[Nfbwv-talk] 2013 NFBWV Convention Memo

Sat May 4 16:26:43 UTC 2013

What a GEM of a president we have!

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Smyth, Charlene R" <Charlene.R.Smyth at wv.gov>
To: "NFB of West Virginia Discussion List" <nfbwv-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, May 03, 2013 4:34 PM
Subject: [Nfbwv-talk] 2013 NFBWV Convention Memo

Please find attached and cut and pasted below the memo containing 
information regarding the 2013 convention of the National Federation of the 
Blind of West Virginia.  Please share with your members and any other 
interested parties who do not have E-mail or who are not on our NFBWV-Talk 
list.

CONVENTION MEMORANDUM

NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND

OF WEST VIRGINIA

September 19, 20, 21, and 22, 2013

Best Western Bridgeport Inn

100 Lodgeville Road

Bridgeport, WV  26330

"VOICE OF WEST VIRGINIA'S BLIND"

President, NFB of West Virginia: Charlene Smyth

220 Buena Vista Avenue

Clarksburg, WV 26301

Phone: (304) 841-1111

E-Mail:  cs.nfbwv at frontier.com

          As this is the National Federation of the Blind of West Virginia's 
sixtieth/diamond anniversary, the below information will contain a 
smattering of diamond related information.  If you are interested and have 
the time to read on, information about the ten most famous diamonds follows 
this memo.

          Come help us sparkle at the 60th - diamond -- annual convention of 
the National Federation of the Blind of West Virginia (NFBWV) on September 
19, 20, 21, and 22, 2013 at the Best Western Bridgeport Inn located in 
Bridgeport, West Virginia.

          The convention registration fee is ten dollars per person, and the 
banquet registration fee is twenty-five dollars per person no matter the 
person's age.  (Don't you think these are very reasonable fees, especially 
when compared to the cost of The Taylor-Burton Diamond.)  The banquet meal 
has yet to be determined.  Plans have been made for an NFBWV registration 
table to be set up near the lobby.

          If you wish to pre-register for the convention and banquet, your 
check should be made payable to the NFBWV and mailed to Treasurer Marcus 
Soulsby at 5309 Venable Avenue; Charleston, WV  25304.  You can contact 
Marcus via phone at (304) 206-4044 or via E-mail at msoulsby at suddenlink.net.

          The guest room rates will be $79 per night up to four people per 
room.  All rooms make the cut, just like a perfectly cut diamond, as they 
include A Mini-fridge, Microwave, Coffee pot, Flat screen Hi-definition 
32-inch television, Premium cable service, Hair dryer, Iron & ironing board, 
and Free wireless and DSL internet service.

          The relief area for dog guides is down a corridor to the same door 
that takes you to the pool area.  Please remember to clean up after your dog 
guide.

          Tasty meals and flawless diamond service is available at the 
hotel's Simmering Pot Family Restaurant.  Restaurant hours will be posted 
later.

          The cutoff date for guaranteeing your room and getting room rates 
at $79 per night is August 20, 2013.  When making reservations, be sure to 
let the hotel know you will be attending the convention of the National 
Federation of the Blind of West Virginia so you can receive the reduced room 
rates.  Reservations must be made directly with the Best Western Bridgeport 
Inn located in Bridgeport by calling (304) 842-5411.  When you make your 
reservations and when you register at the hotel, you must guarantee your 
reservation by either submitting a credit card or one night's pre-paid room 
and tax as well as for the hotel to keep on hand for any incidentals that 
might be billed to your room such as phone calls, room service, etc.

          If reservations are made by a chapter rather than by an 
individual, chapters can use their FEIN number that will exempt them from 
some taxes.  NOTE:  You must use something official to identify your chapter 
such as a chapter check in order to receive tax exemption.

          Please be aware that the official check in time is not until 3:00 
p.m.  If your room happens to be clean and ready before that time, the hotel 
may allow you to check into your room.

          Check out time on Sunday, September 22, is at noon.

          If you wish to cancel your room, you must cancel no later than 
6:00 p.m. of your arrival date.  If you fail to cancel as required, you will 
be charged one night's lodging.

          You do not have to worry about accidentally ordering a movie with 
the television remote control in your room as this service is not offered by 
this hotel.

