[NFBWV-Talk] NFBWV 2026 Convention Agenda

[Ahmad Shafi]

Good evening Federationists,

Thank you for your patience. The 2026 State Convention agenda is attached
to this email. Many people have been asking for it, so I am pleased to
share it with you all. As a late reminder, please bring an item for the
Friday bake sale to support the efforts of the NFB of WV.

Looking forward to being with you all,

Sincerely,

President Shafi

2026 NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND OF WEST VIRGINIA CONVENTION
Holiday Inn and Suites Charleston West

400 Second Avenue, SW Charleston, West Virginia
All events will be held in the Centennial Ballroom Salons C & D

AGENDA
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2026

Afternoon
3:00 PM – 5:00 PM  Hotel Check-in; Drop off door prizes and auction items
to the Presidential Suite (Suite number to be announced)

Evening
5:00 PM – 7:00 PM  Dinner on your own

7:00 PM – 7:30 PM  Board Members Gather / Prepare for Board Meeting

7:30 PM – 9:00 PM  NFBWV Board Meeting


FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2026
Convention Opening Ceremony and Presentations
Morning / Early Afternoon

Breakfast available for hotel guests in the main lobby

11:30 AM  Registration / Convention Check-in

12:00 PM – 12:45 PM  Informal Gathering and Fellowship

Opening Session

1:00 PM  Call to Order — Ahmad Shafi, NFBWV President

1:05 PM – 1:15 PM  Welcome and Announcements

1:15 PM – 1:45 PM  Introduction from the National Federation of the Blind —
Norma Crosby, NFB National Representative, Treasurer of the NFB, President
of the NFB of Texas

Presentations
1:45 PM – 3:45 PM Presentations  are approximately 15–20 minutes per
presenter

American Printing House for the Blind (APH) Huntington — Lee Huffman
American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) West Virginia — Presenter to be
announced
West Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind — Rachel Lanham
Appalachian Center for Independent Living — Lisa Creel, Director; Teri
Thompson and staff
American Federation for the Blind (AFB) Huntington — Haley Linville
Jehovah’s Witness (JW) — To be announced
Integration Technology Group (ITG) — Michael Battista, Account Manager

3:45 PM – 4:00 PM  Break

4:00 PM – 4:45 PM  Vendor Demonstrations

4:45 PM – 5:00 PM  Closing Remarks / Announcements / Transition to Evening
Activities

5:00 PM  Adjourn

Evening Session — Dinner and Bake Sale Fundraiser

6:30 PM – 7:45 PM  Dinner — Plated Meal

Location: Salons C&D

8:00 PM – 9:30 PM  Informal Social Time and Bake Sale Fundraiser


SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2026
Morning General Session
Introspection and Looking Inwards

8:30 AM – 9:00 AM  Seating / Networking

9:00 AM – 9:05 AM  Call to Order and Brief Remarks — Ahmad Shafi, NFBWV
President

9:05 AM  Invocation — John Eddie Cox

Pledge of Allegiance — Led by Sheri Koch
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.”

9:10 AM – 9:50 AM  Report from the National Office: A Closer Look — Norma
Crosby, National Representative

9:50 AM – 10:30 AM  Affiliate Report: What’s Going On in West Virginia —
Ahmad Shafi, NFBWV President

10:30 AM – 11:00 AM  NFBWV

Chapter Reports Members at Large — Ed McDonald, Chapter President

Sightless Workers Guild of Wheeling — Holly Stahl, Secretary / Chapter
Representative


11:00 AM – 11:30 AM  Election of Officers

Offices:
President
First Vice President
Second Vice President
Treasurer
Secretary

11:30 AM – 12:00 PM  Affiliate Policy Consideration

12:00 PM – 1:00 PM  Box Lunch / Fellowship


SATURDAY AFTERNOON GENERAL SESSION
1:00 PM – 1:30 PM  Advocating for the Older Individuals Who Are Blind
Program — Glen Crosby, President, NFB Seniors Division

1:30 PM – 1:50 PM  Update on Challenging Inaccessibility at the University
Level — Harold Rogers and Miranda Lacy, WVU MSW Graduates and NFBWV Members
at Large

1:50 PM – 2:15 PM  Resolutions Committee Report — Ed McDonald, Chair

2:15 PM – 2:30 PM  Scholarship Committee Report — Karen McDonald, Chair

2:30 PM – 2:45 PM  Brochure Development Committee Report — Ashley Bailey,
Chair

2:45 PM – 3:00 PM Fundraising Committee Report — Michelle McKeller, Chair

3:00 PM – 3:15 PM  Break

Other Special Projects and Ongoing Activities

3:15 PM – 3:30 PM  NFB Movement Challenge Activity (Line Dancing) —
Michelle Mckeller and Ahmad

3:30 PM – 3:45 PM  Outreach and Membership — Ahmad Shafi

3:45 PM – 4:45 PM  Panel of Federationists — Discussion led by Ed McDonald

4:45 PM – 5:00 PM  Where Do We Go From Here? — Group Discussion

5:00 PM  Adjourn


Saturday Evening — Banquet
6:30 PM
Banquet Starts
Master of Ceremonies — Ahmad Shafi
Keynote Address — Norma Crosby, National Representative

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2026
Closing Session
8:30 AM – 9:00 AM  Gathering / Fellowship / Seating

9:00 AM – 10:00 AM  In Memoriam: Remembering Those We’ve Loved and Lost —
Marcus Soulsby

10:00 AM  Convention Adjournment — Thanks and Safe Travels
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