[Nfbwv-talk] NFBWV Convention Memo 2017 NFBWV Convention Memo

[Smyth, Charlene R]

Greetings Fellow Federationists,

Please find attached and shown below everything you need to know to prepare for and be a part of the 2017 convention of the National Federation of the Blind of West Virginia:

CONVENTION MEMORANDUM

NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND

OF WEST VIRGINIA

September 7-10, 2017

Holiday Inn and Suites Charleston West
400 Second Avenue
South Charleston, WV  25303

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-fourth annual convention of the National Federation of the Blind of West Virginia (NFBWV) on September 7, 8, 9, and 10, 2017 at the Holiday Inn and Suites Charleston West located in South Charleston, West Virginia.

            CONVENTION REGISTRATION: We will not be having online registration this year as there are plans to make changes to our website.  As we are unsure as to when these changes will take place, we feel it will be safer not to offer this service this year.  You can, however, pre-register by sending a check to Treasurer Marcus Soulsby.  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.

            Please be aware that onsite convention registration and banquet fee transactions are now $30 and $35 respectively.  For registrations submitted at least 14 days prior to the convention date, the costs for registration and banquet will now be $25 and $30 respectively.

            BOXED LUNCHES:  The hotel's restaurant is not open for lunch.  We have made arrangements for you to order a boxed lunch for Friday, September 8, and/or Saturday, September 9, as part of your pre-registration process.  All boxed lunches are $15 per day.  Your choice of selections are:  Chicken Salad Croissant, Chicken Salad (on a bed of lettuce), Chicken Caesar Wrap, Tuna Salad Croissant, Tuna Salad (on a bed of lettuce) or a Vegetable Wrap.  All boxed lunches include potato chips, a cookie, and your choice of iced tea, lemonade or ice water.  Please let Sandy Streets know your main order for each day as well as your drink selection by E-mailing her at freegirl13 at icloud.com<mailto:freegirl13 at icloud.com> or for those who do not have E-mail, phone your order to Sandy at 304-709-1422.

            HOTEL: Hotel guest room rates are $104 per night for up to four persons per room, and this does include breakfast.  The cutoff date for guaranteeing a room at these reduced rates is August 17, 2017.  Reservations must be made directly with the Holiday Inn and Suites Charleston West by calling (304) 744-4641.  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 3:00 p.m. on your arrival date.  If you fail to cancel as required, you will be charged one night's lodging.

            INCIDENTALS:  This hotel gives you the ability to order movies via your room's television remote control.  If you want to make sure you do not inadvertently activate this service and thereby incurring extra charges to your bill, ask that the check-in desk "turn off all incidentals" when you check in to the hotel.  By doing this, you will also not be able to have other things charged to your room such as room service, etc.

            If reservations are made by a chapter rather than by an individual, chapters can use their FEIN number to be exempt from some taxes.  Chapters must present some type of official documentation such as a chapter check to receive an 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 10, is 12:00 noon.

            All rooms include A Mini-fridge, Microwave, Coffee maker, Flat screen Hi-definition 32-inch television, Premium cable service, Hair dryer, Iron & ironing board, and Free wi-fi service.  Free ground-level Parking is also provided.  There are no charges for local phone calls.

            BREAKFAST:  All overnight guests will receive a coupon for a complimentary hot breakfast buffet for each night of their lodging.

            This year, NFBWV convention registration will take place in the Presidential Suite.  This room number will be provided to you closer to convention time.

            There is a wonderful courtyard where dog guides and pets can relieve themselves.  It has its own special disposal station.

            The hotel has a state-of-the-art indoor pool facility.

            The hotel's Mosa Café and Grill offers tasty meals and excellent service.  Restaurant hours will be posted in the agenda.

            DOOR PRIZES: This year, every chapter is requested to provide two door prizes in the form of cash or merchandise with the value of at least $10 each.  Door prizes can be left at the Presidential Suite when you pick up your registration packet.  The Door Prize Committee, the Sightless Workers' Guild, 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 8.  Please leave your auction items at the Presidential Suite when you pick up your registration packet.  The Auction Committee, the Kanawha Valley Chapter, will collect the items when needed.  Auction items should be attractive with broad-based appeal.  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: All chapters are joining together to provide you with a tasty dinner of chicken fettuccini alfredo or a vegetarian selection of garden penne pasta (sautéed garden vegetable and penne pasta tossed with roasted red peppers and pesto), garlic bread, house salad, carrot cake, and coffee, iced tea and water.  Vegetarian option is available upon request if made at least two weeks in advance.

            SATURDAY NIGHT: After a banquet of grilled lemon pepper chicken or a vegetarian selection of grilled stuffed Portobello mushrooms, roasted red skinned potatoes, grilled vegetables, house salad, freshly baked rolls with butter, New York style plain cheesecake garnished with strawberry drizzle and fresh strawberries, and coffee, iced tea, and water; gather together for some social time in the Presidential Suite.  Vegetarian banquet option is available upon request if made at least two weeks in advance.

            NAME TAGS: Each chapter should forward to Charlene Smyth the names of those persons who will be attending the convention so that name tags can be completed in advance.  Also, please indicate whether every individual is a voting or non-voting member, whether he/she prefers to read standard print, large print, or Braille as well as whether he/she plans on attending the reception and/or the banquet.  This information should be submitted to Charlene at president at nfbwv.org<mailto:president at nfbwv.org> or via phone at 304-841-1111.  Charlene will then forward all names on to the Huntington Area Chapter which is responsible for nametags and the registration table.

            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 8, 2017.  Anything submitted after this date will not be considered until next year's convention.  The Resolutions Committee will prepare all resolutions by September 1, 2017 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 Karen McDonald at karen at eioproductions.com<mailto:karen at eioproductions.com> or (304) 788-0129.  Submissions should be sent no later than August 8, 2017.  Names received after this date will not be considered.  Karen will share all nominations with the members of her committee, Sheena Struble and Brad Hodges or Joe Regnier.

            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 8, 2017, 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>.

            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 can attend this year's convention to let your Federation spirit show.  We look forward to meeting and visiting with you.





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