[Nfbwv-talk] Revised Agenda 2018 NFBWV Convention Agenda

Smyth, Charlene R Charlene.R.Smyth at wv.gov
Tue Sep 4 15:18:06 UTC 2018


Attached and shown below is a revised NFBWV convention agenda.  There are only two changes.  John and Sheri Koch are underwriting the cost of the printing of the print and large print agendas.  Also the name of the person doing the VISIONS presentation has changed.

Charlene

CONVENTION AGENDA

NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND
OF WEST VIRGINIA

September 13 - 16, 2018

HOLIDAY INN Express
1188 Pineview Drive
Morgantown, WV  26505
(304) 241-6649

"Live the Life You Want"

Welcome to the sixty-fifth Annual Convention of the National Federation of the Blind of West Virginia (NFBWV).

National Representative: Norma Crosby, NFB Board Member
19596 Highway 35, Unit 1
Alvin, TX  77511-1748
PHONE: (979) 583-6344
E-MAIL:  ncrosby at nfbtx.org<mailto:ncrosby at nfbtx.org>


NFBWV OFFICERS

President, Charlene Smyth
401 East Olive Street
Apartment 1-A
Bridgeport, WV 26330
CELL: (304) 841-1111
E-MAIL: president at nfbwv.org<mailto:president at nfbwv.org>

First Vice-President, Ed McDonald
151 S. Mineral Street
Keyser, WV 26726
PHONE:  304-788-0129
CELL:  304-790-2321
E-MAIL:  ed at eioproductions.com<mailto:ed at eioproductions.com>

Second Vice-President, Sheri Koch
833 Chappell Road
Charleston, WV  25304
CELL:  304-993-5103
E-MAIL:  slk8332015 at gmail.com<mailto:slk8332015 at gmail.com>

Secretary, Karen McDonald
151 S. Mineral Street
Keyser, WV  26726
PHONE:  304-788-0129
CELL:  304-790-9069
E-MAIL:  karen at eioproductions.com<mailto:karen at eioproductions.com>

Treasurer, Marcus Soulsby
5309 Venable Avenue
Charleston, WV  25304
CELL:  304-206-4044
E-MAIL:  msoulsby at nfbwv.org<mailto:msoulsby at nfbwv.org>


ACKNOWLEDGMENTS AND RECOGNITIONS

            President Smyth would like to thank all chapters and their members for working so diligently  to make this year's convention a success.  You guys rock!!!

            To the staff of the Holiday Inn Express, "Thank you for your help with convention arrangements."

            An extra special thanks of appreciation goes out to John Jackson and his company, Master Conversions, for the Braille production of this agenda.  Based in Weirton, WV, Master Conversions is a private company offering high-quality Braille and large print transcription services for more than a decade to state and federal agencies, schools and individuals.  For more information, contact:

John R. Jackson
Master Conversions
PHONE:  (304) 748-1963
E-MAIL:  j.r.jackson at comcast.net<mailto:j.r.jackson at comcast.net>

An extra special thanks of appreciation also goes out to Second Vice-President Sheri Koch and her husband, John, for underwriting the cost of the print and large print agendas.

            Thank you also to others, whose names may have been inadvertently omitted, for their hard work.


            Financial and logistical support for the 2018 NFBWV Convention was provided by the following business:

SILVER SPONSOR

Mountain Streams Radio, Keyser, WV
Celebrating the musical traditions of West Virginia and the Appalachians! On the radio at 102.9FM and streaming soon at www.mountainstreamsradio.org<http://www.mountainstreamsradio.org>.  A project of the Mineral County Historical Society in cooperation with WVU Potomac State College.


HOTEL DISCRIPTION

            You will find information about the layout of the hotel as well as information regarding restaurant hours and other hotel details following the actual convention agenda.



Thursday, September 13, 2018



3:00 PM - 8:00 PM: LIVING THE LIVES WE WANT WITH TOMORROW'S TECHNOLOGY; Banquet Room A Montani #1.  Come and put your hands on some of the technology you have read about and have longed to see for yourself.



This event is presented in collaboration with the West Virginia Assistive Technology System (WVATS), a project of the West Virginia University Center for Excellence in Disabilities.


The following is a list of exhibitors as of August 31, 2018.


Christian Ministry Teachers
Phone: 910-619-6576
Email: kevandlis at hotmail.com
Products: Bible based publications in Braille, large print and other formats such as RTF and Notetaker.

Dancing Dots
Website: www.dancingdots.com
Phone: 610-783-6692
Email: info at dancingdots.com
Products: Braille music software or any assistive music technology for low vision performers.

