[Tall-Corn] It's Finally Here - 2026 State Convention Agenda Enclosed!

[scott.nfbi at gmail.com]

Good Morning All:

Following up on Elizabeth’s note below, the agenda is also now available on NFB Newsline! Thanks!

 

 

From: Tall-Corn <tall-corn-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Elizabeth Rouse via Tall-Corn
Sent: Wednesday, October 7, 2026 8:00 AM
To: NFB of Iowa Internet Mailing List <tall-corn at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Elizabeth Rouse <elizabethrouse.nfb at gmail.com>
Subject: [Tall-Corn] It's Finally Here - 2026 State Convention Agenda Enclosed!

 

Good morning, Federation family and friends!

 

I am thrilled to be dropping in with a special delivery – the eagerly anticipated 2026 NFBI State Convention agenda! You can find a copy attached as well as pasted below for your convenience.

 

Thanks to all for their patience. We cannot wait to be with you in Coralville in just over 48 hours!

 

Yours,

Elizabeth

 



            


NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND OF IOWA


100th ANNUAL STATE CONVENTION


The Next 100 – Connected by Purpose, Driven by Progress


October 9–October 11, 2026


Holiday Inn & Kinnick Conference Center


1220 1st Avenue


Coralville, IA 52241


 

Helen Mejia, President

E-Mail: hmejia at nfbi.org <mailto:hmejia at nfbi.org> 

Cell: (570) 983-7867

Website:  <http://www.nfbi.org> www.nfbi.org

 

If you have questions or need assistance during the convention, contact Elizabeth Rouse at (563) 210-1854.

  


Sponsors & Exhibitors


 

Thank you to all the sponsors who contributed toward the costs of this year’s convention making it more affordable for blind Iowans to attend.

 

Silver Sponsor

Iowa Lions Foundation

 

Bronze Sponsor

Nicolet Bank

 

White Cane Sponsors

Democracy Live

En-Vision America

Greater Iowa Credit Union

Iable

JW.ORG <http://JW.ORG> 

Leader Dogs for the Blind

NanoPac, Inc.

Vanda Pharmaceuticals/Non-24

 


2025-2026 BOARD OF DIRECTORS 


 

Helen Mejia, President, Des Moines

Cindy Ray, First Vice President, Urbandale

Scott Van Gorp, Second Vice President, West Des Moines 

Richard Webb, Secretary, Burlington 

David Hammel, Treasurer, Urbandale

Becky Young, Board Member, Urbandale 

Elizabeth Rouse, Board Member, Durant

Karen Clayton, Board Member, Sioux City 

Shawn Mayo, Board Member, Des Moines

 


Committee Chairs


 

Karen Clayton: Audit

Elizabeth Rouse: Convention Planning

Becky Young & Donna Prime: Door Prize

____: Fundraising

Roger Erpelding: Legislative

Scott Van Gorp: Membership

Shawn Mayo: Nominating 

Elizabeth Rouse: Resolutions 

Emily Wharton: Scholarship

____: Youth Activities

 

Use the hashtag: #NFBIA2026  

Like us on Facebook: National Federation of the Blind of Iowa

Follow us on X: @NFB_Iowa

Sign up for the Tall-Corn mailing list to get our latest information at nfbnet.org <http://nfbnet.org> 


 


AGENDA


Friday, October 9, 2026


 

10:00 A.M.–3:15 P.M. & 4:00 P.M.–4:45 P.M. In-Person Registration & Online Registration Packet Pickup – Hall of Fame

10:00 A.M.–4:45 P.M.       Exhibit Hall – Hall of Fame

10:30 A.M. –12:00 P.M.    Seniors Seminar – Cindy Ray, Coordinator, NFBI Blind Seniors Group, Hospitality Suite 208

1:00 P.M. –3:00 P.M.         Parents of Blind Children Seminar – Molly Hefflefinger & Monica Rouse, Hospitality Suite 234

1:30 P.M.–3:30 P.M.           At Large Chapter Meeting – Cindy Ray, President, Hospitality Suite 208

3:30 P.M.–4:00 P.M.           Resolutions Committee Meeting (open to all) – Elizabeth Rouse, Chair, Resolutions Committee, Hospitality Suite 234

 


Friday General Session – Kinnick C/D


 

5:00 P.M.      Call to Order – Helen Mejia, President, NFBI

Pledge of Allegiance  

National Federation of the Blind Pledge

Housekeeping Items – Elizabeth Rouse, Chair, Convention Planning Committee

Welcoming Remarks from Our National Representative – Jim Marks, Board Member, NFB & President, NFBMT

