Affiliate Convention
Convention 2023
The National Federation of the Blind of Florida State Convention is the largest gathering of blind people in the State of Florida. It is the premier event for training, support, and information for the blind community. It also serves as a governing body, democratically electing our leadership and establishing each year's organizational priorities. Although the convention is open to all, our constitution states that only members of the NFB have the right to participate in decision making when it comes to organizational policy.
Dates and Location
Our state convention will be held in Tampa, Florida. dates are October 6th, 7th, and 8th with departure for home October 9th.
Embassy Suites by Hilton Tampa USF
3705 Spectrum Boulevard
Tampa, FL 33612
Phone Number: 1-813-903-6625
Booking Code: NFB
Welcoming Announcement
The hosting chapters welcome our members, family, and friends to our 2023 State Convention.
Mark Riccobono, President
National Federation of the Blind
Paul Martinez, President
National Federation of the Blind of Florida
Tampa, Florida
Tel: 813-390-5720
Email: president@nfbflorida.org
Peggy Fleisher
Convention coordinator
Kaye Zimpher, President
Jacksonville Chapter
Inclusivity, Diversity, and Social Conduct
As an attendee at our convention, you not only represent yourself but also represent our organization. We want you to enjoy our time together and to make new friends and renew old acquaintances. Although we encourage members to socialize and have fun, the convention also provides a valuable opportunity to come together to continue the work of our organization, to learn about the important initiatives that we are involved with on local and national levels, and to plan our work for the future.
The National Federation of the Blind of Florida seeks to provide a convention environment in which diverse participants, including members, speakers, exhibitors, staff, and volunteers, may learn, network, and enjoy the company of friends and colleagues in an environment of mutual respect. We recognize a shared responsibility to create and uphold that atmosphere for the benefit of all. Some behaviors are therefore specifically prohibited:
- Harassment or intimidation based on race, religion, ethnicity, language, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, disability, physical appearance, or other group identity.
- Sexual harassment or intimidation, including unwelcome sexual attention, stalking (physical or virtual), or unsolicited physical contact.
- Public drunkenness and associated behaviors (e.g., belligerence, yelling, hostility, destruction of property).
Participants are expected to observe these rules and behaviors in all convention venues, including online arenas, social media, and convention social events. Participants who are asked to stop a behavior that the recipient considers hostile or harassing are expected to comply immediately.
We are committed to diversity, equity, and the free expression of ideas. These principles have been delineated in our recently adopted code of conduct found at https://nfb.org/code-conduct.
COVID Policy
Masks are optional at our convention. If any attendees wish to wear a mask, they may feel free to do so. The National Federation of the Blind of Florida will follow the 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: This policy 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.
Exhibit Hall
TBA
Russ Davis,Coordinator
Hours of Operation
Friday, October 6 from 3:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Saturday, October 7 from 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Sunday, October 8from 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Hospitality Suite
TBA
Hours of Operation
Friday, October 6 from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Saturday, October 7 from 7:30 am - 8:45 am, 12:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Sunday, October 8 from 7:30 am - 8:45 am, 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Special Attention Items
Appointments to meet with President Martinez may be made by sending an email to president@nfbflorida.org.
Meet and Greet
To be announced
Friday, October 6, 2023
4:00 PM - 7:30PM - Convention Registration
Sylvia Young, Secretary/Treasurer National Federation of the blind of Florida
4:00 PM - 4:45 PM - Ambassadors Meeting
Hotel Lobby
Doug Ingram, Chair, Ambassadors Committee
Calling all ambassadors to meet prior to the start of convention.
5:00pm Guided Hotel Tour Led by Ambassadors
Hotel Lobby
6:00pm Rookie Round-up
Paul Martinez, President, National Federation of the Blind of Florida
7:00 PM - 7:45 PM - Resolutions
Camille Tate, Chair, Resolutions Committee, National Federation of the Blind of Florida
Come to hear Resolutions that will be presented on the convention floor Sunday.
