Pre-Convention 2000 Agenda 
NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND
2000 PRE-CONVENTION AGENDA
 
 
 
 
 
LET’S BUILD IT NOW!
 
          Last year we dedicated our convention to Dr. Kenneth Jernigan.  This 
year on our 60th Anniversary and in the first year of a new era we recommit 
ourselves with renewed vigor to the work of Changing What It Means to Be Blind 
for ourselves and for those who will come after us.  Establishment of the 
National Research and Training Institute for the Blind will begin our final 
assault on the hearts and minds of all who have not yet come fully to share our 
understanding of blindness.  Let us focus the energy and vitality of this 
convention on the task ahead.  As Dr. Jernigan said, “Let us go to the house of 
our own tomorrow.”  Let us build it now!
 
 
 
 
LET’S BUILD IT NOW! CAMPAIGN HEADQUARTERS
 
            Mrs. Jernigan’s suite (4612) will be Campaign Headquarters 
throughout the week.  Go there to get Campaign materials, see the tactile model 
of the National Research and Training Institute for the Blind, turn in pledges, 
talk about the Campaign, and view the preliminary Wall of Honor.  Pledges 
received during the convention will be added to the Wall of Honor as the week 
progresses.  There will also be a Campaign Table at Registration and in the back 
of the Ballroom during the General Sessions.  Don’t leave convention without 
having made your personal pledge!
 


 
REGISTRATION, TICKET SALES, AND EXHIBITS
            Registration: 9:00 Monday morning, July 3, Imperial Ballroom B, 
Convention Level.  Registration fee, $10 per person.  All convention attendees 
(both local and out-of-town people) should register.  Proof of convention 
registration is required to receive the special hotel room rates.  Banquet 
(Friday, July 7), $25.00.  Tickets may be purchased at registration.  Exhibits 
and Sensory Safari 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. July 3, International Hall North and 
South, Exhibition Level. 
 
 
NEWSLINE® NETWORK DEMONSTRATIONS 
            NEWSLINE® Network demonstrations will occur in the Yukon Room on the 
Lobby Level on Sunday, July 2, from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. and on Monday, July 3, 
from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. 
 
 
  WELCOME TO ATLANTA—KICK UP YOUR HEELS!  
Sunday, July 2, 8 p.m. to 11 p.m., Marquis Ballroom II and III.
 
 
GENERAL INFORMATION
            Presidential Suite: 4630.  All matters dealing with convention 
arrangements should be referred to Mary Ellen Jernigan, Chairman of Convention 
Organization and Activities, Suite 4612.  Georgia Suite (McArthur Jarrett, 
President) is 3834.  The affiliate will maintain during most of the convention a 
table near the hotel check-in desk in the lobby to provide assistance and 
hospitality.
 
 
MARRIOTT GEOGRAPHY AND ELEVATORS
            The levels and floors of the Marriott Marquis (beginning at the 
lowest level and moving upward) are designated as follows: Exhibition Level, 
Convention Level, Lobby Level, Garden Level, and floors 1-47.
 
            There are fifteen high-speed elevators, which are divided into four 
sets serving the various levels. All of the elevators in the main bank stop on 
Convention Level, Lobby Level, Garden Level, tenth floor (also known as the 
Skyline Level), and a specific group of numbered floors. The groups of numbered 
floors are as follows: one through seventeen; eighteen through thirty; 
thirty-one through forty-one; and forty-two through forty-seven. The main 
elevators do not go to the Exhibition Level. It may be reached by using a 
separate pair of Exhibition Level elevators which stop on parking garage one, 
parking garage two, the Exhibition Level, and the Convention Level or by using 
the escalators.


SCHEDULED ACTIVITIES
 
SUNDAY MORNING, JULY 2, 2000
7:30 a.m.
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS SEMINAR
NFB HAM RADIO GROUP
D. Curtis Willoughby (KA0VBA), Chairperson
Madrid Room, Convention Level
 
8:00 a.m.-12:00 noon
ROLES, RIGHTS, AND RESPONSIBILITIES
NATIONAL ORGANIZATION OF PARENTS OF BLIND CHILDREN (NOPBC) 
SEMINAR; Fees: $15 one adult & children; $10 each additional adult
 ·   8:00-9:30 a.m...            Registration, Family Event, Continental 
Breakfast 
 ·   9:30 a.m.            .........            Braille Carnival registration for 
children
 · 10:00 a.m. .........             Seminar begins
Barbara Cheadle, President
Imperial Ballroom A, Convention Level
 
9:00‑11:00 a.m.
NFB NET TRAINING SEMINAR
David Andrews, Systems Operator of NFB NET
Marquis Ballroom I, Convention Level
 
10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. 
KENNETH JERNIGAN BRAILLE CARNIVAL FOR CHILDREN (Sponsored by NOPBC)
Melody Lindsey, Chairman
McKenzie/Rio Grande Rooms, Lobby Level
 
SUNDAY AFTERNOON, JULY 2
 
12:30‑4:00 p.m.
THE 2000 NATIONAL JOB SEMINAR 
Presented by the Job Opportunities for the Blind (JOB) Targeted Jobs Initiative
Conducted by Jennifer Stevens, Director of Career Services, Colorado Center for 
the Blind, and JOB Colorado Regional Site Coordinator
• 12:30 p.m. Registration; 1:00 p.m. Call to Order
Imperial Ballroom A, Convention Level
 
