<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><div dir="auto" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><div dir="auto" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><div dir="auto" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><div dir="auto" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><div dir="auto" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><div dir="auto" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><div dir="auto" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><div dir="auto" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><div dir="auto" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><div dir="auto" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><div dir="auto" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><div dir="auto" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><div dir="auto" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;">NFBI Family,</div><div dir="auto" style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><div><br></div><div>While we are all making plans to attend the 2025 Convention, it is already time to start planning for our 2026 Convention. 2026 will be our 100th convention, and we want to make it a memorable one.</div><div><br></div><div>Some of you have asked about considering hotels and locations for state convention aside from the Holiday Inn we have been using in Urbandale. I think it is always helpful to explore our options and see if we can find something we like better. This will take a collaborative effort though, as contacting hotels and figuring out what might work takes time. As a result, we are seeking proposals for specific hotels where you would like to hold the 2026 NFBI state convention. If you want to submit a proposal, please read all the below information. If you just send me the name of a hotel you like, we will not be able to consider it. We need enough information to know if a hotel is at least a viable option before we spend significant energy working on the details.</div><div><br></div><div>Proposals are due by December 31, no exceptions. Email them to me; I will confirm I have received them.</div><div><br></div><div>Your proposal must include the following; additional information is welcome:</div><div>Name of proposed hotel:</div><div>Address of hotel:</div><div>Name of specific person at the hotel with whom we can follow up:</div><div><div style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Phone number of specific person at the hotel with whom we can follow up:</div><div><div style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Email address of specific person at the hotel with whom we can follow up:</div></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">What weekends between Labor Day and Thanksgiving is the hotel currently available?</div><div style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">What is a rough price range for the cost of a standard room per night that the hotel could offer us, understanding that this rate may vary depending on the other terms of our contract?</div><div>Attach a copy of the current catering menu.</div><div><br></div><div>Key Information you will need when contacting hotels</div><div>The convention must take place between Labor Day and Veterans\u2019 Day 2026.</div><div>We anticipate having 60-100 attendees.</div><div>We require on-site catering for a meal Friday evening and 2-3 meals Saturday; specifics TBD.</div><div><div style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">We require a meeting room that can seat 75-100 people; seating arrangements flexible.</div><div style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">We will also likely need 2-3 small meeting rooms for breakout sessions: maximum 25 people each.</div></div><div>We will need 10-30 sleeping rooms for each of Friday and Saturday night; this may vary significantly depending on where in the state we hold the convention. </div><div><br></div><div>Thank you all,</div><div>Helen</div><div>
<meta charset="UTF-8"><div dir="auto" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration: none; overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><div>Helen Mejia, President</div>National Federation of the Blind<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>of Iowa<br>hmejia@nfbi.org<br>(570) 983-7867</div>
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