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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><h1>The Vigilant - September 2019<o:p></o:p></h1><h1><o:p> </o:p></h1><h2>Joe Orozco, Editor<o:p></o:p></h2><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><h2>From the President’s Desk<o:p></o:p></h2><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Dear friends,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I’ve heard it told the National Federation of the Blind is like a family. If that is true, then it would seem fair to say we are fast approaching our annual family reunion, and we are working hard to make it our best one yet in the riverside picturesque haven that is Portsmouth.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Plans are quickly taking shape. An agenda will be released in a few short weeks, and the only thing left to ensure this is the warmest gathering it is meant to be is to ensure you will be there to share in our fellowship.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><h3>Empowerment: Owning Your Future<o:p></o:p></h3><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>This theme will guide the programming throughout the course of this year’s convention. Expect outstanding programming, great presentations, enlivening conversations, powerful networking, and the spirit that makes the National Federation of the blind of Virginia convention a must attend event.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Below, we will outline some initial convention highlights, details on hotel reservations, and guidance on convention registration.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><h3>National Representative<o:p></o:p></h3><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.25in'>I am thrilled that Ron Brown, Second Vice President of the NFB, is our National Representative. You will be delighted to note he will be accompanied by his wife, Jean. Background information about Ron can be found later in this newsletter. Both Ron and his wife Jean will be joining us for convention. Ron is a tremendous leader in the National Federation of the Blind and is a dynamic force in his local business community. He is also just a great person. We are so excited that Ron and Jean will be joining us and hope you take this opportunity to meet them.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><h3>Breakout Sessions<o:p></o:p></h3><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Based on the ideas requested at the August Board of Directors meeting, we have developed a set of great seminars and break out sessions. Here is a brief sampling of the upcoming program:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst style='text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l3 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-family:Symbol'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]>Friday: Empowerment Lunch – The National Federation of the Blind recognizes that our diversity is a core strength. This lunch, featuring Jean Brown as our keynote, will feature the stories from across the Virginia Federation Family and will discuss ways we can make our community more inclusive and vibrant. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle style='text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l3 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-family:Symbol'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]>Friday: Owning Your Finances Seminar – From financial scams to strategic budgeting, from buying a home to building your retirement fund. Come learn how to secure your financial future.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle style='text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l3 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-family:Symbol'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]>Friday: Virginia Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired (DBVI) Public Meeting – 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. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpLast style='text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l3 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-family:Symbol'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]>Saturday: Chapter Leadership University – Chapter Presidents, Treasurers, membership coordinators, and participants in the chapter leadership institute will participate in a Saturday afternoon workshop on how to make our chapters more engaging, welcoming, and dynamic. Role play real life scenarios and bring home ideas that can be applied in your chapter in 2020.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><h3>Action on the Convention Floor<o:p></o:p></h3><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.25in'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>We are planning some exciting presentations from across the Federation Family. Here are just a few teasers of what you can expect.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst style='text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-family:Symbol'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]>Blind Moms Panel – Overcoming Challenges and Raising Their Families<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle style='text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-family:Symbol'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]>Growing Your Business – Blind Entrepreneurs Building Their Future<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle style='text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-family:Symbol'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]>Full Contact Martial Arts<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle style='text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-family:Symbol;color:#1F497D'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span style='color:#1F497D'>Breaking the ropes: an interactive session on owning your future by Federation Leader Joanne Wilson<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpLast style='text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-family:Symbol;color:#1F497D'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span style='color:#1F497D'>Sunday town Hall with Ron and Tracy<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><h3>Banquet: A Signature Keynote<o:p></o:p></h3><p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle>The highlight of the convention will be our banquet address from Ron Brown, Second Vice President of the National Federation of the blind and President of the National Federation of the Blind of Indiana. Ron will share from his personal story to show how our positive philosophy and great role models have led to his personal success and his success as a leader in Indiana and across the country.