National Federation of the Blind of Tennessee

The 37th annual State Convention of the National Federation of the Blind of Tennessee was held the weekend of March 10, 11, and 12, 2006 in Nashville Tennessee at theRadisson Opryland Hotel. Over 100 NFB of Tennessee members and friends gathered for this time to reflect on the past year's accomplishments and to plan for the coming year. The festivities began on Friday evening March10 with a reception and refreshments and federation hospitallity Tennessee style. There In addition to members from Tennessee federationists and other convention participants from several other states were present. These states included Colorado, Georgia, Michigan, Kentucky, and Minnesota. Some of them made presentations during the general sessions held on Saturday, and others assisted in other ways to make this the biggest and best state convention ever held by federationists from The Volunteer State. The annual Banquet took place on Saturday evening and was attended by 80 federationists and guests. The convention concluded with an open worship service and the general business meeting on Sunday Morning.

In addition to the many meetings and convention general sessions several adaptive technology companies demonstrated various information access solutions including: Braille displays, low-vision magnification products, navigation aids, and screen readers. These companies included:

The National Federation of the Blind was represented by Anil Lewis of Decatur Georgia who served as National Representative. Mr. Lewisgave the Natrional Report on Saturday Afternoon and urged members tostrengthin the baund of oneness among members and local chapters and to remember that it is the unity of purpose that makes us the family we are. The theme for this year's NFB of Tennessee State Convention was: "A Family United Under one Roof." /Anil further expounded on this theme in his stirring banquet address on Saturday evening. In addition he served as auctioneer for the National Association of Blind Merchants Auction also held during the banquet. A picture of the bell tower at the Tennessee School for the Blind was auctioned off during the banquet. For many years the Tennessee School for the Blind has rung the bell in the tower once for each graduating seenior on graduation day to signify the passing from their years at the Tennessee School for the Blind to the freedom of making their own way in society to persue their life's dreams and a career of their own choosing.

A number of federationists became PAC Plan members or increased their pledge during the banquet. Othersgave financial support to the organization through our other funding sources, the Tenbroak Fund, the White Cane Fund, the Jernigan Fund, the SUN Fund, and the Imagination Fund. During his National Report Anil Lewis explained the purpose for each of these different funds and urged members and friends to contribute to them when possible.

Convention Webcast and Audio Archives

For the first time this year the annual convention of the National Federation of the Blind of Tennessee's State Convention was streamed live to the Internet and was heard by federationists and friends around the country and the World. We wish to thank Mr. J.J. Meddaugh of Stream Madness for making this possible. You can listen to or download audio archives of all four convention sessions, including the banquet, in .MP3 File Format, and view and/or download bonus streaming audio and video presentations by selecting the links below.

The members of the National Federation of the Blind of Tennessee are glad to offer you this opportunity to listen, or view these presentations on-line, but strongly urges you to consider attending an NFB state or national convention in person. There are no substitutes for experiencing an NFB Convention for yourself and participating actively in it. Although we can offer much in the way of assistance via the Internet nothing will replace face-to-face contact with blind individuals who can become positive roll models for you, and who can assist you in living independently as a blind person. These conventions are total immersion experiences that allow one to try out new technology, learn a valuable blindness skill, and to network in ways not possible on-line. Attending our conventions in person affords you this opportunity. The voices you will hear are those who understood the importance of attending NFB conventions in person, who didn't make excuses for not doing so, found the means to attend, and who have benefitted immensely from the experience. It is our hope that by hearing what happens at our state and national conventions you will be inspired to attend a future NFB convention to partake fully in what thousands of blind individuals before you have experienced at these conventions. By doing so you will experience in a way unduplicatable on-line what makes our state and national conventions life-changing experiences.

