2024 Convention Agenda
National Federation of the Blind of Illinois
State Convention 2024
“Turning Obstacles into Opportunities”
AGENDA
NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND OF ILLINOIS
Annual Convention
October 18-20, 2024
Naperville Marriott
1801 Naper Blvd
Naperville, IL 60563
630 505-4900
Naperville Marriott Website
The National Federation of the Blind of Illinois is thankful to our 2024 state convention sponsors.
Gold Level Sponsors:
- Democracy Live
https://www.democracylive.com - Elburn Lions Club
https://elburnlions.com/lions-club/ - North Aurora Lions Club
https://www.northauroralions.org/
Diamond Level Sponsor:
- Schaumburg-Hoffman Lions Club
https://e-clubhouse.org/sites/schaumburghoffmanil/contact.php
Members of NFBI wish to thank the following donors for their generous gifts:
- The Aileen S. Andrew Foundation
- Illinois Prairie Community Foundation Inc.
- Community Fund Quad Cities Mildred Crespin-Croegaert Fund
- Mr. Harold W. Knapheide III, in honor of his mother, the late Mary MacDill Knapheide
- Gary and Debbie Lindon Family Fund via Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago
- The Trinity Fellowship Church
- The Naperville Noon Lion's Club
- Chapin Lions Club
- Frankfort Lions Club
- Mount Dora Lions Foundation, Inc. in memory of Dr. Jack N. Shorr
- The Chicago Lighthouse
- Laura Gerdes Ehrhart
- Michelmann Foundation
- Richard Lansden and Roger Hickman, Trustees, The Leona Stanford Vollintine Charitable Trust
- Iroquois Federal Savings and Loan Association and its employees
- Illinois Association of Blind Merchants, a division of the National Federation of the Blind of Illinois
- NFBI Chicago chapter, a chapter of the National Federation of the Blind of Illinois
- NFBI At Large chapter, a chapter of the National Federation of the Blind of Illinois
Logistics: Announcements, Registration, Information Desk, and Smoking Policy
Announcements that you wish to be made from the convention floor during sessions MUST be submitted to the information desk in the convention hall. Mary Grunwald is coordinating our information desk this year. Michal Nowicki and Kira O’Bradovich are handling the registration table at convention. Tasabih Elfaki and Michelle Ault are running our door prize table.
If you wish to reach President Marilyn Green during sessions, please text 312-343-8396.
Smoking is not permitted in convention sessions.
Marilyn Green, President
National Federation of the Blind of Illinois (NFBI)
5128 N. Oak Park Ave.
Chicago, IL 60656
(312) 343-8396
NFBI Website
National Federation of the Blind Website
2024 Naperville Marriott Hotel/Convention Information
This quick article explains the layout of the Naperville Marriott which is our convention hotel for 2024. It also gives you basic information about the facilities and amenities.
Address and Phone:
The hotel is located at 1801 N. Naper Blvd Naperville, IL 60563. The phone is: (630) 505-4900.
Sleeping Room Types:
There are two types of rooms. A Suite and a Standard Room. The suites have a parlor with a sleeper sofa and two easy chairs. The room rate for 1 King bed is $140 and the room rate for 2 Queen beds is $150 per night. All rooms have hair dryers and coffee makers. Connecting rooms are available upon request.
Key cards and Electrical Power:
This hotel is modernized. You need to insert your keycard in a slot inside your room to the side of the door to turn your power on. Leave it in the slot until you exit your room. When you remove it, the power goes off again.
Checkout:
Check in time is 3:00 p.m. Checkout time is 12:00 p.m.
Wi Fi:
There is free Wi Fi in all lobby and common areas. This includes our meeting rooms.
Facilities and Amenities:
There is an indoor pool, fitness room, and jacuzzi. There is lots of parking, especially at the side door.
Layout:
If you enter through the main doors, the layout is as follows: the Starbucks is to the left. You should walk ahead to where the tiled flooring forms a cross. If you turn left at the "lobby cross" with the doors at your back, you can enter Starbucks by taking the first left. If you take a right, you can go to the elevator bank. If you pass the elevators, you head toward the meeting rooms.
From the front door, if you bypass the crossing of the tiled portions of the lobby and keep going straight, you will find our information desk on your left and the hotel desk on your right. If you pass both, there is a restaurant directly ahead. You can find the bar, which also serves food from the restaurant, by going left after passing the hotel desk. The bar will be on your right, although people can also sit on the left side at this point.