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpLast>We hope this initial set of highlights gives you a sense of the driving factors converging to make 2019 a landmark convention you must absolutely not miss. Each week, we will provide more details to inspire you to join us. However, we recommend you act today, and both secure your hotel room and register for the convention.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>All the information you need can be found at our web site:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="http://www.nfbv.org/convention">www.nfbv.org/convention</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraph><o:p> </o:p></p><h3>Recap of August in Northern Virginia<o:p></o:p></h3><h3><o:p> </o:p></h3><p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst>In August the Virginia affiliate was honored to be visited by the leader of the blindness movement. President Riccobono kept a busy schedule as he moved effortlessly between the Southeast Student Seminar, our Chapter Leadership Institute, the Virginia Blind Parents’ Group, and the summer meeting of the NFB of Virginia board of directors. In each of his remarks, President Riccobono encourage questions of the membership, thereby allowing us to learn a little more of our leader and how he arrives at certain decisions. Perhaps the highlight of his visit took shape during a luncheon during which President Riccobono shared a little more of the father and husband behind the gavel.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle>We are excited to report that the board of directors authorized a second year for our Chapter Leadership Institute. Joe Orozco and Domonique Lawless have agreed to stay on as co-coordinators, and even as we speak they are working hard to form next year’s class of future chapter leaders. We look forward to learning from our first year and generating results that manifest in the way we propel our advocacy and outreach at a local level.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle>Project RISE kicked off its 2019-2020 cycle. The program featured a mix of leadership development, recreation, and mentorship. The program is now in full swing, and in early September it was a pleasure to see the affiliate’s youth meeting with members of Northern Virginia chapters at the National Harbor for lunch and camaraderie.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpLast><o:p> </o:p></p><h3>Final Thoughts<o:p></o:p></h3><p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle>These are just a few of the activities going on in our affiliate. Some we remember fondly in our recent past. Some we are eagerly anticipating in the near future. If this is indeed a family, and I hope you will come to feel this yourself, then it is truly one of the greatest bonds you will ever be a part.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle>Please, let us benefit from what you can bring to the table. If we have seen you recently, I can’t wait to swap notes since the last time we caught up. If we have not seen you in a while, why is that? We’ve missed you and need you to come back. If we have never had the privilege of meeting you, let’s fix that, hopefully at the state convention, if not sooner. You are the force this family is missing.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle>Fondly yours,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraphCxSpLast>Tracy Soforenko, President<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>National Federation of the Blind of Virginia<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><h2>This Month’s Words of Inspiration<o:p></o:p></h2><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>“If you’re dumb, surround yourself with smart people. If you’re smart, surround yourself with smart people who disagree with you.” - Aaron Sorkin<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><h2>Appreciation from the NFB of Louisiana<o:p></o:p></h2><h2>By Pam Allen<o:p></o:p></h2><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>On behalf of all those affected by the April tornado, I would like to express our sincere appreciation for your generous donation! We are deeply grateful and truly humbled by the support we have received from our family in Virginia as well as for everyone’s concern and encouragement! <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Your contribution is directly helping one of our members and her family replace bedroom furniture lost in her daughter’s room as a result of the tornado!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>In addition to assisting families in the recovery process by providing support for repairs or replacement of items, some of the money also assisted an individual attend national convention who had planned to cancel their trip because the tornado caused them to utilize money for storm-related expenses. Having partial assistance to attend the convention provided a much-needed boost.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Please share our heartfelt thanks to all for their love, thoughts, prayers, and support!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>We have all drawn incredible strength from the outpouring of love and support we have received.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Thank you again from the bottom of our hearts!