[Nfbv-announce] NFBV Convention - Top Reasons Adults Should Attend - nov 7-9

Mon Oct 13 17:54:01 UTC 2014

Every year, the NFB of Virginia Convention offers great programming,
phenomenal networking, and strong fellowship. We will be highlighting some
of the programs over the coming week. 

Here are a few highlights:
Attend n				e of our Friday Seminars
•	Hear what hiring managers are seeking in candidates then practice
your interview skills with a 30 minute interview. Reservations required. 
•	Learn how Social Media can help you grow your career, build your
network and advance our mission 
•	Learn about the most useful accessible Apps to expand how you use
your mobile device
•	Visit the many exhibitors sharing the latest assistive technology 

Come to our Friday evening One - on - One Hands on Workshop: Apple Products,
tips & tricks for using Voiceover and useful Apps

On Saturday and Sunday:
•	Learn how employers are making it possible to secure and succeed in
your next job
•	Learn from positive blind role models on how they obtained their
first jobs as teens and how these experienced shaped their future
•	Learn about your options for blindness skills training.
•	Attend our Vocational Rehabilitation Focused lunch, thriving in a
Changing World: How Good Training, the Right Attitude and Great Mentors can
Change Your Life. This luncheon will explain vocational rehabilitation
options and answer frequently asked questions. 

The National Federation of the Blind of Virginia convention combines
excellent networking with positive blind role models, fellowship with old
and new friends across the Commonwealth, and some of the best presentations
on topics important to the blind of Virginia
The complete agenda is listed at the bottom of this message.

Details on convention registration and hotel reservations can be found
below.

The 2014 Convention of the National Federation of the Blind of Virginia will
be held November 7 through 9, 2014 at the Crowne Plaza Hampton Marina,
located at 700 Settlers Landing Road, Hampton, Virginia 23669.  To make
hotel reservations, call the hotel directly at (866) 727-9990 or (757)
727-9700.  Special room rates have been negotiated for registered convention
attendees.  When you call the hotel, make sure to tell them that you are
attending the convention so that you will receive the special convention
rate.  The deadline to make hotel reservations is October 20, 2014.  After
the deadline, there is no guarantee that you will get a room at the
convention hotel.

Child care is available to the children of registered convention attendees
(ages infant through 5th grade) during 4 sessions of convention.  These
sessions are:

Session 1  Friday evening 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm

Session 2  Saturday morning 8:45 am to 12:15 pm

Session 3  Saturday afternoon 12:15 pm to 5:15 pm

Session 4  Saturday evening 6:45 pm to ½ hour after banquet adjournment

Snacks will be provided during Session 2 and Session 3.  Even though child
care will be open and fully staffed during lunch on Saturday, lunch will not
be provided.  Parents should either pick their child up for lunch at the end
of Session 2 or provide a lunch for their child to eat in the child care
room.  Also, dinner will not be provided on Saturday evening.  Parents
should feed their child dinner prior to bringing them to Session 4.  The
cost of child care is $5 per family per session.  If you need more
information, please contact Michael Kasey at (540) 760-3885 or
michaelgkasey at verizon.net.  Please indicate the number of children per
session on the Convention Pre Registration Form.

On Saturday, there will be a luncheon on Vocational Rehabilitation training
options, luncheons for the Students Division,  the Parents Division, a new
Seniors division, and blind Veterans.  Box lunches should be purchased if
you plan to attend one of these luncheons.

On Saturday, box lunches will be available for a cost of $16.50 if purchased
in advance on the convention pre-registration form.  Box lunches can only be
guaranteed for those purchased on the convention pre-registration form.  A
limited number may be available for purchase at the convention.
To register for the convention, please visit www.nfbv.org, call toll free
(800) 838-3006 or 
complete the attached Convention Pre Registration Form and mail it with
payment included to:

NFB of Virginia
3230 Grove Avenue
Richmond, VA  23221

The complete agenda can be found below.

2014 State Convention Agenda

56th ANNUAL CONVENTION

NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND OF VIRGINIA

Voice of the Nation’s Blind

Fredric Schroeder, President

November 7 - 9, 2014

Crowne Plaza Hampton Marina

700 Settlers Landing Road

Hampton, VA 23669  

HAMPTON, VA 23669 

757 - 727 - 9700

866 - 727 - 9990

 <http://www.cphamptonmarina.com> www.cphamptonmarina.com

Hosted by the Peninsula Chapter of the 

National Federation of the Blind of Virginia 

Natasha Hubbard, President

THE FEDERATION 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.”