5:20 P.M.      Membership Matters Most (panel) – Scott Van Gorp, Chair, Membership Committee 

5:50 P.M.      Meet the 2026 NFBI Scholarship Winner – Emily Wharton, Chair, Scholarship Committee

6:00 P.M.      Telling Our Story: NFBI Kernel Book Project – Barbara Hammel, Urbandale

6:15 P.M.      Break & Transition to Kinnick Center

6:30 P.M.      Invocation – Terri Wilcox, Des Moines

6:35 P.M.      Presidential Report – Helen Mejia, President, NFBI

7:00 P.M.      What Would You Like NFBI to Do? (discussion) – Enrique Mejia, Des Moines

7:20 P.M.      Accessible Tabletop Gaming – Emily Wharton, Des Moines & Scott Stevens, Cedar Rapids

8:00 P.M.      Adjourn

8:30 P.M. – 11:00 P.M.       Hospitality – Kinnick Center

Join us for a fun-filled night of connection as we meet with old and new friends from across the state. Cash bar available, brought to you by the Old Capitol Chapter.

 


Saturday, October 10, 2026


 

7:30 A.M.–8:45 A.M.         Final Opportunity for In-Person Registration & Online Registration Packet Pickup – Hall of Fame

7:30 A.M–8:45 A.M.          Exhibit Hall – Hall of Fame

 

8:00 A.M.      Breakfast – Kinnick Center

 


Saturday Morning General Session – Kinnick C/D


 

9:00 A.M.      Call to Order – Helen Mejia, President, NFBI

9:05 A.M.      The National Convention Experience – Bitrus Gwamna, Inaugural Winner, Nyla Wisecup Convention Scholarship

9:20 A.M.      Why My Friend Got Better Tech Than I Did – Enrique Mejia, Des Moines

9:45 A.M.      Expanding My Comfort Zone – Karly Prinds, Des Moines

10:10 A.M.   National Report – Jim Marks, Board Member, NFB & President, NFBMT

11:00 A.M.   Updates from the Iowa Department for the Blind (IDB) & Iowa Library for the Blind and Print Disabled – Sarah Willeford, Interim Director, IDB & Director, Iowa Library for the Blind & Print Disabled

12:00 P.M.    Adjourn

12:00 P.M.–1:45 P.M.        Final Opportunity for Exhibit Hall – Hall of Fame

12:30 P.M.–1:45 P.M.        Lunch – Kinnick Center

Keynote Presentation: Blind Entrepreneurship: Innovation in the Iowa Business Enterprises Program – Matt Nemmers, Executive Officer, IDB Business Enterprises Program

 


Saturday Afternoon General Session – Kinnick C/D


2:00 P.M.      Call to Order – Helen Mejia, President, NFBI

2:05 P.M.      What is the IDB Education & Training Team? – April Stots, IDB Education & Training Director

2:35 P.M.      Meet the New Orientation Center Director – Brianna Murray, Director, IDB Orientation Center

3:05 P.M.      Legislative Report – Roger Erpelding, Chair, Legislative Committee & Cindy Ray, Urbandale

3:35 P.M.      The 2026 Washington Seminar – Jonathan Ice, Cedar Rapids

3:50 P.M.      Traveling to New Places for Work – Felicia Burns, Des Moines

4:05 P.M.      Becoming a Writer – Emily Wharton, Des Moines

4:30 P.M.      Living the Life I Want: My Journey in Acquiring Nonvisual Skills – Elizabeth Rouse, Board Member, NFBI

5:00 P.M.      Adjourn

5:15 P.M.      Student Meet-Up – Kinnick C/D


7:00 P.M.      Annual Banquet – Kinnick Center


Master of Ceremonies – Enrique Mejia, Des Moines

Invocation – Cindy Ray, First Vice President, NFBI

Banquet Address – Jim Marks, Board Member, NFB & President, NFBMT

Preauthorized Contribution (PAC) Plan – Elizabeth Rouse, Coordinator, NFBI PAC Program

Awards & Drawings

 


Sunday, October 11, 2026


 


