Category: Let's talk
Just as the title says who's going, or who'd like to go. I'll be attending, so maybe some of us can meet up.
If I go can I fold my cane?
I'm going. already have a room booked. I hope to see you there. smiles.
I'm hoping to be there
Lol to post 2. I wasn't even going to read this, but that made me laugh.
Um, yeah, Senior, you can fold your cane. I( know you're being a smart-ass and hypocrite, and working off a stereotype. that alone is interesting, as you so vehemently rail against other people for holding any kind of stereotypes themselves. but in all seriousness, plenty of people at NFB conventions use folding canes. So, your comment does not apply. Smile.
In answer to the original question of this post, no, I don't think i'll be going this year. I do miss Convention, but first, I dont' have the money, and second, I absolutely hate the Dallas location. I really wish I could have gone to Detroit last year, but oh well. Wonder where it is in 2011? Maybe I will go then. But the Dallas hotel in itself is lousy, and there's really not much you can get out and walk to, etc. So, we'll see what the future holds.
I've heard that the 2011 NFB convention will be in Orlando if that helps at all.
Oo, Orlando! Now that I'd go to. First of all, never been to that city, and second, a new location! We've been recycling the same locations since I started going to Convention back in 99, and I've been getting tired of the same old same old. Thanks, Crazy Cat.
Sure, no problem. I feel the same way. It will be nice to go to someplace new.
Yup, I plan on being there. *smile*
I'll definitely be there!
I never went to one so I'd like to give it a whirl.
I'll be there.
Nope, I wanted to go but won't be able to. I'll definitely go to the next one if it's in Orlando.
Where is this one anyway?
Stereotype? What stereotype?
I'm glad they're letting people go with canes they can fold, and allowing them to fold their canes, instead of seeing the folding of canes as hiding blindness.
Senior, that stereotype, the one about the Federation and folding canes, etc.
Margorp, this year's convention is in Dallas, I believe.
That's not a stereotype, just what I was told. I read on here that they don't like people folding up canes and see it as hiding blindness.
Does anybody have any idea as to what they will be discussing?
Senior, do you really take everything you're told as fact?
Usually a variety of topics get discussed. There's a lot of focus on technology of all kinds, whether it be screen readers, Braille displays, new stuff from NLS, etc. Literacy is a common topic, education of blind children, that kind of thing. The agenda usually comes out awhile before convention. I can post the link on this board when it does, if people are interested.
Yes, the convention is in Dallas this year. I have preregistered.
I'll be going again this year, (along with my seeing eye dog). I'm the guy putting on the music technology workshop listed in the agenda. This is my second time attending. Hopefully the hotel in Dallas is layed out a bit more logicly than the one in Detroit was. Oh before I forget... If anyone has questions about the workshop I'm putting on, please pm or e mail me as I'm hardly on here. Thanks.
Ah Texas...woo!
Hmm. I thought there was something in Orlando this year over the May long weekend? I guess it's not that.
no. it's next year that the convention will be in Orlando.
So what are these conventions like? I've never gone to one...I'm so out of touch.
ah, the hilton anatoll. or how ever its spelled. Its not the moste amazingly layed out of hotels but its not the worst i've seen. Its split. You have the "tower" and "atrium" sections which are interconnected. The atrium has rooms above it going around the out side of the walls, looking down on the floors below. I believe there is one resteraunt over there, as well as that wings front desk. The tower is the more interesting of the two parts. The mall of sorts (resteraunts, bars, stores...) is on the bottem floors with a tower of hotel rooms above. The tower is usually alittle harder to get up and down during key times but that's the main draw back. Its closer to all the convension facilities and its quieter in those rooms than in the atrium wing because of the ground floors noise echowing up at all hours of the night. I haven't been there in 2 years so there's probably details i'm missing but i'm sure I'll remember more when I go back this summer. I believe how ever, there has been some remoddeling done to the building. I've hurd they took out those steps people would always trip down...
I can soooooo picture myself getting lost in there.
I get lost more easily with a cane than I do with the dog.
hmmm, interesting.
I hate the Hilton Anatole. the way that thing is laid out is like one big-ass, indoor parking lot. I wish I could have gone to Detroit last year, and really hope I can go to Orlando next year. i've never been there, and it's nice to finally have the convention in a new city for a change. Most of the 2000's we've been bouncing from Atlanta to Louisville to Dallas, with Philadelphia and Detroit being the exceptions. Bleh.
