[Nfbnet-members-list] Updated Information - NFB of Nevada's 2018 State Convention

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State Convention


National Federation of the Blind of Nevada 2018 State Convention


October 5th through 6th, 2018

Expect a weekend of energy as we Dare to Dream, Declare, and Deliver!

The 2018 National Federation of the Blind of Nevada State Convention will be
held at the:

Nugget Casino Resort 
1100 Nugget Ave. 
Sparks, NV 89431

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.

We are proud to announce that Pamela Allen (Executive Director of the
Louisiana Center for the Blind, president of the National Federation of the
Blind of Louisiana, 1st Vice President of the National Federation of the
Blind, and chairperson of the NFB Board of Directors) will be our national
rep this year! Her bio can be found at https://nfb.org/pam-allen-bio or you
can read it the National Rep section of this page.

Mark your calendars and make every effort to attend the 2018 state
convention of the National Federation of the Blind of Nevada. Get Involved.
Make a Difference!


Hotel Details and Room Rates


Use our booking code GNFBO18 to easily reserve your room at
http://bit.ly/2FNc58G. Room rates for single or double occupancy is
$119/night, and triple/quad occupancy is $129/night plus resort taxes and
fees. Reservations must be made by September 5th in order to receive our
group rate. After September 5th, the remaining rooms in our block will be
released to the general public.


Guide Dog Relief Areas


*	East Tower: Across the street on 11th St. outside the parking garage
*	West Tower: Outside Orozko Restaurant, west entrance along the
Victorian Plaza Avenue


Convention Registration Costs and Details


Convention registration will ensure you a ticket into our Friday Meet and
Greet Reception, Saturday continental breakfast, Saturday boxed lunch, and
door prize drawings. Convention Preregistration will open from June 5th and
run until October 4th. When purchased by October 4th, the preregistration
fee for convention is $15 ($20 on-site, October 5th-6th) and the cost of a
banquet ticket is $40 (same price when purchased at the convention).

NOTE: all first timers will receive a $5 registration discount.

Childcare will be available for all children who are registered for the
convention or $10 at the door. We encourage preregistering your children to
ensure that we have enough volunteers, games, and crafts.

Click here to pre-register for the 2018 NFB of Nevada State Convention
<https://goo.gl/forms/MZ92I9igcl86RxyA3> 


Agenda


*	2018 State Convention Agenda (Web)
<http://www.nfbnevada.org/convention-agenda> 
*	2018 State Convention Agenda (Word Document)
<http://www.nfbnevada.org/2018_NFBNV_State_Convention_Agenda%20.docx> 


Health & Wellness Expo and Vendor Fair Registration


Are you a business owner, vendor, or nonprofit interested in exhibiting at
our Health & Wellness Expo and Vendor Fair? Would you like to be recognized
as a key supporter by sponsoring our event? Send all inquiries to National
Federation of the Blind of Nevada President Terri Rupp at
president at nfbnevada.org <mailto:president at nfbnevada.org> .


Free Aira Site Access at National Federation of the Blind State Conventions


The National Federation of the Blind has partnered with Aira to provide free
Aira Site Access to NFB members during our 2018 state convention. Aira
subscribers who are National Federation of the Blind members can use the
service at our convention for free without having minutes deducted from
their plans. In addition, those interested in Aira have the unique
opportunity to try out the service for free while at our convention. This
convention-wide, free site access is available only at NFB state
conventions, giving NFB members an exclusive opportunity to test-drive Aira
in a convention setting.

Aira allows blind individuals to connect via live video to a trained agent
through a mobile app or wearable glasses to get real-time visual information
or assistance. Learn more about Aira and special pricing available for NFB
members at go.aira.io/NFB <http://go.aira.io/NFB> .


How it Works


Before you head to convention or as soon as you get there, download the free
Aira app from the App Store, and create a guest account if you are not
already an Aira subscriber. Also, make sure your phone's GPS feature is
enabled. When you enter the convention Site Access location, your phone will
receive a notification letting you know that the space you are in is part of
the Aira Network. When you connect with an agent, he or she will also
confirm that you are now covered by the network, and no minutes will be
deducted from your account.

When you leave or enter convention areas that are covered by the Site Access
network, you will be informed by the Aira agent.

To learn more about Aira and the special plan available exclusively to NFB
members, visit go.aira.io/NFB <http://go.aira.io/NFB> .


National Rep Bio


Pam Allen, First Vice President and Board Chair Nonprofit Agency
Administrator, Advocate, Community Leader


Pam Dubel was born in 1970 and grew up in Lancaster, New York. She became
blind when she was approximately two years old as a result of retinal
blastoma, a type of cancer. Although her parents were shocked by her loss of
sight, they fortunately realized that she was still the same child except
that she could no longer see. Through love and high expectations, they
instilled in Pam a sense of pride and confidence in her ability to succeed.
They constantly taught her that her blindness was not a limitation to
achieving her goals and dreams. Growing up as the youngest of six children
also helped her learn to be independent. Since she was the youngest, nobody,
especially the brother a year older than she, let her get away with
anything. Pam attended a private Catholic school, where she was the only
blind student. Her itinerant teacher provided a sound foundation in Braille,
which helped her excel in academics. Her parents expected her to do her best
and to engage in activities that would make her a confident and well-rounded
person. She participated in horseback riding, skiing, and cheerleading
during elementary school. During high school her interests shifted to
performing in chorus, doing community service, and having fun with her
friends.

