Welcome To Our State Convention!
Registration will be held Thursday, Nov. 9th from 10:00 A.M. to 12:00 P.M. and on Friday, Nov. 10th from 10:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. outside of Ballroom A and B, 2nd Floor
A table featuring materials of the National Federation of the Blind will be available in the Exhibit Hall, Ballroom C, 2nd floor.
There is a dog relief area available outside of the hotel. For further information, contact Emily Gindlesperger or Rebecca Weber.
There will be a Hospitality Suite available on the 10th Floor of the Hotel. The Hospitality Suite will be open on Thursday, Nov. 9 from 3:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M., Friday, Nov. 10 from 6:30 A.M. to 3:30 P.M., and on Saturday, Nov. 11 from 6:30 A.M. to 8:00 A.M.
There will be an Exhibit Hall on Thursday, Nov. 9th from 11:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. and on Friday, Nov. 10 from 9:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. located in Ballroom C, 2nd floor.
We Welcome Our Sponsors: Accessible Pharmacy Services, Democracy Live, Sky’s the Limit Communications, LLC, Vanda Pharmaceutical
We Welcome Our Exhibitors: Accessible Pharmacy, Aetna, Medicare, Bureau of Blindness and Visual Services, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Human Resources, Dancing dots, Enhance Vision, Health, and Skin Care Products, Humanware, JW.org, KMC Essentials, Library of Accessible Media for Pennsylvanians, Lutheran Braille Workers, Newsline, OrCam, Rabbi Lenny Sarko; Hebrew Braille Sefer Torah, Scentsy Independent Consultant, Step Up Services, Tech Owl, The Touchpad Pro Foundation, View Plus Technologies, Vanda Pharmaceutical
Thursday, November 9, 2023
9:00 A.M. to 12:00 P.M. Senior Possibilities Fair – Sponsored by Accessible Pharmacy Services; Connie Scheu, Moderator, Ballroom D, 2nd Floor
11:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. Exhibit Hall; Ballroom C, 2nd Floor
12:00 P.M. Box Lunches; Box lunches will be available in the Exhibit Hall, Ballroom C, 2nd Floor. You must have a ticket to get one.
1:00 P.M. to 4:00 P.M. Teching Care of Business; David Goldstein, Moderator, Ballroom A and B, 2nd floor
NFB of PA is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Teching Care of Business – 2023 State Convention
Time: Nov 9, 2023 01:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
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Meeting ID: 964 0240 0750
Passcode: 985703
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1:00 P.M. to 2:15 P.M. Adjusting to Blindness; Pam Allen, National Representative, Director Louisiana Center for the Blind, Ballroom D, 2nd Floor
2:30 P.M. to 3:00 P.M. Let’s Get a Move on Cane Walk: Roland Allen, Orientation and Mobility Instructor, Louisiana Center for the Blind, Ballroom D, 2nd Floor
6:30 P.M. to 9:00 P.M. Celebration of Our Veterans; Emily Gindlesperger, Facilitator, 2nd Vice President, NFB of PA, Ballroom A and B, 2nd Floor. Hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar will be available.
NFB of PA is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Celebration of Our Veterans – 2023 State Convention
Time: Nov 9, 2023 06:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
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Meeting ID: 987 7081 1717
Passcode: 819620
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Friday, November 10, 2023
8:00 A.M. to 10:00 A.M. Pennsylvania Association of Blind Students Division Meeting; Simon Bonenfant, President, Board Room, 2nd Floor
NFB of PA is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Pennsylvania Association of Blind Students (PABS)
Time: 8:00am 2023 State Convention
Join Zoom Meeting
https://nfb-org.zoom.us/j/96292437071
Meeting ID: 962 9243 7071
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8:00 A.M. to 10:00 A.M. Pennsylvania Parents of Blind Children Division Meeting; Emily Gindlesperger, President, 2nd Vice President, NFB of PA, Ballroom D, 2nd floor
NFB of PA is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: PA Parents of Blind Children Division Meeting – 2023 State Convention
Time: Nov 10, 2023 08:00 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://nfb-org.zoom.us/j/97875318575?pwd=ZEwwUkM1UHIyeEtwOElRQTJlRHgwQT09
Meeting ID: 978 7531 8575
Passcode: 639104
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9:00 A.M. to 10:15 A.M. Come experience the World’s First Hebrew Braille Scroll; Rabbi Lenny Sarko, Hebrew Braille Sefer Torah, Ballroom A and B, 2nd Floor
9:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. Exhibit Hall; Ballroom C, 2nd Floor
10:15 A.M. to 12:00 P.M. Blind Parents Group; Stacie Leap, Moderator, Ballroom D, 2nd floor
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85001227709?pwd=bXBmQWlTNyt2dkl1L3FoTElqSHgrZz09
Meeting ID: 850 0122 7709
Passcode: 540657
10:15 A.M. to 11:30 A.M. Pennsylvania Association of Guide Dog Users Division Meeting; Rebecca Weber, Moderator, Board Room, 2nd Floor
NFB of PA is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Pennsylvania Association of Guide Dog Users (PAGDU)
Time: This is a recurring meeting Meet anytime
Join Zoom Meeting
https://nfb-org.zoom.us/j/95199907967
Meeting ID: 951 9990 7967
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10:30 A.M. to 12:00 P.M. Legislative Updates; Emily Gindlesperger, Legislative Committee Chairperson, Ballroom A and B, 2nd floor
NFB of PA is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Legislative Committee Meeting
Time: Nov 10, 2023 10:30 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
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Meeting ID: 987 5383 8796
Passcode: 564635
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12:00 P.M. Box Lunches; Box lunches will be available in the Exhibit Hall, Ballroom C, 2nd Floor. You must have a ticket to get one.
