[NFBV-Announce] Hotel Deadline 1/8, Our Priorities for 2020 Washington Seminar & Financial Assistance

Tue Jan 7 23:13:05 UTC 2020

Please act fast to secure your hotel room by Wednesday, January 8.

As we say goodbye to 2019 and look toward the future, imminently on the
horizon is the 2020 Washington Seminar. As of today, we are a mere
thirty-five days away from the Great Gathering-In. That means that time is
quickly winding down to reserve your hotel room. The last day to reserve a
room using the Federation room block is this Wednesday, January 8. Please be
sure to book your room
<https://www.holidayinn.com/redirect?path=rates&brandCode=HI&localeCode=en&r
egionCode=1&hotelCode=wassm&checkInDate=06&checkInMonthYear=012020&checkOutD
ate=15&checkOutMonthYear=012020&_PMID=99801505&GPC=N2F&cn=no&viewfullsite=tr
ue>  before the deadline. 

In more Washington Seminar news, below are brief descriptions of our three
legislative priorities for the 2020 Washington Seminar, including links to
the fact sheets for each. 

Access Technology Affordability Act (ATAA) (H.R. 2086/S. 815)
<https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/legislative-agenda/access-te
chnology-affordability> 
The cost of critically needed access technology is out of reach for most
blind Americans. By providing a refundable tax credit for qualifying
purchases, Congress will stimulate individual procurement of this technology
and promote affordability of these tools.

Greater Access and Independence through Nonvisual Access Technology (GAIN)
Act (H.R. 3929)
<https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/legislative-agenda/greater-a
ccess-independence-nonvisual-access-technology> 
Advanced digital interfaces create barriers that prevent blind individuals
from independently operating essential devices that enhance quality of life.
Congress must end the digital divide that threatens the independence of
blind Americans by developing minimum accessibility requirements for such
devices.

Accessible Instructional Materials in Higher Education (AIM HIGH) Act (H.R.
5312/S. 3095)
<https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/legislative-agenda/accessibl
e-instructional-materials-higher-education> 
Until a market-driven solution for accessible instructional materials is
achieved, blind college students are denied access to critical course
content. The AIM HIGH Act will remove these barriers to equality in the
classroom by creating a set of guidelines that clearly define accessible
instructional materials.

More details ae found below.

Tracy Soforenko

President, National Federation of the Blind of Virginia

202 285-4595

Tracy.soforenko at gmail.com <mailto:Tracy.soforenko at gmail.com> 

www.nfb.org <http://www.nfb.org> 

www.nfbv.org <http://www.nfbv.org> 

National Federation of the Blind. Live the Life You Want

The National Federation of the Blind is a community of members and friends
who believe in the hopes and dreams of the nation's blind. Every day we work
together to help blind people live the lives they want.

From: tracy.soforenko at gmail.com <tracy.soforenko at gmail.com> 
Sent: Sunday, December 22, 2019 12:52 PM
To: nfbv-announce at nfbnet.org
Cc: 'Fellows - Deepa Goraya' <deepa.goraya at gmail.com>
Subject: 2020 Washington Seminar Details & Financial Assistance

Happy Holidays,

Washington Seminar is fast approaching. This message provides details on
Washington Seminar and provides details about requesting financial
assistance.

The 2020 Washington Seminar

>From Deepa Goraya, Virginia Affiliate Washington Seminar Legislative
Director

Hello Virginia Federationists,

I hope you all are planning time with friends and family. Although it may
seem like it's still 6 weeks away, Washington Seminar is fast approaching. I
wanted to send out some info to help you begin thinking about reserving your
room and deciding in your schedule to attend.

The legislative Committee needs to begin creating teams of those who will be
attending Washington Seminar and start scheduling appointments with members
of Congress. So, the earlier you can let us know whether you will be
attending, the better. Please let us know by January 21 whether you plan to
attend. When you let us know, please provide the name of your member of the
House of Representatives. If you don't know, please provide your address
including street address and ZIP code so we can easily look it up. If you
want to look it up yourself, you can access this information at:

https://www.house.gov/

The Great-Gathering-In is scheduled for Monday, February 10, 2020 from 5:00
PM to 7:00 PM.

At 2:00 PM that afternoon, there will be a seminar to explain the issues in
detail, so you are prepared for our legislative appointments. I expect that
most of our Congressional appointments will be conducted on Tuesday,
February 11 with some appointments on Wednesday, February 12. Finally, there
will be a reception on Tuesday, February 11 at 5:30 PM in one of the Senate
ballrooms where we invite our entire Congressional delegation.

. The deadline for making hotel reservations with the Holiday Inn Capitol is
Wednesday, January 8, 2020, and although I know most of you are busy as we
are in the holiday season, the hotel would certainly appreciate getting your
reservations as early as possible to ensure that you secure your
reservation.

