[NFBV-Announce] The NFBV23 Agenda is now available
tracy.soforenko at gmail.com
tracy.soforenko at gmail.com
Wed Sep 27 01:59:22 UTC 2023
Please find the agenda below and attached.
Charting Our Course: Navigating together Towards Success
65TH ANNUAL CONVENTION
NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND OF VIRGINIA
Tracy Soforenko, President
November 2 - 5, 2023
Doubletree by Hilton Williamsburg
50 Kingsmill Road,
Williamsburg, Virginia 23185
(757) 220 - 2500
HOSTED BY THE Greater Williamsburg CHAPTER
Bob Meter, President
Our National Representative:
Donald Porterfield, President, National Federation of the Blind of Arizona,
and Member of the Board,
National Federation of the Blind
Table of Contents
The Federation Pledge 4
Convention Registration 4
Inclusivity, Diversity, and Social Conduct
5
VirtualMeeting Access 6
Convention Registration & Information
6
Meal Functions 7
Door Prizes 7
Action Auction 8
Information Table 8
DOG Relief Area 9
Assistive Listening Devices 9
Daylight Saving Time 9
Hospitality Room 9
Thursday, November 2, 2023 10
FRIDAY, November 3, 2023 12
General Session 12
Friday Afternoon Concurrent Seminars
15
Friday Evening Concurrent Sessions and Hospitality
17
Saturday, November 4, 2023 21
General Session 21
Saturday Afternoon Breakout Sessions
25
2023 Convention Banquet 29
Sunday, November 5, 2023 31
General Session 31
Thank You to Our Sponsors and Exhibitors
34
Vanguard - $2,000 34
Trailblazers - $500 34
Pioneers - $250 & $125 34
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 is available online. We ask everyone, whether a
Virginia resident or not, to register using the correct virtual or in-person
registration form. If you register before October 12, you will be entered
into a drawing for $100. Current members of a Virginia chapter or division
will be eligible to vote for resolutions and in our elections.
Advanced in-person registration on or before October 12 is subsidized.
Virtual participation is free of charge.
Details regarding in-person and virtual registration can be found at:
<https://www.nfbv.org/convention> https://www.nfbv.org/convention
Inclusivity, Diversity, and Social Conduct
We are committed to providing a harassment-free environment for everyone.
Thank you for cultivating an atmosphere in which participants from diverse
backgrounds can learn, network, and share with each other in an environment
of mutual respect. We are committed to diversity, equity, and the free
expression of ideas.
These principles have been outlined in our code of conduct found at:
<https://nfb.org/code-conduct> https://nfb.org/code-conduct
We recognize a shared responsibility to create and uphold that atmosphere
for the benefit of all. Prohibited behaviors include harassment, unwelcome
sexual attention, and inappropriate use of the NFB of Virginia virtual
convention platform. Prohibited behavior or misuse of the platform will not
be tolerated and may result in removal from the convention and/or other
consequences. For assistance or to report an incident at the convention,
please call 703-672-1339, or email <mailto:help at nfbv.org> help at nfbv.org for
immediate attention. All reports will be fully investigated according to the
steps in our code of conduct. Thank you for doing your part to contribute to
our community and the high expectations we strive to maintain.
To file a confidential Code of Conduct violation, please do so at:
<https://tinyurl.com/43f5jrds> https://tinyurl.com/43f5jrds
VirtualMeeting Access
The 2023 National Federation of the Blind of Virginia convention is an
in-person event with a limited virtual experience. We will be streaming the
following convention sessions:
* Friday (11/3 - 9 AM to 12 PM) General Session
* Friday (11/3 - 5 PM to 6 PM) DBVI Public Meeting
* Saturday (11/4 - 9 AM to 12 PM) General Session
* Saturday (11/4 - 7 PM to 10 PM) Banquet
* Sunday (11/5 - 9:00 AM to 12 PM) General Session
In the next draft of the agenda, we will provide the details on accessing
the convention stream.