12:00 P.M. to 1:30 P.M. Let’s Talk: Do We Want to Be A Division?; Senior Meeting: Connie Scheu, Moderator, Board Room, 2nd Floor
1:00 P.M. to 2:00 P.M. Pennsylvania Association of Blind Merchants Division Meeting; Pamela Baquero, President, Ballroom D, 2nd floor
1:00 P.M. to 2:30 P.M. Diabetes Discussion; Christine Palmer, Moderator, Member, Greater Philadelphia Chapter, NFB of PA, Ballroom A and B, 2nd floor
1:45 P.M. to 2:45 P.M. DeafBlind Division Meeting; Chris Westbrook, President, Board Room, 2nd floor
2:30 P.M. to 3:45 P.M. Solving the Mysteries of Transition and Social Security; Carlton Walker, Esq., CEO, Blindness Education and Advocacy Resources, LLC. and Steve Pennington, Esq. CEO PA Client Assistance Program, Ballroom D, 2nd floor
2:45 P.M. to 3:45 P.M. Strategies For success; David Denotaris, CEO, Sky’s the Limit Communications, Ballroom A and B, 2nd Floor
3:00 P.M. to 3:45 P.M. Jigsaw Chapter; Piecing Pennsylvania Together; Chris Westbrook, Vice President, Jigsaw chapter, NFB of PA, Board Room, 2nd floor
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/91793332704?pwd=Q1JJSTIwaEFob1QxRkFjdHR4c08xQT09
Meeting ID: 917 9333 2704
Passcode: 223344
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4:00 P.M. NFB of PA Board Meeting; Ballroom A and B, 2nd Floor. The Nominating Committee will meet directly following the Board Meeting.
NFB of PA is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Board Meeting at the 2023 State Convention
Time: Nov 10, 2023 04:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
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Meeting ID: 949 1241 7356
Passcode: 572025
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5:30 P.M. Resolutions Committee Meeting; Michelle McManus, Chairperson, President Happy Valley Chapter, NFB of PA, Ballroom A and B, 2nd Floor
Zoom Link is the same as the above Board Meeting
7:00 P.M. NFB of PA Showcase of Talent: come and be entertained by our talented Affiliate, visit our Not So Silent Auction and Join in a Couple Rounds of BINGO; Ballroom A and B, 2nd Floor. Hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar will be available.
NFB of PA is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Auction and Talent Showcase
Time: Nov 10, 2023 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
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Meeting ID: 924 0717 8609
Passcode: 580399
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SATURDAY, November 11, 2023
NFB PLEDGE
I pledge to participate actively in the effort of the National Federation of the Blind to achieve equality, opportunity, and security for the blind; to support the policies and programs of the Federation; and to abide by its constitution.
General Session, Ballroom A and B, 2nd Floor
NFB of PA is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: 2023 General Sessions
Time: Nov 11, 2023 08:00 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://nfb-org.zoom.us/j/91082165846?pwd=ZGdtMVRHamkxZUl2UGZRbW54QTJmUT09
Meeting ID: 910 8216 5846
Passcode: 571190
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8:30 A.M. Invocation; Rabbi Lenny Sarko
8:35 A.M. Tribute to our Nation and the National Federation of the Blind.
8:40 A.M. Welcoming; Pamela Baquero, President, Blind Merchants Division, NFB of PA; Jason Polansky, President, Capital Chapter, NFB of PA
Housekeeping – Emily Gindlesperger, Convention Chairperson
8:45 A.M. Presidential Report; Lynn Heitz, President, National Federation of the Blind of Pennsylvania.