Please reserve your room at the Holiday Inn Washington-Capitol (550 C
Street, SW Washington, DC 20024) by Wednesday, January 8, 2020.

Check in at our booking rate begins Friday, February 7, 2020 with a check
out by Thursday, February 13, 2020.

Our booking rate is $198 per night. This rate does not include DC sales tax,
currently 14.95 percent.

You can
<https://www.holidayinn.com/redirect?path=rates&brandCode=HI&localeCode=en&r
egionCode=1&hotelCode=wassm&checkInDate=06&checkInMonthYear=012020&checkOutD
ate=15&checkOutMonthYear=012020&_PMID=99801505&GPC=N2F&cn=no&viewfullsite=tr
ue> begin booking reservations online by using this link to the Holiday Inn
Washington-Capitol website that includes our booking code. You can also make
reservations by calling 1-877-572-6951 and referencing booking code N2F.

Credit card information will be needed at the time of your reservation. The
individual cancellation policy is seventy-two hours prior to the date of
arrival to avoid a one night's room plus tax cancellation charge on the
credit card provided. If your departure date changes, you must inform the
hotel seventy-two hours in advance of your departure to avoid a $100 fee.

A few members of the Northern Virginia chapters may have a guest room
available for those who would consider this approach. You will need to be
extremely self-sufficient to make this model work and requests should be
submitted to me by January 17. Please contact me and I can see what can be
done to accommodate your request.

Last year, we had a record number of Virginians attending! Please encourage
all your chapter members, friends, and acquaintances to attend so we can
show Congress that blind Virginians are committed to our important issues!

Our national web site will be updated with details on Washington Seminar as
they become available.

https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/washington-seminar

If you have any questions or concerns, you may contact me, your
co-legislative director, at deepa.goraya at gmail.com
<mailto:deepa.goraya at gmail.com>  <mailto:deepa.goraya at gmail.com>  or call me
at 9099643699.

Financial Assistance for the 2020 Washington Seminar

By tracy Soforenko, President

>From Every year, the affiliate president will receive a few requests for
Washington Seminar assistance from affiliate members. I am putting some
ground rules in place to help clarify expectations.

If you are planning to request assistance, please send your request to me in
email. Your request should factor in the following:

A. What are my total expected costs:

What should I expect to pay for Washington Seminar factoring in expected
costs for travel, lodging, meals, and other expenses? I have no idea how
much it costs to get from your home to Washington DC and the Holiday Inn
Capitol. You need to do the research. Many people choose to share rooms and
you will start seeing roommate requests posted to our announce list starting
soon. Please be aware that the deadline for hotel reservations at the
Holiday Inn Capitol is Wednesday, January 8, so act fast 

B. What can I afford myself

No one will be going to Washington Seminar for free. Individuals requesting
financial assistance should expect to make a contribution to your Washington
Seminar expenses. You should be factoring in this expense into your budget.

C. What is my chapter or division contributing?

Your chapter is a resource for financial assistance. Do not come to the
Virginia Affiliate requesting financial assistance if you have not asked
your local chapter. I will be following up with chapter presidents to
understand how you are contributing at the chapter level to programming and
fundraising. If you are receiving funding from a division such as NABS or
VABS, please also factor that into your request. 

D. How much are you requesting from the affiliate 

After considering other sources, how much are you requesting from the
Virginia affiliate. Please note that we do not provide funding in advance.
Mark Roane will provide funding at Washington Seminar, but you need to work
locally to get your travel and room expenses addressed. You should expect to
attend the Great Gathering In on Monday, February 10 from 5:00 PM to 7:00
Pm. I expect that most of our Congressional appointments will be conducted
on Tuesday, February 11 with some appointments on Wednesday, February 12. It
is not Mark's job to hunt you down at Washington Seminar and it is not
Mark's job to provide you funds as you walk into the hotel. 

Speaking of selling, fundraising is the means through which we have the
resources to provide financial assistance. When I talk to your chapter
president, I am checking to determine if you are engaged in the chapter and
affiliate fundraising. This year, I am hoping that we can have some people
selling NFB Membership Coin holders at Washington Seminar. 

We are asking that requests are submitted no later than Friday, January 17,
2020. You should be planning, booking your hotel room and taking advantage
of early transportation discounts. 

We want to have a strong showing in Washington and we hope this guidance
clarifies the process. However, if you have questions, I am glad to address
them.

Tracy Soforenko

President, National Federation of the Blind of Virginia

202 285-4595

Tracy.soforenko at gmail.com <mailto:Tracy.soforenko at gmail.com> 

www.nfb.org <http://www.nfb.org> 

www.nfbv.org <http://www.nfbv.org> 

National Federation of the Blind. Live the Life You Want

The National Federation of the Blind is a community of members and friends
who believe in the hopes and dreams of the nation's blind. Every day we work
together to help blind people live the lives they want.

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