Convention Registration & Information
Convention registration and information will be held in the Promenade as you
enter the hotel's conference center. The cost of on-site registration is
$30. Pre-registration packet pick up and on-site registration will be open
the following times:
* Thursday, November 2 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM
* Friday, November 3 from 8:00 AM to 8:50 AM from
12:00 PM to 1:00 PM and then again from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM
* Saturday, November 4 from 8:00 AM to 8:50 AM and 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM
Door prizes and auction items can be brought to the registration desk
beginning on Thursday evening.
Meal Functions
Tickets for all meal functions are available via the online registration
form and can be picked up at the registration desk as part of your
registration packet. Banquet and box lunch tickets must be purchased by 8:50
AM on Saturday, November 4.
The $30 Late On-site registration does not include meal functions.
For more information about registration or meal functions, please contact
the NFBV Help Line at: (703) 493-1107.
Door Prizes
Door prizes will be drawn periodically throughout convention sessions on
Friday, 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.
Additionally, participants in the convention virtual experience will be
eligible for door prizes. When participants in the convention virtual
experience hear their name, they should email doorprizes at nfbv.org
<mailto:doorprizes at nfbv.org> within 10 minutes to claim their prize.
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. You will have a chance to preview auction items on Friday
afternoon in the exhibit area. For more information, go to
<https://nfbv.org/auction> https://nfbv.org/auction.
Information Table
If you need assistance from the NFB of Virginia (such as helping a blind
child get a good education, getting access to blindness skills training,
learning to use NFB-NEWSLINER, or resolving an employment discrimination
problem), please go to the information table located at the rear of the
Taylor ballroom. After the convention, a member of the NFB of Virginia will
contact you. In addition, if you would like to sign up to receive any of our
publications or would like to get regular updates about our programs and
legislative efforts, please also visit the information table. The table will
be open after the opening ceremonies on Friday, during General Session on
Saturday, and all morning Sunday.
DOG Relief Area
The DoubleTree has grassy areas outside its main entrance. Please ask the
front desk for assistance if you require help finding the trash cans.
Assistive Listening Devices
A limited number of assistive listening devices are available during all
convention sessions and during the banquet. For an assistive listening
device, please go to the information table located at the rear of the Taylor
ballroom during all convention general sessions. A credit card or
identification card is required as a deposit for the equipment.
Daylight Saving Time
Don't forget to set your watches back one hour for the change that occurs
early Sunday morning. Smart phones, of course, should handle this change
automatically.
Hospitality Room
The Hospitality Room is Room 18 on the 2nd floor, accessible via stairs or
elevator in the Conference Center. Please review the schedule for
pre-planned activities by invitation in this space.
Thursday, November 2, 2023
5:00 PM to 7:00 PM Registration - Promenade.
6:00 PM to 8:30 PM Welcome Meet and Mix - Room 18, 2nd Floor.
Come meet and mix on Thursday night with members from across the
Commonwealth in a relaxed environment. Grab the dinner, meet some friends,
and unwind before the convention fully swings into gear. The cost for this
event is $16. Register on or before October 27th. Remember prices may go up
after the early registration deadline of October 12.
6:00 PM to 9:00 PM Silver Bells Reunion and Open House Dinner - Harrison
Room: Sandy Halverson, Silver Bells Program Coordinator.
Please join us to learn about our transformative senior empowerment
programs. Reconnect with alumni and staff. If you have never attended Silver
Bells, find out more about the program from past participants. If you are
one of our 120+ alumni, find out about upcoming training opportunities.
Discover how our training will help you live the life you want! Please make
certain to include the dinner in your registration because this meal has a
separate charge.
8:00 PM to 10:00 PM Immersive History: A Celebration of Our Rich History and
Culture - Central Lounge, Renee Valdez, Chair, NFB of Virginia Diversity,
Equity & Inclusion Committee.