8:00 PM to 9:00 PM - Open Board Meeting
NFB of Florida Open Board Meeting
Paul Martinez, President, National Federation of the Blind of Florida
Come and learn what the state affiliate has been doing, meet the 2023 student scholarship finalists, hear the Roll Call of chapters, learn more about our fundraiser, get an update on our PAC status, and so much more.
9:00 PM - 10:00 PM Happy 52nd Birthday Party, National Federation of the Blind of Florida
Peggy Fleischer, Convention Planning Chair, National Federation of the Blind of Florida
10:00 PM to 11:00 PM - Students Social
ZLeah Liburd, Vice President, Florida Association of Blind Students
Come and learn what the students are doing in Florida.
Saturday, October 7, 2023
7:15 am - 8:45 am Presidents/Vice President Breakfast
Paul Martinez, President, National Federation of the Blind of Florida
7:30 am - 8:45 am Devotions
Communities of Faith
8:15 am - 8:45 am Convention Registration
Sylvia Young, Treasurer, National Federation of the Blind of Florida
General Session
9:00 am - Call to Order
Paul Martinez, President, National Federation of the Blind of Florida
9:03 am - Invocation
Dr. Winson Butler, Dinsmore Baptist Church, Jacksonville, FL
9:08 am Pledge of Allegiance and Veterans Salute
Doug Ingram, United States Navy
Board Member, National Federation of the Blind of Florida
9:20 am National Anthem
ZLeah Liburd, Vice President, Florida Association of Blind Students
9:25 am National Federation of the Blind Pledge
Scott Larson, Greater Daytona Beach Chapter
9:27 am National Federation of the Blind One Minute Message
Russ Davis, Treasurer, Greater Jacksonville Chapter
9:30 am Welcome
Miranda Kilby, President, Tampa Chapter
Peggy Fleischer, Convention Planning Chair
Greater Daytona Beach Chapter
9:45 am Welcome from the City of Tampa
10:00 am National Report
Mark Riccobono, president, National Federation of the blind
10:25 am Title Sponsor - Clusiv
Luke Simianer, CEO Clusiv
10:35 am Report from the Division of Blind Services
Robert Doyle, Director, Division of Blind Services
10:55 am Report from our Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind
Carol Bogue, President, Principal
11:05 am Navigating Healthcare When All They Can See is That You Can't
Debra Kendrick, Author, National Federation of the Blind
11:15 am Braille Panel
Kaye Baker, Secretary, National Federation of the Blind of Florida
11:30 am Why I Am a Federationist
Doug Ingram, Board Member, National Federation of the Blind of Florida
11:35 am Senator Audrey Gibson
Florida State Legislature, Senate, District 06
11:50 am Title Sponsor: Able United
John Finch, CEO
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm Lunch Break
12:00 pm - 12:45 pm Treasurers Lunch
Sylvia Young, Treasurer, National Federation of the Blind of Florida
12:00 pm - 6:00 pm Exhibit Hall - Starboard Ballroom
12:00 pm - 6:00 pm Hospitality Suite 133
Saturday Special Interest Meetings and Workshops
1:00 pm to 5:00 pm
1:00 pm - 1:45 pm How to Protect Your Assets
Sail Room
Edward Kimmel, RFC, LUTCF
Kimmel Insurance & Investments
Would you like to keep more of your earnings and prevent your assets from shrinking? Several strategies will be explored, which will include controlling spending, eliminating debt, maximizing savings, providing for your children and grandchildren's education, and using cash flow insurance to reduce taxes and create opportunities to earn more than inflation.
1:00 pm - 2:45 pm Deaf-Blind Division Annual Meeting
Port Ballroom
Brian Norton, President, Deaf-Blind Division of Florida
Come learn about services available for Deaf-Blind children and adults with guest speakers Carol Bogue Principal, Department for the Blind, Florida School for the Deaf and Blind and Nancy Epps, Conklin Davis Center.
1:00 pm - 2:45 pm Florida Association of Guide Dog Users
Anchor Room Brittany Fraer, President, Florida, Guide Dog Users
Come and participate in a discussion with a veterinarian and have your questions answered.
