48th Annual State Convention
NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND of TENNESSEE
March 31 – April 2, 2017
Crown Plaza Hotel
300 N. Second Street
Memphis, TN
The National Federation of the Blind knows 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. You can live the life you want; blindness is not what holds you back.
Hospitality Room (Harbor Room Suite)
The members of the Memphis Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind of Tennessee would like to welcome all convention attendees to our great city! Join us in the Harbor Room Suite located on the second floor for great food, fun, and music…our door will be open. Come mingle with leaders of the TN affiliate and fellow Federationists. Like the Cheers theme song said, “Making your way in the world today takes everything you got, taking a break from all your worries sure would help a lot,” so join us on:
Friday March 31, 2017 8:00 PM-midnight
Saturday April 1, 2017 6:30-8:30 AM, 12:00noon-1:30 PM, and 10:00-11:30 PM
Exhibit Hall (Tennessee Room)
Come visit some of the Nation’s best training centers for the blind, learn about innovations in technology, and find resources that could benefit you or someone you know who is blind. Our Exhibit Hall features the largest number of exhibitors at a TN state convention, and it will be open on Friday from 3:00-6:00 PM and Saturday from 12:00-2:00 PM.
Guide Dog Relief Area
The guide dog relief area at the Crown Plaza Hotel is located across the parking lot once you exit the main entrance of the hotel. A trash can will be on-site, so please be responsible.
Registration (Tennessee Room)
If you have already preregistered or need to register for the NFB of Tennessee state convention, please stop by our registration table. It will be open from 2:00-4:00 PM Friday afternoon and from 8:00-9:00 AM on Saturday. Registration is only $10.00. Tickets for the banquet on Saturday night can be purchased for $35.00!
Friday March 31, 2017
3:00-6:00 PM Exhibit Hall (Tennessee Room)
3:00-6:00 PM Sports Seminar, Jessica Beecham, Executive Director, We Fit Wellness, Colorado Springs, CO (Memphis Room)
Come join us to learn how blind people can defend themselves as well as relax with some yoga. We can live the lives we want; blindness is not what holds us back.
5:00-6:00 PM Scholarship Committee, John Harris, Chair (Beale Street Room)
6:00-7:00 PM Resolutions Committee, Terry Smith, Chair (Plaza Room)
6:00-7:30 PM Tennessee Association of Blind Students, Shannon Hanson, President (Delta Room)
Join the Tennessee Association of Blind Students as we discuss accessibility issues faced by blind students nationwide. Find out what the NFB is doing on a national level to combat them. Dr. Deborah Carter will join us to talk about minimizing stress and making college a positive experience.
7:00-8:00 PM Audit Committee, Melisa Smith, Chair (Beale Street Room)
7:00-9:00 PM Tennessee Association of Guide Dog Users, Shea Welch, President (Memphis Room)
We are excited to welcome you to TAGDU’s fourth annual Hup Up Tennessee seminar to discuss training, advocacy, and daily life as guide dog users. Hear from representatives of two major guide dog schools, learn about working with children as a guide dog user, participate in an interactive advocacy workshop, and have a hand in the future goals of our growing organization. Join TAGDU’s seminar for some great information, door prizes, and fun!
8:00-11:00 PM TABS Game Night (Tennessee Room)
Stop by the TABS game night where you can not only join in on Family Feud and Singing Bee, but also grab some pizza and a light snack and catch up with friends! Tickets are $10.00.
Saturday April 1, 2017
General Session – located in the Tennessee Room on the lower level.
Theme: All Heart: Federation Grit and Grind
9:00 AM: Call to Order!
James Brown, President, NFB of TN
Nashville, TN
Invocation:
Deborah Carter, Member, Memphis Chapter
Memphis, TN
Greetings from the Land of the Blues
Christina Clift, President, Memphis Chapter
Reginald Tate, TN State Senator
Lawrence Johnson, Grizzly Community Mentoring Program
Danny Z, WUMR Music
Memphis, TN
9:30 AM: National Report: Together We Can!!
Shawn M. Callaway, Board Member
National Federation of the Blind
President, NFB of Washington DC
10:00 AM: Pushing Past Your Limit
Bobbie Davis PH.D, LCSW
Clarksville, TN
10:20 AM: 2017 Tennessee Scholarship Class
Talent Alone is Never Enough
John Harris, Chair, Scholarship Committee, State Board Member
Murfreesboro, TN
10:40 AM: University of Memphis Goes for the Slam Dunk!