The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee welcomes you to an evening
program of interactive dance, music, and storytelling from the colonial era
to the present. Learn dance and music from across the centuries and hear
dynamic stories from guests and members alike. Dress comfortably because we
will be moving, grooving, and laughing during this exciting program.
FRIDAY, November 3, 2023
8:00 AM to 8:50 AM Registration - Promenade.
General Session
Taylor and Adams Ballrooms
9:00 AM Opening Ceremonies.
* Call to Order - Tracy Soforenko, President, NFB of Virginia
* Invocation - Stewart Prost, President, Tidewater Chapter, Norfolk,
Virginia
* Presentation of the Colors - NFB of Virginia Veterans Pledge of
Allegiance - Gerald Meredith, President, Richmond Virginia Blinded Veterans
Association, South Chesterfield, Virginia
* Federation Pledge - Collin Bruce, Member, Greater Williamsburg
Chapter, Williamsburg, Virginia
* Star Spangled Banner - Deborah Jackson, Jackie Greenhow, Deborah
Prost, Julie Orozco, and Dana Dishman
* Greetings from Williamsburg Vice Mayor Pat Dent.
* Greetings from Our Host Chapter - Bob Meter, President, Greater
Williamsburg Chapter, Williamsburg, Virginia
* Convention Arrangements - Joe Orozco, Chairperson, Convention
Organization and Arrangements, Arlington, Virginia
* 9:25 AM National Report - Donald Porterfield, President, National
Federation of the Blind of Arizona and Member of the Board of Directors,
National Federation of the Blind, Tucson, Arizona.
9:55 AM Seniors Setting Our Course - Silver Bells and DBVI - A partnership
empowering blind and low vision seniors.
* Sandy Halverson, Moderator, Arlington, Virginia
* Melody Roane, Director, Virginia Rehabilitation Center for the Blind
and Vision Impaired (VRCBVI), Richmond, Virginia
* Melinda Pugh, Herndon, Virginia
* Hazel Jones, Richmond, Virginia
* Judy Taylor, Bumpass, Virginia
10:20 AM Action Auction.
10:30 AM Revolutionizing Personal Safety for the Blind: Nathan Green, Chief
Operating Officer for Safety Positive Foundation and Advanced instructor for
the SEED program, Lexington, Virginia.
10:40 AM Protecting the Rights of All Blind People: Ensuring Civil Rights
for Blind Prisoners. Rebecca Herbig, Director of Litigation - Virginia
Disability Law Center, Richmond Virginia.
10:55 AM Deep in the Heart of the NFB - Reflections from Virginia's 2023
McDonald Fellows and Kenneth Jernigan Convention Scholarship Fund Winners.
* Moderator: Mary Durbin, Chairperson, McDonald Fellowship Committee,
and NFB of Virginia Liaison, Kenneth Jernigan Convention Scholarship Fund,
Virginia Beach, Virginia
* Pam Balensiefen, Ashburn, Virginia
* Nathan Green, Lexington, Virginia
* Bob Meter, Williamsburg, Virginia
11:15 AM Charting A New Course: Running for the Virginia House of Delegates.
- Michael Kasey, Past President, National Federation of the Blind of
Virginia, Fredericksburg, Virginia.
11:25 AM Action Auction.
11:35 AM Finding Your Compass, Finding Your Place in the Blindness Movement
- TBD.
11:45 AM Reports and Announcements.
12:00 PM General Session Adjourns.
12:00 PM to 1:00 PM Registration - Promenade.
12:00 PM to 5:00 PM Exhibits and Resource Fair - Harrison Ballroom.
Why read about interesting gadgets when you could experience them? Why take
our word for excellent services across Virginia when you could talk directly
to the people who offer them? This and a lot more at our exhibit hall/Low
Vision Resource Fair.
12:00 PM to 12:30 PM Box Lunch Pickup - Promenade (Please bring your meal
ticket).
12:30 PM to 2:00 PM Rock your Growth: Becoming a Dynamic Leader- Taylor and
Adams Ballrooms.