          There are no charges for local phone calls.

          Unfortunately, this hotel does not have a locked closet for the 
storing of valuable gems such as The Great Star of Africa and other things 
such as door prizes and so forth.  The Door Prize Committee requests that 
door prizes not be wrapped, but that a brown paper bag accompanies each door 
prize.  Any door prizes as well as goodies or items for the Membership 
Auction can be submitted when you check in at the convention registration 
table at the hotel.

          Speaking of Membership Auction, every member is requested to 
obtain at least one new item or homemade food item to be auctioned off the 
evening of Friday, September 20.  It is recommended that items be obtained 
that anyone would want to own, use, or have in their home.  Please be aware 
that if you are able to obtain nice but smaller items/diamonds, such as the 
20 carat Hortensia, which might not be suitable for the auction, we will put 
them in a basket along with other items for which we will be selling raffle 
tickets throughout the convention.  When you have obtained an item, please 
make a list containing the name of the item, a description of the item, the 
approximate value of the item, and who donated it and then E-mail it to 
Sheri Koch, Membership Auction Chairperson, at slk5111 at hotmail.com.  It is 
felt that this is one fund-raiser everyone can assist our affiliate with to 
raise the funds necessary to keep our projects and initiatives going.  Also, 
everyone is helping to make it a success and taking some of the pressure off 
those normally involved in fund-raising.

          Parking is available free of charge.

          On Friday evening, the Harrison County Chapter of the NFBWV will 
host the reception.  They invite you to come join them for an 
exceptional/Orloff Diamond time, good fellowship, and an assortment of 
delicious refreshments.

          Come show your Centenary/true and top-color Federationism as we 
gather after the banquet on Saturday evening to discover what the Eastern 
Panhandle Chapter has in store for us.

          The Kanawha Valley Chapter would very much appreciate all chapter 
presidents and/or board members forwarding to them the names of those who 
will be attending the convention so the name tags can be completed in 
advance.  Also, indicate whether the individuals are voting or nonvoting 
members and whether the individual reads regular print, large print, or 
Braille.  This information should be submitted to Sheri Koch at 
slk5111 at hotmail.com or via phone at (304) 993-5103.

          For those attending the NAPUB Meeting, President Karen McDonald 
will be in communication with you regarding this.

          If you have anything that needs to be considered by the 
Resolutions Committee, please submit it to Chairperson Ed McDonald at 151 
South Mineral Street; Keyser, WV  26726; PHONE:  (304) 788-0129; E-MAIL: 
ed at eioproductions.com.  Submissions should be sent to Ed no later than 
August 19, 2013.  Anything submitted after this date will not be considered 
until next year's convention.  The Resolutions Committee will write and 
complete all resolutions by September 10, 2013 with a copy submitted to the 
NFBWV president at that time.

          If you have nominations for The Regent/Federationist of the Year, 
please submit them in print to Sheri Koch via E-mail at slk5111 at hotmail.com 
or by mail at 5111 Staunton Avenue SE; Charleston, WV  25304.  Submissions 
should be sent to Sheri no later than August 19, 2013.  Names received after 
this date will not be considered.  Sheri will share all nominations with the 
members of her committee, Marcus Soulsby and Bre Brown.

          If you have any nominations for other awards and honors, please 
submit them to the chairperson of the Awards and Honors Committee, Sheri 
Koch, at 5111 Staunton Avenue SE; Charleston, WV  25304; PHONE:  (304) 
993-5103; E-MAIL:  slk5111 at hotmail.com.  Nominations should be submitted to 
Sheri no later than August 19, 2013.  Nominations received after this date 
will not be considered.

          If you or anyone you know would like an NFBWV scholarship 
application or additional information, please contact the chairperson of the 
Scholarship Committee, Mary Ann Saunders at 1664 13th Avenue; Huntington, WV 
25701; PHONE:  304-697-1434; CELL:  304-634-0607; or E-MAIL: 
saunders at wvdsl.net.  You can also download the instructions and application 
by going to our website at www.nfbwv.org.  Here is where diamonds in the 
rough can be discovered and with Federation craftsmanship, can be cut and 
polished to show off all facets.

