[nfbwatlk] The Convention was a Rousing Success

Tue Oct 6 03:30:34 UTC 2009

Hi,
It was neat/cool to have some Oregonians at our convention!  You made it 
even better!
Thanks
Lauren
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Renee Squier" <squierr at comcast.net>
To: "NFB of Washington Talk Mailing List" <nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, October 05, 2009 8:02 PM
Subject: Re: [nfbwatlk] The Convention was a *Rousing Success*


> Good evening all,
>
> How true Bennett, fantastic  describes the convention perfectly.
> I just wanted to thank you all for all your hospitality.  How wonderful to 
> have made so many new friends, to catch up with old ones, the food and 
> drinks were grand, the sessions were marvelous, and all the laughter that 
> I had the privilege of sharing with many of you.
> My son Aaron came along with me to keep my drink limit at a minimum and to 
> remind me of a early curfew.  Also my guardian angel Charlotta McKinzie, 
> was with us.  She keeps me balanced. Most of you can be thankful for her , 
> though she is quiet and shy compared to myself, she keeps me from getting 
> in to far to much trouble and from being a complete rebel.  She is also my 
> vice President of the Capital City chapter in Salem, and I couldn't do it 
> with out her.
>
> It was also nice to share the convention with another Renee, that doesn't 
> happen very often, two Renees in the same room at the same time.  That 
> might be a good thing too.
> Though she is Renee West, she really is the true Renee East, hiding out in 
> Baltimore.
> When I met Dan in Baltimore  at the end of September and he told me he 
> would be at the Washington state convention with his wife.  He failed to 
> tell me who she was and how charming she is.  Brag on her a little more 
> Dan!
>
> I am pretty excited to attend the Oregon State convention this weekend and 
> hope I get to laugh as much there.  You all feel free to join us if you 
> can.
>
> Thank you all again for having us at such a fantastic  convention.
> Renee S
> Stands for Squier but what the heck, Renee South
>
> ----- 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, October 05, 2009 7:48 AM
> Subject: [nfbwatlk] The Convention was a *Rousing Success*
>
>
>> Well, here it is Monday morning, after another fantastic convention of
>> the National Federation of the Blind of Washington (state) (grin).
>>
>>
>>
>> Once again this year, the team Federation really stepped up to the
>> plate, and on the lat weekend of the regular baseball season,
>> collectively we hit it out of the park.
>>
>>
>>
>> Jim Gashel, as the national representative showed us how to be totally
>> mobile, and provide excellent information and support throughout the
>> convention activities at the same time.
>>
>>
>>
>> As always, Mike chaired an excellent convention.  We heard from the
>> people in the state that are here to serve the blind, such as Danielle
>> King from the Washington Talking Book and Braille Library, Louoma Duran,
>> from the Department of Services for the blind, and Dean Stenehjem from
>> the Washington State School for the Blind.  WE heard an excellent
>> presentation of good news activities from Kirk Adams of the Seattle
>> Lighthouse, and spent part of the Saturday afternoon session discussing
>> Braille literacy, and certification of teachers to read Braille.  Denise
>> Mackenstadt's presentation as an Orientation and Mobility Specialist,
>> and of course a Braillist was right on point, and brought thoughtful
>> ideas to the forefront of our minds moving forward.
>>
>>
>>
>> We had a different program this year, which was a tremendous success,
>> judging by the comments from many of the participants.  Mentors were
>> paired with mentees, (students) and the questions about the NFB and
>> convention were coming fast and furious all weekend. Denise Mackenstadt
>> and others including Jedi Moerke were instrumental in making this
>> activity a success.
>>
>>
>>
>> The banquet of course was well attended.  We had some drawings at the
>> banquet by those who were fund raising for chapters, and Bob Sellers was
>> responsible for pushing the Louie Braille Coin drawing this year, and
>> did an excellent job of getting the word out about the unique minted
>> coins.
>>
>>
>>
>> The scholarship committee awarded the Beverly Prows Scholarship to a
>> Washingtonian who is a freshman at Brigham Young University, Brianna
>> Leavens.  She's a young lady with tremendous scholastic ability, and a
>> lot of potential, who was able to fly home to Everett, (near her
>> parents'
>> house), and to be with us at convention and to visit her parents as
>> well.  Her parents came to the convention by the way, and we all enjoyed
>> meeting them as well.  Rita Szantay, as scholarship chair once again did
>> a great job making the presentation.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Elections were held for a couple of board positions, and Gary
>> Mackenstadt of Edmonds, and Les Fitzpatrick of Vancouver were elected to
>> two year terms.
>>
>>
>>
>> Of course, Dan Frye, and Renee West who are both on the NFB national
>> staff were with us again this year, since they are Washingtonians if not
>> physically, in spirit anyway.  They both spoke to the convention.  Renee
>> brought us all the news about NFB Newsline (r), and many of us heard for
>> the first time the how tos and wherefores of Newsline in your pocket and
>> Newsline online.
>>
>>
>>
>> Dan spoke to the convention about his job as Associate Editor of the
>> prestigious Braille Monitor, our national magazine  He really put a
>> tremendous perspective on the function of the magazine in the world, and
>> how our organization's publications are integral to exposing wrong doing
>> in the field of work with the blind, and in trumpeting the positive work
>> of those who work with us and affect our lives.
>>
>>
>>
>> We had a new and fun game for attendees on Saturday night, during a
>> silent auction fund raising event.  The game was based on the TV game
>> show, the Family Feud.  The mentors were teamed against the mentees.
>> During the convention, conventioneers were surveyed by the students and
>> mentors concerning knowledge of blindness, and individual opinions on
>> various aspects of life as blind people.  The mentors won the game in
>> the end, but a great time was had by all.  WE even had a few live
>> auction items at the end of the silent auction.  The organizers of this
>> event were, Denise Mackenstadt, who brailed the survey questions, and
>> helped to iron out the logistics, Kris Colcock, Carol Smith and Connie
>> Utterbach Kaye Burrows, Marci Carpenter, and a cast of thousands who
>> worked to make the event a fun one.  Ivan Weich kept score, and I tried
>> my best to sound like Richard Dawson.  That only lasted a minute, and I
>> gave up and just hosted the game show.
>>
>>
>>
>> So, I've written enough.  I certainly had a *great* time, in and out of
>> convention official sessions.  (grin.)  Thanks to Art and Nicky
>> Stevenson, Renee and Aaron Squire from the NFB of Oregon for being there
>> as well
>>
>>
>>
>> I'm sure others will write about their impressions too.  Now that we
>> have recharged our batteries, we can move forward to do the work of the
>> Federation for all blind people.  Great job folks, and, thanks.
>>
>>
>>
>> /s/
>>
>> Bennett Prows
>>
>>
>>
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>
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