[Blindtlk] Activities at the 2007 NFB Convension in Atlanta, GA

[Rovig, Lorraine]

Hi, Cheryl,
You asked for a list of activities and vendors at the upcoming NFB's
convention in July.  I consider the NFB national convention, "The most
fun you can have in a week and still stay legal." To get a heads-up on
what will take place at the NFB's 2007 national convention, check out
the article called "2007 Convention Attractions" which is in the April
2007 "Braille Monitor." Here is the direct URL:
http://www.nfb.org/Images/nfb/Publications/bm/bm07/bm0704/bm070407.htm
Every "Braille Monitor" from December of the previous year up to
convention month has at least one new article telling us what is coming
up at convention. I suggest you skim through the issues. They are posted
on our Web site under Publications, then under "Braille Monitor," then
under 2007. There is no list of vendors posted but I can tell you that
the Exhibit Hall is huge and every vendor that gives or sells to the
blind tends to be there because we have over 3,000 convention attendees
and, every year, this is the largest targeted audience the vendors can
find in one place.  A list in print and in Braille is available at the
information table found just inside the door of the Exhibit Hall.  By
the way, the agenda to Saturday's workshops and to the rest of the
convention is going to be posted on www.nfb.org beginning June 1.

You asked about fees for workshops.  Very few workshops, seminars, or
meetings at NFB conventions have any fee to pay at the door. Mostly, you
just walk right in and take a seat. Some NFB divisions or groups collect
dues for membership in their division at the door of their meeting room,
but there is no fee to attend their meeting or seminar.  Here are the
sessions that have a fee that I can think of: Merchants Seminar; O&M
Seminar; and a fee for a packet of materials if you want the packet put
together by the National Organization of Parents of Blind Children for
their day-long seminar on Saturday, June 30.  

Lots of workshops and seminars take place on Saturday, June 30, so most
members consider that a convention day, even though it is not always
marked that way in our literature about convention.  For example,
Saturday has a series of seminars about using modern adaptive
technology, including computers.  The "Braille Monitor" article in April
starts off like this: ". . . the NFB's Technology Day is Saturday, June
30, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m." and then it lists all the sessions to
take place that day thanks to the NFB's technology department staff here
at HQ in Baltimore.  All those sessions are free.

By the way, if you'd like to save some money, the convention
registration fee for the whole week is $20 at convention, or $15 if you
preregister before May 31. Preregister for the big banquet on Thursday
night too ($40 at convention or $35 if done before May 31). Preregister
by going online to www.nfb.org then to the convention link, or by
printing out the form from the Web site, or tearing it out of a print
copy of a "Braille Monitor" (the page before the table of contents) and
sending it to the NFB postmarked no later than May 31.

Lorraine Rovig
Member since 1975
Attendee at every national convention since 1976

-----Original Message-----
From: nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org
Sent: Friday, May 18, 2007 6:07 PM
To: nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
Subject: [nfb-talk] I am wondering if there is a list of activities and
vendors that are going

Hi yes,
 
I am wondering if either here or online on the nfb website, is there a
list of seminars, workshops, etc. and if there is a price list for each
one. As you can see by my questions that I am new to this convention
stuff. Would like to know so I can plan out my time there and finances
as well. This would be great. I hope to see everyone there. I will be
mostly with the NY/LI delegation, but I am willing to meet others as
well. to get to know everyone out there.
 
cheryl echevarria and maxx echevarria (black lab from  GDF In Smithtown)
 
 cheryl and Maxx (Guide Dog)

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