[Nfbv-announce] Why Younger Students & Their Parents Should attend the 2013 NFB of Virginia Convention

Tue Oct 8 02:15:38 UTC 2013

This year, we have developed a number of great programs specifically
targeted for younger students and their parents 
Parents can be assured that their child or children will be actively engaged
so that parents can learn from the speakers at general session and network
with other parents of blind children throughout the state. You'll leave
better understanding the IEP process; how blind people can live independent,
productive lives; and how you can help other kids who are blind.  This event
will kick off with a Braille Carnival on Friday evening and continue
throughout the day on Saturday.  If you need more information, please
contact Briley O'Connor at (703) 380-8876 or brileyoc at gmail.com.

Highlights for younger students and their parents  :

.	NFB-BELL-X, a braille and independence camp for blind/low-vision
elementary-age students.
.	Braille Carnival - An exciting hands on Friday evening  carnival for
students of all ages.
.	Parents Division Luncheon - Connect with parents from across
Virginia  committed to advocating for their children and ensuring high
expectations for their kids. Meet positive role models and tap the network
of parents who are making things happen for their children.

In the General Session, there are great programs for parents including:
.	A Panel of Blind Parents Sharing how these blind parents are
enjoying the challenges of parenthood employing the alternative techniques
of successful blind parents. While your child may be young now, it is
exciting to realize that they will grow to be successful adults living full
and active lives.
.	BELL Success - Here from students who participated in this Summer's
two week BELL camps held across Virginia.
.	Learn from positive blind role models who are running their own
businesses, pursuing their dreams, and leading the way for blind people
across America.

In this email, please find a more detailed description of some of these
programs along with the full convention agenda at the end of this message.
Details on convention registration and hotel reservations can be found at:

http://www.nfbv.org/stateconvention.htm

NFB BELL-X

For the first time, we're bringing our popular, two-week Braille Enrichment
for Literacy and Learning programs to state convention! Even if your blind
or low-vision child doesn't read braille, our "kids only" sessions for
elementary-aged kids will prove to be more than childcare. Through a series
of fun, engaging braille games led by blind adults and college students,
we'll show how reading braille can be easy and rewarding. Whereas many
scavenger hunts are very visual, as many objects tend to be hidden, our
sound scavenger hunt will teach independent travel in a new, safe
environment. Youth will get the chance to interact with other blind and
low-vision kids in their age group to talk about using canes, having trouble
seeing in class, and reading with large print or braille. A highly-qualified
teacher of the blind will be on hand to provide individualized instruction
to students based on their current level of braille proficiency, from
complete newbie to advanced speed-reader. Our mentors and teachers will be
happy to answer your questions at the end of the day about how you can
reinforce high expectations and social skills with your blind children at
home.

Braille Carnival on Friday Evening

Calling all children and their parents! Join us at the Braille Carnival
where you will experience Braille like never before: you can read it, write
it, build it, race with it, and much more. For additional information, or to
help, e-mail Nancy Yeager at: nancyyeager542 at verizon.net.

Please find the entire convention agenda below:

2013 NFB of Virginia Convention Agenda

55th Annual Convention

NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND OF VIRGINIA

Voice of the Nation's Blind

Fredric Schroeder, President

Presidential Suite, Room 365

October 25 - 27, 2013

Fredericksburg Hospitality House

2801 Plank Road

Fredericksburg, Virginia 22401

(540) 786-8321

Hosted by the Fredericksburg Area Chapter of the National Federation of the
Blind of Virginia, Jessica Reed, 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 Lobby 3 of the Conference Center.
Onsite registration is $25.00. Registration will be open on Friday, October
25 from 9:00 A.M. to 11:00 A.M., 1:00 P.M. to 2:00 P.M. and from 5:00 P.M.
to 7:00 P.M. Registration will also be open on Saturday, October 26 from
8:00 A.M. to 10:00 A.M., 1:00 P.M. to 2:00 P.M. and from 5:00 P.M. to 6:00
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 tickets may be purchased onsite for $35.00. Banquet tickets must be
purchased by 10:00 A.M. on Saturday, October 26. 