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><h2>I am a Federationist<o:p></o:p></h2><h2>By Jessica Reed<o:p></o:p></h2><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:6.0pt;line-height:150%;background:white'><span style='color:#222222'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:6.0pt;line-height:150%;background:white'><span style='color:#222222'>Editor’s Note: Jessica Reed is a member of the Historic Fredericksburg Chapter. She is the coordinator for the Blind Parents Group in Virginia, and in this rare insight into her story, we learn a little bit about what makes her one of our most valuable members in the movement.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:6.0pt;line-height:150%;background:white'><span style='color:#222222'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:6.0pt;line-height:150%;background:white'><span style='color:#222222'>I cry over my blindness, and all too often fall into the trap of "why me"! I have never felt that my blindness was “just a characteristic.” I would take my vision back in a Nano second! As a student at the Louisiana Center For the Blind, I took two weeks to make a lemon meringue pie, dropping more than one egg yoke on my classmates foot. I am a lot of things, but I would never call myself “Super blind.” If we are totally honest, for the first ten years of my blindness I would have flinched and may have smacked anyone who called me blind. All this, and I am a Federationist.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:6.0pt;line-height:150%;background:white'><span style='color:#222222'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:6.0pt;line-height:150%;background:white'><span style='color:#222222'>I lost my vision after medical malpractice at the age of nine. To say that my family and I were devastated would be an understatement. I was close to needing to repeat the third and fourth grades because when I did make it to school, I was more often than not missing and later found hysterical in the girls bathroom. When it first happened, doctor’s assured my family that my vision loss was only temporary. I woke every morning expecting to see. Not until years later was I told point-blank by a prominent neurosurgeon that “There wasn’t a snowball’s chance in hell.” My family was never the same after this doctor visit.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:6.0pt;line-height:150%;background:white'><span style='color:#222222'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:6.0pt;line-height:150%;background:white'><span style='color:#222222'>Today, I am a stay-at-home mother to two beautiful thriving children. I have a sighted husband and live in the historic town of Fredericksburg, like I always dreamed. I have traveled, jumped out of a plane, run a marathon, graduated from college and worked. I am a Federationist.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:6.0pt;line-height:150%;background:white'><span style='color:#222222'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:6.0pt;line-height:150%;background:white'><span style='color:#222222'>When I ventured off to the Louisiana Center for the Blind at the age of eighteen, I went with the conviction that I would try out their training (which I wasn’t convinced I needed) but they could keep their NFB hard-nosed, militant philosophy to themselves. I loved guide dogs and was not the political type. I had many sighted friends, so therefore did not need any blindness social club. While in Louisiana, I questioned and argued with almost everything they taught. The word blind was a slap in the face. It was a Scarlet letter I had to attempt to hide and mask at every turn, and I was baffled at how the staff and students could have no shame in it. These were educated, well-put-together, attractive people. There were people with children, some with advanced degrees, wealthy and those who lived pay check to pay check. I slowly began to fall off my pedestal. There were also those who struggled immensely with cane travel, cooking, computers, or knew no Braille at all. There were those that knew nothing other than blindness, and those like myself trying to navigate a jagged road of anger, frustration, and immeasurable grief.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:6.0pt;line-height:150%;background:white'><span style='color:#222222'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:6.0pt;line-height:150%;background:white'><span style='color:#222222'>The National Federation of the Blind philosophy is not the delusion I was once convinced it was. Though yes, I would love to know exactly what my children look like and see another sunrise, what stabs threw my heart most of the time is not that. It is the frustration of not being able to drive. It is the sadness that I will never be able to teach my son to drive. It is the anger that rears up when I hear of another blind Lyft or Uber customer being stranded by a driver because they have a guide dog. It is the anger that claws up at me when I hear of another blind parent having their child removed by CPS solely due to their blindness. It is the sadness I feel when I meet a highly educated blind person who can’t find even a minimum wage job. These people are all me, so I am a Federationist.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:6.0pt;line-height:150%;background:white'><span style='color:#222222'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:6.0pt;line-height:150%;background:white'><span style='color:#222222'>As a little girl, I had a little wooden cross I would hold nightly during prayers. I would trace the metal figure of Jesus nailed to that cross. The number of tears I cried while clutching that cross and wondering what I did wrong and the number of times I kissed his little feet cannot be counted. The word “inconvenience" was jarring, even when put into context with “the proper training and opportunity.” The phrase was jarring, because I didn’t fully understand it’s meaning... until now. I could not see that the NFB was simply saying that it did not have to be the debilitating death of my hopes and dreams that much of society tries to impose on us. The NFB philosophy that I can live the life I want is not incongruous to the grief of suddenly and unexpectedly going blind, instead it compliments it. I know what it is to beg, bargain, and plead for a so-called cure. I woke up every day for years expecting to see. I had no blind role models who successfully lived the lives they wanted. I could not picture being a blind high schooler, then a blind college student, and finally a blind adult. I felt like I was waiting for my real life to begin, and let me tell you that is agonizing and exhausting!