          If you have any questions or need to forward information, please 
do so by contacting me using the contact information provided at the 
beginning of this memo.

          We hope that all of you are able to attend this year's convention 
to let your Koh-i-Noor/Mountain of Light shine.  We look forward to meeting 
and visiting with you.

The Great Star of Africa

530.20 Carats - the Cullinan I or Star Africa diamond is the largest cut 
diamond in the world. Pear shaped, with 74 facets, it is set in the Royal 
Scepter (kept with the other Crown Jewels in the Tower of London). It was 
cut from the 3,106-carat Cullian, the largest diamond crystal ever found. 
The Cullian was discovered in Transvaal, South Africa in l095 on an 
inspection tour of the Premier Mine. The Cullian was cut by Joseph Asscher 
and Company of Amsterdam, who examined the enormous crystal for around six 
months before determining how to divide it. It eventually yielded nine 
major, and 96 smaller brilliant cut stones. When the Cullian was first 
discovered, certain signs suggested that it may have been part of a much 
larger crystal. But no discovery of the "missing half" has ever been 
authenticated.

The Orloff

300 Carats when found, color: slightly bluish green, clarity: exceptionally 
pure, cut: Mogul-cut rose, source: India.  This gem may be found in the 
Diamond Treasury of Russia in Moscow.  There are so many historical episodes 
involving the Orloff. First, it may have been set at one time as the diamond 
eye of Vishnu's idol (one of the Hindu Gods) in the innermost sanctuary 
temple in Sriangam, before being stolen in the 1700s by a French deserter. 
However, the deserter just dug one eye from its socket, because he was 
terror-stricken at the thought of retribution, so he couldn't take the 
other. He went to Madras, and sold the stone quickly to an English 
sea-captain for 2,000 pounds.  The time passed, the stone arrived at 
Amsterdam where the Russian count Grigori Orloff, an ex-lover of Empress 
Catherine the Great was residing. He heard about rumors of the stone, and he 
bought the diamond for 90,000 pounds and took it back to Russia for 
Catherine's favor. The stone has been called the Orloff since then. 
Catherine received his gift and had it mounted in the Imperial Scepter. She 
gave a marble palace to Grigori in exchange for the Orloff. However, Grigori 
couldn't get Catherine's love. Grigori Orloff passed away at the nadir of 
disappointment in 1783.  In 1812 the Russians, fearing that Napoleon with 
his Grand Army was about to enter Moscow, hid the Orloff in a priest's tomb. 
Napoleon supposedly discovered the Orloff's location and went to claim it. 
However, as a solider of the Army was about to touch the Orloff, a priest's 
ghost appeared and pronounced a terrible curse upon the Army. The Emperor, 
Napoleon scampered away without the Orloff.

The Centenary Diamond

273.85 Carats, discovered at the Premier Mine, in July 1986. The 'Centenary' 
diamond weighed 599.10 carats in the rough. Together with a small select 
team, master-cutter Gabi Tolkowsky took almost three years to complete its 
transformation into the world's largest, most modern-cut, top-color, 
flawless diamond.  Possessing 247 facets - 164 on the stone and 83 on its 
girdle - the aptly-named 'Centenary' diamond weighs 273.85 carats, and is 
only surpassed in size by the 530.20 carat 'Great Star of Africa' and the 
317.40 carat 'Lesser Star of Africa', both of which are set into the British 
Crown Jewels.  The 'Centenary' diamond was unveiled, appropriately at the 
Tower of London in May, 1991.

The Regent

140.50 Carats, although it is now surpassed in weight by other famous 
diamonds, the exceptional limpidity and perfect cut of the Regent give it an 
uncontestable reputation as the most beautiful diamond in the world. 
Discovered in India in 1698, it was acquired by Thomas Pitt, Governor of 
Madras, who sent it to England where it was cut. In 1717 the Regent 
purchased it from Pitt for the French Crown. It first adorned the band of 
Louis XV's silver gilt crown (in the Louvre) at his coronation in 1722, 
going then to Louis XVI's crown in 1775. Later in 1801 it figured on the 
hilt of the First Consul's sword (Fontainebleau, Musée Napoléon 1st), and 
then on the Emperor's two-edged sword in 1812. In 1825 it was worn on the 
crown at the coronation of Charles x, and during the Second Empire it 
embellished the "Grecian diadem" of the Empress Eugenie. It can be seen 
today at the Louvre in Paris.

