[NFBWV-Talk] NFBWV CONVENTION, Agenda & Zoom Information

Wed Oct 15 23:30:36 UTC 2025

Good question Holly.  The hotel is extremely easy to navigate. By
Saturday,folks should be able to get around just fine.  We'll all lend a
hand if needed but I am pretty sure all will be find
Sheri

On Wed, Oct 15, 2025 at 6:54 PM Ed McDonald via NFBWV-Talk <
nfbwv-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:

> The 2025 convention of the National Federation of the Blind of West
> Virginia begins tomorrow in Morgantown and continues through Sunday
> morning, October 19. The convention agenda is attached and included in the
> body of this message.
>
> For those who are interested but unable to attend, we will make every
> effort to stream most of the convention sessions via Zoom, using the
> recurring Members at Large meeting credentials. Streaming will depend
> largely upon the reliability of hotel WIFI.
>
> Sessions include:
>
> Blind Community Unity Day, Friday Afternoon, 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM
> General Session, Saturday Morning, 8:30 AM to 12:00 noon
> General Session, Saturday Afternoon, 1:30 PM to 5:00 PM
>
> It will not be feasible to stream the Saturday evening banquet or the
> Sunday morning memorial service.
>
> The Zoom meeting will not be monitored, so if you choose to join, please
> mute. Here is the information needed to join:
>
>
>
> Topic: NFBWV Convention
>
> Join Zoom Meeting
>
> https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88693718383?pwd=N2E4YkFWZ2wwcUtvZnV2T2hCU0hnZz09
>
> Meeting ID: 886 9371 8383
>
> Passcode: 101021
> One tap mobile
> +19294362866,,88693718383# US (New York)
> 13017158592,,88693718383# US +(Washington DC)
>
> Dial by your location
>         +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)
> Meeting ID: 886 9371 8383
>
>
> - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
>
>
>
>
> 2025 NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND
> OF WEST VIRGINIA CONVENTION
>
> Holiday Inn--University Area, 1188 Pineview Dr.
> Morgantown, WV 26505
> (304) 241-6649
>
>
>
> AGENDA
>
> THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2025
>
> 3:00 PM  Hotel Check-in; Drop off door prizes and auction items to  the
> Presidential Suite (Suite # to be announced)
>
> 5:00 PM  Dinner on your own
>
> 7:30 PM  NFBWV Board of Directors Meeting; open to all (Board Room)
>
>
>
>
> -2-
>
> FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2025
> BLIND COMMUNITY UNITY DAY
>
> Morning Session-Presentations & Exhibits
>
> 8:30 AM  Vendor Booths Setup
>
> 9:00 AM  2025 Convention Called to Order;  Sheri Koch, NFBWV President
> (Semper Section)
>
> Welcome and announcements; Sheri Koch
>
> Brief Audience Self-Introductions
>
> Vendor Mini Presentations: 5 to 10 minutes each (Montani Section)
> West Virginia Assistive Technology System (WVATS); Doug Cumpston
> Jehovah's Witness; Kevin & Lisa Willis, Ron & Dianne Barnett
> West Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind (WVSDB); Melanie Hesse
> Disability Rights of West Virginia; (representative to be announced)
> West Virginia EyeCan Lions Club; Ahmad Shafi, Pete & Rhonda Smith
> This & That Gadgets Table; NFBWV Members
> American Printing House for the Blind (APH) Low Vision Devices; Sheri Koch
> for Lee Huffman
>
> 10:30 AM  Break
>
> 10:45 AM  Visit the Vendor Booths
>
> 12:00 PM  Box Lunch for all: Provided by NFBWV (Semper Section)
>
> Afternoon Session-Reports & Presentations
>
> 1:00 PM  On the National Level: Who we are; Jim Marks, NFB National
> Representative
>