The cost of Box Lunch tickets for Saturday noon is $14.50 and are only
guaranteed for those who purchased them before October 14. A limited number
may be available for purchase at the registration desk.

Banquet Exchange

We will have reserved seating at the banquet. Each banquet table will
accommodate eight people. Those wishing to sit together at the banquet
should designate one person to collect banquet tickets from those
individuals wishing to sit together. Those tickets should be brought to the
registration table and exchanged for tickets designating a table number.
Banquet tickets must be exchanged no later than 2:00 P.M. on Saturday. 

Note: For more information about registration, meal functions, or the
banquet exchange, please contact Michael Kasey, Chairperson, Convention
Organization and Arrangements, 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. For more information contact Laurie Wages at (540) 287-5446.

Action Auction

Throughout the convention, 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. 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 are seeking advice on 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
Jessica Diaz at (772) 713-5375.

NFB-BELLx: Two Weeks in Two Days

For the first time, we're bringing our popular, two-week Braille Enrichment
for Literacy and Learning programs to state convention! Even if your blind
or low vision child doesn't read Braille, our "kids only" sessions for
elementary-aged kids will prove to be more than childcare. Through a series
of fun, engaging Braille games led by blind adults and college students,
we'll show how reading Braille can be easy and rewarding. Youth will get the
chance to interact with other blind and low vision kids in their age group
to talk about using canes, having trouble seeing in class, and reading with
large print or Braille. Parents will learn how to reinforce high
expectations and social skills with their blind children. 

The BELLx sessions will be held in the Governor Room on Saturday from 9:00
A.M. to noon and from 2:00 P.M. to 5:00 P.M. and on Sunday from 9:00 A.M to
noon.

For more information, contact Briley O'Connor at (703) 380-8876 or by email
brileyoc at gmail.com

Childcare

Childcare is available for children of convention attendees in the Executive
Lounge on the 3rd Floor 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 Kelly Valko, Childcare
Coordinator at (540) 408-3312 or by email at smell2490 at aol.com.

Assistive Listening Devices

Assistive listening devices are available during all convention sessions and
at the banquet. For an assistive listening device, please go to the
Convention Registration desk located in Lobby 3 of the Conference Center.

Friday, October 25, 2013

9:00 A.M. - 11:00 A.M. Registration: Lobby 3, Conference Center

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

Fredericksburg Ballroom (3rd Floor above Lobby of Hotel Front Desk)

1:00 P.M. - 2:00 P.M. Registration: Lobby 3, Conference Center

1:00 P.M. - 5:00 P.M. Exhibits: Lobby 3, Conference Center

1:00 P.M. - 3:00 P.M. Trolley Tour of Historic Fredericksburg (Advanced
Reservations Required): Trolley leaves from the Conference Center Entrance
Number 5, 2nd floor, above Lobby 3

1:00 P.M. - 4:00 P.M. Work Smart and Get Promoted: Advanced Skills to Land,
Keep, and Enjoy Your Perfect Job: Madison Room

Corbb O'Connor, Seminar Facilitator, Business Growth & Communications
Consultant, O'Consulting Group

Far from any stereotypical employment seminar, this interactive session will
have you laughing with, learning from, and linking with other blind people
who are already working their dream jobs. Everybody knows that you need a
winning resume and cover letter, but you'll learn the two, never-discussed
elements of an application and interview that are virtually guaranteed to
separate you from your competition (and, no, it's not a "thank you" note).
You'll want to send a thank-you to our facilitators, though, who will
explain why you should apply to fewer jobs and go to lunch more often. These
entrepreneurs, managers, and professionals will save you embarrassment and
frustration at work as they share lessons learned about explaining their
blindness with sighted colleagues and managers. We'll also hear from the
world's best networker, who is blind, about how to navigate a cocktail party
or reception so that you'll know who's in the room, where your friends are
seated, and how to be remembered by everyone you meet. And we'll try to
answer that age-old question: when do you ask for a promotion and how do you
do it? This seminar will help you find the next, right step for your career.

