48th Annual Convention of the National Federation of the Blind of Wisconsin

 

Gaining Skills and Breaking Down Barriers!

 

May 12th, 13th, & 14th, 2023

 

Hyatt Regency Green Bay

333 Main Street.

Green Bay, WI 54301

Reservations: (920) 432-1234

 

Our special guest will be Gary Wunder, editor of the Braille Monitor, and past President of NFB of Missouri.

 

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.

 

NFB OF WISCONSIN BOARD OF DIRECTORS OFFICERS:

President: Ben Dallin

First Vice President: Dave Hyde

Second Vice President: Denise Charlier

Secretary: Laurie Holzmann

Treasurer: John Fritz

Board Members: Chelsea Dallin, Kimberly Kiser, Hunter Kuester, Heather Lambert, Nicole Wolf, and Patty Zallar

 

 

 

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

 

Convention Arrangements: If you have any questions about convention arrangements, contact Dave Hyde, 608-774-5557.

 

Registration: Registration will be open on Friday, May 12, from 3:30 pm to 5:00 pm, and Saturday, May 13, from 8:00 am to 8:45 am. If you have any questions contact Chelsea Dallin, 608-290-5573. Onsite registration is $25, Saturday Box Lunch is $25, Saturday Banquet is $45. If registering onsite, meals will be available on a first come basis until sold out.

 

Presidential Suite: Anyone who wants to meet with President Ben Dallin  is welcome to come to the Presidential Suite. Call Ben at 775-934-6181.

 

Childcare Room: Childcare will be open during the general convention sessions. Children may be dropped off no earlier than 30 minutes prior to the start of the session and must be picked up no later than 15 minutes after. Morning and afternoon snacks will be provided. For location and  any questions, please contact Debi Meng at 608-558-1589 (Before and during the convention).

 

Door Prizes: You may be the lucky winner of a great door prize. Names will be drawn throughout the convention sessions and banquet. To be eligible to win, you need only to be registered and to be present in the meeting room when your name is drawn, unless you are in childcare. All donations of door prizes should be clearly labeled in braille and print and turned in to the door prize table in Meeting Room 7.

 

Exhibits: We encourage all attendees to visit our exhibitors. Learn about employment opportunities, technology, and more! Everyone who visits each table will be entered into a drawing for a special prize!

 

NFBW Auction: You may be the lucky high bidder of a great auction item!  All donations of auction items should be clearly labeled in Braille and print and turned in to the door prize table in Meeting Room 7.

 

PAC Plan: You can be a part of our mission to help blind people live the lives we want. Make recurring monthly donations through direct withdrawals from a checking account or charges to a credit card by signing up for our Pre-Authorized Contribution (PAC) program. Visit our PAC table during general sessions, or visit

Nfb.org/pac

 

Dog Relief Area Information: When you walk out of the front doors of the hotel, make a right and follow the short sidewalk to the grassy area. The trash can is on the right side of the sidewalk, about 2-3 steps onto the grassy area. A reminder to please pick up after your dogs. If anyone has questions, feel free to contact Angie Castro at 608-354-6725.

Note: When checking in at the hotel, they may give you a Service Animal Companion Letter and ask you to complete an emergency contact form for your service animal. This is completely voluntary and is not required to complete. They will also give you a sign to hang on your door, please display your “Dog on Vacation” sign at all times.

 

 

Meet Gary Wunder:

I am the father of four, the grandfather of four, a member of the National Federation of the Blind since 1972, a former computer programmer for the University of Missouri hospitals and clinics, and I now serve as the editor of the Braille Monitor. If you don’t know what the Braille Monitor is, I would like to have a serious discussion with you about being a subscriber of the flagship publication of this organization.

 

In 1979 the Missouri affiliate elected me as its state president. I served until 1983, took a two-year break, and served from 1985 to 2017. It has been my pleasure to serve on the National Board of Directors both as a board member and as the corporate secretary for the Federation. Currently the good people of Columbia Missouri have asked me to be their chapter president, but it’s not all about being at the top: before being elected as the chapter president, I served as the recording secretary and before that as the treasurer. It seems that even among us we tend to believe that in order to be the treasurer you have to have sight.