At this point, it is easier if you reorient to the lobby desk. If you are standing facing the hotel front desk, the elevator bank is down the tiled hall to the right of the front desk. There are three elevators on your left side down that hall a short way. They are fast.
Our meeting rooms are laid out past the elevator bank. Right after the elevators there is a cash machine on your left and restrooms on your right. Past those, first you come to a hallway where conference rooms A, B, and C are on your left headed away from the lobby. Conference rooms D, E, and F are on your right. Past that Hall the hall divides at a Y. There is another set of restrooms down by the other conference rooms near Bailey. If you go left, you come to Bailey-Hobson and if you go right you will get to the Naper Ballroom. We are in the Naper Ballroom for all general sessions, the luncheon, the banquet and both breakfast sessions. Outside of the Naper Ballroom we will have exhibits and we will have our registration.
There is a dog relief area outside of the Naper room. Exit and walk a short way, then take a 45-degree left turn. There is a cement patio area on the left about 30 ft. up. At the end of the patio, you will find a grassy area with trees which will work well for dog relief. There is even a hydrant.
Braille is Beautiful - Friday
Braille is Beautiful will take place on Friday. Please feel free to reach out to Debbie Stein if you wish to participate.
Set-up for Naper Ballroom
When you enter the Naper Room it is wider left to right and shorter going ahead from the doors. You enter at the back of the room. We will have info, sales, and IABS in the back of the room and head table/stage will be furthest from the doors by the windows. Door prize table will be on the right as you face the stage.
IABS, INFORMATION, PAC AND SALES TABLES
The information desk will be in the hotel main lobby on Friday, Oct. 18 from 2:00pm to 4:30 p.m., and in our general session room during general sessions. Registration will be in the hallway outside of the Naper room on Friday from 2:00pm to 5:00 p.m. as well as on Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. The sales table for IABS will be in the back during general sessions. The PAC plan table will also be in the back during general sessions. Exhibitors will be outside of our general session room.
Announcements:
Masks are optional at our convention. If attendees wish to wear a mask, they may feel free to do so. A small quantity of Covid tests will be available if a person begins to feel ill and wishes to self-test. The National Federation of the Blind of Illinois will follow the convention hotel’s policies. We will additionally follow any guidelines mandated by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and local, state, or federal entities that may be enacted up until the close of our convention. Note that this statement is subject to change based on hotel policy, local, state, or federal regulations that may be placed in effect at the time of our convention.
The National Federation of the Blind of Illinois fosters a safe and inclusive environment for all at our events and meetings. We ask that you refrain from wearing or using excessive fragrances, including perfumes, colognes, and scented personal care products. Some people may have allergies to fragrances, the effects of which may be dangerous. Thank you for maintaining a safe and inclusive environment for all.
You can help build a future of opportunity for the blind by becoming a member of our Dream Makers Circle. Your legacy gift to the National Federation of the Blind or the National Federation of the Blind of Illinois can be made in the form of a will, or living trust, an income generating gift, or by naming us as the beneficiary of a life insurance policy. For additional information, please contact Patti Chang at (773) 307-6440 or at pchang@nfb.org.
The PAC Plan allows members, affiliates, chapters, and others to give a regular and automatic donation to the Federation every month. All you need to provide is your checking, savings, or credit card account identification information. Because of the costs associated with operating the program, the minimum donation is $5 a month and there is no restriction on how much you donate. Please sign up at the PAC table during convention to begin a new PAC contribution or to make changes to your current contribution. Your donation will help the blind live the lives they want.
In lieu of kid’s camp, the National Federation of the Blind of Illinois will provide a kid’s playroom at the state convention. The playroom, Conference Room D, will be open during all general sessions and the banquet. The playroom will have toys and art supplies and all activities must be supervised by an adult. The National Federation of the Blind of Illinois will not be staffing the playroom and assumes no liability.
Welcome to our 2024 State Convention of the National Federation of the Blind of Illinois!!! Have a great convention, everyone!!
