[vendtalk] FW: BEA Fly In Alert

Wed Apr 29 12:13:56 UTC 2009

Hi, I agree that we all as operators should be in DC for this event: I will 
personally circulate this message to all operators in Pennsylvania: If we 
don't stand up together nothing but bad things will happen: the RSA is our 
core of life... Thanks
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Kevan Worley" <kevanworley at blindmerchants.org>
To: "'Vendor Talk Mailing List'" <vendtalk at nfbnet.org>; "'Whalen, Dan'" 
<Dan.Whalen at state.co.us>; "'Joel Pavelis'" <Joel.Pavelis at state.co.us>; 
"'Jody Fitzsimmons'" <Jody.Fitzsimmons at state.co.us>; "'Tim Poole'" 
<Tim.Poole at state.co.us>; <al at a1foodservice.com>; <crazyog at peoplepc.com>; 
<DhrrJo at aol.com>; <done.hudson at att.net>; <hickey3131 at comcast.net>; 
<hnlhoover at acsol.net>; <jackriley07 at hotmail.com>; <Jdmakers at aol.com>; 
<kevanworley at blindmerchants.org>; <pdolphins at hotmail.com>; 
<ppichardo at adelphia.net>; <rick_penny59 at msn.com>; 
<rotweilers2007 at comcast.net>; <srightsell at juno.com>; 
<stevedmasters at aol.com>; <tattoad at msn.com>; <vendcrew at msn.com>; 
<wsclinton at peakpeak.com>
Sent: Tuesday, April 28, 2009 10:48 AM
Subject: [vendtalk] FW: BEA Fly In Alert


>  _____
>
> From: Terry Smith [mailto:Terry.Smith at tn.gov]
> Sent: Monday, April 27, 2009 2:06 PM
> To: mbrunson at acb.org; Allen Tharp; Eugene Breaud; 'John Jones';
> rkvend at aol.com; AB Swanson; Don Hudson; Robert Humphreys; Charles Glazer;
> Donald Johnson; 'Ernie Sledge'; Michael Lee; Joe Blackstone;
> kevanworley at blindmerchants.org; Shelly Martin; Harry Eberle; Jody Shaw;
> Robert Ott; Ron Oxley; Raymond E. Hopkins; vdesantis at dhs.state.nj.us; Jim 
> Ed
> Rice; 'Bill Spencer'; Allen Harris; 'Roland Marshall'; 'Harvey Johnson';
> Skipp Styron; Virgil; kim m venable; Catriona Macdonald; Patrick Cannon; 
> Sue
> Luzenski; Nick Gacos; J McCarthy; John Pare, Jr.; Anna DeSantis; Mark
> Harris; cantuserv at sbcglogal.net; fredric schroeder; Mike Barclay; Peter
> Nolan; Arch Kielly; Dennis Donnelly
> Cc: swhalen at linchpinstrategies.com; bep_state_directors at ncsab.org
> Subject: BEA Fly In Alert
>
>
>
> Dear BEA Members:
>
>
>
> We will be discussing the May BEA Fly In on our call this Friday but I
> wanted to get some information out before then.  I am very concerned about
> the number of blind entrepreneurs who plan to participate in this event.
> Few have reserved hotel rooms and only a hand full have contacted Sean
> Whalen in Catriona's office about setting up meetings with their members 
> of
> Congress.  This is very concerning on two fronts.
>
>
>
> First, we need to show Congress how important Randolph Sheppard is to the
> blind community.  If we only have a dozen blind entrepreneurs participate,
> it will send the wrong message to Congress.  The White House is aware of 
> the
> fly in and will be observing.  We don't know where this Administration
> stands on Randolph Sheppard or categorical services in general.  If they 
> see
> few blind entrepreneurs on The Hill those two days, it could signal a lack
> of support for the program.  We need 100+ blind entrepreneurs on The Hill
> those two days and it starts with you.
>
>
>
> Secondly, the BEA as an organization has committed to a block of rooms at
> the hotel.  If we do not meet our room commitment, we stand to lose
> thousands of dollars which is money we cannot afford.  We realize that the
> room costs are high but all rooms in the D.C. area are expensive. 
> Catriona
> and her staff are still working with the hotel to get a better rate but we
> are not optimistic.  We understand some of you are planning on coming but
> staying elsewhere.  We can appreciate the logic for doing that but here
> again it creates a real problem for the BEA which is committed to rooms at
> the Washington Court Hotel.  Plus, it is helpful from a communication
> standpoint that everyone be at the same hotel.  Call the Washington Court
> Hotel today to make your hotel reservation.  The hotel is located right at
> Capitol Hill at 525 New Jersey Avenue, NW and the telephone number is
> 202-628-2100.  Let's try to have at least 40 rooms booked by the Friday 
> when
> we have our call.
>
>
>
> It is also imperative that you let Sean Whalen in Catriona's office know
> that you are coming.  He can set up meetings with your members of Congress
> for you.  Even if you are setting up your own meetings which some of you 
> may
> be doing, Sean needs to know that you will be there.  There will be two
> luncheons and we need an accurate count of attendees to ensure there is
> enough food for everyone.
>
>
>
> I have heard some say they weren't sure about the schedule of events.  The
> schedule is as follows:
>
>
>
> Wednesday, May 20th -- Entrepreneurs arrive in Washington, DC.  Room block
> has been reserved at the Washington Court Hotel on New Jersey Avenue, two
> blocks from the Capitol Building.
>
>
>
> Thursday, May 21st,
>
>
>
> 8:30 AM - 11:00 AM - Training, update on Randolph-Sheppard policy and
> legislation, review of talking points, distribution of materials to be
> handed out at meetings
>
>
>
> 11:00 AM - Move to Capitol Hill for Senate briefing
>
> -
>
> 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM - Senate staff luncheon briefing
>
>
>
> 1:15 PM - 5:00 PM  -  Meetings with Congressional delegations and
> Administration officials, scheduled by the BEA
>
>
>
> Friday, May 22nd
>
>
>
> 8:30 AM - BEA check-in at hotel; move to Capitol Hill
>
>
>
> 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM - Meetings with Congressional delegations and
> Administration officials scheduled by the BEA
>
>
>
> 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM - House staff luncheon briefing
>
>
>
> 1:15 PM - 3:00 PM - Meetings with Congressional delegations and
> Administration officials scheduled by the BEA
>
>
>
> 3:30 PM - Depart Capitol Hill.
>
>
>
> I cannot over emphasize the importance of this Fly In.  We are picking up
> some disturbing signals out of D.C. and we need to be pro-active if we 
> want
> to preserve the Randolph Sheppard Program as we know it.  Make plans now 
> to
> be there and be a part of history - the first ever Randolph Sheppard Day 
> on
> the Hill.
>
>
>
> PLEASE CIRCULATE THIS TO ALL OF YOUR MEMBERS AND AS MANY BLIND VENDORS AS
> POSSIBLE.
>
>
>
> Thanks!
>
> Terry C. Smith, Facilitator
>
> BEA
>
> _______________________________________________
> vendtalk mailing list
> vendtalk at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/vendtalk_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
> vendtalk:
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/vendtalk_nfbnet.org/eloheem11%40verizon.net