Enhanced Vision
Website: www.enhancedvision.com
Phone: 888-811-3161
Email: Phil at Atlanticlowvision.com
Products: Extensive line of low vision aids and electronic magnifiers.

Integration Technologies Group - HumanWare
Phone:  703-698-8282
Website: www.itgonline.com<http://www.itgonline.com>
Products & Services: A global IT and consulting best practices company that provides IT systems, services and consulting supports in a variety of areas including accessibility solutions.

NuEyes
Website: www.nueyes.com
Phone: 800-605-4033
Email: info at nueyes.com
Products: Hands free electronic smart glasses for the visually impaired.

OrCam Technologies
Website: www.orcam.com
Phone: 800-713-3741
Email: lena.lee at orcam.com
Products: Advanced wearable assistive technology device for the blind and visually impaired, that reads text, recognizes faces, and identifies products and more.

Project Ray
Website: www.project-ray.com
Email: mkt at project-ray.com
Products: World's first cell phone for visually impaired blind using advanced cellular mobile technologies for intuitive eye-free interface.

VFO
Website: www.vfogroup.com
Phone: 800-444-4443
Email: info at vfo-group.com
Products: World's leading assistive technology supplier for the visually impaired providing innovative solutions for blind and low vision individuals.

View Plus
Website: www.viewplus.com
Phone: 541-754-4002
Email: sales at viewplus.com
Products: Manufactures the Tiger Braille printers, IVEO, Braille math solutions, and ink print with Braille hardware.

WV Assistive Technology System (WVATS)
Website: wvats.cedwvu.org
Phone: 304-293-4692
Email: wvats at hsc.wvu.edu
Products & Services: The state designated assistive technology program provides demonstrations and short-term loans of assistive devices to West Virginia residents of all ages and all abilities.

WV Library Commission
Website: librarycommission.wv.gov
Phone: 304-558-4061
PHONE:  1-800-642-8674
E-MAIL:  talkbks at wvlc.lib.wv.us<mailto:talkbks at wvlc.lib.wv.us>
Products & Services: Loans recorded materials and Braille materials to state residents who are unable to read or use standard print due to impairment, visual or physical, or reading disability.  The Library provides direct library services to more than 2,500 West Virginians who cannot utilize standard size print.


7:00 PM:  NFBWV BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING--Charlene Smyth, NFBWV President; Banquet Room A Montani #1.  This meeting is open to all convention attendees.


9:00 - 10:00 PM:  REGISTRATION--Huntington Area Chapter; Presidential Suite 300
(Those who pre-registered at least 14 days in advance will have already paid the convention registration fee of $25.00 per person, which covers admission to all convention sessions including the Friday night reception.  The advance convention banquet fee is $30.00 per person.)  The onsite convention registration fee is $30.00 per person and the convention banquet fee is $35.00 per person.


FRIDAY, September 14, 2018


9:00 AM - 9:30 AM: NOMINATING COMMITTEE MEETING--Charles Powell, Chairman; Banquet  Room B Siempre #2 / Banquet Room C Liberi # 3.  This is a closed session and will be attended by Anita Adkins, Bob Hicks, Keryl Rustin, Mary Ann Saunders, and Trish Walker.  National Representative Norma Crosby will sit in on this meeting.



9:00 AM - 1:00 PM: LIVING THE LIVES WE WANT WITH TOMORROW'S TECHNOLOGY; Banquet Room A Montani #1.  Come and put your hands on some of the technology you have read about and have longed to see for yourself.  (Refer to Thursday's schedule for a list of participating vendors.)



This event is presented in collaboration with the West Virginia Assistive Technology System (WVATS), a project of the West Virginia University Center for Excellence in Disabilities.



11:00 AM - 1:00 PM: THE STATE OF THE ART IN BLINDNESS-RELATED TECHNOLOGY--Brad Hodges, President, NFBWV Huntington Area Chapter; Banquet Room B Siempre #2 / Banquet Room C Liberi # 3.

(This will be a luncheon meeting.) We will explore some of the low-cost screen access software and some of the mainstream consumer products that are available, accessible and widely used by blind people.  Hodges will also discuss the possibility of scheduling, over the course of the coming year, a series of three online training seminars.  This luncheon will allow us a forum to discuss what we would like to include in these training sessions.



12:00 PM - 2:00 PM: LUNCH--Atria's Restaurant (On your own.)

