[Njabs-talk] Minutes for NJABS Conference Call for April 10, 2011

[Benjamin Vercellone]

NJABS Conference Call for Sunday, April 10, 2011

Members present:

Evelyn Valdez - President.

Shafeka Hashash -- Vice President.

Ben Vercellone -- Secretary/Treasurer.

Greg Rivera -- Board Member.

Melissa Hurff -- Board Member.

Briel knight.

Isabel Rodriguez.

Kevin Baniker.

Marie Lomax.

Deana Aponte.

Michael Valle.

8:12 PM - Evelyn thanks board then turns it over to Shafeka.

Each presentation here will be at most 10 minutes. Each session will be 
an hour. Certain things will have scenarios. There will be a lot of 
talking, and everything will be hands on. People from the New York 
Association will be there. Some people may be there from Delaware too. 
We are inviting kids from Baltimore. There will be teaching about skills 
and adaptation. There are challenges raised when you're a blind student.

First is the opening and welcome. 10 AM to 11 AM - meet and greet. There 
will be Donets and bagels. You can meet kids outside of state.

Next ?is the first session from 11 to 12. It is about girls and makeup. 
They will address difficulties like with mascara and makeup and 
eyeliner. They will provide different makeup and eyeliner. There will be 
a sighted person there.

The next hour will be both for guys and girls. It is about body language 
and how to do body motions and signals correctly. Blind people have 
often been awkward because they didn't know how to communicate with 
signals correctly.

The next part is how people do their nails. This is not just for girls. 
With this knowledge, some people will no longer need to pay so much to 
get their nails done.

The next session is knowing your rights. They will discuss things like 
the IEP and knowing it and what teachers can and cannot do. This ?is 
scenario based. Will also discuss these kinds of issues for college.

Next is about how to be social. Who is responsible to be happy with 
social matters? Lots of blind people have only blind friends. We can be 
happy more than just once a month when we meet our blind friends.

Next is about what's the best technology for you. You can take a look at 
new things available.

Next is how to adapt. How can you make things adaptable like for 
college? It is good to know how to adapt, especially for college, where 
a lot of materials are not as available. It is good to know how to get 
what you need inexpensively.

Next is lunch for an hour which is provided by NJABS. It will be pasta 
and chicken. It is a whole hour. This is also social time. It will be in 
one place. You have the whole hour.

Next is the blind in sports. Not just about blind sports. Not just beep 
ball.

Then the blind in music. We will be talking about things like real DJ's 
and national radio broadcast. In NYU News, one of the anchors is blind.

Next is the blind in science. What is available to you?

The last session is from 4:15 to 5. It is one giant forum. That's where 
you really have to be honest with yourself. Like if you can or can't do 
something. How annoying or upsetting was it to turn 17 and not be able 
to drive a car. It is not just complaining of course, but there will be 
discussion.

At 5:10 there will be a raffle. There is an item for the raffle 
purchased by NJABS that is very exciting. You can buy as many tickets as 
you want. There will be Tea shirts from a woman who makes Braille tea 
shirts.

This convention is not expensive. None of us will be spending $40. This 
whole thing is $10. It even covers the goody bags containing everything 
you'll be using there. It also covers the entire lunch which on its own 
is worth $20. It covers the whole convention. Anything extra like the 
raffle or a tea shirt is all up to you. We want it to be good and not 
stingy. There are already over 100 people signed up. This whole event is 
from 9:00 AM to 5:00 or 5:30 PM.

We need to preregister. DO this by sending an email to

njabsstudents at gmail.com

containing your name, town, county, and whether you prefer Braille or 
large print. It is $10 if you preregister and $15 if you do not. You can 
bring the money with you. This is a very social convention. 9 to 10 is 
social hour 1. This is an 8 hour convention, and 3 hours are talking to 
friends. The rest are worth your while. This is not like a forced 
agenda. The whole point is to better yourself. It is coed.

8:34 PM - opened for questions and comments. Evelyn said remember the 
snack pack. It has things like chips and pretzels. It is for the day.

With your Registration, you'll have an orientation.

The address of this event is

200 Hackensack Avenue

Hackensack

NJ

07601

This is Shafeka's high school.

We want towns and counties to set up rides. Email your registration info 
by May 14 latest.

We have the most awesome raffle. 5 to 10 bucks to participate.

We are going to have flyers written up. We need to circulate them.

Be friends with NJABS on FaceBook. This is an actual friend. It may be 
NJABS Shafeka. Then share the info with those you know. Go to the 
disability office at your campus and Give them the info. We want people 
there and not just the same people as always. People will have laptops 
there for registration.

The fee is waved for LEAD students. They are coming as part of the LEAD 
program to see how this convention is. NJABS put this whole event 
together. It's NJABS for us and by us.

8:40 PM - - last thoughts. Even LEAD students should preregister. We 
need a headcount. Write LEAD next to your name if in LEAD. There will be 
a lot more info coming. Email Evelyn or Shafeka with questions.

Evelyn's email is:

tweetybaby19 at comcast.net

Shafeka's email is:

shafekah at gmail.com

8:44 PM - Call ended.

Respectfully submitted,

Ben Vercellone,

Secretary/Treasurer.