Convention Registration 

Convention Registration will be held in the Coat Check Room, located in the
meeting room area, 1st floor at the end of the hallway. The cost of onsite
registration is $25.00. Registration will be open on Friday, November 7,
from 12:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M. and on Saturday, November 8, from 8:00 A.M. to
10:00 A.M. and from 1:00 P.M. to 2:00 P.M. Door prizes and auction items can
be brought to the registration desk beginning on Friday morning. 

Meal Functions 

Tickets for all meal functions are available at the registration desk.
Banquet and Box Lunch Tickets must be purchased by 10:00 A.M. on Saturday,
November 8. 

Banquet: Banquet tickets may be purchased onsite for $35.00.

Box Lunch: Box lunch tickets may be purchased onsite for $16.50. There are
only a limited number of box lunches available for sale for those who did
not preorder. 

Note: For more information about registration or meal functions, please
contact Michael Kasey at (540) 760 - 3885.

Door Prizes

Door prizes will be drawn periodically throughout convention sessions on
Saturday and Sunday and at the banquet. To be eligible for door prizes, you
must be registered for the convention and present in the room when your name
is called.

Action Auction

Throughout the convention we will be holding an Action Auction to raise
money for the affiliate. The auction will be great fun with many valuable
items up for bid. You will have a chance to preview auction items on Friday
afternoon in the exhibit area. For more information contact Jacki Brown,
Chairperson and Auctioneer.

Contact Table

If you need assistance from the NFB OF VIRGINIA (such as helping a blind
child get a good education, help getting access to blindness skills
training, or help resolving an employment discrimination problem), please go
to the Contact Table. After the convention, a member of the NFB OF VIRGINIA
will contact you. In addition, if you would like to sign up to receive any
of our publications or would like to get regular updates about our programs
and legislative efforts, please also visit the Contact Table. The table will
be open during the board meeting, after the opening ceremonies on Saturday,
at the end of the banquet, and all morning Sunday. For more information,
please contact Kierra Davis, Contact Table Coordinator.

Youth Track

Youth Track is coordinated by the Virginia Association of Blind Students and
will run parallel to the main convention program. The Youth Track will:
connect students with positive role models and peers throughout the state;
challenge students to think about themselves and their role in the civil
rights movement; introduce students to our positive NFB philosophy on
blindness; educate students about their choices for blindness skills
training; and put these new experiences to work through a travel activity
outside the convention hotel. For more information please contact Tracy
Soforenko at (202) 285 – 4595

Childcare

Childcare will be available for infants through fifth graders on Friday
evening and throughout the day on Saturday. Childcare will be located in the
Executive Suite, room 823. We will have activities and games for the
children. 

Childcare will be offered at the following times:

Session 1 Friday evening 6:00 P.M. to 10:00 P.M.

Session 2 Saturday morning 8:45 A.M. to 12:15 P.M.

Session 3 Saturday afternoon 12:15 P.M. to 5:15 P.M.

Session 4 Saturday evening 6:45 P.M. to ½ hour after the banquet adjourns 

Snacks will be provided during Session 2 and Session 3. Even though
Childcare will be open and fully staffed during lunch on Saturday, lunch
will not be provided. Parents should either pick their children up for lunch
at the end of Session 2 or provide a lunch for their children to eat in the
Childcare room. Also, dinner will not be provided on Saturday evening.
Parents should feed their children dinner prior to bringing them to Session
4. The cost of Childcare is $5 per family per session. 

Assistive Listening Devices

A limited number of assistive listening devices are available during all
convention sessions and at the banquet. For an assistive listening device,
please go to the registration desk located in the Coat Check Room.

Friday, November 7, 2014

9:00 A.M. - 11:30 A.M. NFB OF VIRGINIA Board of Directors Meeting (Open to
All): Ballroom A

12:00 P.M. - 9:00 P.M. Registration: Coat Check Room

12:00 P.M. - 5:00 P.M. Exhibits: Peninsula Room (located next to convention
registration)

1:00 P.M. - 2:15 P.M. What are Employers Really Looking for? Ballroom B

Carrie Schroeder, Human Resources Manager, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

This seminar will discuss job seeking from the perspective of the employer.
Come prepared to learn what employers look for in interviews. Following the
seminar, you will have the opportunity to participate in a private mock
interview with an experienced human resources professional. If you wish to
have a private session, come dressed for an interview, bring your resume and
be ready for genuine, helpful feedback. 