To download these files bring up the Context Menu by pressing your right mouse button on the numeric keypad, and select, "Save Target As" from the Context Menu to begin the download. Please be advised that the .MP3 files are quite large and may require an extremely long time to download. If you wish to download these files we suggest that you do this at a convenient time when you do not need to use your computer and when connection speeds are at their maximum for your connection type. To listen on-line or to view the video presentation you must have one of the following players installed on your PC:

2006 NFB of Tennessee State Convention Adgenda

In addition to the reception and hospitallity hours Friday evening was taken up with various division and committee meetings. A few of these included the Tennessee Association of Blind Merchants, and the Tennessee Association of Blind Students. These meetings were not recorded hence we do not have audio archives of this year's division meetings. Other meetings included those of the Nominating Committee, The PAC Plan Committee, and others. The general sessions began on Saturday Morning at 9-00 A.M. Michael Seay, President of the National Federation of the Blind of Tennessee from Memphis presided over all general sessions. Heather Field of Franklin served as Mistress of Cerramonies for the Saturday evening Banquet. The agenda for each session, including the banquet appears below followed by links to listen to or download the .MP3 audio file of that particular session. Here are the sights and sounds of the 2006 National Federation of the Blind of Tennessee State Convention.

Saturday Morning

9-00 A.M. Call to Order
Michael Seay,
President, National Federation of the Blind of Tennessee,
Memphis, Tennessee.

> Welcome Cerramonies:
Heather Field,
President, Middle Tennessee Chapter,
National Federation of the Blind of Tennessee,
Franklin, Tennessee.

Introductions,
Michael Seay,
President, National Federation of the Blind of Tennessee,
Memphis, Tennessee.

Introduction of National Representative,
Anil Lewis,
Board Member, National Federation of the Blind,
President, National Federation of the Blind of Georgia,
Decatur, Georgia.

A Duiscussion and Demonstration of NFB Newsline for the Blind,
Joe Shaw,
Embassador, NFB Newsline for the Blind of Tennessee,
Vice-President, Middle Tennessee Chaptor,
National Federation of the Blind of Tennessee,
Nashville, Tennessee.

The Heart Intercivic E-Slate Electronic Voting Terminal,
Rodger Bared,
Representative, Heart Corporation,
Lexington, Kentucky.

Non-Visual Access to the Voting Process,
How the Help America Vote Act, (HAVA) Will Assist in Changing What it Means to be Blind at Tennessee's Poling Places,
A Panel Discussion,
Joyce Prusac,
Disability Law and Advocacy Center of Tennessee,
Nashville, Tennessee,
Joanne Riches,
Tennessee Disability Coelition,
Tennessee Disability Voters,
Nashville, Tennessee.

The Affiliation Process,
The Importance of NFB Local, State, and Division Constitutions,
Michael Seay,
President, National Federation of the Blind of Tennessee,
Memphis, Tennessee,
Heather Field,
President, Middle Tennessee Chapter,
National Federation of the Blind of Tennessee,
Franklin, Tennessee,
Tim Anderson,
Recording Secretary, Middle Tennessee Chapter,
National Federation of the Blind of Tennessee,
Franklin, Tennessee.

Presentation of New Charter of Affiliation to the Tennessee Association of Blind Students, (TABS.),
Michael Seay,
President, National Federation of the Blind of Tennessee,
Memphis, Tennessee,
Domonique Lawless,
President, Tennessee Association of Blind Students,
Nashville, Tennessee,
Witness, Tim Anderson,
Recording Secretary, Middle Tennessee Chapter,
National Federation of the Blind of Tennessee,
Franklin, Tennessee.

Saturday Afternoon

Presidential Report,
Michael Seay,
President, National Federation of the Blind of Tennessee,
Memphis, Tennessee.

National Report,
Anil Lewis,
Board Member, National Federation of the Blind,
President, National Federation of the Blind of Georgia,,
Decatur, Georgia.

The Impact of Informed Choice on Clients Rights:,
A Panel Discussion,
Eric Woods,
Certified Orientation and Mobility Instructor,
Youth Services Coordinator,
Colorado Center for the Blind, (CCB)
Littleton, Colorado

All officers and three board positions were up for election this year. The results of the 2006 NFB of Tennessee Elections are as follows:

President: Michael Seay, Memphis
First Vice-President: Sandy Boohr, Chattanooga
Second Vice-President: Lynda Crisp, Bolliver
Secretary: Sharon Parris, Nashville
Treasurer: Lev Williams, Memphis
Board Position 1: Melva Harden, Byersburg
Board Position 2: Reginald Lindsay, Knoxville
Board Position 3: Kim Williams, Chattanooga

The following positions remain the same and are held by the persons listed below. They will be up for reellection in 2007:

Board Position 4: James Broadnac, Memphis
Board Position 5: Domonique Lawless, Nashville
Board Position 6: Rev. Morris Johnson, Chattanooga

2006 NFB of Tennessee Convention Banquet

Mistris of Ceremonies: Heather Field,
President, Middle Tennessee Chapter,
National Federation of the Blind of Tennessee,
Franklin, Tennessee.