This is an exciting seminar for chapter board members and rising leaders in
our affiliate. Do you serve on your chapter's board or are you seeking to
grow your leadership in our movement. Grab your lunch and join us for this
interactive session led by Evelyn Valdez, President, Greater Alexandria
Chapter and Joanne Wilson, Federation Leader to learn how you can grow your
leadership skills and learn from fellow leaders from across the
Commonwealth.
1:00 PM Full Colonial Williamsburg Tour - Bus departs from the main
entrance.
1:30 PM Governor's Palace Tour - Bus departs from the main entrance.
Friday Afternoon Concurrent Seminars
2:00 PM to 4:00 PM Navigating to your Destination - O&M and tech can help
you get there - Room D, Domonique Lawless, and Jimmy Morris.
How can travel skills and technology come together to help you chart your
course and reach your destination. Armed with solid skills and the latest in
technology tools, you can safely achieve greater independence and chart your
own adventures. Come check out our interactive panel discussion and rotate
through our workstations to experience tools that can help you effectively
and safely get to your goals.
2:00 PM to 3:30 PM First Aid and Emergency Preparedness Training Empowering
Safety & Protecting Your Family - Room A and B. Christine Grassman and
Braden Flax, certified CPR/First Aid/AED instructors.
Do you know how to use a fire extinguisher, how to assist a person who is
choking, what to do about a severe cut or burn? What about how to detect a
stroke, shock, hypothermia or hyperthermia? Come to the NFBV state
convention in Williamsburg, where Christine Grassman and Braden Flax,
certified CPR/First Aid/AED instructors will cover such topics. This class
is limited to the first twenty class registrants who write to Christine
Grassman cfgrassman at icloud.com <mailto:cfgrassman at icloud.com>
4:00PM to 5:00 PM Resolutions Committee - Room A and B, Deepa Goraya,
Chairperson.
We encourage the participation of all members in setting Federation policy,
and the best way to influence policy is through resolutions. As a grassroots
organization, we serve our movement through collective action, and such
action begins with policy making and debate. Come help shape the policies of
the NFB of Virginia.
4:00PM to 5:00 PM Blind Veterans Meet Up - Room 2 and 3, Gerald Meredith,
Veterans Social President, Richmond Virginia Blinded Veterans Association
(RVBVA) and member, Richmond Chapter, South Chesterfield, Virginia.
We invite all those serving and those who have served, family and friends,
to meet members and learn about the BVA. Sherri Geiger (VIST Coordinator) of
the VA's Visual Impairment Services Outpatient Rehabilitation (VISOR)
Program will be present to share information about services. Come out and
meet veterans and make some new friends.
Friday Evening Concurrent Sessions and Hospitality
5:00 PM to 7:00 PM Registration - Promenade.
5:00 PM to 6:00 PM Public Meeting on DBVI Divisions, Programs and Services -
Adams Ballroom, Pam Cato, Deputy Commissioner for Services, Virginia
Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired.
We are grateful that DBVI will hold a public meeting where attendees can ask
questions and speak with agency leadership. DBVI wants to hear from you, so
come and share your thoughts and ideas on how DBVI can better meet the needs
of blind and low vision Virginians. Let your voice be heard. Virtual
participants can email questions and comments for the public meeting at
help at nfbv.org <mailto:help at nfbv.org>
5:30 PM to 6:30 PM At-Large Chapter Meeting - Room D, Jody Silverberg, At
Large Chapter Vice President.
Are you interested in joining the NFB but do not live near a chapter. Join
our At Large Chapter that meets virtually throughout the year but meets for
a great community gathering at the state convention. Join our Federation
team!
6:00 PM to 7:00 PM Student Dinner Party, Room 18, 2nd Floor, Alli Kelso,
President, Virginia Association of Blind Students.
Join the Virginia student division leaders and members for fellowship with
old and new friends to kick off the convention weekend. Open and free to all
students over the age of fourteen.