Affiliate Board Meeting & Business Session – Kinnick C/D


9:00 A.M.      Board Meeting

Call to Order & Determination of Quorum

Secretary’s Report

Treasurer’s Report

Old/New Business

Adjourn

9:15 A.M.      Business Session

Remembering the Ones We’ve Lost – Cindy Ray, First Vice President, NFBI

2025 Meeting Minutes – Richard Webb, Secretary, NFBI

Treasurer’s Report – David Hammel, Treasurer, NFBI

Audit Committee Report – Karen Clayton, Chair, Audit Committee

Resolutions Committee Report – Elizabeth Rouse, Chair, Resolutions Committee

Friends of the Library Report – Cindy Ray, President

Chapter & Group Reports

                        At Large Chapter – Cindy Ray, President

                        Des Moines Chapter – Becky Young, President

                        Old Capitol Chapter – Darrel Kirby, President

                        Siouxland Chapter – Karen Clayton, Treasurer

                        Southeast Iowa Chapter – Richard Webb, President

Blind Parents Group – Terri Wilcox, Coordinator

Blind Seniors Group – Cindy Ray, Coordinator

Blind Students Group – Enrique Mejia, Coordinator

NFB Newsline Report – Scott Van Gorp, Coordinator

Nominating Committee Report – Shawn Mayo, Chair, Nominating Committee

                        Election of Officers & Board Members

Election of Delegate & Alternate Delegate to the 2027 National Convention

Old Business

New Business

Final Remarks

Jim Marks, Board Member, NFB & President, NFBMT

Helen Mejia, President, NFBI

12:00 P.M.    Adjourn

 


Convention Notes:


 

Be sure to visit our sponsors and exhibitors and thank them for supporting the National Federation of the Blind of Iowa! Stop by registration first to grab your exhibitor sheet, then visit them all for a chance to win a cash prize!

Need a dog relief area? When facing the elevators, use the exit door to your right. Head straight outside a short distance, and you’ll find the relief area. Please remember to clean up after your dog and help keep the area clean for everyone!

Exciting door prizes will be drawn throughout general sessions, the banquet, and the business session! If you haven’t sent your door prize ahead of time, please bring it to convention and give it to one of our Door Prize Committee Chairs, Becky Young or Donna Prime.

Got a sweet tooth? You’re in for a treat! Our Baked Goods Auction will be sprinkled throughout the sessions, so be sure to bring your appetite—and your bidding game! If you’re planning to bring a baked good, please let Elizabeth Rouse know. It’s sure to be a deliciously good time!

 


Sponsor Ad:


 




 


Inclusivity, Diversity, & Code of Conduct


Thank you for cultivating an atmosphere of mutual respect where attendees can learn, network, and share with each other. The National Federation of the Blind of Iowa is committed to diversity, equity, and the free expression of ideas as outlined in our Code of Conduct. We recognize a shared responsibility to create and uphold that atmosphere.

Prohibited behaviors, such as harassment, retaliation, and sexual misconduct, will not be tolerated and may result in removal from the convention and/or other consequences. To report an incident at the convention, please contact President Helen Mejia at (570) 983-7867. 

The full Code of Conduct and resources are at  <http://nfb.org/codeofconduct> nfb.org/codeofconduct.

 


Dream Makers Circle


You can help build a future of opportunity for the blind by becoming a member of our Dream Makers Circle (DMC.) It is easier than you think. You can visit your bank and convert an account to a payable on death (P.O.D.) bank account, which is payable after your passing to the National Federation of the Blind or one of our affiliates. Your legacy gift to the National Federation of the Blind or the National Federation of the Blind of Iowa can be made in the form of a will or living trust, an income generating gift, or by naming us as the beneficiary of a retirement plan, IRA, pension, or a life insurance policy. You can designate a specific amount, a percentage, or list the NFB as one of several beneficiaries. For additional information, please contact Patti Chang at (410) 659-9314, extension 2422 or at  <mailto:pchang at nfb.org> pchang at nfb.org.

 


Vehicle Donations


The National Federation of the Blind uses car donations to improve the education of blind children, distribute free white canes, help veterans, and so much more. We have partnered with Vehicles for Charity to process donated vehicles. Please call toll-free (855) 659-9314, and a representative can make arrangements, or you can donate online by visiting  <http://www.nfb.org/vehicledonations> https://nfb.org/vehicledonations.

 


Preauthorized Contributions 


Can you help the National Federation of the Blind on a regular basis? Please consider joining our preauthorized contribution (PAC) plan. Starting at $5 monthly, you can help us turn dreams into reality and raise expectations. Call (877) 632-2722, visit:  <https://nfb.org/pac> https://nfb.org/pac to fill out the online form, or email  <mailto:pac at nfb.org> pac at nfb.org for additional information.

 


Mission of the National Federation of the Blind of Iowa


The National Federation of the Blind of Iowa 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.

 


The National Federation of the Blind Pledge


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.

 

Elizabeth Rouse (she/her/hers)

Secretary, Old Capitol Chapter

Board Member, National Federation of the Blind of Iowa

 <mailto:Elizabethrouse.nfb at gmail.com> Elizabethrouse.nfb at gmail.com

 <http://www.nfbi.org> www.nfbi.org

Live the life you want.

 

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