[NFBV-Announce] Virginia Convention Prep / Q&A Session Wednesday, July 8 at 7:00 PM ET

[Sarah Patnaude]

> 
> From Tracy Soforenko, President
> National Federation of the Blind of Virginia
>  
> Hi Virginia Members and Convention Registrants,
>  
> This message provides a great deal of information about the convention that we think will be valuable.
>  
> Open to All
>  
> Convention registration was conducted online and is now closed. Those who registered will receive exclusive email announcements and be eligible to win door prizes during convention. Registered members who are current on their dues will also be entitled to enroll in the system to cast votes in national elections and the consideration of resolutions. However, if you did not register, you are still welcome and strongly encouraged to participate in all convention events as listed in the agenda.  Our convention runs from July 14-18 with our Rookie Round Up scheduled for July 7.
> This year, we have 222 people from Virginia registered for our national convention. This is our largest group ever. However, as stated above, our convention is open to all this year so if you did not register, you will be able to participate in all of the convention meetings, visit the exhibit hall, and attend our 7/17 Virginia Caucus.  We really want you to attend and encourage you to feel free to forward details to friends who might not be on this list.
>  
>  
> Attend the Rookie Round Up (July 7 at 8:30 PM eastern)
>  
> This year is a first for all of us. All convention attendees are cordially invited to attend a welcoming Zoom meeting Tuesday, July 7 from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. EDT. President Riccobono and Pam Allen will be on hand to kick off the convention a week before it starts and preview its activities.
> 
> Click this link to join: https://zoom.us/j/91250893803
> Or dial: +1 301 715 8592
> Zoom Webinar ID: 912 5089 3803
> One-tap mobile: +13017158592,,91250893803#
> 
> To learn about Zoom, read the Braille Monitor article, ”The Room is Zoom: An Overview for Many of the National Convention Sessions.”
> 
>  
>  
>  
> Virginia convention Prep Session and Q&A (Wednesday, July 8 at 7:00 PM Eastern)
>  
>  
> We recognize that many people have questions in preparation for our virtual convention. While the Rookie Round Up will be helpful, it will be a one-way communication given the thousands expected to participate. We expect that many will have additional questions and it may be easier to get these addressed in a meeting this week before we get to convention. We have tried to answer some of your questions in the details below. However, some people will undoubtably have even more questions. We hope to have the answers and if we do not, we will seek the answers out.
>  
> Join us on Wednesday, July 8 at 7:00 PM EDT for an interactive discussion of convention which will address questions that were not addressed earlier or clarify items from the Rookie Round Up, the agenda, or this message.
> The Zoom details, just like almost all Virginia affiliate Zoom meetings, is provided below.
>  
>   
> https://zoom.us/j/8297256345
> 
>  Telephone Dial: 6468769923
> Meeting ID: 829 725 6345
> 
> One tap mobile
> +16468769923,,8297256345
> 
> 
>  
>  
> Zoom Troubleshooting and Training session (Wednesday, July 8 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM Eastern
>  
> If you have been accessing Zoom over the telephone and you want to try the Windows or mobile app, we will be holding a special drop in training session on Wednesday, July 8 between 5:00 PM Eastern and 7:00 PM Eastern. Please feel free to drop in and we can work with you to get the app installed and configured for use. We can also address questions for those planning to use the phone. It is much easier to address your questions before convention so you can have a better virtual convention experience.
> The Zoom details are the same:
>   
> https://zoom.us/j/8297256345
> 
>  Telephone Dial: 6468769923
> Meeting ID: 829 725 6345
> 
> One tap mobile
> +16468769923,,8297256345
> 
> Virginia Convention Ambassadors/Support Team
>  
> during the convention, we will have a team to work with people to address technology and other problems Virginians are experiencing. We recognize that everyone comes with different experience using this new technology and we will be learning together.
>  
> Convention Platforms:
>  
> We have never done a virtual convention. While we have tried to make things easy and accessible, there will be a learning curve. Not everything will be perfect, and some things will be frustrating.
