[PABS] updated NFB of PA State Convention Bulletin

[Stacie Leap]

National Federation of the Blind of Pennsylvania 2026 State Convention
Bulletin

Version 2

Note: this version has updates on hotel information, registration rates,
and shuttle information.



We are thrilled to invite you to celebrate the 86 anniversary of the NFB at
our 2026 State Convention <https://nfbofpa.org/state-convention>, taking
place from Thursday, November 5 to Sunday, November 8, 2026. This year’s
event will be hosted in the sweetest place on Earth, Hershey, Pennsylvania,
at the Hershey Lodge. This event is promising to be an exciting and
enriching experience for all attendees. For any questions or inquiries,
please contact our Convention Co-Chairs David Goldstein at vp1 at nfbofpa.org or
Michelle McManus at mmcmanus at nfbofpa.org



Note: For those using a screen reader, you can navigate through this
bulletin using the heading shortcut.


About the Convention

Founded November 16, 1940, the National Federation of the Blind has a
legacy of empowerment, advocacy, and community. The Pennsylvania State
Convention brings together blind individuals, families, educators,
professionals, and allies from across the state to share resources,
connect, and celebrate our progress.



The National Federation of the Blind advances the lives of its members and
all blind people in the United States. We know 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. Our collective power, determination,
and diversity achieve the aspirations of all blind people.


Convention Event Details

Dates: Thursday, November 5, 2026 to Sunday, November 8, 2026

Location: Hershey Lodge (325 University Drive, Hershey, PA 17033)
National Representative: Everette Bacon

We are honored to welcome Mr. Everette Bacon as our 2026 National
Representative. Mr. Bacon is the 2nd Vice President of the National
Federation of the Blind and a leader from Utah. He will deliver remarks and
be available to meet with attendees throughout the convention.

You can read Everette Bacon' bio
<https://nfb.org/about-us/leadership/board-directors/everette-bacon> on our
NFB website


Registration and Meals

The All-Inclusive conference registration is now over and you can purchase
your meals separately. Please visit the Meal Options
<https://nfbofpa.org/blog/meals-2026-state-convention-hershey-lodge> page
to see what we have.



You can register <https://nfbofpa.org/civicrm/event/register?reset=1&id=10> for
our state convention on our registration page.

Price Overview

Registration: $30

Thursday lunch: $36

Thursday dinner: $46

Friday lunch: $36

Friday dinner: $48

Saturday lunch: $34

Saturday banquet dinner: $60

Sunday breakfast: $29


 Hotel Information

The convention will be hosted at the Hershey Lodge, located at:

325 University Drive

Hershey, PA 17033

The group room rate is $149 per night, plus an 11% occupancy tax, for a
total of $165.39 per night.

Please note that one night’s room and tax ($165.39) will be charged at the
time of booking.

You can book your rooms starting from November 4 until November 9, 2026.

The last day to reserve your hotel room for the convention discounted rate
is October 5, 2026. Afterwards, you will be charged the regular hotel rates
which can go over $300 a night.
To reserve your room, call 1-855-729-3108 <(855)%20729-3108> and press 3
for group booking.

When making your reservation, be sure to state that you are with the
“National Federation of the Blind of Pennsylvania.”

Please do not use the acronym “NFB of PA,” as reservations can only be
located using our full organization name.

If you wish to book your room online, you can use the hotel registration
link <https://book.rguest.com/wbe/group/1294/Hersheylodge/auth> but make
sure to enter the Group ID: 10524996, and Passcode: NFBLODGE26 both are
case-sensitive.

Please Note: a $100 temporary hold will be placed on your card for each
night of your stay when you check in. This is to cover the cost of
incidentals and will be returned to you within 5 business days.



Also, we were misinformed when we were told that the hotel is a cashless
facility. The hotel does accept cash. The restaurants within the hotel also
accept cash. The only place that does not accept cash is Hershey Park.



Please visit the Hershey Lodge <https://www.hersheylodge.com/> hotel’s
website to learn more about what they offer.


Travel Information

The hotel does offer a shuttle from the Amtrak train station to the hotel.
You will need to call at least 5 business days in order to see the shuttle
availability. The cost of the shuttle is $45 and this will allow up to 4
people to be on your shuttle reservation. If you have more than 4 people
with you, each additional person is $10. You will not be charged at time of
booking the shuttle. It will be charged to your hotel room and payment is
expected at time of checkout.



For those traveling via Amtrak, it is safest to go on the train to
Harrisburg and then  a shuttle/Uber/Lyft/taxi to the Hershey Lodge. There
is Red Cap service at the Harrisburg Amtrak station.



