DC Night Out

I was doing a Google blog search to try to see if anyone else was blogging or podcasting about this Washington seminar, or other recent NFB activities.

The closest other hit I located was:
curiousangel: They Don’t Play About The Metal Detectors In The Russell Building
this looks like it is a blog entry documenting someone’s experience on the hill during the 2005 Washington seminar. Glad to see there are other blogs on these topics, but it looks like we could use more as well.

I’m just getting packed up to leave now. I’m still not 100% sure if I will leave tonight or on the first flight back tomorrow. Our friend Jeff from Boston is flying in for the happy hour, and is scheduled to leave Boston at 1:45 P.M. I expect the next podcast will be the happy hour one.

If I stay here I will try to see if I can get people in the bar or in the room to come and sign the Google Word Verification Accessibility Petition. The hotels wifi hot spot should work from the bar…I know it works in the lobbey.

Just a reminder that tonights DC Night Out happy hour is being held at:
The Holiday Inn Capitol
The bar off the lobbey is called The 21st Amendment. The hotel is closest to the lenfant plaza metro station. You should use the 7th & Marilyn Avenue exit of the station. The hotel is at:
550 C. Street SW
(cross street is 6th Street)

Everyone is welcome at the happy hour, and podcast recording. We would love to see people attending the conference attending as well, so please feel free to come or spread the word. There is an NFB meeting at 6:00 P.M. so people could start at the happy hour and still make this meeting.

Show Notes For Mon Jan 30, 2006 Podcast 2
Click to listen to 32 minute podcast or download mp3 file.

In this podcast we recap the Great Gathering In, which is the main meeting held at the NFB Washington Seminar. The meeting was held on Monday Jan 30 from 5:00 P.M. - 7:30 P.M.

The meeting is very much like a mid year convention program, and a number of topics in addition to the current years legislative agenda are presented. Some of the notable items this year included:

• U.S. Senator Christopher J. Dodd | D-Connecticut addressed the gathering and provided support for NFB’s ongoing initiatives, and thanked deligates for coming to Washington to advocate for our issues;
• NFB will offer online pre registration for the 2006 convention being held at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas, TX. Preregistration will be offered online and via US mail from 3/1/2006 - 5/31/2006. Watch the NFB web site for the direct link after 3/1. Preregistration will save attendees time, and also will be $10 less than the on site registration for people preregisterring for the convention and banquett;
• On Friday April 7th a 2006 cellebration event will take place at NFB’s national center in Baltimore. There will be an extensive program of speakers, entertainment, fund raising activities, and fine food and drink;
• NFB will soon launch NFB Link, a tool to match mentors and mentees together for personal and professional development;
• A contest is being started for persons who are blind to submit written stories about blindness for use in NFB’s Kernel Books. Stories should be submitted to NFB headquarters by 5/31/2006 and you can win a stay at the 2006 convention hotel and $1,000 cash.

You can leave comments about this blog and podcast by dialing (206) 202-1114, or sending email to
Editor

Show Notes For Mon Jan 30, 2006 Podcast1
In a podcast recapping the Monday morning tour of the National Center For The Blind (NFB’s Baltimore headquarters), we highlight:

• Try Nuance TALKS for Free, And Receive 20% Off
  this is the popular screen reader for cell phones running the Symbian operating system (namely Tmobile & Cingular for US customers). NFB is now offering members a 30 day trial and discount. While the official deadline was 2/1/2006 it has been informally extended to allow people to continue to take advantage of the offer for a limited time;
• Voice Of The Nations Blind
  is a multi media web magazine published by NFB. Among other articles, there is audio and text coverage of a rocket launch that took place at a space academy held for blind students;

and

• KNFB Portable Reading Machine

Click To Listen or download 30 minute podcast mp3 file.

2006 NFB Legislative Agenda

In this podcast we cover the evening NFB student reception including excerpts from a musical performance, and from the keynote speaker. We review some bargains people received at the auction, and other general topics.
Click To Listen To Approx 30 Minute Podcast.

Click To Listen or download.
In this podcast we recap the morning student session, discuss what the conference is like overall, and briefly review this years NFB legislative agenda items.

Show Notes For January 29, 2006
Click to listen to 30 minute podcast.
Topics Covered:

• After introductions, a sound byte is played while the editor boards a flight showing an issue where persons who are blind are hovered over or scrutinized more because of the disability;
• Next a sound byte is played showing a bus driver being helpful without being patronizing;
• Finally sound bytes are played from the lobbey of the NFB conference hotel.

Just a quick podcast before I go to bed on the night before the DC trip.
Click to listen to 7 minute podcast.

As noted in the last podcast, we have had to get a new comment line phone number. The telephone number is:
(206) 202-1114