4:00 P.M. - 5:00 P.M. Tactile Graphics for Everyone: The New Freedom to Draw
Your Own Diagrams and Sketches: Governor Room

Dr. Al Maneki, Chairman Board of Advisors, E.A.S.Y. LLC

Come to our Workshop! Try our inTACT SketchPad for yourself! Draw anything!
Erase your mistakes! Make changes to your sketches! Transmit your sketches
anywhere over the internet for collaboration and distance learning!

4:00 P.M. - 5:00 P.M. Vocational Rehabilitation: Basic Concepts and
Discussion Of Issues: Jefferson Room

Stewart Prost, Chairperson, NFBV Vocational Rehabilitation Advocate

The seminar will begin with a brief presentation on key concepts that govern
the provision of vocational rehabilitation services, including a discussion
of the goal of the program, who is eligible, what services are reasonable to
expect, and what recourse do individuals have if they feel they are not
being treated fairly. The seminar will be interactive with the majority of
the time devoted to questions from the audience.

5:00 P.M. - 7:00 P.M. Registration: Lobby 3, Conference Center

5:00 P.M. - 6:00 P.M. Public Meeting on Rehabilitation Services: Madison
Room

Raymond Hopkins, Commissioner, Rick Mitchel, Deputy Commissioner for
Services and Susan Payne, VR Director, Virginia Department for the Blind and
Vision Impaired

6:00 P.M. - 7:00 P.M. At-Large Chapter Reception: Presidential Suite, Room
365

Rick Holly, At-Large Coordinator

6:15 P.M. - 8:15 P.M. Bring It On: A Thought Provoking Discussion for Teens
and Young Adults: Madison Room

Nikki Jeffords and Tracy Soforenko, Coordinators

7:00 P.M. - 10:00 P.M. Hospitality: Monroe Room

Hosted by the Fredericksburg Area Chapter

7:00 P.M. - 8:30 P.M. Braille Carnival: Governor Room

Nancy Yeager, Braille Carnival Coordinator 

8:30 P.M. - 9:30 P.M. Resolutions Committee: Madison Room

C. J. Fish, Chairperson

9:00 P.M. - 10:00 P.M. Virginia Association to Promote the Use of Braille:
Governor Room

Sandy Halverson, President

Saturday, October 26, 2013

8:00 A.M. - 10:00 A.M. Registration: Lobby 3, Conference Center

9:00 A.M. - 12:00 P.M. BELLx: Governor Room

Briley O'Connor, Coordinator

Morning General Session: Washington-Jefferson-Madison Rooms

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

Call to Order: Fredric Schroeder, NFBV President

Invocation: Dr. Don C. Forrester, President, Virginia Baptist College

Presentation of the Colors: Rappahannock Assembly, Knights of Columbus

Pledge of Allegiance: Hannah Wages, Four-time BELL Program Participant

Federation Pledge: Kim Valko, Member of the board of Directors,
Fredericksburg Area Chapter

Greetings from Our Host Chapter: Jessica Reed, President, Fredericksburg
Area Chapter

Welcome to the Most Historic City in America: Heidi Stello, Researcher,
University of Mary Washington, James Monroe Papers Project

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

9:30 A.M. - 9:45 A.M. A Friend in Congress

The Honorable Robert (Rob) Wittman, Member of the U.S. House of
Representatives, 1st Congressional District of Virginia - America's First
District

9:45 A.M. - 10:30 A.M. National Report

Jeannie Massay, President, NFB of Oklahoma and Member of the Board of
Directors, National Federation of the Blind

