[Nfbwv-talk] Convention Information 2015 NFBWV Convention Memo

[Smyth, Charlene R]

Please find below, as well as an attachment to this message, a memo telling you everything you will want to know about this year's convention of the National Federation of the Blind of West Virginia.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.

Charlene

CONVENTION MEMORANDUM

NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND

OF WEST VIRGINIA

September 17-20, 2015

Best Western Bridgeport Inn
100 Lodgeville Road
Bridgeport, WV  26330

President, NFB of West Virginia: Charlene Smyth
401 East Olive Street
Apartment 1-A
Bridgeport, WV 26330
Phone: (304) 841-1111
E-Mail:  president at nfbwv.org


          Come one, come all to help us celebrate the sixty-second annual convention of the National Federation of the Blind of West Virginia (NFBWV) on September 17, 18, 19, and 20, 2015 at the Best Western Bridgeport Inn, Bridgeport, West Virginia.

          CONVENTION REGISTRATION: Please be aware that onsite convention registration and banquet fee transactions are now $15 and $30 respectively.  For registrations submitted at least 14 days prior to the convention date, the costs for registration and banquet will remain at $10 and $25 respectively.

          If you wish to pre-register for the convention and banquet, your check should be made payable to NFBWV and mailed to
Treasurer Marcus Soulsby, 5309 Venable Avenue, Charleston, WV  25304.  Phone: (304) 206-4044; E-mail: msoulsby at nfbwv.org.

          HOTEL: Hotel guest room rates are $87 per night for up to four persons per room.  The cutoff date for guaranteeing a room at these reduced rates is August 26, 2015.  Reservations must be made directly with the Best Western Bridgeport Inn by calling (304) 842-5411.  In order to get the reduced room rates, you must let the hotel know you will be attending the convention of the National Federation of the Blind of West Virginia.

          Reservations must be guaranteed with a credit card or by submitting pre-payment with tax for one night's lodging.  When registering at the hotel, you must submit a credit card to cover the cost of any incidentals that might be billed to your room such as phone calls, room service, etc.

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

          If reservations are made by a chapter rather than by an individual, chapters can use their FEIN number to be exempted from some taxes.  Chapters must present some type of official documentation such as a chapter check in order to receive such exemption.

          Please note that the official check in time is not until 3:00 p.m.; however, 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 20, is 12:00 noon.

All rooms 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.  Free Parking is also provided.

          There are no charges for local phone calls.  You cannot accidentally order a movie using the television remote control in your room since the hotel does not offer this service.

          An NFBWV registration table will be set up near the lobby.

          The dog guide relief area is located near the same exit which leads to the pool area.

          The hotel's Simmering Pot Family Restaurant offers tasty meals and excellent service.  Restaurant hours will be posted in the agenda.

          DOOR PRIZES: This hotel does not have a locked closet for storing door prizes and such; however, door prizes and auction items may be dropped off at the convention registration table in the hotel lobby.  The Door Prize Committee, consisting of Kanawha Valley Chapter members, requests that door prizes not be wrapped, but that each door prize be accompanied by a brown paper bag.

          MEMBERSHIP AUCTION: Every member is requested to obtain at least one new item or homemade food item for the auction which will take place on the evening of Friday, September 18.  Please leave your auction items at the Convention Registration Table and the members of the Huntington Area Chapter will stop by that table from time-to-time to collect them.  Auction items should be attractive with broad-based appeal.  If you are able to obtain nice but smaller items which might not be suitable for the auction, they may be placed together in baskets which will be raffled throughout the convention.  When you have obtained an item, please prepare a brief written description of the item, along with the name of its contributor and its approximate value.  Such information should be sent by E-mail to Sheri Koch, Membership Auction Chairperson, at Kanawha at nfbwv.org.  The auction is a fund-raiser in which every member can participate and thus help in a very valuable way to support our many ongoing projects and initiatives.

          RECEPTION: The Easter Panhandle Chapter, with the financial assistance of all other chapters, will host the Friday evening reception.  They invite you to join them for an exceptional time, good fellowship, and an assortment of delicious refreshments.

          SATURDAY NIGHT: Come show your Federationism as we gather after the banquet on Saturday evening to discover what the Members at Large Chapter has in store for us.

          NAME TAGS: Each chapter should forward to the Sightless Workers' Guild of Wheeling the names of those persons who will be attending the convention so that name tags can be completed in advance.  Also, please indicate whether each individual is a voting or non-voting member and whether he/she prefers to read standard print, large print, or Braille.  This information should be submitted to Jack Yahnke at jack at seeinghandassociation.com or via phone at (304) 550-4905.  Please include President Smyth with this information at president at nfbwv.org<mailto:president at nfbwv.org> or via phone at (304) 841-1111 so she can keep the hotel updated.

          BRAILLE LITERACY DIVISION: President Karen McDonald will communicate with all division members regarding plans for this year's meeting.

          RESOLUTIONS: If you have issues or concerns which you believe ought to be considered by the Resolutions Committee, please submit them to Chairperson Ed McDonald, 151 South Mineral Street, Keyser, WV  26726.  PHONE:  (304) 788-0129; E-MAIL:  atlarge at nfbwv.org.  Submissions should be sent to Ed no later than August 18, 2015.  Anything submitted after this date will not be considered until next year's convention.  The Resolutions Committee will prepare all resolutions by September 1, 2015 with a copy submitted to the NFBWV president at that time.

          AWARDS: Nominations for The Jacobus tenBroek Federationist of the Year award should be submitted to Bre Brown at bre.brown24 at gmail.com<mailto:bre.brown24 at gmail.com> or (304) 203-3832.  Submissions should be sent no later than August 18, 2015.  Names received after this date will not be considered.  Bre will share all nominations with the members of her committee, Keryl Rustin and Karen McDonald.

          If you have nominations for other awards and honors, please submit them to the chairperson of the Awards and Honors Committee, Sheri Koch, 833 Chappell Road, Charleston, WV  25304.  PHONE:  (304) 993-5103; E-MAIL:  Kanawha at nfbwv.org.  Nominations received after August 18, 2015, will not be considered.

          SCHOLARSHIPS: Future Federation leaders can be discovered and nurtured through the NFBWV scholarship program.  If you or anyone you know would like a scholarship application or additional information about the program, please contact committee chairperson, Mary Ann Saunders, 101 Eighth Avenue, Apartment 511, Huntington, WV  25701. PHONE:  304-697-1434; CELL:  304-360-1482; or E-MAIL:  marysaunders at frontier.com<mailto:marysaunders at frontier.com>.  The application form can also be downloaded from our website at www.nfbwv.org<http://www.nfbwv.org>.

          A number of convention-related matters such as the Friday schedule and possible breakfast and lunch options have not yet been finalized. As additional details are confirmed, I will share this information with you.

          Meanwhile, if you have any questions or need to forward information to me, please do so by 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 Federation spirit show.  We look forward to meeting and visiting with you.



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