[nfbwatlk] The Convention was a Rousing Success

Tue Oct 6 03:02:26 UTC 2009

Good evening all,

How true Bennett, fantastic  describes the convention perfectly.
I just wanted to thank you all for all your hospitality.  How wonderful to 
have made so many new friends, to catch up with old ones, the food and 
drinks were grand, the sessions were marvelous, and all the laughter that I 
had the privilege of sharing with many of you.
My son Aaron came along with me to keep my drink limit at a minimum and to 
remind me of a early curfew.  Also my guardian angel Charlotta McKinzie, 
was with us.  She keeps me balanced. Most of you can be thankful for her , 
though she is quiet and shy compared to myself, she keeps me from getting in 
to far to much trouble and from being a complete rebel.  She is also my vice 
President of the Capital City chapter in Salem, and I couldn't do it with 
out her.

It was also nice to share the convention with another Renee, that doesn't 
happen very often, two Renees in the same room at the same time.  That might 
be a good thing too.
Though she is Renee West, she really is the true Renee East, hiding out in 
Baltimore.
When I met Dan in Baltimore  at the end of September and he told me he would 
be at the Washington state convention with his wife.  He failed to tell me 
who she was and how charming she is.  Brag on her a little more Dan!

I am pretty excited to attend the Oregon State convention this weekend and 
hope I get to laugh as much there.  You all feel free to join us if you can.

Thank you all again for having us at such a fantastic  convention.
Renee S
Stands for Squier but what the heck, Renee South

 ----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Prows, Bennett (HHS/OCR)" <Bennett.Prows at HHS.GOV>
To: "NFB of Washington Talk Mailing List" <nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, October 05, 2009 7:48 AM
Subject: [nfbwatlk] The Convention was a *Rousing Success*

> Well, here it is Monday morning, after another fantastic convention of
> the National Federation of the Blind of Washington (state) (grin).
>
>
>
> Once again this year, the team Federation really stepped up to the
> plate, and on the lat weekend of the regular baseball season,
> collectively we hit it out of the park.
>
>
>
> Jim Gashel, as the national representative showed us how to be totally
> mobile, and provide excellent information and support throughout the
> convention activities at the same time.
>
>
>
> As always, Mike chaired an excellent convention.  We heard from the
> people in the state that are here to serve the blind, such as Danielle
> King from the Washington Talking Book and Braille Library, Louoma Duran,
> from the Department of Services for the blind, and Dean Stenehjem from
> the Washington State School for the Blind.  WE heard an excellent
> presentation of good news activities from Kirk Adams of the Seattle
> Lighthouse, and spent part of the Saturday afternoon session discussing
> Braille literacy, and certification of teachers to read Braille.  Denise
> Mackenstadt's presentation as an Orientation and Mobility Specialist,
> and of course a Braillist was right on point, and brought thoughtful
> ideas to the forefront of our minds moving forward.
>
>
>
> We had a different program this year, which was a tremendous success,
> judging by the comments from many of the participants.  Mentors were
> paired with mentees, (students) and the questions about the NFB and
> convention were coming fast and furious all weekend. Denise Mackenstadt
> and others including Jedi Moerke were instrumental in making this
> activity a success.
>
>
>
> The banquet of course was well attended.  We had some drawings at the
> banquet by those who were fund raising for chapters, and Bob Sellers was
> responsible for pushing the Louie Braille Coin drawing this year, and
> did an excellent job of getting the word out about the unique minted
> coins.
>
>
>
> The scholarship committee awarded the Beverly Prows Scholarship to a
> Washingtonian who is a freshman at Brigham Young University, Brianna
> Leavens.  She's a young lady with tremendous scholastic ability, and a
> lot of potential, who was able to fly home to Everett, (near her
> parents'
> house), and to be with us at convention and to visit her parents as
> well.  Her parents came to the convention by the way, and we all enjoyed
> meeting them as well.  Rita Szantay, as scholarship chair once again did
> a great job making the presentation.
>
>
>
>
>
> Elections were held for a couple of board positions, and Gary
> Mackenstadt of Edmonds, and Les Fitzpatrick of Vancouver were elected to
> two year terms.
>
>
>
> Of course, Dan Frye, and Renee West who are both on the NFB national
> staff were with us again this year, since they are Washingtonians if not
> physically, in spirit anyway.  They both spoke to the convention.  Renee
> brought us all the news about NFB Newsline (r), and many of us heard for
> the first time the how tos and wherefores of Newsline in your pocket and
> Newsline online.
>
>
>
> Dan spoke to the convention about his job as Associate Editor of the
> prestigious Braille Monitor, our national magazine  He really put a
> tremendous perspective on the function of the magazine in the world, and
> how our organization's publications are integral to exposing wrong doing
> in the field of work with the blind, and in trumpeting the positive work
> of those who work with us and affect our lives.
>
>
>
> We had a new and fun game for attendees on Saturday night, during a
> silent auction fund raising event.  The game was based on the TV game
> show, the Family Feud.  The mentors were teamed against the mentees.
> During the convention, conventioneers were surveyed by the students and
> mentors concerning knowledge of blindness, and individual opinions on
> various aspects of life as blind people.  The mentors won the game in
> the end, but a great time was had by all.  WE even had a few live
> auction items at the end of the silent auction.  The organizers of this
> event were, Denise Mackenstadt, who brailed the survey questions, and
> helped to iron out the logistics, Kris Colcock, Carol Smith and Connie
> Utterbach Kaye Burrows, Marci Carpenter, and a cast of thousands who
> worked to make the event a fun one.  Ivan Weich kept score, and I tried
> my best to sound like Richard Dawson.  That only lasted a minute, and I
> gave up and just hosted the game show.
>
>
>
> So, I've written enough.  I certainly had a *great* time, in and out of
> convention official sessions.  (grin.)  Thanks to Art and Nicky
> Stevenson, Renee and Aaron Squire from the NFB of Oregon for being there
> as well
>
>
>
> I'm sure others will write about their impressions too.  Now that we
> have recharged our batteries, we can move forward to do the work of the
> Federation for all blind people.  Great job folks, and, thanks.
>
>
>
> /s/
>
> Bennett Prows
>
>
>
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