[Nfbv-fairfax] Fairfax Chapter State Convention Fellowships Available

[Wanda Taylor]

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