9:15 A.M. Report from Our National Representative; Pam Allen, 1st Vice President National Federation of the Blind and Director, Louisiana Center for the Blind
9:45 A.M. Identifying Your “WHY”; Sherry Gaskins, Member, Greater Philadelphia Chapter, NFB of PA
10:00 A.M. An Update on the Education of Our Blind Children; Carol Clancy, Director, Bureau of Special Education, Department of education, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
10:15 A.M. I Want To Work For The Commonwealth, How Can I Make That Happen?; Ty Osborne, Enterprise Recruitment Manager, Bureau of Enterprise Recruitment, Office of Administration, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
10:30 A.M. What is CAP?; Stephen S. Pennington, Esq., Executive Director, Pennsylvania client Assistance Program
10:55 A.M. Update on Blindness Services in Pennsylvania; Dawn Sokol, Director, bureau of blindness and Visual Services, Office of vocational Rehabilitation, Department of Labor and Industry, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
11:25 A.M. Questions
11:35 A.M. Updates from the Library of Accessible Media in Pennsylvania; LAMP, Patricia Shotzbarger, Free Library of Philadelphia.
11:50 A.M. What’s New at Accessible Pharmacy; Alexandra Luzier, Vice President of Business Development and Communications
12:00 P.M. to 1:30 P.M. Lunch; Pennsylvania Ballroom D and E, 2nd floor.
Zoom link will be the same as the morning session.
1:30 P.M. Welcome Back; Angelina Angelcyk, Board Member, NFB of PA
1:35 P.M. How I Came To Do This; Rabbi Lenny Sarko, Hebrew Braille Sefer Torah
1:50 P.M. Testifying at a Senate Hearing; Chris Westbrook, 1st vice President, Jigsaw Chapter, NFB of PA
2:05 P.M Updates on Commonwealth Accessibility; Ellen Strom, Chief Accessibility Officer, Office of Administration, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
2:25 P.M. Report of the Nominating Committee and Elections; James Antonacci, Chairperson, President Emeritus
3:00 P.M. Why Go Far Away To A Training Center?; Roland Allen, Orientation and Mobility Instructor, Louisiana Center for the Blind
3:15 P.M. Insights From An Accessibility Specialist: Embedding Accessibility Into All Environments; Rebecca Weber, Accessibility Specialist, Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network (PATTAN) and Gregory Gerhart,TVI-COMS, Educational Consultant, Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network (PATTAN)
3:35 P.M. Life For The Average Blind Person In Nigeria; Okeoghene Jane Akpaeva, social intrapreneur, Nigeria
3:55 P.M. Being A $10,000 Travel Grant Winner; Brian Fischler, Queens, NY
4:15 P.M. Update from the National Association of Blind Veterans; Vernon Humphrey, President
4:25 P.M. I Am Deaf, Where Do I Go For Help?; Melissa Hawkins, Director, Office of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, Department of Labor and Industry, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
4:40 P.M. What Are SSPS?; Heather Snyder, Step Up Services
5:00 P.M. Adjournment of General Session
6:00 P.M. Cash Bar; Ballroom A and B, 2nd Floor.
7:00 P.M. Banquet; Emily Gindlesperger, Convention Chairperson and 2nd Vice President, NFB of PA, Ballroom A and B, 2nd Floor
NFB of PA is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: 2023 Banquet at State Convention
Time: Nov 3, 2023 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
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Meeting ID: 215 988 0888
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SUNDAY, November 12, 2023
8:00 A.M. Breakfast; Ballroom A and B, 2nd Floor.
NFB of PA is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: 2023 Chapter Breakfast/Business Meeting
Time: Nov 12, 2023 08:00 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://nfb-org.zoom.us/j/91082165846?pwd=ZGdtMVRHamkxZUl2UGZRbW54QTJmUT09
Meeting ID: 910 8216 5846
Passcode: 571190
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8:30 AM: Chapter Breakfast; Harriet Go, Secretary, NFB of PA and President, Keystone Chapter, NFB of PA
Business Meeting; Ballroom A and B, 2nd Floor
9:00 A.M. State Financial Report; Brian Mackey, Treasurer, NFB of PA
9:30 A.M. Funding at the State level; Lynn Heitz, President, NFB of PA
9:50 A.M. Funding at the National level; Pam Allen, National Representative
10:10 A.M. Funding at The Local Level; Kirk Hunger, 1st vice President, Greater Lehigh Valley Chapter, NFB of PA
10:30 A.M. Legislative Report; Emily Gindlesperger, Legislative Chairperson
10:50 A.M. Reports and Resolutions; Michelle McManus, President, Happy Valley Chapter, NFB of PA
11:30 A.M. Adjournment
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The National Federation of the Blind is not an organization speaking for the blind, It is the Blind speaking for themselves.
