<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;">Hi All,<div>Below is the info I shared in August. As a reminder, I must receive proposals by December 31 to be able to consider them as we will be finalizing our hotel as soon as possible after the first of the year.</div><div>---<br><div><div><div 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;"><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);">Phone number of specific person at the hotel with whom we can follow up:</div><div><div style="caret-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);">What weekends between Labor Day and Thanksgiving is the hotel currently available?</div><div style="caret-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);">We require a meeting room that can seat 75-100 people; seating arrangements flexible.</div><div style="caret-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); 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>
</div>
<br></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br></div></body></html>