Banquet Address:,
Anil Lewis,
Board Member, National Federation of the Blind,
President, National Federation of the Blind of Georgia,
Decatur, Georgia.

Auction: Conducted by the Tennessee Association of Blind Merchants,
Anil Lewis: Auctioneer.

Sunday Morning

We wish to give special thanks to Stream Madness for providing digital/audio streaming and production of archives of the 2006 National Federation of the Blind of Tennessee State Convention. Stream Madness is your choice for Affordable Shoutcast, Ventrilo, Web Hosting, and More! For further information about these services visit them at: http://www.streammadness.com

2006 NFB of Tennessee Convention Bonus 1

Joe Shaw, Newsline Coordinator for the NFB of Tennessee presented a presentation and conducted a demonstration of, NFB Newsline for the Blind, the NFB's nation-wide telephone news service. Select the appropriate link below to listen to, or download an audio presentation that gives additional information about this valuable resource.

2006 NFB of Tennessee Convention Web Bonus 2

In his presentation to the 37th Annual Convention of the National Federation of the Blind of Tennessee Rodger Bared of Harp Corporation discussed three different voting terminals currently being used in different counties in Tennessee. These included the Diebold AccuVote-TS;the Harp Intercivic eSlate. In addition the National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute has developed a training curriculum to assist local officials in implamenting the Help America Vote Act, (HAVA.) Topicks covered include non-visual access to the voting process, the roll of the National Federation of the Blind in securing access to the voting process for the nation's blind, information on selection of accessible voting equipment, and training pole workers. You can view or download these presentations produced by the staff of the International Braille and Technology Center by selecting the appropriate link below:

2006 NFB of Tennessee Convention Web Bonus 3

In addition to the "BrailleNote" family of desktop and portable Braille displays and its line of, "Victor" digital talking book players Humanware Inc. markets Trecker, one of the World's first GPS navigation aids developed specifically for the blind. A brief description of the Trecker, a testimonial from a trecker user and an MP3 audio presentation are available for viewing or listening to on-line, or can be downloaded for off-line listening.

About Trekker

GPS, or the Global Positioning System, is a navigation system that is composed of satellites orbiting the earth. The GPS is maintained and managed by the Government of the United States of America. Small, portable GPS receivers on earth receive signals from satellites. This combination of technology helps users, amongst other things, pinpoint their location and create routes from one point to another. It takes a minimum of three satellites in order to determine the user�s position. Signals are weakened by the time they reach street level and users walking in an area surrounded by tall buildings or along narrow streets may experience accuracy or signal coverage problems.

Trekker combines the use of GPS technology with digital maps that are loaded into a palm sized device, measuring 3.5" x 5.25" x 1" at 1.3 pounds, and is equiped with tactile input and audio listening output. When using the Trekker system to negotiate an environment, the user is able to enter desired locations, reference saved routes and even be redirected if an alternate route is needed.

Although some off the shelf GPS receivers have auditory output, none have the level of auditory detail or user interface needed for complete interactivity. Products like Trekker are designed to integrate consumer technology and also include special adaptations that provide accessibility to all features.

Trekker is designed to complement, not replace, a mobility aide such as a white cane or a guide dog. Trekker will not report obstacles, assist with traffic assessment or physically interact with the travel environment. Trekker DOES, however, make maps accessible, allows the user to pinpoint their exact location and points of interest anywhere in the world. Travel skills such as crossing a street are independent of what Trekker can provide. Trekker neither has the precision, feedback or continuous accessibility to be of any help. Trekker will prompt users with street names, approaching intersections and surrounding points of interest, but operators must always be aware of their surroundings and base decisions on sound mobility practice. It is the difference between enhanced mobility and true independence.

The Colorado Center for the Blind

The Colorado Center for the Blind is one of three NFB training centers operated by the blind themselves. The link below allows you to watch a video that describes its program, and explains what sets our training centers apart from other adult orientation and adjustment centers for the blind

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.