[Nfbv-fairfax] Fairfax Chapter State Convention Fellowships Available

[Schroeder, Cathy]

The Fairfax Chapter would like to help two members in good standing to attend our upcoming state convention in Fredericksburg, which runs from Friday October
25 through Sunday October 27. If you need financial assistance feel free to apply by sending a short description of why you want to attend the convention
in an e-mail to Cathy Schroeder at 

cschroeder at atpco.net

Applications are due by September 21.

By the end of September, the selection committee will review the applications and select two persons to receive assistance. Again, you must be a current
member in good standing to qualify for this award.

If you have never attended a state convention we strongly encourage you to do so this year. Preference will be given to those that have never attended
a state convention but past convention attendees will also be considered.

At the convention you will meet many other blind people from all walks of life. We share ideas on how to be successful and independent, and we hear about
services for blind people across the state. Also, It is a great time to network and meet others. Below is the official convention announcement:

The 2013 Convention of the National Federation of the Blind of Virginia will be held October 25 through 27, 2013 at the Fredericksburg Hospitality House,
located at 2801 Plank Road, Fredericksburg, Virginia 22401. To make hotel reservations, call the hotel directly at (800) 682-1049 or (540) 786-8321. Special
room rates have been negotiated for convention attendee's. When you call the hotel, make sure to tell them that you are attending the convention so that
you will receive the special convention rate. The deadline to make hotel reservations is October 14, 2013. After the deadline, there is no guarantee that
you will get a room at the convention hotel.

Child care is available to the children of registered convention attendees (ages infant through 5th grade) during 4 sessions of convention. These sessions
are:

Session 1 Friday evening 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm

Session 2 Saturday morning 8:45 am to 12:15 pm

Session 3 Saturday afternoon 12:15 pm to 5:15 pm

Session 4 Saturday evening 6:45 pm to ½ hour after banquet adjournment

Snacks will be provided during Session 2 and Session 3. Even though child care will be open and fully staffed during lunch on Saturday, lunch will not
be provided. Parents should either pick their child up for lunch at the end of Session 2 or provide a lunch for their child to eat in the child care room.
Also, dinner will not be provided on Saturday evening. Parents should feed their child dinner prior to bringing them to Session 4. The cost of child care
is $5 per family per session. If you need more information, please contact Michael Kasey at (540) 760-3885 or 
michaelgkasey at verizon.net.
Please indicate the number of children per session on the Convention Pre Registration Form.

The Fredericksburg Area Chapter has arranged for a trolley tour of historic Fredericksburg on Friday afternoon. The trolley will pick up guests at 1:00
at the convention hotel, travel to historic old town Fredericksburg for a riding tour which will last approximately one hour and return guests to the hotel
by 3:00. The cost of the trolley tour is $19 for adults, $9 for children ages 6 through 16 and is free for children under the age of 6. The number of seats
for the trolley tour is limited so if you wish to take the trolley tour, you must purchase tickets in advance on the convention pre registration form.
Requests will be handled on a first come first served basis.

How to Work Smart and Get Promoted: Advanced Skills to Land, Keep, and Enjoy Your Perfect Job 

Far from any stereotypical employment seminar, this interactive session will have you laughing with, learning from, and linking with other blind people
who are already working their dream jobs. Everybody knows that you need a winning resume and cover letter, but you'll learn the two, never-discussed elements
of an application and interview that are virtually guaranteed to separate you from your competition (and, no, it's not a "thank you" note). You'll want
to send a thank-you to our facilitators, though, who will explain why you should apply to fewer jobs and go to lunch more often. These entrepreneurs, managers,
and professionals will save you embarrassment and frustration at work as they share lessons learned about explaining their blindness with sighted colleagues
and managers. We'll also hear from the world's best networker, who is blind, about how to navigate a cocktail party or reception so that you'll know who's
in the room, where your friends are seated, and how to be remembered by everyone you meet. And we'll try to answer that age-old question: when do you ask
for a promotion and how do you do it? This seminar will help you find the next, right step for your career. This seminar will run on Friday afternoon from
1:00 to 4:00 pm. If you need more information, please contact Corbb O'Connor at (202) 684-6130 or 
corbbo at gmail.com.

NFB-BELL-X: Two Weeks in Two Days

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

We'll be sure to keep your child or children busy so that you can learn from the speakers at general session and network with other parents of blind children
throughout the state. You'll leave better understanding the IEP process; how blind people can live independent, productive lives; and how you can help
other kids who are blind. This event will kick off with a Braille Carnival on Friday evening and continue throughout the day on Saturday. If you need more
information, please contact Briley O'Connor at (703) 380-8876 or 
brileyoc at gmail.com.

On Saturday, there will be luncheons for the Students Division, the Parents Division and Sighted Spouses. Please indicate on the convention pre registration
form if you plan to attend one of these luncheons. Box lunches should be purchased if you plan to attend one of these luncheons.

On Saturday, box lunches will be available for a cost of $14.50 if purchased in advance on the convention pre registration form. 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.

To register for the convention, please visit 
www.nfbv.org,
call toll free (800) 838-3006 or 

complete the attached Convention Pre Registration Form and mail it with payment included to:

NFB of Virginia

3230 Grove Avenue

Richmond, VA 23221