6:30 PM to 8:00 PM Youth Track: Cookie Decorating and Game Social for
Families - Room A and B.
Calling all blind kids ages 0-13, siblings and parents! Join us for cookie
decorating and drinks and a chance to meet other families from across the
state. Bring any Braille or large print books your child no longer needs
and pick up some free books from our free Braille book exchange table.
(Email bsellers31 at gmail.com <mailto:bsellers31 at gmail.com> with questions
and any food allergies we need to be aware of).
7:00 PM to 9:00 PM Project RISE Opening Exercises - Room 18.
Project RISE participants, members of the student division, and scholarship
finalists are invited to stay for an evening of interactive learning and
social skills you can put to work right away in your personal and
recreational lives.
7:00 PM to 10:00 PM Williamsburg Convention Hospitality - Harrison and
Taylor Ballrooms, hosted by the Greater Williamsburg Chapter.
The Greater Williamsburg Chapter invites you to join us for an evening of
music, food and conversation Friday, November 3. Come listen to local band
"Manhattan Affair" led by Tony Ingram. Tony encourages participation and
dancing. He performs everything from Sinatra to contemporary tunes. Enjoy a
variety of appetizers chosen to fit each members specific food requirements.
You must register for this program to attend. We are looking forward to
hosting this evening, which will give members an opportunity to take a break
and reunite with old friends and make new ones.
9:30 PM to 10:30 PM Scholarship Mixer - Room 18, 2nd Floor, Jimmy Morris,
Chairperson.
This event is limited to the NFB of Virginia 2023 Jimmy Nelson Scholarship
Finalists and the members of the Scholarship Committee.
Saturday, November 4, 2023
8:00 AM to 8:50 AM Registration - Promenade.
General Session
Taylor and Adams Ballrooms
9:00 AM Call to Order - Tracy Soforenko, President, NFB of Virginia.
Invocation - Ameenah Ghoston, Project RISE Mentor and Dallas Theological
Seminary Student, Springfield, Virginia.
9:05 AM Why You Should Choose Structured Discovery Training. Amy
Porterfield, President SAAVI Services for the Blind, Tucson, Arizona.
9:25 AM Rehabilitation Services for the Blind in Virginia - Rick Mitchell,
Commissioner, Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired.
9:40 AM NFB BELL AcademyR : Growing Possibilities for Students throughout
Virginia, Louise Walch, NFB BELL Academy Coordinator, Virginia Beach
Virginia.
Luise Schmidt-Eisenlohr, NFB BELL Academy Participant, Arlington, Virginia
* Tim Schmidt-Eisenlohr, Parent, Arlington Virginia
9:55 AM Action Auction.
10:00 AM Charting Our Course: Navigating Together, Tracy Soforenko,
President, NFB of Virginia.
10:30 AM Empowering Students Through Self Advocacy - Lauren Altman,
President, National Association of Blind Students, Livingston, New Jersey.
10:40 AM Action Auction.
10:45 AM Students Depart for Youth Track programming. (Children six years
old and younger should be accompanied by an adult).
10:50 AM Introducing the 2023 NFB of Virginia James F. Nelson, Jr.
Scholarship Finalists. Jimmy Morris, Chair, Glen Allen, Virginia.
11:00 AM Building Confidence Through Parenting Partnerships. Jessica Reed,
Virginia Blind Parents Coordinator, National Federation of the Blind of
Virginia, Fredericksburg, Virginia.
11:20 AM Action Auction.
11:30 AM Why I Am a Federationist. Mausam Mehta, Immediate Past Vice
President National Association of Blind Students, New York, New York.
11:50 AM Reports and Announcements.
12:00 PM General Session Adjourns.
11:00 AM to 12:00 PM Youth Track - Central Lounge and Room D.
Students will connect with national student leaders in a small group session
to learn about our positive philosophy and share what they wish their
parents really knew.
12:00 PM to 12:30 PM Box Lunch Pickup - Promenade (Please bring your meal
ticket).