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

10:35 A.M. - 10:50 A.M. Virginia BELL: A Lifetime of Literacy

Sandy Halverson, BELL Program Coordinator

10:50 A.M. - 10:55 A.M. Vehicle Donation Program

Mark Roane, NFBV Treasurer

10:55 A.M. - 11:15 A.M. Vocational Rehabilitation Services for the Blind in
Virginia

Raymond Hopkins, Commissioner, Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired

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

11:20 A.M. - 11:40 A.M. "Can You Hear Me Now?" Understanding Hearing Loss

Valerie Luther, President, NFBV Dual Sensory Impairment Division and
Consumer Outreach Specialist, Virginia Deaf-Blind Project, Partnership for
People with Disabilities

11:40 A.M. - 12:00 P.M. Aging With Vision Loss

Arthur Schreiber, President Emeritus, NFB of New Mexico; Chairman, New
Mexico Commission for the Blind; and 2013 Winner, National Federation of the
Blind Jacobus tenBroek Award

12:00 P.M. Adjourn Morning General Session

12:15 P.M. - 1:45 P.M. Lunch Discussion for Sighted Spouses: Monroe Room

Daniel Ashman, Discussion Facilitator (Box Lunch - $14.50)

12:15 P.M. - 1:45 P.M. Lunch Discussion on Creating a Seniors Division:
Commonwealth Room (Second Floor Conference Center)

Nancy Yeager, Discussion Facilitator (Box Lunch - $14.50)

12:15 P.M. - 1:45 P.M. Virginia Association of Blind Students Luncheon and
Business Meeting: Governor Room

Briley O'Connor, President (Box Lunch - $14.50) 

12:15 P.M. - 1:45 P.M. Virginia Parents of Blind Children Luncheon and
Business Meeting: Palm Room (Near Front Lobby)

Zina Lewis, President and Sandy Halverson, NFBV Parent Liaison (Box lunch -
$14.50)

1:00 P.M. - 2:00 P.M. Registration: Lobby 3, Conference Center

2:00 P.M. - 5:00 P.M. BELLx: Governor Room

Briley O'Connor, Coordinator

Afternoon General Session: Washington-Jefferson-Madison Rooms

2:00 P.M. - 2:20 P.M. Why I Am a Federationist

Jennifer Kennedy, President, Richmond Chapter

2:20 P.M. - 2:45 P.M. My First National Convention: Reflections from Our
2013 McDonald Fellows

Corbb O'Connor, Chairperson, McDonald Fellowship Committee

2:45 P.M. - 2:50 P.M. Action Auction

2:50 P.M. - 3:15 P.M. Blind Parents Raising Children

C. J. Fish, Member, Richmond chapter and Angie Mattney, Member,
Fredericksburg Area Chapter and Associate, Hirschler Fleischer P.c.

3:15 P.M. - 3:25 P.M. Blind Ambition: How I Became A Woman's Bodybuilding
Champion

Carolena Garrison, Member, Fairfax Chapter

3:25 P.M. - 3:30 P.M. Supporting Our Affiliate through NFBV PAD

Mark Roane, NFBV Treasurer

3:30 P.M. - 3:45 A.M. Join Us on the Journey to Excellence: A Presentation
from VRCBVI

Melody Roane, Director; Amy Phelps, assistant director of Instruction; and
students, Virginia Rehabilitation Center for the Blind and Vision Impaired

3:45 P.M. - 3:50 P.M. Action Auction

3:50 P.M. - 4:15 P.M. Small Business: Three Models for Success

Moderator: Tracy Soforenko, Second Vice President, NFB of Virginia

Panelists: Lorraine Magnussen, Randolph-Sheppard Entrepreneur; Corbb
O'Connor, Business Growth & Communications Consultant, O'Consulting Group;
and Jack Wood, Partner in wintech and President of Unbridled Joy Foundation

4:15 P.M. - 4:30 P.M. The Colorado Center for the Blind: 25 Years of
Changing What It Means To Be Blind

Julie Deden, Executive Director, Colorado Center for the Blind

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: Presidential Foyer

(Cash Bar)