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:6.0pt;line-height:150%;background:white'><span style='color:#222222'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:6.0pt;line-height:150%;background:white'><span style='color:#222222'>Today, the NFB is the beacon of hope that I craved. The NFB fights to protect the interest of blind parents so that their children are not needlessly removed from loving homes just because a well-meaning social worker cannot understand how we safely provide for our children. The NFB fights for the equal opportunity of guide dog users to use ride sharing companies such as Uber and Lift without fear of being stranded. The NFB legislates for continued accessibility on the internet and everyday home appliances. The NFB has been fighting for my dreams long before I knew there would be a fight. Would I like to have my vision back? Yes! Though he was so cruel in his delivery all those years ago, the prominent neurosurgeon was correct though. There is little in optic nerve research, so the potential for any vision restoration is nil. My love and contributions to this world are not. The National Federation of the Blind is the vehicle to my contributions, hopes and dreams. I have learned that what cripples me most is not always my blindness, but an inaccessible world who does not always understand me. This is a measurable variable that can be improved, and that is what the NFB strives to do. I am a Federationist.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:6.0pt;line-height:150%;background:white'><span style='color:#222222'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:6.0pt;line-height:150%;background:white'><span style='color:#222222'>Today, I am a Federationist because my federation family understands my sadness, anger, and frustrations of being blind. They listen to and challenge like only they can. I am a Federationist.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:6.0pt;line-height:150%;background:white'><span style='color:#222222'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:6.0pt;line-height:150%;background:white'><span style='color:#222222'>Just as no two sighted people are the same, no two blind people are the same. I have learned that there are many who have never viewed blindness as a tragedy. While I do understand where they are coming from, I think we are falling short as a federation family if we do not acknowledge that there are also those like me that have come from a place of tragedy. The NFB philosophy was never meant to imply that blindness is not traumatizing for some, but instead it does not have to be our end. I am a Federationist. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><h1>National Representative Ron Brown <o:p></o:p></h1><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Ron Brown, Second Vice President of the National Federation of the Blind and President, National Federation of the Blind of Indiana<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p style='background:white'><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'><img border=0 width=300 height=300 style='width:3.125in;height:3.125in' id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image001.jpg@01D56B48.BBB2EB20" alt="Ron Brown"></span><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>Ron Brown was born in Gary, Indiana, the first of eight children, to Marzette and Myra Brown on May 15, 1956. When he was a senior in high school, he became blind after he was shot on his way home from a basketball game. At the time he knew nothing about blindness and was overwhelmed by the feeling that his entire life had been radically changed in an instant. One of the first painful lessons he learned was that many of his friends could not deal with his blindness and stayed away from him. Luckily, he began to make new friends, members of the National Federation of the Blind. They became inspiring role models for Ron, teaching him that it was respectable to be blind and that he could continue to strive for the goals he had set himself.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='background:white'><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p style='margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;background:white'><i><span style='font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>I have been an advocate for blind people for more than twenty-five years, and with every passing year my commitment to serving the blind of this nation increases. My life indeed changed the night I became blind, but with the perspective I now have, I must say that it was for the better.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p style='background:white'><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p style='background:white'><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>Armed with this newfound freedom, Ron graduated from Ball State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in health science. He then went to work at Tradewinds Rehabilitation Center in Indiana, where he met his wife Jean, who was on the staff. Eventually he was offered a job in the Business Enterprise Program. He had always wanted to own his own business, and this gave him the opportunity to do so. He has now been in business for himself for twenty years.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='background:white'><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p style='background:white'><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>Recently Ron returned to school and earned a master's degree in educational psychology with a certification in orientation and mobility from Louisiana Tech University. He now owns a second business, teaching cane travel to blind people in the state of Indiana.