[nfbwatlk] Convention

Wed Jul 12 10:47:21 CDT 2006

who is this
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Utterback, Connie" <Connie.Utterback at clark.wa.gov>
To: "NFB of Washington Talk Mailing List" <nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, July 12, 2006 8:33 AM
Subject: Re: [nfbwatlk] Convention


> Mike forgot me.  What can I say? (Grin) 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nfbwatlk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfbwatlk-bounces at nfbnet.org]
> On Behalf Of Mike Freeman
> Sent: Wednesday, July 12, 2006 8:31 AM
> To: NFB of Washington Talk Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [nfbwatlk] Convention
> 
> MMM ... lemme see ... there were three registrants whom Denise and I did
> not recognize and of whom one was Lilly Stansberry's friend. Then there
> were two first-timers from the Northwest Chapter. I don't know if Mark
> Adrian had been to a national convention before or not (he went to a
> Washington Seminar years ago). If we count him, that makes six. Then
> there's Marty from the Seattle chapter. That makes seven first-timers by
> my reckoning. If we count Mr. Habib (the scholarship winner), that makes
> eight. I could have missed one or two but even eight is a respectable
> percentage of our delegation. Congratulations to all.
> 
> Mike Freeman
> 
> On Wed, 12 Jul 2006, Bob Sellers wrote:
> 
>>
>> How many first timers did we have?
>>
>> Bob
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Mike Freeman" <k7uij at panix.com>
>> To: "NFB of Washington Talk Mailing List" <nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Tuesday, July 11, 2006 8:24 AM
>> Subject: Re: [nfbwatlk] Convention
>>
>>
>>> I counted around 40 people from Washington. Gary told me yesterday 
>>> that we had 45 atendees.
>>>
>>> Mike Freeman
>>>
>>> On Tue, 11 Jul 2006, Bob Sellers wrote:
>>>
>>>>
>>>> Yes, it was an excellent convention. I still think our scholarhsip
>> program
>>>> is the hihglight of the convention. What is interesting is how the
>> academic
>>>> endeavors of the scholarship winners have become more diversed from
> 
>>>> the past. Twenty years ago most degrees were in the social sciences 
>>>> and
>> computer
>>>> science. There is much more diversity and soon, I believe, thanks to
> 
>>>> the NFB, there will be scholarship winners in pursuit of the hard
> sciences.
>> As
>>>> usual there is volumes of information available. Over time I've 
>>>> learned
>> to
>>>> be selective on what and how much I bring home. No longer do I have 
>>>> an
>> extra
>>>> bag just to carry home materials I've collected from meetings and 
>>>> the exhibits. I found it beneficial in all the meetings I attended, 
>>>> which included, the Web master, grant writing, meet the blind month 
>>>> and the advocacy just to name a few. Being in such a huge hotel, 
>>>> seem to make
>> being
>>>> around 3,000 people  less noticeable,  except for an occasional 
>>>> elevator ride. The one item that got my attention was HAL, the home 
>>>> automated
>> living
>>>> display.
>>>>
>>>> How many did we have from Washington Sttate attendning the
> convention?
>>>>
>>>> Bob Sellers
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>> From: "Prows, Bennett (HHS/OCR)" <Bennett.Prows at HHS.GOV>
>>>> To: "NFB of Washington Talk Mailing List" <nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org>
>>>> Sent: Monday, July 10, 2006 2:01 PM
>>>> Subject: [nfbwatlk] Convention
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> I haven't seen any reports yet on the convention just finished.  I 
>>>> thought, that despite some hotel glitches, that this was one 
>>>> fantastic convention.  The feature of course was the release of the 
>>>> Kurzweil NFB reading machine.  It seems to work very well with most 
>>>> printed or text material for now.  I was impressed that it could be 
>>>> brought close to signs, etc, and mostly read the material fine.  As 
>>>> it is upgraded, this small, portable device will become invaluable
> for reading many things.
>>>> It was exciting to hear that the 30 NFB scholarship winners this 
>>>> year, in addition to receiving at least $3000 in scholarships, (one 
>>>> winner received $12,000), the winners received another $1000 from 
>>>> Kurzweil company, and a copy of the Kurzweil 1000 scanning software,
> 
>>>> and as a bonus got a Kurzweil NFB reader, valued at $3,500.  That's 
>>>> not to mention their expenses to convention.  What a program.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> We also had great convention sessions, and division meetings, etc.  
>>>> The visit from Kinky Freedman, the gubernatorial candidate in Texas,
> 
>>>> who is a Jewish comedian, author and musician was fun and 
>>>> interesting.  He entertained the thousands gathered at the opening 
>>>> plenary session on Tuesday.  This came just before the ceremony 
>>>> honoring the blinded veterans in attendance who are Federationists.
> 
>>>> It was impressive to hear how many leaders we have in the movement 
>>>> who have served in the various branches of the military.  The 
>>>> ceremony was extremely moving to all who were present.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> The National Association of Blind Lawyers put on the ninth annual 
>>>> mock trial this year, and we raised some money for the division as 
>>>> well.  I heard there were about 305 people there, so we did pretty 
>>>> well this year, and the folks who came were overwhelming 
>>>> appreciative of the entertainment and education about the 
>>>> discrimination case which was based on a real case the NFB was 
>>>> involved in concerning a large automobile manufacturer who refused 
>>>> to hire back a foundry worker who was laid off after becoming blind.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> The highlight presentations again were Doctor Maurer's Presidential 
>>>> Report and Banquet address, both of which will be available soon at 
>>>> our web site at <www.NFB.org>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Of course, we had great social gatherings too, and met new friends, 
>>>> and renewed old friendships.  There were indeed about 3000 people 
>>>> attending again this year.  So, now recharged, we move on to the
> year in the NFB.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> More stories from the convention I'm sure are coming up.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> /s/
>>>>
>>>> Bennett Prows, J.D.
>>>>
>>>> Health Information Privacy Program
>>>>
>>>> Office for Civil Rights
>>>>
>>>> Seattle, Washington
>>>>
>>>> (206) 615-2621
>>>>
>>>> E-mail:  Bennett.Prows at hhs.gov
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
>>> -----
>> --
>>>> ----
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> nfbwatlk mailing list
>>>>> nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org
>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbwatlk
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
>>> -----
>> --
>>>> ----
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> No virus found in this incoming message.
>>>> Checked by AVG Free Edition.
>>>> Version: 7.1.394 / Virus Database: 268.9.10/383 - Release Date: 
>>>> 7/7/2006
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> nfbwatlk mailing list
>>>> nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org
>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbwatlk
>>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> nfbwatlk mailing list
>>> nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org
>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbwatlk
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> No virus found in this incoming message.
>>> Checked by AVG Free Edition.
>>> Version: 7.1.394 / Virus Database: 268.9.10/384 - Release Date: 
>>> 7/10/2006
>>>
>>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> nfbwatlk mailing list
>> nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org
>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbwatlk
>>
> _______________________________________________
> nfbwatlk mailing list
> nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbwatlk
> _______________________________________________
> nfbwatlk mailing list
> nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbwatlk
>