But, as much as I hate the location, we're getting to that time of year when I really wish I could go, in spite of that fact. I'm learning of all these friends who are going to be there, whom I've not seen in so long, and who I would only get the chance to see at a Convention. Oh well. *Growl*
Margorp, as to what one of the Conventions is like, PM me or something. It's pretty tough to try and type out here.
I'll be attending the convention as well, along with a few other Canadians. It'd be great to connect with other attendees, so that I'll have people I'm looking forward to meeting in advance! it'll be my first time attending, so I'm pretty excited. I know that a lot of the legislative and political issues being discussed won't apply (as I don't live in the states), but am really looking forward to the rest of it.
Good luck, Skyla. Signal me sometime and we can talk about convention, if you want. The first one can be a bit overwhelming, as I well remember. I was a national scholarship winner my first year, so I had both those things to contend with. Yipes! If you've never been around nearly 3,000 blind people in one hotel, it gets pretty crazy. LOL.
Oh, I imagine it can! I'm fleetingly worried that my dog's going to get attacked by a flying cane or some other guide dog LOL. I'll be sending you a pm; its a shame you aren't able to attend this year.
Sounds...overwhelming.
it can be overwhelming, but fun and life-changing at the same time. you meet some of th egreatest people at convention.
After you go a few times, you catch up with friends that you see no other time of year perhaps, too.
Overall, a great experience.
Jamesk is right. It is overwhelming at first. But it's a fun atmosphere. Convention can be whatever you make it: serious and business oriented, party central, or usually, a combo of the two. That many people is something to get used to, of course, but most people do. It does help if a first time attendee has friends who have been before, just to kind of be with. I know I would have felt better about it that first year if I had. It was kind of initiation by fire in 1999. But I met a lot of great people, had a lot of stereotypes I'd had about the Federation set straight, and ended up going back for quite a few more conventions. Hope to go again soon.
hmmm
Ok, got it. so, if you're heading to the convention and are looking to inculcate a new attendee, send me a private message! it'd be great to know some "regulars" ahead of time :).
3000 canes? Do they have sponsored fencing / sword fights to go with it? That could be pretty fun.
Just bought my ticket a couple days ago, you'll all see me there. Also, as in years past, I'm going to put this as a sticky topic at the top of the board category, so people can find it easily if anyone wants to use this as a forum for plannning anything or announcements. Look forward to seeing you all there.
got a quick question. always heard the nfb to not allow guide dogs really in the organization so I sort of thought that was wrong and went with acb a long time ago. now I want to change to nfb but am unsure how the guide dog thing works.
they aren't against guide dogs at all; there are lots of NFB-ers that have them, in fact.
Hopefully I can go next year. I'm already in Florida, after all.
You'll get some people that have an attitude problem regarding guide dogs, but thankfully it's a minority. I didn't have any issues with anyone concerning my puppy last year at the convention so I wouldn't worry about it.
Also, if anyone needs a guitarist to back them up for the talent show, I'd be happy to help out. However, and I can't stress this enough, asking me the day of the thing isn't going to work. (Yes, that happened last year.) So, please ask me at least a couple days in advance. Thanks.
Echoing what others have said here, I have a guide dog, as do several of my friends who have gone.
To answer the other part of your question, at the convention, they have a designated relieving area you can use, or you can find one of your own farther away if you don't want to use the one that everyone else is using. Does that answer your question?
They have a talint show?
yeah, it's in the agenda, which I don't have in front of me right now, sorry. I believe it's posted on their site though.
I think they're following the same agenda as last year. can someone post a direct link to the agenda please?
cause its sooo hard to look it up? hehe
The full agenda isn't out yet, that I can see.
thanks all. a girl at gdb when I got my guide said that she had been a member forever and always had dogs with no problems.
Reyami, what do you mean about following the same agenda as last year? I've never known the agenda to be the same two years in a row. Or do you simply mean the Convention dates? Though it's usually around the same time each year, it's not always the same dates.
Jsears, somehow people get the impression that the Federation is anti guide dog, when that is not the case at all. I know many NFB members who have guide dogs. Unfortunately, people who dislike the Federation like to propogate that misconception.
What is meant by the agenda being the same is that the overall set up of what is on what day is the same. Last year at convention they changed it around a bit; which days had meetings, general sessions, banquet, etc. This year it'll be following that same new format.
You know, I think all Sendero GPS systems use the same Points of Interest categories and the like. I don't know, or know how you would do this, but if anyone knows the area there, they could set up points of interest to be imported by anyone's gps navigation system. I personally have never had occasion to use one in real life but can imagine it would save a few headaches when in a strange city. With Points of Interest done up for the exact location, could be interesting.