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='background:white'><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p style='background:white'><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>As Ron Brown has developed and matured in his personal life, his commitment to and service in the National Federation of the Blind have deepened as well. In the early years he was a chapter president and was then elected to the </span><a href="https://www.nfb.org/about-us/state-affiliates/indiana"><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#005AA3'>NFB of Indiana</span></a><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>'s board of directors. He was first elected president of the affiliate in 1996 and has been reelected every two years since. In 2001 he was elected to serve on the NFB board of directors.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='background:white'><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p style='background:white'><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>Looking back, Ron Brown says, "Becoming a member of the national board is the fulfillment of a life dream. I have been an advocate for blind people for more than twenty-five years, and with every passing year my commitment to serving the blind of this nation increases. My life indeed changed the night I became blind, but with the perspective I now have, I must say that it was for the better."<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><h2>Introducing the Renaissance Portsmouth-Norfolk Waterfront Hotel <o:p></o:p></h2><h2>By Joe Orozco<o:p></o:p></h2><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>For anyone who whined about how last year’s hotel in Fredericksburg was too complicated to navigate, I am about to make your little heart sing with joy. The Renaissance is so easy to navigate it’s almost ridiculous. Yes, I found this hotel, and yes, I will accept drinks for your gratitude for finding an easy facility.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I’ve returned from doing my customary property walk through and pre-convention logistics planning. If there is one thing that resonated most from my early venture down to Portsmouth, it was how overwhelmingly friendly everyone was. That is to say, if my directions and tips below do not do it for you, you will not have to walk far before coming across someone who can kindly point you in the right direction.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>If I could break down the layout of the Renaissance into one thought, it would be this: Everything you will need will be found along a hallway running East to West.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>You will come into the hotel through two sets of automatic doors at the west end of the first floor hallway. There is no immediate lobby area upon entering the property. Move east down the corridor until the corridor makes a slight jog to the right and dumps you into what is referred to as the rotunda, which, I know, sounds grand and intimidating, but trust me, it’s not.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The front desk will be on your right. In addition to checking you in, the front desk sells soft drinks, Pepsi products, and snacks. Bottled drinks will set you back $3.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>To your left will be a door that takes you out to the board walk and dog relief area. The grass will be on your left. There is a sidewalk beyond the grass, and then? Well, there’s water. As in, don’t fall into the river unless you want to be featured bedraggled in our social media channels. There is a trash can near one of the three entrances for proper disposal. At the time of this writing, two of the three entrances are locked between 7 PM and 7 AM. I will work to mitigate this before convention, but please be mindful not to be locked out because you can’t use your key to get back in.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>As you continue east on the main concourse, the tile will give way to carpeting. The carpeting will be interrupted by a wide strip of hardwood, and this landmark is important, because as you’re standing on the hardwood, the entrance to the bar portion of Foggy Point will be on your left. If you move forward and get off the hardwood and back onto the carpeting, you will be level with the entrance to the grill portion of Foggy Point, also on your left.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>In case that did not make sense, the items of interest along the left will be first the board walk and dog relief exits, the bar, and then the grill.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The Grill serves breakfast and lunch. At 3 PM the Grill closes, and the Bar takes over for dinner. To give you a sense of their pricing, I ordered eggs, ham, potatoes, biscuits, and fruit, and it set me back $12.32.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Now, if you were to move off that strip of hardwood and were to turn right, away from the grill, you would find yourself looking at the first floor cluster of meeting rooms. Walk into the short corridor. Restrooms will be on your right and can also be accessed via a shortcut from near the front desk. Continue walking past the restrooms until you come to a T intersection. Take a right turn to head down a short corridor parallel to the main concourse, and the only meeting room on your left is Jefferson, which is where our child care will be held. Unless something changes in the next week, Jefferson will be the only room we utilize on the first floor. Everything else will be held on the second floor.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Okay, now I need you to virtually position yourself back on that strip of hardwood. Remember the bar and grill are on your left. The restrooms and Jefferson are on your right.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Now move forward. You’re going to continue east until you come to the elevator bank. There will be one elevator on your left and two on your right. You’ll know you went too far if you hit a dead end wall. Remember what I told you about this property being easy?