12:00 PM to 1:00 PM Registration - Promenade.
12:00 PM to 1:00 PM Parent and Youth Track Lunch - Room D. Beth Sellers,
President.
Network with other parents, learn about resources for your children, ask
questions about our programs for students from toddlers to graduate school.
Grab the boxed lunch or bring your own, but please join us for our parents'
lunch. Our lunch hour is an informal roundtable conversation for parents of
children of all ages with low vision, blindness, deaf-blindness, and
multiple disabilities. Find out about fun year-round and summer mentoring,
skill building, and social programs we offer across Virginia and across the
country. We will also hold a 10-15-minute business meeting.
12:30 PM to 1:45 PM Seniors Division Luncheon and Business Meeting -
Harrison Room. Patty Droppers, President.
12:30 PM to 1:45 PM Virginia Association of Blind Merchants Division
Luncheon and Business Meeting- Room 2 and 3, Yasiah Hurtado, President,
Alexandria, Virginia.
Empower your future and discover your destiny by building your
entrepreneurial business. Learn from others in our NFBV Merchants division
so you can explore a profitable and engaging future.
12:30 PM to 1:45 PM Virginia Association of Blind Students Business Meeting
- Room A and B. All students, including Project RISE participants are
invited.
12:30 to 1:45 PM Community Lunch - Room 18
Make friends and build your network in this informal community Lunch in our
hospitality space.
Saturday Afternoon
Breakout Sessions
1:15 PM to 3:45 PM Parent Track - Room D.
Parents, please join us for a fun and interactive session with multiple
guest speakers! We will have opportunities to discuss inclusive education in
public schools, going to college with blindness, low vision and/ or multiple
disabilities, financial planning for the future, and orientation and
mobility in the home and community.
1:15 PM to 4:15 PM Youth Track - Central Lounge
Bring your sighted siblings and join us at interactive stations: 1)
orientation and mobility travel tips and tricks for all; 2) Braille literacy
fun; and 3) tactile art. (Children six years old and younger should be
accompanied by an adult).
2:00 PM to 4:15 PM Senior Track - Staying in the Game - Harrison Room, Patty
Droppers, President, Seniors Division.
Join fellow seniors for this exploration of low vision and non-visual
techniques including individual instruction and demonstration of nonvisual
methods to help you succeed in your kitchen, manage your health, access
information, and use accessible cell phones. Learn Approaches to care for
grandchildren and address safety concerns from within our own families.
Build your community of peers and positive role models across Virginia.
2:00 PM - 4:15 PM Charting Your Path to Job Success: Navigating the Workday
with Confidence - Room A and B. Mausam Mehta, Coordinator.
Are you ready to embrace your full potential in your career journey? Ever
wondered how to advocate for yourself confidently in various workplace
scenarios, both in and out of the office? Join us for an interactive seminar
designed to empower blind working age adults. In this unique session, we
will dive into real-life work scenarios, offering practical role-playing
exercises that empower you to advocate for yourself effectively, whether you
are in a corporate office, healthcare, education, or any other industry.
Gain confidence, build essential skills, and connect with peers who share
your journey. Elevate your work and personal life by mastering the art of
self-advocacy. Plus, get a few chuckles along the way.
2:00 Pm to 3:00 PM No Holds Barred: Your Real-World Introduction to
Effective Debate - Room 18, 2nd Floor, Joe Orozco, Project RISE Coordinator.
In today's evolving job environment, learning how to debate nurtures
essential skills in creativity, critical thinking, communication, and
collaboration. If you learn how to negotiate the monthly bills you want, you
will gain the confidence to advocate for the workplace accommodations you
need. Open to students and adults, come learn how to cleverly defend your
blindness philosophy in a world that tries to tell you it cannot be done.
Self Defense Classes:
2:00 PM to 3:00 PM Self-Defense with SEED - A Blind-Centric Approach - Room
2 and 3.
3:15 PM to 4:15 PM Self-Defense with SEED - A Blind-Centric Approach - Room
2 and 3.