7:00 P.M. - 10:00 P.M. 2013 Convention Banquet: Washington-Jefferson-Madison
Rooms

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

Invocation: Dr. Don C. Forrester, President, Virginia Baptist College

2013 James F. Nelson Scholarship Awards Presentation: Jennifer Kennedy,
Chairperson, NFBV Scholarship Committee

Banquet Address: Jeannie Massay, President, NFB of Oklahoma and Member of
the Board of Directors, National Federation of the Blind

Action Auction: Jacki Brown Chairperson and Auctioneer

Sunday, October 27, 2013

8:00 A.M. - 8:50 A.M. Devotions: Governor Room

9:00 A.M. - 12:00 P.M. BELLx: Governor Room

Briley O'Connor, Coordinator

Morning General Session: Washington-Jefferson-Madison Rooms

9:00 A.M. - 9:05 A.M. Invocation

Tracy Soforenko, Second Vice President, NFB of Virginia

9:05 A.M. - 9:25 A.M. Reviewing Our Affiliate's History

Nancy Yeager, Member of the Potomac Chapter, NFB of Virginia

9:25 A.M. - 9:45 A.M. Our History through Song 

Sandy Halverson, Member of the Potomac chapter, NFB of Virginia 

9:45 A.M. - 10:00 A.M. What's New With NewslineR?

John Halverson, NewslineR coordinator

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

Fund Raising Committee Report: Mary Durbin, Chairperson

SUN Committee Report: Sandy Halverson, Chairperson

Membership Committee Report: Briley O'Connor, Chairperson

2013 and 2014 Richmond Seminar Reports: Michael Kasey and Tracy Soforenko,
co-chairpersons

Plans for the 2014 National Convention

Resolutions: C. J. Fish, Chairperson

Report of the Nominating Committee: Charles Brown, Chairperson

Old and New Business

12:00 P.M. Adjourn

Thank you to our Fredericksburg Area Chapter for hosting the 2013 NFBV State
Convention. Your hard work and hospitality made this year's convention one
of the best ever.

2013 Convention Sponsors

Platinum: $1000.00

Gold: $750.00

Silver: $500.00

Bronze: $250.00

Jacobus tenBroek Legacy Society

Help build a future full of opportunity for the blind by becoming a member
of the Jacobus tenBroek Legacy Society. Your legacy gift to the National
Federation of the Blind can be made in the form of a will or living trust,
an income-generating gift, or by naming the NFB as a beneficiary of a
retirement plan or life insurance policy. You can also become a member of
the Jacobus tenBroek Legacy Society by making a legacy gift to your state
affiliate. By committing to support an NFB affiliate, your gift will benefit
both local and national programs as all bequests made to affiliates are
split evenly with the NFB national treasury. In addition to having the
satisfaction of contributing to the future success of the NFB's mission,
tenBroek legacy society members will also receive a specially designed thank
you gift and other benefits. For additional information about the Jacobus
tenBroek Legacy Society, please contact Lou Ann Blake at the NFB Jernigan
Institute by e-mail at lblake at nfb.org, or by telephone at 410-659-9314,
extension 2221.

How can I financially support the efforts of the National Federation of the
Blind of Virginia (NFBV)?

The NFBV PAD plan is based on the increasingly popular online banking
technology and here is how anyone can participate. Anyone wishing to make
regular monthly donations simply needs to go to their financial institutions
online bill pay platform and set up a recurring monthly payment using the
following information:

NFBV PAD

3230 Grove Avenue

Richmond, VA 23221

(804) 262-7057

Participants may specify donations in any amount and may specify them to
reoccur on any day of each month that they choose. With this plan,
individual participants, not the NFBV, initiate and control all aspects of
their donation. Also, with this plan, there are no operational fees. 100% of
each donation goes directly to financially support the efforts of our
organization.

After enrolling, each participant should send their phone number and email
address to mwroane at mindspring.com.