2:00 PM:  GENERAL SESSION; Banquet Room B Siempre #2 / Banquet Room C Liberi # 3

* CALL TO ORDER--Charlene Smyth, President, National Federation of the Blind of West Virginia

* INVOCATION--Anita Adkins, Board Member, Members at Large Chapter

* PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE--Joe Regnier, Veteran and Member, Huntington Area Chapter

* NFB PLEDGE--Ed McDonald, NFBWV First Vice-President

I pledge to participate actively in the effort of the National Federation of the Blind to achieve equality, opportunity, and security for the blind; to support the policies and programs of the Federation; and to abide by its constitution.

* ANNOUNCEMENTS AND CONVENTION ARRANGEMENTS

* LIVING--Keryl Rustin, Poet; President, Eastern Panhandle Chapter

2:15 PM:  UPDATE ON SERVICES FOR THE BLIND, WV LIBRARY COMMISSION, AND NEWSLINE--Donna Calvert, Director of Special Services, Charleston, WV

2:35 PM:  NATIONAL REPORT--Norma Crosby, Board Member, National Federation of the Blind and President, National Federation of the Blind of Texas

3:15 PM:  PRESIDENT'S REPORT--Charlene Smyth, NFBWV President

3:45 PM:  LET THE BELLS RING THROUGH THE HILLS OF WEST VIRGINIA--Sheri Koch, Coordinator, NFBWV BELL Academy; and BELL Team Members, Marcus Soulsby, Sandy Streets, and Charlene Smyth

4:15 PM:  THOUGHTS FROM A RETIRED SILICON VALLEY TECHIE--Darren Burton, Yahoo Retiree; Darren Burton will discuss his years working on accessibility at Yahoo and consulting with other silicon valley tech companies.  He will discuss challenges companies face when building accessible products, and techniques for meeting those challenges.

4:35 PM:  PAC PLAN--Marcus Soulsby, NFBWV PAC Plan Coordinator

4:45 PM:  SPLIT THE POT--Skylor Campbell, Harrison County Chapter

5:00 PM:  Adjourn

6:00 - 7:30 PM:  RECEPTION-- Sponsored by all chapters; Banquet Room A Montani #1 / Banquet Room C Liberi # 3.  This includes a tasty dinner of Chicken parmesan with penne pasta, salad, broccoli florets, roll, tea, coffee, and ice water as well as a dessert station which will include an assortment of desserts.  The entre for the vegetarian selection is Pasta primavera.

7:30 - 11:00 PM:  MEMBERS AUCTION and SOCIAL TIME--Sheri Koch, Coordinator; Rick Richmond of the Members at Large Chapter and Jack Yahnke of the Sightless Workers' Guild, Auctioneers; Banquet Room A Montani #1 / Banquet Room C Liberi # 3


SATURDAY, September 15, 2018

9:00 AM:  GENERAL SESSION--Charlene Smyth, NFBWV President; Banquet Room B Siempre #2 / Banquet Room C Liberi # 3

9:05 AM:  GROWING CHAPTERS/GROWING THE AFFILIATE--Norma Crosby, NFB Board Member and President, National Federation of the Blind of Texas

9:25 AM:  JOB ACCOMMODATION NETWORK--Teresa Goddard, Lead Consultant; West Virginia University; Morgantown, WV

9:45 AM:  FROM WEST VIRGINIA AND BEYOND--Joel Zimba, Blindness Product Specialist; HumanWare; Baltimore, MD

10:05 AM:  WEST VIRGINIA SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND UPDATE--Camella Hardinger, Principal, and Anita Adkins, Teacher, Romney, WV

10:25 AM:  VISUALLY IMPAIRED SENIORS IN-HOME OUTREACH NETWORK SERVICES--Tammy Murdock, VISIONS Program Specialist; West Virginia Division of Rehabilitation Services; Nitro, WV

10:45 AM:  WEST VIRGINIA DIVISION OF REHABILITATION SERVICES UPDATE--Kevin L. Maynus, Program Specialist, Blind/VI Services, Sensory Specialty Programs, Charleston, West Virginia

11:05 AM:  A HALF CENTURY OF STATE CONVENTIONS, AND HE AIN'T DONE YET--Ed McDonald, First Vice-President; NFBWV

11:25 AM:  NOMINATING COMMITTEE REPORT AND ELECTION OF OFFICERS--Charles Powell, Chairman

11:45 AM:  SPLIT THE POT--Skylor Campbell, Harrison County Chapter

12:00 PM:  ADJOURN

12:00 - 2:30 PM:  MEMBERS AT LARGE CHAPTER MEETING--Ed McDonald, President; Situation Room


12:00 PM - 2:00 PM: LUNCH--Atria's Restaurant (On your own.)