Learn your options for defending yourself from unwanted touch during one of
two identical presentations of the SEED program, a self-defense system
designed BY the blind, FOR the blind. In this brief introduction, SEED
Advanced Instructor Nathan Green, a Virginian and member of the at-large
chapter, will teach some hands-on techniques that you can use right away to
protect yourself. Learn how to be aware of your surroundings, how to
de-escalate safety situations, and learn 2-3 hands on self-defense
techniques in this interactive seminar. Both sessions are identical, but
capacity is limited to 15 participants per session. To secure your
participation, write to Nathan Green at greenseed at gmail.com
<mailto:greenseed at gmail.com> .
3:15 PM - 4:15 PM A Blind Lawyer's Guide to the Legal Profession- Room 18,
Lea Schiefele, Coordinator.
Meet successful blind and low vision attorneys and others in the legal field
as we discover ways to help each other.
this meeting is a chance for lawyers to come together and share their
knowledge and experiences with other lawyers, law students, and students
interested in studying law. During the first part of the event, Lawyers and
students will share knowledge and experiences with each other. The second
part of the event will feature multiple discussion groups addressing topics
such as LSAT and Bar prep, legal research, trial and appellate advocacy,
navigating law school as a legally blind student, and more! Whether you are
a lawyer, current law student, or thinking about going to law school, please
join us for this interchange of ideas.
4:30 P M to 5:30 PM Blind Parents Meet Up - Room 2 and 3. Jessica Reed,
James Shobert, and CJ Fish, Coordinators.
Being a parent is hard. Being a blind parent can appear impossible. Whether
you are a current or prospective parent, join the blind parents group as we
exchange techniques and continue to build community and connection which
will empower us in our parenting journeys.
4:30 PM to 5:30 PM First Timers Reception - Room 18.
John Halverson and Tracy Soforenko, Coordinators
NFBV Membership Chair John Halverson and President Tracy Soforenko welcome
first time Virginia convention attendees to an informal gathering. We want
to help you get connected with your Federation Family. Due to space
constraints, this Rookie Reception is best suited for first timers.
4:30 PM to 5:30 PM Sighted Partner Meet Up - Harrison Room.
Share and learn techniques and strategies to support your loved one while
ensuring their independence and your own sanity.
4:30 PM to 5:30 PM Parents of Blind Children by the Poolside - Indoor Pool.
Grab the kids and join your new friends by the pool, or if the mood strikes
you, in the pool, as the hotel has a nice indoor pool for your convenience.
It is the perfect way to relax before the evening's festivities.
2023 Convention Banquet
Taylor and Adams Ballrooms
6:00 PM to 7:00 PM Pre-Banquet Reception (Cash Bar) - Promenade.
7:00 PM to 10:00 PM Banquet Program - Taylor and Adams Ballrooms, Tracy
Soforenko, Master of Ceremonies and President, NFB of Virginia.
Invocation - Naim Abu el Hawa, Member, Potomac Chapter, Vienna, Virginia.
Banquet Address - Donald Porterfield, President, National Federation of the
Blind of Arizona and Member of the Board of Directors, National Federation
of the Blind.
2023 James F. Nelson Scholarship Awards Presentation - Jimmy Morris,
Scholarship Committee Chairperson.
Action Auction - Jacki Brown, Chairperson and Auctioneer.
Sunday, November 5, 2023
General Session
Taylor and Adams Ballrooms
9:00 AM Call to Order - Tracy Soforenko, President, NFB of Virginia.
Invocation - TBD.
9:05 AM Project RISE: Resilience, Independence, Self-Advocacy and
Employment. Joe Orozco, Project RISE Program Coordinator, National
Federation of the Blind of Virginia, Arlington, Virginia.
9:15 AM Helping Others Find Their Path: Teaching Structured Discovery
Techniques in Africa - Domonique Lawless, President, Richmond Chapter,
Mechanicsburg, Virginia.