Note: To insure you have a slot for a mock interview, please schedule in
advance by contacting Carrie Schroeder at carrie.schroeder at us.pwc.com

1:00 P.M. – 2:15 P.M. Getting More Out of Your Smartphone: Ballroom C

This seminar will discuss the latest In useful Apple apps used for the blind
– ride sharing, the KNFB Reader, public transit tools, and many more. 

2:30 P.M. – 3:30 P.M. Legislative Leadership Seminar: Ballroom B

Learn how you can become a leader in advancing our mission through advocacy.
Learn from experienced Federationists on how you can advance our mission on
the local, state and national levels.

2:30 P.M. – 3:30 P.M. Social Media: Why Should You be using it? Ballroom C

In this seminar, you will learn why social media is essential for today’s
jobs, how to make it work for blind people, and how it can advance our
mission.

3:45 P.M. – 4:45 P.M. Unified English Braille (UEB) Seminar: Ballroom B

Sandy Halverson, Presenter

UEB will be here before you know it. This seminar will explain the
differences you will see when the UEB is implemented in 2016

3:45 P.M. – 4:45 P.M. Building an Advocacy Corps: Ballroom C

     Stewart Prost, NFB of Virginia Vocational Rehabilitation Advocate

If you understand the vocational rehabilitation system, your fellow blind
Virginians need your help. Together, we can help people understand the
choices and process for obtaining the services they need to live full and
productive lives.

5:00 P.M. - 6:00 P.M. Public Meeting on Rehabilitation Services: Ballroom C

Susan Payne, VR Director, Virginia Department for the Blind and Vision
Impaired

6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. At - Large Chapter Reception: Presidential suite, Room
924

Rick Holly, Chairperson, At - Large Chapter

7:00 P.M. - 10:00 P.M. Hospitality: Ballroom A

Hosted by the Peninsula Chapter

7:00 P.M. - 8:15 P.M. Student Hospitality: Chesapeake Room (2nd floor)

Tracy Soforenko, Coordinator 

7:00 P.M. – 8:30 P.M. Braille Carnival: Peninsula Room

Nancy Yeager, Coordinator

7:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M. Seminar for Chapter Presidents and Treasurers:
Ballroom C

Charles Brown & Mark Roane, Coordinators

8:00 P.M. - 9:00 P.M. Resolutions Committee: Ballroom B

Jennifer Shields, Chairperson

8:30 P.M. – 10:00 P.M. One - on - One Hands on Workshop: Apple Products,
Tips & Tricks for using Voiceover and Useful Apps: Ballroom C

This will be a drop in session with four tables and four trainers.

Table 1 - New to Voice Over: Trainers will work with people who are new to
Apple devices, including how to configure a device and establish the
settings.

Table 2 - Basic Apps: Trainers will help with core Apple applications such
as mail, phone, calendar, and camera.

Table 3 - Specific Applications: Training on GPS apps, the KNFB Reader
Mobile, ride sharing, Tap Tap See, Bard and NFB Newsline.

Table 4 - Low Vision: How to use low vision resources on your device.

9:00 P.M. - 10:00 P.M. Virginia Association to Promote the Use of Braille:
Peninsula Room

Nancy Yeager, President

Saturday, November 8, 2014

8:00 A.M. - 10:00 A.M. Registration: Coat Check Room

General Session: Ballroom A

9:00 A.M. - 9:30 A.M. Opening Ceremonies

Call to Order: Fredric Schroeder, President, NFB of Virginia

Invocation: 

Presentation of the Colors: 

Pledge of Allegiance:

Federation Pledge:

Greetings from Our Host Chapter: Natasha Hubbard, President, NFB OF
VIRGINIA, Peninsula Chapter

Convention Arrangements: Michael Kasey, Chairperson, Convention Organization
and Arrangements

9:30 A.M. - 9:45 A.M. The Congress Is On Our Side

The Honorable Robert “Bobby” C. Scott Member of the U.S. House of
Representatives, 3rd Congressional District of Virginia (invited)

9:45 A.M. – 9:50 A.M. Action Auction

9:50 A.M. - 10:30 A.M. National Report

Gary Wunder, Editor, The Braille Monitor; and President, National Federation
of the Blind of Missouri

10:30 A.M. - 10:35 A.M. Action Auction

10:35 A.M. - 10:55 A.M. What Blind Children and Youth Need to be Successful
Adults