1:00-4:00 p.m.
AN INTRODUCTION TO THE INTERNET SEMINAR—HOW TO GO ON LINE
Curtis Chong, Director of Technology, 
Richard Ring, Supervisor of the International 
Braille and Technology Center for the Blind, National Federation of the Blind, 
and 
Rick Fox, Technology Trainer Specialist, DeWitt & Associates
Marquis Ballroom I, Convention Level
 
1:00-5:00 p.m.
NEWSLINE® NETWORK DEMONSTRATIONS
Yukon Room, Lobby Level
 
1:00‑5:00 p.m.
BRAILLE 'N SPEAK SEMINAR
Deane Blazie, President, Blazie Engineering (now a Division of Freedom 
Scientific)
Amsterdam Room, Convention Level
 
1:30 p.m.
WRITERS DIVISION SEMINAR/WORKSHOP (Registration Fee: $5.00)
Tom Stevens, President
Bonn Room, Convention Level
 
1:30-5:00 p.m.
BABY-SITTING COURSE (Youth 12 and older); Sponsored by NOPBC 
Carla McQuillan, Instructor
Shangri-La Room, Garden Level
 
2:00 p.m.
THE NATIONAL RESEARCH AND TRAINING INSTITUTE FOR THE BLIND--
LET’S BUILD IT NOW!--A CAPITAL CAMPAIGN SEMINAR
Conducted by Vince Connelly, Ramona Walhof, and Betsy Zaborowski
Stockholm Room, Convention Level
 
2:00-4:00 p.m.
WHAT YOUR MOTHER COULDN'T TELL YOU (Sponsored by NOPBC)
Discussion group for blind and visually impaired young women ages 13 to 18.
Debbie Stein and Dr. Adrienne Asch are discussion leaders
Monte Carlo Room, Garden Level
 
2:00-4:00 p.m.
GUY STUFF
A discussion session for blind young men ages 12 to18 (Sponsored by NOPBC)
Doug Elliott, President of NFB Human Services Division
Riviera Room, Garden Level
 
2:00 p.m.
NOPBC CONCURRENT AFTERNOON WORKSHOPS 
Barbara Cheadle, President
Each workshop topic will be repeated in three sessions unless otherwise noted.
Times are: Session One, 2-2:45; Session Two, 3-3:45; Session Three, 4-4:45
 
            GOT A HAMMER? Blind kids can take Shop class
            Eric Woods, Shop Instructor, Colorado Center for the Blind
            London Room, Convention Level
 
            TEACHING SELF-ADVOCACY SKILLS
            Pam Dubel, Julie Deden, and Joe Ruffalo     
            Chablis Room, Lobby Level
 
TACTILE, AUDITORY, AND VISUAL TECHNIQUES FOR LOW-VISION CHILDREN
Doris Willoughby, Gail Wagner, Dr. Ruby Ryles, Dan Wenzel, Dr. Norman Gardner, 
and Peggy Chong
            Picard Room, Lobby Level
 
            MODELING SOCIAL SKILLS FOR BLIND KIDS: DISCUSSION GROUP
            Barbara Pierce
            Chardonnay Room, Lobby Level
 
            THE BRAILLE LITE IN THE CLASSROOM
Blazie Engineering (now a Division of Freedom Scientific) 
            Savoy/Rhine Rooms, Lobby Level
 
            BEGINNING BRAILLE FOR PARENTS
            Julie Hunter, Certified Braille transcriber
            South Hampton Room, Garden Level
 
2:30 p.m.
MYNA PRODUCTS SEMINAR
Mohymen Saddeek, President, Myna Corporation
Madrid Room, Convention Level
 
SUNDAY EVENING, JULY 2
 
6:30 p.m. 
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF GUIDE DOG USERS 
6:30 p.m. Registration; 7:00 p.m. Meeting begins
Suzanne Whalen, President
Marquis Ballroom I, Convention Level
 
6:30 p.m.
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BLIND SECRETARIES AND TRANSCRIBERS
6:30 p.m. Registration; 7:00 p.m. Meeting begins
Lisa Hall, President
Trinidad Room, Convention Level
 
6:30‑9:00 p.m.
NOPBC FAMILY HOSPITALITY NIGHT - Everyone welcome.
An informal time to relax and get to know one another. 
Hub, Garden Level
 
7:00 p.m.
PAC PLAN COMMITTEE
Noel Nightingale, Chairperson
Madrid Room, Convention Level
 
7:00-10:00 p.m.
DEAF‑BLIND DIVISION SEMINAR
Training Interpreters to Work Effectively with Persons Who Are Deaf-Blind
Joseph B. Naulty, President
Bonn Room, Convention Level
 
7:30-9:30 p.m.
NOPBC KIDS' SCAVENGER HUNT (ages 9 through 12)
Jan Bailey, Coordinator
Monte Carlo Room, Garden Level
 
7:30‑9:30 p.m.
NOPBC TEENS' SCAVENGER HUNT (ages 13 through 18)
Mildred Rivera, Coordinator 
Shangri-La Room, Garden Level
 
8:00-11:00 p.m.
WELCOME TO ATLANTA—KICK UP YOUR HEELS! 
Live music supplied by “The Blend”
Sponsored by the National Federation of the Blind of Georgia
Marquis Ballroom I and II, Convention Level
 
9:00-11:00 p.m.
KARAOKE NIGHT (Admission $5.00)
Sponsored by Minnesota Association of Blind Students and BLIND, Inc.
Amsterdam Room, Convention Level
 
MONDAY MORNING, JULY 3, 2000
 
9:00 a.m.‑5:00 p.m.
REGISTRATION ($10)
BANQUET TICKET SALES ($25.00)
Imperial Ballroom B, Convention Level