As I say, I don't know if it works, or how it is done, just heard they all use the same interfaces.
Problem is that there's nothing really within walking distance of the hotel, other than the Dennies. It's one of my biggest gripes about this location.
I think there is also a seafood place but, apart from that, its cabs, cabs, cabs. and the shuddle.
just FYI: as far as the NFB being against guide dogs, its just not true. they have a whole division concerning guide dogs, after all.
Nehemiah is right. In most of the cities we've been in, there have been lots of places to eat, shop, and visit within walking distance of the hotel. Not so in Dallas. I have no idea why Convention has been held there this many times, as it seems that the location is universally disliked, and attendance has dropped a little lower each year it's been there. Probably some conctractule obligation that was made with that hotel. Oh well, not Dallas next year!
I wonder why people think that the nfb doesn't want dogs?
To be fair, there have been some nfb individual leaders in the past that were anti dog. So there's some truth to it; I do think some of the stories have been overblown though. But like any organization, it does change.
ah but the over all doctrine is not antidog I don't think.
no, it is not. And I also believe those former leaders who had a problem with guide dogs were very wrong. Sure, there are cons to having a dog, but there are many pros, and it's an individual choice. As with any organization, there are policies and attitudes in the Federation that need to change. As the current leadership ages, and younger leaders are elected, I believe that will happen. Change is slow, but is happening.
exactly; very well said to the last poster.
I also think that some of the myths about the NFB not liking dogs may have been misunderstood as well. Although a dog is a very good guide, better in urban settings, I think that the NFB would agree with the statement that although you may use a dog as a guide, it is very important to have good cane skills as well.
Thom
agreed completely with Thom; great cane skills are essential.
Oh my god, there's a tallent show? I'm so excited! I love blind tallent shows!!
So, does everyone who wants to perform get a chance? if there are 3000 attendees, and the vast majority of them are musical or otherwise feel as though they can impart their tallents on a crowd, does the show just last all day?
So excited!!
Tom, that is a very accurate statement. Or, as I very bluntly put it when I give talks to people that are considering getting a dog, if you don't have decent cane skills, you have no business getting a dog. (if anyone really wants me to illaborate on my reasoning for that though, contact me off board or start a board about it.) :)
No, the talent show's, like, four hours long. I'm not sure what day it is this year, but if you want to sign up, you have to contact a board member of the Performing Arts Division sometime during convention. The best time to catch them is at their anual meeting. That's on the schedule too. I'll get back to you when I've found the information.
Some people only use the dog and don't have any use for the cane. Personally, I feel you need both cane skills and dog skills. Wow, dog skills? lol.
I have only used my cane probably 3 times since I got my dog over 2 and a half years ago. I much prefer the dog. However, cane skills are very important before you get a guide dog because even with a dog, you need to be very aware of your surroundings, spacial orientation, distance, and you need to be a good independent traveler via cane if you want to be a successful guide dog user. In the beginning, it was very difficult because with the dog, all of the sudden you don't have the tactile info that you get from the tip of a cane on the ground. However, I got used to the dog so quickly that a few days later it was not an issue. It can take a while to bond and get acclimated to using a dog, but, it can be well worth it. I'd never go back to using a cane, but that's me. Anyways, this has sort of drifted off topic, but, I thought I would put my reply here as it is important information none the less. Have a nice day.
Just thought people would want to know, the agenda for the convention has now been posted on nfb.org under the convention page.
For further info, for those that want restaurants that they can order from or go to when at convention, a list of them can be found in the folloing document:
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/1222907/Restaurant%20Guide%202010.doc
Oh Miah, thank you so much for posting this, it will be very helpful
Yes, I am going to be at convention, probably not for most of it, but I figured I may as well pop in, since it is pretty much in my backyard and what not. I've read through the agenda and I think I have decided on the programs I wanna attend, but man, money, money, money everywhere. I know 20 bucks here, and 5 bucks there doesn't seem like much, but when it is 6 days of this, phew, I guess NFB people must be made of money, because if you factor in flights for you out-of-towners, not to mention the hotel rooms, (62 dollars times 5/6?) it is just .. yeah, If I did not already live here I probably would not have even bothered. lol
Oh, most of us share rooms, at least with a person or 4. It depends on you, your financial situation and such also.
