[Ohio-Talk] 2020 National Convention Meeting

[Suzanne Turner]

Ohio Members,

 

On January 27, 2020, there will be a conference call on the 2020 National
Convention. It is always good to start early when preparing to travel, and
it is also appropriate to consider saving funds so that you have no worries
and can enjoy yourself comfortably.

 

This conference call is to highlight the activities of the national
convention,   talk about the expectations when attending the national
convention and answer your questions about the national convention.

 

The Conference line is:

712-775-7031

Code: 240281423

Time: 7:00 P.M.

Date: Wednesday, January 27, 2020

 

Even if you are a member, we could use your input! So, if you are thinking
or pondering, come and join us!

 

I have listed a few of the 2018/2019 educational and recreational seminars
to give you a view into that week at the convention. They are not in any
order.  Also, if you wish to reserve your room tonight, the convention info
is below as well! Click on the first-timer’s guide and learn more. 

 

Session Meetings:

7:30 AM - 4:45 PM—TOOLS IN MY TOOLBOX: A CONFERENCE FOR FAMILIES AND
TEACHERS OF BLIND/VISUALLY-IMPAIRED CHILDREN

•Registration: Adults, $40; two or more adults, $70; children (to 18), free.

•Sponsored by NFB’s National Organization of Parents of Blind Children
Division (NOPBC). Kim Cunningham, President

•Panzacola Ballroom F-1, Level 1

•7:30-8:45 AM—Registration

•9:00-10:45 AM—General Session

•11:00 AM-12:15 PM—NOPBC Concurrent Workshops, Session I •Essential 411: How
to Optimize Your Convention Experience—Suwannee 13, Level 2

•Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Accounts: How Might They Benefit
My Blind Child?—Suwannee 18, Level 2

•Tools and Best Practices for Helping Blind Elementary School Students
Succeed in Math—Suwannee 19, Level 2

•From Infant to Young Adult: Braille and Tactile Markings Everyday—Suwannee
20, Level 2

 

8:30 AM—CHILD-CARE SERVICES (Preregistration by June 15 was required)

•Suwannee 14, 15, 16, and 17, Level 2

•Please see “Convention Note 6” for further information.

 

3:00 - 5:30 PM—BECOME A TRAILBLAZER

•Wekiwa 4, Level 2

•Are you a high school or college student, recent graduate, or young
professional who is ambitious and goal-oriented? Get the ins and outs of
advocacy, branding yourself, and paving your path forward. Learn tools for
interviewing, public speaking, networking, and becoming the trailblazer you
are ready to be! Kathryn Webster, President, National Association of Blind
Students

 

1:00 - 4:00 PM—BLIND MUSICIANS GROUP

•Suwannee 19, Level 2

•Share tips and ideas, ask questions and network with other blind musicians.
Parents and students are welcome. Linda Mentink, Chairperson

 

1:00 - 5:00 PM—DEAFBLIND HOPE: HAVE ONLY POSITIVE EXPECTATIONS

•Wekiwa 9, Level 2

•Join our workshop designed to give unique solutions and create positive
changes for those who live with a combined loss of hearing/sight: SSPs,
deafblind culture, ensuring medical accommodations, and more. Shake your
booty with a deafblind conga line!

•Sponsored by the NFB Deaf-Blind Division, Alice Eaddy, President

 

1:00 - 3:00 PM—EMPLOYMENT COMMITTEE MEETING

•Wekiwa 4, Level 2

•Face off with experts from the Employment Committee who will give you
advice and answer your questions. Learn about new technology and resources,
too. Looking for a job? Bring your résumé! Looking for an employee? Bring
your job posting! Networking abounds. Suggestions welcome. Dick Davis,
Chairperson

 

4:15 - 5:45 PM—TWENTY-FIRST ANNUAL MOCK TRIAL (admission: $5)

•Panzacola Ballroom G-1, Level 1

•Federation lawyers oppose each other to enact a case addressing the civil
rights of blind people, and the audience serves as the jury. The subject
matter is serious, but the courtroom portrayers are very entertaining. Scott
LaBarre, President, National Association of Blind Lawyers

 

5:00 - 10:00 PM—NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BLIND VETERANS RECEPTION AND MEETING

•Panzacola Ballroom H-2, Level 1

•5:00 PM—Veterans Welcome Reception with food and cash bar

•7:00 PM—National Meeting

•All veterans and interested parties are invited to attend. We will be
collecting annual dues of $5 / $100 life membership and discussing issues
that affect blind veterans’ benefits and services at the VA. Dwight Sayer,
President

 

5:30 - 7:00 PM—NFB AFFILIATE PRESIDENTS AND TREASURERS SEMINAR

•Wekiwa 5, Level 2

•All state affiliate presidents and treasurers are asked to attend this
session. Topics will include state financials, year-end preparations,
chapter-affiliate relations, and insurance. Participants can discuss state
issues with facilitators Nick Lambright and Bridgid Burke.