<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The Renaissance has seventeen floors. The guest rooms are comfortable and do feature small refrigerators beneath the flat screen televisions that are blissfully empty. As in, there are no expensive beverages. Did you hear that? National Office? :)<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Now here’s something worth noting. The Renaissance is undergoing guest room renovations. When I stayed there, they were hard at work on the sixteenth and fifteenth floors. As they move down the tower, they will create buffers to minimize noise, but since we will primarily be there during the weekend, any spillover noise should be minimal.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>With the one possible exception of child care, the NFB of Virginia state convention agenda is invading the second floor of the property. Let’s assume we’re back at the elevator bank on the second floor. Because there are elevators on both sides, let’s use cardinal directions to stay on the same page regardless of which side you come out on. If you come out of the elevators and turn east, you are going to encounter the Commodore Room just around a slight corner from the elevator bank. The Commodore Room is going to serve as our hospitality suite for the weekend and will replace the traditional presidential suite. This is the only meeting space we are using east of the elevators.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Now, if we were to come out of the elevators and turn west, you would be facing a long corridor with meeting rooms on your left and a bank of windows on your right. The windows along the northern wall look out on a terrace which are accessible from doors along the right. You may use this area for smoking. Please do, not, use this area for dog relief.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>If you were to continue down the long corridor past the bank of windows on your right and ballroom on your left, you would come to something of an intersection. On your right would be a door giving onto the Admiral’s Board Room, which we will be using for affiliate office space and is generally off limits to the membership.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>If you were to continue forward, you would hit a set of doors that give onto a stairwell. These stairs only service the first and second floors. When you come out on the first floor, you would find yourself at the rotunda with the front desk on your right.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Now, let’s go back to the elevator bank and explore the space along the left or southern wall of the second floor.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>When you come out of the elevator bank, you will find yourself at an L intersection. This general area is called the Portsmouth Foyer. It is here that box lunches will be distributed on Friday and Saturday at noon. If you turn left, you will find yourself facing a corridor running south that makes up the short end of the L. The first thing you will find on the left side of this corridor will be the built-in registration desk. Past the registration desk will be first the men’s restroom tucked away in an alcove, and then the women’s restroom tucked away in its own alcove. There is no drinking fountain, but there will be water stations out in the corridors for your convenience.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Alright, now we get to the bulk of the layout description for the meeting rooms. Cardinal directions are key here, so stay with me.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The Portsmouth Ballroom is divided into eight sections. The meeting space is literally divided into Portsmouth 1, Portsmouth 2, Portsmouth 3, etc. I want you to imagine a large square. Take this square and divide it into four strips running north to south. I want you to take the east most strip, the strip closest to the registration desk, and divide that strip into three sections. So, if you were back in the short length of the L corridor, and if you were to follow along the right wall, you would hit entrances to Portsmouth 6, Portsmouth 7, and Portsmouth 8. You with me so far?<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Okay, now come back out into the main east/west corridor. Put your back to the elevators and start heading west. Remember, along the right you are going to start walking past a bank of windows, but along your left, you are going to hit the entrance to first Portsmouth 5 and then Portsmouth 4. What you need to remember is that the two center strips of your large square, 5 and 4, are your long strips. General Session will be held in Portsmouth 5. Now you remember the intersection at the end of the east/west corridor? This is the intersection where making a right would take you into the forbidden office space and moving forward would take you past a set of doors into the stairwell. If you were to make a left, you would be moving down a corridor with meeting space along your left. Along this left wall you would find entrances to Portsmouth 3, Portsmouth 2, and Portsmouth 1.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>So, from the top, Portsmouth 1, 2, and 3 are on the west side of the square. Portsmouth 4 and 5 are in the center and make up the longer strips, and Portsmouth 6, 7, and 8 are on the eastern side of the square.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>For you brave souls who are really working hard at nailing all this down in your brains, here’s one more fun fact: Portsmouth 7 and 8 are currently one combined block, and so is Portsmouth 1 and 2.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Whew! Okay, next to sitting down with the hotel and assigning meeting spaces for Tracy’s agenda, writing out the hotel description is probably the second most daunting task. I’m always worried no one will actually read the damn thing, and if people do, I’m worried I will get one detail wrong and make you question the rest of my mental map.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>For anyone interested, the gym and indoor pool are located on the third floor.