[vendtalk] BLAST scholarships available and March 1 important date rapidly approaching

[Kevan Worley]

Greetings,

 

We've now added the well known environmental education program of training
and education from the Catamount Institute to our BLAST 09 curriculum. No
one knows green products, energy conservation, and a balanced approach to
these important issues of our time, like the Catamount Institute. This
year's BLAST training was already robust and expansive. We must not let the
tough economic times keep us from quality education or keep us from having a
good time, one more time at BLAST 09. The training from Sam's/Wal-Mart, the
Disney training, USPS, GSA, Blind Entrepreneurial Alliance, national star
LaDonna Gatlin, and the interactive and inspiring hands-on experience "Build
A Bike". Room rates are exceptionally low, $94/night plus tax. You can put
up to 4 people in your room. Help a business colleague or friend and bring
someone with you. Room reservation cut off date is March 1, 2009. At that
time, we will release rooms. They will then be available on a first come,
first serve basis. Please call the hotel and make your room reservations now
877-640-7666. Then write down your hotel reservation confirmation number.

 

Go directly to the website, www.blindmerchants.org
<http://www.blindmerchants.org/> , with your hotel confirmation number and
register. Do this before the end of this month. When you register before
March 1, you receive a $50 pre-registration discount. If you register before
March 1 and provide your hotel confirmation number before March 1, you will
save an additional $25. Total registration rate for the accelerated
education and networking, found only at BLAST, will be only $125. One of our
members has made some additional scholarship dollars available. One must go
to a person from Virginia, but there are 5 additional scholarships. Urge
friends and colleagues to apply for this assistance by calling our BLAST
hotline, 866-543-6808, ext 13. Someone will return your call. For states
paying by purchase order, you should also call that BLAST hotline and we
will return the call. 

 

You will note that we are not going to a vacation destination city. We are
supporting one of our Midwestern cities to help build jobs and bring
tourists. Indianapolis is a wonderful, inviting, vibrant, downtown area.
Great entertainment and food for you to enjoy. We are planning an
Indianapolis Speedway experience as part of our BLAST excitement.

 

Again this year, BLAST will kick off with a little something extra for those
who wish to partake. Participate in our Indianapolis picnic buffet event.
For only $35, join us for the transformation discussion luncheon just prior
to the BLAST 09 breakout sessions at 12:00pm, Wednesday, April 1. Cost is
$35. Register through the hotline or through the excursions page on the
website. You can also register and pay for the casino trip, on April 2, and
the post-BLAST winery education and luncheon on Saturday afternoon, April 4.


 

For those not wishing to purchase the extra luncheon or additional
excursions, the BLAST registration cost includes a lot for a little.
Remember the bountiful buffet at the welcoming reception. You get all of the
breakout training sessions and training materials, you will enjoy and be
inspired by the leadership breakfast. Our BLAST tradeshow is second to none
in the industry. Our Friday afternoon pinnacle luncheon will inform and
motivate.

 

This year's extreme BLAST 09 interactive exercise is called the Build A Bike
Program. You won't want to miss this can't miss team building experience on
Saturday morning, April 4. You will want to get out of your chairs, solve
the riddles, take on the challenges, build a bike, build a team. Then blind
merchants will present bicycles, which we the blind have built, to children
from a local community organization.

 

There are still other surprises to come. So come, have a BLAST! 

 

I urge state agencies to call for ideas about how they might gain funding
and support for staff and blind vendors. Everyone should check out the BLAST
agenda at www.blindmerchants.org <http://www.blindmerchants.org/>  or call
if you have questions, 866-543-6808, ext 13.

 

Please circulate this email. Please forward to others and encourage a group
from your state to be with us for the exciting Indy BLAST 09. 

 

Thank you. 

 

At Your Service, 

Kevan Worley

President

National Association of Blind Merchants

(866) 543-6808