1:00 pm - 2:45 pm Tactile Art Workshop
Tug Room Vicky Lennon, Curator, Greater Jacksonville Chapter
Have you been checking out all the tactile art pieces displayed? Come and learn how to express yourself by making your own tactile art masterpiece. Have you been checking out all the tactile art pieces displayed? Come and learn how to express yourself by making your own tactile art masterpiece.
2:00 pm - 3:45 pm Florida Association of Blind Students Annual Meeting
Sail Room
Z'Leah Liburd, Vice President, Florida Association of Blind Students
There's a lot going on with our students. Come find out about all the happenings.
2:00 pm - 3:45 pm Employment Seminar
Commerce Room
Kaye Baker, Secretary, National Federation of the Blind of Florida
Are you interested in the wide variety of jobs blind individuals can hold? Come to our employment seminar and find out what we do, and how we do it. Listen to our panel as we discuss what jobs we hold, how we got them, and what technology we use to get our work done every day. We'll discuss challenges, successes and much more. We'll even have time for your questions. We look forward to seeing you there.
3:00 pm - 4:45 pm Seniors Concerns Committee
Anchor Room
Gloria Mills-Hicks, Vice President, Tampa Bay Chapter
This year the Senior Concerns Committee will focus on transportation throughout Florida. Did you know that grants are being awarded throughout the state to make future travel easier and more affordable for the transportation disadvantaged? This and other topics we will discuss should be of interest to all seniors and those who plan to be seniors, in short, everyone!
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm Dress for Success
Commerce Room
Camille Tate, 2nd Vice President
Jorge Hernandez, 1st Vice President
National Federation of the Blind of Florida
Living in a sighted world, we are often judged by our appearance. What do I wear for a job interview? How do I dress for a cocktail party? How important is it to wear make-up and when do I wear it? All these questions and more can be answered at Dress for Success. We will talk about professional, business casual and casual modes of dress for any occasion. Come and ask your questions and win a prize!
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm Florida Statewide Chapter
Presidential Suite, Room 401
Paul Martinez, President
5:00 pm - 6:30 pm Dinner - on your own
6:30 pm - 7:30 pm Live Entertainment
Windward Ballroom
The Timeless Elegance of Miranda Madison, The Siren of Swing
Saturday Evening
7:30 pm - 10:30 pm Annual Fundraising Auction
Windward Ballroom
Paul Martinez, Auctioneer
10:30 pm - 11:00 pm Live Entertainment
Windward Ballroom
Miranda Madison
www.mirandamadison.com
Sunday, October 9, 2022
7:30 am - 8:00 am Devotions
Tug Room
Communities of Faith
7:45 am - 8:45 am Nominating Committee
Delegates only
Sail Room
Camille Tate, Committee Chair, 2nd Vice President, National Federation of the Blind of Florida
8:15 am - 8:45 am Convention Registration
Final Opportunity!!
Atrium Foyer
Sylvia Young, Treasurer, National Federation of the Blind of Florida
9:00 am - 12:00 pm General Business Session
Port Ballroom
9:00 am Call to Order
Paul Martinez, President, National Federation of the Blind of Florida
9:03 am Invocation
Dr. Joyce Taylor, Vice President, Melbourne Space Coast Chapter
9:08 am National Federation of the Blind Pledge and One Minute Message
Andrew Rood, Greater Jacksonville Chapter
9:10 am God Bless America
Sherry Adams, Greater Daytona Beach Chapter
9:12 am President's Report
Paul Martinez, President, National Federation of the Blind of Florida
9:30 am Treasurer's Report
Sylvia Young, Treasurer, National Federation of the Blind of Florida
9:35 am Resolutions Committee Report
Camille Tate, Chair, Resolutions Committee
9:50 am From the Classroom to the Courtroom
Owen McCaul
Florida School for the Blind
10:10 am Title Sponsor: Vanda Pharmaceuticals
Vicki Preddy
10:20 am Title Sponsor: Stellar
10:30 am Nominating Committee Report
Camille Tate, Chair, Nominating Committee
10:35 am Elections
12:00 pm Announcements & Adjournment
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm Lunch - On your own
12:00 pm - 12:45 pm Secretaries Lunch
Navigator Room
Kaye Baker, Secretary, National Federation of the Blind of Florida
12:00 pm - 5:00 pm Exhibit Hall
Starboard Ballroom
Sunday General Interest Meetings and Workshops
1:00 pm to 5:00 pm
1:00 pm - 1:45 pm Florida Blind Parents
Tug room
Miranda Kilby, President, Tampa Bay Chapter
Home remedy tricks and tips Join the Blind parents group and learn a few different home remedies that work! Come share your home remedy with others. all are welcome to attend. and learn and share tips and tricks on raising your child no matter what their ages.