2:30 - 3:30 PM:  BRAILLE LITERACY DIVISION MEETING--Karen McDonald, President; Situation Room

3:30 PM - 4:40 PM:  RESOLUTIONS COMMITTEE MEETING--Ed McDonald, Chairman; Situation Room.  Members are Skylor Campbell, Sheri Koch, Karen McDonald, and Mary Ann Saunders.  This is an open meeting and all are welcome and encouraged to attend.

6:30 PM:  BANQUET--Ed McDonald, Master of Ceremonies; Banquet Room A Montani #1 / Banquet Room C Liberi # 3

* INVOCATION--Charlene Smyth, President, NFBWV

* INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS--Ed McDonald, NFBWV First Vice-President

* FEDERATIONIST OF THE YEAR AWARD--Karen McDonald, 2014 Recipient

* KEYNOTE ADDRESS--Norma Crosby, Board Member, National Federation of the Blind and President, National Federation of the Blind of Texas

* SPLIT THE POT--Skylor Campbell, Harrison County Chapter

After Banquet Until 11:30 PM:  SOCIAL TIME--Banquet Room A Montani #1 / Banquet Room C Liberi # 3


SUNDAY, September 16, 2018

9:00 AM:  GENERAL SESSION; Banquet Room B Siempre #2 / Banquet Room C Liberi # 3

* CALL TO ORDER--Charlene Smyth, NFBWV President

* MEMORIAL SERVICE--Charlene Smyth, NFBWV President

* PLANNING THE FUTURE OF THE NFBWV--Norma Crosby, NFB National Representative, and You, Members of the NFBWV

* PAC PLAN--Marcus Soulsby, NFBWV PAC Plan Coordinator

*RESOLUTIONS COMMITTEE REPORT--Ed McDonald, Chairperson

* AGENCY PARTNERSHIP COMMITTEE REPORT--Ed McDonald, Chairperson

* BRAILLE LITERACY DIVISION REPORT--Karen McDonald, President

* BRIEF FINANCIAL SUMMARY--Marcus Soulsby, NFBWV Treasurer

* FINAL REMARKS--Norma Crosby, National Representative and President, National federation of the Blind of Texas

* SWEARING IN OF OFFICERS

* OLD BUSINESS

* NEW BUSINESS

* FINAL ANNOUNCEMENTS AND CLOSING REMARKS

* SPLIT THE POT--Skylor Campbell, Harrison County Chapter

12:00 PM:  ADJOURN


HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS


            This year's hotel guest room rates are $105 per night for up to four persons per room.  Check in at the Holiday Inn Express begins at 3:00 p.m.  Check out time is at 12:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 16, 2018.



            Registration:  Registration as well as dropping off door prizes and auction items will take place in Presidential Suite 300.





Atria's Restaurant



            Atria's on-site restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner that offers a wide variety of menu options.  To view the menus, go to www.atrias.com<http://www.atrias.com/>.


RESTAURANT HOURS



Monday - Thursday:

Breakfast 6:30am to 10:30am

Kitchen open to 9 pm

Tavern open to 10 pm



Friday:

Breakfast 6:30am to 10:30am

Kitchen open to 10 pm

Tavern open to 11pm



Saturday:

Breakfast 7am to 10:30am

Kitchen open to 10 pm

Tavern open to 11pm



Sunday:

Breakfast 7am to 10:30am

Kitchen and Tavern open to 8 pm





HOTEL DESCRIPTION


            FROM YOUR PRESIDENT:  This is the first time we have held a convention at the Morgantown Holiday Inn, and so-unlike many recent conventions-the hotel is unfamiliar to all of us.  I took a couple of walks through the facility in an attempt to get a sense of the "lay of the land" from a blind person's perspective.  Here is some of what I discovered.  It is not intended to be a substitute for good travel skills, but I hope it helps a few of us get to where we need or want to be a little more quickly during the convention.

            Passing through the sliding glass doors of the hotel will take you into the lobby.  The check-in desk is straight ahead.  There is good signage in both print and Braille throughout the hotel.

            DIRECTIONS TO ELEVATORS/OTHER THINGS:  Walk to the front desk and then skirt around it to your left.  Just past the counter and to your right is a short hallway.  The first doorway on the right is the Sundry Shop that contains assorted items such as snacks, Tide-Pods, and a cooler with soda.  Pay for items at the front desk.  The Next door on the right is Sales and Marketing.  At the very end of the hallway is an emergency exit.