 

I look forward to coming to Wisconsin. I operate on finding unity and consensus. I love a good argument, a good debate, but I cherish the bridges that we build together when we serve for a common purpose and find that the things that unite us are more important than those that divide us. I take seriously the closing lines of our president when he says let’s go build the National Federation of the Blind. He is not speaking to someone else; he is speaking to you and me

 

 

 

 

Friday, May 12, 2023

 

2:00 pm - 7:00 pm    Exhibits, Meeting Room 5A/B

 

3:30 pm - 5:00 pm    Registration, Registration Desk

 

6:00 pm - 10:00 pm Hospitality, Room location provided at registration desk or by contacting Denise Charlier (920) 983-7915

Hosted by the Brown County Chapter

 

7:00 pm                  Resolutions Committee Meeting, Meeting Room 2

Dave Hyde, Chairperson

 

8:00 pm – Midnight  WABS Social and Trivia Night, $5 entry and cash bar available, Meeting Room 6A/B

 

 

 

Saturday, May 13, 2023

 

7:00 am                         Annual Meeting: Wisconsin Association of Guide Dog Users WAGDU, Contact for Location– Angie Castro, President

 

7:00 am - 8:30 am    Hospitality light breakfast, Room location provided at registration desk or by contacting Denise Charlier (920) 983-7915

Hosted by the Brown County Chapter

 

7:30 am - 9:00 am    Exhibits, Meeting Room 5A/B

 

8:00 am - 8:45 am    Registration, Registration Desk

Registration is $25, Saturday Box Lunch is $25, Saturday Banquet is $45. Meals will be available on a first come basis until sold out.

 

8:30 am - 5:15 pm    Childcare, contact Debi Meng for location,

 

GENERAL SESSION 1

(All general sessions will be held in Meeting Room 7

 

9:00 am                  Call to Order

Invocation

Pledge of Allegiance

NFB Pledge

Welcome – Green Bay Mayor  Eric Genrich

 

9:20 am                  National Association of Blind Students

Elizabeth Rouse, Treasurer

 

9:30 am                  Report from the National Federation of the Blind

Gary Wunder, Editor of the Braille Monitor

 

10:00 am                Wisconsin Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired

Dave Hyde, Professional Development Coordinator

Chelsea Dallin, College and Career Readiness Teacher

 

 

 

10:20 am         Disability Rights Wisconsin

Bob Poeschl, Development and Communications Manager

 

10:40 am                Wisconsin Elections Commission

Regina Hein, Elections Specialist

 

11:00 am                Introduction to the NFB Diabetes Action Network

Debbie Wunder, President

 

11:20 am                My Career as a Blind Artist

Elizabeth Sheeler, University of Wisconsin Madison

 

11:40 am                My Career as a Blind Registered Nurse

Lindsey Deuster, UW Health

 

12:00 pm                       Adjourn

 

Lunch                            All Lunches will be available outside of Meeting Room 7. Please only take a box lunch if you purchased one and have a ticket in hand.

 

Division Meetings and Annual Meetings:          

 

Luncheon and Annual Meeting: Wisconsin Association of Blind Students WABS, contact for location, Hunter Kuester, President (920) 285-8530

 

Luncheon and Annual Meeting: Wisconsin Parents of Blind Children WOPBC, Debi Meng, President, Meeting Room 7

 

Luncheon and Annual Meeting: National Federation of the Blind - Wisconsin Badger Chapter, contact for location, Kimberly Kiser, President, (920) 809-5422

 

12:00 pm - 2:00 pm Exhibits, Meeting Room 5A/B

 

General Session 2

(All general sessions will be held in Meeting Room 7.

 

2:00 pm                  Call to Order

 

2:05 pm                  The National Federation of the Blind of Wisconsin Presidential Report

Ben Dallin, President, National Federation of the Blind of Wisconsin

 

2:20 pm                  Living an Active Outdoor Life

George Wilson, La Crosse County Chapter President

 

2:40 pm                  Intro to the World of Guide Dogs: A Panel presented by Wisconsin Association of Guide Dog Users

Meghan Whalen, Moderator, Vice President, WAGDU

 

3:15 pm                  break

 

3:30 pm - 5:00 pm    Breakout Session 1, Meeting Room 3

Wisconsin Parents of Blind Children

Debi Meng, President

Guest speakers, learn about topics such as braille, technology, and special opportunities for blind children

 

3:30 pm - 4:15 pm    Breakout Session 2, Meeting Room 2

Come learn about NFB training centers and here from students, graduates, and employees

Cody Beardslee and Hunter Kuester, moderators

 

4:15 pm - 5:00 pm    Breakout Session 3, Meeting Room 2

Technology Corner

Come with your questions and answers, discuss access technology in an informal atmosphere with people of all levels of experience.

 

3:30 pm - 5:00 pm    Exhibits, Meeting Room 5A/B

 

5:00 pm                  Adjourn

 

6:45 pm until the End of Banquet:   Childcare, contact Debi Meng for location

 

7:00 pm   Gaining Skills and Breaking Down Barriers!  Annual Banquet, Meeting Room 7, Master of Ceremonies: Denise Charlier

Invocation

Banquet Address: Gary Wunder

Pledging Our Way to the Future!