 

7:30 - 9:30 PM—NABS STUDENT NETWORKING

•Wekiwa 5, Level 2

•Swing by the National Association of Blind Students networking event to
make new friends and reconnect with old ones, chat with NABS members and
leaders about our division or anything else that’s on your mind, and join us
for fun to kick off the convention week! Kathryn Webster, President

 

8:00 - 9:00 PM—WHITE CANE AND AFFILIATE FINANCE COMMITTEE

•Wekiwa 4, Level 2

•Are there new and ingenious ways to collect money and spread the word about
the NFB? I’m sure there are. Come and share your ideas on how to fund our
movement. Alpidio Rolón, Chairperson

 

8:00 - 9:30 PM—ROOKIE ROUNDUP

•Rookie Roundup logo depicting two "Rs" in a lasso.Panzacola Ballroom G-1,
Level 1

•First-time convention attendees—don’t miss this event! President Riccobono
and former rookies will be on hand to welcome you and answer questions about
the week’s activities. Pam Allen, Director of the Louisiana Center for the
Blind, President of the NFB of Louisiana, Chairperson and Vice President of
the Board of Directors of the National Federation of the Blind

 

7:00 - 10:00 PM—NOPBC YOUTH TRACK ACTIVITY (ages 11-18)

Shell Seekers A and B

 

7:30 - 10:00 PM—HOST COMMITTEE WELCOME CONCERT ($10)

South Pacific Ballroom CD

Put on your dancing shoes and join your Federation friends and family for an
evening of live entertainment, featuring local Las Vegas performers, the
Broken Spectacles. This all-blind band has rocked places like the Smith
Center of Performing Arts and the House of Blues. Escape the casinos for an
intimate performance where the under-21 crew is welcome, too. Tickets can be
purchased at the lobby information table, the hospitality suite, or from any
member of the Nevada or Idaho delegations. Show your NFB membership coin or
convention badge to pay only $5!

 

8:00 - 10:00 PM—SPORTS AND REC SWIM UP

Wave Pool

Meet by the pool. You will hear one of us marshaling until 8:00 p.m. and
after that you can find us in the water!

 

8:00 - 10:00 PM—RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE

Tropics A

Technology is omnipresent in our lives. While it is invaluable in education
and 

employment, the blind are still excluded from many products. Hear about new
advances and discuss how to influence developers to include accessibility in
their offerings. Brian Buhrow, Chair

 

1:00 - 5:00 PM—GUIDE DOG USERS ANNUAL SEMINAR

•Panzacola Ballroom F-2, Level 1

•1:00 PM—Registration

•2:00 PM—Presentations

•A board-certified emergency veterinarian will share how to assess if your
dog’s health issue is an emergency needing immediate attention. We will also
address the issue of counterfeit service animals and discuss ways to solve
the problem. Marion Gwizdala, President, National Association of Guide Dog
Users Division

 

1:00 - 5:00 PM—HUMANWARE PRODUCT SHOWCASE AND USER GROUPS

•Sebastian I-3, Level 1

•1:00-2:00 PM—BrailleNote Touch, the world’s first Google-certified Braille
tablet: simple, efficient, intuitive, and powerful. Join the HumanWare team
to learn about the latest updates and enhancements while having fun. In
addition, get a sneak preview of our upcoming KeySoft update.

•2:00-3:00 PM—Brailliant BI 14: Our smallest Braille display yet boasts
cutting-edge intelligence and innovative features made with the mobile
professional in mind. Learn to stay connected and productive on the go.

•3:00-4:00 PM—VictorReader Trek: Victor Readers Unite. Join HumanWare with
your ideas for an open discussion and demonstration of what is new with both
the Victor Reader Stream and Trek.

•4:00-5:00 PM—Innovations of the Future: Listening to our customers is what
makes innovation desirable and imperative. What are the barriers you face?
What frustrates you when it comes to technology? Participate in an open
forum to share your technology ideas and feedback to our experts.

 

8:00 - 10:00 PM—MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE MEETING

Tradewinds F

You're invited! If you are interested in finding ways to discover potential
members while keeping current members engaged and interested, this is the
meeting for you. Sharing our best practices across the Federation will take
our chapters, affiliates, and our national organization to the next level.
Jeannie Massay and Kathryn Webster, Co-Chairs

 


 8:30 - 10:00 PM—WEBMASTERS MEETING


Coral C

A meeting for all NFB affiliate and division webmasters to discuss the
importance of an informative, accessible, and visually attractive website.
Gary Wunder, Chair

 


9:00 PM - Midnight—TRIVIA NIGHT (Admission: $5)
South Pacific Ballroom B
New year, new categories, possibly new champions? Trivia Night is back with
a new twist. Bring your chapter, your friends, or make new ones. Leave with
bragging rights. Proceeds benefit future programs and activities of the
Community Service Division.


 

11:30 AM - 12:30 PM—USING CREDIT TO YOUR ADVANTAGE

•Wekiwa 3, Level 2

•Learn the basics of credit, including information on credit scores, how to
obtain and read a credit report, and how to establish a good credit history.
In addition, you’ll learn how to use your credit to your advantage to help
you achieve your goals and dreams. Attend this session to learn about the
types of loans available; how to shop for, compare and choose a loan
product; how to choose a lender; and how to protect yourself from risk.

