2022 Alaska State Convention Agenda

November 4th and 5th, 2021

UNITING THE BLIND OF ALASKA
ALWAYS BETTER TOGETHER

Our 2022 convention will be held at the Lakefront Hotel (4800 Spenard Road) Anchorage, 907-243-2300. The room rate is $109 plus 15 percent tax. for singles and doubles. Children under thirteen are free.

To receive our event rate, ask for the NFB of Alaska room rate.

Set on the shore of Lake Spenard next to Lake Hood and close to the Ted Stevens International Airport, the Lakefront is the only Anchorage hotel located on a lake. Amenities include 24-hour free shuttle to the airport, along with places to eat and relax. Enjoy the warmth of the fireplace in the hotel lobby.

Register and make reservations now to attend the NFB of Alaska annual convention, the largest gathering of blind people in Alaska.

The cost is $55 which includes registration and food for the convention. Membership will be valid until the end of 2023.

The National Federation of the Blind of Alaska is committed to promoting equity and inclusion of a diverse global community. Our diverse community includes, but is not limited to, the intersectionality of ability, age, religion, race, ethnicity, culture, gender identity or expression, and sexual orientation.

We are committed to honoring the lived experiences of those with congenital and acquired blindness; those with different geographic backgrounds, different languages, labor and socioeconomic status in the exchange of ideas, opinions, and actions. Through advocacy, awareness, and educational activities, we strive to advance policies and practices that cultivate a climate of awareness and understanding; acceptance and opportunities for advancement; and respect for the dignity of all people.

Vision Statement

Our vision is to broaden the scope of awareness and understanding of the definition of full inclusion;

to explore and expand on the cultural makeup of the organization, providing education and training, guidance and advocacy where needed. Our goal is to cultivate a federation that is diverse, equitable, and inclusive.

The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the expectations of blind people because low expectations create obstacles between blind people and our dreams. Live the life you want! Blindness is not what holds you back!

NFB Pledge

I pledge to participate actively in the efforts 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.

Friday November 4th

  • 1:00 PM: Welcome, Bonnie Lucas, President
    • Treasurer’s Report, Carmen Jameson
  • 1:15 PM: David Newman—Alaska State ADA Coordinator, Appointed in 2018, he has worked to increase the rights of the blind in Alaska, (from state websites to NewsLine)
  • 1:35PM: Jesse Shirek—NFB-NEWSLINE®
    • NFB NewsLine Making NewsLine a reality for all print disabled Alaskans)
  • 2:00 PM: Robert Corvisier—Alaska Human Rights Commission, (He cares about people with disabilities who may be discriminated against)
  • 2:20 PM: Jocelyn Bucaro—Tusk Philanthropies, (Accessible ballots from your home)
  • 2:40 PM: Freya Anderson—Talking Books of Alaska, (ever changing to serve the print and physically disabled)
  • 3:00 PM: Break
  • 3:10 PM: Jeff Dick—Challenge Alaska, (Community recreation for Alaskans with disabilities),
  • 3:30 PM: Tyler Merren—ReVision Fitness App, Bringing all aspects of fitness to you in an accessible format.
  • 3:50 PM: panel of blind Alaskans participating and living the fit life they want!
    • Kevin Whitley
    • Nate Kile
    • Charlie Rogge
    • Tom Class
  • 4:15 PM: CB Brady—Executive Director, Alaska Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired
  • 4:30 PM: Digication.com
  • 5:00 PM: Meet and greet to include
    • Appetizers/finger foods
    • Accessible games
    • Using the voting machine
    • Braille corner
    • Questions about cane travel
    • Guide dog stories

Saturday November 5th

  • 9:00 AM: Welcome, Musical Number featuring Ileina Milos
  • 9:10 AM: Patti Chang–President’s report—Learn about ground-breaking initiatives of the National Federation of the Blind and more
  • 9:50 AM: President, Bonnie Lucas, the affiliate president’s annual report and future projections
  • 10:15 AM: Michael Lauf—Accessible Windows Software and iPhone Apps, All in One Place!
  • 10:35 AM: Raul Gallegos— (President National Association of Guide Dog users
  • 10:55 AM: Debbie Wunder— (President, NFB Diabetes Action- Network
  • 11:15 AM: Glenn Crosby—President, NFB Seniors Division
    • You don’t have to be a senior to belong to the seniors division.
  • 11:35 AM: Chancey Fleet—New York Public Library Accessibility, (more than a talking book library)
  • 11:55 AM: Break for lunch
  • 1:15 PM: Gary Wunder—editor NFB Braille Monitor, (flagship publication of the National Federation of the Blind
  • 1:35 PM: Emily Schlenker—pharmacology student, University of Kansas, (high expectations and full participation)
  • 2:00 PM: Tom Class, Forever Alaskan, (A blind Alaskan living his life as a home owner and fulltime employee)
  • 2:15 PM: Dan Bigley—His life “Beyond the Bear,” (husband, father and director of social service agency)
  • 2:40 PM: Katie Lester—National Federation of the Blind, ($8 thousand Scholarship Winner)
  • 3:10 PM: Kevin Whitley– (Manual skills instructor at the Alaska Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired)
  • 4:00 PM: Elections—All dues payers are welcome to vote.
  • 4:45 PM: Break while hotel staff prepare room for Banquet
  • 6:00 PM: Banquet to include Guest speaker, Patti Chang and her personal story, importance of fund raising, Etc.

Patti Gregory-Chang

Development Director, Attorney, Advocate, Mother

After graduating from Harbor Springs High School in 1981, Patti planned to attend school with hopes of becoming a teacher of the visually impaired. After earning her teaching certificate at Michigan State University, she discovered a passion for law and enrolled in the University of Chicago Law School.

Patti graduated from law school in 1988 and worked in the City of Chicago Law Department for twenty-eight years. She began her tenure in the Traffic Division and worked her way up to Assistant Corporation Counsel. In this position she prosecuted housing court matters in the Circuit Court of Cook County and handled collection matters for the Building and Land Use Litigation Division of the City of Chicago Law Department.

Patti became Senior Assistant Corporation Counsel for the City of Chicago Law Department in 1998. In this role she prosecuted cases, supervised attorneys prosecuting cases, coordinated law clerks and externs, and served on various committees and task forces. She belongs to several professional associations including the National Association of Blind Lawyers, the Association of Fundraising Professionals, and the Illinois State Bar Association. Patti currently serves as Vice Chair of the Disability Law Committee of the Illinois State Bar Association and as a member of the Administrative Law Section Council of the Illinois State Bar Association.

In 2016 Patti embarked on a second career, accepting the position of Director of Outreach for the National Federation of the Blind, the largest organization of blind people in the world.

In fact, Patti has devoted much of her free time to the National Federation of the Blind since joining in 1981. Patti currently serves as the 2nd Vice President of the Illinois affiliate of the NFB and has served on its National Board of Directors as well as working as national scholarship committee chair for some years.

Patti lives in Chicago. In her spare time, Patti and her husband love travel, dancing, and enjoy spending time with family and friends. They boast of two successful adult children, Johnathon and Julia, and a wonderful grandchild, Kayla Ma Chang.