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>It’s a nice hotel. Even if my directions made zero sense, I promise you’re going to be zipping along the place without any issue. I’m almost contemplating only using marshals on Friday and calling it good. At the time of this writing, there is a very slight possibility we may be holding the banquet on the first floor, but this too will be easy for you to target.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The only other thing I would mention of my trip is that the Uber availability in the area can feel a little slow. If you’re taking Amtrak down there, the station is only about a 12-minute drive, but you might be waiting just as long to get picked up. Of course this could depend on the time of day, etc. The station is a small one, so just be prepared. The airport is about a 20 minute drive.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I’m looking forward to seeing y’all soon!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><h2>Additional Convention Logistics<o:p></o:p></h2><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Note all this information can also be found on our convention landing page: nfbv.org/convention<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p style='margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#5F5B50'>Reservations for the Event should be made directly with Marriott reservations. </span><a href="https://www.marriott.com/event-reservations/reservation-link.mi?id=1563991503818&key=GRP&app=resvlink" target="_blank"><i><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#2B5E5E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in'>Book your room online</span></i></a><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#5F5B50'> or call them directly at (888) 839-1775. Individuals must identify themselves as being with the group, National Federation of the Blind of Virginia 61st Annual State Convention at the time the reservation is made in order to receive the special group rate. If you run into any issues, when calling Reservations, please ask for Debra, who works Monday through Friday between 8:30 AM and 4:30 PM.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#5F5B50'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p style='margin-bottom:9.0pt'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#5F5B50'>Cancellation policy is 48 hours prior to arrival.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><h3>Convention Registration<o:p></o:p></h3><h3><o:p> </o:p></h3><p style='margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><a href="https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/4332886" target="_blank"><i><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#2B5E5E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in'>Pre-registration</span></i></a><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#5F5B50'> will run until Tuesday, October 8. After October 8, the registration rates and meal prices will go up.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin-bottom:9.0pt'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#5F5B50'>Child Care<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin-bottom:9.0pt'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#5F5B50'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p style='margin-bottom:9.0pt'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#5F5B50'>Childcare is available to the children of registered convention attendees (ages infant through 5th grade) during 6 sessions of convention. These sessions are:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:9.0pt;margin-left:0in;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:13.5pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol;color:#5F5B50'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#5F5B50'>Session 1 Friday morning 8:45 am to 12:15 pm<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:9.0pt;margin-left:0in;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:13.5pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol;color:#5F5B50'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#5F5B50'>Session 2 Friday afternoon 12:15 pm to 5:15 pm<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:9.0pt;margin-left:0in;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:13.5pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol;color:#5F5B50'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#5F5B50'>Session 3 Friday evening 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:9.0pt;margin-left:0in;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:13.5pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol;color:#5F5B50'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#5F5B50'>Session 4 Saturday morning 8:45 am to 12:15 pm<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:9.0pt;margin-left:0in;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:13.5pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol;color:#5F5B50'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#5F5B50'>Session 5 Saturday afternoon 12:15 pm to 5:15 pm<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:9.0pt;margin-left:0in;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:13.5pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol;color:#5F5B50'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#5F5B50'>Session 6 Saturday evening 6:45 pm to ˝ hour after banquet adjournment<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#5F5B50'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p style='margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#5F5B50'>Snacks will be provided during Sessions 1, 2, 4 and 5. Even though childcare will be open and fully staffed during lunch on Friday and Saturday, lunch will not be provided. Parents should either pick their child up for lunch at the end of Sessions 1 and 4 or provide a lunch for their child to eat in the childcare room. Also, dinner will not be provided on Friday or Saturday evening. Parents should feed their child dinner prior to bringing them to Sessions 3 or 6. The cost of childcare is $10 per family per session. If you need more information, please contact Uricka Harrison at (757) 349-9234 or </span><a href="mailto:uricka.harrison@icloud.com"><i><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#2B5E5E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in'>uricka.harrison@icloud.com</span></i></a><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#5F5B50'>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#5F5B50'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p style='margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#5F5B50'>Please indicate the number of children per session on the Convention </span><a href="https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/4332886" target="_blank"><i><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#2B5E5E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in'>Pre Registration Form.