 

8:00 - 9:00 PM—FRIENDS OF RECOVERY MEETING

Coral B

All convention attendees interested in getting or remaining clean and sober
are welcome to our confidential meeting. For more information, call
304-994-5103. Sheri K., Coordinator

 

1:00 - 8:00 PM—INSPIRING ARTISTS, BEGINNERS TO PROS

•Panzacola Ballroom H-4, Level 1

•1:00-5:00 PM—Drop-in Art Room: Free activities for all! Make tactile
drawings, color or sculpt your own work, OR join Jenny Callahan to work on a
large group project. Art-making fun at its best.

•6:00-8:00 PM—Tactile Artists to Our NFB Family Exhibit: It’s a party! Come
and have fun talking to the artists about their work. It is a great chance
to ask, “How did you do that?” Deborah Kent Stein and Ann Cunningham,
Coordinators

 

2:00 - 4:00 PM—NOPBC MEETING

•Panzacola Ballroom F-1, Level 1

•Keynote address by the 2018 Distinguished Educator of Blind Children; talks
on accessible science, art, textbooks, games, technology, programs for kids,
Parent Power, business meeting, elections, and more. Kim Cunningham,
President

 

6:00 - 8:00 PM—NFB LGBT MEETING

•Wekiwa 6, Level 2

•Building the NFB and giving back with pride! Proposed topics include
accessibility of PFLAG materials, cataloging accessible LGBTQ+ literature,
and how training centers make their programs welcoming to the LGBTQ+
community. Group social TBA. Tai Tomasi, Coordinator, 515-329-4908

 

6:00 - 9:00 PM—MICROSOFT PRODUCT SHOWCASE II

•Panzacola Ballroom H-3, Level 1

•6:00 PM—Seeing AI: Leveraging Artificial Intelligence to Augment Visual
Awareness: Discover behind the scene details, user stories, upcoming
research, and best practices that help guide the development of Seeing AI
app.

•7:00 PM—Accessibility in Windows: Learn about the accessibility features in
Windows 10, including features recently introduced in the April 2018 update.

•8:00 PM—What’s New with Narrator: Come hear about the features being
developed for the next release of Narrator.

 

6:00 - 10:00 PM—EDUCATIONAL TESTING SERVICE OPEN HOUSE (ETS)

•Wekiwa 4, Level 2

•Come and learn about ETS’ new Graduate Records Examination (GRE) computer
adaptive test along with the latest developments in accessibility. Come try
out the GRE and other demos. This event is open to all to learn about
twenty-first-century digital assessments. Cary A. Supalo, Educational
Testing Service

 

///

Hilton’s Americas-Houston
1600 Lamar Street
Houston, TX 77010

The 2020 National Convention of the National Federation of the Blind will be
held at the Hilton Americas-Houston hotel located in the heart of downtown
Houston.

Situated across the street from the beautiful twelve-acre Discovery Green
park, it's an ideal location. Ballrooms, breakout space, and sleeping rooms
are all stacked in the same tower housed on a single city block, simplifying
navigation and minimizing travel distances. In-room internet is
complimentary to all attendees as is access to the health club and swimming
pool on the 23rd floor. There is an array of dining options on the hotel’s
lobby level and many more choices within easy walking distance.

 

The nightly rate is $105 for singles, doubles, triples, and quads. In
addition, the sales tax rate is 8.25 percent, and the hotel occupancy tax
rate is 17 percent. To book your room for the 2020 convention, call
1-800-236-2905. For each room, the hotel will take a deposit of the first
night’s room rate and taxes, and will require a credit card or a personal
check. If you use a credit card, the deposit will be charged against your
card immediately. If a reservation is cancelled before Monday, June 1, 2020,
half of the deposit will be returned.

 

Start planning your trip today and help us celebrate the eightieth
anniversary of the NFB. If you missed the big announcement, listen here
<https://nfb.org/images/nfb/audio/2020-convention/2020-announcement.mp3> .* 

*Please note that the dates mentioned in this announcement have changed as
indicated above.

Click

*
<https://www.nfb.org/get-involved/national-convention/first-timers-guide>
First Timer's Guide

 

 

National Federation of the Blind of Ohio (NFBO)

Suzanne Turner, Ohio Affiliate Vice President

Cleveland Chapter, President

(216) 990-6199

 

Please click on the links below to learn more about the organization

 

The Ohio Affiliate

 <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGe_1qGbkX8>
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGe_1qGbkX8

 

“Live the life you want” featuring, National President, Mark Riccobono

 <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DesLNDBpYVE&feature=share>
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DesLNDBpYVE&feature=share

 

Visit and take a moment to like our Facebook Page!

 
<https://m.facebook.com/NationalFederationOfTheBlindOfOhioClevelandChapter/>
https://m.facebook.com/NationalFederationOfTheBlindOfOhioClevelandChapter/ 

 

The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the
characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the
expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles
between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life you want;
blindness is not what holds you back.

 

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