Garrick Scott, President, National Federation of the Blind of Georgia

10:55 A.M. – 12:00 P.M. Youth Track

Tracy Soforenko, Coordinator

7th grade and younger: Peninsula Room

8th grade and older: Chesapeake Room (2nd floor)

10:55 A.M. - 11:15 A.M. BELL: Early Literacy, A Lifetime of Possibilities

Sandy Halverson, BELL Program Coordinator 

11:15 A.M. - 11:20 A.M. Action Auction

11:20 A.M. - 11:40 A.M. Vocational Rehabilitation Services for the Blind in
Virginia

Raymond Hopkins, Commissioner, Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired

11:40 A.M. – 12:00 P.M. The Virginia Rehabilitation Center for the Blind and
Vision Impaired: 

>From Revolving Door Rehabilitation To Escalators To Success

Melody Roane, Director, Virginia Rehabilitation Center for the Blind and
Vision

Impaired (VRCBVI);

Bryan Baldwin, Student, VRCBVI; and

Jerry Anderson, Student, VRCBVI

12:00 P.M. Noon Recess

12:05 P.M. - 12:15 P.M. Box Lunch Pickup: Coat Check room

12:15 P.M. – 1:45 P.M. Virginia Association of Blind Veterans Organizing
Meeting and Luncheon: Presidential Suite, Room 924

Roy Murphy, Organizing Committee chairperson.

12:15 P.M. - 1:45 P.M. NFB of Virginia Blind Seniors Division Luncheon and
Business Meeting: Hampton University Board Room (9th floor)

Nancy Yeager, Division Coordinator (Box Lunch - $16.50)

12:15 P.M. - 1:45 P.M. Virginia Association of Blind Students Luncheon and
Business Meeting: Chesapeake Room 

Sarah Patnaude, President (Box Lunch - $16.50) 

12:15 P.M. - 1:45 P.M. Virginia Parents of Blind Children Luncheon and
Business Meeting: Ballroom C 

Theresa Willis, President, and Sandy Halverson, NFB OF VIRGINIA Parent
Liaison (Box lunch - $16.50)

12:15 P.M. – 1:45 P.M. Virginia Association of Blind Veterans Organizing
Meeting: Presidential Suite, Room 924

Roy Murphy, Organizing Committee chairperson

1:00 P.M. - 2:00 P.M. Registration: Coat Check Room

Afternoon General Session: Ballroom A

2:00 P.M. - 2:20 P.M. Why I Am a Federationist

Tracy Soforenko, Second Vice President, NFB of Virginia

2:20 P.M. - 2:40 P.M. Lifetime Change in 6 Days: Reflections from Virginia’s
2014 McDonald Fellows and Kenneth Jernigan Convention Scholarship Fund
Winners

Moderator: Tracy Soforenko, Chairperson, McDonald Fellowship Committee and
NFB OF VIRGINIA Liaison, Kenneth Jernigan Convention Scholarship Fund
Committee

Panelists: Edie Parker and Roy Murphy

2:40 P.M. – 3:00 P.M. Blind Teens: Why Work Experience Matters: A Panel
Presentation

Moderator: Tracy Soforenko

Panelist: Jennifer Kennedy, Working as a Counselor at a Christian Summer
Camp;

Jessica Reed, Working at a Swim Club and as an Intern at the CIA; and

Daniel Ashman, Finding Employers to Provide Unpaid Internships for VRCBVI
Life Program Participants

3:00 P.M. - 3:05 P.M. Action Auction

3:00 P.M. – 4:30 P.M. Youth Track

Tracy Soforenko, Coordinator

7th grade and younger: Chesapeake room

8th grade and older: Peninsula Room (2nd floor)

3:05 P.M. - 3:25 P.M. Opportunities under New Rules for Federal Contractors
and How a Progressive Employer is Meeting the Challenge of Hiring People
with Disabilities

David J. Shaffer, Accessibility Policy Officer, Office of ADA Policy and
Planning; and Ethel Roy, Director of Talent Acquisition, Washington
Metropolitan Area Transit Authority

3:25 P.M. – 3:40 P.M. Employment of Individuals with Disabilities:
Opportunities within the Federal Service

Olegario "Ollie" D. Cantos VII, Esq., Special Counsel, Office of the
Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education (invited)