</span></i></a><span class=MsoHyperlink><i><span style='color:#2B5E5E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in'><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p><p style='margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span style='color:#5F5B50'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p style='margin-bottom:9.0pt'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#5F5B50'>On Friday and Saturday, box lunches will be available for a cost of $17.50 if purchased in advance on the convention pre-registration form. Box lunch tickets are specific for each day and are not interchangeable. Box lunches can only be guaranteed for those purchased on the convention pre-registration form. A limited number may be available for purchase at the convention.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin-bottom:9.0pt'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#5F5B50'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p style='margin-bottom:9.0pt'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#5F5B50'>On Saturday, student lunches will be available for a cost of $8.00 if purchased in advance on the convention pre-registration form. Student lunches can only be guaranteed for those purchased on the convention pre-registration form. A limited number may be available for purchase at the convention. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#5F5B50'>Please </span><a href="https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/4332886" target="_blank"><i><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#2B5E5E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in'>register online,</span></i></a><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#5F5B50'> or call toll free: 800-838-3006.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#5F5B50'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p style='margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#5F5B50'>Using the free telephone service may be easier and more efficient.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#5F5B50'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><h3 style='mso-margin-top-alt:22.5pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:9.0pt;margin-left:0in;mso-line-height-alt:13.5pt'><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#6F0025;letter-spacing:.5pt'>Sign Language Interpreting<o:p></o:p></span></h3><h3 style='mso-margin-top-alt:22.5pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:9.0pt;margin-left:0in;mso-line-height-alt:13.5pt'><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#6F0025;letter-spacing:.5pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></h3><p style='margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#5F5B50'>If you require up close or tactile sign language interpreting, please </span><a href="mailto:jsorozco@gmail.com"><i><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#2B5E5E;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in'>notify Joe Orozco</span></i></a><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#5F5B50'> by the convention pre-registration deadline of Tuesday, October 8. We cannot properly arrange for interpreters beyond this date.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin-bottom:9.0pt'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#5F5B50'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p style='margin-bottom:9.0pt'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#5F5B50'>Interpreting can be provided for the plenary sessions on:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:9.0pt;margin-left:0in;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:13.5pt;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo4'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol;color:#5F5B50'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#5F5B50'>Friday, November 1: 9 AM - 12 PM<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:9.0pt;margin-left:0in;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:13.5pt;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo4'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol;color:#5F5B50'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#5F5B50'>Saturday, November 2: 9 AM - 12 PM<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:9.0pt;margin-left:0in;text-indent:-.25in;line-height:13.5pt;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo4'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol;color:#5F5B50'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#5F5B50'>Sunday, November 3: 9 AM - 12 PM<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><h3>Roommate Finding Assistance<o:p></o:p></h3><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>If you are in search of a roommate to help offset state convention expenses, please contact Britney Ingram, who can be reached via email at:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black'>brittany.e.crone@gmail.com<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Britney will first collect names of people interested in roommate matches and then correspond with chapter presidents and others to find potential matches.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><h2>NFB Pledge<o:p></o:p></h2><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I pledge to participate actively in the effort 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.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div></body></html>