2014 NFBC Convention Agenda

National Federation of the Blind of California
2014 Convention presents CHANGE
October 9 – October 12, 2014
Embassy Suites South, El Segundo, CA 90245

Creating
Hope through
Advocacy and
New ideas with
Gratitude and
Enthusiasm

The National Federation of the blind knows that blindness is not the characteristic that defines you or your future.  Every day we raise the expectations of blind people because low expectations create obstacles between blind people and our dreams.
You can live the life you want; blindness is not what holds you back.

President, Mary Willows
3934 Kern Ct.
Pleasanton, CA 94588
Phone (925) 895-2778

2014 NFB of California Convention Agenda

Convention Information
Registration- $20.00
Banquet- $30.00
Diabetes Action Network Luncheon- $25.00
California Idol- $5.00 at the door
Monte Carlo Night- $10.00 at the door.
If you have not pre-registered, there will be a few meal tickets available at the registration table which will be sold on a first come, first served, basis.

Convention Exhibits
The Exhibit hall will be open on Friday, October 10, 2014, from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm. Exhibits are located in the Granada and La Palma Rooms.

Hotel Layout
Upon entering the main entrance of the hotel, the Registration Desk is approximately 25     feet in front of you.  As you face the front desk, the lounges, elevators, dining rooms,     meeting rooms, and gift shop are to the left (east lobby area).   To the right of the front     desk (west end of hotel) is another set of elevators and the pool area.

Dog Guide Relief Area
The dog guide relief area is located on Imperial Avenue, straight across from the hotel front door. Follow the circular drive to the right, and cross Imperial Avenue.

Thank you to all of the chairpersons and members of the committees that have helped to make this convention a success. They are: Convention Coordinator – Ever Lee Hairston, Resolutions Committee- Chairperson Robert Stigile and Michael Hingson, Door Prize Committee- Chairperson- Rochelle Houston, Exhibit Hall Chairperson – Chuy Vaca, Scholarship Committee –Shannon Dillon, Hospitality-Cheryl Thurston, Auction-Karen Steele. Transportation Rick Watson, Carmen Weatherly, Lisa Irving. Ambassadors-Cathy Gaten.
Thank you to all of the volunteers who have given of their time.

Thursday, October 9, 2014

5:00 pm – 7:00 pm      Meet the Blind Month Walk at the Manhattan Beach Pier.
Members will meet at the Shade Hotel at 5 p.m. to stroll along the pier                 and to educate the public about events happening at the convention.

7:00 pm – 9:00 P.M.      Hospitality
Room 305A

Friday, October 10, 2014

8:15 am – noon        Registration, East lobby

9:00 am – 10:30 am    National Federation of the Blind of California, Board of Directors
Semi-annual meeting
President, Mary Willows
First Vice-President, Ever Lee Hairston
Second Vice-President, Robert Stigile
Secretary, Shannon Dillon
Treasurer, Melissa Sanders
Board Members:
1.    Karen Steele
2.    Michael Hingson
3.    Henry (Hoby) Wedler
4.    Rochelle Houston
5.    Tim Elder
6.    Rick Watson
7.    Kia Vaca

Valencia / Sevilla Rooms
Meetings of the Board of Directors are always open to the public.  Please join us as we greet our scholarship finalists, National Representative, and other distinguished  guests.  Note:  Board Members are the only ones who can vote.

10:30 am – noon        Resolutions Committee Meeting: Chairpersons, Robert Stigile,                         Michael Hingson.
Committee Members: Ever Lee Hairston, Bryan Bashin, Jim Barbour,
Debbie Worstman, Lisa Maria Martinez, Rochelle Houston.                          Secretary, Jana Littrell
Valencia / Sevilla Rooms
The Resolutions Committee comes together once a year to decide on the policies and direction of the affiliate for the upcoming year.  Resolutions are an integral part of the National Federation of the Blind and are determined by the philosophy and purpose of the National Federation of the Blind.

2:00 pm – 5:00 pm        Registration in the lobby
East Lobby

2:00 pm – 3:30 pm        California Association of Guide Dog Users (CAGDU)
President, Tina Thomas
Valencia / Sevilla Rooms

2:00 pm – 3:30 pm        NFB in Community Services
President, Darian Smith
Room 205A

3:30 pm – 5:00 pm        California Association of Blind Students Annual Business Meeting
President, Joe Retherford
Elections and guest speakers
Surprise performance by the winner of “CABS Got Talent”
Valencia / Sevilla Rooms

7:00 pm – 9:00 pm        California Idol Talent Show-Coordinators-Rochelle Houston &              Charlotte Carroll.
Valencia / Sevilla Rooms

9:00 pm – midnight    Monte Carlo Night.
Hosted by the California Association of Blind Students. (CABS)
Come and try your hand at the card tables. $10 for a bag of casino                     playing chips.  Join us for a night of prizes, fun, and friendship!
Madrid Room