Hey all,
I'd like to let those of you who will be attending national convention know that you can apply for visitor status for paratransit in dallas. You'd just call your states paratransit if you're lucky enough to have paratransit in your state, I know some states don't. I did this and I'm glad, because it's totally cheaper than super shuttle. The number for Dallas's paratransit is as follows
(214) 515 7272. When you call to check if your state has faxed over your certification letter, you press option five off the menu for certification.
Hey, cool about the paratransit. While many can use the public transit system, many others cannot, for a variety of reasons. So that's good info to have.
Mare, yes, convention can be very expensive. But, considering the rates one would normally pay for the kinds of hotels we stay in, 62 bucks a night is a steal. Also, like Miah said, having roommates really does cut that cost down significantly. If you do things like buy groceries you can store in your hotel room, (and many of the rooms have refrigerators and/or microwaves), you can really cut down on the cost of meals. So, there are ways to make it less of a financial hardship.
Also, remember that many states offer financial assistance to people for convention. This can include anything from paying for a person's entire convention experience, to helping out with one part of it, depending on the person's financial need, and the affiliate's budget. But assistance is pretty readily available, either state or nationally through the Jernigan fund. And, the reason the events charge the way they do is for fund-raising purposes. Yes, it can get annoying at times, but I understand why they do it.
I'll be around....
I'm going to the convention. I will most likely be playing in the talent show- probably a piece for solo flute. And I will also sing at karaoke.
I don't know how good these are or anything, but when I was in the vending program they were trying to recruit vendors to supply materials for what they called 'snack packs'. This was sold at $5 per unit and the pack contained what you could use for the day if I remember right. They even had the diabetic version for those dealing with that.
Talk to your people of course, as I don't know if they do this anymore. And as I said, I'm not a member / never went there, but thought that a good service for vendors to provide especially for low-income convention visitors.
Oh, karaoke is a blast. I always loved going to that.
Robo, yes, they do still sell snack packs. that's through the Merchants division who, yes, is basically the BEP program. However, the snack pack doesn't contain everything you need for the day. It's simply a bag of a variety of junk food: candy of all kinds, cookies, chips, etc. It doesn't have breakfast or lunch items. They do bring in a lot of money for that division, though, as people like their junk food.
And it's a hell of a lot cheaper than buying the overpriced restaurant food in the hotel, so it will at least hold you by til you can get a more decent meal.
ill go for the last few days.. wanna be home for independence day
I've put together a zip file with several useful files/documents that people will find interesting or useful during convention. These include restaurant menus, an article on the layout of the hotel, a list of nearby restaurants, and a few other things. I'll leave it up until convention is over. Hope others find useful:
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/1222907/2010%20convention.zip
I've got it. thanks a million. yay, down to one week now. :D
Thanks. That will be useful.
Thanks. I'll download it now.
Glad there's a Starbucks nearby. Wahooo!
I've added an aditional file to the zip file, a verbal description of the exhibit hall. The link is the same, but to redo: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/1222907/2010%20convention.zip
I don't know what day yet but I'll be there at some point!
Well, after spending 4 hours in the Hilton, all I can say is wow! For people who have not had a preview of this place, I give you props, never in my life have I been in a more confusing, and expansive hotel, just wow!, From, atrium, to pre-lobby, to the actual lobby, to yet another lobby, from 1 tower to a mezanine, it all had my head spinning. Even my instructor had to ask the concierge for map directions a few times, so I cannot imagine trying to learn this place fresh from out-of-town, but then again, I am fairly new to this whole indepth mobility thing.
I wonder though, why is the convention held here? Why not somewhere more practical like maybe .. Austin? Surely Austin would have a place big enough to accomodate this convention? I mean, with its lack of sidewalks, and it's abundance of service roads, it just seems a bit unsafe, and almost like they are restricting you to the hotel grounds and all, but I am sure you veterans aren't at all overwhelmed by this but still . . .
It's held there for 2 reasons: 1 the price we get on the rooms, lower htan a fair number of other places. 2: the sheer number of people that show up to these. In detroit, we overflowed the originarl hotel, the over flow hotel, and into a 3rd overflow hotel for example.