Koh-i-Noor (Mountain of Light)

105.60 Carats, an oval cut gem, now part of the British Crown Jewels. The 
name of this diamond means "Mountain of Light" and its history, dating back 
to1304, is the longest of all famous diamonds. It was captured by the Rajahs 
of Malwa in the sixteenth century by the Mogul, Sultan Babur and remained in 
the possession of later Mogul emperors. It may have been set in the famous 
Peacock Throne made for Shah Jehan. After the break-up of the Persian Empire 
the diamond found its way to India. It may have traveled to Afghanistan with 
a bodyguard of Nadir Shah, who fled with the stone when the Shah was 
murdered, to be later offered to Ranjit Singh of the Punjab in exchange for 
military help (which was never delivered). After fighting broke out between 
the Sikhs and the British, The East India Company claimed the diamond as a 
partial indemnity, and then presented it to Queen Victoria in 1850. When the 
stone came from India, it weighed l986 carats; it was later recut to l08.93 
carats. It was first worn by the Queen in a brooch. It was later set in the 
State Crown, worn by Queen Alexandra and Queen Mary, and 1937 was worn for 
by Queen Elizabeth for her coronation. It is kept in the Tower of London, 
with the other Crown Jewels.

The Idol's Eye

70.20 Carats, a flattened pear-shaped stone the size of a bantam's egg. 
Another famous diamond that was once set in the eye of an idol before it was 
stolen. Legend also has it that it was given as ransom for Princess 
Rasheetah by the Sheik of Kashmir to the Sultan of Turkey who had abducted 
her.

The Taylor-Burton

69.42 Carats, color: F-G, clarity: IF, cut: Pear-shape, source: Premier 
Mine, Transvaal, South Africa.  It was founded in 1966 in the Premier Mine 
in South Africa. The rough, which weighted 240.80 carats, was cut into a 
69.42 pear shape diamond. As you might guess from the name, Richard Burton 
bought and named this stone as a gift for Elizabeth Taylor. Yes, Richard 
Burton bought it $1,100,000. He also named this stone as an engagement. 
After Burton's death in 1979, Liz Taylor sold the stone for charity and 
reportedly received $2.8 million. She donated in his memory to a hospital in 
Biafra.  It was last seen in Saudi Arabia.

The Sancy

55 Carats, it was cut in a pear shape and was first owned by Charles the 
Bold, Duke of Burgundy, who lost it in battle in 1477. The stone is in fact 
named after a later owner, Seigneur de Sancy, a French Ambassador to Turkey 
in the late 16th century.  He loaned it to the French king, Henry III who 
wore it in the cap with which he concealed his baldness.  Henry IV of France 
also borrowed the stone from Sancy, but it was sold in 1664 to James I of 
England.  In 1688, James II, last of the Stuart kings of England, fled with 
it to Paris.  It disappeared during the French revolution.

The Blue Hope

45.52 Carats, the ironically named Hope diamond (named for its purchaser, 
Henry Thomas Hope) may have had a long and illustrious history before it 
became associated with a run of bad luck for its owners. It is thought to be 
a part of the famous Blue Tavernier Diamond, brought to Europe from India in 
l642. The Blue was purchased by King Louis XIV who had it cut to 67.50 
carats from 112 carats to bring out its brilliance. The diamond was stolen 
during the French Revolution, and a smaller diamond of similar color was 
sold in 1830 to Hope, an English banker. After inheriting the diamond, 
Hope's son lost his fortune. It was eventually acquired by an American 
widow, Mrs. Edward McLean, whose family then suffered a series of 
catastrophes: her only child was accidentally killed, the family broke up, 
Mrs. McLean lost her money, and then committed suicide. When Harry Winston, 
the New York diamond merchant, bought the stone in 1949, many clients 
refused to touch the stone. It is now on display at the Smithsonian 
Institute in Washington.

Hortensia

20 Carats, a peach colored stone, named after the Queen of Holland, the 
step-daughter of Napoleon Bonaparte, this gem is part of the French Crown 
Jewels and may be viewed at the Louvre in Paris.