Saturday, October 11, 2014

7:00 am – 8:30 am            Chapter on Aging Breakfast
President, Dennis Russak
Join us for an informal discussion of possibilities for seniors
facing blindness.  Election of officers will be held.
Waterfall Patio Area

9:00 am                 General Session Call to Order
President, Mary Willows
Granada / La Palma / Madrid

9:05 am                Pledge of Allegiance
Lisa Irving, President San Diego Chapter

9:05 am                NFB Pledge
Rochelle Houston, President Pathfinders Chapter

9:05 am                National Anthem
Sung by Rob Kaiser, President Orange County Chapter

9:15 am                Welcoming remarks

9:20 am                National Report
Anil Lewis, Executive Director, Jernigan Institute, Baltimore, MD

10:00 am – 10:15 am        75 in 75, Let’s Go Build the Federation
Kevan Worley, Worley Enterprises, Colorado Springs, CO

10:15 am – 10:40 am        “Federationism Everywhere”
Bryan Bashin, CEO, Lighthouse for the Blind, San Francisco, CA

10:40 am – 11:00 am        “Changing What it Means to be Blind in California.”                            Update on legal action.
Panel-Moderator, Timothy Elder, Attorney, TRE Legal Practice
Fremont, CA; Michael Nunez and Karen Janssen, Staff                             Attorneys, Disability Rights Advocates (DRA) Legal Group,                         Berkeley, CA

11:00 am – 11:05 am        Questions from the audience.

11:05 am – 11:40 am        “California Report”
Joe Xavier, Director, California Department of Rehabilitation,
Sacramento, CA

11:40 am – 11:45 am        Questions from the audience

11:45 am – noon                 Sports and Recreation
Lisamaria Martinez, President, Sports and Recreation Division.

Noon                     Adjourn

12:15 pm – 1:45 pm        Diabetes Action Network (DAN) Lunch
Joy Stigile, President

2:00 pm – 3:00 pm            iPhone for Newbies. “Want to know how to navigate an  iPhone?  Want to learn all the gestures that work with Voice                         Over?  Then this session is for you!”
Tiffany Manosh, Assistive Technology Instructional Assistant,
American River College, Sacramento

3:15 pm – 4:15 pm            iPhone round table.  Bring your apps and questions as we share tips and tricks with each other.
Tiffany Manosh, Assistive Technology Instructional Assistant,
American River College, Sacramento

2:00pm-4:15pm                          Grant Writing, as a Fundraising Instrument Mike Kawalek, Associate Director of Development for Sempervirons Fund. Board Room 205A

4:15 pm – 5:00 pm        Reconvene general session.
Employment Panel.  Moderator, Paul Howard,
Teacher of the Visually Impaired, Riverside, CA.
Panelists:  Shannon Dillon, Staff Attorney, California                             Department of Public Health; Michael Richardson, Independent
Entrepreneur, Kyle Woodard, Department of Veteran Affairs.
Mona Longoria, Contract Specialist, The Seattle Lighthouse for                     the Blind, San Diego, CA.

5:00 pm                Adjourn

6:00 pm – 6:45 pm            Social Hour, Cash bar

7:00 pm – midnight        Banquet
Master of Ceremonies, Robert Stigile
Invocation-Mary Willows, President
Introduction of Head Table
Keynote Speaker, Anil Lewis, National Representative, Baltimore Maryland

Auction of Chapter Gift Baskets, Henry (Hoby) Wedler
Presentation of NFBC Scholarships, Shannon Dillon, Chair-
person
Presentation of Charters
BestBuy drawing-$500.00 gift card

Sunday, October 12, 2014

7:00am-8:45am                          Senior Breakfast, Waterfall Patio Area

9:00 am                 General Session Call to Order
President, Mary Willows
Granada / La Palma / Madrid

9:10 am – 9:40 am            Elections: Report from Nominating Committee

9:40 am – 10:00 am        Resolutions. Chairperson, Robert Stigile, Second Vice                             President & Mike Hingson.

10:00am-                                    Presidential Report, Mary Willows, President

10:15 am – 10:20 am        Financial Report

10:20-10:30am                          Philosophy Corner-skit by Ever Lee Hairston, Rochelle Houston & Jana Littrell.

10:30 am – 10:45 am        “Why I am a Federationist?” Kia Vaca-NFBC Board Member, Sun Valley, California

10:45 am – 11:00 am        Newsline for the Blind, Robert Stigile, Second Vice-President

11:00 am            Chapter Reports-Pledges and Donations,Chaper Presidents or Representatives should be prepared to submit checks or pledges at this time.  Please make checks payable to NFB of California.  Be prepared to give a 90 second chapter report on events and activities. Raffles, Drawings

Noon                    Adjourn

OUR BRAND PROMISE:
Together with love, hope, and determination, we transform dreams into reality.

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