Agenda for 2025 State Convention

Welcome To Our State Convention!

Registration will be held Thursday, November 13 from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM and on Friday, November 14 from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM outside of the Heritage Ballroom, Lobby Level.

A table featuring materials of the National Federation of the Blind will be available outside of the Heritage Ballroom, Lobby Level.

There are dog relief areas outside the Best Western Premiere. For further information, contact David Goldstein or Lynn Heitz.

A Hospitality Suite is available in the McClay Room, 2nd Floor. The Hospitality Suite will be open as follows: 
Thursday, November 13 from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM; 
Friday, November 14 from 7:00 AM to 11:45 AM and from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM; 
Saturday, November 15 from 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM.

There will be an Exhibit Hall located in the Cameron Room and extending into the Lobby Foyer. The Exhibit Hall will be open on Thursday, November 13 from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM and on Friday, November 14 from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM.

We Are Grateful For Our Sponsors

Platinum

  • WAYMO

Gold

  • UPMC

Silver

  • RE/MAX Delta Group Inc

Bronze

  • Being Haircare
  • Democracy Live
  • Skies the Limit Communications
  • State Farm
  • Everett and Shirley Warren

Community Partner

  • Vanda

Thursday, November 13, 2025

7:30 AM to 8:30 AM – Continental Breakfast for Early Bird Registrants; Heritage Ballroom, Lobby Level. You must have your bracelet.

9:00 AM to 5:00 PM – Hospitality Suite; McClay Room, 2nd Floor.

8:30 AM to 12:00 PM – Senior Possibilities Fair; Connie Scheu, Moderator, Harris Room, Lobby Level.

9:30 AM to 11:00 AM – Would you like to learn how to make jewelry? Join Rachael Hudson for some tips and tricks. Heritage Ballroom, Lobby Level.

10:00 AM to 12:00 PM – Registration; Outside Heritage Ballroom, Lobby Level.

10:00 AM to 5:00 PM – Exhibit Hall; Cameron Room extending into Lobby Foyer.

12:00 PM – Box Lunches; Box lunches will be available outside the Heritage Ballroom. You must have a ticket or bracelet to get one.

1:00 PM to 4:00 PM – Technology Seminar; David Goldstein, 1st Vice President, NFB of PA, and Simon Bonenfant, President, PA Association of Blind Students, Moderators, Heritage Ballroom, Lobby Level.

6:00 PM – Tour of Italy Buffet; Heritage Ballroom, Lobby Level. You must have a bracelet or ticket. There will be an open bar available.

7:00 PM to 9:00 PM – Family Feud; Pamela Baquero, President, PA Association of Blind Merchants, Host. Come join the fun as Pam challenges members of the affiliate on their knowledge of the Federation, Heritage Ballroom, Lobby Level. Open bar available.

Friday, November 14, 2025

7:00 AM to 11:45 AM – Hospitality Suite; McClay Room, 2nd Floor.

7:30 AM to 8:30 AM – Continental Breakfast for Early Bird Registrants; Heritage Ballroom, Lobby Level. You must have your bracelet.

8:00 AM to 10:00 AM – Pennsylvania Association of Blind Merchants; Pamela Baquero, President, Heritage Ballroom, Lobby Level.

9:00 AM to 3:00 PM – Exhibit Hall; Cameron Room extending into Lobby Foyer.

9:00 AM to 10:15 AM – Diabetes Group; Updates and ideas on managing diabetes; Christine Palmer, Facilitator, Member Greater Philadelphia Chapter, Harris Room, Lobby Level.

10:15 AM to 11:45 AM – Blind Parents Division; Stacie Leap, President, Heritage Ballroom, Lobby Level.

10:30 AM to 11:45 AM – Advocating with Legislators; Michelle McManus, President Happy Valley Chapter, and Yvonne Hughes, Member Greater Philadelphia Chapter, Harris Room, Lobby Level.

11:45 AM – Box Lunch Pick Up; Outside the Heritage Ballroom, Lobby Level. You must have your bracelet or a ticket.

12:00 PM to 1:00 PM – NFB of PA Board of Directors Meeting; Heritage Ballroom, Lobby Level.

1:00 PM to 5:00 PM – Hospitality Suite; McClay Room, 2nd Floor.

1:15 PM to 2:00 PM – DeafBlind Division Meeting; Chris Westbrook, President, Harris Room, Lobby Level.

1:30 PM to 3:00 PM – Meet Our National Representative; Hospitality Suite, McClay Room, 2nd Floor.

1:30 PM to 2:45 PM – Resolutions: What Are They and Why Do We Need Them?; Michelle McManus, Legislative Chairperson, and Jim Antonacci, President Emeritus, Heritage Ballroom, Lobby Level.

2:15 PM to 3:00 PM – Jigsaw Chapter Meeting; Chris Westbrook, President, Harris Room, Lobby Level.

3:00 PM to 4:15 PM – Blind Seniors Group; Connie Scheu, Facilitator, Heritage Ballroom, Lobby Level.