Friday, October 18, 2024 Afternoon
| 2:00-5:00 | Exhibits - Hallway outside of Naper Ballroom
|
| 2:00-3:30 | Sculpting with Clay – Ralph Cossentino, Instructor of Figurative Sculpture at the Palette and Chisel in Chicago, Naper Ballroom |
| 2:00-3:30 | Hands-on Personal Safety: Shield Program– Amy Wilson, CEO and Founder, Safety Positive Foundation, Conference Room C |
| 2:00-4:30 | Information Table – Mary Grunwald, Hotel Lobby |
| 2:00-6:00 | Registration, Michal Nowicki, NFBI Treasurer and Kira O’Bradovich, NFBI Chicago chapter Treasurer Hallway Outside of Naper Ballroom |
| 4:00-5:00 | Resolutions – Michal Nowicki and Dustin Cather, Co-Chairs NFBI Resolutions Committee Naper Ballroom |
Friday, October 18, 2024 Evening
| 5:00-7:00 | General Membership Dinner and evening general session- Cost $20, Naper Ballroom |
| 5:00-5:10 | Welcome and Announcements – Marilyn Green, President NFBI Pledge of Allegiance Moment of Silence, Dan Dwyer– January 16,1957 to June 30, 2024- Chicago Chapter Gina Falvo–1963 to 2023- Chicago Chapter Ken Staley– December 2, 1949 to November 19, 2023- Chicago Chapter |
| 5:10-5:30 | Dinner |
| 5:30-6:00 | Braille is Beautiful |
| 6:00-6:30 | Magic Happens at NFB Programs -Patti Chang, Director of Outreach, National Federation of the Blind |
| 7:00-11:00 | IABS IDOL - Admission $5, includes your first performance Sara Luna, IABS Vice President, Naper Ballroom Join us for the Illinois Association of Blind Students IABS Idol Based on the popular TV show, American Idol. IABS Idol invites everyone to participate as a soloist or group and perform a song of their choice. Bring an instrument and perform your favorite song. Each performance costs $5 per person. Don't forget our “Battle of the Chapters.” This year's theme is songs related to dreams. |
Saturday, October 19, 2024 Morning Self-Advocacy and Breakfast, Naper Ballroom
| 7:00-7:10 | Introductions |
| 7:10-7:30 | Breakfast Served |
| 7:30-8:00 | I Got the Job Interview, Now What? – John G. Pare, Executive Director, Advocacy and Policy; National Federation of the Blind |
| 8:00-8:30 | IEP: An Overview – Deborah Kent Stein, Secretary, National Federation of the Blind of Illinois and Sara Luna, Vice President, Illinois Association of Blind Students, a division of the National Federation of the Blind of Illinois |
| 8:00 - 9:00 | Registration Michal Nowicki, NFBI Treasurer and Kira O’Bradovich, NFBI Chicago chapter, Treasurer Outside of Naper Ballroom Later registration, see Michal Nowicki in General Sessions |
Saturday, October 19, 2024 Morning Session
| 9:00-11:30 | General Session Naper Ballroom |
| 9:00-9:05 | Welcome and Announcements – Marilyn Green, President NFBI |
| 9:05-9:50 | National Report – John G. Pare, Executive Director of Advocacy and Policy, National Federation of the Blind; National Rep., National Federation of the Blind |
| 9:45-10:00 | Illinois Talking Book and Braille Service: An Update – Stephen McMinn, Talking Book and Braille Service, Springfield, Illinois |
| 10:00-10:10 | 2025 NFB State and National Scholarship Programs – David Meyer and Kira O’Bradovich, Co-chairs Scholarship committee, National Federation of the Blind of Illinois |
| 10:10-10:20 | National Association of Blind Students Report – Nikhil Dadlani, Secretary, National Association of Blind Students, a division of the NFB |
| 10:20-10:30 | Washington Seminar 2024 and the NFB Legislative Initiatives – Denise Avant and Dustin Cather, Federal Legislation Co-chairs, National Federation of the Blind of Illinois |
| 10:30-10:40 | My Summer at BELL Academy - Debbie Stein, Illinois BELL Coordinator, National Federation of the Blind of Illinois; Carson Cross, Assistant Teacher, Illinois Chicago BELL Academy and the BELL students |
| 10:40-11:00 | An NFB Training Center: What to Expect - Julie Deden, Executive Director, Colorado Center for the Blind, Littleton, Colorado |
| 11:00-11:30 | The State of Rehabilitation Services for the Blind of Illinois - Andy Losasso, Chief of Staff, Division of Rehabilitation Services, Springfield, Illinois |
| 11:30-12:00 | Break |
12:00 pm-1:30pm - Illinois Association of Blind Students Lunch and Business Meeting, “Charting our Journey with Leadership” – Naper Ballroom
IABS Vice President, Sara Luna
Note: All are welcome who are interested in student issues but please note that only those who have paid IABS dues may vote in elections. Please see any IABS Board Member to pay dues. We will be collecting money at the registration table and at the IABS table during convention.
