairfax
Natasha Hubbard, Hampton
Brandi Hughes, Chesterfield
Nikki Jeffords, Virginia Beach
Jeff Lucas, Stanley
Brian McCann, Virginia Beach
Sarah Patnaude, Chesterfield

2:50 P.M. - 2:55 P.M. Action Auction

2:55 P.M. - 3:05 P.M. Studying Science: The Good, The Bad And The Ugly Of
Access Technology
Chelsea Cook, Sophomore, Virginia Tech University

3:05 P.M. - 3:15 P.M. Literacy and Opportunity: The 2011 Braille Challenge
Jennifer Shields, 12th Grade Honors Student, Clover Hill High School,
Midlothian

3:15 P.M. - 4:30 P.M. Youth Track: York Room
Tracy Soforenko and Corbbmacc O'Connor, Coordinators

3:15 P.M. - 3:20 P.M. Action Auction

3:20 P.M. - 3:40 P.M. I Own My Own Hair Salon
Martha Clements, Owner/Operator, Martha Clements Act 2

3:40 P.M. - 4:00 P.M. Teaching Cane Travel
Jennifer Kennedy, Orientation and Mobility Instructor, Virginia
Rehabilitation Center for the Blind and Vision Impaired

4:00 P.M. - 4:20 P.M. A Career In Computer Programming 
Cathlene Schroeder, Technical Specialist, Airline Tariff Publishing Company

4:20 P.M. - 4:25 P.M. PAC 100

4:25 P.M. - 4:30 P.M. Action Auction

4:30 P.M. - 5:00 P.M. Presidential Report
Fredric Schroeder, President, NFB of Virginia

5:00 P.M. Adjourn Afternoon General Session

6:00 P.M. - 7:00 P.M. Pre-Banquet Reception (Cash Bar): Atlantic Foyer

7:00 P.M. - 10:00 P.M. 2011 Convention Banquet: Rappahannock & James Rooms

Banquet Program

Master of Ceremonies: Charles Brown, Immediate Past President, NFB of
Virginia

Invocation:

2011 James F. Nelson Scholarship Awards Presentation: Jennifer Kennedy,
Chairperson, NFBV Scholarship Committee

Banquet Address: Mark Riccobono, Executive Director, National Federation of
the Blind, Jernigan Institute

Action Auction: Jacki Brown, Chairperson and Auctioneer

Midnight After-Banquet Social Gathering (Cash Bar): Mariner A
 
Sunday, November 6, 2011

8:00 A.M. - 8:50 A.M. Devotions: Mariner B

General Session: Rappahannock Room

9:00 A.M. - 9:05 A.M. Invocation
Michael Kasey, First Vice President, NFB of Virginia

9:05 A.M. - 9:20 A.M. Newsline Update
John Halverson, NFBV Newsline Coordinator

9:20 A.M. - 9:40 A.M. Five Essential Steps to Dynamic Membership Growth
John Bailey, Chairperson, NFBV Membership Committee

9:40 A.M. - 10:00 A.M. Report of Youth Track Activities
Tracy Soforenko and Corbbmacc O'Connor, Coordinators

10:00 A.M. - 12:00 P.M. Youth Track: York Room
Tracy Soforenko and Corbbmacc O'Connor, Coordinators

10:00 A.M. - 12:00 P.M. Business Session

Audit Committee Report: Michael Kasey, Chairperson

Treasurer's Report: Mark Roane, Treasurer

Virginia Pre-Authorized Draft (VPAD) Program: Mark Roane, Chairperson

Fundraising Committee Report: Mary Durbin, Chairperson

SUN Committee Report: Sandy Halverson, Chairperson

Vigilant Report: Althea Pittman, Editor

Affiliate Website Update: Brian McCann, NFBV Webmaster

2012 Richmond Seminar: Michael Kasey

Plans for the 2012 National Convention

2012 NFBV convention, November 2-4, 2012 Richmond Crown Plaza Downtown

Resolutions: C. J. Fish, Chairperson

Old and New Business

12:00 P.M. Adjourn

Thank you to our Chesapeake Bay Chapter for hosting the 2011 NFBV State
Convention. Your hard work and hospitality made this year's convention one
of the best ever.