9:25 AM Achieving Success/Overcoming Obstacles at the College of William &
Mary: Lessons in Self Advocacy.
* Rachel McDonald, Ph.D., Pre-Employment Transition Services
Facilitator, Center on Transition Innovations, Virginia Commonwealth
university, Williamsburg, Virginia
* Lea Schiefele, Law Student, Huntly, Virginia
* Chris Infante, M.Ed., Elementary School Counselor, Richmond Public
Schools, Henrico, Virginia
9:45 AM Action Auction.
Note: Project RISE participants should leave the General Session and meet in
Room 18
9:55 AM Brag & Steal - Federation Chapters and Divisions Sharing Their
Successes.
10:20AM Action Auction.
10:30 AM Interactive Town Hall Discussion with Donald Porterfield,
President, National Federation of the Blind of Arizona and Tracy Soforenko,
President.
Bring your questions to this open discussion about your questions about our
work in the Federation. Virtual participants can email questions and
comments for the town hall at president at nfbv.org <mailto:president at nfbv.org>
.
10:50 AM Action Auction.
10:55 AM Business Session.
* Audit Committee Report - Sean McMahon, Chairperson, Alexandria,
Virginia
* Treasurer's Report - Mark Roane, Treasurer, Richmond, Virginia
* Resolutions - Deepa Goraya, Chairperson, District of Columbia
* Committee Reports
* 2024 Richmond and Washington Seminars - Deepa Goraya, District of
Columbia, and Bonnie O'Day, Alexandria, Virginia, Legislative Directors
* Communications - Jacki Bruce, Williamsburg, Virginia
* Public Outreach - Uricka Harrison, Stewart Prost, and Corlis Jones,
Co-chairs
* Membership, John Halverson
* Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion - Renee Valdez
* Fundraising - Renee Valdez
* 2024 National Convention.
* 2024 NFB of Virginia Convention
11:50 AM to 12:00 PM Reports and Announcements.
12:00 PM General Session Adjourns.
Thank you to our Greater Williamsburg Chapter for hosting the 2023 NFB of
Virginia State Convention. Your hospitality made us feel like family and it
made the convention one of our best.
Thank You to Our Sponsors and Exhibitors
Please thank this year's Convention Sponsors and Exhibitors located in the
Harrison Ballroom on
Friday, November 3 from 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM.
Vanguard - $2,000
Trailblazers - $500
Pioneers - $250 & $125
Dream Makers Circle
You can help build a future of opportunity for the blind by becoming a
member of our Dream Makers Circle. It is easier than you think. You can
visit your bank and convert an account to a POD (payable on death) bank
account, which is payable after your passing to the National Federation of
the Blind or one of our affiliates. Your legacy gift to the National
Federation of the Blind or the National Federation of the Blind of Virginia
can be made in the form of a will or living trust, an income-generating
gift, or by naming us as the beneficiary of a retirement plan, IRA, pension,
or a life insurance policy. You can designate a specific amount, a
percentage, or list the NFB as one of several beneficiaries. For additional
information, please contact Patti Chang at 410-659-9314, extension 2422, or
at pchang at nfb.org <mailto:pchang at nfb.org> .
Vehicle Donations
The National Federation of the Blind uses car donations to improve the
education of blind children, distribute free white canes, help veterans, and
so much more. We have partnered with Vehicles for Charity to process donated
vehicles. Please call toll-free 855-659-9314, and a representative can make
arrangements, or you can donate online by visiting
www.nfb.org/vehicledonations <http://www.nfb.org/vehicledonations> .
Preauthorized Contributions (PAC)
Can you help the National Federation of the Blind on a regular basis? Please
consider joining our preauthorized contribution plan. Starting at $5
monthly, you can help us turn dreams into reality and raise expectations for
blind people. Visit nfb.org/pac <https://nfb.org/pac> to fill out the
online form or email pac at nfb.org <mailto:pac at nfb.org> for additional
information.
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