We stay at places like this for the reasons Miah was saying, the rates, and the sheer number of people we have. However, another reason plays in. To get the rates we do, we make contracts with these hotels, often to have convention there for several years. I imagine NFB leadership is regretting making such a contract with the Anatole, because many people do not like this particular location, and from the sounds of it, convention attendance is going to be very low this year as a result. But to get the rate we do, I think NFB contracted to have it there in 06, 08, and then now in 2010. Just as, I believe, they've contracted with the hotel in Orlando to be there in 2011, 13, and 15. at least that's what I've heard. So let's just pray that the Orandlo Orlando location is a good one! Some are better than others. The Marriott Marquis in Atlanta was a good hotel, and God knows we've been there a ton of times. Thankfully, that location was surrounded by a lot of places in easy walking distance, and even though we've been there multiple times, we didn't see the drop in attendance that is happening from Dallas. Miah, I think the reason Convention overflowed so much last year was because everyone was just so damn happy it wasn't in Dallas for once, and Detroit was a city we'd not been to since 1994, I don't think. I bet we have over the top attendance in Orlando next year, too.
and Maere, believe me, you're not the only one confused by the Hilton. I swear, that hotel is like one big in-door parking lot. I hated it, and I know many others do, too. I saw many really good travelers get completely turned around in that hotel when I was there. Most hotels confuse me at the first, but then I learn them pretty well pretty quickly. Not that one. Ugh.
Heh, and wouldn't you know, a hurricane is nipping at our heels, so the weather predicts a lot of rain, I guess a good thing that most of the conferences are going to be indoors I suppose.
Really thinking about going. I don't have the money to pay for staying at the hotel, and have to see if I have the money for transpertation. But we'll see.
Like I said on voice chat, especially if you only stay for part of it, you may be able to room hop and crash with people you know.
I heard you've got to grab rooms early or you might be out of luck.
That's generallly a true rule, though being that this years attendance is spposed to be lower than usual, it may not be as bad
I got a room with an extra bed because I knew people would need the space and sure enough, A few good friends asked, Now i'm glad I could help.
After walking around in circles in Detroit last year, the Anatole seems pretty easy in comparison. Also, I think this contract with the Anatole was for 08-, 2010 and 2012. I could be remembering wrong, but I'm pretty sure we're going back in 2012. I like it because it's so close to home and it cuts down on the transportation cost, but I agree it's not a glamorous or pedestrian friendly location. I understand why people are skipping it this year. I heard somewhere that only Dallas, Detroit, Orlando and Louisville had hotels large enough to hold the convention. There might have been a city or 2 that I'm forgetting, but basically, I was told that NFB has pretty much outgrown nearly every hotel in the country. Crazy.
Well when you're getting attendance of 3000 to 3,200, there's only so much you can find to work with. Looking forward to Orlando. There's also been rumors of going here to Denver, and I know some would love to see it go back to California or Chicago again.
oh, I meant to add, that I thought detroit's hotel was easier to figure out by far than Dallas, but I know several others that disagree with me, so I'm cool with it. :)
Just FYI:
I work for a blindness training center. We're having an open house Tuesday night, from 6 to about 7:30.
If your interested in fabulous, comprehensive blindness training, give me a call and I'll give you the location.
Free snacks, maybe pizza, and beer available.
call me!
James K
cell 4109250707
I'm going hoping I'll find one of those super blind cane users lost like I did 2 years ago. Or the guy in the exhibit hall who said he was getting frustrated with all the dogs, I ask him if he needed help finding the exit!
Hey guys, I really just wanted to push this to the top, and also, after convention has closed out, give us updates! Who did you meet, who did you not get to meet. Did their real personalities match their Zone personalities?
As for me, the first Zoner I met was DancingAtSunrise aka Becca. Hehehe, yes she probably didn't know I was there, but we were literally like 10 feet from each other at the self-defense meeting. I even went up and shook her hand, I did not however properly introduce myself though. Bad me! :d So anyone else?
well, this should make everyone happy. evil grin.
nfb back to dallas in 2012, and 2014.
I was trying not to think about that. fuckin A.
Serious growl! So, it's Dallas and Orlando for the next few years. Very stupid on the part of our leadership. Oh well, the lack of attendance will speak for itself.
I'll be attending.
WTF Dallas sucks man! Orlando does sound like a good option though with plenty of other things to do when one wants to take a break from convention activities.
Yeah, I'm really looking forward to Orlando, getting info for plane tickets and things of that nature. I wish they'll go ahead and post hotel info and stuff so peeps can get an idea of money they'll be spending.
so it's dallas in 2012?
Yes.
I'll probably be at both, but much much more looking forward to Orlando.
As convention is concluded I am now taking this down from the top of the let's talk board. Continue using it for discussion if you like of course. :)
Their were several people I met and more I would have liked to. Note to self, get peoples numbers in advance, it makes things easier.
lol I tried to do that, but even then didn't manage to work everything out. Though you should probably try to gather them up a bit further out than I did.