1:00 pm - 2:45 pm Clusive Workshop
Sail Room
1:00 pm - 1:45 pm Federation Foundations
Anchor Room
Camille Tate, 2nd Vice President, National Federation of the Blind of Florida Camille Tate and Russ Davis, Co-C
Our Book Club, now re-named Federation Foundations, invites you to a discussion on Leadership and the Matrix, a speech given by Dr. Marc Mauer in July 2002, at the Louisville, Kentucky convention. You may read or listen to the speech by visiting nfb.org/banquet-speeches. This will be an interactive discussion!
2:00 pm - 2:45 pm Sports and Recreation
Commerce Room
Denise Valkema, Board Member
National Federation of the Blind of Florida
Come to an easy to do strength and balance class designed to strengthen key muscles to improve and maintain balance. You will be able to continue taking classes at home. Lisa Fisher, Wellness Coordinator New Vision for Independence
2:00 pm - 3:45 pm Legislation and Self-Advocacy
Anchor Room
Russ Davis, Legislative Director
Camille Tate, Legislative Director
Kaye Baker, Secretary, National Federation of the Blind of Florida
Come and join us as we discuss our state and national legislative priorities! We will also have a self-advocacy discussion led by Kaye Baker, Secretary of the National Federation of the Blind of Florida, and President of the Greater Jacksonville Chapter!
3:00 pm - 4:45 pm Diversity and Inclusion: STEM and Transportation
Sail Room
Marilyn Baldwin, Chair and Tashara Cooper, Central Florida Chapter
S.T.E.M. Thinking Beyond & The Value of the Blind
This audience interactive presentation will focus on describing various STEM and STEM related/complementary fields within government, industry, and academia. More specifically, how persons who are blind can leverage the skills and tools they utilize in their everyday lives to market themselves within this competitive job market. Topics such as human factors, instructional design, user interface design, user experience and more will be discussed. They will be discussed from the "value of blindness" perspective along with real-world examples.
3:00 pm - 4:00 pm Communications Workshop
Tug Room
Doug Ingram, Communications Director the National Federation of the Blind of Florida
3:00 pm - 4:45 pm Technology: 3D from VERC
Commerce Room
Vision Education and Rehabilitation Center, Florida State College at Jacksonville
Come and find out how 3-D printing can work in the blind community! The Vision Education and Rehabilitation Center in Jacksonville, Florida, will demonstrate the 3-D printing process and answer your questions.
4:00 pm - 4:45 pm Sighted Supporters Meeting
Navigator Room
Sylvia Young, Treasurer, National Federation of the Blind of Florida
This is an open discussion among sighted Federationists who want to support their fellow Federation friends and family to live the life they want.
Convention Banquet
Sunday, October 9, 2022
7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Russ Davis and Camille Tate, Masters of Ceremonies
Port and Windward Ballrooms
7:00 pm Call to Order
Paul Martinez, President, National Federation of the Blind of Florida
7:03 pm Welcome and Introductions
Russ Davis and Camille Tate, Masters of Ceremonies, National Federation of the Blind of Florida
7:10 pm Invocation
Paul Martinez, President, National Federation of the Blind of Florida
7:45 pm Keynote Address
John Paré, Executive Director Advocacy and Policy
National Federation of the Blind Representative
8:45 pm Presentation of Scholarship Winners
Jorge Hernandez, 1st Vice President, National Federation of the Blind of Florida
9:25 pm Awards Presentation
Doug Ingram, Chair, Board Member, National Federation of the Blind of Florida