>  
> Meetings via Zoom Webinars and Meetings
> All convention meetings will be conducted over the Zoom platform. For most smaller meetings, we will be using the Zoom Meetings platform that we have been using for affiliate and chapter meetings. Zoom.  Webinar is used for larger meetings and provides the hosts with greater control over keeping participants muted. As a result, you will be able to use the Zoom Windows App, the Zoom mobile app available for Apple IOS or Google Android, or by simply calling a number and entering the meeting ID. However, as described in the section below on voting, you might want to use your computer for accessing the General Sessions so you would have a phone available for the telephone-based voting process. Finally, the national office is working on making it possible to listen to the convention using a podcast or streaming service such as Tune In.
>  
> 
> Exhibit Hall through Cvent
> Organizations need to be creative and flexible to provide an exhibit hall experience virtually. This year, we have partnered with Cvent , one of the leading convention support companies, to deliver an accessible exhibit hall experience for our members. Using your web browser or the Cvent mobile app, we are told you can explore the virtual exhibit hall, interact with the staff from each exhibitor, and perhaps even purchase products/services. Cvent states their platform is accessible and Section 508 compliant. I am certain our national staff has validated these statements through testing. We want to raise some ideas for your consideration.
> While there will be a list of exhibitors with phone numbers and web addresses, you cannot simply call using your telephone into the exhibit hall. While this may be frustrating to those who would rather just call into the exhibit hall, this is not possible. Our national convention operations team recognizes this is not ideal, but they do not have a different solution. 
> The mobile app and web browser are the way you access Cvent. if you want to talk with the exhibitors from your computer and web browser, you will need a microphone to talk with them. We are telling you this now so you can get things figured out in advance. Many computers have microphones built in, but some older set ups might not include a microphone. I am personally buying a new head set for convention because my computer is in my basement and the large room and computer microphone makes it sometimes sound like I am in a tunnel.
> Making purchases – We do not yet have information about how you make purchases in the virtual exhibit hall. When we are in person, we use cash or a credit card to make purchases. It is not exactly clear how you make a purchase at the virtual exhibit hall. Hopefully, Cvent makes this easy but we just do not have info.
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> 
> Voting
>  
> 
> The convention body is the ultimate authority for our organization and many decisions are made at our convention. While the rules for voting are going to be different in the virtual convention model, there is important work to do that requires voting by the membership.
> If you registered for convention by the June 15 deadline and you are a paid member of the Virginia affiliate, you should have received an email providing instructions on how to enroll to vote. All voting occurs over the telephone or via text message.
>  
> We want you to be able to vote at the convention but put forth some suggestions on how to logistically make this work.
>  
> All voting will occur based on your phone number. You can either vote by calling a number to place your vote or sending a text message from a number to vote.
>  
> Voting will happen for elected officers of our National Board of Directors and for resolutions. For many instances we will be voting Yes or No. In order to make this process work efficiently in the virtual model, you can text a 1 or 2 to the voting number or call the voting number and use your telephone number pad to vote. We are hearing many people are choosing to make the number a contact in their phone, so it is efficient to text or call. If you plan to use your home phone to access the Zoom meeting, it may be prudent to enroll your mobile phone.
>  
> Enrolling to vote is easy with a web browser. Go to
> https://www.nfbvote.org/
> Enter your first and last name as it appears on your registration and enter the 10-digit phone number and select the submit button.
> You will receive a confirmation page that says Thank you.
> Once you enroll, that is the number you must use to vote.
>  
> If you do not have access to enroll via a computer, please call John Halverson at 703 379-1141 and he has agreed to assist people in enrolling to vote. Please note, the deadline to enroll to vote is July 12.
>  
> Throughout the convention, but especially on Saturday, July 18, there will be numerous opportunities to vote for members of the NFB Board of Directors and for resolutions. Voting happens quickly so it will help to have the number programmed in. It will also help to have a means to listen to the convention from a means that is not your voting number. It will be frustrating to hang up your phone every time you want to vote then dial back into Zoom to hear the next vote.
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> Agenda is now available!
> As of a few days ago, the exciting 2020 National Convention agenda has been published but it is missing the Zoom links.
> 
>  
> 
> You can access the agenda from our National Convention landing page.
> 
> https://www.nfb.org/get-involved/national-convention
> 
> The agenda  will soon be available in several formats.
> 
>  
> We look forward to a great convention.
>  
> Tracy Soforenko
> President, National Federation of the Blind of Virginia
> 202 285-4595
> Tracy.soforenko at gmail.com
> www.nfb.org
> 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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