| 12:00-12:15 | Lunch |
| 12:15-12:25 | 2024 State Scholarship Finalists – David Meyer and Kira O’Bradovich, Scholarship Co-chairs, National Federation of the Blind of Illinois |
| 12:25-12:35 | The Journey that Led Me to Today - Nikhil Dadlani, Secretary, National Association of Blind Students |
| 12:35-12:50 | Life Lessons Learned through Leadership Panel - Moderator, Tasabih Elfaki, Board Member, Illinois Association of Blind Students |
| 12:50-12:55 | Division Report – Sara Luna, Vice President, Illinois Association of Blind Students |
| 12:55-1:05 | Elections President, currently vacant Vice President, currently held by Sara Luna Secretary/Treasurer, currently vacant General Board Seat 1, currently held by Olivia Cichowlas General Board Seat 2, Currently Held by Debbie Stein |
| 1:05-1:30 | Exploring the 5 Leadership Styles Activity – IABS Board members |
| 1:30-1:35 | Illinois Association of Blind Students Board of Directors Photo Op |
Saturday, October 19, 2024 Afternoon Breakouts 1:45-2:45 pm
Breakout 1
| 1:45-2:45 | Illinois Association of Blind Merchants Division meeting Conference Room C Ed Birmingham, President, Illinois Association of Blind Merchants |
Breakout 2
| 1:45-2:45 | Taking Photos Like a Professional Breakout Conference Room F Dan Burke, Public Relations Specialist, Colorado Center for the Blind |
Saturday, October 19, 2024 Afternoon continued
3:00-5:00 General Session, Naper Ballroom
| 3:00-3:05 | Call to Order |
| 3:05-3:15 | Closing Remarks – Nikhil Dadlani, NABS Student Representative |
| 3:15-3:25 | Closing Remarks – John G. Pare, NFB National Representative |
| 3:30-4:00 | State Reports Treasury Report – Michal Nowicki, Treasurer, National Federation of the Blind of Illinois Presidents Report – Marilyn Green, President, National Federation of the Blind of Illinois |
| 4:00-4:30 | Resolutions – Michal Nowicki and Dustin Cather, Co-chairs |
| 4:30-5:00 | Elections Executive Board Seats President, currently held by Marilyn Green 1st Vice President, currently held by Denise Avant 2d Vice President, currently held by Patti Gregory Chang Secretary, currently held by Deborah Kent Stein Treasurer, currently held by Michal Nowicki General Board Seats Board Seat 1, currently held by Cathy Randall Board Seat 2, currently held by Bridgid Burke Election of Delegate and Alternates to 2025 National Convention |
| 5:00 | Adjourned |
Saturday, October 19, 2024 Evening
| 5:20-5:50 | Scholarship Committee Meeting – President’s Room |
| 6:00-7:00 | Hospitality – Fourier Outside of Naper Ballroom |
| 7:00 | Annual Banquet -Naper Ballroom MC – Denise Avant, 1st Vice President National Federation of the Blind of Illinois |
| 7:05-7:10 | Welcome and Invocation – David Meyer, Member, National Federation of the Blind of Illinois, Chicago chapter |
| 7:15-7:45 | Dinner |
| 7:45-7:55 | Awards-Patti Chang, 2nd Vice President, National Federation of the Blind of Illinois |
| 7:45-8:00 | Fifteen for Funds – Cathy Randall, Board member, National Federation of the Blind of Illinois |
| 8:00-8:30 | Banquet Speech – John G. Pare, NFB National Representative |
| 8:30-8:45 | Scholarship Awards – David Meyer and Kira O’Bradovich, Scholarship Co-chairs, National Federation of the Blind of Illinois |
| 8:45 | Adjourned |
| 9:00-11:00 | Hospitality |
Sunday, October 20, 2024 Morning
| 8:00-10:00 | Scholarship/General Membership Breakfast– Naper Ballroom |
Thank you for all you do!
Thanks to the Special Events Committee, the Sound committee, and all others who have served on committees, worked registration and information tables, secured door prizes, and appeared on the agenda. You have helped make this convention a tremendous success.
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.
BELIEF MESSAGE
The National Federation of the Blind advances the lives of its’ members and all blind people in the United States. We know 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. Our collective power, determination, and diversity achieve the aspirations of all blind people.