> 1:15 PM  On the State Level: Who We Are; Sheri Koch, NFBWV President
>
>
>
> -3-
>
> 1:30 PM  West Virginia Division of Rehabilitation Services (WVDRS): A
> Close Look at Employment of Blind West Virginians; Candice Ward, Assistant
> Director and Kevin Maynus, Program Specialist, Blind Services
>
> 2:15 PM  West Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind (WVSDB); Melanie
> Hesse, Dean of Students & Student Pannel
>
> 3:00 PM   Wendy Bailey, Blind/Low Vision Education Coordinator WVSDB
> Outreach
>
> 3:15 PM  Break
>
> 3:30 PM  American Foundation for the Blind (AFB); Haley Linville, Business
> Services Manager
>
> 4:00 PM  Disability Rights of West Virginia; (presenter to be announced)
>
> 4:20 PM  LiveAbility Center for Independent Living, Morgantown; Annetta
> Johnson, Administrative Director
>
> 4:40 PM  Adjourn
>
> Evening Session-Dinner & Auction
>
> 6:00 PM  Dinner: Plated meal (Montani, Semper Sections)
>
> 8:00 PM  Pot Pouri Auction: Fundraiser;  Marcus Soulsby, Auctioneer
> (Montani, Semper Sections)
>
>
> SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2025
>
> Morning General Session-Taking a Closer Look
> (Montani, Semper Section)
>
> 8:30 AM  Call to Order and Brief Remarks; Sheri Koch, NFBWV President
>
> Invocation; Harold "Tommy" Rogers
>
> Pledge of Allegiance; Led by Jack Yahnke
>
>
>
> -4-
>
> NFB Pledge; Led by Karen McDonald
> "I pledge to participate actively in the efforts 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."
>
> 8:40 AM  Report from the National Office: A Closer Look; Jim Marks,
> National Representative
>
> 9:40 AM  Affiliate Report: A Closer Look at What's Going On in West
> Virginia; Sheri Koch, NFBWV President
>
> 10:00  AM  Break
>
> 10:15  AM  Training for Life at an NFB Center: My Experience at the
> Louisiana Center for the Blind; Ahmad Shafi, NFBWV Member at Large
>
> 11:00 AM  Challenging Inaccessibility at the University Level; Harold
> Rogers, WVU MSW Student and NFBWV Member at Large
>
> 11:30 AM  NFBWV Chapter Reports
> Members at Large:  Ed McDonald, Chapter President
> Sightless Workers Guild of Wheeling: Jack Yahnke, Chapter President
>
> 12:00 PM  Box lunch (Sempre Section)
>
> Afternoon General Session (Montani, Semper Sections)
>
> 1:30 PM  RESOLUTIONS Committee Report; Ed McDonald, Chair
>
> 1:45 PM  Scholarship Committee Report; Karen McDonald, Chair
>
> 2:00 PM  Brochure Development Committee Report; Carol McGhee, Chair
>
> 2:15 PM  University Outreach Committee Report; Michelle McKeller, Chair
>
> 2:30 PM  Fundraising Committee Report; Harold Rogers, Chair
>
> 3:00 PM  Break
>
> Other Special Projects and Ongoing Activities
>
> 3:15 PM  Outreach & Membership;  Dane Campbell
>
> -5-
>
> 3:30 PM  NFBWV ADA Accommodations Manual;  Harold Rogers
>
> 4:00 PM  West Virginia EyeCan Lions Club; Ahmad Shafi, President
>
> 4:20 PM  Reflections from "A Well-Respected and Loved Old Timer";  Ed
> McDonald
>
> 4:40 PM  Where Do We Go from Here? Group Discussion
>
> 5:00 PM  Adjourn
>
> 6:30 PM  BANQUET
> Master of Ceremonies; Ed McDonald
> Keynote Address; Jim Marks, National Representative
>
>
> SUNDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2025
>
> 9:00 AM  In Memoriam: Remembering Those We've Loved and Lost; Marcus
> Soulsby, (Montani Semper Section)
>
> 10:00 AM   Adjourn   -   THANKS AND SAFE TRAVELS
>
>
>
> NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND OF WEST VIRGINIA
> 833 Chappell Rd.,
> Charleston,  West Virginia  25304
> 304-209-8779
>
> www.nfbwv.org
>
>
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