Drawings

Adjourn

 

9:30 pm                         Fund Raising Auction, Meeting Room 7

 

Sunday, May 14, 2023

 

BUSINESS SESSION 3

(All general sessions will be held in Meeting Room 7

 

8:00 am                  Annual Business Meeting

Invocation

Secretary’s Report

Treasurer's Report

Nominating Committee Report

Elections

Committee Reports

Legislative Report

Chapter & Division Reports

Resolutions Committee Report

National Convention

State Convention

Miscellaneous Business

11:00 am                Adjourn

 

Special Thanks from the State President:

I am honored to take the opportunity to thank our members, friends, families, guest speakers, and exhibitors  for attending the 48^th annual convention of the National Federation of the Blind of Wisconsin. Your help, suggestions, ideas, and presence truly made this convention possible and memorable. A very special thank you to Gary and Debbie Wunder  for joining us from Missouri to share their knowledge, wisdom, and experience. This convention has certainly been filled with opportunities to learn, grow, and come together to change what it means to be blind. Everyone please have a safe journey back to your homes and we hope to see you all very soon. Go in peace.    

 

Federation Initiatives

 

Braille Enrichment for Literacy and Learning (BELL) Academy: BELL:  We are once again excited to be offering our NFB BELL Academy, In-Home Edition for the summer of 2023. This year, students will be organized into classes based on their prior knowledge of the Braille code. The NFB BELL Academy is appropriate for students ages four through twelve. Learn more about the NFB BELL Academy.

 

INCLUSIVITY, DIVERSITY, AND SOCIAL CONDUCT

• The National Federation of the Blind of Wisconsin seeks to provide a convention in which all participants can come together in an environment of mutual respect and professionalism. We recognize a shared responsibility to create and uphold that atmosphere for the benefit of all. Some behaviors are therefore specifically prohibited:

 

We are committed to diversity, equity, and the free expression of ideas. These principles have been delineated in our Code of Conduct found at nfb.org/code-conduct.

For safety and support, visit

 

Vehicle Donations: The National Federation of the Blind uses car donations to improve the education of blind children, distribute free white canes, help veterans, and so much more. We have partnered with Vehicles for Charity to process donated vehicles. Please call toll-free (855) 659-9314, or you can donate online by visiting www.nfb.org/vehicledonations.

 

Leaving A Legacy: Dream Makers Circle: You can help build a future of opportunity for the blind by becoming a member of our Dream Makers Circle. For additional information, please contact Patti Chang at 410-659-9314, ext. 2422 or at pchang@nfb.org.

Thanks to these Wisconsin Dream Makers: John & Heather Fritz, Linda Pennell

 

Free Slate and Stylus Program: The National Federation of the Blind will distribute a slate and stylus to those that need them. The slate and stylus has long been and continues to be a valuable tool for writing Braille, which is vital to literacy for the blind. It is the only Braille-writing device that has the same portability, flexibility, and affordability as a pen and pencil. Please visit our free slate and stylus program online application to request your slate and stylus, https://freeslates.nfb.org//.

 

Free White Cane Program: The National Federation of the Blind has distributed more than 64,000 free white canes since 2008. The white cane gives blind people the ability to achieve a full and independent life, allowing us to travel freely and safely. For more information, please go to https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/free-white-cane-program.

 

• The Jacobus tenBroek Library is the only research library on blindness in the United States that is owned and managed by an organization like the National Federation of the Blind. Find more information at https://nfb.org/jacobus-tenbroek-library.
• Journal of Blindness Innovation and Research (JBIR): JBIR is a multidisciplinary, peer-reviewed publication. For more information, visit www.nfb.org/jbir.
• Imagineering Our Future: This is the monthly e-newsletter of the National Federation of the Blind. It features a message from President Mark A. Riccobono and highlights our most recent news, action items, and happenings.
• Nation’s Blind Podcast: This is our podcast show that highlights different themes related to blindness, independent living, and news.
• Presidential Release: This monthly audio update from President Riccobono is posted on the NFB website each month. You can access the release in all formats at https://nfb.org/presidential-releases.
• Voice of the Nation’s Blind Blog: Entries are posted to the Voice of the Nation’s Blind blog regularly. From access tech reviews to stories and advice from blind parents, there’s something for everyone. You can go to www.nfb.org/vonb-blog to read and share the posts.
• NFB on Social Media: You can get firsthand access to all our newest videos, photos, and information on our social media channels. Like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and Instagram (@NFB_voice), and subscribe to our YouTube channel (NationsBlind), and you won't miss a thing!