If traveling by Amtrak from Philadelphia to Harrisburg, use code V819 for a
discounted ticket



>From the Amtrak station in Harrisburg, you can take either a shuttle, Uber,
Lyft, or taxi to the Hershey Lodge. It will be approximately 20 to 30
minutes from the station.


  Family Feud Fundraiser

Thursday, November 5starting at 7 PM.



You are invited to form a team and join us for our Family Feud Fundraiser.
The entry fee is $10 per person, with a maximum of five people per team.
Prizes will be awarded to the winning team!

You can register for the Family Feud event <https://www.nfbofpa.org/feud/>
on our website.

Contact Pamela Baquero, President of the Pennsylvania Association of Blind
Merchants, at oneblindhippie at yahoo.com if you have further questions or
inquiries.


 Annual Auction

Friday, November 6starting at 7 PM.



We are seeking donations from chapters, divisions, businesses, and
individuals. Items may include gift baskets, event tickets, assistive
technology, gift cards, homemade baked goods, or other high-value items.
Contact Convention Chair David Goldstein at vp1 at nfbofpa.org for a donation
form if you wish to solicit donations from outside businesses and agencies.



Contact our Auctioneer Pamela Baquero, President of the Pennsylvania
Association of Blind Merchants, at oneblindhippie at yahoo.com with any
questions or concerns relating to the auction.


Door Prizes

We are also seeking donations for Door Prizes. These items include gift
cards, homemade items, candy, memorabilia, and small cash prizes. Door
prizes will be awarded during general sessions, the banquet, and the
business meeting.

Contact Convention Chair David Goldstein at vp1 at nfbofpa.org for a donation
form if you wish to solicit donations from outside businesses and agencies.



Contact Marva Hall, 1st Vice President of the Greater Philadelphia Chapter,
at marva at myyahoo.com with any questions or inquiries with door prizes.


Become an Exhibitor

Thursday, November 5, 2026 and Friday, November 6, 2026



We invite you to sign up as an exhibitor
<https://nfbofpa.org/civicrm/event/register?reset=1&id=7> at our State
Convention. This is a great opportunity to showcase your products and
services to blind and low-vision individuals, their families, and
professionals from across the state. Reserve your exhibitor space today and
be part of this exciting event.



Contact the following individuals with questions or inquiries relating to
the exhibit hall:

Stacie Leap, President of the Greater Philadelphia Chapter, at
stacie.leap at gmail.com

Denice Brown, President Emeritus of the Greater Philadelphia Chapter, at
dbrown8827 at aol.com


Volunteers Needed

If you have a spirit of service, we invite you to volunteer some of your
time at the convention. We are looking for people to fill various roles
including ambassadors, runners, tech support, as well as assisting with the
registration, door prizes, and fundraising efforts. Fill out the Volunteer
Form
<https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdpnjofpJv6n_n4Y0y_OXL3ahZsjTyRLcZLRNqwEoujl8wEog/viewform>
and
our Convention Chair will get back to you. The deadline to sign up to be a
volunteer is Friday, October 23, 2026.


Support us and sponsor!

Sponsorship opportunities are available for the 2026 NFB of PA State
Convention. All sponsors will be recognized in our Convention Agenda, which
is distributed to all attendees. We will also announce your support
throughout our events and on social media. Please contact our Convention
Chair David Goldstein at vp1 at nfbofpa.org for questions and inquiries.


Open Bar and Cash Bar

There will be an open bar at 6pm prior to Family Feud on Thursday, and
again before and during the

auction on Friday. A cash bar will be available before and during the
banquet on Saturday.


Convention Student Seminar

Friday, November 6, starting at 7PM



We invite all students visiting the convention to attend the Student
Seminar. This is a great way to network with other blind or low vision
students and get peer support and guidance throughout your educational
journey.

Contact Noor Khraisat, President of the Pennsylvania Association of Blind
Students, at students at nfbofpa.org  with further questions or inquiries.


Questions?

If you have any questions or concerns, please direct them to our Convention
Co-Chairs:

David Goldstein at vp1 at nfbofpa.org

Michelle McManus at mcmanus at nfbofpa.org



We look forward to seeing you in Hershey!



National Federation of the Blind of Pennsylvania

www.NFBOfPA.org



The National Federation of the Blind advances the lives of its members and
all blind people in the United States. We know 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. Our collective power, determination,
and diversity achieve the aspirations of all blind people.
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