Teaming up for Accessible Technology
Trey Martindale Ed.D, Instructional Design
and Technology Program
Fair Berg Ed.D, Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning
Memphis, TN
11:00 AM: AIRA and Google Glass
A Team of One
James Boehm, President, Nashville Chapter
Nashville, TN
11:20 AM: Sports and Wellness for the Blind in Tennessee
Turning Setbacks into Comebacks
Jessica Beecham, Executive Director
We Fit Wellness
Colorado Springs, CO
11:40 AM: How to Win with Social Security
Courtney Williams, State Board Member
Johnson City, TN
Noon: Adjourn for Lunch
Exhibit Hall in Tennessee Room open from 12:00-2:00 PM
12:00-1:30 PM: Tennessee Association of Blind Merchants (Memphis Room)
Sharon Treadway, President
Nashville, TN
2:00 PM: Progress and Pride
Ruth Hemphill, Outreach Librarian, Tennessee Library for the Blind
Nashville, TN
2:25 PM: Why You Should be a Federationist
Winners Find a Way
Stephanie Zundel, Member, Nashville Chapter
Nashville, TN
2:45 PM: Calling All BELL Students
Full Court Press IN Tennessee
Christina Clift, President, Memphis Chapter
Memphis, TN
Tonika and TaMyah Jordan
Mother and Daughter Duo
Clarksville, TN
3:05 PM: Got Blindness Skills?
Stay Coachable
Eric Guillory, Director of Youth Services
Louisiana Center for the Blind
Cindy Jones-Yeager, Coordinator,
Alabama Freedom Center for the Blind
Birmingham, AL
3:35 PM: Tennessee Blind Services
Intense Trust Creates Incredible Teams
Shaniqua Cox, Director
Field Operations for Services for the Blind
Chattanooga, TN
3:55 PM: The Working Class Blind
Championships are Built on Relationships
Terry Smith, First Vice President, NFB of TN
Chattanooga, TN.
4:25 PM: State Presidential Report
One Team, One Goal
James Brown, President, NFB of TN
Nashville, TN
4:50 PM: Nominating Committee Report
Building a High-Performance Team
Nominating Chair, Terry Smith
First Vice President, NFB of TN
Chattanooga, TN
4:45 PM: Elections, Leading from Where You Are
James Brown, President, NFB of TN
Nashville, TN
5:00 PM: Adjourn
7:00-10:00 PM Banquet (Tennessee Room)
Master of Ceremony: June Mangum, Memphis Chapter Board Member
Keynote Address: Shawn M. Callaway, Board Member
National Federation of the Blind
President, NFB of Washington DC
Sunday April 2, 2017
8:00-8:45 AM: Nondenominational Service, Minister Corea Yates, Victory Temple Missionary Baptist Church (Tennessee Room)
General Session (Tennessee Room)
9:00 AM: Call to Order
James Brown, President, NFB of TN
Nashville, TN
9:05 AM: Invocation
Russell Jones, Second Vice President, Memphis Chapter
Memphis, TN
9:10 AM: Communications Committee Report
Steve Norman, Chair
State Board Member
Murfreesboro, TN
9:40 AM: Legislative Committee Report
James Brown, President, NFB of TN
Nashville, TN
9:55 AM: Audit Committee Report
Melisa Smith, Chair
Chattanooga, TN
10:10 AM: Treasurer’s Report
Evelyn Hogue, Treasurer, NFB of TN
Memphis, TN
10:25 PM: Website Committee Report
Tyler Butler, Committee Chair
Member, Nashville Chapter
Nashville, TN
10:40 AM: Chapter and Division Reports
11:15 AM: Resolutions Report
Terry Smith, Chair, Resolutions Committee
Chattanooga, TN
11:50 AM: Customary Motion
Nominating an Alternate delegate to National Convention
11:55 AM: State Convention 2018
Noon: Adjourn
Thank you to all of our members!
We couldn’t do this without you.
President: James Aaron Brown
4113 Tea Garden Way
Antioch, TN 37013
(615) 412-9632
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