            If you bypass this short hallway, you will find a padded table.  After this and slightly recessed, are two elevators side-by-side.  There is a narrow wall between the elevators with call buttons on each side of it for each elevator.

            LOBBY LAYOUT:  Turning left after passing through the sliding glass doors to the lobby brings you to a doorway to a storage area.  Just after this is a hallway which we will come back to later.

            Bypassing the hallway on the left, you will start into the lobby.  The first thing on the left is an Argo ATM machine that seems to be accessible.  Traveling down the left wall, you will encounter an artificial tree, a waterfall built into the wall, and another artificial tree.  You will then come to a small alcove with a table containing brochures and other information followed by a sign for Atrias Restaurant and then a padded table with newspapers on it.  You will then come to a counter area containing a coffee machine and water.  Just past the counter is another padded table followed by Shelves with knickknacks.

            Turning right, you will find another set of shelves followed by a Window, a Chair, and a table with an ottoman in front of the chair.  Just past this and slightly set back in is a fireplace followed by another chair with an ottoman and then another table.

            RESTROOMS:  Turning left, you will come to a rug and sliding glass doors.  After passing through these doors, there is another set of sliding glass doors to your left that will take you outside.  If you keep going straight across the rug, you will come to a tiled area where two unisex bathrooms are located.  One bathroom is directly in front of you and the other is set back in an alcove.  Inside the alcove and to the left is a storage closet.

            Bypassing the sliding glass doors, you will find another padded table.  Set slightly back in are the two elevators we mentioned earlier.  This then brings you back around to the Sundry Shop hallway and the check-in desk.

            SLEEPING ROOM FLOORS:  After exiting the elevator, the room on the right contains the ice machine.  Past this is a bench.  Turning left after exiting the elevator brings you to a carpeted hallway that runs left to right.  Rooms 200 to 214 are on the left and 215 to 246 are on the right.  Straight ahead is a glass wall that overlooks the lobby.  This is the general layout for all the upper floors.

            RIGHT SIDE OF THE HOTEL LAYOUT:  After passing through the sliding glass doors that bring you into the hotel, there is a storage area to the right.  Past this is a hallway that will take you to rooms 145 to 154 and the Business Center.  Just before you start down this hall, there is a carpeted area that takes you behind the check-in desk.

            Starting down the hall, there is a sign in print and Braille on the left wall that says "Office".  There are windows along the right side of the hallway.  Continuing past the Office on the left is the Business Center that is open 24-hours a day.  This is a recessed area containing two computers and a printer.  Continuing down the hall you will pass through two double doors that are usually left open.

            The hallway then turns to the left.  As soon as you turn left, there is a staircase on the right that goes down.

            Continuing down the hall on your left are two doors to the Manager's Office.  Past the Managers Office is a small alcove.  After the alcove is Room 154.  With 154 to your left, the enclosed staircase is to your right.

            You will then come to a carpeted area with Room 152 on the left side of the hall and Housekeeping on the right side of the hall.  The rooms in this hall end with 145.

            Take a right to another hallway with Room 146 on your right and the last door on the left leads to the stairs.

            LEFT SIDE OF THE HOTEL LAYOUT:  After passing through the sliding glass doors that bring you into the hotel is a storage room to your left.

            Just past this is a hallway with windows on your left.  The first set of double doors down this hall on your right is the Liberi Conference Room.  The signs for the conference rooms are in print and Braille but are located about 5 and a half feet up the wall.  Walking forward after exiting the Liberi Room will take you to a little alcove area with a bench.

            After exiting the Liberi Room, turn right to start down another hall.  Again, there are windows and benches on your left.

            The next set of double doors take you into the Semper Conference Room.  Just past the Semper Room is a little alcove on the right with a table that juts out a little.  Across from this table are doors leading to the outside.

            Proceeding past the table is a set of double doors to your right that lead to the Montani Conference Room.  This is followed by the Women's Restroom on your right, then a water fountain, followed by the Men's Room.

            ATRIAS RESTAURANT:  After the Men's Room are double doors that lead into the Atrias Restaurant.  The Hostess Desk is on your right and doors leading outside are to your left.  There is a carpeted area in front of the Hostess Stand.  Past the Hostess Stand on your right and forward about 15 feet is a huge octagon shaped bar.  Tables and booths are situated throughout the restaurant.

            SITUATION ROOM:  You must go through the restaurant to get to the Situation Room where some convention meetings will take place.


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