3:40 P.M. – 3:45 P.M. Action Auction

3:45 P.M. – 4:25 P.M. Game Changing Technology

Ride Sharing: Kandace Haney, Member, NFB of Virginia, At-Large Chapter

Accessible GPS Applications : Maurice Peret, Orientation and Mobility
Instructor, Blind Industries and Services of Maryland

The KNFB Reader App: Cathy Schroeder, Webmaster, NFB of Virginia

NFB Newsline ® App: John Halverson, NFB of Virginia, Newsline ® Coordinator

NLS BARD: Natasha Hubbard, President, NFB OF VIRGINIA Peninsula chapter

4:25 P.M. - 4:30 P.M. Action Auction

4:30 P.M. - 5:00 P.M. Presidential Report Fredric Schroeder, President, NFB
of Virginia

5:00 P.M. Adjourn Afternoon General Session

6:00 P.M. - 7:00 P.M. Pre - Banquet Reception (Cash Bar): Grand Ballroom
Foyer

7:00 P.M. - 10:00 P.M. 2014 Convention Banquet: Grand Ballroom

Banquet Program

Master of Ceremonies: Charles Brown, Immediate Past President, NFB of
Virginia

Invocation:

2014 James F. Nelson Scholarship Awards Presentation: Jennifer Kennedy,
Chairperson, Scholarship Committee

Banquet Address: Gary Wunder, Editor, The Braille Monitor; and President,
National Federation of the Blind of Missouri

Action Auction: Jacki Brown, Chairperson and Auctioneer

10:00 P.M. – 12:00 A.M. After Banquet Activity: Grand Ballroom

Sunday, November 9, 2014

8:00 A.M. - 8:50 A.M. Devotions: Hampton University Board Room (9th floor)

9:00 A.M. - 11:30 A.M. Youth Track: Chesapeake Room (2nd floor)

Tracy Soforenko, Coordinator

General Session: Ballroom A

9:00 A.M. - 9:05 A.M. Invocation

9:05 A.M. - 9:30 A.M. Cane Tips:

Sean McMahon: Using the Washington Metro

Jennifer Kennedy: Traveling without sidewalks

Brian Miller: Traveling abroad 

9:30 A.M. - 9:45 A.M. Fair Wages for Workers with Disabilities Act:
“Demonstrating” our Views

Sarah Patnaude, President, Virginia Association of Blind Students

9:45 A.M. – 10:00 A.M. 75 Days of Action: Where Do We Go From Here?

Sandy Halverson, NFB of Virginia 75 Days of Action Coordinator

10:00 A.M. - 12:00 P.M. Business Session

Audit Committee Report: Michael Kasey, Chairperson

Treasurer’s Report: Mark Roane, Treasurer

SUN Committee Report: Sandy Halverson, Chairperson

2015 Richmond Seminar: Michael Kasey and Tracy Soforenko

2015 National Convention 

2015 NFB OF VIRGINIA Convention: Westin Tysons Corner, Falls Church, October
30-November 1, 2015

Resolutions: Jennifer Shields, Chairperson

Nominating Committee Report: Charles Brown, Chairperson

Elections

Old and New Business

Report of Youth Track Activities: Tracy Soforenko, Coordinator

Closing Remarks: Fredric Schroeder, President, NFB of Virginia

12:00 P.M. Adjourn

Thank you to our Peninsula Chapter for hosting the 2014 NFB OF VIRGINIA
State Convention. Your hospitality made us feel like family and it made the
convention one of our best ever.

Help build a future full of opportunity for the blind by becoming a member
of the Jacobus tenBroek Legacy Society. Your legacy gift to the National
Federation of the Blind can be made in the form of a will or living trust,
an income - generating gift, or by naming the NFB as a beneficiary of a
retirement plan or life insurance policy. You can also become a member of
the Jacobus tenBroek Legacy Society by making a legacy gift to your state
affiliate. By committing to support an NFB affiliate, your gift will benefit
both local and national programs as all bequests made to affiliates are
split evenly with the NFB national treasury. In addition to having the
satisfaction of contributing to the future success of the NFB's mission,
tenBroek legacy society members will also receive a specially designed thank
you gift and other benefits. For additional information about the Jacobus
tenBroek Legacy Society, please contact Lou Ann Blake at the NFB Jernigan
Institute by e - mail at lblake at nfb.org, or by telephone at 410 - 659 -
9314, extension 2221.

Fredric K. Schroeder, Ph.D.

Make a difference today in the lives of blind children and adults by
donating your used vehicle to the National Federation of the Blind by
calling 1-855-659-9314

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