While growing up, Pam had limited contact with other blind people her age.
In general she had no desire to associate with other blind people. She
understood that every high school senior experiences some trepidation about
the transition to adulthood and independence. However, as high school
graduation approached, she began to grapple with questions that her sighted
peers couldn't answer. She planned to attend college, and she hoped that she
would eventually find a job, but she secretly wondered if she would truly be
able to obtain employment. After all, she had had difficulty finding
part-time work during high school. Her loving family and friends encouraged
her, but she had questions that went unanswered. Although she entered
college with some apprehension, she was determined to achieve her best. Her
small liberal arts college provided an exciting environment in which to
learn and grow. But those unanswered questions continued to nag at her. If
people were amazed that she could accomplish the most insignificant tasks,
would they ever treat her as an equal? She realized that she had to meet
other blind people with more experience than she who could serve as role
models.

Her search exposed her to a wide variety of groups and organizations of and
for the blind. However, not until she attended a student seminar hosted by
the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio did she begin to find the
answers for which she had been searching. Although she didn't realize it at
the time, that seminar marked the beginning of a new chapter of her life.
She met Barbara Pierce, president of the NFB of Ohio, who told Pam about the
Louisiana Center for the Blind. More than that, she spoke with Joanne
Wilson, its director, who arranged for Pam to complete an internship at the
center the following May. As soon as that was completed, Joanne invited her
to work as a counselor in the children's summer program that year.

Pam was a 1991 National Federation of the Blind scholarship winner when she
was a senior at Denison University, where she majored in psychology and
minored in women's studies. She served as vice president of the Ohio
Association of Blind Students and as secretary of the National Association
of Blind Students, and throughout college she worked summers for Joanne
Wilson at the Louisiana Center for the Blind with the Children's Program.

After graduation from college Pam decided to become a student at the
Louisiana Center for the Blind. She recognized that she still needed to gain
some confidence in her skills and in her ability to be a successful blind
person.

Since 2001 Pam Allen has served as the director of the Louisiana Center for
the Blind, one of three NFB adult rehabilitation centers. Prior to becoming
the director, she served as the director of youth services, working with
blind infants and toddlers and their parents, supervising the training of
classroom aides to teach Braille throughout Louisiana, coordinating summer
camps, and developing innovative programs for blind children and teenagers.

People often ask her what makes the Louisiana Center for the Blind such a
special place. She responds, "What sets our alumni apart from those of other
kinds of rehabilitation facilities? The answer is that, by attending our
center and the other centers conducted by Federationists, students are
exposed to the National Federation of the Blind and its philosophy. The NFB
is more than an organization; it is a loving family. Regardless of where you
are, you can find members of the NFB who can give you support and
encouragement when you need it. The NFB also provides a constant supply of
mentors and role models who challenge you to set goals for yourself. Lives
are positively changed every day at the Center because of the philosophy of
the NFB."

Allen recalls that she used to believe that she did not need other blind
people. She thought that being independent meant succeeding without the help
of others. Her involvement with the National Federation of the Blind has
taught her that this is not true. She has learned that she needs
reinforcement from her blind colleagues and friends.

Pam lives in Ruston, Louisiana, with her husband Roland Allen, a dedicated
Federation leader and a gifted orientation and mobility instructor at the
center. She is currently the president of the NFB of Louisiana and secretary
of the National Association of Blind Rehabilitation Professionals. In July
of 2002 she was elected to the National Federation of the Blind board of
directors. Four years later, in 2006, she was elected to serve as treasurer
of the National Federation of the Blind. In 2012, Pam and Roland received
the prestigious Jacobus tenBroek Award in recognition of their distinguished
service in the Federation. In 2015, Pam was elected as first vice president
of the National Federation of the Blind. Allen is also involved in a variety
of community and professional organizations, including the Chamber of
Commerce and as a gubernatorial appointee to the Louisiana Rehabilitation
Council. She says, "Being elected to the national board has allowed me to
give back and to spread the message of our movement. It is an incredible
honor and privilege to serve!"


Additional Information


Check our website for further details, scholarships, and more announcements
at www.nfbnevada.org <http://www.nfbnevada.org/> .

Follow us on Facebook to stay up to date on what's happening at
https://www.facebook.com/nationalfederationoftheblindofnevada.

If you have questions and need additional information, please contact:

Terri Rupp, President 
PO Box 20041 
Reno, Nevada 89515 
Cell Phone: 702-524-0835 
email: President at nfbnevada.org <mailto:President at nfbnevada.org>