[nfbwatlk] NFB of Washington 2011 Convention Announcement

[Mike Freeman]

Greetings!

 

The 2011 convention of the National Federation of the Blind of Washington
(NFBW) will take place October 21-23, 2011 at the Hilton Hotel in Vancouver,
Washington at 301 West 6th Street, Telephone (360) 993-4500.  Room rates are
the same as those enjoyed last year: $89 per night plus tax for singles and
doubles; $99 per night plus tax for triples and $109 per night plus tax for
quads. Reservations may be made beginning tomorrow afternoon, Tuesday,
September 6 by calling the local number given above, that is, (360) 993-4500
or by calling (800) HILTONS, that is, (800)445-2667. When making
reservations, please be sure to mention that you will be attending the NFB
of Washington convention; otherwise, you might not receive the special
convention rate. The above rates are guaranteed through October 1; after
that date, our contract says that our block of rooms can be released. Hence,
get your reservations in ASAP!

 

Contrary to recent custom, there will be no dinner and Board of Directors
meeting on Friday evening, October 21. However, the Board of Directors and
Resolutions Committee will meet on Friday afternoon and there will be
activities for blind youth and those young at heart Friday evening. There
will be the usual no-host bar, banquet and auction Saturday evening, October
22.

 

Cost of convention registration and banquet will be $40 if payment is
received on or before October 7; $50 if received after that date or at the
door. Payment should be mailed to Douglas Johnson, treasurer, national
Federation of the Blind of Washington; P.O. Box 597; Manchester, WA 98353.
If you do not plan to eat the banquet meal, registration cost is $10 if
received on or before October 7 and $20 thereafter. I strongly urge everyone
to attend the banquet and partake of the banquet meal as it will be meatloaf
prepared according to the same delicious recipe we enjoyed last year. A
vegetarian meal will also be available but we will need to know ahead of
time if this is desired. NFB of Washington scholarships, other awards and
the banquet address of our national representative are featured at the
banquet so you won't want to miss it.

 

A small amount of money is available for grants to help people needing
assistance to attend the convention. I have appointed a committee consisting
of Gary Mackenstadt, Douglas Johnson and Michael Mello to award these
grants. Only those whose preregistration payment has been received will be
eligible to receive a grant. Grantees should expect to share a room with
other convention-goers to stretch affiliate funds farther. Those wishing to
apply for a grant should call Gary Mackenstadt, Committee Chair, at (360)
683-1263. Please leave a message if no one is available to answer your call.

 

The national representative this year will be mark Riccobono, Executive
director of the NFB Jernigan Institute. It's his first time as our national
rep so his national report should be most interesting, especially as he was
the blind driver who drove around the track at the Rolex 24 earlier this
year!

 

I will arrange for a tour of the Washington State School for the Blind on
the morning of Friday, October 21. The WSSB students go home for the weekend
Friday afternoon. Additionally, there will be information and activities of
interest to blind youth all during convention.

 

Dory, AKA Kaye Kipp, will be unable to attend the convention so I will
appoint someone shortly to be in charge of door prizes for the convention.
Ben prows will chair the auction effort. During a conference call yesterday
afternoon, the NFBW Board of Directors decreed that each NFBW chapter will
be expected to contribute at least one auction item. Items should be new if
they are electronic gizmos, cookware and the like or they should be
hand-crafted items and goodies (as in Kay Burrows' brownies!). More on this
shortly.

 

I will make available a convention flyer shortly and there will also be a
convention announcement on the http://www.nfbw.org NFBW web page. (it's
currently down but should be back up in a day or two).

 

I will have more convention details soon. Our conventions are always
interesting and you won't want to miss this one!

 

Michael Freeman, President

National Federation of the Blind of Washington