3:15 PM to 4:30 PM – Buying a Home: What You Need to Know; Michael B. Yingling, CDPE, Broker/President, RE/MAX Delta Group Inc., Harris Room, Lobby Level.

4:30 PM to 5:15 PM – PA Association of Blind Parents; Harris Room, Lobby Level.

6:00 PM – South of the Border Buffet; Heritage Ballroom, Lobby Level. Bring your bracelet or ticket. An open bar will be available.

7:00 PM to 10:00 PM – Auction; Denice Brown, President, Greater Philadelphia Chapter, Auctioneer.

7:00 PM to 10:00 PM – Pennsylvania Association of Blind Students Division; Simon Bonenfant, President, Harris Room, Lobby Level.

10:00 PM – Nominating Committee Meeting; David Goldstein, Facilitator. This is a closed meeting.

Saturday, November 15, 2025

NFB Pledge

I pledge to participate actively in the efforts 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.

6:30 AM to 8:00 AM – Hospitality Suite; McClay Room, 2nd Floor.

General Session; Heritage Ballroom, Lobby Level.

8:30 AM – Invocation; Yvonne Hughes, Member, Greater Philadelphia Chapter.

8:35 AM – Tribute to our Nation and the National Federation of the Blind.

8:40 AM – Welcoming; Pamela Baquero, President, PA Association of Blind Merchants.

8:45 AM – Housekeeping; David Goldstein, Convention Chairperson, 1st Vice President NFB of PA.

8:50 AM – Presidential Report; Lynn Heitz, President, NFB of PA.

9:40 AM – Report from Our National Representative; Anil Lewis, Executive Director, Jernigan Institute, Baltimore, MD.

10:25 AM – What’s New with NABS?; Lauren Chaya Altman, President, National Association of Blind Students.

10:40 AM – Programs and Accommodations Available at CTI at HGAC; Amanda Prince, Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist, Hiram G. Andrews Center, Commonwealth Technical Institute.

10:55 AM – 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.

11:15 AM – What’s New at the Library for Accessible Media for Pennsylvanians; Aimee Thrasher-Hanson, Outreach and Engagement Supervisor.

11:30 AM – My Life in the Federation; David Denotaris, CEO, Skies the Limit Communications.

12:00 PM to 1:30 PM – Lunch; Box lunches will be available outside the Heritage Ballroom, Lobby Level. You must have a bracelet or ticket.

1:30 PM – Why Should I Go to an NFB Training Center?; Preston Gaylor, Clarence Ezell, and Rachael Hudson.

2:05 PM – In the Beginning; Anil Lewis, Executive Director, Jernigan Institute, Baltimore, MD.

2:30 PM – Report of the Nominating Committee and Elections; David Goldstein, 1st Vice President, NFB of PA.

3:15 PM – Buying a Home: The Experience from Both Sides of the Table; Jason Polansky and Michael B. Yingling, RE/MAX Delta Group Inc.

3:35 PM – Looking Back; Deniece Hopper, Member, Keystone Chapter, NFB of PA.

3:55 PM – Reflections; Mark A. Riccobono, President, National Federation of the Blind, Baltimore, MD.

4:15 PM – What is the Randolph Sheppard Program?; Judy Schoenly, Chairperson, PA Elected Committee of Blind Vendors.

4:30 PM – My National Convention Experience: Why You Should Attend; Denise Johnson, Clarence Ezell, and Noor Khraisat.

4:55 PM – Housekeeping.

5:00 PM – Adjournment of General Session.

6:00 PM – Cash Bar; Heritage Ballroom, Lobby Level.

7:00 PM – Banquet; David Goldstein, Master of Ceremonies, Convention Chairperson and 1st Vice President, NFB of PA, Heritage Ballroom, Lobby Level.

Sunday, November 16, 2025

8:00 AM – Breakfast; Heritage Ballroom, Lobby Level.

8:15 AM – Chapter Breakfast; Harriet Go, Facilitator, Secretary, NFB of PA, and President, Keystone Chapter.

Business Meeting; Heritage Ballroom, Lobby Level.

9:00 AM – State Financial Report; Jason Polansky, Acting Treasurer, NFB of PA.

9:30 AM – Funding at the State Level; Lynn Heitz, President, NFB of PA.

9:50 AM – Funding at the National Level; Anil Lewis, National Representative, Executive Director, Jernigan Institute, Baltimore, MD.

10:10 AM – Funding at the Local Level; David Goldstein, 1st Vice President, NFB of PA.

10:30 AM – Legislative Report; Michelle McManus, Legislative Chairperson.

11:00 AM – Happy Birthday National Federation of the Blind.

11:30 AM – Adjournment.

Our Philosophy

The National Federation of the Blind is not an organization speaking for the blind. It is the blind speaking for themselves.

We Thank Our Exhibitors:

  • Blindness and Visual Services
  • CTI at the Hiram G. Andrews Center
  • Dancing Dots
  • Enhanced Vision Assistive Devices
  • JW.org
  • Library for Accessible Media for Pennsylvanians
  • Michellescentsites
  • Stream Consulting LLC
  • Tactile Engineering
  • Visual Eyes Access